sunnykerr

I don't understand how an elected official can get away with commenting, even if it's just a joke or if his words go beyond his thoughts, on how he would have shot an innocent person, one who wasn't posing a threat of any kind. Our Prime Minister once accidentally elbowed another member of parliament and there were jokes about how he immediately apologized and proceeded to repeatedly apologize over and over again, at every opportunity, for something that had always clearly been an accident.

In the United States, you can say that you would shoot another human being and that's okay... That makes zero sense to me. Guns kill. That's what they're made for. They're not supposed to be a joke. It's not funny. You know, the GOP is so worshipful of Ronald Reagan, you'd think they remember that he was the subject of an assassination attempt at one point.

Well, no one thought recovery in Puerto Rico would be simple or a matter of waving a magic wand. The original problem was that the federal government took weeks to organize a response of any kind. Hopefully, they're on it now. It will take time, but hopefully they're on it. And, if they're not, clearly Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Antony and others are ready to give it their best shot.

And, what do you know, WHO chief 'rethinking' Robert Mugabe's appointment. I still can't believe they ever even thought about it. The man's a dictator. The only reason health care is decent in his country is because poor people die in hidden parts of the country, opponents are "disappeared" and I wouldn't put it past him to shoot people with chronic diseases.

There You'll Be

I can't understand how, either. I also don't understand how the one who "body-slammed" the reporter didn't get arrested for assault. Your PM really apologized over and over? I'd rather that be the norm than what is going on now, but both sides are extreme.

What's scary, is-he was serious, according to the witnesses any way. I think they have clearly forgotten Reagan was shot in an attempt to kill him. I remember how horrible I'd thought that was then. It's funny how easily that's forgotten, when it serves their purpose.

What's disturbing me about Puerto Rico is that they sent 300+ electricians/power workers, while they sent 3500+ to the coast of Texas. Yes, it's much harder to get them to the island, I understand that, but everyday people are getting there, volunteering, to help.

The past 5 living, Presidents were at a concert last night, to get donations for all hurricane recovery, I'll get a link, and post it on the Politics Lite thread.

I saw that about Mugame being "reconsidered". Where was the actual common sense in nominating him in the first place? I saw that scrolling on the bottom of the new feed, and wondered why they don't have actual news discussing it, since having read the article you posted.

Funny how those "pesky ill people" die where they won't be found, and anyone who stands up is disappearing. I wouldn't be surprised, in the least, if they're shooting sick people, either.

How can none of that ring alarm bells??


ETA-they cancelled him/it. WHO cancels Robert Mugabe goodwill ambassador role - BBC News

sunnykerr

You know, at the time, I didn't keep track of the details of the response to Katrina, when there was a response. I mean, aside from the obvious things that made the news, from the Superdome stuff to the general delays. But I don't know how many people did show up, when they did show up, and so forth.

I'm not shocked that the places that have a say in federal politics and that did vote for Trump are getting priority. In the context of the need on the ground, it may or may not make sense, but in terms of how GOP politics work, it seems par for course to me. You can be reassured, though, in knowing that the whole world is aware of the crisis in Puerto Rico, thanks to the efforts of celebrities and of the former presidents. Interesting to hear that, while Trump was moaning about needing to send help to Puerto Rico, his predecessors were taking care of business, huh?

And, to be clear, Trump isn't the first one to express a desire to be a dictator. I doubt it was as troubling when he said it, but George W. Bush is quoted as saying that everything would be easier (to get done) if he was a dictator. It's probably why his administration increased the POTUS powers to pass laws. The difference is that Bush was a politician, aware of how government and democracy works, whereas Trump is used to being a dictator of sorts in his business life.

And thank goodness the WHO saw sense when it comes to Mugabe. That was embarassing. You just don't reward dictators like that.

In the meantime, the Rohingya crisis keeps getting worse and worse: India says Myanmar must take back Rohingya Muslims

And, just to add more evidence that Muslisms are just as much victims of terrorism as anyone else: French police arrest 8 in alleged far-right terror plot

There You'll Be

There is so much corruption going on in who is getting the contracts for the hurricane recovery efforts-companies are being hired that...it's just a mess. Some of the companies hired have only 2 employees, but are connected to politicians. I just can't believe all the insanity. I don't even know what to say at this point.

I think it's amazing that all the people speaking out for the people of Puerto Rico.

I had no idea Bush said that. They're democratically elected, but wan't to destroy the democracy. I also had no idea they increased the presidential powers for passing laws.

Help me understand-I read the article, but I'm confused-are they sending them back there to basically get them all killed? Or did I misread that?

Terrorists just hate. They pick their target, and try to destroy their targets. I don't know how anyone could believe Muslims couldn't be victims of terror. I'm FAR more afraid of "nationalists" from any country.


I haven't read any of the documents, just posting the link to the article-the FBI has released documents about the Sandy Hook shooting... https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/n...hook-shooting/

sunnykerr

Oh, I am so not surprised that they're "contracting out" recovery, showing favouritism to their buddies and it's all leading to an even bigger mess. What do you think happened in Iraq and Afghanistan? This is what they do.

It's how people do business, after all, isn't it?

Bush did say that. But, at the time, he didn't have nearly as much power as Trump as. George W. Bush's administration did a lot to give the Oval Office more executive powers. So they have that to answer for.

India wants to ship the Rohingya back to Myanmar where, if they don't get killed, they'll certainly be persecuted. Which is terrible, of course. But it's not surprising. Ever since the big separation of India and Pakistan, a couple of things have happened. First, Pakistan is traditionally Muslim while India is traditionally Hindu. And the minorities in both countries aren't treated super well, generally speaking. Also, India is overcrowded and has a lot of poverty. They're also trying to move away from that poverty.

So it may just be that they're sacrificing these people to appease local sentiment or to support their own initiatives to fight poverty.... I mean, nothing I say will make sense because, at the end of the day, it's a terrible thing they're doing. But I'm not surprised.

I think transparency is essential when things like the Sandy Hook massacre happen. But I'm not actually sure what these documents can tell us about it that we don't already know. The perpetrator was a loner, shut-in, with mental issues and anxiety problems. If that alone made murderers, my neighbours would need to be really worried.

I can't imagine the FBI will be allowed to get into the fact that no amount of loneliness, isolation, mental-health issues or anxiety will ever cause the murder of 20 children by themselves.

There You'll Be

These days, I just cannot figure out what is WRONG with people-that they can treat other human beings like this. I know, it's always gone on, maybe it's just more "out there" now.

Nothing like being sent "home" to your death. Do Muslim and Hindu religions... are they like most others, and dislike each other? (that's my polite way of saying "hate"). It sounds like India is looking out for itself, which I can't fault them for. I just don't like the methods. As you said, it will never make sense, and is horrible.

I think they only released the FBI documents because of the sentiment (by the NRA, of course) is that it was a set up, and a hoax, to make the NRA look bad, and to force gun control. Seems kind of pointless to release them, because they deny facts if they don't suit them, and still deny facts.


This is basically what Trump said about the deaths in Niger... “WE are winning the was against Isis and WE have them on the run. WE have chased them out of Syria and WE are after them in Africa.
The four soldiers that were ambushed and killed, THEY screwed up. I gave generals the options to use but THEY didn’t do their job."

He who supposedly knew more than all the Generals, when he was on the Election trail.

sunnykerr

Religion in Asia can be a strange thing, especially when it's thightly connected to a country's nationalism. For instance, part of the "problem" Rohingyas have in Myanmar is that the state religion of that country is Buddhism, but it's not the "let and let live" Buddhism most of us know. It's evidently far more violent and aggressive towards non-Bhuddists.

Hinduism and Islam, at their core, are both extremely peaceful religions. But, like every other major religions, they have many different branches and different places live their religion differently, too. So, yeah, I can believe that Hindus and Muslims could have problems with each other. I know a teeny tiny bit more about the problems between Pakistan and India than I do about Myanmar, though. Which is to say that I know a bit about Pakistan and India and not much about Myanmar.

Have you heard that the brother of the Las Vegas shooter is now being investigated for possession of child porn... Innocent until proven guilty and all of that, but if that turns out to be true? What kind of messed up family was that?

canflam

Religion itself can be & perhaps is a strange thing to many I'd say. Some news on O'Reilly this week about God.

Bill O'Reilly is 'mad at God' because he paid $32 million to settle sexual harassment claim

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says would travel to North Korea: NYT |

Well he's been there before & though if I was in my 90's I wouldn't offer to visit the D.P.R.K., but good for him & perhaps good for us. Wish him well.

There You'll Be

Yeah, he's mad a God alright. Well, I think God would like a word with him, and she's not happy.

I saw that too, about Jimmy Carter. He's always been my favorite, even though I don't know much about his politics. His support of, and work with Habitat for Humanity mean a lot to me.

Sunny, thanks for the insight into the different religions. You're right-they all seem to have extremists.

Yeah, I saw that about the brother-apparently, according to this article they were investigating him before the Las Vegas shooting his brother committed.

Brother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock charged with child porn possession in L.A. - LA Times

Indonesian fireworks factory fire: Indonesia fireworks factory explosion kills at least 47 - CNN

Catalonia latest news https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...a22_story.html

sunnykerr

The notion that Bill O'Reilly thinks God is on his side. I guess that lines up with the profile of someone who would routinely sexually harass colleagues, though. You have to be a narcissist through and through to believe God would be on your side after you've done all of that and done very little in taking responsibility for it.

Jimmy Carter is awesome. Has always been awesome. And will probably always be awesome.

The work standards and building codes in some parts of the world are a mystery to me. Sometimes, like that case in Indonesia, it feels like they've gone out of their way to create a tragedy.

It's the same kind of nonsense that you see when Trump declares that Opioid 'national shame' a public health emergency. Look, I have no doubt that there is a real emergency with the opioid crisis in the United States (and Canada), but where has he been that this has just dawned on him? Also, could he be less helpful by calling it a "national shame"? I'm not saying addicts get all the excuses to do whatever they do, but addiction is a real disease and the people trying to recover from it don't need their President to call them a national shame.

There You'll Be

One of the workers in the fireworks factory that survived, said she makes $3 a day. I'm with you-though I don't believe they have any building codes, at all.

Yeah, he was supposed to declare it a National Emergency Health Crisis, but his real feelings came out, saying "shame". He ran, partially, on the pretense that he was going to solve the opiod crisis as soon as he was in office-as some of the worst of it is in Red states. He doesn't get that it's a disease-he claims it's a choice.

He also said he wasn't allocating any money towards the crisis. So, basically, he said nothing useful, as usual. The GOP is scrambling basically telling people to just say no.

Didn't know if I should put this on the Sensitive political thread-since they're expecting violence, I did.

Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain - BBC News

Spain sacks Catalan government after independence declaration | Reuters

sunnykerr

I'm sorta playing the Catalan situation by ear at the moment, to be honest. At the moment, I don't think talking about it could be triggering to anyone. But, like I said, I'm playing it by ear.

There's a lot wrong with the present U.S. administration and the way it reacts or doesn't react to real crises. There is an opiod crisis. I don't know how much the administration could do, tangibly. It can probably allocate ressources and monies, maybe, but this is part of the mystery of your system for me. Maybe they can't because health decisions belong to the states?

Still, there's a way to respond to problems, and blaming the victim is so obviously not the way to do it, it makes you wonder why that's happening.

The environment's another problem department, it seems. I mean, we've had a record-breaking year of hurricanes and wildfires. And they can certainly bitch about the costs of recovery, but the person they've put in charge of the EPA is the former Oklahoma Attorney General, who's spent the 8 years Obama was in the White House suing the EPA on behalf of coal companies and against pollution regulations.

So they clearly have no understanding of the relation between cause and effect.

Meanwhile: Explosions rock Somali capital Mogadishu

This is two weeks after other explosions killed more than 350 in the same city.

There You'll Be

Apparently there are protests against separating in Catalonia. Not sure how that's going to go.

I think they could grant states money, here, to treat the crisis. I know when I was in the rehab center for 6 weeks, they had me on strong pain medicine, opioids, every 4 hours. Needless to say, I don't remember much of my stay there. But, as soon as I was out, I had to have my Dr. take me off them, and provide something much less strong. I live with chronic pain, so I don't know what the solution is.

People who want it, are still going to find a way to get it. Blaming the victim is the way of this government at the moment. I don't know if that will ever change.

The EPA is a HUGE problem right now, and they keep pushing climate change deniers in there. Anyone who can't see climate change, and it being a problem causing the weather and fire tragedies, has their head in the sand. Complaining about costs of recovery is hypocritical. They're repealing laws that are going to cause major health and environmental problems.

I wish I could say I was surprised by the bombings, but the terrorists there seem to upping their attacks at a rapid pace.

al-Shabab are obviously very dangerous. I'm not sure what their "cause" is, or why they're attacking where they are. Or, if they're just killing to cause terror.

sunnykerr

I think the opiod crisis has a lot to do with education as well as rehabilitation. Because the people who are now addicted must have help to recover, absolutely, but the cycle is just gonna start all over again if doctors don't stop over-prescribing very strong painkillers like that.

And I certainly don't know that it would be a solution for you, but medicinal marijuana has had excellent results for the treatment of chronic pain. Because, no matter what certain people say, marijuana isn't a "gateway drug" for most people, far from it. Again, more study and more education is needed, but it could be a solution for some, before falling into serious opiods.

Al-Shabaab's cause, aside from being powerful and having money, isn't all that hard to figure out. Whatever their stated ideology may be, they're targetting hotels. So this is about wanting to isolate Somalia from foreigners. It could also be about fighting against the locals having aspirations of upwards mobility or, you know, "Western" values. It's obviously completely insane.

However, speaking of conflict in Africa, be on the lookout for a famine that's starting to happen in the Congo: DR Congo's Kasai conflict: 'Millions face starvation without aid'.

There You'll Be

I never thought to ask about medicinal marijuana. It would probably really help. I'm not anything at the moment.

I think all the terrorists values are insane. I see how they want to keep Somalia isolated, to achieve whatever their other terrorists plans are. It's sad to witness.

Here they are planning on labeling peaceful protest groups as terrorists. Yet, the very fine white flag toting people are allowed, and now encouraged, to commit violent acts, and are called very fine people.

NK is back to killing, and possibly contaminating, their own people, so they can do nuclear tests...https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world...ple/ar-AAugbMh