If HILLARY succeeds in uniting the party behind PRESIDENT OBAMA, she will be in the cat bird seat. It will destroy the myth of her unbridled quest for power, demonstrate a level of class seldom seen in the beltway, and show a level of maturity and wisdom.

HILLARY AS THE U.S. VERSION OF THE IRON MAIDEN!!!!!!

The Republicans don't have a Maggie Thatcher in their ranks, do they?

LMAO.

Looks as though the neocons last hope, a Hail Mary, that "Broom Hillary" would destroy the Party's unity was like soooo many of their beleifs, out of touch with reality.

Get ready boys, America is flushing the neocons and their excesses down the toilet. This will be the largest turnout of non traditional voters in history. You guys don't even see it coming, Thank God.

Gordon Vanscoy...wearing a hat at ANY dining table is bad manners and disrespectful to the rest of the diners

very surprised any parent would even let their son sit down with hte hat on ler alone question the request to remove the hat

The pressure on mcsame of the campaign is taking it's toll.

Watch how much he has aged....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCwwCC...

His admiration of Senator Kennedy and his appearence in Denver is overwhelming....

john mcsames most heroic act was, are ya ready, he survived as an inmate. Because of circumstances beyond his control, he was forced to endure years of abuse. He had no choice!!!!! It is called survival, not heroics. He didn't charge a machine gun nest. He did not jump on a grenade.

He did his best to survive, nothing more than anyone else put in the same position would not have done.

We have millions of inmates, more than anyone else in the world, doing the same thing every day.

I'm not impressed.

Yet the senator does deserve twice daily naps after what he has been through and attempting to make it through each day at such an advanced age.

Riccio is in trouble after reading today's letters. All those "ladies" (must have been WACS, WAVES or SPARS)are really on his case. And that career officer (maybe Ollie North in disguise?)he really impressed me. I remember guys like that from my service days. We held them with "great regard". They were at the top of our "list", if you know what I mean. There is nothing like a Republican "patriot". Just ask them.

knitels analysis of the DNC....

"The convention/BOONDOGGLE continues!

But there is hope! Tonight begins the end of Braco. Broom Hilary's appearance will reignite the venom and hurt the Broom's followers are feeling.

Tomorrow night could well be the "roll call of Doom for Braco". Oh the confusion...oh the entertainment value!"

Remember...a house divided against itself cannot stand!

On Letters to the Editor: August 26, 2008

knitel, your insight UNDERWHELMS us.

Any other predictions Einstein?

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They don't even see the bus comin'.

Gordy - I wish I knew which restaurant you were at because I would gladly shake the owner's hand and commend him and his staff for following through to reinforce the good manners that should be instilled in not only children, but adults these days as well!

Sorry, but if you condone this kind of rude behavior, I can only imagine what you consider to be "nicely" dressed!

And, by the way - I am in the under-40 age group so please don't think I am an elderly person just looking for something to complain about!

To all these brilliant, self-impressed lefties who know all about McCain's days in Hanoi's Hilton, and can afford to vent their petty little hate on him ... one question .. you were there?

You're confusing hate with pity.

Poor, poor mcsame.

If his daddy wasn't an admiral, he would have been safely performing the job he was qualified for, peeling potatoes instead of wrecking jets.

Just Thank God his daddy didn't have any friends running an airline. Multiple crashes would have been messy.

BTW, is BUSHIE gonna let Johnnie borrow his naval flight suit and roll of socks to stagically place for his "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" photo op? Maybe he can wear it for his concession speech?

I wonder if the restaurant's policy with regard to women's "fashion hats" is different? I'm with Gordon here, let the kid wear his hat. They were sitting outside and what about the attire of many people here, flips flops go, but a hat doesn't? Come on.

Gordy, the sad part of your story is lesson that you are teaching your son. Surely a "Ralph Lauren Beijing Driving Cap" must be an exception to the "no hat policy". How obnoxious can you get. Put that hat where the sun don't shine.

Bravo Gater, that's as it should be and any who stupidly think otherwise should not throw stones.

Rock Head Billy is just up to his normal idiotcy he has to rant about something just skip his postings they aren't worth the space they take up

The LTTE's today re: Riccio show me that he hit a very raw bone in his last letter. I read it and was disgusted at his ranting against an American who lasted many years in the Hanoi Hilton. Whatever side of the aisle you sit on, you should recognize the VERY POOR DECISION that Riccio made in attacking McCain's POW experience. You can attack his ideals, his decisions, his past votes but not his time in Hanoi.

With common sense like this, how can anyone side with Riccio on any of his other ideas/actions? Pariah.

(Requires free registration.)

interesting BASIC rules on another blog which applies these guidelines evenly:

* Keep it clean
* Respect others
* Don't hate
* Don't use language you wouldn't use with your mom
* Use "Report Inappropriate Comments" link when necessary
* See Member Agreement for details

how does this blog stack up????

Canuck - I believe that the spirit of these same rule exist here also, just not the implementation. My guess is that the "other" blog that you are referring to also has enforcement issues.

My hat has only respect for others.

Good grief, people.

On the national scene:

The BOONDAGGLE/CONVENTION continues.

Braco America and Mr. President/Biden are now 2 points behind in the national polls during their own convention. WAY TO GO GUYS!!!

Props to Broom Hillary! She said what she had to say in a "NICE" way. May the wind always be behind her broom.

Next up, Bubba, "Send in the next intern and shut the door!" Clinton. Are BOONDOGGLERS ready?

Have a great day and a better tomorrow everyone (including libs/some dem).

From the "GREATEST" country in the world!!

"Whether or not you care for a person individually or even as a politician, everyone who has served - particularly those who have been held in captivity or have been killed or wounded - deserves our respect for doing so."

Gatorhator, thank you.

I'll also restate the following fact for everyone that doesn't know better. Hanoi had the largest, and most sophisticated anti-aircraft defense system in the world, larger than anything Germany had in WWII. This made the job of bomber pilot one of the most dangerous assignments you could do.

McCain's heroic act was climbing into the cockpit. Whether you love him or hate him as a politician, that fact is not debatable.

"Heroic" would be climbing into the cockpit WITH mini me mcsame. Talk about life threatening, Mr. Toads wild ride.

And thanks for straightening it out the FACTS mthalo. The rest of the world was not aware mini me mcsame was a "bomber pilot." You would think an Admirals boy could have been snuck into a "fighter pilot's" job.

MikeM, Obama is busy. That's why he filed the complaint. If there's nothing there, then there's nothing for Simmons to worry about.

As for Kerry, he served honorably. When he came back he wanted people to know what was going on over there in Nam, since that was another war built on lies that sacrificed our service men and women for leadership's Hubris or personal ignorance.

Viet Nam never should have been. It was just a horrific event that gained us and them nothing, but it cost us and them plenty.

Now, without our help, or I should say interference, Viet Nam is doing well. It is becoming a beautiful country in spite of our intervention which should teach us something, but, alas, it never seems to.

The letters against John Riccio are ridiculous because those letter writers don't know the sincerity of John Riccio and his caring for the troops. And, he wants to honor their deaths spent for us. Shame on those people using their distortions and personal misunderstandings to get at Riccio. I think it is they who are not sincere for the troops, but using them to beat up on John.

Everyone mourns in a different way. Let those criticizers of John mourn our troops in their way and John mourn them in his way.

Hillary's speech was A plus. She said what she had to say and did it well.

If we had been allowed to see that part of her, she might have done better in the primary.

Also, if she had been this person during the primary campaign, and even if she lost, she may have been chosen Vice President. I think it would have been a strong ticket.

However, Joe Biden may be a good choice also. It's good a party isn't limited to only one choice.

I hope the Democrats stick together, become united, and that they, with the help of some Independents and us disenchanted Republicans, will put Obama over the top and bounce McCain and the Neo Cons out, never to be seen again. Never to be able to ravage this country again. Never be able to invade other countries without just cause again Never to make America's image to the world nothing more than greed.

Thank you my fellow clear thinking Americans for your letters against Riccio and his anti - American tactics. Also, a thanks goes out to anonymous1000, mthalo, MikeM, oldtimer, knital, naplesregular, HARTLAND for your comments on this blog.

A special thanks to GatorHater07 for your service to this GREAT country. I'm biased too though, US Navy, Vietnam, Purple Heart....you can hear the incoming morters, but not the rockets. But Riccio and most others wouldn't know that, would they?

Boulderbilly,

Nice attempt in an "I know everything, I'm from the internet" sort of way, but my post was directed at people with the congnitive skills to know that when the Navy give you a plane with bombs hanging off the wings, they're not sending you to Hanoi to pick up Vietnamese coffee.

You do know what the A in A-4 stands for, right?

MikeM,

I am truth........I think you are responding to truthmatters.

One other thing, we did not leave Vietnam totally in 1973....I was there in 1974 and 1975, my decorations were earned during a rocket attack in the spring of 1975 along with others.

MikeM, there was no reason for us to get militarily involved in Viet Nam. It wasn't worth all the lives lost and all the injuries and devastation it caused. And for what outcome? What is it today? Viet Nam, one country as it was once a while ago.

As for the bogus Domino Theory, that was just another fear tactic among the many we've been subjected to and cost us so much.

MikeM, as Bruce Ramsay wrote, if these things are so important to you, you should volunteer.
It's always easy to send someone else, wreck someone else's life for your dumb stuff. And that's just what Viet Nam was and what Iraq was. But it was tragic dumb stuff. Never had to be. Never should have been.

And that's why, Joan Quinn, Bush should be charged with war crimes. He's caused unnecessarily and with full knowledge the deaths of thousands of people and the maiming for life of so many more.

MikeM.........Navy

GatorHater07, I don't know about Korea enough to comment. But I do know it was Lyndon Johnson who was the one who put us into full combat in Viet Nam. Before that our presense was as advisors etc.

We should have known about Viet Nam. The French were there and failed. The wife of one of the South Viet Nam leaders we backed, the names now escape me, but I think her name was Madam Nu, said we betrayed her husband.

The point was, though, that we had this fallacy in our minds about the Domino theory, and that we had to have our nose in Viet Nam to stop that area from falling like a domino to Communism. You know, that Big Bad Communism.

The whole back ground of Viet Nam showed that they were no threat whatsoever to us. The North was an independent communist country. All they were interested in was reuniting Viet Nam. They had no interest in us.

So, no matter what you thought about that, it wasn't our business. That was between the two of them. And it certainly wasn't worth all the devastation and loss of life it caused.

So, as I said, today they are one, doing just fine, no thanks to us.

Algonquin999,

I have asked Riccio and he won't answer, now I'll ask you. Why haven't the VFW, The American Legion or organazations like Rolling Thunder and other veteran groups not flocked to him in his noble cause?

Too many ineundos for me. No specifics, just little tidbits against Obama that want to plant a seed of doubt. Sometimes that's all it takes, and the Right Wing surely knows that. They, in fact, know every dirty trick in the book. It's too bad they can't put that kind of expertise into something good for this country.

Concerning the vote to go to Iraq: I don't know the wording, but I think they were trusting Bush to tell the truth, not to lie to them, and not to rush in without an assuredness that Iraq posed a threat to us.

The Authorization Bill was presented by Bush at a time, just before elections and done to make those who didn't support Bush look weak on terrorism. The Democrats bit, but not all of them, and that's the problem again with using fear before an election to get what you want. Disgusting tactics, but Bush knew they worked, and he knew from day one he was going no matter what the situation was. He wouldn't even let the UN have a vote, and it was their resolution he was using.

Yes, it is Bush and Cheney and all those complicit who are guilty in this terrible bloody tragedy that took so many lives and has ravaged a country. If you don't know he did it, not to protect us, or for terrorism because there were none there, or that Saddam was going to attack, because he had no intention of doing that, if you don't know that, then you are blind. And, the excuses of protecting Iraqi's from Saddam was a grasping after thought and had not truth either. Yes, the charge of murder still stands.

http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net/di...

So Gordon... as a mother of four, it frustrates me to hear yet another snob in our town thinks it's okay to show their children how to manuever the rules. I certainly don't care where you live, or where you eat, or what kind of clothing you purchase for your child... but I DO care that my children may have to attend school, or functions with your child who is being taught your morals! Although, probably not since I only live in Palm River.
Your social status shouldn't measure how you follow the rules Gordon. Members of my family that work in fine dining restaurants dread customers of your sort!

Wow! I thought Riccio was in trouble with the loyal Americans of the esteemed conservative Republican element on record in today's ltte, but the "genius", "veteran Heroes", and learned scholars of rewriting history on this blog have "raised Up" the tempo of GOP "truth" and consternation of a Democratic liberal serviceman like Riccio beyond the fondest fantasies of even the most stupid Republican.

It is so memorable for me to recount the scenes from Viet Nam of people scrambling from the American embassy in Saigon. Helicopters being pushed over the side of carriers off shore, as Mr. Nixon, the trademark Republican, stood by his agreement to "resolve" the crisis. You really want to go back to our involvement there? - Eisenhower's tenure in the White House. Ooops that doesn't count anymore than Ike's lie that he never heard of Gary Powers.

Truman went into Korea just like Bush. Ask Gatorhater. He recognizes "aggression" when he sees it. Sadaam was sending his agents into the US on a daily basis, like Bush's Saudi Arabia "buddies". Oh, I know the "sheiks" never contributed a dime to their terrorists nationals in 9/11. You can't prove it. That's always the GOP answer. Democrats don't have the facts like Republicans do. Watergate, Irangate and now Iraqgate are all the facts this Democrat needs to keep up the crusade against class discrimination, race prejudice and financial ruthfulness that epitomizes the Bush/Cheney legacy and the McCain presidential campaign.

The BOONDOGGLE/CONVENTION continues!!!

The under current is building as Bubba, "Send in the next intern and shut the door!" Clinton continues to work on his speech. He won't show it to Braco America's people and they are lived.

You go Bubba!!

re posts #81 % 82

now for the whole story!

"The Census Bureau reports that the number of people lacking health insurance dropped by more than 1 million in 2007, the first annual decline since the Bush administration took office.

The nation's poverty rate held steady at 12.5 percent with 37.3 million people living in poverty in 2007. The median — or midpoint — household income rose slightly to $50,233. And the number of uninsured dropped to 45.7 million, down from 47 million in 2006.

The numbers represent a kind of scorecard on President Bush's stewardship of the economy at the kitchen-table level. However, they only go as far as the end of last year, before the current economic downturn started gathering force. Indeed, they could come to be seen as a snapshot taken at the high point of the administration's tenure.

"The gains that occurred last year were welcome, but unfortunately, they are too little, too late," said Jared Bernstein, a senior economist with the liberal Economic Policy Institute in Washington. "The median household is no better off now than they were back in 2000, despite their deep contribution to the nation's economic growth during this period."

For example, after adjusting for inflation, last year's median household income of $50,233 was not significantly different from the figure for the year 2000, which was $50,557. "The American work force is baking a bigger economic pie, but the slices haven't grown at all," said Bernstein.

Uninsured numbers higher than in 2001
The welcome news on health insurance coverage was tempered by the fact that private coverage continued to erode. Government programs — such as Medicaid for the poor — picked up the slack, resulting in the overall reduction in people without health insurance. The uninsured rate also fell to 15.3 percent, down from 15.8 percent "

still that nagging 47 million without insurance!!

One way to win an election.

"Police say it is possible there could be more arrests. They also say some of the people arrested could have ties to a white supremacy group.

NBC News has learned that federal officials are downplaying the arrests, saying when one of the men was arrested, he made a threat against Obama, but they do not believe it was based on any kind of plan or actually intent.

"It looks like one guy just made a remark trying to act important," one federal official told NBC News.

Aurora Police arrested the first man, 28-year-old Tharin Gartrell of Centennial, early Sunday morning after a routine traffic stop. During the traffic stop, officers found two rifles, boxes of ammunition, one rifle scope, a bullet proof vest, walkie-talkies, a business card with a staffer of Richard Cheneys direct phoneline, and methamphetamines."

Hmmm. Wonder if any of these young Republicans are from Wyoming?

Rejoice.........still that nagging 47 million not insured and millions more under insured

perhaps your next President will solve this problem

I don't care is they did vote on Regime change in Iraq in Clinton's era. As was said, it didn't mean we were going to rush in and invade and do Shock and Awe for several weeks on innocent people. It didn't mean we'd be there seven years and more to who knows when. However, thank you Maliki for deciding to kick us out.

You can acquire regime change in different ways, but invading a country to do it is against International Law. One country can't just invade another country because it doesn't like its leader. You have to have a better excuse than that.

Besides my first vote for George Bush, proudly cast in 2000, was a vote not to do those things. Not to be world policeman. Not to nation build, but To make friends with other countries. Be a good neighbor with other countries. You know, really good, exciting stuff.

And I knew that we, Republicans, could do good things for the country because we were smart and rational and pragmatic along with having compassion.

Boy, what I didn't know then was that I was voting for a liar. He didn't mean a word of it. And there it was, my first introduction to the Neo Cons.

But it didn't take long to figure them out. They're too obvious for words. So, no more of them. No McCain, No way, No how.

I want my country to survive, but with them it's probably impossible.

Well, listen. No one said Saddam didn't at one time have those weapons. We gave him a lot of them. That was not the question. The question was and is, did he still have them and what evidence do we have that he intended to use them.?

Saddam said they got rid of their weapons as they were required to do after the First Gulf War. And, surprise, he was telling the truth.

But we should have known that because the UN weapons inspectors, combing the country in every nook and cranny for years, couldn't find any.

That bothered Bush because he was losing his reason to invade. He needed an excuse, so he built the doubt in people's minds, even when even the CIA said they couldn't confirm defininitely that Saddam had weapons. They always vacillated. And the yellow cake uranium from Niger was something they knew wasn't true because the person the CIA sent there to investigate came back with a full negative report.

You know, all you Right Wingers, if Clinton had done this, you'd say, how dumb do you think we are to think we'd believe this stuff. We know you're bombing Iraq to divert our attention as you did during your impeachment, and during Monica's testamony in your trial.

Well, I hope that I have not just accepted truth based on only if my party says it. I hope we all seek truth more objectively than that.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH-HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

As an independent who embarassingly voted for Kerry last election, it's sickening that the above mentioned statement is the most coherent reason I've heard to date as to why I should vote for Obama.

So, if you're voting for Obama becuase you lack health insurance, feel like you're undepaid, can't afford the mortgage, ask yourself the following questions.

Why are all those big, mean, icky, republicans getting richer while I keep getting poorer?
Has natural selection chosen me as one of the ones who will not survive?

I still think John Riccio is a great guy and a manly man.

You ladies just don't know him.

InquisitiveJS..or the ex Jagged Soldier

WHAT THE HE** ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???

your post #107 makes absolutely no sense whatsoever as I have not "responded" to any one today.....

have you been drinking the "kool aid" everyone talks about???

get a life!

unbelievable!!!

C'mon now Canuck,

The right's panties are in a wad. Losing the keys to the kingdom for the next 16 years has them a little rattled.

Inquisitive, maybe you haven't heard of a presidential veto that takes many more votes than the Democrats had to override.

The Democrats couldn't pass the things they offered. It's as simple as that. And, you ought to know that. If I were you I wouldn't let everyone know that I didn't know how congress worked and how the president could veto.

Off to watch the convention. Go Obama!!! I saw a poll now with Obama 9 points ahead, and the convention's not over yet.

I suppose the Republican's will get a bounce too, that is if McCain can make to the convention before he drops over too weak to go on.

You know, if that happens, it probably would be better for all of us. McCain was a really bad choice.

McCain may pick Romney to "balance" his ticket. Romney is a Mormon and you know they don't practice polygamy anymore, only when nobody is looking. Is that practice that "now and then" is discovered similar to the muslims and their harems and 76 virgin theory? It's going to be interesting. Cindy is lucky she has a lot of money and can "go it alone" if "necessary". Johnny better check with his "doc" before he "pops" (how about that pun?) those Viagaras down the "slot".

Algonquin999 pinned the head on the donkey:

"If we lie to you and you believe us; You are just as wrong as we are if we get caught."

I have worked on Third Street South and Fifth Ave as a server in restaurants for about ten years. This is no surprise to me that a gentleman from "Aqualane Shores" thinks he and his family should have special privileges regarding proper dinning etiquette. I love to serve and wait on people from Naples. For the most part people are pleasant and warm and generous. However, we all know the few who are demanding, rude, and like to let the world know who they are and where they live. This was simply a dress code issue...you all can imagine the many other issues we as restaurant employees are faced with. This is the job I have chosen and this comes with the territory.

The owner, who I know and respect, did the absolute right thing. He is protecting his establishment from cliental that might give the rest of the world the impression his restaurant is not a very fine place to dine. I am not sure if you Mr. Vanscoy thought you would be receiving congratulations for making such a fool of yourself. Yes, all restaurants are working very hard to keep afloat these days. That reason alone does not give pardon to poor behavior simply because you think we should all be so lucky to wait on you.

Mr. Gordon Vanscoy from Aqualane Shores you should be ashamed of yourself for setting such a poor example in front of your child. I can't wait until he is all grown up and out to dine, and because of you treat the people that have chosen to work in a serving atmosphere with disrespect. Shame on your parents too.

Stephanie Chandler

not at all Inquisitive,

Obama just may lose. But not because of experience, or because he is not smart enough or has the right answers. Nope...he said pull out of Iraq with a sensible time line and we now are doing that. He was right on so many many things and shows wisdom and judgement missing in Bush and McSame".

But he may lose. Why? Because every day, I am confronted with several people who say, but I am concerned because I think he is a muslim", or "is a terrorist." Today, TWO people told me he is not even an american citizen. Total BS.

So, what do we learn?

No matter how bizaare or outrageous the lies, there are many incredibly uncritical people out there, who are so brainwashed they believe it.

Myth becomes fact if you say it often enough.
Just as Hitler convinced the majority of germans that the jews were a deadly threat, the ongoing, day to day non-stop lies about Obama continue and take root.

Inquisitive...are you? Do you really believe all the unauthored hoaxes floatin around or did you take the time to snope them, or go to factcheck? Or mindlessly pass them on to hundreds of people?

What do these smearing of a good man's character say about the morality of our country?
Is that really a "win" for our country?

annonymous,
Facts? the question is why have you not seen this?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1X-I-38lrU

YouTube - Rice and Powell in 2001 saying Iraq had no WMDs

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN5yvoIsnnE

Also, regarding all those 1998 Clinton quotes...do you recall that Clinton took out the inspectors at that time,and bombed Iraq?
Do you recall the inspectors in 2002 saying they had things under control and NOT to go in?

Facts indeed. Enjoy those youtube clips!