petesusn

We Americans are mainly coffee drinkers due in part to (I believe) the Boston Tea Party. I'm just wondering about the Australians.

Opening a government meeting on auto safety, the Obama administration reported Wednesday that nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction. That's more people than since the start of the Iraq war. Come on liberals. Where's the outrage? Where's the movement to outlaw cars and cell phones? Or is this all part of the vast right wing conspiracy?

Back in 1990, the Government seized the Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada for tax evasion and, as required by law, tried to run it. They failed and it closed. Now, we are trusting the economy of our country, our banking system, our auto industry and possibly our health plans to the same nit-wits who couldn't make money running a whore house and selling whiskey?

I just read an article in Yahoo News that the HMS Victory (Lord Nelson's flagship) had been found sunk in the English Channel. Now what confuses me is that on the HMS Victory website (www.hms-victory.com) it states that HMS Victory was "put into her present dock on 12 January 1922 and work began to restore her to her 1805 appearance." She is now a floating museum run by the National Museum - Royal Navy. Does anyone have any insight on this?

but now I'm not sure. Does anyone know the movie in which the starring character was a fireman who went over the edge and terrorized the family next door? I hope this is enough information.

America Needs A Leader Like This!

[Prime Minister John Howard - Australia ]

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.

Quote:

'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians, as we have never seen before.'

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, then you have no choice but to learn 'our' language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider a nother part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are finished complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Wa y of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom

'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

We rarely get a chance to see another country's editorial about the USA .

Read this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper. The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title 'C'ntarea Americii, meaning 'Ode To America ') in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei 'The Daily Event' or 'News of the Day'

~An Ode to America ~

Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religiousbeliefs

On 9/ll, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart.

Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers.

Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts.

Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about

Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand.

After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing: 'God Bless America !'

I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.

How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy.

What on earth can unite the Americans in such way?

Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money?

I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion... Only freedom can work such miracles.

Cornel Nistorescu

Does anyone out there know anything about spouses being included in this bill which has been signed just a couple of days ago? I have heard spouses are included but can't find anything about this.

I know this is rehashing old news and I really don't know how valid this is but I'm just curious.

"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides," Obama said. "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd

Like to Teach the World to Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it."

and all we have to choose from is Clinton, Obama and McCain? Is there something wrong here?

From a Chaplain in Iraq:

I recently attended a showing of "Superman 3," here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through the National Anthem the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments; and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place. Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music began again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start. But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the

room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording

left off:

"And the rockets red glare,

The bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night

That our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free

And the home of the brave?"

It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq.

I wanted you to know what kind of soldiers are serving you here.

Remember them as they fight for you!

This was Karl Marx's solution for economic recovery. Is it now McCain's, Obama's, Clinton's solution for economic recovery? Do they all feel that the government is entitled to a portion of your income; that it has a lien on your life and on what you acquire in the course of sustaining that life? You work hard, save, don't default on loans or live beyond your means – why then, all three have plans for you. You'll be helping to mop up the "froth" in the housing market. You'll be bailing out those who haven't lived wisely. That's the philosophy. Be it Hillary, Obama or McCain – they all agree that it is up to the all-knowing central planner to determine how much of your life ought to be theirs.

Your thoughts?

The Navy Times first reported Monday that Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, who has already received the Silver Star for his service in Iraq, would also be awarded the nation's highest military honor the MOH.While serving with the SEALs in Ramadi on Sept. 29, 2006, Monsoor grabbed a grenade tossed by insurgents and held it against his body to absorb the blast, saving other servicemembers.

Most recently, Navy Lt. Michael Murphy, also a SEAL, received the award in October for actions that saved a fellow SEAL's life, and made possible the recovery of the remains of other SEALs. Murphy called in backup during a fierce firefight with the Taliban in 2005.Although the rescue team was shot down, Murphy's actions allowed the one SEAL who survived the firefight to be rescued and the fallen SEALs' remains to be recovered.

In January 2007, Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham was also honored for leaping on a grenade in April 2004.

And Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith received the Medal of Honor in April 2005 for his actions two years earlier at Baghdad International Airport, where he killed up to 50 Iraqi attackers, allowing wounded U.S. troops to be evacuated.

Should I go SEAL, Army Ranger, Marine Recon, ect. Does everybody want to be Rambo? I spent 22 years in the Navy as an electronics/radar tech and I've seen more action than I'd like to remember. Who's going to do all the other jobs in the military?

VietNam / Gulf War 1 vet.

Don't people realize that he is also half white (mother)?Why no mention of that? Or don't we talk about that.

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt

YEA’S

Baucus(D-MT) Bayh(D-IN) Biden(D-DE) Breaux(D-LA) Cantwell(D-WA) Carnahan(D-MO) Carper(D-DE) Cleland(D-GA) Clinton(D-NY) Daschle(D-SD) Dodd(D-CT) Dorgan(D-ND) Edwards(D-NC) Feinstein(D-CA) Harkin(D-IA) Hollings(D-SC) Johnson(D-SD) Kerry(D-MA) Kohl(D-WI) Landrieu(D-LA) Lieberman(D-CT) Lincoln(D-AR) Miller(D-GA) Nelson(D-FL) Nelson(D-NE) Reid(D-NV) Rockefeller(D-WV) Schumer(D-NY) Torricelli (D-NJ)

More Democrats voted FOR the war than against. What happened? Did they see the error of their ways or are they just saying what they think the people want to hear?

But no explanation. Hope is always good but hope for what? Change is sometimes good but change what? An explanation would also be good.

He doesn't have much if any chance to win at this point. Your opinion?