Implications of an Obama presidency

Obama win unifies Americans

During my lifetime I have witnessed the crumbing of walls that stood for oppression. I have seen the footprints of humanity upon lunar soil. I have heard the voices from the streets give rise to a revolution whose evolution has transcended all culture and nations to become the expression of a new generation.

Now I can say that in my lifetime I have seen the election of the first black president of the United States of America. This may only appear to be a victory for black America, when in truth it is an affirmation of democracy for all Americans. We as Americans once again have shown the world that we are all a part of a greater whole — a whole that does not cling to past traditions in light of a greater truth.

As we move into the days and months following this momentous election we are charged with the responsibility of making this event more than an ending, but a beginning. More than a call for change, but a catalyst for change.

We as a nation must act with a determination that signifies that as we think, so shall we become.

One people, one purpose, one nation!

Willie J. Cusaac Jr.
Kansas City, Kan.

Another Democrat? Absolutely

I’d like to welcome letter writer Rick Cekovsky (11/13, “Another Democrat? Really”) back to civilization. Good to have you with us again. I can only assume you’ve been in a coma, on another planet or with Dick Cheney in some undisclosed location for at least the past eight years.

“Still paying for the blunders of the Carter administration?” Did you know we’ve had three Republican presidents since then, serving a total of 20 years?

And get this. Two of them were named Bush! I know, crazy, right? The first one was inept, but the second one was downright criminal. For the eight years you’ve apparently been away, the younger Bush (after inheriting a prosperous country and a huge budget surplus from President Clinton) has stripped you of your civil rights, shredded the Constitution, tortured in your name, demolished the economy and lied us into an endless war. Our new Democratic president has a big Republican mess to clean up.

Anyway, welcome back. You’ve got some catching up to do. You will be gratified to know some things haven’t changed in your absence. The Chiefs and Royals are still losing.

Dan Regan
Kansas City

Obama’s cabinet picks

The country was promised “change.” But judging by the first bunch of people our president-elect has suggested as possible cabinet members, and a prototypical partisan already named chief of staff, I don’t see much “change” coming.

Same-o-same-o.

Joe Neuner
Olathe

Comments

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

All I know is the DotCom bust on Clinton's watch cost many of us dearly, at least if you were not one of the shell game elite.
I know my family is by far in better financial shape now than back then.
There are many that will make pretty much the same living although in their minds they make more when there are higher taxes.
Why? Because they do not pay those taxes. These are same morons that actually buy and borrow based on their tax refunds. 100% idiots.

[Jim]

Arminius,

Still waiting for you to provide evidence of your contention that I favored impeachment of Bush. Will you provide it or retract? Or will you simply run away like you always do.

I think we all already know the answer to that.

[newdealer]

arminius - Try to follow - "As anticipated, I (Dewey Clarridge) became head of the Counterterrorist Center (in 1986), and the offensive began. ... The job of the counterterrorist action teams was to track terrorists, carry out surveillance, and assist in capturing and returning them for trial in the United States." - "A Spy for All Seasons" by Duane R. Clarridge (Schribner 1997, pg. 325}.

The CIA has no law enforcement authority and must work with the FBI on renditions because they can make official arrests. The first rendition was of Fawaz Younis, in Sept. 1987, and there were many more before Mike Scheuer "invented" rendition in 1995.

Now, if the words of the person who set up CTC in 1986 aren't good enough for you, I can't figure out what might be. Curious how you're going to rationalize your way into being right this time, but I have confidence in you, I'm sure you'll come up with something.

[Arminius]

Jim:

"Can you prove that charge? Of course not. You can never prove any of your ridiculous personal smears against those who best you in arguments. You are so sad, bitter and wrong."

The burden of proof is not on me to prove a negative, pansy. Newdealer made the claim. The burden is on him to prove his claim.

As far as besting me in an argument, I provided numerous credible sources that reported that Michael Scheuer set up the extraordinary rendition program in 1995. Newdealer has yet to provide a credible source that shows that that was not the case. All he has done thus far is throw a hissy fit.

www.sinsofthehusband.com

[newdealer]

Sorry, arminius, wrong again. I wasn't having a "hissy fit," I was making fun of you and you, evidently, are simply too arrogant and egotistical to realize it. I knew you had to try and have the last word. How anal-retentive is that? And, by the way, you are wrong!

[Jim]

"..you lied abiut being in counterterrorism for 22 years. Now that you got cught lying, you're throwing a hissy fit."

Can you prove that charge? Of course not. You can never prove any of your ridiculous personal smears against those who best you in arguments. You are so sad, bitter and wrong.

You clearly are projecting your own behavior onto others. You have lied repeatedly on here and run away scared whenever you're called on it.

[Arminius]

Casady:

biggest d#$% = someone who presents facts that the liberal moonbats cannot counter.

[Arminius]

newdealer:

You were wrong about Scheuer and you lied abiut being in counterterrorism for 22 years. Now that you got cught lying, you're throwing a hissy fit.

[solomon]

Casady,

Considering Rogue lives here that is one hell of a statement!!!

[Casady]

After reading through this thread, I have concluded that Arminius is by far the biggest d#$% to ever frequent this blog. Sorry for the name calling but this guy is nothing short of a grade A ass#$%@.
Oh yeah, lets not forget

www.sinsofthehusband.com

[Jim]

Arminius,

So, you're not going to be consistent and back up your charges and assumptions? Big surprise. You spend more time running from the things you've said (like calling our troops Girl Scouts on Lee Judge's old blog) and making up things other people didn't say (like my supposed support of impeaching Bush for lying about Iraq, which you can't seem to prove). Then, when you're called on it, you just hurl third-grade level insults.

What a sad, sad man you are.

[newdealer]

arminius - Can't handle the truth so you rely on personal attacks. Very mature. How's that 140 IQ working for you? Let's see, you must be an over-weight, balding, divorced, middle-aged male who works as a drone in a dead-end job and has never done anything of any importance in his life. You're a hoot. Let's see if you can go away without having to have the last word.

[Arminius]

newdealer:

Maybe you could sell those ice cream cones at your burger joint.

Now go back to flipping those burgers.

www.sinsofthehusband.com

[newdealer]

arminius - Well, once again you're quoting Mike Scheuer. You've invented the self-licking ice cream cone. Try reading the biography of Dewey Clarridge, the person who set up and was the first chief of CTC in 1986. His book is "A Spy for All Seasons." Continue to wallow in what ever delusion you wish.

[Arminius]

Jim:

You're quite delusional, aren't you, pansy?

[Arminius]

newdealer:

I think you need to admit that you are wrong on this one. You have yet to provide proof that Scheuer did not author the extraordinary rendition program in 1995. Meanwhile, I have found multiple sources that say he did, including his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs committee:

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/sch041707.htm

Now go back to flipping those burgers.

[Jim]

Thanks for proving my point, Arminius. Now, come clean about your earlier dishonesty or prove that what you said was true.

[Arminius]

Jim:

"And the chances are just as good that Arminius is some pimply-faced kid who works from behind the counter of a fast food joint."

Not really. But how original you are, pansy.

[newdealer]

arminius - "everyone" doesn't say Scheuer set up the rendition program. That's your word. The person who set up the rendition program was Dewey Clarridge, the person who set up CTC, or the Counterterrorist Center, in 1986. It was one of the foreign action teams established by Dewey.

Mike Scheuer wasn't even in CTC at the time. I know that because I was one of the first 35 people recruited for CTC and Scheuer wasn't one of them. Scheuer retired in 2004 and I retired in 2006.

[Jim]

"Chances are you're some pimply-faced kid who works behind the counter of a fast food joint, and not some former counterterrorism officer."

And the chances are just as good that Arminius is some pimply-faced kid who works from behind the counter of a fast food joint.

[Jim]

"So if you believe Bush should be impeached because he "lied" about Iraq..."

When have I ever said that? You're lying again, which isn't surprising. This complete and utter fabrication on your part in order to score some cheap debaters' points only exposes yet again how weak your argument is.

So let's see if you can be consistent, Arminius. Let's see you either provide a quote from me advocating for Bush's impeachment over lies about Iraq or come clean and admit you're wrong. Since you make a habit of demanding evidence for other people's assertions, it would only be "consistent" for you to do so yourself.

I won't hold my breath, though. You're M.O. when caught in a lie is to run and hide until the next day and forget it ever happened.

[Arminius]

newdealer:

"arminius - Well, you can pull up all the internet articles you want. It doesn't make it true."

Yes, everyone says Scheuer set up the rendition program, yet little newdealer says he didn't. If Scheuer didn't set it up, who did?

"I spent 22 years as an operations officer in counterterrorism. Now I realize you are one of those people who can never accept being wrong about anything and seem to like pretending to be an expert on everything. But, when it comes to counterterrorism, you're the idiot. I was there, you weren't."

Yes, sure you did and sure you were. Chances are you're some pimply-faced kid who works behind the counter of a fast food joint, and not some former counterterrorism officer.

[newdealer]

arminius - Well, you can pull up all the internet articles you want. It doesn't make it true. Mike Scheuer was one of the most self-aggrandizing people I ever knew and he certainly claimed to have done far more than he actually ever did and claimed to be involved in far more than he ever was.

I spent 22 years as an operations officer in counterterrorism. Now I realize you are one of those people who can never accept being wrong about anything and seem to like pretending to be an expert on everything. But, when it comes to counterterrorism, you're the idiot. I was there, you weren't.

[repete]

Arminius,

The tech bubble burst in March 2000. Market speculation was solely responsible for this, not any political policy. How much of an impact did this have on the economy? That's hard to tell.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis the GDP shrank in 3Q/00, 1Q/01 and 3Q/01. This doesn't fit the traditional definition of what constitutes a recession.

In fact 3Q/00 was the only quarter of Clinton's presidency that had negative growth. Can he be blamed for the 1Q/01 shrink? I suppose so, if Bush can be blamed for 3Q/01.

[Pub 17]

And we've all met cabdrivers with IQs of 140 and, while it's nice to be important it's more important to be nice. What's your point? You can make any assertion you want about yourself, your father, or the existence of Zarkon the Space God, but absent a testable hypothesis you're full of felgerkarb.