What should we give Texas as a going away gift? Or don't let the door hit you...

[ccbatson]

Worse than creeping socialism, unless [[G-d willing), it generates a vigourous response in the opposite direction at the next opportunity. Possible only in AMerica and thanks to our Constitution.

[MoparDan]

Yeah, we sure don't want socialism down here...
Texas provided Toyota with $133 million in incentives to build a plant.
Plus
$15 million in state funds to create rail tracks
$47 million in phased-in taxes and waived fees;
$15 million for site utility infrastructure;
$14 million for land;
$10 million for site preparation; and
$3 million for a city-provided job-training center.

All this under "conservative" Perry. In any case, he's finished down here.

[ccbatson]

Tax reductions and waved fees are not socialization vehicles, they are methods of allowing property owners to keep more of their property.

I agree regarding infrastructure funding via tax dollars...privatize it all.

[firstandten]

There are some new people on board who seem to throw the terms, Jew, Nazi, and Liberal around with great abandon. Are you familiar with the Kristal nachct ? It's a slippery slope folks.

On a serious note when you start throwing those terms around its easier to marginalize people and once you start to marginalizing people then the slippery slope can come to this:

THE TORTURE MEMO'S

According the May, 30, 2005 "Torture Memo," penned by Judge Jay Bybee [[Bush got him onto the 9th Circ. Appellate Court), we held and tortured 94 detainees, using waterboarding, stressed positioning, subjecting them to extreme temperatures while naked, even stuffing them into boxes.
Most telling, in Page 7 of this formerly secret document, the author identified "Gul" who had been subjected to sleep deprivation, stress positions, slaps, and other techniques. Interestingly, the CIA has denied holding Gul, has denied torturing Gul, and denies knowing where Gul currently is. Makes one wonder how honest the CIA has been with us.
On Page 8, the author admits that "The CIA used the waterboard extensively in the interrogations of KSM and Zubaydah. . . " So much for a previous claim that it was not used regularly, or even at all.
Early on in this hideous document, Bybee promises that "enhanced" torture would only be used on high level targets. Yet, on Page 9, Bybee suggests using it on low level, detainees in order to validate and assess other information's validity.
On page 10, Bybee admits that Jose Padilla's alleged nuke plot [[which the DOJ and Military later dropped) was totally based on torture-based interrogations . Unfortuantely, Padilla had no nuke plot, was not in any position to create a nuke plot, and has been rendered so brain damaged by his own torture [[by the US), that his own attorneys and the prosecutors agree that he is no longer sane.
At least we know why the DOJ dropped most of the counts against Padilla.
Page 15 discusses immersion in water at 41 Deg. Fahrenheit. It describes putting people in a coffin-like box for hours at a time. Still the best is yet to come:
"We conclude, first, that the CIA interrogation program does not implicate the US obligations under Article 16 of the CAT because Article 16 has limited geographic scope. . . As we explain below, based on CIA assurances, we understand that the interrogations conducted by the CIA did not take place in any 'territory under United States jurisdiction. . . . "
Translation: Because we avoided US soil, [[except for torturing Padilla until he went mad) we can do as we please and torture anyone we want. I am sure that Raul Castro wants Gitmo back. Last I checked, we seem to exert control over that territory.
- -
The Dishonorable Jay Bybee also reviewed each torture technique, and gave his blessing to each method of damaging the mind and body of people we held against their will. [[By the way, the recent disclosure that 2/3s of those held at Gitmo were innocent of any wrong-doing, terror, or crimes should be considered while you learn about the torture that Bybee approved)
Stress positions: Bybee argues that these are all great and work wonderfully, even though they may cause "physical discomfort."
Sleep deprivation: Even though sleep deprivation causes mental illness, Bybee excuses that because "reactions abate after the individual is permitted to sleep." Translation, even after you drive your victim crazy, his worst symptoms improve with sleep.
Cramped boxes with insects: Bybee gladly seized on the fact that Zubaydah has a phobia about insects. How nice to put him in a coffin, add insects, and close him up.
Waterboaring: Bybee clinically describes how safe and sound this program is, approving its use.

There are other techniques and methods of breaking the minds and the psyches of those we detained, including the hundreds of innocents that were "processed" under Bybee's program of deliberate torture ".

[d.mcc]

First...

Not allowing these techniques only makes the United States more vulnerable...

These captives aren't protected by our rights, they are criminals, and should be treated as such...

[firstandten]

First...

Not allowing these techniques only makes the United States more vulnerable...

These captives aren't protected by our rights, they are criminals, and should be treated as such...

I respectfully disagree with your view, and lets have that discussion under a different thread because I'm sure people will want to weigh in and we shouldn't burden the Texas hatin folks with torture talk.

[d.mcc]

I respectfully disagree with your view, and lets have that discussion under a different thread because I'm sure people will want to weigh in and we shouldn't burden the Texas hatin folks with torture talk.

*whisper*

take a moment to glance at every other post I have ever lent my commentary too

[firstandten]

*whisper*

take a moment to glance at every other post I have ever lent my commentary too

my bad , I must be tired

[d.mcc]

my bad , I must be tired

No worries...

I like the people that think that torturing makes our country any safer. As if our international policies of snatching up citizens of foreign countries and torturing until they give us anything we want to hear so they no longer have to endure the trauma we are inflicting upon them can end, will possibly benefit our country's safety.

Almost as good as the die hard evangelical Christian who kills a planned parenthood doctor in Christ's name. Or calling Liberal policies that use taxpayer money to shelter and feed those less fortunate terrible in the eyes of the supposed "conservative" sect of our population....

Helping those less fortunate...Fuck you Liberals...that's the Church's job, not those with the means to do so...

[Flanders]

Solution to Islam
"Islam intends to cover the whole earth, by force, or reproduction. There is no way to negotiate with those that would enslave or kill everyone that disagrees with them. What, do we let them kill half of us?"

"After 9\11, we should have nuked Mecca, Medina and every Islamic population center until the rubble bounced. Then we should have captured every oil well, killed every male Islamic, and every married woman. The unmarried females would have been brought home as war brides for our victorious warriors."

"Here at home, declare Islam to be a political system, not a religion. As the stated goal of Islam is the imposition of Sharia law, every Islamic would be guilty of treason, and would be put to death. Seal all borders and ports, never again let a person or cargo in or out without inspection."

"Perhaps Russia, as their leaders are not as weak as ours, will be willing to do what is needed to counter the threat"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I presume that those "war brides" are at least verifiably 18??

From a RW website, maybe I will add a few of these types of posts each day as I come across them while browsing.

Teh internet is a wonderful means of communication and collaboration, but unfortunately it also permits teh real whackjobs to do so as well.

[Flanders]

Tax reductions and waved fees are not socialization vehicles, they are methods of allowing property owners to keep more of their property.

I agree regarding infrastructure funding via tax dollars...privatize it all.

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing The United States of Batsonia, Inc. [[except the military, along with small conservative-led executive. legislative, and judicial branches of government)

I would love to see if a US based manufacturing company that locates a factory in Japan would be allowed to keep their "property" LOL!!

"Every Japanese company, irrespective of domestic or foreign ownership, is treated as a Japanese resident and is liable to pay corporate taxes [[~42% including national and local income taxes and 'inhabitants' tax) in Japan on its total income whether earned in Japan or overseas [[so if your Japanese subsidiary also sells in South Korea, Taiwan etc. it will pay taxes in Japan on those revenues),"

http://www.venturejapan.com/japanese-business-tax.htm



Many large foreign companies with operations here can send their federally UNTAXED profits out of the US, due to the US' leaky tax code, which also gives them an unfair advantage over their smaller US-based competitors, what a shame.

[Gistok]

The talk of Texas leaviing the union is just that... talk.

Maybe Texas should learn from Virginia's mistake. Besides the entire mess with the Civil War, the [[at that time) huge state of Virginia seceded from the Union. Then the westernmost 37 counties of Virginia broke away in 1863 to form the free state of West Virginia.

Texas, currently America's 2nd most populous state [[after California), and our largest "red" state, could be carved up rather nicely....

[cheddar bob]

Texas could break away and I think it would last about 6 months before Mexico invaded them. Maybe we should just give Texas to the Mexicans anyway. The conservatives there would have a place much closer to their ideals: Low taxes, almost no welfare, and little government regulation.

[MoparDan]

Texas could break away and I think it would last about 6 months before Mexico invaded them. Maybe we should just give Texas to the Mexicans anyway. The conservatives there would have a place much closer to their ideals: Low taxes, almost no welfare, and little government regulation.

We were just talking in our office here of how long it would take Mexico to finally invade. Consensus: 6mos, so good speculatin' there Bob!
With the original secession, the Central Texas area voted to stay with the Union. Chances are, we'd do exactly the same & wind up being a "West Berlin" so to speak. Just make sure y'all get some armor & airpower in here post haste, otherwise a sea of red will swallow up this island of blue pronto!

[cheddar bob]

I forgot one more: almost no legal abortions. Sounds like a conservative's paradise.

Yeah Mopar, I was talking about this last week with a coworker and he didn't believe that Mexico could even defeat Texas regardless of my 6 month estimation. The country of Mexico vs. the Texas State Guard? I'll take Mexico and spot him some odds.

[MoparDan]

I'm actually in the Air Guard...we could probably hold our own for a short while, but without the logistical support of the USAF those jets wouldn't be up in the air very long. The red sea will swallow us up, then the invasion from the south would take place. Not a pretty sight any way you look at it.
Sarge lives only 10mins away from me; he's also former AF so we'd have him launching jets & lugging an M-16 too!
"Ich bin ein CenTexian."

[ccbatson]

Forest and trees folks...it is not a serious gambit to secede.

[detmich]

Cut off their water supply, they won't last long.

[firstandten]

Simple solution to this: 3 of the 10 largest megachurches in the country are in Texas and about 15 of the top 100. You tell them that they can't solicit funds from the rest of the country and watch that secession talk stop the next day.

[MoparDan]

Cut off their water supply, they won't last long.

That is one subject that no one seems to pay attention to here. Our governor & state legislature are trying to pull in as many businesses & people as possible without any regard for the long term. Water is a very finite resource, even in our part of the state. Many municipalities are already urging voluntary conservation but people keep watering the living daylights out of their yards. About the time July hits is when it's felt. There's a reason why some people speculate on buying a summer home further north to escape the broiler like conditions.
Right now Texas is THE spot for jobs/living, etc. A few generations back the migration was to the north & midwest for the jobs; then it was the west coast; more recently places like Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina & Florida. But even we're starting to feel the effects. From what I understand the state has lost somewhere around 150k jobs since the beginning of the year. And yet our governor tells them "tough luck" when it comes to unemployment benefits. I realize it pales in comparison to the rest of the country but we're usually one of the last to feel the repercussions.
People clamor how right-to-work states are so much better than union ones, well there's good & bad to both. There's nothing like being a competent, punctual, hard worker who comes in early only to be told he's being laid off. Why? Because you're the first guy in this morning & the supervisor was told to let the first x-number of workers arriving they're being let go. It doesn't matter who they are, we need to cut payroll. That's getting off topic, but despite all these people moving here, this ain't hardly paradise. There's very few decent inhabitable places to live here & I'm fortunate enough to be in one of them.

[ccbatson]

Let the dialogue they are generating go on....it is healthy.

[rb336]

Let the dialogue they are generating go on....it is healthy.

only you would think treason is a healthy subject

[sarge]

Originally Posted by DetroitRoch
Wow, How about left wingers wanting to wipe Christianity and Judaism of the face of the earth?

Gone already. That HAS to be some sort of record. It's only a matter of time before his replacement arrives.
Attachment 773

[Stosh]

Gone already. That HAS to be some sort of record. It's only a matter of time before his replacement arrives.
Attachment 773

I was just wondering the other day how long it would take before he [[or she) was banned. Funny.

[firstandten]

I was just wondering the other day how long it would take before he [[or she) was banned. Funny.

I'm truly disappointed. Trolls can be funny sometimes !