The Significance of Today

[HowardRoark]

Irregardless

Gah...hate that pseudo word. How the hell can irregardless mean the same thing as regardless?

Just making sure you are watching.

http://packerrats.com/ratchat/viewtopic.php?t=13669&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40

[Harlan Huckleby]

From Garrison Keillor's column about the inauguration:

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/37928144.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:Ug8P:Pc:UiacyKUnciaec8O7EyUr

when Mrs. Obama appeared, there was a roar, and when the Current Occupant and Mr. Cheney came out of the Capitol, a low and heartfelt rumble of booing. Dignified booing. Old black ladies around me tried to shush them -- "Don’t do that!" they hissed -- but it’s a democracy, and how will those men know how we feel if we don’t tell them?

The horror. Keillor is sort of a hero of mine, for reasons unrelated to some of his political tirades.

Can you imagine how Keillor would have reacted if a large group of conservatives started booing Barack Obama at the inauguration? Would he call it "dignified booing", or an act of democracy?

Liberals have gone crazy. They are so sure of their moral superiority, that they have stopped being reflective.
Conservatives at least have some suspician that they might be assholes.

[mraynrand]

Conservatives at least have some suspician that they might be assholes.

I'm a total asshole - and proud of it.

[sheepshead]

Conservatives at least have some suspician that they might be assholes.

I'm a total asshole - and proud of it.

ditto

[swede]

Conservatives at least have some suspician that they might be assholes.

I'm a total asshole - and proud of it.

ditto

* * * *

[digitaldean]

I've been known as an anal cavity to some of my liberal colleagues also.

Just so I can live up to that standard..... Garrison Keiler and all the other liberal media / celebrities, etc. can go to hell. What happened to Pres. Bush at the Inauguration was flat out abominable. Though I may detest some of his future policies, I will never disrespect President Obama. Anybody who brushes off or supports the behavior of some to this President are rank hypocrites. What would have the reaction been if Carter or Clinton had been booed? The press would have howled in indignation.

If any voice dissent on Pres. Obama's initiatives some may call them racist or obstructionist. But they fail to remember many Dems followed the motto "dissent is the highest form of patriotism" for the past 8 years.

When and ONLY when it is necessary, I will voice my dissent here, in blogs (maybe even my own) and anywhere else. If Pres. Obama brings forth a good idea, I will, with equal diligence, state my support of it.

If that makes me an anal cavity, so be it.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

I've been known as an anal cavity to some of my liberal colleagues also.

Just so I can live up to that standard..... Garrison Keiler and all the other liberal media / celebrities, etc. can go to hell. What happened to Pres. Bush at the Inauguration was flat out abominable. Though I may detest some of his future policies, I will never disrespect President Obama. Anybody who brushes off or supports the behavior of some to this President are rank hypocrites. What would have the reaction been if Carter or Clinton had been booed? The press would have howled in indignation.

If any voice dissent on Pres. Obama's initiatives some may call them racist or obstructionist. But they fail to remember many Dems followed the motto "dissent is the highest form of patriotism" for the past 8 years.

When and ONLY when it is necessary, I will voice my dissent here, in blogs (maybe even my own) and anywhere else. If Pres. Obama brings forth a good idea, I will, with equal diligence, state my support of it.

If that makes me an anal cavity, so be it.

I guess you don't believe in freedom of speech?

While I don't agree with booing the prez, it is nothing new...they get booed from day one to the end.

However, stop acting like an a-hole. As Keillor pointed out, many tried shushing the booers. There are always going to be those that act like boors.

Dissent: Which is worse, being called a racist/obstructionist or being called a traitor..which many of us have been called?

[Bossman641]

I've been known as an anal cavity to some of my liberal colleagues also.

Just so I can live up to that standard..... Garrison Keiler and all the other liberal media / celebrities, etc. can go to hell. What happened to Pres. Bush at the Inauguration was flat out abominable. Though I may detest some of his future policies, I will never disrespect President Obama. Anybody who brushes off or supports the behavior of some to this President are rank hypocrites. What would have the reaction been if Carter or Clinton had been booed? The press would have howled in indignation.

If any voice dissent on Pres. Obama's initiatives some may call them racist or obstructionist. But they fail to remember many Dems followed the motto "dissent is the highest form of patriotism" for the past 8 years.

When and ONLY when it is necessary, I will voice my dissent here, in blogs (maybe even my own) and anywhere else. If Pres. Obama brings forth a good idea, I will, with equal diligence, state my support of it.

If that makes me an anal cavity, so be it.

I guess you don't believe in freedom of speech?

While I don't agree with booing the prez, it is nothing new...they get booed from day one to the end.

However, stop acting like an a-hole. As Keillor pointed out, many tried shushing the booers. There are always going to be those that act like boors.

Dissent: Which is worse, being called a racist/obstructionist or being called a traitor..which many of us have been called?

Personally my issue isn't with the actual booing, there are always going to be a few classless bad seeds in a group that large. It is with this line "but it’s a democracy, and how will those men know how we feel if we don’t tell them"

Give me a fucking break on the moral superiority.

[digitaldean]

I guess you don't believe in freedom of speech?

I do believe in free speech, Ty. Like you calling me an a-hole, it's your right.

President's get booed regularly from day one to the end, huh? Please name the inauguration in recent memory in which ANY President was booed. There are certain levels of decorum one should observe. Even liberal hack Chris Matthews thought it was in bad taste, while Olbermann thought the only negative was that it overshadowed something re: the new First Lady.

I never advocated calling people traitors unless their behavior merited it. John Walker Lindh or any person who's spied for other countries on the US...those are traitors and should be swiftly tried and punished. If you wish to voice dissent on an issue, voice it. Those who voiced opposition to the war in Afghanistan or Iraq weren't traitors as some misguidedly voiced. I may firmly disagree with them, but to call it treasonous behavior is weak.

I'm just saying I'm not going to sit idly by and just do nothing or rubber stamp what goes on. It's my right, my duty, to make my representatives know how I feel and voice my opinions in whatever public forum I see fit. I will blog, email, use Twitter or whatever social medium is available to let any Sen. or Rep. know how I feel. How else do you REALLY expect change if you don't get involved, voice your opinion and get involved in the causes you think are just?

Michael Moore, Molly Ivins, Olbermann, etc. have done nothing but demean Pres. Bush from the outset of his first term. Calling him "the Shrub", the "Current Occupant" or something more profane is OK? Yes, it's free speech, but there is a level of decency that we citizens should maintain. Pres. Obama deserves a chance to state his case on whatever legislation or policies he wants to enact. Once stated, we as citizens need to let them know how we feel, but it doesn't give us free reign to be malicious.

By the way, I did say I would just as loudly voice approval toward Pres. Obama (e.g., I believe he is spot on regarding hiring a CTO to oversee expansion of our Internet access and speed). Saying nothing when someone does something noble or correct undercuts the arguments when voicing necessary dissent.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

I guess you don't believe in freedom of speech?

I do believe in free speech, Ty. Like you calling me an a-hole, it's your right.

President's get booed regularly from day one to the end, huh? Please name the inauguration in recent memory in which ANY President was booed. There are certain levels of decorum one should observe. Even liberal hack Chris Matthews thought it was in bad taste, while Olbermann thought the only negative was that it overshadowed something re: the new First Lady.

I never advocated calling people traitors unless their behavior merited it. John Walker Lindh or any person who's spied for other countries on the US...those are traitors and should be swiftly tried and punished. If you wish to voice dissent on an issue, voice it. Those who voiced opposition to the war in Afghanistan or Iraq weren't traitors as some misguidedly voiced. I may firmly disagree with them, but to call it treasonous behavior is weak.

I'm just saying I'm not going to sit idly by and just do nothing or rubber stamp what goes on. It's my right, my duty, to make my representatives know how I feel and voice my opinions in whatever public forum I see fit. I will blog, email, use Twitter or whatever social medium is available to let any Sen. or Rep. know how I feel. How else do you REALLY expect change if you don't get involved, voice your opinion and get involved in the causes you think are just?

Michael Moore, Molly Ivins, Olbermann, etc. have done nothing but demean Pres. Bush from the outset of his first term. Calling him "the Shrub", the "Current Occupant" or something more profane is OK? Yes, it's free speech, but there is a level of decency that we citizens should maintain. Pres. Obama deserves a chance to state his case on whatever legislation or policies he wants to enact. Once stated, we as citizens need to let them know how we feel, but it doesn't give us free reign to be malicious.

By the way, I did say I would just as loudly voice approval toward Pres. Obama (e.g., I believe he is spot on regarding hiring a CTO to oversee expansion of our Internet access and speed). Saying nothing when someone does something noble or correct undercuts the arguments when voicing necessary dissent.

Booed: Whether in person or while watching on tv...same thing. Booing is booing.

Insults: Plenty of people insulted clinton from day one.

Traitors: Plenty did. Stop personalizing it. We know we were called that..nobody has said anybody is racist yet. You guys are all up in arms about something that hasn't even happened yet.

[digitaldean]

Traitors: Plenty did. Stop personalizing it. We know we were called that..

I will if you will....

[Harlan Huckleby]

Freed by U.S., Saudi Becomes a Qaeda Chief

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order President Obama signed Thursday that the detention center be shut down within a year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/world/middleeast/23yemen.html

[Harlan Huckleby]

The Guantánamo Bay situation is so dicey. The prisoners there are not exactly criminals, they are closer to POWs. Is it really smart to bring them into this country and afford them the status of prisoners in the U.S. criminal system? How can they possibly be given any sort of due process when the evidence is on some ancient battlefield.

Most of the prisoners' countries of origin don't want them back.

The remaining prisoners are apparently threats. The marginal people were released over the years.

I'm not sure that Guantánamo Bay isn't the least bad option. I hate that OBama road the wave of anti-U.S. propaganda during the campaign. Now what is he going to do? Will the Europeans who Obama courted with his Close-Gitmo-Now talk accept some of them? I think not.

[texaspackerbacker]

The Guantánamo Bay situation is so dicey. The prisoners there are not exactly criminals, they are closer to POWs. Is it really smart to bring them into this country and afford them the status of prisoners in the U.S. criminal system? How can they possibly be given any sort of due process when the evidence is on some ancient battlefield.

Most of the prisoners' countries of origin don't want them back.

The remaining prisoners are apparently threats. The marginal people were released over the years.

I'm not sure that Guantánamo Bay isn't the least bad option. I hate that OBama road the wave of anti-U.S. propaganda during the campaign. Now what is he going to do? Will the Europeans who Obama courted with his Close-Gitmo-Now talk accept some of them? I think not.

It's not complicated; It's not dicey. It's just plain idiotic and idiotic in a horribly dangerous and anti-American way to close up Guantanamo. These God damned terrorists have no Constitutional rights. They are God damn lucky we treat them as good as we do. If they got what they deserved, they'd be tortured every day of their worthless lives, and then killed.

Obama is catering to his stinking leftist base on this issue--and truth be told, based on everything he has ever said and voted on, he is a true believing part of that America-hating leftist base that would subordinate America's well-being and even survival to the treatment of enemy scum and the opinions of foreign trash around the world.

I have given Obama credit for showing a few signs of moderating is his extremist views, and following the highly successful Bush policies on this, THE FAR AND AWAY MOST SIGNIFICANT ISSUE OF OUR TIME, SECURITY FROM TERRORIST HITS IN AMERICA. Obama's acts and words in the last few day, though, reflect a return to the dangerous idiocy and America-hate he has spewed in the past--forbidding harsh interrogation of terrorist prisoners, shutting down not only Guantanamo, but all of the CIA's secret prisons in foreign countries, and bringing the terrorist scum into OUR judicial system--affording them OUR rights and procedures of due process.

The chances of surviving the Obama years without repeats of 9/11 or worse were already much lower than with Bush, and they just got a lot worse with these latest moves.

[swede]

It's not complicated; It's not dicey. It's just plain idiotic and idiotic in a horribly dangerous and anti-American way to close up Guantanamo. These ... terrorists have no Constitutional rights...

The chances of surviving the Obama years without repeats of 9/11 or worse were already much lower than with Bush, and they just got a lot worse with these latest moves.

Other than the creepy, gratuitous acts of torture and mayhem mentioned in TPB's post, he is right.

Obama should have publically acknowledged that he would consider requests from any country to declare responsibility for any detainee and negotiate terms for extradition--it would give the Obama administration a great opportunity to share information with the sponsoring countries and point out how offended we'd be if little Achmed showed up in a Kansas City strip mall in six months wearing a dirty bomb suit.

The thing is--no country would come calling for these twisted, religious nutbag terrorists if they had to do so by publically taking responsibility for the future actions of the extradited detainees.