yes, tired of the lies and corruption... tired of the denial by those still supporting the Bush admin

exactly!

not that long ago he released another video.

al quaeda et al came to Iraq in force becaue of the US invasion. we should have stayed in Afghanistan and finished the job there.

and your delusional if you think things are going well over there.

Keeping inline with the notion that this is a war of ideologies, then ...

hold on there. we weren't sold on this war as a war of ideologies... we were sold on this war because Bush made everyone believe Sadam was tied to al quaeda (not true) and had weapons on mass destruction (not true).

Do you really think we should invade countries and kill tens of thousands of innocent civilians to bring social change? Do you think that wins over the people to our ideology?

IMO we have emboldened and strengthened the terrorists organizations and helped them recruit many more into their cause because of invading Iraq and our actions there. We are less safe. And on top of that, the Bush administration has eroded our civil liberties here at home in the process.

good one

On Native Soil

because of your post I had that on my calendar and did watch it. Very good and I also thought more personal and moving that expected. I had read about the fubar in communications between airlines, FAA, military, etc., but listening to some of the tapes was really disturbing... some truly clueless and stupid people in jobs they should be at. That poor stewardess trying for over 20 minutes to explain the situation and after 20 minutes still being asked what her name was. Unbelievable.

sounds like a good idea. I'd be very interested in getting updates on the progress of that plan. If it works well, then other states could follow suit.

thanks for finding that post.

I'm sure that you have a better feel for things since you are there. Still sounds like the army corp dropped the ball.

now there are some good questions. what do we do? where do we start?

I would start with basic needs, food, shelter, employment... then education.

I don't think you understand the basic problem. If the parents are economically disadvantaged there are going to be larger than average challenges to getting the basic skill sets you are talking about... and therefore, adding the current tuition at places like Harvard, and even great handicap for getting into a place like Harvard.

so the stats make sense based on social economic factors, not native ability or intelligence or character.

very true.

how many can afford to put their kids through medical school?

you still haven't stated your reasons.

yup... it explains how Bush could get re-elected

the two canal walls that failed that flooded metro N.O. (17th st & London Canal) would not have made any difference if it was 18 inches higher... it was the foundation that gave way

I read an article that said if they had been 18 inches higher as designed then the foundations wouldn't have failed. I'll try to find that article.

he's just dancing around the issue

it couldn't possibly be at least partly because profiling is alive and well in the work place... and that ones parents economic position strongly influences the number and quality of opportunities you might receive... or anything like that would it.

And don't forget, there is still unequal pay for women in this country even when their education level and experience level matches or even exceeds male counterparts.

Prejudice is alive and well in this country. I think many of the posts on this board demonstrate that.

obvious attempt to truthfully answering the question

why don't you be explicit and tells us what you really think the reasons are.

just think how many lives and how much money could have been saved if the feds/army corp of engineers had built the levees up 18 inches more as they should have!

Does this line of thought not add merit to the sacrifices our country has made in Iraq?

It's not a reason to invade a country based on lies... based on false assumptions. Working for tolerance, rule of law, openess in politics and economics is not done well using force but rather by cooperating and educating.

And besides that, we took resources that were being used in Afghanistan to track down and get Osama away from that hunt in order to invade Iraq. Shouldn't we have focused our pursuit on those who were directly responsible for 911????

LOL

yeah, out of touch.

U.S. data show one in eight Americans in poverty
By Joanne Morrison

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In the world's biggest economy one in eight Americans and almost one in four blacks lived in poverty last year, the U.S. Census Bureau said on Tuesday, releasing a figure virtually unchanged from 2004.

The survey also showed 15.9 percent of the population, or 46.6 million, had no health insurance, up from 15.6 percent in 2004 and the fifth increase in a row.

It was the first year since President George W. Bush took office in 2001 that the poverty rate did not increase. As in past years, the figures showed poverty especially concentrated among blacks and Hispanics.

In all, some 37 million Americans lived below the poverty line, defined as having an annual income below around $10,000 for an individual or $20,000 for a family of four.

The last decline in poverty was in 2000, the final year of Bill Clinton's presidency, when it fell to 11.3 percent.

"It shows that we are spending more money than ever on anti-poverty programs and we haven't done anything to reduce poverty," said Michael Tanner of CATO Institute, a free market think tank in Washington.

Around a quarter of blacks and 21.8 percent of Hispanics were living in poverty. Among whites, the rate edged down to 8.3 percent from 8.7 percent in 2004.

"Among African Americas the problem correlates primarily to the inner-city and single mothers," said Tanner, adding that blacks also suffer disproportionately from poor education and lower quality jobs.

Black median income, at $30,858, was only 61 percent of the median for whites.

Some 17.6 percent of children under 18 and one in five of those under 6 were in poverty, higher than for any other age group.

Real median household income rose by 1.1 percent between to $46,326 from $45,817 -- its first increase since 1999.

The figures contained wide regional variations, ranging from a median household income of $61,672 in New Jersey to $32,938 for Mississippi.

Major cities with the highest proportions of poor people included Cleveland with 32.4 percent and Detroit with 31.4 percent under the poverty line.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060829/ts_nm/life_usa_poverty_dc

not a thing

he won't own up to it

yeah yeah... since you can't admit you posted wrong information, since you can't adequately address the issues, attack the poster....

so would you disban the army corp of engineers? fema? then the feds have no responsibility in times of emergency?

I think that's a bit too narrow. the local officials need to bear much of the responsibility but the reality is that sometimes the federal government is key to resolving problems. A good example of that that comes to mind is when Enron was ripping off California and the feds refused to interveen.

I've seen your information discredited right here on the board with valid information. (no meetings between bin laden and Sadam as one). I've given you a video that has Bush saying there is no connection between Iraq and 911, yet you posted "YEAH RIGHT". If you can't see that you've been provided with valid information, you have a big problem.

shouting is unnecessary.

Glad to hear that and my apologies for implying otherwise. But it doesn't make sense that you want to put the lion's share of the blame on local officials. Obviously those at the heart of the situation think they are doing what they should or they wouldn't have been re-elected.

But what about New Orleans? The same bungling mayor remains in office, inexplicably re-elected only a few weeks ago. (Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, much criticized for her peformance, also remains in office.) The levee system, although repaired, remains suspect. Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acknowledge that they are not certain the levees would withstand another hurricane.

Above is what you bolded. Wasn't the levee system build by the feds? funded by the feds? So if it's not right yet, isn't it the fed responsibility? Wasn't it the feds who built it 18 inches below what it should have been? Wasn't it the feds who were told it was a problem and did nothing about it? Isn't that the heart of it?

excellent example.

I had a similiar situation happen that thankfully ended without anyone getting hurt.

Speak softly and carry a big stick was a West African proverb Roosevelt had tried out once, as Vice President, and memorized as a personal mantra. Perhaps the current situation would enable him to test its effectiveness, starting with the soft speech. "If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble; but neither will speaking softly avail, if back of the softness there does not lie strength, powers."

Theodore Rex
by Edmund Morris

(The following situation being referenced is when Britain and Germany formed a blockade around Venezula for not paying it's debt to them.)

A good example is when Germany and Britain put a blockade around Venezula. Remember, at the time Britain had the greatest navy force of anyone. Roosevelt made it clear that he would maintain the Monroe doctrine and not allow a foreign power to make a land grab in the Americas. Also, Roosevelt had lived for a while in Germany and traveled Europe on many occassions. He had contacts in both countries and understand that in particular the Kaiser had ambitions towards the Americas. The stated reason Germany and Britain put the blockade up was because Venezula owed them large amounts of money and had not been paying. Roosevelt understood all this and ordered Dewey to move most of our fleet south toward Venezula. At the same time, he negotiated behind the scenes with the Kaiser. I don't remember the details of the deal, but I do remember the emphasis on discretion and being smart enough not to slap the Kaiser in the face publicly. All was settled without a shot fired.

This is from my memory (from reading the biography by Edmund Morris) and may not be entirely accurrate about the details, but the point is clear. He stood ground against world powers that were both friend and foe and used diplomacy as well as military strength intelligently and to his advantage.

sara, young lady

do you realize your posts have a condenscending and sexist tone?

If we took the time to add up all the people who have died at the hand of the Islamic Terrorists, since 1979, there is no way that you can say we are the aggressor.

so when Islamic Terrorists kill people we are justified in going anywhere in the world and killing other innocent people? That's what happen when we invaded Iraq.

IMHO, the reason we are in this mess now is because so many people in government were pussy's when we were attacked in the past. Didn't you ever consider the wisdom in winning by a show of force?

are you familiar with Teddy Rosevelts big stick quote? Have you read his biography and how he handled the Venezula crisis? I'll try to find my post on it and post it subsequent to this so you can see... that demonstrates well how I think using your brains together with a show of brawn works much better than just being a brainless bully.

Did you forget, or never take the time to look into the fact that when Khomeini finally let the hostages go free when Reagan was inaugurated, that the Islamic terrorists made those hostages run the gauntlet as they went to the plane.

Did you forget the Bush Sr. arrange for Iran to hold the hostages until after the election so Reagan could win? Are you familiar with Iran Contra?

And as for the rest of your post about mushroom clouds and crazy gays in SF... we can live our lives based on fear born out of lack of understanding.

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them. -Thomas Merton

I LOVE THAT QUOTE!!! So much could be gain by all of us accepting our differences and trying to better understand others. So many things we perceive as a threat aren't really threatening when we understand them better.

still haven't learned how to paste a link?

enjoyed demeaning herself?

you are blurring the lines...

"open the door and give me your keys" implies an action taking... not just words spoken. Original scenario that began this discussion was only words spoken.

keep to the scenario.

Your rants are manic, disjointed and full of misinformation and inaccuracies.

have a nice day.

<< edited >>

maybe as someone in a neighboring state with similiar weather issues, he might expect some neighborly assistance and understanding... instead you want to point the figure at LA authorities to justify your indifference.

You forgot to paste the last line that has the author:

Posted by John at 09:11 PM

...and when I brought up the page, there was an add to vote for Liberman as an independent...

...just another one of your really solid, unbiased sources.

Having said that, I'm sure there is occassionally wrong doing on both sides. Election reform is election reform... for both the GOP and the Dems.

However, the voting machine companies are controlled by the GOP and that's a critical problem.

point taken. my point is that I would just like to make sure they've addressed the issues surrounding nuclear power before going that route again.

could be handy, thanks for the info :)