Someone is definitely being thin skinned here, but I'll go with the opposing fan posting on 2 threads before the sun comes up because Texas fans on a Texas message board were mean to the AD at the school he is a fan of.
Ignoring the stupid fucking distraction that is this commercial, the book Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weiner is a great and thorough read on the full history of the CIA through the war on terror based on primary sources and interviews. Also the Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins is an easier read that give good insight to just how evil the CIA is and has been throughout its history. If someone can read either and think that the CIA provides any kind of service or value for good, then I'd rather not meet that person.
It wasn’t my intention to do a both sides and I completely agree that the dems are miles ahead of the Republicans. I’m a leftist independent and shouldn’t have tried to jump into the middle of a long discussion. While my beliefs are different than most here, I do really enjoy lurking here. I learn a lot. I sincerely appreciate the explanation and will go back to lurking now.
I certainly don't disagree with anything you guys say about the Republican Party. Personally I take issue with the idea that the Democratic Party has the best interest of the majority of Americans as part of their decision making, but understand the argument. I just find myself frustrated with all of the "inside baseball" talk and the smugness of folks telling us that we just don't understand the way things work. It often makes me think of this quote from No Country For Old Men, "If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?"
It seems to me that the disconnect is between posters that are worried about what is best for citizens of this country and posters that are worried about what is best for the Democratic Party. As someone who is not a member of any political party, I'd like to see a lot more concern for our fellow citizens and no concern whatsoever given to what is best for any particular political party. From my perspective, this is the problem.
As great as the movie is, the book is better. His whole underworld quartet is phenomenal(LA Confidential is the 3rd book in this series), and his Underworld USA trilogy is a fucking masterpiece. If you like this movie and enjoy reading, I can't recommend James Ellroy's books enough.