Tough Decision

[jmirawm]

I could not resist sharing this....<p> This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. By
giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally.
The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in
which you will have to make a decision. Remember that your answer
needs to be honest, yet spontaneous.

Please scroll down slowly and give due consideration to each line.

You are in Florida, Miami to be specific. There is chaos all around
you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding. This is a flood of
biblical proportions. You are a photojournalist working for a major
newspaper, and you're caught in the middle of this epic disaster.

The situation is nearly hopeless.

You're trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and
people swirling around you, some disappearing under the water. Nature
is unleashing all of its destructive fury.

Suddenly you see a man floundering in the water. He is fighting for
his life, trying not to be taken downwith the debris. You move
closer . . . somehow the man looks familiar.

You suddenly realize who it is. It's George W. Bush!

At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take
him under, forever.

You have two options--you can save the life of G.W.Bush or you can
shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo, documenting the death
of one of the world's most powerful men.

So here's the question, and please give an honest answer:

Would you select high contrast color film, or would you go with the
classic simplicity of black and white?

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Not cool.

:-(

 

[maytagbear]

Well,

I think it's funny!

Not everyone here will agree, though.

My answer is: "Some moments are better if kept private, no?"

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch]

B&W!

The average 9 year-old sees the world in black and white. There are no shades of good versus evil (grays). So I'd say it fits the BUSH PERFECTLY.

BEST ALL-TIME SLOGAN (seen in Gay neighborhood)
*SO NO TO BUSH* and
*NO MORE BUSH*

 

[maytagbear]

A word--

Unfortunately, what might have been seen (by some) as funny a month ago is not particularly funny now.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch]

ooopps.

No disrespect to anyone connected to or sufferning from recent events. I didn't even realize that scenario was in the joke because I received this joke (from someone else) way back when Louisiana was intact, so I read it with a different set of eyes.

I am asolutely sure with every fiber of my being that there was absolutely no disrespect intended.

So please everyone let's not get too heavy.

 

[tolivac]

I don't know if this question is in good taste after the Katrina event-but I would put my camera down and try to save a life.Thats one of the problems with some journalists.Life always come first!

 

[cleanteamofny]

My gut instint tells me to save him, but my heart tells me that that photo would look good in black and white so his good ole dad would have said "It should have been me!"

Lie to me once shame on me, lie to me twice shame on you!

This is not a great topic but it really can opens ones eyes on how we treat our fellow man........

And I'm in the wrong stating my true feelings!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Someone save the president please

No Larry, you are never wrong for stating you true feelings, no one ever is unless you are hurting someone’s feelings unnecessarily. If the president can't take it too bad, then he needs to learn to type or take in laundry then.

Personally I would definitely drop the camera and save him too, he doesn't deserve the death penalty, he'd be getting off way too easy. Besides he can't be tried in court of law when he's dead.

 

[shanonabc]

Colour LOL

 

[rickr]

I would save him for sure! It would be a pity to loose the worst president in history,before he has had a full eight years to teach us "give away" Liberals (and the Conservatives) what "moral values" really are....

 

[gansky1]

FUBAR

The more I research, read and absorb, the more angry I get! My 'rant of the day' was found on the web tonight. "An Ill Wind and American Policy" was written in September 2003. It's so scary, it will send a chill down your back.

http://www.walterbrasch.com/disaster.htm

 

[petek]

What interesting times we live in.
From an non US perspective I don't believe I'm alone in my wonderment at the American psyche and some of its contradictions. For a nation espousing the seperation of church and state I can think of no other where any politician even hoping for a seat or keeping one cannot ever,without appearing in the public eye and professing the phrase "God Save America". It also strikes me as odd if not a little uncomfortable with the almost religious reverence many attribute to the President himself, as if a deity not to be mocked, or suffer the consequence being labeled as un'American. You'll never witness this in any other western country to my knowledge, politicians especially are always ripe for the pickings no less than anyone else in the public eye and that goes for any president, prime minister whether they're in the UK, Italy, France, Canada and no doubt Aussie.
But my biggest wonderment of all, moreso than being duped into a war thru false information is how easily the American people have given up their freedoms under the Patriot Act. That I never believed would happen. What happened?

 

[pulsatron]

People in public life

A most interesting question, I would jump in and try to save him for at the end of the day he is a human being regardless of politics.
This topic has intrigued me and if I may, I would like to pose a similar type of question to everyone.
Fairly recently here in New South Wales State politics we had a situation where at a private party and quite drunk, our former Leader of The Opposition made a fairly tasteless remark aboyut a former Premier's wife(for our U.S. friends our Premier is the equivalent of your State Governor.), and was groping a few young ladies this was kept hidden for about 3 weeks when the story broke and in the end the fellow apologised publicly on numerous occasions and finally resigned from his job.
Now I would have thought that would be the end of it, but however the local tabloid newspaper kept on hounding and hounding the guy and supposedly had some more dirt on him and were going to publish it the next day the guy found out on the night before locked himsdelf in his office and tried to take his own life due to the relentless pressure, I believe he is now recovering in a mental institution in the bush somewhere.
The question I pose is do we expect too much of public figures? do we expect them to be picture perfect and totally without faults? and I wonder do the media sometimes go too far in chasing an alledged story?
I would be interested in what you good folk think on this.
Cheers Steve.

 

[gizmo]

I'd rescue him.
When I was sure he was safe I'd tell him his life had just been saved by a homosexual.
Then I'd poke the ba$ta*d in the eye.
Chris.

 

[retromom]

Puleeeeeze........

I would throw the life preserver to George Bush provided he would swear up and down to reform his trade and immigration policies! NAFTA has been a one way street (for Mexico) and trade with China has got to stop. After all, they are trying to implode our economy by their manufacture of cheap goods and hoarding of crude oil. No more outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries; we have folks in the US that could use these jobs! No more endless benefits for "illegal" aliens. Our social services are overburdened to the point of collapse. Now with the hardships Katrina has caused, these services will be at the breaking point. Our legal citizens must come first.

Oh, one more thing George....you must pronounce it "nuclear" NOT "nucular". As long as you have your finger on the button, call it what it really is!

Worst president....ooooh that's a toughie! My "concrete lifeboat award" would have to go to Jimmy (when our country had no backbone) Carter followed a close second by Lyndon (Mr. Great Society) Johnson.

 

[rickr]

Bush in comparison to the worst of the worst

According to historians:
Worse than Reagan: Unconscionable military aggression and spending,and the damage done to the welfare of the poor while the corporate rich get richer,plus the backwards religious fundamentalism permeating this administration.

Worse than Nixon: Bush has systematically lied to the American public about almost every policy that his administration promotes. Bush uses "doublespeak" to dress up policies that condone or aid attacks by polluter and expoiters of the environment... Names like the "Forest Restoration Act" (which encourages the cutting down of forests)

Worse than Hoover:Bush is moving to bankrupt the federal government on the eve of the retirement of the baby boom generation,and has brought America's reputation in the world to its lowest point in the entire history of the United States.

Worse than Coolidge: Bush's presidency has been an unmitigated disaster for the environment,for intermational relations,for health care,and for working Americans. (on par with Coolidge)

Worse than Harding: Oil,money,and politics again combine in ways not flattering to the integrity of the office. Both men also have a tendency to mangle the English language yet get their points across to ordinary Americans. (yet the comparison does Harding something of a disservice)

Worse than McKinley: Bush is the first president since McKinley to be entirely "in the hip pocket" of big business,engage in major external conquests for reasons other than mational security,AND be the puppet of his political handler. McKinley had Mark Hanna; Bush has Karl Rove. No wonder McKinley is Rove's favorite president. (precedent?)

Worst than Grant: He ranks with U.S.Grant as the worst. His oil interests and Cheney's corporate Haliburton contracts smack of the same corruption found under Grant.

Worse than Andrew Johnson: Bush's presidency has been a sellout of fundamental democratic (and Republican) principles. There are too many examples to list on this one.

Worse than Buchanan: Buchanan can be said to have made the Civil War inevitable or to have made the war last longer by his pusillanimity of,possibly,treason. Buchanan allowed a war to evolve,but that war addressed a real set of national issues. Mr.Bush started a war....for what reason?

Worst than....

A few comments from historians: Bush is horrendous,there is no comparison with previous presidents most of who have been bad.
He is blatantly a puppet for corporate interests,who care only about their own greed and have no sense of civic responsibility of community service.
He lies contantly and often,seemingly without control,and he lied about his invasion into a sovereign country,again for corporate interests,many people have died and been maimed,and he had lied about that too. He grandstands and mugs in a shameful manner,befittin a snake oil salesmen,not a statesman.
He does not think or speak well,and is emotionally immature due to,among other things,his lack of recovery from substance abuse. (The term is "dry drunk")
He is abject embarrassment/pariah overseas,the rest of the world hates him...He is by far,the most irresponsible,unethical,inexcusable occupant of our fomerly highest office in the land that there has ever been.

And there is more....
Worst Since:
In terms of economic damage,Reagan

In terms of imperialism,T.Roosevelt

In terms of dishonesty in government,Nixon

In terms of incompetence,Harding

In terms of corruption,Grant

In terms of general lassitude oand cluelessness,Coolidge

In terms of personal dishonesty,Clinton

In terms of religous arrogance,Wilson

There is much more,however I have no more time left.
I say let history be the judge of G.W.Bush

 

[fixerman]

What are these "Hostorians" names? Sounds like left wing propaganda to me.

 

[gansky1]

And then there's the money...

Here is another article on Bush By The Numbers. Incredible. The national debt is increasing at a rate of $24,000 per SECOND. Most handheld calculators are not capable of displaying the total debt accrued in one day.

http://www.walterbrasch.com/bythenumbers.htm

 

[gansky1]

National Debt Clock

Open the link and hit refresh a few times...

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

 

[Versatronic]

My 2 cents

Discussing politics on a hobby site is a good way to turn friends into enemies. I wouldn't avise it. I've seen it ruin good sites before and it can do the same thing here. There are plenty of sites where people can get up on a soapbox and expouse bitter partisan politics. And it never changes minds. Why do it here and run the risk of turning the place ugly? Isn't it better to focus on the things we have in common and make this place a wonderful respite from things political? Just a thought.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

I totally agree Versa

The other risk is that it is hard to tell in the written word when someone is being good-naturedly satiric versus outright offensive to some people-- I stopped watching Saturday Night Live several years ago because it is less satire and more just cheap shots (that and the fact that someone thinks Tina Fey is a good comedy writer).

I stopped talking politics to friends who are "across the isle" from me politically---as Versa mentioned, it won't change anything and leads to bad feelings. The best things in life are not political.

 

[tolivac]

Maybe the webmaster should close this thread?

 

[retromom]

We're still good friends!

We do enjoy some lively political discussions here, don't we! The great thing about this forum is that we can speak our peace and remain friends. I don't think anyone expects to change minds, but rather present varying views on current affairs. That's one of the great things about America, free speech. No offense taken here!

 

[jmirawm]

oh my.....

I did not think about creating such a whirlwind of discussion. I received the joke, it made me laugh. I just wanted to share the laughter. I did not think about those who would not be amused. If I offended anyone....sorry about that. <p> I'm just a soul whose intentions are good, oh lord please dont let me be misunderstood........

 

[rickr]

Yes we are good friends!I have many friends that are Republicans. We talk about all kinds of things,and usually do not agree on politics.We do tease each other about the blunders done by each party also. And we are still good friends. I gave Venus a big hug the first time I met her in person this summer.I knew that she was a Republican at that time.And will be giving her another hug the next time I see her. While I do not consider my post a personal attack on anyone here, I do realize that history cannot be rewritten,and can be very unkind. Sorry if I offended anyone,as it was not my intent.

BTW: The information in the post was condensed from a survey of 415 historians.

Rick

 

[gansky1]

No offense!

Many of us on this forum have been friends for a long time and have become quite close. I use nearly 2000 minutes of long distance every month keeping up! Everyone has differences and we will certainly never all think alike or agree on everything but are all accepting of these individualities. I look at coming here being just as good as a family dinner where we all catch up on current events, family happenings and events, pets, on and on. We might share a common interest in vintage appliances and the like, but what makes it so much fun are the bonds we've made with the others we see here. If you read through the archives, you'll see we have had many outpourings of support and caring concern for other members going through hard times. When our country is going through hard times, we have each other to talk to, learn from and sometimes 'vent' with. I certainly haven't taken offense to anyone elses opinions here, quite the contrary, I like hearing all sides of issues - the ways we are all different make us all the same; free. I love the internet because it's as personal as you want it to be. If you don't like what you see, click away.

I know I would pull anyone out of raging waters, no matter what - for no other reason than it's another human being.

 

[runematic]

Bubba Clinton

Let's see...

Clinton pushes NAFTA through Congress. Costs us thousands of jobs. That's all right, we need to help them there Mexicans.

Clinton sends the FBI, ATF, etc to Waco and murders the Branch Dividians, whoops, our bad. Didn't think that the blazing fire would actually hurt 'em. No one resigned from his staff for that one.

Clinton had plenty of opportunities to get Osama, but thanks anyway, we didn't need to have him handed over to us then. Why would we want him? He's not such a bad dude. The Prez will just fire a few missles into a pharmacuetical factory. that'll show 'em.

And here's a nice one from the USA TOday 02/21/2001:

Former president calls Rich pardon 'disgraceful'

AMERICUS, Ga. (AP) — Former President Carter said Tuesday that Bill Clinton abused his power and brought disgrace to the White House with his last-minute pardon of fugitive Marc Rich.

"I think President Clinton made one of his most serious mistakes in the way he handled the pardon situation the last few hours he was in office," Carter said during a speech at Georgia Southwestern State University. "A number of them were quite questionable, including about 40 not recommended by the Justice Department."

Of the Rich pardon, Carter said: "I don't think there is any doubt that some of the factors in his pardon were attributable to his large gifts. In my opinion, that was disgraceful."

Clinton has insisted there was nothing wrong with his pardon of Rich, who until then had been wanted by the Justice Department for allegedly evading more than $48 million in taxes, fraud and illegal oil deals with Iran.

The pardon is the subject of U.S. congressional hearings and a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors in New York.

Carter, who left office in 1981, said he pardoned about 500 people during his four years in the White House, most of those in the first three years, and none during the final weeks of his term.

"I never pardoned anyone whose pardon was not recommended to me after a complete investigation by the Justice Department," Carter said.

Mayor Nagin not wanting to use school buses to evacuate folks, insisting on Greyhound buses, declining AMTRAK offers for a special train to evacuate, blaming everyone but he & his administration.

Here's another good one for the Demorcratic Gov of La.

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005 11:52 p.m. EDT
Gov. Kathleen Blanco's Bureaucrats Blocked Food and Water

The Red Cross was reportedly ready to deliver food, water and other supplies to flood-ravaged refugees who were sweltering inside New Orleans' Superdome last week - but the relief was blocked by bureaucrats who worked for Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

Fox News Channel's Major Garrett reported Wednesday that the Red Cross had "trucks with water, food, hygiene equipment, all sorts of things ready to go ... to the Superdome and Convention Center."

But the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security, Garrett said, "told them they could not go."
"The Red Cross tells me that Louisiana's Department of Homeland Security said, 'Look, we do not want to create a magnet for more people to come to the Superdome or Convention Center, we want to get them out,'" he explained.

"So at the same time local officials were screaming where is the food, where is the water, the Red Cross was standing by ready [and] the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security said you can't go."


Those folks should be held accountable as well.

Then we have the bloated Senator from Mass. good ol' Teddy boy. Definitely don't want to go for a ride with that guy. Might somehow run off a bridge and drown or somethin'.

Sorry for the long post. I could go on & on, but this is an appliance site. We really shouldn't get into slinging mud. Most elected officials are suspect.

http://prorev.com/legacy.htm

 

[Brneyedgrl80]

Getting back to the joke...

I would use black & white, it's more dramatic. ;-)

 

[rickr]

Slinging mud is one thing,facts are another...

And facts are what make up history.The president IS the commander in chief:

Bin Ladin is now in custody?

We are safer as a nation,and better able to handle a disaster?

The 2000 federal surplus of $230 billion is now a deficit of?

Conservative means small government,and lower taxes for who?

The war in Iraq was not miscalculated?

Things are much better in Iraq now?

The Taliban and Al Qaeda are getting weaker?

No bid government contracts to big business are good for our economy?

The survey mentioned previously was completed in the spring of 2004. Before the hurricane disaster,or the last election. Of the 415 historians surveyed at that time,338 classified President Bush's administration a failure,and 77 as a success.

Like all past world leaders,all previous american presidents have earned their own place in history. We learn of them in American History class. Some were great,some better than others,some not so good,and others are barely even mentioned. Past leaders are never rated for history by agents like: Fox News,Randi Rhoades,Rush Limbaugh,or Ann Coulter. World leaders are all on a stage which is rated by professional historians. So we all will have to wait and see.