The Party Line

When we want measured, calm commentary on the current political climate on the right, we always turn to the weirdest Democrat we know — our old pal Mickey Kaus. He helps us navigate Trump’s phone calls, the mysterious Steve Bannon, the wall, and assorted other unique aspects of the first weeks of the Trump administration. Then, Hoover’s Adam J. White joins to help us analyze Neil Gorsuch, Trump’s SCOTUS nominee. Finally, a few thoughts on 1934-ism and yes, Super Bowl picks!

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There are 39 comments.

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  1. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Kozak (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    Kozak (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):
    I guess my estimate was a bit too high. It’s actually 70%: http://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/kids/desert/

    Land use is not the same thing as how land is classified. The simple fact is that Australia supports a lower population than other continents.

    Your population density is 1/10 that of the US. Come open that big heart, and take em in. You can easily double your population with migrants.

    My population density is the US.

    Then you should have no problem with Oz taking their ” fair share”.

    What is “fair share”. What I know is that a deal was made that Australia take these refugees on condition that they go through the refugee vetting process and be transferred to the US. That deal included provisions that anyone found to be a terrorist threat would be excluded from resettlement. The current refugee process takes over 2 years.

    • #31
  2. Blondie Thatcher
    Blondie
    @Blondie

    Put me in the more Kaus camp. I’ve always enjoyed his take on things. He is very reasoned in his arguments and makes you think.

    • #32
  3. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):
    What is “fair share”. What I know is that a deal was made that Australia take these refugees on condition that they go through the refugee vetting process and be transferred to the US. That deal included provisions that anyone found to be a terrorist threat would be excluded from resettlement. The current refugee process takes over 2 years.

    Since OZ has 1/10th the population density of the US, these refugees are from their back yard, and we already have the equivalent of Australia’s population in illegals, I’d say their far share would be all of them. I don’t feel any obligation to honor Obama’s commitment as a lame duck.

    • #33
  4. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Kozak (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):
    What is “fair share”. What I know is that a deal was made that Australia take these refugees on condition that they go through the refugee vetting process and be transferred to the US. That deal included provisions that anyone found to be a terrorist threat would be excluded from resettlement. The current refugee process takes over 2 years.

    Since OZ has 1/10th the population density of the US, these refugees are from their back yard, and we already have the equivalent of Australia’s population in illegals, I’d say their far share would be all of them. I don’t feel any obligation to honor Obama’s commitment as a lame duck.

    Syria is in Australia’s back yard?

    • #34
  5. J Ro Member
    J Ro
    @JRo

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):
    I guess my estimate was a bit too high. It’s actually 70%: http://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/kids/desert/

    Land use is not the same thing as how land is classified. The simple fact is that Australia supports a lower population than other continents.

    We probably agree on just about everything except what percentage of Australia is “uninhabitable desert.” Also, I would advise not looking for answers on a website designed for kids which has a bit much to say about the importance of cultural diversity and grossly misplaces Australia on a world map.

    The official website of the Australian government says “nearly 20% of Australia’s land mass is classified as desert.” So all of Australia’s desert, both uninhabitable and inhabited, fits neatly into the 27.3% ‘other’ land use area I pointed to earlier. I hope that settles it for you.

    • #35
  6. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    @peterrobinson Can we stop assuming that everything that Reagan didn’t do = incompetence?

    I had zero reaction to Trump’s messy desk. I didn’t assume competence and I certainly didn’t assume incompetence. I’ve worked for people who’s desks are uber organized and others who are the exact opposite.

    As for me, as I sit here I just found the hat I’ve been looking for – it’s on top of my sewing basket which is holding down all my 2016 receipts that need to get organized.

    What conclusions can be drawn? 1) I have a messy desk. 2) The world was subjected to the view of me having a couple of bad hair days.

    Says nothing about what I actually accomplished this week.

    • #36
  7. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    Kozak (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):
    What is “fair share”. What I know is that a deal was made that Australia take these refugees on condition that they go through the refugee vetting process and be transferred to the US. That deal included provisions that anyone found to be a terrorist threat would be excluded from resettlement. The current refugee process takes over 2 years.

    Since OZ has 1/10th the population density of the US, these refugees are from their back yard, and we already have the equivalent of Australia’s population in illegals, I’d say their far share would be all of them. I don’t feel any obligation to honor Obama’s commitment as a lame duck.

    Syria is in Australia’s back yard?

    I meant the boat people Oz is trying to ship to the US.   Syria is neither Oz nor the US’s problem.  It’s a problem for their neighbors.  But even so clearly based on the facts Australia is way behind in taking in refugee’s of any type compared to the US. So they are welcome to them for the foreseeable future.

    • #37
  8. Petty Boozswha Inactive
    Petty Boozswha
    @PettyBoozswha

    The entire concept of asylum developed in the post-WWII era is unworkable in today’s world, the sooner it is scrapped the better. The world is new, we must think anew and act anew. In the meantime maybe Australia [a country I really like] and the USA should subcontract with someplace like Botswana or Paraguay to take these people that don’t feel safe at home.

    • #38
  9. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    Guruforhire (View Comment):

    Also not often commented upon is the fact that Trump only sleeps 3-4 hours a night, someone that active is going to have unconventional work habits.

    Holy crap is that true?

    It is certainly something that he has claimed for many years.

    The real estate mogul turned presidential nominee has peppered his campaign with remarks about how little he sleeps each night, anywhere from 90 minutes to four hours. Perhaps he’s lying or simply bragging, opting to pit himself against powerful public figures who have said the same, like Napoleon, Margaret Thatcher, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, and Bill Clinton…“Don’t sleep any more than you have to,” Trump wrote in his 2004 book Think Like a Billionaire. “I usually sleep about four hours per night.

    • #39
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