1. Why does the Times fail to mention that we still have military spending at cold war rates, when our only "enemy" is a guys with box cutters? Does this make sense?

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2. To the Times: How foolish you were to think that you could promote intelligent debate of important issues. You should have known that right-wing nuts would try to drown out reason. Their answer to America's problems is to take Randy Newman's song, "Political Science," literally: Boom goes London and boom Paris More room for you and more room for me And every city the whole world round Will just be another American town Oh, how peaceful it will be We'll set everybody free You'll wear a Japanese kimono

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3. On Iran Clinton supported Kyl-Lieberman and condemns Obama's readiness to conduct direct and unconditional diplomacy with Iran. That is a mistake. Obama is ready to talk with Iran. Considering Iran is willing to negotiate he has the right approach. He sums it up saying, 'we must never negotiate out of fear, but we must never fear to negotiate." If you believe justice is a strength and the rule of law matters, accountability and transparency are vital components for a healthy democracy, and that sound judgment, reasoned logic, intelligence tempered with forethought and foresight reflect the qualities of a leader, support Obama.

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4. "The right to preempt an attack must be construed more broadly, however, when the would-be attacker is a terrorist such as Osama bin Laden -- a stateless, serial aggressor who seeks both martyrdom and weapons of mass destruction. The question is not whether Bin Laden will attack, but when. That is why both Bush and Democratic candidate Barack Obama have rightly indicated that they would violate Pakistani sovereignty if necessary to preempt such a threat." this is such crap i don't know where to begin. are you for or against unilateral agresssion, guy? sounds like more war on terror scare tactics to me.

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5. you do not know what your talking about Thank God for George Bush he saved your sorry ass we have not had a attack since 9-11

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6. CLEAR! Oxygen and daylight for the lib panty "waste" WUSSES! STAT!

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7. Your commentary on "The Common Defense" amounts to journalistic fraud; and is an exercise in intellectual and moral cowardice; preying to a vast audience of ignorance - preaching .... fear, anger, and hate; is out of context, misleading, and of mischaracterization.

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8. Platitudinous and banal – LA Times, it’s certainly convenient that you’re able to make sooo many statements/assertions and then not bother to provide any supporting rationale. American Exceptionalism does make the US the envy of the world (and much of the world does disdain the US for all the advantages and successes of its system, that much is true). Obviously, the LA Times yearns for the world to love America and recommends the big kiss-up to get there -- lots of luck with that approach LA Times. One last note, LA Times, who wrote this drivel piece, anyway -- is the regular editorial staff on holiday this week?

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9. This is a superb analysis of the Real World the next President will need to navigate, after 8 years of Mr. Bush preaching a Fantasy Island mantra of American Exceptionalism. The only major issue missing from the analysis is the Ecomonic: The power behind Mr. Bush's born-again throne has been American corporations. Even Alan Greenspan now admits the Iraq War is primarily about Oil. The world's peoples will continue to despise and resist the US until it curbs the GREED of a small percentage of CEOs and Investors -- greed that results in the deaths of 100s or 1000s in other couintries.

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10. Islamic Terror networks are not now, nor ever have been, a significant danger to the United States. They just haven't caused very many casualties. Don't argue with me. Argue with the numbers. Tell 3000 that it is a large number compared to 42,000 highway deaths, or 17,000 murders that happened in 2001. We are 300 million Americans. Even in their best year, terrorists hardly dented us. Sorry folks. Numbers don't lie.

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