Politics

[Wheels]

I disagree. If the Republicans win not only the President but several of the "down-ticket" elections a dividing of the Democrat party may be the best thing that could happen not only to the party but for the US. The Green bunch could revert to their "third party" status and the Democrat party could return to its place as the party for the middle class. We could get back to the basic economic issue being if you prefer supply or demand side policy but in either case free enterprise being the machine.

Contrary to other opinion, having the Democrat party jettison the far-left elements would be the best thing that could happen to both the party and to the US.

I understand where your coming from but look at it differently. A Green/Antifa party may draw 10-15% of the electorate. (It will probably continue to grow until we get our education system straightened out since all the kids have been brainwashed) This is substantially larger than say the Libertarian party. What happens in 2028 when a coalition of Democrats and Green get 218 members of the house or 51 of the senate even though the Republicans have the most members. We could end up with permanent gridlock and not be much different than the rest of the world.

As a country we pirouette much faster than most countries due to having two parties. This has been a massive advantage over our countries history.

 

[Wheels]

I assume you saw Hillary today advising Biden to not concede "under any circumstances." These people are playing with fire and don't even realize they don't control the matches. The troll farmers must be doing high fives. And not a single MSM anchor or correspondent called her on it. Not one.

No I missed it, having been out of the office most of the day.

There is so much corruption that is about to be uncovered, that they have to discredit Trump in any way possible and hope the nation rebels against the government and the Trump administration.

If Trump doesn't win, they make an example out of him and destroy him, his family and his empire. The Steele Dossier wasn't made to remove Trump. It is way to sloppy for that and they knew Hillary would win. The Dossier was made to destroy Trump and make sure no one that couldn't be controlled would ever win the Presidency again.

The first six months after the election may get extremely ugly.

 

[Royal27]

I assume you saw Hillary today advising Biden to not concede "under any circumstances." These people are playing with fire and don't even realize they don't control the matches. The troll farmers must be doing high fives. And not a single MSM anchor or correspondent called her on it. Not one.

I think you're almost right here. But, I think they know exactly what they are playing with. And they don't care for one of two reasons, perhaps both :

1. They would rather the country be destroyed than lose their power
2. They are so terrified of what another four years will reveal to the world about them that they CANNOT allow it to happen

Either way, the results are the same.

 

[meigsbucks]

From the RNC convention on Tuesday night:

Herschel’s speech should be a Trump ad.

 

[Royal27]

Hillary Clinton says Joe Biden should not concede on election night 'under any circumstances'

Hillary Clinton urged Joe BIden to not concede defeat on the night of the Nov. 3 election — no matter the circumstances.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Brent in Az]

Hillary Clinton says Joe Biden should not concede on election night 'under any circumstances'

Hillary Clinton urged Joe BIden to not concede defeat on the night of the Nov. 3 election — no matter the circumstances.

www.foxnews.com

Yet, they all expect Trump to concede if he loses.

 

[lwaters]

Let me count the times that armchair stock analysts predicted a collapse in the price of companies. Then compare that number with the times there has been a collapse. The ratio is somewhere between 5 and 10 to 1. Oh well, go ahead and sell your stocks and buy gold- we'll see who has funds for a trip to Africa.

Sorry but I will not buy gold. Tell me how many times a bull market has lasted this long. Once the value gets this high it becomes the greater fool theory. I didn't sell all my stocks I just boosted my cash stack. As far as hunting Africa I could go every year for the rest of my life if I went totally to cash.

 

[WAB]

I love Canada and I like Canadian hunters very much, but your thinking is a political one that is flawed on many levels.

First, Canada survives only by suckling the teat of US policies. Canada need not defend itself nor police the world to provide order, it lives off of the US covering for those protections. Canada is able to temporarily (until broke) dabble in socialist programs for its citizens because it need not have the same allocation of GDP to other services required of a superpower. Canada's politicians would love nothing more than to ban US-made weapons because it would allow for only Canada-made weapons which can be regulated and litigated into bankruptcy so Toronto and Vancouver can have full centralized control over the rural Canadian's liberties.

Canada's weak intelligence service relies heavily on Interpol and the Five Eyes partners to do all the heavy lifting with the USA to keep Canada safe from terrorism. Ironic, because the weak immigration policies and poor vetting on Canada's part allows about anyone into the country without much consideration of the existential threats they present. The rest of the world needs to follow up on these threats for Canada.

If Canada wasn't nearly totally dependent on the good will, the manufacturing capability, the medical innovation, and the intellectual property of the United States to exist then you'd see symptoms of self-reliance and independent capability in Canada. However, 90% of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the US borders giving the clearest of all evidence that Canada is a stall at the market place aimed clearly across the US border.

Canada is a neat place and contains nice people, albeit under a flawed constitution and a weak role in world affairs totally dependent on US policies for its very survival. The only thing that keeps Canada from being a failed socialist experiment nested in a weak monarchy is the USA pushing the socialists to remain free market capitalist at the threat of closing the border and denying trade.

You can hate these statements. You're welcome to change these facts by building your nation up, but in the meantime you need to express sincere gratitude rather than contempt for the USA that is providing the freedoms to Canadians through force of trade policy that you would otherwise not have with your corrupt Ottawa politicians.

Rookhawk, I enjoy your posts. As you know I am a Canadian who relocated to the USA by choice and would not care to move north again. However your understanding of Canada and her capabilities is flawed. The parliamentary system of government has some advantages and disadvantages to ours. The military has an outstanding history, and the intelligence service has bailed the USA out more than a couple of times. I love both countries, and recognize their relative strengths and weaknesses. Thank God Canada has not seen fit to refine her natural resources as opposed to selling them raw to the USA. That would change the game dramatically!

 

[Red Leg]

Rookhawk, I enjoy your posts. As you know I am a Canadian who relocated to the USA by choice and would not care to move north again. However your understanding of Canada and her capabilities is flawed. The parliamentary system of government has some advantages and disadvantages to ours. The military has an outstanding history, and the intelligence service has bailed the USA out more than a couple of times. I love both countries, and recognize their relative strengths and weaknesses. Thank God Canada has not seen fit to refine her natural resources as opposed to selling them raw to the USA. That would change the game dramatically!

You ought to google a bit about the Canadian military.

You are correct, Canada has a magnificent martial history - some of it at the expense of a young United States during the Revolution and the War of 1812. Through two World Wars Canada made enormous contributions to Allied victories far disproportionate to its population. Even as recently as the 1970's, the Canadian Armored Corps was considered the most combat worthy in Nato. I had the misfortune to play against them during a couple of Reforger exercises in those days. But that has changed dramatically.

Canada's CF 18 fighter fleet has operational readiness levels hovering little better than 50%. The nation's strategic air resupply capability is non-existent. Canada's greatly reduced Navy is incapable of self-deployment. It has relinquished all capability to supply itself afloat, depending upon either NATO or US assets to keep deployed. Canada's formidable armored formations have been reduced to only four squadrons.

These are not the armed forces any of a first world country. They are the forces of a nation that has decided to become militarily dependent upon NATO and its neighbor to the south. A nation where remaining scarce assets can continue to try and support a welfare state.

 

[Pheroze]

I love Canada and I like Canadian hunters very much, but your thinking is a political one that is flawed on many levels.

First, Canada survives only by suckling the teat of US policies. Canada need not defend itself nor police the world to provide order, it lives off of the US covering for those protections. Canada is able to temporarily (until broke) dabble in socialist programs for its citizens because it need not have the same allocation of GDP to other services required of a superpower. Canada's politicians would love nothing more than to ban US-made weapons because it would allow for only Canada-made weapons which can be regulated and litigated into bankruptcy so Toronto and Vancouver can have full centralized control over the rural Canadian's liberties.

Canada's weak intelligence service relies heavily on Interpol and the Five Eyes partners to do all the heavy lifting with the USA to keep Canada safe from terrorism. Ironic, because the weak immigration policies and poor vetting on Canada's part allows about anyone into the country without much consideration of the existential threats they present. The rest of the world needs to follow up on these threats for Canada.

If Canada wasn't nearly totally dependent on the good will, the manufacturing capability, the medical innovation, and the intellectual property of the United States to exist then you'd see symptoms of self-reliance and independent capability in Canada. However, 90% of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the US borders giving the clearest of all evidence that Canada is a stall at the market place aimed clearly across the US border.

Canada is a neat place and contains nice people, albeit under a flawed constitution and a weak role in world affairs totally dependent on US policies for its very survival. The only thing that keeps Canada from being a failed socialist experiment nested in a weak monarchy is the USA pushing the socialists to remain free market capitalist at the threat of closing the border and denying trade.

You can hate these statements. You're welcome to change these facts by building your nation up, but in the meantime you need to express sincere gratitude rather than contempt for the USA that is providing the freedoms to Canadians through force of trade policy that you would otherwise not have with your corrupt Ottawa politicians.

I dont disagree with your economic analysis. Your ideas about our politics are roughly currently accurate, although a less sanctimonious tone would show more insight into such matters as, perhaps banking regulation for example. Your idea of the constitution discloses a very limited understanding of the situation here. I also see that the balance we have giving supremacy to an elected government, reviewable at regular intervals by the electorate, is something you folks spend a lot of time complaining about. Other than that, carry on - we Canadians are used to having hot air blow up from south of the 49th parallel, it takes the chill off of this desolate arctic climate.



And, we did win the war of 1812 btw.

 

[steve white]

I think Andrew Jackson would argue that HE won the war of 1812...and set a new appreciation for rifle fire power!

 

[rookhawk]

I dont disagree with your economic analysis. Your ideas about our politics are roughly currently accurate, although a less sanctimonious tone would show more insight into such matters as, perhaps banking regulation for example. Your idea of the constitution discloses a very limited understanding of the situation here. I also see that the balance we have giving supremacy to an elected government, reviewable at regular intervals by the electorate, is something you folks spend a lot of time complaining about. Other than that, carry on - we Canadians are used to having hot air blow up from south of the 49th parallel, it takes the chill off of this desolate arctic climate.



And, we did win the war of 1812 btw.

I think I have a fair understanding of the Canadian constitution, not that I celebrate it.

In practice, I see the following:

A prime minister that never one a substantial amount of public support runs the nation. He is able to pass laws under cloak of darkness (e.g. forfeiting your weapons, 1500 varieties), without a vote, without representation and debate by your democratically elected representatives.

That in a nutshell is a problem. Not so much for me, but for my friendly Canadian neighbors that are getting screwed by a very “European Socialist” mentality run by an elite few based out of two cities in Canada.

Regarding the pathetic military of Canada, that too is not due to lack of courage or honor of the soldiers of Canada, but by a feckless government that has destroyed it. A perfect example is the Canadian special forces they were arguably the best battle field snipers in the world, attached to the US army during the Afghanistan conflict. Their honor was recognized by the USA and they were nominated by the US for medals for their heroic acts. What did Canada do in reaction? They attempted to prosecute these Canadian soldiers for war crimes. (because their confirmed kill ranges were so far the Canadian socialists suggested the killed terrorists were not considered on the field of battle, thus they were murdered)

This in summary is the disgusting crap I hate about Canada because I see the ideological diseases of Europe infecting my northern neighbors. I recognize it easily because I believe the US has recently showed symptoms of the same affliction.

America’s stronger immune system and resiliency is Canada’s best hope for survival. On the other hand, if America gets a cold Canada will surely die of the flu.

 

[lwaters]

Wow! Nobody from Canada ever did anything to me.

 

[K-man]

having hot air blow up from south of the 49th parallel, it takes the chill off of this desolate arctic climate.

Seems to be quite a bit of that lately...

 

[Pheroze]

I think I have a fair understanding of the Canadian constitution, not that I celebrate it.

In practice, I see the following:

A prime minister that never one a substantial amount of public support runs the nation. He is able to pass laws under cloak of darkness (e.g. forfeiting your weapons, 1500 varieties), without a vote, without representation and debate by your democratically elected representatives.

That in a nutshell is a problem. Not so much for me, but for my friendly Canadian neighbors that are getting screwed by a very “European Socialist” mentality run by an elite few based out of two cities in Canada.

Regarding the pathetic military of Canada, that too is not due to lack of courage or honor of the soldiers of Canada, but by a feckless government that has destroyed it. A perfect example is the Canadian special forces they were arguably the best battle field snipers in the world, attached to the US army during the Afghanistan conflict. Their honor was recognized by the USA and they were nominated by the US for medals for their heroic acts. What did Canada do in reaction? They attempted to prosecute these Canadian soldiers for war crimes. (because their confirmed kill ranges were so far the Canadian socialists suggested the killed terrorists were not considered on the field of battle, thus they were murdered)

This in summary is the disgusting crap I hate about Canada because I see the ideological diseases of Europe infecting my northern neighbors. I recognize it easily because I believe the US has recently showed symptoms of the same affliction.

America’s stronger immune system and resiliency is Canada’s best hope for survival. On the other hand, if America gets a cold Canada will surely die of the flu.

The big wild card in this are the indigenous bands and their legal rights to resources and governance. The funny thing is that the constitution results in the Greater Toronto Area, and Quebec, deciding the federal election. These areas are very much the European ideology you describe. So what, you ask?

The left will pay lip service to indigenous rights but will never do anything. Why? Because that power will be diluted. Also, their Green agenda would collapse. The vast majority of First Nations are pro-oil. The Right is starting to see this, which has the current premier of Alberta doing a good job of promoting First Nations involvement with resource development. Huge chunks of Quebec would shift hands if the First Nations really obtain what they are owed.

A smart Conservative government would make structural changes to empower First Nations and resource development, give them separate voting seats at the Federal Level. Dilute the power of QC and GTA. And get rid of the bit of communism called the Indian Act. I think, anyways. Canada would go back to what it does well - shoulder to the wheel, honest days labour.

 

[WAB]

You ought to google a bit about the Canadian military.

You are correct, Canada has a magnificent martial history - some of it at the expense of a young United States during the Revolution and the War of 1812. Through two World Wars Canada made enormous contributions to Allied victories far disproportionate to its population. Even as recently as the 1970's, the Canadian Armored Corps was considered the most combat worthy in Nato. I had the misfortune to play against them during a couple of Reforger exercises in those days. But that has changed dramatically.

Canada's CF 18 fighter fleet has operational readiness levels hovering little better than 50%. The nation's strategic air resupply capability is non-existent. Canada's greatly reduced Navy is incapable of self-deployment. It has relinquished all capability to supply itself afloat, depending upon either NATO or US assets to keep deployed. Canada's formidable armored formations have been reduced to only four squadrons.

These are not the armed forces any of a first world country. They are the forces of a nation that has decided to become militarily dependent upon NATO and its neighbor to the south. A nation where remaining scarce assets can continue to try and support a welfare state.

I don’t disagree. Harper had Canada out of debt and was beginning to restore the military. Trudeau has more than destroyed his progress. However, Canadian special forces continue to represent well. Canada’s snipers have proven particularly effective.

My great uncle fought at Ypres. He was 17. Those were days when the Canadian military was a force to be reckoned with. Like you, I doubt that we will see them again.

However, there are strengths and weaknesses to both systems of government. To be clear, I strongly prefer the US. However, there are some potential advantages to the parliamentary system. Canada has had a much more unified response to COVID. The US is all over the map. My state mandates masks in public. An adjacent state makes it illegal to mandate masks. Surely a unified approach would be more effective? This is just one example where a republic has some potential achille’s heels.

Another example would be the 2008 meltdown. US banking systems had bundled risks to the point that very few truly understood what was happening. Blackshoals was used to price in a way it was never intended to be, nor could it possibly do so accurately. The results were catastrophic. Canada did not allow its financial systems to take on that kind of risk, and as a result, came through in much better shape. I believe in free markets but what the US allowed the financial industry to do was not wise.

Anyway, my only point was that it is not totally black and white. Overall the US system is superior IMO. However, there are some very positive attributes to the Canadian system that should be taken note of. I believe that had Canada re-elected Harper this would be a very different conversation.

 

[lwaters]

Melania Trump great speech

 

[daawg1963]

Rachel Maddow...

She was one of the MSNBC "reporters" that acted like a clown during the 2016 election cycle..

Much like a new member here, she was smug, arrogant, etc.. and essentially reported for months on how November was going to be a landslide for HRC.. Then on election night was reporting with glee as each state on the east coast closed its polls and reported a HRC win..

By the time polls started closing in the central time zone she started becoming obviously frantic, questioning everything from the American people to the actual polls, etc..

And by the time polls started closing in the mountain time zone she was in tears...

She doesnt appear to have learned her lesson... I dont watch MSNBC.. but the few clips, etc I have seen in news feeds, and from what I've been told by others, she's back to being smug, arrogant, etc... running unsupported hit piece after hit piece on conservatives... and wallowing in the glory she expects to experience in November...

What I find most interesting about Maddow is she is clearly very intelligent and is a legitimate, very well educated "scholar" (BA from Stanford, MA and PhD in politics from Oxford, etc..).. but she cant seem to make a fact based argument or present an opinion based on actual research to save her life.. Everything I have ever heard or seen from her is emotionally driven drivel..

While I am certain I wouldnt agree with many of her positions on things in life.. I think she might actually be worth listening to, if for no other reason than she is smart, and SHOULD have an analytical mind (hard to pull a PhD out of Oxford without an ability to analyze data and present fact based evidence to support a theory).. but she cant seem to get away from "I feel" and present anything of value from the "I know" perspective..

Maddow is spawn of satan . It's all in the bible call what u will but it's all there.

 

[Saul]

I am glad to see that there is a bipartisan effort in congress to condemn QAnon. I am not involved online with social media outside of this forum, and I find these type of online conspiracy movements to be extremely troubling.

 

[Hogpatrol]

OT but militarily Canadian, the Snowbirds demo team defines the words precision flying. Saw them many times and as a pilot, always awed at their skill, especially the high show.