Posts Made By: James Brown

This is nothing... If you want to read some real top-shelf genuine BS check out an ultra high-end audio forum. (Or maybe the politics forum downstairs... )

Jim

Tony Aguire said:

Republicans abandoning separation of church and state?

Yup...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/north-carolina-religion-bill_n_3003401.html?icid=hp_front_top_art

A parallel of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt....

These people will be forcing you to church and onto your knees to take their "offering"...

I read the link Tony. This does not appear to be a serious attempt to establish any state religion. they won't be forcing you to your knees. This bill is a "dramatic gesture" to express "outrage" with the level of Federal intervention in state matters. Even though this is only a gesture, it is a really, truly and profoundly stupid gesture. It is stupid for these legislators to waste NC taxpayer's money making dramatic but clearly unconstitutional gestures no matter how popular this kind of thing might be with certain constituents.

Even more stupid is the lack of appreciation reflected in this bill for how the Bill of Rights protects citizens from the government. The Constitutional prohibition against the establishment of a state religion is there to protect religious people - the Free Exercise Clause is eviscerated if the state can establish a religion.

What a waste of time these particular NC legislators are.

Jim

Rod Kaufman said:

Than to prevent a president from designating a pristine area as a national monument so it won't be plundered by special interests?
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56167059-90/act-antiquities-bishop-monument.html.csp
OMG, they're still mad at Clinton for designating the grand stair case at Escalante Utah as a national monument! How nuts can the GOP be?...

I'm with you on this one Rod. Generally, for most topics, I would favor local control, but some natural assets are precious and unique enough to justify preservation at the federal level. Thank God for the legislation (over 100 years ago) that provides for our National Parks, National Forests and National Monuments.

I wish the Republican leadership would focus on tax and economic policy, where we have a decent hand to play. Arguing against the Antiquities Act is really a political loser and dumb idea to boot.

Jim

[SIZE="Small"]P.S. Attached is a photo I have been working on - shot this summer about 30 trail miles in from a trail-head near Pinedale Wyoming - a region I know that you have visited in the past. The Wind River Wilderness is still not spoiled by the gas wells 100 miles south out in the desolate Wyoming flat lands... Bless our ancestors for preserving the wilderness, but let's allow energy development in the desolation and ranch land if there is no wilderness impact... (We don't need to argue that argument again by the way, I'm just teasing you)[/SIZE]

Rod Kaufman said:

The Bush library, aka "presidential center"( :S) opens today. Let's reflect on the achievements highlighted in the exhibits.
First and foremost, spreading democracy throughout the middle east. Well, we all know how well that one turned out. Next, invading Iraq and "Mission Accomplished!". We won't recall the false pretenses that got us there, now will we? Tired of foreign forays? Well... there's a huge reminder on hurricane Katrina. Yep, it "you're doing a heck of job, Brownie" all over again and right in your face! And the worst economic disaster of global proportions in recent history? Well, Bush did say he was sorry.
The opening of the Bush library today. Be the first in line...

Hi Rod:

It must gall you that Bush's approval ratings currently equal or exceed Obama's. Time heals all wounds. In any case, Bush is old news.

I wonder if Obama's handling of the sequester and game-playing with the FAA will be his Katrina?

J

David Cotterell said:

Supreme court rules DOMA unconstitutional today.

About time.

Next you need a clear law that gives every American citizen the vote without 'literacy tests' or other nonsense restrictions to be considered a nation that is approaching the 21st century.....

Keep up the good work, USA, you're getting there...

Dave

Seriously Dave? Are you that profoundly misinformed or are you just trolling again?

The United States has a clear law "that gives every American citizen the vote without 'literacy tests' or other nonsense restrictions..."

It is the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Section 2 of the VRA prohibits literacy test and other nonsense. Section 2 is the heart of the VRA and it is alive and well having been fully endorsed by the Supreme Court, as you should have known. Maybe you need to expand the scope of your political reading?

The only thing the Supreme Court did was discard Section 4(b) of the VRA - this section included the decades old formulas for determining which jurisdictions required federal preclearance of changes to their voting regulations. Under 4(b) several southern states and northern cities were required to submit to preclearance; other states were not. Preclearance itself (Section 5 of the VRA) was deemed entirely constitutional, only the old list of jurisdictions requiring preclearance was tossed.

All of the wailing and gnashing of teeth by lefty pundits about the demise of the VRA is simple political gamesmanship. The VRA is as enforcible as it ever was.

I agree with the DOMA decision by the way. If State A legalizes gay marriage, why should the Feds refuse to recognize this for the citizens of those states? All of the recent Supreme Court decisions are fundamentally state's rights based - which is a good thing. I do find the Democrat's high-fiving over the DOMA decision to be a bit unseemly, since Democrats (were and remain) rather "craven" on this issue.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/06/27/democrats_and_gay_marriage_no_profiles_in_courage_118998.html

Dave; speaking of your role as the resident lefty troll, I'm still waiting for your sources indicating that we face imminent "mass extinction" because of global warming.

http://www.astromart.com/forums/viewpost.asp?forum_post_id=804855&oll_id=&news_id=&ge=

Does anyone else miss Don Dickinson?

Jim

Kathleen Wickles said:

Hi. Not at all sure this is the correct place to post this? I am cleaning out my husband's shop, he died very unexpectedly a bit ago. In addition to observing, he enjoyed building his own scopes. I have uncovered several mirror blanks, sizes 17 x 1.5, 12.5 x 2, 8 x 1.25. I believe there may be one or two more. I also believe they are Pyrex blanks and that he purchased them in the 80/90s.

Don't know if I should try and sell them, give them away or just throw them away? The two larger ones appear to be in the original shipping crates. I have pictures ...

Thank you.
Kathleen

Hi Kathleen:

Sorry to hear about your loss. You can sell the blanks here on Astromart. The 17 inch blank should be worth at least a few hundred dollars:

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=776384

Make sure to include the shipping cost, which will be substantial, in your asking price (unless you are lucky enough to find a local buyer.) If selling and shipping the blanks seems like too much hassle, you can probably find a local astronomy club that would be happy to have them. I certainly would hate to see you throw them away!

If you do decide to sell them, the classified ads here on Astromart will reach a much broader and safer astronomy-oriented audience than any non-astronomy specific auction site.

Best wishes, Jim

Rob Wiederrich said:

The U.S Constitution proclaims that any person involved in Treason against the United States of America shall, can and or will be put to death...

...In Essence, Barak Husain Obama is using United States of America Tax-Payer Money to Support a nation who’s government Supports *Terrorism and *Death to *Christians & *democracy.

...Barak Husain Obama, WE THE PEOPLE CHARGE YOU WITH TREASON, against The United States of America...

...This is Treason against the United States of America.

Rob:

I'm curious if you want President Obama hung, shot, drawn and quartered or what? Drawing and quartering might be the way to go, because it invokes an "original intent" 1700's kind of vibe and it surely would make for must-see television.

Jim

[SIZE="Small"]p.s. For any NSA operatives reading along - I am mocking Rob. I think any suggestion that the President is guilty of treason and should therefore be executed is simply insane.

Jim[/SIZE]

Rod Kaufman said:

They won't even allow the fundamental basis of our democracy to take place: the vote:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/08/votes-are-there-to-break-shutdown-but-not-the-will/?hpt=hp_t1

"Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I won." President Barack Obama



"All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other Bills."

U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 7, clause 1



"No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time."

U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 9, clause 7



Rod:

I'm not a big fan of the shut down, in part because I believe that the press will make sure that it reflects most poorly on the Republicans. Still, you can't really play the "fundamental basis of democracy" card. The Constitution wisely provides for separation of powers. The House is operating well within their designated powers here. Elections do have consequences, even House elections.

http://history.house.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/Power-of-the-Purse/

Jim

bob sharpe said:

"National Review"??
You might as well quote from "Guns and Ammo"...

Louis Busby said:

Those who object that the issue is health care, and not lies, fail to see that the two were always inseparable. Obama knowingly and serially said something that he knew was not true because he did not wish to take the trouble to explain to the American people that, yes, several million people with individual plans would lose their existing health insurance � and many of them would have to change doctors and pay more in premiums � but they would in the long term, and in theory, be better off, and in fact, in the short term, would serve the public good by subsidizing the care of the less well-off.

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/364250/obamas-noble-lies-victor-davis-hanson

Bob:

If you do not trust The National Review here is pretty much the exact same message from a well respected liberal thinker published in the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/opinion/edsall-the-obamacare-crisis.html?_r=0

I'm not sure why you merely attacked the source in the first place by the way. Hanson's article is well reasoned and accurate.

Jim

bob sharpe said:

I've always maintained that if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about.

Wow. That kind of innocent naivete and simplistic trust in governmental integrity is pretty rare.



Here is a reading list for you in 2014:

http://www.amazon.com/1984-Signet-Classics-George-Orwell/dp/0451524934

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CONAN-1992/pdf/GPO-CONAN-1992-10-5.pdf

http://www.amazon.com/Brave-New-World-Aldous-Huxley/dp/0060850523

https://www.aclu.org/racial-justice_prisoners-rights_drug-law-reform_immigrants-rights/bill-rights-brief-history

http://www.amazon.com/Fahrenheit-451-Novel-Ray-Bradbury/dp/1451673310

Have fun!

Jim