The New American Politics thread

[Tinordi]

Local idiot ruins thread

[Nobama]

Originally Posted by New Era

I do like how you're ignored every other point made and continue to cling to this annoying spending issue, like this is something that only Obama has been responsible for.

Your points are convoluted and hard to understand with all your "goal post" talk and finger pointing accusations. I'm not sure how religion or Rush Limbaugh even fit into this conversation. This "annoying" spending issue is a huge problem. We can go back and blame all presidents up to this point for getting the US to where they are now. I would like to stick with the current POTUS and remind everyone he is borrowing 2 Trillion dollars to keep his government open while he is still in office. I would also like to remind everyone that he has been in power for 8 years and it has come to this. No fix. No change. No hope if we continue on this way.

[DuffMan]

So, nobama1, what do you think OBAMA should do, aside from touching the ACA? Raise taxes? Cut social programs? Cut military? Deport illegals? Attack Iran? Build walls? Fill pyramids full of grain?

[Vulcan]

Bernie Sanders Files Bill To Make Election Day A National Holiday

These are common-sense pieces of legislation that would enormously improve the health of our democracy and politically empower a great number of Americans whose rights are restricted by bureaucracy and red-tape. Of course, it will be fiercely opposed by Republicans, who have been working hard to restrict voting rights from youths and minorities, both demographics that tend to vote heavily Democrats.

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/repub...ional-holiday/

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Nobama

Your points are convoluted and hard to understand with all your "goal post" talk and finger pointing accusations. I'm not sure how religion or Rush Limbaugh even fit into this conversation. This "annoying" spending issue is a huge problem. We can go back and blame all presidents up to this point for getting the US to where they are now. I would like to stick with the current POTUS and remind everyone he is borrowing 2 Trillion dollars to keep his government open while he is still in office. I would also like to remind everyone that he has been in power for 8 years and it has come to this. No fix. No change. No hope if we continue on this way.

It's not spending, it's a lack of tax revenue.

The U.S. Should increase tax rates for the middle and upper classes to the high thirties up to 60 percent for the wealthy.

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by Nobama

If the USA continues to lose its manufacturing sector it will be game over. Trump is the only candidate talking about this. Seems important to me.

Your second paragraph confuses me. I think this is what the liberal media does to spin the bs from the important issues.

Trump can talk all he wants about bringing manufacturing jobs back--but when he's selling Trump merchandise made in Mexico, it's not all that effective. Yet again, he's saying whatever he has to say to get applause.

Secondly, this "liberal media" madness. If the media was really all that liberal, don't you think they'd be giving Bernie Sanders a ton of press? He's far and away the most liberal candidate, but your "liberal media" has devoted vastly more attention to his far more conservative counterparts.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/24/politi...day/index.html

"A recent study showed on ABC evening news, Trump over a period of time got 81 minutes of time. Bernie Sanders got 20 seconds. Now you tell me why."

But hey, liberal media. I'm sure they're not giving Sanders any air time to help his campaign!

Originally Posted by Nobama

In theory investing in green energy sounds great. What happens is you end up giving a boat load of public tax dollars to a private company that has little chance of showing any kind of profit for more than a decade.. And that's if all goes well. Meanwhile you have other private companies trying to compete with these lucky chosen companies who are not receiving public funds. It's a complete disaster that's costs the public billions that actually could of gone to more important social services.

The only way to develop green technology is to do it the old fashioned way in a capitalist economy. Public money in private business is terrible.

By all means, if you want to cut all investment into "green energy" that's all well and good. But if we're cutting that, we need to also cut subsidies to oil companies. These companies are raking in billions of dollars in profits annually, and they then spend a huge amount of that money lobbying to keep their nice handy subsidies and tax breaks.

http://www.theguardian.com/environme...fuel-companies

Public money is already subsidizing energy, so we might as well put some of it toward renewable energy.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

^I don't disagree that renewables should be subsidized through tax breaks, but they already are. And there are good reasons for oil industry tax breaks and things like flow-through shares, that just have to do with the nature of the O&G industry and how capital works in that industry. It's highly idiosyncratic, which is why it doesn't have preferential treatment so much as an entirely separate tax regime that applies exclusively to O&G production. This is a function of its weirdness, not a result of lobbying to keep the system in place. No lobbyist came up with COGPE.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Nobama

In theory investing in green energy sounds great. What happens is you end up giving a boat load of public tax dollars to a private company that has little chance of showing any kind of profit for more than a decade.. And that's if all goes well. Meanwhile you have other private companies trying to compete with these lucky chosen companies who are not receiving public funds. It's a complete disaster that's costs the public billions that actually could of gone to more important social services.

The only way to develop green technology is to do it the old fashioned way in a capitalist economy. Public money in private business is terrible.

Just like the billions of dollars that subsidize the oil industry?

Perhaps the government should just re-direct those billions into green energy, that way they're not cutting spending but are cutting the $ needed to import energy.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Nobama

Your points are convoluted and hard to understand with all your "goal post" talk and finger pointing accusations. I'm not sure how religion or Rush Limbaugh even fit into this conversation. This "annoying" spending issue is a huge problem. We can go back and blame all presidents up to this point for getting the US to where they are now. I would like to stick with the current POTUS and remind everyone he is borrowing 2 Trillion dollars to keep his government open while he is still in office. I would also like to remind everyone that he has been in power for 8 years and it has come to this. No fix. No change. No hope if we continue on this way.

Your false outrage is amazing. That is what gave you away as being a particular ex-poster. Your ability to ignore the things that are supposedly core to your belief structure, just so you can align your ideological beliefs is an amazing contradiction. That is where your religion comes into play. You continually go against the teachings of your good book and back some of the biggest liars and cheats around. That is just mind bottling.

And I would like to remind you that it is congress that puts the budget together. They are the ones that put together the spending bills. The Republicans put forward this budget and associated spending. Don't think for a second you can lay this egg at the feet of Obama. This one is all on the Republicans and their insane need to spend money to engage other countries in endless war. The Republicans own this. I will also remind you how many times the Republicans have threatened to, or actually have, shut down the government. How many times did the Republicans use the 60 vote clause in the Senate? How many times has one party been so uncooperative in making effective policy? You can't blame this on Obama as it is the Republicans that have driven this car over the cliff. Obama just happens to be in the back seat being chauffeured by these clowns.

[2Stonedbirds]

It's almost as if the Republicans are actually in power and Obama is just tagging along for the ride.

[Nobama]

Originally Posted by New Era

Your false outrage is amazing. That is what gave you away as being a particular ex-poster. Your ability to ignore the things that are supposedly core to your belief structure, just so you can align your ideological beliefs is an amazing contradiction. That is where your religion comes into play. You continually go against the teachings of your good book and back some of the biggest liars and cheats around. That is just mind bottling.

My religion? What the F are you talking about? Teachings of my good book? Man put down the crack pipe and open your eyes. Obama has had 8 years to do something to "hope and change" things to where they need to be. Borrowing against the future of our kids isn't hope and change. Having no energy policy and allowing the Kingdom to force North American Energy Companies to shut down is a disgrace. Iran deal?? Well IRAN HAS ALREADY BROKE THE AGREEMENT! Obama care? What a joke! Trade deficit? Highest it's ever been. Racial tensions - I thought Obama was going to bring people together??? Terror attacks in the USA? Obama can't even call it what it is.

What's Obama need to do to fix things? Pack his bags and resign. There is no hope under his watch and the only change we have is what's left in our pockets.

[Looch City]

You should just stop, you sound like a broken record.

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

It's almost as if the Republicans are actually in power and Obama is just tagging along for the ride.

Obama cannot introduce legislation outside of executive orders, legislation needs to come from the House or Senate, both of which have GOP majority leadership right now. What few pieces of legislation are actually making it through the House and Congress are heavily GOP favored bills that Obama is unlikely to sign.

And really, the GOP is still so busy trying to expose Benghazi for the 40th time and trying to repeal the ACA for the 100th time, when do you suppose they actually will have a spot open on the schedule for actually doing their jobs of running the country??

This country might not have so many issues if the GOP would stop wasting money on Benghazi hearings that will never go anywhere and wasting even more money trying to repeal Obamacare. And that doesn't even begin to touch the desire to stop Gay Marriage and the need to defund Planned Parenthood. Those things are far more important.

Maybe if our Senators and Representatives would focus on the actual problems at hand--continued low wages, a lack of good employment, making sure all Americans have access to healthcare, stopping the Pharmaceutical industry from bankrupting all of us, keeping Wall Street from wrecking the global economy again...etc.--maybe then Obama would get more done.

Until we have a legislative branch that's willing to even attempt to do their jobs correctly, the POTUS can't accomplish all that much.

[2Stonedbirds]

Why is it not possible to criticize the Obama administration or Democrat policies without first bringing up past Republican leaders or policy?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Why is it not possible to criticize the Obama administration or Democrat policies without first bringing up past Republican leaders or policy?

It would be possible if they were able to actually implement things. However, since 2010 the Democrats have not been able to do much of anything outside of a handful of executive orders and watered down legislation.

The ACA as much as it is a flawed half measure was the single most effective piece of legislation to reduce the deficit in recent history.

If Obama would have had the opportunity to actually do things in the last five years, then there would be something to complain about. All the gridlock is caused by the Republicans. They have even moved the goalposts in the negotiations in the past, which was the cause of the credit downgrade a few years back. If the Republicans were honest brokers with the betterment of America at heart, then the last few years would have been a lot different.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Why is it not possible to criticize the Obama administration or Democrat policies without first bringing up past Republican leaders or policy?

Because the two are directly linked? The previous administration started us down this road and even cooked the books to prevent the people from knowing just how bad it was. When you are left holding a bag of #### from last guy, you should be granted some latitude on what you can honestly achieve. When an administration hides almost $2 trillion in war spending you are screwed.

Originally Posted by Nobama

Obama has had 8 years to do something to "hope and change" things to where they need to be.

Do you have a clue how lows and policy is developed in the United States? The President has little control over what Congress does. For a President to accomplish something he needs cooperation from the Congress. Since Day One of Obama's term the Republicans have done nothing to cooperate with this president or the Democrats in Congress. NOTHING!!! They made it public that they would do everything in their power to make him a failure.

Borrowing against the future of our kids isn't hope and change.

Where was this anger and outrage when Bush was spending like a drunken sailor? That was different, right? He was your guy so it was okay.

Having no energy policy and allowing the Kingdom to force North American Energy Companies to shut down is a disgrace.

WTF are YOU talking about??? Since when does the POTUS direct another sovereign country too change their policy? The North American companies arestill raking in profits hand over fist, so they aren't do so bad. Also, crude oil is a commodity and traded on futures. What the Saudis have done is to recognize that the product they are sitting on is a depreciating asset. As economies around the world shift to other forms of energy their crude oil reserves will less valuable in the long term. What they have elected to do is take their money now, at a loss, than roll the dice their product will hold that value down stream. Every government on the planet knows we have to get the hell off oil and the Saudis are dumping the product while they can.

Iran deal?? Well IRAN HAS ALREADY BROKE THE AGREEMENT!

How so? What has Iran done to break the deal?

Frankly, the whole Iran thing is a joke. If Israel can have the bomb, any country in the middle east should be able to have the bomb. That might reign Israel in a bit and provide some balance in a region that has been screaming for balance since the 60s.

Obama care? What a joke!

Sorry, you need to retake civics class again. Congress drafted and approved that bill. That one is all on the Congress. They really need to change the name of that to "Republicans-####ed-us-in-the-ass-with-their-incessant-whining-and-crying-but-still-managed-to-profiteer-for-corporations-care." As much as the law is not perfect, it is vastly better than what we had before. People that couldn't get care before the law went into effect can now get healthcare. This is huge for anyone who develops a condition while employed someplace. Prior to the law going into effect you were stuck staying at that job because, if you left, you would be considered having a pre-existing condition under your new employer and plan. That in itself is worth the problems the Republicans negotiated into the bill. Oh, and my health premiums went DOWN after the law was passed, so another nice benefit.

Trade deficit? Highest it's ever been.

WRONG!!! The largest trade deficits were under Bush. That was linked through earlier. Sorry Egg, numbers don't lie, unlike the talking heads you continue to listen to.

Racial tensions - I thought Obama was going to bring people together??? Terror attacks in the USA? Obama can't even call it what it is.

Riiiiiiight! The Magic Negro was going to waive his big black wand and make all those racists out there change their tune! Get real.

What's Obama need to do to fix things? Pack his bags and resign. There is no hope under his watch and the only change we have is what's left in our pockets.

That's deep man. Almost like it came off of a bumper sticker or something.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by New Era

Riiiiiiight! The Magic Negro was going to waive his big black wand and make all those racists out there change their tune! Get real.

This is a fantastic typographical Freudian slip.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The only way to bring back manufacturing to the USA is to eliminate the minimum wage.

Only way to bring manufacturing back to the USA is to impose trade regulations on countries that have poor workplace standards and wages.

As long as it's perfectly legal to shut in slave workers in decrepit conditions that eventually burn down and collapse on top of them, companies forced to provide decent working conditions won't be able to compete.

Garment Factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh:


Garment Factory in Los Angeles, USA:

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by New Era

WTF are YOU talking about??? Since when does the POTUS direct another sovereign country too change their policy? The North American companies arestill raking in profits hand over fist, so they aren't do so bad. Also, crude oil is a commodity and traded on futures. What the Saudis have done is to recognize that the product they are sitting on is a depreciating asset. As economies around the world shift to other forms of energy their crude oil reserves will less valuable in the long term. What they have elected to do is take their money now, at a loss, than roll the dice their product will hold that value down stream. Every government on the planet knows we have to get the hell off oil and the Saudis are dumping the product while they can.

the bolded part's not true right now. Surprised you'd think so actually.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

the bolded part's not true right now. Surprised you'd think so actually.

I shouldn't have made that broad generalization about a whole industry. I know there are plenty of companies north of the border that are feeling the pinch, some of it related to local politics as anything else. The big boys are still making their money, still getting subsidies, and not paying any taxes down here. It's a joke.