Show me a person who states that talk about 9/11 is overdone, and I will show you a person that was not affected by it. As a Brooklyn Born, Long Island raised individual, 9/11 will be with me forever. It would take me several forevers and a day to talk about everything I experienced on 9/11/7, since for me it was a day filled with experiences.
I deliberately arranged a flight to New York so that I would be in the air at 8:46am. I was saddened by the fact that only 12 people were on the plane, and even more concerned that there were maybe 100 people at JFK airport when I landed at 10am. Half of these 100 people were employees. The mood was somber, and yes, discouraging.
My spirits were lifted later in the day when comedian Jackie Mason met me for coffee. We spoke for 90 minutes, and he even spoke to my father on the telephone for a few minutes. My dad is a fan of his, and he and Jackie both agreed I need to find a nice Jewish girl and get married. Thank heavens Jackie did not mention to my dad that I was unshaven, or they would have talked for hours. My meeting with Jackie could have gone on for another hour, but I actually had to leave.
What could possibly cause a simple man myself to walk away from a Jewish republican comedian that I admire? A date with destiny. I had my ticket to Sean Hannity’s Freedom Concert.
Everyone should check out www.freedomalliance.org to see what a worthy cause it is. The proceeds from the various concerts that the Freedom Alliance puts on go to the families of 9/11 victims and fallen soldiers.
To be at Great Adventure on 9/11 at such an inspiring event is beyond thrilling. Great Adventure was packed to capacity, and despite thousands of people, I somehow managed to wriggle past everybody to end up in the very front row. I had a necktie of the three soldiers, which I waved in lieu of an American Flag.
Rudy Giuliani spoke poignantly about 9/11, and he received a rousing and totally justified ovation. Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, and Ann Coulter tossed red meat to the crowd. Colonel Oliver North introduced three young teenagers that were excelling in college thanks to scholarships provided by the Freedom Alliance.
If that was not beautiful enough, a live feed to Iraq allowed family members speak to soldiers currently serving in Iraq. The crowd laughed when a mom became concerned that her son had not received his care package. The soldier laughed as well and let his mom know that she had nothing to worry about, and that he liked the package.
While the speakers were electric, the heart of this concert was music. Lee Greenwood sang several ultra patriotic songs. He closed with his signature song, “God Bless The USA.” The crowd was instructed to all turn on their cellphones, creating the appearance of candles. This was sheer magic. Perhaps I am just a crybaby by nature, but fighting back tears while everyone sang, “I’m proud to be an American,” was a difficult thing to do. Who am I kidding? I almost bawled.
Leann Rimes wowed the crowd with her deep voice, and her unpretentious manner. She thanked the crowd repeatedly.
Montgomery Gentry exploded with energy. Montgomery himself fought back tears as he talked about the song “Clouds,” which was written to cherish the memory of his son, who died in an auto accident five days before his third birthday.
As expected, the shining star of the evening was Sean Hannity. I have always admired him, not just for his political views, but for his clear understanding of what America is up against. His book “Deliver us from evil,” clearly explains that evil exists, and must be confronted. His detailed description of the Holocaust is painful to read, but he understands it more precisely than many Jewish people.
Sean Hannity is just as much a soldier in the War on Terror as anybody stationed overseas, although he might deny this. His full throttled support of our soldiers, and General Petraeus in particular, is a welcome departure from the naysayers.
A dear friend of mine at the Republican Jewish Coalition actually pulled some strings to get me backstage, where I met Sean Hannity, Oliver North, and Montgomery. Montgomery claimed he was “just a country boy,” but he is so much more.
I felt conflicted internally because September 11th was one of the worst days in American history, and yet here on 9/11/7 I was having one of the best days of my life. Yet given how awful I felt being in an empty airport, I would rather feel fantastic.
I also want to express that I remembered how republicans were mocked at the 2000 GOP Convention when they locked arms and sang, “God Bless The USA.” Such overt displays of patriotism were never “hokey,” and certainly do not seem hokey in a post 9/11 world. I will never criticize those who prefer keeping their patriotism private. I respect their right to live with quiet dignity. However, I will never apologize for being a loud, brash, flag waving, cheerleader for all that is America. That is how I express myself.
I liked Sean Hannity before I went to the Freedom Concert on September 11th, 2007. After the concert, I can truly say that he is a great American. He has to be. Only a great American could get so many wonderful ordinary citizens to trek in bad weather, stand outside for hours, and have rocket fuel sent through their veins in the form of unbridled and unrelenting optimism.
The Freedom Alliance is a fabulous organization, and the Freedom Concert is a spectacular event. Although Sean Hannity did not sing, freedom did ring, loudly and proudly.
Thank you Mr. Hannity. Thank you very much. I look forward to seeing you on September 11th, 2008, along with the many great Americans who love, support and honor our troops.
eric
Never Forget, Never Submit.
Just out of curiousity, how many minorities did you see there? I wrote a post about Hannity’s “Freedom Concerts” last year. I went through all the pictures they had on the related website. I couldn’t spot one, single, solitary minority – black, hispanic, Asian, whatever – in any of the photos. Why is that?
And how was the turnout this year? Gotta figure it’s way down from prior years…
JMJ
Ollie North is a criminal.
“Sean Hannity is just as much a soldier in the War on Terror as anybody stationed overseas.” Oh, man, that went a little (WAY) too far.
” I look forward to seeing you on September 11th, 2008, along with the many great Americans who love, support and honor our troops.”
They may “love ’em” but they do NOTHING to support them or honor them with tax cuts and cheap armor, war-on-the-cheap, and news blackouts as the coffins fly home.
And that song…. God, I can’t staaaaaaand that song!
“The flag still stands for freedom and they can’t take that away.”???
Has Greenwood been paying attention lately?
“Where at least I know I’m free.”???
What? We’re not even close to the freest people one Earth! We have the highest incarceration rate in the world! I could probably name 20 countries just off the top of my head that are “freer”!
“I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”???
Won’t forget??? They died almost two hundred years ago! That’s the last time are armed forces actually fought for “that right”!
“I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today.”???
Yeah, easy said, not done.
God, I haaaaaaate that song!
I’d have to bring a barf bag just to show up at a “Freedom Concert.”
Sorry. Had to vent.
JMJ
I met Sean several times when I had a small internship in the Early 90’s. He was great, unlike many radio hosts. He is doing a good thing for theses kids.
You do realize that his “foundation” is a scam, and that the ticket prices aren’t going to scholarships, right? That this is yet another republican welfare scam preying on people who “feel” instead of “think”, right?
Glad you had a good time Eric !
Sorry. Had to vent.
Micky
Doubtful,
How do you know this ? Or are you just being funny ?
Doubtful said;
“That this is yet another republican welfare scam preying on people who “feel” instead of “think”, right?”
Do you feel this is true, or do you think this is true ?
Are we throwing empty bombs
The Freedom Alliance ranks about average among charities.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6590.htm
JMJ
Doubtful,
I HIGHLY doubt that you have the guts to check my blog out:
http://noliberalspin.townhall.com/Default.aspx
but I have am finishing up not only an expose of the ACLU but WHO FUNDS THEM!
Two “foundations” Arca and Tides, LAUNDER donor’s money so that they can contribute to radical leftist groups WITHOUT having their names attached to the paper trail.
Kinda how terrorism is funded. I think that if you backflex enough, you might succeed in yanking your head out of your colon.
Jersey,
Funny, when I attended a rally when i was back in the states, I rubbed elbows with many “minorities” as you call them. I call them Americans and many of them were Vets.
Your post at 1137 was pretty weak. In fact, it was downright whiny.
“We’re not even close to the freest people one Earth! We have the highest incarceration rate in the world! I could probably name 20 countries just off the top of my head that are “freer”!”
Really? So people who commit crimes should be…set free? Okay, how about we send that dirtbag in Texas, who beheaded three children, who was just released on a technicality, to live with YOU? Or maybe we can send a serial rapist your way?
You’re right in one area, there ARE too many people in jail wasting my tax dollars. We should execute ALL of the people on Death Row as well as ALL three-time losers. They’ve proved that they can’t be rehabilitated. The MILLIONS saved can go to education…for the CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILDREN that you Roe V Wade libturds are so concerned with.
Gunny, the problem is that we lock people in jail for infractions that in most First World countries are only punishable by a fine or are not punishable at all. Not only that, but we lock people up for very long time periods for victimless infractions. You can do more time for selling a bag of crack than you can for assaulting someone – and that’s common! We fine people for minor traffic violations, the fines are ridiculous, the infractor fails to pay the fine on time, he goes to jail, he loses his license, he loses his job, and next thing you know he’s out again, drives illegally, and the whole thing starts all over. It’s a vicious cycle. The same sort of thing happens to drug users or fathers who fail to pay child support. And it’s self-defeating. How is a father supposed to pay child support if he has no license or job or freedom? How is a drug user supposed to get clean when his life is otherwise in shambles?
That is what I’m talking about.
I’m sorrry, but the rest of your post sounds like Stalinist or Maoist reactionary madness. I do not trust the state to execute people. That’s too much power. And to say that someone who may have sold drugs or shoplifted three times should be executed is just insane. And what abortion has to do with any of this is beyond me. If anything, abortion should be credited with the reduction in crime that we saw starting in the early 90’s. You sound like a Big Mommy Stater.
JMJ
“If anything, abortion should be credited with the reduction in crime that we saw starting in the early 90’s”
So what you’re saying is since black women are more prone to getting an abortion than a WHITE WOMAN, THAT has reduced crime by reducing the black population.
My, how liberal and tolerant of you.
As for the death penalty, you let me know how YOU feel about it after you see a repeat offender MURDER someone and YOU watch the family disintegrate. I’ve seen that TWICE and we just had to send someone home on emergency leave after her sister was murdered by a repeat offender. First reports also put this sh*tbird as an ILLEGAL ALIEN!
As I’ve always said, “Liberals, just ONE violent crime AGAINST THEM from becoming a Conservative.”
I am simply amazed at the amount of peple that actually beleive that this guy cares for any one that was directly or indirectly affected by this incident. Which by the way is every person on this planet if you stop and think about it. I am saddened more so that the people of the united states are letting people make money off this tragedy. they should write thier congressman to ask for legislation against this and for a new independent investigation into why it happened in the first place, Wake up people or welcome to a new homeland with no freedom to choose for oneself.Let the puppet masters play with someone elses strings i carry mine myself damnit!
Everything GunnyG said
“So what you’re saying is since black women are more prone to getting an abortion than a WHITE WOMAN, THAT has reduced crime by reducing the black population.”
No, that’s what Bill Bennett said. Most abortions are performed for white women, and white people commit most crimes. The theory that abortion reduces crime is based on the premise that people, denied the right to abortion, who would otherwise get one, may not make very good parents. While causality remains unproven, the statistics do suggest a strong correlation. Nice try at the bait ‘n switch, though.
I’ve experienced violent crime, and I’m a lib. I know plenty of other “libs” who have been victims of such crimes, or were family members of victims, and they are still libs. There are plenty of atheists in foxholes, too. So there goes another conservative theory or two. As a classical as well as modern liberal, I simply do not like the idea of the government making decisions of life and death like that. I’d been on the fence about the death penalty for many years, but finally settled with the notion that the death penalty is just too much power in the hands of the government. That’s it. This is also why I am against preemptive war. If someone murdered a family member of mine, I would proably kill them myself and leave my fate to a jury of my peers. If the state caught them first and they got life in prison, then as far as I’m concerned that is worse than death. I’ve spent a little time in the clink. Life in a state pen, I couldn’t even imagine. It’s like putting someone in hell. It should only be for violent offenders, though.
Crimes of relaiatory passion, like revenge for the murder of a child or spouse, are routinely handled sympathetically by juries. I’m for empowering people, not the government. It is conservatives who want the Mommy State. Not Libs.
JMJ
Trackbacked by The Thunder Run – Web Reconnaissance for 09/13/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
Jersey,
The PROBLEM of putting a scumbag behind bars is four-fold.
1. They don’t rehabilitate
2. It’s Criminal U.
3. It’s a waste of tax dollars for people UNSUITABLE to live in society.
4. There is ALWAYS some liberal a**wipe ready to parole them back to the streets, where, BTW, THESE LIBERAL DOGOODERS DON’T LIVE!
The Death Penalty might not be nice but it SURE does make sure that the POS doesn’t kill, rape, etc again now doesn’t it?
I hear ya’ Gunny. It took me a long time to come to a certain position about the death penalty. There are some crimes that are just so horrific that anyone’s humanity almost demands that the perpetrator dies. My position seems inhuman – almost robotic. It seems libertarian or even objectivist. But I can’t get around the problem I have with the government having that power, because if that power is abused, if it is mishandled, there is no going back – no redress. Death is final. And don’t think it’s just liberals or conservatives or democrats or republicans who abuse the system or make mistakes. Did you ever read the story of how Bill Buckley, when he was younger, helped get a convicted rapist released from prision? He was sooooo sure this guy was innocent. Sure enough, once released, the guy raped again. “A**wipes” come in all political stripes, and sometimes it has nothing to do with being an “a**wipe” but rather just being human and fallible.
Now, you’re points…
1. Some people do rehabilitate, and many more could if we changed the way we dealt with them.
2. True, and that get’s to poor way we deal with them. Also, this is a very good reason to eradicate draconian sentences for non-violent vicitimless criminals, who often end up becoming violent criminals after the hellish experience of American prison.
3. That is not a consideration for me, personally. My concern is that system works, works fairly, works constitutionally, and restrains government power as much as possible. To the extent that it does concern me, I just want it to work efficiently.
4. I assume you meant “where” these liberal dogooders don’t live. Fair point. though not many conservatives live in such places either. Poverty and crime do walk hand in hand. Liberals seek to alleviate poverty, conservatives tend to just let it be, assuming that it is an unsolvable, unfortunate fact of life.
It’s not a question for me of being “nice.” It’s a question of keeping government power in check. I don’t trust the government as much as you do.
JMJ
Eric…you’re adorable yourself. Thanks for sharing about your trip.
I’m here because Eric invited me (again) to check out the site. I agree fully with JMJ. Believe me, I grew old in years thinking that people should fry for rape and murder, but then I grew up.
Many of you claim to have guidance from a higher power. Why wouldn’t you follow the law of that power and allow it to be the final arbiter of man’s fate? What makes you qualified for the role? If we were to release non-violent drug offenders from prison, we’d have money and space for those who’ve committed the most damning crimes. And, believe me, death is an easy way out for the guilty. I’d rather the guilty know and live with his lack of freedom.
With technology being what it is, we are now finding many instances of wrongful conviction. It is one thing to wrongly deprive a man of his liberty for a number of years, it’s quite another to wrongly deprive him of life. Obviously one wrongly convicted can never be made whole, but we can at least try to mitigate the damage for all of society.
I say this as one raised a hard core conservative. I identify libertarian today, but I remain conservative in viewpoint. Of course, libertarians would be the real conservatives now that the other group has taken over the R party. Conservative = founders’ view in my world and on the matter of taking life, I trust government less than I’d ever trust myself.
Miche,
Name ONE person wrongly convicted and executed.
That is an anti-death penalty myth and has been fullt debunked.
I think what we need to do is fragment the USA and let you liberals have, say the Left Coast. We’ll wall-it-off, still do business with you, but we’ll have strict laws that are enforced. Capital crimes get the death penalty, in public, with the crimes read off. There will be ONE automatic appeal to the next higher court and then sentence is enforced.
You on the Left Coast can treat your criminals nice, do whatever, try to rehabilitate, but I’m betting your crime rate will quickly reflect the same as it does in liberal strongholds like DC, Philly, NYC, LA, Trenton, etc.
If you are going to imprison someone, stop making it Criminal University and a place to hang with your homies. If liberals allwoed prisons to be run like Sheriff Arpellio does his jails, then I’d agree. But until then, the worst of the worst should be executed. If only to remove them from a liberal judge’s parole order.
BTW, Miche and JMJ, how about that convicted killer that wrote a book in prison and so impressed stupid liberals like Norman Mailer, that they petitioned for his parole! He was CULTURED mind you.
Two weeks later he murdered a waiter who had a wie and kids.
Well done libs.
Gunny, well over a hundred death penalty cases have been overturned with new evidence in recent years. How the heck does that equate to “debunked” to you?
And Joe Arpaio? He’s a bloated, egotistical liar. A creation of himself. You really need to read about him. His jail’s recidivism rate is the same as it was before he came along. What we need is to throw out the weight rooms and replace them with classrooms. Hard labor and military-style rigor may keep the inmates busy, but it does nothing to better them as human beings or make them more productive citizens. If anything, it just further embitters them.
As for Mailer, Bill Buckley had the same thing happen to him with a rapist. At least consider, Gunny, that this is not a “liberal” or “conservative” issue. I know plenty of conservatives who are against the Death Penalty. Please, at least consider that we are not bleeding hearts. I know of not a single soul whose heart bleeds for a brutal killer beside maybe their own mother. We simply don’t trust the government as much as you do. That’s all it is.
JMJ
Jersey,
I’m am asking for a case in which an INNOCENT man was EXECUTED. Got any?
BTW,
SWING by my blog.
Just started a series investigating the murder of Ron Brown.
http://noliberalspin.townhall.com/Default.aspx
It’s tough to appeal your case from the grave, GunnyG.
But your demand for that answer is a non-issue as I commented on wrongful conviction not death.
Great deduction skills there pegging me to the left coast considering that I live in Texas, the death penalty capital of the psuedo free world. I’m happy to debate the merits of the death penalty, nanny state/freedom, but it’s tough to do it with someone whom wishes to sidetrack the argument with irrelevant non-facts.
Just saw this over at reason H&R.
Did Texas Execute an Innocent Man? Who Cares!
Miche said;
” I’d rather the guilty know and live with his lack of freedom.”
Unfortunatly, I’ve done a lot of time. And its all to easy too get settled and forget the guilt. Humans have defense mechanisms built in to avoid these feelings.
We adapt and make ourselves comfortable by means of denial or rationalization of our crimes.
It’s not about how we feel as to what is just as much as it is to offer a deterent so we dont see return offenders.
I’m with Miche, Gunny. Over 100 freed ceath penalty convictions should have been enough for you. The thriteen cases in Illinois were enough for a GOP governor to commute the entire row. What I don’t understand is this – why is it that you distrust the government to do almost everything EXCEPT to wield the most terrible power it can have?
JMJ
Miche,
” I’d rather the guilty know and live with his lack of freedom.”
What a load of bullsqueeze. You think that people with NO SELF RESPECT give a flying FUDGE about guilt or remorse? Oh yeah, I can see Manson is just torn to fugging PIECES over Sharon Tate. Yep, those criminals are just pining away for their victims.
Once again liberals show how stupid and short-sighted they are.
Miche said;
” I’d rather the guilty know and live with his lack of freedom.”
I have to embelish my last comment with a little more insight.
The statement that Miche makes is clearly one that reprsents narcissim.
The key word in the statement is ” I ”
Do you want gratification, or punishment and rehabilitation for the offender?
Freedom, as you guys should know, is the most prescious thing a person can have. Death is a quick and easy end. A life without freedom is a life in hell. Miche is not speaking narcissictally, but rather realistically. There are very few Mansons out there. Most people have consciouses. A life in hell with even a smidgeon of a conscious is truly the most severe punishment on can suffer.
But again, I can’t seem to get an answer to this question:
Why is it that you distrust the government to do almost everything EXCEPT to wield the most terrible power it can have?
JMJ
If Miche is going to speak realisticly he/she should do some time.
Narcissim is key to what is needed or wanted.
Miche wants comfort knowing the criminal is getting his.
A realist want the punisment to work!
I’m a she and I won’t likely be doing any time. (Of course, the way everything is becoming criminalized, that may be subject to change soon.)
We are all a bit narcissistic to a degree (why else do we keep checking back to see how our comments are received) but that has no bearing on the reasoning for my belief that locking somebody up is better than killing them. JMJ seems to get it, but for you to miss it speaks volumes about your view of freedom and the liberty to do as you wish.
To use Micky2’s logic, you’re a narcissist for wanting death is a punishment. After all, how does the executed know he’s punished? He’s dead and ceases to comprehend. Couple that with the fact that modern thought indicates the death penalty to be no crime deterrent and it’s easy to conclude that punishment by death makes YOU feel like he got his just desserts. (And that, BTW, is hardly the reach of your knee jerk left coast LIBERAL! conclusion.)
In all punishment of crime, you should err on the side of liberty and justice. That’s why due process demands that a defendant be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt before he is deprived of liberty. I’ve made a mistake or twenty in my life. I’ve had new evidence presented to me and have changed my mind on matters. (though is seems unlikely to happen here unless you come up with an argument besides LIBERAL!) Knowing what I do, I would never feel confident in judging a man to his death. I think it’s better left between he and his maker.
I should point out that I’m no pacifist. I could and would take the life of a person if he is directly threatening mine.
Miche said;
“To use Micky2’s logic, you’re a narcissist for wanting death is a punishment”
(Never said I wanted death, show me where I said that.)
You take comfort in the act of KNOWING HE IS BEING PUNISHED.(its all about you)
I take comfort if that person will actually retain some benefit from incarceration.
Have you ever faced death, or come back from it Miche?
Do you know prison well enough to speak with authority on its efficiancy and effects?,or is it all ideals and emotion ?
To sit in a cell and sweat doomsday for about a year or two is about as much as any man could take.
You also said;
“I should point out that I’m no pacifist. I could and would take the life of a person if he is directly threatening mine.”
According to your statements, you must be 100% sure that this person is an actual threat to your life, so how can you make the above statement ? Nothing is true and final until it has actually happened, right ?
But shouldnt you be able to judge the threat worthy of killing that person ?
Or should you attain the ability to disarm, disable and incarcerate that person.
Or turn and run like hell.
Should Saddam of been left to live ?
Sorry darlin’ you just can’t go ’round invoking the Holocaust and comparing it to a giant living in a cave.
I know the people of NYC were affected more by 9-11 than we Angelinos were but puh-leez tell me what that has to do with Iraq?
Sadaam tried to kill W’s Daddy and now he’s dead, can we be done yet?
Don’t get me wrong, I think that on September 12, 2001 there should have been a giant crater where Afganistan once was but since that’s all F*cked up can we just call it a day.
FYI I’ve voted Republican since 1988 when I turned 18 and I’m only staying with the party long enough to vote for Ron Paul.
Mazel tov to W and Cheney, I’m going to join the wackadoodle libertarians before they get my kids praising Jesus in Public School.
xoxo
Sue
Still waiting… (tick, tock, tick, tock…)
Why is it that you distrust the government to do almost everything EXCEPT to wield the most terrible power it can have?
JMJ
Thank you for further making my point; the loss of liberty is more punishment than death. I don’t know what you were in prison for, but I hope it wasn’t some stupid victimless “crime” like a paid for handjob or some blow. But remember, I’m not the person who started with all the hang ’em up to punish ’em for murder, and three-strikes.
If a person commits an unjustified violent crime, that person should be removed from society. Everything else, I couldn’t give two bits about. One needn’t have a ton of experience with the U.S. prison system to be against murder by the state. My status as human provides all the basis I need to want to be sure before life is taken even if it is retaliation for another life.
And, I think that I’m capable of determining when my life is threatened. If for some reason there is a question about it in the end, then I’d like to think that there is some semblance of due process and reasonable people left for the jury box.
And Saddam wasn’t ours to deal with. Freedom is best when it is earned not given.
Sue do nim,
If you dont understand by now why we are in Iraq , you never will.
I’ll give you a hint. Defying almost every peace treaty agreement and Un resolutions.
Shooting at our planes 7 or more times. ( that is an act of war) Paying Palestinian families 2500.00 to send their young to Afghanistan as suicide bombers. (that is an act of war) Creating an even worse humanitarian crisis by selling oil for cash instead of food, as agreed by peace treaty after first gulf war. Poisoning thousands of innocent Kurds. Being dishonest and not forthright with inspectors. Not being able to prove he had disarmed.
After all this and 911 we were not going to get our ass handed to us again.
It was a pre-emptive attack on a percieved enemy.
You said;
“Sorry darlin’ you just can’t go ’round invoking the Holocaust and comparing it to a giant living in a cave.”
If Hitler lived in a cave would it convince you ?
You should do some fact checking on the parallels between radical Islam and Nazis.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/816232/posts
Dr. Serge Trifkovic documents the similarities between Al Husseini’s brand of radical Islam and Nazism in his book The Sword of the Prophet. He noted parallels in both ideologies: anti-Semitism, quest for world dominance, demand for the total subordination of the free will of the individual, belief in the abolishment of the nation-state in favor of a “higher” community (in Islam the umma or community of all believers; in Nazism, the herrenvolk or master race), and belief in undemocratic governance by a “divine” leader (an Islamic caliph, or Nazi führer).
You also said;
“FYI I’ve voted Republican since 1988 when I turned 18 and I’m only staying with the party long enough to vote for Ron Paul.”
Good luck !
Oliver North is a traitor. He violated his oath to uphold the constitution by illegally selling weapons to IRAN to fund the Contras. QED, all you people who support him are traitors.
Oh, and regarding Sean Hannity:
Screw Sean Hannity. Screw him. Right in his stupid face.
He spoke here in Dayton, Ohio at the Dayton Right to Life Convention. He was paid $40,000 to appear and speak the keynote address at their annual fundraiser which they use to fight abortion. He spent his ENTIRE speech talking about the war on terrorism.
He should have given that non-profit organization a refund.
Sean Hannity is pond scum and nothing any of you maniacs say or do can convince me otherwise.
For you mouth breathers that frequent this blog and think Oliver North is a saint, I’m gonna type this next part real slow-like, so you can understand:
Oliver North is a traitor. He, under the aegis of Bill Casey and the Reagan Administration, illegally raised funds by SELLING WEAPONS TO IRAN, AND THEN FUNNELED THE PROFITS TO NICARAUGA. This is a violation of the Constitution. The Constitution gives CONGRESS the power to raise money, not the executive branch. Oliver North violated the Constitution and violated his oath to uphold it and now neoconservatives and apologists for pre-emptive war everywhere worship this CRIMINAL.
Miche said;
“Thank you for further making my point; the loss of liberty is more punishment than death.”
ONCE AGAIN !where did I say I was for death ? WHERE ?
And I must ask you. How do you have this divine knowlege that the loss of liberty is worse than death ?
You also said;
“One needn’t have a ton of experience with the U.S. prison system to be against murder by the state. ”
I’ll listen to experience before I listen to you.
O.K. now that I’ve made it clear how fickle and judgemental you are, let me enlighten you a little.
I have done a good amount of time. Drugs, beat up a cop,numerous d.u.i.’s assault and a couple felonies.
We get comfortable in jail, life goes on and we adapt. We get mail and family visits, TV, workouts , church, healthcare and on and on. Its not that bad after a while.
I have got to know a few murderers that got life, and they are anything but miserable.
Its the ones on death row that are truly being punished. I think we should keep them around for another 20 or 30 years and then kill them. Quick execution is too good for the monsters I have met.
You obviously have no concept or idea of what evil is. And prove this with your ideas and philosophy instead of facts and experience.
Like the old saying goes; “If I want a good steak , I’ll ask my butcher instead of shoving my head up a bulls ass”
If someone took my boy from me I would kill him. And then have no problem being put to death for it.
But since it actually is pretty hard to get death but for a few states, it makes the thought a lot easier to carry through knowing that once I get settled in I’ll do just fine.
Death is the deterent, life in a club is not.
For the few innocents that have been executed, I’m truly sorry.
But the same DNA testing that is freeing innocent men these days is also being used to keep them and other suspects innocent and out of jail or the chair
Good ol’ cognitive dissonance. Where would we be without it? (Oh yeah, not in another quagmire…)
JMJ
JMJ
Only one of the two thoughts are in my mind.
History would be on my side here. Pick up a book or 30. Try to read them more critically than you’ve read what I wrote. Speaking of critical reading, you might notice that I said that 3 strikers shouldn’t be executed. Aside from that factoid, I would rather die than live in a cage. I realize that to be a personal opinion, but again, it’s supported by history.
That contradicts your earlier statement of:
As far as death being the detterent, I provided a link that says otherwise. (Check earlier comment in thread. It’s that blue hyperlinked part.)
You, sir, seem to share the in the most recent affliction of some U.S. citizens. The affliction is a pervasive lack of personal responsibility.
I know, Micky, I know. You have to learn to multitask! LOL! (Just kidding, man)
All I’m saying is that I saw the Iraq quagmire coming a mile away. Again, not bragging, just disappointed. I guess I should take back my little snark there. I know you really do believe in “the mission.” It’s got to be hard for you to see the mess over there and the fuss over here. It’s hard for me too. I wish we had went in full force and really subdued the nation. I wish we had a real declaration of war instead of a “give ’em enough rope” wimpy, punk congress. I wish we funded the war with AMERICAN war bonds and rallied the public for victory. I wish we’d gotten the allies on board, or at least there for humanitarian stuff. I wish Bush had waved the stick a little longer than he used it (war is like sex, ya’ know: wave the stick longer and you’ll get more pleasure than if you just stick it in quick… I hope Eric doesn’t get p!$$ed at me for that reference!).
To be honest, war with Iraq to bring democracy to the Middle East is never what bothered me. Actually, the general idea sounds pretty good. It was the pile of squirming imbeciles that attempted to carry it out that concerned me. Never trust conflicted idiots to accomplish anything of substantial import. I have a saying: Any idiot can rush into the middle of a crowd and knock somebody out, but then that idiot has to deal with an angry crowd (Hitler, Wilhelm II, and Napoleon, in Russia come to mind?).
I could think of plenty of Republicans that could have done it right. McCain for one. Had he won in 2000, and we had attempted the same goal in Iraq, I guarantee things would be different today. I may be a “flaming liberal,” but I’m not an idiot. The probem with today’s international relations and strategies is that we have an administration that is both not up to the task of success nor invested in it in the first place. If anything they’re invested in profiteers who have no patriotic impulse beyond the rhetorical.
JMJ
Miche said;
As far as death being the detterent, I provided a link that says otherwise.”
And I say otherwise
You said;
History would be on my side here. Pick up a book or 30″
I got 30 books that are on my side
You said;
And I must ask you. How do you have this divine knowlege that the loss of liberty is worse than death ?
You dont know what either one is like.
You said;
You, sir, seem to share the in the most recent affliction of some U.S. citizens. The affliction is a pervasive lack of personal responsibility.”
Once again, another one who makes judgements based on “What seems”
You want to talk about personal responsability and somehow come tor the conclusion that I may not have any when you only know what you see on this blog.
For some reason you think you are smart, you are not. You are only jucgemental on opinion and attitude and ideas and emotion.
You have absolutly no right to act as if you know anything about the subject as lond as you havent been on both sides of the cage like me
Personal responsability #1
When I smacked that cop I told the judge that I had no reasons or excuses for my behavior and that I would not contest any punisment he threw at me.
Personal responsability #2
I am addict that has been using since he was 12, I am 50 now and been sober and clean for 15 years and paid for all my crimes associated with the disease.
Personal responsability #3
I take young kids out of prison and to detox or treatment so that they can get some sort of help and not go through what I went through. I also sponsor and offer guidance to them.
Personal responsabilty #4
I have never taken welfare or a hand out, and always made my way.
Personal responsabilty #5
I have contacted every person possible that I have wronged and made amends.
Personal responsability#6
I own my own business for ten years that I started with 250.00
I own a half million dollar condo in Hawaii.
I raised a 20 year old daughter, have a12 year old boy and been married for 14 years
Personal responsability has brought me to were I’m at, thankyou.
You also said this;
“”We get comfortable in jail, life goes on and we adapt. We get mail and family visits, TV, workouts , church, healthcare and on and on. Its not that bad after a while.
That contradicts your earlier statement of:
To sit in a cell and sweat doomsday for about a year or two is about as much as any man could take. “”
Listen to me and try to digest this one more time.
Lifers have it easy !
Doomsday applies to the ones on death row… got i!. But I guess those who assume they know will never know
I speak from experiencing the reality and first hand knowledge.(you dont have this)
There is no better teacher in life.
Its the PC crap and the rules of engagement that screwed up the war.
I wish we stayed the Hell out of Iraq. That fight wasn’t part of the mission. (You remember how it was sold, right?)
Micky, you mentioned this:
The U.S. shouldn’t be on the hook to enforce any UN resolution. Firing at U.S. planes in their airspace isn’t a reason to war. Oil for food shouldn’t have been an issue. The oil is theirs, we need it, and we should purchase it on whatever terms dictated. If we don’t wish to play by the terms of the rightful owners, we should develop an alternative source of energy.
The Iraq War is about resources, and those resources are very important to our way of life and therefore, important to our national security. But, let’s call a spade a spade and lose the holier than thou crap about “protecting American freedom.”
I’m not being judgmental. You have done enough of that for both of us. Congratulations for picking your ass up by bootstraps. I said, somewhere else, that life ain’t a cakewalk at 50 cents a round. I stand by that then and today.
I was not being the ass here. You presume to know what I think and know without benefit of knowing a damn thing about me. I don’t judge your past, I’m judging your present and you have been nasty to say the least.
I maintain my position that a life should not be taken unless necessary, and life should not be taken by the state.
Again, other people here would have executed you based solely on your criminal history.
And, can I crash at your pad next time I surf Hawaii? The Four Seasons staff doesn’t come close to you in conversational skills.
Miche said;
“”The U.S. shouldn’t be on the hook to enforce any UN resolution. Firing at U.S. planes in their airspace isn’t a reason to war”’ (I cant belive you said that)
That airspace was desigated at surrender agreements to NOT be theirs. This was to protect the Kurds for one thing.
Did you know that the United States OF America is a member of the U.N ?
As such we are a viable instrument in maintaining U.N. resolutions
The oil thing is a myth. Iraqis are trying to decide how much of what share goes to Sunnis, Shiates, and Kurds. Not us. Stop with the oil conspiracy theories, its old and defeated.
You must remember there was a coalition of 20 countries that went in with us.
You said;
we should develop an alternative source of energy.
Got any ideas ? Look here for some insight on the subject.
http://the-antisocialist.com/2007/08/06/ethanol/
And you also said;
“I maintain my position that a life should not be taken unless necessary, ”
Theres that key word that corners us all ” NECESSARY”
I’m about 30 miles from Waimea, I am a professional chef and I will charge you accordingly to your demands, even conversations will be billed as entertainment.
Aloha, didnt mean to get snotty.
By the way Miche,
You are invited to take a cursory tour of my blog.
http://micky2.wordpress.com/
I actually was checking out your blog. (you might have noticed IP addy 76.185.163.)
I like to eat, and obviously, I pay well for snazzy accomodations. Mahalo for suggesting you might put me up.
As far as oil conspiracy theories, I don’t buy (much)into them. There is, indeed, a cheap fuel dependency in this country, and the left is hell bent on making us addicts who not only are addicted, but addicted expensively. We could drill on our continent and maintain our current usage levels for a period of time- that same period of time can be spent finding alternative sources of fuel.
I’ve friends that are very hard core Republican. Even they admit that the war in the M.E. is about resources. The coalition was weak. I’m a conservative libertarian. I think that if we go to war, we must be willing to win it. When GWB & Co. allowed some 100 Al Qaeda members to go free because ROE demanded that funerals be off limits, I learned all I needed to know about this war.
Learned all I needed to know ?
So no matter what the future brings or if you are proven wrong it doesnt matter ?
Miche,
http://arclightzero.wordpress.com/2007/09/13/beyond-reason-part-one-beslan/#more-268
Take a look here and see why we fight.
And please dont throw the old ” Iraq had nothing to do with 911″ line at me.
There is a connection to not wanting to have your ass handed to you again, which is part of the bigger picture when it comes to Iraq.
Unfortunatly even some conservative libertarians cant see that or wont. They only want to look at a few of the smaller pictures and argue them. Abu Ghraib and whatever mistakes Bush has made do not change the reason for going to war or its purpose. And most certainly would not be any reason to just bail.
My God ! It would be so heavenly sweet if this war was only about the few minuscle things that Ron Paul and the wacky left are saying its about.