The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

In what way?

Well, he said felt two things. He said he appreciated certain things about the US that he didn't before. (The area he in was a poverty stricken area where he was helping rebuild housing. He said the water in the area was bad. He said the medical facilities in that area was poor. I don't remember where exactly he was...) But he also got differing perspectives about our country that he said made him think. (He talked to people who liked and disliked America and the casual criticism of the US opened his eyes.)
When he left, Reed seemed kind of out-of-touch with the world. It's hard to explain. I mean, he's really young. Like 21 or something. I think he grew up a little in Nicaragua. A total learning experience. I don't think he knows much about the world outside of his Boston College experience and his home in a small town in Connecticut...
(He also shaved his head and grew a beard. Which I thought was pretty cool.)

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by DreadPirateRoberts

taken from: http://www.stockteam.com/wetlands.html
"PCH Bridge. Before construction can proceed for the bridge that is to allow PCH traffic to pass over the ocean inlet to the restored wetland, detours around the construction site had to be provided. The northbound PCH detour is now completed and in use, the southbound lanes should be completed by the end of February. PCH bicycle lanes have been rerouted through Bolsa Chica State Beach. The bridge, consisting of four traffic lanes, two bicycle lanes, a beach maintenance /emergency lane and an additional oil well maintenance bridge will be completed by October, 2005. "

Thanks!!

October 2005? They're a little late.

It sounds like they are going to start routing traffic into the wetlands? I'm so confused

[scaeagles]

Interesting, GC.

I had two experiences, one similar to that. I went on a summer missions trip (during HS - summer 1984) to some areas of Mexico that were particularly poverty stricken. Before that I really had no idea what true poverty was. Little to no food, little to no shelter (the purpose of our trip was to haul building materials and construct some homes), no sanitation or plumbing of any kind, and doctors that would come every couple months for a day or two....just beyond the scope of anything you would find in the US.

The other was a two week trip to Europe (summer 1985). During the trip (mostly in Austria) we went to the Austria-Hungary border to a rather unique place called the desert lake. It was a massive lake that was no more than 4 feet deep at any point and dried up every year, refilling during the rainy season. Anyway.....the border ran through the lake. About 50 yards across the border were gaurd towers, about 30 feet high, spaced about 100 yards apart, as far as the eye could see. With my binoculars I could see gaurds in those towers with machine guns, ready to shoot anyone who tried to leave Hungary. Our guide told us that people were shot there and in the surrounding forest on a regular basis.

Scared the hell out of me. Made the whole Soviet Block a reality and shaped much of my view of the world.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

With my binoculars I could see gaurds in those towers with machine guns, ready to shoot anyone who tried to leave Hungary. Our guide told us that people were shot there and in the surrounding forest on a regular basis.

Holy cow! That's some pretty scary stuff.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Thanks!!

October 2005? They're a little late.

It sounds like they are going to start routing traffic into the wetlands? I'm so confused

I guess that's old info. The bridge is so the Bolsa Chica wetlands will have a channel that goes underneath PCH to it is linked more closely to the ocean, currently all the sea water goes through Huntington Harbor. It will be interesting to see how that changes the surf around that area. They scooted PCH over a little bit, so they could build the bridge.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by DreadPirateRoberts

I guess that's old info. The bridge is so the Bolsa Chica wetlands will have a channel that goes underneath PCH to it is linked more closely to the ocean, currently all the sea water goes through Huntington Harbor. It will be interesting to see how that changes the surf around that area. They scooted PCH over a little bit, so they could build the bridge.

ooo I get it! Do you live in HB?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

That means that since a large majority of journalists are mostly critical of Bush because he isn't far enough to the left (or is too far rto the right) that they can not be considered fair and balanced. Is that what you are meaning to say?

No, that isn't what I meant to say. First of all, I can't agree with your premise that journalists are critical of Bush due to his political leanings. The press has always been critical of whoever is in power, democrat or republican. They were highly critical of the last administration and they are highly critical of this one. That is their purpose and it seems fair to me.

But Fox takes it a step further by being pro-republican, anti-democrat regardless of who is in power. At that point, it isn't news anymore, it's propaganda. And you know what, so be it. If that is how they want to run their news organization, that's fine. Where my problem lies with Fox is that they call themselves "fair and balanced". That is a lie.

Therefore, it is no surprise at all that the administration would choose someone from Fox to get their message out. Nobody has more experience at this then someone from Fox. But to combat the appearance of their own bias, they all start talking about how critical this guy has been of Bush and this is what rubs me the wrong way. What they fail to mention is that the ONLY time he is critical is when Bush tries to do something even remotely moderate.

Therefore, Mr. Snow will fit in just fine in his new position. It's not really any different from his last job, neither of which required him to be fair, nor balanced.

That was my point.

[scaeagles]

Mr. Snow will fit in just fine. Again, he is not a journalist. He is a pindit who offers opinions. He was a speech writer for Bush Sr.

You want me to take FAIR seriously? That's funny. That would be like me quoting something from the Heritage Foundation to you.

I could go through the opinion talking heads at CNN or MSNBC and give you the left leaning pundits, but that isn't evidence that their news is biased.

Are you seriously suggesting that a Helen Thomas treated Clinton in the same way she treats Bush? Or that Dan Rather treated the Bush family with the same kid gloves he did with the Clintons?

C'mon, MBC. We can each point the finger all day with quotes and/or examples.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

ooo I get it! Do you live in HB?

No, but I cruise by in my pirate ship all the time.

[wendybeth]

I think Bush missed an opportunity to turn things around for him by appointing Snow. He already has the conservatives (largely) in his corner- he really needs to reach out to all Americans, not just the conservatives, and he could have chosen a more moderate person to do so. Instead, it sent a message loud and clear: expect more of the same, and the divisions will only continue to grow. I mean, really- did he have to choose someone from Fox? Talk about pouring gas on the fire. Now all the other outlets are going to be pissy and Fox will be even more unsufferable than they already are.