General Political Thread

[LouieB]

It's a mystery to me why you make such claims despite the fact that I don't think anyone has ever said such a thing -- here or anywhere else.

 

Gun homicides are down greatly over the last 20 years -- even as Americans are buying firearms at a record pace, but anti-gun politicians don't want anyone to know it. 

Okay you never said it.  And yes gun violence is down.  So let's let everyone have more guns and ammo.  Really I don't know what you are saying anymore.  There seemed to be a whole lot of discussion about why any restrictions on guns were a bad thing and I seem to remember you taking that side, but forgive me if I am mistaken. 

 

Remember I gave up the argument for more restrictions weeks ago. I really don't care, but apparently the parents of the kids who died at Newtown do, I never lost anyone to gun violence so I don't (yet) have a dog in that hunt or whatever the expression is.  I would like the legislatures of this country to get busy on stuff that is going to affect more people (gay marriage, immigration reform, etc.) and leave the gun collectors alone. Meanwhile Walmart and other gun dealers run out of ammo regularly so I guess the market speaks louder than dead kids at the moment. 

 

LouieB

[Hixter]

There seemed to be a whole lot of discussion about why any restrictions on guns were a bad thing and I seem to remember you taking that side

I never said that, either. I am opposed to new legislation that would turn me, a person who has never been arrested or charged with a crime, into a felon because I own a piece of plastic with a spring in it. 

 

Meanwhile Walmart and other gun dealers run out of ammo regularly so I guess the market speaks louder than dead kids at the moment.

Insinuating that American gun owners are somehow complicit in the murders of children -- or at the very least unconcerned about murdered children -- is exactly the sort of scare and smear tactic that anti-gun politicians are trying to use as an excuse for depriving law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights, and those politicians are directly responsible for the record sales of guns and ammunition in this country.

[uncool2pillow]

You know I have never understood those people who call themselves fiscally conservative/socially liberal (supporting of gay rights etc) and still vote GOP. Basically you are saying that your money is more important then someone else's rights.

I liked Jules' reply, but I'll add a bit.  At least up until George W. was elected, I think you could argue that most Republicans did a good job paying lip service to the religious right but not doing much for their cause.  I think things have changed the last 10-15 years, so have my voting habits, somewhat.

[IRememberDBoon]

I'd go full Kaczynski and spend the rest of my days in a cabin in the wilderness if my friends wanted to talk about politics day in and day out.

 

 

yeah well definitely don't move to Washington DC.

It really is a beautiful place to live though

 

[IRememberDBoon]

I am an unabashed progressive and I agree with much of what you say, but I really wish there was just more thought put into it.  The level of the thought and discussion that you put into your posts here do not jibe with the knowledge you purport.  And I am just saying that, not to be mean or belittle, but your posts are just frustrating to read.  

 

But to get to the larger point here and I think it can be said with the utmost confidence that the following 5 things are true:

 

1.  There was no cover-up in Benghazi, it was more of a turf war between the State Dept and the CIA.  

 

2.  The IRS did not act on the orders of the Administration to target conservative groups, rather they used a method to find those 501©'s that were not "social welfare groups" but rather organizations set up for electing certain groups or people (which is not tax exempt.)  It was a stupid thing to do, but due to efficiency they had to weed out likely groups.  Yeah the IRS was profiling and it blew up in their faces, but you honestly think PBO told the IRS to go after these group, really?  That is just a foolish notion.    

 

3.  The AP thing is troubling, but the way I have overheard some conversations and listen to this described on Right Wing radio is incorrect.  The DOJ didn't just go and tap the AP's phone in some secret illegal clandestine action.  They did get the proper subpoenas and was legally in their right to do so, but I don't like the precedence it sets.  It was funny I went over to TheBlaze.com today and on the front page they had a story about the AP thing and another slamming the Obama Administration for another leak.  The conflicting message is amusing to me.  

 

4.  The Obama Administration has to have the worse PR team in history.

 

5.  These stories are going to go away with little or no consequence to the Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton (and rightfully so).  By next week the media will be on to something else (winner of Powerball, shark attack, some other ginned up scandal, who knows).   

 

gotcha! agreed and they are going away. and only because the boy cried wolf WAY too many times

 

 

 

[KevinG]

yeah well definitely don't move to Washington DC.

It really is a beautiful place to live though

 

 

I lived in DC for a year and while beautiful the summer months and traffic are terrible.  I also saw a rat the size of a small dog on night on the mall. 

[uncool2pillow]

I go to Washington pretty much every summer.  I take dozens of 8th graders and still manage to have a great time, but the idea of living in that city fills me with dread.

[IRememberDBoon]

living outside of the city and commuting is a nightmare.

living in the city is something like living in Rome at the height of the empire. Its is beautiful x10 and the weird thing is no buildings over 10 stories but one 

 

[Hixter]

living in the city is something like living in Rome at the height of the empire.

It reminds me of the Capitol from The Hunger Games. 

[IRememberDBoon]

It reminds me of the Capitol from The Hunger Games. 

 

you lived there?? at least when I was there I knew Wilco would be around every year or so at the 930 club for a multi show run. And that is SPECIAL

 

[KevinG]

Today the President gave a speech that is going to fundamentally change our foreign policy and no one cares.  

[Winston Legthigh]

Oh. Right. Change. Didn't he campaign on that five years ago? Better late than never I suppose.

[ih8music]

I'll be happy if he/Congress manage to get Gitmo closed. Anything beyond that, I have my doubts.

[IRememberDBoon]

The President will never get an ounce of respect from these folks. He could kill Bin Laden and they would poo poo it.

[KevinG]

Regardless of your political leaning I think (or at least I hope) we can all agree that Michele Bachmann's announcement that she is not seeking another term in congress is a good thing.  She epitomizes what is wrong with our current crop of politicians.  She is ill informed but yet vocal and think she knows everything and refuses to listen to anyone else. 

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/michele-bachmann-not-running-again-91972.html?hp=t3_3

 

Also Bob Dole rips the current GOP.  I have always respected Bob Dole as a politician and a statesmen.  I think he has it right.  

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/opinion/bob-dole-misses-his-republican-party.html?_r=0

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Regardless of your political leaning I think (or at least I hope) we can all agree that Michele Bachmann's announcement that she is not seeking another term in congress is a good thing...  She is ill informed but yet vocal and think she knows everything and refuses to listen to anyone else. 

Could not agree more.

[Winston Legthigh]

Regardless of your political leaning I think (or at least I hope) we can all agree that Michele Bachmann's announcement that she is not seeking another term in congress is a good thing.  She epitomizes what is wrong with our current crop of politicians.  She is ill informed but yet vocal and think she knows everything and refuses to listen to anyone else. 

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/michele-bachmann-not-running-again-91972.html?hp=t3_3

 

Also Bob Dole rips the current GOP.  I have always respected Bob Dole as a politician and a statesmen.  I think he has it right.  

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/opinion/bob-dole-misses-his-republican-party.html?_r=0

Curious timing with her being investigated for campaign ethics violations...

Unless of course, God told her to quit?

[LouieB]

Bachmann's leaving the House may be good politically, but what a colorful figure!!!  She will be missed and she still has a year and a half to go.

 

LouieB

[ih8music]

To be fair, deciding to not run for reelection isn't quite the same as quitting mid-term ala Palin.

 

I've heard some speculation that she's considering a senate run vs Al Frankin. That would be immensely entertaining.

[LouieB]

.

 

I've heard some speculation that she's considering a senate run vs Al Frankin. That would be immensely entertaining.

Now that would be awesome.

 

LouieB

[Hixter]

Several states have decided that politicians/judges/prosecutors/retired cops should be exempt from the new guns laws that they've enacted regarding magazine size, "assault" weapons and the like; other states, including Texas, are considering such laws, because for many government officials, laws are only for the little people.

 

It's nice to see that Texas shot down such a provision and it was a strong bipartisan effort to boot. "Republicans and Democrats alike denounced the bill, saying it was wrong to allow themselves perks that others didn’t have. The procedural vote to take up the bill was defeated, 103-38."

 

Texas House members angrily reject provision to expand legislators’ gun-carrying rights

[lost highway]

 

Sometimes you just gotta spend some money.

[Guest Jules]

He's spent plenty. Spending wisely is another story. Throwing money around doesn't accomplish much.

[lost highway]

Had the GOP not stepped in they would have thrown all of that money at highways, and bridges.  Phooey.

[KevinG]

He's spent plenty. Spending wisely is another story. Throwing money around doesn't accomplish much.

 

Calling total bullshit on this, total and complete bullshit.  Every time I hear that Obama is a big government spender it makes me want to throw up.  It is a lie spread by the right and ridiculous.  And then parroted by people as fact as why Obama is a terrible president.  But nothing but pure bullshit.  It is widely proven that that government spending has slowed under Obama.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/24/think-obamas-a-huge-spender-then-you-need-to-see-these-two-charts/

 

 

Spending it wisely is a concern this is true, but the money needs to be spent, our infrastructure needs serious work.  So the GOP filibustered PBO's infrastructure bill because:

1. The bill was wasteful and did not spend the money on the correct infrastructure projects (where is the GOP's infrastructure bill?)
2. The GOP doesn't see the need to spend the money on infrastructure (because you know the private sector will pick up the slack or something)
3. The GOP will do anything in their power to stop PBO's policies, even though it may actually help the American people.  

A large infrastructure bill is exactly what we need now, not only would it put many Americans back to work it would fix our infrastructure.