Pat Endorses Who?

lealdragon · November 16, 2007, 5:36pm

sjmom, do you you trust bush?

Hindoo · November 16, 2007, 5:37pm

“Not me, as I’ve said over and over again. In fact, I will challenge you to find any post of mine where I’ve been anti-sex (other than for children) anti birth control (other than for children) or anti-gay rights. You won’t find one.”

Sjmom–I think you’ve said you’re Catholic (correct me if I’m wrong). I come from a long line of devout Catholics, but am myself a lapsed one. Do you know what the current Catholic standing on birth control is? That was one of the huge problems I had with the church over the years. It irritated the fire out of me to see the Pope touring poverty-stricken, drought-stricken, AIDS-stricken third-world countries, and telling them that birth control was not a part of God’s plan. … And I’m still waiting for the first female priest!

lealdragon · November 16, 2007, 5:39pm

I too was once Catholic. My family had 12 kids, and was one of very few Catholic families in our church who took the anti-bc rule literally. Most Catholics I knew readily admitted that very few Catholics followed the rule, even 40-50-60 years ago.

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 5:39pm

From The London Times

[The</a> Petraeus Curve -Times Online](<a href=“The Times & The Sunday Times: breaking news & today's latest headlines”>The Times & The Sunday Times: breaking news & today's latest headlines)

Serious success in Iraq is not being recognised as it should be
Is no news good news or bad news? In Iraq, it seems good news is deemed no news. There has been striking success in the past few months in the attempt to improve security, defeat al-Qaeda sympathisers and create the political conditions in which a settlement between the Shia and the Sunni communities can be reached. This has not been an accident but the consequence of a strategy overseen by General David Petraeus in the past several months. While summarised by the single word “surge” his efforts have not just been about putting more troops on the ground but also employing them in a more sophisticated manner. This drive has effectively broken whatever alliances might have been struck in the past by terrorist factions and aggrieved Sunnis. Cities such as Fallujah, once notorious centres of slaughter, have been transformed in a remarkable time. 

Indeed, on every relevant measure, the shape of the Petraeus curve is profoundly encouraging. It is not only the number of coalition deaths and injuries that has fallen sharply (October was the best month for 18 months and the second-best in almost four years), but the number of fatalities among Iraqi civilians has also tumbled similarly…

The current achievements, and they are achievements, are being treated as almost an embarrassment in certain quarters. The entire context of the contest for the Democratic nomination for president has been based on the conclusion that Iraq is an absolute disaster and the first task of the next president is to extricate the United States at maximum speed. Democrats who voted for the war have either repudiated their past support completely (John Edwards) or engaged in a convoluted partial retraction (Hillary Clinton). Congressional Democrats have spent most of this year trying (and failing) to impose a timetable for an outright exit. In Britain, in a somewhat more subtle fashion admittedly, Gordon Brown assumed on becoming the Prime Minister that he should send signals to the voters that Iraq had been “Blair’s War”, not one to which he or Britain were totally committed.

lealdragon · November 16, 2007, 5:42pm

sjmom, what is your view on Iran?

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 5:45pm

From Der Spiegel

[West</a> Wing: The Comeback of a War President - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News](<a href=“http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,515721,00.html]West”>West Wing: The Comeback of a War President - DER SPIEGEL)

First, there has been noticeable improvement on the Iraqi war front. Unless the Pentagon statistics Bush recited on Friday in a speech to soldiers at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, are made up, the new Iraq strategy appears to be working. The number of weekly bombing attacks on US troops has dropped by half, and the number of US military deaths is the lowest in a year and a half. At the same time, US forces are arresting or killing more than 1,500 terrorist “thugs,” as Bush called them, each month. If the military successes continue, public opinion toward Bush and his Republicans could soon improve. Americans are not against war itself, they just don’t like losing.

In this mood, Bush is driving the Democrats along like a sheepdog herding sheep. He asks for congressional approval for each new expenditure in his war, putting the Democrats in a difficult position. The US Senate recently approved a measure to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Hillary Clinton reluctantly voted in favor of the measure. When Bush asked for tighter sanctions on Iran, the Democrats nodded grimly. While Bush looks at scenarios for attacking Iran, Senator Clinton, feeling the need to demonstrate her ability to lead the country in a war, insists that all options must remain on the table. 

In next November’s election, Americans will be voting for more than just someone who can address their healthcare problems. They’ll want someone who, as president, can also be a credible commander-in-chief.

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 5:47pm

I am concerned about Iran, for both geopolitical reasons and personal reasons. (We have Iranian friends.)

But I am also very concerned about Iran developing a nuclear weapon. I would like to see that resolved through diplomatic means, with the support of France, Germany and Russia.

fundingfather · November 16, 2007, 5:48pm

[BBC</a> NEWS | Have Your Say | Baghdad voices: Improved security](<a href=“http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/7094285.stm]BBC”>BBC NEWS | Have Your Say | Baghdad voices: Improved security)

We used to receive about 10-15 injuries and five to 10 bodies overnight - caused by bombs or bullets. 

The numbers have dropped to about two or three injuries a night and maybe just one body - or none. 

This improvement started six to eight weeks ago. 

I think it’s because the American and Iraqi troops have started to attack the Mehdi army. They have been arresting leaders of the Mehdi army and also al-Qaeda. 

<hr>

Overall though, I think it is better somehow, a little easier. 

The American and Iraqi troops are challenging the militia - and the Mehdi militia is not active. 

<hr>

The situation is better: less bombing, better shopping and people are able to travel more safely. 

Some of the streets which were previously closed because of bombings and insecurity are open again. 

Some people have returned to the houses they left when their area became dangerous. 

<hr>

Today I was in Mansour district and I saw something new. It used to be really dangerous - but today people were out shopping and they looked different, more relaxed. 

I think it’s mainly because both the American and Iraqi armies are working on it really hard. People are also fed up with terrorism. 

Plus the Mehdi army has stopped its activities. 

Thousands of people are returning to Iraq from Syria. 

I was on the Syria-Iraqi border filming for a few days recently. During this time I could see up to 50 coaches a day coming back from Syria. 

The people on board told me they felt it was safe enough to return - and they wanted to get back to their lives.

I guess these people who live there are just parroting Fox News as well. They certainly are not as informed as Pelosi or Reid or the Democratic bloggers.

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 5:50pm

Hindoo, the Catholic Church does not support the use of birth control. But I never claimed to be a perfect Catholic! Personally, I don’t have a problem with preventing conception. I do have a problem once conception has occurred – thus, for me, eliminating the morning-after pill or IUDs.

lealdragon · November 16, 2007, 5:56pm

sjmom, do you trust bush?

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 5:57pm

Even the French are changing their tune.
[IBDeditorials.com:</a> Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor’s Business Daily – Verbatim: ‘America Can Count On France’](<a href=“http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=279318921769521]IBDeditorials.com:”>http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=279318921769521)

Following is the speech that French President Nicolas Sarkozy delivered Wednesday in a rare address by a foreign dignitary to a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives. U.S. lawmakers gave the French leader a three-minute standing ovation and his address was met bursts of warm applause.

Madam Speaker, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States Congress, Ladies and Gentlemen, the state of our friendship and our alliance is strong. 

Friendship, first and foremost, means being true to one’s friends. Since the United States first appeared on the world scene, the loyalty between the French and American people has never failed. And far from being weakened by the vicissitudes of history, it has never ceased growing stronger.

Friends may have differences; they may have disagreements; they may have disputes. But in times of difficulty, in times of hardship, friends stand together, side by side; they support each other; and help one another. In times of difficulty, in times of hardship, America and France have always stood side by side, supported one another, helped one another, fought for each other’s freedom.

From the very beginning, the American dream meant putting into practice the dreams of the Old World. From the very beginning, the American dream meant proving to all mankind that freedom, justice, human rights and democracy were no utopia but were rather the most realistic policy there is and the most likely to improve the fate of each and every person.

America did not tell the millions of men and women who came from every country in the world and who — with their hands, their intelligence and their heart — built the greatest nation in the world: “Come, and everything will be given to you.” She said: “Come, and the only limits to what you’ll be able to achieve will be your own courage and your own talent.” America embodies this extraordinary ability to grant each and every person a second chance.

I want to tell you that whenever an American soldier falls somewhere in the world, I think of what the American army did for France. I think of them and I am sad, as one is sad to lose a member of one’s family.

Together we must fight against terrorism. On September 11, 2001, all of France — petrified with horror — rallied to the side of the American people. The front-page headline of one of our major dailies read: “We are all American.” And on that day, when you were mourning for so many dead, never had America appeared to us as so great, so dignified, so strong.

The terrorists had thought they would weaken you. They made you greater. The entire world felt admiration for the courage of the American people. And from day one, France decided to participate shoulder to shoulder with you in the war in Afghanistan. Let me tell you solemnly today: France will remain engaged in Afghanistan as long as it takes, because what’s at stake in that country is the future of our values and that of the Atlantic Alliance.

For me, failure is not an option. Terrorism will not win because democracies are not weak, because we are not afraid of this barbarism. America can count on France.

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 6:01pm

Lealdragon, yes I trust Bush. I don’t agree with everything he does, but I believe he works by one guiding principle – to protect and defend the United States.

I assume that he has information about the threats to this country that are not made public. I believe that he, along with the majority of both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, determined that the risks of allowing Saddam Hussein to continue to rebuff the UN and all the sanctions were too great to allow him to stay in power. I also believe that Hussein was an evil man, along the lines of Hitler.

Other than the fact that you disagree with the war in Iraq, why do you distrust Bush?

fundingfather · November 16, 2007, 6:12pm

sjmom,

You didn’t highlight the most amazing part of sarkozy’s speech:

And:

Who would have thought that they would ever see a French leader proclaim the US “the greatest nation in the world”.

Yes, indeed, the Bush administration sure has screwed things up around the world. Since the Iraq war, France, Germany and Canada have all voted out anti-American administrations and voted in pro-American ones.

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 6:14pm

Cross-edited, fundingfather. I had to check on dinner. Sorry.

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 6:15pm

Worth repeating,

lealdragon · November 16, 2007, 6:24pm

For the same reasons that Senior Military, Intelligence Service, Law Enforcement, and Government Officials distrust him:

[Patriots</a> Question 9/11 - Responsible Criticism of the 9/11 Commission Report](<a href=“http://www.patriotsquestion911.com/]Patriots”>http://www.patriotsquestion911.com/)

sjmom2329 · November 16, 2007, 6:36pm

Lealdragon, I don’t have time to read the whole link – is it another conspiracy theory site? I’m sorry, but I don’t believe alot of the nonsense that is spread underground about 9/11. I’ll read it later, though. Right now, darn it!, dinner is in grave jeopardy! Gotta go.

lealdragon · November 16, 2007, 6:44pm

No, I wouldn’t call it ‘another conspiracy theory site.’ It does not propose any theories at all, but simply has quotes from 870+ military personnel, govt. officials, firefighters, intelligence officers, pilots, architects, physicists, engineers, and eyewitnesses.

Most of whom are highly reputable; hardly a ‘conspiracy site.’

Interesting reading.

Sarahsmom42 · November 16, 2007, 6:48pm

lealdragon, What number are you in the 12? I’ve never known anyone else who came from a family of 12 but me.

lealdragon · November 16, 2007, 6:56pm

2 babies died so it ended up being 10. It was definitely not a happy family, though. Fire-and-brimstone tyrant for a dad…abusive…

I hope that your large family was happier than mine!

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