...to the NIE report resulted in :

For his 28%

The only thing they'll hear was that the NIE supported the presidents warnings on Iran.

For the 23% on the fence

An Iran fear seed is planted; since Iran had a nucleur program at one time, they may again, leading to irrational thoughts like if Iran gets the bomb all of our schools and churches will be teaching Islam.

For the 49% anti bush - not needed further confirmation of bush being an idiot and an a-hole in equal measure.

For me another great political move by someone who is an idiot and an a-hole in every respect except politics, where he is just an a-hole.

In terms of Irans lack of nuclear program, Bush is following the same script he has for everything his administration is exposed on.

Illegal wiretapping comes out and he responds with "F.U. I'm the president."

No WMD - "F.U. I'm the president."

Habeus Corpus - "F.U. I'm the president."

Torture - "F.U. I'm the president."

Plame Debacle - "F.U. I'm the president."

etc. etc.

Bush is primo example number one of poor leadership. His only leadership skill is based on his formal authority (he's the president of the USA and he's got lotsa and lotsa bombs). This is the most vacuous form of leadership - leadership based only on position or title. A true leader influences the world by convincing, connecting, and engaging people in a shared vision. Obviously Bush is not a vision guy, according to him he's a "decision" guy.

He's a fool with too much power - a petulent child with a petulent smirk.

To clarify the anonymous statement. JC fukked up politically in the timing of the release of hostages since he did not get them released on his watch. He succeded in the fundamental goal of getting the hostages released. Also the Iranians obviously knew Ronnie was the next president and were looking for angles to manipulate him. Arms for hostages ring a bell?

Rudy and Ronnie fukked up at being honest human beings for taking credit not deserved. I wonder how anonymous would feel if someone else took credit for his work.

Rudy is the sterotype of the classless, groveling, say anything, do anything politician. The Gollum of our political landscape.

The new spin point is that even though Iran suspended bomb research, the fact that they have "only" suspended research for 4 years proves they are dangerous. It's like a cop turning up while I am parked in my driveway and issues me a new speeding ticket because I haven't gotten one in 4 fukkin years. I wonder sometimes if these guys are just playing a game where they challenge each other with new levels of crap they can get the masses to swallow.

The other spin point is that they are still dangerous due to their enriching uranium, but fail to mention that they are allowed to do so by international treaty for peaceful purposes. Here they exercise their most prominent personal characteristic and favorite tactic - dishonesty.

Hitler advocated Christianity, thus Christianity is bad? Y'know, he built the Autobahn. Should we scrap America's highway and freeway systems? He was also a vegetarian -- maybe we should get rid of all of them, too.

Schmuck. -- aeschylus

No one gave a shit about Romneys religion in massachusettes where he was governor, because gee whiz maybe in this great country religion is still a personal choice and you don't need to express your fukkin religion to apply for a job.

These guys have MADE IT AN ISSUE. THEY WANT THE LITMUS TEST, they know a significant part of their base NEEDS A LITMUS TEST. And it's all bullshit. The point is since you missed it is that being a Christian or "believing" in Christ does not automatically make you a good leader, or in any manner or shape all good.

Schmuck my ass.

Religions...

Are a mental disease. -- johnnyrandom

I no more can prove the existence of God then you can dis-prove it. I have watched debates between atheists and the religious and it is theater of the absurd. It's like arguing how far is up. I am not talking about proving a negative. You stated that before death and after life there is nothing. Can you prove this? Because nobody knows is not proof. There is general agreement about infinity such as numbers can go on "forever". But how do we know? Isn't it just not being able to get to the end or know the end that proves infinity? You are right though in that the "not knowing" leaves the door open to every kind of windbag, charlatan, hypcrite, liar and crook but it also leaves the door open for many people to something much greater than that.

Anyways I more believe being human is the mental disease. As you state just look at history, plenty of insanity there with and without religion. And if I look at my own life and all of the people around me, or the comments on this board, well it's the same story - a bunch of troubled human beings doing the best they can to rise above the disease.

That atheists are descriminated against is despicable, I don't know if returning the favor in kind helps though.