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Nov 2023 Mod notice:


There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.

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

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#50051: Feb 20th 2013 at 6:48:21 PM
Thumped: This post was thumped by moderation to preserve the dignity of the author.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#50053: Feb 20th 2013 at 7:05:52 PM

I direct any climate skeptics to Skeptical Science, where they can educate themselves. Yes, it's happening.

Now, back on the thread's topic. Doing my Charles Pierce dump for the week.

North Carolina Takes A Turn As Mississippi

Don't Get Old In Wisconsin

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#50054: Feb 20th 2013 at 7:08:55 PM
Thumped: Wow. That was rude. Too many of this kind of thump will bring a suspension. Please keep it civil.
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#50055: Feb 20th 2013 at 7:11:56 PM

[up] You're silly, and misinformed. Let's take this somewhere else.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#50056: Feb 20th 2013 at 7:12:27 PM

Federal Reserve grappling with when to end stimulus program

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'
#50057: Feb 20th 2013 at 7:14:23 PM

[up][up][up]You're welcome to not inform yourself, but not to do off-topic thread sniping without backing up your arguments. It's happening, and the guys who are pointing out it's happening are not nearly getting as much money as the guys saying it doesn't.

If there's a thread for climate change discussion, we can link it. As it stands, I encourage people who want to honestly look hard at the data to follow the link I provided above.

Back to US Politics.

[up] Something about this "concern" seems silly and pointless, but I can't put my finger on it.

edited 20th Feb '13 7:15:47 PM by RadicalTaoist

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#50058: Feb 20th 2013 at 8:06:15 PM

Secretary of State Kerry rips politicians for exaggerating defense spending

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#50059: Feb 20th 2013 at 9:49:45 PM

I think that the Republicans in general are raising the white flag over Obamacare. Rick Scott is just the latest to jump ship.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#50060: Feb 20th 2013 at 10:00:33 PM

[up]

The Republicans still have there 3 Stooges (Perry, Jindal, and Walker).

Perry is Curly (energetic man-child).

Walker is Moe (bully-like leader).

And Jindal is Larry (sort-of straight man).

edited 20th Feb '13 10:15:53 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#50061: Feb 21st 2013 at 1:07:15 AM

@ Taoist:

You're welcome to not inform yourself, but not to do off-topic thread sniping without backing up your arguments. It's happening, and the guys who are pointing out it's happening are not nearly getting as much money as the guys saying it doesn't.

Maybe on that side of the Atlantic. Over here, it's not really talked about since the pro side is a given — even Big Business and Government are behind it. But, yeah, most debate (when it occurs, which is never) is over the degree or whether humans have any effect, or even if it can be measured...

Anyway, back to the advertised topic.

edited 21st Feb '13 1:08:56 AM by Greenmantle

Keep Rolling On
Bluesqueak Since: Jan, 2010
#50062: Feb 21st 2013 at 2:46:58 AM

[up]Given that we're getting weird weather and 'once-in-a-hundred-years' flooding every year now, yes, Europeans do now tend to see climate change under the 'what can we do about it?' heading.

Maybe (trying to get back on topic) the political difference is because Northern Europe tends to 'weather' while the U.S. tends to 'climate'. Our weather might be a bit more sensitive to change, whereas your politicians might be still able to try and ignore it.

It ain't over 'till the ring hits the lava.
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#50063: Feb 21st 2013 at 3:22:25 AM
Thumped: This post was thumped by the Stick of Off-Topic Thumping. Stay on topic, please.
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#50064: Feb 21st 2013 at 3:50:29 AM

You mean BBC America, Tam? And here's the quote from the article in question:

The Register's management sometimes wonder just why the Beeb is so keen to avoid disclosing how much overseas web traffic it gets and how much overseas money it makes. It's interesting to us, as we get a lot of US web traffic and we're keen to make money there too.

We sometimes suspect that if major US media organisations knew how well the Beeb was doing in their home market, they might perhaps bring up the issue of the enormous and (certainly in the context of US market competition) highly unfair British government subsidy enjoyed by the BBC. This could perhaps put something of a crimp in the Beeb's US commercial operations once the relevant US regulators got involved. Other US industries often raise such concerns regarding foreign competitors, after all.

I can also see that "unfair competition"*

view also applying to other British media sites that get a lot of US Traffic — newspapers such as the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph, for two.

edited 21st Feb '13 3:54:16 AM by Greenmantle

Keep Rolling On
Bluesqueak Since: Jan, 2010
#50065: Feb 21st 2013 at 3:53:38 AM

[up][up]You should take this over to the British politics forum, Tam - the BBC has very little to do with the US (beyond BBC America making tons of money, which is hardly top-secret information).

[Edit: Judging by the online comments and the increasing number of articles on US domestic topics, The Guardian is also getting a lot of US readers. Now, going back on-topic, does this fondness for British newspapers show anything about what's on offer in the US?]

edited 21st Feb '13 4:00:32 AM by Bluesqueak

It ain't over 'till the ring hits the lava.
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#50066: Feb 21st 2013 at 6:53:21 AM

Pew poll results. 22% of polled Americans self-identify as Republicans. But 70% said something must be done this year about the federal budget deficit. One step forward...

Missouri lawmaker introduces bill to criminalize bills that restrict guns. Yes, he wants to make it a felony to propose legislation that restricts gun use or purchasing. Let's kill the First to protect the Second!wink

Wichita, Kansas legislator and geophysicist proposes a bill banning the expenditure of public funds on sustainable development.

Rep. Dennis Hedke, a Republican, brought the bill to the House Energy and Environment Committee of which he is chairman. He said Tuesday he saw no conflict of interest in the fact that he is a contract geophysicist whose client list includes 30 regional oil and gas companies.

"I can't see why," Hedke said. "I didn't think about that. It really never crossed my mind. I'd probably just say no."

Indeed...

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#50067: Feb 21st 2013 at 7:14:01 AM

Sounds like something that'd happen in my home state, yep. See, this is why people like me like gun contriol laws. Our "hunters and sport shooters" see us as monsters to be mercilessly stamped on before we even get silly ideas in our head like gun control.

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#50068: Feb 21st 2013 at 7:48:35 AM

[up][up] So they're saying that the government should have no responsibility for working towards the continued viability of the country in the future? That's really stupid.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#50069: Feb 21st 2013 at 7:54:11 AM

Who was it who wanted to pass a bill jailing any federal agent who entered their state for the purpose of enforcing gun control legislation?

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#50070: Feb 21st 2013 at 7:55:01 AM

[up] Texas did.

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
Lascoden ... from Missouri, USA Since: Nov, 2012
...
#50071: Feb 21st 2013 at 8:03:52 AM

[up][up]I believe good ole' Missouri had a bill like that up.

boop
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#50072: Feb 21st 2013 at 8:06:08 AM

I wonder sometimes if these folks have ever heard of the supremacy clause. It is not the first time I've observed that their slavish adherence to the Constitution is somewhat selective.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#50073: Feb 21st 2013 at 8:07:51 AM

their adherence to the cionstitution only applies to using it to further their agenda.

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#50074: Feb 21st 2013 at 8:13:35 AM

In other words, they're only in the United States out of their own Convenience?

By the way, what happens if a Representative or Senator resigns before the end of their term? Are there new by-elections, or are the people unrepresented until the next round of congressional elections?

Keep Rolling On
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#50075: Feb 21st 2013 at 8:14:57 AM

The rules vary by state, as I understand it. In some cases, the governor appoints their replacement pending the next general election. In others, they hold a special election for an interim replacement.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

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