Politics

Could we see marijuana decriminalized during the Obama administration? Equire magazine certainly thinks it's possible, and the issue of marijuana decriminalization topped Obama's poll on change.gov for the most pressing issues citizens are concerned about. What do you think? Is this just a bunch of hippies making noise, or do we actually stand a chance of seeing marijuana decriminalized in the next 4-8 years. I would certainly like to see it happen, and it seems more and more like there actually stands a decent chance of it actually happening.

So today the beleaguered governor of Illinois appointed Obama's successor to the US Senate. Immediately thereafter, all heck broke loose. Quite interesting to follow. Here's an article for background: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gB85LurXB_6l62s2jbh5OhLWkMGAD95DBMD81 Since the governor hasn't been convicted of anything yet, he has the authority to do this, and it sets up an interesting conundrum at the federal level that doesn't appear to be fully addressed by law, mainly because it's never happened quite this way before. The Senate can try say "we won't seat him", but there is a constitutional question of whether they have that authority …

Participating in a related conversation, someone brought this up and I found it fascinating. Turns out, yet again, I'm a hypocrite. And so are some of you, maybe. For a brief recap...the Confederate States of America were established after secession, which was not unconsitutional since there was no language forbidding secession. They had their own government, currency, military - they were as legitimate as the United States. The "attack" on Ft Sumter, then, was the ejection of an illegal occupation following a diplomatic effort to claim their infrastructure. The CSA had even sent delegates to make some sort of restitution for the federal property gained by seces…

Discussion broken off from this thread: http://www.scienceforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=37029 That appears to be a "yes" rather than a "no". You appear to be saying that coal is a technology that should not be explored further. I don't really understand that. Why not? The argument seems to be "clean coal isn't really clean, so it shouldn't be used". Why can't it become more clean? Are we saying that there is no way to make it more clean, or that it's too expensive to make it clean? If it's the latter, how do we know it won't become less expensive with further development and research?

Been wondering how President Obama will be able to appeal to religious conservatives while keeping gays in his corner? This is a good example of it right here. He's appointed Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church to deliver the invocation prayer at his inauguration. Politics forum members may recall Warren as hosting one of the early debates (actually two separate interviews with Obama and McCain). Warren is considered a more moderate and modern christian conservative, supporting issues such as the fight against global warming. But he is opposed to gay marriage and supported California's Proposition 8. The move also angered some on the right who feel Warren is making…

A new report from the House Oversight Committee shows the Bush administration was warned repeatedly by the CIA not to include information about Saddam attempting to purchase Nigerian yellowcake in the State of the Union address. It also goes on to state that Alberto Gonzales mislead Congress when he claimed the CIA approved the incorporation of that information into Bush's address: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_CIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Is it clear at this point that Bush lied to the American people and the world as the basis for invading Iraq? I think so. I just wonder if we can ever untangle this web of lies to the point …

Hey, look what I found! As you know, the federal government approved of a 700 billion dollar bailout just recently. And, well, it turns out that the bailout money isn't being used to bailing the economy out: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/CompanyFocus/10-worst-bailout-boondoggles.aspx So, what do you think awaits the future of the global economy now?

For those short on time the following will be pretty long-winded. I have seen many ideas about what is happening to the economy (particularly the American) and only a few have made any real sense to my non-economist mind. Even fewer of the proposed "solutions" have made any sense to me. The following is a description of how I see the economic problem and view the the solution. I don't expect anyone to agree with the analysis or conclusions but any respectful feedback will be greatly appreciated. Premises of discussion 1)We are on the brink of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930's and maybe ever. 2)Random spending of vast quantit…

We should honor President G. Bush for calling the American auto makers "failed companies". This is one of the only intelligent things I've ever heard the man say.

As most of you probably know, I am NOT a huge fan of the mainstream media. I think they've earned their status amongst the dregs of society's disrespected professions, alongside used car salesmen and divorce attorneys. But I don't think it's right to blame them for the political choices that a country makes. And I think that tendency derives from several very flawed and detrimental notions: 1) That people are stupid, and tend to do what they're told. 2) That there is always a correct position, and that the job of the media is to get on the right side of the issue. 3) That the press is qualified to determine the truth in all cases. (e.g. "We can put a man o…

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081216/pl_afp/financeeconomyusbush;_ylt=AsjFc097dv7q8V.O0_MWVs3v5rEF This bizarre sort of doublethink does not seem exclusive to Bush. It belies the notion that we really don't have a free market and haven't had one for quite sometime. Was all the lip service paid to the "free market" during the Bush years actually destructive? I believe so.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1208/121708cdpm1.htm?rss=getoday The ranking member of the bipartisan House Oversight Committee, Republican Darrell Issa, is moving to increase the GOP side of the panel's oversight power. He wants the committee to be able to investigate ready to probe executive branch waste, fraud and abuse on their own even without bipartisan cooperation. This seems like a good idea... I just wish Democrats would've thought of it. What was this committee doing for the past 8 years while the Bush administration spied on innocent Americans, approved the torture of prisoners, and outed an undercover CIA operative?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3JbAFqGjgoM&refer=home "Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended the country’s legislature for more than seven weeks in a bid to stave off a challenge from opposition parties seeking to bring down his government." Eh? They can do that?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10121034-54.html http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6158046.html I think appointing someone with bona-fide science credentials as well as having director experience at the national-lab level bodes extremely well. It certainly reaffirms that Obama will be listening to scientists about scientific matters. (It's also neat that someone I've met at a science conference will likely end up a cabinet member)

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ConductUnbecoming/story?id=6431739&page=1 Well, there it is. Wow. I'm glad this all got caught ahead of time, but wow, what a debacle.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/politics/07radio.html?pagewanted=all Obama plans a "vast infrastructure program, which also includes work on schools, sewer systems, mass transit, electrical grids, dams and other public utilities. The green jobs would include various categories, including jobs dedicated to creating alternative fuels, windmills and solar panels; building energy efficient appliances, or installing fuel-efficient heating or cooling systems." It would also "expand broadband Internet access, to make government buildings more energy efficient, to improve information technology at hospitals and doctors’ offices, and to upgrade computers in schools." …

We've been talking in another thread about the passage in three states of laws banning gay marriage. One of the interesting reasons being discussed in the media and amongst analysts is the idea that the passage happened as a result of large minority turnout -- specifically African American voters. They may have been 96% in favor of Obama, but 70% of them also voted against gay marriage. In one sense they saved Democrats, putting their man in office at the most critical moment ever. But in so doing they also helped deal a severe blow to a major progressive cause. And that is not the only issue they differ with politically correct progressives on. What I'm wonderin…

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/04/iraq.security/index.html?eref=rss_topstories The Iraqi government ratified a plan which would see all U.S. combat troops withdrawn from Iraqi cities and towns by June 30, 2009, and all U.S. troops out of Iraq by December 31, 2011. I'm really glad to see this happening. It's really starting to feel like our long national nightmare may finally be over soon.

I tried to find some other source for this story since I know how some here are biased to Fox, but it really doesn't matter, Louie is speaking for himself. (Further, I hope this link works...) http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/m/21533709/read_my_lips.htm?pageid=23043 Texas congressman Louie Gohmert proposes we ditch 2008 federal income tax collection. Interesting. I like the statement of faith in the people to have their money back. Gee, how nice we be trusted with our own money. Of course, I hear the cries now from those who believe in maximizing revenue for the government. Although it doesn't entirely fall on deaf ears, as this time I'm even wonder…

Oh goodness... I'm just shocked. Shocked, I tell you! I'd never have expected it from old Dick. He was always such a nice boy, and always kept to himself. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h9PvQtj8plxTnRZS7hHmJap_Rt2AD94ICFU00 A Texas judge has set a Friday arraignment for Vice President Dick Cheney, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, a state senator and others named in indictments accusing them of responsibility for prisoner abuse in a South Texas federal detention center. <...> The highest-profile indictment charges Cheney and Gonzales with engaging in organized criminal activity. It alleges that the men neglect…

I need to see phrases like the ones below disappear from discussion here: The technical accuracy of these kinds of statements is irrelevant. Open discussion is not about making your opponent look like a fool. This sort of thing actually stiffles the free and open exchange of ideas and opinions. Do you want your opponents to tell you what they think, or do you want them to shut up and comply? Pick one. Thanks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/01/AR2008120101277.html Well, at least we can put that one to rest. What's funny is how contentious and polarizing the issue of whether or not we were in a depression actually was. I'm reminded of this clip of Peter Schiff repeatedly issuing warnings about the state of the economy only to have them downplayed, ignored, or laughed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I0QN-FYkpw Is this another issue of one side being blinded by political polarization, or was much of the country just not paying attention?

I *hate* Tucker Carlson, but in this video he's awesome: This video underlies the real problem with assault weapons bans: the legislation is authored by people who are unfamiliar with the items they're attempting to legislate, and the end-result is legislation that doesn't make any sense. For example, in this video, the proposed legislation defines guns with a barrel shroud as being assault weapons. This makes about as much sense as defining computers with a heat sink that can accommodate an 80mm fan as being supercomputers. Worse, the author of the legislation had no idea what a barrel shroud actually is. Asked repeatedly by that horrible douchebag a…

Unions have failed our country, and will continue to do so until their power is curtailed.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/08/national/main4586103.shtml This is why you should ALWAYS wear a condom. The 8 year old kid killed his father and coworker in cold blood with a gun. The judge is considering trying him as an adult, and giving him the maximum sentence to be served in a juvenile detention facility. If a child commits an adult crime (murder, DUI, manslaughter) should they be tried as an adult?