WEDNESDAY OPEN FORUM: What's on your mind?

Post comments below on any issue you want. The only limitations: the ground rules listed at the left and your own imagination. I'll reply when appropriate. Have fun. dc

(If you wish your comment to be considered for publication in the newspaper, copy it into an e-mail and send it to opinions@thesunnews.com. Please add your address and phone number to the e-mail so we can contact you for verification. The size limit for letters is 150 words.)

Post comments below on any issue you want. The only limitations: the ground rules listed at the left and your own imagination. I'll reply when appropriate. Have fun. dc

(If you wish your comment to be considered for publication in the newspaper, copy it into an e-mail and send it to opinions@thesunnews.com. Please add your address and phone number to the e-mail so we can contact you for verification. The size limit for letters is 150 words.)

Comments

[Dr. James E. Dnnn]

#41:

I believe that America fighting two wars on the other side of the world, and America having big fleets of war vessels in every ocean - as well as in the Mediterranean Sea - may well become a greater tax expense than the American electorate is willing to pay for in the very near future.

And what are we doing in all these places now that the Soviet Union is currently defunct?

I believe that the United States is only protecting our source of petroleum, and Vice president Dick Cheney’s recent trip to the country of Georgia helps to prove this assertion to be very true.

And I also believe that these so-called “fleets,” as well as our military involvement in the so-called “militant” nations is a result of our ever-growing desperate need for more, and still more petroleum.

President elect Barack Obama says that he is going to place the development of clean and renewable alternative energy sources when he takes office the 20th of January.

I very much hope that he keeps his promise!!!

Dr. James E. Dunn

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Dr. Dunn, Although I agree with your underlying sentiment that we don't need to run the world and we do need to develop alternative energy. Did notice that Russia and Venezula were holding joint naval exercises in the Caribbean? Maybe, you think that they are doing this because we provoked them. You may be right.

The thing is it takes two to tango. When it comes to the Russians it is a Mexican standoff. One of Bush's biggest mistakes was to trust Putin. He is ambious and dangerous. It would be a mistake to make any deals with Russia as long as he is calling the shots.

This will be one of the biggest challenges for the new Clinton administration. Will they be able to transcend their Ivy league mentality into a workable geopolitical policy.

[Dr. James E. Dnnn]

Richard:

The Russian and Venezualian navies that are engaging in the joint project, together, have no aircraft carriers, and the actual two joint fleets consists of about 10 ships.

This is no real threat, and the Indian and Meditderranean
fleets which the U.S. maintains are interfering with other nations.

The Atlantic and Pacific fleets may stay in port and just do occasional exercises just as the British, French, Russian, and Chinese fleets do.

This nation would save many BILLIONS of dollars this way!

And you wonder why this nation is hated by much of the rest of the world?

I think Barack Obama is going to get this house in order!

Dr. James E. Dunn

[Dr. James E. Dnnn]

Richard:

I believe that you have an incorrect impression of Barach Obama's Administration.

Hillary may be the Secretary of State, by Obama is very definitely going to "run the show."

DrJED

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Dr. Dunn, I do not believe the U.S. is hated by the rest of the world. Otherwise, why is the rest of the world trying to relocate here. When three out of every four Obama selections are Clinton retreads then what other impression can I have? Bill Richardson is being announced as Commerce Secretary today.

While Obama may be the figure head is it becoming painfully obvious that this is a third Clinton Administration. Change we need. Change we can depend on. I don't think so. This is politics as ususal.

[Richard L. Wolfe]

p.s. I was going to give Obama a pass until Jan. 20th but when he is making so many mistakes before he is even sworn in then I wonder if the nation can afford to wait?

Besides the left didn't provide President Bush any such curtisoy. Remember " President Select? "

[Slip]

41:

“I believe that America fighting two wars on the other side of the world, and America having big fleets of war vessels in every ocean - as well as in the Mediterranean Sea - may well become a greater tax expense than the American electorate is willing to pay for in the very near future.”

“And what are we doing in all these places now that the Soviet Union is currently defunct?”

JED You are an intelligent man but you are clueless as usual about military operations & strategy as well as the USSR being defunct. How about sticking to your alternative energy babble and the rest of the topics you pontificate on and leave the military stuff to the military...A strong military is the backbone of a strong nation. Seems to me that you are more worried about WIFM than you are your own nation and fellow man…but as I have stated in past blogs…It’s an “All about ME world” that we live in. JED you seem too worried about yourself and no one else.

[Nick]

Because Bush didn't win the popular vote.
It's an issue with the Electoral College, that it's possible to lose the popular vote of the country but win the electoral vote. It's actually still possible for McCain to win, because the electoral college doesn't have to vote for whom their state voted for.

If we did away with the Electoral College, then Obama would have still won, but by a slim majority. It was a decisive win with the Electoral College, but only around 52% with the popular vote.

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Nick, I understand your reasoning but it still doesn't change the facts. The left hated Bush before he took office and they will still hate him after he leaves office.

My point is that most people on the blog wanted an end to the Bush/Clinton dynasty. Obama runs as an agent of change. He was supposed to clean up the corruption in Washington. What does he do? He hires the foxes to run the henhouse.

What if McCain had won by promising to change the way Washington works and then hires Ashcroft, Jeb Bush, Gonzales, Karl Rove, etc. Wouldn't the left be outraged?

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Nick, I think it would be a terrible idea but the Electoral College could be elminated by a Constitutional Amendment.

[Dr. James E. Dnnn]

Slip:

I vehemently disagree with you, particularly that if we did pull our navy back home, I know that we would still be the strongest nation in the world!

We have an abundance nuclear tipped missles that may be shot anywhere in the world, we have B-1 Bombers that can do the same, and B-52 that may deliver nuclear bombs anywhere in the world, as well, and much, much more!

And you want to remember, Slip, that the "Military" is just half of the Military-Industrial Complex that Dwight Eisenhower warned us about as he left office in 1961.

One more thing Slip: personal insults really don't make a good intellectual argument!

Cool it, ok?

DrJED

Richard:

I didn't mean to imply that the citizens of America are hated, just the U.S. government; and regrettably, most other nations dislike us intensely!

DrJED

[Slip]

One more thing Slip: personal insults really don't make a good intellectual argument!

Cool it, ok?

DrJED

Hit a nerve didn't I JED? As the saying goes if the shoe fits...

And a great man once said "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." back to your pontifications JED!

[Dr. James E. Dnnn]

No Slip, you didn't "hit a nerve."

Instead you are weakening your argument, and you are making a fool of yourself in the process!

DrJED

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Dr. Dunn, the problem with your argument is terrorists are equal opportunity killers. They just hit India the other day. India doesn't have navies all over the world. As far as the socialists in Europe hating us who cares? They hated their parents when they were told to mow the lawn in order to get their allowance.

[Dr. James E. Dnnn]

I don't understand you, Richard. What does India not having much of a navy have to do with it?

We have the largest navy in the world, by far, but the terrorists struck us on 9/11.

And Europe is not "socialistic," although many countries over there have more socialistic policies and programs than we do over here.

I predict that during the Obama administration, we will quickly catch up with them.(smile!)

DrJED

[slip]

I'm not arguing JED just letting you and everyone else know that you are clueless on Military affairs that's all. An as for me making a fool of myself...that again is an opinion of you'rs sir and you know what they say about people and their opinions? Nighty Night JED

Slip

[Dr. James E. Dnnn]

Slip:

How are you so aware of my unawareness of my knowledge regarding military affairs???

Moreover, this country is run by civilians, not by "military" people.

In fact, there have been only three presidents who were formally high ranking military officials: Eisenhower, Grant, and Washington.

Two were fairly good, but one was absolutely terriable, that being Grant!

DrJED

[Patrick Hill]

Just off the top of my head, Jed.........Andrew Jackson, Major General

In order it is Washington, Eisenhower, and Grant, and then Jackson, Andrew,
Served at the age of 13 with the Continental Army (1780) during the Revolutionary War as a messenger, and was held as a prisoner of war, becoming the only President who had been held as a prisoner of war as a US troop (Washington had been captured as a British officer); served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of major general and became a national hero after his success at the Battle of New Orleans.

William H, Harrison, Major General, US Army,
Dates of service: 1791–1798, 1812–1814. Became national hero after success at the Battle of the Thames

Zachory Taylor, Major General, US Army,
Became a national hero because of his achievements in the Mexican-American War.

Piearce, Johnson, Polk, Arthur, and Benj. Harrison were Brigadier Generals.

Jefferson, Madison, Polk and Teddy Roosev. were Colonels

NEXT?

[Patrick Hill]

THOSE THAT DID NOT SERVE IN UNIFORM

1. John Adams

2 John Quincy Adams

3. Martin Van Buren

4. Grover Cleveland - He was drafted during the Civil War, but paid $150 for a substitute (a legal option under the terms of the Conscription Act of 1863, and his substitute survived the war).

5. William H. Taft He was Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1904 to 1908.

6. Woodrow Wilson Served as President during World War I

7. Warren G. Harding

8. Calvin Coolidge

9. Herbert Hoover None, served in a private (civilian) humanitarian capacity in Europe during World War I. However was involved in the Siege of Tientsin during The Boxer Rebellion.

10. Franklin D. Roosevelt None, attempted to join the Navy during the Spanish American War but was unable as he contracted measles. Served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1913 and through World War I; when the U.S. entered the war in 1917 he offered his resignation so that he could apply for a commission in the Navy, but was refused by the President. Served as President during World War II

11. Bill Clinton Student deferment/ROTC.

12. Barack Obama (President-elect)

It is easier to list the ones that did not serve in uniform, Jed. OF COURSE, you are wrong.

[Patrick Hill]

I left some out....

Monroe LB.Johnson, and Nixon were Lt. Colonels or Commander USN.

McKinley, Truman, Ford, and Filmore were Major or Lt. Commanders

Tyler, Lincoln, Kennedy, and Carter and Reagan were Captains or Lt.s

Even Bush 41 and Bush 43 were Lt.s

and James Buchanan was a private (a higher rank than you know who).

[Patrick Hill]

Jed, now we are ALL AWARE of your unawareness. Sorry to throw you under the bus, and run over you and then backup and turn the steering wheel right and left on your chest (just a figure of speech).

[Patrick Hill]

Notice how "give-away" programs increased under the ones that DIDN'T SERVE IN UNIFORM? New Deal, No Deal, Fanny Deal, Spread the Deal, Deal from the bottom....etc...

[Patrick Hill]

Wall Street Deal, Read My...Deal or No Deal, and Carter's "Whats the Deal?"

[Patrick Hill]

LOL, thats funny!

[Dr. James E. Dnnn]

Patrick:

I am definitely not incorrect as I said in my previous post:

"In fact, there have been only three presidents who were formally high ranking military officials: Eisenhower, Grant, and Washington."

"High ranking" Patrick!!!

Are you just trying to catch me making a mistake or what? You must be!

DrJED