On Feingold has $3.65 million on hand for election

Posted on February 1 at 3:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

First of all, I am not sure that voting the way RetiredAirforce reports is backing down from issues. Increased costs does not necessarily equal not delivering health care. On the same note, voting for the health care reform while being against some of the spending found within it seems to be a case of compromise, although many people seem to forget what that means.
I also disagree with oldtimer when he/she claims we are losing our freedoms one by one. To begin with we don't really have that many. With that said, I do not see where we are losing any of our "freedom". I know some of you may quote some interesting sources claiming 'X' or 'Y', but really, politics now is simply maintaining the status quo, not taking our freedoms away.
I do agree that many of the young (and old for that matter) people are far too consumed by television to care about politics beyond what it costs them. However, I am not sure it is in the county's best interest to have everyone actually involved, especially considering the level of intelligence often displayed when normal citizens make their voices heard.
And finally, you can disagree at length I am sure, but when talking politics in America it is a Democrat Republican thing. Maybe not when talking about how "fed up" some are, but when talking about actual change (not in the Obama way, but actual change) it will come down to the two parties. There is not enough willpower within the people to change it, especially when those who want change often come off as crazy uneducated radicals who simply want less taxes.

On Feingold has $3.65 million on hand for election

Posted on February 1 at 11:56 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

To those of you who think Feingold is bad for raising so much money you should look at Paul Ryan's warchest from the last election as it too was bulging. I also believe Feingold was in favor of capping campaign spending, however, that was blocked by the Republicans and did not go through. With that in mind, how can anyone blame him for going in with as much money as people are willing to give him.
Also, there is no correlation between how much money was raised and "doing the work of the people." That comment simply does not hold water. Attacking Feingold over the amount of money he has raised is ridiculous, especially if the attackers vote republican and are from Ryan's district. I say, good job Feingold, at least there has been one senator in Washington that does not back down on serious issues.

On Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect

Posted on November 6 at 1:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

DiGriz, "Don't pull that card on me again. I just live with reality." I am not sure what card you mean. If you are referring to my labeling some of your comments racist then yes, that card was played, justified, and played. In terms of the obliterating an entire region (if that is what you are referring to), I still believe I was justified. Dog eat dog world or not, some comments are just unjustified and wrong especially when they include destroying an entire region civilians and all.
In terms of, "There's too much power to be had...too much control to garner, and too many personal ambitions" I agree with you, people are in for the long haul when it comes to each other being narrow-minded war-mongering fools. However, the problem is not helped by regular people pushing the violence.

I also have to say that in relation to the bible burning comment and how a christian would do nothing but a muslim (if the koran was burned) would freak out. Try burning an american flag in front of that same christian (if they are american) and we might see the similarities between the muslim and the american disappear...poof.
Whythink: you are missing the point when you are arguing the semantics of truth's point. Truth said, "no *real* christian", not simply "no christian". In this lies your problem. I believe "real" could be substituted with "true", implying that in order to be a true christian one could not do X, whatever that is. The point wasn't that no one had done something, just that if they did they would not be a "real" (or in this case "true") christian. All this aside however, I am pretty sure God(s) had nothing to do with the killing at Ft. Hood, it was a sick man acting out in a terribly evil way.

On Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect

Posted on November 6 at 1:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

DiGriz wrote, "Let them go back to farming gravel and living the simple but pathetic lives they want to live" Racism.
and,
"If they do it again, we carpet-bomb the whole country (atomic weapons are too messy imo), starting with Kabul" Telling.

Ok, now ask yourselves why might people in Palestine and the surrounding countries not like america all that much? Well in the two quotes I offer I give you some examples. Many americans think we have the right, duty, or need to go around killing people (innocent or not) who do not agree with us or who threaten us. However, when someone kills one (or many) of us we hate an entire race or ideology. It seems to me that we must be just as bad as them, only we hide behind words like "Freedom", "Truth", and "Christianity" instead of "Allah" and his word.

In terms of the Obama reaction, it needs to be taken in context (I know that Fox news does not know what that means). Obama was speaking at a conference of Native American leaders he promised to give them. Given the audience, it is completely acceptable for him to speak as he did. Talk about a group of people who should, and in many cases do, hate americans (meaning non-native). While the shooting is important, Obama had to direct his comments to the group at hand, he was *not* giving a press conference on the shooting. To say that this shows how little he cares for america, its people, and its soldiers is ridiculous. If Obama was really dedicated to our military he would pull the soldiers out of the two wars so they could stop getting themselves killed.

On Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect

Posted on November 6 at 12:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I want to first say that what this man did was completely unjustified. There is no reason he should have done this terrible thing. However, the tone of comments here is depressing. Not only are some of you bashing the president and calling "liberals" un-american, but you are being overtly racist toward Palestinians and muslims in general by making questionable comments about their religion and ability to serve our country. Why is it that when liberals cried foul on Bush many of you called us un-american for doing it and yet you can call the current president a commie and consider yourself a "good" american? This seems confusing to me; the "support your president no matter what" worked well for you when he was your brand of crazy, but now that the president is our brand you get to say whatever you want -- no. Why attack the president who could have done nothing to stop this act. At least when people bashed Bush, he had seen the intelligence saying 9/11 would happen and chose to ignore it. Obama didn't see a release saying it was going to happen, so please lay off or start calling yourselves un-american too. I do have to say that by now seeing racism like this in Janesville is not surprising, however, it is still infuriating, he didn't do it because he was muslim, he was sick (much like a lot of our returning soldiers).
To the comments made by diGriz, if we are really nothing to them why don't we leave them alone. I think your comments point to a great reason to stop these wars, we aren't gaining more freedom anyway. I know many will disagree with that, but really? We are just as free as we have been in the recent past (well most of us), and fighting these wars will not stop terrorism, or radicalism, or any other ism you want to attach to something.

So, in closing, Boo to Hasan, and Boo to the people of Janesville and the surrounding area who are choosing to use this tragedy to push their agenda, monger hate, and attack the president.

On Task force to study financial aid in Wis.

Posted on August 11 at 10:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

OK, I want to start by saying that I literally study college administration and have spent a lot of time looking specifically at the financing of higher education. In other words, I actually do know what I am talking about here. So, I just want to make it clear that the majority of the comments above are false. Sure, there are serious problems with financial aid and they need to be solved, but many of the problems addressed here are not the most important. Firstly, the middle class get it the easiest, yes they need to take out more loans, but they are also equipped mentally to take them on whereas many low-income students refuse loans. Actually, there used to be more grants available until the '90s when they were cut in favor of loans and tax credits that ONLY helped the middle class -- before that, middle class people had next to no help. Also, just because your children are having a certain experience with college, it does not make you an authority on the financial aid system. Yes, poor people get more help, but they also have to deal with more challenges than any middle class kid from Janesville. And finally for any of you who think loans are a terrible thing and are not worth the education take a look at this: http://payback.wisc.edu/
The research behind it is legit and it can help show that over a lifetime a degree is definitely worth it. Of course, different schools add up differently, but the idea does translate. Thanks.

On Police still seeking more information on Traxler Park case

Posted on May 11 at 5:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

This is not really surprising. When I　was younger I was approached by a man in a car at riverside park in a similar situation. He wanted me to get in telling me it was hot and we could go to the dog house and get some food. I told him no, I liked to be outside when it was incredibly hot. He eventually left. I wonder, however, should we be surprised that this behavior is happening,I mean, in Janesville we have a convicted sex offender selling kids ice-cream (think frostee freeze) and yet we do nothing about it. Wow, Janesville, wow.　Wow, Janesville, Wow.

On Wis. Reservist weighing options after Iraq refusal

Posted on February 24 at 4:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

First, I want to say good luck and please come home safely to those of you going back to Iraq.

Second, to the argument against my morally wrong war statement, I was saying that if this soldier feels what he is fighting for is morally wrong how can we expect him to do what he needs to do at a level that will keep him and others safe? I do not believe we can. Would you want someone who is not acting at their full capacity to be backing you up? I hope not.

To the soldier leaving tomorrow: you said, "we don't want you in our Army! Cowards do NOT belong in our Armed Forces." While I wish you luck, I am surprised by your response. If he were a person who didn't want to be there and he was surrounded by very well spoken and tactful people like you I am surprised he didn't want to stay there forever. In fact, it is attitudes like yours that makes us anti-war people so upset. Calm down buddy. Maybe you should worry about yourself and come home safely.
Also, for the record, I would tell the people of Iraq that we should not have been there (have you all forgotten the original reason we went as that is where the illegality comes in)?

On Wis. Reservist weighing options after Iraq refusal

Posted on February 24 at 2:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I cannot fault this man for not returning to Iraq. It seems to be the smartest thing he has done for a while. If more people wouldn't return maybe this stupid war would be over sooner. The problem is that the soldiers have been coerced into believing that everything they do in the name of their country is good and that it has to be done. Well it isn't all good and I applaud this man for actually standing up for the best interest of our country instead of continuing to spit on it by fighting the illegal war in Iraq.
I know people will argue they are defending our freedom, but the truth is that they are not. In fact, the more they fight, the more they endanger us.
One of my closest friends was a Marine and served in Iraq. After two deployments where he witnessed terrible acts by Americans (he was told he could not report them by his CO) he decided to go AWOL. He did and in the end was discharged without serving time or getting a dishonorable discharge.
I am not trying to antagonize anyone and want to thank those who have served. However, I also do not think we should fault those who have found a moral ground not to return to Iraq.

On Milton teen charged with raping girl

Posted on February 3 at 10:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I am ashamed to be a part of a community where most people who chose to post get this defensive when someone cries rape. Whether he did it or not, this poor girl claims he did. So, while he is innocent until proven guilty, there is a girl out there who could have been assaulted and it is ridiculous to think this many people would not even acknowledge the possibility that it could be true.
I hope that if any of your children are ever sexually assaulted you believe them before you come to the defense of the accused like so many of you are here. I understand he is a nice guy and Milton kids are great, but Ted Bundy was also a great guy to most people who knew him. All I am asking is not only a fair trial for Zach, but also compassion for the girl. While his football career and spotless image may be tarnished, there is a possibility that he scarred a human life forever with something no one should have to endure.