Listen To The Generals......the Dishonest Harry Reid

[mountainrider]

"As Speaker Pelosi said, the President's plan will receive an up-or-down

vote in both Chambers of Congress. With that vote, our hope -- our prayer

-- is that this President will finally listen. Listen to the Generals." Senator Harry Reid in pre-State of the Union address, Jan. 07

"In a bold challenge to Petraeus' assessment, Reid said the "situation on the ground in Iraq has not changed at all." He later acknowledged gains in Anbar province, "but it's like the big balloon that you push on one side and it comes out someplace else."

Petraeus' assessment inflamed Democrats, but assuaged many Republicans. It did lead to tough questions from several Republican skeptics, including Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Susan Collins of Maine, but most GOP lawmakers said they were reluctant to impose a firm timetable."

http://www.mercurynews.com/realestatenews/ci_6868850

So, I guess Harry Reid will only listen to the Generals that support the position in HIS mind that he made up long ago.

I am definitely sure that some armchair general politician in Washington knows more about what is going on on the ground in Iraq than a 4 star that lives it every day. We are in serious trouble with clowns like this in power in the US Government. Yikes.....

[vgt_bob]

While Reid is a political hack he is my hack (I live in Nevada).

Anybody who thinks "the generals" do not have political motivation are ignorant of how generals become generals or live in a fantasy world.

Petraeus was a brigadier general in 1999 (one star) and a general (four stars) in 2007. All stars come directly from the president. So a general who has advanced faster than his piers by promotions from a president then provides an unbiased report?

I imagine you think that General Westmoreland was an independent source of information during Viet Nam also?

General Petraeus is a brilliant, talented individual who owes his career advancement over the last 7 years to GW Bush.

Robert B.

BTW - checked his biography - General Petraeus and I were both in the US Army and stationed in Italy at the same time. Different units but within a few miles of each other. Heck, I probably even saluted him once or twice.

[Snow]

While I wouldn't expect much ethical behavior from a politician, you'd hope that a Mormon one would have higher standards... like the nonsense he is wasting time over with Rush Limbaugh.

Absurd.

[Fiannan]

I don't know, if anyone has seen the movie Idiocracy the president in that film and Harry Reid have a lot in common.

[mountainrider]

While Reid is a political hack he is my hack (I live in Nevada).

Anybody who thinks "the generals" do not have political motivation are ignorant of how generals become generals or live in a fantasy world.

Petraeus was a brigadier general in 1999 (one star) and a general (four stars) in 2007. All stars come directly from the president. So a general who has advanced faster than his piers by promotions from a president then provides an unbiased report?

I imagine you think that General Westmoreland was an independent source of information during Viet Nam also?

General Petraeus is a brilliant, talented individual who owes his career advancement over the last 7 years to GW Bush.

Robert B.

BTW - checked his biography - General Petraeus and I were both in the US Army and stationed in Italy at the same time. Different units but within a few miles of each other. Heck, I probably even saluted him once or twice.

Exactly the response I expected. "we don't trust him because he is George W. Bush's General". If it were a Clinton General, or a Jimmy Carter General or anyone else, would you believe his assessment of Iraq then? Probably.

Bush has been in a Catch 22 his whole presidency because of dishonest liberals who will never be happy with anything out of his administration.

[Canuck Mormon]

"As Speaker Pelosi said, the President's plan will receive an up-or-down

vote in both Chambers of Congress. With that vote, our hope -- our prayer

-- is that this President will finally listen. Listen to the Generals." Senator Harry Reid in pre-State of the Union address, Jan. 07

"In a bold challenge to Petraeus' assessment, Reid said the "situation on the ground in Iraq has not changed at all." He later acknowledged gains in Anbar province, "but it's like the big balloon that you push on one side and it comes out someplace else."

Petraeus' assessment inflamed Democrats, but assuaged many Republicans. It did lead to tough questions from several Republican skeptics, including Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Susan Collins of Maine, but most GOP lawmakers said they were reluctant to impose a firm timetable."

http://www.mercurynews.com/realestatenews/ci_6868850

So, I guess Harry Reid will only listen to the Generals that support the position in HIS mind that he made up long ago.

I am definitely sure that some armchair general politician in Washington knows more about what is going on on the ground in Iraq than a 4 star that lives it every day. We are in serious trouble with clowns like this in power in the US Government. Yikes.....

Didn't he also just talk to a bunch of BYU students and say that some of the Prophets had led church members astray. Politically I'm guessing otherwise isn't that grounds for Temple Recommend removal?

[BenRaines]

While I don't support him and have never voted for him while living in Nevada what Reid said was after the talk and during a press conference and he was refering to Ezra Taft Benson, the politician, Secretary of Agriculture and not President Benson, the Prophet.

At least that was his later explaination.

Ben Raines

[Moksha]

This was from an article written by Senator Harry Reid on Beliefnet:

My moral compass was ingrained in me as a youth, and without it I would be much less of a person than I am today. Prior to high school, I did not belong to a religious organization and had not attended church. Not for lack of interest, but because in my hometown of Searchlight, Nevada, there were no churches. However, while in high school, I was befriended by a classmate who invited me to attend what was called a seminary program-what many call Bible study--that was held at 6:00 a.m. This was my first exposure to religion, and I continued attending throughout high school. My future wife, Landra, who was Jewish, would also join me in study.

Later, Landra and I enrolled at Utah State University. We were contacted by Mormon missionaries and, on the foundation of those early 6 a.m. classes, were later baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons. My faith is both important and deeply personal. I consider my faith and my wife's religious conviction instrumental in helping raise our five children.

[sgallan]

Didn't he also just talk to a bunch of BYU students and say that some of the Prophets had led church members astray. Politically I'm guessing otherwise isn't that grounds for Temple Recommend removal?

I can see it now..... TR question..... are you a Democrat?...... yes.... no TR for you. I suspect most LDS in Utah would probably be cool with that.

[FrankJL]

I wouldn't limit that thought to Utah, I think that could probably be extended to a lot LDS in the US.

[Moksha]

I wouldn't limit that thought to Utah, I think that could probably be extended to a lot LDS in the US.

Sounds like a somewhat cynical view of Mormons.

[Moksha]

Reid tells BYU crowd that socially responsible Dems mirror Mormon values

By Sheena McFarland

The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated: 10/09/2007 07:33:02 PM MDT

=======================================

Updated 7:30 PM- PROVO - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told Brigham Young University students Tuesday that is possible to be a good Mormon and a Democrat.

"My faith and political beliefs are deeply intertwined. I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it," he told a gathering of over 4,000 at the Marriott Center.

But Nevada's senior senator says he also hopes votes for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are "determined by his political stands, and not his religion."

Reid said people often question how he can be a Democrat and a Mormon, but called the social responsibility Democrats espouse a good fit with the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He questioned the guidance of some LDS Church leaders, though.

In remarks to the media following his address, Reid said that, "In the past years we've had some very prominent members of the church, like Ezra Taft Benson, who are really right-wing people.

"Members of the church are obedient and followers in the true sense of the word, but these people have taken members of the church down the path that is the wrong path," he said.

However, Reid says he doesn't have to answer to those who question his faith in the LDS Church.

" I have to go get my [temple] recommend, and they're not present," he quipped.

Reid didn't convert to the LDS Church until later in life, after he married his wife, Landra, both of whom were 19 at the time.

Before joining the church, he said the figure he came closest to worshipping was President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A pillowcase with the quote "We can, we will, we must" stitched on it hung in his living room growing up in Searchlight, Nev., in a house with no indoor plumbing.

"He fought for the workers of America," Reid said. "President Roosevelt is the basis of my political direction."

Reid praised workers' unions, condemned the thought that free enterprise alone can solve global warming and spoke out strongly against the war in Iraq.

"I say the invasion of Iraq was the worst foreign policy blunder in our country's history," he said to loud applause from many in attendance. "I say our diplomatic army should be larger than our military army."

Reid said afterward that the reaction did not surprise him because many Americans oppose the war, including BYU students.

While Reid is a Democrat, he says he is adamantly anti-abortion, and instead of voting for abortion bills, he votes for family-planning measures such as federal health insurance programs covering contraceptives, he said.

Katherine Winters, a graduate student in civil engineering, said she was happy to get beyond the typical sound bites and begin to know Reid "as a person."

She said she originally registered as a Republican when she turned 18 because her parents were Republicans. But lately she's been rethinking her political positions.

"Recently there's so much that the Democratic Party has embraced; there is so much good that those social causes have done," she said. "I don't think you can call yourself a true Christian without caring for the poor."

[FrankJL]

Republican or Democrat, I find it equally detestable that one would liken party politics to ones theological stance.

[Elphaba]

Republican or Democrat, I find it equally detestable that one would liken party politics to ones theological stance.

When I first came to Utah in 1984, I was at Weber State College, in Ogden, Utah, and a staff women told me I was the first democrat she had ever met!

Elphaba

[Palerider]

I have alot of church friends that are Democrats.....I don't hold it against them......

[boyando]

Some days, I just get tired of democrats. I have know so really nice ones in my day, but some times, I just get so tired of the little statements, that have nothing to do with the truth.

I may not be very popular for saying it, but I can not see anything good, coming from the democratic party.

I'm not saying that I have a deep love for the republican party, at this time. But please, some one tell me how hating me and all the other conservatives, has done anything good for the country?

I'm sure that I will hear, how it is the republicans who practice the politics of personal destruction, and how the dems, only care about the poor and the working man.

I have even heard from some, who tell me that President Clinton will go down in history as one of the greatest. So give me a list of the things that he did, that would make him so great.

I don't like to give into the darkside and show my anger. Believe me when I say, I am holding back.

Maybe it is best, if I just end what I have to say, now, while they still let me on this forum - allmosthumble

[FrankJL]

Is this your own thoughts?

or did you just cut and paste one of Limbaugh's monologues?

Seriously though politics is a dirty game, thats the simple reality of it. If you don't like the deviousness take up another interest like cross stitching...

[Elphaba]

Some days, I just get tired of democrats. I have know so really nice ones in my day, but some times, I just get so tired of the little statements, that have nothing to do with the truth.

Hello my dear, tired, Democrat-weary brother! I'm sorry you're feeling this way, although I have to say, this assumption you seem to have that Democrats are the only ones who make statements that have nothing to do with the truth is a bit naive. Also, I hope your older sister is one of the "really nice ones in my day."

I may not be very popular for saying it, but I can not see anything good, coming from the democratic party.

It only makes you unpopular with people who know things aren't black and white, and who understand there is good and bad in both parties.

I'm not saying that I have a deep love for the republican party, at this time. But please, some one tell me how hating me and all the other conservatives, has done anything good for the country?

If it weren't for all of the election speeches going on, I would call you on this one. However, I'm sure you have heard it, because ALL of the candidates are saying it, though "hate" is not a word I have literallly heard. But apparently you're only hearing the Democrats say it. Perhaps you need to listen to the Republicans with an ear to what they are saying about the Democrats. I am not sugesting you change your party, only that you are selectively hearing one party say something that is coming out of the mouths of both parties.

I'm sure that I will hear, how it is the republicans who practice the politics of personal destruction, and how the dems, only care about the poor and the working man.

Brother, where do you get these simplistic platitudes from? That is not what I think, nor is it what the people I know who follow politics think. You seem to be hung up on stereotypes, and that is never productive. You're hating the Democratic party for the wrong things. Again, I'm not suggesting you change parties. But you need to discover what the party does stand for, from the Democrats themselves, instead of from right-wing radio personalities.

I have even heard from some, who tell me that President Clinton will go down in history as one of the greatest. So give me a list of the things that he did, that would make him so great.

I have never heard he will go down as one of the greatest. I have heard he will be remembered as a good president. After all, he did, with the help of a Republican Congress, leave a budget surprlus during a time of peace and prosperity. Whether or not you agree with how this came about, it did happen. In addition, his social policies were progressive. Though you obiously don't agree, many people in the country believe these were good things, and that the country was better off because of them.

Unfortunately, Clinton also besmirched the office with his outrageous sexual behavior. There is no getting around that. But apparently many in the country believe the majority of presidents have done the same thing, and that his personal life is not important when it comes to running the country. I myself am conflicted. I think what he did was despicable, and I admire the man. I just don't know what else we as a country could have done about it.

There is good in the Democratic party, just like there is good in the Republican party. But you will never see it because you are so angry at the Democrats. You ask for a list of Clinton's accomplishments, but if you were given one you wouldn't agree with one thing on it. And that's okay, you don't have to. But don't then ask what have the Democrats ever done. You really don't want to know. You just want to complain about them.

I don't like to give into the darkside and show my anger. Believe me when I say, I am holding back.

Maybe it is best, if I just end what I have to say, now, while they still let me on this forum - allmosthumble

From what I've heard, it would take a lot more than this to get you banned. Unlike you're older sister.

I don't know if you're willing, brother, but I think it would be interesting for you and I to discuss politics on the board. We woud both respond to each other's political beliefs, and yet we would HAVE TO BEHAVE! It would be a good way to take the time to make sure we get our thoughts together to say what we really

mean to say. And you and I could perhaps understand each other better, because I feel we are often on two different planets!

Let me know what you think, and please know that I love you with all my heart. I'm sorry you're so upset, and maybe we can help each other understan the different points of view.

Also, this is a call out to Palerider, and all of the other Repubs out there to come give my brother a warm, Republican hug. It sounds like he needs it. :)

Love,

Elphaba

[Old Tex]

Reid tells BYU crowd that socially responsible Dems mirror Mormon values

By Sheena McFarland

The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated: 10/09/2007 07:33:02 PM MDT

=======================================

Updated 7:30 PM- PROVO - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told Brigham Young University students Tuesday that is possible to be a good Mormon and a Democrat.

"My faith and political beliefs are deeply intertwined. I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it," he told a gathering of over 4,000 at the Marriott Center.

But Nevada's senior senator says he also hopes votes for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are "determined by his political stands, and not his religion."

Reid said people often question how he can be a Democrat and a Mormon, but called the social responsibility Democrats espouse a good fit with the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He questioned the guidance of some LDS Church leaders, though.

In remarks to the media following his address, Reid said that, "In the past years we've had some very prominent members of the church, like Ezra Taft Benson, who are really right-wing people.

"Members of the church are obedient and followers in the true sense of the word, but these people have taken members of the church down the path that is the wrong path," he said.

However, Reid says he doesn't have to answer to those who question his faith in the LDS Church.

" I have to go get my [temple] recommend, and they're not present," he quipped.

Reid didn't convert to the LDS Church until later in life, after he married his wife, Landra, both of whom were 19 at the time.

Before joining the church, he said the figure he came closest to worshipping was President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A pillowcase with the quote "We can, we will, we must" stitched on it hung in his living room growing up in Searchlight, Nev., in a house with no indoor plumbing.

"He fought for the workers of America," Reid said. "President Roosevelt is the basis of my political direction."

Reid praised workers' unions, condemned the thought that free enterprise alone can solve global warming and spoke out strongly against the war in Iraq.

"I say the invasion of Iraq was the worst foreign policy blunder in our country's history," he said to loud applause from many in attendance. "I say our diplomatic army should be larger than our military army."

Reid said afterward that the reaction did not surprise him because many Americans oppose the war, including BYU students.

While Reid is a Democrat, he says he is adamantly anti-abortion, and instead of voting for abortion bills, he votes for family-planning measures such as federal health insurance programs covering contraceptives, he said.

Katherine Winters, a graduate student in civil engineering, said she was happy to get beyond the typical sound bites and begin to know Reid "as a person."

She said she originally registered as a Republican when she turned 18 because her parents were Republicans. But lately she's been rethinking her political positions.

"Recently there's so much that the Democratic Party has embraced; there is so much good that those social causes have done," she said. "I don't think you can call yourself a true Christian without caring for the poor."

After reading this I said to myself, "That sounds like a piece out of the Salt Lake Tribune", and I scrolled back up to the top to see what paper it was from. Sure enough, it was the Salt Lake Tribune, one of the most liberal, anti-mormon newspapers I've ever read from.

[Moksha]

After reading this I said to myself, "That sounds like a piece out of the Salt Lake Tribune", and I scrolled back up to the top to see what paper it was from. Sure enough, it was the Salt Lake Tribune, one of the most liberal, anti-mormon newspapers I've ever read from.

The Tribune has actually become quite Mormon friendly since the Publisher of the Denver Post was allowed to purchase it. Covering a story out of BYU in such depth demonstrates this new found respect.

[boyando]

<div class='quotemain'>Some days, I just get tired of democrats. I have know so really nice ones in my day, but some times, I just get so tired of the little statements, that have nothing to do with the truth.

Hello my dear, tired, Democrat-weary brother! I'm sorry you're feeling this way, although I have to say, this assumption you seem to have that Democrats are the only ones who make statements that have nothing to do with the truth is a bit naive. Also, I hope your older sister is one of the "really nice ones in my day."

I may not be very popular for saying it, but I can not see anything good, coming from the democratic party.

It only makes you unpopular with people who know things aren't black and white, and who understand there is good and bad in both parties.

I'm not saying that I have a deep love for the republican party, at this time. But please, some one tell me how hating me and all the other conservatives, has done anything good for the country?

If it weren't for all of the election speeches going on, I would call you on this one. However, I'm sure you have heard it, because ALL of the candidates are saying it, though "hate" is not a word I have literallly heard. But apparently you're only hearing the Democrats say it. Perhaps you need to listen to the Republicans with an ear to what they are saying about the Democrats. I am not sugesting you change your party, only that you are selectively hearing one party say something that is coming out of the mouths of both parties.

I'm sure that I will hear, how it is the republicans who practice the politics of personal destruction, and how the dems, only care about the poor and the working man.

Brother, where do you get these simplistic platitudes from? That is not what I think, nor is it what the people I know who follow politics think. You seem to be hung up on stereotypes, and that is never productive. You're hating the Democratic party for the wrong things. Again, I'm not suggesting you change parties. But you need to discover what the party does stand for, from the Democrats themselves, instead of from right-wing radio personalities.

I have even heard from some, who tell me that President Clinton will go down in history as one of the greatest. So give me a list of the things that he did, that would make him so great.

I have never heard he will go down as one of the greatest. I have heard he will be remembered as a good president. After all, he did, with the help of a Republican Congress, leave a budget surprlus during a time of peace and prosperity. Whether or not you agree with how this came about, it did happen. In addition, his social policies were progressive. Though you obiously don't agree, many people in the country believe these were good things, and that the country was better off because of them.

Unfortunately, Clinton also besmirched the office with his outrageous sexual behavior. There is no getting around that. But apparently many in the country believe the majority of presidents have done the same thing, and that his personal life is not important when it comes to running the country. I myself am conflicted. I think what he did was despicable, and I admire the man. I just don't know what else we as a country could have done about it.

There is good in the Democratic party, just like there is good in the Republican party. But you will never see it because you are so angry at the Democrats. You ask for a list of Clinton's accomplishments, but if you were given one you wouldn't agree with one thing on it. And that's okay, you don't have to. But don't then ask what have the Democrats ever done. You really don't want to know. You just want to complain about them.

I don't like to give into the darkside and show my anger. Believe me when I say, I am holding back.

Maybe it is best, if I just end what I have to say, now, while they still let me on this forum - allmosthumble

From what I've heard, it would take a lot more than this to get you banned. Unlike you're older sister.

I don't know if you're willing, brother, but I think it would be interesting for you and I to discuss politics on the board. We woud both respond to each other's political beliefs, and yet we would HAVE TO BEHAVE! It would be a good way to take the time to make sure we get our thoughts together to say what we really

mean to say. And you and I could perhaps understand each other better, because I feel we are often on two different planets!

Let me know what you think, and please know that I love you with all my heart. I'm sorry you're so upset, and maybe we can help each other understan the different points of view.

Also, this is a call out to Palerider, and all of the other Repubs out there to come give my brother a warm, Republican hug. It sounds like he needs it. :)

Love,

Elphaba

I love you Sis.

And if nothing else, I have always been pleased with your passion.

I am more responding to what dem friends have said to me, than listening to radio talk show hosts.

Seems I never have enough time. I am still asking the questions, 1. What did President Clinton do, not what happened while he was President.

2. Why is it, dems can make fun of reps, but reps have not right to make fun of dems.

[BenRaines]

Dems all about freedom of speech as long as you don't say something they don't like. They you should be censured, lose your job or be branded a bigot or something like that.

Ben Raines

[Palerider]

Dems all about freedom of speech as long as you don't say something they don't like. They you should be censured, lose your job or be branded a bigot or something like that.

Ben Raines

and they always raise taxes......

[Elphaba]

I love you Sis. And if nothing else, I have always been pleased with your passion.

That is absolutely the nicest thing you could say to me. Thank you.

I am more responding to what dem friends have said to me, than listening to radio talk show hosts.

I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure you realize, though, that this is such a right-wing state, if you’re a Democrat it’s really hard to find someone who agrees with you. Maybe you should introduce me to your friends, because I sure don’t know any who agree with me!

Seems I never have enough time. I am still asking the questions, 1. What did President Clinton do, not what happened while he was President.

Well, it is disingenuous to say “what happened while he was President,” because I’ve already listed some of the things he was responsible for, such as the balanced budget and the budget surplus. However, I am putting a post together and will start a new threat, rather than try and put it all in this one. If I put it here, you’d never make it past this sentence.

Why is it, dems can make fun of reps, but reps have not right to make fun of dems.

See, this is what amazes me. You really don’t see that Democrats get made fun of just as much as Republicans?

Believe me, Democrats have to take their fair share. Here are a few examples of Republicans being rude, making fun of or, well, being rude again, to Democrats.

June 22, 2004, Vice President Cheney tells Senator Leahy to F*** Off

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That Means You, Sid Blumenthal

"There is no victory for any American in the impeachment trial. The president should be ashamed of himself, and his partisans should shut up."

—Feb. 4, 1999 Bill O’Reilly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And He Wonders Why Daschle Won't Appear

"Believe me when I tell you The Factor goes out of its way to get Democrats on this broadcast. But Daschle has been and remains too frightened to appear. So with all due respect, senator, shut up."

—May 17, 2002 Bill O’Reilly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 11, 2007

Norman Podhoretz was at a book reading at Barnes and Nobel. Podhoretz is Rudy Guiliani’s foreign policy advisor. He stated that, “We were attacked by Islamofascists on 9/11,” clearly implying that Iran attacked the U.S. on 9/11. Such unmitigated and bellicose propaganda had many members of the audience askance, asking why they should trust Bush and the Neo-Cons after being lied to for six years.

“Why don’t you shut up,” barked Podhoretz,, losing his temper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can someone tell Michelle (Obama) to just shut up about the Obama’s personal life details. It comes across as Yuppie arrogance and narcissim. We are not interested !!!

— Posted by Munir

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, October 26, 2007

A Posting to the Clueless!

I felt compelled to post it because the people that had made comments are seemingly so clueless and ridiculous in their positions. Below is my posting for the normal readers of this blog. Enjoy,

Blog Comment Post Begins-

I want Harry Reid and Barbara Boxer to Shut Up!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boy am glad to see all those left wing whackjobs in Austin are literate, now if they could pull their heads out of their A--es. Crime is down, Texas economy is strong.

WE haven't had governmental scandals like they have in other LIBERAL states, so you got nothing to whine about. But being the flower children of a failed coup, you will demand your needs be met and your little heads be patted...

got 4 words for you whackjobs

GO HOME (California...where fruits,flakes and nuts hold reign)

SHUT UP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And my favorite: “Recently she (Amy Sullivan) suggested that atheists should just sit down and shut up lest they offend Christians. “ So much for my Freedom of Speech.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dems all about freedom of speech as long as you don't say something they don't like. They you should be censured, lose your job or be branded a bigot or something like that.

That is not true Ben. It goes both ways.

Bill Maher is the only man to lose his job because of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and it was a violation of his Free Speech that he did so.

Comedian and actor Bill Maher’s politically incorrect commentary has made him both outcast and outspoken advocate in the image of George Carlin and Dennis Miller.

Ironically, it would be his opinions that would sink his show after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

His first comments came immediately after the attacks at a time when patriotism, the flag and the president were supreme and unanimous.

"I do not relinquish - nor should any of you - the right to criticize, even as we support, our government,” Maher told his audience. “This is still a democracy and they're still politicians, so we need to let our government know that we can't afford a lot of things that we used to be able to afford. Like a missile shield that will never work for an enemy that doesn't exist. We can't afford to be fighting wrong and silly wars. The cold war. The drug war. The culture war."

America – or, perhaps, only ABC’s parent company Disney – were not ready for his next line of thought, which, funnily enough, drew the defense of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh.

Six days after 9/11, Maher said, "We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."

Maher apologized, saying he was not referreing to U.S. soldiers, rather U.S. policy. Responding to a question about the comments, then-White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said people “need to watch what they say.”

FedEx and Sears pulled their ads, and ABC pulled the show. The company later replaced the half-hour political talk show with one-hour “Tonight Show” clone “Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Noting that no known U.S. generals, FBI agents, CIA operatives or others tasked with defending the country were ever fired for failing to prevent 9/11, Maher would later joke he was the only one to lose his job because of the attacks.

Later, Maher went to one of the last refuges for free speech and innovation in television –premium cable, more specifically HBO.

There since 2003 he has hosted his one-hour, weekly show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” where his political views have shifted drastically to the left and his comedic jabs leaned more at the right, although Maher still is not toeing any party’s line.

Despite his opposition of the Iraq War, he abstained from criticizing the combat effort initially, suggesting some good may come from the conflict. He also has been a staunch defender of Israel. And he is known to rebuke his often-liberal audience from shouting down his conservative panelists.

And then, of course, there is the Dixie Chicks:

In the firestorm that ensued, the widespread reporting of the unplanned, informal bit of stage patter, the Dixie Chicks found themselves virtually banned from country radio in this country, alienated from the group's natural, red-state core following, and demonized by powerful, ugly forces in society. Disc jockeys collected their CDs from listeners and smashed them with a bulldozer.

Elphaba

[BenRaines]

Oh I thought Don Imus lost his job for making a crude statement. Some years ago the same happened to a baseball manager, also a sportscaster.

Now while I may not agree with their statements I do support their right to say what they will just as I do with any other person I do not believe that freedom of speech allows someone to incite a riot and not be held responsible for it.

Ideally I would just like if everyone played nice but I don't believe that possible.

Ben Raines