In the News Today (839 hits)
Category: PoliticsRating: -0.83 on 35 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by FLAK <yo yo mama> (View user info) at 2005-03-07 15:34:24 EST
JUST AN EXCUSE TO SHOWCASE HATRED FOR AMERICA
You can say one thing for today's funeral for Nicola Calipari. At least it got Martha Stewart's mug off the front page. Nicola Calipari is the Italian secret service agent who was killed when U.S. troops in Baghdad open fired on a car rushing freed Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena to the Baghdad airport. Sgrena had just been freed by Iraqi insurgent forces ... freed after Italy paid a cash ransom.
Let's talk about this ransom business for a bit. The United States refuses to pay for the release of hostages. Italy has a history of doing so. We refuse to pay because it rewards the hostage-takers and encourages yet more kidnappings. It can be said that Italy's actions in paying for the release of Sgrena served to increase the level of danger for every other westerner in Iraq. Time, I guess, will tell. The point here is that there are reasons to be upset with their side too.
U.S. forces say that Sgrena's car approached a checkpoint on the Baghdad airport road without slowing, and the driver ignored repeated warnings to stop. The warnings reportedly included arm signals, bright flashing white lights, shots fired in front of the car and a shot into the engine block. One more thing. The U.S. Military says that they weren't warned in advance about the release of Sgrena and that she would be driven to the airport after that release. Why wasn't the U.S. told? Evidently the Italians were afraid that we might try to dissuade them from paying the ransom and might actually interfere in some way. So ... first mistake; not telling the U.S. Military that you are going to be making a run for the airport with a freed hostage.
Sgrena's story? She says there were no warnings, no bright lights. She says that they weren't even at a checkpoint. A U.S. tank just pulled along side and started firing. She also says they weren't speeding. Riigggghhhhhtttttt. A car full of Italians, and they weren't speeding? Dogs and cats sleeping together.
What you probably won't hear today as this story gets played over and over and over. Giuliana Sgrena wrote for a newspaper called "Il Manifesto." As you might suspect from the name, it's one of Italy's communist newspapers. Now hold on a second. I'm not saying that Sgrena got what she deserved because she writes for a communist newspaper. I am saying that it would be illogical to expect either Sgrena or the newspaper she writes for to be at all sympathetic to the situation faced by our forces in Baghdad. Both Sgrena and her newspaper were adamantly opposed to the war in Iraq. Il Manifesto is already accusing U.S. Forces of assassinating the secret service agent, and her partner (whatever that means) says that the shooting was intentional. He referred to the U.S. troops as "imbeciles or terrorized kids who shoot at anyone."
The funeral this morning for Calipari is going to be a focal point for expressions of hatred toward the U.S. and U.S. policy in Iraq. It will be a rallying point for those who long for the days of Saddam Hussein. If you're a news junkie you'll hear condemnation and criticism of the U.S. forces time after time throughout the day. It will be interesting if you see one single story about Sgrena's connection with a communist newspaper and their adamant opposition to what the U.S. has accomplished in Iraq. Why, you ask, is that important? It's important because this is a newspaper with strong anti-American credentials. It's not right to report the criticism heaped on the U.S. from a newspaper without identifying that newspaper's strongly anti-U.S. bias.
So ... who is telling the truth? Maybe we'll never really know. One thing for sure, the incident certainly presents a great opportunity for someone predisposed to dislike America, and someone who has already expressed her adamant opposition to what U.S. troops have accomplished in Iraq, to rally international opinion against the United States.
Of one thing you can be sure. The next time there is some controversy surrounding a reporter from some right wing newspaper you can rest assured that the affiliation will be highlighted in virtually every news story. The unwritten rules demand that right wingers always be identified as such, while leftists are treated as the norm.
THE MINIMUM WAGE AGAIN
The Senate is getting ready to vote on whether to raise the minimum wage. Sadly, Republicans are along for the ride, offering their own version of this job-killing legislation. The hourly minimum wage is currently $5.15, where it has been for 8 years.
Ted Kennedy wants to raise it to $7.25 an hour, in three increments over 26 months. Republican Rick Santorum wants to raise it $1.10 over 18 months, in two increments of 55 cents. The Republicans want to add it to the bankruptcy legislation, which the Democrats oppose. Because of the threat of filibuster, they'll need 60 votes to pass either one, which is unlikely.
In the debate over the minimum wage, we will hear people time and time again say that it is impossible to raise a family on the minimum wage. Well ... duhhhhh! Of course you can't raise a family on the minimum wage! This is a wage that is usually paid to teenagers who are bringing the bare minimum of job skills to their very first job. Beyond that .... losers. Oh yeah, it's insensitive ... and you might even find it offensive. That would be your problem. Face facts. The minimum wage is for losers. Baring some physical or mental disaster ... anyone living in this country who has not managed to acquire enough education and job skills to earn more than the minimum wage is a complete failure ... a loser. These are not the kinds of people who should be having children. Not only can't you raise a family on minimum wage, you shouldn't even be trying to. If our child welfare agencies were really doing their job they would be classifying every child in a household where their parent or guardian can't earn more than the minimum wage as endangered ... and promptly remove them.
This is not a role for government. There is nothing in the Constitution which permits the Imperial Federal Government to involve itself in a contract between an employer and employee. The salary or hourly wage should be agreed upon between the two parties and not subject to government approval. The minimum wage should be abolished, not raised. People should take their job skills and work ethic into the marketplace and compete with everyone else. If the bid for your services isn't high enough, maybe that's a broad hint that your services aren't valuable enough. Time to improve. The marketplace should decide what someone should be paid, not the government.
ARAB DICTATORS ON THE RUN
Bashar Assad
All of a sudden it would seem the Arab dictators in the Middle East are singing a different tune these days. Could it be because they have seen the United States liberate two enslaved peoples in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing about free elections? Just as was the case with the fall of the Berlin wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, once people have a taste of freedom, it can't be stopped. It's contagious.
Look at the case in Syria. Syria occupied Lebanon, and has for decades. Protesters surrounded the building housing the Syrian puppet government in Lebanon, forcing them to resign. Now people power is running the Syrian troops out of Lebanon. Check out this quote from Syrian President Bashar "Boy" Assad, in an interview with Time magazine. He was talking about international demands to get out of Lebanon: "Please send this message: I am not Saddam Hussein. I want to cooperate."
Syria leaving Lebanon, elections in Iraq, elections in Afghanistan, elections in Egypt, elections in the Palestinian territories....the list goes on. These dictators' days are numbered, and they know it. Freedom is on the march in the Middle East. Bush was right.
www.boortz.com
User Reviews
Submitted by mles76 (user info) at 2005-03-08 17:08:20 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Thanks for your opinon
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2005-03-08 16:49:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
You don't honestly believe that they were intentionally targeted do you?
seriously
You REALLY think we're that good?
or how about this scenario:
Jumpy guy at checkpoint get trigger happy. Oblivious people in car do not notice anything happening until its too late.
Is it tragic?
yes
Is it a national embarrassment?
yes
Have wars gotten started over less?
oh fuck yea
But seriously this is way over the top conspiracy theory.
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2005-03-08 16:44:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I read the news today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade...
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-03-08 16:38:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
By this time next week, the US will have declared war on Italy. Mark my words.
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2005-03-08 16:37:45 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I love boortz, but copying and pasting his program notes?
Submitted by HZRD (user info) at 2005-03-08 16:27:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
gimmie a L! L! gimmie an I! I! gimme an N-K-W-HO-R-E!
http://www.ubersite.com/m/61405
HUZZAH!
Submitted by Ed_0150 (user info) at 2005-03-07 21:05:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I really agree with the minimum wage part..
and Munkeypants, if you "have a real job. And I work my ass off and I do it well." then how come you are only slightly above minimum wage?
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-07 19:21:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
here's a +1. 3 -2's are a bit much.
why does it take 300 bullets to stop a car? that's how many were shot.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-07 18:54:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
first of all you haven't spelled my name once right.
second of all i am far from a bottom feeder. you dont have to
be a file clerk to make shit money.
third of all, it isn't 'mister'.
wait. i get it. you're a yuppy. or in the military. that explains it.
Submitted by Jesus_Loves_TwEE (user info) at 2005-03-07 18:50:40 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Flak (user info) at 2005-03-07 18:49:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
BTW, Mr. Winner, how many -2s have you given my post?
Submitted by Flak (user info) at 2005-03-07 18:47:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
How abouot this, Monkeypants. The Feds raise the minimum wage. In order to pay the higher wage your employer has to cut jobs. You, being an obvious bottom feeder, are the first the list for a pink-slip. Congrats on your new jobless status. Now go breed so you can get more welfare and raise a new brood of losers.
A piece of advice...
If you don't like what you are being paid, get a better job.
If you can't get a better job then better yourself. (There is plenty of Federal money available for gutter-dwellers such as yourself if you can muster the brain power required to fill out a form)
If you are too stupid to better yourself then kindly save us all the trouble and kill yourself prior to procreation.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-07 18:41:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
excuse me? I have a real job. And I work my ass off and I do it well.
And I take care of my shit. And I have dignity.
You don't know me and you don't know anything about me.
You are making assumptions. Based on your post you do it well.
You sneer upon those below you and you sneer upon those who
don't let ourselves be brainwashed. That much I know
by your post. I almost pity you.
and I see you made a retaliatory -2. yo're such a winner.
Submitted by Flak (user info) at 2005-03-07 18:33:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Monkeypants, perhaps you should get off Ubersite and get a real job.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-07 18:19:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Flak (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:56:12 (#)
Ranking: 0
Damn, this place is full of thumbsuckers!
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no you are just brainwashed by Bush and Fox News.
and as for minimum wage...
no no. don't raise it. that's okay. give the masses slave wages. better yet
why should they work at all? let them live on welfare where they could make more!
And this hits close to home my friend... growing up and still living
lower middle class. Sorry if I don't make as much money as you. I make
more than minimum wage but not a whole hell of a lot. I guess that
makes me less of a person? Less of a potential parent?
So two working parents who don't make much but who are willing to work hard
and stick together are unworthy of having children?
i can't even go on... you are such a fucking.... RAH!
Submitted by Flak (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:56:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Damn, this place is full of thumbsuckers!
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:42:16 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Submitted by BobLobla (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:36:01 (#)
Ranking: 0
'A car full of Italians, and they weren't speeding? Dogs and cats sleeping together.'
This saved you from a -2
Submitted by BobLobla (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:36:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
'A car full of Italians, and they weren't speeding? Dogs and cats sleeping together.'
This saved you from a -2
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:25:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
That Italin agent's sacrifice is as great as any American soldiers. Don't speak ill of him. He is a hero.
I would hope that everyone who has been irate that anyone would question the motives behind this war would agree with me on that point.
Submitted by Dash (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:07:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Jimmy (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:02:03 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
"It will be interesting if you see one single story about Sgrena's connection with a communist newspaper and their adamant opposition to what the U.S. has accomplished in Iraq.
Why, you ask, is that important?"
Because that's why they tried to kill her
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-03-07 17:01:45 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
You're a dick.
Submitted by Dolson (user info) at 2005-03-07 16:57:49 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
And...you're a douche.
Calipari was a hero. In case you managed to not actually read the full text of the articles, or just read shitty Fox-style American news, I'll fill in what you may have missed. Calipari died shielding the freed journalist from gunfire, which I would call a pretty selfless act. Ransom or not, that's heroism. Furthermore, the state funeral you are referring to as anti-American was ordered by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Burlesconi, who happens to be a strong US ally, and a man who prides himself on his personal friendship with George Bush. Any anti-American activies are particularly damaging to him, as most Italians opposed the Iraq war, and Burlesconi put his ass on the line for Bush.
Next time, try and avoid pissing on your allies.
Submitted by PlaguedByMurphy (user info) at 2005-03-07 16:50:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Martha who?
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-03-07 16:04:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
If our child welfare agencies were really doing their job they would be classifying every child in a household where their parent or guardian can't earn more than the minimum wage as endangered ... and promptly remove them.
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I grew up in an area that was about as far from poor as you can get, and many of the children there needed to be removed by Child Services because the kids were turned loose with unlimited money and no supervision. 10 and 12 year olds getting arrested with several crack rocks. For personal use. I'd rather have kids living in a family with not enough money than families with too much.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-03-07 16:02:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
This is not a role for government. There is nothing in the Constitution which permits the Imperial Federal Government to involve itself in a contract between an employer and employee.
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There's also nothing about political parties. But, they exist and are now accepted and even endorsed and supported by the government. What exactly is your point?
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:55:39 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
you discussed several things that are rarely mentioned, so although i disagree (strongly), have a -1 for setting out your reasons and explaining yourself. somewhat.
Submitted by fudgepacker (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:54:34 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
i appreciate the fact that we live in a place where we are free to express our opinions on basically any matter. I just detest the way you do it.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:49:07 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Cut and paste.
And the US actually has bargained with hostage takers--American Presidents from George Washington to Ronald Reagan have repeatedly bargained with terrorists, usually to secure the release of American hostages.
Submitted by QueenAshlee (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:48:28 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Blow me.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:43:27 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:42:04 (#)
Ranking: -2
no offense. I am sure you are a nice guy and everything but you need
to get your head out of your ass.
Seriously, you couldn't fucking spin a record.
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:42:24 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Boo
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:42:04 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
another one for the last paragraph.
no offense. I am sure you are a nice guy and everything but you need
to get your head out of your ass.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:40:24 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
If our child welfare agencies were really doing their job they would be classifying every child in a household where their parent or guardian can't earn more than the minimum wage as endangered ... and promptly remove them.
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here's another -2 for that... reading on...
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-07 15:39:42 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
In the debate over the minimum wage, we will hear people time and time again say that it is impossible to raise a family on the minimum wage. Well ... duhhhhh! Of course you can't raise a family on the minimum wage! This is a wage that is usually paid to teenagers who are bringing the bare minimum of job skills to their very first job. Beyond that .... losers. Oh yeah, it's insensitive ... and you might even find it offensive. That would be your problem. Face facts. The minimum wage is for losers. Baring some physical or mental disaster ... anyone living in this country who has not
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That is one of the most ignorant statements I have ever heard.