Watching the Democrats - it's Fun and Macabre!

[Griff]

Under the heading meet the new boss, evidence that Dem Presidents are just as stupid as Rep Presidents.

The Hubris of the Drones by Bill Moyers

The Times told of a Muslim cleric in Yemen named Salem Ahmed bin Ali Jaber, standing in a village mosque denouncing al Qaeda. It was a brave thing to do -- a respected tribal figure, arguing against terrorism. But two days later, when he and a police officer cousin agreed to meet with three al Qaeda members to continue the argument, all five men -- friend and foe -- were incinerated by an American drone attack. The killings infuriated the village and prompted rumors of an upwelling of support in the town for al Qaeda, because, the Times reported, "such a move is seen as the only way to retaliate against the United States."

[IamSam]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

It's actually unconstitutional to change the pay of Congress during a term.

I don't know what those clowns in Congress are playing at, but I wouldn't consider it a "term." They have no interest what-so-ever in the good of the nation and its citizens. They are pretty excited about not being "primaried," so they're working hard to out lunatic the tea party - a difficult job, but they are managing it.

Most of the time they are not in session, anyway. At the moment they have taken off for 10 days for some reason or another - maybe they need to take the loot they get from their Wall Street masters and personally deposit it into those off shore bank accounts.

They don't have the guts to put a single corrupt CEO who helped plunge this country into depression on trial for their crimes against the American people. They are pretty good at filibustering anything that moves - just one more way to avoid actually being in session and having the guts to get together, compromise on the issues and actually govern the nation.

I realize their official Congressional pay is a drop in the bucket, but it would at least be a start to let them know how disgusted the American people are with them.

Now we have the sequester coming up. Oh, boy! The US looks more like a comedy of the 200 however many stooges in Congress than it does a respectable, sovereign nation.

[tw]

From the Washington Post of 15 Feb 2013:

Automatic cuts are getting a big yawn from Washington

As deadlines go, the March 1 sequester lacks punch. Nobody's taxes will go up; the U.S. Treasury won't run out of cash. Government offices won't immediately turn out the lights and lock the doors. No federal worker will be furloughed for at least 30 days.

So Washington felt little need to cancel the Presidents' Day break. On Friday, President Obama flew to Florida for a long weekend of golf. And Congress left town for nine days, with scant hope of averting deep cuts to the Pentagon and other agencies in the short time remaining when lawmakers return.

Instead of negotiating, party leaders were busy issuing ultimatums and casting blame. ...

Behind the scenes, there was real concern that the cuts eventually would disrupt critical government functions, hamper economic growth and destroy 750,000 jobs. But for now, the sequester is amorphous and slow-moving, and it has emerged as a convenient hill on which to plant a flag and fight the next battle in the ongoing partisan conflict over taxes and spending.

[ZenGum]

Contrast Benghazi.

No bombardment, within days the town citizens had turned on the extremists and run them out of town.

Grab 'em by the malls, their hearts and minds will follow ... until the second you have to let go of their balls to grab someone else's, then their true feelings resurface, and they stab you in the throat.

[Undertoad]

Not so fast on Benghazi

http://news.yahoo.com/two-years-beng...010526963.html

BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - As night fell over Benghazi, a familiar sound echoed across the eastern Libyan city - an explosion, and then gunfire. A bomb had just been thrown at a police car on patrol, injuring an officer.

It was the latest of many attacks on local security forces. Two months before, the man whose job it was to ensure Benghazi was safe, the police chief, was shot dead outside his home.

Two years after Libya's second city kindled the uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, it epitomises a popular revolution gone awry - rival militias and Islamist gunmen more powerful than the police, moving residents to ask: where is the state?

"Imagine a city taken over by militias when all you want is to support the state," activist Mohammed Buganah said. "People feel insecure. They are very upset and annoyed about this."

There have been assaults on diplomats and international missions, including the September 11 killing of the U.S. ambassador, amid a rising tide of kidnappings, bombings and assassinations, mainly of security officials.

The anarchy, along with garbage-strewn streets and unraveling municipal services, have deepened a sense of neglect by the capital Tripoli far to the west and reawakened demands for autonomy in a region with most of Libya's oil wealth.

"Everyone is increasingly worried about eastern Libya," a diplomatic source said. "Things are seriously deteriorating."

[tw]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Not so fast on Benghazi

Civil violence like this is normal in some parts of the world. Some parts of Mexico are just as dangerous. Few realize since virtually no press reports from those other regions.

A problem in Benghazi is true everywhere. More guns mean increased violence. Benghazi is still full of guns held by people driven by emotion. Who earn money by touting bigger guns. Benghazi demonstrates what happens when civil rule is replaced by the gunslinger attitude. Similar problems exist in other places. It will take time to disarm a problem - too many with too many guns.

[glatt]

I had several friends who work in the government, and it's not a yawn for them. They are concerned about their own personal finances and also about how to do their jobs. They can't plan because of the uncertainty. Do you prepare for the annual presentation you do at the national convention in your field, or do you blow it off because you might not attend?

[Lamplighter]

An unidentified group has released several hundred emails hacked
between the Vatican Council and Archbishop Dolan of NY.

Secret negotiations have reached agreement that Vice President Biden will resign at the beginning
of April, and Obama will immediately appoint him as the US Ambassador to the Vatican.

Obama will then appoint Hillary Clinton to replace Biden as Vice President,
laying to rest the 3-month speculation about Clinton's plans to run for the Presidency in2016.

Leading Democrats are divided in response. Republicans are in turmoil.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has already announced he will filibuster both appointments.
Senator McCain was privy to the negotiations, and so refused to comment.

More here

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

More here

Nice try. I didn't click the link but I'm guessing RickRoll...

[infinite monkey]

Just noticed this, Lamp. Nice!

And not a rich roll, rick.

[Adak]

What the Democrats refuse to believe, and everyone with common sense does?

You protect the things that are valuable to you, your community, and your country, with firearms.

Not with "Gun Free Zone" decals stuck on windows and signs.

In an interesting experiment in Texas, a man tested whether his shotgun or "military assualt" rifle, were in fact deadly.

He placed both guns on a chair, near the front door, right next to the ammunition they fired.

During the day, several family members went in and out of the front door, undisturbed.

At bedtime, he checked the guns, and ammo -- Surprise! - neither gun had loaded itself, shot at anyone or anything, or even pointed itself, at anyone!

Neither gun was "dangerous" or needed "controlling" by any government official, in order to be made safe.

It's a shame that common sense runs away from our politicians in Washington, faster than shit runs out of a goose, isn't it?

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Adak

What the Democrats refuse to believe, and everyone with common sense does?
You protect the things that are valuable to you, your community, and your country, with firearms. <snip>

Unfortunately, you are 3 days late with this post.

[IamSam]

Actually, me and my country seem to mostly disagree about what's important. I maintain a low profile and hit the deck when a drone flies over.

I have lots of disagreements with my community, as well. We've made a truce though. They leave me alone, and I won't show up at city counsel meetings.

For personal protection, I recommend a set of Boyce knitting needles. Works like a charm.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Unfortunately, you are 3 days late with this post.

He got the handgun waiting period and the posting waiting period mixed up.

[Adak]

Sad legacy of bad fiscal policies, by Bush and Obama:



From the BBC, Week in Pictures.