vol_scouter

Gern, One more time, OGE said that he did not understand the motivation for the KGB link. I merely explained that view. You obviously are having a hard time understanding that difference. You certainly continually confirm my views of left wing nuts.

BadenP, I do not know if Kennedy committed treason or not and I have not accused him. I merely tried to explain why some people discussed it. I have not stated my personal opinion. I remember left wingers discussing Iran-contra at Reagan's funeral. If the left does not want their heroes gored, they should not engage in the same activities. Kennedy served his state and Massachusetts was apparently happy with his representation. For that he is to be commended. For those who do not share Kennedy's socialism, he is not beloved. I would prefer that such discussions be avoided for a

"Christy" is listed as fiction even though it is biographical whereas "Roots" has been listed as non-fiction even though it was plagiarized and made up. So what is your point?

I have often read where conservatives will wake some blame for the role of republicans in whatever the issue may be. Left wingers never will admit wrongdoing on the part of the democrats. Thomas Sowell is a black man at Stanford University's Hoover Institute. I am sure that I do not need to point out that Stanford is highly regarded and is certainly left leaning. The Hoover Institute is also highly regarded. So the things to look for in the fiction department are not from Thomas Sowell. The left wing would rather make ad hominem attacks than argue facts since their positions are usually

Gern, I did not indicate my opinion, I merely stated the motivation for the criticism of a recently deceased person. I am of the opinion that had it been someone less influential, rich, and powerful there would have been an investigation and likely charges of treason.

Have you read Duff's book? I have not read John Smith's writings or the Book of Mormon so I should not comment on how I would judge the veracity of his works.

Read "Lord and Scoutmaster" by Karl M. Duff if you can find it. Either this military officer and scoutmaster is nothing but a liar or miracles occur.

OGE, I believe that the reason it came up at this time is that asking the president of an unfriendly nation to help to defeat a candidate for president is treasonous. So to have someone buried in the hallowed ground of Arlington Cemetery who many consider to have committed a treasonous act, it is hard to remain silent.

Neil, The numbers are much smaller than is tossed around in the popular press. According to the CDC, male homosexuals in the 'lifestyle' for an extended time make up less than 2% of the population. Apparently, a number of young males 'try out' a homosexual 'lifestyle' which inflates the numbers. Lifestyle is in quotes because I am not trying to imply that it is only a lifestyle choice in all cases because I do not believe that to be the case. Rather it is to be compared to a heterosexual 'lifestyle'. All of that said, the studies are difficult at best but the CDC tends to do a go

MDsummer45, Any word yet?

Dan, I think that we are much on the same page. The folks that I term confused are the ones that you talk about in a transition. I would include in that the unfortunate folks who are trying to decide whether they wish to transition. We may quibble about terminology but I think that people who are dealing with significant emotional problems involving not only gender but other issues are best to avoid being a role model for our youth. Where we likely disagree would be where a leader wishes to flaunt either by actions or words sexual orientation, transgender, et cetera issues

Gern, The answer depends upon the studies and facts that you wish to use as was discussed at length between DanKroh, Hal_Crawford, and I. None of the information should be considered entirely factual. Some information points to a significant increase in risk for same sex molestation for adult male homosexual leaders while other would say that the risk is about the same as for heterosexuals. I find the former studies more compelling whereas Dan and Hal find the latter studies more compelling. So religion is not the only reason to avoid homosexual leaders depending upon who you wish

First, testicular feminization is a condition where the person is biologically a male but has no testosterone receptors. As a result, they develop as a female without sex organs. If caught early, the testes which typically have not descended are removed (due to likely malignant transformation) and a vagina is constructed. They tend to be volptuous women (a famous actress has this conditon). Obviously, they are sterile. It points out how complicated these issues can become. In the case of testicular feminization caught early, the person has a vagina, looks, and acts like a female. Unfort

I have started at least 3 responses about health care and as a professional, I have some insights worth discussing but Obama and his snitch program scare me. The left said that it was their patriotic duty to protest against President Bush and paid for professional protesters. Now the left is squelching dissent to Obama's plans which is OK. Such a hypocritical stance. These are truly frightening times.

BrentAllen, You are almost correct. The 80% expenditure is for caring for patients in FIRST and last weeks of life. Enormous expense is associated with premature infants as well as the elderly. Simply allowing physicians to have more authority to stop care that is futile without a threat of lawsuits would make a real and enormous reduction in those expenditures. Obama and the dems are against any tort reform - he has to pay back all of his supporters, in this case trial lawyers. Obama's speech to the AMA did a good job of identifying the problems. Unfortunately, none of his or t

If you wish to compare like things, then stay on the topic of wasteful spending. The topic was not the war. The democrats voted for the war as well. They were briefed and made speeches on why we needed to go to Iraq. I agree that we should not have invaded Iraq but President Bush is longer in office. It is now Obama's spending and the trillion dollars in new debt since Obama took office does not include the wars. Obama is spending money that the country cannot afford. He and the democrats are dooming the country.

Gern, The invasion of Iraq was wrong but it looks like it might work in the long run. We can all hope that it does work out well for the Iraqis and the US. That sais, we spent what was it 35 or 50 billion dollars on GM and Chrysler to keep them from going bankrupt only to have them go bankrupt. The only difference is that in the bankruptcy, the unions won instead of their contracts being negated. Chrysler is now owned by Fiat so we didn't save Chrysler - we just saved the union. GM no longer exists but a new GM that went through bankruptcy still has generous union contracts. Both

I believe that there are some aspects of the house bill and Obama's plan that are positive but more negative. I will not say more because I am truly concerned about being reported to the White House.

DanKroh, You are then most likely right, at least for your study area. I am not disputing your assertation but just still a little cautious. Some of the characters that I see in the gay pride parades make me shudder but obviously they may be OK folks just expressing themselves in ways completely foreign to me. Hal said that many scouters wished that this would go away - count me in! Pack, Actually, you are probably right that we could enjoy a lively discussion. I have found that when reasonable people discuss these issues, that we all have similar goals: nati

Hal, I agree about too much bad press and attention to things that are not that important in the long run. The only way that I think letting CO's determine the gay issue is to allow them to be more stringent as well as less. So that a CO could say no gays and only certain religious views. If that carrot is not thrown in, many would leave. I think that you are right about who would join. We still have to be vigilant of EVERYONE to prevent child abuse. I hope that we get that cup of coffee (which means I have slimmed down to meet the weight restrictions!)

Hal, Pedophiles by definition have sex with pre-pubertal children. So most of the instances that I have read about or are personally aware do not involve pedophiles. Dan Kroh has correctly identified them as ephebophiles. I agree that they compose the majority of molesters from what I have read in the media and from information that I am privy. The real issue as to homosexuals from a YP stand point is whether or not 'statistically' they are more likely to molest a child than heterosexuals. If the rate of abuse was ~2%, then there would be no real risk as compared to heterosexuals

In a partial response to Packsaddle, Hal, and Dan, an article dealing with the prevalence of homosexuality can be found at the CDC: Sexual Behavior and Selected Health Measures: Men and Women 1544 Years of Age, United States, 2002, W. D. Mosher, A. Chandra, and J. Jones, Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics, CDC, Number 362, September 15, 2005. The number of males 15-44 having a homosexual encounter in the past 12 months is 2.9%. Another article that I read at the time of publication several years ago building upon this data and taking all males with long term homosexual relation

Where are the demands from the left to repeal the Patriotic Act? The left and the media were consistently attacking President Bush over the Patriotic Act. Obama promised to repeal the act but has done nothing to do so. He has been busy but such I hated act by the left (and by many of us on the right as well) should take little political effort. Yet, Obama is insisting on a socialist health care plan being passed even if the senate has to resort to the so-called 'nuclear option'.Does the democrat party like the information gathering now that they totally control the government? Obama an

DanKroh, I think that your response would less relaxed if President Bush had said: "There is a lot of disinformation about the Iraq war out there. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we cant keep track of all of them here at the White House, were asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about the Iraq war that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov." You and the media would, correctly along with myself, gone ballistic. Asking people to send their recounts of casua

It is not new that speakers and Congressmen are 'shouted down'. It has been done since the sixties by the left. They are now seeing the same ill behavior since the right has read their playbook. I cannot remember a president asking Americans to turn each other in to the White House over their political views. These are scary times.