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The Friday Political Thread: Free State of Mind Edition
There actually isn't a full-blown political thread this week, as I'm taking a short breather. From January 2nd to January 9th I'll be in New Hampshire covering the Republican primary—for the most part, covering Ron Paul and the state's rugged population of libertarians. That means I'll be watching the Iowa caucus, from afar, with members of the Free State Project and a TV tuned to C-Span. It also means I'll be filing reports from Paul campaign HQ, from the trail, and eventually from Paul's election night party. If you're in one of the lesser 49 states or, God forbid, some other coutry, stay tuned to the blog. If you're actually in New Hampshire, get in touch at dweigel at reason.com.
The week in brief...
- Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, scrambling both US foreign policy in Pakistan and the positions of the presidential candidates.
- John McCain basked in poll numbers that reflected a "surge" reporters had been predicting for nigh on four months. Mitt Romney looked frazzled trying to blunt his momentum.
- Barack Obama slapped John Edwards for benefitting from a 527 ad; Edwards counterpunched and then folded like a dixie cup, asking the 527 to stop.
- Hillary Clinton stopped her fall and now stands tied or ahead of the field in the first three primaries.
- The president vetoed a $696 billion defense bill because it exposed the Iraqi government to lawsuits.
Below the fold...
- John Tabin parties with the "best hair champions" of the Dems and GOP.
- Justin Raimondo takes on the anti-Ron Paul smear merchants.
- Mark Sunwall says Ron Paul is the only internationalist in the race.
- Jonathan Cohn asks whether John Edwards, in the throes of a populist campaign, had lost his ability to appeal to the middle class.
No music video this week, either, but there's a full-blown music post coming up later.
NoStar|12.28.07 @ 5:30PM|#
Weigel, we don't need you to spoon feed us our Friday Prog Rock.
We can find our own. Get with the program. Liberty is a grass roots
affair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuwkTtowshA
cut & paste or click on my name
PS: Have a good time in New Hampshire. Bring you wool socks and
snow gloves.
|12.28.07 @ 5:32PM|#
"a $696 defense bill"
I'm a high schooler who made more than that over the summer. No
wonder he rejected it. What a waste of a bill.
SIV|12.28.07 @ 5:32PM|#
That means I'll be watching the Iowa caucus, from afar, with
members of the Free State Project and a TV tuned to
C-Span.
So you'll be holed up in "the compound"? Don't get the Stockholm
syndrome David. Remember, you are an objective and impartial
journalist--so it is OK to cheer when they report the Democrat
Party returns.
Edward|12.28.07 @ 5:56PM|#
Face it, Ron Paul is so far below the radar of ordinary Americans--Okay, Jason Raiomondo is even more obscure--that the statement that nobody gives a flying fuck doesn't quite capture his insignificance. He's a soon-to-be-forgotten also-ran exceptt in the tiny little mushy brains of the fuckwits who think he just might win. Send him more money, morons.
highnumber|12.28.07 @ 6:13PM|#
No music video this week
YAY!
joshua corning,
Are you planning on sending Herr Weigel holiday gifts?
|12.28.07 @ 6:14PM|#
7 posts in and its TrollTime! Gotta love the Trolls. Especially
when they're too scared to leave an email address lest someone
actually want to banter and debate.
Eddie, Shouldn't you be out driving around with your friends
yelling "shave your ass!" out the window? It would be a better use
of your time.
And it would certainly be a better use of our time.
Unless, of course, you have no friends... in which case you should
go bother a ton of people you don't know for believing something
you don't believe... oh, wait, you already do that and you're
not that good...
Ali|12.28.07 @ 6:18PM|#
Eddie:
Enjoy!
If you don't bear to (or can't!) read the article, may be a fewer
sentences would encourage you to read your reading skills:
Third Place
Ron Paul -- Rival campaigns are beginning to nervously speculate
that Paul will finish in the top three on January 3. Paul broke
double digits in at least two polls for the first time this week
and he seems particularly strong in areas of the state where the
media has less of an impact on political deliberations --
especially in rural northwest and southern Iowa. Check out a Ron
Paul supporters' websites and you'll see detailed discussions about
caucus rules and strategy. The Paulites are more ready for caucus
night than most observers realize.
Ali|12.28.07 @ 6:22PM|#
Cool (and kinda depressin') Death and Taxes 2008 Poster! Zoom in to the poster.
Edward|12.28.07 @ 6:22PM|#
Ron Paul won't even make it to the top third of your IQ, Ali, and that isn't very far to climb.
Fluffy|12.28.07 @ 6:58PM|#
Is this Edward's Non Sequitur Hour?
Can I play?
Sir, you are a blithe tomato!
On second thought, you could not even make the top fourth of a
nonchalant tomato!
NoStar|12.28.07 @ 7:03PM|#
speaking of blithe tomatoes. I think Blythe Danner is a cuter tomato than her daughter Miss Paltrow.
|12.28.07 @ 7:29PM|#
I can't stand the wait. Here's a video complete with the requisite bored, stoned Germans looking on.
Edward|12.28.07 @ 8:03PM|#
Wow, where's VikingDouche at? He's usually the first to chime
in.
Dumb fucks.
John-David|12.28.07 @ 8:04PM|#
I'm more of a modern Rush fan. Their old concert recordings seem
so sterile. Thus...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWyTOUN5Nkw
Or, click on my name. It's "The Pass" performed last year (I think)
in Rio.
|12.28.07 @ 8:11PM|#
The issue that's been bugging me since the Bhutto assasination
is how Obama could use it big time for a smack-down of Hillary.
Last I heard, he's doing just that.
We desperately need to get the
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton... monkey off Amerika's
back.
Trust me. We'll all feel so much better.
War is not the answer to anything, and I realize full well RP is
the only candidate willing to get close to saying that, but, hey,
Obama giving Hillary a smack-down is still something. (Seeing as
how sheeple would never elect RP.)
Ruthless
SIV|12.28.07 @ 8:19PM|#
Pakistan's interior ministry said Friday that Benazir Bhutto
died from hitting her vehicle's sunroof when she tried to duck
after a suicide attack, and that no bullet or shrapnel was found in
her.
Who does this guy think he is...Arlen Spector?
ed|12.28.07 @ 8:21PM|#
Just a random act of violence in a violent world.
Move along now. Nothing to see here.
|12.28.07 @ 8:23PM|#
Who does this guy think he is...Arlen Spector?
He'd have made a great Minister of Information during the last days
of Saddam Hussein's reign.
SIV|12.28.07 @ 8:26PM|#
I'm not really a prog fan but this guy is.
The sound quality beats the shit out of youtube.
MCW|12.28.07 @ 8:42PM|#
So you're going to be strapped in with the wingnut evolution-deniers? Try not to catch the Rethuglican disease.
MCW|12.28.07 @ 8:46PM|#
"Jonathan Cohn asks whether John Edwards, in the throes of a
populist campaign, had lost his ability to appeal to the middle
class."
John Edwards is one of the few candidates that can
stand up to the wingnut machine and defeat the
schemes of men like Grover Norquist to drown
government in a bathtub.
Hes truly the candidate of the working middle
class.
John Edwards has my vote.
Eric Dondero|12.28.07 @ 8:48PM|#
Mitt Romney just picked up another libertarian endorsement. First fmr. Mass Gov. William Weld. Now New Hampshire State Rep. DJ Bettencourt, one of the top libertarian Republican legislators in the Nation, and an RLC member just baked Romney.
|12.28.07 @ 8:49PM|#
John Edwards is one of the few candidates that can stand up
to the wingnut machine and defeat the schemes of men like Grover
Norquist to drown government in a bathtub.
Well, you've certainly found the right
audience to launch that scud
missile.
Seriously, reason web gurus, who is this clown? Cavanaugh would
have outed him by now.
|12.28.07 @ 8:50PM|#
an RLC member just baked Romney.
I hope they put in him a lemon meringue pie. Yummy Mormon lemon
meringue pie.
MCW|12.28.07 @ 8:50PM|#
"Mitt Romney just picked up another libertarian endorsement.
First fmr. Mass Gov. William Weld. Now New Hampshire State Rep. DJ
Bettencourt, one of the top libertarian Republican legislators in
the Nation, and an RLC member just baked Romney."
Mitt Romney truly is a real wingnut libertarian.
No wonder you like him.
MCW|12.28.07 @ 9:01PM|#
"MCW illuminates ignorance."
Why ignorance? Eric Dondero's site says
libertarianism is basiaclly loyalty to BushCo and
their wingnuttery.
|12.28.07 @ 9:04PM|#
Donderoooo,
What do you know
Bettencourt is a flip-flopper, just like Romney.
It also appears that he is an
anti-abortion, pro-mandated religion in schools, pro-drug war
Republican.
If that's your definition of "libertarian Republican" you can keep
it.
Someday, maybe you will get the definition of "libertarian" right,
until then ta-ta and enjoy your weekend!
|12.28.07 @ 9:13PM|#
Why ignorance? Eric Dondero's site says libertarianism is
basiaclly loyalty to BushCo and their wingnuttery.
Are you are real person MCW? I mean, a real
person. Or are you just a bolding Bot?
MCW|12.28.07 @ 9:23PM|#
"Are you are real person MCW? I mean, a real person. Or are you
just a bolding Bot?"
I am a real person, I'm not a bot. I use the bolding for words I
wish to emphasize.
alan|12.28.07 @ 9:41PM|#
MSW act has got to be tongue and cheek. I laugh to hard when he post for him not to be. Some libertarian is having one on us.
TLB|12.28.07 @ 9:52PM|#
Weigel in NH! That should be entertaining. Of course, don't
expect any in-their-face reporting. Even Reason is afraid of losing
their access by trying to ask real questions rather than
puffballs.
Here are two examples of the type of question that Weigel is too
afraid to ask: link,
link. Needless to say, both are sourced and completely
accurate, and asking either and pressing with follow-ups would have
an impact on the race. So, don't expect Weigel to do that.
In other news:
1. In order to avoid confusion over terminology, instead of calling
Reason "corporatists" due to their support for IllegalImmigration,
I'm going to simply call them "Corporate Welfare Queens". I hope
that will avoid any confusion.
2. Here's an AcademyAward
WinningDocumentary from about 15 years ago.
3. I've alerted Crisis Response Teams from the President's Select
Committee to Prevent Prog Use, and they're preparing a response to
the upcoming ProgAThon.
|12.28.07 @ 9:55PM|#
I am a real person, I'm not a bot.
You're a smart bot: you didn't use a semi-colon to make it seem as
if you're prone to grammatical error (in contrary to the constant
crimes you commit against common sense).
Clever! Your programmer deserves some props.
|12.28.07 @ 10:10PM|#
Kwix:
It also appears that he is an anti-ab rtion, pro-mandated
religion in schools, pro-drug war Republican. If that's your
definition of "libertarian Republican" you can keep it.
Actually, libertarianism thinking does not lead to any particular
position with respect to abortion. However, most libertarians have
similar opinions on the matter.
The basic libertarian precept is "Do not initiate the use of
force". But against who? Clearly, virtually all libertarians would
support the right to initiate force against a rock or some wheat.
On the other hand, Bill Clinton and Britney are off limits, even if
you dislike them. Lying in the middle are things such as dogs,
criminals, and fetuses, which we have a variety of opinions on.
Kolohe|12.28.07 @ 10:20PM|#
a $696 defense bill
I now see someone already pointed out the typo but:
$696 is the approximate take home pay for the average US
houshold.
Under this bill $696 will be used by the DOD every 32 millisecs (or
roughly 5x faster than most people -ok, I - can cycle a
stopwatch)
On a separate note, what does anyone think is the potential for a
Supreme Court cage match wrt the pocket veto vs is congress "in
session"?
|12.28.07 @ 11:22PM|#
Ron Paul won't even make it to the top third of your IQ,
Ali, and that isn't very far to climb.
I wish I were smart enough to even begin to pretend to know what
this means.
Music video: now with more
Swedishness.
|12.28.07 @ 11:33PM|#
Jonathan Cohn asks whether John Edwards, in the throes of a
populist campaign, had lost his ability to appeal to the middle
class.
John Edwards thinks there is no middle class in the US, so he
shouldn't be too worried about this.
miche|12.28.07 @ 11:42PM|#
I am a real person, I'm not a bot. I use the bolding for words I wish to emphasize.
When you can learn to make a point those tags won't be
necessary.
Kolohe|12.29.07 @ 12:13AM|#
Ugh, that should be $696 is the approx avg take home pay per week per American household.
Brandybuck|12.29.07 @ 12:29AM|#
I've figure out MCW: He is a computer program. I have proof.
Compare his posts to these random outbursts from Zippy the Pinhead
software:
"I'll eat anything that's bright
blue!!"
"I'm using my X-ray vision to obtain a rare
glimpse of the inner workings of this
potato!!"
"Give them radar-guided Skee-Ball lanes and
Velveeta burritos!!"
It's uncanny when you think about it.
Sam Grove|12.29.07 @ 12:46AM|#
Why ignorance? Eric Dondero's site says libertarianism is
basiaclly loyalty to BushCo and their wingnuttery.
Dondero is quite ignorant of the core of libertarian political
morality and its implications.
He just comes around here to make himeself feel superior because he
lacks the social skills needed to make time with the neocons.
Ignorance, because you also don't comprehend
Pretending to be libertarian is something he does to make real
libertarians feel nauseous.
Ignorance, because you also lack comprehension of core libertarian
values and their implication.
Real libertarians, according to me (I've identified myself as
libertarian since 1980), oppose the Bushco (and Clintoninc) foreign
policy and also oppose any subsidy or favoritism to corporate or
other interests.
Sam Grove|12.29.07 @ 12:48AM|#
And please, don't represent Dondero to anyone as libertarian. It does make me feel a bit nauseous.
Ali|12.29.07 @ 1:08AM|#
MCW,
Read Rose Wilder Lane's Give me Liberty. I guarantee that you'll like
the socialist stuff in Section I. Section I will lead you to read
Section II. Before you know it, you'd finish the remainder of the
57 page book in a single sitting. And you will live a happy
libertarian ever after.
truthiness|12.29.07 @ 3:15AM|#
Bhutto was nothing more than a con artist who stole billions
from the poor of Pakistan. Once again the American public is being
fed a pack of lies. I hope Salon does an article on the real
Bhutto.
http://www.rense.com/general79/BUTH.HTM
Grumpy asshole|12.29.07 @ 6:18AM|#
No music video this week, either, but there's a full-blown
music post coming up later.
Who gives a fuck?!
|12.29.07 @ 7:51AM|#
From the linked article:
"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid of Nevada condemned Bush's decision to block the
$696 billion defense policy measure. The Democratic leaders noted
that the bill includes ``urgent national security priorities,'' a
3.5 percent pay raise for U.S. troops ... [and] $189.4 billion for
the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ..."
I guess joe was right. The Democratic leadership IS committed to
cutting off funding for Iraq ...
/snark
|12.29.07 @ 8:16AM|#
MCW -- I still think you're a spambot spewing socialist talking
points, but hey, let's put it to a Turing test:
Write a twenty word sentence praising George Bush, using the phrase
"the greatest leader ever", but using a common misspelling of the
word "the". Oh, and put a disclaimer before this sentence saying
these are not your personal views, but rather an attempt to pass a
Turing Test and prove there's a live human behind the rubbish
you're spewing.
Oh, and no bolds anywhere.
GO!
Guy Montag|12.29.07 @ 8:25AM|#
Dave Weigel,
Yep, the pres. vetoed that silly bill and signed one with no
withdrawl timetable on Iraq. Did your office know that a defense
bill passed and was signed? It is a little closer to what the
President asked for.
How is that tidle wave of Leftist pacifists in the Congress working
out for you? When is the impeachment?
On a more serius note, as soon as word of PM Bhutto being killed
got to Gov. Richardson, he called for the resignation of Mr.
Musharrif.
Justin Raimondo takes on the anti-Ron Paul smear
merchants.
What is he going to do, punch people in the nose for accurately
quoting Dr. Paul?
Steve Cobb|12.29.07 @ 10:13AM|#
Cool, I assume you'll be attending the FSP's annual New
Hampshire Liberty Forum?
http://www.freestateproject.org/libertyforum
It runs 3-6 January, with Ron Paul the keynote speaker on the last
day, which is the Sunday before the primary. Fox News forgot to
invite Ron Paul to their GOP debates that evening; maybe after the
NHLF people will trek on over to the debates to stand outside in
large numbers.
|12.29.07 @ 10:24AM|#
John Edwards has been dipped in oil.
MCW has got to be a regular having some fun.
|12.29.07 @ 11:21AM|#
Mitt Romney looked frazzled trying to blunt his
momentum.
Oh yeah right. What, did his lapel turn up for a split
second?
Send this one to the parts shop, and boot up another Mitt-bot.
VM|12.29.07 @ 11:28AM|#
Edward | December 28, 2007, 8:03pm | #
Wow, where's VikingDouche at? He's usually the first to chime in.
Dumb fucks.
hay! greetings!
sorry for being late! am still kinda giggling from yesterday
:)
joe - dammit, man, now whenever Mitt appears on TV, the expectation
will to be hear "these boots are made for walkin'"... hrumph.
robc|12.29.07 @ 11:44AM|#
I think Blythe Danner is a cuter tomato than her daughter
Miss Paltrow.
Blythe Danner in 1776 is way hotter than Paltrow has ever even
thought about being.
Guy Montag|12.29.07 @ 1:01PM|#
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated banged her head
accidentally and died during an assasination attempt, scrambling
both US foreign policy in Pakistan and the positions of the
presidential candidates.
The Paul campaign position on this is evolving.
bob|12.29.07 @ 3:47PM|#
Friday evening, AP included this in a stream of
stories:
WASHINGTON (AP) - The New Hampshire Republican Party is sponsoring a forum for Republican presidential candidates on Jan. 6, two days before the state's first-in-the-nation primary.
The forum, where the candidates will be questioned by Fox New Channel's Chris Wallace, will be held a day after ABC holds back to back Democratic and Republican presidential debates.
...
Participating in the forum will be Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.
The Ron Paul Revolutionaries heard of this and are exploding, even
though they're not sure if Paul has been excluded from the actual
debate yet.
Guy Montag|12.29.07 @ 4:01PM|#
bob,
Are you passing along that the fair and balanced Radley Balco
network is not letting people with lots of money but no popularity
participate in a debate?
Fluffy|12.29.07 @ 4:27PM|#
Yep, the pres. vetoed that silly bill and signed one with no
withdrawl timetable on Iraq. Did your office know that a defense
bill passed and was signed? It is a little closer to what the
President asked for.
Um, no, Guy. That's not what Weigel is talking about.
The President decided to try to pocket veto the most recent defense
appropriation bill, because it includes a provision allowing US
citizens to sue the Iraqi government for Hussein-era damages.
The President is determined to deny justice to Americans as
always.
He is also determined to defy the law and the Constitution, since
he is claiming that he can execute a pocket veto, and not an
affirmative veto, even though the Senate has remained officially in
session - making a pocket veto illegal.
Just the same shit, different week from the worst President in our
history and the chief scofflaw of the nation.
Brandybuck|12.29.07 @ 4:32PM|#
Nothing from MCW yet. Yet more proof he's a poor imitation of a Von Neumann machine.
bob|12.29.07 @ 4:35PM|#
Guy, No. Just doing some Balko style shameless self promotion of
my Spoof
article.
The Revolutionaries seem to be taking it pretty seriously though,
flooding the NH GOP with phone calls and emails until the official
campaign issued a ceasefire request.
The focus is now on Fox.
Guy Montag|12.29.07 @ 8:00PM|#
bob,
Great article! LOL
Any word on the Dr. Paul fanatics staging a sit-in, teach-in or
die-in? Perhaps a tye-dye-in?
His struggle is long overdue for a protest song.
bob|12.29.07 @ 9:32PM|#
Naturally, Ron Paul Revolutionaries have a variety of plans
ready for Faux. I kinda hope they keep it under control, as Fox
will probably try to make fun of them.
As for protest songs, you can take your pick according to your
music preferences:
Ron
DMC
Ron Paul, the
Country Congressman
Pop-Rock
Ron
Ron Paul
Unplugged
Reggae
Ron
dpotts|12.30.07 @ 12:03AM|#
God, I support RP and all, but some of these folks make me cringe. I know it takes all kinds, and I should be awed by the diversity, but there are "revolutionaries" out there who want to whine to the FCC about Fox's decision not benefiting the "public interest." Their logic escapes me. Even Rupert Murdoch should be afforded robust property rights/free speech protection, no? Silly me, for a second I thought we were libertarians...
MCW|12.30.07 @ 12:40AM|#
"MCW -- I still think you're a spambot spewing socialist talking
points, but hey, let's put it to a Turing test:
Write a twenty word sentence praising George Bush, using the phrase
"the greatest leader ever", but using a common misspelling of the
word "the". Oh, and put a disclaimer before this sentence saying
these are not your personal views, but rather an attempt to pass a
Turing Test and prove there's a live human behind the rubbish
you're spewing."
George Bush is teh greatest leader ever because he really means
what he says. (These are not my personal views but I write this to
pass a turing test)
|12.30.07 @ 1:09AM|#
MCW -- I will reluctantly stipulate that you are technically a
carbon-based form of life, most likely of the homo sapiens species
(albeit an obvious though occasionally and inadvertently hilarious
troll), based on passing the Turing test I devised. (If you deny
trolldom, I'm sure we can devise tests to check on whether you can
spout something other than talking points for the Raspberries --
aka the RCYB, aka the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade.)
Now, let's work on the profanity, shall we? Either stop it, or try
to be far more creative and amusing when you attempt to bitchslap
your superiors. ;)
|12.30.07 @ 1:12AM|#
Ali -- devoured the Rose Wilder book you linked to in one sitting before dawn this am. Your fault I was nodding off during my mother's remarriage this afternoon, you bastard ( said with an affectionate ;) ).
Ali|12.30.07 @ 1:15AM|#
Your fault I was nodding off during my mother's remarriage
this afternoon, you bastard ( said with an affectionate ;)
).
Haha! :-)
Eric Dondero|12.30.07 @ 8:24AM|#
From Sam Grove:
He just comes around here to make himeself feel superior because he
lacks the social skills needed to make time with the neocons.
Eric's response:
Sam, are you saying then, that libertarians don't have social
skills? Sure sounds like it.
Eric Dondero|12.30.07 @ 8:24AM|#
And the reason I don't hang out with NeoCons, is cause they're all Pro-Lifers like Ron Paul.
Eric Dondero|12.30.07 @ 8:29AM|#
What makes the DJ Bettencourt endorsement of Romney even more
amazing, is that Bettencourt was always considered to be form the
"Ron Paul wing" of the libertarian movement. You're right, he leans
more socially conservative than your typical libertarian. He's a
paleo-libertarian.
So, why then, is he not endorsing Ron Paul? Why did he go with
Romney instead?
In fairness, Ron Paul did pick up a very good endorsement recently,
from Bettencourt's colleague - Rep. Steve Villaincourt. Steve is a
great guy. He's a flamboyant sort. Defeinitely a social
libertarian. He's also affiliated himself with the Libertarian
Party, and is, as far as I know, the only elected Libertarian
serving in a State Legislature right now, in the US.
So, I give credit where credit is due. Ron Paul did get a nice
endorsement there.
|12.30.07 @ 11:05AM|#
DJ Bettencourt?
You mean the guy who worked on McCain's campaign for a time? The
guy who penned a note to Huckabee telling him that he had a great
platform?
If the word libertarian was defined as 'political whore', then yes,
you could argue the man was, like you, a libertarian.
However, libertarianism is a political philosophy that is the
antithesis of the one espoused by guys like Mitt Romney, Huckabee,
McCain and Ghiuliani, and thus despite your desperate, pleading
efforts to redefine it to be "political whore" I think we can
safely write off Bettencourt as a 'libertarian-leaning'
anything.
MCW|12.30.07 @ 11:11AM|#
Libertarianism is little more than loyalty to BushCo and the wingnut Rethuglican agenda, right Dondero.
Sam Grove|12.30.07 @ 11:49AM|#
Sam, are you saying then, that libertarians don't have
social skills? Sure sounds like it.
Only if we define libertarians as Eric Dondero.
And you are still anti-choice on war funding.
|12.30.07 @ 12:52PM|#
You know a thread has died when the remaining comments are mostly by Donderooooo and MCW.
MCW|12.30.07 @ 1:10PM|#
Eric Dondero makes an excellent point by pointing out the anti-choice, misogynistic, wingnuttery of Ron Paul.
|12.30.07 @ 1:38PM|#
Ali,
I remember seeing a site not too long ago about the scientific
claims made in the Koran. I can't find it now. It was very
convincing. Do you happened to have a link?
Ali|12.30.07 @ 3:22PM|#
NM- I do not now which one exactly you're referring to. There
are a few out there. I am always cautious about that stuff simply
because many Muslims take it to mean that all science is in the
Quran and that we needn't look any further (very stupid and
backwards). My take on it is that these are examples and that there
are many references in the Quran that man should always "look in
the skies", "look inside himself", and around, and to "wonder" at
God's creatures. So these "miracles" are nothing but an impetus to
look out for more. With that said, there are some very interesting
scientific claims that a 7th century illiterate man (Muhammad)
could not have possibly "discovered" at that time and age.
Regarding your question, the one site that seems to be quite
popular is this one. I did a Google search and came across
this one, too. They do discuss (far from
thoroughly) numerology in the Quran, which has always caught my
attention since I was a kid (I like mathematics a lot). Any
Arab-speaking person would, by the way, tell you all of that
matters little as far as "convincing" is concerned because the
ultimate miracle of the Quran is its beautiful Arabic poetry and
royal language that transcends above the abilities of any Arab poet
at the times (that was the golden age of Arab poetry, which was
very polemic). For an illiterate man, not known to be a poet of any
sorts, to come up with this language was in itself a miracle. Add
to that the numerical intricacies that people have recently been
unraveling (revolving around the number 19) makes the whole thing
compelling to many.
|12.30.07 @ 4:05PM|#
Found this story on the Drudge about a police entrapment scheme
where they arrested men for indecent exposure after a female police
officer with bare breasts asked them to expose themselves:
here
Neu Mejican|12.30.07 @ 6:01PM|#
Ruthless,
War is not the answer to anything, and I realize full well RP
is the only candidate willing to get close to saying
that,
Bill Richardson.
|12.30.07 @ 6:01PM|#
Ali,
I am very impressed. If what you say is true then there is no
reason to doubt the prophet's divine inspiration.
If I wanted to convert to Islam, how would I go about it? Must I
memorize something? Is there a a baptism process? Perhaps this new
year will bring some serious changes to my life. :)
Neu Mejican|12.30.07 @ 6:03PM|#
Weird,
That 1:38 post was not by me...
Someone is impersonating me to as such a simple question...odd.
Neu Mejican|12.30.07 @ 6:15PM|#
I have not used the NM@yahoo.com tag in months.
I hope the other me is benefits from the anonymity using my handle
provides.
But I disavow any bad behavior that has been done in my name in the
last week. I have not posted since well before Christmas.
Neu Mejican|12.30.07 @ 6:18PM|#
Also, I think it is very possible that there is a Jewish component to this. They have been known to intimidate those that speak out, as we see from the career of David Duke.
Neu Mejican|12.30.07 @ 6:22PM|#
Scared in the dark...getting revenge on NM...knowing he will
cringe from the "gotcha"
baitin' to the thought of how upset I will be...
Twit.
Neu Mejican|12.30.07 @ 6:23PM|#
In NM, what I just did is called Mad-doggin'
I am betting the fake NM is scared to reveal himself.
In a bar, he would slink away to avoid the confrontation.
Neu Mejican|12.30.07 @ 6:23PM|#
Ok, this is really bizzare so I'm going to stop. The second to
last retraction, at 6:04, was an imposter. And obviously the guy in
the last post whose capitalization was off.
By Jewish component I don't mean all Jews of course, but those
involved in politics who tend to get there way.
Neu Mejican|12.31.07 @ 12:23PM|#
So at 6:23 the imposter strikes again.
Again showing s/he doesn't have the balls to own up to his/her
behavior.
Twit.
Bystander|12.31.07 @ 1:09PM|#
A guess on the Neu Mejican imposter...
Grand Chalupa (aka Grande Cabron)...
Just a guess given the anti-semitic comments...
|12.31.07 @ 1:14PM|#
The dollar slid across the board on Friday as data showing a 9
percent decline in sales of new U.S. homes last month heightened
concern about the economy, putting the greenback on track for its
worst week in more than a year.
The housing report, which was weaker than economists had expected,
also bolstered the case for more Federal Reserve interest rate cuts
in 2008. Earlier this week, the S&P/Case-Shiller index showed a
record decline in U.S. home prices in October.
This is what's happening to YOUR house. All the 'money' and
'equity' you thought you had saved - eliminated! The equity through
falling house prices - and the money because we are DEBASING OUR
CURRENCY. That low fed rate you're reading about gets created by
printing money and lending it to people. With more money, the money
YOU have is worth LESS. So your money is worth less and your
property is worth less - where can you turn to keep ahead of
inflation? I think you BETTER turn to Dr. Paul. He's the ONLY one
running that has a HOPE of being able to deal with this.
|12.31.07 @ 2:18PM|#
joshua corning,
Are you planning on sending Herr Weigel holiday gifts?
No...just curious really. We all know Nick is Italian American and
so I wonder what sort of American mutt David is.
|12.31.07 @ 2:28PM|#
Mitt Romney truly is a real wingnut libertarian. No wonder
you like him.
Actually it would be cool if it was only Mitt, Fred and Ron in the
running for Republican candidate...not that I would ever vote for
Mitt or Fred but the debates would be good.
|12.31.07 @ 3:27PM|#
Neu Mejican, I used to have the same problem with people posting weird stuff with my name attached. Odd thing is, it all ended at almost the exact same time I got my drinking under control. What are the odds - how could the phoney poster have possibly known about my booziness? I suspect the guy across the street. He deserves what's coming to him.
|1.1.08 @ 2:56PM|#
|1.1.08 @ 2:57PM|#
ROGER WATERS FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Neu Mejican|1.1.08 @ 6:23PM|#
Kwais,
Thanks for your support.
Bigbigslacker...
Maybe I should see if that homunculus I left in the oven is
ready...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracelsus
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