SkyChimp

There are two other threads for presidential candidates. One for Republicans and one for Democrats Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

I have a questions for everyone.... Was Iraq under oppression from a Saddam and his two sons? Just curious to see what everyone thinks Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

I don't get it Andy Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

It really does get easier.... Don't fret! Think about the vast difference between a 16 year old kid who just got their drivers license and a NASCAR Nextel Cup driver. It all comes with practice. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

For me there's really no contest. I'd have to write-in for Ronald Reagan. Admittedly, he's now a less than ideal candidate... But you've gotta vote the best man for the job and I think that despite his present drawbacks, he'd still do a better job than either the present incumbent or any of the proposed replacements. Mike. The "Post of the Day" goes to Mike. That was classic! Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

I'M WITH ANDY ON THIS ONE. When we realize that there is an overwhelming danger who's ideology is to destroy non-Islamic believers, only then will be able to live in peace. I see two choices.... #1 Convert to Islam because you are too scared to stand up to them. (and don't think that not converting is an option) #2 Stand up for your right to believe in whatever you want and not allow them to ruin our way of life. (which by the way comes possible with war as we've seen thus far) I know that someone will come behind me and say something to the nature of "Well if we weren't bombing them in Iraq, etc..." but check this out. What did the Clinton administration do wrong that caused the 1993 Trade Tower attacks and the 2000 USS Cole attack?? Answer, NOTHING. However, it could have possible led to 9-11 since nothing was done in return to the Islamic radicals for the two previous incidents. I personally don't care if a Muslim, Jew, Christian, etc.. get offended when it comes to national security. Really I don't!! This country should not apologize for airport profiling at security check points either. Why?? Because 9-11 wasn't caused by a black Christian or a white Jew. It was carried out by an arabic Muslims. Therefore, expect us to probe you from head to toe and not think twice about it. That's how we roll!! Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

THE FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH MADE BY FORMER SENATOR ZELL MILLER OF GEORGIA. THE SPEECH WAS GIVEN AT THE 2004 RNC CONVENTION. Since I last stood in this spot, a whole new generation of the Miller Family has been born: Four great grandchildren. Along with all the other members of our close-knit family, they are my and Shirley's most precious possessions. And I know that's how you feel about your family also. Like you, I think of their future, the promises and the perils they will face. Like you, I believe that the next four years will determine what kind of world they will grow up in. And like you, I ask which leader is it today that has the vision, the willpower and, yes, the backbone to best protect my family? The clear answer to that question has placed me in this hall with you tonight. For my family is more important than my party. There is but one man to whom I am willing to entrust their future and that man's name is George Bush. In the summer of 1940, I was an 8-year-old boy living in a remote little Appalachian valley. Our country was not yet at war, but even we children knew that there were some crazy men across the ocean who would kill us if they could. President Roosevelt, in his speech that summer, told America "all private plans, all private lives, have been in a sense repealed by an overriding public danger." In 1940, Wendell Wilkie was the Republican nominee. And there is no better example of someone repealing their "private plans" than this good man. He gave Roosevelt the critical support he needed for a peacetime draft, an unpopular idea at the time. And he made it clear that he would rather lose the election than make national security a partisan campaign issue. Shortly before Wilkie died, he told a friend, that if he could write his own epitaph and had to choose between "here lies a president" or "here lies one who contributed to saving freedom," he would prefer the latter. Where are such statesmen today? Where is the bipartisanship in this country when we need it most? Now, while young Americans are dying in the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, our nation is being torn apart and made weaker because of the Democrat's manic obsession to bring down our Commander in Chief. What has happened to the party I've spent my life working in? I can remember when Democrats believed that it was the duty of America to fight for freedom over tyranny. It was Democratic President Harry Truman who pushed the Red Army out of Iran, who came to the aid of Greece when Communists threatened to overthrow it, who stared down the Soviet blockade of West Berlin by flying in supplies and saving the city. Time after time in our history, in the face of great danger, Democrats and Republicans worked together to ensure that freedom would not falter. But not today. Motivated more by partisan politics than by national security, today's Democratic leaders see America as an occupier, not a liberator. And nothing makes this Marine madder than someone calling American troops occupiers rather than liberators. Tell that to the one-half of Europe that was freed because Franklin Roosevelt led an army of liberators, not occupiers. Tell that to the lower half of the Korean Peninsula that is free because Dwight Eisenhower commanded an army of liberators, not occupiers. Tell that to the half a billion men, women and children who are free today from the Baltics to the Crimea, from Poland to Siberia, because Ronald Reagan rebuilt a military of liberators, not occupiers. Never in the history of the world has any soldier sacrificed more for the freedom and liberty of total strangers than the American soldier. And, our soldiers don't just give freedom abroad, they preserve it for us here at home. For it has been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom to protest. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the freedom to abuse and burn that flag. No one should dare to even think about being the Commander in Chief of this country if he doesn't believe with all his heart that our soldiers are liberators abroad and defenders of freedom at home. But don't waste your breath telling that to the leaders of my party today. In their warped way of thinking America is the problem, not the solution. They don't believe there is any real danger in the world except that which America brings upon itself through our clumsy and misguided foreign policy. It is not their patriotism — it is their judgment that has been so sorely lacking. They claimed Carter's pacifism would lead to peace. They were wrong. They claimed Reagan's defense buildup would lead to war. They were wrong. And, no pair has been more wrong, more loudly, more often than the two Senators from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. Together, Kennedy/Kerry have opposed the very weapons system that won the Cold War and that is now winning the War on Terror. Listing all the weapon systems that Senator Kerry tried his best to shut down sounds like an auctioneer selling off our national security but Americans need to know the facts. The B-1 bomber, that Senator Kerry opposed, dropped 40 percent of the bombs in the first six months of Operation Enduring Freedom. The B-2 bomber, that Senator Kerry opposed, delivered air strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Hussein's command post in Iraq. The F-14A Tomcats, that Senator Kerry opposed, shot down Khadifi's Libyan MIGs over the Gulf of Sidra. The modernized F-14D, that Senator Kerry opposed, delivered missile strikes against Tora Bora. The Apache helicopter, that Senator Kerry opposed, took out those Republican Guard tanks in Kuwait in the Gulf War. The F-15 Eagles, that Senator Kerry opposed, flew cover over our Nation's Capital and this very city after 9/11. I could go on and on and on: against the Patriot Missile that shot down Saddam Hussein's scud missiles over Israel; against the Aegis air-defense cruiser; against the Strategic Defense Initiative; against the Trident missile; against, against, against. This is the man who wants to be the Commander in Chief of our U.S. Armed Forces? U.S. forces armed with what? Spitballs? Twenty years of votes can tell you much more about a man than twenty weeks of campaign rhetoric. Campaign talk tells people who you want them to think you are. How you vote tells people who you really are deep inside. Senator Kerry has made it clear that he would use military force only if approved by the United Nations. Kerry would let Paris decide when America needs defending. I want Bush to decide. John Kerry, who says he doesn't like outsourcing, wants to outsource our national security. That's the most dangerous outsourcing of all. This politician wants to be leader of the free world. Free for how long? For more than 20 years, on every one of the great issues of freedom and security, John Kerry has been more wrong, more weak and more wobbly than any other national figure. As a war protester, Kerry blamed our military. As a Senator, he voted to weaken our military. And nothing shows that more sadly and more clearly than his vote this year to deny protective armor for our troops in harms way, far away. George Bush understands that we need new strategies to meet new threats. John Kerry wants to re-fight yesterday's war. George Bush believes we have to fight today's war and be ready for tomorrow's challenges. George Bush is committed to providing the kind of forces it takes to root out terrorists. No matter what spider hole they may hide in or what rock they crawl under. George Bush wants to grab terrorists by the throat and not let them go to get a better grip. From John Kerry, they get a "yes-no-maybe" bowl of mush that can only encourage our enemies and confuse our friends. I first got to know George Bush when we served as governors together. I admire this man. I am moved by the respect he shows the first lady, his unabashed love for his parents and his daughters, and the fact that he is unashamed of his belief that God is not indifferent to America. I can identify with someone who has lived that line in "Amazing Grace," "Was blind, but now I see," and I like the fact that he's the same man on Saturday night that he is on Sunday morning. He is not a slick talker but he is a straight shooter and, where I come from, deeds mean a lot more than words. I have knocked on the door of this man's soul and found someone home, a God-fearing man with a good heart and a spine of tempered steel. The man I trust to protect my most precious possession: my family. This election will change forever the course of history, and that's not any history. It's our family's history. The only question is how. The answer lies with each of us. And, like many generations before us, we've got some hard choosing to do. Right now the world just cannot afford an indecisive America. Fainthearted self-indulgence will put at risk all we care about in this world. In this hour of danger our President has had the courage to stand up. And this Democrat is proud to stand up with him. Thank you. God Bless this great country and God Bless George W. Bush. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

It's like Zell Miller said at the RNC in 2004. Twenty years of votes can tell you much more about a man than twenty weeks of campaign rhetoric. Campaign talk tells people who you want them to think you are. How you vote tells people who you really are deep inside. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

So you think pro-choice, drag-dressing Rudy Giuliani has more of a possibility of getting nominated than pro-war, anti-abortion McCain does? True, McCain is pro-environment (my god, how disgustingly LIBERAL, right?!!) but if you look at his voting record, he is fundamentally a conservative. And this time around he's kissing southern baptist redneck ass, because he learned from his mistakes in 2000. I think he has a fine chance. And if there is a "uniter" among any of the dem or republican candidates, it is most certainly McCain. Rudy on the other hand screwed himself simply by dressing in drag for a halloween party back in the late 90's. The ultra-religious hillbilly wing of the party is going to crucify him for it, guaranteed. I think it is quite possible that he could get picked for VP though since he might add some geographic balance to a ticket that will likely feature a red-state candidate. Sorry guys... I still think Newt will run. He is very unpredictable in his tactics. He playing this party nomination game like Chevrolet did with the Camaro. They said for 5 years that they had no intentions on bringing it back and then they did when enough people whinned about it. Just building up the demand is what I think he is doing. PLUS, Newt is the kind of guy that will come forward with detailed solutions. The problem with McCain is that he isn't a leader. He swings too much based on public polls. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

STOP THE PRESS FOR A MOMENT GUYS...... Im going to respond from this post even though the last few posts were a little nuts. If you rely on a particular form of media who claims they report the "facts" yet never give details about the facts or the source confirming the facts, you should reconsider on holding that media organization accountable to the readers. Now on to those photos..... Here is my concern Dorbie, The photo you posted (which may have been posted by the SUN or some other tabloid) shows a US pilot posing in front of a F-117 Stealth, not an A-10 Thunderbolt. Not to say it couldn't happen at some airshow, but most pilots pose in front of their designated aircraft. F-117's are not kept out in the open like the A-10s, F/A-18s, F-16s, etc.... In Iraq, they are secured while not under flight operations due to the security. Also, there are special hangers in the United States which house the F-117 and only their flight crew are permitted to be within 100 feet of the aircraft. Regarding the destroyed tank in your 2nd photo. I'm going to do some more research on that. For the sake of being objective I want to do some more digging. When strafed by an A-10, more times then not, you will find the destroyed subject to look a little more "shredded" due to the forward projectiles emitted by the Thunderbolt's cannon. This photo shows the appearance of a blast to the rear of the armored vehicle. Something small like a MK-82 or even smaller. Typically the General Electric GAU-8/A 30mm seven barrel cannon creates more damage then that. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

Profits for the defense industry? _____________________________ BINGO! Chuck Free Enterprise? Free enterprise is not free when it's enforced by guns. LOL, I figured it wouldn't take long before you went for the bait. OK, reel him in then, what's your punch line? No punch line. I just knew he couldn't resist that one. So it wasn't so much "bait" as hors d'oeuvres I'm actually starting to like you Professor.... that's scary! Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

And what exactly did Bush say that rejected the idea? Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!!!!

Profits for the defense industry? _____________________________ BINGO! Chuck Free Enterprise? Free enterprise is not free when it's enforced by guns. LOL, I figured it wouldn't take long before you went for the bait. OK, reel him in then, what's your punch line? No punch line. I just knew he couldn't resist that one. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

Profits for the defense industry? _____________________________ BINGO! Chuck Free Enterprise? Free enterprise is not free when it's enforced by guns. LOL, I figured it wouldn't take long before you went for the bait. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

Profits for the defense industry? _____________________________ BINGO! Chuck Free Enterprise? Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

As best as I can tell (and DON'T ask for confirmation of this) it is a difference in definition between "killed in action" and "killed in theater". Someone killed in a traffic accident on base in Kuwait counts as "killed in theater" but not as KIA. That's correct Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

That's sad!!!! Another "blue on blue" is a horrible thing!! I'm surprised that the conspiracy theory fanatics haven't been calling shenanigans thus far in this thread to claim all this is intentional. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

Nice try Professor, you're avoiding the question! I respectfully request that you please post where you were you confirmed these facts. By the way, my military training was naval avionics, not the speculated percentages of British fatalities killed by US forces during the first gulf war. I guess the Department of Defense felt is was erroneous content to teach their newly recruited avionics technicians as it appeared to be useless information on the proper maintenance procedures of US naval aircraft. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

Please post where you confirmed these findings. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

Well we invaded other countries durning WWII and to this day, have never left. Military bases were established in Europe and the rest is history. I predict that we will never leave and that someday Baghdad will just be another billet to get filled when us service members are on the phone with the detailer, chosing orders! What do you think sounds better??? Fort Baghdad Naval Air Station Baghdad Baghdad Air Force Base Camp Baghdad Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

Thanks for all the input !!!!!!!! Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

I understand your feelings about it. You are simply taking ownership in your countrymen which I find admirable. I know war sucks!!!! With so many different ideological ways of thinking and cultures, I wonder if the world will ever live in peace. It's almost as the human race is in too deep. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

Maybe my head is in the sand here but i'll say again. We have evidence of Americans killing Brits, its right here. Do you have evidence of Brits killing Americans? If so post it. Here is the proof that the British have made the same stupid mistake. Forget about the Brits killing American troops, in this British news article we have proof that the British ROASTED their own countrymen by mistake. Certainly you cannot deny the evidence that England has made the same friendly fire mistake. Now if you want to argue that they have managed to not kill allied forces from other countries, fine. However, you cannot argue that they haven''t made a friendly fire mistake at all. They killed their own. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,922141,00.html Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

NOW THAT'S A QUALITY POST!!!! Dorbie sums it up completely. I served in Allied Force in Kosovo in 1999 and war is very foggy but there are basics that are drilled into your head to keep safety paramount. It's like with skydiving guys, no matter what... YOU PULL! Well, in sweeper missions in their case, no matter what... ORANGE! That was their basics in safety for the mission and they clearly stated numerous times the tops of the vehicles were orange. Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!