Sadly, Michale, my knowledge of witches is lacking :). Though my favorite TV witch is Witch Hazel from the Bugs Bunny cartoons.

Here ya go.... :D

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2020423_2020422,00.html?iid=moreontime

Unfortunately Hazel didna make the cut... :D

Michale.....

You believe that these people are terrorists and they should be thrown in the chipper. I am not so sure these people are terrorists because I have not seen any evidence because everything, so far as I know, everything has been classified and conducted behind closed doors.

With regards to these nine accusations that you are putting us on trial for; to us, they are not
accusations. To us they are badges of honor, which we carry with pride. Many thanks to God, for his
kind gesture, and choosing us to perform the act of Jihad for his cause and to defend Islam and Muslims.
Therefore, killing you and fighting you, destroying you and terrorizing you, responding back to your
attacks, are all considered to be great legitimate duty in our religion. These actions are our offerings to God. In addition, it is the imposed reality on Muslims in Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq, in the land of the two holy sites [Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia], and in the rest ofthe world, where Muslims are suffering from your brutality, terrorism, killing ofthe innocent, and occupying their lands and their holy sites. Nevertheless, it would have been the greatest religious duty to fight you over your
infidelity. However, today, we fight you over defending Muslims, their land, their holy sites,and their religion as a whole.

http://www.defense.gov/news/order%20regarding%20pro%20se%20filing%20to%20islamic%20resp%20to%20gov%209%20accusations.pdf

Regardless, I'm pretty sure you're not Hitler though I can't see your mustache. And I know I don't support terrorist rights. And I'm pretty sure Kevin is not a terrorist either (though he is Canadian which is suspicious :)

hehehehehehe

So, let me ask you this..

Do you favor a trial for Bin Laden??

Or the wood chipper?? :D

Michale.....

So back to this other stuff which I agree isn't nearly as much fun.

We could go back and forth on this (and in fact have) but I don't see the point as we already know where we each stand.

You believe that these people are terrorists and they should be thrown in the chipper. I am not so sure these people are terrorists because I have not seen any evidence because everything, so far as I know, everything has been classified and conducted behind closed doors.

Now I will admit that my knowledge of this case is probably not the latest. But everything I've seen looks like there's a lot of problems w/ Guantanamo and not a whole lot of proof.

You will disagree and say the evidence is overwhelming. And we will have to agree to disagree. So we know how this turns out.

Regardless, I'm pretty sure you're not Hitler though I can't see your mustache. And I know I don't support terrorist rights. And I'm pretty sure Kevin is not a terrorist either (though he is Canadian which is suspicious :)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs335.ash2/61562_474751936116_580406116_7103398_6548346_n.jpg

Cheers
David

David,

No. It's not. No one supports "terrorist rights", Michale.

Actually, this is not accurate.

Anyone who wants to try the Gitmo Five in civilian courts supports "terrorist rights"...

We just disagree on how best to combat terrorism and over the burden of proof.

There is no "burden of proof" with the Gitmo Five. They have confessed and the evidence against them is overwhelming.

So we should take them out and shoot them, right?? Or try Kevin's idea and find the nearest wood chipper... :D

Agreed??

Michale.....

No. It's not. No one supports "terrorist rights", Michale.

We just disagree on how best to combat terrorism and over the burden of proof.

But someone has cleverly marketed this as "terrorist rights" so as to get you all worked up.

Same thing they're doing w/ Christine O'Donnell. Trying to paint her as a radical "witch". Ridiculosity!

Hitler is Hitler. Stalin is Stalin. The terrorists are the people who flew the planes into the WTC. Unless you can fly on a broomstick, you're not a witch! Stop the madness!!! :)

-David

Again, we are not talking about the wrongfully accused. We are not talking about the "innocents" who are caught up in my "paranoia"..

We are talking about confessed and proven terrorists..

Whether you believe it or not, there are many on the Left who defend those proven and confessed terrorists..

They are the ones who want to give them a "fair" trial and give them rights and all the compassion and consideration of our legal system.

And THOSE people on the Left are the ones I have a problem with..

And, if you take a sampling outside of CW.COM, you will find that THOSE people are the majority of the Left..

You see!? We DO think alike!! We both have the same opinion on what to do with terrorists.. :D

What's yer take on witches??? :D

"She turned me into a newt!!"
"A newt!!???"
"Walll.... I got betta...."

:D

Michale.....

Whoops. Meant abominations; I was just sputtering with disbelief at your "many on the Left sympathize" schtick. Were you beaten up by hippie children in grade school? Your hatred of any progressive opinion destroys every one of your arguments for me. I don't hate right-wingers, just shake my head at most of their naivete and ignorance. You, on the other hand, seem to have serious issues with anything "left". Anyhow, BS, BS, BS!!!!....:D

I DO have a serious issue with those on the Left who fight for terrorist's rights...

It's because I have first hand seen the handiwork of terrorists and know deep in my soul (if I have one :D) that they deserve no rights.. No consideration or compassion...

Just so we're clear.. My beef is with anyone who believes that terrorists are deserving of rights, consideration, compassion or anything allowed to a civilized person...

If ya'all don't fit into that category, then the beers are on me!! :D

Michale.....

Really Michale? I'm sorry, but I'm calling BS on that statement. This may surprise you, but my idea of cosmic justice for these obominations of "humans"
is far worse and extreme than anything you've ever suggested. Short version..I would happily run them through wood chippers a millimeter at a time for eternity; so they could watch and feel their bodies pulped into jelly and perhaps learn to appreciate just what they inflict on the innocents they so blithely maim in the name of whatever CrapKing they believe in.

As I have stated on many occasions, the people here are NOT representative of the "Left" in general.

The Left in general wants to give these terrorists rights and compassion and consideration..

Why do you think it is that known and proven terrorists are languishing around in Gitmo at the taxpayer's expense??

Because the Left won't countenance to torturing their asses to wring every bit of useful intel out of them and then taking them out and feeding them to the gators...

No, the Left wants to give them a trial and give them sanctuary and considerations and rights and all the other amenities of a CIVILIZED society..

Terrorists, by definition, are not civilized.. They are animals. They should be treated as such...

It's really that simple..

David,

See above..

If the Left (present company excepted of course) doesn't want to be called terrorist sympathizers, the easy way to prevent it is to quit sympathizing with terrorists and supporting terrorist's "rights".

Once again, I am not pointing the finger at anyone here...

But the link between the Left and terrorist "rights" is undeniable..

I am not sure how we got to "terrorists" from "witches".. I would much rather talk about witches.. :D

I knew this really hot redhead in Chula Vista who.....

Er.... Well, that's a story for another time... :D

Michale.....

Michale.....

You realize of course that as you agree you continue to associate "the left" w/ terrorists.

Have you ever thought that this might be offensive to the folks here? I find it tremendously offensive.

After all, I don't imply all conservatives are thugs or terrorists just because I disagree w/ them.

It's easy to go off on folks, but at the end of the day the only person you can change is yourself :)

Cheers mate,
-David

Really Michale? I'm sorry, but I'm calling BS on that statement. This may surprise you, but my idea of cosmic justice for these obominations of "humans"
is far worse and extreme than anything you've ever suggested. Short version..I would happily run them through wood chippers a millimeter at a time for eternity; so they could watch and feel their bodies pulped into jelly and perhaps learn to appreciate just what they inflict on the innocents they so blithely maim in the name of whatever CrapKing they believe in.

And I don't see others on this site raging about how O'Donnell is a witch. Seems pretty subdued. And we're pretty liberal.

By and large, the folks here are CW are the exception to a LOT of rules that govern Lefties these days... :D

What it really looks like is a HuffPo post that's been picked up by the media to try and create controversy. I would ask, why not interview Ms. O'Donnell about her political views?

I agree.. Why doesn't HuffPo or other Lefty outlets do that??

Because they might find out that, hay, this lady makes a lot of sense...

See the latest Rasmussen poll??

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Likely U.S. Voters say their own views are closer to
Sarah Palin's than they are to President Obama's

Food for thought, eh??

Thugs and terrorists? Really? Come back to reality, Michale. We're really a pretty decent lot even though we disagree w/ you. None of us kill civilians mug little old ladies.

Yet it's undeniable that many on the Left sympathize more with terrorists and scumbags and less with the fellow Americans who want to throw them in a dark hole and throw away the key.

It sure would be nice if the Left in general would maybe show as much sympathy for the VICTIMS of terrorism that they show for the terrorists themselves...

Again, no one around here fits that description.. But there are plenty on the Left who do...

"The only time it's appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler. Or Charlie Chaplin in certain roles." - John Stewart

Couldn't agree more...

Michale.....

And I think it's idiotic. And I've said so.

And I don't see others on this site raging about how O'Donnell is a witch. Seems pretty subdued. And we're pretty liberal.

What it really looks like is a HuffPo post that's been picked up by the media to try and create controversy. I would ask, why not interview Ms. O'Donnell about her political views?

In fact, most of the outrageous broad generalizations here seem to be coming from ... ahem ... nevermind.

Thugs and terrorists? Really? Come back to reality, Michale. We're really a pretty decent lot even though we disagree w/ you. None of us kill civilians mug little old ladies.

Cheers
David

"The only time it's appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler. Or Charlie Chaplin in certain roles." - John Stewart

Welcome to the corporate news media where we simply reprint the craziest stuff we can find to increase readership.

It's not just that. If it were just corporate/media spin on events, that would be easy to ignore.

I am talking about everyday Americans who, while professing to be liberals, act just as nasty and hateful and hurtful as they accuse Republicans of being.

In my military/federal years, I was very VERY conservative. I would laugh and sneer at liberals and their "koom-bye-ya", "love in" mentality. But, deep down inside (WAY deep down) I respected that they could stand by their principles and their beliefs in the face of tremendous pressure..

Liberals these days have none of that. Their only "principle" is to be against anyone or anything from the Right.. These latest religious freedom issues is a perfect example...

"THIS GUY HAS THE FREEDOM TO BURN ANYTHING HE WANTS IN PROTEST!!! I DON'T CARE IF IT'S A SACRED BOOK!!! HE CAN BURN IT TIL..... WHAT'S THAT??? HE IS A CONSERVATIVE!!!??? HELL NO, HE CAN'T BURN THAT BOOK!!!! HE SHOULD BE SHOT AND KILLED AS A LESSON TO OTHERS THAT MIGHT TRY TO DO THE SAME THING!!!!"
-Today's Typical Liberal

It's a sad state of affairs when the Left seems to have more in common with thugs and terrorists and the Right seems to have more in common with foreign corporate interests than they have in common with their own fellow Americans....

Michale.....

Why not just ask her about her beliefs instead? With all the noise, it's hard to figure out how extreme she really is. (I'm guessing pretty extreme.)

It's just simply amazing to me that liberals could be so clueless in that they are acting EXACTLY like they accuse the Right of acting.

Welcome to the corporate news media where we simply reprint the craziest stuff we can find to increase readership.

Though w/ O'Donnell, at least they didn't make up the story.

Maybe what we need is a rally to restore sanity. Hmmm ... cue the music ...

http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com/

Ok, everyone's probably already heard about this but it still makes me laugh.

Well, if you have the time to read thru over 12,000 comments.... :D

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/18/odonnell-witchcraft-politically-incorrect_n_722035.html

It's just simply amazing to me that liberals could be so clueless in that they are acting EXACTLY like they accuse the Right of acting..

The ignorance is simply mind-boggling.

Michale.....

Heh. Why nots? Heh heh.

Michale -

I've been out of touch this weekend. I heard the initial reaction to Maher's airing the O'Donnell bit, and to me it seemed like nothing more than laughter from the Left. So far, most of the actual attacks on O'Donnell have come from the Right, as far as I can see. But, like I said, I've been out of touch this weekend, so things may have moved on since then, I dunno.

-CW

I can't find any specifics, but there is a lot written about Obama's drug and alcohol use in college...

But that's beside the point.

So we can agree that the Left's attack on O'Donnell for this "witchcraft" thing in High School is "silly"..

Right???

Especially in light of the fact that Wicca is a recognized religion and the Left has been all about religious freedom as of late...

Michale.....

Obama was snorting cocaine in College... The Left doesn't seem to have any problem with that??

no, that was high school too. it's a silly criticism to make about anybody who hasn't done drugs for decades since, even if it were in college, as with bill clinton.

Seriously??? HIGH SCHOOL???

Obama was snorting cocaine in College... The Left doesn't seem to have any problem with that??

Personally, I would take a hot witch over a druggie any day of the week... :D

But that's just me....

I guess the "Religious Freedom Warriors" of the Left aren't too keen about defending Wicca, eh???

Hypocrites...

Michale.....

(the g and a are silent) hehehhe

I favor "Weinauts" pronounced [why-nots] :)

But "Weigantites"? Hmmm... "Weigantians"? "Weiganters"? "Weigantoons"? I gotta think about that...

We've had this discussion before.. :D I don't think anything was ever set though.

I like "Weigantians" and my reasoning (as back then) was that it sounds kewl like "Atlantians" or, if you prefer the later nomenclature, "Lantians". That's pronounced 'Lan TEE Ends'.. :D

As I said, this was a running battle for like the first six months of the column,

Troo dat! :D Reading back over the first comments (Thanx, Kevin!! :D) ya took away one of the Leftie Bloggers main line of attacks.. Namely, "Yer just spouting Talking Points!!"... My natural response was, "Yea, so???" :D

Ahhhhhh the memories... :D

I still remember our first encounter. 5 Sep 2006... Wish HuffPo had an archive. :D

Michale.....

No, no, that's what's known as an opportunity to inform the other commenters of something I updated recently which they may have missed... was just using the issue you brought up for a free plug, that's all!

As for FTP, I'm glad I paid the seven bucks to register "fridaytalkingpoints.com" because it is a LOT easier for people to remember and spell than "chrisweigant.com" if you know what I mean!

But "Weigantites"? Hmmm... "Weigantians"? "Weiganters"? "Weigantoons"? I gotta think about that...

Liz -

You weren't the only one who needed convincing that framing matters, even over on the Left. Many folks felt that the tactic itself was so tainted by the way the Right used it that it wasn't even a valid thing to suggest. As I said, this was a running battle for like the first six months of the column, and I still occasionally get comments on it from first-time readers. But I still firmly believe that this sort of thing can work wonders for Democrats, if they'd only learn how to do it a bit better. If they had all "seen the light" by now, then I'd be out of business in the FTP realm. I'm not, to put it mildly. I just hope that after three years, more folks with 202 area codes are reading it, that's all.

:-)

-CW

Wow! Another year has passed, another milestone reached. And, this just shows to go ya that time does indeed fly when you’re having fun!

As you know, I have become a great fan of FTP because I have learned very well over these three years - only because you have been a great teacher who the Democrats will ignore at their great peril - that mastering the art of framing and communicating a message is paramount in this day and age.

I have become fully aware of the fact that doing the right thing is not nearly enough for any administration - even the one we have now - and that any political leader worth his or her salt had better be up to the task of selling their ideas and sticking to their principles if they have any hope of moving their middle class friendly agenda forward ... the inevitable and unending chattering class of the “professional left”, notwithstanding. :)

You and your FTP series have been responsible for changing my entire outlook on what is important in moving a political agenda forward.

Here's looking forward to another great year of FTP and more fun discussion and debate with everyone here at CW.com!

If that's a subtle hint to get me using your commenting tips tools, sorry, I'm too old and too much of a Luddite to bother...However, I do seem to still be able to get my points across :D

OK, I admit I re-read the column before I wrote FTP[139], but failed to read the comments. There were a lot of them! My favorite, the suggestion by CDub to use the following title format:

"Free SEX with BRITNEY!"

So, um, in FSWB[139]... Heh.

I actually did use his other suggestion "Democratic Talking Points" for a few weeks before settling in on FTP and a number.

And the rules have changed here, I now frown on posting entire articles' text. A link, then maybe a paragraph or two, but please don't post entire articles, as that could indeed get me into trouble.

Also there were the beginnings of the "are talking points per se a "good thing" or a "bad thing" or a "neutral tool both sides can use" debate, which raged for weeks. I decided (no surprise) that they were a tool which could be a good thing if Dems would learn how to use it. If I had decided anything else, we wouldn't be reading this column today.

But, for a blast from the past, here's the comment (by me) that truly began the entire past three years:

I got to thinking after writing this column that this might be an interesting thing to do every Friday - put out a talking points memo for Democrats to use on the weekend talk shows. Sure, they'll probably ignore me, but it certainly seems like whoever is in charge of Democratic talking points (assuming there even IS anyone in charge -- a substantial assumption, it should be pointed out) doesn't really know what they're doing. Every so often there will be a week where the Dems score a few political points by repeating the same soundbite, but for the most part they're just all over the map.

Of course, since it would be weekly, I could go after very specific "hot issues" (which I normally don't do, read the "About the blog" page for why I philosophically try to stay away from "flash in the pan" stuff) -- and give Dems some snappy things to say about that week's issue du jour (issues de la semaine?).

In the words of Brother Jerry, what a long strange trip it's been, eh?

:-)

Also, Kevin (and everyone else) -- your request and others like it made me write out the tips for links and bold and italic and all of that sort of thing in comments, and post them under the "Commenting Tips" page (see link immediately under the "Leave a Reply" label above the commenting box). So if anyone's been wondering how to do these things, check it out.

-CW

WOW, that was a blast from the past.. :D

I wonder whatever happened to that guy... :D

I like to think I have mellowed a bit since then...

But it's likely I haven't....

Michale.....

Not only that, but your sheer numbers are a lot better than the other sites that are nothing but echo chambers. Those sites are lucky if they get a comment or two a week... You get dozens of comments daily...

That's what happens when one actually fosters real debates and mature discussions as opposed to just how many times one can say "motherf***er" in a commentary... :D

No doubt about it. We got it good here. :D

Michale.....

Hay, gimme a break... It's 0344 here.. :D

"It's Oh Six Hundred. What's the OH stand for?? OH MY GOD IT'S EARLY!!"
-Robin Williams, GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM

:D

the senior doomsayer has yet to convince any other CW afficiando of the brilliance of his certainty in his beliefs..

"That's not entirely accurate."
-Defense Secretary Nimzicki, INDEPENDENCE DAY

I seem to recall another CW "aficionado" stating quite clearly how he modified his thinking in a certain event due to our (mine and his) discussions here. I am too lazy to search out the reference, but it did happen..

So there! ppppfffffffffftttttttttttt :D

Michale.....

Don't worry... Come 3 Nov that 10-1 ratio will be up around 30-1... :D

But I am truly honored to have such a high place in your thoughts, K... :D

Michale.....

Yeah... it's quiet out there... too quiet...

Heh.

Ah, but the contrarians have their uses to me. Just think, I'd have to scour the right wing websites to see what the current thinking was "over there" without them! M and C save me lots of time, truth be told. To every commenter, there is a purpose (to paraphrase Ecclesiastes).

:-)

-CW

Since to my surprise there are no other comments at this moment; let me be the first to congratulate you on the three years. It is excellent, as always. More in just a jiff; I'm trying to be the first comment on this post.