In The News

[Voodoo Magic]

The article makes it pretty clear it's not the Obama's doing it themselves, but you do you.

Also the article mentions the laws around the easements are changing specifically to address climate change concerns. Almost like it's a thing people might want to campaign about. Weird.

Now THAT is some major spin.

It's not Obama doing it! It's Obama's close friend and chair of the Obama foundation board Nesbitt who is doing it!

The easement paved the way for building permits and allowed developers to exploit other loopholes built into Hawaii's coastal planning system. Nesbitt went on to win another environmental exemption from local officials and is currently pursuing a third — to expand the seawall. According to building permits, the Obamas' so-called First Friend is redeveloping the land into a sprawling estate that will include three new single-family homes, two pools and a guard post. The beach fronting the seawall is nearly gone, erased completely at high tide.

Community members are now rallying against the proposed seawall expansion. Some are directing their criticism at Obama, who staked his legacy, in part, on fighting climate change and promoting environmental sustainability.

Obama's personal office declined to comment, referring inquiries to Nesbitt. And Nesbitt, who declined to be interviewed, would not directly address questions about ownership, only saying that he and his wife bought the land and were "the developers" of the estate.

In written responses to questions, Nesbitt, now chair of the Obama Foundation board and co-CEO of a Chicago-based private-equity firm, said the steps he's taken to redevelop the property and expand the seawall are "consistent with and informed by the analysis of our consultants, and the laws, regulations and perspectives of the State of Hawaii." Any damage the structure caused to the Waimanalo beach, he added, occurred decades ago "and is no longer relevant."

In Hawaii, beaches are a public trust, and the state is constitutionally obligated to preserve and protect them. But across the islands, officials have routinely favored landowners over shorelines, granting exemptions from environmental laws as the state loses its beaches.

[Huggs]

Just leaving a little mark, on the off chance I wasn't the only one who saw a certain something on tv this evening.

Talk about a gaffe.

[Xiggz456]

Developers gonna develop. Just another example of humans f**king shit up to make a buck. Unabashed capitalism is dope y'all and not at all the reason why America's middle class is shrinking.

[SiL]

Now THAT is some major spin.

Says the guy who won't share the parts that contradict his fundamental argument.

[Voodoo Magic]

Now THAT is some major spin.

Says the guy who won't share the parts that contradict his fundamental argument.

Right. Share the parts that explain away the wrong doing for Obama's oceanfront acres, another example where officials favored landowners over shorelines as the state loses its beaches, and the community is up in arms.

[SiL]

You don't share the parts that point out that climate change is affecting the world because it undermines your argument that politicians' hypocrisy undermines the validity of trying to push for action that enacts effective change.

f**k outta here talking about others "spinning" anything. If you spun any harder we could use you as a washing machine.

[Voodoo Magic]

You don't share the parts that point out that climate change is affecting the world because it undermines your argument that politicians' hypocrisy undermines the validity of trying to push for action that enacts effective change.

f**k outta here talking about others "spinning" anything. If you spun any harder we could use you as a washing machine.

So you have no quotes that I left out SiL that undermines the wrongdoing? Something tells me if Obama had an R next to his name, you'd be all over this. And yes, saying Obama is not doing the wrongdoing himself, because someone who is working for/with Obama is the one actually doing it, is indeed spin.

The issue for me is I can't stand hypocrisy on either side of the aisle. If its the evangelical leader Jerry Falwell who preaches marriage fidelity while having affairs, or Melissa Etheridge preaching car pooling at the Grammy's while alone taking a long limo to and from, this stuff burns me up. And the environmental "leaders" that don't believe in or practice what they preach burns me up too. It should burn everyone up. Because even if the situation is truly dire, this type of hypocrisy creates an outlook that tells many the situation isn't really that dire.

[Xiggz456]

Still not sure what the hypocrisy of politicians (which no one is disagreeing with) has got to do with the scientific consensus regarding climate change though 

[Voodoo Magic]

This one actually grew out of SMs joke that beach front property owners would have to sell to Aquaman.

[Local Trouble]

RBG just died.  There goes SCOTUS.

[426Buddy]

Yeah thats some terrible news all around..

I mourn for her and the future of my country, these are dire times.

[SiL]

RBG just died.  There goes SCOTUS.

I'm sure a fair and progressive judge will be along soon to replace her.

[Local Trouble]

And since political hypocrisy seems to be a popular topic here now, one need look no further than the current reigning champion:

[SM]

Appointing openly partisan judges has always baffled me.

[SiL]

It baffles me up until I consider that some people are self-serving pieces of shit.