roybatty

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Posts by roybatty

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  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  roybatty

  That's sooo like the Scots in the UK

  (if you ask them )

  LOL
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  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  roybatty

  Best I not post after reading roybattys posts as it would most definately cause offense.

  Why do people get so easily bent out of shape? I just gave my opinion, so what? I'm not claiming to be Kissenger. Give yours, what's the big deal? Seems like it never stops most on this forum with their anti-US rants.
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  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  roybatty

  I'm not sure why your reply is so ignorant and unduly emotional.

  I dunno. Guess you took it the wrong way.

  Find out more about living in the Russian or Indian democracies and you'll understand my point. The point about Russia embracing democracy is this: does the fact that people go to polls mean there's a democracy in a country in the Western sense of the word? What exactly does it take to have a democracy? If it's only about peolpe choosing their government in direct elections then is it always the best political system to impose? To turn your comment on its head: I just don't get why Americans get so excited about the alleged 72% Iraqis going to the polls. Let's see who gets elected and what it means for Iraq.

  So the people of Iraq shouldn't be given a chance because the Russians half-heartedly tried democracy? You think it's better to have a dictator in charge? What it means for Iraq is a first step. Russia has a retarded version of democracy. When someone like Putin can still imprison his political opponents, it's not a democracy. It's still a form of dictatorship.

  Sorry, but I find your ignorance personally offending. You certainly know nothing about the role of many European countries other than France or Germany. Poland has been present in the Iraqi campaign from day one (first special troops then a constant force of 2000+ troops dozens of whom have been killed). Spain has paid the price for their participation. Of course Britain is not a European state for you either. I guess the Hollywood industry will help to instill the kind of histroical truths about America's and "Europe's" roles in Iraq which you seem to hold already. Kind of helps me understand how come so many Americans believe they won the WW2 single-handedly.

  Personally, I don't care. I'm free to state my opinion. I find your "you certainly know nothing..." offensive. I do my homework. I don't? Sorry, I forgot to mention the Polish troops in Iraq. Yes, all 2,000 of them. And Britians troops, yes, great, bravo. I believe Holland threw in a few non-combat troops. Yes, Spain did a wonderful job caving in. Probably gave the terrorists leaders plenty of ammo to pump up their troops. Here in the U.S. grade school children are taught who helped us during the American Revolution. The help France gave us via their navy is known to all school children. The French Royal Navy was the only navy that faught with Ameican forces. We also learned about General Pulaski. But without the French navy, I doubt the American Revolution would have been won in the same way. Iraqi history will show that yes, a few countries sent token troops but that the Americans sent by far the most. Americans in greater numbers supported indepence of Iraq while most Europeans didn't. But I'm sure most in Europe will justify it in their mind. Regarding WWII, America won the Pacific war zone single-handly. In Europe, Germany would probably have fallen even without American help but it happened a lot sooner with our help.

  I give them a lot of credit and I wish them the best. The "democracy" of my country rarely has such a turnout. I'm just not sure if the great benefits of living under democracy which they owe us will outweigh their losses.

  As do I. I believe that too many in the former Warsaw pact thought that democracy would paved all the roads with gold. I don't knw if things are better there or not. I guess only the people living in those countries can comment on that. Here in the U.S. it's not only been a matter of democracy but also the fact that we have such a wide and plentyful land. We can feed our own people and have vast natural resources. What I find most disappointing is all the protests throughout Europe (and even here in the States) against the U.S. but I haven't seen one protest against the "insurgents" who are killing innocent Iraqis. Again - IMO - most war protesters were just anti-Bush and could give a shit for the people of Iraq.
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  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  roybatty

  Hopefully this will help stiffen Europe's spine.

  I don't understand why Europeans have so little faith in the people of Iraq. I just don't get it. Are Europeans just anti-Muslim? 72% turn out to vote, despite the threat of death looming over their head and the first comment in this thread are "but have the Russians embraced democracy."

  History will show that the Europeans did nothing to help the people of Iraq during their time of need. By holding a grudge and not sending in any peace keeping troops, the "insurgents" (aka terrorists) killed hundred if not thousands of innocent people. History will also show that Saddam could have been out of power faster if the Europeans hadn't, by means of the UN oil for food scam, given Saddam additional billions of dollars which allowed him more time.

  When I see Iraqi men volunteering to be police officers, knowing that they will not only be risking their lives but the lives of their family, I admire them. When I see Iraqis standing in line to vote, wondering if a bomb will go off, I am in awe. I'm not ready to call it a succses but shit, give the Iraqis a little credit (and hope).
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  7

  Just a thought for Iraq's elections tomorrow

  by DevonMcBride in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you remember before the war with iraq -- the idiots who went over there as "human shields?

  "

  where are they now when they could do some good -- "human shields" at the "polling" places in iraq!

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  roybatty

  Do you remember before the war with Iraq -- the idiots who tried to tell us they were a threat with WoMDs?

  CIA, Clinton, Bush, Kerry, Russian Intel, British Intel, US congress, Saddam, did I miss anyone?

  Looks like 72% of Iraqis are turning out to vote. I have nothing but admiration for these people who are risking their lives in order to vote. Why do Europeans feel that Iraq will be a failure? C'mon, give the people of Iraq a little faith to do the right thing. We did back in 1776. Took us nine years but we got it done.
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  20

  Awake = college education?

  by seattleniceguy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we've all heard the jw claim that a lifetime spent reading the awake!

  magazine is equivalent to a college education.

  is this really true?

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  roybatty

  As a young JW, I bucked the system and went to college. This was back in the late 80's and I was so sick of hear every broom-carrying, newspaper placing, window washer JW telling me that reading the Awake is just as educational as going to college. This coming from people who hadn't even stepped onto a college campus. Geez.

  Next time a JW goes to a job interview and the interviewer asks if they have a college degree, let them pull out a couple of Awakes! and explain to them why this magazine is just as good as a college degree.
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  100

  Bush failure or stable Iraq?

  by Spartacus in

  1. social
  2. current

  would you rather see bush fail or a stable society for the iraqi people?

  do anyone hate bush or america so much that you would rather see military failure which will mean more death and carnage for the iraqi people and the us/allied military?

  or would you like to see a bush/allied military success, giving the iraqi people a chance to govern themselves toward a stable democratic society?

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  roybatty

  Actually I had no point, it was a joke

  Sorry, I thought the joke had a point.

  As to your comments above, well childishly superficial marketing and embarrasing PR is what US politics is about - 99% presentation, 1% content, whatever the political inclination.

  I guess. I dunno. Depends on where you find your information. If you listen to Rush Limbuagh all day, you'll hear one side (and one side only), If you listen to NPR or Air America, you'll hear the other side.

  Personally, I like reading the paper.

  Anyway, my point was that IMO the democrats are scrabbling to "be like George."
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  100

  Bush failure or stable Iraq?

  by Spartacus in

  1. social
  2. current

  would you rather see bush fail or a stable society for the iraqi people?

  do anyone hate bush or america so much that you would rather see military failure which will mean more death and carnage for the iraqi people and the us/allied military?

  or would you like to see a bush/allied military success, giving the iraqi people a chance to govern themselves toward a stable democratic society?

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  roybatty

  I know a schizophrenic sailor who lives around the corner in a dumpster who is just like that! Do you suppose they might be related.

  You're missing the point. If Bush is this "monster" why is the OTHER Hillary trying to be like him? Why is it whenever I see her on the news she's making some comment about "God this" of "God that". She's even going out of her way to tone down her abortion stance. Why????? Are the leading democrats so desperate to get into the White House that they'll become the monster they hate in order to beat him??
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  14

  When do you think NHL hockey will resume?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  although i didn't watch hockey that much, it's really weird not having hockey on tv this time of year.. how and when do you think this lock out in hockey will end?.

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  roybatty

  Why should I feel sorry for a guy that in one year is making 100 times as much as I am?

  It's called the law of "supply and demand." If you could nail a 100 MPH slapshot or skate like greased lighting and handle a puck like it was glued to your stick, you'd be paid millions.

  Personally, I lost interest in the NHL 10 years ago when our local team, the Blackhawks, couldn't even make the playoffs and while teams like the "Mighty Ducks" (named after a freaking Disney movie) made it. I mean, hockey teams in Florida???? The North Stars moving to Dallas??? WTF??? Who cares about "pro" hook. IMO major leage baseball is next. People are sick of seeing the same teams dominate every year. They need to take lesson from the NFL and it's revenue sharing. Thats why a team from a small market, like the dam Packers, can compete every year, even against teams from big markets like N.Y.
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  100

  Bush failure or stable Iraq?

  by Spartacus in

  1. social
  2. current

  would you rather see bush fail or a stable society for the iraqi people?

  do anyone hate bush or america so much that you would rather see military failure which will mean more death and carnage for the iraqi people and the us/allied military?

  or would you like to see a bush/allied military success, giving the iraqi people a chance to govern themselves toward a stable democratic society?

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  roybatty

  Over 2 million more "religious fundies" out there voting for whom? Not Bush. It makes it pretty clear that the anti-gay marriage stance transcends party lines and is not just a religious, conservative issue.

  Bush, love 'em or hate 'em you cannot deny he is his own man. He's not afraid to state what he believes in. He knows he's going to get flak for his strong religious belief yet he doesn't hold back from mentioning them. It cracks me up seeing many Democrats (i.e. Hillary) toning down their "liberal" speech and injecting "God talk" whenever they get a chance. Just like they were all on the "let's take care of Iraq" bandwagon a couple of years ago but when it wasn't going to be a nice, quick, victory they suddenly went "oh, we didn't vote for that...blah blah blah."