Obama’s speech in Independence tries to redefine patriotism.

No, sweetie, you crossed a line. You explictly stated that you accept genocide as an unfortunate but possible strategy in wartime. Hitler was willing to confine himself to Jews, gypsies, and homosexuals; even your boy Schickelgruber never advocated murdering every Allied man, woman and child as a regrettable but potentially necessary contingency.

You needn't concern yourself with my accuracy, since, as noted, I have a screenshot of those remarks. You're now going to discover whether the Star, Republicans in general, conservatives in particular, and any Americans of Japanese descent among your readership think you're a swell guy whose remarks deserve commendation, or a public embarrassment to actual patriots.

I’ve come to expect the name calling but now you threaten me? I believe that crosses a line Edith.

Still, I stand by my comments. You should be sure to quote me accurately and in context though.

Ross Balano Midwest Voices 2008

READ THE DICTIONARY YOU LOVE SO WELL-HOW DOES WEBSTER DEFINE "CRIMINAL"?

IT WAS A DUI, YOU FOOL. HE ENDANGERED HIS LIFE AND THOSE OF OTHERS.

WHAT OTHER PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED WITH AN ARREST RECORD?

WIKIPEDIA DIDN'T INVENT THE UN QUOTE.

Is any of this coming through?

STIMSON'S QUOTE "PROVES" NOTHING OF THE SORT. IT WAS HIS DIARY. HE WAS AN UNOBJECTIVE WITNESS.

THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR WAS AGAINST A MILITARY TARGET, AS WAS THE ATTACK ON THE COLE AND THE ATTACK IN SOMALIA.

Be aware, you fool, that you are now on record as advocating the murder of innocent civilian noncombatants to further U.S. interests. You can bet I've got the screen shot. How many other conservatives do you think are going to sign off on that one? You are a coward and a weakling. You can own all the guns in Christendom and it's not going to save you from your moral bankruptcy.

Again, watch your @$$. I own your quote about killing every Japanese person to win the war, you genocidal clown, and absent a public apology you're going to see that one again and again.

The deer you speak of are shooting back with blanks.

Since when does being convicted of a misdemeanor traffic violation make one a criminal? If that were the case I would guess that most of the population could be considered criminals. That’s really a reach. I mean it’s not like he lied to a grand jury or anything like that and lost his license to practice law or anything.

Next you are going to tell me that Wikipedia is a better source than Webster? High school teachers won’t even allow Wikipedia to be used as a reference by students. And the UN, HA, what a laugh. That same group refused to call Yasser Arafat a terrorist for over 50 years. That same group now refuses to treat Al Qaeda as a terrorist group. That is truly a joke.

It makes no difference if Stimson was objective or not. You made the point that the DoW assessment advised against dropping the bomb and I refuted it by quoting the person who was the head of the DoW. Stimson’s diary shows that the DoW was on board enthusiastically for the dropping of the bomb proving your statement false.

Finally, I am not an apologist but in the case of WW2 where the Japanese killed hundreds with an unprovoked attack at Pearl Harbor and in the case of our present war on terror where we were attacked several times without provocation (World Trade Center 1993, USS Cole, “Blackhawk Down” among others) and culminating with the destruction of the World Trade Center and deaths of over 2000, I say UNAPOLIGETICALLY that I wouldn’t trade the life of even one of our brave men and women in the military for the lives of every person on the side of those aggressors. I, like Truman, love the U.S. first. If we would have had to kill every Japanese person to win that war then so be it. If we have to kill everyone on the side of the terrorists now to safeguard our country and our own innocent women and children then so be it. Nobody, not me, not anyone I know wants it to come to that but if that’s what it takes then that’s what should be done.

Anyone who would put the lives of the enemy as more important than that of one of our own soldiers is un-American and certainly not a patriot.

Put some real ammo in your gun (of course you probably don’t own one because you don’t believe in the second amendment either) or quit pulling the trigger.

Ross Balano Midwest Voices 2008

Maintaining ground costs fewer soldiers their lives than taking it or taking it back. That is a fact. Ask any soldier. A withdrawl will only save lives if we never go back. Obama says he will go back if need be. The overall death toll will be higher if that happens.

The planned invasion of Japan was called Operation Downfall. The number of American deaths predicted, on the low side was 250,000 with a potential of over 1,000,000 casualties and deaths.

You still here?

The Coward In Chief was busted for DUI September 4, 1976, plead guilty, and the conviction was entered into record October 15, 1976. This gives him the distinction of being the only convicted criminal ever elected President. Since you're so fond of dictionary definitions, look up "criminal."

I've heard your nonsense from students many, many times: "Gee, it's just a coincidence that what I wrote and what was in Cliff's Notes are exactly the same." You Googled two review articles and used several phrases verbatim from them. I have considerably more objective evidence for that charge than your nonsense about Gar Alperowhatsis.

For God's sake learn to use the Google and stop hiding behind the dictionary. Wikipedia: "On March 17, 2005, a UN panel described terrorism as any act "intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act."

Goebbels-Stimson: Stimson was not an objective witness, he was the initiator and chief proponent of dropping the bomb. You're in a hole: stop digging.

Finally, step up like a good apologist and tell me how many dead women and children killed deliberately and intentionally to shock the Japanese into capitulation are justifiable to save one, one thousand, or ten thousand American military's lives. Your childish wail that "well, THEY were doing it," is particularly unconvincing in the face of MacArthur's satisfaction with our ability to maintain the blockade.

No fun when the deer shoot back, is it, tough guy?

"In Obama’s mind patriotism means, in his words, “sacrifice” and “call to service.” These terms, translated, mean higher taxes and more government programs. Grab your wallets ladies and gentlemen.

If this all reminds you of Jimmy Carter you are not alone. Is this Obama’s idea of change? It sounds like more of the same Democrat playbook to me."

Are you serious? How does "sacrifice" and "call to service" translate to higher taxes? Never mind the fact that we have a billion dollar a day failed war in Iraq that has to be paid for somehow. What do you consider to be "patriotic?" Illegally spying on citizens? Secret torture prisons? Secret courts without representation? Don't those things sounds familiar to you? Those were the nasty tactics of the Soviets who we we assailed as villains for decades. And now you sit there and pretend those same disgusting and immoral tactics are somehow "patriotic" and complain that a "call to service" and asking young people to commit to public service is horrible because you might have to pay a small tax. You start a war and then don't want to pay for it. Who's going to pay for all of those veterans needs? Why not you? And me? You are exactly the type that wants to run around proclaiming to support the troops, but when it comes time to pay the real bills, you don't want to pay your share. You'd rather have some extra coin for a new flat-screen than help repair roads, bridges, schools, energy independence, or pay for this failed war that you have been cheerleading for 5 years.

Yea, you're a real freakin' patriot alright.

First, I have many books on history in my home and more than a few of them are about WW2 and I have read them all plus many that belong to friends or the public library. I like to learn the real history and not just things that support my point of view.

Second, I don’t present anything I read as my own. You might notice that I site all of my sources.

Third, it was you that brought up the DoW, inaccurately I might add, so who better to relate what the Department of War was recommending than the Secretary of War at the time. He was there and he WROTE most of the recommendations. You are 100% wrong in your statement that the DoW analysis was against the bombings. Comparing Secretary Stimson to Goebbles is just plain way out there.

Fourth, please get out your copy of Webster’s Dictionary and look up the definitions of war and of terrorism. Read them both carefully several times and maybe you can learn the difference between war and terrorism. Perhaps you should also read up on how many people the Japanese killed both before and after Pearl Harbor.

Finally, I must have missed the trial, what crime was President Bush ever charged, tried and convicted for? You do realize that those things have to happen in order for one to be a “convicted criminal” don’t you?

Ross Balano Midwest Voices 2008

Its not even responding the the substance of Obama's speech but using it as a pretext to launch the standard "liberals will take you money and make you get a gay marriage" attacks.