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Peloton
from London (United Kingdom) on 2003-07-16 08:44 [#00781526]
Points: 651 Status: Lurker
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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
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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
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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
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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: 27795 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
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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
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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
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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
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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: 27795 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
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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
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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
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Hey now.
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alnuit
on 2003-07-17 04:31 [#00782805]
Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to Peloton: #00781526
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Hail to the retarded thief!!
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joakimlinden
from Skövde (Sweden) on 2003-07-17 04:59 [#00782821]
Points: 462 Status: Regular
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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
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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
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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
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Oy, I might be a teacher soon! :-(
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alnuit
on 2003-07-17 05:16 [#00782833]
Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to merg: #00782828
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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
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geographical antecedents
That's easy for you to say! :-)
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alnuit
on 2003-07-17 05:21 [#00782839]
Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to merg: #00782838
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Dude I was just kidding...don't take it seriously...awright ?
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joakimlinden
from Skövde (Sweden) on 2003-07-17 05:27 [#00782844]
Points: 462 Status: Regular | Followup to alnuit: #00782826
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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
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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? :-)
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alnuit
on 2003-07-17 05:45 [#00782857]
Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to joakimlinden: #00782844
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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
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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...
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merg
from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-07-17 06:24 [#00782905]
Points: 1708 Status: Regular | Followup to alnuit: #00782859
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Just assume that a) I'm never nasty to people unless they really BEG for it and b) I always make poor jokes :-)
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alnuit
on 2003-07-17 06:34 [#00782923]
Points: 1113 Status: Lurker | Followup to merg: #00782905
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Those should be easy to remember. Quite similar to me...anyways...cheers.
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merg
from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-07-17 06:34 [#00782926]
Points: 1708 Status: Regular
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It's the only way to be! :-)
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catharsis
from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 07:22 [#00782999]
Points: 836 Status: Regular | Followup to joakimlinden: #00782844
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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?
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joakimlinden
from Skövde (Sweden) on 2003-07-17 11:11 [#00783442]
Points: 462 Status: Regular
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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. "
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GIR
from Easton on 2003-07-17 11:49 [#00783506]
Points: 828 Status: Addict
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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.
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evolume
from seattle (United States) on 2003-07-17 13:06 [#00783648]
Points: 10965 Status: Regular
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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.
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catharsis
from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 20:52 [#00784426]
Points: 836 Status: Regular
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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.
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catharsis
from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 20:54 [#00784429]
Points: 836 Status: Regular
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I'm such a cynical bastard.
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Anus_Presley
on 2003-07-17 20:56 [#00784430]
Points: 23472 Status: Lurker
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HARRRRRRRRRRRR HAHAHAHAHAHA OH FUCK. HE'S SUCH A HALF WIT.
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catharsis
from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 21:26 [#00784459]
Points: 836 Status: Regular
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Oh Anus (rolleyes).
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catharsis
from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-07-17 22:32 [#00784547]
Points: 836 Status: Regular
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I apologize for my foul language BlantantEcho. I'll try to be nice from now on. :)
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