Who are you?

[KatKanPlay]

Originally Posted by Vietvet

Hi folks, this is my first post, and I look forward to getting to know the rest of you here. As my "handle" implies, I'm a Vietnam veteran who served as an Army Medic in '68-69. The experience shaped many of my later attitudes regarding war. I am probably one of the most anti-war guys you'll ever encounter. Sure, some wars may have been justified, but the way I see it, WW11 was the last one which was, other than going after bin Laden in Afghanistan.

I'm retired from a civil service career and worked on Aircraft as a mechanic with the Dept. of defense. I suppose I might as well admit that one reason I retired relatively young (I'm 57) was my opposition to the "gung ho" culture of war that prevailed after we invaded Iraq without any justification. I was against this unneccessary war from the beginning. I really got SICK of hearing what a "great leader" GWB was.

On politics, I guess you could say that I'm slightly left of center, and I'm also a Democrat. I differ slightly from others in my party, on different issues. For example, I favor a reinstatement of the draft. I believe that it would serve as a deterrent for future militaristic "adventures" that are not well thought out. If we had the draft today, there would be mass demonstrations just as there were during the Vietnam era, and I think we would be out of Iraq by now. We might never have won popular support for going into Iraq in the first place.

I'm for a national health care plan. To me, that's long overdue, with over 40,000,000 uninsured in this country; I think NAFTA and CAFTA have been colossal failures, and should either be repealed or radically modified; I think we need to reinforce our borders and protect this country from the invasion, as I see it, of illegal immigrants. If people can just walk across our borders at will, it's only a matter of time before the terrorists start coming as well. In fact, I'm sure a lot of terrorisats are already here, via Mexico or Canada. Especially Mexico. Beyond that reason, Anmeriican wages for the working men and women are stagnant, and the middle class is disappearing. I pretty much agree with Lou Dobbs on the issue of illegal immigration.

I wouldn't want you guys to think I'm ALL about politics.. My hobbies are playing guitar (Classic rock, blues and folk),hiking, travel ( wife and I like going to national parks, historical landmarks, Vegas, anywhere we haven't been),BBQing,and landscaping.

Anyhow, I look forward to posting here and getting to know the rest of the members here. Have a great day!

Looking forward to your points of view.

[motivez]

Welcome to LL Vietvet

Feel free to upload an avatar and change your usertitle etc via the UserCP. Look forward to seeing you post!

[goldenponderbob]

Hello to all here at LL,

I was hoping to get some practice, especially with avatars before posting
this, but if I wait until I'm comfortable with "forum protocol" I might be
to old to type.

I get so caught up with reading the posts I forget to allow myself time to
learn how to reply and do stuff myself.

Anway, here goes: and by the way, thanks again to those who've helped me
along this far.

I have a friend, around my age (mid-sixties) who has MS. His life is tough,
His daily therapy is painful and tedious, and the stuff he'd still like to
do, but can't, would fill a book. But, he has a keyboard and the internet,
and because of that, and a wonderful devoted wife, his life is pretty full.

My case is the opposite. I have been blessed with wonderful family, and good
health. My friend cannot play his guitar anymore at all, so when my fingers
ache from playing, I don't curse the arthritis, I think about my friend.

I had a heart attack way back in 1991 (An MI, for those in the know). Just
serious enough to make me listen carefully to a cardiologist, and make some
necessaary lifestyle modifications. I credit what I learned from that as
contributing enormously to the quality of life I enjoy today. Yeah, yeah,
I know; if Murphy (legendary author of laws) reads this, I'm a goner for sure.

I was among many who leaped at early retirement from AT&T when it drastically
downsized. The chance to get a pension locked in and be young enough for to
pursue other interests appealed. At the time I was instructing and developing
courses for network systems installer/maintainers. Subsequently I managed a
training program, and later the voice/data infrastructure for a software
company in downtown Chicago.

Since 2001, I have only worked sporadically, by choice. Right now I deliver
truck parts (avoiding a sedentary activities is essential to cardiovascular
health,

My lifestyle is simple and includes, in no particular order: sailing,
canoeing, bicycling, folk music (listening and playing), history (of just
about anything) and baseball (player and fan).

I belong to the ASA and kept a 25' sloop ported on Lake Michigan until about
a year ago (aging vessels get expensive to maintain). I have dreamed all my
adult life of crewing on an around-the-world journey. Those familiar with
Robin Lee Graham's story will understand.

My interests revolve around warm weather. For me, cold weather is something
to endure, not enjoy. Chicago was my home by career choice, now it's family
politics, I lose.

I also love old movies! I don't know how I would manage if I didn't have TCM
on cable. It's just about all I watch these days. A couple of cold beers and
a Clark Gable/Jean Harlow movie may not please my doctor, but I'll be
comatose before I'll give that up voluntarily.

So That's me and now for why I'm here.

I expect to read much more than post. Certain issues, 2nd ammedment being one,
are likely to draw me out.

I'm not uncomfortable with the "liberal" tag.

Lately among lefties (which include many folk music devotees) though, I've sensed
a trend; a kind of game. The idea is to keep moving further and further left so
that anyone encountered appears to be to the right. It's a game I refuse to play.

Anything that smacks of non-conformity becomes conservatism and puts that person
on the defensive. A person gets tagged as a follower of Rush or Bill O'. That
kind of tag I don't need.

It's as though liberals have become frustrated defense lawyers bent on cross-
examining people rather than deliberating respectfully and tolerantly.

It's a kind of reverse McCarthyism. The upshot is a leftist lovefest. In other
words, they love to agree with each other to the point it where becomes annoying.

Otherwise, unless I have to pass a litmus test, on most issues, I would back the
liberal point of view.

That's enough about me for now.

I hope I can occasionally offer something constructive that's worth reading.

Meanwhile I look forward to reading the tapestry of interesting opinions
I've found since stumbling in here.

Oh, the picture below my name. It is, of course Tom Paine, a particular hero
of mine. Among those from which I believe I draw inspiration, Tom stands
alone be at the top. Torrents of wrath have been heaped upon him. He's so
scary grade-school teachers are reluctant to discuss him in class. He never
killed anyone, except maybe his wife (his other wife is suppoesed to have
paid him to go away). Once you get passed a few eccentricities though, a
person emerges from the flat pages of history with clear and surprisingly
positive notions about humanity, society and what free people can accomplish.
The stuff he wrote on every issue, parallels what I would say to a tee.

goldenponderbob

[ballz2wallz]

When you first signed up, your name was 'goldenpoderbob'; I had to cause I figured you meant gondenponderbob...that told me you were older

I love folk music; let's start a thread in the speakeasy if you want. I love sharing musicians, experiences, etc with someone who really appreciates and knows music.

Welcome to the board!

[AntiCentrist]

Hello everyone.

I'm a 36-year old Irish Catholic (married) male, born in Selma, Alabama, raised in Los Gatos, California, and presently residing in nearby San Jose, at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay.

I'm presently a registered Democrat (as of March 17, 2003, when I changed my registration to Democrat in order to protest Bush's decision to take us into war in Iraq), yet haven't definitively decided which of the two major parties I will be affiliated with come the 2008 Primary election. I don't fit comfortably into such political designations as liberal, conservative, or libertarian. For example, while I have always strongly opposed the war in Iraq, believe SUVs should be banned in order to reduce air pollution & fuel consumption, prefer fair trade to free trade, and support the legalization of marijuana & the decriminalization of "hard" drug use, I also advocate a Constitutional Amendment to ban abortion (including in cases of rape and/or incest), and I strongly oppose gun control, affirmative action, and immigration. Left? Right? I just support whatever I believe is best for the nation.

I have voted in every Presidential election I was eligible to vote in (1988-2004), as well as the primaries in 1992, 1996, and 2004 (I was too young to vote in the 1988 primary election, and the 2000 primary election is the only election I've ever missed). Here's who I voted for:

1988 General: Michael Dukakis (Democrat)

1992 Primary: Bill Clinton (Democratic primary)
1992 General: Bill Clinton (Democrat)

1996 Primary: Patrick J. Buchanan (Republican)
1996 General: Howard Phillips (Constitution)

2000 General: Patrick J. Buchanan (Reform)

2004 Primary: Dennis Kucinich (Democrat)
2004 General: Ralph Nader (independent)

I'm probably one of the only people who can say that not only did he vote for Buchanan in 2000, and then for Nader in '04, but that my political views didn't change much during those intervening four years. Because some of my ideas are on the left, and some are on the right, I seldom get to vote for a candiate I like all the way (although Buchanan has come closer than any other). The only year I regret for whom I voted was 1992.

People I like: Rep. Tom Tancredo, Dr. Howard Dean, Sen. Jim Webb, Rep. Ron Paul, Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, ex-Rep. James Traficant, ex-Vice President Al Gore, Justin Raimondo

People I loathe: "President" George W. Bush, "Vice-President" Richard Cheney, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Sen. John McCain, ex-Mayor Rudolph Guliani, Sen. Dianne Feinstein

I'm mainly here to discuss the 2008 Presidential campaign, as I always take a big interest in each Presidential election (since 1984, when I was 14).

[six6ftr]

I guess better late than never, Hello everyone, I am a Technical Manager type in the Audio Visual areana. Basically I provide technical support to Audio Visual Systems, computers , servers and so forth. I am a 20yr+ Veteran of the military spending 11 years on active duty in the Marine Corps and almost 10 Yrs in the Georgia Army National Guard. I am a veteran of OIF and a few low lying squirmishes that I will refrain from speaking of due to their nature. My military background covers the areas of Infantry, Reconnaisance, Artillary, Recruiting and Retention, Logistics and Military Police (Reactionary Force Team NCO) I am married with a 5 month old daughter who gives me motivation to always do the right thing and accept everyone for who they are. I am a christian and a democrat who tends to be liberal at times. At the age of 39 I am about to finally finish my degree in Information Security (Military Life can be tough on education when you are always on the move) and hopefully start on a MBA.

[Stoner]

Hola, peeps. I came across your website and decided to give it a twirl. I love debating politics and current events.

Looking forward to meeting you all.

Peace!

[motivez]

Welcome to the site

[ArrestMeRedZ28]

Welcome

[nbiggershaft]

Harro all.

Here a while, didn't see this thread. Came from the other place.

Anywho, I'm 21, a mechanical engineering student at MU ( university of missouri columbia). I'm liberal, but not as much as the 'liberals' I know. I am engaged.

[northhunter]

Hello,
I just registered today and when I did I was prompted to say Hello here (at least I think it was here)
I do not want to do a long introduction right now, hope that's ok. I'm a 48 year old happily married man living in the very northern part of Michigan. I consider myself a Republican in most ways but vote for the actual person more than the party. I have voted for Democrats as well as Republicans based on what I thought of the person running for office in national, state and local elections.
I'm new to political chat forums and just recently began looking at some sites and joining some of them.
I served in the U.S. Coast Guard and married while stationed in the city I live in today. We returned here when I got out to raise our two children who are both teenagers.
I'm looking forward to discussing various issues with others from different places and viewpoints.
That's about it for now I guess,
North

[madcaddies]

I am a freshman at the University of Michigan and have lived in Ann Arbor, MI for 19 years. I play drums and write for the Michigan Review, a libertarian/conservative newspaper here on campus. I am a libertarian and plan to double major in political science and history.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by madcaddies

I am a freshman at the University of Michigan and have lived in Ann Arbor, MI for 19 years. I play drums and write for the Michigan Review, a libertarian/conservative newspaper here on campus. I am a libertarian and plan to double major in political science and history.

Hello there and welcome. You'll find plenty of libertarians on here as well as plenty of material/ideals to give insights for articles.

Enjoy the forum.

[alias]

Hey, Alias from the beautiful Northwest up in Eastern Washington near the Idaho line and Canada. I am semi-retired, play guitar and bass with the local yokels (my son plays professionally).

I always seem to get in trouble with the politically correct crowd by not speaking as they dictate. I hope I can last a while before I get banned.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by alias

Hey, Alias from the beautiful Northwest up in Eastern Washington near the Idaho line and Canada. I am semi-retired, play guitar and bass with the local yokels (my son plays professionally).

I always seem to get in trouble with the politically correct crowd by not speaking as they dictate. I hope I can last a while before I get banned.

There are plenty of us here who aren't politically correct. Out with that BS!

Who's your son, and who does he play for?

[alias]

He's playing bass for a couple local bands who shall remain nameless. I will say that his bands have opened for George Jones, Keith Paisley, Patty Loveless, and this summer Willie Nelson.

I don't want some sick moron on the internet to bother him because of me. I hope you understand.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by alias

He's playing bass for a couple local bands who shall remain nameless. I will say that his bands have opened for George Jones, Keith Paisley, Patty Loveless, and this summer Willie Nelson.

I don't want some sick moron on the internet to bother him because of me. I hope you understand.

Yes, I understand completely...that you've just called me a sick moron!!!!

Do you mean Brad Paisley or Keith Urban?

[alias]

No, no no, I don't mean you're a sick moron. I mean some hateful muslim or an indoctrinated dumb liberal.

Brad Paisley. I get confused with all these new pretty boys. His bands play what we call "alternative country"......the real stuff.

[Dharma Bum]

Hey, kids. I decided to join the forum after I saw ballz2wallz post a lot on a topic at Hot Air. I clicked around for a little while, and said to myself, "Self, these are good guys. You should go hang out with them." And here I am.

I'm socially liberal, economically conservative, and conservative on defense. So I figured, best two out of three. Politics isn't a huge obsession for me, so I prefer not to carry a party label. I'll vote for whoever takes the least money out of my pocket come April. That's usually the same people who are zealous about killing terrorists, so that works out for me.

I work as a freelance photo journalist and nature photographer out of Orlando. I'm currently regularly employed by a major animation studio to do reference shots. And I'm going to school in March to eventually become an archaeologist.

As far as religion goes, I'm a lapsed Catholic. Like Batman.

[motivez]

Welcome to the site