Has anybody else ever noticed that Assad bears an uncanny resemblance to Beaker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's poor suffering lab assistant from The Muppet Show?

Mee, mee, mee, meep... with the exception of Beaker's Trumpian hair, of course.

What actor should play Assad? Edward Norton

"i love the poorly educated."
donald j. trump

https://arstechnica.com/business/2017/04/kentucky-coal-museum-is-installing-solar-panels-on-its-roof/

Well said TS.

"College is about extra skills and knowledge not basic skills and knowledge."

Define basic.

"You did not address the fact that there are not enough high paying jobs to justify the expense for the majority of college graduates"

Neither did you. You simply asserted it was so. We do import foreign talent you know. Some very good jobs get farmed out because the US doesn't produce enough qualified candidates. I went to graduate school (science) in the eighties. Half of my fellow grad students were foreign, and they were recruited in large part because American's didn't want the slots. When I got into the work force, we had to recruit foreign applicants, mostly because there weren't enough Americans applying - although the fact that immigrants were willing to work for less did play a role as well.

Not all colleges are created equal. There are a lot of bullshit colleges (ITT tech type or Trump U.) and a lot a degrees that don't have a lot of income potential. Many of these low income potential tracks are available at many outstanding and pricey Universities and fine if you are incredibly talented and lucky - or born rich. There is a certain amount of overselling on the part of colleges, and some outright fraud (Trump U.), so education buyer beware. There is also a need for some tighter regulations, and that is only going to get worse in the next 4 yrs.

In my experience you cannot predict with great precision how well your education will fit the market place when you get out...or as you go forward. I was only employed for a short while in work related to my degrees - but what I learned (math and stats, field craft and proposal writing) made me useful in career choices I would never of thought of - and in fact, some of which hadn't existed while I was in school(s).

College debt can be a big problem for students, especially if you are 1) not born to wealth and 2) take a specialized degree in a low paying or entirely bogus field. Students need to make realistic choices and manage (not ignore) their risks. College advisers are of little help in my experience. Advanced degrees are surprising easy to afford in many technical fields...graduate assistantships go begging and the better deals cover all or most of your costs. Shop around, and not just for good weather.

DH, what you are proposing sounds an awful lot like Imperial Rome. Bread and circuses for the uneducated masses. I think the US should aspire to more. Progressives should aspire to more. We need a floor, but need more! You are proposing something socially regressive that will further impair the US economy and worsen the gulf between haves and have nots. Education is a traditional upward path for the disadvantaged...who are also disadvantaged in their ability to get educated. That gap is what needs to be repaired.

Bernie gets it, you don't.

45 promised that he was going to be God's gift to job creation. Well, as we've seen, he is off to a flat start. But as Jesus said to Peter, "Oh Yea of little faith". So can 45 walk on water?

The current employment rate is 4.5%, and the U4 rate is at 4.8% (includes "discouraged" workers). Demographics predict that we will add about 1.5M workers per year for the next four years. So even if we stay at 4.5% employment, we will add only about 100,000 jobs per month. If unemployment rises because say, somebody stupid in Washington starts a trade war, or heaven forbid, a real war, markets will contract. If this raises unemployment to its historical average of about 6%, then the greatest jobs president God has ever created will be looking at 0 (zero) monthly jobs figures.

Being many years out of school, I can see the pros and cons of both sides of your debate.

For one, Stig backs into the argument that certainly the Trump victory doesn't exactly make the argument that there are too many educated people in America right now. In elections worldwide in fact, it's invariably those with less education that have been voting for Brexit, nationalists, and strong men. Putin's base is mostly rural, as is that of Iran's hard-liners. Worldwide, rural, less educated folk think that urban, educated folk Suck, and authoritarian dicks have rushed in to fill that market niche. That's a problem.

On the other hand, Don has a point when he points out that too many educated, unemployed people warp employment markets in ways that hurt the poor and disenfranchised in a manner that adds insult to poverty - when your manager at McDonalds wields a Master's Degree, your path to a better life just got much harder, and you get the blame for it.

Neither of you has mentioned the technology gap. Millions of older Americans, now in their fifties, have been shut out of better jobs because they're unable to keep up with younger workers who are "up" on newer technologies. Their suicide rate has jumped alarmingly in recent years.

Add to that, the workers whose jobs are being displaced by incremental technology improvements that aren't even related to computers - mining jobs, factory workers, even taxicab drivers.

Moreover, the 'bulge' of unemployed and unemployable workers is in the middle: very highly skilled workers (in Silicon Valley, for instance) and very low wage workers (in the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant, for instance) are still in great demand; the problem is, folks in the middle either can't (in the former case) or won't (in the latter case) fill those jobs anytime soon, and Trump has just declared War on the immigrants who can and do.

It seems that every proposed solution exacerbates the problem. Free tuition would result in a surge of workers in the middle, corporate and business tax relief would encourage more of the same.

Real solutions won't fit easily into slogans. It may require private-public partnerships (anathama to the Left) and expanded migrant worker visas (anathema to the Right), for instance.

A free high school education isn't getting people employed either...so we should ax it!

Same with free middle school....same with free grade school!

Kindergarten is an indentured (half-day) scam, there are not enough jobs for kindergarten grads, who are wasting time with crayons and glitter when they could be getting a jump on survival mode jobs!

From Voucher Vendetta page:

"I have none of the credentials normally listed in a bio. No degrees, no years of running a successful business and no experience in political campaigns or activism. I am simply an average person that has been working and living at survival mode."

The above is no surprise.

"Former Conservative Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told the BBC that "there is a very strong belief that the US - through cyber methods - has been successful on several occasions in interrupting these sorts of [NK missile launch] tests and making them fail"

The relatively new term "Left of Launch" is Pentagonese for cyber/signals warfare directed at ballistic missiles. The New York Times ran a piece on this a couple of days ago, which was the first time I encountered it.

According to NYT, it may be working, North Korea's uber reliable missile development program has lately been suffering a roughly 50% launch failure rate.

While this seems good news for the US with respect to North Korea, Left of Launch has negative implications for Great Power nuclear deterrence, where stability depends upon all sides being confident their missiles and warheads will work with high reliability. In future we might see a Left of Launch Ban Treaty. We will certainly see all nuclear powers hardening their missile electronics.

NY isn't offering free degrees in "TV & VCR Repair" or any of the equally useless degrees offered by Trump University! Free tuition for eligible applicants is a great thing!

Why is a nursing degree useless?

Why is a teaching degree useless?

I think you fail to recognize that "paid tuition" does not automatically result in a "college degree". Students still have to earn their degrees!

Former Conservative Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told the BBC that "there is a very strong belief that the US - through cyber methods - has been successful on several occasions in interrupting these sorts of [NK missile launch] tests and making them fail" ( http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39611868 )

The scarcity and location of the world's chip foundries form a strait, as heavily monitored as the Strait of Hormuz. Turning logic and encryption circuits into hardened guidance and communication systems has to go through that bottleneck, and never anonymously so.

It's possible that western electronic warfare is informed as much by what NK missile guidance systems cannot currently entail as by knowing directly what they do entail.

Why would the US would not be happy if the rebel faction controlling Khan Shaykhun wins?

Well, that is not what you asked. You asked why would the US like it if the clan of the Syrian activist I mentioned ruled the country, did you not?

Are there any Syrians in your mind who can qualify to run the country AND make the US happy?

Thanks for the history lesson. But, that's not really what I was asking and you have ignored the point of my post.

Well, that is not what you asked. You asked why would the US like it if the clan of the Syrian activist I mentioned ruled the country, did you not?

Are there any Syrians in your mind who can qualify to run the country AND make the US happy?

Thanks for the history lesson. But, that's not really what I was asking and you have ignored the point of my post.

Why would the US would not be happy if the rebel faction controlling Khan Shaykhun wins?

The town is controlled by the Fateh al-Sham Front, a militant Islamic group affiliated with al-Qaeda.

What is the endgame for Syria? I wouldn't hazard a guess, but I expect the stalemate to continue for years, maybe decades. Remember Lebanon? How about Irish Troubles?

There are 4 main factions controlling swaths of Syria.

There is The Government faction, dominated by the minority Alawite sect, backed by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. Russia considers Syria as it's toe hold in the Middle East, and has some nostalgic attachment to boot based upon Orthodox Christian ties.

There is The Syrian Opposition, a coalition of factions (one of which is Fateh al-Sham Front) and supported by Turkey, a member of NATO

ISIL is a third faction

The 4th faction is Rojava, which is basically Kurdish oriented and supported by the US and other western oriented governments.

A faction map of Syria resembles a metastasized tumor, it's hard to envision any of these meandering zones of control as a functioning independent nation...Syria is effectively balkanized along ethno/religious/geopolitical lines.

Ultimately, I think the problem will be talked out, but I think we may have to wait past the tenures of Assad, Putin and Trump.

Has anybody else ever noticed that Assad bears an uncanny resemblance to Beaker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's poor suffering lab assistant from The Muppet Show?

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ieZ-QcYUKs8/maxresdefault.jpg

disagree. most of trump's past rhetoric has been pro-russian and isolationist. in addition, obama hadn't made a military move in syria. so, until we actually fired a shot, assad and putin had every reason to believe we never would.

JL

I just have to say that I think the Syrian people are far more realistic about their situation than most Americans can even fathom. You think cynicism has changed to hope with a single air strike using multiple missiles targeted on one site? That's ridiculous!

Of course, ineffective action or poorly thought out foreign policy leads to cynicism. And, certainly, one action or one week is not going to make a significant difference in the lives of the Syrian people who just want to live in peace.

The big takeaway from my point is just that the concept of winning the hearts and minds has taken a back seat if it's even in the car at all. And, that doesn't bode well for winning the GWOT - now, any time soon, or ever.

We need only consider the cuts pending at the State Department to know that the US is nowhere near understanding what it will take to win the war of ideas and we are destined for endless military action without the essential political initiatives necessary to make sustainable progress.

By the way, and Altohone brought this last week, we probably don't want that civilian's clan to win control of Syria any more than Putin does.

Oh, really? Why is that? What do you think is the endgame for Syria?

There was already plenty of evidence that we "might use it." Iraq One and Two, Libya and so on. There is plenty of evidence the US can competently take down air defenses. Would the US be willing to do that to a Russian client state? Would the American Public get behind committing US ground forces into combat? Those are the big questions, and weren't exactly addressed by the Tomahawks.

Neilm 12- Exactly.

Liz 13 - The Doolittle Raid Effect. Moral boosts are important, but they have to be quickly backed up with follow on efforts resulting in noticeable progress - or the effect fades. What is that grateful Syrian civilian thinking a week later, when nothing in his village has changed for the better? Hope can change to cynicism very quickly. By the way, and Altohone brought this last week, we probably don't want that civilian's clan to win control of Syria any more than Putin does.

good point.

JL

Unless winning the GWOT isn't the least bit about winning hearts and minds of people in the Muslim world.

But, if it is even the least bit about that, and it should be if it's not, then dropping those bombs has FINALLY sent a message to the suffering Syrian civilians that the mighty United States of America has not completely abandoned them and that they can harbor some hope that America and promise of America is really a force for good.

I watched the reaction of just one Syrian activist who, after having pleaded with President Trump a night or two before the missiles landed to do something to help the Syrian people, who cried tears of joy when he found out what had happened and he thanked America for doing something.

Unfortunately, this part of the equation gets short shrift in the grand scheme of things and is one of the main reasons why the longest war will continue, perhaps in perpetuity. Which is sadder than sad.

Fair argument. But it only hold true if we see consistency. If this is a one off, then all we are showing is the limit of our commitment.

There's a saying in interrogation: "Violence perceived is violence achieved." You don't want someone screaming, you want him asking questions - asking, "What is he doing with that knife?"
~burn notice

i would say that the objective achieved by shooting a few missiles is to let assad and putin know that we're willing to start shooting if we think they have violated their agreements. being who they are, they won't believe we will unless we do. to be honest i think that objective - getting them to believe that we are willing to engage militarily - is even more important than stopping the chemical attacks. not that they have needed chemicals to exact bloody carnage on the local civilians.

JL

What is the USA trying to achieve in Syria and in what way did the US missile strike advance our progess? I don't think anybody has figured out the first part, so evaluating our whisper seems to me premature. The bad guys, and they are bad guys, know how to wisper back. Until I see something actually change in Syria I'm going to stick with "expensive fireworks" and "same old civil war of attrition."

considering how many things donald has done poorly so far, what's so wrong with giving the man credit if i think he's finally done something right?

JL

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html

https://ricochet.com/422290/problem-no-one-dc-wants-talk/

"Lo, how the righteous have fallen"

Shouldn't that read:

"Lo, how the self righteous have fallen" Rudi is the guy who coined "America's Mayor" for himself.

Also, at what point does political theater slide into political performance art?

"Holocaust Center" (????!!!!!????) conjures up images of 18 foot SS air dancers and strings of triangular flags with swastikas on them. "Common down-free bratwurst for the kiddies" Spicey is an example of the "anal-ity" of evil. When a press secretary needs his own press secretary, it is time to give it up.

And his popularity among Republicans hasn't budged an inch. Imagine that. All it took to get the left to call Hillary unacceptable were a few vague articles about the Clinton Foundation. This guy rips everyone off to play at his own private golf club every weekend, and everyone on his side of the aisle just shrugs.

Hypocrites.

That being said I am surprised you didn't knock trump for "improving" the ACA in favor of the insurance industries or for the fact that under his steady hand enrollment was down.

I was also surprised that you didn't take the easy drive by opportunity to point out that " draining the swamp" requires secret visitor logs at the WH. Who knew darkness was good for ethical governance...right?

Personally, I disagree with the MDDOW award, I think you got it backwards, the national "democratic" apparatus should have gotten the award for not jumping in and proving to everyone that they did not really learn anything from the last set of losses handed out in the election. I don't think Thompson was to blame solely for the loss, the DCCC however showed that they still think they can win running things the old fashioned way... not that the DCCC helping would have notched a W, it would however, have sent a signal that we the people have been heard.

Just look at what happened in the Illinois local elections this week in red territories to get my point.

Now for the real item of importance, the Easter egg roll, is it even going to happen? trump has yet again dilly dallied off to line his pockets at Mar-a-Swampgo.

Nothing will prove more to the American people that this "administration" is focused on the American peoples interests and that the WH is the peoples house better than not having an Easter Egg roll, or, having one that Trump and Fam would actually participate in and actually be exposed to us normal people... At least in Mar-a-Swampgo he will be showing that the "forgotten voices" are being heard.