Wrath of Dagon

Qistina, you have taken it upon yourself to educate us about Malaysian culture, and I appreciate it. As someone who has never been there and knows very few people from your country, that is invaluable. But much like you are telling us to not buy into the media portrayal of the US, I'd caution you to not buy into the portrayal of the US as Qu'ran burning zealots. I spent the day in my US classroom talking about Islam, the refugee crisis, and the conflict with ISIS. My students come from a variety of faiths, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindu, Sikhs, and Atheists. As a Social Studies teacher, we have already spent the last unit learning about the life of Mohammad and the rise of Islam, and right now we are talking about West Africa. There was no persecuting or book burning, just an open discussion on the problems and a chance for the students to reflect on where this is all going. The Islam unit is also a part of our federal education standards. 47 out of 50 states cover the curriculum much like I do. It's pretty tame stuff, we cover the 5 pillars, the importance of Mecca, the Qu'ran, and the Sunnah. Surf the internet, meet fascinating people from strange, exotic cultures. Find out they're nazis.

He said it at one point, I don't think he's saying it now. Reagan was a Democrat at one point also. I think a lot of Trump's Democrat past has to do with all the stuff Bush did that Trump thought was dumb. And he's from NY, which means he has certain connections. The reason Carson is/was leading at one point is that people don't know much about him except he seems nice and intelligent and seems to say the right things, so they imagine him to be what they want him to be.

WOD please you and I do have several things in common like our condemnation of Snowden But please dont tell me you believe in conspiracy theories....the USA didnt commit 9/11to themselves or somehow knew it was going to happen You misunderstood what I was saying there. Calax was drawing an analogy between Benghazi and 9/11, and I was referring to the 600 security requests from Benghazi which went to the State Department but were not acted upon. Also read Calax's sources, there were general 9/11 warnings, there just wasn't enough done about them, but it wasn't because Bush wanted 9/11 to happen, just bureaucratic inertia and lots of other reasons. Are you implying that Hillary WANTED benghazi to happen? No, you can clearly see I was answering Bruce's misunderstanding that I was claiming US wanted 9/11. Of course Hillary didn't want Benghazi, she was negligent and incompetent, which is something I wouldn't say of Bush regarding 9/11, although I admit I haven't studied the issue enough. But since Bush isn't running for re-election and Condoleeza Rice isn't running for president either, that issue has only historical relevance at this point.

Just as I was starting to think you're half-way rational. Hate speech isn't illegal in the US unless it's an incitement to imminent violence. Possibly those non-citizens practicing hate speech could be deported as undesirable aliens. But if a mosque is involved in a pattern of illegal activity, such as recruiting terrorists or funding terrorists, then probably it could be shut down under racketeering laws.

Agreed. I did Highpool on a harder difficulty level (Supreme Jerk) than Ag Canter (Ranger) and Highpool was still easier. It's those damn killer bunnies.

You don't see he's being sarcastic? Another straw man argument btw.

Surveillance in the Soviet Union was to suppress dissent. Surveillance in the US is to fight national security threats, a valid function of a democratic government. You're not free if you're being murdered by a terrorist, even if you yell whatever you want in the last moments of life. Don't conflate 2 completely different things. Well StB and I am sure that KGB said the bolded thing the whole time as well I am sorry to tell that, but I really do not know, if I should laugh or facepalm about your naivity. Infinite power corrupts infinitely, and mass surveillance of your own citizens is a pavement made out of sweet talks and fearmongering into the acquiring infinite power... KGB would never admit to surveillance or anything underhanded, they're defending the Motherland and that's all you need to know. Here though we have a free press (although most of it is palace press, but not all) so you can actually figure out what's going on if you don't go full on knee jerk reaction mode.

WOD please you and I do have several things in common like our condemnation of Snowden But please dont tell me you believe in conspiracy theories....the USA didnt commit 9/11to themselves or somehow knew it was going to happen You misunderstood what I was saying there. Calax was drawing an analogy between Benghazi and 9/11, and I was referring to the 600 security requests from Benghazi which went to the State Department but were not acted upon. Also read Calax's sources, there were general 9/11 warnings, there just wasn't enough done about them, but it wasn't because Bush wanted 9/11 to happen, just bureaucratic inertia and lots of other reasons.

"But, the official said the threat of a hijacking by bin Laden's al Qaeda organization was general in nature, did not mention a specific time or place and was similar to the variety of different terrorist threats U.S. intelligence monitors frequently." The facts are completely different. Hilzilla knew or should've known the facility was completely insecure, located in one of the most dangerous cities in the world, and the State department hired a Jihadist militia to provide security! That is not to say Bush did everything he could've to prevent 9/11, but two wrongs don't make a right. And what effective action did Bill Clinton take to combat Al Qaeda? There's lots of blame to go round.

And I already explained to you that to do what you want, Republicans would have to become Democrats, and there's no point to that. Perhaps the Dems would move as far left as Sanders, in which case I guess Repubs can occupy the space Dems occupy now, but I'm checking out of the political process before that happens. Don't forget Repubs still do very well in states and in the House, but really those are Chamber of Commerce Repubs, especially in the House, they don't represent us anyway.

Somebody warned Bush 600 times that 9/11 was about to happen?

I know exactly what happened in my country under communists and what to a degree keeps happanening to this day. Maybe you instead of insults should try to explain how on earth do you think mass surveilance is ever a good idea. Surveillance in the Soviet Union was to suppress dissent. Surveillance in the US is to fight national security threats, a valid function of a democratic government. You're not free if you're being murdered by a terrorist, even if you yell whatever you want in the last moments of life. Don't conflate 2 completely different things. Good compared to what? Lots of people left SU when they had a chance, but not many went the other way. Did your in-laws stay or did they move here?

Because she's a crook and a liar, also negligent and callous in carrying out her duties. She also conveniently changes positions as it suits her, for example coming out against Trans-Pacific Partnership after helping negotiate it and before even reading it!

Republicans screwed themselves a long time ago by going along with the Democrats. The situation is probably irretrievable, but who knows, miracles happen. Image has 0 to do with it.

Life was very good under communism? And we're advocating doing what was done under communism? I'd say you like Sakai have no idea what you're talking about. May be you should read the Gulag Archipelago or something.

They were looking for patterns by collecting the data from millions of people they had no right to collect. And there's no telling how that data could've been misused. Just because they don't actually listen to every single phone call doesn't mean it makes it any better. So yes, they were spying. And sorry to disappoint, but i learned about this from american media, not russian. And i don't care what Putin says. "They had no right" You're an expert on American law now? And why doesn't it make it better if they don't actually listen to phone calls? I'd say it's a lot better and you don't know what you're talking about. Putin can do anything to you and no one would lift a finger, and you're criticizing us? Btw, American media is almost as anti-American as Putin.

And why would you say he doesn't resonate as you claim? And is it his fault if he doesn't? Unusual on these forums, but appreciated. I can't be happy with those changes because I'm rational, and I've studied history, and I believe I understand something of human nature. The whole Democrat strategy is to pander to minorities, set races against each other and create racial strife and a sense of victimization to motivate those same minorities to turn out and vote for Democrats, using lies and propaganda as necessary with the help of their ally the Main Stream Media, just look at what happened in Ferguson or the Zimmerman/Martin case. It is also to replace native American voters with immigrants, legal and illegal, since they're known to vote Democrat by large majorities. Trump was talking about illegal aliens, and there are criminals among them, no doubt about it. http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/11/14/trump-embraces-parents-children-murdered-illegal-immigrants/ Note the number of murders committed by illegals in that article. I personally knew one of the victims mentioned, Spencer Galvach, btw. We're tired of Obola letting in illegals to murder Americans and we're not going to stand for it. Large number of Hispanics want to be pandered to by us rewarding their friends and relatives for breaking our law, but we will not bring the rope to our own hanging no matter what progs like you think.

That's what US government was doing, wasn't it? And you're upset that Snowden exposed it. Please correct me if i missed something. What the US government was doing was looking for any pattern of communication between known terrorist groups, individuals and supporters of terrorism. They were not "spying on everybody" despite what Putin, Assange and the free Russian press might be telling you.

I know more than you apparently, if you want the government to spy on everybody. Has anyone ever explained "straw man argument" to you?

I've heard of Classical Liberals and Neoliberals but never of Liberal Conservatives. I still don't understand the difference between any of those, but I'm sure Hilzilla is none of them. She's just a regular old liberal (in modern American sense, sometimes called Progressives) with a very flexible believe system, i.e. whatever gets her elected. Edit: Rejection of natural rights? So far as I know all American conservatives believe in the pre-amble to the Declaration of Independence "are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights"

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. One of your founding fathers said that, i believe? Wtf do you know about essential liberty? This kind of hyperbole will be paid for in blood, though probably no terrorist would bother with Slovakia. I'm guessing you've never lived under communism. He said he lived under communism. Not sure how you could have missed it. Really though, it's deeply ironic that someone who uses 'Obola' unironically wants Obola's NSA mates to have free reign to sniff his undies in order to protect him from terrorists. Pretty sure Jefferson had something relevant to say there. Hint: a Russian has quoted it to you... He said his family was under the Soviet Union, if he said something else, I missed it. IRS already knows everything there is to know about me, what would Obola do to me if he did read my e-mails? Which has always been illegal btw. Also I assume e-mails aren't secure, so I'd never send any compromising info anyway. We have much more to fear from cyber criminals and terrorists than even from a lawless president like Obola.

Well you realize that Carson is black right, so he's dismissing and alienating himself? Trump's attacks against some women came in response to them attacking him, not out of the blue as some would have you believe. You're likely right about the inability of Republicans to win elections going forward, and we very well may become a one party state, but whites don't vote for Republicans at over 95% the way blacks vote for Democrats, or even at 75% the way Hispanics vote. To pander to those minorities Republicans would simply have to become Democrats, and what would be the point of that? Although some blacks do seem to now realize how much illegal immigration is hurting them. Dude even with your strange Netherlands view of politics you can't really think Trump would benefit the USA ? He will take the USA backwards You're backwards.

Leferd please tell me you at least are excited about Hilary Clinton..I am worried how no one on this forun seems to like or support her ? It is probably because her best quality is one that many people at least publicly dislike. She is full blooded career politicians that bases her agenda to what she thinks public wants and she relies heavily on experts and other interested parties to form her answers and solutions instead of her own personal thinking, which make her look a person that is cold and who don't have solid foundation to her beliefs. Although when you add her understanding of law, political process of making laws and quite long experience of foreign politics to her ability to be "sock puppet", then she makes a excellent candidate for president, especially if you are liberal conservative. But as said she appearance may give cold and calculating expression to people, meaning that her personal charisma, which is for some people much important persons efficiency in job, may cause them seek some other candidate. Of course Hillary isn't best candidate for people that seek change in how politics are played in USA. For those Sanders is much better option if they want USA to take more socialistic approach, and for those who seek something else republican candidates may be only options. What's a liberal conservative?

Oh yeah, let's turn the whole west into the incarnation of 1984. I think Jefferson would be proud now... This kind of hyperbole will be paid for in blood, though probably no terrorist would bother with Slovakia. I'm guessing you've never lived under communism. Oh yeah, let's turn the whole west into the incarnation of 1984. I think Jefferson would be proud now... Snowden is a traitor and betrayed his country.... and he did reveal how the NSA have the ability to monitor most social media so now maybe certain extremist groups may not use Facebook or Twitter as a way to communicate but I imagine this would have happened eventually so I don't think we can blame him for this ? He revealed all of our most secret methods and assets, not just Twitter and Facebook. He's done immeasurable harm to the West's security. Yes, the West is the one who made Putin invade Ukraine, a country whose security and territorial integrity Russia had guaranteed.

Some of you are big Snowden admirers : http://news.yahoo.com/paris-attacks-show-u-s--surveillance-of-islamic-state-may-be--going-dark-203103709.html# We should also thank Apple and Google for not cooperating with the government any more.