[Aaron]

The main problem with a representative form of government like the US, is also it's greatest strength. The peaceful transition of power is a non-trivial event not possible for most of human history. The downside of this system is, of course, living with any mistakes you make. The military of any republic including the US is sworn to serve the collective will of the people as expressed through their elected leaders.

What happens if your leaders are knee-jerk reactionaries during 911?

You're gonna get some stupidity based on fear. And you're gonna have to live with that choice another 4 years.

Most of us agree with many of the complaints & ask your understanding, if not your tolerance. We goofed... sorry. We are trying ya know...

I work with the military all the time, and I assure you that the rank & file of America's armed forces are patriots who genuinely believe they serve the public will. If there's any blame to go around, it's us voting citizens who put some of these guys in power, not our military, who should receive the blame.

So... sorry about recent blunders & we promise to keep trying.

We are fighting against the institutional power-brokers and money people ya know... so... a break would be nice. Those guys are tough hombres.

Thank HawkMan our military does what our elected leaders tell 'em, even when it's a bad idea. I'd hate to contemplate what the loss of military controll by the general population would look like.

Ya know who else had a military dictatorship don't ya?

Yeah that's right.

I win.

[Heineken]

Many marvel about the miraculous smoothness of the "transition of power."

But when you grasp that the baton is simply being passed between members of a tight group, you see that there is no miracle.

The same thing happens every election.

It is interesting that Obama the individual penetrated the inner circle, no doubt about that. My hat's off to his political cunning.

But now he's one of them, and as a result I predict very little actual "change" will occur.

The clearest signal comes from his position on Afghanistan, but there are many others for those willing to look beyong the pomp and circumstance of the inauguration, the cute little daughters, etc.

[RdSnt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '
')
It is interesting that Obama the individual penetrated the inner circle, no doubt about that. My hat's off to his political cunning.

[GoghGoner]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'B')ut when you grasp that the baton is simply being passed between members of a tight group, you see that there is no miracle.

The same thing happens every election.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schmuto', '
')There is no other reason for the U.S. to be in Afghan territory, with the possible exception of drug money for Ops.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', ' ')The peaceful transition of power is a non-trivial event not possible for most of human history.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', 'T')his is not a copypaste I hope? Thats a great post Schmuto. I hope you won't be banned too soon for your anti-semitism.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bas', '
')Afghanistan is a strategic location though when it coms to Iran's oil and the oil in the Caspian.

[Schmuto]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', 'T')his is not a copypaste I hope? Thats a great post Schmuto. I hope you won't be banned too soon for your anti-semitism.

[seldom_seen]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RdSnt', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '
')
It is interesting that Obama the individual penetrated the inner circle, no doubt about that. My hat's off to his political cunning.

[Tyler_JC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schmuto', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', 'T')his is not a copypaste I hope? Thats a great post Schmuto. I hope you won't be banned too soon for your anti-semitism.

[Nickel]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schmuto', 'P')lease pass along to them that, despite the successful annihilation of citizens and soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, my liberty is decidedly ON THE RUN, and, worse, the pace of its demise is accelerating.

Please pass along to them that the real threat to liberty is not towel heads in the sands of the Middle East.

Please pass along to them that even if "terrorists" are among us and seek to harm us, they could only, at best, take out a few thousand of us over the next few years, and, while unfortunate, that is a ZERO threat to American liberty. To MY liberty. Liberty is not predicated on us not dying. Liberty is predicated on us refusing to allow our government to enslave us.

[Nickel]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', 'T')his is not a copypaste I hope? Thats a great post Schmuto. I hope you won't be banned too soon for your anti-semitism.

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Nickel', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', 'T')his is not a copypaste I hope? Thats a great post Schmuto. I hope you won't be banned too soon for your anti-semitism.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GoghGoner', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'B')ut when you grasp that the baton is simply being passed between members of a tight group, you see that there is no miracle.

The same thing happens every election.

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GoghGoner', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'B')ut when you grasp that the baton is simply being passed between members of a tight group, you see that there is no miracle.

The same thing happens every election.

[AlexdeLarge]

As an American, regardless of your political persuasion or beliefs, if you find you cannot be proud of your Country on this day........you have a serious problem and should consider other abodes.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AlexdeLarge', 'A')s an American, regardless of your political persuasion or beliefs, if you find you cannot be proud of your Country on this day........you have a serious problem and should consider other abodes.

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AlexdeLarge', 'A')s an American, regardless of your political persuasion or beliefs, if you find you cannot be proud of your Country on this day........you have a serious problem and should consider other abodes.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AlexdeLarge', 'A')s an American, regardless of your political persuasion or beliefs, if you find you cannot be proud of your Country on this day........you have a serious problem and should consider other abodes.