The USA Political Thread

[lennco]

Here you can spout your USA political views.

Rules:
1. Keep it clean
2. No fighting
3. Respect the views of others.
4. US Political views, No Religious views
5. Have fun

:wave:

 

[GILSAN]

CORPORATE profits are at their highest level in at least 85 years. GOOD ECONOMY
Employee compensation is at the lowest level in 65 years. BAD ECONOMY

Depends where you are on the food chain, don't you think?

Can't argue against that.
The 1% = Very Happy
The rest = Not so Happy or Very Upset or feeling like a POP

 

[Theo Goodman]

stop bitching and being so negative have you forgotten how bad it was?

 

[GILSAN]

stop bitching and being so negative have you forgotten how bad it was?

 

[GILSAN]

Did the Obama White House Trade Five Terrorists for a Taliban Sympathizer?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...iban-POW-SIX-men-killed-looking-revealed.html

 

[verbster]

Don't know how they are doing it, but adsense ads are showing up on a couple of my sites as political ads for Alaska politicians. I don't much care for that, no matter what party.

 

[verbster]

It appears in many areas PACs are spending more money on political candidates than the candidates are. It must Make candidates nervous not being able to control what it is said or seen in ads created by PACs.

With CNN averaging only 35,000 viewers in the 10 P.M. 25-54 age group, I can understand how great the temptations must be for TV news programs to give into People magazine stuff, covering wannabe TV stars and other human interest rubbish.

 

[RaiderGirl]

Came across this today: When Bush took office 1/20/2001, the stock market (Dow Jones) was 10, 587. Four years later, when re-elected it was at 10, 471. And when he left office it was 7949, over a 20% drop in eight years.

After four years of Obama, it was 12, 720 (up 60%). And today it's around 16, 500 (up over 100% in six years)

Your right Verb, the economy is in much better shape today than it was with that horrible Bush, I believe in giving credit where it's due and Obama deserves full credit for successfully lowering the labor participation rate to it's lowest point since 1978, Good job Obama!.. And not only is he a master at lowering but increasing costs for the common 'Good" like Gasoline, I would much rather pay $4.13 a gallon for gas than a $1.38 a gallon under Bushy because I know the tax money is going to help those who can help themselves, the non productive members of society who live off the working class in America.

And that horrible Bush, did you know that he increased the National Debt by a whopping $5 Trillion in 8 years? and what did our hero Obama do? he broke Bush's record by adding $7 Trillion MORE in only 5 years, isn't he amazing? but what does the National debt matter when we can just PRINT more money? You and I won't have to pay for it, our children and grandchildren will be on the hook for that, but with their college education in the Liberal arts and learning how to install Solar panels, they should be able to afford higher taxes no problem.

With all of Obama's backwards accomplishments, he just might have a bigger Library than that of Ronald Reagan, One thing about the Reagan library, I could never figure out why anyone would want to see a piece of the Berlin wall with Graffiti on it when they can see a new cemented wall destined for the Ukraine? topped off with a "Hope and Change" chiseled into it.

But do let us know when the Library opens, if your planning on attending opening day, I'm sure the fellas here would like to see a picture of you standing next to Obama's much deserved Nobel Peace Prize, Keep up the good fight Verby.

 

[GILSAN]

But do let us know when the Library opens, if your planning on attending opening day, I'm sure the fellas here would like to see a picture of you standing next to Obama's much deserved Nobel Peace Prize, Keep up the good fight Verby.

Oh BTW Verbster, be sure to send one to Sarah Palin as well

 

[verbster]

Always nice to read your funny posts, Girly .

Your right Verb, the economy is in much better shape today than it was with that horrible Bush, I believe in giving credit where it's due and Obama deserves full credit for successfully lowering the labor participation rate to it's lowest point since 1978, Good job Obama!..

You had to look hard for this one. I doubt 1% of the population has even heard of this.

“We don’t view the drop in the participation rate as anything significant. It’s really driven by demographics more than anything else,” John Canally, economist and investment strategist at LPL Financial Corp., said before the report. “If you look back and think about it, the participation rate has been falling for 15 years and will continue to fall for the next 15 years as the baby boomers age.”

And not only is he a master at lowering but increasing costs for the common 'Good" like Gasoline, I would much rather pay $4.13 a gallon for gas than a $1.38 a gallon under Bushy because I know the tax money is going to help those who can help themselves, the non productive members of society who live off the working class in America.

The federal excise tax on gasoline has been around 18.4 cents per gallon since 1994. If you're looking for high gas taxes, look at each state. If you're simply looking at the high price of gas, look at the price of oil. And yes, our domestic oil production has increased dramatically.

By "nonproductive members of society" you mean the ultra rich, I agree.

And that horrible Bush, did you know that he increased the National Debt by a whopping $5 Trillion in 8 years? and what did our hero Obama do? he broke Bush's record by adding $7 Trillion MORE in only 5 years, isn't he amazing? but what does the National debt matter when we can just PRINT more money? You and I won't have to pay for it, our children and grandchildren will be on the hook for that, but with their college education in the Liberal arts and learning how to install Solar panels, they should be able to afford higher taxes no problem.

Aw jeez, I expected more that singing the same old song just as loud: ". . . our children and grandchildren will be on the hook for that". This argument is meaningless. Would love to see your explanation of how the national debt from WWII is being paid for by the baby boomers.

Speaking of printing more money, the US prints billions of pieces of paper money each year (90% to replace old money) at a cost of about 10 cents per piece. That's a lot of money spent to make money. What you should be outraged at is the cost of printing over three billion $1oo bills each year (only two billion $1 bills were printed in FY 2012). Outraged because who uses them all? Certainly not your normal citizen. Who then, besides tax evaders and criminals?

With all of Obama's backwards accomplishments, he just might have a bigger Library than that of Ronald Reagan, One thing about the Reagan library, I could never figure out why anyone would want to see a piece of the Berlin wall with Graffiti on it when they can see a new cemented wall destined for the Ukraine? topped off with a "Hope and Change" chiseled into it.

There we go . . . the old fear-the-future scare tactics. If you can't argue with facts, just make something up (like making more money). I'm sure visiting Ronnie's library is on everyone's bucket list. I'm looking forward to the theater room and Bedtime for Bonzo. It takes a particular talent to star with a monkey. Hilarious stuff.

But do let us know when the Library opens, if your planning on attending opening day, I'm sure the fellas here would like to see a picture of you standing next to Obama's much deserved Nobel Peace Prize, Keep up the good fight Verby.

Unfortunately, visiting any presidential library isn't on my list. If I had to visit a library, I'd go with the most popular one: Johnson's. Or maybe it would be fun to visit the least popular: Carter's. They must have a peanut gallery, so it can't be all bad.

 

[verbster]

Oh BTW Verbster, be sure to send one to Sarah Palin as well

I've always thought the Nobel Award to Obama was the wrong choice.

 

[GILSAN]

I've always thought the Nobel Award to Obama was the wrong choice.

That answer deserves a LIKE

 

[verbster]

So, the Tea Party scores with a thumping of Cantor. Laughing but a little freaked at the same time.

 

[JB Lions]

They don't learn, read this a few days ago:

Texas GOP Takes Aim at Bans on 'Reparative Therapy' for Gay Minors

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-gop-takes-aim-bans-reparative-therapy-gay-minors-n124506

 

[GILSAN]

So, the Tea Party scores with a thumping of Cantor. Laughing but a little freaked at the same time.

Viva Tea Party... Viva People are showing their dislike towards Washington and all those BS politicians. Give them hell Tea Party. Gilsan is behind you

 

[verbster]

Viva Tea Party... Viva People are showing their dislike towards Washington and all those BS politicians. Give them hell Tea Party. Gilsan is behind you

Okay, do you know what you're cheering on? Before you join the Tea Party fantasy, I would ask that you actually read the stuff on their website with as close to a neutral mind as you can get. I read everything they had. About 10% makes sense, but the majority is pure propaganda and scare-mongering with no facts to back what they say. What was scarier was what they didn't put on their site, especially their views on the roll *their type of religion) should play in American life and politics . . . and how they regard people of other religions (not just Muslims).

Their big schtick is how our freedoms are being stripped, but it's mostly just opinions on how things will be in the future "if we don't stop them now."

Quite frankly, I can understand why some politicians label them extremists. Personally, I find some of the stuff they are saying pretty frightening; and it's not because of religion; it' because what they are saying is exactly the opposite of what they claim to endorse, especially freedom. You can't proclaim how our freedoms are being stripped (yet not have any examples) and then turn around and say things that are meant to crush the way many people think. Here's an example in big bold letters taken word for word from their website:

"Obama is Freedom Stripping America
Stripping your freedom is not a pipe dream but a reality! Fema Camps are already built and waiting for you! They’ve been practicing for Martial Law and the great round-up of citizens in the 300-acre fake city Obama had built in Virginia. Do NOT dismiss this under any circumstance. It is serious.
Here’s what they are going to do:

• Grab our guns and leave us defenseless!
• Grant amnesty to tens of millions more illegal aliens to kill your vote!
• Extinguish free-speech, crush it anywhere it exists!
• Intern unlimited numbers of US citizens without cause!
• Brand conservatives and the Tea Party as terrorists!
• Teach our children that sexual perversion is normal!
• Strip your wealth by taxing you to death and give it to the world to consume!
• Make all private homes government housing!
• Outlaw certain foods and gasoline-powered vehicles!
• Bypass then reduce and eliminate Congress!
• Make states accountable to the UN!
• Reduce our military by 90%!
• Remove our borders!

…and that’s just for starters."

It's all such bullshit: "The great round-up of citizens." "FEMA camps are already built and waiting for you." It's purposely and blatantly trying to give the impression that Obama is going to declare martial law and turn our soldiers into jack-booted, police-state thugs and round everyone up (I guess "everyone" means those that don't back him, however they would know that) and send them to FEMA camps (as though they were concentration camps or something just as scary). And then there's the Tea Party list of what the Obama backers ("they") are going to do. It's all scare-mongering about the future, and none of it is real. What's scary is anyone who reads this stuff and actually believes it could happen . . . and doesn't even pause to think over what is actually being said and why. If anyone truly believes the crap that's listed, that's scary. Almost as scary as turning over the leadership of America to people who may actually believe such garbage. I mean, come on! Actually read each item in the list and think about it. It's absurd. There is no grip on reality here. And not the kind of people I want in charge of anything.

 

[Theo Goodman]

Okay, do you know what you're cheering on? Before you join the Tea Party fantasy, I would ask that you actually read the stuff on their website with as close to a neutral mind as you can get. I read everything they had. About 10% makes sense, but the majority is pure propaganda and scare-mongering with no facts to back what they say. What was scarier was what they didn't put on their site, especially their views on the roll *their type of religion) should play in American life and politics . . . and how they regard people of other religions (not just Muslims).

Their big schtick is how our freedoms are being stripped, but it's mostly just opinions on how things will be in the future "if we don't stop them now."

Quite frankly, I can understand why some politicians label them extremists. Personally, I find some of the stuff they are saying pretty frightening; and it's not because of religion; it' because what they are saying is exactly the opposite of what they claim to endorse, especially freedom. You can't proclaim how our freedoms are being stripped (yet not have any examples) and then turn around and say things that are meant to crush the way many people think. Here's an example in big bold letters taken word for word from their website:

"Obama is Freedom Stripping America
Stripping your freedom is not a pipe dream but a reality! Fema Camps are already built and waiting for you! They’ve been practicing for Martial Law and the great round-up of citizens in the 300-acre fake city Obama had built in Virginia. Do NOT dismiss this under any circumstance. It is serious.
Here’s what they are going to do:

• Grab our guns and leave us defenseless!
• Grant amnesty to tens of millions more illegal aliens to kill your vote!
• Extinguish free-speech, crush it anywhere it exists!
• Intern unlimited numbers of US citizens without cause!
• Brand conservatives and the Tea Party as terrorists!
• Teach our children that sexual perversion is normal!
• Strip your wealth by taxing you to death and give it to the world to consume!
• Make all private homes government housing!
• Outlaw certain foods and gasoline-powered vehicles!
• Bypass then reduce and eliminate Congress!
• Make states accountable to the UN!
• Reduce our military by 90%!
• Remove our borders!

…and that’s just for starters."

It's all such bullshit: "The great round-up of citizens." "FEMA camps are already built and waiting for you." It's purposely and blatantly trying to give the impression that Obama is going to declare martial law and turn our soldiers into jack-booted, police-state thugs and round everyone up (I guess "everyone" means those that don't back him, however they would know that) and send them to FEMA camps (as though they were concentration camps or something just as scary). And then there's the Tea Party list of what the Obama backers ("they") are going to do. It's all scare-mongering about the future, and none of it is real. What's scary is anyone who reads this stuff and actually believes it could happen . . . and doesn't even pause to think over what is actually being said and why. If anyone truly believes the crap that's listed, that's scary. Almost as scary as turning over the leadership of America to people who may actually believe such garbage. I mean, come on! Actually read each item in the list and think about it. It's absurd. There is no grip on reality here. And not the kind of people I want in charge of anything.

I agree mostly, the tea party is statist. They belive they can fix things by installing a state run by their "relgion" and authority. The FEMA thing is used to as fear mongering, I agree with you there. Lets look at a few of those other points:

• Grab our guns and leave us defenseless!

Well yea that is not what is happening now, thats true. Gun laws are growing, the democrats and a lot of the media are fear mongering about gun owners. If that means "they" are going to "grab" the guns?

• Grant amnesty to tens of millions more illegal aliens to kill your vote!

Amnesty is being discussed, if the goal is to "kill your vote" ?

• Extinguish free-speech, crush it anywhere it exists!

humm

• Intern unlimited numbers of US citizens without cause

More fear mongering

• Brand conservatives and the Tea Party as terrorists!

This is happening in the media at least.

• Teach our children that sexual perversion is normal!

debatable

• Strip your wealth by taxing you to death and give it to the world to consume!

I can agree with the too much and too high taxes

• Make all private homes government housing!

This is a new one.

• Outlaw certain foods and gasoline-powered vehicles!

Certain foods are being outlawded that is true. Gasoline probaly wont be outlawed but taxed to make it unattractive.

• Bypass then reduce and eliminate Congress!

Maybe they mean these excutive orders, they are real.

• Make states accountable to the UN!

Not sure if this is really happening, but I think it was at least discussed.

• Reduce our military by 90%!

That is a new one.

• Remove our borders!

doubt it


The police are using more and more military gear, that is true.

 

[RogueWriter]

From teaparty.org's 'about page':

1. Illegal aliens are here illegally.
2. Pro-domestic employment is indispensable.
3. A strong military is essential.
4. Special interests must be eliminated.
5. Gun ownership is sacred.
6. Government must be downsized.
7. The national budget must be balanced.
8. Deficit spending must end.
9. Bailout and stimulus plans are illegal.
10. Reducing personal income taxes is a must.
11. Reducing business income taxes is mandatory.
12. Political offices must be available to average citizens.
13. Intrusive government must be stopped.
14. English as our core language is required.
15. Traditional family values are encouraged.

I think 15 is probably the point most people would feel uncomfortable with, since it is so vague. But, most of those points are quite valid. Illegal aliens ARE here illegally. The U.S. COULD benefit from a strong manufacturing base. Special interests from both sides of the aisle cost billions upon billions in unnecessary expenses every year. Gun ownership is a founding principle of the country, and a strong traditional value of many. Government SHOULD be downsized. Nothing wrong with a balanced budget that I can see. I have to have one at home, no reason why my representatives in government shouldn't be held to the same level of accountability. Going along with balancing the budget is an end to deficit spending and reduction of the debt. Bailouts and stimulus plans are, for the most part, nothing more than handouts, rewards to campaign donors or voting blocks that are calling in favors. I DO pay way too much in taxes. If the business I worked for paid less in taxes every year, perhaps they would not have to lay off 2-4 people every summer during the slow period. I found it rather refreshing that my State Representative learned my name and remembered it the next time we met. Who wants an intrusive government, anyway? I think about everyone wants to be left alone. As for English being a core language, it makes sense, if you want to be efficient, then government should not have to deal with two - or more - languages. No duplication means less expense.

Now, 'traditional family values', imo, is an excellent goal, as long as the phrase is not used to undermine an individual's right to love who they want. But, really, 14 out of 15 is a pretty good score.

 

[verbster]

From teaparty.org's 'about page':

1. Illegal aliens are here illegally.
2. Pro-domestic employment is indispensable.
3. A strong military is essential.
4. Special interests must be eliminated.
5. Gun ownership is sacred.
6. Government must be downsized.
7. The national budget must be balanced.
8. Deficit spending must end.
9. Bailout and stimulus plans are illegal.
10. Reducing personal income taxes is a must.
11. Reducing business income taxes is mandatory.
12. Political offices must be available to average citizens.
13. Intrusive government must be stopped.
14. English as our core language is required.
15. Traditional family values are encouraged.

I think 15 is probably the point most people would feel uncomfortable with, since it is so vague. But, most of those points are quite valid. Illegal aliens ARE here illegally. The U.S. COULD benefit from a strong manufacturing base. Special interests from both sides of the aisle cost billions upon billions in unnecessary expenses every year. Gun ownership is a founding principle of the country, and a strong traditional value of many. Government SHOULD be downsized. Nothing wrong with a balanced budget that I can see. I have to have one at home, no reason why my representatives in government shouldn't be held to the same level of accountability. Going along with balancing the budget is an end to deficit spending and reduction of the debt. Bailouts and stimulus plans are, for the most part, nothing more than handouts, rewards to campaign donors or voting blocks that are calling in favors. I DO pay way too much in taxes. If the business I worked for paid less in taxes every year, perhaps they would not have to lay off 2-4 people every summer during the slow period. I found it rather refreshing that my State Representative learned my name and remembered it the next time we met. Who wants an intrusive government, anyway? I think about everyone wants to be left alone. As for English being a core language, it makes sense, if you want to be efficient, then government should not have to deal with two - or more - languages. No duplication means less expense.

Now, 'traditional family values', imo, is an excellent goal, as long as the phrase is not used to undermine an individual's right to love who they want. But, really, 14 out of 15 is a pretty good score.

Yes, these points are on the same website as the 13 that are loony tunes, and that in itself is a huge red flag, as though the Party is schizophrenic. Traditional family values "is an excellent goal, as long as the phrase is not used to undermine an individual's right to love who they want." Who and what do you think "Teach our children that sexual perversion is normal" applies to? if the Tea Party eve gets in control, the mantra for less intrusive government will go out the window along with any rights for gay marriages, which practices that "sexual perversion."

And while some of the 15 points appear to make sense, they go against each other: Tea Partiers say they want less government, yet they want a full military, which I assume means keeping Homeland Security, the NSA, and the CIA (because intelligence wins wars). And what about stuff like the Patriot Act? And since the military budgets are our biggest bill, what gets cut? Wait, let me guess, food stamps, subsidized school lunches, services for the elderly, Medicare, Medicaid, and all the services that try to help people. Say what you want about food stamps and other programs meant to help people, and cherry pick the cases of abuse, but they truly help a millions of people who need help. There's nothing like being too poor to buy food. And it's not a matter of getting off their lazy asses and getting a job. Tell that to the 80 year old woman who can't afford a nursing home, let alone rent. Going to force old people to pick the apples that non-English speaking migrant workers now do but no longer will be tolerated?

English is the core language. Do you mean forcing everyone in the States to speak English? How is that not an example of government intrusion? And if someone can't speak English to a high enough standard (which is what?) are you going to announce martial law and round up anyone and everyone who is suspected of having poor language skills, label them unworthy of living in the United States and ship them off somewhere, just like the point in the list of 13 said? Going to get rid of the deaf and those with speech impediments and those mentally challenged? What about those with extreme accents

Gun ownership is "sacred." Yeah, a few hundred years ago people had to hunt for their dinners. Things change. Tea Partiers insist on ID cards to vote to prevent cheating. Why do they not insist on registering guns to help prevent and solve crimes? I've got no problem with gun ownership, but why insist upon the right to own a gun but not to take responsibility for owning it? Why insist upon being able to take a gun into Starbucks, yet object to signing a paper for ownership like we do for a cell phone?

Less government? Government downsized? Easy to say. Taxes are looked at mostly from the paying them perspective and hardly ever from the what do i get from the government in return for my taxes. Everyone wants to be left alone, but they also want everything they currently get from the government paid for by their taxes, everything from roads to safe food, from airport traffic control to emergency help after your home has been blown away by a tornado. Have you given any thought to the hardships and chaos that will ensue with the government suddenly being hands off? What will be cut if not the military? Are we going to make our troops patrol the borders after they finish rounding up those 20 million illegals? Or are we going to get rid of the park service and have the park rangers become border guards? I mean who needs parks anyway, right? Might as well get rid of game wardens, too. Let people catch all the fish they can dynamite, and shoot all the animals their assault rifles can handle. We don't need any fish or animals anyway.

 

[RogueWriter]

Verbster, no disrespect intended but you are looney tunes about this stuff. Really out there with your arguments. When you say crap like this:
"....are you going to announce martial law and round up anyone and everyone who is suspected of having poor language skills, label them unworthy of living in the United States and ship them off somewhere, ju...." It is really hard to take you serious.

 

[RogueWriter]

I can only read so much crap in the political thread before I have to take a break from it and leave for a while. I've used up my June quota; see you in July.