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Saturday, September 16. 2006Greetings & SalutationsHello and how are ya'all this fine morning?? My name is Michale and the first thing I should say is that I will probably piss a lot of you off. No, it won't be intentional and no I won't be trolling. It is simply that I firmly believe in things and don't pull any punches about it. I am not shy about sharing my opinions. While I'll be the VERY first to admit when I am wrong (should that unlikely event ever occur  ) I am also ferosciously outspoken when I am right. If anyone would like to try and label me a dittohead, Bush lover, Neo Con, Talking Points Lemming or any other type of right-wing label the left likes to dream up, you do so at your own peril. I truly enjoy explaining to such labelers how very very wrong they are. I am not above name-calling, but never resort to it initially. I do my best to refrain from such childish antics, but I have been known to jump down into the mud if a debating opponent ends up there first. I don't like to do that, I try NOT to do that, but every so often I cannot help it. The best rule of thumb for dealing with me is that I treat people how they treat me. If people wax, discuss, debate and argue with me in an adult and mature manner, I will respond in kind.. If someone gets hysterical and starts sensless bashing and name-calling..... Well, I can do that to... I usually don't, I try not to get sucked into it, but sometimes kaa-kaa hits the fan...To sum things up, I am probably one of the most arrogant pricks ever to blog. I try to mitigate such arrogance by actually knowing what I am talking about. So, now that we have the pleasentries out of the way, let's get down to it. IRAQ Iraq is a front in the war on terror. This is a bona fide fact. It doesn't matter HOW or WHY this came about. It just IS and we have to deal with it. And we CANNOT deal with it by running away. Capitulation and surrender is NEVER a good plan. It simply invites more of the exact same thing that is trying to be stopped. So, if you advocate a CUT AND RUN plan to the issue of Iraq, you are wrong and such actions would NOT be good for the US... VOTE My vote is available. I do not automatically vote for a candidate based on party affiliation. I try and vote FOR people and not AGAINST people. My vote criteria is simple: *What plan do you have to keep my family safe* No plan.... No vote... Bad plan... No vote... Good plan.... Vote... It's really that simple... I then move on down my criteria as needed... Past performance, etc etc etc.. My (nearly) ONLY campaign issue is National Security. Any other factor is moot if we are all dead. GLOBAL WARMING Global Warming is a POLITICAL issue, not an environmental or scientific issue. If you want to discuss Global Warming with me, you first must read this site: www.junkscience.com Global Warming is politics, not science... Plain and simple... TORTURE This is the issue that brought me to this forum. First off, let's use the term "Coercive Interrogations" (CIs) because that is actually more what the President is pushing, rather than outright torture. There is NO VALID REASON to halt CIs and VERY VALID REASONS to continue them. PRESIDENT BUSH Please note that, with the exception of ONE ISSUE, I disagree (usually vehemently) with the President on nearly EVERY ISSUE. However, as former military (USAF and US Army) I respect the office of the President. Yes, even when Clinton was President. Let's try to avoid hysterical Bush Bashing. Of course, Bush is not a moron. You don't get to be elected to the Presidency (TWICE) by being a moron. Bush is not satan, Bush is not Hitler and Bush is NOT Bin Laden. He is the President of the United States, freely elected by the people of this country. In that, he deserves the SUPPORT of every American. You can disagree with him (I do all the time), you can express dissent at his policies, but you should not undermine him. By doing so, you are undermining this country. There is a huge difference between rational dissent and irrational treason.. Unfortuanatly, many of the left usually end up in the latter category.. So, that's me in a nutshell... If I come across too strong or too arrogant, Dragonfly, please feel free to delete this post and I will go on my merry way, no harm no foul.. Michale.... 
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I have no intension of deleting your post.
I'm pleased to have you at the table, and even though we have different opinions, yours are no less valid than mine.
As a liberal, I believe in 'inclusion'.
Not just for those who agree with my viewpoint, but for all people.
That is, so long as they are sincere and exercise a certain level of good manners.
Comments, however, are a different animal and a certain amount of mud slinging is expected.
I think that we are more alike than different in that we both feel passionately about certain topics.
You are welcome here anytime, and I look forward to reading future posts by you.
I noticed your comments and all the anger it was stirring up and I was ready to tell you just what I thought of your opinion regarding the use of torture when I got to the area where somebody (can't remember his cyber name) changed the tone just by responding to you in a none combative way.
I have to admit this surprised me.
I still disagree vehemently with you on this subject, but I guess that's ok.
Thanx for the welcome...
Passion I got in spades.. Sometimes it overrides my manners and for that, I will apologize in advance..
Michale
I think one of the biggest issues over at HUFFPO is one of definition...
I use the term "coercive interrogations" and others use the term "torture"...
My biggest beef are those who equate discomfort with torture.
Coercive interrogations is a much more accurate terminology. It is things like Sleep Deprivation, Loud Music, Hot/Cold environments, Psy Ops, MWDs (the Canine kind, not the bomb kind.
Now, when you get into the down and dirty definition of torture then I can understand where you are coming from. Physcially hurting someone, breaking bones, electro shock, etc etc.. I believe that those types of activities SHOULD BE allowed, but only under extreme circumstances. Such as an imminent attack where multiple loss of life is reasonably expected.
Now what does that mean in practical terms?? Would an empty dress shop being bombed warrant actual torture?? Of course not..
What about an incurable biological plague about to be released into a city's water supply? Would THAT warrant this sort of torture. I believe it would.
Basically, the rule of thumb that I would use would be that actual torture is not to be used to FISH for information, but rather to find out the when and the where of information already known..
It's the difference between "OK, so tell us all the bad things you have done" and "TELL US WHEN AND WHERE THE BOMB YOU PLANTED GOES OFF!!"
Do you see the logic in what I am saying??
Michale....