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| Guest Book (1934 Posts)
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Guest Book |
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On 3/23/2004
Brady
wrote in from
(68.219.nnn.nnn)
Great debate going on here guys! I wanted to add to it, but not seem as I`m arguing against a fellow skater. So firstly I offer that we should all agree to disagree, and let the jive flow on.
I am neither for the left or the right. If you can work, then you should. But I do have issues with what Bush`s done with his tax cuts. A trillion dollar deficit? They`ve also cut veteren benefits, college grants, and where`s the promised $$ for our local law enforcements that took up the slack after 9/11?
Those tax cuts are surely not helping small buisnesses. Heck, I find people, small buisnesses, and even large buisnesses are cutting back on spending. Unemployment is rising from a previous record low.
I vote to INCREASE our taxes and eliminate our debt. Increase benefits to our loyal service men and women. You wanna help the economy to produce more jobs? Then offer a specific tax break for those the HIRE and really encourage it.
You give the upper rich and corporations a random tax break, they`ll just pocket the differance as earned income. What incentive is cuurently really helping this? If the economy is slowing down (and it is) why make a move to hire more people that you don`t need?
I personally think the Bush`s war plan is on a somewhat level, needed.
Tax cuts...hurting us.
Clinton...least amount of budget increase of any president in our times.
Bush, biggest increase in debt over ALL presidents of our time(combined).
I would think the right wingers would be thumping thier heads with a queried look on thier faces right now.
Oh, and if I hand my choice of candidates for prez, it would be Florida senator Bob Graham...(maybe a good VP instead?)
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On 3/23/2004 Arab
wrote in from
(65.28.nnn.nnn)
Yeah, What he said!
Good on ya Matt
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On 3/23/2004 MissouriMatt
wrote in from
(128.206.nnn.nnn)
Plow King:
Richard Clark is trying to sell a book. So is CBS/60 minutes. Wow, Busch wanted to know if Iraq was involved! Not big news. We are still trying to understand the Al Q network, how the different cells are connected and what countries support or harbor them. The Clinton administration reached the same conclusion on Iraq – Dangerous and needs to be dealt with. The fact that he plotted to assassinate a US President is just one more reason to go after Sadam Who’s Sane. You can bet it felt personal to Dub-ya. It should feel personal to all Americans.
Perhaps you can enlighten me on another favorite Busch hater topic. I’m confused by the criticism of the Busch administrations’ pre 9/11 efforts to protect our country from terrorist attack. What measures could they have enacted? Even in the post 9/11 era, the measures they’ve taken are perceived by many as too strong. They go too far in compromising our right to privacy. They are too expensive, yet inadequate for actually protecting us. How would any administration have gathered the political power to enact measures that would have protected us against 9/11? The fact is that there had been many terrorist attacks prior to Busch’s time in office – a bomb in a van in the basement of the World Trade Center, attacks on foreign embassies, the Cole, etc. We lacked the political will to prepare and defend ourselves from 9/11. When the opportunity came to enact stronger anti-terrorist measures the Busch admin and Ashcroft took advantage. Why? So they could round up all the free thinkers in America and put them in a camp. I bet that’s it.
One more beef while I’m venting (most of my friends are more liberal than me, and I get fed up), I don’t understand how liberals can pretend to “support our troops” when they constantly attack the one thing that our troops have to hold on to, the idea that what they’re doing means something. Tell a child that lost their dad or mom in Iraq that their parent died for nothing and see what kind of support that is. You can’t be supportive of our troops without supporting their purpose. It’s just hollow political rhetoric. I pray for peace, but I just don’t believe we can elect peace. The world isn’t that simple. Some a#@!’s gonna stir it up. They don’t go away when you ignore them. I’m grateful that we have a volunteer army that is brave enough to stand up for freedom. I feel a personal debt to every dead soldier and their families. I wish we would spend more money paying our military personnel and taking care of the families that pay the ultimate price. I’d like to see more criticism of our impoverished military. Somebody should pick on Busch for that.
Finally, don’t be amazed by the willingness of any political backers to turn a deaf ear and blind eye to corruption. It is epidemic in politics on both sides of the isle.
Peace and happy skating
Matt
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On 3/23/2004
plow king
wrote in from
(24.9.nnn.nnn)
It really amazes me how GOP true believers are willing to shut their eyes and ears to the corrupt Bush administration for idealog reasons.
Bush cleary lied about weapons of mash distruction as an excuse to go after Saddam. Instead of going after Al Queda in full force, he used his lies to start a war with Iraq, heaven knows for what reason. Remember when he said "the USA is 45 minutes away from a horrible attack from above from Iraq?" So, he got the guy who "tried to kill my daddy." But, meanwhile Al Queda grows stronger. Richard Clark comes out with his statements, and all Bush Co does is deflect the blame. Then all Bush's radio men attack Clark's character, yet none of them address the issues.
Remember when Clinton was in office and every other story was about him having people sleep in the Lincoln bedroom for contributions? Turns out your boy Bush is doing this same thing in spades, yet the "liberal" media won't touch it, and neither will the radio junky.
Bush Co continually harps about making irresponsible tax cuts permanent, yet doesn't address real problems. They want to ammend the constitution to prohibit gay marriage, but won't spend more than an hour with the 911 commity, what are they hiding?
Bush Co is bad for America. TIPs, PATRIOT Act, huge budgets, destroying the environment, etc. Being opposed to BushCo is the only true American way to go.
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On 3/22/2004 Sketchmaster
wrote in from
(4.22.nnn.nnn)
doublethink: An interesting twist on 1984 is that the title was a play on inverting the last two digits of 1948 which was the intended release date for the book. A lot of what Orwell predicted for western civilization was not so much prophecy as it was transposition of what was already in place in the Soviet Union. He did, however, hit the nail square on the head regarding the use of helicopters to intimidate the governed population, etc. Orwell was a newspaper collumnist whose actual name was Eric Blair. If I recall correctly he was a member of the British socialist party which just totally rubs me wrong with the apparent intent of all of his work. I believe I understand where you're going with the whole lockstep thing. The problem is that when you have a billion and a half Eurasians facing you down in lockstep then it makes it a little difficult to just ignore. Or was that East Asians... I'll have to go see what posters they have up this week.
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On 3/21/2004 doublethink
wrote in from
(172.177.nnn.nnn)
The ideal set up by the Party was something huge, terrible, and glittering - a world of steel and concrete, of monstrous machines and terrifying weapons - a nation of warriors and fanatics, marching forward in perfect unity, all thinking the same thoughts and shouting the same slogans, perpetually working, fighting, triumphing, persecuting - three hundred million people all with the same face.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Orwell, 1984
should be 2004?
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On 3/18/2004 Chuck
wrote in from
(65.141.nnn.nnn)
Sketchmaster gives good advice to apply to ALL politicians...don't look at what they say, look at what they do. Often the two have nothing to do with one another.
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On 3/17/2004 Sketchmaster
wrote in from
(4.22.nnn.nnn)
Dave G: I got suckered into voting for McCain during the early 90's. Then he stabbed me in the back and now I know better. You need to compare his voting record against his speeches. Now it's simple; Any time he says something on behalf of freedom all you have to do is wait 48 hours for the recant. Or, sometimes, he'll preach one way all the way into session and then vote the opposite way. He's a liar, plain and simple.
Arab: How many of your childhood heroes that were constantly preaching against abuses of government burned out into totali-vegetarians? Most of my childhood heroes are now whining about how terrible things are and how if we only had a totalitarian government under direction of the Green Party, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, ad nauseum that everything would be blue sky and daisies. Totalitarianism understands only force. Ralph Nader would have been shot during the cleansing that followed the 1917 Russian revolution. Once we get a socialist state all of the true believers had better step aside and watch because the state will have as much interest in eliminating you as it does me. I find it interseting to note that most "socialists" have a very anti-government bent. They seem to be thinking,"I hate my government. If my government were omnipotent and omniscient it would do everything my way." Dream on...
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On 3/17/2004 Dave G
wrote in from
(63.188.nnn.nnn)
Bring me John McCain, then I'll have someone to vote for! Not against. I hate choosing between the lessor of 2
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On 3/17/2004 6ixty 6ix
wrote in from
(66.190.nnn.nnn)
class my ( Y )
it's all about net worth
i behaved much differently, even so far as hesitating (for a brief moment) when jumping a fence to go skate a pool, when i was a broke teenager than i do today
but like Arab, i too had a light bulb go off in my head when i came to the realization that there is no better way to thumb your nose at the feds than through financial independence (God bless America)
Kerry? He was probably hand picked by the Bush adminstration. Weak. Still doesn't mean Bush has much of a chance of winning, just listen to Sean Hannity, Neal Boortz, Limbaugh, Faux News - the right wing of our country is genuinely afraid of losing power this November (and that scares them more than the thought of Indian School with a tailwind)
voting,
66
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On 3/17/2004
Arab
wrote in from
(65.28.nnn.nnn)
Amen Sketch-I was molded in the Punk way myself, I seen the Runaways , the Ramones open for Blondie in 1976-7?, went and bought a leather jacket the next day, I spent the best part of the 80's touring with every liberal punk band there is it seems, it was those times that my mindset was being molded, after hearing so much whining and bickering from the liberal establishment, I started to listen to the otherside to see exactly what they had to say, instead of listening to others tell me what they say.
I realized that they were more in line with my thoughts then the very friends and bands I had been around the world with for so many years, I grew very disillusioned with the whiner brigade and changed parties, My dad and his dad always said "Never got a pay check from a poor man". It took me many years to really understand that, I would rather see a hand up then a hand out, I would rather see the Rich not carry the majority of the Tax burden, why should they be punished for making money, you take that money away from them and that is less money to put back into their businesses to grow and create more jobs, you threaten to take their money and they are gonna go find tax shelters and off shore accounts, what happens then, The employees suffer, no bonuses, no expantion or growth.
I never did really grasp the "Steal from the Rich and Give to the Poor" Its the Rich that cretae Jobs in this country, not some nanny State dependent on Govt Cheese, When was the last time you got a paycheck from a poor man?
Bush........ I take him before I would take Kerry, what would John Kerry do to stop Terrorism? have a big sit in and protest terrorism.....Maybe he could get Barbara Strieand to come out of retirement and cuddle Osama, afterall, I'm sure he is just lacking love and hugs.....
I could just see John Kerry,
"We have killed to many terrorist and their freedoms are being trampled upon"
I can see him waving his protest sign infront of a terrorist,
"I think what you terrorist are doing is wrong, down with terrorist, thank you for listening tome Mr. Terrorist, now go about your business, my point has been made"
I know that if we all held hands and sang "Kume By ya" that the world will be a better place and that Terrorist will like us better and would leave us alone.
NOT!
Ronald Reagan did not rid the world of the evil empire by having a sit in protest, he did it with a heavy hand and the threat that if you f#@! with us, we will pummle you into submission.
war is not pretty, people die in wars, terrorist killed 3000 people on US soil, dont forget that for one minute.
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On 3/16/2004 herbn
wrote in from
(152.163.nnn.nnn)
what about bush critics being (essentially) being pulled off the radio, in the state of florida,a very very close and critical state in the last election.
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On 3/16/2004 Plow King
wrote in from
(24.9.nnn.nnn)
Well there seems to be some difference between Neo-Cons and Oldschool-Cons, however, Bush considers himself a conservative and his base is solidly fundy Christian. Although if I considered myself conservative I would be dissapointed in his take on the con-mindset. I also do not believe that the majority of fundy Muslims want to see the USA in a smoldering rubble, just as most fundy Christians don't want to see the Islamic world that way.
BTW, I was cast in the early 80s punk rock mold and I am sceptical of ALL governments. But, I am not going to fear an Islamic boogeyman, that has convienantly replaced the commies and drugs are our latest fear facade. The current admins use of this fear in manipulating opinion is sickmaking in my way of thinking. I am sure that the other side will do the same.
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On 3/16/2004 Sketchmaster
wrote in from
(4.22.nnn.nnn)
Since labels and molds are being stuck on people here I want something to be clear: I was cast in the punk rock mold of the mid 1980's and as such I am so right wing that I am just shy of being an anarchist. The theocratic edge with which many try to imbue the conservative movement is an abomination. However, in the war of Islam versus Christianity you are regarded by the Islamic world as a christian just for living on this piece of dirt. They don't even care if you're anti-American. When they look at an anti-American American all they see is an American and they would prefer to see you dead. You can say what you will about totalitarian leaning Christians; When the rubble is done crumbling they do not want to see you dead as the Arabs do. A simple exercise in self preservation is at work here. We haven't had enemy troops wandering our streets any time recently. When we do picking sides will be much easier to do. The long and short is: If you try to kill me I'll try to kill you right back. And if you don't like the way I fight then don't pick a fight with me.
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On 3/16/2004 DAve G
wrote in from
(207.69.nnn.nnn)
Can't stand limpball nor Hannity.. Or KERRY!! I've been thinking for myself for a few decades now and have seen much of the world and it's state..That's where I conclude my findings!!
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On 3/16/2004 MissouriMatt
wrote in from
(128.206.nnn.nnn)
I enjoy the lively debate on both sides. The truth is that these problems run so deep that pointing fingers at Busch (head for the mountains, Osama) or anyone else is a bit silly. As is thinking that we can elect someone that will have a solution to terrorism. It's what makes going for a skate seem like a logical response to oppression and terror. I do want to see terrorists opposed with force. I'll vote Busch (cold gold top cans).
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On 3/16/2004 Plow King
wrote in from
(24.9.nnn.nnn)
Sketchmaster: Didn't Lincoln suspend certain constitutional rights during the civil war? But, yes you are correct about the elections during those gnarly times in the USA. The thing that worries me today is that Bush Co. seems to have no regard for the constitution in the first place. From his father's supreme court installing his unelected self into power, to Ashcroft's willingness to wipe himself with the bill of rights, to Bush's unwillingness to answer questions for the 911 commity, to his negative closed office. It goes on and on with these people. The "liberal" media in our country gave him a free pass for 3 years. Finally some are starting to speak up and question things. I know it is cynical to think that Bush Co. would actually have some sort of nasty October surprise in store, but I would not put it past them. They are on a fun-duh-mentalist crusade. True believers on both sides (Christians/Muslims) are in a struggle to effect change in the world today. Personally, I don't want either to win. So I rail against what I see in my country.
I think you took my comments about the EU wrong. I was being sarcastic. In a typical Euro fashion they are "having a meeting to decide when to have a meeting to "talk" about terrorism." RedTape is the Euro way.
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On 3/16/2004 Cone Bargre
wrote in from
(67.172.nnn.nnn)
DAve G: Methinks that you should stop listening to Limpbaugh and Hannity so much and think for yourself for a change. The world as seen by Faux "news" is not reality.
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On 3/16/2004 DAve G
wrote in from
(207.69.nnn.nnn)
West Virginia is experiencing one of it's greatest pollution concerns of all time!! Kerry is in town......Bush will be close behind tho, to help reclaim the stinch left by that stinkin' democrat!!
(This outta go over well heh?)
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On 3/16/2004 Sketchmaster
wrote in from
(4.22.nnn.nnn)
Plow King: We held a presidential election during the Civil War while things were way hairier than they are now, and also during WWII, so I don't imagine that some dinky incidents are going to get martial law declared. I don't see the Arabs being able to pull off another full scale event like the Battle of Manhattan. Call it xenophobia or whatever you like, a lot of Arabs within this country are under the eagle eye of the general population and a lot of opportunities have been lost for them. What exactly is it that you hope the EU will do? They're corrupt and impotent. The new constitution that they're drafting includes a section regarding military occupation of one European state by another but they are going to singularly exclude the military occupation of the six counties in Ireland. The EU is a pawn to the major European powers that have already spent their honor.
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On 3/15/2004 herbn
wrote in from
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
i type WAY to slow to have posts deleted,my posts are not inflamitory,not much anyway. most of my projects,homemade equipment, i make is for my own entertainment and generally not marketable . Do posts get pulled because i may seemingly be promoting my projects as products? Usually my posts involve some insite and creative thinking, i used to waste way more time on this site, i'm truely sick of losing posts.
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On 3/15/2004 Plow King
wrote in from
(166.50.nnn.nnn)
Spain rightly occupied by Arab? Damn, I think he's too busy occupying NCDSA, et al.
Seriously though, it is funny how a lot of right-wing-nut radio shows in the US are trying to spin the Spanish attacks as a reason to back Bush and his colonialism. I think Spain, (although I am not positive) was probably having a large backlash of their sending forces to Iraq, and this attack pushed them over the edge. Another attack in the USA would give Bush Co. a very good reason to suspend the constitution and elections in November. A lot of American's would accept this, and we'd be making our semingly inevitable transition to theo-facism.
That's one scenario of attacks in the USA before the election. But, I don't think Bush Co. will need any of that. They probably have Bin Laden on ice somewhere and will pull him out in October.
I am very troubled by the deaths in Spain. I hope the EU actually decides to do something other than have a meeting to decide when they will have a meeting to discuss the events.
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On 3/15/2004 Sketchmaster
wrote in from
(4.22.nnn.nnn)
MissouriMatt: Spain probably has about as much reason to be cleaning Arab clocks as anyone else. They're right across the Strait from Arab controlled Africa, they were specifically mentioned as a lamented "loss" by Bin Laden in one of his video releases after Sept. 11, and they have been freed from the oppression of Arabs for less time than they have had since their independence from the Arabs. I don't remember the exact dates but they were occupied for about 800 years. Spain is a relatively weak country militarily and would be ripe for the picking if it weren't for allies that would be willing to heed the call. Perhaps some others can chime in as to whether or not they think Spain even deserves her independence and whether or not she should be rightly occupied militarily by Arabs.
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On 3/15/2004 MissouriMatt
wrote in from
(128.206.nnn.nnn)
Terrorism won a major battle in Spain. They timed their killings to mess with the elections and it worked. Bringing Spanish troups home may be the best thing for Spain, but what message does it send? Had it happened out of conviction to policy, that would be one thing, but it seems to be a direct response to the fear caused by terrorism. Can we expect the same with the US elections? Or would that backfire? I pray for peace around the world and that our actions (US) will promote peace and freedom. We really don't have one without the other. God bless all the victims of the insanity.
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On 3/12/2004 Sketchmaster
wrote in from
(4.22.nnn.nnn)
Shall we ponder the role of skateboarding within the purview of Islam?
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