Re: Gasoline prices, it hurts.

Expensive fuel, just like inflation, hurts the poor far harder than anyone else. Do you want poor people to lack cheap, reliable means of getting to and from work, enjoying their leisure time, etc? Do you need a full size SUV or truck to go to work? If you’re in a blue collar profession such as con...

Re: January 6 Committee public presentations and hearings

No, they really don’t care and you’re deluding yourself. https://www.mediaite.com/tv/cnns-harry-enten-predicts-republicans-take-huge-house-majority-best-position-in-over-80-years/amp/ I wasn't for one moment meaning the morally bankrupt who would vote for someone like Trump. I meant those of us (in...

Re: January 6 Committee public presentations and hearings

No, they really don’t care and you’re deluding yourself. https://www.mediaite.com/tv/cnns-harry-enten-predicts-republicans-take-huge-house-majority-best-position-in-over-80-years/amp/ “CNN’s Harry Enten predicted Republicans will walk away from the November midterms with a huge majority in the U.S....

Re: Rand Paul delays $40 billion Ukraine package

The anti-war Left is no more. RIP. In a few years, if this all goes to crap if will be interesting to see how the spin goes. Another non sequitur. Is it really that difficult to differentiate nuance these days? Obviously it’s quite different to oppose actions in Iraq/Iran with no clear strategic ou...

Re: Rand Paul delays $40 billion Ukraine package

So what has that deception got to do with Ukraine? US forces are not engaged in Ukraine, nor any NATO ones. This is a real thing, not GOP BS to go after a nation that had nothing to do with Al Queda. A clear cut invasion of a sovereign nation by a hostile state ,that unlike Iraq in 2003, militarily...

Re: Rand Paul delays $40 billion Ukraine package

Not sending it increases the risk that Ukraine DOES collapse. I am old enough to remember that despite billions, Afghanistan collapsed. True, but their primary aim has always been enriching the Military Industrial Complex, not spreading “democracy”. And they’ve been extremely successful at doing th...

Re: Rand Paul delays $40 billion Ukraine package

You might have a point if it were 400 billion. The Florida State Retirement system has $36B in unfunded pension liabilities, for comparison. 40 billion will not be a blink in the eye of the national debt. https://reason.org/commentary/the-florida-retirement-system-is-still-in-need-of-reform/ Also L...

Re: January 6 Committee public presentations and hearings

Outside of the liberal bubbles no one cares, but keep believing they do The most powerful political figure in the world, when outvoted, tried to steal an election while accusing the rightful winner of doing the same. In doing so he committed crimes, appeared sympathetic to say the least in his numb...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

Agnostic theist or agnostic atheist? best regards Thomas Ironically, I've always found atheists to be significantly more dogmatic than even the most religious people. Atheists worship gods too - just different gods. Atheists, by definition, don´t believe in any Gods. Science and data are no superna...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

I wonder if the people who say these kinds of things lack any awareness whatsoever that Communism was atheist in its orientation. Your point is? We’re not going to abandon religion and become communists. The point is the end of religion does not mean the end of dogma, ignorance, human misery or any...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

And I say this as an agnostic. Agnostic theist or agnostic atheist? best regards Thomas I'm not sure that I need to specify. I take the modest position where I can't prove or disprove the existence of God (or gods), so I don't proclaim to have the answer either way. The formation of the universe it...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

I’m not sure why the tithing thing has so many here up in arms. Are they criticizing restaurants for complaining about reduced revenue because they can no longer do in store dining? Are they criticizing theaters for complaining about reduced revenues due to capacity constraints? Why are so many her...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

The judgement still serves as a precedent, and while I will agree Cuomo should have targeted theatres, convention centers, and arenas as part of his order, the issue is that people see physical churches/Synagogues as essential. With the internet and TV, these religious folks have been able to reach...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

You should try reading the opinion. Almost everything you posted is false. Edit: the majority’s opinion is only 6 pages. The whole opinion probably would fit in 2 pages. Yeah it’s amazing how worked up some people are getting over a decision so modest. Not to mention the ruling didn’t even apply an...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

You should try reading the opinion. Almost everything you posted is false. Edit: the majority’s opinion is only 6 pages. The whole opinion probably would fit in 2 pages. Yeah it’s amazing how worked up some people are getting over a decision so modest. Not to mention the ruling didn’t even apply an...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

How is that throwing science out the window? He's making the point that the state was providing greater latitude to businesses like bike shops which does not comport with the same scientific rigor they're claiming when enforcing harsher restrictions on churches. Bike shops are transactional. They a...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

The problem many people have is this right wing extremist court is blurring the line between religion (read: Christianity) and government. In what ways specifically? Did you read any of the opinions? Neil Gorsuch basically through science out the window in his garbage infested opinion Common sense ...

Re: Supreme Court Stikes Down Capacity Limits on Religious Services in New York State

One might have hoped that common sense would prevail. The science behind the spread of the disease and it's capacity for both death and a tremendous drain on overstretched emergency services is hard to argue against. The most effective way to stop the disease in its tracks (pre vaccine) is to restr...

Re: America is back and ready to lead world, says Joe Biden

The Americans have proven themselves unreliable and hostile. In 4 years we could be back to a Trump-like demagogue. The rest of the world should shun the US until they fix their internal issues. Very right, the good old CCP which is the only choice left, is very reliable and nice. How is that virus...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

That’s odd, because a few posts back you said this: With that said, I'm not exactly sure having a state exclusively of upper income earners is a good thing. Hyperbole has no place in a demographic discussion. Oh brother. :roll: I said that in response to you touting upper income earners moving to C...

Re: Sen Manchin shows leadership

Fringe in his party will not like this of course but it shows there are some in congress with integrity. Did it not occur to you that Manchin represents the far right fringe of the Democratic Party? I'm tired of the centrists - all running to the middle does is cause you to lose. We could ask Sens ...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

Actually no, if the data includes every county/city the distribution will skew right slightly toward higher incomes. The most populous counties have a much larger population of high income citizens relative to less dense parts of the state. The Sac/SD/SF Bay/LA metros comprise 28.5 million people -...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

Rent control is not going to fix the problem, only building and reducing the cost of it. Eliminate required frills like roof top solar as a building code for one. Reduce state spending, currently well above average for another. And interestingly the last two or three elections have had rent control...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

Saying that the median income is $77K doesn’t make California middle class. You have to break down the median income and living costs down to counties and cities. The median income includes lots of people outside the coastal areas which skews it down. Rent control is not going to fix the problem, o...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-california-census-migration-20181221-story.html The reality is that the data is more nuanced than that. For more than 20 years, net outmigration to other states has been higher than migration in. Also for that period, the number of international arrivals has b...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

Flat out false. Most of my cousin's colleagues at Salesforce are transplants from out of state and are not silver spooners. The ones I have met absolutely love California and would never go back. Thanks to their skills and experience, they can continue to command $100K+ incomes for years to come. I...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

Interestingly good ol' communist California just did the following: Rejected rent control Rejected affirmative action Rejected a tax increase on business properties Rejected getting rid of the cash bail system Embraced gig economy work Tugg Perhaps there’s hope for you yet, but California is likely...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

Interestingly good ol' communist California just did the following: Rejected rent control Rejected affirmative action Rejected a tax increase on business properties Rejected getting rid of the cash bail system Embraced gig economy work Tugg Perhaps there’s hope for you yet, but California is likely...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

So as I said, California doesn't work for working or middle class people. It works for Tech billionaires or people with inherited wealth. It's clear you fall into the latter category. You really are a strange person - Your hero, Donald Trump, is the perfect example of everything you claim to dispar...

Re: Official Election thread

I generally agree. With that said, what people fail to realize, including the vast majority of our "elites", is that win or lose, Donald Trump is going to win the 2nd most votes in US history today. He's going to win even more votes than Barack Obama did en route to his landslide win in 2...

Re: Official Election thread

And if the GOP would follow Ronald Reagan and Bush 1 and Bush 2 efforts to find a reasonable compromise on immigration, the GOP would never lose a national election. Both parties cater to fringe groups and ignore most of the people in the country. And both waste too much time telling us what to fea...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

I thought ya'll like capitalism? California just happens to be at the intersection of unchecked capitalism and societal ills. It has worked out great for my family - my grandparents bought their home in 1965 and it's worth $2 million now. They sold two investment vacation properties over the years ...

Re: Official Election thread

Yes, hard to believe that defunding the police, court packing and transgender bathrooms didn't appeal to them. Major mystery. Who advocated for specific bathrooms for trans people? Must've missed that. Thought they were advocating using the bathroom of their gender? Nobody leading a major campaign ...

Re: Official Election thread

I don't think Biden can overtake Trump in PA, but Nevada should be his and I think Joe can come back to win GA. Of course anything is still possible, this is 2020 after all!! The bulk of PA’s uncounted is Philadelphia County, only 70% tallied as I write this. It would be tight. But it’s possible. B...

Re: Official Election thread

IceCream wrote:

It's crazy that so many Latinos in the US support Trump.

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

While we're at it, why does any state think they are some kind of prized destination? With brain eating amoeba in the lakes, or floods, or hurricanes, mosquitoes, or tornadoes or ice storms and even economic devastation.... ALL the states suck and no one should act like their state is pretty good. ...

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

See ya Gene. Enjoy the cloud cover in WA. Don't believe his 60-70 claims as the top marginal rate in CA is 13.3%. The top marginal federal rate is 37. If he has absolutely no idea what he's doing on taxes he's paying 50%. He's lucky he wasn't successful in the 50s and 60s when it was FAR higher. Wh...

Re: Official Election thread

I wonder if the Democrats still think we should eliminate the Senate filibuster. :lol: THIS. I will be so glad to see Trump go, but the Democrats were pretty mouthy about the filibuster lately. It'll be funny if they suddenly still want to (incorrectly) tar it as "Jim Crow" relic that nee...

Re: Official Election thread

I wonder if the Democrats still think we should eliminate the Senate filibuster.

Re: Rock Legend Gene Simmons Kisses His California Estate And High Taxes Goodbye

“I bought it from a previous couple who had lived there for many years,” says Simmons. “Then I found out the previous owner was a gentleman named Irving Azoff, one of the most prominent music managers. He continues to manage the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and others. I’m told the Eagles were put togeth...

Re: Do Republicans have the votes to confirm SCOTUS Justice in 2020?

Nope, not cheerleading. Just saying what I am seeing. Again, you can throw whatever "clownshow" comment you want, it doesn't change anything. You can imagine me however you want and try to pigeonhole me to your satisfaction. It won't work. But keep it up. Tugg You are entitled to your own...

Re: Do Republicans have the votes to confirm SCOTUS Justice in 2020?

I disagree with Amy Coney Barret's judicial philosophy, but this is actually valid criticism. She clerked for Scalia but has limited judicial experience--far less than typical Supreme Court nominees. She has a lot of experience as a lawyer trying cases, but very little as a judge hearing cases. Rep...

Re: Do Republicans have the votes to confirm SCOTUS Justice in 2020?

I honestly think we are moving to... correct that: Have moved to "no holds barred" politicking. So let the legislature go all out. Why not? It has been effective and good for Trump and even Obama used the same "Executive actions - let them sue me", cram it through with party lin...

Re: Do Republicans have the votes to confirm SCOTUS Justice in 2020?

Now that the evangelical Republicans have their extremists seated and can make legal decisions from their version of the Bible, I ask again: Where did Jesus say he hates the hungry, sick, and immigrants? Where did Jesus say he hates abortions and LGBTQ people? Where is all this hate from Jesus in t...

Re: Do Republicans have the votes to confirm SCOTUS Justice in 2020?

A majority of the US also doesn't support electing a new judge before a new president is installed. There is a broader issue with the supreme court, it has been politicized, and that is something you shouldn't want to do with the judicial branch. The American way of electing judges in a 2 party sys...

Re: Head Iran Gen Killed In Air Strike

Out of my mind: 1.) Taliban in Afghanistan 2.) another terror organization in Mali (Timbuktu, IIRC) 3.) in a way, the 9/11-terrorists I am not sure how I should read your question. Is it, they did it, so we are entitled to do the same? Of course we are! . But only if we want to lower our principles...

Re: Head Iran Gen Killed In Air Strike by US

No my contention is that those pushing the ‘Iran is public enemy number one’ narrative are doing KSA royals’ dirty work for them. No you strongly implied the notions that Iran was dangerous was farcical by putting it in quotation marks. This only DAYS after Iran attacked the US embassy in Iraq. To ...

Re: Head Iran Gen Killed In Air Strike by US

No my contention is that those pushing the ‘Iran is public enemy number one’ narrative are doing KSA royals’ dirty work for them. No you strongly implied the notions that Iran was dangerous was farcical by putting it in quotation marks. This only DAYS after Iran attacked the US embassy in Iraq. To ...

Re: Head Iran Gen Killed In Air Strike by US

Iran is only ‘dangerous’ if you are a KSA apologist. Doing work for the royals we should know about? Lol, I’m basically a relative dove when it comes to war and international affairs but Iran literally attacked the US embassy in Iraq only days prior. So yes, Iran is dangerous (no quotation marks ne...

Re: Head Iran Gen Killed In Air Strike by US

You just committed an open act of war against a foreign country. He wasn't attacked on Iranian soil. Iran has American blood on its hands for a variety of incidents. They want to be a player on the mideast stage, play with the big dogs, you're going to get bit. Show us your evidence. Now you want e...