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Title: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good news... Post by Jeepgun on Jun 15th, 2004, 10:52am In light of all of the negative reporting and the liberal media's disgustingly pessimistic coverage of the war in Iraq, here is a sampling of how Iraqis view us and what's really happening in their country: (when you get to the page, go to the top and read down. Topics include the insurgents, Sadr, wages, economy, and the prison scandal, all seen through the eyes of an ordinary Iraqi citizen.) http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/archives/2004_05_01_iraqthemodel_archive.html#108386543157546398 |
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Title: Re: Good News From Iraq! Post by Rock_Lobster on Jun 15th, 2004, 11:27am Hope things go well there. I made a modest speculative investment in a few million Iraqi Dinar... the new Bremer Dinar. Wrokk |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by thomas on Jun 15th, 2004, 11:45am Two US Marines are listening to the radio in Iraq. "American soldiers," coos a soft female voice, "Your so-called national leaders have lied to you. You are needlessly risking your lives to wage a useless, unjust, illegal, and unwinnable war. Now is the time to return home to your loved ones, while you are still alive. If you foolishly insist on remaining where you are not wanted, the brave resistance fighters will have no choice but to kill you and add your name to the long ever-increasing casualty list of this insane war. So why risk never seeing your loved ones again for a so-called president who has repeatedly lied and deceived you at every opportunity? Why should you be sacrificed so that US corporations can enjoy fatter profits? The only wise thing to do is return home now, while you are still drawing breath, before you return zippered into a bodybag." "What's this?" sneers one Marine. "An Islamo-terrorist version of Tokyo Rose?" "No," answers the other. "It's CNN." |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Luke63 on Jun 15th, 2004, 12:44pm I do care...I just don't know what to do. [smiley=huh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Gator on Jun 15th, 2004, 1:07pm on 06/15/04 at 11:45:40, thomas wrote:
Pretty much. Or CBS or ABC or NBC Most of the major networks have people so wired from the nothin but negativity campaign that they don't know what to do. As anyone with loved ones in the military (such as my son who is shipping out to Iraq soon) will tell you, we want to hear the good news along with the bad. No one in our position is so naive to assume it's all sunshine, lollipops and roses, but we know there has to be some good happening, too. Not every soldier is out raping, pillaging and plundering or abusing prisoners. Just the small percentage that would be doing it on our own soil if they were not in the military over seas. The military is a societal group, just like any other and in any societal group you will have your small percentage of rotten apples. I just wish they would balance the scales a little more and just tell the whole story, not just the part that will sensationalize and politicize the war and scare the shit out of you. Gator Okay, here we go again. Buckle your seatbelts folks! |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Leesa on Jun 15th, 2004, 1:57pm For me having many friends and family in Iraq right now, I wish the news media would tell us some of the good stuff for a change. It pisses me off that they only gives us the bad stuff. It makes my heart hurt to hear only the bad. The news media SUCKS!! Hence the biggest reason I dont watch the damn news anymore!!! >:( Leesa PS: got my seat belt TIGHT, an life vest on, tray table is in the upright and locked possion!! ;;D |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 15th, 2004, 2:00pm Right on, Leesa! That's why I've posted this link. We ARE doing good things over there, and the Iraqis DO want us there, and together with the Iraqis, we ARE making good progress! :) |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Leesa on Jun 15th, 2004, 2:30pm There are AWESOME things going on over there!! My cousin whos doing her second tour right now told me that electirc power is being restored, shops and stores are opening again, roads are being rebuilt, kids are in school again and able to be KIDS to play and have fun! Thats the stuff I want to hear about!!! |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 15th, 2004, 2:50pm More good news today, on CNN: WASHINGTON (CNN) -- More than two years after the United States toppled the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan, President Bush on Tuesday welcomed Afghan President Hamid Karzai to the White House. "I ... appreciate your honor, your courage and your skill in helping to build a new and democratic Afghanistan," Bush said during a Rose Garden news conference. "You've been instrumental in lifting your country from the ashes of two decades of war and oppression." Karzai thanked Bush for making democracy possible in his nation. "We have a constitution that we have today which is the most enlightened in that part of the world," Karzai said. "And that constitution has been made possible because of the liberation that you helped us gain and because of the stability that the United States helped us have in Afghanistan." "Thank you very much, Mr. President, for that." Bush also announced pursuit of a bilateral trade program with Afghanistan and a U.S. training program to help new Afghan politicians better lead their fledgling government. Before visiting the White House Tuesday, Karzai thanked Congress in a Capitol Hill speech. "I thank you and the people of this great country for your generosity and commitment to our people," Karzai said during a joint meeting of Congress. "You have supported us with your resources, with your leadership in the world community and, most importantly, with the precious lives of your soldiers." With a critical election for the Afghan Constitutional Assembly looming in September, Karzai comes to Washington trying to shore up support for his government amid accusations of corruption. In his Capitol speech, Karzai addressed new freedoms among women in Afghanistan in the wake of the oppressive Taliban regime. "The new constitution replaces the Taliban-imposed gender discrimination by assigning 25 percent of the seats in our future parliament for women," Karzai said. On Monday, Karzai visited the Pentagon, pressing for more NATO peacekeeping troops to help the 20,000 U.S. forces already in his nation. "The Afghan people demand and insist on disarming and demobilizing private militias," Karzai told Congress. "Only with your support, and that of the international community, can we achieve this necessary goal." The president also spoke about his opposition to the drug trade in Afghanistan, where poppies are grown to make heroin. "Drug profits finance private militias, terrorists and extremists," Karzai said. "Drug profits undermine our efforts to build a healthy and legitimate national economy. Drugs threaten the lives and future of children, yours and ours." Appearing Monday on PBS' "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," Karzai said he expects terrorists to increase attacks as elections near. "The fight, this war, this fight against the remnants of terrorism will go on for some time," Karzai said. "It will not end this year. It will not end next year. We may have it for many years to come. So Afghanistan will continue to have security incidents as it builds its security institutions." During his Pentagon visit Monday, Karzai was asked about the chances of capturing al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The president expressed optimism. "Has a fugitive run forever? No, at least not in my country," Karzai said. "We will catch him one day, sooner or later." |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by jonny on Jun 15th, 2004, 2:53pm Touche'....Frank!! ................................jonny |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 15th, 2004, 3:09pm Heh... I was listening to an American Muslim cleric a few years ago, talking about the great promise of the Islamic Revolution. He was upset and yelling, "Where are our universities? Where are our cutting edge technologies in mathematics and astronomy? How have we been left behind by the rest of the world? Where is our grand progress?!" Much of the Arabic world sees the United States as the "Christian invaders, occupiers, and crusaders." How ironic it is that through the great things we are accomplishing in Afghanistan and Iraq, they are making progress in leaps and bounds. I am optimistic that both nations will shine as beacons of freedom, democracy, and progressive philosophies in the very near future. Meanwhile, Al Qaeda continues to murder their own Muslim brothers and commit atrocities in the name of rabid fundamentalism. The writing is on the wall. Freedom cannot be stopped. Suppressed in one place, it breaks out in another. Lithuania, West Germany, the former USSR... Nothing can stop it, for it is each human being's birthright. Let freedom ring!! |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 15th, 2004, 3:34pm It's exciting to see the great progress that is being made, and I'm disappointed and angered by the refusal of the media to present both sides of the story. Great and wonderful things are happening and most of the world can only sneer. Meanwhile, on the domestic front: (Quoted again from CNN.com) A long-sputtering economy has picked up steam in recent months, with nearly 950,000 new jobs created since March, according to U.S. government figures, and 1.4 million new jobs created since August. |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by eyes_afire on Jun 15th, 2004, 7:01pm Quote:
That would be good. Although I'll NEVER be able to retire or move out of this small apartment, maybe I'll find that one of those million jobs gets me a 5 cent raise. Work til death --- Steve, disgruntled |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Charlie on Jun 15th, 2004, 10:32pm There is one major reason that the media......and that includes even FOX which uses political bias its creed..and that is that bad news sells. People hit the remote the minute you find something positive. It's the same thing that makes those stupid Jerry Springer-types survive and why reality TV works. What a deal that one is for the networks. No stars to pay. Oddly the most positive Iraq reports I've seen were done on CBS. Several nice interviews with troops and some Iraqis. Charlie |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by BobG on Jun 15th, 2004, 10:39pm on 06/15/04 at 19:01:51, eyes_afire wrote:
Don't count on that 5 cent raise.......all those new jobs are in India working the help desk at Compac. And in Argentina sewing Levi's. |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 16th, 2004, 7:28am Um... Do you have a reading comprehension problem, Bob? I said that it was on the domestic front which doesn't have shit to do with Argentina, India, or anywhere but the United States of America. I knew it wouldn't be long for some cynic to come and shit on this thread. Whatever... Argue for your misery and you get to keep it. No sweat off my sack. *shrug* |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by purpleydog on Jun 16th, 2004, 7:51pm on 06/15/04 at 15:34:03, Jeepgun wrote:
Sorry Frank, Not to poopoo on the thread, but I gotta ask - What 1.4 million jobs? Since August of what- last year? In my area, there haven't been "jobs" available. Almost every company I deal with is "just" keeping their heads above water. Or they're going bankrupt. The U.S. government may have said there are 1.4 million jobs, but where are they? Did they say they are in the US? Was it a US company that has their helpdesk manned in a foriegn country? Are jobs available after forcing a more senior member to retire early and then paying a less senior person less? And then making the retirees pay their own insurance premiums, or cut them off entirely. Or was it from the folks that were downsized to part time and since have NO benefits, therefore hiring more part time workers with no benefits. When companies cut out the health insurance to retirees and even the people that work for them, that saved money goes right to the bottom line. Then they can hire more part timers. Like I said before, anyone can spin any information anyway they wan't to get a reaction. Of course the US government will release any info to get the attention of the average American. If they SAY there are 950,000 jobs since March, that must be true, right? But I digress. There does need to be more positive news on. Spin, spin, spin. purpleydog |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 17th, 2004, 9:52am Do whatever you like. The facts speak for themselves: Quoted again from CNN.com Jobless claims down last week Initial claims for unemployment insurance come in below estimates, Department of Labor reports. June 17, 2004: 8:51 AM EDT NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment assistance for the first time fell by 15,000 last week, coming in below estimates, the government reported Thursday. Initial claims for unemployment insurance dropped to 336,000 in the week ending June 12, according to the Department of Labor, which attributed some of the drop to federal offices being closed last Friday in memory of Ronald Reagan. Last week's claims are down from a revised 351,000 the previous week and below economists' estimates of 340,000, according to Briefing.com. The rest of the story is here: http://money.cnn.com/index.html?cnn=yes And more: Factories humming in May Output at nation's factories, mines and utilities jumps 1.1 percent, best gain in nearly 6 years. June 16, 2004: 11:15 AM EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Output at U.S. factories, mines and utilities surged in May, posting its biggest gain in almost six years, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday. The Fed said industrial production rose a larger-than-expected 1.1 percent in May after a 0.8 percent gain in April. The May increase was the biggest since a 2.0 percent rise in August 1998. The rest of the article here: http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/16/news/economy/industry_output.reut/index.htm |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by thomas on Jun 17th, 2004, 10:40am Well I haven't met anybody who has lost their job due to President Bush's economic plan. So I think the whole slumping economy is a bunch of trumped up b.s. anyway. So there. :P |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by purpleydog on Jun 17th, 2004, 7:44pm I take all information released by the government with a grain of salt. Just because they say it doesn't mean it's necessarily true. They adjust their figures several ways to get positive results, such as: unemployment claims are down. Some people have already maxed out their unemployment benefit. It's this kind of thing I question. I know quite a few people who aren't working, or got downsized from their jobs, or forced into early retirement and lost benefits. Or they are now salaried, so their company can work them 50,60,70 hours a week, doing what the downsized,laid off person was doing And the jobs that are being created aren't paying a halfway decent wage. Just over minimum wage in a lot of cases. I sure as hell couldn't live on that. purpleydog |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by jonny on Jun 17th, 2004, 8:05pm Alls I know is as of last month I have alredy made more than I did all last year, Seems to me (Anyways) that shit went down hill (For me anyways) right after 9-11. Now that im out about 70K since 9-11, its time to rebuild while I can. I have more work now than I have had in the 12 yrs ive been in buisness, go figure. .........................................jonny |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 17th, 2004, 11:12pm What's interesting is that people had a positive outlook during the final years of Clinton's presidency, with little fact to base it on. The dot-com boom had gone bust, unemployment was rising, manufacturing was down, and the Enron scandal was coming into full-swing. Now, people are pessimistic with little to base that pessimism on. Manufacturing is the single biggest indicator of the health of an economy. It is at a six-year high, interest rates are low, inflation non-existent, gas prices are coming down, and people are traveling and spending money on leisure again. The good news that happens in Iraq, Afghanistan, and here in the United States all seems to get swept under the rug by the media. They are the tail that wags the dog, so it seems. >:( If President Bush were the media's darling, the news would look drastically different. The news networks would be constantly painting a rosy picture, no matter how badly things were going. Personally, I take all things with a grain of salt, but when all of the earmarks of a VERY healthy economy are in play, there is quite a lot to feel good about. Then again, if you choose to feel pessimistic, well... uh... enjoy your choice? :-/ |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Charlie on Jun 17th, 2004, 11:17pm You're right. I don't buy what I get from Washington. There has been a serious shift there too and of course every administration can come up stuff to make them look good.....It ain't easy. Looking at other sites, they say pretty much that many more jobs have been lost than created. Depends on what you read. lost than created. Chalrlie |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by forgetfulnot on Jun 17th, 2004, 11:29pm Quote:
How many more excuses can you come up with for this guy? He is a dweeb, get over it. Lee |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 17th, 2004, 11:51pm Whatever. I knew it wouldn't take long for people to gather around and begin pissing on this thread. Whether president Bush is a dweeb or not, is not the issue. And he isn't single-handedly responsible for creating or destroying jobs. If you're looking for the source of lost jobs, look at corporate greed and the constant outflow of American jobs to Indonesia, China, and India. If you're interested in something besides ignorance and knee-jerk partisan politics, examine the facts. Either way, it's no sweat off my sack. *shrug* PFDAN to all. -Frank |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by purpleydog on Jun 18th, 2004, 9:05am You're right, corporate greed is responsible for a lot of lost jobs. They have a good year ($) and all subsequent years MUST be better, thus the out sourcing of jobs. And raw materials. However it IS an election year. The positive reports of new jobs probably has a spin on it due to that, and to make Bush look good. purpleydog |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 18th, 2004, 10:44am You must be right: Good news can't POSSIBLY be good news for its own sake. It simply MUST be a ploy by the government because it's an election year! If this is so, then how come no one has come forth with facts and actual figures on production/manufacturing/unemployment to contradict the reported facts and figures? The articles I posted illuminated facts, with no spin. But since it's an election year, how could good news from the liberal media, concerning the economy under a president that they despise EVER be any good? How could I possibly have been so blind? Hrmph.... WhatEVER... >:( |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jimmy_B on Jun 18th, 2004, 12:29pm The media does this to every President from either party. It's not a strictly G.W. thing. It sells commercial time. Remember when there was nothing on the news other then whether Clinton had cheated on his wife. :-/ A lot of stuff was going on, but that's what made the news & the dollars. Good news is all relative to the person. If only one person was killed in a war...it would be great news for the nation but awful for that one person's family & if the economy is doing great but you're struggling to feed your family...you get my drift. On the record...I don't like either Bush or Kerry...so what's a person to do? Not vote..that won't help. I guess I can vote for the V.P. canidate hope for the best. ;) Jimmy |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by forgetfulnot on Jun 18th, 2004, 2:29pm Here is some good news............ Quote:
From the evil CNN bunch.. Lee |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Gator on Jun 18th, 2004, 2:38pm I called it. Remember... Posted by: Gator on: 06/15/04 at 12:07:36 Quote:
You are right, Frank. There can be NO good news. Not in our economy, not in Iraq, not in Afghanistan. It doesn't matter that not one of the terrorist attacks planned to follow up 9/11 have happened. It doesn't matter that every leading economic indicator is up. It doesn't matter that Afghanistan is holding free elections soon. It doesn't matter that women in Afghanistan now play a role in government, there. It doesn't matter that Iraqi's are no longer being gassed to death and buried in mass graves. It doesn't matter that Iraqi people are free to speak their minds without worrying that they will be executed. It doesn't matter that the Hussein boys will never again kill for the fun or sport of it. It doesn't matter that Iraqi kids are going back to school. It doesn't matter that power and water are being restored or that hospitals are opened again or that Iraqi businessmen have re-opened their stores. Nothing good matters - period. What kind of people have we become? We loathe the thought that someone else could work hard at something and excel at it and profit from it. If that happens, they are evil rich people. If we can't have it, by God, they can't have it either. We can't teach our children winning and losing and striving to be the best. Heaven forbid, that might hurt someones self esteem. We are all equally losers. How can this mindset ever teach our children anything but mediocrity? How will this nation or the world profit from that? We revel in our misery. And if things aren't bad enough here, we will be miserable about what is happening elsewhere in the world. No, Frank. There can be no good news. You will accuse me of being in a black mood. Am I? Maybe. Search your souls and think about the direction this culture of political correctness is taking us. Think of what the true end will be when we can't speak our minds or strive for excellence. No good news, ever. Gator |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Jeepgun on Jun 18th, 2004, 4:01pm Bang. Right on, Gator. :) |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Bob P on Jun 18th, 2004, 5:25pm Quote:
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by purpleydog on Jun 18th, 2004, 7:00pm on 06/18/04 at 10:44:17, Jeepgun wrote:
The articles you quoted are articles, reports from news agencies. Of course there is spin on them. But you are correct, Frank, there are lots of good things going on in the middle east. There is a lot of positive news that doesn't get reported, or it's spun to make you doubt the positive notes in it. Or it is dropped in favor of airing more controversial news, which IS what sells. I believe differently about government released reports. Shall we agree to disagree and leave it at that? pd |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Gator on Jun 18th, 2004, 9:04pm Bob P, Labels are too confining. There is more than one definition of a "neoconservative," some less flattering than others. Rather than argue over the definition, I'll just tell you where I stand, as if after all the debates on this board you should know. I think I am more conservative in nature. If you HAD to put a label on me, it would probably be closer to Libertarian, though I am not 100% on board with their agenda. I think myself to be fiscally conservative. I think we spend way too much money on handout programs both at home and abroad. Taxes and spending are out of control. With every new entitlement program comes the government sticking it's hand in my pocket for more of MY money. I think most of the programs in existence should either be better controlled or cut back or done away with all together. I think the main purposes for the federal government are to maintain the country's infrastructure and to protect it's citizens via a well armed and well trained military - not to fund studies on how to make pickles crunchier or on the mating habits of the bonobo monkey. I think government's intrusion into my daily life should be limited. Every new law is one more restriction on our freedoms. It is not government's function to tell me what I can see, hear, say or do. We have the bill of rights to protect us from that, though it is taking a beating these days. I do believe in America first. I think our poicies should be more protectionist, but not necessarily isolationist. We need to protect our interests and assist our allies when necessary, but we don't need to stick our nose into every conflict in every 3rd world nation on the globe. That does not mean, however that we should ignore genocide or the mass murder of any group of people. I think this country was founded as much for freedom from religion as for freedom of it. I believe in God/a higher power, regardless of the form or name you give him/her/it. I am not a fan of organized religion. I don't force my beliefs on others, I don't want others to come knocking on my door to cram theirs down my throat. Politics aside, I am a laid back - you do your thing and I'll do mine kind of person. I am tolerent of others and I appreciate the same courtesy. I would give a person the shirt off my back until s/he crosses me. I am slow to anger, but God help someone that manages. I do have a real problem with stupidity, but most of us here do. Though I am not the only "novelist" on this board, I do apologize for the length of some of my posts. I can be quite passionate about the things I believe in and get a little wordy expressing that passion. I beg your indulgence. Gator |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by jonny on Jun 18th, 2004, 9:31pm on 06/18/04 at 21:04:53, Gator wrote:
SHUT THE FUCK UP (In a nice way) ......................................jonny |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Charlie on Jun 18th, 2004, 9:48pm It's true that joblessness claims dropped by something close to 15,000 a week ago. It's also true that drug benefit cards are a scam, wages are down in real terms or stagnant, overtime is becoming a thing of the past, Bush cut VA hospital funding, denied extra pay for our troops, is trying to gut any program that has worked, but not originated by this Congress, and telling us that this administration is incapable of a mistake. It’s all Clinton. Since they can’t admit a mistake such as that WMDs fizzled as and excuse, they try to misdirect. Instead, we get gay marriage and Pledge of Allegiance courtroom battles while stomping all over the Bill of Rights. That Bush appointed John Ashcroft is all I needed to know that he doesn't care about our country. Ironic that the corporations that now run TV news have to broadcast the bad stuff. They know we won't watch good news. Fox is the worst, oddly enough. And remember, with this crowd, bad news doesn’t exist unless it’s someone’s else’s fault. Charlie |
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Title: Re: Good News -- Iraq! No one cares about good new Post by Gator on Jun 18th, 2004, 10:27pm on 06/18/04 at 21:31:23, jonny wrote:
Since my arrival here, it has been explained to many a newcomer that you aren't family until jonny tells you STFU. After 3 months and 480 posts, finally, the king has welcomed me to this website. I feel so loved. My only reply to his majesty could be - Bite Me! (in a nice way, of course) ;;D Gator |
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