Random Political Thoughts

[Marc.Knight]

As opposed to a thin-skinned incompetent narcissist who rolls over for the likes of Iran ? You bet.

I'd be happy with getting the smartest and the best person to do the job.  This country's leadership vetting process is geared toward the power of influence and the source of influence rather than the linear pursuit of upholding the constitution and the Bill of Rights.

[Quick Karl]

I'd be happy with getting the smartest and the best person to do the job.  This country's leadership vetting process is geared toward the power of influence and the source of influence rather than the linear pursuit of upholding the constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The Constitution and The Bill of Rights are toilet paper to 98% of the scum in Washington, and to 100% of the progressiveliberalsociocommunist morons that think other people will think they are smarter for voting for progressiveliberalsociocommunist politicians.

[West of the Rockies]

And don't even get me started on the conservativelibertarianneofascist idiots on the other side of the aisle who think that other people will think they think I think...  Uh, nevermind!  :

[PB the Deplorable]

There is a sea change coming in the Muslim world / Middle East.  Here are a few of the recent highlights

Obama dissing Israel (and all our allies) from day 1
The Arab Spring in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria
The suppression of would be Arab Spring-ers in places like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the Emirites
The hijacking of the Arab Spring by terror organizations, especially in Libya, Egypt, and Syria
Obama sitting idly by until the Moslem Brotherhood (Libya, Egypt) and al-Qaeda (Syria) hijacked the Arab Spring, then jumping in to support the terrorists
Obama's mess about attacking, then not attacking, Syria on behalf of al-Qaeda
Obama cutting military aid to the Egyptian army.  At a time when they are the ones fighting terror groups in the Sinai
Saudi Arabia rejecting a seat to take their turn on the UN Security Council in order to highlight their disappointment with Obama
The Saudi's turning to Russia and China for weapons after years of buying ours, and the near break in relations with the US
Obama and one time presidential candidate (!) John Kerry rolling over for Iran on the nuclear weapons issue a few days ago
Turkey and Egypt recalling their ambassadors from each other and nearly severing relations yesterday

And now Jordan, Saudi Arabia (and probably places like Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE)  tacitly working together with Israel to decide what they are going to do about Iran's nukes

If Iran gets the bomb, Saudi and Egypt will want it too.



Iran is Shia and Persian.  Nearly everyone (but not all) to the west of them is Arab and Sunni.  There is a long history of aggression from the Persians towards the Arabs.  The Sunni's and Shi'ites hate each other - when you hear about a car bomb or a massacre in the Moslem world, that's usually what it was about.

Israel and the Arabs are terrified that Iran is going to get nukes.  It is clear to them Obama is useless in working against it.  The moderate Arabs and Israel have worked together and had mutual interests in the past - these relationships are going to be more open now.

Pakistan got the bomb when the incompetent Jimmy Carter was in office.  North Korea bamboozled the very stupid Madeleine Albright and the Clinton Administration, cutting a deal in 1994 that gave them food and assistance in exchange for a promise to stop their nuke program.  Given a reprieve, they broke their promises and soon had nukes.  Now with Obama, a combination of the incompetence of Carter and the stupidity of Albright, Iran is going to do the same as North Korea and get the bomb while we unfreeze their assets and remove trade restrictions. 


It's crucial we have a leader in the White House right now.  Someone smart and competent.  Someone working in the best interests of peace and the United States.  We have none of that right now.

[b_dubb]

i wonder if healthcare.gov was sabotaged by the Right.  to fuck something up this bad you have to really try to fuck it up.  this is really bad.  i hear that the contractor that slapped this piece of shit together was a Bush era contractor.  frigging genius.  hire the enemy to build your super important app.  fucking brilliant.

[Yorkshire pud]

As opposed to a thin-skinned incompetent narcissist who rolls over for the likes of Iran ? You bet.

Your argument has no logic. One issue has nothing to do with the other.. as for the deal with Iran; who knows? It might come to long term agreement or not. But then, why should Isreal have nuclear power and not other middle eastern countries? Who made Isreal the arbitor?

[Ben Shockley]

...The religion of death, rape, sodomy, incest, pedophilia, and destruction (Islam) did not exist...

Oh, for a second there, Chuck, until you said "Islam," I thought you were about to speak on Judaism.   You know:  pretty much all of those "negative things" you mentioned were described in the "Pentateuch" as occurring with the apparent blessings of יהוה‎ , performed among and perpetrated by the earliest forbears of Judaism.
You wrote in a post some time back (at least, 1 that I saw) that you are a Jew.   I have absolutely nothing against Jews, and I otherwise wouldn't even bring up fictional crap like the "Books Of Moses" or any other religious propaganda.   I do have a lot against foul bigots like you who make categorical, equally-fictional and -propagandist statements against groups of people the vast majority (or totality) of whom you have never met and will never meet.

... did not exist until 800-years AFTER Jesus of Nazareth was crucified.

Sorry if I missed something, but what does "Jesus" have to do with whether or not the modern Palestinians should be sent to the Karling gas chambers?   Other than the fact that, if what was written about him is to be believed, he would be chatising you and chasing you out of whatever moral temple you consider yourself to be in...?

[PB the Deplorable]

Your argument has no logic. One issue has nothing to do with the other.. as for the deal with Iran; who knows? It might come to long term agreement or not. But then, why should Isreal have nuclear power and not other middle eastern countries? Who made Isreal the arbitor?

Your comment "as for the deal with Iran; who knows?"  Who knows?!  Really?  Have you read the reports of what the deal is?  It's appeasement.  It's a worse deal than what the very stupid Maddy Albright and Bill Clinton worked out with the North Koreans in 1994 - NK actually 'promised' to 'stop' their nuke program.  And how did that one turn out?

Outlaw regimes like North Korea and Iran will say anything, agree to anything.  They have no intention of living up to their promises.  History has shown that.  The Iranian regime since the 1979 revolution have shown that repeatedly.  They are the ones that need to prove their intentions, not us.

With this 'agreement' for the first time the Western Powers are agreeing to allow Iran to continue enriching uranium - now we're just going to 'monitor' it.  We are unfreezing their assets and scaling back on the embargo.  We get nothing in return.  And you think that might be the road to a long term acceptable deal?  What kind of deal?  Acceptable to who?  When did appeasement become a wise policy? 



Then there's your question about "who made Israel the arbiter"

Who said they were the arbiter?  As our long time ally, and the subject of Iran's threats, do you not think their concerns should be taken into account?  That they should not be included in diplomatic activity, or at least kept in the loop?  Why not? 

I don't think that makes them the 'arbiter', it makes them a valued ally and concerned nation.  Especially when they, along with Saudi Arabia and Jordan publicly, and the other moderate Arabs and Gulf nations are in the process of forming an alliance to take out Iran's nukes if the Western Powers fail to continue containing Iran.  I dunno, I think it's important to get an agreement Israel and the Arabs can live with.


Israel is not calling for the destruction of any other country.  Iran is.  Israel does not go out of it's way to issue treats of obliteration.   Iran does.  Israel threatens no one and want to live in peace.  They operate at maximum tolerance for the continuous attacks and threats directed at them by the Palestinians and Iran, and from Iran's surrogate, Hezbollah.  They are the ones who deserve our support, not the terrorist groups, not Iran.  It's odd to me the Europeans don't see it this way.

[Marc.Knight]

There is a sea change coming in the Muslim world / Middle East.  Here are a few of the recent highlights

Obama dissing Israel (and all our allies) from day 1
The Arab Spring in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria
The suppression of would be Arab Spring-ers in places like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the Emirites
The hijacking of the Arab Spring by terror organizations, especially in Libya, Egypt, and Syria
Obama sitting idly by until the Moslem Brotherhood (Libya, Egypt) and al-Qaeda (Syria) hijacked the Arab Spring, then jumping in to support the terrorists
Obama's mess about attacking, then not attacking, Syria on behalf of al-Qaeda
Obama cutting military aid to the Egyptian army.  At a time when they are the ones fighting terror groups in the Sinai
Saudi Arabia rejecting a seat to take their turn on the UN Security Council in order to highlight their disappointment with Obama
The Saudi's turning to Russia and China for weapons after years of buying ours, and the near break in relations with the US
Obama and one time presidential candidate (!) John Kerry rolling over for Iran on the nuclear weapons issue a few days ago
Turkey and Egypt recalling their ambassadors from each other and nearly severing relations yesterday

And now Jordan, Saudi Arabia (and probably places like Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE)  tacitly working together with Israel to decide what they are going to do about Iran's nukes

If Iran gets the bomb, Saudi and Egypt will want it too.



Iran is Shia and Persian.  Nearly everyone (but not all) to the west of them is Arab and Sunni.  There is a long history of aggression from the Persians towards the Arabs.  The Sunni's and Shi'ites hate each other - when you hear about a car bomb or a massacre in the Moslem world, that's usually what it was about.

Israel and the Arabs are terrified that Iran is going to get nukes.  It is clear to them Obama is useless in working against it.  The moderate Arabs and Israel have worked together and had mutual interests in the past - these relationships are going to be more open now.

Pakistan got the bomb when the incompetent Jimmy Carter was in office.  North Korea bamboozled the very stupid Madeleine Albright and the Clinton Administration, cutting a deal in 1994 that gave them food and assistance in exchange for a promise to stop their nuke program.  Given a reprieve, they broke their promises and soon had nukes.  Now with Obama, a combination of the incompetence of Carter and the stupidity of Albright, Iran is going to do the same as North Korea and get the bomb while we unfreeze their assets and remove trade restrictions. 


It's crucial we have a leader in the White House right now.  Someone smart and competent.  Someone working in the best interests of peace and the United States.  We have none of that right now.

The current Administration is predominantly directed by ideology and not enough grounded reality.  Every major policy decision reveals this, e.g., health care, foreign policy, energy policy... And Congress is now "designed" for bounded rationality, expediency and influence peddling.  Yes, we need a more thoughtful, measured approach from our government.

[Yorkshire pud]

Your comment "as for the deal with Iran; who knows?"  Who knows?!  Really?  Have you read the reports of what the deal is?  It's appeasement.  It's a worse deal than what the very stupid Maddy Albright and Bill Clinton worked out with the North Koreans in 1994 - NK actually 'promised' to 'stop' their nuke program.  And how did that one turn out?

Outlaw regimes like North Korea and Iran will say anything, agree to anything.  They have no intention of living up to their promises.  History has shown that.  The Iranian regime since the 1979 revolution have shown that repeatedly.  They are the ones that need to prove their intentions, not us.

With this 'agreement' for the first time the Western Powers are agreeing to allow Iran to continue enriching uranium - now we're just going to 'monitor' it.  We are unfreezing their assets and scaling back on the embargo.  We get nothing in return.  And you think that might be the road to a long term acceptable deal?  What kind of deal?  Acceptable to who?  When did appeasement become a wise policy? 



Then there's your question about "who made Israel the arbiter"

Who said they were the arbiter?  As our long time ally, and the subject of Iran's threats, do you not think their concerns should be taken into account?  That they should not be included in diplomatic activity, or at least kept in the loop?  Why not? 

I don't think that makes them the 'arbiter', it makes them a valued ally and concerned nation.  Especially when they, along with Saudi Arabia and Jordan publicly, and the other moderate Arabs and Gulf nations are in the process of forming an alliance to take out Iran's nukes if the Western Powers fail to continue containing Iran.  I dunno, I think it's important to get an agreement Israel and the Arabs can live with.


Israel is not calling for the destruction of any other country.  Iran is.  Israel does not go out of it's way to issue treats of obliteration.   Iran does.  Israel threatens no one and want to live in peace.  They operate at maximum tolerance for the continuous attacks and threats directed at them by the Palestinians and Iran, and from Iran's surrogate, Hezbollah.  They are the ones who deserve our support, not the terrorist groups, not Iran.  It's odd to me the Europeans don't see it this way.

Look up MOSAD and 'assassination; and then revue the 'threatens no-one' pitch..As for Europeans, I don't speak for them any more than you speak for the USA, or even your street.

[Marc.Knight]

Look up MOSAD and 'assassination; and then revue the 'threatens no-one' pitch..As for Europeans, I don't speak for them any more than you speak for the USA, or even your street.

How dare you assert clear-eyed facts and research-based representations of the truth.  You need to be silenced forthwith. 

[PB the Deplorable]

Look up MOSAD and 'assassination; and then revue the 'threatens no-one' pitch..As for Europeans, I don't speak for them any more than you speak for the USA, or even your street.

I'm not sure what Mosad has to do with whether this is a good agreement or not, or whether or not Israel should be considered or consulted.  Or was that just to change the subject?


For all the people that think Israel is the aggressor, that they are the problem, they are not.  Every time you read something Israel has done, it is in response to a threat or an attack on them.  I really don't know how people can miss that.

Yes, shitty things are done by both sides in a war.  I would suggest the Palestinians find a Gandhi, instead of continually following thugs like the PLO, Arafat, and Hamas.

[Marc.Knight]

Two weeks ago my company held employee meetings to discuss upcoming permanent cuts in our health insurance benefits because Obamacare defines them as "too rich".  Essentially what we are looking at is a 27% increase in my premium next year and a tripling of our deductibles along with a bunch of other coverages being dropped.  I have an average, large company-sponsored health care plan where I already pay $600 a month for family coverage, set to increase to $750 a month.  My company pays about $1400 of my total monthly premium. 

Whoever voted for this belongs in a straight jacket.


‘Cadillac’ tax:

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/25/21612971-large-employers-cite-obamacare-cadillac-tax-in-reducing-benefits?lite

[Juan]

You shouldn't be so rich.

[Marc.Knight]

You shouldn't be so rich.

I won't be after this is over.

[Quick Karl]

I won't be after this is over.

Isn't that the idea?

The same people that voted for this are the same people that think bending over and letting Iran hump their ass is going turn the Iranians into warm fuzzy little homosexual friends.

[Marc.Knight]

Isn't that the idea?

yes.

[Quick Karl]

Courtesy of your Iranian friends:

Basij shots to death a young woman June 20th

[Camazotz Automat]

Two weeks ago my company held employee meetings to discuss upcoming permanent cuts in our health insurance benefits because Obamacare defines them as "too rich".  Essentially what we are looking at is a 27% increase in my premium next year and a tripling of our deductibles along with a bunch of other coverages being dropped.  I have an average, large company-sponsored health care plan where I already pay $600 a month for family coverage, set to increase to $750 a month.  My company pays about $1400 of my total monthly premium. 

Whoever voted for this belongs in a straight jacket.


‘Cadillac’ tax:

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/25/21612971-large-employers-cite-obamacare-cadillac-tax-in-reducing-benefits?lite

What you describe is disturbing. What I find more unsettling is the mercurial nature of your problem.

After the roll out is partially stabilized, insurance companies will reassess the situation. It will be effectively argued that they need more than previously believed, in fact, they might candidly admit they were low ball estimating the amount of "damage" to any aspect of the industry when the roll out began.

At which point, unfortunately, you will be asked to attend another "company meeting." I hope I am incorrect. (but I am a cynical bastard and I believe I am correct.)

If I am right, and this happens more than a few times, then eventually, it could be you who requires the jacket.

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[PB the Deplorable]

Two weeks ago my company held employee meetings to discuss upcoming permanent cuts in our health insurance benefits because Obamacare defines them as "too rich".  Essentially what we are looking at is a 27% increase in my premium next year and a tripling of our deductibles along with a bunch of other coverages being dropped.  I have an average, large company-sponsored health care plan where I already pay $600 a month for family coverage, set to increase to $750 a month.  My company pays about $1400 of my total monthly premium. 

Whoever voted for this belongs in a straight jacket.


‘Cadillac’ tax:

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/25/21612971-large-employers-cite-obamacare-cadillac-tax-in-reducing-benefits?lite

'Cadillac Tax', a 40% excise tax on health care plans deemed 'too generous'.


You and your fellow employees must all be millionaires making over $500,000 $250,000 per year, because Obama promised over and over they would be the only ones whose taxes would be increased.

But, you know, just another 'incorrect promise', as the New York Times would say.  Which are better than 'misstatements', which are better than Lies.  Yes, let's keep voting Democrat, 'cause they're for the little guy.

[Yorkshire pud]

Courtesy of your Iranian friends:

Basij shots to death a young woman June 20th

I know; they're only playing at it. But give them time and they'll be up there with the US for murders.

[Marc.Knight]

'Cadillac Tax', a 40% excise tax on health care plans deemed 'too generous'.


You and your fellow employees must all be millionaires making over $500,000 $250,000 per year, because Obama promised over and over they would be the only ones whose taxes would be increased.

But, you know, just another 'incorrect promise', as the New York Times would say.  Which are better than 'misstatements', which are better than Lies.  Yes, let's keep voting Democrat, 'cause they're for the little guy.

The Administration's collective ignorance of basic economics runs deep.  There is a domino effect to all of this... for example, because of the multi-million dollar increase in health insurance coverage the company's board is now motivated to end our pension program and cut back on 401k contributions.  Even if these represent reactions rather than studied responses to Obamacare costs, the Administration fails to understand the power and precedence of "Perception" and "Uncertainty" in economics.  They've paid for insurance companies' silence with promises including a semi-monopolistic system guaranteeing them unlimited billions of dollars while the little guy gets squashed by one of the worst examples of unbridled socialist programs ever instituted in this country. 

In the end I think we'll see fewer people covered by insurance, more people with substandard insurance, a fat and happy insurance industry, and a federal government sucking in billions of dollars in fines from poor people.  Sounds great.

[Quick Karl]

I know; they're only playing at it. But give them time and they'll be up there with the US for murders.

And maybe soon after that they will catch up to all the bloodshed that the English have unleashed across the globe in the name of Royalty???

[Marc.Knight]

I know; they're only playing at it. But give them time and they'll be up there with the US for murders.

With respect, but the United Kingdom makes the USA look like a little girl playing in a sandbox when it comes to your history of economic and military world dominance, continental invasions, slavery, colonial atrocities against natives, and indiscriminate murder of subjugated peoples around the world for the past several hundred years.  This doesn't excuse wrongdoing by the USA, but self-knowledge should temper criticism from those who aren't fully aware of their own dirty bath water.

[Yorkshire pud]

And maybe soon after that they will catch up to all the bloodshed that the English have unleashed across the globe in the name of Royalty???

Oh please; Ongoing today: name me one conflict that was instigated by GB and is being fed because of the pressure from arms companies? But I was keeping it domestic.. as in murders and gun crime in general.

[Marc.Knight]

Oh please; Ongoing today: name me one conflict that was instigated by GB and is being fed because of the pressure from arms companies? But I was keeping it domestic.. as in murders and gun crime in general.

This is somewhat rhetorical, but how do you know this does not happen?  It is too easy to make positive assumptions about the system you reside in while casting a critical eye upon another system. 

[Yorkshire pud]

With respect, but the United Kingdom makes the USA look like a little girl playing in a sandbox when it comes to your history of economic and military world dominance, continental invasions, slavery, colonial atrocities against natives, and indiscriminate murder of subjugated peoples around the world for the past several hundred years.  This doesn't excuse wrongdoing by the USA, but self-knowledge should temper criticism from those who aren't fully aware of their own dirty bath water.

I typed this out and then it crashed! I'll try again.

It reads a bit like 'What have the Romans ever given us' from Life of Brian; But for all the stuff GB have fucked up, I give you (in no particular order),
Steam power, railways, discovery of electricity, discovery of vast amounts of science across all disciplines, the jet engine, pneumatic tyre, television, telephone, gas light, stainless steel, blast furnace, the tap (faucet), Aircraft carrier...and lots of things that the planet takes for granted.

[Yorkshire pud]

This is somewhat rhetorical, but how do you know this does not happen?  It is too easy to make positive assumptions about the system you reside in while casting a critical eye upon another system.

I wasn't being critical, I was pointing out the context of a video on Iran and the disconnect of not looking to murder on a domestic level.

[Marc.Knight]

I typed this out and then it crashed! I'll try again.

It reads a bit like 'What have the Romans ever given us' from Life of Brian; But for all the stuff GB have fucked up, I give you (in no particular order),
Steam power, railways, discovery of electricity, discovery of vast amounts of science across all disciplines, the jet engine, pneumatic tyre, television, telephone, gas light, stainless steel, blast furnace, the tap (faucet), Aircraft carrier...and lots of things that the planet takes for granted.

Yes, but the USA taught GB about freedom.

[Marc.Knight]

I wasn't being critical, I was pointing out the context of a video on Iran and the disconnect of not looking to murder on a domestic level.

Your thinking is too complex for the average forum browser.  Stop it.