1876 replies to this topic

[ciardha]

Political news links of note:

DSK history of sexual assault begins to emerge, including to his goddaughter:

http://www.reuters.c...110704?irpc=932

Interesting points to ponder on the 4th of July on the nature and problematic issues of nationalism

http://thesocietypag...al-nationalism/

Krugman's Op-ed on real jobs creation

http://www.nytimes.c.../...tml?_r=2

[Strangelove]

Political news links of note:

DSK history of sexual assault begins to emerge, including to his goddaughter:

http://www.reuters.c...110704?irpc=932

Interesting points to ponder on the 4th of July on the nature and problematic issues of nationalism

http://thesocietypag...al-nationalism/

Krugman's Op-ed on real jobs creation

http://www.nytimes.c.../...tml?_r=2

Lol that second article is interesting...about the NFL having stars on it...no one really cares...every country on Earth has some form of patriotism. As a matter of fact, i find the American people to be some of the least patriotic, and that is a good thing, the US doesn't have a national imposed religion, has a high degree of tolerance for freedom of speech and freedom of religion than the rest of the Americas [try burning a national flag in Colombia or Argentina and see how easily your brains will be splatter on the pavement] and most of the people hate the government, or just don't trust it. Sure America has its faults...but is much better living here, than let's say Syria where people are being shot at for voicing they're dissent.


And as for the last one...for all the time i have observed the movement of our economy, i came to one logical conclusion...our economy is mostly based on credit. The result of the housing collapse was credit, and the recession was because no bank was willing to give credit, so every company suffered, because if there is no credit, no one is willing to buy. You fix this, by increasing the manufacturing sector, and bring in real cash flow, otherwise the US economy will continue to be a bubble based economy, where huge amounts of loans are given that can't be paid. When we receive the money we live beyond our means, when it comes time to pay the bills we begin to live beneath our means.

Edited by Strangelove, 06 July 2011 - 01:52 AM.

[Insurrection]

Lol that second article is interesting...about the NFL having stars on it...no one really cares...every country on Earth has some form of patriotism. As a matter of fact, i find the American people to be some of the least patriotic.

FOOTBALL!!!!!

Wait, we're not as patriotic? Have you met us?

Also I'm here to post a new finding.

America has a new growing demographic in running for elected office.

It's not who you think.

Edited by Insurrection, 06 July 2011 - 01:48 AM.

[Strangelove]

FOOTBALL!!!!!

Wait, we're not as patriotic? Have you met us?

Also I'm here to post a new finding.

America has a new growing demographic in running for elected office.

It's not who you think.

I just say it as i see it.

On a side note, America has the biggest racial problem...and it may be due to the way you are as a collective rather than a country of individuals. In other countries that is okay to work as a collective because everyone looks the same, and the minorities are very small they are oppressed without anyone noticing. For eg Brazil and the Native Amazon Indians, Argentina and its now extinct black population, Venezuela and the llaneros. I can name quite a few.

By getting rid of the collective, and respecting the individual, you take race off the equation. Otherwise every race will feel disenfranchised by the government, because it will seem as if every race or walk of life gets special benefits. Consider as to why do they have to ask what race or ethnicity you are before getting a driver's license...or answering any poll question, or taking a Test. This government does way too much to keep people divided, because the two parties that control it, fear unity. Democrats don't want they're hold on the Hispanic and Black vote to be lost from they're grasp, so they do anything to benefit Hispanic and Black voters, thus making the Anglo Saxon whites more racially tensed towards them, that they side with Republicans, and vice versa.




Also if your from the left, or from the right, if your anti war, or if you oppose corporate welfare as well as welfare. If you believe that the Drug War has gotten out of hand, if you are a Marxist, a Libertarian, Anarchist, Liberal, Conservative, and Constitutionalists. Raising the debt ceiling will not help you. Those trillions will be used to fight undeclared wars, give billions to banks to give to giant corporations, censor the internet...all the stuff that you don't want to happen, will happen.

Edited by Strangelove, 06 July 2011 - 11:26 PM.

[TheBerserkMoogle]

The thing is is that we're patriotic, it's just that our politicians can be a bit dull sometimes and a lot of people complain. That's the thing about media, the negative sides are always emphasized and you never really see the positive unless you go and see the topic for yourself. I for one am very patriotic, I just wish that the people who care more about themselves or their party than their country as a whole would stop running.

[Nick Soapdish]

FOOTBALL!!!!!

Wait, we're not as patriotic? Have you met us?

It might depend on how you define patriotism. The United States is very big into the visible symbols of patriotism like wearing flag pins or flying the flag or putting "support the troops" ribbons on their cars. But we've had jokes for a long time about how the only people that know anything past the first verse of the national anthem are foreigners.

From the Detroit News by way of the message board at Snopes.com

There's an old story, probably apocryphal, that during World War II, the Americans used the [national] anthem as a way to root out German spies: A captive who knew the words to the fourth verse would be shot on sight, it is said, since no real Americans know the words.

Isaac Asimov wrote a short mystery story based on that back in 1980. Or maybe that's where the legend came from. I certainly hadn't heard it beforehand.


And our knowledge of civics and American history is abysmal. Just look at our politicians.

[Codus N]

So what are your opinions on the debt talks, guys?? to be very honest, I'm getting rather worried. As an international citizen I worry that this will affect my country as well....

[catsi563]

Oh im certain a deal will be reached. political pragmatism will win out, after all ronny raygun republican god that he was raised taxes on the rich no less then 8 times if I recall correctly.

eventually as the line nears and shutdown looms the repubs will bend theyll have too. hell market uncertainty has allready had multiple business leaders telling them to make a deal even if it includes tax increases. And a mjority of the american people nearly 80+% say a millionaires tax is the way to go.

Still the fact that theyve pushed us to the brink of politicial insolvency like this wont be forgotten, and that the only reason was to protect rich peoples private jets and other taxbreaks that the rich enjoy. well people arent going to forget come election time.

[Insurrection]

So what are your opinions on the debt talks, guys?? to be very honest, I'm getting rather worried. As an international citizen I worry that this will affect my country as well....

Well it'll affect everyone if the largest economy on earth defaults. Especially with the new crisis going on in Eurozone and China's deficit is catching up to them. But the fact is the deal the Republicans could of gotten would have been great to them five years ago. But because of the tax pledges everyone takes they won't agree to any deal that involves a semblance of an increase in taxes.

The problem is in order to cut spending long term which would be good for the United States you have to be able to compensate with raising revenues if you can't raise revenue and continue to cut spending eventually you'll be unable to save anything if you can't make anything.

But now that the President says if they don't get this done old people won't get social security checks it'll raise the stakes slightly. And Congress is the issue since both sides of the isle are idiotic political fat and lazy people that only has a 17% approval rating and still is incompitent then we're screwed.

So just like every other issue, We're all Screwed.

Edited by Insurrection, 12 July 2011 - 07:23 PM.

[Strangelove]

So what are your opinions on the debt talks, guys?? to be very honest, I'm getting rather worried. As an international citizen I worry that this will affect my country as well....

America will either default now, or it will default latter on. We are seeing the complete collapse of fiat currency.

Edited by Strangelove, 12 July 2011 - 11:28 PM.

[Insurrection]

http://www.latimes.c...0,3593066.story

http://swampland.tim...-dramatic-turn/

Oh Snap.

What we’re seeing here confirms what the American people think is the worst about Washington: that everyone is more interested in posturing and political positioning and protecting their base than solving real problems. Eric, I could get well above the numbers the GOP is talking about with revenue increases. I am not afraid to veto this and I will take that message and defend it to the American people. If we default, it will be a tax increase on every American. My responsibility is to the American people. I have reached the point where I say, ‘Enough.’ I have sat here long enough and no other President – Ronald Reagan wouldn’t sit here like this. I’ve reached my limit. We’ve reached the point where something’s got to give. You’ve either got to compromise on your dollar for dollar insistence or you compromise on the big deal, which means raising taxes. Eric, don’t call my bluff. I will go to the American people on this. This may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield on this.

Edited by Insurrection, 14 July 2011 - 05:07 AM.

[Codus N]

Damn, but I gotta give props to him that he's willing to sacrifice his 2012 run and he said that bluntly to the reporters. If that's not guts of steel, then I dunno what is. And to be honest, Obama is becoming a bit of a mix between Shikamaru and Naruto. He's using his political strategies well and seems to plan them at least 5+ steps ahead and not afraid to use cunning tricks. What he's doing here seems to be his last trump card against Cantor. Very impressive, sir

EDIT: Majority of Voters blame Bush for the economy and more than 67% agree with Obama's plan in the debt talks.

Seriously, if that ain't a sign the people WANTS Obama's plan, I dunno what is.

Edited by Codus N, 14 July 2011 - 04:01 PM.

[Insurrection]

Here's all you need to know

http://www.washingto...GpAI_story.html

If the politicians fail to pass it, imagine if you have all your fundraisers turn on you at once along with your economically destroyed constituents.

[Nick Soapdish]

Damn, but I gotta give props to him that he's willing to sacrifice his 2012 run and he said that bluntly to the reporters. If that's not guts of steel, then I dunno what is. And to be honest, Obama is becoming a bit of a mix between Shikamaru and Naruto. He's using his political strategies well and seems to plan them at least 5+ steps ahead and not afraid to use cunning tricks. What he's doing here seems to be his last trump card against Cantor. Very impressive, sir

EDIT: Majority of Voters blame Bush for the economy and more than 67% agree with Obama's plan in the debt talks.

Seriously, if that ain't a sign the people WANTS Obama's plan, I dunno what is.

I can never tell with him. Half the time, it seems like he's planning five moves ahead and half the time, he's behind. Maybe he just planned too many moves ahead and had something go awry.

I'd glad that McConnell has said that he's willing to go with a debt limit increase without any corresponding cuts. Sure, it'll be dumping the blame on Obama, but even that is getting him crucified by the Tea Party. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that this has dragged on this long. I understand that it's standard politics to make the party in charge squirm over this a bit (and the Democrats are a bit more in charge), but this isn't the time to be trying to negotiate a budget. I'm pretty sure that Congress gets to do that each year - when they put together a damn budget.

I don't think that it really matters that a majority of voters agree with Obama. About 2/3 were opposed to extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy (although not the rest of us) because of the impact on the deficit and we still have those. It doesn't matter if they agree on that issue, but not on others (a majority don't approve of how Obama is fixing the mess that they're blaming Bush for) or if they don't vote. Or if they're in the wrong place for Democrats. In the 2010 election, Republicans took about 51.6% of the vote nationally vs. 44.8% for the Democrats and if that was evenly distributed, they would've taken 233 seats, not 242. It's still a landslide, but not to the same degree.

[catsi563]

actually if voters had come out in same numbers as they did in 2008 the numbers showed that the repubs not onylo would not have won the house the dems would now be in a supermajority in both congress and the senate.

[Strangelove]

actually if voters had come out in same numbers as they did in 2008 the numbers showed that the repubs not onylo would not have won the house the dems would now be in a supermajority in both congress and the senate.

people came out in turnouts for Obama and his hope and change message that he forgot about 16 months into his administration. They choose Democrats over the Republicans because they were angry at the Republicans. Then in 2010 people were angry at both, and the Republicans were able to mobilize they're 30% base in the house. While the Democratic base felt disenfranchised by they're leaders. Considering they failed to:

pass a comprehensive healthcare reform bill

suck up to the large corporations

an ugly economy [both parties share responsibility] Since it started during the Bush administration under a Democratic control congress.

end the Bush tax cuts to the super wealthy [now in an economic sense, tax cuts help create jobs, and jobs generate income, and income generate taxes. The problem really is basically that in order for tax cuts to create employment...you have to have an economy based mostly on manufacturing, not on borrowing.]


So there you have it...that is why Democrats lost in 2010. They pissed off they're base, while Republicans gave red meat to they're base. The independents...well they were split. Some remember the awful years they had under Republicans, and some just said "Is there any difference between then and now?"

[Super Boom]

So there you have it...that is why Democrats lost in 2010. They pissed off they're base, while Republicans gave red meat to they're base. The independents...well they were split. Some remember the awful years they had under Republicans, and some just said "Is there any difference between then and now?"

Quoted for truth. I'm actually part of that group, being more or less an independent (actually more of a fiscally conservative, socially liberal independent). It's getting frustrating looking at both sides constantly pointing fingers at each other instead of getting anything done. Or just seeing people praise one side as saints and saviors while completely demonizing the other, pretending like the two parties are polar opposites. Once you take off the political party goggles, you realize that the omni-partisan hypocrisy seems to go on ad nauseum.

[Insurrection]

Gingrich campaign $1 Million in Debt

Other Campaign funds were announced

Edited by Insurrection, 15 July 2011 - 10:00 PM.

[Strangelove]

Damn, but I gotta give props to him that he's willing to sacrifice his 2012 run and he said that bluntly to the reporters. If that's not guts of steel, then I dunno what is. And to be honest, Obama is becoming a bit of a mix between Shikamaru and Naruto. He's using his political strategies well and seems to plan them at least 5+ steps ahead and not afraid to use cunning tricks. What he's doing here seems to be his last trump card against Cantor. Very impressive, sir

EDIT: Majority of Voters blame Bush for the economy and more than 67% agree with Obama's plan in the debt talks.

Seriously, if that ain't a sign the people WANTS Obama's plan, I dunno what is.

Well, if they're going to cut things like Medicare, Social Security, Education, Transportation...etc they must also raise the taxes on the wealthy, considering that no jobs were created throughout the decade, and most of those jobs went to China, India, Indonesia...whatever. Then of course, what i think is not to compromise, compromise is what got us here, bipartisanship is only good when the ideas are good, not when the ideas are bad. Otherwise you know what is going to come out of there...a cut in all small spending including Education, Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, an increase in the Defense Budget and Dept of Homeland Security, and the Bush tax cuts become permanent, that is what compromise will give us, bad bad ideas.

[Insurrection]

Well, if they're going to cut things like Medicare, Social Security, Education, Transportation...etc they must also raise the taxes on the wealthy, considering that no jobs were created throughout the decade, and most of those jobs went to China, India, Indonesia...whatever. Then of course, what i think is not to compromise, compromise is what got us here, bipartisanship is only good when the ideas are good, not when the ideas are bad. Otherwise you know what is going to come out of there...a cut in all small spending including Education, Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, an increase in the Defense Budget and Dept of Homeland Security, and the Bush tax cuts become permanent, that is what compromise will give us, bad bad ideas.

What should happen:

Cantor: No compromise
Obama: Okay then...*writes on paper and gives it to aide*
Cantor: What was that?
Obama: Oh since you won't compromise we'll save money by cutting all funding to your states and shut down the military bases there. No federal money for you.

Edited by Insurrection, 15 July 2011 - 11:10 PM.