Ben Stein on Charlie Rangel

If I win a bronze star does that mean I get to cheat on my taxes too?

I thank him for his
service. Now throw the bum out of office along with the rest of them who can't abide by laws/follow rules. IMHO, his valiant military service is irrelevant to the manner in which he serves the people.

Now throw the bum out of office along with the rest of them who can't abide by laws/follow rules.

If they threw all of those who can't abide by laws/follow rules it will be time to become a realtor in DC because there'd be a whole lot of homes suddenly on the market.

Sad but true...

Wow, Geo, we've got to quit this. I, once again, agree with you completely.

But on the ignorance thread you said a high ranking military man could never be an embarrassment- only "misdirected". Is Charlie Rangel an embarrassment for his actions or exempt because of his military service and therefore only misdirected???

You're comparing apples and oranges again. What Charlie Rangel did by any stretch of the imagination was criminal. If you or I had done it, the IRS would have come after us big time and we might well be in jail. What the Lt. Col. did was misdirected opinion and speech. Big difference. and BTW, I, for one, am getting tired of every generalization posted being taken down to an infintesimal level to make a point. Don't come back with some nonsense as you are bright enough to know damn well what I am talking about. To intimate that retired Lt. Col's cannot do any wrong was not my intention and you know it. I am not going to qualify every thing with what pleases the left on this board. Read it, consider it, ignore it or agree with it but for all quit playing "word games". Most of us write clearly enough for our meaning to be understood. As I said, either accept it or ignore it.

Andy, you respond with paragraphs that do nothing to clarify your position.

Please. I am seeking to understand what you believe.

Regarding the Texas Congressman who stubbornly refuses to acknowledge his President is a US citizen despite proof- you said:

"There are no retired Army Lt. Col.'s who are an embarrassment. There may be some who, according to some, are completely misdirected."

Regarding Charlie Rangel- you stated your agreement with me that his valiant military service is irrelevant to how we judge him now.

Please clarify for each-

do you believe that the Texas birther is less of a buffoon for his behavior because he was a military man?

P.S. Watch the video.

Let me simplify-

Texas Birther- idiot or not an idiot

Rangel- bum or not a bum

You're comparing apples and oranges again. What Charlie Rangel did by any stretch of the imagination was criminal. If you or I had done it, the IRS would have come after us big time and we might well be in jail. What the Lt. Col. did was misdirected opinion and speech. Big difference. and BTW, I, for one, am getting tired of every generalization posted being taken down to an infintesimal level to make a point. Don't come back with some nonsense as you are bright enough to know damn well what I am talking about. To intimate that retired Lt. Col's cannot do any wrong was not my intention and you know it. I am not going to qualify every thing with what pleases the left on this board. Read it, consider it, ignore it or agree with it but for all quit playing "word games". Most of us write clearly enough for our meaning to be understood. As I said, either accept it or ignore it.

Andy things have been picked apart on here down to their basics since before we both joined. Perhaps the "squall line" over on the NWFDailynws site is more your speed.

You're comparing apples and oranges again. What Charlie Rangel did by any stretch of the imagination was criminal. If you or I had done it, the IRS would have come after us big time and we might well be in jail. What the Lt. Col. did was misdirected opinion and speech. Big difference. and BTW, I, for one, am getting tired of every generalization posted being taken down to an infintesimal level to make a point. Don't come back with some nonsense as you are bright enough to know damn well what I am talking about. To intimate that retired Lt. Col's cannot do any wrong was not my intention and you know it. I am not going to qualify every thing with what pleases the left on this board. Read it, consider it, ignore it or agree with it but for all quit playing "word games". Most of us write clearly enough for our meaning to be understood. As I said, either accept it or ignore it.

No we don't know damn well what your talking about. You make absolute statements and then get pissed when someone points out your contradictions and ask for clarification. Blaming the left everytime you get caught making a fool of yourself is getting old.

To all those who seem to think I'm stupid. I agree wholehartedly. To argue, not debate with many on this board is not only ridiculous but without sensiblility as well. Therefore, I will acquiese to all of you and in the future post what my opinion is and what I have learned and let it go at that.

To all those who seem to think I'm stupid. I agree wholehartedly. To argue, not debate with many on this board is not only ridiculous but without sensiblility as well. Therefore, I will acquiese to all of you and in the future post what my opinion is and what I have learned and let it go at that.

No one thinks you are stupid and I for one enjoy your posts. Please stop being so defense when challenged. Try defending your position without feeling you are being assaulted.

Andy things have been picked apart on here down to their basics since before we both joined. Perhaps the "squall line" over on the NWFDailynws site is more your speed.

SWGB, I have no idea what the "squall line" is. I once more bow to your vast experience and knowledge, which is obviously far superior to mine, and accept your premise. However, "with all due respect", I shall continue to express my knowledge, experience and education here until it is prevented by someone with more authority than you.:sarc:

To all those who seem to think I'm stupid. I agree wholehartedly. To argue, not debate with many on this board is not only ridiculous but without sensiblility as well. Therefore, I will acquiese to all of you and in the future post what my opinion is and what I have learned and let it go at that.

You don't argue or debate, you make blanket statements and then when challenged or asked for clarification you respond with sarcastic quips that have nothing to do with the original conversation. I used to respect your posts and positions, but quite frankly your credibility is circling the drain and I think most people are starting to figure that out.

Typical thread deconstruction:

1.) Someone with opposing views to Andy A. posts and article and their opinion.
2.) Andy A. responds with contrary opinion that oddly seems to contradict a previous statement on another thread.
3.) Original poster or someone else questions the difference or asks for a source.
4.) Andy A. immediately accuses everyone of being a liberal and refuses to defend or respond and goes into martyr mode.

Did I miss anything?

No one thinks you are stupid and I for one enjoy your posts. Please stop being so defense when challenged. Try defending your position without feeling you are being assaulted.

I certainly appreciate your most civil post. I realize I am one of thousands on this board and therefore insignificant. I defend my positions based on my experience, education, longivity and the results of those combinations. Everyone would rather I quote the N.Y. Times, Esquire, the Wall Street Journal or some other "creditable source". I am not interested in stating other's positions, I am interested in stating mine. You are welcome to take it for what its worth or ignore it. I am not uneducated or without experience. You may look at my profile and determine that. I do not normally denigrate anyone for their opinion except when they say something completely unsustainable and I know it. That may be why I seem defensive. I know this post sounds arrogant but it isn't meant to be so. It is meant to try and explain why some who post here do so with such passion. They are not speaking just to those with whom they disagree, they are also speaking to those many who come here only to read and hopefully open up their minds. Look at the number of members on board at anytime vs. the number of guests. It is always more than 2 to 1. They are for whom I post, not those whose minds are already made up. I will close by saying as long as I am reasonably civil, though at times it is hard, I will be allowed to do so. It is, hopefully, everyone else's right to do the same.

You don't argue or debate, you make blanket statements and then when challenged or asked for clarification you respond with sarcastic quips that have nothing to do with the original conversation. I used to respect your posts and positions, but quite frankly your credibility is circling the drain and I think most people are starting to figure that out.

Typical thread deconstruction:

1.) Someone with opposing views to Andy A. posts and article and their opinion.
2.) Andy A. responds with contrary opinion that oddly seems to contradict a previous statement on another thread.
3.) Original poster or someone else questions the difference or asks for a source.
4.) Andy A. immediately accuses everyone of being a liberal and refuses to defend or respond and goes into martyr mode.

Did I miss anything?

This seems a little harsh - we all tend to get stubborn and deaf to opposing arguments on certain issues - even more so when the tone of replies/discussion gets less than cordial.

You don't argue or debate, you make blanket statements and then when challenged or asked for clarification you respond with sarcastic quips that have nothing to do with the original conversation. I used to respect your posts and positions, but quite frankly your credibility is circling the drain and I think most people are starting to figure that out.

Typical thread deconstruction:

1.) Someone with opposing views to Andy A. posts and article and their opinion.
2.) Andy A. responds with contrary opinion that oddly seems to contradict a previous statement on another thread.
3.) Original poster or someone else questions the difference or asks for a source.
4.) Andy A. immediately accuses everyone of being a liberal and refuses to defend or respond and goes into martyr mode.

Did I miss anything?

Yeah, a whole lot, but again, that is only my opinion. Read the post following yours. It does a lot to explain my position although I don't expect you to accept it or understand it.

FYI on Rangel....

----------------------------------------
Breaking News Alert: House Democrats voted 333 to 79 to censure Charles B. Rangel
December 2, 2010 5:55:24 PM
----------------------------------------

House Democrats voted 333 to 79 to censure Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) for a series of ethics violations involving his personal finances, the second highest form of punishment in Congress. Supporters of the veteran lawmaker failed in their effort to lighten the sentence to a written reprimand.