johnnybangkok

Here's my argument which as usual you have chosen to ignore YellowTail. In comparison to the current Defence Secretary, Hegseth is VASTLY underqualified.

I see your reading comprehension is up to it's usual high standards. I wasn't saying Trump didn't have influence is this - just more with Netanyahu rather than influencing Hamas as the original poster was infering. That's all. Nothing more.

If you're saying 'thank you' then I don't think you know what 'touched' is slang for.

You're certainly 'touched'

You are not the first poster to try and give Trump the credit for this even though it was a Democrat led peace initiative. The idea this initiative has only worked because Trump is coming in and Hamas are too scared to go against Trump is spurious at best, a downright lie at worst. Hamas are no more scared of Trump than they are of any Western leader. You're just trying to credit where credit ISN'T due. 'For their part, Hamas rejected Trump's threats. Osama Hamdan, a Hamas leader, said during a press conference in Algeria, "Trump must be more disciplined and diplomatic and work to stop the war instead of issuing threats." https://www.newarab.com/news/gazans-fear-further-death-donald-trump-threatens-hamas-again Perhaps though the REAL credit should go with the influence Trump has over Netanyahu - 'Netanyahu’s change of heart seemed to come in conversations with Trump officials, from the president-elect himself down to Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff — so much so that some Arab officials have suggested that one meeting on Saturday between Netanyahu and Witkoff did more to bring Netanyahu around than a year of Biden administration cajoling.' https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-hostage-deal-netanyahu-is-going-all-in-on-trump/ Also from the same article - 'But what could the Trump team have offered Netanyahu to make a showdown with Smotrich and Ben Gvir suddenly palatable? Publicly, the answer seems to be a promise to resume the war. In his Senate confirmation hearing for his appointment as secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth told the senators bluntly, “I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas.” I foresee the agreement lasting for a short time, then Hamas will do something stupid (like firing rockets again), giving Netanyahu the excuse he needs to go back in to destroy Hamas (and anything/anyone else that gets in the way) this time with even more military help and support from the US under Trump.

Tell me on this doll where the “lefty’s” touched you?

No they don’t if they are BOI registered which most large retailers are.

Probably better than you. Though that’s not saying much

And I see you also don't know how to use the 'Paste as plain text' button at the bottom of all posts.

(Eyeroll) - Not sure why I'm engaging with someone who doesn't even know how to cut and paste correctly but if it's easier for you, Google 'Mercury, Vaccines, and Autism One Controversy, Three Histories'

It's an article from the National Library of Medicine. But you just stay willfully ignorant as I know you will.

Here, educate yourself https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2376879/

What part of this are you not understanding? Mercury in vaccines is NOT linked to autism. There's no 'may' there's no ambiguity. It's hard science fact and ANY hint that it might (especially coming from a prospective Health Secretary) is why you have seen such a rise in vaccine sceptics and why he's not qualified for the job. And you're right he isn't a doctor. In fact he has no medical training whatsover so obviously a great pick for Health Secretary (sarcasm in case that went over you head as well). P.S. Not sure why my original post on this was deleted. Perhaps the moderators can explain?

So the Democrat led peace initiative has only worked because Trump is coming in and Hamas are too scared to go against Trump? There's drinking the Kool Aid and positively drowning in it and you SunnyinBangkok are 5 foot under water.

The point is this has been debunked NUMEROUS times from people far more qualified than RFK. 'The vaccine-autism myth is one chilling example of fraudulent science. February 28, 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of an infamous article published in the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, in which Andrew Wakefield, a former British doctor, falsely linked the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine to autism. The paper eventually was retracted by the co-authors and the journal. Wakefield was de-licensed by medical authorities for his deceit and “callous disregard” for children in his care. It took nearly two decades for the UK immunization rates to recover. By the end, UK families had experienced more than 12,000 cases of measles, hundreds of hospitalizations — many with serious complications — and at least three deaths.' https://time.com/5175704/andrew-wakefield-vaccine-autism/ 'Extensive scientific research shows no credible evidence linking thiomersal to such conditions. Thiomersal (or thimerosal) is a mercury compound which is used as a preservative in some vaccines. Anti-vaccination activists promoting the incorrect claim that vaccination causes autism have asserted that the mercury in thiomersal is the cause' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal_and_vaccines Of course 'the rise in autism, early puberty, obesity, low testosterone and low fertility are worth investigating' and RFK's admirable stance on ultra-processed foods and food additives may give us some answers but grabbing at such easily debunked causes undermines the issues in question and detracts from a SCIENTIFIC approach to root causes. This is were RFK is getting it so very wrong, by muddying the waters and pointing fingers in completely the wrong direction.

Whats unsubstantiated? There's actual video of him saying most of what I have mentioned above. Here's the one were he says vacine causes autism. This is coming out of his own mouth. How much more 'substantiated' can you get?

You keep asking this - people keep giving you the reasons - then you just ignore what is being said and just keep asking the same, inane question. Are you caught in some sort of MAGA loop?

There's whataboutism and there's Yagoda whataboutism - in a league of it's own. And he's not more qualified than 99% of the folks in the world as qualifications for this role SHOULD be as demanding as the office itself. So lets compare him to the current defence secretary Lloyd James Austin III - 'Before retiring from the military in 2016, Austin served as the 12th commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Prior to that he served as the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army from January 2012 to March 2013, and as commander of United States Forces – Iraq from September 2010 to December 2011. He is the first African American to hold each of these positions. After retiring from the armed services, Austin joined the boards of Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, Tenet Healthcare, and Auburn University. Austin holds the unique distinction of having commanded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan at the one-, two-, three- and four-star levels, and was the first African American to command a division, corps, and field army in combat. He is a recipient of the Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for valor, for his actions during the Iraq invasion, as well as five Defense Distinguished Service Medals.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_Defense Better than this?

Funny you should mention that but I once went to a meeting of radical leftist wokes in Toronto to talk about destabilising middle class families and price them out of home ownership. It was nice. Someone brought cake.

As usual, the devil is in the detail. RFK has rightly highlighted America's problem with ultra-processed foods and food additives and the established health issues they create but then goes and spoils it with vacines cause autism (a widely debunked conspracy theory), Covid-19 targets ‘caucasians And Black People’, that wireless technology can cause cancer, that Aids Is not caused by HIV and that fluoride causes diseases when the dosage in the States doesn't do that at all. It's these wild theories and dismissal of tried and established science that has everyone concerned about his appointment to include these 15,000 doctors. And they have a point.

And the problem is?

And those that do '8-12 hours on a roof, in a ditch, stocking shelves, welding, wrenching of running screws on a line' seldom have life or death decisions to make. And they also didn't have to devote around 10 to 12 years to become welder, roofer, shelf stocker or line worker as a doctor does. A doctor has to an undergraduate degree (four years), medical school (four years), and a residency program (three to seven years). So perhaps get that chip off your shoulder and understand there are different versions of being 'overworked' that aren't just the exclusive domain of manual labourers.

Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your contributions to this thread. You have dilligently and intelligently countered all of the fear mongering, finger pointing and downright lies from the MAGA crowd (who as usual, get their 'news' from X and highly biased media sources) and educated many of us on the way. Thanks again and keep up the excellent work!

So let's get this straight. You come out with a sweeping 'diversity has made us have to work 7 years longer' statement and when asked to explain this, we now have to answer one of your questions first? Do you even understand how a conversation works?

Ahhhh I see now. Here I thought you were championing diversity when it was sarcasm all along. I should have known.