I watched the Republican debate last night, and I feel... dirty.

[jhale667]

Did anyone else watch that crapfest? Fuck, I feel like I lost IQ point sitting through it. Batshit Bachmann and Pawlenty were bickering back and forth like petulant teenagers, no one respects the rules of the debate, continuing to talk after their allotted time. All of them say the entire economic failure is because of Obama (anyone with a brain knows that's not even close to true), and completely ignored the fact that S & P took more issue with THEM than the POTUS. 90% of them agree they wouldn't be OK with abortion even in the case of rape or incest - some say not even if the mother's life is in danger (???). Newt(er) Gingrich, when asked if the fact that most of his campaign staff resigned on him on the eve of his announcement bodes well for the stability of his campaign, complains about "gotcha" questions. Only Huntsman supports even civil unions for gay people. Ron Paul gets BOOED for suggesting we end the wars to trim the deficit, and every single one of them raises their hands when asked if they (in bowing to their Tea Party/KKKoch brothers masters) would walk away from a deficit-cutting plan that included revenues, even with a 10-to-1 ratio with cuts (as in 1 corporate tax loophole closed for every 10 cuts!)!!!! 10 to 1!!!

Bachmann is completely insane, I'm convinced. When asked to list her achievements, basically gave a rundown of her failures. Romney is a robot, and already shot himself in the foot earlier in the day with the "Corporations are people, my friend" gaffe. Herman Cain and John Huntsman were barely there (though Cain did reference an inspirational song lyric...from the "Pokemon" move...?). I know I'm biased, but I went into it trying to have an open mind to see if I heard anything reasonable out of any of them, and there was little if any to be had. If any one of these jackasses gets in office, we're DOOMED.


You know you're in trouble when the two people on the stage making the most sense are Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.

Here's a link to what was the running transcript of the debate (with Democrat rebuttal) from ThinkProgress..

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/08/11/294289/gop-presidential-debate-live-blog/

[Seshmeister]

Can I just clarify something?

My understanding of the US political system is that the president doesn't get to decide the law on gay marriage or abortion.

Why not put me on fucking TV and ask what I think, my view is just as relevant?

Why does this shit always come up, is it maybe because the whole fucking process is pointless theatre?

[Unchainme]

Can I just clarify something?

My understanding of the US political system is that the president doesn't get to decide the law on gay marriage or abortion.

Why not put me on fucking TV and ask what I think, my view is just as relevant?

Why does this shit always come up, is it maybe because the whole fucking process is pointless theatre?

If a supreme court justice decides to retire (they are given life long appointments) the new president gets to decide who gets nominated as their replacement.

So if there's a law challenged by the courts such as gay marriage or abortion, they could be nominating someone who has the deciding vote on that issue.

[FORD]

Malloy was just talking about this freak show. I missed it (No FAUX here, thank God) but Malloy mentioned that most of these candidates are literally insane. Bachmann certainly meets that qualification, as does Herman Cain the Sharia Law pizza guy. Perry's no doubt crazy too (even though he wasn't there, because he's not an official declared candidate until Sunday) Gingrich would probably more of a sociopath, and Pawlenty probably as well, given his complete lack of remorse for murdering 13 people in that whole freeway bridge collapse thing.

[Seshmeister]

If a supreme court justice decides to retire (they are given life long appointments) the new president gets to decide who gets nominated as their replacement.

So if there's a law challenged by the courts such as gay marriage or abortion, they could be nominating someone who has the deciding vote on that issue.

If that happens he recommends someone who Congress can reject?

It's all a con, a nonsense.

A constant emphasis on silly social issues that don't actually affect 99% of people and should be decided by the 1% that are affected but inflame the superstitious who arrogantly think they should be able to impose their feelings on others.

[Unchainme]

Social issues are bullshit, mainly meant to distract the public from the big things in my eyes.

Amazing how many dipshits are running around worried about "Queers" getting married, and not about say, people out of work and unable to pay their mortgages.

BTW, Herman Cain reminds me of the "Rent is too damn high" party guy, cept..that guy is awesome and I'd probably behind in his running for political office.

[Seshmeister]

I hope this doesn't sound patronising but you are a wise guy for your age.

Unfortunately there is probably more comfort in ignorance, you need to be resigned now to spending the next 20 years getting more and more angry before just giving up and being confused by the speed your nose hair has started growing at.

[FORD]

BTW, Herman Cain reminds me of the "Rent is too damn high" party guy, cept..that guy is awesome and I'd probably behind in his running for political office.

Actually, that guy (Jimmy McMillan) IS running. Even though his website pretty much sucks ass....

http://www.rentistoodamnhigh.org/

[Nitro Express]

Social issues are bullshit, mainly meant to distract the public from the big things in my eyes.

Amazing how many dipshits are running around worried about "Queers" getting married, and not about say, people out of work and unable to pay their mortgages.

BTW, Herman Cain reminds me of the "Rent is too damn high" party guy, cept..that guy is awesome and I'd probably behind in his running for political office.

I think the politics is much like the financial markets right now. Nobody can figure out what's going on. It used to be when things slowed down you would keep your money in cash and let it earn some interest. With the banks not paying anything and some even making you pay to keep your money there the old rules no longer apply. Everyone knows the stock market is manic but people still buy stocks because you no longer can park your money in the bank safely. I was talking to some older, experienced business people and nobody has ever seen it this way. Things are so scrambled nobody can even put together a five year business plan. Totally manic. Nothing is self correcting because we have literally thrown trillions of dollars of good money at failed businesses that should have just went bankrupt.

I would say it's mass levels of corruption in everything and more so than what we have had in the past. There is also a strange social dynamic going on. Let's put ourselves back in the classic Van Halen days and bring up gay marriage then. Who ever would have thought that issue would be as mainstream as it is. Honestly in the early 80's that would be a concept from Mars. So you do have clashes with the old traditional mindset and the new concepts that have come in. So you do have some social clashes going on in society with this whole economic thing happening. It really isn't a good mix and the lid could blow off. If I wasn't concerned that the resulting shit storm would affect me in a negative way, I just would sit on the side lines and watch this insanity with total amusement. I don't think anyone has the answer for why people behave the way they do. The only constant is insanity.

[fifth element]

I think the politics is much like the financial markets right now. Nobody can figure out what's going on. It used to be when things slowed down you would keep your money in cash and let it earn some interest. With the banks not paying anything and some even making you pay to keep your money there the old rules no longer apply. Everyone knows the stock market is manic but people still buy stocks because you no longer can park your money in the bank safely. I was talking to some older, experienced business people and nobody has ever seen it this way. Things are so scrambled nobody can even put together a five year business plan. Totally manic. Nothing is self correcting because we have literally thrown trillions of dollars of good money at failed businesses that should have just went bankrupt.

I would say it's mass levels of corruption in everything and more so than what we have had in the past. There is also a strange social dynamic going on. Let's put ourselves back in the classic Van Halen days and bring up gay marriage then. Who ever would have thought that issue would be as mainstream as it is. Honestly in the early 80's that would be a concept from Mars. So you do have clashes with the old traditional mindset and the new concepts that have come in. So you do have some social clashes going on in society with this whole economic thing happening. It really isn't a good mix and the lid could blow off. If I wasn't concerned that the resulting shit storm would affect me in a negative way, I just would sit on the side lines and watch this insanity with total amusement. I don't think anyone has the answer for why people behave the way they do. The only constant is insanity.

spoke to people today who are pulling money out of banks as they no longer trust that their money is safe....

[Nitro Express]

There is no confidence in the government or Ben Bernanke. Ben is easy to figure out, he will just continue to print more money. Banking is the art of illusion. If everyone wanted their money out of the bank all at once the bank doesn't have the money. They loaned it out. As long as you can hold the illusion banking works, as soon as people start to smell a rat, the whole system becomes unstable. It crumbled in 2008 and then it got in bed with the government to survive and thrive. It's called welfare for Wall Street and what we are seeing is the result of the bailouts.

The politicians told us trust us we will take care of you and then they took care of themselves and their banking buddies.

[Unchainme]

9:57 Santorum scores with first gay-bashing of the night, taking a hit at Bachmann for saying that marriage should be left to the states. He generally attacks federalist themes from his fellow candidates “there are things the states can’t do,” cites Lincoln as an authority and appears to compare state-initiated marriage equality and Mitt Romney’s universal health care plan to slavery. “Does that mean that the state has the right to impose polygamy? To pass sterilization? No! We are a country based on morals.”

Before I go to bed for the night, this is maybe one of the dumbest things I've ever seen uttered in public other than "I like Van Hagar"

Really? A moral nation? Because people like Jefferson and Franklin were clearly not adulterers and womanizers. .

The fucking constitution wasn't written for a bunch of fucking religious zealots to push their view of morality down peoples throats, it was written to protect us from them.

Seriously, God help us all.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I think the politics is much like the financial markets right now. Nobody can figure out what's going on.

I couldn't disagree more bro. Moreover, it's crystal clear (to borrow Col. Nathan R. Jessup's phrase) what's going on. Republicans have obstructed everything Obama has tried to do for nearly three years now. Putting the nation into default be damned.

That's why it really doesn't matter what kinds of jobs bill ANYONE comes up with, because the Republicans will simply obstruct and/or fillibuster it. You get a jobs bill through, i.e. infrastructure projects, clean energy projects, people get back to work and the market improves. But the right-wing won't allow that, because that will mean a re-election for Obama is virtually in the bag....

[Candy Girl]

I couldn't disagree more bro. Moreover, it's crystal clear (to borrow Col. Nathan R. Jessup's phrase) what's going on. Republicans have obstructed everything Obama has tried to do for nearly three years now. Putting the nation into default be damned.

That's why it really doesn't matter what kinds of jobs bill ANYONE comes up with, because the Republicans will simply obstruct and/or fillibuster it. You get a jobs bill through, i.e. infrastructure projects, clean energy projects, people get back to work and the market improves. But the right-wing won't allow that, because that will mean a re-election for Obama is virtually in the bag....

Republicans have only been in charge of Congress 8 months, before that since 2006 it was democrat controlled and Congress has control of the spending.

[SunisinuS]

Republicans have only been in charge of Congress 8 months, before that since 2006 it was democrat controlled and Congress has control of the spending.

I guess the only difference was, when GWB asked for money.....the Congress gave it to him. Two Wars for a start.