# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=734 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 735 --- ## [Jewish Power and Pat Buchanan's statements on the The McLaughlin Group](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-power-and-pat-buchanans-statements-on-the-the-mclaughlin-group/390799)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-power-and-pat-buchanans-statements-on-the-the-mclaughlin-group/390799 "2007-02-04T18:36:38Z")
I’m grazing the Sunday talk show channels and The McLaughlin Group show has McLaughlin asking who has power in the new Congress. Pat Buchanan poo-poos the Democrats relative power as Bush will veto any proposals he doesn… --- ## [Washington's racism and the Islamist trap - A prescient article from 2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washingtons-racism-and-the-islamist-trap-a-prescient-article-from-2001/390731)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washingtons-racism-and-the-islamist-trap-a-prescient-article-from-2001/390731 "2007-02-04T17:07:14Z")
Washington’s racism and the Islamist trap published September 22, 2001. Interesting how accurate he was on several levels. --- ## [Are there any right-wing relativists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-right-wing-relativists/389937)
**Author:** [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-right-wing-relativists/389937 "2007-02-04T15:29:10Z")
Is such a thing even possible? I have been thinking that relativism is at the heart of the difference between the right and left. --- ## [What would Sadam do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-sadam-do/390719)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-sadam-do/390719 "2007-02-04T15:21:37Z")
How would he have quelled the civil war? Round up all the critics? Seal the borders? Punish the families of the suicide bombers? Any chance he would have done something open to the current administration that would w… --- ## [Light as a feather stiff as a board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-as-a-feather-stiff-as-a-board/390764)
**Author:** [@wwxd85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wwxd85)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-as-a-feather-stiff-as-a-board/390764 "2007-02-04T07:43:46Z")
Many of you would remember this game from parties as a kid. I am a huge sceptic, but i swear this works. For those who dont know the game: “One participant lies flat on the floor, and then the others space themselves ar… --- ## [Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) (onetime Libertarian) running for president](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-ron-paul-r-texas-onetime-libertarian-running-for-president/389456)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-ron-paul-r-texas-onetime-libertarian-running-for-president/389456 "2007-02-04T03:19:24Z")
I missed this one when he filed the paperwork to form an exploratory committee – only learned of it through some random surfing on Free Republic. (The discussion thread offers a fascinating look at the intra-party tensi… --- ## [Turkey wants U.S. to crack down on Kurdish rebels (PKK) in northern Iraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-wants-u-s-to-crack-down-on-kurdish-rebels-pkk-in-northern-iraq/390577)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-wants-u-s-to-crack-down-on-kurdish-rebels-pkk-in-northern-iraq/390577 "2007-02-04T03:03:21Z")
Story here. According to Wikipedia, the PKK declared a cease-fire (which the Turkish government did not accept) last September. Nevertheless, the Turks still seem worried PKK forces camping out in Iraqi Kurdistan will … --- ## [German prosecutors issue arrest warrants for 13 suspected CIA agents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-prosecutors-issue-arrest-warrants-for-13-suspected-cia-agents/390552)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-prosecutors-issue-arrest-warrants-for-13-suspected-cia-agents/390552 "2007-02-04T02:10:57Z")
. . . for the kidnapping and “extraordinary rendition” of Khaled al-Masri, a Lebanese-descended German citizen. See also here. Are these persons actually CIA agents? Will any of them be arrested? If so, will they be … --- ## [Global Warming ( A Different Reason)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-a-different-reason/390512)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-a-different-reason/390512 "2007-02-04T01:59:43Z")
I accept that global warming is a fact. I have not come across any evidence that shows a greenhouse effect from increased levels of carbon dioxide, so I’d sure like to see it. However, I wonder why no one is looking at … --- ## [If we could "cure" (or create!) homosexuality, would it be wrong? & if it went away?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-could-cure-or-create-homosexuality-would-it-be-wrong-if-it-went-away/386190)
**Author:** [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-could-cure-or-create-homosexuality-would-it-be-wrong-if-it-went-away/386190 "2007-02-03T21:32:38Z")
This is in response to this article regarding the outrage of some about scientific experiments to see if gay sheep can be made “ungay.” Simply put, it’s not unlikely that in the near future, all sorts of things will … --- ## [How Racist Might You Be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-racist-might-you-be/390395)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-racist-might-you-be/390395 "2007-02-03T20:47:54Z")
Inspired by this thread: I thought I would post this. I don’t think its a poll and I don’t think that it is a General Question but: How racist mightyou be? Background- in American terms I am an Ultra-liberal, brough… --- ## [So how does PETA want animals to be treated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-peta-want-animals-to-be-treated/390540)
**Author:** [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-peta-want-animals-to-be-treated/390540 "2007-02-03T06:49:06Z")
I’m not quite sure where to put this thread–General Questions, IMHO, MPSIMS, the Pit or here. Feel free to move it. PETA’s message about how to treat animals is very negative: Don’t eat them, don’t use them as pets, don… --- ## [God in a pill & should/could the US continue to ban psilocybin?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-in-a-pill-should-could-the-us-continue-to-ban-psilocybin/390127)
**Author:** [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-in-a-pill-should-could-the-us-continue-to-ban-psilocybin/390127 "2007-02-03T03:09:30Z")
The research is increasingly clear and consistent: Psilocybin induces life changing mystical experiences, often rated by people as one of the most important and profound in their lives. The drug is neither addictive n… --- ## [Would the logical move for Obama be to take a VP slot first?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-logical-move-for-obama-be-to-take-a-vp-slot-first/390302)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-logical-move-for-obama-be-to-take-a-vp-slot-first/390302 "2007-02-03T02:59:02Z")
Personally, I like Barak - I like him a lot, he’s a great orator with some real smarts. But I also believe he needs some experience in the White House. Would a VP slot be best for the man? If he was VP to say - \[ inser… --- ## [Guantanamo boss calls for lawyer boycott.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guantanamo-boss-calls-for-lawyer-boycott/388145)
**Author:** [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guantanamo-boss-calls-for-lawyer-boycott/388145 "2007-02-03T01:00:38Z")
The official in charge of the Guantanamo Bay gulag has said thatlaw firms representing detainees should suffer for it in the pocketbook. Can any administration shills defend this and defend why this guy wasn’t immediate… --- ## [Unthinking obedience is the original sin.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unthinking-obedience-is-the-original-sin/390317)
**Author:** [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unthinking-obedience-is-the-original-sin/390317 "2007-02-02T23:14:37Z")
Inspired by this post, in a thread I refuse to hijack any further: This, to me, is just chilling. It means that good Christians, in kanicbird’s mind, have completely abdicated their own moral responsibility and bypasse… --- ## [Let's debate the new NIE "Prospects for Iraq’s Stability: A Challenging Road Ahead"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-debate-the-new-nie-prospects-for-iraq-s-stability-a-challenging-road-ahead/390570)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-debate-the-new-nie-prospects-for-iraq-s-stability-a-challenging-road-ahead/390570 "2007-02-02T23:09:03Z")
Or, at least, its Key Judgments: --- ## [What if big conspiracy theories (Roswell, JFK) suddenly turned out to be TRUE?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-big-conspiracy-theories-roswell-jfk-suddenly-turned-out-to-be-true/390481)
**Author:** [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-big-conspiracy-theories-roswell-jfk-suddenly-turned-out-to-be-true/390481 "2007-02-02T22:49:09Z")
I put this in GD, because I thought it would an interesting take on Alternative History. Tomorrow on the news, the evidence came out that a conspiracy theory is true. We’re talking smoking gun, beyond a reasonable doubt… --- ## [Al Gore nominated for Nobel Peace Prize -- should he get it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize-should-he-get-it/390450)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize-should-he-get-it/390450 "2007-02-02T21:07:43Z")
Story here. Ongoing MPSIMS thread. I wonder if this will affect his decision whether to run for POTUS in '08. (Carter won the prize for something he did while president – Camp David – but no Nobel laureate has ever ru… --- ## [Ottawa reaches $10 million compensation deal with Canadian sent abroad to be tortured](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-reaches-10-million-compensation-deal-with-canadian-sent-abroad-to-be-tortured/389553)
**Author:** [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-reaches-10-million-compensation-deal-with-canadian-sent-abroad-to-be-tortured/389553 "2007-02-02T20:56:27Z")
from here In short: in 2002, Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian citizen living in Ottawa, was stopped in the US while returning home from abroad. US officials (with help from false information from the RCMP) had him s… --- ## [Is Marijuana any more of a gateway drug than Alcohol?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-marijuana-any-more-of-a-gateway-drug-than-alcohol/390416)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-marijuana-any-more-of-a-gateway-drug-than-alcohol/390416 "2007-02-02T19:26:44Z")
Is marijuana any more of a gateway drug than alcohol? As I define a gateway drug: A lesser substance that leads the user to use another more dangerous/addictive/powerful substance. EX: The Pot smoker who sees people sno… --- ## [Najaf battle: Victory or massacre?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/najaf-battle-victory-or-massacre/390567)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/najaf-battle-victory-or-massacre/390567 "2007-02-02T18:46:57Z")
(Followup on this thread.) The official story is that the 200+ Iraqis killed this week by U.S. and Iraqi Army forces outside Najaf were members of a bizarre cult, the “Soldiers of Heaven,” who were planning to massacre … --- ## [The Technological Singularity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technological-singularity/390314)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technological-singularity/390314 "2007-02-02T18:26:19Z")
Is this real? --- ## [Should the Government intervene to save a child's life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-government-intervene-to-save-a-childs-life/390433)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-government-intervene-to-save-a-childs-life/390433 "2007-02-02T17:32:43Z")
despite it being against the parent’s religion to do so? For instance, there were sextuplets born in BC and two of them died and the others were in danger of dying because they needed a blood transfusion. The parents a… --- ## [Florida may scrap touchscreen voting machines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-may-scrap-touchscreen-voting-machines/390308)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-may-scrap-touchscreen-voting-machines/390308 "2007-02-02T15:53:24Z")
. . . and replace them with optical-scan machines that leave a paper trail, at a cost of $32.5 million. Well, it cost a lot but we’re learning from our mistakes. Will this lead to a nationwide scrapping of the touchscr… --- ## [Trans Fats -- Is NYC violating people's civil rights?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trans-fats-is-nyc-violating-peoples-civil-rights/390351)
**Author:** [@harveyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harveyc)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trans-fats-is-nyc-violating-peoples-civil-rights/390351 "2007-02-02T14:31:51Z")
What about people who might go to McDonald’s, etc., 3, 4, 5 times a year for some “good” fries? Are we going to screw people because some can’t control their eating habits? This isn’t a “poor” people problem, McDonald’… --- ## [100,000 unexploded cluster bomblets in Lebanon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-000-unexploded-cluster-bomblets-in-lebanon/371072)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-000-unexploded-cluster-bomblets-in-lebanon/371072 "2007-02-02T08:47:57Z")
BBC News How in the wide world could the margin of error be so high? I know this is a controversial weapon, but I never could imagine that the margin of error could by that huge --- ## [Should Berger now be given a lie detector test, as per his plea agreement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-berger-now-be-given-a-lie-detector-test-as-per-his-plea-agreement/390115)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-berger-now-be-given-a-lie-detector-test-as-per-his-plea-agreement/390115 "2007-02-02T06:33:35Z")
In a thread I started a little while back I shared the findings of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee concerning the theft of documents by Sandy Berger. While there wasn’t very much new information in th… --- ## [What makes a religion a religion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-religion-a-religion/389265)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-religion-a-religion/389265 "2007-02-02T02:27:14Z")
Does it require one or more gods? Does it require a creation myth, flood myth, famous prophet, sacred ritual, sacred ground, magic wands or special clothing? Does it require a sacred text? Rather than argue my answer… --- ## [Bush Admin increasing WH oversight over federal regulation-making process](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-increasing-wh-oversight-over-federal-regulation-making-process/390446)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-increasing-wh-oversight-over-federal-regulation-making-process/390446 "2007-02-02T00:24:31Z")
Brought to my attention in this thread, thanx to Mapache. From The New York Times: There’s nothing unconstitutional or illegal about any of this, AFAICT. It’s merely a degree of micromanagement no previous administra… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=733) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=735)