Comments on: Friday Talking Points [302] -- Give America A Raise! http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/ Reality-based political commentary Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:51:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48222 Michale Thu, 08 May 2014 10:47:33 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48222 <I>Oh, you just had to go there, didn't you?</I> hehehehehehehe I honestly haven't seen the new DREDD movie. I hear it has Karl Urban as DREDD. Urban was pretty good as McCoy in the STAR TREK (gag) reboot and as a cop in ALMOST HUMAN (since cancelled :( )... So I might check it out on my next day off on Monday Michale Oh, you just had to go there, didn't you?

hehehehehehehe

I honestly haven't seen the new DREDD movie. I hear it has Karl Urban as DREDD. Urban was pretty good as McCoy in the STAR TREK (gag) reboot and as a cop in ALMOST HUMAN (since cancelled :( )...

So I might check it out on my next day off on Monday

Michale

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48213 Chris Weigant Thu, 08 May 2014 06:06:44 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48213 Michale [54] - Oh, you just had to go there, didn't you? The more-recent Dredd movie is a lot better... and I think it still has an exploding hand in it somewhere from a perp trying to use a Lawgiver... :-) -CW Michale [54] -

Oh, you just had to go there, didn't you?

The more-recent Dredd movie is a lot better... and I think it still has an exploding hand in it somewhere from a perp trying to use a Lawgiver...

:-)

-CW

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48202 Michale Wed, 07 May 2014 13:54:26 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48202 And, in other news... Obama supporters in my hometown (San Diego, CA) claim that if someone doesn't like Mexican food, that means they must be racist... :^/ All Hail To Political Correctness run amok... Michale And, in other news...

Obama supporters in my hometown (San Diego, CA) claim that if someone doesn't like Mexican food, that means they must be racist...

:^/

All Hail To Political Correctness run amok...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48194 Michale Wed, 07 May 2014 12:03:39 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48194 Thanx David.. Ain't it a bitch when work intrudes upon our fun?? :D Michale Thanx David..

Ain't it a bitch when work intrudes upon our fun??

:D

Michale

]]> By: akadjian http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48192 akadjian Wed, 07 May 2014 11:48:27 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48192 Hey Michale! Welcome back ... been wondering where you've been. I've been on a bit of a hiatus meself trying to wrap up a big project and commenting sometimes takes a lot of energy. Instead of getting into it on anything, I'll limit myself to a welcome. Good to see you! -David Hey Michale! Welcome back ... been wondering where you've been.

I've been on a bit of a hiatus meself trying to wrap up a big project and commenting sometimes takes a lot of energy.

Instead of getting into it on anything, I'll limit myself to a welcome.

Good to see you!
-David

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48190 Michale Wed, 07 May 2014 10:23:54 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48190 <I>And, to make it interesting (I see your Battlestar Galactica, and raise you...), may I hasten to point out that this is how Judge Dredd's weapon (his "Lawgiver") works -- which is why he's never scared of some perp snatching it from him, because it self-destructs when they attempt to use it.</I> Yea... I think I saw Sylvester Stallone demonstrate that in the Judge Dredd movie.. :D Hehehehehehehehe Michale And, to make it interesting (I see your Battlestar Galactica, and raise you...), may I hasten to point out that this is how Judge Dredd's weapon (his "Lawgiver") works -- which is why he's never scared of some perp snatching it from him, because it self-destructs when they attempt to use it.

Yea... I think I saw Sylvester Stallone demonstrate that in the Judge Dredd movie..

:D Hehehehehehehehe

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48189 Michale Wed, 07 May 2014 10:16:58 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48189 Speaking of Democrat's and their War On Women BS.. http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/24/female-dem-candidate-accuses-democrats-of-war-on-women/ Comments??? Michale Speaking of Democrat's and their War On Women BS..

http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/24/female-dem-candidate-accuses-democrats-of-war-on-women/

Comments???

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48184 Michale Wed, 07 May 2014 10:03:50 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48184 DOh!!! Did I mix up my Bs and Ms!!! Crap, I hate when I do that... <I>How was a consensual affair a "war on women"? I mean, OK, Clinton was a dog and boffed the intern, but how does that change any other women's lives other than Hillary's and Monica's?</I> It's not that B Clinton boffed an intern. It's how H Clinton TREATED that intern after the fact... Put another way. If it had been a Republican that had treated Lewinsky in that manner, ya'all would have said it's just another example of the Republicans "War On Women"... If it's a WoW if a Republican does it, it's a WoW if a Democrat does it. No?? <I>But if they ever perfect the palm-print-reading gun, I don't think that could be easily hacked.</I> You don't think that the government will require that all Smart Guns be made with a government controlled back door?? <I>And, to make it interesting (I see your Battlestar Galactica, and raise you...), may I hasten to point out that this is how Judge Dredd's weapon (his "Lawgiver") works -- which is why he's never scared of some perp snatching it from him, because it self-destructs when they attempt to use it.</I> Didn't LOGANS RUN do it first?? :D <I>That's a false parallel, since the burger-flipper isn't provided with food, shelter, clothes, health care, and life insurance. I mean, I hear what you're saying, but you've got to at least add in the perks.</I> Fair enough. But that doesn't negate the point. We're talking about flipping burgers... 10 bucks an hour?? And, as Joshua points out, even THAT high of pay won't do diddley squat... So, you have to make the min wage a LOT higher for it to have the desired effect... But doesn't it make sense to make the economy stronger first?? THEN we can adjust the min wage?? But, you see, it's not about helping people. It's about the Democratic Party trying to buy voters and votes... THAT's why it has to be this way.. Dems are petrified of the coming mid-terms. They KNOW that they are gonna get shellacked... So, they are trying to buy voters and votes... The evidence to support this conclusion is simply too conclusive to ignore. :D Michale DOh!!!

Did I mix up my Bs and Ms!!!

Crap, I hate when I do that...

How was a consensual affair a "war on women"? I mean, OK, Clinton was a dog and boffed the intern, but how does that change any other women's lives other than Hillary's and Monica's?

It's not that B Clinton boffed an intern.

It's how H Clinton TREATED that intern after the fact...

Put another way. If it had been a Republican that had treated Lewinsky in that manner, ya'all would have said it's just another example of the Republicans "War On Women"...

If it's a WoW if a Republican does it, it's a WoW if a Democrat does it.

No??

But if they ever perfect the palm-print-reading gun, I don't think that could be easily hacked.

You don't think that the government will require that all Smart Guns be made with a government controlled back door??

And, to make it interesting (I see your Battlestar Galactica, and raise you...), may I hasten to point out that this is how Judge Dredd's weapon (his "Lawgiver") works -- which is why he's never scared of some perp snatching it from him, because it self-destructs when they attempt to use it.

Didn't LOGANS RUN do it first?? :D

That's a false parallel, since the burger-flipper isn't provided with food, shelter, clothes, health care, and life insurance. I mean, I hear what you're saying, but you've got to at least add in the perks.

Fair enough. But that doesn't negate the point.

We're talking about flipping burgers... 10 bucks an hour??

And, as Joshua points out, even THAT high of pay won't do diddley squat...

So, you have to make the min wage a LOT higher for it to have the desired effect...

But doesn't it make sense to make the economy stronger first?? THEN we can adjust the min wage??

But, you see, it's not about helping people. It's about the Democratic Party trying to buy voters and votes...

THAT's why it has to be this way.. Dems are petrified of the coming mid-terms.

They KNOW that they are gonna get shellacked...

So, they are trying to buy voters and votes...

The evidence to support this conclusion is simply too conclusive to ignore. :D

Michale

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48181 Chris Weigant Wed, 07 May 2014 07:31:29 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48181 Michale [25] - OK, that makes a certain amount of sense. Hadn't considered the "hackability" of the currently-available smart guns. But if they ever perfect the palm-print-reading gun, I don't think that could be easily hacked. What would you think about palm readers? And, to make it interesting (I see your Battlestar Galactica, and raise you...), may I hasten to point out that this is how Judge Dredd's weapon (his "Lawgiver") works -- which is why he's never scared of some perp snatching it from him, because it self-destructs when they attempt to use it. M [26] - Well, I did try to coax you out... I even wrote in defense of a Tea Party candidate! Heh. M [28] - That's a false parallel, since the burger-flipper isn't provided with food, shelter, clothes, health care, and life insurance. I mean, I hear what you're saying, but you've got to at least add in the perks. M [29] - Nope. The CBO said "between zero and one million jobs would be lost" and then they took a stab in the dark and called it 500,000. We'd need the population of China or India to even HAVE a billion jobs to lose, after all! :-) Economists disagreed with the CBO, as most of the more recent studies have shown no job loss at all -- when one state or one city raises their minimum wage, it has no effect whatsoever on total jobs. M [31] - How was a consensual affair a "war on women"? I mean, OK, Clinton was a dog and boffed the intern, but how does that change any other women's lives other than Hillary's and Monica's? GOP policies are aimed at ALL women. That's the difference. As for the minimum wage thing, here's another way of looking at it. WalMart and fast food workers are told to apply for food stamps, since they're making sub-poverty wages. What this means, in essence, is that your taxes subsidize cheap workers in certain industry. Why should taxpayers foot the bill for benefits these companies should be providing, so that minimum wage = above poverty, and not eligible for food stamps? M [34] - So far, I believe over 9 million jobs have been created under Obama. Oh, and Obamacare doesn't seem to be destroying jobs, either, as the GOP predicted. M [36] - it's "million." With an "M"... not "B"... Seattle's thinking about raising their min. wage to $15/hr. Didn't you used to live up there? Heh. Couldn't resist. -CW Michale [25] -

OK, that makes a certain amount of sense. Hadn't considered the "hackability" of the currently-available smart guns. But if they ever perfect the palm-print-reading gun, I don't think that could be easily hacked. What would you think about palm readers? And, to make it interesting (I see your Battlestar Galactica, and raise you...), may I hasten to point out that this is how Judge Dredd's weapon (his "Lawgiver") works -- which is why he's never scared of some perp snatching it from him, because it self-destructs when they attempt to use it.

M [26] -

Well, I did try to coax you out... I even wrote in defense of a Tea Party candidate!

Heh.

M [28] -

That's a false parallel, since the burger-flipper isn't provided with food, shelter, clothes, health care, and life insurance. I mean, I hear what you're saying, but you've got to at least add in the perks.

M [29] -

Nope. The CBO said "between zero and one million jobs would be lost" and then they took a stab in the dark and called it 500,000. We'd need the population of China or India to even HAVE a billion jobs to lose, after all!

:-)

Economists disagreed with the CBO, as most of the more recent studies have shown no job loss at all -- when one state or one city raises their minimum wage, it has no effect whatsoever on total jobs.

M [31] -

How was a consensual affair a "war on women"? I mean, OK, Clinton was a dog and boffed the intern, but how does that change any other women's lives other than Hillary's and Monica's?

GOP policies are aimed at ALL women. That's the difference.

As for the minimum wage thing, here's another way of looking at it. WalMart and fast food workers are told to apply for food stamps, since they're making sub-poverty wages. What this means, in essence, is that your taxes subsidize cheap workers in certain industry. Why should taxpayers foot the bill for benefits these companies should be providing, so that minimum wage = above poverty, and not eligible for food stamps?

M [34] -

So far, I believe over 9 million jobs have been created under Obama. Oh, and Obamacare doesn't seem to be destroying jobs, either, as the GOP predicted.

M [36] -

it's "million." With an "M"... not "B"...

Seattle's thinking about raising their min. wage to $15/hr. Didn't you used to live up there? Heh. Couldn't resist.

-CW

]]> By: LewDan http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48165 LewDan Wed, 07 May 2014 00:05:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48165 LOL LOL

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48164 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 22:25:42 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48164 Aww right... I am done for the day... JACK... IS.... BACK..... :D Michale Aww right... I am done for the day...

JACK... IS.... BACK..... :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48162 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 21:39:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48162 What ya think, CW?? Too much, too soon?? :D Michale What ya think, CW??

Too much, too soon?? :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48161 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 21:37:54 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48161 <B>The American economy is less entrepreneurial now than at any point in the last three decades. That's the conclusion of a new study out from the Brookings Institution, which looks at the rates of new business creation and destruction since 1978. Not only that, but during the most recent three years of the study -- 2009, 2010 and 2011 -- businesses were collapsing faster than they were being formed, a first. Overall, new businesses creation (measured as the share of all businesses less than one year old) declined by about half from 1978 to 2011.</B> http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/05/05/u-s-businesses-are-being-destroyed-faster-than-theyre-being-created/?hpid=z5 Ya'all see the danger??? Now, let's force businesses to pay their entry level low-skilled workers 30% more... What could POSSIBLY go wrong!??? Michale The American economy is less entrepreneurial now than at any point in the last three decades. That's the conclusion of a new study out from the Brookings Institution, which looks at the rates of new business creation and destruction since 1978.
Not only that, but during the most recent three years of the study -- 2009, 2010 and 2011 -- businesses were collapsing faster than they were being formed, a first. Overall, new businesses creation (measured as the share of all businesses less than one year old) declined by about half from 1978 to 2011.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/05/05/u-s-businesses-are-being-destroyed-faster-than-theyre-being-created/?hpid=z5

Ya'all see the danger???

Now, let's force businesses to pay their entry level low-skilled workers 30% more...

What could POSSIBLY go wrong!???

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48160 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 21:05:17 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48160 <I>It's an economic fact that raising the price floor on labor does tend to reduce job-hours. but that doesn't matter if the equilibrium wage is so low that people can't feed their families, and basic needs like food, shelter and a doctor aren't met. fact is, ten dollars an hour doesn't have the purchasing power it used to, barely subsistence with the cost of living being what it is.</I> Then, that being the case, the only logical course of action would be to raise the minimum wage to something higher that WOULD have the "purchasing power" to be a "living wage".... Wouldn't you agree???? Michale It's an economic fact that raising the price floor on labor does tend to reduce job-hours. but that doesn't matter if the equilibrium wage is so low that people can't feed their families, and basic needs like food, shelter and a doctor aren't met. fact is, ten dollars an hour doesn't have the purchasing power it used to, barely subsistence with the cost of living being what it is.

Then, that being the case, the only logical course of action would be to raise the minimum wage to something higher that WOULD have the "purchasing power" to be a "living wage"....

Wouldn't you agree????

Michale

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48159 nypoet22 Tue, 06 May 2014 21:00:29 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48159 It's an economic fact that raising the price floor on labor does tend to reduce job-hours. but that doesn't matter if the equilibrium wage is so low that people can't feed their families, and basic needs like food, shelter and a doctor aren't met. fact is, ten dollars an hour doesn't have the purchasing power it used to, barely subsistence with the cost of living being what it is. JL It's an economic fact that raising the price floor on labor does tend to reduce job-hours. but that doesn't matter if the equilibrium wage is so low that people can't feed their families, and basic needs like food, shelter and a doctor aren't met. fact is, ten dollars an hour doesn't have the purchasing power it used to, barely subsistence with the cost of living being what it is.

JL

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48157 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 20:04:10 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48157 <I>The ONLY reason that the Democratic Party is pursuing this is so they can pander to the low-information, greedy and lazy voter.</I> Add that as #4 in comment 30... If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck....... It USED to be that political Partys would do GOOD for their country as a means of appealing to the masses... Once again, the "good old days"... Michale The ONLY reason that the Democratic Party is pursuing this is so they can pander to the low-information, greedy and lazy voter.

Add that as #4 in comment 30...

If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck.......

It USED to be that political Partys would do GOOD for their country as a means of appealing to the masses...

Once again, the "good old days"...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48156 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 19:51:13 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48156 Face the facts, LD... The ONLY reason that the Democratic Party is pursuing this is so they can pander to the low-information, greedy and lazy voter. They people whose votes can be bought. And the Dem Party is going to make sure that THEY are the ones who buy the votes and the voters... It's bribery, pure and simple... Michale Face the facts, LD...

The ONLY reason that the Democratic Party is pursuing this is so they can pander to the low-information, greedy and lazy voter.

They people whose votes can be bought.

And the Dem Party is going to make sure that THEY are the ones who buy the votes and the voters...

It's bribery, pure and simple...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48154 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 19:42:32 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48154 <I>First, the CBO is in the business of making forecasts. And, unlike you, THEY know it! They NEVER "predict" ANYTHING "will" happen.</I> You don't seem to make that distinction when the CBO says that TrainWreckCare is going to be awesome! :D Why not?? <I>And a cite that the CBO forecasts raising the minimum wage "might cost 500,000 jobs" hardly translates into "will cost 1 billion jobs." And that's without even getting into the fact that what they ACTUALLY said is that it might cost 500,000 NEW jobs. Or the fact that even THAT is in dispute because of differences of opinion regarding offsetting CREATION of new jobs, and the fact that NEITHER is accurately quantifiable.</I> Now who'se splitting hairs?? To get the economy back on track, this country NEEDS "NEW" jobs... Raising the min wage to that obscene height will COST this country "UP TO" 1 BILLION of those desperately needed NEW jobs... THAT is what the CBO says... And, as I am always pointing out, you people LOVE what the CBO says... WHEN it supports ya'alls agenda... Michale is proven right once again... :D <I>Jobs are created by people with money in their pockets to spend.</I> Exactly.. And if those people have to pay the lowest skilled worker the cost of a skilled worker, then those people WON'T have the money to create the jobs.. It's not rocket science, LD... I mean, honestly.. Why don't we REALLY allow these people a "living wage" and raise the min wage to $20 an hour!! Then these newly minted and purchased Democrat voters can REALLY live, right?? $20 an hour for min wage is ridiculous, right?? So is $10 an hour... That's all I am saying.... Michale First, the CBO is in the business of making forecasts. And, unlike you, THEY know it! They NEVER "predict" ANYTHING "will" happen.

You don't seem to make that distinction when the CBO says that TrainWreckCare is going to be awesome! :D

Why not??

And a cite that the CBO forecasts raising the minimum wage "might cost 500,000 jobs" hardly translates into "will cost 1 billion jobs." And that's without even getting into the fact that what they ACTUALLY said is that it might cost 500,000 NEW jobs. Or the fact that even THAT is in dispute because of differences of opinion regarding offsetting CREATION of new jobs, and the fact that NEITHER is accurately quantifiable.

Now who'se splitting hairs??

To get the economy back on track, this country NEEDS "NEW" jobs...

Raising the min wage to that obscene height will COST this country "UP TO" 1 BILLION of those desperately needed NEW jobs... THAT is what the CBO says...

And, as I am always pointing out, you people LOVE what the CBO says...

WHEN it supports ya'alls agenda...

Michale is proven right once again... :D

Jobs are created by people with money in their pockets to spend.

Exactly..

And if those people have to pay the lowest skilled worker the cost of a skilled worker, then those people WON'T have the money to create the jobs..

It's not rocket science, LD...

I mean, honestly.. Why don't we REALLY allow these people a "living wage" and raise the min wage to $20 an hour!!

Then these newly minted and purchased Democrat voters can REALLY live, right??

$20 an hour for min wage is ridiculous, right??

So is $10 an hour...

That's all I am saying....

Michale

]]> By: LewDan http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48153 LewDan Tue, 06 May 2014 19:33:49 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48153 Michale, First, the CBO is in the business of making forecasts. And, unlike you, THEY know it! They NEVER "predict" ANYTHING "will" happen. And a cite that the CBO forecasts raising the minimum wage "might cost 500,000 jobs" hardly translates into "will cost 1 billion jobs." And that's without even getting into the fact that what they ACTUALLY said is that it might cost 500,000 NEW jobs. Or the fact that even THAT is in dispute because of differences of opinion regarding offsetting CREATION of new jobs, and the fact that NEITHER is accurately quantifiable. So you take a "guestimate", exaggerate it, and misrepresent it.--Like I said, the CBO never said raising the minimum wage would cost 1 billion jobs. Jobs are created by people with money in their pockets to spend. Jobs are NOT created by people with money in the Caymans and Lichtenstein to hide. You wingers like to pretend that little "details" like--facts--and, the truth, don't really matter. That everything is just "spin." They do. They aren't. And your lies are just lies. Michale,

First, the CBO is in the business of making forecasts. And, unlike you, THEY know it! They NEVER "predict" ANYTHING "will" happen.

And a cite that the CBO forecasts raising the minimum wage "might cost 500,000 jobs" hardly translates into "will cost 1 billion jobs." And that's without even getting into the fact that what they ACTUALLY said is that it might cost 500,000 NEW jobs. Or the fact that even THAT is in dispute because of differences of opinion regarding offsetting CREATION of new jobs, and the fact that NEITHER is accurately quantifiable.

So you take a "guestimate", exaggerate it, and misrepresent it.--Like I said, the CBO never said raising the minimum wage would cost 1 billion jobs.

Jobs are created by people with money in their pockets to spend. Jobs are NOT created by people with money in the Caymans and Lichtenstein to hide.

You wingers like to pretend that little "details" like--facts--and, the truth, don't really matter. That everything is just "spin." They do. They aren't. And your lies are just lies.

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48152 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 18:39:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48152 Hay CW, Maybe you should rename this FTP: <B>MICHALE UNLEASHED!!!</B> :D Hay CW,

Maybe you should rename this FTP:

MICHALE UNLEASHED!!!

:D

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48151 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 18:38:27 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48151 For the record, there is nothing wrong with increasing the minimum wage... COL changes require that the minimum wage keeps up... But TEN BUCKS an hour!?? For flipping burgers or sweeping floors or emptying garbage??? Are you frakin' KIDDING me!! If someone wants to earn TEN BUCKS an hour, let them put their nose to the grind stone and EARN it!! Ya know, hard work and perseverance are NOT dirty words... They are commendable qualities that should be NURTURED and ENCOURAGED.... Michale For the record, there is nothing wrong with increasing the minimum wage...

COL changes require that the minimum wage keeps up...

But TEN BUCKS an hour!?? For flipping burgers or sweeping floors or emptying garbage???

Are you frakin' KIDDING me!!

If someone wants to earn TEN BUCKS an hour, let them put their nose to the grind stone and EARN it!!

Ya know, hard work and perseverance are NOT dirty words...

They are commendable qualities that should be NURTURED and ENCOURAGED....

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48150 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 18:28:02 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48150 <I>Jobs don't disappear because workers have to be paid.</I> Picture ACME Electronics.. They are embarking on a new and revolutionary new design that will END Global Warming.. er.. I mean Climate Change... er I mean Climate Disruption... All ACME E has to do is higher a couple new scientists and technicians and they will have it made in the shade... THE END OF GLOBAL WARMING!!! er, I mean CLIMATE CHANGE!!! oh wait.. CLIMATE DISRUPTION!!! But wait.. Now they have to pay their janitors and trash dumpers and floor sweepers 30% more for the same entry level work.. Oh well.. I guess there won't be a cure for Global Warming.. OR Climate Change... OR Climate Disruption... Democrats had to buy more voters so now the world is going to hell in a handbasket and will likely end Day After Tomorrow... Too bad, so sad... Michale Jobs don't disappear because workers have to be paid.

Picture ACME Electronics.. They are embarking on a new and revolutionary new design that will END Global Warming.. er.. I mean Climate Change... er I mean Climate Disruption...

All ACME E has to do is higher a couple new scientists and technicians and they will have it made in the shade...

THE END OF GLOBAL WARMING!!! er, I mean CLIMATE CHANGE!!! oh wait.. CLIMATE DISRUPTION!!!

But wait.. Now they have to pay their janitors and trash dumpers and floor sweepers 30% more for the same entry level work..

Oh well.. I guess there won't be a cure for Global Warming..

OR Climate Change...

OR Climate Disruption...

Democrats had to buy more voters so now the world is going to hell in a handbasket and will likely end Day After Tomorrow...

Too bad, so sad...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48149 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 18:13:32 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48149 Like with everything I listed in #30, Democrats are simply trying to buy more Democrat voters... Apparently outright bribery is not beneath them... Color me surprised... :^/ Michale Like with everything I listed in #30, Democrats are simply trying to buy more Democrat voters...

Apparently outright bribery is not beneath them...

Color me surprised... :^/

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48148 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 18:06:45 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48148 <I>The CBO never said raising the minimum wage would eliminate 1 billion jobs. That's absurd.</I> Really??? http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/02/18/cbo-minimum-wage-jobs/5582779/ <I>Jobs don't disappear because workers have to be paid. </I> POTENTIAL jobs DO disappear when employers have to pay entry level positions so much that they have no capital to invest in other skilled/unskilled jobs... So, yes... Raising the minimum wage will cost between 500,000 and 1 billion jobs... As I said.. The idea is to CREATE jobs... Not DESTROY jobs... Of course, the Democrat goal of creating a class of people totally dependent on freebies and handouts from the government is perfectly in keeping with destroying the job-creating ability of the American private sector... Michale The CBO never said raising the minimum wage would eliminate 1 billion jobs. That's absurd.

Really???

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/02/18/cbo-minimum-wage-jobs/5582779/

Jobs don't disappear because workers have to be paid.

POTENTIAL jobs DO disappear when employers have to pay entry level positions so much that they have no capital to invest in other skilled/unskilled jobs...

So, yes...

Raising the minimum wage will cost between 500,000 and 1 billion jobs...

As I said.. The idea is to CREATE jobs...

Not DESTROY jobs...

Of course, the Democrat goal of creating a class of people totally dependent on freebies and handouts from the government is perfectly in keeping with destroying the job-creating ability of the American private sector...

Michale

]]> By: LewDan http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48147 LewDan Tue, 06 May 2014 17:52:43 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48147 And, Michale, The CBO never said raising the minimum wage would eliminate 1 billion jobs. That's absurd. Jobs don't disappear because workers have to be paid. They never have, they never will. Your belief in the pyramid theory of capitalism, that you can freely exploit workers because they'll always be someone else to sell to, is what led to worldwide economic collapse. You have to pay workers in order to have customers. And DEMAND is what creates jobs. This country, and the world, flourished under the Henry Ford theory of economics. While Reganomics has crashed the economy, nationally and globally--repeatedly. Enriching the wealthy at the expense of workers does NOT "trickle-down." And, Michale,

The CBO never said raising the minimum wage would eliminate 1 billion jobs. That's absurd.

Jobs don't disappear because workers have to be paid. They never have, they never will. Your belief in the pyramid theory of capitalism, that you can freely exploit workers because they'll always be someone else to sell to, is what led to worldwide economic collapse.

You have to pay workers in order to have customers. And DEMAND is what creates jobs. This country, and the world, flourished under the Henry Ford theory of economics. While Reganomics has crashed the economy, nationally and globally--repeatedly. Enriching the wealthy at the expense of workers does NOT "trickle-down."

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48146 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 17:50:53 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48146 You see, the idea is to CREATE jobs!! Now see how many jobs Obama and the Democrats can destroy! Michale You see, the idea is to CREATE jobs!!

Now see how many jobs Obama and the Democrats can destroy!

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48145 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 17:48:46 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48145 <I>The minimum wage wasn't created to provide start-up jobs, as you claim. It was created to mitigate and reduce worker exploitation by employers.</I> I am not talking about creation.. I am talking about reality of the here and now.. A person signs on to a job at McDonalds flipping burgers and emptying the trash.. It's an ENTRY LEVEL position... It's not designed to be a way of life... If someone wants better pay, LET THEM WORK FOR IT... You go on and on about "living wage"... Define "living"?? For you and the rest of the Democrats, "Living" means a jacuzzi, a 60" wide screen TV and two cars... Now, I have all those things, but I worked HARD to EARN them.. THAT is the point you seem to want to ignore.. If you want a better wage, then EARN it.. Don't just expect it to be handed to you on a silver platter... <I>Do you REALLY think $4 an hour is worth risking your life for? (Not that it IS $4/hr! There are non-cash compensations.)</I> Of course not.. And any service member who is in it JUST for the money is nothing more than a mercenary... But the point is, higher wages are a REWARD for hard work... Ya'all just want to hand higher wages, simply because people exist... Where is the incentive to strive for something better if Democrats are simply going to hand it to everyone on a silver platter??? Democrats want to pay someone $1600 a month JUST to show up to work and pick their nose... Here's a radical idea.. Let those people EARN that kind of pay... Michale The minimum wage wasn't created to provide start-up jobs, as you claim. It was created to mitigate and reduce worker exploitation by employers.

I am not talking about creation..

I am talking about reality of the here and now..

A person signs on to a job at McDonalds flipping burgers and emptying the trash..

It's an ENTRY LEVEL position... It's not designed to be a way of life...

If someone wants better pay, LET THEM WORK FOR IT...

You go on and on about "living wage"...

Define "living"??

For you and the rest of the Democrats, "Living" means a jacuzzi, a 60" wide screen TV and two cars...

Now, I have all those things, but I worked HARD to EARN them..

THAT is the point you seem to want to ignore..

If you want a better wage, then EARN it..

Don't just expect it to be handed to you on a silver platter...

Do you REALLY think $4 an hour is worth risking your life for? (Not that it IS $4/hr! There are non-cash compensations.)

Of course not.. And any service member who is in it JUST for the money is nothing more than a mercenary...

But the point is, higher wages are a REWARD for hard work...

Ya'all just want to hand higher wages, simply because people exist...

Where is the incentive to strive for something better if Democrats are simply going to hand it to everyone on a silver platter???

Democrats want to pay someone $1600 a month JUST to show up to work and pick their nose...

Here's a radical idea..

Let those people EARN that kind of pay...

Michale

]]> By: LewDan http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48144 LewDan Tue, 06 May 2014 17:33:19 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48144 Michale, Your view of minimum wage history is, unsurprisingly, a fantasy. Like the rest of your right-wing beliefs. There have always been employers exploiting workers by refusing to pay them what their labors were worth. The minimum wage wasn't created to provide start-up jobs, as you claim. It was created to mitigate and reduce worker exploitation by employers. Oh, and when I served in the military, during the draft, the average pay was $.040 per hour. E5s are "supervisors", "management" not minimum wage workers. Do you REALLY think $4 an hour is worth risking your life for? (Not that it IS $4/hr! There are non-cash compensations.) So you're comparing entry-level workers salaries to entry-level management salaries. Comparing cash compensation, minus non-cash benefits, to TOTAL compensation. And comparing salaries subject to minimum wage laws to salaries that are NOT subject to minimum wage in order to come to the conclusion that since soldiers are exploited EVERYONE should be exploited AT LEAST as much?! No national military can afford to pay soldiers what its "worth" for them to risk their lives. And soldiers aren't doing it just for the cash. Your "logic" is as faulty as always. Minimum wage laws are about fair compensation. There is no job for which employers are entitled to command 40 hours a week of workers' time without paying them enough even to live on. "Entry level" does not mean jobs you work for free until you get one that pays. If you require live workers you must pay a "living wage." Its as simple as that. YOU'VE got it backwards. Employers who can't pay a living wage are not entitled to workers, not workers who don't "work harder" aren't entitled to a living wage. In order to get the minimum wage you must supply 40 hours per week in services. WHAT those services are is irrelevant. Take up nearly one third of anyones life and they deserve a living wage from you no matter how YOU choose to use their time. Michale,

Your view of minimum wage history is, unsurprisingly, a fantasy. Like the rest of your right-wing beliefs. There have always been employers exploiting workers by refusing to pay them what their labors were worth. The minimum wage wasn't created to provide start-up jobs, as you claim. It was created to mitigate and reduce worker exploitation by employers.

Oh, and when I served in the military, during the draft, the average pay was $.040 per hour. E5s are "supervisors", "management" not minimum wage workers. Do you REALLY think $4 an hour is worth risking your life for? (Not that it IS $4/hr! There are non-cash compensations.)

So you're comparing entry-level workers salaries to entry-level management salaries. Comparing cash compensation, minus non-cash benefits, to TOTAL compensation. And comparing salaries subject to minimum wage laws to salaries that are NOT subject to minimum wage in order to come to the conclusion that since soldiers are exploited EVERYONE should be exploited AT LEAST as much?!

No national military can afford to pay soldiers what its "worth" for them to risk their lives. And soldiers aren't doing it just for the cash. Your "logic" is as faulty as always.

Minimum wage laws are about fair compensation. There is no job for which employers are entitled to command 40 hours a week of workers' time without paying them enough even to live on. "Entry level" does not mean jobs you work for free until you get one that pays. If you require live workers you must pay a "living wage." Its as simple as that.

YOU'VE got it backwards. Employers who can't pay a living wage are not entitled to workers, not workers who don't "work harder" aren't entitled to a living wage. In order to get the minimum wage you must supply 40 hours per week in services. WHAT those services are is irrelevant. Take up nearly one third of anyones life and they deserve a living wage from you no matter how YOU choose to use their time.

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48133 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 15:07:20 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48133 http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/05/monica-lewinsky-speaks Doesn't anyone wanna talk about the Right's alleged "war on women"?? Because THAT right there was a true "war on women"... And it was being waged fully and completely by the entirety of the Democratic Party.... So, once again... Something about stones and glass houses comes to mind.. Michale http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/05/monica-lewinsky-speaks

Doesn't anyone wanna talk about the Right's alleged "war on women"??

Because THAT right there was a true "war on women"...

And it was being waged fully and completely by the entirety of the Democratic Party....

So, once again... Something about stones and glass houses comes to mind..

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48112 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 11:46:24 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48112 One other point.. (Sorry, there is a lot of back-pressure built up.. Things will equalize momentarily :D) Democrats have three major initiatives going.. 1. Amnesty for illegal immigrants that will create up to 30 million new citizens. 2. Pardons for millions of drug-related criminals. 3. Eliminating ID requirements for voters to facilitate fraudulent voting. Isn't it odd that the ONE thing all those actions have in common is that they will create millions and millions and millions of new freshly-minted Democrat voters... What an AMAZING coincidence, eh?? All those actions are very bad for the country, but they are very VERY good for the Democratic Party.. Iddn't that strange?? Michale One other point..

(Sorry, there is a lot of back-pressure built up.. Things will equalize momentarily :D)

Democrats have three major initiatives going..

1. Amnesty for illegal immigrants that will create up to 30 million new citizens.

2. Pardons for millions of drug-related criminals.

3. Eliminating ID requirements for voters to facilitate fraudulent voting.

Isn't it odd that the ONE thing all those actions have in common is that they will create millions and millions and millions of new freshly-minted Democrat voters...

What an AMAZING coincidence, eh??

All those actions are very bad for the country, but they are very VERY good for the Democratic Party..

Iddn't that strange??

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48111 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 11:31:19 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48111 <I>As for minimum wage, I've been saying this is the strongest card in the Dems' hand for a while now.</I> When you consider that the CBO has stated that such a raise in the minimum wage would eliminate up to 1 billion jobs??? Not so much.... The idea is to CREATE jobs.. Not eliminate jobs.. Didn't Democrats get the memo??? Michale As for minimum wage, I've been saying this is the strongest card in the Dems' hand for a while now.

When you consider that the CBO has stated that such a raise in the minimum wage would eliminate up to 1 billion jobs???

Not so much....

The idea is to CREATE jobs..

Not eliminate jobs..

Didn't Democrats get the memo???

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48110 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 11:16:04 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48110 PalmHarbor, A fellow Floridian, per chance?? As is my norm... <B>"Welcome to the party, pal!!!"</B> -John McClane, DIE HARD :D <I>Demonstrators carried banners and pickets in support of a proposed minimum wage of 4,000 francs ($4,550) a month at Labour Day rallies in major Swiss cities on Thursday.</I> Ya know, back in the good old days, there was a reason that minimum wage jobs WERE minimum wage jobs. There weren't meant as a means of support, but rather a stepping stone to bigger and better things.. But people have gotten lazy and don't want to strive to better themselves. They want to be paid handsomely and rewarded excessively for doing nothing more than flipping burgers.. If people want to earn more money, here's a wild and radical thought.. WORK HARDER!!! STRIVE FOR SUCCESS!!! Consider this.. An E-5 in Afghanistan makes approx $2500 a month base pay.. Hazard Duty pay, etc etc let's say for the sake of the argument is around $500.. That's being generous.. So an E-5 in Afghanistan makes about $3K per month.. When one takes into account that, in a TOP, a soldier is "working" 24 hours a day, that $3K a month translates out to a little more than $4 an hour... So, let's look at stateside.. Democrats want to pay some teen fresh out of high school over $10 per hour to flip burgers and/or empty trash cans.. Hmmmmmmmmm A soldier putting his (or her) life on the line protecting this country makes $4 an hour.... A guy (or girl) flipping burgers wants over $10 per hour... Is it just me or does that seem a little incongruous to anyone?? I'll finish where I started.. In the good old days, if people wanted better pay they worked harder.. In the here and now, Democrats want to simply hand people better pay... No extra work required at all, let alone HARD work... Democrats want to pay someone who flips burgers almost THREE TIMES as much as someone who is risking their life for this country... Call me silly, but that is whacked.. Utterly and completely whacked... Welcome to Weigantia :D Michale PalmHarbor,

A fellow Floridian, per chance??

As is my norm...

"Welcome to the party, pal!!!"
-John McClane, DIE HARD

:D

Demonstrators carried banners and pickets in support of a proposed minimum wage of 4,000 francs ($4,550) a month at Labour Day rallies in major Swiss cities on Thursday.

Ya know, back in the good old days, there was a reason that minimum wage jobs WERE minimum wage jobs.

There weren't meant as a means of support, but rather a stepping stone to bigger and better things..

But people have gotten lazy and don't want to strive to better themselves. They want to be paid handsomely and rewarded excessively for doing nothing more than flipping burgers..

If people want to earn more money, here's a wild and radical thought..

WORK HARDER!!! STRIVE FOR SUCCESS!!!

Consider this..

An E-5 in Afghanistan makes approx $2500 a month base pay.. Hazard Duty pay, etc etc let's say for the sake of the argument is around $500.. That's being generous..

So an E-5 in Afghanistan makes about $3K per month.. When one takes into account that, in a TOP, a soldier is "working" 24 hours a day, that $3K a month translates out to a little more than $4 an hour...

So, let's look at stateside..

Democrats want to pay some teen fresh out of high school over $10 per hour to flip burgers and/or empty trash cans..

Hmmmmmmmmm

A soldier putting his (or her) life on the line protecting this country makes $4 an hour....

A guy (or girl) flipping burgers wants over $10 per hour...

Is it just me or does that seem a little incongruous to anyone??

I'll finish where I started..

In the good old days, if people wanted better pay they worked harder..

In the here and now, Democrats want to simply hand people better pay... No extra work required at all, let alone HARD work...

Democrats want to pay someone who flips burgers almost THREE TIMES as much as someone who is risking their life for this country...

Call me silly, but that is whacked.. Utterly and completely whacked...

Welcome to Weigantia :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48109 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 10:59:30 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48109 LD, <I>"Welcome to the party, pal!" --John McClain :D</I> Now THAT was funny!!! :D Thanx... Sincerely.. Michale LD,

"Welcome to the party, pal!"
--John McClain

:D

Now THAT was funny!!! :D

Thanx... Sincerely..

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48108 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 10:55:51 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48108 CW, Re:#22 I am honestly moved and honored by your comment.. You should know that I was never really "gone", that many MANY comments had me straining at the self-imposed leash to rip off a retort... After weeks of that, I just came to realize that, while winning by forfeit :D can be pain, it's infinitely preferable to not being in the game. I apologize for abdicating my responsibilities here :D I promise it (probably) won't happen again. :D Michale CW,

Re:#22

I am honestly moved and honored by your comment.. You should know that I was never really "gone", that many MANY comments had me straining at the self-imposed leash to rip off a retort...

After weeks of that, I just came to realize that, while winning by forfeit :D can be pain, it's infinitely preferable to not being in the game.

I apologize for abdicating my responsibilities here :D I promise it (probably) won't happen again. :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48107 Michale Tue, 06 May 2014 10:48:19 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48107 TS, <I>Michael, is that really you or just a hologram?</I> This isn't the Weigantian Commenter you are looking for.. Move along :D CW, <I>"I am your father, Michale"... Heh. Now wouldn't THAT be something...</I> Now THAT would be a hoot!! :D <I> But seriously, why are smart guns such a threat to the NRA (other than the NJ law, I mean)?</I> Two words. "Government Control" You don't think the NSA could hack "smart guns"?? You recall the Battlestar Galactica remake, right?? For those who don't, after the first Cylon war, the Colonials had to redesign their weapons of war because the weapons were overly dependent on computer networking. Since the Cylons were AI machines to begin with, they could easily disable the Colonials weapons systems. That's why Adama made Galactica a completely non-networked battlestar.. Now apply that lesson to the here and now.. In the eyes of the NRA and 2nd Amendment supporters, what is the entire idea behind the 2nd Amendment?? A well-armed America is an America better suited to defend themselves from threats both Foreign <B>AND DOMESTIC</B> Now imagine that the "well-armed" America is armed with guns that the government can turn off at will.. Not so well-armed, eh?? If personal weapons can be hacked and be turned off, then they really aren't that effective a weapon beyond a club, eh?? If New Jersey is successful in it's bid to make all guns smart guns, based on their availability anywhere in the country, how long do you think it's going to be before other states follow NJ??? That's the danger here. And, while I will concede that it doesn't justify the threats of death or grievous bodily harm, the passion that it invokes is logical, considering the stakes.. Michale TS,

Michael, is that really you or just a hologram?

This isn't the Weigantian Commenter you are looking for.. Move along

:D

CW,

"I am your father, Michale"...

Heh. Now wouldn't THAT be something...

Now THAT would be a hoot!! :D

But seriously, why are smart guns such a threat to the NRA (other than the NJ law, I mean)?

Two words.

"Government Control"

You don't think the NSA could hack "smart guns"??

You recall the Battlestar Galactica remake, right??

For those who don't, after the first Cylon war, the Colonials had to redesign their weapons of war because the weapons were overly dependent on computer networking. Since the Cylons were AI machines to begin with, they could easily disable the Colonials weapons systems. That's why Adama made Galactica a completely non-networked battlestar..

Now apply that lesson to the here and now..

In the eyes of the NRA and 2nd Amendment supporters, what is the entire idea behind the 2nd Amendment??

A well-armed America is an America better suited to defend themselves from threats both Foreign AND DOMESTIC

Now imagine that the "well-armed" America is armed with guns that the government can turn off at will..

Not so well-armed, eh??

If personal weapons can be hacked and be turned off, then they really aren't that effective a weapon beyond a club, eh??

If New Jersey is successful in it's bid to make all guns smart guns, based on their availability anywhere in the country, how long do you think it's going to be before other states follow NJ???

That's the danger here. And, while I will concede that it doesn't justify the threats of death or grievous bodily harm, the passion that it invokes is logical, considering the stakes..

Michale

]]> By: LewDan http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48100 LewDan Tue, 06 May 2014 06:46:44 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48100 Michale, "Welcome to the party, pal!" --John McClain :D Michale,

"Welcome to the party, pal!"
--John McClain

:D

]]> By: LewDan http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48098 LewDan Tue, 06 May 2014 06:34:08 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48098 CW [18], No, the amendment wouldn't work. The use of the term "appropriate legislation" in section 4 is exactly the same hook SCOTUS used to gut VRA section 5 legislation. And nothing in the amendment addresses SCOTUS' newly self-conferred authority to veto or repeal legislation it considers "inappropriate." As I've said repeatedly, you cannot address SCOTUS' refusal to honor the Constitution by amending the Constitution. That falls into Einstein's insanity definition--doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. The Constitutional remedy for SCOTUS misbehavior is impeachment. Its the only practical remedy. Justices who cannot be trusted to be objective, and honor the Constitution, are worse than useless. There's no point in even attempting to correct them. They simply require replacement. Until Congress, and the people, accept that basic truth, SCOTUS will be unchecked and out of control. Sitting around pretending that Justices are infallible and incorruptible is no more effective, or realistic, than any other means of burying ones head in the sand and refusing to face reality. The Founders never believed for a second that the honor system would prevent ANY branch of government from abusing its authority. Rather, they took it as a given that any branch of government that could abuse its authority WOULD abuse it. They had historical precedent on their side in forming that belief, and all the evidence since continues to corroborate it. CW [18],

No, the amendment wouldn't work. The use of the term "appropriate legislation" in section 4 is exactly the same hook SCOTUS used to gut VRA section 5 legislation. And nothing in the amendment addresses SCOTUS' newly self-conferred authority to veto or repeal legislation it considers "inappropriate."

As I've said repeatedly, you cannot address SCOTUS' refusal to honor the Constitution by amending the Constitution. That falls into Einstein's insanity definition--doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

The Constitutional remedy for SCOTUS misbehavior is impeachment. Its the only practical remedy. Justices who cannot be trusted to be objective, and honor the Constitution, are worse than useless. There's no point in even attempting to correct them. They simply require replacement.

Until Congress, and the people, accept that basic truth, SCOTUS will be unchecked and out of control. Sitting around pretending that Justices are infallible and incorruptible is no more effective, or realistic, than any other means of burying ones head in the sand and refusing to face reality.

The Founders never believed for a second that the honor system would prevent ANY branch of government from abusing its authority. Rather, they took it as a given that any branch of government that could abuse its authority WOULD abuse it. They had historical precedent on their side in forming that belief, and all the evidence since continues to corroborate it.

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48095 Chris Weigant Tue, 06 May 2014 05:57:09 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48095 goode trickle - Oh, I agree. The last Dem to do so successfully was JFK's "a rising tide lifts all boats," really... Michale - Because I'm in a good mood (to see you back) I will admit I did indeed gloss over the whole NJ law thing. But seriously, why are smart guns such a threat to the NRA (other than the NJ law, I mean)? Anyway, allow me to add my voice to the chorus welcoming you back. Seriously, while you do provide a valuable service here, it is most valuable to me, on a personal level. Without your comments, I would have to wade through the swamps of the right wing websites to see what crazy-ass things they were currently obsessing over. You do a GREAT job of boiling down the right's arguments to their key points, and hammering on lefty weaknesses in their own arguments. This, frequently, gets me thinking. And it makes me defensive. And it puts my mind in the "how can I counter that argument?" frame of thinking. Which hones my own arguments. And makes my writing better (at least, in my own humble opinion). I have honestly missed this since you have been gone. When the Pope recently announced the canonization of JP2 and John XXIII, they also announced they had eased the process. Everyone else focused on the "only one miracle" thing, but what caught my attention is that they got rid of the "Devil's advocate" (yes, it's a real Catholic thing, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_advocate" rel="nofollow">advocatus diaboli</a> in Latin...) and that was kind of shocking to me. You ALWAYS should have someone making "the other case," because it tests and proves (in the original sense of the term) your case. You, Sir, are my own Devil's Advocate (so to speak). Ever since our first interaction, we have been (mostly) respectful of each other on a personal level, while we have torn apart each other's position on a daily basis. This has, I can say without fear of you contradicting me, engendered a certain amount of respect on both sides. We both know we're never going to convince each other. You should know that you're in the minority here, and that you're not going to convince anyone of much of anything. But that doesn't subtract from the fun, does it? You come here because you can poke a stick at lefties and you haven't been banned from commenting. I don't ban you because you keep within certain guidelines of not attacking commenters directly and personally (mostly). For everyone else -- for the rest of us lefties here, to put it another way -- Michale is also allowed a lot of leeway because he is one of the biggest financial supporters of this site. He pays his dues -- every December. Without him, the site would not now be self-supporting. Call me a whore for giving Michale leeway for his donations, and I can accept that. That's why I publicly admit it -- to keep my own conscience clear. To sum up this whole screed... We've missed you, Michale. We LOVE arguing with you, on some deep level. We are glad you're back. And, seriously, how many other lefty sites are ever going to say that to you? :-) -CW goode trickle -

Oh, I agree. The last Dem to do so successfully was JFK's "a rising tide lifts all boats," really...

Michale -

Because I'm in a good mood (to see you back) I will admit I did indeed gloss over the whole NJ law thing. But seriously, why are smart guns such a threat to the NRA (other than the NJ law, I mean)?

Anyway, allow me to add my voice to the chorus welcoming you back.

Seriously, while you do provide a valuable service here, it is most valuable to me, on a personal level. Without your comments, I would have to wade through the swamps of the right wing websites to see what crazy-ass things they were currently obsessing over. You do a GREAT job of boiling down the right's arguments to their key points, and hammering on lefty weaknesses in their own arguments.

This, frequently, gets me thinking. And it makes me defensive. And it puts my mind in the "how can I counter that argument?" frame of thinking. Which hones my own arguments. And makes my writing better (at least, in my own humble opinion).

I have honestly missed this since you have been gone.

When the Pope recently announced the canonization of JP2 and John XXIII, they also announced they had eased the process. Everyone else focused on the "only one miracle" thing, but what caught my attention is that they got rid of the "Devil's advocate" (yes, it's a real Catholic thing, advocatus diaboli in Latin...) and that was kind of shocking to me. You ALWAYS should have someone making "the other case," because it tests and proves (in the original sense of the term) your case.

You, Sir, are my own Devil's Advocate (so to speak). Ever since our first interaction, we have been (mostly) respectful of each other on a personal level, while we have torn apart each other's position on a daily basis. This has, I can say without fear of you contradicting me, engendered a certain amount of respect on both sides.

We both know we're never going to convince each other. You should know that you're in the minority here, and that you're not going to convince anyone of much of anything. But that doesn't subtract from the fun, does it?

You come here because you can poke a stick at lefties and you haven't been banned from commenting. I don't ban you because you keep within certain guidelines of not attacking commenters directly and personally (mostly).

For everyone else -- for the rest of us lefties here, to put it another way -- Michale is also allowed a lot of leeway because he is one of the biggest financial supporters of this site. He pays his dues -- every December. Without him, the site would not now be self-supporting.

Call me a whore for giving Michale leeway for his donations, and I can accept that. That's why I publicly admit it -- to keep my own conscience clear.

To sum up this whole screed...

We've missed you, Michale. We LOVE arguing with you, on some deep level. We are glad you're back.

And, seriously, how many other lefty sites are ever going to say that to you?

:-)

-CW

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48092 Chris Weigant Tue, 06 May 2014 05:34:46 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48092 Michale [4] - Kidding aside, may the fourth be with you, too. "I am your father, Michale"... Heh. Now wouldn't THAT be something... :-) -CW Michale [4] -

Kidding aside, may the fourth be with you, too.

"I am your father, Michale"...

Heh. Now wouldn't THAT be something...

:-)

-CW

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48091 Chris Weigant Tue, 06 May 2014 05:33:37 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48091 Michale [4] - OK, now... everyone don't make any sudden moves or loud noises... I think we can coax him out of his lair... Heh. :-) Good to see you again, buddy! And I do mean that quite sincerely... -CW Michale [4] -

OK, now... everyone don't make any sudden moves or loud noises... I think we can coax him out of his lair...

Heh.

:-)

Good to see you again, buddy! And I do mean that quite sincerely...

-CW

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48090 Chris Weigant Tue, 06 May 2014 05:25:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48090 palmharbor [3] - First off, welcome to the site! I apologize for the delay in posting, your first comment was held for moderation, but from now on you should be able to post instantly, as long as you don't post more than one link per comment (multilink comments are automatically held for moderation to cut down on comment spam). -CW palmharbor [3] -

First off, welcome to the site!

I apologize for the delay in posting, your first comment was held for moderation, but from now on you should be able to post instantly, as long as you don't post more than one link per comment (multilink comments are automatically held for moderation to cut down on comment spam).

-CW

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48089 Chris Weigant Tue, 06 May 2014 05:23:23 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48089 nypoet22 [1] - Yeah, I noticed that too. It seemed to be more technincal than a flat-out declaration "corporations are not people; money does not equal speech". Maybe it would do the trick, but I still have doubts. Mopshell [2] - You're right, the "I started my own business because of Obamacare" is a powerful argument. Some Dems have caught on to this, and I will keep an eye on it too... As for minimum wage, I've been saying this is the strongest card in the Dems' hand for a while now. -CW nypoet22 [1] -

Yeah, I noticed that too. It seemed to be more technincal than a flat-out declaration "corporations are not people; money does not equal speech".

Maybe it would do the trick, but I still have doubts.

Mopshell [2] -

You're right, the "I started my own business because of Obamacare" is a powerful argument. Some Dems have caught on to this, and I will keep an eye on it too...

As for minimum wage, I've been saying this is the strongest card in the Dems' hand for a while now.

-CW

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48079 Elizabeth Miller Mon, 05 May 2014 22:54:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48079 I knew that. :) I knew that. :)

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48078 Michale Mon, 05 May 2014 22:32:26 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48078 <I>OF COURSE he's a racist... I mean... Duuuhhhhhh</I> Sorry, Liz.. I am out of practice.. That should have had a ' :D ' after it.. Michale OF COURSE he's a racist... I mean... Duuuhhhhhh

Sorry, Liz.. I am out of practice..

That should have had a ' :D ' after it..

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48077 Michale Mon, 05 May 2014 21:49:05 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48077 <I>Sterling is a Democrat!?</I> Yep.. Donated millions to Obama, Democrats and the NAACP... He's an 80-yr old Democrat.. OF COURSE he's a racist... I mean... Duuuhhhhhh <I>You share a great sense of comedic timing with none other than ... wait for it ... President Obama!</I> Now yer just being mean!! :D hehehehehehehe Michale Sterling is a Democrat!?

Yep.. Donated millions to Obama, Democrats and the NAACP...

He's an 80-yr old Democrat..

OF COURSE he's a racist... I mean... Duuuhhhhhh

You share a great sense of comedic timing with none other than ... wait for it ... President Obama!

Now yer just being mean!! :D hehehehehehehe

Michale

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48076 Elizabeth Miller Mon, 05 May 2014 21:05:36 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48076 Michale, Sterling is a Democrat!? Michale,

Sterling is a Democrat!?

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48075 Elizabeth Miller Mon, 05 May 2014 21:04:01 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48075 Michale, <I>What Democrats DON'T want ya'all to know is that by marketing the so-called "Smart Gun", it would "trigger" (get it?? Gun?? 'Trigger'?? Wow, tough room.. :D) very restrictive gun laws in the state of New Jersey and, if successful, likely elsewhere..</I> Heh. You share a great sense of comedic timing with none other than ... wait for it ... President Obama! You could both take that show on the road! Michale,

What Democrats DON'T want ya'all to know is that by marketing the so-called "Smart Gun", it would "trigger" (get it?? Gun?? 'Trigger'?? Wow, tough room.. :D) very restrictive gun laws in the state of New Jersey and, if successful, likely elsewhere..

Heh.

You share a great sense of comedic timing with none other than ... wait for it ... President Obama! You could both take that show on the road!

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48074 Michale Mon, 05 May 2014 19:54:43 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48074 <I>So you are supportive of anonymous murderous threats to stop gun sales because you believe they would lead to restrictive gun laws?</I> Supportive of anonymous murderous threats?? What do you think I am??? A Democrat!!??? :D I merely point out that the equivalency given by the gun shop owner is a very false equivalency.. Something Democrats excel at... It's nothing but spin, with a total disregard for the facts and for reality.. I am also constrained to point out that there wasn't "repeated" threats, but rather one threat by some obviously psycho lunatic.. But, as usual, the Left takes the actions of one psycho loon and attempts to paint an entire group... It would the same as if I said that all Democrats are racist because of the statements of Sterling.. There are very good reasons why this smart gun should not be on the market. If people are passionate about things and sometimes get carried away, well... That type of hysterical histrionics is not the sole province of the Right. Wouldn't you agree??? Michale So you are supportive of anonymous murderous threats to stop gun sales because you believe they would lead to restrictive gun laws?

Supportive of anonymous murderous threats??

What do you think I am??? A Democrat!!??? :D

I merely point out that the equivalency given by the gun shop owner is a very false equivalency..

Something Democrats excel at...

It's nothing but spin, with a total disregard for the facts and for reality..

I am also constrained to point out that there wasn't "repeated" threats, but rather one threat by some obviously psycho lunatic..

But, as usual, the Left takes the actions of one psycho loon and attempts to paint an entire group...

It would the same as if I said that all Democrats are racist because of the statements of Sterling..

There are very good reasons why this smart gun should not be on the market.

If people are passionate about things and sometimes get carried away, well... That type of hysterical histrionics is not the sole province of the Right.

Wouldn't you agree???

Michale

]]> By: Mopshell http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48073 Mopshell Mon, 05 May 2014 18:25:35 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48073 @Michale [9] So you are supportive of anonymous murderous threats to stop gun sales because you believe they would lead to restrictive gun laws? @Michale [9]

So you are supportive of anonymous murderous threats to stop gun sales because you believe they would lead to restrictive gun laws?

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48071 Michale Mon, 05 May 2014 16:16:15 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48071 It's nice to be missed. :D And, since I am here... <I>"Conservatives usually get -- quite literally -- up in arms over any suggestion that a certain model of firearm be banned by law. But what is interesting is that two gun shop owners have now been forced -- by death threats, no less -- to halt plans to sell a certain model of gun. Yes, you heard that right: some gun enthusiasts are threatening deadly violence if gun shop owners don't voluntarily ban a certain type of weapon -- what's been called a 'smart gun,' that cannot be fired except by its owner. The hypocrisy was not lost on the Maryland gun shop owner -- the second such businessman who has had to back down after receiving threats on his life. Earlier, he had argued against this hypocrisy, saying -- and I quote: 'To me that is so fricking hypocritical. That's the antithesis of everything that we pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment people should be. You are not supposed to say a gun should be prohibited. Then you are being no different than the anti-gun people who say an AR-15 should be prohibited.' After repeated threats on his life, he has backed down and now says he has not sold any of the guns and will not do so. So it appears that banning certain guns is now taking place not through government tyranny or jackbooted federal agents, but through anonymous murderous threats. Ironic, isn't it?" </I> This is one of those completely out of context TPs... What Democrats DON'T want ya'all to know is that by marketing the so-called "Smart Gun", it would "trigger" (get it?? Gun?? 'Trigger'?? Wow, tough room.. :D) very restrictive gun laws in the state of New Jersey and, if successful, likely elsewhere.. As always, the details and the context (IE logic and rational thought) defeats hysteria and emotionalism EVERY time... <B>"Dad!!! There is this awesome game in the arcade!!! I put in a dollar and I win 4 quarters!!! EVERY TIME!!!!!"</B> -Chris Griffin, FAMILY GUY :D Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Feels good... :D GT, <I>The democrats should be pointing out that the economic growth and the belief in the "American Dream" that fueled our parents or grandparents prosperity were all due to the fact that every time the salary floor rose so did everyone's. The true beauty of the argument is that it is nothing but factual.</I> According to reports and polls (standard caveats apply) Americans are coming to believe that the American dream is dying.. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-11/americans-say-dream-fading-as-income-gap-hurts-chances.html The income gap that is causing these feelings have widened considerably under Obama and the Democrats.. Can't blame THAT one on Bush... Well, Democrats CAN... But it would be awful lame... Michale It's nice to be missed. :D

And, since I am here...

"Conservatives usually get -- quite literally -- up in arms over any suggestion that a certain model of firearm be banned by law. But what is interesting is that two gun shop owners have now been forced -- by death threats, no less -- to halt plans to sell a certain model of gun. Yes, you heard that right: some gun enthusiasts are threatening deadly violence if gun shop owners don't voluntarily ban a certain type of weapon -- what's been called a 'smart gun,' that cannot be fired except by its owner. The hypocrisy was not lost on the Maryland gun shop owner -- the second such businessman who has had to back down after receiving threats on his life. Earlier, he had argued against this hypocrisy, saying -- and I quote: 'To me that is so fricking hypocritical. That's the antithesis of everything that we pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment people should be. You are not supposed to say a gun should be prohibited. Then you are being no different than the anti-gun people who say an AR-15 should be prohibited.' After repeated threats on his life, he has backed down and now says he has not sold any of the guns and will not do so. So it appears that banning certain guns is now taking place not through government tyranny or jackbooted federal agents, but through anonymous murderous threats. Ironic, isn't it?"

This is one of those completely out of context TPs...

What Democrats DON'T want ya'all to know is that by marketing the so-called "Smart Gun", it would "trigger" (get it?? Gun?? 'Trigger'?? Wow, tough room.. :D) very restrictive gun laws in the state of New Jersey and, if successful, likely elsewhere..

As always, the details and the context (IE logic and rational thought) defeats hysteria and emotionalism EVERY time...

"Dad!!! There is this awesome game in the arcade!!! I put in a dollar and I win 4 quarters!!! EVERY TIME!!!!!"
-Chris Griffin, FAMILY GUY

:D

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Feels good... :D

GT,

The democrats should be pointing out that the economic growth and the belief in the "American Dream" that fueled our parents or grandparents prosperity were all due to the fact that every time the salary floor rose so did everyone's. The true beauty of the argument is that it is nothing but factual.

According to reports and polls (standard caveats apply) Americans are coming to believe that the American dream is dying..

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-11/americans-say-dream-fading-as-income-gap-hurts-chances.html

The income gap that is causing these feelings have widened considerably under Obama and the Democrats..

Can't blame THAT one on Bush...

Well, Democrats CAN... But it would be awful lame...

Michale

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48060 Elizabeth Miller Mon, 05 May 2014 01:46:55 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48060 Michale, Just in case you haven't yet noticed, we miss you! :) Michale,

Just in case you haven't yet noticed, we miss you! :)

]]> By: goode trickle http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48058 goode trickle Mon, 05 May 2014 00:05:39 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48058 Great post, Sorry time is short so.... The only other thing that really also needs to be mentioned in the same breath as the republicans voted against raising the minimum wage, is, they also voted against a pay raise for the "middle class". It is great that people are talking about the plight of the bottom class but I feel they are missing a great moment to really spur a populist moment by not pointing out that when the salary floor rises so do all of the other wages. The democrats should be pointing out that the economic growth and the belief in the "American Dream" that fueled our parents or grandparents prosperity were all due to the fact that every time the salary floor rose so did everyone's. The true beauty of the argument is that it is nothing but factual. Unfortunately the dems have never been good at this type of pivot and so will allow the argument to continue to be driven by the right, but still they should try .... Great post, Sorry time is short so....

The only other thing that really also needs to be mentioned in the same breath as the republicans voted against raising the minimum wage, is, they also voted against a pay raise for the "middle class".

It is great that people are talking about the plight of the bottom class but I feel they are missing a great moment to really spur a populist moment by not pointing out that when the salary floor rises so do all of the other wages.

The democrats should be pointing out that the economic growth and the belief in the "American Dream" that fueled our parents or grandparents prosperity were all due to the fact that every time the salary floor rose so did everyone's. The true beauty of the argument is that it is nothing but factual.

Unfortunately the dems have never been good at this type of pivot and so will allow the argument to continue to be driven by the right, but still they should try ....

]]> By: TheStig http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48057 TheStig Mon, 05 May 2014 00:00:59 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48057 Michael, is that really you or just a hologram? Michael, is that really you or just a hologram?

]]> By: Mopshell http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48056 Mopshell Sun, 04 May 2014 23:50:06 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48056 @Michale [3] Good to see you, Michale. @Michale [3]

Good to see you, Michale.

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48055 Elizabeth Miller Sun, 04 May 2014 22:08:29 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48055 Thanks, Michale! Thanks, Michale!

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48054 Michale Sun, 04 May 2014 21:19:43 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48054 May The 4th Be With You... Happy Star Wars Day to all Weigantians... Remember.. The 4th Will Be With You.... Always... Michale May The 4th Be With You...

Happy Star Wars Day to all Weigantians...

Remember.. The 4th Will Be With You.... Always...

Michale

]]> By: palmharbor http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48033 palmharbor Sat, 03 May 2014 15:57:14 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48033 Labour Day marchers in Geneva. Photo: Annabel Durand/RTS Labour Day marchers rally for minimum wage Published: 01 May 2014 23:38 GMT+02:00 Updated: 01 May 2014 23:38 GMT+02:00 Demonstrators carried banners and pickets in support of a proposed minimum wage of 4,000 francs ($4,550) a month at Labour Day rallies in major Swiss cities on Thursday. Labour Day marchers in Geneva. Photo: Annabel Durand/RTS
Labour Day marchers rally for minimum wage
Published: 01 May 2014 23:38 GMT+02:00
Updated: 01 May 2014 23:38 GMT+02:00

Demonstrators carried banners and pickets in support of a proposed minimum wage of 4,000 francs ($4,550) a month at Labour Day rallies in major Swiss cities on Thursday.

]]> By: Mopshell http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48032 Mopshell Sat, 03 May 2014 15:35:32 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48032 Wonderful column as always, thank you! <i>Some of us in the punditocracy have been predicting for a while now that the midterm races might not be as centered on Obamacare as the Republicans think it will</i> The Republicans are stuck with it now. They've spent not months but years working their base up into a frenzy about what a wicked socialist plot Obamacare is. [TP5] Ted Cruz is still promising to repeal every word of it without replacement on his grand tour of the red states. I've been saying for months now that the Republicans didn't just paint themselves into a corner, they bricked themselves in. This is their millstone and they deserve it. I hope it breaks their necks politically. [TP6] I love that the good news stories are now filtering through, especially the one about Fox viewer, Dean Angstadt, who has become a very vocal convert to Obamacare! In a future talking point, you may want to consider including the stories of those who, because of Obamacare, have been able to leave the job they didn't like and set up their own businesses. There are two such stories here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/29/301839951/obamacare-enrollees-emboldened-to-leave-jobs-start-businesses?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews These stories have a nice tie-in to falling unemployment figures [TP1] because these folks are creating job vacancies and I dare say they're doing it much more effectively than the 1%. How about a tax cut for them instead? [TP2&3] Senate Democrats did a lovely job maneuvering Republicans into effectively saying <i>NO!</i> to a minimum wage hike! The House Republican who said, "It's outlived its usefulness. I'd vote to repeal the minimum wage" is just the cherry on the cake. Is there anyone in the Republican camp who is pulling their hair out right now? There should be. The polls are showing a very clear majority in favor of a minimum wage raise and it's very popular in those states which have passed it as law already or who are about to do so. Not so much Oklahoma which banned wage raises at the municipal level. That's just playing right into the Democratic candidates hands. [TP7] I read about this - unbelievable! I'm glad you included it as a talking point. As a side note, I posted two links regarding "Operation American Spring" in the comments section of <i><b>Tea Party’s Influence On The Wane?</b></i> The second one shows a connection with the Bundy militia. Wonderful column as always, thank you!

Some of us in the punditocracy have been predicting for a while now that the midterm races might not be as centered on Obamacare as the Republicans think it will

The Republicans are stuck with it now. They've spent not months but years working their base up into a frenzy about what a wicked socialist plot Obamacare is. [TP5] Ted Cruz is still promising to repeal every word of it without replacement on his grand tour of the red states. I've been saying for months now that the Republicans didn't just paint themselves into a corner, they bricked themselves in. This is their millstone and they deserve it. I hope it breaks their necks politically.

[TP6] I love that the good news stories are now filtering through, especially the one about Fox viewer, Dean Angstadt, who has become a very vocal convert to Obamacare!

In a future talking point, you may want to consider including the stories of those who, because of Obamacare, have been able to leave the job they didn't like and set up their own businesses. There are two such stories here:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/29/301839951/obamacare-enrollees-emboldened-to-leave-jobs-start-businesses?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews

These stories have a nice tie-in to falling unemployment figures [TP1] because these folks are creating job vacancies and I dare say they're doing it much more effectively than the 1%. How about a tax cut for them instead?

[TP2&3] Senate Democrats did a lovely job maneuvering Republicans into effectively saying NO! to a minimum wage hike! The House Republican who said, "It's outlived its usefulness. I'd vote to repeal the minimum wage" is just the cherry on the cake.

Is there anyone in the Republican camp who is pulling their hair out right now? There should be. The polls are showing a very clear majority in favor of a minimum wage raise and it's very popular in those states which have passed it as law already or who are about to do so. Not so much Oklahoma which banned wage raises at the municipal level. That's just playing right into the Democratic candidates hands.

[TP7] I read about this - unbelievable! I'm glad you included it as a talking point.

As a side note, I posted two links regarding "Operation American Spring" in the comments section of Tea Party’s Influence On The Wane? The second one shows a connection with the Bundy militia.

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/05/02/ftp302/#comment-48031 nypoet22 Sat, 03 May 2014 15:16:14 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=9029#comment-48031 citizens united was absolutely a power grab. but what's interesting about the proposed amendment to undo citizens united is the nature of the power it tries to grab back. there's nothing in the text of the amendment about money being speech or corporations being people; only the right of the LEGISLATIVE branch to take back a power to make laws that the JUDICIAL branch took away. JL citizens united was absolutely a power grab. but what's interesting about the proposed amendment to undo citizens united is the nature of the power it tries to grab back. there's nothing in the text of the amendment about money being speech or corporations being people; only the right of the LEGISLATIVE branch to take back a power to make laws that the JUDICIAL branch took away.

JL

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