Right now it seems you are confused.

Start with the premise that we stand for freedom and are committed to defending freedom for ourselves and others and then you'll be on the right track.

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Every step taken toward the installment of Sharia law will be justifiable to the person who values appearance more than freedom and democracy.

If that is the case we should have backed Taiwan, right?!

That's O.K., you don't have to answer cause I know you're caught now like a polar bear in the cross hairs of a veep nominee...

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218 Days till Christmas

Well, I sure can’t say I’ve never been confused before, but if I understand the point you are trying to make, it’s really over simplified.

The fact is, even though America prefers freedom for all, we don’t race around the world “defending” indiscriminately, or shouldn't. And I question the use of military action (or encouraging military action) in lieu of diplomacy and negotiation in every situation, as Bush/Cheney and group do.

This is from Open Democracy on the European Union’s approach, evident in Sarkozy’s negotiation of the current agreement between Russia and Georgia:


“Similarly, most member-states and voters prefer the EU's concentration on "soft power" (based on the attraction and projection of the union's values) rather than "hard power" (based on military action and projection of force) - if it is feasible. That is in contrast to US policy in particular cases and indeed more generally. Thus it is a mistake to assume a simple convergence between EU and US values and interests.”


The last sentence is quite telling. Our “values” are viewed as different now by allies in the free world!

Anyone that would vote for Palin needs their head examined. Or else put down the koolaid and back away. I can't even believe we are seriously discussing this nut. If this woman was a Dem the right wouldn't be able to stand her. But because McCain picked she is just swell. Friggin nuts

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Truth, Justice and the American way

Anyone that would vote for Obama needs their head examined. Or else put down the koolaid and back away. I can't even believe we are seriously discussing this nut.

If this woman was a Dem the left would be peeing down both legs in happiness. But because McCain picked her she is just horrible. Friggin nuts

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Our nation has not always lived up to its ideals, yet those ideals have never ceased to guide us. They expose our flaws, and lead us to mend them. We are the beneficiaries of the work of the generations before us and it is each generation's responsibility to continue that work. - Laura Bush

Leftists and very small children don't seem to be able to understand that the Government isn't there to "fix" the economy, anymore than a tick is there to fix your dog.~Oftencold

Hey,a know I have been up all night. And now I a sitting in a hotel in Hong Kong. Dead tired. So it took me a little effort to write that. So if all your going to do is copy me Why don't you start the next one. And will go the other way for a while.

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Truth, Justice and the American way

Given McCain's age, health history, and the number of times he's appeared addled on the campaign trail, seems we have to seriously consider "this nut", especially her views on foreign policy because if he kicks, she's IT.

Many describe her foreign policy views as further right than even McCain (who never met a war he didn't like). Conservative Pat Buchanan has even said she would be "Cheney on steroids" -- and that came from a guy who LIKES her!

You are right. We don't race around the world acting militarily indiscriminately. But you'd never know that by the opinions of some Americans who are so self-effacing when it comes to America that they don't sound American at all. I have a couple of observations to make about Europhiles. Because we love their cars and watches and things and because they are slightly decadent, American atheists and intellectuals have grown boners for Europe. So much so, in fact, that they felt the need to APOLOGIZE to Europeans for re-electing GWB in 2004!


Sorry Everybody

Some Americans, for a number of reasons (none that I can think of as being justified or healthy for America), are ashamed of America in their heart of hearts. And as a form of bizarre tribute to their German internet 'friends' these Americans have adopted the same type of perpetual shame and guilt the post-WWII Germans reasonably adopted as a form of penance for their support for the satanic Hitler.

And because these Americans have 'owned' this feeling of guilt they are in search of some logical means of justifying it and relieving it.

Europe and the rest of the unseen internet world who speak and write in English want us to feel guilty about George W. Bush.

But what has he really done that was so bad that we'd have to apologize for?

I want you to think again about your characterization of the behavior of the Bush administration and pay particular attention to the context of this administration's actions as well as their uses of military action vs diplomacy to achieve the greatest good for America and the interests of freedom and prosperity for peoples around the world.

Everything can be made to seem reasonable or everything can be made to seem horrible when considered out of context. And America's critics and their parrot's arguments often, not always, but often rely on taking the facts out of context or artfully re-framing them so as to prop up their argument.

You say Bush & Co. uses "military action (or encouraging military action) in lieu of diplomacy and negotiation in every situation."

We both know that is untrue so I won't bog down the thread by asking you to put on a dog and pony parade of the examples of when the Bush Administration has, indeed, used military force to achieve the goals of freedom and to engage those who took advantage of our previous unwillingness to use our power. Those who referred to us as "Paper Tigers" while they aggressively sought to gain converts, recruits influence, territory, expand their networks, gain resources and engaged their global fellows to their cause of global domination have taught us that there is a price to be paid for freedom and tranquility. And the minute we think freedom is free, that is when the enemies of freedom will make us pay the most for our forgetfulness.

I assume all free nations in Europe would agree to the idea of joining together with other free Western nations to present a meaningful and unified front to assure peace and prevent Russian hegemony.

In that pursuit, negotiations alone cannot bring about the desired goal. And the words of T.R. come to mind and remain as true and enlightening today as they ever did.

Speak softly but carry a big stick.

The negotiations we employ unilaterally or as part of the unified front of free nations confronting a dangerously confident Russia has, as a necessary component, the implied big stick. European negotiations are only as effective as the implied and realistic threat the other side believes Europe has to back up their bargaining positions.

In essence, that means an American stick.

If there is a second observation I'd make regarding those Americans who follow the fashion and manipulations of foreigners in looking down their noses at America, it is that the cause of freedom may seem confusing to the foreigners and their acolytes because most of those people have never had to fight for their freedom.

It's been given to them.

After WWII and until the end of the Cold War, Europe lived free from the burden of gearing up to oppose the Soviet Union's advances thanks to America's commitment to their freedom. So, they (generally) have lost, within the span of a little more than a generation, the practical attitudes required to deal with armed threats. Rather than heeding Churchill they marched, instead, to the sound of John Lennon. And too few realized the Beatle's call to "Imagine" a world far different than human nature permits was just as fanciful and impossible to achieve as living in an octopuses garden in the sea.

But I won't lay all the blame on irrational expectations. America has to accept some of the blame for this. European nations should have been made to spend more of their own GDP on defense during the Cold War than they did. But that would have begged the question of why American troops would be stationed there at all from 1945 until the Cold War end. (US troops still remain in the E.U. but in far lower numbers than before the wall fell.)

Okay. Back to the Europeans now.

I take little consolation in observing that, generally speaking, many Europeans display attitudes similar to rich, spoiled young women who owe their very existence to the efforts and largesse of others. And as a way of asserting their independence they slam their benefactor while having no idea of how to provide for themselves. And, leaving the metaphor behind, too many Europeans still believe that negotiations alone will stop a committed foe.

When the Balkans mess was growing increasingly bloody and hundreds of thousands of Muslims were being "ethnically cleansed," Europe negotiated.

And the killing continued.

The Clinton administration, to it's credit, embarked on a course to use our big stick to make diplomacy effective and only then was a Cease Fire achieved.

You denounce the current administration's use of power to oppose violent aggression but you do not criticize those who make our actions necessary. Is that because you think America is guilty before even examining the facts? Our president has made it clear that we are in a war on terror and that it is unlike any war that we've ever fought. You have forgotten this? Or you don't believe it? Or you are so safe that the reality you see doesn't sync with the reality they portray?

The truth is that there are forces looking to take advantage of our vulnerabilities and the only way to keep them from 'aggressing' is to show the stick and use the stick when necessary. Those who have forgotten that talk means nothing without the power and the will to back it up need to pay attention.

It is the lack of power or the unwillingness to use power that invites war.

This is just human nature. You will not attack a foe who will destroy you. You will only attack a foe who is unable or unwilling to destroy you.

The forces of evil, tyranny, intolerance and subjection need to understand they will be hit with a big stick if they threaten freedom. That is what George W. Bush has ALWAYS been about.

For the Europeans to say our values are now somehow different seems puzzling to me. They should look at who and what does now and could in the future threaten freedom and liberty and commerce around the world and then look at what we are doing in ways both diplomatic and militarily to address those threats. And if they still do not understand what our values are I'd say there is something really wrong with them.

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Every step taken toward the installment of Sharia law will be justifiable to the person who values appearance more than freedom and democracy.

This was an intended part of the post above but it exceeded my character limit.

Please consider it the conclusion of that post.

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Every step taken toward the installment of Sharia law will be justifiable to the person who values appearance more than freedom and democracy.

So many points to address. So little typing skills. There is a problem with being overly patriotic you know? Patriotic to the point that you actually justify anything the U.S. does. Like they say "Right or wrong". But why not be right?

Like today. (and I just addressed this elsewhere) McCain is cheerleading the economy back on track. You have heard his responses about the current issues on the economy. He says the fundamentals are strong. Why does he say that? Is he an idiot? No. He just is more adept at playing the patriotism card then he is at understanding the economy.
I don't blame him for not understanding it all. Hell I don't either. But then I'm not on the banking and commerce committee. Sure glad John is

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Truth, Justice and the American way