Open Questions to my Conservative Friends

So G5, you german engilsh half breed. Stop trying to infiltrate us with your trash culture. We don't want it.

"There is no truth. There is only perception."

-Gustave Flaubert

you may have misunderstood part of my post. I was not attempting in invalidate any of your sources or research. I am merely stating that conservatives surely have as many viewpoints validating their stance as you do validating yours. It all depends on which source each of us chooses to believe.

To Guillermo's point from the research I can say that when I was in school conservative teachers definately tried to get us to believe what they believed while most moderate and liberal teachers let us decide what we wanted to believe.

I had a professor that said in class one day that anyone who watched anything other than Fox News was an idiot.

I also had a professor that was a socialist. He told us that on the first day of classes and never mentioned it again. He never tried to convince us his was the right ideology. All he would tell us was that no matter what ideology you decide to follow know the facts, don't just jump into without researching.

Another professor who was moderate said in class one day that those who try to push their beliefs down other peoples throats usually didn't know what they were talking about.

That is just my experience. I welcome you MrsSmith, G5, sam, and justin to now tell me just how wrong I was. That I was brainwashed and all that good stuff.

G.I. I truly appreciate your diligence in your research. As posted in one of our earlier exchanges, we both could find numerous sources to validate our point of view. Your research begs the question: how do you find so much time for so much research?

The reality of the present financial crisis worldwide indicates a failure of leadership; as individuals first and foremost.

Greed, the desire for ever more material wealth, is the underlying cause of our present crisis. And in my experience, far more greed has been exhibited by right wing folks who claim their right to material gain as followers of Christ.

There is nothing liberal or conservative about "Love one another as I have loved you."

But during the previous administration, Bush did claim guidance from conversations with God. Scary.

Look where it got us.

My prayer remains, "Jesus, save me from your followers."

If the far "Christian" Right, which controls the Republican party, were half the Christians they claim to be, they would be reaching across the aisles in our federal, state, and local government.

Rather, they raise millions upon millions to try to force their beliefs on the general public when issues such as abortion, welfare, etc are the direct result of organized religions failure to live up to their mission as stated by Jesus Christ and other religious prophets/leaders.

Rather than use their resources to help others, they want tax dollars to accomplish their mission.

What happened to "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's."?

Paying taxes is what we do in a free society to pay for things like roads, law enforcement, fire departments, etc.

The state stepped in the welfare areas simply because many Christian and other religions failed to do what their Spiritual fathers commissioned them to do.

Volunteer to help the helpless, donate to causes which help people (Smile Train is a favorite of mine), support religions which practice their Spiritual heritage rather than raising millions (perhaps billions) for political causes.

Our present predicament is based on the greed of materialists, many of whom hide behind far right "Christian" organizations. I like a warm, dry home, clean, decent clothes to wear, food to fill my stomach, a movie now and then, the freedom to travel once in awhile, decent health care, and all that. But I don't need a McMansion, a terrorist supporting SUV, as many clothes as I have, as much food as I eat, etc. Down to almost the poorest of the poor in this great land of ours, we have so much more than over 90% of the rest of the people on the planet.

Rather than support our parents who raised us, many in my generation are converting their parents assets to their own accounts and putting their parents on welfare to let the state support them. The cost to taxpayers is staggering. Our parents have earned a decent old age, but their assets should pay for their care as far as possible, then let family, religious groups, and the state foot the bill in that order.

Rather than live within their means and supports themselves with part-time jobs while in college, many students are on welfare/food stamps. Higher education should be earned, not viewed as a right given on a golden platter with golden dishes and flatware.

What happened to self reliance in this great country?

As an unapologetic liberal on social issues, live and let live, I am concerned about the corporate and individual welfare that has existed in this country for years, the corporate welfare being a mainstay of the Republican party long before the bailouts began and a much larger percentage of most government budgets than individual welfare.

No one on Earth is worth more than $250,000 per year corporate or government salary, probably not even half that amount.

Those who own their own businesses are entitled to what profit their business generates less a reasonable tax to pay for the social costs to make the business environment possible.

Greed for material possessions is what has gotten us in this mess. Capitalism is a great social system, I fully support it, unchecked Capitalism results in the mess we are now experiencing.

Just how many abortions could have been avoided had right wing religionists had used their financial resources to provide alternatives to abortion rather than funding political battles to change the law? WWJD? Legal or illegal, abortions happen, always have, always will.

Just how many families would have grown through crisis had funds used to fight for "traditional marriage" been used to promote healthy families? Just how can civil "Gay Marriage" erode an institution which has a 50% (or more) failure rate among the straight set?

Just how much good would have been done had those who constantly condemn public education actually volunteered and used their energy to enhance public education? For all it's shortcomings, public education in this country does an amazing job considering the financing and mandates it receives.

After eight years of Bush's failed policies what more does it take to convince the far Right they are wrong? (Just as the far Left is.)

When Jesus returns, just how many preachers, priest, bishops, etc will he throw out into the streets to clean out what is supposed to be his house so He can then use the churches for true charitable uses rather than monuments to materialism?

Would Jesus waterboard?

Mike, you said, "MrsSmith, do you really expect me to take you seriously with the whole brainwashing thing? I have been out of college for years and I have become more liberal not more conservative. And exactly when did I resort to name calling? Point it out to me."

(You know, if you answered us in separate posts, it would help...if you really want answers.)

You said, "I love that YOU conservatives think that you have the moral high ground on everything so much that you can degrade and insult anyone who doesn't agree with you at all.

MrsSmith, you talk of us liberals (and you aren't the only one) as being brainwashed. Why do you hate America so much that only one side can be in charge of this country."

As this was the first reply (I saw) to a post that answered all your questions...and you addressed exactly nothing I said, it seemed you were really only interested in calling names.

And you, of course, have only become more liberal because you are still in college. That move from student side to teacher side seems to solidify the leftist bent...a fact made clear by every survey of college faculties. In truth, it seems that conservatives are routinely turned away from college teaching positions. Less than 5% of college faculty is conservative, you know.

Hi, Guillermo. You asked, "Two questions MrsSmith: 1)Is the University of Nebraska at Lincoln one of these liberal brainwashing colleges; 2) Why is what is true for your life, better than what it true for mine?"

As you are evidence for the University of Nebraska, it does seem to be a normal college...that is to say, 95% of the faculty is Democratic, and at least 25% of them believe that they are responsible for pushing their politics in class. (If you doubt the numbers, they are easy to confirm online. I may have actually understated...I believe it's actually 97% of college professors that are Democrats.)

And as for "what's true..." Truth is a singular. There can be many, many opinions on any given theory or incident, but there is only one truth. Truth is the same thing for all lives.

Mike,

I'm afraid you're wrong again. The New Deal and its success or lack therof is absolutely debatable. If it wasn't then economists wouldn't still be debating the issue. Wait a minute! People are still debating this issue despite your declaration of no debate?! The nerve of some people. You say you think the rise in 1938 is attributed to the scaling back of the New Deal and other economists believe it was the increase in the reserve requirement that hindered lending and led to the deflationary course we had before. Whatever you believe, it's still very much debatable.

I think you're confusing complacency with feeling safe. I remember media covering Pearl Harbor Day in 2000 and the interviews with soldiers and nurses who were in Hawaii on that day. Their stories of shock and horror really kept that lesson alive. When 9/11 happened, it'd only been 8 years since the first WTC attack, 6 years since the Oklahoma City bombing and less than 7 months since President Bush dedicated the Oklahoma City Memorial. I'd say our vulnerabilities were still fresh in our minds. We may have felt safe at the time but we did not forget. You underestimate the American people to a point I've never seen before. It is our right to feel safe on our own soil and I don't think we should be chastised for it.

All the hijackers are dead? Really?! What about the ones who were caught planning to crash planes into buildings on the East and West Coasts after 9/11 or the ones who were planning to do the same at Heathrow Airport in London? That doesn't even take into account the attack on the Brooklyn Bridge or the dirty bomb attack. I know this is a complicated concept but try to follow here. When you catch the terrorist BEFORE they can attack then you can take them alive. Amazing how that works. No one dies, bad guys lose, America wins, parades should ensue. People rarely stop to think that if we prevented 9/11, the media would have given it a day or two of intermittent coverage and we never would have heard of it again. I think the men and women who prevent these attacks should be hoisted up and celebrated as the heroes they truly are ,whenever possible, but that's not what happens, unfortunately. I also surmised that maybe you were just trying your hand at cleverness about catching dead people. Better luck next time.

GI,

Wow! I'm an extremist now?! Really? If you follow my posts you would know I don't usually go to the satirical imagery but it was just an experiment to see if the response would be focused to the subject matter in question or the satire. Good job, Guillermo. You responded overwhelmingly to the imagery of Obama in diapers and only fleetingly mentioned the subject of the actual post itself. I'm finding that for as much as you complain about how conservatives go to extremes, you keep taking the bait. I'd also be lying if I said I didn't have a little fun with it too. So sue me and take away my intellectual license to blog.

I get giddy over how over the past few years certain conservatives and republicans couldn't say democrat without saying nazi and yet here we are now with those same republicans say they are tired of nazi comparisons when it is thrown at their face.

Here's the nasty little truth that Republicans have been trying to rewrite since the Nazi regime. When you look down to the nuts and bolts of the ideologies (this is the far right of the party not the more centrist) there really isn't that much different.

The only reason someone wouldn't want to learn lessons from the past is the same person who calls a liberal a Nazi. They don't understand or care about the past. They like to say that the New Deal did absolutely nothing when in fact, unemployment went down every year save one under FDR before the war almost completely wiped out unemployment. The year it went up was 1938 when the Republican majority convinced FDR to roll back his programs. Republicans don't like to admit that so they just change history and say that the New Deal did nothing. It's dangerous to change history to fit your ideological mind and dare I say irresponsible.

Yesterday was the 14th Anniversary of the worst domestic terrorist attack on American soil. I didn't see one channel reckognize that fact.The parties responsible were paranoid about the government and what they were going to do. History has a way of repeating itself and I'll make a prediction that at the rate those on the extreme right are headed there will be another domestic terrorist attack. History repeats itself.

In 1941, Americans felt like we were untouchable because we were a world away from everyone else. Then we were bombed at Pearl Harbor. Sixty years later we were once again feeling untouchable because we were a world away from everyone else, then 9/11 happened. Funny how history repeated itself and damned us because we had forgotten the lessons of the past.

GI,

I sure hope he's serious. His other meetings with Republicans have been nothing more than show for the press but maybe this one is different. Let's hope he's finally realized how numbers work. Especially, the tough concept that, the more you spend now means you have to pay back more in the future.

The group of leaders we have now are just about the same as what we had in 8 years of Bush except there are more people with D's next to their name than R's and a new President. We still have leaders who like to spend other people's money without review or debate. Oh yes, we're light years ahead alright. It's just too bad the future isn't looking too bright though.

Wow McCook you answered the question the way I expected you to, saying it won't happen. Thanks for keeping that meme going.

MrsSmith, do you really expect me to take you seriously with the whole brainwashing thing? I have been out of college for years and I have become more liberal not more conservative. And exactly when did I resort to name calling? Point it out to me.

What amazes me McCook is that before Obama has even been in office 100 days you have given up on him. You expected me and those like me to give Bush chance after chance for eight years. I did. He left Afghanistan to go fight a war in Iraq that had nothing to do with what we were fighting for. I still gave him a chance to give us honest answers about why we were in Iraq. He chose to lie. I gave him a chance when we starting catching terrorists to get answers. He resorted to torture that has been proven doesn't give answers, including torturing a man close to 200 times and got no answers. I gave him chance after chance as our country was facing hard times and hard decisions and he was in Crawford vacationing.

I finally gave up on Bush when Katrina hit Louisiana. When he was too busy getting a guitar in California to even pay attention. When he was told days before the hurrican hit that the levees would be topped and sat there staring. By the way the was well into his second term. I at least gave Bush a chance. You McCook1, justin, sam, mrssmith, and g5 are so intent on him failing that no matter what he does you find fault with it.

I would tell you to get on with your life and quit whining, but I'm not sure you know how. You guys aren't very good losers.

Mike, Mike, Mike...you still resort to calling names instead of addressing issues. **sigh**

Not only do I think that innocent teens are brainwashed by liberals in colleges, I have proof of it. My husband teaches in a college, and has seen it happen to his students any number of times. To top that, I've seen comments from other college professors on discussion boards who brag about "getting hold of dumb kids" and "teaching" them how to think "the correct way."

Still, as life happens, many of those so brainwashed do grow out of it through life experience. Many then do what I did, read and study some of those topics no longer allowed in the "free inquiry" colleges and public schools. Many even read enough history to understand what was not taught by their professors.

And many, like myself, have outgrown the elitist attitude of so many "educated" liberals and come to embrace the Truth.

Sorry to break with the pattern but I would like to make a comment on the original post. After skimming the comments I can think of only two people who actually responded and good for them. However, does anyone here actually believe those questions where asked in good faith wanting an answer? Someone pointed out (and I agree) any of these questions, or at least thier intent, can just as easily be reversed towards Liberals and would be just as ridiculous.

And really Mike how can you sleep at night when making comments like:

"Wow sam I see you too have been bitten by the 'assume all liberals believe in it' bug."? Doesn't your original post come from the "assume all Conservatives believe in it" school of political theory? The hypocrisy of some of the bloggers and most of the responders on these forums amazes even me. Sad.

Guillermo,

I am most heartily sorry for you. I'm sure the liberal brainwashing must have damaged you badly. I hope you grow up and discover reality at some point. Blessings.

MrsSmith, if you honestly read the memos that the Obama Administration and came to the conclusion that we didn't torture than I believe you are truly living in a fantasy world.

McCook1 if you can honestly think that water boarding is a walk in the park then I believe you are truly living in a fantasy world and pray to God that you are never truly waterboarded. Waterboarding is bureaucracy? Really?

I previewed a movie on Hitler last night that I will be showing my History classes today. I truly believe that old line of "Those who forget that past are damned to repeat it" and it truly struck me that a lot of the rhetoric that the ss and the storm troopers and Hitler were spewing on a daily basis is very similar to the rhetoric we are seeing today from the extreme right.

I don't throw around comparisons like far right conservatives who compare every liberal to the worst possible people in history, but it was just chilling to hear a lot of the same words we are hearing today from the extremists on the right to the words from the extremists on the right in the 1930s.

I want to ask another question. What happens when everything or most of what Obama actually work? What do you say then? Now I know that question won't be answered because I fully expect just about every one of you to say that he won't succeed so why answer that question, but I would like to know what happens when he is successful, do you continue to attack or do you actually give him credit?

I like that no Democratic president, in your eyes, has ever been legitimately elected, but someone snuck in either by fixing the election or fulling fooling most Americans, while every Republican has been perfectly honest with the American people. Good show.

Michael - I am a bit disappointed that you would attack Joe the plumber. (or wannabe plumber, if you like)

I thought he was the type of guy you on the left wanted to relate too. Democrat State of Ohio Employees used state property to research him. Don't you find that a bit much?

And just how was he discredited?

Because he owed 2k in taxes? Must I remind you of the litany of Obama appointees who screwed up tax wise?

What about Robert Reich telling a congressional committee that he did not want any so-called stimulus money to fall into the hands of white construction workers? Do you think it is okay to target the so-called stimulus money to persons of color only?

Do you have kids Mike? Do you want your government to discriminate against your sons or daughters?

Oh yes, the blindfold. I'm sure it's very uncomfortable. It probably itches and makes things really scary. I forgot they are there to enjoy thmeselves.

I don't recall anything about waterboarding in the Bible. I do recall an eye for an eye, killing Goliath, destroying entire cities and killing children but nothing about waterboarding. I guess only God knows if choking on wet rags is so violent and extreme that it goes against Chrisianity. I can certainly think of worse things that could be done.

Mike,

Those who side with terrorists against America are obviously less patrotic than those who side with America against those that will destroy her.

No one has ever defended torture, because no Americans committed torture. I guess, like most libs, you didn't bother to read the memos. I did. We didn't torture. Releasing those memos tells the terrorists that we didn't torture, and therefore relieves them of all fear of capture. Great work by Pres. Obama, he's handed the terrorist recruiters a great tool.

Pres. Obama was not elected on ignorance. He was elected because a large percentage of the country had been misled as to the reasons and success of the War on Terror, and because many people wanted to prove they were not racist by voting for his skin color.

Pres. Bush earned our respect. Pres. Obama hasn't gotten there, yet.

You said, "Why do you protest against unfair taxes that Obama hasn't even thrust upon you, but you continue to support those businesses that you have to pay taxes because they don't?" I won't answer that one because it makes no sense at all. Think before typing...

I don't assume liberals are godless at all. In fact, I believe they worship multiple gods...the Earth, recycling, global climate change, Al Gore, Pres Obama, money, welfare, etc. I don't care about their blanket statements, either. They can spout their ignorance for everyone to hear!

We've already gone over the non-existance of torture, and I've never made any claim about the Obama Administration refusing to reach out. After all, they can't take my tax money without reaching out.

Who is my leader? Christ.

Why do I show support for Rush? He's funny, he's often right (and correct), and he makes some great points. Why wouldn't we hope that Obama's policies fail? I work in healthcare, and I sincerely hope he doesn't destroy the many, many Christian-owned not-for-profit hospitals by passing FOCA. I sincerely hope he does not destroy America by selling us to China, or Cuba, or any other hostile country. I hope he has enough sense to never again bow to a foreign leader as though America is in subjection to another country.

The only jobs in America that I would never do are those that involve abortion. As we have very few illegals working abortion clinics, it is absolutely untrue to say that they work jobs I would never do. But you go ahead with your blanket statements, and display your ignorance for everyone.

Blame others for my actions? Hahahahahaha...nice try. I don't even have a tax cheat to blame on anyone else.

The difference between tyranny and losing? Tyranny is a form of government. Losing is what is happening to your mind, it would seem...at least judging by the questions about comparing Pres Obama to Hitler (just as though we haven't all heard of ChimpyMcBusHitler). And "upholding and (sic) election result in Minnesota" is highly unlikely for someone posting in McCook...unless it's Guillermo, who seems to be from everywhere except here.

We are ready to become the party of NO more bailouts, NO more pork, NO more entitlement programs because we are smart enough to realize that wars end, but Pres. Obama's budget is the next step to even more eternal entitlement programs. No matter what you do, even if you're head of a huge corporation, the US government will bail you out of every stupid decision!! Why would any person with a brain NOT say NO??

You know, Mike, I was born in 1959. In 1959, the US federal budget included 3x as much spending for defense as for ALL social spending. Last year's budget, even with all the screaming about the war, included 3x as much social spending as defense spending. This will only get worse and worse under Pres. Obama. Not only will this continued spending bankrupt our country, it is unConstitutional...unlike defense spending.

Posted by Guillermo Inglaterra on Sat, Apr 18, 2009, at 3:37 PM "And it is funny you should mention the Andosol solar tower near Seville because I was in Andalusia this past week and I actually saw it for the first time."

Guillermo, how did you end up posting liberal tripe on a tiny newspaper like this one? Are you one of those terribly insecure liberal-types who found this paper by searching the internet for some key phrase, or what?

And how about some hypocrisy with that question...

"haters like G5 and Sam will have a place to go so they can rant and rave where people won't look at them like they are diseased lepers, and then we can all get down to making America great again."

It never ceases to amaze me how much hatred is shown by those of "the party of love and diversity." At least you do know enough to add "again." American was a fantastic country before you and the rest of the liberals decided we needed to "progress" into Europe.

So, G5 you clearly prescribe to the Nazi idea of an Aryan nation and the final solution, using words such as half-breed, yes?

doodle, no I don't take it seriously, but I do find it humorous that the governor talked of secession one day and the next he claimed he was taken out of context, when if you actually listen and read what he said, he was clearly talking secession.

I think some of the people OPENLY talking about secession have a very warped idea of the Civil War.

But it still leads to the question of why some of the same people who called those of us who were , are, and will always be anti-torture NO MATTER what the case (this is real life, not an episode of 24)America haters and anti-American are now eerily quiet or supportive of those people who openly talk about breaking away from the country?

G5, you seriously need to give up the whole birth certificate fantasy a rest. His birth certificate is accurate and real, no matter how many "documents" are pulled from thin air (ala Dan Rather style) he is American. And he did have a background check. Case closed.

I also find it interesting that after the Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the election was over and Bush had won (even though counting was still on-going) Republicans were quick to tell Democrats to quit whining. Yet here we are six months after the election and you are still trying to find ways to force a democratically and fairly elected official out of office. You do realize that if your efforts do succeed Joe Biden will be President and he is more liberal than Obama could ever hope to be.

Simply overturning an election will not put a Republican in the White House.

Seriously I have to ask you guys this, G5, Justin, and Sam you do realize the election is over, right?

Oh and here's a little prediction of what will happen if the Texas President, sorry governor, decides Texas should actually secede from the Union.

Texas secedes, all monies delegated from the Union will cease and be sent to other deserving states, all Union military will be pulled out from the Texas nation. A majority of the citizens (who do not support secession) will apply for and receive immediate citizenship in the United States. Mexico, seeing its chance will claim Texas as a state of Mexico and moves its troops in.

The United States government asks Texas President, Chuck Norris, if they would like assistance. President Norris, politely informs President Obama that they are Texans and don't need help from any liberal yellow bellies. The Texas militia, being far outnumbered and outgunned, quickly surrender to the Mexican army and Texas once again becomes a state of Mexico.

So go ahead Texas, secede and good luck to you.

Dear Guillermo Inglaterra

Yes you are correct that unemployment was low during those years. But unemployment in California has always stayed above National Averages so yes, I would love to here your views on why California's unemployment is always higher then national averages. As far as taxes are concerned I got my data from http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/07taxbu... and I did make an error I was reverencing the wrong year. According to their data (2007 Census) California was ranked 10th in Nation for taxes per capita. I would argue that if California adopted Nebraska laws requiring a balanced budget given their huge deficit, California would have to raise their taxes and take them near the top in taxes per capita. You are completely correct that Schwarzenegger had no choice but to raise taxes, and they will have to raise taxes again. But that's my point exactly. Too much spending i.e. entitlement programs = higher taxes or deficits. And yes the bond market won't touch their bonds. Their rating is lower then any other state. Politicians from both parties will claim, we will tax those rich filthy bastards, and give the rest of you a tax break, just one problem. Like it or not, those rich bastards are Producers, they own the football. Tax them past the tipping point and they take their ball and play on a different playing field. Politicians in Washington will face the same dilemma Schwarzenegger is now. Tax the Corp's lose the jobs = lower tax revenues. Every body pays. Some stimulus may have been needed, most agree. But conservatives don't feel a large portion of the spending will stimulate anything. Sure spending the kind of money they are will boost the economy some now. But make no mistake the bills will come due, and that's a fact. It has been known for some time California was losing businesses and jobs. If you get a chance read this article written by Michael Fumento for Investor Business Daily back in 1992 warning of alarming business exodus from California and why. http://fumento.com/calitaxbattle.html

Californian's wants to enjoy the benefits of their entitlement society they enjoyed and have the rest of the county pay for it.

Those of you that are bashing biofuels take a little time and learn about biofuel from algae. It is a nonfood source wit a lot of promise and is being invested in by big oil.

Keep in mind the Oil companies are not going to go away just because the source changes. They will still be there. And rather we want to admit it or not we need them.

Good discussion, except for the typical bantering of political talking points. ON both sides. Although I am a conservative and a Republican both parties have been quite a disappointment to me. With that said let me point out a few things. The way I got it figured is if you don't know the answer to a problem; look at what hasn't worked and you at least narrow things down a bit. Why follow someone off a cliff when the results didn't work out.

California has been the test tube state for liberal thinking and alternative lifestyles for the last 20 years .They currently rank near the top in unemployment over 11%, They rank 10th in taxes collected per capita, They rank 3rd in deficit spending. The cost of doing business in California is 30% higher then that of Mid Western States due to excessive regulation. Good for us, not so good for them. Why jump off the same cliff they went over head first? Right or wrong, in the global economy we face today is it any wonder why companies move to India. Is this what we all have to look forward to by following the Entitlement, Tax and Spend policies both parties have fervently embraced?

As far as energy, Spain has recently finished the largest solar power plant in the world. It is very impressive. Only a couple of problems, it contains 120,000 solar panels took years to construct and was way over budget. It will produce AT PEAK SUN 20 MW. There are plans to build larger in U.S. up to 45 MW. Palo Verde Nuclear plant in Arizona produces 3,875 MW at peak Hmm 45 MW or 3,875 what shall we do? Yes nuclear might be dangerous I know, so is sending billions of dollars overseas for oil to countries that don't like us and hoping they don't bankrupt our ass. For all we know scientist may finds out that reflecting that much sunlight back up to the atmosphere raises the temp in the upper reaches of the stratosphere causing catastrophic global warming, who the hell knows? What we do know is nuclear works. I'm not saying don't try wind or solar but we need to be realistic.

I hate to say this marsh but everytime someone challenges you on what you do and puts into play that because of your business you may have a biased view on it, you come back with a job that you are doing that just happens to answer the question..

If you are so agaisnt renewable resources then why are you working in a field that uses it?

By the way biofuel is one of the biggest fails every developed. It's taking food away from people and using it for gas.

Lol,

wallismarsh, admitting you're in the oil business is the worst thing you can do when you're in a debate about alternative energy.

Whether you make good points or not, no one will care. You have more of an agenda than any of us on this forum.

http://www.solarcycle24.com/

http://climateresearchnews.com/2009/02/f...

http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predic...

http://spaceweather.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspot

Here is more info. Believe it or not.

Great questions for the right wingers but most of them won't really answer you Mike. They try to twist them back at you, just like Ann Coulter, Rush and Hanity. In the rare times that dear old Rush lets one of them nasty liberals ask him a question on his show, he will never give them a straight anwser, but will try to twist the facts to fit his views. We are lucky that they can't raise their voice and shout at you in this column like the righties do on the so called panel discussions on T.V.

But we do get long winded replies with a few curse words and of course the names from our so called Christian.

Mike, I guess some of "them" do not have a dictionary and can't look up the word hypocrite and understand the meaning.

I wish I had the time to "research" so called "facts" like G5, where do you find all that garbage? You must be an expert at cuttin' and paste'n!

Just remember, as David Letterman has been reminding us...."George W. Bush, now in his ninth year of not being president." See that G5 it's not that hard to give credit when credit is due!

"And that nice little pickle of 40% of us don't pay taxes is an absolute lie. It has already been dicredited."

Point me the way to this discreditation, please.

As far as I know, there are only three things which are incorrect about the statement.

First, it actually refers to INCOME tax, not to ALL taxes. (It's nearly, if not absolutely, impossible for anyone in America to avoid ALL taxes at this point. If you drive a car, own a house, have your own phone number, use tobacco or alcohol, or purchase anything but unprepared food, you're paying one tax or another. If you have a job, even if you earn an amount which isn't taxable, you're still paying Social Security and Medicare taxes.)

Secondly, I believe that the correct figure is 43%.

Finally, it refers to households, not population.

Nearly half the HOUSEHOLDS in America pay no INCOME tax.

Oh Guillermo, you're the smartest guy in the world, why don't you just run your smart a@@ right outside and harness the wind and sun and sell me some affordable energy. I'll unhook my electricity and gas lines right now.

I really hate America too, that's why I want to pollute the hell out it. You jsut make sh$# up to make yourself sound smart don't you? Did you ever take any economics when you were in school or did you just focus on environmental awareness.

You just don't get it. I know oil and natualr gas will run out some day. It can't last forever, but some you whinners want it to run out right now because you hate the oil industry. Well I hate the big oil Arabs too.

We can't further bankupt the country in search of a magic potion. It may not exist. Maybe we'll just have to trap our own farts and eat beans all day long. Maybe hydrogen will never be feasible. Just because I know something about chemistry and economics doesn't mean I hate my country nor that I want to pollute it. I still challege all you hypocrites like Guillermo, that if fossil fuels are harming this palnet so much, then why haven't you GIVE THEM UP YET.

You're a hack, a hyprocritical dolt. You shame everyone around you when you're part of the problem as much or more. Just like Al Gore, flying all over the world spreading fear while you live like a king selling BS carbon credits, furthuring your wealth and power, all while leaving a carbon footprint bigger than the whole town of McCook will ever leave, and I'm the bad guy. Why don't you go fly a kite and harness some cheap eletricity?

Did you even entertain the remote possiblity that there is no feasible alternative energy? And that maybe this planet will have to go back to pre-industrial revolution technolgy? It's just a possiblity.

Sure, we can all stand out side and watch our little windmills and solar panels heat up a pan of water and power an FM radio, but to produce the kind of power the world currently requires can only be done with fossil fuel. Nothing else even comes close. The only way around this is conservation and a huge reduction of techology, services, etc. No more driving after dark, working after dark. No moer late night tv. No more internet. No more cell phones or iPods.

Oh, Guillermo, can you just bring over you hydrogen generator, I'd like to give it a try and water my lawn for free with the waste, Oh what's that there's no such thing, I guess you saw that on the Sci-Fi channel.

And don't tell me about oil companies and the conspriracy in politics, blah, blah, blah. If that was the case, Obama is such a stud, he would just lockem up and we'd all have hydrogen generators hooked up to our homes and the world would free, clean ater too right. No more 3rd world contries, they'd have electricity too, and clean water. What a utopia! It almost sounds like la la land....because it is.

Where are these hydrogen generators anyway? Where are these super cheap solar farms that can power millions of households. I've been hearing about solar power since I was a kid. Where is it? If we are about to run outta oil like you say, I'd think the president would roll out these hydrogen generators.

Maybe we should build a huge hydrogen electrical plant next to the Hudson river and dump all the wast into it to clean it up. It's juts so easy!

We did find a clean, renewable energy and all you liberals have done is poo all over it. Ethanol. Yea, I've heard all you wise assertions about it. It's running up the costs of food. Yea, we Americans are so hungery. We're that fattest people on the planet, but we can't get enough food becasue ethanol take it all away from us. Wow.

Libs have also tried to tell their clueless following that farming is the world largest producer fo carbon nest to the transportion industry. Another wow. I bet their right though...it does take a lot of fuel to produce and distribute food grains and produce. One little thing they leave out either because they're hacks or just stupid is that no other industry USES, as in CAPTURES more carbon than farming!

Carbon is an essential element in building life. We're all made out of carbon. All living things are carbon based. It takes carbon to build an amino acid, wich is the building block of life. Plants take carbon and use it to make the very carbohydrates that not only make up the plant, but also the grain it yields. I don't know the facts and figures for how much carbon the industry captures and turns inot yield and return back to the soil, but I bet it's a lot.

With 80 million acres of corn, 80 million acres of soybeans and countless acres of wheat, sorghum, alfalfa, beets, cotton, citrus, produce, all these acres are gobbling up carbon, everyday it's growing. So tell me again that ethanol is evil, because most liberals think that and I didn't notice you mentioning that above. Only your magic potions no has seen yet.

Actually Navy, I wasn't challenging John McCain's citizenship. I know he is a citizen I don't have any reason to question. Just as I know Barack Obama is a full citizen no matter how many "documents" some of the extreme right continue to pull up.

That was the point of my question. If they are going to spend so much energy questioning Obama's citizenship then why don't they do the same with McCain.

And by the way Justin, I don't know if you have noticed, but I think Obama is doing perfectly fine and if you look at the polling most Americans do as well.

Also, I don't believe I ever asked anyone to live in 200 foot boxes with no comforts of today. But nice job trying to convince I did. Do you think oil was cheap originally? Do you think it is now?

Wow Mike are you a little frustrated or what? I'm too busy to answer all your questions, so I'll just tackle the last one about clean energy.

Why would anyone be afraid clean energy? I'm all for it. Only problem with clean energy is that no one has found a way to make a profit at it. Even the biggest clean energy we have, ethanol, isn't profitable.

You liberals want to live in a grand utopia where everyone is afforded things that they need at no cost, obligation, or commitment.

The simple answer is clean energy would be awesome, but until someone can make money by making it or harnessing it, it won't happen. And you can't make the tax payers front the bill for the exploration, developement, and distribution as we're already tapped out and far beyond bankrupcy with everything we paying for now.

You're NOT correct by saying it's affordable either. There's nothing that exists today that is even affordable, so how is it you can say that it is. What form are you speaking of? The alternative energies we have right now cannot evern be comprehended as affordabliity because the government subsidies are shielding the true cost, and the tax payers are paying for, well our kids will 20 years from now anyway. How is that affordable?

The only way it would be affordable is that if the feds pay for all the develpement and we just have to sit back and collect the free energy, then it would be cheap, but that's not the case.

The world is not a utopia, there are trade-offs at every corner. Sure you may be as green as Kermit with your electric car, but last time I checked the electricity that charges the damn thing comes from buring coal. It seems everytime a greenie takes one of these steps, its just a misstep. Are you saying you're for Nuke power? I bet not either, at least not in Arkansas. No one wants one in their back yard!

And what about all these celebs that live in green homes? Can the average joe afford to do that? No. Teddy Kennedy had the chance to approve a windmill farm in his district and he shot it down because the yacht club doesn't want to see from their verandas. He's your liberal buddy, ask him what's up with that.

It's like I heard a somewhat wise person say one time about all these endangered species. The best way to solve that problem is start eating them! Yes, start eating them and cooking them as fine cuisine. You sure don't hear of any endangered bovine, chicken, turkey do you? It just goes to show that things that cost a lot of money are only going to happen if someone can make a buck on it and make a business out of it.

This is not make believe land. We just can't have a perfect, war free, eco-freindly, utopia without a huge cost. Who's going to pay for it if no one's making money because it costs more to do these things than it can generate to pay people to do it.

I have thought about these things long and hard over the last few years and all I have come up with in order for us all to live in this utopia you want is that we all give up our worldly possessions. No one owns property. We don't use currency, we barter goods and services. There is no electricity as to pollute the Earth so we all live in small villages across the globle. There are no cell phones, no cars, no tv. We all produce at least some of our food, textile, and other goods.

I don't think any one wants to live like that, maybe a few, but not 10 billion people. You can't have your cake and eat it to. You want your computer to whine on with the internet blog. You want your smart phone and your iPod. You want your tv shows. You want your car to come visit your dad. We all do. It comes at a cost Mike, some of us realize that. It's not that we want to pollute the planet or whatever you think or want to think.

Some of us just realize that someone else is not going to do all the work to do these thing for nothing while other people sit around and bitch and moan all day long.

I'd love to have windmill farm here in SW NE. I can't think of a better clean energy source out there. And there's plenty of wind that's for sure. But it has been proven that the transmission grid we have is not set up to link all these windmills as it takes A LOT of windmills.

So if we tax everybody more to pay for all of this, well obvioulsy we all get taxed more and you say we won't, that's BS. Then, as we're all getting taxed more, we all have to work more to make more money and in my case and lots of other people's cases, that will mean the burning of more fossil fuels and for transportaion and electricity so we can burn the midnight oil. There's your trade off again. No one wins, nor does the Earth.

If want to preach all these things along with your buddy Al Gore then I would expect you guys to set a trend by living in a 200 sq ft shack with no electricity, no cell phones, no car, basically nothing can you can trace down to a fossil fuel, no plastic, nothing.

You set the trend and then maybe we'll follow, but quit sitting here whinning about the rest of us when you're as much of the problem as the rest of us and you have no real solutions other than big government can save us.

Also, I can see your frustration. Could it be that it's obvious Obama is not shaping up to be the savior you were telling us about 6 months ago? Why are you still beating the dead Bush horse? Sooner or later you're going to have to move on Mike. We can't keep debating Bush forever, I don't think any solutions will come of that. But as long as you do I suppose you think you are distracting the new conservative movement from reprimanding Obama on his campaign lies. I doubt it will work.

You're right, a lot of people voted for Obama...69 million.

A lot of people went out and bought those "Billy the Singing Bass" things to hang on their walls when they were all the rage. They were funny and interesting for a couple months, then they stopped working and people got sick of them. How many of those are in the city dumps polluting up the planet right now? I bet they won't buy one again. Maybe you don't even get what I'm saying.

I had to start a new comment for this one specifically to McCook1.

Are you sure you know what waterboarding is? If you do, then you are saying that at a public pool, you bound one your friends hands and feet together. Then you put some kind of cloth over his mouth and nose and then began to slowly poor water over that cloth until it was saturated. Then after it was saturated you pushed that cloth down his mouth and poored more water on that cloth for a period of minutes????

You did that? At a public pool? I seriously doubt that.

Waterboarding is not dunking someone under the water for a couple of seconds.

And I was unaware that the only way in which you could torture was that someone had to die. That's not how Geneva (the treaty we followed until 2001 or 2002) defined it.

I will answer your questions like this: The United States of America was founded on the proposition that all men are created equal. We each can make from our life what we put into it. I am always for people bettering themselves. What offends me is when people accuse me of cheating America because I don't pay enough taxes.

Another thing that offends me is liberals demeaning Blacks and Whites who do manual labor. Look around McCook and see who picks up trash, cuts the grass, cleans toilets, and shovels manure. It isn't illegal's. And by you liberals justifying illegals because "we won't do their jobs" implies loser status on non-illegals and near slave status on the illegals.

I hopes that answers your questions.

Ah G5 I had a feeling that would fall blindly on your eyes.

What exact lies did I dish out about Bush.

And I honestly don't know what you are talking about with Palin. Maybe it's the fact that she is waging a war of words with an 18 year (or maybe he's 19) old through the media?

All very good points Mike.

I consider myself to be a political centrist.

I have no allegiance to dems or reps.

Yet I find it appaling that the exact same people on this board call it blasphemy when someone says something about GW, yet those same people will use appaling terms such as, "half-breed" in regards to our president. And even others compare him to Hitler.

All very good points.