timschochet's thread- Mods, please move this thread to the Politics Subforum, thank you (3 Viewers)

[tonydead]

Ahhh, so gets back to the question of when/if the killing of innocents for the greater good is ever justifiable.

Filial

 

[timschochet]

Let me try to get back on point here. I agree that it is very rare that you can point to any one thing and say: that is objectively evil. In fact it's so rare that some of you simply assume there are no objective rules whatsoever. I'm not one of those people. I would never defend infanticide; my point was that it's one of those things that doesn't quite reach the level of objectively evil IMO because there are some rare situations where it could conceivably be defended (not that I would want to be the one that did it.)

But when I started this discussion, I used the worst example I could think of, something so horrific and evil that there is NO possibility that it could be defended: the kidnapping, raping and murder of an young child. I point at this as proof of the idea that there are indeed absolute morals, even if they can be difficult or near impossible to discover for the most part, because this one isn't: this act is evil , now and forever, no matter what kind of society that is created.

 

[timschochet]

Ahhh, so gets back to the question of when/if the killing of innocents for the greater good is ever justifiable.

If it isn't, then pacifism is the only reasonable course, since it's impossible to have modern warfare without the killing of innocents. I believe the killing of innocents is justifiable in certain situations.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Timmay, I think you need a media consultant.

 

[timschochet]

No. It's an interesting comparison but it is not valid.

The Hawaiian royalty (Ali'i) also intermarried, in their case brother and sister, for generations. They solved the genetic problem by killing deformed infants. Until Christian missionaries came along and informed them that was wrong, this infanticide was practiced for centuries and it produced strong capable leadership One could argue that it was an effective form of Darwinism. Because of this example, infanticide is not something that I would term as an absolute evil. Much good was produced from the royal incest of the Hawaiians.

The same cannot be said for kidnapping and rape of children. Again, the term "kidnapping", like "theft" or "murder", already implies that we're talking about an action against the will of the state. But even if we weren't, I am arguing that these acts are OBJECTIVELY evil and society recognizes it as such; we don't have to "learn" it as you claim by examining the societal side effects. There are certain things that human beings should simply KNOW are wrong. How we know this is an open question. A religious person would usually insist that we know it because the Bible tells us so (though interestingly enough, nowhere that I know of in the Bible does it say THOU SHALT NO RAPE.) I don't think so, because my problem with that is the same one I have with the guy who returned my wallet- the implication is that someone who was unaware of the Bible or societal norms would be fine with raping a child. I don't believe that.

So, killing infants is ok, but killing children is not? Where do you draw that line?

i never said that killing infants is OK. I said you could make an argument to justify it in certain societies. But I don't believe that kidnapping and raping a child can be justified in any society.

Yeah, I'm still not buying that there's an appreciable moral difference.

I think Tim's argument is that it was beneficial to the society, therefore moral to that society. I'm not sure I agree with him, but, I understand the argument. It's an example to think about. And I think it might be much harder to find an example where rape is beneficial to society, I can't think of one.

Tim, I'm not familiar with Hawaii's history, how did the people originally get on the islands and how did they get isolated so they had to start inter breeding?

Most anthropologists (not all) believe they came originally from the other pacific islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Samoa etc.) in long canoes around 600-700. This is a hotly debated topic. In all of these societies, royalty married their brothers and sisters.

Unlike other Pacific Islanders, there are almost no pure Hawaiians left. Disease (mainly measles) in the 1800s and interbreeding did away with 99% of them. Anyone you meet today that calls themselves a Hawaiian is probably part Filipinio, Haole (white), Chinese, Japanese, or a mixture.

 

[timschochet]

Timmay, I think you need a media consultant.

Like I wrote before, what I NEED is cash, cigarettes, and booze. And I need it quick! There's this big dude named Isaiah in the next cell giving me funny looks.

 

[timschochet]

So let's start with comedy films. Here are my 10 favorite comedies of all time, in no particular order:

1. Lost In America

2. Broadcast News

3. Defending Your Life

4. Manhattan

5. Hannah and Her Sisters

6. What's Up, Tiger Lily?

7. Take the Money and Run

8. Blazing Saddles

9. Airplane!

10. My Favorite Year

As you no doubt can tell, I love me some Albert Brooks and Woody Allen. And I kind of think Mel Brooks is a tad overrated- hence no Young Frankenstein, which seems to be a favorite for many people. Also, I like Bill Murray, but don't love him like most people do.

It just struck me that the newest movie on that list is over 20 years old. Guess I haven't found too much to laugh at these days...

 

[timschochet]

I ate too much for Hanukkah tonight.

Chicken noodle soup

potato latkes with apple sauce and sour cream

beef brisket with horseradish

steamed vegetables

Hannukah Deli cookies

Now I'm stuffed. A fine fine Jewish meal.

 

[Gawain]

I ate too much for Hanukkah tonight.

Chicken noodle soup

potato latkes with apple sauce and sour cream

beef brisket with horseradish

steamed vegetables

Hannukah Deli cookies

Now I'm stuffed. A fine fine Jewish meal.

So you're saying that only Jews can have fine meals?

 

[timschochet]

I ate too much for Hanukkah tonight.

Chicken noodle soup

potato latkes with apple sauce and sour cream

beef brisket with horseradish

steamed vegetables

Hannukah Deli cookies

Now I'm stuffed. A fine fine Jewish meal.

So you're saying that only Jews can have fine meals?

That's my implication, yes.

 

[mr roboto]

Is that racist or religious discrimination?

 

[timschochet]

Is that racist or religious discrimination?

It's both. Christians suck. Especially white Christian food. White Christian American food is awful.

Only Protestant food though. Catholic food is good if it's got ethnic roots. Protestants have no ethnic roots.

 

[mr roboto]

Are Jews primarily a religious group or an ethnic group. I've always wanted to understand this. You seem to be a good guy to ask.

Many Jews in the US are fairly non-religious (from a practicing standpoint) yet identify as Jewish. Obviously there was a group of ethnic Israelites that stretch far back so I understand that they are Jewish heritage. There are no other good comparisons among the major religions of the world (where the religious group and ethnic group overlap so clearly).

 

[timschochet]

Are Jews primarily a religious group or an ethnic group. I've always wanted to understand this. You seem to be a good guy to ask.

Many Jews in the US are fairly non-religious (from a practicing standpoint) yet identify as Jewish. Obviously there was a group of ethnic Israelites that stretch far back so I understand that they are Jewish heritage. There are no other good comparisons among the major religions of the world (where the religious group and ethnic group overlap so clearly).

This is a very good question. I definitely believe that Jews are as much an ethnicity as they are religious. Sarah Silverman, for instance, identifies herself as "very Jewish". But she is an atheist. I would probably categorize myself the same way.

The main reason for the ethnicity angle is this: the Ashkenazi Jews almost all settled some 900 years ago in central and eastern Europe. Due to discrimination they were forced to live together in ghettoes, developing their own communities, language (Yiddish), mannerisms, food, etc. Everything that would define an ethnicity would define them, and the strong majority of Jews living in the United States are descended from these "Fiddler On the Roof" Jews. Now there are also African Jews, Egyptian Jews, Iranian Jews, etc- while these Jews celebrate the same holidays and religious traditions, they don't share the same ethnic traditions.

So when I say that Jews are an ethnic group, I am really speaking about Ashkenazi Jews from central and Eastern Europe, not all Jews. Yet some people in this forum have taken real issue with my claim on this, especially Rich Conway, who for some reason (though I don't think he is Jewish himself) is very insistent that Judaism is ONLY a religion.

 

[timschochet]

Much of the current struggle in Israel is between the Ashkenazi (European) Jews and the Jews from Africa and Asia. This is really generalizing, but let's just say that the Asian and African Jews tend to be more hardline in their treatment and attitude towards Palestinians, as they don't share many of the moral beliefs that define western culture.

 

[Ilov80s]

I'm glad this thread has caught up with the FFA and is becoming about race. I'm kidding btw.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I saw five movies in the theatre in one day once. Back when i was young and free and on break. I mapped the whole thing out and everything. If movie hopping is wrong, i do not wish to be right.

Tim, do you think Jews feel more obligated to keep customs/traditions alive b/c of ww2?

 

[Gawain]

Are Jews primarily a religious group or an ethnic group. I've always wanted to understand this. You seem to be a good guy to ask.

Many Jews in the US are fairly non-religious (from a practicing standpoint) yet identify as Jewish. Obviously there was a group of ethnic Israelites that stretch far back so I understand that they are Jewish heritage. There are no other good comparisons among the major religions of the world (where the religious group and ethnic group overlap so clearly).

This is a very good question. I definitely believe that Jews are as much an ethnicity as they are religious. Sarah Silverman, for instance, identifies herself as "very Jewish". But she is an atheist. I would probably categorize myself the same way.

The main reason for the ethnicity angle is this: the Ashkenazi Jews almost all settled some 900 years ago in central and eastern Europe. Due to discrimination they were forced to live together in ghettoes, developing their own communities, language (Yiddish), mannerisms, food, etc. Everything that would define an ethnicity would define them, and the strong majority of Jews living in the United States are descended from these "Fiddler On the Roof" Jews. Now there are also African Jews, Egyptian Jews, Iranian Jews, etc- while these Jews celebrate the same holidays and religious traditions, they don't share the same ethnic traditions.

So when I say that Jews are an ethnic group, I am really speaking about Ashkenazi Jews from central and Eastern Europe, not all Jews. Yet some people in this forum have taken real issue with my claim on this, especially Rich Conway, who for some reason (though I don't think he is Jewish himself) is very insistent that Judaism is ONLY a religion.

What do you think about adopted Jews? I work for a Jewish company (60% of the employees and the owner). Runs the gamut from guys who will work on Saturday's while eating pepperoni pizza to fellas with tzitzis who won't shake hands with women. Girl I worked with was Korean, but had been adopted as an infant and raised Jewish. She did birthright and the whole shebang. Can she be an ethnic Jew, even though her racial makeup is far from the stereotypical Jew?

 

[Ilov80s]

I saw five movies in the theatre in one day once. Back when i was young and free and on break. I mapped the whole thing out and everything. If movie hopping is wrong, i do not wish to be right.

Tim, do you think Jews feel more obligated to keep customs/traditions alive b/c of ww2?

That's crazy! Any idea what the 5 films were?

 

[timschochet]

I saw five movies in the theatre in one day once. Back when i was young and free and on break. I mapped the whole thing out and everything. If movie hopping is wrong, i do not wish to be right.

Tim, do you think Jews feel more obligated to keep customs/traditions alive b/c of ww2?

1.I saw 4 movies in one day, as a teenager, during the summer of 1981. I can name them all:

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Eye of the Needle

Clash of the Titans

Victory

2. Not really. Tradition has always been a big deal for Jews. I refer you to the opening sequence of Fiddler on the Roof.

 

[timschochet]

Are Jews primarily a religious group or an ethnic group. I've always wanted to understand this. You seem to be a good guy to ask.

Many Jews in the US are fairly non-religious (from a practicing standpoint) yet identify as Jewish. Obviously there was a group of ethnic Israelites that stretch far back so I understand that they are Jewish heritage. There are no other good comparisons among the major religions of the world (where the religious group and ethnic group overlap so clearly).

This is a very good question. I definitely believe that Jews are as much an ethnicity as they are religious. Sarah Silverman, for instance, identifies herself as "very Jewish". But she is an atheist. I would probably categorize myself the same way.

The main reason for the ethnicity angle is this: the Ashkenazi Jews almost all settled some 900 years ago in central and eastern Europe. Due to discrimination they were forced to live together in ghettoes, developing their own communities, language (Yiddish), mannerisms, food, etc. Everything that would define an ethnicity would define them, and the strong majority of Jews living in the United States are descended from these "Fiddler On the Roof" Jews. Now there are also African Jews, Egyptian Jews, Iranian Jews, etc- while these Jews celebrate the same holidays and religious traditions, they don't share the same ethnic traditions.

So when I say that Jews are an ethnic group, I am really speaking about Ashkenazi Jews from central and Eastern Europe, not all Jews. Yet some people in this forum have taken real issue with my claim on this, especially Rich Conway, who for some reason (though I don't think he is Jewish himself) is very insistent that Judaism is ONLY a religion.

What do you think about adopted Jews? I work for a Jewish company (60% of the employees and the owner). Runs the gamut from guys who will work on Saturday's while eating pepperoni pizza to fellas with tzitzis who won't shake hands with women. Girl I worked with was Korean, but had been adopted as an infant and raised Jewish. She did birthright and the whole shebang. Can she be an ethnic Jew, even though her racial makeup is far from the stereotypical Jew?

I suppose, if she celebrates the ethnic traditions. She might not be regarded that way though. Jews can be VERY racist, especially the older ones. Trust me I know.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I saw five movies in the theatre in one day once. Back when i was young and free and on break. I mapped the whole thing out and everything. If movie hopping is wrong, i do not wish to be right.

Tim, do you think Jews feel more obligated to keep customs/traditions alive b/c of ww2?

That's crazy! Any idea what the 5 films were?

Ali, in the bedroom, a beautiful mind, training day i think, and one other. Royal tenenbaums, maybe? Jan 1, 2002.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

New year's day is really an optimal time to do this, btw.

 

[Ilov80s]

Good lineup of movies. I forgot about In the Bedroom...that was intense.

 

[krista4]

Good lineup of movies. I forgot about In the Bedroom...that was intense.

That was a fantastic movie.

I know I saw four in a row in theaters once, but don't remember what they were. Maybe I'll try to do this on Christmas.

 

[Ilov80s]

Good lineup of movies. I forgot about In the Bedroom...that was intense.

That was a fantastic movie.

I know I saw four in a row in theaters once, but don't remember what they were. Maybe I'll try to do this on Christmas.

I've never seen more than 1 movie in a day. I just don't have the patience. Now, even if I did, I'm not sure I could find that many movies I want to see. For me, TV has surpassed movies so much in quality. I would rather watch 8 episodes of a good show than 4 movies.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I loved Ali, too. Despite not being the biggest fan of the guy himself, the boxing scenes were fantastic.

I did another one with my wife in 2008: atonement, no country for old men, there will be blud, juno? And something else.

 

[jamny]

When I was a kid, my brother was forced to take me to a Planet of the Apes marathon that just happened to fall on my birthday. He only made it through the first 3 and we had to leave.

I was pissed.

 

[CowboysFromHell]

I was thinking a bit more about a few of the recent topics here and how they relate: Tim's points on objective morality vs. relativism, and the discussion Fred and I were having on being sensitive to the offense someone might take when you criticize their religion/ethos. I think where I fall out on this is the following: morality, religion, social norms, culture, beliefs certainly vary around the world and throughout history. I think we can have a discussion around where these things are "better" and where they are "worse". I think we should be able to, and in fact might be obligated to, criticize those that we see as "bad". However, I think we need to be careful about criticizing the people that are living in these cultures that we are criticizing. For example, slavery in the United States. Today, I think we can all agree that slavery is immoral, and should be criticized as an awful thing. However, I don't think we can say, sitting here today, that we are all morally superior to the people living during that time. During that time, in that culture, slavery was morally acceptable to some. Or, use Tim's example of infanticide and make the same statements. You get the idea.

Which brings me back to the point I was trying to make about religion. We should be able to criticize bad ideas, even if they are ideas born out of religion. Religion should not get a free pass. This is different than saying we should denigrate the people who hold religious beliefs that we deem "bad". A person raised in a culture that deems suicide bombing as something that can be justified in some cases is not necessarily an immoral person. Or, that apostates should be killed, etc. The people that hold these beliefs are a product of the culture in which they were born and raised. We can criticize the belief without criticizing the people that hold them. And, aren't we, in fact, obligated to? At the end of the day, what I think we hope to do is advance the set of commonly held moral laws that all human societies accept and adhere to.

 

[bostonfred]

Suicide bombing isn't morally wrong.

 

[timschochet]

Suicide bombing isn't morally wrong.

i agree, depending on the situation. I regard the kamikaze pilots as heroic. However, strapping explosives onto yourself and walking into a hospital, school, or crowded restaurant is evil, IMO.

 

[timschochet]

Cowboys, great post.

 

[timschochet]

I've been thinking that December has been a pretty remarkable month for President Obama. After the losses he faced in the elections last month, he should have been on his heels. Yet look what's happened: the immigration order. The agreement with China. The announcement about Cuba. The budget deal. The economy continues to improve. Obama is seemingly more powerful and effective than he's ever been going into 2015.

 

[CowboysFromHell]

Suicide bombing isn't morally wrong.

Are you distinguishing based on the target of the bomb? If so, and you mean when the target is a military target, I agree and maybe used a bad example. Use infanticide instead. I don't think you're saying a suicide bomber that targets innocent civilians isn't morally wrong?

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I've been thinking that December has been a pretty remarkable month for President Obama. After the losses he faced in the elections last month, he should have been on his heels. Yet look what's happened: the immigration order. The agreement with China. The announcement about Cuba. The budget deal. The economy continues to improve. Obama is seemingly more powerful and effective than he's ever been going into 2015.

And he will likely be an afterthought by March. The networks have to start covering the 2016 election.

 

[timschochet]

I've been thinking that December has been a pretty remarkable month for President Obama. After the losses he faced in the elections last month, he should have been on his heels. Yet look what's happened: the immigration order. The agreement with China. The announcement about Cuba. The budget deal. The economy continues to improve. Obama is seemingly more powerful and effective than he's ever been going into 2015.

And he will likely be an afterthought by March. The networks have to start covering the 2016 election.

That's a good point. Obviously if there's s crisis, Obama will be front and center. Otherwise the focus will shift. Unless- there is the possibility that Cruz and the Tea Party wing of the GOP will force their leadership to go to war with Obama as it were. Their base has been demanding this, but I don't think it's going to happen. If it does, then Obama will continue to be at the forefront, upstaging Hillary and all of the other candidates.

 

[CowboysFromHell]

Also, this reminds me of Ben Affleck's big blowup on Bill Mahers show a few months back. Fred, am I right to assume you sided more with Affleck and Kristoff here? That the criticism of Islam by Maher and Harris was offensive?

 

[timschochet]

Also, this reminds me of Ben Affleck's big blowup on Bill Mahers show a few months back. Fred, am I right to assume you sided more with Affleck and Kristoff here? That the criticism of Islam by Maher and Harris was offensive?

who are you asking this of, me or bostonfred? I sided with Maher.

 

[timschochet]

How terribly irresponsible of this head of the police union to say that De Blasio has "blood on his hands". Public officials in the spotlight should bear just a little more responsibility than hotheads like General Tso in this forum.

 

[CowboysFromHell]

Also, this reminds me of Ben Affleck's big blowup on Bill Mahers show a few months back. Fred, am I right to assume you sided more with Affleck and Kristoff here? That the criticism of Islam by Maher and Harris was offensive?

who are you asking this of, me or bostonfred? I sided with Maher.

I was asking bostonfred, but thanks for the response. I sided with Maher as well.

 

[jon_mx]

I've been thinking that December has been a pretty remarkable month for President Obama. After the losses he faced in the elections last month, he should have been on his heels. Yet look what's happened: the immigration order. The agreement with China. The announcement about Cuba. The budget deal. The economy continues to improve. Obama is seemingly more powerful and effective than he's ever been going into 2015.

1. Immigration Reform was kind of ok. It was a poor way to tackle the problem, but it wasn't too extreme.

2. The agreement with China was a joke. Besides being non-binding, it put all the restraints on the US and nothing on China. Zip. Why global warming alarmist think it was a good start, I have no idea. I doubt they really understand it.

3. The Cuba announcement was probably something long overdue. Only a few Cubans in Florida really are against it, but it will probably be better for them anyways.

4. The budget deal was gonna get done. Not much of an indication one way or the other.

I think that is a fair assessment, much more on target than your usual tingling-down-the-leg assessment you always give Obama.

 

[tonydead]

Suicide bombing isn't morally wrong.

i agree, depending on the situation. I regard the kamikaze pilots as heroic. However, strapping explosives onto yourself and walking into a hospital, school, or crowded restaurant is evil, IMO.

I think you are interjecting your personal beliefs today and missing Cowboy's point a little bit though. In the hospital bombing example (assuming Muslim extremist) in their point of view they are more heroic than the Kamikaze. To them the world is going to hell because of the evil western influence and they are fighting a war of religion. Should we judge them for the culture they've been raised and brain washed in? Or should be condemning the ideas born out of that religion?

Looking back at history in the case of the Kamikaze is it right to call them heroic just because the gave their life in time of war? It certainly wasn't heroic from the USA's point of view then nor to the victims of pearl harbor. Shouldn't we be asking what ramifications they had on our society as a whole based on what we've learned from history to determine if those actions were moral or not?

 

[timschochet]

I've been thinking that December has been a pretty remarkable month for President Obama. After the losses he faced in the elections last month, he should have been on his heels. Yet look what's happened: the immigration order. The agreement with China. The announcement about Cuba. The budget deal. The economy continues to improve. Obama is seemingly more powerful and effective than he's ever been going into 2015.

1. Immigration Reform was kind of ok. It was a poor way to tackle the problem, but it wasn't too extreme.

2. The agreement with China was a joke. Besides being non-binding, it put all the restraints on the US and nothing on China. Zip. Why global warming alarmist think it was a good start, I have no idea. I doubt they really understand it.

3. The Cuba announcement was probably something long overdue. Only a few Cubans in Florida really are against it, but it will probably be better for them anyways.

4. The budget deal was gonna get done. Not much of an indication one way or the other.

I think that is a fair assessment, much more on target than your usual tingling-down-the-leg assessment you always give Obama.

Actually I didn't offer any individual assessments at all. I just made the point that all of this has added up to a very impressive month. So far as your individual comments I think you're way off on China and that your statement about the budget seems to pretend that the last few years and all the budget struggles never happened.

 

[Gawain]

How terribly irresponsible of this head of the police union to say that De Blasio has "blood on his hands". Public officials in the spotlight should bear just a little more responsibility than hotheads like General Tso in this forum.

Head of the Police Union isn't a public official. He's there to represent the interests of police officers.

 

[Two Deep]

Just came by to say good morning and see if you need anything from the outside world.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

How terribly irresponsible of this head of the police union to say that De Blasio has "blood on his hands". Public officials in the spotlight should bear just a little more responsibility than hotheads like General Tso in this forum.

He isn't a public official in the sense that the Mayor is and his sole job is to protect his officers. He's doing his job.

 

[Gawain]

How terribly irresponsible of this head of the police union to say that De Blasio has "blood on his hands". Public officials in the spotlight should bear just a little more responsibility than hotheads like General Tso in this forum.

He isn't a public official in the sense that the Mayor is and his sole job is to protect his officers. He's doing his job.

How totally irresponsible of that public defender to defend that murderer. As a public official, he shouldn't side with those who kill others.

 

[timschochet]

Suicide bombing isn't morally wrong.

i agree, depending on the situation. I regard the kamikaze pilots as heroic. However, strapping explosives onto yourself and walking into a hospital, school, or crowded restaurant is evil, IMO.

I think you are interjecting your personal beliefs today and missing Cowboy's point a little bit though. In the hospital bombing example (assuming Muslim extremist) in their point of view they are more heroic than the Kamikaze. To them the world is going to hell because of the evil western influence and they are fighting a war of religion. Should we judge them for the culture they've been raised and brain washed in? Or should be condemning the ideas born out of that religion?Looking back at history in the case of the Kamikaze is it right to call them heroic just because the gave their life in time of war? It certainly wasn't heroic from the USA's point of view then nor to the victims of pearl harbor. Shouldn't we be asking what ramifications they had on our society as a whole based on what we've learned from history to determine if those actions were moral or not?

Well first off there were no Kamikazis at Pearl Harbor; that came later in the war when the Japanese were more desperate. And even though the American perception of the Japanese back then was timged with racism, there were those even then who regarded the Kamikazis as heroic. But moving on to your more important point: you're correct that many Palestinians and Arab Muslims regard their suicide bombers as martyrs and heroes. But they are wrong and I do have the right to judge them. And I judge anyone who deliberately kills innocent people for the sole purpose of causing terror to be evil.

 

[jon_mx]

I've been thinking that December has been a pretty remarkable month for President Obama. After the losses he faced in the elections last month, he should have been on his heels. Yet look what's happened: the immigration order. The agreement with China. The announcement about Cuba. The budget deal. The economy continues to improve. Obama is seemingly more powerful and effective than he's ever been going into 2015.

1. Immigration Reform was kind of ok. It was a poor way to tackle the problem, but it wasn't too extreme.

2. The agreement with China was a joke. Besides being non-binding, it put all the restraints on the US and nothing on China. Zip. Why global warming alarmist think it was a good start, I have no idea. I doubt they really understand it.

3. The Cuba announcement was probably something long overdue. Only a few Cubans in Florida really are against it, but it will probably be better for them anyways.

4. The budget deal was gonna get done. Not much of an indication one way or the other.

I think that is a fair assessment, much more on target than your usual tingling-down-the-leg assessment you always give Obama.

Actually I didn't offer any individual assessments at all. I just made the point that all of this has added up to a very impressive month. So far as your individual comments I think you're way off on China and that your statement about the budget seems to pretend that the last few years and all the budget struggles never happened.

Budget struggles happen every year at every level of government. The real work was done by the members of the house and senate. And I am dead on about the China deal. If allows China to grow without limits for the next decades. China has already surpassed us on CO2 output and with this agreement are on target to surpass us even on a per capita basis for CO2 output per person. I am not sure how an agreement could be any dumber. China would of had to been brain-dead not to agree to handcuff US businesses while being allowed to run free. What is there to like about that????

 

[timschochet]

All right guys I get your point that he's not a public official. But hes still a public figure (at least in this situation) and he's fanning the flames here. I don't like it.