Freedom is more powerful than Fear. I think that is the most memorable line of his address to the nation. The GOP and those running for President will criticize everything that he is says - it’s become reflexive. He could have said much more and been more specific, but in the interest of NOT stoking more Fear, I think he hit just about the right tone.
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Was in a Lebanese restaurant last week in Portland. Sitting across from our table was a young middle eastern couple. They were obviously enamored of each other and even though the woman wore a hijab I couldn’t help but notice how her eyes twinkled and smiled when he spoke to her. Humanity at it’s most endearing. When he went to the mens room she got out her iphone and proceeded to catch up. Modern life anywhere in the world. I wish them all the happiness the world can offer them.
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Too bad you were not hep to the irreplaceable Molly Ivans at the time. I miss her wit and on the money commentary on Texas and national politics so much.
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That’s a sweet story. Many years ago when I lived in California, there was a very young middle eastern women working in our office (a private medical office; Jewish doctor). I cannot recall what nation from which her parents immigrated. If I recall correctly, she was brought her as a very small girl, perhaps a toddler. She was so sweet. Shy but very American. Some days she wore a hijab, some days not. She was into boy bands, the Backstreet Boys were ‘it’ for her. I never met her parents but I could tell they did a great job with raising her. She worked full-time as a receptionist with us and went to college part-time. They didn’t have money so she went to community college. Her dreams were to work in radiology. She had a great personality and a way of putting folks at ease – so she was perfect to work in the field. I left that office a few years after she arrived and have often wondered about her. Whatever she decided to do, I’m sure she’s pretty successful – she was bright, very personable and a hard worker.
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You are so right! It’s only because of GWBush that I discovered who Molly Ivins was! At that time in my life, I worked part-time in an office job and worked way more than full-time in a small retail business I co-owned. God, I barely had enough time to bathe, eat and poop before I was out the door. As I recall, I had “heard” of her but really only got to know who she was–oh, that wit!–after W had been in office a year or so. She was great. I DO, however, remember Gov. Ann Richards!! – Oh, I loved her!!
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There is a great collection of Molly’s best columns in a book entitled “Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?” Try to find a copy. It’s a gas. Wait until you read the column about her dog “Shit.”
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Thank you. I will look for it.
I’m SO sick of hearing this malarkey!! The only reason Bush said he wasn’t against all Muslims was because he had already committed the COLOSSAL blunder of calling his ill-fated war on terrorism a “crusade,” alienating Muslims everywhere and dozens of sympathetic countries!! (The Crusades were anti-Muslim military campaigns, of course.) Shrubya was trying to walk back his ignoramus speech that amounted to a most grievous self-inflicted wound, an unbelievable screw-up!! THAT’S ALL!!
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I still miss Molly Ivans and Ann Richards - given the current state of the state, how the hell were they from Texas?
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Just to show how out of whack the boys from death cults like ISIS, al Qaida, and others are here is the Prophet Mohammed’s last sermon. Remember that this was spoken in the 7th century AD on the occasion of his last trip to Mecca
After praising, and thanking Allah he said:
“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt
no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest
obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to
Abbas ibn 'Abd’al Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived…
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His
permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to
yourselves
Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O ALLAH, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.
…
I’m not a Muslim but I think this is some pretty advanced thinking for that time and place (mid to late 7th century AD). These comments put to shame the brutality and violence that the terrorists espouse. I think his comments about women could be improved but considering that women were believed generally to be property in that time this would have been a radical departure. His words of racial equality ring true.
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Her archive is available. Good reading. You won’t stop laughing
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I made the mistake of looking at some of the #Obamaspeech reaction on Twitter. Holy shit are there some ignorant right-wingers out there.
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I would think that would go w/o saying.
Personally I am very glad we have an adult in the Oval Office right now.
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This speech was exactly what was called for – calming and rational – not another shrill negative drumbeat for revenge. I continue to be astounded at the difference in demeanor between Obama and Clinton. I trust this man’s judgement. I do not trust the judgement of “we are losing”/“boots on the ground” Clinton. I’m heartsick that we’ll have no choice but to vote for her in the end. Please don’t lecture me about how much better she is that any GOPer – I know that already. But its a low bar.
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I used to live in Brooklyn. Great Middle Eastern food, restaurants, and markets (Go, Sahadi–the best!). In Harlem, not so much, in fact kind of pathetic.
Well I totally love the man. Hillary’s facing the pressures of a tough campaign; he’s not right now. Every time Trump or Morning Joe goes off about how weak he and she are on this issue, that’s HER political future that’s directly at stake, not Barack’s. When he was campaigning, he took the position that the Afghanistan war was the good one and Iraq wasn’t good. It was probably the only way he could get elected, show some bellicosity, and if he was on the level or not, it even affected his actions as President because it was a commitment.
The Afghan war was stupid. The U.S. should have said “we just don’t know yet” who did it, lulled them into complacency, then sent operatives to kill Bin Laden, then announced the victory. Barack took his calculated approach, though, and he got elected. One of the best Presidents the country has ever known. Hillary also needs to play it smart or she can’t be President. UPDATE: The grim facts now seem to confirm her side of the argument.
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NFL games look to be sold out. College games for that matter to yesterday. Fearful indeed.
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Thanks for the recommendation. Found a first edition hardcover w/DJ in very good condition. Ordered. 
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Offhand, I really wouldn’t have blamed him considering the first ‘reality check’ that he got for relying on this country to look the other way. Using the second war’s start ('03) as a checkoff point, chances are if all the cherry picking hadn’t occurred, the sanctions would have likely went the same way that Iran’s sanctions are gradually dissipating (good grief in regards to that unforeseen circumstance rule coming into play).
Yes and no. I’ll be honest, aside from Saddam being the equivalent of the dam block that prevents the flood, if he were to have gotten offed via skulduggery, it would given a new twist to that Faust legend. Now he did need to go, but as with Syria, there was nobody credible to replace him.
That’s why I consider him to be the twenty first century of Faust. Any Arab government who is allied with us now has to wonder if they are next in regards to ‘staying or going’.
One word: Mosaddegh. Plus as proven in the days leading to the second Gulf war, I would trust FSB’s HUMINT gathering before I can get behind Langley’s.
I do agree with the ISIL assessment though. As with Al-Queda in Iraq arrival, there wasn’t enough of a ‘strain’ to create that type of group in Saddam’s Iraq. Yet here we are after 12 years…
I know that he doesn’t gloat at what the present has become, but oh to be a fly at Eric Shinseki’s house…
.
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“but,but it’s Twitter…”