JeffSly

[mattola]

this made me think of you

 

[quoipourquoi]

Great show by Sorkin (glad to see a Republican as a lead character in a drama). Can't believe the critics haven't taken to The Newsroom as much as I have.

 

[pixburgher66]

That's a great scene. Wow.

 

[elocomotive]

I fucking love that show. It's only been half a season and I think it's already in my top 5 shows of all time.

I love "Yosemite" just thrown in at the end.

The key part is being INFORMED. Stop by the politics forum on this site if it's not blatantly obvious that people aren't anymore.

 

[pixburgher66]

I fucking love that show. It's only been half a season and I think it's already in my top 5 shows of all time.

I love "Yosemite" just thrown in at the end.

The key part is being INFORMED. Stop by the politics forum on this site if it's not blatantly obvious that people aren't anymore.

You know, it's to the point where I become apathetic. And I hate that I am (which I suppose is contradictory), but I just...I find it hard to care when it seems like no matter who is in office they'll never be able to do things the way they want, the way they promise, because well...people in Congress are too damn proud to think ANYONE from the other party could EVER come up with something good. My Dad is like this...stubbornly conservative. I'm conservative in most ways, but I'm not going to discount something someone says or does because they're liberal. That's asinine. People my age are largely to blame...we have the ability to know more than ever, but chose to use the internet to play games, stalk friends, and watch pron. And I can't sit here and say I'm innocent of all of that. The internet is a cruel blessing.

 

[elocomotive]

You know, it's to the point where I become apathetic. And I hate that I am (which I suppose is contradictory), but I just...I find it hard to care when it seems like no matter who is in office they'll never be able to do things the way they want, the way they promise, because well...people in Congress are too damn proud to think ANYONE from the other party could EVER come up with something good.

I don't think that's true. You may not like the health care program Obama pushed through (i have mixed feelings myself), but that was a major piece of legislation. Bush wanted less regulation and less spending. He didn't do the latter so well, but certainly accomplished the former. You don't have to agree or disagree with those policies, but they were changes. They were important. The parties and candidates DO differ.

And yes, there is too much rhetoric and too much negativity. And WE THE PEOPLE are part of that problem because we don't require discourse, we don't demand explanation, and we allow apathy, labels, and rhetoric to command the conversation instead of demanding more. And the media (mostly television, where sadly most people get their news) does a great job feeding into our laziness. I still think it's important. I'm still engaged.

If you aren't, then you are part of the problem. (And I'm not trying to say that YOU as you in particular, Pix, just my general feeling).

 

[quoipourquoi]

I don't think that's true. You may not like the health care program Obama pushed through (i have mixed feelings myself), but that was a major piece of legislation. Bush wanted less regulation and less spending. He didn't do the latter so well, but certainly accomplished the former. You don't have to agree or disagree with those policies, but they were changes. They were important. The parties and candidates DO differ.

Even then, it wasn't pushed through by an elected official; Justice Roberts is the reason it passed 5-4. Bush appointed a broad interpreter of the Commerce Clause, because he prioritized social conservatism over fiscal conservatism at the time. A Republican appointee is holding the smoking gun - not Obama.

Que sera, sera. I'll just enjoy the theatre of American politics without getting too involved in it.

 

[elocomotive]

Even then, it wasn't pushed through by an elected official; Justice Roberts is the reason it passed 5-4....A Republican appointee is holding the smoking gun - not Obama.

Incorrect. Congress passed it and Obama signed it into law. The Supreme Court didn't push anything through, they ruled on the law's constitutionality, which is their job.

 

[pixburgher66]

I don't think that's true. You may not like the health care program Obama pushed through (i have mixed feelings myself), but that was a major piece of legislation. Bush wanted less regulation and less spending. He didn't do the latter so well, but certainly accomplished the former. You don't have to agree or disagree with those policies, but they were changes. They were important. The parties and candidates DO differ.

And yes, there is too much rhetoric and too much negativity. And WE THE PEOPLE are part of that problem because we don't require discourse, we don't demand explanation, and we allow apathy, labels, and rhetoric to command the conversation instead of demanding more. And the media (mostly television, where sadly most people get their news) does a great job feeding into our laziness. I still think it's important. I'm still engaged.

If you aren't, then you are part of the problem. (And I'm not trying to say that YOU as you in particular, Pix, just my general feeling).

I'm not saying NOTHING happens, I was exaggerating. But so many things are held up because of mere pigheadedness. And I dunno about Obama care. I'm so torn on it. I dunno, I'm sick of liberals wanting everything to change and conservatives wanting NOTHING to change. Obviously this is a blanket statement, but I know many people on both ends of the spectrum that are sincerely like this. All I know is I base my political leanings largely on my religious leanings. And that said, I'm also sick of upper-middle class Christians pretending like it's completely okay to ignore the impoverished. Read your Bible please, see what that Jesus guy is talking about.

 

[awaz]

I'm not saying NOTHING happens, I was exaggerating. But so many things are held up because of mere pigheadedness. And I dunno about Obama care. I'm so torn on it. I dunno, I'm sick of liberals wanting everything to change and conservatives wanting NOTHING to change. Obviously this is a blanket statement, but I know many people on both ends of the spectrum that are sincerely like this. All I know is I base my political leanings largely on my religious leanings. And that said, I'm also sick of upper-middle class Christians pretending like it's completely okay to ignore the impoverished. Read your Bible please, see what that Jesus guy is talking about.

its not that they want to ignore the impoverished, it's that systems like welfare and social security are broken. and throwing money (that you make off taxing successful individuals) at broken systems does not fix that the system is broken. it takes widespread reform to fix these programs that are enough for people to live off of, and sometimes comfortably, but have no incentive or requirement to improve their own lives. they dont even have to pass a drug test for gods sake.

welfare is a fantastic idea, but the current system is horse shit. throwing money at people doesn't fix them. providing them an opportunity to learn a new trait that can find them a new job that will lead them to supporting their own family fixes them. that type of welfare is going to be expensive as hell, but i for one would be glad to pay more taxes if it meant it was going to help John Doe get a better paying job so he can provide for his family on his own.

But until the government gets over itself and realizes how bad some of these programs are and how badly they waste money on things like drug enforcement, manufacturing pennies, paying billions of dollars to government workers who provide thousands of dollars of benefits to society, having wide open tax loopholes that anyone that knows they exist can take advantage of, they can go soak their heads. and they can keep their hands off my money.

 

[puckhead]

so far, I love everything about this show.
that last 5 minutes of the last episode was pretty sweet too.

 

[Comeds]

I really liked Sports Night and some of Sorkin's movies. The Social Network, Moneyball, and Charlie Wilsons Wars were all good IMO. I haven't seen this nor any episode of The West Wing. I really liked A Few Good Men, but I usually like Rob Reiner's stuff so I credit him for that.

Sorkin can be quite the prick when it comes to reviews and criticism.

 

[SLY]

Haha Matt. Fucking love this show. Jeff Daniels is so great in this show. That scene was immense, fell in love with the show after seeing it.

 

[pixburgher66]

its not that they want to ignore the impoverished, it's that systems like welfare and social security are broken. and throwing money (that you make off taxing successful individuals) at broken systems does not fix that the system is broken. it takes widespread reform to fix these programs that are enough for people to live off of, and sometimes comfortably, but have no incentive or requirement to improve their own lives. they dont even have to pass a drug test for gods sake.

welfare is a fantastic idea, but the current system is horse shit. throwing money at people doesn't fix them. providing them an opportunity to learn a new trait that can find them a new job that will lead them to supporting their own family fixes them. that type of welfare is going to be expensive as hell, but i for one would be glad to pay more taxes if it meant it was going to help John Doe get a better paying job so he can provide for his family on his own.

But until the government gets over itself and realizes how bad some of these programs are and how badly they waste money on things like drug enforcement, manufacturing pennies, paying billions of dollars to government workers who provide thousands of dollars of benefits to society, having wide open tax loopholes that anyone that knows they exist can take advantage of, they can go soak their heads. and they can keep their hands off my money.

Completely 100% agree, but I have some insanely conservative relatives who see it more as "they're all lazy and we should stop welfare". You can't stop something just because of a lazy minority. That said, I've seen the system so incredibly abused, it's hard to support it in its current state. I dunno, like I said, I just approach it with a WWJD philosophy. Can't really go wrong there.

 

[Brasky]

Big fan of the show. The last episode took that show to a whole new level.

 

[quoipourquoi]

Incorrect. Congress passed it and Obama signed it into law. The Supreme Court didn't push anything through, they ruled on the law's constitutionality, which is their job.

Their job contains the ultimate power as to whether or not Congress can do jack shit - including making us eat a fuck-ton of broccoli (Scalia's favorite). Whether we like the law or not, the Supreme Court deserves just as much credit/blame as any elected official. Their job is constitutionality in name, sure, but this is a branch of government that's been doing power grabs since Marbury v. Madison. Their philosophies of interpretation are entirely politically-based, and even more so now with the country becoming increasingly polarized. The shock was that Roberts didn't side with the agenda of his appointing party and actually did stick with Constitutional interpretation. More often than not, that doesn't happen, and decision dictates reasoning.

 

[elocomotive]

...Their philosophies of interpretation are entirely politically-based, and even more so now with the country becoming increasingly polarized. The shock was that Roberts didn't side with the agenda of his appointing party and actually did stick with Constitutional interpretation. More often than not, that doesn't happen, and decision dictates reasoning.

I think that sometimes happens, but I definitely wouldn't say it's more often than not. I think most Supreme Court justices take their job extremely seriously (hell, most lawyers do despite the jokes and stereotypes).

I just disagree with a lot of you. Most people on message boards are more cynical than your typical citizen. Like Awaz and Pix comments on Welfare above - you guys do realilze Welfare has been significantly reformed over the past 20 years, spurred by some great ideas/reform from Republican governors. I don't think what you guys are talking about really exists b/c there are time limits on the programs and they do have work training programs. The bigger problem is a lack of good jobs and people USING the programs properly.

 

[Slimpikins]

Completely 100% agree, but I have some insanely conservative relatives who see it more as "they're all lazy and we should stop welfare". You can't stop something just because of a lazy minority. That said, I've seen the system so incredibly abused, it's hard to support it in its current state. I dunno, like I said, I just approach it with a WWJD philosophy. Can't really go wrong there.

Light them on fire and send them to hell?

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I hate politics. Until there are term limits for Congress things won't get better for the people of this country. These people are supposed to do what's best for the people they represent, not themselves. Until we get rid of the Career Politician nothing is going to change.

 

[SLY]

Light them on fire and send them to hell?