US Politics Balboa (VII)

[Shryke]

I was thinking of putting this in the tea-bagging thread, but then I found a second gem and didn't feel like splitting it up.

First, NOM, the National Organization for Marriage (guess what their about?) has decided to be "hip" but hasn't yet learned the lesson of all old conservative idiots. [url="http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&content_id={330D2C59-9261-4D30-8B0F-3E6168CA9AFD}&notoc=1"]Check Urban Dictionary First.[/url][quote]In just a few minutes, NOM President Maggie Gallagher and I will hold a press conference in Trenton, NJ, announcing an ambitious new nationwide "2 Million for Marriage" (2M4M) initiative.[/quote]

They wish to be known by the hip monikor 2M4M.

For those not laughing yet, Google M4M. Enjoy.

In other news, Palin's new appointee for Attourney General in Alaska? Wayne Anthony Ross. [url="http://www.themudflats.net/2009/04/09/tune-in-to-kudo/"]He's a charming fellow[/url]:[quote]Numerous comments were made that were appalling, not the least of which were remarks by Mr. Ross which included the following; “If a guy can’t rape his wife…who’s he gonna rape?” and “There wouldn’t be an issue with domestic violence if women would learn to keep their mouths shut.”[/quote]

[Andriy Czarchenko]

[quote name='Shryke' post='1753675' date='Apr 13 2009, 23.01']First, NOM, the National Organization for Marriage (guess what their about?) has decided to be "hip" but hasn't yet learned the lesson of all old conservative idiots. [url="http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&content_id={330D2C59-9261-4D30-8B0F-3E6168CA9AFD}&notoc=1"]Check Urban Dictionary First.[/url]

They wish to be known by the hip monikor 2M4M.

For those not laughing yet, Google M4M. Enjoy.[/quote]
Don´t remember where it was pointed it out, but [url="http://www.2m4m.org/"]http://www.2m4m.org/[/url] was already taken by "2 Men For Marriage." :lmao:

[Shryke]

Well fuck. Obama has destroyed the world's only safe-haven from American Tourists:
[quote]In a measured break with a half-century of U.S. policy toward communist Cuba, the Obama administration lifted restrictions Monday on Cuban-Americans who want to travel and send money to their island homeland.

In a further gesture of openness, U.S. telecommunications firms were freed to seek business there, too. But the broader U.S. trade embargo remained in place.[/quote]
[url="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/13/some-cuba-travel-restrict_n_186197.html"]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/13/s...t_n_186197.html[/url]

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!

[lokisnow]

seriously, what's Obama thinking? The mafia and other thieves haven't gotten back what they stole from Cuba yet, and they still want 'their' property back, like it was back in the fifties.

[EHK for Darwin]

[quote name='Shryke' post='1753903' date='Apr 13 2009, 18.44']Well fuck. Obama has destroyed the world's only safe-haven from American Tourists:

[url="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/13/some-cuba-travel-restrict_n_186197.html"]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/13/s...t_n_186197.html[/url]

NOOOOOO!!!!!!![/quote]

Awesome. And about fucking time. Just for morbid curiousity's sake, I'm tempted to take a vacation to Cuba.

[Shryke]

[quote name='EHK for Darwin' post='1753918' date='Apr 13 2009, 19.53']Awesome. And about fucking time. Just for morbid curiousity's sake, I'm tempted to take a vacation to Cuba.[/quote]

I THINK it's only for Cuban-Americans, not ALL Americans. Unfortunately. It'll take awhile to dislodge this bit of stupidity. Florida may still be important in an election after all.

[The_BlauerDragon]

[quote name='Shryke' post='1753675' date='Apr 13 2009, 13.01']I was thinking of putting this in the tea-bagging thread, but then I found a second gem and didn't feel like splitting it up.

First, NOM, the National Organization for Marriage (guess what their about?) has decided to be "hip" but hasn't yet learned the lesson of all old conservative idiots. [url="http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&content_id={330D2C59-9261-4D30-8B0F-3E6168CA9AFD}&notoc=1"]Check Urban Dictionary First.[/url]

They wish to be known by the hip monikor 2M4M.

For those not laughing yet, Google M4M. Enjoy.

In other news, Palin's new appointee for Attourney General in Alaska? Wayne Anthony Ross. [url="http://www.themudflats.net/2009/04/09/tune-in-to-kudo/"]He's a charming fellow[/url]:[/quote]
Thanks. I needed a laugh. As for Mr. Ross, tell me that those quotes either weren't real, or were part of a joke (or something). I'd hate to think that anyone that actually felt that way could hold any level of political office (outside of those in the state of Texas) in this day and age.

[Shryke]

[url="http://thisishistorictimes.com/2009/02/one-ring-to-rule-them-all/"]There is only one explanation Triskele.[/url]

[EHK for Darwin]

[quote name='Triskele' post='1753981' date='Apr 13 2009, 20.06']One of my disappointments with Obama so far is his administration's [url="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/13/obama/"]willingness[/url] to keep going with Bush's expansions of executive power and rights to spy on Americans. Bush is still more to blame for initiating the projects but this is really too bad. I hope that conservatives who supported Bush when he was doing this now understand the concept of precedence.[/quote]

This is about the single quickest way Obama could sour me on his Presidency. I hope the chorus of disapproval ratchets up and I hope Obama changes course. This shit pisses me off.

[The_BlauerDragon]

[quote name='Triskele' post='1753981' date='Apr 13 2009, 18.06']One of my disappointments with Obama so far is his administration's [url="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/13/obama/"]willingness[/url] to keep going with Bush's expansions of executive power and rights to spy on Americans. Bush is still more to blame for initiating the projects but this is really too bad. I hope that conservatives who supported Bush when he was doing this now understand the concept of precedence.[/quote]
And for those of us that hated Bush, and never supported his war on Personal Privacy and Constitutional rights? The ones who hate that the U.S. ever participated in torture, and are furious that Gitmo exists as a secret prison for torturing people? What about those of us that heard about the existance of Blackwater and were inraged that the U.S. would even think of allowing a non-military military force to operate in an official capacity? What about us? What do we deserve? Or is watching Bush_2.O continue the abuses and expand upon them the punishment that we deserve?

[Shryke]

If you voted for Bush (well the second time), then yeah, it is kinda what you deserve.

[The_BlauerDragon]

[quote name='Shryke' post='1754002' date='Apr 13 2009, 18.39']If you voted for Bush (well the second time), then yeah, it is kinda what you deserve.[/quote]
I didn't vote for him the first time!

[Inigima]

[quote name='the Blauer Dragon' post='1754000' date='Apr 13 2009, 21.35']And for those of us that hated Bush, and never supported his war on Personal Privacy and Constitutional rights? The ones who hate that the U.S. ever participated in torture, and are furious that Gitmo exists as a secret prison for torturing people? What about those of us that heard about the existance of Blackwater and were inraged that the U.S. would even think of allowing a non-military military force to operate in an official capacity? What about us? What do we deserve? Or is watching Bush_2.O continue the abuses and expand upon them the punishment that we deserve?[/quote]
You'll get no argument from us here. We loathe those programs and are furious at Obama's stance on it.

[Shryke]

[quote name='the Blauer Dragon' post='1754014' date='Apr 13 2009, 21.48']I didn't vote for him the first time![/quote]

Welcome to our hell then.

:grouphug:

Ignore the Hippies, we all try to.

[The_BlauerDragon]

[quote name='Shryke' post='1754036' date='Apr 13 2009, 19.10']Welcome to our hell then.

:grouphug:

Ignore the Hippies, we all try to.[/quote]
I didn't vote for Bush_2.O either... Something about a politician promising anything other than business as usual just didn't sit right with me. Now, I'm thinking of having a bumper sticker made: "Same Shit, Different President!"

[AndyP]

[quote name='EHK for Darwin' post='1753993' date='Apr 13 2009, 20.28']This is about the single quickest way Obama could sour me on his Presidency. I hope the chorus of disapproval ratchets up and I hope Obama changes course. This shit pisses me off.[/quote]
When was the last time a President didn't adopt the expansion of executive power of his predecessor? The only way to lessen the power of the executive is to lessen the power of the Federal government overall. Everything else is a waste of fucking time.

[lokisnow]

[quote name='Triskele' post='1753981' date='Apr 13 2009, 18.06']One of my disappointments with Obama so far is his administration's [url="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/13/obama/"]willingness[/url] to keep going with Bush's expansions of executive power and rights to spy on Americans. Bush is still more to blame for initiating the projects but this is really too bad. I hope that conservatives who supported Bush when he was doing this now understand the concept of precedence.[/quote]

I was all set to mount a defense, since I thought this was about rendition and related 'secret prisons' when I started reading the article. that is indeed distubring, particularly the justice department arguments.

On the rendition thing, I would not be surprised if unwinding and ending the practice (and agreements that allow the practice) is as difficult, long and cumbersome a process as unraveling CDOs or CDSs, or, for example, moving reinforcements in a game of risk. I sort of think that there's enough counter party fear of being dragged before a war crimes tribunal that the Obama administration is having to do a behind the scenes dance in order to wind down and end the secret prisons. That means a possibly complicated process of prisoner transfer to friendlier less 'black' prisons, avoiding some prisoners (and our personnel) being held 'hostage' by our (now) fearful collaborators, and maintaining a freeze on any investigations into the war crimes of the previous administration until these out of country ongoing concerns of rendition and secret prisons have been settled. Can you imagine the chaos throughout all these facilities if we opened up both barrels on the previous administration? Can you imagine the inevitable exponential rise in violence in Iraq (and increased danger to our troops) if we pushed on this immediately? I really hope we've got an exhaustive behind the scenes team working on stopping and ending this convoluted mess.

But as for the justice department actions on warrentless wiretapping etc, that's pretty horrifying and inexcusable. Ugh.

[Tempra]

[quote name='Triskele' post='1753981' date='Apr 13 2009, 21.06']One of my disappointments with Obama so far is his administration's [url="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/13/obama/"]willingness[/url] to keep going with Bush's expansions of executive power and rights to spy on Americans. Bush is still more to blame for initiating the projects but this is really too bad. I hope that conservatives who supported Bush when he was doing this now understand the concept of precedence.[/quote]


weird logic...


[quote]This is why I found Bush supporters to be some of the most belligerent folk of all. They were honestly not smart enough to make the connection that there would actually come a day when Bush was out of office and a Democrat was in power.[/quote]

And does that make democrats some of the biggest hypocrites around for criticizing Bush and then turning around and continuing bush policies? Or just idiots for not realizing that their own leaders would do the same?

[EHK for Darwin]

[quote name='Tempra' post='1754205' date='Apr 14 2009, 01.16']And does that make democrats some of the biggest hypocrites around for criticizing Bush and then turning around and continuing bush policies? Or just idiots for not realizing that their own leaders would do the same?[/quote]

Ummm...what? I can't think of too many democrats elected or otherwise in support of this. We're not shameless, dishonest, self-delusional hypocrites. (aka, Republicans) And what reason did we have to believe that this shit would continue under Obama? Its disappointing and it pisses me off. Another disgusting legacy of Republican fucknuggets. Thanks for opening the can of worms.

[TrackerNeil]

[quote name='AndyP' post='1754121' date='Apr 14 2009, 00.23']When was the last time a President didn't adopt the expansion of executive power of his predecessor? The only way to lessen the power of the executive is to lessen the power of the Federal government overall. Everything else is a waste of fucking time.[/quote]

Well, what if Congress enacted legislation that restricted the power of the presidency? For example, how about a law that requires presidents to...oh, I don't know, obtain a declaration of war before invading another sovereign nation. Or a law unequivocally banning torture? Or legislation that forbids the suspension of habeas corpus?