Political Roundtable Part XIX

[TGW]

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The entire American gov't is in the Saudi's pockets.

[CobraCommander]

Ummm....credit to the armed officer for doing his job.

But the larger issue is yet another school shooting.

Why are we the only civilized, 1st world country with this mass shooting concern by children?

The officer should certainly be commended, but there is this issue that might be kind of important... kids were shot... again. Does everyone understand that's a problem? I know one brain-dead poster that doesn't get it.

but what about when a guy uses bombs instead of guns? I'll bet some nut job can make at least 6 bombs and spread them around and kill people. if he gets those bombs in the right places might even be able to kill a lot of people.

speaking of. yeah they caught the guy in texas who made 6 such bombs and killed 3 people. turn to CNN. theres a picture of stormy taking a lie detector test. Ive seen that picture on CNN for the last 2 days at least 20 times.

I’m not a liberal but the point isnt that someone stopped the shooter...the problem is kids got shot. its idiotic that people are highlighting that it could have been worse... You focusing on the wrong issue.

[Pointgod]

What's more likely. Either Russia lied and never dismantled it or started it up again or the UK government used an elaborate plan which poisoned their own citizens so they can expel diplomats?

I'm thinking the latter. The Tories have been on edge since their June electoral disaster.

On March 16 the British government was still pleased with the success of the drama that look similar to a UK Drama TV series called Strike Back.

The headline and intro of the BBC story are telling: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43431636" Russian spy: UK government response going to plan so far"

The London Times reported on March 14th that 40 people in Salisbury needed treatment because of poisoning. A reader's letter to the paper written by "Steven Davies - Consultant in emergency medicine, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust" disputes that report. (The NHS database lists Davies, GMC membership number 4122151, as specialist in accident and emergency services at the Salisbury District Hospital.) The letter seems to say that none of the hospital's patients were effected by "nerve agents" at all:


The wording of the letter is not 100% clear. Does the "no patients" refer to only the 40 the Times mentioned or to all patents including the Skripals? Are the three patients with "significant poisoning" the Skripals and the affected policeman? Commentator Noirette had suggested here that the Skripal case was about food poisoning or a food allergy, not nerve agents. The Skripals had visited a fish restaurant one hour before they were found. The letter points into a similar direction. Food poisoning would also explain why a doctor who gave emergency help to the unconscious Yulia Skripal for over 30 minutes was not effected at all.

I have yet to see a follow up on the letter by any media. Why is there no interview with the doctor? All medical personal involved are astonishingly silent. Since day one there has been no medical update on the health status of the Skripals. Has the government issued a gag order in from of a DA-Notice which prohibits reporting? Why? By writing the above letter Steven Davies, the Salisbury emergency consultant, probably circumvented it.

The UK has since folded on its unilateral demand outside of the OPCW procedures. It has now, as Russia demanded, involved the OPCW and OPCW specialist are expected to visit the British chemical weapon laboratory in Porton Down, which is near Salisbury, to investigate the case.

the German Foreign Minister tracked back from the common position issued last week:

Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, has described Russia as a "difficult partner", but said the UK poisoning was a "bilateral" issue, indicating that Britain can count on little support from the EU.
Maas spoke ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday (19 March)
https://euobserver.com/foreign/141362

A common statement after the EU foreign ministers meeting did not blame Russia. It repeated the carefully negotiated wording of the original British accusation but did not endorse the British position:

The European Union takes extremely seriously the UK Government's assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible.
The European Union is shocked at the offensive use of any military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, for the first time on European soil in over 70 years.
...
The EU welcomes the commitment of the UK to work closely with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in supporting the investigation into the attack.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/03/19/statement-by-the-foreign-affairs-council-on-the-salisbury-attack/

The statement is false in that nerve agents have actually been used on European soil over the last 70 years. During the Cold War Britain tested various types of chemical and biological weapons, including nerve agents, "on its own population as well as in its colonies and in other countries. Why should we exclude an even more recent use?

The Skripal poisoning case stinks. The British government is obviously not telling the truth about it. It uses the script of a recent spy drama to allege a 'Novichok' attack to implicate Russia and to raise anti-Russian sentiment. Information about the case is evidently held back. The media is mostly complicit.

Foreign countries have noticed that the story stinks and are tracking back on their support.

The people and the British opposition should urgently demand more and better answer from May's failing government. Jeremy Corbyn got attacked, smeared as a useful Russian idiot and photoshopped by the BBC in a Russian hat wit hat with a red background. Like what the hell?

[Pointgod]

What's more likely. Either Russia lied and never dismantled it or started it up again or the UK government used an elaborate plan which poisoned their own citizens so they can expel diplomats?

I'm thinking the latter. The Tories have been on edge since their June electoral disaster.

On March 16 the British government was still pleased with the success of the drama that look similar to a UK Drama TV series called Strike Back.

The headline and intro of the BBC story are telling: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43431636" Russian spy: UK government response going to plan so far"

The London Times reported on March 14th that 40 people in Salisbury needed treatment because of poisoning. A reader's letter to the paper written by "Steven Davies - Consultant in emergency medicine, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust" disputes that report. (The NHS database lists Davies, GMC membership number 4122151, as specialist in accident and emergency services at the Salisbury District Hospital.) The letter seems to say that none of the hospital's patients were effected by "nerve agents" at all:


The wording of the letter is not 100% clear. Does the "no patients" refer to only the 40 the Times mentioned or to all patents including the Skripals? Are the three patients with "significant poisoning" the Skripals and the affected policeman? Commentator Noirette had suggested here that the Skripal case was about food poisoning or a food allergy, not nerve agents. The Skripals had visited a fish restaurant one hour before they were found. The letter points into a similar direction. Food poisoning would also explain why a doctor who gave emergency help to the unconscious Yulia Skripal for over 30 minutes was not effected at all.

I have yet to see a follow up on the letter by any media. Why is there no interview with the doctor? All medical personal involved are astonishingly silent. Since day one there has been no medical update on the health status of the Skripals. Has the government issued a gag order in from of a DA-Notice which prohibits reporting? Why? By writing the above letter Steven Davies, the Salisbury emergency consultant, probably circumvented it.

The UK has since folded on its unilateral demand outside of the OPCW procedures. It has now, as Russia demanded, involved the OPCW and OPCW specialist are expected to visit the British chemical weapon laboratory in Porton Down, which is near Salisbury, to investigate the case.

the German Foreign Minister tracked back from the common position issued last week:

Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, has described Russia as a "difficult partner", but said the UK poisoning was a "bilateral" issue, indicating that Britain can count on little support from the EU.
Maas spoke ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday (19 March)
https://euobserver.com/foreign/141362

A common statement after the EU foreign ministers meeting did not blame Russia. It repeated the carefully negotiated wording of the original British accusation but did not endorse the British position:

The European Union takes extremely seriously the UK Government's assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible.
The European Union is shocked at the offensive use of any military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, for the first time on European soil in over 70 years.
...
The EU welcomes the commitment of the UK to work closely with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in supporting the investigation into the attack.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/03/19/statement-by-the-foreign-affairs-council-on-the-salisbury-attack/

The statement is false in that nerve agents have actually been used on European soil over the last 70 years. During the Cold War Britain tested various types of chemical and biological weapons, including nerve agents, "on its own population as well as in its colonies and in other countries. Why should we exclude an even more recent use?

The Skripal poisoning case stinks. The British government is obviously not telling the truth about it. It uses the script of a recent spy drama to allege a 'Novichok' attack to implicate Russia and to raise anti-Russian sentiment. Information about the case is evidently held back. The media is mostly complicit.

Foreign countries have noticed that the story stinks and are tracking back on their support.

The people and the British opposition should urgently demand more and better answer from May's failing government. Jeremy Corbyn got attacked, smeared as a useful Russian idiot and photoshopped by the BBC in a Russian hat wit hat with a red background. Like what the hell?

I'm not going to go down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole because truthfully conspiracy theories are **** stupid. Here's a link that lays out all the facts of the chemical attack and also provides alternative theories.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/uk-russia-nerve-agent-attack-spy-poisoning-sergei-skripal-salisbury-accusations-evidence-explanation-a8258911.html

Here's also a link to a chemist smacking down a conspiracy theorist. This is actually relevant because it shows how they could identify the chemical agent:

http://www.iflscience.com/chemistry/scientist-brilliantly-tears-conspiracy-theory-about-russian-spy-to-shreds/

The evidence you've provided is a medical consultant writing to a times column, but who knows how much information be had access to and how accurate his account of events were. The other stuff is either the EU being careful in their wording or mistatements which doesn't provide any evidence regarding a conspiracy.

How about this let's agree to disagree until more evidence comes out. All the facts point to either Russia doing the attack or them losing control of a chemical agent. I don't know why anyone would give Putin the benefit of the doubt when he's conducted brazen assassinations like this before and he knows that no one is going to do **** about it. But Im willing to keep an open mind if new developments come up.

[Pointgod]

The officer should certainly be commended, but there is this issue that might be kind of important... kids were shot... again. Does everyone understand that's a problem? I know one brain-dead poster that doesn't get it.

but what about when a guy uses bombs instead of guns? I'll bet some nut job can make at least 6 bombs and spread them around and kill people. if he gets those bombs in the right places might even be able to kill a lot of people.

speaking of. yeah they caught the guy in texas who made 6 such bombs and killed 3 people. turn to CNN. theres a picture of stormy taking a lie detector test. Ive seen that picture on CNN for the last 2 days at least 20 times.

I’m not a liberal but the point isnt that someone stopped the shooter...the problem is kids got shot. its idiotic that people are highlighting that it could have been worse... You focusing on the wrong issue.

I avoid responding to stilladumbass but this is a perfect example for banning assault rifles. The shooter had a hand gun and so did the school resource officer. The only person that died was the shooter. If he had used an assault rifle we can only guess how high the body count would be.

Oh and apparently it's even rare for school resource officers to kill mass shooters.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/good-guy-gun-hails-another-stopping-maryland-school-shooter-n858766

[FAH1223]

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[cammac]

Today Trump will make a statement regarding new tariffs on Chinese made products while some tariffs are justified most that the Trump administration has imposed are not. A example is the tariff on softwood lumber a key component in house building. It is estimated that has increased the cost of a single family home by $1200. 1st. the USA can not supply enough lumber for domestic use and has a shortfall of about 35%. Has it hurt Canadian producers the single largest importer of lumber into the USA.

The answer is no.

Shares of Canadian softwood lumber producers Canfor Corp. and West Fraser Timber Co. are outperforming their American peers with gains of more than 40 per cent this year, placing them among the top performers on the BI Global Paper and Wood Products Index. By contrast, shares of U.S. rival Weyerhaeuser Co. are up about 10 per cent.

Who is being hurt the USA consumer! Plus Canada has taken the dispute to the WTO and as in past cases on softwood lumber Canada in likelihood will win again. The USA will be forced to pay back the tariff.

The tariff on steel and aluminum was poorly implemented without rational thinking. Yes it was rescinded for Canada & Mexico but still major allies are being affected. Where should the tariff been imposed was China but they only supply a relative small amount of the USA requirement. When tariffs are imposed there will be retaliation and areas like the EU can successfully target specific companies and areas to retaliate. One sector that will definitely be impacted from countries like China, Korea & Japan Is the rural economy in sectors like soybeans , canola, hogs,beef & production of grains. Countries like Canada,Australia, NZ & Brazil will produce more and impact American agriculture.

The lack of fundamental understanding of world trade with the Trump administration is catastrophic. The Trump announcements on tariffs today will be interesting in which products he will target and countries other than China.

In the NAFTA renegotiation's the USA took a unrealistic stance and is now modifying its stand. But one of the things that Canada wanted in the negotiations was for Mexican workers to have real unions and higher wages and safety standards. This would have benefited both the USA & Canada since many of the jobs whether companies like Carrier or Automotive related are unionized. While the token unions in Mexico are corrupt and in the most part do not have the workers best interests. But this was put on the back burner because after all Trump & Republicans just love right to work legislation.

I haven't a disagreement with a type of America 1st. policy because when I shop I put Canada 1st. I just built a new house and 95% of the cost was Canadian. The biggest expenditure that was foreign was appliances I wanted a Wolf Range & Whirlpool Refrigerator & DW but bought European instead. I just bought a new SUV and bought a Lexus made in Canada. When I furnished the house again I bought 90% Canadian and rest European. These decisions were my protest to the Trump administration.

In the implementation of tariffs the real losers are the consumer in that many things they purchase will be more expensive and the savings they got on the Trump tax reform will be flushed down the toilet.

[gtn130]

The entire American gov't is in the Saudi's pockets.

Yeah man thank God we didn't elect Hillary

[Zonkerbl]

Anyone who thinks the US government has not been putting "America First" for as long as it has been in existence is an idiot. The whole "America First" thing is a farce for stupid people.

[Wizardspride]

I actually agree with Greenwald on that particular topic (to a certain extent) but that doesn't take away from the fact that he's a Putin/Assange apologist.

Not a fan...

[TGW]

The entire American gov't is in the Saudi's pockets.

Yeah man thank God we didn't elect Hillary

You think repeating that like an autistic (Please Use More Appropriate Word) will make me change my mind about Hillary?

Keep saying it buddy. Maybe one day you'll get your wish.

[Zonkerbl]

The entire American gov't is in the Saudi's pockets.

Yeah man thank God we didn't elect Hillary

You think repeating that like an autistic (Please Use More Appropriate Word) will make me change my mind about Hillary?

Keep saying it buddy. Maybe one day you'll get your wish.

Mock and insult all you want but it remains a valid point.

[TGW]

Yeah man thank God we didn't elect Hillary

You think repeating that like an autistic (Please Use More Appropriate Word) will make me change my mind about Hillary?

Keep saying it buddy. Maybe one day you'll get your wish.

Mock and insult all you want but it remains a valid point.

It's not a valid point because it's an opinion, and a stupid one at that. Hillary instead of Trump is just trading one set of problems for another. I'm sure the Democrats and their buttkissers (like gtn) disagree because they think they're the party of "good" and the R's are "evil", but at the end of the day, Hillary is one of the worst politicians in American history. Her record, her past, and her actions speak for themselves.

[gtn130]

We're watching the entire US foreign policy apparatus burn to the ground, but TGW still can't figure out if Trump or Hillary would be better presidents.

[dckingsfan]

Cartoons are great

[Zonkerbl]

You think repeating that like an autistic (Please Use More Appropriate Word) will make me change my mind about Hillary?

Keep saying it buddy. Maybe one day you'll get your wish.

Mock and insult all you want but it remains a valid point.

It's not a valid point because it's an opinion, and a stupid one at that. Hillary instead of Trump is just trading one set of problems for another. I'm sure the Democrats and their buttkissers (like gtn) disagree because they think they're the party of "good" and the R's are "evil", but at the end of the day, Hillary is one of the worst politicians in American history. Her record, her past, and her actions speak for themselves.

Speaking of stupid opinions, Mr. Pot...

I don't know if we'd be better off under Hillary because the Dems would still be all smug and complacent and we'd probably have roaming bands of gun nuts running around lynching people.

I think Democracy is on fire in this country and it doesn't really matter who's President. But shooting off your mouth like an idiot is just making things worse.

[cammac]

If your White & Christian you can't be a terrorist!

The Austin bomber should be called a terrorist. That is what he was. And same for any person — regardless of religion or race — who engages in a campaign of terror like Conditt did that spanned nearly two weeks and was intended to terrorize Americans. The only thing preventing that appears to be that he isn’t Muslim.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/22/1751136/-How-Many-Bombs-Does-a-Non-Muslim-Need-to-Set-Off-Before-Being-Called-a-Terrorist

A bigger example that got almost zero coverage in any media was the explosion in Beaver Dam Wisconsin. Benjamin Morrow made much larger devices and was making a chemical weapon. They apartment complex he lived in had to be burnt down because of the hazard. But then again he was a good White & Christian man.

Both were white men in their 20s
Both had Christian upbringings
Both were home-schooled
Both had mothers raised in the midwest.

http://www.wisn.com/article/five-similarities-between-the-austin-beaver-dam-bombers/19514834

[Wizardspride]

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[Kanyewest]

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[JWizmentality]

Wheels are falling off. Rats jumping ship.