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[eznark]

i think a liberal supporting states rights would blow Jay's mind. I still didnt see him comment on the executive order restricting preemption from what Bush created, but to be honest, i could have missed it.

It's an inconsistent support in almost all cases. Trot it out when it is convenient. I'll be interested to hear her views on the Dakota's abortion ban.

 

[APF]

Good write up on Slate that puts the fictitious impartial, objective, unemotional judge archetype into perspective - http://www.slate.com/id/2218393/pagenum/all/#p2

The problem with this article is twofold: first, the leading examples provided are of conservative advocacy groups and politicians making pointed arguments and proffering sympathetic cases to advance their interests, which seems to be a red herring if the question we're discussing is the importance of judicial impartiality. It is not novel to suggest that someone with an agenda may attempt to manipulate the outcome of events or public opinion. One may feel they have objective reason on their side, have an ideological preference for the same, and yet still stack the deck just in case or because they know how the game is played. Second, the article awkwardly shifts gears to apparently assert that because of the above--that people are interested in manipulating the outcome of decisions or that there's a large degree of tailoring done when bringing cases before the court,--therefore "we all should want judges to be empathetic to the litigants before them," when that is clearly not self-evident or there wouldn't be a discussion in the first place. The only supportable conclusion that article suggests is that judges are human and people take advantage of that fact.

 

[GhaleonEB]

He's not going to get much more than halfhearted praise out of me since I know what he's doing and why, and he'll continue interfering at the federal level as well, it's just that it's not politically viable to go as far as he wants at that level at this point.

So it doesn't matter if he does something you agree with, because you know his true intentions. Gotcha.

 

[PantherLotus]

So it doesn't matter if he does something you agree with, because you know his true intentions. Gotcha.

:lol

so true.

 

[JayDubya]

So it doesn't matter if he does something you agree with, because you know his true intentions. Gotcha.

I'm not saying I can cast a spell to divine his intentions.

However, the man's political career and all his past interviews and position statements and most especially his own current campaign promises are all valid information to look to, and goodness knows many of you do, with approval.

 

[Particle Physicist]

GOP walks fine line on opposing Sotomayor

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/26/gop.hispanics/index.html

Limbaugh's attacks aside, many influential Hispanic leaders were optimistic and warned the GOP against rushing to conclusions before she pleads her case before the Senate, which must confirm her.

"I do think Republicans have to be very careful and not oppose this nomination just for the sake of it," said Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "Because when you think about that the length of time the Latino community has waited for this nomination, it's been a long time."

"If they just out of sheer ill-will ... try to block the nomination, that's going to have a big backlash in the Hispanic population," Wilkes warned. "And we won't have to do anything except sit back and watch them destroy themselves, because it's really going to be that bad."

much more at the link.. i'm really curious to see how this will play out.. it might get quite entertaining.

Alex Castellanos, a GOP strategist and CNN contributor, said Obama may be taking the country back to the era of identity politics.

"He didn't play that card in the campaign, he fought against that. And he said we're now at a new place," he said. "And now the question is ... is he taking us back to identity politics saying that someone is a better judge because of their race or their gender or their ethnicity?

i love these backhanded comments.. so the only reason why obama chose her was because she is a hispanic and a woman? :lol

 

[eznark]

GOP walks fine line on opposing Sotomayor

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/26/gop.hispanics/index.html





much more at the link.. i'm really curious to see how this will play out.. it might get quite entertaining.

I like the pre-emptive race card. No sense waiting for cause when you can just plop it out there and CNN cheers.

 

[JayDubya]

What are you smoking, Alex Castellanos, to not recognize that the man played identity politics the whole campaign long?

And can I have some?

 

[Particle Physicist]

What are you smoking, Alex Castellanos, to not recognize that the man played identity politics the whole campaign long?

And can I have some?

Yeah, clearly Obama tried very hard to label himself as a Black, Muslim, Elitist, Homie, Athiest, Anti-Israel, Racist against Whites, Baby-eating candidate ..

 

[JayDubya]

Here's a relatively good lie detector test.

Have someone watch the Democratic National Convention of 2008 and ask them if it was a naked display of identity politics. If they say no, you have a positive result.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052602909_pf.html

Once Considered Unthinkable, U.S. Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look

Hopefully this doesn't take place.

 

[mckmas8808]

Nice article over at Reason:

I don't really think Mr. Kopel thinks it's hard to envision a supporter of the Constitution voting to approve her. Race card trumps Constitution card.

Sounds like a stupid conclusion to me.

 

[JayDubya]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052602909_pf.html

Once Considered Unthinkable, U.S. Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look

Hopefully this doesn't take place.

Oh good, we're finally abolishing the IRS and getting a NRST?

Wait a seco...

 

[Particle Physicist]

Here's a relatively good lie detector test.

Have someone watch the Democratic National Convention of 2008 and ask them if it was a naked display of identity politics. If they say no, you have a positive result.

I didn't watch the whole thing, but the DNC is not really indicative of how Obama ran his campaign.

 

[eznark]

Sounds like a stupid conclusion to me.

Really? Pretty much every article dealing with her nomination contains some form of "despite constitutional concerns GOP will have difficulty attacking the first Latino nominee"

 

[mckmas8808]

TPMDC Morning Roundup
By Eric Kleefeld - May 27, 2009, 8:59AM

Army Chief: U.S. Troops Could Be In Iraq After 2012
Gen. George Casey, Army chief of staff, told reporters yesterday that American troops could be in Iraq after 2012, despite a signed agreement that American forces would leave after that point. Casey described what he called "the reality scenario," which is that "we're going to have 10 Army and Marine units deployed for a decade in Iraq and Afghanistan."
​

If Obama allows this to happen, then he can kiss my GOT DAMN ASS! Fuck 10 more years of fighting.

Now if we were there honestly just straight training Iraqi and Aghani troops with a super small footprint (say 5,000 troops total) then I wouldn't be TOO pissed.

 

[mAcOdIn]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052602909_pf.html

Once Considered Unthinkable, U.S. Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look

Hopefully this doesn't take place.

It's gotta happen, either national sales tax or higher income taxes on everyone because Lord knows cutting spending won't do.


Oh well, look at it this way, with our increased debt, carbon shenanigans and either a higher income tax, national sales tax or both we'll finally see just how truly weak our credit based economy really is. Can't wait to see how negatively that'll effect the economy.

Or we could cut spending, pay off our debts and then with all that extra billions coming in to us instead of going abroad we could start doing all the things the left wants so badly without such severe ramifications but that would take determination, responsibility, willpower, and most importantly leadership, something Americans including our politicians lack.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

If Obama allows this to happen, then he can kiss my GOT DAMN ASS! Fuck 10 more years of fighting.

Now if we were there honestly just straight training Iraqi and Aghani troops with a super small footprint (say 5,000 troops total) then I wouldn't be TOO pissed.

This is what many said all along. We won't be out by 2011. It simply isn't feasible. Obama may have desired in the beginning to accomplish this but once he received the daily intelligence briefs and spoke to his advisers, he realized that importance of having soldiers there.

 

[ZeoVGM]

After reading up on Sotomayor, I almost feel embarrassed for republicans. Or watching Glenn Beck flat out call her racist while completely and purposely not mentioning the context of her 7-year-old quote.

All they're doing is hurting themselves by trying to slander someone, when the facts of the matter are only a Google away.

 

[syllogism]

Really, at this point the Constitution card is diluted to the point the race card really does trump the Constitution card as the latter is utterly meaningless in most contexts

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

It's gotta happen, either national sales tax or higher income taxes on everyone because Lord knows cutting spending won't do.


Oh well, look at it this way, with our increased debt, carbon shenanigans and either a higher income tax, national sales tax or both we'll finally see just how truly weak our credit based economy really is. Can't wait to see how negatively that'll effect the economy.

Or we could cut spending, pay off our debts and then with all that extra billions coming in to us instead of going abroad we could start doing all the things the left wants so badly without such severe ramifications but that would take determination, responsibility and willpower, something Americans including our politicians lack.

Heh. Remember the promise of Obama not to raise taxes on the poor or middle class? If this happens, consider that promise null and void. Ofcourse, many on the left will try and say Obama didn't rull out a national tax but rather raising taxes on these groups.

 

[eznark]

Heh. Remember the promise of Obama not to raise taxes on the poor or middle class? If this happens, consider that promise null and void. Ofcourse, many on the left will try and say Obama didn't rull out a national tax but rather raising taxes on these groups.

As though campaign promises mean anything.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

As though campaign promises mean anything.

Unfortunately too often they don't.

 

[mAcOdIn]

Heh. Remember the promise of Obama not to raise taxes on the poor or middle class? If this happens, consider that promise null and void. Ofcourse, many on the left will try and say Obama didn't rull out a national tax but rather raising taxes on these groups.

Honestly I hope he was lying about that. The only thing more irresponsible than the spending he's doing is doing that spending and not paying for it. Maybe it's time Americans felt a little pain for allowing their leaders for the last 60 years to be so idiotic with the purse strings.

Anyways, about Obama, he's "pragmatic," he's allowed to change his mind, it wouldn't be a lie, it'd be an informed decision made with information he didn't previously have. Obama wouldn't lie, that's shit other politicians do.

Anyways, I bet nothing comes from this for at least the first term, so I guess we'll see about his next.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

Honestly I hope he was lying about that. The only thing more irresponsible than the spending he's doing is doing that spending and not paying for it. Maybe it's time Americans felt a little pain for allowing their leaders for the last 60 years to be so idiotic with the purse strings.

Anyways, about Obama, he's Pragmatic, he's allowed to change his mind, it wouldn't be a lie, it'd be an informed decision made with information he didn't previously have. Obama wouldn't lie, that's shit other politicians do.

Anyways, I bet nothing comes from this for at least the first term, so I guess we'll see about his next.

The problem is he knew that spending like a drunken sailor (like his predecessor) would require American's to pay and pay big. Therefore he must have known beforehand that he would have to raise taxes in some form.

 

[ZeoVGM]

Honestly I hope he was lying about that. The only thing more irresponsible than the spending he's doing is doing that spending and not paying for it. Maybe it's time Americans felt a little pain for allowing their leaders for the last 60 years to be so idiotic with the purse strings.

Anyways, about Obama, he's "pragmatic," he's allowed to change his mind, it wouldn't be a lie, it'd be an informed decision made with information he didn't previously have. Obama wouldn't lie, that's shit other politicians do.

Anyways, I bet nothing comes from this for at least the first term, so I guess we'll see about his next.

Listen, I like the guy too, but christ. :lol

 

[Learn2read]

It's pretty amazing how openly the right is playing the race/gender card against Sotomayor, I really didn't think they'd go into the gutter this quick.

 

[mckmas8808]

Or we could cut spending, pay off our debts and then with all that extra billions coming in to us instead of going abroad we could start doing all the things the left wants so badly without such severe ramifications but that would take determination, responsibility, willpower, and most importantly leadership, something Americans including our politicians lack.

Nobody wants to REALLY cut spending. That will kill plenty of jobs and people will lose their benefits that they are use to.

 

[eznark]

Nobody wants to REALLY cut spending. That will kill plenty of jobs and people will lose their benefits that they are use to.

Raises hand

 

[mckmas8808]

This is what many said all along. We won't be out by 2011. It simply isn't feasible. Obama may have desired in the beginning to accomplish this but once he received the daily intelligence briefs and spoke to his advisers, he realized that importance of having soldiers there.

First of all it's not 2012 yet, and we still might be out completely by then (that being Iraq). Obama is his boss. And what he says goes.

 

[eznark]

First of all it's not 2012 yet, and we still might be out completely by then (that being Iraq). Obama is his boss. And what he says goes.

Yeah, just like Gitmo, closing cause the Boss said so! Oh...

 

[mckmas8808]

Heh. Remember the promise of Obama not to raise taxes on the poor or middle class? If this happens, consider that promise null and void. Ofcourse, many on the left will try and say Obama didn't rull out a national tax but rather raising taxes on these groups.

Some politicans don't even believe it will be viable for this "national tax" to be done. Why are you jumping to conclusions before anything is done.

They (the congress) are looking at different ways to pay for the budget.

 

[gcubed]

It's gotta happen, either national sales tax or higher income taxes on everyone because Lord knows cutting spending won't do.


Oh well, look at it this way, with our increased debt, carbon shenanigans and either a higher income tax, national sales tax or both we'll finally see just how truly weak our credit based economy really is. Can't wait to see how negatively that'll effect the economy.

Or we could cut spending, pay off our debts and then with all that extra billions coming in to us instead of going abroad we could start doing all the things the left wants so badly without such severe ramifications but that would take determination, responsibility, willpower, and most importantly leadership, something Americans including our politicians lack.

which would take someone with courage, and the abililty to only want to be president for 4 years. You're talking a major political change to get that kind of stuff, term limits on all DC politicians, etc. It would take a president who is happy with career suicide, and the candidate would also have to lie through his teeth to get elected, then just start tearing through shit. Term limits and maybe a 6 year single term for a President to allow for dirty work to get done ? (of course the 6 year term would have to have other things around it to make it feasible). Radical changes require... radical changes

 

[mckmas8808]

Yeah, just like Gitmo, closing cause the Boss said so! Oh...

So is Gitmo not closing? I didn't get the memo that we are now not closing Gitmo. Where did you get this new information from?

You have a link?

 

[ZeoVGM]

Yeah, just like Gitmo, closing cause the Boss said so! Oh...

Uh, since when was Gitmo not closing?

 

[eznark]

So is Gitmo not closing? I didn't get the memo that we are now not closing Gitmo. Where did you get this new information from?

You have a link?

If what he says goes, why the resistance? Gitmo isn't closed yet. Fact is the President doesn't have unilateral authority so saying "Obama is the boss so he gets his way" is nonsense.

edit: I meant to say "closed cause the boss said so" in the original comment. Instead he had to couch it as "it'll close eventually" due to political pressure (and lack of a plan).

 

[mAcOdIn]

The problem is he knew that spending like a drunken sailor (like his predecessor) would require American's to pay and pay big. Therefore he must have known beforehand that he would have to raise taxes in some form.

Well but of course but even giving our situation before the election Bush should have either raised taxes, cut spending or a mixture of both and both candidates should have ran on that as well. Neither President Bush nor McCain or Obama really cared about the deficit and the people don't care about it enough to make them care. It is our fault. A candidate who campaigned on cutting services and possibly raising taxes during a recession to pay off the deficit so we could use that huge chunk instead of it going towards interest just wouldn't get elected at all. So they're not going to bother campaigning on it. Then once they're in they're in the unenviable position of providing the stars that they promised during their campaign and banking that it wont collapse under their watch or pulling a 180 and attacking the deficit instead of doing all the stuff promised. At that point they're bad guys either way because if they do the right thing they're liars and if they fulfill their campaign promises they're inept. And it's all our fault. We as a country will not give anything up and still demand more services and at the same time don't want to pay, we set the debate for what candidates run on. We made the debate short term economic growth, ratcheting down the hostility in foreign policy and I guess health care, we didn't care or press the actual health of the country at all.

In Obama's defense I don't think he's a liar but inept. I think he'll try and do as much stuff as promised while hoping the ship sinks under someone else's watch, which was exactly what he was voted in to do.

America needs a Pericles, someone who can come in and tell us what we need and why we need it and make it happen, Obama's not it, maybe next election.

Listen, I like the guy too, but christ. :lol

That was sarcasm.

 

[mckmas8808]

If what he says goes, why the resistance? Gitmo isn't closed yet. Fact is the President doesn't have unilateral authority so saying "Obama is the boss so he gets his way" is nonsense.

I'm talking about having troops in Iraq. If he wants them out, then they will be out.
And Obama said to give him a year on closing Gitmo. Not 4 months.

 

[GaimeGuy]

is it just me or have the courts become politicized and polarized along party lines/ideologies recently?

Just what we need: Polarization in the justice system

 

[mckmas8808]

Well but of course but even giving our situation before the election Bush should have either raised taxes, cut spending or a mixture of both and both candidates should have ran on that as well. Neither President Bush nor McCain or Obama really cared about the deficit and the people don't care about it enough to make them care. It is our fault. A candidate who campaigned on cutting services and possibly raising taxes during a recession to pay off the deficit so we could use that huge chunk instead of it going towards interest just wouldn't get elected at all. So they're not going to bother campaigning on it. Then once they're in they're in the unenviable position of providing the stars that they promised during their campaign and banking that it wont collapse under their watch or pulling a 180 and attacking the deficit instead of doing all the stuff promised. At that point they're bad guys either way because if they do the right thing they're liars and if they fulfill their campaign promises they're inept. And it's all our fault. We as a country will not give anything up and still demand more services and at the same time don't want to pay, we set the debate for what candidates run on. We made the debate short term economic growth, ratcheting down the hostility in foreign policy and I guess health care, we didn't care or press the actual health of the country at all.

In Obama's defense I don't think he's a liar but inept. I think he'll try and do as much stuff as promised while hoping the ship sinks under someone else's watch, which was exactly what he was voted in to do.

America needs a Pericles, someone who can come in and tell us what we need and why we need it and make it happen, Obama's not it, maybe next election.

.

Cutting spending during a great recession is one of the worse things you can do.

 

[ZeoVGM]

Uh, didn't Obama always say give him a year on Gitmo?

Relax.

 

[eznark]

Uh, didn't Obama always say give him a year on Gitmo?

Relax.

That's my point. We all agree that he wants to close Gitmo. For a number of reasons he wasn't able to simply act on his desire and make it so. Same goes for Iraq. Obama may really really want to get the troops out, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will be able to make it happen.

As he has shown with DADT, politics>all.

 

[ZeoVGM]

That's my point. We all agree that he wants to close Gitmo. For a number of reasons he wasn't able to simply act on his desire and make it so. Same goes for Iraq. Obama may really really want to get the troops out, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will be able to make it happen.

... No kidding? He never said every troop would be leaving and always said it would take a little while.

It's like you're trying to make a point, but you're just stating things everyone knows.

 

[eznark]

... No kidding? He never said every troop would be leaving and always said it would take a little while.

It's like you're trying to make a point, but you're just stating things everyone knows.

Apparently everyone except mckmas, which is who I was replying to.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

It's gotta happen, either national sales tax or higher income taxes on everyone because Lord knows cutting spending won't do.


Oh well, look at it this way, with our increased debt, carbon shenanigans and either a higher income tax, national sales tax or both we'll finally see just how truly weak our credit based economy really is. Can't wait to see how negatively that'll effect the economy.

Or we could cut spending, pay off our debts and then with all that extra billions coming in to us instead of going abroad we could start doing all the things the left wants so badly without such severe ramifications but that would take determination, responsibility, willpower, and most importantly leadership, something Americans including our politicians lack.

National sales tax is still regressive. It'll effect the poor since they consume more than the rich and the price for everything will increase. Maybe the rate can be dropped to zero for such things as food, education, and healthcare, like in some european countries.

 

[mAcOdIn]

Cutting spending during a great recession is one of the worse things you can do.

Depends on what you're trying to preserve. If you're trying to preserve a lifestyle then yes, bad idea, if you're trying to maintain the health of the governments balance book then not really.

There's lots of things to consider as well like would this have really been a "great recession?" Has it actually been avoided? Would saving the broken system be preferable long term as opposed to starting a new better system when the dust settled? Are we to spend our way out of every recession out of fear it will lead to a depression?

My main thing is however, if you've always ran a balanced budget or even a small surplus then if you do run into a calamity so great you need to borrow for a few years it won't be nearly as painful and could quickly be paid pack, we're not in such a position.

 

[Deku]

Heh. Remember the promise of Obama not to raise taxes on the poor or middle class? If this happens, consider that promise null and void. Ofcourse, many on the left will try and say Obama didn't rull out a national tax but rather raising taxes on these groups.

Alternatively, Obama could raise the taxes on the wealthiest 5% another 20 points to Nixon era levels.

Take your pick.
Actually, I like this 50% marginal tax rate idea on the very wealthy. They really should do that instead of a national sales tax that punishes the poor for spending what little they have.

 

[PantherLotus]

Lest We Forget

President George H.W. Bush, upon announcing his nomination of Clarence Thomas: "He is a delightful and warm, intelligent person who has great empathy and a wonderful sense of humor."

--David Kurtz

:lol

NO, NOT EMPATHY!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

[PantherLotus]

Scraping The Bottom of Barrel

So far the criticisms of Sonia Sotomayor are much more revealing about her conservative critics than they are about her. I flagged Sen. Inhofe's statement yesterday. Here are some new morsels from the right:

National Review Online's Mark Krikorian: "Putting the emphasis on the final syllable of Sotomayor is unnatural in English... and insisting on an unnatural pronunciation is something we shouldn't be giving in to."

Weekly Standard's Michael Goldfarb: "Obama seems to have the views of a 21-year-old Hispanic girl -- that is, only by having a black president, an Hispanic justice, a female secretary of State, and Bozo the Clown as vice president will the United States become a true 'vanguard of societal ideas and changes.'"

Meanwhile, MSNBC's Monica Novotny just flayed Curt Levey, one of the anti-Sotomayor talking heads a few minutes ago (video shortly). Levey foundered around until he grasped ahold of the Jeffrey Rosen TNR piece on Sotomayor that, curiously, Rosen hasn't been anywhere on TV to defend.

--David Kurtz​

 

[mckmas8808]

... No kidding? He never said every troop would be leaving and always said it would take a little while.

It's like you're trying to make a point, but you're just stating things everyone knows.

Actually................I think they did say that.