TH3

And here is the text of Indiana's RFRA: Indiana's RFRA makes it explicit that the law applies to persons engaged in business as well as citizens in private lawsuits, but until quite recently it had always been understood that federal RFRA covered businesses and private lawsuits. (See this post by law professor Josh Blackman for more on these matters.) Late last night just outside the Senate chamber, I asked Senator Chuck Schumer of New York (who sponsored federal RFRA in 1993) to comment on the story. "Not right now," he replied. Schumer still hasn't found time to respond to this question on Twitter: So why are so many people saying that Indiana's law is an unprecedented attack on gay people? Bad journalism is to blame here. See this CNN headline that says the law "allows biz to reject gay customers," or this New York Times story that makes the same claim while ignoring the fact that many other states and the federal government have the same law on the books. Indiana's RFRA does not grant a license to discriminate. First of all, the state of Indiana, like 28 other states, has never prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation at public accommodations. Even without such laws in most states, discrimination doesn't commonly occur because the United States is a nation that is tolerant of gay people and intolerant of bigots. Mean-spirited actions by a business owner anywhere in the country would almost certainly be met with a major backlash. Much more (for those who can process it) at the link: http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/indianas-religious-freedom-restoration-act-explained_900641.html?page=2 I would suggest you expand your bookmarks list for a better understanding of the law and how it is unique in many ways.

Don t understand your numbers. How was was the govt fully funded last year and where did 15 come from?

As someone already noted - voted for Johnson. Yes I voted for a partial term senator over a clearly experienced candidate because I thought - and this has proven to be true - that Sara Palin is batsh$%t crazy. Someone who makes such a poor choice simply to cater to a small segment does not get my vote - and as well - a heartbeat away bro - BO may not be your cup of team but SP running this country I could not fathom. Again - voted for JOHNSON not BO in 2012. Yes I am concerned that - at the time - the govt did not bring in enough money. During the Bush years revenues were down to 15 percent of GDP and spending was over 20. There is nothing conservative about this - just fiscally irresponsible. Federal spending will never be 15 percent GDP. As as far as indexing the govt revenues to GDP -that is the way most economists look at it - what else do you want to do? Most federal expenses are SS/MC/Defense - what over 80 percent of the budget - so if you want govt to be smaller please have the GOP tell me how they are going to make these programs smaller AND pass that legislation - and yes I have been reviewing the current budget process and am disappointed that the GOP can't just be realistic with the american people - its all they want and it would go over well.

Why are you so worried about labels? My voting record is clearly independent Perot, Dole, Bush1, Bush2 in 2000, Obama 1, Johnson - not sure you can be more varied than that. I typically had voted mostly GOP for smaller offices but I think they are a mess right now and I don't agree with all the side issues they consume themselves with. What is so laughable about those statements? I liked McCain but as soon as Palin showed up - she was not fit for office so I voted for BO. I liked Romney all they way - but then he caved to the far right and started using the term "tax cuts" in his campaign. With rates at an all time low and receipts far below (17%) any range of historical spending (20%) - to talk about tax cuts was simply nonsensical and patronizing - so I voted for Johnson since he spoke what he really thought - whether he thought it would be well received or not. I am an independent voter. I would like to see a GOP candidate win. The winner needs to win the independent vote to win the election. The GOP is simply not going to win the GE with a far right or TP candidate - so the choice to me seems HRC or a more moderate GOP candidate. What do you want? The other half - all these far right flame throwing candidates - like Cruz - turn off the GOP to independent voters - I think they reflect poorly on the GOP and their gloom and doom message is tiresome.They may appeal to people like yourself - but your vote needs no convincing - the GOP needs to win the independent voters. So be nice to me...you need my vote

Actually. If the GOP could produce a decent candidate - BO wouldn't be in his second term. Further - if the GOP voters think veering farther to the right is going to work....get ready for 8 years of HRC....

No - I am independent. I think the GOP - as evidenced by this subject - spends all their resources/political capital on things that simply help no one and go no where. Gerrymandering/voterid/terryschiavo/schoolprayer/historybooks/science/evolution/uselesswars/unpaidtaxcuts/someoneistakingourguns/birthers/gimmickbudgets/bengazi... Tell me - Oh wise PPP board - where - oh where - was voter fraud an issue? This was never about voter fraud...it was about trying to gain an edge in voting...please tell me you are not so blind or deluded to not know that. GOP won in a "landslide" last fall - where is the legislative plan?

Excellent work and time well spent by our leaders wrestling a problem that did not exist to the ground... Chew on this: http://morningafter.gawker.com/john-oliver-shut-down-the-!@#$-barrel-of-pernicious-1693070305

The dog in the fight is a vitriolic hate for all things Obama. BO could negotiate a nuclear stand down from Iran delivered on unicorns farting heart shaped golden eggs that cured cancer....and they would hate it. "The purpose of the senate GOP is to make sure the the Presidency of the BO is a failure" - Mitch McConnell

My gut says a moderate R like Jeb or for that manner 41 could easily beat HRC, but Cruz/Huck/Palin...only make the GOP look bad and cast their smell toward viable andidates.

You can find your own link. He has a substantial record of results in the Senate...he should be a formidle candidate. I actually have no idea what he would want to do.....

The world you guys live in....

I always find it funny how everything (Rodak) is compared to the Patriots and how they have written the book on how to win. Here is their formula Success = 95% find the best qb who ever played the game in the 6th round + 5% everything else

take over the medical industry - with a GOP template. What do you want - people going bankrupt over medical bills, unable to access insurance because of pre-existing conditions, unable to get insurance? What is the TP/GOP plan for how HC should be delivered - and please be more specific than "free market" - I am sure you must have a link. Open the border - check your stats - also you do know you must be an american citizen to access benefits like welfare, SNAP, SS, healthcare right? - OF course you knew that. Destabilize the ME? Pretty sure that started in 2002 - or several hundred years ago.. Govt takeover of the internet - I honestly have no idea what the legislation will do - you probably don't either. You do understand what was going on at Ferguson - systematic targeting of poor - mostly black people - to fund the police department - but your cool with that? Gun control - where would that be? Pretty sure BO initiated nothing regarding gun control.

Thats quite a reach to rephrase the article title The blue dots represent the results from a comparable regression to predict whether one of these low-skill individuals had a job. Clemens and Wither found that the federal minimum wage hike resulted in about a 6% decrease in the probability that low-wage individuals would have a job based on this comparison of states in which the minimum wage hike would have been binding and those for which it would not. A SIX PERCENT DECREASE IN THE PROBABILTY.....

Gosh - you must live in a dark dark place - I for one think that things can actually move forward and get better!

Hate to say it Tom but Gator got you Someone has to have a vision before it happens....

Yikes - haven't been on this thread for a while....looks like I haven't missed anything: Anyhoo : http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-03-11/battery-hackers-are-building-the-future-in-the-garage Pretty cool article - once battery storage jumps a couple of levels - you guys can shut down this thread - Most power will be sun/wind/geothermal/water - with no CO2/ geopolitical considerations - or for that matter cost considerations... How much can be solved by science....

Do a little homework bro...Arming Israel to attack Iran and overthrowing the regime there is exactly what Cotton has professed what should be done. How - how - do you link anything I have said with hating Jews? I am non religious and frankly can't understand pretty much anything concerning religion... Again - we would want to invade/overthrow Iran because of a hot air threat - or is there another reason? I criticize the GOP because I used to be consistently Republican - and now I - for the life of me do not understand or agree with much of what they do. I am what you might call a swing voter - you know - someone the GOP needs to win a Presidential election....

I voted for Gary Johnson. Wait - We are going to "give" them nukes? Pretty sure what is being talked about is them not getting nukes....but carry on... What was "liberal" in my post? This letter is so stupid on so many counts: 1. A treaty is not what is being negotiated - it is an international arrangement signed by 6 countries - so no Mr Cotton - it does not go to the Senate. Congress has a say on the sanctions - but they are but one component - a small one. 2. So what - it is easier and more pragmatic to talk to the Ayatollah? You do realize that Mr Cotton - whelp maybe this is why you like him - simply wants to arm Israel to the hilt and have them attack Iran and or have the US invade/ do whatever to "bring down" the regime in Iron - then what - didn't we do that 60 years ago? Again - I ask - what has Iran done that warrants an invasion - tell me its more than an ex leader's comments about Israel....i know that those words must be actionable - I mean a leader must always say what he is actually going to do right and why would Iran be wary of us....in the words of our Armed Services Committee leader...."bomb bomb bomb, bomb, bomb Iran"... Why did the GOP get so stupid?

Ahhh, the well thought out, nuanced response from the right. You guys ever give two seconds to why Iran is where they are? Could it be that in the 50's when Iran was one of the most modern open ME countries - we - the exceptional USA overthrew a democratically elected government and installed the Shah - who was our puppet. I can't believe they don't like us....sheesh they want nuclear warheads - why would that be? Could it be we invaded - on BS information - the countries that surround them? Other than the hostages - which were returned unharmed - someone tell me what Iran has done to the US? Yes FU Iran....

Yes! As many as 1 in 5 think of Fox as reliable! Tallest midget....

Here what kills me about the "skeptics" - its just that you are so inconsistent and hypocritical: You say GW is a hoax - but then say it is happening - its just not man... You say it is happening - well something is happening - but no one can predict. You say you are conservative - but you seem willing to roll the dice with the next generation because - "we can't predict" - but we know we are changing the climate but since we can't predict what will happen - whelp - hey it might be better - or it might be happening because.... You say weather doesn't equal climate change - but then you repeatedly talk of localized weather like Boston....or throw a snowball in the halls of congress.. You say the scientists are bought off - but then quote your own bought off sources... Just in a long line....tax cuts pay for themselves, we will be seen as liberators, there are WMD's, deficits don't matter, the world is 6000 years old, evolution didn't happen, the president hates the US, cigarettes are not a problem - along with lead in gas, lead in paint, ozone, DDT, gerrymandering, citizens united, same sex marriage, BO was born in Kenya, voter ID, writing letters to Iran, we should have two unfunded wars in the ME, let's shutdown the government, lets defund the DHS, woman don't get pregnant when raped, let's have useless votes to repeal the ACA, lets take the ACA to the SC with no alternative... Why did the GOP get so stupid and hypocritical?

The sad part is....the GOP /TP are going to have a difficult time putting a candidate and platform together to beat such a flawed candidate like HC

So - there appears to be absolutely no support for a large military effort in the ME - whether it is the GOP, the DEM or the general public...

Is there a progress update on the war/$ authorization legislation to fight ISIS that the white house has sent the GOP led congress?