If this is true...

[dd74]

Originally posted by Aurel
Apparently, Bush tried to make a big joke last night about that wmd hunt. This is truly apaling that a president would do that, and totally disrespectfull of those who lost their lives for this search. I hope he wil apologize for that, but I doubt it. At least, Kerry did not miss him Lately, I`d say the Bushies just took two good hits with Clarke and that

Aurel

Eh...I don't think it's that big a deal. It was a light-hearted event. What else is he going to joke about? The economy? Jobless Americans? "No child left behind?"

He's honing his skills for the comedy circuit. Nov. might be a tough month. You never know who might be unemployed next.

[Aurel]

ey Aurel, since we're off topic now, exactly how offended are you that Kerry is using the Vietnam War where thousands of brave Americans died to further his election campaign? Or haven't you seen his latest ad? My "doublestandardsenses" are tinglin

I wholheartedly admit of my double standard, and I make no mystery of being biased. However, I am less offended by Kerry, simply because he really went to war and got wounded. That gives him a little more credibility in my eyes. Plus, he speaks french

Aurel

[lendaddy]

Fair enough, atleast you're honest

[Superman]

Well, I'm sure this is all about benefitting our society, particularly those most vulnerable, and forming appropriate public policy in order to improve the health and happiness and security of our citizenry. Certainly it's not about power and money. Politics is about making benevolent public policy, right? So, relax you guys.

In truth, politicians have HUGE egos and HUGE financial warchests that they use to enlarge their egos further by moving into positions of greater power. In truth, the skills needed to be a good STATESMAN are antithetical to the skills needed to successfully get elected. It's a game of appearances, and we will continue to find it unusual when an elected official actually handles their public policy duties properly once in office.

Voters are exceedingly ignorant, and that is necessary in order for certain kinds of people to get elected. Unfortunately, my fear and expectation is that appearances will be orchestrated in such a way that Mr. Bush might finally achieve the popular vote, and will probably receive the most electoral votes, regardless of whether those states tallied votes accurately.

In the meantime, Mr. Bush has moved us further away from the national security we need. Saddam and Osama hate each other and do not cooperate. They are greater ideological enemies than Bush/Osama or Bush/Saddam. And now the Arab world hates us more than before, and Al Quida has much better ideological ammunition.

Korea has WMD, supports Al;Quida and taunted Bush while he was making his Iraq invasion plans. So, a nation that was publicly flaunting its ability and inclination to make trouble for the free world was overlooked (in invasion plans) in favor of a nation with very thin terrorist ties but which is floating on a sea of crude oil.

And Sweden, for the last few decades at least, has been routinely regarded as having the highest, or nearly the highest standard of living on the planet. I'm not sure you can convince me that high taxes is a price too high for the goal of health, security and happiness. But in your typically-American supremely-important FINANCIAL analysis, you really should wait until the costs of health care and retirement in this country have been paid and are in balance. It's not about money, but voters think it is. And they think that the better Wall Street does, the better their lives will get. I'm fairly convinced that the exact opposite is true.

[on-ramp]

whoever is advising Bush is an idiot..

"Saddam must disarm, Saddam must disarm"......that's all we heard leading up to the start of the Iraq War.....BUT, 2 days before the Iraq war started, he told Saddam : "You have 48 hours for you and your sons to pack it up".

WTF???!!!! Did he want him to disarm or to leave his country?? Big difference.

And how in the world should a dictator of a country for more than 30 years supposed to take that?

Now that's confusion, like a bunch of blind lesbians in a Tuna factory.

[island911]

Super -- Sweden has been sitting on a pot of black gold (and has relatively few people). . .by your logic, there, Arab states have wealth because they give women no rights.

btw, Have you heard the story of the Pippy Longstockings author (Swedish) . . .she was paying 113% anually, in taxes.

Also, when you say "Mr. Bush has moved us further away from the national security we need." . . just what type of national security are you thinking of?

[dd74]

Hey, doesn't Holland have high taxes? Well at least there you get a free bicycle.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

And they have hollandaise!!!

[Aurel]

btw, Have you heard the story of the Pippy Longstockings author (Swedish) . . .she was paying 113% anually, in taxes.

I`d rather pay 113% taxes on a $1M/yr salary than 30% on a $100k/yr salary, but that is just me

Aurel

[ZOA NOM]

Aurel is French... it's all starting to make sense to me now.

[Aurel]

Racist

[island911]

Originally posted by Aurel
I`d rather pay 113% taxes on a $1M/yr salary than 30% on a $100k/yr salary, but that is just me

Aurel

uhhmm. . .so you would rather take home $130k/yr debt, than take home $70k/yr.

Aurel, you still make no cents.

[Leland Pate]

I love it.
People are saying we should have invaded Afghanistan prior to 9/11 to cut off Osama's network, before they could strike us.

But these same people are screamin bloody hell about Iraq.... hmmmmmmmm....

[speeder]

Well, everyone was behind Afghanistan because the cause was solid and definitely linked to 9/11. Bush said, "give up Bin Laden and his people or you are going out of business next week".

I was behind Bush 100% at that time, (as was the country and the civilised world), heck I was even willing to forgive some shortcomings from the past on Bush in the name of national unity. Iraq is a completely different story in the eyes of (most) of the world. Everyone knows that Saddam was a POS, but also no longer an imminent/grave/serious/etc. danger to the U.S. Everyone also knows that Saddam is blamed by many for costing George I the election in '92, plus he tried to have him assasinated at one time. Not a real popular guy around the Bush family and friends, and rightly so, but some actually trusted that George II could put personal vendettas aside and be professional when trusted with being the most powerful leader in the world in command of the most powerful military in the world. (Which you of course proudly serve in, Leland).

Instead, he made invading Iraq the #1 priority of his administration from day 1, aprapo of nothing, and tried to connect it to 9/11 to sell it to the public. He's a POS in my book. Hopefully he will be out of office and sitting on Halliburton or Bechtel's board by this time next year.

[island911]

Originally posted by speeder
. . Iraq is a completely different story in the eyes of (most) of the world. Everyone knows that Saddam was a POS, but also no longer an imminent/grave/serious/etc. danger to the U.S. . ..

was afganastan seen as an "imminent/grave/serious/etc. danger to the U.S" --pre 9/11?

Saddams WMD are, to this day, not accounted for.

"Trust me -- Ve have no veapons of moss destruction"

[island911]

Originally posted by speeder
. . . Not a real popular guy around the Bush family and friends, and rightly so, but some actually trusted that George II could put personal vendettas aside . . .

For GW to think Saddam was NOT looking to take him (GW -- the sitting pres & son and of Bush 41) out, or down a notch or 2, would be reckless.

doncha think?

[ZOA NOM]

posted by Aurel:

Racist

Umm.. Aurel.... French isn't a race.

It's a problem, but it's not a race.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Yes, the accepted terms for a French-hater are "Francophobe" or "Republican".

PS: Note the "winky"; this is indicative of a JOKE. We now return you to your regularly scheduled post.

[speeder]

You guys are funny...

I'm going over to the Cayenne thread now, just to give me an appreciation for the low-key gentility here.