Free Republic

lol. I've been gone a while, but came back to see what people were saying about this article and book - only to find nothing here!

I bought the book, and think it is excellent. Thanks for posting the article about it.

Fantastic! Thanks for the post.

LOL.

Both myself and friends have children who have left BCS to go to other colleges. Almost all of the kids have made some comment about how "unfriendly" the other schools are. Students just go to class and back home; no one talks to anyone else; no traditions of any sort at the schools, etc.

My daughter never wanted to be an Aggie, but she still cherished the atmosphere and traditions of A&M. Her college classes elsewhere have merely pointed out how wonderful this school is.

"Isn't it amazing how much the USA has become like the old Soviet Union..."

Sh-h-h. I made this same comment a while back and got my head bitten off royally. Wouldn't want the same to happen to you!

"Along the way, the review panel cited such liberal authorities as Democrats Pat Leahy and Dianne Feinstein "

Sorry, IMO, anything these two say does NOT bode well for anyone concerned with civil liberties. If they support the Patriot Act, it just underscores how bad a legislation it is.

"I thought you were dead"

My favorite line ... er, lines. Seeing the bad guys' expression each time is priceless.

"We don't think it's fair for any individual to take the law into their own hands,"

Unless it is illegal immigrants taking OUR laws into their hands, of course.

"Even so, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans continue to try to slip into the USA. As of April 8, the U.S. Border Patrol had recorded 331,141 arrests in the southwest this year."

"48 incidents in which illegal immigrants have been confronted or roughed up by armed civilians on the U.S. side of the border."

"Immigrant advocates and Mexican officials say they have documented dozens of armed confrontations and assaults on immigrants by citizen patrols in recent years."

A whole 48 incidents against 300,000+ intruders? Oh, but the officials in Mex. complain that the situation is way out of control. Good grief.

And I have news for both Mexico and Washington. These people are NOT "immigrants." They are illegals and criminals as soon as they step on US soil.

IMO, if they make that step on private property, the property owner is well with his or her rights to treat them as dangerous trespassers. If that means keeping them until the Border Control gets there, boo-hoo. If it means they get shot, too bad.

This one rancher has caught more than 10,000 people on his land - illegally - in one year? Who knows how many more went through.

I agree, this has become a war.

"If we ever get a POWER HUNGRY demoncrat in the White House - like Hillary - the Patriot Act in HER hands would scare me to death."

This is my concern as well. However, many people have no problem with the Repubs. setting all this up. They don't seem to think ahead to the time when Bush is no longer in office.

"'Ol Loyd Dogget pulled off a walkout back 24 years ago when he didn't get his way then. "

My husband was laughing about this last night. Apparently, last time the Dims tried this, they stayed within the state. DPS got them and brought them back right away.

At least this time they went out of state! (If only by 20 miles or so.)

But the poor, little Democrats aren't in control right now, and couldn't handle it. It's a shame to see adults acting like babies.

"The fear of fundraising letters is restraining me."

I haven't had the funds to become a full member yet, so I don't know about the letters they send out. I have made smaller donations, though, and I think I've gotten one letter, maybe. I can't even remember.

And their site is excellent. They do a great job updating it daily.

"Its theme is animal awareness, emotions and intentions.

In a briefing paper, CIWF says: "There is evidence that some animals do have some level of morality and some concern over other animals."

We have two cats. They definitely have emotions and intentions. One glares at you when the day is cloudy and her window seat isn't hot. She is also aware of the fact that hot towels right from the dryer are great, and demands to roll in them immediately.

However, the various mice and bugs that our cats have caught in the house may question their "concern over other animals." lol

Still, I will refuse to admit animals and humans are equal until a cow writes a symphony or a possum discusses philosophy, or some similar event.

(I do agree that they need to be treated humanely.)

"But the constant fundraising mail gets old. "

I was a member of NRA for several years. The fundraising got REALLY old.

Then they approved CARA, and supposedly every member got a letter explaining their position. Uh - no. I NEVER got anything about this.

And supposedly every member gets a letter about various congress people each year. Uh - no. Again, NO mail about this.

Or any mail about any issue. The ONLY mail I ever got for my entire membership was asking for money.

I finally cancelled my membership. I am on a limited income, and decided to put what money I have into an organization that 1) holds the same "no compromise" stance I have settled on, and 2) understands that I am not made of money. What money I have now goes to keepandbeararms.com.

"On a personal note, many years ago when my wife and I, both just out of law school, were living on the first floor of an apartment house in a distinctly downscale neighborhood here in Washington, some policemen came running down the hall, pounded on our door, and asked if they could run through the apartment in pursuit of a burglar. I, of course, said, “Certainly, officers, come right in.” But what if while they were in the apartment one happened to take a peek into my closet? That would be o.k. with me, too, because there was nothing in the closet but my overcoat."

I have had similar conversations about this topics with others. The common refrain is "I don't have anything to hide."

Then I found the following response: "What you have [in your closet] right now may be just fine. But what is to stop the politicians from changing the law? In just one day, you may have lots of illegal items around. How much would your privacy be worth then?"

"When I was a kid, I LOVED reading about areas that were different from the area I lived in!"

lol. I've been reading science fiction since 5th grade. The places in these books are WAY different than the area I live in.

But these idiots would probably have a heart attack at the thought of a child reading about completely different planets (not to say creatures)! Apparantly imagination is not acceptable today.

At our high school the ROTC had real rifles for practice, although they had to go to A&M and use the Corp's range. They often brought them to school and carpooled to campus.

And almost every truck had a gun rack across the back, complete with gun. It was nothing to see friends talking about a new purchase downtown on Sat. morning.

"It is not pertaining to U.S. citizens; it is only to non-U.S. citizens and only in this particular context."

EXACTLY the same thing was said about The Patriot Act. And at least two Americans have been jailed under that.

Any law of this nature needs much more oversight to prevent abuses in the future than the legislators have seen the need for. Esp. those legislators that believe that lying to Americans is fine and dandy.

I would like more info on skin tags, also. My doctor also says they're nothing to worry about. But there is a major history of skin cancer in my family and I wonder about the tags.

"One religion, regardless of the religion, does not have the veto right over another religion."

Exactly. Unfortunately, not many believe this any more.