Politics [Archive] - Page 12

Crazed_Insanity

October 11th, 2015, 08:18 PM

Ben Carson can't stop saying stupid shit.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ben-carson-suggests-holocaust-jews-armed/story?id=34349693

Gun owning citizens could definitely put up a good fight against nazis, or in our case the federal government. Not likely to seriously pose any real kind of threat against a strong central government, but at least they can fight to their death rather than just being rounded up. Or perhaps CIA could just be selling arms to the Jews to fight the nazis rather than get involved directly? ;)

Anyway, I do like having right to bear arm so we can have means to change the govt in other ways rather than just with votes, but having regular mass shootings is just not right. Something needs to be done.

overpowered

October 11th, 2015, 10:02 PM

The notion that Jews with civilian guns could have stood up to Nazi Germany's military is laughable.

The Nazi's rolled over Poland in a little over a month. They took France in a month and a half and France had one of the better armies in Europe at the time.

Yeah, a few hand guns, rifles and shotguns will stand up to one of the most powerful militaries ever assembled up to that time complete with fighter jets, bombers, tanks and artillery in the middle of a populace that had a tendency to be hostile to Jews. Most Jews (indeed most people) didn't own guns to be taken away in the first place and most weren't trained in combat either.

I always think it's funny when 2nd amendment nuts say that it's about being able to overthrow the government. Drone strikes. Hello?!

We can overthrow the house and 1/3rd of the senate every two years with votes. We can do the same to the president every 4 years, again with votes. Our system was meant to allow us to change the government non-violently on a relatively frequent basis.

Baltimore P.D. is now saying that Carson is probably lying about the Popeye's incident.

Dicknose

October 11th, 2015, 10:37 PM

Anyway, I do like having right to bear arm so we can have means to change the govt in other ways rather than just with votes.

Which basically amounts to, you are happy to have a civil war.
Because its extremely likely that some people will like the status quo and will use their guns to defend it.

Do you really think the American Civil War was a good way to resolve their differences?
Or that its something you want to repeat in an era of modern weapons? Because you can be sure sides will be grabbing what they can.

I know people talk about "what if the govt suspended elections and turned into a dictatorship" - but even in the remote possibility of this happening, you arent going to overthrow them without the military on your side. Thats pretty clear from recent history. Armed civilians might annoy, but they wont overthrow an armed govt, you need the military to join the coup. Then it doesnt really matter if the people are armed.

This whole "I like the idea of guns so we can throw out a bad govt" is crazy talk. Its a situation that is unlikely to happen, the possible outcome of using violence to get the result you want is crazy. The cost of this mythical happening is many thousands of dead people each year.

TheBenior

October 12th, 2015, 12:50 AM

Even the favorite example of the American Revolution as an example of armed citizens revolting and secceeding doesn't really work.

Plenty of militia men and their commanders had military experience from the French and Indian Wars (the while reason the British government was raising taxes), and even that likely wouldn't have been enough if the French, Spanish, and the Netherlands hadn't decided that it would be an excellent time to have a naval war against the British.

However, the idea of any sort of gun control that would greatly reduce the amount of violence committed with guns is just as big of a fantasy. There are over 300 million guns in this country, and numerous people won't line up to turn them in voluntarily. Given some grease, they also last centuries. Focusing on 'assault weapons' won't do much either. The biggest mass shooting involved a 9mm Glock and .22 Walther handguns. The vast majority of our homicides involved handguns, which the Supreme Court has ruled against banning more than once.

Criminal organizations who commit the vast majority of inner city shootings won't be disarmed either. International drug networks will still commit armed violence, and will still be able to acquire weapons. It doesn't take any advanced machinery to make an open bolt submachine gun like a Sten or M3A1 'Grease Gun.'

Crazed_Insanity

October 12th, 2015, 10:20 AM

DN, I don't think it's that crazy. Civil wars are definitely NOT the best way for us to resolve issues, but people gotta do what they gotta do. Civil wars happen all the time. The same army could split. In US's case, it wasn't like the south were made up of crazy citizens fighting against the North.

Nowadays, if you're other nations, you may have CIA by your side selling you arms to fight against a dictator that US doesn't like. But if American public decides to overthrow its own government, must we rely on Russia or China or France or Australia for help? Or should UN step in and help us resolve our conflicts? Why couldn't we just do the job ourselves? Why couldn't the rebels wage a war against an evil empire if we want to? US's founding fathers have put in lots of check and balances in place so we won't have to come to that..., but when a system becomes corrupt enough, who knows? 2nd amendment is US citizen's last line of defense. Other nations will have a hard time attacking US successfully, but with bunch of armed citizens on the inside, surely we can still do a lot of damage.

Of course I'm not promoting civil wars. We should remain civil as much as possible. However, I think corruption of US government is an inevitability. Should the US government turn evil, what other nations in the world would be able to stand against it? Best way to neutralize an evil US government would be its armed citizens. Of course I'm talking worst case scenario. Hope things won't come to that.

thesameguy

October 12th, 2015, 12:55 PM

You guys are wrong. Obvs.

http://img00.deviantart.net/6224/i/2007/054/a/1/wolverines_by_punkdaddy74.jpg

overpowered

October 12th, 2015, 01:43 PM

Even if a civilian revolt could work with an armed populace, getting back to topic, the Jews in Europe were a relatively small minority of the population and there was a fair amount of discrimination against them in much of Europe at the time. It tends to take a majority of the population to support revolution in order for it to work. The American revolution was like that, and the difference in military capability was much smaller than it is now. Furthermore, it was led by actual military men and they had actual artillery and war ships. The French revolution was also supported by the populace. In order for an armed revolt to work in the U.S., it would require a large portion of the military, controlling military hardware to join the revolt. Otherwise it's fucked.

And again, to suggest that armed Jews could have successfully stood up to the Nazis is beyond stupid.

MR2 Fan

October 12th, 2015, 02:47 PM

The American Revolution would have probably failed without the French Navy's help

Crazed_Insanity

October 12th, 2015, 03:00 PM

I don't think Ben Carson was making the argument that Jews could've averted tragedy if they could bear arms, but it'd certainly make things a bit more difficult for Hitler.

Likewise it'll take a LOT of american gun owners to overthrown the federal government, the attempt may not even be successful, but it could slow down the growth of an evil empire.

At the very minimum, one can die while fighting for freedom rather than just being loaded up into some sort of camp waiting to die.

I'm not a gun lover, but yeah, if it comes to that, I'd certainly rather pick up a gun and fight the evil freedom hating authorities rather than just let them take my rights or me physically away.

I think Carson was just making the case that up and coming dictators will find ways to remove all the check and balances in order to achieve absolutely power. Right to bear arms is citizen's last defense.

overpowered

October 12th, 2015, 03:33 PM

Fox News Blames Jews for Dying During the Holocaust: What is Happening to America?

http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/10/11/fox-news-blames-jews-for-dying-during-the-holocaust-what-is-happening-to-america/

overpowered

October 12th, 2015, 04:18 PM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpl1/v/t1.0-9/12079170_1204781309548514_1560915728170857349_n.jp g?oh=d9599789dcd567771cdd4887a7b4a9cb&oe=56C6A55F&dl=1

JoshInKC

October 12th, 2015, 04:42 PM

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day (http://www.kansan.com/news/lawrence-mayor-declares-oct-indigenous-peoples-day-in-place-of/article_6e1d6954-6ca4-11e5-a02d-077815c8a78f.html)
I'm pleased to say that I was very tangentially involved in the linked article above.

overpowered

October 13th, 2015, 08:48 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12096114_827101397407378_244264382797147870_n.jpg? oh=fc96a8364de85679fb9bdba7eba5ae16&oe=56916B48

Crazed_Insanity

October 13th, 2015, 10:22 AM

I certainly prefer Carson over Trump. However, the main thing I can't get over Ben Carson is his voice. I can't stand the way he talks for some reason. Just way too slow and mellow... and girly in a way. Just doesn't 'sound' very presidential. IMHO.

thesameguy

October 13th, 2015, 11:09 AM

They are both idiots. I can't believe either of them actually believe the things they say. They are just saying them for press coverage and top of mind access. It's the adult version of "look what I can do!"

I wish the bulk of humanity could appreciate people for wisdom and thoughtfulness instead of how loudly they can say ridiculous shit.

George

October 13th, 2015, 11:15 AM

I found a link to this yesterday and immediately knew who would be rated highest...er, lowest, I mean...for using short words with few syllables.

"Speech Complexities of 2016 Presidential Hopefuls" (plus GW Bush & Obama rated too, I guess for comparison)

http://mashoid.co/linguistic-analysis-2016-presidential-hopefuls/

overpowered

October 13th, 2015, 01:13 PM

One chart that puts mass incarceration in historical context

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/11/9497161/incarceration-history

overpowered

October 13th, 2015, 01:15 PM

He's not going to stop, ever.

http://expose.today/right-wingnuts/ben-carson-end-times-are-likely-upon-us/

thesameguy

October 13th, 2015, 05:03 PM

There is nothing that I can see particularly wrong with what he said. I may or may not agree, but it's all pretty rational.

Tom Servo

October 13th, 2015, 08:10 PM

Well, the classy gentleman award surely goes to Mike Huckabee for this tweet.

https://twitter.com/GovMikeHuckabee/status/654114071336189952

Gov. Mike Huckabee Verified account
‏@GovMikeHuckabee

I trust @BernieSanders with my tax dollars like I trust a North Korean chef with my labrador! #DemDebate

thesameguy

October 13th, 2015, 10:01 PM

Racism, fuck yeah!

Crazed_Insanity

October 14th, 2015, 10:04 AM

I don't understand why North Koreans are singled out. Chinese probably ate the most dogs.

thesameguy

October 14th, 2015, 10:45 AM

Likely because Huckabee assumed nobody would get mad at him taking a stab at N. Korea.

21Kid

October 14th, 2015, 11:30 AM

So, the Democratic debates were better than expected. Three of them appeared good. The outside two, notsomuch.

LHutton

October 14th, 2015, 01:34 PM

I don't understand why North Koreans are singled out. Chinese probably ate the most dogs.
It reduces dogshit, so I'm okay with it either way, and tasting like chicken is just a bonus.

Crazed_Insanity

October 14th, 2015, 08:31 PM

Now you are just being a despicable doggist!

overpowered

October 14th, 2015, 08:36 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LDzOi1dyAA

LHutton

October 15th, 2015, 03:25 AM

Now you are just being a despicable doggist!
Good. Can't stand them. If they're not shitting everywhere, they're running in mud and then jumping up on you, or trying to walk into your legs to sniff your knees. Fortunately it's not a political area of interest, otherwise I would be a condemned doggist.

21Kid

October 15th, 2015, 07:00 AM

The TSA has a record like congress. :|

Fogelhund

October 15th, 2015, 07:20 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQuceU3x2Ww

overpowered

October 15th, 2015, 07:53 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12063396_1206112862748692_8938477586740248258_n.jp g?oh=497881173082058bf9eb2f23e7006ce4&oe=568DA340

LHutton

October 15th, 2015, 10:55 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQuceU3x2Ww
100% true.

overpowered

October 15th, 2015, 12:32 PM

Syria's war: A 5-minute history

https://screen.yahoo.com/syrias-war-5-minute-history-144509542.html

overpowered

October 15th, 2015, 03:13 PM

I don't know if this is real and I don't feel like researching it. If it's fake, at least it's funny. Any crazy shit attributed to him sounds like something he would actually say.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xal1/v/t1.0-9/12079163_906195056082565_8758584558119778605_n.jpg ?oh=50e79fca5e73d797ff30f39eaeb373ab&oe=56CFD02E

overpowered

October 15th, 2015, 03:44 PM

“Mommy, am I gonna die?”: Cop shoots 4-year-old — after aiming for family dog — when injured mom called 911 for help

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/13/mommy_am_i_gonna_die_cop_shoots_4_year_old_after_a iming_for_family_dog_when_injured_mom_called_911_f or_help/

overpowered

October 15th, 2015, 05:03 PM

Study Finds That Donald Trump Supporters Have The Worst Grammar On Facebook

http://distractify.com/news/2015/10/07/deborahgross-please-proofread-before-you-post-1393020901

If you scroll down and look at the full list, the best ranked republican candidate on this one, Carly Fiornia is ranked slightly worse than the worst ranked democrat, Hillary Clinton.

LHutton

October 16th, 2015, 03:49 AM

Syria's war: A 5-minute history

https://screen.yahoo.com/syrias-war-5-minute-history-144509542.html
Lot's of errors in there and overly simplistic.

'ISIS' doesn't fight Assad' - yes it does.

'Assad uses chemical weapons' - unproven.

'Assad encourages extremists' - Ummm... evidence again.

Also lots more groups than mentioned there.

'Russia only bombs anti-Assad rebels and not ISIS' - absolute bullshit, it's bombing ISIS and the rebels, who contain other terrorist groups like Al-Quaeda, Al-Nusra, Sham Legion, Jabhat Ansar al-Din, Muhajirin wa-Ansar, Ahrar ash-Sham, Islamic Front etc.

The bare truth at this point is that there are just more foreign-backed Jihadis than moderate opposition, way more, hence why the CIA training program failed. It simply couldn't identify many moderates, and of those it did train, most are dead and 70 defected to Al-Nusra and that cost you $500m. There was also the little incident where Saudi Arabia gave them TOW missiles and the US immediately re-supplied Saudi Arabia. So basically, the US armed terrorists with anti-tank weapons. Some in the US administration have even been dumb enough to consider giving them SAMs. In 20 years time you'll probably hear some idiot talking about the benefit of hindsight.

Oh and the 'moderate' asylum seekers, gets interesting at 1:30, soon someone will be talking about the benefit of hindsight again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QKywPyz5sJc

Crazed_Insanity

October 16th, 2015, 10:53 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQuceU3x2Ww

Sigh... USA has officially become the new Evil Empire for the rest of the world... and this is pointed out by Putin!?!?!? Ha!

Good that the American citizens are armed and could rebel against this empire in the event that its government turns on its own people. Hope it won't ever come to that.

Personally, I'm kinda saddened to see US government just couldn't cease to fuck with other nations regardless of whether we have a dumbass republican president or and supposedly intelligent democratic president. Regardless of party affiliation, race, intelligence... whoever in power seems like they are wearing the same old 'ring' and would do whatever it takes to protect their 'precious'. From the outside world, has there really been any difference between the Bush admin and Obama admin? It's like once elected, they all fall under the same "spell"... Could it be that there's some sort of hidden 'emperor' working in the NSA or CIA or some other hidden agency that's controlling the elected presidents?

Seems like our govt just can't learn any lessons. We indirectly created monsters such as Hussein and Bin Laden. Now we have ISIS. Typical Americans are worrying too much about their jobs to care what the US govt is doing outside of the US. The 'threat' of terrorists, whether real or fabricated, also allowed Americans to want to give govt more power... while be more willing to give up more freedoms...

Sigh...

overpowered

October 16th, 2015, 10:55 AM

Mike Huckabee just endorsed “biblical” slavery over the modern prison system

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/15/mike_huckabee_just_endorsed_biblical_slavery_over_ the_modern_prison_system/

Crazed_Insanity

October 16th, 2015, 11:16 AM

The author of the article wasn't so sure, why are you so sure that's what Huckabee meant?

Now, regardless of what Huckabee was truly endorsing, some prisoners were made to work like producing license plates, right? Why should we just let criminals enjoy their prison time? Giving them food to eat and shelter over their head? Treating them nicer than homeless folks on the street?

Is it really that evil to make them work while serving their time? Locking them up and taking away their freedom is no big deal, but making them work is all of a sudden too inhumane? What's the logic?

overpowered

October 16th, 2015, 11:37 AM

I'm pretty sure that the making license plates thing was voluntary and they got paid (though considerably less than minimum wage).

thesameguy

October 16th, 2015, 11:40 AM

I think the prison system actually works differently than most people believe it does.

Crazed_Insanity

October 16th, 2015, 12:54 PM

Anyway OP, can you explain to me why locking them up against their will is okay, but making them work against their will all of a sudden would not be okay?

If it's a matter of not trusting dangerous criminals... like lousy work or stealing tools or them just outright escaping on the job, then I can understand. But surely not all of them are difficult to control. Why not allow them to pay back to society, or at least pay for their 'stay'. Why should taxpayers pay their rent and food while there are plenty of veteran homeless folks not taken care of by taxpayers?

Further, perhaps their training/skill acquired can also benefit them once released from prison.

thesameguy

October 16th, 2015, 01:16 PM

It is a matter of enforcement. Making work available even at shitty pay will entice some people to do the work. If work is not for pay, then few or no people will do that work and the system will have to concoct a way to cause prisoners to work. You can't beat them, you can't yell at them, and there are only so many privileges you can humanely take away. So what do you do with the people that refuse to work and don't care about yard or gym privileges? Nothing. You leave them to rot in their cells. That is why the system works the way it does, because you gotta treat criminals like people. There simply is not a humane mechanism to cause people to do things they don't want to, and that is why the entire system is and can only be fucked up. I am increasingly of the notion that as a society we need to be more accepting of deviant behavior and more discerning between victim-based and victim-less crimes. Rape someone? You get mulched. Smoke pot? Nothing. I don't know where the lines get drawn, I don't know how to make it fair, but I do know that conventional approaches to incarceration are not scalable.

Crazed_Insanity

October 16th, 2015, 01:33 PM

Of course there has to be some sort of incentive for prisoners to work.

Biggest incentive is perhaps to shorten their sentencing.

For those stubbornly refuse to or unable work, I guess there's nothing you can do about it. Just letting them rot in solitary confinement is less inhuman than making them work?

I just don't understand what's the big deal about working prisoners for OP. Is there a logical reason against making them work... or is he against it because of the word 'biblical' was inserted in there? To me, I just don't see what's the big deal about endorsing putting prisoners to work if they're able or willing.

Now, does 'biblical slavery' include forcing people to work against their will with whips? I don't think so. it's mainly to pay back the debt that you owe.

overpowered

October 16th, 2015, 02:29 PM

You would think that the Westboro Baptist Church would support Kim Davis and you'd be wrong.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/10/15/westboro-baptist-church-will-picket-outside-kim-davis-office-because-shes-a-fake-christian/

Crazed_Insanity

October 16th, 2015, 03:00 PM

Are you interested in any discussions OP?

thesameguy

October 16th, 2015, 03:09 PM

Biggest incentive is perhaps to shorten their sentencing.

I am virtually positive that already figures into the equation. Being productive certainly goes into parole discussions, but how much can you reasonably shorten a sentence before you start corrupting the theoretical purpose of the system? Would you be okay if your wife's murderer got his sentence halved or quartered because he mowed some lawns or stamped some license plates? Maybe. But a LOT of people would not be. How do you motivate the lifers or the long-termers? What about career criminal types - who ostensibly exist - don't mind be in prison in the first place? Maybe this is useful for petty thieves or DUIer or pot smokers or whatever, but it certainly could never be a blanket approach.

I just don't understand what's the big deal about working prisoners for OP. Is there a logical reason against making them work... or is he against it because of the word 'biblical' was inserted in there? To me, I just don't see what's the big deal about endorsing putting prisoners to work if they're able or willing.

Invoking the word "slavery" definitely gets peoples' attention, and invoking "biblical" certainly gets OP's attention. I kinda don't give a fuck about the connotative value of words, so I find myself indifferent as to what Huckabee said, but by the same token I think when you are speaking from a position of legal authority and responsibility you have an obligation to some degree to use sanitized words. The problem with governors saying "biblical slavery" is the implication the governor is a fucking ignorant sleazebag who doesn't understand why church and state are separate entities and that slavery as a concept is wrong. Not that it's right either, but I would have far preferred the term "indentured servitude" to describe this proposed solution. It ain't great, but I'd argue better word choices.

Dicknose

October 16th, 2015, 03:12 PM

Good that the American citizens are armed and could rebel against this empire in the event that its government turns on its own people. Hope it won't ever come to that.

You keep saying "government" and "people" as if they are completely separate. And that if things go bad it will be "the people" against the government.
But it's extremely likely to be "govt and lots of people" v "other people"
Something like democrats v republicans.

What if a president suspended elections, maybe even appoint congress and house of reps. Basically turn the political system into a dictatorship. Put a single party in power. Of cause it would be under some excuse like "security" and "cause terrorism"
Do you think all the people who support that party would fight? I would suggest that many would support it.
So now, does having a gun help?
Why do you shoot?
What if your neighbor has signs on their lawn saying "go president X, fight terror". Do you shoot them?
What if you put a sign up saying "X is a dictator", should your neighbor shoot you, using their gun to protect the country?

Having armed people who can overthrow the govt also means armed people to defend the govt.

And unless there is a vast majority on one side, being armed just means a lot of dead people.
If it is the vast majority on one side and a small rogue govt, they tend to be sorted out by a military general without full scale civilian fighting. Think Fiji or even Pakistan.
Arming the population as a way to protect against a rogue govt is crazy. It won't help you if it happens, it invites civil war if there is any split of people and it also says you think violence and death is the solution.

thesameguy

October 16th, 2015, 03:16 PM

Tend to agree. The concept of armed people against a modern government is mostly just bloody. I don't think that potential blood would be an adequate deterrent of a government going rogue.

overpowered

October 16th, 2015, 06:53 PM

Rand Paul Warns Sanders Presidency Could Lead To 'Mass Genocide'

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rand-paul-warns-sanders-presidency-could-lead-mass-genocide

Either doesn't know the difference between Totalitarian Socialism and Democratic Socialism or he's being deliberately deceptive because the average 'Murican doesn't know the difference either.

Rikadyn

October 16th, 2015, 06:59 PM

TheBenior

October 16th, 2015, 07:01 PM

Tend to agree. The concept of armed people against a modern government is mostly just bloody.

It doesn't really work well historically either, at least not without a foreign and/or domestic military joining in.

Crazed_Insanity

October 16th, 2015, 08:43 PM

Civil/revolutionary wars are never pretty. Instead of relying on foreign help for arms, the idea of arming ourselves is a good deterrent for govt going totally nazi on it's citizens.

Back to what Carson was saying, a small group of folks could fight and die outside of concentration camps, and to cause hitler some headaches at home could possibly delay his world domination ambitions.

overpowered

October 16th, 2015, 09:30 PM

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/11/stop_talking_about_hitler/

Tom Servo

October 16th, 2015, 10:37 PM

Yw-slayer

October 16th, 2015, 11:58 PM

Lofl

LHutton

October 17th, 2015, 02:55 AM

Mike Huckabee just endorsed “biblical” slavery over the modern prison system

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/15/mike_huckabee_just_endorsed_biblical_slavery_over_ the_modern_prison_system/
Well the modern prison system is used as a source of subsidised labour already.

Crazed_Insanity

October 17th, 2015, 10:32 AM

Dude, just stop. Stop digging your hole.
I'm digging for a well, can't stop! :p

JoshInKC

October 17th, 2015, 10:55 AM

Unrelated to Politics I've recently gained a glancing familiarity with how one digs a hand-dug stone-lined well.
More interesting than you might think. Same thing with arched stone cellars.

overpowered

October 17th, 2015, 09:15 PM

Anti-abortionist governor candidate impregnates an escort. Tells her to get an abortion.

https://www.rawstory.com/2015/10/former-prostitute-accuses-family-values-republican-of-impregnating-her-and-asking-her-to-abort/

overpowered

October 18th, 2015, 11:16 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrrNzH_7kjY

LHutton

October 19th, 2015, 02:55 AM

https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/26001/94845085.131/0_140082_4067e5d2_orig

The Grey is ISIS.

The green "Al-Nusra".

Purple is Islamic Front.

The FSA is in the light blue.

Rest (white) is Assad.

MR2 Fan

October 19th, 2015, 10:01 AM

So who is the U.S. siding with again?

overpowered

October 19th, 2015, 10:28 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWrdy1z-IB4

sandydandy

October 19th, 2015, 11:51 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrrNzH_7kjY When taking their citizenship photo, for security and identification reasons, I think the Nicab (sp?) should be removed. For the oath ceremony it shouldn't be an issue if it's on. It's just a ceremony.

Anyway, today is election day...but I think people will be more interested in the Jays/Royals game than voting. I'll probably abstain from voting, because I don't like any of the candidates. I used to love Harper and the Conservatives because of their strong fiscal conservative ideology...but now he's morphed into more of a social conservative, and I can't support that. The other candidates are just plain idiots. If I do vote it'll probably be for some obscure party. Maybe the Green Party, (tree huggers).

overpowered

October 19th, 2015, 09:06 PM

Canada's new prime minister:

http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2015/10/19/world-here-is-canadas-newest-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-member-of-the-rebel-alliance/

http://gaspull.geeksaresexytech.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/trudeau.jpg

LHutton

October 20th, 2015, 06:48 AM

So who is the U.S. siding with again?
The little blue blob in the south.

LHutton

October 20th, 2015, 06:52 AM

So who is the U.S. siding with again?
The little blue blob in the south.

Oh and coming to an airline near you soon:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/20/can-manpads-be-controlled-in-syria.html

Can MANPADS Be Controlled in Syria?

Theoretically, yes, but it’s an untested — and highly dangerous — proposition.
In recent weeks, Syrian opposition groups have renewed calls for the United States and other countries to supply man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to Syria’s beleaguered rebel forces. Senator John McCain has proven a lone voice in advocating for the provision of MANPADS to American –trained rebel forces in what he openly describes as a prospective replay of Washington’s covert war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Russian media have highlighted some of the many dissenting expert opinions.

Other states may not be quite as cautious, however. Qatar is believed to have delivered Chinese FN-6 MANPADS to Syrian rebel groups. Several of these have since been acquired by the Islamic State. Saudi Arabia, which has increased arms shipments to the Free Syrian Army in response to the Russian intervention, reportedly “hasn’t ruled out” supplying these advanced surface-to-air systems.

sandydandy

October 20th, 2015, 10:12 AM

Cam

October 20th, 2015, 01:01 PM

http://gaspull.geeksaresexytech.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/trudeau.jpg
I have a new hope that the force is strong with this one. :p

MR2 Fan

October 20th, 2015, 01:30 PM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12063396_1206112862748692_8938477586740248258_n.jp g?oh=497881173082058bf9eb2f23e7006ce4&oe=568DA340

Not far from the truth:

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-lawmaker-already-eager-impeach-hillary-clinton?cid=sm_fb_maddow

SportWagon

October 20th, 2015, 01:57 PM

tigeraid

October 21st, 2015, 11:16 AM

It's who I voted for. I'd like to say I voted NDP, but I saw the writing on the wall, that party was dead in the water.

After 10 years of a PM trying to turn us into America Jr, we might actually have time to reverse all the damage he's done. I just hope Trudeau sticks to at least HALF his promises. Working on C-51 would be a good start.

overpowered

October 21st, 2015, 04:21 PM

‘Back to the Future’ villain based on Trump

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/257578-back-to-the-future-villain-based-on-trump

21Kid

October 22nd, 2015, 07:53 AM

Ben Carson knocks Donald Trump from top spot in Iowa (http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/politics/ben-carson-donald-trump-iowa-poll/index.html)

Carson is the only candidate in the GOP field to consistently poll in the top tier near Trump, running a strong second in most national polling in the past month and easily outpacing other competitors.
The poll shows Trump does well with Iowa Republicans on issues like taxes, the economy and illegal immigration. But he fares less well on his personal attributes: 89% call Carson honest, versus 48% who see Trump that way. And 87% say Carson cares about their well-being, compared to 49% for Trump.
:?:?:?:?
I.... I just don't understand... :? Are they trying to pick the most incompetent person available? ... Are they trolling everyone? :?

MR2 Fan

October 22nd, 2015, 08:44 AM

Ben Carson knocks Donald Trump from top spot in Iowa (http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/politics/ben-carson-donald-trump-iowa-poll/index.html)

:?:?:?:?
I.... I just don't understand... :? Are they trying to pick the most incompetent person available? ... Are they trolling everyone? :?

It reminds me of the "vote for the worst" campaign on American Idol, though Ted Cruz is probably worse than Ben Carson

21Kid

October 22nd, 2015, 09:44 AM

:lol: The best representation for the family/work debate: Paul Ryan

Ryan's position "influences the work life conversation greatly," said Jennifer Owens, editorial director of Working Mother Media. "He is reaching for the third most powerful job in the federal government while acknowledging the importance of his role as a parent. That is a message that will be heard loud and clear."

"I cannot and will not give up my family time," Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, said Tuesday.

A high-profile man asserting that time with his three children, ages 10, 12, and 13, was just as important, if not more so, than becoming the most powerful person in the United States Congress? Could this be a watershed moment in the work-life balance debate?

SportWagon

October 22nd, 2015, 09:55 AM

You know, I always assumed Justin was a namesake of "A Just Society", but I actually can't find any evidence of that on the web.

overpowered

October 22nd, 2015, 10:15 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55NxKENplG4

21Kid

October 22nd, 2015, 11:34 AM

Dark days ahead for Wisconsin. :(

Welcome to the Wholly Owned Koch Subsidiary Formerly Known as Wisconsin (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-bottari/welcome-to-the-wholly-own_b_8330828.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592)

Starting today, three bills are being rammed through the Wisconsin legislature that will put the final nails in the coffin of our state's long history of clean elections and accountable governance.

The first bill, AB 387/SB 292, authored by ALEC members Robin Vos and Scott Fitzgerald, retroactively decriminalize much of the illegal coordination at the heart of the "John Doe" investigation of Governor Walker. By allowing candidates to directly coordinate with so-called "issue ad" groups, donors and corporations will have a new avenue for giving unlimited money, with the full knowledge of the candidate, but with no disclosure to the public or the press.

AB 388/SB 294, will get rid of the retired judges who run the Government Accountability Board, the nation's only independent, nonpartisan board to oversee elections and ethics. They will replace the judges with partisan appointees ensuring gridlock modeled on the broken Federal Elections Commission. Under the bill, the GAB cannot itself launch an investigation and it will no longer have a sum-sufficient budget for investigating corruption.

AB 68/SB 43, authored by ALEC member Dave Craig and Senator Tom Tiffany, will give politicians what is essentially "political corruption protection" by not allowing the state's "John Doe" law to be used for political corruption cases. The current law, which operates much like a Grand Jury but in front of a judge, has been used for every successful criminal prosecution of politicians in recent years. :smh:

LHutton

October 22nd, 2015, 11:58 AM

B-bye democracy.

21Kid

October 22nd, 2015, 12:30 PM

Ben Carson knocks Donald Trump from top spot in Iowa (http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/politics/ben-carson-donald-trump-iowa-poll/index.html)
:?:?:?:?
I.... I just don't understand... :? Are they trying to pick the most incompetent person available? ... Are they trolling everyone? :?

#BenCarson is now leading in the #polls in #Iowa. Too much #Monsanto in the #corn creates issues in the brain? #Trump #GOP"

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2015 Stay Classy Trump!

MR2 Fan

October 22nd, 2015, 12:35 PM

I still can't take Trump's candidacy seriously...I feel like he's doing this all for his ego and how much he can get away with in the spotlight, then will run as independent or drop out entirely to keep doing his businesses/Apprentice, etc.

He doesn't have friends in either party to "get stuff done" for one thing.

overpowered

October 23rd, 2015, 10:19 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/12049103_10207384328384885_6789943147148876198_n.j pg?oh=72d8095649f6022d7d21d6945a2d97fe&oe=56CC0EA1

thesameguy

October 23rd, 2015, 10:32 AM

Yeah, really... I can't imagine what he thought he was saying when he said that, unless it was a dig on his appearance. In that case, it was a poor comparison at best.

21Kid

October 23rd, 2015, 10:48 AM

:lol:

21Kid

October 23rd, 2015, 11:43 AM

I'm just a biiiiiiit skeptical about this.

Ryan pledges 'clean slate' as he seeks job of House Speaker
“We are not solving the country’s problems; we are only adding to them,” he says. “We have an opportunity to turn the page, to start with a clean slate, and to rebuild what has been lost,” Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee, said in a letter to fellow Republicans late Thursday that formally announced his candidacy. “We can make the House a more open and inclusive body — one where every member can contribute to the legislative process.”

Kchrpm

October 23rd, 2015, 11:55 AM

In his second, private letter:

Hail Hydra

21Kid

October 23rd, 2015, 12:04 PM

:lol:

overpowered

October 23rd, 2015, 01:20 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csra4QGlYlQ

overpowered

October 24th, 2015, 07:59 PM

http://i.imgbox.com/DT3Col5O.jpg

overpowered

October 25th, 2015, 10:16 PM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12187857_1211673482192630_7222272077255536816_n.jp g?oh=4d798544962c82ad0b0a570a41ee7540&oe=56CDD4BD

MR2 Fan

October 25th, 2015, 10:37 PM

While on that subject the other day, I was reading through one of the fine internet comment sections (yeah, I know, I know)....and someone posted this gem...something like "America was founded on freedom of religion, NOT freedom from religion".

The idea of that is stupid. It absolutely is freedom from religion, because you're free not to be bound by Islam or Hindu religions...so you have a right to practice in your home/place of worship privately, and not be forced to worship any other religions. People are so worried about Christianity...they don't realize they're doing exactly the same thing that people in the middle east do for Islam.

LHutton

October 26th, 2015, 09:33 AM

The idea of that is stupid. It absolutely is freedom from religion, because you're free not to be bound by Islam or Hindu religions...so you have a right to practice in your home
But not if you run a B&B.

thesameguy

October 26th, 2015, 10:40 AM

While on that subject the other day, I was reading through one of the fine internet comment sections (yeah, I know, I know)....and someone posted this gem...something like "America was founded on freedom of religion, NOT freedom from religion".

Actually, I'm pretty sure the comment is correct. America was primarily invaded so that religious nutjobs could be even nuttier. The whole "fleeing religious persecution" makes it sound like Christians were enforcing Christianity on a bunch of poor, elevated atheists but the reality is these people wanted even more religion in life so they left. To some degree things took a left turn, but religion figures strongly into the entire concept of America. Even the big "free thinkers" of American history worked religious concepts into their ideas.

As a kid in a non-religious household I always put my spin on the words, but what I thought and what it is/was are at odds. America was founded on extreme Christianity, but "freedom of religion" sure sounds better than "freedom from pantywaist Christianity," so they went with the former, not realizing that someday Hindus and Muslims might show up.

21Kid

October 26th, 2015, 11:02 AM

I would think it would have to be taken as literal as the gun lobby takes the 2nd though.

thesameguy

October 26th, 2015, 01:36 PM

The literal meaning of "of" is "the relationship between part and whole" so "freedom of religion" means "free to choose amongst religions." If atheism is not a religion, it's not on the list. "Freedom from religion" and "freedom of religion" are opposing concepts. So, let's hope they don't incorporate "you have the right to a religion, if you do not choose a religion one will be assigned to you" into citizenship papers.

LHutton

October 27th, 2015, 08:51 AM

Actually, I'm pretty sure the comment is correct. America was primarily invaded so that religious nutjobs could be even nuttier. The whole "fleeing religious persecution" makes it sound like Christians were enforcing Christianity on a bunch of poor, elevated atheists but the reality is these people wanted even more religion in life so they left. To some degree things took a left turn, but religion figures strongly into the entire concept of America. Even the big "free thinkers" of American history worked religious concepts into their ideas.

As a kid in a non-religious household I always put my spin on the words, but what I thought and what it is/was are at odds. America was founded on extreme Christianity, but "freedom of religion" sure sounds better than "freedom from pantywaist Christianity," so they went with the former, not realizing that someday Hindus and Muslims might show up.
Yup. They were of a religion invented by a serial wife-murdering king.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrim_Fathers

LHutton

October 27th, 2015, 08:59 AM

Here's what the actual Amendment says:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amendments_to_the_United_States_Constituti on

Prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

So the bit in bold would prevent the government forcing someone to have a religion, but it could also arguably be used by religious people to prevent the government restricting their right to practice their religion by not serving various people, the bit immediately after even more so.

thesameguy

October 27th, 2015, 11:18 AM

What people thought and did hundreds or thousands of years ago and decided to write down always creates a bit of a sticky wicket.

LHutton

October 27th, 2015, 11:36 AM

Nobody had a problem with interfering with the right to peacefully assemble it seems.

FaultyMario

October 27th, 2015, 11:40 PM

Can someone please explain, in the most logical sense, the emails/benghazi affair?

overpowered

October 28th, 2015, 12:02 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGsLhyNJBh8

neanderthal

October 28th, 2015, 06:06 AM

Can someone please explain, in the most logical sense, the emails/benghazi affair?

A sad thing happened. The republicans jumped on it to discredit Obama and smear Hilary. They failed the first and succeeded somewhat on the second. Because Hilary was using a private email server; shock, horror, dismay!!!

It's a dead horse that's been beaten, checked to see if it was dead, beaten again just to make sure, buried, exhumed, and beaten again for good measure. They got a lot of traction out of it while they were busy not governing, but now it's no longer any use.

Although they are still trying to get some people to be interested in their drummed up agenda. Like anybody cares about hitting the pinata after its broken open.

overpowered

October 28th, 2015, 08:22 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12066037_890203261035608_4013332281346309640_n.jpg ?oh=ed484dffe4a2c7c0639ed0ef402bdbcf&oe=56888E30

He said it in his 1905 address of congress:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillman_Act_of_1907

Republicans have changed, a lot.

MR2 Fan

October 28th, 2015, 08:48 AM

Well Teddy Roosevelt was a RINO to begin with (Republican in Name Only). He fought a lot of his own party.

LHutton

October 28th, 2015, 09:06 AM

CISA just got passed by senate.:rolleyes: Only 6 states had both of their senators vote against it: Massachusetts, Vermont, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, and Idaho.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00291

At least some of the votes appear to be made-up names:

Yea votes:

Alexander (R-TN)
Ayotte (R-NH)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Boxer (D-CA)
Burr (R-NC)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Capito (R-WV)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Coats (R-IN)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cotton (R-AR)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Durbin (D-IL)
Enzi (R-WY)
Ernst (R-IA)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gardner (R-CO)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Hirono (D-HI)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Kirk (R-IL)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Lankford (R-OK)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Perdue (R-GA)
Peters (D-MI)
Portman (R-OH)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rounds (R-SD)
Sasse (R-NE)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Scott (R-SC)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Shelby (R-AL)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Warner (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wicker (R-MS)

Senators with some semblance of a spine who voted Nay:

Baldwin (D-WI)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cardin (D-MD)
Coons (D-DE)
Crapo (R-ID)
Daines (R-MT)
Franken (D-MN)
Heller (R-NV)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lee (R-UT)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Risch (R-ID)
Sanders (I-VT)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Warren (D-MA)
Wyden (D-OR)

LHutton

October 29th, 2015, 03:22 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-investigates-afghan-sex-abuse-coverup-claims-002023030.html

Pentagon investigates Afghan sex abuse coverup claims

US defense officials said they were opening an investigation into allegations of child sex abuse by Afghan security forces and reports that US personnel deliberately overlooked it.

overpowered

October 29th, 2015, 12:49 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtBVuye4fZQ

overpowered

October 30th, 2015, 08:20 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlAZKvrXK-0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Fischer

overpowered

October 30th, 2015, 08:36 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GYM_jA3PfA

overpowered

October 30th, 2015, 04:51 PM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/11050687_10153250080416167_3462503949090034134_o.j pg

TheBenior

October 30th, 2015, 05:25 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GYM_jA3PfA

So full of shit.

I've tased a guy when I was called to the scene of a man waving a knife about. Many other police in the US have as well.

It just doesn't get national play unless somebody gets killed, but I'm not going to lose too much sleep about somebody getting killed while threatening to kill other people.

thesameguy

October 30th, 2015, 06:50 PM

Word.

LHutton

October 31st, 2015, 02:59 AM

If you're more likely to be violent, you're more likely to get shot by police.

MR2 Fan

November 1st, 2015, 09:02 AM

I keep hearing that Marco Rubio is supposed to be this nice, hopeful type of candidate, but he seems to be the biggest asshole to me, not sure where the "nice" idea is supposed to come from.

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 10:43 AM

Ben Carson caught on video claiming Mannatech supplement magically cured his prostate cancer (http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/ben-carson-caught-on-video-claiming-his-prostate-cancer-was-cured-by-tree-bark-supplement/22733/)

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 10:54 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12189024_10156173596220494_787527452798964199_n.jp g?oh=ca0f8cc0543fa6b7b8a086e2b3027540&oe=56B37C5C

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 10:57 AM

Fiorina finally admits she flubbed her facts (http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/fiorina-finally-admits-she-flubbed-her-facts)

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 11:16 AM

Ben Carson's file

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/ben-carson/

21Kid

November 2nd, 2015, 11:47 AM

They were even a bit generous with a few of those. There could easily be a few more pants on fire! findings.

And he's the current front-runner? :smh: What the hell is happening in politics? It seems like it's just getting crazier by the day. :?

thesameguy

November 2nd, 2015, 12:29 PM

People with a modicum of sense have tapped out, so the only people paying attention are crazies too. So, whatevs.

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 01:05 PM

Chlamydia outbreak hits abstinence-only Texas high school, making officials rethink sex ed

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/chlamydia-outbreak-hits-abstinence-only-texas-high-school-article-1.2212306

Crazed_Insanity

November 2nd, 2015, 01:23 PM

Ben Carson's file

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/ben-carson/

How come we can't find Sander's file?

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 01:24 PM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12189852_946175035420193_2673995280096630963_n.jpg ?oh=235ab491a5f4e3396d744702f0d3e962&oe=56AD4FF9

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 01:24 PM

How come we can't find Sander's file?Because you didn't look?

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/bernie-s/

21Kid

November 2nd, 2015, 01:53 PM

Geez, look at all of the Pants-on-fire comments that they write about him. :smh: I guess if you don't have anything substantial to run on yourself, just keep slinging poo at the other guy and hope something sticks. :smh:

Crazed_Insanity

November 2nd, 2015, 02:07 PM

Because you didn't look?

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/bernie-s/

Sorry, guess I didn't look hard enough..., but yeah, as expected, more than 50% of true and mostly true and no pants on fire! Probably the most trusted politicians out there...

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 02:12 PM

Anonymous KKK List Names US Senators, Mayors: Alleged Ku Klux Klan Members Include John Cornyn Of Texas

http://www.ibtimes.com/anonymous-kkk-list-names-us-senators-mayors-alleged-ku-klux-klan-members-include-john-2165525

George

November 2nd, 2015, 02:33 PM

That smacks of McCarthyism, only worse, since it's anonymous.

thesameguy

November 2nd, 2015, 03:04 PM

Better, it's Anonymous.

They warned it was coming for, what, a couple years now? They've owned, I mean, pwned various KKK resources for a long time.

Although I broadly trust Anonymous, you really can't accept what they say directly... nothing would prevent them from throwing a name in the hat to damage a perceived enemy. Not to suggest that's John Cornyn, only that it might be.

Also, although I believe our right of association and privacy are important, it's really hard me to care when a self-acknowledged hate group is the victim.

George

November 2nd, 2015, 03:24 PM

I didn't realize Anonymous was something different than anonymous, if that makes sense, but my opinion is unchanged.

And I have nothing good to say about the Klan, believe me.

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 04:03 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 04:06 PM

Apparently someone jumped the gun.

There’s A Major Problem With The ‘Anonymous’ List Claiming To Out KKK Senators And Mayors

http://reverbpress.com/news/us/theres-major-problem-anonymous-list-claiming-kkk-senators-mayors/

thesameguy

November 2nd, 2015, 04:09 PM

Heh. ibtimes.com sucks balls.

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 04:44 PM

Tons of news outlets did the same thing.

thesameguy

November 2nd, 2015, 04:58 PM

Doesn't change the fact that ibtimes sucks balls.

FaultyMario

November 2nd, 2015, 07:56 PM

thesameguy

November 2nd, 2015, 09:01 PM

No, but the rationale seems sane. The capacity of small groups to do huge damage changes the dynamic of defense and offense from large, organized militaries into an intelligence game. You don't fight biological, chemical, or electronic warfare with soldiers of the conventional variety. While a huge number of highly trained, idle individuals is never good, at least there is a reasonable possibility of longer effective careers.

LHutton

November 3rd, 2015, 04:35 AM

'Moderate' rebels in Syria lining roof-tops with caged Alawites to protect against air strikes.

https://www.facebook.com/ShaamNetwork.Arabic/videos/1063197827064124/

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/9524368011.png

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/6760292022.png

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/1576551333.png

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/7921794344.png

Crazed_Insanity

November 3rd, 2015, 09:59 AM

Re: Obama military doctrine.

Are you guys convinced it won't turn its ugly head on you and bite you?

See for example the mexican army's historical role in drug enforcement. Since the end of the mexican revolution in 1917, the political winners -not wanting to repeat the mistakes of the democrats who ended the dictatorship in 1911-, kept the militaty as the guardian dog of the civil state. From then onwards, military ambitions were kept at bay by giving top brass discretionary suprapowers in limited regions and times. That's how until the 1980s they regulated drug production and logistics. As long as they were an effective counterinsurgency measure they were pretty much free to negotiate some extra income. After the zapatista uprising, money was spent on training elite operatives. When there was a negotiated exit to that conflict, there was a surplus of highly specialized violence enforcers. Some of them then went to work in the lucrative drug trade. A shitstorm ensued.

Are you comfortable knowing that your executive has more than doubled (now more than 70,000) the number of special ops personnel? Do you think the american society is literally bulletproof to have these guys shielded from mental, racial, financial strains once they becone idle?

We Americans love Rambo! More Rambos the better! ;)

In all seriousness, what can the American people do about it? Whether it's just special ops mercenaries or dictators like Hussein or terrorists like Bin Laden... Our govt used to think meddling around in the middle east is harmless, but we've already been bitten back during 9-11. Existence of all these new terrorist groups are also most likely our own doing as well. Surely not all of our Rambos will remain loyal to us and will be willing to fight which ever side that pays more...

Anyway, at first I thought getting rid of folks like W would be good enough, but now Obama is doing the same damn thing.

What are we Americans to do?

Most of us don't know and don't care. Even if we do know and do care, we're powerless to do anything about it.

I guess the best way to counter these kind of things would be media. Making some sensational documentary or some Hollywood blockbuster movie or something..., but not to just glorify Rambo, but to show its darker side. So I guess Star Wars is already doing that, however, I doubt we Americans would see ourselves as the global evil empire... we're too blind to see that.

Other than swaying public opinion, I'm not sure how the American people can keep CIA in check... and regardless of party affiliation of our commander in chief, resistance to war seems pretty futile. W and O are pretty much the same in the war front. I don't know what else I can do.

overpowered

November 3rd, 2015, 11:08 AM

The GOP and the Rise of Anti-Knowledge

http://billmoyers.com/2015/10/29/the-gop-and-the-rise-of-anti-knowledge/#at_pco=cfd-1.0

overpowered

November 3rd, 2015, 11:43 AM

President Obama Skewers GOP Candidates Who 'Can't Handle A Bunch Of CNBC Moderators'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-makes-fun-of-republicans_563823a3e4b00a4d2e0bafb5

21Kid

November 3rd, 2015, 11:48 AM

I hadn't thought of it that way before. That makes a lot of sense now. It has baffled me for a while. It's sad, but I can understand why so many blindly follow them.

Thanks to these overlapping and mutually reinforcing segments of the right-wing media-entertainment-“educational” complex, it is now possible for the true believer to sail on an ocean of political, historical, and scientific disinformation without ever sighting the dry land of empirical fact. This effect is fortified by the substantial overlap between conservative Republicans and fundamentalist Christians.

The latter group begins with the core belief that truth is revealed in a subjective process involving the will to believe (“faith”) rather than discovered by objectively corroberable means. Likewise, there is a baseline opposition to the prevailing secular culture, and adherents are frequently warned by church authority figures against succumbing to the snares and temptations of “the world.” Consequently, they retreat into the echo chamber of their own counterculture: if they didn’t hear it on Fox News or from a televangelist, it never happened.

For these culture warriors, belief in demonstrably false propositions is no longer a stigma of ignorance, but a defiantly worn badge of political resistance.

MR2 Fan

November 3rd, 2015, 12:58 PM

I hadn't thought of it that way before. That makes a lot of sense now. It has baffled me for a while. It's sad, but I can understand why so many blindly follow them.

Yes, that and the idea that any news source that doesn't agree with their version of the "truth" is part of a vast left-wing conspiracy, when often times the opposite is more accurate.

It's part of a mass delusion perpetuated by people of "authority" like the fake CIA agent they caught a few weeks back who was spreading lies as an "expert" on Fox News for years. It is also part of the plan by Fox News and others to blame the other side for what your side is doing.

Pretty much all of our information about the world is spread through news organizations, and now with heavy political and corporate influence...combined with a massive online movement of hundreds of "news" organizations with absolutely NO reason to demonstrate the facts, and blind followers in comments sections acting like 12 year olds 24/7.

BTW, I once worked with a brilliant guy at my job, he was moved up quickly to a high level tech position and was super nice to be around, etc. He never mentioned politics or anything with us. Eventually he had gotten sick and was stuck at home, had to quit his job etc. I was FB friends with him and noticed a massive change...he started posting the most hateful right wing rhetoric from all of those "news" sources all the time. I had to unfriend him, because he was also making snarky comments on my posts as well.....quite sad, no reasonable discourse.

21Kid

November 3rd, 2015, 01:10 PM

The complete disregard for facts is what really amazes me. Especially when the lies they are spewing are proven to be wrong. Their followers don't care. In fact they get more behind them, like 'the man' is against them or something.

They can literally say anything they want and it doesn't hurt their agenda one bit.

Are the two sides really that much different? I just don't see that on the left.

MR2 Fan

November 3rd, 2015, 01:35 PM

Crazed_Insanity

November 3rd, 2015, 01:49 PM

I think it's just confirmation bias at work here. We all have a set of 'beliefs' and we tend to seek out what we think are 'facts' or whatever info to confirm our predetermined beliefs and we tend to ignore other stuffs that go contrary to our beliefs/ideologies. Plus, the same 'fact' could also be twisted to support multiple things. We humans are very good a re-interpreting things.

Nobody will completely disregard all facts and ignore all reasons. Only facts that don't support their beliefs/ideologies. Yes, this is a troublesome area for conservative/Christians... however, this doesn't mean that if all Americans abandoned their belief in Jesus, than all will be fixed. Even liberal secularists or atheists can still have their own 'beliefs' or 'ideologies'.

Face it, in this world we live in, even if we're super open minded, we still don't have all the facts. There are still plenty of mysteries in this universe for us to solve. We all just need to find a way to work together and move forward the best we can, rather than just blame the other side for our problems.

MR2 Fan

November 3rd, 2015, 02:08 PM

http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/TopAuthors/tmb/mark-twain-funny-quotes-get-your-facts-first-then-you-can-distort-them-as-you.jpg

Oh, and he was also an atheist

overpowered

November 3rd, 2015, 08:54 PM

Georgia Bill Helps Wife Beaters

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/13/georgia-bill-helps-wife-beaters.html

thesameguy

November 3rd, 2015, 10:09 PM

Man, definitely seems like a good time to start a religion. Anyone up for a Waco redux?

TheBenior

November 3rd, 2015, 10:15 PM

Nah, I'm already leaving towards a Cthulhu cult.

That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die.

Tom Servo

November 4th, 2015, 07:36 AM

I was watching the 20/20 with Leah Remini talking about Scientology the other night, and they had things like official statements about Remini from the CoS and clips of David Miscavige and Tom Cruise talking. All the positives were statements about how "Scientology is the only thing that can save the world", while negatives were things like calling someone a "liar, rude, and embarrassing."

That's when I realized that Donald Trump and the Church of Scientology talk exactly the same way.

overpowered

November 4th, 2015, 08:11 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/12193384_945423375495359_5260276371017595532_n.jpg ?oh=3829da072770eba425b040d55b1c6c25&oe=56C21A68

Crazed_Insanity

November 4th, 2015, 09:56 AM

I'm not a supporter of either, but somehow I find it hard to believe that a neurosurgeon cannot make any true or mostly true statements. I can't believe he's worse than Trump?!?!?

Freude am Fahren

November 4th, 2015, 10:13 AM

Dude, have you heard him talk? He's not as boisterous or mean as Trump, but he's crazier.

thesameguy

November 4th, 2015, 10:39 AM

He probably thinks he's getting away with the deception.

HE MIGHT BE!

Crazed_Insanity

November 4th, 2015, 10:47 AM

I didn't like his voice... doesn't sound very manly... :p

Didn't really paid too much attention to exactly what was said, just find it amazing that he speaks only lies.

Anyway, crazy doesn't always mean false though.

One of the most outrageous thing he said that I remembered was about had Jews own guns they things would've been different... anyway, for these hypothetical/opinionated stuffs, naturally cannot be categorized as truthful, but they're not lies either. Maybe the guy is talk too much about opinions rather than stating just facts.

MR2 Fan

November 4th, 2015, 11:14 AM

Ben Carson ( and I hear people saying to "Call him DOCTOR BEN CARSON"...even though they refuse to call our President as President Obama) seems to be just stating sound bytes from what pollsters say would be good things to say. I still don't know who the real person is.

This whole thing is such a circus....if a Dem wins next year (seems likely) I really wonder what the 2020 race will look like on the Republican side.

21Kid

November 4th, 2015, 11:18 AM

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/82/1f/e1/821fe1bc9e572aa1c7e5d9054c45fd15.jpg
http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Idiocracy-President-570x267.png

JoshInKC

November 4th, 2015, 04:25 PM

Earlier today I saw an article with attached video of Carson speaking at a college commencement address where he declared that the pyramids were built by the biblical Joseph for the purpose of storing grain.
I would not consider this a lie, just indicative of a profound ignorance.

Edit: Found it.
http://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2015/11/aliens-pyramids-and-granaries-what-on-earth-was-ben-carson-thinking/414301/

FaultyMario

November 4th, 2015, 09:46 PM

Geez, everyone knows silos are conical not pyramidal!

overpowered

November 4th, 2015, 09:58 PM

The pyramids that have been entered have also been shown to not have much open space inside relative to their size.

The idea that they were made to be grain silos is idiotic. Most of the best known pyramids (the really big ones) were also built long before Joseph supposedly existed, though there were many less well known ones built after the time he supposedly existed. Oh and yeah, his actual existence is not proven.

Grain silos tend to be cylindrical; not conical; though they could have a cone at the top and/or bottom of the cylinder.

21Kid

November 5th, 2015, 06:20 AM

:( That is sooooo scary.

That someone who will lie that badly is currently the republican's top choice to represent our country. :smh: Just imagine how badly he'd lie about really important things. :eek:

neanderthal

November 5th, 2015, 07:49 AM

Crazed_Insanity

November 5th, 2015, 08:02 AM

He did specify that's his personal theory though. Don't you think you guys are over reacting a bit?

Can a totally ignorant person become a neuro surgeon?

Freude am Fahren

November 5th, 2015, 08:14 AM

And president? Fuck no. Fuck him and his "theories".

JoshInKC

November 5th, 2015, 09:26 AM

He did specify that's his personal theory though. Don't you think you guys are over reacting a bit?

Can a totally ignorant person become a neuro surgeon?
Here's the thing - One shouldn't have a "personal theory" if one has none of the widely available knowledge about something. Let alone having the poor judgement to include said "personal theory" in a public speech. Also, bringing up "aliens built the pyramids" and suggesting that "scientists" think it is wildly dumb and in my mind, a disqualifying factor for washing my car, let alone the presidency.
I'm going to go with yes. I don't know how many surgeons you've met, but in my experience they tend to be of - at best, average intelligence and also utterly arrogant.

Freude am Fahren

November 5th, 2015, 09:34 AM

Also, bringing up "aliens built the pyramids" and suggesting that "scientists" think it is wildly dumb and in my mind, a disqualifying factor for washing my car, let alone the presidency.

That part really pissed me off. I don't think it's so much ignorance, but rather malicious intent to try and discredit science and "facts."

thesameguy

November 5th, 2015, 09:58 AM

I'm going to go with yes. I don't know how many surgeons you've met, but in my experience they tend to be of - at best, average intelligence and also utterly arrogant.

My experience as well. It's like they used all their brainpower so they could do surgery, and everything else is best efforts. I work fairly closely with a highly respected neurosurgeon and she can't even run her own life. She has wackadoo opinions on all sorts of things, and it's amazing she can function at all on the daily. But, she knows brains and is highly sought after as a result. Very weird. I joke with a mutual friend that I would slit my wrists if I was as bad at everything as she is, but it's how she's gotten where she is (which, for the record, is a $450k/yr income), so clearly she knows something I don't. I'd definitely let her open my skull, but I wouldn't put her in charge of a single other human being!

Crazed_Insanity

November 5th, 2015, 10:17 AM

Okay, 1st let me make it clear that I'm not a support of Carson and I'm not a pyramid expert, but...

JoshInKC, you would not allow surgeons to wash your cars, but you'd allow those, at best with average intelligence, to operate on your brain if you were to injure your head? Are you really being reasonable here? Or is this your own 'theory' that surgeons are at best, of average intelligence?

Forget pyramids for now, let's use young earth old earth theories as example. I think science has proven that earth is pretty damn old with much certainty than what we know about pyramids, right? Personally I believe our world is BOTH young and old depending where you're at relative to our expanding universe, but lets just stick to the reference frame of earth for now. We are pretty darn sure that our universe and earth are old, not thousands of years young.

Still, there were and are many Christians who still believe in young earth.

But in all honesty, so what?

Did such a belief hindered the Europeans' growth and development? Was such belief what caused the dark ages?
Similarly during relatively modern day of USA, has such belief hinder it to become one of the biggest global powers?

Of course I'm not saying believers must continue to ignore scientific facts and hold on to their previous erroneous biblical beliefs, but I do believe certain erroneous beliefs due to misinterpretations of the bible doesn't really affect how one washes modern day cars.

Anyway, unlike most of you, I don't think it really bothers me if my president believes in aliens or no aliens, ghosts or no ghosts... and for Christ's sake, what difference does it make what a US president believes about some ancient Egyptian ruin? To me, this is similar to the Republicans trying to find fault in Hillary's emails.

It's like there are no real issues relevant to US to talk about?

I guess my initial hunch about Carson being too 'opinionated' is true. His spewing out of these personal theories of his is what's causing him to end up with 0% of truthful statements... But I still wouldn't categorize his statements as lies though.

Just as with books, not all books are scientifically and fact based. Just because they're not based on factual things, it doesn't make those books lies. Fiction, religious texts can still be good books.

TSG, my wife's uncle was a neurosurgeon, he's in charge of the whole hospital now. He's about the only surgeon that I know, from what I've seen, I don't think he's that dumb in daily life. I haven't spend too much time with him on a daily basis, so I wouldn't know I guess... but supposedly he also graduated with top honors in schools, so he can't possibly be of average intelligence I don't think. Anyway, unless surgeons in Taiwan are different from surgeons in US?

thesameguy

November 5th, 2015, 10:39 AM

The issue at stake is not level of intelligence but rather rejection of fact. We don't know how smart Ben Carson is, could be he's a genius in all things. Could be he is saying this nonsense because he thinks it'll get him elected and nothing more. The issue is that he is a proponent of fact rejection and/or fact manufacture, and that's is simply not okay. Humans got places not knowing things and that's fine, but once the information is available and substantiated, you have an obligation to either run with that information or challenge it with a better argument. Nobody is upset at the Church for ever believing the Earth is flat, but once a guy with some instruments and some math shows up and explains what that *totally unsubstantiated claim of flatness* is wrong, the Church needs to fall in line. The same is true of Ben Carson. We have mountains of evidence indicating what the pyramids were for dating back centuries, what we don't have is a single shred of evidence supporting they were used for grain and while we have iffy evidence Joseph existed, that evidence suggests pyramids dramatically predate him. Carson is manufacturing facts, he is supporting the rejection of fact. It's not a matter of his intelligence at all - it's a matter of his behavior, which is reprehensible and wholly inappropriate for someone who wants to take charge of a 300m people. That guy can't run around making decisions on shitty ideas EVER. He needs to be a superlative fact checker and evaluater ALWAYS.

So, two separate things: Just because Ben Carson is a doctor that doesn't mean he is smart, but because he's a fact manufacturer he cannot be president. I mean, he doesn't even make up good facts. He makes up consistently, reliably, disprovable facts. I'd like him better if he believed in aliens. At least there we've got a possibility. He is claiming some dubious historical figure traveled back in time to teach Egyptians how to store grain! That's lies or insanity or both.

Crazed_Insanity

November 5th, 2015, 10:54 AM

Again, he didn't claim that he's manufacturing 'fact'! He had this disclaimer that its his own personal theory. He's not expecting everyone to buy into his theory.

Fact manufacturers are the ones who generated facts about Iraq having WMD.

Or the guy who claim he in fact did NOT have sexual relations with Monica.

You guys genuinely don't see the difference? People are forbidden to have theories of their own that flies against conventional scientific facts? Any theories that don't fall in line with the church of scientific fact must be declare heretical and such persons must be disregarded as somebody who's not even worthy of washing your car? Com'on.

FaultyMario

November 5th, 2015, 10:56 AM

Ok, I'll only say this one nasty thing once.

BC sounds like he was molested as a child.

MR2 Fan

November 5th, 2015, 11:13 AM

FaultyMario

November 5th, 2015, 11:37 AM

Crazed_Insanity

November 5th, 2015, 12:35 PM

I'm going to ask....I don't have any opinion that this is the case, but is anyone else speculating that the poll numbers for BC are at least a couple of percent of people on the GOP side saying "see, we're not racist, we can choose a (token) black guy too!!"

You forgot Colin Powell and Rice? They're the ones who didn't want to run. Surely GOP would love to have them had they said yes.

As for Carson, not really sure where he came from...

As for saying shit people want to hear, isn't this what most politicians do?

Anyway, I'm personally not bothered by what he says, I just have a problem with his voice. I just don't think he sounds presidential! :p

thesameguy

November 5th, 2015, 01:06 PM

Again, he didn't claim that he's manufacturing 'fact'! He had this disclaimer that its his own personal theory. He's not expecting everyone to buy into his theory.

A theory is a concept based on set of incomplete facts. There is no set of facts that supports Joseph had anything to do with pyramids, OR that pyramids had anything to do with grain. That is not a theory. That is a WAG or a fairy tale at best, a lie at worst. It is a conclusion that goes against all known fact patterns. His statement - and many of his statements (eg, Mannatech) - have absolutely known foundation in human knowledge.

People are forbidden to have theories of their own that flies against conventional scientific facts? Any theories that don't fall in line with the church of scientific fact must be declare heretical and such persons must be disregarded as somebody who's not even worthy of washing your car? Com'on.

People are absolutely entitled to BELIEVE whatever they want. But couching a belief as a theory is wrong. You can believe Joseph built the pyramids for grain storage if you want to, but the irrefutable facts are the pyamids predate this supposed Joseph guy, and nobody has ever found grain in one, and there is nothing about the construction of pyramids (eg, tiny inside spaces vs. outside volume and narrow, winding corridors and no actual "filler" at the top) suggests they were designed to store anything that anybody ever wanted to get out again. His THEORY is in opposition to FACTS. So, it's not a theory, it's a belief. At best. It's no different than believing vaccines cause autism when there is zero evidence to support it, and significant evidence opposing it.

I am *all* for belief. If you want to believe in God(s), aliens, lawn gnomes, whatever. I don't care. That's great, and there are lessons to be learned from belief and people believing together. But I would not couch Christianity as the "Theory of God" anymore than I would couch Ben Carson as a "Grain Storage Theorist."

thesameguy

November 5th, 2015, 01:08 PM

No, i think carson ripped a page out of the "lcd-shit people wanna hear" and thus why he is getting good numbers. It worked for that petulant asshole of Trump, why wouldn't it work for the soft-spoken middle class guy?

Kinda thinking the same thing. His is not going to win "liberals" based on his political views, so his target audience is "conservatives," and these days "those people" love it when you argue with science. A lot. Like I said, he very well could be a genius.

Freude am Fahren

November 5th, 2015, 01:28 PM

Crazed_Insanity

November 5th, 2015, 02:04 PM

Maybe this is the wrong thread, but TSG, so what would you couch Christianity or whatever other religions as? If they are not 'theories' for God(s), what are they? We 'believe' something... so we formulate theories and eventually we can use science or whatever means to prove our theories(initial beliefs), right? So IMHO, belief is pretty much the same as theories...

When scientists can get the entire universe all figured out, then perhaps they'll have God figured out. Until then, Christianity can remain only as a 'theory' at best, but mostly we only call it a belief. IMHO, it's laughable for us to make the absolute factual claim that the Creator of the universe cannot possibly exist when we don't even have our universe all figured out.

Likewise, are all mysteries solved for the pyramids? There are absolutely no room for other theories? Anyway, I'm not an expert, but I somehow doubt we have it all figured out. Likewise with vaccines. Does it really cause autism? Even if not, is there really absolutely no room for pharmaceutical companies to corrupt government officials to make unnecessary vaccines mandatory for profit all disguised in the name of factual science?

For vaccines, it's a real issue that can affect us all. Definitely something we need to tackle. I don't think people can just blindly trust these big corporations and our government officials because they're supposedly in the business of 'factual science'.

As for pyramids real purpose, who the fuck cares?

However, I just don't think people ought to just make sweeping statements that all conservative republican christian dumbass surgeons are unfit to eve wash cars!

I just don't think that's very logical or reasonable either. The ability to become a brain surgeon and make a lot of money means nothing, but once he said something about pyramids that doesn't jive with current scientific fact... oh, then that means he's an ignorant liar and can't be trusted with anything else but brain surgery? Really? That really sound very logical and reasonable to you guys?

If you don't like him, you don't like him. I for one make the claim that I don't like him based purely on how he talks. We most certainly don't have to agree with his 'theories', but bottomline is that I just don't see him as a liar or manufacturer of facts.

Both right and left are seeing each other as scums of the earth. Pretty sad.

We might as well just be a divided States of America in order to avoid another civil war.

MR2 Fan

November 5th, 2015, 02:05 PM

You would think the GOP would realize that having a moderate, or at least, normal republican win would mean they'd win the general. Hillary is not that strong. Bernie isn't any stronger in the general considering he's left of Hillary. But either of them will wipe the floor with these wackos.

That's the thing...I was no fan of Mitt Romney, but he was moderate compared to the others in 2012.

There's practically NO candidate this year who is moderate and getting more than 1% of the polls, I think Kasich is the only the only GOP candidate treading anywhere near moderate territory.

Here's the problem though. GOP still runs campaigns on fear, scared people vote to get themselves out of perceived issues and many tend to be older and vote more often....Democrats in general, are younger and seemingly lazy voters, who never turn out when it isn't a presidential year.

I think the Democrats seriously need to make a unified stand, similar to the way the GOP did in 1996 in their "contract with america", on the issues and that you have to vote for all Dem candidates to make these changes happen.

overpowered

November 5th, 2015, 06:44 PM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12208806_1249852651707468_3304418356758248570_n.jp g?oh=456fd6fedf06ecbc14e085a1b0f3a9ea&oe=56C631BC

overpowered

November 5th, 2015, 09:18 PM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12190907_1145599582120209_1216937054492071517_n.jp g?oh=32e75e98df3b3bfabb508e92705d7af0&oe=56C0593D

thesameguy

November 5th, 2015, 11:35 PM

Maybe this is the wrong thread, but TSG, so what would you couch Christianity or whatever other religions as?

English is blessed with lots of words, which is why we have "theory" and "religion" to describe two different things, and why "fun story time" is not equivalent to "theory." :up:

21Kid

November 6th, 2015, 06:58 AM

Ben Carson on questions about his past
"This is a bunch of lies, that is what it is," Carson said

The two journalists repeatedly approached the Carson campaign during their reporting and again before publication of the story. But the campaign staff declined to comment or to assist them in locating classmate or victims of violence who could provide insights about Carson's past.

Glover and Reston spoke with nine friends, classmates and neighbors who grew up with Carson, and none had any memory of the anger or violence the candidate has described.

CNN's story pointed out that none of the people interviewed challenged the veracity of his accounts, but said they were surprised at them and did not reflect the youth that they knew.

"This is a bunch of lies attempting to say I'm lying about my history, I think it's pathetic, and basically what the media does is they try to get you distracted.":lol: yup. It's the media's fault when you lie.

Freude am Fahren

November 6th, 2015, 09:21 AM

He also admitted that his West Point scholarship was a lie.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/ben-carson-west-point-215598

overpowered

November 6th, 2015, 09:37 AM

Childhood friends of Ben Carson confirm that his entire backstory is a lie

http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/childhood-friends-of-ben-carson-confirm-that-his-entire-backstory-is-a-lie/22967/

Crazed_Insanity

November 6th, 2015, 09:39 AM

Okay, now that's 'manufacturing' facts. Make belief, rather than just belief or theory.

I can't believe he even put that story in his book.

thesameguy

November 6th, 2015, 10:11 AM

It sounded good at the time...

21Kid

November 6th, 2015, 10:43 AM

Childhood friends of Ben Carson confirm that his entire backstory is a lie

http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/childhood-friends-of-ben-carson-confirm-that-his-entire-backstory-is-a-lie/22967/

Sorry, that's what the CNN interview (http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/06/politics/ben-carson-responds-violent-past-new-day/index.html) I was talking about was in regards to.

Rikadyn

November 6th, 2015, 12:26 PM

maybe Carson believes he needs to tell a lie a little at a time...

Freude am Fahren

November 6th, 2015, 12:35 PM

The gift that keeps giving...

Just a little at a time though.

FaultyMario

November 6th, 2015, 04:24 PM

It is David Brooks, so proceed with caution. It must be a la jornada exclusive. (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.com.mx&sl=es&tl=en&u=http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2015/11/06/mundo/031n1mun&usg=ALkJrhjuwDjuNZIqvlDlKefZbLRFtpJovQ)

MR2 Fan

November 6th, 2015, 08:00 PM

The Dem forum tonight was very good, all 3 candidates continue to make the GOP debates look like a bunch of kindergartners

overpowered

November 6th, 2015, 10:28 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKxXtOyMmYc

Freude am Fahren

November 7th, 2015, 10:07 AM

Still a year away and he's already melting down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUMYsJ_OUdU

overpowered

November 7th, 2015, 10:53 AM

Ultimate Trickster Ben Carson Claims He Was Named "Most Honest" Student in Yale Class That Didn't Exist

http://gawker.com/ultimate-trickster-ben-carson-claims-he-was-named-most-1741171913

overpowered

November 8th, 2015, 11:41 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/12227047_1220444674648844_3190553549482632131_n.jp g?oh=d7187db571908c65d154ee1cbfb8a360&oe=56B06FC8

overpowered

November 8th, 2015, 10:22 PM

#BenCarsonWikipedia

http://deadstate.org/bencarsonwikipedia-is-trending-on-twitter-and-its-hilarious/

overpowered

November 8th, 2015, 10:38 PM

Austin Police Beat Up Men for Jaywalking

https://photographyisnotacrime.com/2015/11/austin-police-beat-up-men-for-jaywalking-in-texas/

21Kid

November 9th, 2015, 12:57 PM

10 Reasons I'm Only Voting for Bernie Sanders and Will Not Support Hillary Clinton (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/10-reasons-im-only-voting-for-bernie-sanders-and-will-not-support-hillary-clinton_b_8508172.html)

Crazed_Insanity

November 9th, 2015, 01:28 PM

Sanders really looks like the sensible and obvious choice. I don't trust any of the Republican offerings nor Clinton in the white house.

thesameguy

November 9th, 2015, 01:28 PM

For the record, I have a great deal of respect for Hillary Clinton and admire her attempt at healthcare in the '90s. If the Hillary Clinton of the early '90s were around today, then I wouldn't have been quoted in a recent MassLive.com article titled Hillary Clinton's new foe: the left.

Bernie Sanders never uses euphemisms. I trust Bernie because he speaks clearly; English is a means to communicate, not shield from criticism. Clinton, on the other hand, lives by euphemism

I don't know if it's a good article or not as I am biased, but I agree with it 1000%.

21Kid

November 9th, 2015, 01:54 PM

Agreed with both of those quotes.

During the first debate, all I could think about was that she was only addressing the issues brought up because Bernie. If not for him, she would only be giving the normal lip service.

She's only jumping on what is popular now for the votes. Bernie has held the same position on topics for decades.

overpowered

November 9th, 2015, 05:20 PM

"on her worst day, Hillary Clinton will be an infinitely better candidate and President than the Republican candidate on his best day." -- Bernie Sanders

thesameguy

November 9th, 2015, 05:53 PM

Maybe an overbroad statement, but amongst the current crop, you betcha.

21Kid

November 10th, 2015, 06:32 AM

And Bernie would be 10x better than Hillary...

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 08:53 AM

Scott Walker outlaws investigations into ... Scott Walker

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/11/06/scott-walker-outlaws-investigations-into-scott-walker/75299380/

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 09:22 AM

Why Carson’s complaints about scrutiny are wrong

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/why-carsons-complaints-about-scrutiny-are-wrong

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 09:23 AM

It kind of sucks that I wish Romney was running. At least then we'd have a viable candidate who isn't completely psycho on the republican side. All of the candidates that are polling decently at all on the republican side are fucking scary.

21Kid

November 10th, 2015, 09:46 AM

Agreed. :smh: And I thought he was bad. How wrong i was... :(

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 10:23 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/10472260_949337981770565_2431707032707538956_o.jpg

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 10:24 AM

Agreed. :smh: And I thought he was bad. How wrong i was... :(You were right, actually. He was bad. He just wasn't as bad as what we are faced with now.

George

November 10th, 2015, 10:25 AM

I'm disappointed that Chris Christie is polling so poorly. I've come to like the guy.

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 10:42 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HwVydMusMQ

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/08/1446882/-Unarmed-Arizona-man-assaulted-by-Cops-for-trying-to-call-his-sister

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 10:42 AM

I'm disappointed that Chris Christie is polling so poorly. I've come to like the guy.He's still pretty bad, just not as bad as the people who are polling higher than him.

21Kid

November 10th, 2015, 11:10 AM

Yeah, I had hopes for Christie as well. But, some of his stances are just go too far.

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 11:08 PM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/12241196_949526288418401_1915821184978922540_n.png ?oh=839a96589690f48dc3de854c81070eaf&oe=56BF7754

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 11:20 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1XAyL7PE_s

Crazed_Insanity

November 11th, 2015, 10:11 AM

Nice investigative report there Colbert! The food pyramid once and for all proved Carson is right about his theory!!! He also identified the unidentified man Carson supposedly stabbed while he was young! With a knife that's about 3~4 inches long... :lol:

George

November 11th, 2015, 12:02 PM

It's sad to realize a couple of the GOP candidates are younger than me. Go Sanders! :lol:

Tom Servo

November 11th, 2015, 05:10 PM

The Eisenhower-era deportation policy that Trump praised during last night's debate: "Operation Wetback"

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/donald-trump-just-endorsed-operation-wetback-at-the-gop-debate-20151110

21Kid

November 12th, 2015, 10:53 AM

I'm not really surprised... and I'm sure no one on the right cares. But, if I were backing a candidate and found this out... along with all of his other untruths, I'd consider backing someone else.

Carson profits from ties with convicted felon (http://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-carson-profits-friendship-felon-085227938--election.html)

Republican presidential contender Ben Carson has maintained a business relationship with a close friend convicted of defrauding insurance companies and testified on his behalf, even as the candidate has called for such crimes to be punished harshly.

That September, federal prosecutors charged Costa, accusing him of fraud committed over a nearly five-year period, according to court records. Investigators determined that Costa's dental practice charged more than 50 patients for procedures that had not been performed, resulting in a loss of more than $40,000 to insurance companies.

In 2007, a few months before Costa was charged, records show that a pair of corporations was established in Pennsylvania called BenCan LLC, and INBS LLC. Carson and his wife are listed as the sole members of the companies. Though the Carsons live outside Baltimore, the mailing address on the incorporation forms was Costa's home address in Pittsburgh.
BenCan and INBS then paid more than $3 million to purchase an office building in suburban Pittsburgh. The mailing address for the corporations listed on the deed matches the office of Costa's real estate firm, Costa Land Co.

In the end, Costa got no prison time. He was sentenced to one year of house arrest and 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay more than $294,000 in fines and restitution. Costa later got 12 months shaved off his three-year probation.

Though Costa was assigned to serve his sentence in his 8,300-square-foot mansion in nearby Fox Chapel, his lawyers repeatedly returned to court to seek permission for him to travel.

Before his criminal conviction and the revocation of his license to practice dentistry, Costa built a multimillion-dollar fortune through commercial real estate. Investments Carson and his wife made through Costa earn the couple between $200,000 and $2 million a year, according to financial records that Carson was required to file when he declared his candidacy.

Costa also continues to promote his involvement with Carson's charity as part of his real estate business, prominently featuring the logo of the Carson Scholars Fund on the company's website. His son has worked with Carson's presidential campaign and a political committee founded by the retired neurosurgeon.

thesameguy

November 12th, 2015, 11:59 AM

I think you'll find that crimes are things that people we don't like do. Poor decisions are what people we like do. Costa didn't commit any crimes, he made mistakes - and I'm sure he's very sorry for them.

Crazed_Insanity

November 12th, 2015, 01:03 PM

thesameguy

November 12th, 2015, 01:19 PM

You're overlooking the fact that they are not trying. His - and a significant portion of modern-day Republicans - followers aren't listening to the words much less making judgments about their content. They're evaluation ends with his professed ideals and they jump immediately to "liberal conspiracy to take down a good man." They never consider anything in the middle, the part about him and people like him lying and obfuscating and why they're being called on it. It's anti-knowledge. Jim Kirk would not approve.

21Kid

November 12th, 2015, 01:53 PM

:up:

...

:(

Crazed_Insanity

November 12th, 2015, 02:28 PM

Anyway, if Carson really has 'memory problems' like Brian Williams, I'm sure it'll eventually catch up to him. Especially in the age of internet.

neanderthal

November 12th, 2015, 03:26 PM

I'm just surprised that he's still in the running after he admitted to lying about scholarship and the seemingly fake childhood stories.

I don't think this thing will hurt him just like the pyramid thing. Remember, Jesus hang out with sinners too. What's the big deal about hanging out with criminals... as long as you're not the criminal. OTOH, Jesus doesn't lie. I don't understand how the conservative Christians can explain his lies away.

It's quite ok if he's their nigger. It's quite different if he's not; see Obama ~2007 and his various associations; Frank Davis, Charles Ogletree, Jeremiah Wright, etc

I debated long and hard about the use of the N word. I don't know that I want to debate it anymore. In general I don't care for it's use but am of the mindset that if black people can say it, white people can say it. That doesn't make it less offensive.

You're overlooking the fact that they are not trying. His - and a significant portion of modern-day Republicans - followers aren't listening to the words much less making judgments about their content. They're evaluation ends with his professed ideals and they jump immediately to "liberal conspiracy to take down a good man." They never consider anything in the middle, the part about him and people like him lying and obfuscating and why they're being called on it. It's anti-knowledge. Jim Kirk would not approve.

:Tup

I'm trying really hard to not interpret his popularity with "them" keeping him in the race to claim "but i'm not racist, I support Ben Carson." Them here being the hard right.

He doesn't say anything radically different from the other candidates (there's a lot of sameness to be frank) but he has the added burden of being an accomplished liar. Yet he still remains and remains popular. This really boggles me. As an avid follower of politics who admittedly skews left, I don't see any real conservatives in this race. All I see are mouthpieces parroting the carefully crafted words of their over lords. Carefully crafted because they have to appeal to the aforementioned hard right while being full of hot air. For instance, the "job creator" nonsense. It sounds good until you critically examine it. It guarantees tax breaks for the wealthy and says jobs will rain down as a result. It doesn't guarantee that result, just the tax breaks.
But Joe Q Rightwing who believes the rich are facing an immense unbearable tax burden as punishment for their success, and who's sense of justice feels that's wrong, senses the rightness of the tax break and believes (hopes?) for the avalanche of jobs.

overpowered

November 12th, 2015, 03:35 PM

Living with Denmark’s Democratic Socialism

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/11/1448606/-Living-with-Denmark-s-Democratic-Socialism

overpowered

November 12th, 2015, 06:52 PM

The Four Biggest Right-Wing Lies About Inequality

http://robertreich.org/post/84828387105

overpowered

November 12th, 2015, 08:59 PM

Councillor who voted to close all public toilets gets a ticket for public urination

http://boingboing.net/2015/11/12/councillor-who-voted-to-close.html

21Kid

November 13th, 2015, 06:38 AM

Living with Denmark’s Democratic Socialism

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/11/1448606/-Living-with-Denmark-s-Democratic-Socialism

It makes me feel like moving. It sounds so nice to live there. No wonder they are so happy there.

I think this is the biggest struggle we have. But, I hope Bernie could help with that.

As an American, I know Denmark’s system is not applicable to the USA. Democratic socialism could only happen in Denmark because the population was homogenous with a high concentration of trust. America was founded by immigrants...from all over... folks who’ve had trust issues with ”government” from the beginning. (There are still members of the GOP who like to sing: ”there’s no government like no government!”) Danes do not see “the government” as an adversary but as a mirror. The Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches are follow citizens working on their behalf.

overpowered

November 13th, 2015, 08:22 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_LrQSMTTD4

Crazed_Insanity

November 13th, 2015, 09:56 AM

Living with Denmark’s Democratic Socialism

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/11/1448606/-Living-with-Denmark-s-Democratic-Socialism

This is what makes Denmark (and Scandinavia) different. People trust one another. The challenge is to retain this trust in a society that is no longer homogenous.

But in the meantime, Americans should stop demonizing Denmark’s system. It works.

And it makes us ”happy.”

Yes, we definitely shouldn't demonizing anything. Any system could be made to work, including communism... and heck, if we can have a trustworthy king, monarchy probably works the best!

However, I think history has proven that men can often be corruptible. Not very many souls can remain trustworthy "kings" for life. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. If Denmark were a global superpower militarily and financially, surely their socialistic happiness would be short-lived.

No need to demonize American system either. Yes, it has also been corrupted and it doesn't work very efficiently, but it's still working. A system that's based on trust in this world really cannot be trusted. I can trust Jesus, but I can't give 100% trust to any other man. It's foolish. Benefit of the doubt, sure, but to trust other people in power to look after your interests? Even I'm not that naive.

Another thing that works in America's favor that's not based on trust, but on greed, is capitalism.

We need more of these 'systems' that takes advantages of humanity's natural bad traits and turn them into good somehow... and not to expect everybody would all just embrace their good traits and abandon all the bad ones. People are just not very naturally trustworthy or loving in this world. Any system that's based on people being trustworthy and loving won't work. Even Christ's church is corruptible when given political powers, why would other government entities do better?

I think humanity's good can only shine thru without the 'ring' of power or money to corrupt us.

Maybe we should make political offices into voluntary work or something with no pay... and once you become publically recognizable, you'll be forced to retired. That way, there'd be no way to corrupt any of them! ;)