"Oh, you got jokes.."
-Jamal Jackson, THE REPLACEMENTS

:D

Michale

okay, okay... FAILED attempt.

;p

JL

By singling out Trump and ignoring the violence from the Left (Chicago??) you ARE advocating violence..

trump does not get a pass on advocating violence no matter how many lefties you mention in an attempt at equivalency.

Attempt my ass! :D

:D

Michale

I don't advocate violence by anybody except in defense of life and limb. trump does not get a pass on advocating violence no matter how many lefties you mention in an attempt at equivalency.

JL

A SUPERNATURAL fan, per chance?? :D

As I am wont to do..

"WELCOME TO THE PARTY, PAL!!"
-John McClane, DIE HARD

:D

Michale

In his latest interview in the Atlantic with Jeffrey Goldberg, Obama tries to wave away what Putin has done in Syria and Ukraine: "The fact that he invades Crimea or is trying to prop up Assad doesn't suddenly make him a player. You don't see him in any of these meetings out here helping to shape the agenda. For that matter, there's not a G20 meeting where the Russians set the agenda around any of the issues that are important."

It's telling that Obama thinks that the only thing that matters is the agenda at international gab-fests. That's because the president, like most European heads of state, lives in a 21st century, post-power world where international law is more meaningful than brute force. Putin, by contrast, inhabits a 19th century, Realpolitik world where strongmen act to advance their own interests with scant regard for the feelings of other states, much less of multilateral institutions such as the G20 or the United Nations. In the clash between these two incompatible visions of the world, there is no doubt which one is winning: From Crimea to Syria, Putin is rewriting the rules of the international game in his favor.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-boot-putin-removes-troops-from-syria-20160316-story.html

This is why Democrat rule is so dangerous in today's world..

Yes, let's act civilized and play by 21st century rules..

But ignoring the FACT that there are leaders out there who play by 19th century rules means that the "civilized" leaders out there will get face stomped..

si vis pacem, para bellum

As an aside to Joshua, that is what is tattoed on George Zimmerman's arm... And it is definitely NOT from Don Quixote.. :D

Michale

But that's not the point..

She was not condemned at all by the Left Wingery in general or any Weigantians in particular..

How can ya'all blame Trump for all the alleged violence from his campaign yet give a pass to REAL and DOCUMENTED violence and advocacy for violence from the likes of Click and the racist hate group Black Lives Matter??

It does not compute..

Michale

I really don't have a problem with a candidate saying, "If someone gets in your face, you get in their face.. If someone shoves you, then you knock them on their ass"

Don't forget, it's the LEFT WINGERY who has determined that violence is called for...

"HAY!!! I need some muscle to remove this guy!!"
-Professor Click

When the Left Wingery condemns THAT and the actions of the racist hate group BLM, then... and ONLY then... will the Left Wingery have a moral foundation to judge Trump and Trump supporters..

But not until then...

Michale

http://www.thelistorian.com/a-rowdy-recap-the-campaign-events-where-trump-encouraged-violence/

Were those instances like Trump "advocating violence" when in fact, he was advocating self-defense???

I know of only ONE instance of violence at a Trump rally. That's where an 80yr old punched a 20yr old in the face.. :D heh...

Michale

violence is objective. a protester who shouts or interrupts may be rude, but is not violent. punching someone in the face or dragging someone by the hair is violent. I'm aware of at least ten instances of protesters at trump events who did not themselves act violently, but were acted violently upon by trump's supporters, with trump's explicit support. there's absolutely nothing partisan or ambiguous about that - it's cold, hard fact.

JL

"Let me know what you think!"

Having given it just a cursory look so far, it looks very well thought out and makes excellent points. But I can also see where having such a long comment delay would be a problem. I also have to say I kind of enjoy the rough and tumble nature here, to a certain extent. :-)

By the way Paula, I too have been enjoying your interviews very much as well. Great job!

So, explain to me how that works??

How is it that, when violent thugs attack a Trump event, it's TRUMP and his supporters who are at fault??

Where is the logic??

Michale

And the protesters are playing right into his hands.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/stop-blaming-trump-supporters-for-campaign-violence/2016/03/14/33e45b7e-e9f1-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html

Trump is a campaign genius!! Using the Left Wingery's violent tendencies against them!! :D

Michale

“If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them. .?.?. I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees.”
-Donald Trump

You see?? If you look at the quotes in CONTEXT and what the quote actually says, then it's perfectly reasonable and even rational and logical...

Trump is advocating that if you see someone about to assault someone else, then you knock them down...

That actually is quite TAME compared to how the Left Wingery tries to quash dissent and violently attacks anyone who says something the Left Wingery doesn't like.

When I start seeing condemnation of THOSE violent activities, then I'll admit there is a foundation of morality to discuss and debate Trump's words...

Without that foundation, one can only conclude that this is nothing but partisanship and an ideological agenda at work...

Michale

Well, I am sure the families of Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty will be happy to hear that... :^/

"In a world where truth and integrity reign supreme, Hillary Clinton couldn't get elected dog catcher. In this world, she could be elected President Of The United States."
-Democrat Michael Goodwin

Michale

Re #112

You are comparing apples and eskimos..

You simply CANNOT make the case that as it is in India, so it is in the USA...

Rather than trying to pooh-pooh and mitigate/extenuate/eliminate the anger, why not look at the CAUSES of the anger???

Ya'all should also keep one thing in mind..

While it's fun to laugh at and tease and ridicule the angry uneducated voter, Hillary (and by extension, ya'all) are going to be BEGGING for their votes once the General gets going...

Am I wrong?? :D

Michale

You are comparing apples and eskimos...

Michale

You simply cannot make the case that what happens in India would happen here in the US..

You are comparing apples and eskimos...

Michale

See figure 3 - the top 5% in India's PPP houshold income (all 50+ million of them) are far better educated than our poorest 5% (about 15 million) but live off less in real terms.

Comparing the US to India on ANYTHING is comparing Apples and Eskimos...

You simply CAN NOT make the case that, if it happens in India a certain way, it will happen in the US the exact same way...

As far as this continued denigration of angry uneducated voters???

You have to know that Clinton (and by extension, ya'all) will be BEGGING for those voters once the General revs up..

Think about it.. :D

I am also constrained to point out that those angry uneducated voters are ALSO fellow Americans... And their concerns matter as much as, if not MORE, than anyone else's..

Michale

My common sense on Global Warming comment is available for yer debasement.. :D

#86

Michale

Keep em coming!! :D

Joshua,

Fair enough on the fascist label..

and promoting violence

You mean, like Democrat Groups (move on, etc etc) that "promote violence"..

Trump doesn't "promote violence"... He promotes a proper RESPONSE to violence..

If someone gets in your face, you get in their face. If someone shoves you, you shove them... If someone rears back his fist to hit you, cold-cock him first...

I see nothing wrong with that...

"If you get hurt, hurt them back. If you get killed.... walk it off.."
-Captain America

:D

Rather than blame Trump for allegedly promoting violence, why don't you blame the perpetrators of ACTUAL violence???

Until you do that (and I say this, as when I said something similar with Liz, with the mostest respect I can muster) your words ring hollow...

stifling of dissent or scapegoating of minorities

As opposed to Democrats who stifle dissent ("I need some muscle to remove this reporter!!") and scapegoat fellow Americans??

Once again, if you are going to call out Trump for his activities, fairness and objectivity demands you also call out Democrats when they do the EXACT same things you are condemning Trump for..

Am I wrong??

Michale

great anecdotes! i don't really have any substantive comment on them, but please do keep them coming.

@michale,

i believe neither bush nor obama qualify as even remotely fascist. the aspects of trump's candidacy that have incited people to slap the fascist label on him have more to do with xenophobia and promoting violence than his lack of familiarity with the constitution. even the most far-fetched bush scenario relating to executive order 51 (look it up) doesn't have the violence, stifling of dissent or scapegoating of minorities that would be required to call such a thing fascist.

JL

He jumped in: "To tell the truth, I don't like any of them."

Me: "you're not happy with any of the candidates?"

Him: "No. But I don't follow this stuff. I don't feel like I have any effect. It's just me and God. I stay out of it. I really think I'm not allowed to talk about this stuff while I'm on the job."

I thanked him and he looked relieved.

I have always said yer a trend-setter!! :D

Michale

Even a Left Wingery rag like SALON knows the reality..

In the ONE match-up between Hillary and Trump, Hillary got her ass handed to her and Trump shut her up big-time...

Michale

This is a total non-sequitur from years ago. It was way back in FTP [71] that I brought the bugaboo up, in fact:

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2009/03/27/friday-talking-points-71-historically-speaking-from-a-teleprompter/

Although it's easier to read as an exceprt:

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2012/03/12/teleprompter-redux/

This included the following, explaining my use of TelePrompTer: "[Editorial note: I realize I must be the last person on Earth (outside of the sticklers at The New Yorker, of course) who still capitalize this brand name correctly, as everyone else has decided it's a common noun... but I refuse to bow to modern convention, so deal with it. Hrrmph.]"

Today, I stumbled across a fellow correct-capitalization writer, and astonishingly enough, it is none other than Clay Aiken:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clay-aiken/ready-for-hillary-voting_b_9458998.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

where he writes "Secretary Clinton, please ditch the TelePrompTer."

Now, maybe it was an editor, but I'm going to assume it was Clay. Well done, Clay! One article at a time, we'll show the rest of the journalistic world the right way to capitalize a brand name! Woo hoo!

Heh. Just had to note this... sorry for the interruption...

:-)

-CW

I am more than willing to concede that, under THAT definition, Bush is a fascist.. I have no loyalty to the Republican Party...

Are you willing to concede that, since Obama CONTINUED the Bush policies, Obama ALSO meets the definition of "fascist"??

Yer call.. :D

Michale

not ALL bush's fault. as you say, obama had the option of reversing course or leaving bush's command decisions intact. in those eight cases he chose the latter, and bears his share of the "smackdown." but if we're going to lump it all in as obama disobeying the law, that's not accurate. it's bush overreaching and obama doing nothing after the fact to stop it. i would hardly call that pure as the driven snow, it's just (as verified by politifact) not what conservative media claims it is.

JL

so... the majority of the cases of federal overreach were initiated under george w. bush. what's good for the goose and all...

Oooo well, OK... If you want to trot out the tired old mantra, "IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!!!".... Well, OK..

It's disappointing, but OK...

Yes, the programs were started under Bush.. But Obama continued them and got slammed down by the SCOTUS..

Happy?? :D

tempest in a teapot, at best. at worst, character assassination for wonky technicalities.

of course it is.. :D

Michale

Michale: closing coal mines -- I think Hillary was absolutely spot-on. I spent little over ten years working with jobhunters. There will always be periods in which industries/professions become obsolete. The answer isn't to mount losing fights, it's to deal constructively, effectively and proactively with the inevitable and unavoidable change.

My beef with EVERYONE has been that no one has prioritized employment in the U.S. Employment has always been treated as the final outcome in a chain of other things -- the OTHER things get the attention and the belief has been that if we handle taxes "right", trade, put various laws in place, repeal other laws, educate people, educate people differently and on and on, at the other end of the funnel there will be jobs, security, prosperity. When that fails, people start tinkering with everything in the chain and hopes some tweak or other will be sufficient.

Hillary and Bernie are both talking a lot about jobs at this point, with an emphasis on infrastructure rebuilding. I don't know if that will cure everything but it will definitely help. If Hillary follows-through with genuine transitional help for coalminers she will deserve BIG KUDOS. Keyword: "genuine", not superficial. We'll see. But the key is to deal with the change effectively, not resist it indefinitely.

Re: FOX soundbites -- when people spew them I can't take them seriously. The problem is -- as has been repeatedly documented -- FOX people are significantly misinformed. On the basis of their misinformation they make very poor voting decisions. I may feel compassion for their particular situations, and understand there are problems they are having that motivates their dissatisfaction with things, but I can't take their opinions seriously. Their problems may be real, but their diagnosis' are misplaced and the solutions they claim to support are usually either useless or counterproductive (if not catastrophic).

If you are not well educated in the U.S., no walls, tariffs, or 'great deal-makers' are going to make any difference. The time when unskilled U.S. workers in manufacturing earn a living wage is over:

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/the-haves-and-the-have-nots/?_r=0

See figure 3 - the top 5% in India's PPP houshold income (all 50+ million of them) are far better educated than our poorest 5% (about 15 million) but live off less in real terms.

Trump is selling a result he can't deliver, but getting people convinced he can if they give him what he wants (power). This is the definition of 'con man'.

That is telling it like it is.

I also follow your interviews ... very interesting. Please keep it up through the campaign and election season!

I've tried three times now to respond to your inquiry but, alas, there seems to be a problem getting it through moderation here. Which is ironic, considering what the comment was about. Maybe it's the link?

Anyway, suffice to say, for now, that the only other blog I participate in is Senator Gary Hart's Matters of Principle. You should be able to find it easily enough and let me know what you think!

The only other blog I participate in, from time to time, is Matters of Principle, a blog by former senator Gary Hart. It's a completely different kind of place in the sense that the commentary and comments are generally very philosophical in nature as opposed to the, ah, more lively debate you find here. Though, it's not what I would call an echo chamber, either. Contrary to what Michale might think, the choices are not simply agreement with him or lost in an echo chamber, obviously.Heh.

Speaking of which, there is little opportunity for any kind of extended discussion there as Senator Hart does all of the moderating, all by himself, when he can find the time. It can, at times, take days for your comment to see the light of day. I have suggested that an honour system where regular commenters who have a proven record of civil discourse are allowed to post immediately may be the way to go since, God knows, it is a rare comment there, indeed, that isn't completely civil and most are quite high-minded.

http://www.mattersofprinciple.com

Let me know what you think!

which, if my arithmetic serves me correctly, leaves us back with the original three i mentioned: hobby lobby gets to deny its employees contraception, the EPA can't regulate carbon emissions without congressional action, and the president can't make recess appointments when congress are within 3 days of a pro-forma session.

tempest in a teapot, at best. at worst, character assassination for wonky technicalities.

JL

politifact rated that statement false. here's why:

"For starters, in eight of the cases, the alleged overreach occurred under President George W. Bush, as did the court cases that challenged the administration (United States vs. Jones, Sackett vs. EPA, Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School vs. EEOC, Gabelli vs. SEC, Arkansas Fish & Game Commission v. United States, PPL Corp. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Horne vs. USDA, and Bond vs. United States). Bush’s Justice Department handled the initial court proceedings in most instances."

so... the majority of the cases of federal overreach were initiated under george w. bush. what's good for the goose and all...

JL

Yea.. THAT will get everyday Americans to vote for ya, Hillary... :^/

Does anyone wonder why Democrats are flocking to Trump by the tens of thousands??

Michale

http://tinyurl.com/z4zb4tp

Turn around, ya moron!!

:D

Kudos to the Bernie campaign..

This was priceless.. :D

Michale

In other words, I just say what you want to hear..

What am I?? Obama??? :D heh

Michale

And, in other news...

Conceal Carry saves lives....

Michale

Yep... Clintonistas are worried..

As well they should be... The ONLY way that the FBI won't recommend an indictment is if Comey is Vince Foster'ed...

She thinks the Donald "says stupid things" and "just because he's rich doesn't give him the right to abuse other people".

Yea... Democrats HATE it when the Right Wingery intrudes on THEIR sole province of abusing people... :D

The young bi-racial man checking us out hadn't given the election much thought yet although he said he's a Democrat and will vote for a Democrat.

Yep, even if that Democrat is Attila The Hun...

Ideological slavery at it's finest.. :D

The elderly white security guard in the parking lot first said he hadn't decided yet because "things are too confusing right now." Then he came clean and said he'd never vote for Hillary, Bernie is a communist and he might vote for Trump because "Trump will shake things up". (My husband said I recoiled at this, but managed to paste a friendly expression on my face as I replied: "Bernie is a Socialist, not a Communist.") He replied that Bernie was just too far out there -- socialism can't work because you can't pay down the "out-of-control debt" by spending and anyway in his opinion too many people want free stuff. He spewed a few more FOX sound bites but I can't recall which ones right now. I thanked him for sharing and he gave me a big grin.

All joking aside, Paula, I have to say that I have really enjoyed your "Man On The Street" interviews... I am doubly impressed now because, up to now, you have only talked to Left Wingery supporters.. I believe this is the first time you have actually documented when you talked to a Trump supporter.. If this isn't the first time, my apologies for not noticing.. I DO follow your interviews with great interest..

Having said that, I DO have to take you to task for hearing the elderly gentleman but not LISTENING to him... You appear to just write off his views as FoxNews propaganda...

Granted, you are not a reporter and you are under no obligation to be objective... But you often accuse the Right Wingery of being close-minded but you appear to suffer that affliction yourself...

Other than that minor nit-pick, I do really enjoy these comments and hope that you continue them..

Michale

Hey Liz, I would appreciate it if you would share with me the other blog that you like. I always like to investigate interesting commentary.

Yea...I guess there is an attraction for echo chambers where you can say what you want and not have to be challenged and actually defend what you say...

Nothing but "DITTO"s and "YEA"s and "EXACTLY"s as far as the eye can see....

Not my cup o tea... :D

Michale

Yea, I usually try to fiddle with the comment, shorten it, break it up.. Even post it as a JPG...

But it was a long one and it was getting late so.... :D

I'll refer back to it once it's rescued from the NNL filter...

Thanx... :D

Michale

You quote a traitor who is public enemy number one to your messiah???

'nuff said... :D

Michale

Yes we say this -- because it's true! No matter how hard you try to deflect the blame from your beloved Rs, reality is inescapable -- they not only knowingly caused the lead contamination, they actively covered it up for almost two years.

As did Obama's EPA... These are the facts whether you choose to acknowledge them or not..

Please do list all the dozens of times SCOTUS have "slammed Obama down for Executive Overreach"!

Too easy... :D

Supreme Court Rules Unanimously Against Obama for 12th and 13th Time Since 2012
http://tinyurl.com/paaw7ka

Michale

Yes we say this -- because it's true! No matter how hard you try to deflect the blame from your beloved Rs, reality is inescapable -- they not only knowingly caused the lead contamination, they actively covered it up for almost two years.

As did Obama's EPA... These are the facts whether you choose to acknowledge them or not..

Please do list all the dozens of times SCOTUS have "slammed Obama down for Executive Overreach"!

Too easy... :D

Supreme Court Rules Unanimously Against Obama for 12th and 13th Time Since 2012
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/381296/supreme-court-rules-unanimously-against-obama-12th-and-13th-time-2012-john-fund

Michale

The young bi-racial man checking us out hadn't given the election much thought yet although he said he's a Democrat and will vote for a Democrat.

The elderly white security guard in the parking lot first said he hadn't decided yet because "things are too confusing right now." Then he came clean and said he'd never vote for Hillary, Bernie is a communist and he might vote for Trump because "Trump will shake things up". (My husband said I recoiled at this, but managed to paste a friendly expression on my face as I replied: "Bernie is a Socialist, not a Communist.") He replied that Bernie was just too far out there -- socialism can't work because you can't pay down the "out-of-control debt" by spending and anyway in his opinion too many people want free stuff. He spewed a few more FOX sound bites but I can't recall which ones right now. I thanked him for sharing and he gave me a big grin.

"I catch on, eventually ... thankfully, I have another blog to go to where everyone has a moral foundation and no one questions the motivations or moral foundations of anyone else ..."

Hey Liz, I would appreciate it if you would share with me the other blog that you like. I always like to investigate interesting commentary.

Have fun...

Of course, you can PROVE all that, right??

Yes.

Even if you COULD prove that, some podunk LEO doesn't have the capability of making that determination.. Their contribution to the investigation is nothing more than crowd control...

You mean unlike the keystone cop FBI that already screwed up the case by having the phone's owner remotely change the phones icloud password?

There is a security feature that will wipe the contents of the phone if too many attempts to login are made.. In essence, the phone will "self-destruct" insofar as being able get any data from it...

Clear enough for you???

So, the language I already used. Is non-hysterial language really that hard for you?

No one knows if that feature is turned on and there are ways to bypass it if the information was critical and not just a pawn in a larger battle...

But here's the thing... Obama is not Bush on steroids.. You are hysterically anti-Bush..

An accusation you have made many times but have never backed up...

Whose privacy are you protecting?? A terrorist who didn't even OWN the phone??

The American people in their finical transactions to name one.

And the terrorist destroyed his personal phone. That is one of the reasons there is quite likely nothing on the work phone...

What's next?? Defending the privacy of child-molesters and child pornographers??? :^/

Because THAT is exactly what you are arguing for...

Oh, the hysteria!

Encryption technology is available to anyone who bothers to look. Harming the privacy of the American people because of the boogie man du jour make our society less safe, not more.

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.”
— Edward Snowden

A born-rich member of the NY financial system that screwed over the middle class and created a tsunami of pain and anger, and is now riding that wave to get more of what he wants because the feelies won't grasp reality.

i'm aware of three: recess appointments, carbon emissions and denying contraception (hobby lobby).

JL

Please do list all the dozens of times SCOTUS have "slammed Obama down for Executive Overreach"!

Incidentally, how many dozens is "DOZENS"? Two? Three? Four? More? No, no, don't tell me. Just show us the list!

First of all... ROFLMAO!

Flint is a Republican problem, do your homework on that one.

Of COURSE you would say that..

Yes we say this -- because it's true! No matter how hard you try to deflect the blame from your beloved Rs, reality is inescapable -- they not only knowingly caused the lead contamination, they actively covered it up for almost two years.

But we understand -- you're in denial because a Republican governor is involved and and you just can't bring yourself to lay any blame at his feet so it must be someone else's fault... oh oh oh, you could always make it Obama's fault, Michale! Because he's POTUS, you can link him to the EPA and blame EVERYTHING on them! Even better, you can call it Obama's EPA so you can blame both him AND the EPA at the same time! It's fantastic spin of course but I'm sure you can pull it off.

Now don't be distracted by the fact that Republican Governor Snyder ignored the wishes of the people (who voted NO to unelected "emergency managers") and got around it by rewriting the original law (so that the voters could not overturn the new law) that allowed him to appoint "emergency managers" whenever and wherever he liked. These "emergency managers" displace elected officials in what Republicans like to call "democracy". It's the "one man, one vote" democracy where Gov Snyder is the man and he has the one and only vote. Not that you'll ever admit that Snyder could possibly be at fault in any way because he has the magic R after his name so he must be pure as the driven snow!

Totally ignoring Obama's EPA's culpability in the matter..

See? It does work for you! Everyone else can see through it but as long as you're happy...

This made me laugh because Gov Snyder begged the federal EPA to come to Michigan to help them out.

But, you see.. I read ALL of the facts...

Oh that's so sweet but you really have no idea what a fact actually looks like. You appear convinced that a fact is anything you've read, heard or seen that agrees with your view.

Not just the facts that say what you want to hear, as you apparently did..

Oh this is so funny because this is EXACTLY what YOU do! It's called "projection", michale. I'd suggest you look it up but we wouldn't want you seeing anything that might clash with your fondly held beliefs. We don't want anything icky to upset you.

Unfortunately, the NNL filter snagged it...

Oh well.. :D

Michale

There are 4 FACTS that ya'all simply CAN'T argue with...

FACT #1
There are TENS OF THOUSANDS of reputable peer-reviewed scientists that dispute the human caused Global Warming theory...

FACT #2
There has NEVER been a single Global Warming prediction, a SINGLE global warming model that has EVER been accurate... Not a SINGLE one...

FACT #3
Even the NAME has been changed to reflect current POLITICAL reality...

"Oh 'Global Warming' is not focus-grouping well.. Let's go with 'Climate Change'..."

"Oh crap.. 'Climate Change' is too banal. Focus groups don't think it's urgent enough.. Let's go with 'Climate Disruption!!'..."

and so on and so on ad nasuem... If it were REAL science... It wouldn't have to be marketed thru focus groups...

FACT #4
ALL of these scientists and lobbyists and morons who follow the GLOBAL WARMING religion are not changing their lifestyles whatsoever.. Obama himself has stated he is the biggest carbon polluter on the planet!! If things were so dire and imminent as these so-called "scientists" and advocates said, you would think that they would take steps on their own.. But there is absolutely NO EVIDENCE, NO FACTS to support the idea that they are...

NONE of ya'all can address these 4 indisputable and undeniable FACTS...

Until ya'all can, there will be NO CHANCE in hell that you can convince ANY non-partisan logical/rational person that Global Warming is an man-made and a threat....

Global Warming is a *POLITICAL* issue... Not a scientific issue...

It's THAT simple...

Michale

i proposed nothing of the sort and you know it.

Yea, I do.. I was just on a roll.. :D

obama has proven to be an average politician, following the executive precedent set by george w. bush.

OK, I can tentatively agree with that..

trump would place himself outside the purview of the constitutional duties of the chief executive

Oh come'on, JL....

If there is ANY POTUS that has "place himself outside the purview of the constitutional duties of the chief executive" it is Obama..

How many times has the SCOTUS slammed Obama down for Executive Overreach???

DOZENS

And MOST of those were unanimous...

If putting one's self outside the constitutional duties of executive is what constitutes 'fascism' than Obama is a fascist... in spades...

Michale

Thank you for the background to this, JL. I just happened across it when I went looking for Chris's lovely homage to Elizabeth.

NO ONE.... let me repeat that for the cheap seats..

NO ONE denies that Climate Change is real..

OF COURSE the climate is changing.. It's been changing for billions of years..

Just like with the ILLEGAL immigrants issue, the Left Wingery has to CHANGE the subject to make a point..

The US is the only country in the world with a significant group of climate change deniers and even then you're in the minority in your own country, Michale.

Two words..

CHI NA

:D

But it's alright, Michale, none of us expect you to step outside your comforting bubble. We'd be shocked into speechlessness if you actually identified a real fact!

I read Judith Curry and Richard Lidzen...

Do you??

Of course you don't...

So WHO doesn't look at facts?? :D

How about another FACT..

NOT ONE SINGLE MODEL OR PREDICTION from the Global Warming religion has EVER come to pass..

NOT.... A.... SINGLE.... ONE.....

This is fact...

Did you take science in school???

What's the scientific method??

OBSERVATION/RESEARCH

HYPOTHESIS

PREDICTION

EXPERIMENT

CONCLUSION

The problem with your brand of "science" is that CONCLUSION comes first...

HUMANS CAUSE GLOBAL WARMING

You have conclusion based evidence...

NOT evidence based conclusions...

In the scientific method when the predictions and experiments(models) are flat out WRONG EVERY TIME then science DEMANDS that you alter the hypothesis..

But ya'all and your so-called "scientists" don't do that... Ya'all simply create the fiction that HYPOTHESIS = CONCLUSION and then ya'all alter the experiments/data to fit the hypothesis/conclusion...

That it NOT science...

That is religion...

Pure and simple...

Michale

i proposed nothing of the sort and you know it. obama has proven to be an average politician, following the executive precedent set by george w. bush. trump would place himself outside the purview of the constitutional duties of the chief executive - that is, if he had any idea what they were.

JL

Of COURSE you would say that..

Totally ignoring Obama's EPA's culpability in the matter..

I *DID* my homework when Mopshell brought it up..

But, you see.. I read ALL of the facts...

Not just the facts that say what you want to hear, as you apparently did.. :D

Obama's EPA shares as much, if not MORE of the responsibility than the GOP GOV because a majority of the issues in play were FEDERAL issues..

But, once again.. Why let FACTS intrude on a good ideological rant.. :D

Michale

Your overlords just love people like you! They set you up with all sorts of false information and you fall for it hook, line and sinker. It's kinda funny to see an actual real person believe it all.

Of course the vast majority of the world's countries -- those in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific and both American continents -- are all signatories to the Paris Agreement on climate change because every one of them knows it's real.

The US is the only country in the world with a significant group of climate change deniers and even then you're in the minority in your own country, Michale. But it's not surprising that the US has this dubious record. Americans have always been seen to worship materialism in general and money in particular. Success is measured in terms of money. The American Dream is about making money. Climate change denial only exists because the wealthiest americans are so desperate to protect their profits.

But it's alright, Michale, none of us expect you to step outside your comforting bubble. We'd be shocked into speechlessness if you actually identified a real fact!

I do find it interesting (though hardly surprising) that the climate change issue was the only one you commented on! :D

obama has done none of those things, and climate change was just a red herring thrown into an incomprehensible vat of false equivalence.

Of course he hasn't... :D

Trump is the fascist and Obama is pure as the driven snow.. :D

Michale

It would have been awesome except for obstructionist Democrats and an incompetent Democrat POTUS....

"Any more ball-busters???"
-Billy Madison

:D

Michale

Being an arrogant prick is all well and good, but when you blatantly know little about the subject, you just come off looking like an idiot. If you were following this story even just a little bit you would know that most the major tech companies and digital rights organizations have come out with Amicus Briefs in support of Apple. Many of those briefs have interesting legal arguments dealing with various constitutional amendments. I don't have to make the argument, some of the best legal minds in the country already have.

Then you won't have a problem linking them, right?? :D

If you had been following the story, you would know that the San Bernardino’s police chief has already said there is a good chance there is nothing of value on the phone. The FBI has admitted it wants the phone to tie up the investigation mainly to see what calls were made to some of the victims.

Of course, you can PROVE all that, right??

No???

Didna think so.. :D

Even if you COULD prove that, some podunk LEO doesn't have the capability of making that determination.. Their contribution to the investigation is nothing more than crowd control...

What's with the hysterical "bomb" language? It's a toggle on a phone. I could set it my self on my iphone. It's not going to explode.

That's why I put the "bomb" in quotes..

Sorry, let me dumb it down for you..

There is a security feature that will wipe the contents of the phone if too many attempts to login are made.. In essence, the phone will "self-destruct" insofar as being able get any data from it...

Clear enough for you???

By the same faulty logic, since you agree with Obama on this subject, I guess you are now an Obama supporter...

Yes I am, in this instance..

But here's the thing... Obama is not Bush on steroids.. You are hysterically anti-Bush..

So, how do you reconcile supporting Steroid-Bush??

Oh yea, that's right. Steroid-Bush has a '-D' after his name.. Of course, that's it.. :D

Oh, it most definitely is a privacy issue...?

Whose privacy are you protecting?? A terrorist who didn't even OWN the phone??

What's next?? Defending the privacy of child-molesters and child pornographers??? :^/

Because THAT is exactly what you are arguing for...

Ah, more complete and total bullshit.

Oh you know it's fact... :D

Michale

The term 'voodoo economics' was coined by on GHW Bush regarding Reagan's policies.

Kansas are taking them to the extreme. The democrats are not coming up with solutions to the destruction waged at a national level by these policies (including Clinton's welfare reforms and punitive sentencing laws) and failing in Chicago, etc.

Flint is a Republican problem, do your homework on that one.

Dispute them with another peer reviewed paper in a respected journal that has a rigorous methodology and results that back up your claims Michale.

It is called science and it is what too many Republican pundits want us to ignore because it has proven our species most successful mechanism of discovering the truth, and these people want to lie to you.

I will not vote Republican nationally until the Republican leaders stop their anti-science crusade. Most educated people I know feel the same way. We vote Democrat at the national level by default, and that is what is eviscerating the working class - the Democrats can count on the repulsion against the Ted Cruz types so they can ignore their base and take the money.

Reagan's policies started the destruction,

Of course he did.. Can't have a DEMOCRAT at fault, after all, eh? :D

Kansas shows us what the logical extension of Reagan's policies are.

Then, of course, Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, Flint, Baltimore, New York shows us the logical extension of DEMOCRAT Policies, right???

I have to give it to ya'all.. At least in this regard, ya'all are VERY transparent.. :D

As Michale rightly points out, Sanders and Trump represent the two sides.

Actually, Sanders and Trump have MANY parallels...

But why let FACTS interfere with a good partisan rant.. :D

Michale

the post you're responding to was an attempt to create false equivalency between obama's presidency and peter bergen's evidence suggesting trump is a "proto-fascist." michale's laurentian abyss of denial over climate change fact is completely tangential to the incoherence of the point he was trying to make.

trump has some of the characteristics of a fascist leader (targeting and scapegoating minority ethnic groups, explicitly advocating violence against dissenters, cult of personality, indifference to fact), but not other fascist characteristics (he has walked back any statements suggesting he can violate the law, and has not promoted violence against the minorities he targets).

obama has done none of those things, and climate change was just a red herring thrown into an incomprehensible vat of false equivalence.

JL

And

while I am here....ever so briefly.

Since [62] quite nicely coveys your standard R is right and D is damned philospohy....I would really love to hear what the R's have done for us lately (they are in the majority, right?). I thought we were supposed to be in a new renaissance.

Should read:

However the long term power of money in the system is the most likely winner.

Being an arrogant prick is all well and good, but when you blatantly know little about the subject, you just come off looking like an idiot. If you were following this story even just a little bit you would know that most the major tech companies and digital rights organizations have come out with Amicus Briefs in support of Apple. Many of those briefs have interesting legal arguments dealing with various constitutional amendments. I don't have to make the argument, some of the best legal minds in the country already have.

If you had been following the story, you would know that the San Bernardino’s police chief has already said there is a good chance there is nothing of value on the phone. The FBI has admitted it wants the phone to tie up the investigation mainly to see what calls were made to some of the victims.

The NSA can't.. Not until the "bomb" is diffused..

What's with the hysterical "bomb" language? It's a toggle on a phone. I could set it my self on my iphone. It's not going to explode. Also, the method neilm mentioned would bypass that security feature, though it's not as simple as he makes it seem and will not work on later models...

But yer in an interesting pickle, Bashi..

Does that mean you will no longer support Obama??

By the same faulty logic, since you agree with Obama on this subject, I guess you are now an Obama supporter...

So, we agree.. This is NOT a Privacy issue...

Oh, it most definitely is a privacy issue...

If the iPhone belonged to Donald Trump's campaign manager and the FBI was investigating campaign crimes, you can bet the Left Wingery would be all for forcing Apple to disable the "bomb".... :D

Ah, more complete and total bullshit. Few tit for tats that you come up with ever apply...

Reagan's policies started the destruction, Clinton kept it going and Bush put the nail in the coffin. There are no parties representing Labor in this country, which is why Bernie has been an Independent for so long.

Kansas shows us what the logical extension of Reagan's policies are.

We have two paths, one involves anger and the road to fascism, the other involves a political movement based on policies for the everybody living in a household with less than $51,000 (U.S. median).

As Michale rightly points out, Sanders and Trump represent the two sides.

The Anger/Facists are about 10% of the voting population (35% Trump of 29% Republicans) and the Labor Party are 13% (40% Bernie of 32% Democrats).

The political distance between them makes a mockery of proposals that any large numbers will migrate from one to the other in the General Election, however this political distance is driven by the personalities (Bernie and Trump) and a unifying figure could defang the vitriol ("it's the Mexicans" vs. "it's Wall Street") and deliver a new Democratic Party that sidesteps the culture wars and jingoism.

However the long term power of money in the system is the lost likely winner. The Republican monied establishment used to think that Republican voters were the easiest mark (throw them a "Benghazi" here and a "Kim Davis" there and they will line up where you want them). But money can buy smart people so by the 2018 election they should have the Trumpeters back in line. The Bernie supporters are the Democrat's problem, but a Hillary Presidency will probably be enough for them.

Rubio!?? Is that you!?? :D

BBWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :D

Michale

No??

Didna think so.. :D

The simple fact is, Cook used a miniscule sample, applied arbitrary determinations that even the AUTHORS disputed and came up with a bullshit number...

That is what the FACTS clearly prove beyond ANY doubt...

Michale

[18] Remind me again about which presidential candidate is always talking about punching people in the face?

Oh, that would be compulsive liar Donald "Free speech is for me, but not for thee" Trump, who also wants to "open up" our libel laws so that he can sue people who write "purposely negative and horrible" things about his orange face and micro-hands.

How Democrats abandoned the working class and spurred rise of Donald Trump
http://nypost.com/2016/03/12/how-democrats-abandoned-the-working-class-and-spurred-rise-to-donald-trump/

.... it's clear that their malfeasance and their incompetence is what will give us President Trump....

Michale

"He made me do it!!" has never been recognized as a valid defense for violence..

And rightly so...

Michale

:D

Michale

Science is based on experimentation, models, theories and facts..

To date, ALL the models about Global Warming have been WRONG... There has not been a SINGLE model or prediction that has EVER been accurate..

CUE BASHI SPUTTERING

Look at history.. at one time 97% of scientists agree that the world was flat and the earth was the center of the universe...

Consensus "science" ain't science...

It's ideology.. It's religion ... It's frakin' high school homecoming king and queen...

But it ain't science...

Michale

“Cook et al. (2013) is based on a strawman argument . . .”
—Dr. Nicola Scafetta
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexepstein/2015/01/06/97-of-climate-scientists-agree-is-100-wrong/2/#3c38f22d26d6

You got hoodwinked, MS...

But don't fret.. Obama and Kerry also got hoodwinked..

It's what happens when ideology supersedes common sense..

When one sees the world as they WISH it to be rather than as it really is...

Michale

On Saturday, February 20th, 2016, Chris wrote:

I have to say, this role [dropping a teaser link at HuffPost to entice more new readers] used to be provided in an incredible way with unrelenting passion by our very own LizM.

Many moons ago, LizM waged a one-woman PR war at HuffPost for a LONG time, continually pointing people to this site in post after post after post. She convinced more people to check the site out than anyone, ever, and that includes ME.

I never asked her to do this for me, but she continued her campaign right up until the FB era. She and I both tried to get HP to relent about the new requirement, to no avail.

I not only never asked to do all of this, I also (shamefully) never properly acknowledged or thanked her for her service.

So I make amends now. I miss LizM's "You should really check out the reality-based commentary over at chrisweigant.com" on all those articles, in HuffPost threads. I miss the traffic that came over as a direct result.

So, LizM, our humble thanks! We hereby dub thee "CW PR Queen Extraordinaire."

President Obama is 100% right about climate change. You are 100% wrong. You have no idea what climate change even is as evidenced by the laughable mis-statements you make and the fake “evidence” you parrot.

In other words, I don't toe the Left Wingery line so "obviously" I don't know anything about it.. :D

Let me ask you something, MS..

Why is it called "Climate Change" now?? Why not just use the "Global Warming" moniker??

Because Global Warming wasn't marketing well..

If you have to "MARKET" your science, then it ain't science... :D

Furthermore, Obama did not come to any opinion on these issues in some kind of isolated cone of silence. He listened to the experts and, even though it made his life as president infinitely harder, he continues to stick with the advice of experts in all fields.

But ONLY the "experts" that parrot his agenda...

Does he listen to Judith Curry?? Does he listen to Richard Litzen?? Those are experts by ANY definition..

But Obama doesn't listen to them because they don't say what Obama wants to hear..

It's not "science" if you pick and choose which scientists you listen to.. It's closer to religion..

President Obama’s positions on such issues as climate change are in line with 97% of the world’s experts.

I can't believe you actually FALL for that 97% of scientists BS..

Do you know how that number was arrived at???

Some moron in Australia, Cook I believe his name is, compiled a about 20,000 reports that deal with the Climate... These reports represented less than 20% of all the scientific reports out there.. So, right off the bat, we're dealing with LESS than 20% of scientists around the world...

But this moron didn't stop there.. Out of THAT 20%, he choose which reports actually stated an opinion on Global Warming.. THAT brought the number down to around 3%....

So, now we have THREE PERCENT of scientists all over the world expressing an opinion on Global Warming... Not YEA or NAY, just expressing an opinion..

And out of THAT 3%, allegedly 97% expressed the opinion that humans are causing Global Warming...

But the stoopidity doesn't even stop there...

Cook used an arbitrary determination process to determine which reports agree that humans are causing Global Warming and which reports do not agree that humans are causing Global Warming..

DOZENS of scientists came forward once this 97% BS came out and said that their reports had been completely misconstrued.. That Cook had claimed their reports said something that it clearly did not say...

So, when the claim is made that 97% of all scientists agree blaa blaaa blaaa blaaa, what the claim REALLY means is that around 1% or 2% of all scientists agree blaa blaa blaa blaa...

His constant playing of the race/victim card? So you use one example which you claim is some kind of evidence (it isn’t) from four years ago!

There are tons of other examples as well.. Gates... Michael Brown... Eric Garner... With Obama it's ALL about race...

So, you have four out of four totally wrong, again.

That's yer opinion and I respect that..

But the FACTS clearly show otherwise.. :D

Michale

From Friday March 4: Michale [129]-

"A sense of overwhelming crisis beyond the reach of traditional solutions."

His fear mongering on climate change...

President Obama is 100% right about climate change. You are 100% wrong. You have no idea what climate change even is as evidenced by the laughable mis-statements you make and the fake “evidence” you parrot.

This is an issue of profit over people, plain and simple. Those whose mega wealth comes from ripping fossil fuels out of the earth (without caring about the health or safety of the workers who actually do the job and many have died as a consequence) are running scared because clean energy threatens their bottom line.

They couldn’t give a rat’s arse about their workers or the environment or future generations since they won’t live to see the worst of the damage they are causing. They are just horrified that they won’t be making as many billions so they pay people to lie about climate change, to falsify the figures and to distort the information.

Since the same entitled billionaires own the media and most Republican politicians, they can control them too. To aid their propaganda, they have put into play a plan to get as many low IQ people as possible elected to Congress and state governments. Too stupid to write bills themselves, these low IQers eagerly take the bills written for them by such organizations as ALEC and Americans for Prosperity and Heritage Foundation. Those bills include harsh punishments for Americans who dare to choose solar power or wind power over the far more expensive fossil fuel power. Their freedom of choice isn’t free any more.

For Republican politicians who are bought by those in the fossil fuel industries, this is just another case of choosing profit over people in order to serve their masters and they do it well. They’ve even got you totally fooled.

"The superiority of the leader's instincts over abstract and universal reason."

Won't listen to any experts except those that agree with him...

President Obama’s positions on such issues as climate change are in line with 97% of the world’s experts. No leader in their right mind is going to ignore the vast majority of highly qualified experts for a handful of pseudo experts and paid propagandists.

Furthermore, Obama did not come to any opinion on these issues in some kind of isolated cone of silence. He listened to the experts and, even though it made his life as president infinitely harder, he continues to stick with the advice of experts in all fields.

He was has been proven right about so many things too. The price of gas has failed to rise to $12, Wall Street has not crashed but is higher and stronger than ever. Ebola was never going to be epidemic in the US (and the only person to die of it in the country was not an American citizen). Unemployment is the lowest it’s been any time this century.

Oh sure John and Jane Sixpack are still grizzling about their circumstances but then John and Jane never could pull up their own bootstraps and always needed someone to blame for their own failings.

They also keep voting for Republicans who cut taxes, not to them, but to the wealthiest of the wealthy (who, by coincidence, also happen to be Republican donors – surprise surprise) which leaves less money in the coffers for things like fixing the roads and funding schools.

John and Jane’s kids are missing out because deregulating teaching means unqualified people (who don’t cost as much to employ) can take classes. Their old car suffers too because there are more potholes and uneven surfaces than ever before.

If they live in Flint, their kids have suffered irreparable damage from drinking up to 4000x the safe level of lead in their water and the Republicans in Congress are hellbent on refusing them any federal funding to help them out.

But Republicans don’t like experts so they’re sure to ignore the medical experts re lead in the water. Any day now they’ll find their own experts who will say lead is good for you and everyone should drink it... any day now...

”The belief of one group that it is the victim, justifying any action.”

His constant playing of the race/victim card.. "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon Martin.."

His constant playing of the race/victim card? So you use one example which you claim is some kind of evidence (it isn’t) from four years ago! It’s the only lame example you’ve ever been able to come up with in four years! If it’s so constant, then provide us with all the examples of President Obama doing this over the past week or even the past month. Until you can do that, you have no argument and no evidence.

"The need for authority by natural leaders (always male) culminating in a national chief who alone is capable of incarnating the group's destiny."

Self-evident...

No, Michale, it is not self-evident at all and it’s really lame of you to use this because you have no evidence whatsoever.

So, you have four out of four totally wrong, again.

I would also point out that it's NOT "for the government's use..."..

It's for APPLE's use so that Apple can comply with the court order....

Michale

If the iPhone belonged to Donald Trump's campaign manager and the FBI was investigating campaign crimes, you can bet the Left Wingery would be all for forcing Apple to disable the "bomb".... :D

Michale

Reminds me of the great series that Dave Weigel (who I used to confuse you with) did for Slate on the History of Prog Rock that was pretty much based on an interview he did with Emerson (and credited Emerson with inventing Prog Rock, which he didn't).

So, we agree.. This is NOT a Privacy issue...

It's about protecting Corporate Profits over Public Safety..

And you are taking the evil Corporations side against Obama..

Interesting.. :D

Michale

More Bush than Bush...

And the hysterical outcry from the Left???

{{chiirrrrrpppppp}} {{{chirrrrrpppppppp}}}

:D

Michale

It's completely and wholly NOT surprising that you would condemn such actions.. :D

Kudos to you...

dsws,

It's ok to try to embarrass Trump supporters into not expressing the opinions they were planning to. It's not ok to try to intimidate them to the same effect.

Exactly....

I am pretty disappointed in Bernie that he would condemn Trump's alleged inciting language but give his own supporters who organized these attacks a pass...

I actually held out hope that Bernie was NOT just a run-o-the-mill politician.. Apparently, I was wrong... :(

I hate being wrong...

Michale