Joseph West commented on Hannity And Legal Toadies Johnson And Guilfoyle Slobber Over George Zimmerman’s Spirituality
2012-07-23 14:00:33 -0400
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I wonder how Hannity would react if he were to be the victim of a gunshot that left him paralyzed? Would he feel “at peace” if someone blathered “it was God’s will?” I’m gonna go out on a limb and say “no.” I’ve got a feeling he’d go on the air and spend an hour ranting at the platitude.
Joseph West commented on Rupert Murdoch Supports Stricter Gun Control
2012-07-22 23:46:55 -0400
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It’ll be interesting. After all, I think the FoxNoise kkkrew are going to be really facing some hard decisions. After all (and I’m sure that Fox’s cutie-pie priest-in-residence Fr Johnny would remind us all), a man cannot serve two masters. Do the FoxNoise kkkrew serve Papa Murdoch (who pays their salaries) or the other forces of the right-wing noise chamber (Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck and the NRA’s fuehrer LaPierre)? Usually Murdoch’s in total agreement with the rest of the right-wing but this could lead Herr Limbaugh to start questioning Uncle Rupie’s very sanity and the NRA to claim that Rupie’s “finally” showing his foreign-derived antigun mentality.
Joseph West commented on Megyn Kelly Blasts Zimmerman’s Attorney Over The Hannity Interview
2012-07-20 16:52:03 -0400
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Bob, without repeating what David Vaughan wrote, but a jury CAN be selected from a community that already has an opinion. The KEY point is how they’re asked about the opinion. A good attorney (whether defense or prosecution) will ask a potential juror if they can be open to examining the evidence that will be presented at the trial. Whether a person feels that Zimmerman is or is not guilty is less important than whether that person’s current opinion can be swayed by what they see and hear at the trial.
Now, granted Zimmerman’s attorney pulled a bonehead move by allowing this interview; whether Zimmerman pushed for it or not, an attorney’s FIRST responsibility is his client’s best interest. O’Mara could have—or should have—stopped the interview the first time that Hannity even appeared to have violated their “agreement” and left Hannity to swing with 10 or 30 minutes, or whatever, without a guest.
But, ultimately, a juror will be asked if he/she can put aside his/her opinion(s) and be able to judge a case on the evidence. A juror who hears evidence that poses an ethical dilemma should send a note to the judge requesting to be excused.
Now, granted Zimmerman’s attorney pulled a bonehead move by allowing this interview; whether Zimmerman pushed for it or not, an attorney’s FIRST responsibility is his client’s best interest. O’Mara could have—or should have—stopped the interview the first time that Hannity even appeared to have violated their “agreement” and left Hannity to swing with 10 or 30 minutes, or whatever, without a guest.
But, ultimately, a juror will be asked if he/she can put aside his/her opinion(s) and be able to judge a case on the evidence. A juror who hears evidence that poses an ethical dilemma should send a note to the judge requesting to be excused.
Joseph West commented on Bill O’Reilly Almost Begs George W. Bush To “Be Generous To The Country” And Campaign For Mitt Romney
2012-07-20 00:29:10 -0400
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@Rob: Sorry if I misunderstood you, but—and this is just a suggestion—the NEXT time you’re “describing” a conversation you overheard, set it up that way.
Try something along the lines of
“Here’s something I overheard at work today. . . .”
Alternatively, you could’ve simply started off that second paragraph with “I overheard the above today . . .” or “That was the type of crap I overheard today . . .”
It helps alleviate any potential confusion. You might note that both Aria and mlp! weren’t entirely sure of your meaning as well.
As to your rather snide little “try reading,” I’ve got a hint for you: Learn how to write with some degree of comprehensibility instead of expecting others to decipher your comment. I really don’t have time to deal with stream of consciousness writing; if I were taking a lit class where I had to deal with it and were being graded on it, I would but this isn’t a lit class.
Try something along the lines of
“Here’s something I overheard at work today. . . .”
Alternatively, you could’ve simply started off that second paragraph with “I overheard the above today . . .” or “That was the type of crap I overheard today . . .”
It helps alleviate any potential confusion. You might note that both Aria and mlp! weren’t entirely sure of your meaning as well.
As to your rather snide little “try reading,” I’ve got a hint for you: Learn how to write with some degree of comprehensibility instead of expecting others to decipher your comment. I really don’t have time to deal with stream of consciousness writing; if I were taking a lit class where I had to deal with it and were being graded on it, I would but this isn’t a lit class.
Joseph West commented on Got Irony? Fox News Exec Complains Obama Too Critical Of Fox
2012-07-19 17:37:46 -0400
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What FoxNoise really wants is for Pres Obama to simply ignore all their attacks. Unfortunately, Obama isn’t playing according to FoxNoise’s prepared and pre-approved script. He’s actually responding to the nutwork’s attacks by giving as good as he’s getting, and FoxNoise doesn’t like Democrats (even corporate-friendly ones like Obama) to be so forceful in their responses to FoxNoise attacks.
Now, if FoxNoise really wanted Obama to stop attacking them so much, then it’s incumbent on FoxNoise to quit attacking him so often. Of course, that’s never going to happen on the FoxNoise side so they just need to get used to being called on their lies.
Now, if FoxNoise really wanted Obama to stop attacking them so much, then it’s incumbent on FoxNoise to quit attacking him so often. Of course, that’s never going to happen on the FoxNoise side so they just need to get used to being called on their lies.
Joseph West commented on Did George Zimmerman's Attorney Write Hannity’s Interview Questions Or Does Defending Zimmerman Just Come Naturally To Him?
2012-07-19 12:38:01 -0400
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From Ellen’s post: “As unappealingly as I thought Zimmerman came across, I do feel bad for him. I could see how friends might be very hard to come by these days and how he would be vulnerable to Hannityâs approaches.”
You know where else this type of behavior is well-documented? Cult leaders and pimps. Go read up how Jim Jones and Charles Manson recruited their followers not to mention the stories of vulnerable teens and young women on the streets. A little sympathy from a “kind” stranger who offers some type of help (shelter, food), seemingly for nothing until the stranger suggests (in a very indirect way) that it’s time the poor soul repays the kindness.
You know where else this type of behavior is well-documented? Cult leaders and pimps. Go read up how Jim Jones and Charles Manson recruited their followers not to mention the stories of vulnerable teens and young women on the streets. A little sympathy from a “kind” stranger who offers some type of help (shelter, food), seemingly for nothing until the stranger suggests (in a very indirect way) that it’s time the poor soul repays the kindness.
Joseph West commented on Jon Scott: It Seems Like Obama’s Sort Of Denigrating The Value Of Work In This Country
2012-07-19 00:09:43 -0400
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If anyone’s denigrating the value of work in this country, it’s the right-wingers who hang out on FoxNoise.
There’s not a single one of those losers who actually WORKED for their success. ALL of them got lucky and every last one of them relies on OTHERS for their success (such as it is).
There’s not a single one of those losers who actually WORKED for their success. ALL of them got lucky and every last one of them relies on OTHERS for their success (such as it is).
Joseph West commented on Williams And Hannity Give Sununu A Pass On His “Obama Is Un-American” Dog Whistles
2012-07-19 00:03:12 -0400
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Ellen, please. From now on, if you choose to describe Juan Williams as a liberal, please do it properly and write “liberal” (with the quote marks). If Williams is working for FoxNoise, he is NOT a liberal—he’s a “liberal.”
Joseph West commented on Bill O’Reilly Threatens To Retire If His Taxes Go Up – Again!
2012-07-18 14:34:57 -0400
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Of course, O’Reilly WON’T retire if his taxes go up. In fact, he’ll deny he ever claimed to retire when challenged on the matter. AND, he’ll claim that any video showing a threat to retire was merely doctored by his vast horde of “enemies.”
Joseph West commented on Cavuto Guest Explains How To Spin Cutting Food Stamps
2012-07-17 16:56:58 -0400
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And it’s not just little children and the elderly who benefit from food stamps. Anyone living near a military base and sees military dependents shopping off-base (the commissary is NOT all that much cheaper—the only real benefit of shopping at the commissary is no sales tax) will see a lot of food stamp usage.
And a lot of police and firefighting families are often forced to resort to food stamps, especially in the “red” states (especially where the police and firefighters DON’T have unions).
And a lot of police and firefighting families are often forced to resort to food stamps, especially in the “red” states (especially where the police and firefighters DON’T have unions).
Joseph West commented on John Stossel Suggests Unpaid Internships Better Than College
2012-07-17 16:28:43 -0400
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@truman: Reread the Constitution. There’s NOTHING prohibiting indentured servitude. The Thirteenth Amendment reads “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted….” An indenture is a legal contract that both parties are supposed to sign where the party “selling himself” was largely exchanging his labor for room and board.
Unfortunately, an unpaid internship is NOT indentured servitude. While an indentured servant lived with the person who held his contract, an intern typically doesn’t. The intern is still responsible for his own way—things like food, clothing, shelter, health care* that still require money to cover. If you’re not already financially set when you take on an unpaid internship, there’s no reason for you to take one (granted, without knowing specific details about any unpaid internship, a business that has an on-site cafeteria or food service might include one or two meals as part of the internship and a really savvy intern might be able to wrangle some extra food to take home from work—wherever “home” might be).
Of course, there is always one by-product of an unpaid internship: The potential for extortion and blackmail. (I didn’t say it was legal….) Just imagine an unpaid intern who decides to record one of his bosses’ saying something that wouldn’t play well if it got out to the public. And the potential for a juicy book deal? I can’t imagine how an unpaid intern is going to concern himself with upholding a non-disclosure agreement after his time’s up (especially if he’s got a whole lot of really juicy tidbits).
*With regards to health care, in the olden days of indentured servitude, a servant who was physically unable to do his job because of illness or other physical ailment could simply have those “days off” tacked on to the end of the contract. It was common for female indentureds who found themselves “in the family way” during their time of service to have any time lost due to the pregnancy and resulting childbirth added to the end of their contracts
Unfortunately, an unpaid internship is NOT indentured servitude. While an indentured servant lived with the person who held his contract, an intern typically doesn’t. The intern is still responsible for his own way—things like food, clothing, shelter, health care* that still require money to cover. If you’re not already financially set when you take on an unpaid internship, there’s no reason for you to take one (granted, without knowing specific details about any unpaid internship, a business that has an on-site cafeteria or food service might include one or two meals as part of the internship and a really savvy intern might be able to wrangle some extra food to take home from work—wherever “home” might be).
Of course, there is always one by-product of an unpaid internship: The potential for extortion and blackmail. (I didn’t say it was legal….) Just imagine an unpaid intern who decides to record one of his bosses’ saying something that wouldn’t play well if it got out to the public. And the potential for a juicy book deal? I can’t imagine how an unpaid intern is going to concern himself with upholding a non-disclosure agreement after his time’s up (especially if he’s got a whole lot of really juicy tidbits).
*With regards to health care, in the olden days of indentured servitude, a servant who was physically unable to do his job because of illness or other physical ailment could simply have those “days off” tacked on to the end of the contract. It was common for female indentureds who found themselves “in the family way” during their time of service to have any time lost due to the pregnancy and resulting childbirth added to the end of their contracts
Joseph West commented on Bernard Goldberg Wishes Romney Had Lectured The NAACP About Out-Of-Wedlock Births
2012-07-17 16:01:24 -0400
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Well, obviously the REAL problem is that all these Black people aren’t out there getting reality TV shows to sponsor them and their out-of-wedlock births the way that white trash folks like the Octomom and the Duggars and even Bristol Palin (who, by the way, had an “out-of-wedlock” birt but the rich, white cons don’t like to talk about that so much) got their “family planning methods” taken care of.
Joseph West commented on Hannity Focus Group Thinks Obama Will Be Re-Elected
2012-07-14 13:58:30 -0400
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@mj: Maybe because Condi hasn’t flip-flopped yet. Romney effectively made his flip “official” back in 2007 while Condi was still publicly stating her being “soft pro-choice” as recently as 2008. A “sudden” conversion on Condi’s part wouldn’t be enough for the anti-choice nuts; they’ve been burned far too often on the whole abortion issue. (Now, if Condi came out as being “anti-abortion” today, she’d be reasonably acceptable to that lobby in time for the 2016 campaign.)
Joseph West commented on Geraldo Rivera Congratulates Himself For Being “Right” That Trayvon Martin Was Killed Because Of His Hoodie “Thugwear”
2012-07-13 14:52:56 -0400
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I wish we could see how things would’ve worked in an alternate reality, one where Zimmerman was Black* and Martin was White but wearing a hoodie. Of course, we’d need to ensure that alt-reality isn’t completely flipped—in other words, aside from the Zimmerman/Martin race-switch, nothing else was (okay—let Martin’s parents both be white as well). I’d give almost anything to be able to see what that reality’s FoxNoise’s reaction would be to the situation.
*The only real fly in the alt-reality scenario I can envisage is that, with ALL other factors being identical to this reality, Black-Zimmerman wouldn’t have had a permit to carry any kind of firearm. As I recall, “our” Zimmerman had already been involved in some sort of incident which, for almost anyone of a darker skin tone in Florida, would’ve resulted in their being denied a gun permit (and which, IMS, was only avoided in this reality because Zimmerman’s dad pulled some strings to keep his son’s record “clean”).
*The only real fly in the alt-reality scenario I can envisage is that, with ALL other factors being identical to this reality, Black-Zimmerman wouldn’t have had a permit to carry any kind of firearm. As I recall, “our” Zimmerman had already been involved in some sort of incident which, for almost anyone of a darker skin tone in Florida, would’ve resulted in their being denied a gun permit (and which, IMS, was only avoided in this reality because Zimmerman’s dad pulled some strings to keep his son’s record “clean”).
Joseph West commented on Bill O’Reilly Complains About Racial Innuendo Over Romney’s NAACP Booing, Then Plays His Own Racial Card
2012-07-13 14:26:32 -0400
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I find it amusing that diana, in her first comment, deplores the “left-wing bias” and blasts all the “left’s demonizing,” followed up by attacking the “can’t win with honesty…then tear the other person down” meme before ending her comment by slamming Hillary Clinton—who, as far as I can recall isn’t running for any political office and has pretty much been on the sidelines in terms of this year’s campaign (since she’s pretty much got her hands full as Secretary of State).
Diana, and I say this with all due respect, go look in the mirror before accusing others of any wrongdoing. Then, go f*** yourself with a cactus (though I have a feeling you wouldn’t even feel it).
Diana, and I say this with all due respect, go look in the mirror before accusing others of any wrongdoing. Then, go f*** yourself with a cactus (though I have a feeling you wouldn’t even feel it).
Joseph West commented on Fox & Friends Just Loving That Spam!
2012-07-12 14:09:52 -0400
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@aap: You obviously haven’t been in the grocery stores lately. Spam is now featured in a series of those little convenient microwaveable packaged dinners (like Hormel’s other “Compleats” brand meals) in a variety of styles—I seem to recall seeing a Pasta Alfredo with Spam variety but it seems like there’s also a jambalaya variety.
As for a fajita, technically, it refers to the MEAT that’s used (the word comes from the Spanish meaning “little belt” since the original cut used was skirt steak, but other cuts of steak are used as well as pork, poultry, and seafood). But many restaurants offering “fajitas” usually take the “filling” and put it on top of a tortilla (“flour” or corn, it doesn’t matter*), usually down the middle, then fold the uncovered tortilla parts over the middle to meet. Other restuarants will simply bring you the fajita mixture separately with the tortillas and condiments and let you do it your own way (something that you don’t get to do with burritos or tacos—though you may get a taco that just has the taco filling in the shell and all the “fixin’s” are separate).
*As to the distinction between flour and corn tortillas, you’re wrong. All tortillas start with “flour”—it’s what the flour is made from that differs. Traditional Mexican cooking starts with a flour made from corn which is then processed into a dough. Tex-Mex cooking tends to use wheat-based flour. Most traditional Mexican cooks use corn-based flour (masa) to make all their tortillas, while most Americans will use whichever they can buy in the stores. The only real difference between the two is that the corn tortilla is more typically fried while wheat-flour tortillas aren’t.
As for a fajita, technically, it refers to the MEAT that’s used (the word comes from the Spanish meaning “little belt” since the original cut used was skirt steak, but other cuts of steak are used as well as pork, poultry, and seafood). But many restaurants offering “fajitas” usually take the “filling” and put it on top of a tortilla (“flour” or corn, it doesn’t matter*), usually down the middle, then fold the uncovered tortilla parts over the middle to meet. Other restuarants will simply bring you the fajita mixture separately with the tortillas and condiments and let you do it your own way (something that you don’t get to do with burritos or tacos—though you may get a taco that just has the taco filling in the shell and all the “fixin’s” are separate).
*As to the distinction between flour and corn tortillas, you’re wrong. All tortillas start with “flour”—it’s what the flour is made from that differs. Traditional Mexican cooking starts with a flour made from corn which is then processed into a dough. Tex-Mex cooking tends to use wheat-based flour. Most traditional Mexican cooks use corn-based flour (masa) to make all their tortillas, while most Americans will use whichever they can buy in the stores. The only real difference between the two is that the corn tortilla is more typically fried while wheat-flour tortillas aren’t.
Joseph West commented on Fox’s Cavuto And Payne Pretend $250,000 A Year Is A Middle-Class Salary
2012-07-11 19:44:05 -0400
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And when I heard Sen Schumer talking about how people in New York wouldn’t be able to handle the $250,000 cut-off (his words on the news story I heard basically stated that “New Yorkers making $250K aren’t ‘rich’”), my first thought was “Well, then, let the State of New York set a higher threshhold for STATE taxes.”
I live in Alabama (I’ll accept your condolences for that) and this state’s highest tax bracket of 5% begins at $3000. No. I didn’t leave off a zero. THREE THOUSAND dollars. That’s for individuals. For married couples, it’s $6000. A two-parent family of four starts paying income tax on as little as $12,600. Even when you file your actual state tax returns, if you have TAXABLE income of as little as $50—that means what you have left after taking out all possible exemptions and deductions, and REGARDLESS of filing status—you owe money; $1 for $50-100. The major deductions and exemptions include a personal exemption (for individuals and married filing separately, it’s $1500; for married filing jointly and head of household, it’s $3000) and a standard deduction which varies based on income (it used to be the lower of 20% of your gross income or $2000/4000—the $2000/4000 depended on filing status but you couldn’t take more than that dollar figure; it’s actually better now, but only if your income is less than $30,000 a year—$15,000 for “married filing separate”). We’re also allowed to take a deduction for Federal taxes—not what’s withheld but the actual amount from the Federal tax tables; the flip side, of course, is if you receive a refund from the Feds, that’s treated as taxable income (IOW, if the Federal tax table says the tax on your income is $5000, that’s your deduction, regardless of whether you had $4500 or $5500 withheld from your paychecks; of course, you’d benefit if your employer/s didn’t withhold enough, getting an “extra” $500 tax break, but if your employer/s withheld too much, when you get your Federal tax refund, you’ll have to pay tax on it which could put you in a slightly higher tax bracket when filing your taxes).
Once upon a time, these absurdly low rates didn’t really affect most Alabamans—these rates were first set in 1935 and haven’t really been changed too much since. There weren’t too many people in this state who earned $300 a year in 1935, much less $3000.
Now, I don’t really know what New York’s state tax rates and tax brackets are like but if there are really enough people in NY whose income is $250K and they’re just “middle-class” (and I have no doubt there are people in NYC who earn $100-200K a year and are “scraping by”; I find it a bit less credible that people in other parts of the state have it quite as rough as NYCers), then it’s really up to STATE officials to fix the STATE tax rates—perhaps even allowing tax deductions or a credit for their Federal taxes.
I live in Alabama (I’ll accept your condolences for that) and this state’s highest tax bracket of 5% begins at $3000. No. I didn’t leave off a zero. THREE THOUSAND dollars. That’s for individuals. For married couples, it’s $6000. A two-parent family of four starts paying income tax on as little as $12,600. Even when you file your actual state tax returns, if you have TAXABLE income of as little as $50—that means what you have left after taking out all possible exemptions and deductions, and REGARDLESS of filing status—you owe money; $1 for $50-100. The major deductions and exemptions include a personal exemption (for individuals and married filing separately, it’s $1500; for married filing jointly and head of household, it’s $3000) and a standard deduction which varies based on income (it used to be the lower of 20% of your gross income or $2000/4000—the $2000/4000 depended on filing status but you couldn’t take more than that dollar figure; it’s actually better now, but only if your income is less than $30,000 a year—$15,000 for “married filing separate”). We’re also allowed to take a deduction for Federal taxes—not what’s withheld but the actual amount from the Federal tax tables; the flip side, of course, is if you receive a refund from the Feds, that’s treated as taxable income (IOW, if the Federal tax table says the tax on your income is $5000, that’s your deduction, regardless of whether you had $4500 or $5500 withheld from your paychecks; of course, you’d benefit if your employer/s didn’t withhold enough, getting an “extra” $500 tax break, but if your employer/s withheld too much, when you get your Federal tax refund, you’ll have to pay tax on it which could put you in a slightly higher tax bracket when filing your taxes).
Once upon a time, these absurdly low rates didn’t really affect most Alabamans—these rates were first set in 1935 and haven’t really been changed too much since. There weren’t too many people in this state who earned $300 a year in 1935, much less $3000.
Now, I don’t really know what New York’s state tax rates and tax brackets are like but if there are really enough people in NY whose income is $250K and they’re just “middle-class” (and I have no doubt there are people in NYC who earn $100-200K a year and are “scraping by”; I find it a bit less credible that people in other parts of the state have it quite as rough as NYCers), then it’s really up to STATE officials to fix the STATE tax rates—perhaps even allowing tax deductions or a credit for their Federal taxes.
Joseph West commented on Will Hannity Discuss Curt Schilling's Crony Capitalism Collapse?
2012-07-10 23:15:36 -0400
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Well, gee, Priscilla. Can’t you see how completely different the Schilling situation is? He only got money from a mere state, not the whole Federal government.*
*Please read with the appropriate level of snark as required.
*Please read with the appropriate level of snark as required.
Joseph West commented on Shannon Bream’s Phony Balance In Texas Voter ID Law Discussion
2012-07-10 02:58:23 -0400
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Gohmert answered, âThey didnât mind risking their lives (in Iraq)⦠and yet people are saying, âWell, Gee, itâs too inconvenient to get a photo ID?â
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Maybe Gomer* should’ve been reminded that when the IRAQI people went to the polls, they did NOT show any photo IDs that I’m aware of. They DID, however, have a pretty ingenious way to prevent any voter fraud: After the people cast their ballots, they got “purple-thumbed.” (Maybe the FoxNoise crew can pull up a couple of images of that—if they haven’t burned all their Iraq War-related footage.) And I don’t recall hearing anyone complain (there or here) about any massive voter fraud during those elections. (After the results were announced, on the other hand, there was a lot of griping and complaining from the right-wing’s “democracy supporters”; how DARE those ungrateful Iraqis vote for those crazy Muslim parties and not for OUR puppets!)
*Yes, that is a bit childish but it’s also a bit unfair to Jim Nabors. His Gomer was simply naive rather than stupid evil like this Gomer.
Maybe Gomer* should’ve been reminded that when the IRAQI people went to the polls, they did NOT show any photo IDs that I’m aware of. They DID, however, have a pretty ingenious way to prevent any voter fraud: After the people cast their ballots, they got “purple-thumbed.” (Maybe the FoxNoise crew can pull up a couple of images of that—if they haven’t burned all their Iraq War-related footage.) And I don’t recall hearing anyone complain (there or here) about any massive voter fraud during those elections. (After the results were announced, on the other hand, there was a lot of griping and complaining from the right-wing’s “democracy supporters”; how DARE those ungrateful Iraqis vote for those crazy Muslim parties and not for OUR puppets!)
*Yes, that is a bit childish but it’s also a bit unfair to Jim Nabors. His Gomer was simply naive rather than stupid evil like this Gomer.
Joseph West commented on On Fox & Friends: 10 Commandments Compromise Is "Win" For Christian Legal Group
2012-07-09 14:01:33 -0400
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I’d love for the Fux and Fiends batch show exactly where in the Bible there’s even the slightest hint of “democracy.” The closest it comes is in the New Testament where you read the line about “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free” blather which is routinely contradicted when Paul mandates “slaves, obey your masters” and puts men in clear charge of women. (What most “Christians” don’t understand about the “neither” passage is that it has no more to do with democracy than the typical family unit. The kids are all typically “equal” but they have no real say in what the family does. Granted, Athenian democracy wasn’t perfect—as it only applied to “free” men—but it was far better than the theocracy envisioned by Paul and practiced by the ancient Hebrews.)