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Israel is a huge part of the problem with our foreign policy and the story you link disgusts me. However at the risk of giving a canned response that is given to me all the time in this thread... You don't think this happens all the time? My guess is the United States meddles in every country in the world's governments from Russia and China all the way down to Monaco and Liechtenstein. |
The article explains the problem. Nobody is that upset by the spying, it happens and we do it too. The problem is the sharing of the fruits of the spying with domestic opposition for the express purpose of undermining the foreign policy of the President. That really is above and beyond what everyone is doing.
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I read the article and don't disagree with the outrage but am also not naive enough to think that the United States doesn't do the exact same thing (not just with another nation's foreign policy but undermining entire elections) all over the world. It seems like there is a 40-50 year time frame in which we actually admit to things and if we were doing this all the time in the 60's-70's why exactly has it stopped in 2015? |
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We should only be in the business of ensuring fair elections...and vice versa. So at face value, I'm none to pleased with this either. |
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I'd be very surprised if we were doing that sort of thing to allies. |
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I thought Israel accused the Obama admin of doing it this year? And you really don't think we do it all the time in almost every country in the world? I don't know what is more tin foil... my thought that this happens all the time or you thinking that it doesn't. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Election...st-poll-390925 The Inside Story of U.S. Meddling in Israel’s Elections - The Daily Beast |
Wait... so you think that the US really gives info that we've received from espionage to our allies' domestic opponents?
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The "domestic opponents" thing is a little confusing because these are elected legislators who are a part of the government, so I see it more like using espionage to meddle in a country's politics and support one policy over another, in this case to the detriment those in power in the executive branch. And ya, I'm sure we've done that. What if France used espionage to embolden opposition to the Iraq war in Congress during George W Bush's presidency? A lot of Republicans would no doubt think that was an act of war, but I think a lot of Democrats and war opponents wouldn't be so upset. It's politics. |
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I'd be very surprised -- to the point of almost being disappointed even -- if we weren't doing it from time to time. |
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In every case? Nah. In certain situations? Absolutely. |
C.I.A. -- just win, baby.
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I'm sure we support opposition parties both during and after elections, especially since it's now hard to tell the difference between campaign operative and government advisor, but that's a big step away from sharing espionage with the opposition. I really don't know of a time where that's been documented. |
Obama helping out SA and Iraq again. I think the right moves.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...9c9_story.html Quote:
Log In - The New York Times Quote:
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This is why I believe Rand Paul is a fraud:
Sen. Rand Paul Offers Amendment to Boost Defense Spending |
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Yes. More politician than his dad. One could argue in just 6 years he has become a much bigger player than his dad in the GOP but even if nominated somehow by the GOP he doesn't have my vote. |
Ran Paul is a LINO. From his tax plan/reform flip flopping to the defense spending increase, he can't call himself a libertarian.
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You can't really get all that far if you are a real libertarian. Rand Paul is a more savvy politician than most of the folks who consider themselves libertarian.
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May be an interesting indication of just how long a shot his candidacy is / would be. Libts may not trust him for not being libertarian enough, and I'm pretty sure staunch conservatives will find problems (as I do) trusting him not to be too libertarian. Playing to two bases might leave him with none. |
Scott Walker:
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Yeah, in the sense that he'd blow up what's left of non-1%er jobs in the country. :D |
Michele Bachmann not in office, but still remains as "classy" as always:
Bachmann compares Obama to Germanwings pilot | TheHill |
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I saw some political cartoon depicting more or less the same scenario (with the "pilot" knocking on the door having "We the People" on his jacket) and thought it was impressive in its own way for being so immediately terrible that I knew it wasn't one of those intentionally bad Onion political cartoons. |
I'm not well versed enough to know if the deal is good or not and the immediate analysis is the political knee jerk statements.
I do think its better than nothing, buys more time. Ultimately, any country with money and time will be able to get nukes if they want it bad enough (e.g. NK). Obama ties his fate to Iran nuclear deal - CNN.com Quote:
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Plus, the other benefit of the deal is that by dropping sanctions, you open the country back up. Nothing liberalizes countries like a good old dose of Western Capitalism. Iran already was (and in a way still is) heading down a moderate path. Letting more of their young people go study in places like Germany and travel around the world will only continue to change the country over time.
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Rand Paul is officially throwing his hat in the ring
Republican Rand Paul announces 2016 presidential run on website I wonder if he found a way to run for his senate seat at the same time. |
The Iranian hard liners seem to support the deal.
Log In - The New York Times Quote:
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Honestly, I cant tell if this is good or bad. |
Guess its official for Hillary. The Dem challengers can now come out of the woodwork ... not sure who else is out there besides Elizabeth Warren and Joe? I don't see Joe realistically being able to pull it off and Elizabeth has said she was not interested in the nomination.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/10/politi...day/index.html Quote:
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Jim Webb and Martin O'Malley were rumored to run.... but both have little chance.
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I think a blip in what Obama has and has not done in his Presidency but still a historical one. I would like to visit Cuba when it opens up.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/10/politi...uba/index.html Quote:
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Webb especially. He's proven he doesn't like to campaign. |
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I think it was working in a gridlocked Congress he didn't like. Webb makes for an intriguing alternative, I love his foreign policy views. Highly unlikely he can make a dent in Clinton's machine though. |
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Given his closeness to the Clinton camp, I'm going to assume O'Malley would be getting in for VP consideration. Quote:
It's both, IIRC. |
Lot's of people have commented on Webb's reluctance to campaign. This is from a story after he retired from the Senate.
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He also hated the way the Senate worked. Honestly, I support a lot of his positions, but I don't think he'd be at all effective as President. He seems to dislike the process even more than Obama. |
Any insights as to the fact the nominee for AG has not been voted on in months? Longer than the last 8 combined? And apparently it has nothing to do with her, but as a hostage for other bills. Amazingly, even senators from her own state won't support her, they won't say why and they won't move it forward. I guess I misread that part about confirmations for cabinet posts being dependent on your getting your bill passed.
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And now Marco Rubio is setting up for his attack run on the presidential nomination.
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It will be interesting to see where the Latino vote goes with two Latinos running and one traditionallly friendly Latino vote getter (Clinton)
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It will still be roughly 2-1 to the Dem, even if that Dem were to be Martin O'Malley.
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Probably time for the dreaded 2016 Presidential Race thread. Obama's got his own challenges yet to overcome, we should spare him the Hillary talk. :)
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This is why. Log In - The New York Times Quote:
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I'm starting to wonder if the NYT is paid for by the DNC.
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Yes, because it's quite clear that Obama has been treated with respect by Republicans.
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Lying and supporting your team are two different things. I did mean the latter, not the former. |
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In all fairness such a position is consistent with long-held and long-expressed NYT editorial board views. Nothing new there, right? |
Kinda like how the WSJ leans a bit to the right.
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Sure. I mean you know what you're getting. Nothing wrong with that. Read both and then make up your own mind.
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Since about forever. See how that works. :) Honesty. |
Am I alone in thinking that the US needs to move towards a Parliamentary System of government?
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Recent polling. The long term demographics seem to favor the Democrats with independents as the spoilers.
A Deep Dive Into Party Affiliation | Pew Research Center for the People and the Press Quote:
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GOP Twitter Interns, you had one job:
Senate Republicans on Twitter: "150 years ago today, the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. America is forever indebted. http://t.co/vhIE1k20e7" 150 years ago today, the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. America is forever indebted. Phrasing is an issue. I know what they're trying to say, but how it comes out... |
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Not with the way they draw districts |
The sense I get is that you have two types of Americans, notwithstanding what labels we put on ourselves.
People who follow politics, almost all of whom have chosen a side. People who don't follow politics. I can't think of anyone I know offhand who I say "follows politics" who is not pretty firmly in one camp or the other. |
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You don't know me any more than offhand, but now you can't say that any more. I was disturbed by the NYT op-ed. The implication was that you're a racist if you disagree with the president in any way. |
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That's one way to read it. Another way is that reasonable people are running out of explanations for why the Republican establishment and Republican lawmakers (which is how the editorial identifies them, not "anyone who disagrees with the president") so completely, relentlessly and destructively opposes absolutely everything and anything Obama tries to do, even when it puts the country itself (i.e. default) at risk. Maybe you answer that, huh? |
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I'll give you that there are largely three camps, Dem, GOP, and right leaning independent. The data from Pew shows that at a national level. You seem to fall firmly in the last group. But I'd bet that the basic idea of people highly engaged in politics being ideological is seen in most if not all democracies. The two seem to go hand in hand. |
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I think people tend to focus more on where they disagree than where they agree. I share some traits with the right, but I also share some traits with the left wing and many where I strongly dislike both wings. People also want to arrange people into groups. It must be genetic, and I'm not being sarcastic. I can think of evolutionary advantages to the strategy. I probably seem like a right-leaner right now because I disagree with Obama on practically everything he's done as a president. |
I just stumbled on the Jade Helm 15/Walmart/Martial law conspiracy.
Wow. |
Seems like Conservative Republicans will try anything to prevent gay marriage from being legalized-including trying to stop the Supreme Court from even ruling on it:
GOP Rep. Has An Idea For How To Stop The Supreme Court From Affirming Marriage Equality |
I'm sure that President Obama would sign that bill ;).
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Oh yes i"m sure :) Just frustrating to see Congress work on stuff they know will get vetoed just so they can say I tried. |
They're only interested in passing bills that most people don't want.
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I think the AG is a thankless job. When was the last time one of them really was loved?
Senate Makes History By Confirming Loretta Lynch As U.S. Attorney General Quote:
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Does this turn into the next scandal?
Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation as Russians Pressed for Control of Uranium Company Log In - The New York Times |
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Is Clinton a Democrat? If Yes, then don't worry about it. Just preface all articles with "Republican outrage" or "Conservative Critics say" and the crisis is averted. |
Rumors are swirling that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder will be part of the Republican primaries.
I can see the wing of the party that wants a "sane" candidate getting behind this guy, however he's going to have to answer question about why he signed off on Obamacare medicaid expansion. |
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Or even Fox News doesn't buy into it. Fox’s Chris Wallace confronts ‘Clinton Cash’ author: ‘You don’t have a single piece of evidence’ |
Then you have your answer. :)
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Obama brought out his 'anger translator' last night at the White House Correspondent's Dinner.
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KHALEESI IS COMING TO WESTEROS!!
That was hilarious. Sorry Joe, looks like Obama is backing Hillary ;). |
That was pretty good.
I know its tradition and that everyone political/press is fair game but I am amazed at how bold some of the jabs are. I can't help but feel there would be some lasting bad feelings. |
Bernie Sanders is now set to enter the Democratic Primaries. This should make things interesting on the democratic side.
Bernie Sanders To Launch Presidential Campaign |
Quite a ways from mayor of Burlington, VT.
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Jade Helm conspiracies are my new addiction.
The TX Governor has the state guard monitoring whether or not the military is planning a takeover of Texas and now Rand Paul says he'll look into the possibility of a military takeover. |
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Rand Paul is thinking of taking over Texas? |
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I'm all in with Bernie. |
I love Bernie, but he can't/won't win.
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Good news if true.
Isis leader incapacitated with suspected spinal injuries after air strike | World news | The Guardian Quote:
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Bad news for Chris Christie
David Wildstein, Ex-Port Authority Director, Pleads Guilty « CBS New York |
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I'm reasonably sure you get "thanked" by the millions of dollars you make once you leave the job. :D Quote:
You mean lobbying? Quote:
Broadly-speaking, I think it might be that "sanity" thing. Quote:
Why? I love Bernie, but he has no chance and is not going to change the conversation a lot on the Democratic side. |
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Poor little fella...what's with all these ISIS leaders leaving the job so quickly? Good rogue terror state leadership is so hard to come by these days. Keep up the good work, US military. |
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I'm not convinced that Christie ordered it or had specific knowledge beforehand. I can believe some over zealous underlings did it and maybe told Christie afterwards. Regardless, it doesn't seem Christie has any momentum now. The below link shows how much he has dropped since 2014 RealClearPolitics - Election 2016 - 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination |
Not sure the problems in the exchanges run by the state is a poor reflection of Obamacare itself but glad that the healthcare.gov system is stable/smooth enough where some states are considering dropping their own systems for it.
Almost half of Obamacare exchanges face financial struggles in the future - The Washington Post Quote:
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It makes great fiscal sense to roll these services up to the federal level. Makes the feds look good and cuts states payroll costs. A few people at the state level are gonna need to start looking for work elsewhere, but that's nothing that welfare and Obamacare can't handle till they get on their feet again.
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+1 to Dutch.
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It was slightly in jest, but given the way things are it does make sense. :)
Edit: To clarify my poke at putting people on welfare/Obamacare was in jest...enterprising and standardizing stuff that can be standardized was not in jest. |
We'll get you to the dark side yet, Dutch.
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I just don't see Carly as a contender. Wonder if she is positioning for VP consideration or 2020. Either way, just don't see a ground swell of support for her. Probably just ego.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/04/politi...ons/index.html Quote:
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How does someone who ran a major company into the ground become a viable candidate for President? Like isn't there a successful female CEO that they could run instead?
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Oh please that's socialist talk. The fact is she netted a $40 million golden parachute after ruining a company, unlike those thousands of schlubs that simply got laid off. That's proof that she was successful by Republican standards. |
Non-ironic headline: Pentagon Denies Plot to Take Over Texas : Political Wire
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For some reason the words "I'm not a dingo" are coming to mind... |
Of all the places the government actually wants, Texas is pretty low on the list.
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Wal-Mart has now clarified that it's stores are not military distribution and/or civilian detention centers connected to a military takeover.
I really can't get enough of Jade Helm conspiracies. |
Too bad Bubba Wheels isn't still around. I'd love to hear his take on JADE HELM.
I finally figured out what JADE HELM stand for: Just Another Dumb-ass Exercise Helping Expose Lunatic Minds |
Chuck Norris joins Ted Cruz (and others) in ‘Operaton Jade Helm’ conspiracy watch - The Washington Post
Chuck Norris knows this isn't a training operation because no amount of training will help you fight Chuck Norris. |
So what's the deal with all these mouth breathing fools? Am I missing something or do we now finally have a full blown Idiocracy state?
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When you have a sitting governor and senator riling up people, this will happen. As Jon Stewart said last night, newsflash Texas, the USA already does control your state (along with the other 49).
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I think I found a day better than Pumpy Day!
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Mike Huckabee is joining the republican circus.
Has a politician ever stepped away from politics for 8+ years and then won the presidency? |
I think the longest is Nixon, who was out of politics for 6 years.
Though Huckabee isn't even close to the politician Nixon was. |
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