BRANDON JONES REPLIES:
While it’s mildly flattering that I’ve ruffled your feathers, your response reiterates my previous assertions of the political playground of “likemindedness” in this PCR universe. I’m sure the others agree with you; hence the failure of debate or analysis of facts and data. So, before I spew more bile and filth, let’s start with my intent…
If you want to quote Vietnam-era dictionaries, so be it, but a modern view of the word deals with conflict – conflict within the same country. Am I dramatizing the use of war when making a partisan and baseball analogy, hell yeah I am!
Sorry to disagree with your facts, but the daily update of violence by our biased media isn’t conflicts between the factions of Iraq. I'm not saying there isn't any violence! But Sunnis and Shiites are not taking up arms against one another. In fact, applause should be given to all of these groups that have set aside their differences as they create political structure and support for freedom and democracy.
The horrible violence is NOT a civil war, but further acts of terrorism by radicals that strap on a bomb to themselves to kill Americans and civilians alike. Moreover, you can buy into the segregation between Saddam and Osama because of religious sect, but we have learned differently.
In fact, even dating back into the first Iraq conflict, Saddam aside those differences to pursue allegiances and support to the terrorist factions. This was not well received in the Muslim community at the time and some believe that’s why Saddam didn’t get the Muslim uprising he hoped for after invading Kuwait. There were regular contacts between bin Laden “lieutenants” and Iraqi intelligence (including Saddam’s son) – (key reading sources would be the 9/11 commission report and Yossef Bodansky’s books)
We will continue to part viewpoints as you can attribute the war to oil and a personal vendetta. I see a deep-rooted problem that started with Jimmy Carter and spiraled out of control throughout the '90s without retaliation. I believe these core beliefs in motives is what separates most people into factions who support the war/Bush and those who do not.
Likewise, we are NOT in the financial that rut that claim. Isn’t that real estate or stock market bubble burst yet? Go back and analyze our debt as a percent of GDP and you may see that things aren’t as hopeless as Howard Dean and the DNC want you to believe.
For the record, since you share the likeminded opinion that I’m Republican, I am not. I have been honest and supportive of a very conservative foreign policy and the Democrats haven’t illustrated they even have a foreign policy. In fact, my voting for Bush was more of belief that I vote for someone, NOT against someone.
I responded to Terence’s challenge on the message board to point huge problems with the administration, mostly domestic issues like the borders, immigration and social security. Of course, not of that matters, since I don’t see the war the way YOU do.
I can’t agree with what I consider an over-simplified view of our politics and the state of the country. Will’s letter to Senator Martinez and his response is exactly an example of how we, the People, need to make our voices heard. In fact, your absence from exercising a voice (by not voting), is exactly what I consider a real problem – apathy.
You can hate big business, rich politicians – fine, but where is that hatred getting you.
“Why do they have this power? Because we gave it to them, that’s why.” That isn’t the problem.
You gave up! Stop crying in a world of friends that all agree with you and go fight for your government to do what you think is right.
As far as the “Citizen X” and his Creature Corner antics, I didn’t find brilliance in his article (as you said), I found the “cartoony” approach to Bush-hatred and oversimplification of the war.
I never stated that Saddam was responsible for 9/11 but there are ties to his support of terrorism, support to bin Laden dating back before Somalia and training facilities for terrorists in Iraq.
Conspiratorial citizen couch has insulted me and called me names for over a year. I shouldn’t even have responded to his column because it’s just a reminder of the polarization in this country.
I have nothing to retract. Call yourself Citizen X, but he was still a Russian serial killer (not a bad movie btw). I don’t really care if your Citizen Q, it’s part of the whole “the government is coming for you” schick. We got it.
I also agree that I appreciate the free speech that Nolan supports. Now impress by reading and researching the history and let me know what you think. Maybe you’ll change my mind.
--Brandon Jones
VINNIE BLESI RESPONDS TO BRANDON JONES:
"While it’s mildly flattering that I’ve ruffled your feathers, ... "
So you state outright that your intention is to ruffle feathers, and really has nothing to do with any of your personal beliefs. What a shame.
"The horrible violence is NOT a civil war"
Obviously you are brainwashed by Bush'isms. There was no civil war until we invaded. There was no terrorist action until we invaded, either.
"For the record, since you share the likeminded opinion that I’m Republican, I am not."
Why do you continue to live in this personally conflicted denial personal political status. Maybe more people would take you seriously if you quit this "I am a Democrat" bullshit and state your true colors of republicanism, big business, and facsist control of the media. I know where I stand on personal, religious and political issues. You are just confused.
"As far as the 'Citizen X' and his Creature Corner antics, I didn’t find brilliance in his article (as you said), I found the “cartoony” approach to Bush-hatred and oversimplification of the war"
As was previously stated, there is no connection with the Citizen X column and any serial killer. If you do not retract your false allegations I will seriously consider this as libel, and may consider legal action against you. What the connection with Creature Corner that you suggest is beyond me, and may as well be evidence of your continuing libelous statements.
"I also agree that I appreciate the free speech that Nolan supports. Now impress by reading and researching the history and let me know what you think. Maybe you’ll change my mind"
The pot calling the kettle black? I suggest you do some soul searching as to what is right for this country and your family, and stop being brainwashed by Fox News.
Sincerely,
Vinnie Blesi
May you and your famly have much happiness.
Nolan here. I just got off the phone with Brandon. The "Creature Corner antics" he referred to above was his take on the Citizen X opening paragraphs about being kidnapped by dark agents, which he likened to John Lewis' typical opening of a Creature's Corner column ("The demons in the castle have ruffled me from my slumber and Gorblie the devil is poking me into action for this week's column..."). Admittedly, the analogy is not terribly obvious even if you're a regular John Lewis reader, and John's only sent two columns to date this year.
As for the business about "Citizen X" and any relationship to a crime, see below.
BRANDON JONES REPLIES:
I, Brandon Jones, want to acknowledge that Andrei Chikatilo, the Russian serial killer from the 80's and 90's, is a different Citizen X (as labelled by the media) from the Citizen X on CrazedFanboy. I hope that this statement will let the Citizen X (II) sleep easier.
"So you state outright that your intention is to ruffle feathers, and really has nothing to do with any of your personal beliefs. What a shame."
See, everything is always dismissed that I can't possibly believe the things I write.
"Why do you continue to live in this personally conflicted denial personal political status. Maybe more people would take you seriously if you quit this "I am a Democrat" bullshit and state your true colors of republicanism, big business, and facsist control of the media. I know where I stand on personal, religious and political issues. You are just confused."
Again, I can't analyze information and decide what I believe. If I'm Democrat I have to in agreement with Vinnie. Don't even get me started on the media, because like Lisa, Vinnie cannot differentiate the difference between entertainment shows (like talk radio) and the news. They put the big three networks on the same playing field with Fox news who has a minute audience in comparision and fills most of its airtime with entertainment and commentary NOT just news.
"The pot calling the kettle black? I suggest you do some soul searching as to what is right for this country and your family, and stop being brainwashed by Fox News."
What facts. Where and when is Vinnie giving me/us something tangible that will refute what I have put forth. See, I'm the brainwashed fool blindly following Bush, Fox news while he knows what is "right" for this country.
There's no reason to perpetuate the (lack of) debate, just the same 'ole.
Brandon
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