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Comments Posted By TOCB

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Why a Biden Nomination is Likely to Elect a Republican President in 2024

However, ‘standing on principle’ more or less eliminates, short-circuits the learning process that has brought us into ecological prominence. It assumes what you knew in the past was ‘the Truth’ and invites you to close your eyes and ears.

I was primarily addressing moral principles as opposed to scientific principles. I agree that scientific principles are adjusted according to new knowledge. However, moral principles should stand the test of time. It is just as morally wrong for humans to kill each other today as it was in the beginning of time. However, scientists are continuously discovering that what they thought was how the universe worked is not how it actually works and they adjust their principles accordingly.

» Posted By TOCB On August 25, 2019 @ 6:06 am

Clinton endorsed (with vigor) the sanctions on Iraq in hopes of ‘regime change’ from within and in the interest of Big Oil.

It helps to tell the whole story. Sanctions against Iraq during the Clinton administration began in 1990 after the first Gulf war. Btw, in 1990 as well as over a century, “big oil” has supplied the world’s energy needs, as they continue to do TODAY. Whether you know it or not, oil companies are LEADERS in developing alternative energy sources, as these companies are more “energy” companies than they are “oil” companies.

So Clinton continued the USA’s participation in financial sanctions against Iraq. That is a far cry from invading the country. Financial sanctions are typically used to force the government of a country to engage in activity that is beneficial to its people, and is an alternative to war. That is what the UN was doing related to Iraq after they invaded Kuwait.

Albright was responding to a hypothetical question related to tactics. Would sanctions actually result in the deaths of 500 thousands Iraqis? That is something Saddam and the Iraqi people would have to decide.

» Posted By TOCB On August 25, 2019 @ 5:57 am

Did Russia have any real influence on the outcome? Probably not, and far less than other players. So, why focus on Russia?…

Because Russia engaged in cyber-warfare against the USA, AND with help for trump and republicans, MOST LIKELY installed a Putin selected puppet as POTUS.

Putin is a threat to democracy all over the world. But he can only win if democratic nations allow him to win. Like trump, he is an egotistical dictator, only he is a lot smarter than trump.

I give Gorbachev a lot more credit for ending the cold war than I do Reagan, but Putin has put Russia back into a position of being a threat to world democracy.

In the Cuban Missile Crisis, Russia was the aggressor who was attempting to place missiles 90 miles from the U.S. border. I think JFK responded correctly to that threat.

» Posted By TOCB On August 24, 2019 @ 6:34 am

We should not be afraid or discouraged to air our differences and our opinions, as long as we come together at the end of our debates for the common good. We are a diverse people with diverse opinions and diverse interests. Because of that, we have to always be willing to compromise, WITHOUT sacrificing our principles.

We have to recognize the even the racists and bigots are citizens of this nation and they have their rights. However, the majority of this nation who ARE NOT racists and bigots SHOULD NOT allow the racists and bigots to control our country.

» Posted By TOCB On August 24, 2019 @ 6:01 am

I agree with Warren that Democrats should figure out the right thing to do, and fight for it, and not be afraid to fight for what we believe in.

» Posted By TOCB On August 24, 2019 @ 5:50 am

I think you take Albright’s comment about regime change in 1998 out of context. Further, there was no regime change action taken during the Clinton administration and I DO NOT BELIEVE Clinton or any rational president would have invaded Iraq in 2003. Madeline Albright certainly did not support the “rush to war” in Iraq, and I don’t believe her position was that the war was EVER a sound foreign policy move.

The electoral college was always a racist and misogynistic policy. It provided for even the will of the average white male landowners to be circumvented by a few supposedly more knowledgeable white male landowners. ANYTIME a candidate receives 3 million more votes than her opponent, and yet loses the election, THAT is a break in the system.

» Posted By TOCB On August 24, 2019 @ 5:20 am

I think I addressed the fact that Democrats were the majority in Congress for the first two years of Obama’s first term. I also recognized that there were several blue dog Democrats in the Senate that were elected in conservative states who voted as their constituents wanted them to vote, and that Obama favored the republican plan adopted by the Heritage Foundation because he wanted a bi-partisan plan. I agree that plan was more to protect the private healthcare insurance industry than to provide adequate affordable healthcare coverage for all Americans, and although most Democrats did not favor it, it was better than what we had before, and it was an acceptable first step to universal single payer, given the make up of Congress at the time.

Yes, Truman made the decision to use an atomic weapon to end WWII, however your history is wrong related the Johnson and Vietnam. The USA actually became involved in Vietnam in 1955, although Johnson did escalate the war with the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

I never said the Democratic Party was or is perfect. It is the responsibility of the people to hold the stewards of the government accountable. Although we basically have a two-party political system BECAUSE the people CHOOSE to support two parties more than they do the other over 250 parties, the policies of the parties actually DO MATTER, IMHO.

The policies of the two major parties have evolved. Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Democratic Party was the party of racists and bigots, but they were also the party that supported the economic interest of working people (or more accurately, working white people). By contrast, Republicans were more supportive of civil rights but they supported the economic interest of the wealthy and well connected even then. In my post, I mentioned the positions of the two major parties beginning with the Nixon administration that has resulted in the bigotry, hatred and division we see today.

» Posted By TOCB On August 24, 2019 @ 5:01 am

In 2015, as in previous Dem primaries, the establishment candidate, Hillary Clinton, started off with 359 Superdelegates in her pocket. Long before a single vote was cast by a single Democratic voter, in a single caucus or primary, Hillary already had almost 20% of the total amount of delegates needed to win the nomination.

I agree with MOST of your positions AdLib. I don’t even disagree that Hillary had an advantage in the delegate count over Bernie from the start, although I don’t think that was a bad thing. For one, Hillary was a Democrat running under the rules established by the Democratic Party long before she ran for president. Bernie was not a Democrat, but he knew or should have known the rules of the party he chose to run for the nomination in.

I was and still am a HUGE Hillary fan and I think we lost a great opportunity to have one the greatest presidents in our history when she did not become president. I also like Obama, but I thought he did not have the experience needed to lead the country in 2008 and he was not as effective as I would have liked. In point of fact, the DNC actually changed its rules in 2008 to benefit Obama. I thought at the time that if Hillary had won the nomination she too would have won the general election. If she had selected Obama as her VP, we would have almost certainly had sixteen years with a Democrat as president.

I think we are in a similar position in 2020. I think the person who is the most bold and can generate excitement in a progressive electorate is Elizabeth Warren and she has the savvy, compassion and wisdom to lead (a lot like Hillary Clinton, in my opinion). I think if she chooses Julian Castro as her VP, we will have another opportunity to have sixteen years of a Democrat as president.

This of course is just my opinion and everyone has an opinion that is just as valid as my opinion.

» Posted By TOCB On August 24, 2019 @ 4:35 am

Even the caricature republicans created of Hillary Clinton is a thousand times better, no a million times better than trump. What brought us trump is hatred and bigotry on the part of a large segment of white voters, Putin and a very flawed election system. Hillary was in fact one of the best candidates in history to run for president. She did not lose. Americans lost.

» Posted By TOCB On August 24, 2019 @ 4:12 am

If Biden wins the nomination, I believe he will beat trump. I also believe Warren will beat trump if she wins the nomination. Americans are fed up with trump and the republican party. So the question is do we settle for a cautious approach to going forward, or do we take bold calculated progressive steps. I am an old Democrat who has been labeled a “radical” for most of my life. I appreciate the work the so-called “establishment” Democrats have done. In point of fact, I don’t buy into the myth that there are any “establishment” Democrats. I think this is a term that was concocted by Sanders supporters in an effort to take over the Democratic Party.

The problem with American politics and government for decades have been the republican party and how effective they have been in propaganda campaigns and influencing people who are more aligned with the values of the Democratic Party to either vote for republicans or not vote at all. This was more of choice than it was related to voter suppression. In other words, we have seen the enemy and the enemy is us.

Many republican voters have been upset with republicans in government since Bush 43 because quite frankly they have not been racist and misogynistic enough for them. Many people who would vote for Democrats, IF they voted, are upset with Democrats because Democrats have not done the things these people have wanted them to do. However, for the most part the REASON Democrats have not done these things is because they have not controlled the majority in the government since 1994, except for two years during the Obama administration, when even then there were quite a few blue dog Democrats (Democrats elected in conservative states) to contend with.

There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that if Democrats were the majority in the federal government we would have common sense gun safety laws, a healthcare insurance program the provided basic affordable healthcare for all Americans, no unnecessary wars, an economy that lifted all Americans, equality for a diverse population and the elimination of racism, bigotry and misogyny. The ONLY reason our society doesn’t reflect these values today is because of the influence of republicans beginning with Nixon. Had the so-called “establishment” Democrats not been in Washington all of this time, we would be in even worse shape than we are now.

If you want more progress, it is pretty simple. ELECT MORE DEMOCRATS!

» Posted By TOCB On August 23, 2019 @ 3:25 am

The Safe Bet Of An Old White Guy To Beat Trump in 2020

I am completely puzzled by Biden’s lead among black voters in the polls. I have not talked to a single black person who supports Biden for president, and there is some indication that Obama does not even support him for president.

https://www.newsweek.com/biden-promised-obama-hed-never-run-president-1455074

Most black people I talk to are more impressed with Warren than any other candidate. That is not a scientific poll, but it is sort of a “word on the streets” thing. If Biden is so sure he is the only one who can beat trump, why doesn’t he run in the republican primary against trump, since he wants to appeal more to trump’s voters than he does Democratic primary voters?

Younger Democratic voters are not excited about Biden, and older voters seem willing to accept him only because the media is telling them that he is more likely to beat trump.

The media is also reporting false analysis of the push for universal healthcare by more progressive Democrats, whether it is Medicare-for-all or some other form of universal healthcare insurance. The media is questioning how universal healthcare insurance will be paid for, when they KNOW that it will be paid for by a tax that replaces the money being paid currently to the private health insurance industry, and there is no reason for people to lose their healthcare providers. Since I started on Medicare, I have the same provider I had when I was covered by the company I worked for before I retired. A universal healthcare insurance program will work the EXACT same way.

The media is engaged in a disinformation campaign related to universal healthcare insurance.

» Posted By TOCB On August 23, 2019 @ 2:38 am

Actually, there were only a few blue dog Democrats who supported the ACA as it was passed. The majority of congressional Democrats as well as Democratic voters, wanted more. At least a public option. Republicans did not so much object to the ACA as they did “Obamacare”, which of course is the ACA. After all, the ACA is the same plan republicans offered as an alternative to Hillarycare during the Clinton administration.

Obama did not put up a fight at all for single payer or a public option because he thought he could pass the ACA as a bipartisan law. Democrats have tried to pass a universal healthcare plan since the Truman administration. In fact, before Reagan, even Eisenhower and Nixon supported universal healthcare.

» Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 2:08 pm

Who Is Responsible For Gun Deaths In The United States?

Hey Opie! It is nice to see comments from you. I think justices should be held accountable for their decisions. I don’t know what the remedy should be for a justice who issues a ruling as out of whack and as damaging as the Heller decision, but I think there needs to be some kind of mechanism to prevent such overtly ideological decisions.

» Posted By TOCB On August 21, 2019 @ 12:34 am

I don’t have a problem with responsible gun ownership either, and I think that is probably the position of reasonable people. A responsible gun owner should want guns to be safely used as not to harm people. That means a responsible gun owner should support common sense restrictions on gun ownership and possession.

In point of fact, when I was in the military during peacetime, repairing black boxes on fighter jets, I was NEVER issued a gun, BECAUSE I had no need for one. Even when we had war games to prepare to deploy to a war zone, we were issued cardboard guns, not real guns, IN THE MILITARY. So how in the world can the Constitution be reasonably interpreted to extend gun ownership and possession to civilians when it doesn’t even extend to military personnel who don’t have a need to have a gun? The Constitution does not say civilians cannot have guns, and it does not say they can.

» Posted By TOCB On August 21, 2019 @ 12:30 am

I think that is an EXCELLENT suggestion. I have always taken the position that judges at any level, but especially at the Supreme Court level, should not be ideological in rendering decisions. If justice is blind, there cannot be a conservative justice and a liberal justice. I agree that something desperately needs to be done to take politics/ideology out of Supreme Court decisions.

» Posted By TOCB On August 21, 2019 @ 12:18 am

The term, “Constitutional Originalists” is REALLY out of place in the Heller decision, as the original intent of that amendment was SOLELY to address whether to protect the free state by establishing a standing army or to use a citizens army, i.e., a well-regulated militia to protect the free state. In the eighteenth century almost everyone in the USA used guns to hunt for food, to protect themselves from bears and wolves, as well as for self defense. There was never a question as to whether people had a right to protect themselves, so there was no need to address such an issue in the Constitution.

It is intellectually dishonest for ANYONE, especially a Supreme Court justice, to suggest that the Second Amendment had anything to do with anyone keeping and bearing arms outside of the context of a well-regulated militia.

» Posted By TOCB On August 21, 2019 @ 12:13 am

The Money Machine: Tariffs!

If a government requires a producer to pay a tariff in order to sell their product in the country, guess what the producer does to negate the tariff from negatively impacting profits? GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR!!! Your are correct! The producer raises the price of the product so the tariff is absorbed by the purchaser/consumer. Of course, an unstable genius won’t know this. My bad! Trump is a stable genius. In reality, he is not a stable or an unstable genius. He is merely unstable.

» Posted By TOCB On August 22, 2019 @ 6:18 am

Biden Takes on Trump: A Call to Integrity and Courage in The Wave of Two Mass Shootings

How desperate is it that Biden is already having to use his last resort of, “Okay, I may not be a great choice for president but you gotta pick me cause I’m the only one who can save you from Trump!”

This sounds a lot like trump telling his supporters that whether they like him or not, they have to vote for him because of their 401(k)s. I suspect fewer than 10% of them actually have 401(k)s.

» Posted By TOCB On August 21, 2019 @ 12:52 am

It is indeed early. Too early for Biden to be running against Trump and not against his primary opponents. Yes, Biden SHOULD be running against Trump, as all Democrats should be. But Biden is appealing to Trump voters in the Democratic primaries. I am not sure that is a wise move.

» Posted By TOCB On August 21, 2019 @ 12:40 am

“If we keep on doing what we’ve always done, we’ll keep on getting what we’ve always had.”

My fear is that Americans will continue to get what they deserve as long as they continue to do the same things, one of which is to continue to lie about Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton was actually named by Americans as the most admired woman in the world for 17 consecutive years. Yet, she supposedly lost the presidency by 70,000 votes that determined the electoral vote, after receiving 3,000,000 more votes than her opponent.

What was the latest reason people supposedly disliked Clinton? She used a personal server to conduct official State Department business? REALLY??? She supposedly voted to invade Iraq? REALLY??? American voters are STUPID and they deserve Trump. Not only for one term, but as long as they choose to remain STUPID.

Rather that investigating if Trump actually won the 70,000 votes that supposedly gave him the presidency. STUPID Americans continue to blame their STUPIDITY on Hillary Clinton.

How is that working out for ya, America? To get out of the rut of STUPIDITY America has another chance to elect a highly qualified female for president. Will they do that? Chances are that they won’t. WHY??? Because Americans are STUPID. Not only are many of them DEPLORALBE, MOST of them are STUPID!

But that is just my opinion.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/245669/michelle-obama-ends-hillary-clinton-run-admired.aspx

WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the first time in 17 years, a woman other than Hillary Clinton has been named by Americans as the woman they admire most. Former first lady Michelle Obama, who finished second to Clinton three times and is currently touring to promote her recently released autobiography, won by a significant margin this year. Oprah Winfrey was second, with Clinton and Melania Trump next.

» Posted By TOCB On August 16, 2019 @ 6:27 am

Is the Insistence of Moderate Dems to Win Back Trump Voters…a Racial Thing?

Actually Jake, some of your positions seem to be more aligned with republicans than Democrats. Nothing wrong with that. It is what it is.

» Posted By TOCB On August 7, 2019 @ 6:34 am

We can only select one candidate to oppose trump. The question is WILL we have to foresight to select the right candidate. I think a white male keeps us stuck on stupid. That is not to say white males are stupid. It is simply saying that we have an opportunity to do something differently than what we have done that has resulted in the place we now find ourselves.

» Posted By TOCB On August 7, 2019 @ 6:31 am

I have been a Democrat all of my life, even when they were as racist as republicans were in the south where I live. I think over the years we have had some very good Democratic presidents and congress members. Establishment and experience used to be an asset, and I suppose it will be again when this new crop of young people get older and more experienced. All they have to do is keep living.

I agree though that it is time for new and fresh and bold ideas. Not that older experienced people can’t have new and fresh and bold ideas, but we are fortunate to have some exceptional talent and character traits in our contenders for president. I am also in the camp that supports a female president. Again, it is time and we have the people. LET’S DO THIS!

» Posted By TOCB On August 7, 2019 @ 6:28 am

I will especially deal harshly with numerical misstatements and misunderstandings but will always apologize and make a correction if shown to be wrong with my numbers.

Jake, by training, experience and vocation I was an accountant for over forty years. I am a numbers guy by training. Anyone who is familiar with numbers knows that numbers is data, and one can manipulate data (any kind of data) to say almost anything they want the data to say. An inside accounting joke is when someone ask an accountant what does the numbers say, the response is, what do you WANT the numbers to say.

You and I, both numbers guys, can look at the same numbers (data) and glean polar opposite interpretations. It happens everyday at the highest levels of business and government.

I think you revealed that you were once a republican, and it shows in the sense that you are very reluctant to change your position when evidence and data no longer support your position. I am VERY opinionated, and I THINK my opinion is correct. If I did not think it was correct, obviously I would not hold that opinion. However, every once in awhile I discover that my opinion is NOT correct. I remember that time in 1967, when I had to accept that my opinion was wrong. (I kid you).

From my perspective (and we are allowed to have different perspectives) forums like this are to share opinions rather than to attempt to persuade others to adopt our opinions. If we disagree about something it doesn’t mean that either of us is right or wrong. We just have different opinions, and you are MORE THAN WELCOME to keep your OPINION.

» Posted By TOCB On August 7, 2019 @ 6:00 am

Not a single vote has been cast for a single candidate in a single primary for 2020. Who will win or lose at this point is pure speculation.

If Democrats choose as our standard bearer in 2020, an old white man when we have tremendous and diverse alternatives, we are no better than republicans, who have ONE African American and ONE biracial member in their entire caucus.

» Posted By TOCB On August 5, 2019 @ 6:50 am

Your analysis makes far more sense to me than trying to get racist white people to vote for Democrats. How do Democrats appeal to these people? Economics? Jobs? The Democratic Party has fought for an economy that would uplift the working class for decades, while the republican party has promoted trickle down economics. Their mantra since Reagan has been that if we give special privileges to the wealthy and well connected, they would take care of everyone else. People who have voted for republicans from Reagan forward supported this. And now both Democratic voters and republican voters blame Democrats for what they have supported republicans in doing.

Republicans have controlled the federal government for the vast majority of the last 45 years. So why is it the Democratic Party’s fault that voters have rejected the party that has performed better related to the economy and civil liberties for the last 45 years, in favor of a racist and economically corrupt party? Americans should be running over each other to get to the polls to vote for Democrats. Democrats should not even have to court them. The fact that a politician is not a republican should be a good enough reason to vote for them.

AND republicans, not only trump but republicans, are racists and bigots. There is not question about that. WHY SHOULD ANYONE BUT A RACIST VOTE FOR A RACIST???

» Posted By TOCB On August 2, 2019 @ 5:45 pm

The Mueller Hearing? Your Response….

I have the utmost respect for you and your opinions Murph, but I think Pelosi and the Democratic leadership are gravely mistaken about impeachment.

I don’t think we need impeachment as a political strategy one way or the other. I think if Democrats put their efforts into getting people who share their values out to vote, republicans will be soundly defeated. The problem with not impeaching trump is more of a moral and principle problem. I know that is not as important as politics are to some people. However, I subscribe to the principle of remaining true to oneself. I have never been a person who worried about what other people do or think. Yes, I realize that opinions of others matter, but I have to be able to look in the mirror everyday and feel that I have done my best. I do believe that the very soul of our democracy is at stake, and I don’t say that just to be rhetorical. I am as serious as a heart attack.

We must defeat republicans at the ballot box in 2020. At the same time we must defend and protect our Constitution, REGARDLESS of the political consequences. Question: How do you explain to your grandchildren that it was better in 2019 to focus on the political consequences of impeachment than to focus on the patriotic consequences of impeachment?

Btw, I would not waste a second trying to convince republican voters to vote for Democrats. I would appreciate their votes IF they appreciate the values of Democrats. However, if they value what republicans stand for, whatever that is, I think they should vote for republicans.

» Posted By TOCB On August 2, 2019 @ 5:41 am

Democratic support for launching impeachment proceedings contrasts sharply with Republicans (6 percent support, versus 86 percent oppose) and independents (34 percent support, versus 42 percent oppose).

You mean the same republicans who say the Mueller investigation was a witch hunt and the REAL traitors were Obama, Clinton and the FBI? THOSE republicans??? The ones trump correctly said would support him if he stood in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shot someone? THOSE republicans??? Are these the people we are willing to trust our democracy to? REALLY???

» Posted By TOCB On August 1, 2019 @ 11:59 am

No, it does not have the right at all. The law is clear impeachment FOR high crimes and misdemeanors.

And what, pray tell, is a “misdemeanor”? It is whatever Congress says it is. If that were not the case, impeachment would be completely off the table, because Mueller said he did not find any crimes? He did find conduct that supports action by Congress.

I understand your feelings on this but I am very aware of how the public will judge this

You THINK you are aware of how the public will judge this. This is nothing like the Clinton impeachment. Clinton was impeached for nothing more than lying under oath about an extramarital affair. Trump and his merry band of idiots have committed treason. There is a HUGE difference. The public will hold Congress (both Democrats and republicans) accountable for allowing trump to get away with this. If the House does not impeach, they are just as complicit as republicans are.

» Posted By TOCB On August 1, 2019 @ 11:51 am

When a DA impeaches (i.e. indicts) a bad guy and the court finds him not guilty what does that do for the DA’s record?

That point is relevant in an unbiased justice system. It is irrelevant in a political system. The House has the power to impeach even if no crime is committed. Trump’s behavior is destructive not only to the USA but to the world. If Democrats don’t impeach trump they will SURELY lose the presidential election in 2020 and probably both chambers of Congress. Why? Because when they were the world’s last line of legal defense from trump, they COMPLETELY WHIMPPED OUT because they were afraid of the politics.

» Posted By TOCB On August 1, 2019 @ 6:06 am