Allowing privilege to the ineligible, effectively degrades the results of the qualified. A vulnerable voting system is an absolute disgrace in a country as exceptional and sophisticated as the United States. It is shameful to accept anything less than the incorruptible protection of our right to vote.

You consider that gerrymandering. I consider it allegiance.

Well, I'll tell you mine from a personal perspective. I used to post on a local website until it became blatantly clear that the majority of articles written and chosen were from a biased viewpoint. I do appreciate learning from an opposing aspect as long as the playing field is fair. That, unfortunately, was not the case.

I agree that anonymity does help to unchain the restraints of political correctness, but I also believe that the use of insults and invectives are not necessary to do so.

I regard making derogatory statements about someone's physical appearance as unfair as they are (mostly) not responsible for their physical attributes.

I was drawn to the fact that many of the articles on OPP were chosen by POSTERS who do not have a mercenary or self-serving agenda, as do politicians or the press. I find that THE PEOPLES' concerns and conclusions are much more pertinent, timely and pragmatic.

Though expressing our opinions may help some of us to feel more powerful - that is not necessarily a bad thing. We give our power to candidates who we hope will fight for us and do the right thing. When they don't, we, as common citizens, don't have much recourse in being able to make a noise loud enough for the powers-that-be to hear. And so, we post - hoping that our "voice" will be added to others and that, hopefully, our increased numbers will make a difference.

I'm fairly new here, so I do hope that OPP's format remains as is.

Oh, BTW - I do not envy Obama - I do not think he looks any different from many other citizens of America - and as far as his intellect or his "achievements," I guess I shall have to consider those when they are revealed.

Bob - I'm sure you know what the big deal is. Democrats won the past two Presidential elections - they DON'T want Voter ID. The Republicans lost the past two Presidential elections - they DO want Voter ID.

The right to vote is the most precious privilege we have in America. Knowing that to be the truth, every effort should be made to ensure its legitimacy - which means no acceptance of dead people, prisoners, or Disney characters as voters or allowing Black Panthers dressed in military garb to intimidate voters with racist remarks and night sticks.

It is disgraceful that we give the "right to vote" such short shrift. This is the United States of America!! The least we should do is demand that ONLY THOSE who are authentically qualified to take advantage of this privilege can do so. To permit scofflaws the ability to dictate the policies and principles of America is to betray our loyalty to her.

Americans have to use photo ID constantly in everyday life—to drive a car, board a plane, buy a beer, check into a hotel, get into many government buildings, or see a doctor. They even need one to get into the Justice Department in Washington where Eric Holder is unjustly and unfairly fighting election integrity by trying to stop voter ID laws.

Voter ID is a perfectly reasonable and easily met requirement that protects the integrity of our democracy.
To falter in its implementation is to, literally, surrender to imposters.

Your reply was excellent. I too, cannot conceive of defining Islam as a "religion."

It wasn't the Amish who strapped on explosives to blow themselves up, as well as anybody else unfortunate enough to be around them, to martyr themselves in the name of Allah.

It wasn't Jehovah's Witnesses that flew airplanes into the WTC's on 9-11-2001.

It wasn't a southern Baptist who shouted "Allahu Akbar" and subsequently killed 13 soldiers and wounded 31 others at Fort Hood.

It wasn't a Presbyterian who tried to light his shoe laces, detonate the explosives concealed in his Keds, and blow a commercial jetliner out of the sky.

It wasn't a Roman Catholic who tried to blow up Times Square.

It wasn't a Buddhist that killed Boston Marathon spectators (including an 8 year old boy), and injured and crippled others by detonating explosives concealed in pressure cookers!

The ONE constant with those who actually perpetrated these acts were that they were MUSLIMS!

I guess it's part and parcel of their "religion" of peace. Their "holy book" is the Koran. I decided, after 9/11, to discover why these people would attack us, without care as to the innocence of men, women, or CHILDREN. The faces of our citizens when they watched as people jumped from the towers; the shock and fear in their eyes; the words from my son, after being chased by that cloud of dust: "Mom, I'll never forget the sound of the planes crashing into the towers or the sound of the bodies hitting the pavement!" Yes, both my sons were there - my youngest a mere block away. Thank God, they both came home to me - a blessing not shared by so many other parents on that terrible, tragic day. I was determined to find out where hate like that came from? Who were these terrorists who placed my sons lives in danger and why were their people celebrating in the streets? So I did some research.

The Muslim "holy" book is the Koran - and so, if you are a Muslim, you must believe in the tenets of the Koran. After what I read, I knew that I could never trust a Muslim, for what I learned was not only vengeful, but vicious:

"Slay them wherever you find them...Idolatry is worse than carnage...Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme." (Surah 2:190-)

"Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it." (Surah 2:216)

"Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people...They desire nothing but your ruin....You believe in the entire Book...When they meet you they say: 'We, too, are believers.' But when alone, they bite their finger-tips with rage." (Surah 3:118, 119)

"Forbidden to you are married women, except those you own as slaves."(Surah:20-24 )

"Seek out your enemies relentlessly." (Surah 4:103-)

"Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme." (Surah 8:36-)

"It ill becomes the idolaters [non-Muslims] to visit the mosques of God..." (Surah 9:17)

"If you do not fight, He will punish you sternly, and replace you by other men." (Surah 9:37-)

"Prophet make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home." (Surah 9:73)

"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them." (Surah 9:121-)

"Fight for the cause of God with the devotion due to Him...He has given you the name of Muslims..." (Surah 22:78-) (Don't know how that smilie got there and sorry, I don't know how to edit it out)

"Blessed are the believers...who restrain their carnal desires (except with their wives and slave-girls, for these are lawful to them)...These are the heirs of Paradise..." (Surah 23:1-5-)

""Muhammad is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another." (Surah 48:29)

During his political career, Obama repeatedly voted to deny basic medical care to babies who SURVIVE late-term abortions, and voted against efforts to end the GRUESOME partial-birth abortion procedure. As a candidate for president, Senator Obama pledged to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which would override any and all restrictions on abortion throughout nine months of pregnancy. It would also force taxpayers to fund abortion-on-demand.

Obama is a bona fide extremist on the abortion issue. He is so radically in favor of abortion rights that he even believes it should be legal to kill children who are BORN ALIVE in botched abortions. Even fellow Democrat, the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, called the practice "too close to infanticide." When he was an Illinois state senator, he voted against legislation that would have protected the lives of infant SURVIVORS of abortions. His commitment to the regime of Roe v. Wade is so extreme that he would rather let live human infants die than do anything that might weaken abortion rights in this country.

And let's not forget Obama's remark that he would not want his daughters to be "PUNISHED WITH A BABY" because of a crisis pregnancy -- hardly a welcoming attitude toward new life.

BTW - I did some research on DNA - The baby's DNA is determined at FERTILIZATION!!

Blacksheep commented: "If the woman wants to RID HERSELF OF HER PREGNANCY?" How cold is that? He's talking about a baby here. If the woman does not want to become pregnant, there are enough pills and birth control out there for her to avoid the circumstance.

What should be fostered is the RESPONSIBILITIES that come with being a parent, including the lifestyle changes and the financial requirements. Having and taking care of a child can be the greatest delight in our lives (I have been blessed twice with that joy) - but without preparations for its entrance into the world, the child will suffer, and the parents as well.

And yes, I believe in choice - what I disagree with is WHEN that choice should be made. And what of the choice of the unborn baby? When were we granted an option to deny them THEIR right to life? It is BEFORE pregnancy that we should be making these decisions - both the prospective mother AND father.

It is our obligation as mature adults to consider the consequences of our actions and our task as parents to advise our teenagers of the same. Passion is an intense, yet temporary emotion. Parenthood is a lifetime commitment.

"I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born." (Ronald Reagan)

[quote=Alicia]**************
It is not a defiant attitude. Rather it is one of annoyance with people who persist in forcing their beliefs - even after they've been informed that one is not interested.

I would say that atheists were raised in religious households and, when they became old enough to do their own thinking, decided that it was not for them.

Atheists do their own thing and do not attempt to press their personal ideas on everyone else.


Alicia - go to Google - type in "atheist billboard controversy" in the search bar and take a good look at the atheists you claim do not proselytze. BTW - Click on
"images" so you can indulge yourself with the whole picture.

I look at it this way - I'm a Christian. HE gives me hope and peace and comfort. If you are not a Christian, my words would not sway you. I have neither the expertise, knowledge or desire to do so. Your choice belongs to you - it is not mine.

What is abhorrent to me is when the God I worship is demeaned and insulted; when crucifixes are placed in urine; when a statue of the Blessed Mother is desecrated with dung; when we are told to remove Christmas mangers; when we are told that our freedom of speech to say "Merry Christmas" is rescinded and we should replace it with "Happy Holidays." (I think that one was reverted.)

Read some of those billboard remarks, Alicia - They're not only impudent and contemptuous - they're unnecessary!! Do atheists actually think that we would leave our faith behind because of aspersions cast on a billboard? Of course not!!! All they are good for is publicity and "pressing their personal ideas on everyone else."

President Obama has assured legal immigrants that they can sign up for ObamaCare without worrying that “the immigration people” will come for family members who are in the country illegally.

“Well, the main thing for people to know is that any information you get, you know, asked with respect to buying insurance, does not have anything to do with … the rules governing immigration,” Obama said. “And you know, you can qualify if you’re a legal resident, if you are … legally present in the United States. (Obama - 3/18/14)

“You know, if you have a family where some people are citizens or legally here, and others are NOT DOCUMENTED, the immigration people will never get that information.” (Obama -3/18/14­)

What a wonderful President!! So protective of the rights of ILLEGALS - however, the term HE uses is "UNDOCUMENTED."

The White House has said there are 10.2 million uninsured Hispanics eligible for ObamaCare in the country, and about 8.1 million are likely eligible for tax credits. Hispanics have the highest rate of uninsured of any ethnic group in the country.

How about that?!! He is looking to add over 10.2 million uninsured Hispanics to Obamacare, inclusive of 8.1 million eligible for tax credits. WOW!!! - Let's make sure they enroll - after all, if that happened, Obama would claim the success of his enrollment campaign. Of course, the money those tax credits will cost US is not coming out of his pocket. He'll still go golfing, take elitist vacations and host celebrity parties. It's the rest of us common folk who will, again, be expected to absorb the consequences of this monumental fiasco of a health plan, with its MANDATED costs and DESPOTIC PENALTIES.

There are nowhere near as many young, healthy people signing up as will be required to make the system work. This is why the Obama administration has embarrassed itself in trying to recruit young people into the program, with Pajama Boy, Obama’s pathetic “Between Two Ferns” interview, Angry Mom, and so on. What this means is that once the insurance companies are able to set premiums based on actual experience, as opposed to rosy projections, those premiums inevitably will rise due to the risk pool being lower-quality than predicted.

In Iowa, which hosts the first presidential caucus in the nation and has a competitive Senate race this year, rates are expected to rise 100 percent on the exchange and by double digits on the larger, employer-based market, according to a recent article in the Business Record.

Oh Yeah - A New Low for O! - FEES HIGH AS THE SKY FOR THE REST OF US!!

Patty - A very informative post - certainly not unexpected - but informative. I wonder how many people realize just how devastating this is to the integrity of our country. Your post, the IRS scandal, Benghazi, the left leaning media, the lack of proper vetting of Obama - all of these are extreme dangers to the freedom, principles and conscience of our country.

What we are seeing here is a biased, concerted effort to allow only one side of an issue to be acknowledged. That is what defines repressive dictatorships - not the republic of The United States. It is a "FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE" to everything that is America.

I would advise other posters to view the graph you included in your initial comments.

Then read this quote:

"All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA, and to usher in a new era of open Government” — Barack Obama, January 21, 2009 (WHAT HAPPENED, BARRY?!!)

Oh, Glaucon!! What a lame response!! Peaver posts 50 Obama lies and you suddenly become a benevolent professor trying to "open" and "change his mind." You have no compunction about requesting proof from your opposition, but when you were asked for the same, your answer was that you didn't want to "go to the trouble of proving them false." Of course, I can understand your reason for avoiding that request as, in many cases, it would be difficult for you to deny his lies, as they have been RECORDED, spoken from his own lips, and also VIDEOTAPED as he was spewing them.

Barack Obama was elected by the citizens as the President of the U.S. and, instead of being the most prolific CHAMPION of America, he became her critic and apologist.

This speech in Strasbourg went further than any United States president in history in castigating his own country’s action while standing on foreign soil.

"There have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive." (April, 2009 - Strasbourg - in front of 2000 French and Germans)

"I also believe that all too often our government made decisions based on FEAR rather than foresight; that all too often our government TRIMMED FACTS AND EVIDENCE to fit ideological predispositions." (May 21, 2009 - Remarks by Obama on National Security)

Think about that last, vile Obama quote. Is there one other Head of State that would define their country as cowardly, corrupt and culpable? It's SHAMEFUL!!

You have placed your hopes and confidence in Obama, but he is not worthy of your trust - or ours!!

I am a proud Conservative. I do not hate gay people, black people, immigrants, labor unions. I believe that defining ourselves by what is done in the privacy of our bedrooms is indecorous. I treat black people with the respect and dignity with which they treat me. I do not assume all blacks are on food stamps. I do not demand their birth certificates, as long as they are not the President of the United States. I hate social INJUSTICE. I believe socialism is a policy which retards incentives, punishes the industrious, and promotes class warfare. There are regulations of which I approve and others which have proven to be corrupt and bigoted. I believe in spending for the defense and security of our people and country and to help the poor. I abhor spending on pork barrel projects and feeding the extravagant lifestyles of our elected representatives. I do not appreciate having ILLEGAL immigrants taking jobs from our citizens, nor do I condone their DEMANDS for subsidies and amnesty. It sets a precedent which can eventually make America a land filled with dissidents and scofflaws. You speak of abortion as a choice. I, rather, submit a quotation from Ronald Reagan: "I’ve noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born."

Now, here comes the hate, Glaucon!!! I hate war!!!! I love the Lord who said to "turn the other cheek," which negates any approval I would have of torture!! Not every Conservative is rich, or white, for that matter - a lot of us suffered financial difficulties and are, consequently, against rampant regulations and spending, just because we KNOW what that will extract - more money coming out of our pockets and going into the coffers of the government - never to be seen again.

Submissive and obedient wife? You have got to be kidding!! I am the widow of a Conservative who was loving, considerate, compassionate, and my hero, serving in the Navy during the Cuban missile crisis. He always treated me as an equal and every Conservative female friend that I have, and I have been blessed with many, were also that fortunate. I do not hate liberals, democrats or moderates. I actually post to learn the opinions of others who do not believe as I do. I look toward the PEOPLE of our country for the truth - NOT the politicians - and especially, NOT the media.

As to your accusation that we hate gay soldiers - I do not hate ANY soldier - with the exception of Nidal Hasan. Gays in the military service are also putting their lives on the line for our country. I will admit that I still believe in Don't Ask - Don't Tell. Again, the "outing" of sexual orientation should not be of any consequence to the military. It is not a necessity to divulge that information in order to perform the duties required.

Economic RECOVERY? PLEASE!!! Taken from OMB budget data, our economic situation is dire. Spending keeps going up. Revenues, however, are not. And, since we're borrowing the difference, President Obama has what Politico is calling a debt problem: "The staggering national debt — up about 60% from the $10 trillion Obama inherited when he took office in January 2009 — is the single biggest blemish on Obama's record, even if the rapid descent into red began under President George W. Bush. Obama has long emphasized Bush's role in digging the immense hole. But HE owns it now."

Atheists and agnostics are free to believe what they want. I do not proselytize. Faith is not something you can be talked into. Life and its experiences are more likely to convince you than a lecture. My problem is when the atheists denigrate and desecrate my Christian symbols - like dung on the Blessed Mother, a Crucifix in urine, and an anti-Christian billboard in Times Square. It is not only wrong - it is hurtful.

Obama taught the Marxist, Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" in college. Hillary did her college thesis on him as well. Alinsky dedicated his "Rules for Radicals" to Lucifer. Alinsky's son even praised Obama for Obama's dedication to his father's ideology. You blame the Republicans/Conservatives for calling him a socialist. It is his own history that condemns him.

As far as being anti-science - Are we supposed to believe in green energy - where Obama's "investments" cost us BILLIONS in bankruptcies. Or maybe we should believe in Gore's inconvenient "truth." Now here's a Democrat who really believes in global warming - aka "climate change," especially when he sold his failed "Current" network to Al Jazeera, whose owner is the Emir of Qatar. Qatar's "customs, laws and practices" are founded by "Islamic beliefs and tribal traditions," also known as Sharia Law, which is a religious practice that is void of human rights, especially women's rights. Qatar is also extremely homophobic. Qatar is one of the world's largest exporters of oil, and is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. Inconvenient, isn't it? Oh yeah, let's put our hard-earned cash into the projects of Obama and Gore - titans of economic acumen.

I wouldn't boo the FLOTUS for her campaign on obesity. It's much more relevant to our country that she be criticized for designating the traitor, Jane Fonda, aka Hanoi Jane, as her role model because she is "beautiful" and "politically savvy."

You speak of "family values" as though its shameful. But what of this Administration's numerous euphemisms:
FAIR SHARE = Class Warfare; SNAP = Food Stamps; BUMPS IN THE ROAD = Attacks on American Embassies; NOT OPTIMAL = The Merciless Murder of Four Brave Americans in Benghazi; WHAT DIFFERENCE, AT THIS POINT, DOES IT MAKE? = What's the big deal?!! Nobody I love is dead!!; UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS = Illegal Aliens; IMMIGRATION REFORM = AMNESTY TO SCOFFLAWS; MAN-CAUSED DISASTERS = Terrorism; DETAINEES = Enemy Combatants; KINETIC MILITARY ACTION = War on Terror; SHOVEL READY = BO's BS has reached epic proportions!; IF YOU'VE GOT A BUSINESS, YOU DIDN'T BUILD THAT = The Government made it happen! You owe them!!; WORKPLACE VIOLENCE = 13 DEAD SOLDIERS and over 30 injuries, due to an AMERICAN MAJOR who shouted "Allahu Akbar" during this TERRORIST MASSACRE AT FORT HOOD; CROSSING A RED LINE = Obama vs. Putin - Putin wins!! America humiliated!

You dare question our patriotism!!! It was your hero that spent TWENTY YEARS in a church whose Rev. spewed "God Damn America;" who started his Presidential campaign fund raising in the home of Bill Ayers, who posed for the front page of Chicago Magazine stomping on the American flag and bombed the Pentagon and a Police Station, then remarked that he wished he could do more; who APOLOGIZED for America in foreign lands, in front of foreign leaders; who BOWED before foreign leaders; who stood with his hands clasped by his crotch while the National Anthem was being played, yet declared the Muslim call to prayer as "one of the prettiest sounds on earth." Obama recited it to me, with a "first rate (Arabic) accent" said Nicholas Kristof, during an interview which was published in the New York Times. The translation of the call to prayer:

"Allah is supreme, Allah is supreme, Allah is supreme, Allah is supreme. I witness that there is NO GOD BUT ALLAH."

You say you don't hate us, but your "rant" (your own description) is filled with venom. Of course, saying that you DO harbor hatred would make it all too easy for us to call you a hypocrite. I will not do that! Actually, your post just reeks of fear!! It is almost palpable!! Obamacare, Benghazi, Fast and Furious, the IRS, the NSA, the debt, unemployment (the real numbers), food stamps, his arrogance and elitism, have done Obama in (especially Obamacare!). Your loyalty is admirable, Glaucon. Your idol, unfortunately, is not!!

I remember when a comedian could make you laugh without insults and foul language. Those days, of course, are long gone. The difference with Maher is that he not only uses obscenities and invectives, but his rhetoric is heartless and cruel. It is NOT FUNNY when you are the family member of a victim of the WTC, or the Boston bombing, or the family member of a "special" child, or one of our soldiers who put their lives on the line for us.

Think about how you would feel if you loved a soldier who was killed in the service of his country and you hear Maher, this acrimonious ingrate, call him a coward!!!

That's not entertainment, Alicia, and it isn't honesty either. He is just a dissolute hypocrite who denigrates the challenges of those who cannot defend themselves and the bravery of those who provide him with the safety and liberty he takes advantage of to make the big bucks.

It must be very lonely to consider yourself the be all and end all, but atheism is his choice and he's welcome to it. But his disdain of our soldiers after 9/11/01 vs. his deference to the terrorists who "remained in the planes" or the comparison he makes regarding "special" children and dogs is NOT FUNNY!! It's cruel!!!

The only brilliance about Maher is that he chooses controversial subjects, makes provocative, mean-spirited and insulting remarks about them, and then counts the bucks which his comments trigger (yeah, like mine)!!

It doesn't take intellectual acumen to hurt people when there is no kindness or compassion in your heart.

In addition to Old Gringo's references above, Maher, this poor excuse for a human being, disparages Christians, compares "special" children with dogs, and after 9/11 had the unmitigated gall of calling our soldiers cowards. This disgusting comment was made on ABC's Politically Incorrect, while he, at the same time, PRAISED THE BARBARIANS, who killed almost 3,000 people in New York.

“We have been the cowards, lobbying cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That’s cowardly! Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it’s not cowardly.”

Yes – killing thousands of unarmed innocents without warning…that’s the stuff of brave men! Following the subsequent severe backlash, network advertisers pulled out quickly. He would be fired a few months later. HBO hired Maher to essentially do the same show (without the pesky FCC to police content/language) two years after getting the boot from ABC. SHAME ON THEM!!!

If you harbor any sympathy for this reprobate, I urge you to watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe57F77ZKIs

This video is no less worthy of Maher's being fired. The fact that he said it on cable TV is no excuse for allowing such an obnoxious, condescending, cruel, offensive, smug narcissist to spew his venom on TV.

The victims of the Boston Marathon bombings were also subject to Maher's invective:

“It was, again, a bad day. Three people died — that’s terrible. More were maimed — that’s horrible, but unfortunately that happens every day in car accidents and everything else,” Maher said. “I mean, your city was not leveled by Godzilla.”

But it is not caused by "accidents," either, Mr. Know-It-All. It was a terrorist act, and that means deliberate targeting of people, including children.

America is a country which espouses freedom of speech - but when that speech causes even more pain to people who have been injured and are suffering, or are grieving the loss of loved ones, then that perpetrator has gone beyond the bounds of civility and common decency.