OlDawg

I like to think about political discourse like being a member of a church. If you only go to Christmas, Easter, and/or the occasional Sunday service, the church seems very typical of the community. I’d say that’s akin to the typical voter experience who only votes every 4 years. Then, there’s the church member who is also a member of the steering and business committee of the church. This member sees the ugly underbelly of the church as a business. This can disillusion the member if they don’t remember the real reason they attend anyway. I’d say this is akin to the voter who is more informed, votes even in local elections, and participates in political discussions. Both members are valuable to the congregation. One is much easier to deal with, and causes no qualms for the most part. But, the church couldn’t function without the more involved member. There’s a need for a place to discuss politics, as unsettling as it may be sometimes. Many of the topics, I wouldn’t know anything about if it weren’t for this forum. This forum actually makes me investigate things. I become more informed, and whether I agree or not is irrelevant. That—to me—is a very big positive.

AI still has too many issues right now. People who use it without back-checking are foolish. As an example, type in the below two questions EXACTLY as typed: How many illegal aliens in Texas 2025? How many undocumented immigrants in Texas 2025? We know the questions are asking about the exact same subset of the population. But, the AI answers—and sources—you receive will be quite different. AI isn’t smart enough to figure that out. It’s merely going on key words. Not really intelligence in my book. A big misnomer.

The thing that bothers me more than anything else lately, is the amount of posts obviously strictly using AI. I’ve researched quite a few of them, and they are coming from obviously biased source material. Makes sense since most media has a more liberal slant. I wish people wouldn’t just use AI generated answers, and think for themselves. AI seems to already be taking critical thinking out of the equation for many people.

I think most debates on this particular political forum are fairly robust. It’s a lot better than most places. Personally, I do a lot of data checking before I get too deep into discussion. Unless it’s something with which I have personal experience. Even then, if someone asks, I’ll try to provide data to support.

Only if someone checked what she posted. I’m not sure the issue is a big surprise to people. The numbers may be off. But, the occurrences of misuse, overuse, and outright fraud are pretty well known. Her statement of “if all benefits were cut off, they would leave” is pure conjecture. Nothing wrong with that as her opinion. But, it is pure conjecture.

I was waiting to see how long it took for those who said they didn’t trust a single source—or the government—for data/information, to realize the X post was partially created using government data.

Looked up. She’s just a MAGA social media influencer. I wouldn’t trust her data unless she shows where it came from.

It's a real issue, and ties back into the birthright citizenship question before SCOTUS. Not just who people think either. There are thousands of Chinese nationals who are paying surrogate American mothers to have their children for access to benefits. [Hidden Content] Friedman succinctly stated--paraphrased--you can't have open borders and a welfare state. That's one of the reasons why I (as a conservative libertarian, for lack of a better definition) have always been against the Libertarian Party position of open borders unless we do away with the welfare state first. Which will never happen...

I'm not going to go line-by-line through census data right now. But, SIPP (Census Bureau) numbers do show a majority of households receiving SNAP and/or WIC benefits are headed up by illegal immigrant 'heads of households' applying for their children. Of all immigrant-headed households (naturalized citizens and non-citizens) with young children, 43 percent are dependent on at least one of these programs. [Hidden Content]

The effect on food and welfare support to the poor in the government shutdown has revealed that the noncitizen and illegal immigrant community has been benefiting from the taxpayer-funded programs more than American citizens — by far. [Hidden Content]

I think we should go back and look at 1836. There’s no way Van Buren won. Let’s rehash it, and have a do-over.

Hoping everyone enjoys the reason for the season, and is able to spend a joyous time with those they love! Merry Christmas from the DawgHouse

The biggest lie of all? Who was running the last Administration? All the others kind of pale in comparison.

Something really interesting about your link that is in the background. As of May 2024, the stock market was 39,470.00. It stands--as of this time the morning of Dec 22, 2025--at 48,248.59. Anyone who invests in a company 401k, 503b, or similar is experiencing good growth in their gross wealth. That's around 22% in about a year and a half.

Wrong year to boot! That'll confuse 'em. lol

When someone tells you they have experience in the matter, and that Trump didn’t lie on this one, it would be wise to check sources deeper than the lying Washington Post , an author who has no idea what they’re talking about, and who also has a definite agenda. I’ve kindly attached a summary of the international court rulings for your review. I know you won’t read the actual court documents. So, the link provides an easy to read, directly documented overview with dollar amounts, and judgements. If you click the source tab up top, all the references will be available for your review. It should be noted that international courts aren’t usually sympathetic to American companies. So, the evidence was without question or factually disputable. [Hidden Content] I may not have voted for the man. I may not even be a big fan of his character. But, I don't just dismiss everything as a lie due to pure, unreasonable hatred of him.

Trump’s been signaling a return to Monroe Doctrine since his first term. That’s why he’s been pressuring Europe to spend more on their own defense. That’s pure MD philosophy. Like I said, people just can’t seem to connect the dots. I’ll admit to having a little advantage in some government activities. But, it should be becoming pretty clear to all by now with a minimal amount of effort.

Basically, Venezuela owns natural resources of crude. They weren't capable of refining it and turning it into petroleum products--including oil. So, they arranged business agreements and leases with American oil companies. Venezuela supplied the crude to the American refiners and made their money off those sales. The American refiners did their refining, and produced the petroleum products and derivatives. At that point, the resulting products were owned by the respective refiners. The assets used to produce said products were owned by the refiners, and the land they sat on was under contract to them as a long-term lease. Venezuela seized those assets, and the resulting products and technology when their economy was in a shambles. They broke the land leases. The refiners weren't compensated for their value, and still haven't been to this day. The oil in the tankers is refined by the seized refineries. Technically, it belongs to the refiners until they've been fairly compensated. The Trump Administration has also--apparently--been tracking 30-40 tankers that are violating sanctions against Iran, and these first 2 tankers are among those violating the sanctions. Trump--and media chatter boxes--are conflating different things. First, crude is the natural resource owned by the Venezuelan people--not the refined petroleum product if it came from a seized refinery. Second, the only reason oil is in the conversation is because it's being used as leverage to remove Maduro's regime, which is very friendly with China and Russia, and the Trump Administration is trying to block any further advances by those militaries into our direct hemisphere. He is using any justification necessary to accomplish this goal. Personally, it would be easier to just stick with the sanctioned oil being sold to help fund the drug cartels via government proxy story, and be honest about removing Maduro and why. Yes, drugs are a major reason. But, also explain to the American people the advances by Russia and China. Most aren't aware at all. Some media--and others--are too shallow thinking to see these issues even though the renewal of the Monroe Doctrine was just verbalized a couple of weeks or so ago. They only focus on the oil angle, and can't even get that part right. NOTE: No AI was harmed or used in the creation of this post. Merely a brain and experience.

Are you calling me delusional?

I didn't vote. You also need to learn the difference--as do the writers of the articles you're posting--between crude and oil. They're vastly different animals. Perhaps you may be wise to listen to someone that was in the business for 30+ years, and also has experience and history in the region. First-hand knowledge your AI answers can't provide.

I'm not MAGA, and you can't even seem to read your own articles. I'll waste no more time on you.

Again...clueless. You're as bad as the 'news' you quote. Oil is the end to a means. Yes. Venezuela seized American assets of Exxon & Conoco Phillips. But, that's the side show. The purpose is to get China & Russia's influence out of the Western Hemisphere where they've made steady inroads into South & Central America while U.S. Administrations have been stupidly focused elsewhere. Thus, a renewed focus on Monroe Doctrine principles--which means more focus on the Americas & Caribbean, and less on Europe. Reagan was the last POTUS to really focus on this in recent history. Americans have forgotten (or never knew) how close communism came to overtaking much of Central America in the 80's. No lie from Trump on this one. Venezuela has stolen U.S. oil, land, and assets since Chavez. I was giving you the benefit of the doubt on the 'baiting.' I was wrong.

Adam & Seth's son's beg to differ with the age cap.

DaSho saved SETX/GHA football this year. Congrats! 4-2 in this seemingly annual rivalry game.

Turned it off at 27-0. King was done. Already suffered through the Aggie collapse. Only game I enjoyed Saturday was NS/Duncanville. The 'best' game of the bunch--to me--was either Newton making a comeback to make a game of it, or the impressive win by Smithson Valley. SV was so fundamentally sound, it was a joy to watch, even though I was rooting for PAM. I'm VERY happy with the Victory+ ability to stream free. They were solid broadcasts. I hope they continue.