Interesting Days Ahead

KRAM1 · February 1, 2011

I am a bit surprised that this momentous decision by a Florida Federal Judge has not received more attention on the board. No matter which side of the debate you are on this is a HUGH decision, and could be the one that actually gets this bill reviewed by the Supreme Court of the US. Big win for the states joining in this lawsuit, and one that none of them really expected...to throw out the entire bill. I believe the decision was "stayed" until it can be appealed by the US, but this is a very big victory indeed by the parties bringing this suit.

For those that might think this is "no big deal", it is just the sort of thing that had to happen to get the bill before the US Supreme Court. It takes some "controversy" and some differing opinions in various lawsuits and appeals to get something like this to be heard before the Supreme Court in the first place. Without this decision, it is possible that the case would never have gotten to the US Supreme Court.

VERY BIG DECISION. If it holds this could un-do the capstone piece of legislation the Obama Administration made such a focal point. Couple this with the note that some people are saying that Obama might be the president that "lost" Egypt just as Carter was the president who "lost" Iran and the days are not looking so bright in the White House. I am not saying the "guy" lost Egypt as the "results" are not in as yet, and how one can place the blame on him for that is a bit beyond me, but such is the case in some media outlets (no, not just Fox News BTW). I think it is a bit too early to "call" this action. It is not too early to be a bit concerned that the US intelligence agencies were not better prepared or more aware that this was about to take place in Egypt. The White House, the Secretary of State's Office, the CIA and the NSA all seem to have been caught completely flatfooted. If anything should concern you, it is this. Why, with all the "making nice" that the Prez and his administration has been doing toward the Arab world, and the fact that he made "making up" with the Arab World a cornerstone of his selection campaign and early days in office, did the US get caught so un-prepared? Interesting to speculate I would think.

Big days brewing both internally and externally. Do we have an administration capable of handling it all? Just asking.

Censored by Laurie · February 1, 2011

I am a bit surprised that this momentous decision by a Florida Federal Judge has not received more attention on the board. No matter which side of the debate you are on this is a HUGH decision, and could be the one that actually gets this bill reviewed by the Supreme Court of the US. Big win for the states joining in this lawsuit, and one that none of them really expected...to throw out the entire bill. I believe the decision was "stayed" until it can be appealed by the US, but this is a very big victory indeed by the parties bringing this suit.

For those that might think this is "no big deal", it is just the sort of thing that had to happen to get the bill before the US Supreme Court. It takes some "controversy" and some differing opinions in various lawsuits and appeals to get something like this to be heard before the Supreme Court in the first place. Without this decision, it is possible that the case would never have gotten to the US Supreme Court.

VERY BIG DECISION. If it holds this could un-do the capstone piece of legislation the Obama Administration made such a focal point. Couple this with the note that some people are saying that Obama might be the president that "lost" Egypt just as Carter was the president who "lost" Iran and the days are not looking so bright in the White House. I am not saying the "guy" lost Egypt as the "results" are not in as yet, and how one can place the blame on him for that is a bit beyond me, but such is the case in some media outlets (no, not just Fox News BTW). I think it is a bit too early to "call" this action. It is not too early to be a bit concerned that the US intelligence agencies were not better prepared or more aware that this was about to take place in Egypt. The White House, the Secretary of State's Office, the CIA and the NSA all seem to have been caught completely flatfooted. If anything should concern you, it is this. Why, with all the "making nice" that the Prez and his administration has been doing toward the Arab world, and the fact that he made "making up" with the Arab World a cornerstone of his selection campaign and early days in office, did the US get caught so un-prepared? Interesting to speculate I would think.

Big days brewing both internally and externally. Do we have an administration capable of handling it all? Just asking.

Health Care Debate...not the first ruling: 2 for, 2 against...right down appointed political lines. Shocking development, really.

As for your "paragraph" or "statement" on Egypt...I mean, there are unintelligible ramblings...and then there is this. Seriously...absolutely nobody, not the US, not Europe, not Ben Ali and Mubarak, not the protesters themselves could've had any cognition as to the scale of what is currently brewing. For anyone to attempting to lay blame or criticize, really anyone, for the unexpected scale of these events is beyond lunacy.

There's partisan-ized opinion...then theres just insanity.

BeanCounterGrad'03 · February 1, 2011

Couple this with the note that some people are saying that Obama might be the president that "lost" Egypt just as Carter was the president who "lost" Iran and the days are not looking so bright in the White House.

Since when was Iran or Egypt ours to lose?

Censored by Laurie · February 1, 2011

Since when was Iran or Egypt ours to lose?

Jimmy Carter > King George II?

Primo · February 1, 2011

Egypt has little to do with the current or past administration... truth is, Egypt has been a powder keg for well over twenty years...

After Sadat was assassinated, I was surprised their wasn't a large uprising.

Your statements read like the type of reporting which tries to tie unrelated topics together, a la FOX (Egypt + American healthcare... really...)

UNT90 · February 1, 2011

Now this is the irrational, reactive political board I remember!!

Seriously, Kram, I think we all just got tired of banging our political heads against a wall. Nothing said on here is going to change anyones' mind. Politics and religion, my friend, politics and religion.

Oh, and CBL? Second worst President in American History > Jimmy "I'm still in the media trying to justify my disaster of a presidency" Carter. I lived it, you didn't. Trump.

TheTastyGreek · February 1, 2011

Jimmy "I'm still in the media trying to justify my disaster of a presidency" Carter.

He's history's greatest monster.

UNT90 · February 1, 2011

He's 20th century American history's greatest monster lillyliver.

Fixed

Shuke-D · February 1, 2011

Now this is the irrational, reactive political board I remember!!

Seriously, Kram, I think we all just got tired of banging our political heads against a wall. Nothing said on here is going to change anyones' mind. Politics and religion, my friend, politics and religion.

Although I am in agreement with you on this, my tendency is to refine the expression of the experience. To do that, I can only turn to that great sage who dominated the culture my first year at UNT, Ford Fairlane:

" [political discussions are] like masturbating with a cheese grater: slightly amusing, but mostly painful."

TheTastyGreek · February 1, 2011

Fixed

Nobody "fixes" Simpsons quotes. All anyone can do is ruin them.

You are now worse than Jimmy Carter.

CMJ · February 1, 2011

Oh, and CBL? Second worst President in American History > Jimmy "I'm still in the media trying to justify my disaster of a presidency" Carter. I lived it, you didn't. Trump.

The fact that you lived and remember it well makes your opinion less valid to me. I really don't think any President can accurately be judged till about 50 years past their term (which would just now put Kennedy on the clock) just for that reason. If you lived it, your personal opinion(read politics) become too entrenched in the debate.

cwb · February 1, 2011

The federal judge's name is Hugh?

cwb · February 1, 2011

New drinking game. Every time Kram uses quotation marks, bottoms up!

UNT90 · February 1, 2011

The fact that you lived and remember it well makes your opinion less valid to me. I really don't think any President can accurately be judged till about 50 years past their term (which would just now put Kennedy on the clock) just for that reason. If you lived it, your personal opinion(read politics) become too entrenched in the debate.

Except I wanted Jimmy to be President. 4 years later I wanted nothing to do with the democrat party and haven't ever since.

30 years simce Carter left office. Still the same opinion of him. Nothing will change in the next 20.

UNT90 · February 1, 2011

Nobody "fixes" Simpsons quotes. All anyone can do is ruin them.

You are now worse than Jimmy Carter.

F'n Pop Culture screws me again.

TheTastyGreek · February 1, 2011

F'n Pop Culture screws me again.

Quoting Simpsons is like quoting scripture.

People tend to get angry when you do it wrong. And having at least a basic familiarity with the most frequently cited passages from both is essential to understanding cultural discourse in America.

I'm not saying I'm declaring holy war on you if you don't buy some DVD sets and get caught up... But I *do* know where you tend to sit at basketball games.

TheTastyGreek · February 1, 2011

UNT90 · February 2, 2011

You don't win friends with salad.......

better?

CMJ · February 2, 2011

Except I wanted Jimmy to be President. 4 years later I wanted nothing to do with the democrat party and haven't ever since.

30 years since Carter left office. Still the same opinion of him. Nothing will change in the next 20.

As I said I don't care about what people who were there think. You lived it, and thus your personal prejudices are too entrenched. Fifty years feels about right (though with folks living longer and longer that might need to be pushed back I guess) because you need most of the people that were of voting age to be gone before you can accurately judge a presidency.

Like, I remember Reagan - but not well since he left office when I was about 10. I could probably neutrally look at him, but I'm not sure of anyone past that (perhaps the first Bush since he left when I was a freshman in HS) because I really start to remember living thru their time in office. Definitely not Clinton or later though.

Censored by Laurie · February 2, 2011

New drinking game. Every time Kram uses quotation marks, bottoms up!

I like to drink...but...wow...

eulesseagle · February 3, 2011

As I said I don't care about what people who were there think. You lived it, and thus your personal prejudices are too entrenched. Fifty years feels about right (though with folks living longer and longer that might need to be pushed back I guess) because you need most of the people that were of voting age to be gone before you can accurately judge a presidency.

Like, I remember Reagan - but not well since he left office when I was about 10. I could probably neutrally look at him, but I'm not sure of anyone past that (perhaps the first Bush since he left when I was a freshman in HS) because I really start to remember living thru their time in office. Definitely not Clinton or later though.

UNT90 is correct....Carter was one of the worst. Gave away the Panama Canal (China has control of it now), Iranian Hostage Crisis, High interst (bought a jeep during that time & I had excellent credit....my rate was 18.5%). Mortgages, with excellent credit ran up to 21%, gas/oil through the roof...

cmj...there is a big difference in living it and reading about it.

I saw Carter kinda like Grant....both ment well, surrounded themselves with absolutely terrible advisors, really knew nothing of the magnitude of the office or foriegn affairs/domestic affairs and both indecisive (Grant was only considered a great general because he had superior #'s and material and his tactic was attrition...line 'em up, advance and die).

worst president: fdr

CMJ · February 3, 2011

Funny you mention Grant, since despite the scandals, he was apparently very popular (there was even talk of drafting him to serve a 3rd term). I doubt people in his time would consider him one of the worst ever.

That is my point.

Censored by Laurie · February 3, 2011

UNT90 is correct....Carter was one of the worst. Gave away the Panama Canal (China has control of it now), Iranian Hostage Crisis, High interst (bought a jeep during that time & I had excellent credit....my rate was 18.5%). Mortgages, with excellent credit ran up to 21%, gas/oil through the roof...

cmj...there is a big difference in living it and reading about it.

I saw Carter kinda like Grant....both ment well, surrounded themselves with absolutely terrible advisors, really knew nothing of the magnitude of the office or foriegn affairs/domestic affairs and both indecisive (Grant was only considered a great general because he had superior #'s and material and his tactic was attrition...line 'em up, advance and die).

worst president: fdr

You're funny.

Or certifiable. Either way, I'd have you over for a dinner party.