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You should explain your wisdom to Harold Ford and John Tanner.

Posted By: PK on 2006-06-21
In Reply to: Permanent military base. sm - CeeCee

These lawmakers obviously have no idea what it truly means.


The way I read it is as nothing more than a badly worded symbolic gesture of no real significance other than to *express the sense of Congress.*


You're entitled to agree with the lone 19 Republicans regarding our troops.


I choose to agree with the vast majority who are *expressing* that they support our troops, particularly Ford and Tanner, whose comments are below.


Ford and Tanner said they strongly support the troops. But they noted that current Iraqi government leaders reportedly are considering granting amnesty to Iraqis who killed U.S. troops as acts of resistance and defense of their homeland. They cannot support a government that would grant such amnesty, Ford and Tanner said in written statements.

Ford, a U.S. Senate candidate, called the Republican resolution a gimmick that fails to recognize that 'stay the course' is not working and that amnesty for terrorists is unforgivable.




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John Glenn and John McCain were cleared of having acted improperly....
improperly but were criticized for having exercised "poor judgment." Interesting that 4 of the 5 were Democrats. Still..John McCain has publically said he was sorry for his part in it, that he was wrong in what he did and has apologized for it. Like I said before, I respect that. Everyone makes mistakes. No everyone is man enough to own up to them and not hide behind Nancy Pelosi and the DNC like Chris Dodd and Barney Frank are doing. Now THERE is a pair to draw to.
Thanks for your thoughts, will check out Ford.
I'm in my 50s and never paid much attention to politics until just before this past election.  Now I'm trying to make up for lost time, I guess......it's too bad that the abysmal condition politics is in right now is what finally prompted me to get interested!!
I'm with you on the chevy/ford thing --

I don't know why, but I have always preferred Chevy over Ford.  I've had 4 vehicles in my life -- my dad bought my first one -- an olds, then the first I bought was a Nissan, and my last 2 have been chevy's.  Right now I'm looking at a Cadillac Escalade. 


Ford's just never seem to fit me right.  Can't explain it.  Just don't like 'em.  I dislike Dodge even more.  They seem to be made for shorter people -- no head room.


kind of interesting about Ford plant
http://info.detnews.com/video/index.cfm?id=1189

Note the comment about UAW at the end.
I guess Henry Ford and Churchill were big fat liars, too, gt. sm

MARCH OF THE TITANS -


A HISTORY OF THE WHITE RACE


Chapter 64:The Racial State - The Third Reich


Part Four: The "Final Solution": Nazi Policy towards Jews


The Third Reich and Adolf Hitler will always be associated with an outburst of anti-Jewish sentiment not seen since the Crusades or the Middle Ages. Despite countless books and films having been created on the actual anti-Jewish activities themselves, almost none have focused on trying to explain why Hitler and the Nazi Party were anti-Jewish.


Nazi anti-Jewishness was based on three pillars:


• First, Jews were identified with political subversion and Communism in particular. (See chapter 61:"Jews and Communism") As outlined earlier, this sentiment was by no means a Nazi invention, and had been written about in public by Winston Churchill and a host of others including Henry Ford in America;  the political subversion of which Jews were accused ranged from the fantastic (the Protocols of Zion) to the promotion of pornography, racial mixing, degenerate art ("modern art") and other issues identified as problematic by the Nazis;







Above: Nazi propaganda  depicting Jews (Stars of David); Capitalism, (Dollar Signs) and Communism (Hammer and Sickles) all as part of the disease under inspection.


• Secondly, the Nazis associated Jews with super capitalism and economic exploitation. This descended directly from the traditional and pre-Christian objections to Jews. Hitlerian anti-Jewishness also accentuated the links between Jewish super capitalists and Communism, personified by the financing of the 1917 Russian Revolution by the American Jewish banker Jacob Schiff; and


• Thirdly, the Nazis associated Christianity with Jews, arguing that this religion was the product of Middle Eastern thought and not native Europe. The Nazis did not however dare to attack Christianity openly, rather leaving it alone to wither by itself, something that has to a large degree started to become reality by the end of the 20th century. Nonetheless, if the private comments of Hitler himself on Christianity are read, it can be seen that Hitler clearly identified Christianity with Jews.


 Only in this light can an understanding of the motivating factors behind the state that Hitler created be gained: a tradition of anti-Semitism going back centuries, modern political thought associating Jews with Communism and subversion, the degradation of Germany under the Treaty of Versailles, economic collapse, and the outstanding oratorical ability of Hitler himself. All of these factors combined to propel the Nazi Party to power in 1933.


Lots of articles on Churchill and Henry Ford and sm
Jews and communism.  It doesn't matter if the pillars were made of salt (of course, history tells us that they were eventually).  It matters that historically this was what Hitler built his Reich on.  This is indisuptable and absolute.  Henry Ford's hatred for Jews was legendary, BECAUSE of communism. 
Then explain his church and minister. Explain that to me. nm
x
Aw, the voice of wisdom.
x
Sage wisdom

I personally like dandelion greens, wild onions, polk sallat and lots of other wild greens, nuts, berries, pawpaws, wild grapes, wild mushrooms,  etc. etc.  We'll be fine for awhile. 


If you're a "bible kook" count me right there with you.  If one needs any more proof, just read the book.  Written 2000 years ago, if it isn't true, how could it so accurately predict exactly what is happening?  Like the time will come when a person will work all day long just for food for a single day.  I don't see that being very far in the future.    IMHO wise people are turning to the Bible for instructions.  THAT is the only hope we really have.


Please enlighten me with your wisdom.

How do you handle this then?  Terrorists who want us dead and will do anything to accomplish that.  How do you deal with them?  What is the source?  Do we all convert to their religion?  What?  I'm curious as to what your solution is for this mess.


I still would like to see Obama go after the CEOs of these big  corporations and banks the pocketed loads of money and walked away from a failing business.  Why aren't they being investigated and tried for what they have done?  Instead of we going after the past administration even though dems knew what was going on.


As for your information about Mohammed giving info until the harsh interrogations.....there are two sides to this story and until everything is released and looked into, all you go by is what MSNBC says and the rest of us go by facts.


Nancy Pelosi and other dems were brief on these interrogations and they did NOTHING.  The government has only allowed part of the information to be unclassified.  There is still other information out there that they have not brought to light and seem to be not wanting to bring to light.  Wonder why....hmmmm.


The reason behind terrorist attacks is because they are Muslim extremists who believe their religion has called them to rid the world of people who aren't Muslim.  No tea and cookies and friendly talks is EVER going to change that. 


Yes...please give him some wisdom!

I can't disagree on that one.


More wisdom in his right hand than the whole
.
This pearl of wisdom is brought to you by
someone who proved herself ridiculous 500 posts ago....
experience versus wisdom

to change the downward course of the nation.  Haven't you been listening?


 


Humor? Wisdom? To be called a
"babe," "skirt" is humorous?  Wisdom????  Where is the so-called wisdom in that sexist remark?  But of course Lush will get away with it.... he's too valuable to the pubnuts!!  Disgraceful is what it is!!!!
Your disrespect for the wisdom of elders
Might try reading up on the brilliant genius that IS Lee Iacocca. Take a look at his photo...84 and looks 20 years younger. Sharp as a tack, as demonstrated by the level of expertise and thorough analysis expressed in the piece he wrote. The smartest thing he said, in essence, was "Dude, where's my country?"

In any cas, your petty, drive-by sound byte is a mere reflection of the same bankrupt leadership he decries, prime example being the tanking McSame.

BTW, here's a few other millionaires who endorse Obama, every single one of the former pubs:
1. Warren Buffet
2. Colon Powell
3. Susan Eisenhower
4. Julie Nixon Eisenhower
5. Senator Lincoln Chafe
6. Gov Linwood Holton (VA)
7. Mayor Richard Riordan (LA CA)
8. Bill Ruckelhaus
9. Douglas Kmiec
10. (Former) Mayor Ed Koch (NY)
11. Ken Adelman
12. General Tony McPeak
13. Donald Capoccia
14. Jackson M. Andrews
15. Richard J. Schwartz
16. Todd Garrett,
17. Michael Smercornish
18. Richard B. Stewart
19. Jim Whitaker
20. Ambassador Thomas Graham Jr



Gourdpainter, I really respect your wisdom. s/m

And I, too, have been having trouble sleeping because of this election as well.  I think they call it election burnout.  I guess the whole Rev. Wright thing is somewhat concerning, but I find that the positive things about Barack Obama far outweigh that one thing.  I watched a brilliant interview with him last night by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.  He addressed so many things:  Foreign policy, Afghanistan, that fact that we desperately need to update our infrastructure in this country, roads, bridges, and especially the power grid, as it is one of our major weaknesses for terrorist attack.  He has a very definite plan for all of these things that I have never heard anyone else address, and I was very impressed.  He made a statement about how the trillion dollar deficit that Bush ran up would not have been so bad had there been something to show for it, if that money had been spent on building up our infrastructure and how China is so far ahead of us on that issue.  That interview was definiately the best one I have seen, and it really gave an excellent glimpse into this man and what he hopes to achieve, and just confirmed for me how right he is for this country. 


I am putting this election into God's hands.  What is meant to be will be.  But I am very concerned about the whole election process.  There have already been instances of problems with the machines.  In West Virginia, the machines were flipping votes from Obama to McCain, and I do anticipate lots more problems like that.   It's going to be close either way.


Hang in there, gourdpainter.  Hopefully, we'll both be able to get some sleep when this is all over.  


No dear, that would be words of wisdom!!
xx
"The wisdom of the Clinton Presidency..."
ohhhhh to quote reville guffaw guffaw GUFFAW guffaw lol
Wisdom and humor too. A winning combination.
nm
"There you go." A Reagan-esque pearl of wisdom.

Remarkable how a child's viewpoint can often offer wisdom
nm
And George showed SO MUCH experience and wisdom when he first took office, right?????....sm
He got in on Daddy's coat tails and by and large had Daddy's former administration aides and cabinet members calling the shots and try to cover his idiocy. When is everyone coming out of denial about this past administration?
Good thing we have PSYCHIC wisdom on the board
:-(
...even 'more' wisdom to outsmart you envious pubs...nm
nm
Don't agree. We trust God for Wisdom, Strength, and health in our govenment.....sm
BUT that does not mean that there should not be a separation in church/state. We can trust in the Lord and pray for our nation, but is is up to us, as keepers of this nation, to work hard, to strive to appoint the right people, to try to defend the constitution, not just in war, but in peace. By becoming a UNITED nation once again, because we are being destroyed more quickly from within....the terrorist are loving it and will not have to do much to make this nation fall, if we do not use wisdom, discernment, and love, once the whole economy has collapsed and there is more and more crime, chaos, despair, etc., there won't be much the terrorists will have to do for our downfall...and there won't be much to gain from this country, either, if it sinks that low, IMHO
Really..John Roberts?
Roberts Disparaged States' Sex-Bias Fight



By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent 27 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - Supreme Court nominee John Roberts disparaged state efforts to combat discrimination against women in Reagan-era documents made public Thursday, and wondered whether "encouraging homemakers to become lawyers contributes to the common good."


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050818/ap_on_go_su_co/roberts


John Kerry...sm
He was coined a flip flopper in the 04 election, but he has been saying the same thing ever since and it is making more and more sense every day.


John Edwards as VP?
thoughts?
not even john's first choice

ABC's Jan Crawford Greenburg reports: It wasn't until Sunday night that John McCain, after meeting with his four top advisers, finally decided he could not tap independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut to be his running mate. One adviser, tasked with taking the temperature of the conservative base, had strongly made the case to McCain that it would be a disaster for the party and that the base would revolt. McCain concluded he could not go that route.

So the man McSame thought would make the best vice president was vetoed by his fundie base. And he caved.

But he's very Mavericky!




I was always one that said if John McCain ran...sm
I could definitely vote for him.  He has so disappointed me during this presidential election.  He seemed to have abandoned all his maverickness and has been pandering to the right wing republicans when he is really a moderate.  Today, for the first time in a long time, I see that he is being a maverick again and saying, wait, not so fast, it should not be so easy with no oversight, CEOs should not be making millions when their companies are going under. A very confusing time.
John McCain
nm
Go John McCain!!!!
I heard some other stuff that went down in that room, but since the source would be bashed on this board, I'm not saying until it shows up in the media somewhere else.

I doubt it will, though, as McCain and the republicans are too much the gentlmen, to say what actually went on, and what was said by whom at times.



John McCain

I could feel a little sorry for him if he were not so mean and willing to do anything to win.  For pete sake, he is 72 years old.  he has few years left.  He has a lovely family and many great homes.  Whey does he not enjoy his final years getting to know his children?  He was in Washington and only went home on the weekends.  Sometimes we just have to realize that we are not going to achieve a dream.  I have accepted I will never be a naturally thin person. It took 30 years, but I know it now.  He has been honored for his service and had many years in Washington. he is putting so much wear and tear on his aging body with the physical demands of campaigning.  He is doing damage to his cardiovascular system with the seething anger and contempt.  If my grandfather at age 72 decided to run for mayor, I would say come on grandpa, that is ridiculous.. 


 


John McCain

At 72 he still has quite a few years left, God willing.  AND, he has more experience than Obama will ever have.  He knows more about foreign policy, war, economy, everything than Obama will ever know.  Obama with 143 days experience?  He can't even talk without a teleprompter.


   You couldn't get a job at McDonalds and become district manager after 143 days of experience.
 
    You couldn't become chief of surgery after 143 days of  experience of being a surgeon.
 
   You couldn't get a job as a teacher and be the superintendent after 143 days of experience.
 
    You couldn't join the military and become a colonel after a 143 days of experience.
 
   You couldn't get a job as a reporter and become the nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience. 




 



But



'From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working.  




 



After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be



Commander In Chief, Leader of the  Free World .... 143 days.

We all have to start somewhere. The Senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that's all it is - a  start.

AND, strangely, a large sector of the American  public is okay with this and campaigning for him. We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet some are okay with this for the President of the United States of America?  




 



Come on folks, we are not voting for the next American Idol!


It's like John Q. Public. Another way of saying...
average American.
John McCain was a
.
Way to go John - Good job!

Finally spoke up for the American people.  Only time will tell if it was soon enough.  I hope it was.  You showed us all that you care about us.  You showed us you don't believe in socialism (redistribution of wealth).  You validated our beliefs that you will fight for what is right for all Americans.  You pointed out Obama's unfortunate beliefs and the people he associates with, the health care system he plans to socialize, the increased taxes, the slick lawyer talk.  You reminded us that Biden was wrong in a lot of his votes and that most of the time Obama didn't even vote (called present).  You showed us that despite the many socialist liberals in the country Obama is not the right person for the job. 


I don't care what you look like John.  I don't care that you can't "slick talk" us all.  I don't care that you don't have a full head of hair and that you can't lift your arms above your head.  I don't care that you can't play basketball well and look impeccable in a suit.  What I do care about are your policies and your beliefs and how that will affect my life.  So you may not be the prettiest of the bunch, but I know that a lot of people who say they don't care that Obama is a black man and continue to point out that they are not racists, are the same bunch that will point out that your not nice looking like Obama is.


So knowing that you have the American people's best interest at heart, and you care more about the people than your campaign.  You fight to the end (and so does your running mate) for us because you believe it is the right thing to do.


That is why I am voting for you.


Just a little about John McCain

*Voted to eliminate overtime pay for 8 million American workers


*Voted to allow companies to cut and eliminate pensions for their long-term employees.


*Voted to weaken OSHA and workplace regulations designed to prevent injuries on the job.


* Voted against the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R.800) 6/26/07.


*Voted for a National-Right-To-Work (for less) Act (S.1788) 7/10/96


*Voted to allow employers to hire permanent replacements during a strike (S.55) 7/13/94.


*Voted against granting collective bargaining rights for state and local police andfirefighters (H.R. 3061) 11/6/01.


*Voted against granting collective b argaining rights for TSA screeners (S.4) 3/7/07.


*Keating-5:  Federal regulators wanted to seize control of the failed Lincoln Savings & Loan Association but McCain intervented to try to prevent that from happening.


*McCain claims he paid for the Keating for the flights to his private home in the Bahamas, but he conveniently could not produce the receipts.  Keating donated $112,000 to McCain's campaigns for the House and then the Senate.


*His current campaign for president is essentially run by lobbyists with close ties to big oil companies, Fannie Mae, UBS and Blackwater.  FedEx Corp, founder and CEO, Fred Smith is a close friend who Mccain views as a perfect candidate for U.S. Secretary of Defense.


*McCain voted to give tax breaks to companies that send American jobs overseas.  He voted against overtime pay, against Davis-Bacon protections and against extending unemployment insurance.


* "I-the fact is that I'm different but the fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed," McCain said on Meet the Press onJune 15, 2005. "And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I've been totally in agreement nad support of President Bush."


*McCain mirrors Bush in another important way:  his indifference to the plight of Americans who fall victim to disaster.  He voted twice against creating a commission to investigate the botched response to Hurricane Katrina--and later he said he voted for every investigation into Katrina's aftermath.


*McCain is the staunchest advocate fo free trade in the U.S. Senate.  He voted for every disastrous free-trade agreement since NAFTA.  He strongly supports a trade deal with Colombia.  He's a leader in the effort to open the border to dangerous trucks from Mexico.


Just a note about Palin's Wasilla Police Department.  Their employees voted 29-9 to join the Teamsters Local 959 by a vote of 29-9.  The election was recently certified.


....................


How any serious middle class American worker can vote for this man is beyond me. 


To John McCain:
Hey Johnny, where was Joe today?  Pretty funny thing when you're holding a rally and call your little campaign mascot up there with you, and he's not even there!  Sucks to be stood up in front of all those people!!  I guess his newfound fame is more important!  LOL  Now that's loyalty.
And you believe John McCain?
Yes, we are all entitled to our opinions but I would hope that we would all base our opinions on FACTS without preconceived prejudices.
John McCain

I am referring to the following "post." 


McCain's body language just is not right.
McCain always comes across as poisonous, ready to explode. His eyes were almost popping out of his head.


His body language just is not right!


I guess your body language would not be right either if you had every bone broken in your body in a concentration camp as he has had every bone broken in his body.  I guess if his facial features and eyes are not to your liking, maybe you should be shut in a chamber and tortured and have every bone in your body broken.  Not only that, but pulled up on a rope and have your legs tied behind you and around your arms so that your ribs start cracking, and you are hung suspended like that.    I guess maybe your obama boy, smooth talking, prancing candidate could come and save you.... Maybe he could have a rally for you so Bruce can be there screeching "born in the USA, but love communism.  Yeh, maybe they could do that for you.


An American hero and you say things like that.  How sad for you.  How very sad.


 


Where does John Mccain Fit In

Just something else to ponder. Is there a place for him in the admin? What is his special area of expertise?


I'm not thinking the cabinet, but just any position where he could do a good job?


John Stossel-What do you think about him?

He has a special tonight. It will be on too late for me to watch it, but he was on The View today and they questioned him on his views for MediCare and SS.


Now, for those young 'uns, I can see where he is coming from, but he made me furious. He thinks the elderly should fend for themselves because there won't be anything left by the time he's ready to retire. If they don't have savings, that's their problem, then they need to go to charities.


What he doesn't understand is that a lot of people of my generation and before did not have the money to save up like everyone can do now. We had families to raise on piddlin' little income and the same bills everyone has today...taxes, insurances, mortgages, car payments, etc. 


There were no IRAs. Sure, there were pensions, but if the company went belly up, so did the pension. All we had were savings accounts. There were a lot of other reasons we could not save a lot of money, but now he thinks we shouldn't be allowed to get MediCare and SS even though we paid into it for over 40-45 years?


This is where our country is headed? Where is the respect for hard workers? Just because we were told we could rely on SS by the government growing up, now what? That nitwit!


He's going to get a letter from me, that's for sure.


More on Sen. John Ensign ....(sm)

Interestingly, not only did this guy have an affair, but he had an affair with an employee of his.  During the time of the affair her salary doubled, and her 19-year-old son also managed to get on the payroll.  When the affair ended, her salary went back to the normal rate.  That little increase was paid for by you and me via tax dollars.


So, how do you guys feel about paying for his affair?  Isn't there a word for it when sexual favors are bought?  LOL. 


It has now been reported that he's coming clean about the affair because the girl he was having an affair with and her husband (also an employee) threatened blackmail.  But that was yesterday.  Now there is a new little twist.  See link.


 


Exactly!. What about someone like gool ole John
nm
article from john dean
Was Pat Robertson's Call for Assassination of a Foreign Leader a Crime?
    By John W. Dean
    FindLaw.com

    Friday 26 August 2005

Had he been a Democrat, he'd probably be hiring a criminal attorney.

    On Monday, August 22, the Chairman of the Christian Broadcast Network, Marion Pat Robertson, proclaimed, on his 700 Club television show, that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez should be murdered.

    More specifically, Robertson said, You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, referring to the American policy since the Presidency of Gerald Ford against assassination of foreign leaders, but if he [Chavez] thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don't think any oil shipments will stop.

    We have the ability to take him out, Robertson continued, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.

    Robertson found himself in the middle of a media firestorm. He initially denied he'd called for Chavez to be killed, and claimed he'd been misinterpreted, but in an age of digital recording, Robertson could not flip-flop his way out of his own statement. He said what he said.

    By Wednesday, Robertson was backing down: I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should 'take him out,' Robertson claimed on his Wednesday show. 'Take him out' could be a number of things including kidnapping.

    No one bought that explanation, either. So Robertson quietly posted a half apology on his website. It is only a half apology because it is clear he really does not mean to apologize, but rather, still seeks to rationalize and justify his dastardly comment.

    From the moment I heard Robertson's remark, on the radio, I thought of the federal criminal statutes prohibiting such threats. Do they apply?

    For me, the answer is yes. Indeed, had these comments been made by a Dan Rather, a Bill Moyers, or Jesse Jackson, it is not difficult to imagine some conservative prosecutor taking a passing look at these laws - as, say, Pat Robertson might read them - and saying, Let's prosecute.

    The Broad Federal Threat Attempt Prohibition Vis-à-Vis Foreign Leaders

    Examine first, if you will, the broad prohibition against threatening or intimidating foreign officials, which is a misdemeanor offense. This is found in Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 112(b), which states: Whoever willfully - (1) ... threatens ... a foreign official ..., [or] (2) attempts to... threaten ... a foreign official ... shall be fined under this titled or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

    The text of this misdemeanor statute plainly applies: No one can doubt that Robertson attempted to threaten President Chavez.

    Yet the statute was written to protect foreign officials visiting the United States - not those in their homelands. Does that make a difference?

    It would likely be the precedent of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would answer that question; the Fourth Circuit includes Virginia where Robertson made the statement. And typically, the Fourth Circuit, in interpreting statutes does not look to the intent of Congress; it focuses on statutory language instead.

    And in a case involving Robertson, to focus on language would only be poetic justice:

Robertson, is the strictest of strict constructionists, a man who believes judges (and prosecutors) should enforce the law exactly as written. He said as much in his 2004 book, Courting Disaster: How the Supreme Court Is Usurping The Power of Congress and the People.

    Still, since the applicability of this misdemeanor statute is debatable, I will focus on the felony statute instead.

    The Federal Threat Statute: Fines and Prison for Threats to Kidnap or Injure

    It is a federal felony to use instruments of interstate or foreign commerce to threaten other people. The statute is clear, and simple. Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 875(c), states: Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (Emphases added.)

    The interstate or foreign commerce element is plainly satisfied by Robertson's statements. Robertson's 700 Club is listed as broadcasting in thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia, not to mention ABC Family Channel satellites which cover not only the United States but several foreign countries as well. In addition, the program was sent around the world via the Internet.

    But did Robertson's communication contain a threat to kidnap or injure Chavez?

    First, Robertson said he wanted to assassinate President Chavez. His threat to take him out, especially when combined with the explanation that this would be cheaper than war, was clearly a threat to kill.

    Then, Robertson said he was only talking about kidnapping Chavez. Under the federal statute, a threat to kidnap is expressly covered.

    As simple and clear as this statute may be, the federal circuit courts have been divided when reading it. But the conservative Fourth Circuit, where Robertson made his statement, is rather clear on its reading of the law.

    Does Robertson's Threat Count as a True Threat? The Applicable Fourth Circuit Precedents Suggest It Does

    If Robertson himself were a judge (or prosecutor) reading this statue - based on my reading of his book about how judges and justice should interpret the law - he would be in a heap of trouble. But how would the statute likely be read in the Fourth Circuit, where a prosecution of Robertson would occur?

    Under that Circuit's precedent, the question would be whether Robertson's threat was a true threat. Of course, on third reflection, Robertson said it was not. But others have been prosecuted notwithstanding retractions, and later reflections on intemperate threats.

    Here is how the Fourth Circuit - as it explained in the Draby case - views threats under this statute: Whether a communication in fact contains a true threat is determined by the interpretation of a reasonable recipient [meaning, the person to whom the threat was directed] familiar with the context of the communication.

    This is an objective standard, under which the court looks at the totality of the circumstances surrounding the communications, rather than simply looking to the subjective intent of the speaker, or the subjective feelings of the recipient. So even if Robertson did not mean to make a threat, and even if Chavez did not feel threatened, that is not the end of the story.

    In one Fourth Circuit case, the defendant asked if [the person threatened] knew who Jeffrey Dahlmer [sic] was. Then the defendant added that, he didn't eat his victims, like Jeffrey Dahlmer; [sic] that he just killed them by blowing them up. This defendant's conviction for this threat was upheld.

    In another Fourth Circuit ruling, the defendant, an unhappy taxpayer, was convicted for saying, to an IRS Agent, that in all honesty, I can smile at you and blow your brains out; that once I come through there, anybody that tries to stop me, I'm going to treat them just like they were a cockroach; and, that unless I can throw somebody through a damn window, I'm just not going to feel good.

    Viewed in the context, and taking into account the totality of the circumstances, it was anything but clear that any of these threats were anything more than angry tough talk. The same could be said of Robertson's threats. Yet in both these cases, the Fourth Circuit upheld the defendant's conviction, deeming the true threat evidence sufficient to do so.

    For me, this make Robertson's threats a very close question. President Chavez publicly brushed Robertson's threats off, for obvious diplomatic reasons, yet I suspect a little inquiry would uncover that the Venezuelan President privately he has taken extra precautions, and his security people have beefed up his protection. Robertson has Christian soldiers everywhere. Who knows what some misguided missionary might do?

    If you have not seen the Robertson threat, view it yourself and decide. Robertson's manner, his choice to return to the subject repeatedly in his discourse, and the seriousness with which he stated the threat, all strike me as leading strongly to the conclusion that this was a true threat. Only media pressure partially backed him off. And his apology is anything but a retraction.

    Will Robertson be investigated or prosecuted by federal authorities? Will he be called before Congress? Will the President, or the Secretary of State, publicly chastise Robertson? Are those three silly questions about a man who controls millions of Republican votes from Christian conservatives?




    John W. Dean, a FindLaw columnist, is a former counsel to the president.
Add John Edwards to the list...
he voted to send the troops too. But let's be honest about this...Bush in and of himself did not send troops. Congress did. Did Clinton have blood on his hands for the American soldiers who died in Kosovo or died in Somalia? How about the one they dragged bhind a jeep in Somalia? Is his blood on Clinton's hands? Clinton was in office when my husband was sent to Somalia. What was that blood for? Where were you when that was happening? Were you on this board panning Clinton? Or do you have to have a certain number of bodies before you get angry? When I saw that man being dragged behind a Jeep while people cheered, you bet your life I got angry!! I got mad as he**. But I didn't get mad at Bill Clinton...I got mad at the AL Qaeda funded terrorists who were doing it. I was not then and am not now a fan of Bill Clinton's, but I did have the objectivity to see that Bill Clinton was not directly responsible for what was happening. However, his decision to pull out of Somalia pre-emptively is one of the reasons we are having to fight Al Qaeda yet again in Iraq...we should have crushed them there when we had the chance. Just like he should have taken bin Laden when the Sudan offered him...before 9-11. But, we cannot turn back time. Although the ability of liberals to erase/ignore certain things from one person and highlight them in another boggles my mind!

And...where may I ask is all that oil that we went to war for? Sorry, but that is a goofy statement. If we had gone after oil we would be protecting the oil fields and trying to get them producing oil again...RIGHT? I don't see how anyone, no matter how much they hate George Bush...can buy that theory. I mean no offense by that. I do not agree with a lot of things George Bush is for; however, I do agree with taking the fight to them to discourage them from bringing the fight to us. I would prefer not to see a car bombing or suicide bombing on the evening news somewhere in the US every day. I would prefer not to see school bombings. I would prefer not to see a dirty bomb exploded in NY or LA. And taking the fight to them, I believe, is what is helping keep them from doing those very things. I don't know why it is so hard for some people to understand that there are people out there who hate us and our way of life and have made it their goal in life to turn us to their way or destroy us. Either or. No in between. And even 9-11 cannot convince some of you. What will take..? I shudder to think.
If John Edwards was not important...

The Clintonites are now saying that John Edwards nomination is not that important.  (what???)


If that is true then why did she campaign so hard to try to get him to endorse her?  Why did she immediately after he dropped out of the race change her tone and try to mimick him.  You know for a fact if he endorsed her she would be making this out to be the greatest victory in America.


The fact is this IS an important endorsement.  As important as AL Gore's will be and as important as Bush's endorsement to the republicans.


She's just upset that it took away the limelight of her win in W.Virginia, which I believe was not as big as a win in Iowa, Washington State, Maine and other bigger states.  Now they said that because Obama didn't win WV there is no way he'll win the election in November?....yeah right.  Funny how they are completely missing all his big wins.  Of course they are trying to spin it as if all of his wins are not important...only the ones she won.  Brother give me a break!


The sooner she is out of the race the more I can breath a sigh of relief!


one word John Edwards
touche.
JOhn McCain on the issues...
http://www.johnmccain.com//Informing/Issues/17671aa4-2fe8-4008-859f-0ef1468e96f4.htm