TJones

Hmm. I don't disagree.

I'm still buying gold.

Crunch, you were acting like you didn't have 2 nickels to rub together a few days ago. No you're buying GOLD ?!?

Man, I wish I had your "money troubles".

LOL! You folks are hilarious. You got a SENIOR statesman with over 20 years experience in Congress and a woman who you guys want to kick around because she has about as much experience in politics as Obama, that actually held her own ALL NIGHT LONG against that walking Crest commercial. What was with all tha smiling ? He looked like the friggin' Joker. I think Biden was looking for some endorsement dollars from Polident or something. OBAMA '16

...

Hmm...Phil Gramm works for McCain, not Obama.

Dude, C'mon, that is like saying Bill Gates is responsible for Enron's crash because they used Microsoft 2000 to cook there books.

No, same goes for McCain. I'm just personally interested in whether or not Obama could actually win Texas, which is always seen as impossible. He hasn't written any state off, which I like. So that was my thinking. But sure, McCain could come and show the love and probably win some additional support, too.

Thank you for your honesty.

Least they don't change their vote 'cuz mean 'ol Nancy Pelosi hurt their feelings. And one more thing about your kool-aid thing (no I don't think it's racist). The flavor should be blue and the guy on the pitcher looks like somebody (can't place it now) but it doesn't look like Obama. Maybe a new thread? Who is that man on TJ's koolaid pitcher?

LOL! I wasn't aware that "blue" was a flavor , and it sounds like you need a new graphix card. That is definately Obama on the glass pitcher.

The "red" is for red ink.

...and "blue" for Dems, because they are never happy and are always cryin about somethin'.

This might be a simplisitic assessment, but I think if Obama showed up here and showed Houston and Galveston a little love, it would go a long way for him. Galveston and Bolivar have completely dropped from national media attention, despite the ongoing struggles of (former) residents. He could make real headway in Texas if he let folks know they weren't forgotten.

Just to be fair, do you think it would have the same effect for McCain, or would McCain just be "making a photo-op" in your opinion ?

LOL! She claims she has "seen pictures of human footprints inside the dino tracks." LOL! That could be possible I guess, if the T-rex was chasing down a human for dinner ?!? I told all of you she was a BAD BAD choice.

I actually LAUGHED OUT LOUD at what Barney Frank said. I will agree, the dunderheads that promised their vote then curtailed it should be outted. There were so many bad judgement calls on this thing, I just have to believe it all came down to trying to rush things and not having a solid cohesive unit on this. Rep. said they THOUGHT they had the vote, when they probably knew they didn't. I am sure Pelosi sounded like a good scapegoat at the time, but that was all it was. She had no real reason to make that speech other than to get in a few shots for her own pleasure, and it derailed this thing until Thursday. I am sure Pelosi will not be opening her cakehole before the vote THIS time. Both sides have dropped the ball on this.

EDIT: I think it would have passed with flying colors if Dodd's earmarks for Acorn, Lulac, the Urban League, yadda, yadda, yadda had NOT been in the package. All monies gained as profit in this deal should go directly back into the Treasury, not get pieces broken off for welfare programs.

OK, TJ, since you insist on painting McCain as the ultimate patriot and not the cynical politician that he is, we'll go with your version. McCain heroically suspended his campaign to save the country from greed. Then, once he returned to Washington, the meeting at the White House cratered. And, after he worked tirelessly all weekend to get a deal back on track, HIS OWN PARTY voted 2/3 against him.

This makes McCain as irrelevant as his mentor, George W. Bush, and McCain did it before the election. At least he still has the anti-witchcraft voting block.

...and everything was fine and dandy, and set to pass, until Pelosi felt she had to open her big yapper at the last second and give some BS speech to try and save the face of her party, which is what actually "cratered" the voting. Although, all those earmarks Dodd was still trying to get passed through may have had more to do with it. There is obviously something still very very wrong with the plan, otherwise, all the Reid/Pelosi cronies would have been on board instead of just 60%. I beleive McCain was probably told enroute that the bill was likely to pass and that he would not have to give any speech to try and persuade his party any further. Listening to him talking today though, it looks like he is gonna have some one on ones with some members before Thursday.

Red, I am not saying that McCain is the guiding light out of this, I am simply showing that he was actually wanting to do something. I will take McCain at his word that he wanted to get this thing hashed out, and I will take Obama at his word that he felt he would be better served by staying on his campaign trail at not trying to get involved.

Now, let me ask you this. Since Bernanke borrowed $630billion today, does the rehash of the bailout even matter now ? PErhaps it will be a $400 billion bailout now, and that will be easier to pass ?

Nope. Bush says if they aren't wearing a uniform then they aren't a soldier. That's what he said, and that's what I've repeated here. If you have some other information about the Bush administrations position on this, please share it.

It's all right there in the links you provided. Thanks.

and I quote...."Under Article 4 of the Geneva Convention, however, Taliban detainees are not entitled to POW status. To qualify as POWs under Article 4, al Qaeda and Taliban detainees would have to have satisfied four conditions: They would have to be part of a military hierarchy; they would have to have worn uniforms or other distinctive signs visible at a distance; they would have to have carried arms openly; and they would have to have conducted their military operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.

The Taliban have not effectively distinguished themselves from the civilian population of Afghanistan. Moreover, they have not conducted their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war. Instead, they have knowingly adopted and provided support to the unlawful terrorist objectives of the al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda is an international terrorist group and cannot be considered a state party to the Geneva Convention. Its members, therefore, are not covered by the Geneva Convention, and are not entitled to POW status under the treaty. "

There are 4 criterias that have to be met. A uniform is ONE of the four, you keep omitting the rest to fit your skewed view.

Taliban and AlQueda soldiers "uniforms" would be , whatever the clothes on their backs are.

Seaports. That's a good idea. They're huge targets and woefully underprotected. Let's put the military there.

THanks Editor.

I said that's what the Bush administration said.

You took that part to heart, yet you conveniently left out the fact that there are provisions for AlQueda and Taliban combatants ? Why is that meme ? So, not all Foreign soldiers on U.S. soil wear a "standard uniform" even under a Bush Doctrine, isn't that correct ?

Obama did return to Washington to work on the bailout. That wasn't ever the issue. McCain wanted to postpone the debate.

.....wanted to postpone the debate to get a deal worked out, which was beleived by EVERYONE to go down yesterday. Obama wantd to stay on the campaign trail and only went back after he saw McCain was going back. Tell these folks the truth meme. Even Harry Reid told Obama that he wasn't needed and to stay on the campaign trail, which is what Obama wanted to do in the first place. Harry tried to do the same to McCain, and McCain basically told Harry to go F himself. I also asked you what the difference would have been between a debate on Friday and a debate yesterday, and you still haven't answered the question.

That's a very convincing argument. We know she's protected from witchcraft. How many other presidents can make the same claim? Hmmm?

Meme, you know how powerful you Wicken people are !!! After all, aren't you like a level 64 Mage Elf on WOW ???

Who said I believed that?

Ummm, you did, when you said only our country's enemies soldiers wear uniforms. So, using that logic, you think the Taliban and Al-Queda are not our enemies because they don't have chevrons on their turbans, is that right ?

If you would read what you print, you would see that Al-Queda does not fall under Geneva convention, because they don't meet all the requirements, so how can the world law be broken ? Besides, you think Al Queda even abides under the Geneva convention or for that matter, ANY form of law other than Muslim law? They only heard about Geneva because some ACLU lawyers went crying about their civil rights being violated, which they aren't.

Judah, I agree with you. I will take a CoastGuard to get me out of the water if my boat tumped over in a storm, over a Navy Seal, anyday.

Crunch, what would you have our Govt. do with our Military, once we bring all our young men and women home ? I much prefer them to be on the borders or working airports and our marine ports. Protecting something, not just sitting around on base, waiting for something to happen.

The Bush administration split that hair, not me. If you don't like that distinction, take it up with Cheney and his crew.

If we have foreign soldiers on US soil then Guantanamo is violating the Geneva Convention.

Why are all of you right wingers so opposed to the rule of law?

"Right winger" ? Moi ? Hardly, my Atheist friend. Military is in place to defend against ALL enemies foreign and domestic. The Domestic ones don't proudly wear their towels on their heads as they would in say Iraq or Iran or Afghanistan. You trying to say that Insurgents wear uniforms. The terrorists of 9/11 wore rank and file uniforms ? Maybe the fake Versace shirts or perhaps the cheap off the rack suit from the local Men's Wearhouse is the uniform of choice for these domestic soldiers ?

If you still beleive that there AREN'T any foreign soldiers here in America then you have your head buried in the sand far deeper than any backhoe could get it out of.

That's inaccurate. Obama didn't agree to more TOWN HALL appearances with John McCain. (To my knowledge, Obama didn't agree to any). But that was a very smart political move on Obama's part to turn that down. It wouldn't do anything but help McCain by making Obama look like he's a follower of McCain's ideas. If Obama said yes, it would not have changed anything on their stance on the issues, wouldn't have changed the minds of the voters that already made their minds up, and there's already three nationally televised debates.

That's what I was referring to DJ, those "town hall" meetings were to be small scaled debates. Is it also your belief that not wanting to "follow McCain's ideas" be the reason why Obama didn't want to return to Washington to get some work done at his actual job ?

No they aren't. The Bush administration says you have to be in uniform to be a soldier.

You want to split hairs?

Now I see where the problem lies with you folks. You only want to accept things in black and white, no shades of gray.

Unfortuantely, our enemies don't parade around like this.

or like this...

or like this...

When they are in our country, they try to assimilate.

And I don't understand why anybody isn't at least a little concerned about this. It's the first time an active US combat unit has been assigned to the US. We trained them to kill foreign soldiers. Why are they here?

Because the "foreign soldiers" are in our country now meme. You and your buddies here tell everyone to "wake up". Practice what you guys are preaching. Crunch, why so much concern, are you afraid that you are on the "Gestapo List" ? Trust me, they aren't looking to lock up you and me, and the rest of our pot smoking brethern. They want the guys with a Muhammed or an Ali or a Sanchez and Rodriguez in their name. If you feel you are in danger of getting caught for something illegal you are doing, then quit doing illegal things. What I find MOST surprising is Red's take on the whole thing, seeing as how he is a BIG part of the system that seems to be part of all of y'all's problems. I am depending on Red to keep all of you and I safe at night. The Army brigade would need someone like Red if search and seizure parties became a daily occurance. Can anyone here show one instance, where this brigade is doing smash and grab raids on LEGAL U.S. citizens in this country?

BTW, macbro, Zeitgeist is NOT real. It is however very entertaining.

Uh, this is a combat brigade. You know, the kind that shoot people, not the kind that help people.

Who's claiming otherwise?

But there have been instances where people didn't blab for years, and there could be instances where no one has yet blabbed. What makes you think there aren't?

Previous incidents of conspiracies? There are too many to number. Are you saying that humans are incapable of conspiring? I don't follow.

Hmmm, so is it your belief that this Brigade is being bought home to gear up for the possible Obama inauguration ?

There has also been instances where people blabbed sooner than later and it didn't matter because the person being blabbed about was of no consequence. i.e. Plame incident.

I was the second gunman on the grassy knoll, and I will never tell. I also forced Teddy off the bridge into Chappaqudick.

CRUNCH, you and meme need to quit watching Alex Jones on public access.

Discuss the candidates, not the HAIFers. No one on this forum is running for president.

Just to be fair, after seeing the choices, I may as well throw my hat in the ring. I could do just as good a job, and I am alot younger than both candidates. I could certainly pick a much better VP choice and I would increase spending for HAIF also.

Trae, all McCain wanted to do was postpone the debate a few days in order to go back to Washington while this Non-passing Bill got worked out. Can you tell me what the difference would have been between Friday and Tonight ? Why were y'all so scared about that ? Then he decides to show up after all, and you guys got even more scared. Also, if Obama was so hot to debate all the issues, how come Obama would never agree to more debates ?

See this link from earlier in this thread.

T-BIRD !!! What's happening Big Daddy ??? Haven't seen you around in a month of Sundays.

Isnt this from the movie The Outsiders?

Yep, that's Tulsa, Ok.

It appears the economy is not so important after all. McCain now says he's going to attend the debate tonight, even though a deal has not been reached on the economic crisis.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6023847.html

Like I've said, this guy is really losing it!

Unbelievable, you cry when McCain says he may need to suspend a debate, then you cry because he is gonna attend the debate and wipe the floor with your Messiah. Make up your minds.

I personally think McCain DID want to bump the debate in order to use this economic bailout to his advantage, as in giving his speech writers and debate quizzers a chance to work it in and have the correct ammo when the question is asked about the recent turn of events. I take McCain at his word about going to Washington to work, but that is only a half-truth to me.

Umm...I believe his name is Phil Gramm. Is that who you want as your new Treasury Secretary?

But, seriously, what is you guys' point? That McCain knows how to solve the financial crisis, just because he predicted a bubble? Big deal. I predicted it too. I also predicted the tech stock crash. It isn't hard to do when the increases are out of all relation to historical trends. That doesn't mean I know how to solve the problem, or even that it can be solved. So quit dancing around the issue. Are you guys claiming McCain has economic expertise or not? Because if you are, then THAT is something we can debate.

I am claiming he was telling his colleagues exactly what they didn't want to hear in 2005. Apparently in the six years following the deregulation bill signed in 1999, McCain, perhaps after buying his 5th house, took a closer look at how the housing industry was going, and made it a pet project. He helped write up a bill to combat what had happened in the tech industry and the downward trend in the auto industry. How did McCain know and why did no one else but 3 others, were able to see that the deregulation was a bad deal ?