Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[iam416]

Did I seriously just see OP challenge Stan to a fight...in the Hamptons?

The bluffs of Weehawken are across the Hudson River from NYC in NJ. It is where Burr and Hamilton famously dueled. So, not in the Hamptons...in Jersey!

[hack]

I'd disagree with this somewhat, Hack .......

The term "Sharia" is ill defied when it comes to jurisprudence and that is because how Sharia Law might be introduced and practiced varies widely by sect (predominantly Sunni and Shia), by country within which it is practiced and by how much of Islamic Law is implemented.

My view based on what I know of the country and people I have met there or met here and had discussions about this with is that Erdogan is definitely viewed as an elected autocrat. But some elements within Turkish society, mostly women and those who have business and free trade interests, he is viewed very unfavorably. Skepticism abounds in this group about his motives.

His activities over the last 2 years to consolidate his powers and quell descent about this seems to me to be seen by a majority of Turks as problematic and represent a precursor to the establishment of some degree of Sharia (subject to the confusion about it I mention above).

So now we get to the question of trying to determine which way Turkey will go with respect to governance. Will any level of Islamic Law influence it; what level and to what extent will that be? We could have Saudia Arabia and Iran like governance where Sharia Law, implemented almost entirely according to the Koran or Hadith is enforced by the Mullahs or autocratic kingdoms. That sort of outcome would be viewed by the West as not a representative form of governance and would impede relationships. We also could see a much more moderate implementation of portions of Sharia law as is seen in countries like Jordan and Morocco, among others.

My view is that the majority of the public in Turkey rejects the implementation of any kind of Sharia Law as a means of influencing the governance of the country. The distrust regarding Erdogan's intentions runs high. The worrisome thing is that the powerful influences of practitioners of Islam in the ME, in particular Iran and its surrogates like Hamas has the potential of tilting an Erdogan and his political and military allies led Turkey toward governance that is much more Islamic in character with the attendant loss of human rights so pervasive in that religion.

Jeff, having lived there for five years and still occasionally reporting on the place (I'll be there in a few weeks), I would encourage you to rethink. There is no point at all in wondering about a Saudi or Irani model. Also dangerous to assume suspicion by a meaningful number of voters. No other leader in the last ~70 years has won a majority government. Erdogan has done that 4 times in 15 years, and a fifth if you count when he pulled a Putin and went from PM to elected prez. I agree that the majority of Turks have no interest in sharia (I was referring to it in the less sophisticated way that people do here, rather than in the reality in which it actually exists). But you are mistaken to compare it to Saudi or Iran, or to associate the coup with this. Again, Erdogan is about power and money (his kid's construction company). This has nothing at all to do with implementing sharia. The story you need to worry about is his constitutional reforms. Sharia is a sideshow, whether in the form in which it actually exists or in the cartoon version many Americans think exists.

And, to be clear, the labels attached to Turkey by media are complicated. Not necessarily wrong, but sometimes you just can't boil it down to a label. Turkey for example builds mosques hires imams with state funds. It approves their Friday speeches, through a ministry of religious affairs. It builds mosques in other countries as a foreign-policy tool. Foreign aid from Turkey is also an expression of religious brotherhood. But nonetheless there is a relative and regional accuracy in calling it a secular democracy. secular is applied to that country. You have to go, and to see the neighbors as well, however, to understand this.

[lineygoblue]

liney... see what happens when you let a bama fan have a home here....

total chaos since then..

(and that wasn't an insult)

I know, Ent ...

You'd think that we would have learned by now...

[entropy]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/17/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-cnn-poll/

advantage Clinton.... it will continue to be difficult for the press to make this a race. Unless Hillary actually shoots someone while being filmed, there is no way she loses. The only thing interesting about this race is how many people will vote non republican or non democrat.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Here's another excellent link; listen to the videos. Speaks to the discussion we are having here.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/12/13/nyregion/voices-from-the-protests.html?ref=liveblog&_r=0

[UMStan White]

"The bluffs of Weehawken are across the Hudson River from NYC in NJ. It is where Burr and Hamilton famously dueled. So, not in the Hamptons...in Jersey!"

Well if i don't get a trip to the Hamptons I'm not going.

[Mike]

"The bluffs of Weehawken are across the Hudson River from NYC in NJ. It is where Burr and Hamilton famously dueled. So, not in the Hamptons...in Jersey!"

Well if i don't get a trip to the Hamptons I'm not going.

Might want to get that on the front end.

[Jeff Buchanan]

..... I would encourage you to rethink.....

Excellent input. I've visited twice so am no expert. I'm just nosy about politics and like to strike up conversations about it with locals wherever we travel. I've found that most people are eager to talk about it ...... even if in very reserved tones such as I found in Vietnam. Even there I was remarkably surprised about how open our guide there was about discussing his dislike for the Communists (as long as there was no one - the watchers he called them - nearby.

Thanks for your views. Much appreciated.

[Jeff Buchanan]

...... BLM is not responsible for the actions of a few nuts. Who is to say that the Dallas and Baton Rouge shootings would not have taken place eventually regardless of the existence of BLM.....

Thanks for that (and your entire post), Stan .......

I still believe there is a nexus, fair or not, deserved or not.

[Mike]

Bernie Sanders supporters plan "fart-in" at DNC convention.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/sanders-fans-plan-dnc-fart-protest-clinton-nomination-n611596

At some point we'll deserve to be overrun by Canada and annexed.

[Wild Hoss]

The bluffs of Weehawken are across the Hudson River from NYC in NJ. It is where Burr and Hamilton famously dueled. So, not in the Hamptons...in Jersey!

Well den, that's diff'rnt!

Grudge match!

[lineygoblue]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/17/politi...rump-cnn-poll/

advantage Clinton.... it will continue to be difficult for the press to make this a race. Unless Hillary actually shoots someone while being filmed, there is no way she loses. The only thing interesting about this race is how many people will vote non republican or non democrat.

After the Democratic Convention, Hillary can go back to where-ever she calls home, sit in her living room with a cold beverage, bake cookies, .. do whatever she wants, .. and she's going to win this thing comfortably. She doesn't need to debate, .. and only if she wants to get out a bit, she can make a couple friendly visits to states that are already in her pocket .. and she's in.

It wouldn't shock me to see her be able to claim a "mandate" with over 50% of the popular vote.

Its her election to lose.

[hack]

I woudln't have guessed that either about Vietnam, Jeff. Interesting.

[entropy]

I don't think she can lose outside of committing murder.. and even then, it will need to be on tape.

[Prime2]

The bluffs of Weehawken are across the Hudson River from NYC in NJ. It is where Burr and Hamilton famously dueled. So, not in the Hamptons...in Jersey!

That's right Talent as sure as many of Stan's former clients are preparing for prison, Weehawken is across the Hudson from NYC.

Presently working on a "Manhattan Project" of sorts at Columbia University but staying in the Hamptons. Good to be King.