i just kinda wish when they start with the mouth and say f.....  this and that along those lines smile pretty and say peace bro flower in ur hair 

while you castrate them in ur mind. don/ t  go to their level and its tough i was am  very bad about wanting to, but they are mob mentality

I googled my term "gander".  Oppps.  it's actually "dander".  I've been misusing that term for nearly 40 years or more, incorrectly. 

Thankfully no one called me out and corrected me all these years.

  Enough of THAT malarky, eh?

us old farts knew exactly what you meant  :)

It's a combination of things.  Everyone knows.  Here's my opinion (short version). In the case of young spoiled, pampered, coddled kids who haven't learned consequences of their action either in the home or schools.  Kids who are given participation trophies. Kids who have never been spanked when they had it coming.  Kids who don't know how to handle winning with humility and losing with grace. In the case of Blacks, kids raised without fathers...75% of black kids born without a father in the home. 

When it comes to political differences, civility and mutual respect may be attempted, initially, but almost without fail, debates get heated and "respect" is the first casualty.  I challenge anyone to show me where there is a clash of political ideologies, and the dialog is civil and respectful.  This isn't new. Politics is also, bottom line, about power. In the annals of world history, power is gained and maintained by hate, vitriol, and ultimately violence. That's just a fact.  Nobody can dispute this. Our two-party system, which pits Republicans and Democrats against each other in an endless struggle over just how activist and large a role government should play in people's lives, is tailor made for passionate arguments.  This idealistic, whimsical notion that political debate should be "respectful" is an exercise in futility.  In fact, if you look back in the 19th century, there were several instances of fistfights and brawls breaking out in congress.  Once, a congressman was literally caned in Congress....held down and beat by fellow congressmen with their walking canes.  Frankly, I wouldn't mind seeing a brawl or two.  What we see now is nothing like it used to be.  At least we don't have duels, like when Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. 

So, the question is, do we want American politics being denatured and stripped of its political passions with our politicians becoming as emotionless as Spock, the Star Trek Vulcan?    

Wasn't that the premise of the entire setting for Star Trek?  I thought the Enterprise flew in an enlightened era where we no longer resorted to violence, but instead sought only to discover new life.  (those guns WERE set to stun, were they not?)

Gail there is only a handful of people on BHW that start these treads I call them drive by shooters. Mecon is one of the worst. She/he will not engage in a debate. Mecon jumps on here say something hateful bigoted or irrational to start the fire than stands back to watch it burn. As to name calling if you look back as who started the name calling it is usually one of the fire starters and human nature being what it is someone will fire back. I don't think you can stop it. Politics is a blood sport. If you think we are getting out of hand please read up on the elections of the 1800's this is nothing.

Proton torpedoes were badass.  They vaporized.  Ass kicking brawls were routine on Star Trek.  Kirk always won. 
I'd give anything for a phaser.  I'd set that sucker on "stun" and disperse those Democrat anarchists in no time.

Since this thread is about the current state of our country and the upcoming election I going to give a quote from 60 years ago. " We can't expect the American people to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assit their elected leaders ingiving them small doses of Socialism until they awaken one day to find they have Communism." Nikita Khrushchev first Sec.of the USSR  This is what this election is all about.

Oh .... I am WAAAAAY past this .... LOL

I DON'T just "google" (OregonBR, thanks for the stab!) 

I DON'T just believe the media or any TV/blog personality's "opinions"

I DO try to fact check (and, OregonBR, I DO add to the discussion. Some just don't want to hear it)

I have lived through TWELVE Presidents .... NONE were perfect

I have voted for Democrats and Republicans (even Trump)

I DON'T vote party line because there are good and bad in BOTH parties and, IMO, to lump them all in the same basket is ludicrous.

I do have a long line of military in my family including my Father, Brother, Father-in-law, Husband, Son, Brother-in-law, Niece, 7 Uncles, 1 Aunt, and 10 Cousins

This country wasn't built on just conservative or liberal views but a combination and collaboration of both, which seems to be missing, here (BHW) and today in this country. SO forgive me if I can be offended when lumped into the same categories of Socialists, Marxists, Antifa, Anarchists, Liberals, Snowflakes or any other derogatory or denigrating names used here on BHW.....just because I don't agree with you or that I present facts that prove you wrong!

Now, to answer Gail's question. I believe that we should have left all wars in the Middle East a long time ago. The only ones who benefit from long term conflicts are those who produce the supplies etc. for war. Regarding, the latest information on the bounty put on the heads of our soldiers is that I (nor does anyone else) have enough information, at this point in time, to base my opinion of whether it is true or not ....

Norma I agree about the Mid East!

But were you aware it is the Dem's keeping us in the Mid East?  And I agree that Trump's messaging about Russia paying the Taliban isn't up to speed but let's be real...AFG is proxy war.   Iran being the biggest contributor. ....

And Mattis and Bolton were dead set to keep the missions going.   

As far as anarchists and I don't that was in reference to you.  ??

Hey just because we disagree doesn't mean we dislike each other.  And my opinioins reflect the "War Fighters" and those are less than 1 percent of the entire Military.   

If you were president and you were told someone was paying the Taliban/Isis or whomever to kill American soldiers what is the first thing you would do?  Stop our soldiers exposure to the threat?  WE DID.  

What is the second thing you would do?  Confront the country or individual suspected of the bounty?  Of course!  But you better be pretty **** sure you have facts and not rumors before you call them out. 

What if your intel sources did not all agree?  Has your intel been wrong in the past?  What if the media already leaked the rumor from one of your less than loyal intel sources,  and left you hung out to dry?

Mecon.....your response?

Norma I agree about the Mid East!

But were you aware it is the Dem's keeping us in the Mid East?  And I agree that Trump's messaging about Russia paying the Taliban isn't up to speed but let's be real...AFG is proxy war.   Iran being the biggest contributor. ....

And Mattis and Bolton were dead set to keep the missions going.   

As far as anarchists and I don't that was in reference to you.  ??

Hey just because we disagree doesn't mean we dislike each other.  And my opinioins reflect the "War Fighters" and those are less than 1 percent of the entire Military.   

I do find those two statements kind of an oxymoron ...... the Dems are promoting it but those who were appointed by the Republican President were trying to keep it going ......

Gail, you do realize that in January of this year, the Democratic held House voted to rescind the 2002 Military Authorization Law that gives only the President the power to engage in military action without the approval of Congress. It was a (slight) bi-partisan vote since those of BOTH parties were tired of military conflicts. However, the Republican held Senate voted it down .... so blaming just the Democrats for the continued military actions in the Middle East is not entirely true! Unfortunately, the regimes of the Middle East are so intertwined that it is hard to stomp on one of them without raising the ire of the others. 

Regarding the "bounty" placed on the lives of our soldiers....

Do I believe that Russia did it? I don't KNOW because I have not seen any concrete facts to prove they did or didn't.

Do I believe that our Intelligence agencies were aware of it? I tend to think that they "probably" did have some intel concerning that issue but were seeking to ferret out the facts.

Do I believe that the President was made aware of that intel? I would think that such intel would have been passed along to him with the caveat that it had not been verified.

It doesn't surprise me that so many people don't believe that he did NOT receive this information. He has been caught in SO many lies that, now, he appears untrustworthy. And you can't blame the media for that when you have tapes, etc to prove his lies! 

we do not belong in other countries bring our guys and gals home period bring our equipment home from all europe middle east africa   japan  bring them home

the middle east has fought each other since bc   .as far as i am concern lbj was the very  worst    nam welfare and yes i think believe he was in cahoot to have jfk killed

I do find those two statements kind of an oxymoron ...... the Dems are promoting it but those who were appointed by the Republican President were trying to keep it going ......

Gail, you do realize that in January of this year, the Democratic held House voted to rescind the 2002 Military Authorization Law that gives only the President the power to engage in military action without the approval of Congress. It was a (slight) bi-partisan vote since those of BOTH parties were tired of military conflicts. However, the Republican held Senate voted it down .... so blaming just the Democrats for the continued military actions in the Middle East is not entirely true! Unfortunately, the regimes of the Middle East are so intertwined that it is hard to stomp on one of them without raising the ire of the others. 

Regarding the "bounty" placed on the lives of our soldiers....

Do I believe that Russia did it? I don't KNOW because I have not seen any concrete facts to prove they did or didn't.

Do I believe that our Intelligence agencies were aware of it? I tend to think that they "probably" did have some intel concerning that issue but were seeking to ferret out the facts.

Do I believe that the President was made aware of that intel? I would think that such intel would have been passed along to him with the caveat that it had not been verified.

It doesn't surprise me that so many people don't believe that he did NOT receive this information. He has been caught in SO many lies that, now, he appears untrustworthy. And you can't blame the media for that when you have tapes, etc to prove his lies! 

I like hearing your honest opinion Norma We all have our opinions. 

TRUMP 2020

I do find those two statements kind of an oxymoron ...... the Dems are promoting it but those who were appointed by the Republican President were trying to keep it going ......

Gail, you do realize that in January of this year, the Democratic held House voted to rescind the 2002 Military Authorization Law that gives only the President the power to engage in military action without the approval of Congress. It was a (slight) bi-partisan vote since those of BOTH parties were tired of military conflicts. However, the Republican held Senate voted it down .... so blaming just the Democrats for the continued military actions in the Middle East is not entirely true! Unfortunately, the regimes of the Middle East are so intertwined that it is hard to stomp on one of them without raising the ire of the others. 

Regarding the "bounty" placed on the lives of our soldiers....

Do I believe that Russia did it? I don't KNOW because I have not seen any concrete facts to prove they did or didn't.

Do I believe that our Intelligence agencies were aware of it? I tend to think that they "probably" did have some intel concerning that issue but were seeking to ferret out the facts.

Do I believe that the President was made aware of that intel? I would think that such intel would have been passed along to him with the caveat that it had not been verified.

It doesn't surprise me that so many people don't believe that he did NOT receive this information. He has been caught in SO many lies that, now, he appears untrustworthy. And you can't blame the media for that when you have tapes, etc to prove his lies! 

Believe it or not, the dems are not as eager as they say they are when it comes to ending never ending conflicts.  

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/505568-house-panel-votes-to-constrain-afghan-drawdown-ask-for-assessment-on

Bolton has always been a Hawk.  And the worse kind, admitting he would never allow his own son to serve.

Mattis, is loved by his men, marines only.  Or so we were told.  Other branches of the services were never that enthusiastic.  (Another story) 

Both were chosen by Trump, I agree.  Mattis is a General, first and foremost.  He is judged by field experience, not desk experience so it's to be expected he needs a war.

The Senate turning the bill down because it restricted the authority of the President.   Rememer the Dem's were outraged that our incredible Spec Op's covertly killed Soleimani.

Hold Russia and the Taliban both accountable.  The enemy is the enemy...and we don't even know as country who that is.  The Taliban doesn't need a bounty to kill Americans...or ISIS.   And its is a fact - our Spec Op's were already stood down when Adam Schiff received the message.  Depending on what media source you believe it is being reported he knew and  held back the info.  Regardless AFG has always been a proxy war.   

I knew your husband was a Veteran!What branch of Military did he serve in?

Believe it or not, the dems are not as eager as they say they are when it comes to ending never ending conflicts.  

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/505568-house-panel-votes-to-constrain-afghan-drawdown-ask-for-assessment-on

Bolton has always been a Hawk.  And the worse kind, admitting he would never allow his own son to serve.

Mattis, is loved by his men, marines only.  Or so we were told.  Other branches of the services were never that enthusiastic.  (Another story) 

Both were chosen by Trump, I agree.  Mattis is a General, first and foremost.  He is judged by field experience, not desk experience so it's to be expected he needs a war.

The Senate turning the bill down because it restricted the authority of the President.   Rememer the Dem's were outraged that our incredible Spec Op's covertly killed Soleimani.

Hold Russia and the Taliban both accountable.  The enemy is the enemy...and we don't even know as country who that is.  The Taliban doesn't need a bounty to kill Americans...or ISIS.   And its is a fact - our Spec Op's were already stood down when Adam Schiff received the message.  Depending on what media source you believe it is being reported he knew and  held back the info.  Regardless AFG has always been a proxy war.   

I knew your husband was a Veteran!What branch of Military did he serve in?

Army ..... Viet Nam Era ...... however, he was one of the lucky ones and was stationed in Okinawa and only made short trips to VN. Many of my classmates (men & women) and best friends were in that war. Two did not make it home!  

It's fiction.  

Trump already knows. He has the NSA. They have everything.  If someone needs to be removed from the planet, you don't think POTUS is going to worry about offending the left do you? But they will sure criticize him for anything he does. No matter what it is.    

Spock had emotions.  He just thought them . . . . 

Army ..... Viet Nam Era ...... however, he was one of the lucky ones and was stationed in Okinawa and only made short trips to VN. Many of my classmates (men & women) and best friends were in that war. Two did not make it home!  

We sure treated our Viet Nam Vet's terribly didn't we?  It is shameful.

And Norma I agree with you on Trump and his Foreign Policy inconsistenties.  I literally went ape sh*t on the man in February when our ODA Teams were being picked off by the Taliban. 

Ultimately it was Trump who decided to put the hurt back on the  Taliban and he and he alone should bear that responsibility.  He picked Mattis and must bear that responsbility.   But then he also MUST be given credit for the fact that our troops are stood down in AFG and we are in still engaged in the AFG Peace Treaty.    It is widely known Trump has no appetitie to continue the endless war and it took a bull headed unorthodox man like Trump to say "enough".   20 years is enough.  Thousand of lives lost, limbs lost and trillions of dollars.  It is enough.

My opinon is influenced by the role my son plays as a  Special Operator.  I may not feel the same if he worked in another field.  And during deployments I am super grouchy from lack of sleep.  But this deployment is much easier because they are stood down.   I hope and pray Trump does not change his mind and go kinetic again.  

Norma have you read the House Armed Forces Committee's meetings?  Very interesting......it is public record - let me try and find that for you.  
""

We sure treated our Viet Nam Vet's terribly didn't we?  It is shameful.

And Norma I agree with you on Trump and his Foreign Policy inconsistenties.  I literally went ape sh*t on the man in February when our ODA Teams were being picked off by the Taliban. 

Ultimately it was Trump who decided to put the hurt back on the  Taliban and he and he alone should bear that responsibility.  He picked Mattis and must bear that responsbility.   But then he also MUST be given credit for the fact that our troops are stood down in AFG and we are in still engaged in the AFG Peace Treaty.    It is widely known Trump has no appetitie to continue the endless war and it took a bull headed unorthodox man like Trump to say "enough".   20 years is enough.  Thousand of lives lost, limbs lost and trillions of dollars.  It is enough.

My opinon is influenced by the role my son plays as a  Special Operator.  I may not feel the same if he worked in another field.  And during deployments I am super grouchy from lack of sleep.  But this deployment is much easier because they are stood down.   I hope and pray Trump does not change his mind and go kinetic again.  

Norma have you read the House Armed Forces Committee's meetings?  Very interesting......it is public record - let me try and find that for you.  
""

No, I haven't and would love to see them. These last few months have been pretty hectic here with my emergency health problem and surgery and my husband's ongoing health problems. I have tried to stay away from the political "sh*t" (excuse me) because the constant bickering makes me sick to see the state of this country! This is one of those times that I am happy that I am OLD ...... LOL