Displaying 1,291 To 1,320 Of 3,237 Comments Thank you Sally….I think KQ would be pleased that I accepted the challenge that he laid out re. Health Care. I now have new insights as to his motivation for being such a champion of better care for all thanks to your post re. KQ. I left a comment there as well. You have certainly been his friend in your support of my small efforts. Thanks for being a friend. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 16, 2013 @ 6:51 pm My goodness Sally. How deeply, powerfully touching. One of the best descriptions of an internet friendship that I have ever read. I regard you as one of the “great souls” around this place….you have powerful instincts and an ability to focus in on what’s essential that I so admire. With each of these tributes, I miss KQ a bit more. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 16, 2013 @ 6:46 pm Thanks for the heads up re. Bito. Have we had the opportunity to meet here at the Planet. Others seem to be able to hold onto screen names better than I so I always ask. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 16, 2013 @ 6:41 pm Include yourself in that list of major contributors please. KQ is the one who predicted that the GOP would fight any Health Care Reform tooth and nail because it would be another in those fundamental shifts in social consciousness just as Medicare and Social Security was. Once it takes root it will make the ground for social change so much more pliable. They know it. They fear it. They fight it. AND KQ predicted it. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 16, 2013 @ 5:04 pm AH- Yes, Kalima just filled that in form me. Somehow I thought Bito was in the First Generation and that led me to believe he was a founder. Ok. Well, as I told Kalima- you guys better plan on sticking around for a long time then! » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 16, 2013 @ 5:01 pm Welcome and Oh! I thought Bito was also a Founder. Don’t know why. Just an impression. OK, you and AD LIB better plan on staying around a long while then. And how are you? All moved in? » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 16, 2013 @ 4:59 pm I joined the Planet on October 1st, 2011- -and I was greeted by the friendly support of Bito; -and the creative energies, and prosaic efforts of KQuark. Both illustrate why PlanetPOV remains a great gift for those of us who have the good fortune to discover it and to reside here (at least some of the time). Two of Our Founders have passed on and we are the lesser for it. It reminds me that it is important to thank and to support those who are our Founders while they are still with us (hopefully for a long time). I just looked at my Archive: I have 16 of KQ’s articles in my archive. I use half of them on a regular basis. His “stuff” on HealthCare was often brilliant, perceptive and prophetic. I have just finished my training as a ACA Navigator and will recall KQ’s devotion to the cause in the months ahead as another bit of motivation when the going gets tough. So, hats off, and head bowed. Thank you KQ (with your wonderful ideograms that made your screen name jump out at me) for all you gave to us. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 16, 2013 @ 4:25 pm Ad Lib….could you please list the names of all the Founders? » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 16, 2013 @ 4:08 pm EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Palin Writes Op-Ed in Pravda One of the folks I sent this to responded this way. Weeeelllll Murp, ya know, I wasn so kenvanced bout Poutin butt thet edgytorial dun et fer me. Sooooooooo….I gowin fo et. Palen/Poutin 2016 » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 12, 2013 @ 3:21 pm PLEASE visit here more often….wonderful. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 12, 2013 @ 3:02 pm Incredibly funny. Thanks for this. I don’t think I have had the pleasure of making your acquaintance here at the Planet. Are you new, or a regular I have just missed, or an occasional contributor? Whichever we need more wit and wisdom of this quality. Bravo. I am copying and archiving it for future use. Ok with you? » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 12, 2013 @ 3:00 pm I have already sent three people here to read this. Prior to your approval… Here is an excellent comment from one the best at HP (he is from Europe and would make a fantastic addition here). You will find my invitation to view the Power Palin Parody in the comments. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 12, 2013 @ 1:51 pm It’s a masterpiece, I say! This is probably the BEST of the many pieces of satire and parody you have written…at least in my experience at the Planet. It’s a laserlike scalpel aimed at the heart of dodocons everywhere and deserves the highest of compliments: TO BE COPIED AND EMAILED TO EVERYONE ON OUR MAILING LISTS. AD…please….you have to let me publish this at HP….it will SOOOOO rile up the trolls…..I know they are over Sarah as “their lady” but you just using her as the platform to zap the entire movement that propelled her into the spotlight and still trudges down the road now that she has been ditched. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 12, 2013 @ 1:29 pm WATCH AND CHAT LIVE TONIGHT: Pres. Obama’s Address on Syria @ 6:00pm PDT I am here. Anyone else? » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 10, 2013 @ 6:08 pm Hope and Change of Possession of Syria’s Chemical Weapons Any thoughts about doing a live chat tonight here at the Planet? » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 10, 2013 @ 3:12 pm I give Obama a good deal of credit for steering this process in working out the broad strokes of a negotiated settlement. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 10, 2013 @ 3:08 pm Is Pres. Obama Trying to Win on Syria By Losing? Very good article on the Red Line at http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/sep/05/context-president-obama-syria-red-line/ » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 6, 2013 @ 12:37 pm I agree with you Ad Lib. Occam’s razor! Obama followed the established path in matters of this kind. The surgical strike has become the go-to club in the closet to beat one’s opponent back. I think he expected that his call to limited arms would be taken up by the usual allies and a few more. After all, doesn’t everyone hate gas…especially when it is used on non-combatants. Only that did not happen The Parliamentary vote was interesting. I recorded the entire Parliamentary Debate to watch the whole thing (I wish we had a Parliamentary system, it is so much more dynamic and responsive). Those who voted no: Intriguing how this reflects the thinking in our own Congress. Obama had been marching down the road toward military intervention. He paused when he realized that no one was following him. So he turned around and went back up the road to see if he could gather in some followers. If they do not materialize I do not see him taking that long, lonely walk back down that road. Instead he will do as you suggest, Ad Lib….stand his ground in terms of the principle, call the world to task if the worst happens (and call Congress to task at the same time) and in the meantime do what can be done in diplomatic and humanitarian streams. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 6, 2013 @ 12:36 pm The Return of American Isolationism? The Sunni-Shiite struggle for mastery of the Muslim world is at the heart of most of these struggles (with small sects like Assad Alewites and Christian sects vying for what little it can get and hold onto). The Ottoman Turks managed to cobble together a sort of unity using commercial interests as the glue. In the 20th century European neo-colonialism replaced the Turks with nationalism eventually emerging to counter that control. Secularism seemed to be winning the day in company with nationalistic goals….but then came the fundamentalist resurgence epitomized by the Iranian Revolution. Since then the U.S. and its NATO allies have cobbled together a series of temporary holds on the chaos but they unravel at regular intervals now. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 8, 2013 @ 7:19 am I agree. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 8, 2013 @ 6:56 am Greta- all very valid points. I have engaged others in this thread on the topic of effective responses that do more good than harm. May I invite you to read over them and see what you think? Your thoughts about the Security Council are important. BTW – it’s not that a unanimous decision is required bur rather that any decision can be vetoed by any of the permanent members of the bod and that includes the Russians who have blocked the introduction of Syrian as an agenda item for months now. The structure works against majority rule (as the filibuster busts the Senate). But, there are other international bodies- the EU and the International Tribunal. NATO. And even the Arab League which has endorsed action is unwilling to act on its own in a way that really demonstrate support and places them at risk. I listened to the entire debate in the British Parliament- boy do I wish we had that system- Having the executive in the legislature keeps both honest….and the rules of the chamber require a quorum whenever a quorum call is made. The Brits pay attention to these debates. I think that the debate closely mirrored the debate here and that Obama was turned back from the path he was on because of it. Sometimes the best thing an ally can do for us is to say “No”. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 7:03 pm Nirek….you ask the million dollar question. There was a time when assassination was part of the package of tactics used by the world’s nations. It was condemned as outside of the norms of “civilized” warfare and in agreements and practice abandoned. But our drone strikes against AQ and other leaders of terrorist cells are assassination by another name. Still, hitting the head of state of another nation…even a so called rogue leader….is that ok? What precedent does it set? The Israelis have made it clear that assassination is definitely in their arsenal. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:51 pm Good answer. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:43 pm Good question. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:43 pm You make the case for being wary of the stated likely effectiveness of the strikes very well AND point to both collateral damage (such a neutral word for what it really means) and regime response that is even more violent. Assad is capable of holding huge segments of his population hostage just as Qaddafi did. I also like your list of alternatives. I will add them to my list. I wonder- do ou think it would be a good idea to create an ALL CALL to members of our community asking for ideas re. effective responses: military, economic, diplomatic, humanitarian, judicial? We might come up with quite a list that could be shared by members with our contacts beyond the Planet. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:41 pm All good points. I left Ad Lib some ideas further up the stream Here are some possibilities: Have you other ideas? I actually like Grayson but his current attitude disappoints me. I happen to know him personally and I have relayed my sentiments. He could object on precisely the grounds he is using without the attitude…and fundraising on this….dishonorable. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:35 pm Your thinking is in line with my own. As the days go by and I read more and more about the ramifications of inaction (especially as it relates to how it will be read in Iran and North Korea), I think that we need to do something. Here are some possibilities: Have you other ideas? » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:32 pm True….Libya of course is in melt down but nothing more was promised there. I am also aware of the argument that the action is not just a message to Assad but to the governments of N. Korea and Iran. What do you think? » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:21 pm Hey Ad..agree with you….check out my response to JJ and see if that too fits your thinking? » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:20 pm I agree. It is possible to stay engaged with the world and not take the path of military adventurism, nation building, and client acquiring (i.e neo colonialism). In the first six months of Afghanistan that is the route the Bush II admin chose coached by the Bush I Gulf War team and then the neocons got control and Hamid Karzai and a “western democracy” became the tools for long term advantage for U.S. interests. Only it did not work out that way. The Northern Alliance, backed away, having wanted a traditional monarchy with a jirga goya (king’s council) and an emphasis on local control in a very conservative but not Taliban Islamic society. Our decision to steer the Bonn Conference in our direction spelled long term disaster. » Posted By MurphTheSurf3 On September 7, 2013 @ 6:19 pmComments Posted By MurphTheSurf3
========
PP for Me
PP for the GOTPP
They will cheer every word, every letter!
(John Adams, 1776, “The Egg”)
-some did not believe the evidence
-some thought the evidence was incomplete
-some thought the military response was not going to be effective
-some responded to the objections of their constituents- war weary and broke
-some voted straight party- all of Labor basically- against the Conservatives
-some cited having been misled by the U.S. already in this century and not wishing to be misled again.
a) Strikes against the infrastructure of the military. Take out all of the electrical lines and transformers in every army and air force base not in a civilian setting. Hit command and control centers in similar settings. Strike fuel depots. Destroy missile launchers and runways.
b) Provide expanded resources to the refugee camps.
c) Create rapid response overflight systems to protect the refugee camps and areas held by the resistance aligned with those we deem “safe” (knowing that is a very difficult call).
d) Dig deeper into the off shore assets of the Syrian Government and the regime leadership.
a) Strikes against the infrastructure of the military. Take out all of the electrical lines and transformers in every army and air force base not in a civilian setting. Hit command and control centers in similar settings. Strike fuel depots. Destroy missile launchers and runways.
b) Provide expanded resources to the refugee camps.
c) Create rapid response overflight systems to protect the refugee camps and areas held by the resistance aligned with those we deem “safe” (knowing that is a very difficult call).
d) Dig deeper into the off shore assets of the Syrian Government and the regime leadership.
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