Everything posted by Kyle
-
Reforms to our democracy that you'd like to see
You won't even have to start a new party ... that's about the platform of the national socialists. You just need an army and some trains.
-
Reforms to our democracy that you'd like to see
I wonder if she'll bother reading the bill before she passes it?
-
Tell Me About Texas a&m
? Has either school had a 20-game win streak?
-
Overlord. EVERYTHING that is wrong with cinema today.
The Facebook has dulled National Socialists as the every-villain. Today we need a lesbian Muslim in a wheelchair fighting generic white men for the universal right to pee standing up in any bathroom.
-
Two Robert the Bruce movies coming out: Outlaw King and Robert The Bruce
Another racist, nationalist movie celebrating privileged, white, Christian, straight men.
-
Mass shooting ar Cali bar
I absolutely don't want to Cloak Room this thread, but there my sense is there is a reasonable alignment among those who hold these two POV: 1. The war on drugs isn't working, legalize / decriminalize 2. Launch a war on guns I am not mixing the two subjects, but if one believes a war on drugs failed, it makes little sense to believe a war on guns would succeed. That does not mean there should not restrictions on firearms, but like most the issue is significantly more complicated. I am neither passionately pro- or anti-gun, but access to guns is no different or possibly more difficult than 25 years ago; yet, mass shootings have increased. What has changed?
-
Mass shooting ar Cali bar
Sort of winging it, but guessing it is a lot harder to be a serial killer these days given science and technology. More cameras, more databases, DNA have to give some pause - many seem to be a weird mix of intelligent and insane, so maybe some are finding other ways to fight their demons.
-
molly's game, the 2nd viewing
I really liked it. As noted before, a good, mindless, fun airplane movie. While I thought she was hot, I thought it was a weird casting ... don't have a great alternative. Elba of course was great.
-
Mass shooting ar Cali bar
Sounds like this guy had serious mental problems but refused help. It feels like we need to return to forceable treatment or institutionalization of some mentally ill people. I respect the ACLU and realize it will lose its mind, but this feels like a public safety issue at this point. Naive but optimistic we have advanced culturally and medically so we can do so with better conditions and treatment that can return most to normality.
-
Paolo Macchiarini - Fraudulent Surgeon
I had never heard of this story, but it is pretty crazy. It popped up on this podcast, True Crime Brewery. Basically a surgeon is a con man who cons world renowned scientists, NBC News, and several women, including a "documentary" filmmaker. Guy faked his resume, got into possibly the world's most exclusive medical institute, and butchered a bunch of poor people with fraudulent, phony surgeries. Lots of layers in the story, and it is a good illustration of how even those ostensible sophisticated scientists and journalists can easily be duped. Sounds like common sense checks and balances broke down, illustrating that even the most reputable institutions fall to the same temptations and weaknesses that befell us all. Maybe I'm the only guy that missed this story, but I was surprised being how crazy it was it did not make more national news - part of that is apparently NBC has tried to whitewash its news and "documentary" endorsements.
-
Cruz vs Beto
Chuckle. Similarly, I'll buy you a bottle of any whiskey you want if that actually happens.
-
Cruz vs Beto
I don't think I'm doing a good job of helping explain the nuances, but I doubt it really matters. Nothing I am going to say or share is going to change your mind or anyone on the board. I thought I owed you a response. If you disagree with me, no skin off either one of our backs. I will continue to believe that words matter and see a difference between a "political stunt" and a "dirty trick." For example, a "dirty trick" would be if the GOP funded the caravan and then deployed the troops to fight it, but you'll never see it that way and alas, It is really not worth anymore of our time. Have a great week.
-
Cruz vs Beto
I appreciate the thoughtful response. We can respectfully agree to disagree on asylum, illegality, etc. I realize the cloak of asylum was used as the story, but questions of granting asylum is another complexity to a tough political and moral issue. I concede I'm not an expert on the nuances of asylum, but I would happily buy you any bottle of whiskey if most of the members of the caravan ultimately entered the country legally and followed the appropriate procedures.
-
Cruz vs Beto
A "dirty trick" and a "political stunt" are two different things. Is your contention there is not a caravan of Central Americans attempting to enter the U.S. illegally? I can see where there would be value in have a military presence there to retain order given how these guys treated their entry into Mexico. Nuance is important - sending troops before the election absolutely was political but not without merit or value IMHO - unless you think the caravan was just a fabrication.
- Cruz vs Beto
-
Cruz vs Beto
Words matter. If you want to have a reasonably dialogue, it has to begin with personal integrity. Sending troops to the border is not a dirty trick. One can agree or disagree with it, but it is not a dirty trick by any definition. What was the "false pretense" or "complete fabrication of the truth?" Immigration is a extremely complex moral and political question that requires more than hyperbolic emotion to solve.
-
Cruz vs Beto
I think you're pretty much proving his point. If you want to fix political dialogue, stop calling everyone who disagrees with you a name and engage in the marketplace of ideas. Neither party has the market cornered on bigotry, cheating, lying, etc. If you really want change, it starts on an individual level - do you choose to discuss ideas and policies or make hateful comments about the other tribe.
-
Trump vs Beto
The Democratic primary will be interesting. O'Rourke definitely is the most likable and least kooky of the potential nominees. Plus, being from a big, red state would be an asset. It largely depends on how far Left the primaries will be -> O'Rourke is everything ostensibly the Left hates, so curious if the far Left would get on board.
-
Long time, no see? You fucking racist
Costs of college education could be reduced (among other things) if schools stopped spending money on snowflake initiatives.
-
Cruz vs Beto
I did not vote Republican in 2016.
-
Cruz vs Beto
This. As a moderate, the hyperbolic, hateful emotional tone of every discussion is a big turnoff. I prefer to discuss issues than personality. I did not care for Cruz, but I saw no compelling reason to change. I understood O'Rourke's charisma and appeal, but I would prefer someone more centrist than either Cruz or O'Rourke. Given the results, did not see a compelling reason to change. I was one of those people stimulated by the Kavanaugh hearing because dirty tricks inherently turn me off to both sides. I did not support the lack of vote on Garland, and I did not support the fake hit on Kavanaugh.
-
The Next Speaker of the House
On the OP, no question historically Democrats have a much better track record running the House than the Republicans. The closest the GOP ever got was Gingrich, and sort of like Pelosi the external brand was bad while the internal machinations were there. My guess is Pelosi is an extremely effective internal leader even if she comes across externally as a nitwit.
-
The Next Speaker of the House
I said 0.01%. I just do not see as many thoughtful discussions as I would like, which is one reason I really do not engage in political discussions as much as I used to - too much hate and intolerance for any diverse points of view. I can separate "likability" and "effectiveness," but I realize for many those are the same.
-
The Next Speaker of the House
That pretty much goes for 99.99% of people's opinions about every politician. Even on this forum only about 0.01% of the political threads actually discuss anything other than propaganda.
-
Cruz vs Beto
He's the vice president on the 2020 Democratic ticket.