Montgomery Burns

No, self-absorbed. American culture is entirely inward looking and fixed around the notion of American exceptionalism. America uber alles. As for your complete non-sequiter about Canada's place in the world, it's only the insecure, status-obsessed crybabies on the right who consider such things to be important. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Nope. It is the loony liberal leftists in Canada who have this bizarre notion that Canada is important in the world. All one has to do is look at the attention that the rest of the world gave Canada when Paul "we lead the world" Martin spoke at the UN. Instead of listening to Martin, most of the world leaders chose to head to the hotel bar. How many times have I seen on the internet..."You Americans are stupid. Us Canadians know where St. Louis is, but you idiots don't know where Brandon, Manitioba is. Hahaha, you dumb Americans." And please consult a dictionary before you start throwing around words like "non-sequitur". It is apparent that you have no clue what the word means.

Black Dog: What is it like to be so self-loathing? Moderateamericain, the US has nearly 300 million, not 260 million. Indeed, the World Factbook estimates the 2005 US population at 296 million.

Only the far-left Toronto Star would call a refusal to help enforce a broken ceasefire, a refusal to enforce 17 broken Chapter VII UN resolutions - "opposing the war on principle". Why don't they tell the truth? Canada didn't give 2 shits about the Iraqi people, enforcing the 17 broken UN resolutions or enforcing the broken ceasefire. Canada was only interested in allowing the Chretien family to take more and more of Saddam's blood money. And bullying Canada on softwood lumber? WTF? I don't know who is correct in this dispute, but the fact is that the WTO ruled against Canada and it took me about 5 seconds (thru Google) to find 2 other organizations who ruled against Canada. And it was downright embarrassing when it took days for the PM to say anything about the Katrina tragedy. Layton was also silent. The first one to step up to the plate was Stephen Harper. Don't these idiots know that ambassadors are supposed to be diplomatic? Honestly, I don't know why the Americans continue to allow Canada to leech off them. With the ungrateful infantile mooches in power (the Liberal Party), if I was Dubya, I'd tell Canada to take a hike. But the cool and calm Dubya understands that he is supposed to defend the country.

Of course not. Americans are too self-absorbed to give us even a passing thought. We're about as important to them as Panama or Luxembourg: that hasn't changed in 130 years. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not self-absorbed, just realists. Unlike Canadians, who have this bizarre notion that they are important in the world. Perhaps they actually believe PM Paul "we lead the world!" Martin. Anyone can see how important Canada is in the world by the number of dignitaries who flee to the hotel bar when someone from Canada speaks at the UN.

America's ugly racism - in pictures

The minute Katrina blew ashore - hours before the 17th Street levee broke - Mayor Nagin declared martial law in New Orleans and ordered it evacuated. He tried to get Governor Blanco to turn control of available National Guard troops over to him. She refused. Blanco's advisers told her that the remaining 7000 National Guard troops left in Louisiana were not enough to secure the city, and that it was not in her best political interest to use them until they could be reinforced since they might get hurt, or worse, hurt or kill a civilian they were charged with protecting. Instead, she let Nagin's 1500 New Orleans cops fend for themselves in a city that had been tacitly surrendered to looters and thugs. Blanco apparently was not in constant or direct contact with the mayor as a leader would be expected to be. Quite a difference compared to how Jeb Bush handled the 4 hurricanes in Florida last year. More of Governor Blanco's "business" August 31/2005

As for Newsmax, if you check out the news they have on their site, the vast majority of it comes from the leftwing Associated Press. And the punditry leans to the right because, shocker of shockers , it's a conservative magazine - and it makes no bones about it. Or didn't anyone see all the paraphenelia they have of the legendary Ronald Reagan on their site?

More corruption from the Louisiana Democrats March 31/2005 The "terribly underfunded state of Louisiana" (as Argus persistently refers to it) somehow managed to "misspend" $30 million in flood buyout aid. "Improper paperwork" is code for when bureaucrats steal taxpayer funds to line their own pockets. Governor Blanco addresses FEMA payback issue Maybe you and your Democrat Desperados should’ve thought about that before you stole the funds from the children, the poor and the sick in the first place, you thieving corrupt criminals. :angry:

Argus: Maybe. But then again, maybe not. In August 1992 after Hurricane Andrew decimated Southern Florida, many strongly suggested that this disaster would not only mean a poor employment picture in that area for many months, but also a weakened national economy. Look at how wrong they were: 1) Florida's unemployment rate in August 1992 before Andrew hit was 8.9%. Twelve months later, it had plummeted to 7.2% as the state added 173,000 jobs. 2) Nationally, 2.3 million non-farm jobs were created in the 12 months following Hurricane Andrew, dropping the unemployment rate from 7.6% to 6.8%. 3) Despite all the gloomy predictions, the GDP grew by 4% in the 3rd quarter of 1992, and a vigorous 4.5% in that year's 4th quarter. It's probably a little too early to forecast Armageddon in the aftermath of Katrina.

DENIAL DENIAL DENIAL I don't condone anyone killing anyone but how convenient it is for you that you are forgetting that you ever heard of Pat Robertson? Please try cleaning up your sick society in the US before bringing us any more of your great ideas like you are bringing DEMOCRACY TO IRAQ. Do you really think we are the equivalent of a bunch of stupid Americans up here? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> A perfect example of why I titled that thread "The ugly hate-filled left".

And your point is?

mirror: We can only hope he does that. Fahrenheit 9/11 turned more people against the Democrats than anything Bush ever did. Wasn't it interesting that when the numbers came out, that we found out that Fahrenheit 9/11 did poorly in the states that Bush won; it only did well in the Blue States and in Europe. And let's hope that if Moore makes a "Hurricane Bush" movie, many of the top Democrats go to the premiere in Washington - just like they did for Fahrenheit 9/11's premiere. And let's hope that they talk to the press and tell them that the movie is The Pure Truth - just like they did after F 9/11. And finally, let's all hope that the Democrats give Michael Moore an important seat (next to a former President) at the DNC in 2008 just like they did in 2004. Again, I am suuuure that will go over well in the rest of the country - just like it did in 2004.

He used pretty mild language given the situation, and the CIA thing was a joke - not that you'd undersetand humour. Again, given the situation and the strain locals are under I can understand how she'd be pretty ticked off, given the incompetence of the federal response, and Bush's own responsibility for that incompetence, why she would be outraged at him trying to blame the locals. Hardly a surprise given the callow nature of the man. Or maybe she was just hesitant about turning over all disaster relief to incompetents. Maybe she wanted someone who actually knewe what he was doing in charge, hmmm? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 1) There was no excuse to hurl a barrage of swear words on the radio. It's tacky and makes one look like they are out of control - which he was. And the CIA thing was no joke; the fact you think so is a joke. 2) It is not only a felony to punch the President; it is a felony to threaten the President. She was acting hysterical because some were questioning her total incompetence and asking why the state refused Bush's offer of help and why the state refused to evacuate the poor from the city after Bush had suggested that this be done. 3) Who has been playing politics? The liberal Washington Post reports: While the Democrats were focused on political maneuvering, the Bush Administration was trying to get the appropriate help to citizens of Louisiana. And apparently Argus sees nothing wrong with Democrats playing political games while thousands were being killed. Another victim of Bush Derangement Syndrome.

I have a feeling if Jeb Bush was a Democrat and Blanco a Republican you'd be saying the same thing in reverse. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And let's not forget the difference in how LA Mayor Nagin handled the Katrina tragedy compared to NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani handled 9/11. No wonder the American public doesn't trust the Democrats...

Translation again: I don't like it when people point out our ugly side.

And there's more: "Despite United Nations Security Council Resolutions," a 1998 memo signed by President Clinton's deputy secretary of state, Strobe Talbott, said, "Jordan continues to import oil from Iraq." Good old Slick Willie and the most embarrassing corrupt Administration in US history.

Slinger sounds like he has had one too many hits off the bong. Why are there so many loonies at the Toronto Star? McQuaig, Slinger, Antonia Zerberasa or however you spell her last name. And ole what's-his-name, the anti-Israel and pro-death cult of displaced Arabs writer. It does not speak well for Canada that this rag is the #1 seller in Canada.

mirror: The Supreme Court has more liberals than conservatives. Why do you think the Democrats are so hysterical that Bush is appointing conservatives? And it is going to get uglier yet. Rehnquist (sp?) passed away a few days ago. And for the 100th time, it is the responsibility of first the local and state officials for disasterous situations, not the feds. And that's a fact, Jack - no matter how many times you try to pin all the blame on Bush.

Translation: I don't like it when people point out our ugly side.

I see you've been visiting the Democratic Underground Message Board lately. Here's what I know: Those machines CAN be altered. There's no question of that. Anyone with even rudimentary knowledge of computerse and software knows you can have them say anything you want them to. So there's no doubt on this score. Second. Some of the major manufacturers of these machines are not only strong Republican supporters but strong members of the Religious Right. Now I generally don't believe in conspiracy theories, but on the other hand I'm a cynic. And any way you look at things if you're going to use machines they have to be air tight in their security, and these most surely are not. So there is legitimate cause for concern. A temporary drop which is likely to be eliminated by gas prices which have gone up 30% because of this, not to mention the massive bill for repairs here, not to mention 1 million jobs lost and major damage to America's biggest ports. However, the deficit is not likely to be eliminated for years, not until - the tax cut wears out. Funny how no one seemed to think she was doing a poor job before she started questioning the Haliburton contracts, eh? Do you believe everything Republicans tell you? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 1) You might be cynical, but the fact is that the only people convicted of voter fraud for the federal election were 5 Democrats. 2) I'm not sure what Katrina has to do with Bush's tax cuts. 3) You should read more than the headline of articles you link to. The last paragraph says: Greenhouse went public last year with her criticism of Iraq-related work awarded to Halliburton by the Corps of Engineers. 4) All of Halliburton's shareholders are Republicans? I can't wait to see your proof of that.

You should think before you type. Take a look at the Liberal Party's corruption. And who are all these crooked CEOs "we hear about" nearly every day in America? The German election is soon; Schroeder has turned to the same tactic that won him election last time, America-bashing. Hopefully the Germans don't fall for it this time. With the morbid economy that Germany has had under Schroeder, he should be turfed out.

Your thoughts on this? Comments? I find it frightening that this international unaccountable corrupt organization would have the authority to implement and collect a global tax. John Bolton, please stop this. For those who want the UN to become more irrelevant, this is good news. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oil-For-Food Study Highlights UN Faults Sept 6/2005 Volcker's report will likely not get much media attention because of the Katrina tragedy.

One can't help but notice the difference in leadership between Governor Jeb Bush, whose state was hit with 4 hurricanes last year, and LA Governor Kathleen Blanco.

Dear Alberta: It was nice having you in the Confederation. Too bad the Statists messed it up.

I don't think things are all that rosey in Bushland. The following information speaks for itself: http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.as...JRJ8OVF&b=34039 http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/01/26/budget.deficits.ap/ <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 1) Your link to americanprogress.org is all articles from 2003 and 2004. The latest article in those links is February 20/2004. Plus the Center for American Progress is not exactly an unbiased source. It was started by George Soros of Moveon.org infamy; it's run by former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta; it helped launch "Media Matters for America" - a media ethics watchdog group run by David Brock, who has publicly confessed to writing false political hatchet jobs for pay, and its key players are Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Morton Halperin, Harold Ickes, and John Podesta. But when you go to their "About Us" page, it states that "the Center for American Progress is a nonpartisan research and educational institute". Nonpartisan? 2) Your CNN link is from January 2004. However in January 2005, Larry Kudlow (you might have seen him on CNBC's Kudlow and Company) pointed out that since the end of September/2004, tax collections had grown at 10.5%, while federal cash outlays had risen only 6.1%. He calculated that at this rate, the 2005 deficit would drop to $355 billion from $413 in 2004 and as a fraction of projected GDP the deficit would fall to 2.9% from 2004's 3.6%. And even the Bush-bashing NY Times reported - in July 2005 - that Federal tax revenue had increased 14.6% during 2005. The reason for the big increase? People and businesses are paying more taxes because more people are working because businesses need more workers to meet demand. These companies also make more revenue, ergo they pay more taxes. In fact, payments by corporations increased over 40%. The federal govt has collected $204 billion more in taxes through June 2005 than it did in the same period in 2004. This appears to be the result of the Bush tax cuts stimulating the economy. Tax revenues up 14.6% over 2004 Imagine if taxes were cut in Canada and the 6.9% unemployment rate dropped to the same as the USA's 4.9%. Imagine all that extra revenue that would flow into govt coffers from an extra 350,000 people working and paying taxes. Then add on the extra taxes that businesses would have to pay because of increased revenues. The economy is doing very well in "Bushland".