The Politics Thread

[GMac]

Just read that the travel embargo will not be completely relaxed.

[Vee]

It's thrilling. But it's just one in a series of wonderful things Obama has done that people said he couldn't do, starting with my rights.

[marceline]

Damn. I really wanted to visit before all the American money turned it into Hawaii.

[GMac]

Love this. And Our President.

[DRW50]

There's no way it could be, anyway, as Congress wouldn't allow it. He'll be lucky if they, or the courts, don't make it worse than what we have now.

[GMac]

Rubio and Jeb are all over the news this morning saying how "thoughtless" President Obama is for doing this. Camera whores. Really, at this point Obama could [!@#$%^&*] sunshine and they'd find something to complain about.

A recent example is when Clinton resumed diplomatic ties with Vietnam in the 90s. Politicans on the left had a hissy fit. 20+ years later the sky still hasn't fallen.

These right wingers will be among the first to invest in Cuba to make a quick buck. I am sure of it.

[DRW50]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/us/politics/energy-firms-in-secretive-alliance-with-attorneys-general.html?_r=1

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/nebraska-oklahoma-sue-colorado-marijuana-legalization

A great example of just how meaningless the "small government" line is with the GOP. It's only small government when big business wants it. That they are suing to kill a law in another state, that the people of that state voted on, is jawdropping.

[DRW50]

Paul Krugman talks about the woes of Putin. Remember when those America-haters like Palin and Guiliani were gushing over him?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/19/opinion/paul-krugman-putins-bubble-bursts.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

[Vee]

How David Gregory lost his job. It couldn't have happened to a more devoted stenographer. Chuck Todd may be a screaming bottom for conservatives, but at least he knows who he is.

[alphanguy74]

I don't know why people would be clamoring to go to Cuba when they can just go to Puerto Rico. I think it should be our 51st state.

Edited December 23, 2014 by alphanguy74

[marceline]

Michael Grimm, the charming fellow who threatened to throw a reporter off a balcony then break him in half "like a boy" for asking about allegations of financial impropriety is pleading guilty to...oh look, financial impropriety! Specifically tax evasion.

I'm not naive enough to think he'll get jail time but it's nice to see this rageaholic brought to heel a little bit.

[quartermainefan]

I am dying to go to Cuba. I guess mostly because I want to drive around in a 1940s car and pretend I am a character in a black and white movie. There is a romanticized notion of Cuba that sort of reminds you of Hemingway or men in white linen suits in a casino while a glamorous showgirl is singing a song. It's all fantasy but the fun is chasing the fantasy. In Cuba I want to wear white linen and smoke a cigar before nazi spies try to kill me or something. I have spoken to people who would fly to Cuba back before Castro and they said it was literally like living in a movie. Everyone got glammed up to go to the casinos.

Puerto Rico has no romantic fantasy attached to it, nor does it have cars from the 1940s.

[GregNYC]

Ceding to Florida, New York Falls to No. 4 in Population

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/nyregion/new-york-falls-to-florida-dropping-to-no-4-in-population.html?_r=0

After years of staving off population challenges from the Sunshine State, New York has finally ceded its position as the nation’s third most populous state, falling to fourth, according to figures released Tuesday by the United States Census Bureau.

The numbers, which reflect population estimates for July 2014, show that Florida now has about 19.9 million residents, overtaking New York and its 19.7 million. (California and Texas remain in first and second place, respectively.)

[quartermainefan]

That makes me sad. NY used to be the biggest state in the country and now for politics it's electoral vote are about as exciting as Indiana's.

[DRW50]

Majority Whip spoke at "white nationalist" group in 2002. Ugh.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/steve-scalise-david-duke-wat

Edited December 30, 2014 by DRW50