#1
Lets do our own poll, how many of you think the govt should come to your house and wipe your ass after you go to the bathroom? I hope its a bigger margin than this.
#2
Who did the survey, and who did they survey? How many of those people belong to something like AOL, and couldn't get online any other way?
My wife hates computers. She's dyslexic, and the screen just gives her a blazing headache when she tries to read it. I doubt she'd want the government involved in it, though.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/21/2008 16:23 Comments ||
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#3
Set an open season and "shoot on sight" as spammers go, yes. Everything else. no.
#5
My Father liked to say, "Be careful of statics, Take a man with one foot on a hot stove, and the other foot on a block of ice, Statisticaly, he's comfortable".
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/21/2008 19:18 Comments ||
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#6
I wonder what persentage would prefer that the internet "regulate" Government?
Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin and a majority of MPs say the arrest of cartoonist Gregorius Nekschot (a pseudonym) was not politically motivated. However, some of the opposition could not disagree more and fear that freedom of expression is being curtailed.
What in the Netherlands was considered a large number of police officers arrived on 13 May to arrest Nekschot, who was then held for a day and a half. His cartoons were the reason for his arrest: it was said they were an incitement to hate and violence and were discriminatory. The arrest caused a commotion both inside the political world of The Hague and in the country at large. The Netherlands has a tradition of freedom of expression. For centuries, the boundaries of what may be said or written have been set wide, even if this is hurtful or difficult for politicians, the church or individuals. The arrest of Nekschot does not fit in with this tradition. The question arises whether the policy of the prosecution service or the justice ministry has changed. Minister Hirsch Ballin denies there is any change. However, freedom of speech has been under pressure since the murder of film-maker Theo van Gogh on 2 November 2004 who, together with Ayaan Hirsi Ali made Submission, a film about the oppression of women by conservative Muslim men. Threats against figures including politicians, because of their criticism of, for example, Islam, have breathed new life into discussions about where the limits to freedom of expression should be set.
There can be said to be two basic views:
a) unlimited freedom of expression, and
b) the judicious limiting of freedom of expression in not always saying what one thinks.
The government supports the latter view and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has, on more than one occasion, called upon right-wing MP Geert Wilders to exercise restraint in connection with his film, Fitna, which suggested terrorism was innately connected with Islam. Mr Balkenende believed Mr Wilders should consider the possible consequences of the film. Certain political parties reject the prime minister's standpoint, arguing it will lead to self-censorship and a weakening of the freedom of expression. The conservative VVD party is especially angry with Minister Hirsch Ballin for doing nothing to stop the cartoonist Nekschot from being arrested.
In a letter to parliament, Mr Hirsch Ballin admits that he was consulted seven times about the Nekschot case by the prosecution authorities. VVD leader Mark Rutte says the minister's inaction suggests the case was a political arrest. However, Mr Rutte declined to table a no-confidence motion against the minister despite being challenged to do so. The idea that Mr Hirsch Ballin is aiming to limit freedom of expression is strengthened by the fact that the Nekschot case is not a one-off. During a debate in parliament on Thursday, it surfaced that an internet website, which publishes articles including some critical of Islam, has received a letter from the police asking that someone attend a police station as a matter of urgency to explain the content of the site.
#4
For centuries, the boundaries of what may be said or written have been set wide, even if this is hurtful or difficult for politicians, the church or individuals. The arrest of Nekschot does not fit in with this tradition.
Well, times change. The current fad of political correctness is more important than centuries of our most cherished values.
called upon right-wing MP Geert Wilders to exercise restraint in connection with his film, Fitna, which suggested terrorism was innately connected with Islam.
Where the heck did that idea come from? Terrorism and Islam have some sort of connection?
#5
Fitna makes no suggestions. It simply cites verses from the Koran with video of the faithful at work bringing the Koran to life in our world. What the viewer infers is a reflection of the viewers mental capacity.
#8
Heh, watching UEFA game Russia vs. Netherlands, commentator said something about a Netherlands players (Van der Vaart maybe?) - "He's considered the Van Gogh of Netherland's soccer."
I have to disagree with the comment, Van der Vaart apparently runs much faster than Theo.
WASHINGTON - Arrogance is a common vice in presidential politics. A person must be more than a little self-important to wake up one day and say, "I belong in the Oval Office".
But there's a line smart politicians don't cross somewhere between "I'm qualified to be president" and "I'm born to be president." Wherever it lies, Barack Obama better watch his step.
He's bordering on arrogance.
The dictionary defines the word as an "offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride." Obama may not be offensive or overbearing, but he can be a bit too cocky for his own good.
The freshman senator told reporters in July that he would overcome Hillary Rodham Clinton's lead in the polls because "to know me is to love me."
A few months later, he said, "Every place is Barack Obama country once Barack Obama's been there."
True, there's a certain amount of tongue-in-cheekiness to such remarks almost as if Obama doesn't want to take his adoring crowds and political ascent too seriously. He was surely kidding when he told supporters in January that by the time he was done speaking "a light will shine down from somewhere."
"It will light upon you," he continued. "You will experience an epiphany. And you will say to yourself, I have to vote for Barack. I have to do it."
But both Obama and his wife, Michelle, ooze a sense of entitlement.
"Barack is one of the smartest people you will ever encounter who will deign to enter this messy thing called politics," his wife said a few weeks ago, adding that Americans will get only one chance to elect him.
Obama's cool self-confidence got him into trouble in New Hampshire when he said Clinton was "likable enough," faint praise that grated on female votes who didn't appreciate him condescending to the former first lady.
Privately, aides and associates of Obama tell stories about a boss who can be aloof and ungracious. He holds firmly to views and doesn't like to be challenged, traits that President Bush packaged and sold under the "resolute" brand in the 2004 election. For Bush, those qualities proved to be dangerous in a time of war and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
If arrogance is a display of self-importance and superiority, Obama earns the pejorative every time he calls his pre-invasion opposition to the war in Iraq an act of courage.
While he deserves credit for forecasting the complications of war in 2002, Obama's opposition carried scant political risk because he was a little-known state lawmaker courting liberal voters in Illinois. In 2004, when denouncing the war and war-enabling Democrats would have jeopardized his prized speaking role at the Democratic National Convention, Obama ducked the issue.
It may be that he has just the right mix of confidence and humility to lead the nation (Obama likes to say, "I'm reminded every day that I'm not a perfect man"). But if the young senator wins the nomination, even the smallest trace of arrogance will be an issue with voters who still consider him a blank slate.
That may seem unfair to a candidate who's running against Clinton, the former first lady who is the model of overbearing pride. This is a woman, after all, who claims experience from her eight years as first lady but won't release her White House records; who trails Obama in delegates but deigned to suggest he'd be her running mate; and who has more baggage than Samsonite yet says Obama lacks "vetting."
But voters expect arrogance from Clinton and her husband, Bill. It's part of the package. It's a 90s-thing. The Clintons' utter self-absorption comes with a record of achievement and brass-knuckle passion that Obama cannot match and that Democratic voters know could come in handy against GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain.
Voters won't cut Obama as much slack on the humility test because he's sold himself as something different. While rejecting the "me"-centric status quo and promising a new era of post-partisan reform, Obama has said the movement he has created is not about him; it's about what Americans can do together if their faith in government is restored.
The power of his message lies in its humility. As he told 7,000 supporters at a rally last month, "I am an imperfect vessel for your hopes and dreams."
Nobody expects Obama to be perfect. But he better never forget that he isn't.
#1
Mr. Fournier, thou hast cast aspersions upon our anointed Obamessiah...thou art hereby cast into the outer darkness for eternity. Complaineth not as the vultures and jackals shred thy flesh - thou hast brought it upon thyself.
Oh, and your invite to the office's weekly Brie-and-Chardonnay soiree is hereby revoked.
Posted by: AP Standards and Practices Department ||
06/21/2008 14:13 Comments ||
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#2
Bordering?
The dude stepped WAY into arrogance publicly from first mention of arugla.
Arrogance has been his way since he first appeared, backed by the Chicago Machine.
For those who block drilling for oil Drill because "it will not affect things immediately", listen to Kennedy at UC Berkeley
"...we must think and act not only for the moment but for our time. I am reminded of the story of the great French Marshal Lyautey, who once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow-growing and would not reach maturity for a hundred years. The Marshal replied, 'In that case, there is no time to lose, plant it this afternoon.'" Address at UC Berkeley, 3/23/62.
#2
I see a rapidly diminishing demographic that amounts to only 13% now. 13% with some very serious problems like AIDS, crack, abortions, illiteracy.
The city is covered in brown all right, but that's not chocolate!
#4
Having lived in D.C. from 1982 - 2000 I've seen how well "chocolate cities" work...Marion Barry, Anthony Williams, et al. Spike Lee is a no talent, one dimensional racist who will be a perfect fit for that particular "chocolate city".
#6
Good. Now he can make the sequel to "Get on the Bus", "Get out from Under the Bus".
Or make another crappy -reality- based movie about bo: call it Bamboozled Too and star MC Serch; my guess is he is available.
His movies are really not so much good but just in your face stereotypes with good pr hype, especially that crappy ass GOTB.
Love Dr. Funkenstein's music but with his hard drug possesion and tax evasion perhaps the Atomic Dog is not one to go quote and then want to be taken seriously.
#9
I've a girlfriend who is the quality control engineer in one of their factories. She always brings a care package when she comes for her annual visit. For a few brief, shining days my house will be the sweetest place on earth. :-D
#10
Concur w/bigjim-ky. A demographic that's less than 13% of the country. Hispanics are bigger now by about a half percent. Just got back from DC visiting my brother and quantico on businees. My brother won't even go south of the Navy Yard on the metro as the crime is too high - the benefits of a chocolate city I guess.
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.
By RON FOURNIER, Associated Press Writer 
