PocketRocket

Sure, no problem. We live in a democracy. There you go. Hopefully you're a bit happier now I wouldn't say that. Mulroney got in because the Liberal leader at that time was particularly NOT noteworthy. Hell, I can't even remember his name. But Mulroney left such a mess, at least in the public's perception, that the PC's all but disintegrated. The current batch of Conservatives are still under extreme scrutiny, and there is some suspicion about them. Whether this stems from the fact that they are a marriage of the old Reform party, and the last remaining dregs of the PC party, or whether it has to do with a lack of experience which often shows in interviews, it's hard to say. But if they were to field a candidate who actually had appeal and charisma, and some on-camera smarts, I think we'd see a major turn-around. Unfortunately, they have not fielded such a candidate. I'd really like to see the Libs out, but at this time, I can't see anyone that I have even the slightest confidence in. Personally, I am so far completely undecided on this upcoming election. Where is the Rhino party when you need them???

Aw, gee. Now I have a warm, damp feeling in my loins. Oh, wait. That's just the coffee I spilled in my lap. CANUCK E STAN: Interesting. For 10 years I lived about 2 blocks from Wembley, on Wellington. Used to play basketball in the courts in the Wembley schoolyard. Small world. You still in the area???

The Prospect Hotel??? Where are you at??? We have (or had) one of those here in Sudbury. Don't know if it's still in operation or not. In any case, thanks for the sentiment, nd all the best to you. (This board needs an emoticon for "cheers", or a toast or something. I know they're out there, I've seen them elsewhere. Oh well, "Cheers" to all)

Sorry, NEWBIE, but I have to take some small issue with that remark. Plenty of honest voices coming from the USA, but many of them are simply being drowned out. Many others are honest in that they are voicing their true beliefs, but have been misled. And finally, from where we are sitting, it's really REALLY difficult to know exactly what the truth is. Who knows??? Maybe GWB really is the right guy doing the right thing for all the right reasons. (I don't tend to think so, but hey, that's just my opinion. There's several million differing opinions on that issue) But I, like you, do like AW's take on the matter.

This seems like the appropriate place for this, so, to all the friends I've made here at MLW over the past year, and also to those with whom I don't see eye to eye, and even to MONTYBURNS , may you all have a GREAT 2006. May you all see health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year. Thanks to you all for stimulating conversation, occasional vexation, and ALWAYS a great relief from boredom. And to GREG, many thanks for the venue.

I have to admit that until reading through this thread, I was largely, if not completely, unaware of Tookie, his plight, and his history. For the past 1/2 hour or so, I've been looking into his story online. While he was protesting his innocence in the particular case for which he fried, there were numerous instances where he attacked jail guards while incarcerated, had many fights in prison, some of these ending fatally for his foes, and a host of other niceties. At his trial, when the jury foreman read the verdict, he looked at the jury and mouthed the words "I'll get each and every one of you mother****ers", or something similar. Additionally, while in prison, he said to guards on more than one occasion, that he had "dusted" several officers on the street, and one more wouldn't make a difference. Whether or not he was innocent of the four particular deaths for which he was terminated, he made it obvious that he had killed others (or believed he did), and equally obvious during his prison time that he was a violent sociopath who had no place in a civilized society. I cannot say that I am in any way sad to see him go. All that being said, I find the "Night before Christmas" adaptation to be in bad taste, even slightly disturbing. While we may acknowledge the necessity of removing a person from society via terminal means, I don't believe we should be celebrating either the necessity, nor the outcome.

Don't be shy; tell us what you really think

Gonna miss you. Bye.

Simple. The Mongols were better organized, and probably a hell of a lot more intelligent. One similarity, though, is both are drug-motivated. Gangsta's for personal use and profit. The Mongols, on the other hand, used the naturally-occuring, low-intensity LSD found in the aminida muscaria mushroom to get themselves hyped-up for battle. It also had the virtue of vastly reducing the perception of pain if they took an injury. You may be right, but in removing the line, it wouldn't take long before the general populace got fed up and started shooting back. When you consider that the majority of gangsta shoot-outs are motivated by turf-wars, or in these recent Toronto cases, possibly just personal insults, most of their violence would probably still be directed at each other, as it is now. They lack the intelligence and/or skill to organize in any meaningful fashion. It doesn't bother me to see an incident where a couple of the perpetrators kill each other. But it is truly sad to see innocent bystanders take a hit. Personally, I think we should bring back stocks. You remember, those wooden contraptions from old movies, where your head and hands are held in place so the public can jeer you, or toss rotten vegetables at your face, or just come up and spit at you, or whatever they like. Public floggings would also play well. With street gangs, it's all about being "tough" and "cool". Kind of hard to do either when your locked in stocks for several days, forced to foul your own pants, having other people's waste tossed on you. It also has the advantage that if you get the wrong person, it's not lethal.

Wow, a snide Nazi reference, making up the totality of your first post. I wonder what sort of contribution you're going to make to the forum. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Bite me. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well BHS, there's your answer. Obviously a well-informed and literate contributer Equally obviously in favor of sexual contact between strangers He/she would do well in that thread about the legalized gang-banging <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I love you. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> How could anyone NOT love me??? Some say it's my eyes, some say it's my shiny, bald pate, and some say it's my effervescent wit But as a word of advice, you gotta get away from those 2 and 3 words replies

Wow, a snide Nazi reference, making up the totality of your first post. I wonder what sort of contribution you're going to make to the forum. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Bite me. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Looks like BHS got his answer. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Nyah-nyah. I beat you to it, and did it better http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums/index.p...indpost&p=83412

Gee, I didn't realize that everyone in NYC was an ultra-rich daughter of a middle-east oil-baron. But being that that seems to be the case, she should have no problem at all gaining acceptance.

Gotta go with KIMMY on this. I'll gladly take a cut on the GST, even if it comes from a man with a boiled-dog's-head-smile <(My Harper imitation)

This is already being discussed in a couple other threads.

Okay. Sorry, but I grow weary of your self-contradictions and obfuscation. I won't be returning to this thread, and seeing as I'm the only one who's been talking to you on this subject, I thinks you'll be pretty lonely talking to yourself in here.

With apologies to GostHacked, I have to say I didn't believe that there was nothing about it in ANY Canadian press. So I did a Google search using the words "canadian politicians blame USA for toronto gun violence". Nothing. Nil. Zip. Several American news sources, some blogs, and a whole lot of different forum comments were all that came up. I find this suspicious as the Canadian press has usually been pretty quick to print any cross-border finger-pointing in recent times. The upside is that the US press seems to have got the names right

Well, it's a lot healthier than "Deep-fried dog's head". Less cholesterol.

Randomly-placed long-range metal-detectors on the streets of Toronto in and around the main problem areas. Set up so that they only go off when detecting a substantial piece of metal (not just a zipper or something). Police in plain clothes lurking near these detectors. Bust the bastards and put 'em away. They may end up doing a few body-searches on guys carrying a pair of pliers or a multitool, but you can bet once word gets around, a lot of the gangsta's will leave their rods at home.

Besides, you Americans are just a bunch of "Shatner-stealing Mexico-touchers". Quote courtesy of an episode of "The Simpsons". (In light of the thread topic, I couldn't resist. Sorry )

On this issue, I think "stupid" would be a better word than "reckless". But there are still, unfortunately, many who believe that if all guns are banned, that the gun-toting criminals will saunter into police stations across the country and surrender their firearms.

Cool. Which leads to the question of the day; in light of its meaning, why is "abbreviated" such a long word???

But you said that "Nobody cares what you do or say in Turkey". Obviously SOMEBODY cares, or the poor sap would not be facing criminal charges. I guess nobody cares, but only if you say what they want to hear.

A sobering tale indeed. It reminds me of something BHS said a while ago, when we were talking about 'parental responsibility' and theft. Something like "my dad would have kicked my ass up and down the street had I been caught stealing"...Some blame 'political correctness' for the apparent lack of discipline and respect in today's society, and they are not completely wrong. But, truly, if people are born 'tabula rasa' then the parents, first and foremost, are responsible for what gets written on the slate under the heading 'Morals'. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Regarding BHS' tale, damn straight. When I was a kid, if accusations were brought against us by a neighbouring adult, we were presumed guilty until proven innocent. Spankings were meted out as needed. Now you can't raise a hand to your kid or you risk being charged with assault, or abuse.

Our government would sooner ally us with the likes of the U.N., China, Russia, France, and that is supposed to make us feel all warm and fuzzy?? The U.N. up to their ears in corruption through the oil-for-food scam? China shoots their own people for protesting, yet Paul Martin still wants to trade with them. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So you seem, from the tenor of this post, to be saying that it's wrong for Canada to be following a similar course of action as that of France et al, and would rather see us supporting hte USA. You cite our willingness to have business dealings with China as a bad thing. Well then, how do you reconcile this with the fact that China is responsible for the wealth of many major American corporations??? How do you reconcile this with the fact that a very large number of American manufacturers have become rich on the sale of products made in sweat-shops in China and other third world countries where they are basically paying slave-wages??? If you feel we should be following the American example, then why not take it into trade with China as well??? Sorry, but what's good for the goose....

Yeah, and Canada is a greater terror threat than Mexico. And the big blackout a couple years ago was all Canada's fault, until it was found that the domino-effect grid failure started in a power plant in Michigan. And the terrorists who perpetrated the 9/11 attack all came from Canada, until it was found that they didn't. And the softwood lumber dispute is all Canada's fault because the Canadian government has been subsidizing the Canadian forestry industry, except that it hasn't. And the ban on Canadian beef in the USA, because of one case of BSE found in Canada is all our fault, too, even though there was no such concern when that case of BSE was found in the USA a few months back. And Canada's plans to possibly legalize pot are going to be the downfall of the entire continent. And Canada is responsible for all the drugs smuggled into the USA. Etc etc etc.... This "blame game" works both ways. We've simply seen a bit more of it from Canada, simply because being a "little" country, there's only so much blame that can be placed on Canada credibly. The big, bad, rough, tough USA, on the other hand, which has so much more clout and influence, can have a finger of blame more credibly pointed at Her. Politicians on both sides of the border have been doing this for years, and will continue to do so. Get over it.