You are so on target with your comparison. Since 9/11, our government has used THE FEAR of terrorism (or tearism as Bush calls it), to do all sorts of unsavory things to the American people. And when people raise questions, well then, the American flag is trotted out and patriotism is brought to question.

You know I'm with you on this one. I've been saying the same thing regarding medical and drug errors killing 200,000/year. The tragedy is the amount of money spent in Iraq that could have been better used at home. We are NOT making anywhere near the effort we need to be regarding Osama Bin Laden, so all of this, lives and money, is a waste.

We've got real problems here at home and it doesn't get better by allowing folks who've broken our laws to become citizens and stay here.

I sadly agree. Our attention is frequently diverted away from matters equally, if not more, pressing.

I can't help but think about all the empty seats at holiday tables. Most of them empty for no good reason. So sad.

Thanks again for visiting my blog. Love the company. And I do live right near the ocean!

Fear of the other is also what fuels your lunatic gun laws. If i read the statistics correctly well over half of the homicides were gun crimes. What the second amendment allows is the right to murder on a whiff of rage or fear. You are right Catty about lives peripheral to the crimes being changed for the worse.t

JWL

Stupid people should not be allowed to BLOG. Your childish stabs at George Bush show how insecure you really are. They include no discernable information about why you hate the President so much. (I think you are having a hard time identifying with your mother myself.) Maybe you are afraid of his commitment to religion, the nation and our well being. Maybe it is the fact that we haven’t been hit again since 911. What do you think Clinton would have done – bomb an aspirin factory, negotiate with bin Laden, ask the permission of the French? Total boobs should be left to suffer in silence with their miserable lots in life and not advertise them so publicly. I would commend you on your bravery, but trudging for to do things with a lack of knowledge does not make you brave – just foolish.

Catty, don't pay Thomas any mind. It's amazing, he's just like Bush. No amount of evidence introduced to the contrary of what this man has done, you still have assholes that are sipping the Kool-Aid. The only folks who are justified in loving Bush are those who are the war profiteers. Any working or middle class folks for this man need to have their heads examined. Thomas, HAVE I GOT A DOCTOR FOR YOU!

Neal--My comparison was not meant to devalue the victims of 911 but we are talking about 100,000 other dead Americans. Where is their value in the grand scheme of things? We've elevated 19 murderous malcontents into mythical proportions.

Capt.--We've delivered our young men and women to the enemy. Bin Laden doesn't have a Navy. He doesn't have an Air Force. He doesn't even have a country. All he has is a handful of fanatic followers (which are growing because of our politicians knack (or lack) with diplomacy). You are dead on, our efforts and focus are in the wrong place.

Nutsy Fagan--Thanks for stopping. It's not always doom and gloom here, I do like to have fun. I hope you'll stop by again.

JWL-The second amendment is really about protecting ones self from out of control Government. There will always be an element that uses guns, knives, baseball bats to harm others, guns just make it easier for the irresponsible to lose control. Freedom comes with great responsibility. Not everyone is up to the task.

Capt.--I am truly touched by your chivalry. Thomas and his comments don't bother me. I recognize the tactics. My four year old grandson does this sometimes. He gets angry, walks up to someone that has made him mad (or he doesn't agree with), slaps them, calls them a "doo doo face", then runs away. Not so unlike . . . . . a terrorist. You know how I feel about them. What Thomas fails to realize is that without any kind of relationship or connection to me, his words (and therefore he) don't have meaning to me. Now if you, or any of my regular visitors (and friends) were to say something so hateful, I would be hurt and offended. I value you and your opinions. Thomas and his comments were amusing to me.

Thomas--Thanks for stopping and providing me with my laugh for the day. I'm guessing you don't agree with my opinions. It was hard to tell what your point was since it was buried in a lengthy personal attack. Next time try explaining your position without getting so personal, I might find that interesting. I'll pray that you find some peace from your anger. You have a nice Christmas now.

Catty - I must tell you after reading your perfect response to Thomas.....You're the bomb.

I see your post attracted an asshole (Thomas) I get them all the time. If you express an opinion they don't like, they attack you personally. He's probably only 14 or 15, judging from the way he writes. Nice comeback though, haha.

Just wanted to add that for the 2996 people who died in 9/11, we took out our revenge and now hundreds of thousands are dead because of it. Today's terrorists will be creating generations of terrorists. We've opened Pandora's Box and there's no way to close it again.