boudy

http://www.keepmedia.com/ShowItemDetails.do?item_id=366991&pageId=1&x=9&y=10 I posted this somewhere else but I think the story is fascinating enough to repost . Tucker Carslon from Crossfire spent some time on the wild side with DynCorp security contractors. He said the former special services guys made around $250,000 - the only Iraqis they trusted enough to hire were the Kurds.

Andy, One of our old-time Hinckley skydivers, Julian D., has a Honda hydrid and is very happy with it. If I remember correctly, he told me that he got mpg performance slightly better than what Bill reports. Julian says he's kept an accurate log from day one. I think he's had it 2+ years. Sticker price wasn't cheap but his car doesn't seem like such a novelty today.

The prison scandal will cause enormous political and tactical damage but you can't blame this grotesque murder on it. It might be different if someone else did it. But since when does Al Qaeda need a reason for savagely killing Westerners - particularly Americans? Any excuse, or no excuse at all will do. They revel in it . This is just a ruthless, opportunistic attempt to capitalize on the sullied & weakened image of American military efforts. I'm horrified and very sorry for this man and his family. But brutality of this sort ultimately will backfire on Al Qeada & other insurgents & re-energize pro-war sentiments.

The National Journal Conservative Composite Score is only 1 of 6 sub-categories under "National Journal". (it's just the page that google linked for my request) The hosting site is actually "Vote Smart.Org." It is a non-partisan clearing house for political information. It provides about 36 major categories/political issues from which to compare Congress members. (I previously quoted McCain's high "Conservative" rating from Interest groups such as Christian Coalition in earlier post. The mirror image of the Nat J. Conservative Composite - the Nat. J. Liberal Composite can be accessed through National Journal link below. The Liberal Composite is sharply skewed in reverse fashion. (it seems to me that Nat. J. defines "liberal" & "conservative" primarily along voting party lines; that may not be an accurate definition but these results refute the propagated image that McCain votes Democratic most the time) BTW, Liberal Composite rates Kerry at 97% I know you bother more than most to back your arguments with at least some research - so I think you might want to revisit the Vote Smart site & click around. Vote Smart uses biased special interest group ratings as well less blatantly biased (perhaps even objective) sources such as National Journal. Short of exhaustive independent research, the site provides you a fairly good portrait on how Congress members are rated across a broad spectrum of issues/viewpoints. McCain's rating all issues http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0061103 Gun Control Congressional Ratings http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?sig_id=002975M Gun Owners Ratings http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?sig_id=002966M National Journal Liberal Composite Scores http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?sig_id=002939M

I don't know where you are getting your information regarding McCain's voting record, but it sounds like the misinformation regularly dished out by a self-serving, draft-dodging junkie wind-bag who lives down Florida way. A little research regarding conservative scoring of congressional voting records provided the following stats: the National Journal rates McCain's Conservative Composite Score at 62. Certainly not on extreme right fringe, but within a few points either way of numerous well known solid Republicans in Congress & well above the most conservative Democrats. For instance in your state of FLorida, 4 Republican Congressmen were in the 62-68 range while the most conservative Democrat was rated at 42. If you follow link below & then click on McCain's name you'll see how McCain is rated by numerous interest groups on a range of topics - examples: 2003 On the votes that the Christian Coalition considered to be the most important in 2003 , Senator McCain voted their preferred position 83 percent of the time. 2003 On the votes that the Eagle Forum considered to be the most important in 2003, Senator McCain voted their preferred position 73 percent of the time. 2003 On the votes that the Campaign for Working Families considered to be the most important in 2003, Senator McCain voted their preferred position 89 percent of the time. 2003 On the votes that the American Conservative Union considered to be the most important in 2003, Senator McCain voted their preferred position 75 percent of the time. Your appraisal does not hold up in light of the facts. HE has proven himself many times over to be a man - he has nothing to prove or admit in that regard to us or Rush or any anybody else. Right or wrong, popular or unpopular, with or without the approval of the party hacks, he appears to me to have voted his conscience. Approve or disapprove of his positions as you will, but my appraisal is that you should know what you are talking about before launching such a broad, scathing attack on an honorable guy who has given more than most of us ever will in service to his country. http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?sig_id=002947M

Yep, it looks to be one or the other. Frankly, I'm not sure what the petition deadlines are in the various key states to get Pres. candidates on the ballot. But in a wild scenerio where two prominent politicians leave their party and run as independents to rescue the nation in intensely troubled times and catch the imagination of the public - a hell of a lot of petitioning can get done in a hurry. That was back then. A lot has happened since. If anyone's tough enough to rebound from a beating, it's McCain. Besides, he lost running for GOP nomination and fighting for conservative base against a dirty tricks campaign. It'd be a different story as an independent appealing across the electorate. Says who? what differentiates a poll on Powell from other polls? the GOP placed Powell & Condi in positions of great influence, prestige and power. Ideological conformity & winning seem far more prevalent hurdles to GOP (or Dems) acceptance today than race. Powell has broad appeal and could win. Anyway, Powell/McCain is just my fantasy Independent 3rd party ticket - I think these guys could unite country & would trust them more than our current "real" options to lead US back to steadier path.

I believe that a problem with third parties is that they too often just appeal to protest voters (anti-Bush/anti-Kerry & anti-"republicrat") or articulate limited and/or extreme platforms. Powerful entrenched interests can then further marginalize their influence and standing in the political consciousness. There's only one scenerio I can imagine where a third party could capture the presidency in '04 - and admittedly it's extremely fanciful but maybe still technically possible at this point in time. I'd wager that a McCain/Powell or Powell/McCain 3rd party ticket would steam roll both current presidential candidates. And it would probably cause a sea-change in American politics, cleaning-up the parties & minimalize the screaming self-serving extremists on both ends of the spectrum. Fantasy Politics - the next internet fad?

"Wilmette's gun-ban ordinance was enacted in 1989 after a deranged woman shot several children in a local school." - National Review Online Couldn't figure Wilmette's gun ban until I read that line. Chicagoland was gripped that day by the horror & shock of local news alerts telling of the execution of little school children by that psycho woman, Lori Dan. (sp?) The handgun ban apparently appealed to Wilmette's compulsion to do something "corrective" in the wake of unimaginable tragedy perpetuated by a murdering suicidal maniac's use of a handgun - Police were to thereafter confiscate all handguns they came across in town. Anyway, our pro gun types failed to post a compelling argument against gun bans - Hale Demar's first hand account of the incident - how he was forced to stop a lifelong criminal's 2nd invasion in 2 days of his occupied home. It took police 13 minutes to respond after his home security alarm went off. Demar's 90 pound German Shepard didn't deter the invader nor did abundant lighting. http://www.talkaboutgovernment.com/group/alt.politics.usa.constitution.gun-rights/messages/88298.html

I found the linked article regarding our quasi-military security contractors fascinating. I read it shortly before our 4 former special forces contractors were killed in Fallujah. Hard to imagine Tucker Carlson brandishing an AK-47 and helping comandeer a gas station (rather than getting shot waiting in line - Westerners in SUV's are big targets) According to Tucker, the hired security contractors outnumber the British military contingent. "Never before in a war zone has the United States relied so much on private citizens to perform military functions. Security firms such as DynCorp and Kroll, retained on State Department and Pentagon contracts worth billions of dollars, have sent thousands of civilian contractors to do the work that the undermanned U. S. military can't. Here, for the first time, the inside story of the private armies of Operation Iraqi Freedom." http://www.keepmedia.com/ShowItemDetails.do?item_id=366991

Not to dispute your point that it is good to consider the war/occupation from a different perspective, but the Philippine comparison was publicly aired by Pres. Bush himself in October 2003. So, I guess we have a bi-partisan agreement that the best bad anology might be the Philippines. If you'd like some relevant, interesting views on American patriotism, dissent and military adventurism, Google Mark Twain & philippine war/occupation. Here's link to story regarding our President's view of history revisited: http://slate.msn.com/id/2090114/ "The Bush administration seems, for the moment, to have stopped making analogies between post-Gulf War II Iraq and post-World War II Germany (an argument that has been refuted at least a couple of times). Now President Bush himself has taken to likening the democratic prospects of modern Iraq to those of the early 20th-century Philippines. In a recent speech in Manila, Bush said, speaking of the critics of the Iraqi occupation: Democracy always has skeptics. Some say the culture of the Middle East will not sustain the institutions of democracy. The same doubts were proven wrong nearly six decades ago, when the Republic of the Philippines became the first democracy in Asia. The comparison between Iraq and the Philippines may be more accurate than the one between Iraq and West Germany, but it is hardly more comforting. In fact, it is so discomfiting—it implies such a dismal forecast for America's occupation in Iraq over the next several years (for that matter, the next few decades)—that it's hard to imagine Bush would have made such a remark if he'd understood its full implications."

John Kerry "will get my vote when pigs fly." So, you're saying if I look up and see a formation of hogs flappin around, the presidential election will still be a dead heat, except the hard core will now be voting for their opponent?

Yes, I suppose more than half the idiots in the country think that way, if their opinions correspond to the general population. I suppose what's interesting is that the "idiot" in this case served in a sensitive intelligence position for a few years at the president's leisure. And another "idiot" appointed as Treasury Secretary recently voiced similar statements. Perhaps that's the "compassionate" conservative thing at play - hire idiots for extremely sensitive positions because you feel sorry for them?

Being a news-junky sort, I'd love to see more talk radio variety & independent radio stations in Chicago. My "old" favorite for years, WLS, has tilted so far to the hard-core right that I don't tune it in except during some local time slots that aren't committed to the "ditto"agenda. Roe & Garry provide humor & centrist perspectives. Tony Brown is a conservative, black, independent researcher & writer with a unique well-thought & articulated perspective. Jay Marvin is totally radical & independent - interesting, outspoken & sincere. Milt Rosenburg on WGN is another breath of fresh air(intellectual, cultured, analytical, conservative, covers a variety of topics). Other than that & NPR you got Rush, Rush sound-a-likes & Rush wannabes just about every where. Franken is entertaining enough to hold an audience. And IF he doesn't allow his show to become characterized as a format for personal attacks, unsubstaniated accusations & irresponsible insinuations, he may even establish credibility & some interest over time among the unliberal, unconservative, independent- thinking types (the new silent majority?). But, look at this thread - 4 hours after you posted this is only the 4th response: 2 bashed Franken, I'm luke warm & you responded to a Franken-bashing. Gonna have an up hill climb I think.

Well Heather, while there is no doubt the movie is right up your alley, your alley better extend all the way to Columbus, OH or Minnesota if you want to see it soon. We have 6 IMAX theaters right here in Chicago area & none of them is listing the movie according to the web site. Maybe some calls would spark interest in scheduling it.

Procastinator scheduling a procastinator : P1:"uhm, can't seem to work it in for later - how about never? will never work for you? " P2"let me check my calender & get back to you" Started to edit to correct spelling but remembered something else to do first

Previous injuries have left chronic shoulder mobility & pain issues, so I've found the limited range of the decline bench for heavy weights the most comfortable (plus you can press more & cheat more) I weigh 185; decline bench: 350lb max; 315 lb up to 6 reps;295lb up to 10 reps (Flat bench 275lb, clean but no reps); Leg work & dead lift is mostly restricted to the machines (with decent weight using knee brace) because Ortho said I tore my left ACL 9 months ago. Stay consistent and you WILL see rewards at any age(actually makes aches & pains easier to deal with). I've had a substantial improvement over the last two years since I started again at 51.

Only on Zropzone.com

Yeah, I'm sorry I missed the special now. From what I heard, it was a convincing analysis of the evidence. I was drifting towards accepting the lone nut-ball theory but then I saw a replay of this on C-SPAN last week: " Blood, Money & Power: How L.B.J. Killed J.F.K. from November 24, 2003 From the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Barr McClellan discusses his book “Blood, Money & Power: How L.B.J. Killed J.F.K.” Forty years after the assassination, Mr. McClellan, sets out to substantiate his allegations of a high-level conspiracy in Texas that led to John F. Kennedy's death and Johnson's succession as President. Mr. McClellan, a former member of L.B.J.'s legal team, documents his assertions with insider interviews, hundreds of newly released court papers and the findings of the Warren Commission." (don't know if it'll play again) In his presentation, the author was quite blatantly accusing LBJ & associates of all sorts of nefarious schemes from stealing elections & wholesale corruption to murdering witnesses/accomplices and ultimately to committing the crime of the century to short circuit an investigation that could send LBJ to jail. I didn't like LBJ but found the very boldness of the charges mind-numbing, particulary given the author's former insider legal position and the detailed links he described between the cast of characters. Maybe McCLellan is considered a crackpot by those in the know - if not, I'd be interested to see how his story squares with your ABC special or if they addressed his story.

I agree re timing - seems odd. Maybe they just didn't want to appear relenting to pressure from Dems. Hopefully, we'll get to the bottom of a few things in the next 10 months. The head of the 9-11 commission says there are a number of things that are going to surprise the American people when they finally release their report. In any case, except for real security issues, I'm sure after 9-11 we can handle the truth. As for most administrations, the truth here probably isn't so harmful as the appearance that you are trying to hide something.

"Now that he's stepped down, but they haven't appointed an independant, it looks even wierder." I think the choice of Fitzgerald was an excellent decision. In this time of incessant, devisive, back-biting on every issue, this investigation could be saved by a "fair-haired boy" who has risen beyond suspicion. He has a reputation for honest, tough, straight-arrow investigations & prosecutions of scoundrels, regardless of their political affiliations. He has sufficient creditentials as an independent minded prosecutor to keep both parties from legitimately crying foul. As was nationally covered recently, his office announced it will prosecute our last Republican Governor on corruption charges. As a result, the next term Ex-Governor Ryan may serve could be along side half his administration in jail. Fitzgerald hounded the Ryan Administration for years with a corruption investigation despite the dire consequences to the state Repubican party. Around these parts, he is considered squeaky clean. Everything I've seen & heard in the press & law venues suggest him as a great choice to get wade through a shady political mess. Don't be surprised if he steps on some toes & they try to "dirty him up" in Washington. We don't need an "outside" counsel - just someone respectable & after the truth. (BTW, I'm an independent and not particularly fond of a lot of current policy.)

Glad somebody posted a "how to ?" re gallery. I've never been able to access the photos in gallery, even if they were linked from a forum. I get an "access denied" - no permission message. Any ideas on how to fix?

Ditto on all the props above; what a splendid illustration of a kind heart moved by the Christmas spirit. May that heart be warmed throughout an exceptionally happy holiday season & prosperous New Year by the knowledge that a very special & deserving child will be beaming with joy with the beautiful, precious gift you've shared with her.

Last year, I hoped that he'd get the hint that I wanted a ticket to a tunnel camp. I wrote: "Dear Santa, Please leave a little something this year that will assure I won't suck so badly at skydiving" Christmas morning I found my USPA license, a gallon of gas & book of matches sitting on top of my gear bag. Ho, Ho, Ho

Well, the prospect of our people coming home whole & sooner than previously anticipated is certainly a very high hope & prayer among everyone I know. Congrats to our troops - a moral & tactical victory for the good guys. Hopefully, US troops capturing this criminal hiding like a rat in a dark cellar will embolden the Iraqi populace to help snuff out the resistance & ambushs from Saddam's old regime & the Islamist fanatics as well.

For those seeking an unemotional in-depth airing of the issues - right at this moment C-Span has a rerun of a panel discussion & Q/A which took place yesterday regarding decision. It'll probably be rerun again a few times. Panel includes legal types including Kenneth Star, Seth Waxman, Trevor Potterclose & others close to the case.