charles_nz Forum Posts (1,386)

RE: NO COLLUSION... MOVE ON!

To some extent, all political leaders are beholden in one way or another to foreign influence. Leaders of small states are beholden to, or feel the need to suck up to, the USA, or France, or China, or their World Power of choice. In many cases, a World Power put them where they are.

In the USA, presidents of the past have all been influenced by outside forces - Britain, Saudi Arabia, Israel......many of these countries exert a disproportionate influence. Remember the dreadful, unprovoked attack on the USS Liberty warship by Israel in 1967? Lyndon Johnson wanted to condemn that forcefully, but it was made clear in pretty short order that he was not permitted to do so, or he would be slandered left and right as an "anti-semite" and his legacy would be ruined. He obediently pulled his head in. And remember how slavish the Bush Family were and are to the Saudis? Members of the Bin Laden family were close friends of the Bushes........ As for Hillary Clinton, her best friend is a woman often alleged to be working for Saudi Intelligence.......

Make no mistake about it, if you are looking for a lackey of foreign influence in the White House, Trump is the least of your worries.

RE: Liberal Teachers

I live in a country where, in the last two or three decades, there have been multiple gun-related mass homicides. And in a country of only 4 million people (about the population of Atlanta, Georgia) that is quite an achievement.

While school type shootings in the USA attract a lot of media attention, we need to remember the USA has a population larger than the populations of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, put together.

And I am pretty confident you will find that, in the last few years, more people have died in Europe, in terrorist-related mass attacks, than in mass shootings in the USA. And while guns have been used in some of those (e.g. Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan Theatre), most have been the result of the use of other weapons, such as bombs, vans, trucks, and knives.

RE: Anyone wanna chat about brexit? (btw im serious this isnt a joke)

The EU is "democratic" in the same way the USSR was.

Lots of committees, assemblies, etc. for show, but all completely toothless, with the decisions being made behind closed doors by the inner circle.

RE: Stay Positive always!

Surely Helen Keller couldn't see a damn thing anyway?

RE: NO COLLUSION... MOVE ON!

Unlike Russia, which is NOT trying to "buy" U.S. politicians, Israel and its supporters are, and have been for decades.

RE: Liberal Teachers

As a citizen of a Commonwealth country, I take issue with your claim that "we are all the better for it". How does it make New Zealand (or Australia) safer because criminals have guns and law-abiding folks don't?

You may think it is wonderful for your government to largely restrict gun ownership to the criminal fraternity, but I do not feel the same way.

RE: A Master who loves his work...

I admire good knockers.

But you are right - brass is utterly inappropriate for finger jewellery.

RE: Are Dreams for Real?

I dreamed last night that Elton John and Barry Manilow (with a massive mullet) were sharing a house together, over the road from me, and that every Sunday, Elton John would come over and do helpful chores for his neighbours.

Somehow I suspect that is one dream that won't be coming true.

RE: Curiosity?

I have never heard the "rejoinder" - only the first part, and it is a true and telling proverb.

RE: Happiness is?

All things that get your hands or your clothes dirty. No thanks.

RE: Did you know....

+353 213 209 876 245 765 901 116 349 719 218 535 290 214 533 771 810 is the emergency fire / police / ambulance number in the Irish Republic.

RE: Are you looking for a green card/permanent visa?

I am pleased to learn that you will not be posting any more nonsensical diatribes.

RE: A great profound check-mate

Huh?

RE: why do some people talk about things that happened years ago and blame parents for stuff that is bad

I'd have thought "cos they can" was about as Kiwi as it gets? Didn't Edmund Hillary say he climbed Mount Everest "cos it was there"?

RE: Can anyone explain why Bush senior and junior never where sent to Haag tribunal for war crimes.

Yes, it was preferable for Vietnam to be united. But NOT under communism. The invasion of South Vietnam by the Moscow-backed North was a tragedy of large scale.

RE: Can anyone explain why Bush senior and junior never where sent to Haag tribunal for war crimes.

There is some truth in this statement, inasmuch as I believe the world would be a better place today had the Union not succeeded in defeating the Confederacy in 1865. The Confederacy would have preserved the values of the "real" America to a much greater extent than the USA has done, for one thing.

But that is the past, and we have to deal with the "what is" of the situation. At the present time, a united USA behind Trump is the best we can hope for - but I don't see it happening.

RE: Can anyone explain why Bush senior and junior never where sent to Haag tribunal for war crimes.

Juan Peron was a very, very good leader.

RE: Can anyone explain why Bush senior and junior never where sent to Haag tribunal for war crimes.

In general, I agree with this point. And I normally do not vote, for the same reasons.

It will doubtless be controversial to say this, but I do not believe that democracy, as we know it, is the best form of government. In general, democracy simply means two parties controlled by the same people, where the outcome is never, in any meaningful sense, in doubt, no matter who wins.

However there are exceptions - in some countries the politicians are worth voting for. The Hungarian government is a good example. And Trump's election win in 2016 certainly made a big difference to the world - I would certainly have voted for him. That's a glaring example of an election where the outcome did make a difference, and where the people (for once) bested the powers-that-be, behind the scenes.

RE: NO COLLUSION... MOVE ON!

Hardly news. There never was any "collusion" nor any likelihood of "collusion". The whole thing was predicated on the belief that if they throw enough mud, some of it might stick.

RE: NO COLLUSION... MOVE ON!

Hardly news. There never was any "collusion" nor any likelihood of "collusion". The whole thing was predicated on the belief that if they throw enough mud, some of it might stick.

RE: Oxmoron's

Sadly, yes, but it didn't used to be.

RE: Did you know....

Good question. I am pretty sure we don't grow cashew nuts here, but hadn't really thought about it. I always assumed they are imported. But they taste yummy. I have a mild nut allergy though, so can't eat too many at once.

RE: Sticks And Stones

Blue chocolate???!!!!

RE: Oxmoron's

Why does "clothes shopping" involve the purchase of clothes, but "window shopping" does not involve the purchase of windows?

RE: Did you know....

They sure do! Crikey!

RE: Did you know....

That makes sense, because Blair Peach was a nut.

RE: Fact

If anyone wants to talk about the topic of this thread, let me know.

RE: why do some people talk about things that happened years ago and blame parents for stuff that is bad

As one inherits one's genes from one's parents, there are indeed, in a very literal sense, to blame for who we are today.

RE: Did you know....

The airport of Ulan Bator, in Mongolia is named after Genghis Khan, who strangely enough had no connection with the aforementioned airport.

RE: Did you know....

A pumpkin is not a vegetable.