U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/ Political Discussion Forum: All views on politics and other subject matter are welcome. Political forum. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:01:02 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.USPoliticsOnline.com/images/misc/rss.jpg U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/ Senate Vote on Health Care Reform http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/health-care/57341-senate-vote-health-care-reform.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:48:44 GMT Interesting story: the Senate is moving forward with a vote on Health Care Reform this weekend and there is no room for any Democrat to vote against it. Senate Dems move ahead on crucial health vote - Health care reform- msnbc.com... Interesting story: the Senate is moving forward with a vote on Health Care Reform this weekend and there is no room for any Democrat to vote against it.

Senate Dems move ahead on crucial health vote - Health care reform- msnbc.com

Quote:
A wavering moderate Democrat said Friday he'd stand with Senate Democratic leaders on a crucial weekend test vote on their sweeping health care bill amid indications other moderates would fall in line.

The announcement from Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., came as Senate leaders pushed ahead toward the make-or-break vote with no margin for rebellion on President Barack Obama's signature issue.

Nelson said in a statement that his support for the procedural measure allowing debate to go forward didn't mean he'd support the final bill, but that Nebraskans wanted changes to the health care system. "The Senate owes them a full and open debate," he said.



This whole issue has turned into a chaotic mess. I am genuinely sorry because I think it would have been possible to create a viable and bipartisan plan after the economy starts to expand again and unemployment falls. In that case, those who refused to participate would have been marginalized. As it is, the GOP will benefit by simply opposing it.

Instead we have a purely partisan bill that, if passed, will hurt many of the Blue Dog Dems in the next election.

The idea of slamming through a mammoth plan that will cost a fortune at the bottom of the worst recession in 80 years, with unemployment above 10% and the deficit soaring through the stratosphere, on a purely partisan vote, climbing is so incredibly foolish, arrogant and misguided that it takes on a fascination.

How is it possible that the Obama administration and the left-wingers in congress have misread the public mood to such an extent?

When were we told during the campaign that this is the number one issue facing the nation and that it would be the number one issue for the Obama administration?

How can it be that they are slamming through a bill that has not been explained and that the public does not support with even a small majority?

This is a clear indication of a failure of leadership on a massive scale. Obama is not yet a leader: he has not yet developed the wisdom, the patience and the shrewdness to lead. The congress are much worse.

The Dems might have held on to power for years if they had handled this with even a small amont of common sense and sense of timing. As it is, they are throwing themselves into a collective garbage can and dragging their Blue Dogs with them. ]]> Health Care Tim http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/health-care/57341-senate-vote-health-care-reform.html IED Killer Idea (Invention). http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/war-peace/57340-ied-killer-idea-invention.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:35:20 GMT
Quote:
IED jammers are also known as Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems.[4] CREW systems include IED Countermeasures Equipment (ICE) and the Warlock, both use RF energy to block the signals of radio control (R/C) explosives detonators, such as cell phones, satellite phones, and long-range cordless telephones. Other countermeasures include the Joint IED Neutralizer (JIN) and the Neutralizing Improvised Explosive Devices with Radio Frequency (NIRF), which produce a high-frequency field to neutralize IED electronics. A system now deployed in Iraq, code-named PING, fits inside a Humvee and sends out electromagnetic waves to penetrate the walls of buildings to detect improvised explosives. Other sensors, such as the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy system (LIBS), detect traces of explosives used for improvised explosives from as far away as 30 meters.
The Warlock Force Protection System (versions Blue, Green, and Red) and the Shortstop Electronic Protection System are jamming systems designed by EDO (now ITT Electronic Systems, EWS) and Whittaker Corporation, respectively. Originally designed to defeat proximity fused indirect fire munitions, Warlock has a dual capability to deny the use of enemy communication devices. Warlock Red is a low-cost jammer to counter specific threats that have been emerging in increasing numbers. Warlock Green is a more capable jammer used to address more sophisticated threat systems. The Warlock has gone through many revisions, to add more frequencies and better software. Older systems such as Shortstop weigh over 40 pounds excluding power source and occupy 1.5 cubic feet.
IED jamming systems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I was thinking about this the other day and I was wondering if there was a twist on this type of system that would actually kill those planting the devices. I'm not anything close to an expert on radio wave theory so I don't know the feasibility of it. Here goes....

What if we changed the process so that instead of jamming it sends out proper signals that would detonate the IED? We could hid them in "leave behind" systems in high IED areas so they are constantly running. Mr. Taliban comes along and plants his IED and as soon as he activates it, BOOM!, he meets Allah and his 72 virgins. This would only work with command detonated devices and not with victim detonated devices.

So what do ya'll think? I have a prototype name for it, "Judas". :sneaky2: ]]> fishjoel http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/war-peace/57340-ied-killer-idea-invention.html Hadley Institute Hacked http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/environmental-issues/57339-hadley-institute-hacked.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:31:28 GMT Breaking news...

Hadley Hack Update - Authenticity Gets Some Confirmation | .....Aaron's EnvironMental Corner.....

I'm going to preface this with, once more, I'M NOT AN EXPERT, JUST SOMEONE ASKING QUESTIONS, DON'T HURT ME!:scared:

I heard about this on the radio on the way into town this morning. Granted, the linked article is obviously fairly partisan, but the points made are interesting ones. Is he right about the big fish in AGW theory being implicated by this, and if so, what are the likely ramifications? ]]> Environmental Issues turnitup5000db http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/environmental-issues/57339-hadley-institute-hacked.html Forum Rules - You must read http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/welcome-news-announcements-uspo-frontpage/57338-forum-rules-you-must-read.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:33:17 GMT *By using the forum or any other feature(s) (public or contributing member) /software or by simply being registered at the domain uspoliticsonline.com you agree to the following in whole:* ---Quote--- *Disclaimer:* You agree to NOT use this... By using the forum or any other feature(s) (public or contributing member) /software or by simply being registered at the domain uspoliticsonline.com you agree to the following in whole:

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]]> Malvolio http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/welcome-news-announcements-uspo-frontpage/57338-forum-rules-you-must-read.html McCain facing a tough primary run ? http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/state-local-politics/57337-mccain-facing-tough-primary-run.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:12:07 GMT so sayeth Rasmussin (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/arizona/election_2010_arizona_senate_gop_primary) Mac 45 other guy 43 that hurts, other guy isnt even running !... so sayeth Rasmussin

Mac 45 other guy 43
that hurts, other guy isnt even running !

more evidence that the pendulum is swinging right


Quote:
Hayworth, a conservative former U.S. congressman who now is a popular radio talk show host in Phoenix, is reportedly interested in the race but has not formally declared for it. He captures 59% of the male GOP vote, while McCain wins 58% of female voters.

Younger GOP voters like Hayworth more than their elders. McCain has a solid lead among the relatively small number of moderate and liberal Republicans in the state while Hayworth picks up a plurality (48%) of conservatives.
]]> daddio http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/state-local-politics/57337-mccain-facing-tough-primary-run.html World Cup 2010 http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/sports-arena/57336-world-cup-2010-a.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:04:39 GMT With the final spots finally sorted, we now know who will be attending South Africa next summer (winter in SA). So, any early bets on who you think will win it all? The qualified teams are: From Europe: Denmark England Germany Italy... With the final spots finally sorted, we now know who will be attending South Africa next summer (winter in SA). So, any early bets on who you think will win it all? The qualified teams are:

From Europe:
Denmark
England
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Serbia
Spain
Slovakia
Switzerland
Greece
Slovenia
Portugal
France

From South America:
Brazil
Paraguay
Chile
Argentina
Uruguay

From North and Central America:
Mexico
USA
Honduras

From Africa:
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Nigeria
Cameroon
Algeria

From Asia:
Australia
Japan
South Korea
North Korea
New Zealand ]]> The Sports Arena ThorHammer http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/sports-arena/57336-world-cup-2010-a.html U.N. Critic Sees Political Agenda Behind U.N.’s Decision to Bar Her http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/international-politics/57335-u-n-critic-sees-political-agenda-behind-u-n-s-decision-bar-her.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:29:24 GMT the 2 articles complement each other as each has some snippets that the other doesn't, so I snipped from both…..namely the Palast. ambassador complaining vehemently and then calling back to ask if she had been 'captured' etc.

I assume he means taken out from where she can do damage to the ridiculous prcoess she just witnessed which was, the corruption of the Goldstone report which myself and a few others here said, weeks ago would be used exactly how it has been, an anti Israeli hammer, all mentions of Hamas expunged from the final resolution.

I don't think the Goldstone report went far enough to start with and it read as a selective report to me as I said earlier. We were always suspicious, with cause, again, and one thing has been made clear, again, the UN's Human Rights comm. or whatever its called now is a complete sham and corrupts what it touches.



Leading U.N. Critic Sees Political Agenda Behind U.N.’s Decision to Bar Her
Friday, November 20, 2009

(CNSNews.com) – After being denied access to United Nations headquarters for two weeks, one of U.N.’s most forthright critics will find out Friday if her confiscated entry pass will be returned to her – and under what conditions.

Human rights law expert Anne Bayefsky said she was told on Thursday to report to a security official on Friday to “sign something” in order to get her pass back temporarily.

It’s not clear what Bayefsky would be expected to sign. Meanwhile, a final decision on her longer-term access will be in the hands of a 19-member NGO-accreditation committee whose members include Sudan, Cuba, Pakistan, Egypt, Russia and China – countries whose conduct at the U.N. Bayefsky frequently criticizes.

U.N. security guards removed Bayefsky’s pass and escorted her from the building on November 5 after she used a media stakeout microphone to condemn a General Assembly resolution endorsing the controversial “Goldstone report,” which accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza.

Bayefsky, director of the Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust at Touro College, a Jewish-sponsored independent institution in New York, and editor of the Hudson Institute’s Eye on the U.N. project, called the resolution “a travesty.”

Moments later, she recounted by phone from New York Thursday, she was “surrounded by four or five guards,” asked to identify herself – which she did – and told that she was not supposed to use the microphone.

rest at-

CNSNews.com - Leading U.N. Critic Sees Political Agenda Behind U.N.?s Decision to Bar Her



Banished at Turtle Bay
A U.N. critic has her credentials stripped.


Ms. Bayefsky's sin was a two-minute talk she delivered at the U.N. earlier this month after the General Assembly had issued a resolution endorsing the Goldstone Report, which levels war crimes charges at Israel for defending itself in the face of Hamas's rockets. "The resolution doesn't mention the word Hamas," she said. "This is a resolution that purports to be even-handed; it is anything but."

Ms. Bayefsky's comments were the only note of criticism on a day otherwise marked by much U.N. jubilation. Whereupon she was summarily stripped of her U.N. badge and evicted from the premises. "The Palestinian ambassador is very upset by your statement," Ms. Bayefsky says the U.N. security chief told her. Journalist Matthew Russell Lee tells us that he heard the ambassador asking whether U.N. security had "captured" Ms. Bayefsky.

For the record, the U.N. claims that Ms. Bayefsky violated procedures by bringing a colleague who lacked a proper badge, and that she was not entitled to speak where she did, though representatives of nongovernment organizations have used it in the past. And when we called the Palestinian Mission to get their side of the story, they told us the fracas was the last of their worries. Maybe so.

Yet the U.N. continues to bar Ms. Bayefsky from the premises, despite calls on her behalf by the U.S. mission and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. Best-case scenario, one U.N. insider tells us, is that "they'll put her on probation." We hear the U.N.'s NGO accreditation committee, chaired by Sudan, will likely make the final decision.


Anne Bayefsky Evicted from UN for Criticizing Goldstone Report - WSJ.com ]]> International Politics Imperator http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/international-politics/57335-u-n-critic-sees-political-agenda-behind-u-n-s-decision-bar-her.html France v Ireland fiasco.... http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/sports-arena/57334-france-v-ireland-fiasco.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:28:25 GMT Well, it looks as though FIFA has ruled: there will be no replay. Ultimately I believe this was the right call. Shitty deal for Ireland though. FIFA rejects replay request to end Irish hopes - FIFA World Cup 2010 - ESPN Soccernet... Well, it looks as though FIFA has ruled: there will be no replay. Ultimately I believe this was the right call. Shitty deal for Ireland though.

FIFA rejects replay request to end Irish hopes - FIFA World Cup 2010 - ESPN Soccernet

Quote:
Ireland's last hopes of reaching the World Cup finals have been extinguished by the news that FIFA will not consider ordering a replay of Wednesday night's controversial play-off second leg in Paris.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) lobbied hard for a replay after Thierry Henry committed a blatant handball, which was not spotted by referee Martin Hansson, before crossing for William Gallas to score in extra time and seal a 2-1 aggregate win for Les Bleus.

The incident provoked an outcry, with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen even taking up the issue with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, but the FAI's representations to FIFA have met with no success.

As was widely anticipated, the governing body has confirmed they have no intention of agreeing to a replay and that the decision of referee Hansson is final.

FIFA said in a statement: "FIFA has today, 20 November 2009, replied to the request made by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to replay the 2010 FIFA World Cup play-off match held on 18 November 2009 between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris.

"In the reply, FIFA states that the result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final."

FIFA's response will now be considered by the FAI's board of management, which sits for a pre-arranged meeting on Friday afternoon.

The FAI said in a statement: "Football Association of Ireland today confirmed that it has received correspondence from FIFA rejecting the Association's request for a replay of the World Cup play-off match between France and the Republic of Ireland.

"A previously scheduled meeting of the FAI board of management will take place this afternoon where the matter will be considered. No further comment will be made until this meeting has concluded.''

However, the FFF wants a line to be drawn under the matter and has rejected suggestions that Raymond Domenech's job could be at risk due to the unconvincing nature of France's qualification.

"FIFA is the ruler of the game and we have to abide by what they say,'' an FFF spokesman said. "What they decide we have to do and they have ruled it will not be replayed. So we should move on.

"The federation's president and the coach and all of us involved feel that it was a bitter qualification. But we don't decide how we qualify. We played poorly and it came down to a referee's mistake, but that's the way it went. It happened on our side, in our favour, but sometimes in history it goes against you.

"The Irish were really great, they played brilliantly and we played poorly. We were awful. And then at the end we achieved the qualification in this particular way thanks to a referee's mistake. If it had favoured the Irish side well you can imagine how people would have felt and reacted here, the French media, the French team, the FA, everyone.

"We qualified. For sure he (Domenech) will be our coach. When you manage a team and win you don't change the coach. Sometimes you do in club football but not in an international team."

France coach Domenech stated on Friday that he was surprised by the level of criticism levelled at Henry and rejected calls for France to apologise. The incident has seen Henry's standing in the game questioned although a number of players, and Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, have refused to condemn the striker.

Frenchman Arsene Wenger, who transformed Henry into one of the world's best forwards at Arsenal, was dissatisfied with the way his compatriots reached next summer's World Cup finals.

"For the sense of justice it is quite embarrassing to see," he said. "I think even France is embarrassed. We didn't play well at all and we won the game and won the qualification with a goal that was not a goal."

Wenger believes there were clear indications - namely the reaction of the players - that Swedish referee Hansson had made the wrong decision.

"For two reasons; first of all Henry didn't celebrate at the start, that gives an indication to the referee, but spontaneously 11 Irish players came to see the referee," added Wenger. "That doesn't happen if it's not something obvious. You have two, three or four but not 11 and that convinced him to go and see the linesman as well and say 'Listen, I didn't see what happened, can you help me?'"
]]> The Sports Arena ThorHammer http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/sports-arena/57334-france-v-ireland-fiasco.html Brown Vows to Continue War Effort in Afghanistan http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/war-peace/57332-brown-vows-continue-war-effort-afghanistan.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:47:10 GMT Im not a British expert, but it seems like they have more decisive leaders than we do in the US. I wish our Commander was as willing to committ. Of course I wish the Brits woulds send in an additional 50k troops, not 500.

Quote:
LONDON — As President Obama moves closer to a decision on the United States military’s request for more troops in Afghanistan, the British government has made an unflinching commitment to continue its role as the second largest troop provider in the 43-nation coalition fighting the war.

In the face of opinion polls suggesting that British public opinion has moved sharply against the war in the face of rising British casualties, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and David Miliband, the foreign secretary, used major speeches in the past two days to reaffirm Britain’s determination to fight on in Afghanistan alongside the United States.

They also renewed a commitment made last month to increase, by an initial increment of at least 500 soldiers, Britain’s current Afghan deployment of 9,000 troops. That compares with the 68,000 already committed by the United States, and 27,000 from other coalition countries. Mr. Obama has spent several weeks reviewing a request by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the American and NATO commander in Afghanistan, for a further increase of as many as 40,000 troops.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/wo...18britain.html

I cant imaging this coming out of Obamas mouth

Quote:
Vigilance in the defense of national security will never be sacrificed to expediency. Necessary resolution will never succumb to appeasement. The greater international good will never be subordinated to the mood of the passing moment
]]> jviehe http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/war-peace/57332-brown-vows-continue-war-effort-afghanistan.html Strykers in Afghanistan http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/military-debriefing/57331-strykers-afghanistan.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:17:42 GMT Very interesting story on whether Strykers are the ideal mobile platform in Afghanistan. It would seem that you have a lot of competing peronsalities with different biases along the way. It makes sense that no vehicle is going to protect you from a... Very interesting story on whether Strykers are the ideal mobile platform in Afghanistan. It would seem that you have a lot of competing peronsalities with different biases along the way. It makes sense that no vehicle is going to protect you from a 2000 pund explosive, and that we need to go after the bombers with more troops needed.

Kevlar Coffins?



Quote:
I am no great fan of the Army's M1126 Stryker infantry combat vehicle (ICV), the eight-wheeled battle taxi hastily adopted by the Army in 2001 to provide an air-transportable vehicle offering more protection and carrying capacity than a HMMWV. It's too big (at 23 feet long and 9 feet wide, it's the size of a bus) and too heavy (about 20 tons in fighting trim) to fit comfortably on a C-130 Hercules transport plane or to be dropped by parachute. Its cross-country mobility leaves something to be desired. It is under gunned, normally armed with either a .50-caliber machine gun or a 40mm grenade launcher (the Mobile Gun System, a fire support version armed with an auto-loading 105mm cannon has run into a host of technical problems). And, at something more than $2 million per copy, it is grossly overpriced for the mission it is supposed to accomplish--carrying nine infantrymen across the battlefield in the face of small arms and artillery fire to a place where they can dismount and fight on foot.
]]> Military Debriefing jviehe http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/military-debriefing/57331-strykers-afghanistan.html Anybody else tired of seeing the bastards face? http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/off-topic/57330-anybody-else-tired-seeing-bastards-face.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:58:34 GMT Damn..everyday seems no matter where I look in the media I have to see the face of the cowardice murderer from Ft. Hood. F*ck Damn..everyday seems no matter where I look in the media I have to see the face of the cowardice murderer from Ft. Hood.
F*ck ]]> Off-Topic iamwhatiseem http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/off-topic/57330-anybody-else-tired-seeing-bastards-face.html Denmark to introduce checks on American travelers http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/international-politics/57329-denmark-introduce-checks-american-travelers.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:44:04 GMT Around 500 000 Americans are visiting Denmark every year, as tourists, businesspeople and for other reasons. Now two danish parties are calling for serious checks on them comparable to those that Europeans have to go through when visiting the US.... Around 500 000 Americans are visiting Denmark every year, as tourists, businesspeople and for other reasons. Now two danish parties are calling for serious checks on them comparable to those that Europeans have to go through when visiting the US. The alleged reason is counter terrorism and terrorists allegedly trying to get US passports to sneak into Europe without controls. They even cite the example of a muslim US citizen who was arrested on charges of trying to bomb the headquarters of the newspaper that printed the Mohammed cartoons a couple of years ago ( although in the US, not in Denmark). But some observers believe the real issue is anger over american visa restrictions for european travelers that have not been lifted under Obama............



Terrorism Concerns: Danish Politicians Want Stricter Checks on American Travelers - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International ]]> International Politics Voland http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/international-politics/57329-denmark-introduce-checks-american-travelers.html Invictus http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/off-topic/57328-invictus.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:39:25 GMT Now this looks like a good film;

YouTube - 'Invictus' Trailer HD

Morgan Freeman as Mandela, Matt Damon as Penieer and directed by Eastwood. Should be shooting towards the Oscars I reckon, I even might go and see it in the cinema! And it features Rugby! ]]> Off-Topic WharfedaleTiger http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/off-topic/57328-invictus.html Obama in 2012? http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/white-house/57326-obama-2012-a.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:13:14 GMT CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Obama won’t read Palin’s book - Blogs from CNN.com

Okay, so he's not going to read the book, no real surprise there. However, this was the part I found really interesting...

Quote:
But when it comes to the 2012 race, Obama didn't discount the possibility he may sit out on a reelection bid.

"You know, if - if I feel like I've made the very best decisions for the American people and three years from now I look at it and, you know, my poll numbers are in the tank and because we've gone through these wrenching changes, you know, politically, I'm in a tough spot, I'll - I'll feel all right about myself," Obama told CNN's Ed Henry during an interview in China.
I know this is going to be kind of a charged topic, but thoughts from the forum? Is he just being politic, or is it actually possible he's seriously considering passing on a re-election bid after just one year at the helm? ]]> The White House turnitup5000db http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/white-house/57326-obama-2012-a.html Suicide Bombing http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/war-peace/57325-suicide-bombing.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:07:08 GMT Is suicide bombing wrong? Please note that suicide bombing does not necessarily mean that civilians are killed. Whether or not collateral is wrong is a different story, so please try to keep it out of the thread. So, is using yourself as the... Is suicide bombing wrong? Please note that suicide bombing does not necessarily mean that civilians are killed. Whether or not collateral is wrong is a different story, so please try to keep it out of the thread.

So, is using yourself as the delivery device for explosives wrong?

Discuss. ]]> Donkey_Left http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/war-peace/57325-suicide-bombing.html