WHY CONGRESS IS HELD IN CONTEMPT
By: Patrick J. Buchanan
1/17/2014 06:00 AM
1/17/2014 06:00 AM
“I’ve got a pen,” said President Obama early this week.
“I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions … that move the ball forward.”
“When I can act on my own without Congress, I’m going to do so,” the president added Wednesday at North Carolina State.
Thus did Obama signal that he will bypass Congress and use his executive powers to advance his agenda of national transformation.
This dismissal of Congress has gone almost unprotested. In an earlier age it might have evoked talk of impeachment. But not now.
This dismissal of Congress has gone almost unprotested. In an earlier age it might have evoked talk of impeachment. But not now.
For though Congress may be the first branch of government in the Constitution, with the longest list of enumerated powers in Article 1, its eclipse has been extraordinary.
Congressional powers have eroded or been surrendered. The esteem in which Congress is now held calls to mind Emily Dickinson: “It dropped so low in my regard/I heard it hit the ground.”
Congress boasts a 13 percent approval, a surge from its all-time low of 9 percent last fall before the budget deal.
While ex-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates expressed disappointment in Obama and Hillary Clinton in his book “Duty,” and was dismissive of Joe Biden, his view of Congress dripped with venom:
“Uncivil, incompetent in fulfilling basic constitutional responsibilities (such as timely appropriations), micromanagerial, parochial, hypocritical, egotistical, thin-skinned, often putting self (and reelection) before country — this was my view of the majority of the United States Congress.”
At Congressional hearings, Gates says he was “exceptionally offended by the constant, adversarial, inquisition-like treatment,” and lines of inquiry that were “rude, insulting, belittling, bullying, and all too often personal.”
Admirers of Obama, Hillary and Biden have all come forward to defend them. Where are the defenders of Congress from this searing indictment by Gates? Almost nowhere.
What happened to Congress? Not so long ago, school children were taught more about Sens. Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster than many of the presidents of that pre-Civil War era.
High among the causes of Congress’ decline has surely been the loss or surrender of its constitutional powers — to presidents, the Supreme Court and a federal bureaucracy Congress itself created.
Consider this. Under Article 1, Congress is entrusted with the power to “regulate commerce with foreign nations.”
With the exception of slavery, there was not a more divisive issue before the Civil War than the tariff question. In the Jacksonian era, South Carolina almost seceded over the tariff, and Andrew Jackson threatened an invasion.
Today, Congress first surrendered to the executive the authority to negotiate trade deals, and then passed fast track, denying itself the right to amend those treaties. Congress has restricted itself to a yes or no vote on what the executive negotiates.
The transnational corporations that finance campaigns are delighted.
But as a consequence of NAFTA, GATT, and the WTO, a third of U.S. manufacturing jobs and a huge slice of our manufacturing base have been shipped overseas, and we have run $10 trillion in trade deficits since Bush I.
The stunning industrial decline of the United States has been matched in two centuries only by the USSR.
Congress was granted the power to “coin money” and “regulate the value thereof.” But in 1913, Congress transferred that power to the Federal Reserve.
With the Fed as its steward, the dollar’s purchasing power had fallen to that of a couple of pennies in 1913. And the Fed was responsible for the stock market bubble that bought on the Great Crash of 1929 and Great Depression, and the real estate and stock market bubbles that brought on our own Great Recession.
Yet, the Fed is untouchable.
Though Congress was granted exclusive power “to declare war,” our last declared war was in 1941.
Obama today draws “red lines” and tells nations not to cross them or we bomb, and announces to the world that, in dealing with Iran, “all options are on the table,” meaning war.
But when did Congress authorize Obama to wage war on Iran? Never.
Nor did Congress authorize Bill Clinton to bomb Serbia.
While Congress was granted the power in the Constitution to restrict the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, that court has been on an ideological tear, remaking America without a nod to Congress.
The court has created new rights for criminal suspects out of thin air. It ordered all states to integrate public schools, even if that meant forced busing by race across cities. It declared abortion and homosexual relations to be constitutionally protected rights.
Congress often complained, but almost always did nothing.
Congress often complained, but almost always did nothing.
Congress has behaved more timidly than the Court, whose justices serve for life. And unlike the president, Congress cannot act decisively or speak with a single voice. It’s a cacophony.
Sundered by party and ideology, with 535 members, and rules and regulations that inhibit decisions and impede action, Congress appears a 19th-century anachronism at sea in a 21st-century world.
Who looks to Congress today as the bulwark of our liberties?
Patrick J. Buchanan is the author of “Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?”
Never assume anyone, no matter how stupid, is unelectable. Welcome to Planet Zorak and the circus sea lions in the US Congress. Millionaire bastardos sucking down public money with taxpayer paid healthcare & retirement, all while deciding which Americans shouldn’t have affordable healthcare, all while being led by the People’s choice, put at the helm of the Waste House...a lawyer, non-practicing, with a GPA slightly above bean dip that would have not allowed any other applicant to graduate from any known law school.
ReplyDelete“The United States is the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, yet its inhabitants are strikingly unhappy. Accordingly, we present to the rest of mankind, on a planet rife with suffering and tragedy, the spectacle of a clown civilization. Sustained on a clown diet rich in sugar and fat, we have developed a clown physiognomy. We dress like clowns. We move about a landscape filled with cartoon buildings in clownmobiles, absorbed in clownish activities. We fill our idle hours enjoying the canned antics of professional clowns... Death, when we acknowledge it, is just another pratfall on the boob tube. Bang! You're dead!”
― James Howard Kunstler
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteDon't blame Congress. If someone lent me $1.1 trillion dollars to spend (over and above what was coming in) I'd be irresponsible too.
DeleteKunstler is nuts.
DeleteA Ford F-150 4x4 is not a 'clownmobile'.
On the contrary, it is the best invention ever to have sprung forth from the mind of humankind.
With a camper on the back, you are living in a go anywhere palace on wheels.
A survival machine too, if you should need it.
... and the previous postings remind me of this:
ReplyDelete“Blessed are they that have nothing to say, and who cannot be persuaded to say it”
Now back to our regularly scheduled Jew bashing, already in progress.
DeleteAt least the "Conga Line" can't accuse ME of obsessively posting Israel-focused topics.
No, just redundant meaningless Jew bashing comments. Threads have only been opened up for your abuse for barely a day or two. Give it time.
DeleteActually, we have pretty much balanced trade with Mexico, and Canada - as we do with most all of our FTA Partners. Where the wheels come/came off is with China (big time,) and OPEC.
ReplyDeleteI think the decision was made some time ago, and sold to every President, since, that the best, perhaps, only, way to stay out of a shooting war with China was to take the worst in a watered down "trade" war. It may have kept us out of said kinetic war, temporarily, but it's played holy hell with the wealth, and well-being, of those Americans that would earn their livelihood building things.
An administrative note:
ReplyDelete1. Use attribution for cut on past on post. DO NOT EDIT SOMEONE ELSE’s ORIGINAL WORK. Copy the article in full giving attribution and the link.
2. When commenting on the article , make it obvious that it is not part of the original work, but your input or comment. When in doubt or taking a counter-view point, comment below the line.
3. Do not directly copy text into Blogger. Copy it through a word processor so it cleans it up. Use Pages or Word.
4. Use Verdana as the default text. Use normal size text for the text font.
5. Edit this post to comply with these rules. I do not want to get into any copy right issues. You can do that on your own blog and link to that if you wish.
6. As a courtesy do not want run over a post. Give the current post ample time for comments or for it to run its course. If there is something urgent, that rule can be suspended.
6. As a courtesy do not want run over a post. Give the current post ample time for comments or for it to run its course. If there is something urgent, that rule can be suspended.
DeleteUnless one is the God of the Blog, then One can do whatever One wants.
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ReplyDelete“I’ve got a pen,” said President Obama early this week.
“I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions … that move the ball forward.”
“When I can act on my own without Congress, I’m going to do so,” the president added Wednesday at North Carolina State.
I've complained of this in the past but to do so now is likely just beating a dead horse. The only 'possible' recourse seems to be through the courts as with the Obama recess appointments issue now before SCOTUS. Congress has abdicated its responsibility. Its much safer for them just blaming Obama than actually doing their job and risking the anger of a polarized constituency.
Most members of Congress would much rather be off on lobbyist funded junkets or having a scotch at the Union Bar or the Pour House.
Because of their performance this year, my wife and I had agreed that rather than vote Dem or Pub this year we would merely vote against every incumbent possible on the assumption that, as in Mr. Kunstler's words they are all clowns. However, watching the current arguments over the NSA and the Iran Sanctions, I plan on modifying the plan at least as far as the Senate. Though I disagree with the Democratic senators in Michigan (Levin is retiring), I plan to vote Democratic as the lesser of two evils.
Obama is going to do what he does anyway and Congress, including the GOP, does not have the balls to take him on. That seems to be a given. However, over the past decade or so, we have also seen the disastrous results when either party is granted complete control over the legislative process. IMO, a divided Congress is better than one that runs even further amok. I will do my small part to keep it that way.
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"Because of their performance this year, my wife and I had agreed that rather than vote Dem or Pub this year we would merely vote against every incumbent possible"
Delete"However, over the past decade or so, we have also seen the disastrous results when either party is granted complete control over the legislative process. IMO, a divided Congress is better than one that runs even further amok."
This is exactly the political philosophy of my Jewish lawyer.
Even to the point of, when the chips are down, voting democratic, like Quirk in Michigan.
It's a lame way of denying one is a democrat, a lame way of thinking of oneself as 'superior'.........and if "they are all dicks" what difference does it make anyway?
Now if Quirk admits he's for single payer, I will start to call him "my Jewish lawyer".
There is this one difference - my guy was for bombing Iran, not Iraq, oh so long ago......"Baab, Baab, Baab, we're attacking the wrong country, Baaaab"........:)
We import a lot (about $30 Billion worth) of television sets, iphones, stereos, etc from China. In return, they make their market virtually impenetrable to U.S. made goods. Not all of these goods would be uncompetitive, If given a level playing field.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I don't oppose an FTA with Malaysia, and Vietnam: we're already importing about all of the various appliances that we can use. An FTA with those other Asian countries won't increase the import side of the ledger. But, an agreement with those other countries should mean an opening-up of markets on the Export side.
That should be: about $30 Billion a Month worth.
DeleteI didn't listen to Obama's speech, but I imagine he's contemplating raising the minimum wage paid to employees of Federal Contractors, a, basically, symbolic gesture - especially when you consider that most of them are in Washington, D.C., and that D.C. is already raising the minimum wage.
ReplyDelete18 TRILLION in quantitative easing over the last 5 years has hit the poorest workers among us the hardest. Couple that with fuel prices 2 times what they were 5 years ago, higher water bills it's great political circus to demand a minimum wage increase.
DeleteConsider that a set of tires today costs 670-800 bucks that used to cost just 5 years ago, 285 dollars, no wonder a minimum wage circus is in order.
Devalue the dollar, screw the low information voter, than promise if you vote democrat? the deems will raise the wage...
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ReplyDeletePalestinian refugees are being systematically starved to death and denied medical care and humanitarian relief. And yet the United Nations is totally silent: no protests, no condemnations, no resolutions.
Dr. Hussein Ibish, a noted Arab-American commentator and senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine, reports that Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been routinely killing Palestinians at the Yarmouk refugee camp. It’s a situation, he writes on his blog, that “breaks new ground in cruelty.”
Assad’s regime has inflicted enforced starvation; last weekend alone, according to Ibish, at least 41 Palestinians died as a result of food and medicine shortages. This week, a PLO convoy loaded with food and medicine was fired on by pro-Assad forces, preventing them from delivering relief to the camps.
Normally, the slightest allegation of suffering inflicted on Palestinians (by Israel, that is) brings about instant worldwide outcry and an emergency session of the UN Security Council. When pro-Palestinians were blocked by Israelis from sending supplies to Gaza that might include weapons, for example, it was front-page news leading to international investigations.
But Syria has become a blind spot on the world eyechart, most glaringly for the Obama administration. As a result, the war there has devolved into a battle between Iran-backed Assad and his al Qaeda-backed rebel foes — with ominous implications for the world, no matter which side wins...
http://nypost.com/2014/01/18/un-ignores-starvation-of-palestinians-by-syrian-regime/
Three days until the Syrian Peace Conference starts. No doubt there will be many comments on the need to help the people there in the opening remarks. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall and see how much actual discussion of the subject there is during the conference or whether it is a side issue 'to be discussed later' as the various groups discuss power sharing and their cut.
Obama was provided a way out of his 'red lines' remarks by the Russians and now seems content to let sleeping dogs lie. Admittedly, it is difficult even providing humanitarian aid given the conditions there, when is the last time you have heard Obama use to bully pulpit to broadcast the inhumanity of using starvation and drum bombs as tactics against civilian populations there?
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Delete...but when is the last time...
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"Palestinian refugees are being systematically starved to death "
DeleteI posted about this days ago...
Glad to see you are reading my posts....
You are learning. GOOD
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DeleteGood lord, WiO, now you have dibs on specific issues.
How friggin needy are you?
If your self-esteem requires it, I'll try to throw you a bone once in a while.
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hardly Sir Quirk, I was just complimenting you for learning and growing...
DeleteHow friggin needy are you?
If your self-esteem requires it, I'll try to throw you a bone once in a while.
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DeleteRiiiiight!
A few days back, I posted a link on that guy we caught spying and selling info to foreign governments.
No comment.
A couple days later, Allen posted a link on the same story with the comment. 'Hmmm.'
Your response, the usual excuses for Pollard.
Had I been 'needy' I would have mentioned it at the time.
Somehow, I don't think WiO is in the 'complimenting Quirk' business.
:)
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ReplyDeleteWas it Noah's Ark or Noah's Coracle?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10574119/Noahs-Ark-the-facts-behind-the-Flood.html
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The Babylonian numeral system was "base 60".
DeleteIt measures 11.5cm by 6cm and contains exactly 60 lines.
Sixty is also important because it came to be a unit of time and of degrees, e.g. 360 degrees in a circle.
...interesting... good catch...
Not saying the Current trend will continue,
ReplyDeleteTreas dot gov
BUT, if it does, we might be looking at a 0.29 T deficit (about 1.6% of GDP.)
That is pretty much the "sweet spot," according to my calculations.
Fiscal Deficit, that is; not trade deficit.
DeleteI guess I'd like 1% a bit better than 1.6%, but it's not hardly worth getting het up about.
DeleteThe difference would be about $3.6 B/yr. in debt service, a number that gets lost pretty quickly in a $17.5 Trillion Economy.
Delete2 / 100ths of 1 percent. (0.0002) of GDP. I doubt that it would bust us.
DeleteRufus IISun Jan 19, 02:03:00 PM EST
ReplyDelete2 / 100ths of 1 percent. (0.0002) of GDP. I doubt that it would bust us.
THAT'S MORE THAN THE TOTAL AID TO ISRAEL PER YEAR....
But, the money is spent on AMERICANS, not European settlers in some godforsaken spit of land in which they don't belong.
DeleteJust leave me alone; you couldn't imagine in a million years how little interest I have in "anything Israel."
I, also, spend absolutely zero time obsessing about Nigeria, Bulgaria, or Oklahoma Cherokee Reservations.
DeleteSeconded.
DeleteRufus IISun Jan 19, 02:16:00 PM EST
DeleteBut, the money is spent on AMERICANS, not European settlers in some godforsaken spit of land in which they don't belong.
Just leave me alone; you couldn't imagine in a million years how little interest I have in "anything Israel."
Clearly, you have formed an opinion on "everything Israel". Your comment has a political pedigree of longstanding and was not acquired through osmosis.
I have no interest in discussing the matter further, but I could not let a cheap shot go unrebuked.
Not a 'cheap shot.' I have stayed out of all the preceding discussions of Israel, and I intend to stay out of them in the future.
DeleteEveryone knows my opinion; there's no need restating it endlessly. I will just thank you and wio for not attaching the Israeli stuff to my "non-related to Israel" comments.
tuff shit.
Delete3.6 billion is by your numbers nothing...
and: When your credit is such that you're paying 2.8% for 10 year loans,
AND you own your own printing press,
And, you have the world's largest GDP,
And, you have relatively low tax rates,
And have the world's most powerful military . . . . . . . . . . . . well, . . .
dont bitch about aid to Israel when MOST of it is spent on american products.
Rufus IISun Jan 19, 02:16:00 PM EST
DeleteBut, the money is spent on AMERICANS, not European settlers in some godforsaken spit of land in which they don't belong.
Just leave me alone; you couldn't imagine in a million years how little interest I have in "anything Israel."
But most of the money is SPENT on Americans as in the form of corporate welfare. Keeping thousands of American working...
Rufus: not European settlers in some godforsaken spit of land in which they don't belong.
Were you speaking about Americans who are occupying Indian lands??????
hypocrite.
Teresita RedingerSun Jan 19, 02:24:00 PM EST
DeleteSeconded.
I see it's ok when a filipino squats on native american lands?
Cherokees used to be savages.
DeleteKillers and slavers.
These days the get 'free money' from their Casinos.
Which should be taxed, in a fair world.
To be fair about it........our entire race used to be composed of savages.....
DeleteTo be really fair......much of it still is.....and the moslems are nearly 100% savages......
DeleteHow much aid does America give in food stamps and other benefits to arabs and africans IN america taken from European Americans here at home????
DeleteThere is the Law of Nickels and Dimes, i.e. being nickeled and dimed into insolvency. Insolvency might be understood as that state of being where the needs of daily living must be met by credit. When groceries, for example, must be purchased on credit, one is about two to four weeks from starvation in the real world.
ReplyDeleteThe po'est po folks in America, with their cable tv, broadband, Xbox, Obamaphones, Obamacars, EBT cards, and free health care are richer than college educated kids in Manila who might have phones and really are two to four weeks away from starvation.
DeleteTeresita RedingerSun Jan 19, 02:27:00 PM EST
DeleteI suppose it is a matter of perspective. America's "po'est po folks" are not richer; other Americans have become poorer (or will be when the credit card bill is called in).
The po'est po folks in America, with their cable tv, broadband, Xbox, Obamaphones, Obamacars, EBT cards, and free health care
DeleteI didn't feel that poor until I saw that.
Naw, I still don't feel poor.
I'd much rather live in the lap, er, make that the crap of luxury than most other places on the earth.
God Bless America and especially the American Taxpayer!
Without them, I'd be in deep, deep poverty.
When your credit is such that you're paying 2.8% for 10 year loans,
ReplyDeleteAND you own your own printing press,
And, you have the world's largest GDP,
And, you have relatively low tax rates,
And have the world's most powerful military . . . . . . . . . . . . well, . . .
hunger probably isn't coming next week.
Government Receipts for the first 3 months of the Fiscal Year were 664.6 Billion.
DeleteDivided by a GDP of approx. 4.25 Trillion,
and you get about 15.65% of GDP.
THAT, ladies and gennulmen is a breathtakingly low rate of taxation.
except that 51% of the population pays nothing and receives much...
Deleteand that 2% of the population pays for most all of the those taxes...
SO let the 2% pay for the 51%? sounds like the USSR
Deuce is ruining the sales potential of Death of a Superpower.......why go out and buy it at a book store when one can read it all, eventually, right here?
ReplyDeleteWell, he can't help it, he says the rules say you have to post the whole chapter, not just blurbs, otherwise you'll be liable for copyright infringement.
DeleteRufus IISun Jan 19, 02:30:00 PM EST
ReplyDeleteNo doubt your observations come as great comfort to the tens of millions of Americans who cannot find employment. One would think that such a rosey scenario would lead to corresponding low unemployment. Therefore, there must be something missing from the equation.
I see it's ok when a filipino squats on native american lands?
ReplyDeleteI'm just as native American as Tonto, Chief. Vancouver, Washington, USA. I was born an American. I was raised an American. I will die an American. In AMERICA.
But......you said once when you retire you are heading back to the Philippines......? Be able to afford a maid, a driver, that sort of things.......glad you are going to stay around though......
DeleteBut your ancestors are from the Philippines. You may be BORN here but you are an occupier... By the same definitions you say that Jews BORN in Israel are occupiers... Except that those Jews? Are liberating their historic homeland.
DeleteYour historic homeland? Is an island in the pacific.
WiO has made a good point there, Miss T.
DeleteYou must admit he has you in a box there.
I am off to the living room to watch the football game.....
Seahawks up at 3:30 also, I think it is.....!!
The Palestinian Authority has officially apologized to the Czech Republic over weapons that were recently discovered in the Palestinian mission in Prague.
DeleteCzech authorities discovered 12 weapons and explosives inside the mission after a blast killed Palestinian ambassador Jamal al-Jamal earlier this month.
Pardon me while I laugh....
Which country has the least percent of atheists?
ReplyDeleteWhich country has the most percent of atheists?
Ans: later sometime
Mr. Netanyahu's failure to keep his campaign promise of getting Israel off the American foreign aid dole has greatly disappointed me and has left Israel open to the continued criticism of dependency.
ReplyDeleteIsrael's dependency caused her to halt the development of a state-of-the-art aircraft. This cost Israel the profit on the sale of 400+ booked sales and, most importantly, has left her defense strategically dependent on the good graces of an ally notorious for throwing its "friends" under the bus, e.g. Viet Nam and Poland. Had Israel completed its version of the F-22, her relevance to the negotiations on Syria and Iran would be vastly different than today.
Israel had better soon understand that America of today is not the America we learned about in our history books.
DeleteToday? America is on purpose flushing the concept of greatness, liberty and justice down the toilet, in exchange for american averageness. Under Obama? We are being cuckholded on purpose. No more American Exceptionalism, no more being a shining city on a hill. Now we are just a colonial economic empire that has committed crimes against the 3rd world and needs to be whipped....
Maybe it will change back, maybe not. But at this time? Israel should cut off all aid from America and understand that, under Obama, America is not an ally of Israel.
In fact? Obama aint an ally of America either....
DeleteLOL
that just makes the shit pie even worse...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Delete.
DeleteAn American is accused of being anti-Semite and anti-Israel for criticizing the policies of a foreign government, Israel.
Yet, using the same logic, what does that make another guy who never criticizes Israeli policies but is constantly criticizing American policies?
Ans: later sometime.
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no an american is accused of being an anti-semite not for finding fault with israel or it's policies but applying one standard for Israel and none for anyone else.
Deleteput that in your pipe and shove it where the sun don't shine.
Just for the record. there are many issues that find wrong about israel. I just don't discuss it with those that seek or support the destruction of the state of israel.
Deletewhy should i feed the trolls?
now as an american, born and raised here I have every right to criticize america.
inf fact it's my patriotic DUTY to speak truth to my elected representative and nation.
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DeleteIMO, you protest too much. The term Jewish is perfect for you, a religion, a tradition, a nationality, a race, on and on. It provides you with the perfect excuse to charge anyone you want regardless of what they say on no matter what subject with being anti-Semitic. Even your charge that people have one standard for Israel and none for anyone else is hypocritical since you hold the same standard for Israel except in reverse.
You wield the term anti-Semitic like a club trying to cow people into silence; unfortunately for you, it doesn't often work with people who can see your intent.
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quirk, nonsense.
Deletesimply put you are full of it.
but hold on to your allusions, since that is all you have.
remember you are the one that said "take your zionism and shove up your ass"
you are the one that doesn't support the Jewish people's right to self determination.
it is you that protests too much... and to often.
see if you can get this thru your cave man thick skull
Deleteholding Israel or Jews to a standard that you hold no one else to? is anti-semitic.
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Deleteremember you are the one that said "take your zionism and shove up your ass"
you are the one that doesn't support the Jewish people's right to self determination.
You misrepresent, mis-quote, and wherever possible take things out of context. What you fail to mention was that my comment was within the context of our ongoing argument centering on Bibi's pre-condition for peace talks that the Palestinians acknowledge Israel not only as a sovereign state but as a Jewish state and my disagreement with the policy of Zionism. You were pushing the inane argument that you equate Zionism with Israeli self-determination. The idea is absurd.
Israel is a sovereign state and is recognized as such. It is a Zionist state because that is its choice not because someone who is not Israeli approves of the policy of Zionism. It has self-determination to choose Zionism if that is the system it wants to live under. It also has the self-determination to live under a totally different system if it chose to. The fact than I don't like Zionism affects their decision not one iota. The Palestinians say the same thing, we recognize Israel as a sovereign state, don't ask us what system you should live under, it's up to Israel to decide.
Your comments to me that being anti-Zionist means that I am anti-Semitic, that I want Israel to disappear, that I would cheer seeing Jews machine-gunned or done away with 'by any means necessary' is thoroughly bizarre and disturbing. You are one sick puppy and should seek help. Your paranoia and fixation are beyond the pale.
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Deleteholding Israel or Jews to a standard that you hold no one else to
Lordy, can't you see you do the exact thing you accuse me of?
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DeleteFrom Merriam-Webster:
self–de·ter·mi·na·tion noun \-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən\
: the right of the people of a particular place to choose the form of government they will have
: the freedom to make your own choices
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So, here we sit, with way too many unemployed, and a budget deficit that is definitely in a lot better shape than just a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteWe also know that oil is close to peaking, and that it is getting expensive.
Sounds to me like a good time for the government to start putting some money/tax credits/etc into cellulosic ethanol plants - perhaps with a caveat that all parts would be sourced Nationally (locally, when possible.) Get some construction guys working, create a few manufacturing jobs.
Oil is close to peaking? You said it DID peak, in 2005, because that's what the Oil Drum's party line was, until we blew right through that "peak". Now the Oil Drum has closed up shop.
DeleteThe "oil drummers" ran out of energy, and oil money at about the same time. I don't, and never have, spoken for them.
DeleteBUT, in the 8 years up to, and including, 2005, oil production increased by a Million Barrels/ Yr. Since 2005 production has increased by 1/4 th that (250,000 bbl/day, per year.)
We are getting close to the midpoint of the bell curve.
The 2014 Ford F-150 gets great gas mileage for a pickup.
DeleteMost atheists: China (some where around 50/50 split)
Least atheists: India (hardly any at all, a testimony to their sophisticated understanding of things)
Note to Quirk: copycat
ReplyDeleteDenver is winning.......
60 degrees under cloudless sky in Denver believe it or not as it make no difference to me whether you do or don't.......
Seattle/San Fran up soon
Miss T in 'full burka' Polar Bear Coat
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Men's+Polar+Bear+Coats+-+pics&qpvt=Men%27s+Polar+Bear+Coats+-+pics&FORM=IGRE&id=F0240DB65393C9A4E7297267C0FFAB86C910A426&selectedIndex=59#view=detail&id=F0240DB65393C9A4E7297267C0FFAB86C910A426&selectedIndex=0
Quirk kept pestering her to dress like brother/sister twins so she got the full body/head cover to conceal her identity.
Quirk is 'weird', isn't he?
Really weird.......
I'd say just a little quirky
Delete.
DeletePolar Bear?
That looks like a picture of something you might have poisoned in Idaho.
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Speaking of Quirky -
DeleteThe Ambien Defense
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/americas-number-one-prescription-sleep-aid-could-trigger-zombies-murder-and-other-disturbing?page=0%2C0&ak_proof=1&akid=.1121926.wDJK8-&rd=1&src=newsletter948677&t=11
Quirk used this defense before a Spanish court once, after being arrested in a subway in Barcelona by the Guardia Civil during some truly odd quirky behavior with a more than willing Gypsy woman. I will not describe the behavior but the truth is both Q and the Gypsy were blotto on Vodka, and Quirk was on Cialis as well.......
It was not a Jury trial but of all things the Spanish Judge was a Lady with a bullfighter son, who, after listening to all Q's carefully thought out Ambien defense, ("I don't remember a thing your honor, but this is what happened) issued a not guilty on the grounds that "No real harm was done, and the spectators seemed to enjoy the performance"..
The local Catholic Church was outraged by the ruling, saying, "life lived in such a debauched manner sucks".
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ReplyDelete...one-prescription-sleep-aid-could-trigger-zombies-murder...
The biggest problem would likely be the shortage of zombies.
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If you are having a problem following the 'logic' of the above statement, Dear Reader, you ain't quirkin' it.
DeleteThe top country where Christians suffer, for the 12th consecutive year, remained communist North Korea, though the nine following countries in the top ten were Islamic: Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Pakistan, Iran and Yemen.
ReplyDelete“The one glaring fact that emerges from this report,” American-born scholar Raymond Ibrahim said in his analysis of the statistics on the Christian Broadcasting Network News website, “is that the overwhelming majority of Christian persecution around the world today is being committed at the hands of Muslims of all races, languages, cultures and socio-political circumstances: Muslims from among America’s allies (Saudi Arabia) and its enemies (Iran); Muslims from economically rich nations (Qatar) and from poor nations (Somalia and Yemen); Muslims from ‘Islamic republic’ nations (Afghanistan) and from ‘moderate’ nations (Malaysia and Indonesia); [and] Muslims from nations rescued by America (Kuwait).”
Report: Persecution of Christians reveals most abuse in Muslim countries
1400 years their 'religion' has stained the earth with the blood of the innocent.
DeleteIs it any wonder why I curse G_D?
No one is out of the cross hairs of the followers of the murdering pedophile.
ReplyDeleteNot even other followers.
10 to 3 San Fran at half time.
ReplyDeleteWilson the Seattle QB is always under pressure.
Something has to change or Seattle is going down.
By the way Quirk has changed, from the Polar Bear unit, to something real colorful, some kind of robe dealie, and Miss T has shed the burka in favor of nearly exposed breasts with a Polar Bear wrap round.
They are low down about on the 15 yard line.
So far no overt misbehavior by either......quite strange....
Could be they've both toked up and mellowed out......
DeleteOr Quirk got on to the Police knowing about his, er, 'borrowed', Polar Bear Coats.
DeleteBoth, probably......
Seattle 20 !!!!!
DeleteSF 13
Listening on radio now.....
TV went out.......last I saw Miss T was on Q's shoulders down near field, reaching up for the moveable overhead camera.....,wanted to take a ride, it looked like.......
Seattle got a big break on a bad call concerning roughing the kicker.......called a minor foul, it should have been a major.....game making call perhaps......
Delete3rd and five for SF.....
Delete1st down
DeleteOh my.......fumble......1st and goal Seattle on the 6
Delete2nd and 5 to touchdown
Deletepenalty, second and 10
DeleteSeattle most penalized team......
3rd and goal, bad pass
DeleteSeattle first and goal at the 1........
Deletewhat to do what to do?
Injury time out......radio announcer mentioned something about two field invaders, a man and a women, just being arrested......
DeleteMight have been a another bad call here......Seattle looked to have fumbled and SF looked to have recovered.....no challenge......another fumble all the way back to the 15........SF ball....
Deleteah jeez
Seattle intercepts !!
DeletePay dirt forty yards away......7+ minutes left....
Over on the sidelines, looks like the Noble Quirk has been tased protecting Miss T....
DeleteSeattle on 26......great game this last half......
Quirk is flopping around the ground like a dying fish.....bellowing like a polar bear......
DeleteField goal time.........
DeleteGood
Seattle 23
SF 17
Most noble effort of the day so far......Q standing up for Miss T when surrounded by mounted Seattle Police and NFL Special Agents.......Q being taken out on a Seahawks stretcher.......cuffed and gagged......
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteMost noble LOSING effort.....Miss T taken out and away in paddy car....
DeleteFireworks over here.
DeleteWonderful game, really. TV went off here, then the computer malfunctioned.
DeleteHad a couple last snarky comments about our disruptive duo but have forgotten them now.
Won $10 from my wife......
Really looking forward to the Super Bowl, something I'm usually not much interested in watching.
Iran invitation puts Syrian peace talks in jeopardy
ReplyDeleteBan Ki-moon's invitation to Tehran to attend peace talks in Switzerland causes alarm among Syrian opposition
...looks like Iran IS in...Israel is still out...Hmm...
...and a word from the Clown in Chief...
ReplyDeleteObama Says Racial Animus Blunts Approval, New Yorker Reports
I saw that......what a laugher.......when whitey was in approval I didn't notice him mentioning racism......it was all because he was such a great guy.......just maybe people have decided he isn't......after all we've all known his racial background from the git-go.
Deletetest
ReplyDeleteOne cool cat -
ReplyDeleteLeave it to Leno.
You have to see this remarkable cat! (only 33 seconds)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVL1Olreik8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
January 19, 2014
ReplyDeleteDid Snowden have help from Russian spies?
Thomas Lifson
In what is either an explosive revelation or a reckless charge, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee is suggesting on Meet the Press today that Edward Snowden had help from Russian spies. Joel Gehrke of The Examiner writes:
National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden had outside help, perhaps from Russian spies, according to the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
"This was a thief, who we believe had some help, who stole information the vast majority had nothing to do with privacy." Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who heads up the intel panel, told NBC's "Meet the Press" in an interview that will air Sunday. "Our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines have been incredibly harmed by the data that he has taken with him and we believe now is in the hands of nation-states." NBC released an excerpt of the interview late Saturday.
Rogers seems to be arguing not from secret information about actual contact with Russian agents, but merely looking through the analytical of cui bono? - who benefits? That is suggestive, not dispositive.
"First of all, if it was a privacy concern he had, he didn't look for information on the privacy side for Americans," Rogers explained. "He was stealing information that had to do with how we operate overseas to collect information to keep Americans safe. That begs the question. And some of the things he did were beyond his technical capabilities. Raises more questions. How he arranged travel before he left. How he was ready to go, he had a 'go bag,' if you will."
Rogers added that he "believe[s] there's a reason he ended up in the hands, the loving arms, of an FSB agent in Moscow. I don't think that's a coincidence."
Snowden remains a puzzle. There are a lot of factors about him that don't readily fit together into a coherent package, which suggests that some relevant facts are missing. My colleague Rick Moran suggests that if Snowden did have help from the Russians, he may have been so naïve as to not have realized it. The fact that he first fled to Hong Kong is a little confusing, indicating that he gave the Chinese first shot at his treasure trove of data. Of course, fleeing hopping a nonstop flight out of Honolulu will not take you to Moscow, but it will get you to Hong Kong, outside the ability of the United States to prevail upon local authorities to take on into custody.
Then there is the small matter of his live-in stripper pole-dancing girlfriend, left behind, and apparently in the lurch. Not that many nerdy guys plan ahead to acquire and then ditch a very flexible hottie, leaving behind a home in a tropical paradise in favor of a winter in Moscow. Maybe this indicates a guy who didn't think through his plans very well. Or maybe it indicates ice water in his veins.
What is becoming clearer is that he has done a lot of damage to our intelligence services, and the ultimate price of that remains to be seen.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/01/did_snowden_have_help_from_russian_spies.html#ixzz2qvLrE8LY
Follow us: @AmericanThinker on Twitter | AmericanThinker on Facebook
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DeleteI saw this charge coming from the usual suspects, Mike Rogers and other members of the oxymoronically named 'intelligence committees'. My opinion is he is merely covering his ass, he and the security services he and his bros on the committees provide cover for. Despite everything that has been written about Snowden's expertise, Rogers et al can't believe one man could pull all the files all by himself.
We just saw last week the Target security breech affecting the records of over 100 million (and growing) people was pulled off using a program written and marketed by a 17 year old. No telling how many others retailers will be affected by the same malware.
Rogers, Feinstein, King are all tools of the NSA and other intelligence agencies.
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Some articles seemed to cast some kind of blame on Target.
DeleteDid Target do anything wrong?
If 100 million die because I failed to enlighten them with my bottomless wisdom, can I be held liable?
(this raw spot on my ass makes me wish I was bottomless)
I will refrain from commenting so as to avoid irritating the Catholics, the lapsed Catholics, and the Catholic converts from Taoism among us -- but will say this whole story has a hell of a humorous side - and we all hope for a happy life for both Madonna and Child -
ReplyDeleteNun gives birth to baby named after Pope
A nun from El Salvador has given birth to a baby boy in Italy - and named the child after Pope Francis
A Catholic nun from El Salvador has given birth to a baby boy in Italy - and named the child after Pope Francis
The discovery of the nun's pregnancy has embarrassed the Catholic Church in Italy Photo: Getty Images
Nick Squires
By Nick Squires
2:05PM GMT 18 Jan 2014
A nun who was rushed to hospital complaining of acute stomach pains has given birth to a baby boy – and named him Francesco after the Pope.
The 31-year-old nun began to feel severe abdominal cramps on Wednesday and gave birth just a few hours later.
The discovery of her pregnancy has embarrassed the Catholic Church in Italy, with the local bishop saying that she will have to leave her convent in Rieti, north of Rome, after breaking her vow of chastity.
"It would be preferable that she now lead a secular life with her baby, away from religious institutions," said a spokesman for Delio Lucarelli, bishop of Rieti.
The nun, who is from El Salvador, had kept her pregnancy a secret and even as she was being taken to hospital in an ambulance denied that she could be pregnant.
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"It's not possible, I'm a nun," she told doctors, according to the Italian press.
The nun, who has not been named, had been working in an old people's home attached to the Campomoro convent near Rieti. She was a member of the Little Disciples of Jesus order.
The convent's mother superior, Sister Erminia, said: "It seems she was not able to resist temptation."
There was speculation that the nun may have fallen pregnant during a visit to her home country last year.
She named the baby boy, who weighed 7.7lbs, Francesco – apparently in tribute to Pope Francis.
"Both mother and baby are in good health," said Pasquale Carducci, the director of the local hospital.
Sisters in the convent said they had no idea she was expecting a baby.
"We noticed she had put on weight but recently she had kept herself to herself," one said.
The local diocese said assistance would be given to the woman and her baby for a few weeks until she decided on her future.
The mayor of Rieti also offered help.
"If she needs assistance we will provide it, as we would for anybody," said Simone Petrangeli.
She could plead "the Ambien Defense", join the class action lawsuit, and come out of this thing a big winner.....
DeleteWhat's the definition of confusion in the Catholic Dictionary?
Father's Day at the old people's home attached to the Campomoro convent near Rieti.
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DeleteHmmm.
You say you will refrain from commenting on it and yet you just did.
The story has a humorous side? What is it?
I'm sure this isn't the first time this story has played out. I doubt it will be the last. However, I do find it funny (not ha ha funny, of course, but the other funny) that you find it funny ?
You have a young woman who is a nun. Now she is a single mother and in a couple weeks she will have no job. The story didn't bother to say how much education she has but from the way the story read she didn't seem to be the sharpest tool in the box. But then what do I know?
But you are the unchallenged champion of women on the blog, explain to me what is funny about a 31 year old single mother with no job?
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""We noticed she had put on weight but recently she had kept herself to herself," one said."
DeleteOne Nun said.
Only she knew she wasn't by herself.
You can wish her a happy life, Bob, but PLEASE don't bring Madonna into this.
Delete"What's the definition of confusion in the Catholic Dictionary?"
DeleteConfession
"But then what do I know?"
DeleteI've never made the claim that you know anything. So how should I know?
Quirk, your post above is the PERFECT illustration of a lapser.........of course we all wish her well, of course she will probably have problems......there is nothing funny about a 31 year old mother with no job.......after all, "Life Sucks".....
......but it still has its humorous side, whether you wish to acknowledge it or not......but since you are shedding dandruff in high dudgeon over it I will leave it to the imaginations of others.......
The Catholic Church could easily provide her with another job if they chose to do so, by the way.....or they could do away with this non sense about Priests and Nuns abstaining from that which comes naturally, and, we have read, right from God, too. Even Jesus kissed Mary Mag right on the mouth, and maybe more, according to the Gnostic Gospels......
Quirk, I've been called everything here from Champion of Women to World's Worst Misogynist, from commie to Nazi to Christian liberationist....
DeleteI'm none of it. I'm a farmer.
Women should have the same rights as men, maybe in some situations, even more, like here in Idaho where a frightened woman is accorded a little more leeway by the law when reaching for the concealed weapon.....
While you reactively defend an institution that puts women in the second class category of not being fit for the Priesthood.....
For shame !!
;)
"Even Jesus kissed Mary Mag right on the mouth, and maybe more, according to the Gnostic Gospels......"
DeleteAnd why shouldn't he?
Jesus was, after all, according to the creeds, 'fully human', even though 'without sin', which is a whopper, he was not without anger, for instance, one of the deadlies, and even 'fully God', who is said to possess wrath, anger on divine steroids ........ God is also said to be impassive.....it's all very confusing....
.
DeleteI was hardly defending the Catholic Church. It is unclear how long she was a nun but seems patently unfair for them to merely say we will take care of you for a couple weeks until you can make other arrangements. However, may I point out that it is you, when asked a simple question you can't answer out of frustration launch into an attack on the practices of the Church. Actually, I have made the same attacks with regard to the role of women in the Church but what does that have to do with the question at hand. I don't find those practices as especially funny either.
Once again, you have failed to answer the question. What is 'humorous' about her situation?
......but it still has its humorous side, whether you wish to acknowledge it or not......but since you are shedding dandruff in high dudgeon over it I will leave it to the imaginations of others.......
If it's so damn obviously simply say it, not what is in others imagination, tell us what you imagine is so humorous.
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DeleteYou might have called the situation 'ironic' what with the Church being a religious institution and all. Had you done so, I wouldn't have commented. But you didn't call it ironic, you called it humorous. You being and English major, I'm sure your are aware of the difference in meaning between the two words.
You say I am in high dudgeon. If so it has nothing to do with the Church but rather with the loose way you throw words around.
If you want to prove me wrong quit filibustering and simple tell me what is so damn funny.
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DeleteQuirk, I've been called everything here from Champion of Women to World's Worst Misogynist, from commie to Nazi to Christian liberationist....
Other than the first, not by me.
Champion of Women
I have called you that, but since you seem to misunderstand the word irony, let me point out that when applied to you that phrase is a great example of irony.
As to the other words,
World's Worst Misogynist
Naw, I reserve that for one of your other buddies.
Nazi
I leave that word to be sputtered by you and the rest of your ilk in the gang of four.
Christian liberationist
Since I had to google the term to even find out what it meant, it is highly unlikely I ever called you that. I, unlike you, am usually pretty careful with the words I use. And even after googling the term, the only thing that came up was Liberation Theology which frankly is at odds with everything you purport to believe. Had I used the term with that intended meaning it would not have even been ironic but merely untrue.
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3 types:
ReplyDeleteUnfunny Assclowns
Meet Rufus
4 types.......vodka drinking supercilious fraudulent lapsers who...o well, I stop.....
Delete;)
ReplyDelete"Moderate" "Palestinian" Authority President Abbas refers to jihad murderers as "heroes" four times in speech
"Of course, Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with anyone who is dedicated to its destruction. But while I know you have had differences with the Palestinian Authority, I believe that you do have a true partner in President Abbas..." -- Barack Obama, March 21, 2013
"Terrorist murderers are 'heroes,' Abbas said four times in speech," by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik for Palestinian Media Watch, January 19:
In December 2013, Israel released 26 Palestinian terrorist murderers from prison. In his speech at the PA event celebrating their release, Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the terrorists and called them "heroes" four times during his speech:
"[The release of our prisoners] is a day of joy for our nation, for our people, for our heroic prisoners... There will be more groups of heroes who will come to us... They [the Israelis] postponed these heroes' release by 24 hours... we congratulate you and ourselves for the [release] of these heroes."
[Official PA TV, Dec. 31, 2013]
Click to view
Israel released these terrorists because the PA demanded Israel release 104 prisoners from jail, all of them murderers, in order for the PA to resume peace negotiations with Israel.
Three released terrorist "heroes" celebrated with Abbas on stage:
Jamal Abu Muhsin - stabbed a 76 year-old Israeli civilian to death in a park in 1991.
Ahmad Kmeil - a commander of a terrorist cell that murdered an Israeli soldier and 15 Palestinians who they suspected of helping Israel.
Na'im Al-Shawamreh - placed a bomb in 1993 that killed the police sapper who was trying to defuse it.
DeleteAbbas regularly presents murderers as "heroes." Palestinian Media Watch documented that Abbas welcomed the previous group of released terrorists in a similar way, calling them "our heroic brothers."
In September 2013, on the same day that Abbas was at the UN talking about peace, the PA held a memorial honoring terrorist Abu Sukkar who planned a bombing in 1975 using a refrigerator filled with explosives. 15 Israelis were killed and over 60 were wounded in that attack. Abbas, in his speech for the event (which was read by Jibril Rajoub), called the murderer "a hero," "a legend," and "a beacon."
In his recent speech to the released terrorists, Abbas promised that "there will be no final agreement [with Israel] unless all the prisoners are in their homes." PMW has reported that in the past, Abbas has stated that his goal is to see the release of specific terrorists, who Israel refuses to release because of the severity of their crimes. When Israel released 1,027 terrorists in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held hostage by Hamas for more than 5 years, Abbas ended his welcome speech wishing for the release of four specific murderers:
"Allah willing, soon we will see here brother Marwan Barghouti, brother Ahmad Sa'adat, Ibrahim Hamed, and Abbas Al-Sayid."
Marwan Barghouti - serving five life sentences for orchestrating terror attacks against Israeli civilians.
Ahmad Sa'adat - serving a 30-year sentence for heading the PFLP terror organization. A song at a PFLP event also praised him for planning the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi in 2001, but he has not been tried for this crime.
Ibrahim Hamed - Hamas military leader serving 54 life sentences for planning many suicide attacks and bombings, at the Hebrew University, Cafe Moment and Cafe Hillel suicide bombings, and others.
Abbas Al-Sayid - serving 35 life sentences for planning two suicide bombings, one in 2002 at a Passover dinner, killing 30 Israelis, and another in 2001, killing 5 and wounding 100.
In another speech in 2008, Abbas chose to "send greetings of honor and esteem" to some of the same terrorists as well as others.
Click to see more examples of Abbas' glorification of terrorists.
The following is an excerpt from Abbas' speech in which he referred to released murderers as "heroes" four times:
"[The release of our prisoners] is a day of joy for our nation, for our people, for our heroic prisoners... We promise you that this will not be the last time. There will be more groups of heroes who will come to us one after the other, Allah willing, soon. We promise you that there will be no final agreement [with Israel] unless all the prisoners are in their homes. They [the Israelis] postponed these heroes' release by 24 hours and this is something we do not accept. Once again, we congratulate you and ourselves for the [release] of these heroes."
[Official PA TV, Dec. 31, 2013]...
Posted by Robert Spencer on January 19, 2014
Jihad Watch
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou might have called the situation 'ironic' what with the Church being a religious institution and all. Had you done so, I wouldn't have commented. But you didn't call it ironic, you called it humorous. You being and English major, I'm sure your are aware of the difference in meaning between the two words.
ReplyDeleteYou say I am in high dudgeon. If so it has nothing to do with the Church but rather with the loose way you throw words around.
If you want to prove me wrong quit filibustering and simple tell me what is so damn funny. more help visit https://thebideinfo.com/36/Himachal-Pradesh