Things You Should Know About Senator John McCain
First, the real person that should be standing as the winner of the primary Republican election is Fred Thompson … As Ken McCracken writes:
Fred was about ideas, but unfortunately campaigns are mostly about personalities and rhetoric, and Fred left his ample theatrical skills hiding in the wings while lesser lights got the applause. Weeks, and months went by, and everyone figured he was only half-serious about running, and that is the message that stuck.
When John McCain began his career as a congressman in 1983, he was accurately described as a Reagan conservative. However, Rep. McCain had disagreed with President Reagan when it came to vote for a resolution to keep the Marines in Lebanon as a peacekeeping force an extra 18 months. McCain not only voted against it but made a public speech on the floor of the House.
John McCain’s success has often been attributed to his horrific experience as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton, and became a “darling” of the media. US News & World Report of the day stated that McCain was a “Republican on the rise”. After his second term in the House, he went after Barry Goldwater’s seat in the Senate after he found out that Senator Barry Goldwater was retiring. McCain was popular with the press in Arizona, as well as Senator Goldwater’s support. He won the senate seat in 1986. He soon became a major voice when it concerned defense and foreign policy issues in Congress. He also went on the list as a possible vice president for the Bush campaign.
John McCain soon became part of a scandal with four other senators who were asked by Charles Keating, the owner of Lincoln Savings and Loan, to meet with bank regulators regarding a federal audit. Reluctantly, McCain participated with the other four senators in two meetings. Details at Newsvine:
At the second meeting the senators discovered that the case was going to be turned over to the justice department. McCain and Senator John Glenn from Ohio backed off and had no further involvement. But the two meetings they had attended were enough to pull them into the scandal. McCain had been friends with Keating since 1981. … A senate ethics investigation would eventually clear McCain and Senator John Glenn. … Many thought that the decision had been motivated by politics, not by the evidence.
McCain did not let the Keating Five scandal defeat him, quite the opposite in fact. He began to look at the way campaigns were financed. Reform was needed. … McCain enlisted the aid of Senator Russell Feingold, a democrat from Wisconsin. Their target was to restrict the “soft” money from political campaigns. … It would take seven years, but the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 finally passed.
From Say Anything blog:
McCain says he opposed the Bush tax cuts in 2001 for the conservative-friendly reason of their not being coupled with cuts in federal spending. But in 2001 what he actually said was different, and more populist than conservative. … In 2001, McCain said the tax cuts favored the wealthy at the expense of the middle class.
Here is Senator John McCain’s record of the issues:
Abortion issue shows what kind of country we are.
Overturn Roe v. Wade, but keep incest and rape exceptions.
Supports repealing Roe v. Wade.
Loss of economic strength leads to losing military strength.
Republicans have forgotten how to control spending.
Congress spends money like drunken sailor.
Veto all pork-barrel bills and announce pork spenders.
Don’t ask, don’t tell is working; don’t tamper with it.
Confederate flag on top of capitol was wrong; in front is ok.
Leave gay marriage to the states.
Ten Commandments would bring virtue to our schools.
Confederate flag is a “symbol of heritage”.
Allow, but not mandate, school prayer.
1st Amendment not a shield for hate groups.
We don’t need laws against Spanish language and culture.
Affirmative action OK for specific programs, but no quotas.
Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration.
Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning.
People worry about corporations unduly influencing elections.
Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore.
Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy.
Judges have limited scope under the Constitution.
More death penalty; stricter sentencing.
Voted YES on limiting death penalty appeals.
Voted NO on restricting class-action lawsuits.
Mexico should extradite drug dealers to the US.
We’re losing drug war – just say no.
Stricter penalties; stricter programs.
Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts.
Charters, home schooling, and vouchers are key to success.
Against nationally imposed standards and funding strings.
Teach virtues in all schools.
Voted YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools.
Voted YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer.
Voted YES on school vouchers in DC.
FactCheck: Oil independence will take 25 years, not 5 years.
Climate change is real; nuclear power is solution.
Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska’s ANWR.
Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
Voted NO on Bush Administration Energy Policy.
FactCheck: Criticized $3M “bear DNA” study, but voted for it.
Preserve and help our National Parks.
Voted YES on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior.
Maintain Cuban embargo; indict Castro.
Our conscience influences US intervention, as in Rwanda.
Russia: Sanctions until Putin exits Chechnya.
Pay dues to UN after UN reforms.
Voted NO on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons.
Voted YES on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion.
Every time US went protectionist, we paid heavy price.
No environmental provisions in trade agreements.
Against foreign sales corporations (offshore tax breaks).
Substitute trade treaties for protectionism.
Admit China to WTO based on their concessions.
Free trade with any country except security risks.
Mexico: balancing act between free trade and stopping drugs.
NAFTA has had unambiguously positive impact on US.
Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China.
Voted NO on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market.
Reform election system, and get rid of electors.
No term limits; they throw away the good with the bad. (Jan. 2000)
Drain the big money swamp to kill lobbyist mosquitoes.
Supports Line-Item Veto and Balanced Budget.
Supports term limits on Congress (Jul 1998)
Voted YES on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration.
Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions and corporations.
Voted YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity.
Voted YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress.
Voted YES on banning “soft money” contributions and restricting issue ads.
Voted YES on requirement of photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration.
Voted NO on funding for National Endowment for the Arts.
Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance.
Voted YES on approving the presidential line-item veto.
Rethink flawed Presidential daily intelligence briefings.
CIA yielded to conventional wisdom, not political pressure.
Reduce federal government size and scope, including military (1998)
I know how to use guns; but I don’t own one.
Prosecute criminals, not citizens for gun ownership.
Don’t hold gun manufacturers liable for crimes.
Opposes restrictions on assault weapons and ammunition types.
Supports ban on certain assault weapons.
Guns are a problem, but so are violent web sites and videos.
Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
Voted NO on background checks at gun show – 2004 (but, stated in Aug. 1999: Ban cheap guns; require safety locks; for gun show checks.). Also voted YES on loosening license and background checks at gun shows in same year. In 1999 he voted YES on maintaining the current law: guns sold without trigger locks. Yet, in Aug, 1999 requested to require gun locks.
Preserve quality health care by individual responsibility. (2007)
Give individuals $2500 refundable tax credits for healthcare.
No mandated universal system; no mandated insurance coverage. (2007)
Control health costs so manufacturers stay competitive.
Supports tax-free medial savings accounts and tax credits.
Higher taxes on cigarettes.
More tax-deductible health costs; limits on malpractice.
Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D.
Voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics.
Voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction.
Waterboarding is torture; we’re not going to torture people.
Consult lawyers on war decisions; no half-cocked war basis.
After 9/11, ask Americans to join military or AmeriCorps.
Close Guantanamo Bay prison; announce no-torture policy.
We must provide our children a strong, better country.
Eliminate defense pork, but increase most other defense.
Terminate C-130, B-2 and Seawolf; use funds to modernize.
Politicians keep unneeded bases open for political purposes.
Keep health care promises to aging veterans.
$6.4B of military spending waste is a disgrace.
Raise military pay to avoid military draft.
Military personnel on food stamps is a national disgrace.
Europeans should spend more on defense, within NATO.
Voted NO on limiting soldiers’ deployments to 12 months.
Voted NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (2006)
Voted YES on reauthorizing the Patriot Act.
Voted YES on extending the Patriot Act’s wiretap provision.
Voted NO on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism.
Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%.
Advocacy: Innovate intelligence gathering for future hard targets.
Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP.
Do everything I can to help all immigrants learn English (2007)
12 million illegals in country now is de facto amnesty.
No official English; Native Americans use own languages.
Immigrant reform needed for national security (2007)
Change rule barring immigrants from running for president.
Make possible for immigrants to do a job Americans won’t do. (didn’t specify whether he was referring to illegal or legal immigrants in 2004)
Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform.
Voted YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government.
Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border.
Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program.
Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants. (Again, doesn’t state whether illegal or legal immigrants. 1997.
We need personal savings accounts.
Willing to compromise on raising cap above $90K.
Allow workers to invest privately.
Voted YES on Social Security Lockbox and limiting national debt.
Voted YES on allowing personal retirement accounts.
Voted YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes.
We need a simpler, fairer tax code, but not FairTax.
Tax system is fair; wealthy pay bulk of taxes.
Will not sign no-tax pledge; focus on cutting spending.
FactCheck: Families spend $20B on tax prep, not $140B. How about spending no money on tax preparation unless in business?)
Remove charitable deduction; it only benefits rich.
Supports flat tax; stop complexity by special interests.
Cut marriage tax, inheritance tax and earnings test.
Taxes should be flatter, lower, and simpler.
Voted YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax.
Voted YES on raising estate tax exemptions to $5 million.
Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts. (2007)
Voted YES on permanently repealing the ‘death tax’. (2006)
Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates.
Voted YES on eliminating the marriage penalty.
Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut.
Voted YES on requiring the super-majority for raising taxes.
Don’t police Internet crime; go after money to reduce crime.
Veto pork barrel; focus transportation spending on repairs.
Internet tax ban saved consumers $600m this Xmas (2000)
Voted NO on restoring $550m in funding for Amtrak for 2007.
Voted YES on Internet Sales tax moratorium.
Voted NO on telecommunication deregulation.
The War on Terror is a war we must fight. (2004)
Avoiding the War on Terror has cost us dearly.
Iran is sponsor of terrorism; US strike if they get nukes.
Palestine: Against declaration of statehood.
Keep military option open against Iran, even if no nukes.
No direct talk with Iran; talk is over-rated.
Help Maliki government in Iraq move forward as rapidly as possible.
I would much rather lose a campaign than lose a war.
Iraq is now the central front in the war against al-Qaeda.
Democrats proposing failure in Iraq by withdrawing.
Congress has no authority to cut off funds for Iraqi use.
Voted NO on redeploying non-essential troops out of Iraq in 9 months.
Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007.
Voted NO on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq.
CIA never questioned assumption that Saddam had WMDs.
Conclusions on Iran and North Korea are all classified.
Move the US Embassy to Jerusalem.
Require 40 hours work per week from welfare recipients.
Supports block grants, welfare-to-work, state control.
Voted YES on welfare block grants.
Voted NO on eliminating block grants for food stamps.
Voted YES on allowing state welfare waivers.
Voted YES on welfare overhaul.
Fully fund AmeriCorps.
And, in the case of Campaign Finance Reform bill co-authored by Senator McCain (Ken McCracken at Say Anything):
The First Amendment is not a negotiable instrument to be bargained away to earn plaudits from the press (the only constituency that ever really gave a damn about campaign finance reform), but McCain the First Amendment to be quite fungible in the name of increasing his political visibility. The man certainly has his priorities. … Protecting the new and odious practice of filibustering citizenship by cementing it in place via the Gang of Fourteen, does still more harm to the Constitution. Amnesty, shamnesty, or anything even close to resembling citizenship for illegals is an insult to the rule of law, and to the hallowed tradition of legal immigration in this country. Dragging his feet on building a border fence to protect our sovereignty belies an ugly ulterior motive. … He has an abiding faith in the voodoo science of global warming. He publicly threw Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld under the bus …
He called the Swiftboat Veterans “dishonest and dishonorable”, with no basis in his personal experience or the record to justify doing so.
Call it the McCain Mutiny, call it McCain Derangement Syndrome … these are troubling reasons to doubt McCain that are grounded in reality and facts …
But there are other reasons (Say Anything Blog) :
I believe my party has gone astray. I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy (Quote from John McCain)
U.S. Veteran Dispatch, Ted Sampley, November 14th, 2007 – (personal background) …
When McCain returned to the United States in 1973 after more than five years as a prisoner of war, he found his wife was a different person. Carol McCain, once a model, had been badly injured in a car wreck in 1969. The accident “lfet her 4 inches shorter and on crutches, and she gained a good deal of weight.” Despite her injuries, she had refused to allow her POW husband to be notified about her condition, fearing such news would not be good for him while he being held prisoner. But, just a couple of years later, McCain, while pondering a future in politics, met Cindy Hensley, an attractive 25-year-old woman from a very wealthy politically-connected Arizona family. While still married to Carol, McCain began an adulterous relationship with Cindy. He married Cindy in May 1980 – just a month after dumping his crippled wife and securing a divorce. …
In the senate, McCain managed to stay low key until suddenly he found himself on television trying to explain himself as one of the “Keating 5,” five senators who became enmeshed in the scandal involving the collapsed Lincoln Savings and Loan and the financial machinations of Charles Keating. Keating was convicted of federal fraud and racketeering charges and in 1997, McCain’s friend Symington was forced out of office after being convicted on seven counts of fraud. Reports from a variety of U.S. publications exposed McCain’s true scandalous character. (Sources at original article linked above).
Say Anything blog:
- McCain favors business lobbyists’ desires for foreign workers vs. protecting American workers’ wages and jobs.
- McCain’s hopes of giving millions of amnesty will saddle American taxpayers with huge costs of $20,000 per illegal per year. …
- McCain has taken the pro-amnesty position in nearly two dozen votes.
- McCain only promises to make 2 million of the 12-20 million illegal aliens go home.
John McCain in 2003:
I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people, Amnesty has to be an important part …”
He has also stated –
The first day I am President …
He will close Gitmo – see YouTube.
McCain, along with Lieberman have been advocates of anti-global warming legislation (National Center organization). McCain and Lieberman have proposed an “Energy Tax” –
No drilling in ANWR, nor in the Everglades, nor off the coast of Florida … To think that drilling in ANWR is the solution to our incredible energy needs is frankly, is not keeping in the reality of what’s there, and what it would take to get it out.
McCain stated that same-sex marriage ban is un-Republican. (All Politics).
A YouTube video shows McCain boasting that he voted against the Bush Tax Cuts.
Club For Growth reports that McCain would vote against tax cuts again.
And, again at Say Anything:
- McCain sponsored and voted for an enormous 28.2% tax increase on cigarettes in 1998.
- McCain was one of only two Republicans to vote against the $1.35 trillion tax cut in 2001.
- McCain was one of only two Republicans to twice vote against permanent repeal of the death tax in 2002.
- McCain was one of only three Republicans to twice vote against the $350 billion tax cut in 2003.
And check out McCain’s proposed tax on energy at National Review.
McCain would not participate in the Anti-Tax Pledge. (CNSNews).
McCain voted against $19 billion for military hospitals. He also voted against Amendment to provide $2.8 billion for Veterans’ Medical Care and against an amendment in 2005 to provide a guaranteed stream of funding for Veteran’s Health Care. Voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to provide improvements to military and veteran health facilities.
J. B. Williams of the Canada Free Press publicly denounced McCain as a liar and explains why.
Mark Levin reports the Real McCain Record at National Review.
Michelle Malkin writes: John McCain vs. the Right: No Easy Peace and The Geraldo Rivera Republican.
American Chaos at WordPress – McCain Does Not Deserve the Republican Nomination.
McCain denies it, but he talked to Democrats about leaving the Republican Party (Senator Kerry had been considering making him his running mate in 2004 – admitted that he would “would entertain it” on ABC’s Good Morning America on March 10th, 2004.); however, John Weaver reports that it was true that McCain had those talks with Democrats via Fox News Special Report, March 29th, 2007.
And, according to Say Anything and staff personnel:
John McCain is the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, so our friend works directly with McCain’s staff on a regular basis. …his experience has been that McCain staffers are habitually heavy handed and abusive, using threats and intimidations to get what they want with complete and utter disregard and disrespect for people to the extent that it would make it very difficult to feel good about a McCain presidency. Maybe that’s how people get things done on Capital Hill, but that’s not the kind of leadership that I want to support.
NewsMax, Rush Limbaugh article – McCain Does Not Fit ‘Conservative’ Definition. Well, maybe that is why he got such high percentages lately – from Democrats who do not want either Hillary or Barack for president.
McCain lied about Romney’s funding for abortions – see FactCheck.
Border Fire Report calls McCain’s ideology on the illegal immigration issue: McLame’s Immigration Insanity.
In a Newsweek article:
When Ross Perot Calls … The former presidential candidate blasts John McCain, and gets an education about Barack Obama’s religion.
McCain’s stance on our national security, specifically our southern border he states: We are not going to build fences and barriers. (YouTube)
GunOwners organization writes about his position concerning the Second Amendment. Dave Kopel writes that McCain is a “no show on guns”.
Real Change reveals the skeletons in McCain’s closet.
There is even a site named The Real McCain – exposing his record.
The Next Prez blogspot article The Conservative Case Against McCain.
Read information about involvement in two scandals …
As well as a CBS News story McCain isn’t Right for the Right
“Outrageous Exaggerations” at FactCheck.
Further Reading –
Defending America by David Hackworth
Why Vietnam Vets Split on McCain
Luck of the Admiral’s Son
MSNBC Questions McCain’s Temper
An Enormous Crime
And that leaves Mitt Romney – the next runner up in the percentages thus far – with Ron Paul and Giuliani, with low percentages.
Now, on the Republican side of the aisle – Romney remains the only viable candidate to beat him. Unfortunately, people don’t trust him either.
Issues like:
His advocacy against “assault weapons“.
One Lie Too Many
Lobbyist Hypocrisy
Lobbyists Among His Campaign Staff
Long Time Hunter Boast – Blasted
Romney Should Not Be Next President
Romney and Island Tax Havens
Religious Intolerance
So far, you are reading a thorough report on McCain – I am not voting for him for only one reason, but several reasons. And the primary in Wisconsin is approaching near …
28 Comments »
Leave a comment
Keith A. Lehman
Limited government By/For People, Constitutional Legislators, Constructionist/Objective Judiciary, Limited Foreign Aid, Benefits for US Citizens only, Fair tax system with flat rate based on consumption, and more BBQs and fishing time.
Quotes for Today- Alfred Lord Tennyson"Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers."
- Peter Drucker"The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different."
- Will Durant"To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy."
- Bertolt Brecht"Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are."
- Alfred Lord Tennyson
Lighthouse Patriot Journal Member Of:
Operation Smart Vote –
Recent Comments
Author Listing
-
Keith Lehman
- SITREP: Afghanistan – the Long Haul
- Light Side of Lighthouse: Barack H. Obama, the Great Communicator
- If GW Bush Did What BH Obama Did – Would You Approve?
- Myth Blaster: Health Benefits of the Banana
- Protests Continue Over Obamacare Legislation and Experts Warn Results – But Sociocrats Aren’t Listening
- Myth Blaster: Free Cell Phones for Welfare Recipients
- Light Side of Lighthouse: ‘One Cup of Tea – Priceless!’
- Myth Blaster: Senator Harry Reid Descendent of Horse Thief
- Snippets: Facebook Scam Alert, Government Watch, Fate of the F22 Raptor, Wisconsin Taxes Increase
- Iranian Leadership: Not Given the Credit of Evil It Represents
-
Kritter Girl
-
quillsnkiko
- No posts
-
Witchy Woman
-
Dave the Sage
LPJ Member Of –
Fellow Patriot, Friend of LPJ
LPJ Global
[...] More stuff to know about McCain: Things You Should Know About Senator John McCain Lighthouse Patriot Journal [...]
Pingback by When Democrats attack | February 27, 2008
john maccian is the most racist nazi terrorist, neo facsist animal like creature who needs some displine before attacking 1/4 of the worlds population , the muslim world, this guy will bring the defeat to all of you concerned americans. this guy will mark the begininng of the end of a facist terrorist phsycopathic US gov’t .. power currupts and absolute power currupts absolutely..
please excuse my spilling
Osama M:
John McCain is not a racist, a Nazi nor a terrorist. Neo-fascist? Isn’t that what the American Left, in concert with the Islamic fascists call the present Bush administration because we rightfully declared war against that element whose trademark is terrorism?
The complaints against Senator McCain’s congressional actions and other questions are based upon truth. If you think he and anyone in or government is a fascist – you wouldn’t know one if they were looking you in the face. Try using the encyclopedia and dictionary – you might get an idea what fascism is.
There have been mistakes in dealing with foreign affairs in the past thirty years (at least), but to call our American government psychopathic terrorists requires no real response.
We do not behead our prisoners or those who will not convert. And there is nothing to convert to because our religions that Americans exercise in are separate from the state, except in the founders belief in one God over all.
We do not fly planes into buildings and kill innocent people. We do not blow up buses with school children on them. We do not explode human bombs in market places to see how many people we can kill.
Normally I wouldn’t allow comments such as this – despite my belief in freedom of speech – which the Islamic fascist does not allow, and for that matter, not much of any freedom.
If you are an advocate of such ideology, then your days are numbered. Frankly we have enough of your hate, your lies, and the misconception that you are following a “true” religion. Any religion that teaches its followers to kill and especially en masse – and uses the religious doctrination to encourage followers to become human bombs is not quite right in anyone’s true conscientious minds, whatever religious persuasion they may follow or even as an atheist with no belief in any religion.
Your “spilling” is excused. Your ideology and incorrect accusations are not.
You go Mr. Lehman!
First of all, we should be in this war because Islamic radical terrorists are a threat to the safety and security of the US and the rest of freedom loving mankind. If we do not stop them now, their power will only grow and grow. Secondly, Saddam Hussein has been dethroned and Iraq needs to be made into a self supporting democracy that will help defeat terrorists. Surrendering (withdrawing) will only make matters worse. Why quit now when the US has already made immense progress under the firm military leadership of General Petraus. Although that it seems that this war is sucking up our nation’s money, the total costs have only amounted to 4 or 5% of the US’s national budget (TIME magazine) This war has cost lives, but death and casualty tolls are no where near that of previous wars, such as WWII. Besides, Freedom is Not Free.
I find it breathtaking how people in the US actually believe that going the war Iraq was, and is, connected with the War on Terror.
Iraq was never a base for Al Qaeda.
The attackers were based elsewhere, having Saudi and Pakistani connections. They’d never even set foot in Iraq. Pakistan, however, exports cotton and fish. Iraq had something far more valuable: oil.
America’s government lied to its’ own people, using falsified evidence, in order to steal a nations oil.
The war in Iraq is, blatantly, a corporate war.
Meanwhile, a few weeks back, Bush sells 20 billion dollars worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, a country where women are not allowed to drive or vote.
nice.
Tearful allusions to a patriotic war are simply misguided references to an act of theft.
You go Mr. Ben!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and taking the time to visit. Appreciate your participation and concerns.
As an added comment to yours, unlike the Vietnam War – we cannot walk away from this one. Islamic extremists want more than just Iraq – they want world domination. The rogue nations supporting them and using them as their tool will find out that this mad dog will bite the hand that feeds them.
Freedom of religion and tolerance of all religions has, in this case, a limitation. No religious entity should be tolerated that commits murder and uses tactics of terrorism and fear as their evangelical tools with an agenda such as the Islamic fundamentalist fascist.
If we would have realized this beginning in the 1970s and acted accordingly, our casualty rate would have been less; and if we concede to what the terrorist element is attempting in Iraq and Afghanistan (for some reason no one protests the conflict and US presence there) – than the casualty rate will at least double.
The American political left know full well that General Petraeus has performed well, with conviction and expertise required; yet because their political agenda means more than national and world security (they cannot allow victory while a president from the opposing political party is in office) – we have what we have.
The most alarming thing is people like Jason falls for the American left propaganda.
Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts, Ben.
Best Regards …
Jason Davis:
I invite you to read more articles in this e-journal that concern this subject material, other than this one about Senator McCain.
According to what you wrote, it is apparent you have never been to this portion of the world – I have. And not only was I there, but had access to classified communiqué that is far removed of what most of the media entities write about. And like the media, you write partial truths …
You wrote: “Iraq was never a base for Al Qaeda”
As a direct operations base, no; as a training operation base – YES. After the 100,000 troops that were staged in Kuwait were given the signal to begin Operation Iraqi Freedom, and entering an area in the southern outskirts of Baghdad by the US Marines and British/Australian contingency force – a base camp designed for terrorist training was discovered, recently abandoned. In that camp was a fuselage of a Boeing 707 which was obviously used to train terrorists in the operations of commandeering (hijacking) a commercial aircraft. Captured Iraqi military officers described “a highly secret terrorist training facility at Salman Pak, where both Iraqis and non-Iraqi Arabs received training on hijacking planes and trains, planting explosives in cities, sabotage, and assassinations.” (http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iraq/salman_pak.htm)
In addition, this location was also the site of a “secure biological warfare research facility” that existed since the 1980s. Dr. Rihab Taha was the head of this facility, originally located on a peninsula at the Tigris River, but in 1987 was moved to Salman Pak.
And the WMDs that the American political and European left raved that didn’t “exist”? Equipment moving trucks were observed at the Salman Park facility just before the American bombing operation began – highly suggestive that anything in the facility was being moved that Saddam thought it required to be done. The actual WMD missile facility that produced Al Hussein class missiles was located nearby were also activities of vehicular movement large enough to move disassembled WMDs. It was originally believed that they were not found because they were spirited out of the country, with intelligence reports indicating that the destination was Syria. Recent communiqué from Israel’s highly respected intelligence agency has revealed that there is confirming evidence that the WMDs that some folks said didn’t exist (via the left-leaning media) – were indeed taken to Syria literally in the middle of the night. When the United Nations inspectors inquired about the Salmon Pak facility they were told by Saddam’s officials that it was an “anti-terror” training camp. The UN officials were stupid enough to believe him (or, as found out later in the Food for Oil scandal – chose to ignore it). The best information came from two Iraqi defectors who stated they had worked for the facility for years. Et cetera.
What you should find “breathtaking” is how many people have fallen for the media and political left’s rhetoric and campaign to make the Bush administration look bad when it came to the Iraq operation. This, of course, was not necessary, because here in America concerning domestic issues, President GW Bush made himself look bad with his policies concerning illegal immigration, enforcement of immigration laws, not using his veto pen; not pushing for the passage of the Fair Tax Act legislation, but instead using a quick fix method of tax reduction to “stimulate” the economy and continued to do so for the rest of his two terms – and other failures to act other than in a dysfunctional way. The American left practically ignores these transgressions and inactions, instead creating an atmosphere with the help of the media much as what occurred in the Vietnam War.
If there was any “lying” going on, Jason, it was coming from the media and its leftist counterpart.
The fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime marked the victory in Iraq; however, in the reconstruction phase, in which President GW Bush and Rummy the Secretary of Defense screwed up, the operation did indeed become part of the war against terrorism declared by Congress in 2001. My goodness, man, do you not (even with the media being unobjective) read the news of terrorists attacking Iraqi citizens and the coalition forces?
I thought I would never see another American citizen state the most insane of all of the propaganda that has come from the minds of the American socialists – “in order to steal a nation’s oil”. Do you realize that you are taking the side of a declared enemy? You are because this accusation came straight from the Iranian propaganda agency of the Iranian government – parotted by the American left movement in America that helped lose the Vietnam War and is now attempting to repeat that history in the form of this Iraq operation.
Karl Marx, in his Communist Manifesto clearly states his distaste and claim that the corporation (aristocracy) is to blame for the woes of humanity. Really?
Tell me, Jason …
Do you drive an automobile? If so, who made it?
Do you cut your lawn with a lawnmower? If so, who made it?
Corporations and businesses – you know, the guys who supply Americans JOBS!
True, ,members of these corporations in the past, present, and certainly n the future will attempt to bend the rules in place to create an atmosphere of fair business practices, established by the government you are referring to. They end up getting caught – fined and/or jailed. Does the discovery of crooks and embezzlers within a corporation make all corporations “bad”?
In regards to America’s foreign policy – have you read the antics of the Clinton administration when it comes to being “buddies” with the wrong people? The H.W. Bush administration? And backwards through time after President Harry Truman? In one degree or another, we have had the attitude that the enemy of our enemy is our enemy – even if they are not our friend. I agree – we need to change that way of thinking when it comes to foreign affairs. Look how friendly this administration (and the previous administration) is with Mexico (its government). Yet, they have been caught performing actions that would normally permit a declaration of war. Case in point (facts) – Mexican military forces have been not only observed to be on the US side of the border, but have actually fired at American citizens. It has been determined that those military personnel are escorting arms of the drug cartel so powerful in Central and South America. The Mexican government encourages illegal immigration to the United States and in its government created text books, their history portion relates that the United States stole real estate from Mexico and that it is justified to try to take it back. In this case, by subversion. Did you know that during World War II, the Mexican government unofficially supported German spy rings against the United States? Mexico is a false friend – yet we have politicians and citizens saying we shouldn’t protect our border with a secure fence/wall system because it “offends” the Mexican government. Did you also know that there are underground systems of tunnels from Mexico into the United States? The Mexican government has not performed their part in the endeavor to stop illegal immigrants, obviously.
American foreign policy, in the form in which it has caused future problems, is evident in the case of South America who is now uniting (because either they agree with or are afraid of Chavez) into a conglomeration of a socialist/communist state? In a sense, American foreign policy caused this.
Therefore, I partially agree with that statement concerning our foreign policy, like the selling of weapons (Saudi Arabia was not alone – we also supported Saddam in the 1980s when they were fighting against Iran).
You should be ashamed of the final remark you make:
“Tearful allusions to a patriotic war are simply misguided references to an act of theft”.
I could continue with more facts, armed against your rhetoric of brainwashing, but I have found in most cases it is ignored.
To be against an American government official because of transgressions is one thing – but to dismiss American patriotism as an “allusion”, which I believe you probably meant to write “illusion” – just proves Stalin right – America has its “useful idiots”. This is not name-calling, just a quote from a master of communist propaganda and the techniques of a tyrant. And this is the picture you paint of a US President, as well as people who are fellow American citizens like you.
If you are out of breath from “breathtaking” – it may be from spewing out the political lies that the media has been pounding into your head.
You really need to find better resources of information – like think tanks, Global Security referenced above, and the Gertz File; because everyone cannot or does not have the opportunity I had of serving their country and seeing things from first-hand view. And, in regards to Saudi Arabia – they are literally caught in the middle, but it certainly is time for them to take a stand against extremists among them and deter them from staining their religious faith.
You need to support American troops (and the coalition) – they are your neighbors, friends and relatives. They are your fellow citizens. You need to support your nation and its government against the enemies of the United States; yet stand up and speak out when true transgressions or bad policy is initiated; however, you must educate yourself to know the difference and to know what propaganda is and what is not.
Don’t be a collective village idiot – be an individual, proud, American citizen. If not, maybe you should consider emigrating to someplace that suits your political ideology and quit joining those whose agenda is to create a form of American socialist utopia. It has never existed and never will – only in the writings of Karl Marx and those who follow the manifesto.
Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts – I hope you will not take offense, but instead, stop and think. That is the gist of my comment upon your rebuttal/opinion.
One final question to ask yourself? If our President, indeed our government and nation is imperialistic and sought to occupy Iraq to “take its oil” – then why am I paying $3.45 per gallon and it is climbing every week as of late?
Don’t let the brainwashers think for you – listen to all aspects of an issue, but sort out the facts logically and independently. Truly, that is the gist of this discussion – not just who is right (factual) and who is not (or partial). In fact, don’t believe me right away – check me out. I always provide source links in my articles. Take a moment and read the articles that cover this subject. Read the articles concerning invasion and subversion, and you will see that President GW Bush is indeed dysfunctional, but we are in danger no matter who the President is.
Wake up, Jason. America needs you. And again, it is not intended to offend, because that would not make you think – it would just make you angry.
Best Regards …
McCain for president!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jordon D:
Now isn’t that a kicker. You write about issues produced by the American left in their propaganda and then declare McCain the best candidate for President.
I dare not ask, but I will – Why?
It’s so hard to discern what is true and false about anyone anymore.
I consider the War on Terrror quite ridiculous considering that more people die by bee stings than terrorist attacks. That’s a fact, most people just don’t realize it because of the fear instinct. News puts it way out of proportion and people panic. That’s how momentum for projects is gained. To Keith: you’re paying ridiculous sums for oil because of an energy monopoly. You need it, they have it. You HAVE to pay that sum if you don’t have effective alternatives. If Bush was scheming with the oil companies, he wouldn’t do it for pennies. Everyone wants a slice and that’s why it’s expensive.
Exxon and Shell are the top polluting companies anywhere, do away with oil and find something viable.
Nice blog, I like the topics it touches upon.
David (?):
It is only “hard to discern” if you don’t take the time to research, and even then get a second opinion/fact.
I consider your comment concerning deaths caused by terrorism offensive and preposterous.
HYG-2076-96, Ohio State University, 1991: “It is estimated that between one and two million people in the United States are severely allergic to stinging insect venom; each year 90 to 100 deaths occur from sting reactions …involving bees, wasps, hornets, bumble bees and ants.”
Year 2001 – 100 possible insect sting deaths versus 2,974 killed on September 11th 2001; 477 killed in movie theater Iran (1978); 400 killed in Yazidi villages, Iraq 2007; 334 killed in Russia, 2004; 200 killed in Madrid Spain; 4,000 American troops killed from 2003 to 2008 … [also see Wikipedia entry entitled "List of wars and disasters by death toll" - although not a good primary source because of not enough source material for the table charts.]
How many friends, relative or acquaintances you know were killed by terrorists? I have lost too many and I can still count them with fingers on one hand. Islamic fascist-extremists use terrorism as their tool, which main them is compliance through fear. It is as old as when first tribes decided to duke it out with clubs. It sucks, but it must be addressed and aggressors must NEVER get away with it. Which means that we never give in to thugs – which is what this element of humanity is. We do not need to hate Muslims, per se’, we need to pinpoint our counter energies against those Muslims who preach hate, mass murder, against individual liberty, against freedom-loving nations and whose agenda has been made clear by the mullahs and the caliphate leadership like in Iran. If you think all that is “ridiculous” than I am sorry for you – and angry at the same time.
And oil companies, assuming you are talking about American oil company/refineries – they make an average profit margin of 9-11 percent. Those oil companies have to answer to investors, and oil is a commodity (like pork, corn, et cetera) whose pricing goes by the supply and demand factor. President Bush has gone three times this year to the Arabs, the major foreign source of our crude oil, to increase production (release more crude oil) which will automatically make the price go down. They refused all three times. During the course of President Bush’s administration he has asked Congress to increase crude oil production within the US, as well as build one new refinery and upgrade the existing refineries that we have needed in the course of thirty years – Alaska (referendum by people) stated “Yes” – Democrat-controlled Congress said “No”. However, to be fair, in 1994 when Congress had a better majority, they still didn’t take care of the problem. Constantly congressional members, specifically Democratic blame the President, except of course, Bill Clinton – who didn’t do anything or attempt to persuade anything to be done. Congress has wasted money in investigative committees against oil companies when price of fuel goes up (and stays up with an increase in increments) – and EVERY time no illegal or unconventional acts by the oil companies have been found. If Bill Clinton did nothing about our need of foreign oil does that make him a “schemer” with the oil companies? NO. He, like Al Gore listens to the Green fanatics who take things too far when it comes to the environmental posture. It was said that the Alaskan oil line, by these idiot groups, that the wildlife was in danger because of it being built. When a study was found, wildlife like Moose, elk, et cetera, was actually benefiting because they were using the structure to survive in the elements as a means of shelter – and the herds had INCREASED since the oil pipeline was built.
Exxon was in the news because some moron first mate was drunk while piloting an Alaskan oil ship and caused the horrible spill – which cost millions of dollars for that company to clean up. Oil companies don’t want spills – it hurts their profit margin in two ways – loss of crude oil and cost of clean up and any fines they must pay if found negligent.
People have been so brainwashed by politicians and their media minions that they don’t realize how this American version of Marxism is eating away the brains of people like you who don’t take the time to research what people say and write.
By the way – I tell my readers this: don’t even take my word for it, check me out. The motto here is “Searching for Truth in a Sea of Misinformation” and it is not just a catchy phrase.
And, after all this you still say: “Nice blog, I like the topics it touches upon” – and completely throw me off track! So, all I can say about that is “thanks” and hope you read more articles about the subjects you have mentioned in your comment, and I thank you for sharing your thoughts, and apologize for my strong response.
And one final question: What does this have to do with “Things You Should Know About Senator McCain”?
Here is the EIA results, February 2008 imports report (http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html) …
“…two countries exported more than 1.50 million barrels per day to the United States, the following are the countries who sell/provide crude oil for US, in order of quantity:
1. Canada.
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Mexico
4. Nigeria
5. Venezuela
6. Iraq
7. Angola
8. Kuwait
9. Colombia
10. Ecuador
11. Brazil
12. Algeria
13. Congo
14. Chad
15. Russia
David, if you are really interested in helping solve high price of fuel – write to your representative and senator(s) and let them know the jig is up and they need to approve another refinery, drill oil in Alaska, other states, and increase offshore production, and allow upgrade of existing refineries under the same Clean Air Act they are practicing at the moment. Once the fuel prices lower and stay down, other things like food will not increase. They must also do away with Ethanol, which is not any better than gasoline and is raising the price of corn (for foodstuff) for no other reason than some mindless environmental group pushing for it.
In respect to your alternate energy, while we are accomplishing the above, we can continue, or rather the scientists, engineers, chemists and inventors can seek a reliable and inexpensive means. Presently it is hydrogen, a process that would require one to insert a water hose in a vehicle’s tank instead of a gasoline/diesel hose.
Keep track David and don’t rely solely on the mainstream press for your information. Check out the categories menu here at LPJ and find articles touching upon these subjects, and I hope to hear from you again.
to all of u whom ever is defending the US government needs to learn more about the American history ur asking y the people blow them self for example in isreal and so forth did u ask ur self what made them do so?? there is no person who will risk them self for such an act unless they r oppressed. imagine when a pregnant women is stabbed what will her other children react or a girl that is rapped or a old man who is beating down by rocks or a teenage who is been eaten by a dog are these things in the media???? u will never see such things like this or even near this but the truth is America oppresses people in the middle east and calls it democracy is this what is democracy and if u want to speak about the Islamic teachings u dont know enough about its history and lets just asume u know some what do u know that women is oppressed lolzz if thats the case ask ur self a question most of the whose who enter islam in the USA are women soo y will they enter islam if it really does oppress them what u might know is incorrect and besides how can u know about islam and u dont even practice or even live in an islamic country for u to see and observe. by the way islam gave rights that democracy didnt give YET u speak about freeedom of speech freedom to oppress others and degrade and criticize and disrespect other people’s religion and u call that freedom of speeech i dare any one to say somthing against jews or zoinest there is no freedom of speeech in this case ,but there is to fight the weak person or the minority. lestin in america’s history since it was found it was racist the founders of this country were racist they enslaved people then slept with them and u call this democracy . the only country that used the atomic bomb is the USA u call this fighting for ur rights america humiliated many different minorities Blacks,Arabs,Muslims, American Indians,Philippians,Japanese and yet u speak about what some arabs dooo what happend in 911 was done by BUSH not muslims. the problem in america is many of the people believe their media and by educated people who dont even know alot of other people’s culture or history and they assume that their way is the right wayy and they want to apply it to the world by stelling their oil,humiliating them and calling in the name of democracy. and besides in every nations their good people and bad people but for anyone to criticize religion is WRONG did the anyone blame Christianity for hilter’s act NOO soo y is there a new game against ISLAM. many of the Americans dont understand their own faith how can they even understand other people’s faith. in the US a women can sleep with someone before merrage which is against their faith and many other behaviors. i saw man disrespectful shows about Jesus by Americans its considered OK acceptable when they put Jesus in a comedy show. this shows that there is no VALUE for religion.There is only VALUE TO BE MATERIALISTIC and thats a weakness of the US and thats y the US invades and steels and does all this crap to people and justifys it by the name of democracy just like they justified slavery by stating that Jesus is a white man and blacks r like animals not humans and bringing different theories to prove their point. the Americans need to wake up and understand that not all people are the same people have different culture,tradiitons and may be faith. some of u might bring some things u know about some muslims or about islam it self but i will bring out a point if u cant read the Quran in arabic then u dont know much soo that means u need a schalor to interpert the meaning soo before speaking about any faith be sure what does it really mean.
by the way MeCcain words r freaking dryyyy as his face he signed with 95% with bush and yet he is saying his change will better than obama.
American:
Hardly.
To all Americans, real Americans – Thanks for your support and service to your country.
Now, where to begin …. Obviously you were educated in a public school – demonstrating the “trickle-down” style of education starting with your grammar.
Islamic extremists “blow themselves up” because they are guided by the imam to do so. Unfortunately you have been brainwashed by the political left (radical) that states that the enemies of the United States are “oppressed” and therefore they are the downtrodden and product of American foreign policy. False. Have you not read the guest writer scholars and professors on this subject? Statistics as well as Middle East experts will wholeheartedly and emphatically disagree with you.
One wonders where YOU learned history.
Of course, the grammar, punctuation and general English in your composition are so atrocious I may have misunderstood your points.
Yes, we all know how the apologetic leftist educational administrators and professors have been teaching our youth to be ashamed of our history; however, they fail to mention that we write about the good and the bad parts of the history of the United States, and on several occasions the government of the United States has apologized for their indiscretions, and rightly so. However, how many nations write about the good and bad points of their nation’s history? I am sure there is hopefully more than a handful. Truly oppressed peoples under national leadership do not have accurate history books to read, and if you are taking this commentary (don’t know where you got this information, no sources was provided – which is a standard rule for rebuttals) from your school textbooks – this further adds ammunition for my push to allow home schooling or school choice concerning private schools.
And your allegation that “BUSH” was behind 9/11 has already been proven to be a major hoax, which really could have been figured out without too much research – but the committee was thorough and professional.
I don’t recall in any part of our history when we “apply it to the world by stelling their oil” – “humiliating them” means. I would not argue the point that oil has been behind American foreign policy and tyrants since Hitler has been trying to corner the market on it – but America stealing ["stelling"] oil? Do you have anything to back this up besides a prescription with MoveOn.org?
Why would anyone in their right mind blame Christians for Hitler’s actions? Oh, wait, I get the connection – Christians (supposedly) hate Jews because they killed Christ, who just happened to be Jewish. Is that it?
Are you really an American or is this a hoax? Using that handle is an insult to real Americans.
Well, everyone gets to speak their mind here, unless it is so full of expletives that I don’t bother posting it, because I believe in freedom of speech; although you don’t think Americans believe in freedom of speech, at least that is what I think you wrote.
And, by the way – just because those that read the Qur’an in English translated from Arabic does not mean they cannot understand it. That would mean that the Bible cannot be understood because it was originally written in Greek, Aramaic, and Latin before its translation by the order of King James into English. And, thus the same for many books that have been written in other languages than English and translated for English speaking peoples to enjoy. On the other hand, if a person with your lack of ability in the English language was doing the translating, I am afraid I couldn’t trust it.
And, your comment about John McCain [“MeCcain”] … not quite sure what “words r freaking dryyyy as his face he signed with 95% with bush and yet he is saying his change will better than Obama.”
But I would like to add that none of the three present candidates – Obama, Hillary (out of the picture, maybe?) and McCain could be the Three Stooges in the comical world of politics. In other words, none of them are getting MY vote.
And, speaking of voting – Do you? Maybe this is part of the problem with this country is the lack of education produces truly illiterate voters.
PS – If you are not an American, than I would like to use the redneck phrase – “Go back from whence you came – you apparently liked it better, anyway”.
Readers: Where do these people come from? Maybe someone can enlighten me. They might start by translating this commentary into English.
Keith Lehman
First when i wrote my message in a rush and plus i dont need to write in perfect grammar,punctuation lol i am not writing an essay for my professor. second, yes i am an AMERICAN.
i am not going to reply for every single thing u state it but my point is that racism is still living in the USA , which is injustice. Moreover, McCain is focused on the foreign countries rather than how to stabilize our economy or social problems and thats what a true leader should do. A leader should better his country not make it worse like BUSH. poverty increases daily and we are the richest country in the world, which is really sad. anyway and for your vote you can choose to whom you want to vote thats your right and you can choose to not vote if thats what you want and to that comment you stated that i am brainwashed and your asking you never recall of some historic facts maybe you should look more different sources. In any case, i wish there is more justice in America. by the way i am not brainwashed, nor stupid and i look at different sources to have a clear idea of the facts and believe it or not no matter who says what the truth will show and history is history you cant remove it or change it. LOL soo now u keeep checking my grammar ANYWAY peace my friend
Anti-American:
1. I said you were brainwashed, not “stupid”. However you parrot all the propaganda that spews from the ranks of American political leftism (socialism and communism).
2. If you think the Democratic political party is going to make the economy better – think again. Both parties have contributed what you see today as to our economic situation.
3. What you wrote is not “fact” and where are your sources.
4. You insult me and tell me that I know nothing about history, yet provide no sources and use the same anti-American rhetoric as the socialist propaganda, which, by the way, pleases the enemy of the United States, as well as contributes to their cause. But, oh, I forgot, you think that Bush concocted the attack by Islamic extremists on Sept 11th 2001.
5. History can be changed – it is evident in our public school history textbooks – changed by the very people who will pollute our children with lies and semi-truths tailored to their mantra.
If you think Obama is America’s messiah, remember that the German people thought Hitler was their messiah as well. Our Founders, like Thomas Jefferson stated not to trust people. Of course, you probably don’t respect Mr. Jefferson because he owned slaves until just before his death (they were freed in his will).
A nation can account for its mistakes by printing it in their schoolbooks, but the people, the generations, don’t have to continue to apologize for it – that is the mind set of the apologetic socialists of America, the American political left.
The important thing about mistakes is that they are learned and not performed again. I don’t recall any movement to return slavery to America, unless you want to consider the democratic big government scheme to make Americans slavery to government welfare. The only difference between socialism and communism is that the latter has all the guns – and the American Left is working on that.
Are you going to continue following the agenda of the American political left? Or be an individual person who supports and defends the Constitution of the United States with its Bill of Rights and the principles and ideology of the Federalist Papers? Or are you going to parrot the concepts of the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx? Are you going to continue to be an anti-American following the ideology of Marx and others in the same vein of ideology?
The WARNING pic is complete bull
Tony:
Thanks for sharing your intellectual rebuttal, however brief.
The “pic” is a joke based upon established fact. Do your homework. You might try checking out sources and info links provided.
Thanks for stopping by and not only visiting, but sharing your thoughts in participation.
Keith:
First off I would like to thank you. You have got me actually interested in finding out more about politics and current events. Would you have any suggestions on where I can find out creditable information on McCain and Obama (like what they do/don’t support and other things like that)? Most of the sites that I have been to have been non informative and seem to state more about what their political opinions are. That and the news is alway bias.
You seem to be very against “American political leftism (socialism and communism)”, yet you say that the presidential candidates are “Three Stooges in the comical world of politics. In other words, none of them are getting MY vote”. You do seem to be strong in what you don’t want. Just out of curiosity, who are you voting for?
Questioning Teen:
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and visiting.
It is I who would like to thank you. In all the frustration that is experienced in maintaining this cyberspace venture, originally in the form of an e-journal and now a blog, it is refreshing to have someone write a comment like this.
The main aim here is to get people to think. If I have inspired anyone, just one person in that way, then it makes me quite happy.
When voters want to investigate candidates, the best places to look is their voting record and thanks to the wonderful world of the Internet, this is available at Vote Smart. You have given me the idea that I should post a web page that provides places on the Internet for sources of information that will help a voter make their final decision before going to the voting booth. I link several places in article concerning this subject to show folks where I get my information.
You are right, there are many sites with opinions in different views and different approaches to the subject material you request – and can be quite a challenge to sort it all out. The important thing is that opinions should be backed up with information, and the challenge is whether or not the source of information is reputable and accurate.
I apologize if my stance in this election is confusing – but then again this election is totally confusing. It is as I have written several times that the voters have to choose the best of the worst, instead of a candidate who meets the standards required to be a functional statesman (or stateswoman). Those standards are actually quite simple:
(1) The statesman’s foundation should rest upon the Constitution of the United States;
(2) The candidate should have character and principles and values like honesty, integrity and honor.
No candidate could ever perfectly match a voter’s expectations, in reality. However, if the candidate bases his/her issues and policies upon the Constitution with the welfare and interests of America and its people – before government interests or political organizations – than at least they are running with the ball.
When I wrote the article about the “Three Stooges” of the candidates that were the forefront of the primary election, it was to make a point and part of that point was that in primary elections it is the media and the political elite that has control over who runs for office and who remains for the final vote for President of the United States. My feelings were that “none of the above” should be chosen on the ballot. In a recent op/ed I wrote concerning Thomas Sowell who considered not voting at all, it explains that not voting is not a good option. That leaves voters with choosing the best of the worst. For example, I did not choose GW Bush in the primaries, nor did I endorse him until he was the only viable candidate to choose from based upon the issues and circumstances of the time.
America does not need to change its form of government. Thus far in the history of civilization the republic form of democracy instituted by the founding gentlemen of early America have carefully crafted an almost perfect government system. Unfortunately, because of various circumstances and the mind set of the American people, we are slowly being led away from those founding principles that made America so great.
If you intend to study political science, courses are available. Hopefully the instructor/professor will keep intellectual discussion in the course as a stimulus, as well as teaching all the types of governments and encouraging knowledge of them all – socialism, communism, democracy, theocracy, et cetera. It is not enough to know that a particular form of government is “bad” – but why it is so. Unfortunately, professors and teachers of the institutes of learning have become like much of today’s media and not being objective, which means that they promote one “side” over the other.
America has had, in tradition, two political parties that have been successful, however there are third parties that are registered and maintained with some degree of membership. The problem is that the two main parties, despite the historical bickering between them, unite in the effort to keep any third party candidate from getting near to being elected. But this wouldn’t be a problem if both political entities, the DNC and GOP were in need of reform. So the voter, if he/she would truly like to be a responsible voter must sift through the political diatribe and reach a conclusion in order to vote. This means that we should look at the political party as a means to an end and focus upon the individual (whether Democrat, Republican or Independent or third party) – because it is that individual who is seeking office and going to be responsible to the people.
America is in a political rut and this is nothing new. The political America is in a populist form of the political climate. This means it is popularity and the party line, not the issues and the character of the candidate that has become the indicator in choosing our candidates – a phenomenon that clearly has not produced great leadership. This concerns the town council to the Congress and the White House when it comes to voting.
And the answer to your question, as it now applies to available candidates would be John McCain. It is not an endorsement but a choice of the best of the worst from the available candidates. I felt then and now that Senator Fred Thompson would have been the choice as the 44th President of the United States. It is because of his principles, his voting record and his endeavor to reform our government and even members of his own political party. He thought carefully about his vote for legislation and considered the constitutionality and the benefits/repercussions of the short- and long-term results of that particular legislation. He didn’t base his opinion upon the consensus or the political entity – but the Constitution and the benefit of America and its people. We need more like him in our government on both sides of the political fence.
If you search articles under categories like “election” and “political science” you will get a better idea of what I am about and what I have been presenting – and also provide you with links in your efforts to be a responsible citizen and think for yourself.
I don’t always have the best answers or the plan for the solution of an issue, but I use the Constitution as my guideline and reputable sources to maintain truth in information. I would like people to see this, but I would rather see people check me out as thoroughly as they would anyone else. Those who seek the truth and try to maintain it are not afraid of such an investigation, and shouldn’t be.
The reason why I am against, mainly, socialism and especially communism is that it is a collective institution and not based upon the principles and benefits of individualism; however, sometimes the collective or what is best for all (like true liberalism) is an acceptable choice when addressing certain issues, while other choices are conservative (true, grassroot conservatism – not those who call themselves conservatives and doesn’t “walk the same as they talk”).
It is what Ken Renner, a guest writer here, who I butt heads with here frequently, wrote: “Everything is not just black and white”. And this makes some decisions difficult. But it becomes more evident and easier if we push aside our emotions and rely more upon logic – based upon facts, not consensus – that would be the proper avenue of approach when it comes to these matters.
Like TV programming, the media is not going to get any better until they experience the public not listening or viewing their presentations. Sensationalism in the media makes money, but when that flow of money trickles down or stops, that is their incentive to reform.
In the matters of the political world, when congressional members suddenly find themselves “unemployed” in terms of politics – then they will realize that the power and the will of the people remain. But if the people allow political organizations and individuals (with the help of the unobjective, bias media) to chip away the basis of what constitutes the Bill of Rights and American traditions that made it great – snipping the fangs of power will become increasingly more difficult, and eventually impossible.
Thus we need another American revolution, only this time we need to be armed with truth and facts, not bullets. Knowledge is power, and that power should not be taken away from the people and left for only the elite in society. If our politicians have become too corrupt and not following the principles of what has created a great nation, than we must look at ourselves to see what went wrong; for it is the people who put them there and the elected officials come from the ranks of society.
Just as there isn’t any perfect society, so too is the fact there is no perfect government, and as Thomas Jefferson and other Founders knew, the people must be ever watchful and guard what they worked so hard for and put themselves in danger for.
Suggested reading for you, my young fellow American is to read about political history, American and world history, and learn about political science to whatever degree you think would help. My time and my generation has already been through the days of glory and the excitement of life – it is your generation and each subsequent generation that will keep the USS America on a true course through the rocky shoals it will face now and then; and always try to deter from using force to reform the opponents of freedom wherever it occurs, but when finally forced to confront the enemy with military force, have the determination to win. And while we are facing the “monsters of the abyss” as Nietzsche put it, we must be watchful that we do not become a monster while fighting them. In other words, when fighting the tyrants let us not become the tyrant we fight against. I mention this because of the recent circumstances and allegations concerning treatment of prisoners of war, which the political left has referred to as “detainees” – treating them as if they were civic criminal suspects instead of what they truly are – combatants and the enemy of the United States and free nations around the world. It is not a resurrection of the medieval Crusades, for we are not at war against Islam – we are at war against those who desecrate the image and the form of the religion of Islam.
I have digressed and I apologize.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and providing commentary. I wish you the best in your endeavor to be a responsible voter, a patriot (patriotism in the sense of wanting the best for your nation and your fellow citizens, and being proud to be an American while endeavoring to keep America’s standards true and high), and an American who is active in what affects our lives and the future of this nation.
Best Regards …
KAL
HI Jonh Mccain is not ging to be prez!
Jane:
Assuming that this means you are voting for Obama, and also fully realizing that a couple of important issues are agreed upon the two opposing candidates – this is your choice.
However, you have chosen the worst of the worst instead of the best of the worst.
It would be nice to read something more than just some misspelled wording that represents some kind of crystal ball prediction, however.
Have a nice day …
This war is insane. For anyone who thinks we have legitimate reasons for going into war you should think twice.
There have been thousands of complaints from our own military undergoing human testing including involuntary electrical shock while in showers, drugging, gassing.
Let alone that this war has outsourced so much of its efforts to for profit companies.
These for profit companies that specialize in war do not have to hold to the same standards nor do they report the accurate number of casualties on either side.
War strategies are being calculated. This war is more of a project and notes are being taken on new borderline ethical acts. Big companies are pushing the boundries of what is humane.
Our testing is liken to that of Adolf Hitlers. Come on were making people stand in hotboxes too small to move until they die of heat exhaustion.
WW:
ALL wars are insane. Those who actually have fought in a war will tell you the same; however, I am sure they wouldn’t be making the serious and nonfactual commentary about their nation – America. Some must be fought, like it or not. If you are referring to the Iraqi Operation – it was something needed to be done for a long time, in regards to the removal of a murderous tyrant. With all the facts presented here at the LP Journal, one would think you could understand at least part of it.
I would like to see/read the complaints of “thousands” of members of our military who believe what you represent in this commentary. Where in the Hell you get your information is beyond me, however, reading some of the tripe presented in cyberspace, one could only imagine.
I will not deny that in America’s history there have been despicable things done by people within the government – but they were found out and dealt with. Those in government need to realize that it is better to fess up to any truth in accusations, rather than constantly covering it up. Like, for example, the despicable incident where several African Americans were told they were being treated for syphilis, when in fact they were guinea pigs. As far as the rest of your unfounded allegations – it is crap.
Corporations or business entities who sell technology and arms are going to “make a profit” during any war – that is a given and a fact of life. I am not going to address much of anything here because it is coming from a mindless person who believes in propaganda and sides with the enemies of America – too many who are actually Americans.
When, ever in history and now, were people made to stand in “hotboxes too small to move until they die of heat exhaustion”?
I guess I could have just deleted this comment, but readers need to know what element is lurking among us – people who accuse their country, or rather its government of the most vile things imaginable, and with no substantiation or proof except a blog or some published material on the Internet that amounts to the journalistic example of the paper-printed material that covers hoax stories like the mutant called the “Bat Boy” being chased by law enforcement officers.
And finally, I am sick of America being depicted as Nazi – totally unfounded, totally crap – the worse part is that they are Americans who are untruthfully trying to convince people of such tripe. And one asks the question – Why? I realize this comment is nothing more than a Moonbat spouting its misdirected distaste and who knows what personal mental frustrations – but give it a rest. This stuff doesn’t belong here. This is an e-journal that focuses on interesting articles and part of the war against misinformation – and in that “war”, people like you must either get professional help or move some other place in the world where they think it is so much better.
And, in conclusion, what does this all have to do with the article?
Have a nice day, and make that appointment with an accredited psychologist as soon as possible.
Wow. This is a bunch of communist crap. The private sector has employed most Americans and in most cases has provided us with fair wages and great compesation packages. Of course there are always exeptions . I really hate for people who attack corporate America when they are the ones putting food on our tables , most of those people either now or sometime ago started our as pioneers and some of them grew those business to the point that they employed thousands of Americans and they worked for it … because things should not be given to you … u need to work.
I am sure you would want the Govt to be responsible for providing us with everything .. well that is call communism and in practice it does not work out very well. When was the last time you had to renew your drivers licence – - I am sure the long lines at the DMV can attest for the ineficiency of govt run programs.
Or how about public education .. where they are always complaining about needing more money but they have Union Delegates making 6 figure salaries and teachers making 30 K …. how about this getting rid of the Unions . Or I’ll give you a better one .. make teachers accountable for productivity; pay them a base salary and an insentive based on who gets what grade. You’ll see how quickly we fix the school system.
Maybe you should as OBAMA who paid for his drug use . Hopefully it was not with his scholarship money.
We dont live in perfect world and it’s very easy to point fingers and say what the problems are but few of us actually sit down to figure out the “how” in things.
Any way I suggest you move to Vietnam or Noth Korea / where the govt provides everyting and you are only allowed to get 30 eggs a month and two gallons of mik and you can live to be like CHE Guevara and any other asshole like that.
All the information in this article is BOGUS! Obama should have never won and he will just support those people (black, racist — you know the type) and the wons who cannot and will not support or even try to support themselves.
RA:
Show me your sources.
Whether a rebuttal or opinion or emotional response – sources that can back you up.
You might try looking at his voting record concerning American veterans, considering your handle you used to comment.
If you would have read more than just this article, you would have understood that my stance was this:
Neither McCain or Obama deserve the Office of the President of the United States. However, since the majority of Americans paid attention to McCain’s record and background and completely ignored Obama’s – with the help of the mainstream media – they certainly deserve who they chose.
But what about the rest of us? The same rule applies to fence-riding McCain.
John McCain once stood for Reaganism and its principles – but the Washington DC crowd seems to have gotten to him.
His political career and his actions and policy is separate from his military career; however, out of fairness could anyone blame his sometimes strange behavior and sometimes violent temper after being a POW for five years? It was he who said OK when entering politics to use his hero celebrity status as a former POW, which had helped him as a junior congressman.
Whether as a political move or just good sportsmanship, I admire Mr. McCain for his eloquent words when the tally of American voters was completed and his opponent won. For that I congratulate him. But he still would not have been, considering his policies, the type of president America needs in these trying times when our Constitution as well as national security is at stake.
McCain may be a party member of the GOP, but he, like too many others are not true conservatives.
On both sides of the camp during the election, major important issues were basically ignored and the American people seem to have been either apathetic or under the trance of manipulative rhetoric. It is doubtful than many even considered either candidate’s political and personal record.
This country needs a constitutionalist and someone who is not tied into the idea that the two traditional parties is all there is for the American people to decide upon. The media has them brainwashed on that, and both political entities have one thing in common – never let a third party win or an indepedent candidate get a chance for the popular vote.
You’re right about one thing: Obama should never have won. But McCain wasn’t qualified either. On that reflection, they and several others in Congress should not be or have been qualified to decide legislation – like McCain, Obama, H. Clinton, J. Kerry, E. Kennedy, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. It seems that someone was right when they said – money is what talks in Washington DC – not integrity or constitutionality.
Enuff said.
[...] fingers when they allowed their political platform to be corrupted and backed the likes of Senator John McCain who is a known congressional fence jumper and much of his stance on issues is in tune with the [...]