Neo

I'm surprised our man didn't photoshop the word "character" instead of "ability". Love me some Pi, man. Sorted by QUALITY OF HUMAN BEING.

Just noticed your location ... glad you're here. Are you an American living abroad or a Finn who follows the Sabres? NOYB is a fine response, of course. I first opened the article without translation. I think I spell like a Finn.

A good read, indeed. America has earned my respect. I'll let Colin make his own decision.

Oops, not situations YOU put yoursel into ---- I didn't follow your response until I reconsidered my language. I meant ... situations African Americans put themselves into vs. situations African Americans find themselves in. That's how I'd distill the responses to your posts. YOU are the expert on YOU ... apologies for lack of clarity.

What do I know, but that's how I see it.

I am in agreement with those I am often not in agreement. My respectful thought to JJ - examine the difference between situations you put yourself into and situations in which you find yourself.

Damn you.

6. Heresy.7. Violence. 8. Fraud. 9. Treachery. On a serious note .... If the ACA, retracting insurance carriers and EpiPen lead to an earnest discussion of health care, who gets it, and at what cost, I'll be happy. I've mentioned this before, but I'm for universal coverage as a benefit. It's expensive. It suggests rationing. My darling (at the time) Ms. Palin used the phrase "death panels". She was rhetorically provocative and preying on fears. She was conceptually correct. I'm relatively healthy. Actuarially, I expect to spend more money on health care in the next 20 years than I've spent in the last 55. Adopt Single Payer, and YOU will spend more on me. Want to look the beast in the face? Discuss where you'll find the money for me, or what treatment you'll ask me to forgo. I like this conversation. If I'm governing, I look me in the eye and tell me I don't really need that hip. Of course, I'd also tell someone they don't need extra weeks of unemployment. Substitute your most prized entitlement here. I think the compassionate to all "solution" requires a bit of everything. The following is easy for me to say, today. That is, tell me I'm capped out and on my own at age 75 so that four kids can get insulin pumps in elementary school today. I'm in. That would be courageous government. I don't think I'm out of the ordinary. I also think we've been deprived of the conversation. "Free, cost curves and death panels" made headlines. We regulated 1/6th of the economy, dealing with most critical issues, and talked around what it meant. The politics of ACA is among the most disappointingly loathesome of my adult life. Synonym see: Free college tuition. Substitute private lenders for insurance companies, call this benefit a right, and use the ever powerful Washington-speak of "invest" in lieu of "spend" and we have Act Four. I'll save social security and Charles Ponzi for another time. Courage and math. PS ... I think I got "payer" correct!

I missed facetious. Foot fault! I'll cop to an "astute grasp of the obvious". I'm with you on bi-partisan, too. Eleven makes a good point regarding the insurance carriers. ACA (no criticism) with its higher deductibles to keep price increases down are "exposing" health care costs. The were always out of our pocket. Now they are, literally.

Fill in the something, somethings ... What market dynamic do you see in play? There is little to no demand/supply demand dynamic with EpiPen. Well, there is. Huge demand with out competitive supply. I would say my choice of socks has more to do with the pricing. Tragedy, yes ... a supply / demand issue ... only to the extent that suppliers have FDA barriers. At the risk of suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous and indignant rebuttal, EpiPen is unconstrained pricing (call it greed if that suits you) screaming down the regulated FDA Superhighway. I could sell EpiPens for half price and be profitable. 'Cept, I can't. Economics ... They can't choose who they buy them from. Your flowers would be $500, too, if only one florist was allowed to sell. You could call the florist greedy. You might be right. I'd open another florist shop. There are many dynamics, here. Greed, flowers, market failures. The arrows are splayed. The target's intact.

My feelings as a boy about Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos (Olympics) are different, today. I've grown. I think America has. We're not finished, thank heavens. I agree with you. My great joy with regard to Ali lies in what he taught me.

My bluest of blue family is (still with us) / would be (passed on) aghast ... with a visceral reaction that doesn't arise in me. As to the candidate and his supporters, I'd guess they view Colin K as exhibit 3,429 of evidence we're no longer great. I see a difference in their mind between "not great" and "no longer great". I can't debate on their behalf. I try to understand them. Not my view, my understanding. Respectfully!

My point would apply starting or continuing the conversation ... you can reject my point or not. It depends not on starting the conversation. If you're saying it goes both ways, I agree.

He has a right. He made a point. My experience is that dialogue that begins with respect advances further than dialogue that does not. Efficacy. The debate he wants to have is muddied by the debate he's having. He doesn't call me, or need me, for advice.

Ladies and gentleman, I give you Laetitia Casta, The Goddess of Liberty, and dedicate my season to her form. Those of you who've embraced or rejected my philosophies around humanity and the human condition will recognize my deep seated fondness for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. The French have Marianne, a national symbol of the French Republic, an allegory of liberty and reason, and a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty. Marianne is displayed in many places in France and holds a place of honour in town halls and law courts. She symbolizes the "Triumph of the Republic", a bronze sculpture overlooking the Place de la Nation in Paris. Her profile stands out on the official government logo of the country, is engraved on French coins and appears on French postage stamps; it also was featured on the former franc currency. Marianne is one of the most prominent symbols of the French Republic, and is officially used on most government documents. Marianne is a significant republican symbol, opposed to monarchy, and an icon of freedom and democracy against all forms of dictatorship. Other national symbols of France include the tricolor flag, the national motto Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, the national anthem La Marseillaise, the coat of arms and the official Great Seal of France. Several years ago, France chose Ms. Casta to pose for a statue of Marianne. If she's good enough for the French when personifying Marianne, she's good enough for me. CastaNettes is my interNET homage to Ms. Casta and the ideals Marianne represents. #lifecracksmeup

I've enjoyed seeing how this man, band and music has touched you all. I have familiarity with most music ranging from intimate to tangential. I can't claim that with The Hip. Life, circumstances, distractions. Somehow, I missed this band. Oh, I know the name, but not a thing more. Sounds like I missed something special.

Full disclosure and for the league's consideration ... I would like to discuss my team with my son, who's a member here. I'll seek his advice and allow him to post roster moves, etc, if i'm working or otherwise missing deadlines. He'll join me for the draft, for instance. This is probably something you all do with friends and family .... but I'm an above board guy. Any objection, let me know ...

If Chocolate's your favorite, the important things in life link us more closely than other postings might suggest possible.

The resurrection of this thread brought me to your post. Most wonderful.

I think you're right. Happens on the right, too, as I suspect you'd agree.

I may be teased by another poster, but I'll say it, anyway .... insight, and I AM grateful. Most interesting thesis. I'll call myself a laymen reading your post to put this next point in context. My mind "sees" much of what you describe about DOJ and career government in general. My mind, though, wouldn't think to articulate or conclude around the specific points you spoke to. In short, "I see what you're onto and it feels right". Great research shows us things even before it explains them. HRC and DOJ disappointed me. It did not surprise me. Again, I feel your words. They resonate. I understand the same things come into play for and against both parties. You might find some of my posts from a few weeks ago interesting. Not correct or compelling, mind you, but interesting. Without sophistication, I began exploring Trump supporters as the residual last "group or interest group" that remains after decades of naming, identifying, and stripping away all other groups. I see a body where we've stripped away arms, legs and organs and given them all a voice. Those voices ask for policies advantageous to them and pledge support to candidates that represent them. In short, Trump supporters aren't dumb evil bigots. They're good people, abandoned by the Balkanizing politics of identity. Now, they're loud. I'll think more, here. The future of the party interests me. I don't think he's "a good thing" for the party, but I admit to flirting with that particular idea early on. I wanted him to be an enema. Much to think about .... Lastly, I've seen the Jon Snow commercial. See, I paid attention.

Skype! I'll represent. I'm curious about you, your field, and discussion of "closet Trump supporters" and any implications for polls and races.

My preference is rooted solely in the response of The Federalist Society and The Heritage Foundation, among others, to a short list he released in May. In short, guys and gals I think get it right said Trump got it right. I am certainly not qualified to select individual judges. My support is philosophical. If you're wondering if he's shown personal judgment that I trust, the answer's no. She's not shown it to me, either. Further, her ideological friends view the world differently than mine. His inconsistencies are, well, inconsistent. I don't know if he has a philosophy of government. Hers are consistent, depending on the consistency she chooses week to week. Ten years ago, she was nearly a moderate republican. Today, she's a progressive. He's always been .... well, what time of day is it and what's the topic? Two "no" feelings on their personal judgment. One "yes" feeling on the ideological bona fides of his shortlist as determined by like minded third parties.

I agree, whole heartedly, without snark, irony, innuendo or double entendre. (I'd still prefer is Supreme Court picks, though).