I've seen it, but one thing that British politicians are able to do is to mouth off but still do it in an erudite way - they cut deep with style (I've also seen some Australian politicians do this). We wouldn't get that here. We'd mostly get idiots like Darrell Issa yelling that he's going to subpoena your ass.

I thought the only interesting part of the SOTU speech was when Obama said he had no more campaigns to run and then some heckling republicans started to applaud. You so rarely get to see actual human interaction and reaction from politicians and that was a breath of fresh air. There needs to be more heckling like they have in the House of Commons. Then Obama replied in kind with his dig that he won all his elections. Only worthwhile part of the speech.

I have no idea who Joni Ernst is, but this woman is a minor league nobody who has no business being on national television giving speeches. She is a Stepford person with the most ridiculously fake and insincere way of speaking. She is like a parody of Elizabeth Dole as if Dole was portrayed by Jan Hooks. If I was a voter from that state I would be ashamed that this is what people will think of when they think of Iowa or whatever state it is she is from. Every year the republicans trot out one pathetic no personality shlock after another. That guy with the glass of water, Jindal, and now this woman. Whoever picks should be fired.

Absolutely... every year, the Republican response comes off as "I've been sent to speak to the lowly surfs". condescending and insincere.

I've seen it, but one thing that British politicians are able to do is to mouth off but still do it in an erudite way - they cut deep with style (I've also seen some Australian politicians do this). We wouldn't get that here. We'd mostly get idiots like Darrell Issa yelling that he's going to subpoena your ass.

Carl, you sure it isn't the accent? LOL

The mayor of Paris says that she plans to to sue Fox News. This is going to be hysterical. I want to see how Fox handles this after. Who will they hate more: the French or Muslims or Obama the French loving Muslim who didn't go to Paris?

LOL!

I did read about this yesterday evening, and quite a few pundits have weighed in saying that it will get thrown out the minute the paperwork is filed because of the fact that the city of Paris is not a public figure. Which immediately made me think of...

Hobby Lobby. A corporation that won it's position on birth control.

If Hobby Lobby can be imbibed with "beliefs" from the court, then I support the notion that Paris is indeed a public figure. One is one separate from the other, IMO.

I've seen it, but one thing that British politicians are able to do is to mouth off but still do it in an erudite way - they cut deep with style (I've also seen some Australian politicians do this). We wouldn't get that here. We'd mostly get idiots like Darrell Issa yelling that he's going to subpoena your ass.

In Britain sounding intelligent is still considered an asset. Too many Americans, and especially Republicans, consider being able to string together a coherent thought to be a detriment. That's how we end up with people like Louie Gohmert.

In Britain sounding intelligent is still considered an asset. Too many Americans, and especially Republicans, consider being able to string together a coherent thought to be a detriment. That's how we end up with people like Louie Gohmert.

I don't get that at all. Discussion usually centers around "you feel like you could have a beer with them". I'm sorry, but I would prefer to have a beer with a person that could engage in thoughtful conversation while doing so.

The State of the Union address

I don't get that at all. Discussion usually centers around "you feel like you could have a beer with them". I'm sorry, but I would prefer to have a beer with a person that could engage in thoughtful conversation while doing so.

Exactly. Since when does being smart and articulate mean you aren't approachable? If we're going to do big things, you need to bring the best minds to the table. I don't think that advanced degrees necessarily make you a better person but we've turned into a country that dismisses education when before the chance to pursue an education was considered a de facto part of the American Dream.

(As an aside, I actually *did* get to have a beer with my senator last year. We talked about our vegetable gardens. It was cool. )

The State of the Union address

it was very moving IMO....kinda surprised Obama addressed all the pessimists (like myself) and the media. He definitely gave me some hope that he's not out of this yet.

And he definitely laid out a strong agenda and a sound case for what he wants to do. I loved the way he ended it by relating America as a family...we may have disagreements but at the end of the day we need to come together and we'll get through the difficult times....

If anyone wants to know why we will never have a "House of Commons style" debate system, here we go. The GOP heckles and tee-hees and then pulls pouty baby faces when Obama gives it right back.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/republicans-obama-jab-state-of-the-union

Scary.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/video-new-hope-minn-council-shooting

So in one week we've had two GOP presidential hopefuls come out as anti vaxxers and Thom Tillis has come out as anti-handwashing. That's right. Anti. Handwashing. For restaurant workers. It's like these people are trying to take us back to the middle ages.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/thom-tillis-washing-hands-toilet

Edited February 4, 201510 yr by marceline

That [!@#$%^&*] is scary.

I can't help but wonder if they are taking these idiotic positions simply because the president supports vaccinations? What the f.uck do they gain? Are the majority of anti-vaxxers republicans?

I just don't understand why the issue has been politicized. Rand Paul is a doctor, for christ sake. smh.

Tillis needs to shut his pie hole. Actually, I want him to eat a pizza made by a restaurant worker after they have dropped a deuce and didn't bother to wash up. Idiot.

Edited February 4, 201510 yr by GMac

It's politicized because Rand Paul is a lunatic and Chris Christie is a pathetic opportunist and saw this as a way of showing he's "small government." It's telling that even the most far right purists, like Ben Carson, are saying kids need to get vaccinated.

The media would kill a kitten for Rand, so I doubt this makes their love of him any different, but if people don't laugh him out of office after this, then they're just dumb.

Thom Tillis is another idiot, one who barely won his seat last year in spite of a terrific GOP year and tons of money. North Carolina used to be a beautiful state but people like him, who put uber-conservative extremism and big business pandering over all else, have utterly destroyed it. What a joke that some on the far right is now taking umbrage to washing your hands after you take a [!@#$%^&*]. I guess they're so full of [!@#$%^&*] they don't see it as a big deal.

What I want to know is when did anti-vaxxers become a valuable political group? Most anti-vaxxers are liberals (to my everlasting shame). There's a lot of libertarians mixed in there of course but I never would've imagined that the anti-vax group vote would be large enough to make candidates take such stupid positions.

So in one week we've had two GOP presidential hopefuls come out as anti vaxxers and Thom Tillis has come out as anti-handwashing. That's right. Anti. Handwashing. For restaurant workers. It's like these people are trying to take us back to the middle ages.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/thom-tillis-washing-hands-toilet

How gross. So would this nasty buzzard eat food at an establishment where someone didn't wash their hands after wiping their ass? You know what, I wouldn't be surprised if he stated he would.