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.
The Friday Political Thread: Free State of Mind Edition
Comments to "The Friday Political Thread: Free State of Mind Edition":
NoStar | December 28, 2007, 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.
Daniel Reeves | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 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.
joshua corning | December 28, 2007, 5:47pm | #
So Weigel...while that Bill white asshole isn't looking...are you Jewish?The Wine Commonsewer | December 28, 2007, 5:55pm | #
Rush, eh? NoStar, you are da man.The Wine Commonsewer | December 28, 2007, 5:56pm | #
Wait, GWB vetoed something? That's news in and of itself.Edward | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 6:13pm | #
No music video this weekYAY!
joshua corning,
Are you planning on sending Herr Weigel holiday gifts?
Kool424 | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 6:22pm | #
Cool (and kinda depressin') Death and Taxes 2008 Poster! Zoom in to the poster.Edward | December 28, 2007, 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.Edie, if you say so. In the meantime, I'll go with the Iowa Independent.
Pig Mannix | December 28, 2007, 6:28pm | #
In lieu of a music video....Fluffy | December 28, 2007, 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!
speaking of blithe tomatoes. I think Blythe Danner is a cuter tomato than her daughter Miss Paltrow.
mk | December 28, 2007, 7:29pm | #
I can't stand the wait. Here's a video complete with the requisite bored, stoned Germans looking on.Great stuff mk. Is that from back when the two Neu! guys were in the band?
Edward | December 28, 2007, 8:03pm | #
Wow, where's VikingDouche at? He's usually the first to chime in.Dumb fucks.
John-David | December 28, 2007, 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.
David E. Gallaher | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 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?
Sam Grove | December 28, 2007, 8:21pm | #
Red Barchettaed | December 28, 2007, 8:21pm | #
Just a random act of violence in a violent world.Move along now. Nothing to see here.
John-David | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 8:26pm | #
I'm not really a prog fan but this guy is.The sound quality beats the shit out of youtube.
Sam Grove | December 28, 2007, 8:29pm | #
Remember The Easy Beats? Ah, youth.MCW | December 28, 2007, 8:42pm | #
So you're going to be strapped in with the wingnut evolution-deniers? Try not to catch the Rethuglican disease.MCW | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 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.John-David | December 28, 2007, 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.
John-David | December 28, 2007, 8:50pm | #
an RLC member just baked Romney.I hope they put in him a lemon meringue pie. Yummy Mormon lemon meringue pie.
MCW | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 9:01pm | #
"MCW illuminates ignorance."Why ignorance? Eric Dondero's site says libertarianism is basiaclly loyalty to BushCo and their wingnuttery.
Kwix | December 28, 2007, 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!
MCW | December 28, 2007, 9:05pm | #
Ron Paul is also anti-choice and pro-religion in the public square, Kwix.Daniel Reeves | December 28, 2007, 9:08pm | #
Romney is about as libertarian as MCW is promiscuous.Chancellor | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 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.alan | December 28, 2007, 9:42pm | #
er, MCW.TLB | December 28, 2007, 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.
Daniel Reeves | December 28, 2007, 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.
Chad | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 10:20pm | #
a $696 defense billI 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"?
Warty | December 28, 2007, 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.
Daze | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 28, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 12:13am | #
Ugh, that should be $696 is the approx avg take home pay per week per American household.Brandybuck | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 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.
Please ignore the first instance of "Ignorance, because..."
And please, don't represent Dondero to anyone as libertarian. It does make me feel a bit nauseous.
Ali | December 29, 2007, 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.
Rudy | December 29, 2007, 1:10am | #
Hey you dopertarians, I support Hillbillly Herointruthiness | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 6:18am | #
No music video this week, either, but there's a full-blown music post coming up later.Who gives a fuck?!
prolefeed | December 29, 2007, 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
prolefeed | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 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.
Jim Bob | December 29, 2007, 10:24am | #
John Edwards has been dipped in oil.MCW has got to be a regular having some fun.
joe | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 11:28am | #
Edward | December 28, 2007, 8:03pm | #hay! greetings!
Wow, where's VikingDouche at? He's usually the first to chime in.
Dumb fucks.
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 | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 1:01pm | #
Benazir BhuttoThe Paul campaign position on this is evolving.
bob | December 29, 2007, 3:47pm | #
Friday evening, AP included this in a stream of stories: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.
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.
Guy Montag | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 4:32pm | #
Nothing from MCW yet. Yet more proof he's a poor imitation of a Von Neumann machine.bob | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 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 | December 29, 2007, 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
bob | December 29, 2007, 9:32pm | #
Last but not least, for all those Sinatra Fansdpotts | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 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)
MCW | December 30, 2007, 12:43am | #
You wingnut prolefeed I passed your libertoid/randroid test. You bastard.prolefeed | December 30, 2007, 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. ;)
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 | December 30, 2007, 1:15am | #
Your fault I was nodding off during my mother's remarriage this afternoon, you bastard ( said with an affectionate ;) ).Haha! :-)
Eric Dondero | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 8:24am | #
And the reason I don't hang out with NeoCons, is cause they're all Pro-Lifers like Ron Paul.Eric Dondero | December 30, 2007, 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.
tarran | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 11:11am | #
Libertarianism is little more than loyalty to BushCo and the wingnut Rethuglican agenda, right Dondero.Sam Grove | December 30, 2007, 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.
You know a thread has died when the remaining comments are mostly by Donderooooo and MCW.
MCW | December 30, 2007, 1:10pm | #
Eric Dondero makes an excellent point by pointing out the anti-choice, misogynistic, wingnuttery of Ron Paul.Neu Mejican | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 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.
prolefeed | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 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.
Neu Mejican | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 6:03pm | #
Weird,That 1:38 post was not by me...
Someone is impersonating me to as such a simple question...odd.
Neu Mejican | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 6:20pm | #
What a cowardly twit the man with the jewish comments is...Neu Mejican | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 30, 2007, 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 | December 31, 2007, 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 | December 31, 2007, 1:09pm | #
A guess on the Neu Mejican imposter...Grand Chalupa (aka Grande Cabron)...
Just a guess given the anti-semitic comments...
Louis Nardozi | December 31, 2007, 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.
joshua corning | December 31, 2007, 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.
joshua corning | December 31, 2007, 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.
bigbigslacker | December 31, 2007, 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.kwais | January 1, 2008, 11:26am | #
bigbigslacker,funny,
nevertheless, the guy impersonating NM is a chickenshit.
Agnus Mcgee | January 1, 2008, 2:56pm | #
Agnus Mcgee | January 1, 2008, 2:57pm | #
ROGER WATERS FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Neu Mejican | January 1, 2008, 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