GF, I am a Republican but not a neocon. Both parties have driven this country to the brink of collapse. Did you see the article in the WSJ saying Americans should be stockpiling food?
The Fed is pumping billions into the banks. Billions flow into Iraq and soon even more billions may flow into Iran. I think Osama and his ilk are sitting in a cafe somewhere laughing their asses off over the financial destruction of America. There is more than one type of battlefield.

As an independent, I haven't decided which of the three candidates I should support. They all have baggage and they all manipulate the truth. I guess that in November, as always, I will be picking the lesser of two evils again!!!

Or the lesser of 3 evils. We're all in the same boat, Jim. :'(

Originally Posted by gfmucci

So, is it now declared that the old adage "we are known by the company we keep" is no longer true?

There is a point when the mind is so open it becomes a gutter.

I thought primarily the X and Y generation folks had a difficult time with these "old fashioned" concepts: like patriotism, still believing that there is such a thing as right and wrong. Ooops, I forgot, I am one those nerdy types who was a military patriot in the late 60's while the open minded ones were protesting just about everything. I'll now retreat to my little cave under the flag...for a minute or two. ;D

GF, I did not protest in the 60s and 70s -- I felt that would have been disrespectful to those who were serving, like my brother, my boy friend who got killed in Nam, over half of the boys in my graduating class and the many, many others I didn't know personally. I did feel the war was wrong and I'll stand by that feeling until the day I die. I also feel this Iraqi war is wrong and I'll probably feel that way until the day I die as well. Again, I won't protest for the same reasons although this time around I know no one personally who is serviing there.

Being a patriot does not mean being deaf, dumb, blind or stupid. It means loving a country and defending it. I may not have physically defended America but I have defended it and its citizens verbally and by word and deed.

As to being known by the company we keep, what a sad concept. I want to be known for what I have done and said, not what my friends have done or said. I remember my mother having a fit because I was friends with a boy who was of mixed race (that was one of her politer terms) and "what would people think?" My reply was that she and dad had taught me to accept people for their behavior and it was a little too late to change that. I liked him -- he was funny, kind, a truly gentle soul and poor. However, if I had followed the credo of being known by the company we keep, I would never have talked to him. He lived in the wrong part of town. He was the wrong race. He wasn't like us! Who knows, he may have even gotten in trouble a time or two (I honestly had no clue and it didn't matter by my standards). Yes, neighbors talked and that hurt my mother.

So, if associating with people because others would deem them "bad company" makes me "bad company," I'm so sorry. I'd much rather call people my friends because of the way they treat me, not because someone else decides they don't like what they say or do.

Way back when, I was very pro-McGovern. He lost me when he turned his back on his VP running mate because he'd taken anti-depressants. If you can't be loyal to your beliefs (remember, at first he said this was his running mate no matter what -- until the political heat got too much), how can you possibly be loyal to your nation?

I respect the fact that Obama he hasn't turned away from his friends just because they're not politically correct. And if you're going to mention the ones who don't meet into your agenda, how mentioning those who do -- he has friends from all walks of life. His world is not so narrow.

And, please, let's not forget Bush's cronies and their alleged and not-so-alleged crimes.

Okay, off my soapbox.

I may be weird, but I admit to believing that we are not only what we eat, but what we breathe, see, listen to, feel, and smell.* In other words, we are a constant feedback machine or sorts.* We create our own tinted lenses that we see through as a result of all the influences we subject ourselves to.* I don't think being known buy the company we keep is sad - it is acknowledging reality - which seems increasingly difficult to do for many people.*

Don't get me wrong.* I agree that if the company we keep is anything like the company Barack keeps, it is very sad.* But it is accepting reality to acknowledge that Barack is influenced by that company.* And in his case, the company does not reflect an influence that is helpful to our country.*

By the way - I am not excited about any of the candidates - but feel that two of them have considerable baggage that is bad for the nation and are to be avoided. And that "baggage" is a result primarily from the company they keep, most notably Bill on one hand, and the America-damning radicals on the other (not just Jeremiah).*

You see, I believe that people can influence other people, for good or bad.* I would consider myself quite out of touch if I did not realize this.

If OBAMA Becomes President Then GOd Will Truly Have to Bless America
An on another note Like I tell my Wife i hate to argue wilth you because your always wrong :hot: :hot: :beer2: :hot:

Yeeeeek! I can't take this thread seriously. I agree with Lil Dancer. Where's the debate? Handi, calm down, you are hysterical! First Obama is an Elitist, then he's a Muslim, just ready to turn us over to Al Queda, then he's against the middle class, then he's Rev. Wrights's successor, then he's a friend of the Weathermen, what's next? Maybe he's the Antichrist? Muslims dancing, heads rolling in the streets. OMG! 1rnfl You know what I smell from the Republicans. I smell fear. Please, please, no one is stopping you. Vote for McBush, I mean McCain. McCain's dirty laundry hasn't even been aired out yet, and believe me, it's coming. And Handi, please get a grip! As I said in another post, would you like to be judged on all of your actions and deeds? I think not. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. That ain't you Handiman! ;D

Call it a discussion...or a debate.....or a bantor....or a debacle.....but why does it always seem to have to be degraded to a partisan polariity?

Why do these things always seem wind up with the inference of party affiliation to validate an expression?

I never knew one could be wronger or righter depending upon political affiliation....wowee!!! That makes deciding so much easier :joke:

BTK

On that we can agree BTK.

Originally Posted by BSLINY

If OBAMA Becomes President* * Then GOd Will Truly Have to Bless America

While that is a light hearted and comforting sentiment, and a DEFINITE necessity, God is more likely to give us, as a nation, what we deserve, as well as what we have asked for - or more appropriately, brought on ourselves through our lack of discernment.*

Fortunately, "discernment"* is still a positive word, unlike "judgemental."* Judgemental is excessively used against anyone who has an opinion, especially one who wants to draw a distinction between right and wrong, good and evil.* It is increasingly apparant that those distinctions are not in vogue anymore, thus the chilling and disparaging name calling.

I read this intersting quote regarding Reverand Wright in another forum:

I am a Black female Pastor of 13 years.
Many have never visited a Black church but yet they are experts now.
Many assume that you do not have any thinking people in the congregation. That is to say that everything the Pastor says is “gospel.” If people believed everything the Pastor/Preacher said we would have no need for jails and prisons. We would have a model nation. Thank you!

Hey handie, I thought you were right on.
I do listen to my preacher, and if I didn't believe the same, I would leave the church and find a new one. Any preacher that says "God Damn America", and your still sitting there, well shame on you.
Thanks for serving.

Not only just not sitting there but doing something about getting his/her frame the 'H' outta the pulpit.
Free speech, yes....but to preach in a manner that denigrates our America should have no place in our society.
Free speech, yes....but to preach and tout radical racism....I'm sorry, but I wouldn't have it for too long without doing something about it.
Free speech yes,......but not permissive pacifism for the obscenely incorrect.
We have allowed our core values to slip so far as to accept this kind of hate mongering....pity the future!!!

BTK