BJean

TN girl, it's great that your parents are such wonderful philanthropists. Would that all of the wealthy were so inclined. And there is no doubt that there is a lot of government waste. Thankfully our president is working at cutting government waste already. And he has pledged to not add anymore to that by supporting legislation that will add to our national debt. Everything he comes up with will take that into consideration - and we have witnesed that already too. Obstructionists would have you believe that all the president and Democrats want is to put the country further in debt. History has shown us that it isn't the Democrats who get us so deeply in debt. It's the Democrats who have to do the job of getting us back to a healthy economy after the Republicans have been in power. Check out previous Republican administrations, even before Bush - which we all know was a disaster economically. In other words, are you going to believe the hype (Republican rehtoric) or your lying eyes?

patty: "The people who made the buses for Waterbury already had the job of making buses.: Regarding the bus plant employees - they wouldn't have jobs if there were no bus orders. They don't make buses just to give people jobs - the buses have to be sold. I know of a bus plant in that has been in business for 40 years and was closed because there were not enough orders. It is a small town and that plant employed a large percentage of that little burg's workers. Oh, and they manufactured buses for schools all across the country too. Your comment defies logic.

Sassy, btw it doesn't say that you shouldn't talk about God.

Ok girls, I'll go find it for you. First chance I get. It was sent to me from a friend a few years ago and I've forgotten the exact book and verse. Even if it takes me a while, I'll find it. I knew when I posted it that some of you wouldn't believe it since it goes against everything you've been taught.

patty: "It doesn't matter who bjean was speaking to, because it's not true. That is not found anywhere in the bible. I believe bjean made that up. Besides, I'm sure bjean was not speaking about you, for you are very soft spoken and gentle with your words." Sorry patty, it is there. Don't accuse me of making something up just because you are ignorant of it. It is not something any religion I know dwells on and in fact, many seem to ignore it because of the passages about witnessing that they wholeheartedly embrace because it goes to perpetuate their church. It is ignored because it goes against their hell, fire and brimstone manner of preaching and against the way they approach missionary work. I wouldn't need to make it up because as we all know, there are contradictions throughout the Bible. And we believe what we are comfortable with and can accept to establish our faith. Obviously the very idea makes some people uncomfortable enough that they deny its' existence in the Bible. Go fish. It's your assignment for today.

Read the graphs Cleo's posted and weep, Obama opponents.

patty's response to one of my posts: "You can call it "hatred" if it makes you feel better." I never used that word and would appreciate it if you wouldn't give the impression that I did. patty: "You're the one who is reeling right now because you can forsee the future of your party just as clearly as the rest of us can." I don't believe you know what you're talking about. You're so immersed in the kool aid, you're a little out of touch. Your party won a huge victory in Mass. But that may or may not tell us the feelings of the majority of the voters in this country. It definitely sent a message but you could be reading something into the message that just wasn't there. I haven't made any claims at all about the country supporting an "extreme left wing agenda." I have made claims about the wacko right wing extremists. And those claims are true enough and I'm not bringing anything to light here that people can't see for themselves. It's interesting that you claim that the majority of Americans support your boys on the hill, but we'll just have to wait and see. Just because you claim that it is so, certainly doesn't make it so and lots of Americans haven't made up their minds yet about the president, his policies, the behavior of congress or how they'll vote in the future. Where's this crystal ball you're looking at? Oh yeah, Fox news and Glenn Beck and all the gang. They and your Republican newspaper have you convinced that Americans all agee with them. But like it or not, the right wing extremist media hasn't gone so far as to convince everyone that all the Democrats are dirty rotten socialists. But don't take my word for it, just wait and see like the rest of us. And for the record, I haven't "claimed" anything about people supporting a far left wing agenda.

That's right! Ted Kennedy was one of the hardest working and most effective senators that we've ever had. His opposition were sure to criticize him at every turn. He even collaborated with Republicans on legislation that we needed and the opposition still said he was a bad person. If the Republicans continue to do nothing, they don't risk getting criticized for their proposed legislation. If they make up personal stuff about the president, people love it because they want to think someone in a position of power is doing something wrong. It's true even with movie stars. The rags scream horrible headlines about them and it sure sells papers. You know it does because they pay hundreds of thousands in lost lawsuits when the headlined stories turn out to be false. Yet they continue to do it. Like the "Swift Boat" ads and letters... people believed the very worst about Senator Kerry even though he was a decorated war hero because some wealthy folks took that smear campaign project on and it paid off for them handsomely - Kerry lost the race to the furthest thing from a war hero! The Republicans are still reeling from their loss to Obama. Especially since their dirty, nasty politics has paid off so well in the past. Fortunately Obama had his ducks in a row and was able to debunk the lies and get the truth out during the campaign. Now they're making up stuff about his policy agenda and calling him a "socialist". And then there are the "birthers" and others still making a mockery of the system. Yeah, people who love hearing bad stuff are sucked in by it all, but hopefully most Americans are going to be aware of the truth and will demonstrate it at the polls. I'm pretty much an optomist. But I have to tell you, I spoke with my doctor Friday about proposed health care changes. She said the system definitely needs changing. She said she doesn't like anything that is on the table right now. I asked her what specifically she disagrees with. Oops! My doctor visit ended with my doctor saying that she loves John Stossel and she doesn't like the way Obama pushes all his policies through in such a sneaky fashion. And this from a relatively well-educated woman!

Trust me, it's there. Devana, it's always good to hear from you!

And when going back over some of the early posts, I'd like to add that when Bush was the president, Democrats did not refuse to support all of his proposals. They did reach across the aisle and they did give him support when they felt it was in the national interest. The Republicans have simply refused to work with the Democrats on any level whatsoever. And lately the President has decided to support some of the proposed legislation that the Republicans were in favor of when Bush was president. But guess what? Now since the president has endorsed them, they are AGAINST them. They are a group of truly bad legislators and their lack of civility and respect in congress is utterly astonishing. I'm pretty old and I've been involved in politics most of my life and these people take the cake for obstructing any kind of forward movement in this country. You may hate the two-party system and it could be that in the future we will have more than two viable political parties. But right now, that's what we have. Yes there are liars and creeps on both sides. I sure can't deny that. But right now, the right wingnuts of the Republican party are ruining that party for any moderate Republicans in the U.S. And they sure are proud of it.

It has been so funny to hear the right wingers rage on about the deficit and how horrible this president is because he's nothing but a socialist. What, do they think we weren't paying attention when Bush wrecked us with his policies and the war? It's just one more political strategy that is lame and utterly obstructionist in nature. But then this has been the way they operated during the campaign and ever since the election. They don't have a conscience. They don't care if they are being hypocritical. They get caught every day in this same kind hypocritical political posturing. Anybody who is paying attention sees it for what it is. And likewise, Sara Palin is the gift that just keeps on giving to the Democrats.

Bt: "I spent more than 5 years in the military and have known plenty of gay soldiers. They did what would get them kicked out far away from the base and nobody bothered them." Doesn't that really say it all? I find it lucicrous to think that gay people will join the military just to make a point. A person could die or maimed from being shot at. That's a pretty serious consequence for trying to make a point by "pissing people off." Every person who is capable should have the priviledge of serving their country and should not be barred because of their sexual preference. Sexual preference should never be the basis of any kind of discrimination. If someone is a lawbreaker, certainly they should be banned. If someone is so "flamboyant" that they are unable to keep their feet securely in their combat boots, then that's a problem. As for the West Point man who "came out" on TV, I don't know if he's the same man I saw interviewed but the one I saw was "outed" by a civilian, not because he decided to make his homosexuality public. There have been more than one well-qualified military men who have tried to fight this ridiculous discriminatory ban.

Now I know you're kidding. You couldn't possibly think that "a couple of dudes kissing in a fox hole" is why this is an important issue. All those other things you listed have been big problems for a really long time. They won't be solved overnight. This "Don't ask, don't tell" policy should be kicked to the curb immediately! You're pretty funny.

All you have to do is to hear someone talk who is dealing with legal problems as a result of "Don't ask, don't tell." You figure out real quick how important this issue is. It isn't working and it is very important. John McCain looked like a doofus the other day saying stuff that is totally incorrect. This is exactly the kind of thing that we expect from our president, fixing things that are broken. As far as Obama slipping legislation by anyone, it doesn't matter what he's working on, everything he does will be noticed. Are you kidding?

Jane Fonda. Total strangers have told me that. But not so much as I've gotten older. She kept her shape and I didn't. Occasionally I still have someone ask me if anyone ever told me I look like Jane Fonda.

Cleo's, I find it interesting that patty gives you (and others) a second opportunity to be read by posting all the quotes. Cool. It seems to me that people who want the government to be involved in the control of our religious lives would do well to look at countries where they are ruled by a particular religious doctine. I can't name one where the people and country are better off because of it. In fact, those are the countries where turmoil and repression are the norm. To me it hardly seems better to have a country ruled by Christian doctrine than one ruled by say, Islam. No, I certainly don't agree with Islamic relgious doctine, but I also do not agree with the fundamentalist Christian extremists who want to tell me or my fellow Americans how to conduct our lives. We keep hearing about how we are a Christian nation because it was the intent of our founding fathers and further, that the only reason we don't want to have a theocracy is because we are immoral and want to continue living in sin. That's entirely incorrect on both counts. What we were founded on was freedom - freedom from religious oppression and persecution. And like you Cleo's, calling me immoral is highly offensive and hypocritical. And it only serves to make me dig my heels in further in my opposition to the right wing religious fanatics in America. And Cleo's... may you never run out of steam!

And Cleo's, I want to thank you so much for bringing so many relevant pieces of information to us. When people continually rant and rave and it is the furthest thing from the truth, it is necessary to set the record straight. You're doing a great job! Keep up the good work. P.S. I also commend you for clearly citing your sources!

I've been saying this all along as have a few others in far stronger positions than I. The religious agenda of the extreme right wing faction of the Republican party is obvious and I am happy that there are more people openly calling them out on it. This is important if we are going to be able to actually debate the real issues. The poll was quite revealing, and it's no wonder that people like Bartlett are angry. DailyKos' assessment that Republicans are "insane" is not really helpful. The extremists don't have to be insane to believe what they do, but we are insane if we allow them to disrupt the growth and well being of the United States of America. We have to debate the issues and stop calling each other names. Not that I believe it is going to happen. I believe that the extremists are going to continue to promote their agenda any way they can - through dishonesty, misrepresentation, etc. But the news media must, absolutely MUST, make Americans aware of the truth.

Reagan was such a puppet they probably told him the story about the Chicago mother who used welfare to buy a Cadillac and he didn't ask any questions, just bought it hook line and sinker. Like the rest of the lines they fed him and he regurgitated so perfectly.

I was under the impression you knew the Bible from cover to cover. Ahem.

"The Republican-American has a conservative editorial stance." Cleo's quote from Wikipedia I hardly call things like: In an "August 2005 editorial, "Is New Orleans Worth Reclaiming?" which called for the abandonment of New Orleans post-Katrina." Conservative? That's not conservative... that's extremism. That's actually sick, inhumane and disgusting. That rag calls Democrats "communist tyrants" and you consider that real NEWS reporting? That's your source of the news? You read it and watch Glenn Beck because you LKE what they say. You want to believe that racist, extremist clap-trap. Much of what they say is without any merit at all and yet you embrace it and repeat it. How fundamentally useless in uniting people for a better America.

Colin Powell was the Republican heir apparent to run for political office because he had done such a superior job and was so highly regarded. He said he didn't want to run for office so they used him as a scapegoat and hung him out to dry. People who had the utmost respect for him still hoped he would run but he continued to refuse to be a candidate. The day he endorsed Obama was glorious. Of course the Republicans claimed that he only supported Obama because of race. They never cease to amaze do they?

Yeah, and who's surprised that it is patty's "news" paper.

Cleo's: "Scott Roeder who killed the doctor who performed legal abortions was found guilty and given life. The prosecution wants it to be life without parole for 50 years. It only took the jury 37 minutes to decide his guilt." I'm sure the right wing extremists are disappointed that wasn't able to get the death penalty. They're so gung ho capital punishment for murderers.

OMG patty, if you listen to Glenn Beck and you believe him, no wonder you have the political opinions that you do. Don't you know that he says openly that he is not a news reporter? He's simply an entertainer. He doesn't profess to do anything but bring personal emotion and controversy to the table simply in an effort to entertain. Of course Rush Limbaugh has said something like that before too. And people still listen to him and lap up what he says like a kitten to milk.