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407 Responses to “Wednesday Open Comments Thread”
  1. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 6:42 am

    Mornin everyone!

    Traffic is movin at 70mph on the beltway, a great day, lighting but no rain.

    Why does it seem Dan is the only one with an honest, friendly, smile??

  2. I.P.A.Bill on August 15th, 2007 at 7:18 am

    Good Morning Yawll !

    DAN - Watch your back !!

  3. Katfish on August 15th, 2007 at 7:32 am

    Mornin Blogospherians™

  4. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 7:33 am

    Mornin Sarge,

    Regarding your comments in yesterdays post #283 in the oc thread, I am not the public face of any organization so I do not understand your meaning.

    Also a google search turned up many articles concerning crime and illegal immigrants, I posted them on yesterdays oc thread #’s 383 - 386

    Thank you all for a good discussion.

  5. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 7:42 am

    Texpat often comments on the subject of the decline of mainstream media. My opinion is that there’s often a general lack of decency in those news sources that contributes to their decline. Read Matt’s post “Classy” above as an example.

    I’ve noticed that - at least in right-leaning blogs - with posts dealing with death, comments are often turned off or the caveat given that inappropriate comments will be deleted. Marvin Zindler’s death was a prime example.

    I didn’t personally like Marvin Zindler, so rather than say something to that effect on a blog, I simply refrained from comment. I felt his family deserved that much respect. My opinion of Marvin Zindler is less important than his family’s loss. I wonder if liberal news outlets like The Chronicle will ever understand that respect and common decency are sometimes more important than allowing a person to say whatever they want to say.

  6. DanielJames on August 15th, 2007 at 7:51 am

    AZ

    This is your #278 from yesterday. Of course Sarge has a problem with it. Anytime you suggest taking the gloves off he deems you as a nut or its somehow inapproriate. BTW…I find you firey tone a welcome addition. Keep up the good work.

    ———————————————–

    270, rise up get involved in your community. Fire your precinct chairs, take over the party, start the fire from the bottom of the political ladder and watch it burn upwards. The foundation of our representative government starts at the precinct level, that is where the battle begins.

    Threaten your local representatives to either clean this mess up or you will fire them. This is no time for kissy kissy, we have been b/s’ed for too long. They expect you to get mad, but in the end do nothing long term. They believe you have a short memory and when confronted by the choice between them and a liberal you will be extorted and vote for them. They do not respect you and deserve none in return Of course there are a few exceptions, got to sleep now.

  7. Shannon on August 15th, 2007 at 8:21 am

    To celebrate the merger of the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News Capitol bureaus the management threw a soiree on Tuesday.

    Contraction. Contraction. Contraction.

  8. emmekelley on August 15th, 2007 at 8:32 am

    Mornin all, another day that God has given to us.™

  9. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 8:33 am

    #5 Mr. Dude

    So it’s OK to post inappropriate comments (which I see all the time) as long as they aren’t in a “death” or “tragedy” related thread?

  10. Hamous on August 15th, 2007 at 8:41 am

    faraday, I would suggest you hang around here for a while and get to (virtually) know some of the regular characters’ … uh … quirks and interactions with each other before labeling some comments as inappropriate. What may at times seem inappropriate to a newcomer can turn out to be light-hearted sparring among friends.

  11. duhmoose on August 15th, 2007 at 8:46 am

    Speaking of light-hearted sparring amoung friends, when is the next Brew-HaHa?

  12. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 8:49 am

    #10 Mr. Hamous

    Okey dokey. Thank you sir.

  13. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 8:51 am

    AZ;

    I thought you were involved somehow with the leadership of the Big Lobby. If not, then I apologize for the remark and note that it is incorrect only in that respect.

    DJ;

    You once again mischaracterize and selectively quote. The remarks AZ made yesterday, to which I responded were these:

    I will not debate what you wrote about the SCOTUS decision, I accept your explanation. But I believe their decision is wrong and if the states refused to grant education ands other benefits the fed.gov. would be powerless to enforce it. The citizens would rise up and resist.

    I must refer back to my original statement, we need a Governor or better yet a group of Governors who take this issue and shove it down the throats of our Federal Leaders by refusing to provide education and medical benefits beyond emergency care. It may require a constitutional crisis to force a change. Fighting it through the legal system would take years and in the meantime more and more will flood our cities to the point that a victory would be meaningless. Look at the situation now, it is almost impossible to deport all the illegal’s. Give it three to five more years and it we will be too flooded with illegal’s to reverse the trend, and that is what they are shooting for. The more time they have the more assured they are of victory, get ready for it the train is on the track and approaching fast.

    Guys I drive about 200 miles per day around every part of Harris County. What used to be a problem when I moved here has become a disaster. We never had day labor sites this far north in Harris County, have you driven into the areas around Clay Rd. inside the Beltway? The flood of illegal immigrants is rising and it may be too late to reverse it unless the citizens really rise up and take action. I stated two years ago this would explode in our faces. From what I understand we have already lost the area around the Valley. Sorry guys this is not the same Texas I moved to 21 years ago, it has become diluted and sterilized just like New Jersey has.

    AZ later tempered those remarks with the one you have selectively quoted, and we are familiar enough with your reading skills to know that it’s not an accident that you did.

    Just as when several of us counseled you, DJ, about the kinds of words and language used when talking about this or any issue, and how they can damage a cause if they look too strident or inflammatory, I likewise caution AZ—and I do it only because I agree with the cause and wish to see no harm come to it through the use of careless rhetoric.

    When one advocates Governors refusing to obey Federal laws by “shoving them down the throat” of the elected government, and saying that it should be supported by people “rising up,” there is a connotation that is negative at best. The last time people told thier Governors to “shove” Federal Law down the throat of the government was during the early 1960s in Arkansas and Georgia, and Federal Troops were called up to enforce them. The first time it happened was in 1861 and the nation erupted into Civil War.

    We are a Nation of Laws, and this issue is about obeying the laws. Wehn one says we should disobey or ignore settled law without going through the Consitutional process, then one is, in effect, advocating insurrection and/or rebellion against those laws.

  14. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 8:53 am

    Mornin Hamous!

    Traffic is very light today, burn some gas.

  15. squawkbox on August 15th, 2007 at 8:53 am

    Speaking of light-hearted sparring amoung friends, when is the next Brew-HaHa?

    Hey Mattzilla when and where are you getting married? We need specific times, dates and places.

  16. squawkbox on August 15th, 2007 at 8:55 am

    Sarge
    Shorten your comments. That is ridiculous.

  17. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 9:00 am

    Squawk

    The comment required that I quote another person in order to adress a mischaraterization of remarks I made in response to them. I’d have linked to them if I could, but there4 were several and Hal would have denied them, thus requiring you to inspect the spit bucket.

    I chose a course that lessened you work load somewhat.

    The comment was too long. You shorten them or I will.
    Squawk

  18. EricPJohnson on August 15th, 2007 at 9:00 am

    Hamous

    Did you….. actually ….. ask ……Faraday… to get to know my quirks…..

    think about it :)

  19. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 9:00 am

    Mr. Sargevining,

    Regarding our discussion last night, could you please clarify for me once again why it is OK for Bush to say “19 kids were lured onto planes” (you contend it is so we don’t upset the Muslims), yet occupying Afghanistan and Iraq does not upset them anyway?

    I’m still struggling to understand your thought process and rationale.

    Thank you sir.

  20. EricPJohnson on August 15th, 2007 at 9:02 am

    Wait, don’t post, my scroll wheel flew off, worn out by the 368 1744 inch 4 million three thousand and 62 words posted in the open comments yesterday

    Okay its back on

  21. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 9:05 am

    Sarge you seem to read a lot in my words and assume much without allowing me to clarify what you may misunderstand.

    What DJ posted from my comments of yesterday is the same I have said all along, people must get involved in cleaning up their neighborhoods. Only then will our politicians take us seriously. Unfortunatly only when our elected leaders feel threatned do they take the action the people demand. If our Governor took the action I wrote about it would force the federal gov. to take this issue seriously and actually do more then empty promises.

    What is your plan?

  22. texpat on August 15th, 2007 at 9:08 am

    #19 faraday

    Oh, faraday, now you’ve gone and ruined the whole morning. Did anyone know Michael Faraday discovered benzene ? Benzene…Benzion….Hmmmmm.

  23. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 9:09 am

    #22 Good morning Mr. texpat

    I apologize, but I hate to win an argument in front of such a small audience.

  24. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 9:09 am

    Regarding our discussion last night, could you please clarify for me once again why it is OK for Bush to say “19 kids were lured onto planes” (you contend it is so we don’t upset the Muslims), yet occupying Afghanistan and Iraq does not upset them anyway?

    The philosophy of a breakaway Salafist Sect within Islam led those Baby Killers onto those airplanes, and continues to do so today to men an women of all ages.

    You may recall the reaction from the muslim world when Bush used the word “Crusade” to define the war we face. You may also recall the world wide muslim reaction to cartoons published in a Duth newspaper.

    The single most frightening military problem that is within the set of “possibles” that we might face in the next 100 years is the prospect of fighting a United Islam all across the planet. Our leaders need to pick thier words carefully so as not to make that happen.

    I don’t want to wage a planetary war against a United Islam. What it would take to win is frightening to contemplate. Our nation and economy would come to a halt while out military takes control of what little oil we wil have available to keep them in that fight, while our enemy will not be as encumbered. nations that might be our allies or stay nuetral in such a fight may be tipped over to supporting our enemy throgunh thier own need for oil.

    Let’s fight them one at a time as Nation-States and not as a United Religion that counts it;s numbers in the Billions, controls a good deal of the surface of the planet, and almost all of the oil.

  25. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 9:10 am

    Be that as it may, duty calls. Enjoy the day despite the weather.

  26. RickG on August 15th, 2007 at 9:11 am

    Looks like there was a lot of elbow-bending at that reception. A lot of verrrryyyyyy happy looking people.

    My kind o’ get together!

  27. emmekelley on August 15th, 2007 at 9:12 am

    Ok everyone needs to take a breath and smile. I thought I would let everyone know there is breaking news and the Comical doesn’t have it but I do…… :)

    President Felipe Calderon of Mexico has announced that Mexico will not participate in the next Summer Olympics. He said, “Anyone who can run, jump, or swim has already left the country.”

  28. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 9:13 am

    What DJ posted from my comments of yesterday is the same I have said all along, people must get involved in cleaning up their neighborhoods. Only then will our politicians take us seriously. Unfortunatly only when our elected leaders feel threatned do they take the action the people demand. If our Governor took the action I wrote about it would force the federal gov. to take this issue seriously and actually do more then empty promises.

    What is your plan?

    1. Encourage our lawmakers to craft Plyler proof laws so thagt benefits can be denied to illagal aliens and remove one of the biggest factors in thier coming here.

    2. Increase the capacity of detention centers so as to deport them quicker and to do it in larger numbers. Deprot them to the interior of their home countries and not just across the border.

    3. Build a fence.

    4. Avoid the use of inflammatory rhetoric and increase the use of well reasoned practical slutions that acknowledge and address the flaws in settled law.

  29. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 9:13 am

    Yes we are a nation of laws, at least for you and I. Illegal immigrants get a pass and rewards.

    Next time I have to go to the ER room I going to
    keep my BC/BS card in my wallet, why should I pay?

    I have my own business maybe I should reduce my income to the poverty level and get some benefits also.

  30. DanielJames on August 15th, 2007 at 9:17 am

    light-hearted sparring amoung friends?

    Youre kidding right?

    I havent a friend here. I hate everybody. :)

    Sarge that was the post AZ was referencing.

  31. DanielJames on August 15th, 2007 at 9:18 am

    I heard the National Guard went home. I am glad their job is over at the border and the border is secure. We can all sleep better tonight.

  32. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 9:19 am

    AZ;

    Do whatever you think you need to do, but stay within the law.

    We’re talking about people who dispbey the law. We lose credibiity when we start saying we need to do the same thing.

    It indicates a visceral, emotional reaction to the problem, not a well thought out practical path towards a solution.

    We can scream slogans, or we can pursue solutions.

    One actually works.

  33. Shannon on August 15th, 2007 at 9:20 am

    A criminal investigations report says several U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employees are accused of aiding Islamic extremists with identification fraud and of exploiting the visa system for personal gain.

    The confidential 2006 USCIS report said that despite the severity of the potential security breaches, most are not investigated “due to lack of resources” in the agency’s internal affairs department.

    “Two District Adjudications Officers are allegedly involved with known (redacted) Islam terrorist members,” said the internal document obtained by The Washington Times.

    http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/NATION/108150075/1001

  34. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 9:24 am

    Sarge that was the post AZ was referencing.

    http://lonestartimes.com/2007/08/15/wednesday-open-comments-thread-56/#comment-189416

    The first quote I mentioned was made at #108

    The second was a #252

    The third was at #267

    The one you refer to was at #278.

    Maybe I overestimated your reading skills earlier.

  35. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 9:32 am

    I am not mad or angry at anyone, we are having a good discussion, sharing opinions, and maybe maybe working on solutions.

    Sarge great ideas, but based upon the actions I have
    witnessed from our local, state, and federal officials unless we place a hot fire under their butts it will take another 21 years and then the problem will be too enormous to fix.

    The more time we give this problem to build the harder it will be to fix.

    theBIGLOBBY?

    I tried Sarge but not enough people care to get involved, they want someone else to do the lifting
    and I am not going to do it alone.

  36. Hamous on August 15th, 2007 at 9:35 am

    #31 DJ - Half of them, 3000, may be going home. The border governors are raising hell so they might end up staying. The BP agents I saw interviewed who will be the ones working on fence construction said they’ve been doing it all along and look forward to continuing. More BP agents are being hired all the time. The only one I heard complaining was the union rep. Big surprise.

  37. Fasternu 426 on August 15th, 2007 at 9:37 am

    Birdcage liners pretending to be newspapers.

    I bet Dan Patrick had his head on a swivel, watching for the knife coming from behind….

  38. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 9:40 am

    AZ;

    You may want to consider that it was your rhetoric that caused people not to get involved.

    it;s one of the reasons i say that people wishing to solve this problem avoid that kind of rhetoric.

    Problem solvers and managers tend to avoid such gatherings, as will people who want to have a poltical future—people you need on your side if you’re ging to get anything done in politics.

    If you want a poltician to support you, don;t give him a reason to avoid you.

    As far as actions of elected officials, there was some good law crafted a couple of years ago by people who are no longer in congress because they were blamed for a problem 40 years in the making. now you have polticians in charge who are directly and diametrically opposed to the goal.

    We also saw that the voice of the people can and will be heard.

    There’s postive movement in the border problem, and I wish to see it continue, and am hopeful that ti will.

    The only thing that may tend to stop or slow it down is to have the Party that openly advocates open borders, increasing entitlement benefits for illegal aliens, and who fight against the kind of reform that is REALLY needed to remain in charge, or to get an even bgger majority than they have now.

  39. dowjones25k on August 15th, 2007 at 9:40 am

    i would like to pee on the grapes these folks drank at this gathering it would be no worse than what they do to us!

    those politicians and news folks like wine ha!

  40. luv2hammer on August 15th, 2007 at 9:45 am

    #17 sarge

    Censorship, no doubt. No Doubt, what a great name for a band.

    #32 sarge

    Give me an example of a one man solution.

    All I have been able to do as a private citizen is to complain to the owners of the gas station/convenience store that they are illegal and don’t need to be hanging around (I live in northern Waller County). Like they will run off the prime source of the sales for beer and lottery scratch offs. I actually thought I had made headway when I stopped at the Phillips 66 on 1488 a few miles east of Magnolia and remarked to the clerk that I didn’t see any illegals around. The clerk said,” you need Mexican? I can get for you”. An illegal alien pimp.

  41. texpat on August 15th, 2007 at 9:45 am

    Trikipedia

    I have intended to post about Wikipedia for a while now. I use it from time to time as a quick source to retrieve a name, historical date or other small bit of information. If I do use it for more serious research, I always corroborate the data I find there with other documentation because I simply don’t trust it.

    The open-source concept is interesting and it does not mean the Wikipedia cannot be a quick and useful reference, but I am just cautioning others about the veracity of its content. A graduate student at CalTech has developed a data mining program to back-trace all anonymous edits to their original ISPs. The results are both hilarious and sad. Charles Johnson @ LGF, Dan Rhiel, Michelle Malkin and the guys at SuitablyFlip have uncovered anon edits by companies, the DNC, NYT, etc. An example:

    Someone at a New York Times computer changed the page on Condoleeza Rice to read a 5 letter word for a male genital in place of pianist.

    “At age 15, Rice began classes with the goal of becoming a concert pianist.”

    Follow the links here:
    http://instapundit.com/archives2/008200.php

    The NYT, what a classy organization.

  42. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 9:48 am

    From Pat Gray’s blog:

    19 KIDS?!?!? LURED?!?!? As we discussed this morning, I can’t begin to make head nor tails of this statement. Is it now the policy of the Administration to soften the image of these vicious killers?

    We’re LURING illegals here, we’re luring terrorists here, we’re killing the planet by driving our cars…when will we change OUR behavior?

    Where is the outrage?

  43. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 9:54 am

    luv2hammer Says:
    August 15th, 2007 at 9:45 am
    #17 sarge

    #32 sarge

    Give me an example of a one man solution.

    You’re doing part of it right now. By talking and exchanging ideas and doing it in a forum that tneds to amplify each of our voices and gives us both unity of purpose and clarity of vision.

    Contact your elected representatives. Let them know that both your question and rgeir response will be posted and discussed here, and that there’s about 10,000 people who will see it over the course of a day.

    If you’re in Northwest Harris County, find out about the private Day labor Centers that a church is talking about building and let them know what you think of it, and that you’re exploring legal options to prevent them if you’re not happy with their reply.

    When you talk in pulbic, like here or in a restarant with friends, remain cogent and reasonable. Race is not an issue, not is social status. This is about obeying the Law adn the engative effects on our pocket books and society that comes about by importing a permananet underclass into this country.

  44. dowjones25k on August 15th, 2007 at 9:54 am

    like i said awhile back the 25 to 500 buck political contributors should hire illegals to perform acts on the politicians like plug up their sewer or damage the paint all around their car.

    the illegal would be instructed to leave a calling card “damage caused by former political campaign contributions to hire illegals to do this deed”.

  45. texpat on August 15th, 2007 at 10:02 am

    Sarge,

    Instead of hectoring and lecturing AZ, I think you should offer some counseling to dowjones25k. Uh, talk about vigilantism or breaking the law…

  46. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 10:04 am

    Mr. Faraday,

    So it’s OK to post inappropriate comments (which I see all the time) as long as they aren’t in a “death” or “tragedy” related thread?

    “Inappropriate” is a largely subjective term. However, on the subject of death, the generally accepted “standard” for what’s appropriate is different than it is when discussing politics, or beer, or pretty much anything else for that matter. Would you agree?

  47. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 10:10 am

    #46 Mr. Dude

    I agree with your premise in theory, however, I have observed comments that I would deem inappropriate under any circumstances. Therefore, I’m merely trying to determine what inappropriate comments are completely off-limits vs. the ones that are allowable.

    Thank you sir.

  48. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 10:12 am

    I just posted a comment and it did not show up.

    Strange indeed since it had no curse words or other inappropriate content in it.

  49. dowjones25k on August 15th, 2007 at 10:14 am

    lots of folks invested in hedge funds cannot get their money out. is this a precursor to deflation? all the bailouts that have occured to date will probably save the system this time, but what about next time?

  50. Maltboy! on August 15th, 2007 at 10:16 am

    faraday says:

    Mr. Sargevining,

    Regarding our discussion last night, could you please clarify for me once again why it is OK for Bush to say “19 kids were lured onto planes” (you contend it is so we don’t upset the Muslims), yet occupying Afghanistan and Iraq does not upset them anyway?

    I’m still struggling to understand your thought process and rationale.

    I’m still struggling to understand whether he thinks the 9/11 murderers were merely “19 kids lured onto planes” or “baby killers”? He uses both terms to describe them, depending on the who he’s attacking or defending.

  51. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 10:25 am

    texpat Says:
    August 15th, 2007 at 10:02 am
    Sarge,

    Instead of hectoring and lecturing AZ, I think you should offer some counseling to dowjones25k. Uh, talk about vigilantism or breaking the law…

    It’s like battlefield triage. You save the ones with then highest chance of survival first.

  52. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 10:29 am

    I’m still struggling to understand whether he thinks the 9/11 murderers were merely “19 kids lured onto planes” or “baby killers”? He uses both terms to describe them, depending on the who he’s attacking or defending.

    It’s not too hard to understand. Nobody is born a Baby Killer. Baby Killers have to be created, and it takes some powerful doing to lure anyone into doing it, even in the Islamic world.

    Atta was the oldest at 33. thes rest were younger, some of them a lot younger.

    But hey;

    Instead of going after Bush for what is, at best, a poor choice of words, how come you’re not mentioning the ones who have been calling our soldiers murderers, or who have said the war is lost, or who lied when they said the surge is failing?

    It seems to me that on one side you have a guy who is actually fighting these baby Killers, but uses a poor choice of words, and a bunch who uses thier words to lie people into surrendering to them.

    Seems like a kind of “selective” outrage to me.

  53. luv2hammer on August 15th, 2007 at 10:31 am

    Thanks for the ecouragement. Sometime it doesn’t seem that anything I do helps.

    #44 dowjones

    His idea is awful tempting.

    #36 Hamous

    is it that you are anti-labor or you perfer that the people over our lawenforcement officers treat them like their own personal army. Without collective bargining or civil service that is exactly what you have and the public be damned.

    I hope you read this before you oppose HR980 Rep. Michael McCaul.

  54. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 10:32 am

    Hey I got it!

    maybe there’s more than one or two folks who’d like you to pay more attention to the words of George Bush than they would to the words of Deomcrats in Congress.

    Just a thought

  55. Shannon on August 15th, 2007 at 10:32 am

    faraday
    LST has human moderators and one robot moderator.
    The robot’s name is HAL.

    HAL will delete comments at will for no discernable reason. HAL is a jackass you will learn to put up with.

    As a rule, the human moderators are pretty decent folks. :>)

  56. luv2hammer on August 15th, 2007 at 10:33 am

    faraday it also has to be politically correct.

  57. Rastus on August 15th, 2007 at 10:35 am

    Is that long knives that those weasels are holding behind Dan’s back?

  58. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 10:36 am

    Hey Malty!

    You still owe me an aswer to a question:

    What would be the negative effects to this nation if we leave Iraq?

  59. Katfish on August 15th, 2007 at 10:37 am

    #55 - Puppie and cat torturing notwithstanding eh?

    HEH

  60. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 10:38 am

    #47 Mr. Faraday,

    I think David Benzion or Squawk would be better able to answer that particular question. Can you give some specifics on comments you’ve seen here that you find inappropriate? I apologize in advance if they were mine.

  61. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 10:41 am

    #60 Mr. Dude

    Oh, I don’t have the time nor desire to do the research.

    Thank you for your apology, but it is not necessary. You seem to be very level-headed and polite in your comments.

  62. dowjones25k on August 15th, 2007 at 10:48 am

    53 luv2hammer i am just advocating what the politicians say. hire illegals to do the work Americans wont do. i am sick and tired of that phrase. we must not have any welfare now that we need all these illegals hey!

    what crap they feed the electorate.

    no incumbent should stay in office. the voters voted out the republican cause they would not protect the borders and voted in the democrats. they have not protected the borders - so what the heck do we do?

  63. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 10:54 am

    Sarge I thank you for your ideas and opinions. I guess since you believe my words are just rhetoric they are worthless and dumb just meant to stir trouble. You did not attend the meeting we held last month, Dude you and AW were there I believe I was
    reasonable and tried to be smart.

    No Sarge I have an opinion based on over 8 years of involvement in my community, and one which others with the same experience agree with, most people just whine and complain but contribute very little to any solutions.

    If you believe kissing up to the politicians and begging for their help is the answer, God bless you and good luck. Yes some are out there working hard and trying everyday to do what is right and they deserve our respect and support, but many others just use you and fill you with promises.

    I have shown you and everyone else here nothing but respect, I have not labeled anyone dumb or stated their opinions are nothing but rhetoric. I have not judged anyone, just asked questions and shared my dumb ideas.

    Sorry to be a pain.

  64. texpat on August 15th, 2007 at 10:58 am

    #51 Sarge

    ” It’s like battlefield triage. You save the ones with then highest chance of survival first. ”

    OK, that’s pretty funny.

  65. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 11:00 am

    AZ

    You, Dude, AW, and I share the same opinion.

    It’s the words and phrases used that can be a problem.

    Saying that we need to igonore the L:aw of The Land as expressed by SCOTUS and saying that such an action would be supported by the people “rising up” is argualbly as bad a choice of words as any George Bush has ever made.

    The biggest part of the problem we have is that the Law has been so convoluted and repretively interpreted by Liberal Judges and people don’t know that it has been. They therefore think the solutions are easier than they actually are.

    We don;t solve a problem that invovles people breaking our laws by ignoring them ourselves. We need to arm ourselves with knowldege of the law so that we can advocate the needed changes.

  66. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 11:05 am

    If you believe kissing up to the politicians and begging for their help is the answer, God bless you and good luck.

  67. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 11:08 am

    AZ

    I did not say kiss up to polticians—those are your words, not mine.

    I said don’t give them a reason to avoid you.

    If a politician thinks that your words cancome back to haunt him when peopple ask if he agrees with you, he will avoid you like the plague.

    And I’m willing to entertain the notion that we can change the Law without involving politicians—can ou give me some examples of how we’d do that?

  68. texpat on August 15th, 2007 at 11:14 am

    Sixty-two years ago today a US sailor grabbed a nurse and kissed her on Broadway in New York. It was in the midst of celebrating the surrender of Japan. The photo became world famous:

    http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/33/MPW-16924

    There are currently approximately 40,000 US military personnel stationed in Japan. Defense hawks and pro-war elements in Washington DC continue to stonewall vocal critics within and without the government demanding withdrawal of US troops. The 2,402 deaths at Pearl Harbor are still a source of passionate contention in the debate. An admiral speaking yesterday said it could have been worse; Japan could have flown suicide planes into buildings and killed as many as 3,000 people.

    texpat newswire report

  69. squawkbox on August 15th, 2007 at 11:14 am

    HAL is a jackass you will learn to put up with.

    As a rule, the human moderators are pretty decent folks. :>)

    Well, I can be decent but trend toward the jackass side m’self.

  70. squawkbox on August 15th, 2007 at 11:15 am

    Ha! beat a whole bunch of folks to that disclaimer.

  71. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 11:22 am

    And AZ;

    As far as the use of the word “rhetoric is concerned, it is not a perjorative:

    http://rhetoric.byu.edu/Encompassing%20Terms/rhetoric.htm

    Rhetoric is the study of effective speaking and writing. And the art of persuasion. And many other things.

    In its long and vigorous history rhetoric has enjoyed many definitions, accommodated differing purposes, and varied widely in what it included. And yet, for most of its history it has maintained its fundamental character as a discipline for training students 1) to perceive how language is at work orally and in writing, and 2) to become proficient in applying the resources of language in their own speaking and writing. (See rhetorical pedagogy)

    Discerning how language is working in others’ or one’s own writing and speaking, one must (artificially) divide form and content, what is being said and how this is said.

  72. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 11:23 am

    trend toward the jackass side

    Yeah sure, but do you do stupid human tricks with golf carts and such?

  73. Fasternu 426 on August 15th, 2007 at 11:29 am
  74. Hamous on August 15th, 2007 at 11:39 am

    Yeah, but how many chicken paws can he eat?

  75. texpat on August 15th, 2007 at 11:44 am

    Faster

    Do you have the Strother Martin wav file ? It really should be the official motto of LST Open Comments.

  76. duhmoose on August 15th, 2007 at 11:47 am

    texpat, the official motto of LST open comments is “We need more cowbell!!”

  77. Shannon on August 15th, 2007 at 11:51 am

    Chicken paws.
    Surely you photoshop freaks can come up with something on that.

  78. Smacktle on August 15th, 2007 at 11:51 am

    Squawk can swallow watermelons whole!

  79. Shannon on August 15th, 2007 at 11:57 am

    /drum roll

    And the third place runner-up for LST Open Comments Motto:

    “We are in basic agreement, I just don’t like the way you express it.”

  80. Elizabeth on August 15th, 2007 at 11:58 am

    Don’t let Squawk fool ya. He’s a crusty ol’ coot w/ a heart as big as Texas.

  81. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 12:00 pm

    You forgot this one Shannon:

    “You’re not 100% with me, so I’m going to pretend you’re 100% against me.”

  82. Elizabeth on August 15th, 2007 at 12:05 pm

    LST’s Open Comment Motto:

    “Yea? So what! You’re a boogerhead and your Mommy dresses you funny!”

  83. Shannon on August 15th, 2007 at 12:05 pm

    81
    It’s tatooed on your arm, right Sarge??

    :>)

  84. marc on August 15th, 2007 at 12:07 pm

    Rush will interview Karl Rove now (Noon) 0n 740.

    http://ktrh.com/cc-common/streaming_new/index.html?refreshed=yes

    Online

  85. malcolm on August 15th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

    For those of you who are sick to death of getting emails that tell you to forward to at least X number of people in the next 15 minutes so that
    wonderful things and miracles will happen if you do and there will be consequences if you don’t, then you will enjoy this.

    http://info.org.il/irrelevant/may02-smilepop-soapbox4.swf

  86. Fasternu 426 on August 15th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
  87. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 12:26 pm

    Malcolm,

    Thank you. I’m sending that link to some people because if I don’t, then they won’t receive it. Besides, I don’t want to be constipated or lose my hair.

    8^)

  88. Fasternu 426 on August 15th, 2007 at 12:27 pm

    What we got here is a failure to communicate!
    http://www.destgulch.com/movies/luke/luke18.wav

  89. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    … which is the way he wants it. Weeeellll he gits it.

  90. Shannon on August 15th, 2007 at 12:31 pm

    88
    That one works just fine.
    The link should be posted on the front page, making it quickly accessible.

  91. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 12:31 pm

    Shakin’ the bush boss.

  92. Fasternu 426 on August 15th, 2007 at 12:32 pm

    But I think this might be more accurate:
    http://www.tigersweat.com/movies/animal/house12.wav

  93. Fasternu 426 on August 15th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
  94. left-2-right on August 15th, 2007 at 12:41 pm

    HAIL to the people that run our lives…

  95. Elizabeth on August 15th, 2007 at 12:45 pm

    #94 Did you mean “run” or “ruin”?

  96. Lawrence C. on August 15th, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    #91. “Sometimes nuthin is a pretty cool hand”

  97. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 12:58 pm

    #96,

    CHL has to be one of my all-time favorite movies. I’ve never met anyone who said, “no, I really didn’t like Cool Hand Luke”.

  98. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 1:01 pm

    If someone doesn’t like Cool Hand Luke it’s probably because they’re a boogerhead whose mother dresses them funny.

  99. raiderdav on August 15th, 2007 at 1:07 pm

    I thought I’d see 100 more pictures of Patrick at Hooter’s before I saw him and Cohen smiling next to each other.

  100. Hamous on August 15th, 2007 at 1:09 pm

    I didn’t like any of the Godfather movies. Boooooorrrring.

  101. Hamous on August 15th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
  102. Shannon on August 15th, 2007 at 1:22 pm

    101 Thanks, Hamster.

    Maher is simply riding the newest trendy wave of anti-religion books.
    Maher, Hitchens, et.al. constitute not even a pimple on the butt of history.
    Maybe only an annoying passing chancre.

  103. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 1:25 pm

    Sorry folks had a minor emergency at home. We found out last night our German Blue Rams laid eggs in the tank. The thought of hundreds of baby Rams made Jared all excited.

    Well he called me before to report one of the sharks decided to have eggs for breakfast this morning. I had to explain to him why it was not a good idea to flush a $60.00 Roseline shark down the toilet.

    If any are interested Michael McCaul will be speaking and taking questions at this month meeting of
    The Cherry Tree Republicians. It is Tuesday 8/21 @ 7:30pm.

    web site:
    http://www.cherrytreegop.org

    got to get back to the phone

  104. Elizabeth on August 15th, 2007 at 1:27 pm

    Saving Private Ryan made me physically ill for a week afterwards. It was the only movie I have seen where the entire audience sat in stunned silence for several minutes after it ended in order to compose themselves before they could exit the theater. Absolutely gut wrenching.

    The original Star Wars was the only movie where I saw the audience jump to their feet and cheer afterwards.

  105. Bannable Lecturer on August 15th, 2007 at 1:32 pm

    98
    that would explain why some of my early childhood pictures were “different”

  106. Voldemort on August 15th, 2007 at 1:33 pm

    I guess I’m going to have to watch Cool Hand Luke one day…

  107. Voldemort on August 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm

    /ducking and running from those who think I’m a heathen for not watching Cool Hand Luke yet

  108. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 1:35 pm

    #99

    There’s a reason the phrase “politics makes strange bedfellows” was coined.

  109. dcgirl on August 15th, 2007 at 1:39 pm

    What would be the negative effects to this nation if we leave Iraq?

    Sarge,
    I will attempt to give my opinion. I think that if we leave it will let all of our enemies know that the US does not have the will to see a fight through. And if we are looked upon in that manner, then we will continue to be attacked. We need the US to get back to the days when we were feared, and the enemy knew that if we were attacked we would fight back with all that we had until the job was done. The US needs to get back to the days when we (liberals) did not think that it was a crime to be a superpower.

  110. faraday on August 15th, 2007 at 1:46 pm

    #109

    And Bush isn’t helping that strategy by saying “19 kids were lured onto planes”.

  111. dcgirl on August 15th, 2007 at 1:51 pm

    Faraday
    I, too, am appalled that Bush has gone PC and said that they were kids lured…. They were evil doers/murderers/terrorists, etc. who knew very well what they were doing. They were old enough to know that this was wrong, no matter what the religion was.

  112. The Dude on August 15th, 2007 at 2:06 pm

    some of my early childhood pictures were “different”

    Was that you with the knobby knees and the hand grenade?

    8^)

  113. Katfish on August 15th, 2007 at 2:17 pm

    #110 - Methinks if you’ll choose to be intellectually honest with yourself and us (we ALL get to choose of course - well at least so far anyway). Whatever Bush said or didn’t is a flyspeck if honestly stacked up against 5 pluws years of Military neutering filth from the ‘Defeat-o-crats’.

  114. Katfish on August 15th, 2007 at 2:18 pm

    plus*

  115. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

    faraday Says:
    August 15th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
    #109

    And Bush isn’t helping that strategy by saying “19 kids were lured onto planes”.

    I’m interested in how helpful you think the following qoutes have been:

    “The war is lost.” Harry Reid

    “The Surge has failed.” Nancy Pelosi

    “Marines have committed cold blooded murder.” Jack Murtha

    Let’s rate them on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the least helpful.

    Mine goes like this:

    Bush 5
    Pelosi, Reid, Murtha: 15

    How bout you?

    Maybe I’m not as obsessive about Bush as some folks would like me to be.

  116. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 2:21 pm

    I’m trying to figure out how Bush’s statements are actually HARMFUL to fighting terrorism.

    Can you expand on that?

  117. dcgirl on August 15th, 2007 at 2:25 pm

    Sarge,
    Excusing what Bush said (twice) isn’t excused because the democrats have said much, much worse. However, his statement excuses the terrorists for what they did by buying into the whole nonsense of no personal responsibility for one’s actions. It gives an excuse, a rationale, a reason for their actions that lessens their own culpability. Would you call the illegal alien that killed the 3 college students a kid who was lured into what he did? No. Neither should the terrorists. And maybe everyone should stop calling them terrorists or insurgents. Maybe just call them murderers since that is what they are.

  118. AZ on August 15th, 2007 at 2:30 pm

    I am at the Exxon @ Jones Rd. & 290 Reg. Is $2.48 gal.

    Guy in front of me at cashier purchased two of the 24oz. beers. Sucked one down real fast as he pumped gas, took the other one into the car. He was alone, so save to assume he consumed the other 24ozs. as he drove north on 290.

    48ozs. of beer in one shot as he drives.

  119. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

    I think it’s naural for humans to seek some kind of rationale behind acts they can’t fathom.

    I also think these guys did not just wake up one morning and decide to do this, they had to be talked and trained into it.

    It think that’s what “lured” means. They were hoodwinked by people who use and pervert thier religion.

    The common thread with these guys is not really “Islam” it’s Salafism, and Salafism is a political/religious ideology, and although I’m in danger of having someone invkie godwon’s Law on me—it’s apoltical/religious ideology in the mold of Facism/nazism, something a lot of young men and women were “lured” into following.

    You and I can use certain words and phrases that a president–ANY President cannot. Whoever is in that job has to choose them carefully.

  120. sargevining on August 15th, 2007 at 2:34 pm

    And as far as the word lessening thier culpability—it didn;t helpt those on trial in Nurmeburg one bit, it ehouldn;t help the baby Killers any. You’re right—lured or not they still made the final judgement.

    The difference between s and them is part of what lured them into believing this was right was that they came to bleive that they would be rewarded in paradise, not punished.

    <