Quoted from harihead

Now this is interesting. My post was just censored.

Might have been me. I'm not used to being able to modify other peoples post, and more than once I've hit "modify" instead of "quote."
And I generally abbreviate the quotes to the bit that's relevant to my own post.

Oh, good grief. Okay, I'll fix the profile. And here I just thought you all were reasonably well-spoken people! Boy, is the bloom off the rose bush! (Actually, it shows that I only swear when I'm mad. I knew I should never get into a political discussion here.)

Since I am, Kevin, we have the same thing here. Bush crowds are hand-picked (yes, you may now use the Hitler salute). Every once in a while a human with dissenting views makes it through security and asks all those questions the press aren't allowed to ask because they'll lose their jobs. Media censorship is a _fact_ in this country. (I work in media; I know.) Anyway, this guy or gal will get through, speak their peace, and be celebrated on YouTube for a few days after they're carted out. But what the rest of the world must see is happy Americans just loving this amazing dangerously unbalanced dickweed of a protodictator. (Let's see if your censorship program flags that.)

Quoted from Kevin

Might have been me. I'm not used to being able to modify other peoples post, and more than once I've hit "modify" instead of "quote."
And I generally abbreviate the quotes to the bit that's relevant to my own post.

Now I'm puzzled. The Censorship option _is_ off (clear). Kevin, did you change my words? What I tried to say is that The President can't be a major dick on his own. That's D-I-C-K (in case I get censored again.)

What it now says is "The President can't be a major private on his own."

I tried to edit the post for a missing word right after and couldn't. So who was revising this? The site? Kevin? An American toady cleaning up my post for the President?

Are we all clear what  I called our anti-social diagnosible absolutely impeachable creep that for some unfathomable reason (read that as "stolen election") got elected to the highest office in the land and is now doing his best to dismantle was used to be the greatest Democratic Republic on the planet? Are we clear where I stand on this?

Quoted from harihead

Are we all clear what  I called our anti-social diagnosible absolutely impeachable creep that for some unfathomable reason (read that as "stolen election") got elected to the highest office in the land and is now doing his best to dismantle was used to be the greatest Democratic Republic on the planet? Are we clear where I stand on this?

I think I understand.

Quoted from harihead

Now I'm puzzled. The Censorship option _is_ off (clear). Kevin, did you change my words? What I tried to say is that The President can't be a major dick on his own. That's D-I-C-K (in case I get censored again.)

What it now says is "The President can't be a major private on his own."

I tried to edit the post for a missing word right after and couldn't. So who was revising this? The site? Kevin? An American toady cleaning up my post for the President?

Are we all clear what  I called our anti-social diagnosible absolutely impeachable creep that for some unfathomable reason (read that as "stolen election") got elected to the highest office in the land and is now doing his best to dismantle was used to be the greatest Democratic Republic on the planet? Are we clear where I stand on this?

For some reason d i c k always comes out as private. As in private part. So no need for paranoia. Censored or not I really find it hard to follow what your logic is. I'm not being an a**, I guess I'm just stupid. But then I do get turned off when names like Hitler are bandied about so lightly.

This little jewel might be appropriate to our discussion:

Bush Blair - Endless Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nupdcGwIG-g


Sandra, I by no means use the parallel with Hitler lightly. What is happening in this country is chilling. I suggest you look a little more closely at what Congress is doing. Look at their tactics (such as passing bills at midnight on a Friday to minimize media exposure), the type of bills they pass and the ones they let fail. Step #1 is to get informed.  

Dr. Lawrence Britt has done a well-regarded study of the growth of fascism in America. This link covers his 14 characteristics common to the fascist regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet. It includes links to articles supporting each of his contentions: http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm

There's a lot of links here, but you should read up on what the so-called Patriot Act did to our civil liberties. I'd start with the Analysis section: http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/USAPA.html
This article does a nice summary of this trend starting back in 1996: http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/theOtherWar.html

My sister, by the way, is on the front lines of the "War on Terror"--trying to anticipate biochemical warfare. In her direct experience, this Act made her job worse. It requires tons of paperwork instead of the practical procedures, which she'd been busy implementing before the Act passed. (Remember how the new Homeland Security rules fouled-up Katrina rescue efforts.) All her suggestions of direct ways our food, water, and public health could be at risk of terrorist attack have yet to be acted upon years after she identified them. Is our government serious about keeping us safe?

There's also this, just released yesterday: "The Evangelical Christian Takeover of the Military" http://www.alternet.org/asoldierspeaks/67385/?page=1 - a well-written heartfelt article by a retired Lt. Col. This isn't hype or hysteria. Check out this paragraph, about what our own Congress did:

"the House of Representatives, with little public notice, passed a chilling bill that undermines enforcement of the First Amendment's separation of church and state. The Public Expression of Religion Act, H.R. 2679, provides that attorneys who successfully challenge government actions that violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment shall not be entitled to recover attorney's fees. According to The Washington Post, the purpose of this bill is to prevent suits challenging unconstitutional government actions advancing religion."


These are all verifiable facts. The deal is, we're being told that everything is okay, we're the best, we're #1, etc. etc. and the country that we grew up in is becoming increasingly corrupt. We're going to be in a world of hurt if we don't demand accountable behavior from our elected representatives.

Actually, I think Step One would be to get informed by individuals who do not already have some sort of agenda. Or to be informed by a variety of sources that speak to both sides of an issue. But that's just me. I can most definitely find hundreds of sources backing up or discounting everything that you say. Getting informed is a tricky business. Do it well. Reading alarmist literature probably isn't the best way.

I don't discount that this administration has major issues. I've done criticizing myself. I'm not hiding my head in the sand as most of America isn't either. There is a general unhappiness and unrest going on in this country. Doesn't that say anything to you? People are not stupid. They know more of what's going on than you give them credit for.

As for Dr. Britt. While his list is interesting, its also very superficial. If you want to see the real gap between this government and an actual fascist government, do some real research. But then I'm not about to sit here and needlessly try to refute liberal fundamentalist dogma just as I wouldn't waste my time trying to pick apart what's wrong with right wing fundamentalist extremist beliefs. Could you post something pertaining to the background of Dr. Britt? I'm not finding much about him.

I said I understood people's issues with this county when I started this thread. I also said I wasn't annoyed because of peoples issues with the politics of this country, yet the massive generalizations against its people. But that's besides the point. Anyway, I choose not to harp on how disgusting this country is because, well for one thing, it's not horrible to live in, the majority of people in it want change, and I know its potential to be great. We're coming into an election year and I'd rather hope and work for change than hold onto the notion that we're becoming the Fourth Reich.

Every government has its corruptions. If you think we are any different from any other powerful government now or through the ages then you are deluding yourself. To constantly say you're ashamed to live here or that it's terrible to live here right now is not indicative of how most Americans really feel. Be proud that your actions can actually bring about change. Yes, it's easier said than done, but at least it can be done. Get out and spread the word on your favorite candidate before another one gets in that you think will continue to lead this country, with all its sheep into the throws of a fascist dictatorship.

Thank you for the basic primer on intelligent research. I think I can grasp the basics.

I have been actively involved in the last 2 elections, campaigning by phone and on foot, door to door. I'm not just sitting around complaining, I'm actively involved. If you are too, good for you!

Well I didn't mean to annoy you or anything. It's just that if you post strong statements you should expect strong reactions to those statements. I'm only expressing how I see things. If I did it in a way that was less than nice, I apologize. My friends and I getter rather heated when we debate, but it's all for the good. No harm intended. I do think it's rather short sighted to compare Bush to Hitler on any level though and it does tend to get to me. As does the implicaton that our country is headed toward fascism. I'm just weary of this kind of thinking in this day and age. With all the information available to us and with all the resources at our fingertips I think it's rather insulting to say that the American people are going to be that easily duped. But again, that is MY opinion. I could very well be way wrong. I'm just debating here is all. Again, sorry if you were offended.

I do find the American youth a little scary though. I mean, the trend of self absorption due to technology is disturbing. So if that's our future, then who knows what's in store.

I think Kevin's on to something about the historical reaction to Bush 100 years from now.  Even if you disagree with the Neo-Cons they've been able to map out their view of history that we'll be dealing with for the next 100 years.  But they weren't stupid.  The point may not have been to "win" the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.  It was to be able to deploy hundreds of thousands of troops surrounding Iran, on the border with Syria (surrounding it with Israel) and at China's back door.  If Asia is the future, the U.S. Empire has its foot firmly planted on the continent (in much more strategic areas than Vietnam).  

Of course the U.S. Empire has simply cribbed the playbook of the British Empire and is doing the bidding of the international money/commodities cartels that run the planet.  

That's what makes me so mad about Dylan doing that damned Cadillac Escalade ad!  Our only freedom is weaning ourselves as a nation from foreign credit and oil (and the Escalade, though made in the US, represents everything that's wrong with our gashog, look-how-big-my-car-is culture).  Shame on you, Bob!   Masters of War, my a**!

Bang on Adamzero. Invade the neighbours and surround Iran, force it into a conflict and  arms race it has no hope of winning, decry them as agressors for doing so and invade. There is a beauty to it.
And lets not forget the endless benefits to Isreal. Now it's no longer an Israeli-Palenstine issue, it's "A War On Terror" and the gloves are off.

all this corrupt politics gab is getting me excited.....i love the passion and convictions played out at this forum...the variety of countries and politics are a grace...we share information and opinions with out true aggession towards one another(well most times)lol...no other forums i visit has such a cross section of people interacting...consider us lucky....
tomorrow is thanksgiving day...i never really understood this day to be frank...what are the indians thankful for??????i am kidding no debates on that front please....
the truth is american is letting the politicians f*** us out of our rights and we need to nip this ticking time bomb in the butt,so my kids can live in a better not bitter world...i tend to group,like we were taught,group similar things together but on a personal level i make my mind up on individuals not groups....

Quoted from Joost

True. I once heard Bill O'Reilly say on TV that a lot of thing are going the wrong way in America and that if they wouldn't be careful, "America could end up just like The Netherlands". I was very insulted when I heard that.

O'Reilly is a right-wing conservative alarmist (and I'm being nice) He hates and fears all thing Liberal. Many Americans cant stand the guy--I count myself among them. Dont fool yourself into thinking he's the mouthpiece of a nation (or for that matter, any of the other Stormtroopers on FoxNews) We know him for what he truly is : a self-promoting, intellectual thug and George Bush defender.

It's all money. If O'Reilly could have made more money (plus its equivalent in bling and babes, I'm sure) selling the Democratic product, he would have done so.

It's all money. The Republican agenda is to put more money in the hands of the very rich, at the expense of the not very rich (the middle class in the USA is on the way to rapidly becoming of historical interest only). The Democrats at this point know they are against this, but they really don't know much else about themselves or what they stand for. But hey, it's a start.

It's all money.

Signed,

Harihead's favorite politician cum business executive