keith

I've heard that Obama has never missed a shot in his life. He is truly amazing! He is all about control and watch out when he doesn't get is way. That speech after the congress pulled the plug on his invisible Gitmo plan was classic. He was like a little kid throwing a temper tantrum. You are right about Venezuela North. He's already nationalized the banks and auto industry and he won't stop there. He's just like Chavez, but since he does it behind teleprompters with that big toothy smile, he gets away with it. Keith

Seems to me the only "mess" Obama says he's being forced to clean up is the one he created. Keith

Back to the Gitmo issue for a second. Obama and the left seems to be fixated on the southeastern corner of Cuba. Can someone summarize the basic problem Obama has with Gitmo? Thanks. Keith

I was at that game. Wow, 28 years ago. Thanks SUMG you made me feel old today. Keith

If that is happening it is because the earth is in a constant state of change. It always has been and it always will be until our fairly average star expands into a red giant in a few billion years and fries mother earth to a crisp. Oh shutter. This idea that we have to keep the earth static in its current state forever is pure insanity. This whole climate change hoax is one of the biggest scams ever. It is all about money. If the hoax is not perpetuated ad infinitum then what would happen to all that free money handed out by the federal government? Now that the climate change industry is "too big to fail," this crisis is guaranteed to be with us forever. Keith

This is one of the things I don't get. Obama's "blackness" seems much more important to the political left than the political right (in my opinion). His mother was white. His father was black. He was raised by his white grand-parents. A compelling argument can be made that Obama is more white than he is black. I guess even after all the hub-bub of Obama being the first "post-racial" president, we are still hung up on physical characterstics and attributes. Keith

If you want to limit to just those two options then it is the former. Idiot is probably too strong however. Naive, ill-informed, bainwashed, seduced, duped and deluded are probably more accurate ways to describe the majority of the American electorate (at least in 2008), but if you want to call them idiots then that's your prerogative. Keith

I'm not sure what's worse...that Obama did know about this or that he did not know about this and as he said learned about it at the same time as the rest of us. Someone decides to take one of the two ultra-sophisticated fying command centers for the President of the United States for a joy ride up the east coast to buzz lower Manhattan with F-16 chase planes and the President and Commander-in-Chief doesn't know where his plane is? What were the F-16s for anyway? That's a single-seater. We're not using our best trained pilots and $15 Million fighter planes as glorified cameras, are we? There were a lot of scared and pissed off people up here and justifiably so. Something doesn't add up. Keith

Shhhh....it is all part of a diabolical right-wing extremist plan. Everybody knows that. First, secretly in the dark of night pull all the federal "stimulus" funding for pandemic preparedness (since the right-wing conspirators had fore knowledge that one was coming you see). Besides, no one is really going to read the stimulus package anyway. Then, lay low and wait. After a couple of months, arrange for Obama to take a trip to Mexico to shake hands with patient zero. Then he'll bring this new weaponized strain of the influenza virus back to the U.S. It all fits. Keith

Something is messed up with the BB. I've been stuck on 941 posts for a while. Keith

Wow...I'm not sure what to say. I really don't think gun owners fantasise about shooting silver people, however, so I think you're safe. Keith

Hmmmmm in deed. Why do I get the feeling there is more to this story than we are being told? Some selected passages from the linked articles.... That's really odd. Strange as well. Does the flu virus mutate that quickly? Eurasia? Well, at least he narrowed it down for us.... Keith

If you are looking for an eye-opener for the summer, pick up this book. America Alone by Mark Steyn (he's Canadian). Keith

Because. Keith

Come on....everyone knows John was the Walrus. Keith

I think almost every literate person on the planet knows the U.S. is the world's dominant nuclear power and has been for the last 60 years. We *could* take out a lot more than just major cities in Japan if we wanted to. So to simply reiterate a fact that everyone already knows seems pointless. Keith

And Britain, and France, and Russia, and India, and Pakistan, and Israel and perhaps Iran (sooner or later). What's the point of your statement? Are you suggesting that since the U.S. has this ability it's OK and maybe a good thing that NK does too? Keith

Blah...Earth Day is just a euphemism for the celebration of Vladimir Lenin's birthday anyway. Keith

What's your point? Keith

Nothing in politics happens that isn't planned out in advance. There are messages (overt and covert) sent all the time. Sometimes you have to read between the lines, sometimes you don't. In my opinion, any one of Obama's actions when looked at in isolation doesn't really amount to much. If you step back and apply the squint test, however, some patterns are emerging that *should* be enough to cause even those that supported him to start taking a closer look at what's going on. With respect to that picture, for example, how do you spin that? Is this a sign of respect between two heads of state (personally, I don't consider a dictator like Chavez a legitimate head of state, but it is what it is) or is it a friendly "brother in arms" type of embrace (does Chavez finally have a supporter of the "cause" in the Oval Office)? I don't know. One thing that appears obvious is that Obama is a megalomaniac with an ego the size that has not been seen before. In his mind and in his words and actions it is all about Obama. Look at this quote.... "I'm grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was three months old," Obama said..... He needs to start acting as the President of the United States of America and not as a politician on the campaign trail. Keith

There is a difference between never and long time. For example, until recently I had never been inside a Jewish Synagogue either until I attended the Bah Mitzvah of one of my son's friends. So at least I have some first hand experience with that ceremony. In terms of your questions, I'm not sure if they are rhetorical or you wanted answers. Unfortunately, I'm a lot like you in that it's been a long time for me as well. I have certainly spent time in the church but would not classify myself as "practicing." So, While in no way am I suggesting I'm qualified to answer them, I'll give it a shot. I suspect, however, that things have not changed *that* much from your own experiences. I'm not aware of any specific, stated roles of men and women inside the church and at home. In the Catholic church, only men are permitted to be priests. In terms of the congregation, men and women and children sit together and are dressed in normal western-style clothing...for the kids these days that might be debatable :-). As far as I know, the Catholic church regards homosexuality as a sin. They are welcomed inside the church along with all the other sinners. I believe there are some Christian demoninations that are a lot more progressive and allow openly gay ministers/pastors/preachers/elders. Others, not so. Again, from a Catholic perspecitve, all life is considered sacred and would therefore regard abortion and violent activites such as blowing up abortion clinics as reprehensible actions. Both would be considered sins. I don't know what the goals of a Christian fundamentalist are, but if their actions included violence or killing, the actions would be condemed as heinous. I'm not aware of any effort, concerted or otherwise, to establish a separate legal structure based on "Biblical law" (I don't know what that is or if it really exists) that would apply only to Christians, or Jews, or Hindus, or whatever like there is for Muslims and Shari’ah law. The U.K., which gave us the edifice of common law - the bedrock and foundation of our legal system, and most of western Europe are already there. Can we be far behind? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/c...icle4749183.ece Keith (my opinion or understanding - thanks for reminding us of that forevereagle - corrections welcomed)

You have first hand experience that I do not. I've never been inside a Mosque nor have I had a conversation with an Iman, so I'm curious about a few things. Inside the Mosque, where were the women situated in relation to the men? What were they wearing? Were the other followers you conversed with men, women or both? Are gays and lesbians welcome inside the Mosque? What was the Imam's position on radical Islamic terrorists activities? Did he (or does he now) publically condem the 9/11 attacks? Does he disagree with the goals of Islamic fundamentalists or just their methods? Did you happen to discuss his positon on the role of Shari’ah law and if it has a place in the U.S. legal justice system? Keith

Who said anything about a conspiracy? I do like a good conspiracy theory, but I don't think there is anything conspiratorial here. These are just facts. Facts available for all to see. Make of them what you want. Thanks for the tip about Conservapedia. I had not seen this site before. It's good to get all sides of an issue. Looks like I have some reading to do. Keith

Well, since *you* went there, he certaintly isn't helping his case much. He accidently refers to "my Muslim faith" in a TV interview with George Stephanopoulos. George has to correct him. His first television interview as President was to the Al-Arabiya Arab TV Network. He is the first U.S. President to unilaterally refer to Iran as The Islamic Republic of Iran (something Iran has long wanted to be recognized as). Now, for all the world to see, he bows before the King of Saudia Arabia. Correct me if I'm wrong, but out of all the other world leaders he just met, did he bow to anyone else? Maybe it's true that old habits die hard. Keith

I get it. It's not his fault, he INHERITED the bow from the Bush regime. That's getting to be one tired excuse. First of all it is incredibly symbolic. He broke well estabilished protocol with that bow. According to the accounts I've read, no one else in the room was bowing before the King of Saudia Arabia, just our little Barak. He stepped right up and genuflected in front of the effing King of Saudia Arabia. This was on the biggest stage on the planet. He had to know the world was watching. What sort of signal did that send? Strength? Weakness? Obedience? Submission? Keith