Displaying 871 To 900 Of 1,008 Comments Tribal affiliation and kinship determine Cherokee identity — not race or biology. At a time when the far right is equating Native identity with race to undermine Native rights, the myths that lie in the wake of Warren’s missteps are extremely dangerous. Yes, she apologized, but we are left cleaning up the mess she made. I am biased in favor of Warren on this because I support her for president, and I suspect Warren would work to address the issues Ms. Nagle raises. Warren never claimed to be a member of the Cherokee Nation, and neither she or Ms. Nagle can change things that happened hundreds of years ago. What she can do is address how those things impact life today. Warren simply shared that her parents told her that her ancestry included Native Americans, “biologically”. Does Ms. Nagle have the right to deny Warren’s biological ancestry? Why is it wrong to appreciate one’s ancestry? How should Warren handle the issue? She has already apologized for something she did not do, i.e., claim to be a member of a tribal nation. Ms. Nagle says her issue is not with just one white woman who claims Cherokee biological ancestry, but with white people claiming tribal rights. I think that is something Warren should probably speak to, as most people don’t even know that to be an issue. It seems to be important to Ms. Nagle and probably the Cherokee Nation and it deserves attention. » Posted By TOCB On August 26, 2019 @ 6:44 am Next year’s gathering is scheduled to be in the U.S., and trump wants it to be at his golf club in Miami, which is in violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. But a disregard for the law is how trump rolls. I suspect since he is the host next year, he will invite Putin to participate in some manner. » Posted By TOCB On August 26, 2019 @ 6:21 am The Chinese economy will slow to an annual growth rate of around 6.4% in 2019, while the U.S. economy will slow to an annual growth rate of 2.1%. Trump continuously says the U.S. economy is the strongest in the world. Yes, our GDP is higher than China’s, but the last time the USA had a GDP growth rate of over 6% was 1984 and the last time we had a GDP growth rate even approaching 5% was in 1999. Yes, China’s GDP growth rate is slowing, but it is A LOT better than ours. China has a state-run capitalist economy, while the USA has a private-run capitalist economy with government regulations. China is controlled by a communist government that can make decisions for 25 years in advance and stick to them, while the USA makes business decisions by the quarter and trade policy by four year increments. In a trade war, China has a lot more options than we have, so it would behoove us to attempt to partner with China, as well as other nations, rather than engage in trade wars. https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/15/economy/china-gdp-growth/index.html https://www.thebalance.com/us-economic-outlook-3305669 https://www.thebalance.com/us-gdp-by-year-3305543 » Posted By TOCB On August 24, 2019 @ 7:07 am Remember when republicans used to say, “the government can’t create jobs”, and that, “it takes wealthy people to create jobs, so we need to give as many special privileges to wealthy people as possible in order to expand the economy”? Since trump became president, republicans and saying that the government CAN create jobs, IF republicans control the government, but they STILL create jobs by giving advantages to wealthy people, i.e., the trump tax cuts. In reality, the government CAN influence the creation of jobs, AND the wealthy CAN influence the creation of jobs, but in a free market environment, DEMAND is the ONLY thing that actually creates jobs. So to the extent that government or wealthy people or any other sector influences job creation, they must put money/resources in the hands of consumers, i.e., the masses of people, to created DEMAND for goods and services. When the masses of people have money/resources to purchase goods and services, DEMAND increases and the economy expands. When money/resources are concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy people, these people can only consume a VERY LIMITED amount of goods and services, so the economy has no way to expand. In fact, in the long-term wealthy people do more harm to themselves AND society when they endeavor to hoard money/resources. It is said the economics is not an empirical science. Economists used data to construct models in order to attempt to predict economic outcome. The problem is that data can be manipulated to say different things, depending on the perspective of the economist. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/opinion-milton-friedman-was-wrong/ar-AAGaxD7?ocid=spartandhp » Posted By TOCB On August 23, 2019 @ 6:25 am WHY is this not being reported on and discussed on political news networks EVERYDAY? https://medium.com/rantt/pedophile-jeffrey-epsteins-arrest-could-be-bad-news-for-trump-28d448c4bea0 In addition, allegations against Trump go beyond potentially supplying girls to Epstein as part of his sex trafficking ring. Indeed, as reported by Newsweek on November 16, 2017, and according to a lawsuit filed in June 2016 by “Jane Doe,” in 1994, Trump went to a party with Jeffrey Epstein, and allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl that night in what was described as a “savage sexual attack.” Jane Doe’s account was corroborated by a witness in the suit, who claimed to have watched as the child performed various sexual acts on Trump and Epstein, even after the two were advised she was a minor. There was no evidence that Hillary Clinton intentionally or even accidentally leaked any classified data or documents in the email investigation by the FBI. However, she was investigated anyway. By contrast, by virtue of a lawsuit being filed against trump for raping a juvenile and threatening to kill her if she said anything about it, is EVIDENCE of crimes committed. This pretty darn close to actually standing in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shooting someone. HELLO???? » Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 1:51 pm Maybe trump will fall in a wormhole, since House Democrats won’t impeach him. » Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 6:08 am Lol. Dumbasses won’t donate because they are dumbasses and will actually be offended for being called dumbasses. The rest of us realize it is a joke. » Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 6:03 am I was actually waiting for trump to say this is the reason Putin selected him as President of The United States, i.e., to remove the sanctions for annexing Crimea, (this is in part what Flynn was charged with) and for him to publicly admit that without Putin, he would not be president. » Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 5:59 am The problem with the 25th Amendment is that it assumes that the vice president and members of the cabinet are not as crazy as the president. In this administration, that appears to be an incorrect assumption. » Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 5:53 am Many of trump’s supporters actually believe he is sent by God. When I heard the news accounts of trump’s “I am the chosen one” comment, I thought he seriously intended it to be a religious reference. After seeing the video of his comment, I don’t think he intended it to be a religious reference. However, his “Second Coming” comment is a lot more troubling. » Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 5:45 am Here is one more reason why the Electoral College should be abolished. A member of the Electoral College is now not obligated to vote the way the majority of the people in his or her state voted. In 2016 70,000 votes supposedly decided the outcome of the presidential election with over 120,000,000 people voting, in a different outcome. If this ruling stands, ONE SINGLE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE can determine who wins the presidency, REGARDLESS of how the people voted, i.e., the popular vote, OR even how the electoral votes were tallied in the election. How is that representative democracy working out for ya, America? Ben Franklin said the Constitutional Convention gave us a republic, IF we could keep it. There is a very strong argument that we HAVE NOT KEPT IT. » Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 5:42 am As an atheist, Bill objects to all religions. I understand that, but I also support the right of any person to practice any faith they choose, or none at all. I know people of many different faiths and most of them are fine people. I don’t think it serves any useful purpose to promote that all people of any religion are all good or all bad. Religious organizations have traditionally done some good things as well as some bad things. » Posted By TOCB On August 20, 2019 @ 9:49 am I agree Murph. The short post on Planetpov are not as interactive as the dialogue was on Yabberz, but there is no reason it cannot be. I am not a big fan of Facebook for various and sundry reasons, so I go there as little as possible. I find it useful for contacting old friends and family who I had lost contact with, and sometimes I have to go there to find out what my adult children are going, but as far posting every detail of my on any forum, I am not down with that. » Posted By TOCB On August 20, 2019 @ 9:11 am I am not quite sure what she apologized for, but if Native Americans wanted her to apologize for something, I suppose her apology works. As I appreciate it, she never claimed to be part of any Native American tribe/nation. She only shared that some of her ancestors were Native Americans, as are members of many of our ancestors, including my own. I am not part of a tribal nation, but there were Native Americans in my family. I appreciate them and celebrate them. » Posted By TOCB On August 20, 2019 @ 9:04 am I remain a big fan of Bill Maher’s humor, although I don’t always agree with him, as I don’t ALWAYS agree with ANYONE. In Maher’s criticism of the boycott against Israel, as a bullshit purity test, I think Maher uses a purity test to criticize something as a purity test. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4FbXRkB2ys Maher says since the movement was begun by someone who said Palestinians should not accept a Jewish state in Palestine, it is a bullshit movement. The movement is not intended to abolish the Jewish state, but rather to influence the Jewish state to treat Palestinians humanely. No one is saying that over the years in resisting Israeli occupation, that Palestinians have not done some bad things, as Israelis have done some bad things. It is ok by me for Maher or anyone to disagree with the boycott for any reason(s) they choose. However, to promote the notion that the boycott is a purity test is in and of itself, a purity test. » Posted By TOCB On August 19, 2019 @ 5:12 am I was very vehement years ago about what I and others including other Dem pols saw as the probable outcome of the Iraq Resolution, that is, the exploitation of it by Bush to go to war, I don’t look at it as a key issue for contention in debating the 2020 race. That is well and good, but it supports the perpetuation of the lie. Both Hillary Clinton AND Chuck Schumer voted for the resolution, as members of Congress representing the State of New York, which was attacked on 9/11. It would have been irresponsible of them not to support a resolution to send weapons inspectors back to Iraq to give an accounting of weapons we knew they once had. Again, those who abused the intended purpose of the resolution should indeed be held accountable for that abuse. It actually gives them a pass to place the blame for that abuse on those who supported the resolution for its intended purpose of preventing a war. That vote was relevant in 2002. It was relevant in 2008 when Obama used it for political purposes. It was relevant in 2016 when Sanders used it for political purposes. And quite frankly, it is relevant in 2020 as it does indeed reflect judgement. Every vote members of Congress take, reflects judgement. The vote on the 1994 crime bill was relevant in 1994 and it is relevant today. The truth is although Hillary Clinton supported that bill (as I did) she was not in Congress at the time. However, Bernie Sanders who also supported it, was in Congress. I think it is irresponsible to use that vote against those who supported it at the time for its intended purposes, for political purposes today. Joe Biden’s vote against busing in the 1970s was relevant when he made the vote, and he should have to explain it, especially in the context of him using it today to support his ability to work across the isle, by working with segregationists. Every statement and vote a politician makes is always relevant. None of them are perfect, and votes are often made from a position of compromise, thus requiring a member to vote for or against something they don’t fully support or vice versa. Every member should be held accountable for their judgement when casting even compromise votes. They should also be held accountable for criticizing the judgement of other members for political purposes. I have not heard a single Democrat who voted in favor of the resolution to use military force against Iraq criticize those who voted against the resolution’s intended purpose, for political gain. Neither do I criticize them for the way they voted, even though to me a no vote was irresponsible. However, they cannot have it both ways and get away with criticizing a member’s judgement when it serves them, as that criticism ALSO reflects judgement. » Posted By TOCB On August 19, 2019 @ 4:51 am The American religious community supposedly holds the State of Israel in high regard because of their doctrine that a friend of Israel is a friend of God. Biblically, the Jews were God’s chosen people, but chosen for what purpose? They were chosen to reveal God to the world. Additionally, Israel and Jews in the context of being God’s chosen people are not physically or ethnically chosen, but rather spiritually chosen. Spiritually, ANYONE can be a part of Israel as it is a spiritual Israel and not a physical Israel. Jewish people are no more favored by God than anyone else. On the contrary, ALL people are favored by God, as biblically God is no respecter of persons. The Bible documents in the Book of Micah that the Jews were exiled because of their rebellion and disobedience. The way the Israeli government have treated the Palestinians since 1947 does not comport with how God wants His people to treat their brethren. And whether Jews and Christians accept it or not, Jews, Christians and Muslims all worship the same God, and the God Abraham, Isaac and Jacob biblically hates seven things, some which the present State of Israel is guilty of. Proverbs 6:16-19 King James Version (KJV) 16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: Of course, this is not to say that other nations (including the USA) are not guilty of these things as well. » Posted By TOCB On August 18, 2019 @ 7:07 am You have more faith in House Democrats than I do. I am definitely NOT impressed with them. » Posted By TOCB On August 18, 2019 @ 6:41 am Barr said that “all” of Epstein’s co-conspirators will be investigated and prosecuted. He MUST KNOW that his boss is named by at least one accuser of being one of Epstein’s co-conspirators. Until and unless trump is included by authorities as one of Epstein’s co-conspirators, any investigation is half-baked. Trump (Individual One) has already been named as a co-conspirator in the election finance crime that Michael Cohen is serving time in prison for, while trump is NOT serving time, but rather still in the Oval Office as the leader of the supposed free world. Free world, you have a problem! » Posted By TOCB On August 18, 2019 @ 6:33 am No, I don’t have any influence on anyone, so I guess by your definition I am not an establishment Democrat. I have heard and used the term in reference to common people who support traditional Democratic Party positions, which have to be diverse since the party is diverse. I just mentioned the “Iraq vote” because it is an example of lies supported by people of influence for political purposes, when they know it is a lie. So the only relevance it has is related to TRUTH, and I might be paranoid about truth, but that is my pet peeve. https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-joint-resolution/114 Summary: H.J.Res.114 — 107th Congress (2001-2002) War was, as Hillary Clinton stated in her speech on the Senate floor after voting to support the resolution, a last resort. After Bush and republicans hi-jacked the resolution and used it as authorization to illegally invade Iraq, in the lead-up to the invasion, almost every elected Democrat, including Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and others vigorously opposed the “rush to war”, as the resolution as passed by Congress was an attempt to prevent a war and not to start one. The people who should be held accountable for illegally invading Iraq are not those who attempted to use a peace resolution, but those who misused the resolution, i.e., Bush and congressional republicans. I suspect republicans LOVE it when Democrats attack other Democrats for something republicans did. From my perspective truth is always relevant. The Iraq vote won’t likely be used against Biden as it was against Hillary. We have a sexist society, just as we have a racist society. The biggest charge against Warren in 2020 is NOT that she is a radical (the majority of Americans support her positions), but that she is a female. Who in their right mind would choose Trump over ANYONE to lead the U.S. government? Answer: only people who hold racism and sexism in high regard. » Posted By TOCB On August 18, 2019 @ 4:15 am Even IF Greenland was for sale, wouldn’t Congress have to appropriate the funds to purchase it? Well, I guess Congress didn’t appropriate funds to build trump’s wall, but he is doing it anyway. » Posted By TOCB On August 17, 2019 @ 7:48 am For a sitting president to ask a country to deny admission of a member of The United States Congress to their country is ONE MORE example of “misdemeanors” and thus, impeachable offenses committed by trump. Btw, are House Democrats even talking about impeachment anymore? WEAK! » Posted By TOCB On August 17, 2019 @ 7:39 am I suppose in many ways I could be labeled an “establishment Democrat”. As a big tent party, the Democratic Party has a wide spectrum of opinions. They all have value. My ONLY criteria is TRUTH, and since Democrats are fallible humans, WE too are sometimes TRUTH challenged. ONE of my pet peeves is what I call The Big Lie. I suppose there are many big lies, depending on your perspective. Mine has to do with the so-called vote to invade Iraq in 2002, i.e., The Resolution To Use Military Force Against Iraq (H.J. Resolution 114). I recently read a piece by Davide Corn where it attempts to explain the logic of Joe Biden’s vote in favor of that resolution, while at the same time attempting to suggest that Hillary Clinton’s same vote was hawkish. Like Tim Russert did in 2008, Corn focused on what Clinton said to support her vote, but COMPLETELY ignored the FACT that she clearly stated that her vote was not a vote for a “rush to war”. Corn explained that Biden wanted the resolution to require Bush to only attack Iraq if they did not comply with the U.N. demand to destroy WMD. Corn says the passed resolution did not included this provision or the one that required Bush to come back to Congress for approval to attack Iraq if they did not comply. The resolution actually DID include these provisions, but Bush and republicans ignored them. My point is simply that the mainstream media KNOWS that H.J. Res. 114 was not passed as a war resolution, but rather as a peace resolution. However, that does not fit their narrative, because they would have to concede that Clinton was not actually a hawk, and that her vote was NOT a vote for war. But not only does the so-called establishment Democrats know the truth about the “rush to war”, so do the new progressives. However, the truth does not fit their narrative either. » Posted By TOCB On August 17, 2019 @ 7:22 am First off, that former inmate is incorrect about Epstein being on suicide watch, he wasn’t…however he should have been so that is another suspicious thing. He was, and he wasn’t. Epstein had supposedly attempted suicide a few weeks before his death. However, Epstein said he did not attempt suicide. He was put on suicide watch and then taken off. Why? Whether Epstein was on suicide watch at the time of his death or not, does not change the fact that the ceiling was too high for him to reach and the sheets were too weak to hold him. HOW did he hang himself??? The mainstream media, including MSNBC, are remiss in not covering the dismissed lawsuits between Jane Doe v. Trump and Epstein. I heard John Heilemann bring the case up on MSNBC recently, but Nicole Wallace quickly went to a commercial. Whether the accusations are true or false, it is a fact that they were asserted in a lawsuit, and according to Lisa Bloom, the accusations are credible. Where is the #MeToo movement on this case? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-the-new-child-rape-ca_b_10619944?guccounter=1 » Posted By TOCB On August 17, 2019 @ 6:55 am Well, I guess “electability” is not an issue for at least three Democrats, besides Biden. » Posted By TOCB On August 16, 2019 @ 2:14 pm The “official” word is that Epstein committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell But then there is this: There’s no way that man could have killed himself. I’ve done too much time in those units. It’s an impossibility. The clothing they give you is a jump-in uniform. Everything is a dark brown color. https://nypost.com/2019/08/10/former-mcc-inmate-theres-no-way-jeffrey-epstein-killed-himself/ There is still the outstanding matter of a lady who claims Trump and Epstein repeatedly raped her and one of her friends when she was 13 years old. And as of a couple of days ago, New York passed a law removing the statute of limitations related to rape. Who had more of an incentive to silence Epstein, Bill Clinton or Donald Trump? » Posted By TOCB On August 16, 2019 @ 2:10 pm Sayoc is the guy who had pro-trump graphics all over his van. Is there any doubt that he was persuaded by trump’s rhetoric??? » Posted By TOCB On August 7, 2019 @ 7:10 am The article then goes on to talk about the language that “mimicked the language that Trump has used.” Apparently, the shooter held those beliefs long before Trump was a blip on the presidential screen. He probably did hold those views before trump came along. He was also PROBABLY emboldened by trump’s rhetoric to ACT on those views. You are apparently okay with that. » Posted By TOCB On August 7, 2019 @ 7:01 am Intelligence reports tell us that Russia launched an extensive misinformation campaign agaisnt Clinton and for trump in 2016. However, republicans and even some Democrats have been spreading lies about Hillary Clinton for over 25 years, yet she STILL won the popular vote. Has anyone else done that with the obstacles Clinton faced? Republians have also been doing everything they could to prevent people who are statistically likely to vote for Democrats from voting for over 40 – 50 years. Data shows that trump has not had an approval rating of over 40% for any sustainable time since he became president. In modern history, the only president to be elected with 40% or less support was Bill Clinton in 1992, when Ross Perot got 19% of the vote. We don’t REALLY KNOW if trump was legally elected. And unfortunately, if or since trump MAY HAVE become president in 2016 without being legally elected, he can retain the presidency in 2020 without being legally elected. » Posted By TOCB On August 7, 2019 @ 6:55 am I am at the age where when I go to the doctor, they always ask me if I am depressed. I always say no. However, I am becoming more and more depressed due to what I see my country evolving to, or more accurately regressing to. When I read the headlines of my newsfeeds, the USA looks like a third world country. This is very sad. Yesterday while I was in the waiting room of a clinic, a white couple and a black lady, all around the same age, probably in their sixties, were agreeing on how good trump has been for our country and they did not understand why people on the news are saying he is a racist. For several minutes I just sat there shaking my head, and I finally had to ask the black lady to PLEASE explain to me why she thinks trump is not a racists. Her response was that he is a businessman, and that he is the president because “God” wanted him to be the president. Just like people who are mentally disturbed currently have a legal right to purchase guns, these people have a legal right to vote. Houston, we have a problem! » Posted By TOCB On August 7, 2019 @ 6:44 amComments Posted By TOCB
As reported by Newsweek, according to Jane Doe’s lawsuit, which was filed in New York: “Immediately following this rape Defendant Trump threatened me that, were I ever to reveal any of the details of Defendant Trump’s sexual and physical abuse of me, my family and I would be physically harmed if not killed.”
According to the Newsweek article, the lawsuit was then dropped in November 2016, just four days before the election, with Jane Doe’s attorneys alleging “numerous threats” against her. Trump has denied the allegations, as he has all of the sexual assault and rape allegations levied against him in the past several years. The potential connection to Trump in the Epstein case goes beyond just the above-described rape allegation however, as reported by the Miami Herald last year.
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Passed Senate without amendment (10/11/2002)
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 – Expresses support for the President’s efforts to: (1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and (2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.
Authorizes the President to use the U.S. armed forces to: (1) defend U.S. national security against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2) enforce all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq. Directs the President, prior to or as soon as possible (but no later than 48 hours) after exercising such authority, to make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that: (1) reliance on further diplomatic or peaceful means alone will not achieve the above purposes; and (2) acting pursuant to this joint resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization for use of the armed forces, consistent with requirements of the War Powers Resolution.
Requires the President to report to Congress at least every 60 days on matters relevant to this resolution.
Between the floor and the ceiling is like 8 or 9 feet. There’s no way for you to connect to anything.
You have sheets, but they’re paper level, not strong enough. He was 200 pounds — it would never happen.
When you’re on suicide watch, they put you in this white smock, a straitjacket. They know a person cannot be injurious to themselves.
Could he have done it from the bed? No sir. There’s a steel frame, but you can’t move it. There’s no light fixture. There’s no bars.
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