Politcal Ramblings

[fordman1]

Great points. Just one thing what is wrong with one child per Chinese family? That might be a good idea for a lot of places. The planet isn't getting any bigger.

[Aslan]

Great points. Just one thing what is wrong with one child per Chinese family? That might be a good idea for a lot of places. The planet isn't getting any bigger.

Personally, I'd like to see technology advance to the point that female babies could be temporarily sterilized at birth and then unsterilized after the age of 18 given they meet certain minimal requirements such as being able to care for a child, support a child, etc... That technology would all but eliminate unwanted pregnancy, teen pregnancy, fatherless children, and abortion. But such a proposal would be killed immediately, probably get overturned in the court system, and label me as a "Nazi-esque" person that wants to create some kind of weird utopian society.

Where you're slightly incorrect is that most modernized countries have the opposite problem of over-crowding. Most secular, modern countries in Europe and parts of Asia are struggling to get their birth rates up because their populations are dwindling. The incentive to produce offspring isn't there and the ways to avoid pregnancy are so successful that most people pass on it.

Unfortunately, and I'll probably get heat for this comment from the 1-2 female members of the community...but women make the problem worse because they are generally unrealistic by nature...especially in California. As I am now in my 40s and dating...my pool of women (not quite a binder full of women per se) are mostly in their 40s. And you would be SHOCKED at how many women 39-45 are very interested in "starting a family". In other words, they put off a family for 4 decades...and are now at the point where it's more dangerous to and far less likely they can conceive...but they read about a 55-yr old woman in Utah that just gave birth (National Enquirer) and spend their evenings watching Kate + 8...and all common sense goes out the window. And I blame "Sex in the City"...because a LOT of these women grew up watching that show and pretty much learning that the 20s and 30s are for wild fun and career building and shoe collecting and drinking wine and traveling to places to take selfies....then they hit 40 and it's like the car engine light suddenly lights up and suddenly "they're ready"...granted a decade late...and exponentially less likely to conceive...with a far, far greater likelihood of birth defects, Down Syndrome, miscarriage, etc... but ladies think differently...and most often...not in the most logical way. If they did, the Bravo network would cease to exist.

[Tony]

The idea that Islam is even considered a religion is an error, it was a come along later self declared prophet who declared the prior religious books flawed and invalid, insisting only his was preserved and was the truth. Even if you look at the cleaned up version the religion presents currently you will still find that all the examples of prophecy are wars and battles where he predicts the number and manner of people they will kill in the name of allah.
It should be reclassified as the cult it is.

[Tony]

What would you say the supreme court got right or wrong? Roe vrs. Wade, citizens united or maybe Obama care?

Obama-care only made it through because they manipulated it and called the fee's and penalties taxes and even then they violated the constitution.
The issue is simple: When the Senate adopted its own bill, installed it inside the shell of a separate and unrelated House bill, called it the Affordable Care Act and passed it, it created a long list of “fees” and “penalties” for Americans to pay.

But the John Roberts-led Supreme Court, recognizing the Constitution doesn’t allow the government to force people to buy consumer products, turned the “fees” and “penalties” into “taxes.”

However, the Constitution requires all tax measures be initiated in the House, not the Senate.

The senate just passed a bill that repeals obama-care and de-funds planned parenthood......undoubtedly Obama will veto it.

[Aslan]

But the John Roberts-led Supreme Court, recognizing the Constitution doesn’t allow the government to force people to buy consumer products, turned the “fees” and “penalties” into “taxes.”

However, the Constitution requires all tax measures be initiated in the House, not the Senate.

The senate just passed a bill that repeals obama-care and de-funds planned parenthood......undoubtedly Obama will veto it.

If you're correct, then I shouldn't have to pay car insurance. But I do. I also shouldn't have to pay a motor vehicle fee. Or tolls.

And of course he's going to veto it. That's why John Boehner spent the last 4 years trying to tell people there was no point to it...but I guess the lesson learned is that even if something is pointless and ridiculous and has no chance of success...if we can waste millions of dollars just to prove a point or quiet the 18% of Republicans in the 'freedom' caucus....it's worthwhile money well spent.

Don't think so? Hello Benghazi. It took 9 investigations and not one charge...not one ounce of wrongdoing...and finally two Republicans even admitted it was a political exercise to defame Hillary Clinton because she was likely the Democratic front-runner.

Now, if I was a left-wing liberal...which I'm not...and I got control over the house and senate...maybe I do 9 investigations into those 9 investigations regarding improper use of taxpayer funds....using them to essentially 'play politics'.

You can tell the right wing is scrambling regarding Obamacare because they know there's nothing...absolutely nothing...that can be done about it other than control of both houses and the Executive office. That's why there's been every little challenge of every single word...ad nausea. And each time the court just shakes their head...like the law or not...and essentially says, "Okay...AGAIN....it's the law. Now please go back to governing." And then here comes challenge #7....the Affordable Care Act was missing a period and therefore created a run-on sentence and thus should be over-turned. Here we go again. You lost. They won. Move on. Or are we still recounting the 200 hanging Chads? Are we going to open yet another Kennedy investigation? Maybe Iran Contra? How bout Whitewater? I mean, the people have spoken...it's time to move on. The senators and congressmen that STILL don't get that...aren't going to have jobs for very long...I think people are getting tired of it...on the right AND on the left.

But we're skirting the real issue here. Lets say Obama has a nervous breakdown and lets the Affordable Care Act get overturned. Literally a 0% chance of that....but lets play. Then what? Back to the old system where everyone pays for the uninsured with increased premiums? See....Republicans don't "get it" and it's really costing them in the National elections. They have spent years and years...pledging to block anything and everything Obama wants. He makes a trade deal, they appose it. He tried to improve heathcare, they oppose it. He even went to them a couple years ago asking for authorization to use force against SYRIA for violating chemical weapons agreements....and they refused to vote on it. And they 'think' that their supporters LIKE that they are blocking everything...and some do. But most...do NOT.

The public tried to send that message in the midterms. But, right on cue, the Republicans misread it. They thought it was a vote for them and a mandate to keep opposing, and keep fighting. But it wasn't a vote FOR them; it was vote AGAINST incumbants...who are more and more seen as worthless, time wasting, non-idea having, children. If you don't like Obamacare....offer a better option. The country would love to hear it. But so far, all I'm hearing is "we're against whatever....ummm....whatever the President says!" That's not a winning strategy...and those that find Fox News as laughable as MSNBC (we're the silent majority by the way)....we're not amused anymore. If you can't govern....if you can't compromise for the good of the country (on both sides of the aisle)...maybe it's better if you step aside and let somebody else give it a try.

[fordman1]

Republican debates tonight 12/15. Wonder what nonsense will come out of that tonight.

[Ptnomore]

Republican debates tonight 12/15. Wonder what nonsense will come out of that tonight.

I'll be recording it, as my Men's League bowls at the same time.

I'm hoping to see Rand Paul make a jump ahead of the usual 3. IMHO, Rand IS the only truly qualified one and knowledgeable enough and far enough out of the lobbyists pockets to get this country turned around. He did awesome at the last one, and has been gaining more and more support ever since. you just never hear anything about him on the news, cuz he doesn't fill a room saying dumb **** that creates media frenzies that sell advertising spots for the broadcast companies.

Fingers Crossed.

[Aslan]

Agreed PTNomore.

My current leader-board is:
- Bernie Sanders
- Rand Paul
- George Patacki
- Hilary Clinton

After that it's a huge dropoff before I get to Ben Carson. And then everyone is sort of bunched up except for Carly Fiorina and Ted Cruz who I have so far down the list that if they win I might move to Canada.

It's a shame, because the only true moderates in the race are Lindsay Graham and Jim Webb and Webb already dropped out and Graham probably has or will. Neither were great candidates...but now moderates are left with the best of two evils. Socialist leaning Democrats that have no control on spending, poor foreign policy initiatives, and are more concerned with criminals and illegal aliens than most Americans. And then on the right you have either TV evangelists like Huckabee/Santorum, Congressman that have shown no ability to govern like Cruz, Paul, and Rubio...about 4 Governors that can't speak coherently enough to inspire anyone, and 3 outsiders that are either friend stabbing liars, failed corporate CEO/secretary, and a man more concerned with Twitter fighting Rosie O'Donnell than anything else.

It's a CIRCUS...but a circuses are hilarious and fun to watch so I'll be watching and during commercials cleaning my apartment and putting up Christmas decorations on the off chance I have my date back to my place tonight.

[fordman1]

Maybe the question everyone should be asking is What would President Trump do?

[Aslan]

Maybe the question everyone should be asking is What would President Trump do?

I have to say his performance on Tuesday was encouraging. He toned it down a bit, was almost overly gracious, and he let his competition go at each other. I'm not saying he's my new favorite...but I'd probably (at this one moment in time) vote for him over Hillary. But again...I'd LOVE it if I had better options than that.

My current (Pre-Dem Debate) Leaderboard is:
1. Bernie Sanders
2. Rand Paul
3. George Patacki
4. Donald Trump

Tuesday also allowed me to separate what used to be a logjam of candidates all packed into the middle of the list:

- Trump was solid and left the 'pack' behind.
- Rubio, Graham, and Kasich I thought helped themselves a "little".
- Ben Carson, Rick Santorum, and Jeb Bush did nothing positive nor negative...so they kinda just stayed irrelevant.
- Mike Huckabee and Chris Christie continued to FALL down my standings.
- Cruz and Fiorina are my "Canad-a-Ates" because if they win I'm probably leaving the country. I can't find common ground with them politically and I can't stand Carly.

I'm disappointed in Christie. He had a shot to unite the moderates but just seems to be out of his element on stage. He's trying so hard to convince people that he's a conservative that it almost comes off as desperation.

My most significant observation of the debate is in regards to Trump. Rand Paul completely tore him apart about the targeting of ISIS family members, making concise points about constitutionality and treaties. But Trump responded the same way most Americans would respond to that, "So we have to follow the Geneva convention but those trying to kill us do not?" So, Rand Paul was totally correct...made great points...but Trump won the argument because he simply said what most Americans are saying/thinking.