Lyons Jewelers Closes Store to Mourn President Obama's Victory

I'll just tackle a couple of statements here:

"... our unflagging support for Israel, while it treats Palestinians no better than the Nazis treated the Jews."

So Israel has killed over seven million Palistinians? With rape, torture, and medical 'research' thrown in? Really? Who knew ...

"We could cut our military budget by 50% and we'd still be spending more on defense than the second largest military spender in the world - we don't need more money to keep our military strong, we just need defense contractors that aren't addicted to inflated salaries and offer only token patriotism."

You've got a point here but I don't think you know what it is.

Two figures for you: Current cost of equipment for a U.S. combat soldier: $17,500. The rifle is about $1000, the armored vest about another $1000, the helmet, $250, but there are 70-some additional items.

Current cost of equipment for a third world soldier: $100 or so. That's an AK-47 variant and a uniform; Many third world armies don't even provide helmets.

The same kinds of numbers -- although not always so extreme -- apply to our Air Force and Navy. We provide 'nothing but the finest,' and the result is that we spend far more than any possible enemy PER UNIT of capability. So when you compare the total military budgets, there's the impression that we're overwhelmingly stronger but that isn't the truth.

Does our soldier's equipment really make him the equal of 175 third world soldiers? Not at all: It makes him one of our sons, our next door neighbor, the kid we grew up with, and as one of us, going in harm's way for the richest country in the world we provide him with the best.

In my opinion we go too far. There comes a point at which numbers matter: 100 soldiers with a decent firearm (the AK-47 is fine) will nearly always beat five or ten, very often even 25, no matter how well equipped the smaller group is. If we had unlimited wealth maybe we could have BOTH the numbers and the 175-times greater unit price but not only is our wealth limited, the limit is going to come down fast in the next few years. Either we'll decide how to cut unit costs all across the services or we'll wind up with such small numbers that we won't be an effective fighting force.

Everyone is entitled to give their opinion, even if it is obnoxious or uninformed. Everyone is free to avoid doing business with or associating with those they disagree with or find untrustworthy(this goes for either side in opposition). The Christian Right-wing, as the previous majority, has used these tactics to economically pressure the Left to be silent. Now that the Democrats have a clear majority we can reciprocate or simply ignore these fanatics as they fade into oblivion. Though most of us have adapted day-by-day to our changing environment, Neo-cons have chosen to  isolate themselves from reality for decades. The 2012 election woke up many of them, but it was Rip Van Winkle falling asleep in one era then waking up in a completely new one. Yes, these zealots did this to themselves, but they still deserve our pity. They should be treated with as much compassion as those with  Alzheimer's patients who have unpredictable periods of lucidity then confusion. The Neo-cons chose to dissociate themselves from reality, but they are no less sick & confused. We  can no longer allow them to obstruct the progress of the US or obfuscate the truth, but we can be gentle & empathetic as we bring them out of delusion & back into the 21st century. There is always the question if we do more harm than good when we strip away anyone's fantasies, but the fantasies of White, Christian Neo-cons have caused so many others in the country to suffer that they cannot be allowed to continue. Waking them is not a punitive action, but self-protection on our part. Hopefully, they will understand this as they assimilate back into the real world. 

Rebecca O'Reilly Boyle - Poor, ignorant Rebecca, you and your party never learn. Americans spoke loudly and clearly on election night and you still have the unmitigated gall to write such ignorant, misinformed, racist drivel. I don't call you a racist because you didn't vote for or support President Obama, I call you a racist because you are. You see, you gave yourself away with such references to food stamps and welfare recipients. Not that all of those who receive such assistance are minorities (not by a long shot), but I know that when racists like YOU make those kinds of references, that's what you think and believe. Thank God there are only a small minority of racists in this country, proven by Tuesday's election results. You see, what you and many others like you failed to realize is that everything begins and ends with God and He doesn't like ugly, hatred, evil or racism. Therefore, there was NO WAY Romney was going to win. You need JESUS! Good luck!

Please help me out! I don't see the connection between the president get re-elected and this jewelry store owner closing door to protest for Wednesday and put his blame on the shame of VA & US voters.

Did Mr. Romney promise him to buy from his store 2 tons of gold leaf and 36 diamond bracelets for decorating on the deck board the 3 new fleets of navy ship? That may make sense because seeing the shinny gold leaf ships and the sparkling diamond on them really show off the power of our navy and we should admire the powerful image of these golden ship like we stand in front of the Trump casino to see the sparkling gold stars on it.

Oh, may be there is a plan to order Navy gold rings for thousands of Navy officers who will serve on board of these 36 new ships as the navy pride tradition. Now I know why he so angry to launch his protest.

Shame of VA voters and Obama as they shattered the dream of this jewelry store owner, destroy his dream of wealth and future hope for President Romney. I support his protest as a symbol of courage and patriotic. I even want him to prolong his protest for at least a year or 2 years to make his point. Go my hero owner !!! don't back down until 2016.

Quick! Someone call them a waaaahhhhmbulance!

This is the behavior of a 13-year old whining that they don't get their way when they lose a fair contest

Why is it always considered racism when someone says that a president who gave us six trillion in new debt, the highest number every of people on food stamps, and SO MUCH more -- and plans 'more of the same' -- isn't a good bet for a second term?

You want racism? How 'bout major media who can't say a word critical of President Obama because he's black?

Before attacking a man who seems to consider this election a disaster for our country, why don't you wait three or four years and see just how it goes? There are a whole lot of Obama policies and actions out there that are or shortly will be newly in effect that will start to change the way we live real soon now.

You can fault Romney for not running a top drawer campaign, perhaps even for not having chosen all the best policy positions to win, but he is a decent, capable, and serious executive who would have done us immense good in the days to come.

Again, I suggest waiting a bit before shooting the messenger. And use the time to get any medical work you see in the future done now, put aside some money, buy a bunch of something that keeps forever that people will need if our economy collapses (gold isn't for everyone), and practice up on your prayer skills.

The road from here to 2016 looks like a superhighway but we will be turning off on various unpaved detours long before we get there.

I feel their pain. Every "producer" in this country should be in mourning because the American Dream has been wadded-up and thrown in the trash by the "takers" who made this happen. My prediction for the next four years is that the "47%" that Mr. Romney referred to will be expanded to 50% or more through expansion of Govt programs and handouts, and republicans will never win another presidential election unless one of two things happen. Either republicans have to pander to the "takers" too, which will only compound the problem, or a revolution will occur after complete economic and social collapse of our once great nation. One day my children and their children will sit in awe as they hear stories of a free country that once stood as the shining city on the hill, and wonder how things got so bad for them... 11/6/2012 will go down in history as the day that a once great nation fell to its knees at the direction of its own misguided citizens and the guidance of an inept leader. I hope I'm wrong, but I fear that I am not...

Dear Jewelery Store Owner...what a lunatic you must be! You will cause your own demise, for sure! Open your business, go about your own business and "RELEASE YOUR HATRED! If your problem is Racism, Racism is NOT born, it is learned, and you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, so start learning people. God Bless President Obama, may he have a much more PLEASANT FOUR YEARS THIS TIME AROUND than the last four years, as far as trying to get something done, and in working with the opposition. May he be guided and directed into right action, right decisions; blessings to everyone involved in these actions and decisions; blessings to his family and God Bless America! Keep us strong and free!