This could be our last cartoon for a little while. Obviously it is badly drawn. Thatâs because I drew it. John couldnât draw it, because heâs in jail.
The problem apparently started (I got all this second-hand) when John drew a caricature of a Russian foreign-exchange student who was wearing a shirt that said "Bush Lied, People Died."
Go read it.
Posted by: Evert Visser in NL ||
04/01/2004 1:45:28 PM ||
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#6
At first, I thought it was serious, and had taken place in Georgia--you know, Tbilisi, the Caucasus, etc.--THAT Georgia. Then I got to the "Fulton County" mention, and things made a little more "sense," and I realized it was a joke.
Posted by: badanov ||
04/01/2004 2:06:25 AM ||
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#1
Oh man, this sucks like an F5. Soros and Ketchup Grrl will target the key sites and either buy them out or litigate them to death. The PUA site is pure multiculti LLL.
Mebbe the best defense is a good offense. Time to find out everything possible on these pukes.
#2
I like the part where they claim to be against censorship and at same time are trying to shut down sites they don't approve of.Also how inept is Israel?What kind of "genocide" against Palestinians results in there being more Palestinians every year?
Posted by: Stephen ||
04/01/2004 3:27 Comments ||
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#3
I think they have picked the wrong target in LGF which does little more than publicize paleo goings on. Probably end up generating more traffic. Otherwise the site was generally inept and links didn't work.
#9
I think its a joke. Take note of the "The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement - Join Today" on the "Stop the Hate" page. A google of "The Real Sean Hannity" Book showed up nothing.
#12
I am taking this a little more serious. This is sponsored by Soros moveon group. They have the money. I'm forwarding this to my Senator and Rep in Congress. This is infringing on free speech I believe. I'd also recommend that all of you look this site over again and pass it on.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 9:08 Comments ||
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#14
Being in the employ of the "Zionist Propaganda Machine" pays much more then these folks could ever pay out. No worries here.
Maybe they could buy Boris out. Cheap.
#18
Based on the following quote if they donât support a candidate how will they designate who will get the funds received overseas? Like they say just follow the money!
"Q: I'm a Portugese citizen and like most people I feel bad for what happened to America on 9/11, but I hate Bush. I think he has caused most of the problems that you have now with terrorism. How can I contribute to the election?
A: Technically, foreign citizens are prohibited by law from making financial contributions to U.S. elections. However, since we are a not-for-profit organization (and we are not contibuting directly to either party) we are quite certain that you can make contributions through us. At present time, we are confirming this with our attorneys. Please check back with us at the end of May."
Posted by: karl P ||
04/01/2004 14:24 Comments ||
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#19
This is nothing but an April Fools' Day gag. It's a really good one, and very elaborate and subtle- but a gag nonetheless.
Shows what can happen when Cooper and Misha go get all likker'd up and start plotting goofy stunts.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/01/2004 14:48 Comments ||
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#20
Damnn amatours, smells like CID or maybe DIA, don't know, but it smeellls. MUms the woid.
Flagg. -30-
Posted by: Col Flagg ||
04/01/2004 18:25 Comments ||
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Rare and valuable recordings by Las Vegas lounge act Murray Rivers have been uncovered in a Sydney garage. The elder statesman of the 1960s ârat packâ, Rivers would often join Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr on stage at the famous Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Now Australian audiences can hear this musical great for probably the first time.
Historic recordings by the star of stage, screen and community radio - often forgotten by the chroniclers of 20th century popular music - were unearthed in Brighton-Le-Sands in February this year. Musicologist Dr Mark Collier, who found the dusty box of tapes in the garage sale of a deceased estate, explains the importance of Riversâ musical legacy. "He is an enigma - a pioneer of countless musical styles and inspiration for so many show tunes, and yet very few recordings have survived. Some call him avant garde, to others he was nothing more than the laziest man in showbiz."
Dr Collier believes the recordings were brought to Australia by Rivers himself. "Murray emigrated from Brooklyn in New York. He basically found lots of roots in Sydney on a break from Las Vegas and decided to stay." The discovered tapes include recordings of his appearances on the Johnny Carson Show and his farewell show in Carnegie Hall, alongside studio outtakes and songs Dr Collier believes are the final cuts of an unreleased album. And, heard for the first time, is an original recording of "Connie" written for Riversâ first wife Connie Hildebrand and later "appropriated" by his then good friends George and Ira Gershwin, rewritten as "Swannee."
"He is cited by so many musical greats as their inspiration. You can see elements of Murray in the Yardbirdsâ use of feedback. As for Jimmy Page and Robert Plant - their influences are often attributed to blues and mysticism. I think they were influenced by Murrayâs âwhole albumâ approach. Stairway to Heaven is a classic example - never released as a single and goes on forever - thatâs pure Murray," explains Dr Collier. "Kurt Cobain famously called Murray the great grandfather of punk. John Lennon once said that before Elvis there was nothing. That nothing is Murray Rivers." Dr Collier is presiding over a ceremony today to unveil a statue of Murray Rivers on the foreshore at Brighton-Le-Sands, the Sydney suburb where the star is believed to have made his final home. A representative from Rockdale Council is tipped to be present to posthumously award Rivers the keys to the bayside city.
Posted by: tipper ||
04/01/2004 2:00:00 AM ||
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#1
April 1st should be the Blogspheres national holiday.
Saudi clerics across the kingdom led worshippers in prayers for rain Thursday, blaming a recent drought on sinfulness, including women who unveil themselves or mingle with men. Thursdayâs prayers come as Saudi Arabia reported less than normal rainfall over the winter months. Addressing hundreds of worshippers in Mecca, Grand Mosque cleric Abdel Rahman bin Abdel Aziz al-Sudeis said Muslims should purify their hearts of "envy, jealousy, hatred, breaking off (relations), quarrels and enmity for trivial reasons," and ask for Godâs forgiveness to end the drought. "There is no sin without misfortune, and there is no lifting of punishments without repentance; the sins are dangerous because whenever they exist, destruction follows," al-Sudeis said. He singled out women, saying their sins included "bedecking, unveiling, mingling (with men), being indifferent with hijab (the veil)."
contâd.....
#2
"Addressing hundreds of worshippers in Mecca, Grand Mosque cleric Abdel Rahman bin Abdel Aziz al-Sudeis said Muslims should purify their hearts of "envy, jealousy, hatred, breaking off (relations), quarrels and enmity for trivial reasons"
Hey Abby, isn't that what Islam is all about?
Posted by: steve d. ||
04/01/2004 20:58 Comments ||
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#3
With a name like Grand Mosque cleric Abdel Rahman bin Abdel Aziz al-Sudeis,
I will bet you a bag of Saudi ryals that this guy can crank out World Class fatwas that would put us all to shame. I have finally realized that Al-Aska Paul will never get out of the AAA fatwa league...*sigh*
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/01/2004 21:07 Comments ||
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#4
Keep up the hope, AP: sometimes the teams from the bigs will call a kid like you up from the minors before the playoffs Ramadan
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/01/2004 21:10 Comments ||
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#6
"...blaming a recent drought on sinfulness, including women who unveil themselves or mingle with men."
So why is there any rain at all here, the land of the Great Satan? We must be much, MUCH more virtuous than these people. Shame on them.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/01/2004 21:29 Comments ||
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#7
"Lil Kim" and "Spread" in the same sentence? Who'da thunk it?
She was a hot lil number in that pic tho' ;-)~
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/01/2004 21:36 Comments ||
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#8
If a drought is caused by sin, what message should they take from the fact that THEIR HOMELAND IS A FUCKING DESERT?!
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
04/01/2004 21:39 Comments ||
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#9
[Troll droppings deleted]
Posted by: Jason TROLL ||
04/01/2004 21:56 Comments ||
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#10
[Troll droppings deleted]
Posted by: Joe TROLL ||
04/01/2004 22:09 Comments ||
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#11
It's been raining up here for 3 days with more coming. And every broad I see is "unvieled".
This just might lead me to believe that our cleric friend is quite possibly full of shit.
#12
I blogged a story a few weeks ago about a meteorologist in Afghanistan; the Taliban had destroyed all his weather instruments and wouldn't let him publish forecasts because they said it was "of the Devil."
Posted by: Jen ||
04/01/2004 23:21 Comments ||
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#13
I blogged a story a few weeks ago about a meteorologist in Afghanistan; the Taliban had destroyed all his weather instruments and wouldn't let him publish forecasts because they said it was "of the Devil."
We are going to have to drag these Medieval Muslims into the 21st Century screaming and kicking.
Posted by: Jen ||
04/01/2004 23:24 Comments ||
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#14
Yes the cleric is full of shit. People should be able to wear whatever they like. The weather has nothing to do with with women not wearing veils its the way it is because it is God's will that it be raining or sunny etc.
Guess Iâll have to come up with a new tipping system.
Robots have been used as jockeys in Qatar for camel races, a favorite sport in the Gulf which has faced widespread criticism over the use of young children from the Indian sub-continent in such races. âA race organized on Sunday saw for the first time the use of robot-jockeys, to the surprise of the crowd,â said the president of the organizing committee of camel races in Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Faisal al-Thani. Thani, quoted in Doha newspapers, said the practice would be repeated and widened. The Gulf Arab monarchies are trying to bring order to the national sport of camel racing in the face of protests over the trafficking of children as jockeys. The US State Department and human rights groups have raised the alarm over the exploitation of small children by traffickers who pay impoverished parents a paltry sum or simply resort to kidnapping their victims. The children, mostly from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Pakistan, are then smuggled into the Gulf States. They are often starved by employers to keep them light and maximize their racing potential. Mounting camels three times their height, the children â some as young as six â face the risk of being thrown off or trampled.
Posted by: tipper ||
04/01/2004 4:01:35 AM ||
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EFL:
After 60 years, the U.S. Navy yesterday officially closed its sprawling Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in eastern Puerto Rico â already dropping property values and flooding the surplus housing market. In the short term, Puerto Rico expected to suffer with closure of the base, which pumped an estimated $300 million a year into the U.S. commonwealth's economy. Long term, nearly 4 percent of the island's land area will be available for tourism, housing and industrial development. Rosy Roads, as the military installation has long been nicknamed, was shut because the Navy could no longer use the nearby island of Vieques for bombing practice after May 2003.
Don't forget to thank Reverend Al, now, y'all...
At one time, as many as 10,000 soldiers, civilian employees, outside contractors and their dependents lived on the base, though that number has shrunk throughout the years. As of Sept. 30, when President Bush signed legislation directing the Navy to close the base within six months, the naval base's population had already dropped to about 4,500. "Rosy Roads supported the Vieques bombing range, and with the closure of that, the requirement for a support base evaporated," said David MacKinnon, associate director of the Pentagon's Office of Economic Adjustment.
You asked for it, and you got it.
What surprises Mr. MacKinnon, a 30-year veteran of the Pentagon, about this particular base closing is the speed at which it's happening. "Six months is basically unheard of for a major base and employment center," he said. "In the 1990s, with all of the bases that closed â several hundred in total, including 97 major ones â the shortest time frame for closure was 18 months. More typical was two to three years. It really depended on how quickly the mission could be shut down."
Snicker
In the 1990s, the base closures were causing anguish for the locals. They hadn't been hopping up and down and demanding that the bases close.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/01/2004 11:35:40 AM ||
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#1
Maybe the "fast track" approach to this closing will help drive home the point that actions have consequences.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/01/2004 11:49 Comments ||
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#2
..And the best part is that it will take DECADES to sweep the Vieques range for UXOs, and even then safety will be questionable at best.
Congratualtions, folks - you now have high unemployment, dozens of buildings you can't afford to keep up, and a huge loss to your economy. Maybe the Reverends Jackson and Sharpton will pick up the slack...?
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
04/01/2004 11:59 Comments ||
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#3
Good, they (the P.R.) wanted to close Vieques (dumb move) and keep Rosey open so that the local economy wouldn't be affected. Glad we did both overall.
#6
Actually - a doubly good screwing-over: the closing of Vieques was accompanied by establishing a wild-life refuge, so the a-holes that thought they'd be able to capitalize by creating hotels and tourist destinations there are doubly F*&ked
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/01/2004 12:22 Comments ||
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#7
To the people of Vieques... Don't wish too hard for what you want. You may just get it!
Posted by: Jack Deth ||
04/01/2004 12:50 Comments ||
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#8
Hiryu - Point 1 - an excellent observation!
Frank - Does this remind you of Subic - only the greedy Puerto Ricans behind this ploy won't get the opportunity to make a buck? LOL!
#9
Frank G., outstanding - hadn't heard the wild life refuge bit! I remember we had to watch where we landed when we went there because of the endangered turtles. I also remember being amused at them telling us they were going to build resorts when we left, I asked "but what about the turtles? - can't just have thousands of ugly Americano tourists bothering their nesting sites.... now everyone wins ;)
Jack, actually the mainland politicians there really wanted us gone more so then the local Viequans who made some cash off are being there. The governor of PR at the time had a real hard on to get rid of us so she (it was in 2000 & I think it was a she) could get kick backs from the tourist community - total f*cking sham on their part citing environmental/health issues - we all knew the real deal.
already dropping property values and flooding the surplus housing market
Bwhahahahahahahah.
It really depended on how quickly the mission could be shut down.
The mission was bomb practice. No bombing, no mission. Quick.
Cause, meet effect.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/01/2004 18:33 Comments ||
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#16
You people are mean. Think about the chiiildren!
Posted by: Tibor ||
04/01/2004 21:41 Comments ||
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#17
If I remember correctly, you had to be careful on the hike up to the BOQ at night because large indigenous crabs scurried across the roads after sundown. - Its possible that the Hose had one too many Red Stripes that night as the memory seems kind of hazy.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/01/2004 22:04 Comments ||
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#18
Does this remind you of Subic - only the greedy Puerto Ricans behind this ploy won't get the opportunity to make a buck? LOL!
Subic's closing was a learning experience, both good and bad (I had peripheral doings with it). Rosy was the result of lessons-learned. It's gonna be a long time before the "nature preserve" goes away.
I suspect that the developers in Orange County CA (who've been lusting after Camp Pendelton for years) might find themselves at same short end of the stick.
Not an April Foolâs Joke, but it is KCNA.
Researches into sandy dust are proceeding in high gear with it hitting Korea quite often these days. Sounds like sandy dust is a bellicose force running amuck and going reckless.
A study group has been formed with scientists and technicians of the Central Hydrology Institute of the Hydro-Meteorological Service and the Environment Preservation and Study Centre of the Ministry of Land and Environment Preservation. Now thereâs a classic commie bureau name.
They have registered successes in quickly forecasting sandy dust by correctly judging the climatic change in the areas where it develops. Like maybe in...ummmmmmm... sandy areas?
In close contact with all the provincial hydro-meteorological stations, they observe the sandy dust phenomenon in time and grasp the regional distribution of sandy dust and its course of movement on a scientific basis and immediately report them to all parts of the country. Sandy dust! Incoming! Run for your pitiful lives!
Scientists of the Geography Institute of the Academy of Sciences are doing their share in finding out the areas where sandy dust develops to hit Korea and the size of dust particles and their influence on the climate and weather of the country in time. Sandy dust attack in 3...2...
Scientists of the Hygienic Institute and the Radioactive Medical Institute of the Academy of Medical Science are engaged in researches into the possible radioactive content in sandy dust and its effect on the human body. If they can figure out a way to coat their Giant, Super Rocks with it, theyâll have Nuclear Giant Super Rocks!
Scientists and technicians of the Crop Cultivation Institute and the Central Vegetable Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Science are making more concrete and comprehensive researches into the effect of sandy dust on crops. The energetic researches of the scientists in various fields are effectively preventing damages done to the health of man and natural environment by sandy dust. Look, the question we all want answered is obvious. Is it good eating? Howâs it taste on a tree bark and barnyard grass sandwich?
#5
Sandy dust blowing through? I believe it. Next thing you know Joad Song Il and his family will be forced to get in their rickety truck and drive out west...
#8
Apparently they get awful dust storms every year from somewhere in China where the land has been overfarmed, much like the (old) US dustbowl problem. It covers everything & people walk around with Michael Jackson doctor masks.
Posted by: Mr. No Nuttin ||
04/01/2004 19:13 Comments ||
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Hope we kept the bills...
Canadaâs newly purchased Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters have been developing cracks in their tail rotor hubs, the air force admitted Thursday. What to you expect for $800 mil
That combined with the crash of a similar aircraft this week in Britain has forced Canadian military officials to restrict the operations of the 15 helicopters for the second time this year. Restrict?...how about stop
The Cormorants, which cost taxpayers $798 million, will only be allowed to fly in emergencies until the tail rotors of each of the aircraft can be inspected. Question: when one of these crashes, who rescues it? A Sea-King?
Lt.-Col. Charles Cue, commander of 413 Squadron in Greenwood, N.S., said the restrictions come following the crash of a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter on Tuesday. Five people were injured in the crash in Britain. It is believed the cause of the accident involved cracks in the aircraftâs tail rotor. The preliminary finding raised concern among Canadian military officials. "We have had cracking in the tail rotor hub, but we check the hub on a daily basis," Cue said. "If we find a problem, we take the part off and put a new one on. So far, it hasnât been an issue." Say what? If it cracks when in flight?
He said the rotors on both the Cormorant and the Merlin are roughly the same. In February, concerns were raised about potential fuel leaks. Two of the choppers - one in Comox, B.C., the other in Gander, Nfld. - developed fuel line leaks near the engines. Mechanics had to develop a rubber sleeve to slip over the lines to redirect the leaks away from the hot motors. The Italian-built helicopters have also had problems with cracking windscreens and console brackets. This is NOT good!! How about going back to the Flintstone Flyer...
Despite the growing list of glitches, Cue said the pilots in his squadron have no fear of flying the aircraft. "We are a little frustrated with the teething pains of this machine," he said. "(But) from our perspective, we feel much safer in this machine than the Labrador (helicopter). This machine has all of the automatic safety devices. We are very satisfied with this machine and donât want to go back the other way." A former military pilot said the intense vibration of helicopter engines is notorious for causing cracks in the airframe. "Itâs been said the definition of a helicopter is 50,000 parts flying in close formation," said Col. John Orr, a retired Sea King pilot with over 20 years experience. "Youâre dealing with much more vibration than you would in a fixed-wing aircraft." Even still, Orr said he found it "surprising and disappointing" that faults have already started to develop in the Cormorants, some of which are only a year old. "There have been lots of advances to reduce the amount of vibration and to track it when it occurs," he said. "We donât send aircraft into the air that are not serviceable and Iâm confident our mechanics will get to the bottom of the problem." As a Canadian, itâs very frustrating to see highly motived men and woman having to defend this country with sling-shots and can openers...
Posted by: steve d. ||
04/01/2004 6:56:49 PM ||
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#1
no pun intended but the size of the Canadian armed forces, on their own, would be very taxed defending Canada. what is the situation in Canada now in regards to the US? i haven't heard much in the news lately and am assumming the new leadership is taking a more pragmatic approach to the US. Cretian (not sure of the spelling - my apologies) did great harm for Canada in the US.
Posted by: Dan ||
04/01/2004 19:22 Comments ||
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#2
Steve D.,I think you got hosed on puchase of Comorants.The price tag for 15 helicopters seems too high to me,probably high because part of helo was built in Canada-undoubtably by friends of Chretian govt.For comparison,in 2000 Taiwan bought 9 Chinook helos(better range,payload)for $300million US.In 2004 Congress approved 17 Blackhawk helos for $210million US.Looks like Comorant was chosen because it wasn't US product.
Posted by: Stephen ||
04/01/2004 20:37 Comments ||
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#3
As a Canadian, I'm reminded of a purchase of new helicopters over a decade ago, that was cancelled by the Liberal government when it came to power...
What an utter travesty... we've persisted for years with a fleet of helicopters that has killed servicemen, and now we've got duds to replace the old fleet. I suppose they make a matching set with the goddamned submarines we bought that can't dive over 50 feet because of hull problems...
Posted by: Mark O ||
04/01/2004 20:42 Comments ||
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#4
Actually, we should be able to defend our borders if we could muster the effort. Unfortunately, our politicians know full-well that the US will defend our ass should anything happen so we don't spend the money we should.
Paul Martin is certainly more warm to the American view of the world. Unfortunately, Chretien left him armpit-deep in scandal, so don't expect Cdn troops in Baghdad soon.
Posted by: steve d. ||
04/01/2004 20:42 Comments ||
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#5
I suppose they make a matching set with the goddamned submarines we bought that can't dive over 50 feet because of hull problems...
I believe they were scrapped diesel subs we bought from the Brits...I mean, heads in the Cdn military should be rolling for shit like this, don't you think? For what I know, no one has even had there hand slapped over this...
Posted by: steve d. ||
04/01/2004 20:49 Comments ||
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#6
Yes, they were scrappers bought from the Brits, and heads should be rolling - in the submarine case they should be rolling both at the ministry and the department.
I would accuse our entire nation except for the fact that if you're going to be a skinflint to your own self, if it was a rational choice then you'd actually go with the best deal available to yourself, rather than these debacles.
Posted by: Mark O ||
04/01/2004 22:44 Comments ||
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#2
Repeat after me 'We are Canadians, and we are stupid, we are Canadians, and we are stupid...."
Posted by: steve d. ||
04/01/2004 12:35 Comments ||
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#3
Maybe it's just coincidence but most of the names are French.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/01/2004 13:07 Comments ||
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#4
Kind of funny liberals making flags. Check out homes and see who flys the flag and who doesn't. See who's a proud American and who doesn't care (unless it is a foreign flag then that is a different matter).
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 15:13 Comments ||
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#5
Quelle surprise.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/01/2004 18:27 Comments ||
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#6
Typical liberal poopoo heads, rob from the poor and give to the rich. canadianistan sucks big ones.....
Posted by: Halfass Pete ||
04/01/2004 23:25 Comments ||
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EFL
Sen. John Kerryâs defiance of his Churchâs condemnation of abortion and approval of gay marriage is not only a problem for him and Catholic bishops, but for individual Catholics as well, according to a leading Catholic layman and editor. He says Catholic priests should refuse to give Holy Communion to Kerry even if their bishops have not specifically warned the senator that he is not to receive Communion. That demand of excommunication for Kerry is made by Deal Hudson, editor of Crisis magazine, the nationâs leading intellectual Catholic journal.
In an exclusive interview with NewsMax.com, Hudson said that the matter of individual bishops ordering Kerry to refrain from receiving the Eucharist when in their dioceses - in other words, excommunicating him - was between Kerry and Americaâs individual bishops, including his own. "Itâs in the hands of his ordinary [bishop] - and when his ordinary has spoken and said that politicians should refrain from communion, heâs alluding to the fact that someone like Sen. Kerry should not consider themselves part of the Catholic community." The issue will arise as Kerry campaigns around the nation and continues to insist on publicly receiving communion under the watchful eyes of the media. As a result, Hudson said, some bishops will have to face the issue head-on.
Hudson left no doubt that in the absence of action by their bishops, individual Catholic priests should still turn Kerry away from Communion. "Absolutely, they should," he said. St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke has specifically warned Kerry to avoid receiving communion when visiting his archdiocese. In Kerryâs home archdiocese, without mentioning him by name, Boston Archbishop Sean OâMalley has said that Catholic politicians who do not vote in line with Church teachings "shouldnât dare come to Communion." Guess he wont be attending mass in those places...
Commenting on Archbishop Burkeâs instruction to Kerry, Hudson noted that Kerry avoided the confrontation by visiting a black Baptist Church when he was there recently. And we thought he was visiting his homies.... Iâm so disappointed :^(
"My view that this is a huge decisive moment for Catholics in the United States. I hope they will rise to the challenge and refuse to endorse another Catholic politician who is pretending to be a Catholic while rejecting the Churchâs central moral and social teachings. As NewsMax.com has reported in Vatican Worries About Kerry, the Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America, is quoted in Time magazine as saying, "All you need is a picture of Kerry going up to the Communion rail and being denied, and youâve got a story thatâll last for weeks." But Hudson told NewsMax.com he doubted that will happen. "They [Kerryâs staff] are checking it very carefully, everywhere he goes to Mass. Time on Monday quoted a Vatican official, who is American, as saying: "People in Rome are becoming more and more aware that thereâs a problem with John Kerry, and a potential scandal with his apparent profession of his Catholic faith and some of his stances, particularly abortion." But of course they wonât actually do anything about it.
Kerry, who likes to think of himself as JFK, has said: "We have a separation of church and state in this country. As John Kennedy said very clearly, I will be a president who happens to be pretending to be aCatholic, not a Catholic President." A former altar boy, he has described himself as a "believing and practicing Catholic, married to another believing and practicing Catholic." You misspelled âPretendingâ again John.....
He insists he will continue to attend Mass and take Communion. Unless he would be refused then heâll pretend he is part of a black church.....
Only last week, Kerry, in a rare episode of showing up for work, was among the minority of senators voting against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which, when President Bush signs it, will finally make it a crime to harm or kill an unborn child, abortions excluded. Proof that John Kerry is a liar....
#1
Wow. I've been telling you guys this...!
Tom Daschle's right behind Lurch as should be Uncle Ted Oldsmobile.
Oh, and Sen. Ketchup supports euthanisia, which the Vatican also condemns.
I imagine his Lib Dim colleagues in the Sen. do, too.
Posted by: Jen ||
04/01/2004 14:52 Comments ||
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#2
Isn't there supposed to be some kind of official procedure to excommunicate someone - as opposed to veiled hints from the ordinary bishop and leaving it up the the individual priests to make the call. Sounds a bit fatwa-ish to me.
#3
I'd hate to think that I'm the default Catholic theologian and parish priest of greater Rantburg, but here's my understanding of the relevant doctrines:*
One is not supposed to receive communion when in a state of grave sin, but one can be in a state of sin without leaving the Church. (If sin was an automatic excommunication, we'd all be in trouble!) If the bishop directs that someone is not to receive communion due to "grave scandal" in their public conduct, that person is still a member of the Church. He would still be eligible to receive the sacrament of Pennance (and would be encouraged to do so!) or the Last Rites.**
"Excommunication" means that you are separated from God's Church--"out of the communion." There is a formal procedure by which the Pope or a bishop can excommunicate you for certain major acts of sin. The Catechism and Canon Law further provide that certain acts of sin are so bad that they literally destroy your relationship with God--that is, you literally excommunicate yourself. (Participation in an abortion is one such act, but there's a pretty long list in the CCC.) In those instances, the formal proceeding merely acts as an official confirmation of what has already happened.
Please also remember that even one who has been excommunicated can always come back into God's grace--all you have to do is make a sincere confession, make restitution to those you have harmed, and abide by any penance imposed by your confessor.
*-Anyone with better knowledge than me, feel free to weigh in.
**-I know, I know, the modern terminology is "Reconciliation" and "Sacrament of the Sick," respectively. So, I'm old-fashioned.
Posted by: Mike ||
04/01/2004 17:39 Comments ||
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#4
Well, I've been approached to see if I am interested in starting as another "volunteer" in service - 5 years training, then life long service. Pay sucks but the fringe benefits are great. The permanent Diaconate. I'm leaning toward yes.
To the best of my knowledge, to stay in good standing and be eligible for communion, you have to have penance at least once a year during lent, and take communion at least once a year during Lent/Easter, and attend mass regularly. In addition to your duties as a confirmed practicing Catholic to obey the dogmatic authority of the church and not deny or oppose the magisterum of the Church.
In simpler terms, you can disagree with the Church, but not publicly from a position of authority, and certainly not against declared beliefs.
As for confession: the confession must be genuine, and reparations must be made. Also, remember the "go forth and sin no more" part of the absolution. Promoting sin as an enabler is a sin in itself. And to continue to repeat the same sin indicates dishonesty toward the Church and toward God as well as a lack of contriteness. Both of those basically nullify any saving grace that a confession should confer - meaning the person, in their heart, know they are not in good standing and should not recieve communion until they have given a genuine confession and recieved genuine absolution.
Kerry confirms my low opinion of him with his grandstanding about religion and his continued works counter the the Chruch and what should be core beliefs in his life (sanctity of life, opposition to euthanasia and abortion).
This isnt "new" at all - the doctrine of Humanae Vitae has been around since Paul VI. Check out this vatican position on political life
Here is the relevant quote - in the Pope's words, speaking with the full authority of the Church.
it must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals. The Christian faith is an integral unity, and thus it is incoherent to isolate some particular element to the detriment of the whole of Catholic doctrine.Â
I suggest Senator Kerry try rereading the Catechism of the Catholic Church and be honest with himself and the public.
And he should be aware of the Nicean Creed he recites at every mass before the Communion. That is a sworn oath beteen him and God, in presence of the Church. He has damned himself unless and until he comes clean and does a true confession and penance to reconcile himself to God, and the Magisterum of the God's Holy and Apostoloic Church.
#5
One more valuable excerpt from Catholic Doctrine that specifically hurts Kerry's claims to be a "practicing Catholic in good standing":
When political activity comes up against moral principles that do not admit of exception, compromise or derogation, the Catholic commitment becomes more evident and laden with responsibility. ... This is the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia (not to be confused with the decision to forgo extraordinary treatments, which is morally legitimate). Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo. Analogously, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted, based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability in the face of modern laws
Makes you wonder which "Catholic" Church he claims to be a part of. Certainly not the one with the Pope in Rome.
Translation: James Lileks is "Fisking" John Kerry's appearance on MTV's "Choose or Lose". Go watch, mind you don't get blood on your shoes.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/01/2004 1:13:09 PM ||
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LOL! "Carole King. Carole King? Look, this doesnât exactly connect with the MTV audience. This connects with the guys in the Obligatory Rectal Examination demographic, and theyâre not watching MTV."
That is just beautiful! Ah, Lileks!
"Itâs an appeal to those who always say â always - that we âsquanderedâ the goodwill of the world after 9/11. But in certain quarters that âgoodwillâ was equal parts pity, schadenfreude and the belief that we would now realize the errors of our ways. And note how no one ever talks about how the Palestinian Authority squandered the goodwill it got from the Oslo Accords. The Squander, it would seem, is a bird unique to our nation, and we alone are responsible for its care and feeding."
Awesome.
"Would he consider a coalition that included Germany and France, but did not include England, to be ârealâ? Whatâs the magic number of nations? Do we weight the nations for population and the nature of the government? If the UN is on our side, and most of the governments are autocracies, does that lend legitimacy to our efforts? âI intend to pursue a foreign policy that faces up to realities.â These realities apparently do not include the nature of nations, which is to act in their self-interest above all. Unless he thinks all those Syrian vetoes were done out of high-minded principles."
Lol! Sorry for posting all the quotes - but this is a First Order Fisking of Skeery - RBers should read it - the Master leaves Skeery not even a molecule of pretense.
. . . and they allow comments--for the time being, anyway. Feel free to favor them with some of the civil, well-reasoned discourse that made Rantburg famous.
Posted by: Mike ||
04/01/2004 7:08:30 AM ||
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#1
I put my 2 cents worth in on their web site. I'm sure this will bring a drove of reactions...
While you may be very happy with your candidate I have to tell you as an ex in country NAM Vet Mr Kerry's actions in 1971 dishonored his flag, country and uniform and all Vets who were still fighting the war while he was "testifying" with the phony Vets he brought along with him. I can not in conscience vote for this man. If you can then so be it. way.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 10:16 Comments ||
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From the comments posted its obvious most of their fans want them to go with the tinfoil hat theories and Bush-hitler stuff. If they go in that direction, potential advertisers will be put off and they might even damage Kerry's campaign.
If they stay fixed on Bush-is-stupid jokes, everybody gets tired of it. If they go with substantive leftist stuff the tinfoil hat crowd will complain. Too bad.
#4
Listened to 'The Minority Report' for awhile today. Left my 2 cents at their blog, under the name Red Ruffansore. Those guys are a One Trick Pony and won't going to around long.
Posted by: Jack Deth ||
04/01/2004 12:35 Comments ||
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#5
Bill. Another post to the AirAmerica blogsite has question your assertion that Kerry had "fake Vets" with him when he testified. He (or she) wrote that you are obviously "factually deficient". Maybe you could post a comment backing up your assertion. It probably won't make any difference to someone with blinders on but you never know.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/01/2004 13:35 Comments ||
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#6
Rebuttal made. Feel free to join in. I see Muck is on his Chaney thing. lol.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 14:02 Comments ||
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It's a love-in. The comments are rather hysterical... to be told you're right must be incredibly sensual for these shut-ins! Hell most of the fun to be had in blogging is on the opposite side of it - when someone challenges you to rethink. Lol! Reminds me of: "Knock yourselves out! No really, knock yourselves out. I suggest a greasy ball-peen hammer... you already have the pointy head thingy covered..." routine, heh.
Mucky will make them crazy - they won't know whether he's a troll or a supporter - and I sense that they demand political purity beyond the norm! Hmmmm, the same question can be applied to his posts here, too - but the difference is we LOVE trolls! Lol!
#10
I think I was called a "fake vet"....grrrrrrrrrr
The truth really sucks I guess. There was no response to this post of mine as of yet.
"One comment I forgot to metnion is the picture on the front of the book that MR Kerry co-authored. It shows the American flag upside down in some mockery of Iwo Jima. I can't imagine anything more sickening and disrespecful. It dishonors all Veterans.
Posted by NAM VET 67-68 at April 1, 2004 02:08 PM
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 15:22 Comments ||
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C'mon kids, don't leave Bill out there facing the rabid horde of bad guys alone! Throw in your $0.02, too. Rantburg forever! Fry Mumia!
Posted by: Mike ||
04/01/2004 15:33 Comments ||
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#12
I just stopped by for a look see. Seems that I , ah, Severian do be concerned about the mind control weapons plan of the the evilbushman. ;)
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats ||
04/01/2004 16:33 Comments ||
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Got yer back, Bill et all. Put my wooden nickels worth in. Did see one "vet" blurt something about '67 being a year of "not much combat" Reeeeeeeeeeeeeally now.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
04/01/2004 17:35 Comments ||
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#15
Khe Sanh and Con Thien weren't much combat. Nope. Nope.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/01/2004 18:01 Comments ||
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#16
I had to send this reply. They just beg for beatings
"Being a veteran myself and a member of the local American Legion in a conservative town in Indiana I can tell you every Veteran is upset over the slashed VA Budget"
Well according to one of your own American Legion National Commander Called President's 2004 Budget "Substantial Request And A Good Sign From The Administration." (The American Legion, Press Release, 2/4/03)
"President's FY2004 Budget Is The Largest Annual Increase For ... Veterans Affairs Ever Requested ..." ("The President's Budget Briefing Book, FY 2004," The White House, 2/3/03)
You sure maybe you didn't join the French Foreign Legion instead?
Posted by NAM VET 67-68 at April 1, 2004 06:04 PM
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 18:07 Comments ||
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#17
Also in '67:
Operation Cedar Falls
Operation Junction City - largest Air Mobile assault to date at the time.
Sustained air campaign against NV MiG bases.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
04/01/2004 18:40 Comments ||
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#18
Mucky's posts were the best...I got the feeling he was among friends and was even introducing *issues* they didn't know about like chicken abuse at KFC ("Blood bucket").
ROFLMAO....!
Posted by: Jen ||
04/01/2004 21:29 Comments ||
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#19
Jen---this one was Mucky's masterpiece:
rex im not surprise chainey not eat red meat. evil robots run on battery and need a lot of oil.
Somehow this one knocked me off my swivel chair.
ROTFLMAO! Good ole mucky.....
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/01/2004 21:59 Comments ||
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You will not read about this astonishing coverup in any of the major news media. What kind of a "coverup" is it, if you can read about it in the paper? This thing, by contrast, is BIG.
Several days ago, President Bush was giving yet another lengthly speech. Behind him was seated a kid, about 8 to 10 years old. After a while, the kid got bored and started fidgeting, looking at his watch, and doing other funny things, as kids do. Nothing major here.
Letterman then showed a video of this on his show. The next day, CNN showed the video. They said that the video was given to them by Letterman, and that, while it was funny, the Whitehouse told them that it is fake!
Letterman came back and said that, in all seriousness, the video is genuine. Then, CNN showed the video again. Now, they said that, according to the Whitehouse, while the kid was present at the speech, he was not seated behind the President, as the video showed. According to CNN, the Whitehouse now claimed that the video was doctored.
For the second time, Letterman insisted that the video is 100% genuine, and that it has not been altered. He then received a note saying that the Whitehouse did not make any of these statements that CNN said that they made. Letterman didnât say who the note was from or how he received it. I can only assume that someone in the CBS higher-ups received a phone call. But if the Whitehouse never denied that the video is real, why would CNN say that it did, twice?
Today, Letterman said that he had a source which told him that the Whitehouse did in fact make those statements to CNN.
How weird is this? Come to think of it, this is how all the major scandals begin: people trying to cover up things that would otherwise not even be an issue.
Posted by: Alex ||
04/01/2004 3:55:20 AM ||
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WTF?
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/01/2004 10:14 Comments ||
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I put my 2 cents worth on their site..I wonder what reaction this will bring.
While you may be very happy with your candidate I have to tell you as an ex in country NAM Vet Mr Kerry's actions in 1971 dishonored his flag, country and uniform and all Vets who were still fighting the war while he was "testifying" with the phony Vets he brought along with him. I can not in conscience vote for this man. If you can then so be it. way.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 10:15 Comments ||
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#3
Faux pas..commented on wrong article....oooopsss more coffee coffee coffee..!!!!
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 10:19 Comments ||
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#4
APRIL FOOLS! ...maybe....
Posted by: steve d. ||
04/01/2004 10:27 Comments ||
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#7
man whats up? this is like bottom of the barrel jerry springer stuff...really ... post something that has merit.....
Posted by: Dan ||
04/01/2004 12:29 Comments ||
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#8
This is not April Fool's, though I suspected it would be taken as such. Letterman talked about this on his show. That was yesterday, March 31. He showed clips from CNN, etc.
Bottom of the barrel? Maybe. But it's still weird.
Posted by: Alex ||
04/01/2004 17:41 Comments ||
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The Brothers Judd indulge their impish sense of humor in honor of 4/01 . . . .
John Kerryâs presidential campaign announced today that the [haughty, French-looking] Massachusetts Senator [who once served in Vietnam] (60) plans to wed financier George Soros (74) in Boston on May 23, 2004. After the marriage, the couple expects to take a long honeymoon in Europe, returning in time for the Democratic convention in Boston in June.
This announcement came as a surprise to the Boston political community. Mr. Kerry is currently married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, heiress to the Heinz ketchup fortune. Although there were no rumors of trouble in the marriage, sources in the Kerry campaign say that Ms. Heinz has agreed to move to Africa and obtain an immediate divorce. In a prepared statement, Senator Kerry said: "I thank Teresa for her understanding and my heart goes out to her at this difficult time. However, I just find George five times more attractive." . . .
Senator Kerryâs campaign denied that this marriage represented a change in the Senatorâs position on gay marrage. "The Senator continues to oppose a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, supports a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and intends to engage in a gay marriage. These are not nuanced positions -- we absolutely defy anyone to find any wiggle room in the Senatorâs positions."
Nevertheless, the Kerry campaign wasted no time in preemptively striking back at the Bush campaign for attacking Senator Kerryâs personal life. "The Bush campaignâs snide insinuations concerning Senator Kerryâs engagement will feed not one person, will create not one job, will not pay for a single doctorâs appointment and doesnât change the Senatorâs long history of defending this country, including in Vietnam." . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
04/01/2004 6:24:35 AM ||
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No more $200M or $500M heiresses for Skeery - he's going for the Big Bucks this time! Lol!
Likely Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry is considering tapping ex-President Bill Clinton to head up his foreign policy team give the Euros all they want as Secretary of State. "No doubt he will be making lots of trips to Havana for cigars"
When asked about making the offer to Clinton, Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter went out of her way to avoid denials. "President Clinton would clearly screw help the United States regain the respect of the French our allies across the world," Cutter told the New York Daily News on Thursday, before insisting it was too early to name potential Cabinet picks. "Michael Moore for Drug Czar?- Al Franken for FCC commissioner?"
Tapping the ex-prez for the top foreign policy post could help the Kerry campaign solve one of its thorniest problems: How to keep the Clintons from sabotaging his presidential bid without having to put Hillary on the ticket. "You heard it from me- she will be on the ticket. Kerryâs health may be questionable. She goes on as VP and may get to be Prez after all if his cancer comes out of remission. Hillary wouldnât miss a chance like this."
Not only is Kerry said to fear being overshadowed in any Kerry-Hillary pairing, but also he doesnât relish the prospect of spending the next eight years watching Mrs. Clinton in his rearview mirror. "Ketchup lady will fend her off - take that you slut"
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/01/2004 7:46:16 AM ||
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Since it's April 1, I assume this is an April Fool's joke.
Posted by: Tibor ||
04/01/2004 10:50 Comments ||
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Likely Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry is considering tapping ex-President Bill Clinton to head up his foreign policy team as Secretary of State.
#5
Lol! Seeing that in monster print was worth the price of admission alone!
Who knows if this is an April Fools joke - there IS a problem for the Jackass Party in timing. What to do with Hillary? Since she didn't run this time and was obviously planning on running in 2008, WTF do they do if Skeery wins in 2004? I have no doubts that they need to do something to mollify the Clinton Clan, never before has so much ambition (and potential back-stabbing malice) been packed into such a small space (2 people) before, lol! If Skeery LOSES, the equation is simple, no?
So, for the Jackasses, the question has to be how to maximize Skeery's chances now without pissing off the Clinton Clan! And would Hillary be mollified with Bubba getting a SecState slot while she has to wait to 2012? Lol! I'm glad these cretins and problems are theirs!
#2
All this talk about terrorism being a top priority or not for Clinton or Bush or anyone else for that matter is bullshit. It was a top priority for almost no-one. There had been people screaming at the top of their lungs for 10 years that disaster was coming. (Almost) No one cared. The one time Clinton did a definitive act (re: Sud./Afgh.), he was hammered. The government represents us and (unfortunately) we have the government we deserve.
The only thing that should patently clear is that whatever our policy was for the last 30 years concering Iraq/Israel/Palestine/Saudi Arabia/Etc... it was ineffective and wrong. Something had to give to make it right.
#3
It was not a TOP priority: Who gives a bleeding, bloody shit?It is not like there has been ONE danger and only ONE danger to America over the last 10 years or 30 years or 50 years. I am SICK of all the screaming shitstains running around claiming they KNEW it was coming and no one would listen. Sud/Afgh was a DEFINITIVE act. Hahahahahaha.... The world is getting Islamo-fascist TERRORISM for one reason and one reason only: It was allowed to happen to ISRAEL and ISRAEL was told to TAKE the TERRORISM, take the foreign aid, do not rock the boat and shut the fuck up.
#5
Lol! Everyone, in their heart of hearts, knows Clinton's #1 concern was where he was gonna get the next blowjob. Shit, how obvious does it need to be? Clarke should've bought some kneepads. Lol! Wotta joke!
Ministers from the oil producers' cartel Opec have said they will go ahead with a planned oil output cut. President George W Bush said he was "disappointed" with Opec's refusal to reverse last month's decision. Opec had been under pressure not to cut output by 4%, or one million barrels per day, from 1 April. In the US, where oil is trading near a 13-year high, the high cost of petrol is becoming an election issue, and some fear oil could reach $40 a barrel. The democratic challenger, John Kerry, has criticised President George W Bush, insisting he is doing nothing to reduce petrol prices. The Bush administration however has accused Mr Kerry of wanting to raise tax on petrol, and stressed it has been having talks with Opec members.
Time for some full-contact negotiation with the Soodis?
Tom James, director of commodity derivatives at Tokyo-Mitsubishi International, said fuel prices have been lifted by rising global demand for oil as well as the threat of Opec output cuts. "In China, crude oil imports have risen by 30% year on year, and this has pushed prices higher as well." In the US, light, sweet crude stood at $38.35 per barrel on 17 March, its highest level in 13 years. Crude oil prices are expected to remain above $30 per barrel in the foreseeable future, having risen 10% so far this year. Crude is trading 15% above 2003's average price. One factor in Opec's decision was that oil prices are denominated in dollars, and the falling value of the dollar on international currency markets has reduced the real value of the oil revenue of Opec members. Some analysts say a production cut is likely to push prices for crude oil to well above $40 a barrel. That could push the global economy into a slump, and Opec, in turn, could suffer as well if a downturn ends up driving down demand for oil. So far, most European countries have not yet felt the impact of high oil prices, because they have been compensated by the decline of the dollar against the euro and other currencies.
If I didn't know better, I'd say some OPEC members want a world slump.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/01/2004 2:00:22 AM ||
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I think there's a pretty good chance that the Saudis, who are really the only stand-alone force within OPEC - the big dog, are doing 3 things:
1) Punishing the US / West for interference in ME.
2) Grabbing as much as they can as fast as they can while they can cuz the gig won't last forever.
3) Trying to guarantee a Bush defeat.
I would not be at all surprised to learn of large contributions 3rd or 4th hand to Skeery campaign coffers or closely aligned "soft money" groups. The joke will be, however, that even if Skeery wins, they'll keep the prices up - won't matter by then cuz he'll be toothless to stop them and, in fact, will prolly owe them for his win.
When this breaks the back of any recovery in Europe and threatens to do the same to the US, will we finally shake off the blinders?
#2
It might be because of what they see of Iraqi production numbers, how Iraq will now be able to sell oil on the open market, without sanctions or bribery, and how that will hurt their bottom line.
Iraq and Saudi Arabia are, I think, the only two countries with excess oil production capability. Which means these two countries are the ones that set the price of oil. Iraq is in US hands for now, and Saudi Arabia knows what we really think about them and how easy it would be for us to bankrupt the kingdom by increasing production and pushing the price of oil down very low.
They are scared, and grabbing as much as they can before it comes crashing down around them.
Posted by: Ben ||
04/01/2004 3:43 Comments ||
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Ben,
I don't think Iraq can quickly increase oil production. The pipeline in the North isn't that big and the pipeline and port infrastructure in the south isn't that robust.
A missing thought here is that the biggest victims of high oil prices are the world's poor countries. If the left is 'routing' for high oil prices to hurt Bush (which they probably are), they should realize that people in Africa and Asia will starve as a byproduct.
#5
Petro-economics and a little downtime fine tuning is behind this. Hard to maintain output on a 24/7 basis without wear and tear on facilities and support logistics. Also, oil is too damn cheap versus its potential reserves. Needs to balance out. USA has always been in denial over the "real" cost of petro on a life-cycle costing basis. We are probably too elastic in terms of our cost structure. Gas is actually cheaper on price elasticity basis since the early 60's yet reserves have depleted not grown. This even counts the finds in Caspian and Sakhalin which had always been in the computations as unrealized reserves. In long run, this is good for us but politically dangerous for Bush.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
04/01/2004 9:12 Comments ||
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#6
"OPEC" - I.E., the Saudis - have decided to cut production. We'll have to wait and see if the members actually follow through. We're currently seeing OPEC production about a million barrels a day above "target" figures. More than half the world's petroleum is produced by non-OPEC members, and the US gets almost 2/3 of its petroleum from non-OPEC members. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out, long-term. Sooner or later, though, the United States is going to HAVE to deal with Saudi Arabia, and I do mean crush the HE$$ out of that pretentious bunch of camel jockeys and their state-sponsored terrorism known as Wahabbi Islam. The sooner, the better, IMHO.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/01/2004 10:03 Comments ||
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#7
"....they should realize that people in Africa and Asia will starve as a byproduct."
mhw my friend the American left cares not one tiny bit. They would whore their own mothers to get back into power at this point.
#8
The joke will be, however, that even if Skeery wins, they'll keep the prices up - won't matter by then cuz he'll be toothless to stop them and, in fact, will prolly owe them for his win.
Kerry has indicated that he'd "pressure" OPEC (read: BEG) to increase production. Comforting thought, that. The only sensible proposal he made was to scale back all those specialized fuels for geography-specific locations. That probably would do wonders here in CA.
#10
yes the dollar value is part of the problem - but the real problem is the sods - they want Bush out so the heat is off on reforms. just look at when oil cuts started qtr 4 of 03 and since we have heard nothing but cuts, cuts, cuts. they want to spoke the oil markets and make pay more..thus hoping to influence the election. it is to bad we americans are naive and do not see the sods for who they are -An Enemy-
sooner or later we will need to deal with the sods
Posted by: Dan ||
04/01/2004 16:36 Comments ||
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#11
Caught part of comment on the radio today that the Gov of Alaska, ticked off that Congress won't permit drilling in the Refuge, wants to open up ocean drilling along the Alaska coastline! Believes Alaska can use the money and the US can use the oil. AP, can you confirm?
Translated by MEMRI; hat tip to "The Corner;" EFL.
On the occasion of the Iranian holiday of Nourouz, or New Year, the Iranian Organization of Combatant Youth criticized a declaration by Iranâs Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in which he thanked "enthusiastic" Iranian citizens for turning out in such large numbers for Februaryâs elections for the Majlis (parliament). Khamenei praised the citizens for thus "nullifying the plots of the enemies against Iran." The following is the organizationâs reaction:
"We must say to him [i.e. Khamenei], âWhat a huge lie you are telling!â The majority of the people of Iran know that, despite all the games and actions taken by the agents of the Velayat Faqih [ârule of the jurisprudent,â that is, Khameneiâs] regime, and despite all their intervention in the âforced elections,â it was declared that 51.5% of qualified [voters] participated in the elections. In dictatorial regimes, this cannot be called âenthusiastic participation,â because in such regimes 98% of the people vote.
"As far as is known, in the recent forced election, only 14% of the eligible voters came to the polls. The highest estimate of [voter] numbers, which was in greater Tehran, was 400,000, [and] many of them were regime employees or their relatives, and many came to the polling places out of coercion or fear. And even so, some of them voted a blank ballot. . . .
"The akhounds [clerics [2] ] who rule Iran have no respect for the national rights of the Iranian people; rather, they use Islam to further their own satanic goals â even if this results in the ruin of the nation and the uprooting of religious principles. [But] the most important thing is that their own demonic games are protected at any price.
"My dear countrymen, we must wake up. Our homeland is going to wreck and ruin. In our current circumstances, we must unite. Our disunity is what the enemy of this godly land desires. We must unite in order to save our beloved Iran from the rule of these thieves and criminals. We must rebuild our land. We cannot remain silent, and we must have a united front with good plans.
"We must advance towards our sacred goal â liberty, justice, and equality."
Posted by: Mike ||
04/01/2004 2:00:22 AM ||
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Actually only posted on a website, this has yet to receive anything like wide distribution. If the Western Press doesn't pick it up and shout it from the rooftops, these people will be very quietly picked off by the Mad Mullahs' goon squads. If it is, then they do it noisily.
The Black Hats stopped actually caring a long time ago - it will take more than declarations, regardless of how eloquent or stirring. The kids are going to have to get themselves armed and fight the Guard.
I don't know how connected any group within Iran is to an outside source, but it is obvious to me that this is where they should be concentrating: getting sources of funding and arms. Perhaps some RBers can tell us how they're doing. Perhaps that would be a monumental mistake, so better not.
From where I sit, this does little other than invoke assisted suicide. I hope there's a plan and resources to fight. Maybe, just maybe, the release of an article like this indicates they are ready to fight.
#3
I don't see where we have time to wait for whatever subversive elements there are to overthrow the mullahs. Iran is on a collision course with reality. Their covert nuclear weapons program needs to be shut down sooner and not later. It is not inconceivable that Iran would give terrorists a nuclear device for use against Israel or a Western nation. In and of itself, Iran is so unstable where the chance exists that whatever meager arsenal they might build could fall into the hands of even more extreme radicals should they somehow manage to take over.
America has wasted critical military and moral capital with its adventure in Iraq. Iran and North Korea both represent much more puissant threats to global stability. The EU's warnings of economic sanctions against Iran are of little to no use. If they prove uncooperative, there should be a concerted multinational effort to depose the Iranian government by force and dismantle their atomic weapons program. The traces of polonium-210 found at their facilities are sufficient indication of their malign intent. The world cannot afford Iran having nuclear weapons.
#4
Zenster, you Dem (dim) Libs are a piece of work!
You condemn Bush for acting preemptively on Iraq and try to tie his hands domestically so that he can never act preemptively again (as would be the case with Iran and North Korea, also) and then carry on about "What's he waiting for?" wrt the mullahs!
If he launched an invasion of Iran, you'd bitch about the same stuff you're doing now about Iraq!
I'm sure the Bush Administration is watching events in Iran very closely, but we're hoping that the Iranian people will rise up on their own to overthrow the mullahs.
That would be less work for us--our military's kinda stretched to capacity right now, thanks to Clintoon--and less hassle from our EUro-weasel "friends and allies."
Posted by: Jen ||
04/02/2004 4:22 Comments ||
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#5
I do not condemn the preemptive nature of Shrub's attack on Iraq. I question whether the invasion was of anywhere near the priority it was made out to be. Regarding my supposed wish to "tie his hands," who knows where you got that one.
Claiming that I would whinge about an attack on Iran is a spurious accusation. Anyone who is waiting for Iran's people to overthrow the mullahs is asleep at the switch. Iran's recent election is proof enough that their clerics have no intention of surrendering one iota of power without a gruesome struggle.
We do not have the luxury of waiting for that struggle to play out. Additionally, many of the troublesome issues surrounding Iran's covert weapons program were obvious well before the invasion of Iraq. If the EU is unwilling to back deposing Iran's government, then their nuclear facilities will need to be bombed flat.
I dislike the notion of radiologically poisoning so many innocent Iranian people solely because we committed ourselves to a less important goal without considering the downstream implications beforehand.
I'll also request that you refrain from making ill-founded pronouncements about my political orientation. It doesn't help your arguments in the least and only betrays your own prejudices.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
04/01/2004 08:39 ||
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#1
In order to explain a complex idea, you need high language, not the language of the souq. You can't express a complicated idea using the language of the souq. If you take young people, let's say eighth-grade Arab [children], and their French, or Jewish Israeli, counterparts, you will discover the discrepancy in self-expression. Because he does not know the language of thought, the Arab pupil runs into a big problem. Thus it is in the entire Arab world.
#5
Hmm, interesting. It struck me how divergent their attitude toward the Koran is with their literacy rates, given how the Jews and the Protestants emphasize literacy in order to read their own scriptures.
#6
Not very surprising, but I wonder whether the poor man will be fatwa-ed for speaking the truth.
And the response on the "greatness of Arab culture" from the usual suspects in 5, 4, 3, 2 . . .
Posted by: The Doctor ||
04/01/2004 14:10 Comments ||
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#7
Well, that explains EVERYTHING to me! Of course. It all starts in childhood.
I hold an advanced degree in Early Childhood Education, and I can say, without reservation, that it is a VERY BAD THING when children's minds are not developed.
To develop properly, children need (starting in infancy and extending through elementary years) 1) responsive, positive, human contact, 2) stimulating toys and learning activiites, 3) healthy outdoor experiences, 4) developmentally appropriate experiences with math and science, 5) being read to, familiarity with books, and, of course, learning to read. They also need modeling from parents and peers who read and value learning. Additionally, education alone is not enough. The values and expectations of the society the child lives in, will be their guides for the rest of their lives--for better or worse--even if they have been provided with what we know to be the better opportunities.
Regardless of ethnicity, children who are deprived of these things (i.e., deprived of the ability to learn to construct knowledge within a pro-social environment) tend to become emotionally detached, and end up suffering the retardation of their faculties.
And, it's also impossible to make up for the early years. The early years of a child's life provide THE window of opportunity regarding learning and brain development, as well as the many complex facets of pro-social interactions and behaviors that make for an intelligent, creative, vibrant society.
But as we've all seen, underdeveloped children, (whether inner-city thugs in the US, or thugs in the desert, half-way around the world) can later be taught to believe nonsense, and to press buttons and pull triggers. Cause and effect. I'm sure that's very, very satisfying for them, considering--even if they're in their twenties. Yikes!
#8
Great article. It is important to try to get into the heads of the Arabs (stay with me here...don't be afraid) in order to formulate some kind of solution to the problem that does not involve the exothermic transmutation of U235 into other elements and isotopes. The new slogan will be to get your head out of the "souq" (defined in the article).
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/01/2004 15:09 Comments ||
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#9
An observation - draw your own conclusions:
Memorizing the Qu'uran and being able to recite it properly is the highest achivement in Islam. The person, a male of course, achieving this is held in higher esteem than a mathematician or a physicist or a doctor.
ex-lib - you would probably pull out all of your hair and commit sepuku if you got a good "up close and personal" look at what is taught and inculcated in those early years in Saudi Arabia.
#10
"Not at all. The perception today is like that at the beginning of Islam. Actually, Islam tried to unite the Arab tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. The Islamists see the Arab world according to what I read in the scriptures, as if today it is like the Jahaliya, the period of benightedness that preceded Islam. These Islamist movements are trying to revive Islam by uniting in the framework of an Islamic nation. Was it really like that? [The Third Caliph] Muhammad Othman bin 'Affan was murdered and thrown onto the dung heap. Three days he lay there, and a dog ate his foot. This is the golden age to which they want to return?
Yup, no doubt cos each Amir entertains fantasies about becoming khalifa...
And as the guy says, plenty of the khalifas were murdered (Umar,Uthman,Ali etc) hardly a shining example for the rest of the world... "There's something in the Islamic perception that drives you crazy, and that is the looking only backwards, not to the future. If the golden age was in the past, your entire vision is rearwards. This causes deterioration. In our mentality as Arabs, there is a poisonous formula that can lead to nothing good at all. There is a need for change in this programming. There is a disk in the Arab mind that must be replaced with another disk, and only this way can change come."
Tell it like it is!
Posted by: Dave (UK) ||
04/01/2004 16:51 Comments ||
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#11
.com: No doubt, that. Those litttle kids don't stand a chance!
And that proves why every US citizen with a brain needs to be an advocate for top-of-the line, developmentally appropriate education in the early years! Future generations appreciate freedom best when they have first-hand experience with the freedom inherent in their own intellects.
After getting the "bigger picture" through this post, it is incredibly clear that . . . well . . . I don't know how to say this . . . but it's going to take a while for the West to catch up with how deeply ingrained the Arab problem is, let alone to figure out what to do about it. Lack of education is not to be underestimated, and the levels we're talking about here are absolutely mind-blowing. I think our greatest problem will be ethnocentrism on our part. Things can change in the Arab world, though, through education--pretty much for the better. But it will take a long time. Most of them have access to media sources took which will only make them think they know how to think (same problem here). The development of critical thinking skills begins in infancy through what I outlined above--not in front of the tube!
I remember reading an article in a NYT magazine issue that explained what was going on in the Madrasses (sp?) in Afghanistan. The little boys there could easily spout anti-American one-liners and recite verses from the Koran, but didn't even know where America was. They kind of thought it was next door to them. When the reporter pulled out a map of the world, (something they had never seen), they all crowded around--very eager to be let in in some "real" knowledge. Pitiful, huh?
#12
You'll have to take their children away from them to succeed. Or destroy Islam utterly. There is no middle ground by their own insistence. Look at what happens when Islamists in the West allow their children get a Western education. You get Khaaaaaaaaaan! Oh, I know, LH - I'm stating the extreme case - so don't go lib-hadi on me, K? Deep breaths.
BTW, in my '92-'93 tour in SA, one of the first things I had to do involved upgrading a shitload of PC's. When I'd pop the case off a PC it never failed to draw a crowd of Saudis (they had the title of "programmer / analyst" - you betcha) who would marvel at the innards, mumble shit to each other, and occasionally ask me questions. The key point was that if they couldn't see it, it wasn't real... Now how do you explain solid state electronics to guys who're swooning over the only moving part - the FAN? That was one hell of an eye-opener for me, I assure you. 7th century, indeed.
Of course, given the Western Hollyweird movies about computers, the avg American's understanding of electronics is only a few centuries better... I offer War Games as an example: The "WOPR" hummed and had LOTS of pointless flashing lights. Only the LLL Hollyweird types would think that they needed to create a loathesome entity such as WOPR, complete with pointless visible doo-dads, for the public to use to "personify" what they should fear: Our EVIL Imperialist Gov't and EVIL Computers Run Amok. We poor humans are so powerless! And, of course, the good guys in this joke movie had a flying pterodactyl, Lol! Yeah, right. For a followup example, we have the Terminator movie series pushing the same "we are so helpless - technology is EVIL and OUT OF CONTRIL!" subtext bullshit. Anyway, sorry for the length, but I fig'd you'd get a little (laugh) out of it.
Al Sharpton will NOT be pleased...
Air America Will Displace Black Talk On WLIB Well, Franken & Co. have to start somewhere!
NEW YORK (NNPA) - New Yorkâs radio station WLIB-1190 AM has been loyally "serving New Yorkâs Black community" - as its logo states - for decades now. In the early â90s WLIB was lauded as a resource for "Afrocentric" programming and became known for featuring Imhotep Gary Byrdâs "Global Black Experience" show. Hard to tell what the logo is from their shitty website...
By the end of March, New Yorkâs WLIB-1190 AM will taken over by "Air America Radio," a predominantly White, liberal talk-radio network.
The station was in many ways a Black activist outlet. "Fight The Power! Fight The Police!"
But by the end of this month, WLIB will be taking on a different hue, as it joins the launch of Progress Mediaâs "Air America Radio," the new, predominately White, liberal talk-radio network. Air America has reportedly partnered with Inner City Broadcasting Corporation (ICBC), which owns WLIB. Jesse Jackson, call your office!
"We are excited about the diverse and important voices Air America Radio is bringing to the airwaves, both on our own WLIB signal and others," said ICBC Chairman Pierre Sutton. "This hostile takeover strategic partnership shafts the black activists allows both companies to combine our resources and deliver redundantleftist relevant messages to white Upper West Side Manhattan liberals a broad and diverse audience."
Sutton added, "Thatâs what you call âhigh-class B.S.!â" one former WLIB staffer said when told that Sutton said the stationâs changes were necessary because African Americans had just stopped listening to WLIB. The former staffer, loading his guns as we speak spoke to whitey on condition of anonymity, insisted that if WLIBâs talk shows were promoted the way conservative talk shows are - and the way Air Americaâs shows will be - the station would have made money. Yeah, itâs been what, only ten years now?
Air America Radio plans on using what it terms a roundup of rabid leftists "progressive activists" and Hollywood halfwits "celebrities" as part of the activist leftâs efforts to counter the Vast White Wing Conspiracy the national popularity of White, Right-wing conservative talk shows and radio personalities. The network will begin broadcasting shows from across the country on March 31 over WLIB and radio stations WNTD in Chicago and Los Angelesâ KBLA.
"I donât get it. I mean, I do not get it," local activist Elombe Brath said about Air America Radioâs takeover at WLIB. Reports are that WLIBâs 40th floor station has been remodeled for Air America, and that the 30th and 39th floors are also being re-built to suit the needs of the new network. "Get the hell out!"
Brath, who hosts and produces the show "Afrikaleidoscope" on WBAI-FM, and who played a part in the Afrocentric reorganization of WLIBâs programming back in the early 1980s, complained that if listenership was down at WLIB, the station should have restructured from within as it did in the 1980s. Or it could have just died on its own...
"All of the talk should be organic, from within the Black community," Brath insisted. "How can they think about coming into New York with a package program like this? We have people here already who know radio, who can do shows. And they want to come in with a program from other people trying to talk to Black people in New York City? (WLIB) is just a station that has been stripped of what itâs supposed to be!"
In its heyday, WLIB and shows like "Night Talk with Bob Law" on WWRL-AM, Samori Marksmanâs "Worldview" on WBAI-FM, Bob Sladeâs "Open Line" on WKRS-FM, and WWRLâs "Drive Time Dialogue" formed part of its own advocacy radio network. They highlighted working on your crossover move Black community health concerns, pimping techniques by Snoop Dog cultural awareness and playing the race card political activities. Many have even claimed that WLIBâs efforts helped to get out the vote for David Dinkins as he ran to become New York Cityâs first Black mayor. And we all know what a tour de force Dinkins was!
But now as WLIB joins with Air America Radio, plans are to keep only a few of the stationâs leading Black radio personalities. Mark Riley will be a co-host on "Uprising," Air Americaâs 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. show, while Dahved Levy, Ann Tripp and news director Wayne Gilman will also remain with the station. "Uprising" - yes, makes me wanna carjack a few vehicles.
Air America Radioâs featured on-air personality will be Al Franken, a comedian who helped create NBCâs "Saturday Night Live" and who recently wrote the book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," a scathing anti-FOX News, anti-Bill OâReilly book that became a best-seller.
Alongside Franken, Air America Radio will feature comedienne Janeane Garofalo; environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; author and activist Laura Flanders; Lizz Winstead, a co-creator of "The Daily Show"; radio personalities Mark Riley and Randy Rhoads Randi Rhodes; and political humorist Sam Seder. Chuck D, lead rapper for the group Public Enemy, was initially announced as part of the Air America Radio staff, but sources now say that the hip-hop icon is backing away from that commitment. Good call, Chucky D...
"I donât know how Air America is going to broaden the reaches of âLIB," said one radio personality who chose to speak anonymously about the situation. "How is this going to impact the Black community? As far as Iâve heard, theyâve got a couple of Whites who just really want to go after Sean Hannity, Bill OâReilly and all the others. You canât convince me that thatâs going to be something good for Black and Hispanic people." Canât wait for these folks to share the same studio. Catfight!
Brath agreed with that analysis: "Youâve got people here in New York who believe in Black culture, so I donât see why theyâre ... theyâre like outsourcing in a sense. In reality what the station needs is to have some people who know the community and can speak to its needs." In other words, only Black folk can talk to other Black folk. No racism here, everybody move along...
This story comes special to the NNPA from the Amsterdam News.
Posted by: Raj ||
04/01/2004 2:00:22 AM ||
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#7
Their station in Chicago, WNTD, was a Spanish talk station until yesterday.
They're license is for 1 to 5KW. I oughta be able to jam that with my garage door opener.
Where are those spare batteries, anyway?
Posted by: Darth VAda ||
04/01/2004 12:24 Comments ||
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#8
I'm sorry guys - whenever I hear the term "Air America" I get the mental image of very quiet spooky guys carrying weapons I never saw before jumping out of the DC-3 in the middle of nowhere with the crew chief saying "you didn't see a thing Mac".
#9
Now that a bunch of snowflake white, screaming Mimi libs have disenfranchised one race for the advantage of another. Shouldn't it be be called Air AmeiKKKa?... Just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Posted by: Jack Deth ||
04/01/2004 13:10 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
