Hi Bill, Wow, alot of recent American history to get through here and let me do my absolute best in getting to the bottom of these, and answering your questions.
Okay everyone. Strap yourselves in and prepare to be slightly educated.
1) Since a lot of people love to throw around the "impeachment" word (as if it's going to happen...) do you think Obama should have been considered for impeachment for the Fast and Furious scandal? If not familiar with it:
http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-...exican-drug-cartels-linked-least-69-killings/
From what i can gather here, 'Fast and Furious' scandal refers to an operation by the ATF purposefully allowed Firearms dealers in Arizona to sell weapons to 'straw buyers' in the hope of tracking the firearms to the Cartels. This was done under the umbrella of 'Project Gunrunner', a project intended to stem the flow of weapons into Mexico. The first reporting of the ATF using this tactic was in 2006. According to Mexican sources, these weapons have been found at the scenes of (according to reports) 150 Mexican drug cartel related deaths. The Fast and Furious moniker refers to one Jacob Wayne Chambers and one Jacob Anthony Montelongo who were arrested on conspiracy charges, being the 'straw buyers' and were members of a car club. Of the 2000 weapons sold, only 710 of them has been recovered as of 2012.
It seems like once the ATF lost track of the guns, the Obama administration used executive privilege to censor the release of information to congress. It does however look like he backed down on most of this.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-govern...us-drops-executive-privilege-claim-documents/
But what is executive privilege exactly?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_privilege
It goes back as far as George Washington. Truman, Eisenhower and Nixon have all used it. It's the right of the President to censor or block information becoming available. Clinton did it 14 times and was the first since Nixon to lose it in court. Dubya 6 times. Obama has used it once.
In terms of Policing techniques, the theories in regard to 'marking' contraband or illegal stuff to track it to its source is nothing new. It has been used for many many years. Here is an article about how they catch online drug dealers.
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/methods-that-police-use-to-catch-deep-web-drug-dealers-2016-8
Having a quick look, and only concentrating on civilian weapons, there are more than 357,000,000 guns in the United States. Thats more civilian guns than there are civilians.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...d-child-and-then-some/?utm_term=.5bb0019a288a
This quote from the economist makes a lot of sense.
"Those who live in America, or visit it, might do best to regard [mass shootings] the way one regards air pollution in China: an endemic local health hazard which, for deep-rooted cultural, social, economic and political reasons, the country is incapable of addressing."
Now, combining all of the above into a coherent answer, I would suggest that no, Obama did not deserve to be impeached for the Fast and Furious scandal. Sometimes ideas can seem great and turn out bad. When you are Commander in Chief decisions cost lives. He is advised. He makes a call. Did he kill anyone? No. The cartels did. How many Fast and Furious weapons are responsible for deaths? Unconfirmed. Is that Obama's actual direct fault? Unknown. How many decisions have Presidents made that have resulted in deaths that could have been avoided? Probably a lot. Trump has already made one botched raid that killed a Seal and 30 people in another country.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...rget-al-qaeda-leader-yemen-raid-a7566211.html
But that's okay because he calls that 'winning'.
2) What was your opinion of the last administration telling the American public that "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor" why that was a blatant falsehood but was peddled to the public anyway. What is your opinion of Jonathan Gruber? If not sure who he is:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...6bd390a3340_story.html?utm_term=.ac6fa945eea9
You know, the whole 'Obamacare' situation is a fair mystery to the World. You, as a representation of the republican mindset, for the purpose of fair reflection of this healthy debate, hate Obamacare. You don't just hate Obamacare, you seem to think it's the worst thing ever. We, as citizens of the World and not living and breathing the air you do will always not quite 'get' it. And I understand this completely. It looks to us, like the Republican scare campaign has worked. For the layman, like me, click below.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-24370967
Now on the surface of this, it's seems like you hate it, because it's Obamas. You don't like change. It's well known that Americas health care system is fundamentally one of the worst in the western world. Holiday makers in particular have to be so across the health system while in America because saving your arm or your leg will literally cost you an arm and a leg if you aren't covered correctly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_the_United_States
Actually, It is the worst health system across the developed world.
http://time.com/2888403/u-s-health-care-ranked-worst-in-the-developed-world/
How can it get worse than being the worst? Yeah we don't know that either.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/...are-and-affordable-care-act-are-the-same.html
Educating the general population would be a start. Oh yeah, thats right.
And finally Jonathon Gruber... for calling Americans stupid?
3) Do you think that employees of the IRS should be prosecuted for the selective targeting of conservative groups by a politicized Internal Revenue Service even when the IRS admitted wrongdoing? If any admin officials were aware of this targeting, should they be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law? Should IRS officials who did the targeting face jail time for violating the civil rights of Americans?
Tax officers selectively go after different people and groups year after year. You must agree with this. One year they go after Real Estate Agents, the next year it's Basketball players. They spot some irregularities and they go after the industry. Now if what you're saying is that they deliberately, systematically targeted conservative groups for political gain? Well that's not on. Of course anyone involved in it should face up to the Law. If it is within your laws to jail individuals for the IRS then hella yes. I'm sure we would all love to see Tax Agents cop a flogging, Parking Rangers too. Hate those fines.
4) Should the families of Chris Stevens and the other three get justice at the hands of the previous administration while they were stationed in Benghazi? Do you believe it was a YouTube video that caused these terrorists to attack the embassy in Benghazi?
This should answer the first part.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-...amily-dont-blame-hillary-clinton-for-benghazi
Here is what actually happened there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Benghazi_attack
Who knows if a youtube video caused the attack. Why is that important? You got attacked. Four Americans died. Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed responsibility. Clinton probably said this caused the attack and then if it didn't then she said she didn't say that. Who knows. Trump would never ever say something and then say that he never said that or rely on it for anything.
Seems a technicality when you actually had people die and everyone would think it's because of a sustained presence in these countries that might not like you being there? I'm struggling to think of what difference it makes in the scheme of things. Hilary isn't your Prez.
5) Since there are officials who have had jail time for having classified information on an non-classified server, do you believe that Hillary Clinton should face the same rules and consequences for doing the same? If you're not sure who these people were:
http://lidblog.com/double-standard-...ailed-for-mishandling-classified-information/
Oh yeah they should all go to jail for a very, very long time.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/25/trumps-most-senior-staff-use-a-private-email-server/
6) What is your opinion of the Iran nuclear deal with the previous administration?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_nuclear_deal_framework
Sounds like a World coming together to curb a highly volatile country that could blow anyone up at any given time.
7) Since I'm sure 99% of the members on here would detest "crony capitalism" (never mind just capitalism), what is your opinion of Obama's ill-fated involvement in Solyndra?
Sounds like the Government was misled. They thought it would be a great, environmentally friendly initiative, the company then got the wobblies, they tried to save it and the idea and the investment and then it all came crashing down because Solyndra lied out of its backside.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/26/solyndra-misled-government-get-535-million-solar-p/
8) And lastly. Do you feel that those who were in charge of the Veterans Administration should be held accountable for the deaths occurring under their watch while they falsified records and collected big bonuses? Do you think there needs to be changes made with the new administration where the Trump administration is concerned?
If this is what you are referring to...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Health_Administration_scandal_of_2014
Sounds here like a historic failing of your veterans. Looks also like the Obama administration has set in motion the actions needed to fix this problem. Reports of Republicans blocking the 'Veteran Backlog reduction Act' in congress in 2013 which was designed to fix these problems. Reports of Obama being 'madder then hell' when informed of these problems. Looks as though McCain and Sanders put forward the
Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014. I think Obama has already set in motion the response needed to fix this.
Thank you in advance.
Bill
Thank you Bill. I hope this answers your questions as I sit on my day off in a 41 degree (105.8 for the Old School!) and wave my fist at China for creating such terrible weather. Damn you china!
xoxoxox
McB
