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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/rss.xsl" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"><channel><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx</link><description>From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro





*** She Said What? As we mentioned before, perhaps the biggest story so far in the Democratic presidential contest has been Hillary Clinton’s steady evolution from a hawk on the Iraq war</description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><generator>CommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)</generator><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325631</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:18:12 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325631</guid><dc:creator>Teresa Walter, Commerce, Ga.</dc:creator><description>Good morning America ! 518 days until we have a new Democratic President. hillaryclinton.com</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325640</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:20:22 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325640</guid><dc:creator>vanreuter, NY NY</dc:creator><description>Professor Van is in the house and ready to sling a little unbiased info out to the intelligent people here who want the facts, not the biased &amp;nbsp;opinions of the Sierra's, the LYN MD's, the MK MO's and their ilk, who daily spread lies, slander and mis-information on this board. Rather than waste my valuable time refuting their propaganda individually, I provide you, the voter/reader, with the tools to enable you to have fun exposing them yourselves.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Whenever they post their, &amp;quot;opinions&amp;quot;, ask, &amp;quot;Where did you get that information? could you please post the link?&amp;quot; Then you can go to the actual sources of their information. Almost all of the most current factual information on the candidates, the polls and the candidates' finances and contributors can be found below. I will be posting this list EVERY morning and updating the sources as they become available. The best way to combat lies is with TRUTH. Here is your ammo pack!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.fec.gov/index.shtml"&gt;http://www.fec.gov/index.shtml&lt;/a&gt; The Federal Elections Commission is where the candidates file the financial information for their campaigns.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/"&gt;http://www.opensecrets.org/&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;Opensecrets.org is &amp;quot;Your guide to money in U.S elections.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/"&gt;http://www.realclearpolitics.com/&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;Is THE source for political junkies, with links to every major political site on the right, left and center.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/"&gt;http://www.rasmussenreports.com/&lt;/a&gt; is the one of the most accurate polling companies in the business, with daily tracking polls.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib.htm?o1=lib_composite&amp;amp;o2=asc#vr"&gt;http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib.htm?o1=lib_composite&amp;amp;o2=asc#vr&lt;/a&gt; Has the voting records for all members of congress, and their Liberal/Conservative ratings.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://votesmart.org/index.htm"&gt;http://votesmart.org/index.htm&lt;/a&gt; Here's what they say at the site; &lt;br&gt;Thousands of candidates and elected officials. Who works for you? Who is seeking your vote? Project Vote Smart, a citizen's organization, has developed a Voter's Self-Defense System to provide you with the necessary tools to self-govern effectively: abundant, accurate, unbiased and relevant information. As a national library of factual information, Project Vote Smart covers your candidates and elected officials in five basic categories: biographical information, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and interest group ratings. What would you like to know?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Van&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325656</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:26:19 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325656</guid><dc:creator>Mel Brooks, Hollywood ,California</dc:creator><description>----Breaking News---- Vice President Dick Chaney to enter Presidental race, rumor has it. Stay tuned for further announcements.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325664</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:31:46 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325664</guid><dc:creator>MK,MO</dc:creator><description>hillary clinton proclaims “‘We’ve begun to change tactics in Iraq, and in some areas, particularly in Al Anbar Province, it’s working,” &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;and some of you people want this flip-flopping, deceitful, pandering loser as your next president, I think not</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325696</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:43:38 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325696</guid><dc:creator>jerry/corpus christi texas</dc:creator><description>I didn't know New York City was a sanctuary city. &amp;nbsp;I knew Newark was,but after seeing their goofy pro-crime mayor stand up there and make a complete fool of himself, I can see why New Jersey is portrayed as a Gangsters paradise. &amp;nbsp;Also makes me realize after all the murders in Newark why liberals are soft on crime as well. &amp;nbsp;Sierra is going to love the story on Hillary LOL.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325697</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:43:42 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325697</guid><dc:creator>Democrat</dc:creator><description>Is &amp;quot;the surge is working&amp;quot; a bad thing for Senator Clinton to have said? &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;It's a tough situation in Iraq. There are no easy answers obviously, but if there is any good news to come out of Iraq, I welcome it. If we're going to leave Iraq soon, I would like to some how, some way, have America leave with honor, if possible. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I would love to open up relations with Cuba. We're so used to hating everybody, so this is good for America I would think. I would hope so.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I hope we see more stories like these, dealing with how these candidates feel about something, instead of going after each other. I may be naive, but I don't want the attacks. I just want them to talk about their views in a civilized way, and then we'll judge who we feel is better suited for the job. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Democrats have many good candidates. I just hope we see a different tone from them than in the recent past. It's good, it's refreshing. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Go after the Republican candidates. </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325702</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:47:49 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325702</guid><dc:creator>Susan, Miami</dc:creator><description>This country and many people in it are as screwed up as its own president. Lying has become second nature to everyone. Jounalists, politicians, pundits, sports figures, and many others think its OK to lie, cheat or steal, more than ever before. We are a product of our society and what is going on in it and who is in charge of it now. This administration (our leaders)lie, cheats and steals and kills.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325715</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:58:09 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325715</guid><dc:creator>jerry/corpus christi texas</dc:creator><description>and yet Susan still votes the Clintons, way to go Susan!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325719</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:59:03 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325719</guid><dc:creator>Lewis, Cincinnati, Ohio</dc:creator><description>Van you used to get on my nerves, but I'm starting to like you. &amp;nbsp;I'll just say this...it's only August!! I think things will get closer and more interesting in the fall. Stay tuned!!!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325723</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:01:47 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325723</guid><dc:creator>DEMs Fighting Back Against Demonic Wingnuts</dc:creator><description>And yet Jerry you still post stupid items!!! &amp;nbsp;I hope the Clinton's move next door to you Jerry. &amp;nbsp;I hope they are soft on all the hate crimes you will inflict on them.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325733</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:07:05 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325733</guid><dc:creator>Union Baby, Tennessee</dc:creator><description>It is time to end this insane embargo with Cuba. &amp;nbsp;I guess the travel industry has just not gotten all the kinks worked out yet or we would have already been in there - all that virgin beach front property just waiting for a resort and a casino.&lt;br&gt;Also, very curious, as a person who believes all illegal immigrants should be sent home (courtsey of their employer and landlord so as to not be a cost to me)are we feeling he same way about Cuban Hispanics as we are about Mexican Hispanics? &amp;nbsp;I do. &amp;nbsp;The Cuban refugees are no more important than the Mexican refugees - send all the illegals back home, no matter if they come from Mexico or Cuba. &amp;nbsp;It is time to be fair and consistant with our immigration reform and with regards to trade to our neighbors.&lt;br&gt;If I remember correctly the real reason we started the imbargo had more to do with the Cigar industry than with real political reasons. &amp;nbsp;Now that the US tobacco industry has lost much of its clout it is time to make changes regarding trade and visitation/vacationing with Cuba.&lt;br&gt;Obama is correct but should go further with opening up Cuba.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325739</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:09:17 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325739</guid><dc:creator>Union Baby, Tennessee</dc:creator><description>The campaigner in theif is in action again - how wonderful, guess it will be a guaranteed victory for most of the Democrats he campaigns against. &amp;nbsp;Sure hope he gets in the presidential campaign. &amp;nbsp;Everyone enjoys a good joke and Bush is the joke of the century.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325742</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:11:55 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325742</guid><dc:creator>Back Strokin' in Wisconsin</dc:creator><description>Glad to see that the chimp is stumping for Coleman in Minnesota. &amp;nbsp;Bye bye, Norm. &amp;nbsp;Hello, Senator Franken.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325743</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:11:57 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325743</guid><dc:creator>juan,ft lauderdale,fl</dc:creator><description>The Cuba embargo has been a complete failure in its 47 years attempt to dislodge Castro;instead bringing misery to the population;forcing them to risk their lives crossing the Florida straits. Granted Fidel is a meglomaniac dictator who's days are numbered;theirfore;easing the embargo as Obama is suggesting is the most rational/intelligent first step we can take. Our foreign policy should never be held captive for political/partisan politics vis-a-vis the powerful Cuban voting block in Miami and their gullible Republican politicians who only have to say CUBA SI CASTRO NO and they get re-elected. If we now have diplomatic/economic relations with Vietnam as well as relinquishing our treasury bonds to China to fight in Iraq their is no rational reasons that this embargo should continue.Finally, I left Cuba when I was 3 months old, why should our government forbid me to freely travel as a tourist. It is pure hypocrisy and only to kowtow for political votes from less than 1 million Cubans who are still obsessed with revenge and delusional belief that they will regain their property. </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325745</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:12:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325745</guid><dc:creator>kenn&amp;quot;WE dont need no civics class&amp;quot;O</dc:creator><description>hawk or dove what a simplification of a serious issue ,leave it to the media to break it down for the people who need things in black and white.What hilliary gave the president is the ability to react in a split second to a threat that if you belive jerry and George bush was an imminent threat.Not being a dummy she has set herself or whoever the next president up with is power.The power to react and not go to congress everytime a decision is made.HA HA the republicans make the mistake of thinking they will control everything forever .PAYBACK is a bicth aint it.What the republican congress and those democrats that voted with them on spying and wiretaps and war powers just made hilliary or the next president the strongest we will ever know.Funny you would think she planned to be president when she gave george the power to rule independant of congress,so keep on cutting the peoples power(congress)down and build the king (President )up</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325747</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:12:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325747</guid><dc:creator>John B, Des Moines, IA</dc:creator><description>Of course some small aspects of the surge are working. &amp;nbsp;When you pour thousands of additional troops into an area it's going to have some temporary impact on that area. &amp;nbsp;None of which changes the facts that overall violence in Iraq is steady to increasing, US casualties are rising, the areas that Britain is turning over to Iraqis are falling into chaos, and the Iraqi government doesn't seem to be interested in reconciliation and progress toward a political solution. &amp;nbsp;Oh, and evidence continues to mount that many of the Iraqi police and army personnel we are training and arming fight against us when they're off duty and don't support us when they're on. &amp;nbsp;In other words some small aspects of the surge can succeed while overall it remains a dismal failure.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325750</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:13:42 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325750</guid><dc:creator>Yiannis, Baltimore, MD</dc:creator><description>Clinton and Obama offer a ***clear*** choice from each other &amp;nbsp;on foreign policy:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Clinton believes the Iraq war was a good idea executed very badly.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Obama thinks the Iraq war was a dumb idea executed very badly.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Even if Iraq is somehow stabilised which is unlikely, the Anbar province does not have ANY Shiite, so all that has been achieved was to quell Sunnis from fighting the US.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This story reminds me the endless: &amp;quot;we might have found WMD&amp;quot; stories from the start of the war. A lot of wishful thinking.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Nobody says anything of OBL these days. The Iraq war has made the US and the entire world LESS safe because it has created tens of thousands of lunatic jihadists.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The media says nothing of this and I'm surprised Obama hasn't made more of a fuss on it.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Day by day the true Hillary comes along, wanting to appease BOTH sides of every controversial policy argument.&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325754</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:14:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325754</guid><dc:creator>Ricardo in California </dc:creator><description>So Bush is out campaigning for the GOP ... how stupid can the GOP be? Jerry is your party that ignorant or is ignorance a requirement to be a member of the GOP? &amp;nbsp;Bush will only garantee more Democratic seats everytime he goes out and campaigns for someone. Just ask Rick &amp;quot;the loser&amp;quot; Santorum. </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325755</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:15:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325755</guid><dc:creator>kenn&amp;quot;the sky is falling&amp;quot;O little</dc:creator><description>If the surge is working then send more troops and complete the job.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325762</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:18:32 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325762</guid><dc:creator>Susan, Miami</dc:creator><description>Thanks Jerry, I'm glad youre finally getting it! Repeat after me Jerry, the Clintons are not evil, the Clintons are not evil.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325763</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:18:36 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325763</guid><dc:creator>Pat, Huntington, NY</dc:creator><description>Umm, it's not flip-flopping when someone says the surge apears to be working. &amp;nbsp;What should she have said? &amp;nbsp;If its indeed working, she's merely noting a fact. &amp;nbsp;So, how is it that her saying something like that is flip-flopping? &amp;nbsp;Will someone please explain this to me? &amp;nbsp;I suspect you can't!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325769</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:23:36 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325769</guid><dc:creator>juan,ft lauderdale, fl</dc:creator><description>News flash Jerry! I see your blinders are still on. Violent crimes including murders are way up during the Shrub's administration compared to your so-called liberal government. Why is that? Duh! They have been slashing/cutting out needed $$$$$ for added police in local municipalities as a well needed social programs needed to prevent crimes. Just like Dinkins did prior to that fraud/lier Gigolo Rudy took credit for the crime going down....just like he spend more time in ground zero than the volunteers who are now paying with their hlth. You/Gigolo are two peas in the pod. You are slowly drowning in the kool-aid. </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325782</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:28:53 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325782</guid><dc:creator>H P Boston</dc:creator><description>WHAT jerry no LOL LOL When you make a funny to Susan as funny as this one do not forget you little lol lol.&lt;br&gt;That way we know the idiot you is out and about, up to your usual ignorant confused state.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325784</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:29:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325784</guid><dc:creator>Ollie  frenchburg  ky</dc:creator><description>and yet Susan still votes the Clintons, a good thing to do after two terms of bush's lying, killing, and deceiving us all. Way to go Susan.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325799</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:36:54 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325799</guid><dc:creator>Alan in Phx</dc:creator><description>Van - heres your question of the day. Why did Hillary send her chief of staff Magie Williams into Vince Fosters office before it was announced to the public that he was dead and what was in the boxes that she was seen taking out before the FBI or the capital police could secure the office?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Nobody who works for Hillary does anything without her direction or approval. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;These are facts not myths. </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325801</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:37:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325801</guid><dc:creator>Joe, Dallas</dc:creator><description>disclaimers: i have absolutely no respect on any level for bush other than his absolute loyalty to those around him, as incredibly misguided as that may be. &amp;nbsp;i'm not at all sure clinton is ready or capable to lead the country - not because she's a woman but because she individually doesn't appear to have the even-handedness to run the country such that our lives would actually improve here as well as abroad.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;i do believe obama is the best option at this time, though i also disagree with some of his statements, but that is merely personal opinion and not an opening to start an offshoot discussion.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;that said, i have to agree with clinton that the surge is working. &amp;nbsp;i read daily the articles on &lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://mnf-iraq.com"&gt;http://mnf-iraq.com&lt;/a&gt; and see article after article on how things are improving in numerous ways there. &amp;nbsp;yes it's a military website; yes it has a particular slant to it that wants me to believe a certain way; yes it hides what is less attractive, as that leadership sees things - but it does present the good as well as the bad and i have yet to see where any article presented there was misleading or an outright lie.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;the bottom line is there are improvements, the numerous insurgent bodies are losing their strangleholds, the general population is turing their backs on the insurgency and working more and more with the coalition forces and the iraqi military and police.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;the one thing bush has done right since the initial invasion of afghanistan was to put Gen. Patreus in charge and give him what he needs to succeed - the same Gen. Patreus who was so successful in his earlier assignment in iraq that was one of the few true success stories in the earlier portions of the iraq occupation.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;the reasons we were given for invading iraq were at best wrong, at worst nonexistent. &amp;nbsp;we should never have gone in. &amp;nbsp;yet since we are there and have made such an incredible cluster-**** of everything, it is our responsibility to do what we can to give the iraqis every opportunity to succeed. &amp;nbsp;we can't make them do the right things; we can only give them a foundation from which to begin - a foundation of safety, stability, security. &amp;nbsp;what they do with that is beyond our ability to control but if we leave them with that as a starting point i believe we can at least not be shamed more than bush has caused already.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;the surge is working. &amp;nbsp;let those who we have chosen to be our representatives acknowledge that and grow beyond petty partisan politics to let it do the good it is capable of doing. &amp;nbsp;clinton was right to acknowledge this. &amp;nbsp;i hope obama and every other person involved can see their ways clear to at least accept if not embrace this truth.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325811</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:43:57 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325811</guid><dc:creator>Class Warrior, D.C.</dc:creator><description>ONce again, Obama comes out as the most reasonable of the candidates with the Cuba thing. &amp;nbsp;Cuba is communist, has been communist since most Americans were born, and we've had sanctions practically forever and they haven't done a damn thing but make the Cubans' lives more miserable. &amp;nbsp;Now Obama comes up with an idea to lessen the stupidity of our national stand on Cuba. &amp;nbsp;I hope someone listens to him.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325827</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:53:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325827</guid><dc:creator>Robert Catalano, Salem, OR</dc:creator><description>I'd like to ask the Iraquis if their life is better or worse since Saddam was overthrown. &amp;nbsp;Since we are trying to help these people have enough stability to allow them to take over their own governing, I would like to hear some good news on the political fromt towards reconciliation of the Shia, Sunni and the Kurds. &amp;nbsp;Withgout political good news, military good news means next to nothing.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Hillary is the best candidate the Republicans have (no joke intended).</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325829</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:55:32 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325829</guid><dc:creator>mpp</dc:creator><description>Hillary can't move past her desire to be &amp;quot;electable&amp;quot; and will gamble with her chance at the nomination just to be safe for the general. She wouldn't want Karl rove bashing her as a &amp;quot;gutless&amp;quot; liberal...&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.political-buzz.com/"&gt;http://www.political-buzz.com/&lt;/a&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325833</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:59:55 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325833</guid><dc:creator>karlos</dc:creator><description>the surge is working? didn't the iraqi's just have over 200 killed in a recent suicide attack,aren't us casualities still occurring, just one province is a qualification for working? i see this statement as a capitulation to fear the sept report will highlight the minimal successes of this illadvised surge and demo get caught short in public opinion. a sucess in one province is like finding waldo on one page when there are hundreds of waldo pages to go. and this is with 170,000 troops in country, whoopie! the only candidate who has savy on iraq is biden and the only one who is speaking his position on a consistent basis. this gaff will cost clinton.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325834</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:00:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325834</guid><dc:creator>H P Boston</dc:creator><description>ALAN??? Why is that a question about the here and now? &amp;nbsp;Why do we have to know that and why do you ask?&lt;br&gt;How do you know that really happened if it happened?&lt;br&gt;Who said it happened? &amp;nbsp;Was it a proven fact that boxes were moved? Who saw that? &amp;nbsp;When did they see it?&lt;br&gt;just asking...so do tell.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325835</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:00:31 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325835</guid><dc:creator>vanreuter, NY NY</dc:creator><description>Van - heres your question of the day. Why did Hillary send her chief of staff Magie Williams into Vince Fosters office before it was announced to the public that he was dead and what was in the boxes that she was seen taking out before the FBI or the capital police could secure the office?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Nobody who works for Hillary does anything without her direction or approval.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;These are facts not myths.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;What were the facts in your unattributed hearsay, I missed them.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Colonel Mustard in the study with the candlestick.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Van</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325836</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:00:32 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325836</guid><dc:creator>CD, NC</dc:creator><description>New York Times reports:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Iraq Vet/Congressman Endorses Obama&lt;br&gt;By Jeff Zeleny&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Patrick Murphy (Photo: Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention here yesterday, she told the story of how she met a “bright, young captain” in the 82nd Airborne Division named Patrick Murphy in 2003 during her first trip to Baghdad.&lt;br&gt;Last year, Mr. Murphy was elected as a Congressman from Pennsylvania. This spring, he joined Senator Clinton in sponsoring legislation to create a 21st Century GI Bill of Rights.&lt;br&gt;Today, Mr. Murphy is announcing his support for Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential race. The endorsement, which has been in the works for a while, comes one hour before Mr. Obama speaks to hundreds of war veterans gathered here.&lt;br&gt;The well-timed announcement will be used as a reminder – which Mr. Obama hopes will work – that one can be supportive of military veterans and still be opposed to the war. &lt;br&gt;Mr. Murphy, 33, is the only member of Congress who served in combat in Iraq. He has played a prominent role in this year’s Congressional debate over the war, delivering the closing argument over whether to set a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq.&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325847</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:06:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325847</guid><dc:creator>Democrat</dc:creator><description>Robert C, I can't say I disagree with you. I just want good news, however flimsy it may be. I feel for our troops and I would like them to feel what they are doing is going to matter. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;We should never have gone to Iraq but we are there. The pressure is on President Bush. He's running out of troops. I hope there's a solution somewhere in the very near future.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325856</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:10:03 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325856</guid><dc:creator>H P Boston</dc:creator><description>Kenn I noted long ago the basket of POWERS this admin will hand to the next president.&lt;br&gt;All the powers they the Republicans have garnered under cover of secrecy will be in the hands of the next president. May be many more we do not &amp;nbsp;know exist.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325858</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:10:31 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325858</guid><dc:creator>H P Boston</dc:creator><description>ALAN??? Why is that a question about the here and now? &amp;nbsp;Why do we have to know that and why do you ask?&lt;br&gt;How do you know that really happened if it happened?&lt;br&gt;Who said it happened? &amp;nbsp;Was it a proven fact that boxes were moved? Who saw that? &amp;nbsp;When did they see it?&lt;br&gt;just asking...so do tell.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325861</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:13:38 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325861</guid><dc:creator>Dave, Tn</dc:creator><description>Hillary saying the surge is working, 24 is going green, and casting Janeane Garofalo? Liberals are taking over a great show. You know of course this means all the Presidents from now on will be white. &amp;nbsp;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325862</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:14:23 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325862</guid><dc:creator>Kristian O</dc:creator><description>Hilary is a coward. All it took was Rove calling her what he did and here she is softening her stance on a surge that has failed to meet any of the benchmarks the proponents said it would. It is clear to me that Hilary is in general election mode. With the national polls saying she's up by 20 points, which by the way is mathematically impossible if she's tied/losing in significant regional battles, Hilary has been given her cue by Bill C. to go centrist at this juncture. Any idiot can see this. Hilary is a fraud willing to say/do anything to be elected. Whatever.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325880</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:22:50 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325880</guid><dc:creator>Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana</dc:creator><description>Susan, Miami -- &amp;quot;Thanks Jerry, I'm glad youre finally getting it! Repeat after me Jerry, the Clintons are not evil, the Clintons are not evil.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Good technique Susan. Now we only need to reach the other 25,000,000 Jerry's that will lurch up off of their couches on election night to go vote reflexively &amp;nbsp;AGAINST Hillary like some whacked out &amp;quot;Night of the Living Reactionary&amp;quot; That danger is real. We need to give them someone they can vote for or someone they won't feel compelled to vote against.&lt;br&gt;I have no criticism to offer Hillary other than her limited and politically motivated support of the War but then the unnecessary deaths of 20 year olds for a lie really pisses me off. She is the smartest of the candidates and will make a far better President than Bill did but I am tired of losing and can't stomach another 8 years of being governed by people who hate government. Again, whoever the nominee is I will be there 110 percent but now is the time to think clearly and calculate coldly.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325881</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:22:52 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325881</guid><dc:creator>John B, Des Moines, IA</dc:creator><description>Jeez, Alan, not &amp;quot;The Clintons killed Vince Foster&amp;quot; again! &amp;nbsp;Not even Ken Starr with unlimited government funding could make anything except a suicide out of that. &amp;nbsp;At least bring us something that hasn't been debunked dozens of times.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325882</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:23:02 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325882</guid><dc:creator>Lance, Oakland  CA</dc:creator><description>Very well put Joe... &amp;nbsp;This is a refreshing and open-minded view of the situation and I'd strongly agree with essentially all but one of your assertions. &amp;nbsp;When I step back to the big picture in Iraq, I can't agree with your take that the &amp;quot;surge is working.&amp;quot; There may be small success stories here and there but, just watch the U.S. military extract itself from those success stories and let's see just how peaceful it remains. &amp;nbsp;This insurgency cannot be crushed by strength. &amp;nbsp;It will go on and on and on... &amp;nbsp;the &amp;quot;whack-a-mole&amp;quot; metaphor is apt; these guys are NEVER going to say, &amp;quot;Oh well, guess we should just quit trying to destabilize the country and let the invaders alone.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;Yes, we should never have invaded a soveriegn nation in the first place and yes, now that we have we should work to help the Iraqis out but, it is time for the Iraqis to step up and solve their own problems with our assistance from the outside. &amp;nbsp;As long as the U.S. is in the middle of it we will only be exacerbating the problems they face. Senator Obama has it right.... &amp;nbsp;I respect much of Hilary Clinton but, ultimately she is old-school politics continued, trying to have it both ways.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325890</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:26:37 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325890</guid><dc:creator>Tim, Rochester, NY</dc:creator><description>Alan, seriously, after all of the investigations on Hillary and Bill, what did they find out? &amp;nbsp;Bill cheated on his wife. &amp;nbsp;We all really needed to know that because it's so critical to our lives. &amp;nbsp;80 million Tax Payer dollars for that information. I suppose Hillary and Bill murdered Vince Foster, right? &amp;nbsp;Just keep listening to Rove and Rush, your IQ will rise to incredible levels. &amp;nbsp;Maybe an IQ of 60? &amp;nbsp;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325893</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:28:51 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325893</guid><dc:creator>PJ</dc:creator><description>&amp;quot;President Bush traveled to purple states (like Ohio and Pennsylvania) to raise money and campaign for Republican candidates,&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;to have W campaign for you...the kiss of death. Democratic landslide '08.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325900</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:34:12 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325900</guid><dc:creator>jerry/corpus christi texas</dc:creator><description>Ahh Susan, you misread me, I was talking more of the Clinton's and their lying and backstabbing and their inability to tell the truth. &amp;nbsp;Juan, must be heaven in Cuba right amigo, that's why so many die each year trying to cross to key West. &amp;nbsp;If Cuba is such a hot place to live, there you go, we can have you packed and ready in 20 minutes.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325901</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:34:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325901</guid><dc:creator>nuanced</dc:creator><description>&amp;quot;we have to be preparing to fight the new war&amp;quot; -- brrr, that sent a chill up my spine.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;quot;he addresses the VFW convention. It should be a friendly audience that enjoys his aw-shucks approach&amp;quot; -- I'd like to hear from some members of the VFW on this if you all don't mind, aw-shucks, telling me.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325903</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:35:30 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325903</guid><dc:creator>Yiannis, Baltimore, MD</dc:creator><description>Joe in Dallas,&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The surge is working to what end? To quell local violence in a province where there are no ethnic tensions? The problem is what you do in areas where people are involved in sectarian violence.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And how many more troops would you need to stabilize the whole of the country? And how long will the US stay, won't the military have to leave at some point? What will that point be will the US stay for 15 more years?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The fact is that the Iraq war has made the US less safe because to the eyes of the world, including the eyes of muslims in everywhere, it showed that the US acts as an imperial power for no good reason.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;It has fueled the fire of those who teach hate and create lunatic jihadists. The Iraq war has made the entire world less safe and has allowed OBL to regroup. And all that for absolutely NO reason. &amp;nbsp; </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325909</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:40:02 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325909</guid><dc:creator>nuanced</dc:creator><description>Tim, the Dave, Alan and jerrys of the world are geniuses just like their hero Karl Rove. If you don't have the talent and can't create, build and make the world a better place you tear-down, destroy and fill the world with hate and the media will call you a genius. You see it may only be an IQ of 60 but on the malevolence scale it is a genius MQ of 160</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325912</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:42:53 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325912</guid><dc:creator>Doris,  NC</dc:creator><description>I see a post regarding an Obama endorsement, why no front page headline like the Clinton/ BEEBE endorsement. &amp;nbsp;An Iraq VET/Congressman is not worth a write-up, or is it just an Obama endorsement?</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325922</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:49:09 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325922</guid><dc:creator>Sharon, MD</dc:creator><description>Hillary Clinton pandering to the VFW. &amp;nbsp;Please America, I ask you with the deepest sincerity, elect Barack Obama as your next President of the United States. &amp;nbsp;Have the courage to make the change that we need.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325929</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:53:15 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325929</guid><dc:creator>bb</dc:creator><description>Welcome to polictics folks. Hillary is acting like a politician? NOOOOO! I'm just shocked! AND shes acting like a politician JUST TO GET ELECTED! Good God NO!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325934</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:59:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325934</guid><dc:creator>Carrie, Eastern Iowa</dc:creator><description>If the surge is working to some degree in some areas, is she supposed to pretend like it's a complete failure? &amp;nbsp;If you pay attention, she also says it was too little too late and the Iraqis need to take responsibility for their own country. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;People are always saying that Hillary only says what people want to hear. &amp;nbsp;Well, now you are unhappy because you don't like what she is saying...which, of course, means that she is saying something you don't want to hear. &amp;nbsp;In your hatred of Hillary, you are contradicting yourselves. &amp;nbsp;You can't have it both ways.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325952</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:04:49 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325952</guid><dc:creator>Sierra, San Francisco</dc:creator><description>In front of a black audience, Hillary accent sounds like Aunt Jemima.&lt;br&gt;In front of the VFW, Hillary says the 'surge' is working.&lt;br&gt;In front of a Democratic audience, Hillary says all the Demo candidates have 'exactly the same voting record on Iraq'.&lt;br&gt;In front of the AFL-CIO, Hillary supports unions.&lt;br&gt;As a Wal-Mart board member, Hillary FOUGHT UNIONS.&lt;br&gt;In front of the AFL-CIO, Hillary says 'I'm your girl !!!'&lt;br&gt;In Fortune magazine, it says 'Business loves Hillary!'&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; 'the Clintons are not evil'&lt;br&gt; 'the Clintons are not evil'&lt;br&gt; 'the Clintons are not evil'&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Sorry, Susan IT DOESN'T WORK !!!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Hillary Clinton&lt;br&gt;15 years of dishonesty, scandal and polarization&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Hillary Clinton&lt;br&gt;Kool Aide for Democratic hopes in 2008&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325963</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:08:38 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325963</guid><dc:creator>bb</dc:creator><description>The repubs are definitely flailing about. Has anyone listened to Tucker Carlson lately? His voice is becoming more and more shrill and girlie as his attacks on the Clintons increase. If you can stand it, just watch him for 5 minutes and you'll see just how scared the repubs are of the Clintons.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325967</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:09:38 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325967</guid><dc:creator>jerry/corpus christi texas</dc:creator><description>Juan, why don't we just open the flood gates and let everyone come in here and do what they want to do? &amp;nbsp;Newark is a prime example of what happens when you have a sanctuary city. &amp;nbsp;The mayor of Newark is basically saying &amp;quot;come to my town, whether you are a criminal or not, we will protect you from the federal government&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;Those kids that were shot, If I was a lawyer, I'd be doing some serious talking to the families and help them find out who let these people stay in Newark and why the one guy who raped a five year old girl was released from jail and I would seriously bankrupt that city in a lawsuit. &amp;nbsp;Newark, San Francisco and all the other so called &amp;quot;sanctuary cities&amp;quot; better start re-thinking their policies. &amp;nbsp;If I was in congress, I would deny them ALL federal funding until they got on the side of law and order.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325968</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:09:53 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325968</guid><dc:creator>Josh</dc:creator><description>You know what happens when you poke a balloon with your finger? The air simply presses out in a different direction. That is exactly what has happened with the surge. Of course violence is going to decrease in the area where you send 30,000 troops. But it will also increase in other places. This has proven to be true. Until we send in a total of close to 500,000 troops - like the generals told Bush to do from the beginning - the violence will never truly subside (Bush fired those generals, by the way).&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Also, as Obama has continually stated (Clinton has as well), we cannot accomplish what we seek militarily. Iraq's parliament is clearly not interested in reconciliation, and 30,000 troops have no legislative power in Iraq. So, while the surge has quelled violence in certain areas of the country, it is most certainly not working.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Regarding Clinton's statement, she was correct in saying that some aspects of the surge have been successful. However, it is irrelevant if we cannot accomplish anything politically. I also think what is important and what distinguished the candidates, is that Obama's response was not an attack on Clinton. If their places were switched, I think we would have seen an immediate attack from Clinton.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325969</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:10:03 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325969</guid><dc:creator>Alan in phx</dc:creator><description>You all prove my point. Facts should not get in the way of unbridled ambition. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;These facts are in the record of the Foster invstigation. I did not say they killed anybody, but she did have things to hide. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;As to the here and now, the then should be important also as it is her history and a tigers strips never change. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And Van you proved yourself to be the blow hard that you come off as. And all you other Hillary lovers out there get a life she will do to the DEMs what Bill did, ruin the party whole, (fact - the Dems had the house , senate and the WH when he got electred and in no time all they had was the WH till Bill left an until 06) for her own power grab. There are other candidates out there that will have voters voting for them not against them, but the turnout against Hillary will be monumental.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;As an Ind I don't care who they put forth or for that matter who the Reps put forth, as the rules for getting on the national ballot are skewed away from real people getting on the ballot. Until real campaing reform, no donations outside of your state for Rep and Sen are imposed, no carry over of funds from one race to another - why a sitting senator has to build a war chest of bribes for 5 years is criminal and equal access to a natioanl ballot for Presidential candidates; convoluted state rules are just too costly for non party people, the same, the lessor of two evils choices will remain.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Oh one more for you Van &amp;nbsp;Why did Hillary say over 200 times during her grand jury testimony regarding the firing of the WH travel office staff that she could not recall, could not remember or she had no recollection even when it was proved that she sent the FBI after these non partisan staffers. She was found to be not truthful to the grand jury. The smartest women in the world could not remember what she had done just 8 months before. Billy Dale was aquitted in 45 minutes, but is still paying off that $500K legal bill that she gave to his family. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325979</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:12:08 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325979</guid><dc:creator>crawford, texas...really!</dc:creator><description>The surge is working? Is it? And if it is, so what? Are things working on the diplomatic front? That's the issue...not if we can do better militarily with more boots on the ground. That's a no brainer. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The only thing that counts is if the surge helps the Iraqi politicos win the peace, and that ain't happenin. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Gotta love the way the republicans create a focal point on something so obvious and somewhat irrelevant in the bigger picture.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#325999</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:20:05 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:325999</guid><dc:creator>Josh</dc:creator><description>Something interesting...CNN has yet to report on this [relatively] controversial Clinton statement that seems to be garnering so much attention on this blog.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326026</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:30:08 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326026</guid><dc:creator>Dave, Tn</dc:creator><description>nuanced &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;New Orleans 60 years of democrat building and &amp;quot;thinking&amp;quot;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326049</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:42:37 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326049</guid><dc:creator>pat, huntington, ny</dc:creator><description>I bet if Hillary announced that the sky is blue, you anti-Clintons would even say she's changing her position on that [having maybe referred to the sky as a light blue in the past] just to get elected. Hillary 2008! </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326053</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:45:37 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326053</guid><dc:creator>Gary Witherspoon</dc:creator><description>Regarding Hillary Clinton's remarks August 21 VFW:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;When our politicians discuss the war in Iraq as &amp;quot;its working&amp;quot;, are they referring to the &amp;quot;mission accomplished&amp;quot;?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Lettuce see here,&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;the mission accomplished in placing the US military, where it could never have arrived legitimately, without the obstruction of justice and insurrection of and against the United States Congress?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Hey, A resolution by the American electorate in defense of the Constituion of the United States, demanding the impeachment of George W. Bush, Richard B. Cheney, Alberto Gonzales, and others yet to be named, is at hand and on the desks of elected representatives, House and Senate Judiciary.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Be it further resolved that the American electorate petition the House of Representatives to initiate Impeachment proceedings against all identified officials under the authority given them by our Constitution and the duty given them by their Constitutional Oath &amp;quot;to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution&amp;quot;.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326063</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:51:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326063</guid><dc:creator>vanreuter, NY NY</dc:creator><description>Alan in phx-&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Professor Plum in the study with the rope.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Talk about irrelevant...you make the other Clinton-haters here seem reasonable by comparison. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Van&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326072</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:56:45 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326072</guid><dc:creator>Harv Nettles, Rock Island IL</dc:creator><description>The surge is working? Is it? And if it is, so what? Are things working on the diplomatic front? &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;---------&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;You can't secure the diplomatic front until you stop the terrorists to at least some degree. &amp;nbsp;Once that is done, then the diplomatic portion of the peace can be fully implemented.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Long term, do you think Iraq having a democratically elected government will be a good thing, or a bad thing? &amp;nbsp;Is that something to fight for now, or if we fail, having to deal with the consequences of that failure later?&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326073</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:56:58 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326073</guid><dc:creator>uncle sam</dc:creator><description>Where is Dennis Kuchinich today? What did Kuchinich say today? Please give me some news that I can think about!!!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326090</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:07:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326090</guid><dc:creator>John B, Des Moines, IA</dc:creator><description>Alan, as usual you want to measure Hillary by whatever can't excuse Republicans for anything because it's just a few bad apples. &amp;nbsp;Face it, you lost 2 elections to Bill and couldn't stand to watch democracy in action.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326091</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:07:30 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326091</guid><dc:creator>Rufus Gibbons, DC</dc:creator><description>Joe,Dallas I seem to recall that in Petraeus' first job he lost track of over a hundred thousand weapons, which are now in the hands of the insurgents.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326100</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:11:33 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326100</guid><dc:creator>Susan, Miami</dc:creator><description>Sierra, the Clintons are not evil, the Clintons are not evil. OK,now Jerry-the Clintons are not evil, The Clintons are not evil. GWB is retarded, GWB is retarded. Repeat after me........</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326140</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:29:32 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326140</guid><dc:creator>Nick, Ohio</dc:creator><description>While the surge may work for the area where the troops are located, the overall situation in Iraq cannot be considered successful or repairable. Whenever US or British troops leave an area, it resorts to chaos and uncontrolled violence. There is little law and order in Iraq and only a true coalition of all factions inside Iraq can lead to peace. It is, and has always been, a political situation. Our use of military force in overturning Saddam has led to a Middle East imbalance. Iraq has always had factional disputes and violence. I cannot comprehend the egotistical attitude of the Bush Admin. in thinking it can solve centuries of conflict and hatred by introducing democracy with our military presence. What were they thinking?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I've not agreed with the war, never will, but what Hillary mentioned to the VFW is only one small part of the situation. And, she is probably accurate. The surge is probably effective in the small pocket areas where these forces exist, whether there was anything in that area to quell or not. However, it's not so accurate that they are late in arriving (by 3 years) but that once they leave, the violence will resume.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;What John Edwards mentioned in Iowa is correct... any of the Democratic candidates want us out of Iraq. The Republicans want us to stay. It is that simple. The longer we stay, the more difficult it will be to leave. Begin leaving now and we stand a chance of someday seeing Iraq as a unified country. They will have to endure more violence in determining their future... BUT IT IS THEIRS TO DETERMINE. NOT OURS!!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;We can be a part of a UN effort to advise them on their process to peace and the elimination of insurrection and in-fighting. However, they have to want that assistance, as well. Let them decide.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326151</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:33:50 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326151</guid><dc:creator>Ollie  frenchburg  ky</dc:creator><description>Gotta love Susan! Jerry you need to listen to her. She is right on the money every time!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326161</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:39:52 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326161</guid><dc:creator>Alan in phx</dc:creator><description>John B I voted for Bill the first time as old Bush was not my guy. The second time I just did not vote the presidential race as Older Dole was worse than returning Bill. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;It is fine to be a democrat, but open your eyes to who these people actually are. If you democrats want to win the WH Hillary is not your Girl! She will polarize the electorate to vote against her plus many Obama ad edwards likers will not vote for her and there are not enough Susans out there to make a difference.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326175</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:44:16 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326175</guid><dc:creator>juan,ft lauderdale,fl</dc:creator><description>Jerry- you moron! I said I want visit as a tourist but the dictator I mean the decider kisses the ass of the cuban mafia to refuse my right as an American to travel wherever I want.Since you pander to the lowest common denominator ie., the neo-cons, you are &amp;nbsp; delusional enough to believe that descent against this despicable administration is the highest form of patriotism. </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326218</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:56:48 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326218</guid><dc:creator>Jimmy Carter, Plains, Georgia</dc:creator><description>Wow man.... everyone needs to take a chill pill.It's really quite simple, the Republicans will be out of office in 518 days and the Democratics will have control for the next 16 years. Now go on about your business and have a nice day.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326237</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:01:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326237</guid><dc:creator>Dave, Tn</dc:creator><description>Juan you're a nut, and Cuba isn't in the sorry ass shape it's in because of any American embargo. They deal with every other country in the world. It's their lame ass Communist/Socialist economic policies that are causing the problems. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I'm all for lifting the embargo though. I'd love a good Cuban cigar minus the $10 tax the liberals here want to tack on so I can pay for the health care insurance of 25 yr old &amp;quot;children&amp;quot; of people who make more than me.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326239</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:02:18 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326239</guid><dc:creator>bb</dc:creator><description>Alan, you are a republican. Why are you pretending you're not. Embarrassed perhaps? You protest too much, which proves the point that Hillary will certainly polarize, but the balance will end up on her side. Bush/Cheney created this polarization and nastiness between parties like I've never seen before. So dems are fighting back now, so tough s--- to you and your buddies.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326248</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:05:29 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326248</guid><dc:creator>Susan, Miami</dc:creator><description>Alan, we shall see on election day just how many of women like me will go out and vote for Hillary in the presidential election. I believe that if we bet on that, you would be out some money.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326253</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:08:07 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326253</guid><dc:creator>ROSALINE, PLAINS, GA.</dc:creator><description>---- PLEASE READ JIMMY'S MESSAGE---- THAT'S ALL---</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326294</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:18:52 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326294</guid><dc:creator>Pappy (unbowed by Thieme and Carrie)</dc:creator><description>Hillary will destroy the Democratic party.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326299</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:19:23 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326299</guid><dc:creator>Carrie, Eastern Iowa</dc:creator><description>I agree that the surge happened too late. &amp;nbsp;If we were going to do it, we should have done it immediately. &amp;nbsp;I have a friend of the family who is in the armed forces, and he says the biggest mistake was made in the summer of 2003 when we pulled back our forces. &amp;nbsp;That is the time, according to him, when we should have sent in more troops and made sure that we were firmly in control until power could be turned back over to the Iraqis.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I may not agree that we should be in Iraq, but the bottom line is we went there, and I think what he said makes a lot of sense. &amp;nbsp;You don't wait until your enemy has spotted your weaknesses and learned to expose them before you take action; you make sure that you have no weaknesses to expose in the first place. &amp;nbsp;If we were going to go there anyway, and it seems clear that we were, we should have done what was necessary to secure the peace then.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Assuming, of course, that such actions would have had some effect on the sectarian conflicts that have been going on for centuries. &amp;nbsp;I'm not sure that they would have. &amp;nbsp;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326341</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:30:26 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326341</guid><dc:creator>Susan, Miami</dc:creator><description>Sierra and Jerry, repeat after me. Hillary will be our next president, Hillary will be our next president, Hillary will be our next president. OK (clap)you can now awaken.Ohhh, its alright, you can cry if you wish... don't hold back. You're lives will gradually get better. Ohh,now, now, heres a kleenex Jerry.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326342</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:30:28 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326342</guid><dc:creator>Jim, Santa Cruz</dc:creator><description>So jerry, maybe you can enlighten us as to how Corpus Christi, Tejas handles illegal immigration and how it denies any employment or services for anyone who is not a citizen or does not have a green card.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326345</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:30:39 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326345</guid><dc:creator>Bill Clinton</dc:creator><description>Hitlery will say whatever she thinks will get her elected, minute by minute without regard to previous statements. &amp;nbsp;If this isn't a flashing neon sign for incompetence, god help us.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Its not a political position to proclaim, &amp;quot;I'm against everything he says (points to Bush)&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;Its a lack of insight, vision, ethics and its tactless.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Frankly, nothing the woman does or says surprises me.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326361</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:35:15 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326361</guid><dc:creator>Rosaline</dc:creator><description>If you haven't read Jimmy's message above, please do so now.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326369</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:36:40 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326369</guid><dc:creator>H P Boston</dc:creator><description>Alan &amp;nbsp; Women are the majority, many of that majority are named Susan!&lt;br&gt;65% of women vote.&lt;br&gt;62% of men vote.&lt;br&gt;82.5 million mothers (we always know who the mothers are) Women with children seldom support wars.&lt;br&gt;152 million women to 148 million men.&lt;br&gt;This is not gender bias it is FACT.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326370</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:36:55 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326370</guid><dc:creator>Hillary Clinton</dc:creator><description>Lookie here it is.... hillaryclinton.com</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326375</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:38:47 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326375</guid><dc:creator>jtb</dc:creator><description>Union Baby: what ON EARTH would you want to buy from Havana? Their cigars are AWFUL,(tried them in Canada), they have no industry or manufacturing, and they don't allow casinos or gambling. What do they have of any value that we would possibly want now?&lt;br&gt;Kinda like Haiti, without the roving druglords.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Juan: you'd be singing a different tune if it was YOUR family's fortune or property that was confiscated by &amp;quot;the great liberator&amp;quot;.&lt;br&gt;His country, you're country of origin, is now just a worthless pile of rubble, good only for its supply of Antique 1959 Caddilacs.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt;suppose We ended the embago,and nobody gave a s--t?</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326376</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:38:50 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326376</guid><dc:creator>Carrie, Eastern Iowa</dc:creator><description>Pappy - Grow up, already. &amp;nbsp;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326409</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:48:05 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326409</guid><dc:creator>Still Crazy After All These Years</dc:creator><description>&amp;quot;Tuesday Afternoon&amp;quot;-Moody Blues</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326410</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:48:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326410</guid><dc:creator>Rosaline</dc:creator><description>What do you mean you, haven't read Jimmy's message above. What are you waiting for ?</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326437</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:56:21 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326437</guid><dc:creator>straight up/az</dc:creator><description>How do you spell stupid! These Washington Paper hangers?? We have completed combat operations in Iraq, Yet the paper Hangers flip and flop on the blood of our troops. We are a nation, Yet we have made a very grave mistake of those who were sent to represent! Washington has always been two faced, victory brings praise , loss of life and their self serving agenda brings how they have a better Idea! Scorn and division has always high lighted the demos, yet it is always our troops which fill the coffins!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;12 million plus Ilegals roam our streets and now open the door for Cuba to flood Florida! Now just how damn stupid is this Washington Paper Hanger? </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326439</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:56:49 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326439</guid><dc:creator>straight up/az</dc:creator><description>How do you spell stupid! These Washington Paper hangers?? We have completed combat operations in Iraq, Yet the paper Hangers flip and flop on the blood of our troops. We are a nation, Yet we have made a very grave mistake of those who were sent to represent! Washington has always been two faced, victory brings praise , loss of life and their self serving agenda brings how they have a better Idea! Scorn and division has always high lighted the demos, yet it is always our troops which fill the coffins!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;12 million plus Ilegals roam our streets and now open the door for Cuba to flood Florida! Now just how damn stupid is this Washington Paper Hanger? </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326449</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:59:26 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326449</guid><dc:creator>kenn&amp;quot;vote your mind not your shoe size&amp;quot;O</dc:creator><description>in case an election breaks out be perpared for the canadates to have different views on things ,but remember in november we all vote to win not come in 2nd,If you learned anything from Karl Rove.Just ask macain the guy they destoyed in south carolina in 00 why would he support bush against kerry ,he wanted the republicans in power.So just remember november 08 who runs what and then say you wont vote for hilliary or obama or edwards.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326457</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:01:09 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326457</guid><dc:creator>Alan in Phx</dc:creator><description>bb check my voter Id: Ind since 97. The reason I left political parties are people like you on both sides.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;If you put as much effort into your own life as you do to hating republicans you would be a worth over 10 million dollars. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Susan - &amp;nbsp;I would gladly fly in and pay for the best meal in Miami, do we have to take your husband?, but Hillary will bring out so many more voters than they can predict that will vote against her, or the Bush,clinton,bush,clinton thing, the real problem is like I said earlier, just like the GOP in 06 many just stayed home, many Dems will just stay home, because they do not like her and with no Bush on the ballot they will not vote and a non democrat vote is a vote for the GOP. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326469</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:03:46 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326469</guid><dc:creator>Sidney, Pa</dc:creator><description>Susan you and Hillary have Jerry worried to death. Now you are scaring Alan.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Alan I am a woman and I am one of the Susan's out here that will see that Hillary wins!!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;All Dems, women and men vote for Hillary. Vote for real change!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326471</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:04:58 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326471</guid><dc:creator>Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA</dc:creator><description>Not to nitpick, but the surge is in Baghdad, and al Anbar is in, well, al Anbar.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;If anything we are doing is working there, its a new emphasis by Marines to work with tribal leaders and secure their, at least, temporary support against insurgent groups.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Clinton doesn't actually use the word &amp;quot;surge.&amp;quot; She seemingly understands one isn't the same as the other. The media, which seems to perpetually demonstrate nothing but disdain for such &amp;quot;details,&amp;quot; attaches the word &amp;quot;surge&amp;quot; to her comments.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And this is the same media I'm hoping to catch her in her foreign policy mistatements, and thus exonnerate Obama from what the media has thus far proclaimed to be his mistatements? Seems I'm barking up a tree with that one.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This is a problem in our country. A successful candidate seemingly has to water anything he or she says down to a high school level so the media can understand it.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326477</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:05:56 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326477</guid><dc:creator>just wondering</dc:creator><description>IS being an unmitigated liar a requirement for registering Republican? Dave?</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326515</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:17:03 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326515</guid><dc:creator>Mark Thieme</dc:creator><description>The point is not about &amp;quot;winning&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;losing.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;We have lost because we were too sure of winning. &amp;nbsp;Anyone who equivocates about whether we should be in Iraq is merely someone who likes to see their &amp;quot;wisdom&amp;quot; in print.&lt;br&gt;The surge was untimely only because the invasion was unwise, immorally preemptive, and foisted off on a gullible, toy-saturated American populace.&lt;br&gt;In short: nobody was ever going to win here except Al-Qaida. All this hand-wringing has nothing to do with the reality that we got duped, are still being duped, and as a nation have become perhaps the most dull-witted people in history. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;What is Paris wearing today, anyway?</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326543</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:23:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326543</guid><dc:creator>nuanced</dc:creator><description>Pat, Huntington, NY &amp;nbsp;--- you are right of course. One can never flip flop stating facts, only on opinions&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;nuanced</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326556</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:25:45 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326556</guid><dc:creator>H P Boston</dc:creator><description>Alan &amp;nbsp;152 million women will not stay home.&lt;br&gt;Disclosure, that figure is from the last census.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326558</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:26:25 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326558</guid><dc:creator>BOB SMITH, CANTON ,OHIO</dc:creator><description>____STOP THE PRESSES---- DICK CHANEY IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT, IT IS EXPECTED TODAY, OR WHEN HELL FREZZES OVER WHICH EVER COMES FIRST.ASK KARL ROVE.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326579</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:33:30 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326579</guid><dc:creator>hillaryclinton.com</dc:creator><description>H I L L A R Y &amp;nbsp;T H E &amp;nbsp;N E X T &amp;nbsp;P R E S I D E N T </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326607</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:42:46 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326607</guid><dc:creator>jtb</dc:creator><description>Sad thing for the loony left is that Dick Cheney is NOT running for President in '08.&lt;br&gt;After the Repub convention in summer '08, the loony left will be out of issues.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326618</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:45:20 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326618</guid><dc:creator>jerry/corpus christi texas</dc:creator><description>Susan in Miami:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Since you ar ein the mental health field.....&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;sounds like you need to move to Newark NJ.....&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Plenty of unsound liberals up there, starting with the Mayor.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;there's a tropical wave off the Florida coast, coming you way......&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;good luck, you might need it.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326629</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:47:41 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326629</guid><dc:creator>juan,ftl lauderdale,fl</dc:creator><description>Dave- Calling me a nut from a right wing pandering ass kisser like yourself I take as a badge of honor because I value liberal democracy unlike yourself. jtb- News flash! My family did lose it all in Cuba and the majority of cubans now are against this embargo. If it was not for the so-called liberal FDR the TVA would not have existed and would be curious on our it would have turned out in your native Tenn.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326664</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:57:41 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326664</guid><dc:creator>Joe, Dallas</dc:creator><description>Yiannis in Baltimore and Lance in Oakland,&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;my premise that the surge is working is based on what i've been reading from the military on the aforementioned site &lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://mnf-iraq.com"&gt;http://mnf-iraq.com&lt;/a&gt; - read some of these articles and see if you don't agree there is more good news than the general media presents (and yes i do realize every piece of news is basically propaganda since only select observations are presented no matter how well-rounded the reporter tries to make it.)&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;a case in point, from one of the stories presented today - an *iraqi civilian* sacrificed himself to stop a suicide bomber from killing four (4) american soldiers while they were talking to a group of civilians. &amp;nbsp;this group of civilians is their version of a &amp;quot;neighborhood crime watch&amp;quot; -civilians on the lookout for al-queda and others who have bben intimidating, stealing from and killing iraqis, not just americans. &amp;nbsp;an Iraqi voluntarily and consciously giving his ultimate sacrifice to save americans because he, his family and those he lived with see the value in what we are now attempting to accomplish there - not just military success but also improved infrastructure (water, electricity, roads, etc.)&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;also, the iraqi military and police are beginning to step up and take responsibility for their own security with the american forces becoming more and more *just* advisors to help them learn how to better perform their duties. &amp;nbsp;iraqis are now taking the lead with the american forces stepping back unless truly needed - a situation becoming less necessary with each patrol and engagement.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;as the people see the change in security and the overall situation they are becoming more aware and trusting of their iraqi security forces and are turning to them more and more, giving increasing information on insurgents and their equipment.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;the tide IS turning. &amp;nbsp;the iraqis are beginning to take responsibility for their futures. &amp;nbsp;it has taken this long because bush was 4 years too late implementing this plan, because we tried to do a war &amp;quot;on the cheap&amp;quot;, because we castrated an entire army and set them loose on the countryside with no means of support, because we did not collect or even secure the incredible stockpiles of weapons we found when we invaded, because we did nothing to insure security or the bare essentials of a population with no place else to turn for *anything*. &amp;nbsp;we destroyed an entire infrastructure - as horrific as it was - and offered nothing to replace it other than confusion and lack of competent leadership. &amp;nbsp;like it or not, we have been our own worst enemy; had we given stability upon arrival, al-queda and its like would never have gained a foothold.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;now, that stability has begun to appear and those involved see it, recognize it and embrace it - in every area where we are making a concerted effort to force the insurgencies to vacate and give iraqis a chance to truly live. &amp;nbsp;i believe it can be done in the forseeable future (a matter of 2 years or less, hopefully much less) because the iraqi people are becoming actively involved now they see a chance. &amp;nbsp;i want our soldiers home as much as anyone else but i prefer we be able to come home with dignity, having done the best we could - and that usually means a job well done where we can take pride in the results.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;do muslims in general see us as an imperial power? &amp;nbsp;quite possibly. &amp;nbsp;that was definitely not the case after our relief efforts for the tsunami in the indian ocean. &amp;nbsp;if we can leave iraq in a better state than it is now, i believe their view will again be less antagonistic. &amp;nbsp;if we leave it in worse shape than we found it, why shouldn't they look at us with hatred and contempt? &amp;nbsp;wouldn't you if the situation was reversed? &amp;nbsp;the mistakes have been made; all we can do is try to remedy them.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326683</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:02:46 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326683</guid><dc:creator>ken&amp;quot;walk amile in your moccasans &amp;quot;O</dc:creator><description>Jtb whos land do you stand on .I say it belongs to the american Indian tribe who lived here before your ancestors showed up and redistubed it to all god fearing white people,then maybe we can adress something as recent as the cuban problem with thier commie ways .Oh by the way china seems to be racking in the commie dollars from you everytime you buy something ,check where your flags come from, china.Im sorry I hate these personal attacks but stop with the hatred of the different races every place has its rights and wrongs.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326755</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:29:18 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326755</guid><dc:creator>Carrie, Eastern Iowa</dc:creator><description>Mark Thieme - I'm not sure, but did you see Donald Trump wants her on his show. &amp;nbsp;Now that's newsworthy.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326774</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:33:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326774</guid><dc:creator>HOT DAM</dc:creator><description>jerry pack up we will be there in 3 hours, we are taking you to NEWARK. Never mind, they do not want you either.&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326786</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:37:32 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326786</guid><dc:creator>MK,MO</dc:creator><description>H P Boston / all the women that can vote are going to vote hillary your saying? please turn down the damper on your crack pipe, I dare say you don't speak for all the females in the u.s., fortunately, I suspect some women in this country in this country will base they're vote on what the candidates stand for, not just which one has mommy parts , not all women are sexist and man haters, I am women hear me roar, you probably have that song on some kind of continuous loop or something, you need to go back to the 80's where you belong</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326791</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:39:42 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326791</guid><dc:creator>Susan,Miami</dc:creator><description>And what does Mr. Jerry/Sierra do for a living? Inquiring minds want to know. </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326799</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:43:09 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326799</guid><dc:creator>bb</dc:creator><description>jtb, Dick Cheney is a walking dead man at this point. We would gladly welcome him to run for office-but sadly(boo hoo) to say he'd probably fall over dead after his black ticker explodes.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326845</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:06:29 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326845</guid><dc:creator>H P Boston</dc:creator><description>MK MO You constantly talk about your crack pipe. To bad you can neither spell or write a decent sentence. &amp;nbsp;I think you need a smart woman to straighten you out and get you off the pipe. &amp;nbsp;Of course I do not believe EVERY woman will vote for Clinton, just enough to make your vote what ever it is useless! I guess you think your world turned ugly when in the 70's not the 80's you heard the WOMEN ROAR. YOU just do not respect women at all MK, we hear you cry, you hear us roar.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326889</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:26:02 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326889</guid><dc:creator>BionicWoman</dc:creator><description>Hillary will win. &amp;nbsp;I am voting for her - not because she is perfect - but because I would rather take the chance that a woman will approach our problems inherently differently. &amp;nbsp;I am willing to take that chance since there hasn't been a man - regardless of what he stood for - that has done anything right.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;You can boo me all you want - but I am betting there are enough women out there who agree with me. &amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;So, Go Hillary, you are my girl!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326891</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:26:25 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326891</guid><dc:creator>Carrie, Eastern Iowa</dc:creator><description>Is it really helpful to tell people to lay off the crack pipe and to call people grade-school names? &amp;nbsp;I don't think so. &amp;nbsp;It makes me nervous to think that these are the same people who will be selecting our presidential nominees and, eventually, the president. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326967</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:59:45 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326967</guid><dc:creator>Mark Thieme</dc:creator><description>Carrie,&lt;br&gt;Waiting in the dentist office yesterday, I was interrupted by one of the dental technicians who asked if i would peruse the stack of magazines on the stand next to me for &amp;quot;girlie magazines.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;I was a bit startled by this request... what is a &amp;quot;girlie magazine,&amp;quot; I asked, thinking of Hustler, Penthouse, Maxim, whatever (in a dentist's office?).&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;quot;No,&amp;quot; she replies, &amp;quot;One of those magazines with pictures of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;I pulled out something called &amp;quot;OK&amp;quot; and she whispered to me, &amp;quot;It is a lawyer, a guy... a politician.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;We laughed (out loud, as they say), and she shook her head and went back to dental science.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Me, I sat there thinking about everyone's right to relax with whatever reading material works for them, and then I became a little sour as I thought of the official back there getting his teeth cleaned and his eyes filled.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Then I looked at all those trendy magazines on the table and thought about 3300 families who have lost someone dear and the tens of thousands of &amp;quot;collateral damage&amp;quot; victims in Iraq and I wondered how much more stupid we could become without becoming sitting ducks for any two bit fanatical group who wants us for the taking...&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;America has become low hanging fruit for those whose purpose is to destroy liberal democracy in the name of an evil god while our true god has morphed into cotton candy theology, toxic geopolitical lust, warped machismo, and all the toys to feed the bad dream.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;So what was Paris wearing? &amp;nbsp;Don't remember, but the headline read, &amp;quot;I could have killed somebody!&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;No doubt.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326991</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:06:13 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326991</guid><dc:creator>Susan,Miami</dc:creator><description>MK, this is at least the fifth time you mentioned mommy parts when speaking of Mrs. Clinton. I would say it is YOU that have a problem with women-not sure exactly what, but.... hmmmm... it does make one wonder whats up with that. Mommy parts?? I do hope you're not married.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#326996</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:08:17 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:326996</guid><dc:creator>bb</dc:creator><description>It sounds like MK really does hate women to me, or at least scared of them. I've said it before.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327006</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:12:18 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327006</guid><dc:creator>F StLouis</dc:creator><description>Aww, is Mr insecure MK bullying the women again? Be a man and stop harrassing the women. Christ what a wimp!</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327182</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:47:51 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327182</guid><dc:creator>Amy G, Murdo SD</dc:creator><description>Susan - And what does Mr. Jerry/Sierra do for a living? &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;More then you I'm sure. &amp;nbsp;Welfare check show up on time for you this month?</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327226</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:28:08 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327226</guid><dc:creator>DJ</dc:creator><description>Sharon, Md, &amp;nbsp;A vote for obama would not take courage, only takes stupidity. &amp;nbsp;obama is nothing more than a media creation, spouting the same old rhetoric over and over. &amp;nbsp;His handlers need to come up with new slogans(and maybe a little substance this time)&lt;br&gt;and no, I don't plan on voting for clinton, either.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327227</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:28:13 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327227</guid><dc:creator>DJ</dc:creator><description>Sharon, Md, &amp;nbsp;A vote for obama would not take courage, only takes stupidity. &amp;nbsp;obama is nothing more than a media creation, spouting the same old rhetoric over and over. &amp;nbsp;His handlers need to come up with new slogans(and maybe a little substance this time)&lt;br&gt;and no, I don't plan on voting for clinton, either.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327406</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:29:14 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327406</guid><dc:creator>MK,MO</dc:creator><description>H P Boston,Susan,Miami, bb,F StLouis / ladies please, I would have no problem voting for a female, hell I did in my state for senator (mccaskill), the problem I have is all of you voting for a candidate just because of her gender, not a damn one of you has ever made any credible statement about why hillary should be nominated, it's all just you go girl or men are scared of hillary, I guess the politically correct thing to do would be to just let it slide, but someone needs to point out how childish you guys look, I realize you want hillary to be president and believe it or not I do understand why, but hillary has sold out, and she cannot win the general election, this election is too important to waste on hillary, a good female candidate will come, but the repubs have to be defeated in 08 and whether you want to admit it or not hillary can't get the job done &amp;nbsp;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327524</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:35:08 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327524</guid><dc:creator>Ollie  frenchburg  ky</dc:creator><description>MK,MO, I, Ollie am a man. I love woman and have to agree with their comments on this. It is time to let a woman lead this country. What have the men done to prove they are better? The mind is what matters, not body parts.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327622</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:25:03 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327622</guid><dc:creator>MK,MO</dc:creator><description>Ollie frenchburg ky / &amp;quot;The mind is what matters, not body parts.&amp;quot; my point exactly ollie, but that statement should work both ways shouldn't it? hillary to me represents everything wrong with washington, gender has nothing to do with it, if a decent female were running I would vote for her, look at what hillary offers, nothing for the citizen everything for the corporations, &amp;quot;big business loves hillary&amp;quot; it ain't to hard to figure out why </description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327818</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:56:19 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327818</guid><dc:creator>JengoPop</dc:creator><description>So what do you think? Is the new military surge working to win the war in Iraq? a) yes b) no c) undecided &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;Vote at &lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.pollicious.com"&gt;http://www.pollicious.com&lt;/a&gt;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#327828</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:00:07 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:327828</guid><dc:creator>jtb</dc:creator><description>Ken: don't know where you get your misplaced race baiting. I made no mention about race: just a crummy little communist nation that used to be known and the Jewel of the Carribean.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Juan likes it so much, why doesn't he move there?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I'll tell you why: because he is afraid to put his life, American prosperity, and his opinions where his loony left mouth is. C'mon, Juan, you love Ole Fidel so much? MOVE TO CUBA. I'll even buy you your one-way plane ticket. Hypocrisy: I love when loons exhibit it.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Ken, as far as America is concened, I'll give my little piece of America back to the Native Americans.. right after you do. &lt;br&gt;P.S. I don't by anything made in China (except Formosa..do you know where that is on a map, Ken?)</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#328282</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:18:31 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:328282</guid><dc:creator>Carrie, Eastern Iowa</dc:creator><description>MK - Maybe you should not assume that the fact that she has &amp;quot;mommy parts&amp;quot; is the only reason people support her. &amp;nbsp;</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#328401</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:58:05 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:328401</guid><dc:creator>Ollie  frenchburg  ky</dc:creator><description>MK,MO, I haven't heard the women on here say they are supporting Hillary because she is a woman. You are the one acusing them of that. I believe they simply think she is best to lead this country at this time.</description></item><item><title>First thoughts</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/21/325629.aspx#328495</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:24:20 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:328495</guid><dc:creator>H P Boston</dc:creator><description>MK what is your definition of a decent woman?&lt;br&gt;And you have constantly attacked this candidate on gender, we know Senator Clinton is a woman. &amp;nbsp;Why do you harp on it in a derogatory fashion when ever you want to criticize her. You &amp;nbsp;never have a basis for bashing her. We get that it borthers you greatly.</description></item></channel></rss>