Obama the Coward

Elizabeth September 14, 2012 at 06:18 pm

Speaking of killing innocents....
According to the CDC 825,564 babies were aborted in the United States in 2008 alone. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6015a1.htm?s_cid=ss6015a1_w#Tab1 Too bad that isn't shocking to people too.

Thomas Gibson September 14, 2012 at 08:27 pm

It is Liz. I have 5 kids myself, well me and the wife, would never do that to gods gift. You think by now, everyone would know whay a condom is.

Eric Robert Santiago September 15, 2012 at 11:02 am

I echo Thomas' comments, thank god you are not the President Rich....

Thomas Gibson September 15, 2012 at 03:24 pm

Let me clarify. We do need to do something. Obama jawing about it is no help, more harm then good. I just do not see that wiping Libya off the map would do any good. Now, taking out their leaders would be a good thing. Replace them with someone who will act human. If we can find someone like that, although I have my doubts...

Lincoln Douglas September 15, 2012 at 10:27 pm

Would the Patch editors help me out here: is the Patch a source for news or is it a soapbox for people to advocate war and the murder of millions of civilians? Your own website says that "We want to be the most trusted, comprehensive, and relevant news and information resource in your community." Does this article serve that purpose or undermine it?

Jim Frain September 15, 2012 at 11:52 pm

Lincoln, I am not a Patch editor, just a reader and I am sure that they will respond to you question. I enjoy the comprehensive community news from our O'Fallon Patch....A local event takes place and it is nicely covered which is exactly what their mission statement details. We are fortunate here to have a wonderful editor in Jordan Lanham...she goes above and beyond on our city events...excellent! However, I struggle deeply with the continuing negativity on political issues. It's my belief that there is pressure to gain readers and this is why these issues go on and on. Apparently, it's the "political trash talk" that people want to share. I'm not sure if the Patch can do much about it without losing readers... I have chosen to enjoy the local coverage which is excellent and I just pass by the negative political rantings and the Mugs in the News feature too. AOL owns the Patch and they want to make some money with the advertisers, and that comes from readers.

Lincoln Douglas September 16, 2012 at 03:01 pm

Jim, good points. It may be so, but Patch promotes itself as a news source, which implies a certain degree of journalism involved. Mr. Pope's column is completely devoid of journalism. It is pure vitriol and ad hominem attacks. I would much rather read a column by the most hawkish, right-wing, pro-Israel neocon you can find (e.g., Bill Kristol, Charles Krauthammer); it would at least contain a kernel of truth and thought. Mr. Pope's other columns are similarly knuckleheaded, sexist, and xenophobic, but at least one can laugh them off as semi-harmless musings by a local hoosier who probably means well. Yet here he wants to "bomb Libya back into the stone age." Even if that's the sixth Budweiser talking, it's still pretty irresponsible to publish it if you (i.e., Patch) are trying to create the image of a source for news. Mr. Pope's views belong in the discussion boards and comments section, not with a headline and the imprimatur of a news organization.

Rich Pope September 16, 2012 at 04:15 pm

Yup, and I would kill all the animals and poison the water. Just like Rome did when it went to war.

Rich Pope September 16, 2012 at 04:15 pm

But Eric, I would make you my Chief of Staff. We could rule the world.

Rich Pope September 16, 2012 at 07:29 pm

Lincoln, of course my blogs are devoid of journalism. That's because I'm not a journalist. And yes, I am a knucklehead. Probably the biggest knucklehead you'll ever meet with three university degrees. I am sexist but I'll have to look up the word xenophobic. The reason the editor of the Patch publishes my blogs is because she understands that 99.9% of the time, everything I say is tongue and cheek. She gets what you can't see.

Thomas Gibson September 16, 2012 at 07:32 pm

Sorry Rich, but the military is full of people like me. We would disobey you and you are to much of a wimp to go do it yourself. Yes, I served for 30 years, how about you?

Doug Miner (Editor) September 16, 2012 at 08:02 pm

Lincoln Douglas- I'll respond, as a Patch editor in St. Louis. Patch sites have many outlets for community contributions. Commenting on articles is one, and blogging is another, and anyone is welcome to do either. As long as a commenter or blogger generally plays nice, Patch editors don't get involved. Rich Pope decided to write a blog, which you are very welcome to do as well! Thanks for your involvement in Patch.

Thomas Gibson September 16, 2012 at 08:11 pm

I like that reply Rich! Way to go. What people have to remember is that these blogs are opinions. We are free to agree or disagree. But there has to be an outlet and the patch lets us do that. I tend to get full of myself at times, sorry if that bugs anyone. But that is just me, an opionated you know what!

Rich Pope September 16, 2012 at 11:31 pm

Thomas, you're fine and I appreciate your opinion. Truthfully, I have no idea how to handle situations like Libya. Also, I'm actually scared to death of where the world is headed. When I get nervous or worried, I use sarcasm and humor as an outlet or else I would wind up in a mental hospital. It seems these terrorists have us by the short hairs. They hide in schools, mosques and other places we just can't attack because of civilian casualties. To me, all of this seems like a speeding train headed for a cliff and I truthfully lose sleep over it. If I were the president I probably would be hiding under my desk with a bottle of scotch.

RDBet September 17, 2012 at 12:11 am

Well said LD. And sorry Doug, but that is a weak stance. If members of the Taliban, KKK want to blog on this website they are welcome to it, as long as they "play nice" -whatever that means.

Doug Miner (Editor) September 17, 2012 at 12:15 am

I was referring to Patch's "Terms of Use."

Thomas Gibson September 17, 2012 at 12:19 am

Make mine guiness stout and I would join you. I am good when someone smarter is in charge.

Rich Pope September 17, 2012 at 01:01 am

Maybe we should all meet for a beer and some wings. I hate how this has spun out of control. Doug's buying of course.

Thomas Gibson September 17, 2012 at 01:05 am

Sounds good to me. Don't worry about it, we all like a good argument.

Brian Feldt (Editor) September 17, 2012 at 08:22 pm

Patch does, indeed, strive to be the most trusted, comprehensive, and relevant news and information resource in each community we serve. As part of that, readers are allowed to participate in discussions and share their perspectives via our Local Voices blogging platform. (http://ofallon.patch.com/about)
If a reader decides to write a blog on Patch, they agree to the following (from our Patch blogging terms of use at http://ofallon.patch.com/blog/blogger-tos) - Patch provides a forum with a targeted, local audience for them to share their views and express their unique opinions and ideas. - They are an independent contractor and not an employee of Patch. - They can write about anything they want and Patch does not select or approve their topics for them.

Brian Feldt (Editor) September 17, 2012 at 08:29 pm

To add to my above comment, bloggers agree that those guidelines and Patch's Terms of Use (http://ofallon.patch.com/terms) constitute the entire agreement between them and Patch regarding the subjects covered.

Jim Frain September 18, 2012 at 05:35 pm

So Brian, what you are saying is that a Blogger with Patch must comply with the terms of use, correct? Is there an effort by Patch to make sure that these terms of use are being followed by bloggers as detailed? I blog with Patch and I take these terms of use seriously.

Lincoln Douglas September 18, 2012 at 07:19 pm

Rich and Doug, I appreciate the replies. However, nowhere on this page does it say that Rich is a blogger or that he's merely writing troll bait with the sole goal of offending people (as he sort of admits to his tongue-in-cheek style). His name appears under the Patch masthead above, which implies some kind of implicit endorsement from the Patch organization. Patch needs to do something from an editorial or design standpoint that clearly differentiates the freewheeling bloggers from the journalists so that readers understand that there is no editorial control over the bloggers. Otherwise, where is the line between news and satire (or hate speech)? Without editorial control or demarcation for satire, the impression is that Patch finds the bloggers' views acceptable, even when they are abhorrent (e.g., bombing Libya). Rich has every right to espouse his views in public forums, but my suggestion here is that he has crossed a line that damages Patch as a brand and devalues its editorial standards. Doug, does advocating the bombing of a sovereign nation fall under "playing nice"?

Lincoln Douglas September 18, 2012 at 07:30 pm

I hate to niggle about details, but Rich's blog here violates two terms of the Patch Terms of Service agreement, that is the part where the user agrees not to write anything that "is threatening, harassing or that promotes racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual;
promotes or encourages violence..."

Thomas Gibson September 18, 2012 at 09:41 pm

If you will notice, his story is in a column labeled patch blogs. Think that says it all. Quit nitpicking, this is a great site. Go elsewhere if you do not like it.

Heidi L. September 18, 2012 at 10:33 pm

blog
  [blawg, blog] Show IPA noun, verb, blogged, blog·ging. noun 1. a Web site containing the writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other Web sites. copied from Dictionary.com

RDBet September 18, 2012 at 11:09 pm

Well, he garnered himself the attention he craved.

Bill McKenzie September 19, 2012 at 02:40 pm

To get back to the subject of the article, I don't see why we need to let terrorists make us throw up our hands or hide under our desks . We simply need to act on our intelligence, not let political considerations trump our responsibility to defend our people. Our president has failed to do this.

Gramps Pupany September 19, 2012 at 03:05 pm

Tea Party and GOP corruption starts with Romney & Ryan and lies they told us about who they'll serve and who they won't. Lies of "omission", like hidden budget cuts, are equal to lies of "commission", like telling the rich one thing and the rest of America another.
They're up to his necks in The Lying Game. What they say is all part of the larger GOP strategy. Believe me, Ryan "takes direction" in order to "stay on" the Republican message. He must "sing the GOP song" to be a GOP candidate. All across the nation, millionaires are backing these liars. They want full control in order to create the final divide between rich and poor. "Us and them". Their misjudgment? A lot of that 47% they despise is part of working America; students working their way through college, single moms restarting their lives with their first job since high school and truly poor mothers, working while the kids are at school, just to buy fuel oil for this winter and food for the day. These are proud Americans. Romney has just stolen their pride, their will power and more...their dignity. Men like Romney, Ryan and Republican candidates for Congress have no place in the seats of government (at any level) making decisions for "all Americans". They only have experience with the "jet set" and their "country club" members. That's okay, if you're running for Prom Queen, but the responsibilities here are far reaching and their vision does not include all Americans, as we've just found out.

Elizabeth September 19, 2012 at 03:47 pm

And President Obama hobnobs with the Hollywood Elite and accepts tons of cash from GE, the labor Unions, Goldman-Sachs, Solyndra and many, many more. I consider that pretty jet-set. Since this President took office there are more long term unemployed, more people on disability and more people taking food stamps. He WANTS the populous dependent on government.