Lovely "citizen of the world".

Is that St.George slaying the dragon?

Where the hell are these cool sculptures?

Is that fossil fuel being expelled from the mouth of that dinosaur?

Is that Godzilla's distant cousin?

Looks like the Dino is hurling about BO's euro trip..

Charles you should post sculpture threads instead of fossil threads......

oh wait....
never mind

/////

re: #3 pingjockey

I thought someone said Santa Monica from a pic from a few days ago, but I could be completely wrong, and do not live anywhere near there.

No this shit again.

Is that a friend of "Coexisting"? (Wednesday's post)

OT already:

Gaza rocked by bomb blasts:

By Mohammed Salem Fri Jul 25, 6:25 AM ET

GAZA (Reuters) - Bomb blasts rocked a cafe and a Hamas politician's home in the Gaza Strip on Friday in a rare renewal of internal violence in the enclave seized by Islamists a year ago.

Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman Ehab al-Ghsain said a man killed in the explosion outside a popular cafe in Gaza City was the bomber, not a passerby as initially reported by Hamas security sources.

I think someone forgot to tell Mr. Salem that internal violence in Gaza is hardly rare.

With Gazans apparently incapable of not killing one another, how on earth is Israel expected to maintain a truce with these people?

These are amazing sculptures. Is this all from one fountain?

Charles, the dinosaur looks like something off a child's playground. Now we know how you spend your summer days...

re: #11 looking closely

What truce?

re: #5 JohnnyReb

Is that Godzilla's distant cousin?

Yes, but it's "only a theory."

I drank two vodkas with tonic for lunch.

re: #11 looking closely

OT already:

Gaza rocked by bomb blasts:

I think someone forgot to tell Mr. Salem that internal violence in Gaza is hardly rare.

With Gazans apparently incapable of not killing one another, how on earth is Israel expected to maintain a truce with these people?

After the plais kill enough of each other, Israel will have a truce with the one or two left.

Hanging out at the Santa Monica Promenade again, huh?

It's a dragon, right?

I'll take an old FOSSIL as my Commander in Chief, before I take a more "evolved" Citizen of the World.

re: #8 Creeping Eruption

Ringo the Gringo indicated that these are in Santa Monica.

Distant relative to the Lizard Kingdom?

It's a water breathing dragon.

Hopeful thought for the day:

Why am I seeing so much negativity about McCain's chances on LGF lately? It's a statistical dead heat right now.

Personally, I think BHO really fears debates, and for good reason. I have this idea that he might come out of it in a similar way as Dan Quayle came out vs. Bentsen - the jerky, clueless little kid vs. the experienced guy who knows what the hell he's talking about. Granted, Obama's an order of magnitude better at speaking, but how does he come across unrehearsed?

I mean, this is a guy who went to Berlin and told them they needed to get past their Cold War thinking - after they spent the last decade or two paying an unbelievable sum on re-unification!

re: #8 Creeping Eruption

Yeah, looks like the Promenade in Santa Monica, they have some giant metal dinosaur sculptures that "spit" water like that down that way.

Is it part of a water park for kids? We used to open the fire hydrants and get blasted by the water until the firemen came and added sprinkler attachments.

Already posted on outside links, but I thought I'd repeat it here:

Moonbat vs. Moonbat: San Francisco memorial to [Communist] Spanish Civil War mercenaries is vandalized by anarchists

re: #14 Creeping Eruption

What truce?

This one.

re: #7 jcm

Charles you should post sculpture threads instead of fossil threads......

oh wait....

never mind

/////

We should have sculpture, or general art threads, where we can post photos of our favorite art, or try to show off works by deserving local or unknown artists to get them some exposure.

Uhhhhh......
Yahoo pic

Palestinian girls stand in front of a line of grooms during a mass wedding ceremony in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, July 24, 2008. More than 100 couples took part in the event which was organized by the Islamic Association.

I really hope those aren't the brides.

Mommy?

re: #30 Killgore Trout

Uhhhhh......
Yahoo pic

I really hope those aren't the brides.

Sadly, they probally are...see how tarted up they are?

re: #28 looking closely

This one.

Oh, that truce. Yeah, I saw that. I missed the hope part and went directly to skepticism.

re: #30 Killgore Trout
I wouldn't put it past those murdering bastards. About their speed.

re: #24 Optimizer

Hopeful thought for the day:

Why am I seeing so much negativity about McCain's chances on LGF lately? It's a statistical dead heat right now.

General pessimism, reinforced by a mainstream media that consistently portrays an Obama win as inevitable.

Essentially meaningless tracking polls aside, I still believe McCain has an excellent shot at winning.

McCain (tortoise) knows how to take these fights to the finish line, while Obama (hare) is already doing victory laps (like making his own presidential seal, etc).

re: #32 The Pulchritudinous Patriot

Sadly, they probally are...see how tarted up they are?

I guess even pedophiles, I mean those expressing their religious freedoms, need to have their victims, I mean brides, look like adults.

re: #32 The Pulchritudinous Patriot

Yeah they really are wearing a lot of makeup, kinda creepy but they are the flower girls: Yahoo pic

Palestinian grooms carry flower girls during a mass wedding ceremony for 100 couples organized by the Islamic Association at the Jabalya refugee camp, Gaza, July 24, 2008.

In the whole slideshow about the weddings there are no pictures of the brides.

I'm going to spoil the righteous attacks on Obama by linking to today's Caroline Glick's column where she rightfully claims that Bush/Rice are already putting Obama's policies into practice.

"Bolton wrote that Bush's policies have brought about "the early start of the Obama administration." Just imagine where we will be in the second, third and fourth year of the Obama era."

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

re: #35 looking closely

General pessimism, reinforced by a mainstream media that consistently portrays an Obama win as inevitable.

Essentially meaningless tracking polls aside, I still believe McCain has an excellent shot at winning.

McCain (tortoise) knows how to take these fights to the finish line, while Obama (hare) is already doing victory laps (like making his own presidential seal, etc).

It'll be Hillary vs McCain, anyway. Why worry?

What Bush and Batman Have in Common

There seems to me no question that the Batman film "The Dark Knight," currently breaking every box office record in history, is at some level a paean of praise to the fortitude and moral courage that has been shown by George W. Bush in this time of terror and war. Like W, Batman is vilified and despised for confronting terrorists in the only terms they understand. Like W, Batman sometimes has to push the boundaries of civil rights to deal with an emergency, certain that he will re-establish those boundaries when the emergency is past.

And like W, Batman understands that there is no moral equivalence between a free society -- in which people sometimes make the wrong choices -- and a criminal sect bent on destruction. The former must be cherished even in its moments of folly; the latter must be hounded to the gates of Hell.

"The Dark Knight," then, is a conservative movie about the war on terror. And like another such film, last year's "300," "The Dark Knight" is making a fortune depicting the values and necessities that the Bush administration cannot seem to articulate for beans.

Conversely, time after time, left-wing films about the war on terror -- films like "In The Valley of Elah," "Rendition" and "Redacted" -- which preach moral equivalence and advocate surrender, that disrespect the military and their mission, that seem unable to distinguish the difference between America and Islamo-fascism, have bombed more spectacularly than Operation Shock and Awe.

I pride myself as a craftsman, and I appreciate craftsmanship. This sculpture shows a lot of craftsmanship, so I admire it and congratulate the sculptor. Shows a bit more thought, work, and skill than a crucifix stuck in a jar of piss, or a gob of elephant shit called Mary.

re: #41 maddogg

Bleess U

re: #42 Capitalist Tool

*Bless U pimf

re: #40 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Saw Dark Knight last night. Not one to usually jump on the bandwagon, but I think this Joker may be the best arch-criminal on the big screen yet. Rest of the movie was so-so.

The La Brea Tar Pits in California demonstrate California had plenty of fossils then, and fossil fuels now.

Did you all express your pro-drilling opinion yet, before democrat-run Congress goes on summer vacation?

Did you see where 75% of Americans want more energy exploration--of all kinds, including drilling--right now?

This could be McCain's signature economic issue also--increase supply, watch the price of everything that uses energy go down, help all Americans in the pocketbook, create new jobs in the energy sector.

re: #16 Lawrence Schmerel

I drank two vodkas with tonic for lunch.

Time to envoke the Iron Fist Rule, sweetie.

re: #3 pingjockey

Where the hell are these cool sculptures?

It's gotta be some of the Dinosaurs that live in downtown Santa Monica!

re: #41 maddogg

I pride myself as a craftsman, and I appreciate craftsmanship. This sculpture shows a lot of craftsmanship, so I admire it and congratulate the sculptor. Shows a bit more thought, work, and skill than a crucifix stuck in a jar of piss, or a gob of elephant shit called Mary.

Craftsmanship, perhaps, art, not so much, IMHO. I live nearby and often see the things. The bodies are generally overgrown with ivy They're ... OK, for bargain-basement civic decoration. Installed about fifteen (?) years ago, when kids and dinosaurs were the hot thing.

re: #42 Capitalist Tool

Tanks:)

re: #40 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

What Bush and Batman Have in Common

The Bush Doctrine is vapor.

Any attempt to portray second term Bush as waging a war against the dark forces of Islamic Jihadist evil is fiction.

A friend of mine is a metal sculptor & she did a big bronze lizard sculpture. I'd love to buy it as the mascot for LGF.

re: #35 looking closely

General pessimism, reinforced by a mainstream media that consistently portrays an Obama win as inevitable.

Essentially meaningless tracking polls aside, I still believe McCain has an excellent shot at winning.

McCain (tortoise) knows how to take these fights to the finish line, while Obama (hare) is already doing victory laps (like making his own presidential seal, etc).

* * *
His World Presidential Mission is Accomplished! (Before the actual vote)

re: #50 Opinionated

Any attempt to portray second term Bush as waging a war against the dark forces of Islamic Jihadist evil is fiction.

I remember Bush, what ever happened to him?

Dinosauria Metalicus: A Transitional species that has developed the ability to metabolize steel.

//////

re: #37 Killgore Trout

Yeah they really are wearing a lot of makeup, kinda creepy but they are the flower girls: Yahoo pic

In the whole slideshow about the weddings there are no pictures of the brides.

They don't matter.

re: #47 Fritz_Katz
Thank you.

re: #40 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

What Bush and Batman Have in Common

Saw it last week. Great film.

Two things about the movie utterly suprised me (in a good way).

a. Heath Ledger actually *IS* as good in his role as the Joker as all the hype suggests. (I assumed this was part a tribute to him simply because he died, and part cynical exploitation of the latter for marketing purposes).

b. The movie takes an unflinching look at the realities of prosecuting a war against terrorism (eg torture and surveillance). While the movie doesn't necessarily take any stance either for or against these activities, it *at least* portrays the apparently necessity for people of good character to make hard choices with regards to both these issues.

re: #37 Killgore Trout

Yeah they really are wearing a lot of makeup, kinda creepy but they are the flower girls: Yahoo pic

In the whole slideshow about the weddings there are no pictures of the brides.

that is so sinister. they look abt. 6yrs. old.
these men are following their pedophile prophet.

I know thisisn't going to sit well with some of the lizards, but I am not in a good mood today and I wrote this to get some of my thought's out...

We, the eligible voters, have become the foot soldiers for the power brokers. Who are the power brokers? They are the special interests that control our political process. They manage to funnel large amounts of money to the candidates and then expect large dividends from those contributions. And we do their bidding. We take their sides, argue their points for them and in turn, we get nothing for our effort. Do you really think the power brokers are doing anything for our safety and security? Do you really feel that any decisions made in Washington are motivated by anything other than an indebtedness to these power brokers? And just like any good foot soldier, we have become the disposable fodder for them, only good for one vote, nothing more, nothing less.

The only options I have left is not to vote and not to contribute a single penny to any politician or party. And I am not advocating apathetic surrender, I am suggesting a very public disapproval of the politicians, party’s, power brokers and special interest that now own Washington. My vote is the only thing left in this political process that belongs to me, and I am not going to give it away.

I will give my time and money to my family, my community and those in need. I will believe in the god I want to believe in, or no god at all. I will make moral decisions because I know they are right, not because some politician promises to support my morals. I will show respect to others because they deserve respect, not because some rule or regulation tells me to. I will find any way I can to decrease my spending on energy, food, toys or anything that tries to beholden me to big business.

In our hearts, we know the truth. Not a single politician we send to Washington (or our local governments) can stand up to the power brokers. The ones that try are cut down and become political carrion. The rest of them become the lockstep storm troopers of the ungodly amount of money that controls them.

Yes, we have become their foot soldiers. And who are we fighting for the cause? Each other. The anger and hate keeps us busy and clouds the real issues. In the past, we had some control over this age-worn strategy, but now the power brokers have become entrenched in the system. And they are not going away. They have become a thunderhead, a riptide, barreling uncontrolled toward their complete ownership of every politician and every citizen.

Washington knows what has to be done. They know what needs to be fixed. Let them know that we will not support them until they make a course correction. Will my “no vote” make a difference. Yes, it will to me. And if we become a viable statistic, then the power brokers will start to get the message. This will not happen overnight, but it has to happen soon. The people said “no” to the British in the 1770’s and it’s about time we start using that word again.

Walter in Golden, Co.

re: #44 Creeping Eruption

Saw Dark Knight last night. Not one to usually jump on the bandwagon, but I think this Joker may be the best arch-criminal on the big screen yet. Rest of the movie was so-so.

I agree. There were portions of the movie which tended to drag, but Ledger's portrayal of Joker, a highly intelligent, completely immoral psychopath, was dead on.

"Want to see me make this pencil disappear?"

That was definately a Holy Crap Batman! moment.

re: #46 MandyManners

Rules are for suckers.

re: #9 Lawrence Schmerel

Go start your on blog if you don't like what Charles posts on the site he created, maintains and pays for. Oh, wait. No one would go to your, and there wouldn't be anyone to hear you whine.

re: #44 Creeping Eruption

Oops, sorry. didn't mean to ding you down.
/mouse slip

re: #45 alegrias
Except congess is busy today holding hearings on the Bush Imperial Presidency, with folks like Dennis Kookcinich being called as witnesses.

re: #57 looking closely

Saw it last week. Great film.

Two things about the movie utterly suprised me (in a good way).

a.
Heath Ledger actually *IS* as good in his role as the Joker as all the
hype suggests. (I assumed this was part a tribute to him simply because
he died, and part cynical exploitation of the latter for marketing
purposes).

b. The movie takes an unflinching look at the
realities of prosecuting a war against terrorism (eg torture and
surveillance). While the movie doesn't necessarily take any stance
either for or against these activities, it *at least* portrays the
apparently necessity for people of good character to make hard choices
with regards to both these issues.

It says something about the sad state of Hollywood that the best film to seriously portray the hard choices that one has to make fighting evil in the real world has to be told though the guise of a guy dressed up as a bat.

re: #9 Lawrence Schmerel

WHAT?

re: #62 mossley

When was the last time you hit Charles' tip jar?

Someone has a lot of 'splainin to do

re: #48 itellu3times

Craftsmanship, perhaps, art, not so much, IMHO. I live nearby and often see the things. The bodies are generally overgrown with ivy They're ... OK, for bargain-basement civic decoration. Installed about fifteen (?) years ago, when kids and dinosaurs were the hot thing.

They beat the hell out of the shapeless gobs of welded stainless steel or rusty lumps of A-588 steel I've seen up on a pedestal in public spaces called "modern art". At least in my provincial mind.

I dino where the pics are from, but they sure are nice.

re: #59 Walter L. Newton

'twas ever thus.

And it is not necessarily and altogether a bad thing, maybe, power brokers have rights, too, especially when they represent thousands of employees, useful industries, etc.

And when it comes right down to it, we the people do have the vote, and are responsible for what we listen to, and believe, and do.

All things in moderation.

re: #60 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I agree. There were portions of the movie which tended to drag, but Ledger's portrayal of Joker, a highly intelligent, completely immoral psychopath, was dead on.

"Want to see me make this pencil disappear?"

That was definately a Holy Crap Batman! moment.

Great Flick. Not sure why I got down-dinged above for pretty much saying what you said. In any case, I was going in as a complete skeptic and found the performance one of the best. From me that is a lot because Jake Nicholson's Joker was one of my favorite roles. Ledgers performance blows nicholson out if the water (to be fair though, they were different movies) Dark knight was truly dark.

re: #63 Killgore Trout

Oops, sorry. didn't mean to ding you down.
/mouse slip

I was wondering about that. Thanks.

BBIAW

re: #3 pingjockey

Where the hell are these cool sculptures?

3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

re: #11 looking closely

OT already:

Gaza rocked by bomb blasts:

I think someone forgot to tell Mr. Salem that internal violence in Gaza is hardly rare.

With Gazans apparently incapable of not killing one another, how on earth is Israel expected to maintain a truce with these people?

well, yes, a renewal would be rare- because that would mean the violence stopped and started again but we know the internal violence never stops- of course, "honor" killings, abuse of women and abuse of Gay people doesn't count for this guy.

Jerusalem Bulldozer Drivers Live In Fear Of Their Lives.

~oh ach

re: #63 Killgore Trout

Oops, sorry. didn't mean to ding you down.
/mouse slip

I went back and dinged him up.

I've done a couple of mistake dings lately - think I might take Ploome's advice and quite dinging for awhile.

Get'em while they're hot!

re: #38 Opinionated

I'm going to spoil the righteous attacks on Obama by linking to today's Caroline Glick's column where she rightfully claims that Bush/Rice are already putting Obama's policies into practice.

"Bolton wrote that Bush's policies have brought about "the early start of the Obama administration." Just imagine where we will be in the second, third and fourth year of the Obama era."

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

Again, it would have been more appropriate of The Messiah had held his rally at Nuremberg where he could have lead his worshippers to chant, "Ein Volk, Ein Weltee, Ein Fuhrer!"

re: #53 itellu3times

I remember Bush, what ever happened to him?

Good question. Was he faking the first term?

Or did forces (Rice, Saudi family interests, exhaustion from being criticized by the Left and media, etc )wear him down?

I wonder if John Bolton, a very frequent critic these days, would know.

re: #64 pingjockey

Except congess is busy today holding hearings on the Bush Imperial Presidency, with folks like Dennis Kookcinich being called as witnesses.

* * *
The great state of Michigan's John Conyers (D) holding mock impeachments in the basement of Congress...while Detroit is down and out. These losers want our country to be 3rd rate.

re: #37 Killgore Trout

Yeah they really are wearing a lot of makeup, kinda creepy but they are the flower girls: Yahoo pic

In the whole slideshow about the weddings there are no pictures of the brides.

What to make of this comment?

A Palestinian woman throws flowers on a young girl dressed to look as a bride during a mass wedding ceremony in Beit Lahiya

That is awfully strange if they are flower girls. I am betting, brides, and the flower girl stuff is typical fodder for western consumption.

re: #59 Walter L. Newton

I have a long standing policy that I don't contribute to political campaigns. It just makes no sense for me to gift any portion of my meager income to millionaires. It's insanity. I have sat out elections before and I will probably sit out this one as well. I'm not happy with McCain and Oregon is in the tank for Obama anyways so it doesn't matter.

re: #72 Creeping Eruption

Great Flick. Not sure why I got down-dinged above for pretty much saying what you said. In any case, I was going in as a complete skeptic and found the performance one of the best. From me that is a lot because Jake Nicholson's Joker was one of my favorite roles. Ledgers performance blows nicholson out if the water (to be fair though, they were different movies) Dark knight was truly dark.

The other scene thats going to stick with me was the convict talking to the guard. "I'm going to do what you should have done 10 minutes ago."

Get the feeling that the entire purpose of thei photo was the propaganda value and the caption?

re: #58 nyc redneck

that is so sinister. they look abt. 6yrs. old.
these men are following their pedophile prophet.

Whoa- I thought the little girls were the brides, not flower girls

OT, some of you may have seen this already, but I think this is so very telling about the difference between McCain & Obama.

Excerpt:

Back in March, I wrote about McCain's tour of Israel before Easter. He went out of the way to learn about Israeli culture and customs and to understand what Israelis were experiencing. He convinced Israelis he was interested in Israelis. It was not how he talked with officials and notaries. It was how he went to the Wall. He didn't need a "have-to" beanie. He came prepared. He wore the Kippa Sruga of the Modern Orthodox, or central observant Jewish parties. Symbols are serious stuff. He knew he was an outsider, an not a Jew, but at the Wall, he tried and he watched how people responded to the sacred space.

Obama?

He reached into the box and took a white kippa. No matter how serious he appeared, lost in reverent prayer, he wore the "have to do it or you can't get in" hat.

In the Global Village, the Medium is the Message, and there is no clearer medium in Israel than the cut of a man's kippa. From Efrat to Galil, Obama appears as another Carter--an outsider with no interest in Israelis

Will my “no vote” make a difference. Yes, it will to me.

You'll feel good, but that's only one result. If Obama gets in, you'll suffer other results.

And what about the rest of us? Your abstention will make it easier for Obama to put his boot on our necks. Thanks a lot.

The responsibility of a citizen is to choose, not to abstain.

My .02

re: #59 Walter L. Newton

you just caused me to start a new bookmarks tab called Lizardoid Quotes.
Why haven't I done this before?
Some of us are just slow to catch on.

That is a nifty sculpture... then again, I suppose I'm biased as I'm a ameteur herpetologist and enjoy scaly things... :)

re: #27 mikalm

Well given the way that the communists treated the anarchists during the Spanish civil War, I can understand why the anarchists were pissed.

re: #77 WrathofG-d

Jerusalem Bulldozer Drivers Live In Fear Of Their Lives.

~oh ach

Easy way to keep safe, DONT TRY KILLING PEOPLE WITH THEM!

re: #84 Killgore Trout

re: #59 Walter L. Newton

I have a long standing policy that I don't contribute to political campaigns. It just makes no sense for me to gift any portion of my meager income to millionaires. It's insanity. I have sat out elections before and I will probably sit out this one as well. I'm not happy with McCain and Oregon is in the tank for Obama anyways so it doesn't matter.

Thanks. I was wondering if I was sitting here drifting in the wind by myself.

re: #83 Crimsonfisted

That is awfully strange if they are flower girls. I am betting, brides, and the flower girl stuff is typical fodder for western consumption.

I agree with you.

re: #91 MrSilverDragon

That is a nifty sculpture... then again, I suppose I'm biased as I'm a ameteur herpetologist and enjoy scaly things... :)

What is your opinion of "rattlers"?

re: #91 MrSilverDragon

That is a nifty sculpture... then again, I suppose I'm biased as I'm a ameteur herpetologist and enjoy scaly things... :)

Like hemipeni?

re: #85 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

The other scene thats going to stick with me was the convict talking to the guard. "I'm going to do what you should have done 10 minutes ago."

Joker: "Do you know why I like to use knives? Let me tell you . . ."

Last person I would have picked for the Joker. Maybe that is why it is such a convincing performance. He sounds somewhat effeminate and geeky which is almost disarming if he we not such a lunatic.

re: #89 godfrey

You'll feel good, but that's only one result. If Obama gets in, you'll suffer other results.

And what about the rest of us? Your abstention will make it easier for Obama to put his boot on our necks. Thanks a lot.

The responsibility of a citizen is to choose, not to abstain.

My .02

You missed my point. You are "agruing" with me, just what they want us to do. Keep the fear going, keeps the rabble busy.

re: #87 madisonsfriend

Whoa- I thought the little girls were the brides, not flower girls

that is what it looks like.
tragically

re: #90 Capitalist Tool

you just caused me to start a new bookmarks tab called Lizardoid Quotes.
Why haven't I done this before?
Some of us are just slow to catch on.

Thanks

re: #69 maddogg

They beat the hell out of the shapeless gobs of welded stainless steel or rusty lumps of A-588 steel I've seen up on a pedestal in public spaces called "modern art". At least in my provincial mind.

OK, but then there's this, three miles away:
[Link: www.publicartinla.com...]

Won a competition for Santa Monica "gateway". Blech. The drawing looked a lot better, anyway, the photo faces the wrong way, it's barely discernible driving INTO town. I liked another entry that put the "Santa" into Santa Monica, you can use your imagination.

re: #37 Killgore Trout

Yeah they really are wearing a lot of makeup, kinda creepy but they are the flower girls: Yahoo pic

In the whole slideshow about the weddings there are no pictures of the brides.

Ya seen one black bag, ya seen 'em all.

/I know they don't wear those there (much), but I could not resist

re: #77 WrathofG-d

Jerusalem Bulldozer Drivers Live In Fear Of Their Lives.

~oh ach

Now everyone is concentrating on Arab Bulldozer drivers.

So the next mass killing attempt will be from the mostly Arab staff at many hotels and restaurants.

re: #91 MrSilverDragon

That is a nifty sculpture... then again, I suppose I'm biased as I'm a ameteur herpetologist and enjoy scaly things... :)

One of my favorite Far Side cartoons had a guy showing off his boat to a friend, who says "She's a beauty - what is she, a 30-footer?" & the next panel a guy showing off a python to a friend who says "She's a beauty - what is she, a 30-footer?". The caption beneath read "Where the worlds of boating & herpetology meet"

I'm not sure but it kinda looks fake to me.

re: #78 reine.de.tout

I went back and dinged him up.

I've done a couple of mistake dings lately - think I might take Ploome's advice and quite dinging for awhile.

Noooo! Dinging is good! Dings allow us to to show what sorts of comments are supported by this community. Bad comments are thus shown at a mere glance as not having support, while good comments are dinged up and show what makes this blog so wonderful.

re: #98 Creeping Eruption

Joker: "Do you know why I like to use knives? Let me tell you . . ."

Last
person I would have picked for the Joker. Maybe that is why it is such
a convincing performance. He sounds somewhat effeminate and geeky which
is almost disarming if he we not such a lunatic.

The tounge-flicking really creeped me out.

re: #108 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

The tounge-flicking really creeped me out.

That was kind of disturbing. Lots of little things made the character.

re: #108 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

The tounge-flicking really creeped me out.

Again, one of the little touches that made the character so perfect. I typically don't buy movies, but I might have to get this one.

re: #89 godfrey

You'll feel good, but that's only one result. If Obama gets in, you'll suffer other results.

And what about the rest of us? Your abstention will make it easier for Obama to put his boot on our necks. Thanks a lot.

The responsibility of a citizen is to choose, not to abstain.

My .02

My responsibility is to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I will use what means I have. As I said "And I am not advocating apathetic surrender, I am suggesting a very public disapproval of the politicians..."

re: #16 Lawrence Schmerel

Don't you know that you should drink tonic with gin?

/barbarian! /just kidding

re: #112 lawhawk

mmmmmmmmmmm... Hendricks

re: #102 itellu3times

OK, but then there's this, three miles away:
[Link: www.publicartinla.com...]

Won a competition for Santa Monica "gateway". Blech. The drawing looked a lot better, anyway, the photo faces the wrong way, it's barely discernible driving INTO town. I liked another entry that put the "Santa" into Santa Monica, you can use your imagination.

Cripes. More like the Big Zero if you ask me. Leonardo is still dead.

re: #104 Opinionated

There was a hammer attack earlier this week. And the attacks from the restaurants, etc., (as you state) are not new, and happen often.

Lo Aravim, Lo Matsav

re: #96 Capitalist Tool

What is your opinion of "rattlers"?

If you're talking rattlesnakes, I think they're beautiful and amazing creatures. If you're talking the movie... not so much.

re: #97 maddogg

Like hemipeni?

Not really into reptile porn, thanks.

re: #67 Lawrence Schmerel

What does that have to do with anything?

re: #79 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

Get'em while they're hot!

I wouldn't let my black lab sleep on one of those rags.

Welcome to LGF OMD,

You’re disgusted with the GOP for giving us such a “crappy” candidate?

You think that your little political issues are more important than winning this war?

So you’re going to send the GOP a “message” by not voting in this election?

Your null vote is a vote for Obama and the DNC.

The same Obama that said this...

"I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning; and as president, I will end it.

"Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending. I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems. I will not weaponize space. I will slow our development of future combat systems.

"I will institute an independent defense priorities board to ensure that the Quadrennial Review is not used to justify unnecessary defense spending.

"Third, I will set a goal for a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenal."

[Link: [Link: www.ibdeditorials.com...]...]

Obama did not say “win” this war he clearly said “end it.”

In war the only opposite of the word “win” is “lose” because a draw is only a postponement.

An Obama who has said this repeatedly...

“Bringing Our Troops Home

Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.”

[Link: [Link: www.barackobama.com...]...]

As if a crushed and rapidly disolving al Qaeda in Iraq was Iraq’s only problem in the post Saddam world. What message does this send to those nations, (Turkey, Qatar, and Dijibouti), in that region that already have large US bases? What happens 15 months later to the last one or two US brigades in Iraq as the resurgent Iranian trained, supplied, and led Shia militias close down Iraq’s only ports of access to the sea? What happens to the US allied Iraqi military when they are cut off from their American sources of supply?

What message has Obama sent to the enemy by revealing his timetable like this? Not just to the enemy who now knows that if Obama is elected they only have to wait 16 months to retake all that they have lost over the last eight years. Not just to those nations in the region still sitting on the fence, what has Obama’s 16 months until enemy victory message sent to our tenuous allies in the region?

And you think you’re sending a message to the GOP by not pulling the right lever?

[Link: [Link: www.ford.utexas.edu...]...]

I can’t hear your message, it’s drowned out by other messages.

THAT’S
THE
WAY,
R

I love rattlesnakes. Fun to catch, fun to hold, make interesting pets, and if you get tired of them, fun to eat!

re: #59 Walter L. Newton

An interesting rant. The problem is, if you internalize it, you arrive at political and moral paralysis. The next step is to start seeing conspiracy everywhere, and next thing you know, you're incapable of even local, effective action.

That, or you become a Black Bloc activist.

re: #65 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

It says something about the sad state of Hollywood that the best film to seriously portray the hard choices that one has to make fighting evil in the real world has to be told though the guise of a guy dressed up as a bat.

I don't see why.

Comic books are often morality plays, why should the modern comic book film adaptation be any different? Batman is a popular character, and a movie like that will have more broad appeal than many others.

300, of course, was also an adaptation of the 300 comic book (or "graphic novel", if you like).

re: #119 Render

Hasn't he pledged to slash NASA?

re: #59 Walter L. Newton

Did you mean something a long these lines:

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it...

re: #122 looking closely

I don't see why.

Comic books are often morality plays, why should the modern comic book film adaptation be any different? Batman is a popular character, and a movie like that will have more broad appeal than many others.

300, of course, was also an adaptation of the 300 comic book (or "graphic novel", if you like).

Speaking of graphic novels, I saw that Watchmen is coming out. I hope they don't screw it up.

re: #37 Killgore Trout

Yeah they really are wearing a lot of makeup, kinda creepy but they are the flower girls: Yahoo pic

In the whole slideshow about the weddings there are no pictures of the brides.

I think those are the brides but Reuters was ordered to call them "flower girls" or else...

re: #119 Render

You didn't "reply" or "quote" so I'm not sure if you are responding to me... but anyway...

I am disgusted with ALL POLITICIANS. My point is proven just by the fact that you READ "You’re disgusted with the GOP for giving us such a “crappy” candidate?..." when my statement never mentioned any party.

They got you.

Rush had a new (?) Shanklin (?) parody, "One Night in Baghdad" makes Obama humble, ... parody of "One Night in Bangkok".

re: #122 looking closely

As we were leaving, I referred to 300 as Herodotus' greatest hits.

re: #121 Dianna

An interesting rant. The problem is, if you internalize it, you arrive at political and moral paralysis. The next step is to start seeing conspiracy everywhere, and next thing you know, you're incapable of even local, effective action.

That, or you become a Black Bloc activist.

As I said "And I am not advocating apathetic surrender, I am suggesting a very public disapproval of the politicians..."

I am not talking about paralysis, I am talking about a very active rejection of the WHOLE MESS.

re: #120 maddogg

I love rattlesnakes. Fun to catch, fun to hold, make interesting pets, and if you get tired of them, fun to eat!

i have no doubt that you are going to make it when 'the grid goes down'.
:)

re: #110 Creeping Eruption

Again, one of the little touches that made the character so perfect.
I typically don't buy movies, but I might have to get this one.

One of the little details that I haven't seen many people comment on is that The Joker gives different "reasons" as to why he is the way he is. When I heard the first reason, I thought "Oh, great. They want me to feel sorry for The Joker." Then he changed his story the next time. I realized what Nolan was doing with that - you can't excuse evil.

re: #124 rightwinger3

re: #59 Walter L. Newton
Did you mean something a long these lines:

You got it...

re: #125 Creeping Eruption

I've been crossing my fingers.

Rorschach is the great hero, and I fear they're going to turn him into a clown.

re: #59 Walter L. Newton

I know this isn't going to sit well with some of the lizards, but I am not in a good mood today and I wrote this to get some of my thought's out...

We, the eligible voters, have become the foot soldiers for the power brokers. Who are the power brokers? ...

Simple, only support and vote for candidates that are not following the "power brokers" agenda.

What about Tom Tancredo? He's from your home state of Colorado and he doesn't look like a power broker to me.

re: #119 Render

To be clear, the GOP leadership didn't pick McCain, the GOP primary voters did. So if you are an unhappy GOP voter, you know where the blame lands.

Anyone who "sends" the GOP a message by not voting for its nominee will have the pleasure of at least 4 years of significantly higher taxes, plus perhaps 20 more of a left-leaning US Supreme Court to deal with.

Some message.

If you want to "send" the GOP a message, the best way to do that is by supporting financially and with your votes, the most conservative candidates in your local GOP primary elections, not by failing to support the most conservative candidates in the general elections (who are usually less-than-perfectly Conservative Republicans).

re: #116 MrSilverDragon

Not really into reptile porn, thanks.

I agree- rattlesnakes are magnificent! Never met one I didn't like.
Well, maybe one juvenile, once.

re: #131 nyc redneck

i have no doubt that you are going to make it when 'the grid goes down'.
:)

Count on it! :)

re: #135 Fritz_Katz

Simple, only support and vote for candidates that are not following the "power brokers" agenda.

What about Tom Tancredo? He's from your home state of Colorado and he doesn't look like a power broker to me.

The power brokers are not those the public sees. Well, except for George Soros who seems to relish shoving it into our faces.

re: #133 Walter L. Newton

You got it...

Okay, I'm with you.

re: #84 Killgore Trout

... Oregon is in the tank for Obama anyways so it doesn't matter.

Maybe not. Admittedly it's a small sample, but the people I know in Oregon (very left-leaning) say that BHO scares them and that they're voting for McCain.

re: #137 Capitalist Tool

That didn't quote correctly, S'BT.

re: #135 Fritz_Katz

Simple, only support and vote for candidates that are not following the "power brokers" agenda.

What about Tom Tancredo? He's from your home state of Colorado and he doesn't look like a power broker to me.

Yes, I'm talking about throwing out the baby with the bathwater until Washington cleans up the water. I suspect there were some "good" Brits in the 1770's, but we still did what we had to do.

re: #60 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I agree. There were portions of the movie which tended to drag, but Ledger's portrayal of Joker, a highly intelligent, completely immoral psychopath, was dead on.

"Want to see me make this pencil disappear?"

That was definately a Holy Crap Batman! moment.

That makes me want to see the movie more. Sick, I know.
All I can say is that even the Joker from the hokey Batman of the 60's was better than Jack Nicholson's version.

re: #123 MandyManners

Hasn't he pledged to slash NASA?

And give the money to the ever popular....
.....
Bill Ayers!

re: #122 looking closely

I don't see why.

Comic books
are often morality plays, why should the modern comic book film
adaptation be any different? Batman is a popular character, and a movie
like that will have more broad appeal than many others.

300, of course, was also an adaptation of the 300 comic book (or "graphic novel", if you like).

But in the Good Old Days, one could tell these stories using real people in real situations. Now they have to be told though myths - I use that word in the best possible sense, not as another word for "lie". Not that I really mind - I loved The Dark Knight, 300, etc. But I would love to see a real war movie about Iraq or Afghanistan that wasn't a bunch of moral equivilance or worse.

re: #132 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

One of the little details that I haven't seen many people comment on is that The Joker gives different "reasons" as to why he is the way he is. When I heard the first reason, I thought "Oh, great. They want me to feel sorry for The Joker." Then he changed his story the next time. I realized what Nolan was doing with that - you can't excuse evil.

I don't want to give away the game by commenting too much on this for those who haven't seen it, but that really was a bit of brilliance.

I though it was just to show how manipulative he was.

The "bad childhood" story may be an explanation for bad behavior, but ultimately its no excuse.

re: #134 Dianna

I've been crossing my fingers.

Rorschach is the great hero, and I fear they're going to turn him into a clown.

Heh. When I first saw your avatar, I thought it was Rorshcach!

re: #139 MandyManners

The power brokers are not those the public sees. Well, except for George Soros who seems to relish shoving it into our faces.

Tancredo has no power over the money folks that run DC. Period. Even if he was elected to something, he would eaither have to fall in line, or be spit out and back to Colorado.

re: #79 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

Now I have "Chicken Train" runnin' all through my brain!

re: #77 WrathofG-d

Jerusalem Bulldozer Drivers Live In Fear Of Their Lives.

~oh ach

Oww, thats sad, innit, like!

(Should have seen to it that bulldozers aren't used as attack weapons by their jihadist friends, shouldn't they, but there ye go ..)

re: #125 Creeping Eruption

Speaking of graphic novels, I saw that Watchmen is coming out. I hope they don't screw it up.

It'll be hard to do, what with the pirate stories.

re: #146 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

But in the Good Old Days, one could tell these stories using real people in real situations. Now they have to be told though myths - I use that word in the best possible sense, not as another word for "lie". Not that I really mind - I loved The Dark Knight, 300, etc. But I would love to see a real war movie about Iraq or Afghanistan that wasn't a bunch of moral equivilance or worse.

Maybe you will someday- after it's been declassified....

re: #130 Walter L. Newton

George Carlin - Voting
NSFW language.

Rush is just now talking about "The Dark Knight" as a comment on Bush & The War. I keep telling you, he uses LGF as show prep!

re: #130 Walter L. Newton

As I said "And I am not advocating apathetic surrender, I am suggesting a very public disapproval of the politicians..."

I am not talking about paralysis, I am talking about a very active rejection of the WHOLE MESS.

Oh, dear. Let me point out that there is already a very public disapproval of politicians. It has been a stance of popular culture for a very long time - a weary, cynical dismissal of politicians as either corrupt power seekers or corrupt puppets of shadowy power brokers. That has left few men or women of character willing to step up and serve as politicians. More, it has led those who do believe in political service into bureaucracy or administrative functionaries.

"A very active rejection of the WHOLE MESS" leads either to apathy - which you claim to reject - or to a positively dangerous determination that leads not to persuasion, but to dictatorship. Not immediately, but step by step.

This is not a good thing.

The answer is engagement, and random associations. Not drama.

re: #86 WrathofG-d

Get the feeling that the entire purpose of thei photo was the propaganda value and the caption?

Yep, I do!

re: #141 Son of the Black Dog

Last I checked Obama had a 10% lead in Oregon.

re: #144 Hard Right

That makes me want to see the movie more. Sick, I know.
All I can say is that even the Joker from the hokey Batman of the 60's was better than Jack Nicholson's version.

Ledger's character wipes the floor with Nicholson's, though Ledger, I think, clearly had the benefit of better writing.

One thing I noticed Ledger does as his character is some bizarre tongue movements at times when speaking.

I found that absolutely fascinating. Its the sort of movement that schitzophrenics do, as a side effect of long term treatment with neuroleptic (eg anti-psychotic) medications, like thorazine.

So Ledger, it appears, "did his homework", by studying actual schitzophrenic mannerisms.

re: #151 yma o hyd

Wow, I hadn't before read that entire article but WOW what a propaganda piece.

I did like to hear this part:

"People have developed bulldozer-phobia," said Anas, a 23-year-old Palestinian driver who asked to be identified by his first name. "It is better to start looking for a new career."

Maybe they can begin looking for jobs in the Hasimite Occupied Cities of Jordan

re: #158 Killgore Trout

Fine but what is his lead in Germany or France. That is what matters.

re: #158 Killgore Trout

Last I checked Obama had a 10% lead in Oregon.

It's that small?

re: #118 turn

I wouldn't let my black lab sleep on one of those rags.

Welcome to LGF OMD,

TY!

re: #146 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

But I would love to see a real war movie about Iraq or Afghanistan that wasn't a bunch of moral equivilance or worse.

One possibility.

Let's see how (and if) it turns out.

re: #107 Sharmuta

Noooo! Dinging is good! Dings allow us to to show what sorts of comments are supported by this community. Bad comments are thus shown at a mere glance as not having support, while good comments are dinged up and show what makes this blog so wonderful.

No, I'm not going to quit dinging. I just am so appalled at myself when I screw it up! I agree with you that having the ability to see at a glance what is or is not supported by commenters here is important.

Updings, downdings, and no dings, have helped me figure out which topics are suitable to put in the spin-offs, and which topics have little or no interest, so that I can self-edit what I think what lizards will find interesting enough to link to.

I think there are one or two people who hold grudges because of some difference with another commenter on some thread or the other, and use their "dings" as a sort of "punishment" for the person they have had a difference with. But it's very rare, which attests, I think, to the maturity and clear thinking of most of the folks here.

re: #148 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Rorschach is mad, but he's honorable.

re: #161 WrathofG-d

Hot Air posted those numbers recently. IIRC Obama had a 60-70% lead in Europe.

re: #155 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Rush is just now talking about "The Dark Knight" as a comment on Bush & The War. I keep telling you, he uses LGF as show prep!

'Cept the WSJ beat us both to it.

re: #167 Killgore Trout

I imagine its been said ad infanitum but are Germany and France part of the 57 states?

re: #165 reine.de.tout

De debbil made me do it...

re: #83 Crimsonfisted

re: #37 Killgore Trout

Yeah they really are wearing a lot of makeup, kinda creepy but they are the flower girls: Yahoo pic

In the whole slideshow about the weddings there are no pictures of the brides.

What to make of this comment?

A Palestinian woman throws flowers on a young girl dressed to look as a bride during a mass wedding ceremony in Beit Lahiya

That is awfully strange if they are flower girls. I am betting, brides, and the flower girl stuff is typical fodder for western consumption.

It's the feminine equivalent to the little boys with the "toy" guns. Hatem Moussa and the AP lie to make horrible behavior look more "normal."

re: #77 WrathofG-d

Jerusalem Bulldozer Drivers Live In Fear Of Their Lives.

~oh ach

They are beginning to understand how SUV drivers feel.

re: #165 reine.de.tout

Yes- the dinger was put in for a reason, imo. Use it. :)

This thread is pure Friday---no interesting controversy or arguments worth noting.

re: #119 Render,

And more DNC bullshit:

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Friday that U.S. troops can't stay in Iraq for the next 100 years because they would always be engaged in some form of combat.

During a visit to Raleigh, Dean said Republican presidential candidate John McCain's policy to keep troops in the region will drain U.S. money for roads, health care and schools. McCain has said he would keep a U.S. presence in Iraq for 100 years, so long as troops are not being injured or killed.

"If you think our troops are going to be in Iraq and they're not going to be in some kind of combat, you've got another thing coming," Dean said during a speech to about 150 Democrats.

Howard the Dick can't envision us actually winning even as it is happening before his eyes. The Democrats will insist on losing if they are elected.

Period.

McCain needs to drive this home every day.

re: #154 Killgore Trout

George Carlin - Voting
NSFW language.

Unfortunately is more right than wrong.....

re: #122 looking closely

I thought 300 was an opportunity to see Gerard Butler wearing minimal clothing

re: #166 Dianna

Rorschach is mad, but he's honorable.

"No compromise, not even with Armageddon."

re: #50 Opinionated

The Bush Doctrine is vapor.

Any attempt to portray second term Bush as waging a war against the dark forces of Islamic Jihadist evil is fiction.

hah. i thought you posted the link so i thought you added a sarc at the end.

you're an idiot.

re: #89 godfrey

[snip...]
The responsibility of a citizen is to choose, not to abstain.

My .02

It is also the responsibility of the candidate to earn our vote.
Just my 2¢

re: #156 Dianna

Oh, dear. Let me point out that there is already a very public disapproval of politicians. It has been a stance of popular culture for a very long time - a weary, cynical dismissal of politicians as either corrupt power seekers or corrupt puppets of shadowy power brokers. That has left few men or women of character willing to step up and serve as politicians. More, it has led those who do believe in political service into bureaucracy or administrative functionaries.

"A very active rejection of the WHOLE MESS" leads either to apathy - which you claim to reject - or to a positively dangerous determination that leads not to persuasion, but to dictatorship. Not immediately, but step by step.

This is not a good thing.

The answer is engagement, and random associations. Not drama.

Let me clarify "active rejection of the whole mess." That means to get everyone, anyone involved in the process of showing our distrust of DC by NOT GIVING THEM OUR VOTE, not giving anyone our vote. It's bipartisan, it grass-roots and it's VERY AMERICAN.

If enough people hold back, than it will become news, it will become an issue and hopefully it could shake DC up enough to FIX IT. They know what's broke. We don't have to send MORE ineffectual puppets up there to tell them what to do.

We are still the foundation to this democarcy, and hopefully they are not so hell bent on destroying themselves to ignorea complete lack of support from us.

re: #178 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Yes!

And he's right.

If you will it, it is no dream.

re: #174 Atweber

This thread is pure Friday---no interesting controversy or arguments worth noting.

Try my #59

re: #162 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey
Oregon

In Oregon, Barack Obama leads John McCain 46% to 37%, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. These results are virtually identical to those from a month ago. When “leaners” are included, it’s Obama 49%, McCain 40%.

Oregon is actually a red state but Portland and a few other small cities push it into the blue. Once you get out of Portland you'll see plenty 'support the troops" signs and American flags.

Even back when our nation was founded, those with the money were making the rules. It's been that way from the beginning.

bbl

re: #167 Killgore Trout

Hot Air posted those numbers recently. IIRC Obama had a 60-70% lead in Europe.

he should run for King of the EU

re: #162 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Would that include the dead voting? /not far from the truth - given that with paper ballots that it is possible for someone to pass away after having cast their ballot in the election and it would count (depending on the state where the person lived).

re: #180 Da_Beerfreak

It is also the responsibility of the candidate to earn our vote.
Just my 2¢

Tru Dat!

re: #127 Walter L. Newton

You didn't "reply" or "quote" so I'm not sure if you are responding to me... but anyway...

I am disgusted with ALL POLITICIANS. My point is proven just by the fact that you READ "You’re disgusted with the GOP for giving us such a “crappy” candidate?..." when my statement never mentioned any party.

They got you.

do you see the grave danger b.o. is to our country?
wouldn't it be better to vote in mccain and continue trying to take our country in a conservative direction?
i feel your frustration, however, this might not be the best time to opt out of voting.

Choosing not to decide is a decision in itself.

There are a lot of power brokers and groups no doubt, but to imagine that any single one has more than momentary influence here or there is to travel to paranoiaville. I'm nobody's puppet, I push where I need to, I pull where I need to; and as with every election since I came of age I will vote in this one.

I will send money to those groups that support the bulk of my even if they hold some views I don't like. If those views are incredibly stupid, they are unlikely to become law in this day and age due to those very forces you mentioned.

re: #181 Walter L. Newton

process of showing our distrust of DC by NOT GIVING THEM OUR VOTE, not giving anyone our vote. It's bipartisan, it grass-roots and it's VERY AMERICAN.

That's surrendering to those who will still vote. And that leaves us exactly where?

No.

I understand your frustration. I just don't think you're right.

re: #174 Atweber

This thread is pure Friday---no interesting controversy or arguments worth noting.

Well, after my vodka jello sets, perhaps there might be? :)

Of course, my arguments would not be lucid, but could provide sheer entertainment value.

Yea....that is about right...birds of a feather.

re: #59 Walter L. Newton

I can see where you are coming from Walter, but withholding your vote is never a good idea. Low voter turnout does not tell Washington that we are displeased, and it favors small but fanatical special interests. (Think Ron Paul)

I up-ding for the sentiment.

But these big corporate special interests that think nothing "for our safety and security" are us. I am one of 120,000 that make up one of those big corporations, my co-workers and I think a lot about our safety and security, to do otherwise not only goes against our humanity, but puts our enterprise at risk. We, the human hand that forms the corporation, put a lot of effort into doing things so that our product is safe and does not harm those who use them. It is a combination of both our humanity and self-interest. So before you go and strip the humanity out of these corporations, remember who it is that populates them. It is us.

re: #175 Iron Fist

Troops in combat? Well, we can't have that, can we. It would detract from their proper role as armored social workers.

Whenever I hear liberals talking about how wonderful it is that our armed forces could help out in such and such a disaster somewhere in the world (and I agree, it's a good thing), I always like adding, "as long as we don't forget that the core competency of the military is, and should be, to be able to kill people and break things. If it can't do that, it's not a military." Liberals get a little... uncomfortable with that thought.

re: #144 Hard Right

That makes me want to see the movie more. Sick, I know.
All I can say is that even the Joker from the hokey Batman of the 60's was better than Jack Nicholson's version.

EXCUSE ME! I loved the Joker of the 60's -Cesar Romero. Are you calling Adam West hokey? Camp- maybe- Hokey, never

re: #186 MandyManners

Even back when our nation was founded, those with the money were making the rules. It's been that way from the beginning.

bbl

Since the world began, really. Our free market is the only chance that the average person has to get in on that action.

re: #159 looking closely

Ledger's character wipes the floor with Nicholson's, though Ledger, I think, clearly had the benefit of better writing.

One thing I noticed Ledger does as his character is some bizarre tongue movements at times when speaking.

I found that absolutely fascinating. Its the sort of movement that schitzophrenics do, as a side effect of long term treatment with neuroleptic (eg anti-psychotic) medications, like thorazine.

So Ledger, it appears, "did his homework", by studying actual schitzophrenic mannerisms.

That quality of actor is in short supply. Too bad he accidently killed himself.
An actor that surprised me was Robin Williams in Insomnia. He clearly understood how some serial killers behave. It made the movie that much better to me.

Anyone know why IE7 on Vista won't put LGF in my history?

re: #181 Walter L. Newton

Let me clarify "active rejection of the whole mess." That means to get everyone, anyone involved in the process of showing our distrust of DC by NOT GIVING THEM OUR VOTE, not giving anyone our vote. It's bipartisan, it grass-roots and it's VERY AMERICAN.

.

What is your opinion on "protest voting" for Obama?

Personally, I couldn't do it, nor abstain... I would feel as if i have blood on my hands for whatever liberal policies and judges that are put in office

re: #200 KayEyeDoubleDee

Anyone know why IE7 on Vista won't put LGF in my history?

conspirazeeeee

re: #197 madisonsfriend

EXCUSE ME! I loved the Joker of the 60's -Cesar Romero. Are you calling Adam West hokey? Camp- maybe- Hokey, never

To me those terms are interchangeable. Like I said, even the campy joker from that show was superior.

re: #99 Walter L. Newton

I didn't miss your point.

You said this:

My vote is the only thing left in this political process that belongs to me, and I am not going to give it away.

What are you going to do with it? Put it in a box?

My point is that our responsibility as citizens is to vote, which means making a choice. That isn't doing anyone's "bidding."

Yes, the choices suck more often than not, but some suck more than others. Make your best judgment and move on.

None of this prevents you from making a difference in other ways, or in being vocal, or being a good guy.

re: #171 wrenchwench

It's the feminine equivalent to the little boys with the "toy" guns. Hatem Moussa and the AP lie to make horrible behavior look more "normal."

They tried so hard to lie FOR Hamas by saying that Hamas might possibly think about potentially one day recognizing Israel.

They weren't spinning what Hamas said, or printing without question Hamas propaganda; they were making up lies out of whole cloth to help Hamas because Hamas couldn't bring itself to say they might recognize Israel, even as taqqiya. And Hamas immediately corrected them.

Walter L. Newton

Yes, I'm talking about throwing out the baby with the bathwater until Washington cleans up the water. I suspect there were some "good" Brits in the 1770's, but we still did what we had to do.

I'm not throwing out any babies -- there are still good people to vote for and support. Nihilists go nowhere. But I must confess, I can't vote for McCain because I can't stand the thought of voting for the "lesser of two power brokers".

Tancredo has no power over the money folks that run DC. Period. Even if he was elected to something, he would eaither have to fall in line, or be spit out and back to Colorado.

Tancredo was elected to something and he didn't fall in line. He's still got his principles.

(B.T.W. going back ON-TOPIC for a thread with a big dinosaur pic at the top... remember the Republican debate in May 2007? Tancredo was one of three who raised their hands when asked if anyone did not believe in the theory of evolution.)

re: #179 so.cal.swede

hah. i thought you posted the link so i thought you added a sarc at the end.

you're an idiot.

Now that I have been lucky enough to spot a remaining Bush fan, I'm going to try my luck finding Bigfoot.

re: #155 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey,

If he does, he could giove a shout out to us. That'd be cool!

Is Rice Really This Stupid?

re: #144 Hard Right

That makes me want to see the movie more. Sick, I know.
All I can say is that even the Joker from the hokey Batman of the 60's was better than Jack Nicholson's version.

I kept hearing about what a great job Ledger did with this character, and I chalked it up to people saying nice things because Ledger died.

Then I saw the movie.

That character is great, just superbly done.

re: #210 WrathofG-d

Is Rice Really This Stupid?

And the answer is "yes"

re: #94 Walter L. Newton

Thanks. I was wondering if I was sitting here drifting in the wind by myself.

No you aren't the only one. What little money I have to contribute to politics I give to the NRA and not the GOP.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

What does it say when someone has more faith in a lobby group rather then a political party?

re: #30 Killgore Trout

Uhhhhh......
Yahoo pic

I really hope those aren't the brides.

[Link: image.hazardstrip.com...]

i'm sorry...

re: #208 Opinionated

Now that I have been lucky enough to spot a remaining Bush fan, I'm going to try my luck finding Bigfoot.

What's in your head? Obviously i'm a "bush fan" for opposing your view.

re: #158 Killgore Trout
Considering the economy, banking situation, gas prices, the environment and the the war, his lead in the polls should be sky high. So far I don't think there has been any seismic shift in the polling (that I have seen) and that's good.

re: #211 reine.de.tout

I kept hearing about what a great job Ledger did with this character, and I chalked it up to people saying nice things because Ledger died.

Then I saw the movie.

That character is great, just superbly done.

While I'm not a comic book junkie, I have read some of the darker Batman comic books and wished they would bring one to the big screen that showed how evil and utterly twisted the Joker is. Sounds like they have.

re: #214 so.cal.swede

the little girls with make-up are creepy -like the pictures of child pageant contestants here in the US(I thought after the murder of Jon Benet- those pageants might change that stuff but they don't- sick,sick parents)

re: #217 Hard Right

While
I'm not a comic book junkie, I have read some of the darker Batman
comic books and wished they would bring one to the big screen that
showed how evil and utterly twisted the Joker is. Sounds like they have.

Like "A Death In The Family", where The Joker beats Jason Todd (Robin) to death with a crowbar, then is offered asylum by Iran? Don't think that one's going to get made anytime soon!

It's amazing that almost everyone (not all) that has responded to my #59 see this as a us against them issue.

It doesn't matter who is pimping for your vote, it's gotten to the point that is is for THEIR OWN SELF BENEFIT.

Oh, you may come along for the ride and get a few of the scrum thrown to you, but you will be screwed in the long run.

I have nothing against capitalism, but it has become demogogery, way beyond what we are able to control.

So I say, show them that we will not support them. Widdle away at their importance, show distain at every chance.

Stop them.

re: #210 WrathofG-d

Is Rice Really This Stupid?

they are at the point where they want to be liked. they are trying to go out on a positive note. it is all ridiculous posturing now so they will look like they 'tried'

At first glance I thought: " man., Charles has one uncomfortable looking bicycle seat".

re: #220 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Like "A Death In The Family", where The Joker beats Jason Todd (Robin) to death with a crowbar, then is offered asylum by Iran? Don't think that one's going to get made anytime soon!

I'd forgotten about that. That was an unhappy one.
Iran probably would have put him charge of dealing with "prostitutes", "adlutresses", and "traitors/apostates".

re: #212 madisonsfriend

I wonder why Rice (who is spearheading Bush's about face and contact with Iran, and probably the idea of "horizon" in Iraq) has never been asked her opinions of Obama.

re: #181 Walter L. Newton

I do get your argument - there is however only one snag: there will still be all those activists who will vote, come hell or high water - and if everybody else abstains, they will swing or even win the election for their candidates.
Thus you'll have given up the only influence you do have - and have contributed to making the mess even bigger, a mess you have to live trhough for another four years.

In he Glasgow East by-election yesterday people did not abstain - they defeated a Labour majority of 13.000 +. And this was a seat held by Labour for decades. The win margin ws a bit over 350 votes - and that is how people take the power back, by voting.

It is never, ever an option to give up one's right to vote. Millions have died for that right, millions are still dying because they do not have it.

re: #181 Walter L. Newton

It sounds like refusing sanction.

Most of the time I base my vote on D and E: Defense and Economy. When candidates appear equal on those two important issues, then I choose based on stasism vs. dynamism. It's a great tie breaker, and a different way to look at political process. Dynamism vs Stasism is outlined in a somewhat unknown but seminal work by Virginia Postrell:
"The Future and its Enemies"

re: #173 Sharmuta

Yes- the dinger was put in for a reason, imo. Use it. :)

I wasn't an advocate of the identify-the-dinger system when Charles added dingability. I've changed my mind. It allows a lizard to comment without starting a flame war but still has some ownership.

re: #225 WrathofG-d

I wonder why Rice (who is spearheading Bush's about face and contact with Iran, and probably the idea of "horizon" in Iraq) has never been asked her opinions of Obama.

Personally, I could give a rat's patootie about her opinion of him.

re: #69 maddogg

They beat the hell out of the shapeless gobs of welded stainless steel or rusty lumps of A-588 steel I've seen up on a pedestal in public spaces called "modern art". At least in my provincial mind.

There was a type of "modern art" a while back that looked like someone covered a panel in glue, dropped it in a junkyard until the glue set, and then pulled it and whatever stuck to it out, and spray painted it silver.

Maybe I should have gone into art?
"I call this piece Fred's Scrapyard, northwest corner"

re: #224 Hard Right

I'd forgotten about that. That was an unhappy one.
Iran probably would have put him charge of dealing with "prostitutes", "adlutresses", and "traitors/apostates".

But not gays - there are no gays in Iran, according to The Malignant Dwarf.

re: #181 Walter L. Newton,

I hate to tell you this, but roughly 50% of the voters already opt out. If it becomes 60%, it won't matter. That just means that the power brokers, if they exist, only have to manipulate 20% of the population. Actually, they already only have to manipulate 25% of the population, and the welfare vote isn't going down. You don't count if you join the majority of people who don't vote.

If you don't think there's a difference between Obama and McCain you haven't been paying attention. Obama willl be an absolute disaster. One the United States may not ever recover from. Think about that before you join the majority that doesn't vote.

re: #35 looking closely

There's also the aspect that in the Obama-Hillary contest that Obama threw money at certain states, and it didn't really help him. So it's also hopeful to think that - while money does help - you really can't simply buy an election.

Also, it funny how the media seems a little puzzled how B. Hussein didn't get some sort of bounce in the polls after the Berlin speech. What they don't get is that you'd have to be a raving moonbat to understand why a presidential candidate would even go there in the first place, or to understand what the significance of 200,000 fawning Germans is supposed to be. BHO and his fawning media are both hopelessly out-of-touch with the voters.

re: #213 Da_Beerfreak

No you aren't the only one. What little money I have to contribute to politics I give to the NRA and not the GOP.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

What does it say when someone has more faith in a lobby group rather then a political party?

It say you are making my point for me. Thanks for the support. But I'm talking about giving what little I have to help people. Charities (if they don't have a political agenda), churches, local groups, hand it directly to someone that needs it.

And as I said, I'm not talking about apathy. I'm talking about actively getting as many people to sit this out, on any side. And keep sitting this out until they get the message.

And what happens if they don't get the message? You figure out the next step.

re: #233 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

But not gays - there are no gays in Iran, according to The Malignant Dwarf.

There are no gays here, these are not the gays you are looking for...

re: #235 Optimizer

There's also the aspect that in the Obama-Hillary contest that Obama threw money at certain states, and it didn't really help him. So it's also hopeful to think that - while money does help - you really can't simply buy an election.

Also, it funny how the media seems a little puzzled how B. Hussein didn't get some sort of bounce in the polls after the Berlin speech. What they don't get is that you'd have to be a raving moonbat to understand why a presidential candidate would even go there in the first place, or to understand what the significance of 200,000 fawning Germans is supposed to be. BHO and his fawning media are both hopelessly out-of-touch with the voters.

According to German TV it was 20,000, not 200,000. Another Obama lie? Shocked! Shocked I am..............not.

re: #225 WrathofG-d

I wonder why Rice (who is spearheading Bush's about face and contact with Iran, and probably the idea of "horizon" in Iraq) has never been asked her opinions of Obama.

She has left hints.

"Rice hails Obama race speech as "important" for U.S"

[Link: www.reuters.com...]

I believe she will vote for him.

re: #225 WrathofG-d

I wonder why Rice (who is spearheading Bush's about face and contact with Iran, and probably the idea of "horizon" in Iraq) has never been asked her opinions of Obama.

interesting question. i heard hannity interview her and he brought up the absurd views and behavior of b.o. several times to get her opinion.
she did not criticize b.o. once.
she changed the slant of the question and just reinforced the views of the administration. it was hands off on commenting abt the messiah. she did not do it.

re: #228 ploome hineni

Susan RIce?[Link: www.spiegel.de...] d/0,1518,567066,00.html

Susan RIce, advisor to Kerry and the Obamination?

we must defeat Obama

If we had troops in Israel, keeping the Israelis down, Susan Rice wouldn't be suggesting withdrawal; she'd be pushing for a surge.

re: #234 Iron Fist

and the welfare vote isn't going down.

Thats why I've always been in favor of a election WEEKEND, perhaps Friday and Saturday 8 am - 8 pm, and Sunday, noon till 6 pm.

Due to work schedules, driving to and from work, trying to make it home for a couple of hours with the family after work, how many "working Americans" can't get to the polls on a TUESDAY, between 7 am and 7 or 8 pm !?!?!

re: #81 Opinionated

Good question. Was he faking the first term?

Or did forces (Rice, Saudi family interests, exhaustion from being criticized by the Left and media, etc )wear him down?

I wonder if John Bolton, a very frequent critic these days, would know.

If the reason is just because of the left's criticism, that is bogus.

The left hates him viscerally, and nothing he will do will make them like him. Instead, by moving to the left, he starts bringing criticism from his base, and from the right, which is used by the media as evidence of Bush being evil.

Not a smart move.

re: #228 ploome hineni

I'm hoping that the Berlin speech and the general tour it self is Obama's Jump the Shark moment we've all been waiting for.

re: #216 snowcrash

Considering the economy, banking situation, gas prices, the environment and the the war, his lead in the polls should be sky high. So far I don't think there has been any seismic shift in the polling (that I have seen) and that's good.

However, Obama has more than just his own gaffes to wory about. The Hillary supporters hate him, and he has this minor problem of the Democrats being in charge of the House and the Senate. Oh, and did I mention that Bush has a much better approval rating than Congress? Last I looked, Congress's approval rating is in single digits.

I think most people are more fed up with Congress than with Bush this year.

re: #239 Opinionated

She has left hints.

"Rice hails Obama race speech as "important" for U.S"

[Link: www.reuters.com...]

I believe she will vote for him.

Sigh. It appears she is black first, an American second.

re: #230 jamgarr

I wasn't an advocate of the identify-the-dinger system when Charles added dingability. I've changed my mind. It allows a lizard to comment without starting a flame war but still has some ownership.

I think the dings allow us an opportunity to help reflect what we, as a community, value in comments from other Lizards and what we reject in comments from trolls and mobys.

re: #133 Walter L. Newton
You got it...

re: #140 rightwinger3
Okay, I'm with you.

You can count me in too.

re: #234 Iron Fist

,

I hate to tell you this, but roughly 50% of the voters already opt out. If it becomes 60%, it won't matter. That just means that the power brokers, if they exist, only have to manipulate 20% of the population. Actually, they already only have to manipulate 25% of the population, and the welfare vote isn't going down. You don't count if you join the majority of people who don't vote.

If you don't think there's a difference between Obama and McCain you haven't been paying attention. Obama willl be an absolute disaster. One the United States may not ever recover from. Think about that before you join the majority that doesn't vote.

There is a difference in Obama and McCain, but there is NO DIFFERENCE IN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY PULLING THEIR STRINGS. And neither of them can fight that if they get into office.

Stop thinking party. I am talking about something bigger and more dangerous than party. This is all like a Matrix to make you THINK you have a choice.

What you have is an opinion, seen through the rose-colored glasses of party, and those glasses are ALL SOLD TO YOU BY THE SAME power brokers.

Why isn't that dinosaur fossilized, if it's older than 6,000 years?
/confused

re: #244 The Pulchritudinous Patriot

I'm hoping that the Berlin speech and the general tour it self is Obama's Jump the Shark moment we've all been waiting for.

Barry could push his grandmother in front of the shark, then do a line of coke off its back before he jumps it & he'd still get 90% of the democratic vote.

I'm not sure that anyone else has mentioned this or not, but while Pelosi and Reid and their surrogates are reminding us John McCain is to old and feeble to be President, those two "youngsters are 68"and 69. Maybe they are two old to be Speaker of the House and Senate Majority leader?

re: #185 Killgore Trout

Oregon
Oregon is actually a red state but Portland and a few other small cities push it into the blue. Once you get out of Portland you'll see plenty 'support the troops" signs and American flags.

So is California -- and most of the rest of the USA (from the 2004 election).

Walter, to not vote is flatly stupid whatever your reason. Letting the netroots and the hard right decide who goes into office is exactly the wrong thing to do. You will end up with Buchanan brigaders on one side and World Can't Waiters on the other. That's a sure way to send this country to hell in a handbasket, because underneath both want to take our freedoms.

re: #239 Opinionated

Yeah that's the one I was trying to recall. Drech.

Don't feed the defeatist.

re: #254 Thanos

Walter, to not vote is flatly stupid whatever your reason. Letting the netroots and the hard right decide who goes into office is exactly the wrong thing to do. You will end up with Buchanan brigaders on one side and World Can't Waiters on the other. That's a sure way to send this country to hell in a handbasket, because underneath both want to take our freedoms.

HEEEEEYYYYY!
////

re: #246 Hard Right

Sigh. It appears she is black first, an American second.

When the Obamessiah loses, it is going to get ugly.
And the blacks will have that UN guy, Doudy, to support their claim that it was racism.