tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3353642204513381780.post3070915979992235860..comments2011-05-18T10:31:22.458-07:00Comments on Issues to Ponder: Pondering Political Humor on My Ponte Vista BlogM Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644940232494534872noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3353642204513381780.post-34463728220091249162008-10-25T17:36:00.000-07:002008-10-25T17:36:00.000-07:00Here is another comment not really related to the ...Here is another comment not really related to the comment made by anonymous 3:12 PM<BR/><BR/>In California it looks like Senator Obama will take this state by a landslide and all the electoral votes will go to him.<BR/><BR/>That gives me a chance to not vote for him.<BR/><BR/>For me personally, Senator Obama is moving towards the center too much for my liking.<BR/><BR/>But I have a real problem.<BR/><BR/>The candidate for President of the United States for the Peace and Freedom Party is Ralph Nader.<BR/><BR/>I have never voted for him and I never will.<BR/><BR/>He is outside any real reasonable consideration as being anything close to a credible candidate, in my opinion.<BR/><BR/>He has sold the farm and seems to be running to help his own ego and he probably gave us "W" in 2000 over Gore.<BR/><BR/>Even if he didn't exactly do that, he doesn't deserve any votes from anyone I know.<BR/><BR/>Now there are other candidates from minor parties that also aren't going to get my vote.<BR/><BR/>I do hope though, that wherever Bob Barr's name appears on the ballot, far right conservatives will vote for him.<BR/><BR/>Alan Keyes is running in the American Independent Party.<BR/><BR/>I thought the late George Wallace was a candidate from that party, but it may have been a former American Independent Party.<BR/><BR/>It would be fine with me if conservatives voted for Allan over John, if the two of them appear on ballots that Bob Barr is not on.<BR/><BR/>I have the opportunity to vote for Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party.<BR/><BR/>I was a member of the Green Party for a spell, but I wanted to have more of a say in primary elections, so I switched parties.<BR/><BR/>Actually it really shouldn't matter, in California, who Republicans vote for, for the office of President of the United States.<BR/><BR/>Whether you pick McCain, Barr, or Keyes, you will probably be more able to select which one of the three better matches your particular leanings in the Republican Party.<BR/><BR/>Republicans do have a real choice in stating which direction they want their future leaders to lead them in. They can be more towards the center, somewhat right of center, or way out right of center.<BR/><BR/>Republicans in California have a better chance in stating what they want to see in the way of changes in their national leadership by voting which direction their party should go.<BR/><BR/>It might be fun to witness which way the Republican Party is going to head into the future with.<BR/><BR/>I can safely suggest that absolutely no one in California should mark their ballots for Nader.<BR/><BR/>If his time was ever there, it has been long gone for a long time.<BR/>MWM Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08644940232494534872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3353642204513381780.post-19368229657243022112008-10-25T17:19:00.000-07:002008-10-25T17:19:00.000-07:00Thank you anonymous 3:01 PM,When a U.S. Citizen is...Thank you anonymous 3:01 PM,<BR/><BR/>When a U.S. Citizen is denied their Constitutional rights by our government because he may be a "enemy combatant" then we all need to consider what other rights are being violated.<BR/><BR/>When "W" stated as fact that no governmnet agency was listening to calls made from overseas to U.S. Citizens, not only was that a lie, but it was also unconstitutional.<BR/><BR/>When we give up or liberties because the government states that we need to in order to protect our security, I do not feel that is a fair exchange.<BR/><BR/>The "Patriot Act" took freedoms away from me and I am not only a patriot, but also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.<BR/><BR/>What I feel has happened is that too many people listened to all the fear mongering by "W" and the bunch. Using fear to control a population is nothing new and has been around for quite a long time, all over the world.<BR/><BR/>I think we should use better reasoning, thoughtful information gathering and responsible communication.<BR/><BR/>Since 9/11 we seem to operate from a fearful rationale rather than using more consern and deliberate communication investigation.<BR/><BR/>It has been proven time and time again that our intelligence community either is incompetent or unwilling to use the tax dollars we all spend on them to provide the best value for the expenditures and the only thing that can be used by our government to cover up the lack of good, true, and competent intelligence is fear.<BR/><BR/>Over the last eight years I did not prosper well and you asked me to name someone I know who didn't.<BR/><BR/>As prices continued to rise, my real wages decreased.<BR/><BR/>I also feel that the President's use of 'signing statements', Supreme Court rulings, and the Executive Branch's reinterpretation of parts of the U.S. Constitution have hindered every single Citizen.<BR/><BR/>Over the last eight years it has become more true that when you give up your liberties to protect what you call freedom, you have neither.<BR/><BR/>That may not exactly apply to you, but it does to more and more people who may not be in the same position as you are....anonymous.<BR/><BR/>I would hope that if you stand by your statements using strength and without fear, you would be willing to identify yourself.<BR/><BR/>You know who I am. Why have you decided to hide your identity?<BR/><BR/>Are you fearful of something?<BR/><BR/>Were you "driven to serve" when you were in the military?<BR/><BR/>is the term 'credible intel' really true?<BR/><BR/>Do you claim that the 'intel' about WMD was 'credible'?<BR/><BR/>Are you willing to trust the same folks that brought you the 'credible intel' about so many things over the last eight years?<BR/><BR/>Is there any reason to suggest that our intel has gotten more credible over the last eight years?<BR/><BR/>John McCain is a U.S. Senator and in the same political party as "W".<BR/><BR/>Senator McCain makes repeated statements that he knows how to get bin Ladin. Where is his 'credible intel' coming from and why won't he share it with "W" or military leaders?<BR/><BR/>If the CIA works within the borders of the U.S.A. to attempt to stop acts of terrorism, then they are violating the law.<BR/><BR/>Should we allow government agencies to break the law in order to claim they are protecting our freedom?<BR/><BR/>I thought we are a nation of laws and no one is above the law.<BR/><BR/>When we freely allow others to break the law and then wonder where our liberties went, then we only have ourselves to blame for loss to our freedoms.<BR/><BR/>If is is O.K. for "W" and Cheney to call for not following laws of this land, for any reason, then we really do have something to fear.<BR/><BR/>A government that continues to violate laws and take freedoms away from individuals, is a government that does not serve any of us well and I hope you agree with this.<BR/><BR/>I personally have to undergo more checks at airports because of 9/11 and my new hip. My freedom to pass through the area, side by side with my wife is gone and none of that is my fault.<BR/><BR/>It's not my new hip that is the problem, it is the claim that more security is necessary than it actually may be.<BR/><BR/>I cannot board an aircraft without showing a photo identification. <BR/><BR/>I cannot even visit Councilwoman Janice Hahn's office in San Pedro without displaying a photo I.D.<BR/><BR/>All of us have lost some freedoms since 9/11 and I wonder how many more freedoms folks are willing to surrender in order to think they feel safe.<BR/><BR/>Recently we have seen our own citizens terrorize other citizens because of real proplems in our economy.<BR/><BR/>Right now that are far more people really fearful that their homes will be taken away than there are people who worry about a possible attack from some other government or group.<BR/><BR/>Our nation does not handle fear very well and when we continue to hear things that suggest we have more to fear, it makes folks more willing to give up their liberties and freedoms.<BR/><BR/>I don't think our forefathers ever dreamed we would be a Nation whose people live with such a great amount of fear and insecurity.<BR/><BR/>At some point, we all need to decide whether we wish to live in fear or in a state where we challenge that fear, take it on face to face, and make it crystal clear that we won't live in fear any longer and that WE can do something about it.<BR/><BR/>Now here is a bit of trivia, for no real good reason.<BR/><BR/>G. Gordon Liddy and William Ayers are both considered by many as domestic terrorists in some form. both served prison sentences and both have not claimed to be repentent for their deeds.<BR/><BR/>The difference between the two is that only one of them sponsored a fundraising event in his home for one of the two people now running for President in the two Major parties.<BR/><BR/>Yup, G. Gordon Liddy had a fundraising event in his home for Senator John McCain.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and another thing, the committee both Ayers and Obama sat on was sponsored by the conservative Walter Annenberg Foundation and committee members sitting alongside the two named gentlemen included Repulicans and Democrats.<BR/>MWM Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08644940232494534872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3353642204513381780.post-30952082753650469082008-10-25T15:01:00.000-07:002008-10-25T15:01:00.000-07:00I don't agree with your statement about constituti...I don't agree with your statement about constitutional rights being taken away. I guess you are refering to wire tapping? It just amazes me how people forget about 9/11 so quickly. In order to root out terrorism/terrorists who may be in this country, I'd gladly allow our government agencies to have the tools necessary to gather credible intel in order to save our lives. Wire tapping, interrogation, imprisonment...whatever it takes. You'd be singing a different tune if a large bomb went off in the harbor area. Then we'd hear whining about why the CIA didn't stop it before it could happen. True leadership is tough Mark. Real leaders make tough choices. My life has been just fine for 8 years, yours probably too. I do not know anyone, personally, who did not prosper well over the last 8 years. Do you personally know anyone who has been personally hurt, attacked, violated, or taken advantage of due to the policies of the last 8 years? Please don't use the war and/or soldiers/soldier families as an answer to the question. That is a given. War is hell, and our soldiers put their lives out there because they are driven to serve.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3353642204513381780.post-64992188818715088862008-10-19T13:04:00.000-07:002008-10-19T13:04:00.000-07:00I didn't do a good job at trying to explain my poi...I didn't do a good job at trying to explain my point and I apologize for that.<BR/><BR/>There are contries that practice Democratic Socialism and other contries that practice Democratic Capitalism, like the U.S.A.<BR/><BR/>There are countries that use a Monarchy government with a Capitalistic economy and countries that use a Monarchy government with Socialism as its economic backbone.<BR/><BR/>Finland, Norway, and some other countries practive Democratic Socialism. The government taxes its people at an extremely high rate, but they offer everyone access to social services.<BR/><BR/>Is that type of government/economy sustainable in the U.S.A.? I doubt it.<BR/><BR/>In China they use Dictitorial Socialism, but allow certain connected individuals to use Capitalism to further the country's policies.<BR/><BR/>I doubt highly that that would ever work for any length of time in the U.S.A., but it was practiced for a very short period of time during the Great Depression and it did help get the country moving again, I think.<BR/><BR/>You are pretty right on when you ask the economic question concerning being able to name one country using Socialism to compare to Capitalism in the areas of technology and business development.<BR/><BR/>Sweden may come closest to being comparable, but there are many social problems there trying to keep the citizens happy, successful, and working towards higher technology when that economic system supports the 'cradle to grave' approach.<BR/><BR/>China is nowhere near to where it could be compared because its Socialistic economy can't move its population into any real power unless the Capitalists just starting to work there are given a chance to flourish.<BR/><BR/>I don't have many good things to say about politicians myself.<BR/><BR/>Once in office, their main responsility is to remain in office and we reelect far too many politicians because we don't seem to want to endorse change or real responsibility on the part of politicians.<BR/><BR/>But Dictators are not really politicians and I don't want that type of person in the U.S.A.<BR/><BR/>We have spent the last 8 years with a couple of people who believe their power is absolute and for 6 of those eight years, they had a legislative branch that backed up their power.<BR/><BR/>For the second time in our history, rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution have been taken away from the People and that is very un-democratic to all of us.<BR/>MWM Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08644940232494534872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3353642204513381780.post-21035676461479013202008-10-19T11:40:00.000-07:002008-10-19T11:40:00.000-07:00I don't believe I compared Capitolism to Democracy...I don't believe I compared Capitolism to Democracy. It was Capitolism vs Socialism. Obama = steps closer to Socialism (as the Joe the plummer situation points out), McCain = protection of Capitolism (protection in the sense that he will keep the incentive in tact).<BR/>I also believe you are not correct to infer that Capitolism and Democracy don't mix. You missed my whole point about this country and technology and business development. Again, name one Socialist country that compares to the US in the area of technology and business development. Anyhow, all politicians suck. They are opportunists. Not many really care about this country as much as they care about their career. Don't be fooled by Obama.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com