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Trump for all his foibles is an absolute MASTER at deflection. He just doesn't get stuck in an attack and he even zooms right past them most of the time. Personally, I think Hillary is as honest and upstanding as a person running for president can be (which is to say she, like all candidates, is likely to make personal compromises in an effort to get elected). I also think she IS a bit of a victim of a right wing smear campaign (emails and benghazi are so minor, politically). But get enough people to repeat the same stuff about her over and over again, and it starts to stick regardless. And they've been complaining about her for a long time. People don't like her but I'm not even sure they remember why they don't like her. If you don't think she's been held to a higher standard, then I suggest you watch some of the unedited behghazi hearings. She has publicly stood up to much more personal scrutiny than the "Average Joe." I mean benghazi and the e-mail scandal are just the things that conservatives cling to right now to hate her over. Let's say the FBI totally exonerates her over the e-mail and Gowdy's committee totally clears her of any wrongdoing and commends her for the handling of Benghazi.... will her image change in the eyes of her detractors? NO WAY. They'll just move on to try to find the next thing to bring her down. That's actually what I really don't like about her as a candidate. She's got too many haters to really bring the country together. Unfortunately, Trump has even more. So no matter who wins in November, there's going to be a significant number of people who will be rooting for their president to trip and fall. Not a good place to be, America. |
I voted for Sanders in the primary. Now I have to ask your question not only about Hillary, but also about Trump. Anyone who thinks that an election is not about comparing between candidates needs to rethink. Who you think is the worst of the field is your opinion. But you also thought Nixon wasn't such a bad guy.
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didn't say that John.
I don't like either. |
Cliff, you may get the chance at a third option...
http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/07/politi...ate/index.html |
Pisses me off that the "conservatives" took over the republican party and lost all concern for fiscal issues. It's the economy stupid.
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Running a private email server containing classified information is not a made up story by conservatives. It this was something you did.. What do you think would happen to you? The media and Obama admin has protected her on this story. What was her purpose for running it in the first place?
Benghazi is not what many wanted it to be and was probably overblown. She has whored out her entire life for political gain and is an absolute POS of a human not fit for the office. You and I would be in prison for her crimes. That said.. Trump is no better and I don't want him in office either. He is a crazy egomaniac. |
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I don't necessarily agree with this line of reasoning, BUT nobody can deny it exists and it really makes HRC a weak candidate and someone who is unlikely to unite the country behind her. Much more likely we have a continuation of the presidency under siege from a hostile congress. |
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You guys keep acting like if we all agree Hillary s**ks then we'll get someone better. Unfortunately, if that were the case we'll get someone worse. On a crappier note.. Broke two bones in my foot yesterday on an over rotated TS180 behind the boat. |
This is kind of a long video, but it highlights the email trouble. I think they make some light of the issue, but generally cover it pretty well and cover the horrible choice of Hillary like Shawn mentions.
https://youtu.be/q08AplBtsUw John.. That sounds really crappy. Good luck on the recovery. |
Email shmeemail. Not any better or worse than Colin Powell. Actually it could be argued that her use of her own private server was better from a security standpoint that his use of a 3rd party private email address that was on a system outside of his staff's control.
At the end of the day she's just business as usual and isn't any better or worse than most of the male politicians we've been saddled with, she's just a woman and a Clinton and that brings along a special kind of hatred. |
Lol @ that video. Gotta love it when nontechnical people start to sound off about things like email servers and try not to sound like morons. Setting up a server in one's home is far from "bizarre and extraordinary" as this guy tries to sensationalize it. There are many reasons to do it, the server was not always located in her home, and there's nothing inherently more or less secure about rolling one's own than going with the state dept who is a serious target. That being said, obviously this is an area where the govt is clearly behind on its standardization and policies and of course the gaps in those will be clarified and hardened. But I honestly laugh at just about every article or video that's released about this because people just don't have a clue what they are talking about. Email is inherently insecure - it's a weak protocol that was built in the 70s when the Internet was a friendly place with just a few folks who all knew each other - and a private server under one's control can be far more secure than a system that isn't.
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Redrum redrum
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last week when different GOP politicians were saying the were NOT going to support Trump I was rolling my eye's but this week things seem to be not so set in stone & the people that were saying they would not support Trump are changing their tune, Intresting!!! I saw another tid bit where they were saying 38% of Sanders supporters said they would NOT vote for Hillary and would in fact vote for Trump if Hillary is the nominee. for sure this has been the most crazy election cycle in years.
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Today's sandwich Some how my name came out to be RAM!!!
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Jeremy spoken like a true liberal. That's right in a Libs mind everyone else is the victim. How dare I have such a complicated name to pronounce and spell. These poor downtrodden people being forced to learn such difficult names. That along with my inability after 40+ years speaking English to master It. Thank you for pointing out that it must be my fault. Without your insight I would be lost .
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Jeremy; you strike me as the type of person that would be offended by this sighn. And deem it racist! I can totally see you saying /thinking "How dare the government post such a rasist sighn" "They come here as a act of love" your lib mentality and BLM Brethren will be the death of this nation.
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Grant why would that sign be racist? It looks like it's warning you to be careful of white people running across the street?
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You are truly delusional. You dislike illegal immigrants, yet you support candidate that prosper from the employment of said immigrants. I don't have a problem with addressing illegal immigration, however, I am not naive enough to believe that a "wall" is going to solve the issue. I am also not naive enough to believe that Trump is going to round all of the illegals up and get them out of the country. I suspect should Trump win, you will see little to nothing change with regards to immigration. |
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the confederate flag is a symbol of rebellion and screw "the man". That's the way we felt about it when I was growing up. That's the way a lot of the south views it. It's not a symbol of oppression or racism. That's just liberal and sensitive dribble....
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stop and ask the next guy that you see that is flying the flag. I would bet that he doesn't know the history of the flag, and he doesn't associate it with anything other than rebellion
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I'm not offended by the Confederate flag. What is taught in schools is not the same today as it was 40 years ago. Peoples perception is what is taught today, not the truth.
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The truth is it was a war over ideology. The North (Government ) wanted what the South had. Which was resources. Just as it is today the Government used a distraction race (today) and (slavery)back then to divide the country. Then the Government "took" what they wanted more power and resources. When will the American people ever wake up? When the Government has all the power and the people are their slaves that's when. Now tell me how the Government wanted to abolish slavery again. You can't just focus on one single event in history, you have to focus on the trend. The trend is more government power. Now you can tell me how i'm wrong, but history supports my view. What facts do you have? Do you now realize you too have been duped by you own government?
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"History" is always how people, in the present, explain the past. What is "truth," like interpretations of the bible and the constitution, changes over time. |
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"The trend is more government power. Now you can tell me how i'm wrong, but history supports my view."
History also supports the point of view that when the govt had less power, people were slaves without rights. |
I am a Yankee transplant that lives in the south and always felt like to each his own with the rebel flag. Then one day my 11 year old daughter and her friend were in the back seat of my truck and as we travel down the road I hear her friend say very quietly almost to herself " whoa that is just scary". My daughter asked her what and she said "that truck with the flag, you just see them all over lately and it is scary".
Yes my daughters friend is African American and I have thought differently about it since. |
The Rebel flag represents treason, a crushing defeat, and a society that believed it was perfectly ok to enslave people. Not sure how when a state govt is flying the flag that it could be construed as "against the man". Yes, different people see different things in the flag based on their exposure. But there is no question about what it actually represents. And I have no problem with people who are clear about what it really means and find it objectionable for any govt entity to display it.
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The American Flag represents unity. Yet Americans today trample it and burn it. Forty years ago racism did exist. However racism is alive and well today. That's how the Government controls the people like puppets.The U.S.A. has declined in every major category while being controlled by the government over the last 35 to 40 years. I guess that proves we were doing it all wrong 40 years ago.
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The govt is who you vote for. You have no one to blame but yourself. And I mean that "you" as in the collective whole. It's pretty easy to see why we are declining. We don't protect our economy. We have standards yet ship our money and do business with those countries that don't have standards. We are paying China to compete with us both economically and militarily. Simply because of greed. So all the govt has to do to dupe you is simply tell you what you want to hear. IOW the problem is someone else's fault and the country would be back on the right track if people other than me sacrifice.
People were trampling the American flag 50 years ago protesting the abomination of govt sponsored murder called Vietnam. Trampling the flag was the least of atrocities happening at that time. Yes the govt was controlling people back then too. If the govt decided to draft and ship the mothers and fathers to Vietnam instead of kids fresh out of high school the war wouldn't have lasted long enough for anyone to remember. So yeah the govt controlled society by sending the kids instead. And the voters were just fine with that. Except for the one's trampling the flag, who weren't being duped. |
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Flag burning wasn't really legal (i.e. specifically identified as constitutionally protected speech) until 1969. And it was likely happening as much 40 years ago (quite infrequently) as it is today. I guess that proves that we're doing it as wrong now as we were then. Who are the "they" in "the Government" who exert these powerful levers of control? What was it that Reagan made us all do? |
Bottom line .... Do you think the USA is more respected worldwide now or 40 years ago? Do you think the USA is more independent and financially solvent now or 40 years ago? Blaming it on me the voter is like blaming someone for choosing the wrong line at Walmart. You expect the person at the cash register to do their job, just like you expect the person you elect to do what they promised they would.When will American Citizens take responsibility for their "own" actions?
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Well 40 years ago was basically right after watergate and saigon and right between the two gas crises of the 70s.
1973: http://315gqf1cb88e2qagu3f9xz91.wpen...5/97266320.jpg 1974: http://s01.s3c.es/imag/_v0/635x458/0...xonresigns.jpg 1975: http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/im...rash103_01.jpg 1976: http://assets.fontsinuse.com/static/...g?resolution=0 I'd say that the American people were pretty wounded in 1976 in the aftermath of Watergate and losing in Viet Nam. So yeah, bottom line, I DO think the U.S. is more respected now than 40 years ago. CWB, are you really arguing that the 1970s were the "good old days"? |
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If there is anything that is making the US less respected around the world, it would have been our invasion of Iraq by Bush and the selection of Trump as a Presidential nominee. Both of which are actions precipitated by those in the Republican party. |
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When the executive office transitioned from Bush to Obama I would assert that the respect of the US by the world increased. The response of the Republicans was to declare that America should fail as long as Obama was President in hope that he would only serve one term and turn the office back to Republicans. Again the Republicans damaged the credibility of the US in the eyes of the world. One would have to wonder why anyone with a modicum of intelligence would vote Republican. Republicans claim Hillary is a liar and therefore unqualified to be President. So they nominate a huge liar as her opponent. They claim Hillary is establishment and beholding to her wealthy contributors. So in response they nominate a wealthy contributor. |
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We certainly have a stronger military than we did in the 70s. If "making America great again" (tm) means turning us back into 1970s America, NO THANKS. |
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40 years ago you could buy food grown in the USA. You could buy just about any household product made in the USA. Clothes,bicycles,TV's ,lawn mowers,Car parts, motorcycle parts,telephones and audio equipment. Steel was made in the USA, Cars were made totally in the U.S. with all American parts.This is what made America strong. Soldiers fought for freedom. Today young men and women join the service to get a college education paid for or get another retirement check. I haven't mentioned Obama but you guys bring him up like the race card. You can come up with all the BS you want but any man of sound mind can see we aren't as independent or financially strong as we were 40 years ago. Even though you pointed out some issues we had back then we're worse off now.
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How could Anyone think we are better off fiscally now than 40 years ago? In the 70's the national debt was Less than a trillion dollars And much less of a % of GDP, wages were on an upward progression, and bridges were 40 yrs newer! Now, the debt is approaching 20T, 100% of GDP(Greece comes to mind), bridges are crumbling, And wages have been in decline for 30 years! The economy is growing very slowly today, This, and we haven't even talked about student debt! So, please explain how we are better off now, fiscally, than 40 years ago if you answer Yes to that question. The 70's were the good ol' days, we just didn't know it! |
Robert where do you live that you can't buy locally grown food? You are definitely right that consumer goods have moved offshore... which is a tough conundrum.... sure we all can see the benefit of those jobs on our soil, but we also all know that labor costs will turn a $900 iphone into a $3000 iphone, and at the bottom we're all greedy mofos. Regarding cars, again, rewind to the 1970s when those cars that were made here were really the biggest pieces of $hit on earth. The complete suckage of american cars 40 years ago is what really drove foreign competition and has in turn made american cars better. I'd rather that our car industry make the best products than erect protectionist policies to prop it up. Also 40 years ago you couldn't buy a Nissan, BMW or Toyota made right here on American soil by American workers with American parts.
40 years ago US car makers hadn't penetrated China either. Now China is a huge market for Ford and GM. Regarding the military, I'd rather see men and women bettering themselves and becoming contributors to society than not. If that means that they are enticed to serve with the GI bill and then they use that same GI Bill to go earn a degree and then become a productive member of society, what in the world is wrong with that? What's bad about our teachers, police, prosecutors, and politicians having military experience? What a strange criticism. |
"but we also all know that labor costs will turn a $900 iphone into a $3000 iphone"
No, we don't all know that. Got any sources? Also, why is that an excuse for exporting our economy? Lastly, why would anyone want to join the military if there is no benefit in doing so? Yes, I know the obvious answer is going to be to serve the country. But given that nobody really serves the country, it strikes me as manipulative praise intended to get someone else to do what no rational person wants to do. |
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Besides, is "debt" always a bad thing? Think about that for a moment. |
....as a Republican, I haven't been over joyed with a politician or candidate for years
But you "intelligent" Democrats have seemed to think that Obama, Reid and Hillary are the bee's knees. One would have to wonder why anyone that has ever taken a financial risk on a business, hung out their own shingle, and has been responsible for the employment of others........would ever vote democrat |
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http://www.marketplace.org/2014/05/2...an-iphone-cost |
Really? Do we have to get into 401k's? How's your 401k Jeremy? Do you really think you can retire? Debt is Not bad Increasing debt is very bad! The bridges in this country are falling apart and you say but corporations are making More money? Good thing they got rid of those pesky unions so their profits can increase! I'm sure those profits stay IN America, right? Even with high inflation, people were still buying houses! Today, with low, low interest rates people still can't buy a house! Double digit interest rates are bad? Only if you are buying, high interest rates are used to slow the economy down, we definitely don't need high interest rates in today's economy! What is your counter example for today's lower wages? Oh yeah thats right, high corporate profits! I don't want you to go on and on, I just want you to give One example of something that is doing better today that is making America better? Crumbling infrastructure, diminishing wages for 30 years, student debt, and rising American debt! I could go on and on, but I have to check my stocks!
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edit: I reread. They didn't say parts cost alone would drive the price that high. But I also doubt they are factoring the buying resistance to high prices. You really have no idea how the market is going to set the price until it actually happens. |
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A "crumbling infrastructure" shows that politicians are bad at managing money. Of course, as Americans, we want the best military, the best schools, the best bridges, but we balk at the idea of actually having to pay for those things. We want our money spent on the items that line up with our political ideologues. |
Great! you can retire! Do you have any kids? How do you feel about them making less money than you did for doing the same work? How can you say your children will be better off when their wages are lower? Well, they are better off because interest rates are lower? They are better off because corporations are making record profits? Your children will make less money, but thats OK because we are the richest country in the world!
I am retired with a good pension, but my kids know that they will never be able to retire and they are both mechanical engineers! |
Joe why won't they be able to retire? Save save save, pay yourself first. There's no reason that mech engineers shouldn't be able to save enough for themselves to retire.
Secondly, let's ask ourselves about this relatively new phenomenon (in the history of human existence) of retirement. Is it / should it be a birthright to not work for 30 years and live out your remaining years as a conspicuous consumer (by global standards)? When social security came about, life expectancy and retirement age were about the same. Same with pensions. Is it reasonable to work for state government for 30 years and then collect a pension for another 40? |
" Is it / should it be a birthright to not work for 30 years and live out your remaining years as a conspicuous consumer (by global standards)?"
If paying 15% of your salary into SS for 50 years is a birthright, then collecting it back for 30 years in retirement should be as well. On the point about pensions, I don't believe that any govt employee should be entitled to collect a pension at an age less than SS retirement age. Govt pensions should basically use the same age rules as SS. There is no reason that an engineer shouldn't be able to retire given that they should have both 401k/IRAs and SS to collect when they are at retirement age. It isn't the engineers that should be worried (at least not yet). |
It sure is reasonable when all the employees have a retirement system that has Nothing to do with the government. Take the Ohio Teachers retirement system, employees put money in each year and the money is almost matched by their employer, so the schools that hire the teachers pretty much match the employees contributions for the year and thats it, neither the school nor the state is responsible for any retirement of the employee after matching the contributions for that year. The Ohio system is solvent 30 yrs out And they can make changes to the system at Any time, in the early 90's they paid for both employees And their spouses health care, now since HC coverage has gone up so much, they mostly just cover the employees, and HC coverage for the employees spouse is very expensive.
Now, I understand there are some State like Illinoise, whose employees are only contributing 3-6% of their income and the government is Paying Most of the employees contributions to retirement, its no wonder that the States are in dire straits, there it would not be reasonable to fund them for 40 years. My sons grew up in a time where any money they make would lose value do to inflation with low(No) interest rates. So, to retire they know that they will have to save several million dollars for their retirement, and even then, when they retire they will have to cut back on their spending. My only wish is that they support their kids through college, like I have supported them, so their kids have a chance. Most people today will Not be able to save enough in their 200.5k's! I don't think anyone is counting on social security. Also I have instilled in them that they must enjoy what they do and like where they live, because they are going to be doing it for a long time. The retirement age is moving up to 67 and the male life expectancy in the US is only 79, so working 60 years and retiring for 12 years is Not unreasonable! |
I'm definitely counting on SS. I hope to delay collecting until 70 so I can draw at the highest rate. And I hope to stay in good shape and collect for a long time. Nobody should be accepting the sentiment that it won't be there when they retire. If there is anything that the govt should not default on, it's SS. There is simply no good reason for it. But yeah, if the American public is stupid enough to invade *and* rebuild other countries, then I'm not surprised they are stupid enough to acquiesce to the idea that SS won't be there when they retire.
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As mechanical engineers, both should be making salaries that make what I mentioned a definite reality. |
I understand that the way that YOU interpret some of my ideas is mind blowing.
I also understand that healthcare is out of control. I also remember that you were a big advocate of Obama, his cronies and Obamacare......even when a lot of us were saying that they were addressing the wrong issues. I will never vote democrat because, from what I understand, ideologically, they want : to redistribute wealth, legislate how, when , what people sell and buy....and how much people are to get paid. They want a huge wasteful government that motivates society to become dependent. They want to "punish" the American dream instead of reward it Republicans, ideologically,want a smaller less intrusive government that allows the market to dictate what how when where and how much I fear the day when big brother makes me print menus in multiple languages, hire bilingual workers, have multiple bathrooms, dictate what I pay, who (gender and race), what I sell and how ....etc... then take all of my profits because someone else doesn't make enough. you laugh and might say that government already does this Yes, some regulations are necessary. The democrats seem to have an endless list. When will it stop. Answer: with them it won't and NO, I'm not happy with Trump, the GOP, or a lot of things. Based on that, since I have NO control, I'd like the government to run exclusively in the back ground It blows my mind that some folks can't grasp this. |
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They definitely don't want a "less intrusive government". I'll fight you tooth and nail over that claim. |
agreed, that's the trouble. but, democrats certainly want a bigger more intrusive governemt
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the formula is to live off of 4%. That way, your nest eggs is never touched and it keeps up with inflation The scenario that you listed should work, except your income is now fixed, but you have to start paying more ....to eat out because minimum wage has sky rocketed ....to eat out because prices have gone up due to ....mandatory employer provided healthcare, multiple language menus, construction costs due to the need for 4 or more bathrooms .........................inflated grocery prices because of corn ethenol and other stupid programs health insurance costs a lot more because of obamacare or just because premiums went up so that we can provide insurance to the less fortunate property taxes go way up. Have to afford all of the government programs you live in a boarder state and are over run by immigrants, government takes your land to protect them you have to pay restitution to several groups there is a tax for being white Im not really liking how I've typed this, but you get the point. Government will always want more more more. I will fight this tooth and nail but might as well spend it, soon, you won't be able to leave it for family to enjoy |
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Ram be all up on Drumpf like flies on s**t... oh wait...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YyZh2yDmWVI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> |
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Unfortunately, we live in a country where the majority of voters do not read or think for themselves anymore; as a result. the media "sensationalizes" public debate, which feeds into fear. I'm not trying to defend anyone or take sides, but I would like to think that a reasonable person would not think forcing unisex bathrooms on public schools is a good idea. For example, the transgender bathroom argument is easily solved and the law does not require schools to force to implement unisex bathrooms. How the law is mandated is up to the district . For example, if I were a superintendent, I would install a bathroom of choice, separate from male/female bathrooms-like a family bathroom in most stores--problem solved. However, what is alarming is that the people in power--the media, and lawyers included--put this type of issue in the spotlight when kids are literally starving in this country and suffering abuse but chose to focus on this,
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how many trans kids will a given school district even have? People seem to think that there's going to be some huge wave of pervy males that are going to start identifying as women to get into the girl's restroom? What about the pervy gay boys and girls who are already in said restroom? Maybe I'm being too flippant, or maybe I'm just totally oblivious, but I've never seen any overtly sexual behavior in a mens room. And judging from the womens rooms I've had the displeasure of cleaning, most women are way too busy tearing it up in there to be doing anything that could be remotely considered "sexy." |
Still think you're gonna get that wall? Yikes.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/27/news...ity/index.html |
Wes: you mak Ram laugh! :) thank you
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David, you are absolutely right
I'm amazed that other people don't get it. I wonder if supporters of this nonsense even have an answer to this I have asked those in my life, but never get a response. Does this mean that there is a line that even they won't cross? If so, isn't that like saying hey....we won't discriminate against you until a certain point This type of thing is why I could never vote democrat (no matter how bad the republican might be) The media has run with this and made it an issue, yet they refuse to carry the thought all of the way through |
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