Disqus - Latest Comments for Muffler

Re: Waterboarding: Two Other Perspectives

Muffler — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:21:08 -0000

I am mystified. In WWII (which is considered the baseline) the Nazi's shot, tortured, used meat hooks, performed experiments and did all sorts of ghastly stuff to people. Officially the allies didn't torture and we took the high road maintaining our moral ground. Why all of a sudden if the other side tortures and does other nasty things do we have to announce that we will also do it. At what point have you actually sacrificed the thing you are trying to protect?

The US has always done some questionable things, but we were smart enough to manage the perception. I'm sorry to say this administration lacks the intellectual subtlety and finesse to maintain world perceptions and accomplish the necessary goals. If they had just done this as we always have then we would still have the moral authority in the world and a much better diplomatic and influential position. They just throw decades of goodwill out the window to look tough. It was unnecessary and short sighted.

Re: Waterboarding: Two Other Perspectives

Muffler — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:48:27 -0000

You kill me. What are you an English teacher? You certainly are not a History teacher. Stick to your expertise.

I like the Dresden argument and the "only" three water boardings comment. I fail to see how this idea works on so many levels. I have a feeling we forgot the kidnappings and suspension of Habeas Corpus. Iraq was a war of choice and not defense. The facts stand as they are and we were lied to as a country by our leadership. If they attacked we would have bombed Baghdad to dust. I have no doubt about that. It would have been an all out invasion and the end would have happened already.

The scolding of the US should be expected since for generations we have held ourselves out as the moral authority. We supported the test ban treaty, the Geneva convention, held the Nuremberg trials, upheld human rights and used all that to further our countries standing in the world. Now when to going gets a bit tough we are willing to just throw all that out the window.

You can't fight evil with evil. You have to set the bar so that people can choose the way they want to live. The excuse that it's OK for us to torture since they do worse is one that stopped working in Kindergarten. Just wait until China and the new Russia get ready to engage us... you have no idea how misplaced our priorities are and how badly we have destroyed our goodwill and moral authority in the world.

It's like the Pope coming out of the closet.

Re: Waterboarding: Two Other Perspectives

Muffler — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:58:20 -0000

I read your link to Don Surbar. Never read him before. He's an idiot.

Re: The Ever-Despicable Helen Thomas

Muffler — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:33:42 -0000

I find the lack of accounting for the entire impact of the war as completely unprofessional. Helen has every right to ask these questions and I find it strange that no one else does.

For Ms. Perino to patronize Helen and make it look like being in the White House Press Room is an honor provided by the Emperor is narcissistic. The White House Press Room is a requirement by the people of the United States and the President serves at the pleasure of the people.

Let's get our priorities straight. Bush is Commander and Chief of the Armed forces (ONLY! as defined by the Constitution), but he is completely the servant of the people!. Ms. Perino therefore has her job because the people require answers to our Governments actions and the press is our first line of inquiry, All questions are important. Especially the ones they don't want to answer.

Muffler

Re: The Ever-Despicable Helen Thomas

Muffler — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:35:27 -0000

Way to teach your children. Brush stroke bigotry started so young.

Re: Obama Did Register for the Selective Service -- Political Wire

Muffler — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:01:31 -0000

Why do we even give these rumors any sway. I think the rumor givers need to substantiate with evidence when posting. Otherwise it is anonymous libel.

Re: Obama Leads McCain Among Christians -- Political Wire

Muffler — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:04:13 -0000

I smell blow out in the general election. The MSM might be calling it tight, but the actual numbers and facts point to major defeat for McWalkingCane.

Re: http://www.americablog.com/2008/12/secs-cox-we-ignored-madoff-warnings.html

Muffler — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:04:34 -0000

Notice once again that the senior Bush administration has an excuse! The "Who could have anticipated this?" quote is due any minute. Well I say we put them all in jail and let the prisoners sort them out one by one. Enough for the white collar crimes. If ONE person dies because they have nothing left to cover the medical procedures they need then Madoff should be tried on accessory to murder or homicide. Let that one stick a little.

Re: Why is McCain suddenly downplaying 'Cross in the dirt'?

Muffler — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:38:08 -0000

McCain does not get Card Blanche because he was a POW. That was 30 years ago and he has done many bad things in the majority of his life after being a POW. Kerry was in Vietnam as was Gore, so the hypocrisy of the Republican's is wrong. What bothers me the most is the hubris of the usage of this POW experience. You can't discuss it, but it's OK to hide behind it. No!

Re: Did they just cross the line on 9/11?

Muffler — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:18:27 -0000

I lived it and it makes me sick! They first come to NYC 4 years ago and then do this.. yuck! They are low class and fear mongers.

Obama/Biden 08!!!

Re: The Body of Christ, Sweet Swimmer's Build, all Muscled-Up and Toned

Muffler — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:37:39 -0000

It was just a cracker and the kid didn't exactly put it on EBay. People do dumb things, but if the cracker is the body of Christ then the kid is personally responsible for his own soul. I'm not religious, but if the kid took a symbol of his God out of the prescribed ritual then one would think that God might be angry that 1) he broke a commandment - stealing (doubtful) and 2) he broke the ritual. I think other Christians would feel pity and remorse for him and not hatred... but this is America in the 21st century -or is it Spain in the 15th? Where are the adults?

Re: McCain’s Choice, Palin Had Taxpayers Cover Her Stays At Home

Muffler — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:38:48 -0000

The point is she is just stealing less than the previous incumbent while claiming to be a reformer. So if I mug people for spare change am I a reformer compared to the guy who robbed stores?

Re: Iran Scared Of Non-Preconditions Negotiations

Muffler — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:17:17 -0000

So as soon as the U.S takes a more calibrated approach to Iran they loose their advantage from calling the US as the aggressor. So now it appears that Obama has put a light on that forces Iran to show it's real intentions to the whole world. Advantage US. Nice to see someone smart on the way to the White House.

Re: 1993 All Over Again?

Muffler — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:37:55 -0000

CAPearl - Why do you just synch back the talking points. Are you waiting for someone to digest and then read you the legislation. I'm not a fan of 800 Billion dollar packages, but I do believe that we don't read our legislation and ask questions. The 355 million dollars was NOT for condoms. It was to help the states meet the cost of some family planning services in an attempt to reduce unwanted pregnancies and probably abortions. These services are expected to be cut due to budget shortages. So read and understand. By the way, you see the culture war here. Your so mad at 355 million dollars on "condoms and abortions" that you have absolutely no idea how the other 745 billion is being spent. Magic!

Re: From an AIG Executive, the Other Side of the Story

Muffler — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:01:18 -0000

The end of year bonuses are usually defined by management through a pool. The size of the pool is based on the firms complete earnings and profitability. If one side of the firm fails the ENTIRE firm suffers. That is what a team is about. Maybe if everyone at AIG were under the assumption of all for one and one for all then the CDS team would have been better watched. Sorry Mr. DeSantis, but your COMPANY screwed up and maybe you should help fix it for the rest of America and not just yourself. BTW I've been on Wall Street for 24 years and when the traders screwed up the support staff took the reductions in bonus, but we kept working for the team. So I've been taking the business losses for years in my bonuses while you guys got rewarded for screwing up. Grow Up!

Re: Protesting Too Much

Muffler — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:06:17 -0000

I’d read it if one person can find an original government source link for the document. I can’t and I am seriously doubting the origins of the paper. It’s not classified and so it would or should be easy to provide a link. Sorry, but these things take many months to produce and I doubt it was commissioned in 2009 if at all. It actually looks like a fraud to me. The whole thing has too good of a specific timing to infuriate and scare the right wing. Isn’t anyone looking at the timing and the content. Perfect marketing. I doubt the origins.

Re: @ McGraw-Hill: NBCU's Zucker Calls Out Jon Stewart: Blaming CNBC Is 'Absurd'

Muffler — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:24:16 -0000

What was he supposed to say? These guys never admit any possible wrong doing or inappropriate behavior. The bottom line is that Businessweek, CNBC, MSNBC and NBC all report through one single mind. News? What news?

Re: Barack Obama Has 300 Foreign Policy Advisers To Tell Him What To Think About World Events

Muffler — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:53:42 -0000

Check the source of this information. Do you really think it is possible for anyone to have 300 advisors? He couldn't possible handle that many voices.It's totally fabricated information.

Elisabeth Bumiller, who wrote this article, has supported the Bush administration as a white house correspondent and is writing the biography of Condi Rice. The whole thing is meant to create more distraction. Take a step back and think about it.