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The view from the left coast

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The view from the left coast

Virginia personals
ooby_dooby
Ashland, Virginia USA
Posted: May 14, 2008, 10:24 AM CST
I was gonna put this in the "Obama for president" thread but I don't think anybody wants to wade through 26 pages of a few people arguinging about politics. Nor do I believe these "discussions" will change anybodies mind about who they vote for.

I had a chat with a republican friend of mine the other day which totally floored me. Out of the blue she stated that ya know this [Iraq] war has been going on for about 5 years and we've only lost about 4000 something. She went on to mention some huge number (I forgot the actual number because I was in shock) of people killed on our highways, why don't they do something about that? I said yes, I think people need to learn to drive and there wouldn't be so many highway deaths (she's a driving instructor BTW). I didn't want to continue this conversation because I knew that I would have unloaded on her and she would no longer be a friend so I just swallowed and kept my mouth shut.

Now I ask you, is this the new message being put out in circulation by the republicans that it's really not so bad that over 4000 of our young men and women have been killed in Iraq because that is way less than the number of people killed on our highways? Please tell me that republicans haven't sunk to this level as to justify the killing and crippling (physically and mentally) of the BEST of us, our young people in the prime of their life with their whole future in front of them only to be blown to bits by a sneaky roadside bomb.

I live in the red state of VA so it's expected that I come in contact with a lot of hard core, God fearing right wingers. One day last week I was in the local body shop and they were mocking on the "Dems" saying that "they talk about wanting change but the only thing thats gonna change is all your gonna have in your pocket is change". I said "so I guess ya'll are gonna vote for McCain." they said yes, I said why, they gave me a 1 word answer "Terrorism" I said ok and was hoping they would spare me the "fight them over there so we don't have to fight them over here" line. When are they gonna wake up to the fact that instead of reducing the number of terrorists in the world, since we invaded Iraq the number has probably grown 10 fold? Invading Iraq was like trying to put out a candle with a bucket of gasoline. Only to find out later that your fire extinguisher was almost empty.

I've heard many republicans say "Take the fight to the enemy" or "fight them over there etc". Somebody please tell me when we are going to take the fight to the enemy. Sending the National Guard to Iraq is NOT taking the fight to the enemy. Sending 100,000 worn out volunteers to the war is NOT taking the fight to the enemy. Failing to provide our troops with body armour or adequate protection for their Hum Vee's is NOT taking the fight to the enemy.
Taking the fight to the enemy means re-instituting the draft and going over there in force and WINNING this so called "war". All we're doing by playing at war is showing the enemy that we aren't so tough and this will come to hurt us in the future and we WILL wind up fighting them over here.
Hey folks, in case you haven't noticed our budget surplus is GONE, we're in dept up to our eyeballs, crude oil is $127. a barrel, the Dollar is in the toilet, we're heading into a recession, unemployment is shooting up, people are losing their homes and jobs and all the republicans worry about is "terrorism" oh, and taxes. What good is a tax cut to a person without a job?
I want a change allright, and it can't come soon enough for me! The change should have come 4 years ago. I am so disappointed in the American people for re-electing this bastard. WTF were you thinking? Oh wait, I know, the 2 T's Terrorism and Taxes. Look what it got you.
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kkitty
Minnesota, Minnesota USA
Posted: May 14, 2008, 10:29 AM CST
thumbs up thumbs up thumbs up
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Portiea
Konstanz, Baden-Wuerttemberg Germany
Posted: May 14, 2008, 10:35 AM CST
I agree wholeheartedly with everthing you have said here. Would just like to add that hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians have also died, most men, women and children who are ordinary people who did not ask for this war. Just because you are a Muslim it does not make you a terrorist nor someone who supports terrorism--are they anti-American? Well, if they weren't before, they may very well be now.

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gentlepaws
Any town, Ontario Canada
Posted: May 14, 2008, 10:56 AM CST
Thank you for this.

A brilliant thread. Now, if people would only read it twice and absorb only half the wisdom contained within, our world would be just a little bit better.

Thanks man.

Leo.
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gentlepaws
Any town, Ontario Canada
Posted: May 14, 2008, 10:59 AM CST
PS: ooby. It is an American like you that makes a Canadian like me feel sane and safe.

Leo.
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Sparky55
Prattville, Alabama USA
Posted: May 14, 2008, 11:03 AM CST
Ooby,

I think your friend was way off base. Had she compared the Iraq war with other wars she may have shown casualties for the US, opposing forces and the civilian population to be much less by comparison. One can't compare war with driving accidents/deaths. However, even if she could have made a valid arguement regarding losses during this war it would not make it right and I hope this is not the message anyone wants to put out about the war.

Frankly I would like to see it end today but I believe we are so up to our necks in this thing that regardless of who is elected in November, we're going to remain there until we can reasonable exit and leave a government behind which can sustain itself. I have yet to see a plan from any of the candidates that really calls for withdrawl

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Scottishlass
Knoxville, Tennessee USA
Posted: May 14, 2008, 12:26 PM CST
ooby_dooby wrote:
I was gonna put this in the "Obama for president" thread but I don't think anybody wants to wade through 26 pages of a few people arguinging about politics. Nor do I believe these "discussions" will change anybodies mind about who they vote for.

I had a chat with a republican friend of mine the other day which totally floored me. Out of the blue she stated that ya know this [Iraq] war has been going on for about 5 years and we've only lost about 4000 something. She went on to mention some huge number (I forgot the actual number because I was in shock) of people killed on our highways, why don't they do something about that? I said yes, I think people need to learn to drive and there wouldn't be so many highway deaths (she's a driving instructor BTW). I didn't want to continue this conversation because I knew that I would have unloaded on her and she would no longer be a friend so I just swallowed and kept my mouth shut.

Now I ask you, is this the new message being put out in circulation by the republicans that it's really not so bad that over 4000 of our young men and women have been killed in Iraq because that is way less than the number of people killed on our highways? Please tell me that republicans haven't sunk to this level as to justify the killing and crippling (physically and mentally) of the BEST of us, our young people in the prime of their life with their whole future in front of them only to be blown to bits by a sneaky roadside bomb.

I live in the red state of VA so it's expected that I come in contact with a lot of hard core, God fearing right wingers. One day last week I was in the local body shop and they were mocking on the "Dems" saying that "they talk about wanting change but the only thing thats gonna change is all your gonna have in your pocket is change". I said "so I guess ya'll are gonna vote for McCain." they said yes, I said why, they gave me a 1 word answer "Terrorism" I said ok and was hoping they would spare me the "fight them over there so we don't have to fight them over here" line. When are they gonna wake up to the fact that instead of reducing the number of terrorists in the world, since we invaded Iraq the number has probably grown 10 fold? Invading Iraq was like trying to put out a candle with a bucket of gasoline. Only to find out later that your fire extinguisher was almost empty.

I've heard many republicans say "Take the fight to the enemy" or "fight them over there etc". Somebody please tell me when we are going to take the fight to the enemy. Sending the National Guard to Iraq is NOT taking the fight to the enemy. Sending 100,000 worn out volunteers to the war is NOT taking the fight to the enemy. Failing to provide our troops with body armour or adequate protection for their Hum Vee's is NOT taking the fight to the enemy.
Taking the fight to the enemy means re-instituting the draft and going over there in force and WINNING this so called "war". All we're doing by playing at war is showing the enemy that we aren't so tough and this will come to hurt us in the future and we WILL wind up fighting them over here.
Hey folks, in case you haven't noticed our budget surplus is GONE, we're in dept up to our eyeballs, crude oil is $127. a barrel, the Dollar is in the toilet, we're heading into a recession, unemployment is shooting up, people are losing their homes and jobs and all the republicans worry about is "terrorism" oh, and taxes. What good is a tax cut to a person without a job?
I want a change allright, and it can't come soon enough for me! The change should have come 4 years ago. I am so disappointed in the American people for re-electing this bastard. WTF were you thinking? Oh wait, I know, the 2 T's Terrorism and Taxes. Look what it got you.
you are sooooooooo right!!!!!thumbs up thumbs up thumbs up
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highplains
Highland Springs, Virginia USA
Posted: May 14, 2008, 12:31 PM CST
<<<Virginian.....

Not Republican........Not Right Wing.....Not a Bushey.....
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tinymac
hilversum, Flevoland Netherlands
Posted: May 14, 2008, 12:50 PM CST
Excellent, man!

The problem is, we in Europe could see this comming when the Us chose Bush over Gore in the first place!!!

Why were so many Yanks believing that the idiots in the Whouse were going to bring so much gain and prsperity to the US?

What really frustrates me about those middle americans that voted for a clean whouse after clinton is, that they are mostly just as extreme , bible bashing, fear of god jokers as the very people in Iraq/Iran etc they are afraid of!!

It such a joke, honestly! As if Sadam was actually an enemy to the US, it was all a ploy and most americans (those who actually have access to a school that is) know it.

But pride in the stars n stripes stops them voicing the truth.

Welcom, President McCain!

LOL
peace cheers
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