K-9

Thank you. It’s NOT legal as only Congress controls the purse strings and the appropriation of funds. The Executive branch simply has no authority to re-direct funds already approved and appropriated by Congress. The ignorance of our Constitution and laws by people sworn to protect and defend as well as those who never took the oath in the first place (Musk) is staggering. And it’s a shameful indictment of our patriotism that so many are OK with it.

It’s called leaving a vacuum and bad actors will soon seek to fill it. IMO, unless you’ve been on the ground and have seen first hand the tangible results of our influence in various places around the world, then you just can’t appreciate the importance of the work. By all means, root out and prosecute the corruption and fraud, but by all means, continue to do the work. We seem to have a collective amnesia as to why these agencies were created in the first place. They are even more important today.

Just to be clear, that doesn’t mean the states can’t freely give their assistance in federal law enforcement if authorized to do so. They just can’t be ordered to by the feds.

The 10th Amendment usually does take precedence in favor of the states, thus the difference in drug laws, etc. The supremacy clause comes into play when laws conflict and the federal law always prevails. With regard to this lawsuit over immigration in NY, the federal government is prohibited from using states as the instrument to enforce them and I don’t see the conflict in the actual laws, but it will be interesting to see how the state law that says the DMV must inform people when their information is requested by federal authorities, is challenged.

She’s been peddling her pro Russian propaganda for a while now. A couple of long time intelligence officials I’ve known for years are genuinely concerned over her nomination today.

That would actually make things more efficient which is what I thought DOGE was for. Instead, it is a witch hunt full of lies and unproven accusations.

Other than your position on a gun law designed to help prevent criminals and mentally unstable people from gaining easy access to guns, I pretty much agree with what you posit here. But I am surprised by your take on taxes as it’s interesting to me how one tax (FICA) is an infringement on your personal freedom while others are not a bad thing when used properly.

GOP Congressman from Georgia, Earl Carter actually introduced a bill that would give permission for Cheeto Man to enter into negotiations to acquire Greenland and rename it Red White and Blue Land. There is simply no end to the GOP’s bull$hit. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/11/buddy-carter-greenland/78422602007/

So would invading Greenland. But once again the media is getting sucked into his bat$hit crazy rhetoric instead of focusing on the actual threats to our democracy.

Yep, it will be published alright. Just as soon as their fictional narrative is ready for the presses.

You didn’t trigger anything. If it talks like a fascist, walks like a fascist, and follows a fascist manifesto, then it’s a fascist. The fascist in chief and the complete disdain he and his henchmen have for our Constitution is what triggers me. I took my oath to the Constitution seriously as it’s the most precious thing we Americans share. And it’s certainly worth defending as we’ve had to since our inception. Damn right I’m triggered, but you don’t need to take credit for that.

One would think that seeking opposing viewpoints is a sign of curiosity and intelligence as well as a healthy mental outlook. But facts, while certainly open to editorial opinion, are simply not subjective. Unfortunately, we live in an age where there are “alternative facts” as KellyAnne Conway articulated and supposedly “responsible” news organizations are all for it.

Nowadays people don’t require proof as they are only willing to believe in whatever narrative confirms their biases. And I’d be interested in knowing if Faux News, Newsmax, or any other far right source will even bother to report the facts to their audiences. They are notorious for not doing so but their viewers/listeners are so uncomfortable outside their safety bubbles, it’s no surprise they wouldn’t bother to seek the truth in the first place.

If you completely recall it, then you know I wasn’t saying SS had anything to do with denying people medical care, preventing marriage choice, or the ability to serve in the military. So I’m glad we’re clear on that. As for all the rest of it, I appreciate your taking the time to expand on your viewpoints. I meant to add that I agree 100% with your take on religion. It has no place in our politics, let alone any direct influence on our laws. But the GOP uses it like a cudgel to divide this nation.

The opportunity to make history like the Chiefs had last night doesn’t come along often, if at all. It’s understandable why Chiefs fans may feel so miserable about it.

Perhaps your should re-read what started our entire debate on the subject in the first place. I had listed several examples of GOP policies that DIRECTLY infringed on personal freedoms. You said “both sides” do that. I disagreed and asked you to give me examples of Dem policies that infringed upon our personal freedoms. You responded by citing social security, NY’s SAFE Act, and another law I don’t recall at the moment. In my post from earlier today above, as a way to emphasize the difference in our positions, I was again pointing to the difference between actual policies championed by the GOP by saying that SS never denied those individual freedoms, like medical coverage, etc. that GOP policies do. From what I can gather from your examples, it isn’t that SS so much infringes upon your freedoms as it is that you simply disagree with the law. Fine. But SS has never prevented you from enjoying the freedoms that the GOP seeks to deny others.

Reminds me when we went to see ‘Hamilton’ and the guy behind us exclaimed, “I didn’t know there was gonna be this stupid rap music!” I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel sorry that he would just never get what Miranda was getting at. On the plus side, he had no complaints about black actors playing several founding fathers. Yay progress!

JD Vance with the latest display of Constitutional ignorance today as he claims courts have no right to check presidential orders. That is even more egregious than Tommy “the three branches of government are the House, Senate, and the Executive” Tuberville. One would think that elected federal office holders should know something taught in basic elementary school civics lessons would be a minimum requirement to hold office. Then again …

I didn’t say anything about our involvement being OK or not. I merely point out the reality of the situation. As for my take on the middle east, every historian who has researched the subject agrees, so I’m in good company with my shortsighted and uninformed take. Tell me, what scholars agree with your take that SS is an infringement on your personal freedom? As far as I know SS never denied anyone medical care like GOP laws do. It never sought to deny people the right to marry like the GOP is seeking to do. Nor did SS ever seek to deny certain people the right to serve in the military. Those are just a few example of actual personal freedoms under attack by radical right wing politicians. Do you feel that all taxes infringe upon your personal freedoms? So if I understand your point in your third paragraph, it’s not OK for the US to protect its interests abroad? When USAID was created in an attempt to thwart the USSR’s efforts to exert influence and spread their brand of communism, was that not important? Are you paying attention to the efforts by China and Russia to gain footholds worldwide? The other side is wrong because they are doing things that are not in accordance with our Constitution. Sometimes there is only ONE side and that’s the side that stands by our Constitution and the rule of law instead of seeing it trampled like it is now by a party whose leader wishes to see it “terminated” as he came right out and said. It saddens me to see so many who are OK with that.

Ah, the sweet taste of radical right wing propaganda. When it comes to a thirst for confirmation bias, nothing quenches it better than a steaming pile of radical right wing propaganda. Yummy.

That DOGE staff is just full of the best people, from avowed racists to young punks with ties to Russian websites. Yeah, let’s give these guys access to the most sensitive government data bases. https://www.wired.com/story/edward-coristine-tesla-sexy-path-networks-doge/

Isn’t Karmanos the GM in Rochester the last few years? May not be an opening there. Hey, maybe Karmanos and Adams can switch positions.

So Musk and his team of Gen Z post (or possibly pre from the looks of them) pubescent engineer geniuses only needed three weeks to uncover 3 trillion dollars in mis-spent funds while nobody in the history of these agencies, from internal and external audits to inspectors general whose job it is to investigate such waste, with all the sophisticated technological tools to assist in those efforts, never even noticed? Horse. Crap. Another dog and pony show for people who have to believe it’s all true to satisfy their confirmation bias.

Perhaps the most short-sighted and uninformed take on the social security program I’ve ever read. Safe to say we have no more to discuss on that subject. Our involvement in the middle east was solidified when the new border lines were drawn by the British and French after WWI. That will only change when oil becomes an antiquated energy source and the other petroleum products we derive from it can be made from other sources. Good luck with that, world. Many middle eastern countries don’t accept ours or any other foreign presence. Others welcome it. And it’s not that we are attempting to control their very existence, it’s that it’s extremely important to our interests to prevent other hostile/adversarial countries from exerting influence. Ironically, we can thank USAID for that as that has been their mission since it’s inception in 1961.

It’s ironic that the funding for the future terrorist’s education was provided under a Republican administration.