Sunday, August 12, 2012

LTE Forum MO 08/13/12

Good AM, folks!

Spent yesterday riding a motorcycle, and then out and about with Susan. Weekends are too short. OK, take on the letters and news of the day.

61 comments:

  1. "Highest principles"

    I urge those who care about the welfare of our state and nation to vote for Elisabeth Motsinger to replace the embarrassing Virginia Foxx for the U.S. House of Representatives in November.

    I have known Elisabeth for many years. She is a woman of the highest moral principles and commitment to the environment, education and the welfare of all citizens. She will never succumb to the greed that is shamefully rampant in our government today.

    ANNE PAISLEY
    Winston-Salem

    "Future shock"

    I've been around since Herbert Hoover was president, and have never seen a political party so biased for the rich and opposed to everyone else, i.e., the hard-working people, whether middle-class or not.

    Ironically, with the tea party, who are not privileged plutocrats with Swiss bank accounts and island tax havens, the question becomes: Why do they support a political party that operates against them?

    Conservatism is a legitimate philosophy, in representing a return to time-tested, traditional values when the political climate is experienced as being off-balance. Nothing makes a conservative like having something to conserve, and those who increased their wealth in the current climate of deregulation would naturally support the status quo, which is not the case for the majority.

    The status drive is a powerful force in human nature, and most of us can satisfy this need by looking down on some other group considered inferior, with people of color and homosexuals having long served in this capacity.

    Suddenly, supportive illusions are shattered: homosexuality being recognized as based in biology rather than choice becomes legitimate, with gay marriage being considered.

    And we have a black president. Social change is sensed as a threat, and this is future shock. All Obama initiatives are spoken of pejoratively, and the "birther" controversy is kept alive by a receptive audience.

    It remains to be seen if the American people can transcend their traditional beliefs and vote for the Democratic Party that supports them.

    CHARLES L. RING
    Winston-Salem

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    1. "Getting along"

      Opinions should never be boycotted. As Rodney King once said, "Can we all get along?"

      I am amazed that people can get so emotional over someone's personal opinion. If I boycotted every business or political person because I did not agree with them, I would not have a lot of human contact. I sometimes disagree with my wife, most preachers, my children, friends and politicians, but I have never actually boycotted them for their opinion.

      Maybe it would be better to just love and accept people for who they say they are rather than boycott them simply because we do not agree.

      The first sin they accused Jesus of committing was that he had fellowship with sinners. The only people he ever harshly confronted were the religious hypocrites who did not like anyone who did not agree with them. Our country is certainly in need of a change, not only in our political thinking, but a change of heart to love God and love our neighbors. We are even asked to pray for our enemies, but we are a long way from that possibility. A good start would be to treat one another the way we would want to be treated.

      If you do not like what I have said, that is OK and I will still accept you even if you decide to boycott me.

      DALE M. RIDDLE
      Pilot Mountain

      "Gays and lesbians"

      This is God's universe and world. He made it and he sustains it. God is sovereign, which means there is none higher nor more powerful. He also made us and the laws by which we are to live. God is entitled to do this.

      God has given mankind certain laws by which we should live. These rules are not to spoil our fun, but that we might live a happy and peaceful life and to show us that we all are sinners. God says that we should not steal in order to protect our property, that we should not murder in order to protect our lives, etc.

      God has stated very clearly in his word, the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testaments, that homosexual acts and behavior are a sin. It is for this reason only that the Christian community and society in general does not condone gay and lesbian marriages. We do not hate gays and lesbians, nor does God hate them, but God hates their sinful acts just as he hates the sinful acts that we all commit. It is because of all of our sins that he sent his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and pay for them in full so that by simple faith and trust in Christ, we can be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven.

      It is for this reason that we know that God loves straight people, as well as gays and lesbians.

      G. BARRY LONG
      Pfafftown

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    2. "It's not age"

      I had to leave my breakfast to comment on the Aug. 6 column "Obama's haters spin unbelievable web" by Reg Henry.

      I agree with much of what he wrote, but hate is not a matter of age.

      I am 73 and appalled by the flat-earthers and birthers and climate-change deniers. My daughter is in her mid-40s and proud to have taken her family of six to "Eat Junk Food for Jesus @ Chick-fil-A" last week. The hate is not age-related, it is fear-related.

      I feel better now. Going to finish my oatmeal.

      MAUREEN MARGADONNA
      Winston-Salem

      "A proper analogy"

      I was very entertained by the Aug. 8 letter "Boycotting boycotts." I really appreciated the writer's humorous take on the admittedly overheated topic of boycotting Chick-fil-A and his even-handed approach to the idea of boycotts.

      But I'd have to disagree with his analogy. He writes, "Boycotting a business because you do not agree with its philosophies, either political or other, is the same to me as burning books because you don't agree with the author's story."

      Well — nobody is suggesting burning down Chick-fil-A restaurants. The boycott's purpose is to withhold support from a business that has involved itself in the political arena by donating millions of dollars to organizations that advocate discrimination and promote hatred.

      If I disagree with an author's story, I would never advocate burning his book. But I would not buy it, and I'd probably encourage others not to buy it.

      So the proper analogy would be: "Boycotting a business because you do not agree with its philosophies, either political or other, is the same as not buying a book because you don't agree with the author's story." Which actually makes a lot of sense to me.

      But, again — great letter.

      JANE SIMMONS
      Winston-Salem

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  2. Homosexual activists are vandalizing 'Chick-fil-A Restaurants'. I hope the hate mongering bigots realize they are just hurting their cause, not helping it.

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    1. I've said all along that many of these left-wing gays are not nice people.

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    2. Bob, of course, being the exception.

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    3. As always, Dunce gets hysterical about nothing and makes it sound as if there is a wave of vandalism aimed at CfA sweeping the land. In fact, two CfA stores have been vandalized out of 1,650 or so.

      There are several thousand acts of vandalism committed in the US every day, at an annual cost of over $10 billion. 2 incidents at CfA are statistically irrelevant.

      Most acts of vandalism, as high as 80%, are perpetrated by gangs, but many are aimed at black and Muslim churches by the real bigots.

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    4. 'Real', as in white bigots? That's something you better get through your pea brain, Rush.

      All bigots are not just white men. You've been living under that rock for too long. Or in that 'loft', as you call it.

      I'll just keep calling it the 'slammer'. It sounds more appropriate.

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    5. As always when caught lying, change the subject.

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    6. actually, bucky, you are correct. I know many from my days in Asheville. Most were kids kicked out of home at an early age because their parents couldn't deal with them being gay. Living on the streets tends to radicalize youth.

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    7. No lie there. You, being the bonehead that you are, admitted it in your own post.

      What am I going to do with Rush? You just keep putting your head up a certain part of your anatomy, don't you?

      Who wants to ride the Bull today? I'm done with Rush.

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    8. I don't know anything about the vandalism, but you are correct there are some radicalized gay youth.

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    9. You're telling me! I've been to Key West when Fantasy Fest was going on. And it wasn't pretty.

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    10. Dunce has been to Fantasy Fest websites...in fact, almost certainly visits them frequently.

      He couldn't find Key West if you put him on the Overseas Highway pointed South.

      But I believe him when he says that he has been to the ABCs numerous times, because the ABCs are the most gay friendly destination in the western hemisphere. No doubt, his favorite hangout is El Gato Negro, where he no doubt enjoys dancing the tambù with all his hired boyfriends.

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    11. Mother's Florida house is in Marathon, and the conch's get pretty excited about Fantasy Fest. City was very disappointed that a hurricane curtailed it a few years back. Brings in lots of $$$ to the island.

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    12. Who woke the liberal dope up? I come in from my 5, and he's at it AGAIN?

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  3. Spent yesterday riding a motorcycle, and then out and about with Susan. Stab, was Susan also perched on a motorcycle?

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  4. I'm glad to hear it,Stab. :) your bike has lot's of torque. You need to find you a long uphill climb to accelerate on. 52 to fancy gap, Parkway to Boone 421 back home is a nice ride. The climb from Old Fort to Black Mountain on I-40 is a lot of fun to on a bike with lot's of torque.

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    1. Good AM, WW and Bob!

      Susan was not perched on the bike. She was safely inside my aging SUV when we were out and about.

      Yes, the 950 is very torque-y. It and I are beginning to reach an understanding but still on its terms, so I'm not yet ready for Fancy Gap.

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    2. I have always had the same problem with a motorcycle as with a horse---staying mounted.

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    3. As they say, 'Motorcycles have everything going for them, right up to the point of impact.'

      That's why I gave them up.

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    4. Stab, when you're ready, here's a great scenic route for sports cars or motorcycles:

      US 52 N to Mt. Airy

      Exit right NC 89/W. Pine St.

      Through downtown, across Main St, across Renfro St., past public swimming pool

      Left on NC 104/Riverside Drive

      104/Riverside becomes VA 773/Ararat Highway after crossing Virginia state line

      About 7 miles to

      Left on Squirrel Spur Road

      A nice twisty, sharply rising two lane, mountain road, past two gorgeous mountain farms

      Just before you reach the Blue Ridge Parkway, road branches.

      Bell Spur Road goes straight to the parkway. Squirrel Spur branches off to the right and parallels the parkway to US 58/Jeb Stuart Highway at Meadows of Dan. It’s a little more local than the parkway, which I like.

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  5. Can it be?

    Can CNN be more left, than FoxNEWs is right? Well, below is the kind of people that CNN has writing 'opinion' pieces for the 'news' channel.

    I guess FoxNews should just let Rush Limbaugh start writing for its channel, and call it a valid opinion, also.
    ___________

    Editor's note: Ilyse Hogue is co-director of Friends of Democracy, a super PAC aimed at electing candidates who champion campaign finance reform. She is the former director of political advocacy and communications for MoveOn.org and has been a senior strategist to Democratic and progressive groups, including Media Matters for America, Public Campaign and Rebuild the Dream. She is a regular contributor to The Nation magazine.

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    1. For the record, she wrote a piece for CNN saying how Ryan is all wrong for Romney. And that Ryan will only hurt Romney's campaign.

      That may be true if people don't want to hear our country's dire financial future, and don't want to correct it before we crash.

      Also, check out her photo. She has the classic BD look. CNN doesn't want to get any good looking women on its channel-obviously.

      http://www.planetwork.net/2003conf/textpages/presenters/IlyseHogue.html

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  7. 24,000 illegal immigrants got tax refunds at one Post Office Box in Atlanta, Ga. What is Obama and his 'justice' department doing about it?

    Nothing.

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    1. Gotta get those Hispanic votes Baby!

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    2. Just as poor Dunce cannot understand something as basic as who is responsible for immigration law, he also does not know that the Justice department does not enforce the tax code...that is the sole duty of the IRS, which is a part of the Treasury Department.

      Keep on babbling, Bucky, babbling til the break of day...

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    4. Rush, everybody knows you're a dunderhead. Why do you have to continue to prove it?

      The Department of Justice prosecutes violations of all federal crimes, including immigration and tax laws.

      Hello?! Is anybody home? Apparently not. I still think your doctor needs to adjust your psychotropic drugs.

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    5. Who wants to ride the 'Bull' today? I've already 'bucked' Rush off. Notice my stinging use of words. Hee Hee...you gotta love it.

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  8. US 129, Deals Gap , US 64 between Brevard and Highlands is nice too.

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    1. Bob, isn't that the 'Tail of Dragaon' regarding Deals Gap? Are you trying to get him killed?

      I've driven it in a car, and it was dangerous.

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    2. Hey, don't stop at Highlands...some of the best waterfalls are to the west...Dry Falls, Cullasaja Falls, etc. And even farther west is the spectacular Ocoee River...US 64 is one of the best scenic highways in the country.

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    3. Tail of the Dragon, yes. It's not for beginners, no. Cullasaja is one of my favorites, I climbed down there with a friend and a Great Pyrenees.

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    4. Maybe the next time Dunce drives the "Tail of Dragaon" (sic), he should take his pretend CCW.

      It would do just as good a job protecting him from that scary old road as it would protecting him from a scary old criminal. Or he could take his mommy.

      Happiness is a warm gun
      ( bang bang shoot shoot )
      Happiness is a warm gun, yes it is
      (bang bang shoot shoot)

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    5. The 96 Olympic Center is on the Ocoee. I've been camping and whitewater rafting near there.

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    7. Sorry Bob, Rush got me all wound up.

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  9. Good afternoon folks!
    LTE 1: Endorsement..albeit one that I approve

    LTE 2: I'll take this as an endorsement for the D's. It is nice to see someone who actually understands the traditional meaning of conservatism. As for Tea Party folks voting against their best interests, this article seems to support the theory (unless they happen to be wealthy).

    LTE 3: "I am amazed that people can get so emotional over someone's personal opinion." - It goes beyond expressing a personal opinion to donating lots of money to encode that personal opinion. That "personal opinion" also has no bearing whatsoever on the person who made the opinion or those who agree, but does have profound consequences on those who are affected which does lead to emotional responses. "A good start would be to treat one another the way we would want to be treated." - yes, which means allowing someone who is gay to marry the person he/she loves just as straight people are allowed to.

    LTE 4: Theological argument.

    LTE 5: And I feel better from reading this LTE. "Eat Junk Food for Jesus @ Chick-fil-A" - LOL - good one! "The hate is not age-related, it is fear-related." - Agreed.

    LTE 6: Ms. Simmons is far closer to the mark with her analogy.

    LTE 6:

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    1. Hey dotnet, when are the Democrats going to get it through their pencil eraser, sized brains, that the country is in serious financial trouble?

      I voted for Bush, and I knew he wasn't doing a good job at the end. Democrats, on the other hand, seem to to just keep spreading their cheeks wider as Obama continues to make mistake, after mistake.

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    2. Probably at the same time the R's figure out that you can't reduce the deficit by increasing defense spending, raising taxes on those who don't have any money (10% of 0 or 100% of 0..it's still 0) and reducing taxes on those who do have all of the money.

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    3. I'm still waiting dotnet. I know you're not off work yet, so you still have time to answer.

      I know you don't like chit chatting on your own dime.

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    5. dotnet, experts have already performed some calculations: Even if you tax the rich at 80%, it won't change our country's pathetic financial situation.

      I thought you liberals were suppose to be smart. You all seem like a bunch of Venezuelan campesinos to me.

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    6. FoxLies and internet fruitcakes do not qualify as experts.

      Every legitimate economist in the world has offered the same prescription for our ailing economy...raise taxes and cut spending. Even a first year econ major understands that.

      As has been proven over and over in the 30 years since the Great Reagan introduced voodoo economics, low tax rates have nothing to do with economic stimulus. And spending cuts must not be so deep that they kill the economy, as they have in Greece, Italy and Spain.

      Tax increases and spending cuts are both essential if the economy is to recover. But it is not likely to happen as long as the PP Party tax-whiners like the new vice-presidential candidate control Congress.

      Since the government is gridlocked, I've got a great idea. Let's break out our 300 million guns and start a revolution. I'm sure that will work.

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    7. Or you could cut spending dramatically, and throw out Obamacare.

      Why is it that liberals always think TAXES have to be in any equation?

      Because they're dopes, that's why.

      And, speaking of dopes, what are you doing up Rush?

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  10. In an article about Romney selecting Ryan as his running mate, it stated Ryan's biggest influences, according to Ryan himself as the Catholic Church and Ayn Rand. Unless one suffers from Disassociative Identity Disorder, how can the 2 major influences in a person's life that one srives to follow be 2 philosophies that completely contradict each other?

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    1. should be strives instead of srives

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    2. That's why he's a tax whining nutcase...schizophrenia.

      Actually, he's talking about the leadership of the Catholic church, which has always been about power and greed and selfishness...just like Ayn Rand.

      Never hurts to remind that Miss Hypocrite went on the dole in her later years...like many right wing loudmouths, she could talk the talk, but she couldn't walk the walk.

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  11. "I voted for Bush, and I knew he wasn't doing a good job at the end."

    What a moronic statement.

    I didn't vote for Bush and I knew he wasn't doing a good job three months after he took the oath of office, and so did a lot of other Americans. His approval numbers were plummeting like the Little Moron after he drove the bus off the cliff.

    Then came his savior, Osama Bin Laden and 9/11. Americans do love their wars, especially when they are completely unplanned and have no objective. And what is better than one war than two, especially if we are not going to pay for them as we go. By the time the last soldier staggers out of Afghanistan, the Bushite wars will likely have cost us around $7 trillion.

    But they were worth it, because they distracted the people while the Bushites slashed taxes for their rich buddies and let the crooked financiers and mortgage lenders run rampant. Who cares if that crashed the economy? Not the Bushites and their pals...they raked in billions and they and their descendents are depression/recession proof for all time.

    The rest of us got left holding the bag. I've been to the Cayman Islands several times, but I don't have a bank account there. Neither do you.

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    2. "This comment has been removed by the author."

      Good move, boy. Let sleeping dogs lie.

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  12. Biden speaks before a 'crowd' of 600 in N.C.

    http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/13/biden-campaigns-before-a-crowd-of-660-in-north-carolina/
    __________

    Boy, he really gets the base fired up, doesn't he?

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    1. As always, bullshit from bullshit sources for the gullible and small minded

      The Secret Service does not make crowd estimates.

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  13. In other news, Trader Joe's will be opening their Winston store in October. About freakin time.

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    1. Yes...and my library friend will tell you that it was his singing out at the ball park that brought them here. He tried to drag me out there in 100 degree heat...I figured W-S had as much chance as a snowball on the pitcher's mound...by all rights, Asheville was the logical choice...so I was wrong...sue me.

      Of course, he loves Trader Joe's for all the wrong reasons. For him the wine section is a place to meet gorgeous, educated, single women, as if he doesn't have enough of those in his life already.

      At least maybe he will stop going by there once a week to "see how things are coming along".

      Some Enchanted Pizza!

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    2. 2 buck Chuck may not be the fanciest stuff around, but I always see more than a few cute girls when I go to TJ's in Chapel Hill. That might be because it's Chapel Hill, though.

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