This test actually did help me to figure some things out...

I think there are other tests because this seems to be sponsored by the VA I think, but it is still great to determine issues. I scored only 22 percent with McCain, which I kind of figured anyway, but it helps me when so many people like to cloud the issues and confuse people, especially women.

I used to see that in the union when I was just a medical record clerk (which was a union job) and then went to transcription (nonunion job) - when the administration was trying to break the union they would always stir the women up with issues that were sort of minor, or confusing, and sit back and watch everyone fighting about such petty things, and meanwhile emotions would get so high people did not even know the issues anymore.

It was weird to watch, but they do the same thing where my partner works while they try continually to break the union - they use the women to do it - sad but true, and it almost works every time.

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

MOSCOW � Russia will deploy short-range missiles near Poland to counter U.S. military plans in Eastern Europe, President Dmitry Medvedev warned Wednesday, setting a combative tone that clashed with global goodwill over Barack Obama's election.

In his first state of the nation speech, Medvedev blamed Washington for the war in Georgia and the world financial crisis and suggested it was up to Washington to mend badly damaged ties.

Medvedev also proposed increasing the Russian presidential term to six years from four � a change that could deepen Western concern over democracy in Russia and play into the hands of his mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who has not ruled out a return to the Kremlin.

Extending the presidential term could mean a possible 12 more years in the top office for the popular Putin.

Echoing Putin, who made criticism of Washington and the West a hallmark of his two-term, eight-year presidency, Medvedev used the speech in an ornate Kremlin reception hall to cast Russia as a nation threatened by encroaching American military might.

"From what we have seen in recent years � the creation of a missile defense system, the encirclement of Russia with military bases, the relentless expansion of NATO � we have gotten the clear impression that they are testing our strength," Medvedev said.

He signaled Moscow would not give in to Western calls to pull troops from Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, or rescind its recognition of their independence following the August war.

"We will not retreat in the Caucasus," he said, winning one of many rounds of applause during the televised 85-minute address.

Talking tough, he fleshed out long-promised military measures in response to U.S. plans for missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, former Soviet satellites now in NATO. The Kremlin claims the system is meant to weaken Russia, not defend against Iran, as Washington insists.

Medvedev said Iskander missiles would be deployed to Russia's western enclave of Kaliningrad, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, "to neutralize, if necessary, a missile defense system."

The Iskander has a range of about 280 kilometers (175 miles), which would allow it to reach targets in Poland but not in the Czech Republic � but officials have said its range could be increased. Medvedev did not say whether the missiles would be fitted with nuclear warheads.

Russia will also deploy electronic jamming equipment, Medvedev said.

After the speech, the Kremlin announced Medvedev had congratulated Obama for winning the U.S. presidency, saying in a telegram he was "counting on a constructive dialogue with you on the basis of trust and taking each other's interests into account."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack emphasized that the planned missile defenses were not aimed at Russia.

"The steps that the Russian government announced today are disappointing," McCormack said. "But, again, this is not directed at them. Hopefully one day they'll realize that."

Medvedev appeared to be trying to improve Russia's bargaining position in potential talks with the Obama administration on missile defense. His wording suggested Russia would reverse the decision if the U.S. scraps its missile defense plans.

"Moscow isn't interested in confrontation, and if Obama makes some conciliatory gestures it will respond correspondingly," said Alexander Pikayev, an analyst at Moscow's Institute for World Economy and International Relations.

But independent military analyst Alexander Golts said Medvedev's "confrontational tone" could further harm relations with the United States, which plunged to a post-Cold War low over the war in Georgia.

"Russia itself is cutting off the route toward better ties," he said.

Regional leaders criticized Medvedev's missile warning. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was "certainly the wrong signal at the wrong time" and urged the U.S. and Russia to see change in the White House as an "opportunity for a new beginning."

Medvedev suggested the U.S. must make the first move to break the chill. The Kremlin hopes the incoming administration "will make a choice in favor of full-fledged relations with Russia," he said.

In addition to calling for a six-year presidential term, he said parliament's term should be extended to five years instead of four and its power over the executive branch increased.

Both changes could strengthen the hand of Putin, who can run for president again in 2012 and now heads the dominant United Russia party.

you would have had him do....stand there folding it like a doofus folding towels in a laundromat? I dunno, seems that might have reduced the dramatic impact somehow. He had the knife in one hand, which would have made folding a tricky thing to accomplish. Seriously, not sure how else he could have handled the flag, given the situation. Maybe throw it over one shoulder like a toga? One would assume those who had improperly hung the flag might have been nearby, maybe a little P.O.'d over his cutting it down. When ''exigent circumstances'' exist, you get the flag down as efficiently as possible and worry about the frills later. Tell us all, exactly what would Amanda do?

Decreasing the mortgage payment by 30% would only lengthen the repayment terms. Mortgage holders wouldn't get anything out of it, but probably would end up paying more over the course of time due to interest.

What cracks me up is you asking "what's in it for me?" and then complaining about the greed of others. Hypocrits are everywhere.

... I know we don't want to digress, but please stop blaming the fact that we have to resort to these measures on the current administration

Here�s what a lot of us believe: We don't 'have' to print or borrow money to buy our way out of this mess. That is the thing most people will not acknowledge. The mortgage crisis and the housing �bubble� were caused by government meddling with Fannie/Freddie loan standards. That sent the whole house of cards tumbling and the cascade of threatened failures that resulted. More government meddling will not fix this. You cannot shore up a house of cards. It's still cards. It should have been allowed to fall and be rebuilt, even if that meant starting from the ground up. Sucks to be us.

Foolish people who bought too much house for their means must be allowed to lose them. Bad companies have to be allowed to fail. Bad politicians with worse ideas also should to be allowed to fail; I'm doing my part not to get in their way.

I don't think anyone can name three things government does as efficiently and/or cheaply as private industry. Now government will part owners in AIG, banks, and other failing concerns. Now government wants to control health care? And all of this - plus much more - was put in an 1100-page document nobody who voted on it could even read?

Even though this is all mostly a done deal, I still cannot go along with the can't-we-all-get-along; wait-and-see crowd. Of course we�ll all just have to �sweat it out� now, what choice? This is so reminiscent of the FDR New Deal 70 years ago that I cannot believe we have learned nothing from history. What am I saying? Of course I can believe it. We�re still idiots!

�We seldom know six weeks in advance, what we are going to do.� �It is common sense, to take a method and try it: if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.� FDR

National Recovery Act (fixed prices and wages). Forced smaller companies out of business, since lower wages and prices where the only way they could compete with big companies.

A law in Washington, DC, mandating a minimum monthly wage for women (only), resulting in women losing their jobs to men who were willing to work for much less than that guaranteed wage.

Agricultural Adjustment Act (subsidized farms by taking acreage out of production and fixed prices). Designed to curb overproduction and support prices. In reality production rose because farmers used their cash subsidies to buy fertilizer, and they had taken their worst acreage out of production anyway. They switched to the crops whose prices were guaranteed, hence, even more overproduction.

Works Progress Administration (to provide employment and improve infrastructure). Turned into a giant political patronage system to reward supporters with �shovel-leaning� jobs and to punish detractors. To get most such jobs, you had to declare your political party, �vote right� and �tithe� to the D party.

Emergency Relief Act (made available to governors to assist the needy in their states). Since it was supported by huge tax increases, it all but shut off voluntary charitable contributions that traditionally went to the needy.

Excise taxes arbitrarily levied on a few luxury items of the rich such as yachts, furs and jewelry, but also on cars, gasoline, radios, cosmetics, cameras, bank checks, long-distance phone calls and movie tickets used by lower-income groups.

Tariffs on imported goods, which caused other countries to retaliate by taxing or not buying our goods and damaged our export business.

Top income tax bracket for the too-rich (only) 79% and the IRS was used as a weapon to harass and punish the wealthy, as well as critics of New Deal policies. Roosevelt was incensed that the wealthy (though he was born to wealth) used tax loopholes such as charitable deductions and business losses to legally avoid taxes, so he instructed the IRS and Congress to close them. Meanwhile, FDR himself used such loopholes to deduct the value of materials he donated for his own future presidential library. He took business losses and farm losses on his personal tax returns.

Roosevelt was one of those silver-spoon guys, subsidized by someone else�s money (his mother�s) his entire life. He failed repeatedly in businesses financed by family money. He had a solid record of picking losers; he thought the airplane was a fad. He had a lackluster academic career. Never held a �real� job. His only talents were his personality and charisma.

Yes, FDR inherited the beginnings of the Great Depression from Herbert Hoover in 1933, but Roosevelt�s repeated �try something� efforts to fix it kept it going until World War II.

Any of this starting to sound familiar? We�ve been at this exact pivotal point before and we are blowing it again. Elected another snake oil salesman. Way to go.

I can cite three sources right away that state that statistically this move is supported more than not by the Jews as well as major U.S. Jewish organizations.

*They actually believe that is their government's job, to make all their laws and tell them how to live.*

How about remembering that you said this when it comes to abortion and same sex marriage.

I just don't know a nice way to say this but those families that have babies they can't afford do so just to get on the welfare system. They certainly don't want that taken away from them. As long as they have babies, they won't have to work and live off the system.

What does Pelosi plan to do? Force everyone on birth control that have X amount of dollars per each child and state "You make $1 less than you're allowed to have this many children. Now you go on birth control."

Before you flame me, my husband's cousin did that. He was too lazy to work as was his wife...well, nah, she didn't have time to get a job. She was too busy having kids.

This test actually did help me to figure some things out...

Air Force chief: Test weapons on testy U.S. mobs