You are obviously too myopic to grasp what I have been saying. I said that I agree with the right to free speech when he is exercising it here in his own country. Why the need to go somewhere else if he is so brave and righteous?

It makes little difference where his location is.

You are actually supporting my point without knowing it. The general world population isn't going to check into what guys like Belafonte are saying. They are going to hear that some famous American is saying that Bush is a tyrant and a terrorist. That is just going to fire them up about how evil America is.

Look at all the ruckus he has done here today. He's got attention. He has your attention. If only such attention was given to the speechwriters - I'm thinking his 03 State of the Union address would have read a little less dreamy.

Let's deconstruct this further.

That is just going to fire them up about how evil America is.

It is okay for everyone to look the other way with Mr. Robertson says Mr. Chavez can be taken out but when an entertainer says something it not permitted. That is hypocritical. It seems perfectly okay to condemn others yet when condemnation comes this way it is ignored. Uh huh.

I am no fan of Bush but I find it laughable that anyone consider him a tyrant or terrorist.

There will be a lot of history written about Mr Bush when he retires and much of it will focus on his unilateral strategies abroad. Bush broke a lot of new ground in and threw away many of the old rules which were adhered to for over 5 decades. Reserving the right to wage war used to be a constituional process that involved a lot of people. As of 2001 that is no long a requirement. There is little difference between a commander-in-chief philosophy and that of a tyrant. They both use direct control and shun outside influence. Hell I find more similurities than differences now that I think about it.

Gore Vidal learned that you can have a hundred thousand people marching in the streets and get little press coverage. Without a lobbiest advocating on your behalf it is difficult to be heard. Look no further than Cindy Sheehan. Love her, hate her, she has been requesting an audience for a long time. She even gained press coverage for a time. Has she been able to face her leader one on one? No. The accountability mechanism has been broken for some time.

Don't worry about the big picture or reality. Let's only focus on the word of the law and applauding idealists whether it is damaging or not.

Note to self: Remember not to apply reality when talking to Jilluser. Kay got it! hahahaha

I do however believe that you should always act with your nation's best interest and not just your own.

And that is what Mr. Belefonte believes he is doing! At his age he is pretty long in the tooth to be taking a politcal stance - it sure won't elevate his career at this point. He is saying this because we are all waiting for Bolton to fire up the Security Council and begin his witch hunt for nukes in Iran. One war was bad enough. If a little criticism prevents a coming second war, hey that doesn't seem too far fetched to me!

If you don't like what is going on in your own country, do something about it.

Sadly, this gets picked up on CNN as extremist behaviour and propagates the entire regime change pick-up line. But don't worry Jill I have many surprises in store for you!

It takes courage to speak out about a bully in front of the bully. It doesn't take any courage at all to run away and call him names behind his back.

That would be fine if we didn't have roving wiretaps, or domestic spying or even rendition. All demonstrations are recorded by the FBI and passed onto NSA. Call it avoiding hassle.

Note to self: Remember not to apply reality when talking to Jilluser. Kay got it! hahahaha

See, this sort of taking things out of context and mocking them is the juvenile stuff that doesn't make you worth discussing anything with.

Jill I have many surprises in store for you!

Oh no you don't because I am through with you Slanderer.

After all, it doesn't take any courage to support a bully. However, to speak out against one.....

So you calling him a cowaRd for supporting Chavez?

That would be fine if we didn't have roving wiretaps, or domestic spying or even rendition. All demonstrations are recorded by the FBI and passed onto NSA. Call it avoiding hassle

And this would stop him from exercising his rights to free speech how? It isn't the government that he needs to worry about.
And by the way, if you take the time to dismember his remarks a good prosecutor "could" make a case for treason. As in lending support to a government that we as a country do not support. And all the while backstabbing the US and it's elected leader.

Oh no you don't because I am through with you Slanderer.

A failure or unwillness to communicate is the cornerstone on building a conflict.

And by the way, if you take the time to dismember his remarks a good prosecutor "could" make a case for treason. As in lending support to a government that we as a country do not support. And all the while backstabbing the US and it's elected leader.

I would argue against treason. Belefonte didn't come out and say Chavez or nothing and his comments didn't take the tone of support this or else commonly found in hate groups. The stance taken against Chavez is strictly by the admin. Chavez has sent in heating oil and has made a public offer of assistance during last year's hurricane so I wouldn't write him off as an enemy of the state quite yet.

I would argue against treason. Belefonte didn't come out and say Chavez or nothing and his comments didn't take the tone of support this or else commonly found in hate groups. The stance taken against Chavez is strictly by the admin. Chavez has sent in heating oil and has made a public offer of assistance during last year's hurricane so I wouldn't write him off as an enemy of the state quite yet.

You can argue all you wish. I distinctly said "could" not would or can. And thank you btw....I've been waiting for this line to come out. "Chavez sent in NOTHING! He does not run Citgo oil. And Citgo is the one sending in the help with the oil, NOT Chavez!" So please do not try to make him some kind of hero cause it won't fly. That is unless you can show proof that he runs Citgo.

I would argue against treason. Belefonte didn't come out and say Chavez or nothing and his comments didn't take the tone of support this or else commonly found in hate groups. The stance taken against Chavez is strictly by the admin. Chavez has sent in heating oil and has made a public offer of assistance during last year's hurricane so I wouldn't write him off as an enemy of the state quite yet. You can argue all you wish. I distinctly said "could" not would or can. And thank you btw....I've been waiting for this line to come out. "Chavez sent in NOTHING! He does not run Citgo oil. And Citgo is the one sending in the help with the oil, NOT Chavez!" So please do not try to make him some kind of hero cause it won't fly. That is unless you can show proof that he runs Citgo.

What's the matter? No "witty" come-back? To bad, so sad!

A failure or unwillness to communicate is the cornerstone on building a conflict.

The failure is yours.  After your failure, she walked away, washing her hands of you.  Remember the 3 fingers.

What's the matter? No "witty" come-back? To bad, so sad

No I am just taken aback why you wouldn't check out such an easily veriable fact. Here take your pick:
Well either this authour is out to lunch - Link
Or Forbes Magazine is out to lunch;
Link
Or even mighty wikipedia is out to lunch as well;
Link He does have a 50% stake in Citgo and takes a very nationalized approach so I can understand how the previous two authours come their conclusions.

To miss this either suggests a hint of dyslexia or an extreme bias to read what you want to hear. My sympathies.

The failure is yours. After your failure, she walked away, washing her hands of you. Remember the 3 fingers.

All I argued was the premise to disagree, nothing more nothing less. We couldn't even get that far I'm sad to say.

All I argued was the premise to disagree, nothing more nothing less.

All you did was dismiss with the likes of your "absolute crap" comment and condescend. I am willing to communicate, you are unable. That is why I feel it isn't worth my time.

Yes maam. I'll refrain from linking articles, providing traceable google searches and historical quotes immediately. My unwillingness to play ball the cantankerous opt-ed way must be getting the better of me. So sorry.

Yes maam. I'll refrain from linking articles, providing traceable google searches and historical quotes immediately. My unwillingness to play ball the cantankerous opt-ed way must be getting the better of me. So sorry.

You just did it again.  No matter how much you deny it, you are the one that decided only your word was valid, and hers was "just crap". And now you are trying to be condescending as well.  You do that poorly also.

Thanks for backing me up Dr. Guy.  Some people just can't ever see their own faults.

drmiler, I apologize if I have detracted from this discussion.

What's the matter? No "witty" come-back? To bad, so sad No I am just taken aback why you wouldn't check out such an easily veriable fact. Here take your pick: Well either this authour is out to lunch - Link Or Forbes Magazine is out to lunch; Link Or even mighty wikipedia is out to lunch as well; Link He does have a 50% stake in Citgo and takes a very nationalized approach so I can understand how the previous two authours come their conclusions. To miss this either suggests a hint of dyslexia or an extreme bias to read what you want to hear. My sympathies.

I did check it out, you obviously didn't go far enough. Yes Chavez is a major shareholder. But NO he is NOT on the board of directors. So NO he is NOT the one in charge of the relief oil. Just an fyi...shareholders do NOT run a company. They can "suggest" a course of action but that does NOT mean the board must follow it. And you missing this just goes to show your bias not mine. Link

This link goes to the board of directors for Citgo.

Thanks for backing me up Dr. Guy. Some people just can't ever see their own faults. drmiler, I apologize if I have detracted from this discussion.

No problems Jill. Just an fyi... I agree with you.