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KesArt
Face the Nation
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Comments by "KesArt" (@kesart8378) on "Face the Nation" channel.

I prefer former American Secretaries of State who did not help promote a wholly unjustifiable war and who did not help to usher in a programme of torture of Middle East detainees--and have defended said programme even after leaving government service.
37
When you create a special policing unit and tell its members that they are "the elite" of law enforcement, the baddest badasses, with powers and latitude that the average grunt lacks, don't be surprised if those badasses behave like latter-day Mongol hordes.
26
Remember, Senator Graham, your remarks will be preserved digitally and replayed when, in the very near future, you reverse your position.
20
Scott Galloway's descriptive phrase "agents of chaos" is a perfect summation of those who seek to topple financial institutions for personal profit.
19
It's the Bothsidesism Barbie, Nancy Mace. (Doll comes with highly tuned evasion protocols and the ability to speak out of both sides of its mouth.)
14
May Margaret Brennan recover speedily and return to full health with no lingering effects from COVID. Best regards to her and her loved ones.
12
@chadclemen With respect, are you really suggesting that this is the victim's fault? And do you mean readers to infer that you have the research to support your wildly unfounded assertion that complying with police orders guarantees one's safety "one hundred percent of the time"? How would any researcher measure a host of similar events and then quantify the results? Furthermore, how should the victim have gone about complying with officers' orders when all were shouting orders at him and orders that were in conflict with one another? And how, for example, does one lie flat on the roadway when an officer has one in a choke hold that makes lying flat physically impossible? Is it simply mere ignorance that underlies your assertions, or a strain of vile racism?
12
The art of threading the needle between those who believe in science and who are driven by the hardwired urge to protect the most vulnerable, versus an authoritarian governor, rabid, ill-informed and easily manipulated parents, including outside agitators, and anti-science Republican pols.
11
I felt more than a bit nonplussed at the sight of the forewoman gleefully basking in her "fifteen minutes of fame" while commenting on such a grave matter. I still worry that she compromised matters quite unnecessarily.
7
This strategy of Democrats of supporting the more extreme Republican candidate leaves me morally queasy. Furthermore, the rise of armed extremists and militias in the state of Michigan makes even more questionable the strategy of supporting an extremist nutter.
6
As the shootings continue, more Republicans campaigning for office feature themselves wielding firearms in their campaign adverts: Witness Dr. Oz exiting from a pickup and extracting a shotgun from the truck's bed while chatting about how hunting has always been a part of his life...and just prior to concluding with a pandering paen to the Second Amendment, the good doctor pulls out a semiautomatic handgun and blasts away at some unseen target. While "First do no harm" stands as a central tenet of any American doctor's ethos, Dr. Oz has decided to prioritize "First get votes by any means" above his oath as a doctor.
6
Matthew Allen You need to listen more attentively, for many if the answers--particularly given the complexity of the problem and attendant issues of the politicization of mask-wearing, social-distancing, and the stoking of the anti-vaxxer movement--will not be yes or no replies. Things aren't that simple. Not everything is binary and amenable to simple solutions. All this has become not merely a matter of what science dictates, but what will be palatable to segments of the citizenry who have been encouraged--for political reasons--to be skeptical of experts. The emotional response to any proposed action must be factored into any decision. Decisions cannot merely be rendered based on what science would dictate is the correct path to take. People have to be willing to buy in to any shift, or adaptation of previous guidelines. America will never reach "herd immunity" unless more people can be persuaded to abandon their affection for disinformation, and to shun those who would exploit human suffering and death for political gain.
6
As the late great American baseball legend, Yogi Berra, once said, "It ain't over till it's over." Unless memory fails me, I recall Dr. Gottlieb expressing a positive attitude but last week about un- masking and reopening America. At the time I wondered, "Given how very mutable this virus has proven, and how the variants that have emerged have proved more transmissible and more potent than the original virus, wouldn't an abundance of caution be more appropriate than adopting a cheerleading stance for the America Reopens campaign." From the very start of the pandemic certain factions (read: conservative Republicans) in America have let haste be their guide as they dove pell-mell into the race of which state will be first to reopen. And some medical and scientific professionals have, no doubt, felt pressure to put a rosier than truthful gloss on the status of America in the time of COVID, particularly given the restive nature of certain Americans, particularly those enamored of conspiracy theories... And America has not reached the percentage-- which is now calculated as higher than it was pre-variants-- necessary to achieve "herd immunity." One would be well advised to keep a mask at hand whenever venturing out--especially in regions where anti-masking and anti-vaccine sentiments run high.
5
And you may let your pre-teen ride their bikes and kick-scooters without helmets on, and forego buying a government approved car seat in the belief that if your motor vehicle's safety belts are dandy for protecting adults, then they're perfectly fine for kiddos. We have been at war with this virus gone on two years and the virus has taken a staggering human toll. Yes, we would all like "to move on," but absent a solid truce with the enemy, "moving on" seems a bit premature. Cheers
5
If office occupancy rates are up, does that not mean that white-collar/office jobs are up, not just "service workers," as Cohen emphasized.
5
Deat SCHOOLTHEWORLD, First, may I say that as a parent and grandparent I empathize with the instinct to protect one's offspring against unknown, potentially harmful forces. However, as a retired professor and proud father of a son who is a neurologist, I feel compelled to place a good deal of stock in what the medical and scientific experts say. At this point in time the experts, given how recently this new corona virus made its debut, cannot say with certainty how long--and how effective--"natural immunity" (i.e.: immunity acquired through exposure to the virus, exposure that prompts the body to generate antibodies to combat the virus) will prove. They need more time and more data. My kids and grandchild live in the state of Florida and they have not abandoned masking--particularly when indoors amongst people whom they do not know. My four-year old granddaughter wears a mask at preschool and takes a mask to public parks, and is reminded not to crowd too closely to unmasked children in the park. (My kids have a "pod," a group of parents and children who practice the same preventative health measures, which, therefore, makes them safer to socialize with than those who are lax about following health guidelines.) So given that we care so much about our little ones, we exercise great caution and take with a huge grain of salt the pronouncements of politicians--particularly state governors who wish to claim the title of, "First to reopen." Perhaps the CDC article about types of immunity (link below) will be of some assistance. Stay safe and be well. Cheers https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/immunity-types.htm
5
While I do very much respect Margaret Brennan, too often I feel as though she's reaching for a "gotcha moment" with her guests.
5
@blanketyblank604 With respect, mate, I find the proposition that a multimillionaire--30 million USD, by your telling--would find it a worthwhile use of time to sit about and post replies to others' comments on YouTube suitable for mediocre genre fiction. I have read speculative fiction that fails to strains credulity far past its breaking point as does your account of your success. Cheers
4
The question is, Why does Kevin McCarthy feel the need to visit Taiwan? The man is hardly three weeks into his tenure--a tenure marked by fractiousness and corrosive theatrics--and he's already booking an overseas trip?!? Just a suggestion, but why doesn't he focus on trying to do the American people's work by reining in the disrupters and destroyers in his caucus and concentrating on crafting legislation that serves the real daily concerns of the people of the United States...and cease any plans to further prod the Chinese giant so soon after Pelosi's visit.
4
With respect, one cannot look at one isolated account and draw global conclusions from one example. Also, I expect that many of the FEDEX hires are for temporary positions: To meet the demand of the approaching holiday season. Thus, such jobs rank as anomalous, short-term and not reflective of a trend that will necessarily prove ongoing.
4
Ah, the scholarly chin-whiskered chap clearly belongs in the camp of empiricism and not rationalism: he seems willing to believe only what his own extremely limited experience presents to his highly suggestible mind. He believes that what he imagines that he perceived--or, rather, what his brain interpreted from the limited, decontextualized data it received--constitutes "the truth." And, more troubling, is his faith that his very limited experiences--what legal types call "anecdotal"--can be extrapolated on a grand scale, grand enough to permit him to condemn an entire electoral system from minuscule bits of interpreted occurrences. From little snippets--confined to one very specific location--can a great cloth be constructed. Mountains from molehills. Global conspiracies from what he observed and interpreted as irregularities during the terrible brief time that he was present in one singular polling place...But he's not--as he's quick to interject--"a conspiracy theorist." Interesting, too, is the fact that this average Joe had no knowledge that Trump's appointee, Chris Krebs, the nonpartisan director of CISA, had certified the election as "...the most secure in American history," a statement supported by the FBI'S Christopher Wray, another Trump appointee. And when pressed on this issue, Mr. Average Citizen said that he doesn't pay attention to "supposition," only facts. (Read: "Only what I observed/experienced directly in my very small sphere/bubble.") So for this chap to be enlightened would require transporting him to every state--and several randomly chosen polling places within each state--on Election Day so that his untrained eyes could see firsthand what transpired. Oh, and it would absolutely require unplugging him from the feeds of right-wing, pro-Trump propaganda mills. Like weaning a five year old child who has only known breastfeeding for her life to date. Imagine the ghastly howling triggered by such deprivation.
3
@wewhoareabouttodiesaluteyo9303 Should this be filed under Random and Essentially Meaningless Comments/Non-sequitors? Or is there a point that you'd hoped to make?
3
"They" at the National Archives And Records Administration did realize quite early on that considerable materials had not been turned over to them as required and sought, diplomatically, to acquire the missing records and documents. When their efforts failed, they turned to the DOJ and FBI. (A very truncated version of what has dragged on for an egregiously long time.)
3
As the trainers who work at Sea World say, "In life you must have a porpoise."
3
Were one conspiracy-minded, one might consider that given the potential for BIG banks to profit greatly through the acquisition of small regional banks, did said BIG banks act behind-the-scenes to precipitate the failure of those that have fallen already and those expected to fail.
3
Give me an abundance of caution over a flurry of impulsivity any day. To date, scientists and doctors have been stymied by the dazzling unpredictability of SarsCov2 more than a few times. No one can say with a certainty that the ambitious understudy for the Omicron variant is not anxiously waiting in the wings. As long as a tangible, quantifiable threat remains, my grandkiddos will keep their masks on in pre-school. The wee ones are far too precious to stake their health on a roll of the dice.
3
@worldtraveler134 With respect, the "lack of authority over them" is but one of several reasons why the officers in question felt justified in assuming the roles of judge, jury and executioner. Cheers
3
With respect, matters are more complicated than you view them: Several Republican controlled states have already passed legislation that makes the electoral process in their states subject to partisan scrutiny and abuse, and that increases the hurdles to be overcome by People of Color and the disabled. The possible reform--or abolition--of the Electoral College would not address many of the antidemocratic measures already voted into law in the states in question. As for bipartisanship, in an ideal world-or in the America pre-Nixon- one would expect that country before party would rule the day. But in our time bipartisanship seems a quaint relic, something to look back at with nostalgia, but not something that any serious observer of the American political scene-- particularly over the past five years-- would reasonably expect. Cheers
2
@tcjohnson3437 With respect, mate, when your tone shifted to the accusatory--"It's about you directly violating the civil rights of Americans."--your position declined severely. Any scrap of rationality fled the premises when you leveled an indictment--"...you directly violating..."--against another individual. Do you seriously believe that "Nonya Bizness" possesses the power necessary to violate the civil rights of Americans? And which civil rights in particular? And how many Americans have had their civil rights violated? You indict others with the charge that they are immune to the truth, the real facts, yet you present no facts to bolster your case. All you offer is a highly subjective interpretation of matters that you claim is supported by creditable accounts in as yet unnamed news outlets in every American city and town. Were positions reversed, would you be persuaded by such flimsy argumentation? Cheers
2
@mariar2651 Thank you for the civil manner in which you presented your thesis. However, your points have been thoroughly debunked in so many venues that I find myself a bit embarrassed that you are banging a drum long broken and discarded. The changes in voting methodology were inarguably necessary given that America--and the world--was in the throes of the first wave of the pandemic and a failure to make healthful accommodations to how Americans vote would have constituted criminal negligence. Health concerns, not darkly sinister political machinations, prompted the changes. As for the legality of said changes, sixty plus court challenges found no merit to any of the allegations that you raise. That reality, in addition to the fact that the Supervisors of Elections in all fifty American states--a goodly number dominated by Republican legislatures--certified their states' elections should have put this matter to bed...but apparently not for some doggedly persistent folk. As for the issue of Russian interference--are we really still litigating the 2016 election?--all components of America's alphabet soup intelligence community--FBI, CIA, NSA--as well as the Director of National Intelligence, agreed that Russian agents had succeeded in intruding electronically into the American 2016 election--and for the purpose of tilting the election to Trump. Regarding the fantasy that then Vice President Joe Biden interfered in Ukrainian politics in order to secure a position with Burisma for his son, Hunter, this matter, too, has been exhaustively investigated, both by the press, foreign and domestic, and by the U.S. intelligence agencies, and found to be without merit. Yes, Hunter Biden is an opportunistic charlatan and all-round gobsh**e, but those self evident facts aside, Biden forced the firing of a corrupt, pro-Putin, Ukrainian prosecutor with the full support--and urging--of America's UK and European allies, none of whom gave a tinker's damn about Hunter Biden's job prospects. So while I very much appreciate your civility and decency, I must admit to a measure of disappointment at the dredging up of tired, meritless talking points that are rooted in a belief in grand conspiracies, conspiracies that sprang from the minds of partisan political operatives, only to wither in the light of day. Cheers
2
How dare Mike Turner presume to speak for the American people by asserting what they (the American people) want their Department of Justice to pursue.
2
"So my security people said that China did it, but I spoke with President Xi and he gave me the strongest assurances that China did not let this virus loose. So I've got my security people telling me one thing, and they've got very strong evidence, but I've also got President Xi telling me another story, and I have to say that he's very persuasive, so I don't not know why China would've done it....or not." (Hypothetical Trump news conference early on in 2020 when DJT was praising the Chinese for their help, transparency, and success in dealing with the virus.)
2
In China business exists primarily to serve the state; in America the state exists, in the majority, to serve business.
2
"I"m saying, in Iowa, people were the solution (not government)." Really? So Iowans, independent of government, crafted and implemented solutions to municipal and statewide problems? Suuurrre. Even were that silly assertion true, how are circumstances in Iowa applicable to far more diverse, far more populous states than Iowa?
2
Mike Turner, a bloviating, verbally inadept partisan who is inclined to reach conclusions insupportable by the facts at hand.
2
How granular does Bob Costa need to get in examining former governor Hogan's decision not to run? Asked and answered. Move on.
2
For the second consecutive year, American congressmembers passed a national budget that granted the military markedly more money--billions more--than was requested by the Biden White House. And the same was true under Trump. With such generosity, it is fair to examine whether room to cut does exist. Cheers
2
J A M While your suggestion is wise, your addition of caustic snark will likely blunt the effectiveness of your message. Cheers
2
@jasonjames4254 Yours is an undeserved, terribly demeaning, compassionless attack. I must assume that you are childless and have no basis by which to empathize. But that doesn't excuse the monumental rudeness.
2
@gigistoner8004 You are most welcome. And thank you for your kind reply. Cheers
2
With respect, the matters of consciousness of guilt and intentionality, not merely simple possession, are critical. Cheers
2
@nc3826 Condoleeza Rice was one of the chief architects of the invasion of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein, both of which were sold to the American public and Congress through the use of manipulated intel. Stockpiles of WMDs never existed and, contrary to George W. Bush's claim, Iraq never attempted to purchase "yellowcake uranium" from Niger, or anywhere else for that matter, for the purpose of creating offensive nuclear devices. But these were the lies that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, et. al., foisted upon America's citizenry and elected officials, lies that led to the "Forever War" that America lies embroiled in--at a terrible cost of so many American lives and trillions of dollars--to this day. And let's not forget Condoleeza Rice's major role in supporting the rendition and torture of foreign nationals. This woman has been denounced by scores of political scientists and has had to cancel speaking engagements at colleges and universities due to planned protests by students and faculty...Life can be bumpy for those labeled as "war criminals."
2
@truthgambit911 Sorry, mate, but the notion you posit would, if true, require the cooperation and active participation of billions of people-from grave diggers to the most renowned epidemiologists- from near all parts of the world. As a retired professor emeritus and father of a practicing neurologist, I feel comfortable in asserting that your conspiracy theory would be rejected by even the least competent scribbler of science fiction as ridiculously implausible.
2
"Biden don't know how to distribute cookies," says the roads scholar, Sandy. Yes, the man with a lifetime spent in government, intimately familiar with working deals, and totally knowledgeable about how to deploy government resources to solve problems is less capable of making government agencies work for the people than a man with zero previous public service, a long record of business failures, a disdain for expertise and an insane faith in trusting his considerable--though wholly ignorant--gut and following his impulses. Dear Christ, save us from the abjectly ignorant.
2
And Bill Barr has never attempted to deceive the American public, nor has he ever acted in a nakedly partisan manner using the powers of his office not as longstanding precedents dictate, but to serve Trump's needs and whims.
2
@otisdylan9532 But he did have the opportunity to protest McConnell's illegitimate obstruction of Garland's nomination. Silence is complicity, yeah?
1
@tcjohnson3437 With respect, you do your assertions no service when you seek to support them with wildly sweeping generalizations that lack any citations, or fact-based accounts to support them...And when you presume to speak on behalf of the American nation, yet lack the bona fides of a social scientist and respected pollster, you further weaken your stance. No one succeeds at convincing a party that is philosophically opposed to one's position by declaring, "Everyone knows this is true." Given how deeply divided the American citizenry is at this moment in time, everyone obviously does not agree on what is true. Cheers
1
@tcjohnson3437 Again, with respect, America, at present, has two distinctly different information eco- systems and supporters/partisans exist in grand numbers for both. Unfortunately, the two systems diverge considerably in what they present as reality and what they consider to be the truth. And, regrettably, far too many of their partisans lack the skills necessary to apply analytical and critical thinking to the data that they receive--and passively consume--from their favoured news purveyor. While I appreciate passion, your posts exude a good deal of anger, anger that prohibits lucid reasoning and disdains rational debate. But it does have an affection for baseless accusations and dismissiveness toward those not of your faith, or political stripe...and it raises the question of why you choose to engage with those whom you disagree profoundly when you come to the debate with closed ears (and mind?). So thanks for the kind closing; I, in return, wish that you and those dear to you will weather these parlous times in safety and good health. Cheers
1
@Semper_Iratus How terribly articulate (read: puerile, juvenile, scatological and repellant).
1
@tcjohnson3437 Take care and stay safe, mate. Cheers
1
Reductio ad absurdem: "Smallpox is going to do what smallpox does. So just stay healthy, exercise regularly and think positive thoughts." How sad: America was founded by people who were enthusiastic participants in the Age of Enlightenment. As such, they embraced its belief that science would provide invaluable-indeed, critical- assistance necessary for humankind to continue to progress into the modern epoch. And today we have citizens who shrug resignedly and say, "The virus is going to do what viruses do." "Hey, you eggheads, cease and desist with that useless cancer research sciencey stuff. Everybody knows that cancer is going to do what cancer is gonna do. "Now take all your medical expertise and do something useful, like developing a pill that will cause me to lose fifteen pounds--without exercising and dieting--in time for my sister's wedding."
1
@blanketyblank604 With respect, surely you have things to do, perhaps contributions to make, before you are done with this life. You have lived eighty-five years, certainly you have stories, anecdotes, memories, lessons learned that would be worth recording for your children and grandchildren. You ran a business that is still existent, not an inconsiderable accomplishment, that, and an accomplishment that makes you someone whose views and advice on running a business would prove quite valuable to others who are starting, or not doing particularly well. Rather than ramble on and risk being presumptuous, I wish you well and hope that you do know that you still have things to do, kiddos to keep in line, advice to dispense. Take care. Cheers
1
Twentysomething conservative columnist Greg Price tweeted that patriots need to take to the streets to stop the prosecution of "our President Trump. If they want a war, let's give them a war." How is this permitted free speech?
1
A shameless performance from a feckless, empty suit programmed to spout the party line in defiance of the glaring truth. Oh, heavens, Marco claims to know a woman who allegedly never was in Washington D.C. on January 6TH, yet is being "persecuted" by the One-Six committee. Wow, what specificity, and what competent lawyer would hesitate to build his case on one person's anecdotal account and some scurrilous generalities. People may not have been in the American capitol on that fateful day, yet still possess critical information about the events of that day, information about the planning, funding, and participants. The larger question, the heart of the matter, is not who were the marauding insurrectionists, but, rather, who were the planners, financiers, the enablers, for the attack most certainly was not a grassroots, independent martial action, but the culmination of the efforts of so many puppeteers, some of them elected officials, who rank as just as culpable and dangerous as the actual insurrectionists.
1
Marco Rubio faces a tight race for re-election and he has spoken most disparagingly of the DOJ/FBI search, as have other Republican partisans in the American Congress. Can Republicans on the Intelligence Committee be trusted?
1
The governour sounds too much the fast-talking politician/salesperson. He came across better in another interview with a different network.
1
And cue the Dr. Deborah Birx self-serving, "Rehabilitation Of My Reputation Tour" in which the good doctor tries her hand at creative nonfiction. Though not a writer by training, and thus at a bit of a disadvantage-a disadvantage compounded by facts that do not corroborate her fanciful narrative--Dr. Birx attempts to depict herself as a victim of sorts, a blameless party who did her level best to steer the USS COVID TASKFORCE through waters roiled by the ridiculously unpredictable Hurricane Donald, but kept running aground on the Shoals of Politics. However, digital records of the many interviews and briefings that Dr. Birx took part in do not support her account of events all too recent to have passed from memory. But why let grass grow under one's feet when there is history to be rewritten. And surely there's a book deal a-waitin' at some prestigious publishing house. Sadly, the account offered in this Face The Nation interview does not jibe with the facts. Dr. Birx, during her tenure with the COVID Taskforce, far too often assumed the role of team player and not that of proctor monitoring those unqualified to speak on complex medical issues. The mere arching of an eyebrow in response to the insane suggestion of injecting bleach, or hydrogen peroxide, into an infected patient's body hardly amounted to the unconditional refutation that such a lunatic concept rightly deserved. "Primum non nocere," or as English speakers say, "First do no harm," is the credo central to the practice of medicine, a credo learned by every first year medical student on day one. Somewhere along the way to the podium for another Donald Trump journey through "An Idiot's Guide To Virology," Dr. Birx lost sight of that crucial dictum. Her reticence on certain matters plus her support of other issues that demanded pushback, not collusion, make her part heir to the burden of responsibility for thousands of COVID deaths that were avoidable if truth had been allowed a stronger champion and not one quite as acquiescent. https://youtu.be/wuooYaeY-YY
1
If Stuart Rhodes (founder of the "Oathkeepers") did in fact attempt to reach Donald Trump by phone during the riot, then it seems fair to assume that Rhodes possessed Trump's private phone number as it would have been impossible for him to reach Trump via the White House switchboard.
1
Armed protesters?!? Such groups need to be squashed with all due haste.
1
@rockycomet4587 I really like your nom de plume: "Rocky Comet" is funny, creative and bordering on being punny. Far better than the vulgar, scatological, and obscene monikers that some people gravitate towards. Cheers
1
McCarthy doesn't have the authority to speak for the Republican House members. The more radical far-right members will pull the figurative rug out from under McCarthy if they object to any proposal he raises with Biden, or they will do so just to prove that they can.
1
Did Senator Rubio assert that the American media is able to report on the specifics of what was found? If so, that is a misstatement: The media has only reported that documents were found, not the contents thereof.
1
Weasel words from a despicable man, a man who emits endless drivel and says nothing of consequence, and nothing truthful.
1
Several central questions remain to be answered about this matter, yet it has not prevented wild--as yet unfounded--speculation. An audience conditioned by the twenty-four hour news cycle demands immediate answers. However, given the nature of the documents involved--as well as the snares of partisans eager to capitalize quickly on the matter--we should not expect any resolution in short time. We should wait for the attorney--Republican Kenneth Hur--appointed by AG Garland to conduct a thorough investigation, one that hopefully will satisfy interested parties on both sides of the aisle.
1
If conclusion-jumping.were an Olympic event, Representative Turner would be a gold medalist.several times over.
1
Representative Turner managed to fit in world-class "Bothsideism" and wildly irresponsible conclusion- jumping. This might have been a personal best for the congressman.
1
AaronCross Why wasn't there a sequel to The Bourne Legacy?
1
In several states we have seen county sheriffs declare that they do not intend to enforce lawful mask mandates. Law enforcement should rise above the political fray, but too many examples exist where that is not the case.
1
Mike Turner described Project Veritas as a news organization. In what universe? Project Veritas is a vile propaganda organ that employs base tactics to promote right wing grievances and conspiracies.
1
Yes, by all means let's hear from Condoleeza Rice, one of the chief architects of the removal of Saddam Hussein--justified by manufactured intel about Iraqi WMDs and a supposed nascent nuclear weapons program, both of which proved false--and one of the key proponents of the use of rendition and torture against foreign nationals. Yes, let's celebrate her strong support of policies that led America into a "Forever War" in the Middle East and to the loss of so very much blood and treasure. What an amazingly forgiving climate wherein a person arguably worthy of the title of "war criminal" can find herself resurrected as an esteemed academic and valued expert on foreign policy. What a role model.
1
How many of these previously classified documents are now considered to hold information deserving of the "classified" designation? Some date back to Biden's time as an American senator. Years have passed since then.
1
My kids live in the state of Florida, a Republican dominated state helmed by a corrupt, dull-witted man, Ron DeSantis, someone who dislikes transparency and is, at heart, a fascist. He was among the last of the American governors to put mitigation measures in place and one of the first to reopen his state. And the state of Florida is a breeding ground for conspiracy theories, denialism of science and truth, good-old-boy politics, and venality. So my kids are not in any rush to abandon masking and social distancing, particularly given DeSantis' mismanagement of the COVID crisis--as reflected in the statistics on deaths, hospitalizations and rate of vaccinations per one hundred thousand citizens, as well as the fact that Florida has the largest "college outbreak" of any of the states--as well as his bungling of the vaccine rollout. Lastly, given how mutable this virus is, and, thus, how unpredictable, a bit more caution seems reasonable, particularly given that only some thirty-three percent of the American population has been vaccinated to date (hardly anywhere near enough for "herd immunity"), and "vaccine hesitancy" is rising, which consequently means that the rate of vaccinations in the states is declining. Thus, measured caution seems reasonable for a bit longer. (My son is a neurologist, my daughter-in-law an Associate Professor and historian, and my granddaughter is a gobsmackingly brilliant preschooler, and they are not ready to "return to normal", particularly given that no one knows quite what the "new normal" will look like.)
1
And there you have Gabriel and Sandy, dolts whose minds view all things through a highly distorted political prism. They have their talking points memorized, including the notion that a usurper-- Joe Biden--sits, illegitimately, upon the throne stolen from Trump. They hold disdain for science--Sandy worrying aloud that the vaccine might turn him into a robot (the paranoia that "Deep State" fiends are conspiring to rob patriots of their will)--and neither, highly educated souls that they so obviously are, do not believe the renowned experts respected the world over. Yes, these geniuses likely take daily plunges into Conspiracy World and swallow whole cloth concepts that an editor of a sci-fi fan mag would consider too ludicrous to publish. Yep, they remain ready to march forth in partisan battle to lead ignorance to triumph over reason. Sandy trusts his Mum before Dr. Fauci. Should listeners conclude that Sandy's Mum is a world class virologist/epidemiologist? Sandy and Gabriel also admire the incredible work done by Trump when he had "...no blueprint to work from..."-other than the copious studies and action plans--a kind of Idiot's Guide To Coping With A Pandemic- left by the Obama administration, and three in person "tabletop" exercises conducted by Obama officials for incoming Trump personnel, one of which involved how to tackle an epidemic. Wow, Gabriel, a man with seemingly quite thin bone fides regarding higher education, is a stay-at-home Dad who home schools his kids. Guess that he steers clear of any lessons in science...heck, he probably steers clear of anything of the modern/post-modern epochs. Doctors cannot cure stupidity...but they can heavily sedate it.
1
Many pundits have chastised Democrats for not playing hardball as Republicans near always do. "Democrats keep bringing slingshots to gun fights. They need.to get in the gutter where Republicans reside." Then, post Biden's feisty speech, the narrative changes. Pundits; "Didn't Biden cross a line of decorum with his inflammatory rhetoric? Isn't such speech counterproductive?" Damned if you do, and damned if you don't. American schizoid journalism at it's best. Now all jump on the bandwagon.
1
@marley4251 With respect, how did you arrive at the calculation that Biden already lost millions of votes over the Hamas/Israeli war? The American election lies near a year off and much-including attitudes--can change in that length of time. Hopefully, in the interregnum, more Americans will develop the ability to see the big picture and not miss the wood for the trees. One can--and should- express dismay and even disgust over America's collaboration with Israel in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. However, the need to save America from autocracy should supercede such disgust. Big picture thinking, yeah? Cheers
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A two-fer: You covered misogyny and ageism, but didn't stop there for you still had a head of steam and felt it necessary to attack her integrity and honesty. Congratulations, mate, on a bile-fueled mini-rant/character assassination built on pure speculation.
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In a strict, literal sense, yes, unless one considers that all Republicans do not think alike and some "moderate" Republicans would support the bill if they knew that they would not suffer severe retribution from their party leaders, and the Trump base, for doing so. And none wish to roll those dice.
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Surely Margaret Brennan knows that when a congressperson "walks away" from formal talks on a particular subject it does not mean that said congressperson has ceased discussing said subject with congressional colleagues.
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@jillfeatherman5523 With respect, Republicans held the Senate during the time period to which you refer. Thus, it was the province of Mitch McConnell, not Chuck Schumer, to put the bill to a vote, which he did...and it was voted down by Democrats, as well as a handful of Republicans, which stopped passage of the bill. As for the reasons that Democrats cited for opposing the bill, chief among them was that they felt that it did "not go far enough." Senator Scott's bill did not mandate the elimination of choke holds, nor did it end qualified immunity for individual police officers, and it did not demand a cessation of the transfer of excess weapons from the American military to municipal police departments. And though Democrats urged McConnell to let the bill be amended in committee before being sent to the floor, he refused, thus blocking the addition of any amendments. Furthermore, the fact that both the NAACP and the ACLU opposed Scott's bill did not help its chances of garnering Democrats' votes, nor did the fact that the Democrat led House of Representatives had already passed a tougher crime and justice bill. So matters are not as simple as one might think were one to rely solely on Republicans' account of the demise of Tim Scott's "JUSTICE" bill. Cheers https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/17/george-floyd-senate-gop-introduce-police-reform-bill/3202254001/ https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/apr/30/tim-scott/sen-tim-scott-says-democrats-blocked-his-police-re/ https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/24/how-police-reform-collapsed-in-the-senate-338332
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@jasonjames4254 Thanks for the kind words, mate. I try to remain positive, particularly since I hope that my granddaughter will grow up in an hospitable world. Take care. Cheers
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@jasonjames4254 As one grandfather to another, please accept my apology for being so presumptuous. I really do understand your anger. Some days all I seem to feel is bloody angry. But I am trying my level best to focus on those slender rays of positivism that shine through on occasion. (I live in hope eternal.) Cheers
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@jasonjames4254 I believe that you underestimate yourself. Surely a loving great grandfather such as yourself must have stores of strength: How could you not with wee ones to care for and run after. I believe that our profound love for our young-- as well as our Papa bear instinct to protect them--fuels us and strengthens our resolve to demand better of the poltroons who hold elective office. Take care. Cheers
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I do hope that lipstick applied to said pigs was not tested on animals prior to be marketed. The pigs would not be pleased should they learn otherwise.
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@nc3826 And so that thousands of starved-for-attention youth could find a platform for their narcissism and exhibitionism--and perhaps become rich and famous while lacking any discernible talent other than self-promotion, self-absorption and rampant extroversion.
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@nc3826 If you find comfort in self-delusion, then have at it, mate.
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With so many variables--and such differences among nations (e.g.: population density and degree of homogeneity, standards of medical care, vaccination rates, climatic status, tourism, etc.)--logic dictates that one not draw any conclusions from such flimsy data.
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And yet the American people have yet to receive an assessment of the national security risks--real and hypothetical--posed by Trump's retention of highly classified documents in unsecured locations.
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@mam0313 Thank you for your valuable comments, comments that have the gravitas earned from real experience, not mere theory. Take care and be safe in these parlous times. Cheers
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Does "hold people accountable" mean incarcerate more people, for that is a failed default solution promoted by too many Republicans. More police and more prisons will not address the roots of America's crime problem.
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Because Capitalism has worked so well for the American people. (See staggering and growing income/wealth inequality.)
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With respect, that is far too simplistic a diagnosis of a quite complex problem. Such reductive analysis amounts to a dismissal of the urgent need to confront the multi-layered issue/problem of policing in the United States. Cheers
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@dominickjvlogs With respect, do you mean to assert that those who perform services that place their lives in jeopardy do not deserve greater compensation than "the average citizen"? ("Average citizen" is a highly inexact term. You might say that police should not be paid above the "median income" for their jurisdiction/municipality.) Also, though the word "weaponized" is certainly trending right now, it is hardly an appropriate term to use in regards to law enforcement officers whose training requires experience in weapons handling. (You might say, as many analysts have, that American policing has become "militarized" in the equipment and tactics it utilizes.) Cheers
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@dominickjvlogs With respect, I was not making excuses for the murderous officers of "The Scorpion Squad." Rather, I was pointing out that your writing lacks precision of expression and that said imprecision muddles your message. (And the word is "conscience," not :"conscious." One can be unconscious and still possess a conscience.,) Cheers
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@dominickjvlogs Again, with respect, it is both your writing and your analysis that are muddled. I asked if you were suggesting that those who work at truly hazardous jobs do not deserve greater compensation than your "average citizen." (Your terminology.) If your answer is, "Yes," then best of luck in finding police and other first responders willing to accept the average citizen's salary. Now if you had asserted that some police are paid at a higher salary than the ER doctor in your city, you might have had a case. Cheers
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With respect, what possible relevance does a rote statement by an FBI spokesperson have to the matters at hand. I'm unclear as to your point.
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@BobJohnson648 I would rather not indulge in speculation unsupported by any facts. In the case in point,the spokesperson may have, as a condition of employment, signed documents that proscribe quite thoroughly what they can reveal in a public setting. Perhaps, as a hypothetical, this instance may have involved the oft-stated concern about revealing "sources and methods." (I realize that I am indulging in speculation, but absent further evidence, I would rather err on the less condemnatory side of the matter.) Cheers
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@BobJohnson648 I can't argue with you there, mate. And I would never disagree with the assertion that the American FBI has many sins, past and present, to atone for. Cheers
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@BobJohnson648 With respect, are you suggesting that the FBI covertly took part in the January sixth riot inside the United States Capitol? If so, then no, given the numerous revelations to date regarding the genesis of the January sixth riot it is not logical to assume that the FBI was involved. Admittedly the FBI seems to have left a noticeable footprint--through numerous informants and an undercover agent posing as a "bomb-maker"--in the alleged plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. However, post the April 2020 storming of the Michigan state Capitol building by heavily armed citizens, the Bureau was criticized for not having paid greater attention to the threat posed by domestic terrorism, a justifiable criticism. Given the pressure to show that they were in fact regarding threats from within the states as seriously as they did foreign--primarily Muslim jihadist--threats, I can understand the impulse to act a bit overzealous upon receiving tips about the Michigan Wolverines militia group. I do not mean to excuse any questionable conduct by FBI agents in the Whitmer attempted kidnapping case, nor in cases in the past when agents crossed serious red lines. However, neither logic nor the evidence supports the unsubstantiated claims that the FBI played a meaningful role in the events of January sixth. Just because the Bureau has a rather checkered past does not dictate that agents should be assumed to have been involved in the byzantine plotting that led to that terrible day in January of 2020. Lastly, as for the alleged Whitmer kidnapping case, I always find myself leery of dubious characters claiming that they were "entrapped", gulled into committing acts that they would never have considered if not for the beguiling effect of some undercover plant enticing them to engage in deeds that they would never have imagined on their own. Can innocent, righteous people be conned into taking part in an attempted kidnapping? It seems quite dubious to me. Cheers
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@BobJohnson648 With respect, to whom do you refer when you say, "Americans have the distinct feeling"? Which Americans have this feeling and what percentage of the American population do they represent? Are you perhaps projecting your own suspicions onto what you imagine to be a large cohort of your fellow Americans? Sorry, mare, but the case you are attempting to build is rather weak tea, a jerry-built structure propped up with some rather flimsy assumptions. Take care. Cheers
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@BobJohnson648 I am Irish, but have lived in the states for decades, and I follow American--and UK--politics quite closely. As for your assertion that the latest polls "show that most Americans distrust the FBI," I cannot find any polling online that corroborates your declaration. In point of fact, the only polling that I encountered that addresses Americans' regard for the FBI indicated essentially an even split between Americans who distrust the FBI (47%), and those who view it favourably (46%). And said polling was conducted by the Rasmussen Organization, a conservative polling entity active since 2003. As for sensationalist headlines that blare that "Americsns Hate The FBI," those can be found in Star Digital News Media publications such as the Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Tennessee Star. Star has a decidedly conservative bias and is among a number of so-called "Baby Breitbarts" that have popped across America, all on a mission to promote Trumpism, part of which involves fostering distrust in Americsn institutions. If half of Americans do distrust the FBI and other intelligence agencies, as well as the judiciary, it should surprise no one given that Trump spent years attacking critical American institutions, as well as denigrating NATO and the American military. May I suggest that you check the bona fides of your sources, that you avoid sweeping generalizations, and that you incorporate precise figures and cite actual sources that support your positions. (Old habits: I'm a retired college professor and published author of non-fiction. So I value fact-checking, precision and attribution.) And now I must push off so as to be ready for a day of play with my brilliant five-year old granddaughter. Take care, mate. Cheers Below you will find a link to the article concerning the Rasmussen Poll that sought to measure Americans' level of trust in their primary institutions. https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/partner_surveys/voter_approval_of_fbi_declines
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I guess that the very obvious implications of showing a video of one's self discharging a firearm above the hashtag, "Fire Pelosi," escape this party drone. In his mind he would have had to have written, "Shoot Pelosi" for his followers to have gotten the intended message. Is he that stupid; or is he convinced that viewers are.
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