Quoting:
Listening to it as I type, Cat...http://www.clicksmilie.de/sammlung/cool/cool030.gif
End Quote

Me too.



Cat

Quoting:
I was quiet when what some called our BEST President ever (Clinton) spurted his B.S. to us...I think THIS speech is Sincere....Bush is much better than his Morally corrupt predecessor...IMHO ;)
End Quote

Ow, ow ow. (me biting my tongue)



Cat

Quoting:
Lmao.   What network are you watching? We are on CBS. Of course, they are all the same. First the newscaster comes on and tells us what he is going to say. Then he says it. Then the newscaster comes back on and tells us what he just said. Don't understand that.




Cat
End Quote

Listening to it on NPR.  The only time the announcer butts in is too tell us when he's getting a standing ovation.

Quoting:




Ow, ow ow. (me biting my tongue)



Cat
End Quote

No, NO...I didn't mean anything...I was just voicing My opinion....as the homies might say..."It's All Good"  :D

Quoting:

No, NO...I didn't mean anything...I was just voicing My opinion....as the homies might say..."It's All Good"  :D
End Quote

I know you were voicing your opinion. I happen to disagree with your opinion and I don't want to get into anything tonight.



Cat

Quoting:




I know you were voicing your opinion. I happen to disagree with your opinion and I don't want to get into anything tonight.



Cat
End Quote

That's quite alright...I respect your opinion....all I ask is you respect mine...for we may not always agree....but I do care ;)

Quoting:

That's quite alright...I respect your opinion....all I ask is you respect mine...for we may not always agree....but I do care ;)
End Quote

I do respect other people's opinion. I'm just getting tired and don't feel like defending my point of view.



Cat

Quoting:
I was quiet when what some called our BEST President ever (Clinton) spurted his B.S. to us..End Quote

Ha ha...you're not alone buddy!

Quoting:I think THIS speech is Sincere....Bush is much better than his Morally corrupt predecessor...IMHO ;)
End Quote

You got that right!

Quoting:
My friend, a Democrat, voiced his opinion that this was a well-conceived and delivered speech.  However, I happen to agree with him that while Bush did outline certain domestic reforms, he did not go into detail how he was going to do it.  I figured that was due to lack of time, but maybe this is something he will have to do in the coming weeks...

I think he finally, forcefully, sold the war against Iraq.  
End Quote

I'm going to wait til I read it to say anything more than I thought it was a good speech.  He's going to have a tough time selling his tax cut proposals, even to his own party.
About the war... I'm not so sure he sold it.  

Quoting:
My friend, a Democrat, voiced his opinion that this was a well-conceived and delivered speech.  However, I happen to agree with him that while Bush did outline certain domestic reforms, he did not go into detail how he was going to do it.  I figured that was due to lack of time, but maybe this is something he will have to do in the coming weeks...End Quote

This isn't a big surprise.  Poll after poll and the 2002 elections prove that, while the domestic issues are on everyone's minds and are of big concern, the most outstanding issue in America right now is the possibility of war with Iraq and terrrorism in general.  I think it was only fitting that the main focus of this address was to prove to the country and world that Iraq is a true threat, and he did that very well.

Quoting:
I think he finally, forcefully, sold the war against Iraq.  
End Quote

...with flying colors.   There is no way that anyone, even the great and knowledgable foreign policy experts Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, can admit that action is not necessary.

Quoting:

...with flying colors.   There is no way that anyone, even the great and knowledgable foreign policy experts Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, can admit that action is not necessary.
End Quote

Wanna put money on that? Some people can never be convinced... ;)

Quoting:he'll be a one term president, thank god.
End Quote

And you wanna put money on that? (Gee I could be rich shortly.... ::) )

Quoting:


Wanna put money on that? Some people can never be convinced... ;)
End Quote

I know I know, thats why I put those names in italics.  I realize some people will never ever change their mindset, no matter what proof is presented.

Quoting:
On terrorists:

"All told, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many countries

And many others have met a different fate. Let's put it this way: They are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends and allies. "


Comments?  ;D What do you suppose happened to these others?

End Quote

I loved that part ;D  A-plus there.  Terrorists best not f**k with the Bush ;)

Quoting:
The War on Iraq is inevitable, that part of the speech was a ploy to raise his approval ratings and public support for the war, both have been free falling. End Quote

...and on the other hand, if he hadn't addressed the Iraq situation, people like yourself would have come here claiming he didn't present enough proof that action is needed against Iraq.

::)

Quoting:
On terrorists:

"All told, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many countries

And many others have met a different fate. Let's put it this way: They are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends and allies. "


Comments?  ;D What do you suppose happened to these others?

End Quote

My husband loved that part! ;D

Quoting:
On terrorists:

"All told, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many countries

And many others have met a different fate. Let's put it this way: They are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends and allies. "


Comments?  ;D What do you suppose happened to these others?

End Quote

  They all slipped on bars of soap, hit their heads on the edge of the tub and died instantaneously. ;D

Quoting:
On terrorists:

"All told, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many countries

And many others have met a different fate. Let's put it this way: They are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends and allies. "
End Quote

Finally, we have a president who won't just turn his head and look the other way.

Kudos, kudos. :D

Quoting:
Did anyone listen to the democratic response by the Governor of Washington?

Opinions, comments....
End Quote

It was the usual canned response given by Democrats thus far.  Nothing new.

Quoting:
Did anyone listen to the democratic response by the Governor of Washington?

Opinions, comments....
End Quote

What did he say?  I decided to shut it down after the speech ended.

Quoting:


It was the usual canned response given by Democrats thus far.  Nothing new.
End Quote

And you have the gall to say that some people will never be convinced!

Quoting:


...and on the other hand, if he hadn't addressed the Iraq situation, people like yourself would have come here claiming he didn't present enough proof that action is needed against Iraq.

::)
End Quote

   I was reading in the paper this morning that Blix's report on the inspections doesn't bode well for Iraq.  I'll wait for that, instead.  I don't expect either proof or truth going into any speech from a president whos arse is on the line.

Quoting:


And you have the gall to say that some people will never be convinced!
End Quote

yes thats right.  Maybe if the Democrats would have presented some new ideas, rather than the broken record they have been playing the last 2 years, I would have been convinced.

Quoting:
I don't expect either proof or truth going into any speech from a president whos arse is on the line.

End Quote

Clinton's butt was also on the line, so he bombed Kosovo...

Quoting:


Clinton's butt was also on the line, so he bombed Kosovo...
End Quote

excellent point.  Although many Clinton supporters selectively choose to omit that incident from memory.

What is amazing, many of the same folks who oppose action on Iraq had no problem bombing Kosovo a few years ago.

Quoting:


Clinton's butt was also on the line, so he bombed Kosovo...
End Quote

  Okay, I'll buy that.  I probably should've stated anypresident, not Bush, in particullar.  That was just my way of dismissing tonights S.O.U. address altogether.  
 

Quoting:


What did he say?  I decided to shut it down after the speech ended.
End Quote

Anybody?  Bueller?  Bueller?

Seriously, what did the Democrats say?  I wanna know from y'all before I have to dig up CNN meself...

Quoting:
" Instead of bureaucrats and trial lawyers and HMOs, we must put doctors and nurses and patients back in charge of American medicine.
To improve our health care system, we must address one of the prime causes of higher cost: the constant threat that physicians and hospitals will be unfairly sued.
Because of excessive litigation, everybody pays more for health care, and many parts of America are losing fine doctors. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit; I urge the Congress to pass medical liability reform."

I have a question.  Who awards these patients of malpractice these  punitive damages? Hmm...  a jury of people like us! Not the lawyers. If the claim IS frivolous, then they won't win the case.  The only thing that lawyers can be blamed for is clogging up the courts with some less than credible claims, right?  They don't award the judgement or the damages!

The people accountable here are the doctors.  The cases that have the huge punitive damages are justifiable because of gross misconduct by the doctor, proven in a court of law.

I'll tell you what if a doctor  removed my left kidney when my right was the one that needed to be taken out and that leaves me unable to earn a living,  not to mention the expenses, pain, and emotional damage, you bet I want more than $250,000

You would also.
End Quote

I see where you are coming from but if you look at the facts....the actual incidences of malpractice are quite low compared to the cases that are currently pending. No, the problem is costs are being driven by the fact that people do not pay their bills. Some cannot, understandable, but many just don't, and that puts the costs off on all of us who do pay, and our insurance companies. At least, this is what I hear from both the insurance industry and the medical industry. When a doctor is standardly billing $150 for five minutes of his/her time, do you think they are doing this due to the dozens of malpractice lawsuits that are currently pending against them? No. It is for the dozens of patients he will see that will never pay their bill. I have no argument with people who have a legitimate lawsuit for malpractice, but that is not where the majority of costs of healthcare are adding up. Anyway...this is really really o.t. so thanks for all of your patience.

Quoting:


Anybody?  Bueller?  Bueller?

Seriously, what did the Democrats say?  I wanna know from y'all before I have to dig up CNN meself...
End Quote

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/28/dems.transcript/index.html

I'd rather you read it. I don't want to screw it up.

I just read it after hearing it a little bit ago, and... it just makes more sense to me.

Quoting:
"We must convince the world that Saddam Hussein is not America's problem alone -- he's the world's problem. We urge President Bush to stay this course for we are far stronger when we stand with other nations than when we stand alone. I have no doubt that together, we can meet these global challenges. "

"Democrats have a positive, specific plan to turn our nation around." What is the plan? I missed it I guess.


This is going to upset a few people, but....basically this boils down to " Let's just keep talking about Saddam Hussein to everybody and convince all other countries that he is bad, because we cannot handle him by ourselves." First: all of the other countries whom we are friendly with already have that figured out! There is nothing stating how we would meet these "global challenges". Sorry, but we need to do something about Hussein now, hell we should have done something about him a long time ago. Let the flames begin!  ;D

End Quote

  *stands back, crosses arms and nods in approval @  shazzaah*  ;)

Quoting:
So, is mid June a good time move our remaining forces into North Korea?  We have the proof there, yet the oilfields are the priority.
End Quote

Jesus Christ superstar...are we doing this stupid oil argument again?  And North Korea is getting taken care of by the surrounding countries.

Quoting:


Jesus Christ superstar...are we doing this stupid oil argument again?  And North Korea is getting taken care of by the surrounding countries.
End Quote

Some people are determined its all about oil, and thats the way they'll think till they die.  Despite how absurd that argument is.

All i can say is where were all you "no blood for oil" anti-war hippies in 1998 when Clinton threatend action against Iraq?  Nobody suspected it was about oil then.  

It was a ridiculous thing to suspect then, and its a ridiculous thing to suspect now.

Quoting:
China has North Korea's back, that's why America is so scared of them. We want nothing to do with China.
End Quote

Whaaatt? so you obtained this information from....? BTW, I don't feel particularly "scared" of China right now....maybe I would be if there were some kind of facts that I could peruse....

Quoting:
well, China is a bigger threat than weak little Iraq.

Here's a communist country who's developed into a superpower, they have nuclear (or as bush would say, "nucular") weapons and the biggest army in the world. They've sold weapons to NK and Iraq.

so why aren't we taking on big red?


"Mr. Zemin, tear down that Great Wall......Nancy, I soiled myself again"
End Quote

"Big Red" is our peaceful trade ally.  That wouldn't be good business.

Quoting:
yea, Iraq and Bin Ladin were allies too.
End Quote

Cool, so NOW can we bomb the shiitake out of Iraq?  PLEASE??

Quoting:



Some people are determined its all about oil, and thats the way they'll think till they die.  Despite how absurd that argument is.

All i can say is where were all you "no blood for oil" anti-war hippies in 1998 when Clinton threatend action against Iraq?  Nobody suspected it was about oil then.  

It was a ridiculous thing to suspect then, and its a ridiculous thing to suspect now.

End Quote

Let's Get, Let's Get, Let's Get 80sRocked a Monica brand cigar :D IMO you are RIGHT on the money with that reply ;) And BTW, let's see if Bush frees a bunch of criminals in his last days in office just like Slick Willy did....you remember, the ones who made illegal contributions to his '96 run...greatest president in history...Sure ::)

Quoting:
Is there a reason why my link to the Cato Institute was removed, Hairspray? It is not an inappropriate link by any means, so the reasoning behind its removal is baffling.
End Quote

Had you been a member, I would have sent a message to you about it. Alas, the link became corrupt.  :-/

Hey, membership is free and hassle free if you should care to join. Unless you are one of us posting incognito.  ;D

Quoting:
Is anyone interested in the State of the Union address?




Cat
End Quote

Quoting:
Alright....alright. Let's remember to keep it nice boys & girls.  ;)

End Quote

  We nice boys and girls, Spray.  :)

Quoting:
His last half of the speech was almost declaration of war. He was very determined in his delivery and I believe it is no longer just a threat but a promise.

The way troops are continually sent and placed over there, I have no doubt it is for specific, strategic purposes. We're going to war whether we like it or not.
End Quote

  Let them go to war: I only hope this goes as smoothly as we talk. I would hate for the American people to learn their lesson the hard way, if many of our troops die. However, I can also comfort myself from the notion that the people won't learn, no matter how well or poorly it might go, and therefore they will suffer no ill effects from sending troops pointlessly to their deaths. So, in effect, I'm right back from whence I came.
  When catharsis equals zilch, numb, and void simultaneously, what the hell do you do? There's nothing there to give my compassion. I might as well fuel a lighter with it and find an opium parlor.
  Nonetheless, every once in a while, you have to let people simply hurt themselves. Otherwise they don't learn. I only hope they don't hurt themselves too badly or take everyone else down with them. This madness has to end, and if the only way to do that is to let the psychos burn out, then taking a vacation from my conscience is the least I can do.
  It's becoming downright treasonous in this country to aim for human decency. When the people reach blind cruelty, I can no longer support their excesses.  That's all. :)