Oh Brad, you wonderful patriot, thank you a million times!!!

I will make a donation as soon as I can - next week perhaps. What means of payment are there?

Warning...don't use spaces when providing your credit card number. The card itself probably has spaces between the four sets of four numbers, but Brad's system doesn't allow them, and it doesn't explain what you've done wrong if you do use them.

I think his computer might have been designed by Kenneth Blackwell. Only kidding.

In this case, Robert, we can blame PayPal. Not Blackwell (or even me!)

To add to Des' helpful note, I believe that PayPal will also accept eChecks, which allows you to use a paper check from home (somehow through the magic of the internets) to send a donation without actually having to mail your check anywhere! Go figure!

Thanks to all who have sent donations, and no worries for those who are having money concerns of their own these days! Take care of yourself first and above all!

Well, my theory about cyberspace, the blogospheres, and the development of democracy(not demockracy) has been proven correct.

Yesterday, when the subject of cross talk came up, it was discussed thoroughly and decided by people's direct choice and majority agreement, that crosstalk would be allowed.

Cross talk won by a landslide!!!!!!

A REAL DEMOCRACY IN BRADVILLE!

Hey Paul, Atty Jimmo, whatever,

If you're inclined to actually do something intelligent with your (and our) time, besides spewing your childish rants, you might consider reading what a real conservative has to say about your hero **sh and what he has done to our country.

Read this and get back to us will you?

Peace

Anybody heard anything more about Jeff Fisher?

Has that story slipped off the radar screen completely?

Supersoling,
And isn't it sick that these *media people* respond to criticism with suggestions of beatings and killings? Are these people raising children? Are they teaching them to respond to disagreements with others with violence? Think about conversations around the dinner table in their houses. Sick.

Brad,
Isn't this incredible? You get nominated for 4 awards and suddenly our community has exploded with new folks? Hey everyone....don't forget to vote for BradBlog and a small donation would be very much appreciated.

Why the US must lose this war

Why the US must lose this war

How did that happen? I'm sure I didn't double submit! Sheesh.

What do you suppose is going on here?

Shades of 2004.

Has anyone thought about the hypocrisy of the US, now occupying Iraq with perhaps 150,000 troops, after having invaded it for phony reasons, and in disobedience to the UN, demanding that Syria stop occupying Lebanon with its 15,000 troops?

Our leadership used to be based on do as I do, but now it is being based on do as I demand.

It is a leadership scheme based upon hypocrisy is it not?

We know how well such leadership is received by those at the business end of a tank.

I wonder about the psychology of becoming what you say you detest. Remember the Soviet tanks rushing into Czechoslovakia and the moral outrage the US opined?

My, how times have changed ... for the worse.

It's not really hypocrisy, Dredd - it's just a double standard. It's the exact same logic that allows the US to have nuclear weapons, but not Iran.

A conservative might argue that the USA, as the worlds leading power, has the right and even the responsibility to act as the global policeman, and as such different standards SHOULD apply. Personally, I'm still trying to decide whether I agree with that or not, but at least I can understand the argument.

American foreign policy has been based on "do as I demand" for a very, very long time... the problem with this administration is the kind of demands they make, their motives for making them, and their way of enforcing them. I don't mind the USA being the policeman - but nobody likes a dirty cop.

Sorry cuthbert, that one doesn't wash with me.

hypocrisy

n 1: an expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction [syn: lip service] 2: insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have

The second most definitely applies to US foreign policy for several decades and very much so for the current administration. They claim the desire to spread liberty and democracy, yet when a democratically elected government in another sovreign nation refuses to comply with their instructions, no method is considered too devious or underhand in removing them - just ask Hugo Chavez of Venezuala. When he told the IMF to go piss up a rope, the US governemt promptly (and clumsily) attempted to overthrow him. He wasn't the first and he won't be the last.

When (and only when) the US stops believing that it has the right to interfere in the internal workings of another nation will it be entitled to legitimately police elsewhere in the world.

Until then, it should shut the fuck up and keep it's hypocrisy and "democracy" to itself. We of the free world have the right to manage our own affairs, thank you very much. Would you like the running of your country dictated by another nation? Trust me, the rest of the world (and there is a world outside the continental US) don't, but the CIA, IMF, WTO et al don't pay any attention whatsoever to our wishes. No taxation without representation? Yeah, we wish.

Keep the faith brothers and sisters.

Cuthbert C -

"A conservative might argue that the USA, as the worlds leading power, has the right and even the responsibility to act as the global policeman, and as such different standards SHOULD apply."

I would have thought that this was what the U.N. was for. There is too much danger in allowing a "police force" to be self-governing and -supervising. Inevitably it devolves into an autocratic power and worse. The U.N. needs to grow some sharp canines and start enforcing global laws, not just "advising" on them.

Has veryone here seen "Highjacking Catastrophe?" It's available on DVD; and Link TV shows it from time to time. Devastating!

Wookie - I couldn't possibly agree more.

I didn't say that the US administration wasn't hypocritical... it certainly does use its one face to preach about democracy while its second face is busy undermining it. I was just saying that I don't see hypocrisy in the specific circumstance of the admonition to Syria (Chavez is an excellent example of Bushite hypocrisy; telling Syria to get out of Lebanon is an example of something else... arrogance.)

Dredd,
Where are you? Here's another John Cleese piece. It's quite amusing.....

New axis of evil information

By John Cleese

"Bitter after being snubbed for membership in the "Axis of Evil", Libya, China and Syria today announced that they had formed the "Axis of Just as Evil", which they said would be more evil than that stupid Iran-Iraq-North Korea axis President Bush warned of in his State of the Union address.

Axis of Evil members, however, immediately dismissed the new Axis as having, for starters, a really dumb name. "Right. They are just as evil - in their dreams!" declared North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. "Everybody knows we're the best evils . . . best at being evil . . . we're the best."

Diplomats from Syria denied they were jealous over being excluded, although they conceded they did ask if they could join the Axis of Evil. "They told us it was full," said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "An axis can't have more than three countries", explained Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "This is not my rule, it's tradition. In World War II you had Germany, Italy, and Japan in the evil Axis. So, you can only have three, and a secret handshake. Ours is wickedly cool."

International reaction to Bush's Axis of Evil declaration was swift, as within minutes, France surrendered. Elsewhere, peer-conscious nations rushed to gain triumvirate status in what has become a game of geopolitical chairs.

Cuba, Sudan and Serbia announced that they had formed the "Axis of Somewhat Evil", forcing Somalia to join with Uganda and Myanmar in the "Axis of Occasionally Evil", while Bulgaria, Indonesia and Russia established the "Axis of Not So Much Evil Really as Just Generally Disagreeable".

With the criteria suddenly expanded and all the desirable clubs filling up, Sierra Leone, El Salvador, and Rwanda applied to be called the "Axis of Countries That Aren't the Worst But Certainly Won't Be Asked to Host the Olympics".

Canada, Mexico and Australia formed the "Axis of Nations That Are Actually Quite Nice But Secretly Have Some Nasty Thoughts About America", while Scotland, New Zealand and Spain established the "Axis of Countries That Want Sheep to Wear Lipstick". "That's not a threat, really, just something we like to do", said Scottish Executive First Minister Jack McConnell.

While wondering if the other nations of the world weren't perhaps making fun of him, a cautious Bush granted approval for most axis, although he rejected the establishment of the "Axis of Countries Whose Names End in 'Guay", accusing one of its members of filing a false application. Officials from Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chadguay denied the charges.

Israel, meanwhile, insisted it didn't want to join any Axis, but privately world leaders said that's only because no one asked them.

Peg -

That is indeed what the U.N. should be for. The problem is that it simply doesn't function in that way. As you said.. "the U.N. needs to grow some sharp canines".

This is precisely why I say I'm still not sure where I stand on the issue. On the one hand, the U.N. is a corrupt and lazy cop, which has never succeeded in stopping a crime or righting a wrong, while on the other hand the US is a corrupt and trigger-happy vigilante.

One of the two has to change, and unfortunately I can't see the U.N. ever growing any teeth.

Here's another, by Terry Jones, also of Monty Python fame. Those guys are genius's (?). Sorry about the length, but they're worth posting, don'tcha think?

A letter to the London Observer from Terry Jones.
Sunday January 26, 2003 The Observer

I'm really excited by George Bush's latest reason for bombing Iraq: he's running out of patience. And so am I! For some time now I've been really pissed off with Mr. Johnson, who lives a couple of doors down the street. Well, him and Mr. Patel, who runs the health food shop. They both give me queer looks, and I'm sure Mr. Johnson is planning something nasty for me, but so far I haven't been able to discover what.

I've been round to his place a few times to see what he's up to, but he's got everything well hidden. That's how devious he is. As for Mr. Patel, don't ask me how I know, I just know - from very good sources that he is, in reality, a Mass Murderer. I have leafleted the street telling them that if we don't act first, he'll pick us off one by one.

Some of my neighbours say if I've got proof, why don't I go to the police?

But that's simply ridiculous. The police will say that they need evidence of a crime with which to charge my neighbours. They'll come up with endless red tape and quibbling about the rights and wrongs of a pre-emptive strike and all the while Mr. Johnson will be finalising his plans to do terrible things to me, while Mr. Patel will be secretly murdering people.

Since I'm the only one in the street with a decent range of automatic firearms, I reckon it's up to me to keep the peace. But until recently that's been a little difficult. Now, however, George W. Bush has made it clear that all I need to do is run out of patience, and then I can wade in and do whatever I want!

And let's face it, Mr. Bush's carefully thought-out policy towards Iraq is the only way to bring about international peace and security. The one certain way to stop Muslim fundamentalist suicide bombers targeting the US or the UK is to bomb a few Muslim countries that have never threatened us.

That's why I want to blow up Mr. Johnson's garage and kill his wife and children. Strike first! That'll teach them a lesson. Then he'll leave us in peace and stop peering at me in that totally unacceptable way. Mr. Bush
makes it clear that all he needs to know before bombing Iraq is that Saddam is a really nasty man and that he has weapons of mass destruction - even if no one can find them.

I'm certain I've just as much justification for killing Mr. Johnson's wife and children as Mr. Bush has for bombing Iraq. Mr. Bush's long-term aim is to make the world a safer place by eliminating 'rogue states' and 'terrorism'. It's such a clever long-term aim because how can you ever know when you've achieved it? How will Mr. Bush know when he's wiped out all terrorists? When every single terrorist is dead? But then a terrorist is only a terrorist once he's committed an act of terror. What about would-be terrorists? These are the ones you really want to eliminate, since most of the known terrorists, being suicide bombers, have already eliminated themselves.

Perhaps Mr. Bush needs to wipe out everyone who could possibly be a future terrorist? Maybe he can't be sure he's achieved his objective until every Muslim fundamentalist is dead? But then some moderate Muslims might convert to fundamentalism. Maybe the only really safe thing to do would be for Mr. Bush to eliminate all Muslims?

It's the same in my street. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Patel are just the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens of other people in the street who I don't like and who - quite frankly - look at me in odd ways. No one will be really safe until I've wiped them all out. My wife says I might be going too far but I tell her I'm simply using the same logic as the President of the United States. That shuts her up. Like Mr. Bush, I've run out of patience, and if that's a good enough reason for the President, it's good enough for me. I'm going to give the whole street two weeks - no, 10 days - to come out in the open and hand over all aliens and interplanetary hijackers, galactic outlaws and interstellar terrorist masterminds, and if they don't hand them over nicely and say 'Thank you', kingdom come.

It's just as sane as what George W. Bush is proposing - and, in contrast to what he's intending, my policy will destroy only one street.

Cuthbert, a big part of the problem with the UN is that the US DOESN'T PAY IT'S BILLS. Even under President "Liberal" Clinton, it didn't pay it's way. The UN isn't perfect, but at least we (as in the ROW) have some recourse there.

The US also consistently undermines the authority of the Secreatry General when he doesn't do as he's told. Kofi Anaan isn't prefect, but he has been haranged by the US because not only does the man have principles, he has the audacity to stick to them.

The US weakens the standing of the UN by consistently failing to enforce resolutions of the state of Israel, it's poodle in the middle east..

Unless the nations of the world cease to be hypocrites (the US isn't the only one, but IMO it's the worst), then the UN will never be the body that it was meant to be.

"Be the change you want."

If you claim to fight against terrorists, don't sponsor terrorists elsewhere in the world.

Don't lecture us abroad about fiscal responsiilites (via the US treasury mouthpiece, the IMF) when you're own ecoonmy is about to disappear up it's own backside because you've been living on credit for three decades and can't pay the bills.

Don't condemn one nations act of agression against another until you stop using military force as a first resort of foreign policy.

And puh-leease, don't give us the "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" bullshit. We're sick to death of this one, go tell it to Ken Blackwell.

At least the US has the good grace not to lecture us on environmental issues.

Much as like to think of myself as a compasionate and reasonable man, part of me would like to see the US come very badly unstuck on something major - it may knock of some of that unbearable arrogance. In reality I hope not, for it's the innocents that suffer the most, my family and the friends that I have here among them.

Keep the faith brothers and sisters.

Britain and the US are a family separated by a common language.

Yep, semantics can lead to dissertations and discussions that aren't all they are cracked up to be.

My philosophy is that we must have:

Responsible individualism
Responsible nationalism
Responsible internationalism

It begins with responsible individualism, upon which responsible nationalism is founded, and upon that responsible internationalism at last is founded.

Valid principles must work in all three areas. Does the US policy we speak of make it?

Can a father be a horrible alcoholic and preach to his children effectively about not drinking? Or be a womanizer unfaithful to his children's mother and effectively preach sexual abstinence to them?

Can a nation be horribly addicted to oil and preach effectively to other nations about democracy when they invade weak oil-rich nations and occupy them?

The statue of liberty is framed in the female gender, and the UN sits in site of it, but we are not only unfaithful to the UN, we castigate it.

Can we effectively preach to other nations to do what the UN says?

Is our message to Iran "we will ask the UN to sanction you for having nuclear this and that" when we call the UN a whore, and at the same time have and be addicted to enough nuclear material to destroy the world many times over?

If the opinion of the rest of the world means anything, the answer is NO. If the opinion of millions of americans means anything, the answer is NO.

So whether or not the definition of hypocrisy in any version of a particular dictionary includes saying one thing and doing another, it should.

If it doesn't then in the future I will use the term hypocrazy instead.

What a gucky band of hypocrazies!

Spot on again, Wookie. But there's the core of the problem: if the U.N. requires the U.S. for it to function, then it's not independent, is it? No matter how you restructure the U.N., it will never be able to be anything that the world's most powerful nation doesn't want it to be.

for Phil and anyone else, you can make a donation quickly and easily: just click on the link on the upper right, which will take you to the appropriate page. you can use any credit card (no PayPal account necessary);or, if you have a PayPal account, you may use that. very simple, very easy, and very appreciated.

Unfortunately, the UN is an arm of the oligarchy. I would kiss the notion goodby that they will be of real help to us. We are more on our own than most realize.

Hypocrisy:

Greek:hypokrisis....pretense....hypokrnesthai....to play a part of

You've got me thinking again. Maybe this word is not so bad after all. I cringe everytime I hear it. But if it is simply acting out a role, does it matter if the actor really believes it? The role could bring good results. The problem is in the act. The US is saying it is creating democracy, but that is not reflected in her actions. Even if she had a dictatorship at home, but truly helped bring about a democracy(impossible,of course), what would it matter?
Hypacrazy is our problem...that is another concept entirely.

I mean "hypocrazy".

So, it's simple arithmetic;

hypocrisy + insanity = hypocrazy

insanity includes psychotic serial murder, extreme cognitive dissonance, megalomania, sado-masochism, and sociopathology.

Da Wookie and Cuthbert Calculus; Yeah all nations are required to be united for the United Nations to be all it can be.

But the prima donna policies of the current US administration are unproductive, divisive.

A superpower has the capacity to relax more than the other nations do, because it can protect itself.

So it can play the leading role in showing how it is done. Showing good will, care, concern for those that need help.

However, for such a nation to be the problem, to be the purveyor of arrogance, and to be the missing leader toward world peace, is a travesty.

For some small rogue states to behave badly is indeed displeasing, but for the leader to behave worse than the rest is a catastrophe.

It is no real mystery why those steeped in militarism all their lives failed to persuade the UN about WMD ... when UN inspectors were right.

Not only did the admin not allow anyone to trust the UN inspectors, it sent its own secretary of state to do a slide show slandering their work, and attempting to diminish the institution to the rest of the world.

It is just an anti-social shame in the final analysis.

CROSS TALK ALERT

Hey Teresa, I'm blowin' a kiss your way gal ...

Cheryl #22 "they're worth posting, don'tcha think". Of course it is a cool post.

Spot on sound logic too ... if the current bu$hit is responsible internationalism then the Terry Jones logic is responsible individualism.

I see the parser logic is still buggy. In a few days the phantom smiley in #32 will go away.

The close paren seems to trigger the little bugger.

CROSS TALK ALERT#31: RESPONSE: FEBRUARY 16:3:13 PM

I just caught that kiss, Dredd, and it was Oh so sweet.
Thanks, my wise and funny buddy.

techno-babble alert: re #33 ... hi again Dredd. I've spotted the trigger that messes up the parser. It's a special character followed by a closing parenthesis that does it. The special character [in your case a double quote] is converted into an HTML escape sequence which ends with a semicolon. Then the semicolon and close paren together are parsed as a wink. I suggest using square brackets rather than parentheses if you want to avoid this problem.

Duh....how much are they paying this guy?

Cheryl #36 -

Way too much.

XTXTXTXTXTXTXTXTXTXT

Gee it's nice to sit down here and find all this cozy, stimulating chat going on amongst all you great people. BradBlog feels like home. (All the same, it's a leetle bit embarassing to see my handle in the title of this thread every time I go to post a comment. I think Brad is teasing me. )

Sometimes I find myself wishing there were as many avid political dissidents as there are avid hockey fans. Why don't we have anything as direct and clever as this?

Re: Cheryl's posting # 22. What a good story. Perfect analogy. I just can't believe George Bush is getting away with this. And now this talk coming from Iran and Syria. Very Scary! This is going to get ugly, and we are in way over our head. Thanks to "Mr. Know It All" in the White house.

This just showed up in my Inbox, and I couldn't think of a better place to post it. More people on the move! ****

Dear Peg,

We were delighted to receive a phone call yesterday, February 15, from Camilo Mejia, letting us know that he has just been released from prison! Some of you might remember Camilo, a courageous soldier who spent 8 months fighting in Iraq, came home for a 2-week furlough, and decided that he could not—in good conscience—return to Iraq. He applied for Conscientious Objector status, and was declared a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International. But the US military convicted him of desertion, and sent him to serve a one-year prison sentence in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

CodePink members have shown tremendous support for Camilo and his family. We attended his court-marshal trial, awarded him a Pink Badge of Courage, and many of you sent him financial aid and letters of support.

Camilo contributed a beautiful essay to our new book Stop the Next War Now . In it he says,“By putting my weapon down, I chose to reassert myself as a human being.” And he urges us to join him. “Let us, collectively, free our minds, soften our hearts, comfort the wounded, put down our weapons, and reassert ourselves as human beings by putting an end to war.”

Camilo sends much thanks to CodePink, and said that after a much-anticipated reunion with family and friends, he would be joining us in traveling the country calling for an end to the war and occupation. We’ll post his schedule on our site as soon as it’s available.

In the meantime, let’s celebrate his release, knowing that he has emerged from this ordeal more enlightened, determined and effective.

To read Camilo's essay Regaining My Humanity go to: www.codepinkalert.org/Na...nal_Actions_Camilo.shtml

In peace,
Andrea, Carol, Claire, Dana, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Tiffany
www.codepinkalert.org February 16, 2005

Because, WP (#38), it would be downright un-Amurrkan and unpatriotic to give "our p***t" instructions like these. And besides, it's "crude" and "vulgar." Our country's honor is a stake, you know, and every Gannon/Guckert clone would be all over us.

Speaking of "Gannon," has everyone here seen this? It seems he didn't always have Talon as a pretext for his presence at WH briefings. Talon hadn't even been created when he first appeared there, posing framed "questions" for Ari Fleischer.

re #41 Yes, Peg, it would be crude and vulgar. Nothing compared to starting a war on false pretenses, or looting the national treasury for the benefit of family and friends, not to mention any of the other policies of the current administration, but it would still be crude and vulgar.

Surely, the international community isn't going to let DUMYA's admin. push them around, or believe a word they say ever again. The little boys have cried "wolf" too often...

Cheryl - thanks for the hilarious #20 & #22

Peg C #40 - thanks for the story - Camilo is a true American war hero, and he will accomplish even more for America and the world by now speaking out against illegitimate war.

RE: DA WOOKIE #23-

I agree with most everything you said but, even though he had his flaws (they certainly seem insignificant in comparison with those of the current occupant of the WH), I will come to the defense of Clinton on the issue of U.N. payments. I'm sure one of you bloggers out there will correct me if I'm wrong but I'm almost certain that it was the Republican controlled Congress that held up the U.N. payments during most of the Clinton Administration. I believe that at least one of the Repugs objections (as dictated by the Christian Right) to full payment to the U.N. was the U.N.'s birth control education and implementation recommendations (as completely reasonable as they were) in third world countries.

Still, thanks for all your enlightning communications!

Steve

Teresa, where are you? I can't find you, that is your post about a dear friend dead of Aids. Well, I lost a favorite cousin a few years ago, the gentlest, sweetest man I'd ever known, to Aids; and his partner died a couple of years later, a wonderful man.

We held a family ceremony, scattering ashes in the bay, which included his partner - although no one, for years, had been allowed to know what ailed Robbie, because his mother, my aunt, was humiliated. I'm still very angry about that.

Steve - You;re absolutely correct on that one. It was the GOP that blocked UN payments and stymied the Clinton diplomatic agenda at every turn.

Peg C, My bud...

I found the AIDS comment on the Jeff Gannon--Male Prostitute thread. Actually it was Cheryl #100, so no wonder you couldn't find it. We are getting so interchangable here. The Bradville Bunch.

I WAS TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY BY HIJACKING CATASTROPHE! I've been crusading for it for a long time. Everyone should see it. I was thinking we could have parties and show it , and do promotions in public places. It is awe inspiring.
Also, The power of Nightmares, which I haven't seen yet but I hear is amazing. Here is the link:

catastrophe

Re eveyone,
Wow, my power went out about 6 pm eastern last night and look at all the awesome discussion I missed. All you folks are amazing. If I want to know whats going on around the world, I can just come here. Who needs cable or newspapers?

Where to begin? OK, first of all, I'm blowin' kisses to all of you, and you can either duck or recieve depending on your preferences

Regarding the U.N., First I have to say that I'm getting really sick of seeing Minn. Sen. Coleman (God, I miss Paul Wellstone) repeatedly attacking Kofi Annan. Does he actually do ANYTHING for the people of his state? The U.N. is the only organization that can challenge the U.S., or any other nation for that matter, in an open and public way, and we know that the U.S. has plenty to be called out on. **sh's repeated attacks on it are because it is one of the last places that can hold him accountable, and he's all about removing safeguards and obstacles to his agenda, here as well as abroad. *Note to Dredd*, I'm with you on this.

Winter #38 Yep! I'm gonna miss getting my hopes up again for the New York Rangers, only to see them miss the playoffs for , what?, the 100th year in a row?

Haven't got time for more now, got to get to work. I hate feeding the machine!

Peace to all

Oh boy. As a blues singer might have said "When I woke up 'dis morning, I realised that I acted like an arse-head." Maybe not.

Cuthbert, I feel that I owe you an apology. Yesterday I was rude and confrontational for no good reason, please forgive me. I have been reading "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" by Greg Palast and it tends to make me very, very angry indeed, which is why I read it in small bites - I don't think my blood pressure could take any more. It is also leading me to the opinion that most people in positions power are only entitled to a bullet between the eyes and an unmarked grave and I find that difficult to come to terms with. I get overcome with a kind of seething fury when I realise the amount of suffering inflicted on millions around the world to further line the pockets of an already extremely wealthy few and how the lying barstards the we elect (even the ones who win fair and square) help them to do it.

Sorry Cuthbert, no offense meant.

Keep the faith, brothers and sisters.

Am I imagining this, or did anyone notice that the MSM has coordinated in calling Bush cabinet members by the moniker "Mr." or "Miss", etc...??? It seems, this week, I've heard "Mr. Rumsfeld" and "Miss Rice" about 100 times in the MSM news. Did anyone notice this? Am I imagining this?

No problem, Wookie.

You were a bit confrontational, but I never thought you were rude. Actually your comments ended up making me clarify my own thoughts in my own head, which is really a large part of what this is all about, right?

Anyway, if you thought you were rude, then I appreciate the apology! :satisfied:

Okay, just when I think the idiot index has gone about as high as it can possibly go, someone raises the bar.

Big Dan #51 - Interesting observation, I'll have to pay more attention.

I haven't noticed it, but then I'm in the rural south, EVERYONE is called "Mr" or "Miss" here - except here the title is usually followed by the person's FIRST name (unless it's someone we don't know well, then we use last names).

Kes #53,
Oh come on....The US is spinning out of control. I don't think it's the giving of same sex Valentines that's doing it. Imagine the screwed up thoughts going on in all those little heads when they hear their parents going on about shit like this?

Peg C #40,
Congrats to Camilo Mejia and the Code Pink people! Just think how quick their wars would end if EVERYONE just laid down their weapons and refused to fight. They know that too, that's why they brainwash the soldiers, desensitise them and fill them up with drugs.

I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin. The world has lost an awful lot of talent and sweetness with this horrible disease.

BTW, what's XTXTXT mean?

Cheryl #55 - I posted a copy of the article to my RRLHF group (Rebel, Radical, Liberal Homeschoolers and Friends) and this was the first response received:

"Please excuse me while I go build a brick wall so I can bang my head against it!! - Maddie"

I think that sums it up very well.

Wow, another homeschooler - cool!

You people have even better taste than I thought.

Kestrel #53 - Yes, the indiot index has climbed right off the scale in America. I now feel sorry for the school officials who have to deal with the moronic parents, as well as for the children with the moronic parents.

How about Bird Brain and the Gucky Gooze Goo Murrikans as the name for a punk band? The could play at WH state dinners...

National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee

The arrogance of Rummy is now official. A federal judge has ordered Rummy to show why he should not be held in contempt of court.

If he gets the reputation of being what he really is, instead of his hyped persona, all the cases in the federal courts could be harmed on the admin side, and helped on our side.

A good result could be FOIA (freedom of information) request results.

Developing ...

Am I getting too paranoid? I seem to look at everything with extreme cynicism these days.

The Windsor fire

WTF???

Now here's a priest that makes sense to me! Someone should pass this on to Bushco.

Love and the bible

Good article by Peter Lee

Cheryl -

XTXTXTXTXT: just my adorable shorthand for cross-talk.

There's no such thing as being "too" paranoid in this dark age.

The ARROGANCE!.

We've got to get these guys!

Gosh, Cheryl - I can't keep up with you! You must have high-speed, 'cause just getting BACK into Bradville after forays into the internet puckerbrush takes at least 7 minutes for me!

Czaragorn #59 -

Kes, Dredd, Da Wookie, everyone -

Great stuff!

Da Wookie #57 - Another? You mean I'm not the only one here?

Cool *grins* Most people already have some stereotypical image of homeschoolers - many don't realize that there are A LOT of us who do this for educational reasons instead of or in addition to religious reasons. I usually don't "come out of the closet" unless/until I feel comfortable doing so.

BTW, this place provides a good jumping off point for discussions, especially on Civics days.

czaragorn #59 - *L* you nut

cheryl #63 - Thanks for posting that link, I'm not a Christian (well, sorta kinda but not really, long story *s*) but it makes perfect sense to me too.

The Unitarian website (www.uua.org) has some wonderful commentaries by UU's, especially regarding unity, equality, and the peace movement. I joined a UU homeschool group because I found their values aligned with my own. They are good people (and for some reason post more and better educational resources and links than I've seen in ANY online group)

Single moms with no other support can't homeschool; but I would'a if I could'a. But they CAN correct the evils of public schooling by paying attention in the evenings! My two came out all right...

There's a huge home schooling movement here too - and they're all, without exception, people you would want to know.

Kestrel #53

Would have thought this was a hoax had it not been posted by one of our own. I'm...........*almost* speechless.

They are hard at the business of indoctrinating the future homophobic right wing christian crazies. What really gets me is how the school, instead of standing up to them, considers dropping V-day activities alltogether. This is how we allow them to win and to poison the minds of our children.

Kes #56 - that about sums it up, and #69, neither am I. But I might be tempted if they were to keep making sense.

Peg C. - That shorthand is adorable! Now I see it!

cheryl #56 - Holy chit, is he spooled up or what? Give Mr. Grouchy Britches a thorazine big gulp and put him down for a nap!

Okay people, keep surrounding the fortress and making faces, I think ol' Rummy's just about ready to step right off the edge of that mental ledge he's been perched so precariously upon for the past few years.

What a very nice story about blogging by Peggy Noonan

When does Bradblog premium service makes its debut?

Cheryl #74 -

GREAT column!!! I especially love the "freedom envy" coinage...

Okay, regarding my OWN comment #53 - nevermind :blush: Check the other headlines at the website. I should NEVER post ANYWHERE while multitasking at mininum caffeine level.

What's sad is that among my peers I am known as one of THE most sceptical people on the net, always checking snopes and breakthechain for EVERY email I'm forwarded, and this time I got fooled - because, in the current environment, it would NOT be that farfetched at all!

Sorry, sorry, sorry, my bad.

Okay, think I'll go watch Spongebob or something.

Oops. Oh well, anything is possible to believe these days. The posters underneath got caught too.

Harvey #75

Never I hope

Kestrel #77

:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):

Cheryl #62....

Thanks, Cheryl. That explains it.

The hard journalism of the blogosphere is getting more and more amazing by the second.
I still say it is developing new neural pathways in our brains and very speedy connections.

You Bradbloggers have been known to enjoy a laugh or two.

Click on face for more.

terror

Uh oh! Are we not supposed to post pictures?

Sorry, guys. That really is disgusting. Didn't mean to have it stare at you like that.
Maybe the consensus would like Brad to remove it.

Teresa #81 *big ol' grin* You're hitting very close to my theory about why ADHD is being diagnosed more in kids than ever before - and about why a great percentage of those kids are also highly gifted!

But that's for another day and another thread (and a night with only ONE glass of wine with supper *L*)

Peace y'al

y'all, not y'al - GEEZE *L*

I need an edit button!!!

Nice people.
Winning the hearts and minds

Just read this Cheryl before I saw your link, and wonder how they will spin the "just a few bad apples" angle now?

I'm tellin' ya, there's a perfect storm a brewin'.

Teresa #82 'em pichers are ok, but nu cyu lahr pichers are not.

m r ducks
m r not
m r 2

l i b
m r ducks

nu cyu lahr baby nu cyu lahr

Yeah, Dredd...unfortunately.

m r wierd ducks I would say, Dredd.

Maybe Bagdhad ducks affected by depleted uranium.

Kes, you drunken sot!

#85... I am really, really interested in your ADHD theory. Sober up, and let's discuss it!

Support the troops!

News from Dahr Jamail

good news! ... no ... GREAT NEWS!!!!!

I have just heard from Freebird. His computer crashed and he didn't get it running again until today. He told me to say "HI" to everybody...

so... HI to everybody from Freebird!

Thanks Winter Patriot for passing that along. Please let him know that, I for one, have missed his revolutionary spirit and fine writing.

Winter #95 & Super#96....

Me, too.

Well, well. Isn't this generous of him?

F L A S H

Raw Story is reporting that the MSM is starting to do the Jeff/Jim Gannon/Guckert story ...

developing link here

Hard to believe ...

Re my previous comment in #17:

Uh-oh, you go, Hugo!