This shows that the US is not forgetting about the larger War On Terror, even with Iraq at the forefront.
Did you forget the way to the recruiter's office?
You cheapjack, low-rent, chickenshit chickenhawk!
In a sane world, the US would have stayed out of Iraq, finished the job in Afghanistan, and pounded the fuck out of the Union of Islamist Courts in Somalia.
Instead, we left Afghanistan in a state of disarray (not before killing a couple dozen Canadian troops, of course), bungled our way through Iraq in a conflict longer than World War II, and let the Ethiopian military do our heavy lifting in Somalia before swooping in with two relatively small AC-130 strikes.
Wow. What an impressive military vision your President has.
Of course, its not corruption when Bush and the Republicans give a no-bid, no questions ask contract to rebuild a country to a company that the VP formerly ran, but it is time for some seriously whistle-blowing over Samoan tuna fisherman and a Kevin Bacon-like connection to Pelosi, who I am sure was not the only one involved in this bill. And that makes her a hack? And who are Republicans to criticize anyone on the minimum wage issue? If it were up to them, there probably wouldn't even BE a minimum wage in the first place for anyone.
Here's a "hack" idea; what about our president who is escalating his losing war in order to prolong it into someone elses problem, or who, at the very best, is gambling his political career using our soldiers' lives?
Jason, are you bloggin from Afghanistan?
Nice work kid, you whipped her into shape:
Washington Post ^ | 1/13/07 | Jonathan Weisman
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), dogged by Republican charges of a double standard, said yesterday that American Samoa may join the Northern Mariana Islands as U.S. territories that would have to comply with a higher federal minimum wage.
Jason, do you ever have anything else to say but your usual recruiting office/join the war crap? President Clinton authorized many military strikes and a long-term air war through his 8 years; should we consider that wrong because he never served in the military?
Jason, do you ever have anything else to say but your usual recruiting office/join the war crap?
I have tons of other crap over at my blog the mighty Delawareliberal.
I just like to remind ole Ry about his duty to the flag when I'm in this neck of the woods.
... bungled our way through Iraq in a conflict longer than World War II, and let the Ethiopian military do our heavy lifting in Somalia before swooping in with two relatively small AC-130 strikes.
The Iraq-to-Vietnam parallels are a huge stretch. The Iraq-to-WWII is ridiculous. Do you have to self-medicate when you pull something that big out of your ass?
Mr. Anonymoose,
How is it a stretch to compare this conflict to Vietnam. Similiarities are not difficult to find. Obviously, there are serious differences but to ignore the similarities is irresponsible to our own history and to the memory of those who died in Vietnam. "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Maybe President Bush should have studied a little more in Yale instead of going on so many drinking binges....
Mike: The usual ranting about Halliburton (b/c of Cheney) gets tiresome especially when the previous administration did precisely the same thing -- when Cheney actually still was involved in the co.! Maybe it's b/c Halliburton is a co. uniquely suited to situations like what is occurring in Iraq.
Ryan is dead-on to nail Pelosi, especially after her "most ethical House" crap. AND her most obvious hypocrisy on the minimum wage. I bet her (and her hubby's argument) would be the same as those "nasty" Repubs: It hurts business. Just as long as it doesn't hurt business that SHE has ties to, eh Mike?
Tired as it may be, it still appears to be shady to anybody who hears the facts. Why not be open about it and avoid the controversey? There may be a history with the Samoa thing too that we don't know about, too.
Besides, the Haliburton thing is only one minor example of Republican corruption. Tom Delay, Dennis Hasert, Bill Frist, Dick Cheney and the CIA leak - all of the Republican leadership in the previous Congress was involved in MAJOR scandals, well beyond what was, at worst, a Congresswoman looking out for a major business in her district. Even if it was an early mistake, at least it wasn't illegal.
And once again, I ask who any Republican thinks they are crticizing any effort to raise the minimum wage when their party has let the lowest working class suffer for almost a decade without a raise.
I'm not criticizing the raise in the minimum wage. If the Democrats want to raise it, that's their agenda. I'll criticize it, but in the end, they control Congress, and those are the rules.
What I am criticizing here is the obvious corruption and hypocrisy, something I would criticize on either side of the aisle.
I still think calling this "corruption" is a stretch period. There is no evidence of it. This exemption was right there, in the bill, for everyone to see before they voted. It passed anyway. There is no Jack Abramoff, back door lobbying evident here. If that indeed was the case, then I'll be the first to be outraged. However, without the evidence, I thing the Republicans are just trying to make themselves feel better for allowing corruption to flourish under their leadership for so many years.
Here's a "hack" idea; what about our president
http://www.jokerstotheright.com/...-year-
2006.html
I still think calling this "corruption" is a stretch period. There is no evidence of it. This exemption was right there, in the bill, for everyone to see before they voted. It passed anyway. There is no Jack Abramoff, back door lobbying evident here.
And that's what makes it so sickening.
However, without the evidence
You just said it is on the books and passed in the open...I think the evidence is there.
Either way it has been resolved, and so obviously calling Pelosi out on this was the right call.
See: http://colossus.mu.nu/archives/2...ives/
212014.php
Personally, I'm glad the min. wage was extended. As far as I'm concerned, a living wage is a basic human right that should be enjoyed by all those under the American sphere. I still do not consider this anywhere near on par with the corruption of the previous Republican Congress, if this is corruption at all instead of just politics as usual.
As for Bush, I think he should be the hack every week, but that doesn't make for very interesting reading. lol.
If the minimum wage is increased doesn't that mean prices of products are going to increase as well to compensate for the pay raise?
And don't bite my head off for this question I really would like to know if my assumptions are correct. (and yes I know what happens when you ASSume)
Yes, businesses will offset their costs with an increase in price. However, prices climb anyway with inflation. The minimum wage has not been adjusted for inflation (or anything) since 1997. Also, the prices of goods and services from overseas will not change, only domestically made products. The change would be gradual and probably not that major anyway. Still, your reasoning is spot on (and this is coming from a minimum wage supporter).
Also, the prices of goods and services from overseas will not change, only domestically made products.
That means it will hurt Americans more, and there's a distinct possibility that the increase in the cost of living will make the increase in the minimum wage for naught anyway.
Ah, Ryan, but what about the Republican trickle-down theory? More money in the hands of minimum wage workers means more is being spent in industry. They can thus create more jobs or keep prices reasonable. Or do such arguments only apply when we give the rich more money (so they can invest it overseas or elsewhere and not spend it)?
Actually, those arguments only apply where there is a real increase in income, one not displaced by rising prices.
Trickle down is about lowering costs, not raising them.
hmm, this isn't the post for this discussion - I'm not even going there. We're at 21 posts already. 
These are heros:
http://www.blackfive.net/main/so...know/
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