some people will grab any excuse to avoid a family function. -- j

Oh, that was funny....
"jamesalbright • 7 days ago Actually I was asked by my mother if I would attend a family function in which my lesbian cousin attended with her lesbian partner. Eventually, Jesus told me that He would instruct me to say that I didn't believe in homosexuality and politely excuse myself and get up and leave."

.... followed by his assertions of The Atheist Religion....

Wow... what rock did that dude crawl out from under?

yessir, an effort to discredit the source instead of
arguing the issues!!! -- j

My mind has always operated very graphically. A "gotcha" question has always reminded me of a boxing match in which one man is losing badly to another and resorts to a knee in the crotch, or biting off an earlobe. A question or action entirely irrelevant to the goings-on.

Actually, neither acronym. HAMP=Hurricane Aerosol Microphysics Program. It uses military jets to spray chemicals in the clouds, and has been tested in moving hurricanes - as in inland at certain places. Obama has involvement in its use. If it was use in New Jersey, then Christie played up to Obama, one wonders what was going on there.
One also wonders if the acronym you mention HARP (home loans) was set up on purpose to resemble HAARP (weather control) to confuse people and get them off checking what exactly is going on with HAARP, the it's not working, but it is program - or maybe it just moved.

A great comeback would be is "if your daughter was getting married to the biggest jerk in the country (which you despise) would you attend her wedding ?

that's it -- discredit the source! -- j

The real purpose is to prevent the candidates from talking about the important things that voters should know before voting in an intelligent manner (hopefully there are still people who do do this). Look at Hitlary and the new book about her acceptance of large sums of money from questionable sources as she changed her opinion in line with the donors. She attacks the writer instead of the facts (perhaps because there is no defense) to discredit the book.

Yes. That's basically it. The politicians and media outlets do what works, and saying things that get attention but don't upset sponsors and contributors works.

Regarding wealthy individuals, it may be a worse problem when executives own only a tiny fraction of the companies they manage. The execs answer to boards who have to respond to analysts because they know shareholders will respond to them. So the business ends up making shortsighted decisions that shareholders and executives would not do if it were owned by one small group. I do not have any solutions to this problem.

Good Questions! -- j

p.s. do you mean "HARP" or home affordable
modification program? . well, maybe both?

yes, that's the endorsement view. -- j

that's their point -- endorsement. . like going to an
organized dogfight, with betting and the like. . yet,
with friends or family involved, the loyalty is not the same.
and Jesus considered everyone "family." -- j

I like your analysis, R! . lotsa truth in there. -- j

do you mean that the politicians are owned by
the corporations? . if so, then it's cronyism which
leads to bad political choices, yes? . the politicians
strive for power and end up being "owned" by the
big $$ corporations?

then, what about Soros and the Kochs and the
like -- do they represent the corporations they own? -- j

like BHO getting into the Illinois senate by defaming
the opposing candidate. . take 'em down, and it
leaves you with a "bye." . the power is yours. -- j

Maybe a poor choice of words, since I think the left/right thing is mostly bunk. My point is they'll debate what gov't should do about something but rarely whether we should have a big enough gov't to do it. They often repeat statements made by the gov't uncritically, without even pretending to be impartial. I would think since they're corporate-owned they'd go out of their way to show they're not just cheerleading for keeping enormous military and prison systms, but it seems like they're oblivious to the appearance of supporting their parent companies and sucking up to the politicians they should be critical of.

Maybe you can rightly call all that leftwing or some other word. When I'm in the gym or happen to see them at a hotel, I'm astounded by some of the bias or apparent lack of independence I see.

A RIGHT-wing bias? Really? Can you show an example?

How about "Read us your thesis on Marxism, Hillary"? How about, "Admit you are a one world socialist," to Jeb Bush? How about, "Why did you suck up to Obama after the hurricane, likely put into play by HAMP," to Chris Christie? How about, "Who here support Agenda 21, and will be the first to give up their own property" to all? Would it not be wonderful if just a few so-called journalist really would focus on something significant!

I do not believe it is anybodies business who one allows to touch their genitals. The subject should not now or ever be asked of a politician.

I would just say that we're $19TRILLION in debt, we have terrorists that are threatening our way of life, and that's your biggest concern?

I think there is a significant difference between signalling acceptance through participation and efforts at outreach and instruction. Attendance at a wedding is a tacit approval of the ceremony itself and its meaning.

If you read to the end of the article, however, the author clearly states that his view is that attendance at the wedding explicitly condones the action. He then goes on to cite that he invited a Jewish Rabbi to a (Christian) wedding. The Rabbi politely declined, saying that because the wedding wasn't a traditional Jewish wedding, it held no authority in his mind and he therefore could not participate in any way. I find his reasoning sound and principled.

These are considered gotcha questions because there are many Christian who are so fearful of the total loss of faith. For example, a suburb of Cincinnati school offered an opportunity for girls to experience what being a Muslim female was like by wearing a hijab for a day. It was totally voluntary, had to have parential permission and no one had to do it, but local Christians flipped out. They were sure it was a recruitment measure to get the girls to convert to islam. Needless to say they moved to have it cancelled. Well, with the Gay marriage issue you are going to have this same type of reaction with the center of the country Christians. They are 100% sure it is a concerted plan by the LGBT to drag the USA into being the next Sodom and lose God's blessing. And if their candidate endorse it in any way they are not to be voted for. That is the line these GOP candidates have to walk and the liberal media knows and what better way to throw a monkey wrench into their campaigns.

They are all intertwined in reality. Not "gotcha" to me.

I the "free" society there is only one "Justice." Not social Justice, economic justice, just JUSTICE.

When we all are accountable and responsible for ourselves, the economy will grow at a staggeringly accelerated rate,. with that growth will also provide the funds to expand and provide a solid national defense because people will have a REAL personal stake in protecting their way of life.

Much like a farm...Veggies do not just magically appear, they take cultivation, water, fertilizer, and time. Coexist, Economic Growth, and National Defense are much like the farm, farmer, tools, rain and time. They are all important.