Comments on: Friday Talking Points [402] -- A Warning For Complacent Democrats http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/ Reality-based political commentary Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:17:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81769 Michale Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:27:03 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81769 <B>EXCLUSIVE: Child rape victim comes forward for the first time in 40 years to call Hillary Clinton a 'liar' who defended her rapist by smearing her, blocking evidence and callously laughing that she knew he was guilty 'Hillary Clinton is not for women and children,' says Kathy Shelton, 54, who was 12 years old when she was raped by Thomas Alfred Taylor in Arkansas Clinton was the rapist's defense lawyer, pleading him down to 'unlawful fondling of a minor' The 41-year-old drifter served less than a year in prison The plea came after Clinton was able to block the admission of forensic evidence that linked her client to the crime Shelton says she's furious that Clinton has been portraying herself as a lifelong advocate of women and girls on the campaign trail Clinton accused Shelton of 'seeking out older men' in the case and demanded that she undergo a grueling court-ordered psychiatric examination The presidential candidate later laughed while discussing aspects of the case in a recently-unearthed audiotaped interview from the 1980s </B> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3729466/Child-rape-victim-comes-forward-time-40-years-call-Hillary-Clinton-liar-defended-rapist-smearing-blocking-evidence-callously-laughing-knew-guilty.html#ixzz4Gv68BaXb THIS is your Candidate???? :^( Michale EXCLUSIVE: Child rape victim comes forward for the first time in 40 years to call Hillary Clinton a 'liar' who defended her rapist by smearing her, blocking evidence and callously laughing that she knew he was guilty
'Hillary Clinton is not for women and children,' says Kathy Shelton, 54, who was 12 years old when she was raped by Thomas Alfred Taylor in Arkansas
Clinton was the rapist's defense lawyer, pleading him down to 'unlawful fondling of a minor'
The 41-year-old drifter served less than a year in prison
The plea came after Clinton was able to block the admission of forensic evidence that linked her client to the crime
Shelton says she's furious that Clinton has been portraying herself as a lifelong advocate of women and girls on the campaign trail
Clinton accused Shelton of 'seeking out older men' in the case and demanded that she undergo a grueling court-ordered psychiatric examination
The presidential candidate later laughed while discussing aspects of the case in a recently-unearthed audiotaped interview from the 1980s
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3729466/Child-rape-victim-comes-forward-time-40-years-call-Hillary-Clinton-liar-defended-rapist-smearing-blocking-evidence-callously-laughing-knew-guilty.html#ixzz4Gv68BaXb

THIS is your Candidate???? :^(

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81738 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 20:43:30 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81738 Rut Roh!!! <B>NEW SOLAR RESEARCH RAISES CLIMATE QUESTIONS, TRIGGERS ATTACKS </B> http://www.thegwpf.com/new-solar-research-raises-climate-questions-triggers-attacks/ GLOBAL COOLING AHEAD!!! :D Frankly, I prefer the global cooling to the heat.. My comfort zone is around 55-60 degrees... The movie DAY AFTER TOMORROW?? That was my fantasy... :D heh Michale Rut Roh!!!

NEW SOLAR RESEARCH RAISES CLIMATE QUESTIONS, TRIGGERS ATTACKS
http://www.thegwpf.com/new-solar-research-raises-climate-questions-triggers-attacks/

GLOBAL COOLING AHEAD!!! :D

Frankly, I prefer the global cooling to the heat.. My comfort zone is around 55-60 degrees...

The movie DAY AFTER TOMORROW?? That was my fantasy... :D

heh

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81718 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:28:05 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81718 <I>Hmm, you might want to tell that to the victims of super storm hurricane Sandy in 2012. Not to mention Irene in 2011, and Issac in 2012. That's just in the USA. It does not take into account those hat hit Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, etc. and did not affect the USA at all.</I> But it's not a INCREASE in storm activity.. The simple fact is, there hasn't been a SINGLE Human Caused Global Warming Prediction that has been accurate.. NOT A SINGLE ONE... But I can point to dozens if not HUNDREDS of predictions that have been FLAT OUT WRONG.... Like I said.. If predictions based on the theory is 1000% WRONG EACH and EVERY time... It's time to discard the theory... Michale Hmm, you might want to tell that to the victims of super storm hurricane Sandy in 2012. Not to mention Irene in 2011, and Issac in 2012. That's just in the USA. It does not take into account those hat hit Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, etc. and did not affect the USA at all.

But it's not a INCREASE in storm activity..

The simple fact is, there hasn't been a SINGLE Human Caused Global Warming Prediction that has been accurate..

NOT A SINGLE ONE...

But I can point to dozens if not HUNDREDS of predictions that have been FLAT OUT WRONG....

Like I said.. If predictions based on the theory is 1000% WRONG EACH and EVERY time... It's time to discard the theory...

Michale

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81716 John M Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:45:31 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81716 Michale wrote: "And the frequency AND intensity has gone way WAY down..." Again, NOT in the PACIFIC. In the Pacific, it has gone WAY UP. Also, again, the frequency and intensity has not gone way down in the Atlantic. It has been more NEAR NORMAL. It's just that the USA itself has been spared being hit during this time. It is NOT that hurricanes have not happened at all. Michale wrote:

"And the frequency AND intensity has gone way WAY down..."

Again, NOT in the PACIFIC. In the Pacific, it has gone WAY UP.

Also, again, the frequency and intensity has not gone way down in the Atlantic. It has been more NEAR NORMAL. It's just that the USA itself has been spared being hit during this time. It is NOT that hurricanes have not happened at all.

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81715 John M Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:42:15 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81715 Michale wrote: "They predicted that there would be huge loss of life and massive property damage from these violent storms.. NONE of it materialized.." Hmm, you might want to tell that to the victims of super storm hurricane Sandy in 2012. Not to mention Irene in 2011, and Issac in 2012. That's just in the USA. It does not take into account those hat hit Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, etc. and did not affect the USA at all. Michale wrote:

"They predicted that there would be huge loss of life and massive property damage from these violent storms..

NONE of it materialized.."

Hmm, you might want to tell that to the victims of super storm hurricane Sandy in 2012. Not to mention Irene in 2011, and Issac in 2012. That's just in the USA. It does not take into account those hat hit Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, etc. and did not affect the USA at all.

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81714 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:30:31 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81714 <B>Since the Democratic National Committee emails were leaked a few weeks ago, three people associated with the DNC have all been found dead under what could be questionable circumstances. </B> http://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2016/08/09/clinton-body-count-or-leftwing-conspiracy-three-with-ties-to-dnc-mysteriously-die-n2203000 The Clinton Body Count continues to rise.. It boggles statistical probabilities... Michale Since the Democratic National Committee emails were leaked a few weeks ago, three people associated with the DNC have all been found dead under what could be questionable circumstances.
http://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2016/08/09/clinton-body-count-or-leftwing-conspiracy-three-with-ties-to-dnc-mysteriously-die-n2203000

The Clinton Body Count continues to rise.. It boggles statistical probabilities...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81704 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:41:50 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81704 <I>I might also point out that the North Atlantic has NOT gone quiet or NOT produced hurricanes. They have just NOT affected the mainland USA very much so far, which has nothing to do with the frequency or intensity of their actual occurrence.</I> But that's not what the global warming fanatics predicted.. They predicted that there would be huge loss of life and massive property damage from these violent storms.. NONE of it materialized.. And the frequency AND intensity has gone way WAY down... You simply can't admit the fail.... Michale I might also point out that the North Atlantic has NOT gone quiet or NOT produced hurricanes. They have just NOT affected the mainland USA very much so far, which has nothing to do with the frequency or intensity of their actual occurrence.

But that's not what the global warming fanatics predicted..

They predicted that there would be huge loss of life and massive property damage from these violent storms..

NONE of it materialized..

And the frequency AND intensity has gone way WAY down...

You simply can't admit the fail....

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81703 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:39:33 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81703 <I>You know very well that DOESN"T prove a DAMN thing. </I> Of course, in and of itself, it doesn't PROVE a thing.. But it IS one more failed prediction in a long long LONG line of failed predictions.. When I was in High School science, we were told that we create a hypothesis or theory and then use prediction/experimentation to TEST the hypothesis.. And if the predictions/experiments ALWAYS fail then the hypothesis or theory MUST be altered.. It's called evidence-based theory... But what Global Warming is is theory-based evidence.. Ya'all START with a conclusion and then simply accumulate evidence that supports the conclusion and ignore evidence that disputes the conclusion.. And when THAT doesn't work, you simply ALTER the evidence that DOESN'T support the conclusion so that it DOES support the conclusion.. That's all that this is... Michale You know very well that DOESN"T prove a DAMN thing.

Of course, in and of itself, it doesn't PROVE a thing..

But it IS one more failed prediction in a long long LONG line of failed predictions..

When I was in High School science, we were told that we create a hypothesis or theory and then use prediction/experimentation to TEST the hypothesis..

And if the predictions/experiments ALWAYS fail then the hypothesis or theory MUST be altered..

It's called evidence-based theory...

But what Global Warming is is theory-based evidence..

Ya'all START with a conclusion and then simply accumulate evidence that supports the conclusion and ignore evidence that disputes the conclusion..

And when THAT doesn't work, you simply ALTER the evidence that DOESN'T support the conclusion so that it DOES support the conclusion..

That's all that this is...

Michale

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81702 nypoet22 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:26:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81702 <i>I believe that I read somewhere that the threshold for joining the debates is 15 PERCENT, if that helps.</i> @JM, that sounds right. the trouble in my view is that threshold is WAY too high. census figures say there are 146 million registered voters, and 126 million voted in 2012. so, even a single percentage of the electorate is about a million and a quarter american citizens. this means that by keeping johnson (10%) and stein (5%) off the stage, something like six million greens and thirteen million libertarians get no voice. one of the most revered principles of our constitutional democracy is protecting the right of the minority to be heard, and those are some very substantial minorities not being heard. JL I believe that I read somewhere that the threshold for joining the debates is 15 PERCENT, if that helps.

@JM,

that sounds right. the trouble in my view is that threshold is WAY too high. census figures say there are 146 million registered voters, and 126 million voted in 2012. so, even a single percentage of the electorate is about a million and a quarter american citizens. this means that by keeping johnson (10%) and stein (5%) off the stage, something like six million greens and thirteen million libertarians get no voice. one of the most revered principles of our constitutional democracy is protecting the right of the minority to be heard, and those are some very substantial minorities not being heard.

JL

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81698 John M Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:58:59 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81698 Michale wrote: "October 6th, 2016 marks the 4,000th day since the US has had a major hurricane strike on the CONUS... But... But.... But.... I thought Global Warming was supposed to make major hurricanes an every day event!! I know it's true because Al Gore said so!! Even made a MOVIE about it!!! How can this be??? :D Fail.... EPIC FAIL..." You know very well that DOESN"T prove a DAMN thing. Do you want to hold up a snowball to make the point that in winter you can still create one as somehow some kind of proof against global warming also??? I notice you conveniently IGNORE the fact that for the past few years, the PACIFIC Ocean by contrast has had an absolutely unprecedented number of hurricanes and typhoons of unusual strength and intensity. It is the Pacific, in fact, that has GONE CRAZY, just as global warming has predicted. You also FAIL to mention that during this same time period, the south Atlantic, off the coast of Brazil, had it's first and only EVER RECORDED hurricane in history. I might also point out that the North Atlantic has NOT gone quiet or NOT produced hurricanes. They have just NOT affected the mainland USA very much so far, which has nothing to do with the frequency or intensity of their actual occurrence. Michale wrote:

"October 6th, 2016 marks the 4,000th day since the US has had a major hurricane strike on the CONUS...

But... But.... But....

I thought Global Warming was supposed to make major hurricanes an every day event!! I know it's true because Al Gore said so!! Even made a MOVIE about it!!!

How can this be???

:D

Fail.... EPIC FAIL..."

You know very well that DOESN"T prove a DAMN thing. Do you want to hold up a snowball to make the point that in winter you can still create one as somehow some kind of proof against global warming also???

I notice you conveniently IGNORE the fact that for the past few years, the PACIFIC Ocean by contrast has had an absolutely unprecedented number of hurricanes and typhoons of unusual strength and intensity. It is the Pacific, in fact, that has GONE CRAZY, just as global warming has predicted. You also FAIL to mention that during this same time period, the south Atlantic, off the coast of Brazil, had it's first and only EVER RECORDED hurricane in history.

I might also point out that the North Atlantic has NOT gone quiet or NOT produced hurricanes. They have just NOT affected the mainland USA very much so far, which has nothing to do with the frequency or intensity of their actual occurrence.

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81697 John M Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:42:48 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81697 nypoet22 wrote: "here's a thought on the current polling: about half of last week's polls had gary johnson at ten percent or better, and jill stein at five percent or better. i'm not sure what hurdle the greens and libertarians have to clear to be involved in the debates, but it seems to me given the current numbers, it should at least be up for discussion." I believe that I read somewhere that the threshold for joining the debates is 15 PERCENT, if that helps. nypoet22 wrote:

"here's a thought on the current polling: about half of last week's polls had gary johnson at ten percent or better, and jill stein at five percent or better. i'm not sure what hurdle the greens and libertarians have to clear to be involved in the debates, but it seems to me given the current numbers, it should at least be up for discussion."

I believe that I read somewhere that the threshold for joining the debates is 15 PERCENT, if that helps.

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81696 John M Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:40:51 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81696 Michale wrote: "Nor can I say definitively... It might have been John M who said he could vote Kasich.." YES, that WAS ME Michale wrote:

"Nor can I say definitively... It might have been John M who said he could vote Kasich.."

YES, that WAS ME

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81695 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:17:35 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81695 And in other news.. http://www.drroyspencer.com/2016/08/will-we-reach-4000-days-since-a-major-hurricane-strike/ October 6th, 2016 marks the 4,000th day since the US has had a major hurricane strike on the CONUS... But... But.... But.... I thought Global Warming was supposed to make major hurricanes an every day event!! I know it's true because Al Gore said so!! Even made a MOVIE about it!!! How can this be??? :D Fail.... EPIC FAIL... <B>"Failed... Failed... IMPRESSIVELY failed.."</B> -NASA Doctor, ARMAGEDDON The facts are clear.. Human caused global warming is nothing but a political bunch of hooey... HOOEY, I say!! :D Michale And in other news..

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2016/08/will-we-reach-4000-days-since-a-major-hurricane-strike/

October 6th, 2016 marks the 4,000th day since the US has had a major hurricane strike on the CONUS...

But... But.... But....

I thought Global Warming was supposed to make major hurricanes an every day event!! I know it's true because Al Gore said so!! Even made a MOVIE about it!!!

How can this be???

:D

Fail.... EPIC FAIL...

"Failed... Failed... IMPRESSIVELY failed.."
-NASA Doctor, ARMAGEDDON

The facts are clear.. Human caused global warming is nothing but a political bunch of hooey...

HOOEY, I say!! :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81694 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:09:57 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81694 <I> I'm tired of Hillary being demonized and don't find it endearing that people like Eric feel they're being "principled" by choosing to vote third party or not vote because HRC just sickens them so much.</I> Yea... Principles really suck, don't they.. Especially when they don't line up with one's chosen ideological agenda.... :^/ <B>"It seemed silly to get so wrapped up over an arbitrary principle." "I thought we had agreed that principles are ONLY principles if they ARE arbitrary??"</B> -Digger Michale I'm tired of Hillary being demonized and don't find it endearing that people like Eric feel they're being "principled" by choosing to vote third party or not vote because HRC just sickens them so much.

Yea... Principles really suck, don't they.. Especially when they don't line up with one's chosen ideological agenda.... :^/

"It seemed silly to get so wrapped up over an arbitrary principle."
"I thought we had agreed that principles are ONLY principles if they ARE arbitrary??"
-Digger

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81692 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 08:36:20 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81692 Liz, <I>Is that like saying it's precious?</I> It's likable enough... :D Michale Liz,

Is that like saying it's precious?

It's likable enough... :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81691 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 08:35:44 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81691 Yep, ya fixed it.. :D Wooot!! :D Michale Yep, ya fixed it.. :D

Wooot!! :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81690 Michale Tue, 09 Aug 2016 08:35:18 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81690 Review... Michale Review...

Michale

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81688 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 05:13:36 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81688 Or, forget the whole thing ... just clicked on it myself and was reminded that Matt kind of shut the OsborneInk site down a while ago. There is a link he provided in his last post there to another site he was writing for but that link doesn't work. Maybe ask him in a comment or ask Chris ... Or, forget the whole thing ... just clicked on it myself and was reminded that Matt kind of shut the OsborneInk site down a while ago.

There is a link he provided in his last post there to another site he was writing for but that link doesn't work.

Maybe ask him in a comment or ask Chris ...

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81687 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 05:10:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81687 Or, look under Chris's 'My Links' ... Or, look under Chris's 'My Links' ...

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81686 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 05:07:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81686 Just click on his username in comment [4] ... Just click on his username in comment [4] ...

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81685 Paula Tue, 09 Aug 2016 05:05:47 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81685 [140] I think you might want to set up a <em>discussion,</em> not a debate. Debates lead to side-taking. Discussions might lead to constructive conversation and areas of common ground. And start small. How to change the system and move the country forward is a big topic. Pick one aspect of it and really talk about it. Can you share a link to Matts' website? Google search brings up a couple -- do you mean his blog (where he says he won't post much anymore) or a site about WW II or something? [140] I think you might want to set up a discussion, not a debate. Debates lead to side-taking. Discussions might lead to constructive conversation and areas of common ground. And start small. How to change the system and move the country forward is a big topic. Pick one aspect of it and really talk about it.

Can you share a link to Matts' website? Google search brings up a couple -- do you mean his blog (where he says he won't post much anymore) or a site about WW II or something?

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81683 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 04:45:47 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81683 Hey, Paula ... what do you think about my debate idea? Hey, Paula ... what do you think about my debate idea?

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81682 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 04:45:18 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81682 See comment [4] ... Matt is Osborne Ink. You should check out his website. See comment [4] ... Matt is Osborne Ink. You should check out his website.

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81681 Paula Tue, 09 Aug 2016 04:26:27 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81681 Who's Matt? Who's Matt?

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81680 Paula Tue, 09 Aug 2016 04:26:08 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81680 I'm just saying it's great that you gained something from the piece which I did not. I'm mostly angry -- somewhat at Eric, but even more at all the people along the way who actively or passively lied to Eric, raised his expectations unrealistically, and validated the nonsense he came to believe about how Bernie was "mistreated". I'm tired of Hillary being demonized and don't find it endearing that people like Eric feel they're being "principled" by choosing to vote third party or not vote because HRC just sickens them so much. But that's just me. I'm just saying it's great that you gained something from the piece which I did not.

I'm mostly angry -- somewhat at Eric, but even more at all the people along the way who actively or passively lied to Eric, raised his expectations unrealistically, and validated the nonsense he came to believe about how Bernie was "mistreated". I'm tired of Hillary being demonized and don't find it endearing that people like Eric feel they're being "principled" by choosing to vote third party or not vote because HRC just sickens them so much.

But that's just me.

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81678 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 03:51:52 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81678 Because, after reading Matt's take (which I largely agreed with)and Eric's piece (which also had some resonance), I can see both sides more clearly now. Because, after reading Matt's take (which I largely agreed with)and Eric's piece (which also had some resonance), I can see both sides more clearly now.

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81677 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 03:45:30 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81677 I'd like to see a debate here between Matt and Eric on how to change the system and move the country forward. Maybe Chris could set it up? I'd like to see a debate here between Matt and Eric on how to change the system and move the country forward. Maybe Chris could set it up?

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81676 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 03:38:17 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81676 I'm confused. I'm confused.

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81675 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 03:37:52 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81675 Or, like saying thanks for your thoughts but who gives a shit? :) Or, like saying thanks for your thoughts but who gives a shit? :)

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81674 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 03:37:19 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81674 Is that like saying it's <I>precious</I>? Is that like saying it's precious?

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81673 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 03:34:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81673 Peachy? That's odd ... Peachy? That's odd ...

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81672 Paula Tue, 09 Aug 2016 03:33:54 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81672 Elizabeth: it's peachy that you gained what you did from Eric's piece. Elizabeth: it's peachy that you gained what you did from Eric's piece.

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81671 Elizabeth Miller Tue, 09 Aug 2016 02:55:54 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81671 Paula, The beauty of Eric's piece is that it tells a personal story of his journey from supporting one candidate for president to supporting another and of the twists and turns along the way on the road to disappointment and disillusionment culminating in a principled decision. His perspective is one that not all readers will agree with, of course, but it is his own personal perspective written with what we can only assume is heartfelt passion. We all have our own perspectives and we shouldn't be dismissive of the perspectives of others. That is especially true when they share their thoughts and feelings about a subject as potentially controversial as presidential politics so openly and honestly. Eric's essay shed quite a lot of light on what motivated one former Hillary supporter to throw his enthusiastic support to Bernie Sanders and how the primary and convention process led to a decision to withhold support from both major candidates for president. After reading Eric's piece, I can say that I have a much better sense of what feeling the Bern was all about. And, while I may not condone some of their tactics, I can say that I now have a much better understanding of what it meant to be a Sanders supporter and how difficult it can be to accept the defeat of their candidate and move to support the victor and Democratic nominee for president. I also wish Eric good luck ... good luck in continuing the work begun in the Sanders campaign - to promote better candidates, better parties, and a better system. Much of that work will involve respectful discussion among respectful people. Paula,

The beauty of Eric's piece is that it tells a personal story of his journey from supporting one candidate for president to supporting another and of the twists and turns along the way on the road to disappointment and disillusionment culminating in a principled decision.

His perspective is one that not all readers will agree with, of course, but it is his own personal perspective written with what we can only assume is heartfelt passion. We all have our own perspectives and we shouldn't be dismissive of the perspectives of others. That is especially true when they share their thoughts and feelings about a subject as potentially controversial as presidential politics so openly and honestly.

Eric's essay shed quite a lot of light on what motivated one former Hillary supporter to throw his enthusiastic support to Bernie Sanders and how the primary and convention process led to a decision to withhold support from both major candidates for president.

After reading Eric's piece, I can say that I have a much better sense of what feeling the Bern was all about. And, while I may not condone some of their tactics, I can say that I now have a much better understanding of what it meant to be a Sanders supporter and how difficult it can be to accept the defeat of their candidate and move to support the victor and Democratic nominee for president.

I also wish Eric good luck ... good luck in continuing the work begun in the Sanders campaign - to promote better candidates, better parties, and a better system. Much of that work will involve respectful discussion among respectful people.

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81667 Paula Tue, 09 Aug 2016 01:44:25 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81667 [127] neilm: thanks! [127] neilm: thanks!

]]> By: neilm http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81663 neilm Tue, 09 Aug 2016 01:20:35 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81663 Paula [124]: Good one. Paula [124]: Good one.

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81661 Chris Weigant Mon, 08 Aug 2016 22:31:02 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81661 Michale - I think I fixed the "review" problem with the filter. Try it now, it should be OK... and thanks for being so specific -- makes it easier to fix! -CW Michale -

I think I fixed the "review" problem with the filter.

Try it now, it should be OK...

and thanks for being so specific -- makes it easier to fix!

-CW

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81660 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 22:05:02 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81660 <i> (he doesn't appear to notice that HRC endures continuous ABUSE by the press and has for 30 years);</i> (he doesn't appear to notice that HRC endures continuous <b>*WELL DESERVED*</B> ABUSE by the press and has for 30 years); There... Fixed it for you.. :D <I> Eventually I cancelled cable, went online, found DailyKOS and other blogs and have never gone back.</I> Always nice to find echo chambers where your every ideological bent is catered to and you NEVER have to hear or handle a differing opinion or NEVER have to listen to a fact you don't like.. :D <I>So, Eric, welcome to the world of politics and lazy, anything-for-ratings media, and lots of people who can't be bothered to actually know what they're talking about. Welcome to the world of imperfect vessels and disagreement and people-don't-care-about-your-feelings and FAUX News and False Equivalency and The View From Nowhere "journalism". It sucks. You go through the dark night of the soul and come out the other side and that's when you either become part of the solution or part of the problem. Good luck.</I> Like I said.. <B>TOE THE LINE.... OR ELSE</B> :D Michale (he doesn't appear to notice that HRC endures continuous ABUSE by the press and has for 30 years);

(he doesn't appear to notice that HRC endures continuous *WELL DESERVED* ABUSE by the press and has for 30 years);

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

Eventually I cancelled cable, went online, found DailyKOS and other blogs and have never gone back.

Always nice to find echo chambers where your every ideological bent is catered to and you NEVER have to hear or handle a differing opinion or NEVER have to listen to a fact you don't like.. :D

So, Eric, welcome to the world of politics and lazy, anything-for-ratings media, and lots of people who can't be bothered to actually know what they're talking about. Welcome to the world of imperfect vessels and disagreement and people-don't-care-about-your-feelings and FAUX News and False Equivalency and The View From Nowhere "journalism". It sucks. You go through the dark night of the soul and come out the other side and that's when you either become part of the solution or part of the problem. Good luck.

Like I said..

TOE THE LINE.... OR ELSE

:D

Michale

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81659 Paula Mon, 08 Aug 2016 21:45:27 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81659 Eric's piece is filled with "somewhere during the transition" points wherein he contends various things started happening which he felt to be unfair, and which he seems to lay on HRC's door. Bernie didn't get fair coverage in the press (he doesn't appear to notice that HRC endures continuous ABUSE by the press and has for 30 years); "artful smears" start appearing (he doesn't seem to notice people at Bernie rallies screaming horrible things about HRC <em>while Bernie says nothing</em>); Bernie supporters start to be dissed by HRC supporters (he doesn't mention the absolutely poisonous online campaigns carried out by Bernie supporters in blog comments, on FB, etc.). Hillary has "the lowest integrity rating" -- he ignores the fact-checkers that explain HRC has been consistently vilified by republicans and their accusations are, one and all, horseshit, and that she is, in fact, the most honest politician after Barack Obama and significantly more honest than every single republican that ran in the primaries. Why does he ignore this? Because Bernie traded on it -- Bernie used it. Bernie took a look a the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent and decided to use a weakness that had been successfully built by republicans over 30 years. Why did Bernie do this? Because he was running for office and he was losing. <em>The night Hillary was officially announced the nominee was devastating. Hillary had run a worse campaign and she had won.</em>. Hmm. There's a lot of ways to judge a campaign. One is "who won?" HRC did. OK. Well, but Bernie ran on small donations. True, true, true. He wins on that front. Bernie had lots of rallies and people cheered. (So does Trump.) HRC had smaller events and did listening tours. She saved a lot of money and, in the end, still got more votes. Bernie won caucuses; HRC won in the larger contests. HRC's coalition was more diverse than Bernie's. Did Eric <em>prefer</em> Bernie's message? Yes. Does that mean "Bernie ran a better campaign"? No. Two different things. Eric feels the HRC drove Bernie voters away -- "ripping" their ideas from them rather than accepting them. See, at this point, I have lost patience. HRC went out of her way to honor Bernie, acknowledge his accomplishment, and work with his supporters on the platform. The fact that she didn't simply submit to being booed at her own convention just doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Clearly there is no agreement possible on that front. But then, I actually like the woman and wish her well. But who cares about Hillary supporters? It's great that Eric got involved. I'm sorry he's disillusioned at this point. <em>My</em>disillusionment point came many years ago, when Bill Clinton was in office and the "destroy the Clintons" campaign was launched. As I watched Cable news, night after night, breathlessly report every fucking allegation made by sleezy republican operatives I got completely disgusted. Eventually I cancelled cable, went online, found DailyKOS and other blogs and have never gone back. But the fact that all that filthy work haunts HRC to this day, and is constantly exploited by both the right and a lot of uniformed people on the left, dismays and enrages me. So, Eric, welcome to the world of politics and lazy, anything-for-ratings media, and lots of people who can't be bothered to actually know what they're talking about. Welcome to the world of imperfect vessels and disagreement and people-don't-care-about-your-feelings and FAUX News and False Equivalency and The View From Nowhere "journalism". It sucks. You go through the dark night of the soul and come out the other side and that's when you either become part of the solution or part of the problem. Good luck. Eric's piece is filled with "somewhere during the transition" points wherein he contends various things started happening which he felt to be unfair, and which he seems to lay on HRC's door. Bernie didn't get fair coverage in the press (he doesn't appear to notice that HRC endures continuous ABUSE by the press and has for 30 years); "artful smears" start appearing (he doesn't seem to notice people at Bernie rallies screaming horrible things about HRC while Bernie says nothing); Bernie supporters start to be dissed by HRC supporters (he doesn't mention the absolutely poisonous online campaigns carried out by Bernie supporters in blog comments, on FB, etc.).

Hillary has "the lowest integrity rating" -- he ignores the fact-checkers that explain HRC has been consistently vilified by republicans and their accusations are, one and all, horseshit, and that she is, in fact, the most honest politician after Barack Obama and significantly more honest than every single republican that ran in the primaries. Why does he ignore this? Because Bernie traded on it -- Bernie used it. Bernie took a look a the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent and decided to use a weakness that had been successfully built by republicans over 30 years. Why did Bernie do this? Because he was running for office and he was losing.

The night Hillary was officially announced the nominee was devastating. Hillary had run a worse campaign and she had won.. Hmm. There's a lot of ways to judge a campaign. One is "who won?" HRC did. OK. Well, but Bernie ran on small donations. True, true, true. He wins on that front. Bernie had lots of rallies and people cheered. (So does Trump.) HRC had smaller events and did listening tours. She saved a lot of money and, in the end, still got more votes. Bernie won caucuses; HRC won in the larger contests. HRC's coalition was more diverse than Bernie's. Did Eric prefer Bernie's message? Yes. Does that mean "Bernie ran a better campaign"? No. Two different things.

Eric feels the HRC drove Bernie voters away -- "ripping" their ideas from them rather than accepting them. See, at this point, I have lost patience. HRC went out of her way to honor Bernie, acknowledge his accomplishment, and work with his supporters on the platform. The fact that she didn't simply submit to being booed at her own convention just doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Clearly there is no agreement possible on that front. But then, I actually like the woman and wish her well. But who cares about Hillary supporters?

It's great that Eric got involved. I'm sorry he's disillusioned at this point. Mydisillusionment point came many years ago, when Bill Clinton was in office and the "destroy the Clintons" campaign was launched. As I watched Cable news, night after night, breathlessly report every fucking allegation made by sleezy republican operatives I got completely disgusted. Eventually I cancelled cable, went online, found DailyKOS and other blogs and have never gone back. But the fact that all that filthy work haunts HRC to this day, and is constantly exploited by both the right and a lot of uniformed people on the left, dismays and enrages me.

So, Eric, welcome to the world of politics and lazy, anything-for-ratings media, and lots of people who can't be bothered to actually know what they're talking about. Welcome to the world of imperfect vessels and disagreement and people-don't-care-about-your-feelings and FAUX News and False Equivalency and The View From Nowhere "journalism". It sucks. You go through the dark night of the soul and come out the other side and that's when you either become part of the solution or part of the problem. Good luck.

]]> By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81658 dsws Mon, 08 Aug 2016 20:35:16 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81658 Oh, and did everyone notice what she was honorary chair <i>of</i>? It's the Hillary Clinton campaign's department of go-campaign-for-someone-else-and-stay-the-<i>!@#$</i>-away-from-me. Oh, and did everyone notice what she was honorary chair of? It's the Hillary Clinton campaign's department of go-campaign-for-someone-else-and-stay-the-!@#$-away-from-me.

]]> By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81657 dsws Mon, 08 Aug 2016 20:31:49 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81657 Has the word "honorary" had its membership in the English language revoked? In the dialect I grew up speaking, being named "honorary chair" of something is not a case of being hired. It's about on the level of a commercially-printed thank-you note: it shows you didn't forget to send a thank-you note; you just don't like the person enough to write them a real one. Has the word "honorary" had its membership in the English language revoked? In the dialect I grew up speaking, being named "honorary chair" of something is not a case of being hired. It's about on the level of a commercially-printed thank-you note: it shows you didn't forget to send a thank-you note; you just don't like the person enough to write them a real one.

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81656 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 20:19:03 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81656 We can also see how Hillary's anti-gun policies fair by looking at Chicago... :D Michale We can also see how Hillary's anti-gun policies fair by looking at Chicago...

:D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81655 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 18:46:44 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81655 <B>"The city of Detroit is the living, breathing example of my opponent's failed economic agenda. Every policy that has failed this city, and so many others, is a policy supported by Hillary Clinton."</B> -Donald Trump Yep.... :D Michale "The city of Detroit is the living, breathing example of my opponent's failed economic agenda. Every policy that has failed this city, and so many others, is a policy supported by Hillary Clinton."
-Donald Trump

Yep.... :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81654 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 16:36:26 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81654 <I>yes, it's nice that this week donald has a reasonable position on child care.</I> Are you saying that Trump has had a different position in the past on this issue?? :D But kudos that you can give credit where credit is due, regardless of how snarkely it's done. :D <I>here's a thought on the current polling: about half of last week's polls had gary johnson at ten percent or better, and jill stein at five percent or better. i'm not sure what hurdle the greens and libertarians have to clear to be involved in the debates, but it seems to me given the current numbers, it should at least be up for discussion.</I> I may be wrong (it's been known to happen :D) but I think that the Stein/Johnson must poll 12% or better on 5 National Polls.. It might be 15%, not real sure on that.. Michale yes, it's nice that this week donald has a reasonable position on child care.

Are you saying that Trump has had a different position in the past on this issue?? :D

But kudos that you can give credit where credit is due, regardless of how snarkely it's done. :D

here's a thought on the current polling: about half of last week's polls had gary johnson at ten percent or better, and jill stein at five percent or better. i'm not sure what hurdle the greens and libertarians have to clear to be involved in the debates, but it seems to me given the current numbers, it should at least be up for discussion.

I may be wrong (it's been known to happen :D) but I think that the Stein/Johnson must poll 12% or better on 5 National Polls.. It might be 15%, not real sure on that..

Michale

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81653 nypoet22 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 16:20:09 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81653 yes, it's nice that this week donald has a reasonable position on child care. here's a thought on the current polling: about half of last week's polls had gary johnson at ten percent or better, and jill stein at five percent or better. i'm not sure what hurdle the greens and libertarians have to clear to be involved in the debates, but it seems to me given the current numbers, it should at least be up for discussion. JL yes, it's nice that this week donald has a reasonable position on child care.

here's a thought on the current polling: about half of last week's polls had gary johnson at ten percent or better, and jill stein at five percent or better. i'm not sure what hurdle the greens and libertarians have to clear to be involved in the debates, but it seems to me given the current numbers, it should at least be up for discussion.

JL

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81652 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:53:51 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81652 <I>i can't say definitively, but to my recollection my doomsday choice among the republicans was jeb.</I> Nor can I say definitively... It might have been John M who said he could vote Kasich.. :D Michale i can't say definitively, but to my recollection my doomsday choice among the republicans was jeb.

Nor can I say definitively... It might have been John M who said he could vote Kasich..

:D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81651 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:45:37 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81651 Donald Trump has proposed making all child-care expenses tax deductible... That's just....... That's just.... Yunno, that's not a bad idea.... Anyone here willing to give Trump credit??? :D Michale Donald Trump has proposed making all child-care expenses tax deductible...

That's just....... That's just....

Yunno, that's not a bad idea....

Anyone here willing to give Trump credit??? :D

Michale

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81650 nypoet22 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:40:29 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81650 @michale, i can't say definitively, but to my recollection my doomsday choice among the republicans was jeb. he's been terrible on charter schools (but then, so have most democrats) and there are a host of other issues where i strongly disagree with him, and three bush presidencies would also be a slight concern. however, jeb would be someone in whose presidency i wouldn't be afraid of Armageddon and might even find some respect - i get the sense he's more like his dad than his brother in that way. kasich would also not scare me, but i wouldn't vote for him if i could avoid it. JL @michale,

i can't say definitively, but to my recollection my doomsday choice among the republicans was jeb. he's been terrible on charter schools (but then, so have most democrats) and there are a host of other issues where i strongly disagree with him, and three bush presidencies would also be a slight concern. however, jeb would be someone in whose presidency i wouldn't be afraid of Armageddon and might even find some respect - i get the sense he's more like his dad than his brother in that way. kasich would also not scare me, but i wouldn't vote for him if i could avoid it.

JL

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81649 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:03:17 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81649 <B> Trump Voter Shot After Bar Political Debate Turns Violent</B> <I>pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/08/08/trump-voter-shot-after-political-debate-spurs-shooting/</I> <B>Woman’s Home Vandalized Because Of ‘Trump’ Signs </B> <I>dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/08/07/mckinney-home-vandalized-because-of-trump-signs/ </I> Isn't it amazing that all these Trump supporters are being attacked, assaulted and vandalized.... Yet, ya'all STILL maintain that it's TRUMP and his supporters who are violent??? Yea, I know.. I know.. It's one of those points... those facts that get ignored by everyone that accuses ME of ignoring points and facts.. :^/ Michale Trump Voter Shot After Bar Political Debate Turns Violent
pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/08/08/trump-voter-shot-after-political-debate-spurs-shooting/

Woman’s Home Vandalized Because Of ‘Trump’ Signs
dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/08/07/mckinney-home-vandalized-because-of-trump-signs/

Isn't it amazing that all these Trump supporters are being attacked, assaulted and vandalized....

Yet, ya'all STILL maintain that it's TRUMP and his supporters who are violent???

Yea, I know.. I know.. It's one of those points... those facts that get ignored by everyone that accuses ME of ignoring points and facts.. :^/

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81648 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:58:11 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81648 <I>kasich is pretty awful policy-wise. here's one recent example from my sector:</I> Wasn't it you who said that he was the only GOP candidate you could see yourself voting for?? It may have been someone else who said that, but I coulda swore it was you.. :D Michale kasich is pretty awful policy-wise. here's one recent example from my sector:

Wasn't it you who said that he was the only GOP candidate you could see yourself voting for??

It may have been someone else who said that, but I coulda swore it was you.. :D

Michale

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81647 nypoet22 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:54:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81647 kasich is pretty awful policy-wise. here's one recent example from my sector: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/charter-school-scandal-haunts-john-kasich-220700 kasich is pretty awful policy-wise. here's one recent example from my sector:

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/charter-school-scandal-haunts-john-kasich-220700

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81646 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:20:31 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81646 20,000 quatloos says that all the praise around here for Kasich will disappear when Kasich endorses Trump... Any takers?? :D <B>"Kasich?? Now THAT's a Republican I could support. HE is a reasonable honorable man.. THAT's a guy that I ..... What?? huh!?? He is endorsing Trump!?? KASICH IS A MONSTER!!! Typical GOP'ER!!!! SCUM!!! I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT KASICH FOR ANYTHING!!!! SCUM OF THE EARTH!!"</B> -Weigantians :D Michale 20,000 quatloos says that all the praise around here for Kasich will disappear when Kasich endorses Trump...

Any takers?? :D

"Kasich?? Now THAT's a Republican I could support. HE is a reasonable honorable man.. THAT's a guy that I ..... What?? huh!?? He is endorsing Trump!?? KASICH IS A MONSTER!!! Typical GOP'ER!!!! SCUM!!! I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT KASICH FOR ANYTHING!!!! SCUM OF THE EARTH!!"
-Weigantians

:D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81645 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:19:33 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81645 <I>Who says??? The more level-headed members of the Weigantian community..</I> It really only makes sense.. As I have said time and time again... Anyone can find any rinky dink poll that "proves" whatever point someone wants to make... Polls, more often than not, only show the biases of the poll takers and less of the actual mood of those being polled.. I have said THAT a lot as well.. :D Michale Who says???

The more level-headed members of the Weigantian community..

It really only makes sense..

As I have said time and time again... Anyone can find any rinky dink poll that "proves" whatever point someone wants to make...

Polls, more often than not, only show the biases of the poll takers and less of the actual mood of those being polled..

I have said THAT a lot as well.. :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81644 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:14:34 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81644 OK, I confirmed something.. The NNL filters DO NOT like the word R E V I E W Weird.... :D Michale OK, I confirmed something..

The NNL filters DO NOT like the word R E V I E W

Weird.... :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81642 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:13:14 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81642 Just testing... National Michale Just testing...

National

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81641 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:12:55 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81641 CW, I think Neil might have mentioned it a bit ago.. But I can confirm.. The NNL filters REALLY don't like when N-A-T-I-O-N-A-L and R-E-V-I-E-W are put together in a URL.. :D They don't even like when the words are actually spelled out... Michale CW,

I think Neil might have mentioned it a bit ago.. But I can confirm..

The NNL filters REALLY don't like when N-A-T-I-O-N-A-L and R-E-V-I-E-W are put together in a URL.. :D They don't even like when the words are actually spelled out...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81639 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:09:50 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81639 JM, <I>Who says???</I> The more level-headed members of the Weigantian community.. <I>Even all of the most recent Real Clear Politics polls currently have Clinton ahead of Trump by anywhere between 8 and 12 percentage points.</I> Yes.. That's your claim.. But then there are the facts... <B>RCP Average 7/25 - 8/4 -- -- 43.2 36.7 8.4 4.0 Clinton +6.5</B> http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_clinton_vs_johnson_vs_stein-5952.html Once again.. There is hysterical cherry-picking... Ya'all And there are the FACTS.. Me <B>"Me..... Meeeee.... And.. ME.."</B> -Bill Murray, GROUNDHOG DAY :D Michale JM,

Who says???

The more level-headed members of the Weigantian community..

Even all of the most recent Real Clear Politics polls currently have Clinton ahead of Trump by anywhere between 8 and 12 percentage points.

Yes.. That's your claim..

But then there are the facts...

RCP Average 7/25 - 8/4 -- -- 43.2 36.7 8.4 4.0 Clinton +6.5
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_clinton_vs_johnson_vs_stein-5952.html

Once again.. There is hysterical cherry-picking... Ya'all

And there are the FACTS.. Me

"Me..... Meeeee.... And.. ME.."
-Bill Murray, GROUNDHOG DAY

:D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81638 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:06:28 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81638 http://tinyurl.com/ztdw7d3 This is why things aren't a slam dunk for the Democrat Party.. The Dems need Special Interests groups to be able to fan the flames of "us vs them" discontent... When there are no more special interest group, the Demcorat Party will have to evolve and actually be representative of AMERICANS... Or else wither and die... Michale http://tinyurl.com/ztdw7d3

This is why things aren't a slam dunk for the Democrat Party..

The Dems need Special Interests groups to be able to fan the flames of "us vs them" discontent...

When there are no more special interest group, the Demcorat Party will have to evolve and actually be representative of AMERICANS...

Or else wither and die...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81637 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:03:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81637 http://www.nationalreview.com/article/438741/demography-donald-trump-democrats-search-new-core-constituency This is why things aren't a slam dunk for the Democrat Party.. The Dems need Special Interests groups to be able to fan the flames of "us vs them" discontent... When there are no more special interest group, the Demcorat Party will have to evolve and actually be representative of AMERICANS... Or else wither and die... Michale http://www.nationalreview.com/article/438741/demography-donald-trump-democrats-search-new-core-constituency

This is why things aren't a slam dunk for the Democrat Party..

The Dems need Special Interests groups to be able to fan the flames of "us vs them" discontent...

When there are no more special interest group, the Demcorat Party will have to evolve and actually be representative of AMERICANS...

Or else wither and die...

Michale

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81636 John M Mon, 08 Aug 2016 12:46:59 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81636 Michale wrote: "The *ONLY* acceptable polls for Weigantia are the RCP poll of polls.. And THOSE polls paint quite a different picture than the polls YOU want to use...." Who says??? NO, they DON'T. Even all of the most recent Real Clear Politics polls currently have Clinton ahead of Trump by anywhere between 8 and 12 percentage points. Michale wrote:

"The *ONLY* acceptable polls for Weigantia are the RCP poll of polls..

And THOSE polls paint quite a different picture than the polls YOU want to use...."

Who says??? NO, they DON'T. Even all of the most recent Real Clear Politics polls currently have Clinton ahead of Trump by anywhere between 8 and 12 percentage points.

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81634 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 11:12:28 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81634 <B>"He's in love with the sound of his own voice."</B> -Grace, STAR TREK VOYAGER, Spirit Folk :D heh Michale "He's in love with the sound of his own voice."
-Grace, STAR TREK VOYAGER, Spirit Folk

:D

heh

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81633 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 10:56:02 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81633 <I>I get an open mind, but assertions that are new and material demand some intellectual rigor - some form of evidence presented with the original statement. But ONLY when those assertions favor the Right against the Left.. If the assertions favor the Left against the Right, ya'all accept them unquestionably... "I did not have sex with that woman" for example.. :D</I> In other words, ya'all unequivocally and without hesitation, accept ANY assertion, no matter how ludicrous and far-fetched if it confirms ya'all's preconceived notions.... Don't get me wrong. I get it.. I am guilty of that at times as well... The DNC/NO FLAGs flap is a perfect example.. But the difference between ya'all and me is that I *RECOGNIZE* it as an issue and acknowledge my own faults in that issue.. Ya'all never do.. Another difference is mine are logic based assumptions and common sense that fit the narrative of the given assertion. IE Democrats Hate America is a well-established meme... Reverent Wright, Michelle Obama, etc etc... Whereas ya'all's (NEN) assumptions of accuracy are based solely and completely on ideological slavery and blind loyalty to Party dogma... In short (too late! :D) my approach is, <B>"If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's likely a duck.."</B>.. If it turns out to be Zebras, well.... That doesn't change the logic of the approach... Ya'all's approach is <B>"If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it ain't a duck until the Demcorat Party *SAYS* it's a duck..."</B> Michale I get an open mind, but assertions that are new and material demand some intellectual rigor - some form of evidence presented with the original statement.

But ONLY when those assertions favor the Right against the Left..

If the assertions favor the Left against the Right, ya'all accept them unquestionably...

"I did not have sex with that woman" for example.. :D

In other words, ya'all unequivocally and without hesitation, accept ANY assertion, no matter how ludicrous and far-fetched if it confirms ya'all's preconceived notions....

Don't get me wrong. I get it.. I am guilty of that at times as well... The DNC/NO FLAGs flap is a perfect example..

But the difference between ya'all and me is that I *RECOGNIZE* it as an issue and acknowledge my own faults in that issue.. Ya'all never do..

Another difference is mine are logic based assumptions and common sense that fit the narrative of the given assertion. IE Democrats Hate America is a well-established meme... Reverent Wright, Michelle Obama, etc etc...

Whereas ya'all's (NEN) assumptions of accuracy are based solely and completely on ideological slavery and blind loyalty to Party dogma...

In short (too late! :D) my approach is, "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's likely a duck..".. If it turns out to be Zebras, well.... That doesn't change the logic of the approach...

Ya'all's approach is "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it ain't a duck until the Demcorat Party *SAYS* it's a duck..."

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81632 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 10:43:31 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81632 Speaking of things that "gotta hurt"... :D <B>JILL NOT HILL!!!!</B> https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/07/jill-stein-green-party-convention-sanders-clinton-us-election All those millions and millions of Bernie votes that are leaving Hillary and going to Jill Stein... Remind me again how Hillary has this in the bag?? :D I have forgotten what with all the facts to the contrary.... Michale Speaking of things that "gotta hurt"... :D

JILL NOT HILL!!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/07/jill-stein-green-party-convention-sanders-clinton-us-election

All those millions and millions of Bernie votes that are leaving Hillary and going to Jill Stein...

Remind me again how Hillary has this in the bag?? :D

I have forgotten what with all the facts to the contrary....

Michale

]]> By: John From Censornati http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81631 John From Censornati Mon, 08 Aug 2016 10:41:43 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81631 CW, "I wonder what Jill Stein's numbers will look like in places like CA versus perhaps OH, and what Johnson's numbers will look like in WY versus OH." <b>There Must Be Another Way</b> http://www.wnyc.org/story/on-the-media-2016-08-05 CW,

"I wonder what Jill Stein's numbers will look like in places like CA versus perhaps OH, and what Johnson's numbers will look like in WY versus OH."

There Must Be Another Way

http://www.wnyc.org/story/on-the-media-2016-08-05

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81630 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 10:35:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81630 <I>Sound like anybody we know?</I> I am certain you THINK you are talking about me.. But you are so far off the reservation as to be on a different planet.. First off, I NEVER "make breakfast"... Secondly, I don't even HAVE a radio, let alone listen to one.. Thirdly, I didn't even know Hannity was on the radio that I don't have to listen to, which I never have... So, once again, this begs the question.. Do you *EVER* get tired of being completely and utterly wrong?? You said above that Trump was "imploding".... Yet Hillary's poll numbers are sinking and Trump's poll numbers are rising.. So you were completely and utterly WRONG... AGAIN.... That's really gotta hurt... :D Michale Sound like anybody we know?

I am certain you THINK you are talking about me..

But you are so far off the reservation as to be on a different planet..

First off, I NEVER "make breakfast"...

Secondly, I don't even HAVE a radio, let alone listen to one..

Thirdly, I didn't even know Hannity was on the radio that I don't have to listen to, which I never have...

So, once again, this begs the question..

Do you *EVER* get tired of being completely and utterly wrong??

You said above that Trump was "imploding"....

Yet Hillary's poll numbers are sinking and Trump's poll numbers are rising..

So you were completely and utterly WRONG... AGAIN....

That's really gotta hurt... :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81629 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 10:30:20 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81629 <I>As it is, conservatives of all ages and incomes can wake up in the morning and read email newsletters filled with nonsense from the likes of Dick Morris along with false promises of “secret cancer cures.” As they make their breakfast, they can flip through websites utterly devoid of reporting and data analysis predicting that Democrats are on the run and Hillary Clinton is sure to be indicted. During the work day, they can turn on the radio and listen to Christian nationalists like Bryan Fischer tell them how the Founding Fathers intended to provide religious freedom only to Christians. At night, they can listen to Sean Hannity tell them another horror story from the Book of Benghazi. Sound like anybody we know?</I> I am certain you THINK you are talking about me.. But you are so far off the reservation as to be on a different planet.. First off, I NEVER "make breakfast"... Secondly, I don't even HAVE a radio, let alone listen to one.. Thirdly, I didn't even know Hannity was on the radio that I don't have to listen to, which I never have... So, once again, this begs the question.. Do you *EVER* get tired of being completely and utterly wrong?? You said above that Trump was "imploding".... Yet Hillary's poll numbers are sinking and Trump's poll numbers are rising.. So you were completely and utterly WRONG... AGAIN.... That's really gotta hurt... :D Michale As it is, conservatives of all ages and incomes can wake up in the morning and read email newsletters filled with nonsense from the likes of Dick Morris along with false promises of “secret cancer cures.” As they make their breakfast, they can flip through websites utterly devoid of reporting and data analysis predicting that Democrats are on the run and Hillary Clinton is sure to be indicted. During the work day, they can turn on the radio and listen to Christian nationalists like Bryan Fischer tell them how the Founding Fathers intended to provide religious freedom only to Christians. At night, they can listen to Sean Hannity tell them another horror story from the Book of Benghazi.

Sound like anybody we know?

I am certain you THINK you are talking about me..

But you are so far off the reservation as to be on a different planet..

First off, I NEVER "make breakfast"...

Secondly, I don't even HAVE a radio, let alone listen to one..

Thirdly, I didn't even know Hannity was on the radio that I don't have to listen to, which I never have...

So, once again, this begs the question..

Do you *EVER* get tired of being completely and utterly wrong??

You said above that Trump was "imploding"....

Yet Hillary's poll numbers are sinking and Trump's poll numbers are rising..

So you were completely and utterly WRONG... AGAIN....

That's really gotta hurt... :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81628 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 09:14:01 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81628 <B>College Takes Down Historical Paintings Because They Might Traumatize Students </B> http://dailycaller.com/2016/08/07/college-takes-down-historical-paintings-because-they-might-traumatize-students/#ixzz4GjLVwvF7 And the wussification of America continues apace.. Gods help us all... :^/ Michale College Takes Down Historical Paintings Because They Might Traumatize Students
http://dailycaller.com/2016/08/07/college-takes-down-historical-paintings-because-they-might-traumatize-students/#ixzz4GjLVwvF7

And the wussification of America continues apace..

Gods help us all... :^/

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81627 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 09:04:49 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81627 <B>As senator, Clinton promised 200,000 jobs in Upstate New York. Her efforts fell flat.</B> https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/as-senator-clinton-promised-200000-jobs-in-upstate-new-york-her-efforts-fell-flat/2016/08/07/339d3384-58d2-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html A familiar.. Hillary promises, but never delivers.. Trump's ability to make jobs for Americans is well-documented... If Job Creation is your one issue, then Trump is the obvious choice for POTUS... Michale As senator, Clinton promised 200,000 jobs in Upstate New York. Her efforts fell flat.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/as-senator-clinton-promised-200000-jobs-in-upstate-new-york-her-efforts-fell-flat/2016/08/07/339d3384-58d2-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html

A familiar.. Hillary promises, but never delivers..

Trump's ability to make jobs for Americans is well-documented...

If Job Creation is your one issue, then Trump is the obvious choice for POTUS...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81626 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 09:00:30 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81626 <B>2016: HILLARY CONQUERS THE STAIRS 2012: FALLS AT HOME, BLOOD CLOT 2011: FALLS BOARDING PLANE 2009: FALLS GOING TO WHITE HOUSE, BROKEN ELBOW</B> Dunno if Hillary can SURVIVE the general election.. I'm just sayin'... :D Michale 2016: HILLARY CONQUERS THE STAIRS
2012: FALLS AT HOME, BLOOD CLOT
2011: FALLS BOARDING PLANE
2009: FALLS GOING TO WHITE HOUSE, BROKEN ELBOW

Dunno if Hillary can SURVIVE the general election..

I'm just sayin'... :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81625 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:58:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81625 CW, <I>I challenge you -- try, just try, to put together a GOP presidential win without FL. It's pretty tough....</I> It's simply impossible because this election is unlike any other in history.. Trump is attracting Dem stalwarts that NO GOP'er ever could touch... Put another way, which state went which way in the past 1000 elections isn't going to mean diddley squat... It truly is a whole new world.. <B>I can show you the world Shining, shimmering splendid Tell me, princess, now when did You last let your heart decide! I can open your eyes Take you wonder by wonder Over sideways and under On a magic carpet ride A whole new world A new fantastic point of view No one to tell us no Or where to go Or say we're only dreaming</B> -ALADDIN :D Michale CW,

I challenge you -- try, just try, to put together a GOP presidential win without FL. It's pretty tough....

It's simply impossible because this election is unlike any other in history..

Trump is attracting Dem stalwarts that NO GOP'er ever could touch...

Put another way, which state went which way in the past 1000 elections isn't going to mean diddley squat...

It truly is a whole new world..

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide!

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming
-ALADDIN

:D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81623 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:53:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81623 <I>As for the Iran thing, what I'm astonished isn't a major part of the story is the fact that IT WAS THEIR OWN MONEY. No "payment" happened, and "ransom" depends on your definition of the term.</I> Not according to the Iranians. Which, as no one will address, Obama said we can trust their word... But here's the thing.. Why cash?? If you owe me 400 million dollars legitimately and I ask you to pay me back in cash (unmarked bills, please) wouldn't you think something is hinky??? Governments don't do business in cash, especially in large amounts such as that... Michale As for the Iran thing, what I'm astonished isn't a major part of the story is the fact that IT WAS THEIR OWN MONEY. No "payment" happened, and "ransom" depends on your definition of the term.

Not according to the Iranians. Which, as no one will address, Obama said we can trust their word...

But here's the thing..

Why cash??

If you owe me 400 million dollars legitimately and I ask you to pay me back in cash (unmarked bills, please) wouldn't you think something is hinky???

Governments don't do business in cash, especially in large amounts such as that...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81622 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:50:54 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81622 <I>I get an open mind, but assertions that are new and material demand some intellectual rigor - some form of evidence presented with the original statement.</I> But ONLY when those assertions favor the Right against the Left.. If the assertions favor the Left against the Right, ya'all accept them unquestionably... <B>"I did not have sex with that woman"</B> for example.. :D Michale I get an open mind, but assertions that are new and material demand some intellectual rigor - some form of evidence presented with the original statement.

But ONLY when those assertions favor the Right against the Left..

If the assertions favor the Left against the Right, ya'all accept them unquestionably...

"I did not have sex with that woman" for example.. :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81621 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:49:24 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81621 <I>- and absolutely no reason to have known what was going on at the time.</I> Except that they were told by their Iranian captors. And, as Odumbo said, "We can trust the Iranians' word." :D Michale - and absolutely no reason to have known what was going on at the time.

Except that they were told by their Iranian captors.

And, as Odumbo said, "We can trust the Iranians' word."

:D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81620 Michale Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:48:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81620 Apophis, <I>That photo was taken in Feb. in NC. it's being used on RW sites as "proof" that her health is bad.</I> I don't care what the Right Wingery is using it for.. I simply pointed out that Hillary needs help up the stairs (FACT) and it makes her look old and frail... Michale Apophis,

That photo was taken in Feb. in NC. it's being used on RW sites as "proof" that her health is bad.

I don't care what the Right Wingery is using it for.. I simply pointed out that Hillary needs help up the stairs (FACT) and it makes her look old and frail...

Michale

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81619 Chris Weigant Mon, 08 Aug 2016 05:26:26 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81619 First off -- filtered comments have been freed. Woo hoo! Let the comments run free! [sorry for the delay] ListenWhenYouHear [34] - I can personally vouch that the author was indeed in the Hillary camp in 2008. I'm just sayin'... TheStig [35] - I, too, can see myself in Eric's essay, which is probably why I thought it was so good. I remember the first time I was disillusioned. I think it was the failure of Jesse Jackson's run in the 1980s... but I also know I don't think I could have been so eloquent about it, especially when the wounds were so fresh. Agree with him or not, Eric did write a pretty damn good recap of a Bernie supporter's trajectory through the primary season. That's why I thought it was good enough to run on a Friday, personally. John From Censornati [39] - I've been thinking about voting patterns, Bernie supporters, anti-Trump GOPers, and the like, and was kind of wondering a tangential thought: Will this year's voting be (more than normal) dependent on whether you live in a swing state or not? I wonder what Jill Stein's numbers will look like in places like CA versus perhaps OH, and what Johnson's numbers will look like in WY versus OH. An interesting subject to ponder.... nypoet22 [40] - My point exactly. I thought, after seeing a convention with a whole lot of dissent, that listening to one of the dissenters' voices would be a valuable thing. I had no idea Eric's essay would be so good -- I had in fact lined up other voices just in case. But I really think this is something a lot of Democrats should be hearing right now, no matter what their position on HRC. As for polling [low 40s in above comments] - Wait for Monday! Electoral Math rides again! Plus, don't forget, there's an alternate polling universe with "unskewed polls," in which Mitt Romney is finishing his first term and running for re-election on the promise that he kept of getting unemployment under 6%. Of course, for those of us who live where it's already 4.9%, this universe is hard to understand, but remember Karl Rove on election night 2012? There's going to be a whole lot of that this year, too, that's my guess. Heh. LizM [51] - <em>Now, as for Eric's piece - his essay is, by far, the longest piece I have ever read in its entirety and loved every single moment of it!!! This was a truly awesome essay - every single word had its place, every paragraph an essential meaning. </em> Yeah, that's what I thought too. Agree with it or not, it is an awesome piece of writing. neilm [58] - I think I've freed them all. Sorry for the delay! neilm [59] - Yeah, I keep thinking of Pete Wilson in CA. However, one fact worth pointing out: it worked for Wilson. He won re-election. True, it killed the GOP in CA for the next 4 or 5 decades, but he did win his own race. Something to ponder. The GOP seems on the brink of shoving the Latino vote into the same category as the black vote: 90%-plus for Dems for the foreseeable future. If this truly comes to pass, then FL and AZ become solid blue, and TX turns purple and is a swing state. This could mean GENERATIONS of Democratic presidents, to put it in proper context. Michale [61] - Reagan won CA twice. CA was pretty purple in the late 80s, early 90s. Then Pete Wilson did his anti-immigration thing (see: prop 197? Forget the number). Since then, the only Republican (if you can call him that) who has won statewide office here was Arnie Schwarzenegger. Dems have a lock on this state, because Wilson baited some immigrant-haters. If that happens nationally (or even just in FL), then the GOP can kiss the Oval Office goodbye for a few decades. I challenge you -- try, just try, to put together a GOP presidential win without FL. It's pretty tough.... Balthasar [65] - Excellent comment. Just had to say that. As for the Iran thing, what I'm astonished isn't a major part of the story is the fact that IT WAS THEIR OWN MONEY. No "payment" happened, and "ransom" depends on your definition of the term. But it was only a "reimbursment." Period. They paid us for warplanes that we didn't deliver. A revolution happened. We froze their money. When diplomacy caused a thaw, they wanted their money back. Plain and simple. I've been meaning to write about this, but convention stuff has overwhelmed me. Anyway, that's it for now. More later... -CW First off -- filtered comments have been freed. Woo hoo! Let the comments run free! [sorry for the delay]

ListenWhenYouHear [34] -

I can personally vouch that the author was indeed in the Hillary camp in 2008. I'm just sayin'...

TheStig [35] -

I, too, can see myself in Eric's essay, which is probably why I thought it was so good. I remember the first time I was disillusioned. I think it was the failure of Jesse Jackson's run in the 1980s... but I also know I don't think I could have been so eloquent about it, especially when the wounds were so fresh.

Agree with him or not, Eric did write a pretty damn good recap of a Bernie supporter's trajectory through the primary season. That's why I thought it was good enough to run on a Friday, personally.

John From Censornati [39] -

I've been thinking about voting patterns, Bernie supporters, anti-Trump GOPers, and the like, and was kind of wondering a tangential thought:

Will this year's voting be (more than normal) dependent on whether you live in a swing state or not?

I wonder what Jill Stein's numbers will look like in places like CA versus perhaps OH, and what Johnson's numbers will look like in WY versus OH. An interesting subject to ponder....

nypoet22 [40] -

My point exactly. I thought, after seeing a convention with a whole lot of dissent, that listening to one of the dissenters' voices would be a valuable thing. I had no idea Eric's essay would be so good -- I had in fact lined up other voices just in case. But I really think this is something a lot of Democrats should be hearing right now, no matter what their position on HRC.

As for polling [low 40s in above comments] -

Wait for Monday! Electoral Math rides again!

Plus, don't forget, there's an alternate polling universe with "unskewed polls," in which Mitt Romney is finishing his first term and running for re-election on the promise that he kept of getting unemployment under 6%.

Of course, for those of us who live where it's already 4.9%, this universe is hard to understand, but remember Karl Rove on election night 2012? There's going to be a whole lot of that this year, too, that's my guess.

Heh.

LizM [51] -

Now, as for Eric's piece - his essay is, by far, the longest piece I have ever read in its entirety and loved every single moment of it!!! This was a truly awesome essay - every single word had its place, every paragraph an essential meaning.

Yeah, that's what I thought too. Agree with it or not, it is an awesome piece of writing.

neilm [58] -

I think I've freed them all. Sorry for the delay!

neilm [59] -

Yeah, I keep thinking of Pete Wilson in CA. However, one fact worth pointing out: it worked for Wilson. He won re-election. True, it killed the GOP in CA for the next 4 or 5 decades, but he did win his own race. Something to ponder.

The GOP seems on the brink of shoving the Latino vote into the same category as the black vote: 90%-plus for Dems for the foreseeable future. If this truly comes to pass, then FL and AZ become solid blue, and TX turns purple and is a swing state.

This could mean GENERATIONS of Democratic presidents, to put it in proper context.

Michale [61] -

Reagan won CA twice. CA was pretty purple in the late 80s, early 90s. Then Pete Wilson did his anti-immigration thing (see: prop 197? Forget the number). Since then, the only Republican (if you can call him that) who has won statewide office here was Arnie Schwarzenegger. Dems have a lock on this state, because Wilson baited some immigrant-haters. If that happens nationally (or even just in FL), then the GOP can kiss the Oval Office goodbye for a few decades.

I challenge you -- try, just try, to put together a GOP presidential win without FL. It's pretty tough....

Balthasar [65] -

Excellent comment. Just had to say that.

As for the Iran thing, what I'm astonished isn't a major part of the story is the fact that IT WAS THEIR OWN MONEY. No "payment" happened, and "ransom" depends on your definition of the term. But it was only a "reimbursment." Period. They paid us for warplanes that we didn't deliver. A revolution happened. We froze their money. When diplomacy caused a thaw, they wanted their money back. Plain and simple. I've been meaning to write about this, but convention stuff has overwhelmed me.

Anyway, that's it for now. More later...

-CW

]]> By: Balthasar http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81618 Balthasar Mon, 08 Aug 2016 04:44:48 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81618 Speaking of John Oliver - he did a very thought provoking piece tonight about journalism, corporate ownership and the horrible economics of it all. I hope you can find it somewhere. But it made me think: could this be fixed by changing copyright law? Right now, no corporate-owned entity such as NBC could air a song by Prince without paying royalties - perhaps to itself - for the use of the song. And each time that song is aired, ASCAP or BMI notes it and bills the corporation on behalf of the artist. There is even an arrangement now regarding 'sampling'. Each individual payment is ridiculously small, but it adds up, making both artists and corporations rich(er). So, meanwhile, journalists are going broke everywhere, and the owners of newpapers haven't seen profits since the Carter administration. What's different? Nobody's bothering to charge for the re-use of journalistic content in corporate-owned media that I'm aware of. Journalists have no ASCAP, charging the Sony Corporation 1/10th of a cent for lifting six paragraphs from an article in a newspaper owned by the Sony Corporation. Or suppose Fox had to pay its news division .05 cents each time one of their journalists quoted a specific WSJ article. It adds up. The key would be to keep it in the realm of Corporate copyright law. Corporations only care about revenue streams, not operating expense, and they don't care where the revenue comes from, as long as the source is reputable (so they will, for instance, count piles and piles of corporate welfare as 'income' without loss of sleep) and the two roughly balance one another. So even though logic would normally compel you to reject the concept of making news more expensive to produce by charging royalties, in fact the collection of royalties would make news more profitable and available by improving its revenue stream. Moreover, since original material has more value in such an environment, so would the creators of widely-quoted original content. Suddenly, content-rich articles taken from raw data would have the highest value in the inter-corporate marketplace, where the real money resides. In the meantime I would exempt all non-corporate entities from being affected by such a law. For consumers, news should be free to consume, full stop. Improving news' revenue stream would help that, too. Now if in fact you can tell me that journalists do in fact receive royalties when they are quoted at length in other people's articles that appear in corporately owned outlets, then I would respond that you should immediately push to strengthen royalty payments and royalty collections, particularly on the part of smaller news outlets. Corporate America would kick and moan for a minute, and then realize what wonderful income such a shell game could produce. Imagine that. Speaking of John Oliver - he did a very thought provoking piece tonight about journalism, corporate ownership and the horrible economics of it all. I hope you can find it somewhere.

But it made me think: could this be fixed by changing copyright law? Right now, no corporate-owned entity such as NBC could air a song by Prince without paying royalties - perhaps to itself - for the use of the song. And each time that song is aired, ASCAP or BMI notes it and bills the corporation on behalf of the artist. There is even an arrangement now regarding 'sampling'. Each individual payment is ridiculously small, but it adds up, making both artists and corporations rich(er).

So, meanwhile, journalists are going broke everywhere, and the owners of newpapers haven't seen profits since the Carter administration. What's different? Nobody's bothering to charge for the re-use of journalistic content in corporate-owned media that I'm aware of. Journalists have no ASCAP, charging the Sony Corporation 1/10th of a cent for lifting six paragraphs from an article in a newspaper owned by the Sony Corporation. Or suppose Fox had to pay its news division .05 cents each time one of their journalists quoted a specific WSJ article. It adds up.

The key would be to keep it in the realm of Corporate copyright law. Corporations only care about revenue streams, not operating expense, and they don't care where the revenue comes from, as long as the source is reputable (so they will, for instance, count piles and piles of corporate welfare as 'income' without loss of sleep) and the two roughly balance one another. So even though logic would normally compel you to reject the concept of making news more expensive to produce by charging royalties, in fact the collection of royalties would make news more profitable and available by improving its revenue stream.

Moreover, since original material has more value in such an environment, so would the creators of widely-quoted original content. Suddenly, content-rich articles taken from raw data would have the highest value in the inter-corporate marketplace, where the real money resides.

In the meantime I would exempt all non-corporate entities from being affected by such a law. For consumers, news should be free to consume, full stop. Improving news' revenue stream would help that, too.

Now if in fact you can tell me that journalists do in fact receive royalties when they are quoted at length in other people's articles that appear in corporately owned outlets, then I would respond that you should immediately push to strengthen royalty payments and royalty collections, particularly on the part of smaller news outlets. Corporate America would kick and moan for a minute, and then realize what wonderful income such a shell game could produce.

Imagine that.

]]> By: Balthasar http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81617 Balthasar Mon, 08 Aug 2016 02:14:08 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81617 [80] John Oliver calls this the 'bed of nails' theory. One nail will maim you if you try to stand on it, but place a thousand of them close enough together and you can sleep on 'em. [81] She doesn't look frail to me. In a few years we'll be calling her the 'Steel Lady'. [80] John Oliver calls this the 'bed of nails' theory. One nail will maim you if you try to stand on it, but place a thousand of them close enough together and you can sleep on 'em.

[81] She doesn't look frail to me. In a few years we'll be calling her the 'Steel Lady'.

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81616 Paula Mon, 08 Aug 2016 00:21:55 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81616 [79] Yep. [80] Yep. Wonderful photos here: https://medium.com/@barb_kinney/heres-what-it-was-like-photographing-hillary-clinton-at-the-democratic-national-convention-3db8d9354ba0#.ls994wkky [79] Yep.
[80] Yep.

Wonderful photos here: https://medium.com/@barb_kinney/heres-what-it-was-like-photographing-hillary-clinton-at-the-democratic-national-convention-3db8d9354ba0#.ls994wkky

]]> By: neilm http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81615 neilm Mon, 08 Aug 2016 00:09:20 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81615 "Just because Michale has not proven his assertion doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong. What date an event occurred and what conditions prompted it may or may not be objectively verified. Absent proof, who can say what discussions went on behind closed doors?" I get an open mind, but assertions that are new and material demand some intellectual rigor - some form of evidence presented with the original statement. Otherwise you have to accept any fantasy until a certain point in time has passed and the "fantasy"-artist has obviously given up even trying to substantiate, because they have 101 more fantasies they are spinning. This is Donald Trump's MO. "Just because Michale has not proven his assertion doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong. What date an event occurred and what conditions prompted it may or may not be objectively verified. Absent proof, who can say what discussions went on behind closed doors?"

I get an open mind, but assertions that are new and material demand some intellectual rigor - some form of evidence presented with the original statement.

Otherwise you have to accept any fantasy until a certain point in time has passed and the "fantasy"-artist has obviously given up even trying to substantiate, because they have 101 more fantasies they are spinning.

This is Donald Trump's MO.

]]> By: Balthasar http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81613 Balthasar Mon, 08 Aug 2016 00:07:16 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81613 <i>The released hostages have absolutely NO REASON to lie..</i> - and absolutely no reason to have known what was going on at the time. <i>Pastor Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American Christian pastor who was imprisoned in Iran, told Fox Business Network in an interview that he was taken out of his prison cell and brought to an airport in Tehran. There, a plane was waiting for him and other freed American prisoners, Abedini said. But before they could be flown home, Abedini said he and the other prisoners had to wait several hours for another plane to land first.</i> <i>“They didn’t talk about money,” Abedini said. “They just told me about the plane. The reason they said you are here in the airport is because we are waiting for another plane. After that, they never told anything to me and I didn’t see anything.”</i> Reports of a cash-for-hostages deal apparently originate from a right-wing Iranian media outlet that made the link in a broadcast February 15, nearly a month after the payment had been made. The broadcast described a quid-pro-quo and showed some grainy video that may or may not have been actual footage and crowed to their audience that they'd bested the US. The problem is of course, that most of that is made up. Even the WSJ article that started the controversy included the little noted fact that U.S. and European officials never disclosed exactly when the cash-laden plane landed in Tehran, but that a report by the Iranian Tasnim news agency, with close ties to the Revolutionary Guard, said it arrived at Mehrabad airport on the same day the Americans left the country. Since then, US officials have said on the record that the two events didn't happen at exactly the same time. And there are other little discrepancies that undermine the story: as Matt Lee of the AP reports, US officials had every reason to believe that they were about to lose on the issue of the seized Iranian money, which had been litigated in the Hague for decades - and they were asking for 10 <i>billion</i> dollars interest. So the Iranians would have to be <i>terrible</i> negotiators to have settled for an arms-for-hostages deal that netted them only $400M - literally, the world's stupidest hostage takers. Lucky for Kerry, the negotiators who finally signed the deal were different negotiators. State Department spokesman John Kirby told the Journal: “Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of The Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years.” The released hostages have absolutely NO REASON to lie..

- and absolutely no reason to have known what was going on at the time.

Pastor Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American Christian pastor who was imprisoned in Iran, told Fox Business Network in an interview that he was taken out of his prison cell and brought to an airport in Tehran. There, a plane was waiting for him and other freed American prisoners, Abedini said. But before they could be flown home, Abedini said he and the other prisoners had to wait several hours for another plane to land first.

“They didn’t talk about money,” Abedini said. “They just told me about the plane. The reason they said you are here in the airport is because we are waiting for another plane. After that, they never told anything to me and I didn’t see anything.”

Reports of a cash-for-hostages deal apparently originate from a right-wing Iranian media outlet that made the link in a broadcast February 15, nearly a month after the payment had been made. The broadcast described a quid-pro-quo and showed some grainy video that may or may not have been actual footage and crowed to their audience that they'd bested the US.

The problem is of course, that most of that is made up. Even the WSJ article that started the controversy included the little noted fact that U.S. and European officials never disclosed exactly when the cash-laden plane landed in Tehran, but that a report by the Iranian Tasnim news agency, with close ties to the Revolutionary Guard, said it arrived at Mehrabad airport on the same day the Americans left the country. Since then, US officials have said on the record that the two events didn't happen at exactly the same time.

And there are other little discrepancies that undermine the story: as Matt Lee of the AP reports, US officials had every reason to believe that they were about to lose on the issue of the seized Iranian money, which had been litigated in the Hague for decades - and they were asking for 10 billion dollars interest.

So the Iranians would have to be terrible negotiators to have settled for an arms-for-hostages deal that netted them only $400M - literally, the world's stupidest hostage takers. Lucky for Kerry, the negotiators who finally signed the deal were different negotiators. State Department spokesman John Kirby told the Journal: “Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of The Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years.”

]]> By: apophis http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81612 apophis Sun, 07 Aug 2016 23:15:20 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81612 [72] Michale That photo was taken in Feb. in NC. it's being used on RW sites as "proof" that her health is bad. [72]
Michale

That photo was taken in Feb. in NC. it's being used on RW sites as "proof" that her health is bad.

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81611 nypoet22 Sun, 07 Aug 2016 23:07:37 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81611 so to clarify, there were ten prisoners released three days before the nuclear deal was implemented, and another four the day after. the money was part of a claim that was due for arbitration at the hague. the timing of the settlement coincides with both prisoner releases and the nuclear deal being implemented. people involved in one deal or the other freely speculated about the three events being connected in one way or another, but nobody has presented direct evidence. JL so to clarify, there were ten prisoners released three days before the nuclear deal was implemented, and another four the day after. the money was part of a claim that was due for arbitration at the hague.

the timing of the settlement coincides with both prisoner releases and the nuclear deal being implemented. people involved in one deal or the other freely speculated about the three events being connected in one way or another, but nobody has presented direct evidence.

JL

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81610 nypoet22 Sun, 07 Aug 2016 22:56:44 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81610 also as i said, the AP fact-checked the WSJ article and found they were wrong about the dates of the events: http://elections.ap.org/content/ap-fact-check-trump-base-clinton-and-iran-payment <b>On Jan. 12, four days before the Iran deal was implemented and five days before the payment was delivered, 10 sailors veered off course in two small boats and landed on an island in the Persian Gulf where there's an Iranian military installation. They were held at gunpoint and released the next day after negotiations between Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The Navy has disciplined many of the sailors and their commanders for the navigation error that led to an international incident.</b> JL also as i said, the AP fact-checked the WSJ article and found they were wrong about the dates of the events:

http://elections.ap.org/content/ap-fact-check-trump-base-clinton-and-iran-payment

On Jan. 12, four days before the Iran deal was implemented and five days before the payment was delivered, 10 sailors veered off course in two small boats and landed on an island in the Persian Gulf where there's an Iranian military installation. They were held at gunpoint and released the next day after negotiations between Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The Navy has disciplined many of the sailors and their commanders for the navigation error that led to an international incident.

JL

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81609 nypoet22 Sun, 07 Aug 2016 22:36:45 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81609 <i>I have a plethora of evidence and facts..</i> then why don't you share the primary sources? so far the only link you gave was an article from a reporter, citing a different article from a different reporter. here is the original article from last tuesday: http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sent-cash-to-iran-as-americans-were-freed-1470181874 from that article: <b>The money represented the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement the Obama administration reached with Iran to resolve a decades-old dispute over a failed arms deal signed just before the 1979 fall of Iran’s last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The settlement, which resolved claims before an international tribunal in The Hague, also coincided with the formal implementation that same weekend of the landmark nuclear agreement reached between Tehran, the U.S. and other global powers the summer before.</b> i.e. the facts of the case support obama's assertion. <i>The released hostages have absolutely NO REASON to lie.. Obama and Kerry have EVERY reason to lie.. Further, there are the statements from the Iranians who Obama said we can trust...</i> those are not facts, they're opinions - educated guesses from people who don't have access to all the facts. those who claim there was a quid pro quo don't have to be lying to be wrong. as yet, none of the alleged plethora has been shared with anyone here. <b>I would not like to think that a person would tell someone he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora. ~the three amigos</b> JL I have a plethora of evidence and facts..

then why don't you share the primary sources? so far the only link you gave was an article from a reporter, citing a different article from a different reporter. here is the original article from last tuesday:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sent-cash-to-iran-as-americans-were-freed-1470181874

from that article:

The money represented the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement the Obama administration reached with Iran to resolve a decades-old dispute over a failed arms deal signed just before the 1979 fall of Iran’s last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The settlement, which resolved claims before an international tribunal in The Hague, also coincided with the formal implementation that same weekend of the landmark nuclear agreement reached between Tehran, the U.S. and other global powers the summer before.

i.e. the facts of the case support obama's assertion.

The released hostages have absolutely NO REASON to lie..
Obama and Kerry have EVERY reason to lie..
Further, there are the statements from the Iranians who Obama said we can trust...

those are not facts, they're opinions - educated guesses from people who don't have access to all the facts. those who claim there was a quid pro quo don't have to be lying to be wrong.

as yet, none of the alleged plethora has been shared with anyone here.

I would not like to think that a person would tell someone he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.
~the three amigos

JL

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81608 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 22:06:28 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81608 The released hostages have absolutely NO REASON to lie.. Obama and Kerry have EVERY reason to lie.. Further, there are the statements from the Iranians who Obama said we can trust... I have a plethora of evidence and facts.. You have the statements of two KNOWN liars with EVERY reason to lie.. Michale The released hostages have absolutely NO REASON to lie..

Obama and Kerry have EVERY reason to lie..

Further, there are the statements from the Iranians who Obama said we can trust...

I have a plethora of evidence and facts..

You have the statements of two KNOWN liars with EVERY reason to lie..

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81607 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 22:05:16 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81607 Joshua, <I>o you've said, twice. The AP says the two events happened a few days apart, on either side of Kerry making the nuclear deal. The AP also says there's no direct evidence of quid pro quo. Which of these factual claims are you disputing, and with what evidence?</I> The reports from the hostages that were released... Their eyewitness statements... Your evidence?? Obama and Kerry statements. Two well known liars... Michale Joshua,

o you've said, twice. The AP says the two events happened a few days apart, on either side of Kerry making the nuclear deal. The AP also says there's no direct evidence of quid pro quo. Which of these factual claims are you disputing, and with what evidence?

The reports from the hostages that were released...

Their eyewitness statements...

Your evidence??

Obama and Kerry statements. Two well known liars...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81604 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 22:03:15 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81604 Poor Hillary... https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpSc3XmWEAQR-TA.jpg Needs help up the stairs.. She is so old and frail.. Michale Poor Hillary...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpSc3XmWEAQR-TA.jpg

Needs help up the stairs.. She is so old and frail..

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81603 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 22:02:42 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81603 <I>Who are, luckily, not the whole electorate. Let me introduce you to Joseph and Janie Winerack, who got a couple of degrees from the local community college, attend church on holidays, and live in a bedroom community just outside of Philadelphia. They voted for Romney in 2014, but just can't get in line with Trump's bombast. They're swinging hard for Hillary, and will probably be her margin in contested states.</I> And if you can show the tens of thousands of Wineracks out there at Hillary rallies, then you would have a point... But you can't, so you don't... You really need to face reality and the facts.. The excitement and enthusiasm is with trump, not hillary... Michale Who are, luckily, not the whole electorate. Let me introduce you to Joseph and Janie Winerack, who got a couple of degrees from the local community college, attend church on holidays, and live in a bedroom community just outside of Philadelphia. They voted for Romney in 2014, but just can't get in line with Trump's bombast. They're swinging hard for Hillary, and will probably be her margin in contested states.

And if you can show the tens of thousands of Wineracks out there at Hillary rallies, then you would have a point...

But you can't, so you don't...

You really need to face reality and the facts..

The excitement and enthusiasm is with trump, not hillary...

Michale

]]> By: Balthasar http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81602 Balthasar Sun, 07 Aug 2016 21:11:02 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81602 <i>You remind me of a British aristocrat describing an American colonist circa mid-late 1700s... :D</i> First time being compared to an aristocrat. I suppose that I should object to taxing the rich then, shouldn't I? <i>In other words, your entire opinion is biased and it's NOT an opinion shared by Joe & Jane Sixpack....</i> Who are, luckily, not the whole electorate. Let me introduce you to Joseph and Janie Winerack, who got a couple of degrees from the local community college, attend church on holidays, and live in a bedroom community just outside of Philadelphia. They voted for Romney in 2014, but just can't get in line with Trump's bombast. They're swinging hard for Hillary, and will probably be her margin in contested states. You remind me of a British aristocrat describing an American colonist circa mid-late 1700s... :D

First time being compared to an aristocrat. I suppose that I should object to taxing the rich then, shouldn't I?

In other words, your entire opinion is biased and it's NOT an opinion shared by Joe & Jane Sixpack....

Who are, luckily, not the whole electorate. Let me introduce you to Joseph and Janie Winerack, who got a couple of degrees from the local community college, attend church on holidays, and live in a bedroom community just outside of Philadelphia. They voted for Romney in 2014, but just can't get in line with Trump's bombast. They're swinging hard for Hillary, and will probably be her margin in contested states.

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81601 nypoet22 Sun, 07 Aug 2016 20:52:27 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81601 @neil, Just because Michale has not proven his assertion doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong. What date an event occurred and what conditions prompted it may or may not be objectively verified. Absent proof, who can say what discussions went on behind closed doors? JL @neil,

Just because Michale has not proven his assertion doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong. What date an event occurred and what conditions prompted it may or may not be objectively verified. Absent proof, who can say what discussions went on behind closed doors?

JL

]]> By: neilm http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81600 neilm Sun, 07 Aug 2016 20:39:42 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81600 NY [66]: Evidence? Good luck with that. I'm sure he'll tell you how he feels and what he wants to believe, because Rightwingistan is going as bananas over this as it did Benghazi!!! and Hillary being indicted (a 100% certainty in the echo chamber). NY [66]: Evidence? Good luck with that. I'm sure he'll tell you how he feels and what he wants to believe, because Rightwingistan is going as bananas over this as it did Benghazi!!! and Hillary being indicted (a 100% certainty in the echo chamber).

]]> By: neilm http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81599 neilm Sun, 07 Aug 2016 20:37:37 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81599 NY [63]: The right wing at the moment aren't interested in reality, only what people feel is reality. This is why arguing with somebody who lives by their feelings is pointless, because the 'feelies' don't accept reality so facts are pointless: Newt Gingrich giving the game away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4f5ewIYYuQ NY [63]: The right wing at the moment aren't interested in reality, only what people feel is reality. This is why arguing with somebody who lives by their feelings is pointless, because the 'feelies' don't accept reality so facts are pointless:

Newt Gingrich giving the game away:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4f5ewIYYuQ

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81598 nypoet22 Sun, 07 Aug 2016 20:36:18 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81598 @Michale, So you've said, twice. The AP says the two events happened a few days apart, on either side of Kerry making the nuclear deal. The AP also says there's no direct evidence of quid pro quo. Which of these factual claims are you disputing, and with what evidence? JL @Michale,

So you've said, twice. The AP says the two events happened a few days apart, on either side of Kerry making the nuclear deal. The AP also says there's no direct evidence of quid pro quo. Which of these factual claims are you disputing, and with what evidence?

JL

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81597 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 20:09:49 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81597 <I>We also have Iranian leadership saying that the cash was ransom for the hostages.. And, according to Obama, we can trust the Iranian's word...</I> Or, at least, we can trust the word of the Iranians when they say stuff that furthers Obama's agenda... Obama might claim that we CAN'T trust the word of the Iranians when they say something that Obama doesn't like.. As in now.. :D Michale We also have Iranian leadership saying that the cash was ransom for the hostages.. And, according to Obama, we can trust the Iranian's word...

Or, at least, we can trust the word of the Iranians when they say stuff that furthers Obama's agenda...

Obama might claim that we CAN'T trust the word of the Iranians when they say something that Obama doesn't like..

As in now.. :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81596 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 19:47:03 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81596 <I>The four captured navy men were released a few days prior, from which some people on both sides inferred a quid pro quo. </I> BZZZZZZZZZZZZ Wrong... The four Iranian hostages were released on the exact same day that Iran received the planeload of cash... As a matter of fact, one of the released hostages said that their departure was delayed UNTIL the plane with the cash ransom had landed.. We also have Iranian leadership saying that the cash was ransom for the hostages.. And, according to Obama, we can trust the Iranian's word... Michale The four captured navy men were released a few days prior, from which some people on both sides inferred a quid pro quo.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZ Wrong...

The four Iranian hostages were released on the exact same day that Iran received the planeload of cash...

As a matter of fact, one of the released hostages said that their departure was delayed UNTIL the plane with the cash ransom had landed..

We also have Iranian leadership saying that the cash was ransom for the hostages.. And, according to Obama, we can trust the Iranian's word...

Michale

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81595 nypoet22 Sun, 07 Aug 2016 19:38:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81595 According to the associated Press, we owed the shah of Iran 400m in 1979, which was paid the day after the nuclear deal was signed, and after iran had settled 2.5b in debt to us. The four captured navy men were released a few days prior, from which some people on both sides inferred a quid pro quo. The AP says there's no hard evidence to support that inference. According to the associated Press, we owed the shah of Iran 400m in 1979, which was paid the day after the nuclear deal was signed, and after iran had settled 2.5b in debt to us. The four captured navy men were released a few days prior, from which some people on both sides inferred a quid pro quo. The AP says there's no hard evidence to support that inference.

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81594 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 19:20:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81594 Balthasar, You remind me of a British aristocrat describing an American colonist circa mid-late 1700s... :D In other words, your entire opinion is biased and it's NOT an opinion shared by Joe & Jane Sixpack.... It's an opinion from someone who has already concluded that Hillary is as pure as the driven snow and that Trump is a Satan/Hitler love child... In short, your opinion is useless because it relies on subjective criteria and NOT on objective fact.. But hay.. We need you.. Rational and logical people NEED people like you to show what traps are needed to be avoided.. :D Michale Balthasar,

You remind me of a British aristocrat describing an American colonist circa mid-late 1700s... :D

In other words, your entire opinion is biased and it's NOT an opinion shared by Joe & Jane Sixpack....

It's an opinion from someone who has already concluded that Hillary is as pure as the driven snow and that Trump is a Satan/Hitler love child...

In short, your opinion is useless because it relies on subjective criteria and NOT on objective fact..

But hay.. We need you.. Rational and logical people NEED people like you to show what traps are needed to be avoided.. :D

Michale

]]> By: Balthasar http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81593 Balthasar Sun, 07 Aug 2016 19:16:48 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81593 The whole Bernie vs Trump debate reminds me of a little political fable: Once, Lucy asked Charlie Brown which he preferred: sunrise or sunset? After thinking for a moment, Charlie Brown says, "well, sunset, I suppose." Lucy says, "Ha! Just as I thought. A pessimist! You're hopeless, Charlie Brown." She throws up her arms and walks away. After another moment, Charlie turns to Linus and says, "Actually, I've always sort of liked noon." Like Lucy, we spend so much time these days listening to and discussing politics from the viewpoint of political extremes that it's easy to forget that there is a political center, a noon, and that although the center is routinely derided by both ends of the spectrum (as "squishy" or worse), it is where most folks are, for better or worse. Trump's greatest failing so far has been his inability to pivot to the center politically. Whether he, like Lucy, simply doesn't realize that a middle exists, or believes that the center is too 'squishy' for his tastes is immaterial: he has not made the pivot. His acceptance speech was all about sunset, veering toward midnight. This is why Reince Priebus was hollering into the phone at Trump <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-republicans-frustration-226625" rel="nofollow">a few days ago</a>: "Do you realize how badly you're fucking this up?" So, while it may not be "Morning in America", it certainly isn't nearly as late in the day as Trump would have us believe, a fact that anyone can discern by simply looking out a nearby window. Judging by Trump's latest attempt at a pivot - reading his endorsements of Ryan, McCain and Ayotte off a page as if he were in a hostage video - Trump doesn't believe yet that there is a center, or that moving to the center is a sort of capitulation. The latest polling shows that this is hurting him particularly with white men and women in the suburbs, a constituency that Romney won handily in 2014. Sunscreen, anyone? The whole Bernie vs Trump debate reminds me of a little political fable:

Once, Lucy asked Charlie Brown which he preferred: sunrise or sunset? After thinking for a moment, Charlie Brown says, "well, sunset, I suppose." Lucy says, "Ha! Just as I thought. A pessimist! You're hopeless, Charlie Brown." She throws up her arms and walks away. After another moment, Charlie turns to Linus and says, "Actually, I've always sort of liked noon."

Like Lucy, we spend so much time these days listening to and discussing politics from the viewpoint of political extremes that it's easy to forget that there is a political center, a noon, and that although the center is routinely derided by both ends of the spectrum (as "squishy" or worse), it is where most folks are, for better or worse.

Trump's greatest failing so far has been his inability to pivot to the center politically. Whether he, like Lucy, simply doesn't realize that a middle exists, or believes that the center is too 'squishy' for his tastes is immaterial: he has not made the pivot. His acceptance speech was all about sunset, veering toward midnight. This is why Reince Priebus was hollering into the phone at Trump a few days ago: "Do you realize how badly you're fucking this up?"

So, while it may not be "Morning in America", it certainly isn't nearly as late in the day as Trump would have us believe, a fact that anyone can discern by simply looking out a nearby window.

Judging by Trump's latest attempt at a pivot - reading his endorsements of Ryan, McCain and Ayotte off a page as if he were in a hostage video - Trump doesn't believe yet that there is a center, or that moving to the center is a sort of capitulation.

The latest polling shows that this is hurting him particularly with white men and women in the suburbs, a constituency that Romney won handily in 2014. Sunscreen, anyone?

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81592 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 18:38:08 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81592 But regardless of that, if you want factual accuracy... <B>Inching toward normalization with Iran is such a fraught idea that Americans want to believe their president knows what he’s doing. This is a regime that hangs teenage homosexuals, incarcerates Christian converts, flogs citizens who criticize their government and finances suicide bombers. And not just the bombers who target U.S. troops in the Middle East, but also synagogues in South America. Iran’s leaders still call the U.S. “the Great Satan,” spew anti-Jewish hate speech and fanaticize about destroying Israel, which is why Israeli leaders view the mullahs’ nuclear obsession with such alarm. So I hope and pray that President Obama is right when he says that the deal he forged with Iran has slowed that nation’s rush to acquire nuclear weapons. But he didn’t help his own cause at Thursday’s news conference. Obama being Obama, it took 20 minutes and 30 seconds to get to the second question Thursday. It came from Mary Bruce of ABC News and was prompted by a recent Wall Street Journal story revealing that the administration organized an airlift of $400 million in cash last January as four American hostages were being released.</B> http://www.ocregister.com/articles/iran-724806-cash-obama.html Ask and ye shall receive... :D But regardless of that, if you want factual accuracy...

Inching toward normalization with Iran is such a fraught idea that Americans want to believe their president knows what he’s doing. This is a regime that hangs teenage homosexuals, incarcerates Christian converts, flogs citizens who criticize their government and finances suicide bombers. And not just the bombers who target U.S. troops in the Middle East, but also synagogues in South America.

Iran’s leaders still call the U.S. “the Great Satan,” spew anti-Jewish hate speech and fanaticize about destroying Israel, which is why Israeli leaders view the mullahs’ nuclear obsession with such alarm.

So I hope and pray that President Obama is right when he says that the deal he forged with Iran has slowed that nation’s rush to acquire nuclear weapons. But he didn’t help his own cause at Thursday’s news conference.

Obama being Obama, it took 20 minutes and 30 seconds to get to the second question Thursday. It came from Mary Bruce of ABC News and was prompted by a recent Wall Street Journal story revealing that the administration organized an airlift of $400 million in cash last January as four American hostages were being released.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/iran-724806-cash-obama.html

Ask and ye shall receive... :D

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81591 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 18:28:20 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81591 <I>The hits come regardless of their factual accuracy or lack thereof.</I> Yep... It's the BUSH years all over again... :D Michale The hits come regardless of their factual accuracy or lack thereof.

Yep...

It's the BUSH years all over again... :D

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/08/05/ftp402/#comment-81590 Michale Sun, 07 Aug 2016 18:20:16 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=12624#comment-81590 <I>Sure, Michale is engaged in a bit of wishful thinking on current polling.</I> Just as everyone else is engaging in a buttload of wishful thinking by claim Trump is toast.... :D The difference between them and me is I acknowledge the facts.. They do not... Michlae Sure, Michale is engaged in a bit of wishful thinking on current polling.

Just as everyone else is engaging in a buttload of wishful thinking by claim Trump is toast.... :D

The difference between them and me is I acknowledge the facts.. They do not...

Michlae

]]>