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

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#49276: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:33:40 PM

Eh, the most likely outcome right now is probably Clinton vs. Santorum.

I know neither will happen but I would love to see either Clinton vs. Bachmann or Castro vs. Rubio.

[up]I know. Santorum, Ryan, Rubio, and any others that are making a run in 2016 had better be really fucking careful if that gets put to a vote. If they say no they could easily forfeit their chance to win several years in advance.

edited 12th Feb '13 7:35:12 PM by Kostya

Arkasas (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#49277: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:41:00 PM

On a darker note, Obama may have endorsed Simpson-Bowles. Alas.

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#49279: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:44:31 PM

What did he say that suggests that?

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#49280: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:46:57 PM

@Kostya: Clinton has it if she wants it, but it's not clear that she wants it.

Warren v. Bachmann: Let the catfight begin!

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#49281: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:48:37 PM

Clinton/Warren vs. Bachmann/Palin

It will be the most hilarious race in history!

Arkasas (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#49282: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:49:00 PM

Yes, that is it, and Obama said something along the lines of "and I am prepared to use the Simpson-Bowles plan to fix our economy."

And before you ask, "Why is Simpson-Bowles bad?" ask Our Lord Paul Krugman, who is much better at explaining these matters, or Fighteer.

terlwyth Since: Oct, 2010
#49283: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:49:52 PM

Unless Clinton decides to use the Nixon definition of retirement,...I highly doubt we'll see more of her.

I'm more inclined to believe Christie vs Biden.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#49284: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:51:33 PM

No need for me to step in and say why Simpson-Bowles is terrible; you already got it. Of course, inside the Beltway, the Very Serious People, up to and including many of Obama's economic advisors, strongly believe that we desperately need to cut the deficit, when this is completely contrary to fact.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#49285: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:51:42 PM

I'm guessing he's trying to appease the Republicans with that. If he sincerely believes that will fix things...well I can't exactly blame him. He did hire these people to tell him what to do.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#49287: Feb 12th 2013 at 7:59:04 PM

Does he have any reason to not believe their findings would be trustworthy? That's my problem with blaming him. Yeah he hired terrible people but was anybody telling him they were terrible? The Republicans have muddied the waters so much when it comes to economics that it's probably hard for him to tell who he should be trusting and who he shouldn't be.

edited 12th Feb '13 7:59:41 PM by Kostya

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#49288: Feb 12th 2013 at 8:20:19 PM

It's hard to tell precisely how much blame is due Obama and how much due the general political climate in Washington, but with people like Krugman shouting so loudly and so popularly from the outside, it's his job to listen to those voices and ask why they are so popular and so loud.

ETA: The President has to be the person listening to those outside voices precisely because he is at risk for being captured by the information bubble of the White House and the mainstream press. His subordinates won't spontaneously start offering outside advice.

edited 12th Feb '13 8:47:44 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Ultrayellow Unchanging Avatar. Since: Dec, 2010
Unchanging Avatar.
#49289: Feb 12th 2013 at 9:48:51 PM

As a speech, this was probably Obama's strongest State of the Union.

As a policy proposal? I don't know. Everything he said seemed reasonable...but I just don't know what counts as reasonable among the Republicans these days.

Edit: Read the responses. Rubio's response is a good speech. Paul's is raving lunacy in places. Rubio seems to understand something about policy. Paul's ideas about economics seem to have never progressed past The Wealth Of Nations. Which, by a bizarre coincidence, he cited in his speech.

edited 12th Feb '13 10:00:11 PM by Ultrayellow

Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#49290: Feb 12th 2013 at 9:58:55 PM

Total submission?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
drunkscriblerian Street Writing Man from Castle Geekhaven Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: In season
Street Writing Man
#49291: Feb 12th 2013 at 10:04:23 PM

Random note regarding the President (and this is 90% speculation so feel free to ignore it if it pisses you off)...

So, I was reading through his Executive Orders regarding gun control and I caught the bit about him wanting the CDC and the ATF to start looking at gun violence. Apparently they are supposed to get back to him about what they find out.

I really like this for one reason; the dude wants facts. I mean, how much invective is flying about regarding guns? Do we really know anything solid at this point? IMO, not really.

My take; Obama wants some hard data to work from before he makes a decision that will affect millions of his constituents. He wants to make a good decision based off real information rather than pander to this or that group. He wants to solve stuff.

If I'm right...well played, Mister President.

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~
DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#49292: Feb 12th 2013 at 10:05:38 PM

[up][up][up] I know that my uncle is frothing at the mouth over what was said, and did play-by-play rebuttals on Facebook.

He mostly had issues with the topics of climate change (because winters are still cold), education (because it's unfair to aborted babies?), minimum wage (because people in poverty just aren't working hard enough), and gun control (he just wants to take our guns to massacre innocent civilians).

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#49293: Feb 12th 2013 at 10:23:19 PM

That second one doesn't even make any sort of sense.

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#49294: Feb 12th 2013 at 10:25:00 PM

Isn't the CDC banned from having any funding to look into gun violence due to Congress back in the 90s?

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#49295: Feb 12th 2013 at 10:33:44 PM

It is, and the ATF is banned from doing anything but writing strongly worded suggestions about guns. Neither have any power in this setting.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#49296: Feb 12th 2013 at 10:40:53 PM

I would assume that the president has some power to influence that in favor of actually gathering facts, though.

drunkscriblerian Street Writing Man from Castle Geekhaven Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: In season
Street Writing Man
#49297: Feb 12th 2013 at 10:53:40 PM

I believe several of Obama's executive orders actually addressed some of the hamstringing regarding the CDC and the ATF.

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~
DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#49298: Feb 12th 2013 at 11:16:22 PM

I support the CDC having the ability to do some actual research into the causes of violence and giving a clear and concise report, hopefully without political bias. I'd rather not see the ATF have their ability to be expanded until after such a time that there is a clear path.

Right now, there are too many people saying too many things, and trying to do too much all at once.

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#49299: Feb 12th 2013 at 11:31:31 PM

If the ATF can't have a say, then what's the point of having the F in their name? They're supposed to be some sort of authority on guns, so they need to damn well be able to do something.

DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#49300: Feb 12th 2013 at 11:51:33 PM

[up] That's because they really aren't much of an authority on firearms, except on how they are now. They were basically re-purposed to oversee interstate commerce on the A and T, then when prohibition ended, they were given Firearms as a way to justify their part on the payroll.

Which is why after Fast and Furious, it's probably better to hold off on expanding their powers until they are either restructured or given a clear set of goals, rather than being part of the conversation on how to achieve them.

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!

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