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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#39951: Nov 12th 2012 at 3:26:35 PM

Pardon my bluntness but...

Can Grover fuck off and die already?

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#39952: Nov 12th 2012 at 4:01:09 PM

Can Grover fuck off and die already?
Personally I'd prefer he be discredited as a Very Serious Person and made a pariah. He can live, but I'd much prefer Republicans not be beholden to a Golden Idol of him and his No Tax fetishism.

MidnightRambler Ich bin nicht schuld! 's ist Gottes Plan! from Germania Inferior Since: Mar, 2011
Ich bin nicht schuld! 's ist Gottes Plan!
#39953: Nov 12th 2012 at 4:15:22 PM

Just subtly spread associations and try to get to the point that when anyone hears the man talk, they think of nothing but this video. Problem solved.

Mache dich, mein Herze, rein...
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#39954: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:04:44 PM

Last year, these were the proposed cuts to be included in the Grand Bargain:

$40B in federal pensions. $11B Military Retirement. $20 - $127 in Snap Benefits (AKA the food stamps). $30B in Agricultural Subsidies. $200 - $300B in Healthcare cuts. Source is from Huffington Post.

By contrast, if upper-income tax cuts expire, we would get $950B in extra revenue. Source for that is from CBO.

So, why do the Grand Bargain if we were gonna get more revenue from letting the tax cuts expire?

edited 12th Nov '12 5:08:19 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#39956: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:10:49 PM

[up] For those that don't wanna read - Obama is considering Howard Berman, a supporter of SOPA, to be the next Secretary of State following Hillary's resignation. One of the duties of State Secretary is to spearhead global Internet policy.

The fact that Obama's even considering Berman for that position should speak volumes over Obama's true proprieties. After all, Hollywood really likes to censor shit on the internet, and they contribute heavily to Democrats' elections. How's that for "Change?"

edited 12th Nov '12 5:15:47 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#39957: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:15:12 PM

You act like I should be surprised.

Like Romney would have chosen a better guy?

edited 12th Nov '12 5:15:23 PM by Thorn14

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#39958: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:16:45 PM

[up] Romney was going to choose John Bolton, the same guy who said that the United Nations should be disbanded.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#39959: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:17:33 PM

How is saying one doesn't like Obama saying or implying, in any way, that Romney would be better?

edited 12th Nov '12 5:17:49 PM by deathpigeon

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#39960: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:22:14 PM

If I recall, the most likely (or at least most talked about) possible replacements for Hillary are Jon Kerry, Susan Rice, Tom Donilon, and Jon Huntsman.

David Petraeus was also a candidate, but in light of recent events its not likely.

I think Tom Donilon is gonna get it. He has the least amount of baggage.

edited 12th Nov '12 5:23:56 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#39961: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:25:18 PM

I'm confused how a State Secretary can spearhead a global policy myself. But anyway, just because he's considering this guy... doesn't really tell me anything ominous at all. I'm assuming there's other things he's done to earn consideration.

You're both being overly paranoid, I swear.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#39962: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:27:26 PM

I would prefer Jon Huntsman, really. He at least has experience in ambassadorial duties.

[up] You're naive if you're not even concerned by the idea that Mister SOPA himself is gonna be the State Secretary, which has say in negotiating internet policy among U.S. allies and the U.S. itself.

edited 12th Nov '12 5:28:26 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#39963: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:27:31 PM

"The fact that Obama's even considering Berman for that position should speak volumes over Obama's true proprieties."

The whole point of a petition like this is to convince him otherwise. SOPA itself was in consideration phase before many in Congress dropped it and the bill was scrapped. Likewise, I want to give the president a chance to reconsider and not want to accuse him about his true proprieties.

If Obama does select Berman and he does proceed with his Internet policy, then I will start to feel dubious about the president's priorities, and wonder if he is overstepping things after his electoral victory.

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#39964: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:28:19 PM

I really doubt that is going to be the man's only priority.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#39965: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:28:47 PM

Looking at Berman's Wikipedia page I can see he has some pros.

However there are a lot of Red Flags

The National Journal reports that Berman, “played a critical role in winning passage by a wide margin of the Iraq War resolution in October 2002. He strongly supported military action against Iraq, and in September he organized a group of Democrats who shared his views. Berman’s discussions led to Minority Leader Richard Gephardt’s agreement with the administration on the terms of the resolution—talks that undercut the demands of other senior Democrats, including then Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi and Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joseph Biden. In June 2006, Berman voted for the Republican resolution to reject a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq."

edited 12th Nov '12 5:30:04 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#39966: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:29:21 PM

How do you get a president to back down into accepting a resignation? If the climate change denialists were able to get Obama to drop Van Jones, progressive should be able to get him to drop Howard Berman should Berman be chosen.

That's a lot of speculation, as he's just being considered right now. And "the face that he's even being considered" doesn't mean anything. Of course a SOPA supporter would be in the shortlist of candidates; big money backs SOPA, big money will find someone Obama might consider as sec of state. That's Washington culture.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#39967: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:32:02 PM

[up][up] Berman was also one of the guys that called and pushed for war against Iraq. He even rejected a proposal for a timetable of a withdrawal. And now, he's being considered for the position of State Secretary. Again, no concerns at all from you people?

[up] Not every culture is right, either.

edited 12th Nov '12 5:34:46 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#39968: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:35:32 PM

I swear you two are paranoid to the extreme. Just because one of Obama's possible candidates is Mr. SOPA doesn't mean he's gearing up for his totalitarian regime nor does it mean this guy is his primary choice. Has it ever occurred to you that the President might be intentionally choosing people he doesn't agree with because he wants someone to give him a different perspective on things rather than a bunch of yes men? I'm fairly certain he said he didn't support SOPA when it was still being debated.

edited 12th Nov '12 5:36:29 PM by Kostya

RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#39969: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:36:23 PM

[up][up]I agree; Washington's political culture is particularly toxic. But Obama has to work in it. He can't change it much from within. It's up to the citizenry to force change upon it from the outside. Let's recognize where the problem is.

edited 12th Nov '12 5:36:43 PM by RadicalTaoist

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#39970: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:38:07 PM

[up][up] Excuses, excuses. I know it's still a maybe, but the fact that he's even considered a "maybe" annoys me. He wanted war in Iraq, number one, so that should automatically disqualify him from political office for the rest of his life.

[up] How can we change the status quo, when those working within the status quo do not want to change the status quo?

edited 12th Nov '12 5:39:06 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#39971: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:39:47 PM

[up][up][up] There's a difference between not wanting to have a bunch of yes men, and considering someone you disagree with to be your secretary of state. The first is awesome. The second is stupid and probably won't happen.

edited 12th Nov '12 5:40:40 PM by deathpigeon

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#39972: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:40:40 PM

[up][up]So did Biden from what I remember hearing. Same with tons of other Democratic candidates when it comes to both Iraq and SOPA. You might as well throw out everyone in Washington since I'm certain every single one has supported at least one thing that you would deem reprehensible. It's about the big picture.

[up]What? Choosing someone that does not perfectly match your views and will debate stuff with you is the definition of not having yes men. I'm not saying Obama and this guy don't have any common ground but saying they agree on these things with no evidence strikes me as silly.

edited 12th Nov '12 5:42:05 PM by Kostya

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#39973: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:41:08 PM

A lot of people initially wanted a war with Iraq (including Biden and Hillary Clinton)

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#39974: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:42:47 PM

[up]Exactly. Granted they were lied to but it's not like this automatically makes them evil.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#39975: Nov 12th 2012 at 5:43:54 PM

[up][up] All I see from the big picture is this: You voted for an illegal war that caused hundreds of thousands to die over a ridiculous reason. Whether it's Berman, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Obama, Biden or Clinton - you vote yes for a war, and you should be run out of town.

edited 12th Nov '12 5:45:06 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.

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