The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Alex

Still waiting for some hard science. I in no way question the engineering achievements that have spun off from NASA in recent decades through the manned-spaceflight programs. Though most of them I'd question whether they're development was uniquely dependent on manned spaceflight or if that just provided one of many possible development platforms.

And I'm sure plenty of hard science has been done but most of does not actually requires humans to be present. It is always a challenge for NASA to find actual scientific-type things for them to do. That's why now that we've pretty much finished the ISS they need to either now redo it towards more scientific goals or just let the program expire, it has no inherent purpose other than PR.

But still, I'm all in favor of manned spaceflight in private hands, and manned-spaceflight by the government if they can show an actual strong benefit beyond PR. But since they haven't accomplished that after 50 years of having a space program I doubt they'll come up with something soon.

Ok, I see what you're saying.

[Alex]

At this point I've just decided to pretend that I intentionally go through each of my posts and intentionally use the incorrect option for they're, there, their. It's the only way to explain that when typing quickly I never, ever get the right one to come out of my fingers.

[sleepyjeff]

Oddly enough, you don't seem to have the same problem with you're, your, and yore.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Rahm Emanuel apologizes

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Would any of out Republican friends like to comment on Senator Shelby's blanket hold?

Apparently not...

[scaeagles]

Sorry - missed that post. And honestly I've been so disconnected from anything in the news lately I had no idea what you were even talking about when I read the post above - my first impression was he was getting involved in some sort of trade war to protect Alabama blanket factories from imported Argentinian blankets or some such thing. But after reading a bit.....

It's wrong. Nominees should be allowed an up or down vote.

However, for the dems to be outraged by such actions make me think they forget the Bush years.

[Ghoulish Delight]

You really don't see a difference between trying to prevent the nomination of an individual that you don't think is right for the position (putting aside for a moment what one might consider valid reasons to think such) vs. preventing all nominations regardless of any individual's qualifications as ransom for earmarked funding for your constituents?

[Alex]

I'm not a Republican but as a practical matter I don't really have a problem with Shelby doing this. Other senators have had blanket hold policies for various reasons over the years (one famously automatically put holds on all tax legislation).What I object to is Senate leadership actually allowing a hold to slow down business.

Holds do not have to be observed. All a hold is, is a claim that if brought to the floor a senator will not vote for a unanimous consent agreement to move the bill along. Essentially a promised attempt to filibuster. So go ahead and call the potential bluff instead of saying "oh noes, we can't go ahead." Force a vote on the consent agreement and see if other Republican senators are willing to help out and if not, then onward with debate.

[scaeagles]

GD, it is all political. An up or down vote is an up or down vote, and whatever the reason state all it comes down to is trying to block the nominees from getting the up or down vote. I would suppose that there isn't a dem who really thinks a republican nominee is best for the job nor is there a republican who thinks a dem nominee is best for the job. The issue is who the President thinks is best for the job and giving the up or down vote.

[JWBear]

As GD said... There is a VAST difference between holding a single nomination because you do not agree with it, and putting a hold on EVERY nomination before the Senate just to extort pork for your state.