That doesn't make any sense to me.

You think there is a danger that Sharia law will be incorporated into the US legal system!?

A week ago, if you would have asked me,"You think there is any danger of Britain leaving the EU?" I would have had to concede, "NO"....

And yet, here we are...

But the point is not Sharia Law here in the US..

The point is, why would ANYONE want to import tens of thousands of refugees who BELIEVE that Sharia Law (executing gays, subjugating women) is appropriate...

THAT's my question...

And the ONLY logical and rational conclusion I can come up with is minting fresh new Democrat voters..

Michale

But he is easily led... He follows his heart to the exclusion of his head... He is swayed by his emotions and tries to please everyone...

Tony Stark is the guy I would love to sit down with and have a beer.. Or 10....

Steve Rogers is the guy I would follow to the gates of hell and beyond...

Michale

Bite yer tongue!!!

I am TEAM CAPTAIN AMERICA thru and thru...

"The safest hands are still our own.."

Turning over the reins of the AVENGERS to the UN!???

My gods, just destroy the planet right now... Get it over with....

Michale

As if I need another reason to despise the UN...

You REALLY need to see CAPTAIN AMERICAN-CIVIL WAR...

Then I can REALLY cut loose!! :D

Michale

So, the United Nations is dictating to the United States in contravention of US law...

Nice....

As if I need another reason to despise the UN...

Michale

Given your concern about the perceived discrimination by the Obama administration against Syrian refugees who are Christian, I'd be interested in your take on the plight of this Syrian family who are seeking asylum in your country ...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/17/christian-syrian-refugee-i-thought-america-would-accept-me

Well, most of the Syrian refugees are Sunni Muslim and opposed to the Assad government. Furthermore, it is the United Nations High Commission for Refugees that refers refugees to the United States. So, your questions and fears are misplaced and/or misguided.

I am not insinuating anything.

I simply question why, when the LAW states that christian refugees have priority, Obama is telling christians, "Frak ya'all.. Yer on yer own" and is importing muslim refugees by the thousands....

And anyone who is not enslaved by Party dogma would ALSO ask the exact same question....

It's perfectly obvious that Obama is importing thousands and thousands of reliable Democrat voters...

Michale

Of course it does... But it's still factual...

So, Michale, do you think all Muslim Americans should be deported?

Of course not.. AMERICAN Muslims, by and large are not the problem. They are AMERICANS...

But why bring in 99.9% muslims and tell all the christians that are being brutally slaughtered to go pound salt???

You DO realize that BY LAW christians have priority status when it comes to immigration, right???

Michale

Now, WHY Obama wants it??? THAT.... That is the $64,000 question....

What are you insinuating about President Obama?

What are you insinuating about President Obama?

THAT.... That is the $64,000 question....

Michale

Where are you getting this from? That sounds like a lot of nonsense to me.

You think there is a danger that Sharia law will be incorporated into the US legal system!?

Of course, not. What's your point?

My point is that over 95% of the refugees that you are welcoming with open arms WANT that vision for America..

So, I would say that your positions are diametrically in conflict..

You say you are against executing people because they are gay.. Yet you want to welcome people who believe EXACTLY that..

You say you are against subjugating women and honor murders etc etc..

Yet you want to welcome people who believe EXACTLY that...

It simply does not compute...

UNLESS you throw in the fact that it's EXACTLY what Obama wants...

Then it all becomes clear...

Michale

For the exact same reason you are so worried about the, what was it you said??.... the "utterly horrible conditions" that refugees faced in their homeland...

Michale

Of course, not. What's your point?

You believe those who think differently from you wish to do America harm??

Things like subjugating women, executing gay people, etc etc...

Is any of that compatible with your vision of America???

Michale

Yep.... :D

But, since you bring it up, what's wrong with NOT having compassion for those who wish to do Americans harm???

Michale

I see.

I think there is only one person here who sees it the way Mr. Trump sees it.

That's how Mr. Trump sees it.

And that's how everyone here sees it as well..

Michale

No.. I am afraid of millions and millions of people demanding Sharia law...

"I don't care about the general that wants 200 nuclear weapons.. I am terrified of the man that just wants one."
-Nicole Kidman, PEACEKEEPER

Michale

That's how Mr. Trump sees it.

How much compassion is there for Donald Trump?? :D

Let's face reality.. There is only compassion for those who think the same...

Michale

And want to impose the VERY thing that brought about those "utterly horrible conditions" here...

Did you know that over 95% of muslims that immigrate to the US believe that Sharia Law is best???

Michale

You think 11 million, give or take, illegal immigrants, many of whom have been living in and contributing to the United States, should be deported?

I think President Obama is going about it the right way and doing what he can even if I believe he is erring on the side of deporting too many.

Abso-frakin'-loutly...

You do the crime, you do the time...

Why should these people get a free ride when LEGAL immigrants have paid HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of dollars and spent YEARS processing to obtain what these cretins want for free as a handout???

THAT sounds very Un-American to ME...

That sounds very un-American to me ...

I am not sure what America you are referring to.. The America that I have sworn to protect and defend, the America that I have bled and killed for...

THAT America is a nation of laws...

And if you can't do the time, don't do the crime...

Michale

That's all the confirmation *I* need.. :D

argumentum ex-silentio - you're entitled to take solace where you wish, but it's still a fallacious argument.

(by the way, congrats on catching me in an appeal to authority the other day - i absolutely welcome valid criticisms such as that one)

JL

That sounds very un-American to me ...

That should have been in the FTP commentary..

My bust...

Liz,

The next time he authors a guest column here, the comments section should be turned off.

I dunno if I would go that far...

Maybe a notice to future guest authors that the denizens of Weigantia expect Guest Authors to defend their positions and follow up..

You'll note that Professor Janda or Dr Fish didn't dispute ANY of the facts I raised..

That's all the confirmation *I* need.. :D

But I understand your frustrations... Believe me, I understand..

Michale

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_IMMIGRATION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

PERMANENTLY...

There IS justice in the world.. :D

Michale

Well, Michale, looks like we may have a drive-by commenter ...

Can't says as I blame him...

Staking out a position is easy...

Defending that position from an all out assault of the facts???

Well... Not many people are up for the challenge...

Michale

Actually, Hitler DID "restore" America's glory.. In a manner of speaking.. :D

First, I reject the charge that the United States is no longer a "great" nation.

Compared to the other nations of the world, America is a great nation...

But, due to the malfeasance and incompetence of the Obama Administration and the Democrat Party (documented fact) it's not nearly as great as it once was..

Second, I contend that Mr. Trump as president will not improve our international stature or economy in any way.

Since we're real big around here on providing facts to support our conclusions...

What do you base your conclusion on?? Besides ideological Party loyalty, I mean....

If the United States continues to be great, that will happen in spite of his administration.

Assumes facts not in evidence.. This is nothing but Party loyalty talking..

Trump is a successful businessman. This is WELL DOCUMENTED.. This is FACT...

There is absolutely NO FACTS to support the claim that he wouldn't carry that success to the White House...

NONE... ZERO.... ZILCH..... NADA......

Michale

But, I think it is important to compare the relative standings in the world of Germany c1933 and of America in 2016 and wonder whether this comparison makes your suggestion more or less likely.

Another critical comparison to look at is how the German people perceived the leadership of their country and whether they thought their country was on the right track or not. Is there any available data on that?

And, to complicate matters, these two factors may suggest different outcomes in terms of how successful Mr. Trump might be.

I asked only because I thought your question was non-serious.

I also reject the notion that America is no longer a great nation. I am, in fact, the biggest fan of America on this blog. I still believe in the promise of America.

The candidacy of Mr. Trump is a dangerous proposition for America and so it is hard for me to even imagine a Trump administration.

But, I am still trying to decipher the point of your piece ...

They don't "rely" on it..

It's part and parcel to a process... Once the subject is profiled, THEN the shrink mumbo jumbo may or may not come into play...

But it's a moot point. You have conceded that we are both correct and that is good enough for me...

Ni Ni :D

Michale

I am qualified, thru personal experience, to say that you are in error about the Israeli reliance on it..

Yes..

Michale

No, I am not saying it does not exist..

I am just not qualified to comment on it's validity...

Michale

Not at all..

I just don't talk about things I have no knowledge of or training at...

I can speak from experience of the nuts and bolts of counter terrorism, security and LEO...

I leave the behavioral/psychological aspects to those above my pay-grade...

Michale

I cannot.. I am not a psychologist or a behavioral scientist..

I am just a knuckle-dragging ground pounder with the highly trained ability to see a spade as a spade...

Michale

It looks like we may both be right about how Israel handles airport security.

THANK YOU, Liz! :D Thank you VERY much..

I accept this...

Michale

HuffPoop...

'nuff said... :D

Michale

I don't have to define it. YOU already did..

It's an INTERVIEW...

What you experienced is so far different than what a muslim who is being profiled is night and day..

Again, don't take MY word.. Talk to Minister Katz...

Michale

JL

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-wagner/what-israeli-airport-secu_b_4978149.html

I think behavioral profiling, whether or not it is used in conjunction with ethnic profiling when that makes sense, is the most effective means when it comes to thwarting terrorist attacks and the US should do more of that and less of the airport security theatre that does nothing to make the flying public safer.

So, help me understand more about how behavioral profiling works at Israeli airports and how US airport security can benefit from the Israeli experience.

I still think we have a lot to learn from how the Israelis profile based on behavior and maybe then we could do away with the "security theatre" that takes place now at US airports.

Pretty cut and dried people... No ambiguity whatsoever...

But I am sure SOMEONE will find something to nit-pick..

ANYTHING to avoid saying, "Yep, Michale. You were right.. We were wrong.."

ssssiiiiggggghhhhhhh

It's tough being me... :D

Michale

I know EXACTLY how Israeli's do airport security because I have SEEN it from the perspective of security personnel....

You???

Michale

Cite???

Michale

Michale

A senior Israeli official justified the "profiling" of Muslims as potential security threats on Monday after U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said Americans should adopt Israel's disputed practice.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/israeli-minister-unapologetic-security-profiling-hailed-trump-121824508.html

Michale

Behavioral profiling is effective. It involves, among other things, interacting with the person to see how they react to various stimuli.

Will ya'all concede the point when I do???

Because I ain't gonna go thru all the hassle of acquiring the facts only for ya'all to ignore it or argue what the definition of 'IS' is...

Michale

Your understanding is completely in error..

As the Israeli Transportation minister has stated..

What they do is profile based on behavior.

And if you have a terrorist who is well-behaved???

Kaablooooeeeeyyyy

Michale

My guess? Not nearly enough.

What they do is profile based on behavior. And, in the case of airports, there are multiple rings of behavioral profiling and everyone working at the airport, from top security personnel down to the janitors and cleaning crews are trained in how to observe and detect behavior of a suspicious nature.

"Considered" is not "profiled"...

. i said that in most cases he listens and tries to engage them in dialogue. that's not always possible, but it's usually his first option.

Then it's not an absolute fact, it's an opinion..

And I submit that Trump will ALSO engage protesters that don't immediately attack Trump...

Should Trump have "engaged" the Left Winger that tried to ASSASSINATE Trump???

However, having said that.. I will concede that Obama may be a little more amiable to protesters.. But not by much.. I can find youtube after youtube where Obama has loudmouths removed JUST like Trump...

The difference is ONLY in degree....

But I will concede that there IS a difference...

So, I misspoke before..

I apologize... (BLUE MOON!!!)

Michale

of course some people are more difficult to eliminate as suspects than others. my point is that everyone is considered. you seem to think that your attitude toward profiling in the US is justified by the success of israel's policy - it's not because israel's profiling policy is different from the one used in the US. In addition to being more thorough, it's more fair.

And if I can find ONE instance of a protester being removed from an Obama rally, will you concede that you are wrong??

of course not, because i didn't say that obama never removes protesters. i said that in most cases he listens and tries to engage them in dialogue. that's not always possible, but it's usually his first option.

JL

You can figure it out... :D

Michale

I'll agree, even though I cannot remember when.. It's been that long..

. every single passenger entering israel gets profiled and questioned until they can be eliminated as a suspect, from white orthodox jews to black muslims to indians to australians. obviously, some are easier to eliminate as suspects than others, but that's as egalitarian as it gets. here in the US only minorities are profiled; if you're white, male, middle-aged, well-clothed and christian, your chances of getting any attention whatsoever are nearly nonexistent. profiling is an all or nothing endeavor; if you're going to do it, do it to everyone. if not, it's a violation of equal treatment under the law.

This is simply not accurate.. At least not as far as it goes..

Yes, EVERY person entering Israel is questioned.. But those who are of muslim persuasion are given extra attention.. If you are trying to tell me that this is not the case, you simply don't know what you are talking about.. Respectfully...

Put another way.. If an Israeli "TSA" has a Iranian and an American, who do you think is going to get the extra scrutiny...

If an Israeli "TSA" has a muslim and an orthodox jew, who do you think is going to get the extra scrutiny..

Hay, you don't have to argue with me.. It was the Israeli Transportation Minister who defended the muslim profiling...

Argue with him...

regarding the video, it's video evidence that trump and obama are not equal in how they treat protesters. President Obama confronts them verbally, talks to them, and rarely asks for them to be removed.

And if I can find ONE instance of a protester being removed from an Obama rally, will you concede that you are wrong??

(since we're apparently in name-calling mode today),

Only by JFC and my responses to JFC..

Per Liz's request, I am trying to be respectful to those who show respect..

JFC doesn't qualify... :D

"Crazy Uncle Donald" kicks them out, makes fun of them

"Clinging to guns and religion" qualifies as making "fun of them"...

and encourages his supporters to beat them up.

Michale

i can and have, when that's the case. here it's not. every single passenger entering israel gets profiled and questioned until they can be eliminated as a suspect, from white orthodox jews to black muslims to indians to australians. obviously, some are easier to eliminate as suspects than others, but that's as egalitarian as it gets. here in the US only minorities are profiled; if you're white, male, middle-aged, well-clothed and christian, your chances of getting any attention whatsoever are nearly nonexistent. profiling is an all or nothing endeavor; if you're going to do it, do it to everyone. if not, it's a violation of equal treatment under the law.

regarding the video, it's video evidence that trump and obama are not equal in how they treat protesters. President Obama confronts them verbally, talks to them, and rarely asks for them to be removed.

(since we're apparently in name-calling mode today), "Crazy Uncle Donald" kicks them out, makes fun of them and encourages his supporters to beat them up.

JL

Let me lay it out to you logically, rationally and succinctly..

The first two won't be a problem because it's me... The third is a toss-up because.. well, it's me.. :D

Anyways...

Let's postulate a scenario where Professor Janda posted his commentary with NO ATTRIBUTIONS what so ever.. He basically just posted HITLER IS EVIL AND TRUMP IS JUST LIKE HITLER.. He went down the list of characteristics and just commented that Trump shares those characteristics....

You and the rest of Weigantians would have accepted his commentary EXACTLY the same way as you did above because Prof Janda said EXACTLY what you wanted to hear...

Now, let's further postulate the scenario where my response to Prof Janda was full of research and reference footnotes and was the compilation of DAYS of meticulous research.. I posted that rebuttal..

And your response.. and the response of every Weigantian (N.E.N.) would have been EXACTLY the same towards me then as it was in the here and now....

And WHY would it have been exactly the same response?? Because I was saying something you didn't want to hear...

So, logic compels me to ask..

WHY should I do all the research and all the referential footnotes when it's, at BEST, going to be ignored and, at worst, a single unimportant and irrelevant point will be nit-picked in a lame attempt to refute the entire conclusion??? Yes, FOSBashi... I am looking at you... :D

Why???

Give me ONE GOOD REASON why??? If you can do that, I might consider it..

Michale

Michale

:-)

If Biden HAD run, it would have reduced my post count by a factor of 10!! :D

Michale

2. The streams of inanity that intersperse the comments might put anybody off - I know I'm just hanging on

2. The streams of unchallengable and inarguable facts that refute the positions of the Hysterical Left Wingery that intersperse the comments might put anybody off - I know I'm just hanging on

There... Fixed it for you... :D

Liz,

Sorry but, neither of those are good reasons.

Agreed...

A> If someone posts a commentary, they should have the wherewithall to defend their positions.. And that applies to the commenters as well. I see some of the most bigoted comments made as a drive-by (Dr Fish above, for example) that are just one shot "wonders" and they don't even follow-up... Drives me to drink!!! Well, it's actually more of a short walk.. :D

2> What Neil calls 'inane' is nothing more than a logical and rational response to completely BS statements.. But he (and most everyone else) CAN'T address the facts, so he (and a few others) just goes for the childish insults and immature personal attacks..

It'll be nice if we can confine those attacks and insults to the http://FTP...

Michale

A couple years ago, I made a new years resolution to confine my wild tangents to the FTP commentary...

By and large, I have stuck to that resolution pretty well, if I do say so myself.. And I do..

I suggest that ya'all confine all the personal attacks and immature name-calling and hijacking commentaries and always making the commentaries about me personally... I suggest that ya'all confine all of THAT to the FTP commentary as well..

At least, THAT way, we can have 4 commentaries that is not filled with all of ya'all's bullshit..

What ya'all say???

Michale

i was not wrong about israel.

siiiggggghhhhh

Yes you were.. You just can't admit that you were wrong and I was right...

Michale

See, I knew you'd like that!

It was a masterful interview -- Rose kept things tight (he occasionally wanders off into irrelevancy), and Biden was impressive as all get out. Especially his insistence on "what happens afterwards" for various Middle East scenarios. Too many politicians never ask that crucial question...

I'm kinda wishing he had run this year. I know he had the personal family situation, but still...

:-)

-CW

I just finished watching the Biden interview with Charlie Rose. Thanks again for the heads-up on that one!

I hesitate to say that it was vintage Biden - rather it was the Biden that I have come to know and love over the many, many years of following his illustrious public service career.

Did you notice the body language and frequent misspeaks with respect to country names and leaders. I remember the McCain/Palin campaign team - and many others - making fun of the fact that he didn't know the difference between Hezbollah and Syria. Little did (and do) they know that Biden has forgotten more about foreign policy than the lot of them ever knew. But, I digress.

I had hoped that most Americans would change their minds about Joe Biden - about the kind of human being he is and about the fine statesman and public servant that he has always been - after seeing him in action as vice president for eight years. I like to believe that many of them have and now realize how lucky they are to have had the benefit of his long and productive service to their great nation for so long.

I, for one, look forward to his continued service in public life - I can't even imagine politics without him.

Sorry but, neither of those are good reasons.

No, I didn't see that interview. I'll check it out - thanks for the heads up!

As for not needing notes ... for as long as I have known Biden, he has never needed 'talking points' because he always knows what he's talking about or he doesn't talk about it at all.

CW- "Thanks for adding some details to the story..."

The thanks should really go to my research assistant, Wikipedia , but the analysis was mine, so thanks for mentioning it.

I think the Professor is making the point that Trump isn't an anomaly, that his politics is a type of politics that was also practiced by A. Hitler, populist demagogue (and sure enough, if you look up 'demagogue' in Wikipedia, it lists all of the traits that the two have in common).

One thing that isn't listed is media. Radio was a new media platform in the 1920's, and Hitler was one of those rare characters, like Rush Limbaugh, who only has to be pointed toward a microphone and let loose. Hitler was defeated in part because radio could also be used to organize the resistance against him.

Joe McCarthy later used the new medium of Television to create dramatic images (like Hollywood stars testifying) that he could use to enhance his already dramatic insinuations of cultural subversion. He, too, was hoisted by his own petard in the form of a single dramatic television image, and the question (echoed in [37] by TheStig): "At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"

Trump is using the new multi-platform media environment and its 24 hour news cycle to his fullest advantage, organizing his followers and taking shots on twitter and leveraging the controversy he creates into billions of dollars worth of free media coverage.

Ironically, 'domesticating' Trump for general election purposes could take this advantage away from him. He would then find himself on Hillary's playing field - where she's had a two year head start developing media and funding infrastructure.

On the other hand, his unique media prowess was beginning to turn on him. He's nearly tied with her in most polls. He can do a big show in July (one of his specialties) and then sit back and let the Olympics take over. After that, more free media: the debates, and by then he's saved enough cash to unleash a punishing media blitzkrieg in October that could push him over the finish line by a nose.

Sidebar - this is a strategy for winning in timed Monopoly games: make your opponents think that you only hold crap, while quietly keeping them from attaining monopolies, and encourage them to undermine each other instead. At the last minute, flip over the properties you have and use the cash to win the game. If this were his plan, it would explain why Trump recently filed a financial statement that portrays his campaign as absurdly cash-strapped: he thinks that he's setting a trap.

Is this yet another guest author who isn't going to comment?

There may be a couple of other explanations, beyond "can't be bothered"

1. This is a HuffPo article, and the author might be looking for comments there, not realizing that there is an active community here

2. The streams of inanity that intersperse the comments might put anybody off - I know I'm just hanging on

The thanks should really go to my research assistant, Wikipedia<, but the analysis was mine, so thanks for mentioning it.

Sidebar - this is a strategy for winning in timed Monopoly games: make your opponents think that you only hold crap, while quietly keeping them from attaining monopolies, and encourage them to undermine each other instead. At the last minute, flip over the properties you have and use the cash to win the game. If this were his plan, it would explain why Trump recently filed a financial statement that portrays his campaign as absurdly cash-strapped: he thinks that he's setting a trap.