THE RULES HAVE CHANGED.....do you actually think any of us LIKE that??????
Please, you know we're being monitored. No, I don't do foil....just be really really careful, OK????
meanwhile, the body count grows.
I think Bush can hold up under this, but I've been squawking for months about the Koolaid-flavor-of-the-day, Daily Drooler, "He's so dreeeemy" stupid photo threads of him we're subjected to every day. Some of those sycophants are the same ones who griped about Klinton Koolaid Drinkers.
They're politicians. They want power and they want our money. And they must be scrutinized closely every damn day because overall they're failing the country and its founding principles - no matter what party they caucus with.
And now some are using this event to call for a national ID. : (
I can do without the 'kill ALL arabs,' 'Kill ALL muslims' thing myself. The government may kill terrorists and go after terrorist-supporters- and that is a neccessary thing that we must now do- but don't cry for the blood of fellow Americans because you ASSUME they are sleepers, because you don't like their looks, or because you are angry and looking for an excuse. Those that do may as well be terrorists themselves. Surely there is no difference in their words.
This is particularly true when I reflect on my Iranian and Saudi naturalized friends who help us pass out flags every Memorial Day at the parade, and who are as patriotic as anyone on this forum. They don't support Islamic radicals or terrorists. Neither should we support blowhard American wannabe terrorists who condemn them because they don't even know them.
This is a dangerous time, and it is going to become more dangerous soon, until the US prevails. But we are still a nation of laws, and we still need to uphold the Constitution, even the parts that are inconvenient or uncomfortable, like the 1st ammendment when someone says something we might not want to hear.
"You may not be interested in war," Leon Trotsky said, "but war is interested in you." Yesterday, it hunted us down and snatched thousands from their airplane seats, their morning briefings, and their business meetings with grisly efficiency. In an act of terror too horrific to comprehend, much less control, America was attacked by a power too cowardly to show its face.
A century of titans' clashes left the U.S. mainland unscathed. We felt secure within our borders, confident of our country's strength. But this morning, twin icons to our old invincibility lie ruined. The World Trade Center, monument to our economic dominance, and the Pentagon, center of our military might, now entomb more victims than we can yet count. They leave families ever after affected by their absence and a country lesser for their lost contributions.
Tempted though some may be to glean talking points from the tragedy, this is no time for sermonizing about failed intelligence or soured imperialism. This is a season for a heartsick nation to mourn our fallen and commend our heroes. Details will surface soon enough, but they won't fill empty chairs at dinner tables. Buildings can be reconstructed; broken families cannot.
We may never know with certainty why evil stalked our skies that day. But we can find its agents. With the same steely resolve as the terrorists who targeted us, we will answer with a double measure of the same determination. Any nation that harbored them, any group that supported them, any individual that gave them aid must be held accountable - not in the name of revenge, but for justice's own sake.
The war that came looking for us yesterday plays by unwritten rules. It bypasses our fighting forces, stakes no claim to our territory, and makes weapons of our own assets. Pandemonium and panic are the laurels it covets, but yesterday we denied terror that reward. As casualty reports rose, so too did the spirit of a disconsolate nation - so much so that New York's mayor asked volunteers to stop coming and blood banks couldn't contain willing donors.
Late last night, amidst the carnage of lower Manhattan, an anonymous patriot raised a flag from a twisted lamppost. Beneath its watch, rescue workers toiled through the night, sorting through the wreckage of buildings and bodies. As they tended the wounded and grieved the dead, our banner's colors faded beneath layers of dust, yet it fluttered still -- a tattered reminder that America, though shaken still stands, and will live to fight another day.
______
There is nothing wrong with political debate, but as Pat points out, this is not the time nor the place to attempt to score political points off this tragedy. There are many on FR doing just that. They would serve their positions better by having the respect and decency to at least wait until we have recovered and buried our dead before making their accusations and arguments.
I haven't spoken with you for a long time. I understand your concern about Freepers, but remember, emotions and adrenaline are running high right now.
We all just witnessed the most horrific attack our nation has ever seen. We know we are going to war, and we are stunned. Many Freepers may have lost loved ones or are just outraged at the enormity of the loss and the cowardice of the acts.
Most Freepers will stand firm with a President we all worked hard to elect. I think he is an outstanding leader too. Look at all that Freepers have been through together. The Clinton presidency, scandal after scandal, reading your Saturday White house Freep reports with delight, the Florida election. We'll be d@mned if we will sit by while others attack our President.
But Free Republic has always been a place for frank discussion, and sometimes other freepers have unique ideas. Not all of us are behaving in the manner that you discussed.
Frankly, I wouldn't listen to criticisms of W coming from Liberals. It's their job to whine. But intellectual conservatives like Alan Keyes will at least get my ear. And in true conservative fashion, I'll make up my own mind about what I believe.
I was overjoyed when Bush squeaked by to become the president--perhaps our relief at not having a President Gore has blinded us to the reality that we must hold our elected officials accountable EVERY DAY.
And let us make sure that in this crisis we do not lose our cherished freedoms, one of which is to post our thoughts freely on the Internet, including FR, without fear of governmental retaliation (I write that last sentence more with hope than with certainty. Anyone for a tax audit?)
You notice too ha. Yes-like what happened to the supeana that Burton put out for evidence? It is really getting crazy around here. There is massive hate like I have never seen on FR. There is a thread where about 19 out of 20 people want us to Nuke the muslims without any regard to anything else...Like the fact that once we do then we are saying it is ok for others to use nukes too. You have been one of FR's greatest activists, and many would be wise to listen to you. If this kind of crazyness keeps up then I fear that JR may have to pull the plug.
And if so, what the heck are going to do about that now? Throw them out? What makes you think thier replacements would be better? They could even be worse. Old Chinese proverb, "Don't fix blame fix problem." And Klayman is an idiot.
NO! They are not dead because AMERICAS "failure to detect". They are dead because a bunch of SICK TERRORISTS decided their lives were worthless because they were AMERICAN and didn't give a crap because the only thing that mattered to the terrorists was going to their 'heaven' in a blaze so they could greet 'allah' and have sex with anyone they wanted to in 'heaven'. Never forget.
The federal government lulled us into thinking that those silly questions (is this your luggage ?) and an ID check at the gate made flying safe. All the while there were gaping holes in our defenses.
The federal government has regulations but they do not own the airlines. We do not live in a communist country. Well, the airlines will be very secure now...arrive 2 hours ahead of time...no curbside luggage...show government ID...no carry-on luggage...etc. Happy now?
They let us down.
"They" are people. "They" are not machines. "They" had friends and family affected by this attack. "They" are AMERICANS, just like you.
The purpose; the job; the responsibility of the federal government is set forth in the preamble to the Constitution: We the people
It says WE THE PEOPLE not the "federal government"....We the people....................
Believe it or not, plans are NOT traced every step of their flight. Why should the terorist siezed planes have been intercepted ? Were any MayDays sent ? NO ! Was there any hint of trouble prior to the WTC kamakazi hit ? Absolutely not !
How could some of the terrorists go to flight school here ? They enrolled. They paid their fees, and went to class. That's how. They certainly didn't tell theer instructors : " Hey man, I'm gonna highjack a plane ... that's why I need to know how to learn how to fly one. Big surprise, Kristen, this is a FREE COUNTRY ! We didn't have any reason to suspect this scenario. What should we have done ?
Maybe you would like all schools to deny entrance anyone who isn't blonde, blue eyed, and six feet tall , and can prove that their ancestors fought in the Revolution , by supplying corroborating DNA ? Would THAT please you ? Frankly, I just can not see why you would even imagine that some of the things you have raised have any merit, let alone an answer.
Personally, I detest the " droolers ", the syciphantic group , who are just as bad as the Cintonistas , whom they despised. OTOH, likewise, I also detest those whose presidential candidates not only did not win , but who had less chance than Nader of garnishing a microsipic vote, who continually find fault with EVERYTHING, probably even President Bush's breathing, that he has or has not done. Both camps, though the opposite sides of one coin, are doing a disservice to this site, and to this nation.
This post of your's , especailly at this time, is just adding fuel to an already roaring fire. It's an embarassment ; as are so many of the extranious, banal, and unnecessary, ego driven vanities that have stalled FR , for the past two days.