The ignorance of Republicans astounds me daily.

You cannot make such grand statements:

“We are angry at what this religion has done to itself and to us. This is a righteous anger.”

You can talk about the extreme elements (present in many religions) and call out people by name, but to make such a blanket statement is just boneheaded AND wrong. Not to mention inflamatory.

And I should now amend my 1st comment to say that MANY Republicans are ignorant.

Such as Bill Bennett.

shootfromthehip said:
The ignorance of Republicans astounds me daily.

What an intelligent well thought out comment.

Political correctness is saying African-American instead of black, or trying to pretend that Christmas isn’t happening. Bigotry is “We are angry at Islam”. The current GOP makes no distinction between the two.

Are we going to have to RAISE THE THREAT LEVEL now because of this jackass?

THANKS DUDE.

Having a phobia of something doesn’t mean you are necessarily scared of it. It may mean simply you are bigoted and narrow-minded and hate anyone or anything that is not like you. So you Bill you and your “values voters” are indeed Islamophobes as well as homophobes.

I would suggest that the posters who criticized William Bennett read the 177 page
report that came out three days ago titled Shariah: The Threat to America and then
comment once again: http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p18523.xml

Religion isn’t a tangible thing, it doesn’t have the ability to change itself. Only idiots like yourself and Joseph Smith can do that, Mr. Bennett.

“You cannot make such grand statements:”

—Really? Because it seems to me every progressive has the following complains about the Catholic church. 1. The pope lives in luxury. 2. The priests and nuns can’t get married. 3. Chastity doesn’t work. 4. The Pope is evil because he’s against condoms and abortion.

Of course, if you bitch against the Catholic church nobody accuses you of Catholicphobia, the term doesn’t even exist! In fact, it’s the Catholic League that gets to be labeled extremists while Catholic bashers can sink a crucifix in a jar of urine, call it art, and get the National Endowment from the arts to give it $10,000 of our tax dollars.

So don’t tell me that Bill Bennet’s statements are extremist. The only extremism here is how quickly progressives rush to defend Islam while saying the most vile things about Christianity.

Keep in mind, this man speaking at a podium and pontificating on a religion with thousands of years of history he has apparently no inkling in learning more about is the same man who wrote a book on “virtues” yet admitted to losing more than $8 million in casino gambling and he has probably spent more time in sleazy Vegas casinos surrounded by quasi mob figures than he has helping care for cancer patients.

Now I don’t care if the dude has a gambling problem, i DO care when he pretends that he is more “moral” than Democrats and thinks he is high and mighty.

IMHO, the guy is just another huckster from the right appealing to the ignorance and fear of the sadly uneducated masses. Bennett gets as much as $50,000 per appearance on the lecture circuit and has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants from such conservative benefactors as the Scaife and John M. Olin foundations.

Publius219 said:
Political correctness is saying African-American instead of black, or trying to pretend that Christmas isn’t happening. Bigotry is “We are angry at Islam”. The current GOP makes no distinction between the two.

“we are angry at Islam” (because they keep trying to blow us up) is bigotry? only in the eyes of the deluded Left, who never met a religion they didn’t hate until they met Islam.

Greg454, I have never heard a liberal describe the pop as “evil.”

I think ALL organized religion is just a sad crux for the weak minded.

And there are those in Islam and Christianity who prey on the weak minded (and amass fortunes as a result).

Good Point Shoot.

Has David Vitter addressed the audience yet? He must have got his “values voters” credentials restored if he has been renominated.

I wonder if smart call girls follow the Value Voters summit and work the hotels in the area. Bet they make a fortune off the likes of Vitter and Bennett.

shootfromthehip said:
I wonder if smart call girls follow the Value Voters summit and work the hotels in the area. Bet they make a fortune off the likes of Vitter and Bennett.

Call ‘girls’?

All the hookers are at Shooterboys house. Have you infected all of them yet?

I can’t afford them. Remember? You said I was a loser and had no job.

Bill Bennett can certainly afford them.

Oh and also, way to comment on the merits of what I said instead of personally attacking me.

Republicans for the win!

“Keep in mind, this man speaking at a podium and pontificating on a religion with thousands of years of history he has apparently no inkling in learning more about is the same man who wrote a book on “virtues” yet admitted to losing more than $8 million in casino gambling and he has probably spent more time in sleazy Vegas casinos surrounded by quasi mob figures than he has helping care for cancer patients.”

—Bennett never wrote that gambling was a vice. In fact, gambling IS the American spirit, ask anyone who went to California and Colorado looking for gold or embarked in the Oregon trail. This is a country of gamblers, in fact, if you work in construction, real estate, finance, banking, and law you’re probably gambling since there are no sure things in those professions. By the way, the mob is no longer in Las Vegas, casinos today are owned by corporations that are traded in NASDAQ and NYSE. Besides, losing $8 million in casino gambling is a good thing, Bennett helped the economy, got rewarded with luxurious comp rooms, shows, restaurants and more. I have more faith in a casino than in any Wall Street firm or in Obama and his government.

“IMHO, the guy is just another huckster from the right appealing to the ignorance and fear of the sadly uneducated masses. Bennett gets as much as $50,000 per appearance on the lecture circuit and has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants from such conservative benefactors as the Scaife and John M. Olin foundations.”

—And how much does John Stewart get when he does The Daily Show? What about Oliver Stone? Is he going to donate all the money he makes from Wall Street 2? What about the mansion Al Gore bought by the sea with proceeds from his movie, book, and appearances?

As for getting grants, well, those grants didn’t come from the government, did they? ACORN sure got a lot of money from the government, or do you only hate money when it comes from the private sector which would seem a little redundant since all government money is stolen, er taxed, from the private sector.

“Greg454, I have never heard a liberal describe the pop as “evil.””

—-Here’s one from Slate Magazine.
http://www.slate.com/id/2247861/

Grrrr! Bennett Angry!! In America, we think individuals should be responsible for their own actions. That is, unless is doesn’t fit our narrative. Grrrr!

Mladen Andrijasevic said:
I would suggest that the posters who criticized William Bennett read the 177 page
report that came out three days ago titled Shariah: The Threat to America and then
comment once again: http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p18523.xml

sorry – want me to read something and believe it make sure it’s not from Frank Gaffney or center for security policy

greg454 said:
—-Here’s one from Slate Magazine.
http://www.slate.com/id/2247861/

thats it
no more Churches!!

gordonbloyershow said:
All the hookers are at Shooterboys house. Have you infected all of them yet?

I think Vitters wife is the one who should worry

“thats it
no more Churches!!”

—I know, secular people like you prefer things like Woodstock, yoga, rebirthing, chanting, laugh therapy, and shouting “yes we can” at Obama rallies.

Read “Godless” by Ann Coulter, it will open your mind and liberate you from progressive orthodoxy.

Did you read about the school field trip to a Mosque in Boston. The American lady tour guide told one lie after another during the tour, then the females were separated from the males and from a distance the young boys could be seen bumping their head on the ground praying with the adult males.
Also, the reputations of the Imams at this Mosque have already had a run in with the Justice Department.
Who was the one that offered and who was the one that accepted the arrangements for this tour. They need reprimanded.

Since Government and Religion needs to be separated, and religion is for many and government is for all, we need a few czars to study religions and protect the rights and future peace for all citizens. Years ago, in America, preachers lived in sparsely populated areas, traveled on horse and buggy. Their incomes were small and the people supporting them were few and everyone thought they would help to bring dignity and peace in the communities.
Today, the complete opposite is true. The religions are fast becoming the new bonanza of wealth. Much terrorism around the world is related to religions in some way or another. This causes a tremendous expense to our various law enforcement organizations. How long will it take for our officials to realize this. They need to be accountable to the IRS the same as you and I. They have had a free ride when they needed it. They now longer need it, so let us all join together, and for the sake of peace in America and more properly sharing the expensive tax burden of today, write to our congressman and senators and ask to have them register with the IRS and pay their fair share of taxes. If new legislation is need to expedite this, so be it. Amen.

Mladen Andrijasevic said:
I would suggest that the posters who criticized William Bennett read the 177 page
report that came out three days ago titled Shariah: The Threat to America and then
comment once again: http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p18523.xml

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/24/gaffney-mosque-website

“There is no more Molly,” reports Seattle Weekly. Molly Norris, formerly a cartoonist for the alternative paper, has gone into hiding. At the suggestion of the FBI, “she is, as they put it, ‘going ghost’: moving, changing her name, and essentially wiping away her identity.”

Why? Because, as the New York Times reports, imam Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Islamic supremacist who is himself in hiding in Yemen, issued a fatwa in July declaring that Norris “should be taken as a prime target of assassination” because of a cartoon she drew two months earlier titled “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day.”

In October 2001, by the way, the New York Times described al-Awlaki, who then ran a mosque in Virginia, as someone who “is held up as a new generation of Muslim leader capable of merging East and West.” How’s that working out?

Here’s another question: Where is President Obama? Last month, speaking to a mostly Muslim audience at the White House, the president strongly defended the right of another imam held up as a moderate to build a mosque adjacent to Ground Zero. The next day, and again at a press conference last week, Obama said he was merely standing up for the First Amendment. As far as we recall, it’s the only time Barack Obama has ever stood up for anybody’s First Amendment rights.

Now Molly Norris, an American citizen, is forced into hiding because she exercised her right to free speech. Will President Obama say a word on her behalf? Does he believe in the First Amendment for anyone other than Muslims?
James Taranto, WSJ

And this is why REpublicans crashed the economy in a nutshell.

From Greg545:

“By the way, the mob is no longer in Las Vegas, casinos today are owned by corporations that are traded in NASDAQ and NYSE. Besides, losing $8 million in casino gambling is a good thing, Bennett helped the economy, got rewarded with luxurious comp rooms, shows, restaurants and more. I have more faith in a casino than in any Wall Street firm.”

1. For starters, you are hopelessly naive if you think there are not mob elements still deeply entrenched in Vegas. Sure, some of the larger casinos are on the up&up, but the mid sized and smaller are deeply down with Russian, Chinese and the “old school” mafia. Wake up and smell reality, my man.

2. “Besides, losing $8 million in casino gambling is a good thing.” Yes, sure, only if you are a Repuclican.

3. ” I have more faith in a casino than in any Wall Street firm.” Go ahead and bet your life savings then on a game where the odds are always, ALWAYS in favor of the house. Go with roulette. Take red 23. Always works for me. Good luck! I’ll stick with my stock in Apple. You go with roulette.

A sucker born every minute (apparently many Repubs keep Vegas alive).

God bless America.

shootfromthehip said:
I think ALL organized religion is just a sad crux for the weak minded.

You could have fooled me.

shootfromthehip said:
Republicans for the win!

You betcha!

shootfromthehip said:
A sucker born every minute (apparently many Repubs keep Vegas alive).

I love Vegas.

Patrick, it’s a figure of speech. You don’t get it.

It means the opposite of what you think.

Now go pray to God or the Easter Bunny or whatever you need to make it through the night.

shootfromthehip said:
Now go pray to God or the Easter Bunny or whatever you need to make it through the night.

I already have, Shoot.

Very well then.

If that is what you choose to believe, all good.

I like Vegas too for the record.

Just not terribly fond of the odds at the casino and the crowds.

“1. For starters, you are hopelessly naive if you think there are not mob elements still deeply entrenched in Vegas. Sure, some of the larger casinos are on the up&up, but the mid sized and smaller are deeply down with Russian, Chinese and the “old school” mafia. Wake up and smell reality, my man.”

—Whatever dude, just because you read “Casino” by Nicolas Pileggi doesn’t mean you’re suddenly an expert on casino operations. Try reading Jackpot! about the life of Bill Harrah, founder of the Harrah empire, a man with no connection to the mob whatsoever. Besides, nowadays the real mafiosos are the labor bosses, try building anything in New York without approval from the labor union, good freaking luck.

“2. “Besides, losing $8 million in casino gambling is a good thing.” Yes, sure, only if you are a Repuclican.”

—So you’d rather see that money sit around in some foreign bank earning interest? Dude, when people gamble everyone wins. The feds get collect taxes, the dealers get tips, the casino makes a profit. Are you against success? Or do you want that money to go to the National Endowment of the Arts so they can finance “art” like “Piss Christ.” Yes, google that up, it’s a real piece de resistance. But hey, I could be wrong, maye those $8 million should go to finance PBS and NPR which are so popular, right?

“3. ” I have more faith in a casino than in any Wall Street firm.” Go ahead and bet your life savings then on a game where the odds are always, ALWAYS in favor of the house. Go with roulette. Take red 23. Always works for me. Good luck! I’ll stick with my stock in Apple. You go with roulette.A sucker born every minute (apparently many Repubs keep Vegas alive).”

—First of all, most people don’t gamble to win, they gamble to have fun. You may think losing money is not fun, but I’d rather lose $100 playing blackjacks than $300 watching a Broadway show that I may or may not like.
Secondly, a few people do make careers gambling, such as poker players. Thirdly, yes, in a casino I know the odds are against me, but what about a Wall Street firm? How do I know that I’m not dealing with some Bernie Maddoff? Or that my stockbroker is recommending me a bad mutual fund just because they pay him a higher commission? What about all those people who saw their 401k’s become 201k’s?

Casinos don’t need to cheat their customers to make money, in fact, due to the fact that most people don’t know how to gamble casinos make plenty of money playing by the rules. They’re also a heavily regulated industry, cameras are all over the place, and the people who gamble aren’t betting their life savings (problem gamblers are less than 5% of the players).

“Whatever dude, just because you read “Casino” by Nicolas Pileggi doesn’t mean you’re suddenly an expert on casino operations. Try reading Jackpot! about the life of Bill Harrah, founder of the Harrah empire, a man with no connection to the mob whatsoever. Besides, nowadays the real mafiosos are the labor bosses, try building anything in New York without approval from the labor union, good freaking luck.”

— The mob is still all over Vegas. I’ve heard Bill Harrah’s book is great, but again, i drew a distinction between the larger casinos and the many mid sized and smaller ones that still have mob hands all inside many aspects of each spot–from the laundry services to the casino nightclubs.

“Dude, when people gamble everyone wins.”

– Except for the losers.

“Are you against success?

– Nope, I work for a great company and I already told you I own Apple stock. I like my odds a bit better on that over slot machines. I can study Apple and read news reports/suss out future trends. I’ve made a ton of cash already on my stock.

“Or do you want that money to go to the National Endowment of the Arts so they can finance “art” like “Piss Christ.”

– I’m with you there. Screw funding paintings and artists with tax dollars, seriously. But NPR is a valid use of taxpayer money and important for our democracy.

“but I’d rather lose $100 playing blackjacks than $300 watching a Broadway show that I may or may not like.”

–I’m also with you on this one.

“How do I know that I’m not dealing with some Bernie Maddoff? Or that my stockbroker is recommending me a bad mutual fund just because they pay him a higher commission?”

NEVER use a broker. Never trust anyone with your money except for yourself.

This is what Bill Bennett said on his radio show a couple years ago talking to a caller:

“BENNETT: Well, I don’t think it is either, I don’t think it is either, because first of all, there is just too much that you don’t know. But I do know that it’s true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could — if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.

“Dude, when people gamble everyone wins.”
– Except for the losers.
—They win entertainment, a good time, free drinks, etc. Go to Disney World and see if they care how much money you’re spending, they don’t. You could spend $300 in gifts, food, ticket, and Disney doesn’t give a crap. Yet if you go to a casino they will reward your spending with comps.

” – Nope, I work for a great company and I already told you I own Apple stock. I like my odds a bit better on that over slot machines. I can study Apple and read news reports/suss out future trends. I’ve made a ton of cash already on my stock.”
—-Sure, I have money in the market myself, I own preferred stock, I’m getting a good dividend. However, I also know a guy who lost his life savings by investing in oil futures So you see, there is gambling in Wall Street, they just don’t call it gambling, they call it “investing.”

“– I’m with you there. Screw funding paintings and artists with tax dollars, seriously. But NPR is a valid use of taxpayer money and important for our democracy.”
—I say let them compete in the marketplace like everybody else. It is outrageous that the American people are subsidizing a minority who listens to NPR. How can that help democracy?

You seem to have some libertarian views, I recommend you watch Stossel on the Fox Business Network, and read some of the articles at reason.com

greg454 said:
Read “Godless” by Ann Coulter, it will open your mind and liberate you from progressive orthodoxy

she has admitted she says thing to make a buck
also a regular on bill maher

greg454 said:
“thats itno more Churches!!” —I know, secular people like you prefer things like Woodstock, yoga, rebirthing, chanting, laugh therapy, and shouting “yes we can” at Obama rallies. Read “Godless” by Ann Coulter, it will open your mind and liberate you from progressive orthodoxy.

Are you freakin’ kidding? Ann Coulter? This horrible individual says the most hateful things just to get attention for herself. The only thing she’s capable of opening is one’s sphincter.

You have no credibility.

Memo to Buffalochip Bill Bennett. He who lives in glass outhouses shouldn’t be throwing the stuff that’s collected there.

“she has admitted she says thing to make a buck

—So does everybody else. But unlike Michael Moore, mediamatters and moveon, she doesn’t lie.

“Are you freakin’ kidding? Ann Coulter? This horrible individual says the most hateful things just to get attention for herself. The only thing she’s capable of opening is one’s sphincter.”

—All her books are filled wtih exhaustive footnotes, everything she says is proven by evidence. She was a lawyer after all.

“You have no credibility.”

—Neither have you.

Greg 454 says liberals are mad at the Catholic Church because the pope lives in luxury etc… What nonsense. Therle are many catholics who are liberal, because Jesus Christ’s teachings are VERY< VERY< VERY liberal. "Love thy neighbor as thy self", sell all your goods and follow me. turn the other cheek, forgive one another, render unto Caesar, Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and the imprisoned. Mercy and Kindness. Liberals believe in the real message of Jesus Christ. The constitution says separation of church and state because of the FREAKS and EGOMANACS of all religions who would use their "powers of persuasion" to distort the teachings of THE BOOK, enslave people and steal their property. The US constitution guarantees freedom of religion; liberal believe in that and it is not just lip service. Liberals believe that all are created equal, and their policies endoctrinate that philosophy, Liberals believe in the necessity to defend the common good which means that the resources of the earth are finite and there is a responsibility to take care of them for future generations because an individuals lifetime spands finite years while the earth goes on. Liberals believe in social justice and enact policies that reflect those principles: SS, Medicare, universal health care, unemployment insurance, safety in the workplace and fair wages. Catholics teach that work has value and that every one is entitled to a living wage. LIBERALS ARE christian, jews and muslims-all religions teach the message of a merciful, loving creator. All condemn the use of wealth and power to do harm. While conservatives are led around by the KOCHS and Murdochs, liberals fight to save society from naked corporatism and bigotry. Sorry, religious right, but liberals are far more christian in practice. ACTIONS speak LOUDER than words, except among tpartiers and repug deniers.

CarmanK, your Jesus is the same Jesus that whipped the temple merchants and told people that looking at a woman with lust was adultery, so don’t give me this bullshit about Jesus being some liberal hippie that accepts everything. In fact, the people who believe that usually don’t even go to church nor do they practice a religion.

There is no common good, when you think about the “common good” you’re justifying concentration camps, censorship, torture, theft, etc. There’s only INDIVIDUAL freedom. If individuals can’t be free, then nobody is free. Why don’t you read about Mao’s cultural revolution and how he starved the peasants, or read about how Pol Pot had his guards shoot old people because they were no longer useful for society. Your Che Guevara was also a monster by the way, he had no problems executing teenagers, defectors, and anyone who didn’t embrace Marxism.

Besides, what the hell is a fair wage? You get paid what you deserve, based on experience, talent, luck, and how much a company needs you. If anyone could be a cardiologist then those people would make peanuts, and if cleaning toilets was an impossible job then those people would be millionaires. You have much to learn, visit reason.com and stop embracing the libertarian reality of the world.

Maybe it’s time to tell these Islamic butt-kissers they had better fear the Islamic movement. All you have to do is look at any country who has a population of Muslims that make up 10%, or better, of the total population and your going to see Muslims trying to take over by any means possible!

To no-touchy-touchy
You wrote
“sorry – want me to read something and believe it make sure it’s not from Frank Gaffney or center for security policy”

How about reading the Koran since the report quotes the following verses:
9:5, 9:29 , 5:99 , 3:85 ,98:6, 5:51, 5:60, 5:50 , 5:48, 5:47, 2:216, 4:89, 2:216
9:122, 8:39, 2:190 , 5:32, 5:33 , 47:35, 2:106, 17:32, 24:2, 16:106, 2:282 , 4:34
2: 223, 2:221, 24:4 , 3:110, 48:29 , 2:96

And please read it in is entirety else you may say that these are cherry picked out of context.