In Response to "Supreme Court Set New Execution Dates"

Let me start off by saying what a killer topic you picked. Your commentary was well-written and everything was clear but I do not agree with what you are saying. You seem to be losing grasp of the fact that the death penalty is "painful". Now I'm not saying they don't deserve to die because they do. Taking another person's life for the wrong reason's is cruel and unjust. But to say that there is no proof that the death penalty is cruel and unjust, well then you are certainly mistaken. I'm sure if you were strapped down to the table you would see things differently.

Is it bad that "only" three dozen states use these particular drugs to kill death row inmates? Yes, in the way that you make it seem like that's not enough. I'm sure many others share this same view too. I know your stating the facts but 36 states is plently, trust me. We "Texans" lead the United States alone in number of executions a year by more than a landslide. It's nice to know were #1 in something. But it's not an honor in this category. Is it hard to prove if the lethal injection procedure is cruel and unjust? No. Your telling me that if someone couldn't move and speak, yet they were alive, that they wouldn't feel any discomfort. Just because the inmate cannot speak or move, they are still alive. Have you ever been to the dentist before for a cavity? I have. Guilty as charged. They put me under and I cannot speak or move. Now let's bring as you call it drug number three into place. Thank god the shot in the mouth is not drug number three. You wanna talk about cruel and unjust, just taking it in the gums is enough for me. But what if that were drug number three. They would administer it and my mind and body would be going through h*ll. It's like me putting a sack over my head and trying to breath. That's what my heart would be going through. It's a scary thought. That's why the justice feels it's wrong and cruel. Because it is. But if you tell me that they deserve to die, well then we might just agree on something.

link to post:

http://earrizola.blogspot.com/2008/04/supreme-court-set-new-execution-dates.html

President Bush Endorses Senator John McCain

After securing the Republican presidential nomination, Sen. John McCain won the approval of President Bush. President Bush commended his republican counterpart as a man "who will bring determination to defeat an enemy and a heart big enough to love those who hurt." Man, I'd love for President Bush to write a paper on bullsh*t for me. McCain said, "I hope that he'll campaign for me as much as is in keeping with his busy schedule." Bush praised McCain for prevailing against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Bush said, "John showed incredible courage and strength of character and perseverance in order to get to this moment. And that's exactly what we need in a president: somebody who can handle the tough decisions, somebody who won't flinch in the face of danger." Sounds like a load of crap to me. Bush joked about his low approval ratings-only 32 percent of Americans approve of his job performance-which raise's the question of whether his support helps or hurts McCain.

Does President Bush's support help or hurt McCain? I think it definitely hurt's McCain's chances of getting elected. He is already the underdog in the race for the White House and to pick a president with the nation's lowest approval rating ever is a bad idea. As the Democratic National Committee said it, "John McCain offers a third term of George W. Bush." And that is exactly what it is going to be if he wins the election and the nation doesn't want that. McCain must be careful about how he uses Bush's support. Should McCain use Bush for fundraising? Absolutely! It would be a huge mistake not too. President Bush is great at getting money. Although people do not agree with McCain's views, he could get President Bush to get him a bunch of air time for McCain's television ads. Presidential Scholar Allan Lichtman said, "He's still the president and he still can raise money." President Bush acknowledged that he wanted John McCain to win. Should the nation be alarmed that he is pulling for John McCain? Yes. President Bush might be the worst president in our nation's history but he is still a very powerful man and knows how to pull strings. And that, well, is a scary thought.

link to article:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/news/ELEX_GOP06_AUS.html

In Response to "When Will Our Troops Come Home?"

I agree with what you are saying sophie. Our troops have been re-deployed time after time again and yet they still don't know when they'll be coming home for good. It sucks and it's pretty sad. Especially for the family's of the soldier's. I also agree with you on the death toll. Too many soldiers have lost their lives and for what? A war that will be compared to the Vietnam War in the end. No. It's time to bring our boys home and stop trying to fix everybody else's problems. Not trying to sound negative but we need to start worrying about fixing our problem's and not the rest of the world's problems or we are going to start digging ourselves our own grave.

I agree with you again. There are still so many questions surrounding the war in Irag and most of them still have many ? marks next to them. Not to mention, President Bush wants nothing to do with those questions. Next Question. Next Question. At this rate, our country is headed for another depression. Furthermore, I agree with you on all of our nation's unsolved problems and the issue that its time to bring our troops home. But I think the biggest question you and I are probably thinking right now is, What is President Bush going to do next to fix our country and pull it out of the blank-hole it's in right now? That's a scary thought. Hope Obama gets here before it's all too late.

Link to Sophia's Blog Page:
http://modernuspolitic.blogspot.com/

Austin Student Joins D.C. War Protest

Nora Hansel, an 18-year-old college student from Austin, is kicking off her spring break by joining an anti-war protest in Washington D.C. that seeks to disrupt the nation's capital on the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Sounds like fun to me. Hansel, who has been in the district for about a week in the anti-war movement, said she thinks that too many college students are overlooking the war in Irag. Hansel said she even compares this war to the war in Vietnam. Since there was no draft like there was back in Vietnam, people are not worried about the war in Irag. Hansel said, "It allows students to be disconnected and under the illusion that the war is not affecting them — when in reality it is affecting all of us." Organizers said they are targeting the Democratic majority of Congress as well as the Republican administration. Hansel said, "More college students should get involved. It is so easy for many of us to go about our day-to-day life without even thinking there is a war going on," she said.

Should more college students get involved with the war? Yes and no. Yes in the way that the youth, also known as America's future, have such a big voice and impact on this conflict that they should take advantage of this situation and let America hear them. I'm not saying for them to go out and enlist in the war. I'm simply telling them to pick up a newspaper and get informed. Then maybe that will enlighten them to get up and do something about it. No in the way that whatever you do don't enlist. To put it bluntly, you'll be selling your soul away to the devil. Do I think Nora Hansel's act will help America's youth get invloved with the war? Sadly, no I don't. It will definetly gain the attention of many students and critics. But I think too many college students are concerned about what's going on with their lives and not other people's lives. They don't want to leave there safety net and are happy with whats going on inside their world. And the "War in Iraq", well frankly, doesn't exist in theirs. I mean I can't be a hypocrite either. I am definetly one of those college students as well. But at least I pick up a paper every morning and stay informed about what's going on in Irag. That's a lot more than most people do.

link to article:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/news/WARPROTEST_AUSTIN19_AUS.html

Soldiers Search for Meaning in Iraq

This week marks five years since the beginning of the war in Iraq, making it one of the longest foreign military engagements in U.S. history. The soldier's who won the first war five years ago thought the defeat of Saddam Hussein would surely end the war. Five years later some of them are still in Iraq fighting a war they had thought they had won already. Sergeant Brett Waterhouse said, "It was like the war was over." Waterhouse said it was the "calm" after the invasion that sticked in his mind, and the rapport with friendly Iraqis. "It was just like going to see family, except we had tanks," Waterhouse recalled of his visits to Baghdad homes days after American forces secured the Iraqi capital in early April 2003. Although, he didn't think they would be back in Baghdad, again.

Sergeant Brett Waterhouse is only one of the many thousands who feel this way. Are soldiers fighting a war in Iraq they already won? Yes. Their goal going into Baghdad was too take down Saddam Hussein and they did. In doing that, they accomplished their mission and but it didn't restore order. The U.S. got themselves into a war they could never win just like Vietnam. They have all the fire power to win the war but their goal is to make their home what we have, a democracy. So killing everyone would not accomplish anything. Do I think the soldiers should be pulled out of Iraq? I want to say yes but I can't. If we pull out some other tyrant will come to power and try to destroy everything we tried so hard to restore, freedom.

Link to Article: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/news/IRAQ_5YEARS16_AUS.html

Officer in Clinton Motorcade Dies

As the race for the democratic seat intensifies, there appeared to be a bad omen or a sign that New York Sen. Hillary Clinton might just fall short of her goal. On Friday morning in Dallas, Texas, 49-year-old Senior Cpl. Victor Lozada-Tirado was thrown from his motorcycle when it clipped a curb on a viaduct. This happened in Clinton's motorcade on a way to a nearby rally. The accident was not far from where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Is this a sign of bad luck? Maybe. Unlike President Kennedy's Death, this one was accidental and unplanned. Kind of like the pregnancy of Britney Spears 16 year old younger sister. Ba-dong-Ch!

As a result, Clinton canceled her appearance in nearby Fort Worth, addressing nearly 2,000 people gathered outside the Tarrant County courthouse of the unfortunate event. "It is important that we respect and appreciate their service," Clinton said at her rally. "I certainly am grateful for all they do for me." She said that it would be inappropriate to campaign in the wake of this tragedy. Was this is a good move? Yes. It showed the nation that she had a heart and was trying to respect the people who serve our country. So instead she paid her respects to Lozada-Tirado's family at the hospital. In the wake of this tragedy, does it help her candidacy for the democratic presidential seat? Yes. Unlike current President Bush (Hurricane Katrina and 9/11), she proved that in the wake of chaos that she can step up to the plate on a topic that's caught national news media attention and handle the situation appropriately in a respective manner. Although Obama has been winning the states and most of the popular vote, this showed the voters a different side of Clinton that may turn some heads and some votes.

Link: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/02/23/0223clintonofficer.html

America's Youth Rally for Obama

Obama has become the favorite vote on the ticket from the younger generation. When voting started at the beginning of January, Obama had become the lead horse of the Democratic race, garnering more young voters than any other recent presidential candidate ever. At Spelman College, a primarily black institution of higher learning for women in Atlanta, campaign signs for Hillary Clinton and Obama fliers covered the school. Although, student after student said they would vote for Obama over Hillary. I think this important because it shows that the younger generation is finally taking part in voting and the election process. Obama's slogan is "It's time for change" and cleary America's youth is recognizing that. Recently, Americans ranging from the ages of 17 to 29 were asked in a New York Times poll whether they were excited about any of the candidates running for president. Obama and Clinton were neck and neck with each other. 18 percent for Obama and 17 percent for Hillary. As a result of all of this, America's youth is becoming more involved and aware of all the important national issues and events that affect our daily lives.

Link: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/02/06/0206youthvote.html