The Questions Some People Ask Really Are Dumb

As of Monday, January 23, 2012

It is often said, mostly by people in the field of education, that "there are no stupid questions."

This, of course, is simply not true. In fact, in the real world, stupid questions abound. "Why do they have to ask my name and credit card number when I call the psychic hot line?" is a stupid question.

Once when I was whitewater rafting, the guide warned us about a particularly dangerous rock formation. An unlucky rafter, she told us, had fallen out, gotten wedged under the rocks in the turbulent water, and it took three weeks to get his body out. A cute blonde girl from the back of the boat piped up: "Was he all right?" That was a stupid question.

You expect stupid questions from a certain subset of cute blonde girls and from the type of people who call psychic hot lines. One does not, however, expect truly brain-dead questions from the "public editor" of The New York Times.

Unfortunately, said "public editor," whose name is Arthur S. Brisbane, recently asked such a mind-bogglingly idiotic question that the majority of readers responding could not believe it had even been asked.

In his column of Jan. 12, titled "Should The Times Be a Truth Vigilante?" Brisbane wondered if "Times news reporters should challenge 'facts' that are asserted by newsmakers they write about." As one example, Brisbane cited the frequently made (and utterly false) claim made by Mitt Romney that President Obama has made speeches "apologizing for America."

This statement by Romney is blatantly untrue. It is, to put it plainly, a lie. Brisbane noted that Times columnist Paul Krugman called Romney's statement an example of "post-truth politics," along with other Romney canards like the one about how he'll reverse Obama's "massive defense cuts." (The defense budget has grown steadily every year so far.)

All well and good for an op-ed columnist, Brisbane said, but should a reporter do the same? Should a reporter, confronted with a statement like Romney's that is factually untrue, inform his or her readership that "the president has never used the word 'apologize' in a speech about U.S. policy or history," or that "any assertion that he has apologized for U.S. actions rests on a misleading interpretation of the president's words"?

The reaction from The Times' readership, bless them, was sharp and immediate.

"If you truly have to ask this question," a reader from Seattle wrote, "then you seriously need to think about a job change." A reader from Georgia was even more direct: "You can't be this stupid."

Perhaps the most pointed comment was made by "Stuart" from Riverside, Calif.: Was the question being asked "because NYT reporters perceive they have a real conflict between reporting the truth and being rewarded with approbation, access, career advancement and privilege by the people who benefit from the falsehoods?"

You have whacked the nail on the head, "Stuart" from Riverside, Calif. The biggest problem with the press right now, and the one that does the most to threaten our democracy, is not that they're liberal or conservative or even corporate. It's that the people tasked with reporting the truth are too close and too chummy with the people they're supposed to be

watching.

Reporters who point out that a politician is lying through his or her teeth don't get invited to barbecues where the candidate lets them swing on his tire swing and makes them baby back ribs, like the "reporters" who were supposed to be covering John McCain.

They don't get invited to the cool parties at the White House. They don't get those juicy little exclusive tidbits that press secretaries feed them if they've been good little toothless lapdogs. So what you get are "reporters" who become nothing more than stenographers, taking down the lie du jour and passing it along without analysis or comment.

At best, what you get is "some say this, but others say that," without anyone bothering to ask, "Well, which is factually true?" But that's what we need reporters to do: Tell us the facts, don't just recite what some press flack has told them.

Comedian Bill Engvall has built his signature routine ("Here's your sign") around people who ask such ridiculously obvious questions that they ought to be required to wear a sign that says "I'm Stupid." So, Arthur S. Brisbane of The New York Times, I say to you: Here's your sign.

Dusty Rhoades lives, writes and practices law in Carthage. Contact him at dustyr@nc.rr.com.

More like this story

nothingspecial 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Wow, the New York Times doesn't jump on the Republican candidates enough. Still specializing in fiction I see. No, I'm sorry you might actually believe that about them.

JER 1 month, 3 weeks ago

My theory has been that stupid questions get asked so that most of the "general public" can understand them. I'm going to guess that John King won't be attending the Christmas party at the Gingrich household next year. I did not find the question asked to be stupid in light of the fact that Newt was leading the impeach Clinton movement at the same time he was dallying with Callista of Helmethair. Funny what the voters from the bible belt will put up with to avoid having to choose Mitt.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

JER, the right's attitude towards Newt's serial infidelities is a classic example of what passes for logic in the through-the-looking-glass world of Wingnuttia. It goes like this: Newt's affairs are okay, because Bill Clinton had affairs. In fact, because Clinton had affairs, it is an absolute outrage to even bring up the ones that Newt had.

However, the fact that Clinton had affairs is still an outrage so great that it must be brought up at every opportunity.

They really don't live on the same planet as the rest of us.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

You understand nothing. Obama has not "apologized" for the US. Period.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2011/02/obamas_apology_tour.html

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Barack Obama: “I’m enormously proud of my country and its role and history in the world...if you think of our current situation, the United States remains the largest economy in the world. We have unmatched military capability. And I think that we have a core set of values that are enshrined in our Constitution, in our body of law, in our democratic practices, in our belief in free speech and equality, that, though imperfect, are exceptional.”

justpassingby 1 month, 3 weeks ago

too funny! its like telling someone they only said something about someone based on the color of that someone's skin and then saying 'I didn't call him a racist'. if you aren't real bright or have a bias then I guess it could happen.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Every time jpb trots out this obsession of his, I can't help but think of the Shakespeare quote about the lady protesting too much.

TreadLightly 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Dusty, we may quibble over why you didn't catch on the the president was trashing our country and values on foreign soil. But you did hit the nail on the head about relations between the "watchdofs of libertry" and the people they cover.

And don't bet that King will not be at Newt's BBQ. He is a press hound. His round of victory speeches on TV may be the best argument against him in forthcoming primaries.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Treadlightly, in response to this column, a friend reminded me of this quote from Hunter S. Thompson:

"The most consistent and ultimately damaging failure of political journalism in America has its roots in the clubby/cocktail personal relationships that inevitably develop between politicians and journalists--in Washington or anywhere else they meet on a day-to-day basis. When professional antagonists become after-hours drinking buddies, they are not likely to turn each other in...especially not for 'minor infractions' of rules that neither side takes seriously; and on the rare occasions when minor infractions suddenly become major, there is panic on both ends."

And this was in 1972. It's just gotten worse since then.

DaveyNC 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Nice column, Dusty. I agree that the press is too eager to please its "targets". It's always interesting to hear journalists question a candidate and compare that to questions from average Joes. The press tends to focus on the horse race aspect of a campaign and the conflicts while the average Joes want to know what a candidate will do about X. The average Joe is usually more substantive while the press is typically looking for a sound bite.

Nezumi 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Someone please produce the quote in which Obama apologizes; please also cite the source. Then we can discuss whether or not it was an apology.

justpassingby 1 month, 3 weeks ago

he didn't say 'I'm sorry'. or 'I apologize'. but anyone with any thinking skills at all knows he was apologizing. the left is so beaten down they will deny anything because they simply can't look any stupider than they do already. but the laughs are great.

im_a_harleyman 1 month, 3 weeks ago

"skylinefirepest - Obama hasn't gone to foreign countries and apologized for the U.S.???"

OK OK - damn - this is not fun - I just had to change my rankings again - "pest" is on the bottom once more!!

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Someone please produce the quote in which Obama apologizes; please also cite the source. Then we can discuss whether or not it was an apology.

Yeah, good luck with that. They can't be bothered to do more than quote the lies and distortions.

justpassingby 1 month, 3 weeks ago

like saying there isn't an attack on Christmas. they are just suing to remove those evil, hate- provoking nativity scenes to protect their communities. duh...here's your sign.

JER 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Has anyone noticed that skylinefirepest seems to be having some sort of breakdown. I think we all need to be very vigilant going forward because this guy also has a fondness for firearms and has been trained to wipe out all who are perceived to be enemies. From now on, whenever he starts ranting for the rest of us to shut up and go away, let's just say "OK there buddy, you're right. Here is a cookie for you."

Courseaire 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Jer - Funny, but can we make it a Sunshine cookie with a Smiley face?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

like saying there isn't an attack on Christmas.

Just like it, as a matter of fact. By which I mean it's a bunch of right wing drama queens making stuff up and/or distorting events so they can act all persecuted and martyred and put upon and try to convince everyone the sky is falling.

moonchild7 1 month, 3 weeks ago

No not me, I like to provoke those TEAPOTTERS since they think they "know it all and have the correct answers for everything." Sorry, Pest....you are NOT CORRECT. Glenn Kessler of the Wash. Post wrote on 2/22/11 that President Obama went around the world in 2009, just a few months after taking office to "INTRODUCE" the NEW POLICIES that would be different from the previous guy's. To the French he said, "we had been arrogant, dismissive, and derisive"...in Prague he said that "America has a moral responsibility to act"....in London he said, "decisions were no longer made by just Roosevelt and Churchill sitting in a room with a brandy"....and in Latin America the U.S. had not "pursued and sustained engagement with our neighbors." Apparently in 2003 Bush apologised for "our troubled legacy of slavery" and called our Constitution flawed. So, let's see, where are the apologies from Obama? I see more or less maybe an "explanation" of our "bad behavior" but not an out and out apology. Not so Bush. And also, as far as what a TEAPOTTER is Pest, they are those who "want to take back America" saying that our government is too big and bloated and that the "NEW" President is just too different, so we need him out. They are mostly Repubs and some Independents. Few Democrats but there are some. Very out of touch and out of line for America's future. Brian Williams really needs to lay into those Repubs tonight at the debate but we'll see if he also asks any DUMB questions.

Courseaire 1 month, 3 weeks ago

TEAPOTTERS...are mostly Repubs and some Independents..and a...Few Democrats. By the numbers, this collection of voters pretty much makes up a majority, how does this help your cause or re-election?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

To the French he said, "we had been arrogant, dismissive, and derisive"..

Followed by: "But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what's bad. On both sides of the Atlantic, these attitudes have become all too common. They are not wise. They do not represent the truth. They threaten to widen the divide across the Atlantic and leave us both more isolated."

Next time you claim you're apologizing someone, add in, "but you're wrong for your attitude" and see if they consider it an apology.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Of course there is this statement:

, ...there's 60 years when we didn't -- we were not outspoken about the need for democracy in this part of the world. In fact, at the same time that we were talking about democracy in Europe and democracy in Asia, we didn't about the Middle East. Things have changed. We had a very rude awakening on September 11th, when I think we realized that our policies to try and promote what we thought was stability in the Middle East had actually allowed, underneath, a very malignant, meaning cancerous, form of extremism to grow up underneath because people didn't have outlets for their political views.

Would you consider that an apology?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

in London he said, "decisions were no longer made by just Roosevelt and Churchill sitting in a room with a brandy"..

The actual quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/news-conference-by-president-obama-4-02-09/

" I just think in a world that is as complex as it is, that it is very important for us to be able to forge partnerships as opposed to simply dictating solutions. Just a -- just to try to crystallize the example, there's been a lot of comparison here about Bretton Woods. "Oh, well, last time you saw the entire international architecture being remade." Well, if there's just Roosevelt and Churchill sitting in a room with a brandy, that's a -- that's an easier negotiation. (Laughter.) But that's not the world we live in, and it shouldn't be the world that we live in."

Only a completely dishonest person would try to spin that as an apology. Someone like Mitt Ronmey acting as a sock puppet for Karl Rove.

moonchild7 1 month, 3 weeks ago

The 2012 election will be decided probably on unemployment numbers but I think that the Social "Freedom" Issues will have a HUGE sway. Dems and Ind. want our Government costs reduced by downsizing the military budget and the Repubs by reducing the social programs. We ALL know someone recieving some kind of Governement benefit, be it Food Stamps, Medicare or Social Security. I did not see those TEAPOTTERS calling for an end to those "Welfare Programs". And speaking of WELFARE, apparently the State of South Carolina is a HUGE WELFARE QUEEN since it receives more $$$$$ back from the government than it pays to it. Just read Larry Doyle's 1-17-12 article in TIME mag. The Republicans are HUGE hypocrits and liars, I just wish Brian Williams would ask a great "Gotcha" question to Newt and really turn him inside out. Can't wait.

Courseaire 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Pray tell, what might this all encompassing great “Gotchca” question be that would confirm your notion that Republicans are huge hypocrites and liars? I for one would like to know - it might just turn me into a liberal.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Someone please produce the quote in which Obama apologizes; please also cite the source. Then we can discuss whether or not it was an apology.

You'll notice that no one's provided such a quote or tried to defend any specific quote as an apology.

MikeNC 1 month, 3 weeks ago

According to Websters New World Dictionary Apolgy is defined as: A speaking in defense; 1. A formal spoken or written defense of some idea, doctrine, etc; 2. An acknowledgement of some fault, wrong, etc with an expression of regret.

According to Webster I would say that the President apologized to several foreign leaders. Of course neither those here nor the WH will ever acknowledge that; but the WH still refutes that Obama has bowed down before the King of Saudi Arabia...Mike

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

According to Webster I would say that the President apologized to several foreign leaders.

Example?

MikeNC 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Your breaking one of your own BSWATS Dusty as I'm not your google monkey. Take your pick of several that you already know about and look them up yourself. The definition by Webster is easy to interpret; it should be cut and dry with no argument...but of course there will be....Mike

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Actually a BSWAT is a BS Wingnut Argument Technique, (number 9, to be exact), so I'm not breaking it, you're using it. As expected.

"You look up something that bolsters my argument" is simply the dodge of someone who can't back up their accusation.

Never let us forget, Mikey's been shown up as a liar here several times. Often, his cites end up proving him wrong. So when he says "I'm not looking it up, you look it up," you can pretty much count on his assertion being more of his right wing deceit.

JER 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Hey Mike, when we launch predator drones that mistakenly kill innocent people, should we apologize? Or is it your view that anyone killed in a war zone deserves it. Romney said he would never apologize for the USA. What do you think he should do (or Obama or Gingrich) when something like that happens?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Also, Mikey, you never answered my earlier question. Would you consider this an apology?

...there's 60 years when we didn't -- we were not outspoken about the need for democracy in this part of the world. In fact, at the same time that we were talking about democracy in Europe and democracy in Asia, we didn't about the Middle East. Things have changed. We had a very rude awakening on September 11th, when I think we realized that our policies to try and promote what we thought was stability in the Middle East had actually allowed, underneath, a very malignant, meaning cancerous, form of extremism to grow up underneath because people didn't have outlets for their political views.

Yes or no, Mikey? Or the rest of you feel free to answer. Apology or not?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Hey Mike, when we launch predator drones that mistakenly kill innocent people, should we apologize?

Or how about in this situation:

Bush apologizes to Mubarak for Suez shooting

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/world/africa/28iht-28egypt.11488208.html

Bush apologizes for Japanese trawler's sinking

http://articles.cnn.com/2001-02-13/world/japan.substrike.02_1_crew-members-fishing-vessel-uwajima?_s=PM:asiapcf

Bush Apologizes for Iraqi Prisoner Abuse

"I told (King Abdullah) I was sorry for the humiliation suffered by the Iraqi prisoners and the humiliation suffered by their families," Bush said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119156,00.html

Then there's a string of apologies from St. Ronnie Reagan:

http://ceinquiry.us/2011-02-05-reagan-apology

To summarize: the Reagan administration apologized to Japan for a sea incident, to France for the US’ hiding of a Nazi war criminal after WWII, to “Red” China for a police failure to abide by the Vienna Convention, to the Soviet-puppet regime in Poland for subsidizing anti-government radio programs, and to tens of thousands of Japanese-Americans for their internment during WWII.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

I'm not going to bother to look it up because I simply don't care!

Thanks for admitting you don't care about the truth.

moonchild7 1 month, 3 weeks ago

I would ask Newt "What was the difference between Bill's Clinton's lies concerning his affair while President and his own behavior at the time, since he was also having an affair and lying about it." Oh, and by the way...You pushed for and even got President Clinton Impeached in the House of Reps. for that same behaivior. Isn't that the HEIGHT of hypocricy and failure?" I also reject the "lying under oath" stuff since the majority of people having affairs always lie about them, whether under oath or not. If Newt comes back with that "NO" answer one more time, well. And MikeNC, there's a difference between being HUMBLE and being WRONG. You do know that don't you?

AFCHIEF 1 month, 3 weeks ago

MOONBEAM, keep slamming the Tea Party, BUT YOUR OCCUPY FRIENDS have had thousands of arrests, rapes, flag burning, countless vandalism, millions spent on police, but the TEA Party has the problem. You maam are WHACKED

MikeNC 1 month, 3 weeks ago

BSWAT # 7... Attempts to change the subject. As suspected DR's BSWATS are strictly for their useage. There is no acceptable answer or debate with the hate and the fear that you guys are possessed with so why even try. BTW; Your rejection of the "lying under oath stuff" is interesting MC. Absurd, but interesting...... Mike

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Oh, so now I'm supposed to believe you "heard it" somewhere...just like old wdd101 "remembers" the big scary black people attacking the white legislator, an assertion he even e-mailed one of the people involved to try and back up...and failed when every source he found showed no such thing.

I'm sure you probably remember some right wing mouthpiece "quoting" the President on Faux News. But let's see some real evidence from primary sources like the POTUS himself. Video, transcripts, etc. Hell, every word the President says in public is on the WH website. Search away for those so-called "apologies". Put up or shut up. But be sure to use the whole quote or you'll FAIL again.

There is no acceptable answer or debate with the hate and the fear that you guys are possessed with so why even try

Sure, Mikey. Why even try? Because you know you'll fail. Again. Just like you and Diane always do when someone asks you to back up your lies.

SH59 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Here we have a traffic jam. The republicans are driving their big cars and come to a light. They want to take a right turn but at the same time the walk sign for the pedestrians (democrats) comes on so the pedestrians walk across the road because they think they have the right of way and the republicans are honking their horns to move the pedestrians out of the way because they think they have the right of way. Who is right?

moonchild7 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Yes, MikeNC the "lying under oath stuff" when it comes to sex and/or affairs is almost a GIVEN!!!!!!!! Whether under oath or not. Do any of you guys have a life? That's why the "No Fault Divorce" came about. The lies between spouses was just too much for the courts to handle and so a "TRUCE" was created for the courts to be able to continue without continued sex, lies and videotapes. It is so obvious now how OUT OF IT you guys are!!! I was trying to give you some benefit of the doubt but I just can't anymore. The TEAPOTTERS want to DESTROY our country, the OWS Groups are much braver with all of the physical abuse they've been having to endure to get THE TRUTH out. Yes AFCHIEF, people get arrested for Civil Disobiedience, happens almost everytime. That's what happens when the "ESTABLISHMENT" gets questioned and "OUTED". That's how things change in this world.....for the BETTER. The TEAPOTTERS have FAILED since their message has been for the WORSE.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

This sort of thing is exactly what the column is about, and why it's so important that reporters actually pay some attention to whether a candidate's statements are the truth or not.

Because people like Romney and Gingrich are pathological liars. They lie all the time, without shame, and most importantly without any fear that anyone's going to call them on it, because they know that the bleating, frightened little sheep like MikeNC, skylinefirepest, and their kind will pick up the lie and repeat it over and over.

They know there's no consequence to lying. They also know that lying is their only path back to power. So they lie about Obama's faith. They lie about him being a socialist. They lie about him "apologizing" for America.

But all it takes is for someone, anyone, to ask one simple question: "could you provide us with some examples?" We've seen what the reaction is. They can't do it. Press them on it and they get petulant and childish. They whine like little babies about how they're getting picked on. Ask them to tell the truth and they'll fold up.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 3 weeks ago

MOONIE so let me get this STRAIGHT, YOU ALONG WITH OBAMA, PELOSI AND REID eagerly endorse and support RAPE, ROBBERY, VANDALISM, CRAPPING ON THE US FLAG.

These are all actions committed by you and YOUR OCCUPY TURDS.

So YES OR NO. Because everything you write about supports these criminal actions

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Add AFCHIEF to the flock of sheep, bleating and repeating one lie after another.

moonchild7 1 month, 3 weeks ago

AFCHIEF, U NeeD 2 git U'R HeaD EXaMINed...ASAP.

nothingspecial 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Dusty: "They know there's no consequence to lying. They also know that lying is their only path back to power. So they lie about Obama's faith. They lie about him being a socialist. They lie about him "apologizing" for America."

That would be considered a hilarious statement to make (because it is such a great example of psychological projection) but it is luckily imbedded here where hardly anyone but us will see it.

Regarding the main topic, you split hairs about the president not actually saying "I apologize" when W did, but actions speak louder than words. The President's actions are at best well-intentioned, at worst stem from naiveté or even a hatred of what he believes has been American aggression. Whatever the motives, a great many Americans perceive his actions - his MANY foreign policy actions - towards other key nations, including Middle East states, China, Russia, and others as weak and "apologetic".

This commentary is one of many that says it much better than I can:

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/288608/return-weak-horse-mona-charen

Nezumi 1 month, 3 weeks ago

NS, that is an interesting article. Since it mainly discusses Iran, I would also suggest last Tuesday's TOTN episode which featured two experts on Iran and the topic was the ongoing clandestine war against their nuclear program: http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=5&prgDate=1-17-2012

LaissezFaire 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Perhaps the cute blonde girl in the back of the boat was just being cute.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Oh, she was cute, all right. :-)

JER 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Well, it's been well over 7 hours ago that I asked MikeNC a question. I know his computer still works because he has posted here during that time. I'll have to assume he is afraid to answer the question.

Courseaire 1 month, 3 weeks ago

"What was the difference between Bill's Clinton's lies concerning his affair while President and his own behavior at the time, since he was also having an affair and lying about it." MC, this question would be just as dumb as the 1st question, but the major difference would be one lie was under oath, the same thing that got Barbara Walters, Barry Bonds & Roger Clemens in trouble - it's called perjury.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

I've also noted that when the people you tend to argue with and call names do "put up or shut up" you tend to discount their sources.

Actually, what I do is LOOK at their sources, and more often than not find out that they don't actually say what the wingnut says they do. It's called critical thinking.

And I'll tell you one last time: if you weren't full of it, you'd be able to back up your accusation. But you didn't and you can't, and you lost the argument. Obama has not "apologized for America." Case closed, buh-bye. NEXT!

dustyrhoades 1 month, 3 weeks ago

I see everyone's scared to answer the question of whether this is an "apology" or not:

One more time, folks...apology or not?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

the same thing that got Barbara Walters, Barry Bonds & Roger Clemens in trouble - it's called perjury.

Actually, the judge in the Paula Jones case ruled that it was not perjury, because under the federal law, perjury is a lie under oath about something relevant to the case, and whether Clinton had a consensual sexual encounter with Monica Lewinsky was not relevant to the issue of whether he sexually assaulted Paula Jones.

So while Clinton was impeached (the equivalent of being indicted or charged) by the House he was not convicted in the Senate, nor was he charged federally with perjury because his behavior did not constitute perjury under the statute.

I'm sure someone will now berate me for "sounding like a lawyer", to which I say, guilty as charged. Laws have specific requirements for convictions, and if it was you in the dock, you wouldn't want to be convicted and sentenced because your behavior kinda sorta sounded like it violated the law, but not really.

Nezumi 1 month, 2 weeks ago

I was overseas during the whole Monica scandal (thankfully) and most places I went in Asia people were dumbfounded that the US was so obsessed with it.

justpassingby 1 month, 2 weeks ago

not sounding like a lawyer dusty, sounding like an off-the-wall, lunatic, hypocrite liberal who obama has left splitting hairs just trying, hoping to make a point even if not relevant.

justmyopinion 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Come on Dumpy, you can say it...Clinton was a liar.

justmyopinion 1 month, 2 weeks ago

MC7- Why can't you answer AFCHIEF's question?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Hey, sock puppet, why don't you give my question a try? Was that quote an apology or not? Or do you have to know who said it first, so you know whether you need to get your hate on or not?

JER 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Questions, questions, questions. Nobody will answer Dusty's, MikeNC won't answer mine and the question posed by AFCHIEF doesn't deserve an answer. Let's turn it around and ask a similar question of AFCHIEF and see if he will respond: So tell us, oh military dude, do you support the Marines who pissed on the dead bodies while they made repulsive comments and who wanted it all video taped so they could brag to all their friends about it? Just a simple yes or no will be sufficient.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

@Moonchild and Dusty, why do I need to get my head examined, AND WHAT LIES am I telling about concerning the Occupy movement.

MOONCHILD you still did not answer my questions above. OF COURSE TRUTH HURTS so I can see why you don't want to answer.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

YES I do support the marines who pissed on DEAD TERRORISTS. But then that means you support the terrorists who just go straight to chopping heads off.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

And so, AFCHIEF reveals himself to be just as bloodthirsty, vicious, brutal and insane as the terrorists he claims to hate.

At least he claims to be, hiding behind the safety of the keyboard and his alias. In real life, he'd probably soil his pants if he ever encountered a real threat.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Dusty 30 years in the Air Force, been slot of Places. Do I hate the terrorists, he'll yea, just as much as liberals who hate on the military all the time. Hiding behind my keyboard, afraid not. While I was overseas in Iraq and elsewhere sorry dusty kind of busy.

Nezumi 1 month, 2 weeks ago

AFChief - I greatly appreciate your service to this country. You might have run into my cousin who was flying A-10's in Iraq.

That said, if your Republican friends win the election, based on their war rhetoric, you might want to start brushing up on your Farsi.

justpassingby 1 month, 2 weeks ago

In real life, we know who would soil his pants if he ever encountered a real threat. you aren't kidding anybody dusty.too funny!

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Yeah, "Chief," you're so tough you won't even use your real name.

Sorry, anyone can claim to be a soldier or sailor or airman on the Internet. And a lot of them are frauds, especially the anonymous ones who pound their chests and talk big. Like you.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

John Sledz, my real name. Dusty look up my service record if you want. Nothing to hide! So now we got that out of the way, get back to spewing all your liberal hate and munching on your crispy creme donuts!

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

You know, I don't think justpissingguy is actually a real person at all. I think it may just be some automated program that responds to everything with a limited number of pre-loaded retorts, usually some variation on "No, YOU are," with a "too funny!" thrown in here and there at regular intervals. Too bad it doesn't pass the Turing test.

chief, I'll give you credit for being one of the only people here with the stones to come out from behind the alias. But you're still a tool.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Dusty, still with the name calling. That's fine, you pudgey liberal sheep

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

As always, the people who whine the most about name calling are the worst offenders.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Dusty You started first as you always do these blogs

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

"You started it?" Really? That's your answer? When did they start letting eight year olds in the AF?

So it's okay for you to call people, for example, TURDS, because I called someone else a name you didn't like, but it's still wrong that I called someone a name. That's your "thought process"?

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Dusty, always with insults. 8yr old...really. Do not recall calling you a turd. But I do recall you calling me liar above

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Skyline fire, nice!!!!!!!!

moonchild7 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Yes, AFCHIEF, I ABSOLUTELY do support CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. Key word: CIVIL. I participated in several "Civil Disobedience" type anti-war demonstrations back in the 60's and 70's. At the U of MD in 1971 I was in the crowd "Occupying" the steps of the U Administration Building. It was okay for awhile but when the cops showed up with guns, helmets, vests, and bats, I left. Just didn't want to die that day. There is a U of MD website with photos...I was to the right of the building in the crowd but out of the picture. I thought before hand that it's be better to be near the back of the crowd when the you know what hits the fan. Went to anti-war marches in DC too and also another U of MD "Speech Demonstration" with Rennie Davis(Chicago 7)as main speaker. Cops showed up there too, and there are photos of that one also. Last time I looked AFCHIEF, this is still America and Civil Disobedience is part of it's FRAME-WORK. You do know that don't you?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Chief, I didn't say you called me a turd, but look back at your own posts in this thread and see if you really think you have any right to chide anyone else for name-calling...and then try and justify it by going "but...but... Dusty started it!" like, yes, an eight year old.

im_a_harleyman 1 month, 2 weeks ago

skylineISapest "Bicycle kid...you're stupity is exceeded only by your lack of anything worthwhile to say. Why don't you just shut the hell up???

You really are a moron. You actually believe you say anything at all that resembles "useful". All you ever do is slam liberals and Obama. Of course Your brain is taxed simply opening the mailbox on your trailer lot! You remind me very much of "vass_dude" the dumbest poster here until they took him away to the home!

My advice to you - SHUT UP as nobody but the far right loonies even read your silly posts.............and ..........eat plenty of fish - it's supposed to stimulate the brain. Of course - with you .........not much to work with...... but ya just never know!

im_a_harleyman 1 month, 2 weeks ago

"skylinefirepest - JER...Yes, I support the Marines who tinkled on the Taliban"

Hey pest - why don't you call them and let them piss all over you.........no need for your monthly shower then :)

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Moonie, so the rapes, countless vanadalism, crapping and pissing on the US Flag,cops being injured, business's losing customers, this is just normal everyday liberal happenings.

But the Tea Party which I'm not part of are the terrorists.

im_a_harleyman 1 month, 2 weeks ago

pest - just a breath of seriousness from me. What if your son was killed there - and you saw a picture of them pissing on his body..... I wonder - would you be so quick to trivialize their actions?

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

The terrorists did worse than pissing, they dragged dead bodies thru the streets

MikeNC 1 month, 2 weeks ago

im_a_harleyman 11 minutes ago ... What if your son was killed there - and you saw a picture of them pissing on his body..... I wonder

I wonder what the parents of these four Americans thought when they saw this on the nightly news.

Four Blackwater Agents Hung in Fallujah Iraq March 31, 2004 by IranContraScumDid911

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

harleyman, don't try to ask the wingnuts about the Golden Rule. Remember when Ron Paul tried to bring it up in one of the debates, he got booed. A new low for the people I didn't think could get any lower.

The terrorists did worse than pissing, they dragged dead bodies thru the streets.

I believe you're thinking of Mogadishu, not Afghanistan. Good thing you weren't a navigator, I guess. Really good thing you weren't a bombardier.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Yes, we should desecrate bodies because the terrorists did it. We need to be just as bad as they are. In fact, we should have hijacked some airliners full of civilians and flown them into the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh. It'd be okay because Saudi terrorists did it to us.

JER 1 month, 2 weeks ago

And we wonder why so many of the military come back with mental problems. Pissing on the dead is despicable regardless of who does it or why they do it. im-a-harleyman is exactly correct...if you viewed a video of foreigners killing your son in your backyard and then having a good time pissing on his body while their friends video tape it, I can only imagine your reaction. You who support our troops who did this have given the terrorist more reasons to fly planes into buildings, lop off peoples heads or hang them from bridges. You are so ignorantly stupid that you can't even begin to see the harm that this does. All you have are tiny little brains and enormously large gonads. The four Marines and AFCHIEF Sledz, skylinefirepest and any other idiot that supports dragging the reputation of this country to the bottom of the barrel in the name of patriotism are the lowest form of scum. You give scum a bad name. This country is not worth saving if you represent the majority.

Courseaire 1 month, 2 weeks ago

I'm a wingnut (though not a card carrying one) & I think what those solders did was deplorable and should be held fully accountable. Their acts don't justify ours, period.

moonchild7 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Oh my. I'm "arguing" with people who don't or can't understand the simpilest of words: C-I-V-I-L !!!!! Look it up AFCHIEF or let me help you: Civil being the OPPOSITE of UNCIVIL. Whew...............

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

No, no, guys, they're right. We should be doing exactly what they do. We need to desecrate bodies. We need to cut heads off on camera. We need to murder civilians with booby traps. We need to kill children and rape women and cut off fingers and hands and toes and feet. We need to burn villages down and machine gun babies in ditches, because bad guys do it.

Only this way can America maintain its moral authority.

teufelhunden 1 month, 2 weeks ago

I support OWS right to protest, but I think they could be more civil about it or at least show some sense of propriety. I do not support people who pee on dead bodies and I do not support people who pee on church crosses either. Both are disgraceful IMHO.

JER 1 month, 2 weeks ago

AFCHIEF Sledz: Your conclusion that because I find despicable, the acts done by the four low life scum Marines means that I favor terrorists actions, shows that you have the mental capacity of a slug. Were you that stupid when you entered the military? I had a family member who was career Air Force (he outranked you several times over) and who served and was wounded during his stint in Vietnam (as was my brother, who was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army). I can assure you that neither of them would condone the actions of our video taped troops, anymore than they condoned the actions of our All American Heroes who killed 500 unarmed civilians at My Lai in 1968. And it is an atrocity when planes are flown into the civilian occupied buildings in New York, but it' not when we drop a nuclear device on cities in Japan and kill hundreds of thousands of civilians in their tracks. So an atrocity depends on what side you're on, is that it?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Well, there's different ways to support those young Marines. Frankly, my first reaction upon seeing that video was heartbreak for them. The first thing I said was "those guys have been left out on the line too long." I'd just recently read Sebastian Junger's book WAR, about the time he spent embedded with a platoon in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. What sustained and brutal combat did, over time, to that group of young men was devastating to read about, all the more heartbreaking because the intensity of the experience became so addictive to them even as it eroded their sanity.

I hope that someday, those Marines can find their way back from the dark and become normal again.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

JER, thanks for the personal attacks about my competence and IQ. What the Marines did was not right, BUT for them to be punished would be a crime in itself. But, as usual the Liberals never did have military serviceman in there best interest.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

YES I do support the marines who pissed on DEAD TERRORISTS.

What the Marines did was not right, BUT for them to be punished would be a crime in itself.

Clarification or back-pedaling? Let the readers decide.

AFCHIEF 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Dusty, not back pedaling. What the Marines did was not the brightest idea. But these Marines should not serve jail time.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Considering the outcome of the Haditha incident, I doubt they will.

teufelhunden 1 month, 2 weeks ago

I hope that someday, those Marines can find their way back from the dark and become normal again. - DR

I agree DR. I read books about guys in Vietnam cutting off body parts as personal trophies. A human being died. Yes they are the enemy but we have to try to repect life as well as death and do what's right even in the darkest of times. They are out there too long without support and it does harm their mental health. I feel sorry for them too. My 26 yo nephew was an old man when I saw him last. He knew he killed someone in the line of duty and he had trouble with that then and probably still does now.

Yukonjohn 1 month, 2 weeks ago

I know most Americans dislike us messing with dead bodies, but the ROK troops in Viet Nam were the most respected of any of the troops. The North Vietnamese were terrified of them, as well as the Viet Cong. They cut off ears and wore them around their neck. They are some bad dudes!! War is hell, and as such, should be used as a last resort, a very last resort. Once committed to it, no rules, kill em all.

justpassingby 1 month, 2 weeks ago

if you support war like dusty you have to accept all that goes with it. in the big picture is what the marines did really that big a deal? if we were to show the same concern for the kids we send off to war as you are showing for dead soldiers getting pissed on, there wouldn't be American soldiers there to piss on their dead.

TOYTIME 1 month, 2 weeks ago

AFCHIEF, Thanks for the posts and welcome. Dusty you should volunteer to help give these young soldiers counsel. And I think your defence strategy should be to call what these young men did, "art" since it was photographed and videotaped. After all I recall a few years back "liberals" were all for supporting the crucifix in a jar of urine. Where was the outrage then? Of course releiving yourself on the fallen enemy is wrong but don't dilute yourself into thinking that its anything more than WAR I know people who were in Vietnam and you know what, they did things they were not proud of either but Have gone on to do great things for their families and communities. Its a "fog of war" thing nothing more. Liberals should support our soldiers at least as much as illegal aliens, soldiers REALLY do, do the jobs they don't want to do

Yukonjohn 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Oh, and like they say on South Park, "There are no stupid questions, just stupid people"!!

LaissezFaire 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Dusty you talk about people hiding behind aliases. Wasn't Dusty Rhodes a Florida wrestler?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Yeah. So?

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

if you support war like dusty

Statements like this are why people think you're stupid.

dustyrhoades 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Correction: statements like that are why people KNOW you're stupid.

LaissezFaire 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Why I was just trying to inject a little humor in here.

im_a_harleyman 1 month, 2 weeks ago

"I wonder what the parents of these four Americans thought when they saw this on the nightly news."

I am sure they would feel immense outrage - as they certainly should! That is why it is wrong for EITHER side to do this.

moonchild7 1 month, 2 weeks ago

You, ToyTime, want to compare an Artist who places a crucifix in a jar of urine with soldiers who are pissing on DEAD HUMAN BEINGS? It's MEN making their marks showing the other "animals" out there who's "in charge" I'm sure. Hellish life this is, but there's no excuse for what they did. They're in a WAR ZONE with possible PTSD so they need HELP not punishment.

im_a_harleyman 1 month, 2 weeks ago

"The terrorists did worse than pissing, they dragged dead bodies thru the streets"

The above is as sad and as tragic as can be done - but think about this:

"The second survey[2][3][4] published on 11 October 2006, estimated 654,965 excess deaths related to the war, or 2.5% of the population, through the end of June 2006."

Over half a million Iraqis - innocent people died due to the needless US invasion.........

Now - you can argue all you want - but I wonder how you would feel if the US was invaded and that number of US citizens needlessly died.

I am certain being a fragment from the far right a diatribe will follow justifying it..........

teufelhunden 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Yes war is literally hell. Of course, there's more going on than what cameras actually catch. Given the situation, all of us have a survival instinct that will kick in. If you're in a situation and it's you or them-you're gonna do what you've got to do. Watching your buddies die all over the place scars you. Anger and adrenaline push people beyond the constraints of normal. Am I glad OBL is gone? Yes. Did I "celebrate" his death? No. No doubt there are many that dance in the streets when an American is killed. Remember that fellow who was beheaded on camera choking on his own blood and screams? Yes war is hell. But I have to hold fast to my belief that just because it is done does not make it right. We all will have to live with our actions-imagine having to live with the gruesome images of death etched in your brain forever.

justpassingby 1 month, 2 weeks ago

dusty, you posted that you were only a hypocrite on the war in Iraq and tax breaks but that you supported bush on the war in Afghanistan. you claimed that you supported sending troops into Afghanistan and I'm the stupid one?!?!? here's your sign.

that's okay dusty, I know you are busy trying to figure out how to spin obama's plan to give more tax breaks to the 1%ers. did you like the part where obama said how some 1%er told him that conditions have finally made it affordable to bring jobs back and then say we need to give them tax breaks to do it? these are the very same 1%ers running these companies that were given 8 and 9 digit compensation when they moved the jobs out of the country to begin with!

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