Independent Redneck's 'pearls of wisdom' - now my week is complete!

See you all over @ the Dew Drop Inn after some good news this week, it's time to kick back and raise a few with good friends!

Laughter, Love ♥ & Libations, who could ask for anything more?

Thanks as always to our hosts/moderators Mark & Domenico, for putting up with us and our antics!

Thanks for sharing this beautiful story, IR. Not the only romantic Virginian, either!

IR, perfect. Good to see the Friday afternoon Redneck humor is alive and well. Wasn't sure if those GOPTP characters in the VA state legislator had outlawed internet posting on The Week Ahead as part of their war on liberties. As Feisty said, now the week is complete.

Those were solely Democrats in Virginia who were racists in the bad old days...

The Southern Democratic party for most of the 20th Century was a partner with the Ku Klux Klan. Ask Dem Senate Majority Leader and Grand Kleagle Robert "KKK" Byrd about that.

Thankfully, the Republican Party fought for civil rights, and eventually Democrats came around.

Virginia was the home of redneck Democrats. No longer.

Now we have the best Governor in the country. African Americans, like other Americans, are fleeing the failed liberal states in the North and coming back South.

IR: No one says these things better than you! Thanks for the work you do keeping the Dew Drop and Come Back Inns going! Lots to do there!

What oh what have we learned? We have learned to our horror that it is the 1960's all over again. Men, like the Darrel Issas of the world, feel free to attack women's health issues with impunity. And why not...it has always worked for them before! Wedge issues, restricting individual freedoms by the patriarchy/theocracy of the right wing, that is what they think will win them elections.

But, there is a generation of us that remember those old battles, and we are quite willing to fight them again. The Susan B. Komen foundation found out to its great sorrow, what happens when you politicize women's health issues.

This was NEVER a religious freedom issue, no matter what the taliban like fringe right wing likes to think. This was and is about equality. You can go back to the 1964 Civil Rights Act to see that discrimination was outlawed based on gender.

I still remember the sadness from my mom when she told how she was forced to quit a job she loved when she was pregnant. She did not have a choice. The men were in power, and they didn't hesitate to remind women that they only had the rights men would give them.

I am horrified that we will fight the equality battle again, but hey...been there, done that, and won't hesitate to carry the signs, do the voter registration and education necessary to make sure that Equality Laws matter.

So quit telling me about your "religious liberty". That hogwash extends only as far as it impedes my daughters' ability to get and hold jobs. And to determine if they will use contraceptives and that they are covered by the insurance they pay for.

This is about Equality. And we will fight the fight again.

My thanks to my hosts as always! It has been an interesting week! Have a good weekend all! Fiesty: I think it is time to make the Libertinis again! A toast to us all for Valentine's day, and a toast for those men who are willing to defend women's access to contraceptives.

This is about Equality. And we will fight the fight again.

WOW NDD - powerful post!

I am PROUD to fight by your side!

IR, I saw a bit of their story the other night; thanks for putting up more detail and tying it to Valentine's Day. What brave people they were. Hard to imagine such laws existed. Now it seems we have legislators who would willingly turn back the clock, undo the good in the name of their own self-righteousness.

Yes, Bob McDonnell we know the history, we know about Robert Byrd but the Dixiecrats became the modern republican party so put a sock in it.

Sounds like we may have to Feisty.

Uncle Redneck and Newday - Thanks for the powerful reminders of why we can not go back. And will not go back.

Bob I would caution you and the Gentleman that you purport to speak for to not overreach your bounds. Mr McDonnell was doing fine and I was looking for a right spirited contest come 2016 which I think Mr. McDonnell might do well in until the last election and now you did what you Yahoo's do when you get a majority and start messing where you shouldn't be messing. Folks and Rednecks don't forget certain things and rewriting history is one of them. Let it be Sport and Have a drink down at the DDI on me

NewdayDawning, beautifully said as well! We are ready to fight those battles again and as often as they need fighting. Issa and his ilk have no right to determine the rights of women--they use religion as an excuse but their goal is to suppress women.

Those were solely Democrats in Virginia who were racists in the bad old days...

The Southern Democratic party for most of the 20th Century was a partner with the Ku Klux Klan. Ask Dem Senate Majority Leader and Grand Kleagle Robert "KKK" Byrd about that.

Thankfully, the Republican Party fought for civil rights, and eventually Democrats came around.

Asking Robert Byrd about his past with the KKK is kinda hard at the moment considering he died 2 years ago. Maybe you should go see John Edwards (not the former Congressman) about that.

Byrd addressed his connections with the KKK in his memoir: "It has emerged throughout my life to haunt and embarrass me and has taught me in a very graphic way what one major mistake can do to one's life, career, and reputation."

Remember the Dixiecrats led by Strom Thrumond? Well, they all became Republicans.

...and, oh, yeah, let's not forget Barry Goldwater and the Southern Strategy.

Virginia was the home of redneck Democrats. No longer.

Virginia is now the home of many Redneck Republicans.

IR....that is a true Loving story. They were truly brave people. I know a couple, she white from overseas and he black from Va. His mamma disowned him when he tried to bring her home. They are very happily married still and live in the NE.

Haven't been around much this week to contribute, but in reading some posts late in the evening, it sure has been a lively week. There are moments when I feel like I'm dreaming and living in the past. The conclusion I've come to is that the republicans have nothing to offer, all the have are distractions. They cannot criticize the Pres. for the great job he is doing on the economy and on foreign policy. He is a calm and reasoned voice in a sea of insane ideologues who want only one thing. to defeat him, and they are losing badly playing that game.

To all my friends here and those that read what they post, have a lovely Presidents Day weekend. I'll be over to the DDI in a little while for some cheer and good conversation.

Thank you to Mark and Domenico, their colleagues and hard working crew for making this the best political blog on the internet.

Da Noid, you will forgive a Democrat, even if a KKK member, no matter what he did or believed! But for Republicans, if they put their dog on a carrier on a vacation trip in 1983, you moonbats rant they are evil!

...As a Northern transplant to Virginia, I laugh at the clueless libs stereotyping the Old South as racist toothless Bible thumpers .

The Old South is gone... The South is full of Northerners, and the economy here is superior than the Northern states ruined by decades of unionism, and failed liberal policies of tax and spend.

Great story IR. Thanks

Couldn't let it go could you Bob and have a good time. You have however explained what your problem is. You see in my neck of the woods there are Yankees and Damn Yankees. Damn Yankees come South and stay. We used to call them Carpetbaggers. Now we just call them Fools from up North that don't know no better. Have to be P.C. don't you know.

IR - Great post and reminder that some battles must be consistently fought.

NDD - also a great post, and it reminds me of my mom, in the early 70s, as the sole bread winner in our house, trying to get a loan for a new car. The bankers wouldn't give it to her without a co-signature from dear old dad. Seems granting credit to women was an unsound business practice at the time, what with them running around, getting pregnant, and crying hysterically and the drop of a hat. Fortunately, Credit Unions were new and much more progressive than the fat, old, white men (courtesy of Feisty) bankers of the era.

I'm still in shock that bob has made two comments and my name wasn't included in either one of them!

Talk about *crushed* lol

How will I find the strength to persevere???

I remember those days well RedDev. Unfortunately, people have forgotten.

...As a Northern transplant to Virginia, I laugh at the clueless libs stereotyping the Old South as racist toothless Bible thumpers .

The Old South is gone... The South is full of Northerners, and the economy here is superior than the Northern states ruined by decades of unionism, and failed liberal policies of tax and spend.

Really?

So, if I went to Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas...places like that I wouldn't see "The Old South" alive and well?

Bob, I realize that VA is a little further north than the so-called southern states but if it were true about unions causing the demise of the economic north, why is it the northern, mid west and western states must consistently send more tax dollars to those "southern" states than those states pay. If things were that great in the south, seems things would be more even.

Some places are like that Noid, it's small and far in between. Kind of like if I decide to take a walk in the projects of Chicago or cast corridor of Detroit or downtown Philly. You think anything will happen?

Just a little reminder to those liberals that still think Obama will win in November. This issue will not go away and if anything, you can count on whoever the republican candidate is, this will be a huge issue launched against Obama in the general campaign.

Up to now, the Obama administration has been fighting for changes in public policy confined largely to the economic sphere, stimulating class envy and seeking to divide the entitlement-minded among us from those who manage to make their way in a generally free-market system.

They haven't been completely successful but they haven't really failed either.

All that changed last week when the White House stumbled backwards into the culture wars. And they did so by announcing a mandate requiring employer-provided health insurance include coverage for unreproductive health servicesincluding various forms of birth control.

This new mandate, which actually stems from Obama's signature healthcare law, has been in the making for some months. There were those, however, inside the White House who held out hope that there would be some way to "split the baby" before it was announced so as not to anger some very powerful interest groups who might not approve of it.

They failed. The policy was announced and the blowback hit with the force of hurricane winds. The principle complainants regarding the new policy have been America's Catholic bishops, who argue that the mandate forces the Church, which does not condone artificial birth control, to go against the tenets of its faith.

The Church's opposition was in fact so severe that the administration quickly issued what was supposed to be a face-saving compromise that opponents of the mandate were quick to attack as meaningless.

Nonetheless, Obama is now firmly involved in the culture wars, which the so-called "Reagan Democrats" taught us back in the 1980s will cause voters to cross party lines when they cast their presidential ballots. Sensitive about many social issues, they are usually reliable, church-going folk, which places them on the opposite side of the president in this attack on religious liberty.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/2012/02/14/on-contraception-mandate-obama-blunders-into-the-culture-wars

Have a wonderful night liberals! Keep dreaming... I'll be hoping for change!

Floyd,

Fire up the backhoe - BB just dumped quite a load on your porch!

I'm wondering, Feisty, if brianb ever figured out, to use his words, that Madison and Jefferson did indeed, "author" this country?

Red Betty aka Carrot top in Drag.... Why should Floyd fire up the backhoe? I didn't dump YOU on his porch.... now had I, I could understand the backhoe.

newday - if you are so hot on Jefferson, why didn't what he write in all those quotes you so boldy reproduce go into the Constitution? Hmmmm?

Americans are so accustomed to associating Thomas Jefferson with the nation's founding documents that they easily overlook that he played no hands-on role in composing the United States Constitution. While it was being drafted in 1787, he was three thousand miles away in France. It wasn't the only chance to write a constitution that Jefferson missed. The fifth Virginia Convention, which included George Mason, James Madison, and Edmund Randolph, came together in Williamsburg in the spring of 1776 to begin work on a "Declaration of Rights" and a "Form of Government." Many consider the resulting document the world's first modern constitution, and it would soon have great influence on the federal Constitution. But while Jefferson's home state was debating its form of government in the spring and summer of 1776, he was in Philadelphia, focusing his attention on national rather than state business.

http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/spring07/jefferson.cfm

Up yours newday!

Jefferson was the one that insisted on the Bill of Rights. Authored by one James Madison.

Why the Catholic Contraception Controversy Is a Phony Battle................http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/susan-milligan/2012/02/13/why-the-catholic-contraception-controversy-is-a-phony-battle?s_cid=related-links:TOP...............To easy Red The counterpoint is on the very page that this Yahoo cites. You want to keep on being an idiot like your buddy Bob up there or do you want to call it a night and in the spirit of peace and harmony I'll buy you a beer Brian. I've got an in with the propietors of the Inn don't you know

newday - Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Wrong! Jefferson suggested amending the Constitution in a letter written to Madison. He never INSISTED! Jefferson found problems with the Constitution within several of the articles. If Jefferson's version of the Constitution was adopted, this country would look completely different today. Jefferson wanted to abolish the standing army in times of peace. Jefferson wanted to abolish slavery right from the beginning, which would have given you liberals one less item to complain about this country. Jefferson wanted term limits placed on all elected officials with one term only for Senators chosen by the house of representatives, whereby once as soon as the senator's term was finished they could never fill that position again. He didn't want a president, he wanted a one year term for an Administrator. There were several things he thought would be better... Don't think I don't know my history... Jefferson was a gentleman and gentlemen never INSIST on anything... they suggest.

Independent - we can debate contraceptives all night long... but the issue was never about contraceptives. It was always about Obama pushing himself onto religious freedom. I could give a whit about contraceptives... You'd be arguing apples... and since I don't really like apples, I'd be arguing oranges... just cuz I love them.

I appreciate the open invitation but, if you really know this board, the moment I stepped into the Inn, I would be pelted with cupcakes and then I'd have to retaliate... and that wouldn't be very pretty at all.

In the spirit of your kind offer though, I'd take you up on a beer and I'll toss a couple your way as well but it would have to be in the neutral zone. (smile) Somehow I get the feeling that Red Betty is gunning for me and she's packing cupcakes.

Brian see that is your problem. You start with a false premise and then double down on it and have to back up some when you are hoisted on your own sources. As far as neutral territory goes most everywhere I go I am welcome because I don't make it a habit to start a bunch of stuff that I can't back up. If you have made yourself unwelcome in certain circles it sounds like a personal problem to me brought on by constantly letting your alligator mouth overload your hummingbird behind. Once you get over that I sure that Red will take pity on you and let me buy you a beer.

Independent - Let's be totally honest. I am a conservative that insists on frequenting a liberal based blog. It doesn't matter what proof I offer, it's rejected. It doesn't matter what the truth is, if it doesn't comply with the liberal thought process, it's rejected. I'm not a novice here. I come to provoke. I'm one of the ones that unbalances the equation. I have my reasons... but among them is not an attempt to win friends. Even still, there are some liberals that get along just fine with me.

Let's reverse the situation. Let's say that you decided to enter into a conservative blog. After reading what you consider to be their crap, try interjecting your liberal viewpoints and produce your sources. Do you not think you'd get the same sort of welcome I get here? I can guarantee you would. Now I understand that you are perfectly comfortable posting on here... believe it or not, I am. If I weren't do you think I'd bother?

Most of the stuff I start is based on opinion. My opinion is just as valid as yours. I have sources... and I can provide backup to a lot of what I believe. In many instances I do. Do you really think that matters? The first thing that's attacked is me... then the source... It really makes no difference.

The moment I'm known as a conservative, I am unwelcome. That only makes me want to stick around more... I never take it personally... that's why you'll never see me post in anger... How can one be angry when they find so much enjoyment in people that entertain so much?

Maybe now you'll understand a little better how I feel about wanting to make friends... or winning over on people that are impossible to win over.... It's all in the entertainment value.

brian: pretty bad, even for you. The fact is that Jefferson wrote Madison about the importance of securing rights through a Bill of Rights. Madison wrote them, starting with 12, and it eventually evolved into the 10 that appear today.

In no case can you make any argument that Jefferson was not the "author" of this country. You are simply wrong. And by the way: the letters that I quote are often quoted in decisions from the Supreme Court, especially the letter to the Danbury Baptists.

But, if you want to say that you "provoke" you may indeed be correct. But what you provoke is laughter.

The laughter I provoke in you is either insidious, or hysterical. Both types of laughter, is initiated in your warped mind. But I'm glad you notice my humor... most of it is intentional. Absurdity usually is funny... maybe now you are starting to get the picture... the only way to reach the deep recesses of the evil liberal mind is through pointing out the obvious. Even then, most times they never see it.

JoAnne, you did it again. Here I sit, laughing! Thanks, friend!

JoAnne, can't say a thing for laughing!

Now you Done done it JoAnne. While I'm at it you want to join me this weekend while we hook up a couple of Newdays Paints to the DDI sleigh and give some rides over to the Comeback Inn. Coldmaker and some snow coming in this weekend. Romance for the patrons and a wee Toddy for your Drivers.

Hear the sleigh bells, IR? Headed your way now, horses dancing!

OMG JoAnne!

Not again... ROTFLMFAO! ;o)))

JoAnne........I cant see the screen I'm laughing so much....Great!

JoAnne---as Activities Director of the DDI you are doing a fabulous job.

I will bring a batch of red velvet cupcakes with heart sprinkles in honor of Valentine's Day and IR's post.

Thanks to Mark, Domenico and crew for another great week of politics. Just when you thought you've seen everything.....who knows what next week will bring?

You are on fire today, Joanne. I see Hostess is your cup-o-tea today. Nice Ding-Dong Zinger on the other thread. And it sounds like IR will be getting a dose of Sno Balls this weekend. Bundle up, stay warm, and you all enjoy your DDI 'tinis.

You mean it's actually winter somewhere? It feels like spring here, even the birds are singing today. A dozen caramel cupcakes with some of that buttercream frosting will be at the DDI shortly.

Thanks to our FR hosts and their hard-working staff. It's been a wild and crazy week. Have a great weekend.

Since Interstate Bakeries is headquartered right down the street from my house,...JoAnne, I want to commend you for singlehandedly bringing them out of Chapter 11!

Hostess For All!

Another Great Week,...And for the inquiring minds,...Dew Drop meetups are not occurring in a city with a team playing,...But thanks for the interest. PS. Mr. Murray is a new papa and his days of teaching the Infield Fly Rule are way ahead of him,...

Thanks, everyone - but IR, out of kindness for Newday's horsies, you can do all the driving and I'll mind the wee toddy flask for you. Deal?

IR, NDD,

You have really set the context for this week that is finally ending. Count me in , I remember and lived through segregation and the the narrow view of women in the public realm.

Joanne,

Ready for the games tonight. And boy ,do I have some stories to tell about guys like Forster Friess when they were young.:0)

I hope the jukebox has some good Janis Joplin and Aretha tunes before the games begin? i dedicate those tunes to the GOP RWNJ wherever they are.i

I hope the jukebox has some good Janis Joplin and Aretha tunes before the games begin?

In honor of Whitney Houston - here she is singing the Star Spangled Banner!

No one and I mean NO ONE has ever come close!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS4v431Mlak&feature=player_detailpage

Us right wing sane people are sitting around watching you revel in your bizzaro non-parallel universe. Leave it to the liberals to make up stories in a cyber world fantasy land where you fill each other with your unmitigated made up stories... I wonder if you ever discuss the amount of debt the Obama administration has placed on your grandchildren... I wonder if you ever discuss the horrendous economic conditions this administration has led you to believe is actually good for this country? Not likely.... instead you choose colorful stories about the republican hair styles and the way they walk.

By the way... if anyone slings a cupcake at me... they can expect a full metal jacket in the kneecaps. Leave it to a liberal to bring a cupcake to a gunfight. ROFL!!!!

Brianb -

As a courtesy to our late-night viewers, I'm happy to re-post the opening salvo in the cupcake wars from a poster named Proverbs16 on another thread from earlier today. Now I could be wrong, but I really don't think old Proverbs is a liberal.....

"Face it Barack Hussein Bin Laden Obama, is a socialist dictator, But I understand why you simpletons like him because He will give everybody food stamps,wanting everyone to depend on Govt to pay the way. And in return you will let him change Constitutions, Amendments, reduce our military, tell our children they can not bring cupcakes to school" actually Mrs. Obamas Idea" so that His Muslim buddies one day will be able to destroy our WEAKENED country"

Come on, Brianb - save your country from Barack Hussein Bin Laden Obama and his Muslim buddies! Cupcakes are your final hope!

Us right wing sane people are sitting around watching you revel in your bizzaro non-parallel universe.

Little buddy - envious much? Always the brides maid & never the bride eh Brian?

By the way... if anyone slings a cupcake at me... they can expect a full metal jacket in the kneecaps.

You want to f**K with me? Seriously? I have & will continue to tutor neuter you in one fell swoop little man!

Although, your balls stink too much to wear them for earrings! ;o) I prefer to keep those little 'gems' in my trophy case!

Tonight's drink special comes from the Weyerbacher Brewing Company right here in Pennsylvania - a lovely English barleywine style beer called "Blithering Idiot". For anyone wearing a Santorum sweater vest with well-creased Mitt Romney jeans, it's buy one, get one free.

Sounds like fun, JoAnne! Do I get any special deals if I bring my dog in his "Mutts against Mitt" sweater?

OK Joanne, I understand the humor. I get it... But what I truly understand is your side not taking him seriously. Old Proverbs has a singular problem... addressing too many issues in too short a space. Now had he compartmentalized his composition and formulated individual points, it would have better appearance... and you people think I rant... LOL. None the less, I do like his name for Obama... LOL.

Simply put, Old Proverbs lacks the tact but what you may not have considered is he might be a hunt and peck typist and that post could have taken him 2 hours to compose. Some people aren't gifted with nimble fingers.

Little buddy - envious much? Always the brides maid & never the bride eh Brian? Ahhhh Red Betty carrot top in drag chimes in. Envious? That's a joke! Red Betty made a joke! Holy cow! A red letter day for a Red Betty!

You want to f**K with me? Seriously? I have & will continue to tutor neuter you in one fell swoop little man!

::Looking Down:: You keep on missing Red Betty... your aim ain't worth a sh!t! You're all words and hot air!

Although, your balls stink too much to wear them for earrings! ;o) I prefer to keep those little 'gems' in my trophy case!

You may think they stink, but you keep sucking on them...

Come on Red Betty... You can do much better than this... you keep opening yourself up... I see the mold growing out of that thing you are so proud of... Itch much?

What I see is an impotent control freak who keeps getting his ass handed to him - and yet he keeps coming back for more abuse!

I DO want to thank you for playing, without you & the rest of the Eunuchs, this place would be pretty boring!

PS: Get back to me when you are FEISTY worthy - until then, I will continue to read the ramblings of an inmate who escaped the asylum! ;o)

PS: If you talk real nice, I'm certain the 'boob' would blow ya! ;o)

What I see is - Huh? Red Betty, you are blind... how can you see anything? Didn't the doctor tell you that you have NO vision?

What I see is an impotent control freak who keeps getting his ass handed to him - If you see this, you are looking in another direction. No wait!!! The doctor says you are blind... so how can you see anything?

I DO want to thank you for playing - It's my pleasure, not yours. I always enjoy watching morons try to think they have power when they don't.

PS: Get back to me when you are FEISTY worthy - until then, I will continue to read the ramblings of an inmate who escaped the asylum! ;o) - AHHHHHHHH Now I really understand... you read your words and then realize that you escaped the asylum.... It's getting real clear now... maybe I should pity you. Nahhhhh... I never take pity on self-induced stupidity.

PS: If you talk real nice, I'm certain the 'boob' would blow ya! ;o Maybe you should take a sex education class. Boobs don't give blow jobs... all they do is hang there... but you give real good blow jobs if one can stomach the missing front teeth.

I can continue to embarrass you all night long if you like.... keep it up... you are only making it get easier.

Drinks on me kaybeetoys!

brian: are you 12? Because you send like you are stuck in adolescence.

oops, typo. send should be sound.

I'm 12 eh? Give Red Betty a pass on her adolescent posts... Great discerning eye newday.

DaNoid - there were several classics out there this week. My favorite was Kirk explaining that a vasectomy is cosmetic surgery. Talk about pretty balls and beautiful nuts.

"Cosmetic Surgery"?!

One of nature's cruel ironies is that our "naughty bits" aren't particularly aesthetically pleasing when it comes right down to it...yet it's what we want most.

(To paraphrase Robin Williams, "It's where we come from and where we keep trying to get back to.")

A vasectomy is "cosmetic surgery"? Sorry, I don't think it's going to make it any prettier.

My favorite was Kirk explaining that a vasectomy is cosmetic surgery. Talk about pretty balls and beautiful nuts.

Since I have that whack job Kirk on ignore, I totally missed that one! lol

I say we start a contest for most outrageous comment made by a RWNJ during the previous week & post our selection here at the Dew Drop Inn on Friday's for a vote!

We can award the winner a 'silver foot trophy'...

That would be fun - but are there enough pages available on the vine to post all the nominees?

And for another laugh, Kirk mentioned that birth control was prescribed so that women could pursue their sexual appetites.

Now you understand why I put that idiot on ignore! lol

He is a member of a very small yet special list!

DaNoid,

That is why I have Damage on ignore.

Feisty,

Excellent idea about the most outrageous comment by the some of these loons. I will keep a note book handy when I review the threads after I get home form work.

Feisty: brianb wins going away for his post on why Thomas Jefferson matters. Still laughing.

NorthstarDFL,

Excellent idea about the most outrageous comment by the some of these loons. I will keep a note book handy when I review the threads after I get home form work.

Ya, that's all we need more bad blood between the Left & Right.

Just for fun, theotas. How ya doing?

thetotas,

Relax, It is Friday night.

The word "loon" is used in MN when you want to chide someone. NDD,help me out here...

Nothing about" bad blood."

You do know that our state bird is the loon?

Nothing more haunting than the cry of the loon across a lake way up North on any summer night.

Here I am Northstar! And theotas, Northstar is right. We in MN love our loons. And it is in our slang. Part of our MN nice. We call people our favorite bird instead of really trying to hurt their feelings.

But, there is nothing like the sound of the loons on the lake at night.

Hey Newday,

I am fine and you? I see you have been busy posting the last couple of days. This topic seems to affect people deeply, and very differently. I don't even know where to start.

Sorry Northstar,

I do need to relax, its has been a long week, and I am so glad its over.

I'm great too, theotas. I do look for your posts so I can see how you are doing! Hope you get some rest. I do get your point however, we should be looking for things in common.

You and I found common ground, maybe the rest of the nation can too.

Have a good weekend!

Newday,

I wish I could write down my thoughts. There so much I would like to ask, and so much I would like to say, but it gets lost in translation. I just wanted to thank you for being so kind.

Hi Newday, Northstar, Feisty and the rest,

thetotas, How ya been? feelin better I hope,

There a lot of common ground if we would only seek it out...

;-)

You do just fine theotas, and I do like to read what you have to say.

Egilman, have a nice weekend.

Thanks Newday, I hope you have a nice weekend as well.

Hi Egilman,

There a lot of common ground if we would only seek it out.

I willing to try any suggestions?

I love this country, and it scares me to see it so divided. Nothing is getting done, know one is willing to listen, and know one is willing to compromise.

Where do we go from here?

ps - I wanted to thank you for the information you gave me last week. Its a lot to digest, but I working on it.

Your post, theotas, on Whitney Houston was superb. I did not know those things about her.

What a talent!

Tonight I watched her sing the National Anthem back in 1991. Wow, I remember as if was just yesterday, goosebumps and all.

I also remember how different it was back then.

Now, kinda sucks.

thetotas,

I willing to try any suggestions?

We must put away the politics of division, the take no prisoners approach to politics. Backbiting like you see on these boards all the time is not what we need, they just foster the bitter anger from one to another, it is too easy to sit behind a computer screen and spout nonsense and bicker or bully. It gets us nowhere and even pushes us back into division. GLSEN teaches that we should be accepting of other views and tolerant of others situations and beliefs, why cant we practice it? Are we all bigots? does the anonymity of the computer make it easier for the base beliefs of hate to surface?, from what I've seen, this is the current state of affairs on the web.

It is also one of the first things we can change, if we really want to. Otherwise we risk being viewed as liking ourselves as base creatures without compassion or the ability to reason peaceably. Change starts with the individual wanting to change, if I want to change it is my personal responsibility to make that change, no one else will do it for me, especially the government.

Where do we go from here?

Well, I for one have always believed in we need to clean our own house before we can comment on others. At this time both political houses need some cleaning, but I am only concerned with taking back our republican house or failing that building a new conservative one.

The first thing we need to do is get rid of the Neo-Cons, to an extent this is happening as the establishment neo-con pukes running the party resign or are fired from all the caucus fraud fallout, reports are that they are being replaced with Dr Paul supporters. That is an excellent start.

WE as Conservatives need to get back to our roots, Liberty, freedom, personal individual responsibility, The rule of law, re-establishing the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

All of these would be good for starters. But to do this, individual personal responsibility is the most important. If we do not stand up and be counted then we cannot complain when the country goes to hell.

Get out and Vote, get involved in your precinct, county and state party, talk, spread the word. make sure that the voices of freedom and liberty are heard. Learn about our history in the party, it's roots it's greatest leaders and what they stood for, because it is what we need today more than ever.

The more of us do this, the fewer will be the voices of dissent and discord, of re-writing our history. I'm proud to be an American, you be too, and spread the word to everyone that they need to be proud of their country.

It does no good to spout platitudes from the distance, we all need to get involved.

ps - I wanted to thank you for the information you gave me last week. Its a lot to digest, but I working on it.

My pleasure, if you ever have a question I will try to answer it as best I can, I don't know everything, but what I do know you are welcome too.

Egilman,

We all post here on FR because we have a interest in politics and issues facing our country. Many of my friends are amused that I read and post on a political blog. But I don't do facebook and am amused that they are interested in social media daily.

So we share a common interest, and I really do learn from many of the posts here. I appreciate the links and well expressed opinions on given topics.

We are a two party system and each have basic views about the role of government . And I dare say both want government to work for the benefit of all of its citizens. In a democracy there will always be diversity, that is good. If we all were alike and thought the same way , we could just have a benevolent king to keep the system running. Unity does not mean uniformity.

And I always assume that everyone here loves our country . We are all in this together.

Northstar,

You have stated in the recent past that there are now two things we agree on, I have replied that I believe that there are a great many more things we agree on.

This being said, both of our posts above cover a great many areas, and are in complete agreement. Yes we are all in this together. Sometimes, listening to the diatribes posted here it can make you wonder if we all truly love this country, or are in this all as one nation.

From my experience, I've learned to never assume anything, maybe age has turned me cynical, or maybe it's politics, I don't know. I have passion for what I believe in, I know others do also and rightfully so. It's the way it is expressed on a computer board at times that really gets depressing.

God help us if the message board ever loses it's anonymity...

I call myself the loyal opposition, and I hold that as a truth, I wish more did.

Egilman,

i have been around now long enough to distinguish the real trolls from those who hold passionate positions about government policy and our elected officials.

My trick not to get too depressed is to pause sometimes and go to another site for while. This week with the rhetoric about religion , I spent lots of time on trip advisor planning my next vacation.:0)

Egilman ,We do have lots in common from reading many of your posts. You are a conservative and maybe libertarian on certain issues. I am a liberal democrat that has grown more conservative as I grow older.

You should have know me in the 60's...

Thanks for responding to my posts. Enjoy your long weekend.

She also donated to the NYPD and NY Firefighters after 9/11. Truly she had a big heart and an illness that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

I'd rather that honor be reserved for military personnel, law enforcement, firefighters, etc...but that's a debate for another time.

I just find the irony a little delicious today considering "Damage" wants to call out Democrats for mourning "ANOTHER dead drug addict" (his words, not mine) when a Republican governor chooses to go "half-staff" for her.

da noid, for all we know krispy kreme was full staff for her,...lol

sorry, bad joke,...

Da Noid -

Do you suppose Damage123 is also aware that no less than Rush Limbaugh has weighed in supporting Governor Christie on this one?

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/02/16/christie_defends_whitney_houston_decision

I just checked, and the U.S. Flag Code states that "By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law." So technically speaking, police, fire, and even military personnel don't qualify, though I suppose that "practices not inconsistent with the law" leaves a loophole open. As you said, a debate for another time. But thanks for giving me an excuse to re-read the Code - it's amazing how so many people who claim to be patriots are oblivious about being in total violation of it by flying flags overnight, in the rain, on their cars, etc. - gotta wonder if Damage is one of those.

As for flying it at half staff for Whitney Houston, I personally would probably say no.....but at the same time, I kind of have to agree with what Governor Christie said in defending his actions:

"I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise — and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet — but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life," said the governor during a briefing in northern New Jersey. "I just
reject that on a human level."

Rejecting the criticism, Christie says: "What I would say to everybody is there but for the grace of God go I.”