Random Politics & Religion #00

No one wants to admit it but when you are more attractive you have advantages especially as a woman. It goes both ways but I think women take advantage of it more often.

Hell I'd be an attractive woman for a week just to get free drinks at the bar. That alone is a big plus in my book.

Besides people do care about how they look to others and appreciate esteem reinforcements.

Corruption: The third installment of released emails fell hard Friday on the Hillary Clinton campaign. If her candidacy lasts until the end of the summer, there's much more wrong with this country than we thought.

Friday had to be an extraordinarily trying day for the Democratic front-runner. On the same day she releases a letter from her doctor saying she is fit to run for president, the latest tranche of emails showed that she is not fit to hold office.

Even before the 2,000 pages containing 1,300 emails were dumped, the McClatchy newspaper chain was reporting that classified emails stored on the former secretary of state's private server held "information from five U.S. intelligence agencies."

It also included "material related to the fatal 2012 Benghazi attacks."

An evening earlier, the Washington Times reported the intelligence community was preparing for the possibility that Clinton's private email account was filled with "hundreds of revelations of classified information" that could damage national security if not contained. These accounts, of course, are in direct contradiction to Clinton's previous statement she never handled classified material on her private email.

That statement was wrecked again by the Friday release of the emails. Much of the material from this third batch was redacted, indicating that it is classified. Maybe some were marked as classified just before release and well after they were sent. But all? Not likely.

Some of the more interesting emails of the ones that could be read included:

• Clinton's admission that "damn I am getting old."

• A note from aide Huma Abedin telling Clinton that Defense Secretary Robert Gates' "office just called to say they needed call to be secure" — apparently sent and read with no thought that Clinton's email server needed to be secure, as well.

• An email from a State Department official complimenting Clinton on the coat she wore when landing in Kabul. Another said "she looked great in that blue outfit" she was wearing while saying some "gutsy" and "needed" things about Pakistan.

No, it was not a good end to the week for Clinton.

But after recent developments, perhaps a bad day for her is a good day for the country. Based on her record and her shambolic campaign, a Clinton return to the White House would take the country deeper into the malaise of the past 6-1/2 years.

Sure, there are worse possibilities. Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders is one, and he's certain to become the Democratic front-runner if the Clinton campaign succumbs to scandal. But we doubt Sanders' appeal will go beyond the zealots who now back him. We don't think it would be taking a risk to say he's unelectable.

Vice President Joe Biden is another possibility. He could take Clinton's spot. Yes, he's more electable than Sanders. But he's not quite as far left as Clinton. That's to America's advantage, small though it might be.

Don't count Clinton out until she's gone. She has the favor of the press and the minds of devotees who would vote for her even if the emails showed she wants to establish Shariah law here. That's what scares us.

The Obama administration will formally adopt an ambitious regulation for cutting greenhouse-gas pollution on Monday, requiring every state to reduce emissions from coal-burning power plants and putting the country on a course that could change the way millions of Americans get their electricity.

A retooled version of the administration’s Clean Power Plan, first proposed a year ago, will seek to accelerate the shift to renewable energy while setting tougher goals for slashing carbon emissions blamed for global warming, according to administration officials briefed on the details.

The new plan sets a goal of cutting carbon pollution from power plants by 32 percent by the year 2030, compared with 2005 levels — a 9 percent jump from the previous target of 30 percent — while rewarding states and utility companies that move quickly to expand their investment in solar and wind power.

Many states will face tougher requirements for lowering greenhouse-gas emissions under the revised plan. But state governments also will be given more time to meet their targets and considerably more flexibility in how they achieve their pollution-cutting goals, according to two senior officials knowledgeable about the rule. For the first time, the officials said, the plan also includes a “reliability safety valve” that can buy states additional time if needed to avoid disruptions in the power supply.

The rule — the first to regulate carbon emissions as a pollutant — is certain to face legal challenges as well as fierce opposition from the Republican-controlled Congress. Opponents blasted last year’s proposed regulation as a possibly illegal federal overreach that would impose costly burdens on utility companies and their customers.

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Following a Government of India order, internet services providers in the country have blocked over 850 ‘porn websites’ in the country. The move, however, did not go down well with majority of people who took to social media to criticise it.

In an order issued late on Friday night, the government had asked all internet services provider to block access to pornography websites. While there is yet no clarity on the number of sites blocked, it is expected to be over 850. The number is likely to increase as more and more sites are blocked.

In July though, the Supreme Court had said it cannot stop an adult from exercising his fundamental right to personal liberty to watch porn within the privacy of his room.

Declining a plea to pass an interim order to block porn websites in India, Chief Justice H.L. Dattu had said, “Such interim orders cannot be passed by this court. Somebody may come to the court and say look I am above 18 and how can you stop me from watching it within the four walls of my room. It is a violation of Article 21 [right to personal liberty].” The Chief Justice was hearing a PIL petition filed by advocate Kamlesh Vashwani to block porn websites in India. Mr. Vashwani had also stated that there are 4 crore porn websites operating in the country.

Even top-paid models don't look nearly as hot in real life as they do in photo shoots.

Meanwhile in India doomsday is coming..

Straight guys seem to forget that it's now very easy to know what it's like being a girl. I get to walk the line since I'm treated like a man in my day-to-day and become a piece of meat when I go out drinking. I've gotten free drinks, I've gotten meals paid for, I get hassled despite making my disinterest clear. I promise, the material benefits wear thin if you have any dignity.

I've been told by more than a few gay friends that there's a very particular demand for guys like me in certain circles. I must admit that it makes me feel a bit good about myself, despite really having no interest in said circles.

Just when you thought P and R couldn't get any worse it digs a little deeper !

Meanwhile in Obama land:

Even if you don't want to go to the party, it's always nice to be invited.

I just posted that 6 posts above.

and of course without feeling ramy can't even relate....

boobies are good.

but you didn't tell us how it made you feel!

Most intelligent thing said here all day.