tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post5794700739285017408..comments2024-03-29T00:39:31.629-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Looking for a Conservative PhoenixDavid Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1216412846885082792013-09-10T12:42:06.564-07:002013-09-10T12:42:06.564-07:00LarryHart said...
“Obama supporters don't fla...LarryHart said...<br /><br />“Obama supporters don't flaunt the Constitution. We simply accept the FACT that the president was born in the State of Hawaii, and is therefore a natural born citizen.”<br /><br />First off, that “fact” has not been established. To the contrary, copious evidence exists supporting a different conclusion, not the least of which is the 1991 Acton & Dystel agency lististing of its client Obama as being “Kenyan-born”. One could list at tedious length the factual inconsistencies, falsehoods and cover-ups surrounding this issue. Your naked assertion is unpersuasive.<br /><br />Second, there is no reason to believe that the Founders conflated “citizen” with “natural born citizen”, or considered the mere accident of birth on American soil (assuming such was the case) automatically to confer the status of “natural born citizen”. The fact that the Founders used different terms in different provisions of the Constitution clearly establishes that they considered the terms NOT to be interchangeable. Until the Supreme Court speaks to this issue, it remains open IMO, as does the issue of Obama’s qualification to be President, or lack thereof. <br /><br />sociotard said...<br /><br />“Except Cruz and Obama are both Natural Born citizens. They were born to women who were citizens. This made both Obama and Cruz citizens at the time of their birth, and, consequently, natural born citizens.”<br /><br />The foregoing argument applies here as well. There is no legal justification IMO, and more importantly, no constitutional support, for equating “citizen” with “natural born citizen”.Michael Gerardinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-36181299837376157042013-09-06T10:51:32.011-07:002013-09-06T10:51:32.011-07:00"In other words, liberals, Fox is partly your..."In other words, liberals, Fox is partly your fault."<br />Nope, Republicans need to own that. Saying Fox is partly liberals' fault is like telling a woman she's partly to blame for being raped because she wore a short skirt.<br /><br />Each side will annoy the crap out of the other. How one chooses to deal with that is the difference between adult politics and the constant childish "me-victim" whinging we see from the modern conservative.Gatornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-65153188823247760102013-09-03T13:41:06.376-07:002013-09-03T13:41:06.376-07:00In the spirit of the vandals in "Earth",...In the spirit of the vandals in "Earth", making people look at things that don't fit their worldview:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_x_li_a_tale_of_two_political_systems.html" rel="nofollow"> TED Talk: Eric Li - A Tale of Two Political Systems</a><br />He explains why he thinks that Chinese Meritocracy is awesome. He doesn't persuade me, but it was an interesting talk.sociotardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697154298087412934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-40193664975046992672013-09-03T09:04:53.329-07:002013-09-03T09:04:53.329-07:00To tie the various sub threads together....
There...To tie the various sub threads together....<br /><br />There is a reason why impeachment is rare and should be reserved for the ultimate level of abuse. Even if a president has done something that could be viewed as impeachable by partisan folks, there is no question that starting or even openly calling for impeachment weakens our image in the world. Could Clinton have better handled Bin Laden before 9/11 if he did not fear the consequences of a "wag the dog" criticism? Quite possibly.<br /><br />I also think Iraq could have been less traumatic had D opposition been more principled, but that is a view I do not ask others to endorse.<br /><br />So, at this point I think it is time for those who are reluctant regards a Syrian incursion to give the administration a fair and respectful hearing. If there is risk to take and credit/blame to share afterwards lets have both sides do so honestly.<br /><br />TacitusTacitushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007086196578740689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-654646367617753182013-09-03T06:38:45.872-07:002013-09-03T06:38:45.872-07:00R.I.P., frederik Pohl
http://www.theregister.co.uk...R.I.P., frederik Pohl<br />http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/02/science_fiction_titan_frederik_pohl_dies_aged_93/Tim H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58800889914666294292013-09-03T06:19:37.483-07:002013-09-03T06:19:37.483-07:00Tacitus, from my perspective Obama is kind of a DI... Tacitus, from my perspective Obama is kind of a DINO, more like a Republican of the sixties, but the liberal/progressive movement has only a shadow existence in the contemporary Democratic party. The B-5 reference has to do with the way outsiders tend to be assimilated by the Washington establishment, lobbyists and "Serious people", go to youtube and try this search "Babylon 5, the regent dies".Tim H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-63637889523117683912013-09-03T05:26:56.009-07:002013-09-03T05:26:56.009-07:00And that level of weaseling just makes me hate Cli...And that level of weaseling just makes me hate Clinton that much worse. What he did with Lewinski was sex even if he didn't "technically" sleep with her. What's more, it was an abuse of power. My one hope is that Obama is able to resist any such temptations and remains true to his wife. But that's not so much "remaining true to marriage" as "avoiding potential abuses of power" that come with being President. <br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-66244996417103081312013-09-02T20:53:57.090-07:002013-09-02T20:53:57.090-07:00"I feel the Republican Party sullied their of..."I feel the Republican Party sullied their office by impeaching him over lying on a trivial subject as an affair."<br /><br />Did he lie?<br />The impression I got was that he sailed very close to the truth but by the definitions he was given he did not lie<br />He did not have sex (penetration) with that woman Duncan Cairncrossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-46510706403963274992013-09-02T18:29:03.033-07:002013-09-02T18:29:03.033-07:00Personally I think impeachment is overdone. Everyo...Personally I think impeachment is overdone. Everyone talks about impeaching a President over the most trivial of matters. Nixon was not impeached... but would have been because of a truly valid reason. The impeachment of Bill Clinton was not valid. And any talk of Impeaching the Shrub were likewise not valid. And while I dislike Clinton... I feel the Republican Party sullied their office by impeaching him over lying on a trivial subject as an affair. <br /><br />If Clinton had lied under oath about a murder or concerning a subject of national security then it would have been a valid reason to impeach him. By going after Clinton for the most trivial of reasons... Republicans diminished what Impeachment truly is and abused their own power.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-72854059597714176242013-09-02T16:45:58.798-07:002013-09-02T16:45:58.798-07:00Tacitus2:
Frankly the one recent Pres whose actio...Tacitus2:<br /><i><br />Frankly the one recent Pres whose actions probably come closest to Impeachable is the one almost everyone loved/loves.<br /><br />Reagan and Iran/Contra was pretty far over the line.<br /></i><br /><br />Hey, I don't know how to respond, because you're going further "left" than even I would.<br /><br />:)<br /><br />I despised much of what President Reagan stood for during his term, and I lay a lot of blame for what this country has become at his feet, or more accurately, at the feet of his cult of followers.<br /><br />But even at the time, impeachment as an option didn't even occur to me.<br /><br /><i><br />Bush the Elder was a one termer, I can't recall anything terribly damning in a constitutional sense. <br /></i><br /><br />Of all the presidents since Reagan, and possibly even since Carter, George H W Bush is the only one who was NOT a personality-cult type leader. (On other forums, I've said that he's the only recent president I have not suspected of being the anti-Christ). In that sense, he's probably more of what I think is appropriate in a president, as opposed to a king or dictator. I liked Dukakis in 88 for the same reason, and was horrified when he was portrayed in ads as being a "mere administrator", which is what I think a president SHOULD be.<br /><br /><i><br />As to more recent Chief Execs I share the concerns generally expressed regarding extending Executive Privilege.<br /></i><br /><br />In a sense, I'm more disappointed and frustrated when Democrats go along with that. When Bush/Cheney overreached, I could imagine that the remedy was the same as it was for Nixon--force them to resign or vote for the other party. When President Obama does the same thing, what am I supposed to do? Vote for McCain/Palin or Romney/Ryan instead? To what end? If "Democrats are just as bad", then the terrorists have won. Metaphorically, I mean.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-35344008140096458112013-09-02T13:03:13.640-07:002013-09-02T13:03:13.640-07:00Frankly the one recent Pres whose actions probably...Frankly the one recent Pres whose actions probably come closest to Impeachable is the one almost everyone loved/loves.<br /><br />Reagan and Iran/Contra was pretty far over the line.<br /><br />Bush the Elder was a one termer, I can't recall anything terribly damning in a constitutional sense. <br /><br />As to more recent Chief Execs I share the concerns generally expressed regarding extending Executive Privilege. <br /><br />TacitusTacitushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007086196578740689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-17555531111058111112013-09-02T12:01:45.147-07:002013-09-02T12:01:45.147-07:00Tim H:
a good working definition of a Republican ...Tim H:<br /><i><br />a good working definition of a Republican is someone who dislikes Obama (Or Carter or Clinton.) for the wrong reasons.<br /></i><br /><br />I'd ammend that to someone who thinks President Obama is always wrong. Remember how McCain et all were on his case for NOT intervening in Lybia until he did, and then they were on his case FOR intervening in Lybia. It's just like "We've always been at war with Eastasia".<br /><br />In fact, I wonder if the reason Obama was in favor of austerity was so that the Republicans might come out against it. I mean, if so, it didn't work, but it was worth a try.<br /><br />Tacitus2:<br /><i><br />There have been grumblings about impeaching all recent presidents. <br /></i><br /><br />Very cynical response: There were grumblings about impeaching Bush because he DESERVED it, while the grumblings about Clinton and Obama are purely partisan tit-for-tat.<br /><br />Healthier response: There were grublings from liberals like myself about impeaching Bush, but the Democaratic leadership who could have acutally pursued such a measure were never in danger of doing so. The first thing Nancy Pelosi did when she became Speaker was to take impeachment "off the table."<br /><br />Whereas the Republicans DID impeach Clinton, and the only thing preventing them from impeaching Obama is knowing the Senae won't go along.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-63797501489821779002013-09-02T10:47:43.359-07:002013-09-02T10:47:43.359-07:00No, Jon. It would be enforced by the anti-Fashion ...No, Jon. It would be enforced by the anti-Fashion police. The Fashion police are part of the problem. :PAcacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-22611476458198932922013-09-02T10:25:22.634-07:002013-09-02T10:25:22.634-07:00So, Robert, would this law be enforced by the Fash...So, Robert, would this law be enforced by the Fashion Police? :-)<br />Jonathan S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-78198919873694931242013-09-02T10:23:18.923-07:002013-09-02T10:23:18.923-07:00Hi David ,
As a liberal, one of the things I hate ...Hi David ,<br />As a liberal, one of the things I hate most about the modern Republican Party elites is that I now have a negitive knee jerk reaction to anything labeled as Conservitive. All I see on tv is war mongering, torture loving, neofudalists, but when I talk to family, friends, coworkers, who are conservitves I find people who are good decent, people who want to find agreeable solutions to the problems we face.<br /><br />That is why I am fond of blogs like yours.<br />I have recently found another blog that is tring to bring some mutual understanding to the problems facing local communities. It is called Strong Towns blog. They did a really neat series on talking with Consevitives, Libertarians, and Progressives about the problems facing our local communities.Occam's comicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-40784766858086613602013-09-02T09:29:31.497-07:002013-09-02T09:29:31.497-07:00Figured I'd repost this from my Facebook accou...Figured I'd repost this from my Facebook account as I suspect even my fellow conservatives here on Contrary Brin would agree with me on this one bit. ;)<br /><br />--------------<br /><br />I know a number of my fellow conservatives dislike government regulation (and for that matter may not consider me conservative because I don't goose-march to the Republican Party). But I do believe we need a federal law passed to regulate one specific industry: fashion.<br /><br />More specifically, we need a Federal law STANDARDIZING clothing and footwear sizes. We've all heard about how a Size 6 (for example) in women's clothing may not be a real Size 6. And we've heard this is spreading to men's clothing so a waist size of 38 may in fact be a 42 or 44. Well, it's ALSO spread to shoe sizes and you NOW have to try on every single pair of shoes you want to buy ahead of time even if you know your size and width BECAUSE IT WON'T BE THE SAME FOR EACH BRAND.<br /><br />To heck with this. I know "government regulation" is a dirty word to some, but we need set standardization for clothing sizes, not "feel good" sizes. You don't see nuts and bolts claim to be 5/8ths of an inch ad actually be 1/2 an inch (or 12 mm when it's actually 15 mm, depending on if you have standard or metric). Why should clothing be different?<br /><br />Rob H. Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-9270167298065111992013-09-02T09:24:06.822-07:002013-09-02T09:24:06.822-07:00Tim H
I should probably dispute that definition b...Tim H<br /><br />I should probably dispute that definition but having never watched Babylon 5 I suppose I can't comment.<br /><br />There have been grumblings about impeaching all recent presidents. <br /><br />Tacitus<br /><br />Tacitushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007086196578740689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-17724491293327977632013-09-02T08:05:03.872-07:002013-09-02T08:05:03.872-07:00Tony, a good working definition of a Republican is... Tony, a good working definition of a Republican is someone who dislikes Obama (Or Carter or Clinton.) for the wrong reasons. Anyone who replaced Obama would likely face the same sort of assimilation by the establishment, think of the Babylon 5 episode where Moliari is gifted with the regents "keeper".Tim H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-85429738312125785572013-09-02T04:55:22.984-07:002013-09-02T04:55:22.984-07:00I'm waiting for the first calls to impeach thi...I'm waiting for the first calls to impeach this dangerous war-monger of a President.Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-69972610536146858212013-09-01T17:33:35.822-07:002013-09-01T17:33:35.822-07:00Personally I think it would be quite interesting t...Personally I think it would be quite interesting to see if Congress dares to vote against it, now that Putin, Syria, AND Iran are all thumbing their noses at the U.S. and saying "neener, neener, you don't dare!" And I'm quite curious as to how things will escalate should Congress say "no" despite these provocations. <br /><br />I mean, what happens should the next nerve gas attack happen in a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan? I'm not sure if they'd dare go after Turkey as that would give NATO permission to move in... but Jordan? Who cares about Jordan? So yeah. If the U.S. Congress dares to say "no" you'll hear plenty of words about how Americans are "gutless" and then a strike against Jordan with claims that "it was Syrian rebels who fired shells from Syria into Jordan as provocation." And Russia will continue to block action from the U.N. despite the attack.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-67526766204255305712013-08-31T19:55:48.967-07:002013-08-31T19:55:48.967-07:00It's one thing about our legislature that I...It's one thing about our legislature that I've found odd. They have the full power of the constitution defending their power and theirs alone to make war. And yet, in practice, they neither want that power nor exercise it nor even acknowledge it is there.<br /><br />I'd always thought that "the goal of every office is to increase its own budget and oversight." However, Congress doesn't want to be in charge of war. The chance of it turning unpopular is too risky.sociotardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697154298087412934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1336783953062610302013-08-31T16:43:51.410-07:002013-08-31T16:43:51.410-07:00Yes, Duncan, Article I, Section 8 states that Cong...Yes, Duncan, Article I, Section 8 states that Congress has the power "To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water...".<br /><br />It's frequently claimed that the Authorization for the Use of Force passed in the days following 9/11 gave the President that power. However, I don't seem to find anywhere in the Constitution where it says the legislative branch has the authority to delegate their powers upon another branch.<br /><br />Of course, there's also the question of whether a limited use of military power constitutes a declaration of war. That was one of the reasons Congress passed the War Powers Act back in the '70s - presidents from Kennedy to Nixon had committed our troops to the defense of South Vietnam without ever going to the trouble of having war declared. The Act requires the President to seek a declaration of war if any intervention is to last longer than 90 days, IIRC.Jonathan S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-9512154857873874792013-08-31T16:14:24.758-07:002013-08-31T16:14:24.758-07:00Hi guys
I'm just a foreigner but in your divis...Hi guys<br />I'm just a foreigner but in your division of power is it not Congress that has the task of declaring war?<br /><br />If it is then Obama SHOULD request Congress to rule on thisDuncan Cairncrossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-31798658853446482382013-08-31T15:46:09.588-07:002013-08-31T15:46:09.588-07:00I hear Obama is seeking congressional approval bef...I hear Obama is seeking congressional approval before hurling things. Will it be an ironic first if Congress grants it?<br /><br />irtchur: the agonising feeling of wanting to scratch an itch and not daring to. Of Congrees wrt Presidential requests.Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-44529729756038504312013-08-31T08:46:59.363-07:002013-08-31T08:46:59.363-07:00Don't forget, the Syrians who most need blowin... Don't forget, the Syrians who most need blowing up have the best bomb shelters. Expect some tragic pictures.Tim H.noreply@blogger.com