You might want to actually put some catfish between the pieces of bread.

What are you offering here? What argument or support thereof am I to glean from the above?

If something was said on Hannity radio, I promise you I have not heard it. I listen to some parts of Fox, but I limit those segments to the non- blind-partisan types; just the partially blind stuff.

Now, in terms of articulation; what are you speaking of WRT Obama's inarticulate speech? He is not the candidate speaking of Czechoslovakia, the Iraq/ Pakistan border, or inaccurate sunni awakening time lines. And, BTW, what in the heck is a time horizon????

WRT media reps of candidates, how are you enjoying our mental recession? Have you been a whiner like the rest of us??

Kevin "Hack" King

John McCain's votes are hard to in down because he has literally been everywhere on the major issues. In March of 2005, John McCain voted against an amendment that would have allowed drilling in Antarctica if the government were to.. "ensure that receipts from such drilling destined for the federal treasury are fairly shared with local jurisdictions; and does not occur unless prohibitions against the export of Alaskan oil are enacted."

This bill would only allow ANWR drilling if export of that oil to foreign countries was prohibited. I'll put the key paragraph in bold...

From "On the Issues.Org"

"Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Vote to adopt an amendment that would strike a provision in the concurrent resolution that recognizes revenue from oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The amendment says: "To ensure that legislation that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, other federal lands, and the Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling receives full consideration and debate in the Senate under regular order, rather than being fast-tracked under reconciliation procedures; to ensure that receipts from such drilling destined for the federal treasury are fairly shared with local jurisdictions; and does not occur unless prohibitions against the export of Alaskan oil are enacted."
Reference: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge anti-drilling Amendment; Bill S AMDT 168 to S.Con.Res. 18 ; vote number 2005-52 on Mar 16, 2005

Like I said, Cyclist, this Senator has been everywhere on this, so I'm sure he has voted against himself on this one already. Here is a link to the whole bill. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SP168:

John McCain on ANWR: Take one

Cheers to you, bro
Kevin "Hack" King

I'm confussed. I'm assuming the vote was for AMDT 168? If so, both McCain and Obama voted "yea". Like I said, it's late so if I missed something bring it to my attention.

Cyclist is off for bed.

-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Your strong, masculine voice. Your gentle touch; you're rugged skin against my... oh, ummmm... sorry 'bout that. I got a bit carried away.

Anyhow, nice hearing from you. You've touched on the crown jewel of Democratic politics this season.

You said:

"The way I figure America loses whether McCain or Obama wins. If Obama wins, America is a big time loser, and if McCain wins, then we'll be watching the race riots in several American cities. Because as the Black Governor of New York has already indicated that this election will direct effect race relations either way it goes."

What do you think is the more powerful position to be in: People holding their noses and voting against your opponent, or people, weary of the past 8 years and excited about a new direction voting FOR you with unprecedented enthusiasm? How many folks are in tears with optimism in supporting John McCain? How many folks look at the McCains as a family they can relate to? How many folks are saying, "We sure could use another four to eight years of this GOP leadership?" I would suggest not many when compared to Senator Obama's multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, dual-gendered, economically diverse base.

I cannot wait for John McCain to get in front of the hot lights next to Senator Obama and be forced to support the policies and statements he has adopted (some fairly recently). Rest assured, Richard, I will be right here with my fingers n the keyboard ready to ask you how many beers it took to forget the GOP debate beat down that is sure to come.

Cheers, and trust me when I say you will benefit from Obama's policies of balancing the budget and mending international fences whether you like it or not!

Kevin "Hack" King

Just wonderin' Hack, because the things you've said and predicted online have to be the result of some . . . what do they call it? Ganji? Haji? Wacky Weed? or Mary Wanna?

I think if I lived in the world view you live in, I'd be excited about voting for this Racist loving, Terrorist hugging, Marxist admiring, Grandmother pushing ---"under a bus", liberal messiah elite.

The only reason Jeffc and his daddy are supporting him, is to get back at Clinton for having a media supported "successful" Democratic Presidency (even though Clinton was impeached), and hoping against hope that Barack will take the mantel of disgrace away from the holder of the Presidency in 1977-1981.

Heck, if you continue to talk about Obama as if he is Jesus Christ incarnate, the way you have of late, then I might be asking you to bring me back some of that woogie next time you do your weekend maneuvers. Flying high in the sky while your high in the sky, must be a pretty good trick!

Obama's Presidency will be a huge joke, if only we can laugh our way through til when Hillary is campaigning again. If not, then McCain's presidency will immediately drop the unemployment rate. The thugs in the inner city who've been repeatedly beaten down by their race lords will come out like caged animals, finally finding one Messiah to fight for . . . literally. It will happen, you know it, I know it. In fact, as more Black "leaders" continue to make this more and more about race, e.g. Jackson calling Obama the "Z" word* and saying he wanted to lynch him, and not to mention the "accidental" Governor of New York, speaking at a "non-political" organization called the NAACP, who said an Obama loss will hurt race relations.

We are getting the message very clearly, No Justice No Peace, No Obama No Peace.

So keep on hoping an Obama victory. I'll just go and buy another gun. (Which would be my first.)

* Like the Jews misspelled their word for "God", I am so repentant of for my race that I will not even use the letter of the word that causes so many of my black brothers so much anger, and the absolute right to beat the crap out of any white boy that uses it. Ergo, the "Z" word is how I will from now on refer to this word.

I am not picking a side, but I want to say this: Perhaps Obama mispoke and meant to say "57 States and Territories" (meaning places like American Samoa, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, etc.) even though territories and commonwealths can't vote. One must reside in a state to vote, and in DC there are limited voting rights, but not full voting rights. Perhaps he was speaking of visiting those places. I'm not picking a side, though! I am NOT picking a side. I'm just saying...
SouthernBelle, GRACE is a VIRTUE

Even though D.C, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam and others can not vote in the General, they all held presidential primaries or caucuses.

The question is for America, would you rather have an articulate, well spoken man working to secure America's future and prioritize energy policy, education, health care, infra structure, and jobs.

or would you rather have a doddering old politician give you 4 more years of Bush and Cheney policies that serve the banks, wall street, corporate out sourcing, the energy companies and everyone who wants to pay to visit the white house for a favor.
Yes Deregulation certainly works well for big business. Less regulation, oversight and lower taxes, they make big profits and it ""trickles"" down.

I return to the old question are you better off today than you were 4 years ago ? 8 years ago ?
Has your life improved?
The value of your home grown with inflation?
Your 401K grown to keep up with your retirement plans?
Your health care and health care insurance stable ?
Your job secure, so you can plan 1-3-5 years down the road?

The question is self answering. The party of defense and protection, of small government and deregulation has failed miserably and to give them 4 or 8 more years to turn it around (for the people) is not a plan at all.

As I said, I'm not picking a side, at least not for everyone to know. I have my side chosen, and I choose not to disclose that. At the same time, I believe that both candidates are exhausted, which would explain Obama's "57 states" comment. I believe in looking at things fairly and without bias. Look at their policies without bias, and then choose. Don't look at which "team" they play for. That's how I made my choice. I looked at both sides to determine which one would fix what I think needs to be fixed; which one would fix the disaster that is the Department of Veterans' Affairs (the VA is currently more than 300 THOUSAND claims behind; I'll get a more precise number and put it up; which I would consider UNACCEPTABLE); which one would correct or improve situations that I care about. Again, I'm not into making my opinions public, but I do believe in being an unbiased researcher and then becoming an informed voter.

SouthernBelle, GRACE is a VIRTUE

You've highlighted one shortcoming of the government that I absolutely do not understand: we give the absolute best to our military (except the Marines...the Marine procurement command is incompetent beyond belief, but that's another rant) yet we seem to have fallen impossibly behind in the Veterans Administration!

I seriously don't believe those folks know that there's a war going on sometimes. Our military deaths are low because of advances in modern medicine, sadly, this means more troops than ever before are coming home mangled and missing limbs...you'd expect the VA to step up in situations like this, but they've completely dropped the ball.

The VA not only dropped the ball, they lost the darn thing! Nationwide, the VA is approximately 800 THOUSAND claims behind. No amount of "expose" articles have managed to correct their blatant disregard for this nations Veterans. I've spent the last FIVE years navigating the VA's maze. If it weren't for a couple of message boards and VA watchdog websites, and one VERY NICE Senator, I wouldn't be any where NEAR finished. I've known people who have fought for 44 (YES, FORTY FOUR) years to get what they should have been given without question. (I mean, seriously, when you have a bomb go off and you come out blind, COME ON, grant the darn claim already!!) BTW: The two websites are AMAZING. They are:

www.HADIT.com
www.vawatchdog.org

Should anyone ever need help with the VA, those two sites are life saving, or I should say claim saving!

SouthernBelle, GRACE is a VIRTUE

This is what you can expect with Universal Healthcare. The DMV will tell you when and where to have surgery. Then again, has there ever been a government run program that has ever been efficient?

The military did not have the option of private health insurance when I was in.

Keep the faith SouthernBelle.

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

When dealing with the VA, there is NO room for faith, or hope for that matter, all you can count on is your own tenacity, gumption and the ability to research. If you get even a shred of hope or faith, the VA makes sure to crush it. I'm just saying...

SouthernBelle, GRACE is a VIRTUE

I agree wholeheartedly with what you say. Being a vet, I have completely sworn off any dealings with the VA. Except for the MGIB. I used the GI Bill to partially pay for my undergard studies. It took them nearly 6 months to reimburse me for my courses. As for my MBA, well that's all student loans.

When I said keep the faith, I knew that you have a big heart and a lot of fight in you. Maybe "stay strong" would have been better.

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

I'm tiny, (literally five foot one 105 lbs!) but I'm scrappy!

SouthernBelle, GRACE is a VIRTUE

Sounds like my Freshman year of wrestling. Save for the high heels.

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

I would hope you don't "rassle" in high heels. I would pay GOOD money to see that!!!

I've been described as feisty, scrappy, tenacious, cantankerous, lucky, (I don't believe the lucky one, I work hard to accomplish what I have!) neurotic, crazy... I prefer the term neurotic to the usual crazy... just to name a few!

SouthernBelle, GRACE is a VIRTUE

...of a woman
“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

Then that makes your avatar life size then.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Pretty much! I'm tiny, what can I say?! I always wear high heels though! Even my s*** kicking boots have thick soles and heels!

SouthernBelle, GRACE is a VIRTUE

I just realized that my title looked a little confrontational! I'm sorry. I get really ticked off when I discuss the current situation at the VA. I mean I get running off to Washington D.C. screaming mad... sorry!

SouthernBelle, GRACE is a VIRTUE

I thought it was rhetorical. Truthfully, I was being tongue in cheeky about that whole commission thing. I doubt TD Jakes will be minister of race relations.

Let me be clear about another point.

I think that whenever a perpetrator is on the loose, a full description should be given when available: Clothing, height, skin eye and hair color, vehicle, etc. I don't believe that, after that description is given, people serve our community well by posting,"Gee wiz the child molester was white," or "Go figure; another black bank robber." That serves absolutely no purpose but to divide us based on race. Hope you understand my comments a bit better now.

Cheers

Kevin "Hack" King

I agree with you on the perp descriptions. It may not serve our community well to post those comments, but I think its probably people speaking from frustration.

People need to face it, Fayette's population is becoming more diverse. As that diversification continues logically one would have to assume that the faces of those committing crimes will change also.

I think people get a little too offended when comments are made and aren't directed at them in particular.

Tell me this, Doesn't it piss you off when you see the reports over and over of black males committing crimes in your community?

I can tell you that it really pisses me off when I see whites doing it. I have what I have because I worked hard to get it. Not by being a criminal, they make me look bad.

Many points are raised by you both; all of them valid and most are with respect to Iraq/ Afghanistan. Here is McCain logic I can't follow.

Along with telling us in '02 and '03 that the war in Iraq would be "rather easy" and "quite fast", John has set up an unsolveable puzzle. We need to stay to guard the progress brought by the surge. The surge was "successful" therefore we must stay to protect those gains.

So... If we fail we stay; if we succeed we stay. There is no McCain scenario in which we can leave. So forgive me if I leave him at the alter.

Kevin "Hack" King

This is a devastatingly stupid thing to do. McCain/Bush have now equated leaving Iraq with defeat, a position that I don’t believe is held by anywhere near a majority in the US. I don’t see how they can redefine their position at this point without opening themselves to serious charges of flipping on one of the most important issues of the campaign and supposedly McCain’s strongest issue. I think McCain is going to get savaged over it.

Nor does he win on the 100 years thing. We here all know what he meant; not a 100years of war but permanent military bases. I don’t think the people in the US want anything to do with that idea either. Not at all.

Even if McCain can explain his position on 100 years in Iraq its still a loser.

It sure has worked in the past Jeff. Again, Japan, Germany, Korea Italy. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

God permanently barred psycho posters from the blogs.

Anyway, let's use your logic. If Japan or Germany or Korea or Italy told us it was time to leave (like Turkey and Saudi Arabia have done under this U.S. President), WHAT WOULD WE DO? Honestly...What would we do?

Cheers,

Kevin "Hack" King

Mount Pinatubo erupts in June of 1991. Six months later the US military is kicked out of (asked to leave) the Philippines. It was based in part to a breakdown in contract negotiations for the two major bases on the island (Clark Air Base & Subic Naval Base). Clark sustained heavy damage during the Pinatubo eruption, and they wanted us to fix it prior to the PI taking it over.

Here's the fun part; immediately after President Fidel Ramos legalized communism. Shortly thereafter (1995), the muslim insurgency made itself know.

Here is the official statement from the US Department of State:
Fidel Ramos was elected president in 1992. Early in his administration, Ramos declared "national reconciliation" his highest priority. He legalized the Communist Party and created the National Unification Commission (NUC) to lay the groundwork for talks with communist insurgents, Muslim separatists, and military rebels. In June 1994, President Ramos signed into law a general conditional amnesty covering all rebel groups, as well as Philippine military and police personnel accused of crimes committed while fighting the insurgents. In October 1995, the government signed an agreement bringing the military insurgency to an end. A peace agreement with one major Muslim insurgent group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), was signed in 1996, using the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as a vehicle for self-government.

What do we do? Like I said before, keep a garrison there. If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.

By the way, were you refering to me as a "psycho poster"? You're going to have to teach me how to get the bold text going too, so I can get a little more psycho.

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

after any war? We still have a presence in Japan, Germany, Italy and Korea.

The Iraqi govt has said they support a US withdrawl of troops. A total withdrawl, probably not. If we were to go in tomorrow and try to withdraw every troop , they'd be crying like babies. Not only them, the Dems would too, they'd be saying things like, "we can't leave yet, its too unstable, what about the kids" or "Bush pulls out troops to the detriment of Iraq families".

You got one thing right Hack, we are damned if we do and damned if we don't!

"If we were to go in tomorrow and try to withdraw every troop , they'd be crying like babies. Not only them, the Dems would too, they'd be saying things like, "we can't leave yet, its too unstable, what about the kids" or "Bush pulls out troops to the detriment of Iraq families"."

You think Democrats would cry if we began reuniting American military families after multiple 15 month tours in Iraq? Not a chance, friend. Not a chance. We would be literally in tears as we saw reunion after reunion; as we watched families try and pick up the pieces and get to know each other again. I pray for that day hammer. I really do.

Cheers, and thanks for the good natured back and forth

Kevin "Hack" King

In '02 and '03 McCain was refering to the overthrow of the Saddam regime and his Republican Guard. Militarily speaking, and in retrospect, that was easy. Hence the "Mission Accomplished" banner that was flown.

I do agree that it was premature for above statement to be made considering the power vaccuum that was left immediately after the liberation. However, if you look at every war we have had this century, save for Vietnam, we have left a garrison or base within that country. Japan (Atsugi, Yokosuka, Okinawa etc). Germany (Ramstein, Stuttgart etc.) Korea (Osan, Seoul etc.) Panama up until 1999. So as you can see, there is no just packing up and leaving. We've had a few presidents since that time that have not called for withdrawls. You can expect us to be in Iraq for a while.

I may have asked this before, but when was the last time we had an attack on our soil?

Additionally, the call to move back into Afghanistan has been coming for quite some time, not just by Obama, but on both sides of the house. My earlier statement goes to show the Messiah's (Obama) history of flip flopping. If you recall, he was opposed to any action with either country. He thinks he can have talks with the solar system to stop meteors from hitting the moon.

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

You said: "If you recall, he was opposed to any action with either country. He thinks he can have talks with the solar system to stop meteors from hitting the moon."

Can you show any credible source where Barack Obama opposed confronting the Taliban in Afghanistan? Me thinks you made that one up mate.

Kevin "Hack" King

If Americans' buying power continues to plummet, the dollar's value sinks with it, and personal and national debt continue to rise, will that be GOOD for small business owners? I personally don't see how McCain's vague economic plan will be good for anyone long term.

Cheers,

Kevin "Hack" King

I don't know that McCain's plan will help me or hurt me (it is vague) but I do believe that Obama's plans will make it more difficult for small business owners (who employ the majority of working people in this country) to maintain their businesses. I'm not an accountant myself, but it costs a whole lot more than a salary to hire someone, and the tax code allows non-C corp businesses to take credits/deductions for certain behaviors that could be construed as responsible and positive - capital improvements, benefits packages, etc. If suddenly I were to lose those advantages, I may have to reduce employee benefits or worse, eliminate some jobs, for my business to keep going. That hurts everyone, from management to customers and everyone in between.