Sir Bandelot

I call BS on that one... anyone can and should challenge Obama on his policy ideas. So bring on your criticism of his ideas and what you think he might do as the President, not his daddys name. The notion that he cannot be attacked because you will only be called a racist, is counter-spin. Anyone who does it is doing the republican party a dis-service, because they only look foolish in the eyes of reasonable, thinking voters. Ie. the more you try to play the race card the more ridiculous you are and the more marginalized you will be.

And no law in Canada denies you that right. So move away, please, if you really want to. But these ideas of yours about laws to control people, just because you don't like them, are not well thought out. Simply put, your ideas are too simplistic to work in the real world. In some ways they equate to apartheid and jewish laws of the third reich. You seem obsessed with the race issue as though it directly threatens you somehow. I'm pointing out that you can't divide society along those lines, it don't work that way. In any country in the world, there's good and bad people. The main thing is that even though we are different if we allow each other to live in peace, its never a problem. But I always feel no one is completely hopeless. Maybe you will keep learning

Obama himself did not say that. I don't believe any candidate black or white in America could openly say such things and get elected. Today anyways. There are not two sets of rules, for people who believe in fairness and equality. But I know there are others who don't believe that, among the "blacks" and, evidently, among the whites. "Perhaps he'll get assassinated for the good of the country." Keep this kind of talk up, and you might get a loud knock on the door from the RCMP.

If this is to be a part of it, then it must be OR French. "2. NO criminal record" What if the crime is not a crime in Canada, what if it is a minor offence that occured long ago. People should not have to pay their entire lives for some lesser offences, like cannabis possession when they were a teenager. So there should be some flexibility. What if a brilliant researcher in oncology had a record for something minor they did many years ago. Our society would still benefit tremendously by having them work here. By your strict reckoning they couldn't. "4. The willingness to shed all traditional dress and customs except in the privacy of your own home or holidays or family functions. All religious dress banned in public so as to not make the Canadian people uncomfortable." By the same logic, catholic priests can no longer wear their white collars? A citizen cannot wear a necklace with a cross pendant in public? Pshaaw "5. The willingness to assimilate in Canadian society so as not to make uncomfortable the Canadian people already here." Which Canadian society, the Canadian hindus, the Chinese, little Italy? Pshaaw " $10,000 Cdn dollars so you are not a strain on the Canadian system and/or the Canadian people." Sounds like some kind of payola. How about if they grease the immigration officers palm too, drop me 5000 and your in. "Three infractions and you are removed from Canada to never be allowed to return and your passport stamped undesirable for Canada. Straight to airport, no judge, jury or appeal. Just straight to airport holding area." Removed to where... who will take them, who would be forced to take them, under a Canadian law? Again, Pshaww.

Well I know some "white" families whos kids are bad too. And I know some coloured families whos kids are good. Even the ones who are not assimilated, who are still immersed in chinese or hindu culture. I'd rather have those in my neighbourhood than someone who's white but is an asshole. Thats what matters more, not what rce they are or if they're immigrant, but as long as they don't bother me and mind their own business... no matter what their origin is.

Alright! Now I Really like you. heheh

Perhaps that is true, but by the same argument it doesn't matter what Obama really thinks or does, it matters what the people believe he thinkks and does.

Patriotism under the GOP leadership means conformity. Clapping when the leader speaks, laughing when the leader jokes. Even if not funny. If you are different, you are outcast by this crowd, purely on superficiality not substance. They cannot comprehend that someone may not want to wear a flag pin, or shout in unison when the crowd shouts. They consider it to be anti-american, because they define america by their standard of conformity. This form of patriotism is at the root of distrust for other-ness, thus aliens, other cultures are despised. People who are different get branded with names that have no meaning from their original context. "Marxist", "Socialist", "Islamo-Fascist". There is no room for free-thinking, only servitude. Obama is clearly a free-thinker, non conformist. But not by any means "un-american". But some people will fall for that. Thats why I think john McCain represents a continuation of the same old ideas about America, patriotism, flag waving. A lack of critical self-analysis. If Obama wins it will help influence and change that kind of thinking, but not in huge ways and not immediately.

True that. I look at it this way, Obama is employing a simple strategy to counter the successes of the GOP in the last few years: Fight fire with fire. The reason its working for the dems this time around: many people are just sick and tired of the GOP and George Bush. the pendulum swings both ways.

I would venture to say it depends on what yardstick you use to measure "success". Many of your points are highly debateable. The Iraq war is a success in some ways, but failure in others. Besides that is my view that anyone who is responsible directly or indirectly for thousands of deaths is not to be admired, and not "successful" by mu definition. That of course does not apply to Bush alone, but to people like Saddam to. Saddam is dead- an evil man was killed by other evil men. I would not be proud. I would have been proud if he was given a trial in an international court and then executed, or preferably imprisoned for life. Thousands of terrorists are behind bars in Guantanamo- Last I heard there was less than 500 or so still there. Most were released and sent back to their home countries, where we never hear what happens to them. But some of these were freed. Guantanamo is a holding zone for anyone whom the govt wanted detained, even if there was just a shadow of a doubt. Why are the trials taking so long to complete? The answer should be obvious. Guantanamo represents a double standard in the rule of law and human rights, because the government knows that they can not be detained without charges in the United States. Another reason not to gloat and be proud. Anyway my view is that Bush is not a genius... an idiot savant perhaps but the strategic decisions are not being made by this individual. George Bush is the front-man, the mouthpiece for the administration. Others are far more knowledgeable about world history and espionage. Dick Cheney and Karl Rove are some names that come to mind.

I think George Bush just considers it part of his job to be respectful to their culture. Islamophobia is racism no matter how you use it in an argument.

It seems that as the US election day draws nearer the issue of race hatred or racial voting is coming more and more to the forefront. Some news articles are implying that "white" democrats who say they will vote for Barak Obama, are only doing this publicly so not to embarass themselves. Here is one example- ---------- Charles is a registered Democrat in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. "If it wasn't for Obama I would vote Democrat. Blacks just cause trouble, that's the taste I've got in my mouth." Race is the question mark hanging over this election. Barack Obama is ahead in the polls. There's a widespread feeling now that the election is his to lose. But there is something that is worrying Democrats. How accurate are the polls? How many voters are saying they will vote for Mr Obama because they do not want to be perceived as racist? Once they enter the polling booth will it be an entirely different story? Simply put, how many people out there think like Charles but are not admitting it? Charles said the vast majority of his friends felt the same way as him. At a local restaurant a friendly waitress started chatting to us. The conversation turned to politics. She shrugged, she was not even sure when the election was to be held, she could not pronounce Mr Obama's name. "I like McCain because I can say his name, so I'll probably vote for McCain." She was not well informed, but her views were clear. "He's from Africa or something. I don't even know where he's from. I know he grew up here, but he's not from here. I think American presidents should be from America." These are not isolated opinions - just not often voiced publicly. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_ele...008/7682876.stm ---- She will vote for McCain simply because she can pronounce his name... now theres democracy for ya! Invalidated. Maybe people should have to write a test or something before they can vote, to prove they know what they are voting for. Just kidding about that, but the notion that someone would vote against a person, not because of their ideas, policy or skills but because they have dark skin just doesn't sit well with me. Personally I don't really care much who wins, since the US agenda will continue to pursue whats good for its own interests, regardless. Only with the Dems it seems veiled with more smiles and handshakes. Vote for McCain or Obama, because you believe in their plans for the future. But to me it would be a sad thing, if a person was not elected even though they might be the best one for the job, who would have the most beneficial impact on the most peoples lives, because of the narrow views of those who have money to influence and manipulate the uninformed public, for their selfish interests. If people voted freely but they voted to harm themselves, because of a lie, I guess you could say I oppose the stupidity that democracy has become. If it ever was anything else. I welcome input from any Americans or those who have been to the US, about the race question. I realize it depends on who you know and where you live, but there must be a general sense of how bad it is. I know there's places in Canada with the same problem, mostly in the small towns, areas that are not considered "modern", where there's not a lot of cultural diversity. Is the average Joe Democrat really that much racist, and too chicken-shit to admit it?

Nice. Especially at a time when many are losing their jobs, their savings and their homes... some whose homes would cost 150,000 and now have no place to live. She pads her ass with a house, and then goes around telling people how shes just like them, just another Joe six-pack. Read the clues, people. This is the extravagance of the elite. The smiling liars

Wow! And I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you thats a really good deal. Not only that, the governor is planning to build a bridge there, just for people like you.

What a tragedy

The fact that they seem so hot to put her in for the next presidential election just says to me, that they really only need a face and a certain charisma that sells, not necessarily a thinker or capable leader. It implies someone else will be doing the thinking and doing anyway.

Well both VP running mates are saying dumb things. Palin is still confused about what a VP actually does, it seems. On the balance of it I think Joe Biden would probably do a fine job anyway, regardless of his recent gaffes. Sarah Palin... not certain.

Sheesh, you would think that by now she would understand the role of Vice President that she is trying so hard to get. It's possible that she simply mis-spoke, but I recall that this is not the first time she has expressed confusion it. In the days after John McCain announced her as his running mate, she was quoted as saying "What does the Vice President actually do?" It seems to me that McCain chose her primarily as a distraction for the voters, not because of her political skills.

Hee, there you go. I think she made a chocolate eclair... Ok, enough now before chuckles gets mad at me (again)

The answer is: Hollwood. By that I mean, decades of cultural degeneracy, the abuse of freedoms, an insistence on "anything goes", incessant attacks on common decency by the media, and the whoredom of youth gave rise to a conservative backlash. Fueled by the indignation of religious leaders in the bible belt, the Jerry Falwells and the John Hagees. In a sense, the liberals created Bush.

yes knowledge will help you grow a brian

Aww, you guys are like a tag-team. That's nice

I've watched The Agenda several times and its a pretty good show. I also think he did a good job moderating the leadership debate a few weeks ago. As for him being paid too much, my boss gets paid more than that, and he's on the public dole. And he (and all his other cohorts in so-called management) is a completely useless boob. At least Steve Paiken can do his job reasonably well.

Curiousity is the first step towards learning and intelligence, so keep it up