Unknown News | Dialogue: Letters to the editor

"News that's not known, or not known enough."

Dialogue: March 17 - 23, 2007

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America is almost completely "owned" by monied (read gangster) interests

by Herb Ruhs, MD

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

If you can't afford the judge, don't do the crime.

Herb Ruhs, MD

That's better than the standard cliché.

Helen & Harry

Well, I consider "If you can't afford the judge, don't do the crime" as just a plain description of what is behind "prosecutor gate." Judges, like prosecutors are largely political appointees, and even where, on the local level, they are elected, the "rules" under which judges are controlled amount to a political veto against any elected judge acting contrary to the aims of a political establishment that is almost completely "owned" by monied (read gangster) interests.

Essentially, if you want to "do business" in the Empire you have to buy a get out of jail free card. So there is no reason to do honest business, which is just going to loose you money relative to your competitors.

I remain curious as to why the US population seems blind to the sea of corruption they float in, and even seem to favor of it. Corruption just leads to ruin. A proven fact.

So, right on the surface of the matter, judges as well as prosecutors are up for sale, period. The basic thing on offer by the political "leadership" to supporters is an opportunity to be above the law. There is no such thing as an "independent judiciary" in the US. This has been the case for a very, very long time.

Looked at carefully, "Prosecutor gate" has more to do with a rearguard action by those political groups that are seeing themselves pushed out of any role in running the country by the "full spectrum dominance" folks (military/industrial/congressional/intelligence complex) who see no reason to exclude the US population from the hammer of dominance in their pursuit of imperial power.

Herb Ruhs, MD

I keep telling myself, the US population seems blind to the sea of corruption they float in, because nobody's really telling them about it, except pipsqueaks like you and me. Most Americans, I think are working their asses off just trying to keep up with the rent or the mortgage and keep food in the fridge, and don't have the time or energy to follow the news closely. And the media has thoroughly sidestepped and downplayed the staggeringly un-American acts of the Bush-Cheney administration. If you're not following the news closely, if you're just reading a newspaper or watching a newscast once in a while, mainstream news makes it look like everything's "business as usual."

Helen & Harry

Doc Herb replies, Chris M. replies

9/11 and the New York Post

by Mike G.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Hollywood's 9/11 idiot brigade

Hi ! You must be up on the latest on O'Donnell, Sheen and Rivero with the NY Post. I sent Mr. Johnson my opinion on his "opinion". Wanted to share it with you....

Dear Dick.

You surely are not doing your readership any good by throwing your un-educated opinions on 9/11 around. All you did was make yourself look DUMB! You, my dear sir are quickly becoming the minority regarding Sept 11th. Virtually EVERYBODY KNOWS the government is/was LYING!!! Why don't you really do your homework and join those who have serious questions. We could use such a dignified(?) person as yourself. You really could throw a wrench into the gears of the powers that be. That is unless you agree with the direction they are taking -- which may be the case, considering who you work for!

For one moment I cannot suppose that you have not seen the real evidence that portrays the official version of Sept. 11 as fiction. You sir, are a JOURNALIST! You STUDY the facts! YOU get to the bottom of the story. No? Do you simply believe the tripe that you have been fed by the government? It is full of holes, conflictions, and lacks credibility. One need not be a Democrat or a Republican to see that. One only needs to do some serious research as I would presume you have (?). Or is it that you simply spout what the official version of events is? Truly you KNOW that the government has LIED before!!! Hell, they LIE every day!!! Let's not even go there ESPECIALLY considering the present "president". He is so full of shit about everything!

And so are you.

Wake up and smell the thermite, my friend. I am not going to tell you where to look after all that is your job, Mr. Reporter. Or maybe, as I have heard in many discussions today that you simply just should go back to reporting on Britney or Anna Nicole or whatever. Maybe you should just go back to sleep.

Good night and good luck.

Mike G.

PS Do you get paid to bullshit us into believing the government version about 911?

PPS Is it worth it?

Mike G.

Nazi boot-lickers

by Andrew M.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Walter Reed Hospital is paradise

Take out the cuss words and I can say Jesus Christ had given this talk. Sounds just like his denunciation of the scribes and the Pharisees {present day occupation forces in the U.S.} in the 23rd chapter of Matthew. I'm Vietnam era troop and I felt exactly the same way back in the early '70s as I do now. That same feeling of "screw all this" has resurfaced by the pro-Nazi boot-lickers running today's show. Glad I'm neutral, as I can't stand to take part in the illegal killings, just as it was back then, so it is today. C'mon Michael, "Stand Up" and do some "Righteous Killing".

Andrew M.

Southern fried bullshit!

by Chris D.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Your crazy country!

In Texas, a white teenager burns down her family's home and receives probation. A black one shoves a hall monitor and gets 7 years in prison. The state NAACP calls it 'a signal to black folks.'

My initial response was one of disbelief. A quick survey of the site information gave way to a second response: A wave of blind, unbridled, unrelenting RAGE! Doesn't this shit have appeals? There are murderers, arsonists, rapists, and various other career criminals with far lighter sentences than a 14 YEAR OLD BLACK GIRL got for shoving a school hall monitor that pushed her away from the door when she tried to enter before the morning bell.

I choked on the profusion of obscenities that was about to erupt from me and now have the hiccups. Hiccups of righteous indignation.

A man ran over a 54 year old woman and a 3 year old child, both black, and his punishment was to send the family a card every Christmas. Negligent homicide. Christmas card. Pushing a teacher blocking your entry, 7 years in a facility filled with career criminals and sex offenders. Some of the latter are on the payroll.

I'm not going to say that racism is totally dead in Canada. It's not, that hideous beast is still breathing and befouling the precious air I share with my fellow Canadians but so help me if it sticks its ugly nose out where the majority can see it gets a boot up its ass! What happened to everyone being equal in the eyes of the law?

Shaquanda, dear child, this is one pissed off white boy on your side.

Chris D.

Ann in the UK replies

Unanimous jackassery

by Chris M.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Georgia Republican says Gore not allowed on House floor

Excerpt: As Gore visited with former colleagues on the House floor around lunchtime, Rep. Westmoreland argued that the Democrat was violating recently enacted ethics rules rescinding floor privileges for former congressmen working as agents of a foreign government.

Because Gore serves as an adviser to Britain on climate change, Westmoreland said, he shouldn't have been allowed.

"It is in total violation of the House rules," Westmoreland, a third-term lawmaker from Grantville, said in an interview after raising a parliamentary inquiry on the issue. "They don't even pay any attention to their own rules."

How is it that every republican has turned out to be a jack ass ?? Statistically this should not be possible.

^{* * *} Florida moves to wipe out clout of smaller states with Jan. 29 presidential primary

Excerpt: Hoping to muscle Florida into a pre-eminent role in picking next year's Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, the state House voted Wednesday to leapfrog almost all the other states and set a Jan. 29 primary, with an option to go even earlier.

The change, championed by House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, and approved 115-1, is part of a national rush by states coveting the clout of Iowa and New Hampshire. Those states have enormous sway in choosing presidential candidates, even though they are small and, some say, unrepresentative of the nation's people and politics. The proposal must still pass the Senate.

I do not believe this. Talk about "one-up'sman-ship". This is beginning to sound like one of those bad "light bulb" jokes that make it around the net.

Chris M.

I guess I don't much care about the particulars of what states hold early or late primaries. The whole system of picking candidates is so wildly corrupt it ought to be scrapped.

Helen & Harry

Turkey hunting

by John G.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

According to the Buzzflash website, Turkey is conducing military operations inside of Iraq. Now this is not even reported in the American newspapers, as far as I know. Interesting. I like this one: My fear is most Democrats are silent for the same reason Republicans are. As Upton Sinclair said,

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it."

^{* * *} Iran started a naval exercise in the Persian gulf -- they can do that. especially when it's surrounded by two fucking fleets of U.S. vessels. Then the asshole British board a Iranian merchant vessel the next fucking day! Does this sound like someone knocking the chip off of someone's shoulder? So the Iranians capture these 15 guys on their boat--- and they keep them. Here the details are really cloudy . No one said how this was accomplished. It's par for the fucking course on the information highway here in our democracy. But the topper is that the price of oil shot up to 62 dollars a barrel ! So "someone" made a buck on it. Amazing.

John G.

And it's accepted

by Ann in the UK

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Your crazy country!

"Business as usual in wide swathes of the South"??? And it's accepted??? Just like that???

Excuse me, but aren't your guys (with our help, obviously) presently exporting your particular brand of democracy, justice blah blah blah blah, to a bunch of brown folk in the Middle East??? Is this what that means? Fuck. They're screwed aren't they? Even more screwed than we thought I mean.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I need another lie down now :-(

Ann in the UK

You hadn't heard that America's South is wildly racist, even more so than the rest of the nation? It's getting better, bit by bit, as the ninth-level racists who lynched blacks in their youth die off, and the slightly more progressive next generation takes power across the states that fought for slavery in the Civil War. But dragging some people out of the 19th century is a slow process indeed.

And certainly in a sense, yes, this is the 'democracy' Bush-Cheney are exporting.

Helen & Harry

Yes, of course I knew that racism existed in the southern states -- everyone does. I just thought it was the same sort of ignorant, narrow-minded racism that we have over here but, in greater numbers of the populace. It isn't. Racism in this country exists, in a minority and, I'm happy to report, in these post-PC days, it isn't openly accepted/shrugged off by the majority (you must have heard about the Big Brother racism furor that hit the UK a few weeks ago).

I have to say I'm pretty shocked at how readily accepted/tolerated such -- obviously deeply ingrained and widely spread -- racism is across the rest of the US. And when you take into account that you've just hung a man for committing genocide against his own people -- which, if you're already readily incarcerating innocent kids for years on bogus charges simply for being the 'wrong' color, can only be a step or two away -- it smacks of hypocrisy to say the least.

I've spoken to others on your side of the pond today who, to my horror, also shared your, rather disturbing "ahh, that's just how it is down there" attitude. How can that sort of acceptance be tolerated when kids like Shaquanda are having the most important years of their lives ruined/stolen? Where is your outrage? Where are your child welfare/protection groups?? Your churches? Your parents? Your journalists? Why aren't they/you all banging on the doors of the authorities and unequivocally demanding the child be released TODAY? That all such kids (as I'm now assuming her situation isn't unique) are released TODAY? How can it be, in 21st century America, that a kid can be locked up for next to nothing, and virtually everyone just shrugs, or doesn't even bat an eyelid?

All I can say is, even aside from all the horrendous crimes of Bush & Co, the US is even more fucked up than I'd ever even realized.

Best regards as ever,

Ann in the UK

Where is our outrage? It's all over the place, Ann. I'm outraged over a war that's killed three-quarters of a million people for next-to-nothing, outraged that a lying treasonous tyrant remains Vice President of these United States, outraged that if I live into old age we'll probably see my home town go underwater due to global warming.

Darlin', you can't go through every day of your life banging pots and pans over every new outrage that makes the papers without eventually either going bat-sh*t crazy or getting numb.

Shaquanda's outrage will end when she gets out of prison, and she will -- if and when enough people make enough stink. We've added our smelly outrage and we've urged others to add theirs. For anyone tuning in late, please write to Governor Rick Perry at P.O. Box 12428, Austin TX 78711 USA, or phone Perry's office at (512) 463-2000.

If there's a silver lining to Shaquanda's injustice, it's that her case might make others notice (as you have) that the U.S. is indeed even more fucked up than you'd ever realized. We're on board the Titanic, and it's full speed ahead in the dead of night.

Helen & Harry

Ann in the UK replies, Cassandra replies

"So yes," he says

by Bill M.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Barbarians who'd behead us or perhaps Your forefathers would disown your ass

You must be one of those that believe Bush is like Hitler.

With the exception of the radical barbarians that supposedly claim a religious believe for hating all non-Muslims, most people want to come to this Country for the opportunity it offers for those who want to work. Also for those who also just want to be on the dole. I don't see many boat people fleeing the USA. I don't see Mexico or Canada having a problem with illegal American immigrants. So if this Country is so bad and so forceful and restrictive, why do all these people come here? Do you really believe that France and other Europeans Countries have a better system of Government? Their Socialist Economies are really doing great, RIGHT! It is not a crime to become rich through hard work, and people shouldn't be demonized for becoming rich. The rich invest money which provides jobs and a standard of living for those that want to work without having to invest their lives as the truly motivated people do. Even the "poor" in this Country have it much better than truly poor people in African and South American Countries, which are usually run by real Tyrants.

So yes, I think that you truly don't see the good things because your so into finding and defining what is bad in your view.

Bill M.

You type "So yes," as if you're answering a question we've asked, but you haven't. You're ignoring everything we've said, everything we've published. Again, you've sent snippets from I don't know where answering I don't know whom. It's as if you're arguing against "liberals in general," but Bill, we are not "liberals in general." We are not even that "generally liberal," and we are not the straw man you're arguing against in your emails.

We've published three of your notes and this is our third response, and one of our readers has also responded to you, and so far you've ignored it all. You've ignored my specific request that you respond to something we've written or published, instead of sending generic Republican talking points.

I ask, sir, with utter sincerity, please, if you're interested in a conversation, if you're capable of a conversation -- if our emails have reached a living, breathing human being, and you're not simply a robot e-box programmed to send out random-generated conservative clichés -- will you please show us the minimal courtesy of reading what we've written in our previous responses and responding to something we've written in our previous responses?

If you can't do that, our interest in writing responses you won't read is at its end.

Helen & Harry

Bill M. replies, Angry Annie replies

In its proper place

by Jerry D.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Just a note on finding your website through a posting on Rense.com "Walter Reed Hospital is paradise". The Alchemist is super! Not one word out of its proper place!

Thanks,

Jerry D.

Thank you kindly -- I'll pass your hug along to the author. :)

You might also like the follow-up, The real war criminals.

Helen & Harry

Jerry D. replies

Plagiarism

by Kevin Good

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery.

Kevin Good

Then you should feel fully flattered by foodog_foofighter.

Me, I'm no paragon of virtue, but I've always worked with words, so I usually make a sincere effort not to pass off someone else's work as my own, and give credit when words are borrowed.

Helen & Harry

Sex and violence

by Wig

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Man gets probation for sex with dead deer

Sick? Or animal love? What's deviant anymore?

^{* * *} Iraqi forces unable to reduce levels of violence across Iraq, GAO says

Bush's mirage--POOF!!!

Wig

Cassandra replies

Apathetic and disengaged

by Elizabeth W.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Confront your local oppressors

This article is right. I was thinking about this today, about how apathetic and disengaged I am about local politics. When I've lived in bigger cities I'm more involved with what's happening locally but here in smaller town America where I might actually have more influence I discount what our leaders our doing. It's something I have to change if I stay here.

Elizabeth W.

I get discouraged too. The BS seems so obvious to me, I just have a hard time with people who still eat it, swallow it, and smile...

Helen & Harry

The right to lie

by Joerg C.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

"The White House is adamant that their advisors... retain the right to lie"

And I guess they do? Retain the right to lie? Who's going to insist they testify under oath? (No joke.)

Joerg C.

100%

by David V.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Walter Reed Hospital is paradise

To The Alchemist: You are a hell of a good writer. I agree with you 100%.

David V.

Disabled and human trafficking

by Jennifer W.

March 23, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

he tries to keep my personal documents in a "safe place"
sometimes i wait till he is away and I sneak them back
he posed as the "helper" during my meeting with Disability Just as the amount was said
is suddenly there right as I enter any PIN numbers
I change my PIN numbers when I can sneak to a phone
I miss my sister
He promises I'll get a paycheck someday
I fall asleep spontaneously during the day so I can't prove anything
How many times I wish I had a video camera to prove I'm not imaging what I was told
what has taken place
what happened last night
I'm on psych meds so I can't prove anything
I asked the credit bureaus how to protect myself from being accused of identity theft (the new implied threat) or "theft" of wages
Keeps whispering quieter and quieter to people I know, the closer I get the more I get "the back" to my face and the quieter the slander is whispered
Things said aloud for me to overhear
deny what was said later when confronted
deny everything later: I'm crazy enough for that to fly
600 mg of Seroquel and I get my night time break
I'm too tired to do anything about any of this
and I can't go to the hospital again
it's nonsmoking
that's all I got now

Jennifer W.

Cassandra replies

Your crazy country!

by Ann in the UK

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

God, what is happening to your country? I just came across possibly one of the most clear cut cases of racial inequality and injustice I think I've ever heard of -- a black, 14 year old girl in Paris, Texas, sent to prison for 7 YEARS (!!!!) for -- allegedly -- shoving a hall monitor!!!

I mean WTF???????

Texas justice still sucks for black people

Excerpt: And then there is the case that most troubles Brenda Cherry, a local civil rights activist, and leaders of the Texas NAACP, involving a 14-year-old black freshman, Shaquanda Cotton, who shoved a hall monitor at Paris High School in a dispute over entering the building before the school day had officially begun.

The youth had no prior arrest record, and the hall monitor--a 58-year-old teacher's aide--was not seriously injured. But Shaquanda was tried in March 2006 in the town's juvenile court, convicted of "assault on a public servant" and sentenced by Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to prison for up to 7 years, until she turns 21.

Just three months earlier, Superville sentenced a 14-year-old white girl, convicted of arson for burning down her family's house, to probation.

Her only previous 'crimes'? "Wearing a skirt that was an inch too short, pouring too much paint into a cup during an art class and defacing a desk that school officials later conceded bore no signs of damage".

Hmm, sounds like a right tearaway!

Look, I know you don't usually post til Monday -- but God, someone has to get this story out and get that kid out of prison TODAY!!! The poor thing must be TERRIFIED!

Here's her website.

Now I think I need to go and have a lie down.

Best wishes as ever,

Ann in the UK

Frightful things are happening to America, but this? This is business as usual in wide swathes of the South.

Given enough publicity, Shaquanda will probably get out of prison within a few months, but the real outrage is that she would've rotted for years without the Chicago Tribune publicizing her story, and who knows how many hundreds or thousands of similar outrages remain unpublicized?

Anyway, there's no point in contacting the judge. He's obviously a monster. But those of us who give a damn should write to Gov Rick Perry (P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711), or phone the Governor's office at (512) 463-2000. He's another slimeball who dreams of being President, so he might be interested in doing something that'll look good.

Helen & Harry

Chris D. replies, Ann in the UK replies

Baa Baa

by Kevin C.

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Us and them

As soon as i saw "We comrades come from all walks of life, yet we are of like minds " i was reminded of why i served in the military from the 70s, 80s and half of the 90s, to fight communsium. I'm sorry this poor forsaken women Kathy Fisher is so distraught and feels like shes swimming in a sea of ignorance all the time. It maybe because all of us "trained scared civilians" dont wish to become part of her commune system that she so obviously thinks we all should be in. It must seem to Kathy FIisher that the vast mass's are just "stupid and susceptible to brainwashing" and the small minority are just so smart they all belong to MENSA. Sorry we out number you Kathy maybe you could get Georgie Soros to buy a few more votes for you or at least someone thats willing to listen to to you rhetoric

Kevin C.

You still were fighting communism in the '90s? Wow! There are useful idiots and then there are just plain idiots, and you sir are most definitely the latter. Fear not, you will never be one of my comrades. Go back to your favorite chair and your remote. Writing is not one of your skills, but thanks for helping me prove my point.

You can be my poster boy for the rest of the sheeple.

Kathy Fisher

Your forefathers would disown your ass

by Chris D.

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Barbarians who'd behead us

Re "Freedom is The fundamental Human right." [Editor's note: This was a motto on our website until a few years ago, sans the author's incorrect capitalization.] Only in America, everywhere else it is forbidden. Remember that as you bash our troops from defending us against the Barbarians that would enjoy beheading people like you in their Countries.

Bill's right about one thing. Freedom is only an American right, and it really is forbidden in all other countries -- by America.

Ever read the 'Free' Trade Agreement? How about the Byrd Amendment? Notice how American trade law supercedes the laws of many other countries? See what happens in third world countries when someone unfriendly to the US gets elected? Know what happened to Chile in 1972? See who replaces them? *Cough* Augusto Pinochet *Cough* Those barbarians you're talking about are more often than not in charge because the U.S. wanted them in charge.

And now to disassemble his weak-ass second note.

And you have no idea how wonderful this Country is because of it's Freedoms and Liberties, all the things our Fore-Fathers fought and died for. They didn't want to be ruled by Elitist who like to dictate to others how to live ...

Billy-boy, you have no idea what they were fighting for. I say that with total authority, because you are now outraged at other people fighting for the same things, and you're actually defending those who are currently doing that which was fought against so many years ago.

Elitist rule: Wealthy, old money families which dominate both political parties. (Depending which genealogy you read it might all be ONE family.) Most corporations are owned by or partnered with members of these parties. On an ethical note, most "old money families" in the US got where they are through slavery, exploitation of immigrants, and working people literally to death, back when it was legal in the US.

Dictating to others how to live: See first statement. Additionally, the President killed a democratic debate based upon his personal religious beliefs and not allowing the majority of Americans to vote on it as the basis of Democracy would require.

Freedom and Liberty: The systematic destruction of your Constitution, followed by the unthinkable removing of Magna Carta laws, only serves to give the ruling body MORE power to make you do things you don't want to do. You can now be sent to prison or even put to death on a whim if you catch the attention of the President. The Magna Carta is the earliest form of Constitution, and now it's moot. Well done, defenders of freedom. You've suspended in your country the first document that prevented a ruler from killing, enslaving, imprisoning, or confiscating all the possessions of anyone they felt like on the basis of them feeling like it.

Bill, your forefathers would disown your ass. They believed they fought and died to ensure that nobody's life would be controlled by a tyrant an ocean away. I doubt they would be too happy to find that one of their grandkids has become that tyrant, and is making life miserable at home and especially abroad.

I would like once again to compare today's United States to the late Roman Empire. Most Roman citizens enjoyed all kinds of freedoms, liberties, and voted on many things as long as they weren't worthy of the Emperor's attention. Non-citizens, especially those in territories directly ruled by Rome, did not enjoy the same rights but were expected to follow all Roman laws and edicts and be grateful for their painful and bloody enforcement anyway.

When barbarians, Vikings, Goths, and the peoples of the conquered realms all took turns trashing Rome due to the paradoxical mix of tyranny and weakness of the latest CRAZIEST Emperors, nobody was too sorry to see it go apart from the wealthiest of Romans. Say, I hear the barbarians coming! Are they headed to The Land of the Free? Or paying Rome a second visit?

Chris D.

Bill M. replies

In the defense of impunity

by Herb Ruhs, MD

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Arbitrariness, irrationality, and pure incompetence in the defense of impunity is no vice.

Herb Ruhs, MD

Our time is coming

by Kathy Fisher

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

For more than two thousand years we humans have had a steady diet of murder, hatred, fighting, conquering, controlling, thieving and bloodshed for diamonds, gold, rubber, oil, coal, water, land and the oldest trees in the world.

Humans continue to rape Mother Earth and kill her children, and make slaves of anyone who gets in their way. The fittest of the fit ignore the weak, while the rest of you let them get away with it.

These masters of war murder in the name of greed they take what they want. They wager wars based on their wicked lies and they never fail to get a huge supply of willing participants to help them.

We have little time left till our mother pukes on us and throws us all off her back like a dog shakes off its fleas. It's coming home to roost, folks. The dirty toilet we've refused to clean is about to overflow right into our faces.

We may be able to ignore the mess we're in for a little longer, but soon she will not ignore us and we will be in our mother's way. She grows tired and weary of us. Her patience is at an end. We've angered her pretty bad this time. She has given us so much and we have not shown her our appreciation with kindness or even a tiny bit of respect. That small percent of us who are trying to save her, we are like a speck of dust on a skyscraper -- we're barely noticed. The bad now outweigh the good.

Manmade disasters as well as her natural revenge have taken a toll on her. Soon she will gather all the forces. Wind, fire, ice, water and more, from above her children the planets and all their children and the planet's father the mighty sun. It is her time now and believe me she will be no lady, this Mother Earth. She's going to show us what she is made of.

And you know what? I think we deserve it!

^{* * *} 300 -- blatant war propaganda
by golem78, Most Embarrassing Moment

Excerpt: Throughout the entire movie, the warmongering Spartans are glorified as righteous and superior. Even when they break laws and start a war and kill foreigners, they're supposedly justified. Anyone who opposes them, including pacifist Spartans who want peace and not war, are portrayed as traitors. The intended analogy aimed at democrats and left-wing antiwar protesters is clear.

Supposedly the war-mongering Spartans are "fighting for freedom" (never mind that Spartans had slaves) and "the enemy" is an inhuman, soulless horde of foreigners, mirroring the xenophobic distrust many republicans display towards the United Nations.

Over and over again do characters in the movie say things aimed at elevating Spartans above all other nations or races. The mention of 1000 nations fighting against Sparta are an obvious reference to the worldwide anti-Americanism and the fact that the US is pretty much alone in its so-called "war on terror."

They're already promoting the game to go with the movie. The kids can learn how to slaughter each other.

^{* * *} U.S. troops in Iraq want out

Excerpt: For US troops from 9th Cavalry Regiment bumping around the dangerous streets of Baghdad in Humvees after dark on Monday, news that their deployment in Iraq could be extended fell like a hammer blow. Their commanders had cautioned that their second one-year tour due to end in October could be prolonged while US President George W. Bush later warned troops it was too soon to "pack up and go home."

It's time to get those fat bloated windbag radio talk show shills that are so in love with this war to get over to Iraq and put their lazy rears on the line, and they can bring all the rich Republican politicians and anyone with a 'Support the troops' sticker on their car too.

If you're for the war, get the uniform on!

^{* * *} To all the war craving lunatics, and you know who you are, I send this to you .This guy has your number. He got you down good!

Shame on all the mothers and fathers who still let your kids go off to war. Shame on you leaders who make it possible for these wars to be started. May you all rot in hell!

Kathy Fisher
klfisher@webtv.net

Something other than being smacked by jets

by SirJ

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re WTC collapse

I keep waiting for somebody to explain how molten metal can form and still be liquid weeks later by anything other than explosives. I Googled " 'plane crash' molten " and could come up with nothing on molten anything in plane crashes other than WTC. You sure can't melt metal by throwing it a few thousand feet, as anybody in amateur rocketry can verify. If you could, it would throw a heck of a lot of steel mills out of business. Drop some off a tall cliff and scoop up the liquid! To answer your question, yes, I believe something other than being smacked by jets and debris brought down WTC #1, #2, and #7. What it was exactly is up for grabs.

^{* * *} Congressman Obey meets Tina Richards

I don't find Obey's arguments persuasive. The Bush administration ignores the law. Passing a law which gives funding while declaring the war illegal will end up with King George spending the money and writing a signing statement why he doesn't consider the war illegal. The only thing King George will obey is the power of the purse.

If the Democratic leadership is scared of some pathetic Republican talking points, they don't deserve to lead. If there aren't enough votes to pass a resolution ending the war, so be it.

Every bastard in the House who votes in favor of the war comes up for election next year. The Democratic leadership can make it clear they will drive home this support in the election and let the public decide if they want more killing.

SirJ

Just another ass-hat. Tar and feather 'em all.

Obey's from my state, Wisconsin, but not my district. He's a Democrat, he's in the papers and on TV once in a while, he's been in Congress since before recent college graduates were born, and he's never impressed me in the slightest.

On the World Trade Center buildings, I'm not sure what I think, what I know, what I suspect, but what you think makes sense.

Helen & Harry

Ass-hat is new to me. Very picturesque! Stick your hat on real tight, Obey. Wouldn't want it to blow away in the wind. (definition 4 b. on www.answers.com/wind).

SirJ

The stench of Hillary

by E13

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

An explosive issue
by Marc Garlasco, The Guardian

Cluster bombs: A ward full of children maimed by Israeli produced dud bomblets ... and Hillary voted for their continued use, while 45 countries are against them.... nothing like a caring woman wanting to take the government over, is there?

E13

And now for the pro-war side...

by The Alchemist

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

this is obscene

"I miss my war. I miss my gun. I miss Iraq."

dare you to read it without having to suppress the gag reflex...

^{* * *} looks like I am not the only one to publicly announce "non-support" for the troops. A gentle article-

Ol’ Smedley knew a racket when he saw (and slew for) one
by Mark Drolette, Smirking Chimp

The Alchemist

Keeping the poor poor

by Rebecca

March 22, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Greenspan: Let more skilled immigrants in

Excerpt: Allowing more skilled workers into the country would bring down the salaries of top earners in the United States, easing tensions over the mounting wage gap, Greenspan said.

"Our skilled wages are higher than anywhere in the world," he said. "If we open up a significant window for skilled workers, that would suppress the skilled-wage level and end the concentration of income."

The 'elite' view of economics usually boils down to making it difficult or impossible for little guys to get ahead -- keeping the poor poor, keeping a lid on the middle class, focusing policy to protect the wealthiest of the wealthy, and here, watering down the wages of skilled workers...

Rebecca

Finding happiness in desperate situations

by Herb Ruhs, MD

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

When we used the atomic weapons on Japan and began our pursuit of world military domination, the die was cast. In the absence of general disarmament post-WWII, the arms manufacturers stood to profit from any kind of destabilization and, in their corporate sociopathic, amoral style, compelled by the nature of the international capitalist market, they set about causing profitable trouble along with their close allies, the military and organized crime.

In the absence of progress at disarmament, no other advances are meaningful, being mere theater marketed to the terrified.

My generation was sent under the desks in our grade-school classrooms and indoctrinated with a tangible fear of devastating nuclear attack. Every generation since has had nuclear (or since the Emperor does it, should we say "nucklar?") annihilation as a persistent, if denied, threat.

This amounts to a pandemic (universal) of PTSD. We are all certifiable. We will have to learn to deal with it (I suggest black humor) before we, the more normal people, are able to start putting on the brakes as we all head for the edge.

How about staging competitions for funniest satire of some political figure? A craft fair type event.

^{* * *} Re An idea

I’ll admit I’m not at all up to speed on this idea - nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, just to create dust? Yowsa ben yowsa! Wouldn’t it be a lot more expensive but a bit ‘greener’ to, say, shuttle huge quantities of plain old ordinary non-toxic dust into a low earth orbit?

Not the atmosphere. Twenty two thousand, two hundred and forty statute miles above the earth. Really far. Conventional explosives would probably work. Needs some space scientist with a big computer to say. Particle size would matter too. Those kinds of questions is why God gave us sciencenerds.

Herb Ruhs, MD

You need your head examined bigtime

by Bette

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Walter Reed Hospital is paradise

After reading this all I can think of to say is........ What is your point badboy!!!!! I dislike this war as much as you! I'd bring our boys home tomorrow badboy if it were possible! I'm not responsible as an individual nor condone this war. And, try hard to keep in mind Iraq and the whole mideast has been murdering all their own for over a thousand years!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, our troops deserve better at Walter Reed because they are forced to go over there and defend your own enemies from you. Our hospitals save many of your own even the enemy in their hospitals-Army base hospitals!!!!!!!!! Ugly things happen in wars, war makes people mean aggresive and bold. Long after we are out of Iraq and all the rest of the nut cases that live there war will be as it always has been. But, your country and other ones will be begging us for food and other things while our unhonorable presidents spends a billion dollars a day on all of Iraq for other things than war itself!!!!!!! You need your head examined bigtime............. If you are in Iraq stay there and fight whatever war even if they cut your head off for not being the right religion badboy!!!!!!!!!!

Think of tomorrow-
plant a seed
grow a forest
for Mother Nature
and her animals...........

Bette

Somewhere a furniture sale is missing its exclamation points.

Let me address the questions one by each.
What is your point badboy!!!!!
Technically, this is a 5X exclamation, however it seems to want to be a question. For those thick-pated, sputtering morons who cannot infer a forest fire from the smoke, flames, falling trees and circling helicopters dropping water, let me state it baldly:

THERE WOULD BE NO WALTER REED SCANDAL WITHOUT THIS ILLEGAL WAR, WHICH SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN STARTED. (I would use some exclamation points., but you used them all up...)

The Walter Reed building in question is a temporary OVERFLOW facility which was hastily converted from its original purpose to house the terrible influx of wounded US troops.
And, try hard to keep in mind Iraq and the whole mideast has been murdering all their own for over a thousand years!!!!!!!!!!
Wow. A 10X-er. Tough to argue against such emphasis. But let me try, by countering with a pertinent question of my own: What the flaming fuck does that have to do with American forces launching an illegal war? Answer: nothing. Next?
Our hospitals save many of your own even the enemy in their hospitals-Army base hospitals!!!!!!!!!
Gee, only a 9X. Guess its not quite as important as the previous exclamation. Not sure what you mean by "your own" here...But please refer to point 1 above. Allow me to repeat it. Surely you have grown accustomed to the right-wing noise machine endlessly repeating their talking point lies ad nauseam, and perhaps you have lost the facility to absorb facts expressed singly.

(caps lock ON) THE WAR IS ILLEGAL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED BY THE USA. THEREFORE OUR HOSPITALS SHOULD NOT BE TREATING ANY IRAQ WAR INJURIES AT ALL.

Sorry about the shouting, but I don't anticipate having any excl. pts. until next Tuesday.
Ugly things happen in wars, war makes people mean aggressive and bold.
Finally, a statement that we can agree upon.
Long after we are out of Iraq and all the rest of the nut cases that live there war will be as it always has been. But, your country and other ones will be begging us for food and other things
You assume I am not American. I specifically state that I am in my article. Deduction for failure to read the material carefully.
while our unhonorable presidents spends a billion dollars a day on all of Iraq for other things than war itself!!!!!!!
Are you saying that he is unhonorable for spending on things other than war? What's this? Only 7X???????
You need your head examined bigtime.............
Ah, the extended ellipses, one of my favorites.......................... I can hold my period key down longer than you can.......................... nyah nyah nyah, nyah nyah...............
If you are in Iraq stay there and fight whatever war even if they cut your head off for not being the right religion badboy!!!!!!!!!!
A return to the 10X. You must REALLY mean this. Glad to see that you really support "the troops" and their right to free speech.
Think of tomorrow-
plant a seed
grow a forest
for Mother Nature
and her animals...........
WTF? Here I was all good and righteously hating you and everything and you finish off with a wonderful sentiment like this. I wholeheartedly concur. I guess there is some good in us all, after all.

I would only add to that: Please conserve the exclamation points. Save some for future generations.

Peace.

The Alchemist

Updates on Israel

by E13

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re It took Israel 24 hours to pull out the Holocaust & become the victim!

Chances are he'll be a former, and future Prime Minister... I shouldn't bore you with the Israel stuff... it makes me furious because a lot of my immediate family (like three grandparents) died in the Holocaust, and the Israelis exploit that to make war and intimidate the world, not to mention make the Palestinians suffer.

E13

No, please, don't stop sending Israel-related clippings. It wasn't a complaint when I said I pay little attention to Israel, it was me saying I need your help!

Helen & Harry

Less Frank Castle and more Constable Benton Fraser

by Chris D.

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Tasers on the whole are a good idea

Then we are in agreement in the root cause of these tragic deaths.

We're in a dismal state when much of today's law enforcement is so comfortable with covering it's own ass it forgets to look out for anyone else. I'm not sure but I think a psychological assessment is a requirement for service. If not, it should be.

You would imagine that this would screen out the yahoos that think fighting crime involves beating people up and having a good time doing it but the sentiment is so very common now that it no longer rates as a red flag.

Some might view a taser as a handheld torture device but in the wrong hands just about ANYTHING can be used in an unpleasant and/or deadly fashion. For example, I can kill a man with a soft boiled egg or make them confess to a terrorist plot with only a stereo and a Celine Dion album. Anyone of a deranged state of mind could pull that off.

Now the real question is, how we can get our cops to not incline to such 'fun' as inflicting pain needlessly? Less Frank Castle justice. More Constable Benton Fraser justice... Okay, not quite but I think you get the point.

Chris D.

Seems unlikely

by Cassandra

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Take a number and tell a lie

If they'd done to me what I suspect they've done to this man, I'd confess to killing JFK and I hadn't been born yet.

Cassandra

Yeah, me too. And this list of things this guy has confessed to just defies credulity.

Helen & Harry

Isn't war wonderful?

by some old guy

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Isn't war simply wondrous? Isn't the torture of human beings a thing to marvel at and celebrate joyously? Isn't the very sight of George Bush just a thing of beauty? You know, kind of like beauty is the beast. Get it? George W. Bush is the "beast". You know, from the Revelations thingy. Beauty is the beast.

Gosh, only one year and ten more months of George. What in the hell will we do then? I know, we'll have Hillary 'skulls' Clinton to thank for even more bloodshed and slaughter. Yup, hope is certainly brimming on the horizon.

bye-bye, buy war bonds,

some old guy

Republicans briefly regain sanity?

by JR Mooneyham

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Senate votes to end U.S. Attorney firings

Excerpt: The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to end the Bush administration's ability to unilaterally fill U.S. attorney vacancies as a backlash to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' firing of eight federal prosecutors... the Senate by a 94-2 vote passed a bill that would cancel the attorney general's power to appoint U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation." ...

If you politicize the prosecutors, you politicize everybody in the whole chain of law enforcement," said Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

Could it be that Senate Republicans actually grew a spine (and did their jobs! DID-THEIR-JOBS!!!) for a few minutes?

JR Mooneyham
Walk Like a Kryptonian

All the pimps want a piece of the action

by Chris M.

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re Let's clear up our thinking a little on the "health care issue"

First let me say that Dr. R. has made some good points as usual. Now I would like to say something from the patients' point of view.

1. Nobody talks to anybody or even understands anything outside of their own little specialty. If the Cardiologist can't find anything wrong with your heart, he or she is lost. You then go back to your GP and hope he or she is savvy enough to check something else. This seems to be less and less likely, as far too few GPs are all that aware of anything but the basics they have studied. Now with more and more GPs having to see more and more patients for fewer and fewer minutes, as Dr. R. pointed out, they have lees time to catch up on what is going on in medicine. So you, as the patient, have to guess and go to another specialist and hope you guessed right.

2. If you fall in to the area between critically ill and a bad cold, you either have to make an appointment with your GP to see you next week or go to the ER and wait and wait and wait. Either way you hope you will survive long enough to actually see a doctor for 5 or 10 minutes to tell him or her what is ailing you. So there are those who will not see a doctor until they become critically ill, thereby decreasing their chances for a good recovery... costing themselves and the system much more time and money than would have been necessary... and putting themselves through unnecessary anguish. Or you have those who call 911 every time they eat too much Texas chili... costing themselves and the system much more time and money than would have been necessary.

3. Too much is being farmed out and cost much more than is necessary. When I go to my GP, she will want a blood work-up. As does my "shrink" and now probably my Cardiologist. Each one gives me a paper listing what each wants to know about my blood. Well at least I get poked once, but the labs I generally wind up going to charge me as much as my insurance company and the techs who perform their "vampire" work are less than gentle about it. The last time I felt like they used a nail with a hole in the center to do it. Most general blood work-ups could probably be done in a clinic some where or on-site. This also goes for common chest Xrays and other procedures. But all the pimps want a piece of the action.

4. Too much concern for the bottom line and one's own back end and not enough attention to the patient. What the hell ever happened to bedside manner ??? I can actually have a conversation with my GP and even my Cardiologist and sometimes with my shrink. But god help you if you have to see a physician while in the hospital. The BS they try to feed you sometimes is worse than the food from the "Diet Kitchen".

I was in the hospital for observation after have a bit of chest pain. EKG etc was fine but the cardiology RNP wanted an echo cardiogram done. I had this done late on Friday night. It took about an hour to perform. About an hour after I was returned to my room, the staff cardiologist showed up and said even though everything looked fine but my BP, he wanted to me to have a Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization. I asked if he had seen the echo cardiogram (knowing full well there was no way he had time to do that). He hemmed and hawed and said that you could not tell that much from it. (BS !!!)

The next day his associate came in and said that except for the BP all looked well and that he was discharging me. The fact is, this guy was mainly concerned that I might go home, have an attack and turn around a sue him. If he had been straight with me in the first place, my attitude would have been much better.

Now I know there are those who think that if we had a national health system, things would be better. Maybe... but only if the bottom line is my health and not what some business major is concerned about, be they private, public or political. As long as money is more important that people, nothing... I repeat NOTHING will get better regardless of how it is funded.

Chris

Doc Herb replies, replies

Barbarians who'd behead us

by Bill M.

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re "Freedom is The fundamental Human right." [Editor's note: This was a motto on our website until a few years ago, sans the author's incorrect capitalization.] Only in America, everywhere else it is forbidden. Remember that as you bash our troops from defending us against the Barbarians that would enjoy beheading people like you in their Countries.

Bill M.

Cling to your myths, at your nation's peril. America is not an innocent victim, and U.S. troops occupying Afghanistan and Iraq are "defending" Americans from nothing but peace.

Helen & Harry

Too Bad your such a SPOIL American Brat

And you have no idea how wonderful this Country is because of it's Freedoms and Liberties, all the things our Fore-Fathers fought and died for. They didn't want to be ruled by Elitist who like to dictate to others how to live, which is what most of today's Democrat Leaders want to do!!! Ex; Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy, etc. They all live a life of Riches, but do not want any of us Peasants to advance. They are the "Do as I say, not as I do" crowd. How long is it going to take you to realize that any program that this crowd devises to help the "little people" is doomed to failure like every past program they have managed to push into law for the last 60 years. Look at the failure of Education, just keep pouring more money in as the Democrats say (because of the support they get from the teachers Union) and keep getting higher failure rates and dropouts, Great System! They (or you) cannot name one Government Social Program that has worked in an efficient manner that doesn't waste taxpayer money. Buy the way, check out how the Kerrys, Kennedys, Pelosis, and Clintons hide their money so well that they don't pay the taxes that the "Rich People" do.

Bill M.

Dear stranger, is there any chance you could respond to something we've written or published, instead of sending these generic Republican talking points? Also, please do try to focus -- you're changing the subject every sentence or two, which makes serious dialogue difficult, and thus unlikely.

Helen & Harry

Chris D. replies, Bill M. replies

Thanks

by Casey H.

March 21, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Hey, I just wanted to tell you I think your site rules, and thanks for helping America "wake up"

Casey H.

Hey, thank *YOU* very much. Kind words of encouragement really help us make it through the day. :) Consider your cheek smooched (by my husband) and your hand shaken (by me).

Helen & Harry

Phony numbers

by JR Mooneyham

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Inflation is eating US wage gains

Excerpt: Economists are divided over what happens next. Some say inflation is bound to taper off -- though maybe not for some months -- as the ripple effects of a housing-market downturn cool the economy. Others say that rising prices will persist and that the economy, instead of cooling off, will run close to its speed limit.

Note that politicians and their wonks have pulled every trick in the book to hide true inflation rates for decades now. For it's the easiest way by far to make everything look better on paper, and to deflate statistical justifications for economic dissent and clamor for change. Fudge that single number, and you change the outcomes of all sorts of economic analysis formulas in a way which benefits the rich and status quo, while squeezing the poor and middle-class ever tighter. The official rates fed to the news media are likely only a fourth to a fifth the actual rate -- in their most accurate moments! So everything about inflation is usually, as Dave Winer might put it, 'even worse than it appears'.

JR Mooneyham
Walk Like a Kryptonian

Just how big is the pickle we're in anyway?

by Herb Ruhs, MD

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

I suppose, if contemplating the mere extinction of our species fails to wake up sufficient numbers, that contemplation of the end of all life on Earth is likely not to do the trick either. On the other hand, those of us in the reality based community, as few and insignificant as we are, can not, in good conscience, avoid looking at the evidence that this may be what we are approaching. ... MORE ...

Herb Ruhs, MD

Missing Mykeru

by The Alchemist

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

I don't really know who Mykeru was ...He was an irregular poster and did his own website from scratch (pure vanilla html, coded by hand, as he so proudly proclaimed)... and sometimes he would go a week or three with no updates, then would go on a tear and beat hammer and tongs on whatever wingnut outrage was on his mind (michelle malkin was a favorite) and put out 2 or 5 articles in a day or two... the site (www.mykeru.com/) was up till around 2 weeks ago, when it went black page...

That is all I know, other than I love this guys writing like no other since the immortal Hunter Thompson, and that he was a regular joe who used the public forum of the internet to beat the idiotic right warmonger idiots like a chinese gong, and did it with such beautiful cruelty it was a pleasure to behold.

I sincerely hope he re-emerges to regale us again, but I suspect he may be on an extended hiatus.

The Alchemist

I regret that I didn't know the man. The video clip is enough to make me love him.

Helen & Harry

The Alchemist replies

No health and very little care

by Chris M.

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Bush's health care plan not most effective

Excerpt: At least two of the health care proposals being presented to Congress would cover all or nearly all of the Americans who lack health insurance, and many would lower spending, too, according to an independent report released on Monday.

Many of the plans would do more to cover uninsured Americans and lower costs than President George W. Bush's proposals, said the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund, which studies health care issues.

Health care has emerged as one of the top political issues of 2007, with groups as diverse as labor unions and major retailers teaming up to propose changes.

Several studies have found fault with the current U.S. system -- a free-for-all in which employers provide most health care, government programs provide much of the rest and 47 million Americans are left with no health insurance.

"If we don't move to make changes to our failing health care system, the number of uninsured in this country is projected to rise to 56 million by 2013,"Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis said in a statement.

I was just hospitalized a while ago and the one thing the struck me was the administration of health care. Oh, I do not mean for those in need of emergency treatment. That area to me is done, here at least, pretty well. I'm talking about those of us who need to be taken care of soon so that we do not become critical later on.

With or without insurance it is the same, you have a very long wait to see anybody. You need to schedule your illness in advance to see a doctor. It's ridiculous and I'm sure people are put off by this, so even those who can afford to get appropriate care put it off. Oh, and when you do see a doctor, for maybe 15 minutes, he or she has the bedside manner of an android.

The fact is that the health system in this country is badly broken. Money and high tech "whiz bang" seems to have taken the place of common sense and compassion.

I suggest that if anyone needs to go to a hospital and/or see any doctor, they bring along an advocate. Also, shop for a doctor with even greater care than you do for a good mechanic.

Chris M.

Hope you're doing better, Chris. Good to hear from you.

Helen & Harry

Take a number and tell a lie

by E13

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Torture yields more wildly implausible confessions at Guantanamo

Excerpt: Waleed Mohammed bin Attash, long suspected of plotting the bombing of the USS Cole, confessed at a hearing in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to planning the attack, according to a Pentagon transcript released Monday.

An alleged chief operational planner for al-Qaida, bin Attash also said he helped organize the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 that killed more than 200, the transcript said. Seventeen sailors were killed and dozens injured when suicide bombers steered an explosives-laden boat into the guided missile destroyer Cole on Oct. 12, 2000.

At Guantanamo they're standing in line to confess (& help Bush out of his mess).

^{* * *} It took Israel 24 hours to pull out the Holocaust & become the victim!

Netanyahu issues call to world from Jerusalem Conference

Excerpt: “A few months ago, I said that it is now 1938 and Iran is Germany. I was told that things are different now, and that the world now has a different approach. So I say: “Great, if it's different, let's see how it's different!” The difference is not that then it was a “race superiority” issue and now it's a “religious superiority” issue -- that's not the point. The only difference is that Hitler first tried to conquer the world and only afterwards was going to try for atomic power, while now, Ahmadinajad is trying first for nuclear power and only then will he try to conquer the world! That's the whole difference! This is a tidal wave that threatens to engulf first Israel, and then the rest of the world. They are talking openly about a new Reich -- except that they call it a Khalifate; that's what they want to establish in the world. But for this to happen, they need a cataclysmic event to bring it on -- and they are working on that.”

E13

I don’t pay close attention to Israeli issues, just because I think the mote in my own eye -- my own nation’s savage policies -- are much more my worry. But I gotta say, this guy Binyamin Netanyahu is one sorry-ass excuse for a human being. His remarks are breathtaking -- and brain-taking, and heart- and soul-taking. Talk about crying wolf. What kind of despicable, slimy, piece of crap excuse for a man could use the slaughter of millions of his own people in such a flamboyantly bullshit, exaggeratedly dishonest manner, to argue for the slaughter of others?

Just ... wow ... that's a monstrously evil man. Maybe Bush will name Netanyahu the next U.S. Attorney General ...

Helen & Harry

Cassandra replies, E13 replies

Tasers on the whole are a good idea

by Chris D.

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

There have been a rash of cases in Canada recently with people subdued by tasers dying as a result. In many of these cases it's been believed that the suspects were either high on drugs or had pre-existing conditions and congenital defects. Details of these cases are usually hazy and the incidents range from 'Man on crack acting violently and speaking in tongues' to 'What the hell did the cops do that for? He was just double-parked.'

While the necessity of the use of force is most often questionable I believe that tasers on the whole are a good idea. Tasers have the advantage of controlled usage, where if a suspect does not go down they can be tased again immediately. But as with any other form of 'less than lethal' force there must be quick and critical judgment calls on the part of police officers and a measure of restraint when they are forced to make that decision.

Unfortunately, however, the very character of today's police is now in question. Even in the case of an officer with good judgment who doesn't continue to shock a downed resister death can still occur for one simple reason. Some people are more frail than others, despite all appearances to the contrary. This is unfortunate but there will never be a foolproof way to take someone down without the risk of hurting them. Blunt force trauma can kill or cause permanent damage. Mace can cause permanent chemical scarring, blindness, and some people are allergic to it. High voltage shock from a taser can damage the heart and other organs of a healthy person and kill someone with any number of physical ailments. This is especially true if applied overzealously. Sedatives can easily kill a person if the dose is too high. Size and weight play major factors in dosage requirements and there would be no way to adjust the amount of sedative on the fly. Even if a tranquilizer gun could come with a one-shot-drops-all-without-killing-them load there's still the issue of the effect it would have on people with abnormal conditions or substance abuse problems. Rubber bullets?

Well, you get the idea. There will never be a truly non-lethal way to subdue someone, but at least with tasers we aren't limited to simply asking nicely for a violent attacker to stop when they're attempting to strangle someone else to death. And it's certainly a good alternative to cops pulling their guns and blasting away... Which is becoming as common as taser deaths and leads back to the point about judgment and a little freaking restraint.

Chris D.

One of the problem with Tasers is that they occasionally kill, but of course, so do guns. To me, tasers aren’t really the problem, they’re just a symptom of the problem. The problem is, despite all pretense and TV shows to the contrary, the standards for becoming a police officer are frightfully low, and bad cops can often count on cooperative co-workers and supervisors to cover for them.

To that problem, we’ve now added tasers -- little hand-held electronic torture devices. Given this new toy that (however questionably) promises not to kill, not to maim its victims, a bad cop’s response is the same as any schoolyard bully’s response. Zzzzzzap. Zzzzzzap again. Zzzzzzap a third time. And so forth, but unless someone dies, we never even hear about bully cops’ use of tasers.

So I ain’t really worried specifically about tasers, especially in the hands of good cops. My worry remains all the corrupt, criminal cops, all the slobbering savages who wear their badges as a license to get away with anything.

Helen & Harry

Chris D. replies

Retraining prostitutes

by Wig

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Novel aides for the aged

Excerpt: Life is hard for German hookers these days. Sex work was legalized in 2002, and the red-light districts have become increasingly competitive since. Even in the best of times, prostitution is a career seriously lacking in long-term potential.

So when the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia announced a pilot employment program for women of the night, there was a lot of interest. "We wanted to help them find a market where there's a future," says Rita Kuehn, director of the program known as ProFridA.

Specifically, the 50-some participants are being retrained as elder-care workers. It makes perfect sense, says Kuehn, without irony. "Prostitutes have already learned to get along with people, and they're usually very good listeners," she says. "Plus, they have no reservations about touching people's bodies."

Where there's a will there's a way????

Wig

Looks like a sane and thus utterly un-American response to an obvious problem.

Helen & Harry

Sack of potatoes

by SirJ

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Corpse flies first class

Excerpt: A passenger in first class woke up to a shock when he found himself sitting near a corpse on a British Airways flight, British newspapers reported on Monday.

I hope this was a free upgrade. In fact, the old lady should get a refund as she didn't reach her destination. :-) Other news articles don't use the euphemism "near." They say the corpse was put next to him like a sack of potatoes.

SirJ

Alan Dershowitz

by Patt H.

March 20, 2007
PERMANENT LINK

Re America needs 'torture warrants', says Alan Dershowitz

In this national climate of near-hysteria, what Dershowitz proposes is a blueprint for state-terrorism.

Patt H.

Me thinks the Dr. doth protest too much

by JS Magruder

March 19, 2007
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CS's letter reminds me of people who blame the homeless for not pulling themselves together and getting a job, finding housing, etc. I'd argue that by the point someone is homeless, it hardly matters how or why they arrived at the condition. Rather, I have an obligation to try and do what I can without applying the absurd reasoning of "If I can do it, why can't they?" It hardly matters what I'm capable of, and it shouldn't be a criteria for determining whether or not to extend help to those in need. I'd expect the same approach from a physician. By the time someone has diabetes, it is sort of condescending to suggest what they might have done to prevent it. ... MORE ...

J.S. Magruder (not the Watergate felon)
F16's Don't Kill People, 500 Lb. Bombs Kill People

Pogo lives

by Wig

March 19, 2007
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Terrorist's confession exposes dark side of US

We have met the enemy and they are us...

Wig

Let's clear up our thinking a little on the "health care issue"

by Herb Ruhs, MD

March 19, 2007
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Health care executives are not Rotarian business people practicing fair exchange of value. These are true gangsters hauling in vast amounts of loot, managing "the business of health care" with methods traditionally used to manage the illegal drug, prostitution, gambling and loan sharking "businesses." ... MORE ...

Herb Ruhs, MD

Thumbs down

by Kathy Fisher

March 19, 2007
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Watched The Departed . Awesome Music! Too bad I figured it out 40 minutes into the movie. Too much blood. Nicholson looked like Rip Torn in this movie. Should have rented Borat!

Kathy Fisher

Israel's quest for war