Current or modern politics in the United States

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

The question is logically unsound because it is based on a false premise.

When I listen to this, I'm sure that Trump isn't a total idiot.
In comparison, Bush used arguments of an idiot.

Donald Trump attacks George W. Bush on 9/11, Iraq
Donald Trump, Jeb Bush get heated over Syria, national security

Be careful, don't think that I defend all what Trump thinks, but on this point, I fully agree with him.

Today the world still pays all the craps of Bush Jr administration.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

When I listen to this, I'm sure that Trump isn't a total idiot.

Well . . . that makes one of us.

Originally Posted by xyzde69

You just prove how a Federal government can be crap.
Following unfair rules of lazy politicians instead to acting.

This wasn't "lazy" -- this was a rational choice. The Bundy and their crowd were heavily armed, hoping for a shoot out. Malheur is genuinely middle-of-nowhere, with a bitterly cold winter.

The Obama preference for "let them get bored and cold" wasn't a bad choice, but it became a problem for Oregon. You can see the difficulty, when the Feds put the Bundys on trial in Oregon, the jury actually found them "not guilty" -- an astonishing verdict.

Originally Posted by xyzde69

And what does Trump think about Oregon's rebels?

He hasn't spoken about them specifically, but he has adocated policies that they like. Although he wouldn't recognize the term, his public lands policies are compatible with the "Sagebrush Rebellion" people's aims-- the Bundys are just one part of a larger Western move to claim Federal lands.

[Arturo2nd]

It is a very sad thing that we just completed our primary elections in California. As expected, the Democrats remain firmly in control. I have had the unfortunate experience of delving into the backgrounds and political careers of many candidates. I find myself gagging.

We have 39.5 million people in California and these are the best you can come up with? Really. seriously? Gavin Newsom for governor and 6 more years of 84 year old Dianne Feistein, surely you jest.

Mind you the Republicans are even worse.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by Brian249x

It is a very sad thing that we just completed our primary elections in California. As expected, the Democrats remain firmly in control. I have had the unfortunate experience of delving into the backgrounds and political careers of many candidates. I find myself gagging.

I dunno. There are people who seem first rate.

Hans Keirstead -- who's still in a very tight primary battle with Harley Rouda-- seems like th a person I'd want to see in Congress:

Hans S. Keirstead, Ph.D. is Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Professor of Neurological Surgery at Reeve–Irvine Research Center, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, School of Medicine, University of California at Irvine. He is also Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at California Stem Cell.

An internationally known stem cell expert, Hans has pioneered a number of efforts in the field. He is Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine, where he led his team of researchers to successfully develop a human embryonic stem cell derived treatment for paralyzed rats. This treatment, sponsored by Geron Corporation, was approved by the FDA for clinical trials in humans with acute spinal injuries and is currently under way. This marks the first human embryonic stem cell trial ever approved in the U.S. Hans also developed developed another therapy, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, that has successfully met primary endpoints in Phase II clinical trials and, more recently, he made headlines for creating a 3D retina derived from hESCs for the treatment of retinal diseases.

The Canadian-born neuroscientist earned his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. His Ph.D. thesis concerned his invention of a novel method for regenerating damaged spinal cords, and formed the basis of several worldwide patents as well as the formation of a company in 1999. This work constituted the first demonstration of functional regeneration of the injured adult spinal cord, and for his achievements he received the Cameron Award for the best Ph.D. thesis in Canada.

. . . that's someone who brings some IQ and accomplishment to the table.

[Arturo2nd]

Originally Posted by deepsepia

I dunno. There are people who seem first rate.

Hans Keirstead -- who's still in a very tight primary battle with Harley Rouda-- seems like th a person I'd want to see in Congress:



. . . that's someone who brings some IQ and accomplishment to the table.

They aren't all bad, or stupid but Gavin Newsom in particular makes me gag because of his character and morals. But it really frosts me that our choice for as an important as senator boils down to Feinstein and De Leon. Actually, he deserves a lot of credit for taking on an entrenched incumbent who can spend $5 million of her personal fortune to get reelected. My opinion of her starts at egotistical c*nt and goes from there. In all honesty I thought she was pretty good, but have had occasion to engage with her then do some research.

She is not all bad, by the way. She is doing everything she can to stem the tide of court packing and expose Trump's repeated attempts to obstruct Mueller's investigation. I really thought it was a non-issue until Trump started going to great lengths to discredit and cover up.

Nationwide we have a surplus of geriatric egotists who ought to retire for the good of the country.

[BustyWomenLovr]

"Nationwide we have a surplus of geriatric egotists who ought to retire for the good of the country."
No matter what your leanings - AMEN !!

[Arturo2nd]

Originally Posted by BustyEscortLovr

"Nationwide we have a surplus of geriatric egotists who ought to retire for the good of the country."
No matter what your leanings - AMEN !!

My leanings depend on the issue, but are often left. I have personally asked Senator Feinstein and Representative Nancy Pelosi to retire. They are both to be condemned for failing to groom and empower successors. This soon to be septuagenarian firmly believes that we need new, younger blood running things.

I've been ranting today. Here's the complaint I filed with the FBI.

Democrats out number Republicans among registered voters in Kentucky 53.4% to 38.8%. How can it be that the governor, both U.S. senators, 5 of 6 representatives, 27 of 38 state senators, 63% of assemblyman are Republicans? Democrats out number Republicans among registered voters in Louisiana 46.8% to 27.7%. How can it be that both U.S. senators, 5 of 6 representatives, 25 of 39 state senators, and 63% of assemblyman are Republicans? Democrats out number Republicans among registered voters in North Carolina 41.7% to 30.4%. How can it be that both U.S. senators, 10 of 13 representatives, 35 of 50 state senators, and 68% of assemblyman are Republicans? Democrats out number Republicans among registered voters in West Virginia 49.4% to 28.9%. How can it be that the governor, all 3 representatives, 22 of 34 state senators, and 64% of state legislators are Republicans? All other states have elected officials elected in proportion to their voter registrations. Can we be sure that election fraud is not depriving the voters of these states with true representation and illegally transferring political power to the minority party in the United States?

I also thanked them for their ongoing probes into the California legislature. They seem to be indicting about 3 of our bums a year.

[Arturo2nd]

ICE just raided a meat packing facility in Salem, Ohio near Youngstown and detained 145 people mainly from Guatemala believed to be working in this country illegally. Unemployment in Youngstown is listed at 5.1% as opposed to the statewide rate of 4.3% and the national rate of 3.8%. These meat packing jobs pay between $10 to $14 per hour.

However, a quick search of job boards in the local area shows over 4,800 open positions. Salem itself is a town of about 12,300 at the center of a statistical region of about 108,000. Local news media report that many jobs go unfilled due to lack of skilled applicants. Many skilled and unskilled jobs go unfilled in Ohio because so many local residents can't pass a drug test and employers dare not place addicts in jobs where inattentiveness can cause serious injury or even death.

The employer targeted in today's raid received an award a few years back for being an outstanding partner against unlawful hiring. I am pretty sure that the company would rather not be hiring Guatemalans with dubious paperwork. I do know that $13 per hour, i.e., $28,000 a year is a low wage for dirty. disgusting and dangerous work like killing and dismembering pigs and cows. The more skilled manufacturing jobs that that are going unfilled pay an average entry-level wage of $23.19 per hour. The 100+ nursery workers busted a couple of weeks ago would be paid at minimum wage levels based on my experience reconciling payrolls in that industry.

Despite being a Californian and appalled by the recent scenes from the border, I have argued repeatedly that sanctuary cities and failure to cooperate stances are flat out wrong. I do understand that our laws must be respected. But throwing people out of the country doing nasty low wage jobs when we are at full employment seems really stupid to me. There comes a point where you are shooting yourself in the head rather than the foot.

[Arturo2nd]

After 9/11, supposedly liberal icon, Senator Dianne Feinstein helped lead the charge to pass the Patriot Act. In the intervening years, she has been on board with a whole raft of measures further restricting the traditional American freedoms.

This is from a June 23,2018 Guardian article

The fact that during the 10 years he was in office, the US president, Barack Obama, prosecuted more whistleblowers than all the presidents in US history combined is an indication of the increasing threat to journalism.

In 2017 the head of the CIA questioned the first amendment rights which protect free speech, and the US attorney-general threatened that the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, would be prosecuted (for what he was not clear). Both are acts of intimidation designed to silence.

The information is not new. Those of us who live in cities and look around can see the many surveillance cameras. We read of China's use of AI to monitor and control its citizens. Here is an article showing how far along they are.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a8279531.html

But we have the "red liight" cameras, too. Edward Snowden alerted us to the reach of NSA surveillance. Those programs have not ceased despite the press releases. In fact, they have increased. What is going on when police state measures are being put in place all over the world no matter what the advertised philosophies of political parties and the legal form of government?

[bowlinggreen]

^ Somebody is making a lot of money off of those cameras and all the other surveillance equipment.

And if you think there is one "trusted" guard watching those cameras on a monitor, you are living in the 80s. There are apps now that let anyone with clearance to the system log into any camera they want and watch real-time on their phone or tablet. If you work in a building with cameras you may be watched by any authorized curious person, at any time, and without your knowing it.

I have also heard stories of police departments asking business owners to let them piggyback into their systems to monitor streets, now that technology allows it. How long, I wonder, will this be "voluntary"?