Gotta say, “they deserve a vote” was one of the few truly moving moments I’ve ever seen in a State of the Union speech. Did you watch the President’s speech? What stood out to you?
I don’t recall hearing a response chant like that start among members of Congress during SOTU before, do you?
Was the entire SCOTUS present? I coudln’t tell
Davidsays
2/3 of them were there. Scalia, Thomas, and Alito stayed home.
jconwaysays
Considering Scalia has consistently mocked Gore supporters who question his decisions he is truly acting like a sore loser. Better Alito stays home and screams at his TV than marr he proceedings I guess. And its not like Thomas would’ve really been heard.
jconwaysays
It’d be nice if a couple of he hard core conservative Catholics on the court followed the Holy Fathers example…
kirthsays
I’ve refrained from making any snarky remarks in your popefanboi thread while waiting patiently for it to peter out (heh). Maybe you could refrain from poping in the rest of the site?
petrsays
…while waiting patiently for it to peter out (heh)
Don’t take my name in vane and I won’t resort to kirthing…
Universal pre-K is probably the best education policy Obama has advanced, loved the ‘they deserve a vote’ line, liked the federal minimum wage increase, liked the reference to ‘right to love’ which he has become quite comfortable uttering, liked the EU FTA, a cap and trade proposal, and the line ‘if you work full time you shouldn’t live in poverty’ which really resonated with my apolitical sister. Gingrich was right in calling it the most pro-government speech since Lyndon Johnson, though he was wrong to call that a minus.
danfromwalthamsays
He did give a shout-out to oil and gas production as part of the mixture. What made me grab my wallet was when he mentioned using executive orders to artificially increase energy prices. If he is that concerned, he should downsize his 747 jet when he travels to a more efficient, less carbon emitting airplane.
At 10:00, I switched to Dance Moms, so let me know if I missed anything.
kbuschsays
your grandchildren drown or starve.
There has got to be an incentive to develop other sources of energy.
The two planes commonly known as “Air Force One” are highly customized 747s. How highly customized? Classified.
The President should fly in the *safest* airplane we can build him. Period. That means some combination of technology which has been tested for years and years [like the 747] and which can be customized with the ability to take evasive maneuvers for which a traditional passenger plane simply couldn’t handle.
You’re talking about picking up a nickle in front of a steamroller. It’s asinine.
Ryansays
it should be noted that it’s not like the President has some rag-tag group with him that could all fit in an 8 seater. A large swath of people accompany him on Air Force One, from the Secret Service to members of his administration to a gaggle of press.
danfromwalthamsays
Pres Obama has already taken a Gulfstream to NYC and when he went to Miane on vacation, so no problem with the secret service.
All I am saying is he should utilize a Gulfstream whenever he flies in the USA. If going overseas, take the 747. But let’s conserve. If the press corp wants to go, they can go commercial, no special perks.
One would think a Gulfstream is more maneuverable than a 747, but I am no pilot, could be wrong.
petrsays
Pres Obama has already taken a Gulfstream to NYC and when he went to Miane on vacation, so no problem with the secret service.
All I am saying is he should utilize a Gulfstream whenever he flies in the USA.
This is an assumption that is unwarranted: the gulfstream is built with luxury paramount and the 747 is built with operational efficiency over a lifetime as it’s prime motivation.
danfromwalthamsays
There could be equal or less of a carbon footprint if the POTUS takes the 747 to Iowa and back to D.C. instead of a Gulfstream. I thought the smaller pane with would be better. I mean, does the POTUS really need a huge plane like that?
Look, I don’t pretend to know the details of Secret Service logistics. Nor should you.
Neither of us have any idea under what circumstances the 747 offers a better overall protection strategy than the Gulfstream, or vice versa. Furthermore, given that the President *always* has an entourage [at it’s smallest a few staffers and protection, at it’s largest much, much bigger], it’s not at all clear that taking a Gulfstream *plus* transporting the other folks in a different vehicle is more or less fuel efficient than putting more folks on the 747.
Bottom line — it’s still an asinine comment. Worrying about the POTUS method of transportation is like worrying about the carbon footprint of burning matches. Sure, all of those matches burned in a year contribute to climate change, but it’s not a sensible place to begin cutting carbon emissions.
danfromwalthamsays
All i am suggesting is he takes a Gulfstream when he can, not the gas guzzling 747. If we are truely going to be under water and starving b/c of climate change, certainly those pushing for conservation should lead by example, no?
is that you have no reason to think that he isn’t already taking a Gulfstream when it is the appropriate choice — where appropriate is a function of a litany of trade-offs, the most important of which is security.
You’re willfully tangling personal action with public policy — it’s just as nonsensical as arguing that those who want higher taxes should simply pay the 5.85% ourselves, or that those who think ownership of military-grade firearms simply shouldn’t own any.
chileverdesays
when POTUS said raise the federal minimum wage (whether that actually happens is another thing). I also thought that “they deserve a vote” was a powerful and savvy way of urging Congress to act. Great speech overall.
Ryansays
every time a Republican drinks water on national television. DRINK!
was the distinct number of times he looked away from the camera. He looked back and forth at the camera and the bottle like six times in that 4 seconds…
sabutaisays
Same here. “God I’m thirsty. Gonna go for it. No , can’t. 2016. But so very thirsty. Water. No. Can’t drink. Can’t drink not . Away…hell I’m going for it….”
Laurel says
I don’t recall hearing a response chant like that start among members of Congress during SOTU before, do you?
Was the entire SCOTUS present? I coudln’t tell
David says
2/3 of them were there. Scalia, Thomas, and Alito stayed home.
jconway says
Considering Scalia has consistently mocked Gore supporters who question his decisions he is truly acting like a sore loser. Better Alito stays home and screams at his TV than marr he proceedings I guess. And its not like Thomas would’ve really been heard.
jconway says
It’d be nice if a couple of he hard core conservative Catholics on the court followed the Holy Fathers example…
kirth says
I’ve refrained from making any snarky remarks in your popefanboi thread while waiting patiently for it to peter out (heh). Maybe you could refrain from poping in the rest of the site?
petr says
Don’t take my name in vane and I won’t resort to kirthing…
kirth says
You know I don’t care…
fortleft says
raising the federal minimum wage.
jconway says
Universal pre-K is probably the best education policy Obama has advanced, loved the ‘they deserve a vote’ line, liked the federal minimum wage increase, liked the reference to ‘right to love’ which he has become quite comfortable uttering, liked the EU FTA, a cap and trade proposal, and the line ‘if you work full time you shouldn’t live in poverty’ which really resonated with my apolitical sister. Gingrich was right in calling it the most pro-government speech since Lyndon Johnson, though he was wrong to call that a minus.
danfromwaltham says
He did give a shout-out to oil and gas production as part of the mixture. What made me grab my wallet was when he mentioned using executive orders to artificially increase energy prices. If he is that concerned, he should downsize his 747 jet when he travels to a more efficient, less carbon emitting airplane.
At 10:00, I switched to Dance Moms, so let me know if I missed anything.
kbusch says
your grandchildren drown or starve.
There has got to be an incentive to develop other sources of energy.
stomv says
He should downsize his 747? Really?
The two planes commonly known as “Air Force One” are highly customized 747s. How highly customized? Classified.
The President should fly in the *safest* airplane we can build him. Period. That means some combination of technology which has been tested for years and years [like the 747] and which can be customized with the ability to take evasive maneuvers for which a traditional passenger plane simply couldn’t handle.
You’re talking about picking up a nickle in front of a steamroller. It’s asinine.
Ryan says
it should be noted that it’s not like the President has some rag-tag group with him that could all fit in an 8 seater. A large swath of people accompany him on Air Force One, from the Secret Service to members of his administration to a gaggle of press.
danfromwaltham says
Pres Obama has already taken a Gulfstream to NYC and when he went to Miane on vacation, so no problem with the secret service.
All I am saying is he should utilize a Gulfstream whenever he flies in the USA. If going overseas, take the 747. But let’s conserve. If the press corp wants to go, they can go commercial, no special perks.
One would think a Gulfstream is more maneuverable than a 747, but I am no pilot, could be wrong.
petr says
This is an assumption that is unwarranted: the gulfstream is built with luxury paramount and the 747 is built with operational efficiency over a lifetime as it’s prime motivation.
danfromwaltham says
There could be equal or less of a carbon footprint if the POTUS takes the 747 to Iowa and back to D.C. instead of a Gulfstream. I thought the smaller pane with would be better. I mean, does the POTUS really need a huge plane like that?
stomv says
Look, I don’t pretend to know the details of Secret Service logistics. Nor should you.
Neither of us have any idea under what circumstances the 747 offers a better overall protection strategy than the Gulfstream, or vice versa. Furthermore, given that the President *always* has an entourage [at it’s smallest a few staffers and protection, at it’s largest much, much bigger], it’s not at all clear that taking a Gulfstream *plus* transporting the other folks in a different vehicle is more or less fuel efficient than putting more folks on the 747.
Bottom line — it’s still an asinine comment. Worrying about the POTUS method of transportation is like worrying about the carbon footprint of burning matches. Sure, all of those matches burned in a year contribute to climate change, but it’s not a sensible place to begin cutting carbon emissions.
danfromwaltham says
All i am suggesting is he takes a Gulfstream when he can, not the gas guzzling 747. If we are truely going to be under water and starving b/c of climate change, certainly those pushing for conservation should lead by example, no?
http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/12/what-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-the-president-41000-tons/
stomv says
is that you have no reason to think that he isn’t already taking a Gulfstream when it is the appropriate choice — where appropriate is a function of a litany of trade-offs, the most important of which is security.
You’re willfully tangling personal action with public policy — it’s just as nonsensical as arguing that those who want higher taxes should simply pay the 5.85% ourselves, or that those who think ownership of military-grade firearms simply shouldn’t own any.
chileverde says
when POTUS said raise the federal minimum wage (whether that actually happens is another thing). I also thought that “they deserve a vote” was a powerful and savvy way of urging Congress to act. Great speech overall.
Ryan says
every time a Republican drinks water on national television. DRINK!
John Tehan says
CIRRHOSIS!!
stomv says
was the distinct number of times he looked away from the camera. He looked back and forth at the camera and the bottle like six times in that 4 seconds…
sabutai says
Same here. “God I’m thirsty. Gonna go for it. No , can’t. 2016. But so very thirsty. Water. No. Can’t drink. Can’t drink not . Away…hell I’m going for it….”