Disqus - Latest Comments for bigbingtheory

Re: Disproportionate Force - Intellectually Speaking (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:48:00 -0000

I'm not sure why there is a need to belittle someone you disagree with. Laura has some legitimate questions and Karen doesn't answer very well. But why talk down to someone because you disagree with them politically. Can't we have a civil discourse? Recognize that despite differences in political thought we all love our country and want what's best for it. It may surprise liberals think your ideas are as un-American as you think ours are. But here we are, in the greatest country in the world, fellow citizens. Laura unfortunately is not doing anything for political discourse. Now we need it more than ever, no?

Re: Be Really Rude and Act Like You’re 12 Years Old (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:00:35 -0000

Technically heckling would mean Medea would have been interacting or yelling in response. So she is correct. This was clearly a publicity stunt which most succesful political protests are. I don't understand why Laura feels so superior here. A peace activist and American citizen tries to get an audience with the Prime Minister of a country we are occupying is a legitimate and non violent thing to do.
I don't want to be a troll here. From what I've seen from the few posts I've checked out the tone is more reasonable. I'd like to get a dialogue going.

Re: “Obsession: What the War on Terror is Really About” (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:13:24 -0000

It's not blindness Joyce. I understand your frustration but honestly we don't agree with how this fight is being fought. It's not out of compacency, it's out of a fear this war against jihadists is becoming more dangerous and further from a conclusion. Those who oppose how the Bush administration is handling terrorism believe there has to be better ways to defeat our enemies. We want the same things as you do, love our country just as much. Just disagree strongly on what needs to be done.

Re: 10,000 Katyusha Rockets Are Enough! (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:43:12 -0000

"If I hear disproportionate force, one more time I'm going to lose it.."
I think she lost "it." A long time ago.

Re: Disproportionate Force - Intellectually Speaking (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:32:36 -0000

Yes, I'm completely serious. Laura didn't let her finish a thought and she put words in her mouth. There are plans and amendments to bills have been put forth by Democrats and Laura and anyone else interested can check them out. Go to Senator's and Conressmen's web sites and check their voting records and press releases. There are Democratic plans and proposals everywhere and unfortunately you don't hear the press saying much about them thus creating a convenient illusion that we have no plan and just hate Bush. Karen said it best when she told Laura that she had answered the question but Laura didn't like it.

Re: Disproportionate Force - Intellectually Speaking (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:39:49 -0000

My point was, Laura was combative and cynical. Thee wasn't any civility in her questioning and re phrasing she did of Karen's words.

Re: Be Really Rude and Act Like You’re 12 Years Old (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:43:01 -0000

The Boston Tea Party ia an excellent example. Yes I am serious, You don't think we have a right to reress our grievances to the government. Have you not heard of civil disobedience, sit ins, boycotts and marches are all part of the long history of American protests.

Re: 10,000 Katyusha Rockets Are Enough! (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:46:50 -0000

To you maybe. Tell me are you tolerant of any idea that you don't agree with? Thee are always two sides to the story and there are few instances in life where we have the luxury of things being in black and white. Thee is an argument and a legitimate one to be made that Israel is over reacting or at the least reacting the wrong way.

Re: Disproportionate Force - Intellectually Speaking (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 21:21:58 -0000

Don't you think it's unlikely an entire group of people just have an irrational and crazy hatred for Bush? Or is it more probable that people might actually have reasons for being so critical. We've got plans, go look. It's easier for you to demonize than to try and understand.

Re: “Obsession: What the War on Terror is Really About” (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 21:33:03 -0000

Nice, you block my access then criticize me for not responding.
We is those who criticize the President, that's liberals, moderates, Democrats and even some ture conservatives and republicans. We in this case, is everyone you don't want to hear from.
Whose conclusion you ask? The world. Everyone. Yes you're correct there are people out there bent ondestroting us and Bush's policies of bomb first and ask questions later has created more jihadis.
A better way to deal with this would be to use real diplomacy. Talking and considering other's views instead of acting like bullies. It is a fact that we are not as popular as we once were in the world. Despite what some might think we do need other countries help and cooperation at times and it is easier to get if we have good diplomatic relations. Diplomacy does matter.
What needs to be done? *sigh*
fix this mess we're in. Mend our relationships with our allies through diplomacy as I mentioned above. Use our military in a prudent manner through redployment. There is no doubt that terrorist organizations and hard liners have risen up against us due to our botching of the occupation. Asking the world's nations to truly help rebuild Iraq and Lebenaon and Israel. What else would you like to know?

Re: “Obsession: What the War on Terror is Really About” (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 21:41:55 -0000

So when are y'all enlisting? If you think Bush is doing it so right and you love your country so much why have you not gone off to war? Don't join the National Guard if you want to get out of active duty. It's not like the good 'ol days when Bush could sit out Vietnam. They actually use our Naitional Guard to guard another nation.

Re: 10,000 Katyusha Rockets Are Enough! (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 16:59:30 -0000

With all due respect americanleader you used a lot of words but didn't say a whole except you find liberals to be illogical. I'm not saying this to try to be insulting, (though I'm kind of insulted by your post) but perhaps your belief that it is illogical or defensible is really your not willing to accept or are unwilling to try to understand where we are coming from. An example might be the tired mantras of the right that include, "the Democrats have no plan." If I'm right you probably said out loud "they don't" or at least thought it when you read that. However that is not true. There are many plans for everything from troop redployment in Iraq to fixing our reputation abroad as it has been weakened by the current administration. I'd like an example of your interpretation of "mantras" which the you believe liberals to use when tryinto illogically defend the "indefensible." That's a pretty bold charge to not back it up.

Re: Disproportionate Force - Intellectually Speaking (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 17:17:58 -0000

Wow.
I think that reflects more poorly on you than me auspatriotman. You didn't address anything I wrote but instead insulted me several times, wrote some quotes that don't really pertain at all to what was said. From your response, I think it's a safe assumption you have a low opinion of liberals. Your reference to being a whiner, brat or cry baby was the first clue. I'm not certain to what you are referring to specifically, and would be happy to educate you as to why you are mistaken. Because you are. As I posted before isn't a reasonable conclusion to assume that people who disapprove or criticize a group do so because they have legitimate concerns or is it reasonable to assume that they are simply crazy? It's intellectually lazy and dihonest to simply dismiss people because you disagree with them.
If you noticed I gave Laura props for her choice of questions and also pointed out I thought "Finny" as you call her, could have done a better job answering those questions. And I'll concede Democrats do not communicate a coherent message well with the people at times. I'm a Democrat, I recognize problems with my party and believe me I am doing what I can to fix it. But if I am not welcome here I'll go some where else. I just think it's a shame that people like yourself get all worked up that you actually seem to hate fellow Americans who disagree with you more than you do our real enemies. I thought you might want to know why it is we feel the way we do as it might alleviate some of your misplaced animosity towards those you disagree with politically.

Re: “Obsession” the Documentary is Finally Being Noticed (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 20:38:14 -0000

The purpose of engaging in talks with terrorist organizations has advantages. Despite what is accomplished with any talks we could regain some of the diplomatic leverage we've squandered in the world. I know it's very easy to get worked up when we see how much other people hate us and I don't think we as should placate terrorists by any means. Chest thumping only emboldens them however. We drop bombs, they recruit more than we can kill. We can simultaneously undermine and weaken them through talks. Every avenue has to be explored before our troops are ordered into battle. We talk and negotiate with terrorists all the time. We spoke to Qaddafi, we considered Saddam an ally at one time. Rummi was the diplomat to the terrorist back then. Hezbollah does have a political arm which is encouraging. Similar to the IRA, talks with the political arm and very vocally dismissing the terrorist arm can lead to less violence. They will not be able to recruit as easily. We can help influence them to stop breeding jihadists. And I'm not saying we trust them either. The old adage, keep your enemies closer...As for Geneva, we made a commitment to not treat human beings a certain way, that we have violated that so openly and agressively has dealt a blow to our credibility. Some quick and cheap revenge is keeping us from prosecuting the ones we do have that we know were involved with 9/11. There was no reasont to torture anyone in Iraq, we went as liberators, and these actions have again emboldened not weakened those who mean to do us harm. This is a case where simply doing the opposite of Bush IS a valid solution.

Re: The Dissection Of Terrorist Propaganda Made for TV (VIDEOS)

bigbingtheory — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 18:55:51 -0000

Unfortunately in the age of Photoshop and video editing, a skilled editor can deliver just about anything you want to see. This story doesn't surprise me one bit. As Americans we tend to be more skeptical but as GMs Corner observes we have a tendency to see it on the news and assume it's an accurate depiction. But it's important to keep in mind just because something is staged doesn't mean there is nothing to be worried about.

Re: Disproportionate Force - Intellectually Speaking (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 19:01:46 -0000

Sweet neocon,
neocons have 0 credibility criticizing Dems for using "programmed responses." 1. GOP talking points go out to eveeryone from Rush Limbaugh to Fox news and the right wing pundits are all too willing to regurgitate the same myths and distortions, usually including cute jingoist phrases like "cut and run." 2nd Democrats have never been that organized.

Re: “Obsession: What the War on Terror is Really About” (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 19:39:20 -0000

Battsman and LTCPMax,
thank you for your responses. Although I must say you do need a liberal point of view because each of your descriptions is inaccurate. I'll try to be brief. Battsman, 1st most of us do believe empathy is important. Sun Tzu wrote in the Art of War that you had to know your enemy. I think you confuse a desire for knowledge to better combat those would do us harm with sympathy for them. I'm no pacifist, but I do believe that violence should be the last resort. By "sob and admit it's our fault" that's another assumption. Critically analyzing past failures, that includes acknowledging them, to learn from mistakes is prudent. Don't confuse that with self loathing. I may feel ashamed at my government's actions at times but I never loathe my country. The rest of your post regarding fundamentalist views and their intolerance, I'm not sure where you came up with those conclusions. Liberal to me stands for liberty for all. That means the government need not care about my religous beliefs or sexuality. Fundamentalism exists over there in the minds of right wing conservative idealogues. It is worse there but it exists here among the same kind of people. Don't mistake the desire to give a little to avoid armed conflict with caving in to anything.
Max,
You left out Prescott grandpappy Bush who was doing business with the nazi's when we were at war with them. Ike in his farewell speech warned against and was the first to use the phrase military industrial complex. Truman called it treason and formed commissions to look into it. Recently the Republican controlled house voted against looking into Haliburton's malfeasance. Shortly after a report surfaces that our government cooked the books to cover up the vast waste of tax payer funds. I'd say it's a much bigger problem and one more difference here is back then people gave a hoot.
Re: Bush and 9/11 and Bush's watch.
When Clinton went after Bin Laden he was accused of wagging the dog. By the end of his second term he was having daily briefings regarding al Qaeda and actively spying on camps in Afghanistan. He then explained to President-select Bush that Bin Laden was public enemy #1. Bush assumed control and stopped the CIAs spying on Bin Laden. He rewarded the Taliban for stopping poppy production by giving them millions of our tax dollars. He held no meeting regarding the gathering threat he had been thoroughly warned about including by his own terrorism expert Richard Clarke. He was handed a memo that clearly outlined the desire by Bin Laden to attack us and he chose to ignore it.
While sitting in front of a group kids not acting planes were turning in the sky, Norad sat grounded, and I can only imagine that he must of had a pretty good idea at what had just happened and who was responsible. 9/11 happened on Bush's watch and he has been exploiting it for political purposes ever since. A real President would have been to turn to the children and say the President has something he needs to attend to and then attend to it. As John Kerry once said.

Re: 10,000 Katyusha Rockets Are Enough! (VIDEO)

bigbingtheory — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:33:43 -0000

"disproportionate force" is a term I have only heard of through blogs like this one. So if it is a mantra, who is repeating it? As is the case here. Laura is the one who says it, obviously implying that's what democrats say. I get the literature in the mail, the e-alerts and listen to liberal talk radio and haven't heard the phrase used that much. If you pay close attention, a lot of the mantras we supposedly use as an argument, we don't. I've said it before we aren't that organized. Most of the 2 or 3 word phrases that get repeated ad nauseum are from right wing pundits claiming democrats say it all the time. It's a convenient way to frame how the pundit wants their audience to see the dems argument. That is one of the ways people like Laura divide the citizenry.
Plans,
yes those are ideas I mentioned. And by that standard I could ask what is Bush's plan exactly?
You can see the dems agenda at Democrats.org. For the meat and potatoes you'll have to read the failed legislation they've been trying to introduce. For that you have to go to the congressional records. It's dry reading but it's there. The truth is the Democrats do have plans and ideas and they have been succesfully stifled by an increasingly unpopular congress. Trust me, I have beefs with my party but one thing they are not short on is ideas and plans. It's convenient to attach a stigma to a group of people indeed powerless in the federal government. We've been offering alternatives for 5 years that have gone ignore, from honoring our commitment to the Kyoto accords, to plans for Social Security, Energy policy and nothing comes of it because right now the Republicans control everything. You might not like the plans or ideas they have but they are there.