Whlle watching Bill Mahr the other night, I realized our problem in elections.

I have always been a big fan of Bill Mahr and his program. That said, the program the other night clearly showed me why we lose presidential elections. In simple terms, it is not what we say, it is how we say it.

What everyone has to keep in mind is that elections are not decided by the left or the right. They are decided by those in the middle.  These are the people living in the burbs raising their kids and playing by the rules.

Bill Mahr on the program just ripped people who believe in God. He compared believing in Jesus to believeing in Santa Claus. On the program, he has Janine Garfolo, who is very smart but also looks like a freak to mainstream American's. She is foul mouthed, she comes on the show in a tank top with tatoos plastered all over her body, and badly died black hair.. She boldly says "Bill O'reilly can kiss my fat ass."  While we all agree with her, to a middle of the road person, she looks like a freak.  It is stuff like this that makes us all appear out of the mainstream. For every inteligent thing that Janine says, it is drowned out by her appearnce and attitude. The same is true of Mahr as well.

The Limbaugh's, and O'reilly's, of the world take these extreme examples and are able to paint all Democrats with this brush. Republican's on the other hand, appear normal. in suits and ties, well spoken, other than Bush of course, and never use profanity, etc. Republican's are A-HOLES who are only out for the wealthy, and would sell those same "mainstream"  folks jobs right down the river. Yet, they are able to convince them they are on their side.

What I am saying is that we make it too easy for the right wing to marginalize us. Notice how more "mainstream" people like Ed Shultz, and Kieth Olberman, have found success? A lot of peope agree with the Democrats on most of the issues, but end up voting Republican because they make them think they are "normal."  

I fear that we are going to lose the next election because we insist on nominating Hillary Clinton. THe Republican's will have a field day attacking her, dragging up the same old Clinton stuff.  This next election is a slam dunk if we just nominate someone who appeals to the middle.  John Edwards, Chris Dodd, or Joe Biden. We won;t do that though, we will nominate Hillary, or a very inexpereinced Barrack O'bama.

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Actually...

I agree with your point, but not with your suggestion of who to nominate. Hilary shouldn't be nominated-that's a given, but Obama is actually one of our best bets when it comes to actually carrying through on his promises and supporting issues that we care about.

 

Joe Biden sent me an email about a year ago- it said that the main things that he cares about are families and that children are being taught to be good Christians. I am not kidding. To me, that sounds like he's probably a "family values" man- that means no choice and no gay marriage. Oh, and that other faiths or atheists like me won't get our views represented by Biden.

 

To me, that means that Biden is a candidate that progressives shouldn't support.

Obama a best bet?

Here in Illinois Obama has not come though for us on his promises or supports the issue we care about.  He voted for Bush appointees, etc.  He helped Emanual defeat anti-war Progressive Democratic candidates.  He wouldn't support them. He supports Faith Based programs (which violate Separation of Church & State).  He is a globalist and wants the WTO to control trade (violates the Constitution for Congress and the people to control trade not behind closed doors by "trade representatives" or our President\VP).

He talks a good speech and is an opportunist.

Obama doesn't have a chance of winning in the Conservative Midwest or the South.  It's a pipe dream by Obama supporters.

 Hillary Clinton and Obama aren't much different in their agenda which is very anti-worker (pro-globalism). One is a man and the other a women.  They both don't have a chance to win in the election but the media and DLC force them to the front as winners before we even vote in the primaries. Rupublicans support them like Lieberman because they know their members won't vote for them.

The bottom line is Democrats should question any candidate for office as to their agenda and if it fits our beliefs for a democracy. They should uphold the Constitution,Bill of Rights, and the laws (requirement for both parties when you think about it).  Why not support the American worker?

Did anyone ask those questions during the debate?  I would have asked them first.  

Biden: Well, I think it

Biden: Well, I think it probably is because social mores change. But look, Tim, I don’t think the government can dictate the definition of marriage to religious institutions. But government does have an obligation to guarantee that everybody has, every individual is free of discrimination. And there’s a distinction. You and I talk—I shouldn’t say this—I think we did—talked about Meacham’s book, the “American Gospel.” And I, anticipating you asking me this, I wrote a quote from his, from his book that I think sums it up. He says, “The American gospel is that religion shapes the life of the nation without strangling it.” That’s where I think—that’s how we have to view these very difficult decisions. I think government should not be able to dictate to religions the definition of marriage, but I think, on a civil side, government has the obligation to strip away every vestige of discrimination as to what individuals are able to do in terms of their personal conduct.

Please see the Rules of

Please see the Rules of Democrats.com here:

http://www.democrats.com/rules

And particularly note the following:

  • You must generally support the principles and candidates of the Democratic Party, and you must not misrepresent their positions or actions (1)
  •  [Snip]

    (1) This rule was created to create a community of and for Democrats. But during primary campaigns this rule takes on a special meaning: you must be committed to supporting the winner of the Democratic primary, even if (a) that candidate is not your preferred candidate, (b) you disagree with that candidate on issues that are important to you, (c) you don't like some aspect of that candidate's record or personality, and (d) you think that candidate "cannot win." So whenever you harshly criticize a Democratic candidate in a primary, we will ask: are you committed to supporting that candidate if (s)he wins the Democratic nomination? If your answer is no, then Democrats.com is not the right community for you. [emphasis added]

    I totally will support the nomineee.

    Ijust hope we choose the right one.

    I'm back and why aren't we supporting Kucinich?

     I'm shocked about what's going on in the country right under our noses  and with the current top tier candidates, there  seems to to be no real leadership other than a Bush lite version of the same old thing. 

      I supported Kucinich in last election but then voted for Kerry out of fear that my vote wouldn't count.  Well, it didn't count and the vote for lesser of two evils just ended up with more Evil so I'm wanting to get behind Kucinich because the more I listen and read,  what's to not agree with other than his lack of political correctness at times. Whether you believe he can win or not shouldn't be an issue.  Like him or not, we need to keep his voice alive even if we only succeed in pressuring whoever wins the nominee.   BTW, KUCINICH is  going to be on Jay Leno tonight.

    However,  I don't see much  energy behind his campaign and have found that many so-called progressives are getting behind Ron Paul because of his anti-war and constitutional positions.  I took a closer look at Paul and found he stands for very little that I support and decided to post on several Democratic, Paul & Kucinich Meet-Up websites  to compare the two on their actual voting record.

     I get a yawn from the Democrats and huge interest from Ron Paul people seeing that this is a very invigorated campaign.  While I said nothing inflamatory or negative about Paul, I was banned by one group and a woman from the Austin group gave specific responses defending  Ron Paul's voting record which are in direct contrast to Kucinich. 

    Besides initiating dialogue which is so necessary in such a polarized and divided country, I'm  hoping that bringing Kucinich's record to light at a grassroots level of Ron Paul supporters might wake up some of the non-hardcore libertarians.  

    I didn't see how I could start a new thread on the specific Kucinich thread so I'm posting here but if there are any Kucinich supporters out there, do you see the wisdom of my strategy?  So many young people are looking for change and IMO  being misguided by these self-centered libertarians. 

     Given that both Paul and Kucinich are being dismissed and lied about in the mainstream,  going to the meet-ups is an opportunity bring up issues with people who could be interested in Kucinich if they only knew something about him.  Look for my post: "Kucinich distinguishes himself from Ron Paul" and please support me with this.  I'm not an expert and don't know how to respond to some of what is said.   I'll repost it here here separately in response to this.

    BTW,  I'm not new to this website but was sick for long time and was not able to spend much time online and then I lost my name & password.

    Welcome back Chelamia, what was your old screen name?...

    there are still lots of long-time members who might remember you.

    Ron Paul has no legitimate support from either progressives or liberals. He is essentially, a fundie-wacko Libertarian. His positions sound pretty good until you really dig up his past and all the creepy-crawlie stuff pours out. His basic stances are not acceptable to very many of us.

    Kucinich has said all the right things. Then he goes on and does very little to make things happen. That is one of the reasons people do not flock to his banner in large numbers.

    He does not, quite obviously, have the foggiest notion of how to run a campaign, much less solve the problems of this very broken and divided country.

    One example(recent)is the whining and complaining by both Dennis and his zealot-like brownshirts concerning the Iowa debacle.

    Harkin gave a steak-fry fundraiser in Iowa. It was a private affair. Some candidates were invited, some were not. We don't have the details at this point. If this gathering was important to Dennis, the simple mailing of a $30 check would have gotten him a ticket and he could have been there.

    The AARP sponsored a debate. All candidates were invited by registered letter early in July. There were some requirements that all candidates had to comply with in order to participate. One of these requirements was that they have an office in the state and that the office was staffed.

    The Kucinich campaign did not respond to this letter. They did not have an office in Iowa that was staffed. They did not meet the other few simple requirements. Dennis has done much screaming, wailing, and accusing the AARP of excluding him because he neither answered their invitation nor complied with the few simple requirements.

    His zealot followers have taken up the cry of censorship, discrimination, and so on on many boards across the net. When confronted with the reality, they tend to believe that Denial is only a river. In other words, Dennis should get a free pass when no one else does. Funding is not the problem. Dennis had funds to travel to Syria and to Hawaii but spent no funds, did no campaigning in Iowa, and has no office or staff in that state.

    There are many reasons that many support him. There are reasons why so many more do not.

    This all comes down to simple choice does it not?

    A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.

    Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623

    The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.

    Hi Grinch

     I think it was Chellamia and that's what I meant to sign in again as  here but somehow it got spelled wrong and I don't see how to change that.   I'm going to answer in the "introduce yourself section.  

    Well, that didn't work.  No place to post under that forum.  I'm getting too frustrated with this thread because ever since someone posted Mahr picture and the chart, can't read the links as everything on the right is cut off.   Please read the candidate test I just posted and check out Chris Dodd.

    Bill Mahr is becoming big disappointment

    I always admired Mahr too but he's become more than just  politically incorrect.  He's probably for Ron Paul because he threw away a good opportunity to ask Kucinich an intelligent and relevant question.http://www.slate.com/... .

    There was an online Yahoo debate. At the end of the debate Maher shows his lack of facts by asking Kucinich the following stupid and  at this point, irrelevant question.

    Bill Maher: Congressman Kucinich, you said on my show you would not give the order to assassinate Osama Bin Laden. How can you expect even liberals such as myself to support you when you don't even want the head of the man who, in the name of writing Muslim persecution, murdered 3,000 fellow citizens whose immediate complicity in the plight of Muslims is nonexistent?

    I believe that while Osama may be on the FBI most wanted list but it is NOT for the 911 incident.  I may be wrong but I recall that there is no proof or confession that he alone orchestrated 911.  I believe the latest cost of Iraq war is 700 billion per day, that's $500 thousand a minute.  Credible accounts of over 1 million Iraqi dead and 4 million displaced not to mention over 3000 of our soldiers dead and untold wounded for life.  So if that's the best question Bill Maher can come up with for Kucinich, he's lost my respect. 

    Kucinich/Bush on Bin Laden

    If a candidate would not personally gut Bin Laden, then he has no hope of being elected.

    The largest military campaign in human history should have brought us Bin Laden's head in Afghanistan and delivered a devastating blow to a complicit government (Taliban) with a RAPID return to peace and normality.

    Instead, Conservatives brought us:

    ---an anemic war in Afghanistan and a retreat from Bin Laden.
    ---a clusterf*** in Iraq chasing oil money. (They fail there even by their own standards).
    ---a depleted National Treasure from Historic Surpluses.
    ---etc.

    We were not mildly attacked on Sept. 11th. The world needed to be shaken to the core by a U.S. response BUT remain clear that true American Values would NOT change. This was critical not for simple high minded moral reasons but to maintain the superstructure of civilization which is the only final defense against terrorism (and lawlessness).

    --------------------------------

    In addition to the above, what you suggest by demanding the crossing of "t"s and dotting of "i"s with respect to Bin Laden, misses the point of Bill Mahr's question. It is akin to asking a candidate what they would do if someone raped and butchered their child and accepting a clinical response. I can tell you what I would do: I would kill the evil bastard. (For those who always shoot from the ivory tower hip, I would quickly add that what I would do and what a civilization should do, are two separate questions, but voters better know you're human first).

    ----------------------------------

    I have noted before that Bush should be impeached and found guilty with NO further evidence needed simply because: The reckless endangerment of our military, our military defense posture, and our National Treasure rises to the level of a "misdemeanor".

    Bush's proposals were outlandish on their face. There where possible advantages to invading Iraq. These were the only things touted in the lead up to War. Unfortunately there are possible advantages to invading Canada, Ireland, etc. but the disadvantages loom so large that it would be reckless to do so. Yeah, we'll gain a quick, cheap, loving Democracy in Iraq while still achieving our other defense goals. Right.....

    So why do I mention this?

    ---Bush should be Impeached for his broad recklessness with our Money, our Soldiers, our Military Defense Posture, Amerian Values, innocent civilians, etc. His heavy handedness has lost us Bin Laden's head, generated new genres of terrorists, killed perhaps a million that did not have to die.

    ---Kucinich (as you have presented the case) would behave recklessly via a light handedness.

    If we can't agree on a major U.S. response to 911 then perhaps we can't agree at all. If we can however, lets be clear that what happened on Sept. 11th was of mythic proportions. It was a moment in time when those very few who would take credit for the acts, should expect to be the focus of our ire.

    Welcome back, Jim.

    This is the first time I've heard " better know your human first".

    It's true, so very true.

    I love it!
    ;-)

    Hi Kwahlfy, Just my 2 cents

    Hi Kwahlfy,

    Just my 2 cents ;)

    Your point is well taken and

    Your point is well taken and Dennis may be too light handed; however, there is a rush to judgment here.  You agree that Bush and foremost Cheney are guilty of crimes and should be impeached...that has only become more and more clear over time...

    My point was that Bin Laden is not wanted by FBI  for 911.  He is more a figurehead but apparently he wasn't in charge of 911 so I thought that Bill Maher could have taken opportunity to ask  a more relevant question....not so controversial especially in light of 911truth.org which clearly tells me something is being hidden about that mythical day.

      If he wanted to see  how Dennis would react to conflict, he could have asked him if there is ever a "just war"  or something like that instead of loaded and controversial question "would you  order assassination of BL for murder of 3000 people"  I think Dennis is the only candidate who is even willing to call to re-open the 911 investigation which we spent more money on a stain on a blue dress than the biggest crime in our history.

    I learned from watching two PBS films from the library  made prior to 911 that  Mohammad taught that  war is only justified based on invasion and occupation.  (That happened after I think it was Medina was invaded by the Meccans. )  The way the Bush administration handled everything, most American public think Saddam Hussein and  Iraq had something to do with 911. 

     Since we are on the verge of war with Iran, everyone should see those films as Islam is so misunderstood by the west.  If Iran is true Muslim country and not run by fanatics, then they would not bomb Israel (or us) unless we or Israel attack them first.  BTW, the President A....doesn't mean literally to wipe Israel away...he is referring to the occupation of Palestine but that is another subject.

    1. ISLAM: Empire of Faith

    2. Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet

    The Al Qaeda "jihad" has

    The Al Qaeda "jihad" has absolutely nothing to do with either Mohammed, or Islam. The religious fanatics in the Middle East are no different from the religious fanactics in the USA, or any other place in the world -- they are criminals who rob the poor, accept "donations" from the wealthy, and are more than willing to kill in the name of whichever God is most convenient.

    All Al Qaeda and OBL have done, is to give the neoconservative PNAC Crusaders an excuse to implement their Pax Americana plan for the domination of the world's resources through military adverturism. Karl, Dubya, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and Perle not only jumped at the chance, but welcomed it as a gift from Osama.

    Kucinich does not impress me as someone who is equipped either intellectually, philosophically, or emotionally, to deal with the ingrained corporate fascism that has engulfed the highest levels of our government. He utters seemingly sincere words in the way a perennial loser begs for "one more chance," but exhibits very little political charisma or leadership ability. Unless Kucinich faces up to reality and throws his full-fledged support behind Edwards, Hillary will be our nominee.

    In any event, it makes little difference who becomes the next POTUS, as only a motivated and honest Congress can address this problem adequately, by reeling in the illegal powers which have accumulated to the "unitary executive." Until our Congress is cleansed of corporate lackeys and spineless professional politicians, even Honest Abe could not be an effective US president today.

    Jihad means inner struggle

    That is what the actual spiritual meaning is and has been hyjacked by Christian right just like story of 71 Virgins unknown by any Muslim I ever met and that is from living overseas too in early 70's.

    I agree with 95% of what you say except that it is a little early to believe we will get stuck with Hillary.  I hope not.   She will never beat the worst  Republican as there is too much hatred and she would mobilize  it because while she is good senator for NY, I don't think she can unite country. Why do you think Bush is hoping she is the nominee?  

    I took a candidate test today and it said I was for Dodd and I liked what I heard tonight.  He seems the most Presidential, makes common sense, doesn't blurt out stupid comments, has leadership qualities and experience so  why isn't anyone talking about him? 

    I'm glad I'm not Oprah who has blundered with early commitment to Obama.  I can still flip flop and now I'm going to look into Senator Dodd who had courage to not vote on some stupid Bush legislation today.

    Here is quiz:

    All you have to do is answer a few questions regarding issues today and see who your real candidate is.  I don't know how accurate because some questions are posed in rather absolute terms and also, a person may not really understand or know exactly how they feel about a particular issue but the results were pretty close and clear as to who I'm NOT FOR which was any Republican.

    http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/ongoing/select_a_candidate/poll.php?race_id=13

     

    well, if you really respect

    well, if you really respect bill maher you would know that the question was sarcastic...!!! The bush administration put bin laden's head on 9-11...he's mocking him!

    Mahr has gotten too obnoxious.

    i thin kI'm going to turn him off for a while.

    Mixed on Maher

    I've always enjoyed Bill Maher too.  However sometimes I think he's as censored as mainstream media.  He actually said, I'm sick and tired of getting requests from these conspiracy theorists to talk about 9/11.  When I see something with my own eyes, I'm going to believe it, and I SAW jets crash into the World Trade Center, and their burning jet fuel melt those buildings.  (I'm paraphrasing from memory so this is not verbatim, but it's close.)  So STOP asking me to be so stupid as to question what I SAW.

     Maher actually sounded as stupid and manipulative as Bill O'Reilly on the subject.  I was floored and I was very disappointed.  To me, anyone with a functioning brain whose read anything about 9/11 (and Bill Maher professes to read), knows that the official story is a cover-up and most of it is impossible--particularly that burning jet fuel could possibly collapse those buildings in a matter of seconds, not to mention there was no burning jet fuel in that third building that collapsed (also in a matter of seconds) that did not get hit by a jet but did house the FBI. 

    I'm no expert on 9/11, but this crime that was subsequently used to trash our Constitution and give the oil-barons the right to remake the face of the Middle East at a tremendous cost to future generations of taxpayers  should have been, and still should still be investigated by an independent group of experts and wasn't (everyone on that 9/11 commission was compromised with ties to this Administration, and Bush and Cheney refused to testify before the Commission under oath.)  Our corporate-owned MSM were immediately silenced and became the puppet mouthpieces parroting this Administrations spin.  Rosie O'Donnell lost her slot for talking about 9/11.  Maybe Bill Maher is afraid he will too if he says something intelligent about 9/11.  But he didn't.  He used the O'Reilly technique to yell 'Shut-up' and lost a lot of credibility with this viewer that night.

    I also saw his show where he made comments about rationality vs religion (and winced), and the voice wearing the tank-top.  While I personally agreed with most everything she said, I also think that looking like a biker detracts from her very intelligent brain.  But I grant her the right to look however she chooses. 

    I saw an interesting program on 'Nova'

    that covered the collapse of the towers.

    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wtc/sunder.html

    Click on the slide show,particularly the section
    entitled 'collapse' to see how this happened.

    From an engineering standpoint, this makes sense.

    Mahr ignoring 911

    Now I'm no longer disappointed I don't have HBO because I see he is a sell out like the others when it really comes down to the truth.  Of course, he is intelligent and he knows who writes his check so he goes along to get along and then he throws in his callous insensitivity like Howard Stern and the public love that.

    How stupid does he think we are?  Anyone can look at those buildings and yes, see plane hit and fall down. Maybe that's how he justifies...he speaks truth and then just go into O'REilly mode.....for the next layer...

    Only on the HISTORY CHANNEL, will you see the same two tired reporters with no credibility from Popular Mechanics try to discredit people who have extremely legitimate questions.

    Anyone with a brain would know that those buildings were built to withstand plane impact and that the only way to fall like they did is if there was explosives which were reported by William Rodiguez who I heard live in Tampa and then Sept 8 on American Perspectives on C-Span.   He is the famous hero janitor who was last man out of building and reports how he and at least 20 other witnesses testimony was not included in official 911 investigation and that is when he became an activist.

    If you realize this, then you find out the building security was taken over by a cousin of George Bush in last few months and then mysteriously floors were shut down.  One of the survivors reports how his bank had to close for the first time ever but that's never reported either.   For explosives to be planted, it would have had to happen weeks in advance.  What about building 7?  This would be first time in history that a few little fires cause a building that has all important Enron, and other documents...can't remember all..

    The problem is no one wants to see.  I don't want to see or know this.  It has taken me years to hear over and over and read this and that to believe this and yet it is so devasting to think about the implications, it is easier to just forget and deny.

    WTC Collapse

    I will not argue about what MIGHT have happened, just that these buildings COULD have collapsed as described below. Heat those floor joists, they sag and fall off their tiny supports.

    Nearly every large building has a redundant design that allows for loss of one primary structural member, such as a column. However, when multiple members fail, the shifting loads eventually overstress the adjacent members and the collapse occurs like a row of dominoes falling down.

    The perimeter tube design of the WTC was highly redundant. It survived the loss of several exterior columns due to aircraft impact, but the ensuing fire led to other steel failures. Many structural engineers believe that the weak points—the limiting factors on design allowables—were the angle clips that held the floor joists between the columns on the perimeter wall and the core structure (see Figure 5). With a 700 Pa floor design allowable, each floor should have been able to support approximately 1,300 t beyond its own weight. The total weight of each tower was about 500,000 t.

    As the joists on one or two of the most heavily burned floors gave way and the outer box columns began to bow outward, the floors above them also fell. The floor below (with its 1,300 t design capacity) could not support the roughly 45,000 t of ten floors (or more) above crashing down on these angle clips. This started the domino effect that caused the buildings to collapse within ten seconds, hitting bottom with an estimated speed of 200 km per hour. If it had been free fall, with no restraint, the collapse would have only taken eight seconds and would have impacted at 300 km/h.1 It has been suggested that it was fortunate that the WTC did not tip over onto other buildings surrounding the area. There are several points that should be made. First, the building is not solid; it is 95 percent air and, hence, can implode onto itself. Second, there is no lateral load, even the impact of a speeding aircraft, which is sufficient to move the center of gravity one hundred feet to the side such that it is not within the base footprint of the structure. Third, given the near free-fall collapse, there was insufficient time for portions to attain significant lateral velocity. To summarize all of these points, a 500,000 t structure has too much inertia to fall in any direction other than nearly straight down.

    http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0112/Eagar/Eagar-0112.html

    I won't argue but I won't run either

    http://www.patriotsquestion911.com/   and if that doesn't make you wonder, check out what so many architects and engineers say at www.ae911truth.org

    You are wasting your time trying to prove something to me with that chart. Pancake theory doesn't work because buildings fell too fast for that to be true.   It might work with someone who doesn't want to bother to look at the websites I have provided.   I guess the truth is that if you realize the implications, you realize you can get "in trouble" shall we say...especially if you are big name, why do U think everyone shut up?  Freedom's only word...Look, I'm not accusing anyone in particular, I just don't think it adds up. Why do you think Pelosi and others back off?  Who the heck is going to get us out of this mess?  Grinch is right.  Kucinich says right things but isn't able to act.  Who has the ability to lead with real integrity?  Anyone?????????????????  Are we going to just sit here and "hope" we pick the right person?  

     Colbert really wants people to go to:  www.unity08.com  I trust Jon and him as much as anyone.  At least they admit they are controlled and don't pretend to know it all like arrogant Mahr.

     I tried to go to introduce myself place and no place to write or put a reply.  Maybe I am losing my mind because it doesn't make sense.    It looks like there is no way to find my old posts or to change my name to what I wanted: chellamia...  If you want to know about me, see me at  my space: Chelawelabela

    This website seems to have bugs as the first  link I post  turns blue and won't let me write above it.  I often have a weird things when I edit too.  Are you like Daily Kos and not suppose to bring up 911?  I found them from Stephen Colbert  and they have intelligent conversation but you are not allowed to talk about 911. 

     

     

     

     

    chelamia

    chelamia, I'm a Physicist who has studied 16 hours a day for decades on end. I'm also a bleeding heart liberal, but since we do not know each other there is no way I can adequately convince you of the science involved except by actually doing it together. If any poster wishes to work through calculations then I will oblige.

    Though we are accused of it often, Scientists do not mess with big questions like Terrorists and Conservatives do: the nature of God, his hair color, etc. Instead we begin with what is simplest and follow it for hundreds of years from generation to generation. In that spirit I would suggest we begin as Scientists of old did with working through the physics of a brick falling.

    I'm not sure anyone who has ever fired a 911 physics salvo at me is really interested in a response, but the above is my meager attempt. I also understand that regardless of the above we probably abhor the Right in equal measure ;)

    The falling brick...7 seconds I believe...

    I'm sorry if I disrespect you and I can't argue because I'm not a physicist but I just don't believe what you say is correct as there are too many others who have disproved that theory.

    Like I said, don't have to be rocket scientist to see what happened. Just look at the hole in the Pentagon.  If everything was so hot to disentigrate, then how come a typewriter was sitting there untouched?  Explain that Einstein.   Did you even look at the websites I provided?  Not a bunch of nut case lunatics.

    That's like frigging right wing who refuse to watch Inconvenient Truth or Michael Moore's Sicko who just believe what they believe and will never question. 

    If you are physicist, why are you one of the main people running this website?  Don't you have physics to do? 

    Chelamia, no one has

    Chelamia, no one has "disproved" anything by providing alternate, and themselves unprovable, conspiracy theories. You appear to be among those who would much rather believe a juicy theory about planted explosives and pre-arranged diversions of airline flights, than the simple physical truth, backed by logical facts.

    That is your right, and you are entitled to an opinion, even if it is misguided. You are not, however, entitled to your own facts, nor your apparent disregard for the Rules of Democrats.com about participation and civility.

    Where to begin?

    First, I'm not sure why you have decided to be mean.

    Secondly, you have now moved on to question after question. Shouldn't a single question be answered first? You pointed out the length of time of the collapse and that can be calculated using high school level physics. The article I pointed to also notes the final velocity as NOT being consistent with Free Fall. I have no problem with someone working through this. Someone might argue that the length of time reported above is incorrect. We would then have to verify that for example. The point is however that to verify a single idea requires working through a long series of points. I was willing to take the time to do that.

    Thirdly:

    -Yes I did go to the website you posted and found a microscopic amount of "science" amidst a massive amount of cloak and dagger stuff. The cloak and dagger stuff might be COMPLETELY true. I did not have time to prove or disprove that.

    -As to the tiny bit of "science" I did not spend time on it for the following reason: If a Physicist wishes to argue about explosives bringing down those buildings it would require hundreds of hours of time for me to understand their point. I noted to you at the outset that I was restricting my comments to what COULD have brought the buildings down. Build those buildings again, heat those floor joists, and they will sag and fall off their clips. You can also bring it down with explosives.

    -I also started to look through the list of professors who question the official 911 report (http://www.patriotsquestion911.com/professors.html) but after scrolling down a bit and finding that their Ph.D.s were in Feminist Theology, Philosophy, etc. I did not feel I could offer much comment on their take.

    Finally, yes there is physics to be done as well as quite a bit else. I use to help around here far more. I was able to do this by getting 4 hours of sleep a night for years on end. This however led to getting nailed with a few diseases. Fortunately, to my doctors amazement, with more sleep, intense diet, exercise, and supplementation, I'm now clear of them all.

    (I apologize if you mistook my offer and reference to thousands of hours of work as an affront. I know no other way to answer well posed tractable questions. Questions like free fall being an example. I was not addressing the broad slew of questions about 911 or what actually happened, but rather one physically possible scenario.)

    Ah Jim, we are so glad to have you back...

    The very few 'gems' you have exposed were exposed shortly after the WTC collapsed. It was noted then that the temps were enough to weaken the steel used in the construction of the towers(allowing twisting, bending, and shifting of loads)and the movement by such away from the clips holding the structure erect. Those were the opinions and calculations of the experts BEFORE the nuts got involved with all their cockamamy ideas and beliefs and desires to remake the universe in their own image.

    Some dogs however, will not willingly give up their bone, and will go on ad nauseum forever in order to stir up the other suckers 'out there' who are always willing to believe the unbelievable and the frankly impossible.

    Reminds me of the photo on the cover of STAR a few years ago...of the B-17 sitting on the moon with accompanying article 'proving' their case. Yup, sure, many believed that too at the time.

    Some of these crazies still believe in the flat earth theory and the strange idea that the Earth is the center of the universe and the sun revolves around us...when it is actually a minor red dwarf located in the south 40 of the universe--hardly the center of things.

    One does not attempt to cast pearls before swine Jim...that consistantly is a waste of time. We are a nation of the 5 second resolution of all problems according to tv and video games and comic books.

    Kooks abound and move freely throughout our own particular section of the cosmos. Perhaps someday, pigs will either fly or wear lipstick.

    A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.

    Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623

    The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.

    The problem is not 9/11, but

    The problem is not 9/11, but the many unprovable, tin-foil hat conspiracy theories which abound on the Internet. Those so-called "experts" who are quoted on various sites have absolutley no credibility in the academic world, nor with the real experts who have written at length on the subject.

    When someone states that I am "wasting their time" when attempting to point out the many flaws in a hare-brained conspiracy theory, then that tells me an awful lot about them.

    Your chart moves everything to right

    Now that you posted that chart, all the writing is to the right so it is cut off.  Are you trying to make it hard for anyone to read what I have to say or is that an accident?

    I'll change the figure if it

    I'll change the figure if it is ruining the formating but everything appears normal in my browser even if I reshape the size of it.

    The chart moves everything to the right

    Is anyone going to do anything?  It is impossible to read because you have to scroll to the right.

    chelamia

    The FIGURE is not the problem. With that entire comment IN or OUT of this thread, there is no difference.

    The shift may be coming from continuing replies to comments, a software bug or a formatting problem with another comment(s).

    You may, of course, simply reduce your font size in threads which shift a bit. For too great a shift the necessary reduction in font size may however make the text unreadable. Scrolling is then the only option.

    Hope that helps.

    Jim

    Jim, I've checked this node

    Jim, I've checked this node out on three different computers with both IE7 and Netscape, and the page looks fine at 1024x768.

    Thanks Bill.

    I'm afraid I can't offer any other options other than my own personal ace in the hole: 5 graphics cards running 5 monitors ;)

    ...Ain't life grand...

    I don't need no stinkin scrollin ;)

    Show off...;-)

    Show off...;-)

    STILL HARD TO READ THIS THREAD

    Am I the only one having this problem????? I have told you twice that the large size of your chart causes it almost impossible to read the threads because ever since you posted BIG CHART, everything is moved to the right so impossible to read without holding the button down to scroll over and over to the right.    Why can't you reduce the size of the chart or are you doing this purposely so people will get frustrated and just not bother read the posts?  You say I'm mean but I'm mad that you are ignoring me and talk down to me like I'm stupid conspiracy person who can't possibly know anythingfactual  because I'm not a physicist and from what I have read, there is a lot of disagreement within that community as well.   I thought this was a website for discussion not to intimidate people who question mainstream point of view. 

    chelamia

    You were mean.

    In many posts I, and others, spent the time to address your questions about the FIGURE.

    -Many computers were used.
    -More than one worker worked on it.
    -The FIGURE was taken out and nothing changed.
    -The FIGURE was made tiny and nothing changed.
    -We kept you apprised of this effort, on your behalf, and you did not respond.
    -Alternatives were also suggested and again you did not respond or acknowledge the effort.
    -With a larger font you have to scroll. With a smaller font you do not. I'm not sure that is all there is to it or if there remains a software glitch somewhere. As Bill notes, other computers are not having the problem you are.

    Now lets get one thing straight about the 911 discussion:

    -Suppose everything you believe is true. Then NOTHING I've said is false. I did not engage you on what happened. I simply took the time (and offered more) to work through one way the buildings could collapse.

    -There is no disagreement in the physics community about that. Since in human affairs a 51% agreement usually means an agreement has been reached, the 99.999% agreement in the physics community about what COULD have (not DID, but COULD have) brought the buildings down counts as agreement.

    If you wish to ignore my thoughts on the extremely narrow subject of free fall, floor joists, etc. then fine. Most Physicists eat Rocket Scientists, Engineers, and Architects for breakfast (with notable exceptions!). If you find one of them who tells ya that those floor joists could not have bent then fine. I already mentioned that I'm open to any real science, from a real scientist, but that it takes tens to hundreds of hours to digest a real paper on the matter. I would NOT dismiss a counter claim from them out of hand as you have from me. Instead I would spend the time studying the paper.

    It's understood that many of us are to absorb abuse while working for free on this site.

    It would be helpful however if you could end the attacks.

    Several of our most cherished posters believe something very ill occurred on 911 and we (including me) have had long discussions about it with NO worries about mean spiritedness.

    Chelamia, you prove the

    Chelamia, you prove the point that ignorance truly is bliss...

    Maher has been beating the anti-belief drum

    incessantly. It's getting old.

    I have liked Bill Maher and looked forward
    to his show.
    Bill Maher is not a Democrat, I believe he's a Libertarian.

    True, we have freedom of and from religion,
    but that's not how he sees it.

    Maher is a comedian and a commentator- I know this.
    But I also know that he has an enormous influence on
    many progressives, just look at DU's home page the day
    after his show.

    Bill goes on to state that people of faith should be " checking into Bellevue"
    their beliefs are " fariy tales". etc-- to which I say

    Screw you, Maher!
    You just negated a good portion of earth's population with
    your asinine comments.
    Way to go.

    Two weeks ago, he raised the ire of many with his breastfeeding comment.
    Again, he came off like an idiot.
    I read many liberals post how they don't like him.
    This surprised me until I looked up his bio on Wikipedia.

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

    We find references to,

    -He made derogatory comments regarding disabled children,
    -Voted for Bob Dole.
    - rumored he dated Ann Coulter.

    and many other items.

    then there is this---

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    What is it?
    It's a costume of Steve Irwin with the fatal sting ray
    barb in his chest.

    Maher wore this less than two months after Irwin's death.
    When asked if he would apologize to Irwin's family, Maher
    said " No". " Who do you think I am, John Kerry?"

    http://tinyurl.com/3aqakp

    Again, with the asinine comments.

    I still agree with Maher on many things.
    His show is one of the few outlets we have.
    But my opinion of him has changed.

    Bill Mahr

    I think that Bill Mahr's show has lost it's luster because frankly our country's situation just isn't funny.  These are serious times that demand serious discussions.  I think his panels have been lightweight, the subject matter has no substance and bashing the Democrats is just not appropriate.  The Democratic Party is all we have left to turn this country around.

    Bill Mahr is not stupid.  He knows procedures in the Congress yet fails every week to educate the viewing audience as to why the Democrats have been unable to stop this war. 

    We have young men and women dying everyday for a war that should have never taken place.  Bill Mahr has a perfect medium to get the facts out, instead he belittles our party and is becoming a real "turn off" to anyone who is looking for real information.

    This election is our last chance to get it right.  We need all of the positive reinforcement we can get.  One of his guests last week brought up the close business relationship between George W. Bush and the Bin Laden family and Mahr glazed over that and quickly went to another subject.  These facts need to be exposed.

    From 2000 to date we have been telling the public the facts about George W. Bush and his family and their relationship to the people they actually placed into power, example, Saddam and Bin Laden, we have exposed his false military career, his failed businesses, his sorted past and slowly the mainstream media is reporting on what they should have been reporting on all along.

    The people like Mahr who have a stage and an audience need to educate the listeners and viewers and support the only party that will stop this war and try to bring some type of end to the absolute destruction that Bush and Cheney have created for their own personal gain.

    Bill Mahr is becoming a very sad and impotent spokesman for truth and reality.  I don't care that he is a non believer, in fact I think he is lying, he supports Israel too strongly to have no spiritual feelings.   His show should not be about how he feels about God, he is there to put the facts on the table.  He is a funny guy, but our world is not funny anymore, there is no room for jokes when blood is being spilled over a lie from the most corrupt administration in the history of the United States.  That is what Bill Mahr needs to focus on. 

    Bill Maher is funny, our

    Bill Maher is funny, our government isn't.  It's sickeningly corrupt.  The problems begin when we don't listen, don't investigate, don't question, and numbly vote for whoever can convince us they aren't as corrupt as the other candidates.  We still believe in "We the People..."  Our government isn't about citizens anymore.  It isn't an honor for these people to represent our states in Congress or the Senate, it is a very lucrative position for them to make huge personal gain.  It's not like jury duty, where you serve, and make the best judgment on a case and go home when it's over.  Our politicians don't expect to serve one term, and then go back into the private sector.  They intend to be in the "public service" their entire working life, and retire with the benefits they give themselves, PLUS the fortunes they make from years and years of screwing the citizens of this country while "serving" us.  They've been serving us lead paint, e-coli, filthy air and water, no health care for when their inept policies finally do make us sick, and fantastic pharmaceuticals that few can afford, along with a generous dose of imported oil, for years and years, and we are just now getting the picture.  They're all in on it!  Bill Maher points out how sadly stupid we continue to be, and he's right.  How do we get our government back after we've let thieves and liars take it away?  Damned if I know, but Barrack Obama might just be the ticket.  His "inexperience" may mean he's less corrupt, and GOD, ALLAH, or whoever your higher power of choice is, the mainstream politicians don't want anyone in there to fuck it up for everyone else by using ethics, and honesty to end the bullshit going on in Washington. 

    What do U think of Stewart & Colbert/Olberman?

    I so agree with your comments about Bill Mahr.  What a waste of a good mind.  He is a sell out and that's all there is to it.  None of it is funny anymore but I find that Jon Stewart and Colbert do present a lot of truth in their own way and own world of satire. I think they do pretty good in the short amount of time they have.  I really liked what Jon said in response to Chris Mathews new book, "life is a Campaign."  You could probably find that on the comedy channel website from this week.

      Keith Olberman also goes out on a limb to tell more than most other mainstream news does as well.  We just can't expect to get all of it on the mainstream when it is owned by six corporations so we must look to other reliable on-line sources and basically self-educate and hopefully pass on what we learn.  However, I'm rather disappointed with this website because when I responded to someone comments about Bill Mahr and 911, I really got jumped on for being some lunatic for questioning.

    Also, Grinch didn't take me seriously telling people Ron Paul is gathering a lot of grassroots support and this week they made more than McCain (5 million) and this was brought up on PBS last night so I don't think we should be so quick to dismiss his supporters.  I'm going to go back to look at that discussion under David Swanson's blog but maybe there should be a forum to address how his libertarian views differ from Democrat and while they may have some overlapping agreement, there are fundamental differences and do his supporters jumping on the bandwagon realize what they are signing on to?

    Chelamia, You need to go back and...

    do some deep research on Dr. Paul. He may have collected 5 million in the last quarter...but who gave that to him? Fundies mostly from the Super Churches in his area.

    Imagine, a Doctor who is against mandated immunizations for children against the killer diseases. The killer bugs are just out there waiting for a goofball like the Doc to come along. If he had his way, our kids would mostly die before their 5th birthday...just the way they used to up to as late as the 30s.

    Somehow, you don't seem to appreciate comments against the good 'ol Doc. The man is Looney Tunes all the way.

    A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.

    Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623

     

    The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.

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