Snowdon is a dummy

@izzythepush,

Who doesn't pontificate on message boards? Its basically the whole point, that and find others who like to do the same. MIT might have made a misstatement with her generalization, but I think it is unfair and inaccurate to state that about facts and evidence.

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@revelette2,

The German and Turkish intelligence heads will meet to discuss reports by Spiegel that Berlin routinely spied on its NATO partner. More here

1 Reply

@revelette2,

I'm only pontificating my opinion like everybody else. Even legal scholars argue about these things, so it's not surprising that many of us will also.

I only express my impressions and what I've learned throughout the years from study/college and what has happened. Don't forget, all elected and non-elected government officials always swear to uphold the Constitution. That means it does have precedence in this country whether they or we like it or not!

The supreme court are made up of men and women (humans) who are political beings, and that will influence their thinking - whether they like it or not!

When you suggest there are ways to "force change," THAT is rhetorical and not realistic. That's because no matter how democrats and republicans looks at the other sides programs, they are at opposite ends of the reality spectrum. Liberals are not communists, and conservatives aren't for less government. If you still believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

This is addressed to the thread also. And I also agree, humans are humans.

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@revelette2,

Quote:

Who doesn't pontificate on message boards?

Hell yeah. For me, everything begins with a puff of smoke and then, before I even begin typing, I put on a special hat. My best posts are written from a little balcony.

And, I'd like everyone to know that I both bless and forgive them.

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@cicerone imposter,

cicerone imposter wrote:

I'm only pontificating my opinion like everybody else.

One does not "pontificate" an opinion, ci...one expresses an opinion in a pompous, arrogant, and dogmatic way. That is pontificating.

That, you do.

Often.

Quote:

Even legal scholars argue about these things, so it's not surprising that many of us will also.

Nothing wrong with arguing a point...but pontificating the way you do is for hicks...not for seasoned debaters. (Which itself is a sort of pontification.)

Quote:

I only express my impressions and what I've learned throughout the years from study/college and what has happened. Don't forget, all elected and non-elected government officials always swear to uphold the Constitution. That means it does have precedence in this country whether they or we like it or not!

No problem there. But you also want to be the arbiter of who is and who is not upholding the Constitution...by being the arbiter of what is and what is not constitutional.

That is not your prerogative, ci...that is what the SCOTUS does.

Quote:

The supreme court are made up of men and women (humans) who are political beings, and that will influence their thinking - whether they like it or not!

Number agreement, ci. You get that wrong almost every day. One would think by now you would be more careful since you claim to be above average in ability with the English language.

1 Reply

@Walter Hinteler,

Quote:

Over the weekend, Spiegel reported that the BND had spied on Turkey since 2009 and that the operations likely continued. Spiegel also reported that the BND had intercepted phone calls to Turkish officials by US Secretary of State John Kerry and his immediate predecessor, Hillary Clinton.

So, according to this, German has been regularly spying on Turkey, so in the course of this, caught phone calls made both Kerry and Clinton as well at different times while both on planes of officials business. Forgive me, but I still find it hard to believe it just a coincidence. There must have been something of interest to Germany between Turkey and the US they wanted to know.

1 Reply

@Frank Apisa,

Guess I really didn't understand the exact meaning of "pontificate" either. Embarrassed

Thought it kind of meant a long stated opinions and thoughts expressed, kind of like I do every so often.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Quote:

When you suggest there are ways to "force change," THAT is rhetorical and not realistic.

People can force change, if they couldn't then the civil rights era never happened but it did and it did because people held demonstrations and sacrificed their time and sometimes their lives to make it happen.

I know officials are charged with upholding the constitution and I really don't know why you keep belaboring that point. Right now, it is kind of up in the air of whether our surveillance program is legally constitutional. Congress passed the Patriot Act again and again more or less giving them the authority outside a few times NSA exceeded that authority. Right now congress and the President are in the process of changing some of that authority so some of what you disagree with may or may not be changed. At some point, some of these lawsuits may end up at the SC and it could go either way. I am personally OK with either way. There is really nothing left for me to add on the subject.

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@revelette2,

You're talking about another period in our history; I'm talking about now - today. What in our politics makes you believe we can force change?

1 Reply

@revelette2,

Congress passed the Patriot Act at a time in our history when we were attacked by al qaida on 9/11 that was based on fear and threats. The Patriot Act provisions were deemed illegal several years later.

From the NYT.

Quote:

Judge Rules Provisions in Patriot Act to Be Illegal

By SUSAN JO KELLER
Published: September 27, 2007
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 — A federal judge in Oregon ruled Wednesday that crucial parts of the USA Patriot Act were not constitutional because they allowed federal surveillance and searches of Americans without demonstrating probable cause.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Why couldn't we? As you say officials have to follow the constitution, it is still legal to have peaceful demonstrations. (just not riots and violence)

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@cicerone imposter,

You cited one example, another judge made a different ruling. We just went through this. Congress just passed it again not too long ago.

1 Reply

@revelette2,

Demonstrations are not changes in our laws.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Quote:

Demonstrations are not changes in our laws.

I am getting tired of this, but, no, but they lead to changes of laws.

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@revelette2,

They "can" lead to changes in laws, but I don't see that happening in today's political landscape. Prove me wrong.

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@revelette2,

revelette2 wrote:

You cited one example, another judge made a different ruling. We just went through this. Congress just passed it again not too long ago.

Ask him about this again, Revelette.

Don't allow him to weasel out of it by ignoring your comments...and just returning to his.

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@revelette2,

revelette2 wrote:

There must have been something of interest to Germany between Turkey and the US they wanted to know.

As far as I followed the news, both actions weren't related. But I can have missed the infos about that.

1 Reply

@blatham,

Quote:

Oralloy is right.

I don't read Oralloy's posts as he is on PERMANENT IGNORE.

Quote:

That's a ridiculous generalization from MiT that implicitly carries the claim that all blacks have only one legitimate political allegiance and any instances to the contrary are instances of a degraded and corrupt morality.

Ah, please, that is your opinion. I don't feel I owe you an explanation for my post in any way, like who are you, the monitor of this board, perhaps, asking me to tone it down?! What rules have I broken? Perhaps I did stretch my statement a tad too far regarding African Americans who are affiliated with the Republican Party....(one or two, possibly three, might be just plain conservative and not uncomfortable in their skin); many posters tend to emote passionately...go over the top.... especially when it involves a subject they feel intensely about, like seeing what a hugely corrupt system we have; I, agree, I should not have given the impression ALL BLACKS ALIGNED WITH THE REPUBLICANS PARTY ARE Uncle Toms. However, the essence of my statement remains the same with respect to all the Republican jurists.

May I suggest if you don't like my postings, place me on ignore. I don't know you, but anyone who sides with Oralloy, a poster who is consistently upside down in his judgment, I don't want or need in my world.

Ciao

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@Walter Hinteler,

I think there's a world of difference between what happened to 'snooping' on the US (accidental), and what Germany is/was doing to Turkey.

Turkey is in the 'back yard,' and they should have interest in the goings on in that country. They will be part of the European Union, and as such, their interest in Turkey is very important, because Germany contributes the greatest funds to the union.

From Guardian.com.

Quote:

Germany, as the biggest economy, is also the biggest contributor, Poland is the biggest receiver. The UK contributes much more than it receives too, about €4.7bn more. Why the gap? The UK is a rich country and the EU points out that although it spends less in the UK than the national contribution, the British economy gains much more from access to European markets and contracts. UK exports to the EU were worth nearly €12bn in September alone.

1 Reply

@izzythepush,

Quote:

criticise MIT go ahead, she's a control freak who likes to pontificate about all and sundry, and she doesn't let things like facts and evidence get in the way.

The snake in the grass, IZZYTHEPUSH, rears his ugly head. You were the one sending all the kudos to CI while he was tearing down America with his scathing rhetoric regarding the NSA spying programs. You were the one encouraging someone obviously in need of applause from the crowd to tear his country down. You are the one who claimed you were unaware of the SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP between the US and Britain while in an passionate dialogue with Frank Apisa. You knew the answer but enjoyed sticking it to the poster in question. You are so inherently dishonest, IZZYTHEPUSH, that really, you should take a good long look at your own profile. You were the first one to pm me telling me about posters on this board whom you did not like instead of allowing others to form their own biases. I have the digital paper in my inbox to prove what a two-faced hypocrite you are, izzythepush. You really should stop pretending you're so morally righteous and principled, when in reality you're a reptile whom one should watch out for.

1 Reply

Snowdon is a dummy

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