Comments on: Manipulation of the Clueless

By: Donald Stahl

Donald Stahl — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:42:26 +0000

Dear Mr. Bendell,

I am favorably impressed with your writing skills, though we are far apart on many things. The way to bridge such gaps is to concentrate on the specific, concrete, and factual before moving to generalizations involving good and bad.

The thing that strikes me as most specific and immediately practical in your thoughts is the idea that not voting more money for “war” will endanger American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like you, I am against endangering anyone’s life as such. But where we seem to disagree on facts is simply this: there is plenty of money appropriated right now to keep American personnel safe and secure in the permanent bases we have built in Iraq, and also to bring every one of them home now.

And in case you didn’t know it, John Wayne was a draft dodger.

By: disappointed

disappointed — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:20:32 +0000

Where would we be without opinions?
I can honestly say we are all entitled to our own. But, I will agree that we as Americans have become soft. We let the media make our decisions for us. We let the majority rule – even when we don’t totally agree with what majority says. I come from a different view than most. I dont agree with what our government has become. Period – no one politcal party is better than the other. What we have is a corrupt system looking out for itself. Trying to win votes by pleasing the crowd once every 4 years. How can this be? Didn’t we set out to become a free country? Didn’t we write out a constitution protecting the citizens from this very thing? It seems to me like the polititians are the power hungry, money hungry people of this country. I am not an extremely educated person when it comes to politics. I don’t claim to be. What I am is a disappointed citizen that doesn’t even see the point in voting. To me it is like voting for the compost pile or the dog poop pile. Either way, you loose.
Where did we go so wrong?

By: A Tidbit

A Tidbit — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:37:34 +0000

Well…
I’m one of those annoying non-political persons responding to a political editorial.
Unfortunately, I can read what you wrote and agree with parts of it. And read an editorial of completely contrasting opinion and agree with parts of it as well… And no, I’m not a wishy-washy-person. I’ve just found that there is absolutely no black or white in this world, as no matter what anyone thinks or does on any level – there will be praise and pleasure on one hand, and someone will be hurt, offended, pissed or suffer because of it in the other.
My latest deduction is that we all need to become healthy and autonomous as people, then as a family unit. Then on a community, state, country and global level.
Meaning?
I worry about MYSELF now, and not you or them. I am honest. i tell you my truth. And I’m raising my son to see with his eyes, mind and heart, and always hold true to what he beleives is right.

on another:
I do have to say that where i live in colorado, i have a friend that is suffering tremendously and near death due to his exceptionally poor care, diagnosis and treatment in his VA health center. He is a well-loved community member, and we are all dissapointed. I’m glad that other’s are getting the care they need, but it surely is NOT happening everywhere.

By: donbendellsblog

donbendellsblog — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 03:46:20 +0000

Recon Denny;
Thanks and thank you for your service. Welcome home!

By: Recon Denny

Recon Denny — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 03:13:19 +0000

I’M A 100%, SC, P&T VIET NAM VET. THE CARE I HAVE RECIEVED FROM THE VA SINCE 1993 HAS BEEN ASTOUNDING. THEY HAVE SAVED MY LIFE AND I WOULD BE LIVING UNDER A BRIDGE, IN PRISON OR DEAD IF NOT FOR THESE GREAT PEOPLE. IT WAS A LITTLE “ROUGH” AT FIRST, BUT bill clinton HAD JUST BOUGHT 15 MILLION VOTES BY ALLOWING ALL VETS ACCESS TO VA HEALTH CARE THAT WAS ONLY INTENDED TO CARE FOR SC ILLNESSES AND INJURIES. THE BUDGET HAS GROWN AND BENEFITS HAVE INCREASED, NOT CUT BY 85% SINCE 2000 (IMAGINE THAT!) AND IT SHOWS AT MY CLINIC. I’M HAVING SURGERY 23MAR FOR BLADDER CANCER AND I KNOW THEY WILL DO THEIR BEST. I TELL THE WHINERS TO LEAVE MY AREA WHENEVER I’M AT MY PRIMARY CARE FACILITY IN VIERA,FL AND HAVE OTHER KIND WORDS FOR THEM. I RECIEIVE SO MANY BENEFITS, I FEEL GUILTY AT TIMES. FOR GODS’ SAKE, THEY EVEN PAY ME GAS MONEY!!!!!!!!

AGAINST DR.s ORDERS, I’LL BE IN D.C. ON 17MARCH AND I PRAY IT GOES GOOD FOR ALL OF US.

By: Mayancat

Mayancat — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:27:22 +0000

You are correct about John Wayne. He remains my favorite. I wonder how long even a real man like yourself who actually has values and character would last in office. Would you be murdered? Would you lose heart? No, I doubt you would get involved in that way.

Having worked for a politician, I know that they all have one thing in common, they are all politicians.

Your viewpoints sound like those of my closest friend. I’m sending him the link to your blog. Maybe if enough people see it things CAN change.

I don’t agree with everything you write but I like that you make me think.

By: Joshua Dasher

Joshua Dasher — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:45:52 +0000

I’ve recently been doing a lot of research about political candidates and leaders for speech and debate events and have been shocked and disappointed by finding that there doesn’t seem to be a single obvious leader or moral character on either side. The only ones that seem to actually find an ideology and stick by it are people like Al Gore with ideologies about global warming and climate control.
If only political leaders could possibly be more like John Wayne or like the characters in the old Westerns, saying what they mean, letting you know about it, and then standing fast by their word. But sadly it seems that no leader is willing to take that stance, and without taking that stance it seems impossible for them to lead!

By: Freelancer

Freelancer — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 19:48:58 +0000

It is clear that ruthlessness — not decency, not clarity, not courage, not citizenship, not statesmanship, not even steadfastness — are the hallmarks of political life. Even some of the media have taken ruthlessness as a banner under which they work. And it is not just ruthlessness in the sense of tenacity, it is ruthlessness aimed at harming others for personal benefit. It is the greedy, grubby-handed snatching of public opinion and public attention and trying to hold it at all costs. The cost seems to be the very foundations of our country. The cost seems to be the security of our country. Yes, bring back the cowboy riding on the horse who does not speak with a forked tongue, who talks straight, and who is willing to save others at risk to himself, rather than sacrifice others for personal gain.