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NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Political Discussion Thread

Zoning Goddess said:
What, is he trying to top Mitt's announcement of $42 million income in 2 years; "Look at me, we'll have a moon base!". Talk about a ridiculous waste of money that will never be approved.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...aying-for-it/2012/01/25/gIQAlPBLRQ_story.html
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And this was after he criticized the SOTU address, and called Obama on "empty promises." And this was classic, he says it will be built by the end of his second term. Newt, you ain't getting one term, let alone two...
 
Colbert Super PAC raises $1 million; non-satirical PACs to follow
http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_n...raises-1-million-non-satirical-pacs-to-follow

If this doesn't scream that the system is broken I don't know what does. Obviously he is using this as a joke... but I would argue that it show exactly why these types of donations are bad for the political discourse. Newt and Romney are already whining about it. Just think about how bad it is going to get in the general. And all the candidates have to do is say they have no control over them, so who knows why they said what they did. All the while they are winking and publicly discussing how they would attack if they controlled them.

Ugly really. Although I do think this could help a 3rd party candidate who has money fight the good fight.... which I think would help our system.
 
Hink said:
Colbert Super PAC raises $1 million; non-satirical PACs to follow
http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_n...raises-1-million-non-satirical-pacs-to-follow

If this doesn't scream that the system is broken I don't know what does. Obviously he is using this as a joke... but I would argue that it show exactly why these types of donations are bad for the political discourse. Newt and Romney are already whining about it. Just think about how bad it is going to get in the general. And all the candidates have to do is say they have no control over them, so who knows why they said what they did. All the while they are winking and publicly discussing how they would attack if they controlled them.

Ugly really. Although I do think this could help a 3rd party candidate who has money fight the good fight.... which I think would help our system.
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Outside spending so far compared to this point in 2008 (due to the super pacs as a result of the citizens united decision) is up over 1600%. Yes, that's 1600%.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72152.html
 
Study: Constitution in decline
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72536.html

The report also contends that the U.S. Constitution is increasingly peripheral, partly because “no evolutionary process favors a specimen that is frozen in time. At least some of the responsibility for the declining global appeal of American constitutionalism lies … with the static character of the Constitution itself.”
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Interesting. It seems that because our constitution doesn't grow or change with the time, it is less effective, nationally and internationally. Makes sense to me. Really not that surprising. Can a Constitutionalist explain to me again why we shouldn't be required to update our constitution every 25 years or some other marker? And why we have had less than 30 amendments to it in 200+ years. Instead we let the Supreme Court write the constitution. I don't get it.
 
Hink said:
Study: Constitution in decline
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72536.html



Interesting. It seems that because our constitution doesn't grow or change with the time, it is less effective, nationally and internationally. Makes sense to me. Really not that surprising. Can a Constitutionalist explain to me again why we shouldn't be required to update our constitution every 25 years or some other marker? And why we have had less than 30 amendments to it in 200+ years. Instead we let the Supreme Court write the constitution. I don't get it.
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That is interesting. For a city Home Rule Charter (essentially its Constitution), the city must create a Commission of citizens every two years to evaluate a recommend changes, if any. Something similar for the U.S. Constitution would be appropriate on a longer time period. However, I can't see a Contitutional Amendment happening to require such a provision to change the document itself. They could simply pass a law, but that doesn't carry the same obligation as a Constitutional Amendment and like the amendment doesn't have a strong chance of passing. You would first have to get the public the understand (again) that the Constitution was intended to be a living document. By design, it is difficult to amend, but that doesn't preclude the need to amend it or presume it is a perfect document akin to a religious text.
 
Suburb Repairman said:
By design, it is difficult to amend, but that doesn't preclude the need to amend it or presume it is a perfect document akin to a religious text.
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Originalists do seem (to me) to consider the constitution largely as a religious text. Original text and intentions are the context for interpretation and it almost feels to me like an approach that assumes the text came from God or some other infallible source. To me, the text was created by MEN (white men, and not even any white women) in a time and place that is substantially different from today. IMO, these factors should be considered when using the constitution as a guide to rule on a particular issue. The authors could not anticipate the world that was to come (and which is still developing) and while I agree that it is one impressive document whose guidance can be applied to a great many circumstances (like many religious texts), to adhere too strictly is potentially dangerous. One could argue that too much latitude in interpretation could also be dangerous and I would agree with that, too. But it is not, in my mind, a static text. I am definitely a non-originalist.
 
Rep. John Fleming (R-Louisiana) read an article from the Onion on a new big-box type abortion clinic opening. He reacted by saying this is a type of Planned Plannedhood project - and he was being serious. :-c

Dude, that's a satirical site. It not real. How does an idiot like that get elected?

Maybe I should have posted this in the Stupid People Thread. :lmao:
 
hilldweller said:
Isn't birth control kind of a "win-win" type of thing (i.e. people can enjoy sex without fear of unwanted pregancy, STDs, etc.)? Are there downsides I'm missing?
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It is against the church teachings is the argument I hear. People should abstain if they don't want to have kids. Not sure how you stop STDs though...
 
Hink said:
It is against the church teachings is the argument I hear. People should abstain if they don't want to have kids. Not sure how you stop STDs though...
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From my days in the catholic church, natural family planning (rhythm method) was the only form of birth control allowed. STDs are controlled by not being promiscuous. Choose one partner, marry that partner, then only have sex with that partner.
 
I usually consider myself to be a Republican that is economically conservative and all about personal responsibility, but if Obama proposed legislation relieving me of all my student loan debt, I would definitely be on-board with that.
 
illinoisplanner said:
I usually consider myself to be a Republican that is economically conservative and all about personal responsibility, but if Obama proposed legislation relieving me of all my student loan debt, I would definitely be on-board with that.
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I would argue that student loan debt for individuals and the amount of underwater mortgages are a greater threat to our economic recovery, than health care costs and deficit spending.

If we don't figure out this mortage mess, our recovery will be a long, slow one. There are so many people that I think could help jump start a massive economic recovery, but the only things that are holding them back are the fact they are underwater on their mortgage or they have massive student loan debt.

Or maybe I'm just naive.
 
illinoisplanner said:
I usually consider myself to be a Republican that is economically conservative and all about personal responsibility, but if Obama proposed legislation relieving me of all my student loan debt, I would definitely be on-board with that.
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There's already a program for that for those that work in "public service" and make at least 120 payments (after which the remainder of the loan can be forgiven). See attached.
 

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  • LoanForgivenessv4-1.pdf
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NHPlanner said:
There's already a program for that for those that work in "public service" and make at least 120 payments (after which the remainder of the loan can be forgiven). See attached.
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“A democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury" -Alexis de Tocqueville
 
stroskey said:
“A democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury" -Alexis de Tocqueville
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Well then it's a good thing we are not, nor have we ever been, a democracy.
 
imaplanner said:
Well then it's a good thing we are not, nor have we ever been, a democracy.
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“A [representative republic] can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury" -Alexis de Tocqueville
 
stroskey said:
“A [representative republic] can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury" -Alexis de Tocqueville
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Oh no! We're screwed! :-c ;)
 
^^
I have always like the quote: "A democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding on what to have for lunch".

8-!

Mike
 
NHPlanner said:
There's already a program for that for those that work in "public service" and make at least 120 payments (after which the remainder of the loan can be forgiven). See attached.
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Well, I don't work in public service, and I think I'm on track to pay my federal loans off in 10 years anyways. Good to know though.

I guess I'm just more frustrated how expensive it was to go to college. It's kind of a scam. Instead of going to college, I just should've been a truck driver or something for the past 5 or 6 years, and I'd likely be a lot more well-off financially right now and in the future, with no debt.

And btrage has a point about the implications of the mortage crisis and the college inflation/student loan crisis being huge threats to our economic recovery. If I didn't have to pay monthly student loan payments equivalent to a 2nd rent payment, I would likely be contributing greatly to the economy. Same goes for most in my generation.

But, oh well. I made the decision to go to college, and I'm just going to have to live with the consequences of that decision, which means suffering economically for several years and working hard to try to make significantly more money.
 
Ron Paul is not patriotic and unamerican at this night Arizona debate.

He was not singing the national anthem (i.e. lip syncing at a minimum).

He did not wear an american flag lapel pin.

ALL meadevil republicans say "ALL BIRTH CONTROL BAD".

Ron Paul says "ALL WOMEN WHO WANT TO USE BIRTH CONTROL, ARE PRETURNATURALLY DISPOSED TO IMORALITY". 7:51 p.m. CST. WOW

7:56 pm CST.

Ron Paul says "Birth control pill is exactly the same as RU 486". Holy CARP!

8:20 CST.

Question, Describe yourself in 1 word.

Romney: Entitled
Paul: Insular
Gingrich: Adulterous
Santorum: Meadevil

8:34 CST.

Santorum Lies.

Says Obama has not called for the ouster of Syria's Hafaz Assad.

Thats an outright lie. The State Department has called for his ouster at the UN for many weeks.

8:50 CST.

Question, what is the biggest myth the voters think they know and what should they know about you (paraphrased, 7 beers will do that).

Paul: I can't win, I can I tell you! Really, I can!
Gingrich: You are unethical. No Really, I am a changed man. Seriously, trust me like my third wife who I cheated with for years on my second wife.
Romney: I care about you if you make less than $100 million a year. I do, REALLY I DO!
Santorum: I am a raging homophobe who believes only in my ULTRA conservative beliefs. No, you got it right.
 
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bsteckler said:
Dude, cool your jets...
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That is cool, I only mentioned the truly rediculous carp! :D

Or are you one of those silly Austrian Economist School types that would still have us digging out of a depression so deep it would have made 1932 look like a cake walk?

I will give you a break as you are new, and assume you wandered into this thread by accident! :p
 
Duke Of Dystopia said:
That is cool, I only mentioned the truly rediculous carp! :D

Or are you one of those silly Austrian Economist School types that would still have us digging out of a depression so deep it would have made 1932 look like a cake walk?

I will give you a break as you are new, and assume you wandered into this thread by accident! :p
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yeah! Cool your jets. It's not like they want to pass laws requiring the government to forcible penetrate women or anything:-c
 
Duke Of Dystopia said:
That is cool, I only mentioned the truly rediculous carp! :D

Or are you one of those silly Austrian Economist School types that would still have us digging out of a depression so deep it would have made 1932 look like a cake walk?

I will give you a break as you are new, and assume you wandered into this thread by accident! :p
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I was commenting on the fact that you had six back to back posts, not the content. I'm not watching the Republican debates in order to keep my sanity.
 
hilldweller said:
Exhibit A of why most women don't vote Republican:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46601255/ns/local_news-washington_dc/t/georgetown-student-reacts-limbaugh-attack/#.T1DwoXnNlKI...
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Wow. Just Wow.

Why anybody still listens to Rush Limbaugh is beyond me. I like opposing viewpoints as much as the next guy (which reminds me, did [USER]michaelskis[/USER] go on another self-imposed hiatus?) but over the past 5 or 6 years in particular, Rush seems to have devolved into nothing but a bigoted old loud mouth. Maybe he needs to get off the sobriety wagon again.
 
On the other side, does anybody think that John Stewart is funny? Truthfully, both he and Stephen Colbert bore the bejesus out of me.
 
ofos said:
On the other side, does anybody think that John Stewart is funny? Truthfully, both he and Stephen Colbert bore the bejesus out of me.
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I've never watched either show regularly but used to enjoy at least the first few minutes of Stewart. These days he is pretty much insufferable though and takes himself entirely too seriously. However, I do still like the field reporters on The Daily Show (and the Colbert Report). Stephen Colbert can still make me laugh pretty good throughout his 22 minutes.
 
ofos said:
On the other side, does anybody think that John Stewart is funny? Truthfully, both he and Stephen Colbert bore the bejesus out of me.
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I don't really watch much tv anymore so I haven't seen stewart in a while, but I used to find him pretty darn funny. From what I recall from the last few years before I stopped watching, he did start to take his role a little more seriously in the sense that he would actually report on things the media wouldn't.
 
JNA said:
WTF is wrong with [delete]Wiconsin[/delete] the GOP ?

Wisconsin GOP Leader Proposes Legislation To Blame Single Parents For Child Abuse And Neglect
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There you go JNA. I fixed it for you. In case you haven't been paying attention, the GOP has been riding the crazy train for years now and just keep going further down the track. I'm convinced that either the general public's IQ has diminished significantly over the years and the GOP is well aware of this and using it to exploit and control people, or the GOP itself is comprised primarily of people with diminished IQs. If they would get some intelligent and grounded people in the party, I would retract those statements and possibly even vote for one of their candidates. Until I see more than a handful of intelligent and grounded people in the party-- ideally that do not have a seemingly infinite supply of hate spewing out of their mouths-- they will continue to come across like tin hatters.
 
The "crazy train" will be in charge of the GOP till they lose big at an election. They'll keep on blaming moderates for their election failures till they get the candidate they want. When they get "their" candidate and they lose big in an election, only then will they be forced admit that their hard line conservative platform doesn't resonate with most Americans. Romney obviously will not be the candidate who will be able to accomplish this though.
 
TerraSapient said:
There you go JNA. I fixed it for you. In case you haven't been paying attention, the GOP has been riding the crazy train for years now .
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It would be one thing if it was a Limbaugh or Beck media personality type spewing this kind of half-baked frothing at the mouth talk - we could easily dismiss it as 'they're just trying to create controversy for ratings'...but this is the GOP establishment (article says he's assistant Senate majority leader) that's proposing this become law! In other words this coming from a "mainstream" source! :-c Wow. Just wow. I don't even know what to say in response to this.
 
It is pathetic and completely contradictory to what they say their party is about. "We want government out of our lives", except we also want to pass legislation that says hating single parents is okay.

Anyone who would continue to vote for a man like this is an idiot IMO, and I'm not sorry if that offends someone. Seriously people. Stop being so full of hate.
 
hilldweller said:
The GOP ship is sinking with the lunatic fringe at the helm. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the show.
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What makes it more enjoyable is is that it seems Obama and the Democrats have finally figured out how to play them like a fiddle. I mean this contraceptive issue I think was a deliberate ploy to draw out the crazies. I doubt they predicted it would have gained such momentum though since most prominent Republicans have now piled on. At this point, it's like a gift that keeps on giving.
 
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