Free Republic 2nd Qtr 2024 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $26,167
32%  
Woo hoo!! And we're now over 32%!! Thank you all very much!! God bless.

Posts by William Martel

Brevity: Headers | « Text »
  • The L-Word Returns

    10/09/2004 3:44:40 AM PDT · 25 of 57
    William Martel to Utah Girl
    President Bush did really well on the domestic issues this evening and the next debate is domestic issues

    That leads up to a point I have had rolling around in my head for a while now which was confirmed last night. All of the talking heads point out that the strength of the Democrats lies in domestic issues. This is simply not true.

    The fact is, Democrats have a slight advantage, but it is in foreign issues. This is decidedly not because they have facts on their side, but rather because of the propaganda they have floating around and because of the willingness they have from the MSM to paint the Iraq War effort as a failure. The Democrats and the left in this country were under the mistaken notion that foreign policy was the strong point of this presidency, and they believed that if they somehow managed to undermine that, Bush would go down easily.

    The problem, however, is that Bush has been far stronger domestically than anyone on the left would give him credit for being. In addition, the Democrats made the mistake of choosing the most liberal senator in Congress, a point which makes Kerry quite weak on domestic issues. His positions simply do not reflect what the average American believes in and wants from the government. His voting record largely contradicts that which he says he will do. On conservative issues, he has voted against issues that Americans want. On issues that would appeal to liberals, he has, for the most part, failed to show up to vote.

    I read an article after the last debate that talked about how the President might have been sandbagging. I am thinking this could be true. He and his campaign know that the left and the MSM have muddied up the waters on foreign policy. He could afford to throw away that debate to give his opponent a little security. I personally have high hopes that the president might drive the final nail into the coffin in the next debate.

    Bush owns the domestic issues on the table this election cycle.

  • FREEP MSNBC WHO WON DEBATE POLL

    10/08/2004 8:41:56 PM PDT · 23 of 24
    William Martel to Marfoe

    Forget about it this time.

    Official FReeper sentiment seems to be that we won't touch any of the polls after this debate.

    Bush so clearly won that these numbers will speak for themselves to the fact that they are rigged, one way or another.

  • SEAN PENN RIPS 'TEAM AMERICA' CREATORS IN ANGRY MEMO

    10/08/2004 7:40:44 PM PDT · 22 of 179
    William Martel to dts32041

    Penn is setting himself up SO bad...

    What a douche bag.

  • You matter, but your vote might not (Cynthia Tucker Alert)

    10/07/2004 10:26:36 AM PDT · 24 of 27
    William Martel to where's_the_Outrage?
    A serious rethinking of the Electoral College will have to await the day when a president is elected by an overwhelming popular vote. With such a mandate, he (or she) might feel secure enough to institute a change long overdue.

    Sorry Cynthia. Doesn't quite work that way. No matter how popular a president may be, he cannot institute a change on that level. The size of his "mandate" is irrelevant. He will ultimately have to move to amend the constitution, which simply isn't going to pass as the amendment will ultimately take away influence from the very states such an amendment would need to sign on in order to pass.

  • U.S. getting outside election advice

    10/07/2004 3:55:42 AM PDT · 8 of 10
    William Martel to kattracks

    This is all proposterous, and I am blown away that these people have the gall to even try it.

    These people are socialists through and through. Most people do not understand that fact. A socialist does not understand the concept of a "democracy" in the same way we do. For us, as Americans, the whole purpose of the democratic system we have in our Republic is to reaffirm the fact that government is formed by the people for the sake of doing the will of the people. We choose our representatives and we choose our leaders. The government is built by us and exists solely at our pleasure.

    Americans realize that fact in ways that are foreign to outsiders. We were the first in the modern world to base the way our system worked on that fact. Throughout the rest of the world, government exists and then there are the people. People living in other "democracies" believe they are somehow "lucky" to be able to vote and have a voice in their government, as if it would somehow still be legitimate if they didn't have that "priviledge". I think at times that we are the only nation in the world that realizes that voting is a right.

    To a socialist, democracy is socialism. It is less about the right of the people to determine the way they are governed and more about mystically divining the vague "will of the people" which, incidiently, happens to be the socialist agenda. When socialism is not advanced, these people will scream how democracy is being denied and suppressed. When socialists triumph, even through underhanded means, "democracy prevails".

    There is no such thing as "internationally accepted democracy". The will of the people of a nation is not an international thing. Socialism, on the other hand, is internationalist. When we hear of "international standards" in democracy, we must beware. The only thing that truly matters is that the people of a nation are able to determine those who represent them in their government.

  • Time To Disband Canada’s Military Armed Forces?

    10/06/2004 6:55:28 PM PDT · 15 of 89
    William Martel to quidnunc

    Isn't the fact that they are willing to even consider disbanding their military a sign that they don't REALLY believe us to be as militaristic as they claim we are?

    I mean, if I had an "imperialist military state" south of my borders as they accuse us of being, I certainly wouldn't want LESS protection...

  • Spain snubs US as France joins the big parade

    10/06/2004 12:44:53 PM PDT · 109 of 138
    William Martel to floridarolf

    Welcome to Free Republic. A little advice, though: try to avoid the Pole bashing. There are many of us on this forum who are very sympathetic to Poland, especially because they have been one of our biggest allies so far in the war against terror. (Being of partial German heritage, I do wish the same could be said of Germany, but alas...)

    I hope you enjoy our forum.

  • Conference Board: incumbent prez's voted out when consumer index dips to minus 100 mark

    10/05/2004 4:31:12 AM PDT · 12 of 18
    William Martel to Liz

    Just to knitpick (and I love knitpicking crap like this), but, according to the numbers they gave, it looks like presidents over the past 30 years don't get reelected when the index is under 90, not just 100. There were no examples of it being above 90 with the incumbent losing.

  • IRS Asked If Churches Can Pray for Bush Re-Election

    10/04/2004 12:34:21 PM PDT · 35 of 35
    William Martel to newgeezer

    That definitely sounds like a good point to me.

  • IRS Asked If Churches Can Pray for Bush Re-Election

    10/04/2004 7:16:05 AM PDT · 20 of 35
    William Martel to kattracks

    Personally, I'm getting tired of groups such as AUSCS and their efforts to stiffle the First Amendment rights of Church groups. The Constitution clearly says that the right to worship freely shall not be infringed, which is clearly the threat here by those who silence preachers in the pulpit from making political statements.

    I am starting to think that we ought to just do what they are trying to force us not to do. Maybe they will take us to court and maybe they will win, but at least we will have stood up for that in which we believe.

    We need to start waking up and realize that these hypocrites are violating our God-given right not to have the government interfere in how we worship. THAT is what the Establishment Clause was all about in the first place.

  • The GOP doesn't own Jesus

    10/03/2004 7:48:40 AM PDT · 3 of 82
    William Martel to Imnotalib

    The thing that cracks me up is that this and other things like it that we've been hearing lately are really liberal attempts to co-opt religion in ways the "religious right" have never dreamed.

    These people are such hypocrites.

  • Kerry's BIGGEST Mistakes in the Debate

    10/01/2004 6:21:08 AM PDT · 16 of 92
    William Martel to xzins
    I personally think that Kerry's comments about "outsourcing" our efforts to Afghan rebel groups is a bit of a mistake as well. I am personally of the opinion that it was precisely because of this tactic that we have done so well in Afghanistan. I remember that before that war, naysayers were commenting on how we would be caught in a quagmire there due to the terrain. Our solution was simply to use forces that were very familiar with the areas and conditions present.

    Our "outsourcing", as Mr. Kerry likes to refer to it, is a large part of the reason why we have succeeded in a place where the Soviets and the British before them had failed.

  • Weaker Jack Daniel's Gets Sober Reception

    09/30/2004 9:02:00 AM PDT · 114 of 119
    William Martel to NewJerseyJoe
    Is nothing sacred any more?!?

    Amen to that. Messing with whiskey is pure sacrilege.

  • Weaker Jack Daniel's Gets Sober Reception

    09/30/2004 4:15:59 AM PDT · 99 of 119
    William Martel to Mad Dawgg
    Bourbon can only be made in Kentucky (Its some rule or law of the whiskey making industry)

    That's right - if I remember correctly, it is named after a county in Kentucky. But it's still great stuff that rivals anything else out there.

    Dump the Jack and go with Maker's. You won't regret it!

  • Weaker Jack Daniel's Gets Sober Reception

    09/30/2004 3:48:55 AM PDT · 97 of 119
    William Martel to Constitution Day; AnAmericanMother

    You know, people can bad mouth the beer in this country all they want, but they'd better not say anything about our bourbon.

  • Weaker Jack Daniel's Gets Sober Reception

    09/29/2004 7:41:53 PM PDT · 27 of 119
    William Martel to nypokerface

    Well, crud. That just makes me mad.

    I'd switch over to Wild Turkey with its 101 proof if I were a JD drinker.

    Fortunately, I'm a Maker's Mark man, so no change necessary.

  • It's OK. You can join now, "J"

    09/29/2004 5:55:10 PM PDT · 25 of 45
    William Martel to Admin Moderator
    I THINK I know what you're doing here, but I could be wrong as well

    Please, let us in on the secret... otherwise the rest of us can only sit here and make fun...

  • It's OK. You can join now, "J"

    09/29/2004 5:42:21 PM PDT · 9 of 45
    William Martel to Leapfrog

    This sounds hugh and very series...

  • Without Kyoto, U.S. might be frozen out

    09/29/2004 12:02:18 PM PDT · 46 of 61
    William Martel to William Martel

    Furthermore, the treaty creates a definite market for the technologies we would be producing. Businesses in other countries would need to buy our products in order to comply with the treaty they signed on to.

    That's the part I love most about it: before the Kyoto goes into effect, people from outside this country talk about how stupid we are that we can't see the consequences of not joining in on the treaty. After it goes into effect, they will whine about how we somehow manipulated the situation, forcing them to sign the treaty while taking advantage of it to improve our own economy.

    Foreign stupidity makes America stronger.

  • Without Kyoto, U.S. might be frozen out

    09/29/2004 11:53:03 AM PDT · 45 of 61
    William Martel to Cincinatus' Wife

    Pure silliness. Just because the US isn't signed onto the treaty doesn't mean we can't develop the technologies it calls for or involve ourselves in the "credit trading" process. We just aren't bound to use the stuff.

    In fact, it seems more likely than not that we'll dominate these markets by not taking part in the treaty.

    By not being involved, our economy remains strong, which will allow for more capital. Since industry won't be bound to obey stupid regulations, producers will find it in their benefit to manufacture the technology here. If the technology works and is not overly expensive, it most likely will be used here without coersion by the regulations.

    Not taking part in this foolishness makes us far stronger. We ought to be laughing when other nations are signing onto Kyoto.