Free Republic

"..Sadly, Bush has been too passive in his own defense over his years in office. If he had been much tougher with his twisted critics of the left, I think he would have much more respect in the MSM, but he chose the "turn the other cheek" mode, which has cost him dearly..."

True, The President has not defended himself against constant MSM lies and half-truths. He also has used press secretaries who have not had the skills to play with the sharks and use their position to correct the lies.

But nothing will make me believe that gaining respect with the MSM is something to be desired. I would be very very concerned if Helen Thomas proclaimed respect for the President.

What is sad is that the truth even needs to be defended. The truth is just that, true.

There was a time when reporters just reported the facts as they occurred. And did some digging to verify those facts. Now they just report what they're fed, and run with it whether it's true or not. The offended party must then prove a non truth. How do you defend yourself against a lie? I've been in the position and it really is not possible to erase an untruth or its effects completely.

"...Bush is hated and will remain a target for everything.
..."

I beg to differ. Your statement seems to imply that everyone hates the President. That opinion just legitimizes the perception that the MSM wishes to convey. Yes, poll numbers are down, but most of those polls are generated by the very people who do hate Bush and spew their hatred across the nightly news.

Bush is NOT hated by the majority. He is respected, and more people than you might think, believe President Bush to have integrity, honesty loyalty and intelligence.

I wonder how many people could withstand the relentless attacks on their integrity day after day and still stand true to themselves. Lesser men, and we've seen many, would fold under the pressure and go along with the mob.

"...IMHO, what we need is a better legal strategy. The pro-abortion crowd has argued the case based on privacy laws and what they 'do with their own body'...."

It is my opinion that the pro-abortion crowd knows that abortion is an abomination. Why else would they need so much propaganda to carry out their agenda?

I've never understood how liberal men, can so unashamedly argue the case for abortion. So called "men" such as Kerry, Schumer, Kennedy, etc. Unless of course they're renouncing responsibility for a long line of potential offspring in their past. The more likely truth is it's just another ploy to gain votes for those who have no conscience.

The reality is that law or no law, abortion is wrong and having the law on your side doesn't make it right. Courts or laws will not prevent abortions. Legal or illegal, abortions still happen. Only a change of heart can prevent them.

The unchanging fact regarding laws, is that a law does not prevent a crime, it can only point out the lawbreaker. What is legal today may be illegal tomorrow and visa versa.

"...There's a lot of pro-torture folks around here. Does anyone disagree?..."

I disagree. I disagree with John McCain's bill. There are definitions of torture that would condemn a parent from calling a time out for their children. There are definitions of torture which define actions imposed upon our military in boot camp. I've had jobs which would fit into the definitions of torture. I don't consider myself pro-torture. I do consider myself PRO-Self Defense! And I do believe in punishing the guilty. And I do believe in interrogating the enemy. I do not believe the enemy should be granted the same rights as citizens.

I would not go around shooting people for chuckles, or for disagreeing with my beliefs, but I wouldn't hesitate defending against someone threatening my life or the lives of my family.

The U.S. is in the position of defending us against people who are threatening our family. The terrorists just want to wipe us off the face of the earth. And so far we are preventing them from achieving that end.

Does anyone realize that passing more laws does not prevent anything? It does not turn bad people into good people or vise versa? It only encompasses a greater number of people within the new definition. Are the terrorists going to lay down their methods of torture because of McCain's bill?

These same people cannot bring themselves to admit that holding hostages with the sole purpose of distributing videos of the slow decapitation of those hostages in order to cause more fear and terror in the hearts of their enemies.

"..Traveling at that speed a stationary pedestrian would be unnoticeable...."

How can you say that? You are either blind or baiting us all. Do you drive? Speed does not cause blindness unless you have your eyes closed. Of course you can see a stationary pedestrian or a moving pedestrian or a bird or an insect for that matter.

"...You say that after the fact. There is no way of knowing this before the fact!..."

Of course not! There's no way of knowing much of ANY Thing for sure before the fact! I lived in that particular area for 25 years. That would be over 8,500 trips over the same roads.
A mouse could not approach the stretch of road of which I speak, without being seen.

You can fall down a flight of stairs and break your neck. Would that keep you from using the stairs? I doubt it.

I'm confident that most people go about their lives without a second thought of the potential danger all around. At least if you listen to the overcautious who would have us all living in a plastic bubble for our own protection.

"...Being an expert in bike mechanics is irrelevant. Being an expert rider counts. Control at 125 on his bike is not a big problem...."

Agreed. There are people out there who're dangerous at 25 mph. I've driven as much as 75 miles without ever seeing another vehicle in a very rural area with farms of several thousand acres. There are straightaways of 4 or five miles of nothing but open and vacant fields . Not a lot of potential danger.

"...If the guy had just hit one small pebble on the road, he would be dead. His license to ride a motorcycle should be permanently revoked...."

Sorry, but your statement does not make sense. Do you ride a motorcycle? If so, have you ever hit a pothole? There is always debris in the road from litter to car parts which cannot always be avoided. I knew a biker who ran over a dog that ran into the road right in front of him. He rode over the dog without losing control, and the dog survived also. Do you consider people who race bikes reckless also?

I've had a motorcycle license for 35 years although age and infirmities prevent much riding nowadays, I have driven well over 100mph. The only bike accident I ever had was while moving less than 5mph.

I'm not attacking you in any way. I was just responding to your comments and the article in general.

With a very slow dial up connection, there were only 3 total posts when I originally replied to yours.

"So, if ten Marines are killed no one cares? And it's not news...to anyone...."

Yes, people care if 10 Marines are killed, I care if one Marines is killed. BUT, what I took from the article is something I've considered for some time now. Every democrat talking head and media anchor portrays the presence of our soldiers in Iraq as if the soldiers were really the child next door in junior high, who was ripped from their parents arms and marched at gunpoint to Iraq to be a sacrificial offering purely for the entertainment of the Bush, Chaney and Rumsfeld war mongers.

Our soldiers are never spoken of as brave and intelligent young men and women who knowingly VOLUNTEERED to protect our Nation and their fellow men. The good works and successes of our soldiers are seldom enumerated.

I mourn the loss of each and every one. And I thank God that there are young, strong, proud and patriotic soldiers willing to defend us from terrorists around the world. I also thank God that the loss of lives has been relatively small when compared to any other war in history.

I want to praise the troops for the job they're doing and honor those who gave their lives in doing their jobs honorably.
We cannot bring them back, but we can be grateful to them forever.

I live near Syracuse,NY and in any group of 150,000 to 160,000 people, there are going to be deaths. Car accidents, drive by shootings, (three last weekend)sports accidents, hunting accidents, drug overdoses, work accidents,illness, etc.etc. Instead of relegating the deaths of soldiers to the obituary page, or screaming headlines on the front page, it would be more honorable for papers around the country to dedicate a sidebar on the front page with a memorium listing the name, age and hometown of our fallen soldiers month to month.

".. the cleanup in our country is something that WE THE PEOPLE must keep on a forward march..."

Your post was about the most concise and chronological description of the known facts as I have seen thus far.

Thank you.

"...Cider and rum were the main drinks of Colonial America until beer came to be made in sufficient quantities..."

I grew up on home made beer and wine. I think the first time I ever tasted mass produced beer was in high school. took a sip and gagged. It tasted like water with essence of skunk.

Thanks, smoothsailing, same to you.

"...Before we were all lulled into thinking that tap water is dirty, smelly, impure and unhealthy, we couldn't have imagined the day would come when we'd pay for it like soda pop, juice or milk..."

I haven't been lulled into thinking CITY tap water is dirty and smelly. IT IS! And I wouldn't pay 5 cents for a bottle of water.

I'm old enough to remember when public water was first "Chlorinated" and later "fluoridated". That's when I stopped drinking water from the tap.

We moved to the country and for 25 years we drank well water from the tap all day long.

Then, thinking it was time to move to the suburbs and closer to civilization, We stopped drinking water from the tap. And even our grandkids (ages 1 to 7 at the time) would say, "Gram, your water tastes funny and it smells bad too."

We sold the house in less than two years and went back to the country and well water. Of course it wasn't the ONLY reason. But my oldest grandson always comments on the terrible city water in our last house.

By the way, my husband works with boilers in the city. He has to check filters that prolong the life of the boilers. Every week or less, the filters have to be replaced because they're clogged with green slime, and some type of live worms. He'll tell you the smell is absolutely disgusting. And that water supposedly goes through treatment and purification.

I think Bob Weir is a bit gullible himself if he thinks tap water is clean OR pure.

I'm reasonably sure it will never happen, but I'd love to see a report come out of the grand jury which accuses Wilson of knowingly and falsely accusing the Bush administration of a crime with the intent to cause harm.

Oh well, I can dream.

"...She was NOT covert. No one could have "leaked" her name...This is not about Plame, it's about the MSM/dems trying to bring down a this President!..."

It is my opinion that this was a setup from the beginning by none other than Wilson himself. His "report" got little or no attention, and he certainly craves attention.

When his wife's name was mentioned offhandedly by Novak, Wilson jumped on that as a way to embarrass the Bush administration. He is the one who accused the administration of leaking the name. He is also the person to call for an investigation. And the media helped him by running with this as some serious failing of the Bush administration. As they run with anything that could remotely bring down The Republicans.

As I'm only too aware that what is important to the media ia not finding or reporting the truth, it is the seriousness of the charge. The media has taken EVERY opportunity to make mountains out of any mole hill they can find. I'm so tired of every talking head continuously equating the name Bush with, lies, culture of corruption, deceiption, falsehood etc.,etc.

"...Conservativss are held to the absolute letter of the law, even when trying their best to avoid violating any law, they sometimes fail. Now I don't think Delay has even done that..."

Isn't it true that when a Republican is indicted even on trumped up charges, they must step down from a leadership position?
I don't believe the Democrats have any such standards. For that matter, they seem to have no standards at all.

"...Kosinski's canoe was in no more than four to six inches of water!..."

Saw that on the tail end of Brit Hume. She was saying something about it being difficult to maneuver the canoe just before the men walked by seemingly on top of It.
I've had deeper water in my basement. And they wonder why no one believes a word they say.

Doo, doo-doo-doo; Doo, doo-doo-doo.

Are you trying to tell me something? Go ahead, spit it out, I can take it.

By the way, My brother-in-law was a neighbor of Rod Serling. Went to the same school. Said he was a pretty nice guy with an "unusual" sense of humor.

I really appreciate all the input. I've had a lot going on lately and thought it might be time for the little men in the white coats.

Even at my age, it's possible to learn something new every day, especially on Freerepublic.