Disqus - Latest Comments for jchem

Re: The All-American Barack Obama Traveling Disaster Show

jchem — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:37:49 -0000

Who thinks that it's right to stop people from buying legal medicines from other countries?

Senators Who Voted Against Drug Imports Got More Big Pharma Money:

And if you look at the Maplight analysis, you'll find--little surprise here--that senators voting nay have averaged 66 percent more in campaign contributions from Big Pharma than senators who voted yea. The difference: $85,812 vs. $51,803, spread over the period Jan. 1, 2003, to Aug. 12, 2009. Not a lot of dollars if you prorate it, but it is consistent.

Re: Barack Obama Faces a Firestorm of Denunciations Over Health Care Reform

jchem — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:29:30 -0000

Well, I think many on the left are justified in their anger. Obama didn't really get into the mix and tell people to get the job done; he just gave Pelosi and Reid some outline of what he wanted done and from there it seems the whole thing turned into a wish list for everyone in Congress. He set many deadlines that were laughed at (pass before August recess??). I think DaMav pointed this out on Kathy's previous thread, regarding the so-called filibuster-proof majority the Dems have, but take it from John Aravosis over at AMERICAblog:

We lost real health care reform not because we don't have a "real" filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. We lost health care reform because we don't have a real leader anywhere in our party. It's not going to get better if we elect more Democrats to the Senate and it's not going to play out any differently should we try to revisit this issue in the future.

(emphasis mine) Ouch...

Re: Boom Goes the Dynamite, errr… Deficit

jchem — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:43:34 -0000

From NPR:

The spending bill passed Sunday includes $447 billion for departments' operating budgets and about $650 billion in mandatory payments for federal benefit programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Those programs under immediate control of Congress would see increases of about 10 percent.

The legislation also contains numerous items not directly related to spending. It provides help for auto dealers facing closure, ends a ban on funding by the District of Columbia government for abortions and allows the district to permit medical marijuana, lets Amtrak passengers carry unloaded handguns in their checked baggage and permits detainees held at Guantanamo Bay to be transferred to the United States to stand trial, but not to be released.

The bill also approves a 2 percent pay increase for federal workers.

I'm not sure much of what is in that second paragraph could be called "critical spending", and I highly doubt the government will shut down if we don't allow unloaded handguns on Amtrak. But they had to have another 1,000+ page bill to write so they had to fill it up with something. But on the bright side, they did vote themselves in a 2% raise, which I'd be more than happy to hear you justify.

Re: Facts and Morality Beat Communications Tactics

jchem — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:31:54 -0000

Kathy, I'm not so sure that facts and morality beat communication tactics at all. Much of the reason why the skeptics have convinced the public is that they are better at communicating than the climate scientists are. A friend of mine forwarded on a post from Climate Progress making the case why scientists aren't more persuasive. If you get a chance, it's a pretty good read.

I think a good place to start looking is the complete lack of scientific literacy in the country in the first place. I teach college-level chemistry and believe me, a very large majority of students are either (a) taking a science class because they have to, (b) taking the same science class again because they failed it last time, or (c) doing the absolute bare minimum just to pass (D for done). Most of my colleagues will just lecture for an hour each class period and expect students to soak up knowledge like a sponge. When that doesn't work they wonder why students today aren't getting it.

But the scientific community is very, very resistant to educational reform. The scientific community has had their opportunity to reach the public, but they blew it by offering "weed out" courses that scare the crap out of anyone who might even be remotely interested in science. There's a reason why attrition in the STEM disciplines is higher than in any other discipline and it isn't because of student aptitude or interest. Until the scientific community recognizes this, we're in for an uphill battle.

Re: Amateur Pundits School Glenn Greenwald

jchem — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:38:15 -0000

I agree with nicrivera on this one. I think Glenn makes it quite clear in his 2nd update where his criticism is aimed:

But virtually all of the policies for which I have criticized him are ones which, for better or worse, are within the discretion of the President to make, and nothing Congress has done has compelled Obama to embrace those policies. That's true, for instance, of his reliance on state secrets, indefinite detention, military commission, renditions, escalation in Afghanistan, Wall-St.-subservient actions, and a whole slew of other policies on which Obama critics typically focus.

(emphasis mine) Call me crazy, but I think Glenn is just being consistent. These were policies that almost all folks on the left were screaming holy hell about when Bush was implementing them. Are they just supposed to be OK with them now because the guy they like is continuing them? Besides, Sullivan doesn't have time to criticize Obama on anything because he's too focused on all things Palin.

Re: Another Joins the Disenchanted Majority

jchem — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:35:32 -0000

Well the disenchanted majority needs to wake up to the fact that neither one of these two major parties are serving anyone's interests other than their own and their donors. I read an interesting article yesterday, Liberals are Useless. I'm not familiar with the author, but suffice it to say that he isn't all that happy because he thinks Obama hasn't been liberal enough. I've often found myself a bit upset with Obama in terms of foreign policy, but I think he's just trying to get along with everyone. But catering to the middle doesn't seem to do anything except tick off each side. The result is that one party stays home to "teach their party a lesson" while the other party is so upset that they vote in some loser just because the right letter is behind the name.

Re: Is Palin A Birther Who Thinks Obama Birth Certificate Is An Issue? Or a Serial Gaffer?

jchem — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:02:43 -0000

This comment was flagged for review.

would someone out there care to explain this to me? And to whoever flagged this comment, grow up, or at the very least, let me know what you found so objectionable.

Re: NY Senate to Vote on Gay Marriage

jchem — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:17:51 -0000

roro, thanks for the heads up. My apologies, JD, for jumping to conclusions

Re: NY Senate to Vote on Gay Marriage

jchem — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:12:44 -0000

Silhouette actually has the ability (and the wisdom which I lack on the subject) to put into words much of what I've been trying to say. Science totally backs up his statements. Mind you....I didn't just take his statements as is, I went and looked at comparative psychology and found that she's right.

I really hate to have to revisit this thread after a couple of days, JD, but if your perusal of comparative psychology informed you in any way, shape, or form, I have to know what it was. Like Sil before you, I have supplied you links to the APA, you know, those fine folks who actually publish a journal called The Journal of Comparative Psychology? I simply give up and wish to not even bother on this issue with either of you. And comments like

do I need a fag to English dictionary?

make me want to question discussing anything with you. Perhaps you were making a joke, but there's a lot of folks out there who don't think its funny.

Re: Is Palin A Birther Who Thinks Obama Birth Certificate Is An Issue? Or a Serial Gaffer?

jchem — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:48:26 -0000

It might be helpful to add the fact that Andrew Sullivan lied about this issue to your repetoire.

My repetoire? I think Sullivan can manage his silliness on his own. I'm not sure what you're talking about, but based on some of the posts at your blog it seems reason may not be a strong suit. Palin is a dolt and now you're just mad because she's trying to throw you and your crowd under the bus. Face it, you just need to find another walking carnival to cheer for.

Re: Those Socialist Canadians

jchem — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:29:57 -0000

Regardless of what's happening up in Canada, I think it's a pretty sad state of affairs to see a headline that proclaims "U.S. Economy Lost Only 11,000 Jobs in November". I'm sure every one of those 11,000 newly unemployed are pretty happy about the situation.

Re: Tone Deaf American Royalty

jchem — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:10:43 -0000

there’s huge differences between what they say out on the campaign trail. Their talking points get spun into totally different and opposing games. But once they get in office...

And yet somehow, those of us who vote for a 3rd party are called the spoilers...

Re: Yes, Americans Do Want A Public Option

jchem — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:48:04 -0000

I think we're in the same boat then on this one :)

I think the public would be a lot more supportive of the public option if they had some more faith in our Congress to get it done right. With their punitive rating, I think the lack of support for the public option might well be correlated to the overall approval of congress itself.

Re: Apple Voids Warranties Over Smoking ?

jchem — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:05:00 -0000

it's just poor design

heh, reminds me of a book I read over the summer, "The Design of Everyday Things" that managed to point out many of the flaws made in designing some of the simplest things, from doors to telephones.

Re: Yes, Americans Do Want A Public Option

jchem — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:00:55 -0000

I'm thinking that many folks just might be too cynical. I have the impression that a good chunk of the country believes that we got some serious problems with our system, especially when it comes to its cost. Perhaps its just that the public lacks any faith that anything going through congress will do anything to address them. I mean, what's Congress' approval rating, around 15 - 20%?

Re: Yes, Americans Do Want A Public Option

jchem — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:27:41 -0000

Strange results coming out of this poll with about 60% believing in the public option but:

Quality of healthcare will be better 12 months from now: 35 percent strongly disagree. 11.6 percent strongly agree. 29.9 percent put themselves in the middle.

Believe the amount of money spent on healthcare will be less 12 months from now: 52 percent strongly disagree, 13 percent strongly agree.

23 percent believe it will be easier for people to receive the care they need a year from now.

In other words, a majority of folks are in favor of a public option even if they don't think it will improve the system? I suppose it goes to how the question is asked, and when. The Thomson/Reuters poll was conducted from Nov 9-17 with 2,999 households. Compare that to the latest Gallup Poll, conducted a few days later with 1,017 adults:

Support among all three party groups has declined since the early October high -- falling by 6 points among Democrats, 8 among independents, and 12 among Republicans.

The poll also finds 40% of Americans approving of President Obama's handling of healthcare policy, while 53% disapprove.

Re: NY Senate to Vote on Gay Marriage

jchem — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:14:49 -0000

Silhouette has cited tons of research on this subject.

Perhaps you didn't get the "when evidence is cherry-picked, certain health organizations are ignored, follow up studies and citations are never even looked at" thing I said up above. I'm not about to go down the historical runway again, but here's a good example. By all means, feel free to pick up the mantle where it was left and run with it. My questions directed to Sil are equally valid to you.

Comparative Psychology is very real on this subject.

Fair enough, but please elaborate. I don't know all there is to know about psychology so I'd be interested to get to understand how real it is. Otherwise, if you just want to tell me its so just because others say it is, you're just appealing to authority.

But the fact that ANY of these people were able to leave the lifestyle goes against the "gays can't help it, their born that way" argument.

I'll assume you missed that citation to the APA that I made in my last comment. I'll ask you, what about the other 80%? Are they just stuck in some sort of "lifestyle" choice?

Re: NY Senate to Vote on Gay Marriage

jchem — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:07:21 -0000

Then you follow it up with the liberal-standard "you must be afraid of gays" crap. Come on, jchem. You can do better than that.

JD, please don't assume that I'm some sort of liberal standard bearer or am just making some flippant remarks because I want to gang up on Sil. As SteveK pointed out, its just tiresome even trying to have a rational discussion without having someone tossing terms like "deviant", "chicken", or "butch" into the mix. And then when evidence is cherry-picked, certain health organizations are ignored, follow up studies and citations are never even looked at...well you get the idea. Anyone whose commented on gay rights issues here knows what to expect in the comments thread anytime this topic comes up.

His strange since [sic] of science is based in fact. Psychological arguments abound on homosexuality.

Of course they do; perhaps you will be willing to show us some studies that helped you come to a reasonable conclusion and we can talk about them. In the meantime, I'll start:

Being Gay Is Just as Healthy as Being Straight

Insufficient evidence that sexual orientation change efforts work, says APA

and finally, here's a good one:

What causes a person to have a particular sexual orientation?

There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.

Darn those folks at the APA...you know, the people who make a bunch of those psychological arguments you were talking about?

Re: Should Dick Cheney Run in 2012?

jchem — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:08:10 -0000

This would ring a lot truer if you had ever called for accountability for the crimes committed by Cheney and others in the Bush administration.

Funny, on another thread I was lamenting the 'Twilight Zone' nature of the political game partisans play, and here you come with this zinger. So basically what you are saying is that it doesn't matter what our government continues doing now, because Bush and others did it before. Let me guess...I cannot comment on the amount of government spending now because you'll say I've never condemned it in the past. Or I cannot be opposed to the war now because I wasn't all over the blogosphere complaining about Bush's adventures in the past.

I've got 563 comments on the Disqus board; feel free to thumb through them on any of the torture posts here. Never once have I said anything to the effect of supporting Bush on any of it. It was wrong when he did it, and it's just as wrong now.

Your comment would ring a lot truer if you start holding a Dem president to the same standards you hold the Repubs to. Perhaps for your next post you can give us a broad rundown about how hard it must be for you to support a president who does stuff that you once raised holy hell about. I think Glenn Greenwald summed it up rather well:

I could understand and accept a lot more easily this blithe acquiescence to Obama's record if it weren't for the fact that progressives and Democrats spent so many years screaming bloody murder over Bush's use of indefinite detention, military commissions, state secrets, renditions, and extreme secrecy -- policies Obama has largely and/or completely adopted as his own. One can't help but wonder, at least in some cases, how genuine those objections were, as opposed to their just having been effective tools to discredit a Republican president for partisan and political gain.

Re: Divorce Ban In California

jchem — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:06:12 -0000

roro80, I understand it full well. Perhaps my issue is just with the "Twilight Zone" nature of much of the political game. I actually read about this on NPR the other day and thought it was pretty comical. But then:

Not surprisingly, Marcotte's campaign to make divorce in California illegal has divided those involved in last year's campaign for and against Proposition 8.

So this, in addition to everything else, has to have sides.

Re: NY Senate to Vote on Gay Marriage

jchem — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:20:35 -0000

My objections to it are more based on science, comparative psychology to be exact but many of my fellow dems' objections stem from a basic aversion to it that cannot be explained in words.

Sil, you've been called out so many times about your strange sense of science. Your objections have nothing to do with science. You just think the scary gays are going to come and brainwash your children and then your children will brainwash you, and before long everybody on the planet will be gay.

Re: Divorce Ban In California

jchem — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:05:41 -0000

I mention "virtually all other political matters" only because it seems like every single item up for discussion devolves into Left vs Right and who is "shocked, appalled, offended" more. At that point it seems like a strange episode of the Twilight Zone. I certainly don't doubt the man's sincerity or his cause, but justifying it by saying "yeah it's pretty stupid, but so is what they did" falls pretty flat. Two wrongs can't make a right; in this sense two stupids won't make us any smarter.

Re: “The Top 50 Political Blogs”

jchem — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:49:49 -0000

Pretty good stuff. Congrats, and keep up the good work.

BTW, I noticed they had this pretty neat badge thingy that you could post somewhere, perhaps as a picture or something?

<img src="http://www.evancarmichael.com/images/Tools/Top-50-Blogs-4.gif" border="0">

EDIT: Well, I guess the embed code just takes you back to the link you already provided.

Re: Obama’s Afghanistan Plan: Recipe for Success or Political and Military Failure?

jchem — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:27:05 -0000

I got the impression that he gave a speech that he really didn't want to. Like in debate class, assigned a position to argue that you don't actually agree with. He gave it well and explained how he arrived at his conclusions, which is what was expected.

What I thought was missing was any reference to the Soviet adventures in Afghanistan during the 80's, or why this place is often thought of as a graveyard of empires. Surely the generals in the field and the commanders on the ground are very familiar with what did and did not work when the Soviets tried it. Plus, it wasn't all that long ago. There was a rather interesting interview by CNN with a former Soviet commander regarding the U.S. effort:

"After all who is the leader of a province? If he's not part of the local tribe then nobody's going to pay attention to him."

He then pointed out how much of Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation was under government control during the day but at night the power shifted to the Mujahideen. "A similar thing is happening presently with the Taliban," he says. Asked what lessons the coalition can learn from the bitter Soviet experience, the retired general advised western governments to transfer the money being spent on financing troops to the restoration of Afghanistan itself.

"Restoring Afghanistan's economy, its industrial enterprises, its education system, schools and mosques will increase your authority. War can only evoke resistance. Afghans regard war only as an attempt to enslave them."

In other words, we need to embark on some serious nation-building if we ultimately want to succeed, and Obama ruled that out when he chastised Bush for undertaking these efforts in Iraq.

Re: Divorce Ban In California

jchem — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:02:37 -0000

So the overall point in this and virtually all other political matters is "We see your stupidity and raise you with twice as much of it"?