Date:

1 Apr 2006

Time:

12:09:38

Right-wing nutcases will do ANYTHING to try to get you to believe their hero isn’t the spoiled, overprivileged, shallow, arrogant, lying, hypocritical, petty, vindictive, opportunistic, influence peddling, wartime deserting, sociopathic, sadistic, warmongering, tinhorn dictator he really is.
The New York Times

Date:

03 Apr 2006

Time:

15:27:24

Comments

What an informative, well reasoned, objective, subsantiated analysis. Makes me want to rush out and buy the New York Times. If I were stupid enough to believe their crap, I would probably also be stupid enough to vote for a Democrat, maybe even Hillary.

Date:

03 Apr 2006

Time:

15:28:22

Comments

"In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, 'Make us your slaves, but feed us." Dosteovsky's Grand Inquisitor.

"Those who turn their swords into plowshares, will plow the fields of those who did not." Thomas Jefferson

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.... James Madison (4th American President)

Date:

03 Apr 2006

Time:

15:40:31

Comments

Chomsky, a self-described "anarchist-socialist," has been paid millions by the Pentagon, which he once called "the most hideous institution on this earth", over the last 40 years, as well as various corporations, which he has described as "just as totalitarian as Bolshevism and fascism." While Chomsky has championed free speech and denounced what he sees as a lack thereof in the United States, he has often visited Communist nations completely devoid of free speech and given speeches celebrating the sociopolitical systems of Laos, Cambodia, China, North Vietnam and Cuba, never denouncing the imprisonment of political dissidents in those nations or speaking out against the various human rights abuses so rapant in totalitarian regimes.

George Soros Wants higher taxes on wealthy individuals, one of which he is, claiming he would bear any tax increase to help the poor. Soros, however, has most of his money in Bahamian banks where it is immune from U.S. taxes. The tax hike he calls for would barely affect him.

Date:

03 Apr 2006

Time:

19:33:31

Comments

Matilda, I am sorry that you could not find the time to continue our discussion on economics. And quite a while back, that Kevin would not continue our conversation on the fairness doctrine. I see that you did find the time to post some new wisdom from Noam though. If you have time to read Chomsky, you have time that could be put to better use. Did you read Shikwati? Did you understand it? Would you like to discuss it? Since you are suddenly so keen on our constitution, would you like to discuss article 2 section 2? In case you recall recent history correctly, would you agree that article 2 section 4, which definitely would not apply to having sex in the oval office, but possibly might be applicable to repeatedly lying under oath? Would you and your liberal ilk care to see ammendments II, IX and X taken at their word instead of your ethereal interpretation?

Can you substantiate that we went to war for oil? Would you like to discuss oil economics?

BTW, do you pay any US taxes? Or on the opposite, were you the recipient of any of our government's largesse? If you did not pay taxes, what gives you the right to criticize how and where the money should be spent any more than I have the right to dictate same to Jerusalem?

Levi

Date:

03 Apr 2006

Time:

20:11:33

Comments

Left-wing nutcases will do ANYTHING to try to ger you to believe their hero, Hillary, isnt the spoiled,overprivileged,, shallow, arrogant, lying, hypocritical, petty, vindictive, opportunistic, influence peddling, carpetbagging, sociopathic, sadistic, racebaiting, tinhorn dictator she really is. The New Yick Times

Date:

03 Apr 2006

Time:

20:14:20

Comments

Left-wing nutcases will do ANYTHING to try to get you to believe their hero, Ted Kennedy, isnt the spoiled, overprivileged,, shallow, arrogant, lying, hypocritical, petty, vindictive, opportunistic, influence peddling, drunk driving, sociopathic, sadistic, Mary Jo killing, tinhorn drunktator he really is.

The New Yuck Times

Date:

04 Apr 2006

Time:

13:28:54

Comments

Middle-class Americans today tighten their belts, hope they don't get laid off by merger or outsourcing and shake their heads in resignation as ExxonMobil swims in profits of $36.1 billion and awaits a share of $7 billion in tax breaks.

Another example of good old-fashioned American fair-play, right? Matilda

Date:

04 Apr 2006

Time:

22:29:05

Comments

One hundred years ago a lot of ferriers, horse trainers and saddle makers found themselves tightening their belt, and eventually losing their jobs. What would you have done? - subsidised them no doubt. You probably like the GM model better, where unions have driven the business into the ground. Now that GM is losing money with an EPS of -18.70 (that is a LOSS of eighteen dollars and seventy cents per share, for those of you who do not understand economics), what is your opinion on corporate greed? How many jobs do you think unprofitable companies can provide in the long run? If you were Joe Sixpack, would you prefer to work for GM or for XOM (hint: XOM is the big board symbol for ExxonMobil).

Please try to educate yourself on the topic before posting. You already admitted you weakness in economics. I asked if you wanted to discuss oil economics and this is what you come up with? If big oil companies are taking in too much in profits, their profit margins nevertheless lag well behind other major companies such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Citigroup. Why, then, the demagogery on oil profits alone? What's more, since 1977, Big Oil "profiteering" has run to less than half of what state and federal governments have collected in gasoline taxes - $600 billion in oil company profits vs. $1.34 trillion in state and federal taxes on gasoline. Fair play?

P.S. Let me know if you need profit margins explained.

Date:

05 Apr 2006

Time:

19:44:03

Comments

How did the moron with the spam get back on? Levi

I don't know but it's a real PITA! I'm looking into it... K

Date:

06 Apr 2006

Time:

16:12:26

Comments

I am seeking info on the state of the economy in 1994 and 2005. its for a comparative in my economics course. if anyone can help please email to jparis3 in the yahoo mail. thank you

Date:

09 Apr 2006

Time:

13:39:00

Comments

It's hard to eat a hearty Sunday morning breakfast when the Messianic psychotics in the White House are planning to nuke Iran, despite the opposition of key Pentagon Brass.

It is no exaggeration that such a maneuver could lead to WWW III. It will certainly cause an explosion of jihad against America in the Islamic nations.

Bush is hellbent on making terrorism thrive, because he is the number one recruiter for new terrorists.

With the Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove contingent running America, it's like we are all voyagers on the Ship of the Damned.

BuzzFlash via Matilda

Date:

09 Apr 2006

Time:

17:42:41

Comments

Matilda, You ignored the post asking if you pay any US income taxes.

Do you?

Date:

10 Apr 2006

Time:

06:54:33

Comments

For you information, I am an American citizen living in France for my work. I have always paid my US taxes!!!! I served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy during Word War II and was very patriotic...got goose pimples when I saw our flag waving and hear our national anthem. Those feelings are gone now. I'm ashamed of what is happening to my country. I am 85 years old and not in good health, but I will continue to work until the day I die to rid our government of the criminals who stole it and are running it. Does this answer your question? Matilda

Date:

10 Apr 2006

Time:

07:58:00

Comments

Not only did Bush and Cheney lie us into war,they divulged classified information selectively to try and save their hides. Their lastest confirmed betrayal of Americas is that they trashed a guy who revealed that one of their key claims for war is a lie.

In a system of no checks and balances -- where the Republicans are Stepford accessories to the crime and the Democrats keep calling for "investigations" when the Republicans won't allow them and the essential crimes are known anyway -- well, a president could get away with murder.

Thousands upon thousands of Ameircan GIs are grievously wounded. Nearly 2500 are dead. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed.

This isn't war; it's a Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld killing field.

Bush keeps smiling through it all, like a rich brat who believes God is on his side of failure, immorality, lies and deception.

Our national leadership has crossed the line into something psychotic, something beyond the normal perimeters of party jousting.

It is clinically mad.

BuzzFlash via Matilda

Date:

13 Apr 2006

Time:

12:34:07

Comments

First of all, sorry to hear about your health, we wish you the best. Your service in our armed forces certainly has earned you our thanks and respect. What branch and when?. That said, the gratitude is not unconditional nor permanent. I am sure you remember that Benedict Arnold was a decorated veteran who had fought valiantly. He had signed an oath of allegiance to the new United States on may 30 1778, but then became disillusioned with his country. Do I need to finish the story and draw analogies?

Since you live in France, this brings up a couple of interesting questions. Do you pay French taxes? Do you get to vote in France? You say you paid US taxes, do you do so now, and if not, when was the last time you did? Are you receiving money from the US government now? Benefits now received are greatly out of proportion compared to what was paid in, as our elected officials distribute my present -emphasis on my and on present- tax dollars to guarantee their reelections. Do you know what a ponzi scheme is? Would you like to revisit the history of Social Security?

Do you plan on returning to the US? If you are disgusted with the US, why not devote your time and energy to France, the country you seem to love. Is that any different from my devoting my time to my present wife instead of my ex? Life is too short to delve on negatives and the things that bother you, focus on the good things and enjoy life!!!!!

Date:

13 Apr 2006

Time:

12:52:30

Comments

I note with some amusement the same old "Bush lied","stolen election" and other fabulations have shown their ugly heads again. I was about to give rebuttals to the buzztrash, and could easily do so if you wish, but I started to wonder if it was worth the bother. Is there anything I could post that would change your mind? Do you even form an opinion until you have read the talking points of some loony site like buzz. I have answered some of your posts and shot some of your "facts" down in the past, but the discussion seems to evaporate at that point. If you were presented with irrefutable proof that some of your facts or figures were wrong, I am not sure that you would entertain even the possibility that your opinion could be wrong.

Date:

15 Apr 2006

Time:

10:57:26

Comments

No, my friend....You did NOT send a list of all the great things Bush has done for our country. You did mention tax cuts, which I would list as one of the BAD things. How about some others? I could list dozens of destructive things he has done and lied about. I'll be waiting. Incidentally are you the same person that questioned me about US taxes. Did you read my reply? Matilda

Date:

15 Apr 2006

Time:

10:58:37

Comments

No,my friend....You did not answer my request for a list of things Bush has done for the good of the country. You mentioned tax cuts, with which I do NOT agree. How about some others?? I could list dozens of destructive things he has done and lied about. I'll be waiting

Date:

16 Apr 2006

Time:

22:16:06

Comments

First, I will ask you to reread the above post about whether it is worthwhile to write anything when NOTHING will change your mind. You are back at saying that cutting taxes is bad. Why? I take it you think taxes are good. Again do you think doubling taxes would double the tax revenue? Even a child would readily understand that the more of their money citizens are allowed to kee, the more money they will send and the more workers they will hire. Do you actually believe that the government creates jobs and prosperity?

Date:

16 Apr 2006

Time:

22:26:39

Comments

I am having trouble posting, so here is installment 2 Do you disagree with the following quotes, and if so, why? Higher tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance the budget, not enough jobs to put Americans to work The purpose of cutting taxes now is not to incur a budgetary deficit, but to achieve the more prosperous expanding economy which will bring a budgetary surplus"

Could it be that present day Democrats have decreed that taxes are good and that buzzflash has given you divine inspiration to fight tax cuts?

Date:

16 Apr 2006

Time:

22:28:32

Comments

Installment 3 The 2003 tax rate cuts on income, capital gains and dividends have produced historical economic growth, and that growth is projected to last into 2006. Gross Domestic Product has grown for 17 consecutive quarters, the unemployment rate is lower than the decade rates of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s and manufacturing productivity is rising. These and numerous other measures of economic growth have caused tax revenue from businesses and individuals to increase over 10 percent from the same period last year. This and other data are readily available. Why has Bill Richardson, a Democrat, cut taxes in his state from 8.2 percent to 4.9 percent over five years? Why have some of the old soviet block countries cut taxes dramatically, and why have they been rewarded with economic growth, while Old Europe, including and especially France, stagnates with growth rates that are anemic at best. Can you refute any of the above? For some good reading, please do a google search for Arkansas News Bureau two governors two messages, but I doubt that you will, since it was not in a buzzflash semon.

Date:

16 Apr 2006

Time:

22:34:44

Comments

Here are the above quotes, they were by JFK

"Higher tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance the budget, nor enough jobs to put Americans to work"

"The purpose of cutting taxes now is not to incur a budgetary deficit, but to achieve the more prosperous expanding economy which will bring a budgetary surplus"

Here are a couple of quotes by some of your favorite Democrats, though they are of a vastly different caliber from today's crop of Democrats. Feel free to argue against them.

"There is a point at which in peace times high rates of income and profits taxes discourage energy, remove the incentive to new enterprise, encourage extravagant expenditures and produce industrial stagnation with consequent unemployment and other attendant evils." Woodrow Wilson, State of the Union Address. December 2, 1919.

"Taxes are paid in the sweat of every man who labors because they are a burden on production and are paid through production. If those taxes are excessive, they are reflected in idle factories, in tax-sold farms, and in hordes of hungry people, tramping the streets and seeking jobs in vain. Our workers may never see a tax bill, but they pay." Franklin D. Roosevelt, October 19, 1932.

"The final and best means of strengthening demand among consumers and business is to reduce the burden on private income and the deterrents to private initiative which are imposed by our present tax system; and this administration pledged itself last summer to an across-the-board, top-to-bottom cut in personal and corporate income taxes to be enacted and become effective in 1963. John F. Kennedy, speech to the Economic Club of New York, December 14, 1962.

Date:

16 Apr 2006

Time:

22:54:30

Comments

Regarding some of the good things Bush has done, aside from cutting taxes, he has kicked some dictatorial ass is Afghanistan and Iraq. Like it or not, it was about time this country was taken seriously. Unless you are willing to talk about place like Dujail, Hama, Halabja, or the Iraqi marshes, you have no right to criticize anyone on war crimes. Before you try catch me on an error, I am well aware that Hama is not in Iraq. Which brings us to another good thing about Bush, not something he has done, but what he averted, he has spared us a Gore and a Kerry presidency. While you have already lived through a Neville Chamberlain, I have no wish to do so, and either of those bozos would have fit the shoe. You must remember that Winston Churchill was not too popular before the war, and was booted out at the end of the war, but I hope you will grant him the benefit of his accomplishments.

Date:

17 Apr 2006

Time:

11:34:39

Comments

The abuse of buying and selling votes crept in and money began to play an important part in determining elections. Later on, this process of corruption spread to the law courts. And then to the army, and finally the Republic was subjected to the rule of emperors. Plutarch (46 A.D.-127 A.D.) Historian of the Roman Republic

Date:

17 Apr 2006

Time:

22:18:52

Comments

Could the above Plutarch quote be one of all the too rare posts from Kevin? Good one. Allow me to cite a couple more.

The more the laws, the more corrupt the state. Tacitus

The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if Rome doesn't want to become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance. Cicero

Date:

18 Apr 2006

Time:

13:30:20

Comments

Bush Brings Us War, Death, Fear, Near Bankruptcy and Skyhigh Oil Prices to Boot. Only Thugs or Idiots Would Defend Such a Dangerous Man to Our Nation.

Washington Post

Date:

18 Apr 2006

Time:

17:19:27

Comments

FYI the military from 1980 to 1989 averaged 2,123 deaths a year. From 88 to 96, they averaged 1543 per year,and I can't quite remember who was president then. In the first six years of the Bush presidency, it was 1261 per year. In 2004, the last year available, it was 1887, 1410 in 03, 999 in 02. Now that we have some solid numbers to work with, please reconcile them with that idiotic Washington post editorial. Please explain why we also had record high gas prices, AND gas lines, and 18% morgages under Carter, but that was not near bankruptcy nor the president's fault. Please reread an above post on the state of the economy today, with low unemployment, good growth, etc., and try to get a grasp of reality.

Date:

18 Apr 2006

Time:

21:23:18

Comments

Wait a minute, I thought you said we only went to war for oil, so why do you suddenly blame Bush for the oil shortage?

Date:

19 Apr 2006

Time:

22:38:43

Comments

........for the same reason that tax cuts under Reagan and Bush were good for the country and they still argue against them.

Date:

21 Apr 2006

Time:

16:33:28

Comments

How original to blame Bush for the high price of oil. Has it not been the Democrats who have opposed drilling in ANWR, extracting shale oil in Utah, builing refineries, builing dams? Who has been leading the fight against building nuclear plants? Is France not generating about 2/3 or 3/4 of its electricity from nuclear plants, so why is it bad here? Who has been pushing the EPA to impose draconian rules on gasoline formulation? Would you like to talk about the great benefits we have reaped from research into wind power and solar energy?

Regarding gas prices, do you understand how that relates to supply? If your neighborhood store has filet mignon on sale for 25 cents a pound, would you go to buy some, and how long do you think the supply would last? If on the other hand, the same steak is for sale at 45 dollars a pound, there would be no shortage! Simple economics, simple human nature, and you can apply it to whatever you want, be it taxes, housing, food, or energy. The only difference I would point out is that when you buy steak, you are not paying someone who will try to use the money to buy weapons to destroy your country.

Levi

Date:

22 Apr 2006

Time:

07:03:50

Comments

Date:

22 Apr 2006

Time:

07:25:38

Comments

Test

Date:

23 Apr 2006

Time:

08:21:56

Comments

Many Democrats are still hopeful that Gore will use his leading position on the environment and his unassailable anti-war stand, and eventually toss his hat into the 2008 presidential ring. Many believe he has a far better chance of winning than any other candidate likely to run. Want some interesting stats to bolster this claim? Gore won 51-million votes in 2000, more than any other Democrat candidate in history, more than any Republican except Ronald Reagan in 1984, and 500,000 more than George Bush. Just think of the numbers he could put up after eight dreadful years of Bush.

Date:

23 Apr 2006

Time:

15:29:22

Comments

A Time for Heresy

Bill Moyers argues that American democracy is threatened by perversions of money, power, and religion. Money has bought our elections right out from under us. Power has turned government "of, by, and for the people" into the patron of privilege. And Christianity and Islam have been hijacked by fundamentalists who have made religion the language of power, the excuse for violence, and the alibi for empire.

Date:

25 Apr 2006

Time:

05:42:16

Comments

Nuclear weapons' most effective role lies in their non-use. Their credibility comes from the fact that their enormous destructive power makes strategic sense only as a deterrent against aggression, not as a weapon of conquest.

The late French President Charles de Gaulle, and General Pierre Gallois, the father of the French force de frappe, convincingly argued that in the nuclear age, nuclear weapons could not be used on behalf of a third party; they can only have effective deterrent power for the defence of national existence.

Adel Safty

Date:

25 Apr 2006

Time:

22:16:09

Comments

Adel,

Hijackers of old made demands because they wanted to live and enjoy the fruit of their crime, but what about hijackers with no intention of ever landing alive, who only care about flying a plane into their intended target as a kamikaze weapon?

Now what do you think is the nuclear deterent against lunatics who do not care if they live or die? If a hamas or Al Queda suicide bomber could strap a nuclear weapon on himself, do you actually believe that he would refrain from himself up in Tel Aviv, Paris, New York or london for fear of nuclear retribution? If you are unwilling to learn from history.....

Date:

25 Apr 2006

Time:

22:24:40

Comments

Would it surprise you that many Republicans are still hopeful that Gore will use his leading position on the environment and his unassailable anti-war stand, and eventually toss his hat into the 2008 presidential ring. Bring on the global warming lunacy. The earth is flat, the sun goes around the earth, and global warming will last at least until the next ice age. BTW, the majority of "scientists" just a couple of decades ago were predicting the looming of another ice age, as was the topic of the first Earth Day. Anybody want to talk about the predictions made by the consensus of scientists in the early 70s?

Date:

27 Apr 2006

Time:

05:06:10

Comments

Has the White House lost its collective mind ? Do the president and his minions believe that Americans can be stampeded into another needless war to save his party from the consequences of the catastrophe in Iraq ? Is the Bush administration seriously thinking of bombing Iran for political purposes ? Of a nuclear strike ? Is it actually possible, as has been said, that George W. Bush believes himself to be on a divine, messianic mission ? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then our democracy may be sleepwalking into its worst crisis since the Civil War.

Gene Lyons

Date:

27 Apr 2006

Time:

05:11:22

Comments

Crisis building in White House over Iraq war

A week ago, it was the generals. Now it's the colonels and majors and captains. Moreover, these officers are in uniform and have none of the security from retribution of the generals who had all already retired.

Date:

28 Apr 2006

Time:

07:07:47

Comments

Government Pesters Wounded Soldiers Over Unwarranted Debts

Nearly 900 soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan have been saddled with government debts as they have recovered from war, according to a report that describes collection notices going out to veterans with brain damage, paralysis, lost limbs and shrapnel wounds.

Date:

29 Apr 2006

Time:

05:05:03

Comments

The American Prospect

BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE $4 BILLION? This article on revised Congressional Research Service estimates of spending on the Iraq War is pretty dull until the end, but then it starts to get interesting. The report apparently contains such phrases as "These factors, however, are not enough to explain a 50-percent increase of over $20 billion in operating costs" and "These reasons are not sufficient, however, to explain the level of increases." Relatedly, the Post reports that "Of the total war spending, the CRS analysis found $4 billion that could not be tracked. It did identify $2.5 billion diverted from other spending authorizations in 2001 and 2002 to prepare for the invasion." I'm fairly sure you're not allowed to "divert" money from other spending authorizations, and you're certainly not supposed to lose $4 billion in untrackable spending. Nor does it sound entirely appropriate for the Pentagon to be running its operation in such a way that the CRS can't discern the causes of 50 percent spending increases. All the sort of thing a real congress would hold some hearings on, and, once again, I won't be holding my breath.

Date:

30 Apr 2006

Time:

15:49:12

Comments

President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.

TRUTHOUT