The Politics Thread

[Roman]

So? And? Your point?

[DRW50]

I'm not too surprised about the affair, I'm mostly surprised the person waited so long to speak up - I'd think she would have made a goldmine during the Lewinsky years.

[Max]

I was just wondering when so many millions will stop worshipping this man and recognize him for the scumbag he was. Also, I believe that the age of majority back in the 60s was 21; thus, given that this intern was 19, the affair may very well have been illegal.

The fact that she didn't cash in back then says a lot about her character. Actually, according to the article I posted, it wasn't until 2003 until the public was even aware of her; that year, a JFK biographer mentioned that he had an affair with "a tall, slender, beautiful 19-year-old college sophomore and White House intern, who worked in the press office." Since she was "outed" involuntarily, I am assuming that this intern chose to write this book to tell her side of the story.

Edited February 7, 2012 by Max

[Roman]

Scumbag.Ok.

[DRW50]

Florida Republicans are trying to ban people on food stamps from being able to buy cookies, soda, or candy (even if it's for a child's birthday).

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/florida-gop-to-food-stamp-recipients-no-sweets-for-you.php?ref=fpb

I get the idea behind this. The problem is the Republicans spent 2011 berating Michelle Obama for trying to teach kids about healthy eating. They said this was socialism, that she was trying to force her views on people.

Is it OK to do this if it involves those who are lowest in the caste system?

[alphanguy74]

No Max, it wasn't. Present age of consent laws were enacted between 1895 and 1920. I personally think 18 is even too high... I agree with the Canadian and England laws which set it at 16. It always puzzles me when people try to have sex with underage people, are they that stupid? If you are the type that feels compelled to do it with a teeanger (when your'e an adult) then move to effing Brazil or something, where the age is 13. But JFK is definately not guilty of anything like that. You might be surprsied to learn that from the birth of our country, up till almost 1900, the age of majority in the United states was 12. In some states, like Delaware, it was 7. That really grossed me out. As far all this inside JFK info, I only want to know how big his penis was

Edited February 7, 2012 by alphanguy74

[Max]

Alphanguy, I wasn't sure if the sexual relationship was legal or not, so thanks for clarifying the matter. (I still think it was morally reprehensible for a 45 year-old man--in a position of authority--to be taking advantage of a 19 year-old intern for his own pleasure. It was also very hypocritical, since JFK always portrayed himself as an upstanding family man.)

I assumed (incorrectly) that age of consent laws likely mirrored voting laws (and, of course, the official voting age was 21 to vote until 1971). However, as reflected in my comments, I was never 100% certain if the affair was illegal, since having the right to vote (or not having it) at a certain age doesn't always equate to other rights: for instance, one still has to be 21 to purchase alcohol, and somebody 18 years-old could serve in the armed forces even before 1971.

Edited February 7, 2012 by Max

[DRW50]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72583.html

Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri voted tonight. These are beauty contests, with no delegates. Santorum won all three. Missouri was always tipped for him, but Minnesota and especially Colorado were seen as more of surprises. Minnesota, home of Michelle Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty, is no real surprise to me (here's a heartbreaking example of the effects of far right hatred in Bachmann's district - http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/one-towns-war-on-gay-teens-20120202 ). Colorado is a surprise, as it has a fairly strong Mormon population and Romney had spent time there.

This basically just reaffirms that many GOP voters do not like Romney and will support him when they have to, but are sending him a message now.

[DRW50]

I just read a comment saying "Man on dog beats dog on man's roof."

Anyway, the most entertaining part of this night for me was that the old media favorite "T-Paw", breathlessly hyped by some in the press as the true "Sam's Club conservative" (whatever that means), totally failed to deliver Minnesota for Romney. He got Romney third. I guess "T-Paw" will still laugh all the way to the bank, but it doesn't say much for his popularity in the state.

[alphanguy74]

Carl... here in Missouri the turnout in the urban areas was 3%, and the rest of the state was 7%... and people are really PISSED that the state spent 7 million dollars for all this, and it didn't even count. All these republicans in the rural areas just all vote the straight abortion ticket. That's what this is all about. the RNC totally is aware that there's no chance in hell that Santorum will deliver the IMPORTANT states in a general election, like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

[alphanguy74]

Carl, just to give you an idea of the intelligence level of the people who came out to vote yesterday, look at these statewide tallies from yesterday's election in Missouri:

Rick Perry - 2,300 votes

Herman Cain- 2,500 votes

Michelle Bachmann- 1,700 votes

[Scotty]

I agree....so what? I'm not saying that he was right to do that (because he wasn't IMO), but it's not like no other President (Republicans included) have ever done anything like that before.

So why signal JFK out?

[alphanguy74]

Wow, any of you seen this? (Warning.. offensive language)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3WF_1D0TAc

Edited February 8, 2012 by alphanguy74

[DRW50]

That cracks me up. I guess those were protest votes.

I wonder how Cain would be doing if he hadn't dropped out.

I don't know a lot about Missouri Republicans (the one I probably read most on recently was the disastrous lt. governor, Kinder) but there don't seem to be as many ugly national headlines about their bigoted ideas and laws, as you hear again and again from Republicans in Minnesota, Arizona, Virginia, etc.

I get so tired of hearing about how it's jobs and the focus will be on jobs. It's ALWAYS about the culture war. Just look at the virulent social engineering of the last two years, when supposedly that wasn't going to matter. And now we get nothing but obsession over birth control or abortion. We're moving towards the point where birth control will be treated as some disgusted perversion for whores.

[Max]

While other presidents have had affairs, I kind of doubt that most were womanizers to the extent JFK was.

Scotty, asking me why I singled JFK out is a very valid question. The reason I did so was because he has been so hyped up and overrated far beyond that of any other president (even Reagan). Its not just is presidential accomplishments that have been grossly overstated; the myth still persists that JFK was a man of morals and character (witness a recent biography written by Chris Matthews, which the author said was an "uplifting" story).