The Respectfully Republican Conversation

Well gals ---finally an issue that may mobilize the conservative base to go to the polls.  I think you may have recieved a gift today.

The defense of marriage act will become an issue able to be challenged in many states due to this ruling today.

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From Election Geek

Gay Marriage Issue Returns in a Big Way

"If you have been wondering what Republicans were going to talk about all summer, California may have just given you an answer. In a 4-3 decision the state Supreme Court struck down a ban on gay marriage paving the way for legalization throughout the state. The ruling said that civil unions were not a good enough alternative and that language limiting marriage to between a man and a woman is unconstitutional.

“There can be no doubt that extending the designation of marriage to same-sex couples, rather than denying it to all couples, is the equal protection remedy that is most consistent with our state’s general legislative policy and preference,”

As the largest state in the union, this ruling will likely have repercussions throughout the union. Meanwhile it will undoubtedly become a major issue in the 2008 campaign. More information as it comes in."

The speech was great.  My LE therapist and I disagree on who should be prez.  I said I could take Hillary, but not Obama.  She's for Obama...she thinks he can do something for this country.  I explained that Hillary probably had to sound tough.  She said Pelosi doesn't sound that way.  I said I don't like Pelosi.  How does one explain things to the "other side?"  All I can say is.........

Shirley

For you, Linda. I'm an Idol junkie.  This young man sang "Imagine" and the judges were WOWED by him.  He's got my heart.  He's only 17.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7fZQXYE9yw&feature=related

Dems can say whatever they want but let a Repub say something and the s*** hits the fan! Go George! And I cannot stand Pelosi, that woman makes me want to VOMIT!

Democrats outraged by Bush "appeasement" remark

By Steve Holland 2 hours, 55 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats erupted in outrage on Thursday after President George W. Bush suggested a pledge by the party's presidential front-runner Barack Obama to meet Iran's leader was akin to appeasement of Nazi Germany.

Bush's comments, made in Jerusalem to the Israeli parliament during celebrations for Israel's 60th anniversary, stirred up the campaign for the November election and prompted Obama to accuse him of engaging in "the politics of fear."

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," Bush said.

Without mentioning Obama by name, Bush compared "this foolish delusion" to the prelude to World War Two.

"As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history," he said.

The United States entered the war more than two years after the German invasion of Poland when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in 1941.

Bush, who has generally avoided talking about the campaign to elect a new president in November, drew a sharp response from Obama, the first-term Illinois senator who is close to defeating rival Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Obama maintains he would be willing to meet with leaders of hostile nations like Iran, Syria and Cuba. He argues the United States blundered by refusing to talk to them.

'FALSE ATTACK'

"It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence to launch a false political attack," Obama said.

"George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists, and the president's extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally Israel," he said.

Republican John McCain, who has clinched his party's presidential nomination, did not repeat the word "appeasement" when asked about Bush's comments as he campaigned in Ohio.

But he did criticize Obama's pledge to speak directly to U.S. foes, particularly Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He said Obama needs to explain why he would talk to him.

"It shows naivete and inexperience and lack of judgment to say that he wants to sit down across the table from an individual who leads a country that says that Israel is a 'stinking corpse,' that is dedicated to the extinction of the state of Israel. My question is, what does he want to talk about?" McCain said.

Clinton, who has criticized Obama's pledge to meet Ahmadinejad, nonetheless came to his defense.

"President Bush's comparison of any Democrat to Nazi appeasers is both offensive and outrageous on the face of it," she told reporters.

Both Bush and McCain frequently criticize Ahmadinejad for threatening Israel and believe he must be stopped from developing a nuclear weapon, a goal Iran denies.

White House spokesman Dana Perino insisted Bush did not specifically mean to target Obama, saying "there are many who have suggested these types of negotiations with people that President Bush thinks we should not talk to."

A prominent McCain backer, Connecticut independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate, said Bush "got it exactly right" by rejecting the idea that "if only we were to sit down and negotiate with these killers they would cease to threaten us."

Many Democrats slammed Bush and pointed out the words of his own defense secretary, Robert Gates, who said on Wednesday: "We need to figure out a way to develop some leverage with respect to the Iranians and then sit down and talk with them."

The Bush administration has talked directly with Iran over the conflicts in its neighbors Iraq and Afghanistan and has offered to discuss a wide range of issues if Tehran agrees to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

"If George Bush believes engagement with Iran is appeasement, the first thing he should do when he comes home is demand the resignation of his own Cabinet," former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, an Obama supporter, said.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said Bush's remarks were "beneath the dignity of the office of the president and unworthy of our representation at that observance in Israel."

Saluki, he constantly back pedals!

I am absolutely sick of politicians.  I believe even more this year!

Isn't it funny how the dems and Obama JUMPED to the conclusion that Bush was talking about him/them?  Hillary should have kept her mouth shut, or should have said, yep, that's what Obama said.

I've been listening to the tube today (after a while ya have to get away from it ).   Saw Obama's "speech" about Bush's remark.  Here's what I say.....IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT!

Obama's wearing that shoe.  And Carter's worn his out! 

Shirley

Hahaha, Shirley. You crack me up.



t.

Bush Lied About Giving Up Golf: Video Proof

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/16/bush-lied-about-giving-up_n_102138.html

(Could this mean he lied about the war too???)

Sorry.  I shouldn't have joined this conversation, but Bush is urging Republicans to veto the G.I. Bill that would give much needed benefits to veterans.  We owe them soooo much.

P.S.  The veteran interviewed on the video, Paul Rieckhoff, should run for office.  He speaks very eloquently. 

Hi Shirley,

You dared me to watch the video and I did.  It makes me cry also to hear of the young valiant man, Michael Monsoor, who lost his life and all the other thousands who are so terribly injured.  If Bush cares about the sacrifice of our military, then he should reward them like the veterans of other wars have been rewarded, and sign the G.I. Bill.  It means more than giving up golf.  Or crying.

Shirley, I dare you to watch the video I posted.

sally 

I did watch the video you posted, Sally.  Thanks for watching mine.

Shirley

Here it is Rosemary and Shirley

Dems are against having incentives in the bill to remain in the army.

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“Each of us supports increasing education benefits for our nation’s veterans, and we believe this must be accomplished as quickly as possible,” reads the letter, signed by McCain, Graham and Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). The three Republicans go on to say that they have “never disagreed with the overall intent” of the Webb bill but would like more attention to problems of recruitment and retention as well as “in-service education of career servicemen and women.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has raised questions, as well, about whether the Webb bill will hurt retention by encouraging young soldiers and Marines to leave after their first enlistment. Warner indicated that some changes might be made to address these fears, but he also argues that the improved benefits will be a great recruitment tool that will attract brighter volunteers into the service

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Republican Judd Gregg said it was "public knowledge" the Democrats were planning to block McCain and Graham from offering their bill. "The only way, the only way that Sen. Graham could protect his rights was to bring the amendment forward at this time."  

Another difference between the two bills concerns active personnel being able to transfer their educational benefits to their spouse or children. McCain's bill allows 50% of those benefits to be transferred after six years of service; 100% after 12 years. 

Webb called transferability "an unproven concept" that's been around for decades. "There has been a pilot program available in current law since [2001] for the United States military to test the transferability program if the service secretaries decided that they wanted to try it," he said. "They haven't really tried it."

The Administration sided with McCain, arguing benefits that were too generous and too early in active duty service would hurt reenlistments -- and would lure service members off of military bases and onto college campuses. "My job is to get people to stay in the military, not only to join, but to stay as well," McCain said from the campaign trail in Ohio Wednesday.

In a letter to McCain last month voicing support, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, "Transferability supports military families, thereby enhancing retention." Gates added, "Any enhancement of the education benefit, whether used in service or after retirement, must serve to enhance recruiting and not undercut retention."

The GI Bill will likely come before the Senate next week as part of an emergency war-funding bill. From the road, McCain still held out hope a deal could be brokered. "We have written to Sen. Webb and said we wanted to sit down and negotiate," he said, "and he has agreed to do that. I'm sure that we can sit down and work out these differences."

Thanks, Susie, for posting that.  I've heard McCain talking about incentives to keep men and women in the military longer.  And this is it, but I never knew it was "the bill."  And then I hear the dems complaining that Bush and McCain have voted against the new GI Bill.  I thought, what's up with that.  Now I know.  Politics and the dems not being truthful WHY.  They'll ask why when on a news show, but never answer the question themself.  Dishonest to say the least!

Shirley

OK...when did this thread turn into AMERICAN IDOL???

Just kidding... I would much rather talk about AI than ... well, I'd rather talk about this show than discuss politics or bc.... 

Harley

Always a reason if you look closer---Take a look at this beauty of the week.

An amendment tacked on at the last minute by the Democrats for a five year illegal alien amnesty visa to the War funding bill.-------Just amazing.

Poor Lou Dobbs is blowing his stack--not that he doesn't every night.

From National Review online

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Vitter vs. Feinstein-Craig Iraq-Funding-Bill Amnesty   [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today released the following statement about an amnesty provision inserted by Senate Democrats into the Iraq War supplemental funding bill that would provide a five-year “amnesty visa” to millions of illegal aliens employed in agriculture industries, allowing them to legally live and work in the United States.

“The Democratic leadership has amassed a significant track record of using the Iraq War as a means to advance their partisan politics.  With the recess quickly approaching, this is not the time for such maneuvers, and this is certainly not the appropriate vehicle on which to attach such a blatantly political statement.

“This effort is particularly egregious as it uses the war funding bill to extend amnesty to illegal aliens, threatening the very national security that our brave service men and women fight to protect every day.  Instead of ensuring that American troops are provided with the tools and resources that they need to protect our homeland, some in the Senate have instead chosen to jeopardize this funding by inserting provisions that are – at best – counterproductive to the efforts of our military members.  I will be working to remove this amendment from this important bill,” said Vitter.

05/16 03:58 PM