Waffler, that happened when newspapers were independently owned. Spot on Ernest - I gave up buying those comics a long time ago - I get all my news off the Internet (sorry Archer, but theirs nothing else) and from friends in those places I need to know about. Reading newspapers is a bit like watching professional wrestlers and in case you were wondering, no, I don't watch professional wresting. Archer, please tell me where you get your news from - it's a bit like the question put to Palin "you've suggested that God approves of the Iraq War and the Alaska Pipeline. How do you know" Source: Katha Pollitt.

Well said Logan - Ken, the reason why we are in such trouble (money-wise) is because we deregulated the banking system. I agree, they are both puppet masters, but sometimes it's better the devil you know.

Now guys be careful this blog is being monitored and I don't want any of you to disappear. Just in case anything happens to me I have 20 letters addressed to the media - drat, I forgot, they own the media too OK I'll change the address to every blog.

I would imagine half the despots around the world use our political arena as part of their own edification - the last eight years has given them some great tips.

You have to have your head in the sand not to give this five - The swiftboating has begun - Oops I've got to go "Network" is showing. Before I forget, Archer you did well above and usually do, but you made a big slip calling atheism fundamental - I won't debate this here but email me rbe@hcsrq.com

Excellent! can some please forward this to Palin - Palin tried to get the Librarian fired because she refused to withdraw certain books from the library - what a hypocrite. Censorship just stifles the imagination and brings about stagnation and mediocrity.

Spot on Forster - Jim why can't you just cool it on the Liberal stuff - you must be a latent Liberal as you mention practically in every post. We have more Rush Limbaugh (who has be the be the hypocrite of all time) and his like who spew hatred and division far more than any liberal discourse. Furthermore, it was liberals who brought about the American Constitution. We now have more socialism in America (bailing out the two biggest mortgage firms - Oh yes, let's socialize our losses) under the GOP than ever before - grow up and know your facts. Jim, you must have a real problem if you live in Austin, the most liberal city in Texas. By the way, Forster was gay and a liberal.

The sword of Liberty must always remain sharp

The press has no freedom while they are control by corporations and the government. The gradual degradation of our liberty is proving the freedom of the press to spread whatever $%&*@ corporate America and governments sends them.

Indeed! But what has suffered most is the integrity of the press, and without that there is no Freedom, no Liberty. Once the press is controlled by corporations and the government the next step is despotism. The press today is used by the propaganda machine to dumb down it's listeners and to spread lies and deceit to fulfill it's agenda - which is usually benefiting their own version of POW: Power, Oil, and War.

Mike, yes, I was picking on you, and you are right of course. I was just being the protagonist. And, yes, I agree you must question all those things, even my own atheism. Have you ever seen the play "The Battle of Shrivings" by Peter Shaffer staring John Gielgud and Patrick Magee (they were fabulous) - it hits on these very topics.

Nothing is new: 3500 year Vedic verse: "He who understands understands not and he that understands he understands not understands"

A student's question is often answered by themselves, you just need to show them the door. Plato would encourage the students to answer their own questions.

Yes, if you read history, and I'm afraid from the President down we are sadly lacking in that department - Did Richard lll have the two prince's killed in the tower or did he rush down from York to save them? Mike, I believe the Mayans had Armaggedon scheduled for 2012

Ask McCain and Palin a questions and they'll tell a lie that's if they can read the teleprompter - God, family, law, justice, science are NOT ABSOLUTES (these things always change) Mike what pipe are you smoking - each one of these has the right to be questioned. It is this ignorance and religious fundamentalism that will divide this country. Never stop questioning what you believe to be authority. Palin has said that Iraq is God task - I believe many people would question that belief - my big question to God is why your followers have so much hate and are so intolerant towards others. Why is it that Abraham, who is the father of the three main religions was allowed to cause so much blood shed and mayhem. Why is the law so unjust to some and so forgiving to others, what does creationism to do with science. Whats the point of not questioning the beliefs of others and better still your ownbeliefs. It is through question that we mature, we grow, we discover, we are reborn. Unless we can question what we hold to be aboslute we have no right to question others.

That's why we are for the most part unknowledgeable - we don't travel, we don't read, we hate discussing politics and religion, we are angry, and above all we don't listen or if we are quiet our mind is racing.

'Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito.’

Sorry, Eric...

Jim, she doesn't have us Liberals scared to death it's the other way round. As usual the GOP is now mimicking the Democratic platform wanting change and providing jobs through alternative energy. WHERE HAS THIS RHETORIC BEEN HIDING FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. It's amazing how dumb the American electorate is - the dumbing of Americans is working as Rove has engineered. With a dumb electorate propaganda is easy to achieve its goals. Palin like McCain are frauds - far-right media even ridiculed the choice of Palin. These are the facts about Ms Palin (a heartbeat from being our Commander in Chief). She may fool the Republican faithful who drink the kool-aid, but in fact she is most right-wing fringe person imaginable. This woman is dangerous - do not not be deceived by her looks and manners. Pay attention to what her positions are: 1. Her husband belonged to the Alaskan Independent Party (which Palin supported) which wants secession from the United States - isn't this considered treason? 2. Believes that Creationism should be taught in Science class along with Evolution. 3. Doesn't believe in Global warming (neither do most of you). 4. Tried to get books banned from the library and then took out revenge on anyone who opposed her. 5. Is viciously anti-environment and has opposed every environmental objective (most of you will also like that). 6. Is a far-right wing HOLY ROLLER Pentecostal. These are one removed from snake handlers and are dangerous proponents of no church/state separation. 7. Believes that woman should not be able to get contraception and should be forced to carry their child even in the cases of rape and incest. 8. Has been (and I believe still is) viciously anti-gay. 9. Was a major supporter of the "Bridge to nowhere" before she was against it. 10. Abused her power as Governor by having a trooper fired for a family fracas. 11. Believes the Iraq invasion by the United State was divinely inspired by God. The list goes on but I know by now Eric is getting upset. PLEASE, PLEASE, NO PALIN. Bryan has a good point and one worth recognizing because receiving information, information that is honest, is the biggest battle of all. We are fed so much crap by the Media (Fox News in particular) as information, and us Morons just accept it as factual. Intellectual Freedom can only thrive in an enlightened state and we are far from being enlightened. Therefore, as I agree with the essence of this quote I disagree with its reality.

And today there is no change... He who sits by quietly in the comfort of their chattels and does nothing while his fellow man is being persecuted is just as guilty.

The key word here is Intellectual - educate, educate, and educate, then we have the tools to fight oppression.

We talk and talk and talk - now is the time for a few good men to challenge those who claim power over us. We could start by impeaching Bush and his gang

Good for you Waffler - and Jim on his soap box talking of sinkholes brings up an obvious point - we are presently in the worst sinkhole in our history - nearly $500 billion in deficit, a war that's not going anywhere (and we are being told to get out), lies overflowing the challis, and corruption in every corner of government; yes, Jim I think you could call this a sinkhole - the only way out of this sinkhole is not to vote in another Bushalike and a VP that if were a man wouldn't stand a chance - sorry, I take that back, Bush did. By the way, the quote is good.

The statement is a contradiction.

Excellent Green and Waffler to stand up against these neocon fascists. Obama is our only chance (our only hope) to rid us from corruption, lies, and greed. Our philosophies are so far apart that we are different people and therefore I suggest America splits in half - if not the people in the end will do it. Reagan like the two "Fiscal Conservatives" after him, Bush one and Bush two, gave us a $200+ billion deficit - so much for the "trickle down" theory. Bush two is now the most despised President in our history with and has given us our biggest deficit of all $500 billion. It will take Liberals and Democrats who are the true fiscal conservatives yet again to pull us out of the mire. We are the true Patriots we are the ones who question authority and refuse to blindly go where we are told. Don't worry, you already have socialism in America (Big Time) it's called socializing corporate losses while we privatize corporate profits. Oh yes, McCain will just be another tax the poor, give tax breaks to corporate America and spend and spend and spend. McCain and Palin will be the last straw - they will get us into a war which may end all wars.