Why it's hard to be a Republican anymore

grizzh8r · Post by **grizzh8r** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:31 pm

Ponycat wrote:Nothing wrong with Government Assistance, but we've created Government Reliance. Big difference.

Free food and Circuses, eh? Anyone else think we seem to be going the way of the Roman empire?

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 2:17 am

mslacat wrote:I find myself attracted to the Democratic party, mainly because of their fiscal
conservatism when compared to the current Republican party.

if you want fiscal conseervatism....go libertarian my friend there is nothing concervative with taking more money to pay for more goverment spending...or not taxing more money although spending more...
im republican because i like the idea of a strong national defense

Grizlaw · Post by **Grizlaw** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:14 am

Bleedinbluengold wrote:Of course, no offense taken. This is total speculation on my part, but if the person who wrote that article didn't have a "[beep]-on" for Jews, I think he would have conducted a little more research to point out some pork that about 80% of America could agree was wasteful.

Ugh...no no no NO. You did it again.

If he didn't have a "[beep]-on" for Israel he would have conducted better research. Having a "[beep]-on" for Israel is not the same as having a "[beep]-on" for Jews -- that was my whole point.

--GL (I do agree about the lazy journalism, btw. I suspect that the writer does probably disagree with our support of Israel, which is part of the point he's trying to make.)

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:44 am

Isn't that splitting the very finest of hairs?

Here is a link that I bookmarked long ago, and it details the history of Palestine. Actually, the whole website is amazing in regards to Palestine, Israel, Arabs, Jews, and Muslims. http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory.htm

After you read it, try to convince me that there is a difference between Israel and Jews. I am more than willing to hear what you have to say, but I have to be honest and also tell you that it will be difficult to convince me that there is really any difference.

Oh, I forgot to mention that funding for Amtrak was approved at 1.2B. I guess we just printed more money.

Grizlaw · Post by **Grizlaw** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 1:08 am

Bleedinbluengold wrote:Isn't that splitting the very finest of hairs?

Here is a link that I bookmarked long ago, and it details the history of Palestine. Actually, the whole website is amazing in regards to Palestine, Israel, Arabs, Jews, and Muslims. http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory.htm

After you read it, try to convince me that there is a difference between Israel and Jews. I am more than willing to hear what you have to say, but I have to be honest and also tell you that it will be difficult to convince me that there is really any difference.

I have to be honest -- I clicked on your link and started to read it. After spending about ten minutes on it, I clicked "print preview," just to see how many pages the document would take up if one were to print it. It is 33 pages long. Despite the fact that I am on vacation right now, I really don't have time to read 33 pages on the Arab-Israeli conflict right now, but I can assure you that I am familiar with the history of the region, and with how the current situation came about.

Look, this is the only point I am trying to make: it is possible to disagree with the actions of the Israeli government without necessarily hating Jews. Do you disagree with that statement? If so, why?

I started on this point because you labeled an article as "anti-Semitic" because it mentioned that the U.S. budget proposed to provide more funding for aid to Israel than to Amtrak. My point is that holding the opinion that we as a nation are too supportive of Israel does not make a person anti-Semitic. Do you disagree with that statement? If so, why?

If you disagree with anything I'm saying, I am interested in hearing your thoughts. I am not, however, going to read a 33-page historical account in the hope that some fact that I've previously overlooked will suddenly make me see an intellectual inconsistency in the fact that I: 1) don't hate all of my Jewish friends, and 2) do not unquestioningly accept that it is wise of us to support Israel as much as we do.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:58 am

It is possible to disagree with the policies of the Israeli government and not hate Jews.

I don't necessarily disagree that someone could believe that America provides too much aid to Israel compared to other countries, and not hate Jews.

However, my point is this. I think the author of that article does not probably fit into either of those categories. My point is that if the author was not anti-Semitic, he would have picked an easier mark to make his case to fund Amtrak. I listed quite a few pork projects, that together totaled more than enough to fund Amtrak. Why bring Israel into the mix? The author tries to make us believe that Amtrak is important and that funding Amtrak is really important, and then all of a sudden, Israel gets thrown under the bus. Why Israel? Why not South Korea, Pakistan, South Africa, Dubai, UAB, Slovakia, Poland, Canada, etc., etc.? Why not foreign aid all together? Nope, just Israel. Israel is the reason that Amtrak can't get funding. I call B.S.

Also, I didn't expect you to read anything. All I was trying to do in providing that link is to point out that there is very little, if any, distinction between Israel and Jews.

Anyhoo, we've beatin' this horse have we not? I think the author is an anti-Semite, but I also agree with your statements, above.