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[B-Dubs]

"Unlike most politicians, he doesn’t go out of his way to make nice. His critics have long said his dry manner and impressive grip on power are reminiscent of Darth Vader."

Really? Comparing Turtle Soup to Vader? Yea he's a dick, but honestly going from the quote I thought the article would be about Cheney.

 

[The Librarian]

Really? Comparing Turtle Soup to Vader? Yea he's a dick, but honestly going from the quote I thought the article would be about Cheney.

“I think a place to talk is on things like chained CPI,” an adjustment to how Social Security benefits are calculated, “and raising the age for Medicare,” he says. “In return for that, we could trade less spending reduction on the discretionary side, because we all know the biggest challenge is actually not on the discretionary side, but on entitlements. To me, that’s a better place to go in the fall than signaling that you’re open to raising taxes.”

(((((((((

 

[B-Dubs]

(((((((((

Like I said he's a dick, but until he gets some man-sized safes in his office Cheney is Vader.

 

[Black Republican]

Anyone from Ohio have any ideas how the governor race will go?

 

[jamesinclair]

It might be cause I spend most of my political time here in poligaf, but reading that Wal-Mart thread makes me pretty shocked to see so many conservatives on the forum.

The amount of ignorance they display makes me sad

 

[The Librarian]

So it seems like Governor McCrory has huge objections to the Voter ID billhahahahaha. Turns out he doesn't know too much about the bill he's signing:

Asked again about seemingly unnecessary voter-registration restrictions, the Republican governor told the AP, "There is plenty of opportunity for voter registration -- online, offline, through many methods."

Unfortunately, this didn't make any sense -- online voter registration is not permitted in North Carolina. That's true now, and it will remain true under the changes the governor is poised to approve.

Pressed further on why eliminating pre-registration for North Carolinians under 18 would prevent fraud, McCrory finally acknowledged his ignorance. "I don't know enough, I'm sorry, I haven't seen that part of the bill," he replied.​

 

[zero shift]

So, "Democracy Now!" Yay or Nay?

 

[Matugi]

So this pic has been making the rounds on twitter

I guess the appropriate response would be, "because the rich man is too busy complaining about the poor leaching off society and is far too proud to degrade himself to the point where he would offer a homeless man work"?

 

[Frank the Great]

So this pic has been making the rounds on twitter

I guess the appropriate response would be, "because the rich man is too busy complaining about the poor leaching off society and is far too proud to degrade himself to the point where he would offer a homeless man work"?

The biggest problem with that "lesson" is that it relies on the horrible, and frankly offensive, underlying premise to modern conservative economic thought: that jobs are no more than gifts bestowed upon us undeserving dirty poors by the good graces of virtuous rich people, and, because rich people are so virtuous, jobs are freely available to those who would simply apply some effort. It is an incredible and insidious oversimplification of how economics works. It is also, ironically, contrary to the classic free market concept of "rational actors," but that's a discussion for another time.

There are also many other problems but that, to me, is the worst, because it is used to justify a whole slew of ridiculous policies that favor the rich and inflict punishment on the poor.

 

[zargle]

Bernie Sanders knows whats up:

The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Sanders added, was a direct result of the deregulation of Wall Street promoted by former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan and two former Treasury secretaries, Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers. “Mr. President, it would be a tragic mistake to nominate anyone as chair of the Fed who continued those failed policies.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=50247314-5933-4741-8da7-7b873875e911

In the same letter, Sanders also points out Joseph Stiglitz and Robert Reich as names that should be considered. Does poliGAF have anyone they would like to see considered that isn't being talked about (or just not as much)

Also, I read something today that said Yellen had the most accurate predictions of the people in the federal reserve. So that seems like that should count for something.

 

[Opiate]

The biggest problem with that "lesson" is that it relies on the horrible, and frankly offensive, underlying premise to modern conservative economic thought: that jobs are no more than gifts bestowed upon us undeserving dirty poors by the good graces of virtuous rich people, and, because rich people are so virtuous, jobs are freely available to those who would simply apply some effort. It is an incredible and insidious oversimplification of how economics works. It is also, ironically, contrary to the classic free market concept of "rational actors," but that's a discussion for another time.

There are also many other problems but that, to me, is the worst, because it is used to justify a whole slew of ridiculous policies that favor the rich and inflict punishment on the poor.

I'm more bothered by the "small child whose simple wisdom pierces the political morass and finds the straightforward truth" trope.

 

[jamesinclair]

No there aren't. Goodness. The people in the survey weren't making over a million per year, they had a total of one million in liquid assets. Which is quite a lot, but very very different from a million per year.

I'm on my phone, but I remember reading something like the average black family has something like twenty dollars in assets.

One million is rich.

 

[Opiate]

I'm on my phone, but I remember reading something like the average black family has something like twenty dollars in assets.

One million is rich.

They may be true, but it isn't one million dollars in annual income.

Arguments which may be right-in-spirit (i.e. people with a million dollars in assets are rich) will lose to well prepared arguments that may be wrong-in-spirit but nonetheless have the details and facts straight. You're already at a significant disadvantage before the conversation has even begun if you confuse even the basic elements of the proposition.

 

[Opiate]

Let me put that another way: as someone who has personally sat in an audience where creationists have thoroughly trounced evolution proponents in an argument, I want to strongly advise people not to simply assume they'll win an argument because reason and evidence are ultimately on their side.

Motivated, skilled debaters can and will trounce you with what may be ultimately losing arguments if you aren't prepared. Most of the evolution proponents I've seen have their facts straight, they're just losing to excellent debating technique; by comparison, someone who goes in to an argument with basic facts wrong -- such as confusing net worth with annual income -- will be absolutely eaten alive by someone with the skill and desire to do so.

 

[Mike M]

Let me put that another way: as someone who has personally sat in an audience where creationists have thoroughly trounced evolution proponents in an argument, I want to strongly advise people not to simply assume they'll win an argument because reason and evidence are ultimately on their side.

Motivated, skilled debaters can and will trounce you with what may be ultimately losing arguments if you aren't prepared. Most of the evolution proponents I've seen have their facts straight, they're just losing to excellent debating technique; by comparison, someone who goes in to an argument with basic facts wrong -- such as confusing net worth with annual income -- will be absolutely eaten alive by someone with the skill and desire to do so.

I'm trying to imagine a scenario where these victorious creationists didn't go into the argument with their basic facts wrong...

 

[Opiate]

I'm trying to imagine a scenario where these victorious creationists didn't go into the argument with their basic facts wrong...

They didn't, which is my argument precisely. My point is that skilled, motivated debaters can outmaneuver you even if you ultimately have the right side of the argument. If you're going to win a debate, you better have your ducks in a row. Assuming you'll win the argument because they're clearly wrong and you're clearly right has proven untrue pretty consistently.

 

[AnotherNils]

Let me put that another way: as someone who has personally sat in an audience where creationists have thoroughly trounced evolution proponents in an argument, I want to strongly advise people not to simply assume they'll win an argument because reason and evidence are ultimately on their side.

Motivated, skilled debaters can and will trounce you with what may be ultimately losing arguments if you aren't prepared. Most of the evolution proponents I've seen have their facts straight, they're just losing to excellent debating technique; by comparison, someone who goes in to an argument with basic facts wrong -- such as confusing net worth with annual income -- will be absolutely eaten alive by someone with the skill and desire to do so.

What scares me is our legal system essentially works the same way.

 

[Jackson50]

Free IDs isn't good enough, in my opinion. The State also should have the burden of distributing them and also retaining them at poll booths for those who show up without them. Otherwise, it's still a poll tax because there is a cost associated with obtaining one.

Precisely. The government should make a concerted effort to facilitate voting. It is one of the bedrock institutions of a democracy. And our government's performance is not merely mediocre, it is rather restricting ballot access. The laughable notion that new voter restriction laws are benign because they provide free ID cards is surpassed only by the false pretense, rampant voter fraud, on which they are premised. How anyone can interpret these laws as anything other than blatant voter suppression is beyond me. And they should be opposed in every instance.

Bernie Sanders knows whats up:



http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=50247314-5933-4741-8da7-7b873875e911

In the same letter, Sanders also points out Joseph Stiglitz and Robert Reich as names that should be considered. Does poliGAF have anyone they would like to see considered that isn't being talked about (or just not as much)

Also, I read something today that said Yellen had the most accurate predictions of the people in the federal reserve. So that seems like that should count for something.

I'd prefer Peter Diamond be confirmed if only as recompense for his unjustifiable treatment by Senate Republicans a few years ago. But that ship has unfortunately sailed.

This attitude is exactly how people like William Lane Craig win so many debates. :/

It's because God gives him the right words.

 

[Oblivion]

So Mittens is back in the news, and this takes a lot of chootz-pah, even for him:

[Washington Post Reporter Dan] Balz tried to point this out: "But when you said there are 47 percent who won't take personal responsibility—." Romney interrupted: "Actually, I didn’t say that... That's how it began to be perceived, and so I had to ultimately respond to the perception, because perception is reality."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/...47-percent-comment-Actually-I-didn-t-say-that

 

[zero shift]

No there aren't. Goodness. The people in the survey weren't making over a million per year, they had a total of one million in liquid assets. Which is quite a lot, but very very different from a million per year.

Good point, still my point stands.

 

[B-Dubs]

So Mittens is back in the news, and this takes a lot of chootz-pah, even for him:



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/...47-percent-comment-Actually-I-didn-t-say-that

I guess Mitt just can't seem to take personal responsibility for his actions. 47% indeed.

 

[The Librarian]

Rubio preaches to the choir when making the case of defunding Obamacare. This is the part that got me:

Only in Washington do people double down on their mistakes.

 

[Jackson50]

Rubio preaches to the choir when making the case of defunding Obamacare. This is the part that got me:

Marco Rubio is a smart man.

ObamaCare threatens all this and will lead to America’s decline, because it emulates what other nations have tried. In essence, it seeks to remake America in others’ images when it is America that has always been the example for other nations.

There's American exceptionalism, and then there's this.

 

[The Librarian]

Also! For a comprehensive breakdown on all the intra-Republican disputes, click here!

The fight over national security has also popped up in recent days, after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called libertarian opposition to some of the government’s surveillance programs “dangerous.” “This strain of libertarianism that’s going through parties right now and making big headlines I think is a very dangerous thought,” Christie told an audience at a Republican governors’ meeting in Colorado Thursday. The “esoteric debate” that Rand Paul and others are conducting about government anti-terrorism programs doesn’t fit the post-9/11 world, Christie argued. “I want them to come to New Jersey and sit across from the widows and orphans and have that conversation. And they won’t, ’cause that’s a much tougher conversation to have….The next attack that comes that kills thousands of Americans as a result, people are going to be looking back on the people having this intellectual debate.”

In response, Paul tweeted, “Christie worries about the dangers of freedom. I worry about the danger of losing that freedom. Spying without warrants is unconstitutional.” And a Paul aide told the Washington Times, “If Gov. Christie believes the constitutional rights and the privacy of all Americans are ‘esoteric,’ he either needs a new dictionary or he needs to talk to more Americans, because a great number of them are concerned about the dramatic overreach of our government in recent times.”​

 

[Oblivion]

Marco Rubio is a smart man.There's American exceptionalism, and then there's this.

Well, America was the first country to get rid of slavery, and everyone soon followed.

 

[I am Michael Bolton]

Another day, another RedState article on Defunding Obamacare.

Not going to post it all since it's too long but here are some excerpts:

“What is the urgency to defund Obamacare now?”

On January 1, 2014, Obamacare’s new main entitlements—the Medicaid expansion and the exchange subsidies—are scheduled to take effect. Open enrollment for both programs begins on October 1, 2013, at the start of the new fiscal year. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the federal government will spend $48 billion in 2014—and nearly $1.8 trillion through 2023—on these new entitlement programs. Also on January 1, Americans will be forced by their government to buy a product—health insurance—for the first time ever. Individuals and families who don’t comply will be penalized by tax penalties administered through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Obama Administration has requested over $400 million in funding and nearly 2,000 bureaucrats for the IRS to implement the individual mandate and 46 other statutory provisions in the law. Within the Administration, the blizzard of Obamacare rules and regulations continues apace. Regulators have now written over 20,000 pages of Obamacare-related rules and notices in the Federal Register. Many of these regulations will increase the cost of insurance; CBO concluded Obamacare would raise individual health insurance premiums by $2,100 per year.

“Since Obamacare is the President’s ‘signature achievement’ won’t he veto any effort to defund the program? Why should conservatives make this the focus of their anti-Obamacare efforts?”

There is a critical window of opportunity to stop the flow of funding for Obamacare from now until October 1, 2013, when the new fiscal year begins. It is during the same window that the President and Congress must pass bills to fund the government for the coming year. It is entirely appropriate for conservative members of Congress to use this opportunity to say, “No more funding for Obamacare!” and wage a serious and determined fight. If the Republican House girds for this fight—and wins the national argument with the urgency coming from a number of scheduled implementation dates and the law’s rising unpopularity—President Obama will be forced to compromise.

 

[User 406]

So this pic has been making the rounds on twitter

I guess the appropriate response would be, "because the rich man is too busy complaining about the poor leaching off society and is far too proud to degrade himself to the point where he would offer a homeless man work"?

Slightly corrected version from a while back.

 

[Jooney]

Marco Rubio is a smart man.There's American exceptionalism, and then there's this.

I don't want my country's health care system to follow Americas example in having the most expensive system that produces lower health outcomes. You guys can keep that to yourself.

Rubio just throwing dat exceptionalism red meat.

 

[zero shift]

The amusing part is that somebody would pay you $50 a day to pull weeds and sweep their driveway. My neighbor pays me $20 to mow his whole lawn with his push mower.

 

[Oblivion]

By Rubio's own logic, does that mean we should dismantle medicare and social security too?

Spoiler

Yeah, yeah I know, but I would like to see that asked anyway.

 

[Black Mamba]

By Rubio's own logic, does that mean we should dismantle medicare and social security too?

Spoiler

Yeah, yeah I know, but I would like to see that asked anyway.

 

[Jackson50]

I don't want my country's health care system to follow Americas example in having the most expensive system that produces lower health outcomes. You guys can keep that to yourself.

Rubio just throwing dat exceptionalism red meat.

Exceptionally bad is still exceptional.

 

[Jack Remington]

I love this comment in the Marco Rubio redstate article:

PRIOR TO OCare, our health system WAS the envy of the world! But that didn't satisfy those in power whose desire is to TOTALLY TRANSFORM our country into a FAILED socialist society (as proven by Europe).

How much of a fantasy land do you have to live in to believe that this is even remotely close to true?

That comment got 24 upvotes, btw.

 

[Black Mamba]

Since 9/11, conservatives have really force-fed this nation that America is the greatest in everything and the world is jealous of everything we do.

It's leaked into things like health care where only the delusional or ignorant could believe the rest of the modernized world looks up to us. We have the best emergency care and generally great health care for those who can easily afford it, but for everyone else it's pretty shit.

 

[Avon Barksdale]

Nate Silver did a Q&A on Deadspin a few hours ago.

http://deadspin.com/espns-nate-silver-is-here-to-answer-your-questions-951328525

 

[I am Michael Bolton]

I love this comment in the Marco Rubio redstate article:



How much of a fantasy land do you have to live in to believe that this is even remotely close to true?

That comment got 24 upvotes, btw.

Amazing.

 

[Oblivion]

Sen. Ted Cruz hasn't said whether he has presidential ambitions, but Sunday he won one of the first straw polls for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The Texas Republican captured 45 percent of the 504 votes cast by attendees at the Western Conservative Summit, a day after drawing several standing ovations during his luncheon speech at the fourth annual conference....

Placing second was Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who delivered the keynote address Friday at the three-day summit, with 13 percent of the vote.

Tied for third were Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, and former Rep. Allen B. West, Florida Republican, with 9 percent each....

Perhaps the most surprising finish was registered by Dr. Ben Carson, a conservative columnist and retired neurosurgeon, who wasn't a conference speaker but logged 7 percent of the vote....

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/28/sen-ted-cruz-triumphs-in-2016-presidential-straw-p/

Looks like it's gonna be a Hilldawg vs. Cruz match for now.

Exceptionally bad is still exceptional.

Stealin' this, btw.

 

[The Librarian]

The Washington Post has a new blog up called "The Switch." It's basically a technology and policy blog. One of their first articles is celebrating NASA's 55th birthday!

 

[Jooney]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/28/sen-ted-cruz-triumphs-in-2016-presidential-straw-p/

Looks like it's gonna be a Hilldawg vs. Cruz match for now.



Stealin' this, btw.

I've said this before, but I SO want Cruz to run just to hear the excuses and justifications from Birthers about why Cruz is eligible but Obama wasn't. (Cruz was born in Canada).

The mental gymnastics will be olympian.

 

[Jooney]

Exceptionally bad is still exceptional.

Kangaroocry.gif

Ah who am I kidding, there is no such thing.

 

[Black Mamba]

To clarify, I'm not leaving political analysis. My guess is that it might still occupy 40-50% of my time personally, and that politics/elections might represent something like 30-40% of the content at the "new" 538. We'll probably also hire at least one full-time politics writer/editor, along with some talented freelancers.

But to be honest — there's not very much I'll miss about pulling back from politics some. 2012 was an amazing year for me in any objective sense, but I still get sort of bitter and angry when I think about how hard it was to get people to accept some very basic statistical conclusions, and how personal things became. 22 minutes ago

See, still lot of politics.


BTW, is it even certain Cruz can run? Wasn't he born in Canada?

 

[Clevinger]

BTW, is it even certain Cruz can run? Wasn't he born in Canada?

At least one of his parents was an American citizen. So he was born an American citizen. So he can run for president.

 

[The Librarian]

There was a cool app released today that lets you vote on bills before the House, and your representative will be able to see how you vote. It shows what bills have been introduced to the House, what's being voted on at the moment, and a link to a summary of each bill.

Now there’s another entrant in this space: Capitol Bells, an iPhone app that lets constituents “vote” on legislation alongside their representatives. Unlike other attempts at bringing transparency to the legislative sausage factory, this one works in real time. And crucially, it could prove as useful to lawmakers as to voters.

Ted Henderson is the developer behind the project. Until January, Henderson was a staffer for Rep. Dale Kildee, a Michigan Democrat. When his boss retired this year, Henderson spent the next seven months coding an app to help new staffers become accustomed to Congress’s unique buzzer system that indicates when votes are happening.​

I downloaded it. >.<

 

[PhoenixDark]

It's going to be even funnier in 2016 when republican blogs revive the "polls are wrong" mantra.

"Obama only won x amount of the white vote, it's mathematically impossible that Hillary Clinton is doing so well with them in these polls"

 

[Tamanon]

hillaryis45 might not be a site full of schadenfreude.

 

[Black Mamba]

It's going to be even funnier in 2016 when republican blogs revive the "polls are wrong" mantra.

"Obama only won x amount of the white vote, it's mathematically impossible that Hillary Clinton is doing so well with them in these polls"

Or when they put up a not even 1 term completed senator against someone with loads of experience.

Remember how much shit Obama got for not having experience?


Still, Cruz would never win and him getting nominated would be the moment the GOP lost all control.

 

[Mike M]

So Mittens is back in the news, and this takes a lot of chootz-pah, even for him:



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/...47-percent-comment-Actually-I-didn-t-say-that

What?

What?

 

[Black Mamba]

Personally, I can't wait for the Hildawg fanfics.

Who needs a fanfic?

But the biggest head-turner was signing Diane Lane to star in a mini event about the life of Hillary Clinton. As in very likely 2016 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Read more: http://entertainment.time.com/2013/...ssibly-unwanted-political-gift/#ixzz2aT7mBZ66

NBC has a Hillary mini-series in the works to run before she announces. Starring Diane Lane!

PD gonna fap so much, Michigan will become a sea.

 

[PhoenixDark]

hillaryis45 might not be a site full of schadenfreude.

I'm looking forward to bidenis45.com emerging.

 

[Clevinger]

Who needs a fanfic?



NBC has a Hillary mini-series in the works to run before she announces. Starring Diane Lane!

PD gonna fap so much, Michigan will become a sea.

lol oh god