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Bush is an idiot

30A Skunkape avatar
Skunky
6,517 views
Well, that headline might not shock many, but I thought this item from the BBC was interesting.:lol:

Castro hits out at US biofuel use
Cuban President Fidel Castro has strongly criticised the use of biofuels by the US, in his first article since undergoing surgery last year.
He said George W Bush's support for the use of food crops in fuel production would cause 3bn deaths from hunger.

The article in the Granma newspaper did not mention Mr Castro's health.

Officials say they expect Mr Castro - who temporarily handed over power to his brother last July - to resume activities in government soon.

Last month, Mr Castro appeared in a live radio broadcast for the first time since falling ill.

The Cuban leader's failure to appear in public - and the silence from the Cuban authorities - had fuelled speculation about the seriousness of his condition.

Ethanol targets

Mr Castro's article appears in Thursday's edition of Granma, under the headline: "Condemned to premature death by hunger and thirst more than 3bn people of the world."


The sinister idea of converting food into combustibles was definitively established as the economic line of foreign policy of the United States
Fidel Castro


In it, he says he has been "meditating quite a bit since President Bush's meeting with North American automobile makers".

During that meeting on Monday, Mr Castro writes, "the sinister idea of converting food into combustibles was definitively established as the economic line of foreign policy of the United States".

Mr Bush has set targets for an increased use of ethanol - which in the US is mainly made from corn. The US government hopes this will reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil.

The US and Brazil recently signed an agreement to develop biofuels, and their presidents are expected to hold further talks on the matter at the weekend.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6505881.stm

Published: 2007/03/29 09:35:51 GMT

Replies

127
30gAy avatar
Beach Fanatic
#102
A few things - and forgive me, I rarely have time to post on these boards, but the late meeting in Destin led me to water and the mindnumbingly vapid discourse made me drink.

Which leads one to ask the obvious question:

Does your self perceived 'brilliance' have anything to do with the amount of alcohol consumed?

I'm sure no one saw that coming......
30gAy avatar
Beach Fanatic
#103
Sorry for my mistake. My Italian isn't up to snuff, so some things run together. Maybe if I can make it over to Venice again before I hit 30, I'll be sure to ask you for directions. If not I just might end up lost like everyone else who's ever been to the city.

Hmmm, so you are in your 20's? I see, and again, you feel that you are brilliant and have this whole world figured out. Interesting.

And I'm sorry to repeat myself but, I'm sure no one has heard that one before.
TooFarTampa avatar
SoWal Insider
#104
Sorry for my mistake. My Italian isn't up to snuff, so some things run together. Maybe if I can make it over to Venice again before I hit 30, I'll be sure to ask you for directions. If not I just might end up lost like everyone else who's ever been to the city.

I get it now. ;-)
Beach Comber
#105
"Maybe if I can make it over to Venice again before I hit 30"

Oh good GOD it all makes sense now!

:funn:
6thGen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#106
30Gay,
Sorry to confuse you with age old clich?s. I didn?t really think that anyone would believe that I was consuming alcohol based on the lead a horse to water one. You?ve responded to me about half a dozen times, each with relatively the same comment. The only thing you?ve added to the conversation is the location of good music in Venice. Don?t get me wrong, this is very useful information, but it is nowhere near on topic. You?ve yet to make argument on anything I?ve said, but you continue to repeat yourself on what you specify as my deficiencies. You have yet to ?handle this blowhard?. Your entire shtick is as tired as the old skank from Sex and the City. I get it, you like men and you are proud to be effeminate. You can tell others that I?m not as brilliant as I think I am and that I?m insulting, you can miss obvious clich?s, you can name the squares in Venice, and you can unilaterally bring others you?re bedroom and you can perpetuate a gay stereotype. What you can?t do is coherently argue your position. If you are intelligent, clever, original or intuitive, you?ve done a hell of a job of hiding it.

As for the age thing, what all do you get now? Few of you have responded to my arguments, and if you have it has been littered with non sequiturs and fallacies. Besides, if you listen to the Brit who helped bring down Fascism, I?m ahead of the curve that you all are lagging behind.
Bob avatar
SoWal Insider
#107
Bob,
You are changing the subject and moving the goalposts. First, monopolies do not discourage competition. Predatory practices may, but monopolies, unless they are state monopolies do not. As for weight subsidies, I?m for doing away with all subsidies, all tariffs, export taxes, and anything else that precludes free trade. Finally, please explain how the lower and middle class is crushed to protect the interest of multinational companies? If you refer to my rail example, I agree. The Feds stepped in to regulate the rails and crushed affordable rail transportation. If it is on the overregulation of drug companies, again we are on the same page. The excessive regulation may save some lives by making drug companies go through years of scrutiny and red tape, but the lives saved pale in comparison to the lives that would be saved if a drug is brought to market sooner. And the cost to get past that barrier stifles competition, so while costs are drastically increased for that reason, they are also inflated due tightening the doors to the market, putting a heavy burden on the middle and lower classes while protecting bigger drug companies from startup competition. As for the poor giving their lives for oil, please quit looking for black helicopters while we are having somewhat of a productive discussion.
The lower and middle classes in this country cannot shop high energy costs. The upper classes are not affected by higher prices. Your quote about monopolies not discouraging competition requires me to ask you to please read some basic economic theory textbooks. My argument is that the Feds should encourage alternate fuel developement through incentives[tax breaks], and discourage bad behavior[high consumption vehicles through excise/guzzler taxes]. The war in Iraq is about control of oil flow, not terrorism. If terrorism were the issue, we would had stopped with Afghanistan. Unless you have a draft that the rich may not avoid, a voluntary military will always be disproportionally poor. Please give up the discussion about 19th century railroads, and the pharmecutical industry. The answer to the problem of big oil domination does not rest with regulating the industry, but rather, by making big oil's importance less so.
30gAy avatar
Beach Fanatic
#108
30Gay,
Sorry to confuse you with age old clich?s. I didn?t really think that anyone would believe that I was consuming alcohol based on the lead a horse to water one. You?ve responded to me about half a dozen times, each with relatively the same comment. The only thing you?ve added to the conversation is the location of good music in Venice. Don?t get me wrong, this is very useful information, but it is nowhere near on topic. You?ve yet to make argument on anything I?ve said, but you continue to repeat yourself on what you specify as my deficiencies. You have yet to ?handle this blowhard?. Your entire shtick is as tired as the old skank from Sex and the City. I get it, you like men and you are proud to be effeminate. You can tell others that I?m not as brilliant as I think I am and that I?m insulting, you can miss obvious clich?s, you can name the squares in Venice, and you can unilaterally bring others you?re bedroom and you can perpetuate a gay stereotype. What you can?t do is coherently argue your position. If you are intelligent, clever, original or intuitive, you?ve done a hell of a job of hiding it.

As for the age thing, what all do you get now? Few of you have responded to my arguments, and if you have it has been littered with non sequiturs and fallacies. Besides, if you listen to the Brit who helped bring down Fascism, I?m ahead of the curve that you all are lagging behind.

Excellent. Now you?re getting a little pissed. Precisely my goal.

You see, I have never claimed to be intelligent, clever, original, or intuitive. However, there are several posters who are. And I?m sure they would appreciate an open, engaging forum to discuss issues without having to listen to self aggrandizement, and insults.

But, as most of these people are far too polite, I?m happy to do their dirty work for them.

So I gave you a dose of your own attitude, not so tasty was it?

And yes, I was forced to be repetitive. As for ?the Brit who brought down fascism?, then I submit the following quote for your perusal:


?If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time-a tremendous whack.? ?Winston Churchill


Your last few posts suggest that the message is setting in. Play nice, and you?ll see the back side of me, (feel free to assume that was an overt sexual reference).
6thGen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#109
My concentration in my graduate degree was in economics, so I know the basics (cue 30Gay response). First, monopolies are near impossible to exist without government intervention, which I?ve repeatedly stated that I am against. Second, monopolies would not exist if they did not offer a product in demand at a price that consumers were willing to pay. I never said that monopolies were the most efficient of industries, but it doesn?t relate to the discussion because this isn?t the late 19th century.

Why can?t the lower and middle class shop energy prices? The reasons behind the war do not exist in a vacuum, nor do the proprietors and enablers of terrorism exist only in Afghanistan. The draft comment is completely bunk. And why should I give up the railroad and pharmaceutical discussion? You?ve proposed further government regulation and I?ve shown examples where it did far more harm than good. I agree that ?big oil? should have less importance, but the method is less regulation rather than more.
TooFarTampa avatar
SoWal Insider
#110
As for the age thing, what all do you get now? Few of you have responded to my arguments, and if you have it has been littered with non sequiturs and fallacies. Besides, if you listen to the Brit who helped bring down Fascism, I?m ahead of the curve that you all are lagging behind.

I'll jump in here. Please know that I am not posting out of disdain or even annoyance, I'm just going to call it the way I see it. ;-)

When I first read your Mensa comments I figured you were either 1) PUI 2) trying on a new personality, as some people do when they join a message board or 3) young. And by young I mean under 30. :roll:

Because it takes a little seasoning to realize that the only people that might be impressed by your membership in Mensa are other members of Mensa, and quite often they won't be either. Other people either take offense at the fact you are throwing your IQ in their faces, or they point out that IQ isn't everything, which it isn't. Brilliant people who want to navigate successfully through life know that announcing their brilliance isn't going to get them far at all.

Your obvious intelligence and ability to analyze situations will serve you well down the road, as long as it is tempered with an open mind and an equal ability to listen.

None of this has anything to do with whether you trend right or left wing or really, any of the finer points of your argument. I have small children and as much as I try to keep up with world events (and I do), I can't argue with your points because I don't have time to research them. But I know enough to listen, say, to the former chairman of the Armed Services Committee, who came back from October and said Iraq was getting worse despite our best efforts. And I know enough to pay attention to the Iraq Study Group, even if Bush couldn't quite bring himself to do so.

Most of us can only hope to master a few things during our lifetime, if that, and the best thing we can do with the rest of it is to remember to listen to the experts and respect what they say.

When I was 21 and a recent college graduate I thought I had it figured all out too. And I couldn't understand why people like the mechanic who fixed my car would treat me like I was an idiot. Because, obviously, he never went to college, right? :floor:

One of the most important skills I have learned in the past 5 to 10 years is to listen very carefully to the people who have already gone through what I am going through. If 90 or 95 percent have similar experiences with one aspect of life, I can safely assume it will be the same for me, whether or not I have different ideas of how I think or want it to turn out. Experience is the greatest teacher of all. If you can remember to listen to those with experience, you will then be "ahead of the curve." ;-)
6thGen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#111
The Mensa thing was a joke - I have neither the time nor the inclination to join, mostly because they are far too obsessed with things such as puzzles and riddles. There is an old saying for people lacking mental prowess, "You aren't bringing the potato salad to the Mensa picnic.? I thought it was more widespread. As for age, I'm only barely under 30. The Venice comment was tongue in cheek as well.
Bob avatar
SoWal Insider
#112
My concentration in my graduate degree was in economics, so I know the basics (cue 30Gay response). First, monopolies are near impossible to exist without government intervention, which I’ve repeatedly stated that I am against. Second, monopolies would not exist if they did not offer a product in demand at a price that consumers were willing to pay. I never said that monopolies were the most efficient of industries, but it doesn’t relate to the discussion because this isn’t the late 19th century.

Why can’t the lower and middle class shop energy prices? The reasons behind the war do not exist in a vacuum, nor do the proprietors and enablers of terrorism exist only in Afghanistan. The draft comment is completely bunk. And why should I give up the railroad and pharmaceutical discussion? You’ve proposed further government regulation and I’ve shown examples where it did far more harm than good. I agree that “big oil” should have less importance, but the method is less regulation rather than more.[/QUOTE6thGen, you brought up the railroads, not me. Reread the definition of a monopoly and oligopoly, and see if any American Industry submarkets ring a bell with you. Proposing economic incentives for alternate energy competition is not regualtion of the oil industry. Making wasteful consumer products more expensive will ultimately affect the likes of Exxon-Mobil, but is not regualtion of the oil industry. Regarding oil and the Middle east vs. terrorism issue, I can't help you there. Perhaps the perspective of time will impress upon you the validity of my statements when your mainframe has more hours. I suspect you have no military service,and I can assure you that the U.S. Army is rather frantically accepting about 1/4 of it's inductees currently those folks for whom a high school degree was too much an obstacle. These people are not country club material. God bless 'em, but voluntary military service has and will continue to be a draft on those who need a paycheck, and hopefully a way upward economically. You just sell your body to Uncle Sam for a length of time.

Edited

6thGen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#113
Your example not direct regulation (the industry already has plenty of that) but it falsely inflates one industry at the expense of another. As for conscription army vs. a force of volunteers, your perspective must be defined by your perception of the state. Supporters of conscription must believe that the state is innately good, and would not abuse its power as the state has far more power to impose unpopular foreign policy with a force of draftees. If you are making arguments for a draft, you are arguing for a more centralized state, a more powerful state, and a state less responsive to its citizens. The issue of wealth and class is misdirection. A military force is necessary, that?s beyond question. The choices that have been presented are limited to conscription by force, or enlistment by choice.
Rita avatar
margarita brocolia
#114
The Mensa thing was a joke - I have neither the time nor the inclination to join, mostly because they are far too obsessed with things such as puzzles and riddles. There is an old saying for people lacking mental prowess, "You aren't bringing the potato salad to the Mensa picnic.? I thought it was more widespread. As for age, I'm only barely under 30. The Venice comment was tongue in cheek as well.

And might you also be lacking in somehting else???

This is an informative thread. I am impressed with the quality of the posts and enjoy pondering many.

As has been mentioned previously though, truly intelligent people do not need to go through the posturing that you have been doing 6th.
TooFarTampa avatar
SoWal Insider
#115
The Mensa thing was a joke - I have neither the time nor the inclination to join, mostly because they are far too obsessed with things such as puzzles and riddles. There is an old saying for people lacking mental prowess, "You aren't bringing the potato salad to the Mensa picnic.? I thought it was more widespread. As for age, I'm only barely under 30. The Venice comment was tongue in cheek as well.

I'm familiar with the saying. It's not exactly a "joke," though, because you wouldn't use it if you weren't making it clear you feel mentally superior to those who are disagreeing with you. So maybe I should have just said, "People might listen to you if you stop acting like a jerk." :idontno: Maybe that is too simplistic.
6thGen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#116
TFT,
I was responding to this
"6th Gen - you bring up a few points, but none of them worthy of the time it took to read them. good god, what a waste of board space."

I responded to Bob with the respect that he granted, and likewise to Tootsie.
ecopal avatar
Beach Fanatic
#117
Well, that headline might not shock many, but I thought this item from the BBC was interesting.:lol:

Castro hits out at US biofuel use

Cuban President Fidel Castro has strongly criticised the use of biofuels by the US, in his first article since undergoing surgery last year.
He said George W Bush's support for the use of food crops in fuel production would cause 3bn deaths from hunger...

Mr Castro's article appears in Thursday's edition of Granma, under the headline: "Condemned to premature death by hunger and thirst more than 3bn people of the world."

The sinister idea of converting food into combustibles was definitively established as the economic line of foreign policy of the United States
Fidel Castro..

During that meeting on Monday, Mr Castro writes, "the sinister idea of converting food into combustibles was definitively established as the economic line of foreign policy of the United States".

Mr Bush has set targets for an increased use of ethanol - which in the US is mainly made from corn. The US government hopes this will reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil....

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6505881.stm

Published: 2007/03/29 09:35:51 GMT


Actually Castro is correct.

Who would ever think that the aging and ailing Castro could be smarter than Bush!

check out this link:

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_RJGDQTN
seacliffes avatar
Beach Lover
#118
Here are some other "idiots"
[nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePb6H-j51xE[/nomedia]
Bob avatar
SoWal Insider
#120
Here are some other "idiots"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePb6H-j51xE
Ten different American companies sold Saddam Hussein nuclear technology from 1985-1990 The sales totalled 1.5 billion dollars. Our own Center for Disease Control and Prevention sent Hussein strains of all germs used by Iraq to make weapons. Anthrax, botulin and other pathogens later used to kill Iranians and Kurds were sent under U.S. government license from 1985 to 1990.
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#121
The Mensa thing was a joke - I have neither the time nor the inclination to join, mostly because they are far too obsessed with things such as puzzles and riddles. There is an old saying for people lacking mental prowess, "You aren't bringing the potato salad to the Mensa picnic.? I thought it was more widespread. As for age, I'm only barely under 30. The Venice comment was tongue in cheek as well.


yes, of course the mensa thing was meant as a joke and an insult. it was also very revealing. I suspected we were hearing from a young person who thinks he's got it all figured out. some of us are quite older with the experience to know that we don't know everything, as we once thought.

believe it or not 6thg, the older you get, the more you understand that your knowledge is limited and imperfect. with maturity comes a more open mind, capable of listening. capable of admitting that you don't know crap. I follow TFTs advice and listen to the experts (including a lot of NPR - my preferred resource on current issues, but realize that others may prefer Fox News or other sources).

unfortunately age can bring lower tolerance, especially of those who come across as having it all figured out. sorry for my intolerance of your initial post responding to chickpea. it seemed degrading and rubbed me the wrong way.. :blush:

can you try to be more concise? I think you have some interesting arguments, but hard for me (the mensa caterer, don't forget) to follow.

I love that you made 30gAy come out on this thread. he likes you I can tell. :biggrin:

peace.
6thGen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#122
Yes it was an insult because you responded to my argument with a dismissal rather than addressing anything. I never said that I have it all figured out, but I have backed up everything I stated and debated a subject with the only ones that engaged discussion. You can tell me how many more experiences you have, how you have an open mind, how you are capable of listening, and how you are more tolerant. You have yet to address an argument on its merits. As for being more concise, I?m being incredibly concise to the point of oversimplification on many things as it takes a few sentences to back up what I?ve said. Also, while we are on open minds, tolerance and the like, I believe the diversity of opinion is far, far more important than diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, etc. This message board, like many other forums such as education, print, etc. is loathe to offer that. They?d rather have a black fellow, an American Indian woman, an Eskimo transgender and a white man with a gray ponytail listen to a Hispanic woman and tell her how right she is.
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#123
:roll: hey, now 6th gen! take a happy pill. I said I was not very tolerant of your post - and once again, I apologize for that.

diversity, in all its forms, is what makes the world and this board so interesting. sowal does seem to attract more liberal folks than conservatives, it seems. or maybe the lefties are more vocal, I don't really know. but, everyone brings something different to the discussion.

I think your arguments would have much better appeal and impact if you would focus, be concise (not simple), and play nice. but, I don't think you should change a thing to be honest. you've generated a lot of discussion with your style. and it is interesting, no doubt.

and 3gAy thinks you are so hot!!!:lol:
Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#124
:roll: hey, now 6th gen! take a happy pill. I said I was not very tolerant of your post - and once again, I apologize for that.

diversity, in all its forms, is what makes the world and this board so interesting. sowal does seem to attract more liberal folks than conservatives, it seems. or maybe the lefties are more vocal, I don't really know. but, everyone brings something different to the discussion.

I think your arguments would have much better appeal and impact if you would focus, be concise (not simple), and play nice. but, I don't think you should change a thing to be honest. you've generated a lot of discussion with your style. and it is interesting, no doubt.

and 3gAy thinks you are so hot!!!:lol:

I can't believe you typed that.:floor:

I have enjoyed watching the volley on this thread too!
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#125
I can't believe you typed that.:floor:

I have enjoyed watching the volley on this thread too!

it's true!
6thGen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#126
Well, that's sweet. I'll tell 30Gay the same thing I told some female vacationers a few weeks ago, I'm happily married but thanks anyway.

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