California, offically a communist state

[Cajuncowboy]

If you don't think we need to do everything we can to get more conservative judges on the bench you are nuts. Read this! First home schoolers under attack and now this!

Report: Anti-War Judge Rejects Foster Teen's Bid to Join Marines

Friday, March 07, 2008


A California judge rejected a foster teen's request for early enlistment with the Marine Corps — and a $10,000 signing bonus — reportedly on the grounds that the judge didn't approve of the Iraq war.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Marilyn Mackel denied 17-year-old Shawn Sage's request to join the military last October, according to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News.

"The judge said she didn't support the Iraq war for any reason we're over there," Marine recruiter Sgt. Guillermo Medrano of the Simi Valley U.S. Marine Corps recruiting office told the paper.

"She just said all recruiters were the same — that they 'all tap dance and tell me what I want to hear.' She said she didn't want him to fight in it."

Sage, a Simi Valley, Calif., resident, begged the anti-war judge for permission to join, according to the Daily News.

"Foster children shouldn't be denied [an] ability to enlist in the service just because they're foster kids," Sage told the paper. "Foster kids shouldn't have to go to court to gain approval to serve one's country."

Sage plans to join the Marines when he turns 18 in June and his case has prompted a Republican lawmaker to introduce a bill that would allow foster teens to enlist in the military without the express permission of a judge.

[Vintage]

If the judge wanted to object because of the age, I'd understand.

But to object because of political beliefs, is beyond dumb.

[Sasquatch]

If you don't think we need to do everything we can to get more conservative judges on the bench you are nuts. Read this! First home schoolers under attack and now this!

Report: Anti-War Judge Rejects Foster Teen's Bid to Join Marines

Friday, March 07, 2008


A California judge rejected a foster teen's request for early enlistment with the Marine Corps — and a $10,000 signing bonus — reportedly on the grounds that the judge didn't approve of the Iraq war.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Marilyn Mackel denied 17-year-old Shawn Sage's request to join the military last October, according to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News.

"The judge said she didn't support the Iraq war for any reason we're over there," Marine recruiter Sgt. Guillermo Medrano of the Simi Valley U.S. Marine Corps recruiting office told the paper.

"She just said all recruiters were the same — that they 'all tap dance and tell me what I want to hear.' She said she didn't want him to fight in it."

Sage, a Simi Valley, Calif., resident, begged the anti-war judge for permission to join, according to the Daily News.

"Foster children shouldn't be denied [an] ability to enlist in the service just because they're foster kids," Sage told the paper. "Foster kids shouldn't have to go to court to gain approval to serve one's country."

Sage plans to join the Marines when he turns 18 in June and his case has prompted a Republican lawmaker to introduce a bill that would allow foster teens to enlist in the military without the express permission of a judge.

Interesting and sad commentary on the judge in question. But, as regards the title of the thread, it should be noted that the communist state of California has the largest economy in the union and pays more federal taxes than it consumes unlike states such as Louisiana, for example, which live off the wealth of others by consuming more than they contribute.

[zrinkill]

I think this says more about that judge than about California as a whole.

[Cajuncowboy]

In context and against the backdrop of the previous thread regarding home schooling, I think the thread title is very appropriate.

BTW, I don't live in Louisiana.

[Sasquatch]

In context and against the backdrop of the previous thread regarding home schooling, I think the thread title is very appropriate.

BTW, I don't live in Louisiana.

It wasn't intended as a personal dig at you (I was under the impression that you were from Tenn), it just happens to be one state that I know receives more than it pays.

[Cajuncowboy]

It wasn't intended as a personal dig at you (I was under the impression that you were from Tenn), it just happens to be one state that I know receives more than it pays.

Yes, I live in TN. But I have family, (obviously) in LA. They have been so upside down and backwards in that state with respect to politics for decades. They continue to elect corrupt politicians and the problem is they don't seem to care.

It goes all the way back to Huey P. Long and continued with Blanco.

And example was New Orleans. They re-elected Naggin even after they found out that the money that he was given back during the Clinton Administration to fix the Levees, he diverted to tourism endeavors. Yet, because he was a democrat and the idiots there don't know how to vote from anyone who doesn't have D beside their name, he got re-elected.

Many people blame Bush for the Katrina disaster but let me shed some light on something.

When the storm was certain to hit NO Bush called Blanco and asked what he could do to help. She said the state had it under control. Then when it became apparent that they didn't Bush called and told her that in order to make federal funds available and to mobilize FEMA the Governor needed to declare a state of emergency. She still didn't. By the time the storm had hit and it was obvious that she wasn't doing anything, Bush called her and did everything short of demanding her to declare the SOE.

At this point they lost several days and the physical ability to come in with the federal authorities to help. In essence, because of Naggin's ineptitude and Blanco's desire to be a lone wolf on this, people in NO died and it was worse than it could have been.

The point is that the State of Louisiana has forever been like this. The local governments in some of the smaller towns is so corrupt, that I avoid certain when I go to visit. The state knows this but turns a blind eye to this.

There is some hope and most people are encouraged that Bobby Jindal is the Governor and they are hoping for something to change. Hopefully they can turn the economy around. One thing that has hurt them has been the fact that the oil industry in the state has had to farm out so much of the work that was done there because of the activists who are trying to create problems for them.

In all, the state has a lot of work to do to undo the decades of corrupt government that it has experienced.

[Sasquatch]

Yes, I live in TN. But I have family, (obviously) in LA. They have been so upside down and backwards in that state with respect to politics for decades. They continue to elect corrupt politicians and the problem is they don't seem to care.

It goes all the way back to Huey P. Long and continued with Blanco.

And example was New Orleans. They re-elected Naggin even after they found out that the money that he was given back during the Clinton Administration to fix the Levees, he diverted to tourism endeavors. Yet, because he was a democrat and the idiots there don't know how to vote from anyone who doesn't have D beside their name, he got re-elected.

Many people blame Bush for the Katrina disaster but let me shed some light on something.

When the storm was certain to hit NO Bush called Blanco and asked what he could do to help. She said the state had it under control. Then when it became apparent that they didn't Bush called and told her that in order to make federal funds available and to mobilize FEMA the Governor needed to declare a state of emergency. She still didn't. By the time the storm had hit and it was obvious that she wasn't doing anything, Bush called her and did everything short of demanding her to declare the SOE.

At this point they lost several days and the physical ability to come in with the federal authorities to help. In essence, because of Naggin's ineptitude and Blanco's desire to be a lone wolf on this, people in NO died and it was worse than it could have been.

The point is that the State of Louisiana has forever been like this. The local governments in some of the smaller towns is so corrupt, that I avoid certain when I go to visit. The state knows this but turns a blind eye to this.

There is some hope and most people are encouraged that Bobby Jindal is the Governor and they are hoping for something to change. Hopefully they can turn the economy around. One thing that has hurt them has been the fact that the oil industry in the state has had to farm out so much of the work that was done there because of the activists who are trying to create problems for them.

In all, the state has a lot of work to do to undo the decades of corrupt government that it has experienced.

Many share the blame for what happened in New Orleans, before and after, at the local, state, and federal level. We share collective responsibility for such disasters.

As for the issue of taxes, Tennessee apparently also receives more than it pays, although not the extent of LA.

[Cajuncowboy]

Many share the blame for what happened in New Orleans, before and after, at the local, state, and federal level. We share collective responsibility for such disasters.

As for the issue of taxes, Tennessee apparently also receives more than it pays, although not the extent of LA.

Well there is no state income tax here. But they level the taxes on purchases. It varies from county to county as well as they divide it up once it's collected. One thing is that we have a huge illegal immigration problem here in TN and particularly in Nashville. It is a major burden on the welfare system and the medical system. (Not to start a separate debate in this thread) . It is one of the things that is really putting pressure on the state to gain those federal dollars.

Of course the Nashville area has enough industry to offset some of those financial issues but it is still an unfair burden to those of us who pay taxes.

[BrAinPaiNt]

If the judge wants to stop someone from joining the military due to age it is one thing. To do so because they are against the law is another.

However this is not something that should be held against California IMO.

Good thing for the youth is that he can just wait till he is 18 and of legal age and can join up without anyone's permission.

It will not hurt for the youth to wait until he is 18.

However again this does not excuse what the judge did.

But to go from a stretch of a few bad judges to a communist state seems to be just another example of stretching things and placing them in a black and white box.

Oh I will agree with something Cajun said later...Louisiana has had a corrupt government for years. King Fisher.

[Cajuncowboy]

If the judge wants to stop someone from joining the military due to age it is one thing. To do so because they are against the law is another.

However this is not something that should be held against California IMO.

Good thing for the youth is that he can just wait till he is 18 and of legal age and can join up without anyone's permission.

It will not hurt for the youth to wait until he is 18.

However again this does not excuse what the judge did.

But to go from a stretch of a few bad judges to a communist state seems to be just another example of stretching things and placing them in a black and white box.

Oh I will agree with something Cajun said later...Louisiana has had a corrupt government for years. King Fisher.

Once again I was illustrating the ridiculous, with the ridiculous. You can see why I said that in light of the other thread.

And stop agreeing with me. You make me look bad. :D

[theogt]

Interesting and sad commentary on the judge in question. But, as regards the title of the thread, it should be noted that the communist state of California has the largest economy in the union and pays more federal taxes than it consumes unlike states such as Louisiana, for example, which live off the wealth of others by consuming more than they contribute.Louisiana isn't exactly a bastion of conservative economic policy from what I can tell. I think the opposite is probably true.

[Sasquatch]

Louisiana isn't exactly a bastion of conservative economic policy from what I can tell. I think the opposite is probably true.

Obviously not, despite having a republican governor, one republican senator, five out of seven republican congressmen, and voting Bush the past 2 elections.

Most conservative states have this federal imbalance while most "liberal" states tend to pay out more than they receive.

Funny how the reality belies all the conservative rhetoric on economic self-reliance, welfare dependent liberals, etc.

[Cajuncowboy]

Obviously not, despite having a republican governor, one republican senator, five out of seven republican congressmen, and voting Bush the past 2 elections.

Most conservative states have this federal imbalance while most "liberal" states tend to pay out more than they receive.

Funny how the reality belies all the conservative rhetoric on economic self-reliance, welfare dependent liberals, etc.

The Republican Governor has been in only a few months. The previous governor was a democrat. :rolleyes:

[theogt]

The Republican Governor has been in only a few months. The previous governor was a democrat. :rolleyes:And the seat held by the Republican senator was until just recently held by a Democratic senator. But these state-wide positions are all meaningless, because the largest concentration of population in the state has been one of the most liberal economic systems in the United States over the past half-century and it turned into an absolute disaster.

But we can't let facts in the way of a good discussion.

[Sasquatch]

And the seat held by the Republican senator was until just recently held by a Democratic senator. But these state-wide positions are all meaningless, because the largest concentration of population in the state has been one of the most liberal economic systems in the United States over the past half-century and it turned into an absolute disaster.

But we can't let facts in the way of a good discussion.

In other words professed ideals are often radically different than reality. Agreed.

[theogt]

In other words professed ideals are often radically different than reality. Agreed.Did you accidentally reply to the wrong post?

[burmafrd]

Sasqie NEVE admits when he is wrong. Typical Liberal.

[Cajuncowboy]

And the seat held by the Republican senator was until just recently held by a Democratic senator. But these state-wide positions are all meaningless, because the largest concentration of population in the state has been one of the most liberal economic systems in the United States over the past half-century and it turned into an absolute disaster.

But we can't let facts in the way of a good discussion.

Right. And they keep electing him. I'll never understand it. I those who are voting there are just plain stupid and don't know any better.

People should have to take a test to see if they really understand what they are voting for. I think it is irresponsible for uninformed people to vote. Why do you think there is a minimum age to vote. Otherwise we could have 5 year olds voting. Well, maybe we do in some cases.

[Sasquatch]

Did you accidentally reply to the wrong post?

I did.

As regards your post, I think you make a perfectly valid point with respect to taxes generated by the state, but I'm not sure internal politics impacts how much taxes are flowing back into the state. Wouldn't that fall under the purview of the House of Reps?

[BrAinPaiNt]

Sasqie NEVE admits when he is wrong. Typical Liberal.

Pot calling the kettle black.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Right. And they keep electing him. I'll never understand it. I those who are voting there are just plain stupid and don't know any better.

People should have to take a test to see if they really understand what they are voting for. I think it is irresponsible for uninformed people to vote. Why do you think there is a minimum age to vote. Otherwise we could have 5 year olds voting. Well, maybe we do in some cases.

I would agree with this...I mean it was proven that there needs to be a test as W won a second term.:D

[Vintage]

Right. And they keep electing him. I'll never understand it. I those who are voting there are just plain stupid and don't know any better.

People should have to take a test to see if they really understand what they are voting for. I think it is irresponsible for uninformed people to vote. Why do you think there is a minimum age to vote. Otherwise we could have 5 year olds voting. Well, maybe we do in some cases.

I understand this. I really do.

But unfortunately, those who do not know the issues have every right to vote. It annoys me greatly when people vote without really knowing the issues. But they do have the right to be uninformed and vote. Its definitely irresponsible (and stupid).... but, its their choice.

And not that you were implying otherwise.... but this applies to both camps. I know plenty of liberals and conservatives who do this. And both, as you stated, irresponsible. (this is more directed as a general comment). Of course, it could also be because of the age group I fall under (18-24) and many of my friends are in the same age block.

[heavyg]

I think this says more about that judge than about California as a whole.

Actually I lived in Calif all my life (with the exception of the last 3 yrs) and California is full of liberal judges just like this one. Especially in Northern Calif.

[mmillman]

there have been equally harebrained decisions by conservative judges.