well he is Scottish however can't stand him either.

what about Claire Short maybe time for another woman. nope bad idea

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http://www.x-trail-uk.co.uk

“Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?”

I certainly agree with you on the personal attacks and the cursing to get a point across. I closed the thread yesterday due to a personal attack taking place. That behavior will not be tolerated here. Let that serve as a first and final warning to the perpetrator. The next time it happens, that person or anyone else personally attacking another member will go on a temporary ban to cool off.

Again, political discussions are welcome here as long as they remain civil.

Thank you for your cooperation.

My concern is that you don’t seem to realize that you’re being offensive (or you don’t care). When I made my post, I knew exactly what I was saying – then I contacted Greg and told him that he needed to step in. Have you ever done that about one of your own posts?

Here’s a example of one of your past comments, that I’m sure you didn’t intend to offend with:

“As for some cops being corrupt, most entire police precincts (not individual cops), are corrupt to some extent. Most accept money from organized crime, drug distributors, etc, and that money is divided up among the cops at the precinct.”

Do you see that that is offensive to police officers? Do you understand that even attempting to relate retired military to terrorists is offensive to people in the military?

You claim to have been offended by a supposed comparison between you and Hitler. That’s fine, I’m not saying you were lying. My point is, why can’t you see how similar “comparisons” could offend others?

Concur 100% That’s the basis of our Federal Republic. Freedom of speech is about allowing those that you don’t agree with the right to air their views publicly – not just the ones you agree with. You do realize that I’m sworn on my honor (no small thing for me) to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” right?

Just stop being insulting – think about the comparisons you make.

I never say you’re insulting for suggesting the military is wrong – sometimes the military is. Don’t you also see that sometimes you are wrong, or insulting?

You have made repeated insults toward the military. Remember this one:

“The soldiers are obviously brainwashed to the point that they don't know what is going on. Does that poll not indicate that?

So if they know so little about their mission, then how can you trust their analysis of it?”

After comments like this and others, please forgive me if I don’t believe your “I support the Troops” comments. Someone who did wouldn't make the immediate assumption that the military is brainwashed.

Perhaps this is where we disagree. I do not, and don’t foresee ever, viewing Hezbollah as a military organization. They are terrorists. If you were to compare the American military to the French military (or any other actual military), that wouldn’t be the least bit insulting. Within the military, we do that all the time. It's called training, and it's important to us.

I’m not going to touch this one.

Do you view yourself as the only one here that isn’t a “cheerleader?” I think 6to among many others would find that interesting.

I’m more than happy to discuss any topic in a civil (and hopefully a light/amusing) manner. When the line is crossed however, don’t expect me to turn the other cheek every time. I try to be mature about these things, but as a human being, I have human failings.

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2010 528Xi
I demand justice.
Or, if there must be injustice, let it be in my favor.

Reynold's Wrap: it's not just for hats anymore.

The main problem with the American military that bathers me is that they change the rules as they see fit. When there is an apposing force then they are terrorists but when the force is willing to serve the American will then they are a liberation army. I have no issues with the men/women that serve. Some are driven by their beliefs some are brain washed one can say that about any army. At the end of the day they are just ponds on a board. The problem is with the men/women that create the missions for the military to fulfill. There is a complete lack of respect by the US for the perspectives of the combined international community. Why do the American leaders think that they are better or smarter then the rest of the world?

Uh, because they are? JOKE!!! Some of us here wonder why they think that too.

One thing for everyone to remember, US or non-US, is that this country is divided right now. Actually, polarized is probably a better word. It is roughly 50/50. At any given time, a poll may find people leaning one way or the other, but at the end of the day, the country is split.

Because it is split (by design by the politcians, I think), the dialogues on this board aren't all that different than dialogues that happen all over the country. Most of you probably spend much of your time talking to like minded people, so maybe you don't see it. I deal with all kinds, and it gets just plain ugly sometimes out there.

My job is relatively political, and I deal with local, state, and federal elected officials pretty routinely. I privately support the ones that are open to dialogue. The "you're with me or you're against me" has worn out its welcome in my book. Publicly, like most people, I do what I have to do. That's how the system works.

From where I sit, it's sad, because I am a moderate, and moderates have been marginalized by the polarization.

There have been good lessons in it though. For instance, George Bush was elected by a margin of something like 2000 votes in Florida the first time around. I have told my kids that proves that every vote counts.

I hope that there are now ten times as many as 2000 people in Florida now, whatever their affiliation, thinking "damn, I should have voted." That is one of the greatest lessons of it all.

I don't think anything that happens here is all that extraordinary. Maybe in a way, I'm just desensitized to it enough that it doesn't particularly put me out.

Sorry, one other thing - the International contributions are one thing that I don't get much of. Though I may or may not agree with what gets said, I appreciate non-US input to the discussion. God knows we could use more of that. We may not choose to follow it (read: the UN does not run the United States of America), but the dialogue is good, and we need more of it.

"Tony Blair's big mistake was taking us the UK to war on a lie. ilegal war at that"

What war is legal? and who is the governing body of these Laws? War is a violant act ment to force one sides will on another, there is no law to follow in war.

Well you have lumped hundreds of millions of people into one group...dangerous considering so much of that group disagree with the "elected" leadership. (aka 32% approval rating) Instead of saying US and Americans, perhaps Administration or President is more accurate why trying to depict the USA as believing it is "smarter" then the rest of the world. The whole topic is also a very double-edged sword. The majority of the countries that bash US policy would have ZERO problems and be advocates of the US is their policy favored them. IMO.

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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Your example is comparing apples and oranges. Don't confuse an opinion on an issue with a personal attack. Whether that opinion is right or wrong it is still not personally attacking anyone participating in the discussion. However, the comparison to Hitler is a personal attack because it refers to the poster and not the issue being discussed.

I think it's situations like this that cause these threads to get out of hand. People interpret opposing positions on an issues personally and respond as if they were being personally attacked. My advise to everyone is to review your responses before posting and see how many times you address the person rather than the topic. If the response is more about the person then perhaps you've stepped over the line.

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Wake up every day that would be a start.

Bang on.

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Wake up every day that would be a start.