en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/594033 Comments by cliffcarson http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/16/obama-the-fraud/#IDComment44102434 Speaking of Fraud. There is a new "Christian" station on the air in my area. It runs 24/7 denigrating Islam, Muslims, Obama, Democrats, Liberals, and anyone else not "blessed of their God". Their mantra seems to be "War is Great and ordained of God" I'm not sure that they realize that their God is Conservatism because they claim to be living for Jesus. I listen to the station every day - but I admit never more than two hours - I have been waiting to hear a sermon. Might have to wait until next year - possibly never - that is until the Republicans get back in. Now these self professed Christians are truly frauds. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:46:24 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/16/obama-the-fraud/#IDComment44102434 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/20/that-lonesome-valley/#IDComment44101962 Good. And there can be a message there if we just look for it. We can't wait for "somebody else" to do it . It is our responsibility to fix what is wrong in our country so that our children don't have to inherit what we didn't bother to fix. It's not their doing. It's our responsibility. We need to get rid of every incumbent this next election. There is only one way we can do that. Select someone from the Independent ranks who you think would make a good godfather for your children and vote for them. Even if you fail, you will have tried. There is no excuse for not trying. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:39:45 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/20/that-lonesome-valley/#IDComment44101962 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/16/obama-the-fraud/#IDComment43874140 Just one of the promises broken that Obama could have accomplished by Executive order. I have yet to find a promise kept by Obama that he could have kept by simply issuing an Executive order. When you don't do first things first, usually the result is chaos. Seems to be where we are headed. But here is something else to take to the bank - many people will turn back to the Republicans. If you don't remember who they are, let me remind you. They are the Party that screwed you into the corner in the first place. The failure of Obama does not make the last Administration better. The last Administration is the worst in American History and is likely to stay that way. But that doesn't make Obama any better either. The solution is to get rid of the Republican and Democratic Parties. Forever more vote Independent - whatever you do, don't bring the crooks back again. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:17:45 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/16/obama-the-fraud/#IDComment43874140 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/11/where-will-they-get-the-troops/#IDComment43014337 Good Article The war is hard on American soldiers, and is hard on the American people. The war has no purpose other than to provide a profit stream for the Military Industrial Complex. Perpetual war means never ending profits to the War Corporations. A week or two ago there was a report out of Washington that it now costs One Million Dollars per soldier per year to continue the war. With 100,000 soldiers on the ground that per capita cost comes to $100 Billion per year, and that doesn't count the Mercenaries who cost at least half as much . Just think Republican Americans are screaming about the Healthcare Costs projected to be $1.2 Trillion over 10 years. Realize that in ten years the Afghanistan War will cost significantly more than that? About $1.5 Trillion. And thats if the taxpayers are lucky. War is a mighty profit maker for the few, the rest of the people suffer if they are lucky and become death and injured statistics if they are not. And all this for nothing other than to profit the Rich and Powerful. That's why the Democrats howl against the war, but have you noticed than haven't moved to stop it? The Rich and Powerful run the Democratic Party also. Who was it that said " The strong will rule as they will, and the weak will suffer as they must" ? Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:45:32 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/11/where-will-they-get-the-troops/#IDComment43014337 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/09/the-pentagons-dirty-bombers/#IDComment42763277 Yes Steve We have poisoned our future for the mad war mongers who want to profit until they die. Somehow they think they can escape the Grim Reaper. You see, they think money can buy everything - even immortality. But it doesn't work that way. Already the people of Iraq are experiencing so many birth defects that women in that godforsaken country are leery of having children. Seems their first question on the birth of a child these days is "Is my child normal"? Some of the monstrous birth defects occurring in that infected land are as bad as anything designed in a horror show. And the DU is spreading like a cloud over the earth. I'm not sure those who are afraid of "Global Warming" are paying attention. If we don't stop the War Monsters, there won't be any humans around to die from the environmental effects. This is the greatest tragedy unleashed on mankind in our short history on Earth. And it could bring the Armageddon that the Religious Right are so looking for. But I have a warning for them - don't expect to be saved. Didn't God warn about looking back? Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:56:07 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/09/the-pentagons-dirty-bombers/#IDComment42763277 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/05/stop-the-escalation-out-of-afghanistan-now/#IDComment42305596 I agree Steve. I ask can there be wars without villains? Do these villains just happen or are they created by propaganda? Are the Palestinians Villains? The Iraqis?, the Afghans? The Iranians? Would they think we are the Villains? Why would they think otherwise? I read an article today about Iran and how they took those Embassy hostages back in, was it 1979? It told everything about those 444 days , but that story never used a drop of ink to tell WHY the students took the Embassy personnel as hostages. The slant was - Iran Bad, U S good. Finding the reason for the taking of the hostages in the MSM is as rare as winning the lottery. I think I might remember that they had just deposed our Puppet, the SHAH, and we were trying to stir up the populace to overthrow the new Government. Gosh that sounds a whole lot like what is ongoing there now. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 06:40:27 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/05/stop-the-escalation-out-of-afghanistan-now/#IDComment42305596 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/25/the-case-against-wars-of-convenience/#IDComment42304929 Steve I saw something alarming a day or two ago. After researching it I find it happened last March. How could something like this have been kept so quite? What was it you ask? Well in a courtroom during a trial as the Defense Attorney was making statements to the Judge with the defendant beside her, one of the courtroom police came up behind the attorney, went thru her papers on her desk behind her, took a couple of documents out of her folder and left the courtroom with those documents. The defendant just happened to see the officer and he notified the attorney. She asked the Judge what the policeman was doing. The Judge asked the Prosecuting Attorney what the Defense Attorney was talking about. He said he didn't know. The kicker is that the Judge was looking straight at the policeman as he was riffling thru the defense attorneys papers. It just so happened that that courtroom uses a camera to record court proceedings. That film is what I saw. After my research I found that the trial where this happened was about police malfeasance. And when the incident in the courtroom was heard by another Judge that new Judge ruled that if the Defense Attorney wanted to find out what papers the policeman took and why he took them, the defendant would have to give up all communication he had ever had with his attorney. I say things are way out of control already. Only one news service has mentioned this incident to date. Steve what do you think might be going on. What was the defendant bringing charges against the Police Department about? He was a blogger who had written articles about how corrupt the Police department was. Ten police raided his home a took his computer and all his records, etc. So he was raided for his articles about the Police corruption in Phoenix. The truth might not set you free, it might land you in jail. Be careful what you blog. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 06:26:41 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/25/the-case-against-wars-of-convenience/#IDComment42304929 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/05/stop-the-escalation-out-of-afghanistan-now/#IDComment42189267 Very Good Debra But you need to add to your statement "We owe it to the troops and to the people of other countries who are looking to us for their salvation." We also owe it to our Children and theirs. This madness can only end one of two ways: 1 We will be the Dictators of the World 2 We will be defeated in our World conquest Some will say that the best option is #1 , but ultimately #1 will end in overthrow of a despotic government. Let me quote you Marcus Aurelius a former Emperor of Rome: "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too." - Marcus Aurelius Fri, 6 Nov 2009 04:04:07 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/05/stop-the-escalation-out-of-afghanistan-now/#IDComment42189267 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/30/is-worshipping-the-military-patriotic/#IDComment42149526 Speaking of the International Financial Influence and how it is afecting the life of every American even today. I ask all of you to read the following statement made by the Mayor of NYC many years ago: "The real menace of our Republic is the invisible government which like a giant octopus sprawls its slimy legs over our cities, states, and nation. At the head is a small group of banking houses generally referred to as 'international bankers.' This little coterie... run our government for their own selfish ends. It operates under cover of a self-created screen...[and] seizes...our executive officers... legislative bodies... schools... courts... newspapers and every agency created for the public protection.--John F. Hyland Mayor of New York City (1918-1925)" This is what I mean when I speak of a Shadow Government. Today's Shadow Government includes the Neo-Con influence, and our Two Parties. Our two Parties, Republican and Democrat are actually functional arms of this International Financial Cartel. They use their influence over their members to frame American policy that supports the aims of the Cartel - what I call the Shadow Government. This Government rules most of the world and remains in the deep background, but as the Mayor early in the 20th Century observed, their tentacles are in every thing. I have proposed ways to get rid of the Two Headed Monster in Washington, and thus make it possible to cut the binding chains of the Shadow Government. Until we replace the Corrupt Government that now occupies the drivers seat of our Government we will never again have the freedoms promised by our Forefathers. It really is that simple. Thu, 5 Nov 2009 21:50:30 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/30/is-worshipping-the-military-patriotic/#IDComment42149526 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/01/losing-the-moral-high-ground/#IDComment42148469 Steve1949. I think you may not have read the posts over a long period of time. I think that if you have you will find everything from articles about the need to return to the Constitution , to the need to reign in the Military Industrial Complex, to articles about the need to reverse the transfer of wealth from the masses to the Elites. Also you will have read articles asking a movement to Independent Parties by the citizenry and specifically the Populist Model. Articles about the immoral actions of the the Two Major Parties and how they have abandoned the people. Finally you will have read articles about how Party Loyalty has become the most dangerous threat to our freedoms and also articles about Constitutional Reforms. All these articles I have seen posted on this site and many more similar. Your point is well taken, but at the moment look at where we are : Our government is pursuing wars of choice that is costing multiple times more than the much ballyhooed cost of Health reform. That is why there is so much written about wars of choice, the cost in lives and money is killing this great country. And they are conducted to enrich only the elite. The poor and less fortunate are those who enter the meat grinder and die. And they do this in a false Patriotic fever. No war now ongoing or conducted in many years needed to have occurred. I pose that this is very much something that is against the ideals of the Populist. And I am willing to debate it on these pages as vigorously as you desire. One of us should have the facts close enough to convince the other since we both seek for the good of our country and our freedoms. Thu, 5 Nov 2009 21:37:11 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/01/losing-the-moral-high-ground/#IDComment42148469 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/01/losing-the-moral-high-ground/#IDComment41591264 I'm not sure I understand your complaint Steve1949. Seems what you are saying is that "Anti-War" articles is not what is needed on the Populist site. Somehow I feel that Wars of Aggression and Robotic Weapons loosed on populations is part and parcel of what is happening to our Constitution. The Wars of Aggression are being used as a vehicle to usurp freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and Drone warfare on civilian populations is actually a form of assassinations which is against the law in the United States. Then we have the Executive, the Commander in Chief , of our armed forces placing signing statements that as the COC he will not be bound by the laws emanating from our Constitution. Yes, Anti-War articles are looking at the foundation of evil that has crept over our nation and is definitely attacking the Constitution. As to how to take our Country back and return it to the Constitutional basis it was founded on, this first order of business from my perspective is to get rid of the Two Major Parties and replace them with a Coalition of Independents. The perfectly legal and Constitutional way to do that is for enough people to refuse to ever again vote for a Candidate of one of the two parties. But since there is such strong Party Loyalty dividing America, that is a difficult thing to get people to do. The two parties have successfully convinced their minions that all the problems besetting America are the result of the other party. Tue, 3 Nov 2009 05:07:01 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/11/01/losing-the-moral-high-ground/#IDComment41591264 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/28/two-puppets-are-not-better-than-one/#IDComment41464459 Excellent Eric. And just what is the reason for our presence in Afghanistan? What is the Vision of the United States other than to place bases in another country so that raiding or invading some other country in the Middle East will be easier? And feed the War Industry coffers. Did you know that it costs the taxpayers $400 per gallon of gas used in Afghanistan? We have no business in Afghanistan, and as to stopping the Drug trade, the Taliban had successfully done that before we invaded Afghanistan. By the way why did we invade Afghanistan? To get Bin Laden? He was offered up to the U S before the invasion and George and his Bunch refused him. Are we in Afghanistan to provide a profit stream for the War Industry? Does anyone in Washington care about the misery we cause the Afghans? If they do, how do they show it? There is only one moral ethical action to take about Afghanistan - Get out then pay reparations since we can't raise the dead. Obama promised to end the madness, but it seems the sickness is catching. Mon, 2 Nov 2009 01:23:05 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/28/two-puppets-are-not-better-than-one/#IDComment41464459 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/30/is-worshipping-the-military-patriotic/#IDComment41246843 Amen Brother Ivan And we need to ashamed more than just not treating the soldiers right. We need to be ashamed that we allowed a madman and his henchmen to began an immoral war against an innocent people. Patriotism does not mean flag waving and starting wars. Patriotism is defending the Constitution as well as defending the country when attacked. We do need an Independent presence and the next election is soon enough for me. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:32:44 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/30/is-worshipping-the-military-patriotic/#IDComment41246843 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/21/peace-means-non-aggression/#IDComment40908789 Agreeing with the title of this superb article is the resignation this week of a Government Official who stated an absolute truth. He stated that Afghanistan doesn't fight us because they like the Taliban, or because they believe as does Al-Qaeda, or that they hate the West, or even that they are Islamic and want to punish the Christians and Jews, - No he said " They want to get rid of the invaders" - they fight because we occupy their land. The truth will stand the test of time. Peace is Non-Agression Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:40:27 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/21/peace-means-non-aggression/#IDComment40908789 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/25/the-case-against-wars-of-convenience/#IDComment40582716 Once war starts, the initiator can lose control. And the end of that war can be the using of Nuclear Weapons. How would that end. Would one single innocent person die? What if one single innocent person dies because of the whims of a madman? Should that madman suffer the ultimate penalty? Even that wouldn't restore one lost life. But it might prevent one in the future. Certain and swift punishment for crimes really is a deterrent. Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:40:39 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/25/the-case-against-wars-of-convenience/#IDComment40582716 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/24/war-negation-and-muslim-identity-revisited/#IDComment40581546 This is a most interesting article. Do I get the correct impression that if the Muslims stop blaming the "West", the atrocities will wane and end? If so isn't this a backdoor way of saying it is the fault of "them", the Muslims? The article is correct that the Islam might be its own worst enemy because of the atrocities they committed and the impression this left, but if we move to modern times, do we not need to examine atrocities committed against Islamic peoples by the West when those countries possessed something the West wanted? And as a lesson in which came first - the chicken or the egg - my position is that all wars are avoidable but if one side doesn't want to avoid war, then war will definitely happen. And in the commencement of War, the greatest of all atrocities begins - innocent people die. Actually this is an excellent article, it makes you think and I might ask if the United States was aware of their allies committing atrocities and did nothing to stop it, does this indict the U S as committing atrocities? For a reading of that exact thing I just alluded to Google Afghanistan Convoy to death. There you will find the depravity of man in its extreme, committed with the full knowledge of the United States - although they do deny such knowledge. For a reading of an instance of the United States committing atrocities Google Taxi to the Dark Side. This documentary might make you hurl but it is a true story of what depraved men are capable of. Would the instances above have occurred if the U S hadn't invaded Afghanistan and Iraq? I have no idea, but of one thing I am sure, American soldiers would not have been involved and the shame would not fall on America. War is hell. Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:28:01 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/24/war-negation-and-muslim-identity-revisited/#IDComment40581546 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/22/a-world-of-abbreviated-criterions/#IDComment40218481 A thoughtful Post Matthew. When you spoke of the CEO's who drive Financial Concerns into bankruptcy and then walk away with a fat bonus, what leaps into my mind is the mantra being spread around that the bonus is necessary to "keep the best and brightest." And the clueless, that you mentioned, don't seem to raise the question: The Best and Brightest? Aren't these those who brought on the bankruptcy? Can we equate this to mean: "We need to allow the fox to continue to pillage the henhouse , because he is the one we need to guard it" Obama has been a huge disappointment to date, but isn't that what we have faced for several consecutive Administrations? When do you think we common folk might catch on and realize we allow ourselves to be bamboozled by talk and then allow ourselves to be pillaged by their actions? We need to do something right for a change. We might even like that result. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:30:01 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/22/a-world-of-abbreviated-criterions/#IDComment40218481 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/21/peace-means-non-aggression/#IDComment39849694 Good Article Ben. Reminds me of a couple of quotes: Alexander the Great demanded of a pirate, by what right he infested the seas. By the same right, retorted the pirate, that Alexander ravages the world. If we would only testify to the truth as we see it, it would turn out that there are hundreds, thousands, even millions of other people just as we are, who see the truth as we do... and are only waiting, again as we are, for someone to proclaim it. The peaceful man lives by the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Then you will have peace, when others join you - but not before. The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free. And my two cents worth: Peace will come when we convince criminals that crime doesn't pay. And to do this we have to punish those lawbreakers without fail. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:32:06 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/21/peace-means-non-aggression/#IDComment39849694 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/21/outrageous-thought-of-the-day-nuclear-hypocrisy/#IDComment39846116 An Excellent article Dave. And unfortunately so very truthful. The Iraqi people will either die off over time or will evolve into grotesque monstrosities. And for what? Their only guilt was that they were living on coveted land. Greedy War Merchants and Oil Barons wanted a War for profit and control of a diminishing resource. For this they instigated a war, an immoral war, against an innocent people, and they have no shame. To the shame of America we have done nothing to punish those people who initiated the death of over a million people and the destruction of the country where civilization originated. And these Greedy Elite, by instigating war and using weapons that can kill and maim for billions of years, have placed Iraqis coffin on that contaminated ground. And yes Dave, the DU has been and is being used around the globe. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:12:24 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/21/outrageous-thought-of-the-day-nuclear-hypocrisy/#IDComment39846116 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/15/saving-face-in-afghanistan/#IDComment39475374 Excellent Dr Paul "Why does it now seem that the more troops we send, the worse things get?" Because we kill civilians at a ratio of up to 50-1. They don't look on that as Brotherly Love. "We must destroy the village to save it" Remember that phrase? Now it seems that "We must kill the people to give them freedom" is the rallying cry. What an immoral mess we have allowed our leaders to take into. Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:12:57 +0000 http://www.blog.populistamerica.com/2009/10/15/saving-face-in-afghanistan/#IDComment39475374