Political Roundtable Part XIII

[sfam]

The issue with Obama's "job growth" is that it had a lot to do with people getting two, part time, low paying jobs rather than one good job. The metrics showed that as job growth when, in fact, individual earnings were flat or down.

It is very well possible that the "job growth" of the past two months exhibits the same pattern, in which case they would be just as "phony" as the Obama numbers. I'd like more information.

There is literally NO change in the job growth trends. Nothing has changed at all with the Bureau of Labor Statistics' numbers at all. There was no "there" there, which spicey didn't even bother to deny.

[doclinkin]

Every time "fake news" is uttered I feel as if the mental capacity of all Americans is diminished by a tiny percentage.

And every time fake news is re-posted it actually does dilute our collective intelligence.


I love digging into the history of any particular wikipedia page to see folks arguing over the minutia of what does and does not deserve to be worthy of publication. Then researching the folks who purport to authority on that topic. But yeah I might be one of those crazed individuals.

[dckingsfan]

Interesting that the Kremlin tried to influence the Reagan election (source: Atlantic). He won 49 out of 50 states.

This time it may have had some affect on the election (or may not) but it has been incredibly disruptive.

My guess is that they keep trying now.

[sfam]

This is all bluster by North Korea. There is no scenario whereby they can use nukes first and still manage to survive when the dust settles. They know it. We know it. They're not going to make a first strike against South Korea, Japan or America. It would be suicide.

Their nuclear program is a deterrence, nothing more. They want to appear crazy enough in their willingness to use them that we will be reluctant to wage a conventional war against them. Indeed, that actually makes a lot of sense from their perspective. I can hardly blame them.

It would be great if North Korea acted in rational interests of the state. I don't think most agree they act that way. There is lots they would do different, including not annoying China as much as they have.

This is the problem with crazy authoritarian dictators. They don't always act rationally. That kid has had crazy power struggles given the number of generals and family members he's assassinated. As Kim Jong-un ramps up the tensions, the possibility for actual violence and warfare increases.

Its a good thing we have a steady hand at the tiller though. Deliberate approach with our allies is needed here. If we had a leader that spouted off ridiculous threats to petty dictators, they have to respond in a one-up manner, so that would most likely end poorly.

[sfam]

Every time "fake news" is uttered I feel as if the mental capacity of all Americans is diminished by a tiny percentage.

I think that's the plan. If the American people no longer believes anything they disagree with, the chance for accountability diminish.

[Induveca]

Every time "fake news" is uttered I feel as if the mental capacity of all Americans is diminished by a tiny percentage.

And every time fake news is re-posted it actually does dilute our collective intelligence.


I love digging into the history of any particular wikipedia page to see folks arguing over the minutia of what does and does not deserve to be worthy of publication. Then researching the folks who purport to authority on that topic. But yeah I might be one of those crazed individuals.

You've tolerated me for 14-15 years so you are certainly crazed.

[Induveca]

Every time "fake news" is uttered I feel as if the mental capacity of all Americans is diminished by a tiny percentage.

I think that's the plan. If the American people no longer believes anything they disagree with, the chance for accountability diminish.

Plus 1 for that sir!

[Wizardspride]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/federal-judges-find-texas-gerrymandered-maps-on-racial-lines/ar-AAo8JB0?li=BBnb7Kz

Federal judges find Texas gerrymandered maps on racial lines

AUSTIN, Texas — Federal judges found more problems in Texas' voting rights laws, ruling that Republicans racially gerrymandered some congressional districts to weaken the growing electoral power of minorities, who former President Barack Obama set out to protect at the ballot box before leaving office.

The ruling late Friday by a three-judge panel in San Antonio gave Democrats hope of new, more favorably drawn maps that could turnover more seats in Congress in 2018. But the judges in their 2-1 decision didn't propose an immediate fix, and Texas could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Republicans hold two of three congressional districts ruled newly invalid and were found to have been partly drawn with discriminatory intent. The GOP-controlled Texas Legislature approved the maps in 2011, the same year then-Gov. Rick Perry signed a voter ID law that ranks among the toughest in the U.S. Courts have since weakened that law, too.

Judges noted the "strong racial tension and heated debate about Latinos, Spanish-speaking people, undocumented immigrants and sanctuary cities" that served as the backdrop in the Legislature to Texas adopting the maps and the voter ID law. Those tensions are flaring again over President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration, and Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is also demanding tough crackdowns on so-called sanctuary cities.

"The record indicates not just a hostility toward Democrat districts, but a hostility to minority districts, and a willingness to use race for partisan advantage," U.S. District Judges Xavier Rodriguez and Orlando Garcia wrote in their opinion.

[Induveca]

Large Turkish riots in Rotterdam yesterday. 3 days before their election.

Crazy. However I agree with Rutte's decision to not allow Erdogan to hold political rallies in their country, as they didn't want Turkish infighting to spread into the Netherlands Turkish residents.

This really has zero to do with Islam, but the PVV will likely win the election considering they were already a bit ahead. Hundreds of Turkish protestors chanting "Fascists" and "Nazis" won't go over very well in the homeland of Anne Frank.

Prepare to see Geert Wilders as the new Dutch PM.

[Wizardspride]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-ryan-number-who-will-lose-coverage-up-to-people

Ryan: Number Who Will Lose Health Coverage Under Repeal Is 'Up To People'

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said on Sunday that he can't say how many people will lose health coverage under the Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as it's "up to people" to acquire coverage "if they want it."

"The one thing I'm certain will happen is CBO will say, well, gosh, not as many people will get coverage. You know why? Because this isn't a government mandate," Ryan told ABC's John Dickerson. "You get it if you want it. That's freedom."

"How many people are going to lose coverage?" Dickerson asked.

"I can't answer that question. It's up to people," Ryan said. "People are going to do what they want to do with their lives."

[sfam]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-ryan-number-who-will-lose-coverage-up-to-people

Ryan: Number Who Will Lose Health Coverage Under Repeal Is 'Up To People'

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said on Sunday that he can't say how many people will lose health coverage under the Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as it's "up to people" to acquire coverage "if they want it."

"The one thing I'm certain will happen is CBO will say, well, gosh, not as many people will get coverage. You know why? Because this isn't a government mandate," Ryan told ABC's John Dickerson. "You get it if you want it. That's freedom."

"How many people are going to lose coverage?" Dickerson asked.

"I can't answer that question. It's up to people," Ryan said. "People are going to do what they want to do with their lives."

You have choices! If you're poor or sick,

- you can get no health insurance and go back to using the emergency room,
- you can afford really horrific health insurance
- you can get good health insurance, but you no longer will be able to afford it.

That's called freedom!

[Induveca]

Sorry my last ACA offer was 1300/month with a 7k deductible. That's not horrific?

My old Aetna plan pre-ACA covered everything for 200 a month, and took care of a very expensive surgery. I paid zero out of pocket.

Happy to see the ACA die before 1500 dollar premiums and 20k deductibles (15k for families is already not uncommon).

[Wizardspride]

Sorry my last ACA offer was 1300/month with a 7k deductible. That's not horrific?

My old Aetna plan pre-ACA covered everything for 200 a month, and took care of a very expensive surgery. I paid zero out of pocket.

Happy to see the ACA die before 1500 dollar premiums and 20k deductibles (15k for families is already not uncommon).

I have a close friend who has lupus.

The ACA has been a godsend for her...so personally, I don't find it horrific.

Now with that being said, I'm not saying it doesn't have its problems.

I just don't think going back to the status quo-which is basically what the GOP is advocating-is any better.

[penbeast0]

This is all bluster by North Korea. There is no scenario whereby they can use nukes first and still manage to survive when the dust settles. They know it. We know it. They're not going to make a first strike against South Korea, Japan or America. It would be suicide.

Their nuclear program is a deterrence, nothing more. They want to appear crazy enough in their willingness to use them that we will be reluctant to wage a conventional war against them. Indeed, that actually makes a lot of sense from their perspective. I can hardly blame them.

It would be great if North Korea acted in rational interests of the state. I don't think most agree they act that way. There is lots they would do different, including not annoying China as much as they have.

This is the problem with crazy authoritarian dictators. They don't always act rationally. That kid has had crazy power struggles given the number of generals and family members he's assassinated. As Kim Jong-un ramps up the tensions, the possibility for actual violence and warfare increases.

Its a good thing we have a steady hand at the tiller though. Deliberate approach with our allies is needed here. If we had a leader that spouted off ridiculous threats to petty dictators, they have to respond in a one-up manner, so that would most likely end poorly.

"Vercotti: ...I had to see... Doug.

2nd Interviewer: Doug?

Vercotti: Doug (takes a drink) Well, I was terrified. Everyone was terrified of Doug. I've seen grown men pull their own heads off rather than see Doug. Even Dinsdale was frightened of Doug.

2nd Interviewer: What did he do?

Vercotti: He used... sarcasm. He knew all the tricks, dramatic irony, metaphor, pathos, puns, parody, litotes and... satire. He was vicious."

[dckingsfan]

Well, that's just it. They shouldn't repeal the ACA unless they have something better.

[dckingsfan]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-ryan-number-who-will-lose-coverage-up-to-people

Ryan: Number Who Will Lose Health Coverage Under Repeal Is 'Up To People'

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said on Sunday that he can't say how many people will lose health coverage under the Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as it's "up to people" to acquire coverage "if they want it."

"The one thing I'm certain will happen is CBO will say, well, gosh, not as many people will get coverage. You know why? Because this isn't a government mandate," Ryan told ABC's John Dickerson. "You get it if you want it. That's freedom."

"How many people are going to lose coverage?" Dickerson asked.

"I can't answer that question. It's up to people," Ryan said. "People are going to do what they want to do with their lives."

You have choices! If you're poor or sick,

- you can get no health insurance and go back to using the emergency room,
- you can afford really horrific health insurance
- you can get good health insurance, but you no longer will be able to afford it.

That's called freedom!

Okay, I think that this isn't looking at what Ryan is trying to address... this is more of a "gotcha" thing.

Right now many choose not to become insured because they know that when the get sick they can then get insurance. Preexisting condition coverage was a double-edge sword. I think it was a good thing but... Ryan has actually been one of the grown-ups in the room. He knows we have a large problem.

https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-237SP

The study projected that the spending-revenue imbalance will put “the federal government on an unsustainable long-term fiscal path.” The primary causes are growing spending on entitlements -- Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, largely due to the population’s aging -- and ever-higher interest on the national debt. Economic effects of expanding the nation’s balance sheet? Pressure on the rest of the federal budget. Ability to respond to unforeseen events. Increases the likelihood of another financial crisis.

These are things the Ds should have taken care of in 2009-2010.

The problem I have with the Rs plan - it doesn't fix the elephant in the room.

Did you see any D in congress/senate or that ran for president advocating a fix?

No, of course not. But then we still blast Ryan. Is it any wonder our politicians don't want to fix the problems.

[dckingsfan]

I think I am beginning to like Tillerson... never thought I would say that.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/11/us/politics/rex-tillerson-trump-white-house.html?_r=0

[Wizardspride]

White Nationalist Steve King

Read on Twitter

[dckingsfan]

And then Pelosi has the gall to take about sustainable budgets

http://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/3917/

[DCZards]

This is why Trump is way smarter than most of you believe him to be.

When Trump alleged that he was being "wiretapped", it completely changed the dynamics of the issue. Until then, Trump was constantly on the defensive. Obama sympathizers in the Deep State provided vague "leaks" to sympathetic members of the media, who then exaggerated claims to make it look like Trump and Putin worked together to "hack the election". The media fed on this until it built into a narrative, one that was completely unsupported by any facts.

But then Trump turned the tables.

By accusing the Deep State of wiretapping, all the leakers and their media sympathizers were suddenly put on the defensive. This type of surveillance of a candidate is a really big deal if it took place. All of a sudden, all those Deep State leakers clammed up, or privately let the media know that they don't actually have any real evidence. In a few short days, the whole narrative collapsed. Now all that there is left to investigate is whether or not members of the intelligence community performed illegal surveillance. Trump is going to come out as the winner... again.

Smart? I’m sure there are many people who consider Trump--or at least some of what he does--smart. But I’m also sure there are many more who consider him dishonest, insecure and childish. Later this week, after Trump and his administration have failed to prove there’s any truth whatsoever to DT’s scurrilous claim that Obama ordered the Trump Tower wiretapped, #45 will look even more foolish.

Probably worse...I'm guessing that the Liar-in-Chief's credibility with the international community has been in a free fall.