Add porn star to the list of U.S. jobs being outsourced. American X-rated film directors are heading to Brazil in search of uninhibited women, exotic locations and cheap production costs. The going rate for a Brazilian X-rated actress is about $175 per sex scene -- a fraction of what talent in the Los Angeles area costs. Tim Connelly, publisher of California-based AVN, an adult film industry magazine, said Brazil is the place to go today. He said economics and beautiful women are driving the growth of the Brazilian porn industry.
No word from the Kerry camp yet on how he plans to stop this tragic loss of American jobs.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/29/2004 11:23:42 AM ||
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#1
what kinda jobs were those? :-0
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/29/2004 11:58 Comments ||
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#3
I'm sure this has nothing to do w/Aids scare that is currently shutting down domestic porn filming.W/huge profits in porn dvd's,the industry has to crank out new titles.
Posted by: Stephen ||
04/29/2004 12:34 Comments ||
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#4
I'm no expert, but from what I read, the AIDS cases started with a performer who went to Brazil and caught it. Apparently there's a market down there in faked "clean bills of health".
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
04/29/2004 12:42 Comments ||
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#5
OT: Anyone else having a spotty connection to Rantburg? Wonder if the trolls are coming out to stir up trouble while Fred's away.
#9
Geordi must have reversed polarity on the warp core again.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/29/2004 16:36 Comments ||
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#10
Sorry, it might have been me; I was using my sonic screwdriver to reverse the polarity of the neutron flow on my TARDIS console with Rantburg open in a browser window . . .
Posted by: The Doctor ||
04/29/2004 16:49 Comments ||
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#11
On a semi-related note only in terms of topic, does anyone else think that putting this in "Short Attention Span Theater" is somewhat odd? I imagine they'd keep my attention quite a while if I ever saw any of those women. Not that I have. Ahem.
Posted by: The Doctor ||
04/29/2004 16:52 Comments ||
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#12
Is this what Ross Perot meant about the "great sucking sound" of jobs moving south of the border?
Posted by: Cthulhu Akbar ||
04/29/2004 17:14 Comments ||
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#13
On second glance, that comment was dirtier than I thought.
Posted by: Cthulhu Akbar ||
04/29/2004 17:19 Comments ||
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The North Pole, the 3,569th Holiest place in Islam.
JEDDAH, 29 April 2004 â âWe wanted to step over it and raise the Saudi flag on the most extraordinary place on earth. And we did it!â In early March, two veteran Saudi skydivers â Mubarak Al-Swailim and Ibrahim Al-Sayad â set off to realize their dream. Now back in Jeddah, they have achieved it, having successfully skydived over the North Pole in the first attempt by any Saudi or Arab nationals.
Better watch that northern flank, Canada.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/29/2004 10:03:20 AM ||
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#1
Canada sent a dog sled team to recover the flag but seeing as the guy had to stop for prayer five times a day so close to the pole he lost his bearings. The Danes offerred to help but they had already dropped their flag off.
Posted by: john ||
04/29/2004 11:09 Comments ||
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#2
"Ibrahim, what a strange land we've landed in! The camels are white and hairy and--"
"Ah, Mubarak . . . that's not a camel."
"It's not? . . . Ruuuuuuunnnn!"
Posted by: Mike ||
04/29/2004 11:58 Comments ||
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#3
And of all the gear and knowledge used to pull this stunt off, exactly what was concieved, created or otherwise manufactured in Saudi Arabia?
Posted by: Michael ||
04/29/2004 14:35 Comments ||
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#4
Uh oh, now the North Pole is Muslim!! Time for Jihad to extend the glorious Caliphate to the pole .....
Posted by: Just try and dhimmi me! ||
04/29/2004 14:51 Comments ||
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WANZHOU, China - When this city decided to dam a tributary to the mighty Yangtze River, the city fathers searched for a suitable name for the beautiful artificial lake they said would form. They settled on Goddess Lake. They planned a tree-lined park along its shores, a tranquil respite from city life. Little boats would ply its waters.
Six months after Goddess Lake began filling up, it's become a cesspool filled with pig blood, dead fish, raw sewage, dye and runoff from tanneries. "Can you see the sewage pipe dumping into the lake over there?" taxi driver Lu Yongheng asked. He pointed to effluent cascading into the lake, which is a few hundred yards from the Yangtze River. Similar stories of environmental degradation are unfolding along the Yangtze upriver from the Three Gorges Dam. As the huge dam and smaller dams along the river's tributaries block the water, the flushing and self-cleaning action of the Yangtze River basin has slowed. Reservoirs are becoming sewers, filled with trash and smelly water. Local officials refuse to shut down polluting factories, fearful that unemployment will rise. Edicts from Beijing on controlling industrial waste go unheeded.
So much for the park and the baby ducks!
Begun in 1994, nearly a mile across and 575 feet high, the controversial Three Gorges Dam is the biggest hydroelectric project in the world. The dam began blocking the Yangtze, the world's third-largest river, on June 1. By the time it's completed in 2009, the project will fill a reservoir that will stretch 350 miles upstream. If all goes according to plan, the dam will supply a 10th of China's huge energy needs and limit catastrophic flooding of the Yangtze. It also will displace 1.3 million people.
The environmental deterioration that accompanies the $22 billion project shows how local authorities can thwart the toothless dictates of Beijing, and how zeal to sustain China's economic growth often trumps concerns about pollution. The central government has ordered hundreds of factories along the river closed because they were heavy polluters. But local officials have balked.
Of course.
In Wanzhou, home to half a million people and the largest city along the Yangtze between the Three Gorges Dam at Yichang and Chongqing, municipal officials jettisoned plans for a lakeside park when it became apparent that local factories might have to spend lots of money on pollution control - or else shut down.
Earlier this month, the State Environmental Protection Administration declared that pollution treatment projects along the Yangtze were "not as smooth as planned," the China Daily newspaper said. Local officials declined to close 206 of 304 small and medium-sized factories, including paper mills and distilleries, which the central government targeted as major polluters, a report by the agency said. In addition, 242 large factories, including steel and chemical plants, were told to improve their pollution control facilities. Of these, 227 haven't completed the work, it said.
To address worsening water pollution, China's government said last year that it was spending about $4.8 billion through 2009 to build 150 new wastewater treatment plants and 170 garbage disposal sites along the upper reaches of the Yangtze. Only 17 of these treatment plants have been built so far. "The central government has spent quite a lot of money for these water treatment plants, but didn't give money for their operation," said Zheng Zegen, an environmental engineering professor at Chongqing's Architecture University. So municipal governments and larger factories must pay to operate the new plants.
Despite worsening problems with pollution, there's only one private environmental group in the upper Yangtze River region, the Green Volunteer League of Chongqing. Its president, Wu Dengming, sympathizes with local officials who're torn between demands by Beijing to stop dumping waste and pressures to maintain economic growth. "Once the factories that pollute are closed, it causes big social problems. People will lose their jobs," said Wu.
He held up pictures showing waste near factories along the river. "These photos show that the Yangtze River has turned into a garbage dump," he said, then added: "The common people, including officials, have no awareness of environmental protection. If economic activity causes environmental damage, they don't care. They just want to make money."
About a quarter of the 207 tributaries that flow into the Yangtze River are so seriously polluted that the water is unfit for irrigation, local press reports say. The Yangtze's water quality has also deteriorated. State officials say it's at grade three under a Chinese rating system, which means it's of poor quality but usable for various purposes. However, the state system doesn't include a count of coliform bacteria, a sign of raw sewage, which would drop the grade further.
Some 30,000 ships and vessels operating in the Three Gorges Reservoir dump an estimated 7 million tons of excrement into the Yangtze every year. Moreover, cities keep dumping raw sewage into the river basin. As the water levels in the Yangtze River reservoir rise, they're causing landslides that expose landfills and garbage dumps, and more garbage is spilling into the river. Wu said he's seen floating belts of flotsam on the river that stretch for several miles.
Marveolous example of socialist engineering and progress!
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/29/2004 12:59:18 AM ||
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It's a dammed shame and dammed dangerous, too, gosh darnit!
"The central government has spent quite a lot of money for these water treatment plants, but didn't give money for their operation."
Lol! Commies to the core. Sigh. They may never get it.
Jobs... or Environment... "Oh, Xinhuawuwangtze! This industrialization stuff is soooo complicated! Can we bribe invite President Clinton again to find out how the Running Dog Imperialists manage to do both? He was so helpful with our non-cavitating submarine propeller designs and acquiring advanced computer export licenses 'economic' issues in his last $5M 'dinner speech' - surely he can help us with this! But tell him to leave that woman at home - she hurts my ears!"
#3
My new apartment in China is right next to a small river. When I walk across the bridge, it smells. Another river near my office smells like a port-a-potty in Texas in August.
#4
This is just one of the problems of the Thre Gorges Dam. Many Archeological site along the Yangtze have been submerged or destroyed. Sacred sites to the Chinese people have also been destroyed by the dam. The only way to stop this disaster is too take down the dam, which won't happen anytime soon. That is, unless someone blows it up, but China would have a 1/3 population reduction if that happened.
Posted by: Charles ||
04/29/2004 9:17 Comments ||
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It'll be cleaned up when the dam breaks.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats ||
04/29/2004 18:43 Comments ||
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Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
04/29/2004 15:39 ||
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Would it be tasteless to start a pool? Closest to the number of French dead in the next heatwave without going over wins?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
04/29/2004 16:39 Comments ||
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#2
"Tasteless" wouldn't even begin to cover it; it would show an utter contempt for the French people, the French government, and a complete lack of respect for everything France holds dear.
My bet is 6250 Frogs croaked, by September 1st.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/29/2004 17:07 Comments ||
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Not that high, all the weak ones went down last time. I'll say 2,347 by 9/1/05.
#9
AntiGum: Bastille Day is the 14th of July every year. :-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/29/2004 20:20 Comments ||
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Barb - when is the 4th of July this year? LOL
just teasing Antigum - I had no idea either
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/29/2004 20:26 Comments ||
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#11
I think the French government should name their summer holiday abandonment of their elderly to the heat. I recommend Operation Logan's Run.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 20:32 Comments ||
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#12
As almost all their power is atomic... why don't the French just give their poor elderly airconditioners for heat waves. If capitalists US cities can do it then the socialist Frogs should be installing central air and hot/cold showers all powered by their clean nukes!
Refrigerant use threatens the very environment that we depend on. Old people are biodegradable.
Besides we can sell excess power to Italy a country that bought into the no nukes canard, and prop up our limping economy. Also with oil prices are high, we can jack up our prices and rake in more dough.
[picture fades]
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 22:48 Comments ||
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#14
2155 by 9/1/04,say it slowly France air conditioning.
#15
Now that France's illicit Oil-for-Bribes scheme is temporarily interrupted, they will need to conserve power or find alternative sources of funding for their 'elected' officials.
Posted by: BK ||
04/29/2004 23:52 Comments ||
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#1
A 55-nation group of European and North American countries on Thursday denounced "new forms and expressions" of anti-Semitism and rejected any attempt to justify them on the basis of strife in the Middle East. The EU countries could not have signed off on that resolution. I thought blaming Israel for everything was one of the key elements their entire union. ... Oh, that's right, you can still say all the anti-semetic stuff you just have to exchange "Israeli" wherever you used "Jew" in the past.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 23:00 Comments ||
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Yas, let's keeping talking, and talking, and talking ...
BERLIN (AP) - Western governments pledged Wednesday to redouble efforts to protect Jews as a 55-nation meeting heard Nazi death camp survivor Elie Wiesel warn of the spreading "disease" of anti-Semitism. Foreign ministers from Germany, Britain and other European countries conceded on the conference's first day that combating anti-Semitism requires a fresh push to educate young people about the Holocaust and punish perpetrators of hate crimes.
Secretary of State Colin Powell told participants the two-day meeting was necessary "to stamp out the new fires of anti-Semitism" - and to take a stand against any criticism in which Israeli leaders are "demonized or vilified."
Israeli President Moshe Katsav, in Berlin on an official visit coinciding with the conference, said "European leaders have done a lot lately, but not enough." "Jews are again afraid to walk in the streets with a Star of David and a yarmulke. Jewish children are again a target of violence and the streets of Europe are again not safe for Jews, only because they are Jews," Katsav told a dinner hosted by German President Johannes Rau.
Such is life in Western Eurabia.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said it was fitting that the meeting was being held in the capital where Nazi Germany planned the destruction of Europe's Jews. "Every attack on a Jewish citizen, every desecration of a Jewish cemetery, every single anti-Semitic utterance threatens not only Jewish people and the Jewish community in Germany and elsewhere, but it also threatens our open and democratic society as a whole," Fischer said.
I'll bet he's really conflicted when he sees a Jewish police officer.
An Israeli anti-Semitism watchdog group said last week that worldwide incidents of attacks on Jews and vandalism against Jewish sites increased 15 percent in 2003 from the previous year, while the Stephen Roth Institute of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism said France, Britain, Russia, Germany and Canada had the highest rates of anti-Semitic incidents. "The reality is that no country is ever free from intolerance, including anti-Semitism," said Britain's chief delegate, Bill Rammell. "The U.K. is no exception. And all governments have a duty to combat these phenomena."
Notice in this piece that there's no comment from the French delegation.
While delegates broadly agreed more must be done against anti-Semitism, many cautioned that not all criticism of Israel should be construed as hate.
"No, no! Certainly not!"
Powell said, "It is not anti-Semitism to criticize the state of Israel, but the line is crossed when the leaders of Israel are demonized or vilified by the use of Nazi symbols." But Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, speaking for the European Union, cautioned, "We cannot and should not expect reasonable criticism and fair comment about specific Israeli government policies to fall silent."
"Not that we'd tolerate any discussion of the Troubles, you understand."
The most emotional appeal came from Wiesel, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his writings on the Holocaust and campaigning against evils in the world. "Stop! Stop a disease that has lasted so long. Stop the poison from spreading," he implored delegates. "The Jew I am belongs to a traumatized generation. We have antennas. Better yet, we are antennas," he said. "If we tell you that the signals we receive are disturbing, that we are alarmed, ... people had better listen." He urged the conference to adopt a manifesto that should be read aloud in schools across the world every year.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/29/2004 12:10:15 AM ||
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SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) - Macedonia's liberal prime minister won presidential elections Wednesday, pledging to help keep the ethnically troubled Balkan country at peace. With virtually all of the ballots counted, Branko Crvenkovski received 62 percent, the state electoral commission said early Thursday. His opponent, right-wing opposition candidate Sasko Kedev - a U.S.-educated doctor with little background in politics - had 37 percent, the commission said. The turnout was about 53%.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/29/2004 12:07:16 AM ||
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A meeting that both the White House and the 9/11 commission had billed as historic... the Oval Office session began at 9:30 a.m. and ended at 12:40 p.m., and two Democrat commission members -- Lee Hamilton, the vice chairman, and Bob Kerrey -- walked out!
The departure has ignited talk throughout official Washington.
In a written statement, Kerrey said he left an hour early to attend âa previously scheduled meeting with Senator Pete Domenici on Capitol Hill.â
Hamilton left Bush/Cheney 70 minutes early to meet with the Canadian Prime Minister.
#1
Kerrey has shown himself to be a total DNC toady during this. The Domenici meeting could have been postponed.
However, Hamilton leaving for the meeting with the Canadian PM could have been with an extra task. GWB might have sent a "Birthday Greeting" like he did with Assad. Only this message could have discussed the ramifications to giving asylum to the two Army deserters, and that he'd better have a proper answer when they meet later on, or face a citizen inspired economic boycott.
"You are underminin' the war on terror if you let those jokers stay, Canuck. Get with the plan!"
#2
I can almost see Hamilton leaving for the Canadian PM, but WTF is Kerrey doing leaving to meet with a Democratic Senator? How serious can he be about the Commission's work if Pete Domenici is more important than questioning Bush/Cheney.
Posted by: Tibor ||
04/29/2004 19:54 Comments ||
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Ummm... Tibor, Pete D is R-NM, but the point remains the same. Notice that liberal-lizard-queen Pelosi was bemoaning the fact Bush and Cheney weren't interviewed separately...it was a missed "gotcha" attempt...
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/29/2004 19:58 Comments ||
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Doncha think these 2 assclowns left because it was not going to be a "gotcha" thing at all...and they figured "Why bother?"
President Bush takes the title of "Teflon President" from RR and moves it to a new level!
And of course the rudeness of leaving the most powerful man in the free world for some minor ciphers appealed to them, too.
These people are crazy and barbaric in their "manners."
Posted by: Jen ||
04/29/2004 20:02 Comments ||
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#5
Jen - Look at my comment about Lee Hamilton again - GWB may have been working with him in this.
#6
Evidently Clinton has two handlers present when he was interviewed by the commission. They were the two guys that always did scandal supression - McMarty and so other guy.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 20:18 Comments ||
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SH - He had Sandy Berger with him - to handle those pesky details. Dubya and Cheney had a note-taker - as did all of the "commissioners" - so everyone can keep everyone else honest...
#8
BigEd, maybe, but it was still rude and implies that the Canadian PM is more important than President Bush.
Canada hasn't been all that great a neighbor of late, either.
Remember, it was these same guys where berated the President for months, if not years, for this very meeting and then they have to leave early...?
If it were me, I wouldn't leave unless I had explosive diarrhea or a heart attack or was having a baby right that second.
Posted by: Jen ||
04/29/2004 20:23 Comments ||
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#9
True it looks kinda rude, Ms. Jen, but If Bush had a plan to do just this. You know what they say about politix and bedfellows?
#10
Frank, my bad. I was thinking of that blowhard DeConcini.
Posted by: Tibor ||
04/29/2004 21:04 Comments ||
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I don't know, folks, but I don't see too many people who haven't already made up their minds about Dubya (love vs hate) really giving a fuck about this commission, or whatever it's members do/don't do.
It'd be like expecting a Democratic leader to show some respect for the President or his administration -- ain't gonna happen until... hell, I have no idea what it would take. After all, I was naive enough to think 9-11 would take the partisanship down a notch or two, and then along came Howlin' Howie.
Never forget: our winning the Cold War didn't stop the leftists -- it just made 'em madder.
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/29/2004 22:22 Comments ||
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.com, I thought I heard on the radio that Bruce Lindsey was there too. I'll try to check it out.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 22:30 Comments ||
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geezer - I thought Howard Dean had at first just gotten burnt by spilling coffee on himself from McDonald's. Then I realized as the speech drug on, his self-imposed medication was misdosed.
Sen. John Kerry says he's not opposed to a controversial wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound, but he's waiting to see an environmental impact statement due out in the new few months before offering his support for the project.
"I'm for this issue unless I'm not."
In his presidential campaign, Kerry has pitched a national effort to derive 20 percent of the country's electricity from renewable sources by 2020. The Massachusetts Democrat also led efforts in the Senate to prevent oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and supports higher fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.
"It is very hard to maintain those positions when you are given a legitimate opportunity to harvest electricity by the wind and you oppose it," Spyro Mitrokostas, executive director of the Cape Cod Technology Council, told the Cape Cod Times. "If you don't follow through on that, your credibility on not drilling in Alaska starts to fall apart," Mitrokostas said.
They and their rich liberal friends all have expensive homes on the Cape and don't want the views marred by the windmills.
Andy Davis, a spokesman for Kerry, said his view is no different than that of several environmental groups. "They aren't supporting it across the board; they are awaiting the environmental impact statement," Davis said. "Kerry, as well, would like to see that environmental impact statement before giving (the Cape Wind project) his approval."
This is so perfect. If he's for it, his rich liberal contributers will be pissed and not give him money. If he's against it, the renewable energy lobby will be pissed and may go to Nader.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/29/2004 3:03:26 PM ||
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#1
Sung to Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind"
How many views must a man expouse
Before you call for a vote?
Yes, 'n' how many medals must you toss away
Before the cameras roll?
Yes, 'n' how many times must you deny the SUV
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is in old Boston town,
The answer is in Old Boston town.
#2
The Massachusetts Democrat also led efforts in the Senate to prevent oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and supports higher fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.
I wonder if that includes Kerry's modest fleet of SUV's?
#1
Panel investigators have discovered evidence that casts doubt on several official narratives that emerged about that day. One focuses on early White House statements that Bush initially did not return to Washington on Sept. 11 because he was told the White House received a phone call saying that Air Force One was a target. The caller is said to have used a classified code word, "angel," for the aircraft. The investigators have looked into the story and found no evidence of any such call, said a source familiar with the staff findings who asked for anonymity because the information was not supposed to be disclosed.
It looks like the commission has stumbled on to a case of miscommunication about a small detail in a time of crisis. I am astounbded. I guess this commssion has proved its worth. Now they have something to hang their hazzzz z z z z
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 5:07 Comments ||
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Al Gore, drawing from his 2000 campaign accounts, said Wednesday he will donate more than $6 million to five Democratic Party groups and help John Kerry fight President Bush's ``outrageous and misleading'' re-election bid. The former vice president pledged to donate $4 million to the Democratic National Committee. The party's Senate and House committees each will get $1 million, and the party from Gore's home state of Tennessee would receive $250,000. The Democratic Party in Florida, site of the divisive 2000 election recount, will get $240,000 from a separate Gore campaign account.
Maybe if you'd spent the money in 2000, Al, you'd be President today.
``The outcome of this election is extremely important for the future of our country and for all that America stands for,'' Gore said. ``I want to help John Kerry become president and I want to help Democrats retake control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.''
So much for the future of our country.
Gore, who favored Howard Dean over Kerry in the fight for the Democratic nomination, met privately with the presumptive nominee Tuesday at a Cleveland hotel. ``John will be a great president for all Americans, and I want to do everything I can to help him fight against the outrageous and misleading campaign being waged by the Bush-Cheney campaign,'' Gore said.
Most of the money comes from Gore's general election legal and accounting compliance fund, which showed $6.6 million on March 31. The $240,000 going to the Florida Democratic Party comes from an account established to help pay for the 2000 recount drive. Under FEC rules, money in such compliance funds can only be used to pay for lawyers and accountants to comply with federal election law. But the rules also permit money left over in such accounts to be transferred to a national, state or local party committee, or to be donated to charity.
Gore could not transfer or donate the money directly to the Kerry campaign. But by transferring it to the DNC and other committees, restrictions under which the money was originally raised would no longer be in effect, FEC officials said.
Sweet scam. I guess the McCain-Feingold reform didn't close this door.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/29/2004 1:41:18 AM ||
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#1
Lol! I wonder if his contributors (Remember them at the last 4 Xmases, AlGore?) realized he still had $6.6M of their money... I mean, it's not like it's really his, now is it?
So who got / gets the interest?
Hmmmmm, if you had popped that into a few nice govt bonds or decent rate commercial papers 4 years ago...
Geez, what a loophole-riddled joke the election finance laws are... This is almost as slimy and smelly as UNSCAM, IMNVHO.
#2
Steve W. - McCain-Feingold doesn't apply to Al. He's above any such pesky details. Remember he said that Bush "Played on our fears", thus his exemption from "Mc-F"
#4
Actually, I think this is legit by the letter of the law. I remember listening to a call on a radio talk show several years ago about what would happen to Hillary's campaign war chest if she faked a Senatorial bid and then pulled out late in the game after amassing a large bankroll. I believe that the law stated that the candidate may keep the war chest and use it for "future political activity."
Al probably kept his bankroll planning on a run in '04. As he got ready to run, somebody pointed out to him that the controversy regarding the recommendations of the Gore Commission made him unelectable as president post-9/11. In that he had zero chance on recapturing his Tenn. Senate seat, his future political activity was limited to helping others. Because the money was originally laundered collected as hard money, he can probably redistribute the cash as hard money.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 5:23 Comments ||
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#5
Never, ever end a close election with money in the bank. You should be in max allowable debt.
#6
Possibly it's just a late cash transfusion from his Chinese contributors....
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/29/2004 7:59 Comments ||
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#7
"Someday, John, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day accept this money as a gift for the Democratic National Committee."
Posted by: Steve ||
04/29/2004 8:48 Comments ||
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#8
Al Gore, drawing from his 2000 campaign accounts, said Wednesday he will donate more than $6 million to five Democratic Party groups and help John Kerry fight President Bush's ``outrageous and misleading'' re-election bid.
Check out the pics at the link for visuals. And you guys thought the LLL couldnât sink any further, did ya? No further commentary necessary...
Posted by: Raj ||
04/29/2004 12:24:29 AM ||
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#1
Can you say kidnapping? Not to mention assault and battery.
You're just not allowed to grab people and drag them away, not matter how much you disagree with them. That's what security is for, if you can't cope with free speech by anyone but yourselves.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/29/2004 1:17 Comments ||
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#2
the LLL has become everything they claimed to hate. From stealing newspapers and screaming heretic at anyone who disagrees... they are what they believe they are fighting against.
My comment on yesterday's posting of the same subject. I hope you're discussing the right to peaceful protest without intimidation - in which case I quite agree. However, I have no time for pro-lifers and see them as the worst type of NAZI. I believe they've been responsible for some nasty acts themselves. Ban abortion and you'll simply have the problem Irish girls have - i.e. travel to another country to have it done.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
04/29/2004 8:26 Comments ||
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#5
Howard UK, didn't see it was a re-post. I think I know where you are coming from, but check out this link from a feminists' group. These women think differently about the issue and what is choice.
#6
Crikey, yes. Certainly a different take on it - women foribly having abortions is the dangerous flip-side. I'm sure we could rant at each other for days over this! Got to have the choice though, even if it leaves women open to bullying.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
04/29/2004 8:55 Comments ||
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#7
This gets around the Pro-life movement, which it will, and Kerry loses some votes.
Posted by: Charles ||
04/29/2004 9:19 Comments ||
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#8
Nazis, Howard UK? Not sure what you mean. To be sure there are the loonies--ugh--in the pro-life movement, but they're fringe wackos, like in every group. There is an intelligent group that could hardly be considered a wacko, Nazi group, and is one of my favorite groups--tough bunch of ladies, those gals.
I used to be a very outspoken advocate for abortion, and all of the "rights" issues (falsely) associated with it. I've done a 180 on the issue. Some years ago, a friend of mine was doing some research at the university on abortion, and discovered some very disturbing information about the psychological downside to abortion, and that women were being seriously harmed in numerous ways by the practice.
He told me about what he was learning, and my hackles were raised. No way! That can't be true! railed I. After I finished cussing him out, I started on a three-year-long investigation of my own. It was more than a year after I had decided--from all the evidence--that abortion was about the biggest rip-off of women that has ever come about, that I even began to recognize the humanity of the fetus.
The abortion industry is big business, and if you follow the money . . .
I found out that the "mother" of abortion (and Planned Parenthood), Margaret Sanger, was into eugenics and a big fan/associate of Adolf Hitler. She wanted to rid the US of the immigrants and blacks, and saw abortion as the way to accomplish it. "Margaret Sanger aligned herself with the eugenicists whose ideology prevailed in the early 20th century. Eugenicists strongly espoused racial supremacy and "purtiy"," particularly of the "Aryan" race. Eugenicists hoped to purify the bloodlines and improve the race by encouraging the "fit" to reproduce and the "unfit" to restrict their reproduction. They sought to contain the "inferior" races through segregation, sterilization, birth control and abortion."
I found it enlightening, if you want to call it that, to come to understand what women go through after an abortion in their own words . Now there is so much out information there, and new thinking is taking the place of outdated, misinformed ideas about abortion Networks of women and girls are discussing the problems with abortion, instead of jumping on the bandwagon. Others also, such as liberal Nat Hentoff, of the Village Voice, have some interesting perspectives .
Of course, if you're really brave and want to deal with the issue directly, there's no escaping the reality of what abortion really is.
Since then, I've discovered that people who still hold onto the "pro-choice" tag, are either simply ignorant or misinformed, or are lazy, or prefer not to know the facts, or are trying their best to self-justify for personal reasons, or, if they are guys, they often want to keep abortion very easily accessible as a fall-back to failed birth control methods (regardless of what this does to their partner(s), or they want it around because of their own lack of responsibility regarding their sexuality (they want a "free" ride, so to speak).
The right thing to do is to educate people on the subject and let them make up their own minds. But accurate education is exactly the thing that is lacking, everywhere in the world, and the pro-choice movement is so rife with lies, (just following the money . . . ), that there's not much use getting info from them. (Starting with my links is better.)
The fact that people were assaulting pro-life supporters doesn't surprise me in the least. They will stop at nothing to suppress the truth about abortion. I know about that first-hand--"So don't any of you pro-choicers out there get me riled--I'm not an "ex-lib" for nothin' and I can talk the hind end off a mule --which is no small feat."
Hope the info helps, Howard UK, to start some thinking in new directions for you. It's not an easy issue, to be sure.
Again via LGF comments; EFL. Not sure what category this belongs in.
This one is fine, Fifth Column would have been okay as well.
A senior U.S. government official has told CNSNews.com that the 1995 memo written by former Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick and currently at issue in the 9/11 Commissionâs investigation of U.S. intelligence failures, also created "a roadblock" to the probe of the 1996 Clinton re-election campaign fundraising scandal.
The CNSNews.com sources question whether the guidelines purportedly put in place by Gorelick in 1995 for Justice Department investigations were actually intended to shield President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and top Democratic campaign fundraisers from the subsequent congressional investigations of the illegal fundraising activities. Surprise meter: zero.
The fundraising investigation involved the Clinton campaignâs alleged acceptance of donations from operatives working for the Peopleâs Republic of China (PRC) as well as other foreign sources. Another DoD official, who requested anonymity, explained in an interview with CNSNews.com that, "the PLA (Peopleâs Liberation Army) used front companies to buy U.S. defense high technology and influence in the U.S. government." In many cases, the source said, "the operatives were dealing directly with the White House."
Posted by: someone ||
04/29/2004 12:11:43 AM ||
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#1
Lesson One: If the DIM Party does not want some anal orifice with damning information to be called to testify before a "bipartisan" commission, the DIMs appoint the anal orifice to represent the party on the commission. Lesson Two: This will not work for Republicans. If Gorelick were a Republican, she would have already been villified in the news media, discharged from the commission, been forced to testify publicly with live coverage by cable AND the ABCNBCCBS Network, and subjected to brutal accusatory questioning by self-described war criminal Bob Kerrey who kept calling her Dick Clarke.
#4
Realistically, it would be no easier to prove intent in this case than proving the Marc Rich pardon was a quid-pro-quo.
Interestingly enough a wall between the CIA and FBI had an equally negative impact on the Kobar Tower, Cole and Embassy bombing investigations.
With respect personal involvement, Goerlick played a significant role in the investigations for the OK City bombing and the crash of TWA 800. If it turns out that Middle Eastern terrorists were involved in either event, Clinton's "legacy" will be making RM Nixon appear to be an excellent president.
We may discover something about Oklahoma in the upcoming trial. We won't learn more about TWA 800 for thirty or more years. The other DNC appointees will protect Gorelick and the previous administration from scrutiny unless something really ugly is turned up or more information is declassified - certainly not about TWA 800 which would be a black eye for both administrations, Kerry and just about everybody else in government. A terrorist connection to TWA 800 would be terminal for Al Gore. Based on actions he took in watering down the findings in his Commission, he would be best served to blow his own brains out before "John Clark" reaches his house.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 5:52 Comments ||
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#5
This is also interesting in light of the recent (last year IIRC) case of several FBI agents sleeping with a Chinese woman who was a double agent (or triple agent, it was a complicated case).
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 13:50 ||
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Don't you know Super Hose. Those four Chinese dudes they caught running the guard station weren't REALLY from China. They were just delivering a phone in order of Mongolian Beef from a local restaurant to be paid for by Lillian Anaya's government credit card.
#2
I am disgusted about the illicit purchase of the Mustang. I'm a Corvette man - or would be if I had a governemtn credit card.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 20:36 Comments ||
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Keeeerist! I try and get a $4000 sole-source (only one company provides the product) vendor contract through my purchasing dept. and they ask for 3 competitive bids....I can't get the definition of "sole-source" through their pinheads! She does $100 million.....I guess I need to do bigger contracts
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/29/2004 20:43 Comments ||
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#4
Frank, stop being a piker and supersize your order. :-)
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 22:52 Comments ||
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EFL
Itâs quite a turnaround for Kerry, who just a few weeks ago was complaining, "George Bush sold us on going to war with Iraq based on the threat of weapons of mass destruction. But we still havenât found them . . . . We were misled about weapons of mass destruction." Whiplaaaassshhhh
But Tuesday night on MSNBCâs "Hardball," Kerry retreated. "It appears, as they peel away the weapons of mass destruction issue - and we may yet find them," he told host Chris Matthews. "Look, I want to make it clear. Who knows if a month from now, three months from now, you find some weapons? You may." My neck is getting sore. Hope it doesnât fall off.
Posted by: Dragon Fly ||
04/29/2004 10:35:27 AM ||
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Halfempty-
Kerry will say he supports non-discrimination against little people, and, hate crimes legislation to protect them. He will take no stand on the issue at hand.
#6
Kerry knows bloody well where Saddam's WND are (Syria-Lebanon), but is too much of a Dem political-hack-seeking-higher-office to address the real issues.
#7
Saddam sold the bulk of his so-called WMD TO Assad. Those weapons of mass murder where trucked into Syria and 'relocated' in various parts of Syria and Syrian controlled Lebanon. All this will come out before the election. Count on it!:)
Those Dems not countering the jihadists are assisting the enemy in murdering American & Coalition troops ..have a nice day...
#8
I said there were WMDs in Iraq, before I said there were no WMDs in Iraq, before I said there were might be . . . but I will not stand for my patriotism to be questioned.
Folks better be careful about being to harsh with Kerry or they'll get someone - er- better - er - worse - er - smarter - er - ...
Posted by: Sam ||
04/29/2004 17:24 Comments ||
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Could Mr. Kerry be concerned that Saddam's WMD have actually been found?
Posted by: Dave Schuler ||
04/29/2004 18:37 Comments ||
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Dave S. - I think Jordanian King Abdullah is very happy that some of them have been found before they could be used.
Kerry? Concern? Oh no! "VX gas? No way! They found Raid Ant & Roach Killer."
That will be the line until the election even if General Kimmit himself is pictured standing NEXT TO the drums of chemicals.
Posted by: ed ||
04/29/2004 08:56 ||
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Khomeiniâs real father, William Richard Williamson, was born in Bristol, England, in 1872 of British parents and lineage.
The plot thickens :
From the LDS Genealogical Website :
William Richard Williamson
b: Bristol, England
bapt: 25 FEB 1872 at Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol, Gloucester, England
son of Francis Williamson and
Mary Elizabeth (maiden name not shown)
Posted by: Howard UK ||
04/29/2004 14:16 Comments ||
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Reports indicate al-Sadr may be allowed to go into exile in Iran till July when an interim government takes over. At which time he can return to "face Iraqi justice" or stay where he is.
Mmmmmm. Get your probability vectors around that one.
Great post Big Ed. Being of British stock, Khomeini has gone up in my estimation somewhat.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
04/29/2004 14:26 Comments ||
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Howard UK - Genealogy is a hobby, and I have been digging for roots for 20 years.
After reading the article, digging needed to be done!
EFL
The latest location on planet Earth to be hit with UFO fever is Iran, as dozens of sightings have been reported in recent days in the Islamic republic. Itâs just to easy, isnât it?
According to Reuters, state-run television today broadcast a sparkling white disc flying over the capital of Tehran, saying it was filmed last night. Keep working on the reactors and you will know exactly what is flying overhead.
People were reported rushing out into the streets in eight towns last night to watch a bright "extraterrestrial light dipping in and out of the clouds." Say cheez! Youâre on CIA sattlite.
The Islamic Republic News Agency also reports colorful objects seen beaming out green, red, blue and purple rays over the northern cities of Tabriz and Ardebil and in the Caspian Sea province of Golestan. We are just practicing our Death Ray tactics. No need to be concerned. Move along.
An air force officer in the Revolutionary Guards was quoted in the reformist Vagha-ye Etefaghiyeh daily saying Iranâs Supreme National Security Council should investigate whether these visitors from afar had hostile intent, according to Reuters. Oh, I think youâll know when hostility begins. The flashy lights will be followed by large explosions and an even more colorful display of yellows, oranges, and black.
Posted by: Dragon Fly ||
04/29/2004 10:27:01 AM ||
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So, has somebody plagiarized Dick Clarke's wacky freak-the-Libyans plot from the Reagan administration? The white disc could be one of the smaller UAV variants up-sized, but the colorful lightshow sounds like psyops showmanship. The stuff that Fox was airing last night was cliche enough that I was half-sure that it had been lifted & colorized from a particularly lame 50s drive-in SF movie.
I wonder if there are empty zodiac boats washing up around the Iranian oil transshipment terminals that we're not hearing aboutâ¦
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
04/29/2004 11:39 Comments ||
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Apr 28th, 2004 (The Sacramento Bee - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via COMTEX) -- Sacramento was again singled out as a hot spot for green vehicle development Tuesday when Ford Motor Co. and oil company BP announced a plan to bring a fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles to the area and to build hydrogen fueling stations for them.
The initiative is part of a newly unveiled $350 million project by the Department of Energy to fund a variety of hydrogen-related auto projects. The goal is to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Private companies are expected to pour another $225 million over the next five years on programs promoting hydrogen research.
Hydrogen-fueled cars and trucks have zero emissions, which makes them attractive in pollution-plagued California. However, while hydrogen is abundant there are some concerns about safely using it.
While other automakers - including DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Toyota, Honda and Nissan - announced plans Tuesday to use federal money to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles into the Golden State, Ford singled out Sacramento.
The nationâs No. 2 automaker said it plans to distribute 10 Ford Focus FCV Focus passenger cars modified to run as hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles - throughout the Sacramento area. Vehicle assembly is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, with road trials as early as first quarter 2005.
BP said it will build hydrogen fueling stations in the area for refueling the carsâ hydrogen tanks. The timetable for building the stations and their locations has yet to determined.
The West Sacramento-based California Fuel Cell Partnership, which has worked on fuel cell vehicles since 1999, will be happy to be involved in maintaining and fueling the Ford autos. "These vehicles are getting more exposure every day," said spokesman Joe Irvin.
In addition to the partnership, the Sacramento area is home to extensive alternative fuel research and development at UC-Davis and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
Ford said its locally distributed Focus FCVs will be divided among three state agencies - the Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission and the Department of General Services - SMUD and the city of Davis.
Ford officials said they hoped the FCVs would help local officials gain more experience with fuel cell vehicles and also promote the use of hydrogen vehicles in the region.
The Sacramento area was one of three cities designated to receive 10 vehicles each - and accompanying hydrogen fueling stations - under the Ford-BP initiative. The other two were Detroit and Orlando, Fla.
"This demonstration and validation project will play a major role in moving us forward toward a hydrogen-fueled future," said Gerhard Schmidt, a Ford vice president.
Oil company ConocoPhillips also announced its intention to build hydrogen fueling stations in California.
The flurry of hydrogen news came just a week after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger formally disclosed his plans for a "Hydrogen Highway" that would stretch the length of the state.
The governorâs efforts are just one of the Sacramento areaâs claims to being a center for fuel cells, electric vehicles and alternative-fuel transportation.
The California Fuel Cell Partnership, formed in 1999, develops and promote fuel cell vehicles. It includes representatives from the automotive and energy industries, technology developers and government. Ford and BP are among the members.
Ford and BP officials said that the partnership headquarters at 3300 Industrial Blvd. will handle most of the refueling and maintenance for the Focus FCVs delivered to the area.
At the University of California, Davis, the Institute of Transportation Studies established an international reputation for cutting-edge research and testing of alternative-fuel vehicles.
SMUD has tested a wide range of electric vehicles through its own programs and has electric vehicle recharging stations at its Sacramento headquarters.
While the exact distribution breakdown of the 10 Ford Focus FCVs will be determined, SMUD electric transportation supervisor Bill Boyce said that the utility was hoping to receive three.
"We would like to do high-mileage testing with one of the vehicles and use the other two for public outreach around the city," Boyce said.
Ford and BP said Focus FCVs going to state agencies and the city of Davis will likely produce more information on fuel cell vehicle operation, maintenance and consumer acceptance. In Davis, the vehicles will likely be used by the police department and various city agencies. There is a hydrogen refueling facility on the UC-Davis campus.
The Ford Focus FCV uses an 85-kilowatt fuel cell stack manufactured by Ballard Power Systems and a nickel metal-hydride battery pack. A regenerative braking system enables the vehicle to produce power on deceleration and braking.
By converting chemical energy into electrical energy to power the vehicleâs electric motor, emissions are reduced to heat and water.
Most experts think it could be at least a decade before hydrogen fuel cell vehicles would be ready and affordable for the mainstream U.S. market.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
04/29/2004 3:16:58 PM ||
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Hybrid cars - He he he
One of the liberal talk show hosts here in LA, Ken Minyard, bought a hybrid car, but complained when the Highway Patrol puled him over and gave him a $100.00 ticket for not wearing his seat belt.
#3
mojo, gasoline is a far more dangerous explosive than hydrogen. hydrogen is so light that it would disperse in the atmosphere once released from the initial explosion. Gas just blows up and keeps on burnin.
#5
We have a hybrid option that should be available on the 05' Sierra and Silverado. We made 2000 or so for corporate customers to make sure all the bugs are worked out. The box bed has a plug where that I think is regular AC that you can use for tailgating and such. [/shameless product plug]
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 20:26 Comments ||
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SH - although I'm now a Ford guy - good on ya' - it will become a viable option when the filling points proliferate (to the same availability as gas). Until then, it's an experiment....but one I hope succeeds
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/29/2004 20:30 Comments ||
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I seem to remember someone used hydrogen as fuel for a mode of transportation sometime in the past. What was that name again....?
Oh, yeah - Hindenburg.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/29/2004 20:46 Comments ||
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The goal is to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
I get really tired of reading this nonsense. Introducing indirection into the system, in this case replacing one fuel burning/conversion process in a gas powered car by two processes one to produce the hydrogen and a second to burn the hydrogen, more-or-less doubles the innefficieces which are over 50%. I.e. a lot more energy is required to achieve the same result. The USA has only 3 ways of substantially increasing its energy supplies. Burn more coal, build more nuclear power stations or import more oil/gas.
Posted by: Phil B ||
04/29/2004 21:07 Comments ||
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If you refuse to burn coal in power plants and instead burn clean Natural Gas and Oil, then the consumer is forced to compete with utilities for a scarce resource. Either we can burn coal to heat our homes or we can let the utilities burn coal in as clean a fashion as practical. And yes, this will produce carbon dioxide, as does breathing.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/29/2004 22:42 Comments ||
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Note: I believe all domestic manufacturers have ceased production of all-electric automobiles: the ones which received similar accolades (and lots of PR) when they were introduced. They all failed in the marketplace. And the overarching problem facing hydrogen powered ANYTHING is just this: there are no hydrogen wells.
In order to generate the base needs of any hydrogen-fueled system, you must first expend more energy to fuel these systems than the systems themselves can ever turn into usable work. This is true of ALL systems, of course, but the non-existence of hydrogen wells makes the energy penalty hugely inefficient and a stupid general solution: you just wind up spending more nuclear/fossil fuel/solar/other energy to fuel these systems than you would to simply improve current technologies.
Posted by: BK ||
04/29/2004 23:11 Comments ||
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Ouch. Sorry Phil B. I did not read your post prior to submitting. We are exactly in agreement, which is not surprising since the underlying principles are the basic laws of physics, which are often at odds with the basic laws of marketing.
Posted by: BK ||
04/29/2004 23:33 Comments ||
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Via Allah. EFL.
Iraqi leaders presented a new national flag Wednesday after protests that a version unveiled earlier this week resembled the flag of Israel. Pic of the new one here.
The new design was more or less the same as the one announced earlier this week, but the stripes and crescent were a considerably darker shade of blue than the original version published in an Iraqi newspaper, which showed the stripes as being light blue. As the Moon God put it, itâs been "de-Jewed".
#4
Yeah, this one looks better to me also. Though it still looks bottom-heavy -- I think that it would have looked better had they made the stripes vertical and placed them on the left side.
#8
ex-lib> This link here: http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa060401a.htm says that the crescent moon was linked with Islam only after the Ottoman empire conquered Constantinople -- that it was an earlier symbol of that city dating back to the worship of Artemis as a moon-goddess.
I admit I'd never heard of that before -- I'd not even heard that Constantinople had such a symbol. So take with a grain of salt.
Their eyes locked. Then Barbara Holland saw the barrel of the gun. She lay on the floorin her house after an intruder had knocked her down while pushing through her side door. While on her back, she drew a 9mm handgun from a holster on her waist. Her assailant's glare suddenly changed.
"He looked surprised," Holland said.
Looking into a 9mm hole will do that.
Then she pulled the trigger. Holland, a 38-year-old Detroit business owner and mother, remembers firing three shots. Detroit police told her she fired six.
Good girl, keep shooting till they stop moving.
Either way, she killed the 42-year-old man, Clabe Hunt -- who had shoved into her home on Troester, near Hayes, on Detroit's east side at 8:10 p.m. April 13. He was an ex-con with five children and was armed with a loaded, nickel-plated semiautomatic handgun that was not registered to him. Autopsy reports indicate he was shot in the head multiple times. He never fired his weapon.
Nice grouping, Barbara.
Police officers said Holland's gun was licensed, and they determined the shooting to be self-defense. Wayne County prosecutors continue to investigate, which is routine in most fatal shootings. Citizens defending themselves are precisely what backers of Michigan's controversial concealed-weapons law had in mind when they worked to pass the legislation in 2001. The law makes it easier for anyone without felony convictions or mental illnesses to obtain a permit to carry concealed weapons.
Without it, Barbara would be dead, or raped, or both.
"The more the criminal element knows that Michigan residents can protect themselves and will protect themselves, the more crime goes down," said state Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-Dewitt.
Yup.
Some opponents of the law predicted a large increase in self-defense-type shootings.
And this is a problem, how?
Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who opposed the measure when she was state attorney general, has acknowledged that has not occurred.
Bwahahaha!
Posted by: Steve ||
04/29/2004 10:48:58 AM ||
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Some opponents of the law predicted a large increase in self-defense-type shootings.
And this is a problem, how?
Detroit's run by the criminals. If the sheep start shooting back, it might get dangerous.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
04/29/2004 11:05 Comments ||
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He was an ex-con with five children and..
I fail to see the value in mentioning that the guy was a father of five kids. He could have sired fifteen little brats and I still would have applauded Ms. Holland's actions.
#3
In Minneasota, we have had conceal carry for over a year. Lately, lawn signs have been popping up saying "Repeal Conceal" from a group called "MInneasotans against being shot".....typical lefty hyperbole as there have been no increase in shootings since conceal carry passed.
#5
Detroit......where the weak are killed and eaten. A t-shirt I used to have growing up there.
Before I joined the Corps I worked downtown, I used to carry (yes, it was illegal at the time) but I figured I'd rather take the chance then having some a-hole put a bullet in me or a shiv in my back over the $25 in my wallet or car keys. A couple times when "un-friendlys" would watch me a little too closely from across the street as I got in and out of my car a simple flash of the pistol grip of my Glock in my waist band or under my coat would quickly disperse them.
That's the interesting thing, just the knowledge that I have a firearm defuses the situation, no one gets shot or killed and criminals get deterred - that's the point the far left cannot or will not grasp.
#8
Antiwar, you miss the point. The intruder was ALREADY armed. I was involved in a similar situation as Jarhead. All that was required was a showing of my 1911A1 and no one got hurt. If I hadn't had it I would have been hurt. There is no way someone is going to take a firearm out of my hand before I can use it. Someone can, however, take a phone out of my hand before I can call 911 and get the police there.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/29/2004 12:02 Comments ||
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#9
However do you think their is a possibility in this type scenario the home invader could wrestle the gun out of the home owners hand and kill them with their own weapon.
#11
Good shooting Barbara! I get a kick out of signs stuck in someone's yard - "this home protected by so-and-so security system". I choose to believe my 1st Marine Division and NRA decals on my back and front doors give the bad guys a hint as to what may come their way.
#12
Antiwar. I appreciate your concerns. However, that is why there are thousands of gun saftey and usage classes across the country. As well, some tactical and strategic considerations by a gun owner goes a long way. Should I opt to defend my home with a gun, you can bet your bum that I will have thought through all possibilities.
#13
Antiwar is a fake -- she pretends to be a nice, concerned liberal, but s/he gets real nasty when support for islamofascists (including undermining Western society and values) is confronted too directly. So as not to waste bandwidth, you can read the Same Story, Different Day right here.
#19
Oh no! She, he, it, them Antiwar(s) are back! And donât they sound so polite today.
Antiwar--Mistress of Mohammed (the "prophet" from days of yore, who molested 9 year-old girls, and who's followers do the same)
Antibrainwar -- that phony âchristianâ, that great extoler and champion of non-violent confrontation of Islamic psuedo-men who are trying to take over the planet by force ("Quit it, Ahmed, I said quit it now, or else, or else . . . I said quit it!)
Antimatter -- that archetype of "Whatever"-ness asks:
" . . . Do you think their is a possibility in this type scenario the home invader could wrestle the gun out of the home owners hand and kill them with their own weapon."
From you, yes.
But "no worries "--(see, I can be Australian, too)--Pakistani Princess Antiwar(s), you can always just talk to the assailant about the virtues of "peace " instead, unless of course, you're too busy wishing him to die of cancer.
#13 Ex-lib you indeed deserve to die slowly maybe from a cancer that attacks all your bones and organs you are so filled with evil venom and hatred you probably will. (Posted by: Antiwar 2004-04-26 1:00:05 PM)
or are too busy "threatening" him that he will not enter your Islamic resting place of eternal idiocy:
#64 Ex-lib You are indeed an Agent of Satan. May you swallow your pride and ask for God's forgiveness. If you do not you risk permanent annihilation and will not share in the Earthly Paradise He has planned for the righteous. (Posted by: Antiwar-Confronter 2004-04-26 3:06:40 PM )
Hey, Antibrain--will you please break into my house? Will ya, huh? Will ya?
Cockroach hunting strategy tips:
#1) Antiwar will never denounce any of the atrocities being carried out by Islamic hooligans anywhere in the world, no matter how terrible. Doing so would offend her, his, its, their, Islamic employers in the UK, and they would find Antiwar guilty of violating Islamic âlaw."
#2) Antiwar(s) is a troll. You can feed it, get it satiated and then go in for the kill, OR you can ignore it, starve it and let it slip into oblivion. Either way accomplishes the same goal.
Note: Iâve started compiling a list of all of the nasty, derogatory, quips and hostile, ugly, war-like things Antiwar(s) says. At some point Iâll publish it for. Letâs see, the Antiwar attack of the day started with: âCingold, you are a twat. â Okay . . . âtwat â goes on the list.
#22
I'm disgusted at this whole thread. What Barbara did was very dangerous and I disapprove. She shot a burgler, not a zombie, and should have aimed for the center of mass not the head.
#24
ruprecht: a head shot is the best way to stop someone. They will not be a threat any more after a 9mm to the punkin'.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/29/2004 16:41 Comments ||
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#25
that's the point the far left cannot or will not grasp.
That's "will not," Jarhead.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/29/2004 18:49 Comments ||
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#26
Deacon Blues, you may be right but any military or police training course will tell you to shoot for the center of mass. Heads are small compared to torsos.
#27
true, but given a distance of a couple feet, I'd press the barrel between the eyes first....helps with the blowback mess
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/29/2004 20:48 Comments ||
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#28
His fault he got shot he broke into someone else's house. However do you think their is a possibility in this type scenario the home invader could wrestle the gun out of the home owners hand and kill them with their own weapon. Do not own a firearm myself so not sure.
#29
Dragonfly true yes. Lucky the intruder didnt shoot first before Barbara had a chance too or SHE would be dead and the scumbag doing a little time in an all expenses paid hotel sorry prison.
.... On June 30, the deadline for transferring "sovereignty" to something Iraqi, no such thing will happen. There will be nothing to receive sovereignty, and the United States, whose writ does not run throughout Iraq, does not possess real sovereignty to give away. The new faux government will lack two main attributes of sovereignty: a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence and the ability to make laws. .... We may call this a government, but as Lincoln said: If I call a dogâs tail a leg, how many legs does the dog have? Five? No, four, because calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg.
Brahimi is a useful reminder of how limited are the United Nationsâ uses. He says Israel is complicating his governmental carpentry in Iraq, and force is "never" the right answer to problems such as the seizure of Fallujah by armed insurgents. So, calm would come to Iraq if Israel returned to the 1949 armistice lines? Brahimi is called the best the "international community" has to offer, which may be true.
That, Mr. Brahimi, is called an "insult".
U.S. forces in Iraq can never be at the disposition of such people. Which makes it especially urgent to get to elections, the only possible source of legitimacy for an Iraqi government. The one clear use for the United Nations in Iraq is to help conduct elections. ....
Elections should assure those of the Shiite majority that they will rule, thereby concentrating their minds on the practicalities of governance. Elections will put the Sunnis on notice that they must come to terms with majority rule. Might elections provoke a Shiite-Sunni civil war? Yes. ... But in Iraq, civil war might be preferable to todayâs combination of disintegration tempered by violent Sunni-Shiite collaboration against U.S. supervision. ....
In Iraq, the Shiite majority needs to be assured now that it will rule soon. Violent Sunnis must be crushed. Shiites need an incentive -- protecting their capacity to rule after elections -- to crush them and to discipline their own ranks. ....
The results of elections, including theocratic elements, may be markedly unlovely. That may break the big hearts of those in the U.S. government who hope for a luminously liberal democracy to shame the entire Middle East into emulation, thereby justifying the war originally justified primarily by the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. But pursuit of that ideal can impede achievement of something tolerable: a stable, perhaps illiberal, even authoritarian Iraq which cooperates in the war against terrorism. Call this an exit strategy.
He's wrong again. We do not need nor do we want an "exit strategy". We want the Iraqis to know that we're going to be there for 50 years in some way, shape or form, so they'd better get used to us. Soon as they sort things out, we can move to bases and get on with the rest of our mission, but the timetable for doing that is on them, not us. The conditions for sovereignty don't exist yet, and won't until the jihadis and theo-nuts are controlled. There's no sense in having national elections until that's been done. In the meantime, let the pacified villages and provinces have their own elections and get on with the reconstruction.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
04/29/2004 8:19:20 AM ||
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#1
Brahimi sounds like the typical UN office rat,Joooos complicate everything, force solves nothing, blah,blah,blah
I can't fathom why GW is giving Brahimi and the UN the opportunity to fug Iraq up. No matter what kind of face we put on the transfer of power the US is going to get nothing but criticized from the UN and our own 5th column media.
So why bother with the UN at all? Political coverage for other coalition members?
#2
What a pessimist ..jeesh...thank God he's not in charge.
All the more reason to divide them into states, where the Shia, Kurds and Shites can each have their own state-like government to rule their day to day, and the average Shia or Kurd activist can participate in the process without being forced to revolt to have his beliefs heard.
Then you make their federal government an entity that works to help these states cooperate on issues of mutual benefit - ...just like the EU is supposed to do...and (as I posted last night on the divide Iraq thread) LIKE OUR OWN COUNTRY DID.
Who is it that is forcing the idea that the Shia's and Sunni's need to suddenly hug, have a mecca cola and sing kumbaya together? It's not going to happen. It didn't happen in our own country...the federal government was never meant to usurp states rights...for the very same reasons that we are seeing in Iraq. The different states had different interests and the power leaders (and people) in those states had NO interest in giving up their influence to some stupid "federal government".
It's stupid...stupid! I tell you..to demand from the Iraqi's what even our own forefathers could not accomplish.
GW just sounds grouchy. Give the man a cup of coffee. We've got minds that can do better than that!
#3
i found the column very thoughtful and inciteful, though i think the final reference to an authoritarian Iraq was more pessimistic than the rest of the column justified. If, as Will says, we give the Shiites a stake in majority rule, why should they want an authoritarian state?? we need to impress on them that a "strong man", even a Shiite strong man, endangers the Shiite position.
#4
God bless you liberalhawk - but that is why you are a liberal. You want things to be as they should be rather than as they really are. Head in the clouds instead of feet on the ground. That's ok, we need people like you...but just not in charge of things like this where pragmatism is more important than dreams.
Sure, I'll agree with you...it SHOULD be just as you say. Now are you willing to look at the pictures of the dead children when ...as we can ALL see from 100 miles away...that your demands will result in a civil war?
George Will is acknowledging that this is a recipe for a civil war..and you are ok with that? Why not set this ship on a course that has a chance of reaching the open ocean, instead of charting a course right into the rocks. I don't understand your logic.
Better to set things up for success than to demand pefection that will surely fail.
Im not sure what youre trying to say? What demands am I making?? The "it will lead to civil war" sounded like a throwaway line, mainly to make the point that we should NOT move away from elections out of fear of civil war, as a civil war (I presume Will envisions a quick victory of the Shia and Kurds over resisting Sunni Arabs) is better than Sunnis and Shias against the US. Im not sure I agree, but it IS thoughtful, and I DONT see that that necessarily leads to an authoritarian state.
What part of what I have said about Will's column do you disagree with??
#6
we need to impress on them that a "strong man", even a Shiite strong man, endangers the Shiite position
Because they are not going to be impressed! Like I said elsewhere today, their religion is not based on forgivness or tolerance, but rather on BLAME. How can a society that's entire identity is based on blame possibly function as a representative democracy? Perhaps, if there was a more equal population division between the three (Kurds, Shia, Suni') then it would work. Like I said on another post today...you can't have a representative democracy if those who will surely get elected (Shia's) don't believe that the views of the minorities that they represent are valid views???
IJMHO...but we need to give them the same start that our own states, with differing needs and goals had. Pretending that we can impress something on them that we ourselves, in the beginning of our own country could not have achieved is a recipe for failure.
If we set them up as states with seperate states with co-equal powers at the federal level..they would have a chance.
Posted by: B ||
04/29/2004 10:02 Comments ||
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#7
Like I said elsewhere today, their religion is not based on forgivness or tolerance, but rather on BLAME.
1. I distrust arguments about what politics is possible based not on an analysis of realities on the ground, but on judgements about religion. Bernard Lewis, who knows far more about Islam than i suspect you do, disagrees. Of course he is fluent in Arabic, turkish, and i think Persian, and has studied the texts of the region for decades, so i guess hes less qualified than you. Do you read Arabic?? Have you read the Koran and the Hadiths? And the major legal texts of Sharia since then?? How can you say what the religion is based on?
And are you talking about Shia Islam in particular, or Islam in general?? There are deomcratic governments in Turkey, in Indonesia, and IIRC in Eritrea.
Perhaps Im too influenced by cynical guys like Madison and Hamilton, but I think interest is as important as a culture of tolerance or forgiveness (by the way the US in the 1790's DID NOT have a culture of forgiveness - you want to see unforgiving politicians I suggest you read about that era) And the Shiites have an INTEREST in democracy - since ANY strong man regime, even one with a Shiite head, is capable of being subverted into another Sunni Arab dictatorship. Will they give adequate minority rights - Im not sure, and this is where Will is vague. I do think they will realize that maintaining a constitution without minority rights will cost more than its worth.
#8
Ha! Attempting to insult me because I'm not as smart as some people you claim to represent is weak, LH.
Besides, a truly smart person weighs ideas on their individual merit - not on who voiced them.
I suppose I deserved it, since I insulted you first, but you could have skipped the whole, "you aren't as smart as these guys" routine, since you did get to the meat of OUR argument here:
And the Shiites have an INTEREST in democracy - since ANY strong man regime, even one with a Shiite head, is capable of being subverted into another Sunni Arab dictatorship. Will they give adequate minority rights - Im not sure, and this is where Will is vague. I do think they will realize that maintaining a constitution without minority rights will cost more than its worth.
We are right back where we started, since you think that they will just wake up and realize the benefits to them of minority rights, and I think there is little in their culture or actions that would support your optimism. In fact George Will doesn't seem to agree with you either.
And as for your comments about the culture of forgiveness, are you DENYING the Arab culture is a culture of blame? Come on. If it was tough in a Christian culture...that just makes my point stronger.
My argument is that we would be wiser to acknowledge that it is highly unlikly that they are going to wake up and realize that, after thousands of years, blame is not the way to achieve power but tolerance and diversity is. Scoff. Yeah Right.
No my point is that we should not expect them to turn into diversity saints overnight, but to help set up their government as we did our own...individual states with their own power structures (so minorities are guaranteed a voice) and then give those states co-equal powers at the federal government to cooperate on common interests. That's what the EU is doing, that's what our own country does - why do you expect such a higher standard for the Iraqi's?
Posted by: B ||
04/29/2004 11:08 Comments ||
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#9
Brahimi sounds to me like a strawman. Iraqis in general have no respect for the UN but are still a little suspicious of US motives. I would guess after a few weeks of listening to Brahimi, they will be begging Bremmer to get on with the program.
Posted by: john ||
04/29/2004 11:29 Comments ||
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#10
Bernard Lewis isnt weak, hes tough as nails.
Look, Im not going to argue with you about whether Islam is based on blame. I dont speak Arabic, you dont. I havent studies the Koran, you havent. The only evidence that I see that Islam is based on blame is the usual attempts of some Arabs, mainly Palestinians to blame others for their problems. You know what??? Thats common around the third world, a combination of leftist ideology and actual oppression, resulting in something dysfunctional. Some non-muslim countries have overcome it. SO have some muslim countries.
Georeg Will doesnt state his agreement with me, OR with you. He states that Iraq might end up with civil war, and with an authoritarian regime. He DOES not attribute it to the nature of Islam. He is silent on that.
#11
Maybe you skim instead of read. I didn't say Bernard was weak..I said that your attempts to latch onto him, in order to shame me, were weak.
Plus... <I>Georeg Will doesnt state his agreement with me, OR with you. Could that be because he is not here on rantburg this morning? I'm sorry, I thought that you were capable of defending your own ideas without relying on Bernard or Lewis to verbalize them for you.
He states that Iraq might end up with civil war, and with an authoritarian regime. That was the basis of my point, which I'm quite sure you never read (and are not at this moment reading). You just got your little sensitive feelings hurt because I insulted you - and we arne't really going to get beyond that, are we?
He DOES not attribute it to the nature of Islam. He is silent on that. Did I say that he did? Does GW have to weigh in on this for you and I to form our own opinions? Besides, if you READ what he said, "Might elections provoke a Shiite-Sunni civil war? Yes. ... But in Iraq, civil war might be preferable to todayâs combination of disintegration tempered by violent Sunni-Shiite collaboration against U.S. supervision. .... "it' pretty clear that he is supporting my belief that it's unlikely they can get it together more than he is lending support to your wanna-belief that >"I do think they will realize that maintaining a constitution without minority rights will cost more than its worth". HA! I guessed I just missed all those reports from the world's great thinkers, announcing their belief that the Shites will readily embrace the wisdom of minority rights.
And furthermore your tap-dancing around the obvious fact that Islam is a culture that revolves around blame, just proves you can't even acknowledge the obvious...so I don't see any point in discussing this further.
Posted by: B ||
04/29/2004 12:13 Comments ||
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Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
04/29/2004 07:23 ||
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#1
It clearly shows the influence of the Al Jizz etc. Arab 'news' networks.
Posted by: Phil B ||
04/29/2004 7:34 Comments ||
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#2
I don't know how long it takes to tally up a survey, but this was done BEFORE April 9th. I think it's really funny that when they get answers, (depite their double negative wording) that seem to show that Iraqi's support US action that they write a big ****CAUTION THIS SURVEY WAS DONE BEFORE APRIL 9TH EXTREMEME CAUTION MUST BE USED WHEN READING THE RESULTS***
what a hilarious joke!! And these guys consider themselves statisticians..oh wait...i'ts CNN, USA and Gallup ...and we all know how unbiased they are...we all trust them....scoff.
Why didn't they put their results out in a timely manner? Could it be they held their results until events could obfuscate the positive results?
Oh well..information is power, and I see lots of good information in here, despite the spin.
#3
I read it all, and here's my take on the average Iraqi:
1. Other middle-eastern countries gave Saddam too much support.
2. Glad Saddam is gone.
3. Freedom of speech and religion is much-improved, but still wary of speaking out.
4. Hardships for sure, but had many before too.
5. Neither Bush nor Bremer are heroes, but Saddam is definitely a villain.
6. Rebuilding efforts have had minimal psychological impact.
7. U.S. troops are heavy-handed. That is based on media accounts, not first-hand accounts.
8. Want the occupiers to go home ASAP, whenever that is.
I wish it was more positive, but at least they're very glad we took out Saddam, and they admit that they couldn't have done it themselves.
Posted by: Tom ||
04/29/2004 8:42 Comments ||
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Nah, El drops by for a chat and coffee once a year. He politely asks to inspect their program, the Israelis politely say no, they shake hands and go their merry way. Happens all the time.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/29/2004 9:00 Comments ||
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#3
Yeah, but this time Mordecai Vannunu's out of prison and looking to embarrass the Israeli government with more comments about their nuclear program ... he believes Israelis should content themselves with being citizens of a Palestinian state afterall.
JERUSALEM (AP) - The Israeli Justice Ministry is coming to the conclusion that there is not enough evidence to indict Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a bribery case, an Israeli TV station said Wednesday. Ministry officials could not immediately reached for comment.
If Sharon is indicted, he could be forced to step down. A close associate of Sharon has been indicted on charges of bribing Sharon and one of his sons in a real estate deal, but criminal intent on Sharon's part would have to be proved in order to convict him on a bribery charge. In TV interviews on Tuesday, Sharon declared, "I am completely innocent," but declined to discuss the case further.
Channel Two TV said Wednesday that a team within the ministry, put together by Attorney General Meni Mazuz concluded that there is not enough evidence to indict Sharon. The final decision rests with Mazuz, and it is expected within a month. The unsourced report said the team decided unanimously that though there were signs of wrongdoing, there was not enough evidence to warrant an indictment.
The TV report said that the next step would be to present the team's findings to state attorney Edna Arbel for her comments next week. Other Israeli media said the team had not presented an interim report and was undecided over the indictment. Arbel has recommended charging Sharon. Experts have said that a case against Sharon should be airtight before an indictment is issued, because of the far-reaching political consequences - the possible unseating of a prime minister.
Police have been investigating Sharon on suspicion he accepted $690,000 in bribes from Israeli businessman David Appel to help promote a tourism project in Greece and rezone urban land in Tel Aviv. Sharon allegedly received bribes as foreign minister in 1999, and after he was elected prime minister. Appel was indicted in January for allegedly bribing Sharon. Sharon's son Gilad allegedly was paid large sums of money so that his father would use his influence to push the project forward. The Greek project failed, as did the one near Tel Aviv.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/29/2004 12:05:08 AM ||
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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.
