PANTSONFIRE

The plan for Afghanistan

As Rush Limbaugh would say, "Ditto." We have a plan....it is clear Obama realizes the key is Pakiststan. As I suspected, his "dithering " invoved some high level negotiating and pressure there. Pakistan is the key to the region, especially since it is a nuclear power. The recent state visit by India, an enemy of Pakistan, was not coincidence. Our "globe-hoppin g" president, that so many bitch about, has apparently been hammering out some important stuff....and drawing some lines in the dirt, I suspect. Gee, I can't decide which costs more....a few thousand dollars of jet fuel or a global nuclear war? (1 hr ago | post #2)

No, not at all. There are absolutes concerning life and the taking of same. The central theme of the pro-life vs. abortion issue involves religious values, not living breathing self-sufficient beings as illustrated in your "honor killings." To me, life begins at conception....that does NOT mean others believe the same. That is what we must accept if we live in a democracy that guards religious freedom. I don't like it and I'm sure you don't, but that is the price we pay for religious tolerance. Those who can't tolerate that should move someplace where their religious morality is also the law. Me, I am going to do whatever I can to convince a woman not to have an abortion. I will also try to support that life after it is born, instead abandoning it to abuse or neglect while feeling all self-righteous because I had a hand in it not being aborted. I've noticed when it comes to out-of-pocket cash for either war or an unaborted child the "patriots " and "defenders of life" tend to disappear like a vampire invited to breakfast. (2 hrs ago | post #41)

I don't believe I've ever heard of a politician fail to appeal to "common sense." Of course, they all have their own definition of what that means....and it always supports their argument no matter how ridiculous it may be. The "common sense" political appeal carries great sway with the anti-intellectual and undereducated, which is why politicians use it. It is a rare election, indeed, when a politician with a reasoned or complex intellectual argrument wins an election. (5 hrs ago | post #182)

Well, Lord love a duck! That's all I've been trying to get you to admit to! Common sense has its place, but it is NOT the be all and end all you have claimed it to be. The "common sense" argument is all to frequently used as an excuse by people who are too intellectially lazy to expand their horizons by combining common sense with knowledge. I've seen some "too cool for school" common sense fools get people killed. I fully expected you to say all you would have to do to catch a space vehicle ahead is to "step on the gas," which is what "common sense" would dictate if one discounts "them thar college boys." Too, I've often noticed the solution to most problems faced by the "common sense" crowd is to double the horsepower. In that case, you'd wind up probably never catching the spacecraft ahead and would likely spend the rest of enternity as, well, a "Popsicle. " (5 hrs ago | post #181)

Abortion is a LEGAL medical procedure and should not be excluded because it doesn't conform to YOUR views of religion ot morality. There are people who do not believe life begins at conception, just as you (and I) believe it does. We cannot force that view on others simply because we believe it is so, at least not in a pluralistic democracy that theoretically respects religious freedom. I find your position odd but typical. There is resounding indignation about abortion, but after a child is born they can pretty much starve to death for all pro-life neo-conservative care. Oklahoma is decidedly pro-life and spend untold time and treasure to pass laws to obstruct abortion. Unfortunately, these "pro-life " forces didn't raise a peep when Oklahoma recently finished in the top ten states for child death through abuse and neglect. Isn't indignation a strange thing? (5 hrs ago | post #39)

Exactly! Of course, my throwing that out was not to confuse "simple people." It was to point out to Pops his beloved "common sense" solutions to everything might not be all they cracked up to be. (11 hrs ago | post #178)

Not defending abortion, but you do realize it is a LEGAL medical procedure, don't you? What would happen if a significant segment of the population for religious reasons didn't believe in heart surgery or even the removal of tonsils? Should people who don't believe that be denied such treatment because of the beliefs of others? There is only one answer to the question of abortion in a pluralistic democracy of religious freedom.....it MUST be left a matter of individual conscience. No, I am not defending abortion, here....I am defending our pluralistic democracy and religious freedom. People simply don't have the same religious beliefs and under our Constitution they have a right not to. Those who insist on forcing their morality on others don't belong in the United States. They need to go off and form their own religious theocracy. (11 hrs ago | post #33)

That's it in a nutshell....great post! (11 hrs ago | post #32)

It's coming along just fine, Pops. I I don't think you'd like it very much, though. You do know that for a space vehicle to catch up with one ahead of it it must slow down, don't ya? That just doesn't make common sense..... (12 hrs ago | post #176)

Hey, those are great books! Your not being able to connect dots very well, I know it is WAY beyond your ability to comprehend such books prepared American youth for the Space Age.....while people such as you concocted "common sense" conspiracy theories about staged moon landings and little green men crashing near Roswell, New Mexico. (Monday | post #171)

Thank you for the suggested readings, but I believe I'll pass. I did read Mein Kampf in the seventh grade, but found it mostly rambling and irrational hateful drivel....much of like a Glenn Beck tome or one of his FOX News programs. (Monday | post #169)

I wouldn't worry too much about Islamic racism in the Maldives if I were you, Buddy. The popular scuba diving destination, which I would like to visit, is sinking fast and will be gone by 2050, as I recall. It is sinking due to the melting of the polar icecaps and global warming neo-conservatives claim doesn't exist. It looks like your much hated Islamic "racists " will have to do their nastiness while breathing through a snorkel. Maybe your time would be better spend combating racism in Paris, Texas. Ya think? (Monday | post #166)

How can that in-their-face fact involving their fantasy majority continue to elude them? Amazing! Yea, the old neo-conservative cry of "America...lo ve it or leave it!" The fact is our political system worked just as it was designed to do. The only problem is their side lost this time. I sure wish they'd take their own narrow-minded advice and go somewhere where they would be happier. (Monday | post #12)

Aerospace history. (Monday | post #163)