lawdude responded to a discussion called My Thoughts on the GOP Candidates in politics.
2 months ago
There is no such thing as the ideal candidate. Being human they all make personal and professional blunders. Though I'm a philosophical conservative, I will not vote for a conservative if he is not competent or lacks basic integrity. I also will abstain from voting if no candidate running meets my criteria. Predicting how any man or woman will meet the awesome responsibilities of POTUS is u...

lawdude responded to a discussion called I'm Officially Scare to Death... in politics.
1 month ago
Huntsman is a good man but did not have the organization and money to mount a serious campaign for the GOP nomination. Romney's organization goes back to 2008 and has been active since. His last official position was ambassador to China and he lacked a political constituency and name recognition. As intelligent as he appeared in the debates he came across as bland and did not make comments to a...

lawdude responded to a discussion called Newt NOW doesn't believe that politicians private lives should be investigated? in politics.
4 weeks ago
Newt is a typical two-faced politician who happens to be the glibest of anyone in the national arena. He can think and talk fast enough to sound convincing no matter what the topic is and disarm opponents and audiences in a discussion or debate. Rush Limbaugh has that ability. So did Mario Cuomo on the liberal side. When one examines the substance of their retorts or comments it's generally hot...

lawdude responded to a discussion called You are guilty and will be held responsible if you commit a sin unintentionally in religion.
4 weeks ago
I grew up in the Roman Catholic church and was taught as a child that absolution by God is only given by confessing your sins (mortal and venial) to a priest; but you cannot die in a state of grace with God without true repentance. If you die without absolution, you are separated from Christ and go to hell for eternal damnation. Later, I was taught that a sinner could still receive salvation i...

lawdude responded to a discussion called The Divided States Of America in politics.
1 week ago
We are seeing politics not before witnessed in our lifetime Political partisanship was rampant in the 19th century particularly in the eras leading up to and following the Civil War. There was also extreme partisanship in the early 20th century when the Democratic party was controlled by agrarian populists such as William Jennings Bryan who wanted easy money and the Republicans were controll...

lawdude responded to a discussion called Politics and homeowners in politics.
3 days ago
I checked this out and learned the following: the 3.8% sales tax will only apply to individuals selling a principal residence with an annual income exceeding $200,000 and married couples exceeding $250,000. However, there is a capital gains exclusion for the first $250,000 per individual and $500,000 per married couple. So a married couple earning more than $250,000 per annum that sells a princ...

lawdude responded to a discussion called After researching.... (U.S. based) in politics.
1 day ago
AidaLily, thanks for your scholarly research. There's not enough because most people seem to form opinions based on misinformation, half-truths, and outright propaganda that they get from politicians and the media. Every administration has contributed to the national debt but since Reagan they have contributed exponentially. The debt declined a bit during the last 2 fiscal years of the Clin...

lawdude commented in a discussion called My Thoughts on the GOP Candidates in politics.
2 months ago
Debra, I neglected to mention Ron Paul, whom the GOP establishment wishes would disappear. Ron is the most principled of the candidates in applying his Libertarian principles to both domestic and foreign policy. But it's that principled consistency that bars him from serious consideration since the Presidency requires pragmatism and a Realpolitik view of the world. His foreign policy and nation...

lawdude commented in a discussion called Newt NOW doesn't believe that politicians private lives should be investigated? in politics.
4 weeks ago
I agree. The problem seems rooted in our current culture where the media and every other elite institution, i.e. government, big business/finance, professional and college sports, education, etc. are controlled or influenced by big money. Our information technology and outlets cause access to constant repetitions that often distort facts and create facts that lack foundation or have a questiona...