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Lolita and the Waterjet
Posted Sunday, February 17, 2008, at 9:04 AM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
Several years ago I was working on a program to develop a waterjet system with some good folks down at the University of Missouri-Rolla. The work had begun as a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the government and a small company in Pennsylvania. One of the supporters of the program was the Representative from the 11th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, the Honorable Paul Kanjorski, who I had the opportunity to meet once during the performance of the program.
I decided to write about this because of an article that I had read just recently concerning an attack on the U.S. Congress that took place on March 1, 1954. Being somewhat of a history fanatic, I was surprised that I had not read of this earlier and being less than a year old at the time of the occurrence, I wasn't aware that it had happened at the time. Although I've been told that, even then, I was quite an intelligent kid.
This attack on Congress was carried out by four Puerto Rican Nationals from the gallery with automatic pistols. The group of four was led by a woman, Lolita Lebron, and they were all captured at the scene. There were no fatalities, although approximately 30 shots were fired and five Congressmen were injured. The four were tried, found guilty and sentenced to death, but the sentences were later commuted to life in prison. Are they still in prison, some 54 years later? That was the question this almost 55 year old wanted to know. It turns out that they are not. One of the four was released early when it was determined that he had terminal cancer and Lolita and the other two were released by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. What a nice guy. I'm not sure what the message was that President Carter was trying to send. Lolita was later honored by Fidel Castro and now lives in Puerto Rico.
The thing that really caught my eye, as I read this article, was the picture of a 16 year old page, who was helping with one of the wounded Congressmen. It was Paul Kanjorski.
This past fall, I read about an investigation into a bankrupt company owned by family members of Paul Kanjorski. Although it is not the company that I had worked with several years ago, I was surprised to see that the Navy is seeking a high pressure pump that was purchased as part of the development of a prototype waterjet system. I'm pretty sure it's not the one I worked on. Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
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There were a lot of misconceptions about the impression that Gen. Haig was trying to make at the time, when in fact, it was the President himself, who agreed to the focal point in the Situation Room.
"Although he acknowledged that ''there was some difference of opinion between Secretary Haig and Secretary Weinberger,'' Mr. Baker went out of his way to applaud Mr. Haig's general performance yesterday and to inform reporters that even as the President was entering the hospital, he had agreed that Mr. Haig should take charge in the Situation Room. Other officials, too, were at pains to emphasize how Mr. Haig, a former White House chief of staff, had drawn the Government together."
Simmons, it was not my intention to be a conspiracy nut, just stating what a nut would believe. It wasn't long ago that Indiana Congressman Dan Burton was shooting Watermelons in his yard in Marion, his reason he was trying to prove that the Clinton's had been involved in the death of Vince Foster. One thing I did find fascinating about the attempt on Reagan, was how Sec. Of State Haig stated, he was now in charge, when in reality he would have been fourth. It is not something that happens often but one would thank that all members of the Cabinet would be aware of the proper chain of command.
Vaisforlovers: West Point isn't for everybody, E.A. Poe didn't like it either. I'm just glad Carl got out and wrote Rootabaga Stories. If you've never read any of them, you should make some time for them. Welcome to the Village of Liver-and-Onions. Remember this little girl, "Never kick a slipper at the moon if it is the time of the Dancing Slipper Moon..."
Tonight we are past the Dancing Slipper Moon and if you venture out around 10pm Eastern Time and the sky is clear...you may see the eclipse and a beautiful red moon.
Just because someone wanted us to research the Hinckley and Bush connection, I did. It seems that Scott Hinckley was the date of a girlfriend of Neil Bush's wife. They were supposed to have dinner at the Bush's the night before the assassination attempt on Reagan, however that dinner date was cancelled. There were social and business ties betwen the two families, but I think it a stretch for anyone to assume a conspiracy.
I agree about the fixing of right vs. wrong, just as DNA evidence should correct prison terms if entered as new evidence. In that case, OJ Simpson is guilty.
I did not answer your other questions because I did not know the answers. I assume you were referring to George H. W. Bush.
Good discussion. I wish high school kids would read and learn some of this history.
Sandburg attended West Point for 2 weeks.
Dylan always gave credit to Lincoln for the "fooling all the people all the time" quip, but somewhere along the way was told it was actually Carl Sandburg who had originally said it.
Sandburg did say it, but only because he was quoting Lincoln. Dylan had a ton of fun with this afterwards, and even jokingly credits Sandburg in his legendary Philharmonic show from '64.
"I'll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours." - Bob Dylan
Greene County Patriot, just wondered did you not think that Gov. Clinton could have stepped in on behalf of his brother before he went to prison. In fact how many Gov. do you think would have allowed their own brothers to go to prison while they were in office. Bill Clinton gave the Pardon after his brother had served his entire sentence. Bill Clinton made many horrible mistakes, but in comparison this just wasnt one of them. Noticed you have never told me who had dinner with John Hinkley's brother the night before he shot Reagan? Also ask who would have taken over if Reagan would not have survived? Also who gave one of the largest contributions to the next President? Just in case your wondering, Bush, Bush, Hinkley. Dont worry I am not like many, I am not a conspiracy nut, but must conclude if it would have been a Democrat, " President Kennedy"(Lyndon Johnson) "Vince Foster" (Bill Clinton) get my point, just how you look at things.
Simmons,again thank you for the post. After reading a little more on Lolita, was surprised to see she was actually found "Not Guilty" on the most serious of charges. She in fact spent 25 years, which is about 4 times the length of a murder conviction in Indiana. She was eligible for parole many years earlier and did not apply. Now to tell you how I really feel, now dont take me as a hard--- but I feel one should never be given a Pardon, except to "right a wrong" in other words, to fix an error, but never ever for Political reasons.
HillTop, if you get the chance to stop by Rolla, swing on into the University and see their Stonehenge. Dr. David Summers, a world renown expert in the use of waterjet technology, designed and supervised the construction of a smaller version of Stonehenge. Also, his folks did the excavation under the Arch in St. Louis for the IMAX Theater, see http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/354689.html
I had the opportunity to travel with Dave a few times and once, we attended an International Waterjet Conference in Berkeley, CA. While there, we took a boat trip out around Alcatraz, oh well, that might just be another story.
As far as Pericles is concerned, he gave quite a stirring sales pitch on Athens, while at the same time, honoring the dead and comforting the families of the deceased. Remember this, because it is just as applicable today as back in the days of Pericles; If you send your sons to die in battle, it is imperative for someone to remind you why it was so important that they died. That's just my take on the Funeral Oration, but then again, it was all Greek to me.
Time to go brush the snow off the Mustang and slide it on down to the big fenced in place.
Hilltop, you dont have to thank me, I was only telling the truth, some of the best times of my life were spent at your home and other times with PW. Ask PW if he remembers the night we walked from the Horseshoe Club downtown all the way to the strip at 3 am. And as far as your family, what more needs to be said, 2 fantastic girls, and PW. Is Lea still mad about the Prom, maybe I should not have brought that up. By the Bball fan said to tell you HI, he is my brother.
Keith, please don't give up. With every article you write, I add a stop on my retirement map! PW and I even watched a story on the History channel about Alaska including the diphtheria, the pipe line, races, making of the highway and the whole thing. We want to drive up there too! And this article really did spark some conversations! And Rolla Mo is one of my stops on the way to Branson!
You know, I just love Greene County....just like it is. I don't think we need to change.
Read your comments about my family Terry, thanks...the old days were the best days!
"Perhaps history will prove me wrong, but I suspect I am right suspecting corruption in most (if not all)modern presidential terms whose aspirations of granting pardons to guilty parties supercedes the law on which we depend."
I think if you look under all Presidential terms you can find some form of corruption-- heck even Washington's had 1 or 2 (if you look you shall find) ...
Lincoln's amnisty was questioned but he had so much power even after death he got his way and as someone with a Southern General as a family member-- thank you Mr. Lincoln.
Excellent points on Lincoln, Thucydides and on the prose of Simmons. You, too, B ball fan are well written and concise (despite your admition of being too long.)
Perhaps history will prove me wrong, but I suspect I am right suspecting corruption in most (if not all)modern presidential terms whose aspirations of granting pardons to guilty parties supercedes the law on which we depend.
"It is not the mere study of the Law, but to become eminent in the profession of it, which is to yield honor and profit."
George Washington (zero presidential pardons) in a letter to Bushrod Washington, Jan. 15, 1783
not from greene County (unfortunate for you): You are sure reading in a lot of your own interpretaion into your blogs. I did not say much about President Bush at all. You must be one of the radical liberals out there that can't stand a President that prays for you. I did mention a lot about Clinton's pardons which you seem not to be able to defend. A good defense is not a good offense. A good defense is a good defense.
I agree with the other Iran-Contra embarrasing comments. What a disgrace!
You are also right that I dislike the Social Security program. Why can't people take responsibility for their own retirement costs by saving money and investing wisely? My grandmother lived to 105 years in Brazil, IN and did not cash her checks after the age of 90. When persuaded to cash them or lose them she said, "Why are they still sending me these? I don't need them and don't deserve them as I have always earned my own way." The next fifteen years she just put them in her kitchen drawer where we found them after she passed on. It was too hard for her to convince the Social Security administration to stop sending them so she just let them expire. I always thought they could have been donated to charity or something, but she truly did not think she deserved them.
Can we just agree that presidential pardons shouls be limited to misdemeanors and only a couple of dozen per president?
I'll take my version of accountability and prosecution any day in Greene County over your County. Oh, I forgot you are not from Greene County.
At first Simmons, I couldnt see how this blog could create contraversy, but I have to hand it to you again...Bravo!!!To tell you the truth, I wish I was intelligent enough to comment. On another note, I thought that B Ball fan was the genious in his family, but the other brother has a little bite himself.
Midnight Rambler, sorry about my typing, but it was the machines fault not mine, that seems to be the way it works anymore, it is always someone else fault. Thank you for your insight on President Reagan, I was being polite in not mentioning it, but I remember his Vice President at the time of Iran Contra saying he was at the meetings but never payed in attention to what they were talking about, he stated he was " out of the loop". And I do remember Ollie was not only Pardoned, he later ran for Congress on the Republican ticket, so I do realize they do want us to be accountable for are votes. I feel Midnight Rambler for many to have a war of wits with you, or Bball fan, or simmons, would make you guys feel your "fighting with an unarmed man" so I will go away for this week and live to fight another day. But again thank you for your insight on President Reagan. Rambler look at the questions I posed earlier, and see if you can figure out who had dinner with John Hinkley's brother the night before he attempted to kill President Reagan?
Greene County Patriot , forgot are you really niave enough to think that the day they arrested Jebs daughter that she was seeking out help, she was caught at a Walgreens pharm. trying to buy Xanax with a forged presription. It was stated in the Tallahassee paper that she had been arrested over 40 times since he had been Gov. But I am amazed you called that asking seeking help, if that is your defination, then go to work for the prosecuter's office, you will do away with crime in Greene County, everyone that is arrested will be considered seekinig out help.
Greene County Patriot,so you dont feel exposing a CIA agent is dangerous, and please dont parse words and tell me show wasnt overt. Second a poster child, well who should be considered the bad guy then, would it be the guy you voted for that also said he would fire anyone involved. So you think everyone should be held accountable for who they vote for, what a statement from someone that probably voted for Geo.Bush. How many lives do you feel has been lost on both sides in this war. Back to Jeb Bush's daughter, your good at finding statistics, please see how many times she has been guilty of Drug possesion, and how many times she has been arrested in Florida, and then realize how hard it is to get arrested when your uncle is President, and Dad is Gov, give me a break. Jebs two sons have also been in Rehab for drug problems, you may need to find a better poster family. Also you mentioned FDR, remember his pardons may be a little high, he did serve a little longer than most. But if you really dont care for his policy's either, then tell all of your relatives to call and tell them they dont want their Social Security checks each month, it is not against the law to say no to them.
The first pardon I mentioned was from a Republican president and I also mentioned that most presidents have participated in this behavior but not to the extent and nature of President Clinton. I think comparing a drug dealer like Roger Clinton to Bush's daughter is a stretch. I don't think that drug dealers should be treated the same as someone who has sought out treatment for use( as the user is only hurting themselves while the dealer is hurting others). Maybe I am wrong and you are right. No...I am right.
The complete list was on the first link I posted, by president and number. Notice that there are presidents of both parties that have executed pardons, but not all. It just mocks the judicial system and the law enforcers to let these people free. Scooter Libby should be a poster child of poor scapegoats who, by the way, did not try to kill others by dealing narcotics, commit armed robbery, or jeapardize our nations security in any way. At least he did not go to the National Archives and stuff papers down his pants or shred documents in the White House. There are way better examples on the list you could have used in your rebuttal.
I am a conservative, by nature, a literal constitutionalist and a Republican by necessity (as I can not accept the credit for endorsing 1,500,000 abortions per year). I wish people would understand they are accountable for their actions, especially who they vote for and who they endorse.
Well Simmons you old dog, you've done it again. What I thought was going to turn into a shirts against skins backyard blog off between two sets of brothers, has now woke me from my winter hibernation. And you thought nobody cared about what you wrote? Your blogs and the comments that ensue are about the only reason i check this site, don't underestimate your audience. Although I didn't really see anything in your post that was political, I think it just goes to show where politics rank on most peoples minds these days. We're all very concerned and rightly so, on both sides of the aisle.
For every Bill Clinton, there is a Ronald Reagan....
Some might remember something called the Iran-Contra affair. Where ol Ronald was involved in a very tricky weapons deal with Iran with Israel as the pivot man. He thought selling weapons to Iran might get him some leverage with Hezbollah who at the time were holding Americans hostage,again. The weapons deal was enough to get him elected, as the hostages were released the day that he took office. This deal violated many international treaties, and certainly didn't discourage hezbollah as evident by their actions to this day. Iran now points those same weapons in our direction, and hezbollah is still terrorizing the world, not a very good long term result. This whole situation probably would never have come to light,except for a botched delivery that was intercepted, was reported in a Lebanese magazine. When Reagan was confronted he denied knowledge, two weeks later when faced with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, he admitted that he had lied and that he was aware of these shipments. Sounds like he might be a candidate for the IU basketball coach job. I'm afraid to even touch where the funds for these arms sales were being sent. To a drug cartel fighting the leftist govt in Nicaragua, a cartel with proven links to Manuel Noriega. A cartel that the DEA admitted to having known about operations in the U.S....These werent some pinata vendors that we were funding with ill gotten arms proceeds, they were a drug peddling militia that needed weapons to secure passage of narcotics... I could go on for days.
And all of the people convicted of shredding documents, lying to investigators, etc. were all pardoned.
Executive powers have been abused by both parties, lets not kid anybody.
Thanks for waking me up Keith, and keep up the good work, we all need to be shaken up a bit in these gray February days. Glad to see you are back on your feet as well, though i kept waiting for your nyquil fueled manifesto to show up late one night, to no avail.
Greene County Patriot,Well you did answer the question of your party affiliation. Why dont you list the Pardons of any Republican Presidents? Why only FDR and Clinton? And while your at it , why not tell me how Gov. Jeb Bush compared to Gov. Clinton when dealing with family matters that dealt with Drugs, I can tell you, Clinton's brother that you mentioned went to Prison while Clinton was Gov., Bush's daugter went to Rehab and then was found quilty of using Cocaine while in Rehab, and then had her sentence taken care of in a pretrail deversion program. And why not look into how good a guy Neil Bush has been to this country, he owned Silverado Savings and Loan, it only cost the taxpayers about 3 Billion dollars. And speaking of Drugs, how do you feel about John McCains wife Cindy, she was charged and found guilty of Drug possesion and then found guilty of Drug theft from a non profit organization that she was put in charge of by her husband John, and then she also was let go through a pretail diversion program. If I was a Republican I would never bring up Pardons, Scooter Libby should have stopped any thought of that.
Oops, I forgot some slashes...par (bogey) for the course.
http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/clintonpardo...
Just to satisfy the curious, I previously omitted the first four years of President Clintons' pardons. Granted, most presidents engage in pardons but not to the extent( FDR issued over 1,000) and nature of "Slick Willy". (This term is known and used by both Republicans and Democrats...perhaps Hillary used it once or twice as well...:-))
Notice on the following link by the Department of Justice the number of cocaine, marijuana dealers, fraud and conspiracy felons. Also, Marc Rich (breaking an embargo with Iran), Dennis Smith (AWOL in the Army), Patty Hearst (Patricia Campbell Hearst Shaw)( armed robbery and using a firearm during a felony), and another loving Clinton...Roger Clinton-brother(dealing in cocaine) are notable.
It is just overwhelming that people can not read a list like this and taste the corruption. http:www.usdoj.gov/pardon/clintonpardon_grants.htm
Good job on Leon, Mike. Keep reading and learning your history and who knows, she may get real impressed. Just joking of course, never take anything I say about marriages too seriously because I was a total failure at being a husband...twice.
I'd like to see that newsreel. I found several pictures and have read even more since I wrote the article. I knew about the assassination attempt on President Truman a few years earlier, but I never knew that these two events were tied together.
Speaking of watching Millionaire, I was watching the Teenagers on Jeopardy last week. I wouldn't have stood a chance with those kids. I think my only chance would be if they had a Seniors event on Jeopardy and I faced off against a couple of Alzheimer patients.
Another nice historical column, Simmons.
Leon Czolgosz came up on Millionaire the other night. It was the first time my wife's been impressed with me for weeks, even if it was multiple guess.
I've seen the 1954 attack somewhere with newsreel footage, and recall reading about the swap. The picture with the column clearly indicates that at one time people in that building worked with each other.
"A vast silent majority", I love the imaginary sound of a silent majority, it elicits memories of Richard Nixon and the overriding vocal minority.
I sure hope you aren't using an Homeric analogy. A vast readership of the dead would explain the lack of responses however. ;>)
Thanks, and sorry about the password requirement, it wasn't my idea.
You made me get a password. I read them all, just never feel the need to participate. Keep them coming. I'm sure there is a vast silent majority out here that enjoys them.
Mr. Robato: Lot of great memories from Sanford and 84 sounds real nice right now. We should all get together sometime and tell old lies about how well we played back then.
"This one just seems to be very Political in nature, I am sure you didn't mean it to be that way,..." This is a great comment from an old friend and I am glad that he made it. I'd like to briefly address this comment because I think it leads to something very important. (I try not to use "very" very often because Mark Twain didn't think that it was a "very" good thing to do.) :>)
This particular post (Lolita and the Waterjet) was just my observation of a series of events, that I found interesting to me at the time. Any time that you write like this, you may suffer the unfortunate consequence that no one found it interesting other than yourself.
I think that most blogs are written with the express purpose of leading the readers toward a certain direction and are, in fact, soliciting comments of a particular nature. I don't generally do that in my posts. On the contrary, I welcome comments of all kinds. For you (not from Greene Co), this was perceived as a political post that you felt warranted comments of a political nature. To me, that is just as acceptable as seeing this as a post on criminal activity, or maybe a human interest article on a series of activities connecting Ol Simmons, Lolita Lebron, Paul Kanjorski and a waterjet that purportedly belongs to the Navy.
Which way the comments lead us is entirely up to you, the blog responders. My purpose is to offer something interesting and the only way I have to gage that interest (without going out for a second opinion) is to find something of interest to me.
I have had many people ask me what I meant to inspire by the writings of these articles. The only answer that I can give is that I just want to inspire people to respond.
I received a lot of flack about cruelty to animals concerning my post on the Iditarod. Nothing bad about that, in my opinion, they were good responses based on the responders own heart felt opinions.
I love to see responses of any kind. What good is a blog, if no one responds? It's like throwing a party and no one showing up.
"Just trying to keep the conversation lively." William Hurt in The Big Chill.
Simmons, I got a call Saturday morning from 4 gents down in Sanford that reported 84, and Sunny. I do miss the trip, but I have many reasons for staying home. The good walk spoiled does come to mind, but for me it was my children. And for Not from Greene Co. to sit down and have a beer with you, just remember we put a two-beer limit on him years ago...And stay away from the Seagrams7
Simmons your blogs normally do bring in a host of comments compared to all of the other blogs, most really enjoy yours. This one just seems to be very Political in nature, I am sure you didnt mean it to be that way, but it turned out that way, just look at Greene County Patriots comment, do you not get the feeling that he is a Republican, and then my brother's comment would more than likely make one feel he is probably a Liberal. Just a little trivia to lighten things up a bit, who would have taken over as President, if President Reagan would have died when Hinkley shot him? Who had dinner the night before the shooting with Hinkley's brother? Did Hinkley's father happen to be one of Vice President Bush's largest campaign contributors when he ran for President? And no I am not a conspriacy nut,just showing how it would have appeared if it would have been Clinton, remember we had a member of Congress from Indiana out shooting watermelons to see if the Clintons had put a "Hit on Vince Foster". Another little trivia, what happened to President Clintons brother while Clinton was Gov. of Arkansas? How did Gov Jeb Bush handle his daughter's problems with Drugs while he was Gov of Florida, compare how each Gov handled their families problems with drugs.
Greene County Patriot, here area a few pardons that you didnt mention. Jimmy Hoffa by President Nixon, that one was odd because Nixon felt that he was defeated by Kennedy because of Jimmy Hoffa, but yet Hoffa was pardoned by Nixon,of course that didnt work out so well for Hoffa. The one pardon by Carter that simmons mentioned, was also not just a pardon for Lolita, it was a trade , in return for her pardon Castro released five CIA operatives that were being held by . Speaking of the CIA brings to mind another great pardon, Scooter Libby by President Bush. Another great pardon was Casper Wienberger by the first President Bush. One of the most talked about was the pardon by Clinton of Mark Rich, he was sentenced for money issues against the U.S. and the Internal Revenue. Most felt Clinton pardoned him to gain funds to help his Presidental library, it is odd that since his pardon his name has not came up all that often for any high crimes against humanity. This list does not even make mention of any of the Pardons involved in Iran Contra. Most feel that all Pardons are Political in nature, but I am old enough to remember that in the case of Fords pardon of Nixon it took 20 years for most to admit it was a mistake, and just recently when President Ford passed, most still felt he was a really good man.
That's quite an impressive list of outstanding citizens. Interesting to note the FALN members, after being released from prison, were welcomed back in Puerto Rico as heroes.
Is there a difference between Muslim terrorists and Puerto Rican terrorists? If "they were sentenced with terms ranging from 35 to 105 years in prison for the conviction of conspiracy and sedition", then why would the President say that 19 years was enough?
Good article once again.
Whenever I hear of Presidential pardons I think of two cases in particular. First the Gerald Ford Pardon of President Nixon and the hundreds by President Clinton.
Please read the list of thugs, drug dealers, terrorists and others who were pardoned by President Clinton (especially on his last days in the office and the one's who were purchased for favors)...a true disgrace and a mockery of our judicial system and law enforcement community.
Here it is: http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a94a...
Enjoy!
I never take anything personally. I like all comments, good or bad. It just seems silly to put something like this on the web for such few people to read. So far on this post I've had comments from two sets of brothers.
The old Florida trip didn't work out this year, but I'm going in April for a week and I've got a couple of other trips planned for this year too. That's a lot of traveling for a guy who doesn't like to go anywhere.
Simmons, please dont take anything personal, your blogs are great. Reading about your adventures, and travels are something I look forward to most every day. Your travels rival Gulliver. Your posts are fasinating, and also quite informative. Why are you not in Sanford today, or is the same as I once stated, a round of golf with certain people are "just a good walk spoiled". Look forward to setting down and having a beer with you the next time I am down that way. Keep the information coming, I need the education, also tell Hilltop I wrote a post about her children on last weeks Post.
I have written these posts as topics that I happened to be interested in at the time. I am not naive enough to think that they would be interesting to any one person all of the time, nor would they be interesting to a broad audience at any time. The proof of this fact is evident by the lack of responses from a greater readership. Recent responses have come from a handful of people and many of those responses have little to do with what I have written.
This has become soft reading for a select few and normally doesn't create enough interest to even justify its existence. I was laughing to myself the other day about how I should just send out an email to those who wanted to read this.
Bballfan's response to this article was interesting and I think influenced by my inability to portray what I was really feeling about the clemency act by president Carter. Had I been more clear in the writing of my post, there would not have been any thought given to "spin" of any type.
Bballfan stated "The sentence that followed appeared to tell what you believe his message was, he loved Fidel Castro, so you do claim to know what his message was.I do not understand the form, saying you do not know something and then saying that you do know, which is it, you do or do not, it can not be both." I also think that the article was misread, because I never said anything about the President loving Fidel Castro. My statement was simply, "Lolita was later honored by Fidel Castro and now lives in Puerto Rico."
These articles are really kind of silly and I'm beginning to think that they are a waste of time for all concerned.
I don't think I'm as smart as either of them. Are you proud of not being from Greene County or just stating a fact? Just wondering.
So Chris& Jeremy's Dad, I gather from your post, you are not as smart as Simmons, but feel the person that reponded to it just rambled on. Please dont tell me you are a relative to simmons. Just wondered.
This blog and the first response to it brought up two good reasons why I couldn't write a blog. First I'm not smart enough to write the blog and second I'm definitely not smart enough to decipher the rambling responses to it so I could come up with an intelligent reply of my own.
Carter was a nice guy, maybe too nice. Like I said, I don't know what kind of message he was trying to send with this clemency arrangement. Maybe he was saying it really isn't that bad to perform a terrorist attack against our government. That's what it says to me. Maybe he was trying to say something else.
Gerald Ford was a nice guy too, but I don't agree with his pardon of Nixon.
As far as clouding the issue, these folks clouded the issues for me. I don't have the answers, just opinions.