The Important Point Is That This Is A Country Where He Can Speak

[Me.]

And that those who are upset by it can protest his doing so. What is happening today with Ahmadinejad is not a problem. It's democracy working at 100%.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Wait a minute, why should he have more rights than the rest of us?

[Beelzebud]

2. More rights? What are you talking about?

Maybe when you're the president of a country, Columbia will invite you to come speak...

[no_hypocrisy]

11. I simply meant the fundamental rights guaranteed to each American citizen

by virtue of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Seems the government is not allowing us our freedoms like in the past, that's all.

[H2O Man]

3. Good point.

I think he is a dangerous person. By not allowing him to speak, etc, it would seem to play into his hands as far as propaganda value -- "I tried to speak to America, but they refused ...."

[Me.]

5. By All Accounts He Is A Villainous Thug

But he is also (at least for now) the head of a country we need to have diplomatic relations with and in that context I think it's useful to show we're not afraid to let him speak. Would it/ Could it happen in Iran? I doubt anyone thinks so, and there-in lies the important difference.

[Beelzebud]

6. Good point. We let Bush speak all the time!

He's a villainous thug, and we let him run our damn country!

:D LOL

[Me.]

8. There You Go

Another of the more difficult aspects of a democracy!

[BrklynLib at work]

9. Man! That is an excellent point!!!!

:headbang: :thumbsup:

[Totally Committed]

15. Excellent point.

Sad as hell, but excellent, nonetheless...

TC

[aquart]

10. "A villainous thug"? An American says that with a straight face?

Really, he's the GWB of Iran. My heart goes out to them.

[Beelzebud]

12. Well if he's the Bush of Iran, I'd say "villainous thug" fits pretty well.

:D

[aquart]

17. It's so pot, kettle.

[King Coal]

13. Yeah, but he might be gay or sumptin'.

For the Flame-Bait imparied: :sarcasm:

[cali]

4. spot on.

I hold the MSM largely responsible for the insanity attending his visit. They've built him up to be this evil danger and stoked the hysteria.

[BrklynLib at work]

7. Exactly! If I remember correctly, even Fidel Castro spoke here umteen years ago.

[waiting for hope]

14. My RW Mom freaked on

me this morning. I was dropping my daughter off and before I left to take my son to school, she says (and she knows better, as do I, not to discuss politics) "why is the President of Iran coming here? Why would he want to and why are we allowing him to?" To which I responded, "He was invited Mom, and I think he just wants to say his peace - It would be dangerous for us to stir the pot with him at this point." As I'm saying this, FOX Noise in on (as it is 24/7) and then she accuses me of thinking she's stupid and she knows that the Iranians all hate the U.S. and why was I on Iran's side... as I calmly said, "Mom, I don't think you're stupid and I'm not on Iran's "side", but it would be unwise of us to provoke him. This country can not become engaged in another war right now - is that what you want?" And then it hit me, the Right Neo-Con Wings wants to keep us at war for they think it will keep them in power. God, I HATE FOX NOISE.

[Me.]

16. Eternal War Does Seem To Be The Agenda

For what reason I do not know. You'd think that at some point the law of diminishing returns would kick in.