Big Blue Huddle

There was a time the Republican party stood up for democracy. No more. They are a clear minority in terms of numbers and that has them in a panic mode. So they align themselves with a man who is a habitual liar and abandoned their core principles. And now they are trying to limit voting access in hopes to quell what they have lost in numbers. It is apparent, they no longer believe in democracy. Sad and a very danger to the future of our country.

Quote from: squibber on April 28, 2021, 09:17:49 AM
I got into a heated political discussion on Facebook with a conservative friend. I consider myself moderately liberal.

It

Lenn,
It's because they use the "unpatriotic" line to strike fear in all rival politicians. Our military hardware is ridiculous. No country can even come close to what we possess. Yet so much of it is useless. Intelligence and cyber defense (so much cheaper) how wars will be fought and won in the future. The days of heavy artillery are coming to an end.

The corruption and bloat in the defense budget is draining other much needed resources. Infrastructure could be funded by the waste in defense that just lines the pockets of contractors. Health care could be funded with the same bloat. Yet you rarely hear any politician, right or left, speak up about it.

Quote from: Bob In PA on April 14, 2021, 12:05:48 PM
kat: That is one way to look at it.  Another is to ask why the Democrats (in the last election) changed the laws (or rules and regulations, etc.) in PA, MI, WI, etc., but didn't do so in NY, CA, IL, etc. 

There are two sides to every political coin. I don't mind (AT ALL) a person who sees both sides and THEN makes his or her choice. 

That is a person's right as an American citizen, so I respect whatever choice they make after considering the arguments of the competing parties.

Bob

All that is true in terms of our choices. But the easier it is to get more people to vote is always a very good thing for democracy. Making it harder for whatever clerical reason is not good for democracy.

Now I see Michigan republicans in the statehouse want to change their voting laws? How come we don't see republicans in, say, Alabama...or Oklahoma...or Utah...rushing to change their voting laws? Funny how it is. You lose, you have to change the rules of the game. At least that's what the Republicans are doing. But they are losing the game anyway. It's a lost cause, really, for them.

Again, we can discuss this and get heated, but the line has to be when there are personal attacks. I feel a thread should not be shut down if one individual can't follow the basic principle of not attacking his fellow poster personally for his opinion. Just block that person and we can move on.

As for the topic at hand, there is still is no honest answer as to why any of these laws are now being introduced. We know that there was no fraud in the last election. That has been proved ad nauseum. So why now? And why in these particular states? Answer please?

Small Axe on Amazon Prime. I hear Lupin on Netflix is real good. That's next.

Careful, Painter, stay on topic. Don't dare drift from football despite the state of the world, your thread will be closed. We are too immature to discuss matters beyond the football field, it seems. Anyway, how about that Nick Saban?

The writer/comedian who created Everybody Loves Raymond goes around the world and eats. Sort of like Anthony Bourdain, but not as dark.

Feed Phil on Netflix. A nice reminder of days past when you could travel the world and eat with strangers.

All that, Weeze, and no Covid? Stay safe and as healthy as you can. We miss your rants.

Quote from: Bob In PA on August 09, 2020, 12:18:08 PM
Rich: Europe would be better served to mind its own business, as they have done no better or worse.  Bob

Population:
United States - 330,000,000
Germany,UK, France,Italy and Spain - 325,000,000 combined

Approximate number of covid tests:
United States - 59,000,000
Euro countries listed above - 41,300,000

Approximate number of covid Deaths:
United States - 158,000
Euro group - 151,000

Deaths per 100,000 population:
UK - 70
Spain - 61
Italy - 58
United States - 48
France - 45
Germany - 11

Bob

PS. These stats are getting a bit long-in-the-tooth but they're approximations anyway (but sufficient to make my point). I have no idea if the comparison is now more or less favorable than it was at the end of June.

Bob,
Stats aside, you can't really seriously think that we've handled this pandemic properly. Or as good as a number of other "first world" nations. Tell me about normalcy please and how far we are from it as opposed to countries in Europe and many in Asia?

Quote from: Bob In PA on August 07, 2020, 01:00:59 PM
Lenn: Yet he's opening the schools. I say good for him.  I (for one) won't seek to chastise him if he takes a tough stance (as you suggest), just so he doesn't change the criteria that he has already established.  Bob

The date supports opening the schools. New York is in very very good shape thanks to the measures put in place by the governor months ago. And Bob, criteria could change as the science on Covid changes constantly. As long as the students and teachers don't interact foolishly with those slackers from Florida, Georgia and other outlying states, New York should remain good.

Starting to see plateaus in Arizona and Texas. The patterns on all the surge states are similar to what happened in New York and Michigan. But when those states got hit, there was no preparedness. Florida, Texas and Arizona didn't have to happen as badly as it did. They just didn't want to do the work. Florida, I believe will plateau next week and all those states will slowly begin to see declines in the next month.