# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=615 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 616 --- ## [Is it Reasonable to Question the Honor of Someone Who Used to be a Hero?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-reasonable-to-question-the-honor-of-someone-who-used-to-be-a-hero/459409)
**Author:** [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-reasonable-to-question-the-honor-of-someone-who-used-to-be-a-hero/459409 "2008-08-10T17:02:33Z")
In this thread, magellan01 said in post #153 that \[QUOTE=magellan01\] One can attack his positions without questioning his character, especially when he has such a long, stellar, honorable history. I’ll leave it there.… --- ## [Is NATO getting too big?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nato-getting-too-big/459456)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nato-getting-too-big/459456 "2008-08-10T16:01:37Z")
This thread was closed because there are already other thread about the conflict in Georgia. But I think it was going in another direction, one which was worth discussing outside of that conflict. NATO was founded with … --- ## [The God Card played by McCain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-god-card-played-by-mccain/459335)
**Author:** [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-god-card-played-by-mccain/459335 "2008-08-10T15:48:07Z")
“The One” ad by Sen. McCain’s campaign. Does this ad play the God card? Specifically, is this ad an attempt to portray Sen. Obama as some sort of false Christ? An attempt to stir up those to whom Christianity is impor… --- ## [Bigfoot and Genetic Memories](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bigfoot-and-genetic-memories/458422)
**Author:** [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bigfoot-and-genetic-memories/458422 "2008-08-10T03:45:39Z")
Wasn’t sure if this should be posted here or in General Questions, but here goes: So I’m dating this girl who is wonderful and intelligent and attractive. The only failing I can find in her is that she is convinced that… --- ## [Well, looks like the Democrats want another "assault weapons" ban](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-looks-like-the-democrats-want-another-assault-weapons-ban/459391)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-looks-like-the-democrats-want-another-assault-weapons-ban/459391 "2008-08-10T03:06:29Z")
If you’ve ever wanted a rifle with such dangerous, homicidal, terrorist features as a pistol grip, a detachable magazine, a bayonet lug, or a barrel shroud (“that shoulder thing that goes up,” as moron Carolyn McCarthy s… --- ## [The Rapture](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rapture/458710)
**Author:** [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rapture/458710 "2008-08-10T02:23:53Z")
This question has two parts and was inspired by the thread about the 2nd Coming: What is the scriptural basis for the Rature (wherein the Triune God wisks away all his loyal subjects sparing them from the seven year T… --- ## [(No Offense But) Why Do Pharmacists Need So Much Training?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-offense-but-why-do-pharmacists-need-so-much-training/459088)
**Author:** [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-offense-but-why-do-pharmacists-need-so-much-training/459088 "2008-08-10T01:17:12Z")
I was looking a pharm. school curricula. There’s a lot of science – bio, chem, etc. http://www.pharmcas.org/advisors/pharmdcurriculum.htm Given that AFAIK most retail pharmacists no longer compound or prescribe medici… --- ## [Was the impeachment of Clinton a bad political move?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-impeachment-of-clinton-a-bad-political-move/459221)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-impeachment-of-clinton-a-bad-political-move/459221 "2008-08-09T15:28:37Z")
If the Republican effort to impeach Bill Clinton had succeeded, then Al Gore would have become president. The 2000 race would have been different. Gore runs as an incumbent and doesn’t pick Lieberman as a running mate. … --- ## [Senator Obama, Quit Making This Hard For Me!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-quit-making-this-hard-for-me/458492)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 215\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-quit-making-this-hard-for-me/458492 "2008-08-09T15:22:54Z")
I have shared before my dilemma for the 2008 election. We have a Democratic candidate (well, presumptive candidate) whose positions are, almost across the board, things I don’t generally support. And we have a Republica… --- ## [WHY Was the Rosetta stone made?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rosetta-stone-made/459175)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2008, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rosetta-stone-made/459175 "2008-08-09T06:16:07Z")
I recently finished a book about this-Champollion’s great discovery of how to translate the ancient egyptian hieroglyphs was fascinating. My question: why was this stone carved? Was it because the priests of the time kne… --- ## [Was Jesus really all peace and love?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-jesus-really-all-peace-and-love/458927)
**Author:** [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-jesus-really-all-peace-and-love/458927 "2008-08-09T06:07:46Z")
In the recent thread about “What religion would Jesus be…” there were a lot of statements about the doctrine that Jesus espoused. A lot of them were along the lines of “Jesus told everyone to love each other, and to foll… --- ## [Sure, it's paternalistic, but is it wrong? (Fast food bans in low-income areas)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-its-paternalistic-but-is-it-wrong-fast-food-bans-in-low-income-areas/458400)
**Author:** [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-its-paternalistic-but-is-it-wrong-fast-food-bans-in-low-income-areas/458400 "2008-08-09T04:50:41Z")
When I first read this article in Slate.com, I had a “what the hell?” moment. But the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if maybe we haven’t come to a point where banning fast food restaurants from poor neighbo… --- ## [Would This High Speed Train Work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-high-speed-train-work/458337)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-high-speed-train-work/458337 "2008-08-08T23:25:22Z")
Years ago, I read about a guy who designed a unique (low teck) high speed train. The idea was based around having cylindrical capsules running in an evacuated tunnels-the trains could attain speeds of 600 MPG, because th… --- ## [Why aren't the Chinese inventing up a storm as they industrialize?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-the-chinese-inventing-up-a-storm-as-they-industrialize/458157)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-the-chinese-inventing-up-a-storm-as-they-industrialize/458157 "2008-08-08T23:05:00Z")
You’d think with over one billion bright entrepreneurial people in a rapidly industrializing economy that some Chinese geniuses would have come up with some world beating stuff by now, but I’m not seeing much in the way… --- ## [What should be the goal of imprisonment (for a crime)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-goal-of-imprisonment-for-a-crime/458757)
**Author:** [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-goal-of-imprisonment-for-a-crime/458757 "2008-08-08T20:18:19Z")
In general, there is a goal (or set of goals) in mind when a punishment is issued for some action. The goal is usually some combination of the following: \[list=“1”\] \[li\] Rehabilitation - Discourage the person from car… --- ## [Bush ordered fake letter linking Iraq to 9/11- When is lying a crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-ordered-fake-letter-linking-iraq-to-9-11-when-is-lying-a-crime/458989)
**Author:** [@TazMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TazMan)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-ordered-fake-letter-linking-iraq-to-9-11-when-is-lying-a-crime/458989 "2008-08-08T19:40:43Z")
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Suskind\_Bush\_ordered\_fake\_letter\_linking\_0805.html I’ve been told by a right-wing lawyer friend that this is not something Bush could be tried with a crime for because lying is only a crime… --- ## [Obama receives more contributions from Big Oil than McCain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-receives-more-contributions-from-big-oil-than-mccain/459274)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-receives-more-contributions-from-big-oil-than-mccain/459274 "2008-08-08T18:20:58Z")
That was the claim by a senior McCain advisor on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Friday, Aug. 8. I did not catch her name, but as a cite she claimed it was supported by figures supplied by “The Center for Responsive Politics”.… --- ## [Tell me about the REAL ID Act and why certain states object](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-real-id-act-and-why-certain-states-object/458951)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-real-id-act-and-why-certain-states-object/458951 "2008-08-08T13:25:21Z")
I’ve just read this article on a Libertarian site, and had a gander at the Wiki article, but I’m only slightly the wiser. I’m hoping Dopers can enlighten me as to the Act and why certain States like Montana and S Carolin… --- ## [Abiogenesis - Current hypotheses?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abiogenesis-current-hypotheses/459269)
**Author:** [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2008, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abiogenesis-current-hypotheses/459269 "2008-08-08T09:54:09Z")
Well? Is this the most commonly accepted scientific explanation? Are there other non-religious hypotheses? Fight my ignorance, Dopers (and Really Not All That Bright’s, too, and I bet a bunch of other people’s). --- ## [What if the Alcatraz Six's plan had worked?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-alcatraz-sixs-plan-had-worked/459009)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2008, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-alcatraz-sixs-plan-had-worked/459009 "2008-08-08T07:49:49Z")
My wife and I visited Alcatraz earlier this year and the place still fascinates me… it’s a shame the rest of San Francisco wasn’t as interesting, but that’s a different topic entirely. Anyway, I’ve just finished reading… --- ## [How does McCain get donations from people who don't care about the election?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-mccain-get-donations-from-people-who-dont-care-about-the-election/459026)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-mccain-get-donations-from-people-who-dont-care-about-the-election/459026 "2008-08-07T15:28:38Z")
From today’s Washington Post: Why do these people make such large campaign contributions if they don’t care about the election?! This might not be as big a story if it were not about McCain – author of the McCain-Fein… --- ## [Ludacris, rapper and avid supporter of Barack Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ludacris-rapper-and-avid-supporter-of-barack-obama/458263)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ludacris-rapper-and-avid-supporter-of-barack-obama/458263 "2008-08-07T11:52:52Z")
Obviously you can’t blame Obama for ‘Politics: Obama Is Here’ in which he attacks Hillary Clinton as an ‘irrelevant bitch’ . After all, I’m sure … this isn’t the Ludacris he knows. My question… if an entertainment figu… --- ## [How useful is the concept of "likely voter" right now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-useful-is-the-concept-of-likely-voter-right-now/458069)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2008, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-useful-is-the-concept-of-likely-voter-right-now/458069 "2008-08-07T06:03:14Z")
By now many have heard of the USA Today/Gallup pollthat shows McCain leading among “likely voters” by 4 even though he is behind in the same polled group of all registered voters by 3. Which means that unlikely voters (p… --- ## [How important will McCain's VP be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-will-mccains-vp-be/458882)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-will-mccains-vp-be/458882 "2008-08-07T05:38:26Z")
For those of you Dopers that are undecided. Due to McCain’s age and health, would the choice of his VP as the one who’s “a heartbeat away” from the Oval Office be a major determining factor for you? --- ## [A national oil supplier...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-national-oil-supplier/459013)
**Author:** [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-national-oil-supplier/459013 "2008-08-07T02:32:40Z")
Partially inspired by this story Why does the government buy oil/gasoline/fuel? They do not seem to buy it at cost, so would it not be cheaper to form a national oil company with its own wells that catered specifically … --- ## [So what's your opinion on the existence of extraterrestrial UFOs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-opinion-on-the-existence-of-extraterrestrial-ufos/458026)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 136\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-opinion-on-the-existence-of-extraterrestrial-ufos/458026 "2008-08-06T21:32:56Z")
Since the “Do you believe in ghosts/the paranormal?” thread caught fire, got hundreds of responses, and even a “Bastard Son of Do You Believe in ghosts/the paranormal?” Pit thread, I figured I’d open it up to UFOs. Nobo… --- ## [Does the US government owe it to the citizens to bring energy prices down?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-government-owe-it-to-the-citizens-to-bring-energy-prices-down/457778)
**Author:** [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-government-owe-it-to-the-citizens-to-bring-energy-prices-down/457778 "2008-08-06T21:07:40Z")
I keep hearing news programs interviewing people on the street, who are saying that the US government has to do something to bring down energy prices. They come off sounding like it’s the governments fault and it better … --- ## [How will offshore Oil Drilling pass, when Broadwater is catching so much heat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-offshore-oil-drilling-pass-when-broadwater-is-catching-so-much-heat/459030)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-offshore-oil-drilling-pass-when-broadwater-is-catching-so-much-heat/459030 "2008-08-06T18:37:13Z")
For those of you who don’t know about Broadwater - it’s a vessel known as a Floating Storage Regasification Unit, or FSRU, would be about 1,200 feet long and 180 feet wide and would rise about 75 to 80 feet above the wat… --- ## [What? No Spears/Hilton/Obama thread yet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-no-spears-hilton-obama-thread-yet/458858)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-no-spears-hilton-obama-thread-yet/458858 "2008-08-06T18:19:43Z")
I just gone done watching the ad. What is all of the uproar over? A flash of Brittney and Paris which compare Obama’s popularity to style over substance. A total of 17 of the 30 seconds is devoted to issues. 0-8sec. … --- ## [CO2 in the atmospere?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co2-in-the-atmospere/458979)
**Author:** [@jerryew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerryew)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co2-in-the-atmospere/458979 "2008-08-06T02:02:53Z")
Carbon Dioxide is obviously one of the big issues of the day. Normally, trees plants and other vegetation convert it to oxygen. So, we have to little vegetation or, too much CO2? What happens to that which is not conv… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=614) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=616)