Politics

[Random]

Davis, CA. :D

(That's the newspaper offices (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5453626,-121.739368,3a,75y,208.12h,75.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sobFP16Zrx199oWgIB-ODng!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) in the background. And one of our ubiquitous bike racks.)

[overpowered]

Are you kidding me?

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/retirement/ex-coach-jerry-sandusky-should-get-his-public-pension-back-n462961

[overpowered]

Ann Coulter. Paris. Fuck you, you psycho bitch.

http://latest.com/2015/11/ann-coulter-proves-she-is-a-horrible-human-being-with-these-paris-attack-tweets/

[TheBenior]

Are you kidding me?

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/retirement/ex-coach-jerry-sandusky-should-get-his-public-pension-back-n462961

This Slate article does a better job of explaining why that is (http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/11/13/jerry_sandusky_pension_reinstated_by_pennsylvania_ court.html).

Basically, he retired in 1999, and Pennsylvania law didn't stipulate until 2004 that child sex crimes were an offense for which pensions could be revoked.

[thesameguy]

Yeah, lame, but seems correct.

[overpowered]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Peace_for_Paris.svg/585px-Peace_for_Paris.svg.png

[overpowered]

San Francisco cops texting


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1dXvu8_Cbc

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK7jbxBQATw

[overpowered]

Ben Carson can't name a single U.S. ally.

https://www.facebook.com/OccupyDemocrats/videos/1000228246736896/

[overpowered]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/12249951_1659775484263270_8967397398129629713_n.jp g?oh=6933a1c48ba803f9d8f5b812da7fbe78&oe=56F0B967

[21Kid]

:truth:

[overpowered]

25 of America's worst charities—plus tips on how to avoid getting scammed

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/13/1449096/-25-of-America-s-worst-charities-plus-tips-on-how-to-avoid-getting-scammed

[LHutton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK7jbxBQATw
If it concludes with US intervention in the Middle East then it's correct, otherwise it's wrong.

[overpowered]

The Onion nailed it in 2003. :(

http://www.theonion.com/multiblogpost/this-war-will-destabilize-the-entire-mideast-regio-11534

[Crazed_Insanity]

Yep, we are the evil galactic empire! Even if the force isn't with you as it was with Luke, if your parents were burned and kill by US storm troopers, chances are you'll also find ways to get off your desert wasteland home planet and seek revenge somehow.

I'm sure Onion was NOT the only one who could nail it. Too bad most of us were too driven by fear to continue on our wrong path and making things worse.

I used to think the Bush Admin is the evil emperor/senator Palpatine, but our middle east foreign policy didn't really change much even with Obama in office. There must be some other power at work inside the US government. Whoever we elect into office matters very little. Our evil empire marches on to its own drum beat... and when our empire falls apart, we will take down most of the world with us.

[LHutton]

The Onion nailed it in 2003. :(

http://www.theonion.com/multiblogpost/this-war-will-destabilize-the-entire-mideast-regio-11534
Even Cheney knew what would happen in Iraq in 1993, but a decade made him dumber, unless this is deliberate and I'm missing some grand scheme.

[LHutton]

So why hadn't this been done by the government already ?

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/anonymous-kicks-off-cyberwar-against-isis-gets-900-161435168.html


Anonymous kicks off cyberwar against ISIS, gets 900 Twitter accounts banned

[thesameguy]

Because they were using those accounts for intelligence gathering? If you know what your enemy is doing but they don't know you know, that's an advantage. Twitter is the new Enigma Machine!

[LHutton]

Because they were using those accounts for intelligence gathering? If you know what your enemy is doing but they don't know you know, that's an advantage. Twitter is the new Enigma Machine!
Okay I kind of get that but the internet has been used by ISIS to radicalise people and also to gather funding for their terrorism. I'm not sure the benefits outweigh the damage.

[thesameguy]

Could be. I can't even pretend to know much less understand how governments deal with dangerous organizations. There are glaring examples of poor choices, but the average Joe probably will never hear about all the examples of outrageous successes. I suppose the major variable is what is considered "acceptable collateral damage." At some point, you have to look at the cost and long-term success of attacking all the symptoms versus letting them fester while you attack the cause. I don't even have an opinion on where that crossover might be. I mean, is losing one life to save two acceptable losses? I don't know.

The only thing I am confident in is that any and all radical organizations are going to find a way to exist. It doesn't matter what "the establishment" is, someone is going to hate it and that someone is going to recruit other people to hate it too. That is completely unavoidable as far as I can tell. The notion of stopping all threats all the time is probably insane. So possibly the way this is approached is you let the small ones by, you study them, and use that knowledge to prevent the big ones. Maybe letting ISIS-owned twitter accounts be is part of that type of an approach.

[overpowered]

Topless Lebanese girls burning ISIS flags:

http://waltermondalejnr.com/2014/09/04/more-pics-of-ballsy-topless-lebanese-girls-burning-isis-flags/

[overpowered]

You Can't Understand ISIS If You Don't Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alastair-crooke/isis-wahhabism-saudi-arabia_b_5717157.html

[MR2 Fan]

Bobby Jindal drops out of the GOP presidential campaign, much to the dismay of his 4 supporters

[21Kid]

Daniel Wallach of Greensburg explains how to talk to a conservative about the environment (http://www.treehugger.com/culture/daniel-wallach-greensburg-explains-how-talk-conservative-about-environment.html)


He talked about what he called conservative values:

Conservation (abhors waste)
Preservation of what is precious (social traditions)
Thinking for the long term, not leaving messes for others to clean up. (National debt)
Respecting institution of family and traditions
Independence, resourcefulness, responsibility (fuel and natural resources)
Beauty of community, caring for one another, and creation (spiritual values and stewardship)
Taking responsibility for one's health (little government, little regulation)

[LHutton]

You Can't Understand ISIS If You Don't Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alastair-crooke/isis-wahhabism-saudi-arabia_b_5717157.html
You'll probably find this a good read too. The article that is, not the book.

http://newsrescue.com/genesis-of-islamic-radicalism-the-us-textbook-project-that-taught-afghan-children-terror/#axzz3rldWMs8B


Genesis Of Islamic Radicalism: The US Textbook Project That Taught Afghan Children Terror

In the twilight of the Cold War, the United States spent millions of dollars to supply Afghan schoolchildren with textbooks filled with violent images and militant Islamic teachings, part of covert attempts to spur resistance to the Soviet occupation.

The book didn't stay in Afghanistan either.

[LHutton]

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/anonymous-wants-help-down-isis-150822628.html


Anonymous wants you to help take down ISIS – here’s how

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/0ipRQ8XiXPDc2S3AndU5PQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9NzYxO2g9NjM0O2lsPX BsYW5l/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/News/BGR_News/anonymous_wants_you.jpg

[overpowered]

Trump is actually considering requiring muslims to have religious identification, be subject to warrantless searches and other infringement of their rights:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/11/19/donald-trump-wont-rule-out-warrantless-searches-id-cards-for-american-muslims/

Is it fulfilling Godwin's law when people really are proposing Nazi tactics?

[G'day Mate]

When they say he "won't rule out identification" ... what is it that Trump actually said on the matter? I can't see a direct quote in any of the related articles.

[Freude am Fahren]

Basically he didn't answer the question when posed about those things. Still what he said and didn't say is bad enough.

[21Kid]

Donald Trump's Plan for a Muslim Database Draws Comparison to Nazi Germany (http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-says-he-would-certainly-implement-muslim-database-n466716)

NEWTON, Iowa — Donald Trump "would certainly implement" a database system tracking Muslims in the United States, the Republican front-runner told NBC News on Thursday night.

"I would certainly implement that. Absolutely," Trump said in Newton, Iowa, in between campaign town halls.

"There should be a lot of systems, beyond databases," he added. "We should have a lot of systems."

When asked whether Muslims would be legally obligated to sign into the database, Trump responded, "They have to be — they have to be."
wow... :(

He also wants to violate their religious freedom by closing mosques. Just imagine if he said that about christian churches... :smh:

[LHutton]

Yes, there's absolutely no need for that. No point alienating moderates, completely counterproductive.

[overpowered]

Photography is Not a Crime's Youtube account gets killed:

https://photographyisnotacrime.com/2015/11/youtube-terminates-pinac-account-violent-police-videos-latest-shutdown-independent-media/

[George]

^ Big Brother is watching. :thppt:

Um...or NOT watching, depending on your point of view.

[Freude am Fahren]

:smh:

[21Kid]

It’s upsetting that YouTube would destroy a year’s worth of news journalism, including numerous worldwide exclusive videos. Our numerous YouTube Live interviews with key sources from the Baltimore Uprising were due to be arranged into a feature length movie, but now it appears all of that hard work was for naught.
They don't have a back-up of their own videos? :erm:

[Crazed_Insanity]

They must not be very proud of their own journalistic work if they don't even keep a copy of their work around.

It's like all my hard work writing a book was for naught when one publisher refused to publish my book!!! How terrible!

BTW, if one takes a photo of child porn, is that still not a crime? They're name is essentially begging for trouble. Plus, you're suppose to upload videos to youtube, not photos! :p

[Sad, little man]

Why does it always go back to kiddie porn with you, Billi?

[overpowered]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11114733_10153743471438982_7548000113941432692_n.j pg?oh=f0ef3090eae3d1dde25860f0f99c49df&oe=56B56CC7

[George]

Some of those truths about human nature never change. See also Sun Tzu.

[thesameguy]

They don't have a back-up of their own videos? :erm:

I just ran into something like this at work.... details aren't important, but this company uploads all their raw footage to Youtube and edits it there. If Youtube ever disposed of their published final products, they would be forced to recreate from scratch. My eyes bugged out of my head when they told me. Vdub is free, and there are plenty of affordable NLEs... why are you running your business off youtube's free editor???

[Kchrpm]

Offloading the processing onto Google's servers is nice, but if it was important I would download the finished MP4 and back it up elsewhere.

[thesameguy]

I suppose.... but a $60 used GTX 470 will crunch for Premiere Pro every bit as fast as Youtube and you get to keep the project file. If my business was video, that $60 and a $15/mo CC subscription seems like a no-brainer. Different strokes, as they say.

[Crazed_Insanity]

When YouTube does it, do they just deny access of your content or they really just wipe everything clean? There's no way to download anything back even if you beg or offer to pay?

[thesameguy]

Youtube is not designed for personal storage, so if they delete content it's gone.

[overpowered]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/12278758_10154342502235616_6645134811452292501_n.j pg?oh=0966b17b4cac7f519b9800945a943e11&oe=56EF691A

[LHutton]

Donald Dump is at his usual.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-black-lives-matter-141050747.html


Donald Trump on his Black Lives Matter heckler: 'Maybe he should have been roughed up'

[speedpimp]

Why does it always go back to kiddie porn with you, Billi?
Uh, duh, because Billi/y is the head of the Jared Fan Club.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFfREh7G3ck

[Crazed_Insanity]

Why does it always go back to kiddie porn with you, Billi?

Simply to illustrate a point that's all.

Also, I don't recall I mention kiddie porn in your cheating thread..., so I don't think I always go back to that..., unless if you're dating someone under 18? ;)

[overpowered]

Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science?

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/science-doubters/achenbach-text

[overpowered]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/12243512_932375510131462_2854375815061860262_n.jpg ?oh=bfd4511676a54ba0ca87d7dc56b6b5e7&oe=56ED0CE2

[overpowered]

It’s Not the Media—It’s Just the GOP Base

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_11/its_not_the_mediaits_just_the058735.php

[Fogelhund]

Today I learned today, that both Facebook and Snopes are part of the libtard conspiracy, trying to keep down the Conservative Right... hmmmm... enjoy your Monday folks.

[speedpimp]

Hopefully tomorrow you'll learn tomorrow.

[21Kid]

Poll: Here's how angry the GOP is
Americans across the board have little trust in government, according to a new poll, but Republicans are nearly three times as likely as Democrats to say they are "angry" at the government as the 2016 election approaches.
:erm: Shouldn't they be angry at their own representatives? For not doing anything? And blocking everything that has tried to be productive? :?

[speedpimp]

Quit trying to interject facts into this, Billi/y.

[Crazed_Insanity]

I'll interject some emotion in this... It's really sad to see that right/left thinks it's all the fault of the left/right. Our political process is broken for sure.

[21Kid]

Quit trying to interject facts into this, Billi/y. That's like trying to mix oil & water...

[speedpimp]

I was referring to you, Bill/i/y.

[21Kid]

I was just asking a question. :p


And now, this...
Marco Rubio releases first TV ad: ‘What happened in Paris could happen here’ (https://www.yahoo.com/politics/rubio-campaign-ad-paris-attacks-could-happen-here-143843975.html)
“These aren’t disgruntled or disempowered people. These are radical terrorists who want to kill us, because we let women drive, because we let girls go to school.” :twitch:

[overpowered]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1554437_1228870753806236_6643142936768202866_n.jpg ?oh=5e3ccb4ce0a173f68b4de5b2c696419f&oe=56E1F88B

[21Kid]

Ben Carson: the most misunderstood candidate? (http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/24/politics/ben-carson-misunderstood-2016-quinnipiac/index.html)

"Listen to what I'm actually saying," Carson told reporters. "Stop listening to the narrative of those who want to try to create doubt in people's minds."
I think that's the problem Ben. :lol:


"Voters want and expect a president to communicate with a high level of clarity," said Republican strategist Kevin Madden. "If a candidate gets too bogged down in explanations or begins to battle their own narrative in the media on a regular basis, their leadership profile begins to suffer. They run the risk of looking reactionary instead of strong and decisive."
"No matter who the candidate is, there's a diminishing return in placing the blame on the press or other adversaries," Madden said.Yup.

[LHutton]

Well Turkey just shot down a Russian jet.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12013212/Turkey-shoots-down-Russian-military-plane-on-Syria-border-live.html

[MR2 Fan]

Trump is quite something. It seems clear to me that he is taking massive leaps that started with the Roger Ailes/Fox News playbook: Say something that's horrendously untrue but that your supporters love, then try to quietly retract the statement a few days later.

He's doing this constantly now, and doesn't care what the rest of the media call him out on.

[novicius]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFfREh7G3ck
This is a great piece of work! :lol: :up:

[21Kid]

Because America!

[Crazed_Insanity]

1525

[overpowered]

Turkey is a NATO country. Invading Turkey is basically starting WWIII. I don't think Putin is quite that crazy.

[Crazed_Insanity]

I was just trying to interject some humor in a pretty serious situation. Lighten up dude! :assclown:

[George]

I dunno. That dude rides a bear while shirtless and without a helmet. That's almost crazed insanity, right there.

[Freude am Fahren]

In Soviet Russia, before Thanksgiving, Turkey shoots you!

[21Kid]

Great... Bush2.5 is sounding like the most sane choice for the GOP right now. :|

[MR2 Fan]

Great... Bush2.5 is sounding like the most sane choice for the GOP right now. :|

I thought that from the beginning.

I still can't see how Ted Cruz is running...being Canadian, and nobody says a WORD about it.

We need a wacko-scale to put these candidates on, I think that would be helpful

[LHutton]

Turkey is a NATO country. Invading Turkey is basically starting WWIII. I don't think Putin is quite that crazy.
NATO nations are democratic. It will be extremely difficult to pass a bill defending ISIS supporting scumbags through parliament.

And Russia could definitely fuck them up a bit without invading and most people in NATO would actually support them. Reference S-400 being moved into Latakia and Slava Class missile cruiser being parked off the Turkish coast.


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

So which plane crossed what broder?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY-w-L5k5tE


"Russian plane flew past the borders of Turkey. Two F-16 flew from Turkey and made an attack. Shot down a plane of the Russian Federation, which flew by. The pilots ejected. Descending by parachute, the pilot was shot from the ground.
Russian ship sent to the border of Turkey and Syria. The ship is armed with missile systems S-300. From
now on, any aircraft threatening the goal of the Russian Federation on
the part of any State to be shot down by missile system S-300. Military contacts with Turkey now, on the initiative of the Russian Federation - discontinued."

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/69586


Turkey: Sizing Up Ankara's Connection to ISIS

With the power of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS, or, as it now calls itself, the Islamic State) growing and the amount of territory it controls increasing, Ankara is now facing some uncomfortable questions about what role it played in facilitating the organization's rise.

In a Washington Post piece from last week, reporters Anthony Faiola and Souad Mekhennet provide a fascinating insight into this issue, visiting Reyhanli, a Turkish town on the Syrian border where until recently ISIS fighters had the run of the place. From their article:

Before their blitz into Iraq earned them the title of the Middle East’s most feared insurgency, the jihadists of the Islamic State treated this Turkish town near the Syrian border as their own personal shopping mall.

And eager to aid any and all enemies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey rolled out the red carpet.

In dusty market stalls, among the baklava shops and kebab stands, locals talk of Islamist fighters openly stocking up on uniforms and the latest Samsung smartphones. Wounded jihadists from the Islamic State and the al-Nusra Front — an al-Qaeda offshoot also fighting the Syrian government — were treated at Turkish hospitals. Most important, the Turks winked as Reyhanli and other Turkish towns became way stations for moving foreign fighters and arms across the border.

“Turkey welcomed anyone against Assad, and now they are killing, spreading their disease, and we are all paying the price,” said Tamer Apis, a politician in Reyhanli, where two massive car bombs killed 52 people last year. In a nearby city, Turkish authorities seized another car packed with explosives in June, raising fears of an Islamic State-inspired campaign to export sectarian strife to Turkey.

“It was not just us,” Apis said. “But this is a mess of Turkey’s making.”

As the Post article makes clear, Turkey has since made it more difficult for foreign fighters to cross its border on the way to Syria, but the perception still lingers in certain quarters that Ankara remains an ISIS benefactor.

More worrying for Ankara, though, should be what ISIS might be up to inside Turkey. An interesting recent report on the Mashable website, for example, looked at how ISIS is recruiting young Turkish men to go fight for it in Syria and Iraq. And while reports of a "jihadi gift shop" in Istanbul selling ISIS-branded clothing and souvenirs might have drawn some chuckles, a recent Al-Monitor piece by Orhan Kemal Cengiz suggests that the organization may be behind much more troubling things in Turkey than just selling t-shirts.

As Cengiz writes, a "new Salafism" may be taking root in Turkey, a development that could lead Ankara to deeply regret its initial support for ISIS.

http://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/the-turkey-connection-to-the-isis-network


When Benjamin Xu, a German national of Macedonian and Chinese descent, arrived in Istanbul two years ago, he had no problem hooking up with the handlers from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) managing his transfer to neighbouring Syria.

Welcomed by a member of the extremist group who called himself simply Mohammed, he was taken to an Istanbul association that was officially billed as a charity organisation but was known in the neighbourhood as a relay station to transfer militants to Syria.

Mr Tugay Bek, a lawyer who has been attending the ongoing trial against Xu, told The Straits Times it was an open secret in the Istanbul neighbourhood that the association was providing help for extremists. "Even the children on the street knew it, and they called the men the 'new fighters'."

Soon, other ISIS volunteers started arriving. Together, the volunteers travelled to the Turkish-Syrian border, where yet more helpers secured Xu's passage to a training camp in Syria.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/23/isis-islamic-state-surges-to-turkish-border


Isis surges towards the borders of Turkey as west mulls options

Islamic State fighters mass on Syria's north-western frontier as it seeks to reopen its main artery for foreign fighters

http://whatsupic.com/economy-world/1407936162.html


The so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria(ISIS) began selling Iraqi crude oil extracted from oil fields which its seized in recent months and exporting it through the Kurdish region to Turkish refineries and from Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan ultimately to Israel.

Israeli and Turkish companies which buy the oil use paved roads controlled by ISIS militants and take it through the cities near the border with Turkey to civil refineries inside Turkey or they go through the city of Makhmour to the Kurdistan region in coordination with the checkpoints."

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/phDcL4ZU3iK76v1uPOKWug--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9NjM5O2lsPXBsYW 5lO3B5b2ZmPTA7cT03NTt3PTk2MA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/Part-DV-DV2187701-1-1-1.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a508/sigmafour1/TURKEY_zps2cdxvjli.png (http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/sigmafour1/media/TURKEY_zps2cdxvjli.png.html)

You also shouldn't underestimate the ability of someone to just not give a shit when being forced into a corner. The US has more to lose than Russia.

[overpowered]

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

Info on the making of that video:

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

[FaultyMario]

I thought that from the beginning.

I still can't see how Ted Cruz is running...being Canadian, and nobody says a WORD about it.

We need a wacko-scale to put these candidates on, I think that would be helpful



Re: cruz.

I thought it was pretty well understood that you'd have to be born on U.S. soil to be president. Whether it was a state, associated territory, military base or "embassy grounds or thereabouts".

[overpowered]

Still better than most of the GOP candidates:

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

[overpowered]

Jeb. :|

http://www.snopes.com/bush-cull-fact-check/

[SportWagon]

Still better than most of the GOP candidates:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermin_SupremeIs the boot on his head full of porridge? Or only on Mondays?

[FaultyMario]

The thing with Junior Jr. (opposed to Drunken Jr.) is his ultracatholicism, via his wife's charities and associations.

Opus Dei, Regnum Christi and the like are scary, like all other fundamentalist congregations.

[MR2 Fan]

If Trump's poll numbers don't start going down after these completely insane and offensive remarks...either the polls are very inaccurate or we have a big problem with a lot of people in this country.

[thesameguy]

Or....

Both

wimp womp

[speedpimp]

Is the boot on his head full of porridge? Or only on Mondays?

Only on Mondays, the rest of the week he wears a rabbit wearing a pancake.

And he rotates between the two for this bi-monthly(2nd and 4th Weds.) Wank! Stomp! Crabmeat! fests.

[JoshInKC]

Re: cruz.

I thought it was pretty well understood that you'd have to be born on U.S. soil to be president. Whether it was a state, associated territory, military base or "embassy grounds or thereabouts".

I'm not 100% on this, but I believe the idea is that the president must be a "natural-born" citizen, which he would qualify as due to his mother's being born in Delaware. Of course this is the type of thing that I don't know has ever been fully ajudicated in court.

[Random]

The current mainstream interpretation is that child of citizen = natural born citizen.

There are other interpretations, one of which is, as Mario states, that you have to be born in the US.

Wikipedia has a good summary.

Van Buren was the first president to be " natural born." :D

[Jason]

Truthfully, Republicans don't care if their own guy is questionably American. They only care if a Democrat is.

And Democrats don't care period.

Cruz is fine as far as citizenship is concerned imo

[MR2 Fan]

The current mainstream interpretation is that child of citizen = natural born citizen.

There are other interpretations, one of which is, as Mario states, that you have to be born in the US.

Wikipedia has a good summary.

Van Buren was the first president to be " natural born." :D

which is funny because no one disputed that Obama's mother was from Kentucky, but still spent years questioning his presidency.

[LHutton]

It would be funny just to start a rumour suggesting that Donald Trump was born outside the US, or that he was an Islamist of something. That would probably bring his poll numbers down. If you can't appeal to rationality, then appeal to insanity instead.

[21Kid]

Most(all?) of his wives were immigrants. Makes sense why he prefers them.

:mad: What!!! Our women aren't good enough for you?!? American women HATER!!!

[21Kid]

Trump mocks disabled reporter (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/26/trump-blasted-mocking-disabled-reporter/76409418/)
Wow...:| very presidential. :rolleyes:

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/34f3c12e46e775b6bc7e523d797ba40d553715a7/r=540&c=540x304/http/videos.usatoday.net/Brightcove2/29906170001/2015/11/29906170001_4633072226001_thumb-newslook913257.jpg

[overpowered]

Most(all?) of his wives were immigrants.2 out of 3.

[FaultyMario]

Kid's like 57% right.

[overpowered]

http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/tv/fox/

[Random]

which is funny because no one disputed that Obama's mother was from Kentucky, but still spent years questioning his presidency.

To be fair, the hardcore "natural born = born in the US" peeps have complained about Cruz, etc, too.

[LHutton]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/anonymous-hacks-isis-replaces-viagra-155457058.html


Anonymous hacks ISIS site, replaces it with Viagra ad
:lol:

[MR2 Fan]

To be fair, the hardcore "natural born = born in the US" peeps have complained about Cruz, etc, too.

I'm surprised Trump hasn't brought it up yet, but maybe he's waiting for the right time

[FaultyMario]

In campaigns you shoot up, not down. Polls leader is attacked.

Candidates build a gap with empathy, they bridge that gap with attacks. In the dems case, they're both acting leaderlike, so it must be tctc.

[overpowered]

This is on John Kasich's YT channel:


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

Original quote that he's paraphrasing:

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

Even GOP candidates are comparing Trump to Hitler now.

[overpowered]

People who support Christian terrorism:

http://thoughtcatalog.com/jacob-geers/2015/11/here-are-all-the-people-applauding-the-planned-parenthood-shooter/

[overpowered]

"They tell me @SenSanders can't win b/c America won't vote for a Socialist Jew. I tell them America celebrates a Socialist Jew every Dec 25." -- John Fugelsang

[overpowered]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12313680_10205481608101793_6223575558547212136_n.j pg?oh=70c38908ba369d0695176689d2374c3f&oe=56F0F84E

[neanderthal]

Mullahs incite terrorism, right? All that death to the west stuff.

How about all the pro life politicos with their "baby killers" bullshit?

[overpowered]

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/muslims-in-brussels-threatened-by-mysterious-group-calling-itself-christian-state/


A mosque in Brussels received a letter from a previously-unknown group calling itself the “Christian State” this week threatening to kill Muslims and attack their businesses in the country

[LHutton]

Terrorism begets more terrorism, which begets more terrorism etc. There's already more than enough of it without needlessly importing more.

[LHutton]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12313680_10205481608101793_6223575558547212136_n.j pg?oh=70c38908ba369d0695176689d2374c3f&oe=56F0F84E
One eventually surrendered, the other didn't. You can bet a whole bunch of police wanted to shoot him. Personally I hate people who give themselves up after doing something like that. The whole #BlackLives matters thing is bullshit. All lives matter, black people get shot by police more because of the following:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUrVKbaUkAAoV4R.jpg
https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/News/Statistical%20Reports/Annual%20Reports/09AR.pdf
https://i2.wp.com/www.dailystormer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Chicago-Crime-Statistics.jpg

I'm really tired of the whole damn movement. No one is being oppressed. Yes, their is a residual amount of racism left in society, but the protests are misdirected and completely out of proportion. If there has to be a #blacklivesmatter protest it should be along the lines of, "our lives matter, so let's stop killing each other."

Also a good read:

http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-black-americans-killed-police/19423


FactCheck: how many black Americans are killed by the police?

The analysis

There are a number of sources of official statistics on police killings in America. None of them is perfect, but all of them agree that black people are more likely to die at the hands of police officers than whites.

The US Bureau of Justice Statistics ('http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ard0309st.pdf') says there were 2,931 “arrest-related deaths” from 2003 to 2009. That includes car chases, shootouts and so on. The casualties are nearly always male, and men aged 25 to 34 are most likely to die.

Some 41.7 per cent of the casualties were white and 31.7 per cent were black.

Since black people only make up about 13 per cent of the US population ('http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html'), and nearly 63 per cent of Americans are white, blacks were disproportionately likely to be killed.

http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2014/11/25_fc_felix.jpg ('http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2014/11/25_fc_felix.jpg')

Divide the deaths by the average population and there were more than three black deaths at police hands per million people compared to about one in a million for whites.

The FBI also has some figures on this but it is very incomplete, with only a fraction of America’s 17,000 law enforcement agencies submitting data, so the numbers should probably be seen as the bare minimum.

We haven’t been furnished with the original data by the feds, so we’re relying on secondhand reports from the US media.

Vox.com ('http://www.vox.com/2014/8/21/6051043/how-many-people-killed-police-statistics-homicide-official-black') says there were 426 “felons killed by police” in 2012, and 31 per cent of the victims were black – a disproportionately high percentage, and very similar to the Bureau of Justice figures.

The website ProPublica ('http://www.propublica.org/article/deadly-force-in-black-and-white') also looks at FBI figures but concentrates on young men aged 15 to 19 and finds that black people in this age group are 21 times more likely to be killed by the police.

When it was white officers who did the killing, the casualties were black nearly half (46 per cent) the time.

Finally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ('http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss.htm') collect figures for deaths caused by “legal intervention”, which includes police killings but leaves out executions.

From 2010 to 2012, black people were two to three times more likely to be killed by legal intervention.

Does any of this mean that this “fact”, which has been very widely circulated on the internet ('http://www.occupy.com/article/black-man-killed-us-every-28-hours-police'), is true?

http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/12/fiction108.jpg ('http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/12/fiction108.jpg')‘A black man is killed in the US every 28 hours by police’

Not exactly. The figure comes from this unofficial and unashamedly partisan report ('https://mxgm.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Operation-Ghetto-Storm.pdf') by a black nationalist organisation, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.

The data is a collection well-known cases usually reported by local media. The group claims 313 black people were killed in 2012 by “someone employed or protected by the US government”.

But not all the killers are police officers, or even government employees. They include shop workers, private security guards and members of the public.

In one case, a 13-year-old girl was shot dead by two school friends who found a gun in an off-duty policeman’s car.

You would have to look carefully at the circumstances of every killing before deciding that every one was an example of police racism.

How about this almost equally widely discussed stat which Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, produced in a heated post-Ferguson TV debate:

http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/12/fact108.jpg ('http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/12/fact108.jpg')“Ninety-three per cent of blacks in America are killed by other blacks.”

His point was that black-on-black violence claims more lives than police killings, while attracting less publicity.

He’s right about the 93 per cent, which comes from Bureau of Justice Statistics ('http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/htus8008.pdf') research into homicides from 1980 to 2008.

What he failed to mention is that the vast majority of white victims were also killed by whites in the same period – 84 per cent.

There’s a simple explanation for this. Most murders involve the victim’s family and friends, who are more likely to be from the same race.

[Sad, little man]

Your entire post, and the fact that you're using the tired old "All lives matter" line, shows firstly that you completely miss the point of the black lives matter movement, Secondly, your post is an example of the exact reason that the movement needs to exist. But, if you are this dead set on your conclusion that this movement is pointless, then I'm not even going to bother explaining. So, just run along and enjoy your white male privilege.

[Yw-slayer]

Just put him on ignore, the board's much better that way.

[LHutton]

Your entire post, and the fact that you're using the tired old "All lives matter" line, shows firstly that you completely miss the point of the black lives matter movement, Secondly, your post is an example of the exact reason that the movement needs to exist. But, if you are this dead set on your conclusion that this movement is pointless, then I'm not even going to bother explaining. So, just run along and enjoy your white male privilege.
Please explain. What exactly is the point of this movement that began in Ferguson when a violent robber was shot by a cop with an exemplary service record and zero complaints to his name?

[Sad, little man]

Are you actually going to listen, or just wait for me to respond so you can tear into my argument? Because right now it doesn't sound like you're going to listen.

[LHutton]

While your at it, please also explain what this 'white privilege' thing is.

[Sad, little man]

Nope, you're not going to listen.

[speedpimp]

For Larry Hutton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege).

[JoshInKC]

Just put him on ignore, the board's much better that way.

QfT.

[Sad, little man]

Ok, I'm feeling generous, and you seem truly bewildered about this whole thing. So here we go.

First, white privilege... The fact that you are white and are a man means that you begin every single social interaction you have in our society with a leg up. You don't realize this because it's always been there for you, you've always taken it for granted, and you never stopped to realize it. But you do. Does it make a huge difference? In most cases, no (but dear god, let's not talk about job interviews.) But, as I said, this affects every goddamn aspect of your life and your position in society, and you need to understand that. All the little things add up.

When you walk into a car dealer, the salesman automatically assumes that you may very well be able to afford any car on the lot (potentially) and so he will be very helpful and attentive to you, unless he finds out you actually don't have lots of money. But the fact is, you're a man, and you're white, so odds are good that you do have lots of money, so you'll be treated that way in a lot of settings. But a black guy walking into the same dealer? Well, it's a tossup. But overall, the treatment just won't quite be the same.

Now multiply that slight difference by every single interaction you have with people in public. The small differences start to become a big thing overall.




Ok, Black Lives Matter... Here's the thing with Black Lives Matter. It's not really about how much a black life is worth compared to another life or anything like that. Of course all lives matter. The fact that you feel you have to make that point shows that you're missing the boat completely on this.

You repeatedly referenced statistics showing how much more crime blacks commit than other races. This is not news to anyone. Everyone's completely aware of this fact, and that's really the problem. Let's say for a moment that you're a black man, a very law abiding black man. Now you have a problem... You're perfectly law abiding, but because of your skin color, people everywhere will be suspicious of you because they know that people of your race commit more crimes. It's natural to be suspicious based on statistics like this, but it's sure as hell not fair. Here you are, someone who never breaks the laws, but because of a physical attribute you have that you can never change, people look at you differently.

Let me ask you something, would you be willing to get this design tattooed on your face?

1528

I don't think you'd really like that, because you know people would look at you differently and make assumptions as to what type of person you are based on that tattoo. Now imagine you were born with this face tattoo, and you couldn't remove it. This is, I imagine, sort of what being black is like. You are constantly looked at with suspicion because of how you look. A side effect of that is that the police tend to be more violent towards you. This is what black lives matter really means. It doesn't mean a black life matters more than any other life, it's just asking for blacks to be judged by society on the same level playing field as everyone else, because all too often when this judgement involves police, it can result in violence being carried out. So, this is one area where the playing field really needs to be level because so much can be at stake when blacks are not treated the same as others.



Listen, frankly, I don't care what else you have to say on this topic. So if you come back at this with a bunch of "Well yeah, but...", then fuck you, I don't want to hear it. This is the way things are. You don't realize it because you aren't black and haven't tried to sympathize with blacks, but this is the way things are.

[LHutton]

Complete bullshit. The reason I posted the crime stats is because a common fact stated by the #black lives matter brigade is that per million population, black people are 3 times more likely to get shot by police but they're way more than 3 times more likely to commit violent offences per million population. It's therefore not a discrimination thing, it's just police doing their job for the most part.

As regards white privilege, bollocks. Complete and utter bollocks. With most companies now doing ethnicity monitoring, minorities are more likely to get hired than an equally qualified white person simply so that company can appear more ethnically diverse and appear to be providing equal opportunities.

There is no white privilege and no discrimination by the vast majority of police, or the vast majority of people. It's a delusional persecution complex.

And where do you get off by making judgments based on whether I've sympathised with blacks? I don't know how the world is up your arse but at university I had plenty of black friends and friends of other ethnicities. Sympathy? JFC. How insulting. Sympathy is probably the biggest fucking racial insult you could possibly pay them. Listen to how that sounds even. I'm sorry about your... yeah, it's completely ridiculous when you actually say it aloud isn't it. You certainly wouldn't do it to a white person, so congrats on unwittingly being a racist.

[Sad, little man]

See? I knew you wouldn't listen.

[novicius]

See? I knew you wouldn't listen.
I blocked that asshole months ago so I can only imagine the stupidity dribbling from his keyboard but I just wanted to say you did a great job summarizing those issues, SLM. :up: :up:

[Kchrpm]

There is no white privilege...It's a delusional persecution complex.
That is hilarious.

[Kchrpm]

I'll just go ahead and join the Ignoring LHutton Club while I'm at it.

[LHutton]

See? I knew you wouldn't listen.
No I listened, I just don't agree with you. There isn't anything more that could possibly be done improve racial equality, the rest is up to the individuals, it's a protest with no aim.

As for the picture that provoked my original response, it's pretty stupid. Do you think the cops didn't want to shoot a guy who'd just shot several of their colleagues (and a load of other people) simply because he was white? No, they definitely did, but they're not allowed to play executioner. But damn it, they really would have wanted to shoot him, being white had nothing to do with why they didn't.

I'm outspoken and I call things as I see them. It would be much easier just to pretend I agree with everything that passes my eyes but I don't.

[Crazed_Insanity]

Not siding with Slm or LH, but classic polarization problem that we're experiencing in real life as well. We state our points across and then refuse to listen to anything the opposition had to say. I'm right and you're wrong, case closed.

Are we really going to live in a society where we place folks on the opposite side of the political spectrum on ignore?

[Sad, little man]

Billi, it's tempting to slap that kind of rhetoric on this issue, but it simply doesn't apply here. I'm refusing to listen to anything the opposition has to say because the opposition in this case is flat out wrong. This isn't "Oh, well lets just hear what each other has to say." There's a right side and a wrong side here.

The kind of racism we have today is a lot more difficult to deal with than the racism of the '50s and '60s precisely because the nature of the racism is very hard to quantify and therefore resolve. Back then, we had very clear segregation mandated by law, and fewer rights granted to blacks by law. Today, as far as the law goes, everything is equal, but the racism has gone underground.

You can't put your finger right on it like you could back then, and that is why it's so important for us to admit that it is truly there, which is what Black Lives Matter is trying to do. Because this problem is so hard to even pinpoint, there simply isn't any room in our society for people like LHutton who won't even admit that there's a problem.

Denying the fact that racism is alive and well in our society is no better than denying that the Holocaust happened. I won't listen to anything a Holocaust denier says in the very same way that I won't listen to anything someone like LHutton says. Both of them are burying a very real problem that we have to come to terms with and deal with under a huge pile of denial. There's just no fucking room for it. If we hope to ever try to get our hands around this problem, the very very first step is to admit that it really is a problem. That's just the first step on a long road, so there's no time for someone like LHutton to be impeding us taking that very first step.

Either admit that people are still being discriminated against based on the color of their skin on a daily basis, or get the fuck out. Those are the only options I'll accept.

[Crazed_Insanity]

I didn't put LH on ignore, and I don't think he's saying racism doesn't exist. Is that really what you're saying LH? I often times do have a reading comprehension problem so I need to make sure...

[novicius]

Either admit that people are still being discriminated against based on the color of their skin on a daily basis, or get the fuck out. Those are the only options I'll accept.
Truth! :up:

[LHutton]

I didn't put LH on ignore, and I don't think he's saying racism doesn't exist. Is that really what you're saying LH? I often times do have a reading comprehension problem so I need to make sure...
Not at all. Racism does still exist in small pockets and, much like crime in general, I don't think it's something we'll ever fully manage to get rid of sadly. I just don't think it's the huge systemic problem that many are making it out to be. Police are certainly not going around killing people just because they're black and I have strong negative opinions of those who think they are. Not only do I think they're wrong but they force people to dredge up demographically based crime statistics to explain why they're wrong, which they then use as further basis for claiming discrimination. What's more, the false claim of a systemic discrimination problem actually serves to create the very kind of societal division that they're against. By claiming there's a problem, they're unwittingly causing the problem that they're claiming.

[21Kid]

Ok, I'm feeling generous, and you seem truly bewildered about this whole thing. So here we go.
https://media2.giphy.com/media/lk0TFUdop2JTW/200_s.gif

[overpowered]

Donald Trump’s Bullshitopedia: An Ever Expanding Catalog Of Lies

http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=30264

[Crazed_Insanity]

There it is. LH does not deny the existence of racism, he also doesn't believe it'll ever be fully manageable.

Whether if it's a systemic problem or in small pockets, I guess thanks to political correctness, it'll be difficult to know for sure.

Personally, I doubt this is a systemic problem, because otherwise Obama won't ever be elected. Ben Carson also won't even be a candidate.

Now, is it really just small pockets like crime? I kinda doubt that too... I'd think it's probably somewhere in between.

[Jason]

Just because things are improving, doesn't mean things are where they need to be. That's the idea behind continued movements, to continue towards true equality, even if it's a slow process.

[21Kid]

Why does Canada have to be so cold. :(

[MR2 Fan]

Donald Trump's Campaign in a nutshell:

http://i.giphy.com/ega0oagxOJtks.gif

[LHutton]

Just because things are improving, doesn't mean things are where they need to be. That's the idea behind continued movements, to continue towards true equality, even if it's a slow process.
All well in theory but when you gather to protest about a violent robber being shot by a cop with a flawless history, and then a few idiots come along and start chucking stuff at police and rioting, the progress made isn't forwards, it's backwards.

[thesameguy]

Can't commend on forwards or backwards, but it's definitely polarizing. When a bunch of people start causing damage and creating risk, a lot of people who may not have had a strong opinion about a matter or situation will tend to generate one.

How do you draw attention to an ongoing inequality or support against an injustice? I don't know. Not even a clue. But creating an Us vs. Them scenario is a last resort.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtqdj3xSsyg

[overpowered]

Ben Carson placed on Southern Poverty Law Center’s ‘Extremist Watch List’

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/8/ben-carson-placed-on-southern-poverty-law-centers-/

[overpowered]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12295249_1186619214686851_6437354785614809542_n.jp g?oh=99c0ee09282b4ce855e0944cc4c8deff&oe=56E08FDB

[21Kid]

Thoughts?
Chicago mayor asks for police superintendent's resignation (http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/01/us/chicago-laquan-mcdonald-police-shooting/)


Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday that he has asked for the resignation of Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

The announcement at a press conference came amid angry protests in Chicago over the way the city responded to the killing by police of a black teenager.

Emanuel also described a new task force on law enforcement accountability that he wants to establish. It will review how the city trains and oversees its police officers, he said, and consider input from victims' rights representatives, law enforcement organizations, and youth and religious leaders.

The protests in Chicago echo a national campaign led by Black Lives Matter activists. That campaign claims police across the country discriminate against black people. They point to cases in New York; Ferguson, Missouri; Baltimore and other cities, where they say cops use excessive -- sometimes deadly -- force against black males.Personally, unless he knows for sure that there was a cover-up or something, I think it's a little early to call for his resignation. They should at least review the evidence and determine fault first. I mean, I know they should have done that with McDonald in the first place, and that people want justice... but, we should still try and follow due process.

I definitely agree with the accountability task force though.

[overpowered]

http://aattp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/8-15-2014-9-24-24-AM.jpg

http://aattp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/epic-anti-obama-truck.jpg

[thesameguy]

Tend to agree. Going straight to the top seems foolhardy unless you can establish the top is responsible for a direction or culture.

[Crazed_Insanity]

Do you guys agree with black lives matter movement now? What about latino lives? Were there no cases of cops using excessive and sometimes deadly force on white suspects?

I can agree that Zimmerman is an asshole and obviously a racist, but to paint all cops as if they're all Zimmermans is a bit too much.

Mob is so riled up now, so obviously somebody's head has to roll. However, I kinda doubt the police will take this all in humbly and all of a sudden reform. To them, they probably believe cop lives matter too and they'll continue to shoot and kick suspects' asses whenever they felt threatened. Just like our polarizing politics, neither side will listen to the other side and the problem will continue to grow bigger and bigger...

[thesameguy]

Man, I really want to quote Creed right now, but I'll refrain.

[overpowered]

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12316330_958056070898756_8985860497739883570_n.jpg ?oh=9b3af1338c5cfaf53be7ccd6bca6f6e8&oe=56F4F5B9

[Tom Servo]

Trump isn't a liar, he's a bullshitter.

https://newrepublic.com/article/124803/donald-trump-not-liar

[Crazed_Insanity]

You guys are really afraid of Trump, huh?

I really don't see how ANY of the Republican candidates having any realistic chance of winning. if Mitt Romney the 'moderate' cannot win the white house, no way the more conservative/extremists could win.

Rather than attacking these crazy republican candidates, liberals ought to be trying to figure out ways to woo the more moderate republicans over.

I just hope in the end, Hillary won't be the one left standing on the democratic side. I don't want her... nor any of the republican ones... if this happens, I'll just forfeit my vote... and even without my vote, I seriously doubt Trump could win.

[Tom Servo]

Wat?

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1499106663724938

[21Kid]

:lol:

[MR2 Fan]

It's like they say in business....if you want to make a small fortune, start out with a large one

[LHutton]

It's like they say in business....if you want to make a small fortune, start out with a large one
I don't think that's what it means though.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=580200205417050

[Phil_SS]

I've always heard, "Best way to make a large pile of money into a small pile of money.......go racing"

[21Kid]

:lol: :smh: :eek:

Addressing the Republican Jewish Coalition today, Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson told a story about how the Star of David came to be on the U.S. dollar bill.

Carson was telling the story of wealthy Jewish merchant Haym Salomon, who is said to have been a major financier of George Washington’s troops during the Revolutionary War.

"Salomon gave all his funds to save the U.S. Army and, some say, no one knows for sure, that’s the reason there’s a Star of David on the back of the one dollar bill," Carson said in Washington, D.C.

In the course of his remarks toady, Carson also addressed the internal conflict between Hamas and Fatah, which he said is one of the biggest hurdles facing the Palestinian people, and mispronounced Hamas several times (it sounded like hummus) in the process before self-correcting to use the proper pronunciation.

[thesameguy]

That guy!

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/shaking_head_breaking_bad.gif

[LHutton]

Why is the Star of David on the One dollar bill anyway? What's the correct reason?

[thesameguy]

It isn't in the first place, which makes the whole thing totally laughable. It's 13 stars in a circle arranged in the most sensible fashion possible. It's not a Star of David.

[LHutton]

It isn't in the first place, which makes the whole thing totally laughable. It's 13 stars in a circle arranged in the most sensible fashion possible. It's not a Star of David.
Oh.

I won't ask you to explain the pyramid with the eye on top.

[LHutton]

Any Turkey...:smh:

http://news.yahoo.com/baghdad-calls-ankara-immediately-withdraw-troops-072001402.html


Baghdad calls on Ankara to 'immediately' withdraw troops

Baghdad (AFP) - Iraq calls on Turkey to "immediately" withdraw forces, including tanks and artillery, it has deployed in the country's north without Baghdad's consent, the premier's office said on Saturday.

"The Iraqi authorities call on Turkey to... immediately withdraw from Iraqi territory," the statement said.

"We have confirmation that Turkish forces, numbering about one armoured regiment with a number of tanks and artillery, entered Iraqi territory... allegedly to train Iraqi groups, without a request or authorisation from Iraqi federal authorities," it said.

The deployment "is considered a serious violation of Iraqi sovereignty," it added.

[overpowered]

Oh.

I won't ask you to explain the pyramid with the eye on top.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Providence

[Kchrpm]

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/12339550_785575054669_5223127657514833851_o.jpg

[neanderthal]

Do you guys agree with black lives matter movement now? What about latino lives? Were there no cases of cops using excessive and sometimes deadly force on white suspects?

I can agree that Zimmerman is an asshole and obviously a racist, but to paint all cops as if they're all Zimmermans is a bit too much.

Mob is so riled up now, so obviously somebody's head has to roll. However, I kinda doubt the police will take this all in humbly and all of a sudden reform. To them, they probably believe cop lives matter too and they'll continue to shoot and kick suspects' asses whenever they felt threatened. Just like our polarizing politics, neither side will listen to the other side and the problem will continue to grow bigger and bigger...

You really do say some dumb shit sometimes.

Only an idiot thinks that when you say "black lives matter" you're saying other lives don't matter. Quote me anywhere and everywhere as saying that. Most of those idiots are also racists.

[LHutton]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Providence
Okay, now explain the pyramid.

[21Kid]

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

[MR2 Fan]

http://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/a9PQ5g0_460s.jpg

[21Kid]

This one anecdote perfectly explains today’s GOP (https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/12/07/this-one-anecdote-perfectly-explains-todays-gop/)

“This is what happens when we do nothing,” he said. “This is the new G.O.P. majority in 2015, when we stand for nothing.” The problem, in his view, was that the Party was “governing,” he said, adding air quotes to the word. “If people just want to ‘govern,’ which means bringing more government, they’re always going to choose the Democrat.”
That is a remarkable theory of the case: Republicans lose ground when they govern along with Democrats, because achieving bipartisan governing compromise inherently represents capitulation to Dems, in the sense that when government functions, it affirms the Dem vision.

Boehner himself has said that the way to judge Republicans is not by “how many new laws we create,” but by “how many laws that we repeal.” Thus, for Republicans, if a Democrat is in the White House, the system is working if it thwarts that Democrat’s agenda.So basically, if you want a working government, vote them out. :lol:
I think Mo's been saying this for a few years now.

[thesameguy]

I think that's a weird take. Not an inaccurate take, but weird. The point of government is to govern. To create laws that benefit a society, enforce them, and apply punitive measures when they are broken. A campaign for government based on dismantling the thing you're trying to run is ultimately self-defeating *and* I'd say a total brain malfunction if you think anybody is going to go for it. Every law on the books is "managed" by some organization, and wiping out laws reduces the power of those organizations which means "right" or "wrong" they're going to fight you on it. While we may not need a Bureau of Department Oversight Office if you think the people within that group - regardless of which side of the party line they're on - are going to consider themselves expendable, you're nuts. Fighting the other party, the other voters, and the BoDOO is ambitious to say the least.

Personally, I think the problem with the Republicans is that they are trying too hard to wrap up morals, ethics, religion, and other subjective human qualities into their campaign. The Democrats seem to represent "Be excellent to each other" in some sort of abstract way, whereas the Republicans seem to represent an all-inclusive "Our way or the highway." The modern Republican platform would have been kick-ass in 1700, but in 2015, statistically speaking, the subscribers to their way are not 50% of the population. And their platform is so broad and so specific that even people who are conceptually okay with small government can't get behind them because small government comes with Jesus Christ, anti-science, and all sorts of other bullshit. 30 years ago I was a Republican because the good outweighed the bad... but today? That can't be said. Not even as a joke.

If the Republicans as a group want any traction ever again, they need to take a good hard look at the world in 2015 and figure out exactly where their core ideals intersect with a humanity. Right now, that tally is frightfully small and it's shrinking. It's not ever, ever going to grow.

[Tom Servo]

Well, I guess now he's no longer bothering with dancing around it. Trump calls for barring Muslims from entering the US, at least until he can "figure out what's going on."

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/07/donald-trump-calls-for-banning-muslims-from-entering-u-s/?_r=0

[sandydandy]

Trump has been entertaining throughout his entire campaign, but it's not funny anymore. He's gone way too far now.

[neanderthal]

This one anecdote perfectly explains today’s GOP (https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/12/07/this-one-anecdote-perfectly-explains-todays-gop/)
So basically, if you want a working government, vote them out. :lol:
I think Mo's been saying this for a few years now.


I've been trying. I'm convinced their "come to Jesus" moment will only happen when their politics are soundly rejected at the polls over and over again. Not just at Presidential elections, but school board, local council, city, county, state etc. That moment will force introspection and what TSG says so well here.


I think that's a weird take. Not an inaccurate take, but weird. The point of government is to govern. To create laws that benefit a society, enforce them, and apply punitive measures when they are broken. A campaign for government based on dismantling the thing you're trying to run is ultimately self-defeating *and* I'd say a total brain malfunction if you think anybody is going to go for it. Every law on the books is "managed" by some organization, and wiping out laws reduces the power of those organizations which means "right" or "wrong" they're going to fight you on it. While we may not need a Bureau of Department Oversight Office if you think the people within that group - regardless of which side of the party line they're on - are going to consider themselves expendable, you're nuts. Fighting the other party, the other voters, and the BoDOO is ambitious to say the least.

Personally, I think the problem with the Republicans is that they are trying too hard to wrap up morals, ethics, religion, and other subjective human qualities into their campaign. The Democrats seem to represent "Be excellent to each other" in some sort of abstract way, whereas the Republicans seem to represent an all-inclusive "Our way or the highway." The modern Republican platform would have been kick-ass in 1700, but in 2015, statistically speaking, the subscribers to their way are not 50% of the population. And their platform is so broad and so specific that even people who are conceptually okay with small government can't get behind them because small government comes with Jesus Christ, anti-science, and all sorts of other bullshit. 30 years ago I was a Republican because the good outweighed the bad... but today? That can't be said. Not even as a joke.

If the Republicans as a group want any traction ever again, they need to take a good hard look at the world in 2015 and figure out exactly where their core ideals intersect with a humanity. Right now, that tally is frightfully small and it's shrinking. It's not ever, ever going to grow.

Bold mine. I really like your summation.


I came to this country a staunch christian conservative. Didn't believe in welfare, section 8, food stamps, social security even. I remember as recently as ~15 years ago being injured, staying home, not claiming disability benefits (and that shit is deducted from my paycheck. I deliberately selected both long term and short term disability back in 94 [although I think our legislature has enacted statewide short term DI for most of us in California] because I just checked everything for my benefits.) and surviving on ramen noodles and tuna for several weeks. And it was ramen with tuna every other day, not every day. Wondering if i'd be able to pay rent...

I still think there should be limits on welfare. Institutional, multi generational social benefits are not a good thing. Cannot be. Benefits should be subject to good citizen ship etc.

The only problem is that we have institutionally prejudiced policing and justice. Inequity in schooling. Housing. Lending. Opportunities. etc. And until we resolve those i'm as liberal as fuck. We do, and my inner conservative roars.

[thesameguy]

Man, that's a crazy notion and briefly thinking about it you may be on to something. Maybe age-related, possibly SIG related, possibly even internet related, but way back when I was not as specifically aware of the overarching iniquities at play in this country, I was not immediately aware of all the stupid totally solvable problems that trip up our society and slow us down, and I was not so keenly aware of all the lies and evasion the PTBs offer American citizens. I think when most any rational person becomes aware of those issues and can see so clearly how ultimately trivial and pointless they are and how much damage they do, the idea of hamstringing our brothers and sisters just becomes unacceptable. The world won't get very far with trickle-up economics, weirdo inbred nepotism, and positively idiotic racial/religious prejudice.

I feel awesome doing this: There is an awesome quote in GTA where Trevor is harping on Ron's ex-wife and he says, "She's a drug prohibitionist, Ron, she's on the wrong side of history." There is no scenario where a society becomes more conservative with time. Things get easier, survival becomes less of an issue, more people have to get along, and all the things you thought were scary turn out to be not so scary. It's inevitable, and couching your policy under the heading "we need to reel things back in" is asinine and doomed to fail.

[overpowered]

Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/07/politics/donald-trump-muslim-ban-immigration/

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=645499132257213

[Freude am Fahren]

Honestly at this point, it's easier to believe he's some kind of fake candidate than anything else.

[neanderthal]

He's probably gaining in popularity as he keeps uttering these, I don't even know what to call them anymore.


He says repulsive stuff and becomes more popular. I don't understand it. But that's probably because i'm applying reason.

[overpowered]

https://soundcloud.com/firstlookmedia/lockheed-martin-3rd-annual-industrial-conference-dec-2-2015

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/military-contractors-caught-on-tape-bragging-about-future-profits-from-war-on-isis/

[Phil_SS]

It's just plain ridiculous. I just can't find it in me to think he would actually be nominated by the Republicans. He will be crushed in a cross party debate by any rational person.

It's like an SNL skit come to life. It's a damn shame Colbert and Stewart have moved on because this is the culmination of their great work come to life.

[MR2 Fan]

Honestly at this point, it's easier to believe he's some kind of fake candidate than anything else.

Rachel Maddow brought up the notion that maybe he's TRYING to lose the candidacy at this point....as a possibility...but people seem to be supporting him anyway. This is seriously dangerous territory he is heading toward...and I hope he starts dropping in the polls fast!!

[Freude am Fahren]

Trump Gives Muslim On Fence About Radicalizing Just The Push He Needed (http://www.theonion.com/graphic/trump-gives-muslim-fence-about-radicalizing-just-p-51999)

http://i2.wp.com/www.addictinginfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screenshot-2015-12-07-at-11.38.43-AM.png?resize=630%2C337

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVmdprAWIAEeTl8.jpg

[overpowered]

If Trump is President, will Jews be allowed to stay in the US? Asking for a friend.:lol:

[Freude am Fahren]

http://thedailybanter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-07-at-6.56.04-PM1-600x339.png

(Taken at the 2016 Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential Candidates Forum)

[LHutton]

:lol:
A surprising number of them actually support his opinions.

[21Kid]

I think that's a weird take. Not an inaccurate take, but weird. The point of government is to govern. To create laws that benefit a society, enforce them, and apply punitive measures when they are broken. A campaign for government based on dismantling the thing you're trying to run is ultimately self-defeating *and* I'd say a total brain malfunction if you think anybody is going to go for it. Every law on the books is "managed" by some organization, and wiping out laws reduces the power of those organizations which means "right" or "wrong" they're going to fight you on it. While we may not need a Bureau of Department Oversight Office if you think the people within that group - regardless of which side of the party line they're on - are going to consider themselves expendable, you're nuts. Fighting the other party, the other voters, and the BoDOO is ambitious to say the least.

Personally, I think the problem with the Republicans is that they are trying too hard to wrap up morals, ethics, religion, and other subjective human qualities into their campaign. The Democrats seem to represent "Be excellent to each other" in some sort of abstract way, whereas the Republicans seem to represent an all-inclusive "Our way or the highway." The modern Republican platform would have been kick-ass in 1700, but in 2015, statistically speaking, the subscribers to their way are not 50% of the population. And their platform is so broad and so specific that even people who are conceptually okay with small government can't get behind them because small government comes with Jesus Christ, anti-science, and all sorts of other bullshit. 30 years ago I was a Republican because the good outweighed the bad... but today? That can't be said. Not even as a joke.

If the Republicans as a group want any traction ever again, they need to take a good hard look at the world in 2015 and figure out exactly where their core ideals intersect with a humanity. Right now, that tally is frightfully small and it's shrinking. It's not ever, ever going to grow.
I mean, the whole idea of the Tea Party is less government, fewer laws, less taxes... So, it does kind of fit that bill, in my opinion. Ted Cruz now wants to close 5 govt departments (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiSkqySyczJAhVOm4MKHVr2DWgQFggnMAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tedcruz.org%2Ffive-for-freedom-summary%2F&usg=AFQjCNHzpYLva8N78CpZoZI2_VDqorPaGQ&sig2=MrDLeDHa9IpJ15IprHEXSA&bvm=bv.109332125,d.amc). Although, I have no idea how he thinks it's going to work without them...

Internal Revenue Services – end the political targeting, simplify the tax code, and abolish the IRS as we know it.
Department of Education – return education to those who know our students best: parents, teachers, local communities, and states. And block-grant education funding to the states.
Department of Energy – cut off the Washington Cartel, stop picking winners and losers, and unleash the energy renaissance.
Department of Commerce – close the “congressional cookie jar” and promote free-enterprise and free trade for every business.
Department of Housing and Urban Development – offer real solutions to lift people out of hardship, rather than trapping families in a cycle of poverty, and empower Americans by promoting the dignity of work and reforming programs such as Section 8 housing.



I also find it ironic when they say stuff like this:
The American people are looking for a Commander in Chief who will keep us safe.when the biggest threat to our safety is gun deaths.
3,400: Americans who died by Terrorism since 2001

3,400: Americans who died by household Firearms since five weeks ago.

[21Kid]

Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/07/politics/donald-trump-muslim-ban-immigration/

The thing that scares me the most is that he will never admit he's wrong. So, he's not going to ever change his mind or admit he was wrong. If anything, he'll double down on it because his poll numbers keep going up.

[LHutton]

Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/07/politics/donald-trump-muslim-ban-immigration/
The problem is, can anyone provide an example of a country with a majority, or high percentage Muslim population, that isn't a complete shit-hole?

I'll give you the opinion of an Indian on it, so you don't think it's just the white racist viewpoint:

http://indiandefence.com/threads/muslims-kill-14-in-usa-shooting.55593/page-4#post-481215



As long as the Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone. In fact, they may be featured in articles and films, stereotyped for their colorful uniqueness:

United States — Muslim 1.0%
Australia — Muslim 1.5%
Canada — Muslim 1.9%
China — Muslim 1%-2%
Italy — Muslim 1.5%
Norway — Muslim 1.8%


At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs:

Denmark — Muslim 2%
Germany — Muslim 3.7%
United Kingdom — Muslim 2.7%
Spain — Muslim 4%
Thailand — Muslim 4.6%


From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population.

They will push for the introduction of halal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature it on their shelves — along with threats for failure to comply. (United States ).

France — Muslim 8%
Philippines — Muslim 5%
Sweden — Muslim 5%
Switzerland — Muslim 4.3%
The Netherlands — Muslim 5.5%
Trinidad &Tobago — Muslim 5.8%

At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia, the Islamic
Law. The ultimate goal of Islam is not to convert the world but to establish Sharia law over the entire world.


When Muslims reach 10% of the population, they willincrease lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions ( Paris –car-burnings) . Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats ( Amsterdam – Mohammed cartoons).

Guyana — Muslim 10%
India — Muslim 13.4%
Israel — Muslim 16%
Kenya — Muslim 10%
Russia — Muslim 10-15%


After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning:

Ethiopia — Muslim 32.8%


At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare:

Bosnia — Muslim 40%
Chad — Muslim 53.1%
Lebanon — Muslim 59.7%
Nigeria - Muslim 51.5%


From 60% you may expect unfettered persecution of non-believers and other religions, sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya, the tax placed on infidels:

Albania — Muslim 70%
Malaysia — Muslim 60.4%
Qatar — Muslim 77.5%
Sudan — Muslim 70%


After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide:

Bangladesh — Muslim 83%
Egypt — Muslim 90%
Gaza — Muslim 98.7%
Indonesia — Muslim 86.1%
Iran — Muslim 98%
Iraq — Muslim 97%
Jordan — Muslim 92%
Morocco — Muslim 98.7%
Pakistan — Muslim 97%
Palestine — Muslim 99%
Syria — Muslim 90%
Tajikistan — Muslim 90%
Turkey — Muslim 99.8%
United Arab Emirates — Muslim 96%


100% will usher in the peace of ‘Dar-es-Salaam’ — the Islamic House of Peace — there’s supposed to be peace because everybody is a Muslim:

Afghanistan — Muslim 100%
Saudi Arabia — Muslim 100%
Somalia — Muslim 100%
Yemen — Muslim 99.9%

Of course, that’s not the case. because by then Muslims then start killing each other for a variety of reasons

And the number of times the EU has blocked Turkish accession is considerable. France is likely to veto them indefinitely. Even Merkel has blocked them. It's like everybody knows there's a problem, it's just not politically okay to say so.

[Kchrpm]

I'll give you the opinion of an Indian on it, so you don't think it's just the white racist viewpoint:

http://indiandefence.com/threads/muslims-kill-14-in-usa-shooting.55593/page-4#post-481215
Because another random person on the internet is obviously not racist. I'm guessing there are more complex things going on in each of those countries than just how many Muslims are in them.

[thesameguy]

I would *pay* to see some Jihadist recruiting in South Central or the Bronx. We need more of that STAT.

[MR2 Fan]

so, stupid question, can the GOP kick Trump out of their party somehow?

[speedpimp]

Yes, sirree, Bob, but they won't because they're total pussies.

[MR2 Fan]

well if Trump goes Independent....Dems will win the election.

[JoshInKC]

Because another random person on the internet is obviously not racist. I'm guessing there are more complex things going on in each of those countries than just how many Muslims are in them.

I have him blocked, but I'm assuming it's a list of majority Islamic countries/problems they have.
It's important to realize that a) pretty much all of your majority Muslim countries are "developing" countries at best. Primarily, these are formerly colonized nation-states with all of the attendant problems that implies - poverty, corruption, low levels of education, and of course, massive inequalities across the board. These situations often seem to result in radicalization and violence of some sort.
Religion is often, though far from always, a crystallizing factor - and Islam is far from the only one - See for example Hindu on Muslim violence in areas of India, Buddhist violence against Muslim Rohingya people in Myanmar, and Christian violence against animists in sub-saharan Africa. It happens that currently Islam is the most widespread religion throughout the third world, and is therefore the most visible.
This obviously doesn't cover the entirety of the problem, but is a bit of a primer on a complex issue facing the world.

[overpowered]

Donald Trump's ex-wife once said Trump kept a book of Hitler's speeches by his bed

http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trumps-ex-wife-once-said-he-kept-a-book-of-hitlers-speeches-by-his-bed-2015-8

[thesameguy]

Meh. I'm sure Hitler was a hell of a speaker. Lots of people read Sun Tzu, doesn't mean they have interest in conquering foreign lands. I'm a big fan of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, but I'm not into that life style one iota. Trump may be a dick, but it's a dick move to criticize people for things they might have read. If there is truly no value in that book, we should probably burn it.

[George]

well if Trump goes Independent....Dems will win the election.

I predict Mrs. Clinton wins, regardless.

I don't think there's has been as certain an outcome since Dewey vs. Truman in '48.

[overpowered]

Bob Dole is not a fan of Trump or Cruz:

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/bob-dole-trump-ted-cruz-extreme/2015/12/08/id/705022/

[thesameguy]

Bob Dole comes from a time when you could have idiot opinions without being a caricature of a real human.

[overpowered]

How one of the deadliest police forces in America stopped shooting people

http://qz.com/565011/how-one-of-the-largest-police-forces-in-america-stopped-shooting-people/

[SportWagon]

Ha! I was just thinking (literally, just prior to reading the other and then this one) that the Gun Control thread could be contained here in the Politics thread....

[G'day Mate]

Looks like Carson's race is run now and Rubio and Cruz are making slow gains.

So, what's the deal with those guys? Are they just as full of shit as the rest of them?

[LHutton]

I have him blocked, but I'm assuming it's a list of majority Islamic countries/problems they have.
It's important to realize that a) pretty much all of your majority Muslim countries are "developing" countries at best. Primarily, these are formerly colonized nation-states with all of the attendant problems that implies - poverty, corruption, low levels of education, and of course, massive inequalities across the board. These situations often seem to result in radicalization and violence of some sort.
Religion is often, though far from always, a crystallizing factor - and Islam is far from the only one - See for example Hindu on Muslim violence in areas of India, Buddhist violence against Muslim Rohingya people in Myanmar, and Christian violence against animists in sub-saharan Africa. It happens that currently Islam is the most widespread religion throughout the third world, and is therefore the most visible.
This obviously doesn't cover the entirety of the problem, but is a bit of a primer on a complex issue facing the world.
Violence by other groups is absolutely nowhere near as prevalent, even in the third world. Islamic terrorism accounts for well over 90% of all terrorism related deaths globally, 5/6th of all deaths arising in just 6 Middle Eastern states prior to the rise of Daesh. It's also no coincidence that two of the other examples of religious terrorism you quoted, for Hinduism and Buddhism, related to Muslims. Both of which class as revenge violence, due to Muslim atrocities, like the Mumbai attacks, ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Kashmir etc.

The trend is also increasing:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-30086435
https://muslimstatistics.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/global-terror-attack-deaths-rose-sharply-in-2013-says-report-2014-11-19-18-03-36.png?w=610&h=470
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/131025111309-terror-attacks-decade-custom-1.jpg

It's not simply a matter of poverty or former colonisation at all, that's a total red herring. You can see this simply by comparing predominantly non-Muslim ex-colonies to Muslim ones. No predominantly Muslim state has been able to exist as a tolerant democracy. The experiment continues to fail. Iraq - failed, Libya - failed, Egypt - failed, Syria - will fail if Assad goes.

The problem is caused by being so hellbent on religion, that they can't separate it from politics and therefore violence occurs whenever a politician misinterprets a verse of the Qu'ran, or 'the wrong' tribal candidate is elected.

Sometimes facts just fly in the face of idealism and what you want to believe. I used to feel the same way a few years ago but if you ask the question, "would you want to live in a state that's 50% Muslim?" Everyone knows the answer inside their head, but the politically correct will refuse to provide it. Everyone knows that a 50% Muslim state will no longer be a tolerant one, or a peaceful one, regardless of what they want to believe, but to say so will lose votes, so public figures and liberal elites will simply lie, in the hope that they're long gone before it gets that far. Everyone knows that the culture they're defending holds completely opposing values to the principles they think they're defending.

Now this doesn't for one second mean we treat any citizen different, and religious freedom still applies, but sensible limits have to be applied on immigration to protect the continuation of the aforementioned equality and religious freedom.

[Jason]

Looks like Carson's race is run now and Rubio and Cruz are making slow gains.

So, what's the deal with those guys? Are they just as full of shit as the rest of them?

Cruz is just short of Trump on the nuts scale, imo.

Rubio can be surprisingly moderate, and then say something completely out of touch a day later. Hard to get a read on him.

[overpowered]

Ha! I was just thinking (literally, just prior to reading the other and then this one) that the Gun Control thread could be contained here in the Politics thread....Cops having guns and gun control aren't really the same subject.

The issue is political because it's about cops discharging unnecessary lethal force. Not surprisingly, better training made a huge difference in LV.

[overpowered]

Trump Set To Lose A Fortune As Muslim Business Partners Begin Boycott

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/trump-set-to-lose-a-fortune-as-muslim-business-partners-begin-boycott/

[21Kid]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: What Donald Trump and ISIS Have in Common (http://time.com/4143003/kareem-abdul-jabbar-donald-trump-isis/)
There are just too many quotable things here, I'd end up copying the whole thing. Kareem sounds more presidential than the donald does.

[overpowered]

New York white supremacist blows off his own leg while making bombs at his house: prosecutors

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/new-york-white-supremacist-blows-off-his-own-leg-while-making-bombs-at-his-house-prosecutors/

[thesameguy]

What rtard wrote that article? Half the sentences are borderline incomprehensible.


“He is no longer at large in the community with or without some of the physical disabilities he’s going to have going forward, but luckily for the community, he only hurt himself.”


“The fact that there were some items that we described in court as consistent with, white supremacists, to include the Ku Klux Klan, and the Nazi imagery, some of the verbiage which was particularly on the Nazi picture, also the Confederate battle flag, means that law enforcement has more work to go,”


After the explosion, a neighbor told local WKBW that O’Neill spend hours on end[sic]

:smh:

[overpowered]

One of the popular memes among regressives today is that Jimmy Carter banned Iranians.

1. It was Iranians, not muslims. One is people of a country. The other is all people of a religion. It's also a country that was at the time holding U.S. hostages and which was highly hostile to the U.S.

2. It was part of a series of sanctions against Iran to pressure them to release the hostages. It also included things like freezing assets.

3. It wasn't all Iranians. Lots of Iranians got in, even during the so-called "ban". I knew some. They went to my high school. I graduated with them. I saw them at the 20 year reunion.

4. It didn't last that long. Far more Iranians came to the U.S. in the 80's than in the 70's.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=494325240749989

[overpowered]

Trump Worth $10 Billion Less Than If He’d Simply Invested in Index Funds

http://www.moneytalksnews.com/why-youre-probably-better-investing-than-donald-trump/

[21Kid]

While it may be difficult to calculate (http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/dec/09/occupy-democrats/occupy-democrats-say-simple-investment-trumps-fath/) what his current worth would actually be, it's at least in the ballpark. Not to mention he had to file bankruptcy 4 times since then. Had he not, his worth would be considerably less. Either way I don't think he's as good a business man as he leads people to believe. Not to mention (same thing I said about Romney) that you don't want to run the country like a business. They are not that similar of skill sets.

[neanderthal]

I have him blocked, but I'm assuming it's a list of majority Islamic countries/problems they have.
It's important to realize that a) pretty much all of your majority Muslim countries are "developing" countries at best. Primarily, these are formerly colonized nation-states with all of the attendant problems that implies - poverty, corruption, low levels of education, and of course, massive inequalities across the board. These situations often seem to result in radicalization and violence of some sort.
Religion is often, though far from always, a crystallizing factor - and Islam is far from the only one - See for example Hindu on Muslim violence in areas of India, Buddhist violence against Muslim Rohingya people in Myanmar, and Christian violence against animists in sub-saharan Africa. It happens that currently Islam is the most widespread religion throughout the third world, and is therefore the most visible.
This obviously doesn't cover the entirety of the problem, but is a bit of a primer on a complex issue facing the world.

And there was no mention of Indonesia or Canada in that abortion of a piece.

[21Kid]

Ted Cruz Revives the Great Climate Change Hoax (http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a40347/ted-cruz-climate-change-conspiracy/)

There is a fundamental difference, which is in the name of global warming, you have politicians trying to impose trillions of dollars of cost on the world. In the I-95 Corridor, among the Washington elite, global warming is very popular because it makes you feel good about caring for the world. But I'll tell you, you know who I'm concerned about? I'm concerned about the single mom waiting tables right now, who for seven years of the Obama economy has been trapped in stagnation. Her wages have been stagnating. It's harder and harder to make ends meet. And what the Washington elites are trying to do is double her energy bill… If you show me a scientist that stops questioning science, I'll show you someone who isn't a scientist. And I'll tell you…why this has shifted. Look in the world of global warming. What is the language they use? They call anyone who questions the science—who even points to the satellite data—they call you a, quote, "denier." Denier is not the language of science. Denier is the language of religion. It is heretic. You are a blasphemer. It's treated as a theology. But it's about power and money. At the end of the day, it's not complicated. This is liberal politicians who want government power.
He's really stretching it now... If he's really worried about the single mom, maybe he should stop voting to heep her down (https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/135705/ted-cruz#.VmntsEqDGko). Not to mention that using cleaner energy would actually lower your energy bill (http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/07/30/3685299/cheapest-way-to-reduce-power-plant-emissions-and-save-money-on-electricity/) in the long run. :smh: And to say that a denier is a religious term? :erm:

deny verb - de·ny \ di-ˈnī,
: to say that something is not true
: to refuse to accept or admit (something)

[Freude am Fahren]

Also, "If you show me a scientist that stops questioning science, I'll show you someone who isn't a scientist." So then what will he call someone who ignores science?

[thesameguy]

An artist?

SICKBURN!

[TheBenior]

A naturopath?

[MR2 Fan]

If Trump is somehow the GOP nominee...I seriously doubt his voters will take other congressional GOP candidates with him, meaning the Dems will win back a lot of seats in congress most likely.

The only good outcome for the GOP in this overall is if he completely drops out....I don't know if that will happen.

[overpowered]

http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4566780/sen-bernie-sanders-climate-change

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=533524930105880

[overpowered]

Trump on his daughter

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/73fxht/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-don-t-forget--donald-trump-wants-to-bang-his-daughter

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/qa0jdp/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-again--don-t-forget--donald-trump-wants-to-bang-his-daughter

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT1u8ePmVY

[21Kid]

Trump on his daughter

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/73fxht/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-don-t-forget--donald-trump-wants-to-bang-his-daughter

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/qa0jdp/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-again--don-t-forget--donald-trump-wants-to-bang-his-daughter
...and his poll numbers rise.

[Rikadyn]

...and his poll numbers rise.

much like his pants when he's with his daughter

[Rikadyn]

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/12/donald-trump-president-fascism-nazi-germany-klemperer/

[overpowered]

Anonymous is going after Trump.

http://www.wired.com/2015/12/anonymous-launches-optrump-to-teach-the-donald-a-lesson/

[LHutton]

Anonymous started off great but now they've become a bit like those people that don't bath and turn up to every protest going, regardless of what it's about. Trump's an ass but not really something that warrants e-terrorism.

[thesameguy]

So there's this:

http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-donald-trump-space-amazon-2015-12

and I just got an email saying you can use Amazon Echo to "send Donald Trump to space." I don't know what they do with those tallies, but I guess Bezos really hates the Donald and is upset enough to embed his opinions into his products. :lol:

[overpowered]

Snopes on the Carter B.S.

http://www.snopes.com/jimmy-carter-banned-iranian-immigrants/

[MR2 Fan]

let's look on the bright side here...Trump is NOT the choice of 65% of republicans if you believe the polls, and I'm sure not the choice of 90+% of Dems,

So basically we're talking about a very vocal, very small percentage of the general public.

However he is also getting NONSTOP media coverage....Hillary or Bernie are barely even mentioned lately.

[thesameguy]

They are decidedly less hilarious. Especially Clinton. She's, um, worthless on all fronts.

[JoshInKC]

And sadly, she's the closest thing to Nixon anybody can come up with.

[thesameguy]

Blerg. For real. She would definitely authorize breaking into Democrat headquarters without missing a beat.

[overpowered]

Over 10,000 Jews Sign Registry Saying ‘Never Again’ To Donald Trump

http://www.bipartisanreport.com/2015/12/10/10000-jews-sign-registry-saying-never-donald-trump/

[overpowered]

Coachella mosque firebombed:

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/coachella/2015/12/11/structure-fire-coachella-may-mosque/77166120/

[LHutton]

That's the problem with these things, they quickly descend into tit-for-tat violence.

[LHutton]

Trump Worth $10 Billion Less Than If He’d Simply Invested in Index Funds

http://www.moneytalksnews.com/why-youre-probably-better-investing-than-donald-trump/
It gets so ridiculously easy to make money once you have that much, that it's pretty much a revival of aristocracy at this stage.

[Freude am Fahren]

That's the problem with these things, they quickly descend into tit-for-tat violence.

It has been for a while, it's just now ordinary citizens are taking part more.

[LHutton]

Which is not what you want in a cohesive society. If something like that picks up pace, it'll be no different to the Middle East.

[overpowered]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-could-stop-donald-trump-seriously_56689e49e4b080eddf56dc2d

Maybe this clown car circus has really been about making Romney a more viable candidate?

[overpowered]

Fiorina's campaign was already in the shitter but now it comes out that when she was running HP, they sold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of computer equipment to Iran through a foreign subsidiary, which is highly illegal since the U.S. still has strict trade restrictions on Iran.

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-09-14/under-fiorina-hp-earned-millions-from-sales-in-iran

[overpowered]

The 2 key points that climate skeptics miss

http://www.vox.com/2015/12/11/9898098/climate-skeptics-consilience

[overpowered]

About Trump:


He’s like that guy that’s going into a bar, and he’ll say whatever it will take to get laid. Only in this case, he’s not trying to f*ck some girl, he’s trying to f*ck the country. *drops mic*

About 1 minute in:

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/9yw6b7/the-nightly-show-with-larry-wilmore-panel---donald-trump-s-divisive-presidential-campaign

[overpowered]

Ted Cruz unveils plan to defeat ISIS, doesn’t realize it’s identical to President Obama’s current plan

http://www.dailynewsbin.com/opinion/ted-cruz-unveils-plan-to-defeat-isis-doesnt-realize-its-identical-to-president-obamas-current-plan/23235/

[speedpimp]

But Conservative, Christian Canadian trumps(he he) Socialist, Muslim Kenyan.

[21Kid]

I mean "Destroy ISIS" is pretty straight-forward. How can you not like that plan?

[Rikadyn]

Well, mostly because it's a soundbite, not a plan, but logic doesn't really have place in politics.

[LHutton]

It's virtually impossible to destroy ISIS from the air, at least it is if you care about civilians. If not, then it actually gets trivially easy.

[overpowered]

Jane Mann said she is a local native and is concerned about the natural vegetation that makes the community beautiful.

She is a retired Northampton science teacher and is concerned that photosynthesis, which depends upon sunlight, would not happen and would keep the vegetation from growing. She said she has observed areas near solar panels where vegetation is brown and dead because it did not receive enough sunlight.

She also questioned the high number of cancer deaths in the area, saying no one could tell her that solar panels didn’t cause cancer.


Bobby Mann said he watched communities dry up when I-95 came along and warned that would happen to Woodland because of the solar farms.

“You’re killing your town,” he said. “All the young people are going to move out.”

He said the solar farms would suck up all the energy from the sun and businesses would not come to Woodland.

http://www.roanoke-chowannewsherald.com/2015/12/08/woodland-rejects-solar-farm/

[thesameguy]

citizens expressed distrust and fear of the solar panels


He said the solar farms would suck up all the energy from the sun and businesses would not come to Woodland.

Mmmmm. Science.

[George]

She is a retired Northampton science teacher and is concerned that photosynthesis, which depends upon sunlight, would not happen and would keep the vegetation from growing. She said she has observed areas near solar panels where vegetation is brown and dead because it did not receive enough sunlight.

:eek:

[LHutton]

Solar farms are actually awesome for those nations with enough spare land to build them, because they avoid the problem of having to re-configure the entire grid for distributed power generation.

[LHutton]

:eek:
Thank God that's Northampton is the US and hopefully she doesn't teach Biology, not that it would be much of a concession.

[21Kid]

:erm: wait... that's not an Onion article? :smh: