American Politics

[QUOTE=Elvis2008;3010685]Sorry, Tooms, that is totally wrong. Unlike regular fields, you can bring shale oil fields on line and have them producing in weeks. Those think tank dimwits do not get that the USA right now is #2 in energy exports to only Saudi Arabia. That these dimwits are pairing the USA with Europe versus China shows me how stupid they are.

Every oil company in the world would pile into the USA and want to start drilling shale oil wells with wallets in hand, and the dollar would soar meaning your dollar to Thai hooker ratio would be even better over night. The biggest benefit would be in the oil and gas producing regions of the country AKA red states while the energy consuming blue states would be hit. The other country with decent shale reserves is Argentina, so they would do well too.

[B]Sure, gasoline prices would go up, and that would hit the economy in the short term but long term if Iran shut off the Gulf, it would be a huge, huge boost for the USA,[/b] and that is why Iran is not going to do it. For me and Texas in particular, shutting off the Persian Gulf oil would be a gift from heaven.[/QUOTE]Therefore, the reason stable genius blithering blathering Trump is begging China to pull strings to keep the Strait open is what again?

[QUOTE=Villainy;3010688]I would suggest he read the Federalist Papers to understand the ideas and concepts that were enshrined in the Constitution. In the 1780's it was about concepts not about politics.[/QUOTE]I see you want to do more than just rant about your normal [B]male bovine excrement[/B] in the Mede RANTS threads. Tell me professor, are what is the first principles document and ultimate law of the land in the Dis-United States of America as interpreted by the Article 3 branch of the United States Government?

[B]The United States Constitution[/B] The year is 2025. This is still true. Until I am sitting on the United States Supreme court, ultimately I have no say in the matter. Neither does MAGA fanatics.

If you have anything else to add I am listening.

[B]The Defense Rests![/B]

[QUOTE=MarquisdeSade1;3010706][URL]https://prasad.dyson.cornell.edu/doc/RT_18July19.pdf[/URL][/QUOTE]When you do type how about you actually share original ideas that you actually write.

As least [B]Sirioja[/B] is sharing his own original ideas!

[QUOTE=AxelHeyst;3010730]Now nobody knows what these 8th century dingbats are going to do next. But what can they do really? Iran has been defeated! Did you notice that none of Iran's proxies stood up for Iran and attacked Israel while the show was going on. Hezbollah, for example, did not fire one missile at Israel while Israel was strategically dismantling Iran's military complex. This suggests that even Hezbollah sees a change is coming to the Middle East and they don't want to die for no reason. The whole region wants the regime gone, peace and prosperity. The majority of the Iranian people want it too. So, I wouldn't bet on the Ayatollah. But you are probably right in that the most likely scenario going forward is some general puts a bullet in the Ayatollah's head ie, an old fashion military coup / dictatorship, but the end of the era of Iran's state sponsored terrorism.[/QUOTE]AH, you brought back a terrible memory. Do you know how children can just tell when an adult male is a good man? One of the best men I know was a general, a member of the family. The revolution happens, and a few years in, he dies in mysterious circumstances. My father was called and told the news. His son was studying here in the USA and my father had to break the news. The son's tears still pain me to this day. Of course, he had to go. The ayatollahs wanted generals only loyal to them.

A friend told me a story about a big car dealership on the West Coast. A Jewish guy owns a few dealerships, and his best salesman and manager for all his stores is Persian. And I am friends with Jewish guys as well and we have helped each other in so many ways. It would be nice to see all this hatred gone.

Yes, the leadership is horribly unpopular. Some of the ayatollahs are some of the worst people you will ever meet in your life and are horribly corrupt. There is no doubt they are hated and some are really, really stupid. There has been talk of bringing the shah's son back, but it is not like there is just one guy to kill. It is like the Catholic Church and all its cardinals. You take out one and another will spring up and like the cardinals, they are rich, well connected, and powerful. And as you can imagine, some of those religious people are well liked.

Thing is in our system we have a way for the most intelligent and capable to leave their lives of poverty. It is not easy but it can be done. In Iran, those people, the ones who would be leading the change, have mostly left the country.

I wish Iran could go back to Democracy and capitalism. The country's potential is unreal, and people do not get how beautiful it is in places. It will change but it is not going to be a quick one. I never thought Saudi Arabia would change in my lifetime, but it has. These videos are worth a look. Someone actually took the trouble to go there and man has it changed. I actually want to visit now:

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k0SvAEvM-I[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWAyrGZEXhw[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRTk7LKrTNw[/URL]

By the way, that is what the 10-7 attacks were really about. With the USA pulling out its military because we do not need the oil, Saudi Arabia needs a new protector, and the best country to fill that role is Israel. The real rivalry is not Iran and Israel or Iran and the USA. It is Shiite Iran versus the Sunni Arab world and Saudi Arabia is the richest Sunni country. 10-7 was an attempt to disrupt that future partnership.

It is like Catholic versus Protestant in the Christian world. At some point, people are going to see the religious wars for what they are like they have in the Christian world and stop with all the fighting and rivalry. I think the Islamic world is ready for that.

Of course, the people want a better government. You are totally right about that. It is just the current government is the devil they know.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;3010817]Therefore, the reason stable genius blithering blathering Trump is begging China to pull strings to keep the Strait open is what again?[/QUOTE]If oil and gasoline go up in price, inflation and interest rates go up in the short term. That means more money has to be spent on interest on the debt and that means less for Trump to spend. Higher gas prices are always unpopular and would be a disaster for Republicans in the mid terms.

Loony Tooms, can't you think for yourself? Do you always got to be fed what to think by the NYT and MSNBC?

[QUOTE=SubCmdr;3010770]China is rapidly pursuing Nuclear Power.

ARAMCO is adding to their ability to general power using renewables.

The Dis-United States of America is [I]drill baby drill[/I].

[B]I have never wished I had another passport so much in my entire life![/B][/QUOTE]

Yes, while nuclear remains an essential cornerstone of China's long-term energy strategy, their rapid deployment of renewables, SWB and hydro (or pumped-hydro), continue to set worldwide clean records.

Chinese renewables (SWB + Hydro) are outpacing nuclear, due to faster deployment and fewer complexities, accounting for almost 40% of China's electricity mix in early 2025, up from 34% in 2024.

[b]"China Sets Clean Energy Record in Early 2025 with 951 TW"[/b]
[url]https://carboncredits.com/china-sets-clean-energy-record-in-early-2025-with-951-tw/[/url], April 24, 2025.

However, it's fair to say, China's "rapid" nuclear deployment, is by global standards, considered fast!

China's slower pace (that is too say, slower than their original expectations for deploying nuclear), [u]reflects the inherent challenges of nuclear,[/u] not their lack of commitment, with ambitions of reaching 400 to 500 GW by 2050. (Note: The U.S. still leads and has the most nuclear reactors in the world. But probably not for long!).

[b]China approves building of 10 new nuclear power units for $27 billion[/b]
[URL]https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/china-approves-building-10-new-nuclear-power-units-27-billion-2025-04-28/[/URL]

As for ARAMCO, ...lets just say, I'm keeping my eye on them. As one of the large key petrostate players, it will be interesting to see, if their foray into renewables, is "genuine" and "sincere"? Their major play on clean energy (for reasons of self-preservation), seems to be HYDROGEN, with (I think) a few planned nuclear projects.

But since these guys have enough money and "juice", to play the long game (w/r to their energy security and powering their grid), I'm not yet certain of their commitment to renewables.

And as for the backsliding democracy, "beautiful clean coal" energy programs, and the sacking of higher education, by [i][b]"The Dis-United States of America is 'drill baby drill' ",[/b][/I] under yet another shit-show MAGA Fuhrer admin, ...who can say for sure, under this backsliding administration?

[QUOTE=Spidy;3010709]So it'll be interesting to see, what if any actions, are taken by China. After all, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, other major oil & gas shipping lanes, or other kinds of messy fossil fuel conflicts, only serve to bolster (unfortunately) China's newly minted power, as an electrostate, that is built to withstand, these types of geo-eco-political turmoil. The EU and global south should pay attention!)

The U.S., unfortunately, under yet another shit-show Repub administration, the American Fuhrer's 2.0 "drill baby drill" petrostate...perhaps NOT SO MUCH![/QUOTE]As messy as things have been for Trump, I read a post like this and think the Republicans will still pick up seats in the mid terms. Trump wins an election, and you Democratic douches call him fascist and the Fuhrer. You raided Trump's house at gun point, went through his wife's underwear drawers and would do it again in a heart beat. When that did not work, you went to civil law suits and then criminal ones and finally there were assassination attempts. But they were okay and not a threat to Democracy huh? Oh yeah, the shooters were registered Republican so everything is fine. When are you Democracy loving Democrats going to have your next impeachment?

Everyone knows you Democratic douches want one party rule and quietly hate Democracy. You douches are the fascists. The media did not touch the Hunter Biden laptop story. The Biden administration left the border wide open to rig an election. We know now without a doubt this was intentional. Then we saw how you picked your candidates, refused common sense voter ID, and the elites picked your candidate, the rare person who made the demented Biden look intelligent.

You Democratic are so deluded by climate change and its "scientists" that you are touting a country that pollutes more than any other as a model for climate change. You are so enamored with China and its wealth, you literally think, "Hey, if they can do it and be rich, we can too. " You ignore how state planned economies have always failed and are oblivious to the cracks in the next one to fall.

No, China did not cause the pandemic with its reckless safety standards. Trump did somehow. All the deaths and destruction done by Covid and the vaccine were nothing compared to J6. You are so devoid of any decent position that you have been left sucking up to illegal immigrants who are engaging in criminal activities.

There is no question that a lot of people are unhappy with Trump. This bombing campaign caused a split in the MAGA base, but not one of us is going to turn on Trump, and you know why? Because you Democratic douches have nothing. You have no desire to please the electorate. All you have is non stop griping about Trump. You are anti-Democracy. You are the fascists. You want one party rule because you are so incompetent that is the only chance you have to stay in power.

The clean energy bullshit is a way for China to take over the energy market. Here is a photo of your "clean energy": [URL]https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/sweetwater-wind-turbine-blades-dump/[/URL]

We never had a power outage in Texas until we went partial green, and Portugal and Spain got a taste of it as well. The EV mandates would have destroyed the American auto industry. Hell, the Biden bill putting up electric stations was a complete waste. In the mean time, Trump not the Democrats has put forward a plan to deliver the cleanest energy of all, nuclear power.

And I have never liked the politics of this guy, but he finally gets why the Dems really suck and are not going to win. [URL]https://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2025/06/20/fighting-back/[/URL]

Harris was a bad candidate. A phony who could not get the public excited and sealed the deal on the nomination through a coup. As for those saying we've got to stop looking at the past, these are the same people who won't let you say anything negative about Kamala and her campaign. It's this litmus test that makes people hate Democrats. You have to sign up for the orthodoxy, be all-in, or you're excommunicated. Which gives talking points to the right. The Democrats won't say no to anybody, and therefore test limits that the majority aren't in agreement with. The whole pronoun thing. The Dems let themselves be labeled "woke" and never denied it, no matter what the truth, and it stuck to them.

Because you know better. Why are all these loser Democrats so convinced since they're educated and watch MSNBC they know what the score is? Not to mention that you can only divine the score by turning on your smartphone, which they consider anathema, never mind social media. But the Democratic elite knows better, when it is out of touch.

And you can't completely discount right wing news. There was an opinion piece in the "Wall Street Journal" that said the No Kings protests were self-satisfying, a way for demonstrators to feel good about themselves, with no ultimate real effect. BINGO! Just because you stood outside holding a sign don't expect any true change to be fomented, that always comes down to economic issues. Then again, so many of the protesters are upper middle class and are fearful of losing out financially themselves.

End of link.

Yep, that was pure gold. The thing is I wish that there was competition for competent government. We all benefitted from the Clinton-Gingrich wars, but who have you Democrats got now? AOC? Quit griping about Trump and look in the mirror. Your side is pathetic!

[URL]https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/06/president-badass/[/URL]

[QUOTE=Elvis2008;3010846]If oil and gasoline go up in price, inflation and interest rates go up in the short term. That means more money has to be spent on interest on the debt and that means less for Trump to spend. Higher gas prices are always unpopular and would be a disaster for Republicans in the mid terms.

Loony Tooms, can't you think for yourself? Do you always got to be fed what to think by the NYT and MSNBC?[/QUOTE]Neither of the links I posted merely reporting that Trump was begging China to save America from the mess he, Trump, created and why were from the NYT or MSNBC.

Your response in either defending or damning Trump for begging China to save him from the mess he created made absolutely no sense:

[QUOTE]Sure, gasoline prices would go up, and that would hit the economy in the short term but long term if Iran shut off the Gulf, it would be a huge, huge boost for the USA, and that is why Iran is not going to do it. For me and Texas in particular, shutting off the Persian Gulf oil would be a gift from heaven.[/QUOTE]So are you damning Trump or praising Trump for begging China to keep the flow of oil coming from the Gulf?

Your response appears to be accusing Trump of putting China first and America last. With your precious Texas landing dead last.

Is that what you intended?

Do you even know what you intended?

Can one of your no-name, Winger conspiracy, fake news sources help you to figure out what you intended?

The "spectacular" and "total obliteration" crap was so blatantly obviously more classic Trump lies:

[B]Strike Set Back Iran's Nuclear Program by Only a Few Months, USA Report Says.
Classified findings indicate that the attack sealed off the entrances to two facilities but did not collapse their underground buildings.[/B]

[URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/us/politics/iran-nuclear-sites.html[/URL]

[QUOTE]A preliminary classified U.S. report says the American bombing of Irans nuclear sites sealed off the entrances to two of the facilities but did not collapse their underground buildings, according to officials familiar with the findings.

The early findings conclude that the strikes over the weekend set back Irans nuclear program by only a few months, the officials said.

Before the attack, U.S. intelligence agencies had said that if Iran tried to rush to making a bomb, it would take about three months. After the U.S. bombing run and days of attacks by the Israeli Air Force, the report by the Defense Intelligence Agency estimated that the program was delayed less than six months.

Former officials said that any rushed effort by Iran to get a bomb would be to develop a relatively small and crude device. A miniaturized warhead would be far more difficult to produce, and it is not clear how much damage to that more advanced research has taken place.

The findings suggest that President Trumps statement that Irans nuclear facilities were obliterated was overstated, at least based on the initial damage assessment. Congress had been set to be briefed on the strike on Tuesday, and lawmakers were expected to ask about the findings of the assessment, but the session was postponed. Senators are now set be briefed on Thursday.

The report also said much of Irans stockpile of enriched uranium was moved before the strikes, which destroyed little of the nuclear material. Some of that may have been moved to secret nuclear sites maintained by Iran.
Some Israeli officials said they also believe that Iran has maintained small covert enrichment facilities that were built so the Iranian government could continue its nuclear program in the event of an attack on the larger facilities.

Officials cautioned that the five-page classified report is only an initial assessment, and others will follow as more information is collected and as Iran examines the three sites at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. One official said that the reports people in the administration had been shown were mixed but that more assessments were yet to be done.

But the Defense Intelligence Agency report indicates that the sites were not damaged as much as some administration officials had hoped, and that Iran retains control of almost all of its nuclear material, meaning if it decides to make a nuclear weapon it might still be able to do so relatively quickly.
(More in the link if you can access it via DuckDuckGo, but more to come in Real News later, of course)
[/QUOTE]LOL. And then he thought if he shouted "fuck" at the press his dumb hillbilly Repub MAGAs would be distracted by that shiny object thrown out and not skip a wet, slobbering stroke in blowing him as their lord and savior.

Well, he probably is right about that one tiny part of it, I suppose.

[QUOTE=MarquisdeSade1;3010737][URL]https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/06/pete-hegseth-has-already-changed-the-pentagon-for-the-better/[/URL]

WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP.

And the NR was against Bad Ass Pete running the Pentagon!![/QUOTE][URL]https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/06/24/nyt-skewers-former-heroes-of-trans-movement-after-scotus-defeat/[/URL]

[QUOTE=Elvis2008;3010848]As messy as things have been for Trump, I read a post like this and think the Republicans will still pick up seats in the mid terms. Trump wins an election, and you Democratic douches call him fascist and the Fuhrer. You raided Trump's house at gun point, went through his wife's underwear drawers and would do it again in a heart beat. When that did not work, you went to civil law suits and then criminal ones and finally there were assassination attempts. But they were okay and not a threat to Democracy huh? Oh yeah, the shooters were registered Republican so everything is fine. When are you Democracy loving Democrats going to have your next impeachment?

Everyone knows you Democratic douches want one party rule and quietly hate Democracy. You douches are the fascists. The media did not touch the Hunter Biden laptop story. The Biden administration left the border wide open to rig an election. We know now without a doubt this was intentional. Then we saw how you picked your candidates, refused common sense voter ID, and the elites picked your candidate, the rare person who made the demented Biden look intelligent.

You Democratic are so deluded by climate change and its "scientists" that you are touting a country that pollutes more than any other as a model for climate change. You are so enamored with China and its wealth, you literally think, "Hey, if they can do it and be rich, we can too. " You ignore how state planned economies have always failed and are oblivious to the cracks in the next one to fall.

No, China did not cause the pandemic with its reckless safety standards. Trump did somehow. All the deaths and destruction done by Covid and the vaccine were nothing compared to J6. You are so devoid of any decent position that you have been left sucking up to illegal immigrants who are engaging in criminal activities.

There is no question that a lot of people are unhappy with Trump. This bombing campaign caused a split in the MAGA base, but not one of us is going to turn on Trump, and you know why? Because you Democratic douches have nothing. You have no desire to please the electorate. All you have is non stop griping about Trump. You are anti-Democracy. You are the fascists. You want one party rule because you are so incompetent that is the only chance you have to stay in power.

The clean energy bullshit is a way for China to take over the energy market. Here is a photo of your "clean energy": [URL]https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/sweetwater-wind-turbine-blades-dump/[/URL]

We never had a power outage in Texas until we went partial green, and Portugal and Spain got a taste of it as well. The EV mandates would have destroyed the American auto industry. Hell, the Biden bill putting up electric stations was a complete waste. In the mean time, Trump not the Democrats has put forward a plan to deliver the cleanest energy of all, nuclear power.

And I have never liked the politics of this guy, but he finally gets why the Dems really suck and are not going to win. [URL]https://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2025/06/20/fighting-back/[/URL]

Harris was a bad candidate. A phony who could not get the public excited and sealed the deal on the nomination through a coup. As for those saying we've got to stop looking at the past, these are the same people who won't let you say anything negative about Kamala and her campaign. It's this litmus test that makes people hate Democrats. You have to sign up for the orthodoxy, be all-in, or you're excommunicated. Which gives talking points to the right. The Democrats won't say no to anybody, and therefore test limits that the majority aren't in agreement with. The whole pronoun thing. The Dems let themselves be labeled "woke" and never denied it, no matter what the truth, and it stuck to them.

Because you know better. Why are all these loser Democrats so convinced since they're educated and watch MSNBC they know what the score is? Not to mention that you can only divine the score by turning on your smartphone, which they consider anathema, never mind social media. But the Democratic elite knows better, when it is out of touch.

And you can't completely discount right wing news. There was an opinion piece in the "Wall Street Journal" that said the No Kings protests were self-satisfying, a way for demonstrators to feel good about themselves, with no ultimate real effect. BINGO! Just because you stood outside holding a sign don't expect any true change to be fomented, that always comes down to economic issues. Then again, so many of the protesters are upper middle class and are fearful of losing out financially themselves.

End of link.

Yep, that was pure gold. The thing is I wish that there was competition for competent government. We all benefitted from the Clinton-Gingrich wars, but who have you Democrats got now? AOC? Quit griping about Trump and look in the mirror. Your side is pathetic![/QUOTE]Hate democracy? That's comical. One need look no further than Republican gerrymandering efforts and their desire to make voting more difficult by doing the way with polling places under the guys that illegals are voting, which is ridiculous.

I'm a big believer in democracy, political and economic democracy. And I believe democracy should extend to the workplace meaning that workers have as much say and what is produced, how it is produced, and how it is distributed as capital. I believe in the elimination of the electoral college, which is also undemocratic. I would put forth that both parties are anti-democratic in their own right, but there is no doubt the Republican party is far worse having supported citizens united which has completely undermined any attempt at democracy in favor of money.

[QUOTE=Spidy;3010847][b]As for ARAMCO, ...lets just say, I'm keeping my eye on them[/b]. As one of the large key petrostate players, it will be interesting to see, if their foray into renewables, is "genuine" and "sincere"? Their major play on clean energy (for reasons of self-preservation), seems to be HYDROGEN, with (I think) a few planned nuclear projects.

But since these guys have enough money and "juice", to play the long game (w/r to their energy security and powering their grid), I'm not yet certain of their commitment to renewables.[/QUOTE]A grid needs a 40% stable input of energy. For now that is coal, gas and oil perhaps nuclear in the future or fusion. I am not hating on the petrostate. So no I am not lying prostrate and taking in the ass from the new green lobby as the propose [I]pie in the sky[/I] ideas that are not practical in the real world. It's not a competition. It's about cooperation. I don't know a single electrical grid engineer personally that is hell bent on renewables. [I]Clean Energy[/I] is a misnomer that does not acknowledge that the original of the actual energy used to mine and process the materials used to manufacture and transport the equipment used to make [I]Clean Energy[/I].

I don't disagree with you per se Spidy. But sometimes when I read you posts it reminds me of the environmentalists [I]hugging trees[/I]. There is NO one more interested in forests always being there than a forestry company.

I had a colleague that purchased land with trees on it. One day I was sitting next to him on a flight and I saw him with a topographic map and was curious. I asked him what he was doing. He was calculating over the next 30 years what trees he could harvest and where he needed to replant to his children could do the same thing after he died.

[B]Energy takes long term planning and investment. It is not a matter of politics. It is matter of engineering in the real world.[/B]

[QUOTE]The clean energy bullshit is a way for China to take over the energy market. Here is a photo of your "clean energy": https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-po...e-blades-dump/[/QUOTE]I don't think I have read a poster that has more hate for those that do not look like him than this one. The OP knows NOTHING of what he is speaking about.

[QUOTE]We never had a power outage in Texas until we went partial green, and Portugal and Spain got a taste of it as well. The EV mandates would have destroyed the American auto industry. Hell, the Biden bill putting up electric stations was a complete waste. In the mean time, Trump not the Democrats has put forward a plan to deliver the cleanest energy of all, nuclear power.[/QUOTE][B]The above statement by the OP is a bold faced lie![/B]

Blackouts in Texas are a failure of not upgrading the legacy electrical grid while adding renewables. I suspect the OP is not an engineer. He does not realize electrons do not have political party.

[B]ROTFLMAO![/B]

[QUOTE=Goatscrot;3010904]Hate democracy? That's comical. One need look no further than Republican gerrymandering efforts and their desire to make voting more difficult by doing the way with polling places under the guys that illegals are voting, which is ridiculous.

I'm a big believer in democracy, political and economic democracy. And I believe democracy should extend to the workplace meaning that workers have as much say and what is produced, how it is produced, and how it is distributed as capital. I believe in the elimination of the electoral college, which is also undemocratic. I would put forth that both parties are anti-democratic in their own right, but there is no doubt the Republican party is far worse having supported citizens united which has completely undermined any attempt at democracy in favor of money.[/QUOTE]You're an IDIOT a big believer in democracy? But you want to eliminate our (not your) US Constitution / The Electoral College because it doesn't benefit the party you like at this moment in time.

Never mind it has been part of our (not your) democracy for almost 250 fucking years.

BTW if you're such a fan of democracy why have you chosen to live in a 3rd world shithole that is anything but Democratic and is run by a military junta and that sissy ass King (monarch)?

Google clueless hypocrite and there you will find a picture of you!!