The Sir

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Sep 14, 2011 -> 06:54 AM) I did. I want to get this whole party platformed narcissism out of the way and done with. Palin is the Queen Bee, let her get clobbered in a national referendum for her insanity and the whole craziness we've seen the past 3 years just goes away. Until that happens however her legion of fans will cling to the hope that she'll rescue our country. Hmm. When I think of craziness and insanity, I think of 2008 when all the idiots and clueless people rushed out of the woodwork to put a moron in the White House. Luckily, he's lost that pop culture appeal and people are realizing that "Hope and Change" was bulls*** and the dude's just another politician. It's going to be a tough race in 2012, and Barry will have a tough time against GOP frontrunners Perry and Romney. A lot tougher of a time than people here seem to think. We can argue that all we want, pointing to different poll numbers that support our sides. But the only way to tell is to wait til Nov 2012. I just like the GOP's chances.

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 13, 2011 -> 08:29 PM) The story of United 93 fascinates me. I wonder if the last 30 mins on the black box will ever be made public. Whatever that black box might reveal, those people on that plane were incredible heroes.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Sep 13, 2011 -> 11:36 PM) It was a ploy by Colbert and one of his homosexual guests after Santorum said that gay marriage was like dog sex. Incorrect. The contest to come up with a dirty act to associate with Santorum's name appears to have its origins in Savage's response to a letter in May 2003 (seen here). Colbert only referred to it years later, after Santorum gave an interview in which the initial events were mentioned and Savage decided for some bizarre reason to revive the campaign. Santorum responded to Savage's attacks with more dignity and maturity than a s***-headed brat like Savage has ever known in his entire, idiotic life. I don't know why Savage keeps going; I guess having the intelligence level of a five year old means he doesn't know when to quit and let sleeping dogs lie. Oh well, Santorum's not the one looking foolish anymore.

Who voted for Sarah Palin as the one they want to win? I'm not even sure I'd pick her over Obama, and my feelings on that guy should be pretty clear. No joke, I will totally write in Netanyahu/West. That's my version of Mickey Mouse. Honestly, to me, with the separation of powers and legislative power being in Congress, the President is in a way ceremonial. Yeah, there are executive orders and certain things the President can do to influence policy in his own right, but major game-changing legislation has to go through Congress. So when Obama comes out and says, "I'm gonna close Gitmo and end the wars and blah blah blah", or any candidate comes out and makes big promises like that, my main reaction is "bulls***!" They just can't do all those things automatically because it has to go through Congress. They can initiate or work with Congress on such issues, but in this country, s*** like that won't be done simply because the President says so. So what I'm getting at is that, as a single man (versus a body of 535 people who are powerful and recognizable as a group but not so much as individuals), the POTUS is the main representative of the American people. And as much as I hate being represented by someone who I perceive as standing in opposition to my ideals and my beliefs and my vision of what America is supposed to be, I also don't want to be represented by someone as f***ing stupid as Palin. I mean, she gave this in response to being asked what Supreme Court decisions other than Roe v. Wade she disagreed with. I don't like being represented by an arrogant leftist twit, nor do I want to be represented by a functionally illiterate dips***. The best thing conservatives could do is cast her aside and relegate her to appearances on pundit programming.

Also, I love how liberals just adore Huntsman. As if that's a credential that's going to help him win the GOP nomination. HA!

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Sep 13, 2011 -> 10:12 PM) I want Santorum, just for when a teacher assigns a project to a kid and has them look up Santorum. Yuck. Moronic tactics like that don't increase my respect for the gay community. Really, slandering someone simply because you dislike their opinions? Weak. If Dan Savage wants to increase tolerance for the homosexual community, he should try tactics beyond acting like a petulant child. But considering he is a person who wished all Republicans dead, I'm not holding my breath. I'm a man. Making a mean-spirited nickname for me because you hate the way I think isn't going to change me and it damn sure isn't going to win my sympathies. Anyone who thinks Dan Savage advanced gay rights in doing what he did needs a serious maturity check.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Sep 13, 2011 -> 12:41 PM) I like John Huntsman, and he's the only one in a general election that I think could beat the President. I think you're in for a big surprise next November.

Just think about it. Dunn could be a legitimate candidate for CBPOTY next year if he even hits, say, .240 with 20 HRs and 80 RBIs. That's how bad he's been. Another odd thought, if Dunn magically learns how to hit for contact, he could feasibly double his BA with a career year next year. I mean, it will never happen. But if you think of another struggling player, like Beckham, he'd have to hit .460 to double his. Not feasible, not even for Ty Cobb. And if you even take what many would consider the next worse season in baseball history, Rob Deere's 1991 season, you'd have to hit .358 to double that, something which has only been done ten times in this century. So not really feasible either. But Dunn would only have to hit .324! In 2007, 15 people did that, including the non-superstar likes of Chone Figgins and Mike Lowell. Not saying Dunn is ever going to hit .324. Hell, the way he swings these days, I wouldn't place money on .200. I'm just saying that an average double what his is isn't really uncommon at all. Dunn sucks.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 08:34 AM) Let's run endless reflections of a terrorist attack, but not examine the causes --or the ramifications -- of said terrorist attack. This is exactly what I'd expect from you.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 06:20 PM) When I was a junior in high school a little kid who lived next door to my girlfriend killed himself with his parent's gun, so I know that is a big factor in weighing the risks. Kind of goes in line with what I said earlier about different perspectives and circumstances, eh? I might not be as pro-gun as I am if my childhood had included such a tragedy. Either way, again, I can't fault you for your decision.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 04:53 PM) I made a decision when my oldest son was 2 that I wasn't go to have a handgun in the home. The rational was for the weapon to be useful for self defense it would have to be ready in seconds. That made it too available and in too dangerous of a state with kids around. No matter how well I trained them. I can't fault you for that (although I don't think I'll take the same approach when I have children). However, if you still have an interest in handguns while keeping it safe from children and still available in seconds, I'd recommend GunVault. I have one myself. It's small enough to sit on a nightstand and it is quick to open yet sturdy if you're not supposed to get in it. Just a friendly suggestion. I'm not a big hunter. And by that, I mean, I've never gone hunting in my life. But I do agree with you about Texas. One of my favorite things to do is drive out of the city and shoot at beer bottles we set up in the desert. We have a good time out there.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 02:07 PM) The problem with groups is other people start deciding who is in the group, which may or may not be true. I have a much different image of Mexican immigrants than almost anyone else here. I teach at a school that is 99% Hispanic. I live in an area that is 90% Hispanic. Economically our area thrives because of Mexican tourism. When I group together Mexican immigrants, I see doctors, lawyers, business people, laborers, and almost everything in between. Others around here only group up the lowest wage earning immigrants. Some people group Muslims and only group the extremists, leaving out the majority. Almost everyone here would label me a Dem. But I'm a gun owning, balanced budget wanting, abortion hating, limit social program, Dem. So I bristle when I hear Dems think this or Dems think that. You and I share more common ground than I previously thought. What kind of guns you got? I've got a SIG 556 (it's front heavy but the piston operation makes it far more reliable than any AR IMO), a Mossberg 590 with pistol grip and telescoping stock, the obligatory 1911, a Glock 19, Beretta 92 and HK USP in .45. I'd like to get an AR soon just because they are so customizable. I could go on all day with everything I want to own, so I'll spare you the rest of it. And I get what you're saying about groups. In 99% of them, there's good ones and bad ones. But as far as I'm concerned, there are a few groups that just don't offer anything. I'm not going to meet a Nazi or a Stalinist or a Klansman, people whose beliefs led to the deaths of millions throughout the last century, and think, "he's not evil, just different." There are evil groups out there, but that label applies to the murderers and the torturers and the tyrants and the thugs. It doesn't apply to groups that want more spending or less spending, more gun rights or less gun rights, more social programs or less social programs etc. If you call such people evil just to further your political agenda ("racist" comes to mind here too), it cheapens the word's meaning when you eventually have to use it on someone who truly is evil or racist. I hope that makes sense.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 11:50 AM) We found some common ground, I agree 100%. Good to hear. Of course, there are some groups out there that bear exception to the rule of being different and not evil, but those should be pretty obvious. And hopefully those types won't be joining our discussion anytime soon.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 11:38 AM) Question, have we not learned much about economies in the past 80 years? Is it still such and inexact science that improving on the results from the depression isn't possible? Why is there even a debate as to what to do? Because each side manages to find enough examples to support their arguments, and this evidence will keep their beliefs entrenched even in the face of opposing evidence. Politics has been around for a long time. Why are there debates on anything anymore? Maybe because there aren't any absolutely correct answers. For instance, I have my evidence for widespread gun ownership and someone else will have their evidence in support of gun control. It's just different angles that we're coming from. I totally believe my stances and will argue against all comers, but that doesn't mean the opposition is evil or ignorant. They're just different people coming from different backgrounds and philosophies. Just my two cents.

QUOTE (VictoryMC98 @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 11:16 AM) It be 15% if they did nothing.. you know that right? You're hopeless.

QUOTE (VictoryMC98 @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 11:00 AM) Wait, What.. Not even close.. The last did its job... Yeah, that's why we have 9.1% unemployment right now.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 09:48 AM) I guess we'll add people from 50 years ago to the list of things you hate. So much hate in your life. But again, a very useful tool in your line of work. And enjoy the destruction of shooting. Do you ever wonder why you get such a thrill out of destroying things? Why you have such a need to prove your manhood? Do you ever wonder why you feel so threatened when you see pictures of hippies? And I am off to teach some youngsters how to burn an American flag That's idiotic. I don't need to prove my machismo to anyone. Shooting's just fun (and part of my profession). You should try it some time.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 09:08 AM) So you don't like pandering to the feelings of Muslims, do you have an issues with Rev. Phelps, a good Christian minister or should we pander to the feelings of his targets, gays, soldiers, etc. I don't like pandering to anyone. And I hate Fred Phelps. Once again, you prove why you are the most hyperbolic person on this forum. Anyways, I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm off to the range. Gonna commemorate 9/11 by shooting my SIG 556 at pictures of hippies. America...f*** yeah!

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 08:56 AM) I am so glad that our military training is working. At some point Infantry will need to kill people. Desensitizing him to the fact that they are humans would not be helpful. Training him to look at foreign flags as insulting and Muslims as less than human, is probably a necessity. Keep up the good work. remember there are two kinds of people in the world, Patriotic Americans (those that agree with you) and targets! Keep it up, you big drama queen. Besides, with his "party over country" rhetoric, Barack Obama does the same thing. Those who agree with him are patriots, those who don't are putting "party over country", instead of simply vowing to stop policies they find to be bad.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 08:41 AM) You know you're argument is s*** when even a hastily put together google search provides ample evidence to refute it. Evidence to refute what? That there were Muslims arrested by American authorities who happened to be innocent? Would you be talking about scum like Moazzam Begg? You know, the guy who trained with al-Qaeda and was such an ardent supporter of the Taliban that even Amnesty International disowned his ass? Were you talking about him? Or how about Sabar Lal Melma, who won his freedom from Gitmo somehow, and then got killed fighting in Afghanistan? Were you talking about him? Well, at least that one has a happy ending. There are decent, innocent Muslims out there. These guys are not among them.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 08:36 AM) Perhaps they are doing it because they admittedly were using racial profiling to the nth degree and locked up countless innocent Muslims for no other reason than their appearance. Ha! Ok, dude, whatever makes you sleep at night.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 08:19 AM) you don't get how law enforcement and intelligence agencies work, do you? I majored in Criminal Justice. I just happen to think "community policing" is garbage. I think its even worse when it adds in this element of ethnic pandering.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 11, 2011 -> 06:56 AM) lol at the bolded. Yes, it's still up for debate. The scientific research to find at least one good Muslim hasn't concluded. I hope one day we do confirm that there is in fact a good Muslim on this planet. SMH Might go down as your douchiest comment on this site. That's avoiding the point. The point is that regardless of your thoughts on all Muslims, the Ayatollah was a bad one. It's not like they showed a picture of a 7-11 clerk with a beard and a turban and called it state terrorism. They showed the Ayatollah Khomeini. He was indeed a national leader who endorsed terrorism.

Oh sheesh. Now this immigrant doofus who is about to graduate from UCLA is complaining how difficult life is because she can't get a driver's license and she has to ride the bus everywhere and she has to manage all that on top of studying. Boohoo. Cry me a freaking river, you crook. And of course, the obligatory comparison of Sheriff Joe Arpaio (American hero) to Nazism, by some hag of a woman and employer of illegal aliens. As if arresting people for breaking the law is comparable to stuffing innocent Jews into ovens. What a turd.

For some idiotic reason, I'm watching Current TV's This Illegal American Life. I know this is Al Gore's channel, but really, Al? Yeah, I realize these people are actual human beings. Thanks for trying to rub that in my face. Thing is...I don't give a s***. There is a legal way to come to this country and an illegal way. You do it the illegal way, you oughta get sent the f*** home. You don't get to go to UCLA (and f*** UCLA and California for admitting these criminals), you don't get to build a nice home in East LA and you don't get to do touchy-feely interviews with dopey, smiling "journalists" who are desperately trying to legitimize your existence in this country and demonize those who oppose it. If a latino wants to put his paperwork in and become an American the right way (like numerous people I went to basic training with), then he's free to do that. But if you don't want to play by the rules, get the f*** out of my country!