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Let's presume a member of the chinese intelligence would have informed the general public about undreamed details of the whole dimension of digital snoopery and hacking activities of the chinese intelligence. This whistleblower would have fled from china in search of asylum. How fast a private jet of the CIA would be underway, the man celebrated as a hero of freedom witnessing in front of congressman and woman?
Artful Dodger: And a new one hit this weekend. That the family of Stephen Lawrence were targeted by a Met police smear campaign so they might go away and not end up (as they did) revealing how institutionally racist the Met police force was through their campaign for justice.
18 years to convict the killers, just because Stephen and his family were black.
Btw.. if you happen to (and it was funny) watch last nights "Question Time" ...
DO NOT play the "answer the question" (tm) drinking game. So many times were questions unanswered or having to be repeated you will not last the first 30 minutes!!
Today (and yesterday ) starring on "Question time" and other news programs, papers and bloggs...
... How the NHS watchdog tried to cover up it's own failings regarding the investigation of unusually high baby death figures at a hospital... names have been named and shamed. Heads have gone.
... How banks were able to use the "Murder on the Orient Express" defence and claim they did not know they were laundering money for Mexican drug cartels.
.... therefore no-one can be held criminally responsible even though deaths have resulted.
What about the heads of the depts? Some VP's??
A new law will be introduced to cover such defences.
Our government says it's ok. We are not being spied upon by them, and they've managed to get an agreement by the UK's Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies to sign up to a tax evasion clampdown.
That's Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Anguilla, Montserrat, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
But the proposed register of companies, revealing the true owners, may not go ahead. Let alone be available to the public for scrutiny, so we get to know who are the cheaters.
..........well.. confirmable proof. Most are already known, certain groups of citizens in the UK take the time to note who's who!!
N' now it looks like the UK's GCHQ used the USA's abuse of the Patriot act to spy on US citizens to illegally spy on UK citizens. The UK government tried to get the power to collect all our web browsing data but couldn't get it through Parliament. The Liberal democrats would not vote for it killing the idea.
... It seems the Data Protection act means didly squat. But I knew that anyway...
Artful Dodger: On "Question time" last night that was mentioned. More talk was on the latest batch of "cash for questions".. paid lobbying to you. Yet another sting operation was carried out by the Sunday Times and BBC with hidden cameras.
All broadcast on "Panorama" last night.
Funny, you'd thought after the last time it was done our "Lords" and MP's would be more careful about being caught with their heads well and truly in the trough.
Iamon lyme: well gold fish swimming in an aquarium always have poop coming out their butts. Mermaids too ill bet. They are related biologically. Sort of
Artful Dodger: "That web page is part of the hoax."
That explains the image of a DOJ badge. The DOJ seal made sense, but not the badge. Even so, not enough of an overkill to make me believe it couldn't be legit.
If it showed Jack Webb holding the badge, THAT would be overkill.
Iamon lyme: In the Animal Planet presentation they are an ugly creature. And they don't do much. They play with dolphins, spear fish, and poop a lot in the sea.
rod03801: I think it's safe to assume a mermaid terrorist cell was discovered. Seizing the domain name is just the first step. They'll need to follow through by physically going in to seize the mermaids themselves. This isn't as easy as it sounds, because them mermaids is slippery and hard to hold onto. They'll also need to clean up any water that gets sloshed onto the floor, after the mermaids are dragged out of their tanks and put under arrest.
Our tax dollars at work. I don't know about you, but I feel a lot safer knowing our government is doing all that it can to keep those mermaids from... from, uh...
Artful Dodger: I clicked on that Mermaid site, and you know what I got?
I got a message saying: This domain name has been seized by DOJ-Homeland Security Investigations, pursuant to a seizure warrent issued by a United States Distric Court under the authority of blah blah blah blah yadda yadda blah.
Iamon lyme: It's ok... I've adopted the standard of not answering as laid out in "Yes Minister" and "Yes Prime Minister". Also with contributions from 'Prime Ministers question time' and Saturday and Sunday politics shows where saying nothing is the norm...
.. also, it seems to be the standard here.
It'd be nice if that changed... a Common principle.
(V): Really? I was trying to follow yours... so I guess this means we are both walking around in the same circle, and following each others footprints.
By the way, thanks for not answering that last question. I'd appreciate it if you just sat on it and didn't say anything about that. Mums the word, okay?
Iamon lyme: That liberals don't think... Or just in your mind they don't.
... Conservatives don't think in your mind also...
Fascinating... Your mind is completely free, unless those damn liberals take away that liberty or the conservatives make it smaller.
"He gave the tin man a clock (a ticker) the scarecrow a diploma and the lion a medal of honor for courage. So yes, he did give them the secular equivalents of a heart and brains and courage."
Secular humans don't think in my mind. Neither do feminists.
"Secular humanists haven't learned anything from watching the Wizard of Oz, because they act like you don't have a brain unless you go to college and get a degree. No degree, no brains."
Isn't that stereotyping? Stereotypes don't live in my mind!!
Argomento: Re:If you had asked me about it, I would have told you the guy appeared to regard himself as a mystic.
(V): "He didn't give them, he just showed them they already had it in them."
He gave the tin man a clock (a ticker) the scarecrow a diploma and the lion a medal of honor for courage. So yes, he did give them the secular equivalents of a heart and brains and courage.
Secular humanists haven't learned anything from watching the Wizard of Oz, because they act like you don't have a brain unless you go to college and get a degree. No degree, no brains.
Argomento: Re:If you had asked me about it, I would have told you the guy appeared to regard himself as a mystic.
(V): [ "Liberals don't think in my mind. They think in their own minds."
Your mind is wrong then, as everyone thinks... or, everyone 'is' and sees their thoughts. Depending on your philosophical standing!! ]
I was stating a fact of life.... unless you believe there are hosts of liberals who've taken up residence in your mind, and are doing all their thinking in there. I don't rent out space in my mind to liberals OR conservatives.
Argomento: Re:If you had asked me about it, I would have told you the guy appeared to regard himself as a mystic.
Iamon lyme: Yes... but it's hardly a good example of 'mysticism', and the original telling of the event made it look like you met him in some 'mystic Christian' church lol
"By the way, the Wizard of Oz gave Dorothy's three friends a heart and brains and courage. He didn't demand payment for it."
He didn't give them, he just showed them they already had it in them. In some respects an analogy of someone who's confused about how to interpret their emotions and feelings correctly and of the over coming of the likes of panic attacks and other fear/flight driven feelings.
"Liberals don't think in my mind. They think in their own minds."
Your mind is wrong then, as everyone thinks... or, everyone 'is' and sees their thoughts. Depending on your philosophical standing!!
"No one needs to be a so called 'Washington insider' to see which way the wind is blowing."
Your a tornado conspirator? Obama caused it in your mind???
(V): "Is this the way all Liberals think in your mind.."
I know what you meant, but it was an odd question. So I answered in much the same way you've been answering my questions.
The straight answer to your question is, I don't sit around imagining what liberals do or how they think. Over the years I've watched how they form committees for drafting bills, letting a few republicans onto those committees (to make it appear non partisan) and then ignoring their input. They'll load bills with outrageous pork (like money for studies to prove men are no different than women) and MAYBE throw in a few budget cuts. Maybe. But the so called budget "cuts" are a joke. They aren't actual cuts, but are freezes on increases. If the budget stays the same and the projected increases are not included, THAT is what they will call a budget cut.
No one needs to be a so called 'Washington insider' to see which way the wind is blowing. And you don't need to only read or listen to Fox news to get this information. You can get enough of it from main stream media sources to see what's happening. When Bush senior said no more new taxes, the left eventually convinced him to go along with a small increase. After that they claimed he lied, and they laughed at him for going along with THEM. I'll wager you went along with the choir on that one, and were singing that song too. Am I wrong?
Nope, still can't find it. I didn't say he was a mystic. If you had asked me about it, I would have told you the guy appeared to regard himself as a mystic. That doesn't mean he was... I didn't believe anything he was saying OR implying about himself. If you told me (or implied) you were a mystic, I wouldn't believe that either.
Clear?
"Is this the way all Liberals think in your mind.."
Liberals don't think in my mind. They think in their own minds.
"even the ones who serve in the armed forces?"
They think in their own minds too. Why would liberals in the armed forces be any different?
By the way, the Wizard of Oz gave Dorothy's three friends a heart and brains and courage. He didn't demand payment for it.
"Cowardice, and lack of common sense and integrity is to blame. You can't BUY courage or common sense or integrity... either you've got it or you don't."
Is this the way all Liberals think in your mind.. even the ones who serve in the armed forces?
"No, I didn't say that."
"I assume you are asking me where did I learn about mysticism. My first encounter with mysticism is experience with it. When I started believing in God I went to various churches and meeting places. I wasn't aware of how many different denominations and cults there were claiming to be Christ centered, or included Christ in their philosophy. One time I talked to someone who started off claiming to have an IQ of 170. That should have been my first clue that something wasn't right with him. He told me the Bible was one of five books (representing five major religions) he reads, because they all (collectively) represented what he believed."
Argomento: Re:He was a dope smoking lone wolf self proclaimed genius. You could find one of those on almost any street corner during the '70s
(V): [ "Cowardice, and lack of common sense and integrity is to blame."
Like I said, cutting down on funding is dumb. ]
I'm still waiting to hear how passing any bill would have given Obama the common sense to heed warnings and the courage to act, or the integrity to take responsibility. Where can you go to buy those things?
Argomento: Re:He was a dope smoking lone wolf self proclaimed genius. You could find one of those on almost any street corner during the '70s
(V): Προειδοποιήσεις αγνοήθηκαν, η δράση δεν έγινε δεκτή, και στη συνέχεια μια ιστορία κάλυψης ήταν εποίησαν για να φαίνεται σαν τίποτα δεν θα μπορούσε να είχε γίνει γι 'αυτό.
Argomento: Re:He was a dope smoking lone wolf self proclaimed genius. You could find one of those on almost any street corner during the '70s
(V): "Oh... You said he was a mystic...."
No, I didn't say that.
"N' no-one thought "lets separate the two items and still approve the funds for defence"?"
Two items? Okay, I'll walk you through this. It's a common ploy used by liberals. What they will do is to put one thing you approve of among several things you don't. They don't actually expect you to vote for the entire bill, they expect you to vote against it. Then they will come back to claim you voted down the one thing you do approve of. See how that works?
They COULD have drafted a bill with only the items everyone can agree to, but why would they want to do that? Their purpose was to come back later to claim republicans voted down increasing funds for security. If republicans voted for the bill then sure, that part of the bill goes through, but then so does all of the unnecessary spending. For liberals it's a win/win situation. Either they get everything they want, or they get to come back to claim republicans aren't sincere about security. Pretty sneaky, huh?
It's also sneaky of them to suggest the security problem was only about money. It wasn't about money... it was about ignoring warnings, being afraid to act when the attack was happening, and then acting like scared little children instead of taking responsibility for the screw up.
Oh by the way, did I happen to mention anything about Benghazi? Did you know warnings were ignored, nothing was done when the embassy was under attack, and then a cover story was concocted to make it look as though nothing could have been done? Did I mention any of that? It may have slipped my mind as we were talking about other things.
Argomento: Re:He was a dope smoking lone wolf self proclaimed genius. You could find one of those on almost any street corner during the '70s
Iamon lyme: Oh... You said he was a mystic.... you didna say he was a 60/70's hippie!! lol
"No, they were voting against other things in the bill."
N' no-one thought "lets separate the two items and still approve the funds for defence"?
"So now you think I'M dumb, eh?"
Noooooo I think what you are telling me happened regarding cuts to the defence of embassy's is dumb. $530 million in cuts in two years in a world where a certain war etiquette such as existed in the cold war no longer exists.. is dumb.
"and then we were expected to believe a youtube video was to blame."
No... you say you are. The rest of the demo was based on the video I believe.
"Cowardice, and lack of common sense and integrity is to blame."
Okay, NOW I know who you're talking about. He didn't belong to any church. He was a dope smoking lone wolf self proclaimed genius. You could find one of those on almost any street corner during the '70s, You've heard about the '60s and '70s, haven't you?
"Because the Republicans were voting against more funds."
No, they were voting against other things in the bill. Just because it might have been in the bill doesn't mean they approved of everthing in the bill. So now you think I'M dumb, eh?
It doesn't matter anyway, because lack of money wasn't the problem. The problem was warnings were ignored, nothing was done when the attack came, and then we were expected to believe a youtube video was to blame. Lack of money was not the problem. Cowardice, and lack of common sense and integrity is to blame. You can't BUY courage or common sense or integrity... either you've got it or you don't.
Iamon lyme: So if not liberals, then who told republicans "...the budget needed bolstering on the defence of such places"? Other republicans?
I think it was the body within the US gov looking out for security of embassy's etc... At the time of the last budget setting for the likes.
Individual names.. I can't remember.. Maybe it was Mr E J Fudd??
"If republicans aren't to blame for the screw up in Benghazi, then what exactly is your point?"
Point!
"And why would anyone be telling republicans we need to bolster defenses?"
Because the Republicans were voting against more funds.
"I may have mentioned it. Is that what you're talking about?"
Yep.
"One time I talked to someone who started off claiming to have an IQ of 170. That should have been my first clue that something wasn't right with him. He told me the Bible was one of five books (representing five major religions) he reads, because they all (collectively) represented what he believed. I told Mr IQ of 170 it didn't make sense for him to include the Bible in that group, and explained why. And all he needed to do to see if this was true or not was to read what his Bible says about it. Mr IQ of 170 didn't like that, not one bit... because I was right. My average bowling score at that time was well over 200, so take THAT Mr IQ of 170!"
Argomento: Re: And it IS dumb to try pinning the Benghazi tragedy and cover up on republicans.
(V): "The Church bloke..."
I remember a long time ago when my wife was interested in a particular church. I got into a disagreement with the pastor of that church, but it wasn't a liberal church and the disagreement was resolved. I don't remember talking about that, but it's possible I may have mentioned it. Is that what you're talking about?
Or are you talking about a bloke here (at this message board) "...who knew better than me"?
Argomento: Re: And it IS dumb to try pinning the Benghazi tragedy and cover up on republicans.
(V): "I wasn't."
So if not liberals, then who told republicans "...the budget needed bolstering on the defence of such places"? Other republicans?
If republicans aren't to blame for the screw up in Benghazi, then what exactly is your point? And why would anyone be telling republicans we need to bolster defenses? Don't you think they (whoever "they" are) should be telling this to the people who have been undercutting defenses in such places? Who do you think is running the show in Washington? President Romney?
"What bloke?"
[ The Church bloke... how you got to hate liberal churches...???? ]
You must be thinking of someone else. I don't know about "liberal churches" or about some bloke who said he knew better than me.
Argomento: Re: And it IS dumb to try pinning the Benghazi tragedy and cover up on republicans.
Iamon lyme: I wasn't.
" So where do you see liberals worrying over cuts to the military?"
I'm not looking for them to be worrying. I'd be worried if the USA does a turn around on finally accepting it cannot afford to be at war as much as it has been since the 1950's. Or more killings like that which happened yesterday in the UK.
"What bloke?"
The Church bloke... how you got to hate liberal churches...????
Argomento: Re: YI was a liberal Democrat during the Watergate scandal, so how do you think I reacted?
(V): "Like that bloke said you were.. the one who said he knew better than you."
What bloke?
By the way, there is a big difference between a reaction and a response. Inanimate objects react, they don't respond. A response implies thought. Inanimate objects don't think, they react. This doesn't mean a response CAN'T be a reaction, so do as you will.... I'm not telling you what to do or how to do it.
And it IS dumb to try pinning the Benghazi tragedy and cover up on republicans. Republicans weren't the ones ignoring the warnings and coming up with a lame cover story afterwards. If republicans were being told the budget needed bolstering on the defence of such places, they were being told this by people who were concerned about budget cuts. So where do you see liberals worrying over cuts to the military? I'd like to see that too.
If the liberal leadership actually gave a rats derriere about security, the Benghazi attack would have come and gone without the amabassor being there, as well as the others who were with him.
Argomento: Re: YI was a liberal Democrat during the Watergate scandal, so how do you think I reacted?
Iamon lyme: I don't know. I wasn't there. It's like with talk on how a UK minister had a mistress.. The French perspective was "he wouldn't be trusted if he didn't have one".
"I might still be saying dumb things like "...the republicans were told the budget needed bolstering on the defence of such places.""
So you are behaving the same, just switched parties??
... I woulda changed the way I was behaving if I was supposed to be different!