Big Blue Huddle

"Nobody won the 11-day Israel-Gaza battle, but 230 dead Palestinians and 12 dead Israelis clearly lost."

I agree and no one will ever win as long as shots are fired or missiles exploded. Israel is a sovereign nation. It has the right to defend its borders. On the other hand, the "Palestine problem" will never disappear by dropping bombs on buildings. They are not going anywhere. They will never be obliterated. So what do do? How can this end? Only by real leaders coming together and finding solutions. And solutions mean compromise. Israel right now has a Trump-like leader who can't govern. Palestine's leader is almost 90 and has little influence. Both sides need better leadership and then....maybe something can get done.

Both Bibi and Hamas want to cling to power. The way to do that is to keep dividing. We saw that here not too long ago. Both are deterrents to peace. I feel bad for the citizens of both sides. They are innocent bystanders in a power grab.

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 15, 2021, 07:12:31 AM
Here is a Harvard Epidemiologist with a different take than the other article I posted


https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1393090966928637952.html

I respect the scientists, but these epidemiologists are risk-averse in general. We cannot let them make policy. They can offer their advice and then so many other factors need to be taken into consideration when policy is made. We have other risks and dangers that are the collateral damage from restrictions to prevent the disease. All must be taken into account. We will never get to 100 percent vaccinations. Nor will we ever get to a full mask restriction. We have to move on sensibly. The world needs to move forward  with common sense. Not hysteria on both sides.

Quote from: squibber on May 14, 2021, 09:49:49 AM
There clearly are Evangelical leaders that mix politics and religion. Franklin Graham is the poster child for it. Just follow his Facebook page for a few weeks. He called Democrats and liberals anti-God socialists. He spoke against liberal policies and he worked to strip equal protections for gays and transgender. He also mirrored his comments to what Trump was saying. When Trump was running for President and was talking about a Muslim ban, Franklin was fanning the flames of fear and hatred against Muslims.

There is a danger in mixing politics with religion. I read a study that found in this environment, when political beliefs are at odds with someone

I will continue to wear the mask in stores and on trains and in closed places (with the exception of visits with others who are double vaxxed). Outside I don't wear a mask anymore (maybe if I'm in a mob I would). I didn't wear one last summer. I think the data is pretty clear that the chances of getting Covid outdoors without a mask are very very slim. There are other dangers to worry about.

Quote from: jimmyz on May 12, 2021, 03:48:34 PM
Trump was the hate magnet that exposed the media for its obvious bias.  You dont have to like Trump to see that.

The media bias swings both ways, my friend. Just turn on Fox or Newsmax these days and you'll see plenty of hate magnets.

Quote from: jimmyz on May 12, 2021, 04:44:01 PM
CDC says 10% of transmissions occurred outdoors. 

Bull$h!t.  More like 0%

https://news.yahoo.com/cdc-exaggerating-risk-outdoor-covid-135958591.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANzBm8VD46i45aV_BYln8yhQSdk4CISwv3p69ixd2ivMz3FU0sSfPcKDLlzIVOgMhJlurfdMPDPmK1hAB7xnUgJsTkk09vS2rISuLTygxSSZ0pNdFessRPNlukHejXxihoVf_gvKDMAaPwMooVWJsxrv-YitXf2ZsD64OYjT-USI


Amazing how a naturally occurring virus managed to be transmitted from a wild animal to a human, but only indoors.  What are the odds?  CDC says 10%.

I'm not sure it was zero percent, Jimmy, but it was very very low. I agree. The media and the CDC never balanced Covid. Fear was mongered. But part of the problem was the denier in chief who made it even worse and made mask-wearing seem as if it made his followers weak. Seriously, such a sacrifice. It was all about common sense from the get go. Masks indoors. Avoid large crowds outdoors. Do that and you would be good.

Bob and I are having a discussion here. Though he did insult me for watching too much TV. I won't behead him for that. We are adults. We can handle our disagreements.

Quote from: Bob In PA on May 08, 2021, 09:28:05 AM
Rich: OK, in the interest of avoiding further deliberation on THAT, I'll address the original post. 

There was a time the Republican party stood up for democracy. No more.  This is just political pap.  Meaningless.  Both sides say the same about each other EVERY DAY. 

They are a clear minority in terms of numbers and that has them in a panic mode.  In case you don't know, the Democrats are also a minority. Numbers of independents grow daily.  There is no majority party.

So they align themselves with a man who is a habitual liar and abandon their core principles. This also applies to Joe Biden.  If you can't see how or why, then you are a lost cause, a victim of the mainstream media.

And now they are trying to limit voting access....  They ARE trying to limit voting access... by dead people, non-citizens, people who vote more than once, and anyone else not entitled to vote.

It is apparent, they no longer believe in democracy. Sad and a very danger to the future of our country.  More pap.  Meaningless. You watch too much TV.

Bob

Bob, you are smooth. Were/are you a salesman? Because you do know how to try to sell. No matter if what you are selling his junk.

Limiting voting rights because of bogus allegations spread by propaganda media like Fox and Newmax that dead people are voting is absurd. You know very well why they are limiting access to voting for many. Don't even go there, Bob. You are "watching too much TV."

When is the last time a Republican won the popular vote to the White House. Almost 20 years now. And the gap is growing. Independents are closer aligned to democrats thanks to the silly social wars the Republicans continue to press proving they are a thing of the past.

Did I miss something. Joe Biden lied about an election? He led his followers to storm the U.S. Capital. Guess I missed that.

When you try to limit democracy; when you care more about allegiance to a man than to principles, you are going against what the founders envisioned about America. Sad but true. Thankfully I don't have to watch much TV, at least political, these days with the lunatic tweets stifled.

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.