Another "Guy James Show" coming your way. Its going to be a good one!

[BeachBuckeye]

Of course we'll talk about Crawford and all that has happened this week. We hope to hear from some of you who are there today.

We'll take calls at 888-602-7500, 7501, 7502, 7503, 7504
Or listen live at www.theguyjamesshow.com

Last week was the largest audience we've ever had on the net. Our local audience was huge as well. Lets rock tonight!

Oh, and one more thing, we've got to talk about the "fat assed drug addict" for a moment or two.

Guy

[proud patriot]

1. YAY !

:bounce:

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. Guy! You've gotta tell that "Crawford Chef's Salad" story!

:evilgrin:

[BeachBuckeye]

6. You got it!

That episode blew my mind (whats left of it anyway)

[soup]

22. Here it comes!

Chef's Salad ala Crawford

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I saw your posts on the thread about

Limppaws and hoped you'd talk about him tonight! Looking forward to tuning in, if my husband can cobble together a better computer (lost my audio on this one:) )

[soup]

10. Hope you'll be able to tune in.

Show is starting now.

:hi:

[JanMichael]

4. Ha! "The fat assed drug addict"....now who is that???

;)

Hi to you and Mrs.GJ...last week was a blast! Paul is in Crawford tonight!

[BeachBuckeye]

8. Thanks again Mike for a great job last week

Is Paul there now?

[JanMichael]

12. Paul is in Crawford

I just IM'd his phone number to your producer!

[Dudley_DUright]

5. Home just in time for the show

As for the drug addled bloviator in chief, I think he is back on the hard stuff again, considering his idiot comments about Cindy Sheehan (and then denying he said them the next day). :eyes:

[Rainscents]

7. Checking in!!!

:hi:

[JanMichael]

13. Hi!

I can't wait to hear about Ru...ummmm I mean, the "drugged up" somebody on the radio!

[SW FL Dem]

9. tuning in now. n/t

[Dudley_DUright]

11. If you're not angry

then you're not paying attention!

[soup]

14. 'We don't want your yankee blood'? Oh, boy.

sometimes all you can do is shake your head in wonder.

[JanMichael]

15. This is frustrating, my computer doesn't want to connect for some reason

:(

I am getting pissed off

[Dudley_DUright]

18. huh, no problems here

How ironic since last week you were great as the emergency backup system. :-)

[JanMichael]

20. Not me!!! This is Stephanie, wife of the fabulous JanMichael

I sent him to the store for some dinner! ;) He and Paul were fantastic last week!

Perfect backup for Guy, I thought...but, then I think Guy is the BEST Liberal voice on the radio...definetly the most honest one---

[Dudley_DUright]

34. Hey Stephanie

I agree Paul and JM were great last week. Enjoy your dinner. :hi:

PS Sorry about confusing you with JM, but it is hard to identify your voices in cyberspace.

[JanMichael]

36. OK, see....I am the cute nice one!

;)

(Rats, he home and is going to see this post!!!)

[JanMichael]

53. This is JM: I can't get the show to play either.

Which is weird because we've done it dozens of other times.

I guess I'll just keep trying...

[Dudley_DUright]

66. How do I know this is not the cute nice version trying to fool me?

;-)

Sorry about your technical difficulties. I enjoyed your call!

[Dudley_DUright]

16. Here is Bush's radio address from this week

Good morning. In a few weeks, our country will mark the four-year anniversary of the attacks of September the 11th, 2001. On that day, we learned that vast oceans and friendly neighbors no longer protect us from those who wish to harm our people. And since that day, we have taken the fight to the enemy.

We have combated terrorists on the home front by disrupting terror cells and their financial support networks. We're fighting the terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world, striking them in foreign lands before they can attack us here at home. And we're spreading the hope of freedom across the broader Middle East. By advancing the cause of liberty in a troubled region, we are bringing security to our own citizens and laying the foundations of peace for our children and grandchildren.

In this war, our nation depends on the courage of those who wear the uniform. During the coming weeks, I will meet with some of the brave men and women who have been on the front lines in the war on terror. Next week in Idaho, I will visit with some of the fine citizen soldiers of the Idaho National Guard. I will also see the men and women of the Mountain Home Air Force Base who played a leading role in the air campaign in Afghanistan after the September the 11th attacks. I will thank all of them for their service in the war on terror and I will thank the families who make their essential work possible.

Our troops know that they're fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere to protect their fellow Americans from a savage enemy. They know that if we do not confront these evil men abroad, we will have to face them one day in our own cities and streets, and they know that the safety and security of every American is at stake in this war, and they know we will prevail.

more...

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050820/dcsa003.html?.v=8

[SalmonChantedEvening]

17. Here and listening in!!

:hi: :bounce:

[proud patriot]

19. "how can you support the troops and george bush?"

"how do you justify that?"

[Judi Lynn]

21. Off to a roaring start! Guy's probably going to get some raving lunatics

fired up to reclaim _Bush's moranic reputation.

[Ripley]

24. WHO OWNS LAND IN AMERICA GUY?

Good question. Very few regular folks own 300 acres.

[proud patriot]

23. "I kissed the ground when I got home" Guy

LOL

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Nice to have you back on the show!

I'm enjoying the show. :)

[Ripley]

26. Catherine letting Jeb take her "seat"

heee heee

[FreedomAngel82]

27. Hey Guy

tell her about Tim Goodrich and Hart Viges at Camp Casey. You should play their speech at truthout: http://www.truthout.org/cindy.shtml

[FreedomAngel82]

28. Please play the speech of Tim Goodrich and Hart Viges!!!

[BeachBuckeye]

38. I don't have the technical ability to do that after the show has started

Sorry. I would if I could.

[FreedomAngel82]

50. That's okay

Maybe next week. It's a very very good speech and really telling. It's a smoking bomb so to speak. You'll see why.

[patdem]

29. Used to buffer in and out..not now!!! WOW...very good reception!

I am now hooked again! ...So glad it is a better connection!

[FreedomAngel82]

30. It is sounding very good

So much better!

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

32. Tip of the hat to Ben Burch...among others....who helped Guy.

Ben helped prior to the Crawford trip.

THIS is the way Guy should sound...loud & proud.

:patriot:

[Generic Other]

31. Last week was the first time I listened

It was really great.

[Judi Lynn]

33. How cool is this letter from the soldier in Iraq?

So courageous of him to tell the truth while he can still be a target from petty Republicans in government and the military.

Hope he makes it home safely.

On edit:

Congratulations to Guy James for playing the Rush lie about Cindy Sheehan. Be prepared for abuse from the Rush-loving radio station, and you are, I'm sure.

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Me too

And also he was anonymous so that's good. :)

[Dudley_DUright]

39. No doubt he will get crap from the station

I hope he asks them why they allow a proven liar like Rush to broadcast on their station.

[Judi Lynn]

44. That's right. They ALL should have to start answering for the lies. n/t

[Ripley]

35. Thanks Guy!

Play more Rush!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

40. Some woman. How does Faux do it?

They do it because their masters tell them to.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

41. I'm on hold for Guy...this is what I'm calling about: "Fair Tax"

http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=701

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2004
CONTACT:
Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider
202-226-7616

Pelosi: ‘National Sales Tax Would be Burden for Middle Class Americans, But Boon for the Wealthy’
Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi held a news conference in the Capitol this afternoon with Congressmen Charles Rangel of New York, and John Spratt and James Clyburn, both of South Carolina, to denounce a Republican plan for a national sales tax. Below are Pelosi’s remarks and a fact sheet about the proposal:

“Today, we are here to highlight one of the many clear contrasts between Democrats and Republicans: Republicans want to undermine our American values of prosperity and fairness with a new national sales tax of at least 30 percent and as high as 50 percent or more on all goods, including homes and cars.

“A national sales tax would be a burden for middle class Americans, but a boon for the wealthy. Families with children would lose their current tax deductions, and seniors would essentially be taxed twice.

“This proposal is ludicrous and should be dismissed outright. Yet Speaker Hastert wrote about the national sales tax and the flat tax in his new book, saying ‘both of these ideas are worthy of consideration.’ And Majority Leader Tom DeLay is co-sponsoring the bill, and has said: ‘It is high time the debate about the flat tax and a national consumption tax moved out of Washington think tanks and into American living rooms. That's why I have signedon to Congressman John Linder's proposal to scrap the current tax code altogether and replace it with a national sales tax.’

“The Republican plan would make it harder for middleclass families to make ends meet. A national sales tax would undermine the American value of prosperity. For example, cars that cost $20,000 would cost an additional $6,000 under this proposal. Just wait until the car dealers hear about this proposal. Prescription drugs that cost $100 would now cost $130. New homes, insurance premiums, brokerage fees, and gasoline would all be heavily taxed to replace revenue brought in by the current tax system.

“It would wipe out our system of progressive taxation. A national sales tax would undermine the American value of fairness.

“The American people should be aware that the Republicans’ primary tax agenda is a new national sales tax.”

The Republican Plan to Raise Taxes on the Middle Class

All over the country, middle class Americans are being squeezed byRepublican policies that have lost 1.7 million private sector jobs; allowed the price of health care, education, and gas to skyrocket; and created record deficits. Now Republicans are proposing a new national sales tax that would increase taxes for the typical middle class by about 50 percent. Democrats know that approach is wrong. Instead of raising taxes on the middle class, Democrats have pledged to promote prosperity and fairness by enacting middle class tax relief, creating new jobs, and eliminating tax loopholes so all Americans pay their fair share.

GOP SALES TAX HIKES A FAMILY’S TAX BURDEN BY 50 PERCENT

The new GOP national sales tax would replace all personal and corporate income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and payroll taxes, and gift and estate taxes with a new national sales tax on goods like groceries, clothing, new home sales and apartment rents, and health care services. This new GOP tax would be applied on top of existing state sales taxes. This proposal would increase taxes by about $3,200 a year for 80 percent of taxpayers, and potentially more for some families.

MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES SQUEEZED AGAIN

Families with children. Families with children are hit the hardest, as this proposal would eliminate all the current law tax benefits for these families, including the child tax credit. A middle class family with four children with a combined income of $65,000 would face an increase of more than $5,000 in their tax liability.

New homeowners. The Republican tax hike proposal would eliminate the tax deduction that families get on their home mortgages and apply this new sales percent tax to the cost of a home. If a family buys a new house listed for $150,000, the new tax brings the actual purchase price to $195,000.

Jump in property taxes. The Republican sales tax hike would require states to send an additional $300 billion to the federal government in sales taxes – a tax increase that states would immediately pass on to residents. Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Hawaii, and New Jersey could all see property tax increases higher than 400 percent. The lowest state property tax hike possible – in New Hampshire – would still be more than 70 percent.

Gas and electricity. The average family would pay an additional 60 cents a gallon for gasoline – a new tax that will hit families in rural areas particularly hard. Families with large home heating or cooling bills also will be harmed.

SENIORS FACE NEW TAXES

Beneficiaries pay twice for Social Security and pension benefits. Most Social Security benefits and a portion of pension payments are exempt from income tax. But this proposal requires seniors to pay the new sales tax – meaning that seniors are now being taxed twice for their Social Security, once when they pay the payroll taxes and again when they pay the sales taxes.

Threaten Solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund. Medicare would be required to pay the new sales tax as well, forcing the program into insolvency in five years. If this proposal were enacted, Medicare would run out of funds in 2009.

Undermines pension coverage. The new GOP sales tax hike would reduce the incentives employers currently get for offering their employees a pension plan. The American Academy of Actuaries has concluded that “pension plans would quickly diminish in number and size and gradually disappear” if a consumption tax, such as the national sales tax were enacted as a substitute to the current income tax.

[cal04]

51. Great call Bush_Eats_Beef

thanks for the heads up about this
any help needed just let us know

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

52. Thank you...I just want people to get informed....

...and once they do, e-mail or phone EVERY elected official in their state. DON'T sit back and let Bush get away with this.

:patriot:

[Judi Lynn]

57. They're so sneaky about this, as they are when they know the public

won't fall for their schemes.

Excellent call.

[Stephist]

42. That Bring It On Lead In Is Great...

And very effective. More Liberal talk show hosts need to do Promos and Lead ins that use their own words to show how different NeoCon world and the real world truly is.

[benburch]

43. Great Show, Guy!

I'll let you know when I kick off my White Rose fundraiser on Monday!

[Dudley_DUright]

45. Nice try "John from Crawford"

Hey Paul :hi: (Compound W :rofl: ).

[Judi Lynn]

63. It's so embarrassing being a witness to a moran trying to outsmart

others. What could he have been "thinking?"

[cal04]

46. Thank you Guy! Great show.

:hi:

[Liberal In Texas]

47. Guy. Not all Texans are rednecks. Not all Texans boo Cindy when she

comes on Fox at the airport. Remember, you were at the AIRPORT! People like yourself are in transit from and to other parts of the country. How many of those people who you say booed Cindy were from Texas? Unless you walked around and polled them, you have no way of knowing.

Also, Fox news is not based in Texas. It's NY and LA.

I'm sorry you didn't get to see much more than the airport and Crawford. Not all Texans are assholes. You had dinner with a bunch of libs before you went to Crawford. Didn't that count for anything?

I get so weary of the region bashing. I could go on and on about Florida if I wanted, but I know that not all the people that live there are like Jeb or Harris.

[bpilgrim]

54. it is a shame, if it was a joke maybe... but it gotta be a good one

:evilgrin:

peace

[Liberal In Texas]

55. Thanks for the clarification, Guy. You rock. n/t

[JanMichael]

59. Oh but Florida is EASY to bash!

Start with the affluent retirees from the NE who more than likely collect SS, Medicare, and have Pensions. Plus...Many, many, were UNION!

Yet they vote Jeb!

Shitty Public Schools, super low achievement rankings, highly segregated down US41 and I-95...

:puke:

[Liberal In Texas]

62. You know, one could pick out any state and find fault. We have a diverse

country. Some bad and some good. A lot of people in this country voted against their best interests the last 2 elections. They have bad bad information. They believe what the tube and the hate radio jocks tell them. They are deluded.

It's people like Guy and AAR who are trying to get the truth out. Also, thank God (Goddess?) for the internet as well.

I think the pendulum swing to the right may have reached its peak and the swing may start the other way. We can only hope.

[texanwitch]

61. LibInTexas you beat me to it I was so mad when Guy just bashed the

whole state of Texas for what he heard at the airport and for what happpen in 1963. This was the last Guy James show I will ever listen to, what a slap in the face to all the good Democrats of Texas.

I was at Crawford last weekend and I am going tomorrow and staying over until Tuedsay, doing whatever I can to help.

I wonder what all those good Texans at Camp Casey are going to think if they hear about Guy's little speech, it won't come from me but someone will tell them.

Guy needs to say he is sorry for what he said, there was no call for that, and he comes from Florida with another Bush in charge.

I am sick to death of Texas being bashed, it is old and tired.

I would never do this to another state, not even Florida.
:grr:

[BeachBuckeye]

65. Ok, I said I'm sorry. I apologized

I didn't mean the WHOLE state. Florida is much worse.

[Liberal In Texas]

68. Heard it. You're a BIG GUY, Guy. Thanks. n/t

[Liberal In Texas]

67. Yes. I must say, Guy after the last half-hour break came back on and

moderated what he said. At least he's big enough to admit his error, unlike say, Limpballs.

Even on DU here, I constantly see Texas bashing. You would think that our progressive friends would know better. Overgeneralization is what the RW does to us libs; slotting us in as the enemy. We don't need to eat our own.

We could sit here and bash Ohio or Florida or whatever, but it is not fair to the people in those states who are working to make a difference.

Just remember Ann Richards and Jim Hightower, just to name two.

[Dudley_DUright]

69. and of course the incomparable Molly Ivins

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Misinformed01]

70. Calm down. Don't you ever just get upset, and go on a rant?

Guy didn't mean EVERYONE in Texas, and you sound like you are an adult enough to realize what he meant.

I have met Guy James in person, and he is one of the finest, kindest people I have ever had the pleasure to spend time with.

He apologized to the Libs in TX which is more than you will ever get out of ALL Republican Talk show hosts, and...face it...MOST Liberal talk show hosts.

Don't judge a man by one moment in time, unless that moment is a monumental fuckup (say...like...declaring a war)---

[texanwitch]

85. I heard what Guy said and the way he said it.

I am glad he apologized to LibsInTx but he needs also to apologized to the Texans working at Crawford dealing with the heat and fireants.

I was there last weekend and it was hot, this is Texas in August.

I bet he got a lot of emails from Texans, he only hurt himself.

He should have know better then to get on a radio program and do what he did.

This Texas bashing goes back to 1963 when the President was killed, I was to young to remember. The state of Texas didn't kill the President but still today I have had people blame us for what happpened.

I was raised to be careful of what I said because words can hurt, and if you can't say something nice don't say anything.

Like I said this was my last Guy James show, he said what he really felt and I don't have to listen to somebody like that.


I wonder if he would like for Texans to blame the whole state of Florida for President Bush, I think he would be mad and upset.

[Liberal In Texas]

88. I don't agree with everything Guy says. But, on balance he's just fine.

That's one of the things about our side. We have a big tent with diverse opinions. We don't march in lock-step with the official party line.

If you choose not to listen to Guy again, so be it. But he is, (again) on balance, on our side.

Oh, as I write he just mentioned the workers in Crawford.

[texanwitch]

95. I back , just finished cutting the grass.

I just checked my emails from my friends, and they are pissed off to.

I believe in the big tent, I have been in the Democrat Party all my life, my parents were precinct judges before I was born and I worked at the elections from 2 years old and up. I am now a precinct judge in my own precinct and belong to two democrat groups in the area. I have been to so many protests in the last few years I have lost count, but I have video tape to proof it.

Guy lost his temper and took it out on the wrong people, like I said I checked my email and eveyone including the ones outside of Texas were angry. I know he got a lot email on this, all my friends emailed him, and that would be over 25 emails.

I do believe in the big tent but we should take care with each other. We have good people and bad people in every state, Texas is bigger so we have more of them.

I just can't listen to Guy anymore, he blow it for me.

[JanMichael]

93. I think you're entirely mistaken.

"I wonder if he would like for Texans to blame the whole state of Florida for President Bush, I think he would be mad and upset."

A. Wouldn't CARE what "Texans" (Whatever that is) thought about this so obviously not "mad and upset".

B. Probably DOES blame a great deal of "Florida" for the mess we're in today. Jeb Bush, Katherine "I need two more Dalmation puppies to finish my coat" Harris, and the close to half of the people who vote for such assholes. They SUCK ASS!

Lighten up and accept his apology for the way he said what he said.

Guy James is a DUer and a hell of a Liberal voice in what he himself calls "The Heart of Darkness" Ie. SW Florida.

Please...Lighten UP!

Love ya', BYE!

[Judi Lynn]

48. Great call from Brainshrub.com. Congratulations. n/t

[bpilgrim]

56. he's blogging from Crawford, wooHoo!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4400239

fyi...

Camp Casey > Crawford

also, check out the MOST POPULAR Camp Case images here...

Most viewed CC images

and the TOP RATED (vote by scrolling to bottom of the page & click on the STARS)

Top rated CC images

yes, you can VOTE for your favorites, too! ;-) or(and) CREATE your own PERSONAL list of FAVORITES and(or) upload your own images directly from your computer or from anywhere on the INTERNETs - Thank GORE! =)

of course, you have to REGISTER first - gotta stem the tide of spam as much as possible ;-> - by clicking here...
http://media.GlobalFreePress.com/gallery/register.php

it's easy, we only ask for a valid email (spammers & bots be gone) - that we give to NO ONE, ever - then we send you a confirmation email (be careful, your spam filter doesn't mistake GFP mail as spam or your ISP) with a link to ACTIVATE your account....

after activation & once you log in, you can upload all the pictures you want, and even send them as ecards to all your friends or paste them into your favorite discussion boards at just the right moment ;-)

ecards: just click the ecard button at the top right of the image window...

don't forget to vote for your favorites (and leave comments :hi: )

psst... pass the word :hi:

peace

peace

[Swamp Rat]

72. I just got this.

"The moderators have sent you the following message:

We understand that the new sigline rules might not be completely clear on how to include graphics within a post. The intent of the new rules is to clean up the look of the board and make it easier for those still on dialup by reducing the amount of graphics on the board, and that includes graphics that are not in the sigline, but do not pertain specifically to the post. This is a common practice of many DUers, and it is causing some problems which we are trying to address. We do not object to you including your art within your posts, but would you please reduce it to the required sigline size in the future."

What do you think? I think it was because I was pissed and posted this in LBN (I rarely post in LBN and this is the 3rd time this year I posted a graphic there):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1714845&mesg_id=1715155

So, does this message mean I can't post my pix anymore? ... making them really small is not an alternative for me. I would rather erase my account here and go somewhere else. :mad:

[Thtwudbeme]

73. DU without SwampRat????

Bullshit!!!

Just wait until things calm down a bit for your pictures to be OK again...your leaving would just suck...

Stephanie

[bpilgrim]

76. no, they are just talking about sig lines. you can... eh, MUST continue

posting your pics :bounce:

:hi:

peace

[Boredtodeath]

77. Yeah, that's what it does mean

We do not object to you including your art within your posts, but would you please reduce it to the required sigline size in the future.

Seems pretty clear to me.

And you know what? That's bull.....anyone on dialup can simply set their browsers not to display the graphics. There's a great little Mozilla setting - display graphics from originating server only.

What's really going on is the blogads are slowing page loads and they are trying to compensate.

[Judi Lynn]

78. Who wouldn't make an exeption in your case? You are the one of a kind.

Your work is so much more than posting images.

Sure hope you don't leave! Not kidding. Don't scare us! Those mostly green illustrations absolutely sizzle, showing the dank, depraved, twisted depths to these monsters mere words can't reveal.

[Swamp Rat]

91. Thanks to you and all above.

Maybe I should just stick to GD. :shrug:

I will go eat Cajun pizza... then I will feel better. :grouphug:

edit: :D

[Dudley_DUright]

49. Here is Linder's fairtax site

http://linder.house.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Resources.Home&Resource_id=1

:puke:

[Libby2]

58. Okay, I have a confession.

This is the first time I have listened to the show.
It won't be the last time.

Woohooo great show.

Guy you rock !!

[FreedomAngel82]

60. I'm glad you like it

Welcome! :hi: Mr. James is a favorite of mine. Mike Malloy, Bernie Ward, Rhandi Rhodes, Al Franken, Majority Report, Rachel Maddow, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann. :) There are so many wonderful and talented progressive talk show hosts. I've also heard a guy named Andy Johnson. Anybody know him? He lives in Florida too.

[Dudley_DUright]

64. Never heard Andy Johnson

What station is he on?

[Catshrink]

71. I'm late, I'm late!

just checking in. I've had a stinking headache all afternoon and slept it off, I think.

Sounds like I missed a great show -- thanks BenBurch for the WRS!

[cal04]

74. these people should put their COUNTRY

and our soldiers lives before their paycheck
these people are just disgraceful

[Judi Lynn]

75. A right-wing radio mouth who calls Cindy Sheehan a "tragedy slut"

is tempting fate.

Hope he remembers his life as a demon when fate unloads on him, and it will. It's just a matter of time.

[JanMichael]

79. Take names

yes, a world of shit WILL rain down upon these fuckers eventually.

As Sarte as my witness.....

[Dudley_DUright]

81. As Sarte as my witness

:rofl:

My Einstein, was that ever funny. ;-)

[JanMichael]

83. Oh Camus! I try but this is Absurd!

No, really, it is.

[Dudley_DUright]

84. Holy Heisenberg

I am uncertain why you think so.

[JanMichael]

94. On principle I guess. Glory be Wittenstein.

Certainly not Popper.

[CornField]

92. This entire "tragedy slut" business

Many of you know that my brother was drafted into and died in Vietnam. My mother was a gold-star mother. Due to the loss of my brother, there were certain things that my mother couldn't never stomach. Chief among them were peace signs. For the longest time, I assumed this was because people within the peace movement had somehow descrated my brother's memory. It was the mid-1980s when I learned the truth: The people who had been most kind and generous to my family after my brother's death were his friends... basically, the peacemongering hippies.

A family we were friends with sent their son off to Canada when the draft came knocking. Looking back, my mom never forgave herself for not supporting my brother in dissenting. Our family had a history of fighting when we were called upon. My father is a decorated WWII vet -- many uncles, cousins and nephews have all served in the armed forces. I don't think my mother ever felt refusing to go was possible. Besides, prior to Vietnam, I don't think many families had experienced a unfounded, unholy and unwinnable war.

The truth remains that when my family was at our most low, we were not gently cradled by those who supported the war. We were held gently and re-taught how to walk by those who opposed the war. It was the most painful lesson of friendship that life can teach.

I cannot tell you how many times in the past 5-6 years I've been drawn back into the Vietnam and the aftermath. There must be many unresolved emotions in me and, indeed, in this nation as a whole. How those military families can, in any fashion, look to this chickenhawk administration and King Chickenhawk himself and find trust is something I'll never comprehend. My children will never go to war on the orders of a coward who refused to answer his own call to war.

Maybe I keep drifting back to Vietnam and the 1970s because so little has actually changed. Once again it is the arms of the peacemakers where the gold star families are finding solace. Unfortunately, life continues her lesson for some families as to what true friendship, compassion and unconditional love means.

[ClayZ]

80. First time listener.... I LIKE THIS GUY!

Thanks for the heads up!....

[Dudley_DUright]

82. We are here every week

Glad you could join us. :hi:

[Judi Lynn]

86. Oh, God. That's PRICELESS. The MEpublicans.

What could be more accurate? MEpublicans.

[Dudley_DUright]

87. I liked that too

First I ever heard that gem. I think I will replace my usual repukes with the new and improved MEpublicans.

[Talismom]

90. Yeah, I liked it too! n/t

[ClayZ]

89. Counter-Protest is a "We don't Care-avan"

ARGH!