But it seems to me that having a natural disaster (mindful of course that's it's a pretty damned bad one) that a lot of people who normally would be fighting tooth and nail against democracy are lending a hand because they know that deep down it's for the ultimate good of the society as a whole.  Rebels helping their governments - they very people they have dis-spized (having problems spelling, so I went with a pronunciation key) - may finally get what they really need just by helping their own and pulling up their own bootstraps rather than having us step in to do it for them, which ever side we fall on.

- Pam
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Callan 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 16:36
  Subject: Re: [BP] this just in on condom testing...


  Yup. That's why I think he's there. But, there are folks who will be of the opinion that it is because he has experience and expertise. Arguing that point will only make you look like a sore looser.

  Democracy? Well, Jim, this is kind of philosophical, but democracy is pretty damned good... for most folks, most of the time and there are lots of folks committed to preventing democracy from taking hold in lots of places. I think its in our interest to foil the later. I also think feeding hungry people, clothing poor people, housing the homeless and educating folks are in our interest. Keeping the peace, certainly is in our interest. People who are well fed and busy going to school, earning a living, or managing their communities don't have a whole lot of time left over for acquiring weapons of mass destruction...and damned little reason to direct them at me.

  See, I haven't REALLY drifted to the right.

  -jc

  On Jan 7, 2005, at 3:16 PM, Jim Follett wrote:


    Kind of why he's in S.E. Asia, don't you think? I have to ask, why do we need to be the worlds peace keeper, I don't care if democracy never makes it to the middle east, and where are the WMD we originally went looking for?

    -----Original Message-----

    From: Pre-patinated plastic gumby block w/ coin slot [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of John Callan

    Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 3:07 PM

    To: [log in to unmask]

    Subject: Re: [BP] this just in on condom testing...


    I hear the nonsense, you hear the nonsense, but 51% of the voters heard what they wanted to hear. Best start listening to what the persuadable 3-4% are hearing, unless you want to help elect Jeb.

    -jc


    On Jan 7, 2005, at 2:50 PM, Met History wrote:


    ''I know it's hard, but it's hard for a reason.''   President Bush, speaking today on terrorist attacks before the vote in Iraq. 
     
    Like, it would be hard without a reason.
     
    sign me,  res publica