The Politics Thread - please direct all related posts here..

[HarthorneWingo]

Im watching my local news. They are talking about putting a rule forward that will allow collages to reject applicants that seem to be disturbed. It will go off of looks and behavior. A doctor will do a evaluation and if the applicant looks or acts like someone who is disturbed, they will not allow them into the school. This is in reference to the AZ shootings.

And here already, people are making a big fuss about this. Talking about suing for discrimination if this is allowed.

There is no winning with these political crazies. No winning with citizens in our society today. Its such a joke. All the outrage over the situation. People want something to be done. When they start doing something about it, it gets shot down. (bad choice of words but I could not think of another)

It makes me sick honestly. These political and religious crazies just like to argue man. Thats all they do is argue and debate and nothing gets done. Preventative measures are almost impossible in these times.

But how would that work at large state university? Tuition rates are scary now. Wait till they hire all these psychologists to conduct these evaluations. And you'll have to throw background checks in their too, right?

[richardhutnik]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/member/m ... 120?page=1

They forecast 22 million jobs would be created in USA. Instead the USA only created 7 million last decade. Things are seriously wrong and no one knows why. This trend is bigger than any form of partisan mindsets should dwell on. Thing is that the things argued to create jobs and fund financial prosperity, lower taxes and globalization, didn't create sufficient jobs.

Note that the jobs creation EXCLUDES the job losses due to the financial meltdown.

- Rich

By the way, found this article's link off the Drudge Report site.

[HarthorneWingo]

FYI -

President Reagan's chief economic advisor, David Stockman, is a panelist on Bill Maher's HBO show tonight. Mr. Stockman will no doubt be discussing his view of the republicans' economic policy. He's not very fond of it.

[Knicker23]

Keith Olberman fired - glad to see the bleeding heart off the air

[barnett114]

Keith Olberman fired - glad to see the bleeding heart off the air

Damn

[CHARLYMURPHY]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRB4dVk4kK0&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

This is actually very interesting. When i was in Afghanistan we werent really fighting for american freedom as we were fighting more so the guy next to us could go home and see his family. very interesting video on joe rogans take on why were their. And look on how much resources are in the middle east.

[richardhutnik]

Keith Olberman fired - glad to see the bleeding heart off the air

Damn

Not sure why anyone would delight in seeing something like this, with the loss of a job. Last thing I got out of CNN coverage of it was that Comcast took over, and the former head of MSNBC was let go, who likely pushed for Olbermann. End result was the new management wanted changes, so Olbermann is gone.

- Rich

[Knicker23]

Hey Rich, the guy has 30 mill left on his deal that he'll be getting over the next 2 years.. 'loss of a job' ... he ain't a middle class blue collar worker that'll be out on the street collecting unemployment, to say the least... good picture tho

[mugzi]

Keith Olberman fired - glad to see the bleeding heart off the air

One less useful idiot. Good find. Not surprised to see Dicky Hutnik lamenting his loss. Wingo's probably emailing MSNBC threatening to boycott the station. Which would suck for them considering they only have a couple of dozen viewers in the first place. What's their new slogan again? "Lean forward," more like "bend over."

[richardhutnik]

Hey Rich, the guy has 30 mill left on his deal that he'll be getting over the next 2 years.. 'loss of a job' ... he ain't a middle class blue collar worker that'll be out on the street collecting unemployment, to say the least... good picture tho

I would assume that he gets to keep the contract, but never know for sure what is going on. For me, it was more of something in general about some corporate moves resulting in someone being let go. This could of be Colin who used to be with NBC to whomever. However, beyond this, if someone doesn't like what Keith O stands for, and his partisan nature, I can understand why it would be preferred that he be gone.

- Rich

[yaboynyp]

Hey Rich, the guy has 30 mill left on his deal that he'll be getting over the next 2 years.. 'loss of a job' ... he ain't a middle class blue collar worker that'll be out on the street collecting unemployment, to say the least... good picture tho

I would assume that he gets to keep the contract, but never know for sure what is going on. For me, it was more of something in general about some corporate moves resulting in someone being let go. This could of be Colin who used to be with NBC to whomever. However, beyond this, if someone doesn't like what Keith O stands for, and his partisan nature, I can understand why it would be preferred that he be gone.

- Rich

Yeah Rich unfortunately the same people calling Keith partisan are watching Oreilly and Beck everynight.. lol.. The s*** flies on both sides of the partisan divide and the truth lies somewhere in the middle.. unfortunately the public would rather get spoonfed nonsence

[richardhutnik]

Hey Rich, the guy has 30 mill left on his deal that he'll be getting over the next 2 years.. 'loss of a job' ... he ain't a middle class blue collar worker that'll be out on the street collecting unemployment, to say the least... good picture tho

I would assume that he gets to keep the contract, but never know for sure what is going on. For me, it was more of something in general about some corporate moves resulting in someone being let go. This could of be Colin who used to be with NBC to whomever. However, beyond this, if someone doesn't like what Keith O stands for, and his partisan nature, I can understand why it would be preferred that he be gone.

- Rich

Yeah Rich unfortunately the same people calling Keith partisan are watching Oreilly and Beck everynight.. lol.. The s*** flies on both sides of the partisan divide and the truth lies somewhere in the middle.. unfortunately the public would rather get spoonfed nonsence

Individuals like Olbermann, Cenk of the Young Turks and others are partisan. They do pander to a certain perspective. Even Colbert and Jon Stewart do. My hope is that at least the discourse be intelligent, even if it is biased. Like, I wish the full political spectrum did better in all mediums, but it doesn't seem to be the case. The left seems to do better with documentaries (or biased agenda pieces) and comedy, while the right will tend to do better at what Fox News does, and on the radio. It seems like when one side goes into the medium of the other, it doesn't do well. I will say books are pretty good across the board though.

- Rich

[HarthorneWingo]

I thought this was pretty wild. I would have thought that interfering with U.S. military operations is a crime. Check this out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/world ... ge.html?hp

Former Spy With Agenda Operates a Private C.I.A.
By MARK MAZZETTI
Published: January 22, 2011

WASHINGTON — Duane R. Clarridge parted company with the Central Intelligence Agency more than two decades ago, but from poolside at his home near San Diego, he still runs a network of spies.
The Shadow War

Over the past two years, he has fielded operatives in the mountains of Pakistan and the desert badlands of Afghanistan. Since the United States military cut off his funding in May, he has relied on like-minded private donors to pay his agents to continue gathering information about militant fighters, Taliban leaders and the secrets of Kabul’s ruling class.

Hatching schemes that are something of a cross between a Graham Greene novel and Mad Magazine’s “Spy vs. Spy,” Mr. Clarridge has sought to discredit Ahmed Wali Karzai, the Kandahar power broker who has long been on the C.I.A. payroll, and planned to set spies on his half brother, the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, in hopes of collecting beard trimmings or other DNA samples that might prove Mr. Clarridge’s suspicions that the Afghan leader was a heroin addict, associates say.

-more-

[HarthorneWingo]

The story on MSNBC's "firing" of Olbermann:

http://www.thewrap.com/television/artic ... snbc-24127

Did Keith Olbermann Bolt MSNBC to Create Media Empire?
Published: January 21, 2011 @ 6:13 pm

By Dominic Patten & Sharon Waxman

It was Keith Olbermann's decision to leave his high-profile perch at MSNBC, TheWrap has learned. The outspoken host abruptly announced his departure on Friday evening, sending shock waves through the cable news world.

But the sudden departure has a history, and the timing does not rule out a preemptive MSNBC move. The gadfly commentator first told the network last April that he wanted to leave and began negotiating his exit then, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation.

Olbermann abandoned the notion of leaving at that time but revived his plans in recent weeks with new representation from the talent agency ICM.

With two years left on his $7 million a year contract, Olbermann was seeking a full exit package but he really has his eye on creating his own media empire in the style of Huffington Post, according to the individual. That way, Olbermann would control his own brand and, in his view, potentially earn far more as an owner.

-more-

[richardhutnik]

I thought this was pretty wild. I would have thought that interfering with U.S. military operations is a crime. Check this out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/world ... ge.html?hp

Former Spy With Agenda Operates a Private C.I.A.
By MARK MAZZETTI
Published: January 22, 2011

WASHINGTON — Duane R. Clarridge parted company with the Central Intelligence Agency more than two decades ago, but from poolside at his home near San Diego, he still runs a network of spies.
The Shadow War

The TV show Archer is REAL!

http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/origina ... heShow.php

- Rich

[GotItNow]

Nevada has an unemployment rate higher than the national average, and also currently running budget deficits. They are noted for low tax rates, I believe no corporate or state income taxes. Here is some info on this:
http://www.foxreno.com/11at11/26390430/detail.html

Nevada's tax structure is an obstacle to economic recovery and shortfalls in the budget cannot be addressed with spending cuts alone, according to a new study released Wednesday.

The report entitled “Structurally Unbalanced,” looks at budget problems in Nevada, California, Arizona and Colorado. It was released by Brookings Mountain West at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Morrison Institute of Public Policy at Arizona State University.

“Nevada relies heavily on sales tax and gaming revenue and has no personal and corporate income tax, so you have one of the most narrow state revenue systems found in the country,” wrote Matthew Murray, a professor of economics at the University of Tennessee and a lead researcher on the study.

“With property and sales tax revenue suffering, it is not at all clear where Nevada will find the revenue to fund services, including those that support economic development moving forward.”


When times are good, Vegas, read Nevada, works. However, when you shift to a sales tax model (see FAIR tax or VAT tax), and things are on a downturn, you have insufficient revenues to keep things going.

- Rich

More people need to fill those planes. More taxes are not needed, at all.

The only thing a VAT would accomplish is politicians would find a way to fritter that money away too. For God sakes richard how are high tax states doing? SMFH. California? In the crapper. NY? In the crapper. Leave Nevada alone you fools have frigged up enough states.

[GotItNow]

I hope you suckers that voted for Obama are happy, this guy is the biggest loser ever, I thought Carter was bad but Obama is 10 times worse no doubt about it! Buy American end of story! I dont even care about politcal parties anymore. The USA Needs a true leader in this next election we cant have another 4 years of Obama policies or we are going down the gutter

And this is coming from a 20 year old who cares about his country more then himself.

Show me where the Republican Party supports Buy American policies. Show me. The Republican Party celebrates the freedom to ship American jobs to emerging markets, so that its elite can stuff their obese faces even more, and thus drive the cost of health care in America further through the roof - thus forcing even more white and blue collar jobs overseas.

... and now the blue collar workers at home are about to get screwed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/busin ... cy.html?hp

Path Is Sought for States to Escape Debt Burdens
By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH
Published: January 20, 2011

Policy makers are working behind the scenes to come up with a way to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts, including the pensions they have promised to retired public workers.

Unlike cities, the states are barred from seeking protection in federal bankruptcy court. Any effort to change that status would have to clear high constitutional hurdles because the states are considered sovereign.

But proponents say some states are so burdened that the only feasible way out may be bankruptcy, giving Illinois, for example, the opportunity to do what General Motors did with the federal government’s aid.

-more-

I told you this was coming a long time ago. States can't afford to piss away money on ridiculous pensions. They should have reigned in those costs long ago but politicians keep buying the union vote. It's too easy for them to do, the costs aren't incurred for years long after they are out of office.

Public workers are getting paid more than private workers and that will come to a screeching halt. The downturn is the perfect opportunity for a restructuring.

[richardhutnik]

I told you this was coming a long time ago. States can't afford to piss away money on ridiculous pensions. They should have reigned in those costs long ago but politicians keep buying the union vote. It's too easy for them to do, the costs aren't incurred for years long after they are out of office.

Public workers are getting paid more than private workers and that will come to a screeching halt. The downturn is the perfect opportunity for a restructuring.

YES! The government should implement a version of indentured servitude, where citizens are FORCED to do government jobs for 20 years, and then are let go into the market. No one is to get any pension at all. And by, having it work like a draft, you don't need to pay any form of retirement. If you don't like it, you lose your citizenship and get deported to an island in the south Pacific.

- Rich

[richardhutnik]

Nevada has an unemployment rate higher than the national average, and also currently running budget deficits. They are noted for low tax rates, I believe no corporate or state income taxes. Here is some info on this:
http://www.foxreno.com/11at11/26390430/detail.html

Nevada's tax structure is an obstacle to economic recovery and shortfalls in the budget cannot be addressed with spending cuts alone, according to a new study released Wednesday.

The report entitled “Structurally Unbalanced,” looks at budget problems in Nevada, California, Arizona and Colorado. It was released by Brookings Mountain West at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Morrison Institute of Public Policy at Arizona State University.

“Nevada relies heavily on sales tax and gaming revenue and has no personal and corporate income tax, so you have one of the most narrow state revenue systems found in the country,” wrote Matthew Murray, a professor of economics at the University of Tennessee and a lead researcher on the study.

“With property and sales tax revenue suffering, it is not at all clear where Nevada will find the revenue to fund services, including those that support economic development moving forward.”


When times are good, Vegas, read Nevada, works. However, when you shift to a sales tax model (see FAIR tax or VAT tax), and things are on a downturn, you have insufficient revenues to keep things going.

- Rich

More people need to fill those planes. More taxes are not needed, at all.

The only thing a VAT would accomplish is politicians would find a way to fritter that money away too. For God sakes richard how are high tax states doing? SMFH. California? In the crapper. NY? In the crapper. Leave Nevada alone you fools have frigged up enough states.

I HIGHLY suggest you put aside your stereotypical thinking and feeling a need to put me in some group, which isn't valid. Maybe you do it, because it is easier for you to mentally process and makes you avoid nuances in information out there that would be needed if you don't.

Reality here is if the economy takes a nosedive, then fiddling with tax rates won't cure it. Also, the report stated they are going to have to restructure how they tax, to be sustainable. This is not MY words, or your words, but the words a study done. You are free to ignore it, if you like, but it doesn't change reality.

Actually, you know what, continue this stereotypical simplistic thinking. Mugzi needs a buddy in my killfilter. If you are going to fail to demonstrate the ability to move beyond simplistic stereotypical thinking, you belong in there.

- Rich

[GotItNow]

I told you this was coming a long time ago. States can't afford to piss away money on ridiculous pensions. They should have reigned in those costs long ago but politicians keep buying the union vote. It's too easy for them to do, the costs aren't incurred for years long after they are out of office.

Public workers are getting paid more than private workers and that will come to a screeching halt. The downturn is the perfect opportunity for a restructuring.

YES! The government should implement a version of indentured servitude, where citizens are FORCED to do government jobs for 20 years, and then are let go into the market. No one is to get any pension at all. And by, having it work like a draft, you don't need to pay any form of retirement. If you don't like it, you lose your citizenship and get deported to an island in the south Pacific.

- Rich

Dude WTF!?

I'm not the one steelings ur jobz chill bro.