The Observation Deck

Actually, and with regard to your cute saying about smelly animals, Stephen:

I think both the elephants and donkeys could probably use a bath right about now. Still they're OUR elephants and donkeys. We have to try to bathe and care for them, and after cleaning all their wounds, to help them heal.

I just have this feeling, like from my old marching band days, that we are walking right behind both of them in a parade, and not looking down.

We may need to wash up a bit ourselves.

I don't get it. Dennis did what he did. He has views which, quite frankly, are an exact counterpoint to the extreme right wing Christian body politic that operate in the same hallways that Dennis walks down.

This outrage I'm hearing is laughable. Whatever Dennis did or said was within his well documented beliefs and behavior that he has always been known for.

His words played to a captive audience, were inconsequential, and did not directly result in the loss of one life---American or otherwise.

Go ahead and question his patriotism but to suggest that he should be prosecuted for what he said on Syrian TV is an overreaction in the least and a viewpoint that borders on fascism.

Americans have freedom of speech. Period. The last time I looked, the Constitution, (that oh-so inconvenient document to all real conservatives), was still in its glass case in Washington.

George Bush said he went to war in Iraq because of "weapons of mass destruction". That was Cheney's-er I mean Bush's rally cry which succesfully duped the American people into believing that our national security was being threatened by Saddam Hussein. That is a historical fact of how the Congress and the American people got behind the Iraqi war.

History now suggests that he was either wrong or lying and now he continues to invent new and different reasons for the Iraqi conflict at the expense of 3400 American lives and hundreds of thousand Iraqi lives.

Incredibly, In defeating this "Sunni threat" he has now greatly strengthened enemy Iran's position in the region in what has to be one of the largest geopolitical blunders in world history.

Meanwhile, his good. pampered friends, the Saudis, are the biggest financiers of Al-Quaida on the planet. What a joke.

It's long past time that all of you who are so aghast at the behavior of a minor player like Dennis, who constantly question the patriotism of those who do not agree with your conservative viewpoints, to steer your sanctimonious outrage to the people in this country and abroad that are doing all the real damage. Until you do, I personally question your patriotism.

Interesting. You know how the Kooch is always clamoring for time in Presidential debates? Going on about how his 'open debate' policy?

Turns out that his challenger back home, Rosemary Palmer, has challenged Kucinich to debate her. Not a peep back from Dobby the House Elf. Guess he's too busy pretending to be President to care much about his actual, elected job.

From the press release:
[quote]Kucinich, no stranger to debate challenges, has issued a number of statements lamenting his exclusion from the limelight of the presidential campaign. Following reports that his presidential primary opponents were conspiring to limit his exposure at debate appearances, Mr. Kucinich was quoted as saying “Imperial candidates are as repugnant to the American people and to our democracy as an imperial president.â€Â

Scott, it would appear that Bush was not alone in believing that WMD's were in Iraq. You may also want to review UN Resolution 1441 for educational purposes.

George Bush said he went to war in Iraq because of "weapons of mass destruction". That was Cheney's-er I mean Bush's rally cry which succesfully duped the American people into believing that our national security was being threatened by Saddam Hussein. That is a historical fact of how the Congress and the American people got behind the Iraqi war.

CLINTON: Good evening.

Earlier today, I ordered America’s armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces. Their mission is to attack Iraq’s nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors.

[quote]"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998.

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998.

"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998.

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998.

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998.

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999.

"There is no doubt that . Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, Dec, 5, 2001.

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."
Sen. Carl Levin (d, MI), Sept. 19, 2002.

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seing and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002.

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force â€â€

His words played to a captive audience, were inconsequential, and did not directly result in the loss of one life---American or otherwise.

Now that is laughable.

Go ahead and question his patriotism but to suggest that he should be prosecuted for what he said on Syrian TV is an overreaction in the least and a viewpoint that borders on fascism.

Nobody question his patriotism but his poor judgment. He broke the law and should step down from congress. The Democrats should be leading the charge since they are always so quick to ask Republicans to step down.

Americans have freedom of speech. Period. The last time I looked, the Constitution, (that oh-so inconvenient document to all real conservatives), was still in its glass case in Washington.

Tell that to Trent Lott or Bill Bennett while the former Klansman Byrd gets a free pass. Another laughable comment Scott..

Meanwhile, his good. pampered friends, the Saudis, are the biggest financiers of Al-Quaida on the planet. What a joke.

Individual Saudis not the government are the big donors.
http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/si/2005/Jan/comrasJan05.asp

Stephen Eisel wrote:Scott, it would appear that Bush was not alone in believing that WMD's were in Iraq. You may also want to review UN Resolution 1441 for educational purposes.

Everything that George Bush has said or done about Iraq was said done or supported by Bill and Hillary Clinton. Good catch.

It appears our absentee congressman is on his way to North Dakota and Hawaii.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/artic ... 10326.html

I wonder if he will wave at his district as he flies over?

His words played to a captive audience, were inconsequential, and did not directly result in the loss of one life---American or otherwise.

I see little difference in what DK did with what Hanoi Jane did in Vietnam.

I would really like to know what his motivations were for this act.

How does this bring us any closer to peace?

How does this help our appointed diplomatic emissaries?

How does this build stronger relationships internationally?

I don't know what he was attempting to do, but from where I sit, it appears to be little more than a poorly thought out attempt to embarrass the Bush administration and shame the American people.

I find myself very disappointed in DK's actions.

Scott MacGregor wrote:I don't get it. Dennis did what he did. He has views which, quite frankly, are an exact counterpoint to the extreme right wing Christian body politic that operate in the same hallways that Dennis walks down.
....

Just curious. What are all the names of the "extreme right wing Christian body politic" members of Congress to whom you refer?

Bill Call wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote:Scott, it would appear that Bush was not alone in believing that WMD's were in Iraq. You may also want to review UN Resolution 1441 for educational purposes.

Everything that George Bush has said or done about Iraq was said done or supported by Bill and Hillary Clinton. Good catch.

It appears our absentee congressman is on his way to North Dakota and Hawaii.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/artic ... 10326.html

I wonder if he will wave at his district as he flies over?

and not to mention that Clinton had an invasion plan for Iraq.

Bill Clinton: Let me be clear on what the U.S. objectives are: The United States wants Iraq to rejoin the family of nations as a freedom-loving and law-abiding member. This is in our interest and that of our allies within the region.

The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at home. I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due to Iraq's history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve and desire freedom like everyone else. The United States looks forward to a democratically supported regime that would permit us to enter into a dialogue leading to the reintegration of Iraq into normal international life.

My Administration has pursued, and will continue to pursue, these objectives through active application of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming that such changes will not happen under the current Iraq leadership.

Nice try, everybody. However, rhetoric and avoiding valid counterpoints to my points doesn't cut it and your jingoist attitudes won't fool the majority of Americans that oppose George Bush's Midlle East policies.

Frank--you got to be kidding. However, I will not be baited into your obvious little trap. For a list of your theocratic dominionist brethren in Congress before last year's election you may refer to this list:

http://www.theocracywatch.org/cc_senate_2004.xls

Fortunately, a few of the names on this list were whacked in the last elections and they probably went back home to lynch more black people.

Stephen, you seem to be a classic imperialist. Many of those so-called believers in the "Saddam threat" fable that you listed have since disavowed their positions and claim that they were lied to. After all, they all followed the same bogus intelligence that made Colin Powell a laughing stock. Is Colin Powell on your 'nich list also?

And don't throw people like Billary and Kerry in my face. As far as I'm concerned, they spew from the same poisoned well that the Bushs' seeped out of.

At the end of the day, this is one big unhappy divided country thanks to your hero, George W. Bush who is without question one of the biggest horse's patoots to ever lead this country.

Oh, and by the way, I've read from a couple of REAL legal experts,( ie. people that understand the Consitutional laws of this country), and it is pretty clear that Dennis Kucinich's Syria stunt did not come close to violating the Logan Act, so I guess you'll just have to egg his office instead.

Nice try, everybody. However, rhetoric and avoiding valid counterpoints to my points doesn't cut it and your jingoist attitudes won't fool the majority of Americans that oppose George Bush's Midlle East policies.

lol Nice try Scott! I am sorry but you are the one that was unable to bring up a valid counter point and went off subject. Now that you cannot refute the facts that have been presented. You resort to stereotyping. To follow the logic pattern here.... You brought up

George Bush said he went to war in Iraq because of "weapons of mass destruction". That was Cheney's-er I mean Bush's rally cry which succesfully duped the American people into believing that our national security was being threatened by Saddam Hussein. That is a historical fact of how the Congress and the American people got behind the Iraqi war.

It appears that UN Resolution 1441 and the bombing of Iraq by President Clinton on 12-16-98 leave you factless whe it comes to WMD's in Iraq.

And to be clear on the definition of imperialist...

Main Entry: im·pe·ri·al·ism
Pronunciation: \im-ˈpir-ē-ə-ˌli-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1826
1: imperial government, authority, or system
2: the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly : the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence <union imperialism>
â€â€

Stephen,

When you and George find the weapons of mass destruction wake me up.

By the way,

I am in complete agreement with your definition of imperialism. Well said.

Scott MacGregor wrote:Stephen,

When you and George find the weapons of mass destruction wake me up.

nice come back... if we were at a 3rd grade debate....

Here is the weather report from Hawaii:

http://www.accuweather.com/us/hi/honolu ... traveler=0