Cristobo,
I read the article you posted and can't help but think of the words of the American philosopher W.C. Fields: "If you can't dazzle them with intelligence, then baffle them with bullsh*t."

Yes, I understand that it was intended to be humorous but as is typical of a putz like Ames, he goes long on the polemics but extremely short on the solutions. As a matter of fact, there weren't any solutions. And I can't help but think that he really believes in his diatribes.

Deep down, do you believe them also? I am appreciative that you want to let us manage our "own damned wars" as you say it. So, why keep bringing up the subject?

I believe that an intelligent person with a sense of humor, like yourself, can surely find something else to bring to the table other than war and the ex-pats who have nothing to do with it but write about it anyway.

Cogito cogito ergo sum cogito

Uh yeah,

It's rather obvious that Comrade Ames is a Kerry supporter. After all, it's the party line.

Wow Cristobo, had no idea you are such a drama queen. Well, done. A fine performance.

Ha, ha.

I finally read it this morning, and I found it funny too, although I believe he is a bit radical with the insults (I wonder if I would have found it so funny if it was about me ).

But I am glad to find out that Middle America is just as I think it was.

Hi All,

I started this little 'war,' so I wanted to get back and participate. ( but gleefully, of course! It's just that I've been away...)

This type of thread is not my favorite on the board. We always end up bickering about what boils down to our own opinions, and calling express attention to the fact that we are all different, which we knew anyway from the get-go, yet act surprised about when we realize it *again!* Anyway, all that to say that I am happy to be participating here, and no harm meant by anything written, which really should be able to go unsaid, but I'm saying it anyway!

Ignacio, you were quick to assume I was insulting you by declaring that you are 'sold' into your own opinion. This simply means that you are 'duely convinced,' and to an extreme degree.

It is not a bad thing, per se. For example, I am 'sold' into the belief that Zapatero, along with Chirac and Schroeder, is one of the three stooges comedy team that has been reincarnated as the Spanish president.

So by saying that you are 'sold and angry' in your beliefs, I just mean that it will take a lot to convince you otherwise.

Booklady, don't let anyone fool you ( I say that figuratively, of course!), there are plenty in Spain that are fans of Bush, as Libertad Digital and Fernando can reassure as well.

This brings to mind the old saying, 'The squeaky wheel gets the grease.' It seems to me like the anti-Bush people just scream louder, thus drowning out the opinions of the opposite pole. Just watching the television, Spanish and American, it is easy to understand how one-sided the view is.

The USA clearly has a responsibility to the world in regards to being the 'super-power' on the block. However, it is in the United States Constitution, and our inherent and collective mindsets, that we defend *our* interests. I also believe there is the implicit goal of defending our interests, but within the greater context as it pertains to the rest of the world.

Never has a country accumulated such size, wealth, and influence so quickly, yet done so much good with that size, wealth, and influence, as the United States of America. I will only further state that there are *PLENTY* of countries out there that should remember this, but do not. We have spillled a lot of blood and spent a lot of $ for this world!

I'd like to remind some people that Ronald Reagan won his 1984 re-election in what was called a 'landslide,' with 54,455,000 votes ( popular). Bush has just won his re-election in a similar 'landslide' victory, with 59,390,139 votes (also popular).

To say that Bush won in a 'narrow' victory is incorrect. Bush won in a clear and overwhelming majority by *smashing* all popular votes on record by winning presidents past.

This election's popular vote put Bush an average of 9,220,350 votes over each of the winning presidents for the past 6 elections. That's almost 10 million votes ( votes = *people*). That's a lot of people, which certainly qualifies as something greater than a loosely defined 'narrow.'

Alright, my statements are sure to rattle a few cages. Just remember, I LOVE SPAIN!! ( like you!)

andrew

Megia,

Great post. Love your link to The Stooges, although as Desert Dweller points out, it's kind of insulting that three creative American comedians should be compared to three deadbeat, useless Europeans.

Percentage wise, I don't think you could sincerely say that President Bush won by a landslide, but that's mote, he won the election and that't all that matters, even by one vote.

Megia:

As you can read (again), I didn't say you were insulting me. I knew only a sense of the word "sold" which means that you give something and somebody gives you money, and the use of a dictionary supplied no other meaning, then. I was asking, or guessing, and I am glad it's not this way.

Can't believe this! Couldn't be more false. 4/5 of the spanish are against Bush in every survey, there were the massive demostrations aganist the war, and you still try to fool those abroad.

And even those few who would approve the war, you can not call them "bush fans" by no means, because he has the very same fame of dumb slaughter he's got back in the USA, so they may agree with the attacks and not admire him at all.

Yes, but the USA has gained a positionin the world based on the lie that they defend "the free world" and the humanitarism against dictators, and the cause of peace, and fair free commerce, ..., which is a bunch of lies that now are more uncovered than ever, and that's why the whole world is cornering the USA diplomatically and politically. You no longer have more influence than what your weapons and dollars can buy. The ,islead is over.

Yes, and as you said before, in your OWN interest. That's what irks me more. You are an imperialistic power that only cares for itself and opress the rest. Fair, it's up to you. But show your real face! Don't try, like you are saying now, to show yourself as the Liberty Champion when you are exactly the opposite, and if you have opposed others worse (like the USSR), it was in your own interest mainly.

Gazpacho:

Very funny

Just to show you how extremist is fundamentalist Jimenez Losantos, disgusting even to many PP members, read this:

Article, in Spanish

This one, I can only copy/paste, because conservative ABC has deleted it from it's web and it's only in the "Caché" memory of the servers:

Today I read in El País, that, in the same line, he said that the Price and Princess of Asturias duty (or custom) is dealing with the organized crime, I copy (sic):

"Porque claro, siendo Príncipes de Asturias, lo suyo es tratar con el mundo marginal, con el hampa".

This made the royal family send a note of disgust.

He is said to be behind a web page that makes obscene photo-composings of Zapatero and others, also vinculated with COPE conservative catholic radio chain.

The page has been investigated by Izquierda Unida, and found that it's promoted by PP members or PP friends, for many of the docuiments there have been made with programs licensed to PP.

After the government note to the Bihops Council, the most pornographic material has been taken away.

This is the page.

hahahahaa... great point, Gazpacho and Desert Dweller!! How could I dare sully the great reputation of the 'Three Stooges' by comparing them to three 'useless europeans?'

Ignacio, *chill.* You are drowning yourself in a spiral of oblivion and psychadelic tie-die.

I have learned that it is of no use to debate with people like you, so I will not do it. I spend a good deal of time in Spain, speak Spanish, and know what's going on there. I do not care what your biased polls are saying. We know how the media works.

The people on this board also either know what's going on, or know how to find out. In short, they have their own opinions. So what it boils down to is you are a 'Zapatero' and 'appeasement' salesman with a mouthful of samples.

But you know what? I am happy you can be just what you want to be! Sure do love democracy!

Megia, Gazpacho: Put it aside guys, when it is the sort of reasoning that Ignacio is putting forth. You cannot reason with an unreasonable person. I don't know what happened in his life to make him hate the US (EEUU) but some of his arguments are so convoluted that it is beyond beleif. If Europe has a drought and low crop levels, he says it is an American conspiracy. If there an outbreak of the "clap" in Central Africa, it is an American conspiracy. If some fishing boat sinks in the South Atlantic, it is American sabotage. If anything in the world happens he knows that somehow or another the US is the one that has caused the catastophy.

I will save you the trouble of trying to figure out why the level of green house gases are so high Ignacio. This American had pinto beans for dinner last night. There, now you can blame the high levels of methane on one American. :p :p