http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspxFirst Read is taking a little holiday breather.  Although we'll be posting here as political news warrants over the next week, we will be back in earnest with our daily morning missive and updates on January 2.  We wish everyone happy and healthyen-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#21999Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:21:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:21999Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaHuma, Mark and Elizabeth. Happy X-Mas...hope you get the Divinity I sent.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22047Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:44:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22047Robert Catalano, Salem, ORMerry Christmas to the hosts and the respondees here. I have enjoyed both reading and posting responses. That's the great thing about America: we can all say what we want without killing one another over it. You can say what you want about a secular nation vs. a religious one but in the end there is less mayhem and death when the two can be peacefully combined. Again, Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring you many good things.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22066Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:26:42 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22066David, Katy, TXGood time to take a breather, while Sandy Berger is reported as having taken classified documents which might have shed light on the failure of Clinton to combat terrorism. We wouldn't want to have a reasonable discussion about such potentially damning evidence against Clintons, Democrats and MSNBC.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22085Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:38:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22085kim, Crofton MdI see we're going to enter '07 the same way we spent '06- blaming Clinton and the Dems for our failures in the GWOT. Maybe we can think of a way he could be blamed for Abu Ghraib, the lack if a US peace initiative for Palestine and Israel for the past 6 years, and GW getting a lump of coal in his stocking from General Abizaid instead of the desired report on the "steady progress" we are making in Iraq.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22090Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:54:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22090stix-illinoiso! my goodness David..you have an angst free holiday whatever your choices may be. HAPPY! HAPPY! MERRY! MERRY! HOLLY! JOLLY!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22093Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:00:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22093Ryan, MichiganDavid - While I do think that the Sandy Berger story is quite interesting I would be slow to call "conspiracy". I'm not sure why Mr. Berger would take documents from the National Archive and his actions were quite suspicious but I'm not sure I'm ready to claim that it was "potentially damning evidence against Clintons, Democrats and MSNBC." For one, I'm not sure how MSNBC fits into this but, hey, whatever. I know that you said "potentially" and that is true that we don't know what was in those documents but let's not go ape poop over this quite yet. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22102Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:08:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22102The Edge, Macon GAFox News Flash : The Clintons are under investigation for providing GWB with alcohol and drugs in his teen years. Resulting brain damage is Clintons' fault.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22103Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:12:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22103Army Guy; Ft Bliss TXHappyHolidays all here. Letus remember all those that serve our great ntion: medical folks, law enforcement, fire service, EMTs, the frazzeld folks at the airports, all our members of the finest military in the universe and yes, those folks who put public service as a government offical ahead of personal goals. For all my brothers and sisters of the warrior spirit deployed to harm's way; keep your powder dry, your armor buttoned up and keep your head down.To all, a good night.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22104Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:14:21 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22104David, Katy, TXAll, Anyone want to argue that we'll see an investigation by your leader, Michael Moore, into a possible Clinton connection to al Qaeda? Silence........http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22113Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:42:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22113Olivia, Peoria, Ill.To Everyone: If you celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas. If you celebrate Hannukah, Happy Hannukah. If you celebrate neither, have a nice day:-)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22115Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:43:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22115J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NYDavid........Bush is a failure, plain and simple. Learn it, believe it and face it. Because, we are all being forced to LIVE it. Bush's failure to protect the american people before 911 even though he was warned by his own CIA a month in advance, his lies to the press and the public about WMD in Iraq, his failed policies there and the deaths of 3000 American Soldiers aren't Clinton's fault or responsibility. All of it belongs to "W." So, why don't you just suck it up, and take some of the "personal responsibility" that republiCAN'T- CAN'Tservatives are famous for spouting off about. (But, rarely if ever accept.) What I see is that jerks like yourself are going to start off 2007 the same way they started off 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005, and 2006.....trying to divert attention away from the failures of George Bush and the republiCANT party by making accusations about the previous democratic administration which cannot be justified by logic or fact. TO THE CUSTODIANS OF FIRST READ.........okay you went and did it. I'm hooked, this is a great forum from which to obtain information, and in which to discuss the issues of the day. Happy Hannakuh (spelling?), Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Kwanza to all of you. All any of us can ask from "the media" these days is not to glaze over the failures of The Bush admin, which has gotten SO MUCH of a pass from the mainstream press that it isn't funny. Here's hoping that 2007 brings us news coverage from people who aren't afraid to take the "Rove-Monkeys" on. It's time to start telling the truth and stop Soft-Balling about the idiocy of this administration. Too many people have already died because of it, and the lives of many more are at stake. MEERY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...........GOD SAVE THE UNION!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22132Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:26:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22132Ryan, MichiganI for one don't necessarily blame the Clinton administration for 9/11 or for that matter the current or previous Bush administrations. I have a novel idea. Let's blame the perpatraitors(sp?). I blame the extremist Muslims for 9/11. Anyway, to echo J. Stanley's comment, I to enjoy this blog. Despite the verbal beating I take on a daily basis I have found this blog to be a great test of my opinions and beliefs. Many on here are obviously very passionate about what they believe and I appreciate that. To all Merry Christmas and may 2007 bring a more stable government and security situation in Iraq and the confirmed death of OBL.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22133Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:26:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22133David, Katy, TXJ. Merle - "Jerks"??? Remind me never to vote for you. Open your eyes and review ALL the evidence. Your hatred for George Bush and conservative ideas have evidently blinded you. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22135Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:32:42 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22135Seattle SueDavid, Katy, Tx. You sound like you are not playing with a full deck. If Sandy Berger is guilty of these charges, punish him. But for you to think Wilner, Murray and Zaidi are taking a break to prevent writting about Berger is crazy. And what the heck does Micheal Moore has to do with this story? CRAZYhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22144Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:58:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22144Lee in CAGee Dave, your unending worship of an election-stealing felon and First Order Chickenhawk seems a bit "blind," too, but you keep blaming Bill Clinton for everything, because you might be right - Bush is such a puppet, and Bill is rich.... Ryan - keep swinging.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22163Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:57:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22163Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa"CONAN vs ONAN" The Independent View. The problem the Republicans have with Clinton is the problem they have with most 'non-insiders'. That would be a 'sexual' problem. Starting from the top. Clinton, arguably America's most 'virile' President since Warren Harding, was villlified by the American Right, chuckled at by a relaxed Europe, and freely admired by the Chinese for his sexual prowess, the requirements of which, were not disclosed. Clinton represents the Classless Lethario of the Rubinesque American Female. A Casanova of that 'Steel Magnolia' woman, who has 'more insurance'. When women look at Clinton, that's what they see. When they look at Dubya...well, someone once said his Dad reminded every woman of her ex-husband. Dubya must remind her of her second ex-husband. America was doin' OK with 'Slick Willie', now everybody is unhappy. Blame it on Clinton? Might as well blame it on our Cro-Magnon DNA. They started it. Remember, behind every insecure Politician, is a relative they swear wasn't a Cave Man.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22165Thu, 21 Dec 2006 23:01:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22165DesmopndRyan, yes let's blame the people behind 9/11. It was Osama bin Laden and al Queda. Thank you for finally stating that. So, I did and do still support the war in Afhganistan. I believe the current administration took us off that course when our country invaded Iraq. Do you believe that? If so, how much more money out of your pocket will you use to continue the war in Iraq. Eventually, the law of economics will not be on that side. And we have an obligation to ask how all that money was spent in Iraq. It was our money, paid through taxes, that went to Iraq. So, account for every penny.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22174Thu, 21 Dec 2006 23:45:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22174DesmondOlivia, my thoughts go out to those in the Gulf Coast, especially to New Orleans. On this December 25th, the lights are still out. If we cannot solve this in our country, why do we profess to know a way forward as expressed by our president? http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22230Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:29:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22230Ryan, MichiganSteve - I will say that I think what the Republicans did with the whole Clinton sex scandal/impeachment thing was not good at all. It was a waste of time, money, effort, etc. Of course Clinton shouldn't have lied under oath but he wouldn't have had the opportunity if certain Republicans weren't caught up with Clinton's sex life. I think this might be the second time in about a week that Steve and I agree on something. What the heck is happening?! :)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22233Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:48:13 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22233Owen Vander, EvansvilleWow...Ryan and Steve agreeing TWICE in the same week? Now I do believe in Santa Claus!!! :-) To All : Merry Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Day off(atheists) and Tree Day (Druids). Pray for peace on earth and an end to war and poverty.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22234Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:53:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22234TEC, Spring TXHappy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all. Good Luck with all your endeavors and peace of mind. A gift to all US citizens below. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htmhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22235Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:58:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22235Ryan, MichiganDesmond - you know I don't believe that the administration took us off course when we invaded Iraq. I guess you could make the argument that we should've focused more on a different country that harbored and financially aided terrorists but I think that with the intel we had from our own agencies as well as British, Canadian, Italian, French, German, Russian, and Isreali agencies we were concerned that Saddam had WMD and was looking to develop more and he clearly had a history of using them. I think that was one of the factors that singled out Iraq over maybe a Syria, Lybia, a group like Hezbollah or even Iran at the time. This is of course where you and I differ. I don't believe that by eraticating al Queda you stop the war. I believe that it is more broad then just one terrorist group. But, anybody who regularly reads these posts knows how I feel about that. Also at some point I believe that you have to throw economics aside to some extent and do things for the greater good and not just do things for the proposed economic benefit. That's not to say there shouldn't be check and balances in the system and to that end I hope the Democrats do have productive oversight hearings because I do want the money spent wisely. I'm dissapointed with Republicans for not doing this in the first place. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22240Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:21:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22240Still Crazy After All These Years"Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Rock"http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22243Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:51:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22243mikeeg,abdn,waya i saw on a religous special about the circumstances of the marriage of mary it was said that as was the custom of the times that she was sold to her husband in an arranged marriage and that she was very young probably early teens and that her husband was about 25. my question is is this correct info and if so what is the religious significance of impregnating(immaculate conception) a 13 or 14 year old slave girl?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22244Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:53:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22244scott, winona mnHappy Holidays to everyone in whatever form you find it. Peace on earth.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22245Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:58:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22245Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaWell?..........Merry X-Mas to you, Ryan. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22261Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:57:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22261Olivia, Peoria, Ill.Amen, Desmond! My thoughts also go out to the Gulf Coast, too, especially to New Orleans where they suffered the worst flooding since Katrina yesterday. This received no coverage on NBC Nightly. And as you say, the lights are still out in New Orleans. Remember the brouhaha over North Korea several months ago? Much was made at the time about a satellite photo showing a free, prosperous, brightly-lit South Korea next to Kim Jong Il's poor, oppressed fiefdom, which was completely dark except for a small point of light which was presumably "Dear Leader's" palace. You may be wondering what North Korea would have to do with New Orleans. Well, yesterday I read in USA Today where satellite photos of the area hit by Katrina had been made available to that newspaper. Some showed New Orleans prior to the storm, the others showed her as she looked in April, 2006. In the most recent shots, the port and the French Quarter shine brightly, showing how tourist areas (the "Isle of Denial") have re-opened. Other areas, miles long and miles wide, remain dark, a situation building records suggest has not changed much since the images were taken. I wonder why more isn't being made of these satellite images and why they haven't shown up in the rest of the media. They should--more attention needs to be called to the fact that New Orleans, the rest of Louisiana's ravaged parishes, and the Mississippi Gulf still need a lot of rebuilding help. And the people there need to be in our thoughts...http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22279Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:53:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22279Mark Thieme, Daly City, CA"WE ARE NOT ENEMIES, BUT FRIENDS. WE MUST NOT BE ENEMIES. THOUGH PASSION MAY HAVE STRAINED IT MUST NOT BREAK OUR BONDS OF AFFECTION. THE MYSTIC CHORDS OF MEMORY, STRETCHING FROM EVERY BATTLEFIELD AND PATRIOT GRAVE TO EVERY LIVING HEART AND HEARTHSTONE ALL OVER THIS BROAD LAND, WILL YET SWELL THE CHORUS OF THE UNION, WHEN AGAIN TOUCHED, AS SURELY THEY WILL BE, BY THE BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE." ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 1865http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22283Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:06:30 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22283Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowandependent News Flash! Some Zoo in, maybe London?...anyhow, I saw it on msnews, has a Komodo Dragon that's laid seven eggs with seven little Komodos growing inside, through...get this..."Imacculate Conception". Wow! No Dad, instead, a Komodo Dragon Angel is the suspected father. Who'da thunk it? If one is born on X-Mas, will that be another signal of the "End Times", or just one more Immaculate Dragon in the world? I guess we'll have to wait and see if Three Wise Iguanas from the East, show up.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22287Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:24:13 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22287J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY....."J. Merle - "Jerks"??? Remind me never to vote for you. Open your eyes and review ALL the evidence. Your hatred for George Bush and conservative ideas have evidently blinded you." ..... Yes David, "JERKS." Because only a jerk could/would make yet more excuses for a presidential administration who's policies have cost THOUSANDS of people their very lives. Only a jerk would continue to tacitly deny Bush's responsibility for not protecting the public before 911 (when he was warned by his own CIA). And finally, only a jerk would defend the all out lies Bush told to the American public about WMD, and nuclear weapons in order to justify war against a country that had no such items, in which their were no "terrorists" until we invaded, and a country that wasn't even involved in 911. Open YOUR mind and review the consistant, and PERSISTANT pattern of LIES that have been employed by THIS President and the number of deaths that have resulted from those lies, David. Here are a couple of points for you to ponder my friend; First, in lieu of the fact there were no WMD, nukes, or Al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq BEFORE he invaded, WHY did Mr Bush tell us there were, and why did he send 3000 Americans off to die in a country that wasn't "on fire" until AFTER our military got there? Second, (......and this is more an observation, than it is a "question.") being as how you are from Texas, where the explosions, billowing smoke, screams of horror, and the tears of pain and anguish that occured on 911 weren't shared or experienced, but rather VIEWED in the same "entertainment" venue as TV sitcoms are, it's easy for me to understand how you can "guffaw" at we who watched, heard, smelled, tasted and wrenched in our guts about on that horrible day....as it unfolded right in front of us on our own doorstep. To you David, 911 is nothing more than three digits that carry with them no psycological association with regard any of the senses. To us, the very mention of September 11th holds memories of horrible sensations that words neither written or spoken will ever do justice to. 911, to us, is an awful repetative flash of light, a contual plume of billowing smoke, an unextinguished fire, curdling unsilenced screams of anguish & pain, a continuously falling teardrop, and a heartache unhealed. Yes David, these things have BOTH deafened AND blinded me. They have deafened me to listening to anymore garbage republicans spew about preventing another 911, when in fact 911 itself was prevantable if only Mr Bush had listened to his own CIA 35 days before the event occured. They have blinded me towards viewing any of what this administration does as being anything other than for the sole benefit of one political party. Because, all Republicans have done since 911, is use it as an excuse for EVERYTHING except perhaps Mark Foley's emails to underage male pages in the capitol building. You talk about my hate for Bush, David. But you mention nothing about your own loathe of Democrats, The Clintons in particular, that causes you to continue to try to blame them for 911. Even though The Mayor of NY was a Republican; even though the Governor of the State of NY was a Republican; even though the Congress was controlled by Republicans; and, even though the White House itself was occupied by a Republican when 911 happpened. You tell ME to look at "evidence". But, you completely overlook what's happening right now in front of your very eyes. A failed war, an out of control military who's honor has been breached by scandal involving torture and murder, a government more concerned with spying on its' own citizenry than with capturing the one man responsible for its' most horrible of days, and a political ideology that allows for finger-pointing and blaming when something goes wrong, instead of encouraging work to fix the problem. No, we aren't talkling about war-time Nazi Germany. We're talking about today's Conservative Republicans, and the Bush administration in particular. So Merry Christmas to you David, all the way down there in Texas where the sights, sounds, smells, taste, and "feel" of 911 will never permeate through the air the way they STILL do on Manhattan's lower west side; and, a Happy New Year to you as well, in the land where the Bush twins drink margeritas, run around hotel hallways naked, and use the Secret Service to bail their boyfriends out of jail at 2am on Saturday night. While you're enjoying this holiday season, David, I hope you will be thinking about the 3000 or so families who will never see their loved ones again on this or any other holiday. For, if you were to do THAT David, you would then understand my disdain for your beloved republiCANT party and the antics of one George W Bush. Once again, Have a Lovely Holiday Season David, from all of us Bush Haters Here in NY.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22293Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:59:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22293TEC, Spring TX. Even though I believe it would be wrong to abandon the Iraqis, since we were the ones who cause the current situation, I also believe it was a mistake to go into Iraq militarily. Even if Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, there was still diplomatic options open. There has been reports out of Israel that the WMD were buried in the Syrian dessert. Beyond the original justification and rationalizations about why we attacked Iraq I also wonder what was the reason Bush and company wanted this war? If any investigations were to occur and discover the real reason we invaded Iraq, then we would have an intriguing situation if money was the answer. What is the motives of the Republicans and why are we involved in nation building and destruction? http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22297Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:11:48 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22297JIrby, Colorado Springs, CoY'all have a great Xmas, and never forget that Xmas is all about X. And you guys may want to start thinking about watching your biz. Creepy women out there could be shooting a video cam up your kilt. Up-kilting is now illegal in thirty-nine states.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22305Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:31:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22305Olivia, Peoria, Ill.Bravo, J. Merle! How can it be that the totally clueless Bush and his rubber-stamp "RepubliCAN'T" Congress presided over the twin tragedies experienced by America in the first decade of this century--9/11, which you so excellently covered first-hand, being from the New York area, that I've nothing to add, and Katrina, more than a year after which a beautiful, historic American city with a one-of-a-kind culture found nowhere else in America, is teetering on her last legs? I'm not from New Orleans myself, nor have I visited her since the storm. But I love that city and her people and have kept up regularly with what's been happening there, in Louisiana's other stricken parishes, and on Mississippi's Gulf Coast via the Times-Picayune, the Baton Rouge Advocate, and other Louisiana newspapers online, and MSNBC's blog "Rising from Ruin" which is about Waveland and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. There's much more going on in the storm zone than you'd believe if you merely got your post-Katrina news from the mainstream media. And Katrina survivors have been getting a raw deal from a government that, since they're tax-paying Americans who've been paying into the system, some for years, should be helping them rebuild and the communities they're living in repair their infrastructure. Instead many are stuck in FEMA trailers--or, if evacuees from New Orleans, are stuck in places like Baton Rouge, Houston and Atlanta. Occasionally one hears the upbeat story of an evacuee who lands a good job and finds a better home, who understandably doesn't want to return to New Orleans. But this is a lucky break akin to winning the Lotto. More often than not, many evacuees are now homesick--New Orleans is the only home they'd known until being forced to leave--however, because of being unable to afford to rebuild or repair their homes and due to the lack of affordable housing, they're unable to go back. And even worse--the stress of evacuating and living in an unfamiliar place has been taking a physical toll, especially on those who are elderly or otherwise in fragile health to begin with. Many have been "passing" and coming home to New Orleans in boxes--and the number of obituaries in the Times-Picayune, in spite of her diminished population has been the same as it was before Katrina. And that's not all--New Orleans looks worse than Baghdad, with infrastructure (water, electrical, and sewerage systems) in war zone-like conditions. While there have been positive stories lately such as the re-opening of the St. Charles streetcar line and the winning record of the Saints, those are overshadowed by more ominous, canary-in-the-coal-mine stories, such as the "brain drain" of young professionals from that beleaguered city. (In fact, I just read an article that said Louisiana suffered the worst population loss of any state in the union last year, due to Katrina.) And New Orleans' school and health-care systems aren't even up to serving a city even of her lowered population--hardly conducive to attracting returnees or new residents. It would be wonderful if President Doofus would, as he enjoys a sumptuous Christmas feast at his Crawford, Texas ranch--only a stone's throw from New Orleans--take a moment to think about the suffering of the people of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast and wonder how they're celebrating Christmas--but I know even that small kindness would be too much to ask from a disgusting idiot who, when Katrina happened, chose Iraq over New Orleans. I just hope that in the future we don't begin seeing bumper stickers saying, "Bush Lied--A City Died."http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22307Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:45:21 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22307Cynic, St. Louis, MOMain reason for invading Iraq - Oil, plain and simple. Blood money to be made. Buried WMDs? Yeah, buried under the cover of the dense foliage in the Syrian Desert, our spy satellites couldn't see through the tree branches. Destruction then rebuilding = money for Haliburton and their kind. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22311Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:58:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22311Kate, Ozarks"happy Druid Tree day" - what a lovely sentiment! for those of the non-Christian, non-Jewish faith, Happy Yule and Winter Solstice - the holly king returns! i gotta say, this is one of the most intelligent general-public forums i've seen. Steve and Ryan, great debates - although i'm fairly certain that you guys agreeing - twice, no less! - corresponding with the virgin birth of komodo dragons has got to mean something. are the planets aligning any time soon? best of the season to all.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22313Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:10:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22313Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaI doubt very much that the Assad family would let Saddam bury his A-Bombs in their country. The rumor sounds bogus. Israel wouldn't let Saddam have a Reactor, why would they let him have nuclear weapons? They took out his reactor with a couple of air strikes. Had such an a-bomb threat existed, the Isreali's could've handled it and in a much smoother way. One more sore spot on Dubya's current war.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22314Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:14:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22314David, Katy, TXMerry Christmas, all!!! May God bless you with peace and health. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22317Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:24:44 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22317Owen Vander, Evansville, INKate...I had 2 reasons for referring to Tree day. One is in reference to the probability the Christmas Tree may have originated by the Druid tradition of decorating trees in their celebration of the winter solstice........ The other is much more of a personal reference. Our 'ferocious' guard dog Brutus (all 7 lbs of him) has been an annual lover of our Christmas tree. He has taken it upon himself to see to it any real tree we get is 'well watered'. I defeated that necessity the past 3 years by the use of an artificial representation...UNTIL the current Christmas season. My daughter returned from college and decided she missed the scent of 'real pine', so unbeknownst to me, she bought some pine scent and liberally sprayed our tree. Now, old Brutus is back to his Christmas Spirit of younger days and has been happily watering our 'tree' multiple times daily! .......Sorry no politics in this blog, just a weird little holiday story for all of you out there....May all have a wonderful, happy and safe Holiday season (However you prefer to define it!) I prefer Merry Christmas, but you can all pick your own.. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22318Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:27:48 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22318TEC, Spring Tx. Steve, you forget that Assad is a Suni Bathis. For More reading on the Story check out www.debka.comhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22320Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:37:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22320bobf Maybe this post will get posted. After reading David's response I took off the gloves and went after David. But I must have been to harsh since they did not print it. People like David just burn me up. Instead of talking about what is happeining today, they cherry pick the past to find some little item to justify their views. I ask you David, by bringing up Clinton, does that solve any of today's problems. What are you trying to do by dredging up the past. You want to talk about who did what to terrorist's. Then David we will have to bring Ronald Reagan in. This persident did more to arm today's terrorist's than anyone else. Did you notice David that at Saddam's trials they are prosecuting him for incidents that did not involve gassing Iraq's. Why, because we supplied the Iraq with all of it;s conventional,biological and chemical weapons. Funny, Reagan is never brought up for arming the Taliban also. While they waged their vietnam style war against Russia, we were sending them weapons. So David, If you want to play history 101 then lets get it on. How about Iran/contra scandal. Funny a Light Colonel in the marine corps was able to do foreign policy business with drug runners and Iran. So they could get weapons to the contra's. Oliver North was in chage and the republican party endorsed this even though he broke the law. Funny 6 years earlier Iran was holding Americans hostage, but Reagan and North had no problem working with Iran. Republicans have a higher calling then the american public. As long as you preach your loyalty to the party the party will take care of you. Remember how close Olive North got to winning the senste seat in Virginia. Thankfully a fellow republican: John Warner, did not back and actually was telling the VA people not to vote for a known criminal. Today he makes a good living preaching republcian views. As typical of right wing neocons like David they never want to debate. They just keep smearing and fearing like his reference to Michael Moore. All republicans can do is create boogie men. George HW bush used crime and drugs to create the boogie man for 1988. Remember the black man that was pardoned and then killed again. The republicans ran extensive ads and extensive radio coverage to blame Michael Dukakis. Even though he had nothing to do with it. By 1992 the republicans had pretty much ran out of boogie men until the got control of congress. Then the republicans went on the largest witch hunt in history to try to inpeach someone over what "is " is. This also goes to you Ryan, What the hell does someone private life have to do with running the country. Before you answer, how would you like it if someone goes through your own personal life, questions every thing that was done as part of your job. How much scrutiny do you want in you personal life be used for your professional life. So if you want to debate issues, I will debate you tooth and nail. But if you try to smear and fear, I will call you out as a hate mongering republican who can not debate issues. There is so much more to write about Reagan just like you write about Clinton, Now have we come up with any solutions for today or are we going to see who can keep comming up with useless facts from the past. David, what year are you living in. Why don't you join us here in 2006,add some quality information that pertains to today, and quite bringing up dead crap from 10 years ago. In other words: grow up.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22324Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:53:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22324David, Katy, TXBobf - Why did Sandy Berger steal documents from the National Archives and eventually shred them? That seems very, currently relevant to me. Blaming Bush is easy if you are relying on hatred, conjecture, inaccurate reporting, circumstantial evidence and comments taken out of context. You are the one who needs to grow up.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22329Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:22:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22329Olivia, Peoria, Ill.Here's more post-Katrina news that probably won't show up on nightly newscasts or elsewhere in the mainstream media. The bad, first. I previously mentioned that Louisiana had the greatest population loss in the nation last year--she lost 5%, and this means she'll lose a seat in Congress. Louisiana is taking a tremendous hit--already she is politically weak due to her congressional delegation's lacking clout. And here's a new FEMA atrocity: in spite of the fact that Louisiana was much harder hit by Katrina and Rita, she will get from the federal government only $75.4 million for more-permanent disaster housing such as "Katrina cottages." In contrast, neighboring Mississippi, which suffered less destruction, is getting almost 4 times as much. So again, poor Louisiana and her people are getting the shaft. Now to close on a positive note: Democrats are interested in forming an investigative panel similar to the 9/11 Commission to investigate who was responsible for the levee failure during Katrina and to probe the government's efforts to repatriate and rebuild devastated New Orleans. This is wonderful news, and, in light of the fact that Louisiana has been robbed of rebuilding aid she has a right to be getting, does not come at a moment too soon. Louisiana Rep. Bobby Jindal, a Republican, said he would welcome a new commission because "anything that causes more attention to be focussed on the Gulf Coast is a good thing."http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22332Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:38:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22332Mark Thieme, Daly City, CAThese good folks have been generous in allowing us to post here. Nonetheless, I kind of doubt the people in the pictures are calling the shots. My guess is that the decisions are made rather subjectively by whichever intern draws the short straw that day. People complain here about being censored for being un-PC or too rude and yet the most atrocious stuff makes it through sometimes. David from Katy has been brutalized here by a couple of folks although bobf suggests that one or more of his submissions were not posted because they were overly critical. I doubt it. As intelligent and educative as reading this blog can be, there is a great inconsistency in clarity, grammar, insight, and sensitivity. My theory is there is some young man or young woman dumping whatever comes in at the convenient moment onto the blog and blowing it off before the end of the shift. Like an abstract expressionist painting made of different colored splatters, First Read is wildly diverse in quality but nonetheless engaging. Certainly you folks provide an excellent entertainment value as well as an opportunity for expression, no matter how abstract or obscure, for those of us who are shut-ins and otherwise limited. Thanks for writing, thanks for printing my splatter, and thanks to the lowly intern who dumps the paint on the blog. Happy Holidays to all!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22336Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:56:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22336TEC, Spring TXOlivia, I do not agree with your assessment. I have been through the storm ravaged areas of LA. and Miss. At least in N.O. there was debris to clean up. In Miss the debris was washed out to sea. I saw the bare coast where Biloxi once stood and the scene was the same from Biloxi to the state line of LA. If it were not for the flooding N.O. would have been spared. Just about everything south of I-10 in Miss was wiped out. Refrigerators and ovens up in trees, large shrimp boat along side the highway. The I-10 bridge outside Pensacola Fl. has been out and temporarily patched for over two years. It is not just N.O that has been ignored, but the whole Gulf Coast from Beaumont TX to Panacea FL. Being from the area I have always wondered why N.O. received most of the media attention when Mississippi was much more devesated. I guess flooded houses were beter TV than the Mississippi landscape void of any structures. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22337Fri, 22 Dec 2006 22:03:34 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22337American Citizen30,000 Americans dead or wounded. May God forgive you George. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22366Sat, 23 Dec 2006 05:19:44 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22366David, Katy, TXMark Thieme, Daly City, CA - Your post is sincere. I pray that God grant you peace and health. I pray that God grant us all peace and health. If I may, please read Philippians, chapter 4, verses 4 thru 9, from the Bible. Paul's words are encouraging and timeless. Know that the people Paul was writing to were being/about to be, persecuted beyond our imagination.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22390Sat, 23 Dec 2006 10:42:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22390Jaime A. OvalleYou have protection under the U.S. Constitution to choose your religion and even if you choose to be an atheist it is your constitutional right to be so. We argue that there must be separation between church and state. Then, would it not be unconstitutional to force someone to swear by the Bible in which they do not believe in? If the Koran is someones sacred book, then, according to constitutional guarantee,it is his right to be sworn in by it. The U. S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land and should withstand any and all misinterpretations and misapplications. No one should be forced to swear by the Bible, be it in court or elsewhere and for whatever reason. I as a cristian am exempted in the courts not to swear by the Bible because it is my belief and knowledge that it is prohibited by Gods' law. The courts have an alternate phrase for those who do not believe in swearing, to make sure that your yes is a yes and your no is a no. We must remember that the law of the land is our constitution, not the Bible. The Bible instructs us to obey the law of the land. In this case, we must argue that the constitution supports the congressmans' right to be sworn in using a book which he holds holy. I do not know if it is alright and in accordance with his religion for him to be sworn in using the Koran, but I do know that according to our constitution it is his right. We as cristians might not be in agreement and some ignorants might find it distasteful, but remember that the law of this land is not our Bible nor our cristian beliefs are a way of this land. As long as there is constitutional law and not biblical law, we cristians must face the fact that this nation is not Gods' nation. It wanted separation of church and state and must endure the conflicts that this separation brings. Imagine the consequences Israel would have faced if it was ruled and guided by the law of the land and not Jehovas' law. I, as a law abiding citizen, must respect this congressmans' wishes. I do not support his religious beliefs, but I do support his constitutional rights. This is a dilemma that has been created by those ignorants that purport to know why we must have separation of church and state yet are in a stupor for they do not recognize what consequences we must face for having it this way. If we are Gods' nation, then let's have the Bible for our nations supreme law, not some set of laws that separate us from our cristians beliefs and sets us apart from God.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22409Sat, 23 Dec 2006 15:33:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22409Roger H. Werner, Stockton CaliforniaNotr sure anyone noticed but George W. Bush is not conservative, at least not defined by any definition linked to the traditional American conservative movement. Frankly, I think Bush is too stupid to link to any political movement but regardless, for the record Bush is not a conservative. If anything he has betrayed conservative ideas as has most of the GOp leadership of the past 5 years. Barry Goldwater must be turning over in his grave. Yes, Bush's presidency has been an abject failure. Further, on a personal level, Bush and his VP are despicable people and I have to believe they would do anything, and I do mean anything, to get their way. I do not detest conservative ideas but I do detest Bush/Cheney's perversion of such ideals.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22433Sat, 23 Dec 2006 19:20:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22433Jane, Southern MississippiOlivia, I agree with TEC in Texas. It's all bad, but Mississippi's Gulf Coast and up to Highway 20 was a much bigger area hit by the storm. But, then as I've heard some people say before on this site, "Who wants to live in Mississippi?" or "Even Mississippi looks good" when you have a blizzard elsewhere. Merry Christmas from a place I guess no one else wants to live in.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22464Sat, 23 Dec 2006 23:21:24 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22464Lee in CADavid, gross neglegence in both Iraq and N.O. just can't be swept aside by accusing people of "relying on hatred, conjecture, inaccurate reporting, circumstantial evidence and comments taken out of context. " ..... In fact, it's a pretty good description of how we got into Iraq. Sorry - you're just all alone in this - Bush has failed you, but as we learned from Homer Simpson: "Marge, it takes two to lie - one to lie and one to listen." Consider my Christmas gift.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22474Sun, 24 Dec 2006 00:53:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22474DesmondTop all you people in Missippi still in need after the Hurricanes, I assumed the President and Senator Trent Lott took care of that. The President said he would soon be in a chair on Senator Lott's front porch. That did not happen? Why did you not speak out, instead of voting for the same people? http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22475Sun, 24 Dec 2006 00:59:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22475DesmondTo all you people in Florida , who now say we have the same needs as the people on the Gulf Coast. I saw our President handing out water before the 2004 elections. Your Governor,Jeb, was re-elected by you Floridians. If , you still have a problem , speak to your Governor, he will always be the President's brother. You should have told us by how you voted. We would have gotten the message. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22550Mon, 25 Dec 2006 02:21:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22550JJ in NJHey, David, when does the statute of limitations for blaming Clinton for everything expire? I know that he sabotaged the Hindenberg, supplied George W. Bush with the booze and cocaine, mind-controlled Laura into killing her boyfriend with the car she was driving, kidnapped the Lindbergh baby, armed Hitler (no, that was Prescott Bush, sorry...), was in cahoots with the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor, killed JonBenet Ramsey, raped the Duke Party Stripper, shot Sean Bell 51 times, assaulted the Central Park Jogger, created the Dust Bowl of the 1930's, single-handedly caused the stock market crash of 1987, shot John Lennon AND Ronald Reagan, assassinated JFK, RFK and Martin Luther King, and SINGLE-HANDLEDLY perpetrated the movie VAN WILDER: THE RISE OF TAJ on an unsuspecting American public. Oh yeah, and he crucified Jesus, too. But still...when does the statute of limitations expire? Just wondering.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22589Mon, 25 Dec 2006 19:56:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22589Mark Thieme, Daly City, CAOnce again, with feeling... THE MYSTIC CHORDS OF MEMORY, STRETCHING FROM EVERY BATTLEFIELD AND PATRIOT GRAVE TO EVERY LIVING HEART AND HEARTHSTONE ALL OVER THIS BROAD LAND, WILL YET SWELL THE CHORUS OF THE UNION, WHEN AGAIN TOUCHED, AS SURELY THEY WILL BE, BY THE BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE." ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 1865http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22607Tue, 26 Dec 2006 01:45:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22607Still Crazy After All These YearsWe have a President who can't make a deciion about the war in Iraq. We have the National Guard from Guam, training Euthopia in guerilla warfare. The Islamic Court in Somalia, declared war on Euthopia and Eurasia. We are supplying money and military advisors to the Abbas Government in Jericho.We still cannot find Osama bin Laden. What part of this equation do you not understand? I do not need a biblical quote to explain this. This President has taken us in the U.S. to the ABYSS. If you do not beliieve that, then you are a FOOL.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22620Tue, 26 Dec 2006 04:41:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22620WillieWad, Chicago, ILIndisputable points in the immigration debate from Browakw. What about listing one of the indisputable facts that illegal imigrants have broken our laws, and using stolen id's to obtain employment hurts real people in real time. This is not a victimless crime. Thanks Tom, for shaping the debate for us. I expected bette from you.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22664Tue, 26 Dec 2006 12:35:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22664Ryan, Michiganbobf - I'm not sure why you included me in your last post. From the beginning, I have said that impeaching Clinton was the wrong thing to do. It was a waste of time, money, and effort. I hope you had a Merry Christmas!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22699Tue, 26 Dec 2006 17:37:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22699Mark ThiemeTom? Browakw? Willie Wad... did you stumble into the wrong blog?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22710Tue, 26 Dec 2006 18:52:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22710Sierra, San Francisco, CARyan: i think you're completely wrong about the invasion of Iraq. It had nothing to do with WMDs. Right after Bush took office, he started talking about 'regime change'. At first, they tried to blame Iraq for anthrax (remember). Then, they tried to say his intelligence met with Al-Queda. Finally, it was WMDs. It was all a scam. The UN inspection team never found WMDs, the French and Germans said there were no WMDs (rembmber 'Freedom Fries + 'Freedom Kisses' ?) Remember the fake letter about Iraq buying 'yellow cake uranium' from Niger ? A bunch of lies. Bush and his draft dodging neo-cons wanted regime change in Iraq. That's all. It was a scam. They still want regime change in Iran and North Korea. They'll make up any excuse to attack them. The US invaded Iraq even though it didn't attack or threaten us. That's the definition of agression. Sorry, Ryan, Bush committed agression against Iraq. He started what Catholic dogma would consider an 'unjust war'. Sierrahttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22720Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:45:02 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22720bobf My,My David, just what the heck do you expect to find in those documents. What are you looking for with those documents and you did not answer my questions about Reagan arming all the terrorist's. Tell me what is in the documents that Sandy berger took and how do they affect today. I am sick of people like you David, that instead of dealing with today's problems, you go look for some other way to protect your leader and blame someone else. You tell me to stop blaming Bush, I read my article and did not mention Bush. Such a typical hatemongerer that you just use standard pat lines like: YOU ALL HATE BUSH. What the heck did this accomplish. Bush has made major mistakes, but you can not acknowledge them because you have your head so far up Bush's butt. It is more important to trash the opposition or say they all hate Bush then to debate. David you are the classic smear and fear instead of debate and problem solving. So David, what have you got for a solution to today's problems. Oh that's right all of today's problems's would be solved if Sandy Berger did not shred those documents. So shreading those documents started the Iraq war. Shreading those documents is why 3,000 people have died in Iraq. Shreading those documents is why Iraq is on the verge of civil war. So when is David going to move to the new century or is he caught up in the 1990's, like the Twilight Zone. Clinton is responsible for everything wrong in the world. Clinton is the new boogie man for the hatemongering republicans like David. You know David I could have writtem your response for you, you wrote just what I knew you would. You do not debate, you just keep smearing and fearing, because it is all you know how to do. It is sad that there are people like David that are allowed to vote. Ignorance should be a crime for people like David. They would vote for Hitler if he was leading the republican party. Because the republican party is more important to him than America itself.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22723Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:52:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22723Olivia, Peoria, Ill.To everyone else who has brought up Mississippi: I know that state, where Waveland, Bay St. Louis, and other once-charming villages were swept away by Katrina, and people ended up with slabs, had been harder hit by the storm itself. I often read "Rising from Ruin" and know not only about that, but also about the admirable efforts Mississippians have been making, working together to rebuild their communities under able leadership. (And Jane, Southern Mississippi, please accept my apologies. I'm afraid I pulled a "Kerry" when I made that stupid remark I didn't mean about the blizzard. Actually, I adore Mississippi and would like to visit there sometime.) Having powerful, effective Senators including Trent Lott and members of Congress and a Republican governor who enjoy a good relationship with President Bush which can grease the skids for aid can't hurt, either. Last but not least about Mississippi--here's something surprising I read about that state in StateMaster.com: Even AFTER having been hit by Katrina, the Gulf Coast is Mississippi's most affluent area. Now for Louisiana--anyone who doubts the fragile condition she's in and the hand the Bush Administration has had in it should see Spike Lee's documentary "When the Levees Broke": A Requiem in Four Acts." Oh, and TEC in Spring TX--if you take a look at the destruction depicted in the documentary, New Orleans and Louisiana's other ravaged parishes do have large areas which look as bad as Mississippi's storm zone does. For many New Orleans homeowners, their homes may have been left standing by the flood, but then after being cleaned of all damaged furniture, other debris and mold, then gutted, the homes are still in such disrepair structurally they need to be demolished. So, like Mississippians, many people in Louisiana have ended up with slabs and need rebuilding assistance. There's a somewhat surreal scene in "When the Levees Broke" with a Louisiana woman who literally has a slab left and shows where everything in her house used to be. She even has some furniture set up. But the devastation is not all that's interesting in Spike Lee's documentary--it also goes heavily into the political side of what happened--particularly what I'd call the power imbalance via which Louisiana, in spite of the fact that she is responsible for about 30% of the oil and natural gas produced in this nation, is being treated as a colony by the rest of the country, especially Texas. So Louisiana frequently gets the shaft--and here's an example: Mississippi got 30,000 FEMA trailers, while Louisiana only got 3,000, even though the need is far greater in Louisiana. And then there's the fact that President Bush doesn't really care about bringing back New Orleans, where so many who'd been scattered to the four winds by the storm were poor people of color. Had they instead been wealthy potential contributors to the GOP in some affluent state like Florida, it's easy to imagine how quickly the Bush Administration would have stepped up to the plate and helped out. Not to mention making a serious effort to rebuild the city and bring residents back. Thanks to Desmond for reminding me that after her hurricanes in 2004, President Bush was in his brother's fiefdom of FLORIDA handing out water. If the comparison with his obviously not giving a damn about Louisiana doesn't show his true colors, I don't know what does.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22725Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:03:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22725bobf Thank You Ryan, Merry Christmas to you also. I only was concerned with how much of our personal life should be made part of our professional life. I just think there should be limits on how much employers intrude on people's personal lives for the sake of a job. I was mad at Clinton for dragging down the Democratic party with his office affair, but I think we wasted way to much time and effort to impeach him. I am just asking, can there be a balance btween our private lives and our professional lives. Where should that line be. I was emberassed for what Clinton did and I can probobly say that all democats were disgusted with Clinton's behaviour. Enough of politics, I do not know if you have kids Ryan, but watching my 10 year old christmas morning is like I was in heaven. I have never been more proud and happy in my life. We lost our first 2 kids 8 and 10 years before Tyler was born. I almost lost my wife and Tyler when he was born. My wife had Preclamxia w/HELP syndrome. That is when you here stories of women bleeding out in child birth, that is what my wife had. Thank God I was at hospital that could handle this procedure. So to celebrate with my family, struck home this year. My son has a couple of disabilities, but he is making it through school. Not the upper percentile, but he works hard to be in 5th grade. I am just thankful and wish everbody else the same happiness I felt on christmas. Semper Fi everyonehttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22754Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:56:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22754Bob, DenverJ Merle -- Great Posts!!! David and Ryan and the other Repugnicants: How are you going to answer the question from your kids/grandkids, "Why did you support the worst president in US history, daddy?" http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22786Wed, 27 Dec 2006 04:20:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22786Army Guy; El Paso TXSadly, our major media outlet talkiing heads are beholden to the bosses at the top; or off w/ their heads. Murrow saw this in his day and lightweights like Rather, Jennings, Brokaw, et al; have felt the heavy hand of corporate censors who seek sponsorship dollars. CNN was beholded to Ted t now Time Warner. fox has to kiss the hand of Rupert M. There is no free, unbiased media in this world. All those who believe this are deluded!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22815Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:51:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22815Owen Vander, Evansville, INAnybody else suffering 'Blogging Withdrawl'?? I'm sure Ryan is missing all the mortars lobbed his way:-) http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22861Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:32:06 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22861Sierra, San Francisco, CAA quote from the Guardian (UK) http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/joseph_stiglitz/2006/12/will_the_dam_break_in_2007.html "...Never has America's standing in the world's eyes been lower. Basic values that Americans regard as central to their identity have been subverted. The unthinkable has occurred: an American president defending the use of torture, using technicalities in interpreting the Geneva Conventions and ignoring the Convention on Torture, which forbids it under any circumstances. Likewise, whereas Bush was hailed as the first "MBA president," corruption and incompetence have reigned under his administration, from the botched response to Hurricane Katrina to its conduct of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq." Britain is our closest ally, and this is what one commentator thinks about George Bush. Well put. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22863Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:46:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22863Amy in MaineYour quote for the day: “My fellow Americans,” Ford said, “our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.” Rest in Peace, President Ford.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22871Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:07:24 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22871Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaAs I sit here in the afterglow of X-Mas, with the kid going nuts on his X-box with Madden 2007, I try to imagine the First Family and their afterglow. Laura and the twins, doing shooters of Pulque and Starka Vodka behind the horse barn, and Dubya in the 'Decider' room, wishing he had a Brandy Alexander. He keeps turning over the Fortune Telling Eight-ball that continues saying "Answer unclear...try again later." The computer is saying "You've Got Mail!" but it's only Poppy, crying about how Jeb won't be President 'cause Dubya put a Pox on the family name, and how all he wants for Christmas from now on is a lump of coal. Or Bar saying the twins should "Ruck Up" and enlist so Neil can hold his head up and run in 2012. Once in a while, Cheney will call to remind him of the Alternative Bohemian Owl God Ceremony that's coming up on New Years Eve, and would he like to go on a Safari? Or Jim Baker calling to tell him to stop making Poppy cry. It's the same old 'Deciding Thing", over and over. Maybe he could put it off until Lincoln's Birthday?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22884Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:59:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22884Peter Caloger Bushkill, PA I am sure the Iraq decision has been made, weeks ago probably. But the President and his handlers need to be careful about the timing of their draft reinstatement announcement. The American people spoke loudly and clearly on election day, rejecting the war and the policies of the current administration. And the administration, in its silence, speaks loudly and clearly now, rejecting the will of the people. The administration must answer to the corporate criminals and religious maniacs who breathed life into it in the first place. And the fact that it can no longer lie to us and get away with it is no deterrent. 2008 is around the corner, and with it the chance to reclaim our country and our heritage. But in the meantime, more men and women will die in a needless war, and the will of elitists and demagogues will rule the day.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22899Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:39:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22899Mark ThiemeSteve Turner, Nice piece of writing. The Ghosts of Christmas, indeed. The Ghost of Christmas Future may be too disturbing for First Family viewing. Sorry, there will be no George Bailey sing along to close this picture. For we, the beleaguered citizens of Potterville, the end of this nightmare can't come soon enough. The bells are not of angels and wings, but rather they toll... and toll... and toll... Cheers. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22910Wed, 27 Dec 2006 19:31:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22910DorothyQ.)When doing my post-Christmas shopping, I found a "Family Values Tour" CD. How was I able to tell they meant conservative family values? A.) The CD was marked, "Parental Advisory--Explicit Content."http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22919Wed, 27 Dec 2006 20:10:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22919TEC, Spring TxOlivia, you still do not understand what I am trying to convey. The damage in Louisiana cause by Katrina was not comparable to Mississippi. If you include the damage that was suffered as a result of Rita, then the damage exceeds Mississippi. As not well defined in the media, the areas that suffered storm surge was far more devastated. If Rita came ashore where predicted, in the Galveston Bay area, then the devastation would have been more extreme than any one experienced in Louisiana or Mississippi. I was trapped at my home as Rita approached with no way out. I had stocked up and thought I was prepared, but no one is truly or can be totally prepared for a storm of that magnitude. Boarding up a house is no protection from the direct onslaught of a category five storm. In hind sight, I can see how fruitless storm preparation is. As my neighborhood, prepared for the wrath of Rita, we thought our work was prudent, but if your house is washed out to sea, then no amount of preparedness will suffice. We were fortunately spared the worst of Rita, but suffered. A multitude of families in Texas, were without homes or had severely damaged homes and FEMA was no quicker to respond. My sister house, in Panacea Florida, was flooded almost three years ago and FEMA was slow to respond and the only response was to deny help, because they did not claim that the house was more than 50% damaged. So they have repaired and raised their house so no more flooding will damage their home. Unlike New Orleans, their property values have decreased. New Orleans made for good TV, so many of the other tragedies have gone unreported. The Federal government has basically stated that we are not the first line of defense against hurricanes and that statement is applicable no manner what your address. New Orleans is tragic, and so are all other areas damaged by hurricanes. We can spend money on a bridge to no where in Alaska, on Tsunami relief in Asia and the war in Iraq, but not to repair the bridges and roads in our own country. We should not forget the people of Louisiana, but we should also remember all of the people who have suffered Hurricane damaged over the last three years. New Orleans is just a small part of a bigger tragedy and because of New Orleans unique history; it will be raised from ruin. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#22991Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:43:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:22991DesmondTEC, the gulf coast has seen a lot of damage due to Hurricanes in the past three years. I have not forgotten. There are many of our citizens that have not recovered. For myself, what I saw in New Orleans, was what I already knew. There were many people there living below the poverty line in a big city in the United States. Seen it before, was not news to me. From what I understood, because New orleans was a big city, and had one of the ost famous histories, and certainly, tourist history, a lot of people were amazed to see how the people in parts of New Orleans lived and the true nature of their poverty. Personally, I feel our current government failed the whole gulf region. I also feel that those who had inside contacts to this Administration, were given the inside edge. Does not mean it will help them in the long haul. For me, Katrina reminds me that we had a whole lot of people in a whole lot of hurt. some got aid sooner. Others did not. But in the end, we could not help that part of the country enmasse. That is the story I get out of it.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23036Thu, 28 Dec 2006 04:40:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23036Jane, Southern MississippiDesmond and Olivia, I am a Mississippian who has voted Democrat all my live, with the exception of voting for Gerald Ford when he lost. His death and all the reports on all the news programs just reminded me of that fact. The only time my candidate has every won for president has been when I voted for Bill Clinton twice. Desmond, don't dump everybody in the same boat and malign my state. This is home. I don't badmouth your states because what would it accomplish? Nothing. States are made of individual voters, and I only wish that the way our presidents are elected would change. I wish they would do away with the electoral college. Then my vote would actually count. I also wish that the census would count only legal citizens, instead of all residents. States with illegal aliens have gained representation, while states like mine lost representatives in 2000, and if people don't come back to Louisiana, they will lose representation also. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23052Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:42:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23052Olienius; Citizen of MidAmericaKatrina and New Orleans- a tragedy for All Americans. UberHyped by media due to the large number of disadvantaged minorities trapped there; due to economics and inept state and local govt. Sad but true; rough but fair.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23062Thu, 28 Dec 2006 14:53:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23062DesmondJane, I am not maligning you our your State. I do think that your State has people in power that have direct influence with the White House. And I do think the whole Gulf area has not gotten the assistance it needs. Senator Lott could be doing much more for his State to help in the rebuilding. He will be in a leadership position once again in the Senate. I think the voters of Mississippi should make sure their Governor and Senators and House Reps, hols the government accountable, if they feel it is needed. I have seen alot of coverage in print and on TV about the area in Mississippi affected. I am not dumping on you, I am dumping on the presentadministration that has failed the whole area. Now that Senator Lott is back in power, hopefully he will speak loud and often about what is still needed. If he does not, if the state leaders do not, then the people of Mississippi who need help will once again, be forgotten. Just like in Louisiana and Florida.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23077Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:18:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23077Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaThe thing I always liked about Gerald Ford was that he never wanted to be President. How many of them can say that? He just wanted to be a Senator from Michigan. What every Wolverine football player dreams of, right? And pretty much the goal of every Big Ten football player in every State. He and Carter were the lowest-keyed Presidents we ever had...and I miss that. RIP Gerald. Go Big Ten.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23087Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:33:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23087Robert Catalano, Salem, ORGerald Ford will probably be remebered best for falling down stairs and being the butt of lyndon Johnson jokes. However, he was a humble man whose wife, through her human foibles, became something more than a cheerleader for her husband. Mr. Ford was no great intellect but he had something our current non-intellectual leader hasn't shown to date: good common sense. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23188Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:26:21 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23188Olivia, Peoria, Ill.TEC: Thanks for the informative, thought-provoking post. I had no idea you'd gone through Rita, which sounds as if it would have been scary. I'm sorry to hear you suffered, but am glad to hear you were spared the worst. I've an idea that, unfortunately, no one inside the Beltway (at least who has any sort of political clout) has even dreamed of. This would be a "Marshall Plan" to help the entire area affected by Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. So it would not only cover Louisiana and Mississippi, but also Texas, Alabama, and Florida. I know the area affected by Katrina alone is the size of Great Britain, so that would take a lot. The devastation in each state including infrastructure damage and the rebuilding needs of her people would be meticulously assessed, as well as what each state is able financially to do to help her own people recover, so that true need, not politics, would be used to determine what each one gets. I read what you said about multitudes of families in Texas and your sister in Florida who had problems with FEMA's slowness even though their homes were in bad shape or they were homeless--part of the plan would be to abolish FEMA and replace it with something far more effective, that doesn't require disaster survivors to jump through hoops and wait for ages to get the rebuilding help they need.) And like you said, if we can build a "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska, send tsunami relief, and fight the war in Iraq (which, I heard, has been costing $2 BILLION per WEEK), the government ought to be able to dig deep into its pockets to fund such a Marshall Plan. I know there are those who'll complain about taxes, but I'd rather see mine going towards rebuilding the storm zone and helping Americans, than going down some rathole overseas. It's a pity the Democrats (per Pelosi) have scratched the idea of impeachment--I think a better idea would be for them to offer the Bush Administration the following deal: either they come up and implement with a meaningful plan to help the areas affected by Katrina, Rita, and Wilma recover, or both Bush and Cheney will be impeached at the same time (to eliminate Cheney's ending up in power.) Back to hurricanes (and other disasters, which in the new normal, include terrorist attacks)--about the federal govermnent saying it shouldn't be the first line of defense--in an ideal world this wouldn't be necessary, because individuals and families, then cities and other communities, and then states would be able to prepare for disasters--but unfortunately the magnitude (such as the Category 5 you mention) can be so great that such preparation is fruitless. Also, a hard fact of life is, the better off a person, city, or state is financially, the easier it is to prepare.... http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23291Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:36:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23291Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaOlivia. I've got one perspective I'd like tomention about the Gulf Coast, and every coast I guess. when I was overseas, I stopped on Wake Island for refueling. The high pint on the 'Island' is about two feet above sea level. The average is about eight inches above high tide. You get the picture, right? Now the buildings on Wake Island (as I remember from 38 years ago) were two story concrete bunkers with the bottom story, essentially open to the winds. when a fifty footer was coming in over the atoll, I'd imagine they'd scramble up to the second floor and take the wave from inside the bunker. If another Katrina comes along, or should I say, when, it would be much better for the homeowners to have a Pacific Sea Level-style of home than the Instant Breakaway-style of stapled mansions that will undoubtedly reappear. The Wake Island dwellings, I assume, only look beautiful AFTER a Typhoon.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23309Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:56:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23309bob, denverSo, Ford believed that the Iraq invasion was a mistake. Too bad he didn't say this when it could have made a difference. Today's news that Ford didn't want this interview to be revealed until his death puts him in the same category as McNamara (Vietnam era) and Colin Powell -- a coward. His legacy will forever be tainted by this unpatriotic act of cowardice.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23398Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:22:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23398Desmondbob,denver, I agree with your statement 100%.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23437Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:24:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23437Gary Schear, Bozeman, MTBob,denver, It is traditional and probably a good idea for ex-presidents not to actively and publicly argue with the current president. At 93 years I imagine that Gerry Ford did this interview with Woodward as a way of picking his time to take his shot in such a way that Bush and Co. could not respond. Had he been alive when it was released you can be sure that Karl Rove and his shameless band of Pit Bulls would not have hesitated to retaliate in the most cowardly way possible. Now the administration has no choice but to make nice or look like the ugly political beasts that they are. My guess is that they will use their second and third level ditto heads at Faux News and rightwing nut radio to make some kind of response. If you want to talk cowards let us talk about the Republicans and Democrats that voted for this war. Lets talk about all the American citizens who go shopping and ignore this obscene war. Lets talk about the lame crop of college students now at our universities who study on while a war is fought in their name by a "soldier class" of Americans. There are plenty of cowards in this country right now. Gerry Ford is not one of them. I think he used is own death to step up one more time to the bully pulpit and use it to wound Bush in such a way that would protect his family from Worm Tongue Rove. We could use a good Ford right now. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23496Fri, 29 Dec 2006 05:59:49 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23496Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaThe news says the Iraq War GI's know somethings cooking and just want to come home in one piece. In 1969, when the Vietnam GI's knew the retreat was on, it changed them. The year before we were all still pretty gung-ho. The new guys coming in in 69 were already spooked when they hit the tarmac. Heroin addictions went up as they couldn't face the prospect of dying in a retreat, or as the Chinese would say "...dying like a dog." Hope this years' model dosn't have to stay till 2008, just to fill Dubya's Purgatory Envy.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23507Fri, 29 Dec 2006 06:16:14 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23507Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaAnother news flash...Hang'em High comes to Baghdad! Looks like his Olympic Bid is off, as Saddam is going to get his neck stretched, maybe as I sit here typing! Delivered up to his enemies according to "Dubya's Geneva Convention Guidelines" (Dubyatalk/w English Subtitles), they might just garrote him in the truck on the way out of the Green Zone, but the throttling is sure to be seen on Al-Jezeera and videos will undoubtedly be sold on the shopping channels. He's hoping for the traditional 'Martyr's Paradise' with the fountains, gardens, and peacocks, hashish and harems full of virgins, etc. but might have to settle for something less, since he wacked a few too many good Muslims for Allah's sense of compassion. If he ends up in Rock and Roll Heaven, he'll arrive just in time for James Brown's first show..."In A Cold Sweat! Poppa's got a brand new BAG! This Is A Mans' World! Heaven! Haaaa!". RIP(tentatively) Saddam.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23577Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:08:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23577Bob, DenverGary, I think we're on the same side. My point is that real leadership means demonstrating the courage to stand up against Rove, Faux, etc. and take the heat when it matters, not after the fact and after you're dead. I know that it hasn't been easy to protest this war from the beginning, even I felt a little intimidated at times. Someday, someone will look at the comparisons between Bush and the Nazi Germany propaganda tactics. (Start with Goebbels motto that you repeat the big lies often enough and people will ultimately believe them.) We all have to stand up against Bush. Which reminds me: Has anyone seen Hillary lately?? Barack has wisely called this new plan an ESCALATION, not a "surge". Where has Hillary's "leadership" been? I hope I'm still alive before we learn what Hillary really thinks.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23587Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:35:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23587Alice in BlunderlandI'm curious..they say famous people's deaths occur in series of three. James Brown was Number One, President Ford was Number Two...But regarding Saddam Hussein, when he's hanged, will he be considered Number Three, or does only apply to natural deaths and unforeseen accidents and murders?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23593Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:04:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23593Olivia, Peoria, Ill.Steve--Interesting post. I've always wondered how Wake Island was named. Another idea I have on disaster preparation: Each state should within her borders have several large stockpiles of rescue, evacuation, and relief supplies and other resources that would be needed following a major disaster. The supplies would include such things as bulldozers to clear blocked roads and other things that would facilitate delivery to the stricken area. The amount of such stockpiles would depend on the size of the state, but they would need to be spread out in diverse locations so that were one area hit by a disaster that wipes out its stockpile, other areas can readily send theirs. For example, Illinois would have them at Chicago, Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, etc. This would prevent the sort of mess that happened in New Orleans when fire trucks and other firefighting equipment, school buses, and other necessary resources were submerged under water, which necessitated their being called in from other states. And back to Katrina, Rita and other storms--the reason I'm so concerned about the Bush Administration's slow response, current governmental inaction and the fact that so long after the storm rebuilding in New Orleans and other communities has been slow is not only because of the people there who are still in a world of hurt, but also my view that this should be considered not a mere local or regional issue affecting Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, etc., but a national issue. Reason being, a disaster or terrorist attack could happen at any time in any part of the country.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23682Fri, 29 Dec 2006 21:28:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23682Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaAlice. Since Saddam claimed the poisoning of the Kurds was an unforseen accident, meaning the murders were natural deaths, he probably doesn't qualify for 'The Trio of Posthumous Stars'. He's more infamous than famous, don'tcha think? Just wait a couple more days, someone famous is bound to conk out. Maybe Nick Nolte or one of those actors who look like death warmed over in their DUI mugshots. Or maybe Dick Clark won't make it through his 129th New Years Rockin' Eve. I ain't feelin' so hot myself, but then, I ain't famous.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23700Fri, 29 Dec 2006 22:04:05 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23700Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa Independent News Update. "God Sends Tornado's After Dubya!" The President, the First Lady, and two of the First Dogs were stalked by an Arc Angel of Death, during their stay at "The Freak Show Ranch", outside of Crawford, Texas. With Cyclones and Dust Devils whirling ominously around the Armoured Limousine, our Nations' Top Characters trembled uncontrollably till Secret Service Agents administered Medicinal Brandy and Peyote Buttons. Emerging from the vehicle, some eight hours later, the President was heard to say, "...Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...Shamu the whale.", as the Dogs ask for a Yaqui Exorcism for the Ranch, while the First Lady translated.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#23701Fri, 29 Dec 2006 22:04:29 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:23701Gary Schear, Bozeman, MontanaBob. denver I have no doubt we share the same views. I just wanted to stand up for Ford. I didn't vote for him but I consider him, along with Carter, to be competent honorable men of Presidential caliber unlike the current pretender...er President. Ford was a past leader out of public life. He earned his right to pick his time and say or not say what his opinion was. I am thankful that he spoke out from the grave. It will prevent Bush from taking a breather during this state funeral like the 12 day respite he had during Reagan's. I am also in agreement that this country has more problems than Iraq. I have lived to see Habeas Corpus, the corner stone of democracy, signed away by this spoiled child dressed in Presidential cloths. Then I watched in shame as NOTHING HAPPENED. NO ONE PROTESTED! When Fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -Sinclair Lewis" BRING THEM HOME! http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24397Sat, 30 Dec 2006 17:17:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24397Luann, Lousisville KYSaddam is gone; yes, it is about oil. think- al-Qadea in control of Iraq, w/ all that revnue from oil. OMG. horrible in content and thought the global mayhem they would bring forth. so, yes, a stable Iraq is in our interest.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24441Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:02:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24441DorothyBush and Laura had to take cover at the Crawford ranch yesterday because there was a tornado warning. First time I've ever rooted for the tornado!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24445Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:12:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24445Alice in BlunderlandSteve, now that you mention it, Saddam is more infamous than famous, so he probably doesn't qualify. How about if one of those famous anorexic bimbos who could most accurately be portrayed by drawing a stick figure could pop off, due to under-eating and over-doing the drugs? That hopefully would show women who worry so much about every calorie they only eat bitter vetch--and then in minuscule quantities, that thin isn't so hot after all. Oh, and hang in there--you're famous in this blog, and we'd all miss you.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24451Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:25:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24451Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaJust saw the guys in the ski masks with Saddam. He maybe thought his Olympic Bid went through (although he was hoping for the Summer Olympics). Once the U.S. Judge OK'ed it (what's with that?), the Iraqi's picked him up, wished him a Happy New Year, and dropped the floor out from under him (somebody should tell them there are 13 loops in a Hangmans' Noose). Now all that's left is the deposition of the body. The Sunni's want it for a Lenin-type Mausoleum, the Shiia want it to mince up with fingernail clippers in the hands of a hundred thousand self-flaggelating celebrants, and Dubya wants it stuffed and looking Bad in his Presidential Libary with a sign that says, "Hey Poppy! Got One Of These?". I'm waiting for the Saddam Hussein Action Figure, complete with Gallows and a variety of costumes, including those little Swiss Hats he wore...And! His gold-plated AK-47! But that will have to wait till Next Christmas.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24745Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:25:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24745Mark Thieme3000 AMERICAN MILITARY DEATHS "The sacrifice has been worth it. I haven't questioned whether or not it was right to take Saddam Hussein out. I mean, I've questioned it -- I've come to the conclusion that it was the right decision." President and Commander-in-Chief, George W. Bush Perhaps the rest of America might want to ponder that one, give it some more thought... that is, in fact, the ONLY question: HAS IT BEEN WORTH IT?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24748Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:47:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24748DesmondLast day of 2006, 3,000 of our soldiers dead in Iraq. Over 22,000 injured, Iraqis dying at a rate of about 2,000 enough. Our President, vacationing, riding his bike today at his ranch.He was not there at the Capitol to great a former President, when gerald ford came in a casket to lie in State at the Rotunda. A President that was a memeber of his own political party. taking the day to bicycle and have dinner with friends tonight to celebrate the New Year.too busy for Gerald ford and his family, to busy for the families of the soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afhganistan, too busy for the American people. too busy postponing another speech until mid January on his new plan for Iraq.If he likes it so much at his ranch and cannot seem to accomplish his duties as President, it may be time for him to resign along with Cheney, who always seems to be at an undisclosed location, hinting fishing, whatever. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24904Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:26:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24904Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaMark. Isn't it somethin' that when you quote Dubya, it always gets disjointed somewhere. He didn''t question it and he did question it? Everything follows that disconnect. He didn't come to any conclusion and it wasn't right? It wasn't a sacrifice and it wasn't worth it? In the first place, there seems to be no conclusion to the man, he decides what's right for him and his, he hasn't sacrificed a thing, and it hasn't been worth it to anybody but he and his. When he was elected, I questioned it, came to the conclusion he was a perfected Pinochio, decided to hold up the mirror to his nose in whatever way I could, sacrifice my anonimity (held silent since Vietnam), and try to find the worth of every American who has been belittled by this Government. There are many out there, and growing all the time. As for Dubya, he is not worthy.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24924Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:27:24 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24924Mark ThiemeSteve, well said. I remember the election of 2000 and how unusually neutral I was. W seemed like a dimmer bulb than his dad, but apparently sincere and moderate. Perhaps he would be a latter day Gerry Ford, striking a centrist pose and at least not do much harm. The stolen election bothered me, but I thought back to JFK and shrugged. Politics in America. Then came 9/11 and I was disturbed by all the flying around in Air Force One and the "deer in the headlights" look on his face. Then he grabbed a bullhorn and became President and Commander-in-Chief. I hoped for the best with the other 90% of America and virtually the rest of the world. This unspeakable tragedy had offered GWB the opportunity to be an adult, to transcend his seedy, mediocre past; he had the world in his hands. Fast forward a few months and the fiasco of Colin Powell's presentation to the UN... I was unbelieving that they were actually going to Iraq... Afghanistan, yes, but where was Osama, and now Iraq? And on such goofy evidence. I kept hoping, praying we would not do this. It seemed insane at the time, I refused to think about it... had more faith in the intelligence of the American people, our system of government. Perhaps the 9/11 wounds were too fresh for a majority of our citizens, perhaps the flim-flam worked. Nonetheless, our Senate and Congress caved and here we are: up to our sparkely epaulets in alligators, mired in the worst possible national mess. Left insecure at home and abroad... cynicism in this country and international terrorism on the rise. Cynicism is the half of it. It is morning in America's 2007 and we are a nation Pearl Harbored by our own national "leaders." All we have to fear is fear, the fear on the face and tongues of our own Commander-in-Chief. I was wrong. He was not a dimmer version of GHWB, he was a loser, an indulged frat boy never grown up, without honor or courage... without a plan, without a clue. Like the kid in "Home Alone," his folks, and we as a nation, left him in charge of the house and it has been trashed while were on vacation. Shopping. My only hope remains in the inherited wisdom, the dignity and surpassing honor of this great nation and its wonderful people. Sometimes here on this blog, I get a taste of that, and then sometimes I just cannot believe that there are so many out there who have bought into the poorly executed illusions of those who have brought us to this sad hour in less than six years. This is not about Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, finding policies that are always right, or finding the elusive person to lead us without human error. This is about regaining our national sanity before the United States of America becomes the protagonist in a classic Greek tragedy. Gaining our senses before we melt like the once invincible Polar Ice Cap. I have a beautiful granddaughter with dual citizenship, we want her to grow up in America, to inherit something of what has been entrusted to us. Is it too late? So Mr. President, was it worth it? 3000 families want to know, beyond the stuttering. America the beautiful and God's Creation await a better answer.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24932Mon, 01 Jan 2007 21:46:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24932DesmondMark Theime, I have a grandchild. Tell my grandchild every time we meet the day of the week and the date. That is a fact. Take my grandchild to my backyard to say hi to the tree and look at the sky and birds. These are also real, we can see them. That is what we should be focused on, the facts. It is difficult to find those with the hype and spin. Takes some time. When in doubt, go back to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, all answers are found there. I do not think the Founding Fathers would be so pleased with us today. Hanging noose, man we supported, then named an enemy, neck broke, dangling. I will teach my granchild the truth about that. If you do the same, and know your history, your grandchild , will have the tools to live by.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/21978.aspx#24997Tue, 02 Jan 2007 07:20:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:24997Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaI have this theory about a Tyrant Heaven, where I imagine Saddam has just checked in. It's full of all the Greats of the past. Stalin and Hitler and Mao and Klaus Kinski, all sittin' around a table playing Pinochle and looking askance at the lesser tyrants, who are playing Hearts. J Edgar Hoover in a Jean Seberg 'Joan of Arc' t-shirt and red glittery miniskirt, sticking Ceaucescu with the Queen of Spades, while Jim Jones brags about his Head Shot and how he never liked kool-aid, to his partner Kublai Khan, recently enamored of the lifetime supply of Cigarettes all residents receive, who's chain-smoking and counting his Clubs. In the TV room, you find the Ayatollah Khomeini watching his favorite Daffy Duck Cartoons in French. Tomas deTorquemada has a split screen with his favorite shows running simultaneously, they being "Who Wants to be a Choir Eunuch?" and "The Well-Burned Stake" ( a sort of Cooking show). Every ten minutes, Darth Vader says "This...is CNN" and everyone says it along with him, as they all are big fans of it, many having appeared on it. Saddam will probably spend eternity in there, watching reruns of his "Ratpack" period. Everybody gets along in Tyrant Heaven because nobody will volunteer to fight for anybody else's idea, all having their own peculiar reason for being a tyrant and each having a vision of the proper way to conquer. That, and everyone has to take out their own garbage. It being a Heaven, all the facts and figures are available so none of them can claim killing three million when they only killed one point seven million. In the end, it isn't anymore boring than any of the other Heavens. The TV Preacher Heaven with its' humungeous Gold Chairs and endless Reverend Hair-do's machine-gunning Holy Verses out like penny-slots, or the Shoppers Heaven with the Shopper Babes selling everything from Capodimante Aardvark Waterers to Zebra-print Crotchless Tuxedos...Wow! Just 'cause your dead, doesn't mean you can't keep shopping. But my favorite Heaven is the Reinvented Heaven, filled, surpisingly, with Dharma Bums. Maybe it's the Sitar Music or the Tibetan Red Incense, or the laughter of people who didn't laugh much when they were alive. In fact, that's all people do there, is laugh about everything. OK, so Kenneth Patchen doesn't look like he's laughing, but he usually is. He knows, deep down, he's in the wrong Heaven.