Politics & Government - 31 August 2007

It looks like everyone has already made their decisions even before the report comes out.

From today's NY Times:

"The official line from the White House is that Mr. Bush will decide about the future of the troop buildup after hearing from General Petraeus and Mr. Crocker. But people familiar with the thinking of the administration say Mr. Bush is all but certain to press for the strategy that relies on heightened troop levels in Iraq to continue through spring, as initially planned."

And also:

'Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader [said] “We’ve got a series of hearings and reports due that will provide a much-needed dose of reality to the spin coming out of the White House. Republicans may be breathing a sigh of relief, but the fact is, they’re headed with the president over a cliff.”'

If everyone already knows what their answer is going to be, why are we waiting for the report?

2007-08-31 07:08:31 · 6 answers · asked by Chredon 5 in Politics

India and Pakistan are getting more and more friendly as years go by... both countries have a growing middle class....India has a population of 350 million, highly educated middle class( and still growing) and is the second fastest growing economy and rocks when it comes to information technology and information systems..India also has a growing manufacturing industry and one of the largest armies in the world. If India and Pakistan (hypothetically speaking) were to combine strengths, wouldn't that be a threat to many other economies of the world?

2007-08-31 07:07:48 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Politics & Government

To me, having the mormon president would be the "worst case".

2007-08-31 07:07:43 · 17 answers · asked by not_omniscient_enough 1 in Politics

I currently have a 30 year fix rate mortage which I have been paying responsibly. Can I refinance to get one of those high-risk subprime loans so the government can help me pay for my house?

2007-08-31 07:04:48 · 7 answers · asked by Mutt 7 in Politics

or has he given up because he knows America is no longer fooled?

I know this, bin Laden is a hoax...Bush did it all. He is not the moron you suppose, he is an evil genius.

2007-08-31 07:04:45 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

2007-08-31 07:03:04 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Government

Are you getting tired of all the Mexican Americans on Yahoo Answers who everyday show their total disrespect for our laws and our country?

2007-08-31 07:02:32 · 14 answers · asked by josehernandez243 1 in Immigration

2007-08-31 07:02:27 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

The government is presently blaming Iran for its worries in Iraq and Afghanistan. The drumbeat is getting louder. After two pre-emptive attacks on sovereign countries with flimsy casus belli, we can;t doubt the administration is willing to attack a civilian center in Iran. How will you stop your government and what are you willing to do if the attack does occur? Would you join public protests, a general strike, would you boycott shopping and air travel? What would you be willing to do to protests our own Cambodia (look into the protests that followed War with Cambodia)?

2007-08-31 07:00:43 · 19 answers · asked by Washington Irving 3 in Politics

2007-08-31 06:58:38 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Military

I was wondering what are some slight or major differences in policies of Hillary and Obama.

2007-08-31 06:58:04 · 10 answers · asked by whome 2 in Other - Politics & Government

August 31, 2007 - Immigrant rights groups are holding a 24-hour prayer vigil to protest the arrests of 58 Mexican nationals.
A crowd gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office Thursday night in Waukegan. Some at the vigil are questioning why people who have already been through the legal system were targeted.

ICE agents arrested 58 Mexican nationals with alleged ties to violent street gangs in the northern and northwest suburbs this week in the largest local dragnet targeting foreign-born street gang members.

According to a release from ICE, these are the latest arrests under an ongoing national initiative called "Operation Community Shield," in which ICE partners with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to address the threat of transnational street gangs.

The multi-agency operation targeted foreign national gang members and gang associates in the northern and northwest suburbs, including Waukegan, Mundelein and Round Lake, the release said. All of those arrested this week are Mexican men targeted for their affiliations with violent street gangs such as the Latin Kings, Sureño-13s and Latin Lovers, among others.

Of the 58 arrested, 37 are illegal aliens and 21 are U.S. permanent residents whose previous criminal convictions render them eligible for deportation. ICE agents in Chicago have made more than 275 arrests since the Operation Community Shield was established in February 2005.

The U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, Lake County Sheriff's Department, and the Waukegan and Mundelein Police Departments assisted ICE in the enforcement effort, which began Sunday night and concluded Wednesday.

Among those arrested was Edgar Rodriguez-Tovar, a 23-year-old Sureño-13 member, apprehended Aug. 26 in Round Lake, the release said. He is an illegal alien from Mexico with prior convictions for aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated battery, the release said. He remains in ICE custody pending deportation to Mexico.

Also arrested was Mario Vargas-Hernandez at his Waukegan residence, the release said. The 34-year-old is a member of the Latin Kings with gang tattoos confirming his membership. He is illegal alien with a burglary conviction and numerous arrests for unlawfully using a weapon, possessing a firearm, battery and aggravated assault, the release said. He remains in ICE custody pending removal to Mexico.

Some of the crimes associated with the gang members arrested during this local operation include aggravated battery, possessing a controlled substance, armed violence, possessing a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, drunken driving, mob action and burglary.

Six of those arrested had active warrants for their arrest and will be turned over to local authorities to face criminal charges before being transferred back to ICE for deportation. Three are being presented to the U.S. Attorney's Office for federal prosecution for re-entering the United States after having been deported, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5622570

2007-08-31 06:52:40 · 17 answers · asked by Untied States Of Latina 2 in Immigration

She seems like the best choice to me. I say that because to win the Republicans need to break up the women and black vote and she can do both. Is she a shoe in?

2007-08-31 06:50:16 · 19 answers · asked by netjr 6 in Politics

Children not getting to do what they are qualified for. Told to limit questions to three in a given class. Being punished for other peoples mistakes.

2007-08-31 06:48:16 · 8 answers · asked by nanaciss42 1 in Law & Ethics

2007-08-31 06:47:10 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

Hillary Clinton is running for president, as a voter I look for characteristics that will make her a strong commander in chief. Her husband openly cheated on her several times. This to me means that she is too weak and dependant to kick him to the curb (Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky? Come on, get a backbone) Not only that, she wasn't AWARE!!, she is obviously oblivious to what is going on in reality, she is not keen, not observant and not a fighter, she is the worse role model I would want for my daughter.
How dare she act like one, and say its ok to forgive your husband 1, 2, 3 times. So I want to know why in gods name people think this is who we have running our country? Will she forgive Osama too?

2007-08-31 06:46:00 · 17 answers · asked by ? 2 in Politics

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57412

Don't be lazy. You must read this article.

2007-08-31 06:43:06 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

Under some new bill?

2007-08-31 06:42:40 · 6 answers · asked by Chi Guy 5 in Politics

On this we seem to agree, right? Every time righties denounce regular welfare, lefties say "oh but what about corporate welfare" - - - so, lefties can you please chime in first that I'm correct to assume you do oppose corporate welfare (rather than simply use it to justify individual welfare), and then, everyone - HOW CAN WE STOP IT?

Corporate welfare is even worse - it interferes with the consumers' governance of the market, with their ultimate direction of the allocation of resources (i.e., when you buy Chinese-made items at Wal-Mart, and I'm not saying you should or shouldn't since it's your money, but you're the ones who cause the job-losses at the US-based plant that produces the same items at higher cost).

And the "well it creates jobs" argument doesn't hold water - it doesn't create jobs - government doesn't create wealth. It's my broken window analogy - well, that's not mine, it's every economics professor's since Smith's....

2007-08-31 06:42:37 · 4 answers · asked by truthisback 3 in Politics

It was reported in Forbes.

2007-08-31 06:39:26 · 32 answers · asked by adam w 3 in Politics

The idea of Ram Rajya, Kisan Andolan, Work for all, Sabko Rati kapra aur makan ,
This is Pure economy Idiot, No reservation in school or college, Reservation to all citizens , Right of equality for all in jobs etc etc.

2007-08-31 06:39:10 · 12 answers · asked by CA,S K somani 3 in Civic Participation

2007-08-31 06:38:59 · 8 answers · asked by MiLk*MAN 2 in Military

It seems like they're all a bunch of closeted folks up on Capitol Hill.

2007-08-31 06:37:44 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

Even though I'm not in a crisis?

2007-08-31 06:37:25 · 13 answers · asked by Chi Guy 5 in Politics

Pearl Harbor is a drink one can get in a Chinese restaraunt.
Stores have Memorial and Veterans Day sales.
Will we ever disrespect 9/11 like we have these other days?
Or I am I overreacting??

2007-08-31 06:36:18 · 12 answers · asked by Supercell 5 in Politics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whhbPVrb5KM

2007-08-31 06:34:05 · 25 answers · asked by done 3 in Other - Politics & Government

2007-08-31 06:30:09 · 11 answers · asked by Chi Guy 5 in Politics

Bush outlines aid for mortgage holders
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070831/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_housing_slump

2007-08-31 06:27:15 · 18 answers · asked by Chi Guy 5 in Politics

2007-08-31 06:26:48 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

While I'm going to turn 21 next year and aware about the drinking issue that is happening in adults and underage kids with fake IDs, I'm not afraid to talk about this main issue here. Here in the United States that the legal drinking age is 21, but elsewhere in the world, it's set to a lower age. Countries such as Canada, Mexico, England, and Australia set the drinking age to 18, and most of Europe sets it to 16. But in some Muslim countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, Islamic law forbids the sale of alcohol, but the big issue I'm talking here is why many countries have a lower drinking age than America's.

Here are the questions that I'm giving you. Why is it that the legal drinking age is lower in many countries throughout the world? Is it because of cultural and/or religious differences? Is it because of safety and everything related to it? And how do the drinking age laws work from country to country?

2007-08-31 06:26:44 · 4 answers · asked by Erik G 4 in Law & Ethics