|
Welcome to the International Skeptics Forum, where we discuss skepticism, critical thinking, the paranormal and science in a friendly but lively way. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest, which means you are missing out on discussing matters that are of interest to you. Please consider registering so you can gain full use of the forum features and interact with other Members. Registration is simple, fast and free! Click here to register today. |
10th May 2017, 09:51 AM | #401 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 17,528
|
|
__________________
To survive election season on a skeptics forum, one must understand Hymie-the-Robot.
|
|
10th May 2017, 09:52 AM | #402 |
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 22,789
|
|
10th May 2017, 09:55 AM | #403 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
|
Yes and yes, but I don't think said scummy Republican legislators are all fans of Trump. Bet you 10 to 1 they are eyeing POTUS Pence and will go there as soon as it looks like a safe bet. It is not a safe bet at the moment. And few if any of them want to be the first to jump ship.
But the closer we get to the 2018 election, Trump's little core of nutters are not going to be enough to keep all the GOP legislators in office in all those diverse districts. |
10th May 2017, 09:56 AM | #404 |
Fiend God
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: In a post-fact world
Posts: 96,875
|
|
10th May 2017, 09:59 AM | #405 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:01 AM | #406 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA
Posts: 7,870
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:02 AM | #407 |
Guest
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 29,742
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:03 AM | #408 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:05 AM | #409 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:08 AM | #410 |
Mostly harmless
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Nor Flanden
Posts: 38,373
|
|
__________________
"You got to use your brain." - McKinley Morganfield "The poor mystic homeopaths feel like petted house-cats thrown at high flood on the breaking ice." - Leon Trotsky |
|
10th May 2017, 10:09 AM | #411 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada, eh?
Posts: 20,625
|
They may be eyeing pence as someone who would be more favorable to "getting things done", but Pence lacks the populist appeal of Trump. I doubt he would be as successful in attracting the idiot base that Trump did. So, get rid of Trump, have more success getting things through congress and loose the Trump minions (and probably the election) in 2020, or keep trump around, and maybe win the 2020 election thanks to Trump supporters who still don't realize they're being conned.
Quote:
|
__________________
Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I'm Mary Poppins Y'all! - Yondu We are Groot - Groot |
|
10th May 2017, 10:12 AM | #412 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 17,528
|
I take a small degree of solace knowing how miserable President Big Baby Send People to the Cornfield is.
Originally Posted by Politico
|
__________________
To survive election season on a skeptics forum, one must understand Hymie-the-Robot.
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:13 AM | #413 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:13 AM | #414 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 12,511
|
At every step of the way I find the content of Comey's messages defensible. What's indefensible is holding a press conference to provide an "update" (on an investigation. (July 5). If he had been testifying to Congress I don't think his embellishments (extremely careless, no reasonable prosecutor etc.) would have been particularly inappropriate.
What prompted him to hold a press conference? That is my main question. Having done so, he may actually have felt obligated to update Congress about what was found on Weiner's computer. Then, facing a s--- storm in response, he updated Congress again trying to minimize the impact - contrition? Since he had never publicly taken a stand on Trump, maybe he didn't feel the need to provide continuous updates. IMO the fatal mistake was holding that press conference. Did someone encourage him to do it? I think this is more likely than him just going rogue. He did make himself the story. The firing is justified. But it looks bad for Trump, which is OK by me. |
10th May 2017, 10:15 AM | #415 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 14,423
|
At some point, even the most corrupt GOP congressman must realize that the democratic institutions of the US are necessary for him to ply his trade and secure a future for his children, and step up to the plate to stop the dictator. The question is, will it be too late by then.
|
__________________
Before you say something stupid about climate change, check this list. "If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. " Karl Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies Vol. 1 |
|
10th May 2017, 10:15 AM | #416 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,929
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:16 AM | #417 |
Fiend God
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: In a post-fact world
Posts: 96,875
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:16 AM | #418 |
Guest
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 29,742
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:17 AM | #419 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 14,423
|
It's not justified in the context in which it happened. Trump applauded Comey's actions. Also, that was almost a year ago. Firing Comey now is almost certainly not about his handling of the Clinton affair. Therefore, this does more than make Trump look bad. It makes it look like the safeguards of democracy in the US are under attack, and Congress is doing nothing about it.
|
__________________
Before you say something stupid about climate change, check this list. "If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. " Karl Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies Vol. 1 |
|
10th May 2017, 10:20 AM | #420 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,929
|
Comey asked for more funds and resources for Russia investigation.
Comey allegedly wanted to ramp up the inquiry,
Quote:
1. Because the FBI did not recommend prosecution? 2. Because he held the July 5th press conference to explain why the FBI didn't recommend prosecution? 3. Because of the October letter to congress that was leaked to the press? 4. Because nothing came of the October letter? From the same article,
Quote:
|
__________________
“... there is no shame in not knowing. The problem arises when irrational thought and attendant behavior fill the vacuum left by ignorance.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson |
|
10th May 2017, 10:20 AM | #421 |
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 20,145
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:23 AM | #422 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada, eh?
Posts: 20,625
|
You'd hope that would be the case, but sadly I doubt it.
Remember, the only reason many are able to "ply their trade" is because they've already subverted democracy (voter ID laws, gerrymandering) to such a point that its barely recognizable. Throwing their support behind a racist orangutan who happens to wave the same party banner in order to keep them in office for another term doesn't seem like such a big deal. Some may make a big show about how "we are independent of Trump", but at the end of the day they'll take power over integrity. |
__________________
Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I'm Mary Poppins Y'all! - Yondu We are Groot - Groot |
|
10th May 2017, 10:27 AM | #423 |
Seeking Honesty and Sanity
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Charleston, WV
Posts: 14,588
|
|
__________________
A man's best friend is his dogma. |
|
10th May 2017, 10:29 AM | #424 |
Master Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,860
|
Can they override McConnell? He's still refusing to call for one.
Did they or did they not testify previously about their evidence? Classic skofftic/psuedo-skeptic dodge. Any evidence that does not rise to what the psuedo-skeptic considers "proof" is dismissed as evidence. And, as I note again, Bob invokes a circular argument on top of that. Yes. A modern one at least. Hope it doesn't vanish like the contents of WH electronic devices did not too long ago. http://politicaldig.com/as-fbi-inves...e-unthinkable/ (citing Andrea Mitchell) Pretty much, but only as the ultimate last resort. Honestly, I am amazed that US citizens (especially the Left) are willing to put up with levels of crap that in most other nations would set off open revolts like the Arab Spring, or the Central/South American water riots. People in the US seem to think that they still have enough investment in the system that they won't risk it. Then again, people in the US haven't been subjected to the level of abject destitution that other nations have suffered. The PTB are very good at keeping Americans just well enough off to prevent that. Going to get quite interesting if the GOP actually manages to push through their really big projects like decimating or ending Social Security, etc. (Histortical note: Social Security was passed in part because there was a very real fear of a Russian-style revolution during the first Depression.) |
10th May 2017, 10:33 AM | #425 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,929
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:33 AM | #426 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,092
|
One thing Trump has been consistent about through the campaign and his 100+ days is that he treats the public like we're a bunch of idiots. It's depressing to see the clear evidence that it works so well on so many people, but I still believe that reality TV and reality are on a collision course, and it ain't gonna be pretty. I'm betting on reality to win, even if it's long odds, just because the alternative is too disturbing -- I'd get sick of that kind of winning pretty fast.
|
10th May 2017, 10:36 AM | #427 |
Master Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,860
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:38 AM | #428 |
Master Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,860
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:39 AM | #429 |
Guest
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 29,742
|
DOJ is claiming that Comey's claim that he asked for more money and resources for the Russian investigation is 100% false.
interesting.... |
10th May 2017, 10:39 AM | #430 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,095
|
Well, I'm sure there was a U.S. flag there as well, just not in that particular shot. But the sequence perfectly captured the contempt for Western democracy held by Putin's merry mob, and endorsed by Tillerson and Trump and the rest of their corrupt, kleptocratic gang.
You may share their viewpoint, or you may just be too concerned with jabbing at them libruls to notice. I don't really care; your posturing and concern trolling don't interest me. What does is the subversion of America's democracy and institutions by a hostile foreign power, and the active and passive enabling of it by a host of corrupt participants and useful idiots. |
10th May 2017, 10:40 AM | #431 |
Master Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,860
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:41 AM | #432 |
Master Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,860
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:42 AM | #433 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,208
|
Comey’s miss-handling of the Hillary e-mail issue, in particular re-opening it just before the election on pretty flimsy reasoning, was a fireable offence without doubt. Given the timing and Trump specifically praising that particular action, only a complete idiot would believe that’s actually why he was fired.
|
__________________
"Anything's possible, but only a few things actually happen" |
|
10th May 2017, 10:43 AM | #434 |
Master Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,860
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:45 AM | #435 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 33,710
|
The point is Bob that elections are stolen. Maybe not this one and then again maybe. Too often voters or supporters roll their eyes when it's their candidate. But the process is important. The means are more important then the ends. Because if it doesn't one day you wake up and the democracy is gone and it's very hard to get back.
My major in college was political science and revolutions and coups are staged from both the left and the right, but interestingly enough how these governments are actually run is frighteningly similar. The sanctity of the ballot box matters. |
__________________
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get to me. . |
|
10th May 2017, 10:47 AM | #436 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 33,710
|
|
__________________
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get to me. . |
|
10th May 2017, 10:48 AM | #437 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:49 AM | #438 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,092
|
|
10th May 2017, 10:50 AM | #439 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 33,710
|
|
__________________
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get to me. . |
|
10th May 2017, 10:51 AM | #440 |
Uncritical "thinker"
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 31,644
|
|
__________________
OECD healthcare spending Public/Compulsory Expenditure on healthcare https://data.oecd.org/chart/60Tt Every year since 1990 the US Public healthcare spending has been greater than the UK as a proportion of GDP. More US Tax goes to healthcare than the UK |
|
Thread Tools | |
|
|