Conference back40::soapbox

    They all stand about the same chance of being president as the front
    runners do.

    1-800-USA-BEAR

What about Lyndon Larouche?

    Other than being a thieving looney, what about him?

Other than being a thieving looney,  he claims to be a Democrat.

    What about Mohammed Ferrah Skyhook Idid?

    One hell of a cab driver!

    LaRouche was a good dimmikrat, at least in the looney bin category. 
    Not one to be afraid of changing his stripes, either, as he was 
    the driving force behind the SDS back in the 60s. 
    
    Perhaps he's the inspiration for Vladimir Zhirinovsky (sp?).
    
    Speaking of Calypso Louie, he's been in Libya hobnobbing with 
    Khadaffy. Maybe the next mega-man march will be in Tripoli...

    larouche the driving force behind the SDS???  you gotta be 
    kidding.

    
    <----- no. he started the Salerno Dessert Service years ago. Oph, get
    with the program.

    My, politics are boring.

    only a little more than 9 months left til the election.

    i mean, i knew larouche was the driving force behind
    the trilateral commission, but the SDS?  

I share Oph's incredulity regarding Lyndon Larouche being a driving force
behind the SDS. Got any sources, Brown?

Larouche used to be a loony leftie, but it wasn't SDS.  I forget the name of
the organization, but it had "Socialist" in it.

    I think it was in Readers' Digest back in the early 80s. Take it for
    what that's worth.
    
    Larouche isn't a driving force of the Trilaterals, he just accuses
    everyone else as being in the conspiracy. Not to mention his
    allegations that the british royals are drug pushers. 
    
    

    according to the conspiracy theorists, it's Rockefeller, the NY Banks, 
    who are behind the trilaterals, the CFR, the Bildeburgers (sp?) and
    the rest of the New World Order-istas.
    
    When did LaRouche get sprung from the big house, or is he still inside?

    are the bildeburgers related to the belgianburgers?
    
    the more i hear about this larouche guy, the more i like him.

Mailing received today from Taylor for President, Inc. - "Morry [?] Taylor -
Republican for President". Grabber reads "WIN $5000 CASH! Your opinion is
worth a lot to me. Answer my survey and I'll enter your name in my $25,000
contest."

...buncha yoyos coming out of the woodwork here in New Hampshire...

    Why is it that every election seems to have a Taylor type???

    Taylor made fun of a middle school student for her stutter, during some 
    photo opp yesterday.  I guess he's going all out for the New Hampshire
    childhater, anti stutter vote.

	He was pretty stupid for doing that. I can just picture how he would
handle tough negotians.... badly

>	He was pretty stupid for doing that. I can just picture how he would
>handle tough negotians.... badly



 and we all know those negotians can be tough..

    
      Too late.  It's down to Dole/Buchanan/Alexander, with possibly
     Forbes if he can recover.  The system isn't built for new entrants
     or late rallies.
    
      bb

    taylor made another example of stunning intellect, during a school
    visit, one kid asked him about what he would do to protect endangered
    species. His reply was that the only endangered species was the 
    white male. 
    
    mebbe he's david duke in disguise...       

    Oh....I think it was obviously a stupid thing to say also.  However,
    please don't equate men who abhor Affirmative Action with David Duke
    types.
    
    -Jack

So what's with this Taylor character?  He seems to say and do things to
irritate the maximum number of people possible.  He's the Archie Bunker of
politics.

    | He seems to say and do things to
    | irritate the maximum number of people possible.  He's the Archie Bunker of
    | politics.
    
    maybe he's trying to get name recognition.
    
    every once in a while he shows up on t.v., usually on one of the
    more obscure cable channels.  his talks are littered with
    "dems, dese, and doses", focusing on how he'd eliminate 
    middle management of government to balance the budget in eighteen months.
    good comic relief.  if i had to have someone break thumbs to collect
    overdue debts, morrie (sp?) would be my man.  
     
                                     

    I listened to Colin Powell's speech last night. I thought the best
    thing about it was that the viewing public got to see all 10 of the
    African Americans at the Republican Convention.
                                     

    were they all seated together or did they space them 
    out?

    They looked pretty spaced out, I thought.  :)

What's the republican convention for?  I mean, everything was done before
the convention, 'ceptin' the speechifyin.  Seems like a total waste of a
lot of things, resulting in a bit of made-for-TV politicking, complete with
lots of product placements.

I just can't wait to see the dems do the same thing (NOT!).

They shouldn't have gagged the pro-choicers.  Then there'd at least be
_some_ excitement.

Anybody hear the NPR bit on the "goody bags" delegates got?  Included was
limited-edition Kraft Macaroni and Cheese with elephant-shaped macaroni.

    Kraft is a subsidiary of a tobacco company.  I do not buy Kraft
    products, so I couldn't have cared less about the limited-edition
    pseudofood.
    
    (I don't buy products from any company that I can identify as being
    owned by a tobacco company.)

    Z    I listened to Colin Powell's speech last night. I thought the best
    Z    thing about it was that the viewing public got to see all 10 of the
    Z    African Americans at the Republican Convention.
    
    I find arguments of parties being for race or the rich/poor to be
    absurd.  If the convention had ten black individuals attending, it
    certainly isn't because Gingrich and some other good ole boy's nudged
    each other saying, "hey, let's get some of them coloreds in here so's
    the'll by some representation.  How utterly silly.
    
    People follow based upon their own ideology.  You will find
    unfortunately that the media ignore some of the sound organizations
    like Project 11 (I believe) and cleaving to the exploitative groups
    like the NAACP.  Therefore, the perception will be there that
    Republicans are exclusive which of course is bullcrap.
    
    -Jack

I just assumed that the preponderance of white faces was intended as a show
of party unity.  �-)

Project 11?  Izzat like Plan 9?

    Project 11 is an organization made up of conservative black Americans
    who promote the idea of self sufficiency, independence, economic growth
    through building commerce, and small government.  

Our new priest-in-charge at our Beacon Hill church is a black arch-conservative.

   Now, the fact that he's theologically arch-conservative doesn't mean
   that he's socially conservative (e.g. Cardinal Law is one of the most
   outspoken opponents of cuts in social benefits).

   But it does mean that he's not a member of most of the typical black
   pseudo-religious political organizations that the rest of the black
   clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts belong to.

/john

    
    	While Colin Powell was speaking, CBS kept doing close-ups of
    	any black people in the audience.  I found it rather obvious,
    	and strange.
    
    

    I am convinced the networks have a vested interest in keeping racism
    alive and well in this country.  Between this and the constant barrage
    of collective victim rhetoric, it's no wonder our country is loaded
    with a people full of suspicions and disdain for one another.
    
    -Jack

    Yeah, like the non-smoking victims of smokers.  :-)

    jack, exactly what did you mean when you said your mol
    was guilty of perpetuating "patriarchal philosophies"?
    i'm curious.  

    Bonnie:
    
    My MIL's parents came from Italy.  She grew up in Everett during the
    depression and in this family, the men were considered to be in charge. 
    My wife grew up in a family of three, and little brother who is now 41 
    is still looked upon as the Patriarch of the family.  He finds this
    annoying and realizes it is due to the philosophy engrained in their
    upbringing.  Now that little brother has exiled himself to California
    and dad passed away two years ago, (OJ weekend), I am now the sole male
    in the family.  Although I am an outsider, MIL and SIL seem to hold me
    in very high regard.  My wife of course saw through all this bull years
    ago but because my MIL had this upbringing, she had to put up with alot
    from hubby throughout the years.  They loved each other but at times he
    was like a spoiled kid.  You know, the man who couldn't cook his own
    dinner to save his life.  I'm exaggerating but I'm not too far off.
    
    My wife and I are quite compatible because I don't at all hold these
    expectations of her...which is why I am telling you I am not a recluse
    from the 50's.  I'm a realist and am a firm believer in both genders
    striving for excellence.  
    
    -Jack

    Sorry, the crux of your question...
    
    Most men are chauvinistic because their spouses let them get away with
    it...which of course happened in my in laws family.  They're great
    people but my MIL's annoying habit is to clear things with little Joey.
    
    "Ma...did it ever occur to you that Joey moved 3500 miles away because
    he sees you as a perpetual pain in the neck?  Ever?????"  
    
    Joey could do no wrong.  My nephew, who by the way is in a special
    school now for troubled kids could do no wrong, (so why did I want to
    slap him from time to time??).  It just causes alot of trouble,
    especially when it tries to move into the grandchildren.  I have an
    inpenetrable force field around my home.  It is ideology proof!
    
    -Jack 

    
    >Most men are chauvinistic because their spouses let them get away with
    >it...
    
    <boggle>
    

Most people who die of gunshot wounds do so because they let the bullet get
into their body.

   .46  oh yeah, Deb.  it's always the women who need to modify
	their behaviors - dint you know dat?

    To answer Mz. Debra's boggle...
    
    You will find for example, that men who abuse their spouses do so for a
    long time, and their spouses allow them to get away with it.
    
    My MIL answered to the whims of hubby for many years.  By our
    definition today, she let him get away with alot.  I'm not equating him
    with the above statement on abuse...he never did that.  But he called
    on her to do things in life he should have been able to do himself.  I
    call that great devotion on her part, but I also kind of resent him for
    not allowing her to be all she could have been or wanted to be.  She
    was put on this earth for him...that was his outlook.
    
    -Jack

    {boggle}

   <taking a few practice throws with the triangles>

    Whatever...all I'm saying is alot of married men are chauvinistic
    because they live in an environment where they don't get any
    resistance.  Simple enough.
    
    

A lot of people commit crimes because no one tries to stop them.

    <commissions own trilateral>

    |all I'm saying is alot of married men are chauvinistic because they
    |live in an environment where they don't get any resistance.
    
    there is more than a grain of truth in this statement. (imo)

    Right...and since I do not rule the roost, your assessment of me is not
    accurate!  

    one doesn't have anything to do with the other!

    .41
    
    Ban the media!!  (actually, this would probably be the best thing we
    could ever do for race relations, politics, etc.)

    Two of the major networks omitted to show the JC Watt's speech as well
    as the Governor from New Jersey.  I find this kind of selective media
    offensive.
    
    

    You selective media coverage, don't you.  Not to fret Jack, the Dems
    will get the same quality coverage at their infomercial, er,
    convention.  Hmmm, is McDonald's an official sponsor of the Democratic
    Convetion?  

	It appears that Dole is about to announce that Colin Powell
	will be given a senior cabinet post (Sec'y of State?) if
	the Repubs win the Presidency.

	Now if Dole is smart enough to get Stormin' Norman on board
	as the Sec'y of Defense nominee, they'd have an unbeatable
	ticket, and Slick would be outta there!

    Sure. $25 says Clinton wins hands-down.

    What's the definition of hands down? By 10%? 20%? A "mandate"?

I've never heard of anyone voting for a candidate because of his promised
cabinet members.  Even the vice presidential choice is pretty meaningless
when it gets down to choosing who to vote for.  Though given Dole's age,
his veep choice might carry more weight than usual.

    Given Doles age, the real fear is that he will die in office, thus Jack
    Kemp is a decisive factor, not cabinet members.

    My vote for Dole will be based solely upon his selection of Kemp.  This
    is the only credible reason I have at this time to do so.  Adding
    Powell as Sec. State. would be a plus.  

    Powell may or may not be a plus. Certainly as a VP he might have been a
    negative.

    >Powell may or may not be a plus. Certainly as a VP he might have been a
    >negative.
    
     Only with bigots. Most of the republican party and middle america
    considers him a plus.

    Rebublicans don't do this.

Could someone explain to me what's the big deal about Colin Powell?
OK, he led a successful military career, but so have a lot of others.
Any other Republican with his views on abortion and affirmative action
would be anathema to the GOP, right?  What voters would be attracted
to a Republican ticket because Powell was third or fourth banana on it?
Blacks?  Doubtful.  Guilt-ridden ex-liberals?  Maybe.

    I fit none of those criteria.  I am shamefully white and am neither
    guilt ridden nor an ex-liberal.  I find Powell to be articulate and
    from all appearances, honest about his convictions.  His military
    record and depth of service makes him an ideal candidate for a
    prominent cabinet or other post.  NSA, CIA, Sec. Def., Sec. State.,
    whatever.  
    

  .71  ditto.

    Personally, I think there's less, much less, to Powell than meets the
    eye. Sure, he's a general -- but his critics claim, I think with some
    justification, that he was fast-tracked through the normal promotion
    chain because he was black ... volunteer force being heavily black,
    needing roles models, etc. 
    
    As a general, he was basically opposed to every military operation that
    came down the pike, including Desert Shield/Storm.
    
    Most of his policy takes are hardly Republican. What he is, is a
    slightly conservative Democrat, posing as a Repub.
    
    

    Gerald, the big plus with Colin Powell is that he isn't a
    politician...which only goes to show that the egghead who coined the
    phrase, "It's the economy stupid", a very low rent statement for a low
    rent group, was a fallacy.  Apparently from the responses of Americans
    throughout the country, character does in fact matter...quite heavily I
    might add.  
    
    While many of our sorry arse electorate have no concept of American
    pride or nationalism, it is becoming clear that honor and country
    constitute a major part of our national fiber.  Colin Powell, a man I
    disagree with very much on some social issues, is commendable in my
    eyes, for the simple reason that he speaks his conviction and can be
    believed.
    
    I saw Christopher Dodd last night on CSPAN.  I found his soft spoken,
    can't we all just get along tone to be the height of hypocrisy.  HOW
    DARE he make such a statement after all the low rent tactics they
    pulled four years ago.  
    
    No, we don't want to get along.  Lose the election, crawl under a rock
    and cease to exist in politics.  Open a law office or do whatever it is
    retired politicians do.  Just please go away.  The mere existence of
    beings such as them is very painful to me.
    
    -Jack

>    phrase, "It's the economy stupid", a very low rent statement for a low
>    rent group, was a fallacy.  Apparently from the responses of Americans
>    throughout the country, character does in fact matter...quite heavily I

Political commentary apparently from a vacuum.

All the phrase, "It's the economy stupid", did was get Clinton elected.

The country voted that this meant a great deal more to 'em than
"character". Current polls indicate that while character might matter to
the voters, it's not what determines their vote.

TTom

    And while we're on the subject of low rent.
    
    Interesting article today on NPR, the official broadcaster of the
    Democratic convention.  (This was an op ed piece by the editor of New
    Republic(?) magazine so I can't lay it all at NPR's door.)
    
    Apparently a housing loan backing scheme set up by Nixon & Johnson is
    about to go bad bigtime.  Not as big as the S&L disaster, but many
    millions to be underwritten by taxpayers.
    
    The current congress are wishing it would all go away and the current
    administration pretty much inherited the mess from the previous two
    administrations (so it can't be laid entirely at the door of the
    Democratic congress, although they were happy to go along with it
    originally).
    
    Now, I don't know (yet) where this is going, but I do know that Kemp
    was in charge of HUD during the 80's and was enthusiastically in favour
    of the scheme.  As it basically backed private enterprise to build low
    cost housing, if I understand it correctly. Of course, it could turn
    out to be little more than a political innuendo engine, but even
    innuendo has done a good job of keeping Gingrich off the radar screen
    while the convention goes on.
      
    Watch this space.
    
    
                                 

    When are you gonna catch on?
    
    Government Doesn't Work.
    
    Vote Liberterian!
    

 ZZ   All the phrase, "It's the economy stupid", did was get Clinton elected.
    
    Which proves my point.  There are alot of stupid people out there.

>There are alot of stupid people out there.

You're getting pretty good at proving this point. :=]

    Actually, and in all seriousness (rare for me).
    
    There are a lot of comfortable people out there.  Who don't want to
    rock the boat.  I don't think they're stupid.  Things "work" for MOST
    of them, and a republicrat gets elected.  Or they don't "work" for most
    of them, and they throw out the republicrat and vote in a republicrat.
    
    Then they get the warm fuzzies, and go back to being comfortable.
    
    I predict that people will elect a republicrat for president.  Probably
    the one they have now.  Or else they'll elect the republicrat.
    
    Either way, the republicrat will call it a mandate, and proceed to
    either continue to change by making more government, or proceed to
    change by making more government, and people will have this warm fuzzy
    feeling every time they turn on the tube.
    
    Ignorance is bliss.
    
    

    > As a general, he was basically opposed to every military operation 
    > that came down the pike, including Desert Shield/Storm.
    
    That's an extraordinarily common and commendable point of view among
    senior military officers.  Who knows better than the generals how many
    lives have been lost due to the stupidity of the politicians?  Who
    knows better how hard it is to write the letters to the parents of
    those killed?
    
    DougO

    .82 I agree
    
    What you said, and as you stated, it is the military people (usually
    lower ranks) who pay in blood for the politicians folly...
    
    Steve

    Where in this world has peace, prosperity and happiness ever been
    delivered by politicians and bureaucrats usurping power, importance and
    livelihoods?

    Well, the politicians certainly get prosperity, seem happy, and never
    have to go to war.  I think that's where the peace, prosperity and
    happiness occurs.

    FWIW, those of you who are irritated by network coverage should
    just switch to your local PBS stations; both PBS stations in the Atlanta 
    area are providing coverage and it is much more enjoyable than the
    jawboning "interpretations" of the network hacks.
    
    

    I like the convention coverage. After Ms. Doles performance last night
    it reminds me of the old Carol Burnett Show.  :) 

|   both PBS stations in the Atlanta  area are providing coverage and it is
|   much more enjoyable than the jawboning "interpretations" of the network
|   hacks.
    
    Which is why some people find PBS valuable.  Too bad the folks inside
    that hall in San Diego don't.
    
    								-mr. bill

    re -.1
    
        More propaganda.... The GOP feels that public TV is very valuable.
    They just believe that it can be funded privately. Newt gave $2000 of
    his own money to PBS and challenged all the people like you to 
    "Match Newt." If they all did CPB would have more money than they know
    what to do with.
    
                                Steve J.

    I do fund PBS, it is the only TV I will pay for.  My tax portion that
    goes to PBS is less than the cost of a cheap sixpack of store-brand
    cola.  Between NPR and public radio I have gotten the best coverage of
    the convention, as well as a lot of quality programming that not even
    the cable channels carry.  
    
    meg

    i thought mr dole did quite well last night.

    >I do fund PBS, it is the only TV I will pay for.  My tax portion that
    >    goes to PBS is less than the cost of a cheap sixpack of store-brand
    >    cola.
    
    And all the pubs want to do is return your eight bits so that you may
    give it to PBS yourself, and take the tax break that goes with the
    donation.
    
    You've got a problem with this? Or do you prefer to force people to
    pay for your favorite television?
    
    (BTW: I fully support PBS, but the feds should not be in the
    TV business).
    
    Doug.

   CSPAN had the best coverage of the convention all week.  You 
got to hear all the speakers.  There were no network news anchors
flapping their jaws putting their spin on what you saw.  You were
able to listen and make your own mind up based on what you heard.
After the convention was over for the night, then they brought out
the pundits, or let the viewers voice their response.

Bill Powers

Or, you were able to listen and make up your own mind, just the way the
conference organizers want it made.

Yes, the networks have their spindoctors yammering away.  Then again, the
entire purpose of this convention was for the republican party spin doctors
to get a week's worth of prime time coverage.  The democrats will do the
same in another couple of weeks.

If you think that watching either convention will allow you to make an
informed decision then it only proves the worth of "infomercials" as a
viable sales technique.

 Z   Which is why some people find PBS valuable.  Too bad the folks inside
 Z       that hall in San Diego don't.
    
    Mr. Bill:
    
    PBS could be funded 10 times over by the Sesame Street and Barney toys
    sold in stores.  I very much resent these cash cows existing at a
    profit when public money is used to fund the station that promotes
    them.
    
    They're crying wolf and you're falling for it!
    
    -Jack