This thread is a singularity of fail.
Heard an interesting argument for voting for Obama the other day. Basically how within days of his inauguration high level republican politicians, news pundits and talk heads voiced a strategy of not allowing him to succeed at anything to increase the odds of making him a 1-term president. Before he even did anything. If he won, it would partially be a message that that kind of strategy isn't desired from our leaders.
So my theory has been this about the Obama presidency.
The one thing he promised, more than anything else, was a change to how business was done in Washington. He planned to reach across the aisle and cooperate with Republicans, and to bring respect and decorum to proceedings. All Republicans had to do to deny him this victory is not cooperate, and that's exactly what we've seen. Republicans not hip to this strategy, those who want to cooperate, are intimidated and drummed out of the party.
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So my theory has been this about the Obama presidency.
The one thing he promised, more than anything else, was a change to how business was done in Washington. He planned to reach across the aisle and cooperate with Republicans, and to bring respect and decorum to proceedings. All Republicans had to do to deny him this victory is not cooperate, and that's exactly what we've seen. Republicans not hip to this strategy, those who want to cooperate, are intimidated and drummed out of the party.
Do you really think democrats are any better?
This thread is a singularity of fail.
It's always that way with political threads. I wish it had stayed the light hearted conversation poking fun at politics in general. Alas people falsely think that others care about their opinions so they share them.
I would wager that no one's mind has been changed by anything said about politics between now and the election.
Do you really think democrats are any better?So my theory has been this about the Obama presidency.
The one thing he promised, more than anything else, was a change to how business was done in Washington. He planned to reach across the aisle and cooperate with Republicans, and to bring respect and decorum to proceedings. All Republicans had to do to deny him this victory is not cooperate, and that's exactly what we've seen. Republicans not hip to this strategy, those who want to cooperate, are intimidated and drummed out of the party.
Look at statistics on filibusters in the Senate. Yes, I do.
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Look at statistics on filibusters in the Senate. Yes, I do.Do you really think democrats are any better?So my theory has been this about the Obama presidency.
The one thing he promised, more than anything else, was a change to how business was done in Washington. He planned to reach across the aisle and cooperate with Republicans, and to bring respect and decorum to proceedings. All Republicans had to do to deny him this victory is not cooperate, and that's exactly what we've seen. Republicans not hip to this strategy, those who want to cooperate, are intimidated and drummed out of the party.
Wait until we get the next republican in office and see what happens.
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Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.
I want to start a write in campaign for Martin Sheen. He did so well on The West Wing.
How can you tell when a politician is lying? When they open their mouth.
How can you tell when a politician is lying? When they open their mouth.
What do you call 20 poloticians buried up to their necks in sand?
A good start.
Alas people falsely think that others care about their opinions so they share them.
I would wager that no one's mind has been changed by anything said about politics between now and the election.
Just because I never change my mind doesn't mean I don't care about your opinion, TCG.
And, did you get to go to the RNC, Comrade Knife? (You stooge of the plutocracy.)
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This, by God, this. Although I think we should cut the police too. Not local patrolmen and women, but DEA, TSA, DHS, BATFE, and the FBI could use a good shaking up too. It'll never happen as long as we keep electing democrats and republicans, though. I'd be happy if they offset some of those cuts with some hiring in internal affairs for the gutted departments. Except the TSA and probably the DEA, I'd just rid of them completely.Speaking of the TSA.
Reversing Bush's stance against allowing them to organize and bargain collectively is one of Obama's (few and small) labor accomplishments. They later joined the AFGE (apologies for linking the Daily Caller).
My god.
Obama came right out of the gate endorsing that mass teacher firing in Rhode Island (or Mass, I don't remember where). He oversaw the ripping up of years of UAW language as a precondition for the auto bailouts. He dropped the Employee Free Choice Act. Instead of making an appearance in Wisconsin, he hung out with David Cote while Honeywell was trying (did?) to bust its unions and sends its jobs overseas. The Affordable Care Act has a provision aiming to gut hard-won, union health-care plans. Right at this moment, his boy, Rahm Emanuel, is facing off against the Chicago Teachers Union.
But he let the f&*&ing TSA organize?!?
[Sighs]
The facts:
The number Castro cites is an accurate description of the growth of private-sector jobs since January 2010, when the long, steep slide in employment finally hit bottom. But while a total of 4.5 million jobs sounds great, it's not the whole picture.
Nonfarm private payrolls hit a post-recession low of 106.8 million that month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figure currently stands at 111.3 million as of July.
While that is indeed a gain of 4.5 million, it's only a net gain of 300,000 over the course of the Obama administration to date. The private jobs figure stood at 111 million in January 2009, the month Obama took office.
And total nonfarm payrolls, including government workers, are down from 133.6 million workers at the beginning of 2009 to 133.2 million in July 2012. There's been a net loss of nearly 1 million public-sector jobs since Obama took office, despite a surge in temporary hiring for the 2010 census.
Meanwhile, the jobs that have come back aren't the same ones that were lost.
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He did say "one of Obama's (few and small) labor accomplishments".
Oh, I saw it. Believe me, my tone would've been much different if I hadn't. I probably would have yelled more and called someone a stooge.
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Do you really think democrats are any better?So my theory has been this about the Obama presidency.
The one thing he promised, more than anything else, was a change to how business was done in Washington. He planned to reach across the aisle and cooperate with Republicans, and to bring respect and decorum to proceedings. All Republicans had to do to deny him this victory is not cooperate, and that's exactly what we've seen. Republicans not hip to this strategy, those who want to cooperate, are intimidated and drummed out of the party.
YES.
Show me one time democrats haven't been willing to compromise on something. They have the spines of jellyfish.
Do you really think democrats are any better?So my theory has been this about the Obama presidency.
The one thing he promised, more than anything else, was a change to how business was done in Washington. He planned to reach across the aisle and cooperate with Republicans, and to bring respect and decorum to proceedings. All Republicans had to do to deny him this victory is not cooperate, and that's exactly what we've seen. Republicans not hip to this strategy, those who want to cooperate, are intimidated and drummed out of the party.
You do realize that for years and years, the private insurance mandate was a republican idea.
Obama's stimulus package changed before it was passed. They reduced spending and included tax cuts. That is the exact definition of compromise. You can argue that it wasn't enough, etc... but it's still the EXACT definition of compromise.
Obama's cap and trade is essentially the same law that Bush Sr. signed into law back in 1990, which also got 'aye' votes from Mitch McConnell and Newt Gingrich. The 1990 bill applied to sulfur dioxide, which helped reduce the problem of acid rain in this country.
I thought the correct punchline to that joke was "Not enough sand"How can you tell when a politician is lying? When they open their mouth.What do you call 20 politicians buried up to their necks in sand?
A good start.
That too.
It's a joke. I don't believe it's a right/wrong situation.
I thought the correct punchline to that joke was "Not enough sand"How can you tell when a politician is lying? When they open their mouth.What do you call 20 politicians buried up to their necks in sand?
A good start.
The best view of a politicians feet ever.
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Here's some more:
What do you have when you have a thousand politicians at the bottom of the sea? A good start.How many politicians does it take to shingle a roof? Depends on how thinly you slice them.
What's black and brown and looks good on a politician? A doberman.
What's the difference between a politician and a trampoline? People take their shoes off to jump on the trampoline.
What's the difference between a dead skunk and a dead politician on the side of the road? There's screech marks in front of the skunk.
In all seriousness though there are a lot of people that get into politics because they want to do good and change the world for the better. Most of those folks probably leave politics shortly afterwards because of how nasty the business is. I for one blame you the voter. If we didn't vote and reward nasty/dirty campaign ads campaigns wouldn't use them. Like it or not we have the politicians we deserve. Not all of them are bad people but the kind of people that politics rewards aren't always honest and forthright.
I tend to agree with this. I admit that i am totally disgusted with the american political system and something needs to change. It'll have to be a majoral cultural shift, but I really dont know what or how.
Nothing will change while food is affordable.
Learn to read. 40% of Americans pay no federal income taxes.
And 90% of such figures are completely made up. Here are some more important statistics that are sure to contribute to the discussion (I won't bother to link any sources, because these are all common knowledge):
Remember, "it's not news, it's entertainment!" So 'news' channels can cite whatever made-up numbers they want, even if they're outright fabrications.
82.6% of all statistics are made up.
News at 11.
So here's as concise a description of the current political landscape:
The Democrats are trying to mollify the labor force with bread and circuses.
The Republicans' plan is to make you pay for your own bread and circuses.
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I'd just be a lot happier if lobbyists were removed from the equation. I don't know if term limits are the answer, but the moment congressmen start accepting outside money, heck even money for their campaign, whatever possible neutrality they've had is lost, unless of course they don't expect to have more than one term in office.
We need to rise above huge corporate donations, private interests, lobbyists, corporate loopholes, greed, and personal want. Congress is a job of service, and should not be considered a career.
I am not sure what to say about the Presidency itself outside of the fact I think we should refer to our current President as such, Pres. Obama, not Mr. Obama. I think it says a lot about a person's character when they don't use proper honoriffics.
Anyway, these are my thoughts on the matter. Thank you for reading.
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How about: all campaigns for federal positions (president, congress, senate) paid for publicly.
It can be paid for by a change to FCC regulations. Increase the amount of informational programming required, but allow them to substitute some hours for credits that are awarded to the candidates for TV advertising spots. Require that they be equal (i.e. reinstate equal time provisions). The time could also be spent televising debates in prime time.
...In all seriousness though there are a lot of people that get into politics because they want to do good and change the world for the better. Most of those folks probably leave politics shortly afterwards because of how nasty the business is. I for one blame you the voter. If we didn't vote and reward nasty/dirty campaign ads campaigns wouldn't use them. Like it or not we have the politicians we deserve. Not all of them are bad people but the kind of people that politics rewards aren't always honest and forthright.
There are two kinds of politicians: The unsuccessful and the corrupt. Can corrupt politicians still try to do good? Sure, but that always comes after helping those to whom they are beholden. This will never change until we get the money out of politics (i.e. the opposite of Citizens United).
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How about: all campaigns for federal positions (president, congress, senate) paid for publicly.
It can be paid for by a change to FCC regulations. Increase the amount of informational programming required, but allow them to substitute some hours for credits that are awarded to the candidates for TV advertising spots. Require that they be equal (i.e. reinstate equal time provisions). The time could also be spent televising debates in prime time.
I say give them ONE commercial to run on tv ONE for radio, ONE website. Maybe by limiting them they will say what THEY WILL DO instead of flooding the media with attack adds.
]I say give them ONE commercial to run on tv ONE for radio, ONE website. Maybe by limiting them they will say what THEY WILL DO AND HOW instead of flooding the media with attack adds.
I added that bit there. It's actually important.
EDIT: And "By making the hard decisions..." is not an acceptable response.
I would think normal Libel or Slander laws would apply, right? Or is that suspended for political discourse?
Corporal punishment for theft or bald face lying by public officials.