General politics

[Squirrel]

 

Two more examples of how the GOP continues to step away from the interests of democracy.

 

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/673020090/in-states-they-lost-some-gop-lawmakers-rush-to-limit-new-democrats-power

 

Such an awesome party nowadays. I totally get why ANYONE would vote for any of them, ever.

I find this disgusting. Wisconsin is one of these. Ugh. Not that our democracy was working all that well to begin with, but let's just throw it out all together now.

[PseudoSABR]

I guess Ocasio-Cortez decried the unpaid intern thing, and Schumer took the job posting down.

[Mr. Brooks]

Yes, because we all know how one example eliminates the problem.

 

No one is completely "shut out" of politics but we do a pretty damned good job of narrowing the field so that those who grow up in a privileged environment have an overwhelming advantage in politics.

 

And given that politicians are supposed to be a representation of our populace and its ideals, that seems like a pretty **** way to create that representation.

 

But hey, maybe you're right. Everything has been working perfectly in Washington lately, after all.

Great strawman Brock. A cursory glance at my posting history shows that I clearly think Washington is humming along perfectly (not).

 

If you're saying that people with wealth and power have a massive head start over those who don't, well yeah, welcome to the real world for as long as wealth and power have existed. Nothing we do will ever change that.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Great strawman Brock. A cursory glance at my posting history shows that I clearly think Washington is humming along perfectly (not).

If you're saying that people with wealth and power have a massive head start over those who don't, well yeah, welcome to the real world for as long as wealth and power have existed. Nothing we do will ever change that.

See, I know you, and my point wasn't a strawman. I was intentionally poking you, man.

 

If I came across as a bit abrasive, my apologies. My point is that you know inequity exists in Washington yet you defended a pretty obvious status quo measure to ensure that inequity.

 

It's okay to just admit this kind of garbage is pure bull****, no matter how much one can benefit from it in the future. People should not work without pay. It's not a difficult concept to grasp. Sure, you're an intern and probably suck at everything... but you were the BEST candidate to fill that role. That means you have worth and worth deserves compensation.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I guess Ocasio-Cortez decried the unpaid intern thing, and Schumer took the job posting down.

I've been skeptical of her but so far, she's pretty much ****ing killing it. I eagerly await her... descent... into... moneyed politics.

 

I hate this country.

[Badsmerf]

I've been skeptical of her but so far, she's pretty much ****ing killing it. I eagerly await her... descent... into... moneyed politics.

 

I hate this country.

I like her. I hope she stays the same, and believe she will for awhile. After years and years in Washington, I'd imagine it becomes more difficult to stay consistent to what you believed in when you got there. A lot of factors could come into play.... corruption, greed, fatigue, status quo, new normals, etc. It is why I think Congress needs term limits. Limit senators to 3 terms (18 years!) and the house to 6 (still 12 years). New blood in Congress would be helpful.

[PseudoSABR]

So far Ocasio-Cortez seems pretty authentic--in over head in the minutia of economics, but genuinely engaging on inter-party criticism, as well as policy in general.  Let's hope there's hardened value behind her apparent message--as selling out to any extent would seem to undermine her thing (already there's been public criticism of the affordability of her outfits, so she doesn't have much wiggle room to stray towards self-enrichment).   

[Mr. Brooks]

See, I know you, and my point wasn't a strawman. I was intentionally poking you, man.

 

If I came across as a bit abrasive, my apologies. My point is that you know inequity exists in Washington yet you defended a pretty obvious status quo measure to ensure that inequity.

 

It's okay to just admit this kind of garbage is pure bull****, no matter how much one can benefit from it in the future. People should not work without pay. It's not a difficult concept to grasp. Sure, you're an intern and probably suck at everything... but you were the BEST candidate to fill that role. That means you have worth and worth deserves compensation.

But there is a reason why people will line up to do this for free.

 

McDonalds isn't getting any takers if they put this same job post out.

 

The internship has value that outweighs the lack of compensation, clearly, or people wouldn't be willing to do it.

 

I consider myself liberal, mostly, but I also place great value in the free market.

 

If two parties agree to terms, I'm almost always leery of getting in the way of that, so long as it's not exploitative, which I don't believe this is.

 

Again, maybe I'm romanticizing something that isn't real, but I believe that if someone is hungry enough for this opportunity, they'll find a way to make it work financially, even if that means they don't sleep for 5 months.

[TheLeviathan]

The free market when applied to the public sector often causes significant problems.  One of the reasons this should be a compensated position is because of who it attracts to serve the public.  It's why I'm in favor of raising salaries for politicians at the state and local level as well.

 

If you make it unpaid, chances are significantly higher that your applicants will be wealthy or some form of nepotism.  Make it paid, open it up to anyone with the desire, and you're far more likely to get the best candidates.  When it comes to public office, that should always be our goal.

[gunnarthor]

Changing the topic slightly, did anyone see Bob Dole at the Bush funeral? I've always kind of liked Dole. When I was in college, Al Franken did a reading from "Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot" and talked about Dole, the person. He disagreed with Dole on almost everything politically but Franken spoke pretty nicely about Dole. He mentioned that Dole was able to quit smoking cold turkey (which framed his view on the tobacoo industry in a bad way for most), he went through years of physical therapy after the war. So, while I never wanted to vote for Dole, he was always kind of the well meaning but wrong Republican in my eyes. Amazing what a little humanization does for ones views. Didn't hurt that he was hilarious on Maher's "Politically Incorrect" back in the 90s as well.

 

Anyhow, he doesn't look that good but his salute was a nice gesture.

[Mike Sixel]

Changing the topic slightly, did anyone see Bob Dole at the Bush funeral? I've always kind of liked Dole. When I was in college, Al Franken did a reading from "Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot" and talked about Dole, the person. He disagreed with Dole on almost everything politically but Franken spoke pretty nicely about Dole. He mentioned that Dole was able to quit smoking cold turkey (which framed his view on the tobacoo industry in a bad way for most), he went through years of physical therapy after the war. So, while I never wanted to vote for Dole, he was always kind of the well meaning but wrong Republican in my eyes. Amazing what a little humanization does for ones views. Didn't hurt that he was hilarious on Maher's "Politically Incorrect" back in the 90s as well.

 

Anyhow, he doesn't look that good but his salute was a nice gesture.

As I said in Brock's Facebook post, I was a paid staffer on Dole's presidential campaign. The man changed after that, maybe during it, but he has given every moment of his life in service to this nation. I remain disappointed in many of his beliefs, but I admire the man. Somehow we've forgotten you can hold those two beliefs at the same time.

[Squirrel]

 

I like her. I hope she stays the same, and believe she will for awhile. After years and years in Washington, I'd imagine it becomes more difficult to stay consistent to what you believed in when you got there. A lot of factors could come into play.... corruption, greed, fatigue, status quo, new normals, etc. It is why I think Congress needs term limits. Limit senators to 3 terms (18 years!) and the house to 6 (still 12 years). New blood in Congress would be helpful.

We do have term limits already ... 2 yrs for House and 6 for Senate. It is up to people voting to vote people out. Keep the president at 2 terms and done, but I don't see a need for the rest. What needs to happen is re-educating voters that their votes mean something and to do their due diligence. This isn't about 'my side winning' at all costs, and all's fair to get there ... it's about voting and fairness and progress of our nation. Of course, getting the corporate and billionaire money out of politics would help, too. We also need to put forth better candidates, imo, but I do see some energizing on that front as we see how these midterms went; and on that front I am hopeful. If we want to talk term limits, I'd be for mandatory retirement for all house reps and senators. If they want to keep working, then go back to their private sector lives. But I'd think at age 70, that's enough. I also want to institute an upper age boundary on president, too. If you have to be 35 yrs old to be president, then there should be a limit to the upper realm, too. I mean, isn't 'You're too young' a form of ageism, too? But I don't want to limit someone, republican or democrat, to a specific number of years in office if they are actually accomplishing something.

 

But, all of this is found under 'election reforms' ... doubtful we see any of that. But maybe, slowly, we'll start turning the tide.

[LaBombo]

 

 

Anyhow, he doesn't look that good but his salute was a nice gesture.

 

To paraphrase the most famous philosopher of my generation... "When 95 years old you reach, look as good, you may not...".

 

He was hit twice enemy fire and had the battlefield equivalent of last writes administered to him by his men... a large shot of morphine and an 'M' written on his forehead.

 

He has outlived over 99% of the men his age who survived the war.

 

 

Edit: I'm not trying to give you a hard time for noting how he looked. He seemed considerably more frail than the last time he appeared in public to me as well. Just wanted to add a little context to the remarkable nature of his life, which came within minutes of ending over 70 years ago.

[LaBombo]

 

I find this disgusting. Wisconsin is one of these. Ugh. 

 

Hey, it could be worse...

 

GOP-Controlled Wisconsin Legislature Votes To Dissolve State Rather Than Let Democrats Have It

[Squirrel]

 

Hey, it could be worse...

 

GOP-Controlled Wisconsin Legislature Votes To Dissolve State Rather Than Let Democrats Have It

Hah ... I literally just read that on FB, posted by none other than Mike Sixel.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Hah ... I literally just read that on FB, posted by none other than Mike Sixel.

 

Well, I did find it here, so you kind of read it from LaBombo. 

[PseudoSABR]

[Brock Beauchamp]

Mind blowing what is going on in North Carolina.

 

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/673311746/democrats-weigh-options-in-potentially-tainted-n-c-congressional-race?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=203004

[Badsmerf]

Mind blowing what is going on in North Carolina.

 

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/673311746/democrats-weigh-options-in-potentially-tainted-n-c-congressional-race?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=203004

Imagine if they democrats would have done this... the GOP would be exploding right now. Instead, silence.

[gunnarthor]

 

Imagine if they democrats would have done this... the GOP would be exploding right now. Instead, silence.

Nope, not silence. The head of the GOP in NC has said the democrats are trying to steal the election. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Imagine if they democrats would have done this... the GOP would be exploding right now. Instead, silence.

It's not a coincidence that the first real verification of widespread voter fraud came via the absentee ballot, which is EASILY the most fraud-prone method of voting.

 

But it's also a staple of conservative voting, so voter ID laws basically ignore it.

 

Because voter ID laws aren't actually about preventing voter fraud.

[biggentleben]

 

So far Ocasio-Cortez seems pretty authentic--in over head in the minutia of economics, but genuinely engaging on inter-party criticism, as well as policy in general.  Let's hope there's hardened value behind her apparent message--as selling out to any extent would seem to undermine her thing (already there's been public criticism of the affordability of her outfits, so she doesn't have much wiggle room to stray towards self-enrichment).   

 

 A good friend of mine who has represented the Republican Party of South Dakota at national GOP meetings mentioned her as having an "early Obama" vibe to him. He was telling me Obama would be a president multiple years before the 2008 election.

[PseudoSABR]

Biden Should Run on a Unity Ticket With Romney

 

Please god no.

[D. Hocking]

I am not sure there is a bigger bunch of hypocrites or people without any shame or conscience than the senior GOP leadership.   I think they could see video of Trump in bed with Putin  while he is handed a check and they would find a way to dismiss it.   I am pretty sure they have different standards when the president is not Republican.

 

 

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1072588457845972993

[gunnarthor]

 

I am not sure there is a bigger bunch of hypocrites or people without any shame or conscience than the senior GOP leadership.   I think they could see video of Trump in bed with Putin  while he is handed a check and they would find a way to dismiss it.   I am pretty sure they have different standards when the president is not Republican.

 

 

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1072588457845972993

I really hope that the Trump presidency is the starting point for a long run of marginalization of the republican party. I don't think that will happen but the GOP is just dead right now.

[Badsmerf]

Besides Trump, the states are now taking dirty politics to a new level. Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina are all engaged in pitiful acts by their government.

[ashbury]

I really hope that the Trump presidency is the starting point for a long run of marginalization of the republican party. I don't think that will happen but the GOP is just dead right now.

Wishful thinking. That the GOP collects enough votes in the age of Trump to remain a sizable minority in Congress means that the Democrats are failing to address very major un-met desires by a very large portion of the populace. It's tone, more than policy, and Senator Hirono captures one aspect of it (which the GOP spin machine already has distorted into an expression of pure elitism):

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

 A good friend of mine who has represented the Republican Party of South Dakota at national GOP meetings mentioned her as having an "early Obama" vibe to him. He was telling me Obama would be a president multiple years before the 2008 election.

Ah, that helps explain why the Fox and the right wing continue to attack and smear her. Even Curt Schilling is getting in on it! Who needs Clinton anymore, I guess.

 

[TheLeviathan]

 

Wishful thinking. That the GOP collects enough votes in the age of Trump to remain a sizable minority in Congress means that the Democrats are failing to address very major un-met desires by a very large portion of the populace. It's tone, more than policy, and Senator Hirono captures one aspect of it (which the GOP spin machine already has distorted into an expression of pure elitism):

 

 

Well said.  I'm reminded of the old phrase about the fastest way to a man's heart.  The fastest way to a voter's love is with emotional appeals, not good policy and reason.

 

We don't have to like it, but that's what works.

[gunnarthor]

 

Wishful thinking. That the GOP collects enough votes in the age of Trump to remain a sizable minority in Congress means that the Democrats are failing to address very major un-met desires by a very large portion of the populace. It's tone, more than policy, and Senator Hirono captures one aspect of it (which the GOP spin machine already has distorted into an expression of pure elitism):

Yes and no. They kept the Senate in part b/c of the map. If the GOP senators were up for election in Ohio, Iowa, NC or Maine, the Senate might have flipped. And they won 40 seats in the House. Huge wave. I do think the Dems can get the rural white voters back but they have to have a comprehensive plan for that.