Morning here in Old Europe.

Thank you for the "immigration" tag in the links!

re: #1 ralphieboy

Morning here in Old Europe.

I know how much it bites having your "Maifeiertag" on the weekend. Hope you at least get some nice weather anyway.

Now McCain is telling us in an interview that the AZ Immigration Bill was prompted more by the growing drug violence than by problems with illegal immigrants.

I am still trying to get my head around the logic of that. I mean, the problems are somewhat related, but basically they are targeting people who are coming over, mostly peacefully, to look for work in order to try and deal with a problem they have little or nothing to do with.

I still see the analogy of the three-year-old kid trying to get attention:

Arizona and the border states have been begging the federal government to do something bout the growing problems related to our open, porous border. They have been ignored.

What does a three-year-old do when mommy will not respond to its pleas for attention? It hits the baby and makes it scream. In that respect, the ploy has worked...

OK, I am finally watching "Don't Mess With The Zohan".

BOMBS: Lefthanded

HATES ISRAEL: Yes

re: #3 bratwurst

I know how much it bites having your "Maifeiertag" on the weekend. Hope you at least get some nice weather anyway.

There are enough public holidays around here that it does not matter, and many of them are on fixed days of the week, like Good Friday, Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday.

Even better are Ascension and Corpus Christi, which are always on a Thursday. most folks just take the Friday off and make a nice long spring weekend out of it.

But Saturday holidays are real less-than-zero propositions: not only do folks not get the day off, they cannot even go shopping, as stores are closed by law here on public holidays.

re: #4 ralphieboy

Now McCain is telling us in an interview that the AZ Immigration Bill was prompted more by the growing drug violence than by problems with illegal immigrants.

I am still trying to get my head around the logic of that. I mean, the problems are somewhat related, but basically they are targeting people who are coming over, mostly peacefully, to look for work in order to try and deal with a problem they have little or nothing to do with.

I still see the analogy of the three-year-old kid trying to get attention:

Arizona and the border states have been begging the federal government to do something bout the growing problems related to our open, porous border. They have been ignored.

What does a three-year-old do when mommy will not respond to its pleas for attention? It hits the baby and makes it scream. In that respect, the ploy has worked...

I'm gonna repeat something I said last thread: The Feds are not sitting around doing their nails and gossiping. We've been building the fence. We've bulked up the border patrols. What the HELL does Arizona want? And don't tell me "seal the border". Something realistic.

re: #7 SanFranciscoZionist

Sleep tight.
It will get resolved, eventually.
Regards.
My pillow is calling me.
It whispers secrects!

re: #7 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm gonna repeat something I said last thread: The Feds are not sitting around doing their nails and gossiping. We've been building the fence. We've bulked up the border patrols. What the HELL does Arizona want? And don't tell me "seal the border". Something realistic.

And they can't decide what the damn problem is, anyway. First it's the violence. Then it's the drugs. Then it's the illegals flooding the job market. Then it's feelings of isolation from the Federal government. Every time I check back in, they have a new reason they passed this dumbass law.

(I'm losing my patience with Arizona. If Arizona wants to see some real problems, they should come to Richmond, California, where we have drugs, gun violence, illegal immigrants, and also no rich retiring seniors from colder climes.)

re: #7 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm gonna repeat something I said last thread: The Feds are not sitting around doing their nails and gossiping. We've been building the fence. We've bulked up the border patrols. What the HELL does Arizona want? And don't tell me "seal the border". Something realistic.

They are building a fence, but the border is still porous. And the drug cartel violence is spinning out of control in Mexico and spilling across the borders. That is mostly what prompted them to take steps.

I don't like the bill or the way that targets the wrong people. But it has succeeded in getting the government's attention. The same way that smacking little brother never fails to get mommy's attention...

re: #10 ralphieboy

They are building a fence, but the border is still porous. And the drug cartel violence is spinning out of control in Mexico and spilling across the borders. That is mostly what prompted them to take steps.

I don't like the bill or the way that targets the wrong people. But it has succeeded in getting the government's attention. The same way that smacking little brother never fails to get mommy's attention...

The border, I'm pretty damn sure, is going to remain porous, no matter what Arizona does. That's the problem here--there is no quick solution.

re: #6 ralphieboy

There are enough public holidays around here that it does not matter, and many of them are on fixed days of the week, like Good Friday, Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday.

Even better are Ascension and Corpus Christi, which are always on a Thursday. most folks just take the Friday off and make a nice long spring weekend out of it.

But Saturday holidays are real less-than-zero propositions: not only do folks not get the day off, they cannot even go shopping, as stores are closed by law here on public holidays.

Ja klar. Ich war in Deutschland für mehr als 4 Jahre. Ich liebe "Brücketagen".

OK, I'm going to bed before I start cussing out the state of Arizona again.

re: #7 SanFranciscoZionist

Something realistic.

Where's the fun in that?

The thing that is getting my goat is the knee jerk reaction against the backlash in almost every thread the last couple of days. Nobody I know of has any issue with people suspected of a crime being asked for ID. My problem strictly relates to the whole having brown skin while in public serving as probable cause for an ID check aspect.

Making the border less porous means selaing it off and patrolling it aggresively. keeping track of immigrants means creating an enormous federal bureaucracy to admit, register and track immigrants.

I somehow cannot imagine finding a consensus for anything that creates more government and costs money. Heck, Bush could not even sell a similar approach to his own party.

re: #15 ralphieboy

keeping track of immigrants means creating an enormous federal bureaucracy to admit, register and track immigrants.

We already have an agency that does that.

[Link: www.immigrationdirect.com...]

There are millions of immigrants who are in the country legally on student and work visas. It doesn't have to be created out of whole cloth. Modernized? Expanded? Better managed? Sure! But a "new" bureaucracy? No!

For all you Deus Ex fans out there:

One of the original composers got together with a fan and did that remix of the Hong Kong theme.

re: #16 sattv4u2

keeping track of immigrants means creating an enormous federal bureaucracy to admit, register and track immigrants.

We already have an agency that does that.

[Link: www.immigrationdirect.com...]

There are millions of immigrants who are in the country legally on student and work visas. It doesn't have to be created out of whole cloth. Modernized? Expanded? Better managed? Sure! But a "new" bureaucracy? No!

I agree that the only long-term solution is to make the borders less porous and increase our documentation of immigrants. I'm just saying that this idea is not likely to find a lot of support or consensus.

re: #18 ralphieboy

I agree that the only long-term solution is to make the borders less porous and increase our documentation of immigrants. I'm just saying that this idea is not likely to find a lot of support or consensus.

Incorrect (imho)

Modernizing INS would be step one and would have broad appeal and support. If employers knew that INS was more proficient they (employers) would be less likely to hire illegals. If INS was more modernized it would be harder to forge "green cards".

re: #19 sattv4u2

Incorrect (imho)

Modernizing INS would be step one and would have broad appeal and support. If employers knew that INS was more proficient they (employers) would be less likely to hire illegals. If INS was more modernized it would be harder to forge "green cards".

I wish it would have broader support and appeal, but I believe it would buck up against a lot of established interests (from drug dealers to exploitive employers) who would then cynically appeal to folks who oppose increased government and taxes out of principle.

That is what happened with Bush's initiative.

In a bit of necromancy, I am boggled by the person in the last thread who said (if I understand them right) we can't call Neo-nazis neo-nazis because of the Palestinians.

I don't know if thats myopic, or just obsessive.

Myopia is better than your opia

re: #22 ralphieboy

one of my favorite lines: "Even in Utopia, there's Myopia"

re: #21 windsagio

In a bit of necromancy, I am boggled by the person in the last thread who said (if I understand them right) we can't call Neo-nazis neo-nazis because of the Palestinians.

He (?) is just trying to defend the terms from dilution. Admirable goal, but I think we're past that when Godwin's law can be formulated*. Which leads to strange expressions like "actual Nazis", as opposed to the soup kind, I guess.

It can be overreaching itself though. A holocaust and the Holocaust are pretty separate to me.

_{* A bit self-referential, since Godwin's law was pointing out this problem itself.}

re: #24 cenotaphium

I think this addresses it very well.

As Jews we owe it to our history and the respect of our dead to stand firmly against this evil before it can manifest to the level that you just quoted. What serves no purpose is to guard the suffering of our murdered relatives as some sort of "we suffered more trump card" in the face of concern over a very real and very rising evil.

Mmkay, I know only ONSP will get this apart from me, and I think Obama's pretty much okay given all the problems he's got piled in front of him, but why am I feeling an amplified sense of deja vu about this guy's candidacy for my country's presidency?

/also goodevening

[Link: www.guardian.co.uk...]

Prediction David Cameron Will Be the Next PM.

Taliban leader who was believed dead reportedly resurfaces

[Link: www.boston.com...]

He got better!

Seems as if he's been "reported dead" twice now. Hopefully, third time is a charm.

Women to serve aboard subs by 2012

[Link: www.boston.com...]

Should I or shouldn't I make the obvious joke!?!?!

re: #14 bratwurst

Where's the fun in that?

The thing that is getting my goat is the knee jerk reaction against the backlash in almost every thread the last couple of days. Nobody I know of has any issue with people suspected of a crime being asked for ID. My problem strictly relates to the whole having brown skin while in public serving as probable cause for an ID check aspect.
If that is your only problem with the law, rejoice, the law specifically forbids an ID check on someone without them being suspected of a crime (other than entering the country illegally). The law specifically calls for an ID check when an individual commits or is suspected of committing a crime.
Here's the bill if you'd like to actually read it.

Here

I'm not saying I agree with the bill, but it is important to at least know what you don't like.

re: #30 rwdflynavy

re: #14 bratwurst

Where's the fun in that?

The thing that is getting my goat is the knee jerk reaction against the backlash in almost every thread the last couple of days. Nobody I know of has any issue with people suspected of a crime being asked for ID. My problem strictly relates to the whole having brown skin while in public serving as probable cause for an ID check aspect.

Lets try again...

If that is your only problem with the law, rejoice, the law specifically forbids an ID check on someone without them being suspected of a crime (other than entering the country illegally). The law specifically calls for an ID check when an individual commits or is suspected of committing a crime.
Here's the bill if you'd like to actually read it.

Here
I'm not saying I agree with the bill, but it is important to at least know what you don't like.

Raining outside + this = "Finally...school's over..."

re: #31 rwdflynavy

Hey, Navy. Thanks.

The other thing... if anyone thinks that we can create a set of laws meant to stem the flow of illegal Mexicans into the United States (or to repatriate those who are already here illegally) without causing some issues for Mexicans...

re: #33 fat bastard vegetarian

Hey, Navy. Thanks.

The other thing... if anyone thinks that we can create a set of laws meant to stem the flow of illegal Mexicans into the United States (or to repatriate those who are already here illegally) without causing some issues for Mexicans...

Morning FBV!

Agree completely with the above. I think there are enough problems with the law as written without inserting untrue boogeymen into the discussion.

Build a wall = Aparthaid
Deport illegals = racist

It is a tough nut to crack.

re: #33 fat bastard vegetarian

Hey, Navy. Thanks.

The other thing... if anyone thinks that we can create a set of laws meant to stem the flow of illegal Mexicans into the United States (or to repatriate those who are already here illegally) without causing some issues for Mexicans...

Guest on O'Rielly last night stated 'if coyotes are breaking into the hen house stealing chickens you don't go looking for armadillos"

re: #34 rwdflynavy

Morning FBV!

Agree completely with the above. I think there are enough problems with the law as written without inserting untrue boogeymen into the discussion.

Build a wall = Aparthaid
Deport illegals = racist

It is a tough nut to crack.

As someone who's been through the process of petitioning a relative for residency, I'm surprised immigration-process-reform hasn't been talked about much. I think there's room to snip a lot of red tape, but politicians just don't think it's a real vote-getter.

Belgian Lawmakers Vote to Ban the Veil in Public

[Link: www.france24.com...]

IMO a positive development.

re: #35 sattv4u2

Guest on O'Rielly last night stated 'if coyotes are breaking into the hen house stealing chickens you don't go looking for armadillos"

I had a buddy once who mistakenly stated: "That's like leaving the rooster to guard the henhouse!"

Needless to say, hilarity ensued.

re: #36 laZardo

As someone who's been through the process of petitioning a relative for residency, I'm surprised immigration-process-reform hasn't been talked about much. I think there's room to snip a lot of red tape, but politicians just don't think it's a real vote-getter.

BINGO ,, see my #16 above

re: #36 laZardo

As someone who's been through the process of petitioning a relative for residency, I'm surprised immigration-process-reform hasn't been talked about much. I think there's room to snip a lot of red tape, but politicians just don't think it's a real vote-getter.

I agree completely. I would hope that any discussion of the illegal problem would include an entire redo of our current system. Unfortunately, Hope is not a course of action...

re: #40 rwdflynavy

I agree completely. I would hope that any discussion of the illegal problem would include an entire redo of our current system. Unfortunately, Hope is not a course of action...

Not in the short-term (i.e. "Can't we worry about that after my re-election?"-term).

Thank God the call for violence is limited only to the far right (read ,, anyone who is a republican, conservative, has gone to or agrees with tea parties,)

OR ,,, not !!

DAVID PLOTZ, SLATE.COM: The behavior of Wall Street is absolutely disgusting, and we shouldn't, you know, talk to them, try to persuade them. We should burn them down. We should, like, go after them with pitchforks, knives, guns, clubs we find, mace, anything, because it's appalling

And speaking of leftist extremism, gonna go get a drink to celebrate the start of my summer vacation (which, humorously, coincides with May Day/Labor Day.)

In the meantime, enjoy this relaxing instrumental beat from (the late) Japanese DJ Nujabes.

/guessing he's parodying a lot of teen-leftist "extremism," which usually succumbs to apathy. if you're directly quoting the article, that is.

re: #42 sattv4u2

Thank God the call for violence is limited only to the far right (read ,, anyone who is a republican, conservative, has gone to or agrees with tea parties,)

OR ,,, not !!

DAVID PLOTZ, SLATE.COM: The behavior of Wall Street is absolutely disgusting, and we shouldn't, you know, talk to them, try to persuade them. We should burn them down. We should, like, go after them with pitchforks, knives, guns, clubs we find, mace, anything, because it's appalling

Sounds like a scene from Frankenstein!

re: #42 sattv4u2

Thank God the call for violence is limited only to the far right (read ,, anyone who is a republican, conservative, has gone to or agrees with tea parties,)

OR ,,, not !!

DAVID PLOTZ, SLATE.COM: The behavior of Wall Street is absolutely disgusting, and we shouldn't, you know, talk to them, try to persuade them. We should burn them down. We should, like, go after them with pitchforks, knives, guns, clubs we find, mace, anything, because it's appalling

Like some dude who writes for Slate even has a pitchfork!!
//

re: #37 sandbox

Belgian Lawmakers Vote to Ban the Veil in Public

[Link: www.france24.com...]

IMO a positive development.

From the article:
"In the lower house of federal parliament, 136 deputies voted to ban nationwide clothes or veils that do not allow the wearer to be fully identified, including the full-face niqab and burqa. /.../ All governing parties and the opposition agreed on the move -- most on the basis that people cannot be recognised wearing the clothing."

So I guess MC people will be getting stopped & fined for not taking their helmets off, right? Kids wearing Halloween masks?
I look forward to countries banning all manner of veils, so we can finally crack down on nuns headdresses & traditional folk clothing. The modesty is appalling.

re: #44 rwdflynavy

Sounds like a scene from Frankenstein!

heh ,, but ,

OH ,,, LOOK ,, Someone at a Tea Party has a misspelled sign!!

re: #46 cenotaphium

The veil is a face covering. That's what is banned in public.

re: #46 cenotaphium

A helmet covers a face?
Folk clothing??
A nuns veil??? What order would that be??. When I was in school back in the 60's and 70's we had the nuns. I saw every single feature on every single face

re: #46 cenotaphium

From the article:
"In the lower house of federal parliament, 136 deputies voted to ban nationwide clothes or veils that do not allow the wearer to be fully identified, including the full-face niqab and burqa. /.../ All governing parties and the opposition agreed on the move -- most on the basis that people cannot be recognised wearing the clothing."

So I guess MC people will be getting stopped & fined for not taking their helmets off, right? Kids wearing Halloween masks?
I look forward to countries banning all manner of veils, so we can finally crack down on nuns headdresses & traditional folk clothing. The modesty is appalling.

For those very few nuns who continue to wear a habit, their faces are clearly visible. I'm guessing you've never known an actual nun, or you would have known that.

I have no clue as to whether or not Belgians require motorcycle helmets to be worn, or whether they celebrate Halloween.

re: #49 sattv4u2

A helmet covers a face?
Folk clothing??
A nuns veil??? What order would that be??. When I was in school back in the 60's and 70's we had the nuns. I saw every single feature on every single face

Don't bother him, he's throwing up strawmen as fast as he can.

re: #50 reine.de.tout

For those very few nuns who continue to wear a habit, their faces are clearly visible. I'm guessing you've never known an actual nun, or you would have known that.

I have no clue as to whether or not Belgians require motorcycle helmets to be worn, or whether they celebrate Halloween.

gmta (re: nuns),,, see #49

re: #52 sattv4u2

gmta (re: nuns),,, see #49

Yeah, I saw it as soon as mine posted.

Also, if a man happened to be trying to wear a disguise and wore a nun's habit, it would be very obvious.

Full burqa - not so much, eh?

re: #53 reine.de.tout

Yeah, I saw it as soon as mine posted.

Also, if a man happened to be trying to wear a disguise and wore a nun's habit, it would be very obvious.

Full burqa - not so much, eh?

and even the motorcycle helmet

A) you would have to opt for one with a face shield
and
B) you would then have to opt for that face shield to not be clear plastic, as most are

re: #46 cenotaphium

Nice try. Ridiculous.

re: #53 reine.de.tout

Sans stiffy, anyway.

Hardest job in the world? Bank security guard in Alaska.
Everybody's wearing masks...

-Steven Wright

re: #49 sattv4u2

A helmet covers a face?
Folk clothing??
A nuns veil??? What order would that be??. When I was in school back in the 60's and 70's we had the nuns. I saw every single feature on every single face

You've never seen a full face MC helmet? Seriously? Or folk clothing? As for nuns clothing, that bit was mostly for sarcastic emphasis - although we do have christian sects who wear a similar dress.

re: #50 reine.de.tout

For those very few nuns who continue to wear a habit, their faces are clearly visible. I'm guessing you've never known an actual nun, or you would have known that.

I have no clue as to whether or not Belgians require motorcycle helmets to be worn, or whether they celebrate Halloween.

Was it really that hard to call the sarcasm about nuns? As to the latter; yes & yes.

re: #51 rwdflynavy

Don't bother him, he's throwing up strawmen as fast as he can.

Not really. I was trying to make the point that you can phrase a law to seem very all-encompassing, when it's in fact very targeted. This seems to be one of those. If MC riders are indeed stopped and fined for full face helmets I will eat my words. I was also trying to make the point that, while this law did *not* include them, other proposals have targeted veils in general, which would actually strike at people not generally seen as having to justify wearing a headscarf. Like nuns. Or traditional folk clothing.

I thought you guys would be against this kind of invasion of individual liberty to wear whatever you want? :/

re: #58 cenotaphium

I agree it is targeted... If Amish men started hiding explosives in their beards, I would start supporting a law that requiring them to shave.

re: #59 fat bastard vegetarian

Pardon the grammar there....

re: #60 fat bastard vegetarian

Excuse me, "grammaring", sheesh!

Dhimmification takes a few steps back.

re: #59 fat bastard vegetarian

I agree it is targeted... If Amish men started hiding explosives in their beards, I would start supporting a law that requiring them to shave.

I haven't seen any report saying that a significant portion of Belgian muslim women who wear complete coverings use them to conceal explosives. But upding for being honest.

re: #58 cenotaphium

You've never seen a full face MC helmet? Seriously? Or folk clothing? As for nuns clothing, that bit was mostly for sarcastic emphasis - although we do have christian sects who wear a similar dress.

I addressed the helmet issue in #54
Please tell the class what "folk clothing" includes full face covering, and after you do that, how many of them reside in Belgium

ALSO, please tell the class what 'christain sect" wears full face coverings!

OR ,, you could just stop digging. The hole is already big enough!

Work, dammit.

re: #62 MandyManners

Right. If I'm reading the article correctly, the entire Belgian legislature voted yes. Hard to believe. There is hope.....

re: #65 fat bastard vegetarian

I'm giving you the day off.

re: #64 sattv4u2

You've never seen a full face MC helmet? Seriously? Or folk clothing? As for nuns clothing, that bit was mostly for sarcastic emphasis - although we do have christian sects who wear a similar dress.

I addressed the helmet issue in #54
Please tell the class what "folk clothing" includes full face covering, and after you do that, how many of them reside in Belgium

ALSO, please tell the class what 'christain sect" wears full face coverings!

OR ,, you could just stop digging. The hole is already big enough!

Before you see red, you may want to re-read what I wrote. I even emphasised "all manner of veils" & tried to make a point about it *not* being what's covered in this law, but in other proposals. Twice.

re: #68 cenotaphium

repent cenotapim.

re: #59 fat bastard vegetarian

I agree it is targeted... If Amish men started hiding explosives in their beards, I would start supporting a law that requiring them to shave.

*clop...clop...clop...BANG*

Gotta' git.

re: #59 fat bastard vegetarian

I agree it is targeted... If Amish men started hiding explosives in their beards, I would start supporting a law that requiring them to shave.

Man, the Amish are getting all kinds of bad press lately...not that they would ever know it...
//

re: #58 cenotaphium

Was it really that hard to call the sarcasm about nuns? As to the latter; yes & yes.

Well, yes it was.

And given that you managed to use the sarc tag at the end of this comment, but did not use it in the other one - well, yes, that makes it all the harder to figure out what you mean to be sarcasm and what not.

re: #63 cenotaphium

I haven't seen any report saying that a significant portion of Belgian muslim women who wear complete coverings use them to conceal explosives. But upding for being honest.

If even one is able to do that, and kill people because of it, it's too many.
Unless, of course, one has a certain number of people they're willing to sacrifice before trying to avoid it.

re: #64 sattv4u2

And you may want to 're-read" the law

clothes or veils that do not allow the wearer to be fully identified,

A simple veil allows the wearer to be ID'd, as does a nuns habit, as does a helmet sans a smoked face shield

re: #69 sandbox

repent cenotapim.

Heh. The only thing I might repent is that I chose to post that during the morning shift, which is apparently rightshifted? (Not really, I like opposition.)

_{Seriously, do you guys take turns or something?}

re: #75 cenotaphium

Heh. The only thing I might repent is that I chose to post that during the morning shift, which is apparently rightshifted? (Not really, I like opposition.)

_{Seriously, do you guys take turns or something?}

_{Not really. I know for a fact that Reine and Fat Veggie were both here last naight (late) as was I}

_{Truth be told, I'm working an overnight shift so i've been 'here" since 10 p.m (eastern) last night, and there were many more "righties" on during that time}

_{But nice try}

re: #75 cenotaphium

Heh. The only thing I might repent is that I chose to post that during the morning shift, which is apparently rightshifted? (Not really, I like opposition.)

_{Seriously, do you guys take turns or something?}

I've disagreed at one time or another with everyone here.

On this one, I do agree with those posting.

I don't really care what they do in Belgium, and I haven't addressed that, I've only addressed your silliness. That sort of law would not fly here, and I think you know it.

We should protest a baseball team that had fucking ZERO to do with Arizona's immigration law. Idiot douchebags.
[Link: www.nydailynews.com...]

re: #75 cenotaphium

I was noticing the same thing about the morning shift at lgf--it is more right wing (or sensible, IMO).

re: #77 reine.de.tout

There were laws against public mask wearing in the US in the early part of the 20th century. To combat KKK activity. Similar laws, if brought back, may be found constitutional.

re: #78 Cannadian Club Akbar

We should protest a baseball team that had fucking ZERO to do with Arizona's immigration law. Idiot douchebags.
[Link: www.nydailynews.com...]

These morons want to ban Arizona Iced Tea too, which is made in NY. Protesting doesn't require brain cells apparently.

re: #73 reine.de.tout

Well, yes it was.

And given that you managed to use the sarc tag at the end of this comment, but did not use it in the other one - well, yes, that makes it all the harder to figure out what you mean to be sarcasm and what not.

I'm sorry about that then. I'm afraid it wasn't a sarc tag at the end of that comment either, but an emoticon for confused, which is apparently what I'm inflicting on others. :(

If even one is able to do that, and kill people because of it, it's too many.
Unless, of course, one has a certain number of people they're willing to sacrifice before trying to avoid it.

I think that's a bit disingenuous of you. Using that as a justification, we could ban anything in order to possibly save lives. I agree that anyone killed by extremism is (yet) one too many.

re: #81 NJDhockeyfan

These morons want to ban Arizona Iced Tea too, which is made in NY. Protesting doesn't require brain cells apparently.

Emotional knee-jerk reactionaries.

re: #81 NJDhockeyfan

These morons want to ban Arizona Iced Tea too, which is made in NY. Protesting doesn't require brain cells apparently.

Same level of stupidity as trying to ban/boycott "french fries". Words do have power, but trivialities such as this are such a waste of effort it makes those who advocate it look like complete fools.

re: #76 sattv4u2

_{But nice try}

That's a bold statement. 8-)

re: #81 NJDhockeyfan

These morons want to ban Arizona Iced Tea too, which is made in NY. Protesting doesn't require brain cells apparently.

The Coen Brothers are going to have to re-edit and rename one of their best movies to "Raising New Mexico."

re: #86 Mad Al-Jaffee

The Coen Brothers are going to have to re-edit and rename one of their best movies to "Raising New Mexico."

Excellent. Heh.

re: #86 Mad Al-Jaffee

The Coen Brothers are going to have to re-edit and rename one of their best movies to "Raising New Mexico."

Maybe they should offer "Tex" Cobb as the Lone Biker of the Apocalypse to act as an additional border guard.

re: #77 reine.de.tout

That sort of law would not fly here, and I think you know it.

Perhaps not a law, but I was quite surprised this winter when my Navy Federal Credit Union started requiring men to doff hats on entry so the security cameras could get a clear view.

re: #88 oaktree

Maybe they should offer "Tex" Cobb as the Lone Biker of the Apocalypse to act as an additional border guard.

He and Danny Trejo would make great partners at that job.

Apologies if this has been posted already...

EXCLUSIVE: U.N. Elects Iran to Commission on Women's Rights

NEW YORK — Without fanfare, the United Nations this week elected Iran to its Commission on the Status of Women, handing a four-year seat on the influential human rights body to a theocratic state in which stoning is enshrined in law and lashings are required for women judged "immodest."

Just days after Iran abandoned a high-profile bid for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, it began a covert campaign to claim a seat on the Commission on the Status of Women, which is "dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women," according to its website.

Buried 2,000 words deep in a U.N. press release distributed Wednesday on the filling of "vacancies in subsidiary bodies," was the stark announcement: Iran, along with representatives from 10 other nations, was "elected by acclamation," meaning that no open vote was requested or required by any member states — including the United States.

The U.S. currently holds one of the 45 seats on the body, a position set to expire in 2012. The U.S. Mission to the U.N. did not return requests for comment on whether it actively opposed elevating Iran to the women's commission.

Iran's election comes just a week after one of its senior clerics declared that women who wear revealing clothing are to blame for earthquakes, a statement that created an international uproar — but little affected their bid to become an international arbiter of women's rights.

Neda Agha-Soltan was unavailable for comment.

re: #89 charlz

Perhaps not a law, but I was quite surprised this winter when my Navy Federal Credit Union started requiring men to doff hats on entry so the security cameras could get a clear view.

men should "doff hats" when entering any building, imho

But I'm old fashioned when it comes to things like that. I had to go to a court hearing last week. I was appalled at the manner of dress people wear before a judge. Ripped jeans,, T-Shirts with R-Rated slogans,,,,

re: #91 NJDhockeyfan

That makes about as much sense as asking me to watch the liquor cabinet. More fucking idiocy. And, imagine that, I'm not shocked.

re: #92 sattv4u2

men should "doff hats" when entering any building, imho

But I'm old fashioned when it comes to things like that. I had to go to a court hearing last week. I was appalled at the manner of dress people wear before a judge. Ripped jeans,, T-Shirts with R-Rated slogans,,,

A few years ago I had to go to court for a workman's comp hearing. I think I was the only claimint wearing a suit. Everyone else there (except the lawyers) were dressed casually. One lawyer even said hello to me when he passed me in the hall. He probably thought I was also a lawyer and maybe someone he thought he knew.

re: #76 sattv4u2

Not really. I know for a fact that Reine and Fat Veggie were both here last naight (late) as was I

Truth be told, I'm working an overnight shift so i've been 'here" since 10 p.m (eastern) last night, and there were many more "righties" on during that time

But nice try

Heh.. I'm getting these waves of hostility from you, and I'm frankly in the dark about what it is I'm "trying" (or if there's something I've done). It was an observation & apparently a wrong one, according to you. It's just that my day is split evenly between your day and night, so I might be picking up on some other posting habits? Or maybe I'm just that much more clever late at night and early in the morning? ;)

re: #94 Mad Al-Jaffee

A few years ago I had to go to court for a workman's comp hearing. I think I was the only claimint wearing a suit. Everyone else there (except the lawyers) were dressed casually. One lawyer even said hello to me when he passed me in the hall. He probably thought I was also a lawyer and maybe someone he thought he knew.

I know. I'm not saying you have to wear a tux or a three piece business suit for court. But a dress shirt ,,,, non-jean pants ,,,,shoes (not untied high top sneakers)

and certainly not a T-Shirt that says "Blow Job is better than No Job"

Speaking of protesters...moonbats in London made things unpleasant for an Israeli ambassador.

British protesters attack Israel's deputy ambassador

LONDON – A lecture given by Israel's Deputy Ambassador to Britain Talya Lador-Fresher at the University of Manchester deteriorated Wednesday into violence when pro-Palestinian protesters stormed at the diplomat in an attempted attack.

The protesters were waiting for Lador-Fresher outside the lecture hall, but this did not deter her from entering as planned. Immediately upon her exit, the protesters lunged at the diplomat, prompting security guards to whisk her back into the hall. Following a consultation on the site, it was decided to escort her out of the premises in a police car.

The deputy ambassador was removed from the hall and into the police vehicle. However, this did not block the protesters, who surrounded the car and climbed on the hood, trying to break the windshield.

Lador-Fresher ultimately was taken away from the scene safe and sound.

The deputy ambassador said that there the event certainly was unpleasant, and noted that it does not bode well for the academic debate in Britain on the Middle East.

re: #95 cenotaphium

Heh.. I'm getting these waves of hostility from you

As the sportscaster Colin Cowherd is wont to say

"Thats a you problem, not a me problem"

I'm merely responding to your posts

re: #91 NJDhockeyfan

Apologies if this has been posted already...

EXCLUSIVE: U.N. Elects Iran to Commission on Women's Rights

Neda Agha-Soltan was unavailable for comment.

[Video]

The UN was hoping for the Congo, but their schedule was full what with being the rape capital of the world.
//

re: #97 NJDhockeyfan

An attempted attack on a woman. Fucking cowards.

re: #99 rwdflynavy

The UN was hoping for the Congo, but their schedule was full what with being the rape capital of the world.
//

Idi Amin was unavailble for the chairmanship

re: #96 sattv4u2

I know. I'm not saying you have to wear a tux or a three piece business suit for court. But a dress shirt ,,, non-jean pants ,,,shoes (not untied high top sneakers)

and certainly not a T-Shirt that says "Blow Job is better than No Job"

I've only had to go in for jury duty once (the other times I called ahead and found out I didn't have to go.) I wasn't selected, but I was at the courhouse for a couple of hours. They tell you in the letter they send to dress business casual, which I did. Most other people there for duty wore jeans and t-shirts.

Acid attack on Pakistani sisters in Balochistan

[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]

"Three sisters have suffered serious facial burns after two unidentified men on a motorbike threw acid at them in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

The sisters, aged between 14 and 20 years old, were attacked as they walked from Kalat city to Pandarani village - one is still in a serious condition."

Hunt these damn animals down, and kill them. And raze their holdings to the ground.

Denmark's KFC website targeted by Islamist hackers

Denmark's KFC website has been targeted by Islamist hackers.

The hackers decided to gain access to the fast food site and post an educational video about their religion on the page.

They also left instructions to the Danish government to introduce a new law to punish people who publicly insult religion.

The hackers implied in their demands that if the law is not introduced, the hacking of Danish websites will continue.

re: #104 NJDhockeyfan

Denmark's KFC website targeted by Islamist hackers

Chicken Jihad!!!!

Fox News has hot chicks.
Al-Jazear does as well.
What will this lineup look like?
[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

New US warning to Syria on Scuds

[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]

""President Assad is making decisions that could mean war or peace for the region," Mrs Clinton said.

"We know he's hearing from Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas. It is crucial that he also hear directly from us, so that the potential consequences of his actions are clear.

"That is why we are sending an ambassador back to Syria, there should be no mistake, either in Damascus or anywhere else, the United States is not re-engaging with Syria as a reward or concession.

"Engagement is a tool that can give us added leverage and insight and a greater ability to convey strong and unmistakably clear messages aimed at Syria's leadership," the secretary of state said."

I welcome her statements. I look forward to actions of the US Government to follow up if required - including direct support of Israel both politically and Militarily if necessary.

re: #106 Cannadian Club Akbar

Fox News has hot chicks.
Al-Jazear does as well.
What will this lineup look like?
[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

nom nom nom....

;)

re: #105 Mad Al-Jaffee

Chicken Jihad!!!

Stuart Mackenzie: Well, it's a well known fact, Sonny Jim, that there's a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world, known as The Pentavirate, who run everything in the world, including the newspapers, and meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado, known as The Meadows.
Tony Giardino: So who's in this Pentavirate?
Stuart Mackenzie: The Queen, The Vatican, The Gettys, The Rothschilds, *and* Colonel Sanders before he went tits up. Oh, I hated the Colonel with is wee *beady* eyes, and that smug look on his face. "Oh, you're gonna buy my chicken! Ohhhhh!"
Charlie Mackenzie: Dad, how can you hate "The Colonel"?
Stuart Mackenzie: Because he puts an addictive chemical in his chicken that makes ya crave it fortnightly, smartass!

re: #109 rwdflynavy

It is addictive. Just ask Cartman.

re: #104 NJDhockeyfan

The hackers implied in their demands that if the law is not introduced, the hacking of Danish websites will continue.

I wonder if i'll have to stop buying Entenmens Cheese Danish loafs until the threat subsides !

re: #109 rwdflynavy

Stuart Mackenzie: Well, it's a well known fact, Sonny Jim, that there's a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world, known as The Pentavirate, who run everything in the world, including the newspapers, and meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado, known as The Meadows.
Tony Giardino: So who's in this Pentavirate?
Stuart Mackenzie: The Queen, The Vatican, The Gettys, The Rothschilds, *and* Colonel Sanders before he went tits up. Oh, I hated the Colonel with is wee *beady* eyes, and that smug look on his face. "Oh, you're gonna buy my chicken! Ohhh!"
Charlie Mackenzie: Dad, how can you hate "The Colonel"?
Stuart Mackenzie: Because he puts an addictive chemical in his chicken that makes ya crave it fortnightly, smartass!

LMAO!

I really enjoyed that movie.

Spouses of terror suspects can claim benefits, EU court rules

re: #112 Ericus58

LMAO!

I really enjoyed that movie.

It was one of my "cruise" movies. We watched it over and over out at sea. The scenes with Phil Hartman as the Alcatraz prison guard turned National Park Ranger was a riot!

John Johnson: Now this is something the other tour guides won't tell you. In this particular cell-block, Machine Gun Kelly had what we call in the prison system, a "bitch". And one night in a jealous rage Kelly took a make-shift knife or "shiv", and cut out the bitch's eyes. And as if this wasn't enough retribution for Kelly, the next day he and four other inmates took turns pissing into the bitch's ocular cavities. (short pause) This way to the cafeteria!

re: #75 cenotaphium

Heh. The only thing I might repent is that I chose to post that during the morning shift, which is apparently rightshifted? (Not really, I like opposition.)

_{Seriously, do you guys take turns or something?}

conservatives get up early to get shit done.

'I was a lovely little present, wasn't I?' Underage prostitute claims she was Franck Ribery's 'birthday treat'

French international football star Franck Ribery jetted an underage prostitute to his hotel room as a 'birthday present' to himself.

The footballer paid thousands of pounds to have Zahia Dehar flown to Germany for a night of passion, she has revealed in a new interview.

Ribery - who met the Moroccan call girl in a Paris nightclub - plays for Champions leaugue finalists Bayern Munich and is currently regarded as France's best player.

Zahia is one of 18 girls quizzed in a police raid this month on Paris brothel Cafe Zaman, used by some of France's top footballers.

The scandal threatens to plunge France's World Cup campaign in chaos.

re: #116 NJDhockeyfan

'I was a lovely little present, wasn't I?' Underage prostitute claims she was Franck Ribery's 'birthday treat'

Cool. Another reason to hate soccer. I mean "International Football".

re: #117 Cannadian Club Akbar

Cool. Another reason to hate soccer. I mean "International Football".

soccer is not a sport.

Hezbollah leader won't say if militants have Scuds

BEIRUT – Hezbollah can strike infrastructure deep inside Israel if a new war breaks out, the group's leader said in remarks published Friday, but refused to confirm whether or not the militants have long-range Scud missiles.

The missiles have been at the center of new Mideast tensions since Israel earlier this month accused Syria of providing Hezbollah with the Scuds, which have a greater range and can carry a much bigger warhead than the rockets Hezbollah fired at Israel in the past.

Syria has denied the allegations, as has Lebanon's Western-backed prime minister.

Hezbollah's leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah indicated that the details of the group's weaponry are a secret.

"We don't speak through the media about the rockets we have or their details," Nasrallah said, according to Hezbollah's news website. He spoke in an interview Thursday with Kuwait's Rai TV.

"Do we have what is more or less sophisticated than a Scud missile — these are details I don't want to speak about," Nasrallah added. "If a war breaks out ... we said we will attack their (Israeli) infrastructure. We are able to fulfill these promises."

[Link: thehill.com...]

Dems spark alarm with call for national ID card

A plan by Senate Democratic leaders to reform the nation’s immigrations laws ran into strong opposition from civil liberties defenders before lawmakers even unveiled it Thursday.

Democratic leaders have proposed requiring every worker in the nation to carry a national identification card with biometric information, such as a fingerprint, within the next six years, according to a draft of the measure.

The proposal is one of the biggest differences between the newest immigration reform proposal and legislation crafted by late-Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

The national ID program would be titled the BELIEVE System, [Biometric Enrollment, Locally-stored Information, and Electronic Verification of Employment].

I thought the dems were AGAINST mandating ID's

South African police find large explosives cache

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South African police say they have found nearly 3 tons (2.49 metric tons) of commercial explosives in a Johannesburg house.

Lt. Col. Lungelo Dlamini told the South African Press Association an 18-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man had been arrested during Friday's raid. He says officers were acting on a tip-off.

Police think the explosives had been stolen from a shipping container depot and would be used by a criminal syndicate to blow up cash machines.

The find in southern Johannesburg raises fears over the availability of commercial explosives ahead of the World Cup that starts in June. Hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors are expected.

re: #116 NJDhockeyfan

'I was a lovely little present, wasn't I?' Underage prostitute claims she was Franck Ribery's 'birthday treat'

Zahia Dehar??

Image: wotw-500x250.jpg

re: #120 sattv4u2

[Link: thehill.com...]

Dems spark alarm with call for national ID card

A plan by Senate Democratic leaders to reform the nation’s immigrations laws ran into strong opposition from civil liberties defenders before lawmakers even unveiled it Thursday.

Democratic leaders have proposed requiring every worker in the nation to carry a national identification card with biometric information, such as a fingerprint, within the next six years, according to a draft of the measure.

The proposal is one of the biggest differences between the newest immigration reform proposal and legislation crafted by late-Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

The national ID program would be titled the BELIEVE System, [Biometric Enrollment, Locally-stored Information, and Electronic Verification of Employment].

I thought the dems were AGAINST mandating ID's

Wonder if the protesters in Arizona know of this.

re: #123 Cannadian Club Akbar

Wonder if the protesters in Arizona know of this.

They need to expand their 'ban list' now.

re: #123 Cannadian Club Akbar

Wonder if the protesters in Arizona know of this.

,,,ran into strong opposition from civil liberties defenders ,,,

White House: No New Drilling Until Answers on Accident

President Obama has suspended all plans for new offshore oil drilling until authorities learn what caused the explosion of the rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico.

WASHINGTON -- President Obama has suspended all plans for new offshore oil drilling until authorities learn what caused the explosion of the rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico.

The White House made the announcement Friday, the morning after oil started washing up on the Mississippi shoreline.

"No additional drilling has been authorized and none will until we find out what happened here and whether there was something unique and preventable here," White House adviser David Axelrod said on ABC's "Good Morning America" show. "No domestic drilling in new areas is going to go forward until there is a adequate review of what's happened here and of what is being proposed elsewhere."

BP, which operates the oil rig, has asked the federal government for help containing the spill, which is now at 5,000 barrels a day. The Navy has deployed salvage teams, skimmers and about 50 contractors to operate the skimmers but more assistance is expected.

BP said Friday it is trying to stem the flow of oil from the sub-sea well, to contain the spill offshore and to protect the Gulf coast.

"We are doing absolutely everything in our power to eliminate the source of the leak and contain the environmental impact of the spill. We are determined to fight this spill on all fronts, in the deep waters of the Gulf, in the shallow waters and, should it be necessary, on the shore," said BP Group Chief Executive Tony Hayward.

Obama had been under pressure from Democratic senators to halt any plans. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said Thursday he was introducing legislation to block Obama's plan until the completion of federal investigations into the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion that presumably killed 11 workers and critically injured three on April 20.

As Obama puts a hold on drilling, Axelrod deflected comparisons with the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, saying such speculation "is always the case in Washington whenever something like this happens."

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro also issued a statement Friday noting the list of actions taken by the administration, including activating the National Response Team, composed of 16 federal departments and agencies responsible for emergency preparedness and responding to oil and hazardous substance pollution incidents.

"The president has been in contact with all the governors of the states that may be affected and ordered that the administration use every single available resource at our disposal, including potentially the Department of Defense," Shapiro said.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday that Obama is concerned how any future decision to expand drilling is affected by the accident, and his view of offshore drilling could change once the cause is determined.

(Source.)

I was a bit puzzled by Obama and his green light to drill off-shore. (This drilling rig was working way before he took office). But I'm also curious about the "Republican" reaction to this incident. Things would be much graver if this accident happened in the Alaskan waters.

re: #123 Cannadian Club Akbar

Wonder if the protesters in Arizona know of this.

The American Civil Liberties Union, a civil liberties defender often aligned with the Democratic Party, wasted no time in blasting the plan.

re: #126 William of Orange

(Source.)

I was a bit puzzled by Obama and his green light to drill off-shore. (This drilling rig was working way before he took office). But I'm also curious about the "Republican" reaction to this incident. Things would be much graver if this accident happened in the Alaskan waters.

I think not. Multiple state economies will be affected by this spill, not just one.

re: #126 William of Orange

White House: No New Drilling Until Answers on Accident

The conspiracy theorists are going to have a field day with that one today.

re: #115 cliffster

conservatives get up early to get shit done.

Liberals sleep late, tuckered out from our heavy schedules of America-hatin', pot smoking, poetry writing, and protest attendin'.

Plus the orgies.

re: #126 William of Orange

From the twitter feed of a certain comedian:

"Every asshole who ever chanted 'Drill Baby Drill' should have to report to the Gulf Coast today for cleanup duty."

re: #130 iceweasel

Liberals sleep late, tuckered out from our heavy schedules of America-hatin', pot smoking, poetry writing, and protest attendin'.

Plus the orgies.

Note to self: Invest in Wesson Oil stock.:)

U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan Made a Lady Gaga Music Video

YouTube user malimelcher, who posted the video, writes,

This is a couple guys located in afghanistan, that re-made the music video by Lady Gaga....Telephone. Prepare yourself for a fantastical journey. Right now this is the temporary version, we have more scenes to cut, and edit, however with guys always on mission it is harder to film than you think.

God bless America! Be safe, boys.

re: #129 NJDhockeyfan

Two years (or a year and a half) ago they would have blamed this accident on Bush. Is anyone blaming it on Obama?

re: #126 William of Orange

(Source.)

I was a bit puzzled by Obama and his green light to drill off-shore. (This drilling rig was working way before he took office). But I'm also curious about the "Republican" reaction to this incident. Things would be much graver if this accident happened in the Alaskan waters.

What, the Gulf of Mexico doesn't matter? Think of the flounder.. please think of the flounder

re: #3 bratwurst

I know how much it bites having your "Maifeiertag" on the weekend. Hope you at least get some nice weather anyway.

I guess we in the Netherlands are one of the few western European countries not to celebrate the May day celebrations. The 30th of April is much more significant than the 1st of May. On that day we celebrate the Royal house of Orange and the birthday of our queen in particular. (In reality she bas born on Jan 31 1938 but celebrating a birthday in winter is not my idea of having a good time. So instead this celebration takes place on the birthday of the queen-mother, our late former queen Juliana.)

Celebrations, Dutch style!

re: #134 Mad Al-Jaffee

Two years (or a year and a half) ago they would have blamed this accident on Bush. Is anyone blaming it on Obama?

Yep.
[Link: www.washingtontimes.com...]

re: #134 Mad Al-Jaffee

Two years (or a year and a half) ago they would have blamed this accident on Bush. Is anyone blaming it on Obama?

The rig was operating prior to the Obama presidency
Bush had (has) ties to oil

YOU do the math!!
//

re: #135 cliffster

What, the Gulf of Mexico doesn't matter? Think of the flounder.. please think of the flounder

And shrimp and oysters and grouper and red fish and mullet and amberjack and...

re: #134 Mad Al-Jaffee

Two years (or a year and a half) ago they would have blamed this accident on Bush. Is anyone blaming it on Obama?

Of course not. Bush will probably get blamed anyway. Bush also got hammered for a slow response to Katrina. Obama didn't do anything about this oil disaster for 8 days. We won't hear anyone seething about that either.

On wheels.

re: #128 Cannadian Club Akbar

I think not. Multiple state economies will be affected by this spill, not just one.

Yes, but in Louisiana help was given pretty much from the get-go. Alaska is a much more remote area and help could have taken days. Plus the environment is very vulnarable. That doesn't say that Louisiana will also be hard hit but at least the cleaning operation is underway.

re: #139 Cannadian Club Akbar

And shrimp and oysters and grouper and red fish and mullet and amberjack and...

And red tide

re: #138 sattv4u2

The rig was operating prior to the Obama presidency
Bush had (has) ties to oil

YOU do the math!!
//

And Bush, Cheney and Rove made it happen on purpose because they have stock in the companies that clean up oil spills!

re: #135 cliffster

What, the Gulf of Mexico doesn't matter? Think of the flounder.. please think of the flounder

Shrimp, fish, crabs, etc....there is a lot more than flounder down there.

re: #144 Mad Al-Jaffee

And Bush, Cheney and Rove made it happen on purpose because they have stock in the companies that clean up oil spills!

And they hate seagulls!

re: #134 Mad Al-Jaffee

Two years (or a year and a half) ago they would have blamed this accident on Bush. Is anyone blaming it on Obama?

Yeah. Obama was out playing golf when he should have been, you know, making sure that rig didn't explode.

re: #144 Mad Al-Jaffee

And Bush, Cheney and Rove made it happen on purpose because they have stock in the companies that clean up oil spills!

Connect the dots!

re: #143 cliffster

And red tide

While I do hate algae blooms, I did love Bloom County.

re: #126 William of Orange

(Source.)

I was a bit puzzled by Obama and his green light to drill off-shore. (This drilling rig was working way before he took office). But I'm also curious about the "Republican" reaction to this incident. Things would be much graver if this accident happened in the Alaskan waters.

(Link in my comment fixed)

re: #149 Cannadian Club Akbar

While I do hate algae blooms, I did love Bloom County.

The algae are beautiful... red, green, golden...

re: #139 Cannadian Club Akbar

And shrimp and oysters and grouper and red fish and mullet and amberjack and...

...all the people who make a living on those stocks, people that transport them, sell them, make them into stuff, eat them, people that depend on coastal tourism, other animals that eat them...

re: #142 William of Orange

Yes, but in Louisiana help was given pretty much from the get-go. Alaska is a much more remote area and help could have taken days. Plus the environment is very vulnarable. That doesn't say that Louisiana will also be hard hit but at least the cleaning operation is underway.

Ever heard of the Exxon Valdez?

Alaska is not helpless.

re: #145 NJDhockeyfan

Or there were, the limits of "flat" fish were curtailed this year.

[Link: www.ccatexas.org...]

re: #148 NJDhockeyfan

Connect the dots!

It's a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma.

re: #147 cliffster

Yeah. Obama was out playing golf when he should have been, you know, making sure that rig didn't explode.

"Barack Obama hates the gulf states!"
~ Kanye South

so this is what the place looks like in the daylight... Good morning all.

re: #151 Locker

BTW, you dumb-fuck. Posting links to news stories is not "spam."

re: #154 badger1970

Or there were, the limits of "flat" fish were curtailed this year.

[Link: www.ccatexas.org...]

For the record, I, CCA, has never had nor will have any association with this association. I hate it when people steal my initials.
//

re: #134 Mad Al-Jaffee

Two years (or a year and a half) ago they would have blamed this accident on Bush. Is anyone blaming it on Obama?

They would be wrong, just as it would be wrong to blame it on Obama. I think a delay on new drillling until we know what went wrong off LA is appropriate. We have to have a better/safer way of drilling to avoid a disaster like this in the future.

re: #133 iceweasel

U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan Made a Lady Gaga Music Video

They're never gonna live that down.

re: #158 MandyManners

BTW, you dumb-fuck. Posting links to news stories is not "spam."

*smooch*

re: #156 NJDhockeyfan

"Barack Obama hates the gulf states!"
~ Kanye South

LOL. Kanye South. You kill me

re: #142 William of Orange

Yes, but in Louisiana help was given pretty much from the get-go. Alaska is a much more remote area and help could have taken days. Plus the environment is very vulnarable. That doesn't say that Louisiana will also be hard hit but at least the cleaning operation is underway.

Sure it's underway. Though it'll a clean-up similar to sticking a couple of bandaids over a 6 inch gaping knife wound and soaking the blood up with a couple of pieces of toilet paper until they figure out how to shut the damn thing off.

re: #164 Jadespring

Sure it's underway. Though it'll a clean-up similar to sticking a couple of bandaids over a 6 inch gaping knife wound and soaking the blood up with a couple of pieces of toilet paper until they figure out how to shut the damn thing off.

I saw something about them trying to shut a valve off yesterday. I kept picturing divers trying to swim through black oil water trying to find some valve in the dark while swimming with a 25 pound monkey wrench.

re: #164 Jadespring

Sure it's underway. Though it'll a clean-up similar to sticking a couple of bandaids over a 6 inch gaping knife wound and soaking the blood up with a couple of pieces of toilet paper until they figure out how to shut the damn thing off.

Where are you, Red Adair?

re: #165 Locker

I saw something about them trying to shut a valve off yesterday. I kept picturing divers trying to swim through black oil water trying to find some valve in the dark while swimming with a 25 pound monkey wrench.

I think the valve is something like 5000 feet down. I picture imploding.

re: #162 Locker

*smooch*

*smooch* backatcha', ya' furry, little Prog.

re: #167 Cannadian Club Akbar

I think the valve is something like 5000 feet down. I picture imploding.

Holy crap. So are they using on of those 2 man minisubs? Doing it remotely somehow using like "waldos"?

Ta ta!

re: #92 sattv4u2

men should "doff hats" when entering any building, imho

But I'm old fashioned when it comes to things like that. I had to go to a court hearing last week. I was appalled at the manner of dress people wear before a judge. Ripped jeans,, T-Shirts with R-Rated slogans,,,

You were appalled that the people who were appearing before a judge were dressed unwisely? I humbly submit that the larger error was whatever got them dragged in front of said judge in the first place;)

(good morning everyone)

re: #169 Locker

Holy crap. So are they using on of those 2 man minisubs? Doing it remotely somehow using like "waldos"?

Robot underwater vehicle do-hickeys. But that's the technical name.
/

re: #167 Cannadian Club Akbar

I think the valve is something like 5000 feet down. I picture imploding.

I picture a bunch of people with harried looks throwing out ideas, arguing back and forth with a couple banging their heads on the desk and mumbling, 'Fuck, we are so fucked...we are so fucked.."

re: #171 Aceofwhat?

You were appalled that the people who were appearing before a judge were dressed unwisely? I humbly submit that the larger error was whatever got them dragged in front of said judge in the first place;)

(good morning everyone)

Agreed and I'm fairly certain people dress like that as a way to flip the bird to "the man". Deliberate disrespect as a way to hit back.

re: #173 Jadespring

I picture a bunch of people with harried looks throwing out ideas, arguing back and forth with a couple banging their heads on the desk and mumbling, 'Fuck, we are so fucked...we are so fucked.."

Ok that sounds like a scene right out of a movie.

Tonight on the NBC made for TV Movie:

Murder Valve!

re: #120 sattv4u2

[Link: thehill.com...]

Dems spark alarm with call for national ID card

A plan by Senate Democratic leaders to reform the nation’s immigrations laws ran into strong opposition from civil liberties defenders before lawmakers even unveiled it Thursday.

Democratic leaders have proposed requiring every worker in the nation to carry a national identification card with biometric information, such as a fingerprint, within the next six years, according to a draft of the measure.

The proposal is one of the biggest differences between the newest immigration reform proposal and legislation crafted by late-Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

The national ID program would be titled the BELIEVE System, [Biometric Enrollment, Locally-stored Information, and Electronic Verification of Employment].

I thought the dems were AGAINST mandating ID's

good for them...a reliable ID would make the AZ law or similar attempts wholly unnecessary...

re: #153 MandyManners

Ever heard of the Exxon Valdez?

Alaska is not helpless.

Ever done research??
The oilspill the Exxon Valdez left (It blows the mind to know that this ship is still in service...) was approx. 108 million allos in total. This spill in Louisiana is growing with approx. 210000 gallons a day! And they say this spill will continue for months. It's been a little over a week since the incident happened. It won't be long before the Exxon Valdez disaster is overtaken in terms of magnitude.

re: #176 Aceofwhat?

good for them...a reliable ID would make the AZ law or similar attempts wholly unnecessary...

Are you saying it would be unnecessary because it would control who was hired by business? As it would be easy to identify qualified workers?

Just curious.

re: #176 Aceofwhat?

good for them...a reliable ID would make the AZ law or similar attempts wholly unnecessary...

It is coming, might as well be on board.

re: #176 Aceofwhat?

re: #179 brookly red

wow, you jokers REALLY want a national ID.

re: #180 cliffster

re: #179 brookly red

wow, you jokers REALLY want a national ID.

not so much want as just see the need.

re: #178 Locker

Are you saying it would be unnecessary because it would control who was hired by business? As it would be easy to identify qualified workers?

Just curious.

It would be necessary because in the course of perfectly normal policing, ID would be asked for just as it is today...no harassing 'show me your papers' crap. Get a speeding ticket? ID + registration please. Simple - no profiling - everyone gets asked for ID and no one gets asked for their 'papers'.

I understand the intent of the AZ law but i find it clumsy, alienating (heh), and prone to abuse.

re: #5 SanFranciscoZionist

OK, I am finally watching "Don't Mess With The Zohan".

BOMBS: Lefthanded

HATES ISRAEL: Yes

That movie sucked so bad it blew.

morning from the middle

re: #180 cliffster

re: #179 brookly red

wow, you jokers REALLY want a national ID.

i humbly submit that it is 342 times better than what AZ did. even better would be for the states to stop issuing DL's that can be so easily forged, but i don't want to make the perfect the enemy of the good.

Miss him? Bush's reputation might be ready for a rebound

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

"Most notably, the war in Iraq may not turn out to be the political albatross it was while he was in office.

While problems persist there — and the weapons of mass destruction that Bush cited in ordering the invasion never were found — democracy does appear to be taking hold, the U.S. is on track to withdraw combat troops by August and even Democratic Vice President Joe Biden now calls the war in Iraq a success.

"I am very optimistic about Iraq ," Biden said recently. "You're going to see a stable government in Iraq that is actually moving toward a representative government."

At the same time, Obama already has overrun and overshadowed the soaring budget deficits and record debt that Bush ran up while he was cutting taxes, launching two wars and expanding Medicare to cover prescription drugs. Gross federal debt in fiscal 2001, Bush's first year as president, was $5.7 trillion ; it was $9.9 trillion in fiscal 2008, his last full year. Obama's budget projects that the gross federal debt will be $16.3 trillion at the end of fiscal 2012, the last full year of his first term.
........
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said his party would campaign against Bush this fall even though the former president wasn't on the ballot, blaming him for the recession that started on his watch — rather than the Democrats who controlled Congress starting in 2007 — because "presidential leadership sets the tone.""

*chuckle*
still living in the past.....

re: #182 Aceofwhat?

It would be necessary because in the course of perfectly normal policing, ID would be asked for just as it is today...no harassing 'show me your papers' crap. Get a speeding ticket? ID + registration please. Simple - no profiling - everyone gets asked for ID and no one gets asked for their 'papers'.

I understand the intent of the AZ law but i find it clumsy, alienating (heh), and prone to abuse.

I already have a drivers license, a voters card, a birth certificate, and an ID for work. Why do I need another ID? Who is going to pay for all these IDs?

re: #187 NJDhockeyfan

Mastercard or VISA? //

full morning of meetings and new schedules... bbiab

re: #182 Aceofwhat?

It would be necessary because in the course of perfectly normal policing, ID would be asked for just as it is today...no harassing 'show me your papers' crap. Get a speeding ticket? ID + registration please. Simple - no profiling - everyone gets asked for ID and no one gets asked for their 'papers'.

I understand the intent of the AZ law but i find it clumsy, alienating (heh), and prone to abuse.

Right my big problem was the "show me your papers" thing and also that individuals get to decide the standard for said request. So based on your example would we get rid of state driver's licenses and just use the id card?

re: #174 Locker

Agreed and I'm fairly certain people dress like that as a way to flip the bird to "the man". Deliberate disrespect as a way to hit back.

which is dumb strike #3!

Al Gore, Tipper Gore snap up Montecito-area villa

Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, have added a Montecito-area property to their real estate holdings, reports the Montecito Journal.

The couple spent $8,875,000 on an ocean-view villa on 1.5 acres with a swimming pool, spa and fountains, a real estate source familiar with the deal confirms. The Italian-style house has six fireplaces, five bedrooms and nine bathrooms.

How much bigger does that make his carbon footprint?

re: #15 ralphieboy

But what does 'Seal the border' mean? I mean god damn, the GDR built this monstrosity Image: File:System_of_gdr_border_fortification.jpg and people still got out! How many billions are we willing to spend chasing the long tail of illegal immigration?

re: #188 badger1970

Mastercard or VISA? //

Yes, but those are not IDs.

question about the az border controversy: wouldn't it be a wiser move to address Mexico's southern border vs northern border hypocrisy? without their buyin it seems like a more difficult battle.

If you watch Jaws backwards, its about a huge shark that throws up so many people, that they need to open a beach.

re: #155 Mad Al-Jaffee

It's a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma.

To an enigma a riddle is like bacon. OM NOM NOM...

re: #187 NJDhockeyfan

I already have a drivers license, a voters card, a birth certificate, and an ID for work. Why do I need another ID? Who is going to pay for all these IDs?

I think either showing a DL ought to be proof of citizenship during 'police contact' or we should replace it with an ID that is secure enough to serve as said proof.

If i lived in AZ, i'd be mad as hell at my state pols for issuing me a DL that isn't a valid proof of my citizenship. Hello, broken system.

re: #192 NJDhockeyfan

Al Gore, Tipper Gore snap up Montecito-area villa

How much bigger does that make his carbon footprint?

Who says altruism doesn't pay?

re: #190 Locker

Right my big problem was the "show me your papers" thing and also that individuals get to decide the standard for said request. So based on your example would we get rid of state driver's licenses and just use the id card?

More likely you would need the NID to get the drivers licence. But there are upsides like never again hearing accusations of voter fraud, and ease of opening bank or cellphone accounts, applying for credit cards, all kinds of things.

Woot! My fiancee got into Cornell for the MSTP program!

The last possible day she could have been accepted, too.

This is the best of all her possible choices. She's such a fucking superstar. I love her.

re: #193 McSpiff

But what does 'Seal the border' mean? I mean god damn, the GDR built this monstrosity Image: File:System_of_gdr_border_fortification.jpg and people still got out! How many billions are we willing to spend chasing the long tail of illegal immigration?

Hmmm seems like the LGF embedded image code chokes on the Wikipedia image pages...that link was to an actual page and not an image..

re: #190 Locker

Right my big problem was the "show me your papers" thing and also that individuals get to decide the standard for said request. So based on your example would we get rid of state driver's licenses and just use the id card?

If the states can't make a DL secure enough to serve as proof of citizenship, then I would not complain about substituting state DL's for a biometric ID. It's not something to be excited about, but it's better than wondering how much proof of citizenship we ought to have on our person when we go to the grocery store...

re: #201 Obdicut

Woot! My fiancee got into Cornell for the MSTP program!

The last possible day she could have been accepted, too.

This is the best of all her possible choices. She's such a fucking superstar. I love her.

NICE

re: #201 Obdicut

congrats to her! awesome, i wish you both well. when's the date?

re: #201 Obdicut

Woot! My fiancee got into Cornell for the MSTP program!

The last possible day she could have been accepted, too.

This is the best of all her possible choices. She's such a fucking superstar. I love her.

wait...where are you going to live? Ithaca now?

re: #190 Locker

Right my big problem was the "show me your papers" thing and also that individuals get to decide the standard for said request. So based on your example would we get rid of state driver's licenses and just use the id card?

Universal RFID tag and you can get rid of them all. Just have to worry about unscrupulous people chopping your tag out while you sleep to abuse it, or your linked records getting hacked...

//

re: #201 Obdicut

Woot! My fiancee got into Cornell for the MSTP program!

The last possible day she could have been accepted, too.

This is the best of all her possible choices. She's such a fucking superstar. I love her.

they do save the best for last yes?

re: #200 brookly red

More likely you would need the NID to get the drivers licence. But there are upsides like never again hearing accusations of voter fraud, and ease of opening bank or cellphone accounts, applying for credit cards, all kinds of things.

smart dude

re: #198 Aceofwhat?

I think either showing a DL ought to be proof of citizenship during 'police contact' or we should replace it with an ID that is secure enough to serve as said proof.

If i lived in AZ, i'd be mad as hell at my state pols for issuing me a DL that isn't a valid proof of my citizenship. Hello, broken system.

great point. why did they ever do that - issue a state dl without proof of citizenship - that is a more proper law that they should address.

re: #201 Obdicut

rock on, lady obdi

re: #201 Obdicut

Woot! My fiancee got into Cornell for the MSTP program!

The last possible day she could have been accepted, too.

This is the best of all her possible choices. She's such a fucking superstar. I love her.

Congrats for her! And you get the benefit of visiting Ithaca and the Finger Lakes Region more often.

:)

re: #195 vinnievin

question about the az border controversy: wouldn't it be a wiser move to address Mexico's southern border vs northern border hypocrisy? without their buyin it seems like a more difficult battle.

IIRC, they're wholly uncooperative about that.

Mandela Meets With Suicide Bomber Apologist

Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi, a Muslim scholar who has preached that suicide bombing against Israeli citizens is “a necessary Jihad,” has met with former South African president Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years for an attempted terrorist attack.

The two met on Friday, April 9 in Johanesburg, South Africa.

In addition to strongly supporting suicide bombings on Israeli targets, Qaradawi has called Jews a “profligate, cunning, arrogant band of people” and openly led a prayer for Allah to “kill them, down to the very last one” in 2009.

Qaradawi has been banned from entering the United States since 1999 and the United Kingdom since 2003.

re: #195 vinnievin

question about the az border controversy: wouldn't it be a wiser move to address Mexico's southern border vs northern border hypocrisy? without their buyin it seems like a more difficult battle.

what hypocrisy vinnievin?

re: #205 vinnievin

June 19th we're getting married.

re: #206 Aceofwhat?

Nah, Cornell medical college is on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. It's joined with Sloan-Kettering and the Rockefeller University:

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

Basically: She's a cancer researcher and it's the best place to be for cancer research. She gets to work with a guy she's already written papers with and who thinks she's awesome. Best wedding present we could have gotten.

We already have a "National ID" it's called a passport. Right now people only ever bother to get a passport if they are planning travel abroad, which BTW now includes Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

re: #210 vinnievin

great point. why did they ever do that - issue a state dl without proof of citizenship - that is a more proper law that they should address.

i can't figure it out. sure seems like a more sensible place to start...but maybe it's a "smack the baby" thing like cliffster said earlier...

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. There are days when I think that this photo of a glossary sums things up just perfectly.

There are days when I think that this photo of a glossary sums things up just perfectly.

There are days when I think that this photo of a glossary sums things up just perfectly.

(you'll have to see the photo to get the joke).

The illegal immigration problem facing the country has been going on for decades, and border control has been a massive failure. The feds pretty much abdicated on their responsibilities, but that doesn't mean that AZ has the right to do what it's done (and there are already two voter initiatives being considered that would delay implementation to at least after the 2010 election if not until after 2012, if at all, to say nothing of lawsuits being filed by various cities in AZ over the costs to comply).

That you now have Democrats scrambling to do something about immigration, and are now touting border control as the top priority, is pretty remarkable - and hilarious given their reluctance to do anything serious when the GOP raised the issue.

A national ID wont solve the matter - as most states now have to comply with federal requirements for strong ID protections. The problem is that once someone gets into the country illegally, it's a matter of time before they can obtain illegal ID that could pass muster. Hence, the need is to deal with controlling the border, and then gradually rolling back the number of illegal aliens (which by their very label are here illegally - and efforts to mask that very nature by calling them undocumented aliens ignores that these people are breaking federal immigration law every day they're here). Now, that could mean a mix of an amnesty or deportations, but also stronger border enforcement and enforcement of existing employment laws will provide a disincentive for illegals to enter the US in the first place. It's stronger employment enforcement that has the potential to do the most - although it will also mean an increase in costs of doing business since one of the reasons that illegals are hired is because they're willing to work off the books, for less than minimum wage, and do menial labor that folks aren't necessarily willing to do.

None of this should affect legal immigration except as to expand it to allow more legal immigration - permanent visas, green cards, and naturalization. We should make it easier for others to come to the US legally, while discouraging illegal aliens.

Whether the Democrat proposal fits the bill remains to be seen, but it's nice to see that they're now pushing the same kind of border control rhetoric that the GOP was doing just a few short months ago.

re: #215 vinnievin

what hypocrisy vinnievin?

Why are you asking yourself questions? Are you mishandling a sock-puppet, or do you just have divergent personalities?

re: #215 vinnievin

what hypocrisy vinnievin?

how many personalities you juggling today?

re: #216 Obdicut

Ah... that's no fun!

re: #207 oaktree

Universal RFID tag and you can get rid of them all. Just have to worry about unscrupulous people chopping your tag out while you sleep to abuse it, or your linked records getting hacked...

//

That's one of the things on my mind. All that easy stuff packed into one card makes that card a real target for theft and misuse. Personally if there were a biometric card and a system where I couldn't apply for or pay for anything without a thumb print or retinal scan I'd sign up in a heartbeat.

I don't really care about the whole "big brother" thing. Big brother so much further up our ass than a simple identity card it seems like bitching about a cracked teacup when the house is falling down.

If we move to a national id system it should replace driver's license, social security card, military id, etc, etc. They are all just properties of the new card:

Allowed to drive in the US: True
Allowed to buy alcohol in Vermont: True
Allowed to buy medical cannabis in California: False

re: #220 Obdicut

Just trying to have a conversation with SOMEONE about it lol.

re: #220 Obdicut

gmta by thaaat much...

re: #222 oaktree

I think New York is fun. Or rather, I think The Whitney, the Guggenheim, The Met, the MOMA, the Jewish delis, the old bookstores, Central park, etc. etc. are a lot of fun.

I like the countryside, but Ithaca is too precious for me. I'll take the rough and tumble of New York City and like it.

re: #120 sattv4u2

When it's a non Dem or (shudder) Republican proposal, it is an awful idea that violates rights. Until the Dems need or want it. Then it's brilliant. Especially with an IQ 70-ish acronym to sell it. Next- Voter ID for a similar treatment.

re: #217 Alouette

We already have a "National ID" it's called a passport. Right now people only ever bother to get a passport if they are planning travel abroad, which BTW now includes Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

And Hawaii, right?

re: #201 Obdicut

Congrats!!!

re: #217 Alouette

They're also at least 10x more expensive than any other ID, at least in Canada. A non drivers license provincial ID in my province costs either $12 or $20 whereas a passport is roughly $110 now.

re: #201 Obdicut

Woot! My fiancee got into Cornell for the MSTP program!

The last possible day she could have been accepted, too.

This is the best of all her possible choices. She's such a fucking superstar. I love her.

Congratulations! If I were there I'd pack ya'll a bowl or buy shots... or even ice cream.

re: #221 Aceofwhat?

oh it is just me, sometimes these jokes are written just for me. i chuckle, maybe you chuckle, I know at least one person gets it.

BBL...yard work calling

re: #216 Obdicut

It's good to know that my donations (however meager they are - Rockefeller I'm not) to MSK will be doing some good. The best of luck to her (and you).

re: #216 Obdicut

Basically: She's a cancer researcher and it's the best place to be for cancer research. She gets to work with a guy she's already written papers with and who thinks she's awesome. Best wedding present we could have gotten.

Ah, the Manhattan campus. Nice. Haven't been there but i know of it. It was out of my league when i was toying with med school.

re: #231 Locker

Congratulations! If I were there I'd pack ya'll a bowl or buy shots... or even ice cream.

Ice cream would be needed if you packed a bowl.:)

re: #217 Alouette

We already have a "National ID" it's called a passport. Right now people only ever bother to get a passport if they are planning travel abroad, which BTW now includes Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

OK, that works from me... a passport should also come with a wallet sized ID that could be carried easily, of course you would still need the actual passport for traveling.

re: #224 vinnievin

Just trying to have a conversation with SOMEONE about it lol.

kinda weird, given that i responded to your original post before you did.

i support your constitutional right to be weird, though, so carry on-

re: #213 Aceofwhat?

IIRC, they're wholly uncooperative about that.

It's hard to be cooperative when your government along the northern border is more concerned with not getting killed by the cartels just for going to work in the morning.

so my point, if anyone would like to respond, is that Mexico has some relatively draconian immigration laws that they enforce heavily on their southern border, but do very little about the violence and illegal immigration to the north. I will acknowledge that it is much easier for them to enforce their smaller southern border, but maybe it would behoove us to leverage our ... whatever ... to encourage them to apply a similar perspective to both borders.

re: #237 brookly red

OK, that works from me... a passport should also come with a wallet sized ID that could be carried easily, of course you would still need the actual passport for traveling.

That's a stupidly good idea. There's been more than a few times when I'm traveling that I've had to make the decision of "Do I risk not having acceptable ID or do I risk having my passport stolen?". A "Passport Holder" card would nicely solve that problem... plus the whole national ID thing. I really like this idea. Mark yourself down for one beer if we ever meet...

re: #237 brookly red

OK, that works from me... a passport should also come with a wallet sized ID that could be carried easily, of course you would still need the actual passport for traveling.

now that you mention it...you can get a smaller version that some countries (bahamas, etc) accept. i didn't bother, because i'm probably going to West Africa and Nigeria for business later this year, but i think you can do that.

question is - if one can forge enough things for a state ID, is a passport so much harder to obtain? does anyone know?

re: #213 Aceofwhat?

sorry missed this post.

yes, what can we do about that? in what way could we exert some pressure, or create some incentive? wouldn't that be a positive development, regardless of party affiliation?

re: #223 Locker

That's one of the things on my mind. All that easy stuff packed into one card makes that card a real target for theft and misuse. Personally if there were a biometric card and a system where I couldn't apply for or pay for anything without a thumb print or retinal scan I'd sign up in a heartbeat.

I don't really care about the whole "big brother" thing. Big brother so much further up our ass than a simple identity card it seems like bitching about a cracked teacup when the house is falling down.

If we move to a national id system it should replace driver's license, social security card, military id, etc, etc. They are all just properties of the new card:

Allowed to drive in the US: True
Allowed to buy alcohol in Vermont: True
Allowed to buy medical cannabis in California: False

Of course that also results in a wider national system (which to an extent is in place already). And some aspects of the state licensing would probably/eventually be subsumed into a nationally-controlled program.

The primary issue then becomes how well managed that bureaucracy is, and how well the technology is secured and used on the user-end. Biometrics, secure use, etc. Though I expect that the card would also see a lot of unofficial, informal, insecure use as wider usage creeps through society. (Similar to how SS# has essentially become a national ID number as various organizations have "used" it; e.g. my college ID# was my SS# with a "1" added on the end. :p )

re: #240 vinnievin

so my point, if anyone would like to respond, is that Mexico has some relatively draconian immigration laws that they enforce heavily on their southern border, but do very little about the violence and illegal immigration to the north. I will acknowledge that it is much easier for them to enforce their smaller southern border, but maybe it would behoove us to leverage our ... whatever ... to encourage them to apply a similar perspective to both borders.

Unfortunately it is not in their interest to do so or they would already have done it.

re: #234 lawhawk

Indeed, thank you.