Posted on 02/27/2008 6:12:38 PM PST by Kay Ludlow
“Even the Lock System itself, an engineering marvel of the world, began to go bad with no maintenance or care.”
That is a totally untrue statement…a lie if you wish. Locks go through a thorough complete maintenance every 5 years. This has never stopped.
“went to army Jungle Warfare School there in 1986 and even then the “Canal Zone” was largely defunct.”
I can see why you are in the dark…eating snakes and things in the jungle. You couldn’t see the forest because of the trees.
“But the bases handed over to the Panamanians looked like New Orleans after Katrina they’d been looted and stripped of everything including sewage pipes in the walls of buildings.”
I live here. Another total lie on your part.
I was there a few months ago and I just didn’t see any evidence of bad conditions in the least.
I didn’t visit any of the former US bases, although I drove past them, and they looked fine to me.
To me, Panama is a very impressive country. In fact, I’m returning there in a couple of months to check out Boquete and Altos del Maria.
Thank you, Dog Gone.
I hope you realize I included you in my post #521. It was because I was agreeing with you.
You should drive through Albrook. It will blow your mind.
Ft. Clayton is coming along.
Howard AFB is quite empty. It is costing the Panamanian Government much money in maintenance to keep it up.
Panama City is changing at a remarkable rate…all for the best. I notice major changes about every two weeks to the degree where I lose my points of reference when I am driving around.
“To me, Panama is a very impressive country. In fact, I’m returning there in a couple of months to check out Boquete and Altos del Maria.”
They are very beautiful areas.
If you are thinking of moving to Panama (good choice), you may want to go to this site:
You’ve got freepmail, future neighbor. lol
Right, Americans born abroad to U.S. citizens are “natural-born” U.S. citizens. “Jus sanguis”.
Thanks, I had stumbled on that site once, but failed to bookmark it.
Done now.
And McPain may let his detractors throw the litter at him the way the elderly Indian used to drop a tear on seeing littering of the environment. McPain is just tough with intraparty rivals, not with Democrats.
Born on a US Airbase to two US citizens...one a Naval Officer.
He is CERTAINLY a native-born US Citizen.
that the Times would siggest otherwise shows they are...well, just plain STUPID.
So I apologize for not specifically making certain that I was giving my personal observations from circa 1986. I have had some fairly regular input from folks stationed in the region as to the continuing veracity of my observations however most of that stopped around 1998 for one reason or another.
Obviously things have changed and for the better and that's great. Is it true that the Chinese control both ends of the canal both economically and militarily? How vital a passageway is the canal for our warships given that most of the true heavies are too big to get thru?
CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer, it's poor form to accuse folks of lying outright. My observations were true in 1986. I personally saw this. That things have obviously gotten better doesn't make me a liar. Anymore than being rude makes you a jerk. I'm sure you're really a nice person. Freepers usually are with few notable exceptions and I don't put you in that category without further documentation. Dog Gone, I've been knowing quite awhile and know him to be one of the good ones for sure.
Not militarily, for sure. A Hong Kong-based company manages the ports at both ends, and that sends shivers up the spine of many.
I don't see it as that big of a deal. They have a bunch of equipment to load and unload ships that are too big to go through the canal at present.
In fact, they're probably pissed off that Panama has decided to build a new lock system to accomodate larger ships.
That will lessen the need to unload those ships and send it by rail to the other side.
If you get a chance, you should return to see Panama today. It is spectacular and you don't have to eat snakes, unless you want to. There are 31 McDonald's restaurants in Panama City alone, and while that is not fine cuisine, it's not snake, either.
You are most welcome.
Not having ever visited there until last year, I’m incapable of saying how things there have changed since you were there.
But the Panama City skyline is spectacular. I’m quite sure it has more highrise buildings than Houston, which has a considerably larger population.
Those manmade islands protecting the inlet into the canal on the Pacific side contain some pretty pricey real estate. Huge high-rise condos that you can easily spend a million dollars to purchase.
One thing that’s very interesting to see is the refurbishing of the old city that was built after the famed pirate, Henry Morgan, sacked the former site of the city. It’s like an old and funky european section, and many of the buildings are in very bad shape. But it’s being rapidly remodeled and turned into a trendy part of town. It’s pretty cool.
Is the NYT serious? How could the “paper of record” not spend the minute of research it would take them to find out that the “natural-born citizen” clause refers to people who are U.S. citizens at birth, as opposed to “naturalized citizens” that acquired their citizenship later on in life.
Persons born in the Canal Zone at the time that John McCain was born were U.S. citizens at birth if at least one parent was a U.S. citizen; in McCain’s case, both of his parents were U.S. citizens. In fact, since at the time of McCain’s birth both of McCain’s parents were U.S. citizens and had lived in the U.S. for several years at some point in their lives, McCain would have been a U.S. citizen at birth even had he been born in Russia.
I hope the liberal media keeps throwing these softballs at McCain. What a bunch of maroons.
“Is it true that the Chinese control both ends of the canal both economically and militarily?”
No. It’s another huge myth.
“But I saw the conditions at Fort Sherman and Fort Clayton and the word ravaged springs to mind.”
Ft Sherman always looked ravaged. It was in the boonies (jungle).
I was working at Ft. Clayton in 1986, and that statement is simply not correct. Whatever it looked like then, it looked like that before and after. It had nothing to do with the transition. Military installations always look and are depressing.
“In fact, they’re probably pissed off that Panama has decided to build a new lock system to accomodate larger ships.”
LOL. I didn’t think about that.
You are correct.
Doesn’t this statute say he’s declared a citizen, but not a natural born citizen?
LOL The one time I got out to see the "city" I had a special forces dude as my guide. I got to taste barbequed monkey meat at a roadside stand. Reminded me of that line from the first Crocidile Dundee movie: "You can live on 'em, but they taste like S***!" Dundee proceeds to break out a can of fruit. Actually, IIRC, the monkey didn't taste too bad. There were these other critters in the jungle though. They were called HOWLER monkeys 'cause that's what they did all night if you were in their area. They HOWLED and would poop in their hands and throw it at you. Talk about some seriously crappy moments!
Most of my Panama experiences are kinda hazy but I fer durn sure wouldn't go back. I got heat stroke and nearly died there. Had to be choppered out to a hospital.
Here in my home of Miami, FL there is a legend in yachting circles on Panama: The saying goes that if you want to pick up a sailboat dirt cheap go to Panama. This is usually the first stop for starry eyed dreamers intent on doing a romantic circumnavigation. Once they spend a few weeks at sea facing harsh realities, when they get to Panama they find a yacht broker and toss 'em the paperwork as they beat feet for the airport, yelling over their shoulders to sell it for whatever it brings! Hence it is possible to pick up a sailboat that might retail for around $300,000 for around $80,000 or less. Have you ever heard this?
I was born in Miami and my family has it's roots here back to the 1920s, but it's toooooo hot here as well. My wife and I can't wait to retire in a few years so we can move to North Carolina!
What is the definition of a natural born citizen? As far as I know, three are two types of citizens, natural born and naturalized. Since McCain was not naturalized he must be considered natural born, born to two US citizens. Where he was born is not an issues as far as I can tell.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.