2751. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186460 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 10:04 am

Quine,





You are right. Thank you, I retract the comment.

2752. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186456 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 9:59 am

FF,





Excellent a man who knows nothing about securities trading will pontificate. Let's start the shredder:


First you completely (and dishonestly) ignored what I said about "INSIDER TRADING", which is trading on non-public information. Let's say my friend works at Company "A" and tells me in secret that the company had a terrible quarter, while at the same time the company was saying that this quarter's guidance was "In line" (which companies do). So someone hears the company's positive note, and I sell him the stock, knowing for certain that poor earnings will drive the stock down. I have just cheated this person.

Firstly, short selling a stock does not artificially drive down its price. It's a legitimate transaction when you believe that the price of a stock will go down, rather than up. This happens all the time.

As for hiding information - that would take some significant ignorance on the part of a shareholders board. If it became public that a company was withholding information, the company would most likely end up destroyed. Secondly, financial information is so widely available on Wall Street that you typically cannot hide your true performance. Investors are able to tell roughly how well (or poor) a company should perform in a given quarter based on the information available.

As for brokers getting together to trade stocks below thier value - how would government regulation stop this?

Someone with massive amounts of money and investment savvy could probably get away with manipulating the market to his or her benefit. I fail to see how an inept bureaucracy that is constantly tripping all over itself would help.

2753. Senate bill allows display of Lord's Prayer, 10 Commandments

Comment #186448 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 9:48 am

stephenray, kornyjorge,






Paine constantly used the term in reference to Christian belief. I think more precisely it meant that it arose from pagan mythology. He notes repeatedly that the ideas expressed in Christian theology are ancient myths reworked, nothing more.

Paine had quite a bit of venom for religion. I could post some other choice quotations this weekend if people would wish it.


Notable anti-Christian founding fathers:


Tom Paine
Tom Jefferson
Ethan Allen
George Washington
Ben Franklin
John Adams

the list goes on.

2754. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186438 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 9:38 am

FightinFalcon,






But these monopolies are negotiated are they not? Between the government and the company setting up the services. You say this is acceptable, I say where does the constitution allow it? You dodge this.

I understand the principles behind natural monopolies just fine, you have yet to convince anyone here that such a circumstance as described above is a natural monopoly for sure. Accusing people of stupidity for not agreeing with you isn't really fair.


Now I want to ask you about the SEC, should there be laws against insider trading? How about getting a bunch of brokers together to trade stocks well below their value back and forth to drive the price of the stock down overall? What about hiding material information from shareholders? What about short selling to drive down (artificially) the price of a stock?

These are all abusive and should all be regulated, and yet the constitution gives no explicit powers to the government to regulate this. What should happen?

2755. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186429 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 9:23 am

FF,





You aren't being honest, Pacific Gas and Electric, here in the Bay Area they have the monopoly on, well... gas and electric. I wouldn't say California has a "small population" like you said. The government guarantees the monopoly.

Can you show me where in the Constitution it says that the government can guarantee a monopoly. Can you number the article or amendment so I can better look it up as well.

Thanks.

2756. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186415 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 9:10 am

FF,





So in the case of utilities it is ok for the government to guarantee a monopoly... doesn't sound very free to me. Let's just call this argument of yours what it is...




epeeist,


PM for you.

2757. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce

Comment #186414 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 9:08 am

Sent2null,






I had a similar thought but I kept it to myself. From a contract perspective, the man had every right to anull the marriage.

2758. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186407 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 8:57 am

FF,






Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge.



What I said was, companies could get together and decide to lower their wages collectively? You refuse to answer this, because you seem to be a lackey for corporate power. Centralization of abusive power is wrong, and should be defended against. Can you at least agree to this?

And it has happened, my scenario, if you have ever read Steinbeck you can see how he attempts to portray very real events with labor. Strike breakers, pinkerton agents, scabs etc... In a free market labor doesn't always get paid what it is worth, it has often been abused.

I feel a lot of Libertarians are actually corporate authoritarians in disguise.

2759. Senate bill allows display of Lord's Prayer, 10 Commandments

Comment #186403 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 8:52 am

Zoron,






I hope you and your family starve to death.


Thanks for the truly evil wishes. Ass clown.

2760. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186396 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 8:44 am

FF,








Tax breaks, I shall elaborate. For instance, the dumb ass morons who thought up affirmative action, should have instead given tax breaks to people who agree to teach in primary and elementary schools in historically underpriveleged areas of the nation. That would return capital to people who were working hard to fix a historical inequality and would also help stimulate the areas economy because the teacher would live in the area and spend the extra money at local businesses.

And for your "No Monopolies" comment. How ridiculous... would you have a minimum wage in your free market, in such a case companies could get together and mutually decide to lower wages to cut their costs and raise their margins. This can happen (may have happened) and is an illegitimate centralization of power to abuse people and should be stopped.



epeeist,



I am saying that people shouldn't be abused by illegitimate centers of power. For instance, a government stealing their money to send to Israel. This is a perfect example we have a cabal of Zionist traitors and foreign agents lobbying my elected representatives to send MY HARD EARNED money to a foreign nation, one that doesn't do shit but make Arabs hate me. I deserve to be protected from this treasonous congealment of power, and I would gladly dispatch the traitors with my own hands, but it is the job of the government to do this. Instead they are getting rich while damaging their own country, and as such are traitors themselves.


Another example would be companies getting together and abusing workers for their own profit. This has happened (in the 20th Century) with apple pickers and strike breaking Pinkerton agents. People need to be protected from this form of abusive power. Simply saying "Go play nice" to the powerful people in America isn't going to cut it.

2761. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186385 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 8:30 am

epeeist,



Here was my post to him about "Liberty"

We are doing all that now. Your money goes to foreign aid, to military adventures that don't help you at all. It goes to roads you may never drive on. Maybe YOU should donate to a fund YOU feel will repair the roads YOU use. We elect a government to get together, do a little research and allocate funds that would best beneift the society as a whole. I am not saying this actually happens like this, but I am saying that is the point.


In fact why have a military, why don't YOU get a gun and YOU can shoot whomever threatens YOU.


Fuck it, why pay for schools to educate kids who will grow up and you will never know. Why don't YOU donate to a fund that YOU feel will educate kids the way YOU want.


There we go.

2762. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186383 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 8:29 am

Brian English,







Liberty so long as it doesn't infringe on another's rights. That is the liberty as it is understood by me.






epeeist,




I asked him the same question a while ago, I received no answer. It seems there is a bit of dogmatism at work here.

2763. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186372 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 8:18 am

FightingFalcon,








And here we shall part ways. If an insurance company denies someone care to save money, that is wrong, and yes it does happen. Michael Moore, although a propagandist at times, does a good job pointing this out.


And you simply don't know what Libertarianism is... it is to ENSURE LIBERTY, which means protecting people from concentrations of power, public or private. If a company manages to manipulate a market through monopoly it is the duty of the government to protect the people. Private centers of power are as much a threat to liberty as public ones. The problem is that most American libertarians would just allow greed and conspiracy to run wild in the market, not understanding how detrimental this is to human society. Your suggestion is that power without consent is illegitimate, and I agree, but this goes for private groups as well as public. Anyone exerting control without consent is illegitimate. You are simply hypocritical and only apply this to a government, in which case you are no libertarian, only an intellectual pervert.


And when I talk about allocating of resources I am talking about tax rebates to people who are making sacrifices for the betterment of their nation.

2764. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #186365 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 8:11 am

elephant,






That is pretty good. Executive privelege is the name of the game.


"Fuck you, I am the Cesar... I mean president!"

2765. Senate bill allows display of Lord's Prayer, 10 Commandments

Comment #186341 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 7:34 am

Well well,







What about the Founding Fathers, do their opinions mean nothing, they did establish the fucking country after all.



Thomas Paine said that:


1) There is no evidence of divine authorship in the 10 Commandments.

and


2) Christianity is an "amphibious fraud".

2766. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186331 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 6:58 am

Ian,





It was a passing comment on the quality of medicine in the US, and that this is known worldwide.


The riots in New York were due to a racist bunch of Jews who ran an ambulance service called Hatzollah. This ambulance serves Jews only, and refused to treat a small black boy who was run over by a Jewish man. The man was slightly injured and was taken by the ambulance while the critically injured black boy was left to die.

And of course the cabal of fucking morons came out of the wood work (sharpton et al.) to turn a tragedy into airtime for themselves. It basically summed up everything that is wrong in the US in about 2 weeks. Pretty efficient in its portrayal if you ask me.



P.S.


Brian English,



I am not offended. I don't really take this stuff personal, but I would say that it was non sequiter as it was tackling points I didn't make. I can't say I am upset, just confused.

2767. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186327 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 6:46 am

Brian English,







What an obnoxious post. I forgive you because I like you, but don't act like I support Bush. For fuck's sake, what does a guy have to do to dodge the sweeping liberal brush.


Al says: "Free markets are good, liberty is good."
Some dude: "Tell that to Bush."


I mean WTF? Non sequiter to the nth power. No one here is saying Bush is handling the country well. No one group has been more anti-Libertarian than the Republicans. Reagan grew our government to enormous size. I have said it before and I will say it again, Barak Obama is closer a Libertarian than any other candidate.

2768. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #186325 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 6:42 am

CommonToad,





It is hard to watch people die. I hate it, I really do. I have long said that the only legitimate cause for military action, outside of absolute self defense, is humanitarian relief. But sometimes, people simply won't be compliant in letting you assist them.


Take Myanmar, these thugs in charge simply won't allow aid in. There are US warships of the coast, helicopters ready to fly. Within an hour of consent from the government, those helicopters would be airborne, loaded with aid for people. But no consent. Does the US invade, sideline the government and give direct aid? This is a violation of sovereignty, but it would be the humane thing to do.


The Iraqis are killing each other in front of our eyes RIGHT NOW, the only difference is Americans are getting killed too. Americans are bleeding to give Iraqis a government that they will just throw in our face. For a while I felt we should stay and help, but no longer. There is an Arabic term 'Asabiyya coined by Ibn Khaldun, it has to do with tightness or strength, and means that one group will solidify more support (a tribe in historical context) than others and will rise to power. There has to be a struggle, but it will happen, why is the US trying to manipulate the natural flow of Arab society?

2769. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186322 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 6:34 am

irate,






Here are my issues.


In reading the founding fathers of the US, I am greatly impressed by their views and am generally in agreement. Liberty is paramount.

I feel as though FF has taken it a little far with his "Why don't YOU donate to a charity". The purpose of government in the free market is to make sure the market operates in a just fashion. The underlying principle in the US is the right to "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". I am willing to allow the government to assist in the allocation of capital to a degree. That is precisely why the government exists, to manage the money of the citizens that is entrusted to them by the taxpayers.


I don't know that we need to nationalize healthcare. FF is right when he says the free market usually provides better solutions. In a competitive market health care providers must compete. But in the effort to cut cost, they cut care, and Michael Moore made a good point in his movie "Sicko", people are being murdered by medical insurance companies, and this is unacceptable.


I really don't know what we should do. The government's duty is to protect its citizens, from terrorists, natural disasters, rogue corporations, and yes.... death from preventable illness.

2770. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #186317 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 6:21 am

Elephant,









I happen to agree with SJK that the Iraq war was unjust. But I fail to see how this fact alone means it can provide no benefit, and no decent people could have supported it.


The problem I see in the anti-war crowd (and why I don't drink beer in these circles anymore) is that they are so dichotomouos, as dichotomous as BUsh was in his "with us or against us" speech. The simple view they have adopted is that "For the war bad, against the war good." Well I am sorry, but this isn't a very good measure of a human being. A very decent man, Steve Zara supported the war, simply because he believed the Iraqis could be given a better life once Saddam was removed. I didn't agree, but I certainly respected and valued Steve's thoughts on the matter, and they were influential on my thinking.


I just think that Iraqi forms of government are solely the concern of Iraqis. These people have a right to self determination, and that large contracts for Haliburton and Kellog Brown and Root should not be the driving force behind our policy here on out. Let the Iraqis slaughter one another to their hearts content. Let the Jihadists busy themselves fighting Shi'a militias. It really isn't our concern any longer.

2771. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186307 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 5:55 am

Ian (SA)






I am not an FF apologist. I am quite certain I have my own opinions, and "everything is bigger and better in the US" is not one of them. It seems to me, that you (and Irate_atheist as well, shockingly) do not have the time or the inclination to really understand what I am saying, independent of what FF is saying.

People flock to the United States for any number of reasons, this should be noted. People who are seriously ill often come to the US (if they can afford the trip) for treatment. I am not contesting that other countries have great medical systems. I am just saying the US often is the cutting edge when it comes to treatment of disease.

I don't think the American medical system is perfect, nor do I think the free market is perfect, but I will tell you one thing... we aren't having pogroms against immigrants like South Africa is currently experiencing. The US isn't perfect, and I am more than happy to criticize it for its wrong doings and itse failures, but it does a great job compared to almost any country on the planet.

2772. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #186306 by al-rawandi on May 30, 2008 at 5:49 am

Jiten,






Often I find that your political analysis is wrapped up in some anti-Capitalist bent. If you compare India to its neighbors (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Myanmar) you will find that it is far ahead of its peers. When I said it was flourishing, that should be taken in the context of its neighborhood.





SJK,



I have enumerated the other options before, that I thought would be better than war. There is no question in my mind that the Bush administration fabricated evidence to begin a war with Iraq. And this war was a foregone conclusion with the arrival of that administration. It was a foolish idea and we have no business building other countries. But if we didn't invade Iraq we would have to watch the Saddam regime continue. I don't think that is too much to stomach as we daily watch nasty regimes operate day to day all over the world.


But I agree with the principle that a forceful response was necessary after 9-11. The perpetrators should be hunted down and killed.

2773. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186092 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Ian,






I love it when someone writes something dismissive but can't seem to write down why. Makes my think they are dogmatic.

2774. How to reconcile Richard Dawkins?

Comment #186085 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Marx on Jews:

Let us not look for the secret of the Jew in his religion, but let us look for the secret of his religion in the real Jew. What is the secular basis of Judaism? Practical need, self-interest. What is the worldly religion of the Jew? Huckstering. What is his worldly God? Money. Very well then! Emancipation from huckstering and money, consequently from practical, real Judaism, would be the self-emancipation of our time.

2775. How to reconcile Richard Dawkins?

Comment #186084 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 1:48 pm

Q,






He doesn't answer questions. He just keeps repeating "Cuba and North Korea aren't socialist. Why? Because socialism is perfect and Cuba and North Korea are not perfect."

2776. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186082 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 1:46 pm

FightingFalcon,





So what if the Taliban returns, then we can see the damn training camps on satellite photos. And we have a target for bombing and cruise missiles. Who cares if they make women wear bee keeper outfits, is that our problem? You can't honestly think it is after telling everyone health care for Americans isn't YOUR problem. Why is it MY problem to fix governments in the Middle East and Central and South Asia? If they want Shariah...go for it, that should effectively prevent them from gaining any serious technological advances. They will be banging stones together trying to make an iPod.

2777. How to reconcile Richard Dawkins?

Comment #186079 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 1:34 pm

D'Arcy,






It's over. On a theoretical level your state fails, miserably. You haven't even been able to answer simple questions about allocation of resources or how the state apparatus decides what to steal from its population and what to leave them.


Some sort of Capitalism- 1
Socialism- 0

2778. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186078 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 1:31 pm

FightingFalcon,







Why do you care what government gets installed in Iraq. That is the concern of Iraqis not you. Same for Afghanistan. Let them fight it out, vote, hug, or whatever they want. If the fundamentalists come to power GREAT! Then we have a state to fight instead of some band of goat humpers up in a cave running around hiding amongst civilians. Once there is a state to fight, we can kick some serious ass.

Get some alternative fuels and tell the Middle East to fuck off. I am over having my tax money spent giving them governments they don't really want. We can leave a force in the region. A carrier battle group. 120 aircraft ready to level Baghdad once they declare a Caliphate, otherwise, get our military on other projects.


*EDIT* Self determination is the right of all people! Especially Iraqis and Afghans. They are people and they can find a way to run their own damn country.

2779. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186071 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 1:14 pm

FF,






I realize what Libertarians stand for. That is why I say end funding to Israel and Egypt. And recently I have decided that getting our troops the hell out of harms way in the Middle East is a good idea too. Let them kill each other, they seem desperate to do it.


I read that story. It is the usual stuff: "We have the right to tell the majority how to live. Why you ask? Because a pedophile 1,400 years ago said so, what more proof do you need?"

2780. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186067 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 1:04 pm

qomak,







Did it ever occur to you, like it recently has to me, that people had to be killed for stupid reasons before humans could realize that stupid things can kill people, and that they are in fact stupid? Maybe it was a part of evolution of humans?

Now we simply have to look to history to see where hair brained ideas lead us. And it seems that a bunch of Canadian weenies knuckling under to fundamentalists Muslims is going to be an unpleasant repeat.

And the Mark Steyn thing only works out if it goes his way. If the Muzzers win, they will see that as Carte Blanche to redouble their efforts at imposing their bull shit way of life on others. Pretty soon there will be dress codes on university campuses... just modest clothes mind you, nothing serious, but we don't want to offend our Muslim brothers here in Canada. And then it goes from there.

2781. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186065 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 12:55 pm

FightingFalcon,







We are doing all that now. Your money goes to foreign aid, to military adventures that don't help you at all. It goes to roads you may never drive on. Maybe YOU should donate to a fund YOU feel will repair the roads YOU use. We elect a government to get together, do a little research and allocate funds that would best beneift the society as a whole. I am not saying this actually happens like this, but I am saying that is the point.


In fact why have a military, why don't YOU get a gun and YOU can shoot whomever threatens YOU.


Fuck it, why pay for schools to educate kids who will grow up and you will never know. Why don't YOU donate to a fund that YOU feel will educate kids the way YOU want.


There we go.

2782. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186061 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 12:41 pm

Peace,






No no, you are absolutely right. The thrill of argumentation is my favorite past time. I ended up quitting my professional baseball career, in part because I had to spend 6 months a year around people who didn't know who the president before Bill Clinton was. How could I survive, I was going mad.

Now I get to argue to my heart's content daily, and what a workout for the vocabulary when you get an exceptionally vulnerable idiot. Seeing some of these dogmatists post is like opening that big red fire truck on Christmas morning, sans the Jesus crap.


And yes, I have a very very thick black book of nasties.

2783. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186057 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 12:34 pm

qomak,





I understand why people defend religion. I understand why Muslims support jihad. I understand why Hitler sought to exterminate Jews. No one operates under the assumption they are doing wrong, they justify the act in their minds. There has to be rational people present to say "Now you listen to me you bugling fucktard, this will not stand."

That is exactly how I feel with this softiness that is going to spell extinction for liberal and enlightenment values. It wouldn't take many whiny appeasers to undo hundreds of years of hard earned freedoms.


That was my point. I certainly understand their are problems with racism in the world, it certainly doesn't excuse massive and seemingly unending stupidity in response.

2784. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186055 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Peace,






Can you let me know what some of these "war path" phrases are. My mother appreciates these kind of momentos.

I do remember "catamite", I thought I should get a nobel prize for literature when I used that one, but alas, you have to write a whole novel to win that.

Any how, what derogatory terms do I use... and I expect some citations with something on par with the "N" word!

2785. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186046 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 12:11 pm

I am nervous to even let this liberal tint to the conversation continue. This is because it seems to me there is a liberal agenda to silence speech of numerous variety... see this fiasco in Canada where the "Human Rights" council seeks to shut people up, claiming Islamophobia.



Why should hate be illegal? I hate liars, I hate cheaters, I hate domestic abusers, I hate them all. I hate radical Islam, and radical Judaism, and radical Christianity. I hate these things, so what? Is it bad to disdain what we judge to be immoral?

Racism is simply irrationalism.... shall we simply ban being irrational? That would be more rational, to attack the cause.

2786. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186034 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 11:52 am

Peace,






I don't use it in a pejorative fashion, I try to only ever use it in an edifying fashion, like what I did above. I don't like saying "The 'N' word" because I feel like a Mormon trying not to swear.

You are the kind of person who picks little fuzz balls off the blanket on his couch, huh?

2787. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186026 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 11:20 am

Phil,






I don't use the term. It is a throw back to a nasty bit of American history. It is a disgraceful term.

2788. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186024 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 11:19 am

Phil,








You want Sent2null to join in just because he is black?



...You're a racist! ;-)

2789. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186017 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 11:03 am

Phil,






Chris Rock is treated as main stream comedian. He is very popular, among blacks and whites. He doesn't seem to be a "sell out".


And another thing, how come blacks can say "nigger" and whites can't? My guess is Martin Luther King Jr. would roll over in his grave if he heard blacks calling each other that. Unbelievable.

Then dick face Al Sharpton rides Don Imus into the ground all the while supporting rappers who use the word "nigger" as often as I use "the".

2790. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #186012 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:57 am

Elephant,







I thought it was Fallacci. I did know that she was dead. She died despising Islam.

2791. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186010 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:56 am

FightingFalcon,

Since when did the color of a person's skin affect whether their statement is true or not?

2792. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #186008 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:52 am

RobertMaynard,






Here is my view. Give people tax incentives to teach in an inner city school. Forgive the income tax of someone who teaches in South Central LA. That would work. Agree to pay 50% of the tuition of students who sign a contract to teach for 4 years in an inner city school after the graduate from college. Those are solutions right there, but the US government would rather deny access to fully qualified Americans so that someone who happens to be a different skin color can take their place in an academic institution.



Give them boots?


Last I checked LaBron James had many pairs of shoes, he is totally free to spend some of his $100 million endorsement on inner city after school programs, and expanding inner city libraries.... oh wait that means he couldn't buy his 10th Escalade, or buy his 10th bottle of $1,000 champagne. Never mind, that shit is way more important than helping the community.

I live in Oakland (lots of blacks). Everyday I am astounded, simply AMAZED at the kind of cars blacks drive. Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover. I can't figure out how they afford these cars... I thought they were poor and oppressed, yet they drive the nicest cars in the whole damn city. I can't figure it out.


And people can pull themselves up by their boot straps. The Chinese were forced to uild railroads and treated like shit in the US, now they are flourishing, chinatown business in Oakland is booming. The Chinese are becoming property owners, and investors. Mexicans are getting more empowered. I see other minorities doing it, so you can't play the "They don't have any boots" game.

2793. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #186004 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:44 am

Colwyn,







Bill Cosby said something to the effect of "$200 jeans, $150 sneakers, how about taking that money and buying food and sending your kids to school."


Here is the liberal double standard right here... if I stood up and said that, I would be tarred and feathered as a racist. But Bill Cosby and Chris Rock can say it. It is either true or it isn't, it doesn't matter who says it. So if I stand up and say this and its true and blacks get mad, they are the racists not me. They have a double standard for speech, whites are prohibited from commenting on black society. But of course blacks can ramble on and on about white society.

It is a sick pathology Americans have.

2794. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #186002 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:39 am

elephant,






Do you know who I have immense respect for? Imam Khomeini, I really do. Why? Because the man was honest. He said it how he saw it. I was impressed, although I certainly disagree with most everything he had to say, at least he didn't lie and try to make it like Muhammad was a proto-feminist or anything.


And my favorite Khomeini story (my faculty advisor in college was his translator and biographer) was when an Italian woman journalist came to interview Khomeini in his small home in Qom. Before she went into the modest home she was asked to put on a head scarf... she did so. She thought she was going to get wise and show Khomeini, so mid interview she rips the scarf off of her head and says "This is so oppressive, why do you force women to wear this?"


Khomeini says "It is to hide a woman's beauty, but in your case it serves no purpose."


Hahaha. She got clowned by the Ayatollah. No doubt she has become a liberal feminist telling everyone how wonderful her Muslim neighbor is in Rome.

2795. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #185997 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:28 am

Al Sharpton is the worst American ever.




He should be shot as a traitor.

2796. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #185995 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:26 am

elephant,






I ordered the book just now. Horay for Amazon.

2797. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #185990 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:13 am

elephant,







To elaborate on the Israel-Islam-etc.. comment. Partisans on both sides get bent at me because I cite the faults of both sides. So when I say Israel is operating under racist policies, the pro-Israel crowd gets bent out of shape. When I say, it is still better to be an Arab in Israel, than an Indian in Dubai, the pro-Palestine side gets all fucking bent.


It's called intellectual honesty... something liberals know absolutely nothing about. A crime is a crime is a crime, whomever commits it.

2798. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #185988 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:10 am

elephant,






Let me indulge in a rant. On this very site I have been accused of racism, Islamophobia, being pro-Islam, anti-Israel, and pro-Israel, and most recently a hypocrite on the "Losing our Spines" thread. I am none of those things. I treat everyone exactly the fucking same. When I speak to a woman in business environment I treat her like I treat a man. When I meet a Muslim, I make a conscious effort to rid myself of pre-conceived notions and only judge them on our interaction.



I feel people really should be treated the same, I believe in equality. I do not believe in defending people just because they have a different skin color, I believe they should be held accountable and treated like adults. Liberals in the US treat blacks like they are retarded step children. They are Americans, not African Americans. They deserve our respect and a chance to be fully engaged in society. Instead we have liberals telling them they are too fucking stupid to get into colleges and need white help to get in (lower standards). Can you think of anything more racist and patronizing than that? No wonder Clarence Thomas hates affirmative action, it is an affront to any self respecting black person.


I get so sick of treating people with equanimity and then getting a ration of shit. Fuck the liberals, they desire inequality, they desire oppression and piles of bodies, why? Because it justifies their damned whining. Grow the fuck up already.


Now for some self promotion... if you want to hear a rant on liberals, a little more well thought out:


http://alrawandi.blogspot.com/



Okay I am done.



P.S. I will get that book you mentioned! Sounds great.

2799. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #185987 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 10:03 am

FightingFalcon,



I really like your outline of free market solutions. I have to say I generally agree.

But...

Remind me why I have any obligation to pay for a complete stranger's health care?

2800. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #185976 by al-rawandi on May 29, 2008 at 9:38 am

Colwyn,






You have figured it out. This is why I have left liberalism behind. It is all about scoring intellectual points and never about solving the problem. Feminists don't say shit when some teenage girl is brutally murdered in Germany for having a boyfriend. The liberals who demand equality (or claim they do) don't say shit when the gulf countries erect apartheid states, or when Saudi Arabia brutalizes its Shi'a minority. And they don't say shit when Muslims lambast Jews and Christians and atheists. They don't say shit when a Palestinian suicide bomber slaughters a group of innocents. The only time they ever speak up is when there is an obvious chance to blame the victim of the crime.

Liberals and Islamists have a lot in common. For instance the liberals love to blame the victim "9-11 is our own fault", and the grand mufti of Australia thinks rape is the fault of the woman. The logic is the same, except that the liberals would be a case of the woman blaming herself for a rape. That is what is even more disgusting.

Only months ago I ascribed to this form of liberalism, but the overwhelming onslaught from the very people liberals attempt to defend has slowly worn me down. Being on the left in America used to mean something, defending the rights of others, now it is some mushy bull shit whiners club.