|  | 
        
         |  | 
        
         |  Peloton
             from London (United Kingdom) on 2003-07-16 08:44 [#00781526] Points: 651 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | From Todays Gaurdian: 
 President George Bush, whose malapropism has spawned dozens
 of websites and books, uttered one of his most extraordinary
 gaffes yet when he told reporters that the US had invaded
 Iraq because Saddam Hussein had refused to allow weapons
 inspectors in.
 
 Pressed during an Oval Office press conference on the now
 infamous assertion that Iraq had sought to buy uranium ore
 in Africa, he said: "The larger point is, and the
 fundamental question is, did Saddam Hussein have a weapons
 programme? And the answer is, absolutely. And we gave him a
 chance to allow the inspectors in, and he wouldn't let them
 in.
 
 "And, therefore, after a reasonable request, we decided to
 remove him from power, along with other nations, so as to
 make sure he was not a threat to the United States and our
 friends and allies in the region."
 
 The comment, made on Monday, received little coverage in the
 US media. Although   it did raise some eyebrows at the
 Washington Post, which, in understated style noted: "The
 president's assertion that the war began because Iraq did
 not admit inspectors appeared to contradict the events
 leading up to the war this spring."
 
 Saddam had in fact allowed weapons inspectors back in to
 Iraq on November 27 last year for the first time in four
 years and they remained there, albeit in a largely fruitless
 search, until the US and Britain decided to invade.
 
 The White House did not return calls seeking comment.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  fleetmouse
             from Horny for Truth on 2003-07-16 08:50 [#00781541] Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to Peloton: #00781526
 | 
| 
     
 
 | You won't see much coverage of this from American media giants because they like the Republican agenda of
 deregulation, allowing them to merge into one giant blob of
 hungry protoplasm.
 
 ALL ONE MIND HAPPY ALL THE TIME
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Peloton
             from London (United Kingdom) on 2003-07-16 08:59 [#00781567] Points: 651 Status: Lurker
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| 
     
 
 | jeez! Can your avatar become any more hideous? 
 : )
 
 
 
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         |  qrter
             from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2003-07-16 09:03 [#00781576] Points: 47414 Status: Moderator
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| 
     
 
 | wow, is Bush off the wagon again..? 
 peloton: it is a match made in heaven.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  manicminer
             from Paris (France) on 2003-07-16 09:08 [#00781581] Points: 1423 Status: Lurker
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| 
     
 
 | He's the gaffe-master! 
 Seriously, Americans, how can you tolerate being led by
 someone who obviously has such little intelligence?  Reagan?
 Bush?  What next?  Arnold fucking Schwarzenegger?
 
 Seriously, I love you people, your country, your culture.
 Yours is home to some of the world's greatest minds.  So how
 the hell did such an idiot become the leader of your
 country?
 
 I might not agree with much of what Blair says/does, but at
 least he has a modicum of intellect.  At least when he
 speaks he actually seems to have some kind of knowledge.
 
 If the President/Prime Minister/whatever of my country was
 as moronic and unintelligent as George W Bush I'd be really
 embarrassed.  As it is, I am just worried that the
 (supposedly) most powerful man on the planet is an utter,
 utter fool.
 
 I accept that I have said nothing that hasn't been said
 about Bush a thousand times before.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-16 09:58 [#00781622] Points: 836 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I second that. 
 My Canadian-born cousin has been living in Illinois for the
 past 5 or so years.
 
 Normally she has no problem bashing the insular and
 uneducated mindset of her fellow citizens regarding
 knowledge of Canada (tremendous lack thereof).
 
 Unfortunately, when her and I sat down and discussed
 "Dubya", she had nothing to say but great things about him.
 It's a shame that the US has the power to brainwash their
 citizens so effectively. Outsiders looking in can't figure
 out how the hell they can be so oblivious to the stupidity
 of their government.
 
 America really is unlike any other nation in the world.  I
 just wish I could figure out their agenda.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  qrter
             from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2003-07-16 10:09 [#00781638] Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to catharsis: #00781622
 | 
| 
     
 
 | well, not to be nasty, but it does sound like your cousin isn't very smart..
 
 plenty of Americans see how dumb their president is.
 
 don't forget he didn't become president by election..
 
 
 
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         |  Zeus
             from San Francisco (United States) on 2003-07-16 10:12 [#00781644] Points: 14042 Status: Lurker
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| 
     
 
 | i think what it boils down to, is that politics are such a shity job, that any really intellegent person knows better
 not to do it.
 
 the only people who do it, are insecure and  who want to
 feel better about themselves, and have some sort of power.
 
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  earthleakage
             from tell the world you're winning on 2003-07-16 10:22 [#00781664] Points: 27859 Status: Regular
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| 
     
 
 | politics attracts a lot of mini hitlers as does teaching - people who feel inadequate etc.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  herbwest
             from Seattle (United States) on 2003-07-16 10:50 [#00781726] Points: 418 Status: Lurker
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| 
     
 
 | my very american ass can tolerate bush's incompetence because, unlike many other nations in the world, we're not
 stuck with our crappy leader.  if we've a shite president we
 can kick him out and essentially start over every four
 years.  in bush's case about sixteen months.  soon, the
 democratic challengers will really start campaigning.  in
 the process making bush and his ilk defend every stupid
 decision the've made.  the dems certainly aren't innocent in
 this mess, but at least it might raise some awareness about
 the real motives behind the iraq fiasco.
 
 
 
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         |  GIR
             from Easton on 2003-07-16 11:58 [#00781853] Points: 828 Status: Addict
 | 
| 
     
 
 | im sorry manic, but isnt your minister mr. tony blair? shut the fuck up.
 
 I didnt vote for Bush. I protested. I was active. Shut the
 fuck up.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  GIR
             from Easton on 2003-07-16 12:01 [#00781856] Points: 828 Status: Addict
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| 
     
 
 | mistake, this wasaimed at catharsis...i must be a fucking ignorant american....youre not stereotyping...oh no...its
 perfectly justified.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  manicminer
             from Paris (France) on 2003-07-16 12:12 [#00781865] Points: 1423 Status: Lurker | Followup to GIR: #00781853
 | 
| 
     
 
 | OK, I am sorry.  I realise that my original post probably appeared to stereotype all Americans as supporters of
 Bush.......
 
 Of course, that isn't my opinion at all.  I realise that
 many of you disagree with most of what Mr Bush says and
 stands for, and that many of you share my opinion on his
 "intellect".
 
 I was merely stating that I can't believe that someone so
 stupid has managed to attain such a position of power in
 what is supposed to be a democracy.  In my opinion it
 beggars belief, that's all.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  GIR
             from Easton on 2003-07-16 12:17 [#00781874] Points: 828 Status: Addict
 | 
| 
     
 
 | it happens...has happened before....manipulation...but i wouldnt really be surprised if someone else was running the
 white house...his seemingly idiotical expressions are a bit
 too convenient.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-16 21:04 [#00782575] Points: 836 Status: Regular | Followup to GIR: #00781874
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I'm sorry, I should have used the word "some" Americans - the portion that still support Bush even amongst all his
 stupid antics.
 
 I didn't mean to lump you in with the blinded ones - I get
 carried away when I get talking about that dumbass.  Accept
 my apologies mate.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  earthleakage
             from tell the world you're winning on 2003-07-16 21:10 [#00782578] Points: 27859 Status: Regular
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| 
     
 
 | if you think bush is running the country you're more stupid than he is
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-16 21:33 [#00782599] Points: 836 Status: Regular | Followup to earthleakage: #00782578
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I know ... it's a big conspiracy...bla...bla...bla.... 
 But you think those guys running the show in the background
 would at least choose a president that could fucking talk
 properly.
 
 IF they closed their eyes and pointed in a random direction,
 they would undoubtedly be pointing at a more intelligent
 person.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  GIR
             from Easton on 2003-07-16 22:06 [#00782637] Points: 828 Status: Addict
 | 
| 
     
 
 | agreed 
 *shakes hands, hugs,and pats cath's ass*
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-16 22:41 [#00782661] Points: 836 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Hey now. 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  alnuit
             on 2003-07-17 04:31 [#00782805] Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to Peloton: #00781526
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Hail to the retarded thief!! 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  joakimlinden
             from Skövde (Sweden) on 2003-07-17 04:59 [#00782821] Points: 462 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | The problem in American politics right now seems to be that money = votes. Unlike many other countries there are limits
 as to how much money one is allowed to use in a campaign,
 and from who the money comes.
 Bush, for the presidential election, recieved multi million
 dollar contributions from the oil industry and other
 environmental-unfriendly corporations.
 You be the judge, but to me that would constitute a conflict
 of interest, clearly shown at the infamous Kyoto agreement
 that the americans refused to sign, mainly because of
 "homeland" economical reasons.
 
 All nations have these problems ofcourse, even my little
 Sweden, but...when we're talking about the largest military
 and economic power in the world there are some obvious
 concerns to people outside of America as well since their
 policies affects us all.
 
 I recently saw a documentary about the invasion of Panama in
 the 80's by Bush senior. In the U.S. media the whole deal
 was portrayed as cheering crowds and clean precision bombing
 of "military" targets (which where provoked into shooting at
 American forces in the first place). When infact hundreds of
 civilians where killed, some whole families where run over
 in their cars by big U.S. tanks, crushing them into a bloody
 pulp.
 Journalists trying to reach the fighting area where banned
 and some loose their film, one was shot in the head(!).
 Later, human rights organisations have found massgraves with
 young boys and old men buried in a haste, some with
 bulletholes in their heads...
 The UN did at the time strongly condemn this military
 action, but in the U.S. media that was only reported in a
 few second report by Dan Rather late in the night.
 
 The purpose of the invasion of Panama was NOT to remove the
 rouge elements that Bush senior warned about but rather to
 knock out their military capabilities, to whatever cost it
 would come to, so that the hundred year old signed agreement
 with the Panamanians and the U.S. about the canal returning
 to Panamanians in the year 2000 would be invalidated -
 becaus
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  joakimlinden
             from Skövde (Sweden) on 2003-07-17 05:00 [#00782822] Points: 462 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Got cut off... : ) 
 The purpose of the invasion of Panama was NOT to remove the
 rouge elements that Bush senior warned about but rather to
 knock out their military capabilities, to whatever cost it
 would come to, so that the hundred year old signed agreement
 with the Panamanians and the U.S. about the canal returning
 to Panamanians in the year 2000 would be invalidated -
 because they no longer where able do defend it...
 
 This is the way U.S. does foreign policy: Killing of
 thousands of people for the sake of economical and
 strategical interests - it has NOTHING to do with altruistic
 reasons such as removing brutal dictators or things like
 that.
 
 This is politics in America, and the people are often not
 toldthe real story about it. You who say that "leave the
 politics to the powerhungry low selfasteem jerks" are infact
 authorizing more military campaigns like these. And that's
 just the military, the U.S. also uses money as a weapon in
 many parts of the world.
 
 The American people can stop this, if they know about all
 that is done in their name. Who would have any reason to
 attack America if they didn't feel attacked themselves?
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  alnuit
             on 2003-07-17 05:11 [#00782826] Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to joakimlinden: #00782822
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Good point. But just ONE question. 
 Why in the name of bleeding Jesus would the American people
 care?
 
 The are among the richest people in the world enjoying a
 standard of living many times higher than the rest of the
 world's. They relish the money that their government makes
 in their name through legitimate or ilegitimate means. Just
 WHY would they care? Frankly, they would much rather turn a
 blind eye towards the evil and enjoy the money.
 
 Infact a troubling thing that I noticed even in the anti-war
 protests this time was the number of people that said "We
 want good roads and better medical services and not war" and
 "No more American sons for the war".......even their
 anti-war efforts were selfish and self-serving.
 
 Very few people pointed out that war was wrong..or that they
 wanted the econoimic oppression that their government
 carried out to stop...all they said was how they wanted more
 and better, when in the first place that was the reason that
 the war was being waged....
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  merg
             from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-07-17 05:13 [#00782828] Points: 1708 Status: Regular | Followup to earthleakage: #00781664
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Oy, I might be a teacher soon! :-( 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  alnuit
             on 2003-07-17 05:16 [#00782833] Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to merg: #00782828
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Not you Merg...you are too nice to be Hitler...or even mini-Hitler...though your geographical antecedents might
 just make it easier if you decided to change at any point
 :P
 
 j/k
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  merg
             from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-07-17 05:20 [#00782838] Points: 1708 Status: Regular | Followup to alnuit: #00782833
 | 
| 
     
 
 | geographical antecedents 
 That's easy for you to say! :-)
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  alnuit
             on 2003-07-17 05:21 [#00782839] Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to merg: #00782838
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Dude I was just kidding...don't take it seriously...awright ?
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  joakimlinden
             from Skövde (Sweden) on 2003-07-17 05:27 [#00782844] Points: 462 Status: Regular | Followup to alnuit: #00782826
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Well... This is part of the problem: What do you think the eternally growing industrial military
 complex costs the americans, and the people that it's
 produce is used on?
 One of those missiles that where fired from ships in the
 gulf costs millions.
 
 The latest figures from March 2003 shows this:
 Military spending for the U.S. in 2004 is estimated (will
 probably be higher) to reach $399.1 BILLIONS.
 Compare this to the worlds second largest military power,
 russia:
 $65 billion.
 
 Many independent news sources in the U.S. have pointed out
 that ordinary Americans have to live on less money than ever
 before, while the wealthy ones have more money than ever
 before.
 Schools have to scrap certain classes because there simply
 is no money left after the military has gotten it's share.
 
 And the way things go now there will be almost no money from
 the taxpayers to pay for the public transportation, roads
 and stuff like that. Bush's administration has plunged the
 country into the biggest budget deficit (if that is spelled
 correctly) in the history of America, they have to borrow
 huge amounts of money just to keep the country going...
 
 There is more to be said about this, and I don't have the
 full picture right now - but shortly I can say that the
 endless privatisations of corporations that used to be there
 for the public has driven up prices to unprecedented levels.
 This will probably be the downfall of the republicans.
 
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  merg
             from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-07-17 05:27 [#00782845] Points: 1708 Status: Regular | Followup to alnuit: #00782839
 | 
| 
     
 
 | breakdown in comms here...that's a commonly used joke by people who can't be bothered to think up anything original,
 see? When someone uses long words you say "That's easy for
 you to say!" as an ironic twist on its usual meaning...yeah?
 :-)
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  alnuit
             on 2003-07-17 05:45 [#00782857] Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to joakimlinden: #00782844
 | 
| 
     
 
 | This will probably be the downfall of the republicans.
 
 word.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  alnuit
             on 2003-07-17 05:46 [#00782859] Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to merg: #00782845
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Oh...O.K.... 
 :) On a  messageboard where you don't get to see people's
 faces...it is better to be safe rather than sorry...
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  merg
             from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-07-17 06:24 [#00782905] Points: 1708 Status: Regular | Followup to alnuit: #00782859
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Just assume that a) I'm never nasty to people unless they really BEG for it and b) I always make poor jokes :-)
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  alnuit
             on 2003-07-17 06:34 [#00782923] Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to merg: #00782905
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Those should be easy to remember. Quite similar to me...anyways...cheers.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  merg
             from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-07-17 06:34 [#00782926] Points: 1708 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | It's the only way to be! :-) 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 07:22 [#00782999] Points: 836 Status: Regular | Followup to joakimlinden: #00782844
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Shit...thanks for the info.  Apparently ExxonMobil (it's Esso here in Canada), were among those to front G.W.Bush a
 fistfull of dough for oil interests.
 
 Exxon is challenging the overwhelming body of scientific
 knowledge concerning the correlation between the greenhouse
 effect and burning of fossil fuels.  Those filthy bastards.
 
 America is not a democracy anymore.  It may be considered a
 democratic country, but if I dress up like a girl, does that
 make me one?
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  joakimlinden
             from Skövde (Sweden) on 2003-07-17 11:11 [#00783442] Points: 462 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Another documentary, about Chevron, called Drilling and Killing contains the following:
 "In a interview with Democracy Now!, a Chevron official
 acknowledged that on May 28, 1998, the company transported
 Nigerian soldiers to their Parabe oil platform and barge in
 the Niger Delta, which dozens of community activists had
 occupied. The protestors were demanding that Chevron
 contribute more to the development of the impoverished oil
 region where they live. In the interview, Chevron
 spokesperson Sola Omole was asked:
 
 Q: Who took them in, on Thursday morning, the Mobile Police,
 the Navy?
 A: We did. We did. Chevron did. We took them there.
 
 Q: By how? A: Helicopters, yes, we took them in.
 
 Q: Who authorized the call for the military to come in?
 
 A: That's Chevron's management.
 
 Soon after landing in Chevron-leased helicopters, the
 Nigerian military shot to death two protesters, Jola
 Ogungbeje and Aroleka Irowaninu, and wounded several others.
 The eleven activists were detained for three weeks. "
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  GIR
             from Easton on 2003-07-17 11:49 [#00783506] Points: 828 Status: Addict
 | 
| 
     
 
 | i wouldnt go as far too say we are the only fake democracy around here. Look at half the nations in Africa. The reason
 the US gets so much attention is because its the biggest and
 most threatening. Most people tend to violently attack and
 put small facts way larger and more important than they
 should be because its from "the country with all the
 power"....the funny thing is I haven't seen another country
 besides the ones we've invaded stand up against our
 "horrible, horrible aggression" Is it because we'd wipe the
 floor with you? I don't think so. A war alone with China
 would probably wipe out half of our population(war of
 attrition)....what are you waiting for? Plus there is the
 paradox of power...If the US gives aid, they are accused of
 meddling in other nation's affairs. However, if they refuse
 to give aid, they are accused of hoarding the power, and are
 shown as greedy businessmen.....this is the display
 occurring now I suppose. All will be better when bush is out
 of office.
 
 Just do me a favor and stop making overused generalizations
 about the American populous based on 1.5% of its population,
 ok? I don't hate Germany for being led by the Nazi party, I
 dont accuse Brits of all having crooked teeth and constantly
 sipping tea. We are not ignorant, we currently fighting the
 problem....why aren't all of you joining in? Flood the media
 with questions. They cant ignore all of us. They already had
 one(a Mr.Glick) publicly denounce Bush's administration
 policies on national television.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  evolume
             from seattle (United States) on 2003-07-17 13:06 [#00783648] Points: 10965 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Please don't generalize all American's into one mindless, brainwashed, gluttonous mob of capitalist pig-dogs.
 
 more than half of Americans voted against George Bush in the
 last election.  My state, Washington state, voted against
 him in the electoral college.  and if you drive around
 Seattle, you will see more signs protesting George Dubya's
 policies than supporting them.  If your view of Americans is
 contrary to this, you should be taking account of the bias
 of your own news sources.
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 20:52 [#00784426] Points: 836 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I'm not talking about Americans as a populous, I'm talking about the fucking idiot who runs the country.  When I say
 America is not a democracy, I'm talking about government
 structure - it has nothing to do with its citizens.  Who
 knows.....perhaps Al Gore should have won ;).
 
 I realize that many of you are smart enough to be skeptical
 of everything the US government tells you.  In fact I'm sure
 most of the people on this mb are smart enough to figure it
 out.  I just feel sorry for the remainder of Americans who
 believe the garbage coming out of Washington.
 
 I love my fellow Canadians, but I think our government is a
 bunch of morons too.  I'm skeptical of everything; I don't
 believe anything until I know the agenda behind the
 statments.
 
 It doesn't matter whether you voted for Bush or not - didn't
 you pay attention to the last election?  You may as well
 have voted for a rubber chicken.
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 20:54 [#00784429] Points: 836 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I'm such a cynical bastard. 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Anus_Presley
             on 2003-07-17 20:56 [#00784430] Points: 23472 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | HARRRRRRRRRRRR HAHAHAHAHAHA OH FUCK. HE'S SUCH A HALF WIT. 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 21:26 [#00784459] Points: 836 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Oh Anus (rolleyes). 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  catharsis
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 22:32 [#00784547] Points: 836 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I apologize for my foul language BlantantEcho.  I'll try to be nice from now on. :)
 
 
 
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