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Yeah you don't need an education to push buttons.
Our military is nothing but a very poorly compensted group of mercinairies. If the draft were reinstated, then I would declare myself gay. Loud and proud...
Mr or Miss dnarnadem
It’s no wonder you’re misinformed, all your “facts” are wrong. The war of 1812 began, when the US, under James Madison (democrat) invaded Canada to acquire land, and cut off British supply lines. The Canadians easily defeated the US soldiers and pushed them back. Yes we did fight the British, but the war began with the US invasion of Canada.
The Mexican-American War, started during the presidency of James K. Polk, the leader of the Democrat Party. Polk wanted to expand the US to the Pacific coast. The Whigs and Anti-slavery forces very much opposed the war.
The modern day Republican Party began with Abraham Lincoln.
History according to dnarnadem, blames WW I, WW II, Korea and Vietnam on a variety of schizoid reasons, none of which address the FACT that democrat presidents started these wars. Roosevelt became president in 1932. Roosevelt had been president of the United States for almost 10 years, when Japan perceived the US as weak and attacked Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt was also responsible for the incarceration of millions of Japanese/Americans in POW camps.
Truman, a democrat, authorized the use of Nuclear weapons against Japan. He also bears the responsibly for the war in Korea.
The war in Vietnam began by Kennedy, democrat, escalated by Johnson, democrat, was ended by Nixon, republican.
Get your head out of the sand Miss dnarnadem. No one is buying any of the revisionist BS you are trying to sell. You and Hartman are destroying any creditability the progressive movement has.
Jon Stewart was so funny, he said something like we could fire teachers out of cannons and get 20 for the cost of 1... or something to that effect. It was really funny (on hulu from Jon's March 21st Daily Show)
Are you ready? The sheer toughness of the Fukushima plant has even convinced GEORGE MONBIOT!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/21/pro-nuclear-japan-fu...
"You will not be surprised to hear that the events in Japan have changed my view of nuclear power. You will be surprised to hear how they have changed it. As a result of the disaster at Fukushima, I am no longer nuclear-neutral. I now support the technology.
A crappy old plant with inadequate safety features was hit by a monster earthquake and a vast tsunami. The electricity supply failed, knocking out the cooling system. The reactors began to explode and melt down. The disaster exposed a familiar legacy of poor design and corner-cutting. Yet, as far as we know, no one has yet received a lethal dose of radiation.
Some greens have wildly exaggerated the dangers of radioactive pollution. For a clearer view, look at the graphic published by xkcd.com. It shows that the average total dose from the Three Mile Island disaster for someone living within 10 miles of the plant was one 625th of the maximum yearly amount permitted for US radiation workers. This, in turn, is half of the lowest one-year dose clearly linked to an increased cancer risk, which, in its turn, is one 80th of an invariably fatal exposure. I'm not proposing complacency here. I am proposing perspective."
Barack Obama is guilty of the same crime as Scott Walker. Both forced legislature thru the government without first consulting congress. They should both be recalled.
I'd prefer a President with a backbone-like Kucinich.
A challenge to all good progressives and liberals out there. Lets challenge Thom and the rest of progressive talkers out there (Ed Scholtz, Norman Goldman etc. Why do they keep supporting the democrats when the last peace of progressive legislation they put out was medicare under Johnson and we had to put up with the Vietnam war and Lady Bird construction to get that. Are these talkers on the air to advance progressive values or the democratic party. While I have great admeration for all these talkers especially Thom and Norman it seems that these highly intelligent and talented people are willing to forgive any amount of betrayal from this turncoat party. I am 47 years old and have been witing all my life for the democrats to live up to their party platform of universal medical and decent schools and what have they produced nothing in almost a half century. To continue to support this party is like being a battered woman that keeps going back every time our man says he is sorry. The only way to solve this situation is to stop going back. We don't need them they need us. We can build a new party were our Ideals are the parties constitution and not corporate ideals masked has populism. This will not be easy but we have a model in the Republican party Goldwaters ideals did not come into fruition for almst 20 years after his defeat but we have been ruled by these bad ideals for more then thirty years now. If such bad ideas have this kind of staying power think what ours could do. I say the only way to proceed is to abandon the democrats send them the way of the wigs and build a truely progressive party for our future and more importantly our childrens future. To the people that say they are with us make them prove how following the same old strategy of following the abusive husband known has the democratic party will have any different outcome then what we seen already from these so called democrats. This will also help these so called democrats for without our support they will no longer have to pretend and they will be free to show who they truely are republican lights.
PS Thom prove me wrong I bet you won't even address the issue or at best you will be dismissive and condensending (I hope I'm wrong but I doubt it.) Lets all challenge Thom to debate someone like a Ralph Nadour for at least a Hour on one of his shows if he has the guts.
Hartmann, a pre-war glider pilot, joined the Luftwaffe in 1940 and completed his fighter pilot training in 1942. He was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) on the Eastern front and was fortunate to be placed under the supervision of some of the Luftwaffe's most experienced fighter pilots. Under their guidance, Hartmann steadily developed his tactics, which earned him the coveted Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds) on 25 August 1944 for claiming 301 aerial victories. thank you for sharing most informative ideas Moving Supplies
Who were the presidents before these Democratic presidents? I assume they were Republican ones.
And the Democrats have cleaned up the mess after every last one of them.
If you are going to name all these wars which you state ALL DEMOCRATS started, let’s have the correct information.
War of 1812 - this should not count as this was a war for liberation unless the Republicans were siding with the British! God forbid!
Mexican-American War - Tyler was a Whig - and he saw the annexation of Texas - which was why Polk went to war because Mexico wanted it back. Spanish American War - Mcklinly was a Republican. WW I - Taft a Republican was the previous president to Woodrow Wilson and an ardent Imperialist which contributed a lot to the start WW I. WW I started in 1814 - the US entered in 1918 when the Germans advanced into Western Europe. WW II - started in 1939 by the Germans - Roosevelt declared war after Pearl Harbor was attacked. The cause of WW II again the end result of Republican imperialistic politics begun decades earlier by Republicans Harding, Coolidge and Hoover. Korea - this was a United Nations effort after North Korea and Soviet Russia attacked South Korea. Since the US was part of United Nations, it had to enter the war, not because a Democrat president Started it as you state. Vietnam - Initially supported for 8 years under Eisenhower, a Republican.
Now you are no longer misinformed! Democrats clean up the mess that Republicans start!
Just wondering, if traces of radiation is being found in the milk. Might had radiation been leaking before the earthquake hit.
Let's see... The area under control of the rebels sits on top of the largest pool of oil in Africa. Not much of it has been coming to us,,,yet. As i understand it the rebels started this civil war. I'm sure many of them believe they are fighting for democracy and freedom, and there is no doubt that Ghadafi is crazy scary, but I believe it is naive to think that we would allow a new government to form that wasn't ameenable to putting corporate interests first. In Yemen and Bharain the despots there are killing peaceful demonstrators for democracy and we don't lift a finger. We are spending hundreds of millions of dollars killing Lybians, doing far more than the lie of a "no fly zone" and the Hypocrite Obama is doing what he previously said was unconstitutional, even after he swore an oath. I don't think we could be doing more to create terrorists than dropping bombs and cruise missiles on people.
This is a system test by the webmaster, please ignore.
I'm surprised at you Thom for using such a "push poll." You left off the 3rd alternative, that the Commander in Chief can only engage in military action under the limitations of the War Powers Act. The WPA requires timely notice to Congress - which President Obama met - and limits action to 60 days unless Congress approves continued action. If we went strictly by the wording of the Constitution it would severely limit the Commander in Chief from meeting urgent demands. I have too much respect for you to let this ride - even the wise Thom Hartmann can sometimes violate his own principles of transparency and honesty and airing all sides of an argument, even those with which he disagrees. Since you left off that 3rd option many of us can't vote in this poll.
Who to fire? Well, we should start with Obama, who, as a constitutional scholar, knows that what he is doing is wrong. And John Boehner, who is too lazy to even show up at congress. The republicans scream like enraged little cartoon characters whenever they think of teachers and other hard-working people having the right to engage in collective bargaining, because "We can't afford to pay teachers," and they scream even more hysterically about public radio getting a few measly million dollars per year. But they cheer like drunken football fans for the idea of dropping $100 million worth of bombs on Libya. As far as the "justification" that the Libyans need our help goes, well, lots of people need our help, but our military industrial complex only helps countries that have natural resources that our corporations want to steal. In the Bible that republicans claim to love, Mathew 23:23 says, ""Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! (Republicans and Obama and other republican democrat members of congress) You... neglect what is more important in the law — justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!"
And while we're firing people, how about "firing" Ann Coulter, who says that nuclear radiation is good for us. I don't see her moving downwind from a Japanese nuclear power plant. What a hypocrite!
Barliman "The Khmer Rouge was the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, but during this short time it was responsible for one of the worst mass killings of the 20th Century. The brutal regime claimed the lives of more than a million people - and some estimates say up to 2.5 million perished."
Where were the Buddhists during this time frame? Literally killing fields of thousands! And where was the rest of the world?
Out of sight, out of mind? The world simply did not care, or simply did not want to save the lives of millions of Buddhists. You know who stopped it - The Vietnamese! Communists!
You may not condone killing, but when the killing veres towards the Millions, and based on your religion you cannot or will not intervene, than your religion has a problem: Morally and Ethically. Don't forget, hundreds of thousands of those dead in those killing fields were Buddists! My god man, how can you reconcile this with any supposed ethical and religious religion? Do not all the Religions of the world have a moral responsibility for their fellow man and human being?
This is what is happening in Libya today. A homicidal maniac who threatens to murder thousands! Are we to stand by and let it happen? Are we to allow another killing field of thousands?
President Obama is correct on this issue. And the rest of the world can act as they did with the Buddhists of Cambodia if they want to; I, for one, believe that we should act when it is Right to act.
The military doesn't want to reinstate the draft. That would downgrade the quality of the average soldier in the military. By having volunteer forces you have individuals who not only are better trained but more easily brainwashed into supporting the moral justifications given to fight these wars.
And let's face facts. The executive branch of our govt has merely been a shill for the military-industrial complex since the end of World War II. The president who warned us about it, did so in his farewell address, and his successor who had the courage to stand up against it, was assassinated. Obama had the pulse of the nation and uttered wonderful platitudes that expressed the wishes of many of us, but he's not going to step on their toes. He wants to live to see another term.
Whether \a war is declared or not is just a matter of semantics.
However even a pacifist like me can see that the would be rebels in Libya were ina dreadful position and some sort of response to that need is not entirely inappropriate.
I think the idea of a great danger of a war of terror being launched by Gaddaffi is a little far fetched especially when compared with the many wars of terror inflicted on the 3rd world by the US in the last 50 years.
Does anyone really beleive that the same government that bailed out corporations, banks and Wall Street that continues to allow banks to foreclose on working peoples homes while unemplyment is at nearly 20%, that continues to allow companies to export jobs overseas and hide their profits so they don't have to pay taxes, that continued the obscene tax cut for the rich, that recognizes corporations as people, but sees people as objects to be exploited ot thrown away when they are not needed, gives a hoot about the Libyan people?
This is manipulation - humanitarian imperialism. Quadaffi was not like Mubarek-in the pocket of the US. Whatever he is it is an internal Libyan problem. The US has NEVER intervened on the right side in any conflict. Look at Viet Nam, Chile, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, Grenada (that enormous threat-because Marice Bishop spoke English and his words couldn't be distorted.) Yugoslavia (yes, I said that.)
Wake up America. The US government cares no more about the people of Libya than it does about us. They are acting in their own self interest but not in ours. We are not one nation, we are the haves and the have nots and until we recognize that reality we(the have nots) will not get organized or get anywhere. As Mother Mary Jones said, we don't need the vote to raise hell! We don't have to wait for another election to get out there and call these people out for what they are - Capitalists who have to expand or die whether it's in Wisconsin or Libya all they want is to feed off the people.
FYI Soc sec has a 2.7 trilion dollar in trust fund and can pay full benfits for next 25 + yrs.! Soc sec does NOT add a dime to the debt so do not be fooled. As jobs come back- more social security taxes & Fed taxes will come in to th treasury .but GOP is doing all they can to kill jobs so Obama loses. yes we will have to tweak social sec to make it solvent after 25- 30 yrs One great way is to Remove the 107 K cap pn soc sec tax withholding. .
USA is always the first ones to help Give aid & cash . But This time let the Arabs and others take care of this one,
Guy How right you are Walker-Christie - Pawenrty Newt / GOP are on a rampage-drunk with power - and greed. Crushing workers rights- cutting our kids education- and heat for the poor- student grants - health clinics- infrastructure- all so billionaires can get more of their precious tax cuts..
Fascinating how the knee jerk enthusiasm for the draft arises.
What about those of us who on moral or religious grounds decide that killing or condoning or cooperating with killing or training to kill is simply unacceptable?
As a Buddhist- I think I have only accidentally killed 1 moth since I formally took refuge- and there are plenty of us who feel this way.
I thought the US was meant to be a place where individual conscience was celebrated.
All I see is people falling over each other to gain the right to impose on the conscience and free will of others.
Hello, Everything you say is absolutely true.and there is a lot more besides. Thorium can be, and should be, the future of energy the entire world desperately needs and deserves. The subject is somewhat complex but I will try to summarize the numerous ways that LFTR is manifestly superior to any and all other sources of electric power today and, very likely, for the foreseeable future: (1)Thorium is a slightly radioactive natural element in the earth, No. 90 on your high school periodic table. It is three to four times more abundant than uranium, No. 92. It is available virtually everywhere on earth so monopoly is not possible. Thorium is ready to use practically right out of the ground. In stark contrast, only 7/10ths of one percent of natural uranium is U235, the isotope that is fissile. The enrichment process, what the Iranians are doing today, is complex and very expensive. (2) Current nuclear plants are incredibly inefficient. The reason is that the fuel is solid, fashioned into fuel rods. The nuclear reaction produces poisons that contaminate the solid fuel in the rods after only about 10% has been consumed. The 90% that is left as "spent nuclear fuel" is highly dangerous and will be for tens of thousands of years or more. That is the storage/disposal problem (some say a 68,000 ton problem) that is so vexatious and evidently informs Thom Hartmann's position on the future of nuclear power. Again, in stark contrast, LFTR consumes on the order of 99% of its fuel so that its waste is measured in pounds, not thousands of tons. Moreover, around 83% of that minuscule waste is stable, that is, non-radioactive, in only ten years and the rest in about three hundred years. That is a nuclear waste problem that is manageable. (3)LFTR is not picky about its fuel. Once started with U235, it transposes the abundant and cheap Thorium 90 into U233, which is fissile. But it also can consume the spent fuel from solid fuel reactors, which is, after all, only 10% burned, leaving the rest to be consumed in the LFTR generating electricity.The same is true of the truly dangerous plutonium that is presently being harvested as nuclear missiles are being decommissioned pursuant to disarmament treaties. In fact, that is really the only safe way to get rid of plutonium. (4)The LFTR is inherently safe. What is happening in Japan right now would not....could not... happen with the LFTR. As pointed out by tintrott, rather than being solid, the fuel of the LFTR is dissolved in a mixture of fluoride salts that are heated to something on the order of 800 degrees Celsius. (Recall that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.) But there is no water anywhere near the molten fuel salt so there is no risk of a steam explosion, or hydrogen production, two causes of the explosions in Japan. The whole process works at basically atmospheric pressure so there is no need for the huge, and hugely expensive, reinforced concrete containment buildings that solid fuel reactors require. (By the way, Chernobyl had no such containment vessel.) And, rather than cooling by water, the LFTR can be cooled by air. If something does go wrong, the molten fuel salt will expand, slowing the reaction. If electricity is lost, the fail-safe in Japan that failed, electric fans used to keep freeze plugs in the drain lines under the reactor vessel frozen, will stop working. The result is that the plugs will melt and let the molten fuel salt drain by gravity into large storage tanks under ground, No pumps needed. The molten fuel salt will freeze solid and stay right there. Think of candle wax cooling and solidifying. When the time comes, it is a simple matter to heat the fuel salt in the storage tanks back into a molten liquid and pump it back into the reactor vessel, where the reaction will start itself again. (5)The capital costs of LFTR are lower than current solid fuel plants and are competitive with coal fired plants of similar outputs. With modular manufacture, one LFTR a day could be produced on an assembly line, like the Boeing 747 and at about the same price. They could be loaded onto flatbed trucks and carried anywhere the trucks can go. They could even be taken to existing coal-fired plants and plumbed into existing turbine generators, thus utilizing existing infrastructure. Imagine what the military and Red Cross could do with such a source electricity. In five or ten years, we could literally be at the end of the fossil fuel electricity era, and all its mining deaths and terrible pollution. (6)There is nothing about the LFTR that would interest a terrorist. No waste, little as there is, can be converted to weapons.The small amount of U233 associated with the process is all but useless as a weapon and it is so radioactive that it would be fatal to a terrorist in a short time. Plus it cannot be hidden and can be readily detected if it ever were stolen. I would add another couple of websites to those above: ThoriumEnergyAlliance.com. Go there and sign up for the Third Annual Thorium Energy Conference to be held in Washington on May 12. You can sign up at the website. It's only $125. Also visit EnergyFromThorium.com and International Thorium Energy Organization, IThEO.org. My email address is ThoriumSilverBullet@gmail.com. Thanks. Robert Orr Jr Franklin TN
What's more important to the republicons than jobs and war?
Oh - Don't tell me - I know this one.........
The answer is - war and war!!!!!! they could give 2 squats about jobs - never have, never will.
Protest - keep after it. I know it's disheartening that if 1,000 protesters get together, it won't even make a paper, but if 200 teabaggers get together, it's all over the news. However,if you just reach a few people, it will help.