I decided that I do not have enough going on in my life with work, school, soccer, lady, etc. to properly entertain me, so I am reactivating SDFC.
Oh, where to start, where to start...
I guess with politics, because they are fun. In 1992, during slick-Willy's presidential campaign, James Carville put posters allover the office proclaiming, "It's the economy, stupid."
Well it still is the economy, McCain. His speech yesterday on economics was incredibly flippant and uninformed. Obama stated today on McCain's unwillingness to act in the current economic crisis that, “While this is consistent with Senator McCain’s determination to run for George Bush’s third term, it won’t help families who are suffering.”
Ouch.
Secondly, McCain's exuberance for the US staying in Iraq (for the next 100 years) hurts the economy. The most modest estimates calculated the cost of the war at $.5 Trillion (US). Moreover, many economists have noted that this money could have greatly helped the current economic troubles we are seeing in the US.
Finally, Olbermann found a few good quotes by McCain himself concerning his lack of education on economic issues: “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.” AND “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
The war in Iraq is important to voters, but not as big of an issue as the economy. McCain and his advisers better get their ducks in a row and release a substantial economic plan, otherwise the old man (70!) stands a poor chance of running this country.
`Sam
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Lethal Force
Here's a morsel of paranoia for you all from the mother country...
A Muslim group has said it is concerned there is a new police "shoot to kill" policy in the UK following the shooting dead of a man in south London.
. . .MCB has urged the police to explain why the man - said to be of Asian appearance - was shot dead.
Spokesman Inayat Bunglawala said Muslims he had spoken to this morning were "jumpy and nervous".
"I have just had one phone call saying, 'what if I was carrying a rucksack?'.
"There may well be reasons why the police felt it necessary to unload five shots into the man and shoot him dead, but they need to make those reasons clear," he said.
"We are getting phone calls from quite a lot of Muslims who are distressed about what may be a shoot to kill policy."
This article caught my eye particularly because of the discrepancy between police overseas and police here in the states. In London, as the article states, police officers don't even carry guns (this is most likely due to the country's incredibly low homicide and gun crime rates). Locally, however, police obviously do carry guns. Moreover, ALL police are rigorously trained in a specific ideology in using firearms. That is, of course, the 'shoot to kill' ideology. The premise behind this is that if an officer only fires his gun if his life or the lives of other bystanders and put in jeopardy by the target's actions. From that standpoint, unlike popular media: movies, television, ect. police do not (as a general principal) fire their sidearms for nearly any other reason. Use of firearms is strictly limited to lethal force.
Just some food for thought, so next time you're being shot at by your local sherriff, remember he's not just trying to hurt your feelings or put you in the hospital for a few days you dumb son of a bitch, so let go of that wench's hair and drop your stilletto and remember: you probably earned this.
A Muslim group has said it is concerned there is a new police "shoot to kill" policy in the UK following the shooting dead of a man in south London.
. . .MCB has urged the police to explain why the man - said to be of Asian appearance - was shot dead.
Spokesman Inayat Bunglawala said Muslims he had spoken to this morning were "jumpy and nervous".
"I have just had one phone call saying, 'what if I was carrying a rucksack?'.
"There may well be reasons why the police felt it necessary to unload five shots into the man and shoot him dead, but they need to make those reasons clear," he said.
"We are getting phone calls from quite a lot of Muslims who are distressed about what may be a shoot to kill policy."
This article caught my eye particularly because of the discrepancy between police overseas and police here in the states. In London, as the article states, police officers don't even carry guns (this is most likely due to the country's incredibly low homicide and gun crime rates). Locally, however, police obviously do carry guns. Moreover, ALL police are rigorously trained in a specific ideology in using firearms. That is, of course, the 'shoot to kill' ideology. The premise behind this is that if an officer only fires his gun if his life or the lives of other bystanders and put in jeopardy by the target's actions. From that standpoint, unlike popular media: movies, television, ect. police do not (as a general principal) fire their sidearms for nearly any other reason. Use of firearms is strictly limited to lethal force.
Just some food for thought, so next time you're being shot at by your local sherriff, remember he's not just trying to hurt your feelings or put you in the hospital for a few days you dumb son of a bitch, so let go of that wench's hair and drop your stilletto and remember: you probably earned this.
Deep thoughs...By: Uncle Sam
[Seanicus had a pretty fiery post last night and I thought I would chime in my 2 cents. Well why don’t you put in the comments, Sam? Well, ‘cuz it’s my blog, that’s why.] (Scroll down and give it a look, otherwise my shit will make little/no sense or click here:)
That Yahoo article is too bad (most are), but the press is a reflection of the current mind state of the average American (to a certain extent, you see my point). In my opinion, the biggest fault with that article, and our (the west’s) views of terrorism in general, is that terrorism is the effect of poor policy, not the "the brown people hate freedom," or whatever the fuck propaganda we love to be spoon-fed.
What’s so incredible to me is how people in our country feel as though they are the victim in the war on terror. Listen, you overweight, Wal-Mart shoppin’ o’reilyoknight, you ain’t the victim. Granted, September 11th was a horrible tragedy, but compared to even one day in Iraq or Nam, 9/11 was a nice day ‘in da club’.
What pisses these people off so much is how our culture values American life over the lives of people in other countries. (Well, amongst other things.) This feeling is natural, but our society likes to take it way too far. (Thanks press, “Today 6,000 die in earthquake; two were American”)
Listen, we are the most powerful country in the world, and with that come certain global images, but more importantly, certain global responsibilities. My thought is that terrorism is a byproduct of not living up to these responsibilities though actions as a country.
So, when Seanicus says “Not being able to take a global perspective at all in this day, and being incredibly self-centered, self-absorbed and as high falootin' as we are as Westerners, we are just asking for our ignorant ass to be bombed.” I have to disagree. I don’t think anyone cares we are “self-centered, self-absorbed” or even “high falootin'” I think people care we don’t give a fuck about them, and it shows.
That Yahoo article is too bad (most are), but the press is a reflection of the current mind state of the average American (to a certain extent, you see my point). In my opinion, the biggest fault with that article, and our (the west’s) views of terrorism in general, is that terrorism is the effect of poor policy, not the "the brown people hate freedom," or whatever the fuck propaganda we love to be spoon-fed.
What’s so incredible to me is how people in our country feel as though they are the victim in the war on terror. Listen, you overweight, Wal-Mart shoppin’ o’reilyoknight, you ain’t the victim. Granted, September 11th was a horrible tragedy, but compared to even one day in Iraq or Nam, 9/11 was a nice day ‘in da club’.
What pisses these people off so much is how our culture values American life over the lives of people in other countries. (Well, amongst other things.) This feeling is natural, but our society likes to take it way too far. (Thanks press, “Today 6,000 die in earthquake; two were American”)
Listen, we are the most powerful country in the world, and with that come certain global images, but more importantly, certain global responsibilities. My thought is that terrorism is a byproduct of not living up to these responsibilities though actions as a country.
So, when Seanicus says “Not being able to take a global perspective at all in this day, and being incredibly self-centered, self-absorbed and as high falootin' as we are as Westerners, we are just asking for our ignorant ass to be bombed.” I have to disagree. I don’t think anyone cares we are “self-centered, self-absorbed” or even “high falootin'” I think people care we don’t give a fuck about them, and it shows.
OH BOY, TODAY'S THE DAY!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed! GO HACKETT! Lika-a-so:
Hackett, a 43-year-old Marine Corps Reserve major who volunteered to serve a seven-month tour in Iraq, opposed the invasion and has said U.S. troops need better protection.
He was particularly critical of President Bush for his July 2003 "bring 'em on" comment about Iraqi insurgents, telling USA Today such talk was "incredibly stupid" and "cheered on the enemy."
Yet Hackett's first campaign commercial opened with a video clip of Bush saying: "There is no higher calling than service in our armed forces."
OH-02 district is a fiercely republican district which a voted for Bush in the last election 65-35. We have a chance there for the 1st time in years. An internal republican poll put Hackett within the MOE.
Granted it’s only one seat in the house, but it’s a firmly red seat that we could turn blue. More importantly, the netroots have really taken this election under their wing, and if we win today,could show a lot of pundits and voters in general, that the internet is quickly becoming a political powerhouse.
In fact, scratch that. The netroots have already become a political powerhouse. Yesterday, the netroots contributed more than $40,000 for the Hackett camp. 40,000!! Also, not to mention what we did for Dr. Dean.
My point is that if we can pull this election off today, it would show a lot of people the amount of political power we have and are willing to throw around. Contest every seat, don’t apologize for anything.
Hackett, a 43-year-old Marine Corps Reserve major who volunteered to serve a seven-month tour in Iraq, opposed the invasion and has said U.S. troops need better protection.
He was particularly critical of President Bush for his July 2003 "bring 'em on" comment about Iraqi insurgents, telling USA Today such talk was "incredibly stupid" and "cheered on the enemy."
Yet Hackett's first campaign commercial opened with a video clip of Bush saying: "There is no higher calling than service in our armed forces."
OH-02 district is a fiercely republican district which a voted for Bush in the last election 65-35. We have a chance there for the 1st time in years. An internal republican poll put Hackett within the MOE.
Granted it’s only one seat in the house, but it’s a firmly red seat that we could turn blue. More importantly, the netroots have really taken this election under their wing, and if we win today,
In fact, scratch that. The netroots have already become a political powerhouse. Yesterday, the netroots contributed more than $40,000 for the Hackett camp. 40,000!! Also, not to mention what we did for Dr. Dean.
My point is that if we can pull this election off today, it would show a lot of people the amount of political power we have and are willing to throw around. Contest every seat, don’t apologize for anything.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Terror is being born in the Heartland as we speak!
From the LA Times on Yahoo!
Concering "home-grown" terrorists:
"But some senior authorities say there is enough anecdotal evidence to warrant concern, and suggest that whatever radicalized the British bombers could presumably also motivate Americans who have embraced Islamic extremist views expressed on websites and chat rooms, in radical mosques and elsewhere."
I might be setting myself up to be arrested for terrorism, but honestly, I feel like I can relate to, or alteast understand to some extent, Islamic extremism and why they want to punish the west, and yes, that has motivated me to have violent thoughts. Now, I know I have never been to a Islamic extremist website or chat room or a radical mosque, so why would I feel upset or angry??
I bet it's because I have taken an encompassing view of the world, a global perspective. Does that make me a terrorist?? No... No, it doesn't.. Thank Allah. Have I been radicalized? Yes, in many ways. thankfully not to the point where I'd want to lash out violently, but I have been radicalized enough to go to Burning Man).
But not being able to take a global perspective at all in this day, and being incredibly self-centered, self-absorped and as high falootin' as we are as Westerners, we are just asking for our ignorant ass to be bombed.
Way to go Yahoo! You guys really got the global perspective thing going, and you're really helping everyone else to get that perspective too... NOT!!
Concering "home-grown" terrorists:
"But some senior authorities say there is enough anecdotal evidence to warrant concern, and suggest that whatever radicalized the British bombers could presumably also motivate Americans who have embraced Islamic extremist views expressed on websites and chat rooms, in radical mosques and elsewhere."
I might be setting myself up to be arrested for terrorism, but honestly, I feel like I can relate to, or alteast understand to some extent, Islamic extremism and why they want to punish the west, and yes, that has motivated me to have violent thoughts. Now, I know I have never been to a Islamic extremist website or chat room or a radical mosque, so why would I feel upset or angry??
I bet it's because I have taken an encompassing view of the world, a global perspective. Does that make me a terrorist?? No... No, it doesn't.. Thank Allah. Have I been radicalized? Yes, in many ways. thankfully not to the point where I'd want to lash out violently, but I have been radicalized enough to go to Burning Man).
But not being able to take a global perspective at all in this day, and being incredibly self-centered, self-absorped and as high falootin' as we are as Westerners, we are just asking for our ignorant ass to be bombed.
Way to go Yahoo! You guys really got the global perspective thing going, and you're really helping everyone else to get that perspective too... NOT!!
The great uniter,
King George II, always looking to put aside politics to encourage debate to get what is best for the citizens of the US.
What a fuckin' shit sandwich...Didn't Bolton abuse his assistants? Just the kinda' stand up fellow we need representing us at the UN.
What a fuckin' shit sandwich...Didn't Bolton abuse his assistants? Just the kinda' stand up fellow we need representing us at the UN.
Abraxas
Sean,
So I was at my parents on sunday and was looking through their albums and santana has an album called Abraxas. Its the one with black magic woman, oye como va and some others you might or might not know. It also has a song called "singing winds, crying beasts" and according to amazon.com its a song that "underscored his growing eastern sensibilities." Anyways, it rocks, I know he has put out some shit over that past couple years but i suggest anyone who hasn't listened to his old stuff to listen to it. Also, a sweet diddy is his song Jingo, not on abraxas. OUT.
So I was at my parents on sunday and was looking through their albums and santana has an album called Abraxas. Its the one with black magic woman, oye como va and some others you might or might not know. It also has a song called "singing winds, crying beasts" and according to amazon.com its a song that "underscored his growing eastern sensibilities." Anyways, it rocks, I know he has put out some shit over that past couple years but i suggest anyone who hasn't listened to his old stuff to listen to it. Also, a sweet diddy is his song Jingo, not on abraxas. OUT.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Hey,
You guys been following Paul Hackett? The special election is on tuesday.
Let's hope he can pull it off...
Let's hope he can pull it off...
Fuckin' idiot econ fucks
This is the most Republican, bullshit nonsense I have ever heard:
"We don't have any excuses in Africa. We can't blame nature. We have to tell our leadership to open up and get people producing food."
Nature, of course, does bear some of the blame. Recurring drought is a part of life in Africa. Farmers have learned to cope, but exploding population growth sucks up water, pasture and livestock.
ummm...When you get an econ degree does the college give you your diploma then smack you in the face with a golf club 16 or 17 times? Jesse? =)
Ok, I kind of see what he is getting at, but it's really fuckin' easy to say it. Reminds me of Newt saying that people on social programs or welfare are lazy. It's not that easy, buddy boy...it just ain't, and to imply that aid from other countries is hurting Africa...well that's just insane.
"We don't have any excuses in Africa. We can't blame nature. We have to tell our leadership to open up and get people producing food."
Nature, of course, does bear some of the blame. Recurring drought is a part of life in Africa. Farmers have learned to cope, but exploding population growth sucks up water, pasture and livestock.
ummm...When you get an econ degree does the college give you your diploma then smack you in the face with a golf club 16 or 17 times? Jesse? =)
Ok, I kind of see what he is getting at, but it's really fuckin' easy to say it. Reminds me of Newt saying that people on social programs or welfare are lazy. It's not that easy, buddy boy...it just ain't, and to imply that aid from other countries is hurting Africa...well that's just insane.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Why the fuck is the MSM's priorities so fucked?
Anyone see the 5th headline down? (As far as I know, the top headline is deemed the 'most important' and goes down) In case you can't it says: At Least 513 Dead After Monsoons in India
I have been getting really frickin' mad about this lately. Maybe they weren't Americans that died but they still are fuckin people. Hey AP, I know they are brown, but aren't we as Americans part of this fuckin planet at well?
So, what our 'liberal' media is saying, at least how I take it, is that British police questioning a suspect is more important than over 500 people dying in India. Hey radical right, that's 1/6 of the people that died in 9/11. Even if this would have happened in Italy, about the same 'distance' away, our press would be in a frenzy. Jesus H. Christ media, get your fuckin' priorities strait.
Troops mental health
I wonder why the military is having trouble gettin' people to join up:
The problems include anxiety, depression, nightmares, anger and an inability to concentrate, said Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley and other military medical officials. A smaller number of troops, often with more severe symptoms, were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, a serious mental illness.
I'm a 22 year old college student who has seen friends and people I have grown up with and went to school with shipped to fight in Iraq and come back either fucked up in some way, or in a bag. Not one of those soldiers are Republicans, they are brave, patriotic Americans. They are the ones who are willing to go to war for their country, no matter what the reason, beacuse they have trust in their government. Trust that has been betrayed by the evil, shortsighted ways of Bush & Co.
I get so god damn sick of seeing college republicans (Rove Jr's) prancing around campus telling me I'm not patriotic beacuse I disagree with their president. Here's a message to my good friend; the college republican:
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS! COME ON AND JOIN UP! Put your ass where your lips are, beacuse I'm sure you have done it more than once during rush week.
`Sam
The problems include anxiety, depression, nightmares, anger and an inability to concentrate, said Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley and other military medical officials. A smaller number of troops, often with more severe symptoms, were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, a serious mental illness.
I'm a 22 year old college student who has seen friends and people I have grown up with and went to school with shipped to fight in Iraq and come back either fucked up in some way, or in a bag. Not one of those soldiers are Republicans, they are brave, patriotic Americans. They are the ones who are willing to go to war for their country, no matter what the reason, beacuse they have trust in their government. Trust that has been betrayed by the evil, shortsighted ways of Bush & Co.
I get so god damn sick of seeing college republicans (Rove Jr's) prancing around campus telling me I'm not patriotic beacuse I disagree with their president. Here's a message to my good friend; the college republican:
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS! COME ON AND JOIN UP! Put your ass where your lips are, beacuse I'm sure you have done it more than once during rush week.
`Sam
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
More on Rovegate
Leaks are turning to rivers:
The special prosecutor in the CIA leak probe has interviewed a wider range of administration officials than was previously known, part of an effort to determine whether anyone broke laws during a White House effort two years ago to discredit allegations that President Bush used faulty intelligence to justify the Iraq war, according to several officials familiar with the case.
Prosecutors have questioned former CIA director George J. Tenet and deputy director John E. McLaughlin, former CIA spokesman Bill Harlow, State Department officials, and even a stranger who approached columnist Robert D. Novak on the street.
(emphisis mine)
Rove & co. should be scared shitless about this. You think the CIA likes when their agents are called out of cover for dirty political gain? I would guess no...
The special prosecutor in the CIA leak probe has interviewed a wider range of administration officials than was previously known, part of an effort to determine whether anyone broke laws during a White House effort two years ago to discredit allegations that President Bush used faulty intelligence to justify the Iraq war, according to several officials familiar with the case.
Prosecutors have questioned former CIA director George J. Tenet and deputy director John E. McLaughlin, former CIA spokesman Bill Harlow, State Department officials, and even a stranger who approached columnist Robert D. Novak on the street.
(emphisis mine)
Rove & co. should be scared shitless about this. You think the CIA likes when their agents are called out of cover for dirty political gain? I would guess no...
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Gimmi' a can of Republican Light nonsense...
OK! Here you go:
Intellectually, of course, it's possible to separate Iraq and the war on terror. But as University of Maryland professor William Galston observed after the 2004 election, "President Bush succeeded in transforming the war in Iraq and the fight against terrorism into questions of basic values and American national identity." And that, Galston wrote, exposed old fissures among Democrats:
"While Republicans stood united in their belief in American exceptionalism, Democrats were badly divided, as they have been since Vietnam. President Bush was able to rally his party by sounding the trumpet of American virtue on the global stage. By contrast, John Kerry struggled to bridge the gap between Tony Blair Democrats, who agreed with the president's principles but deplored his inept policies, and Michael Moore Democrats, who rejected, root and branch, the idea of a global fight against terrorism and for democracy."
ok, ok, ok!! God damn it! "Michael Moore Democrats, who rejected, root and branch, the idea of a global fight against terrorism and for democracy." I'm about to blow a gasket...My face is bright red right now and I'm spitting and yelling and almost losing control.
Listen, you DLC fagger, the war in Iraq isn't even close to a "global fight against terrorism". Infact, if anything, it's distracted US from the war on terror and created an even more anti-American climate in the rest of the world.
Oh, and as for the title of your essay; Valuing Patriotism, how dare you imply that I am not patriotic for opposing the war in Iraq. I don't think there is anything more patriotic than dissent.
So go ahead and shove your repug-light horseshit right back in your mouth where it came from and let us, the Democrats with a backbone, decide the fate of the party we love.
[update:] --Sirota nails the topic of the DLC.--
More food for thought about the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) and the future of the Democratic Party...Can you imagine if an organization existed that purported to speak for Republicans, yet whose entire premise undermining the conservative base of the Republican Party? Do you think GOP presidential candidates would be flocking to address that organization's meetings? The answer, of course, is no, they wouldn't - and you can bet the GOP leadership would crush that organization before it ever got off the ground. But on the Democratic side, the story is far different.
Amen...
Intellectually, of course, it's possible to separate Iraq and the war on terror. But as University of Maryland professor William Galston observed after the 2004 election, "President Bush succeeded in transforming the war in Iraq and the fight against terrorism into questions of basic values and American national identity." And that, Galston wrote, exposed old fissures among Democrats:
"While Republicans stood united in their belief in American exceptionalism, Democrats were badly divided, as they have been since Vietnam. President Bush was able to rally his party by sounding the trumpet of American virtue on the global stage. By contrast, John Kerry struggled to bridge the gap between Tony Blair Democrats, who agreed with the president's principles but deplored his inept policies, and Michael Moore Democrats, who rejected, root and branch, the idea of a global fight against terrorism and for democracy."
ok, ok, ok!! God damn it! "Michael Moore Democrats, who rejected, root and branch, the idea of a global fight against terrorism and for democracy." I'm about to blow a gasket...My face is bright red right now and I'm spitting and yelling and almost losing control.
Listen, you DLC fagger, the war in Iraq isn't even close to a "global fight against terrorism". Infact, if anything, it's distracted US from the war on terror and created an even more anti-American climate in the rest of the world.
Oh, and as for the title of your essay; Valuing Patriotism, how dare you imply that I am not patriotic for opposing the war in Iraq. I don't think there is anything more patriotic than dissent.
So go ahead and shove your repug-light horseshit right back in your mouth where it came from and let us, the Democrats with a backbone, decide the fate of the party we love.
[update:] --Sirota nails the topic of the DLC.--
More food for thought about the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) and the future of the Democratic Party...Can you imagine if an organization existed that purported to speak for Republicans, yet whose entire premise undermining the conservative base of the Republican Party? Do you think GOP presidential candidates would be flocking to address that organization's meetings? The answer, of course, is no, they wouldn't - and you can bet the GOP leadership would crush that organization before it ever got off the ground. But on the Democratic side, the story is far different.
Amen...
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