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148 Responses to “Thursday Open Comments Thread”
  1. Matt 'Zilla' Bramanti, CPO™ on February 1st, 2007 at 12:45 am

    First. Ha!

  2. GRIZ on February 1st, 2007 at 12:54 am

    first? but it’s you’re blog

  3. nz-texas on February 1st, 2007 at 1:02 am

    ha!!!
    now that’s good candy -

  4. sunny on February 1st, 2007 at 5:44 am

    Ha…Fourth!

  5. MadDog on February 1st, 2007 at 5:45 am

    Matt finally shows his true colors. First indeed…

  6. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 6:04 am

    WND interviews the notorious Johnny “Drug Dealers Delight” Sutton - try as they might - well - read and distort for yourself

    I know I will :)

    http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53856

  7. Robert Headford on February 1st, 2007 at 6:29 am

    Matt, as Squawk knows the LST Rules of Engagement prevent you, your family, or any LST-related associate from being first, so you’re disqualified!

    Secondly, both “First™” and “Ha!&trade” are trademarks of HeadShaker Enterprises LLC.

    Now, let’s talk about the war and that debbil Bush.

  8. dowjones25k on February 1st, 2007 at 6:47 am

    interesting facts about israel.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5tDDkvXSI8

  9. texpat on February 1st, 2007 at 6:58 am

    The fact that Don Everly, the oldest of the Everly Brothers, turns 70 today might make some of us feel a little old. But their music will always be timeless and young. They had a very public breakup in 1973 and did not appear together again until this reunion concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London where they have remained tremendously popular.

    “Down In The Willow Garden” here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN4C8J0SjUM&eurl=

  10. Chuck on February 1st, 2007 at 7:09 am

    From a William Arkin article in the Washington Post (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2007/01/the_troops_also_need_to_suppor.html):

    “…soldiers should be grateful that the American public, which by all polls overwhelmingly disapproves of the Iraq war and the President’s handling of it, do still offer their support to them, and their respect.

    “Through every Abu Ghraib and Haditha, through every rape and murder, the American public has indulged those in uniform, accepting that the incidents were the product of bad apples or even of some administration or command order.

    “So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?”

    Got your blood pressure up yet? Did you notice the reference to “obscene amenities” above?

  11. BSue on February 1st, 2007 at 7:17 am

    #6 EPJ,
    How’s about reading today’s fare at WorldNetDaily?
    http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54044

  12. luv2hammer on February 1st, 2007 at 7:31 am

    I loved those when I was a kid.

  13. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 7:39 am

    Bsue

    this is telling in the article:

    [snip]
    According to Andy Ramirez, chairman of Friends of the Border Patrol, and reliable sources close to the case
    [snip]

    If Mr. Ramirez had any proof he should immediately go to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    But I would venture so what?

    It doesentchange the facts of the case.

    2 felons (Ramos and Compean) tried to kill an unarmed man, who was unidentified and unknown at the time.

    They tried to do this during the trial and it didn’t work then its not working now - they are just pushing the pardon buttons.

    Its not going to happen.

  14. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 7:42 am

    Why is this State Senator inclined to have Dans Texas monthly article on his website?

    http://shapleigh.org/news/835

  15. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 7:46 am

    EricPJohnson

    The interview is almost 2 weeks old. He repeats the same talking points he put in his press release. He really does not explain any of the inconsistancies.

    I would still like to see the Transcripts.

  16. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 7:54 am

    huhhuhhuh. He said “transcripts”.

  17. duhmoose on February 1st, 2007 at 7:57 am

    Eric, If you read any of the Friends of the Border website, you will notice the are in communication with Congress, and have given quite a bit of evidence to the Government. The two witnesses of the shooting, Ramos and Compean, both agree they thought the person was armed. The medical records show they suspect was shot in a bladed position, consistent with a posture of pointing something at the agents. One witness, the suspect, says he was unarmed. One other witness, who was not in a line of site position, says he did not see a weapon on the suspect. No clear evidence that the suspect was unarmed exists. If the Agents were in a shoot to kill mood, why did the sharpshooter, with only one shot, only hit the suspect in a non-leathal area?

  18. bigjolly on February 1st, 2007 at 7:59 am

    Transcripts? Did someone say transcripts? Hmm. I was listening to a replay of Hannity and Colmes on the way to work this morning. “Andy” (same as in # 13?) was spouting the conspiracy stuff and says, I quote: “I have a transcript right here in my briefcase, Alan”, then goes on to say something about the judge and the testimony.

    I thought that there were no transcripts available?

  19. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:00 am

    Trl3

    The inconsistencies can be directed to

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation
    High Crimes Unit
    Hoover Building
    Washington DC

    Yep please anyone having inside verification from sources such as a union rep or an activist needs to step forward now.

    Those pesky inside sources where did they get the transcript and all those inside planning meeting notes of the US attorneys office.

  20. duhmoose on February 1st, 2007 at 8:03 am

    Eric, It just might be possible that a Union Rep actually attended the trial of two people he represented, and therefore does not need the trial transcripts.

  21. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:04 am

    Bigjolly

    transcript, rough unofficial are distributed daily to the attorneys on each side if possible during the trial and to reporters and other interested parties that request them in some courts.

    Did this happen in that courtroom - don’t know but it would stand to reason that we would have heard the defense lawyers complaining about it

    But hey, if I was a court reporter making 60 thou a year and a lynch mob of histerical borderphiles were coming for me - they’d get the transcript when hell freezes over

  22. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:05 am

    EricPJohnson

    That the drug dealer was unarmed is supported only by the testimony of the “DRUG DEALER” himself. There is evidence that he is lying.

    That the Judge refused to allow the testimony concerning a possible second at trial does not mean that it did not happen.

    Why can we not get the transcript almost a year after the trial so that the FACTS, not the spin of the prosecutor, can be determined by anyone that wants to look into the situation.

    Just what is the Prosecutor and the Judge trying to hide?

  23. bigjolly on February 1st, 2007 at 8:09 am

    Uh, oh. Gonna be another bad day for the 911 conspiracy buffs. Seems that some of that super secret steel that was taken away before anyone (except the guvmint) could examine it has been found. And one of those beams has evidence of being burned. Now, who is that that says steel won’t burn?

  24. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:12 am

    EripPJohnson

    If anyone has the transcripts I would like to see them. Unlike you I want the “FACTS”. If the facts say they are guilty so be it. If the facts say the Prosecutor and the Judge are playing fast and loose with the law, I want that known.

    Until the answer are made available I will coninue to question if justice was done in this case.

    BTW: You have previously claimed to have inside information and claimed to have seen the transcripts. Where the hell are they?

  25. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:13 am

    Duhmoose

    possible but they were quiet until after they were found guilty

    did you read the interview - did you se this exchange where

    Sutton
    As I said, in every case since 2001 where deadly force was used in the El Paso sector, we sided with the agent

    Sutton
    For all the agents knew, Aldrete-Davila could have been an American citizen, father of five children, who had a traffic warrant, and he didn’t want to go to jail that day. The agents didn’t know until after the shooting that Aldrete-Davila was a drug runner.

    WND: There were only three people there at the scene – Compean, Ramos and the drug smuggler, Aldrete-Davila.

    Sutton: No, that’s not accurate. There was another Border Patrol agent, agent Juarez, who was at the scene. Juarez witnessed Aldrete-Davila surrender there in the ditch.

  26. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:15 am

    ericpjohnson #21

    Now you support the withholding of the transcript?
    The transcript is supposed to be a public document available to everyone. Why is it that almost a year after the trial is over that it is not available?

  27. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:16 am

    BigJolly

    Have you heard any thing about the order you placed for the transcript?

  28. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:17 am

    Trl3

    The facts were presented to the grand jury and the jury in El Paso

    They had their chance they had representation, they had the authority of the office and Ramos and Compean were convicted of all counts - the attempted murder was dropped during the trial.

    They were convicted on the testimony of their own fellow law enforcement officials who witnessed the event.

    They were probably given immunity to testify cause well, they should have reported it as well.

  29. bigjolly on February 1st, 2007 at 8:20 am

    #27 trl3

    The USPS confirms that my money order was delivered on Monday, 1/29/07 at 12:53 pm.

    I’m going to call Ms. Estrada today and inquire about them.

  30. fasternu426 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:20 am

    Facts were presented at the OJ trial too. We see how that turned out. Any number of things can and do go wrong at trial, especially when things are skewed in favor of one side over the other. Things like, jury selection, venue, instructions, admissability of evidence, etc…

  31. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:22 am

    ericpjohnson

    Once again that Suttons spin. Is it not pitiful that we can not get a copy of the trial testimony to see what was actually said.

    Why is it we can not get the FACTS? How long does it normally take to finish a trial transcript? Is some one hiding something? I do not know but I would like to find out.

    The longer the Prosecutor and the Judge stonewall the more I wonder what they are trying to hide.

  32. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:22 am

    Trl3

    I always support the withholding of transcripts until all of the judicial reviews are completed

    Look transcripts can be inaccurate - its another game of telephone and some lawyers talk real fast and it doesn’t convey the tone of voice or the body language -

    And with all the borderphiles wanting to tear thee fine people from the government apart - who can blame them - they don’t have to release the transcripts - the Judge sensing a mob mentality can shield the witnessess from the horror of being cannon fodder on talk shows.

    this is why they do it - so the court of law remains untainted from the hystericalsphere and the many competing factions out there who have an axe to grind either way.

  33. duhmoose on February 1st, 2007 at 8:22 am

    Eris, You might want to brush up on your read for comprehension, it seem s to leave a little to be desired.

  34. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:25 am

    Trl3

    Your post is exactly why some courts do not allow visitors, the public, the media, cameras or voice recordings in court rooms.

    The system must remain in that room and not in the blogesphere.

    seriously though, go to the FBI sit down with them lay out your accusations and see where it goes - be firm, polite and insistent. If they don’t cooperate try a citizens arrest or maybe tell them you are bringing charges against them and go to the US Marshalls office and repeat it.

  35. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:27 am

    EricPJohnson

    You do not know anymore than anyone else concerning the trial but you accept everything the Prosecutor says as a FACT. You claim that since the trial was held that everything must be as he said. I bet there has never been a case where the prosecutor or Judge acted improperly.

    All of this could be cleared up in a matter of minutes if the transcripts were made available, if this secret report from the DHS were made available as promised, if the gag order was lifted, and if the Prosecutor and Judge were required under oath to answer questions about the existance of a second indictment.

  36. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:29 am

    Duhmoose

    There is somewhat of a delay here and its call to prayer I always listen for the sounds of engines racing as everyone speeds to the megamosque by our compound.

    Also if you have a disagreement then state it otherwise personal attacks may get you a warm feeling but for the thousands who read but not register you’re not convincing people.

  37. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:29 am

    ericpjohnson

    Your go talk to the FBI crap is getting really old.

    How do you do that when you are denied access to the public documents that could prove this one way or the other.

    If this is so clear cut, why are we being denied access the to proof?

  38. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:33 am

    Trl3

    Facts ar facts unless rebutted - correct?

    How many juries have these two been in front of? 2

    How many counts were these two convicted on? 22 out of 24

    what evidence does the supporters of these two have that has galvenized the 5th circuit court of appeals to intercede? Zip Zero Nada

    How many insiders close to the investigation have come forward besides the usual 2 or 3 jurors to give sworn affidavits and interviews ith the media saying they obstructed justice in the Ramos/Compean trial - zip zero nada

    What more do you need?

  39. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:35 am

    Trl3

    no seriously - when you have evidence IT IS YOU DUTY as a citzen to GO TO THE authorities and report it.

    Otherwise there will be chaos on the streets

    Also, you and me are denied access to documents everyday - including court documents all the time.

  40. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:36 am

    EricPJohnson #31

    Excuses excuses. Until the information is made available I will continue to ask questions, and I will encourage other to do so. Why are you afraid for the truth to be available?

    And if you are so scared of the general public, why can’t the information at least be made available to Congressmen of the United States?

    If the case is as clear cut as Sutton says he should welcome the release of the transcripts.

  41. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:38 am

    EricPJohnson

    Thats right, deny access to the proof and then claim that I have a duty to present it to the authorities.

    Personally I would welcome a review by the FBI of this case.

  42. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 8:38 am

    Nothing like a new ConThe to brighten your day:

    A new conspiracy theory has gained currency in Egypt in recent weeks, according to which it was not Saddam Hussein, but rather his double who was executed. Also, it was not his two sons ‘Uday and Qusay who were killed during the war, but their doubles.

    I’m guessing they’re being kept in a bunker made of that super secret steel bigjolly mentioned.

    http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=26699

  43. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 8:39 am

    Saddam was reading the transcripts

  44. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 8:44 am

    EricPJohnson

    Let’s see, 25 percent of the JURY have signed affidavits claiming misconduct and stating that they do not believe the agents were guily. If there is no problem with insiders talking about the trial why does the judge still have a GAG ORDER in place that says she will put them in PRISON if they talk about the case?

    Can you say INTIMIDATION.

  45. duhmoose on February 1st, 2007 at 8:55 am

    Eric, You constantly disregard anyone who disagrees with you. You fail to try to understand the opposing viewpoint. I have repeatedly shown you errors in your logic, facts, and reasoning. You fail to acknowledge that you have lied, and mis-represented the facts.

    Grand Juries are heavily weighted in the Prosecutors favor.

    THe only Jury that heard most of the evidence, 1 quarter of the jurors have stated they did not think the agents were guilty, but were coerced by other jurors.

    Sutton has admitted to not disclosing all pertinent evidence.

  46. SOB of Cheese on February 1st, 2007 at 8:56 am

    EPJ,
    what evidence is there that the drug smuggler was not armed? You seem to take the word of a Mexican drug smuggler over the border patrol agents. Hmm, you must think its ok for armed Mexican drug smugglers to cross our border, fight with border patrol agents and then have them arrested and thrown in prison. You are a fine example the the new castrati.

    Cant wait till we all assimilate into Islam. You will be the first to be stoned.

  47. BSue on February 1st, 2007 at 8:57 am

    #46 SOB
    Huh huh huh…. you said “Stoned”

  48. Squawkbox Noise on February 1st, 2007 at 9:01 am

    Hamous
    #42

    This is from the story.

    a lecturer in statistics and mathematics at Cairo University, ‘Adil ‘Abd Al-Qadir, who said that, based on a mathematical theory, “the Arab mujahideen managed to liberate Saddam from his prison, and he was not executed. The person who was executed was not Saddam, but rather the double ‘with the mole’…” [4]

    Since I failed at mathematical probabilty theories in “trucker’s school” I believe him. I have finally realized my limitations and must confess that I now believe:

    the grassy knoll theory is truth
    Al Gore is right
    OJ is innocent
    there is a Star Chamber
    Elvis is alive and well and playing at Bubbas Bar in Cut-n-Shoot
    The Mothership has been delayed at the gate
    There is a “Corporation” whose soul purpose is to urinate me off.

  49. fasternu426 on February 1st, 2007 at 9:05 am

    Eric,

    What is a borderphile? Would that be a patriotic American that does not want to be invaded by foreigners and surrender its language, its heritage and culture to a third world country? If so, call me a borderphile, but I prefer American.

  50. fasternu426 on February 1st, 2007 at 9:07 am

    BTW, all of my posts end up being delayed for quite some time….

  51. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 9:10 am

    What the theorists are not telling you, Squawk, is that Saddam is actually Jim Morrison, who had grown weary of the whole counterculture scene with all its “war is not healthy for children and other living things” schmeal and just wanted to “crack some skulls”. So he moved to Iraq, overthrew the government, married a cute little muslim girl and settled down to raise a couple of sociopaths.

  52. fasternu426 on February 1st, 2007 at 9:11 am

    “Facts are facts unless rebutted - correct?”

    No, facts are facts and stand up to being rebutted. You cannot change a FACT,the definition I prefer:
    “the quality of being actual”

  53. WORLDRULER on February 1st, 2007 at 9:12 am

    Love em just finished a box lastnight. Walgreens has the BIG box of beans

  54. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 9:13 am

    Duhmoose

    Riiight

    I don’t believe two felons and a AFL-CIO union rep and somehow I believe a United States Attorney from the Western District, the Grand Jury, the Jury from El Paso, Judge Cardone, that poor court reporter, all of his staff were in on it too as well as the Mexican drug cartel, several officials from DHS, the Border Patrol and sneezy the elf was throwing out false testimoney too.

    If only they had a smoking gun… oh wait they did - thats why they got convicted…

  55. WORLDRULER on February 1st, 2007 at 9:16 am

    I hope we have a SUNNY ground hog day tomorrow.I’m tired of the Seattle weather

  56. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 9:16 am

    Duhmoose,

    I don’t disregard you - personally, the 10 year thing is a bunch of crap for law enforcement but hey our congress added it in so the law is the law.

    But they should have gotten jail time just not that many years maybe two, three, but the more I hear about what they did the more I’m convinced they did deserve harsh sentencing.

    They had no idea who that was until after they shot him - no idea

  57. SOB of Cheese on February 1st, 2007 at 9:27 am

    Got a scenario for ya EPJ. Guy breaks into your house in the middle of the night. Assaults you and your wife. You pull your gun and chase the guy out the door. Do you?
    1. Close the door and say “whew, that was a close call”
    2. Close the door and call the police which will do nothing but waste your time and they might get you for pulling a gun on the guy.
    3. Get pissed and shoot the guy in the ass.

    Lets take a LST pol on this one Matt.

    Put me down for #3

  58. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 9:29 am

    EricPJohnson

    If the facts are as Sutton has stated then 10 years is totally appropriate.

    I do have doubts about Sutton’s credibility and as long as Sutton and the Judge continue to stonewall not only the public, but Congressmen that have serious questions about this case, I am going to coninmue to have doubts. Sutton has repeatedly stated that when the public learns all the facts we will support his side of the story. If that is so, why can’t we have access to the FACTS. Why can’t Congressmen have access to the FACTS. Why is that everyone that claims to have the “FACTS” dening access to the information?

  59. SC on February 1st, 2007 at 9:32 am

    #54 #3 Shoot the guy in th ass.

  60. duhmoose on February 1st, 2007 at 9:35 am

    Eric, They did not have a smoking gun, in fact, the ballistics test could not even confirm the bullet pulled from Aldrete was from the BP’s weapon. Please read the dissenting statements before you blow them off as wrong. Maybe you have been out of the country too long, but in America it is our responsibilty to hold our government accountable.

  61. Shannon on February 1st, 2007 at 9:38 am

    Now that I know Eric is for keeping trial transcripts secret until the judiciary deems it appropriate to release them….AND seems to advocate secret trials…….

    Hell, I’m outta here, I’m going to Cut N” Shoot and get drunk and watch Elvis at Bubba’s.

  62. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 9:46 am

    Shannon

    I was just going by this stand and it said “grape koolaid for sale”

    I’ve never been the same since

  63. JRB on February 1st, 2007 at 9:49 am

    ericpjohnson

    You’re spending alot of time and energy and don’t seem to be convincing anybody either. Give it a rest.

  64. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 9:49 am

    Duhmoose

    What dissenting statements - you mean the ravings of a publicity hungry donations gathering AFL-CIO union rep? You mean that guy, the one with all this exscupatory evidence but he still somehow hasen’t gone to the special reviews and expeditied hearing clerk at the 5th circuit court of appeals?

    You mean that blowhard? Do you need me to make an appointment for him? Do we need to send him a ticket?

    You mean that guy?

  65. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 9:52 am

    JRB

    Its no energy its the weekend here in allah land and I’m waiting for my midkid to call for a ride.

    What I’m trying to impart that all of this is for naught we made a judge a prosecutor and 2 juries decide between the law and those who uphold the law

    Thats the point - no one here seems to place any responsibility on those felons.

  66. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 9:52 am

    Let’s talk about ducks.

  67. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 9:54 am

    And JRB we had to let go a drug dealer

  68. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 9:54 am

    there are ducks crossing the border

  69. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 9:56 am
  70. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 9:58 am

    Ducks of the World

    Ducks belong to the sub family Anatinae. Not only is this grouping the largest group of waterfowl it is also the most diverse. The characteristics generally held in common by ducks when compared to geese and swans are the small body size, shorter necks, narrower wings which are more pointed, and wing beats which are more rapid.

  71. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 10:01 am

    #66 - Well Daniel, since the information in the story is coming from the government, according to the Daniel Blames Postulate on News Story Believability (DBPONSB™), it must be a lie.

  72. sargevining on February 1st, 2007 at 10:05 am

    #10

    Chuck;

    The rantings of this oxygen thief are all over the MilBlogs and RoP sites today. The best commentary on it, IMHO, comes from OPFOR:

    http://op-for.com/2007/01/fallen.html

    And with that piece, every frustration that I’ve felt over America’s new fifth column, every insult that smug anti-war pundits have hurled at the silent stoics in our armed forces, all the false pity, all the overused meaningless cliches (”we support the troops but not the war”) that we in the military have endured, every bit of anger that I’ve suppressed in the name of good manners and honorable debate, reaches a fist-clenching apex.

    This goes beyond mere opposition to the war. It represents the official demotion of the US military, from heroic to evil. Uneducated rapists and baby killers, mercenaries for hire. Soldiers were once the invincible GI, now they are war criminals. How far we’ve fallen, how pathetic we’ve become. As a society. As individuals. As human beings.

    I can’t fight this type of ignorance. I just can’t. As much as I’d like to, I can’t grab Arkin by the ear, and show him one of our squadron chefs, a young airman who works on her masters when she’s not cooking meals for our crews. I can’t take him to my friend Ryan’s grave, a college graduate killed by an IED in Baghdad, who opted to honor his obligations as an enlisted man instead of pursuing a more lucrative line of work. Or introduce him to the security forces airman who walks long patrols through the winter snow, reciting the epics of Homer to himself so that he’ll be prepared for his Classics exam. These people aren’t the exception, they are the standard.

    If there is a war that’s unwinnable, it’s the war on this type of horrid ignorance. The type of uniformed, intellectually lazy thinking that can only exist in the sheltered bubble of cocktail parties and classrooms. Arkin is a gazer. A man forever condemned to peering out the window into the real world, watching the exertions of men better than himself. And yet he fancies himself the educated one. Any logical human being would trade career in journalism for the expertise gained by serving a mere one month in the box, yet this slime fancies his opinion so informed, so expert, so utterly irrefutable that even the very soldiers who are fighting this war are shamefully ignorant for daring to challenge his infallibility.

    Not only are they shamefully ignorant, those poor souls who volunteer to fight are poor uneducated yokels…no, Mercenaries! My God, this type of language from a so called professional!

    How can we trust this man on matters of National Security if the very basics of soldiering, the very identity of our soldiers, is so completely foreign to him. He says Iraq was a poorly planned war, against a nation that posed no threat to our strategic interests. Yet without a hint of irony, he pushes for a poorly planned, hastily crafted retreat from theater, one that would be devastating to our strategic interests, both at home and abroad.

    The nutroots moon bats are having a problem. Two years ago they promised thier acolytes that hundreds, if not thousands, of Iraq War Veterans would soon flock to thier cause. They would show case them on blogs, webstes, and takling heads shows.

    The eneded up having to get some of thier own kind—like Johnathan Hutto and Ehren Watada—to join the military and THEN speak out, or they put microphones in the hands vomit buckets like Jesse MacBeth who never served at all but told stories of war crimes so lurid and that they wanted to beleive so much they failed to check thier credentials.

    We’ve seen this locally, on the Conspiracy Thoeries R Us blog. When anyone shows that veterans support the war, that are Nation alSecurity interests are not well served by a withdrwal, and that it is immoral to leave millions behind to be murdered or enslved, they turn to insults and mean spirited mischaracterizations of those who bring the news, rather than make a careful consideration of the facts.

    Look for more spitting on soldiers from this bunch.

  73. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 10:05 am

    I am a good slave..I mean citizen.

    From here on out I will question nothing.

    The story speak for itself.

  74. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 10:08 am

    #69

    The writer got one thing correct for sure.

    How far we’ve fallen, how pathetic we’ve become. As a society. As individuals. As human beings.

  75. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 10:15 am

    So correct me if I’m wrong Daniel. If a report contains information supplied by the government it is to be dismissed out of hand because the government cannot be trusted to speak the truth…unless the information provided backs up your argument. Is that about right?

    I get the feeling that one day we’re going to see you on the news. Holed up in Idaho or Wyoming, refusing to pay income tax, or claiming 200,000 acres of federal lands are really yours, surrounded by “jack-booted thugs” aka federal agents. Hope I’m wrong ’cause you’re a cool guy.

  76. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 10:15 am

    And you added this gem.

    that are Nation alSecurity interests are not well served by a withdrwal, and that it is immoral to leave millions behind to be murdered or enslved,

    Why did we leave the first time and let God knows how many people to die?

    What the UN said so? Or was Bush I an idiot?

    Since the right path has not and is not going to be taken what next serge?

    Whos to blame serge?

    The gov or the moonbats?

  77. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 10:17 am

    Those 200,000 acres are mine!

  78. sargevining on February 1st, 2007 at 10:17 am

    Daniel:

    Here’s the best thing for you to do. It;s worked well for others of your ilk:

    Get a few people who think like you do and go to Guyana or Idaho, build a compound, and separate yourselves from the society and the people you loathe so much.

  79. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 10:19 am

    I dont loathe society serge.

    I loathe you.

    Im staying.

  80. EricPJohnson on February 1st, 2007 at 10:22 am

    Idaho,

    Its not just for potatos anymore

  81. SC on February 1st, 2007 at 10:23 am

    #75 &76 I hear there’s an empty compound near Waco.

  82. sargevining on February 1st, 2007 at 10:30 am

    Hammie;

    Funny how the “Idaho” thing sprung up in ourminds at the same time.

    You have to wonder how muich of the rhetoric comes from the “We have to attack everything Sarge says” theme that is prevalent elswhere, and to a smaller extent here.

    Would that these people actually engage in a debate, or present something other than Conspiracy Theories in order to bolster their opinions.

  83. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 10:44 am

    serge is claiming to be a victim.

    Just go back a bit serge. I attacked nothing you said. I pointed out what I saw as one correct item in your copy and paste.

    It would appear though that you deem anyone that disagrees with the war as somehow antiAmerican.

    serge the victim. I see a pattern with you. You have the mob mentality. When too many people disagree you split.

    I dont look past the “inaccuracies” that come out of the politicos mouths. I put them together and make educated guesses. You can call that whatever you want.

    Big bad Iraq was nothing for us to fear. Nothing. A hell hole yes. That was it.

  84. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 10:44 am

    #79 Sarge - I think that’s how the sycophant thing works. You (the master) think of something and I (the sycophant) receive your mind control waves and repeat them in a zombie-like trance.

    I’m now placing my bets on Smacktle’s Look Mom! We’re all airplanes! scenario.

  85. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 10:45 am

    HAL hate Hamous

  86. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 10:47 am

    I dont!

    I do loathe serge.

  87. Shannon on February 1st, 2007 at 10:55 am

    59 LOL

    /but part of me says you’re not kidding

  88. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 11:59 am

    I think i have got it now.

    If a source supports EricPJohnson’s position the guy is factual and above reproach.

    If the source is opposed to EricPJohnson’s position he is a raving publicity hungry lunatic.

    Only EricPJohnson knows what really happened.

  89. BoxieAgain on February 1st, 2007 at 12:05 pm

    http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2007/feb/01/020103162.html

    I knew it was coming. I SAID that those who did not stand up for smokers back when it all started for them, one day other freedoms would be taken away too….

    Well, it’s beginning. And this from a REPUBLICAN!!

  90. bigjolly on February 1st, 2007 at 12:07 pm

    Breaking news: The bastion of journalistic integrity has broken yet another exclusive story of major importance in the 2008 Presidential elections: Obama Related to Washington and Madison!

    “His exact relationships are calculations based on a wealth of fully sourced knowledge within the Family Forest®, our proprietary deep family history research tool,” according to founder and president, Bruce H. Harrison.

    Yes, deep family history. Wink, wink. In a related story, Obama has also been found to be related to Lucy.

  91. SC on February 1st, 2007 at 12:15 pm

    #85 Boxie, my kid is in Cy-Fair, that is enough punishment for me.

  92. The Dude on February 1st, 2007 at 12:16 pm

    Ahem… your attention please. The following has nothing to do with conspiracy theories, the war in Iraq, court transcripts, ducks, bloggers, or people who think they’re airplanes:

    If any of you need a fill up, I’d recommend doing so at the sub-$2/gal level now. Rack price closed up (up about 15 cents if I heard her correctly) last night, so it will likely translate to increased pump price soon.

    The preceding has been a P.S.A. brought to you by Mrs. Dude’s Gubmint/Media/Fuel complex. Or is that simplex? I can’t keep all this straight…

  93. texpat on February 1st, 2007 at 12:17 pm

    #67 Hamous

    Ham, I thought you hated clowns. Everybody knows ducks are the clowns of the ornithological world.

  94. emmekelley on February 1st, 2007 at 12:23 pm

    #88

    It has already started here on my side of town. Wal-Mart gas yesterday was $1.95 and then take the 3c discount. Today the price is $1.99. My Sam’s is $1.94 so Sam’s here I come.

  95. rj on February 1st, 2007 at 12:25 pm

    bigjolly;

    steel does NOT burn.

    Sarge, Keep givin em hell.

    “I put them together and make educated guesses”
    whew! this guy is one toke over the line.
    rj

  96. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 12:31 pm

    #85

    Piece meal. One at a time then there are none.

    For anyone interested in the TTC and NAFTA and people willing to fight it.

    Texans Are Positioning For Battle

    The North American Union NAFTA Super-Highway, which is taking form first through the Trans-Texas Corridor, is a massive land-grab, with plans to seize over 1 million acres in Texas alone through eminent domaign. This has candidates like Texas Democrats Hank Gilbert (running for Commissioner of Agriculture) and David Van Os (running for Attorney General in Texas) up in arms and discussing the possibility of an armed populist revolution in response to the North American Union’s sovereignty-seizing actions.

    Here’s a very good online video with Hank Gilbert and David Van Os.

    Please watch.

    http://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=RlumHzseiYw

    #91

    Do you work for the ministry of propaganda?

  97. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 12:35 pm

    Patriot Act good.

    Secure border bad.

    Too bad the evil fighting Bush did not push the “close the border” act at the same time he was ending evil in the world.

    My educated guess tells me either Bush loves illegals or is knee deep in the pockets of the mexican gov.

  98. malcolm on February 1st, 2007 at 12:42 pm

    #90 EmmeK: Krogers on FM 1488 east of Magnolia has 191.9/gal for unleaded reg.
    with my 10 cent a gallon discount for purchasing groceries last month it was $181.9
    Dude: Thanks for the P.S.A.!

  99. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 12:44 pm

    Ok DJ, that’s two “Bush is da debbil”s for you today ;-)

  100. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 12:48 pm

    Yeah, thanks Dude! Gas goes up a couple of pennies on the same day as this:

    NEW YORK — Oil giant ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM) on Thursday posted the largest annual profit by a U.S. company — $39.5 billion — even as earnings for the last quarter of 2006 declined 4 percent.

    Now you’re gonna have Gregg calling for a windfall profits tax again, since it worked so well when Jimmah did it. Anyone remember 18% mortgages?

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,249326,00.html

  101. emmekelley on February 1st, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    #96

    Oh yeah I remember because we closed on our house in March of 1981.

  102. emmekelley on February 1st, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    Sorry I meant March of 1982. We left CA in 12-81.

  103. DanielJames on February 1st, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    You got it worng shamooo.

    Bush is the one fighting evil.

    He is like a super hero. He ends evil where ever it exists.

    Me…I just toke.

    Gotta run…

    The car kitty is doing much beter today. He proves cats dont have nine lives. He would be dead.

    Maybe they are just durable little f’ers.

    Buck is better than a Timex.

    OUT!

  104. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 12:56 pm

    Yeah, those were the good ol days, huh emme. 18% interest, but dammit we sure stuck it to those greedy oil companies, didn’t we?

  105. emmekelley on February 1st, 2007 at 12:57 pm

    Hal messed up my #. I meant 100 for hamous

  106. emmekelley on February 1st, 2007 at 12:58 pm

    # 104

    LOL yes.

  107. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 12:59 pm

    hamous

    How much of a reduction (per gallon) do you think we could get if Exxon sold the gasoline for exactly what it cost them to produce it?

  108. The Dude on February 1st, 2007 at 1:00 pm

    HammieLand,

    Awww, crappola. I didn’t even think about getting the cheesy S.O.B. started again. You’re probably right about the timing of that ExxonMobil announcement too. Coincidence? No self-respecting conspiracy theorist believes in coincidence.

    We all know gasoline is the brew o’ the debbil! Clearly it’s the cause of global warming:

    http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/02/01/D8N10JFG0.html

  109. emmekelley on February 1st, 2007 at 1:02 pm

    Ok guys what shampoo are you using? ROFL.

    http://www.click2houston.com/health/10891309/detail.html

  110. The Dude on February 1st, 2007 at 1:06 pm

    How much of a reduction (per gallon) do you think we could get if Exxon sold the gasoline for exactly what it cost them to produce it?

    I realize that wasn’t addressed to me, but I just had to comment on the disturbing nature of that idea. The only way that could come to pass is if the petroleum companies were nationalized. Anyone else care to chime in with examples of countries who have nationalized their petroleum companies? Here’s a little hint: they aren’t places most Americans would choose to live.

  111. ThunderHawkk on February 1st, 2007 at 1:06 pm

    I just want to go on public record as saying the Nobel Peace Prize people can all go suck eggs. I’m sick of hearing about your stupid award, especially when idiot frauds like al-Gore get nominated and Communists like J. Carter actually win.

    N.P.P. means nothing to me…

  112. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 1:07 pm

    trl3 - its out of my sphere of knowledge but according to ConocoPhillips:

    A multitude of factors can affect an individual oil company’s profit on gasoline sales. However, in general, if gasoline is selling at about $3 a gallon, major companies make a profit of about 10 cents a gallon on their U.S. refining and marketing operations based on data gathered by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

    http://www.conocophillips.com/newsroom/other_resources/energyanswers/oil_profits.htm

  113. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 1:09 pm

    Thunderhawkk, don’t forget, Yasser Arafat won it. I’m with you, it’s nothing but an award to the Socialist Comrade of the year.

  114. dcgirl on February 1st, 2007 at 1:13 pm

    #54
    If it is nighttime you can shoot to kill. That way he can’t come back and lie to a prosecutor so that he can then later sue you for $5M.

    I can’t believe that noone has brought up the fact that the bullet was not found to have matched ballistically to either of the agent’s weapons. It was stated that the bullet could have come from one of five different types of weapons. Since it was awhile before the real felon (you know the illegal alien drug smuggler) was brought back under immunity (impunity in my book) to have the bullet removed, is it beyond the realm of possibility that, being that his business is drugs, he was shot during his time back in Mexico?

  115. dcgirl on February 1st, 2007 at 1:15 pm

    Sorry - that should have read #57, not #54.

  116. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 1:16 pm

    #109 - LOL! That could explain Teddy.

  117. sargevining on February 1st, 2007 at 1:22 pm

    Re:

    Nobel Prize:

    Nominations for the Prize may be made by a broad array of qualified individuals, including former recipients, members of national assemblies and congresses, university professors, international judges, and special advisors to the Prize Committee. In some years as many as 199 nominations have been received. The Committee keeps the nominations secret and asks that nominators do the same. Over time many individuals have become known as “Nobel Peace Prize Nominees”, but this designation has no official standing [2]. Nominations from 1901 to 1951, however, have been released in a database. When the past nominations were released it was discovered that Adolf Hitler was nominated in 1939, though the nomination was retracted in February of the same year. Other infamous nominees included Joseph Stalin and Benito Mussolini.

    Like most Leftist establishments, it’s all for show and advancement of an agenda rather than real World Peace.

    Yassar Arafats’ win proved that to me.

  118. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 1:23 pm

    dude

    I was not supporting the concept, I just wanted to know how much everyone thinks Exxon actually makes off of a Gallon of Gasoline.

  119. Smacktle on February 1st, 2007 at 1:24 pm

    “We have to attack everything Sarge says”

    I thought that was the reason for both of the blogs I post on. Did I miss a memo?

  120. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 1:25 pm

    Hamous

    I guess then that according to that report Exxon is not the cause of higher gas prices and they are not the evil bastards we have been lead to believe.

  121. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 1:29 pm

    trl3 - People that want to blame oil companies for raping the American public also don’t want you to know things like this.

  122. No Higher Tax on February 1st, 2007 at 1:29 pm

    Thanks for the email on Operation Blackhawk. The recommendations are very good and appreciated along with all the information on what to send, what not to send and how to send the package(s).

  123. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 1:30 pm

    #119 - Ah, go fly your airplane self around the block!

  124. trl3 on February 1st, 2007 at 1:36 pm

    hamous

    I knew that. I just wondered how many people thought that oil companies were mean evil corporations that really don’t care about anyone.

    BTW: In Texas the government makes about 4 times as much off every gallon of gas sold as does the manufacture.

  125. Smacktle on February 1st, 2007 at 1:45 pm

    #122 hamous

    Nah, I’m watching that meteor that is coming straight at us.

    I’ve also heard that the Canadians are really pissed that Americans are crossing the border and killing them left and right. Looks like there might be an invasion soon. Lots of radio traffic and guys like these have been seen running around on our Northern border:

    http://www.secondinfantry.com/gallery/category.php

    Looks like GWB still hasn’t been able to get our guys the equipment they need! As soon as I find a credible link I’ll post it.

  126. texpat on February 1st, 2007 at 1:45 pm

    Where is the outrage over the Banking/Software/Softdrink Conspiracy Complex ?

    Company Net Profit/ Revenue/ Profit Margin
    [in billions]
    Citigroup (banking) $7.1 $21.5 33%
    Microsoft………. $3.1 $9.7 32%
    Coca-Cola………. $1.3 $6.0 21%
    Procter & Gamble… $2.0 $14.8 14%
    General Electric… $4.7 $41.6 11%
    ExxonMobil……… $9.9 $92.6 11%
    ConocoPhillips….. $3.8 $48.7 8%
    IBM……………. $1.5 $21.5 7%
    Chevron………… $3.6 $51.1 7%
    Wal-Mart……….. $2.8 $76.8 4%
    Oil industry average profit margin is about 8.2%; (3rd Q. ‘05) for all US industry, the average is about 6.8%.
    SOURCE: Bloomberg News for 3rd Q 2005

  127. hamous on February 1st, 2007 at 1:50 pm

    #123 trl3, I figured you did. The folks that think oil companies are da debbil don’t worry about such things. They are socialists who’s goal is the redistribution of wealth.

    I was thinking about oil yesterday while reading the news of Venezuela granting Chavez Hitler-like powers. If the Saudis really want to help us (and themselves) they can kill two birds with one stone. They can open up the spigots for a couple of years and flood the world market with oil. The price would drop below $20/barrel and we could bankrupt Venezuela AND Iran in short order. It would be tough times for the domestic oil industry but would get rid of two evil governments, maybe three (NK) without us having to fire a shot. Think it would work?

  128. The Dude on February 1st, 2007 at 1:53 pm