"Under the Texas law, for example, you can vote with a hunting license but not a student ID — a fact only explained by political calculation."

I am sure there are other explanations..

If I could examine the evidence.......

Michale

that's the rhetoric, but in practice it means allowing some photo ID and not others.

"Under the Texas law, for example, you can vote with a hunting license but not a student ID — a fact only explained by political calculation."

That's what happens to politicians who ignore the will of the people...

As Democrats have done time and time and time again...

Michale

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/09/23/1411505445739_wps_3_Americans_weren_t_amused_.jpg

How frakin' INSULTING!!!

This guy is a clown.. Pure and simple....

Michale

Present company excepted as usual.. :D

Michale

Ahhhhhh THE MASTER returns.... :D

Michale

Are you saying that the GOP is wanting to require everyone have a voting ID???

If that is the case, then I am with you. That's ridiculous..

But, as near as I can tell, the GOP is pushing for everyone to have a PHOTO ID for voting..

I see no problem with that and anyone who DOES see a problem with that is only interested in cheating..

Michale

I see no problem whatsoever with forcing someone to show a legitimate ID to prove that they are who they say they are. Every state in the union already did that. What the new ID laws actually do is force everyone to jump through multiple hoops (and in some cases pay a fee) to get a uniform ID, for which they need multiple other pieces of evidence. A college ID card should be sufficient. A birth certificate should be sufficient. Driving is a privilege; voting is a constitutionally protected right. Any ONE of the seven different forms of ID that I had to provide to get a driver's license should be sufficient in and of itself in order for me to vote.

If anyone dares to vote fraudulently, i say investigate thoroughly and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. But the new breed of voter ID laws don't mostly go after fraudulent voters, they mostly present obstacles to the old, the poor, minorities and college students.

That, my friend, is not a legitimate requirement for identification. Although certainly more limited in scope than the laws of the 1890's, it's essentially a POLL TAX. A POLL TAX is what it is, and I would suggest we start to refer to it as such. HEY CW, here's a talking point for you: "POLL TAX LITE"

for more information on the parallel, here's an article at politico:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79416.html

Democrats are doing their damnest to make it happen...

Michale

ID that cannot be verified...

Your Obama has absolutely NO PROBLEM forcing people to get insurance...

Surely it's not such a stretch to force people to obtain photo ID...

p.s. What do you mean 'you people'? :)

A wholly under-rated movie that was funny as hell!! :D

Michale

People already show ID to vote.

I see no logical reason for Republican-issued IDs.

-David

p.s. What do you mean 'you people'? :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPxs0Qh72kY

And ID is needed for practically every aspect of an American's life...

Let's face it.. If the Republican Party was the Party Of Free Stuff and illegals voted overwhelming for the GOP, ya'all would be as adamant for Voting ID as the GOP is...

Don't bother denying it because we ALL know it's true...

Michale

Yea, and the Hysterical Left would *NEVER* scream hysterically about a cop car parked a couple blocks from a polling station, but then see nothing wrong with armed militant Black Panthers at a predominantly white voting station..

I mean ... what could possibly go wrong w/ Republican-issued IDs?

Actually, they are state issued IDs, but why let facts get in the way of grand partisan hysterical BS, eh? :D

Michale

Joked?

Nah. It's when they actually do it by gerrymandering and things like Republican-issued ID.

I mean ... what could possibly go wrong w/ Republican-issued IDs?

I thought y'all hated the gub'ment.

-David

Ya know, if Republicans joked about defrauding voters like that, ya'all would hysterically scream, "VOTER DISENFRANCHISEMENT!!!!!" to the high heavens...

"What's good for the goose is nobody's business but the gander's..."
-Mr Furley, THREES COMPANY

:D

Michale

LOL ... Joseph Christ? Pat Buchanon? Ted Kruz?

http://online.wsj.com/articles/bret-stephens-what-obama-knows-1411425811

Ya'all THINK that Obama actually knows what he is talking about..

Yet, the facts )FACTS, mind you( paint a completely different picture....

Michale

BTW - in other horse race news: a horse called Shylock ran at Belmont Park in NYC this last weekend.

. . . or Duck Dynasty

"I'm just saying either convert them or kill them, one or the other." - Phil Robertson getting all Jesusy on Hannity

Yes, I am sure that, according to the Hysterical Left, every single one of those 500,000 alleged victims were innocent and virginal... :^/

Michale

How many have died under Obama's "leadership"???

Yeah, it's unfortunate, isn't it? If we had less corrupt people in office, we could get rid of these policies. Peace never sold any weapons though ...

So, you concede that Obama is a corrupt leader??

Hallelujah!!! Common ground... :D

You have taken a very large step here today...

Congrats...

Our policy should be the same as it should have been for 9/11: go after the criminals.

The problem is, the current administration thinks that anyone who simply believes differently is a "criminal" or a "terrorist" or an "arsonist"...

Thought Crime at it's finest...

Michale

Like the 500,000 Iraqis killed in the Cheney/Bush war?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131015-iraq-war-deaths-survey-2013/

I suppose we could just say those people are "evil" and "bad" and this might make us feel better but I think we just have better propaganda.

many of the "actions" created by Dick Cheney are in use by Obama and his administration.

Yeah, it's unfortunate, isn't it? If we had less corrupt people in office, we could get rid of these policies. Peace never sold any weapons though ...

Our policy should be the same as it should have been for 9/11: go after the criminals.

-David

I am also constrained to point out that many of the "actions" created by Dick Cheney are in use by Obama and his administration..

Funny how ya'all ignore that point. :D

Michale

This is like judging Christianity by the actions of Dick Cheney.

Ignoring the obvious innaccurate and bias of your comparison, when Christians start slaughtering innocents by the thousands, you would have an argument..

Not until then....

I seem to recall we had this same conversation about bin Laden. Shouldn't we go after the actual criminals?

Bin Laden was not "an actual criminal"??

Michale

The religion and the nutjobs are two different things.

This is like judging Christianity by the actions of Dick Cheney.

I seem to recall we had this same conversation about bin Laden. Shouldn't we go after the actual criminals?

-David

Would that be Schrödinger's cat-i-date?

:)

-David

I am saying that if one allows that Satanism is a legitimate religion then I postulated a scenario where you have a Nazi religion or a Ronald Reagan religion and I would ask the resident Lefties of Weigantia to comment on their tolerance of THOSE "religions"..

It's been my experience that, in the here and now, those on the Left who preach tolerance are often the most intolerant people one could ever meet...

Well, can't speak for others, but I'm good with you saying Merry Christmas if you don't mind me saying Happy Holidays (see we're starting in Sept. already...can't say I'm proud to contribute to that).

You are then the exception that emphasizes the rule...

It's not constructive for you to highlight extremist nontheists anymore than for me to highlight extremist theists and use that as a sweeping generalization of the "Hysterical Left" (ad hominem noted) or the Political Right.

Is it truly an 'ad hominem' if it's factually accurate?? Because I can provide a buttload of factual examples that prove beyond ANY doubt that "Hysterical" Left is an apt descriptor...

So I agree, it's silly to make a big deal out of it.

Hang around for a few months and I bet we'll have a ton of people whose sole purpose in life seems to be to "make a big deal out of it"... :D

And it's silly to consider those who say Happy Holidays are imposing some kind of political correctness on others -- it's simply a polite way to wish others well without having to assume things about them. And that's, well, that's just being nice.

And, if those on the Left would adopt the SAME attitude on those who wish others "Merry Christmas" then there wouldn't be any problem..

But they don't so there is...

The American Government is obligated by the First Amendment to tolerate any religion among its citizens without prejudice, and without promoting or requiring any. That tolerance for a given religion, any religion, extends until the practices of that religion interfere with the rights of other citizens.

And yet, this particular administration bends over backwards, sideways and every which way to accomodate Islam... A religion that, is obvious, goes out of it's way to "interfere with the rights of other citizens"...

So, THAT theory seems to be out the window...

Florida government officials were out of line. The Satanists were not.

Is offering religion the same thing as imposing religion???

Michale

It's the "anything goes" mentality as long as the "anything" is what the Left agrees with..

Your assertion takes a leap here (though, ironically, not a leap of faith). I'm inferring that you mean to say that somehow allowing/submitting/sympathizing with Satanism is somehow over "the line". Given how much we're in agreement overall, I don't understand how either of us, Left or Right, could consider submission of Satanism any different than any other religion. Or are you suggesting that it's a false equivalence?

As much as I get frustrated over the Right and their "it's god's will" crap, I get JUST as frustrated over the Left and their "YOU CAN'T SAY 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' YOU HEATHEN!!!" crap...

Well, can't speak for others, but I'm good with you saying Merry Christmas if you don't mind me saying Happy Holidays (see we're starting in Sept. already...can't say I'm proud to contribute to that). In general, expecting others to be respectful of each other's beliefs is not the same as demanding obedience. It's not constructive for you to highlight extremist nontheists anymore than for me to highlight extremist theists and use that as a sweeping generalization of the "Hysterical Left" (ad hominem noted) or the Political Right.

Just for the record, it's okay for a Christian to say MC to me: it's almost always meant with good intent and kindness. Likewise, it's just as kind and thoughtful for someone to say Happy Hanukkah or the like even if the listener doesn't share the same religion. Happy Holidays is just as welcoming and kind without highlighting a potential difference between people.

So I agree, it's silly to make a big deal out of it. And I agree that Christmas has a cultural, non-religious history (esp. true given its pagan roots) that multi-generational European-Americans share. And it's silly to consider those who say Happy Holidays are imposing some kind of political correctness on others -- it's simply a polite way to wish others well without having to assume things about them. And that's, well, that's just being nice.

There are several other sites that debate "In God We Trust", "under God", and other government imposed observations of religion, so I won't go on, but really, it's very simple:

The American Government is obligated by the First Amendment to tolerate any religion among its citizens without prejudice, and without promoting or requiring any. That tolerance for a given religion, any religion, extends until the practices of that religion interfere with the rights of other citizens.

If the government, at any level, shows a preference for any religion, regardless of historical context, the government is out of line and should be pushed back.

Florida government officials were out of line. The Satanists were not.

Of course it wasn't a racist statement..

But it was an Anti-Semitic statement..

I simply mention the racist thing because it's the same issue... Simply because one says something one time does not mean that's who they are..

It's the same argument that David and JL and I debated when Sotomayer made her "Wise Latina" comment..

It was a racist comment, but that doesn't mean Sotomayer is a racist..

Michale

The point I am making here is that when respected writers hand out MDDOTW awards for using "blatantly" anit-semitic language - knowing full well that that thought never entered the speaker's mind - or for making a reference about someone in an inappropriate setting where no one else in attendance was bothered by it, then respected writers only succeed in feeding into the asinine media storyline on one of America's few dedicated statesmen.

THAT's what I have a problem with. I take issue with things that Biden believes and policies that derive from those beliefs while others are only on the lookout for certain words that THEY feel Biden should not say.

All I'm saying is that when it comes to taking issue with what Biden has to say and "Biden being Biden, let's stick to the substance of the matter. If that was done in this case, there would be no MDDOTW award for him, just a brief analysis of the substance of his speeches which were only mentioned in passing here.

By the way, Michale, I would argue quite strenuously that what Biden said was decidedly NOT a racist statement, anyway you slice it. And, that makes the MDDOTW award even more distasteful.

I think the author meant that Biden's gaffes are not indications of how he really is.. As you have pointed out, Biden is a great friend of Israel.. No one with more than two brain cells to rub together would ever think Biden was an Anti-Semite based on what he said..

That's the point I have been trying to drive home around here for quite a while..

An Anti-Semitic statement does not necessarily an Anti-Semite make..

A racist statement does not necessarily a racist make..

The Hysterical Left would do well to remember these pearls of wisdom...

Michale

But, that's just it..

It is NOT a parody religion.. To those people who believe, it's as real and serious to them as the christian religion is to christians...

Now, the Spaghetti Monster religion.. THAT's a parody religion.. :D

Michale

The line that was crossed was in making it legal to give FL children religious books. No material regarding religion, unless theological/cultural academic content, should be allowed: whether Christian, Satanic, Reagan deificative (new word! TM) worship, or otherwise.

Completely and unequivocally agree.. Kudos on the word creation.. :D

I think you and I are on the same side on that, but I fail to see how "The Left" is being hypocritical when simply pointing out the absurdity of the FL law by highlighting the obvious conflict it invites by people submitting texts antithetical to what the FL legislators probably intended. Indeed, Nazi-deification propaganda would have been just as effective at making the same point. And I'm sure, given the all too prevalent prejudice right now, a Muslim submission would have elicited a nearly similar reaction (New York mosque, anyone?).

The Left is being hypocritical by not recognizing that there ARE limits to ANY freedom...

Or, more accurately, the Left is being hypocritical by setting the limits based on their partisan agenda...

It's the "anything goes" mentality as long as the "anything" is what the Left agrees with..

It's a convoluted thought process to be sure.. Made more so by my nearly irresistible urge to smackdown the Hysterical Left at any opportunity.. :D

This isn't, or at least shouldn't be, a partisan issue. It wouldn't be if the Religious Right hadn't taken over much of the Political Right since the 80s.

Again, we agree. It shouldn't be a partisan issue. But I have to wonder if one of the reasons that the Left is so "in your face" over this issue is to lash out at the Right Wing which is, as you point out, by and large religious..

Present company excepted, of course. :D

In any case, in 3 months we'll see the annual nativity scene stories demonstrate -- again -- why a strict separation of church and state is wise and a public good for all.

Now, in this case, I would have to disagree...

There is a HISTORICAL/TRADITIONAL context that needs to be taken into account over the Xmas season...

As much as I get frustrated over the Right and their "it's god's will" crap, I get JUST as frustrated over the Left and their "YOU CAN'T SAY 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' YOU HEATHEN!!!" crap...

Even though Christmas is steeped in religion, in the here and now, it's more of a traditional holiday, than a religious one..

It's the same with those loonies who want to take IN GOD WE TRUST off of our money.. While I agree with them in principle, there are much larger issues to worry about..

Michale

Oh no! The End is near again. A parody religion is protesting by promoting their not-god. How could Satanists be worse than the war-mongering, misogynist, homophobic, poor people-hating cult of the zombie god? Answer: they couldn't.

The line that was crossed was in making it legal to give FL children religious books. No material regarding religion, unless theological/cultural academic content, should be allowed: whether Christian, Satanic, Reagan deificative (new word! TM) worship, or otherwise.

I think you and I are on the same side on that, but I fail to see how "The Left" is being hypocritical when simply pointing out the absurdity of the FL law by highlighting the obvious conflict it invites by people submitting texts antithetical to what the FL legislators probably intended. Indeed, Nazi-deification propaganda would have been just as effective at making the same point. And I'm sure, given the all too prevalent prejudice right now, a Muslim submission would have elicited a nearly similar reaction (New York mosque, anyone?).

This isn't, or at least shouldn't be, a partisan issue. It wouldn't be if the Religious Right hadn't taken over much of the Political Right since the 80s.

In any case, in 3 months we'll see the annual nativity scene stories demonstrate -- again -- why a strict separation of church and state is wise and a public good for all.

Thanks but, I try very hard to stay away from articles like that ...

I've always used what people say about Biden and his "gaffes" as an extremely accurate barometer of diminished personal integrity and character - not Biden's, theirs.

I have to disagree with this reporter's analysis of how Biden's so-called gaffes and peoples' reactions to them have not been detrimental to his career, at least insofar as so many American voters who largely wallow in ignorance don't take him seriously, at best and, at worst, see him as nothing more than a caricature of triviality and insignificance.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/why-joe-biden-s-gaffes-don-t-matter-20140918

Just for you... :D

Michale

realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html

... and the GOP chances of taking the Senate go up...

washingtonpost.com/wp-tran/politics/election-lab-2014

:D

Michale

Yer preaching to the choir.. I am as agnostic as they come and am frankly embarrassed over public displays of religiousity...

My point was simply that there ARE lines that SHOULDN'T be crossed... The Left preaches about tolerance while at the same time being as intolerant as possible over things that THEY don't like..

In this particular case, the notion that "anything goes" is nice and poetic on the surface, but as usual, the devil is in the details... No pun intended.. :D

Michale

Ehh, the point is that bronze age fantasies deserve no special treatment. Your religion is between you and your "god," kindly leave the rest of us out of your insanity.

Michale

What are the odds???

:D

Michale

Thanks, Michale. :)

Mine's in 8 days... The big Five Two :D

Michale

Heh.

On multiple occasions this week, Biden's mouth got him in trouble.

Please do enlighten us on all the other episodes where "Biden's mouth got him in trouble" this week ...

Were there just so many examples that you couldn't possible list them all in an FTP column or could it be that you're just not that kind of writer? I know it's the latter but, you get my point.

Politician accused of dropping pants, hurling racist slurs dropping out of race
http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2014/09/council_candidate_dropped_racist_slurs_pants_at_middlesex_diner_cops_say_now_he_drops_out.html

Michale

Would you like a list??? :D

Please, by all means, proceed! :)

Did you know that there are many "reporters" - and, others, of course - inside and outside of the Jewish state - who are in the business of trying to depict Biden as being anti-Israel?

In reality, NOTHING could be further from the truth and Israel knows no better friend in the US government than Senator and Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. PERIOD.

And, that's all I'm going to say about that.

Would you like a list??? :D

Michale

We must be missing something ...

No audible gasps, the brief PW reference apparently got lost in his larger point.

As it should have but, apparently, not around here. :(

After a quick perusal of his "reports", the guy in Chris's link appears to be just another one of them and, in terms of worthiness, they're a dime a dozen.

There are certain countless "reporters" who hang on every word that the vice president (and Senator before that) utters just to add yet more fodder to the asinine media storyline on Biden.

After a quick perusal of his "reports", the guy in Chris's link appears to be just another one of them and they are dime a dozen.

Both are serial harassers, although Clinton has ventured into rape...

Both have done good things for this country, politically and policy wise..

Yet, around here, Packwood is a villain and Clinton is a hero...

Michale

hehehehehehehe

"That right thar was funny as hell, I tell yooo waat"
-Larry The Cable Guy

:D

Good one, TS....

Michale

Your basically asking....

How much wood would a Packwood Pack,
if a Packwood could pack wood?

At a women's conference.

Well, most of the audience weren't frantically Googling Packwood on their mobile devices, and PW did resign 19 yrs ago. But cameras were rolling...

No audible gasps, the brief PW reference apparently got lost in his larger point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIZ2SKz0WbU

A person jumps a fence and invades an area...

At the White House, it's cause for an evacuation and an arrest...

On the Southern Border?? It's perfectly acceptable...

Pure Kafka....

Michale

Obama should have followed the Klingon model.. :D

q'OaStaHvuIS wa' ramn loSSSaD HoGh SIjlaHt qeItbogh loDD

"The enemy of my enemy is the enemy I kill last"

An act of terrorism happened against a United States congressman, and the suspected perpetrator was quickly arrested.

What did I say before!?? Molotov Cocktails are weapons of war...

Since we're also calling it terrorism, I guess ya'all concede that the response of the Ferguson PD was warranted, eh? :D

Can't have it both ways....

A court down in Florida ruled that it was OK for schoolchildren to be given religious books, so the Satanic Temple announced it would be joining in the fun and handing out copies of The Satanic Children's Big Book Of Activities. Hey, fair's fair -- if it's OK for one side of the debate, it has to be OK for everyone, right?

So, ya'all wouldn't mind a Nazi based religion or, gods forbid, a religion built around Ronald Reagan???

Where does one draw the line???

Let me finish up with one of the TPs because work beckons...

Ya know, the Democrat's "war on women" accusation would have a LOT more credibility if Dems didn't worship Slick Willie and accept him as their spokesperson...

You mentioned Packwood as a "serial harasser"... Surely Clinton fills the bill as well, eh??

Why does one get worshiped and one gets denigrated??

Ahh yes, that's right....

The almighty -x after their name...

The Democrats will NEVER have *ANY* credibility against the GOP over this "war on women" crap until they hold their own accountable..

It's really THAT simple...

I owe... I owe... So off to work I go... :D

Michale

I'm guessing that the only entity to react was the media and blogosphere, as per usual.

Really?