"Who ------- cares?"

The jews who were run out of Syria.

I think they may care.

You seem a little miffed the ovens didn't solve this problem.

"Do you pay, or expense account it?"

I pay for it. I could use an expense account, but then I wouldn't get the points.

"We know. You tells us that almost weekly."

I'm also Diamond with Hilton, and Platty with Marriott.

"The airline knows that in fairly quick order many fewer Americans can afford to travel."

Do you have stats for this?

I travel a lot. Mostly internationally. I am Diamond with Delta, which is their top-tier status.

2020-2023, I was upgraded to first class probably 90% of the time on domestic flights. For international flights, I was occasionally upgraded, even though most airline company policies to dot promote upgrades to premium cabins on international flights. But, I could always use an upgrade certificate and get up front that way.

Not anymore. With the exception of two of my 2024 flights, the flights themselves were booked solid. Not even an empty seat next to me. Most of my 2024 upgrade certificates expired, unused, because to use them there needs to be an empty seat in that cabin, and there were none. Airlines are not going to offer an upgrade, even with a certificate, if they can sell that seat for more money.

To JPW's point, Southwest's problem is not that it isn't cheap enough or that travelers have less money, but the exact opposite. They are willing to spend more on travel and want to purchase premium cabins. Southwest doesn't offer that. They offer slightly less expensive seats with far fewer amenities. It also operates out of off-brand airports that lack the connections or the amenities of the major hubs.

Other US low-cost carriers seem to be in a similar spot. I know that where I live in Europe, I can take Wizz or Ryan for dirt cheap. But you're leaving out of some abandoned military airfield at midnight or 6am, and everything is ala carte. Sometimes it's just easier to fly Lufthansa, even if it is more expensive.

Why is this a problem?

If JPMC has a policy that requires employees work from the office, then either comply or find a different job.

Hegseth is 100% correct.

The focus of the US military is defending Taiwan against the Chinese. Even in a NATO fight, the US is almost certainly going to remain focused on the Pacific theater. Fortunately, about half the NATO partners have been focused on building up their military forces, including buying F-35s.

The US will always play a role in the defense of Europe, but it will never be the lead role. That's just not practical.

This is nothing. See how much it would cost you to ski for a day at Vail or Sun Valley.

In Europe, skiing is still one of the cheaper things you can do. Even indoor skiing.

"You really are a gullible idiot."

So...your position is that there is no fraud?

"Yes. Absolutely. I'm against disrupting the lives of all Americans in hopes of finding a handful of people scamming the system."

So you're OK if Musk and a handful of friends are "scamming" that system?

I thought you were against billionaires doing that kind of ----.

"You're a citizen of Germany, with zero ties to America."

You sweet little pup. I am a US citizen living under a status of forces agreement in Germany. I don't pay German taxes. I do pay some US taxes on about $110k of my earned income, but the first $120k is exempt. My health insurance is covered by my Cigna Global plan, which is expensive, but also the best I've come across. I like Germany. You would hate it. Despite US perceptions, Europe is not the place to go if you want the free ride. If you want a free ride, there is no place better than the US.

"Maybe not allowing Musk and his racist cronies unsupervised access would be a start."

You forgot to add fascist reactionary capitalist bourgeoise. Some of the most important parts.

"Allowing both democrats and republicans access to what he's doing, what's he's planning on doing, what he's finding would help alleviate worries."

He is producing a report. He has zero authority to do anything beyond that. It would be up to elected officials to shape policy based on the report.

Even if he can ID $100B in fraudulent payments, it hardly moves the needle. It's not like Musk could monetize that in any meaningful way.

"But his famous 'break ---- and fix it later' disrupts lives and livelihoods."

Are you against disrupting the lives and livelihoods of those who are defrauding taxpayers?

"because? You don't want to admit buyer's remorse? You don't want to admit you're an idiot who got conned despite it being painfully obvious?"

Dude, I didn't vote for Trump. I never have.

I still don't like him, but at least he is now doing something that it at least marginally constructive.

What Musk is doing can only increase the solvency of Social Security. My perception from the progressive comments I'm seeing here is that solvency should only be addressed by taxing the rich more. That fraud is not an issue, so long as it benefits the victim class.

"Trump and Musk have zero intention of eliminating fraud, waste or abuse. Only a delusional moron would make that argument."

Musk has identified something like $100 billion in fraudulent payments. But he can ID whatever he wants. It's up to the federal government to continue to allow those fraudulent payments. Or discontinue them.

I suspect your position would be to continue with the fraudulent payments, as discontinuing them would adversely impact minority and LGBTQIA++ communities.

"I agree, there are problems, and those problems should be corrected. However, identification and correction of any problems should be done in a legal and transparent manner."

I'm not quite sure how you could even correct this without the process to do so being legal and transparent.

"All facts, no BS."

Agreed.

Musk has claimed something to the tune of $100 billion dollars has been made in invalid SS payments. If this were to be true, wouldn't you want it stopped?

It's not much different than progressives being opposed to illegal immigrant gang members being deported. Somehow, it's the gang members that are the real victims.

"The goal of the Musk administration is not to do any of that, but to kill social security and Medicare in order to help pass another tax cut for the obscenely wealthy."

It's almost as if you support fraud, waste, and abuse, so long as the costs are passed on to high income earners.

Call me surprised.

#68

You can save the progressive boiler-plate stuff for your other friends. Would rather have or not have someone trying to identify fraud, waste, and abuse.

I find it very strange that anyone would object to an organization (or even one person) looking to minimize fraud, waste, and abuse.

The alternate position seems to be that fraud, waste, and abuse are less offensive than trying to stop those same things.

Other than the fact that Hamas was actively pursuing an agenda of genocide while doing these things...

"They killed Civilians indiscriminately, used Starvation as a Weapon of War, targeted journalists and Medics, lied about "safe havens" for civilians and then killed them when they tried to go there."

Mmmm. And this is different than Hamas how???

"I don't support Genocide. I don't support ethnic cleansing."

You absolutely do. As you say, "from the river to the sea."

"Israel is. They have No ability or inclination to stop Taking everything. They think it's somehow their "Birthright"."

Actually, that's the position of the overwhelming majority of Palestinians. That region of the levant was an empty desert owned by Ottomans and occupied by the hardscrabble descendants of Arab invaders and the locals they had subjugated. Zionists began moving in late in the 19th century and cultivating the region, creating livable areas within the desert. When Great Britain took over the region from the Turks after WWI, it became theirs. As part of their decolonialization effort, they attempted to divide their Imperial holdings into equitable segments for the people living there. Like the creation of Pakistan and Bangladesh for the Muslim residents of India. And Israel for the Jewish residents of the levant. And Palestine for the Arab residents.

Much like the German National Socialists they had allied with in WWII, the Arabs couldn't abide having Jews on lands they felt belonged to them. So they started a war. And lost a war. And lost more wars.

Did you know, there has never been a Palestinian state. Ever. No Kingdom, no Republic, No Emirate...nothing. In fact, the term "Palestinian" only came into use very late in the 19th century.

I agree with you on the 2x State thing. That's what the Brits intended, and I think that should be the standard today. But it's the Palestinians who don't want the 2x State solution. They want the 1x State solution. The one where Jews are gone. If I am wrong, feel free to direct me towards the Palestinian organization that is pursuing the 2x state option.

It sucks for the poor huddling masses in Gaza, much like it sucked for the poor huddling masses in Germany in 1944-1945 when they were experiencing their own "Nakba" with the collapse and defeat of Hitler's government. But was it actually a catastrophe? I mean, today, Germany is one of the strongest countries on the planet. I think that if Palestinians are placed in the same position as Germans were after WWII, they also might become wealthy, productive, and respected. But first must come absolute defeat and the understanding on the Palestinian street that Israel is there to stay, and any effort to change that will only lead to more Palestinians suffering.

"Israel's Goal of Usurping the entire West Bank and Gaza is unchanged and they are seeing what They Can Get Away With."

I'm not sure why you chose to draft seven sentences when the crux of your position could have been summed up as "Palestinians and their allies deserve and are entitled to the wealth and land currently known as Israel, and they are equally entitled to eliminate the Jews currently living there."

"Trump couldn't help mouthing off about GAZA before all the hostages were out."

Yeah. It has nothing to do with Hamas.

Hamas is playing a game. They are seeing how far they can push without turning the world against them. Their goal of extirpating the Jewish state has not changed. They're just seeing what they can get away with.

I think Mr. Carville's point was maybe to focus first and foremost on experience and qualifications, rather than those things that shape the individual's personal life.

"Not only did the report say he got a house, with furnishings, but now he also wants $50k to paint it."

So...most government-provided houses are owned or managed by private management companies. In my mind, any service requests would have gone through the management company, who would then fulfill the request.

It would be really weird for the SECDEF to reuqest that someone other than the housing management company pain the house, although this could be some sort of one-off thing. He is the SECDEF, so he may not be living in normal military housing.