Dreams Of Noise

Another way to hinder support for McCain and other pro-Iraq-war politicians, get people to see the new movie "Stop-Loss." Snack and I saw an advance showing last night, and it puts this stupid war into perspective by showing how it is for the people fighting it. The movie is fiction, but the situations it portrays are real; it opens this weekend.

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filkertom.livejournal.com

No doubt. It looks tremendous. Here's the official movie site (http://www.stoplossmovie.com/).

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Here's a site put up by actual stop-lossed soldiers telling what's actually happening to our troops.

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I really DO, and I really DON'T want to see this movie. Kinda like how many war vets didn't like seeing Saving Private Ryan. Been there, done that.

War may not be the worst thing man has ever done unto himself, but it's despicable, and horrific.

Only thing I will say in support for McCain on this one - is that while he supports the war, he also supports the immediate closing / decomissioning of the concentration camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (unlike Chimpy)

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He *supports* it, but will he do it? Don't wanna look soft on those "terrrrsts."

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If I only had an improbability drive (and we could measure how far the ship flies versus an imaginary number to determine this likelihood). Kinda like Bush Sr. talking about "Read my lips. No new taxes." Part of the reason being is I don't know how McCain wants to look at terrrrsts (I love any word with four r's in!). If he regards them as subhuman monsters (like Chimpy), he'll probably keep the camp around. If he regards them as people who are fighting for something they believe in, who deserve basic human rights and respect; I think he can pull the plug on that camp using those grounds.

Hell, he might even feel their plight by the slightest inch, at being a former POW during Vietnam. Were I in his shoes, I'd become President, and not twenty minutes later, order the closing of Guantanamo. (sadly, I'm not him)

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I've come up with a suspicion, which I've posted as my own crackpot theory, which would indicate that closing Gitmo would be the *last* thing he's want to do (no matter what he says in public). See what you think of this. Of course, I could be totally wrong.

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Very insightful. Something I'm afraid might happen to me if we pull out of Iraq too early (I cited it from a different perspective, touching on how the Vietnam vets have unfinished business).

Whether you're right, or wrong, or even if you never find out, it gives pause for thought. Remind me to friend you after work (and go mutual), there are some friends-locked posts you might want to take a gander at.

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Will do. Thanks for your thoughts.

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unclelumpy.livejournal.com

Great, if you want to stop political corruption you have to sign up on some Goddamned e-mail spam list!

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I doubt anything will come of this in time to make a difference. (Yes, I did sign it.) Either the FEC will drag its feet until it doesn't matter or he'll get elected in which cronyism takes over and the FEC thing gets lost in the shuffle.

To top it all off if someone doesn't smack Hillary with a clue-bat a McCain victory is much more likely:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23797412/

"Given all we know, he wouldn't be my pastor," Clinton said.

That's just the sort of crap needed to confuse everyone's focus and give the election to McCain.

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bryanp.livejournal.com

They're in competition. They're going to make hay of each other's political differences. Tell me that if McCain had regularly seen Fred Phelps as his pastor for years and then came out and said "Well, I disagree with much of what he says, but I he's still a good man" that you wouldn't expect the Democrats to make what they can of it?

I just wish we'd get out of the habit of electing god botherers at all. But that's not going to happen anytime soon.

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That was my point exactly, and I believe Tom made it once as well, they _shouldn't_ be in competition. By continuing that competition using things like the whole pastor thing to distract from, IMO, more important issues it will do nothing but insure that neither of them will get elected.

You're right about electing "god botherers" though. (I like that term - it fits well. Thanks!)

As for Fred Phelps he's one of the few people on the planet that I truly would wish a death in a deep dark hole all alone rotting away calling piteously for help with no one to hear.

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bryanp.livejournal.com

I first heard the term god botherers from conservative friends who lament the takeover of the Republican party by evangelicals.

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Off to post a friends-only thing on my opinions on Iraq (as I promised to earlier)... the reason why I must do it w/ security is that I am subject to Court Martial (for insubordination, among other things). A court martial conviction can carry up to capital punishment for offenses tried there. So, my opinions shall not be public. :)

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tesral.livejournal.com

How about a different idea. Let's not ellect government, let's choose it by lottery from among the registered to vote public. I don't see how we could do worse myself. At least would wouldn't be assured of getting a Repubocrat made fat on contrbutions. Heck we might get an honest mother of three that knows the meaning of hard work and budget.

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filkertom.livejournal.com

Bluntly, that ain't the worst idea I've heard. Not by a long shot.

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That goes right along with a suggestion a friend of mine once made.

Once a year or once every umpteen years walk along the street and tap some person on the shoulder and say "You're the president now for the next X number of years." Period. No choice in the matter. Your life gets put on hold and you become the president for that period of time.

Could be worse, could be better, but definitely a much better chance of not being tied to a lot of special interests.

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tesral.livejournal.com

My problem with the tap a new president idea is the no choice. It violates the Zero Aggression Principle. And it gives cronyism a foot in the door. I tap my buddy, he taps his buddy and we are buddies all around. A lottery you have to sign up for. You sign up by registering to vote. By saying you want to participate in the political process you are agreeing to serve if selected. Don't want to serve? Don't register to vote. It also keeps any personal preferences from becoming set. We don't get Buddyocracy. I seem to remember that is how the Soviet Union worked.

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