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[Oblivion]

I'm honestly surprised that so many Republican governors haven't accepted either the medicaid expansion or built exchanges. Yes, I know, Obama and all, but the thing is, many of these states are deep red states, and as a result, the citizens in those states are mostly Republicans.

As we all know, Republicans aren't against sucking on the government teat. They're only against sucking on the government teat when it comes to be people who aren't Republicans. Republican politicians generally do a good job granting their constituents government goodies, without actually telling them it comes from the government. They did this all the time with the stimulus and medicare (which 40% of Republicans don't know that it's a government program).

You would think they would take the money from the feds and then turn around to their constituents and say, "SEE! OUR HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIES ARE DOING JUST FINE WITHOUT CHAIRMAN OBAMAO'S BIG GOVERNMENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Any crazy uncles at thanksgiving this year gaf?

I had dinner with a family friend so didn't want to broach that but years past have been fun.

I'm honestly surprised that so many Republican governors haven't accepted either the medicaid expansion or built exchanges. Yes, I know, Obama and all, but the thing is, many of these states are deep red states, and as a result, the citizens in those states are mostly Republicans.

As we all know, Republicans aren't against sucking on the government teat. They're only against sucking on the government teat when it comes to be people who aren't Republicans. Republican politicians generally do a good job granting their constituents government goodies, without actually telling them it comes from the government. They did this all the time with the stimulus and medicare (which 40% of Republicans don't know that it's a government program).

You would think they would take the money from the feds and then turn around to their constituents and say, "SEE! OUR HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIES ARE DOING JUST FINE WITHOUT CHAIRMAN OBAMAO'S BIG GOVERNMENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

Idaho just did this. You'll see more after 2016. Don't think they'll take medicare, but you'll see exchanges pop up. I think they're holding out hope the law goes away and they ''were never a part of it"

 

[Poodlestrike]

Any crazy uncles at thanksgiving this year gaf?

I had dinner with a family friend so didn't want to broach that but years past have been fun.

Idaho just did this. You'll see more after 2016. Don't think they'll take medicare, but you'll see exchanges pop up. I think they're holding out hope the law goes away and they ''were never a part of it"

Pretty much my entire extended family (that I'm on speaking terms with) is hardcore blue, so I'm fortunately spared that sort of thing

When my uncle was alive, though, we'd get into these terrific debates. We agreed on most everything, but he loved to play the devil's advocate, and he was very, very good at it. Hugely enjoyed messing with people's heads as well, so that's a fun combo

 

[Aaron Strife]

So how about Obama saying only Native Americans have a right to be pissed off about immigrants

 

[Diablos]

I'm really sad that the Colbert show is ending soon.

I still don't think he made the right decision.

 

[Mobile Suit Gooch]

So how about Obama saying only Native Americans have a right to be pissed off about immigrants

Well, he's right.

 

[Necrovex]

So how about Obama saying only Native Americans have a right to be pissed off about immigrants

He's right on that regard. I don't know of any other civilizations (or race) that existed in North America prior to the Native Americans.

I'm really sad that the Colbert show is ending soon.

I still don't think he made the right decision.

I appreciate Colbert is aiming to do something new. Taking over Letterman will most likely be the highlight of his career. Plus he may do some real good in taking over Letterman.

 

[Poodlestrike]

So how about Obama saying only Native Americans have a right to be pissed off about immigrants

He's kinda right. Even they "immigrated," but there wasn't an existing population. Everybody else is definitely immigrants by comparison. Only what, 10-15 generations in? At most? P'shaw.

I'm really sad that the Colbert show is ending soon.

I still don't think he made the right decision.

I'm bummed to see him go as well. Gotta figure out some way to watch him, CBS doesn't do Hulu

Still, it could be good. He's gonna have an enormous audience now.

 

[JesseEwiak]

How quick red/purple states depend completely on how crazy the legislature/governor is, and that always doesn't line up by purely percentage they gave to Obama.

Some place like Idaho where you basically run as a Republican to get to public office, there's plenty of "Republicans" who are moderate conservatives who might be Democrat's in Jersey or Michigan, and as a result, they can sell a exchange-like thing and hope they survive the primaries.

It's the reverse in say, New York, where Andrew Cuomo would be a Rockefeller Republican if he hadn't been the seed of Mario Cuomo.

Unfortunately, that means, in some purple states like Michigan, the GOP in the state is hardcore conservative, despite being a down the middle state, but thanks to gerrymandering, self-packing, and low turnout among Dems, the state legislatures are heavily Republican.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

God the EU and lefty-euro gaf is completely against free speech and free access to information when its something they don't like

 

[ivysaur12]

I'm honestly surprised that so many Republican governors haven't accepted either the medicaid expansion or built exchanges. Yes, I know, Obama and all, but the thing is, many of these states are deep red states, and as a result, the citizens in those states are mostly Republicans.

As we all know, Republicans aren't against sucking on the government teat. They're only against sucking on the government teat when it comes to be people who aren't Republicans. Republican politicians generally do a good job granting their constituents government goodies, without actually telling them it comes from the government. They did this all the time with the stimulus and medicare (which 40% of Republicans don't know that it's a government program).

You would think they would take the money from the feds and then turn around to their constituents and say, "SEE! OUR HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIES ARE DOING JUST FINE WITHOUT CHAIRMAN OBAMAO'S BIG GOVERNMENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

You've already started to see this, and you're going to continue to see it as time goes on.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Tax deal dead

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/immigration-tax-deal-113206.html#ixzz3KOOt93za

 

[Poodlestrike]

God the EU and lefty-euro gaf is completely against free speech and free access to information when its something they don't like

If this is about the Right to be Forgotten thing, I kinda agree with them. We need to start taking steps to secure our privacy, even if the EU's decision is a) somewhat domineering vis a vis how it relates to foreign entities and b) they need better safeguards to protect it from abuse. People trust Google way too much.

 

[The Technomancer]

God the EU and lefty-euro gaf is completely against free speech and free access to information when its something they don't like

One thing I've come to realize is that basically no-one has an actually "consistent" stance on freedom of information. Which is fine, its a complex thing that needs to be handled in different ways depending on context, but I wish people would stop treating it so ideologically then as if there was a one size fits all solution of "all information should be open" or "everything has an intrinsic right to total privacy"

 

[NYCmetsfan]

If this is about the Right to be Forgotten thing, I kinda agree with them. We need to start taking steps to secure our privacy, even if the EU's decision is a) somewhat domineering vis a vis how it relates to foreign entities and b) they need better safeguards to protect it from abuse. People trust Google way too much.

Its not about trust, google. I just don't think this is about privacy at all.

I have no problem with privacy laws and restricting information from getting to google. You can't search my medical records or school grades on google. That's protecting privacy. I can even sue (which I'd agree with) if someone publishes those things (I'd be sueing the paper not google though).

I don't agree that there is a right to forget public information. This information isn't protected by privacy law except for their overly broad idea of such a right.

Its about people wanting to control all information about themselves even if it imposes costs on others and their freedoms.You see people admit to this when their example "problem" is information embarrassing ones self to an employer being accessible in a google search.

A much better solution is to strengthen existing privacy laws and not allow this information to be public (hiding the information in non-indexable sites). But the court decision literal says people have the right to petition to eliminate not privacy violations as they are commonly thought of but information that's 'irrelevant, inadequate, irrlevant or excessive'. Thats absurd and subject to abuse and has no real positive upsides for society at large unless we desire a large collective ability to erase the past.

I love to hear metamorphosis's thoughts on the case and issue, especially in regards to the US.

There's some interesting supreme court precedent on similar things with them sometimes sounding a bit like the European courts but at the same time the current court and recent 1st amendment precedent is extremely pro-expression. Thank god

 

[B-Dubs]

There are cases where I would be all for allowing someone's web record to be scrubbed clean, like if they got caught up in a scandal they had nothing to do with, if someone posted embarrassing photos or shared them without consent, if they were accused of a crime they never committed, convicted in the press and were then exonerated or like arrested on a minor drug charge. Basically either shit they did when they were a kid that haunts them or when they got caught up in something they had nothing to do with and it wound up damaging their reputation. There are situations where a "right to forget" makes sense, but it would have to be very heavily regulated.

 

[Oblivion]

So glad Thanksgiving is over. Dunno about you guys, but it's probably my least favorite holiday. Aside from the obvious problems with the holiday, it also causes all the news sites/blogs that I normally read to stop posting. Thankfully* it's over now.

Spoiler

*no pun intended

 

[Chichikov]

So glad Thanksgiving is over. Dunno about you guys, but it's probably my least favorite holiday. Aside from the obvious problems with the holiday, it also causes all the news sites/blogs that I normally read to stop posting. Thankfully* it's over now.

Spoiler

*no pun intended

Probably my favorite American holiday.
Food, football, comedy, what's not to like?

Also, I lived away from my family in the US, so thanksgiving was a gathering of friends (mostly xpats) so there was no dealing with racists uncles or whatever.

 

[speculawyer]

Probably my favorite American holiday.
Food, football, comedy, what's not to like?

Also, I lived away from my family in the US, so thanksgiving was a gathering of friends (mostly xpats) so there was no dealing with racists uncles or whatever.

Halloween beats all the rest of them. Dressy up, scary stuff, free candy . . . unbeatable.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Watching the Netflix doc on Gore Vidal.

God I hate buckley. uber dick.
Some funny stuff where gore calls Buckley a cypto-nazi and buckely calling Gore a Queer: http://youtu.be/ZY_nq4tfi24?t=10m5s

Its also amazing how radical some people were openly. Every radical view is now segregated on the internet

 

[ivysaur12]

I'm not surprised by this at all:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f0a9f16d8ce149c18db7c388b5908929/obama-and-pentagon-uneasy-relationship

WASHINGTON (AP) — On a trip to Afghanistan during President Barack Obama's first term, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was stunned to find a telephone line at the military's special operations headquarters that linked directly back to a top White House national security official.

"I had them tear it out while I was standing there," Gates said earlier this month as he recounted his discovery. "I told the commanders, 'If you get a call from the White House, you tell them to go to hell and call me.'"

To Gates, the phone in Kabul came to symbolize Obama's efforts to micromanage the Pentagon and centralize decision-making in the White House. That criticism later would be echoed publicly and pointedly by Gates' successor, Leon Panetta.

The president's third Pentagon chief, Chuck Hagel, was picked partly because he was thought to be more deferential to Obama's close circle of White House advisers. But over time, Hagel also grew frustrated with what he saw as the West Wing's insularity.

There have been similar gripes from other Cabinet officials, but the friction between the White House and the Pentagon has been particularly pronounced during Obama's six years in office. That dynamic already appears to be affecting the president's ability to find a replacement for Hagel, who resigned Monday under pressure from Obama.

Part of this is the relevancy the Pentagon would inevitably have in an Obama presidency versus even a Clinton one, where we'll see someone who is much more hawkish. I also don't think that foreign policy has necessarily been Obama's strong suit, and we've sort of seen that hesitation play out with Syria/ISIS/Crimea.

 

[Diablos]

I figured any President would have a direct line to the WH installed at these kinds of facilities. Why is this so surprising?

 

[TacticalFox88]

This almost sounds like it could be a House of Cards episode.

 

[Poodlestrike]

This almost sounds like it could be a House of Cards episode.

Actually, defense secretary trying to get between the President and the Joint Chiefs actually was a West Wing plot.

 

[Jooney]

Watching the Netflix doc on Gore Vidal.

God I hate buckley. uber dick.
Some funny stuff where gore calls Buckley a cypto-nazi and buckely calling Gore a Queer: http://youtu.be/ZY_nq4tfi24?t=10m5s

Its also amazing how radical some people were openly. Every radical view is now segregated on the internet

Is the the United States of Vidal doco? That one's great.

And yeah that debate shatters any illusions people have of politics being cordial in times past. Calling people queers and nazis on network television, dont think you could see that nowadays.

 

[Dominican Power]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/03/reversal-fortune

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Is the the United States of Vidal doco? That one's great.

And yeah that debate shatters any illusions people have of politics being cordial in times past. Calling people queers and nazis on network television, dont think you could see that nowadays.

Is it wrong I think this is kind of bad?

I miss passion, these were actual debates of much more learned men than S.E. Cupp (all apologies to Oblivion) and Van Jones

Edit: I think he got much worse when he got older though, he lost all sense of perspective and made some silly pronouncements about the US and the death of liberty and what not.

also, it was weird how vidal was right about hitchens not being his heir, hitchens died first.

 

[Jooney]

Is it wrong I think this is kind of bad?

I miss passion, these were actual debates of much more learned men than S.E. Cupp (all apologies to Oblivion) and Van Jones

Edit: I think he got much worse when he got older though, he lost all sense of perspective and made some silly pronouncements about the US and the death of liberty and what not.

also, it was weird how vidal was right about hitchens not being his heir, hitchens died first.

yeah i noted the irony of that part too. I like hitch but he came off as a bit odd in that doco.

Dont think you're going to get learned men on cable news, its just a terrible format. I read my news rather than watch it.

 

[Coriolanus]

Edit: I think he got much worse when he got older though, he lost all sense of perspective and made some silly pronouncements about the US and the death of liberty and what not.

If you think Vidal ever lost all sense of perspective, you've lost all sense of perspective o_ô

You've probably read his last columns, no? Dude was still razor sharp. He simply gave less fucks about softening the edges because, hey, not exactly much time left.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

If you think Vidal ever lost all sense of perspective, you've lost all sense of perspective o_ô

I don't think your reading my critique right. He lost internal consistency even. He made statements in the 60s that apply to the US in the 2000s but when he was in the 2000s he pretended it was the worst time in history never minding nothing really changed.

It's not his statements were wrong he just became and old man where "everything is worse" now and ignored the reality of the past even though when he was living it it discribed it well

 

[FiggyCal]

I think that the "grass-root movements" we've been seeing lately that are pushing libertarian and conservative ideology and are funded by the rich and powerful are as a result of the declining popularity of capitalism in the U.S. The large corporations are afraid of moving towards socialism and are supporting "pure capitalism" and "free markets" to miseducate the masses on what the problems with our current system are. Am I crazy? I think it makes sense, but I'm not sure.

 

[Dominican Power]

What's a good site for politics?

 

[Akainu]

I am very surprised by some of the comments and likes of conservative blogs from some of my friends on Facebook. All of a sudden. Some of the comments are revolting. I had no idea these people thought this way. Completely changed my perspective on a few friends. :/

are you really though?

 

[Particle Physicist]

are you really though?

I am from these people. They generally shy away from political commentary. I was very surprised. :/

 

[Lucky Forward]

This almost sounds like it could be a House of Cards episode.

Speaking of HoC, once again there are rumblings that Maryland may do away with the generous tax credits they offered the show to film in Baltimore and other locations around the state, and drive the production elsewhere.

Incentives for film, TV productions may be in jeopardy again

The dust has hardly settled from last year's bruising battle over the amount of tax incentives the state would give "House of Cards" to keep the Kevin Spacey drama filming here, and already the Netflix series is back in the cost-cutting cross hairs.

Two real-life political developments have the film and TV production community here deeply worried that Maryland and "House of Cards" could be parting ways for good after filming of Season 3 ends next month.

First is a Department of Legislative Services report that says the state is only getting a 10-cent return on every dollar given in tax credits to film and TV producers who make their movies and shows here.

The second and most important change: the election of [Larry] Hogan. The Republican businessman ran and won an unexpected victory in large part on promises to cut state spending and reduce taxes even as Maryland deficits mount.

The pressure will be on him from day one to make good on his promises, and "House of Cards" and "Veep" are looking like a fast and high-visibility way for him to do that.

 

[ivysaur12]

@Nate_Cohn: Obama approval jumps among Hispanic voters to 68% in last week of Gallup polling h/t @AlanIAbramowitz http://t.co/CpGLKmrvgl

The political effects of His Majesty, the Emperor's Degree

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Episode #1432 In the National Review being Racist (it was written by a black dude so I guess they think its cool?)

Why has Jones’s death not unleashed riots and looting? Simple: Jones was killed by a fellow black man. Therefore, his death and his loved ones’ agony generate silence.

But one can hear birds chirp while listening for public outcry over the deaths of black citizens killed by black perpetrators. Somehow, these black lives don’t seem to matter.

Besides the fact that this is racist nonsense. Notice something about the examples that he uses that didn't spur outrage

• Willie Earl Reed, 54, faces first-degree murder charges for taking a baseball bat and beating to death his girlfriend, Delores Hundley, 64, on March 24.

• Dominic Arrington, 38, allegedly stabbed to death (APK note: He was charged: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_da7dde34-d3a0-5dab-8912-b35eb283f4ed.html) April Fields on January 28. The 25-year-old business student just had dropped her daughter Skylar, 3, at her day-care center. Arrington had been on parole since 2004 for the 1995 killing of his then-girlfriend’s son, also age 3.

• Carnez Winslett, 36, was gunned down outside his birthday party on September 7, 2013. Police say Darnell Hollings, 21, shot ten bullets at Winslett and his guests. Winslett was wounded mortally. Three other black men were struck, but survived. Hollings also is among four men charged with non-fatally striking hot-dog vendor Edward Newa in the skull with a ball-peen hammer that they just had shoplifted from a Home Depot that August 21.

Why are we not protesting the police doing their job and arresting murders!?!@?

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/393611/silence-around-ferguson-deroy-murdock

Speaking of HoC, once again there are rumblings that Maryland may do away with the generous tax credits they offered the show to film in Baltimore and other locations around the state, and drive the production elsewhere.

Incentives for film, TV productions may be in jeopardy again

So they're making money but they are still against them?

Still I get why people are opposed. They're blatant handaways to millionares. Though if your seeing a return I don't think its bad. But if its nebulous "jobs" and "economic activity" I think it pays to be sceptical

 

[AndyD]

So they're making money but they are still against them?

Still I get why people are opposed. They're blatant handaways to millionares. Though if your seeing a return I don't think its bad. But if its nebulous "jobs" and "economic activity" I think it pays to be sceptical

I thought they are only making 10 cents, not 10 cent profit for every dollar credited. So really a handout as you mentioned. This comes up pretty frequently in various states,.

 

[eBay Huckster]

So they're making money but they are still against them?

Still I get why people are opposed. They're blatant handaways to millionares. Though if your seeing a return I don't think its bad. But if its nebulous "jobs" and "economic activity" I think it pays to be sceptical

iirc, that figure means they're only seeing 10 cents in revenue for every dollar in tax credits

so if they're handing out $50 million in tax credits, the state will only recoup $5 million of that

 

[NYCmetsfan]

I thought they are only making 10 cents, not 10 cent profit for every dollar credited. So really a handout as you mentioned. This comes up pretty frequently in various states,.

iirc, that figure means they're only seeing 10 cents in revenue for every dollar in tax credits

so if they're handing out $50 million in tax credits, the state will only recoup $5 million of that

ditch them then. They'll find a place to film it.

 

[AndyD]

ditch them then. They'll find a place to film it.

It comes up here in Nashville for the show Nashville regularly. If I remember right the "loss" on credits is seen as "advertising" for the city rather than being seen as a profit seeking venture. And I have to say there is noticeable tourism impact with Nashville (show) location tours and events going on. I don't even care for the show but notice the things going on around town.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

It comes up here in Nashville for the show Nashville regularly. If I remember right the "loss" on credits is seen as "advertising" for the city rather than being seen as a profit seeking venture. And I have to say there is noticeable tourism impact with Nashville (show) location tours and events going on. I don't even care for the show but notice the things going on around town.

That's a bit different. Nobody is going to Baltimore for House of Cards. They'd go to DC. Same with Veep.

Are there wire tours?

 

[Aaron Strife]

The political effects of His Majesty, the Emperor's Degree

Udall

It's too bad CO, NC and AK went to the Republicans by such slim margins. We still wouldn't have a majority - Landrieu is certainly going to lose, Orman flamed out and Braley turned out worse than anyone could have expected - but we'd at least have a nearly-guaranteed majority in 2016 as opposed to a "possibly if we do well" type of scenario.

 

[Averon]

The political effects of His Majesty, the Emperor's Degree

Just goes to show how badly congressional Democrats read the politics regarding the immigration EO. It likely would not have saved them the Senate, but it surely would have helped Udall (despite his terrible campaign) and Charlie Crist in Florida.

Democrats are absolutely terrible at national politics.

 

[Oblivion]

Guys, need help!

So I decided a topic for my research paper, which was supposed to be about how the U.S. is still feeling the effects of meddling in Iran's affairs. Unfortunately, the perfessor says that's too broad, so I need to narrow it down. And I need to do this ASAP! Once again, halp poligaf!

 

[Poodlestrike]

Guys, need help!

So I decided a topic for my research paper, which was supposed to be about how the U.S. is still feeling the effects of meddling in Iran's affairs. Unfortunately, the perfessor says that's too broad, so I need to narrow it down. And I need to do this ASAP! Once again, halp poligaf!

You could localize it, "How the US involvement in Iranian affairs led directly to the Islamic Revolution."

 

[Jooney]

Episode #1432 In the National Review being Racist (it was written by a black dude so I guess they think its cool?)




Besides the fact that this is racist nonsense. Notice something about the examples that he uses that didn't spur outrage



Why are we not protesting the police doing their job and arresting murders!?!@?

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/393611/silence-around-ferguson-deroy-murdock
l

It's just a distraction tactic. Ask why a policeman shooting a citizen shouldn't be held to a higher standard than a citizen shooting a citizen. Also, didn't someone post not too far back about white-on-white murder rate was ~84%? But that's obviously not a problem. Just another wall put up by people who are not willing to engage honestly.

 

[Wilsongt]

Guys, need help!

So I decided a topic for my research paper, which was supposed to be about how the U.S. is still feeling the effects of meddling in Iran's affairs. Unfortunately, the perfessor says that's too broad, so I need to narrow it down. And I need to do this ASAP! Once again, halp poligaf!

Talk about all the freedom we gave to the middle east because we're AMERICA GODDAMNIT! USA USA USA

 

[ivysaur12]

Is anyone watching the Landrieu/Cassidy debate? Remember, there's a special election in 5 days!!!!!!!!

Udall

It's too bad CO, NC and AK went to the Republicans by such slim margins. We still wouldn't have a majority - Landrieu is certainly going to lose, Orman flamed out and Braley turned out worse than anyone could have expected - but we'd at least have a nearly-guaranteed majority in 2016 as opposed to a "possibly if we do well" type of scenario.

The only thing that might have happened was that the Udall election would've been significantly closer. I still think he would've had a tough time winning considering the campaign he ended up running, but still.

 

[RustyNails]

Guys, need help!

So I decided a topic for my research paper, which was supposed to be about how the U.S. is still feeling the effects of meddling in Iran's affairs. Unfortunately, the perfessor says that's too broad, so I need to narrow it down. And I need to do this ASAP! Once again, halp poligaf!

You can focus on the effects of sanctions against Iran on Iranian economy, the rise of theocracy, and how America came to become the great satan.