Sadly, here we go again. Front runners from our elite-funded duopoly parties half the country will hate, whomever is elected. More intramural bickering among parties working for the same monied interests, posturing gridlock to disguise their mutual aim to change nothing, and certain hopelessness for soon to be ignored working folks ahead, no matter what happens in November, despite the promises they will hear once more with phony feeling in yet another forgettable campaign summer.
Oh well. Status quo all over again. You’re on your own America. At least you are used to it.
Is it possible the presidency has become irrelevant?
After all, the Founders didn’t mean for it to be much, proscribed its limited powers in Article II as secondary to the legislative branch in Article I, and seriously considered simply entitling the office “Chief Magistrate” but did not do so only to avoid offending George Washington, who gave no opinion on the matter.
Perhaps all that’s left of the presidency is as a marketing vehicle for commercial media. A fantasy for demographic role playing. And a grand illusion for us all to pretend that someone is in charge, so that half of us can hate them.
Yep, half the country usually hates the new president. I doubt he founders (who fought like cats and dogs among themselves over what the government should be, strong central government vs. Weak central government, strong executive vs. Weak executive…) ever envisioned that you’d have one-party who was willing to shut the government down if they didn’t get their way. What we don’t have is the same country that we had when the founders wrote the document. And let’s face it, we haven’t had a Washington since he finished his term as president.
And by the way, I seem to recall a number of people here who bought into that disheveled socialist as the next leader of the free world, not the least of which was you, Poobah.
This was made by a Bernie supporter and placed on You Tube. I don’t know if his campaign knows about it or might use it, but it is what the Bernie people see when they hear him speak. It is beautifully done and as idealism goes definitely worthy targets. I would hope that Hillary can capture some of this optimism
https://youtu.be/SMpp0hSkL64
jack and craig, marco may become drumpf’s vp choice just to make a show of inclusion but not go too far with it. he’s also short enough to make drumpf look towering (get it, trump towers? bad joke). marco also can don that adoring candidate’s wife look better than any of the others.
no way will he pick untrusTED for fear of a knife wielding asp just after the swearing in.
BTW I already miss Rube.
I feel like whistling “Everything Old Is New Again”. Back in 1968 on the morning after the Nixon election, I remarked to an ardently Republican boss that “At least 42% of the country is happy”.
It doesn’t help that compared to Drumpf Tricky Dicky actually looks almost benign and acceptable. At least his psychological profile only included paranoia, arrogance and tendencies toward vengeance.
One of the advantages of being somewhat jaded and elderly is that you know things can get either better or worse and generosity of spirit can make the difference at least around the edges.
What we know is that if a democrat is elected, things may get worse or better……if a republican is elected, however–things WILL get worse.
Important things to consider when the politics get boring: Human beings are killing themselves with their own garbage.
Human Toll of Pollution: 12.6 million deaths each year
jamie, thanks for posting the bernie bit.
good line and I hope Hillary makes use of it (giving appropriate attribution of course) emphasizing universal healthcare, affordable education and workable gov’t: “brothers and sisters, this is a nation we can create when we stand together and not let people divide us.”
Gee Craig… to read you this morning one might think we all live in a third world country. I, however, am grateful to live in this country in the western world and in modern times.
IMO, no matter who the candidates are… half the country will hate them. Once Democrats learn what Kasich actually stands for they would not embrace him. And surely Republicans aren’t going to snuggle up to socialist Bernie.
And oh yeah… as a Hillary supporter…. YEEEEEEHAAAAAW!
ps… I do hope Bernie stays in the race and goes to the convention. I think we need his voice.
from cnn:
President Barack Obama has chosen a nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and will announce his pick at 11 a.m. ET, he told supporters in an email Wednesday.
“Today, I will announce the person whom I believe is eminently qualified to sit on the Supreme Court,” Obama wrote in the email, which did not name his nominee.
He said the announcement would come in the White House Rose Garden.
“As President, it is both my constitutional duty to nominate a justice and one of the most important decisions that I — or any president — will make.” [….]
“I’ve devoted a considerable amount of time and deliberation to this decision,” Obama said. “I’ve consulted with legal experts and people across the political spectrum, both inside and outside government. And we’ve reached out to every member of the Senate, who each have a responsibility to do their job and take this nomination just as seriously.””
Mister Thompson calls the waiter, orders steak and baked potato
Then he leaves the bone and gristle and he never eats the skins;
The busboy comes and takes it, with a cough contaminates it
And puts it in a can with coffee grinds and sardine tins;
The truck comes by on Friday and carts it all away;
And a thousand trucks just like it are converging on the Bay, oh,
Garbage (garbage, garbage, garbage) Garbage!
We’re filling up the sea with garbage (garbage…)
What will we do when there’s no place left
To put all the garbage? (garbage…)
Mr. Thompson starts his Cadillac and winds it down the freeway track
Leaving friends and neighbors in a hydro-carbon haze;
He’s joined by lots of smaller cars all sending gases to the stars.
There they form a seething cloud that hangs for thirty days.
And the sun licks down into it with an ultraviolet tongue.
Till it turns to smog and settles down and ends up in our lungs, oh,
Garbage (garbage…) Garbage!
We’re filling up the sky with garbage (garbage…)
What will we do
When there’s nothing left to breathe but garbage (garbage…)
Getting home and taking off his shoes he settles down with the evening news,
While the kids do homework with the TV in one ear
While Superman for the thousandth time sells talking dolls and conquers crime
Dutifully they learn the date of birth of Paul Revere.
In the paper there’s a piece about the mayor’s middle name,
And he gets it done in time to watch the all-star bingo game, oh,
Garbage (garbage…)
We’re filling up our minds with garbage
Garbage (garbage…)
What will we do when there’s nothing left to read
And there’s nothing left to need
And there’s nothing left to watch
And there’s nothing left to touch
And there’s nothing left to walk upon
And there’s nothing left to talk upon
Nothing left to see
And there’s nothing left to be but
Garbage (garbage…)
In Mister Thompson’s factory, they’re making plastic Christmas trees
Complete with silver tinsel and a geodesic stand
The plastic’s mixed in giant vats from some conglomeration
That’s been piped from deep within the earth or strip-mined from the land.
And if you question anything, they say, “Why, don’t you see?
It’s absolutely needed for the economy,” oh,
Oh, Garbage! Garbage! Garbage! Garbage!
There stocks and their bonds — all garbage!
Garbage! Garbage! Garbage! Garbage!
What will they do when their system goes to smash
There’s no value to their cash
There’s no money to be made
But there’s a world to be repaid
Their kids will read in history books
About financiers and other crooks
And feudalism, and slavery
And nukes and all their knavery
To history’s dustbin they’re consigned
Along with many other kinds of garbage.
Garbage! Garbage! Garbage! Garbage!
here we go again:
Paul Ryan not out of the question to settle GOP indecision
Rachel Maddow shares breaking news from an interview by CNBC’s John Harwood with Speaker Paul Ryan in which Ryan does not flatly reject the idea of accepting the Republican presidential nomination should it be offered to him at the convention.
ryan and obama kum baya on violence
Boring, mundane & necessary: Local & State Politics. Quality of Life begins here. If you can name your District Representative let alone State Representative, bonus points & a big shiny gold star. Naming their local/state Representatives might be a worthy question posed to the Presidential Candidates at future debates.
nate at fivethirtyeight:
Clinton has not yet been declared the winner in Missouri, but she leads Sanders 49.6 percent to 49.4 percent in unofficial results. A win there would complete a 5-for-5 evening for her: Clinton won Illinois narrowly and Florida, Ohio and North Carolina emphatically. She was already likely to be the Democratic nominee, but she became more likely after what was perhaps the best evening of her campaign.
https://youtu.be/5qEno4T19I8
from azcentral:
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has launched a Spanish-language television ad in Arizona that opens with images of Republican front-runner Donald Trump and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the controversial immigration-enforcement figure who is backing Trump.
Speaking to the state’s Latino community, the commercial’s narrator touts Clinton’s support for immigration reform, children’s health care and affordable college and says: “There will always be obstacles, but with a friend like Hillary, we keep moving forward.”
The 30-second spot is running in the Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma television markets.
Clinton and her only rival for the 2016 Democratic nomination, left-leaning Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, are in a fierce fight in Arizona, which holds its presidential preference election, or primary, on Tuesday, March 22.
Ross Douthat has an opinion piece at NYT this morning that is a kind of eulogy for Rube’s failed bid. Interesting read – it says his defeat marks the end of Bushism. If he’s right, than k god for that.
I wonder what Bernie’s thoughts are today. After having a warm glass of milk and 8 hours of sleep, knowing that he can go forward and win a few states only to lose on the delegate count at the convention barring a small miracle (like winning NY, PA and CA BIG – where latest polling averages put HRC at double digit leads, with a low of 13.5% in CA, a high of about 26 in NY and 23 in PA).
Sturgeone
That garbage video was from 40 years ago. Adding another 2 billion people to contribute to the pile does not help, particularly when we have global corporations more than willing to strangle their grandchildren with their products for the sake of profits.
Jamie……..and there you have it……..
anonymous, welcome back.
Just to add to the “things that are wrong” list of the morning:
Smears and Obstruction: How right wing media are teaming with the GOP for a Supreme Court Blockade
If the nominee turns out to be Sri Srinivasan, the GOP can add rampant racism to unconstitutional reaction by the incredibly brain dead.
good to hear from an old dem pro, barney in the new yorker:
Former Representative Barney Frank, a Massachusetts liberal who worked with Sanders in the House, said, “Virtually every group I am familiar with that has been seriously engaged in trying to bring about change to the left on any important issue—including health care, including financial reform, including women’s rights and L.G.B.T. rights—is either neutral or with Hillary. Simply stating a pure position doesn’t advance your cause very much.”
[….]
Most notably, Clinton abandoned her support for the free-trade initiative known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which she negotiated as Secretary of State and once described as the “gold standard” of trade agreements. The longer Sanders pressures Clinton on the issue, the more difficult it will be for her to flip back again. “Bill Clinton went from being semi-trade to being pro-trade,” Barney Frank said. “He could not have easily slipped back to being anti-trade. Hillary Clinton went from being somewhat pro-trade to being somewhat anti-trade. You can’t go back. You can change once; you can’t change twice.”
Is it possible the presidency has become irrelevant? Not at these prices, Craig!
Supreme day…Obama’s email hints at outside life experience as his third criteria in selection. He also scolds the Senate to their job. Perfect timing now that the very vacant Rubio has to get back to work.
channel3000 jumps the gun: Obama to nominate Merrick Garland to Supreme Court
At 63, Garland is much older than the other contenders on the short list such as Judges Sri Srinivasan and Paul Watford. Garland’s supporters argue he is the nominee that the senators couldn’t refuse even in a contentious environment. “He’s the establishment of the establishment,” one backer said.
Now the leak on SCOTUS is Merrick Garland. This is definitely another Pass The Popcorn watch party as turtle man was already on with the no way no how forget it message to the President.
Loving the Big Short line: “Tell me the difference between stupid and illegal, and I’ll have him arrested.”
Aw, Craig…don’t let the transition to digital democracy get you down. The founders were analog when the speed of information took weeks to reach the rural parts. We are already on the digital path. Younger humans are digital in their decision-making process unlike us older humans. They have not experienced the analog…the lovely sine wave through life. I foresee a day when popular vote rules the day with online voting being the norm. Many of my liberal friends are in horror when I mention online voting…it isn’t secure! Oh really? You think having it in one site is any safer? If you believed that, you would not bank online. Just the old fashioned way is dying-out.
“Just the old fashioned way is dying-out.”
bw, including taking time to think…. or even having the time if you wanted to think… before acting
BW,
Supreme day…Obama’s email hints at outside life experience as his third criteria in selection. He also scolds the Senate to their job. Perfect timing now that the very vacant Rubio has to get back to work.
Hah! If he works as he did in the past, who would notice?
WaPo says its Garland.
Re: the briefing document being circulated in support of his nomination:
” “…When earlier Supreme Court vacancies occurred in the seats now filled by Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch said he would be ‘very well supported by all sides’ as a SCOTUS nominee.”
“The document notes that when Obama was filling the first Supreme Court vacancy of his tenure, Hatch was quoted at the time as saying that Garland would be a “consensus nominee” who “would be very well supported by all sides.” The briefing material includes previous descriptions of Garland by leading news organizations as a potential nominee who would attract support of Democrats and Republicans alike.
“Chief Justice John Roberts, Garland’s colleague on the D.C. Circuit, once said that “anytime Judge Garland disagrees, you know you’re in a difficult area.””
cnn: who is merrick garland
Garland is the chief judge for the Washington, D.C. appeals court, appointed by President Bill Clinton. A former clerk for Justice William Brennan, he’s served in private practice and at the Justice Department.
A Chicago native, Garland, 63, is a graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law School. He was confirmed by a 76-23 vote after being nominated by Clinton in 1997. Obama considered him for the seats that ultimately went to Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Garland’s supporters argue he is the nominee that the senators couldn’t refuse even in a contentious environment.
“He’s the establishment of the establishment,” said one supporter, adding that as a government lawyer he supervised the investigations in the Unabomber case and the Oklahoma City bombing.
However, even before his name was announced, Carrie Severino of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network cautioned in the National Review that he should not be labeled as “moderate” arguing in one instance that he has a “very liberal view” of gun rights.
The 2016 general election has not only the presidential election but also a lot of Republican senate seats up for elections. The Democrats could win back the Senate!
One of the demographics that the primaries have shown is that Trump and the Republicans have the momentum and the zeal to get out and vote. Democrats have abandoned the labor unions, the members not the leaders, in favor of corporate America and Wall Street and seeded them to the Republicans.
Voting among Democrats is down. Clinton has not stimulated voters to get off their duff and vote so far, so why should we expect anything more? I expect the Democrats lose the Presidential election but keep the Senate in control of the Republicans.
Excellent speeches by both the Prez and Judge Garland
So far he seems like a moderate court pick who ought to satisfy Republicans more than liberals.
I like this, certainly sounds like Garland would have gone the other way on Citizen’s United: From his opinion upholding a federal ban on federal contractors making federal campaign contributions:
The real test is whether he would uphold a ban on their contributions to super pacs, or at least require disclosure.
Having all sorts of fun spitting and clawing with right wing, Republicans, Drumpf supporters & Scotus nom resisters. Totally useless of course, but entertaining as long as I don’t lose my temper. Rampant stupidity does set the teeth on edge .
“Excellent speeches by both the Prez and Judge Garland”
flatus, couldn’t say it better and I was primed to look for every fault and flaw in one-more-white-male nominee, but he sounds like my kinda judge. here’s hoping mitch &co come to their senses.
from time:
A new video posted on Donald Trump’s Instagram attacks Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy credentials by showing her—out of context—barking like a bog. The spot opens with the words “When it comes to facing our opponents,” then shows Russian president Vladimir Putin performing martial arts. “Democrats have the answer,” the video goes on, cutting to a clip of the Democratic presidential frontrunner yelping like a canine. It’s followed by another spliced clip of Putin laughing.
Though Trump’s ad warns that electing Clinton would make America a “punchline” on the world stage, global leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, have spoken out against the GOP frontrunner.
drumpf’s ad is more pro putin than anti hillary.
thinking through the politics of this court pick, if he is not confirmed and Hillary is elected, would she nominate him herself? she’ll probably want to be prepared for that question
Poor Mitch. What’s a person to do? If he passes on this nominee and the Dems. win the White house, you can bet that the pugns won’t like a Hillary or Bernie pick nearly as well as they like this one. Poor Mitch, life sure gets hard when you refuse to do your job!
A great article in The Atlanic: What Americans Don’t Get About Nordic Countries. Apparently, Bernie is not over-reaching, as some would have you believe.
Oh, and he wasn’t wandering around the with a soup spoon for a mic. Apparently, he made a speech which was not covered due to last night’s results.
Trump is pulling all the strings. He won’t debate. And if he’s not there, Kasich won’t go. Whaaa??? Why not debate Cruz? That seems foolish.
looks like wonkette likes him with “Let’s Meet Obama’s Sexxxy Silver Fox SCOTUS Nominee, Merrick Garland!” story that gigs hatch and mitch in its usual colorful way.
I was hoping for Watford or Srinivasan. I want someone under the age of 50. However, if Garland follows in the footsteps of the late Justice Brennan, I’ll be quite happy.
If I were the conspiracy type, I would almost suspect that the Grand Old Party was trying to clear out all the right wing nut jobs by making them look so totally ridiculous as to be unelectable by putting them on display.
Nordic Countries do have lower population numbers and homogenous composition. Coming out of WW II, it was in their best interests (as with Britain) to focus the taxes on pro survival of the people. The US with its huge numbers and concentration on the Cold War while Europe pulled itself up by the bootstraps made the choice of the military/industrial complex to keep the engine of the economy running to benefit the Western world.
I’ve often compared notes with acquaintances around the world and it pretty well comes down to 45-50% in taxes of one kind or another. For the most part, like it or not, we are the world’s policeman. It would be nice if we could dedicate that amount of funds towards things that benefit people, but that would take a major overhaul of the economy. When you add in the fact that even the Nordic and semi-socialist countries are starting to find those services more and more expensive, there are more than enough adjustments to go around.
I would like more socialism and more regulation of capitalism (the balance is important). Getting there is the problem.
Pogo: “seem to recall a number of people here who bought into that disheveled socialist as the next leader of the free world, not the least of which was you, Poobah.”
Touché! That was my own “senior moment”
So is MegaloMitch’s big idea to wait for Trump’s pick, Judge Judy?
“MegaloMitch”
good name for him and good question for someone to ask him given his latest finger wag at drumpf.
Oops Judge Judy at the center of a potential multi Million dollar lawsuit
So Drumpf being sued for Trump university & Judy testifying about compensation.
We are running out of popcorn
boss, have to take exception to your “another president half America hates”… if hatred equates with strong disapproval and not just disapproval then only 39% hate the present prez according to
rassmusson daily presidential tracking:
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Obama’s job performance. Forty-nine percent (49%) disapprove (see trends).
The latest figures include 30% who Strongly Approve of the way Obama is performing as president and 39% who Strongly Disapprove.
maybe you’re thinking of race and gender hatreds for Obama and Clinton? half the population being male misogynists and white racists?
from wapo:
After Judge Garland was nominated, McConnell spoke with him and made that clear again. In what his office described as a “more considerate” use of Garland’s time, McConnell spoke with him on the phone to avoid “more unnecessary political routines orchestrated by the White House.”
McConnell’s office said in a statement that he again said he thinks the seat should only be filled after the presidential election. And because the Senate won’t be considering the nomination, McConnell’s office said, the majority leader “would not be holding a perfunctory meeting, but he wished Judge Garland well.”
this is one of those occasions our nash or xr could delightfully entertain us with a fanciful phone conversation between myrtle and the most honorable judge.
Patd: boss, have to take exception to your “another president half America hates”
Point taken. Trouble is the haters on both sides are so loud and widely covered their numbers seem inflated
Of couse anyone can speculate, and speculation is rampant on O’s SCOTUS pick, but I heard this one bit while driving home from a hearing – that if HRC or Bernie is elected in November, you’ll see a quick approval vote for Garland to avoid having an actually liberal but qualified nominee put forward after Jan.20. Sounds plausible.
in the meantime we’ll have to do with “Garrison Keillor: Think moving abroad will save you from Trump? Think again.”
After Tuesday’s voting, several folks I know are talking about leaving the country if and when the Great White Snapping Turtle is elected president, and of course Canada is the favored destination: English-language predominant, handsome young progressive prime minister, socialized medicine, nonstop air connections — plus parallel geography of rockbound East, Midwestern prairies and Western mountain ranges. Well, I’m not up for it. For one thing, I’m lazy. And also there is no South up north — no New Orleans, no Delta blues, no high lonesome tenor singing “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” and no strip-mall evangelists proclaiming that Justin Trudeau is the Antichrist and was born in the Bronx — and so Canadian culture is of limited range. A nation of bookkeepers. It is missing the apocalyptic.
[….]
Exile is no bed of roses. If you go to a foreign country to escape the Big Snapper, you will run into him wherever you go. Foreigners hear your voice, and it’s like you’re wearing a big red A around your neck — they’ll ask you about the Snapper, and how could America be so hopelessly stupid as to elect this blowhard ignoramus to lead the Free World? In Boise or Tampa or Kansas City, you’re not a spokesperson for America, you’re just a great lover, a cool dude, and a smart cookie — let de Tocqueville figure out what it means to be American, you go pursue life and liberty and have a cheeseburger — but when you go abroad, suddenly you’re hauling a knapsack full of nationality. I spent time in Europe during the George W. Bush era; I know.
[….]
If you want to escape from the Great White Turtle, you could move to New York. New Yorkers saw through this guy 20 years ago, a living, breathing cartoon of a tycoon, vulgarity on wheels, a man who was very lucky that his father was born before he was, and they have closed the book. So he takes his show on the road, and it did okay in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina, and so the intelligentsia is working ever harder, trying to figure him out. It’s like psychoanalyzing a toasted bagel. The guy paid $29 million for a 282-foot yacht, sailed on it once, got seasick, and never sailed again. He likes tall models with foreign accents. He dyes his hair. He likes to read about himself. What else do you want to know?
I’m saving up for Australia. They like me there. 🙂
In the meantime, here is the list of people we need to toss out of the Senate. Some are locked into their seats for life and a few don’t have partisan cement for brains, but it is a starting point
GOP Senators Up For Re-election 2016
Lisa Murkowski, AK; Richard Shelby, AL; John McCain, AZ; John Boozman, AR; Johnny Isakson, GA;
Miki Crapo, ID; Mark Kirk, IL; Chuck Grassley, IA; Jerry Moran, KS; Rand Paul, KY; Roy Blunt, MO;
Richard Burr, NC; John Hoeven, ND; Kelly Ayotte, NH; Rob Portman, OH; James Lankford, OK;
Patrick Toomey, PA; Tim Scott, SC; John Thune, SD; Mike Lee, UT; Ron Johnson, WI
“I’m saving up for Australia. They like me there. ”
Oh yes, they like me there as well.. Melbourne is the place to be.. I used to go yearly for awhile with all my GM vacation time.. Damn, i’m so busy now hard to travel.. Long trip but so worth it.. The people love Americans there and really identify with us and our culture more than Europe that’s for sure..
Never been to Australia, but it sounds like a good idea.
How Hillary Should Debate Donald Trump
If the current front-runners square off in the fall, here’s what Clinton should do to take down Trump.
William Saletan
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/03/how_hillary_clinton_should_debate_donald_trump.html
The discussion of how the Founders saw the presidency is one I enjoy. Although originally presented as a weak and powerless position (and the VP even more so), right from Georgie on, the one third of the trilogy, was very powerful. The reason, one person, one decision. Although thought of as the statesman seat, the president made the decisions to run the country.
Please read and enjoy the Federalist Papers (available everywhere). Those are the easiest to read compilation of ideas of the Founders. There are many more sources of our Founders remarks, wits, and scribblings, and which are often single and scattered.
The reason for the weak president is that they had just lived under a series of hard and for the colonists unwanted, kings. Although there was a push in those days to make Georgie a “king” or “his Excellency”, Washington would have nothing to do with it. He set the example that all presidents since followed. Except for a few of them. Such as Nixon.
Jamie – The article in The Atlantic stated the homogeneity theory is wrong.
And just like folks everywhere, they have self-serving interests.
It’s just that they realize an educated society, who actually get something tangible for their tax dollars, will actually make for a better place to live.
PiT – I suspect your scenario is correct.
Can we cut off their paychecks (not that that is where they get most of their money), since they won’t agree to even meet with Obama’s pick? They won’t talk to…an older, white guy.
Why are Americans still going to N Korea? How are they even allowed to go? Poor kid.
Made a bumper sticker –
Katheleen
Very attractive and the embodiment of Hillary.
Jamie,
Being the world’s police man is too expensive. Now, commieChina wants naval and air bases in the So. China Sea, athwart the Japanese, Korean, Philippino, and Taiwanese oil train. Most pundits view this as Beijing grabbing oil. I see it as the commies wanting the power to interdict oil shipments to their neighbors, especially Taiwan. Beijing’s commie-owned news organ claims war with the US is inevitable if we keep opposing their occupations of ‘their’ Spratly and Paracel Islands.
If we’re going to get into a war over who gets to own and run the South China Sea, then the cost of being the policeman is impossibly high.
Choked Mexico City bans one million cars
Good for Mexico City !
Sea, Love the Bumper Sticker. Have you contacted the Hillary people?
Blue, It merely indicated the homogeneity in the author’s opinion is just one piece of a whole but self interest attitudes made them more cohesive. The people have a long history of mutual religious/social beliefs and coordinated actions unlike the US where every state is an individual kingdom of sorts. It’s the old argument of the Federalists of John Adams vs the Agriculturally oriented Democratic-Republican of Thomas Jefferson and States Rights.
In this case size does matter. All four Nordic countries put together total about 27 million. The US has more than ten times as many people at 320 million. They total 1.3 million square miles for four separate countries and we are almost 4 million square miles for one. It is much easier to service that smaller area with a more centralized government, something most of the states wouldn’t stand for and actively reject even when it would be in their best interests.
thanks jamie- send me your address and will send you one. no, will email field director tomorrow- so lucky to have her email! i got an order from one woman here on the island already 😉 will need od’s address.
love the #smileforjoe on twitter!
Such fond memories of Australia….. Bendigo, Victoria; and Sydney……bought a boomerang which, when I got home and threw it, went out like they showed me, then came back, stuck into the ground and broke in two……I figured it was just another parking meters in front of the Alamo, or “Dodge City”.
Still, Bendigo was just like River City, and the peoples was great. Ate whipped cream at every meal And they all ate left-handed.
how Ya gonna beat dat?
Rode an overnight train to Melbourne from Sydney then transferred to a car and ride 90 miles up to Bendigo. What a ride.
Well that settles it … The Fish Camp is moving to Australia ?
#drumpf gets elected, I’m visiting the Morning Kangaroos that Bill Woerlee sends me every day.
Gratitude, Love, and Kindness. These are three characteristics that make America Great ! That is a fabulous sticker, OSH.
Clinton inspires me with her Loyalty, Aspiration, and Focus.
In the event of a d.t. victory ? The very thought of it breaks my mind. If it were to happen, I think Alpha Centauri might even be too close.
If it’s Hillary vs Trump, even before they dump all those TV mud buys on each other already they must be the least liked nominees ever – Trump unfavorable at 60 pct. among all voters in CNN poll; Clinton 55 pct.
Good night, Anon.
thanks x- she has spoken of each during various speeches . i would be happy to send one to you , just pm me your email.
x- those qualities too, especially the loyalty is for me astounding.
from pbs newshour:
JUDY WOODRUFF: Marcia, how does this — you were telling — you were saying to us earlier this is kind of an unprecedented situation, where the Senate is not only saying we’re not going to hold hearings. Many of the Republicans are saying, we don’t even want to meet with him.
MARCIA COYLE: Yes, that’s true.
JUDY WOODRUFF: How does this compare with other nominations?
MARCIA COYLE: Well, it doesn’t compare with any in my past, and I have covered confirmation hearings and nominations since the Robert Bork hearings in 1987.
Even as controversial as Robert Bork was, the Senate did have a hearing. To say they — some — some senators to say they wouldn’t even meet Judge Garland, I think, is unprecedented, and, you know, personally, a little disrespectful. This is a presidential nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
more than “a little disrespectful” imo. downright rude. I do hope there’s a pending case before his court right now that’s causing a great deal of nervousness among mitch’s lobbyist sugar daddies.
new thread