Friday, October 26, 2007
Cafferty: Afford war with Iran?
WATCH "The Cafferty File": Toxic toys?
When it comes to oil prices, can the United States afford to attack Iran?
Sorry, Jack. It doesn't matter what the price of oil rises to since the President is an oil man as are his administration and his friends. What is good for them is what we get, and got. -Pierre, Miami, Florida

If the oil was free we still couldn't afford to attack Iran! -Jerry, Ocala, Florida

Here's the question: Would Iran attack the US in Iraq if it got the nuke? With this scenario, can the US afford not to attack Iran? -Roger, Goose Creek, South Carolina

Dear Mr. Cafferty, Hasn't the U.S. got enough on its plate with Iraq? How many wars does the president want to start just so he can look "tough on terrorism"? The U.S. needs to just leave Iran alone. Simple as that. -Paul

Absolutely not. Another war would be such a drain on our already stretched economy that we will have to increase the amount of money we print which we can't back up now. Is Bush trying to demote us from our superpower status? -Linda, Woodbury, New Jersey

What's your reaction to Fred Thompson's describing the Iraqi insurgency as "a bunch of kids with IEDs"?
Actually, Fred Thomson's description, while flippant, isn't that far off. Military buddies of mine describe much of the militia as kids, trained by hardliners who shape their views from a young age and send them off to fight. It seems to mirror, in a way, the child soldiers in Africa. There's an endless supply, and the terrorism won't cease until this problem is addressed.
-Patrick, Northridge, California

Thompson's comments make it even more obvious to me that we are dealing with politicians who have little if any tact when it comes to foreign policy. See President Bush's World War III comment. -Mark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jack, I think that someone should stick a pin in Thompson, deflate him, stuff him in a match box and mail him back to Hollywood. That shouldn't cost more than about 50 cents, he isn't worth any more than that. -Gloria, Halifax

Jack, That so proves that Mr. Law & Order isn't ready for the presidency. He couldn't handle Jack McCoy and thinks now he is ready for prime time. Pathetic. -Nadir
Posted By Jack Cafferty, CNN Commentator: 10/26/2007 05:44:00 PM ET | Permalink
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Cafferty: Toxic toys?
WATCH "The Cafferty File": $2.4 trillion for war?

How confident should American parents be in the safety of toys from China?
As a parent, I have zero confidence with the toy industry in America. I see all these recalls as an example of an industry only concerned with profits with little regard to safety. -William, Rockford, Illinois

How confident am I in Chinese products? Very! Very confident that they are dangerous and should be banned-period! -Bob, Denver, Colorado

Not confident at all and it is a good thing. Perhaps frugality will be achieved and we will realize our children do not need to be spoiled rotten as they are today, we do not need to support sweatshops, we do not need to support the largest military threat to American interests.
-Connor, Sea Cliff, New York

No confidence. Thank God my kids are grown, but I do have grandchildren. I shop very carefully. If you look hard enough, you can find stuff actually made in the USA. Just today, I bought a pair of athletic shoe strings, yep, made in the USA. I check all the catalogs and if it says import I move on. I am going to boycott anything made in China. It can be done. -Jody, West Virginia

Should lawmakers crack down on "sanctuary cities"?
Jack, How can a country survive obeying only some of its laws and not others? Presidents and illegals can break the law but Average Joe will go to jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family. What a great country! -Pete, Bristol, Pennsylvania

Jack, The "lawmakers" should not have permitted the sanctuary cities to exist at all in the United States. I feel that the horse left the barn many months ago and the situation is probably irreparable. -Michael, Reno, Nevada

I wish our elected leaders and potential leaders would quit posturing for votes and offer some solutions that have a realistic chance of working. The illegal immigrants are here, they're not going away. Let's try to find a way to deal with them. -Peter, Middletown Connecticut

Jack, Of course they should, but of course they won't. -Susan, Anderson, Alaska
Posted By Jack Cafferty, CNN Commentator: 10/25/2007 05:47:00 PM ET | Permalink
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Cafferty: $2.4 trillion for wars?
WATCH "The Cafferty File": Lessons from Katrina?

The Congressional Budget Office says the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could cost $2.4 trillion dollars through the next decade. How could that money be better spent?
I'll tell you how, even though I shouldn't have to. How about that child health care bill? That would be a good place to start. How about boosting our border defenses? That would also be nice. But no, no, no, everyone knows that what Bush wants, he gets. I say we impeach him, now. Let's go down to the White House and fire him. -Ben, Maryland

Jack, Jack, Jack. How about paying back Social Security, health care for the poor, protecting our borders, paying off our debt to China. Have I spent it all yet? -Anne, Whittier, North Carolina

Mr. Cafferty, I have a suggestion. How about if we end the war, and reduce government spending? Then we can sit back and wait for the next 9/11 to hit us and enjoy another $3 trillion negative impact on the U.S. economy. I will gladly spend $800.00 a year of my money to ensure we keep terrorists at bay. -Jeffrey, Elverson, Pennsylvania

That money would be better used in securing our borders and our ports and on health care for our own children that have no insurance. I am ashamed of these so-called leaders we have. They do not care, no concern do they have for their own countrymen. To hell with the lot of them, not one serving in office to date will get a vote from me! -Dan, Ohio

$2.4 trillion for wars? Just how many zeroes is that? It doesn't fit on my calculator. -Steve, Omaha, Nebraska

What powers should the next president be willing to surrender?
Congress should step forward and remove the presidential powers act of 1963 which in effect would be one giant step for all Americans. Then pass an amendment barring congressional members and lobbyists being in the same room at the same time or from talking to each other by telephone, mail or e-mail. We need a version of the Chinese "model citizens" law for politicians. Violate the public trust while holding any public office, get executed. -Ralph, Diamondhead, Mississippi

Only one: the unilateral power to send troops to die without Congress sharing responsibility by formally declaring war. -Pete, Arkansas

The next president, no matter which candidate wins, should immediately give up the signing points or whatever it's called that allows the president to override any law passed by Congress. And then she/he should restore Habeas Corpus, and follow the Geneva Conventions. We're a better country and people than King George has shown us to be to the rest of the world.
-Elaine, Hollister, Missouri

Jack, It seems your question assumes Bush has powers that need to be curtailed. I don't think the problem has been Bush's powers as much as it has been the abdication of the powers of intellect by a mentally lazy American populace. We have become soft and self-absorbed to the point that the republic has become endangered. If you seek Bush's enablers, look around you.
-Milton, Bell Acres, Pennsylvania
Posted By Jack Cafferty, CNN Commentator: 10/24/2007 05:51:00 PM ET | Permalink
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Cafferty: Wildfires & Katrina lessons?
WATCH "The Cafferty File": Home heat or war?
In the wake of the California wildfires, what lessons has the U.S. learned from Hurricane Katrina?
Since New Orleans was black, Democratic, and lower-class and San Diego is white, Republican, and upper-class, I imagine FEMA will shine this time around. -Ray, Lubbock, Texas

It seems to me that the people at Qualcomm are volunteering more than they did at the Superdome during the Katrina tragedy. State and local agencies may be more/better prepared but I think it makes a huge difference when more people volunteer to help! -Brian, Boulder, Colorado

It is obvious that improvements and lessons have been learned. But that is not what will be said. The better conditions and management in Southern California will be attributed to a whiter and richer population. And I am certain the media will perpetuate this fallacy. -Kim, Buffalo, New York

Jack, I have lived in Southern California my entire life and have seen disaster after disaster handled in the same way. This is no different. Do you notice the size of the houses burning and the areas in which they are built? I do feel terrible for these people, and I live in the hills myself, but they are a far cry from those in the Katrina disaster. Poorer people never get the same response as wealthier. -Greg, Los Angeles, California

Mr. Cafferty, I am in Maine stationed up here at the Naval Station and I was approached by my superiors with the question of if I would like to head out to California to help out with the fires??? I was very surprised by this and can say it has been about 24 hrs from the time the evacuations have begun to being told to stand-by to deploy to the area. Compared to Katrina, we are on point on this situation. And I truly feel we will be for any others in the near future.
-Matthew, Brunswick, Maine

What’s the appropriate role for the military when it comes to the California wildfires?
I feel that the military should be used in these types of emergencies. If they are used to go and help "liberate" a foreign country, there is no reason why the government shouldn't use the military to help those in need in our own country. -Chris, Riverside, California

The military's responsibility is the same responsibility that I have if I come upon an accident and there is no one else available: do everything I can to help. -Alex, Buena Park, California

The military is doing its job: providing for the common defense. This time against an angry mother nature. It's much more appropriate than sending them to invade another country to benefit the rich. -James Allentown, Pennsylvania

Our military should do whatever is necessary to help fight the wildfires. The county of San Diego is home to quite a few Navy and Marine Corps bases and it is important that they help their neighbors during this time. I do believe that our military should help but not at the cost of leaving the bases vulnerable to spreading wildfires. As a community, we have to come together as one to heal from this disaster -Tiffany, Camp Pendleton, California
Posted By Jack Cafferty, CNN Commentator: 10/23/2007 05:48:00 PM ET | Permalink
Monday, October 22, 2007
Cafferty: Air safety secrets?
WATCH "The Cafferty File": U.N. a failure?
Should NASA have to release survey results that show safety problems like near collisions happen much more often than previously thought?
As long as we pay their wages, certainly. It seems too many of us have forgotten, or dumbly don't know, we are the government. Washington treats itself like it is their private club, devoid of its responsibility to us. Get them in a corner on a sensitive subject, and here comes that security b.s. for an answer. -Ken, California

I was disappointed when I heard that NASA does not want to share the results. In my opinion, they should release the results and let the travelers know what to expect. Saving lives should be the priority of any company, not saving profits. -Amna

I survived WW2 as a fighter pilot because we were alerted to every situation that could occur in the air and on the ground and trained for those situations. To deny reporting the results of the study will only allow for more dangerous situations to occur without any oversight. -Jerry, Vero Beach, Florida

Surprise, surprise, surprise. What other studies are they hiding from U.S. taxpayers?
-Don

What does it mean for the Democratic-led Congress when The New York Times questions its ability to stand up to President Bush?
Jack, It merely means that the Democrats are bought and paid for by big business and special interests as are the Republicans. -Paul, Jerseyville, Illinois

The Democrats may not want to stand up and orate about the war too much. It's imperative for the war to continue, so that they can get elected. Once elected, they will most likely assume the status quo. -Balazs, Woodland Hills, California

It means that when Pelosi took impeachment off the table, she allowed the Bush regime to continue to run roughshod over our laws and Constitution. -Toni, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

It means the New York Times is right on the mark by insinuating that the Democrats in Congress are a bunch of wussies and it's business as usual. -Diane, Barnevald, New York
Posted By Jack Cafferty, CNN Commentator: 10/22/2007 05:49:00 PM ET | Permalink
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