BillN's Comments (45)

“It's amazing that we even got this far, considering the throngs of so-called patriots out there cheer-leading for failure.

Like Katrina, this economic disaster was created by republicans. Let's not forget that.”

“AP is just another soft right wing media tool disguised as mainstream. Still can't understand why the America Left channels on Sirius and XM use AP as their primary news source. Seems a bit out of place to me.”

“Can't say I remember that, but I do remember his being referred to constantly by the media as "The Great Communicat­or."”

“I think it sometimes helps if you consider the source.

So-called Christians who take it upon themselves to judge others - even though their Bible tells them not to - have a basic personality disorder that causes them to think in this self-righteous way.

As an example of a more extreme case, one of those fundamentalist republicans was a guy named Dennis Rader - deacon of his Lutheran church in Topeka, KS and leader of the youth program there for years - a real stand-up Christian conservati­ve... right up until they found out he was the infamous BTK killer.

Here is a guy who took it upon himself to judge others, and thus felt justified in binding, torturing and killing people because of his personal beliefs. He felt that his Lord had made a special exception in his case.

There are hundreds of other examples of people who take their basic Christian beliefs and twist them to the point of fanaticism. Of course, these people are always given media attention before anyone else with a more reasonable point of view.”

“Hail to the motherland­... and Tim Horton's.”

“No.”

“Thank you, but no. The commander-in-chief of the US armed forces is a civilian by design - just as the founders and the authors of our Constitution intended.

This thread pertains to so-called "journalists" and other right-wing pundits who are cheerleaders for war, but who lack the basic courage to do it themselves. You see, it takes no special talent or intestinal fortitude to promote war - as long as someone else (or someone else's kids) have to fight it.

The term "chicken hawk" is a very accurate and appropriate depiction of such people.”

“I don't recall Mr. Wills mentioning anything about "presidential overreach" during the last eight-year administration (especially when it was running rampant), yet with this president in office barely eight months, he's all over it.

How convenient for the conservative Mr. Wills to compare this current president with the one that was (mostly) reviled by the American populace. The implication that they are equals in their political nature and in their world view is pure nonsense.”

“Amen. Not to mention government (or at least some of it) run amok with big business in their pocket.”

“Yes, he is. And he is also a philanthropist.

Bernie Madoff was also a capitalist­... and a criminal.

Your point?”

“Your comment presupposes that the intent of this movie is to bring an end to capitalism.

Well, it isn't.

The intent of the movie is to wake people up to the fact that capitalism (like religion) has been corrupted to the point where corporations and rich people are now allowed to break the law, change the rules, and hoard our country's resources (OUR resources) so that they can have it all - leaving the rest of us with little or nothing. In short, the war against the greed-mongers has begun.

There is nothing wrong with capitalism - as long as it's done right - and everyone has an equal and fair chance to enjoy its rewards.

To the creeps that this movie takes aim at, I ask the question, "How much is enough?"”

“When the conversation and debate descends into lies, innuendo and misrepresentation on the part of the right-wing corporatocracy, it is a clear indicator that they no longer have an ethical leg to stand on.

Let's recognize it for what it is, and finish it while we have the momentum.”

“I agree - as much as it goes against my grain. Yes, people have a right to free speech - but people also have a right to hear diverse opinions and other information from their elected representatives without being shouted down or disrupted.

They should just make a rule that you enter, you sit down, and you be quiet until it's your turn to ask a question. If you want to be disruptive, then you are removed from the room - that simple.

They brought this on themselves. Hopefully their corporate lobbyist benefactors have set a few dollars aside for the bail bondsman.”

“Your nose is growing again, Pinocchio.­..”

“Chavez made the mistake of doing the very "evil" thing of kicking large oil corporations out of his country who were stealing natural resources out from under Venezuela while greasing the palms of crooked politicians. Now, oil revenues pay for the country's national health care system (to name one of the many benefits), and people in their 80's are seeing a doctor for the first time in their lives.

He may not be perfect, but he takes care of his working class, senior citizens, and other disadvantaged people in his country... which is more than I can say about a Republican in this country.”

“Sorry, but the speech wasn't "free" - it had to be bought and paid for by corporate lobbyists representing the health care industry. They are spending 1.4 million dollars a day toward this end to try to silence the health care movement. It's not going to work.”

“It's called hooliganism, bought and paid for by corporate lobbyists. Back in the 1930s, they had a special way of dealing with paid hooligans. It involved a big stick and an organized group of people of the opposite view.

These wack-o's should give serious consideration to taking their teabags, and going home... before things really get out of control.

Health care is a serious issue, and no progressive in any venue is going to be shouted down by a group of corporate-sponsored fools who can't think for themselves, and have to be paid to exercise their "first amendment rights."”

“John McCain was born into a military family who was stationed overseas. Upon his birth in Panama, his family received a "Certificate of Live Birth of an American Citizen Abroad", issued by the American Consulate (the U.S. State Department) in Panama.

Any state accepts that document as proof of citizenship, and will certify the birth at the state level - thus making a "Certificate of Live Birth" available for Mr. McCain and his family in the state in which he lived.

If that fact raised enough concern for a Senate hearing, it's because Mr. McCain was physically born in a foreign country.

Mr. Obama was not.”

“Sorry - but that's just a blatant lie.

I lived in Ewa Beach, Hawaii and my certificate of live birth was perfectly adequate and legal for obtaining a Hawaii state driver's license.

Birthers aren't about the truth. Neither are you, apparently.”

“Amazingly enough, I can go to the hospital where I was born in 1953, and obtain a copy of my "Birth Certificate" complete with my little footprints, and my mother's thumb print. It is, however, not the legal document that is required in order to obtain a drivers license, enlist in the armed forces, obtain a Social Security card or a passport, or become President.

In order to obtain the LEGAL document, I have to go to the State's Dept. of Vital Statistics to obtain a "Certificate of Live Birth".

You know very well - as do most of us - that you have NEVER personally been required to produce your hospital "Birth Certificate" for anything, nor does anyone need to know what time of the day you were born or any information that granular.

The fact that you were born here, on a given date, at a given place - with a signature of an authorized public health official - is perfectly legal - and it applies to EVERYONE in all 50 states. Not just to Barack Obama.

What you allege about Obama's educational records not being publicly available - is propaganda spread around by the same birther clowns who have to invent their own controversy - because the truth doesn't work for them.

A guy who attended, and taught at Harvard - and was president of the Harvard Law Review doesn't need to hide his grades or his degrees from anyone.

Nice try.”

“Obama's campaign promises were to end our involvement in the Iraq war. Just because it doesn't happen in a week, doesn't mean it's not happening. The draw-down is gradual.

As of July 1, our troops are out of the major cities.

Oil companies are bidding on the commercial rights to Iraq's oil fields

The republicans already told us, "The surge was a success." I have to believe them, because they're always right about everything (not).

If the people of Iraq want to continue to kill each other as a solution to their social and religious differences, that is for them to determine and pay the consequences for. It is not for the US to decide, or intervene in at the sacrifice of our own young people.

As far as I'm concerned, President Obama is keeping his campaign promise - just not as quickly as some of us would like.”

“So what's your solution - put Bill Clinton or a Republican back in the White House? You don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of (additional) plant closures you would see in that scenario, thanks to more NAFTA or GATT.

Obama didn't create this mess - he inherited it. If you expect him to fix everything to your liking during his first six months in office, then you need to return to your home planet, my friend. On this planet, that doesn't come close to reality.

Give it a chance. He's smarter than his previous two predecessors put together.”

“For the record, the "Big 3" didn't die. It's GM and Chrysler who were the only companies bailed out by the government with a LOAN, and who filed for bankruptcy protection.

Poor management yes. "Excessive government regulation" - I don't think so. Japanese competitors (as well as Ford) have had to comply with the same regulations - yet none of them (including Ford) have taken a single dollar from the US government, nor have they had to file for bankruptcy protection.

Requiring better fuel economy and alternative fuel options is not what most people would consider "excessive regulation­." It's long overdue, and necessary in order for us to compete globally and address the climate change issue. The technology is already available. All they lacked was the will, and the permission of their oil company masters.

Obama has done plenty to address the "poor management" issue (google "Rick Wagoner"), so your "clueless" argument doesn't hold water.”

“No guilt tripping necessary for this consumer. I'd put a Saturn Aura up against a Hyundai Sonata or Honda Accord any day of the week. Also, in case anyone hasn't noticed, most of the Federal vehicle fleet are GM products - right down to President Obama's Cadillac limo, meaning they already have a lot of skin in this game.

Maybe someone out there can explain to me how a General Motors, Ford, or Chrysler can compete with their "global market" counterparts like Toyota, Honda, Daimler-Benz, etc. while being saddled with billions of dollars in health care costs for their active and retired employees - costs which the Toyota's, Honda's, et al DON'T have.

I'm all ears.

Level the playing field. Then we'll talk.”

“They have no choice now but to either "get it" or color themselves gone. Pretty obvious choice if you ask me... even for an amateur.

Pres. Obama and Gov. Granholm bring something to the table that we haven't seen in a long time. It's called "fresh thinking." It's about time.”