The Big Bad Politics Thread Returns

[Trombonista]

As an Israeli I'm 100% against an attack on Syria. In 1991 when America and their allies attacked Iraq, Saddam threw scuds at us as a retaliation. I don't want to see the same thing happening again with Syria's ally Hezbollah emptying their rocket arsenal on us. I don't think an attack on Syria will do any good to the country. Assad has committed crimes against humanity but with him gone there's no guarantee that the country won't fragment into a myriad of warring factions à la Somalia. Plus as the recent wars in Iraq and Libya had shown us, a majority Muslim country with a weak or non-existent government equals an al-queda base.

As an Israeli your country has attacked Syria several times already.

Which is probably why NegaCWC is against another attack.

 

[Holdek]

As an Israeli I'm 100% against an attack on Syria. In 1991 when America and their allies attacked Iraq, Saddam threw scuds at us as a retaliation. I don't want to see the same thing happening again with Syria's ally Hezbollah emptying their rocket arsenal on us. I don't think an attack on Syria will do any good to the country. Assad has committed crimes against humanity but with him gone there's no guarantee that the country won't fragment into a myriad of warring factions à la Somalia. Plus as the recent wars in Iraq and Libya had shown us, a majority Muslim country with a weak or non-existent government equals an al-queda base.

As an Israeli your country has attacked Syria several times already.

Which is probably why NegaCWC is against another attack.

Well Israel will probably attack Syria again regardless.

 

[Holdek]

As an Israeli your country has attacked Syria several times already.

Which is probably why NegaCWC is against another attack.

Well Israel will probably attack Syria again regardless.

Looks like they bombed them again this past Wednesday.

The US hasn't yet, though.

 

[hellbound]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/26/tech/social-media/texas-filibuster-twitter/index.html

So how do you guys feel about filibusters? For those of you who don't know what it is, it means that someone in the senate has to have the floor and talk until the bill-voting deadline has passed, thereby stopping a bill from passing.

I reckon this thread got resurrected but it's up now, so I'll put in my opinion: I think filibustering is a decent thing to have if it's done properly. That is, the member filibustering should have to hold the floor as long as it takes or give it up. No half-assing, no voting to filibuster, you have to talk, and talk, and talk.

 

[The Hunter]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/26/tech/social-media/texas-filibuster-twitter/index.html

So how do you guys feel about filibusters? For those of you who don't know what it is, it means that someone in the senate has to have the floor and talk until the bill-voting deadline has passed, thereby stopping a bill from passing.

I reckon this thread got resurrected but it's up now, so I'll put in my opinion: I think filibustering is a decent thing to have if it's done properly. That is, the member filibustering should have to hold the floor as long as it takes or give it up. No half-assing, no voting to filibuster, you have to talk, and talk, and talk.

Back in the 40s, there was an average of about 3-5 filibusters a year. That number has shot up past 100.

That aside, here are some clips of Huey Long's 15 hour filibuster on a bill that worked against the poor which was secretly about a recipe to make the best got dang fried oysters y'all ever done tasted:

[youtube]hphgHi6FD8k[/youtube]

I mean, 15 hours of having to listen to irrelevant bullshit so someone can get their way in congress... it's no wonder he was later shot and killed in 1935. His amusing last words were, "God, don't let me die. I have so much to do."

 

[hellbound]

Huey P. Long was an... interesting fellow, that's for sure. Very polarizing figure in politics, especially in Louisiana, though in the day everybody loved the Kingfish.

But the filibuster has been called the "soul of the senate" for a reason. It can help act as a measure to prevent the majority party from simply pushing through what they want. Checks and balances.It basically is a check against tyranny of the majority.

 

[The Hunter]

But the filibuster has been called the "soul of the senate" for a reason. It can help act as a measure to prevent the majority party from simply pushing through what they want. Checks and balances.It basically is a check against tyranny of the majority.

Well if you look at it that way, then yeah, it's good as a last resort, but when you're pulling 100 of them every year, you kind of have to wonder if we're really doing much in the way of preventing tyranny.

 

[hellbound]

But the filibuster has been called the "soul of the senate" for a reason. It can help act as a measure to prevent the majority party from simply pushing through what they want. Checks and balances.It basically is a check against tyranny of the majority.

Well if you look at it that way, then yeah, it's good as a last resort, but when you're pulling 100 of them every year, you kind of have to wonder if we're really doing much in the way of preventing tyranny.

Well, no, we aren't, because politics have become (as they pretty much always do) a perpetual series of thinly veiled power grabs by politicians and cronies funding them in exchange for favor. On all sides. House, senate, presidency, state legislatures and executives... it's not whichever party you like staving off the ravening hordes from whichever party (or parties) you don't like, every politician is pretty dead-set on pillaging the public to grant themselves and their benefactors more control. Our choices are the means by which we are pillaged.

But that's another, more complicated issue entirely.

PS no, I'm not an anarchist, that just creates a power vacuum without even the paper barrier of our gutted constitution as protection.

 

[Trombonista]

Same-sex marriage has been legalized in Illinois.

 

[PvtRichardCranium]

Same-sex marriage has been legalized in Illinois.

"...And thus Illinois has assisted in ushering forth the queer apocalypse. For behold, as I saw as I went to Chicago that there was nothing but gays. Gays as far as the eye could see. Constant buggery has enveloped the state in a matter of hours. Soon the united states will be covered in the rainbow aftermath of sodomy, and all I can do is watch as my country burns to ashes from the flame of homosexuality." ~John Boehner

 

[Hasharin]

PS no, I'm not an anarchist, that just creates a power vacuum without even the paper barrier of our gutted constitution as protection.

Well, in anarchist society (I mean anarchism as one of tendencies of revolutionary workers' movement, not anarcho-capitalism, which doesn't exist outside of the Internet) there would be no power vacuum, as people would take power themselves. Anarchists in fact oppose only hierarchical power; since there's no escape from it (if I stop murderer from killing me or someone, I actually excercise power over them and infringe on their freedom- but said murderer also in clear way infringes on freedom of their victims; "absolute" freedom is idealistic concept and means no freedom at all), they just want to distribute it equally (well, they are socialists after all).

 

[Pikonic]

Same-sex marriage has been legalized in Illinois.

"...And thus Illinois has assisted in ushering forth the queer apocalypse. For behold, as I saw as I went to Chicago that there was nothing but gays. Gays as far as the eye could see. Constant buggery has enveloped the state in a matter of hours. Soon the united states will be covered in the rainbow aftermath of sodomy, and all I can do is watch as my country burns to ashes from the flame of homosexuality." ~John Boehner

I can't believe they're still doing that crap. The Pope AKA the voice of God on earth said it was ok…

 

[Holdek]

PS no, I'm not an anarchist, that just creates a power vacuum without even the paper barrier of our gutted constitution as protection.

Well, in anarchist society (I mean anarchism as one of tendencies of revolutionary workers' movement, not anarcho-capitalism, which doesn't exist outside of the Internet)

Well revolutionary workers' anarchism hasn't existed outside of the Internet either, save part of Spain for a couple of years during the Civil War.

Same-sex marriage has been legalized in Illinois.

"...And thus Illinois has assisted in ushering forth the queer apocalypse. For behold, as I saw as I went to Chicago that there was nothing but gays. Gays as far as the eye could see. Constant buggery has enveloped the state in a matter of hours. Soon the united states will be covered in the rainbow aftermath of sodomy, and all I can do is watch as my country burns to ashes from the flame of homosexuality." ~John Boehner

I can't believe they're still doing that crap. The Pope AKA the voice of God on earth said it was ok…

Nah the Pope never said gay marriage was okay; he just said not to focus on it so much and be more open to gays.

 

[Hasharin]

PS no, I'm not an anarchist, that just creates a power vacuum without even the paper barrier of our gutted constitution as protection.

Well, in anarchist society (I mean anarchism as one of tendencies of revolutionary workers' movement, not anarcho-capitalism, which doesn't exist outside of the Internet)

Well revolutionary workers' anarchism hasn't existed outside of the Internet either, save part of Spain for a couple of years during the Civil War.

If by anarchism you mean attempt at creating anarchist society, then you need to add the Free Territory. So, not much, but enormously better than an-caps, who will never obtain mass support and come so close to put their ideas into practice.

Besides, I meant anarchism as social/political movement. Which was at certain times very significant and still has support among ordinary people, while the an-cap one has never existed in the first place (do they even consider any activity?)

 

[Hollywood Hulk Hogan]

Ya know something, brothers? The Hulkster is tempted to run for President in 2016. I will bring an end to the war in Afghanistan by going over there myself. Taliban, if you think you have me scared, you have another guess coming, dudes. I was able to take down the Heenan Family all by myself and I will have support of all the little Hulksters out there. With the training, the prayers and the vitamins, you will have no chance against the awesome power of Hulkamania. When I arrive in Afghanistan, Mullah Omar, I challenge YOU to a steel cage match for the World Wrestling Federation Championship. When we lock horns in that cage, I will pick you up into the air and slam you down into the ground. The impact will be so powerful that there will be an earthquake felt all the way across the world. But THANK GOD that the Hulkamaniacs are following the demandments of Hulkamania, they will survive, man. But YOU, Mullah Omar, you won't be so lucky, man. When the Hulkster drops the big leg drop across your face and covers you for the three-count, you will see the error of your ways and change your stance on Islamic fundamentalism. You will change your views on women's education, human rights and Sharia law, man. WHATCHA GONNA DO, MULLAH OMAR, WHEN ALL THE HULKAMANIACS OF THE WORLD DESTROY YOU?!