jakethesnake wrote:

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The government should *not* be able to take your land because they want oil from Iran (again by pretending we don't want them to have nukes, just like Iraq) or whatever "war" we invent next week.

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Mark in Minnesota wrote:

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@futuristxen: How have you felt about Kagan and Sotomayor so far? How have you felt about Roberts and Alito so far?

If Ginsburg or Scalia retire on Romney's watch, do you think Romney's choice for their successor would be more like Obama's appointees or Bush's appointees?

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futuristxen wrote:

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I doubt a Romney government will be remarkably different than an Obama one. Which in the end, didn't end up being a lot different from a Bush government.

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name wrote:

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futuristxen wrote:

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I doubt a Romney government will be remarkably different than an Obama one. Which in the end, didn't end up being a lot different from a Bush government.

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Ooooohhh. See what I did? I called Al Gore a republican!!

please.

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MCGF wrote:

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name wrote:

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futuristxen wrote:

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I doubt a Romney government will be remarkably different than an Obama one. Which in the end, didn't end up being a lot different from a Bush government.

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Ooooohhh. See what I did? I called Al Gore a republican!!

please.

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It is not an at all absurd thing to say. Obama's foreign policy has simply been a more polite version of Bush's. His assault on civil liberties has been unceasing; Obama has shown a Bush-like disregard for the law in favor of expanding executive power under the guise of National Security. As Mark keeps saying, the most concrete difference between the two presidents have been the Supreme Court appointees.

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Mark in Minnesota wrote:

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I had about 1100 words more on this general topic but I think it's probably better for all involved if I don't post them. I think it's unhelpfully reductive to say that there will be little real difference between an Obama presidency and a Romney presidency, but ten paragraphs on that subject would probably be me letting myself get trolled over the sentiment instead of offering a proportionate response.

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Quote:

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On Tuesday, a sharply fractured Supreme Court issued its ruling in Coleman v. Maryland Court of Appeals, holding that individuals may not sue a state government employer for money damages for violating the self-care provision of the Family and Medical Leave Act. In a 5-4 ruling – the first opinion on the scope of Congress’ power to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment since John Roberts became Chief Justice – the conservatives on the Roberts Court joined in holding that the FMLA’s self-care provision was not a valid exercise of Congress’ power to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment, distinguishing the Court’s 2003 decision in Nevada Dep’t of Human Resources v. Hibbs, which had permitted suits against the states under the family-care provision of the FMLA. In an opinion striking in its willingness to second-guess Congress’ exercise of its power to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment’s command of equality for all persons, Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito joined the Hibbs dissenters in holding that Congress lacked the power to subject states to suits for money damages for violating the FMLA’s provision giving individuals the right to take medical leave to care for a pregnancy, illness, or other medical condition.

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Quote:

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Obama and Medvedev caught in unguarded missile remarks

Barack Obama was recorded saying he would have more "flexibility" after November's election


TV cameras have recorded US President Barack Obama making unguarded comments with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Mr Obama said he would have more "flexibility" on difficult issues such as the US missile defence plans after November's election.

Mr Medvedev said he would relay the message to Vladimir, a reference to newly elected President Vladimir Putin.

The White House later released a statement playing down the importance of the remarks.

"Since 2012 is an election year in both countries, with an election and leadership transition in Russia and an election in the United States, it is clearly not a year in which we are going to achieve a breakthrough," said deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes.

Moscow has long opposed American plans to build a so-called defence shield in and around Europe capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.

Mr Obama and Mr Medvedev met during a nuclear summit in the South Korean capital Seoul.

According to a transcript of the recorded remarks carried by ABC News, Mr Obama told his Russian counterpart: "On all these issues, but particularly missile defence, this, this can be solved but it's important for him to give me space."

Mr Medvedev responded: "Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you."

Mr Obama then said: "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."

Mr Medvedev replied: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir."

Numerous politicians have found remarks that they thought were private being captured by open microphones.

In 2006 US President George Bush was caught in a candid conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. It became famous for Mr Bush starting the exchange with "Yo, Blair".

And in November last year President Sarkozy was heard describing the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "liar", also while talking with Mr Obama.

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