"Since my argument is that any time voters approve something the powers-that-be don't like, the PTB will come up with some bullshit excuse to override it, I'd say your post actually bolsters my argument rather than countering it."

First of all...the PTB? Isn't that a little conspiracy sounding?

Second, my post in no way bolsters yours. The "PTB" will circumvent things they don't like...ASSUMING the people do either remain silent or agree with them. BUT if the people DO argue against those in power, they WILL back down...because that is the only way they CAN stay in power. If you cannot appease those who put you into power, then you will inevitably be taken OUT of power.

Granted, you may only have to appease a small group of people (say a small region of a state in the case of a Congressperson) but you will not accomplish anything by yourself. The point it, it is the people who have the power. The difference is if they are willing to USE it or not.

Many of those guys who were on those motorcycles ARE vets! This is their way of remembering their friends who didn't make it back from the war they were in!

I'm sorry if they interrupted your sensitive reflections on art, but this is their way of reminding everyone of those who died to give us a better life.

BTW, if you want to bitch about patriotism and military guys making too much noise on Memorial Day, perhaps you should better reflect on how you failed to go when others did.

"I don't apologize for dodging the draft in the Vietnam years -- there is a time and place for cowardice -- but there was a price to be paid for it."

mentioned in the article. The main reason is, there are a number of Mexican-Americans in California and most of them are Catholic. I therefore question the authenticity of this poll.

Of course if other polls are done later and come out with roughly the same percentages, then perhaps the people of California will be more inclined to accept same-sex marriage.

From what I have seen what is in the book (and granted I have not read it obviously), it appears to have a great deal of innuendo and possibles in it.

They MIGHT have been talking about, they could have been...these are NOT facts. Frankly, I'm surprised his book was published considering how little information it appears to have in it.

Then again, as I said, I have not read it so there may be more in the content than I have seen...but what I have seen so far does not impress me.

I'm not impressed with ANY of the candidates running for President. Frankly, I'm depressed that THIS is the best American politics has to offer in the way of candidates!

I am planning NOT to vote on election day! What would be the point if everyone I could vote for would be a lousy President as far as I'm concerned anyway?

Wonder how THIS will affect the election??? Will it help Obama or Hillary???

U.S. military deaths plunged in May to the lowest monthly level in more than four years and civilian casualties were down sharply, too, as Iraqi forces assumed the lead in offensives in three cities and a truce with Shiite extremists took hold.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/31/AR2008053101082.html?nav=hcmodule

"That certainly is good news about the drop in violence in Iraq. Never mind that we should never have been there in the first place. In any case, most Americans will be too busy dealing with the ripple effects of $4/gallon (maybe more by November) gasoline to pay much attention to Iraq. We haven't even begun to see the real fallout of skyrocketing fuel prices."

It's irrelevant whether we should have been there or not...we're there now and we have to deal with that.

Oh and I agree the cost of gasoline is way too much...but if the war was for oil, then where is it? Seems to me if it WAS about oil, the price of gasoline would have dropped, wouldn't it? Maybe it WASN'T about the oil???

At any rate, the fact we apparently seem to be winning the war MAY affect which candidate will win the nomination...hence my question as to whether or not this would help either of them and which one.

""Month to month" or "year to year"? Seems like they always take the summer off and then come back hard for Ramadan. But since we bought off everyone - Sunni and Shiite alike - the results should be good."

Depends...sometimes they hit on Ramadan, sometimes not. As for buying them off, not really likely as the ones doing the bombing are not doing it for profit.

"But it does not even matter. McCain will claim it is good. If it gets worse, the GOP talking point will be that the ter'rist evildoers are tryiong to make us vote for Obama."

Um, isn't it good if none of our soldiers are dying???

"Oh, and as part of that get ready for the standard fake-terror alerts this summer and fall. Part of the GOP scare tactics for which these alerts were invented."

If you say so...but if they do have an alert, I know I'm going to be watching my six!!!

-- HP

"Well, to buy that line of goods, you would have to first agree that Bush is somehow competent."

Ok...but then to go with that, you have to admit that Al Gore and John Kerry LOST to an incompetent.

So...which is it?

Sorry but that doesn't always work.

Of course you can always set things up so two enemies will take each other out.

Keep you friends close, but your enemies closer.