Phil1111

There are moderates on both sides and they mostly sit on the committees.

Well this event could have been used as a turnaround point for his popularity. Thankfully his ego and stupidity came to the fore.

Top 3 in your search...CNN, NPR, and NY Times. All spinning why it was OK. And yet the evacuation orders are flying in now. I understand...the Mayor is a Dem and above reproach. Trump cut FEMA and Flood Insurance funding to free up funding for his wall. I don't see you posting anything about that. Must be because he has an R behind his name. When President Trump released his proposed budget earlier this year, it included cuts across the board — including hundreds of millions from programs that help Americans cope with disasters like Hurricane Harvey. Throughout last fall's election, President Trump called for cutting billions in waste out of Washington. The White House's proposed fiscal 2018 budget, released this past May, attempts to make good on those promises. Hefty cuts are proposed for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the agency charged with overseeing the government's response to natural disasters, as well as the National Weather Service and the government's flood insurance programs. http://time.com/money/4918458/trump-budget-targest-disaster-response/ Yet now trump is too happy to authorize spending.

Well Texas is certainly hurting. Despite federal flood funding. Much of the damage will not be covered. Commercial insurers aren't burdened by the stupidity of climate denial. Everything has a price and some areas of Florida, Texas, etc. are no longer covered. For home-buyers it means CASH. As mortgage lenders want protected assets.

From the story: "This is total madness. Taxpayers who habitually bail out the NFIP are almost literally throwing money into the ocean,... The program is currently $24.6 billion in debt to the Treasury." Katrina damages were $108 Billion and Hurricane Harvey may inflict as much as $30 billion in damages on homeowners, according to preliminary estimates. But only 40 percent of that total may be covered by insurance — and of that, the federal government will bear the biggest liability. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/business/dealbook/flood-insurance-harvey.html?mcubz=3 There goes the trump wall...er Mexico wall. Another $18 billion from Harvey will bring the NFIP to $42 billion.

How to use Trump Tower and other luxury high-rises to clean dirty money, run an international crime syndicate, and propel a failed real estate developer into the White House. https://newrepublic.com/article/143586/trumps-russian-laundromat-trump-tower-luxury-high-rises-dirty-money-international-crime-syndicate

Harvey formed during the peak of hurricane season, in a hurricane hot spot. It would've formed regardless of climate change, and there is no real scientist on the face of the planet that would try convincing you otherwise. However, they would then break it all down and try to determine how climate change may have intensified the effects of this hurricane. For example, higher sea levels could cause more damage during a storm surge. Warmer than usual temps in the gulf might explain why Harvey actually strengthened as it approached landfall, which is relatively unusual. Higher wind speeds = more damage. However, when it comes to the amount of rainfall for this particular storm, any meteorologist will tell you that it has more to do with the current high pressure systems in that region than it does with climate change. Without that pressure, Harvey would've most likely continued northward, dissipating over the midwest/southeast. Unfortunately tho, this type of "over-analysis" isn't convenient enough for those who habitually limit themselves to 140 characters or less. Surface temps: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/dataphod1/work/HHP/NEW/2017239ca.jpg Track: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/152721.shtml?radii

I heard that exact point on a radio interview with a legal expert yesterday. Thats all hunky-dory but in order to sue the trump tribe you would have to prove personal damages. A personal direct harm arising from trump selling out, borrowing from, favoring and conceding interests to Russian/Putin. Without a direct personal link or corporate damages such a claim would likely be struck by the courts. The US state would be unlikely to pursue such a action.

Sorry Marc. This is a concept that you cannot seem to get straight. trump IS NOT a Republican. Both the two Bush presidents never voted for him. Many republicans never turned out for the vote because of who trump is. What he stands for. Every day republicans have to calculate the chances of success in getting tax reform passed vrs the baggage that gets piled on every day to the republican plane because of trump. Come midterms there will be racism, Russia, and 50 other scandals that keep the republican plane from getting off the runway because of all the trump baggage. No its not Dems. vr Republicans. Its trump vrs. the electorate. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/where-republicans-stand-on-donald-trump-a-cheat-sheet/481449/ US corporations have had their equity priced to perfection in the stock markets. All based upon what republican control of government has the possibility of achieving, re tax reform. If trump can't move it forward he will blame it on McConnell and other leaders, instead of himself.

Deplorables led by the likes of Bannon and trump. Anything is possible.

trump is just setting the bar low so that when the pardons are issued for Ivanka, Don Jr., etc. Nobody will get too upset!

President Trump Pardons Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/trump-pardon-arpaio/537729/

I made a post here last year about the disregard for the environment by smaller fracking oil companies. The smaller ones are just as bad because dumping of chemicals and waste oil is common as well.

And let me add: 6) You should learn about lockout, a common problem with tethered (i.e. ground-launched) hanggliders and paragliders. After a day of drinking we decided it would a good idea to "parasail" a square canopy. Additionally a good chance to cool off in the lake as it was a hot day. So a stratoflyer was rigged up behind the boat and into the gusting 10-15 mph winds I went. I had experience with conventional parasails, PC's rigged as parasails and towed hang gliders. After about 1000' of towed distance, I had had enough. The variables of gusting conditions, lack of inherent stability along the line of travel overrode everything else. Subsequently a more adventurous jumper I knew broke a leg and arm towing a square canopy behind a truck. As previously posted, video's of the hurricane jumping are required, or it didn't happen.

The captain was drinking and smelled of alcohol immediately prior to departure. Only one officer was on the bridge at the time of grounding and fatigue was blamed in part for the accident. Two officers where required to be on the bridge according to company policy. The Exxon Valdez departed at 9:21, Hazelwood left the bridge for about an hour, returned, then left the bridge again at 11:53 and the collision occurred at 12:04. Less than 21/2 hours after departure. So Hazelwood left a tired third mate in charge only 21/2 hours after casting off when the tanker was transiting the most difficult part of the entire trip. Review of accident: http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/index.cfm?FA=facts.details Hazelwood spent most of the day conducting ship's business, shopping and, according to testimony before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), drinking alcoholic beverages with the other ship's officers in at least two Valdez bars. Testimony indicated Hazelwood drank nonalcoholic beverages that day at lunch, a number of alcoholic drinks late that afternoon while relaxing in a Valdez bar, and at least one more drink at a bar while the party waited for pizza to take with them back to the ship.... A ship's agent who met with Hazelwood after he got back on the ship said it appeared the captain may have been drinking because his eyes were watery, but she did not smell alcohol on his breath. Ship's pilot Murphy, however, later indicated that he did detect the odor of alcohol on Hazelwood's breath. "Until the Exxon Valdez piled onto Bligh Reef, the system designed to carry 2 million barrels of North Slope oil to West Coast and Gulf Coast markets daily had worked perhaps too well. At least partly because of the success of the Valdez tanker trade, a general complacency had come to permeate the operation and oversight of the entire system... Industry's insistence on regulating the Valdez tanker trade its own way, and government's incremental accession to industry pressure, had produced a disastrous failure of the system" http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/index.cfm?FA=facts.details

I agree it doesn't make any difference, but BP's Deepwater Horizon negligence was worse. One drunken captain isn't the same as systematic disregard for safety in the deep-water environment. Large oil companies calculate risk with little premium on the environment. Nigeria oil operations by multinationals is the best example. Bribes, kickbacks, spills, dumping of contaminated materials are all part and parcel of operations. I don't have anything against them. People need oil and energy. But for the largest companies everything is calculated and factored into risk. The environment is a political responsibility and a marketing/PR sideline.

Old news, HELL is http://howlonghasdonaldtrumpbeenpresident.com/ old! http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4856736;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread What about your post about the Russian investigation noose around trump's neck? When...when...

That gives a good perspective on the total amount of light. Looking down it appears to be very dark but still lots of light from a horizontal point of view.

Darwin award if there ever was one.

Marc, yer like a Timex. Ya take a lickin' and ya keep on tickin'. I have to give him credit for that. Assuming he is not a Russian/Breitbart troll-bot. He just keeps coming back. Too bad he didn't have athletic gifts as he would have been a world champion.

Commander Of Navy's 7th Fleet Dismissed After Series Of Ship Mishaps "Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, today relieved the commander of Seventh Fleet, Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command. "Rear Adm. Phil Sawyer, who has already been nominated and confirmed for the position and promotion to Vice Adm., will assume command immediately." Aucoin's removal follows four accidents involving Navy ships in the Pacific this year. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/23/545423389/commander-of-navys-7th-fleet-to-be-removed-after-collisions-reports-say

More of the same pandering to the base, the Pied Piper of Hamelin comes to mind. Except in this case its not Hamelin Germany, its America. Its not rats, it all the undesirables that America loves to hate. Blacks, Mexicans, gays,transgender US military personnel,liberals, HRC, etc. Of course its not going to end well for those who hear the music of trump. Like the children of that were led down the garden path. It all ends BAD. trump enjoyed the coverage of all the major networks and substantial international coverage. As Ron suggests in another post about Blacks, trump plays the victim. Trump paints himself as the real victim of Charlottesville in angry speech https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/23/donald-trump-arizona-rally-phoenix Trump explained that the biggest victim in the Charlottesville violence last weekend was, in fact, himself. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/08/trump-goes-off-script-in-hour-long-public-meltdown Poor trump the media and everyone against him...and against his supporters, of course. The whole world looks on with a mix of horror and amusement. World leaders get confirmation of their understanding of him when he comes knocking on their doors for help in Afghanistan, help on N. Korea, help in the fight against "Radical Islamic Terror".

Not defending the RWR. Simply pointing out that LWR were pretty violent after the election. 1 crazy radical doesn't represent all of them. I count one act in a baseball field. Please check with darkbart and advise of all the other violent actions by the left. Meanwhile nothing about the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington.

I see them as all just pulling our collective legs. It's just a cool club where they get to make up funny theories to explain their "belief". They are laughing at all the people trying to convince them of the facts. It's an inside joke. Agree. They likely sit around in the evenings drinking single-malt. Dreaming up new schemes to stir the pot all the while laughing about the publicity they are receiving.

Seems like he's listening to his advisers. I agree that leaving the area would endanger it to AlQ, Taliban, ISIS filling the gap and gaining a stronghold. At that point we'll never get back in short of another 9/11 or ISIS level event. Yes but he has a temperament of flip-flopping. It won't take long for it to happen on this issue. He is right about Pakistan as a breeding ground for terrorism, educating Taliban in the " All of these groups are rooted in a network of seminaries, or as the term is called in the local vernacular, "madrassa." My argument was that the main source of funding for these groups is Saudi Arabia. In fact, this whole phenomenon that we are confronting, which Al Qaeda is a part of, is very closely associated with Saudi Arabia's financial and religious projects for the Muslim world as a whole. " http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saudi/analyses/madrassas.html The defence secretary, Jim Mattis, is reviewing plans “for a path forward”. He and the national security adviser, General H.R. McMaster, both served in Afghanistan. Their instinct will be to recommend that Mr Trump set a bolder objective than Mr Obama was willing to endorse and refrain from setting timetables that ignore military reality. Even then, Mr Cordesman argues, Mr Trump will also have to pep up Afghanistan’s political leaders. Corruption, as much as insecurity, has stymied international efforts to revive Afghanistan’s sickly economy. Without some progress on that front, no amount of external military support will kill off the insurgency. https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21717835-will-he-pull-out-or-double-down-donald-trump-holds-afghanistans-future-his-hands As usual this is a far more complex issue than trump is capable of digesting. Pakistan, a corrupt nuclear power, has suffered tens of thousands of civilian and military casualties fighting the Taliban. While the government and population to a greater and lessor degree support the Taliban. Radical Islam support from the Saudi's private sponsorship of these schools in Pakistan are the training grounds of the new cannon fodder for US troops.