erynthered Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 I have to take your opinion a bit lightly here, olivier. You once posted how Sen. Robert Byrd impressed you as a great statesman or some such. I loved him because Byrd was a black man and an immigrant. <olivier in france> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olivier in france Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Here is the old speech. I remember a little the insults i was receiving about daily on this board because, like a lot of frenchmen, i shared that view at the time... Arrogance of Power Today, I Weep for my Country... by US Senator Robert Byrd Speech delivered on the floor of the US Senate March 19, 2003 3:45pm I believe in this beautiful country. I have studied its roots and gloried in the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution. I have marveled at the wisdom of its founders and framers. Generation after generation of Americans has understood the lofty ideals that underlie our great Republic. I have been inspired by the story of their sacrifice and their strength. But, today I weep for my country. I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned. Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place. We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance. We treat UN Security Council members like ingrates who offend our princely dignity by lifting their heads from the carpet. Valuable alliances are split. After war has ended, the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe. The case this Administration tries to make to justify its fixation with war is tainted by charges of falsified documents and circumstantial evidence. We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason. This is a war of choice. There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11. The twin towers fell because a world-wide terrorist group, Al Qaeda, with cells in over 60 nations, struck at our wealth and our influence by turning our own planes into missiles, one of which would likely have slammed into the dome of this beautiful Capitol except for the brave sacrifice of the passengers on board. The brutality seen on September 11th and in other terrorist attacks we have witnessed around the globe are the violent and desperate efforts by extremists to stop the daily encroachment of western values upon their cultures. That is what we fight. It is a force not confined to borders. It is a shadowy entity with many faces, many names, and many addresses. But, this Administration has directed all of the anger, fear, and grief which emerged from the ashes of the twin towers and the twisted metal of the Pentagon towards a tangible villain, one we can see and hate and attack. And villain he is. But, he is the wrong villain. And this is the wrong war. If we attack Saddam Hussein, we will probably drive him from power. But, the zeal of our friends to assist our global war on terrorism may have already taken flight. The general unease surrounding this war is not just due to "orange alert." There is a pervasive sense of rush and risk and too many questions unanswered. How long will we be in Iraq? What will be the cost? What is the ultimate mission? How great is the danger at home? A pall has fallen over the Senate Chamber. We avoid our solemn duty to debate the one topic on the minds of all Americans, even while scores of thousands of our sons and daughters faithfully do their duty in Iraq. What is happening to this country? When did we become a nation which ignores and berates our friends? When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomatic efforts when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy? Why can this President not seem to see that America's true power lies not in its will to intimidate, but in its ability to inspire? War appears inevitable. But, I continue to hope that the cloud will lift. Perhaps Saddam will yet turn tail and run. Perhaps reason will somehow still prevail. I along with millions of Americans will pray for the safety of our troops, for the innocent civilians in Iraq, and for the security of our homeland. May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead, and may we somehow recapture the vision which for the present eludes us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olivier in france Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 and looking for it idi found that earlier one that was not that bad either... War Path May Prove Disastrous by Senator ROBERT BYRD Senate Floor Speech, Wednesday, February 12, 2003 To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of war. Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent -- ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing. We stand passively mute in the United States Senate, paralyzed by our own uncertainty, seemingly stunned by the sheer turmoil of events. Only on the editorial pages of our newspapers is there much substantive discussion of the prudence or imprudence of engaging in this particular war. And this is no small conflagration we contemplate. This is no simple attempt to defang a villain. No. This coming battle, if it materializes, represents a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and possibly a turning point in the recent history of the world. This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The doctrine of preemption -- the idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may be threatening in the future -- is a radical new twist on the traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention of international law and the UN Charter. And it is being tested at a time of world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they will soon be on our -- or some other nation's -- hit list. High level Administration figures recently refused to take nuclear weapons off of the table when discussing a possible attack against Iraq. What could be more destabilizing and unwise than this type of uncertainty, particularly in a world where globalism has tied the vital economic and security interests of many nations so closely together? There are huge cracks emerging in our time-honored alliances, and U.S. intentions are suddenly subject to damaging worldwide speculation. Anti-Americanism based on mistrust, misinformation, suspicion, and alarming rhetoric from U.S. leaders is fracturing the once solid alliance against global terrorism which existed after September 11. Here at home, people are warned of imminent terrorist attacks with little guidance as to when or where such attacks might occur. Family members are being called to active military duty, with no idea of the duration of their stay or what horrors they may face. Communities are being left with less than adequate police and fire protection. Other essential services are also short-staffed. The mood of the nation is grim. The economy is stumbling. Fuel prices are rising and may soon spike higher. This Administration, now in power for a little over two years, must be judged on its record. I believe that that record is dismal. In that scant two years, this Administration has squandered a large projected surplus of some $5.6 trillion over the next decade and taken us to projected deficits as far as the eye can see. This Administration's domestic policy has put many of our states in dire financial condition, under funding scores of essential programs for our people. This Administration has fostered policies which have slowed economic growth. This Administration has ignored urgent matters such as the crisis in health care for our elderly. This Administration has been slow to provide adequate funding for homeland security. This Administration has been reluctant to better protect our long and porous borders. In foreign policy, this Administration has failed to find Osama bin Laden. In fact, just yesterday we heard from him again marshaling his forces and urging them to kill. This Administration has split traditional alliances, possibly crippling, for all time, International order-keeping entities like the United Nations and NATO. This Administration has called into question the traditional worldwide perception of the United States as well-intentioned, peacekeeper. This Administration has turned the patient art of diplomacy into threats, labeling, and name calling of the sort that reflects quite poorly on the intelligence and sensitivity of our leaders, and which will have consequences for years to come. Calling heads of state pygmies, labeling whole countries as evil, denigrating powerful European allies as irrelevant -- these types of crude insensitivities can do our great nation no good. We may have massive military might, but we cannot fight a global war on terrorism alone. We need the cooperation and friendship of our time-honored allies as well as the newer found friends whom we can attract with our wealth. Our awesome military machine will do us little good if we suffer another devastating attack on our homeland which severely damages our economy. Our military manpower is already stretched thin and we will need the augmenting support of those nations who can supply troop strength, not just sign letters cheering us on. The war in Afghanistan has cost us $37 billion so far, yet there is evidence that terrorism may already be starting to regain its hold in that region. We have not found bin Laden, and unless we secure the peace in Afghanistan, the dark dens of terrorism may yet again flourish in that remote and devastated land. Pakistan as well is at risk of destabilizing forces. This Administration has not finished the first war against terrorism and yet it is eager to embark on another conflict with perils much greater than those in Afghanistan. Is our attention span that short? Have we not learned that after winning the war one must always secure the peace? And yet we hear little about the aftermath of war in Iraq. In the absence of plans, speculation abroad is rife. Will we seize Iraq's oil fields, becoming an occupying power which controls the price and supply of that nation's oil for the foreseeable future? To whom do we propose to hand the reigns of power after Saddam Hussein? Will our war inflame the Muslim world resulting in devastating attacks on Israel? Will Israel retaliate with its own nuclear arsenal? Will the Jordanian and Saudi Arabian governments be toppled by radicals, bolstered by Iran which has much closer ties to terrorism than Iraq? Could a disruption of the world's oil supply lead to a world-wide recession? Has our senselessly bellicose language and our callous disregard of the interests and opinions of other nations increased the global race to join the nuclear club and made proliferation an even more lucrative practice for nations which need the income? In only the space of two short years this reckless and arrogant Administration has initiated policies which may reap disastrous consequences for years. One can understand the anger and shock of any President after the savage attacks of September 11. One can appreciate the frustration of having only a shadow to chase and an amorphous, fleeting enemy on which it is nearly impossible to exact retribution. But to turn one's frustration and anger into the kind of extremely destabilizing and dangerous foreign policy debacle that the world is currently witnessing is inexcusable from any Administration charged with the awesome power and responsibility of guiding the destiny of the greatest superpower on the planet. Frankly many of the pronouncements made by this Administration are outrageous. There is no other word. Yet this chamber is hauntingly silent. On what is possibly the eve of horrific infliction of death and destruction on the population of the nation of Iraq -- a population, I might add, of which over 50% is under age 15 -- this chamber is silent. On what is possibly only days before we send thousands of our own citizens to face unimagined horrors of chemical and biological warfare -- this chamber is silent. On the eve of what could possibly be a vicious terrorist attack in retaliation for our attack on Iraq, it is business as usual in the United States Senate. We are truly "sleepwalking through history." In my heart of hearts I pray that this great nation and its good and trusting citizens are not in for a rudest of awakenings. To engage in war is always to pick a wild card. And war must always be a last resort, not a first choice. I truly must question the judgment of any President who can say that a massive unprovoked military attack on a nation which is over 50% children is "in the highest moral traditions of our country". This war is not necessary at this time. Pressure appears to be having a good result in Iraq. Our mistake was to put ourselves in a corner so quickly. Our challenge is to now find a graceful way out of a box of our own making. Perhaps there is still a way if we allow more time. Robert Byrd is the Democratic Senator from West Virginia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Nice guy that Robert Byrd. When Byrd was twenty four he joined the Ku Klux Klan in 1942. He was unanimously elected Exalted Cyclops of his local chapter. "I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds" "The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia... [and] in every state in the nation." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastaJoe Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Nice guy that Robert Byrd. When Byrd was twenty four he joined the Ku Klux Klan in 1942. He was unanimously elected Exalted Cyclops of his local chapter. "I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds" "The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia... [and] in every state in the nation." So in your view nobody can repent for their past mistakes and make amends by making positive contributions to society. Ever heard the story of the apostle Paul and the road to Damascus? Look it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 So in your view nobody can repent for their past mistakes and make amends by making positive contributions to society. Ever heard the story of the apostle Paul and the road to Damascus? Look it up. You've already shown us your membership card, Joe. Repent Joe, Repent!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endzone Animal Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Radical racist to radical leftist...not sure which is worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster4324 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Oh and you are so informed on the French political scene? By the way re: your sig, is that a fact of a fact? Moron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Booster4324Oh and you are so informed on the French political scene? By the way re: your sig, is that a fact of a fact? He wrote that, !@#$ing idiot, I didnt. Read much? Moron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster4324 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 He wrote that, !@#$ing idiot, I didnt. Read much? Moron. I caught that. However, you do realize English isn't his native language? The fact of the fact that you bothered to quote him seals the deal on how I think of you. God you are more of a stereotype than Wacka who at least genuinely believes in his statements. Moron Quoting typos is lame, sigging someone typing in another language= truly pathetic. Guess you need the victories where you can get them. Oh and changing the font size to boot. Overcompensate much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster4324 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 He wrote that, !@#$ing idiot, I didnt. Read much? Moron. PS you suck at replies as you mangled that one. Just reply and type at the bottom for you slow types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olivier in france Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 I caught that. However, you do realize English isn't his native language? The fact of the fact that you bothered to quote him seals the deal on how I think of you. God you are more of a stereotype than Wacka who at least genuinely believes in his statements. Moron Quoting typos is lame, quoting someone typing in another language= truly pathetic. Guess you need the victories where you can get them. "Booster" don't bother.... The guy takes everything literally... i've tried to explain what i meant (basically that Obama because of his background will have the ear -i don't mean he's a cannibal Eryn!!!- of groups - hispanics, blacks, recently naturalised americans....-that usually don't feel the politicians are living on the same planet than them -yes Eryn they actually do, that planet is called "the Earth"- ) but it's useless... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 "Booster" don't bother....The guy takes everything literally... i've tried to explain what i meant (basically that Obama because of his background will have the ear -i don't mean he's a cannibal Eryn!!!- of groups - hispanics, blacks, recently naturalised americans....-that usually don't feel the politicians are living on the same planet than them -yes Eryn they actually do, that planet is called "the Earth"- ) but it's useless... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 I caught that. However, you do realize English isn't his native language? . Tough shiit. I guess he should have you proof read his posts then. The whinny little French !@#$ can go !@#$ himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 "Booster" don't bother....The guy takes everything literally... i've tried to explain what i meant (basically that Obama because of his background will have the ear -i don't mean he's a cannibal Eryn!!!- of groups - hispanics, blacks, recently naturalised americans....-that usually don't feel the politicians are living on the same planet than them -yes Eryn they actually do, that planet is called "the Earth"- ) but it's useless... You need a new shovel. You've worn that one out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 PS you suck at replies as you mangled that one. Just reply and type at the bottom for you slow types. And yet you reply to one of my posts twice. You're pathetic sparky!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster4324 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 And yet you reply to one of my posts twice. You're pathetic sparky!! Meh, you manned up and took the quote out of your sig. I am done with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 Everyone gather round and sing Kumbaya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 Everyone gather round and sing Kumbaya! Koom-Obama Mylord Koom-Obama Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 Koom-Obama Mylord Koom-Obama Hey- this is a bi-partisan site. If you sing that, you have to sing Koom-McCain too! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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