Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 4:55 pm
Panther, I didn't say there were "rampant" war crimes in Vietnam, or anything about the chain of command, or that every vet was involved. What I said was "didn't they?" The actual thrust of my comment is that the charge against Kerry that he drove antiamerican sentiment in our foes should acknowledge the fact that Bush IS doing the same with the islamofascists right now. The only part of the comment dealing with Vietnam was two words indicating that I believed more than one war crime took place in Vietnam, a statement I will back up with some cites if you insist.
"Sounds like you've done a damn good job of describing Al Queda..."
Yep, I suppose--but I don't see how meeting their insanity with our own is going to help the problem!!!!!
I've never said a word publicly or privately about CBS's documents. I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume Kerry fluffed up his injuries to escape Vietnam. I might have done the same. Anyway, quote some of my outlandish statements on SBVT and I'll explain them, but (as Rather pointed out in an insufficient defense) no one's refuted the charges against Bush, just the status of the documents they found. And for someone who really just took some flying lessons on the taxpayer's dime instead of facing combat, I find it offensive that he used more taxpayer $ to paint himself as a vet.
"But, you've said before that you don't think us lowly common folk should be able to "self medicate" because we aren't trained physicians and will screw it all up. Pfffffft."
Where's the quote? I wager it was about antibiotics, which even doctors can't use appropriately, and as a result, we have an antibiotic resistance nightmare. Things are worse in Spain where people self prescribe these drugs. Personally I think docs who can't use them appropriately shouldn't be able to give them either.
"How is Bush doing this more than those in another party who have it out for me, a white male?"
Bill, I'm a white male too, as it turns out. And I gotta say that I feel a lot less threatened by the democrat's attempts (to ____? Most of them are white guys themselves!) than by the republicans. I've yet to face a constitutional amendment to limit my personal freedoms on the basis of being white. When that happens, I'll be right there with you worrying about the Dems along with the Republicans.
As for the Patriot Act, I don't think the fact that something's been done before is a useful argument. I was actually refering to the FMA, which is an unprecedentedly mean spirited effort to divide America and make Bush's base worry about some of their fellow Americans, for no reason, instead of focus on their real problems, all so he can retain power.
"What makes you think he didn't consider alternative strategies?"
Personal accounts from people who watched decisions being made and were horrified at the sudden change from reasoned discussion and consideration of alternatives to the Bush team's mode of just going with what this guy already thought. Clinton was a sleaze, but one who brought professors into the white house several times a week on a variety of topics so he could be a better president. Bush gets all his news from rumsfeld and cheney and is proud he won't read newspapers.
"Is this a rigid, stupid man, or a decisive leader?"
Both, evidently. I've never claimed Bush was a waffler.
"Let's make you president on September 12, 2001"
Makes as much sense as giving Bush a stethoscope and asking him to fix heart attacks. I wouldn't want him to have too much access to controlled substances tho. As far as the economy goes, this is wartime, but then some would say it shouldn't have been, or that he shouldn't have given tax breaks and increased spending at the same time, etc etc. I'm not an economist and will lose such an argument with anyone who pays a lot of attention to this issue. Yet, I'm too smart to suggest flying to Mars while we're busy racking up the biggest debt in the history of the nation. There's a Salon piece available now on a conservative accounting of Bsh's economics, for interested parties.
"And just what idiot let all these conditions fester in Afghanistan before they finally ended up in the attacks on 9/11?"
Long discussion. Perhaps for another thread. I don't think we can blame Clinton and praise Bush for all disasters and victories during Bush's term, let's leave it at that.
So in sum, you've convinced me, Bill--Bush has the public relations skills and diplomacy of a moron, but, he's get some well thought out and disturbing policies in other fronts.
"Sounds like you've done a damn good job of describing Al Queda..."
Yep, I suppose--but I don't see how meeting their insanity with our own is going to help the problem!!!!!
I've never said a word publicly or privately about CBS's documents. I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume Kerry fluffed up his injuries to escape Vietnam. I might have done the same. Anyway, quote some of my outlandish statements on SBVT and I'll explain them, but (as Rather pointed out in an insufficient defense) no one's refuted the charges against Bush, just the status of the documents they found. And for someone who really just took some flying lessons on the taxpayer's dime instead of facing combat, I find it offensive that he used more taxpayer $ to paint himself as a vet.
"But, you've said before that you don't think us lowly common folk should be able to "self medicate" because we aren't trained physicians and will screw it all up. Pfffffft."
Where's the quote? I wager it was about antibiotics, which even doctors can't use appropriately, and as a result, we have an antibiotic resistance nightmare. Things are worse in Spain where people self prescribe these drugs. Personally I think docs who can't use them appropriately shouldn't be able to give them either.
"How is Bush doing this more than those in another party who have it out for me, a white male?"
Bill, I'm a white male too, as it turns out. And I gotta say that I feel a lot less threatened by the democrat's attempts (to ____? Most of them are white guys themselves!) than by the republicans. I've yet to face a constitutional amendment to limit my personal freedoms on the basis of being white. When that happens, I'll be right there with you worrying about the Dems along with the Republicans.
As for the Patriot Act, I don't think the fact that something's been done before is a useful argument. I was actually refering to the FMA, which is an unprecedentedly mean spirited effort to divide America and make Bush's base worry about some of their fellow Americans, for no reason, instead of focus on their real problems, all so he can retain power.
"What makes you think he didn't consider alternative strategies?"
Personal accounts from people who watched decisions being made and were horrified at the sudden change from reasoned discussion and consideration of alternatives to the Bush team's mode of just going with what this guy already thought. Clinton was a sleaze, but one who brought professors into the white house several times a week on a variety of topics so he could be a better president. Bush gets all his news from rumsfeld and cheney and is proud he won't read newspapers.
"Is this a rigid, stupid man, or a decisive leader?"
Both, evidently. I've never claimed Bush was a waffler.
"Let's make you president on September 12, 2001"
Makes as much sense as giving Bush a stethoscope and asking him to fix heart attacks. I wouldn't want him to have too much access to controlled substances tho. As far as the economy goes, this is wartime, but then some would say it shouldn't have been, or that he shouldn't have given tax breaks and increased spending at the same time, etc etc. I'm not an economist and will lose such an argument with anyone who pays a lot of attention to this issue. Yet, I'm too smart to suggest flying to Mars while we're busy racking up the biggest debt in the history of the nation. There's a Salon piece available now on a conservative accounting of Bsh's economics, for interested parties.
"And just what idiot let all these conditions fester in Afghanistan before they finally ended up in the attacks on 9/11?"
Long discussion. Perhaps for another thread. I don't think we can blame Clinton and praise Bush for all disasters and victories during Bush's term, let's leave it at that.
So in sum, you've convinced me, Bill--Bush has the public relations skills and diplomacy of a moron, but, he's get some well thought out and disturbing policies in other fronts.
