Torture is not a conservative vs. liberal issue, a Democrat vs. Republican issue, or even a civilized vs. barbarian issue.  Routine torture is condemned by everyone except sadists.  It was used in ancient Athens more to show who had more money than anything else; 2500 years ago it was known that anyone will confess to anything under torture.

Now, ex-VP Cheney is trying to claim that torture saved lives (although every fact contradicts this), and Tony Blankley seemed to be saying that torture is indeed a Democrat vs. Republic issue, with Republicans on the side of the sadists.  It’s a sad day when one of the few reasonable voices on the right is so cruel to his own party.

Re: PSmith
(part 2)

Yes, Europe certainly had its share of colonies didn’t it.  I can only assume you are not old enough to REMEMBER what some of your countrymen did.  It was AFTER the destruction of most of Europe by the fascists that the Europeans finally decided to CHANGE the way they treated each other, although it didn’t necessarily apply to the rest of the world…did it?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Europe.  I think of THE PEOPLE of a country, THE PEOPLE are what matters, not some wild-eyed fanatics or inbred blue-bloods.  All of my ancestors ARE EUROPEAN!  But you see, “I” was born here, in America as were my parents and their parents, and WE now consider ourselves Americans….. imagine that.

We love our country, its our home.  Most of us do NOT have the mentality “America, right or wrong”.  Some do, but even some of these in their warped perspective think they’re creating something “better”, just like Hitler.

I agree that many in America were taught outright LIES concerning their history and this is a deep wound.  However, it appears that you have just as skewed a version of Europe.

It was Europeans that invaded the only TRUE AMERICANS, plundered and stole their land.  Then the colonists, with the help of the certain Indian Tribes and the French, fought England (our masters) and created “a new” country.  Then…. the “new Americans” turned around and tried to wipe every NATIVE AMERICAN FROM THIS COUNTRY off the face of the earth, and Canada wasn’t any less guilty in this regard.  Canada…..“colonized (which is a platonic term for stealing) by the French and English”....yep, they had their “Indian schools” too.  And EVERYONE had their slaves, including Europe.

Maybe its TIME, that THE PEOPLE stop beating up one another for the thrill and riches of the FEW.  EVERYWHERE, around the world!

Re: PSmith
(part 1)

Your comment: “Why would I care? Imagine that you grow up and are ‘educated’ to believe that between the Democrats and Republicans is the ‘middle ground’. You would have no clue that you had been steered to regard the far right as ‘moderate’ and ‘normal.’

Consider that ‘education’ the political equivalent of a (Republican) pedophile ‘grooming’ children - namely YOU.”

Well PSmith, it sounds as if you are European.  Hope you’re not from England and still angry we won the war.

Yes…. those docile Europeans, Margaret Thatcher, Hilter, Mussolini, Jean-Marie Le Pen in France and Jorg Haider in Austria were some you mentioned.  These were/are ALL Europeans, correct….. and some did/do create or attempt to create terrible conditions for their people.  Yes, they certainly did/do.  If I remember correctly it was the US, Russia and England who fought and stopped a couple of those “docile”, forward-thinking Europeans.

Europe has a long and bloody history, the Iquisition, the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire, the British Empire, the Dutch Empire, the Roman Empire, the Thirty Years War, the First World War, the Crimean War, the Second World War,...... from Wiki:

“The numerous wars did not prevent the new states from exploring and conquering wide portions of the world, particularly in Asia (Siberia) and the newly-discovered Americas. In the 15th century, Portugal led the way in geographical exploration, followed by Spain in the early 16th century. They were the first states to set up colonies in America and trade stations on the shores of Africa and Asia, but they were soon followed by France, England and the Netherlands. In 1552, Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible conquered two major Tatar khanates, Kazan and Astrakhan, and the Yermak’s voyage of 1580 led to the annexation of Siberia into Russia.

This expansion helped the economy of the countries owning them. Trade flourished, because of the minor stability of the empires. By the late 16th century American silver accounted for one-fifth of the Spain’s total budget. The European countries fought wars that were largely paid for by the money coming in from the colonies. Nevertheless, the profits of the slave trade and of plantations of the West Indies, most profitable of all the British colonies at that time, amounted to less than 5% of the British Empire’s economy (but was generally more profitable) at the time of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century.”

Personally, i’m tired of seeing and hearing the ex-vice president.  Let him pitch his sale at the Hague and should keep him off the american aire waves.

I’m, too, so disgusted with arney i can watch the shows he stars in NO more.

OUTRAGE - REPUBLICAN ‘POLITICAL PEDOPHILE GROOMING’

Bravo, Outrage.

“The US has one political party - with two right wings, Democrat and Republican.” Gore Vidal.

‘Bonkers’ Bolton shows his true colours, to John Pilger - @6:10 “Are you a Labour Party member? John Pilger - “(New) Labour are conservatives.” BB - “Are you a communist.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIxezBfzgkM

BING0! - THE UNSPEAKABLE TRUTH

> Again, Mr. Scheer is NOT THE LEFT, unless you’ve thrown truth out the window and ignore radicals!  Blankley is radical, Matt Miller isn’t “center”, he’s simply a “game player”, which in “normal” America I wouldn’t consider a major travesty BUT…., AND EXCEPT for…. the era wherein we find ourselves.

To a European, this is self-evident. As obvious as night and day. But in the US - as rare as hen’s teeth.

Sicko - If the US were like Norway it would be a lotus land of peace and harmony, and the hate-filled right wing would be ‘Norwegian conservative guy’ @ 1.20—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svSUCbClg8E

Europe has Marxist-Leninists, Trotskyites and Maoists on the (far) left. It has Socialists on the left. It has Labour just left of the middle. It has Social-Democrats in the middle. Then Christian Democrats on the right. It has Conservatives on the (far) right. Then there are the (US) Democrats and Republicans on the (very far) right. And Margaret Thatcher. Mussolini is just beside her.

Adolf Hitler is lined up right beside (HA!) the Neocons. Just east of Mussolini and Margaret Thatcher. The (ultra-far) right.

Notice where the Democrats and Republicans are. Six inches apart and off the scale for any hope of governing, were they in Europe. They would be right beside Jean-Marie Le Pen in France and Jorg Haider in Austria; would be fascists.

Why would I care? Imagine that you grow up and are ‘educated’ to believe that between the Democrats and Republicans is the ‘middle ground’. You would have no clue that you had been steered to regard the far right as ‘moderate’ and ‘normal.’

Consider that ‘education’ the political equivalent of a (Republican) pedophile ‘grooming’ children - namely YOU.

Where is the “debate” regarding truth?  Thank you Mr. Scheer!  Why is there a “debate” regarding TRUTH!  Someone… please, EXPLAIN the supposed partisan issue of TRUTH!

I CAN and DO speak for the majority of Americans who are DEMANDING the truth.  The American People WILL disown/throw out/crush the LIARS.  We’re sick of it, all of us, ALL POLITICS ASIDE.

With the facts, the people are not “so stupid” as is portrayed.

As to Tony Blakely’s “world that doesn’t exist” come down to MY WORLD, and I challenge you Mr. Blankley…. I’ll take you and your supposed “world that doesn’t exist”, conjecture to task.

This isn’t a “scary” proposition (at least not according to YOU).... simply REALITY “down here on the homefront” so to speak.  Put your money where your MOUTH is Mr. Blankley, I’ll give you EVERY OPTION AVAILABLE to those who work for a living, although I admit Mr. Gasbag that I will also DENY YOU every option denied every “meat packaging worker”.  Better yet, I’ll give you a mentor at the meat packing plant…. they could give you a real live example of “prosperity”, American-style.

(BTW, Mr. Plump, enlighten me as to YOUR CONJECTURE as to how many days you would last killing cattle 8-12 hours a day, (it’s not a difficult position to learn) day in, day out—- I say you wouldn’t last an HOUR in “prosperity”)

Again, Mr. Scheer is NOT THE LEFT, unless you’ve thrown truth out the window and ignore radicals!  Blankley is radical, Matt Miller isn’t “center”, he’s simply a “game player”, which in “normal” America I wouldn’t consider a major travesty BUT…., AND EXCEPT for…. the era wherein we find ourselves.

THE REALITY, OR MORE SUCCINCTLY….THE TRUTH OF THE FACTS ON THE GROUND, exposes all but Mr. Scheer as hacks.  Or DECIDEDLY and worse yet…..as, ignorant, exceptionalist, delusional or outright liars.

Pick your own poison appears to be the “flavor of the month”.