World Politics

[Bala Verde]

With this SC ruling, ironically, the door could have been opened for a silent "communist" take over of the US

In a decade from now, Chinese corporations will be running the show and they'll have lots of cash to spend on American elections to further their interests, whatever that might be...

 

[TRDean]

I have not posted in here in a while...but a simple solution to things would be term limits...period!! Serving in Congress should not be a lifetime career...it would also allow congressmen and women to do what they feel is right...not to appease special interests to get elected again. Just a thought.

 

[Bala Verde]

Apparently US soldiers have been running around with biblical inscriptions on their guns the last couple of decades. Some people with half a brain finally sat together and decided that this 1776 mentality might not be appropriate:

US firm to remove Biblical references on gunsights

 

[Anonymous]

I have not posted in here in a while...but a simple solution to things would be term limits...period!! Serving in Congress should not be a lifetime career...it would also allow congressmen and women to do what they feel is right...not to appease special interests to get elected again. Just a thought.

I agree completely.

 

[fatandfast]

I have not posted in here in a while...but a simple solution to things would be term limits...period!! Serving in Congress should not be a lifetime career...it would also allow congressmen and women to do what they feel is right...not to appease special interests to get elected again. Just a thought.

Weirdest thing about this is that when the courts said that companies should be able to give unlimited cash to candidates. Some think that is the only way to ditch the incumbent with his office and resources. Term limits cure all these problems. If the new set of laws stay in place you will be able to check a website to find out who bought your local rep rather than how it is today, where it's kept secret.

 

[CentralCaliBike]

I am hard pressed to think of a good reason for making it even easier to buy politicians.

The issue for the Supreme Court would not be whether campaign financing is a good idea, rather the question they would have decided the case on is whether limiting it is Constitutional. I have not read the opinion at this point and am aware of other opinions that claimed a violation of the constitution on issues that clearly were not so I really do not have an opinion on whether this is a Constitutionally valid opinion or not.

 

[CentralCaliBike]

What do you know, even NASA must be in on the conspiracy: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/science/earth/22warming.html

Just because it is NASA does not prevent them from being wrong (or slanting the facts). According to the article linked they are averaging temperatures over a period of years so how they can claim that 2009 is the 5th highest when it is part of an average including 2003 is a little hard to explain.

 

[fatandfast]

The issue for the Supreme Court would not be whether campaign financing is a good idea, rather the question they would have decided the case on is whether limiting it is Constitutional. I have not read the opinion at this point and am aware of other opinions that claimed a violation of the constitution on issues that clearly were not so I really do not have an opinion on whether this is a Constitutionally valid opinion or not.

This unfortunately is exactly the case. Simple free speech. Court is saying you can talk with your checkbook and it's protected by the US Constitution. The other side,says that this will allow groups to pool their money and defeat what they don't want. A might is right point of view brought to the next level. Why can't companies run for office?. This is Mr,Jones (AIG) he represents us. It's the next step.Cut out the middleman, if you know the guy is working for a corp or union it might as well be out in the open.

 

[Bala Verde]

The US politicians of the future will wear the equivalent of cycling jersey to every rally they attend.

Candidate X sponsored by Corporation P, Q, R, S, all visible logos on their jackets/coats/shirts/sleeves/collars/pants, while finishing a speech with 'this message has been approved by Z'

Self-serving politicians who will sell out their 'right to vote' in the senate/congress to the highest bidder in return for money and fame, while corporations support the candidate that can further their interests, most likely by maintaining the status quo.

The ultimate conflation of politics and economics.

The public debate will be reduced to a crafty marketing exercise.

 

[fatandfast]

Verde I wish you were wrong but I am working on jersey designs for the upcoming election. Out of the 4 I would have went for Palin in Lycra shorts.

 

[CentralCaliBike]

The US politicians of the future will wear the equivalent of cycling jersey to every rally they attend.

Candidate X sponsored by Corporation P, Q, R, S, all visible logos on their jackets/coats/shirts/sleeves/collars/pants, while finishing a speech with 'this message has been approved by Z'

Self-serving politicians who will sell out their 'right to vote' in the senate/congress to the highest bidder in return for money and fame, while corporations support the candidate that can further their interests, most likely by maintaining the status quo.

The ultimate conflation of politics and economics.

The public debate will be reduced to a crafty marketing exercise.

Then of course they will be subjecting to PED testing

 

[Hugh Januss]

The public debate will be reduced to a crafty marketing exercise.

Isn't that pretty much what it is now?

 

[Oncearunner8]

Fox News coined the term very early on. However, you are correct in your assessment that I was being derogatory in my usage. From what I witnessed here in Charlotte and in SC, to suggest that a large number were motivated by the color of the president's skin is spot on. That may not be the case where you are, but here, if it walks like a duck...

Yes I can conceded that there is a ton of the racial tone being used at those supposed Tea Parties. That is obvious.

For me I would just like people to make up their own minds and use their own opinions, not some opinion based on what they hear on the radio and watch on TV. Sure listening to information is a good thing, but if that information is distorted with opinions from the speakers or broadcasters then it is no longer just information. We here in the United States should demand to have a better source for the “NEWS”.

As for the entire Republican party

 

[CentralCaliBike]

Bloomburg had a great quote today about law maker's saleries:

"Maybe we should hold back their salaries for a decade or so and see whether the laws they pass work out," Bloomberg said.

http://wcbstv.com/politics/obama.banks.mayor.2.1441065.html

 

[fatandfast]

Bloomburg had a great quote today about law maker's saleries:

"Maybe we should hold back their salaries for a decade or so and see whether the laws they pass work out," Bloomberg said.

http://wcbstv.com/politics/obama.banks.mayor.2.1441065.html

Coming from a guy who spent @131 MILLION dollars to get elected. including getting term limits thrown out. He does love sports he bought his daughter 3 stables,2 NY and 1 FL. He has also purchased her over 6 million in horses for her dresage habit. He has been paid 1 dollar a year for his last 6. I wished he would have loved bike racing instead of TIA/CREF

 

[CentralCaliBike]

Coming from a guy who spent @131 MILLION dollars to get elected. including getting term limits thrown out. He does love sports he bought his daughter 3 stables,2 NY and 1 FL. He has also purchased her over 6 million in horses for her dresage habit. He has been paid 1 dollar a year for his last 6. I wished he would have loved bike racing instead of TIA/CREF

Perhaps we need to start a thread on how to get guys with too much money to spend it on pro cycling (or even better for my selfish interests - bike training routes that are without cars, have decent road surfaces, and varying terrian)

 

[CentralCaliBike]

Coming from a guy who spent @131 MILLION dollars to get elected. including getting term limits thrown out. He does love sports he bought his daughter 3 stables,2 NY and 1 FL. He has also purchased her over 6 million in horses for her dresage habit. He has been paid 1 dollar a year for his last 6. I wished he would have loved bike racing instead of TIA/CREF

I still like the consideration of the words - the numbers of laws passed each year is staggering and the results questionable.

 

[fatandfast]

I still like the consideration of the words - the numbers of laws passed each year is staggering and the results questionable.

Your view follows inline with many that are involved in the process. Many politicians(former,current,future) have such incredible wealth that this process of waiting to get paid (or not) actually works. The favors and contracts granted to friends and allies makes them 10's of million after the "public service" part of there relationship is over.The Bloomberg machine that was involved in every trade until recently got him 100's of millions from bankers and stock mavens throughout the world. As he sits in office now all his friends know that anything Obama does to turn off the the billions in profits can be fought by the few 1000 people that control where the money goes.When Obama said that CEOs should be paid in stock rather than cash, not much came of it. Just in case lots of guys got 8 figure bonus checks in the event that Obama Banking takes place. The funniest/dumbest thing Obama is doing of late is that he told us a few short months ago that the banks needed a lifeline or they would surely die. Now after seeing he didn't know what he was talking about, wants the lifeline back with interest. Banks are reporting billions in profit he can't tell which way is up as they whiz by in their handmade Buggatti's. Not many Bloomberg's asking how did this happen? Plenty of Joe 6packs are. I am not saying Bloomy shouldn't be listened to,just keep it in mind that he spent 131 million of his own money for the pulpit.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the big problem with the health care stuff was the way Obama tried to compromise way too much...from what I understand Rom Emannuel decided the best way to get this done was to basically negotiate with the insurance companies...pretty much this is akin to getting your first handjob in a brothel and expecting to meet a nice girl who you will grow old with...

The thing that is somewhat his strength, to work with others and find common goals and understanding ect ect to the point of blah...is what killed him here...and he became chum for the sharks...

 

[CentralCaliBike]

I am not saying Bloomy shouldn't be listened to,just keep it in mind that he spent 131 million of his own money for the pulpit.

So, if the corporations, unions and wealthy are not allowed to assist in campaign financing - and the wealthy running cannot use their own money. How do you propose a potential candidate run?

Before you say, public funding, that is not going to be all that effective either if they continue the path of 15 second sound bites.

I might not agree with Bloomburg's politics but, personally, I am happy that he at least used his own money rather than going to the usual sources.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

If the new set of laws stay in place you will be able to check a website to find out who bought your local rep rather than how it is today, where it's kept secret.

That won't much difference. In 2004 Bush voluntarily had a website listing all of his campaign contributions. The list was so giant, and everyone you pretty much suspected, no one in the media mentioned it, and everyone was so resigned they didn't care.

The other side,says that this will allow groups to pool their money and defeat what they don't want. A might is right point of view brought to the next level. Why can't companies run for office?

You mean like Tim Geithner the head of the Treasury? There is a LONG list of politicians in both parties having previous jobs working for major corporations in very high positions. You don't think that once they worked for the government they gave up all their contacts, do you?

I'm for some form of public funding, but not what some of the Democrats are proposing. There has to be a way to volunteer donations blind to the political system (like that old checkbox on your taxes), and a mechanism that distributes that money evenly. This is not perfect, but it's less corruptible.

Two other ways of attacking the issue is to make lobbying a crime, and cutting off access to politicians by "donors". Creating advertising limits near elections and push polling is also worth discussing.

Another big solution is to make the tax code less manipulative. Right now, someone donates to Senator X, who then sticks something into a bill that benefits who donated to him by changing the taxes. By creating a no-exemption flat tax, or fair tax, even though those aren't perfect, eliminates this for the most part.

Another solution is to have a spending cap, like a Balanced Budget Amendment. The other huge problem with this bribery is that someone donates to Senator X, who then allocates a lot of spending to district A which benefits the donor. A BBA could curb a great deal of this spending.

Another factor is to give line-item veto powers back to the President. "Crazy" Mike Gravel was a big advocate and people laughed at him, but he was right (actually, probably the best Democrat in the primaries as far as common sense ideas went. No wonder his party gave him zero support).

Term limits is not the solution as money will infect all, but I would be all for it as it would curb a lot of collusion.

Perhaps we need to start a thread on how to get guys with too much money to spend it on pro cycling (or even better for my selfish interests - bike training routes that are without cars, have decent road surfaces, and varying terrian).

Call your local Rep and make a huge donation.

Seriously, I'd love to see such a thing.

 

[fatandfast]

Alpe,
After reading your response I think I agree with some of your key points. Nobody is brand new from Gietner on down and no he didn't forget every golf game and holiday he ever had with somebody just because of his new job. My view is more about the dark horse and if the 2 mains don't get aligned early it may allow a well funded 3rd party to contest the election because of a corp interest in a region. I can see the country converting from just the 2 colors (red,blue) to a third of green based on an example of mineral rights there are probably 5 or 6 states right now that could be company states in a short time. With the economy,less than an election cycle. In my view this finance change will make it so you won't find and eco friendly anybody in WV,KY,TN.WY,MT.Talk about super majority,in lots of southern states I think if give out a Christmas bonus,company picnic and supply a steady stream of 15-20$ an hour jobs people will do a shot of mercury before going to work each day. Robert Redford will leave town defeated in his Prius. They will be able to get that old TV spot with the teary Indian when he sees the polluted river.

 

[Anonymous]

Just because it is NASA does not prevent them from being wrong (or slanting the facts). According to the article linked they are averaging temperatures over a period of years so how they can claim that 2009 is the 5th highest when it is part of an average including 2003 is a little hard to explain.

They didn't just take one temp per year and average. I am fairly certain that they compiled the daily measurements. That being the case, it would be pretty easy to isolate 1 year of that data. In fact, I am pretty sure they would have compared year to year for all of the data, and compared it against previous years. That is how they know it was the warmest since 1880.

The article also states clearly that this is not the final say. However, if your mind is already shut, you will not believe the data regardless. As I said, my mind is more open considering the most recent revelations. You seem like a pretty reasonable person, and I would suggest keeping yours open on the topic also. It is not a done deal regardless of what some on either side say. I have said that all along.

 

[CentralCaliBike]

They didn't just take one temp per year and average. I am fairly certain that they compiled the daily measurements. That being the case, it would be pretty easy to isolate 1 year of that data. In fact, I am pretty sure they would have compared year to year for all of the data, and compared it against previous years. That is how they know it was the warmest since 1880.

The article also states clearly that this is not the final say. However, if your mind is already shut, you will not believe the data regardless. As I said, my mind is more open considering the most recent revelations. You seem like a pretty reasonable person, and I would suggest keeping yours open on the topic also. It is not a done deal regardless of what some on either side say. I have said that all along.

I guess the biggest problem I have on the subject is a picture that keeps going through my mind of ice sheets down to Texas - what caused them in the first place and what made them recede? I am afraid I do not have a lot of confidence in records that only go back 130 years - seems to much too small of a sample given the overall history of the earth to suggest something is happening out of the ordinary and caused by man.

I do read articles by the man made climate crowd, but nothing I have read has removed the above questions from my mind.

 

[ravens]

adhuez, I am not going to write a treatise for you, there's plenty for you to read already, but, briefly and simply, I believe this: "That government is best which governs least."

Besides, critics are doing a wonderful job of imagining my leanings and then attacking the boogeyman/stalking horse without using any other basis. It gives a great insight into what remains of your addled minds.

From the Mouthpiece of the Man, holding decent working families down for over a century:
President Obama and Democrats have settled on demonizing Wall Street as a campaign theme for November's elections. If history is any guide, Mr. Obama and New York Senator Chuck Schumer will now persuade Wall Street to underwrite this campaign. Ah, the politics of hope and change. How refreshing.

Continuing from paragraph 2 - Clear to those who spew their venom my way, as is the fashion lately, If anyone criticizes Obama, then they are a virulent racist. And I am sure the things they say about Clarence Thomas, Michael Steele, Ward Connerly, Thomas Sowell, J C Watts and many many other people of color are without any racial content, even when the criticism incorporates race as a basis for their criticism. I wish I had a dime for every time a thoughtful, kind and tolerant and always pro-diversity progressive referred to conservatives of color as --- well I'll let you imagine that.

Progressives, Liberals, Dems, whatever label you want today are a funny lot. The ultimate frauds. Open minded, kind, tolerant, inclusive. So long as no one disagrees. And as soon as that happens, the rules change, and we get a beautiful picture of who you really are. It's hilarious to me.

But please don't suspend the assaults, it cracks me up. It's like stepping on an ant hill and watching them all come out frenetically running around in circles and then gradually retreating back into their little mound of dirt. (Dear PETA: No ants were harmed in the writing of this post.)

I find this interesting (another mouthpiece of the bourgeosie insurgency), and I think politically thinking people of left and right would benefit from reading it. I won't tell anyone if your lips move when you read it.