tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post4701739380122990375..comments2024-03-27T02:14:18.237-07:00Comments on Beers with Demo: Foreign policy schmolicyDeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02448369692335981936noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-59246389884138086862011-02-16T18:21:31.943-08:002011-02-16T18:21:31.943-08:00Steve, I neve once said foreign policy is not impo...Steve, I neve once said foreign policy is not important - it is very important. <br /><br />The tea party's core competency, if you will, is focusing on budgets and governmental over-reach here at home.<br /><br />Why waste time and enegy on a completely impossible task?Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02448369692335981936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-89778882330402317712011-02-16T12:41:34.939-08:002011-02-16T12:41:34.939-08:00I would also like to point out that people sensibl...I would also like to point out that people sensible in domestic policy would probably make some pretty savvy decisions regarding foreign policy.Mutnodjmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13972774431017958277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-41295466186723113282011-02-16T10:52:16.459-08:002011-02-16T10:52:16.459-08:00This guy thinks TPE and Amy Kremer are the Tea Par...This guy thinks TPE and Amy Kremer are the Tea Party...taking him seriously should end there.SarahBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10201948440490000538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-39727594706662394212011-02-16T09:50:37.381-08:002011-02-16T09:50:37.381-08:00"Steve, that's not true. Individual voter..."Steve, that's not true. Individual voters, be they partiers or not, will assess that candidate's FP stance on an individual basis.<br /><br />It's all about priorities and right now reigning-in spending and a hyper-active government is at the top of the list."<br /><br /> In reverse order, then you need to know what is causing the increased spending and future debt. It is not hyperactive govt spending. It is Medicare and Medicaid. Nothing else comes close to mattering. Eliminate all other spending, assume that the country still functions, and we still have 50% of GDP going to those two entitlements in 60 years (or thereabouts). Non-defense discretionary spending has stayed pretty steady. The number of federal employees has stayed pretty steady. <br /><br />A lack of foreign policy from a party that wants to win elections is always bad. Foreign policy issues never go away. If the Kashmir area precipitates war between India and Pakistan, that is an event with worldwide consequences. What happens if NK and SK finally go to war? Even today we have Iranian warships going through the Suez? In terms of existential risk, foreign policy is of at least equal import to domestic. <br /><br /> If we let AIG collapse, it was likely to precipitate a domino collapse of the big European banks. This would have happened at a time when were asking our allies to continue or increase their support in Afghanistan. <br /><br />Stevestevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470634215313696595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-52578376954742411922011-02-16T06:41:56.269-08:002011-02-16T06:41:56.269-08:00They said the Tea Party movement wouldn't last...They said the Tea Party movement wouldn't last 6 months. When a pundit decides to give advice, it plainly shows they don't understand Tea Party. A great analysis, BwD. At the next Beer Summit we can chime in on foreign policy -- right after we do our own "Straw Poll". :)Mutnodjmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13972774431017958277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-71600528463865709842011-02-16T06:15:22.454-08:002011-02-16T06:15:22.454-08:00Steve, that's not true. Individual voters, be...Steve, that's not true. Individual voters, be they partiers or not, will assess that candidate's FP stance on an individual basis.<br /><br />It's all about priorities and right now reigning-in spending and a hyper-active government is at the top of the list.<br /><br />To wit, I would give an isolationist like Ron Paul a far longer look than I would 30 or even 20 years ago.<br /><br />Besides, as I said in the post, it's all a moot point so why waste time, energy, goodwill and focus in this hedgehog shadow party.Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02448369692335981936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-65922166208857966192011-02-16T05:21:20.155-08:002011-02-16T05:21:20.155-08:00You then ask voters to vote based entirely on dome...You then ask voters to vote based entirely on domestic considerations. You risk electing representatives devoid of significant foreign policy interest or knowledge. Just as an example, what were the foreign policy implications of letting AIG fail, remembering that European banks were more heavily leveraged than US banks?<br /><br />Stevestevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470634215313696595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-21546100992979128852011-02-15T21:44:48.678-08:002011-02-15T21:44:48.678-08:00The Tea Party has shown it is a greater force by n...The Tea Party has shown it is a greater force by not being a political party. In its short history, it is already far more influential and successful than the Libertarian Party, which was founded in 1971 as a formal political party. Hartman doesn't recognize that the strength of the movement is the focus on particular set of issues around which there is broad agreement, a sense of urgency, and a shared vision. These attributes are necessary in a leaderless movement, because the shared vision is the glue that holds the movement together in the absence of a formal structure. These truths are set out in the <a href="http://www.starfishandspider.com/index.php?title=About_the_Book" rel="nofollow">The Starfish and the Spider</a>, which Mr. Hartman has probably not become acquainted with.B-Daddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880092017105841256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984499113019674536.post-34604295474614337702011-02-15T18:00:33.227-08:002011-02-15T18:00:33.227-08:00"If you really want to be serious about savin..."If you really want to be serious about saving money, don't spend money on locks, security lights, an alarm system or even bullets for your gun!"<br /><br />*headdesk*Foxfierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10161683096247890834noreply@blogger.com