BJean

Hard working regular Republicans, like my husband, who are not embroiled in the political debates because they are busy keeping their noses to the grindstone do not take the time to listen to people like Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck or Fox news at all. They are aware that there are crackpots out there who are extremist in their viewpoints but they don't take them seriously and they sure don't spend a lot of time worrying about them. I will be happy to bring this article to his attention because nothing I have said convinces him that the mainstream conservatives in this country have a big, big problem. Most of them who are aware of the fanaticism and are intelligent, do not even claim to be Republican these days. They tell people they are "Independents" because it is too embarrassing to say they are part of what's going on in the Republican party. There used to be a fringe element in the Republican party that people ignored. But now it has become very well funded and organized. It has been easy for that fringe element to grow and win believers because they all have a common enemy, the president of the United States. Once a person has decided that part of what the crazies yell is true, it isn't hard for them to decide that everything the right wingers profess is true. And there is safety in numbers. And the bigger the numbers the stronger it makes all of them feel and the more RIGHT it makes them think they are. If we don't keep calling them on their lies, the more followers they will recruit. So I thank you Leigha for sharing the link to the article you found. I hope everyone who is reading here will go there and take the time to read it.

Word to your mother. (as my dd would say)

This is the post that my last two posts are related to. I came to the party late tonight. Sorry.

What you refuse to understand is that we do not want the government controlling our basic rights to life and liberty or the pursuit of happiness. The government has no right to control a woman's right to life. Yes, I know you think that a fetus's life is more important than a woman's. But we disagree on that issue and you will never convince me and I will never convince you. I believe a lot of it has to do with the way we are hardwired in our brains. Compare it to the colors we prefer, the foods we like, the kind of person we want as a spouse, and even belief in a religious faith or belief in no religion at all. And so many more things that make us individuals are things that are influenced by the way our brains are hardwired. It's very interesting and worth as much in-depty study as one has time for. But so much about our brains and basic physiology (including why some people become obese) is still an unknown territory. Having the government see to it that people have enough health care in America to provide a basic standard of living is not something that relates to the question of a woman's right to choose. Honestly, it just does not. This is just another stupid diatribe that a person has written to justify their rigid stand on abortion.

What's your source? Who's the author?

Well no not really. I'm willing to listen to reason and truth. I actually learn a lot from honest debate. Ive always enjoyed hearing the opposing side of arguments because it helps me to understand where they're coming from. But I'm not willing to listen to and believe rethoric and misstatements and misrepresentations of the facts. I'm not willing to give equal time to crazed nuts who have been inspired to work themselves into a frenzy. (and I think you meant to say "as ARE yours"

I honestly don't think they will be happy until some wacko like Timothy McVeigh assasinates the president!!

Holy Mother of God. Even they have topped themselves this time. I've always said they would stop at nothing but I guess I thought there were some level-headed folks who could keep it from getting too out of hand. I was wrong about that.

There are much better informed minds than ours who are debating this very issue. I think we can go back and forth on this until the world looks level and still won't come up with a definitive answer. It's going to take time and work for these things to reveal what they're actually going to mean in the long run. It's a guessing game to some extent on both sides. You're always going to bellyache about the government and nothing anyone here says will change that or cause one iota of reconsideration on your part as to the value of passing the health care reform legislation. Your heels are dug in and that's that.

Oh. Okay.

rodriguez the way our military has been treated, having to do tours in Iraq as many as five times, is absolutely horrible. And calling up our reserves and treating them like regular Army is horrible too. We have really depleted our personnel and the families of our soldiers have paid a very high price as well. I know that wars are not only for trying to resolve political problems but they also have to do with economics in the U.S. What I know for sure is that war and killing is bad and should be avoided at all costs. But that doesn't seem to be the American way. And we're told that it is what keeps us the strongest nation on earth. However I think we're missing the boat by depleting our Armed forces to this extent and we're going to pay an enormous price for it later. Of course we've already paid an enormous price just for Iraq alone both in personnel and for the billions we spent every month to keep us there. It makes me sick to my stomach that guys like Bush and Cheney managed to send our men and women off to possibly die or be maimed in a senseless war. And they personally aren't having to pay a price for having done it. And in fact, I have no doubt whatever that they both profited from it. The new president is having to deal with the hand that was dealt him. I don't believe that he is pro-war at all. I do think that he's been briefed that we need a presence in Afghanistan to prevent certain things from escalating. I hope he will get us out of there as soon as it is practical!

Oh no you were not. We were discussing the militant terrorists who had gotten busted. Besides, don't put words in my mouth. I have never called those who were at meetings and got loud or those who thew a rock as terrorists. I have always referred to them as extremists or right wingers. You can run but you cannot hide.

You know rodriguez, I don't think that Afghanistan is worse than Iraq. And I understand why he thinks we can accomplish something in Afghanistan. But if we pay attention to the history of war in Afghanistan, it is easy to think we're just pouring money down a rat hole. And I too wish we'd get the heck out of that mess. Guess it all has to do with Al Queda and Pakistan and Israel and Iran, etc., and other things that are pretty complicated and sensitive. But I detest war and especially one against a country that has not attacked us.

You know I'm kidding you, right? Your posts are always so cool and gramatically correct I couldn't resist. Please jump on me when you see something like that. I do post fast and miss typos and stuff sometimes. Everyone does. You're the least guilty! That's why it was so tempting.

Yeah, phil, an oil spill there would make those beautiful beaches look more like Cocoa beach. Just kidding!!! That's where we went a lot for a quick dip in the ocean when we lived in Orlando. It's not that bad. Not beautiful like Sanibel, but not that bad.

Great rebuttal, Cleo's! but I gotta ask... "stook"?

yes, Cleo's it sure does feel like our bank is trying to pull a fast one. I'm definitely protesting that ridiculous fee. And it isn't the first time they've done something like this. The last one they had to refund on checking accounts when they got caught. And this is one of the largest banks in the nation.

phil my biggest concern is environmental when I think about drilling for oil. I can't for the life of me understand the kind of thinking that says it doesn't matter what it does to the coastline or pristine areas inland, just so long as the oil companies are allowed to drill. It's always all about money for the Republicans.

No kidding! I think no matter which side of the political spectrum you're on, it's a bit of a waiting game. There's no telling what kind of fall out we'll have to deal with on all fronts. Politics, you can't live with 'em and you can't live without 'em!

Drill, baby drill, drill, baby drill, eh? We may need to drill baby so that we can have enough oil reserves to ensure that OPEC doesn't keep us captive with their outrageous oil prices. But remember our own oil companies aren't in it for the good of the U.S. They're in the business to make as much money as possible. And they will gouge Americans too. What we seriously need are alternative energy sources. That's what I want this president to work on. That's what will provide the most benefit to our country, both environmentally and for the creation of new jobs.

Still wondering if that's what you meant to do, patty, when you defended the extremist "militia" who were arrested as just being disgruntled about the Obama tactics that you like to call "socialistic." :frown:

Funniest thing, we're looking forward to the November elections too. Especially if your side keeps up with the kind of stuff they've been spewing. :frown:

Thanks Phil, you're one funny dude. I got a business credit card statement yesterday for a mastercard account. They now have instituted a fee for any charges that are on the account that you haven't paid off but it isn't the usual percentage like Leigha is talking about. I don't have the term for it in front of me but it is something that they can arbitrarily set a number for. It is a random additional fee and they call it something that is so obvious a scam that it is ridiculous. It's in addition to all the other fees and percentages they have used in the past. And it is a relatively big number. So I paid the damn thing off. They're certainly incentivizing us to become an all cash country. And that ain't necessarily a bad thing. Especially on personal accounts that are strictly for luxury items. But sometimes using a card has been a good way to keep a small business from beccoming cash poor when sales are down. And if you have to go to the doctor and can't pay cash for a large number like $14,500.00, being able to put it on a card can be very helpful from time to time. (That's a portion of the amount I will need to pony up to get my band converted to a sleeve. It's the part of the charges that I need to pay "up front" prior to the procedure.)

So you're claiming them as some of your own, patty?

Well I didn't think that was much of a stretch Chris, in light of your comment. Think about it - church rallies for Obama - making you feel nutty - nut jobs tossing bombs in churches.... not so much of a stretch really. It was said rather tongue in cheek actually because I thought you might want to think about what you had said. Obvioulsy I was wrong and you're not a raging extremist. Oops, tongue might still be firmly planted in cheek.