Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

How is that book, Bucco?

I saw Crompton interviewed on "The Morning Joe" last week and the book sounded interesting. I downloaded the "sample" portion onto my iPad and read it. Honestly, I didn't feel compelled to buy it for $14.99 based on Chapter One (the extent of the sample). That chapter was pretty much only about his youth and early education and didn't get into his work with the CIA at all.

Does it get better? What do you think, worth fifteen bucks to download it?

NO....I am enjoying it but no, would not buy again. It is very technical in the sense that he goes over all the different techniques, etc.

I find it more interesting I suppose because of my time with the Navy in the Pentagon, but oh my....they didnt have the kind of devices that they have now.

I bought it also because of "it sounds interesting"....but I like to read and try to keep it varied.

I assume you will be reading the new #1 book on NYT bestseller list...."The Amateur" LOL

Originally Posted by Bucco

....I assume you will be reading the new #1 book on NYT bestseller list...."The Amateur" LOL

Is it really #1? I downloaded the sample onto my iPad but I doubt very much that I'll be springing for $14.99 to buy the full version.

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Is it really #1? I downloaded the sample onto my iPad but I doubt very much that I'll be springing for $14.99 to buy the full version.

"It looks like the public hasn’t been ignoring Klein’s book, however, because Regnery Publishing (around whose metaphorical water cooler we HUMAN EVENTS writers gather) announced today that The Amateur will debut at Number One on the New York Times nonfiction list for June 3rd."

"The Amateur" to debut at Number One on the New York Times bestseller list - HUMAN EVENTS

Originally Posted by Bucco

I realize that I confuse you with my constant opposition to Obama. We had a number of exchanges as you recall on here in 2008. I said at that time that I had a problem with all the mystery and question in his background...I said that I thought his background that was visible projected a violent rise in spending by the federal government an a further erosion of all of our spending programs along with a deterioration of our defense against terrorism.

First of all, and maybe this will explain part of my feelings...one of the issues on which Obama spoke and really got my attention was health care. I really think I understood where he was coming from and I actually awaited his action. but I imagined it would take some time for it (his plan) to come to fruition based on our economic woes and the breadth of his plan.

Lo and behold, he tackled pretty much right away or within a shorter period of time that I had expected. I was surprised by assumed he was taking advantage of having control of both bodies of congress.

While I eagerly awaited the public debate (didn't really care if it was on CSPAN as he had said) it was apparent it was being done behind closed doors and pretty much ALL within the democratic party which bothered me, BUT ......then he could not get his own party on board without doing some fancy dancing and payoffs. THAT really bothered me, since if you recall, we watched him buy and cajole votes on something we knew little IF ANYTHING about that had MAJOR consequences to all of us. As information leaked out and congress began to talk about it (I am speaking of the democrats), it became apparent that the bill would not address ANY of the things he had beat to death on the campaign trail nor any of those ideas he brought to the Oval Office. Nothing at all addressing COSTS, which he said was the major component, nothing addressing TORT REFORM and while I am much more limited than you on understanding the economics of issues, I began to understand that this bill was of GREAT HUGE COST and it would be paid for with "guesses" on what might or might not happen in the future.

We now have, as a result of his lies (and they were not mistakes in promises, they were in fact lies) we now have a huge item sitting in the hands of the Supreme court, and no matter what they do or dont do, many americans are going to suffer and we have DONE NOTHING to address the COSTS that we were supposed to. We now have, in my opinion, a worse situation that we did when he began his campaign. Then I have looked into WHY he would tell these lies. knowing the impact. It appears there is not grandious mistake....no error in judgement....just simple lying because he wanted this bill to be his legacy and he had to get it done before the 2010 election.

This one program taught me that he seems to be all about telling lies, not making mistakes in judgements and evolving....for example...

In my worries on fighting terrorism, he was so loud, ridiculed so much, mocked people so much that I thought any program that would fight terrorism was history. As it turns out, he has not only adopted almost 100% of the previous administrations plans in that area, he has even grown them. That was not a lie in my estimation....to me, he certainly evolved into what had to be done, thus you will hear very little criticism of him on that issue at all.

There has been a violent rise in spendng, some can be justified, some I just disagree with him on and there is more to come if he is reelected and do not get a big head but I did learn quite a bit from you over the years on here by you getting me to read things I normally would not,and one thing you were pushing a number of years ago was the spending and not addressing any cuts and that is where this is going. VK...we have no budget in this country...we do not even discuss it. We basically are closer to financial disaster than ever, but we continue to talk about spending our way out of it.

I see congress different than you. As you do I blame them ALL, but when I see the Senate, the upper chamber if you will, do the bidding of a political agenda instead of the countries business, I shudder. YES, many of the proposals from Republicans scare me as well, but they as well as I know. those proposals are dead on arrival and going nowhere ever to be discussed. They can say all they want....it WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED. Would a Republican senate be different I have no idea.

HOWEVER, MY MAIN problem with Obama is that he DOES IN FACT JUST LIE....not flip flop...not evolve...just lie and he is so good at it....lobbyists, which I posted an opinion piece on this week is a good example...he has not changed what he says since 2007, YET.....what he is doing is 180 degrees from that and he still says it. NOW that is lying. The current secret negotiations on trans pacific partnership where he supports it and it will give away a lot of our gains in mfg in this country. He may be way ahead of me on this and perhaps we should give up any dream of getting back our place inthe world, but then he should share it and lets get fixing.

There are many more but if I continue, you and others will jump on your horse's can call me some select names.

I still distrust his past...the President offered hush money to his minister and it is NOT NEWS ???? He told the man that his problem was telling the truth all the time....the President said that. You tell me that is not a worry, I will disagree with you...THAT is a symptom of what I told you about in 2008. He will face the truth only when forced and you cannot believe what he says at all...you have to watch what he is doing.

On the more mundane soap opera things.....I dont care at this point where he was born, but it is evident that he has "played games" for whatever purpose he had on where he was born. The President of the United States did this.

So we shall see.....as you can see, I do make a difference between flip flopping and evolving, and as I said I am on board with Obama evolving on somethings....but lying and flip flopping and evolving are three different things to me.

I see what his explanation on the current Bain capital ads means.....BUT THE ADS themself do not even get close to that...they are mean spritited and do not surprise me. I have not forgotten his calling Bill Clinton a racist in South Carolina because he and his campaign felt that was needed....that is Obama. I see not using Wright but allowing the NYTIMES and WASHPOST to investigate Romney's religion without a word except to criticize Romney for not coming out soon enough (I think it took a few hours) to debunk the Wright ads.

All of this, TO ME, speaks directly to this mans character. I did not trust him in 2008 and distrust him more now than then. I felt his backgroun was cloaked in mystery and I still do.

A long post but trying to explain....cause all folks seem to be doing is giving me one liners...NOBODY comes here and supports him or talks about what he has done or even discusses them. They only thing is the ridicule of anyone against him and to make your day, THAT is exactly what Saul would have wanted and exactly how a neighborhood organizer works.

Could ya expand on that a little?....I don't get it.

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Is it really #1? I downloaded the sample onto my iPad but I doubt very much that I'll be springing for $14.99 to buy the full version.

I read the sample of "The Amateur" downloaded from the Apple Bookstore. I also researched Edward Klein (a not terribly well-respected ex-journalist) and the publisher (a publisher of far right wing books). I wanted to know a little more about the guy who wrote this popular new book.

After finding out where the author-publisher might be coming from all that was OK with me, as long as I understood the leanings of the author and how he might have chosen and interpreted the research he did in writing the book. I was impressed that he interviewed so many people in researching the book. Klein could be selective in who he quoted and which statements or situations he included, but it's a whole lot more than just a rant of his personal feelings.

The book is a page-turner and certainly seems to present a view of Obama's character well worth understanding. It might go a long way towards understanding how Obama has conducted himself as president. If it wasn't for the fifteen bucks it would cost to download the whole book, I'd enjoy reading it. Maybe it'll be discounted in a few months.

Regardless of what it says though, it won't change my voting plans.

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

I read the sample of "The Amateur" downloaded from the Apple Bookstore. I also researched Edward Klein (a not terribly well-respected ex-journalist) and the publisher (a publisher of far right wing books). I wanted to know a little more about the guy who wrote this popular new book.

After finding out where the author-publisher might be coming from all that was OK with me, as long as I understood the leanings of the author and how he might have chosen and interpreted the research he did in writing the book. I was impressed that he interviewed so many people in researching the book. Klein could be selective in who he quoted and which statements or situations he included, but it's a whole lot more than just a rant of his personal feelings.

The book is a page-turner and certainly seems to present a view of Obama's character well worth understanding. It might go a long way towards understanding how Obama has conducted himself as president. If it wasn't for the fifteen bucks it would cost to download the whole book, I'd enjoy reading it. Maybe it'll be discounted in a few months.

Regardless of what it says though, it won't change my voting plans.

It sounds like, at least I would hope, that it might validate a bit what I have been typing on this forum for years now !!!!

I do the same as you before I load up my Nook......I read about the author, publisher, etc....and you may not believe this but I probably wont read it.....I honestly try harder to read things from the OTHER side.....I dont need the validation on certain issues.