Jim

Holy cow. If we elect another bumbler like this into white house we deserve what we get. By the way. The straight talk express seems to be doing doughnuts in the mud wallow with their latest ad regarding Obama's kindergarden porno program. Yea, a real straight up guy that McCain.

Well he would be the oldest fart every elected - so that's true. While trying to tie Obama to the weathermen when he was in 2nd grade, and putting millions into an ad campaign, is a bit desperate and a good reflection of the empty barrel of issues the rightwingers have to run upon. I think there are a number of legimate conservative issues that are worth discussing in the election - balanced budgets, a more conservative approach to world affairs, rebuilding our infrastructure - but we will hear none of this from the typical republican slime machine. I don't see the democrats dealing in this level of mud-slinging, say question McCain's cerebral abilities because of his age. Maybe I'm missing it - but maybe you could point to an ad campaign of similar funding with similar slimyness. But I doubt it.

Here we go. I assume you're talking about the old guy and not Obama, who was in what, 2nd grade when that was going on? This is more of the right-wingers vacant attempts to conduct the usual character assination. Damn. When we have so many serious issues to put on the table and debate it's pathetic that this kinda crap comes up every election cycle. And no, I'm not confident in the ability of Americans to filter this stuff and critically analyze the issues. Look who was voted in for two terms.

Great dodge. While a certain amount of cultural sensitivity is recommended when working in foreign countries, there were plenty of experienced white old guys in the State Department and diplomatic Corps that stood ready and willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work over there, only to be pushed aside by the Carl Rove strategy of getting right-wingers who knew nothing about rebuilding a country. I'd sugguest you actually read some of these critical books and articles. It's hard to ignore the outright incompetence. And yes, it does need to be examined and criticized. Seems that no one is ever responsible for this administration's messes.

Huh? Are you saying that rather than actually having seasoned staff and diplomats who had the knowledge and experience to address the needed political and agency structure that hiring neophytes was a good thing? What a joke. This is one of the many flawed thought processes that lead to the inevitable failures in Iraq, the continued flushing of billions of tax dollars, and the misconstrued logic that got us there in the first place. So rather than get some staff that say, actually know something about restoring public works, it's better to hire right-wingers with no experience but believe that abortion is murder because it supposedly aligns with local traditions? Too rich.

And I would suggest you broaden your reading material to include "Imperial Life in the Emerald City - Inside Iraq's Green Zone" by Rijiv Chandrasekaran. He lays out the bizzare idealogues choosen to "rebuild" Iraq - clueless and wet behind the ears, but steping to the proper tune of the right-wingers. If it weren't so sad it would be funny. Welcome to reality. The Green Zone, Baghdad, 2003: in this walled-off compound of swimming pools and luxurious amenities, Paul Bremer and his Coalition Provisional Authority set out to fashion a new, democratic Iraq. Staffed by idealistic aides chosen primarily for their views on issues such as abortion and capital punishment, the CPA spent the crucial first year of occupation pursuing goals that had little to do with the immediate needs of a postwar nation: flat taxes instead of electricity and deregulated health care instead of emergency medical supplies. In this acclaimed firsthand account, the former Baghdad bureau chief of The Washington Post gives us an intimate portrait of life inside this Oz-like bubble, which continued unaffected by the growing mayhem outside. This is a quietly devastating tale of imperial folly, and the definitive history of those early days when things went irrevocably wrong in Iraq.

Their preparations made reality pale in comparison to any comedy play. When faced with an urgent need to have skilled diplomats restructure a war-torn country, what was one of the leading question asked about their experience and qualifications? How do you stand on Roe v. Wade? You couldn't make this stuff up.

I'm never disappointed in the ability of the Americans to lap up media projections rather than use some sembelence of critical thinking. Why would you think this geriatic could run the economy better when he admits he doesn't know (or care) much about economic issues and his boldest economic policy is to institute a gas tax holiday and follow the lead of the Bushies and (surprise!) cut taxes?! Excellent ideas. I'm still confident that folks have had enough of the tax-cut and spend administration and are looking for a more nuanced approach to world affairs. We'll see. Either way I'll need a beer - my bet is you're paying.

Interesting tidbits on McCain's foreign policy advisor: ____In 2005, while registered as a paid lobbyist for Georgia, Scheunemann worked with McCain to draft a congressional resolution pushing for Georgia's membership in NATO. A year later, while still on the Georgian payroll, Scheunemann accompanied McCain on a trip to that country, where they met with Saakashvili and supported his bellicose views toward Russia's Vladimir Putin. Scheunemann is at the center of the neoconservative cabal that has come to dominate the Republican candidate's foreign policy stance in a replay of the run-up to the war against Iraq. These folks are always looking for a foreign enemy on which to base a new Cold War, and with the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime it was Putin's Russia that came increasingly to fit the bill.

What's bias about an opinion piece on an on-line version of the LA Times?

Right. Who would take that offer. We certainly can afford none - we're overstretched. Heck, we can't even get more NATO troops in Afganistan. Good reason to keep your powder dry and not going off on half cocked mideast adventures.

Too bad, doesn't seem fair. No way are those little things 16. I think the average weight of the Chinese gymnasts is 71 lb!! while the US comes in at 107 lbs!!!

Private health care or private health insurance. Let's be clear wtf we're talking about. Actually that is a good point. The Swiss system is universal and private - and much cheaper and successful than ours. I'd be ok with that one. "Switzerland's consumer-driven health care system achieves universal insurance and high quality of care at significantly lower costs than the employer-based US system and without the constrained resources that can characterize government-controlled systems. Unlike other systems in which the choice and most of the funding for health insurance is provided by third parties, such as employers and governments, in the Swiss system, individuals are required to purchase their own health insurance. The positive results achieved by the Swiss system may be attributed to its consumer control, price transparency of the insurance plans, risk adjustment of insurers, and solidarity. However, the constraints the Swiss system places on hospitals and physicians and the paucity of provider quality information may unduly limit its impact. The Swiss health care system holds important lessons, including evidence about its feasibility and equity, for the United States, which is now embarking on its own consumer-driven health care system."

....is just warming up. Here's an early volley. They'll get going in earnest after the convention. "The Anticrist" "That's just what some outraged Christian supporters of the Democratic nominee are claiming John McCain's campaign did in an ad called "The One" that was recently released online. The Republican nominee's advisers brush off the charges, arguing that the spot was meant to be a "creative" and "humorous" way of poking fun at Obama's popularity by painting him as a self-appointed messiah. But even this innocuous interpretation of the ad — which includes images of Charlton Heston as Moses and culled clips that make Obama sound truly egomaniacal — taps into a conversation that has been gaining urgency on Christian radio, political blogs, and in widely-circulated email messages that accuse Obama of being the Antichrist. The ad was the creation of Fred Davis, one of McCain's top media gurus, as well as a close friend of former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed and the nephew of conservative Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe." Remember Ralph Reed - he's the pious guy who, along with Abermoff was talking to Indian Casinos on one side of his mouth (and taking loads of cash to push their cause) while preching the evils of gambling to the Christian Coalition. Slime balls.

Yes but that'd be "socialism." Translation: corporations not being able to fleece us.

The program is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA). ......great. More of our tax dollars being used efficiently. Probably under the category of evil-doer killer articulated assistant.

Seems that the US ranks below England: The World Health Report – Health systems: Improving performance*. *Copies of the Report can be ordered from bookorders@who.ch. The U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance, the report finds. The United Kingdom, which spends just six percent of GDP on health services, ranks 18 th . Several small countries – San Marino, Andorra, Malta and Singapore are rated close behind second- placed Italy. One of the biggest issues: no one goes without decent care in other countries and no one is going to go bankrupt because of health costs. We could easily cover the US population with the same money we are now spending. The difference? No huge profits and CEO salaries.

I don't have any problem with hunting, heck, spent enough time in hunters camps while in school, but this area doesn't seem like a great place for hunting. It's really a sad mistake by some kid. The thing I don't get is folks that are not hunting carrying guns in the wilderness. WTF - why such a chickenshit? I'm off to AK for a couple weeks of field work near Denali. No guns, no spray. Just keep your frikkin' eyes open.

Working in the Coast Range over the next two days, summit tagging on Sat. Sat - Play hard, Sun - ReCharge!!

Exactly! I want more, and I want it now. Friggin A, nothing wrong with fiscal responsibility already.

My several business trips over the next couple months: Salem, OR, Salmonberry River Basin - Oregon Coast Range, Cape Lookout State Park, Oregon; Denali State Park, AK; Boise and the Snake River Canyon. Not so bad.

Oh sweet Jesus. Here we go again. This is the kind of stuff you're going to hear once the GOP slime machine picks up steam after the convention. Let's start the debate about who's label pin is bigger already. She, like a majority of Americans, think we can do better than the slime ball politics and world strategy mis-steps that have dominate the past 8 years. Rather than talk about any substantial issues facing the county lets talk about Obama's bitter wife. Unbelieveable. But sadly predictable.

Frikin' A man - you are just packin' in the excitement here! Makes our snooze atop seem pedestrian. Glad you guys are OK.

The new little things like the pocket rocket are very light and efficient. My main complaint is that you can't refill or recycle the dang canisters.

Ok Jim. I really would like to see your research. Since you clearly have such a first person definitive knowledge of what this group is and what its purposes are... Would really like to see where you are getting your information. You don't believe the FARC is a wacko group? Hmmm.. As far as the SOA - just open up a book for Christs sake. My suggestion would be: The School of the Americas: Miltary Training and Political Violence in the Americas. Lesley Gill - this one I've read. or School of Assassins: The Case for Closing the School of Americas and for Fundamentally Changing U.S. Foreign Policy. by Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer If these are a bit too inaccessible for you there are some good magazine articles as well.