GFN wrote on Jul 20, 2006 10:49 PM:Duncan Craig, have you been paying attention over the last 5 years? The "Stinker"is a poorly designed... actually it never really was designed... boondoggle that has as much credibility as the WMD in Iraq. It is already $60 million over budget and will end up being at least $200 million over budget-you see if NCTD told the truth about the real cost in the beginning, it would not have been built. There is no money for pretty landscaping, security, or even water fountains. As O'side councilman Jack Feller said, "We never promised them water!" If all the local government agencies were honest about this project's cost from the beginning, we would be building a very useful and efficient transportaion tool, instead of the half-donkey monster that will only serve some residents effectively, and will make our traffic dangerous, and life for our police, firemen, and paramedics a panic during busy time.

PEM wrote on Jul 20, 2006 11:30 PM:GLEN HODSON your English leason, for last month in accordance with the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Anyways is listed in the dictionary, and you can be done with a meal, or you can be though with a meal. Now granted I am no English Major, but this is what I had found in the dictionary. Anyways : Main Entry: any•ways Pronunciation: -"wAz Function: adverb In accordance with Done: Function: Adjective 1. Concluded, to complete or to finish. 2. Cooked Through: Cooking cooked as thoroughly as required. Through: Function: Adjective 1. Going directly, be through with something 2. To have finished with something.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 12:07 AM:In response to Guiseppi from yesterday, from wiki-pedia: Fascism is also typified by totalitarian attempts to impose state control over all aspects of life: political, social, cultural, and economic. The fascist state regulates and controls (as opposed to nationalizing) the means of production. Fascism exalts the nation, state, or race as superior to the individuals, institutions, or groups composing it. Fascism uses explicit populist rhetoric; calls for a heroic mass effort to restore past greatness; and demands loyalty to a single leader, often to the point of a cult of personality. Note the last sentence,"... demands loyalty to a single leader, often to the point of a cult of personality." I give you Hitler. Now, go to google, and type in "Bush, Hitler" And see how many hits you get, usually from the nutter's on the web. We don't have Fascism in the U.S., it's only in the minds of people like you. It is simply the talking points you re-write here, after reading the latest kool-aid drinkers web page. At least be original.

getaclueGARZA wrote on Jul 21, 2006 2:03 AM: Beware, readers, because the next door they break down may be yours! Is this guy for real? The police break down doors for criminals. Why not illegal aliens who are using forged documents and not paying taxes. Oh, but that's wrong. They are poor illegal mexicans. We only do that to American middle class mexicans, blacks and whites.

Evilatheist wrote on Jul 21, 2006 3:59 AM:Re: Harris Mullen's claim that "Christianity offers hope for the future". In reality however, it's really just a cop-out. An excuse for not living right and doing the best you can in this life. Unfortunately, what Harris Mullen fails to grasp about his "What if it's true?" argument regarding Christianity and the irrational belief in an "afterlife" is that it's strictly a product of his own moral laziness. It would be terribly convenient if we were all destined to recieve another opportunity to atone for the awful things we do, to do all the good things we didn't do but should have and rectify the mistakes we've made in this life. I know I would certainly love to "believe" that I'll get another chance to make up for any regrets I might have over this life, in some afterlife. But what if there is no afterlife, no second chance to get it right? I would pass from this life blissfully ignorant of the fact that I passed on the only chance I would ever have to do all of the good I could have or rectify any of the mistakes I've made. Whether the concept of an afterlife is true or not, believing in it is certainly comforting but the truth is that it's really only the coward's way out and by clinging to it, Mullen could in fact be losing out on far more than he realizes. Personally, I prefer to die knowing I've done the best I could with what I've had to work with in this life. As long as I do that, then whatever comes after is really pretty much irrelevant. I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. I am not young, and I love life. But I should scorn to shiver with terror at the thought of annihilation. Hapiness is none the less true hapiness because it must come to an end, nor do thought and love lose their value because they are not everlasting. -Bertrand Russell

Just for laffs wrote on Jul 21, 2006 5:05 AM:To Glen Hodson: Anyways, me and a friend find your English lessons a waste of space in the paper each month...and the wife agrees!

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:08 AM:I'm telling you JUNIOUS the kooks now own this Democratic party. MoveOn has already said, "they bought it, they own it." Look at what is happened to Zell Miller, and now to Joe Libermann. The extreme left/Michael Moore wingers (I like to call em chicken wingers) have taken over. Hollywood funding Ned Lamont, it all adds up. If your anywhere near center, your out. The Democratic party is no longer a "Big Tent."

Guiseppi = wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:12 AM:…JoAnn (5:10PM) thinks the security of the sleepover procedures is secure. On the surface, as she describes it, it appears secure. However, these machines can be reprogrammed with wireless devices, with no key, at any time. She do not understand the sophistication of program hacking. SCENARIO: a hacking program with the instructions for the machine to switch randomly votes from one candidate to another after the machines are keyed on, would still show a “zero count” at start. Or a program to add extra votes, but only after the machine is turned on, has been verified at zero count, and after some voters have already used the machines. After all, the registrar’s office says “don’t be concerned” it the machine count does not agree with the people-voter count. There are endless malicious software programs that could foil JoAnn’s security protocol. It is even possible to write programs so that one single machine in the field could “infect” central tabulators. Finally, the startup scenario she described would seem ideal, except even that was not the reality. One candidate who went from polling station to polling station on the last election in Oceanside found six that would not start up at opening time. In some cases, opening of the polls was delayed by hours. This does not present a picture of INTEGRITY.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:14 AM:Like I said the otherday, no nuclear, no fossil fuel, no natural gas, no dams, no wind power, no, no, no.... You can't make these kook's happy, JOSEPH ANTHONY. If taken all together, they say no to the modern life. While other countries move forward, these clowns think reducing, is the right way to go. But, I'm sure there's enough gas for them to drive their 1960-something Volkswagon to a protest somewhere. Save a tree, save a seal pup, save a spotted owl, but drive to the protest. You know, now that's funny, I don't care who you are!!!!!

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:24 AM:RUBEN GARZA is wrong about who "takes" shopping carts. They are lazy, thief's, who don't respect other people's rights. Shopping carts aren't cheap, and it is outrageous for you to say or think that because they are elderly, they have a need or right to "use" these carts. Using means to me, they are returned after their done with them. "Stealing" is when you leave them in a ditch, or on a sidewalk, and not returning them.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:28 AM:Why is anyone surpirsed at the cost of the Sprinter? It's the same old dog and pony show, they budget, they supposedly plan, but everytime, it always runs over-budget, and over-time. This is what kills me about people wanting the Government to "take care of" other areas. Can you imagine? a house, instead of $500K, try $5 million.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:46 AM:A response to Guiseppi from yesterday. I found this at wiki-pedia: "Fascism is also typified by totalitarian attempts to impose state control over all aspects of life: political, social, cultural, and economic. The fascist state regulates and controls (as opposed to nationalizing) the means of production. Fascism exalts the nation, state, or race as superior to the individuals, institutions, or groups composing it. Fascism uses explicit populist rhetoric; calls for a heroic mass effort to restore past greatness; and demands loyalty to a single leader, often to the point of a cult of personality." This describes Hitler's Germany to a tee, and it is a shame the only rhetoric the extreme left can come up with is Bush is Hitler, or a Nazi. That's why I made the comment yesterday, that I made, it's sillyness. Go to goggle and type in: Bush, Hitler; and see how many hits you get from left wing web sites, it's crazy. This description does apply to both parties, they both impose state control over all aspects of life, they just have different ideas on "what" to control, but they both want to control.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:52 AM:And I'm willing to bet MIRIAM CLARK is one of those who is also complaining about the cost of gas. Our economy depends upon the free flow of oil, as that is the fuel that drives our economy. It has been a National Security Directive since 1967 that we protect oil reserves in the Middle East from Soviet influence. Now, we have a new threat, the Chinese. But, I'm sure all that doesn't concern you, since your SUV gets pretty good gas mileage, right?

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:54 AM:Right on the money FRANCIS McINTOSH JR. We want it all, yet pay nearly nothing for it. Or some feel free is even better. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 6:57 AM:"Luminaries as Al Franken, Paul Hackett and master speaker Howard Dean." I'm guessing DELORES FEICHT believes George Bush is Hitler too. Al Franken, luminous? Please.....

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 7:02 AM:Hey Guiseppi, per Chris Pulse:"The Swastika was turned into a symbol of all that was to be abhorred by the Nazis, and I feel that the same thing has happened to the cross under the Christians." And you were saying what about Nazi's vs. Fascism. Seems like your Comrade buddy Chris, needs a little help here. How's that new tin-foil hat coming?

No name today wrote on Jul 21, 2006 7:19 AM:Gadzooks Garza! Being human and poor is no excuse to steal. I grew up in Encinitas about two miles from a store. We did not have a car. We carried our groceries or pulled them in a wagon we BORROWED from a neighbor [asking first, then returning after use] BTW the people I've seen pushing grocery carts along the sidewalk are able young people, not oldsters. As for the city placing all the responsibility on the store owner, I will look foreward to the lawsuit that says unless the city will take the theft of private property seriously enough to have police stop and arrest/cite the thief, then a $1000 fine for the property owner is not warranted. Depending on the size of the store, those stolen carts represent upwards from $10,000 yearly loss. That is tacked onto the cost of everyone's groceries, as will the $1000 fine, so the cart thief is stealing from us all. According to the Food Marketing Institute in Washington, D.C., annual losses total more than $15 million in California. That is $15 million passed on to the consumer through higher prices. This is something that tends to be a phenomenon in California. It floors people that it's such a problem here. Excuse me if I point out that CA is home to between 2 and 6 million illegal aliens. They see so much wealth and assume that it is free for the taking. And that opinion is shared by Garrulous Garza the Robin Hood of grocery carts. [steal from the rich, give to the poor]

Ridiculous, Hypocritical, Pathetic Nina wrote on Jul 21, 2006 7:58 AM: Your 15 minutes of fame ended about 15 minutes ago. Go back under your rock. PLEASE. How RIDICULOUS that you have appointed yourself chief advocate for the ACLU encouraging parents to report anything but a godless society. How HYPOCRITICAL that you are the new advocate for charter schools as well. And how PATHETIC that you think parents of school aged children would look to you for any so called “wisdom” that you might pass on. Now everyone please join me in a hearty GOODBYE NINA!

Confression wrote on Jul 21, 2006 8:24 AM:I have broken the law. Because of this, I admit that I should give up all rights. I should be thrown out of my rented apartment and find a way to live on the street. I should not be allowed to work. Even in an emergency, I should be turned away by urgent care hospital units. I should just go away and die.

Problem with the wager wrote on Jul 21, 2006 8:44 AM:Harris Mullen's reason for choosing Christianity is interesting. First, it's completely selfish: I'm going this way because the payoff to me is better. Very un-Christian. But the real problem with this reasoning, going back to Pascal, at least, is that if you base your choice on outcome, and there are many competing views, you pick the one that pays off most. For example, if I were told that that the universe is created and run by the man in the moon, and Moon-god says that if I believe in him I will, without doing anything else differently, spend eternity feeling completely at ease, alternating with feeling in love...well, sign me up...what if this is true? How could I turn it down? Or, worse, what if I'm told that Moon-god insists that I believe in him or spend eternity having my toenails pulled off? No brainer! Sign me up. The worse the punishment proposed, the more reason to believe in whatever they say. No thanks.

Gottawonder wrote on Jul 21, 2006 8:49 AM:Re. your 6:46 AM post, well said, Ron. Thanks.

"Godless Liberal" wrote on Jul 21, 2006 9:07 AM:Actually, I'm not sure if there is some kind of supreme being or not, but that's what some half-witted right wingers like to call folk like me. You see, I'm Godless because I don't believe in capital punishment, I don't think any child should go hungry or without medical care -- or for that matter -- any adult, I do believe that someone in agony and facing death within days should be allowed to choose death a bit sooner, I believe the homeless should have a place to bathe and sufficient food to eat, I hate war and those who make them, but hope our young who have to fight them will not be blown to bits. You people who believe in some "kind" old man who burns and tortures people for all eternity because they don't believe in him are welcome to your "religion." I'll take a kinder, gentler reality. And I can certainly do without those like Junius and Ron.

To Confression wrote on Jul 21, 2006 9:11 AM:Good luck with that.

Mike America wrote on Jul 21, 2006 9:15 AM:To Ron; Although I agree with most of what I've read, I don't usually read your posts,(too long)and can't imagine why you'd waste your time bickering with a miserable left wing kook like Guiseppe. But I've have to agree with Gottawonder, your 6:46am post was right on point, and succinct.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 9:22 AM:Hear, Hear, I'm with WILLIAM D. HIDALGO on many of his points, but I depart on the idea that Democrats, or moderates will do a better job in restraining spending. Every time you flip on the TV, some Democrat is crying that were not spending enough. Their only option, EVER, is to go after the wealthy, steal it, and in Robin Hoodlum like fashion, & give to people who don't want to get up before noon. Yesterday, my day started at 5:30am, and didn't end until 12:30am this morning. It's called "Earning a Living." Like my Dad used to tell me, "In everything in life, you gotta have want to." If you don't want to work for it, not my problem. Don't go ask ol' Teddy, or Johnnie (Kerry) to stick a gun in my face, and hand it over. I said it before, it would be far better for you, as an individual to get a better job, than to write your Congressman for a paultry $40 a week increase. $40 is not going to change your life in any significant way, and sets you up to believe this is the only way you can better your own personal situation. It is ghetto, and plantation mentality. While your out there begging your "massa" for a few crumbs, these guys are ever increasing their standard of living. In the mean time, you get no healthcare, no retirement, and no self-respect. And God help you if you honestly believe I'm describing only Republicans. 40 years of power proved, the Democrat's are in no itching hurry to help you either. Just like ol' Carlo Rossi talking about his wine, they just love to talk about it. (That last one, was for those old enough to remember Carlo's commercials.)

Worth a repeat wrote on Jul 21, 2006 9:45 AM:to Ignore Ron wrote on July 20, 2006 6:22 PM:"I just wanted to thank you. I have been skipping everything Ron writes and it's quite nice. Great idea."

GI Joe wrote on Jul 21, 2006 9:50 AM:Ron: Your TFH is on backwards. Al Franken, Paul Hackett and master speaker Howard Dean are better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick, whereas Rush, O'Rilley and Co. give most people the screaming heebie-jeebies.

Just out of curiosity to Harris Mullen wrote on Jul 21, 2006 10:05 AM:Would you accept the same argument if offered by an environmentalist in a discussion on global warming? If there is global warming and we do nothing we die, and if there is not global warming and we take action anyway, we've lost nothing?

Transcript wrote on Jul 21, 2006 10:36 AM:From Daily Kos, of Chris Matthews talking to Pat Buchanan: QUOTE MATTHEWS: I just wonder, Pat, about just the simple history. We know from looking at the Arab world as we've come to understand it, that there is this division there among the Shia who are on the outs and are becoming to be the ins, of course, in Iraq and certainly already control Iran. Taking on the Sunnis that's a world we are only vaguely understanding. That's a thousand year old war. Do you think we are creating another thousand year war by killing so many Arabs? I've been afraid of this war from day one because I've always felt, based on history, every time you kill somebody, you've got his brother, his mother, his family coming back to get you. We've killed 50,000 Iraqi's in a war that was supposed to be a two-day wonder. When are we going to notice that the neocons don't know what they're talking about. They're not looking at this country's long term interest. They're bound up in regional and global ideology and they have had no experience, I'll say it again, in even a school yard fight. They don't know what physical fighting is all about. They went to school and were intellectuals but they want our government to be their big brother. I don't get it. I don't know why we keep falling for it. And the president, you say, is he free of these guys or not? And from Pat Buchanan: Are these people nuts? You've got to ask yourself. I certainly hope the president is not listening to them because I really question whether they've got America's national interest at heart. They're calling for wars against people that never attacked us. I don't care how bad they are. There are wicked people all over this world but you don't go after people unless they come after you. ENDQUOTE

Charterian wrote on Jul 21, 2006 11:02 AM:To Ms. Sugawara. As soon as you and the ACLU are gone from this incident that you've created, the prayer will be back. Hopefully, by that time, the law will be under it's correct interpretation, and the WHOLE first amendment will be taken into account. Thankyou for all of the trouble you have caused, and I hope that some day you actually read the Constitution before you offer advice to others on how to use it to protect themselves.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 11:03 AM:Now that is patriotism!!!! MILTON GALE opposes the war policy, but is willing to serve in Iraq. God Bless you Sir! Now, that is supporting the troops!

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 11:22 AM:The luminous Howard Dean On Iraq:“The idea that we are going to win this war is an idea that unfortunately is just plain wrong.” End Quote Dean's loyalites are obvious, he recently gave his support to groups like Code Pink, who protest outside Army hospitals, and support the likes of Cindy Sheehan who calls insurgents "Freedom fighters", and has made the comparision of them to our founders. Dean should read a little more Thomas Paine: "Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered … The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. We have it in our power to begin the world over again. Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself - that is my doctrine. He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 11:31 AM:Paul Hackett obviously used the John Kerry method of serving his country. He served, but opposed the policy. Like Kerry, he needed the "War Hero" mantle to solidify his stance. He opposed the war before the U.S. invasion and remains a harsh critic of President Bush's policy there, however his campaign ads for congress prominently feature president Bush, he is the first thing you see in the ad, followed quickly by Hackett saying he agreed. I don't know, but sounds an awful like: "I voted for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." What a phoney!!!!

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 11:41 AM:And Al Franken? Really? Are you kidding me? He wasn't even good on Saturday Night Live.

AlegalAlien wrote on Jul 21, 2006 11:47 AM:Don't worry Claudia, Escondido won't need a new school once we stop renting to illegal aliens. Children of citizens will get a better education because our schools will be less crowded so we won't even need a new school in the urban core. They are going to need those shopping carts to help them move, though.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 11:58 AM:"Godless Liberal" wrote: ".... You people who believe in some "kind" old man who burns and tortures people for all eternity because they don't believe in him are welcome to your "religion." I'll take a kinder, gentler reality." End Quote All I can say is: Thank God you live in America, where you can slam the door in my face when I come "a Bible thumping" in your neighborhood. Cause in the Middle East, it would be at the point of a gun. Which one do you prefer? Your wrong, of course, as you'd prefer murderers to live out their life with 3 hots & a cot, I don't. And your right, no child, or anyone should go without food or healthcare. It's just not my job to provide it. Kids have parents, people have families, and there are plenty of charitable organizations around to provide it. No arguement on suicide, guns are plentiful, no need to ask me to help, or a doctor, for that matter. Plenty of tall buildings, too, by the way. The homeless does have a place to eat and bathe, it's called the Salvation Army. And if you don't like war, and THOSE who make war, then along with Bush, should be Roosevelt, Lincoln, Truman, Kennedy, and LBJ burning in that hell, you don't believe in.

To Charterian wrote on Jul 21, 2006 12:01 PM:Our country would be in a world of hurt without the ACLU. The people that know the least about our constitution and The Bill of Rights denigrate the ACLU only because they want everyone to believe and act like themselves--like they're the ultimate specimen of a human being. I'd assume they would happily have us all be Christian conservatives. By the way folks--the ACLU IS NOT A LIBERAL ORGANIZATION as you seem to always claim. The ACLU is absolutely required for a democratic nation to function with fairness to all. As we've seen with religious conservatives--the Bible would be incorporated into the Constitution, our schools and workplaces--how insecure can they be. Hey out there--we are not all Christians. If your prayers are as powerful as you claim--try praying for peace or something constructive--even though those prayers have failed throughout the centuries.

To Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 12:11 PM:Wasn't Nelson Mandela considered a Terrorist by the likes of you and the Afrikaaners. People, including our government, give their 'enemies' labels only for the purpose of spin (otherwise known as propaganda). Have we forgotten that George Washington was a terrorist to King George. You don't have to think too hard to come up with many famous terrorists.

Ron wrote on Jul 21, 2006 12:26 PM:For those of you who listen to Air America, I just heard ol' Big Eddie say he's concerned with Howard Dean's new outreach program in the midwest. He's worried that ol' Howard will send some college kids door to door in Iowa, and upset all the farmers there. He's right! I can see it now.... these kids come to the door of a middle aged, bible belt farmer, all tattoo'd out, piercing all over, bright red hair, probably in a mohawk, pants off the behind. Telling the farmer he needs to vote for the people their supporting, the Democrats!!!! Ida get the gun!!!!!! Now, that's funny!!! But that's their base. Go get em' Howard!!!! He's the best thing that ever happened to the Republican party!

Still no name wrote on Jul 21, 2006 12:40 PM:In response to Claudia Foster [What's the Lowe down?} You are so correct. I remember hearing that the two school districts are the biggest employer in Escondido. [total of over 25,000 students] Though of course they don't pay property taxes or generate sales tax, they do contribute to the economy of the city. And putting a school at a core location like the K-Mart property would bring shoppers to the area. But not to place all the blame on the city fathers/mothers -- the high school board has no guts or they would use eminent domain to take that property. They'd rather beat up on home owners and quiet neighborhoods. BTW how many of you bloggers have ever attended a EUHSD school board meeting? Do you know that section BB9320[a] of the EUHSD Bylaws states that: "A notice of each regular meeting shall be mailed to any person who has filed with the Board a written request for such notice. Requests are valid for one yar from the date filed unless renewed." That is in compliance with Government Code 54954.1 You can also see a copy of the agenda at the city library, the Chamber of Commerce, and the District Office. But nothing like having it come to your house. You will become a better informed, more alert and savvy citizen if you use the tools that our legislators have created for you. If you don't .... well, it will just be the sameoldsameold. 7211239p

To GLEN HODSON wrote on Jul 21, 2006 12:48 PM:I thoroughly enjoy your english lessons. I hear people use the phrases you've cited as examples, and I find this subject amusing, but also sad. Why is society becoming more and more illiterate? I hear poor grammar on a daily basis. I look forward to your next lesson.

Jules wrote on Jul 21, 2006 12:51 PM:What is the point anymore? The Ron's of the world will go on and nothing even truth and proof will not change thier minds. There are just some people who hate everything and everyone who disagrees with thier dimentia. I personally gave up reading his long winded crud. I just see that he is still with us (sigh).

Guiseppi = wrote on Jul 21, 2006 12:59 PM:…Gottawonder asked (Jul 20, 2:37PM) if ‘a gazillion pages of regulations’ is part of the neo-fascist takeover in Amerika. You bet it is! Here are but three example: (1) --the so-called Patriot Act (anti-America act), well over one hundred pages and passed on October 26, 2001, only six weeks after the events that prompted it—is the longest piece of emergency legislation passed in the shortest period in all of American history. It was written so comprehensively in such a short time, that we know it was by a cadre of schemers long before 9-11, who simply bided their time until they could take advantage of the right peak of fear and hysteria. This was the greatest evisceration of citizens rights in the 330 year history of the nation, a Draconian shift toward Fascism in our nation. (2) --Then the pharmaceutical corporate schemers got into the act with their with their over 1,100 page Medicare Prescription Drug Act in Oct. 2003, in which Duke Cunningham played a scurrilous role in the House. This bill, was the greatest heist of American treasury ever, presented as $365 billion over 10 years, but now estimated to cost taxpayers over $750 billion. This is a grand theft from the pockets of taxpayers to the pharmaceutical industry. A bill written by them and for them, guaranteed to keep health and medical cost ever spiraling upwards. If the anti-American Patriot act was a fascists dream, the Medicare Prescription Act was their wet dream. (3) -- But then came their most orgiastic act, the Energy Act of last year, 1,724 pages long, with pork, fat and largess for every corporate interest imaginable. This was beyond a Fascist’s wet dream - it was their Bacchanalian orgy. It was written by the energy industry, already drowning in the most obscene profits in its history billions of dollars in subsidies and tax breaks, including $2.9 billion for the coal industry. The highway bill set new standards for monstrous and indefensibly wasteful spending, with Congress allocating $100,000 for a single traffic light in Canoga Park, California, and $223 million for the construction of a bridge linking the mainland an Alaskan island with a population of just fifty. So, Gottawonder, we all gotta wonder who is bankrupting the country: is it the working people, the dwindling middle class, the poor, the people of America -- OR is it the avaricious corporate interests. Notice, I haven’t addressed the most monstrous of the Fascist powers, the military-industrial interests. So, to answer your question, Mr. Gottawonder, Fascism has taken control of America. November will be the last possible change for the people of this nation to regain our country. (20Jul-7:12PM) (21jul-12:59)

Guiseppi = wrote on Jul 21, 2006 1:16 PM:Some of the best election hackers are in the classroom of a professor at Johns Hopkins University, learning things that programmers for the casinos already know, but about which our county voter registrars know very little. And, of course, the casinos aren't about to share their secrets with Michael Haas or any other election official. So the election hackers are learning the tricks of the trade in our universities. These brilliant student geeks learn how software within electronic voting machines can be corrupted with malicious code squirreled away in images on the touch screen. When activated with a specific series of voting choices, the rogue program tip the results of a precinct toward a certain candidate. Then the program would disappear WITHOUT A TRACE! Not a scintilla of evidence. Dr. Aviel D. Rubin, professor at Johns Hopkins, has given several demonstrations of how easy his students can hack into election software and make malicious changes in election results. It might seem unusual to teach computer security through hacking, but a lot of what Professor Rubin does is unusual. He has become the face of a growing revolt against high-technology voting systems. I recommend you GOOGLE his name to see what is really going on out their to subvert our democracy and how we can protect the integrity of our voting system.

Ditto to Glen Hodson wrote on Jul 21, 2006 1:25 PM:Thanks for caring enough about clarity of communication to give a lesson on proper English. You can make the letter longer [250 words] I think that there is a need for a regular column. Crowded schools have pushed a lot of useful things out of the classroom. CA teaches 1/3 of the nation's English Language Learners. Many are in regular classrooms. I'm no expert - long time out of school -- but catch errors in print and on radio/tv all the time. So please write again. 721125p

GeneO wrote on Jul 21, 2006 1:35 PM:I just have to respond to the letter to editor from Merrill Brown, as seen in friday's paper 7 18. I was dumb founded to read that some dumb dumb idiots have deduced, the ole time cartoons are somehow harmfull to our young ones. I too grew up on these cartoons and I wasn't adversely effected. Nor was anyone I know or knew. But I'll bet your boots the garbage cartoons that I pass by on the TV now do adversely affect the young. Makes kids think that there is no harm in slamming each other or shooting each other, as they will just bounce back for more. Good show Merrill and NC Times for printing it.

Jules to to Glen Hodson wrote on Jul 21, 2006 1:44 PM:It is called the dumbing down of America, and our President speaks like that. Read transcripts of his comments at the G8 Summit. And he is lauded as just a regular guy. When Kerry was runnning against Bush the GOP kept making references to his intelligance as being one of the elite liberals that just dont understand regular Americans. This was meant as a slam. Apparently Americans do not care for book learnin and such.

Genesis was right: it WAS the serpent! wrote on Jul 21, 2006 1:55 PM:QUOTE An evolutionary arms race between early snakes and mammals triggered the development of improved vision and large brains in primates, a radical new theory suggests. The idea, proposed by Lynne Isbell, an anthropologist at the University of California, Davis, suggests that snakes and primates share a long and intimate history, one that forced both groups to evolve new strategies as each attempted to gain the upper hand. To avoid becoming snake food, early mammals had to develop ways to detect and avoid the reptiles before they could strike. Some animals evolved better snake sniffers, while others developed immunities to serpent venom when it evolved. Early primates developed a better eye for color, detail and movement and the ability to see in three dimensions—traits that are important for detecting threats at close range. ENDQUOTE (from LiveScience.com)

Hub wrote on Jul 21, 2006 2:07 PM:Ron, I loved your 6:14am quote: "Like I said the otherday, no nuclear, no fossil fuel, no natural gas, no dams, no wind power, no, no, no.... You can't make these kook's happy, JOSEPH ANTHONY. If taken all together, they say no to the modern life. While other countries move forward, these clowns think reducing, is the right way to go." You are so right. You can't make the left happy when it comes to economic growth and the health of our economy / nation. The "alternative energy" suggestion is nothing but a sham. If we did convert, they would make it a point to find something wrong with it as well and again say we have to find another way. In regards to your point that they say "no to the modern life": I always felt they had something in common with the anti-Western jihad-terrorist-8th century crowd. Maybe that's why the left has a soft spot in their heart for them.

Godless Liberal wrote on Jul 21, 2006 2:21 PM:Ron: You're hopeless. I don't know why you brought up where I live, and those places where I couldn't speak my mind about religion. Do you think a liberal is anti-American? BTW - I have lived in other (European) countries. People speak their minds there, also -- and many scoff at religion as well. Go sit in your corner and pout - and learn the difference between thief's and thieves --thieves is correct for plural, thief's is possessive singular. You don't spell very well, either, which leads me to believe you may be kind of hard up for money -- no good job -- so that's why you are selfish.

Jules wrote on Jul 21, 2006 2:45 PM:Come on HUB, get a grip on reality I am so tired of the Right saying the left is in love with terrorists, just because we know our Administration has lied about virtually everything and we point it out and back it up, you revert to the old gradeschool tactic of saying we are traitors. reality those who sit back and accept our President with his lies and dogma are the ones who are traitors to the American people. Just feel free to starve and suffocate future generations for your own profit. And you say liberals are godless, look into the mirror boys.

Hub wrote on Jul 21, 2006 3:33 PM:Jules, I didn't say that the left is "in love with terrorists". I know the left isn't. But, the left and Muslim terrorists have few indirect and unintended shared world views (recall the phrase: the enemy of my enemy is my friend). But, you folks fail to understand how dangerous they are. You seem to give them the benefit of the doubt at every turn. Why? I truly do not get it. Here we are again: Hezbollah lobbing missiles into northern Israel. Israel responds and kicks butt. And now, for some reason, the left blames Israel. Why? If the left does not understand now that the Muslim fanatics do not want peace - only absolute destruction of Israel - then they NEVER will. It is becoming clear the left has (for many many years) this fantastic vision of peace, but you just simply cannot have peace with these savages. Enlighten me.

Help I 'm Really Confused wrote on Jul 21, 2006 3:38 PM:The last I heard, we were in Iraq to save the Iraqis and bring them order and democracy. Yet this just came out on the Associated Press: QUOTE EL PASO, Texas - Four U.S. soldiers accused of murdering suspected insurgents during a raid in Iraq said they were under orders to "kill all military age males," according to sworn statements obtained by The Associated Press.ENDQUOTE So are the Iraquis our enemies? Are they the people we are saving? Do we have even a clue as to what we're doing there?

Jules to all hawks wrote on Jul 21, 2006 3:44 PM:This is from Rosa Brooks column in today's L.A. times There is a phrase atttributed to Plato on the wall of the British Imperial war museum that says- "Only the dead have seen the end of the war"

If we were superheroes wrote on Jul 21, 2006 3:56 PM:we'd be the Hulk, big dumb and destructive. I liked Superman and Batman, myself. Strike with cunning, effectively, and minimize damage. Since our whole economy, it seems sometimes, is based on spending for military awe-power, we seem to think that shock and awe are the one solution to every problem. A few hundred terrorists plotting against us in Afghanistan? Level the country! It's dumb. It produces more enemies (which, one might argue, the right loves...it keeps them in power and keeps the great profits coming...one could argue that it's the right that loves terrorists). It kills thousands of innocent people. It's immoral, violating all principles of what makes a "just war". And so far, in ever case, it's also failed. Seems hard to justify to me. But if the right only sees two options, all out war or sing kumbaya with the enemy, it's a no brainer. But there are other options...some that might actually be effective.

Jules to Hub wrote on Jul 21, 2006 4:11 PM:I guess what I fail to understand is why all of us, Left and right lump everone into boxes. I do not agree with all liberal ideals and I damn sure do not a