TxHoops

Sure. Note I stated in Texas. It varies from state to state. Everywhere it is more expensive. [Hidden Content]

Ok - although I was NOT going to get into my personal religious beliefs on this thread, I will go ahead and state that I am, in fact, opposed to abortion, just as I am opposed to the death penalty. I do not believe in killing period; I believe it is God's divine right to both bring souls into this world and take them out. For those of you that are staunch pro-lifers and pro-capital punishment, I would submit that we have killed innocent people in this country in the name of "justice," and will continue to do so. Furthermore, I am a firm believer in God's grace and believe that He can save the coldest hearted criminal (as he did in the bible). Fiscally, in the state of Texas, a death penalty case costs the taxpayers about THREE times more than imprisoning someone for 40 years (which is more than the average mortality rate of a lifer without parole). In other words, we can put someone in prison for 120 years for the same cost as executing someone. Now, those are my beliefs. I say this for any non-believers who are put off by the judgmental, "you are going to hell if you believe this" right wingers who are apt to be the loudest. I believe God will welcome you as you are. I don't presume to hold His answers. What I do know is that I don't have His answers and that NO ONE other than Him knows YOUR heart (no more than they know President Clinton or Obama's heart). You can believe what you want. The Bible I read will also lead you to the ONLY belief that matters in terms of becoming a Christian. And Biggirl accurately quoted one of the scriptures on that belief in this thread. For the rest of you, you may resume your judging. I am pretty certain there is scripture on that too (Matthew Ch. 7).

I see what you were saying. I think we are splitting hairs. I was pointing out that we did have an income tax prior to that, used primarily to fund the war.

And one win away from a record 35th trip to the College World Series. Hook em \m/

Not true - [Hidden Content]

As a matter of fact, it was Abraham Lincoln who, in effect, created the federal income tax in this country when he signed the Revenue Act in 1861.

Sounds like a hell of an event with a LOT of bang for your buck. Kind of makes me wish I still played golf!

So Bill Clinton, who was raised southern Baptist, and has gone into detail when he became born again, is going to hell? You really are way up "North" to be able to make those calls...

Awesome. Thank you for sharing.

I am starting to feel like I am in a fist fight with someone with no arms or hands...

So your assertion is that you cannot be a Christian and pro-choice? Further, you cannot be a Christian and support gay marriage?

Or to put it another way, Lincoln would not be a republican for the same reasons Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, the late Steve Jobs, 90 percent of the academics at the elite higher education institutions in this country are not republicans. He was too damn smart to be one. ;) There's an argument you can probably follow! ;)

Or spelling or grammar.... Translation: Your dad became a republican when he became senile.

Yes, use supposition about what you THINK he would not support, rather than examples of what he actually did do during his service. That helps when your argument is severely flawed.

For what it's worth, he wasn't even a Republican for the majority of the time he was on this earth.

To play along though, in addition to obviously being deeply invested in civil rights, Lincoln was very much a progressive. He would likely be vilified by today's GOP, with his core belief in a strong federal government. He created the income tax (gasp!) for goodness sake with the Revenue Act. He created the Federal Bank, the Department of Agriculture, and the Draft. He spoke frequently against the bourgeois wealthy and was a champion of the working man. For Pete's sake he was a proud trial lawyer. Yep he definitely would not have been a 2014 Democrat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously your use of exclamation marks makes it true. When an argument lacks foundation, logic, or intellect, overuse punctuation...

  Now THAT's independent/free thinking!  I don't think those radicals on Fox News would make that claim!  Although I would disagree with you, the argument would be interesting.  

  Very true and interesting article.  Pop quiz:  How many of the "southern democrats" who voted against the Civil Rights legislation later migrated to the Republican party? 

In point of fact, it could be argued that Lincoln supported and/or spearheaded multiple "entitlement programs" during his time in office. However, I suppose it is impossible to say with certainly which of today's programs he would have supported and which he would oppose. But perhaps his singular greatest cause was civil rights. I just find it humorous that republicans still cling to Lincoln as if the parties have not, by and large, completely flipped ideologies. I assumed this was common knowledge.

If you seriously need this to understand my assertion, I would think you are not accustomed to independent thinking. I will assume this is posted in jest. If not, there are probably hundreds of pieces written on this topic that can be found on a search engine of your choice. And I am certain they are written with far more eloquence than I could muster.

"2. The Democrat Party is the party of the Ku Klux Clan, and Abraham Lincoln (who freed the slaves) was a Republican, so don't tell me how the republicans have oppressed your people. " The KKK and the Aryan Brotherhood are all staunch GOP'ers now. They have been quoted as saying, "We didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left us." And anyone with a firm grasp of history knows that Lincoln would be more aligned with today's Democratic Party than Republicans.

I agree with you. There is no doubt you and President Obama are philosophically at different ends of the spectrum. And I can appreciate your point. I would be terribly offended if I were called a racist for not supporting Herman Cain or for my belief that Clarence Thomas is a horrible excuse for a Supreme Court justice.

Texas State at 74 nationally is pretty impressive by the way. Will continue to climb IMO too.

That's not true at all. And I very much believe there are racists of all colors and ethnicities. It is wrong no matter which "direction it goes." Your example of the Ozen situation with TS is well taken and disappointing. However, you and I have not been subjected to the kind of racism that our brothers and sisters of color have experienced. And I am not one to deflect in every thread by using instances (or alleged instances) of racism by African Americans. It reminds me too much of my children pointing out something their sibling did when I am disciplining them for their misdeeds.