American Politics

[QUOTE=Tiny12;2780700]I think that played a big part in Fauci's initial recommendation not to wear masks. That and the fact that for influenza the data wasn't so compelling. Again, the case is much stronger for good quality masks with coronaviruses, based on what I was reading a couple of years ago.

And I agree, we should have pumped a lot more money into KN95 and N95 masks. I was disappointed by both Trump and Biden. Trump's gotten a lot of criticism for not encouraging testing and masks. But the Biden administration was really caught unprepared when Omicron hit. Another $10 billion or whatever for good quality masks and for testing would have been a drop in the bucket compared to the $5 trillion spent on stimulus.[/QUOTE]Remember that initially, when nobody knew much about SARS-CoV-2, virologists, etc, thought it spread like virtually every other coronavirus on the planet. Through touch. That's why, early on, most virologists were obsessed with hand washing, containers with disinfectant to step in prior to entering a store, wiping down everything, like groceries, brought in from the outside, wiping down surfaces and so on.

Sure, lack of PPE was part of the problem initially, considering that doctors, nurses, etc were wearing plastic garbage bags and the like instead of gowns and cloth masks instead of N95 masks.

But, what do you think would have been the SARS-CoV-2 death rate in the USA if Donnie the Dumbass would have said initially: "Look folks, this appears to be very serious. So here's what I personally am going to do. I am going to wear a mask when I am around other people. You should do the same. I am going to require that every person entering the White House, and I mean everybody, will be required to mask up. I am going to stay at least 6 feet away from people. You should do the same. I am going to require that every person entering the White House, and I mean everybody, will be required to observe social distance protocols. I know that many of you want me to take another stance on this. Tough. This is what we all should do as Americans. We have a duty to protect others and following these protocols, as a minimum, will protect us and it will protect others. This will be my advice to the states. But remember that the various states will adopt the protocols that they think are best. But remember that if you personally don't like what your state does, tough shit. We will update you at least weekly with other COVID news and other protocols as we have them."

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2780701][B]Former candidate arrested in drive-by shooting case that targeted Democrats' homes in New Mexico[/B]

[URL]https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/16/failed-candidate-arrested-nm-shootings-targeted-democrats-homes/11065793002/[/URL]

This is beginning to become the "conservative", "rightwing" and Repub solution to every election that doesn't go their way.

No info yet on whether that particular Repub loon lied about it really being "antifa" or "BLM" committing the violence the way their most iconic Repub loon leader Trump lied about his rightwing version of a democratic handover.[/QUOTE]This from your link kind of supports Chris' narrative:

"In Albuquerque, law enforcement has been struggling to address back-to-back years of record homicides and persistent gun violence."

Perhaps you can attribute that in part to Democratic governance at the city and state level. Albuquerque is deep blue. New Mexico doesn't have a single Republican congressman, but admittedly that's mostly because the districts were gerrymandered to deprive eastern New Mexico of representation.

Another interesting point in your article, not a single person was injured in the drive by shootings, just as not a single person defending the Capitol was killed on January 6. Democrats are gravely worried about the threat to the country from right wing terrorism and insurrection. But these nut cases, like the guy in New Mexico, apparently can't shoot straight. The only arguable right wing incident that resulted in a significant number of deaths was Timothy McVeigh's bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. And McVeigh's agenda was actually much closer to the ACLU's than to Republicans'.

[QUOTE=Tiny12;2780883]This from your link kind of supports Chris' narrative:

"In Albuquerque, law enforcement has been struggling to address back-to-back years of record homicides and persistent gun violence."

Perhaps you can attribute that in part to Democratic governance at the city and state level. Albuquerque is deep blue. New Mexico doesn't have a single Republican congressman, but admittedly that's mostly because the districts were gerrymandered to deprive eastern New Mexico of representation.

Another interesting point in your article, not a single person was injured in the drive by shootings, just as not a single person defending the Capitol was killed on January 6. Democrats are gravely worried about the threat to the country from right wing terrorism and insurrection. But these nut cases, like the guy in New Mexico, apparently can't shoot straight. The only arguable right wing incident that resulted in a significant number of deaths was Timothy McVeigh's bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. And McVeigh's agenda was actually much closer to the ACLU's than to Republicans'.[/QUOTE]Or maybe they're just mixing names up?

His name sounds more like a illegal border crossing cartel member? Jajajajajaaaa.

[QUOTE=Tiny12;2780700]I think that played a big part in Fauci's initial recommendation not to wear masks. That and the fact that for influenza the data wasn't so compelling. Again, the case is much stronger for good quality masks with coronaviruses, based on what I was reading a couple of years ago.

And I agree, we should have pumped a lot more money into KN95 and N95 masks. I was disappointed by both Trump and Biden. Trump's gotten a lot of criticism for not encouraging testing and masks. But the Biden administration was really caught unprepared when Omicron hit. Another $10 billion or whatever for good quality masks and for testing would have been a drop in the bucket compared to the $5 trillion spent on stimulus.[/QUOTE]So true! Isn't it amazing that no matter who is the president or who their advisors are that they couldn't see this? Probably no profit in it for their donors who are basically the same. They may give more to one than the other but must give to both in case their boy doesn't win.

[QUOTE=ChrisP;2780515]Elvis, I agree with most of what you write but not you assertion that the West didn't want this war.

Washington certainly did want this war, and has been pushing for it since the CIA organized the Ukraine coup in 2014.[/QUOTE]Good point, Chris. I should have clarified. The American people and most businesses did not want this war and the costs associated with it. But the American military industrial complex sure did, and Biden seems to have never met a war he does not like.

[QUOTE=GDreams;2780845]True its not currently replacing coal but there will be a tipping point where it does. The point is there is a narrative that both China and India are all in on coal. They are not as the numbers demonstrate. China ID actually acutely aware of the poor air quality in the country and it is one of the few things where the people are strongly swaying the government to act which in many cases will be to phase out coal. India are much more cost conscious. They had a lot of coal plants planned and most of them still have no progression. India is very favorable for solar and when installed in urban settings there is minimal need for transmission infrastructure. Yes it only works during the day but when your choice is no power vs 8 hrs a day its no choice.[/QUOTE]All good points. Add to them the price of seaborne coal which you brought up in your previous post. About the 8 hours a day, if you live in a Mumbai apartment block and you've got air conditioning, I guess solar or wind is likely to get you through the heat of the day on most days.

I still believe the situation is hopeless, if your goal is to get to "0" net carbon emissions on a global basis. The IEA projects Indian coal usage will go up by 30% between now and 2032. Coal prices will go down. Indonesia, Russia, South Africa and maybe Australia will sell as much coal as the rest of the world will buy. Developing countries aren't going to kowtow to the developed world.

I hesitate to mention his name, because I'll get pilloried here again, but I suspect Bjorn Lomborg is right, this isn't going to work out as badly as many think. Maybe we'll come up with some kind of technological solution if we have to, sulfur dioxide in the upper atmosphere or whatever. I'm OK with that, as I believe spending 50 or 100 trillion dollars on a global basis to go to zero net carbon would be a huge mistake.

[QUOTE=Tiny12;2780829]I think it's more the parents' fault. Here are a couple of examples from left of center sources, so hopefully our Democratic friends won't complain, like with Breitbart.

[URL]https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/14/jeff-younger-transgender-care-house/[/URL]

The woman described in the Texas Tribune article, a pediatrician, apparently began dressing her son up in women's clothes when he was 2 years old, and was planning to get him started with

puberty blockers. He's now 7 years old. Her ex-husband is fighting this tooth and nail, and he's being characterized as a poster boy for the far right.

[URL]https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/27/us/transgender-inclusive-families-texas-trnd/index.html[/URL]

The CNN article is a good bit more self righteous than the Texas Tribune piece. A woman took her 6 year old to California, so he'd have a smoother pathway to transitioning.

I don't get it, at 6 or 7 years old. OK, yeah, you'll get no argument from me if someone's 20 years old, and maybe not much of one at 15 years. But this is just crazy.[/QUOTE]Yeah sure, you are going to have outliers on the fringe of society and what's considered abnormal/acceptable practices, of what's found on both sides of the social spectrum, when raising kids.

But [B]what is really crazy[/B], is blatantly irresponsible parents, raising [B]gun toting[/B], shoot them' up kids that are brainwashed into "gun power" behavior.

[B]6-year-old shoots teacher in Newport News, Virginia, police say | CNN[/B]
[URL]https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/06/us/newport-news-virginia-shooting/index.html[/b][/URL]

[b]Indiana father arrested after toddler son seen waving gun on live TV[/b]
[URL]https://nypost.com/2023/01/17/shane-osborne-arrested-after-son-seen-with-gun-on-on-patrol-live-report/[/URL]

While my sensibilities maybe offended with kids on a [b]"smoother pathway to transitioning"[/b] or who's sons are dressed up in women's clothes, it's apparent to me, my persons or personhood is, less likely to be violently assaulted or worst I am shot to death. Unlike the parents raising the "gun toting" Nazi wanna be kids.

[URL]https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/joe-biden-classified-documents/2023/01/16/id/1104651/[/URL]

Why not shred them?

Why not put them in the fireplace?

Why not tear them up and flush down the toilet?

Why not put them in a folder in the east wing somewhere?

Ala remember the docs found in Bubbas White House residency?

There's an agenda, some type of psyops.

A diversion from Joe and Hunters crime spree??

I can't come up with a motive, but rest assured there is one.

[URL]https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/joe-biden-classified-documents/2023/01/16/id/1104651/[/URL]

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2780701][B]Former candidate arrested in drive-by shooting case that targeted Democrats' homes in New Mexico[/B]

[URL]https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/16/failed-candidate-arrested-nm-shootings-targeted-democrats-homes/11065793002/[/URL]

This is beginning to become the "conservative", "rightwing" and Repub solution to every election that doesn't go their way.

No info yet on whether that particular Repub loon lied about it really being "antifa" or "BLM" committing the violence the way their most iconic Repub loon leader Trump lied about his rightwing version of a democratic handover.[/QUOTE]No doubt, I wonder, this must be a prime example of what one of those Nazi "gun toting" kids, resembles all grown up. Kill, murder, violence and mayhem when [b]they don't get their own way.[/b]

[QUOTE=PVMonger;2780866]If you don't believe that I am white, Christian, heterosexual and English is my first language, then you'd be wrong.

Just because you believe that anybody who is white, Christian, heterosexual with English as their first language votes Repub, then you believe incorrectly. There are plenty of people like me. That's why Donnie the Dumbass lost. We don't "hate" Christian white America. What we "hate" is bigotry. What we "hate" is racism. What we "hate" is the stupidity of Repubs claiming that immigrants are going to replace them. What we "hate" is homophobia. What we "hate" is xenophobia. What we "hate" is is fascism. What we "hate" is idiots claiming that the 2020 election was stolen.

And, yes, supporters of Donnie the Dumbass are, for the most part, racist dummies. I haven't met one yet who isn't.

And, by the way, if you want a definition of "lady", look in the mirror. One will be looking back at you.[/QUOTE]You're full of hate, but anyone that reads your drivel here already knows that you hate white people.

But go ahead keep calling everyone else racist!

[QUOTE=PVMonger;2780866]If you don't believe that I am white, Christian, heterosexual and English is my first language, then you'd be wrong.

Just because you believe that anybody who is white, Christian, heterosexual with English as their first language votes Repub, then you believe incorrectly. There are plenty of people like me. That's why Donnie the Dumbass lost. We don't "hate" Christian white America. What we "hate" is bigotry. What we "hate" is racism. What we "hate" is the stupidity of Repubs claiming that immigrants are going to replace them. What we "hate" is homophobia. What we "hate" is xenophobia. What we "hate" is is fascism. What we "hate" is idiots claiming that the 2020 election was stolen.

And, yes, supporters of Donnie the Dumbass are, for the most part, racist dummies. I haven't met one yet who isn't.

And, by the way, if you want a definition of "lady", look in the mirror. One will be looking back at you.[/QUOTE]Well Said!

But it wouldn't be the first time MS1, has made such ridiculous and ludicrous claims, about Americans or BMs on ISG for that matter.

Take the rant on OCT-04-2022, which I was about to reply to, but was unfortunately deleted by Admin (like many of his posts...kkkk!). But the gist of the post was that [B]"...90% of ISG members are Repubs and WE OWN ISG."[/B].

It went on to be a bit more offensive than that, with the usual right-wing, Breitbart drivel, but I guess Admin took great offense with him claiming [B]"...Repub [u]ownership[/u] of ISG..."[/B], and quickly deleted said post.

Definite case of delusions of grandeur. But to be expected, when all you sources and info is from Breitbart, Breitbart or Breitbart.

[QUOTE=ChrisP;2780796]No, I didn't say Gaetz "doesn't care about money". I said he "doesn't need money" because his family is super-rich. Entirely different.[/QUOTE]LOLOL, so Gaetz does care about money, it's just he doesn't need the money?

Did you really say that?

[B]MG: But I really love money so much!

CrisP: Forget it Mattie, you don't need it!

MG: You're fucking nuts? What do you mean I don't need it?

CrisP: Because your family is rich, Mattie Poo!

MG: But I want my own money!

CrisP: Nah Matz, you're good! Your daddys's there for ya.[/B]

You're a hell of a comedian, you know.

[QUOTE=MarquisdeSade1;2780409]The mod here does plenty to manipulate the Overton window here.

We certainly don't need you trying to weasel in on it too, ID say nice try, but it really wasnt.

I only wish we could post what we really wanted to express.

How valuable is any dialogue with tons of unseen / unwritten rules?[/QUOTE]If you don't like the ISG rules, regs and conditions of behavior, may I suggest you create your own "sandbox" to play-in.

Hey brother, it's simple! Just follow the same playbook as your hero, Donnie [B]"the Devil"[/B] J. Dummkopf, and his social media platform version of Twitter and launch your very own ISG for QAnon / Repubs, where you'll no doubt be able to post all but crap and BS from Breitbart, to your heart's content.

[QUOTE=Spidy;2780959]But [B]what is really crazy[/B], is blatantly irresponsible parents, raising [B]gun toting[/B], shoot them' up kids that are brainwashed into "gun power" behavior.[/QUOTE]This is actually a very effective strategy for the upcoming War of Secession from Progressive America. Child soldiers have shown themselves to be very effective in southern Sudan, Uganda, Liberia and Sierra Leone. They will be in the USA too.

[QUOTE=Spidy;2780959]While my sensibilities maybe offended with kids on a [b]"smoother pathway to transitioning"[/b] or who's sons are dressed up in women's clothes, it's apparent to me, my persons or personhood is, less likely to be violently assaulted or worst I am shot to death. Unlike the parents raising the "gun toting" Nazi wanna be kids.[/QUOTE]Well, you haven't had your pocket picked by transvestites walking down Sukhumvit in Bangkok or between the Del Rey and the Morazon in San Jose. Speak for yourself.

P.S. This post is a joke. I don't have to point that out to you Spidy, but some of our more literal members might take it seriously.

[QUOTE=PVMonger;2780871]But, what do you think would have been the SARS-CoV-2 death rate in the USA if Donnie the Dumbass would have said initially: "Look folks, this appears to be very serious. So here's what I personally am going to do. I am going to wear a mask when I am around other people. You should do the same. I am going to require that every person entering the White House, and I mean everybody, will be required to mask up. I am going to stay at least 6 feet away from people. You should do the same. I am going to require that every person entering the White House, and I mean everybody, will be required to observe social distance protocols. I know that many of you want me to take another stance on this. Tough. This is what we all should do as Americans. We have a duty to protect others and following these protocols, as a minimum, will protect us and it will protect others. This will be my advice to the states. But remember that the various states will adopt the protocols that they think are best. But remember that if you personally don't like what your state does, tough shit. We will update you at least weekly with other COVID news and other protocols as we have them."[/QUOTE]Yeah, I definitely wish he'd done that. It would have saved some lives. I don't think it would have affected the overall death rate, from February, 2020 to present, as much as you think though. People are going to do what people are going to do. Remember when Trump got booed at a rally when he said he'd gotten the booster.