May 01, 2003
Bush to Play 'Neo' in Fourth Matrix Movie
Buy "Axis of Weasels," the first book by Scott Ott. $12.95 + S&H; Comments
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Love your site. But I always get a kick out of it when it is specified that a plane landed on a moving carrier. The carrier *has* to be moving, and moving fast, and hopefully into a stiff wind, in order for a plane to land or take off. Anyway really enjoy visiting this site every day. Posted by: Zen at May 1, 2003 10:20 PMThis quote from President Bush's speach tonight is the reason I voted for him! "Those we lost were last seen on duty. Their final act on this earth was to fight a great evil, and bring liberty to others. All of you -- all in this generation of our military -- have taken up the highest calling of history. You are defending your country, and protecting the innocent from harm. And wherever you go, you carry a message of hope, a message that is ancient, and ever new. In the words of the prophet Isaiah: "To the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness, 'Be free.'" Thank you for serving our country and our cause. God bless you all, and may God bless America."
It's impressive the way you keep coming up with new, funnybone-tickling things like this on a daily basis. Or, in a word, "whoa!" Posted by: Jay Solo at May 1, 2003 10:31 PMAbsolutely brilliant, Scott. Two "thumbs-up" to Robb Allen, as well. Posted by: Lynxx Pherrett at May 1, 2003 11:00 PMBEYOND THE PALEOf course we all know what great proponents of free speech the Hollywood types are, right? Then how come attorneys for the William Morris Agency have taken action to shut down Boycott Hollywood? The site's domain registrar, Dotster.com, has apparently caved to a request from the the law offices of Rintala, Smoot, Jaenicke, & Rees, representing William Morris Agency, who of course represent a large number of Hollywood types, who are perhaps offended by people disagreeing with them. The plug will be pulled on Boycott Hollywood within 24 to 48 hours. I can't wait for the DVD... Posted by: Harden Stuhl at May 2, 2003 12:21 AMGreyhawk, This "urks" the you know what out of me. I have recently come to the conclusion think that these "Counterfeit Thespians", and their " Satan Propagated Lawyers" are the scum of the dark earth, now dwelling in our earthly realm. I am now convinced without a doubt, that they actually are. I think this should be a prime example of the smugness of the Hollywood elite. Freedom of speech is okay for Mr. and Mr. Sarandon, and the rest of the neo-"ferry" meandering neighbobs, but if you or anyone else wants to say something, that they don't agree with, its off to the aristocratic firepits, to stoke the stoves of opression and reverse discrimination towards "Mr. and Mrs. John Q Public Tickebuyer". I would strongly urge everyone, to vehemently protest by boycotting and to start complaining as much as humanly possible. Get the word out to everyone. The "Hollywood Nazi Brownshirts" are at it again. Remember folks..., they think they are better than us, they laugh at us behind our backs, and given the opportunity, they would eat your babies and cackle all the way down to the depths of of their summer homes in Hades, dragging their starry eyed, worshipping "MTV" victims along to celebrate their own self adulation.They live in luxury while you hold a nine to five. They are the haughty impersonators of life who don't know how to live in a normal functioning world without demanding more than their own fair share. They are the "Ecological Empty Hybrids" of human flesh; half human and half dispiriting vacuity. They are the only group of individuals that sit around and stroke each others egos to scatological symmetry. It is now time for a regime change in Hollywood. I don't know what the heck I just said, ...but I am really mad! Scr8w Friday night at the movies....I am joining a bowling league. Paragraph 4 epitomizes why I log on and look up Scrappleface more regularly than I take my Valium, well okay, my morning coffee. But it is important to me! Posted by: Mumsyto3 at May 2, 2003 01:51 AMRemember this one? Wow Harden, a truly great rant my man. Sailor, ditto for me. Now for us to sit up and take note of the filibustering dimocrats in congress who are trying to block the appointment of federal judges who are not flaming liberals. That reminds me of a t-shirt I saw yesterday. It read "I just neutered my cat... Remember to Boycott france. It's the least we can do to repay them for their treachery. Posted by: Okie Dokie at May 2, 2003 03:42 AMSpecial Operations Commander in Chief Four More Years This is what a real President looks like boys and girls.. I wonder what the leaders of europe are thinking tonight Posted by: jp at May 2, 2003 05:33 AM"I wonder what the leaders of europe are thinking tonight" We are, how you say, sheet our trou-zurrr to see the manly cowboy George Bush land zee plane on zee, how you say, floateeng fortress? Zee Bush, I don' like very much, but my surrendering beret is off to him for his swaggering cocksure way that let me know he eez, ca va? ... mean zee bizness! I am sure he weel be soon kickeen ass and takeen les names like he and his cronies have done in Vietnam before. Posted by: Jacques Chirac at May 2, 2003 07:02 AMI wonder if Chirac has the 'nads to land on France's lone carrier? You know, the one where the propeller fell off? Great art work, let us know if we can pass it around and post it (with proper credit, of course) Posted by: Cowboy Bob at May 2, 2003 09:15 AMI read an article, I forget where, attacking President Bush for "staging a photo-op that reflected a significant amount of hubris" and was immediately reminded of Mr. Clinton's famous walk along Normandy beach. You remember, the thoughtful, lip-biting look, the soulful 1,000 yard stare, and the ever so poignant bend to pick up the conveniently placed stones on the all sand beach. I wondered how much criticism was ladled out by the mainstream press for that bit of cheap theater. One thing I will say about the leftist press: You have to admire their tenacity, while, at least lately, you laugh at their judgement. Yesterday some of the Bush critics on the left advanced the belief that President Bush's emasculation of Iraq had taken the onus off the war on terror, which was now suffering from presidential innattention. The next thing I read stated that 2002 had the fewest terrorist attacks world-wide of any year since 1969. I guess timing really is everything. Posted by: Joseph at May 2, 2003 11:08 AMa machine that saps the energy of the people, keeps them dependent and creates an artificial reality so convincing that the people don't realize they're really slaves. Hmmm, this sounds like our ever-more-Socialists Dem party trying to explain why socialized medicing is a godd thing... For a different perspective, visit the dark side at Democratic Underground. SAFETY TIP: Cover your keyboard with clear plastic to protect it from the bitter bile that may drip from your screen. Posted by: David Kutzler at May 2, 2003 12:08 PMBUSH CRITICS DERIDE CARRIER SPEECH Hundreds of President Bush's most vocal critics called a news conference today in response to his now famous carrier speech. They released the following statement: "The country needs jobs, Mr. President, not Neo-Con Evil stunts. Heheh, get it? Neo-Con Evil? Hee hee. Well, that's pretty much all we've got, thanks to all you reporters and TV crews for showing up. We'll let you know when the brain trust comes up with something else. Hee hee, Neo-Con Evil ..." Posted by: Keith at May 2, 2003 02:02 PMGreat rant Harden, truly inspiring in its near Shakespearean flow. I am going to print it and stick copies all over the local Blockbuster. Do you want royalties? Jonah Posted by: Jonah8208 at May 2, 2003 04:11 PMto " Any person, organization or government that supports, protects or harbors terrorists is complicit in the murder of the innocent and equally guilty of terrorist crimes. Any outlaw regime that has ties to terrorist groups and seeks or possesses weapons of mass destruction is a grave danger to the civilized world and will be confronted. " oh and one more thing your little comment about vietnam ..that conflict was another time France totaly failed and America came to clean up your pathetic attempt to fight a war, one more thing..This President gets things done, posted by Joseph.. FOUR MORE YEARS Harden Stuhl posted, "It is now time for a regime change in Hollywood" " { Any person, } organization or government that supports, protects or harbors terrorists is complicit in the murder of the innocent and equally guilty of terrorist crimes." Harden should we give em 48 hours...Nah they dont deserve it lets hit em now Posted by: jp at May 2, 2003 04:31 PMKeanu in "Bill & Ted": Whoa! (sarcasm --->) What range, what talent! Exactly: what talent? Posted by: siskel or ebert (the one still alive) at May 2, 2003 06:48 PM BILL WOODS!---thanks for that "paybax" link. I LOVED that "poster" of the "Fab 4" Ever "fasted" TV and movies and found out how much more clear headed and "empowered" you become?....like a "colonic" of the soul (:~}) TO Hollywood:--FOUR MORE YEARS...SHED SOME TEARS...ITS FOUR MORE YEARS...! jp, 48 hours seems like enough time for them to find someone to pack their suitcases,call their nannies and pick up their French poodles at the local Bark and Clip? 50 most beautiful people? Knowledgeable? World travellers? Politically ostracized by their statements? Bleech,... my pimpled, fat, backside, shows more dauntlessness,in the sacrosanct halls of political ideology. Jonah, Feel Free to "Blockbuster" away... It is about time these "Hollywood Phonies" stop sousing us for extravagant movie admissions and think that gives them the right to politicize us like we are some type of ignorant lemmings. I personally have taken them all off my Christmas card list. Yes, Mr. and Mr. Sarandon you will not get any Hallmark card from me this year... With the possible exception of Bruce Willis and a few of the ones that realise they are entertainers and not our choice for the orators of Democracy. Boycott the Actors. Give America back to it's People. Posted by: Harden Stuhl at May 2, 2003 08:54 PMThey just can't stand it that OUR Prez is BAD TO THE BONE and their's is only a bad guy with a boner. The url here shows Slick's own trip to an aircraft carrier. http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2003/5/2/71343 Yikes AHA! You're going to get a bad girl rep with that kind of talk! I watched the whole landing on TV yesterday and I was completely awed and moved to tears by the MUTUAL ADORATION I saw between Dubya and the sailors. The IDIOT LEFT is, of course, scrambling 10 ways to Sunday to denigrate the complete love on that flight deck. They've got NO ONE who can command that type of loyalty. PS: Be sure you give my regards to Mrs. G. Aha, Great article, lousy,lousy job on the poster. (My cat could do a better job on the President's sunglasses.) Posted by: Duuuuuh! at May 3, 2003 10:02 AMIf your cat works for free with 10-minute turn-around on rush orders, I can send him a lot of business. I agree with "MumsyTo3"!!...wholly! ( paragraph 4) SCOTT OTT--I BOW to you for such poignant, "badda bing--badd boom" words!....Ya just can't improve on that paragraph!..It says it all Posted by: Lynch Family Cat at May 3, 2003 05:42 PMYou ROCK, sir. Almost as much as my new 15 gig iPod (Apple YOU Rock). About all that sucks is my stash of cash is seriously depleted. Here's hoping for another tax refund! Posted by: American Patriot at May 3, 2003 07:02 PMDouble "Whoa". I knew the Bush dude was cool but man in those shades he is totally refrigerated. Boooooooyahhhhh!!!! Rock on Dub!!!! Posted by: Stoner at May 3, 2003 08:54 PMNow THAT was amusing! :D Posted by: Ravenwolf at May 4, 2003 02:54 PMThe dim-o-crat spin about, "it's a photo op--", does NOT play. If that's all it was, President Bush would NOT have spent so much time with the Sailors, and giving THEM, a photo op! Had it been clinton, he would have spent time with the ladies trying to get phone numbers! As for photo ops, that's the ONLY thing that will bring Hillary out from under her bridge. Bill was an expert at photo ops, remember attending Church, and carrying a Bible, does ANYBODY think he reads the Bible? Get real! I have found in life, most times someone points a finger and says look at them, it is usually a distractive attempt, or a guilty conscience------------No, sorry, for that to be the case, you have to HAVE a conscience. Posted by: Susan Serin-Done at May 4, 2003 05:09 PMGreyhawk posted: How about a "boycott the boycott hollywood boycotters" campaign? Posted by: Ken Stein at May 4, 2003 07:30 PMKEN STEIN: SUSAN SERIN-DONE! Photo Ops gone bad!!!!--- the ETERNALLY insincere Clinton walking away from Ron Brown's funeral while just cutting up and laughing with some guy UNTIL the he spots the camera on him and the bottom lip IMMEDIATELY curled and he wiped the NON existen tear from underneath his learing eyes! When Rush Limbaugh was on TV he showed that over and over and aover and over again!...BUT....doubtful ya saw it on CNN, NBC, CBS,,....etc. WHERE was FOX then? Further from God we go, where it stops nobody knows! 4 more years? 4 more years? Blood will flow, boddies will burn- they did it first now its our turn. We are not God, but rather little boys, who when we create, we first must destroy. America is Power and God is Love. We are hawks and HE is a dove. As it is writen, America will fall, because witout weapons, our Justice is nothing at all. Posted by: Jesus liberal at May 5, 2003 01:58 PMOh for Heaven's sake. Posted by: Cassandra at May 5, 2003 04:43 PMThere once was a blogger, J-Liberal (sorry, the Adverb police will be after me on that last line) Posted by: Cassandra at May 5, 2003 04:55 PMMy Boddie A poem by J-Liberal* My Boddie burns: *no relation to J-Lo Posted by: Cassandra at May 5, 2003 05:14 PMto ooaahh look what we have here, little j liberal or should I say little.. Mohammed Liberal blogging his fatwa for his beloved leaders Bin Laden and Saddam, oohh what's a matter ML, mad because America finally put its collective foot down and put and end to your way of life, Ps Mo, there is no such thing as justice without force, ever hear of a police force, you know those guys your type fights at your bin laden support rallies, how sad it must be to be you, just another pathetic voice " That has followed in the path of fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism. And so shall you follow that path all the way to where it ends in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies." " Everywhere that freedom arrives, humanity rejoices and everywhere that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear." " The guilty have far more to fear from war than the innocent." " { Any person,} organization or government that supports, protects or harbors terrorists is complicit in the murder of the innocent and equally guilty of terrorist crimes, and is a grave danger to the civilized world and will be confronted." By this, " Liberal " you are served notice { ANY PERSON }is equally guilty of terrorist crimes, Posted by: jp at May 5, 2003 05:52 PMCassandra! 5 stars *****. Posted by: AHA at May 5, 2003 05:59 PMTo those who are preparing to go on dangerous journeys, "If you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one" Jesus - Luke 22:36. Posted by: jp at May 5, 2003 06:08 PMWhy must you make me out to be a Muslim terrorist to attack my values? Who said I hated America? As a Christian I can only judge and fix what is within- as an American I will do the same. It is totaliarian/hitleresqe logic that says "war haters are enemy lovers". You guys are pathetic- Do you guys get a pamphlet in the mail that instructs you on how to attack liberals personaly and avoid a real discussion? You avoid the fundamental message of my poorly constucted poem- Our claim to Global power and wealth is predecated not on our great American values (and they are great) but on our ability to manufacture, sell, and execute warfare. God will not let us sit at the top for long if thats all we have to offer. (see Romans, Mongols, Islam (circa 1100), FRANCE, Germany, England, and now. . . Posted by: Jesus liberal at May 5, 2003 09:43 PMAs much wood as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. Ah, but then they'd form a 'boycott the boycott the boycott hollywood boycotters' campaign. I wonder... Posted by: Ken Stein at May 5, 2003 09:58 PMTo Jesus Liberal: Diplomacy: The velvet glove that covers the iron fist. Without the fist, you cannot negotiate, you can only capitulate. Darn, didn't mean that to rhyme, y'all will think I'm trying to do the poetry thing. (Peace, or I'll bust your pesky head in.) Posted by: some random guy at May 5, 2003 10:20 PMYes! the iron fist, Exactctly! So why is North Korea and any other nation not on "our side" running to build WMDs? So America will Negotiate, not Capitulate. They're just tryin' to speak our language! Oh yes, and America is the ONLY NATION to use a WMD on a civilian population- twice! All things come 'round. (I live in NYC by the way, and No, I am not wishing it, but I will not be supprised. . . Posted by: Jesus liberal at May 5, 2003 11:08 PMto So you live in New York, here is something you can put on your to-do list this week.. get yourself down to Grand Central Station purchase a subway token for Fulton Street, when get to Fulton Street Station walk straight to the stairs when you hit the street take a left walk one city block I will be waiting to through you into the pit known as ground zero, Posted by: jp at May 6, 2003 04:33 AM"Do not hate me for using the lash. Instead, fear my brother who will use scorpions." Don't know what it means, but it sure sounds kewl. SRG: For a moment there, you almost sounded like my man Jesse Jackson... Without the FIST, you cannot... neGOtiate, you can only... caPITulate. I love it! And you are right. J-Liberal: Here is your argument on the issues. Your fundamental message: Our claim to Global power and wealth is predecated not on our great American values (and they are great) but on our ability to manufacture, sell, and execute warfare. God will not let us sit at the top for long if thats all we have to offer. is fundamentally wrong. First of all, our "claim" to wealth is based on, let me see...WEALTH. Which is based on free enterprise. And warfare is NOT all we have to offer. We have billions of dollars in foreign aid, food, medicine, hope, the possibility of living a life free from fear of imprisonment, rape, torture, and death. We (and others) sent money and supplies into Iraq before Saddam was deposed, but they ended up in warehouses, never reaching the people they were intended to help. The same thing happens in Africa every day. Countries like France, Russia, and Germany pleaded for us to "give peace a chance" -- a chance for them to line their pockets with millions of dollars in oil for food and construction contracts while they propped up Saddam's regime: a regime they knew was systematically brutalizing and starving its own people. Like it or not, it was warfare that (ironically, I admit) has introduced the prospect of a better future for Iraq -- if they choose to take advantage. It has evened up the odds - after watching their last uprising get brutally repressed via WMD, the Iraqis weren't going to try rising up against Saddam again any time soon. Wishing and hoping and sending tax dollars abroad will not triumph over brutal, greedy, and sadistic despots. If you are dealing with someone who will not negotiate, then eventually you must either admit defeat and walk away or fight. That we are good at fighting (when we have to) does not make us evil. In fact, it allowed us to minimize the harm done to innocent civilians - not eliminate, because that's not possible, but minimize. On the US being the only nation to use WMD on a civilian populace - wrong again. Have you forgotten over 5000 Kurds killed by Saddam's nerve gas? Or two little incidents involving the World Trade Center and the Pentagon? I haven't. My husband was just around the corner from where the plane hit. I could see the smoke from the window at work. I didn't hate anyone when that happened. I just thought, "what a bunch of nuts". But I hate any government that makes it possible for people like that to operate - that arms them, shelters them, encourages them to hate and kill. I hate a government that tortures entire families and imprisons children and rapes middle school girls. And I don't see how a government that would stoop to such measures against its own people and has repeatedly lied to the UN should be trusted to use WMD wisely (as a deterrent only to outside aggressors, or as a negotiating tool, as you so naively argue). Police have weapons, but they are not evil so long as they use those weapons only as a last resort to protect innocent life and enforce the law. The freedoms we enjoy are possible because we have the power to protect our way of life and sometimes to help others in the process. I was initially quite skeptical of the war, but I think we have done both things - helped to protect our way of life, and helped to make it possible for Iraq to create a better future for itself. One where they won't be digging in mass graves looking for their lost family members. Neo means new - "[I]f we need to act, we will act, and we really don't need United Nations approval to do so... we really don't need anybody's permission." That doesn't sounds very new to me - sounds like old Manifest Destiny rethoric to me. Posted by: e3liacin at May 6, 2003 11:12 AMI appreciate your time and words Casandra. Let me say that I believe and know we want the same things. Peace, freedom, and prosperity for all people of the world despite ideological or racial differences. That is not the world reality, and I still maintain that American foreign policy under regan-bush-clinton-bushjr is systematically complicit in the death, exploitation, and suffering of the third world. After all we still manage to prosper from the wealth these places offer (oil, diamonds, cheap labor, etc.) and yet their problems appear to be exacerbating. We are spending more time and money on Warfare and less on Peace (food, health aid, education). And by the way, I would wager the people behind the independent aid organizations actually attempting to help the third world are predominatly liberal in ideology as that is a "bleeding heart liberal" thing to do. Has Rush Libaugh spend one minute in a soup kitchen (unless it was all-you-can-eat:). Saddam was a Monster- and Rumsfeld shook his hand circa '87?. Regan/Bush knew what he was then and allowed American companies to arm him (the edited portions of the weapons declaration). Why? It served our interests, not humanitarian, but for control over the vast oil resources of the Middle East. He was a western-acting-wild-card amidst Islamic fundamentalists and was interested in worldy gains (as americans are). And rumsfeld is here again, with a vengance against his ex-"buddy" who thought he could be a big player and not a pawn. That's my resentment. I love America and 'most' of the values of the constitution (the constitution is wonderful enough to actually encourages me to quesion it). My disgust and my fear is pointed at our corrupt mixed-blessing foreign policy (food for econimic capitulation) is going to cause us more grief and voilence against the citizens of America. Our government supports these despots if they serve our financial needs, and destroy them along with civilians if they don't. And we leave a lot of angry poor people who are so incenced they are willing to blow themselves up to get back at "us". That's patriotism! The graph charting human progression does not appear to be getting better for the lower %80 of the world while the top 5% is skyrocketing. That stinks of corruption. And we are the ones who dropped the BOMB. The WMDs of all WMDs. We invented and used the big one, the ultra-killer, the NUKE- and we were a well equipped military with other options at our disposal. Saddam is a sloppy mass-criminal using old Russian kitchen sinks to enforce his agenda, and the islamic terrorists, stragecially, used the only resouces they had to make their point, no matter how awful it was. Could they make a military stance in their own land against the US? If they had a "state's rights" grievence could they effecively use their second amendment against the invading US military? 911 was their only means to attacking our soil (We have used our infinate ways to get to theirs repeatedly). I don't defend them or support them, but I understand why they did it. Lastly, I am a liberal by philopsophy- The Demorcats are the worst Republicans ever, because they hide conservative agendas under idealistic values. So don't waste time with "Well Bill did this-" I know what he did. Yes he is a scumbag and Hillary is- well dangerous to say the least. But I do not see what I perceive to be the values of Christ (compassion, giving, tolerance, non-violence, spiritual gain over the material) in the Conservitaves, In fact I see the opposite. I see greed, deception, power-hunger, and an addiction to acquiring material wealth- and with the barrel of a gun no less. Plesae point out examples of love and compassion of Republicans? Plese show me they (and you) care and have cared about civil rights, and the general welfare of America's poor children (and their ignorant parents who were poor children once themselves) and I will chage my tune. My last history review showed me that it was always a liberal behind ideas like: womens sufferage, civil rights for people of color, consumer protection, fair wages, diplomacy over warfare, child welfare (except the unborn- let's set that one asside for the moment), and more than anything PEACE. How can I support those who have historically been the detractors of those ideas? WIth much regards Posted by: Jesus Liberal at May 6, 2003 12:04 PMRaly j-lib? Liberals for civil rights? I guess you were sleeping when the southern DEMOCRATS opposed the civil rights act of 1964 and it took a republican congree to pass it and force President Johnson to sign it. I guess you were sleeping during history when they talked about the Republican President Lincoln signing the emancipation proclimation outlawing slavery which caused the southern DEMOCRATS to start a civil war. I guess you were sleeping when the US gave billions of dollars in US foreign aid and billions of tons of food products to third world countries to help them, only to have their own governments steal the aid for their own personal profit. You J-lib are a complete moron, who's review of history is based on what you hear rather than an actual pursuit for the truth by research. You believe what is presented in current histroy books trather than look at books written before political correctness took over our schools. Research using more than one source and you will be surpeised at what you learn. I lived during the civila rights movement and remember it well. President Kennedy by the way was not a liberal. He beleived in smaller government and tax cuts. He also opposed the civil rights act and it was Bobby kennedy who ordered the National guard into the south to desegregate the schools. John F wanted nothing to do with it because of the south was controlled by the DEMOCRATS! Posted by: Darth Chef at May 6, 2003 01:14 PMHere's a list of Democrats for peace: All Democratic Presidents at the start of all these conflicts. Let's hear it for the "peace-loving" liberals. That's a total of 22 years and more of warefare. Yes, most of it, well some of it, was for good and noble causes, but these "peaceful" Democrats got us into the fight. Let's not forget Cosovo and Somalia. I'm not saying all Dems are bad and all Reps. are good. There is plenty of blame on both sides. I just prefer the conservative side of fiscal and international policy. And guess what? Every single one of these guys claimed to be a good Christian. Compassion for the poor? Our current system has created a welfare state. Change it to get people off relief and into self-reliance. The Lord helps those that help themselves. "The poor we will always have with us." But he didn't say it would be the same dam*ed poor all the time. They have been convinced by the people who benefit from having a large pool of discontented that there is no way they can get out unless the "greedy rich people" give more and more. They complain about tax cuts for the rich, yet pay none themselves. I've seen the numbers and the census data, the bottom 20% are mostly there because no-one is working, or they are just working part-time, and the top 20% are there because 2 people in the household are working full time. And in many cases, the top 5% of earning households were in the bottom 20% a couple of decades ago. Sorry about the rambling rant. I keep getting interrupted by work, and I lose my train of thought. "Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a life-time." J-Lib: I think people of good will (and there are some on both sides), whether liberal or conservative, want the same things. They simply disagree on the means. In general, I think liberals want to somehow legislate equal outcomes in a world that is not always fair. So we give tax dollars to the poor, extra welfare dollars each time another fatherless child is born, skew university admissions to favor certain groups who otherwise don't meet admission criteria, allow women and minorities to sue because they are "underrepresented" in certain classes of jobs, cancel boy's sports teams because an equal number of dollars isn't spent on girl's sports. While laudable in theory, these laws mask the very real consequences of poor choices, dampen individual initiative, and encourage self-defeating behavior. In short, they hurt the very people they are supposed to help. I think conservatives want laws that encourage individual responsibility and allow people the chance to compete to the best of their ability. They believe this serves both the individual and society. And they accept that some people may fail -- and not all will try equally or obtain equal results. Most conservatives believe it is the mission of churches and private organizations to help the less fortunate, because charity is supposed to be willing, not compulsory. I am female and have experienced some job and pay discrimination over the years. However, I do not seek reparations from the govt. - just the chance to prove my worth in the marketplace. People are discriminated against all the time for all sorts of silly reasons - height, looks, background, you name it. The government can't fix this. We all have impediments to overcome, but government should not seek to hand out equal results - just give us a chance to use whatever gifts we do have (which, by the way aren't all equal, so we won't all have an equal chance of success or equal results) to improve ourselves and the society in which we live. Posted by: Cassandra at May 6, 2003 01:45 PMJ Lib I'm not from NYC, but I did go for 1 week in March '02 to help at ground zero. I wasn't in the mess hall, I was in the "Pit" overseeing the removal of debris and many little red bags containing bits and pieces of people. Those are lasting images and reminds me that WE WERE ATTACKED and we are only retaliating. We are at war with terror and if the world is safer by taking out saddam, so be it. Wasn't good ol' Abe Lincoln a Republican? But I guess republicans have never done anything for the civil rights of individuals! Other modern civil rights legislation was signed by democrats (1964, 65 etc) and they are to be commended. You, J Lib, are generalizing when you say that conservatives/republicans in general don't support the civil rights of people etc. What gives you the right to tell people how I think? Posted by: Justin at May 6, 2003 01:49 PMI'm with Cassandra on welfare etc. Some women have another kid just to get a bigger check each month. What good are the offering society? We need to weed out the true needy from those looking for a free handout. It all comes down to personal responsiblity and accountability. Why no tax cuts? They will help the rich, but they will help me also. It is all in percentages. If they cut taxes by 5 percent, the guy who makes 150,000 will get more back then the guy making 30,000, but it is still extra cash. My wife stays at home with our kid and we survive on one income and a little extra dollars a month makes a world of difference. About that fact of the top 5% being on the bottom 20% in the past, my father is an example. He got back from Nam to a wife, 3 kids and no college. He worked during the day, did school at night. Over the course of approx. 10 years he got his MBA, raised 5 kids (and survived the death of 1 daughter) and now makes really good money. Is he to be punished for working his butt off? Posted by: Justin at May 6, 2003 01:59 PMI don't think my parents made it to the top 5%. Not quite. But they both worked their entire lives to get to the point where they could retire and live comfortably. They are among the "rich" that the proposed tax cuts will help the most. Their primary source of income is from 401-Ks, IRAs, and other pention plans. They live of the pricipal of their savings, and the dividends of their investments. Socoal Security, which they paid into their whole working lives, provides very little of their income. WHile I'm among the top few percentage points in education (not smarter, just lots of schooling) I'm in the starting stages of my second career, so I'm definitely NOT in the top earnings brackets. But guess what, my tax rates will be going down more than the rich guys (and gals). While Joe Millionaire may get back more dollars, my fewer dollars will have more of an impact on me. I'm all in favor of more corporate accountability, though. CEOs should earn more than the mail-room guys, but they shouldn't get million dollar bonuses for getting the company into bankruptcy. SRG, Like I said, I will enjoy those tax credits for me, they are much needed. I work my but off and strive to live within my means (my only real debt is a car payment and student loan) yet I only scrape by. So give me some tax cuts! Posted by: Justin at May 6, 2003 02:43 PMI think of my student loans as a mortgage on my diploma. My "house" is an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of parchment (fake, of course. wouldn't want to make "sheepskins" out of sheepskin. it might upset the PETA types). Well Thanks for thoughtful replies. I will try to give my best responses. When I refer to liberal values, I do not include Politicians, but people. And Abe Lincoln's Republican is a far cry from the Regan Neo-conservative Republican of today. I am not sure about the Southern Democrats. Modern Politics is about perception, not action. Please don't confuse liberalism with Demorcatic polititians. What Republicans marched with Martin Luther King? Or, who were the whites that supported him and who were against him and what party were they from? I notice someone had to make a distinction like, "Southern Democrats" Were the "Southern Republicans" helping? (Strom Thurman anyone?) My "research" shows liberals behind them, not conservatives. (ie, my great-aunt). And you can't say "just get a job" especially to African Americans who, until the 60's had been unequal under the Law in many states! It will take generations beyond that to fix that problem. And the private sector is showing no desire to help out. They are only 4 generations from being slaves, and *never* had a chance to rise to the top. I am not saying any Government regulation will solve this, but I don't see Republicans helping out, caring, or even just offering support.(Ahem, Trent Lott) I don't see (enough) conservatives speaking out against corporate crime or for consumer rights. Ralph Nader is a liberal and works for all those causes. WHere is the Republican Ralph nader? Where is the guy, who is staunchly conservitve, who fights agianst the powers that use their wealth to manipulate policy into their favor? He does it because he believes- he is not getting rich off of his efforts. All the "laborers of love" whom I have met, the donated legal counceling, the family planning coucelors, the free ESL teachers for hispanics, and the like, why are they usally liberals and vote Democratic? I have never seen a Conservative who looks with any heart or pause at the abject poverty of people of color. I see your points "hand-up" rather than "hand-out" and all that, but it seems dismissive. It seems like you don't even think it's a problem. That's fine, but if you believe that, I doubt it's from experience (ie knowing someone who grew up in that enviroment). I can say I only know *one* person well. And only through government programs and college support for African Americans that he was able to attend and afford college. He deserved it. His mother never had it. His Grandmother? Not a chance. So we still need to do something. Just exactly what I can't say. I'm open to suggestions. I don't want to generalize, everyone. I want to see the love of fellow humanity, and find what I am missing that is so attractive to those of you that have taken to contemporary conservatism. My experience with conservatives as friends or coworkers, however limited, only shows only white people who have little or no contact with non-whites, and a total obsession with their own bottom line. Pure self interest (decidedly un christian). I talk about compassion or "reaching out" and they shut it down. Nope. Not a problem. Black Ghettos are black people specific problems that they need to fix on their own. Law enforcment and the goverment have no culpability in allowing for that enviorment to grow." Thats an escape to me. Wash your hands of it, it was decades ago. Well plenty of people are still alive to talk about it and the wounds are still there. Any African American who rose to the top seems to have the same story of having to overcome severe systematic racism- sometimes even at the top when they are buying million dollar homes or getting pulled over in their nice cars. (and subsequently strangled by police) And from you guys, apart from some of the decent communications of pserspectives, I get violent threats, and people want to throw me into the pit of ground zero because of my perspective. I see complaining about taxes, but no offers for workable solutions to fix what ails this country. I am done with the democrats, but you guys just seem to be duped to another side. Either way your getting sold out to private interests. I don't feel the love yet. I want you to picture not the "lazy not-working adults" but their children who have overcrowed schools, no healthcare, and in some cases are out right starving. In America. I haven't heard one voice of conern here. And War. O lord what are we doing? I do not measure war in time, but in purpose. Yes Sadam is no more, and millions of iraqis (minus several thousand) now have inherited a rubbled waste land that will rebuilt with what? - Our tax dollars paid into American Corporations who- don't pay much taxes. Your conservative monies are going to support an Iraqi State Run education, healthcare, and utilities infractructre- A Socialist State!. Where is your outrage? No, funny guy, I am not moving to Iraq as there would be a significant languate barrier. And you want to take on Syria and Iran and then rebuild them? I see this going a bad way. ANd tax cuts? This country is trillions in the red , entire states are broke as well, and we are launching the greates extentions of our military resources in decades- and you want a tax cut? You can't call it a cut if there is no surpluss. It is a defferment and a shell game to ensure reelection. "read my lips. . ." OK- please tear appart what you will, but try and show some love? Show me some deep sense of connection or concern to all people of the world as you usurp me. I'm in the lions den here, I know, but show me up on my terms. Don't deride me a hypocrite and say "Well a democrat did this. . ." to justify bad Republicans. Just show me the loving Republicans with a concience and concern. Show me the values of Christ in the Republican party. Prove me wrong. Thank you very mych Posted by: Jesus Liberal at May 6, 2003 04:13 PM"What is man that thou art mindful of him?" Soylent Green is an option. Why should I love my fellow man? What has he done to deserve my regard? I keep hearing how much I should care about other people, but no-one has ever supplied me with a good reason. The only response I get it a lot of religious babble. I know this goes somewhat counter to my support of the Iraqi War. My usual reaction to hearing about the atrocities committed by Saddam was not, "Oh, those poor people," but rather, "What an a%%hole." A sane response? Sanity has always been socially defined, so maybe or maybe not. So please tell me: logically, rationally with an absolute minimum of mummery, superstition, and quotes from "prophets" and "messiahs" Why Should I Care About My Fellow Man? I eagerly anticipate your replies. srg, J Lib J-Lib: Some liberals have been repeating lies so long, they are now widely regarded as the truth. Regarding your question: What Republicans marched with Martin Luther King? Or, who were the whites that supported him and who were against him and what party were they from? I notice someone had to make a distinction like, "Southern Democrats" Were the "Southern Republicans" helping? (Strom Thurman anyone?) My "research" shows liberals behind them, not conservatives. On research: Let me throw a few inconvenient facts at you: What party was behind the Abolitionist movement and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments? Republicans. Percentage of both parties voting FOR the Civil Rights Act of 1964: 69% of Senate Democrats After signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (D) President Lyndon B. Johnson praised the Republicans for their "overwhelming" support. Roy Wilkins, NAACP chairman, awarded Republican Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen of Illinois the Leadership Conference of Civil Rights Award for his "remarkable civil rights leadership." Civil rights activist Andrew Young: the best civil rights judges were Republicans appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower, saying "these judges are among the many unsung heroes of the civil rights movement." From the Congressional Quarterly, "Although the Democratic-controlled Congress watered them down, the (Eisenhower) Administration's recommendations resulted in significant and effective civil rights legislation in both 1957 and 1960 - the first civil rights statutes to be passed in more than 80 years" ("The Republican Party 1960 Civil Rights Platform," May 1964). It reported on April 5, 1963 that, " A group of eight Republican senators in March joined in introducing a series of 12 civil rights bills that would implement Finally, which two Presidents have had the highest percentage of minorities and women in their Cabinet appointments and staff? Get ready for a surprise: Richard Nixon and George W. Bush. I am trying really hard to think of the last black Secretary of State or National Security Advisor under a liberal administration. And wonder of wonders, the conservatives didn't have to settle for "tokens" - they found bona-fide qualified candidates who were also minorities and/or women. Who supports vouchers and school choice? Conservatives - because we truly believe every child deserves the chance to excel, regardless of income. This idea scares the you-know-what out of liberals who buy minority votes by telling blacks that their test scores are lower because they are discriminated against, but won't let them into the schools their own children go to. I have tutored and taught minority children, and there is nothing wrong with their brains. It's the low expectations and excuses for failure that keep them in the bottom percentiles. Lastly, I was raised in a staunchly conservative home. My parents both supported the civil rights movement, I had black friends at school and at home, never heard a negative word from either of my parents against ANY minority group during the entire time I grew up. One of my earliest memories is of my mother crying uncontrollably when MLK was assassinated. My best friend and her husband are both very conservative (last time I checked their skin color)very white. Both their children married black Americans and there was never any question or problem. They have 6 lovely grandchildren whom they adore. So I think I can say that you are quite mistaken in your opinion of the whole conservatives vs. race and civil rights issue. Actions speak louder (and accomplish more) than words. Or hand-wringing. Posted by: Cassandra at May 6, 2003 05:27 PMCASSANDRA---in your post to J-Lib starting out with: **"I think people of good will (and there are some on both sides), whether liberal or conservative, want the same things. They simply disagree on the means."**** You hit the bullseye PERFECTLY on EVERY point. Like the "I give you fish---I feed you once---I teach you HOW to fish---I feed you for a lifetime.". There's always a place for benevolence...but what a ripoff for people NOT to have the FREEDOM to at least pursue and acquire the tools to make their lives better. As I stated in another post: Humans are NOT validated when everything is handed to them...but find a greater sense of purpose and worth in what we do. We're NOT valuable because of WHAT we do. We're valuable because we're created in Gods image...BORN....People..... YET...purpose is NEVER defined when we're made to be completely dependent on another ( in this case the gov't)..Sadly that attitude is misconstrued as a lack of compassion ( on the parts of Conserv/Repubs) I won't even attempt to improve upon your earlier post--errr...ANY of them. It was ( they are) BRILLIANT and can't really be improved upon! Can I be in your class? (:~})
LFCat: Your comment: "Humans are NOT validated when everything is handed to them" really sums up in a nutshell what it took me 12 paragraphs to say. I learn so much from reading everyone else's posts (even the ones I vehemently disagree with - they challenge what we already think). I'm holding hands with myself and swaying as I sing KUMBAYA - ScrappleFace rules. :) - Casserole Posted by: Cassandra at May 6, 2003 06:15 PMCassandra- OK Thank you for schooling me. I would love to meet someone like you and sit down with a cup of tea and chat because I grew up around liberals and the conservatives in my town were openly racist in the early 80's. That's why I am here, to expose myself to new perceptions, and yours are by far the most intelligent. Why don't the republicans stand on that platform more? Why did they let a recist like Strom Thurman have so much sway in their party? Also, liberal politicians are corrupt as I have said. But I still see the Repubs sa no better, and these days just plain hakwish on the whole "killing people thousands of miles away to protect things here" idea. Haven't they done anything wrong in your eyes? Are they angels while the other side of the isle is all seething serpents? Aren't they getting checks and listening to the the same private interests, shaking hands with Saddam (80's- we knew he was bad then too) and Enron (a personal consultant for Energy dept), so what is going on here? I think conservatives have had enough power and wealth to make changes and set an example- you can't tell me that the liberals and hollywood have been the root cause for all of the US's problems stopping every progressive solution they come up with? The Republicans are darn rich and so are all their friends. Surely we could be in a better state of affairs now? Surley they could have come up with a better solutions for foreign policy than all this military intervention? I see that the lines are not so clear party to party, but I still can't see the "right" in the Right. I just want to see your picture as well as you have clouded mine. Regards. Posted by: jesus liberal at May 6, 2003 07:09 PMCASSANDRA! LMBO with the "holding hands with myself and singing Kumbaya while swaying! HA... I'll grab the dogs paw and the hamsters tail and join you "long distance" ( grabbing the hamsters tail to have him a little "tilt a whirl" experience for his previous slander against me on scrapple face! (:~}) Let TRUTH prevail...no matter what side of the political fence it happens to come from! Posted by: Lynch Family Cat ( truth seeker) at May 6, 2003 07:43 PMJ lib, J-Lib: I don't think either party can claim a monopoly on virtue - we all have our scumbags to deal with. The Republican Party's biggest problem is lousy PR. And I think this has something to do with not focusing on feeling but on actions. I think many conservatives who follow their principles aren't interested in convincing anyone else of the rightness of those principles, and this is a HUGE mistake. We need more Peggy Noonans (Pres. Reagan's speechwriter) to articulate the conservative philosophy. But on the whole, I prefer the strong, silent type to the (in my view) namby-pamby, focus group taking, I-feel-your-pain-while-I'm-looting-your-pocket types. And then there is this whole thinking vs. feeling deal, but I won't go there or this will be another mega-rant and the Lynch Family hamster will bite me in the butt. And since you invited me to tea, I'm sorry I made fun of your poem. :) Posted by: Cassandra at May 6, 2003 08:42 PMJustin- No. I am just trying to reconcile these different pictures of conservatism. (Trent Lot, Strom Thurman) vs. . .well folks like you. I don't believe Bush/Cheney are racists, actually, just nationalist greedy war mongerers- not for the sake of killing but for oil wealth. I am just saying that the "haves" of both parties have a whole lot. And I think that some of that is at the expense of others wheater in explotaion of people, resources, or legal wizardry with the tax code and other tricks (Cayman Island holding accounts). Justin. I, Jesus Liberal, appologize for even implying that all repubs are rich racists. I still see the greed element however weather the republican is wealthy or not. OK. I actually have a fact for you that you probably already know. I was looking at a chart of the 2000 election results, and as usual, most of the liberal votes are in urban counties- New York, LA, San Fran, Denver(?!), Portland, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta (I think), Mobile, Des Moines, Chicago, and so on. The rest, and I mean all the rest are republican/Bush. Well where are all the poor minorities? Why do liberals concentrate in the urban areas? And I would imagine the impoverished do not vote as much as the middle class and above? An extension of ignorance is apathy, right? So all these middle class people and above liberals that dominate the urban populaces have the most conact with minorities and vote Democrat. Meanwhile middle America, who doesn't see the impoverished minorites votes republican. It's not a judgement just an observation, and it is curious. Anyway, you guys (Repubs) need to do some reaching out and get out of your little towns and come to the big cities. Because if I understand you, the Democrats are selling them a line of bull. This is whole sale subversion. Is it a conspiracy that urban liberals are actually trying to keep the poor minorites down? Or just steal their votes? But what are wealthy urban liberals affraid of? Why aren't they just republican for the tax cuts and personal fiscal benifit? Why would an urban liberal who spends more money for everything want higher taxes as well? It's just confusing to me. Posted by: jesus liberal at May 6, 2003 08:55 PMCassandra and s.r.g: I couldn't have said it better in 20 pages... even if I had thought of it, by some freak chance. JL: Rich Republicans? I think you are forgetting my state's illustrious Sen. Kerry. He is the richest guy in the Senate. Racist Republicans? How about Sen Byrd? He's ex(I think)-KKK. I do agree with you on at least one point. I think that "politicians are like diapers. You cange them often and for the same reason." Government is a necessary evil. If it tries to solve an individual's problems, it will likely squash them by accident. (I'm not sure I'm paraphrasing there) Posted by: Ken Stein at May 6, 2003 09:09 PMgee I wonder what the authors of the theirs a lot talk about the "Constitution " DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Posted by: jp at May 6, 2003 10:11 PMjp,
Are you happy, now, J-Lib? We aren't interfering with, or attacking, anybody else. Much as I hate to quote a rapper: It's all about the Benjamins...(P-Daddy or Puff-Diddly or Piggly-Wiggly, whatever he calls himself this week. You know, the one J-Lo didn't marry.) JLib, I agree that programs need to be in place to help those in need, my point is that you should only help those who are willing to help themselves. I'm not paying taxes so that illegal aliens can come across the border to leech our medicaid system or to pay welfare for people who have no intentions to work for it. REFORM, REFORM, REFORM, will it happen, probably not, but refoming these programs will allow us to spend more money on education and other programs and dare I say, cut taxes. Now I've done it, I mentioned that so I must now end my post before I really say something extreme! Posted by: Justin at May 7, 2003 01:36 PMKeanu Reeves is a wicked Neo, but i'd love to see Bush play it!! Posted by: Josh Jenkins at October 12, 2003 06:02 AM |
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Bush Applauds Arafat's 'New Attitude'
'Fahrenheit 9/11' Sequel to Feature Jar Jar Cameo Coroner: Arafat Died of Tilex Poisoning Arafat May Soon Sign Death Certificate Specter Backs Ashcroft for Next Supreme Court Opening NJ Gov. McGreevey Leaves Office with Mandate Specter Backs Partial-Burial Abortion for Arafat Specter Retracts Ill-Conceived Abortion Remarks Bush Swats Kofi Annan with Rolled Newspaper Arafat Burial Plans Done in Time for Final Death P. Diddy Survives 'Vote or Die' Attempt Kerry Plan: White House Run Hid True Ambition Bush Declares End of Major Campaign Operations Al Gore Concedes to Winner of Popular Vote Early Numbers Show Nearly 100 Percent Exit Polls Kerry Votes for Bush, Before Voting Against Him Exit Polls Show 100 Percent Turnout, All for Bush Kerry: GOP Plans to Suppress Lawyer Turnout Supreme Court Orders Polling Halt, Names Bush Winner Bin Laden Signs Sit-Com Deal with CBS Kerry: Bush Outsourced Bin Laden Video Production Ashcroft: FBI Halliburton Probe Just 'Halloween Prank' Battleground Poll Shows Bush 51, Springsteen 49 Kerry: Americans Deserve Arafat-Quality Healthcare Kerry Concession Speech Takes High Road |