Politics

[deewayne2003]

Glad that they did it. That being said, one leaves oneself to a lot of liability suits in case of an accident. There are projects we have done where without the "regulations, policies, procedures etc." we could MacGyver it much cheaper and faster. However, that would have given us no legal cover.

In the past we have implemented a multimillion-dollar MES system for the manufacture of an electronic connector that was going to be used in a classified application. The requirement was to have a complete genealogy of every connector. That meant from a serial number one could look at each component of that connector, every step of the manufacturing process for all components, who worked on it, how long, clean room particle counts, temperatures etc., etc.. Was it necessary? Who knows, but it was part of the specifications, and the company spent millions on compliance (it was a big enough of an order for them to build a complete new plant). In this case the government regulation kept a lot of people employed.

Funny you should mention the liability, I've built several GPS models for road construction around the Marion NC area and it's a struggle to deal with the quality of civil engineering or lack there of, forcing multiple rounds of clarification questions.... otherwise you are left to the "just make it work" method that leaves the contractors holding the liability for final completion status.

@Tanks - I remember reading that you are an engineer by education, what type of engineer?

I ask because in my 15+ years of heavy civil construction/excavation projects I've seen the quality of plans/design go down hill at an alarming rate; greatly increasing the amount of time that it takes to clarify the bidding process alone, not to mention the endless RFIs'(request for information) to line out how the project should actually be built.

Point being that the estimated times of months to complete road openings even in basic form for emergency access is largely due to bureaucracy at the state level being combined with civil engineers looking down from the 1,000' level having no concept of the on ground conditions; and if it's a federally funded road/highway then the issues become force multiplied.

 

[Brent in Az]

1 more week until we find out if this country lives, or if the death spiral continues

 

[Red Leg]

Pretty good short clip of Vance taking on Trapper that likely speaks volumes. I am confident he genuinely worries the left. Having pulled himself up out of Appalachia, he is the antithesis of the traditional country club republican. Unlike the typical member of the Freedom Caucus, he is highly intelligent, well educated (though a few more hours in international relations would have served him well), and can handle a journalist with ease. When he eventually has the opportunity to speak purely for himself, without having to cover for Trump, he will be formidable.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1850908193796284769

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

 

[mdwest]

My quibble with the example is that all the removing of a very capable and broadly respected republican speaker accomplished absolutely nothing but throw the House in turmoil while undermining the people"s perception of the ability of republicans to govern at all. At the same time, their obstruction provided lots of air time to some of the more offensive or ridiculous members of our party in a run-up to an election. Not the smartest strategy to win an undecided vote.

Further, their opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine did more damage to the Ukrainian military effort than any attack Putin could have ordered short of multiple nuclear strikes. Lots of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians paid with their lives so the Freedom Caucus could have a public tantrum that accomplished nothing for the party or the country.

A 100% of nothing is exactly that - nothing. We could also call it defeat.

The people everyone seems comfortable calling evil make up half the electorate. Even in a state like Texas they will make up around 46% of the voters counted on Tuesday. Neither side has anywhere to go and neither side is going to convince the outer wings of either party to support anything. I remain convinced that there is still a far broader swath of voters, if not politicians, down the center who would much prefer to participate in and be represented by a constructive government.

I agree with you completely... like I said earlier.. Im no fan of the FC... I'd particularly like to see MTG gone from politics forever and rescinded to being an occasional commentator on extreme right wing conspiracy theory online news sources..

just pointing out that in their minds they are actually winning and improving things..

they sit in a position where their view is the R party came out on the losing end of most negotiations in almost all situations starting with the Clinton admin until now.. While the R's got a little something, it wasnt enough.. which has led to DEI, socialism, and all of the other silly shit we're now dealing with..

So.. their response is.. they'd rather have 0% of deal X.. if they can get 100% of deal Y... as opposed to getting 20% of both deal X and deal Y...

the problem as I see it is... the very few "wins" they are getting, where they get 100% of what they want (like the removal of McCarthy) is doing nothing that is an actual net positive for anyone (not the R's, the D's, or anyone else)..

 

[BSO Dave]

The people everyone seems comfortable calling evil make up half the electorate. Even in a state like Texas they will make up around 46% of the voters counted on Tuesday.

Dems comprising nearly half of the electorate only confirms the depth of the problem... I honestly don't know what more you need to see from the dems to realize the damage they have caused and the threat they continue to pose? Folks like you and Tanks still mistakenly believe that they are willing to work together and compromise. What more will it take for you to realize that, just like a terrorist, they have absolutely no desire to do so...

I have said it many times here that I firmly believe anyone calling themselves a democrat or supporting the democratic agenda at this point it time is no longer my fellow American... We have nothing in common politically, culturally, or morally... Why in the hell would I want to compromise with people who want to destroy our founding principles and way of life? Furthermore, the argument that this is only a small fraction of the dem party is BS... I also have no tolerance for the handful of the so-called "moderate" dems who are political cowards... Silence in the presence of evil is just as evil, and fear or ignorance of it is no excuse...

Unlike the typical member of the Freedom Caucus, he is highly intelligent,

The amusing part of this statement is that if Vance was a House member he would likely be the leader of the Freedom Caucus...

 

[cash_tx]

Another egregious example of votes being cast by dead people... ;-)

 

[Hunt anything]

Maybe he’s pissed off enough not to cast a vote for Harris, he might just vote down ticket and no vote for POTUS.

 

[Ed Lally]

Similar to many on this forum and within my circle of friends and acquaintances, I like Donald's policies but do not care for many of his actions and utterances. I will vote for him because, at this time, he is our best hope to have a government that will follow the constitution. I am also hopeful that he will fully utilize Elon Musk to bring some semblance of organization to the bureaucratic side of our government and make it run more like a business because it is the largest business in the world. Discussions with friends and acquaintances tells me that many NEVER-TRUMPERS as well as a lot Republicans and some middle of the spectrum Democrats feel that Vance has the potential (perhaps more than anyone on either side of the aisle) to become the politician that can garner the respect of many and, hopefully, votes in the 2028 election to become POTUS. In order to achieve this goal, I believe that he will have to be the VP for the next four years. Four years of Trump Policies with the anticipated results blended with Vance as VP and I believe that we can have 8 or 12 years of Republican led prosperity. This alone is a reason to vote for Vance by voting for Trump.

 

[Tanks]

Dems comprising nearly half of the electorate only confirms the depth of the problem... I honestly don't know what more you need to see from the dems to realize the damage they have caused and the threat they continue to pose? Folks like you and Tanks still mistakenly believe that they are willing to work together and compromise. What more will it take for you to realize that, just like a terrorist, they have absolutely no desire to do so...

Well, in the Democratic party there are folks that want a European style social safety net, health care and education costs paid by the government. Within that group there are also those that want government to be in charge of everything. Add to that those that are racial justice merchants.

On the other side you have those that want minimal government interference in their lives, but still want some social safety net. Within that group you also have those that want zero government interference (an impossible task in society) while still wanting the government to enforce their view of social interactions (gay marriage, abortion views etc., etc.).

Extremists on both sides are laughable and hypocritical in their rhetoric. Comments like "If Trump wins that will be the end of Democracy" and of course "If Harris wins then they will destroy our founding principles and way of life".

Exaggerated rhetoric like that makes one to take neither side seriously.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Well, in the Democratic party there are folks that want a European style social safety net, health care and education costs paid by the government. Within that group there are also those that want government to be in charge of everything. Add to that those that are racial justice merchants.

On the other side you have those that want minimal government interference in their lives, but still want some social safety net. Within that group you also have those that want zero government interference (an impossible task in society) while still wanting the government to enforce their view of social interactions (gay marriage, abortion views etc., etc.).

Extremists on both sides are laughable and hypocritical in their rhetoric. Comments like "If Trump wins that will be the end of Democracy" and of course "If Harris wins then they will destroy our founding principles and way of life".

Exaggerated rhetoric like that makes one to take neither side seriously.

Except one side really does want to destroy our founding principles and way of life. Their ideology is actually quite good at it.

 

[Brent in Az]

Mitch McConnell is giving up his Senate seat in 2027.
Don't let the exit door hit you, where the good lord split you.

 

[Doubleplay]

I have said it many times here that I firmly believe anyone calling themselves a democrat or supporting the democratic agenda at this point it time is no longer my fellow American... We have nothing in common politically, culturally, or morally... Why in the hell would I want to compromise with people who want to destroy our founding principles and way of life? Furthermore, the argument that this is only a small fraction of the dem party is BS... I also have no tolerance for the handful of the so-called "moderate" dems who are political cowards... Silence in the presence of evil is just as evil, and fear or ignorance of it is no excuse...

I know and knew plenty of Americans who call themselves Democrats in some shape or form.
Some of them have served this country to protect the constitution and to enable people like you to speak their mind and degrade them.
Some of them are in Arlington rolling in their graves when they hear people thinking like you.
Last time I looked we were a republic where people can express themselves freely by voting whoever they like for whatever reason.
To call more than half of our citizens evil and think we have nothing morally or culturally is absurd to say the least..

 

[VertigoBE]

makes one to take neither side seriously.

These days, it is difficult to take any side seriously at all times.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Except one side really does want to destroy our founding principles and way of life. Their ideology is actually quite good at it.

There are a number of them who pretty clearly say it. Not all of them but enough to be concerning.

 

[deewayne2003]

Mitch McConnell is giving up his Senate seat in 2027.
Don't let the exit door hit you, where the good lord split you.

He's not retiring until he's 85 years old?

He already gets vapor locked on camera and looks older than he is......

He's been a senator since 1985 - What will it take to get term limits?

 

[Tanks]

...
He's been a senator since 1985 - What will it take to get term limits?

Constitutional amendment, which means very unlikely.

 

[Hunt anything]

Constitutional amendment, which means very unlikely.

They should have enacted term limits on the Senate and the House when they did it on the presidency. In my opinion 2 terms on senators and 6 on the house. Definitely an opportunity lost.

 

[Tanks]

Did any of you watch the excerpts from MSG rally last night? I wonder what kind of campaign strategy it is to insult Puerto Ricans a week or so from the general election when both sides are going after the Latino vote? While those on the island cannot vote, Puerto Ricans are the second largest Latino group in the mainland USA, and most can vote.

 

[Brent in Az]

All the Puerto Ricans that came to this country to escape that shit hole probably agree with Trump