tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post3467807978393276500..comments2024-03-25T07:29:08.216-04:00Comments on 2 Political Junkies: A Few Notes On Senator McCain's FinancesMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439330154875628083noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-53604767566864385442008-07-11T08:37:00.000-04:002008-07-11T08:37:00.000-04:00I read everything you just wrote. I just disagree...I read everything you just wrote. I just disagree with it. That's not that hard to understand, is it?Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527850321812906680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-37543106078104269442008-07-10T23:10:00.000-04:002008-07-10T23:10:00.000-04:00Justin, did you read anything I just wrote? McCain...Justin, did you read anything I just wrote? McCain more than likely didn't vote against the bill to ban waterboarding for political reasons. He probably voted against it because he know that every now and then, you find a situation where it could be used to obtain information that could potentially save the lives of American soldiers. And interrogators are trained to figure out when they are in those situations and not just torture anybody who ends up in their prison. Military intelligence and CIA interrogators are trained to detect deception. Another thing, if you give false information, it doesn't make the interrogations stop. If makes them go back to their office and analyze what you told them. They look for corroborating statements and contradicting details and find out where the lies are and get you caught up in them until finally, they figure out the truth. Getting you talking is the biggest part.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-61582418079982063292008-07-09T12:18:00.000-04:002008-07-09T12:18:00.000-04:00Firstly, I was being facetious about the punishmen...Firstly, I was being facetious about the punishment. I realize there are safeguards against POWs giving up information and the like. There has to be; it would be idiotic to run a campaign otherwise.<BR/><BR/>If you were truly committed to a cause, wouldn't your first option, though, if you were imprisoned, to give false information so that you don't give away real intel <I>and</I> the "interrogation" stops?<BR/><BR/>Lastly, you know, it's funny that McCain supporters are just now realizing that nuance exists. It wasn't all that long ago that "nuance" was synonymous with "he himself doesn't even know what he stands for".<BR/><BR/>I suspect that you're right, and that McCain has no interest in supporting torture. He of all people should know what it's like and he probably wouldn't wish that on...well, maybe he would, with that temper, but my point is that he probably isn't in favor of it. I have a big problem with people, though, when they vote in ways that oppose their own feelings on a subject. I know, it's politics, but I don't care. I don't like it.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527850321812906680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-12436046509555765802008-07-09T12:04:00.000-04:002008-07-09T12:04:00.000-04:00You can not like something and find it potentially...You can not like something and find it potentially necessary at the same time. It's often referred to as necessary evil. Soldiers don't "like" killing, but it's sometimes necessary during times of war. Necessary evil.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-55769236174153352962008-07-09T11:58:00.000-04:002008-07-09T11:58:00.000-04:00Another thing, Justin- to address your military ex...Another thing, Justin- to address your military expertise- you're right. If John McCain provided any information to the enemy, he should be brought up on charges and jailed right now. While we're at it, let's jail every other POW because they may have provided intelligence of one sort or another to the enemy. The answer is, a POW is required to withhold all information except name, rank, and serial number for 24 hours. This provided the opportunity for his brothers in arms to change challenges and passwords and adjust fire for information that may have been compromised. McCain provided no intelligence to the enemy. Yes, this is a counterexample. Or it would be if we were fighting a well discplined, uniformed enemy and if we were conducting the same torture operations as the enemy. Most of the "torture" conducted by the interrogators consists of sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation, and other operations to throw the detainee off balance. Since the scandal at Abu Ghurayb, which had nothing to do with interrogation as nobody can name the interrogator that gave the order to humiliate the detainees, the intelligence community has been so scrutinized by members of the Democratic party, that they have tied our hands on what we can and can not do. Apparently treating somebody who is trying to kill you humanely and with the utmost respect is more important than gaining intelligence that could potentially save lives. You have to realize that many POWs, as brave as they were and as much as they held out and as much as I respect them, did provide intelligence to the enemy, because only a small percentage of men can hold out against the pain and chaos. Many POWs during Vietnam signed confessions and participated in anti-American propoganda. Of course you'd like to see them jailed, but the bottom line is these men didn't do anything wrong. What they did was in the interest of self-preservation. They simply couldn't hold out any longer. At any rate, the issue is not to torture every person detained. It's to provide the option to the interrogator. If the interrogator feels that this person is motivated to avoid pain, then even the threat of torture may be all that is required.<BR/><BR/>Bottom line, I bet you could think of at least one person who would tell you whatever you wanted to hear if you put some gloves on 'em for five minutes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-22627561003290758932008-07-09T11:50:00.000-04:002008-07-09T11:50:00.000-04:00'Kay. It's true that he's said things about not l...'Kay. It's true that he's <I>said</I> things about not liking torture, but his voting record belies those statements.<BR/><BR/>He voted against <A HREF="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00022" REL="nofollow">H.R. 2082</A>, which contained provisions that would ban waterboarding. And when the bill passed anyway without him, he said that the president should veto it.<BR/><BR/>Basically, he's saying one thing, and voting another way. Trying to have it both ways. Trying to have his cake and eat it too. (Or, flip-flopping, if you prefer stupid terminology like that.)<BR/><BR/>I'm sure you'll come back with an example of Obama doing something similar. I wouldn't doubt that he has. Still doesn't make it okay.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527850321812906680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-43877846182955647112008-07-09T11:31:00.000-04:002008-07-09T11:31:00.000-04:00If you're going to claim McCain is in favor of tor...If you're going to claim McCain is in favor of torture, provide a reference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-16787827857772988032008-07-09T10:06:00.000-04:002008-07-09T10:06:00.000-04:00Big rant, one problem.McCain is in favor of tortur...Big rant, one problem.<BR/><BR/>McCain is in favor of torture to extract information. McCain was tortured. What information did he give up when he was tortured and why hasn't he been punished for it?<BR/><BR/>If he didn't give up information, doesn't that provide a very inconvenient counterexample for him?Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527850321812906680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-67944166798866106922008-07-09T08:56:00.000-04:002008-07-09T08:56:00.000-04:00You're right. John McCain knows nothing about bei...You're right. John McCain knows nothing about being an American. Especially not the pain of torture for refusing to provide information that could lead to the death of fellow Americans. And he certainly doesn't have the resolve to refuse special treatment and early release when being held in a POW camp... <BR/><BR/>Please! This guy is a war veteran and a survivor of a North Vietnam POW camp, where they don't follow Geneva Convention. He's been through enough to make the average American crawl into a corner and cry themselves to death. In order to defend another human being's liberties, most Americans would go as far as to... I dunno. Buy a bumpersticker, maybe? If it's conveniently on the way to their next meaningless errand. Just look at Iraq. Every single person who has never been there is opposed to the war. More than ninety percent of the people who have, say we're doing a good thing there. But it's not our war? That's right, and I guess there's none of our fellow man over there either. John McCain has gone overseas, fought for not just fellow Americans, but his fellow man, been tortured for it --and by torture I mean real pain, not being pranced around naked in some prison-- and come home to a thankless country. So, ask again, why a company like American Express might look at John McCain and say- "This guy might deserve a little something special." And ask again, why do you think you've got the right to criticize this man? You haven't earned that right! Barrack Obama hasn't earned that right! <BR/><BR/>John McCain is a true American, and I mean the old school true American, not this new ideal of Americanism created by the Democrats that is willing to change any part of our country to become 'less offensive'. Well that offends me. I'm offended that I have to press 2 for English, cause if it was 2 for Spanish, the Mexicans might be offended. I'm offended that since I don't live below the poverty line and am not in the "upper class" income bracket, I have to work harder than anyone else for a loan, a grant, or a scholarship. I'm offended that more of my tax money will go to welfare recipients who do not have any plans to gain employment than towards paying teachers, police officers, and firefighters. I'm offended the Patriot Acts is constantly under fire because I don't plan terrorist attacks and I would like to see those who do captured, even if it means listening to their phone calls. I'm offended that the right to bare arms is under attack, because if guns are made illegal, the only people that will have them are the criminals- and that means I can't defend myself or my family. And I'm offended that we must seperate God from our culture to be less offensive.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of God, let's look at Barrack Obama's religious advisor... Do I need to even say anything there? Also, let's look at how American Barrack Obama is... Well, the fact of the matter is according to ContrarianCommentary.com owner, Andy Martin, Barrack Obama is also a Kenyan citizen and has never moved to denounce his Kenyan citizenship (ref: http://www.politicalgateway.com/main/columns/read.html?col=731). The fact of the matter is, I am completely frightened by the fact that he might win this election. I am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the American people scare me more than the terrorists because the American people might be so determined to prove racial equality that they might elect the wrong candidate. Don't get me wrong, I'm not racist at all. Race doesn't matter. What matters is the qualifications and moral character of the person elected. And looking at both candidates, I just can't see how a Vietnam veteran who embodied the U.S. militaries Article IV, Code of Conduct could lose the presidential election to Barrack Obama.<BR/><BR/>By the way, if you think equal rights is not an issue of concern for the Republican party (the party as a whole), then answer this question; What party was Abrham Lincoln a member of and what Proclamation did he enact during his presidency?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-56602974133083555022008-07-02T21:07:00.000-04:002008-07-02T21:07:00.000-04:00I also have an American Express Card with 0% inter...I also have an American Express Card with 0% interest. Amex cards are not revolving credit cards like most cards. Just gotta pay the balance every month that's all.Ol' Frothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11001073150811372903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-77044088172148595832008-07-02T10:17:00.000-04:002008-07-02T10:17:00.000-04:00I last pumped my own gas on Saturday, which cost m...I last pumped my own gas on Saturday, which cost me exactly $3.679 per gallon. Gotta love fuelperks at GetGo. At any rate, I pumped just under 8 gallons and got about 39.1 mpg on that tank of gas in my non-hybrid, automatic transmission car.<BR/><BR/>All off the top of my head. Why is that so hard? And no, Obama probably couldn't answer that either.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527850321812906680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-14143298554703585622008-07-01T08:34:00.000-04:002008-07-01T08:34:00.000-04:00John, the doctor's office called. They are concern...John, the doctor's office called. They are concerned about your moving further and further from reality. Please call them back as soon as become conscious again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-87416092457856234712008-07-01T07:02:00.000-04:002008-07-01T07:02:00.000-04:00John K: Look at Heath. Being a bigot when it come...John K: Look at Heath. Being a bigot when it comes to age. Good thing Oberfuhrer Olbermann did not hear this. LOL LOL Bigotry resides well within the ranks of the Democratic Party.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-89230456423063633402008-07-01T06:28:00.000-04:002008-07-01T06:28:00.000-04:00This is one of those issues I would be inclined to...This is one of those issues I would be inclined to give John McCain a pass on. His campaign was out of money a few months ago, and he may well have carried it on his credit cards for a while. <BR/><BR/>As for pumping his own gas politicians at his level are in fact probably driven around everywhere. A few politicians, like Michael Dukakis, chose to live more simply, but most at that level obtain at least some of the trappings of power. And as people say, McCain can afford it. On the other hand, he’s seventy-something and maybe can’t remember the last time he pumped his own gas. And that does scare me.EdHeathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09109361235271107574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-12754227195086799922008-06-30T20:59:00.000-04:002008-06-30T20:59:00.000-04:00John K: Democrats help people? You mean like crea...John K: Democrats help people? You mean like creating drop out factories in inner city schools ie Pittsburgh? Or perhaps turning neighborhoods into drug markets via sec 8 housing? Or even New Orleans? Those Democrats really helped out those folks. Let them all hang out while the hurricane hit and the Mayor partied in the upper floors of a Hotel and the Police Chief was nowhere to be seen. I love it. LOL LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-90715208158793758032008-06-30T20:55:00.000-04:002008-06-30T20:55:00.000-04:00John K: 6 of the top 10 richest Senators are Democ...John K: 6 of the top 10 richest Senators are Democrats. Do you think Sen. Kerry knows the price of a hunting license in Ohio? And of course we have Dodd and Conrad who got special deals with Countrywide Home Loans. Gee those Democrat finances are not looking too good. How is Rep. Jefferson (D-La) doing these days with his cold cash?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-23786923583141602442008-06-30T20:15:00.000-04:002008-06-30T20:15:00.000-04:00Almost no candidate, Democrat or Republican, can a...Almost no candidate, Democrat or Republican, can answer these sorts of queries. It's too bad, but it's true.<BR/><BR/>But you have to look at this historically, to get a little perspective.<BR/><BR/>Guys like FDR and JFK were immensely wealthy and part of the social elite...yet they found a way to understand the common man.<BR/><BR/>Nixon wasn't in their class, yet he was a total dipshit.<BR/><BR/>I guess my point is; money does not make the man...or woman.<BR/><BR/>Is McCain out of touch with Joe the Plumber? You bet. Obama may be as well.<BR/><BR/>But what separates them is the deep-seated philosophy which underlies their beliefs; the GOP talks about bootstrapping, but legislates for the rich, while the Democratic party talks about helping people...and really acts on that belief.<BR/><BR/>PiltAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-43280984169616764252008-06-30T20:00:00.000-04:002008-06-30T20:00:00.000-04:00KGC says..That should be..I guarantee they are NO...KGC says..<BR/><BR/>That should be..<BR/>I guarantee they are <B> NOT</B> purchasing discount furniture at IKEA, glassware at WalMart or Elvis portraits on eBay.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-77654804118542273722008-06-30T19:59:00.000-04:002008-06-30T19:59:00.000-04:00KGC says...Yawn. The McCains, especially Cindy, ar...KGC says...<BR/><BR/>Yawn. The McCains, especially Cindy, are worth at least $100M or more, so having a credit card balance of, say, $50,000 is nothing. There is no sense of proportionality or time-line in this story (one-time? a carryover balance?). I guarantee they are purchasing discount furniture at IKEA, glassware at WalMart or Elvis portraits on eBay. Their tastes are definitely higher than most of anyone of us can imagine. So? Doesn't bother me.<BR/><BR/>Let's see.. when I made about $75,000 in consulting income (income, excluding travel expenses) a few years ago, my credit cards averaged $15-$20,000 per month for travel expenses for several months in a row... M&A work for a publicly-held Company is expensive and time critical. I would sometimes take 4 flights in one day (Pittsburgh-Boston-Atlanta-Jackson, MS) for one day and return to Pittsburgh the next day (Jackson-Atlanta-Pittsburgh)... or get called at 5PM and told - Be on the 8am to Dallas tomorrow and buy 1st Class. My clients paid my bills on demand and I paid my bills in full every month. Even today, my credit card bills are $3,000-$4,000 per month.. paid in full each month. BFD. And, I'm not worth anywhere near $100M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-21449396005186075182008-06-30T18:21:00.000-04:002008-06-30T18:21:00.000-04:00If the shoe fits...If the shoe fits...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-15516617449326439792008-06-30T17:29:00.000-04:002008-06-30T17:29:00.000-04:00John K: Ahh when was the last time you (fill in th...John K: Ahh when was the last time you (fill in the blank) or bought a loaf of bread and milk (fill in the blank) The usual left wing media gotcha question that has no relevance to anything. But it does make the left wingers feel like they are slamming someone. Got a phony poll to go along with the question? By the way I have no idea of the price of milk or bread and while I pumped my gas just a few days ago, could not tell you the actual price. Must be a wealthy Republican elitist eh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com