Anderson Cooper

Since when does a war revolve around one man? Anderson Cooper taking pictures, Anderson Cooper ducking, Anderson Cooper standing next to a tank, Anderson Cooper urinating.

This is an absolutely horrible war and CNN has made it into the Anderson Cooper show. How do they get away with this? We dont need a friggin movie star wanna be while people are dying. GET HIM OFF... please for God's sake Im sick of him ... turn the channel, and hes back on again. CNN was very bad before with moments of good stuff. Its so hard to wade thru all the crap on CNN and Fox. Just gotta go to the papers.

How about they cover the war that America is involved in? That would be nice, wouldn't it. I think you have less issue with Anderson Cooper and more with the fact that CNN is not pro-Israel like fox news. CNN has to cater to the entire world and in the middle east there are more arabs than Jews. I do think it is ridiculous though how CNN sometimes makes Israel out to be the bad guy.

[Downthestretch55]

Actually, there are currently two wars that the Us is directly involved in...boots on the ground.
The main interest with Israel is that the US supplies the munitions.

My guess is that there is little coverage of Afghanistan and Iraq due to the fact that neither is developing as expected (or sold).
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has re-established control in some key areas.
In Iraq, despite the latest polls showing overwhelming American citizens' disapproval and "dancing around" the issue as to whether it's a "low level" civil war, or a "high level" one...the writing is on the wall.
The administration's reasons to remain in Iraq do not exist.
Each day that Americans put their lives on the line there is another day that wastes not only prescious lives, but also increasing financial considerations that will need repayment. In a few words...the US is losing, like so many recent involvements...Korea, Viet Nam, Somalia, Lebanon I.
Time to get out. NOW!

Israel is a completely different story. Their current actions diminish US credibility in not only the Middle East, but also in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Though France attempted to co-broker a cease fire, their sensible attempt has been seen as another failure to bring reason to a very troubled situation.
As long as the US continues to be their sole support, they will compromise American interests as well.

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

Actually, there are currently two wars that the Us is directly involved in...boots on the ground.
The main interest with Israel is that the US supplies the munitions.

My guess is that there is little coverage of Afghanistan and Iraq due to the fact that neither is developing as expected (or sold).
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has re-established control in some key areas.
In Iraq, despite the latest polls showing overwhelming American citizens' disapproval and "dancing around" the issue as to whether it's a "low level" civil war, or a "high level" one...the writing is on the wall.
The administration's reasons to remain in Iraq do not exist.
Each day that Americans put their lives on the line there is another day that wastes not only prescious lives, but also increasing financial considerations that will need repayment. In a few words...the US is losing, like so many recent involvements...Korea, Viet Nam, Somalia, Lebanon I.
Time to get out. NOW!

Israel is a completely different story. Their current actions diminish US credibility in not only the Middle East, but also in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Though France attempted to co-broker a cease fire, their sensible attempt has been seen as another failure to bring reason to a very troubled situation.
As long as the US continues to be their sole support, they will compromise American interests as well.

I know you root against the US and hope for failure so the President looks bad, but the job in Afghanistan is not going that badly. They have actually set up a situation where the Taliban is always going to be uncomfortable. The liklihood is that Afghanistan will never be the headquarters for the taliban again. Iraq is still a mess though.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by boldruler

I know you root against the US and hope for failure so the President looks bad, but the job in Afghanistan is not going that badly. They have actually set up a situation where the Taliban is always going to be uncomfortable. The liklihood is that Afghanistan will never be the headquarters for the taliban again. Iraq is still a mess though.

Bold Ruler,
Again you look like an idiot for stating that I "root against the US and hope for failure so the president looks bad."
I never said that, nor will I ever!
You're a f-u-c-k-i-n-g idiot!

I love the United States and am quite happy to live here.

From my lastest information, Osama bin Laden has not been caught, not his body displayed, despite the bounty. The opium crop is bumper. My guess is that the DEA will have their hands full for a while. Job security starts at the top.

And thank you in advance for not putting your b.u.l.l. s.h.i.t. words in my mouth...though you've proven yourself to be suspect by many here...idiot!

I say what I WANT to say...not what YOU say on my behalf.

DTS

[Downthestretch55]

After thought...

I'll stay with the facts, and just the facts.
For those that attack me for voicing my opinions that are based on them, wherein there are no facts presented...it's just nonsense, and BS.
Bold Ruler, are YOU LISTENING? And not speaking for others?

Here's another Jewish position (one that I find a lot to agree with):

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0809-20.htm

Peace.

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

Bold Ruler,
Again you look like an idiot for stating that I "root against the US and hope for failure so the president looks bad."
I never said that, nor will I ever!
You're a f-u-c-k-i-n-g idiot!

I love the United States and am quite happy to live here.

From my lastest information, Osama bin Laden has not been caught, not his body displayed, despite the bounty. The opium crop is bumper. My guess is that the DEA will have their hands full for a while. Job security starts at the top.

And thank you in advance for not putting your b.u.l.l. s.h.i.t. words in my mouth...though you've proven yourself to be suspect by many here...idiot!

I say what I WANT to say...not what YOU say on my behalf.

DTS

lol.

as an aside, Anderson Cooper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt.

Another service brought to you by the staff at Sent2Stud Enterprses.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

After thought...

I'll stay with the facts, and just the facts.
For those that attack me for voicing my opinions that are based on them, wherein there are no facts presented...it's just nonsense, and BS.
Bold Ruler, are YOU LISTENING? And not speaking for others?

Here's another Jewish position (one that I find a lot to agree with):

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0809-20.htm

Peace.

in response to the author in the link(that you agree with).......

"There is a well-financed Israeli lobby that funds politicians and dominates the op-ed pages. What else explains the dramatic difference in public opinion in this country and overseas? Why do polls show Americans and Israelis backing the war while the world calls for a cease fire?"


I don't think the Israeli Lobby is the main reason the majority of Americans
back the War to destroy Hezbollah.I think Americans lost over 3 thousand people to
terrorist thug Moslems,and recognize them as scum that you can't have peace with.Cease fire
for what reason?...Not to negotiate peace.......Hezbollah's only sense of peace will come from
kicking every Jew out of Israel.
__________________________________________________ __________________________

"Don’t they know that human rights are universal and cannot be invoked selectively? Israel cannot be given a special pass: it has to obey international laws and UN resolutions, not just the ones it agrees with."

This only points out why terrorism is so awful.Terrorists make it impossible to kill them while at the same time protect civilians.They dropped leaflets.They let everyone there know that they are going to bomb neighborhoods that harbor terrorist Hezbollah.See,this author wants Israel to do what?Kill only Hezbollah militiamen? Great.Stop using civilians to protect you.Wear your uniforms like ya do in your parades.Come fight in the open like Israel's army is doing.They won't do that (because they are terrorists.) Just points out why terrorism is horrible(terrorists use civilians as human shieds.)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________-

"Just as the shelling of civilians by Hezbollah is unacceptable, so is the widespread Israeli devastation of a neighboring country, one ironically, with many people who wanted to live in peace with Israel."

A country who allowed members of Hezbollah to be part of the Government.A country which allowed Hezbollah to openly operate within it's borders.The country is not innocent if it allows terrorists to do this.If you expect peace with Israel,then don't allow those hell bent on it's destruction to prosper in your country.This has to get through to other Governments:don't expect to get away with tolerating terrorist activity in your country.Terrorists will be fought where they are allowed to live.The people in Lebanon were content to have these terrorists living in their country.Don't tolerate terrorists.Simple as that.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

"If anything, this Bush-backed war will radicalize Lebanon as it is the Middle East and fuel more anti-Semitism and hostility to Israel. It has turned Hezbollah into a hero in the region."


Already was a hero there,or they wouldn't have been tolerated in Lebanon. Fuel more anti-Semitism and hostility to Israel? Hard to imagine it any worse than it is.God forbide Israel go after those that commit terrorist acts against them.The region already thinks terrorists are heroes.This is the problem to begin with.Very few democrocies there.That tells you a lot.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
"There’s not one word of interest or concern here with the civilian victims of bombing in Lebanon or the conditions of Palestinians in Gaza. Not one word of compassion or interest in meeting prominent Israelis who feel this war is not in Israel’s interest. It strikes me as more reinforcement for the already deeply held prejudices."

Again,those that accept terrorists to thrive amongst them are at risk of being hurt by those that have to kill the terrorists.I don't know why some people are so thickheaded about this.They don't get it.Terrorists that hang out with civilians have themselves to blame when civilians are killed.Civilians know they are at risk when they openly accept terrorists in their neighborhood.The author is asking for terrorists to not be attacked(because civilians will get hurt.)Well,they can keep coming to Israel and blowing buses up,but terrorists can't be targeted if civilians are nearby? Sounds like a great deal for the terrorists.Just hide in highly populated areas.See,it is great to want to protect the civilians that he says are innocent,but he has no alternative to get the terrorists away from these civilians.There is none.Again,the thing people ignore is that terrorism is horrible.Israel is having to do horrible things to destroy terrorists.The nature of terrorism is to end up with as many innocent people as possible getting hurt.If you support terrorist groups,then it is hypocritical to then complain about innocent people getting hurt.That's what terrorists do.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

in response to the author in the link(that you agree with).......

"There is a well-financed Israeli lobby that funds politicians and dominates the op-ed pages. What else explains the dramatic difference in public opinion in this country and overseas? Why do polls show Americans and Israelis backing the war while the world calls for a cease fire?"


I don't think the Israeli Lobby is the main reason the majority of Americans
back the War to destroy Hezbollah.I think Americans lost over 3 thousand people to
terrorist thug Moslems,and recognize them as scum that you can't have peace with.Cease fire
for what reason?...Not to negotiate peace.......Hezbollah's only sense of peace will come from
kicking every Jew out of Israel.
__________________________________________________ __________________________

"Don’t they know that human rights are universal and cannot be invoked selectively? Israel cannot be given a special pass: it has to obey international laws and UN resolutions, not just the ones it agrees with."

This only points out why terrorism is so awful.Terrorists make it impossible to kill them while at the same time protect civilians.They dropped leaflets.They let everyone there know that they are going to bomb neighborhoods that harbor terrorist Hezbollah.See,this author wants Israel to do what?Kill only Hezbollah militiamen? Great.Stop using civilians to protect you.Wear your uniforms like ya do in your parades.Come fight in the open like Israel's army is doing.They won't do that (because they are terrorists.) Just points out why terrorism is horrible(terrorists use civilians as human shieds.)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________-

"Just as the shelling of civilians by Hezbollah is unacceptable, so is the widespread Israeli devastation of a neighboring country, one ironically, with many people who wanted to live in peace with Israel."

A country who allowed members of Hezbollah to be part of the Government.A country which allowed Hezbollah to openly operate within it's borders.The country is not innocent if it allows terrorists to do this.If you expect peace with Israel,then don't allow those hell bent on it's destruction to prosper in your country.This has to get through to other Governments:don't expect to get away with tolerating terrorist activity in your country.Terrorists will be fought where they are allowed to live.The people in Lebanon were content to have these terrorists living in their country.Don't tolerate terrorists.Simple as that.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

"If anything, this Bush-backed war will radicalize Lebanon as it is the Middle East and fuel more anti-Semitism and hostility to Israel. It has turned Hezbollah into a hero in the region."


Already was a hero there,or they wouldn't have been tolerated in Lebanon. Fuel more anti-Semitism and hostility to Israel? Hard to imagine it any worse than it is.God forbide Israel go after those that commit terrorist acts against them.The region already thinks terrorists are heroes.This is the problem to begin with.Very few democrocies there.That tells you a lot.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
"There’s not one word of interest or concern here with the civilian victims of bombing in Lebanon or the conditions of Palestinians in Gaza. Not one word of compassion or interest in meeting prominent Israelis who feel this war is not in Israel’s interest. It strikes me as more reinforcement for the already deeply held prejudices."

Again,those that accept terrorists to thrive amongst them are at risk of being hurt by those that have to kill the terrorists.I don't know why some people are so thickheaded about this.They don't get it.Terrorists that hang out with civilians have themselves to blame when civilians are killed.Civilians know they are at risk when they openly accept terrorists in their neighborhood.The author is asking for terrorists to not be attacked(because civilians will get hurt.)Well,they can keep coming to Israel and blowing buses up,but terrorists can't be targeted if civilians are nearby? Sounds like a great deal for the terrorists.Just hide in highly populated areas.See,it is great to want to protect the civilians that he says are innocent,but he has no alternative to get the terrorists away from these civilians.There is none.Again,the thing people ignore is that terrorism is horrible.Israel is having to do horrible things to destroy terrorists.The nature of terrorism is to end up with as many innocent people as possible getting hurt.If you support terrorist groups,then it is hypocritical to then complain about innocent people getting hurt.That's what terrorists do.

Scuds,
Thanks for your well thought response.
I do not support terrorist groups. Both sides have accused the other side of being so.
Do I have sympathy for "innocents getting hurt"?
That's very obvious.
Am I hypocrytical for saying so?
That's for you to judge.

So, here we are...what is it, day 25? Do you see an end short of nuclear weapons or Israeli occupation?
How would you, should you have the power to do so, find resolution?
DTS

[SCUDSBROTHER]

DTS..The goal is to disarm Hezbollah.I don't care what day it is.The important day is the one that it is finished on.The Hezbollah can't be bargained with.Exactly what deal is going to be made here? Their goals are to push the JEWS into the Sea.Have you heard of some way to change that?ISRAEL'S goal is to get their soldiers back,and disarm Hezbollah.You're assuming it is o.k. to leave Hezbollah to live in Southern Lebanon.Not everybody finds it acceptable for that scum to be there.Maybe it will be ended by Israel forcing the scum to run off to Syria.

Israel needs to just completely destroy hezbollah. You can't negotiate with terrorists.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

in response to the author in the link(that you agree with).......

"There is a well-financed Israeli lobby that funds politicians and dominates the op-ed pages. What else explains the dramatic difference in public opinion in this country and overseas? Why do polls show Americans and Israelis backing the war while the world calls for a cease fire?"


I don't think the Israeli Lobby is the main reason the majority of Americans
back the War to destroy Hezbollah.I think Americans lost over 3 thousand people to
terrorist thug Moslems,and recognize them as scum that you can't have peace with.Cease fire
for what reason?...Not to negotiate peace.......Hezbollah's only sense of peace will come from
kicking every Jew out of Israel.
__________________________________________________ __________________________

"Don’t they know that human rights are universal and cannot be invoked selectively? Israel cannot be given a special pass: it has to obey international laws and UN resolutions, not just the ones it agrees with."

This only points out why terrorism is so awful.Terrorists make it impossible to kill them while at the same time protect civilians.They dropped leaflets.They let everyone there know that they are going to bomb neighborhoods that harbor terrorist Hezbollah.See,this author wants Israel to do what?Kill only Hezbollah militiamen? Great.Stop using civilians to protect you.Wear your uniforms like ya do in your parades.Come fight in the open like Israel's army is doing.They won't do that (because they are terrorists.) Just points out why terrorism is horrible(terrorists use civilians as human shieds.)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________-

"Just as the shelling of civilians by Hezbollah is unacceptable, so is the widespread Israeli devastation of a neighboring country, one ironically, with many people who wanted to live in peace with Israel."

A country who allowed members of Hezbollah to be part of the Government.A country which allowed Hezbollah to openly operate within it's borders.The country is not innocent if it allows terrorists to do this.If you expect peace with Israel,then don't allow those hell bent on it's destruction to prosper in your country.This has to get through to other Governments:don't expect to get away with tolerating terrorist activity in your country.Terrorists will be fought where they are allowed to live.The people in Lebanon were content to have these terrorists living in their country.Don't tolerate terrorists.Simple as that.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

"If anything, this Bush-backed war will radicalize Lebanon as it is the Middle East and fuel more anti-Semitism and hostility to Israel. It has turned Hezbollah into a hero in the region."


Already was a hero there,or they wouldn't have been tolerated in Lebanon. Fuel more anti-Semitism and hostility to Israel? Hard to imagine it any worse than it is.God forbide Israel go after those that commit terrorist acts against them.The region already thinks terrorists are heroes.This is the problem to begin with.Very few democrocies there.That tells you a lot.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
"There’s not one word of interest or concern here with the civilian victims of bombing in Lebanon or the conditions of Palestinians in Gaza. Not one word of compassion or interest in meeting prominent Israelis who feel this war is not in Israel’s interest. It strikes me as more reinforcement for the already deeply held prejudices."

Again,those that accept terrorists to thrive amongst them are at risk of being hurt by those that have to kill the terrorists.I don't know why some people are so thickheaded about this.They don't get it.Terrorists that hang out with civilians have themselves to blame when civilians are killed.Civilians know they are at risk when they openly accept terrorists in their neighborhood.The author is asking for terrorists to not be attacked(because civilians will get hurt.)Well,they can keep coming to Israel and blowing buses up,but terrorists can't be targeted if civilians are nearby? Sounds like a great deal for the terrorists.Just hide in highly populated areas.See,it is great to want to protect the civilians that he says are innocent,but he has no alternative to get the terrorists away from these civilians.There is none.Again,the thing people ignore is that terrorism is horrible.Israel is having to do horrible things to destroy terrorists.The nature of terrorism is to end up with as many innocent people as possible getting hurt.If you support terrorist groups,then it is hypocritical to then complain about innocent people getting hurt.That's what terrorists do.

Excellent post! I think you are right on the money with everything you said.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by boldruler

I know you root against the US and hope for failure so the President looks bad, but the job in Afghanistan is not going that badly. They have actually set up a situation where the Taliban is always going to be uncomfortable. The liklihood is that Afghanistan will never be the headquarters for the taliban again. Iraq is still a mess though.

You are right on the money that there are plenty of people out there rooting against the US and hoping for failure simply so the President will look bad. It is truly pathetic. These people won't admit they are rooting against their own country because they know how bad it would make them look if they admitted it. (I am not saying that DTS is one of these people. I have no idea whether he is or not.)

What's funny about these people is that they go so overboard with their hatred of the President that I think they actually hate him much more than they hate Bin Laden. It's not rational. A lot of it has to be displaced anger. Many of these people are simply very unhappy and angry people and they are looking for someone to direct their anger at. they're just looking to blow off some steam. It's not necessarily a conscious thing. Displaced anger is actually a defense mechanism and is partially unconscious.

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

You are right on the money that there are plenty of people out there rooting against the US and hoping for failure simply so the President will look bad. It is truly pathetic. These people won't admit they are rooting against their own country because they know how bad it would make them look if they admitted it. (I am not saying that DTS is one of these people. I have no idea whether he is or not.)

What's funny about these people is that they go so overboard with their hatred of the President that I think they actually hate him much more than they hate Bin Laden. It's not rational. A lot of it has to be displaced anger. Many of these people are simply very unhappy and angry people and they are looking for someone to direct their anger at. they're just looking to blow off some steam. It's not necessarily a conscious thing. Displaced anger is actually a defense mechanism and is partially unconscious.

I think there is truth in your comments, but....

I also think there is a large number of people who have supported our decisions and our actions but who are just tired of the failure of our President and our Secretary of Defense to get the job done or at least moving in a more positive direction.

We went to war. For whatever reason(s). That's ok. But what is not ok in many people's minds is our inability to win.

If Bush and Rumsfield were running a company, they would have been allowed to implement their strategies and would have been given time to succeed or fail. By now, they would havve been gone. MAybe it's not an appropriate analogy, but these gys operate with an unlimited budget and are fairly unaccountable.

That, I think, is what generates opposition.

[irishtrekker]

I get really annoyed by this.

I am friends with a lot of liberals. None of us "hate" the president. We are embarrassed by him, p.o.'d at the hypocrisy (government should leave us alone except when it comes to the most intimate aspects of our physical and moral lives???), frustrated by politicians IN GENERAL, and more than a little fed up with being told that you don't dare challenge the way America does things because then you're on the side of the terrorists. Give me a break. This country was founded on dissent. I have the right to dissent. I'm guilty of hyperbole at times, but hate??

Please, show me these America haters? The ones protesting? Oh yeah, if you wave a sign and yell, you must hate the country. The ones criticizing? Definitely better to shut up and just go along with something you don't like. The ones who think Bush can't do much of anything right? I guess that makes me a hater...how many people felt the same way about Clinton? I don't recall many libs calling them un-American at the time. Ann Coulter might be one of the most hateful people I've ever read, but I look at her as a single person, not as a mouthpiece for most conservatives. So why doesn't it go the other way?

There are a lot of hotheads on both sides of the divide. There are very few people who actively "hate." It's a word that gets thrown around a lot, but I think you are way off base for suggesting that people prefer bin-Laden to Bush. It feeds right into what the most rabid of right-wingers would have you believe, and I'm assuming they don't speak for you, just like crazy Ted Rall doesn't speak for us. Man, and you wonder why we can't have a civil dialogue as a nation...

Rant, rant, rant. Sorry to grumble, but it's just frustrating/exhausting to feel like we're all just at each others' throats. Just because I'm avowedly anti-war doesn't mean I hate anybody, okay?

[irishtrekker]

P.S., my real apologies if I offend anyone today. I'm just feeling a bit tetchy. Two weeks before a thesis deadline, a bomb scare and too little sleep will do that to you.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

I think there is truth in your comments, but....

I also think there is a large number of people who have supported our decisions and our actions but who are just tired of the failure of our President and our Secretary of Defense to get the job done or at least moving in a more positive direction.

We went to war. For whatever reason(s). That's ok. But what is not ok in many people's minds is our inability to win.

If Bush and Rumsfield were running a company, they would have been allowed to implement their strategies and would have been given time to succeed or fail. By now, they would havve been gone. MAybe it's not an appropriate analogy, but these gys operate with an unlimited budget and are fairly unaccountable.

That, I think, is what generates opposition.

I have no problem with people crticizing Bush. There are plenty legitimate things to criticize him about. I have no problem if with people think Bush has done a poor job. But with many of these people, it goes far beyond being critical. There is a real hatred there that has very little to do with policy and more to do with partisanship. As I said before, the hatred is so out of whack that it is totally irrational. Some of these people hate Bush more than Bin Laden.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by irishtrekker

I get really annoyed by this.

I am friends with a lot of liberals. None of us "hate" the president. We are embarrassed by him, p.o.'d at the hypocrisy (government should leave us alone except when it comes to the most intimate aspects of our physical and moral lives???), frustrated by politicians IN GENERAL, and more than a little fed up with being told that you don't dare challenge the way America does things because then you're on the side of the terrorists. Give me a break. This country was founded on dissent. I have the right to dissent. I'm guilty of hyperbole at times, but hate??

Please, show me these America haters? The ones protesting? Oh yeah, if you wave a sign and yell, you must hate the country. The ones criticizing? Definitely better to shut up and just go along with something you don't like. The ones who think Bush can't do much of anything right? I guess that makes me a hater...how many people felt the same way about Clinton? I don't recall many libs calling them un-American at the time. Ann Coulter might be one of the most hateful people I've ever read, but I look at her as a single person, not as a mouthpiece for most conservatives. So why doesn't it go the other way?

There are a lot of hotheads on both sides of the divide. There are very few people who actively "hate." It's a word that gets thrown around a lot, but I think you are way off base for suggesting that people prefer bin-Laden to Bush. It feeds right into what the most rabid of right-wingers would have you believe, and I'm assuming they don't speak for you, just like crazy Ted Rall doesn't speak for us. Man, and you wonder why we can't have a civil dialogue as a nation...

Rant, rant, rant. Sorry to grumble, but it's just frustrating/exhausting to feel like we're all just at each others' throats. Just because I'm avowedly anti-war doesn't mean I hate anybody, okay?

I'm not at all referring to mainstream democrats. I'm just referring to some of the extremists in the democratic party. They are a very small minority. As you said, there are plenty of extremists on the other side that are pretty bad too.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I have no problem with people crticizing Bush. There are plenty legitimate things to criticize him about. I have no problem if with people think Bush has done a poor job. But with many of these people, it goes far beyond being critical. There is a real hatred there that has very little to do with policy and more to do with partisanship. As I said before, the hatred is so out of whack that it is totally irrational. Some of these people hate Bush more than Bin Laden.

Well,I think when you make soldiers keep using roads that they know are gunna blow up under some of them,then yes some people are going to be very upset with you.I think the hate for Cheney(not the more likeable Bush) approaches (but doesn't equal )the hate for Bin Laden.I think very few Americans hate their President as much as they hate Bin Laden.After all,Cheney still will get up and tell a crowd that everything is going great in Iraq.Bush,will admit that it is pretty f'd up(in his own words,)but that we can't leave.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I'm not at all referring to mainstream democrats. I'm just referring to some of the extremists in the democratic party. They are a very small minority. As you said, there are plenty of extremists on the other side that are pretty bad too.

Yeah, the ones that bomb abortion clinics, wave "God hates fags" signs at soldiers' funerals, who threatened the hero soldier who 'fessed up about the illegal torture going on at Abu Girab. How many of them are Democrats, do you think? Oh, right...

I'm sorry; Rupert; I'm deliberately trying to get you riled, because, like Irishtrekker, I too am sick of the "liberals hate America" and "you're a terrorist" crap that gets waved in my face virtually every time I point out that Bush is a terrible President. See? It's really annoying to get lumped in with a bunch of lunatics, isn't it? And I know you very kindly and genuinely clarified and said, "I don't mean all Democrats" and I know you didn't. But come on; when do you look at the extremism in your own party and say, "Also not acceptable, people!"? With the exception of eco-terrorists (jerks, you make environmentalists look bad, so knock it off!), you don't see many liberal issues that drive people to actual physical violence, but there sure seem to be a lot of conservative-minded folk willing to threaten and attack to get their views across. And yet it's the liberals that are crazy radicals?

What makes me just sick in the midst of all this awful religous extremism and the violence that goes hand-in-hand with it, is that Bush's hubris on Iraq successfully destablized the one secular Arab nation in that area and has basically handed it over to Iran.

Yeah, yeah, I know, Hussein and torture and innocent Iraqis and all that. And he was a monster, no question. But, looking at it from a purely selfish point of view, Iraq didn't attack us on 9/11 and Hussein's reign kept Iran focused on him. And now they don't need to worry about him and look how busy Iran has gotten!

To go back to the original point of pgardn's, though, yes, Anderson Cooper managed to turn one on-air rant about Katrina into a vehicle to news stardom, but I don't think he's any more trustworthy than the next news guy. Which is to say, not very trustworthy. Blech.

And religious extremism is bad! Bad, bad, bad!

And Irish, I hope you're doing okay-- I imagine it's been very, very stressful there the past two days. Good on the Brits for unravelling the plot.