It's curious to me how quick Americans are to label "welfare recipients" negatively and call what they get "handouts."
Both Tony F and Pabelmont above point at something very odd: why is it that all the incentives given to healthy industries such as oil and coal are not considered "government welfare?" Basically, it's free money that is not tied to performance. And then there's the insulting "windfall profits" the gluttonous oil industry gets over and above their normal operating profits.
Seems like they all have their hands out begging for more and more. I guess the difference is these "rich white guys" do their begging in suits down the halls of the Capitol Building while poor people wait in line in government offices. Sure sounds like hypocrisy to me.
Esther, that is precisely why I, as an American, read blogs like Professor Cole's instead of watching Fox News. There's not much an individual can do to change things nationally, but at least we don't become part of the sound and fury.
Wow, talk about a 2x4 across the forehead! Thank you for the wake up call, Professor. I am a devoted liberal and you raise some excellent points of concern. In retrospect (though I just couldn't listen to all the speeches), it saddens me that such a great opportunity was missed to publicly address the important issues you raised. As much as I am loathe to admit it, I do hear some hypocrisy in the speeches I heard.
I was having too much fun for a moment. Thanks for bringing it back to earth and reality. Politics are a bitch, aren't they?
Hans, I believe he meant rape was implied and included. By giving "personhood" status to a fertilized egg implies that anything done to harm that egg, whether it be through contraception or violence (rape or phyical assault), would be subject to criminal prosecution. See how neatly rape falls in under that innocuous little word called "personhood?"
John, I don't believe there really has been any noteable shift in the republican base over the last three decades. The intense flame of desire for elimination of ALL abortion has been seething under the surface in "Christian America" since January 28, 1973, when Roe v Wade was signed into law.
I believe the nonstop outward flood of hostility and political action coincides with the hatred spewing out of the media's bodily orifice known as Fox News. Four years ago they came close to winning the white house. Two years ago they got hold of the House. Teabaggers united and now own the republican party. I really think they believe it is the year for domination of all politics. That has lit a fire under them that has been a smoldering ash since 1973.
But, just my take on things as an enlightened former conservative...
Professor, thank you for taking this bold stance. I wish other influential people, especially Hollywood celebrities and name-brand legislators, would join you up on the podium.
For too long we have endured the bullying of the NRA and its costly impact on our society. It's high time we hold accountable the politicians who benefit from the NRA's greedy and self-serving ways.
Thanky you, Professor. Being a liberal in Minnesota you can imagine how much I enjoyed your tongue-in-cheek analysis of our state's beloved politician's evil affiliations. I'm sure she probably thinks Timothy McVeigh was a fine young Christian who simply got carried away for a moment.
Osama bin Laden clearly won the war. To think that one man with a small band of 3rd-world thugs could turn the most powerful and wealthiest nation into a police state in 10 short years just baffles the mind. This is little more than the United States wallowing in absolute fear.
Thanks for the reminder, Professor. Even as a follower of Jesus, it makes me thankful that our founding fathers understood this inherent weakness in both humans and in religion and opted for a secular government. I think Forrest Gump's mother said it another way, "Stupid is, as Stupid does."
Prof. Cole, thank you for highlighting the other side to this issue. As a street minister for 4 years with area Lutheran churches (10 years before 911), I met a man who had become a devout Muslim. He was my first close encounter with Islam. He turned out to be the gentlest man I have ever known.
Before jihad was associated with terrorism, he used the term as I would use the term "struggle." Both of us understood deeply the challenge of holiness in our own weak lives. Neither of us thought in terms of "holy war" or "holy crusades."
I wish these "Christians" who live by the law and use it to condemn everyone else but themselves, could meet this fine man I call a friend. I can only hope that my life could honor my God as his life honors his God. For those zealots in the Christian community, I'd like to remind them that in their midst are followers with names like Timothy McVeigh. We have had our own Osama bin Laden, haven't we?
True Islam is not the enemy of America. It is not a violent, murderous religion as so many Americans would have us believe. For what it's worth, I am a very faithful follower of Jesus.
Wow. It's hard to imagine this enlightened view coming from a former federal prosecutor. Thank you, Ken Ballen!
This seems a pivotal sentence in your message:
"I chronicled many Jihadists leaving the path of violence when exposed to the corruption of the Taliban and Al Qaeda and to a different interpretation of Islam."
This is a vital message that American civilian and military officials need to grasp. We could reframe our entire response to Middle East challenges using this one premise.
Thank you for this post - thanks Juan for bringing him in.
Interesting debate. Seems simple enough to me: simply have a sitting judge declare someone (a traitor) like Awlaqi an Enemy of The State. Then blow him away. Good for us, not so good for him.
Makes me wonder what would happen if Jane Fonda were to go and play with the Al Qaeda boys like she did in North Vietnam a few years back. Wonder if there'd be a nice little missile with her name on it?
I apologize - my comment was directed primarily at the interesting video embedded in the article. While having little to do with Warlord Graham's idiotic and inflammatory remarks I hope my comment will make sense and is pertinent if you watch the video!
Thanks for sharing this important issue. As a reaction to this situation I understand General Mullen's concerns and frustrations over his having to deal militarily with a nation like Pakistan, with such diverse internal factions.
Having said that, I think this points to President Obama's very weak civilian leadership. When a military official speaks out in the political arena against allies it is time for quick and decisive action to shut him up. Harry Truman was faced with the same challenge from Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He fired the loudmouth. MacArthur had valid military concerns but simply couldn't keep his mouth shut.
Mr. Obama needs to learn from history if he is to be seen as a leader. So far I think he's done a poor job in his management role.
It's curious to me how quick Americans are to label "welfare recipients" negatively and call what they get "handouts."
Both Tony F and Pabelmont above point at something very odd: why is it that all the incentives given to healthy industries such as oil and coal are not considered "government welfare?" Basically, it's free money that is not tied to performance. And then there's the insulting "windfall profits" the gluttonous oil industry gets over and above their normal operating profits.
Seems like they all have their hands out begging for more and more. I guess the difference is these "rich white guys" do their begging in suits down the halls of the Capitol Building while poor people wait in line in government offices. Sure sounds like hypocrisy to me.
Esther, that is precisely why I, as an American, read blogs like Professor Cole's instead of watching Fox News. There's not much an individual can do to change things nationally, but at least we don't become part of the sound and fury.
Wow, talk about a 2x4 across the forehead! Thank you for the wake up call, Professor. I am a devoted liberal and you raise some excellent points of concern. In retrospect (though I just couldn't listen to all the speeches), it saddens me that such a great opportunity was missed to publicly address the important issues you raised. As much as I am loathe to admit it, I do hear some hypocrisy in the speeches I heard.
I was having too much fun for a moment. Thanks for bringing it back to earth and reality. Politics are a bitch, aren't they?
Hans, I believe he meant rape was implied and included. By giving "personhood" status to a fertilized egg implies that anything done to harm that egg, whether it be through contraception or violence (rape or phyical assault), would be subject to criminal prosecution. See how neatly rape falls in under that innocuous little word called "personhood?"
John, I don't believe there really has been any noteable shift in the republican base over the last three decades. The intense flame of desire for elimination of ALL abortion has been seething under the surface in "Christian America" since January 28, 1973, when Roe v Wade was signed into law.
I believe the nonstop outward flood of hostility and political action coincides with the hatred spewing out of the media's bodily orifice known as Fox News. Four years ago they came close to winning the white house. Two years ago they got hold of the House. Teabaggers united and now own the republican party. I really think they believe it is the year for domination of all politics. That has lit a fire under them that has been a smoldering ash since 1973.
But, just my take on things as an enlightened former conservative...
Professor, thank you for taking this bold stance. I wish other influential people, especially Hollywood celebrities and name-brand legislators, would join you up on the podium.
For too long we have endured the bullying of the NRA and its costly impact on our society. It's high time we hold accountable the politicians who benefit from the NRA's greedy and self-serving ways.
Thanky you, Professor. Being a liberal in Minnesota you can imagine how much I enjoyed your tongue-in-cheek analysis of our state's beloved politician's evil affiliations. I'm sure she probably thinks Timothy McVeigh was a fine young Christian who simply got carried away for a moment.
Osama bin Laden clearly won the war. To think that one man with a small band of 3rd-world thugs could turn the most powerful and wealthiest nation into a police state in 10 short years just baffles the mind. This is little more than the United States wallowing in absolute fear.
A frightening outlook, but thanks for posting this. Great overview of the world scene and the gluttons who profit from this global devastation.
Thanks for the reminder, Professor. Even as a follower of Jesus, it makes me thankful that our founding fathers understood this inherent weakness in both humans and in religion and opted for a secular government. I think Forrest Gump's mother said it another way, "Stupid is, as Stupid does."
Prof. Cole, thank you for highlighting the other side to this issue. As a street minister for 4 years with area Lutheran churches (10 years before 911), I met a man who had become a devout Muslim. He was my first close encounter with Islam. He turned out to be the gentlest man I have ever known.
Before jihad was associated with terrorism, he used the term as I would use the term "struggle." Both of us understood deeply the challenge of holiness in our own weak lives. Neither of us thought in terms of "holy war" or "holy crusades."
I wish these "Christians" who live by the law and use it to condemn everyone else but themselves, could meet this fine man I call a friend. I can only hope that my life could honor my God as his life honors his God. For those zealots in the Christian community, I'd like to remind them that in their midst are followers with names like Timothy McVeigh. We have had our own Osama bin Laden, haven't we?
True Islam is not the enemy of America. It is not a violent, murderous religion as so many Americans would have us believe. For what it's worth, I am a very faithful follower of Jesus.
Wow. It's hard to imagine this enlightened view coming from a former federal prosecutor. Thank you, Ken Ballen!
This seems a pivotal sentence in your message:
"I chronicled many Jihadists leaving the path of violence when exposed to the corruption of the Taliban and Al Qaeda and to a different interpretation of Islam."
This is a vital message that American civilian and military officials need to grasp. We could reframe our entire response to Middle East challenges using this one premise.
Thank you for this post - thanks Juan for bringing him in.
Interesting debate. Seems simple enough to me: simply have a sitting judge declare someone (a traitor) like Awlaqi an Enemy of The State. Then blow him away. Good for us, not so good for him.
Makes me wonder what would happen if Jane Fonda were to go and play with the Al Qaeda boys like she did in North Vietnam a few years back. Wonder if there'd be a nice little missile with her name on it?
I apologize - my comment was directed primarily at the interesting video embedded in the article. While having little to do with Warlord Graham's idiotic and inflammatory remarks I hope my comment will make sense and is pertinent if you watch the video!
Thanks for sharing this important issue. As a reaction to this situation I understand General Mullen's concerns and frustrations over his having to deal militarily with a nation like Pakistan, with such diverse internal factions.
Having said that, I think this points to President Obama's very weak civilian leadership. When a military official speaks out in the political arena against allies it is time for quick and decisive action to shut him up. Harry Truman was faced with the same challenge from Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He fired the loudmouth. MacArthur had valid military concerns but simply couldn't keep his mouth shut.
Mr. Obama needs to learn from history if he is to be seen as a leader. So far I think he's done a poor job in his management role.