Stop giving them money. Hold it in a trust fund for all I care. Let them fight it out and when we judge them to be stable again, we'll give them their free money again. I just don't see how giving them money is a value-add right now.

+1

We just can't give them money after the past two days.

We all know why they are doing this, but what is their justification they use while keeping a straight face?

The same, "We're just trying to stop voter fraud," claim that goes along with every other law that's an attempt to keep certain people from voting.

And then you have Texas, which is going to try a JiMGA defense: We aren't disenfranchising minorities, we are disenfranchising Democrats.

Mitt Romney is obviously racist?

Reince Priebus just looks like a made up name some politician used when trying to book a hotel room with a hooker. It's the Ron Mexico of politics... but real.

I think a better comparison would be to say it sounds like the conservative Carlos Danger.

Why go Ron Mexico when you have an already awesome Carlos Danger already in the same field?

SI

Business Insider is a real quality news outlet. So did they just mishear him, or did they just decide the story had more "zing" if they replaced "it hurts us" with "it's racist"?

I was all prepared to rip whomever at any outlet chose to cite Business Insider as the source for such a rather large story until I saw the change side by side.
I can actually see where that could have been a BI writer legitimately mishearing the remark & taking it down wrong.

In this instance, I actually think the MSNBC analysis (which was linked) of even the less harsh version comment is actually worth more than worrying too much about the misquote. Their take on what either comment signifies seems pretty spot on to me.

Sure its not great but seems relatively benign violations of the privacy rules.

Obama faces Dem backlash over latest NSA revelations | Fox News

It sure makes me feel better that only a minority of the 2776 incidents were intentional significant violations of law that involved inappropriate surveillance of Americans.

Yeah, I mean if it were only a thousand, no big deal, right?

SI

I know the analogy is not perfect but its interesting how we condemn Syria, Assad's massacre of civilians, and draw a line in the sand but nothing forthcoming (as of yet) with Egypt and its massacre of civilians.

I don't think some/many countries are ready for US type democracy and don't think we should push for such. I'm happy with relatively free speech, free elections etc. albeit with corruption and crackdowns if the regime is relatively pro-US (or at least not vehemently anti-US).

This does seem to be a regional Muslim civil war between Sunnis and Shites and Military sectarian regimes.

Attacks on Protesters in Cairo Were Calculated to Provoke, Some Say - NYTimes.com

N.J. Gov. Christie signs ban on gay conversion therapy

Nice job, Christie. :)

I am in 100% agreement with Christie on a personal level with gay conversion therapy being a bunch of sad losers who can't handle their kids being gay or gay people in general. However I am not sure how NJ can do this. I am thinking of psychics, chiropractors, acupuncture, clergy (IMO on this one)... who offer a completely made up service and aren't banned by the government. If somebody wants to waste their money on this how is it any of Christie or the state of New Jersey's business? (I honestly have no idea so please fill me in on the legal side if you do know)

And the "children" are involved in most of the other services I listed so I'm not sure that is a good enough reason.

I'm sure he would argue (and I would agree) that gay conversion therapy is more harmful than all of those things.

Not sure I'd put chiropractors and acupuncture under "completely made up" services to equate them with something like psychics.

One should create a time machine if they want to change people, my mom and sister had hazel eyes and I'll never find a hazel eyed girl attractive. Just can't talk with her like I would other girls.

Almost everyone who go to these, psychics, chiropractors, acupuncture, clergy, go because they want to.

Almost everyone who goes to a gay conversion therapist goes because they were coerced or forced to.

I think we can both agree that this move is to try and offset his vetoes when he thought the wind was blowing the other way on these issues and not because he actually feels some sort of outrage.

I don't think it's impossible for someone to be against gay conversion therapy and against gay marriage. That may or may not be Christie's real position, but it's definitely consistent with the type of politician he presents himself as. Now I'm not a Christie fan at all and I was really upset with his veto of the gay marriage bill, but his motivations have nothing to do with whether the law is a good idea or not.

You said the government shouldn't ban it because it was no different than other services. I was just pointing out how it is different.

As for Christie's motives, I don't know and don't care. The end result is good for the public, IMO.

Good to see them jump in and commit. Looks like they are taking a really a leadership position and strong stance against militants. The US will still be blamed for it regardless of how it turns out.

To be honest, I think I prefer a military dictatorship somewhat aligned to the US than a "democracy" of muslim extremists.

Backing Egypt’s generals, Saudi Arabia promises to fill financial void - The Washington Post

In the Muslim world, they will find a conspiracy theory to blame the US. Are they really at odds with the US position? I don't see Obama or the US government saying to bring back Morsi.

yeah - i deleted my post the more I thought about what you were saying - seemed a bit harsh.

and yes, the islamists will of course find a way to blame us (just like they blame us for the saudi government), and i imagine the US foreign policy establishment privately is happier with the military then with the Brotherhood in control.

I love the Ted Cruz is crazy enough to renounce his Canadian citizenship.

I love that Ted Cruz is crazy enough to think he can win a Presidential election.

:::breaks out the popcorn:::

If the higher numbers are validated by the UN, Obama will have a tough decision to make on escalation.

Syrian activists accuse government of deadly chemical attack near Damascus - The Washington Post

Saw the video on TV. Absolutely brutal.

Obama is looking for a coalition. I don't see the US leading the way here to build the coalition and if he is waiting on the UN it'll never happen with Russia and China.

France and Saudi Arabia seem eager after the past couple days.

Obama tells CNN key decisions nearing on Syria, Egypt - CNN.com

No way he commits to something there. It's easier to deal with the shitty aftermath than get involved right now and stake your claim when you may end up on the wrong side.

We are just a country of the world and he really doesn't want the moniker that Bush carried. Let the rest of the world decide when they have had enough and we can jump in and help, but we are done setting the table for everyone else just to be ridiculed.

If the Middle East wants something different they are going to have to figure out a way to do it and decide what they want and how they want it. Growing pains are always hard.

Yeah after that '08 election we completely stopped meddling in the Middle East.

That's a completely different direction than full on war don't you think? In no way are totally stepping aside or trying to be isolationists (Well the Paul's are), but that policy fails fast. Of course we are there@ We have a lot invested there financially as well as intelligence. We stand to lose a lot by just taking the ball and going home. But there is no way we should be dictating what is going on over there. The phrase "work smarter, not harder" applies.

I would think that except for the calculated "red line" speech he gave. It seems like the Syrians tested the waters after that, and with no response, military or otherwise, they've increased the intensity of the attacks. Obama tried to use his words as a deterrent, but his bluff was called. That was not a speech of a guy who was planning to stand on the sidelines and see what happens.

There are 3 general groups in the civil war (1) Assad regime (2) Muslim extremists e.g. AQ like (3) anti-Assad secular/moderates.

We should be supporting (3) and in worse case, settle for (1). Considering the lack of news on (3), I suspect that (3) is not doing well. And is (3) even a "trusted partner" (no)? Therefore (1) is better than (2).

Easy to say and obviously the situation is more complex and muddy.

Lack of strong US direction here (or at least so far), I think Obama is okay with just settling for a long drawn out civil war of Muslim vs. Muslim - to keep the Muslim extremists distracted (yay), Israel out of the news, Saudi vs. Iran/Syria (unexpected bonus).

Hopefully Israel and Fatah will take this news breather to negotiate a compromise.

Do we really know if the gas attack wasn't AQ guys working on a dispersal system for a larger attack elsewhere? Do we know what chemical was used? Both sides point fingers, but the waters are so muddy you can't see who is who. At this point you can't take anything off the table. I really don't think we need to take a leap before you look mentality again. We tried that, and it didn't work so well.

Obama is really waiting for a general international consensus on the matter. Essentially, the US tried to be the international leader. Tried to strike out on an ideological campaign and even in the areas where we were supported the most, we were criticized and lost tons of international value. Once bit, twice shy.

The US isn't the only one with a dog in this fight. Why are we being pressed to take the reigns again? We are trying to give voices to the other people of the world, but they just aren't stepping up yet.

Kosovo, forgot about that. Wonder what their view of US is?

Air War in Kosovo Seen as Precedent in Possible Response to Syria Chemical Attack - NYTimes.com

Easy enough to find. This must be the only Muslim country that really like us!

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...llner0831.html

This always goes through my mind at some point in situations like this.

If we were in the middle of a civil war, what would we think of other nations questioning our choices about how to prevent a violent overthrow?

(Yes, I'm aware of the various historical precedents, I'm just thinking aloud here)

Is there anyone who really believes that if, let's say an armed militia (and leave its political ideology out of it, seems irrelevant here) were actively engaged in an attempt to unseat the U.S. government by something other than the election process that the government would refuse to use every means at its disposal to remain in power?

Seriously, does anyone actually believe that?

Because Obama gives speeches saying that the U.S. is going to take the reigns again.

Maybe he doesn't want to get involved yet because he's not 100% sure who gassed who (though I tend to doubt the U.S. doesn't know exactly what's going on), but my point is, the tone of the speech was not one from the leader of a country who is looking to take a supporting role, or who is looking for others to step up.

Nope. We would use means that would be condemned by other countries. Fortunately we are still #1 militarily.

Something is going to happen. The French have the Foreign Legion to manage backlash if there are casulties.

France says ‘proportionate response’ brewing after Syria chemical arms attack - The Washington Post

Key U.S. lawmakers: Expect strike in Syria – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

The complaints about the lunch situation in schools is honestly ridiculous.

The Harlan Daily Enterprise - School lunches creating a stir

With leaders like this lady, it's a wonder anything gets done.


Myra, I have two kids. They say stupid sh#t to draw a reaction. Don't use their comments as a justification. There's a reason your state is one of the fattest in the nation.

FWIW.....I have a first grader and have gone to eat with her on multiple occasions. While they do get a certain amount of protein and carbs, they get unlimited fruit, veggies and salad bar. When I eat at school, I get full in a hurry. There's no shortage of food for these kids and it's honestly far better quality than anything I ever ate in school.

Kentucky students to first lady Michelle Obama: Your food ‘tastes like vomit’ - Yahoo! News

If the U.S. intervenes in Syria, will oil prices skyrocket?

The whole school lunch thing has been one of the most annoying social justice crusades I've seen in a long time. It's the perfect mix of overbearing parents with pseudo-scientific health nuts. I feel bad for anyone on any school board who has to deal with this.

The one funny thing I see in this is how many people assume kids will just eat whatever you put out there. All this talk about throwing a bunch of steamed veggies on their plate and watching them chow down is laughable to anyone with a kid. Not saying that schools should cater to every bad eating habit around, but kids are fickle eaters.

Schools are definitely way better than I remember them. And even better than what our parents got. My only real gripe is with schools flooding themselves with pop machines and fast food restaurants. I was blown away by how many schools now have Pizza Huts and other joints inside. As well as how many elementary and junior highs that have deals with soda companies. I'd much rather the focus be on getting rid of those and forcing kids to *gasp* drink water for a few hours a day.

Six score and five months ago, I found myself wondering why in the world we would want to invade Iraq. And why Congress seemed almost 100% in favor of engaging in this folly.

Congress seems to have learned its lesson, at least on this issue. Why hasn't Obama? This needs to come to a vote.

We rightfully faulted Bush 43 for his ill-considered ego rampage when handed the keys to the family fleet of B-52s. Now we're going to lob missiles at Syria in support of groups who are never going to be on our side in anything?

It's certainly terrible what's going on in Syria. Beyond terrible. But the only thing guaranteed to be more terrible than civil war is intervening in someone else's civil war.

I realize Obama's ego will take a beating if he has to back down from the "red line" comments. He needs to stop massaging his ego and learn from his predecessor's mistakes. Both are/were neophytes when it comes to global aggression, and irrational and aggressive behavior, with no real end-game in mind, comes at a huge cost.