Weekend Open Thread
[guest post by Dana]
Let’s go!
First news item
Relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war returned home testify to the ongoing atrocities committed by Russian soldiers as the war grinds on:
The return to Ukraine of the bodies of prisoners of war without internal organs may be evidence that they are used in Russia for transplantation. “We receive not only tortured bodies, but also bodies that, unfortunately, have no organs,” a wife of one of the prisoners said.
”This confirms the fact that the black market of organ transplantation in the Russian Federation is working. And, unfortunately, it works with our prisoners of war. That is why I believe that this should be reported to the whole world in order to stop this crime,” said the wife of one of the prisoners of war.
. . .
She emphasized that Russia refuses to return and include prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison in the exchange lists.
Of course when considering the Ukraine-Russia war and the upcoming election, concerns run to the seeming indifference of JD Vance. I saw this excerpt from an interview he did with Ross Douthat last month. In part:
First, he argued that weapons being sent to Ukraine were needed to deter China from invading or blockading Taiwan.
That is not an isolationist argument, but one very close to Elbridge Colby’s in the book “Strategy of Denial.”
Second, he reiterated that he had been skeptical of the viability of Ukraine’s counteroffensive last year, which the Biden administration backed despite the obvious military difficulties of what was being attempted.
. . .
No. 1 . . . you freeze the territorial lines somewhere close to where they are right now.
No. 2 is you guarantee both Kyiv’s independence but also its neutrality. It’s the fundamental thing the Russians have asked from the beginning. I’m not naïve here. I think the Russians have asked for a lot of things dishonestly, but neutrality is clearly something that they see as existential for them.
And then No. 3, there’s going to have to be some American security assistance over the long term.
Asked by Douthat, “You agree it’s not in our interest right now for the Russians to roll through the rest of Ukraine?”
Vance replied: “No, it is not in our interest.”
Second news item
I would think every American would pounce on this:
Republicans seized immediately on images of burning U.S. flags and vandalism at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station following Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech as evidence of widespread antisemitism and a harbinger of what can happen under Democratic control of government.
“Pro-terror, anti-Israel agitators are vandalizing federal property, removing American flags, and replacing them with Palestinian flags steps away from the United States Capitol,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), a member of Senate GOP leadership, on X. “This is inexcusable, and I expect them to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Per the report, two Democrats chimes in with the Republican complaints:
“I never imagined seeing the flag of a terror group holding eight Americans hostage for 292 days waved in the streets of our nation’s Capitol,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) wrote alongside an image of a protester waving the Hamas flag.
“The Jew hate and anti-American garbage coming out of college campuses this spring didn’t end with the last day of school,” wrote Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass). “College presidents, you’re on notice: Enforce your codes of conduct from day one of the fall semester.”
The de facto Democratic presidential nominee weighed in too:
“I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation,” the vice president said in the statement issued by her office. “I condemn the burning of the American flag. That flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America. It should never be desecrated in that way.”
It’s so easy to break and destroy things. Any fool can do it. The harder task is to build something that will last and reminds Americans and the world, that the land of the free and the brave is, still.
Third news item
Why wasn’t Harris given more power?:
Harris was not empowered to oversee the administration’s policing efforts on the border, spearhead negotiations on the Hill to reform U.S. asylum law, or negotiate deportation regimes with the nations beyond Mexico’s borders from which most migrants were coming. She was charged with “talking” to the leaders of Mexico and the nations that make up Central America’s “Northern Triangle” to address the “root causes” of migration. You know, “gang violence and trafficking and cartels,” the president said at the time, but also “natural disasters, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes.” If the vice president had the power to mitigate phenomena like that, she’d be overqualified to merely preside over the Senate.
In fact, Harris wasn’t granted any power at all, and she treated the role with which she’d been saddled like the burden it was. Within weeks, her conspicuous failure to even visit the border she’d been tasked to oversee became a political liability — one her lack of political talent only made worse. But within a few months of her accession to the role, Harris started producing the only results she could: A commitment from twelve private companies to “invest” in the region, the deployment of a USAID disaster team to provide “food assistance” and “poverty reduction,” and roughly $300 million in humanitarian assistance.
Readers are reminded: If Harris’s own boss could not trust her with some of the awesome duties and powers of his office, why should we?
The border must be secured:
I don’t know where this idea came from that you have to look the other way on illegal immigration or you’re racist, but every other country on earth secures their border and America should too. It’s utterly reasonable to want a functional border, and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
Democrats should make securing the border and fixing our immigration system a top priority.
Drugs. Sex trafficking. Terrorism. There are a million risks to doing nothing on the issue. And, the drain on local resources is real.
Fourth news item
Repellant, indeed:
It is both moronic and morally bankrupt and since this sort of thing does not help the Palestinian cause at all and actually turns people against it, it is another example that some of this movement regard the Palestinians as just one banner in a wide and egregious charge…
— S Sebag Montefiore (@simonmontefiore) July 26, 2024
Fifth news item
Barack and Michelle Obama endorsed Kamala Harris this morning:
I’m so proud of my girl, Kamala. Barack and I are so excited to endorse her as the Democratic nominee because of her positivity, sense of humor, and ability to bring light and hope to people all across the country. We’ve got your back, @KamalaHarris! pic.twitter.com/xldcZeDXuS
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) July 26, 2024
Sixth news item
California Gov. Newsom moves on homelessness in the state:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state agencies Thursday to start removing homeless encampments on state land in his boldest action yet following a Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces.
This executive order directs state agencies “to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them.” It also provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same, which applies pressure on them, though they are not legally bound to the order.
Republicans are less than impressed by what they call a PR move”:
California Senate Republicans are calling out Gov. Gavin Newsom for what they say is a “PR stunt,” after he announced a new initiative to dismantle homeless encampments across the state through an executive order. . . Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones [said] “I introduced a proposal earlier this year that would have provided even greater and more immediate solutions. While I am cautiously optimistic that the governor has finally taken note of the urgency of this problem, albeit many years later than needed, Californians deserve government for the people, not the PR hits.” Senate Bill 1011, introduced by Jones and all Senate Republicans in February, was a bipartisan effort that would have gone even further in clearing homeless encampments but was rejected by Democrats in the Senate Committee on Public Safety.
Seventh news item
If President Biden is too old and too cognitively challenged to run again, how do you defend a 78-year old man who wants to become the next president but simply cannot stop babbling about Hannibal Lecter, whom he seems to believe was a real person?:
Former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump has addressed his repeated references to the fictional murderer and cannibal Hannibal Lecter, from the book and movie “The Silence of the Lambs.”
During his Wednesday rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump appeared to explain why he keeps praising the character, saying it was because they are “real stories.”
“They go crazy when I say the late, great Hannibal Lecter. They say, ‘Why would he mention Hannibal Lecter? He must be cognitively in trouble.’ No. These are real stories. Hannibal Lecter from ‘Silence of the Lamb,’ is a lovely man. He wants to have you for dinner,” he said.
Trump has mentioned the character several times before during speeches.
The too-old guy gets it:
He praised Hannibal Lecter.
Donald, Hannibal Lecter is not real. And he is a cannibal.pic.twitter.com/8BwtOnIDoV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 20, 2024
Have a great weekend.
—Dana
Hello.
Dana (941806) — 7/26/2024 @ 7:09 amWell Joe certainly knows a thing or two about cannibals…
Harvey’s Potted Plant (a2d7ca) — 7/26/2024 @ 7:16 amSecond news item:
🤔
Subtle..
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/26/2024 @ 7:41 amSeventh news item:
I bolded the hint as to why he does this..
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/26/2024 @ 7:45 am“The too old guy gets it.”
I mean, it would be more likely Hannibal Lector wrote that tweet.
lloyd (71c468) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:03 amNothing about Netanyahu, the leader of Israel fighting for their lives against the islamic terrorists that was mentioned or the wannabe President boycotting his speech to Congress?
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:18 amIn the first book of the Hannibal Lecter series, Red Dragon, Lecter asks the FBI agent who finally caught him how the FBI agent managed to outsmart him. The FBI agent replied: “I had an advantage, Dr. Lecter. You are insane.” That seriously angered Lecter, and he refused to speak to that agent again after that.
You see, even though Lecter had prevailed with his “not guilty by reason of insanity” defense at trial, he did not really consider himself insane. He thought that he had played a great practical joke on the judge and jury. But if he was really insane and only thought that he was faking it, then the joke was on him.
The joke is on you, Donnie!
nk (fa121b) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:24 amNotice how everyone dwelling on Trump’s Hannibal Lector shout outs are loathe to discuss why he’s doing it.
lloyd (ed591e) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:47 amKamala Harris, the border czar, who according to Democrat talking points being circulated was never the border czar, let thousands of Hannibal Lectors in. And, if Trump called them by their real names he’d be accused of racism by the same people saying Hannibal Lector isn’t real. Yes White House intern who “gets it”, the murders, rapes and terrorizing are real stories.
lloyd (ed591e) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:54 amWe all know why Bullseye Joe isn’t handing the keys to Kamala. 1) He doesn’t trust her with anything, and 2) he wants to pardon his son, but after the election.
lloyd (ed591e) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:56 amSecuring the border and deporting at least those who have been unable to succeed here, along with recent arrivals, would do wonders for our cities. Shantytowns would be gone, rents would come down, all forms of infrastructure stress would be reduced.
A Republican administration that had some brains could use the threat of mass deportation as a club to get bipartisan immigration reform that would include a reasonable metric for deportation versus legalization. Not clear if a Trump administration would qualify. Me, I’d put someone like Newt in charge of breaking legs in Congress to get it done.
Under the Democrats this will fester and the recent move by Biden will be rescinded or fall to some uncontested consent degree that will bind future administrations.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:58 amNotice how everyone dwelling on Trump’s Hannibal Lector shout outs are loathe to discuss why he’s doing it.
I know why he’s doing it. He’s talking to a constituency with the intellect of special needs fifth graders. And like his “disinfectant and ultraviolet lights for Covid” gibberish, that constituency will interpret it as profound allegory.
nk (fa121b) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:03 amAn actual politician would know that every word he says will be taken out of context if it possibly can be. One of Trump’s biggest failures is that he plays into his opponent’s hands. He lives in his own bubble, surrounded by his ardent supporters who know all his memes. So, to them “Hannibal Lecter” means a different thing than it means to everyone else.
The problem for Trump is that “everyone else” has more votes than his ardent fans.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:08 amHe’s talking to a constituency with the intellect of special needs fifth graders.
This is exactly the level of smugly arrogant bigotry that keeps Trump’s base intact.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:09 amBelieve it or not, spe3cial needs 5th graders are not very responsive to metaphor and allegory.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:10 amIt’s interesting that Michelle Obama endorsed Harris in her husband’s name. It’s almost as if Barack didn’t want to do it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:14 amShorter response to “Hannibal Lector”:
If you have to explain a joke you told it wrong.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:17 am“I know why he’s doing it. He’s talking to a constituency with the intellect of special needs fifth graders. And like his “disinfectant and ultraviolet lights for Covid” gibberish, that constituency will interpret it as profound allegory.”
I had thought it was a bet that someone made with Trump about being able to work an absurd reference to Lecter into his speech. And now he keeps doing it because it gets him attention. It’s incoherent and rightly described as gibberish. It has no real connection to illegal immigrants and his unsubstantiated insane asylum claims. It further stupefies our political discourse.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:42 amSecond item:
The majority in Texas v. Johnson consisted of William Brennan (who wrote the plurality opinion), Harry Blackmun, Antonin Scalia, Thurgood Marshall, and joined by Anthony Kennedy.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:46 amFrom the plurality opinion syllabus:
Page references omitted.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/26/2024 @ 10:01 am@13 “An actual politician would know that every word he says will be taken out of context if it possibly can be.”
By special needs 5th graders? Yes
By blog commenters? Yes
By the media of record? Yes
I blame Trump.
lloyd (ed591e) — 7/26/2024 @ 10:02 amThis is exactly the level of smugly arrogant bigotry that keeps Trump’s base intact.
Screw them! The FBI, the Secret Service, and a grand jury could uncover incontrovertible proof that the alleged assassination attempt was staged and that Trump scratched his own ear with a piece of broken glass, and he would not lose a single supporter.
There’s no percentage in cosseting those people. The only thing to do is outnumber them, marginalize them, and isolate them.
nk (fa121b) — 7/26/2024 @ 10:49 amI’m pretty sure Trump keeps bringing up Hannibal Lecter because he doesn’t know/understand that the word “asylum” has multiple meanings.
Sam G (80a2a9) — 7/26/2024 @ 10:56 amBecause no vice president ever is, in spite of Joe Biden’s claims to have, by himself, without consulting Obama, cut off a loan guarantee to Ukraine at the last minute in order to pressure Ukraine to fire a prosecutor. Never happened. Never could have happened. Especially the part about the prosecutor being fired as a result. And even so, in both versions of the story, someone is surprised that a vice president has so much power.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170120100733/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/08/joe-biden-interview/497633
https://www.cfr.org/event/foreign-affairs-issue-launch-former-vice-president-joe-biden
Even according to himsekf, Biden is telling us that a vice president normally does not have so much power.
A vice president can be staff (or nothing) , not line. A vice president rarely gets any kind of specific job. Spiro Agnew had NASA. What he proposed never got done. Mike Pence was put in charge of a coronavirus task force. Did he really make any decisions?
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 11:49 amAnd they never said really that Kamala Harris was
in charge of border policy. Her job was to discover the “root causes” of migration. (which was supposed to be something other than the difference in the value of labor in the United States and poor countries, and international communications like mail, telephones, Western Union money transfers and Facebook, and word of mouth.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/kamala-harris-border-policy-rcna163317
She didn’t want this assignment and did as little as possible. At one point making a speech in which she said “don’t come.” She visited Central America
It was just an attempt by President Biden to pass the buck.
The Republicans liked the idea of her being put
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 11:53 amin charge, because, by one accounting, she had the most left wing voting record in the Senate so they could criticize her without having to supply any details of what she was supposedly doing wrong..
The majority in Texas v. Johnson consisted of William Brennan (who wrote the plurality opinion), Harry Blackmun, Antonin Scalia, Thurgood Marshall, and joined by Anthony Kennedy.
In dissent, Rehnquist, White, O’Connor and Stevens.
Rehnquist wrote:
Stevens wrote:
This could be reconsidered and to suggest that only a pack of fools would dissent ignores those who did.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:04 pmThe flags burned in Washington, DC on Wednesday were U.S. government property and destroying them or removing them a crime, just like if some people had stolen their Palestinian flags and burned them, it would have been a crime.
We could live with a law criminalizing flag desecration, although I recall, that Joe Biden once, years ago, to make a point, cited the constitution (I think) as an example of something that that it was not worth doing to forbid destroying a copy of. (Liberals love the constitution, but not the flag so he made it the constitution. There are some symbols they love. He could have picked the Liberty Bell.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:04 pmI blame Trump.
You should. His words, carelessly uttered.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:05 pmScrew them! The FBI, the Secret Service, and a grand jury could uncover incontrovertible proof that the alleged assassination attempt was staged and that Trump scratched his own ear with a piece of broken glass, and he would not lose a single supporter.
Or, as is far more likely, they could conclude that it was in fact a bullet from a deranged gunman and all the idiotic conspiracy hacks calling Trump a murderer would still believe their tripe.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:08 pmIt is also far more likely that any conspiracy involved people who wanted Trump dead and were perhaps in charge of the Secret Service.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:09 pmSo, who is sabotaging French TGV trains? The Communist Left? The Fascist Right? The Russians? Pretty sure it goes back to Putin somehow.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:16 pm@27 The “no one is above the law” administration will go after them any day now, as soon as they figure out whether they agree or disagree with the message.
lloyd (e0166b) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:22 pm@14, ppl that want respect shouldn’t behave contemptibly.
I see no reason not to mock Trump and his supporters for cheering on his Hannibal Lector comments.
Time123 (3f512a) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:36 pm@28 For republicans anything and everything is excused by past grievances of justified by what they think their opposents would hypothetically do in the same situation.
Time123 (3f512a) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:39 pmAJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:42 am
It’s probably not a bet and he may have initially confused him (or thought other people would confuse him) with Jeffrey Dahmer or at least that many people would recognize the name.
Hannibal Lector was supposedly the kind of person (not the actual person – Trump said he was dead) being supposedly released from foreign insane asylums and sent to the United States without his identity being detected at the border and refused entry and being directed to kill Mexicans and American tourists in Mexico instead of people inside the United States.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/us/politics/trump-rnc-speech-transcript.html
Hannibal Lector was based on a real person but not Jeffrey Dahmer. And he was in a Mexican prison, not an insane asylum.
https://www.biography.com/crime/real-life-hannibal-lecter-alfredo-balli-trevino
https://remezcla.com/film/mexican-serial-killer-alfredo-balli-trevino-hannibal-lecter-the-silence-of-the-lambs
His story was probably a little bit different than in the book and the movie.
The novelist Thomas Harris wrote several sequels, in one of which (also made, with changes, into a movie in 2001) Hannibal Lector had escaped and is living in Florence, Italy and it sounds like a travesty.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:39 pmOf course, any SC precedent (like Loving, Obergefell, or Brown) can be reconsidered. But it is highly unlikely that a challenge could be brought through the court system by a state or the federal govt. to reach the Supreme Court. It would be easier for Congress and the states to ratify a constitutional amendment overturing the decision.
Unless a pliant judge is found somewhere.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:48 pmThe problem is that the government would need to identify specific individuals who committed the acts.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:50 pmWhy does Trump include the late great Hannibal Lecter in his rally speeches? The (left wing) Guardian speculates:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/article/2024/jul/25/donald-trump-hannibal-lecter#:~:text=Immigrants%20seek%20asylum.,is%20automatically%20by%20definition%20insane.
tl;dr — I dunno.
My guess — it’s to troll folks.
Appalled (88a1a3) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:51 pmKevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:16 pm
That’s the best bet, and I think Vladimir Putin was behind the Charlie Hebdo attacks in 2015 as well (the purpose being to support the argument that western countries needed to co-operate with Russia on terrorism and they should be allies and not differ about Ukraine. It was the same argument that DIA head and probable recruited Russian agent Mike Flynn was making)
The names of former members of al Qaeda and ISIS had undoubtedly been shared with the Russians.
The Charlie Hebdo attack somehow involved al Qaeda terrorists and ISIS terrorists working together, and they called the al Qaeda group in Yemen by the wrong name.
As for what happened now, the French are not regarding it as terrorism, presumably because no attempt was made to kill anybody.(But it did cut the size of the crowd at the opening ceremonies thus diminishing the Olympics)
No claim of responsibility was made, as would be the case if the cause was pro-Hamas. They other groups could all have logical connections to Russia.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:51 pmRip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:50 pm
They worked hard todo that for the perpetrators of January 6.
It doesn’t matter too much.
There will be a next time.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:54 pmI hope that the Israeli athletes are well guarded.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:56 pmUnless a pliant judge is found somewhere.
Plenty of those. South Florida, 5th circuit, etc. Do you have any doubt how the3 present court would rule?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:58 pmKevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 12:09 pm
It is somewhat less implausible than the anti-Trump theory that it was staged (refuted indirectly) but this would involve someone not caring if fellow Service agents died.
It is much much harder to get two people to agree to commit a crime, than one person on his own.
I again compare it to the space shuttle disasters in 1986 and 2003.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 1:00 pmBLM! (Bone-Less Matters)
Ohio Supreme court says bones don’t matter.
felipe (022ca8) — 7/26/2024 @ 1:09 pmActually, yes. The Roberts Court has been extremely protective of the First Amendment and has struck down numerous restrictions on speech.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 1:16 pmMore Russian disinformation:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/us/politics/austin-russia-ukraine-defense-plot.html
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 1:17 pmThe Dispatch has a piece on “border czar” Harris. She was chosen to lead the effort at solving the southern border problem, and it was an effort she seemed uninterested in, and she’ll pay a price for this lack of interest.
I listened to part of her stump speech in Houston and I found myself uninterested in her.
Paul Montagu (1e8339) — 7/26/2024 @ 1:21 pmWhile she was strong on talking about law enforcement, she said little about the economy and spent unnecessary time on gun control and abortion. Like Carville said over three decades ago, it’s the economy, stupid, and Harris is being stupid in not hammering the economy and national security, of which the southern border is a part.
There’s kind of a honeymoon period among Democrats right now, but reality is going to hit if Trump isn’t hammered long and hard and if she doesn’t cover issues that resonate with everyday Americans.
My guess that if Kim Davis loses at the appeals court level (which is highly likely), the SC will deny cert; as her appeal doesn’t challenge Obergefell directly.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 1:24 pmNATO is adefensive organization. It poses no danger except to Russian ambitions for territorial gain.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 1:49 pmMedicare Advantage often denies needed care and also overbills or does things that are not needed.
The system is not debugged and there’s nobody to debug it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/25/science/medicare-seniors-authorization.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/28/health/medicare-advantage-plans-report.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/08/upshot/medicare-advantage-fraud-allegations.html
https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/insurers-brought-in-50b-through-medicare-advantage-coding-wsj.html
Sammy Finkelman (c5132f) — 7/26/2024 @ 2:10 pmPaul Montagu,
There is certainly genuine excitement and money pouring into the Harris campaign. A few polls note that she is making a wide appeal to young people and it seems to be working. Als read that Beyonce and Taylor Swift may be doing a fundraising concert for her in Los Angeles, and that will surely bring in a lot of donors too. But you’re right, this is the honeymoon phase and she doesn’t necessarily have to focus on the real stuff. Abortion seems to be the big ticket item right now (and I think that, thanks to JD Vance) women’s issues are front and center.
Unfortunately, it is Trump’s election to lose and he is unclever enough to do that. If he keeps on babbling on about Hannibal Lecter and how wonderful he is without making a straight and coherent appeal to Independents (economy, border), he’s not going to be drawing any of them into his camp. I read today that a 30-something listened – seriously listened to his latest rally speech – and said she felt afterward that he is “just really weird.” And that’s the thing: If you don’t want to play games, or watch a three-ring circus, or fete a troll who’s always grifting, he’s not going to persuade you. He doesn’t take any of this seriously, so why would anyone who is serious about their vote, give it to him?
Dana (a06a9b) — 7/26/2024 @ 2:14 pmA system designed to save money (for some) perversely drives up costs
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 2:16 pm‘
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/21/business/prescription-drug-costs-pbm.html
That’s Trump using that word to mean the opposite. He’s not great and Trump doesn’t mean to say that he’s great except in the sense of renowned..
He’s trying to be a stand-up comedian or something close to that.
It’s all to support a false claim, though.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 2:20 pmIt wasn’t only the Secret Service that was incompetent in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania county police were also, although it may not have mattered..
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/23/politics/pennsylvania-state-police-commissioner-reveals-stunning-info-about-trump-shooting/index.html
They had a team of three counter snipers in the area outside the perimeter. One called in sick.
The officer who had left the building could not get back in because he had left without his whatever it was they used and so the other officer went downstairs to let him in.
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/butler-county-district-attorney-contradicts-pennsylvania-state-police-testimony
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/26/2024 @ 2:35 pmActually, yes. The Roberts Court has been extremely protective of the First Amendment and has struck down numerous restrictions on speech.
The 4 dissenters in that case said that burning the flag is not speech. NOt everything is speech: slander is not speech, true threats are not speech, incitement to riot is not speech.
The era where any expression was considered speech is over.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 3:03 pmNATO is adefensive organization. It poses no danger except to Russian ambitions for territorial gain.
NATO ought to admit Ukraine today and tell the Russians to GTFO. Or use their nukes, if they feel lucky.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 3:06 pmSo what? All of the dissenters are dead. I just don’t see how a challenge to Johnson would reach the Court so it can be overturned.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 3:07 pmMedicare Advantage often denies needed care and also overbills or does things that are not needed.
Medicare advantage is an HMO system, with all the issues of an HMO system.
But Original Medicare also is overbilled, supervises little, denies needed care and allows things that are not needed. It just costs more.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 3:15 pmI just don’t see how a challenge to Johnson would reach the Court so it can be overturned.
A state tried to enforce its law, the federal court blocks them, the state appeals (it has standing to defends its laws) and the appeal reaches the 6-3 majority.
Alito, Thomas, Barrett & Gorsuch accept the appeal.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 3:17 pmLOL!
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 3:50 pmSince no state since Johnson has tried that, I don’t see it happening now. You’re right about Thomas and Alito, though.
The more free speech the better.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 3:52 pmWhat do you base that conclusion on? Robert Bork would have agreed with you.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/26/2024 @ 3:54 pmBurning a flag is absolutely symbolic speech.
Banning *stealing someone else’s flag and burning it* is reasonable. Prohibiting someone from burning a flag they own, though, is not.
This is *especially true* because 4 USC Section 8 says:
> The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
So any law banning flag-burning is at least partially overridden by the US Code, and the manner of their intersection creates a situation where enforcement of the ban depends on whether or not the burning of the flag is intended to “destroy in a dignified way” or express a viewpoint.
aphrael (9c2ac5) — 7/26/2024 @ 4:12 pmIt’s not about flag burning. It’s about vandalizing federal property, which the perpetrators will get away with because they didn’t do it on J6.
lloyd (e0166b) — 7/26/2024 @ 4:23 pm> > “You should get a one-year jail sentence if you do anything to desecrate the American flag,” said Trump. “Now, people will say, ‘Oh, it’s unconstitutional.’ Those are stupid people. Those are stupid people that say that.”
> It’s not about flag burning. It’s about vandalizing federal property
So, lloyd, you’re saying that when Trump talks about desecrating the American flag, he’s actually talking about vandalizing federal property?
I’ve long suspected that Trumpists don’t actually listen to what Trump *says*.
aphrael (9c2ac5) — 7/26/2024 @ 4:27 pmaphrael, I’m talking about the second news item in the OP. You’re making it about Trump, when it’s not.
lloyd (e0166b) — 7/26/2024 @ 4:44 pmAnd there are laws on the books to deal with that, specifically 18 USC 1361.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/26/2024 @ 4:45 pmSince much of the graffiti contained pro-Hamas messages, the protesters should be charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization.
That’ll learn them.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/26/2024 @ 4:51 pm@68 Agreed. It will never happen with this administration or a Harris administration.
lloyd (e0166b) — 7/26/2024 @ 4:56 pm@69 Or any administration. The government would be laughed out of court.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/26/2024 @ 5:04 pmIt’s not about flag burning. It’s about vandalizing federal property, which the perpetrators will get away with because
they didn’t do it on J6.Kamala needs Dearborn, Michigan.Forget what Trump says. It’s irrelevant to the issue. The houri-mongers invaded and vandalized federal property. If they want a pass for symbolic speech, they should have brought their own flags to burn and their own statuary to spraypaint.
nk (54f830) — 7/26/2024 @ 5:18 pmBurning a flag is absolutely symbolic speech.
aphrael, read and address the dissents in #26. It is not just “a” symbol they are burning. It is “the” symbol.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 5:28 pm“Now, people will say, ‘Oh, it’s unconstitutional.’ Those are stupid people. Those are stupid people that say that.”
Occasionally, Trump is right. IF that were the only question in this election, he’d win 80-20.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 5:30 pmSince much of the graffiti contained pro-Hamas messages, the protesters should be charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization.
But flag burning is protected speech?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 5:31 pm@70. Oh.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 5:32 pmIt was sarcasm.
Rip Murdock (1d13bb) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:09 pmWhy is this so?
Rip Murdock (1d13bb) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:11 pmWhy is this so?
Rip Murdock (1d13bb) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:11 pm
Because 9/11 and similar wake-up calls from the Land of Nod that we’d been in.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:20 pmNo one needs to address what the dissenters said, it is a dead letter position. The only way for it to overturned is if Congress or a state legislature) passed a bill criminalizing flag desecration and was signed into law. This is a very remote prospect.
My prediction: If such a law was enacted, you would see an increase in flag desecration, not less, as a form of protest against the law.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:22 pm@70 “Or any administration. The government would be laughed out of court.”
You sound really sure about that.
lloyd (0a237d) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:28 pmNot sure how 9/11 (22 1/2 years ago) has anything to do with free speech. What is needed is more free speech and expression, not less.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:29 pmlloyd (0a237d) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:28 pm
I am. Protests that involve the destruction of property don’t have First Amendment protections. As I pointed out earlier, 18 USC 1361 punishes conduct (such as throwing a red powder on the U.S. Constitution display case), not speech. These protesters face up to ten years in prison.
Similarly, J6 insurrectionists were indicted for their conduct when they entered the Capitol, not their speech.
And those who painted graffiti on federal property with pro-Hamas messages could be prosecuted under 18 USC 1361. However, the “material support of terrorism” charge would need to show a more direct connection with Hamas than just spray paint.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/26/2024 @ 6:46 pmWonder how people would feel about desecrating a flag that’s from a protected class?
NJRob (423e5d) — 7/26/2024 @ 7:15 pmI’m all for it.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/26/2024 @ 7:33 pm> aphrael, I’m talking about the second news item in the OP. You’re making it about Trump, when it’s not.
and I’ve been talking about whether bans on flag burning are constitutional and whether flag burning is speech, as part of a conversation that started as a response to Trump’s blather about punishing people criminally for burning flags.
you’re trying to change the subject and doing a bad job of it.
aphrael (9c2ac5) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:11 pm> Wonder how people would feel about desecrating a flag that’s from a protected class?
It’s a constitutionally protected speech act. If it’s a stolen flag, the state can punish that, and if it’s done in a dry gully and sparks a 200,000 acre wildfire, the state can punish *that*, but the mere act of burning the trans flag (say) would be protected speech.
aphrael (9c2ac5) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:12 pm@NJRob@83 My personal opinion is that (safely) burning any kind of flag comes under free speech. I generally find it to be rude, but rude and illegal aren’t the same thing.
Nic (120c94) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:14 pmKevin M – as long as the US code *explicitly calls for the burning of the US flag under certain circumstances*, the dissent argument doesn’t hold water, because the rule is not viewpoint-neutral and exists to suppress flag burning *which expresses a particular viewpoint*.
aphrael (9c2ac5) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:15 pm@85 “you’re trying to change the subject and doing a bad job of it.”
aphrael, the subject is quite literally in the original post. Reading through the thread, nobody attached Trump to the issue until you did. You’re the one changing the subject. But, it’s an open thread so do what you like.
lloyd (930c78) — 7/26/2024 @ 8:46 pmBiden DOJ Gives $2 Million Reward to FBI Agents Who Went After Trump
Their “private” texts were on government devices, and pertained to a person they were investigating and the “work” they were assigned. It’s not a settlement, it’s a payoff.
lloyd (f3f48a) — 7/26/2024 @ 9:38 pmI don’t think reward means what you think it means.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/26/2024 @ 10:14 pmGiven that Vance is already tainted, is there any chance Trump replaces him on the ticket?
norcal (8c53cb) — 7/26/2024 @ 10:28 pmWonder how people would feel about desecrating a flag that’s from a protected class?
I think there have been prosecutions.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 11:42 pmIt’s a “hate crime.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 11:45 pmThe Chief disagreed.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 11:46 pmGiven that Vance is already tainted, is there any chance Trump replaces him on the ticket?
1) No.
2) How in God’s name could Trump’s VP get people not to vote for Trump who were already going to?
If Trump dropped out, Vance would win. That the MSM has managed to soil him is hardly unexpected. They’d find dirt on Mother Teresa if she was Trump’s VP choice.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 11:49 pmEx-FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page reached settlements with the Justice Department
I’m sure there was some hard bargaining there. What a crock.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 11:51 pmreformat
, the dissent argument doesn’t hold water, because the rule is not viewpoint-neutral and exists to suppress flag burning *which expresses a particular viewpoint*.
The Chief disagreed.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/26/2024 @ 11:52 pmThe flag is neutral. A piece of cloth if you own it, you could go to jail if you steal it. When I was younger I argued with those who wanted to burn the flag about its neutrality. I pointed out that they would fly it in front of the camps that enemies of the people were put in.
asset (ee2561) — 7/27/2024 @ 2:02 amAgreed. To be effective, I see a two-pronged approach for Kamala:
(1) She needs to tell America who she’s not, as in, she’s not an insurrectionist, she didn’t undermine any elections, she didn’t attempt any coups, she didn’t threaten “termination” of the Constitution, she doesn’t do crazy talk like tell tales of sharks and batteries, she’s not a fraud, she didn’t run a fraud university, she didn’t run a fraud foundation, she isn’t running a fraud organization, she didn’t bankrupt casinos (plural), she didn’t incessantly lie about a stollen election, she didn’t constantly whine about her electoral losses, she doesn’t lie as easily as she breathes, she didn’t bang an adult film actor while on her third marriage, she’s never even had a 2nd marriage, she’s never been twice impeached or impeached even once, she’s not a convicted felon, and she didn’t get weak in the knees in the presence of authoritarian dictators like Xi and terrorists like Putin.
(2) She needs to tell America who she is, and she should keep it short and simple: she’s focused on a successful economy where all Americans have a chance to gain money and wealth, and she’s focused on our national security, where stemming illegal immigration is a national security interest.
To me, this would be an easy path to victory. Also, I’m still favoring Astronaut Kelly, but Shapiro could be more strategic, given how important PA is, and he comports himself well.
One other thing. Liberals and Democrats keep getting the Israel-Hamas War all wrong, because all their focus is on pushing Israel to a ceasefire while not calling out Hamas to do the same. Like Joe stepped out for the benefit of his country, Hamas needs to step away from power for the benefit of Palestinians in Gaza, because the only surefire way to a successful ceasefire is the return of all Israeli and American hostages and new leadership in Gaza, because Hamas has forfeited any right to exist.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:18 am> The Chief disagreed.
The Chief, like many of his generation, rejected the idea that >>discontent with America itself<< could ever be a legitimate viewpoint to express, and believed that it was OK for the state to punish it so as to help protect the common interest in mutual patriotism.
His views on this subject were inconsistent with the notion of freedom of speech.
aphrael (2366c9) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:41 amI forgot to mention another “not”: She’s not a crazy as f-ck malignant narcissist.
Regarding flag-burning, the Supreme Court already ruled that it’s a form of free political expression, so we should thank our Constitution that these America-hating Hamas supporters are telling us who they are. Prospective employers are thankful as well.
Damaging property that isn’t theirs isn’t free speech, it’s a crime or misdemeanor, and the vandals need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:51 am@102 “Damaging property that isn’t theirs isn’t free speech, it’s a crime or misdemeanor, and the vandals need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Yeah, about that.
Charges dropped against 11 anti-Netanyahu protesters arrested in D.C.
Charges dropped for anti-Israel DC protesters after violent demonstrations
lloyd (930c78) — 7/27/2024 @ 7:09 amPaul, do want Kamala to lie?
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 7:14 am…do you…
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 7:16 amTrue conservatives naturally want to support the Senator with the most left wing voting record.
lloyd (930c78) — 7/27/2024 @ 7:23 amFirst week of July:
The good old days…
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 7:47 amBuDuh, this is what happens when the GOP runs a candidate as horrible as Trump. Against almost anyone else that ran in this years Primary Kamala has very little chance. Against Trump…..
Time123 (34695f) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:27 am@103, Lloyd, Sounds like the BiDen ReGiM is trying to prosecute criminals. Arrests were made and charges were filed.
They did cut lose a little more then half the ppl they arrested. The article doesn’t say why. But one possible explanation is that when the evidence was reviewed the prosecutors didn’t think they had a reasonable chance to prevail on court. From what I’ve seen in the last few years this is common when there are a lot of ppl arrested in a chaotic situation. The police aren’t able to collect evidence for everyone they arrest.
Time123 (34695f) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:33 am@108 I’ll repeat what I wrote in the other thread. The attacks on Vance expose the lie that opposition to the GOP is about Trump. It doesn’t matter who the GOP nominates.
lloyd (f3f48a) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:34 am@109 You’re speculating without any facts, but your speculation always somehow cuts one way.
I just provided the facts as we know them. Barely a few days after the arrests the charges get dropped on so many, regarding acts of vandalism and violations of the law that were caught on camera.
lloyd (f3f48a) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:40 amCall it a pledge. That’s what politicians do. The question is whether she’d make the pledge.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:47 amYou sound confused, BuDuh. I’m not voting for her. I offered an analysis what she should do if she wants to win.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:49 amHere are some of her pledges in 2019:
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:53 amI know you aren’t voting for her or for anyone else who can win. Your lever pulling arm has been tied with the loose strings of the electoral college skirt that you can’t get around.
The country’s loss that such a moral compass cannot make a difference in the direction of the nation.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:57 amLloyd, good job understanding that the phrase “possible explanation” means speculation. I also made clear by quoting the article you linked that charges had been filed against about half of those arrested.
Time123 (84d112) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:57 amNoted, a commenter is still confused about what assessments are.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:57 amIt’s sad when amoral ppl mock those with principles.
Time123 (84d112) — 7/27/2024 @ 8:59 amPrincipled conservatives giving winning advice to the most prominent liberal is not to be mocked.
Do you have any advice for Kamala as well, Time?
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 9:02 amStill whining about my not voting for either one, I see. I don’t know why that bothers you so much. I’ll just put your confusions down to breathing too much hyperpartisan smog.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 9:13 amSpeaking of the Hamas-Israel War, and this is using Hamas numbers, there are 700 more male deaths than females in the 13-17 age bracket, nearly two-thirds of the total (versus 52% were males for children under 13), so the easy conclusion is that Hamas is using child soldiers in their terrorist war.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 9:27 amBD, Paul’s not giving advice to anyone, unless you think members of the Harris campaign are reading the this blogs comment section?
Unless you’re indulging that delusion Paul’s opining on current events.
Time123 (0c422a) — 7/27/2024 @ 9:37 amSupport laws blocking some advertising by gun stores.
But you can burn a flag.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 9:39 amFirst in a series.
In recent years I have been more and more struck by the stories that our “mainstream” news organizations cover — and those that they don’t cover. And I have seen many examples at our local monopoly newspaper, the Seattle Times.
This example, in my opinion, could be a deliberate, long-running parody, but I don’t think it is — intentionally.
Jim Miller (70e377) — 7/27/2024 @ 10:33 amCorrections: “event is“, not was, and “number”, not “humber”.
Jim Miller (70e377) — 7/27/2024 @ 10:36 amI had forgotten how many times this has happened:
Oct 2024: Nearly 300 arrested in House office building after Israel-Hamas ceasefire rally
Dec 2023: Gaza ceasefire protest in Capitol rotunda leads to 60 arrests
Feb 2024: Capitol Police arrest pro-Palestinian demonstrators inside Cannon House Office Building
Recently: Protesters take over Capitol office building as Netanyahu’s visit to DC looms
By my count, there should be over 500 violators of the law who should be in jail. But maybe it’s the same people each time (see proud Democrat Linda Sarsour). Charges dropped begets more charges dropped for more serious offenses like destruction of federal property. But, certainly it’s all due to a lack of evidence. And, they’ve been smart about not doing this on Jan6.
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 10:53 amCommercial speech has less 1A protection than other forms of speech, but such a ban would clearly be illegal under Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission (1980).
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:03 amI’ve said before that Biden deserves to lose but Trump must lose, but now I’ll add that Harris is an undeserving nominee (obviously), and it only happened because of Joe’s selfishness in choosing to run for reelection. Now the Dems are stuck with her instead of having the chance at a better candidate.
Trump could’ve also picked a better running mate. A proper vetting would’ve found how much Vance’s exotically named wife who was “appalled” of Trump, or the full record of Vance’s anti-Trump statements. My favorite was his liking this tweet…
…which sorta reminds me of this tweet.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:12 amAnd Rehnquist was outvoted, including by that well known progressive jurist Justice Scalia.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:14 amVance has one job: deliver Ohio. Odds are he’ll get that done. The attacks on him are probably galvanizing support in his home state.
Other than his service to the country in uniform, being white, and male, and from flyover country, he has what smug elitists want: an Ivy League degree, literary success, past Trump opposition and an “exotically named wife.” But he’s changed and grown up, while smug elitists haven’t.
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:21 amSee also United States v. Eichman (1990), where the SC overturned (5-4) a federal law banning flag burning. Scalia was also in the majority.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:27 am@128 “Now the Dems are stuck with her instead of having the chance at a better candidate.”
Why? Doesn’t the Democrat party believe in democracy?
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:28 amThe irony is that the top 1% of the top 1% is elitist by default.
But moving over to the Trump-supporting Russian terrorist state.
One, the Russian economy is not going as well as Putin’s propagandists are telling, and we know what happens when a Russian economist says truthful things…those damn Russian windows.
But the fact is that Terrorist Putin raised his country’s interest rate from 16% to 18%.
Two, the cannon fodder rate death rate has been around 1,000 a day for the last few months.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:36 amNo, Vance has one job, delivery Michigan, or Pennsylvania. Ohio was never a requirement as Ohio is about as likely to vote dem as Texas.
Secondarily, don’t be a freak, he’s failing.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:49 amThe first job of a VP nominee is to do no harm to presidential nominee. The Trump campaign must have known about Vance’s past statements, as they were on the record in various interviews.
Apparently they didn’t consider his prior attacks on Trump, his views on women who are childless, and his proposal to change the voter franchise from “one person one vote” to “one person plus how many children you have votes” (aka Demeny voting) to be a problem.
So this is unlikely to happen. LOL!
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:49 amContinuing on the Russian terrorist state…
The criticisms of Zelenskyy for arresting members of the Moscow Patriarchate, a Kremlin-controlled subsidiary, are deflecting from the fact that Putin is eradicating evangelical churches in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
In Russian-occupied Crimea, every Ukrainian church on the Crimean peninsula has been destroyed.
This and the child abductions are part of Putin’s cultural genocide. If there are American evangelicals condemning these acts, I haven’t heard it.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:52 am@128 Vance’s past anti-Trump zeal seems to date from before he had kids. Having “skin in the game” does change people. Wiser, more grown up. Not always, but generally. That just comes with the added responsibility. If elected, Kamala would be the first president without biological kids since the wildly successful James Buchanon.
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:53 amAs Scalia has pointed out:
Justice Kennedy made the same point in his concurrence in Johnson:
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:02 pmLloyd, those article just list arrests. They don’t say how many were charged / convicted.
Time123 (0c422a) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:03 pmTwo step children, and that guy was kind of important.
Plus, James Madison‚ James Buchanan, James K. Polk and Andrew Jackson. 11% of presidents.
Or, more specifically, zero presidents in the past have “had” children, and that seems to be the point of all the freaks making a point of it, it’s a lady who didn’t spawn. Step children are invalid, step parents are invalid, like a said, a bunch of freaks.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:04 pmNow the Dems are stuck with her instead of having the chance at a better candidate.
Not just the Dems, but others who are stuck with her, too. Have I mentioned that this election sucks?
We would be FAR better off with JD Vance versus whoever Kamala picks.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:09 pmSecondarily, don’t be a freak, he’s failing.
Clink, I doubt any one of us on this blog could withstand the kind of in-depth oppo research that is being conducted here, combines with the minimal level of validation required. I doubt that privacy issues will stop them, either. Getting Trump is too important for the laws to be followed.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:12 pmStill, I don’t see how Vance fails the test of “don’t embarrass Trump”, who shows no signs of understanding the concept of embarrassment.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:14 pmRip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:02 pm
Yeah, yeah, yeah. They knew they were doing the wrong thing and these are just ass-covering.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:15 pm@140 Sorry to disappoint you Klink, but not having “skin in the game” ranks about 171 on the list of 100 reasons to oppose Kamala. (And, yes I know 171 > 100)
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:17 pmTwo step children, and that guy was kind of important.
Oh, he probably had many children, just all enslaved.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:18 pmJames Buchanan wasn’t playing for the team that has children.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:19 pmThe only reason JD Vance changed his tune about Trump is that he saw the future of the Republican Party and wanted to become a US Senator.
His comments about “childless cat ladies”, making childless couples pay higher tax rates, and increasing parental voting rights were made in 2021, after 2 of his 3 children had been born.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:21 pmI guess in your view no one has deeply held principles.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:23 pmCevin,
Trump is incapable of embarrassment, the goal is to not add to the weirdo vibe that is Trump, he added more weirdo vibes, plus a history of calling out Trump for the things everyone knows about Trump. Vance’s gaffes were completely known, were everywhere, promoted by the folks who wanted the gig, it was all over Fox news in the run up to selection, but the Trump campaign forgot the first rule of elections, win.
So the thing about vetting is just a pure red herring, didn’t anyone take the first 10 things Google or Wikipedia said about him and ask, huh? His cat lady bit was famous, and his double down walk back was famous, it’s why he performed almost 20 points behind Dewine in the 22 cycle. Trump wanted an outspoken MAGAt, he got one, in all its glory.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:27 pmThen why is it issue number 2 or 3 for the Trump campaign, and 1 for Vance.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:31 pmOther than the “I did not have sexual relations with that sofa” bit.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:32 pmSorry, Klink. My fingers spell things sometimes.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:34 pmIowa’s six week abortion ban goes into effect on Monday; but it will save few lives, as most women will travel to neighboring states:
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:35 pmI guess in your view no one has deeply held principles.
Like Scalia in Raich
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:35 pmbut it will save few lives, as most women will travel to neighboring states
Good for them. 6 weeks is a joke, and is intended to be a total ban with some lipstick on it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:37 pmMy only problem with Vance’s cat lady comment is that he left out “guys playing Call of Duty in their Mom’s basement.” I’d file it in the “truth is a hate crime” folder where a lot of stuff has been going.
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:39 pmIt’s a societal and actuarial (yes, actuarial) problem that nobody is allowed to bring up.
Of course, if you and Vance can get your Fugitive Woman Act passed, then they can be returned to their owner’s state forthwith.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:39 pmEverything reported about Vance’s views are a five-second Google search away, as they posted on public websites and forums.
Once you become a politician very little is private. Look at the public “diagnoses” of Biden’s mental health.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:41 pm@151 @152 Klink, that you allow yourself to be led by the nose by sleazy media narratives shouldn’t surprise anyone.
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:41 pmWith a national abortion ban you wouldn’t need to do that.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:42 pmVance hasn’t denied any of what’s been reported-he can’t, because there are videos of his speeches. If you’re a politician who can’t withstand “in-depth oppo research” you’re in the wrong profession.
What laws have been broken? Would you feel the same way if the name was Clinton or Harris?
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 12:50 pm@162 Democrats don’t have to deny anything. The media does that for them. See Biden’s dementia cover up, the Hunter laptop. Nor do the Democrats have to do any oppo research. Republicans have to respond to media generated oppo research that we’ve already seen is false.
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 1:06 pmWaPo called all the Biden dementia videos “cheap fakes”, so why is he stepping aside?
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 1:18 pmSource?
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 1:33 pm@165 “Source?”
For someone who’s all about how easy it is to google…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/11/biden-videos-republicans-cheap-fake-d-day/
Ready for your “But, but … “ response.
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 1:37 pmAnd KJP spokesliar took that WaPo oppo research and simply copy/pasted, without having to lift a finger.
lloyd (eb8f67) — 7/27/2024 @ 1:41 pmBut I notice Israel is never mentioned in your comments.
NJRob (1d2e82) — 7/27/2024 @ 1:44 pmRIP legendary blues guitarist and founder of the Bluesbreakers John Mayall (90):
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 2:06 pmThanks for the link.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 2:10 pmI can’t imagine that Republicans would deceptively create such videos. I would be truly shocked.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 2:20 pm@171 So, you used the exact same link that I gave you and presented it as your own find.
Comedy gold! LOL!
lloyd (9b6a1c) — 7/27/2024 @ 2:24 pmRip, just take the L
lloyd (9b6a1c) — 7/27/2024 @ 2:26 pmAs an aside, it’s absolutely repulsive that tye French, Olympic committee and LBGT community thought it was appropriate to insult 2 billions Christians and mock their faith.
Carry on with the bigotry knowing Christians won’t cut your head off for blasphemy.
NJRob (1d2e82) — 7/27/2024 @ 2:40 pmJonah Goldberg on why he hopes Kamala is a fraud:
https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/gfile/the-virtues-of-equivocation/
I agree with this. Clinton flip-flopped, and ended up not only balancing the budget but also reforming welfare, signing a crime bill, and consenting to IIRIRA, which was a tightened-up, enforcement-minded immigration law.
norcal (633a48) — 7/27/2024 @ 3:14 pmLike J.D. Vance, the Olympics are another thing which the farther away they are from your awareness the richer you are.
nk (54f830) — 7/27/2024 @ 3:27 pmSource?
It was ubiquitous 45 weeks ago.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 3:53 pm5 weeks
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 3:54 pmSo, you used the exact same link that I gave you and presented it as your own find.
It’s not the first time, either.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 3:56 pmI want her to cut an ad where she looks straight into the camera and says, “That stuff I said about getting rid of cows? Screw that noise,” and then take a bite of a giant cheeseburger.
Also, Trump should tell Putin to get the F out of Ukraine before Jan 20th.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 3:59 pmAlso, Trump should tell Putin to get the F out of Ukraine before Jan 20th.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 3:59 pm
I would wager it’s more likely Kamala tacks to the middle than Trump tells Putin to get the F out of Ukraine.
norcal (633a48) — 7/27/2024 @ 4:30 pmIt is less and less curious why the bleach fakery worked on this crowd.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 4:34 pmWhen it comes to Putin and Trump, it’s Putin who says “Jump!” and Trump who asks “How high?”.
nk (bb1548) — 7/27/2024 @ 4:37 pmWhen it comes to Putin and Trump, it’s Putin who says “Jump!” and Trump who asks “How high?”.
nk (bb1548) — 7/27/2024 @ 4:37 pm
What do you expect Trump to do? He said Putin was a genius!
norcal (633a48) — 7/27/2024 @ 4:53 pmMaybe Jonah can convince you that Putin is full of Clintonian ambition! ❤️❤️🌸 🌺 🌈 ❤️❤️🦄 🌈
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 5:02 pm@182 great point Buddha. Everyone should be clear that when Trump was opining like a dumba$$ he said said “disinfectant” and not “bleach”. It’s a very import distinction and anyone that says bleach is doing Trump a disservice.
Time123 (0c422a) — 7/27/2024 @ 5:18 pmWhy are you still beating that horse, Time?
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 5:25 pmI’m just making fun of you.
Time123 (164d24) — 7/27/2024 @ 5:30 pm@174, NJ rob, what did they do? I wasn’t watching and haven’t caught the story?
Time123 (164d24) — 7/27/2024 @ 5:31 pmLOL!
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 5:35 pmTime, if you google “As an aside, it’s absolutely repulsive that tye French, Olympic committee and LBGT community thought it was appropriate to insult 2 billions Christians and mock their faith.
Carry on with the bigotry knowing Christians won’t cut your head off for blasphemy.” you might be able to figure it out.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/27/2024 @ 5:42 pmIt was actually Edward Jenner who first thought of it. Great guy. Great scientist. He was at MIT with Donald Trump’s uncle. Also a great scientist. Very smart guy.
He was from Brooklyn, I think. Edward Jenner. He told Trump’s uncle, he said: “We can use dis infectant, cowpox, to fight dat infectant, smallpox.” Genius idea. Nobody had thought of it before.
And it worked too. There’s no more smallpox. But you have to be careful with cowpox. It can really do a job on the skin. Leave big scars. That’s why a lot of people are afraid of it. The labs still need to work that out.
nk (e0a788) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:00 pmLOL! Why should he-Trump doesn’t care what Putin does. Trump blames Ukraine for “interfering” in the 2016 election.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:01 pmIf you read my original post, both of you should have recognized the sarcasm.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:04 pmThe definition of wishful thinking.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:10 pmLOL! Why should he-Trump doesn’t care what Putin does.
This was in response to Jonah suggesting that Harris flip on all her previous beliefs.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:42 pmTrump calls for US to be ‘crypto capital of the planet’ in appeal to Nashville bitcoin conference
I just don’t understand these weirdos, I know he likes to get money from real rich folks like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk (it got Vance on the ticket), but he’s catering to a the worst dude-bros on the planet. These are just complete d-bags, getting one of these guys to vote for you loses 9 women.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/27/2024 @ 9:19 pmHe appreciates a good fraud.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/27/2024 @ 11:16 pm@123 you can burn a gun if you own it.
asset (8f843b) — 7/28/2024 @ 1:26 am@191 ever here of the pulse night club?
asset (8f843b) — 7/28/2024 @ 1:30 amZatoichi. Great guy. Great swordsman. He caries his sword in his cane.
The Shogun’s men are looking for him. They stop a group of blind masseurs on a pilgrimage and ask “Which one of you is Ichi?” All the masseurs answer “I am Ichi”. Their spokesman explains that they are all named Ichi.
Zatoichi. He wants to give you a massage with his cane.
nk (e0a788) — 7/28/2024 @ 7:10 amYou’re a liar.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/28/2024 @ 8:10 amOne.
Two.
Three.
Four.
They’re plenty more links, Rob, but the limit is four per comment. I think you should retract and apologize, not to me because you’re the kind of asshole who won’t apologize to me, but to the Patterico community.
I’ll also note that a “moderate”–liar or otherwise–doesn’t call for a Gazan genocide. Quote: “Gaza needs to be dealt with like Dresden under the Nazis.”
True…
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/28/2024 @ 8:22 amI’m not religious,but the French depiction of the Last Supper is so disrespect and incitement. Jesus is portrayed as a woman and the disciples as transvestites. I wonder why they didn’t mock Islam in a similar way. Actually, don’t answer as I know why.
Check out Paul’s comment and link at 8:22 am.
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 8:32 amThe fact that the organizers are claiming that the performance had to do with Dionysus is laughable. What they were mocking was quite clear….and stupid because it will both distract from the games and alienate some viewers. It’s an own-goal. On the good side, there are many in France who are embarrassed by it. In the end, the games go on…
AJ_Liberty (214b9a) — 7/28/2024 @ 8:42 amIndeed, Olympic levels of karma.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/28/2024 @ 8:43 amHezbollah has escalated against Israel, murdering 12 at a Golan Heights kids soccer venue. BBC’s biased “reporting” is nothing short of detestable.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/28/2024 @ 9:39 amThe Last Supper thing is a perfect example of the disconnect between self-appointed elites and the People. Here, it is artists and producers thinking that, since everyone they know thinks it’s clever and funny, everyone else will, too.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 9:43 amBBC’s biased “reporting” is nothing short of detestable.
We may never know who launched the rockets.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 9:44 am/sarc
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 9:44 amNothing recent, the second one attacked Israel and you continue to cheerlead for Kamala who is even more anti-Israel than Barack.
Wonder why I thought what I did.
NJRob (2bbf4c) — 7/28/2024 @ 10:16 amRob, consider the possibility that they are rooting for the sh1t sandwich because the other side is seven sh1t sandwiches.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:02 am#192 Chuckle. Nicely done.
Jim Miller (6d3c7c) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:04 amSo Harris is anti-Israel because she said the same thing as the IDF leadership? You know she has a Jewish husband. And an offensive from Hezbollah actually strengthens the argument, again, as the IDF is arguing. Hezbollah is 100X the threat with more than 50,000 fighters, tanks, artillery like a real army. Gaza is already destroyed, it’s a whole different animal today.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:20 amShe’s not a crazy as f-ck malignant narcissist.
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:25 amOops.
This:” She’s not a crazy as f-ck malignant narcissist.” was supposed to be properly quoted and attributed.
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:28 amThe state of the race for president one week into the new presidential campaign and 100 days before Election Day:
Links to the various polls are included in article. Reportedly, the Harris campaign has raised $200M over the past week.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:33 amA new Axios/Generation Lab poll shows Harris improving on Biden’s lead among 18-34 year old voters. Biden had a six-point lead (53-47) over Trump; the new poll shows Harris with a 20-point advantage (60-40), which is the same margin Biden received in 2020.
Rip Murdock (e7d010) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:49 amFox News state polls:
Dead heat between Harris and Trump in Michigan
Harris bests Trump by 6 points in Minnesota
Harris, Trump tied in Pennsylvania
Trump hits 50% in Wisconsin, edges Harris by just 1 point
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/28/2024 @ 12:06 pmNo, she’s anti-israel because she hates Israel.
This ‘but I have a black friend’ defense (referring to her spouse) is incredibly irrational and insults our intelligence. Harris is the senior mentally competent leader in the administration that gave Hezbollah, via Iran, the money that killed those kids. She owes everyone an apology.
It says so much about Harris, that her record is defined by ‘she didn’t mean it’ instead of any accomplishments. For example, the left is saying she wasn’t the border czar anymore. They aren’t saying she did a good job. They are saying her performance isn’t her fault and ‘republicans pounce’.
Where is Harris’s accomplishment? I wish it were on law enforcement, but she hates law enforcement. Plain as day.
Just as plain as Biden encouraging violence against Donald Trump. Literally fantasizing on stage about physically beating the hell out of his political opponent, while saying he must be stopped because he is a threat to us.
I think Harris will probably win. It could go either way, but Trump’s Loomer-types cannot resist saying crap about her race, sex, or making sexual jokes about her. Vance was a hilariously poor VP choice.
Harris is different enough from the last eight years of braindead weird leaders who lack the verbal skill to do more than foam at the mouth. Bad news for anyone living in a city. Bad news for anyone wanting to legally immigrate to the USA. Bad news for anyone that Iran wants to kill.
Possibly good news for the GOP if it can learn its lesson on how politics work. The GOP needs a coalition of social and fiscal conservatives, that means we need to stop dividing the party with MAGA/Tea Party vs Haley or Romney or whoever. These compromises are simply essential to the GOP functioning. Too soon to do a post mortem. Trump absolutely could win. The shooting captures the defiance against a left that is consumed and entitled by hatred in a way that inspires a lot of Americans. Kamala has barely campaigned, and we’ll see if she can go off the tele-prompter. But it’s clever to have an incumbent without any responsibility for anything.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 12:17 pmABC News/Ipsos Poll 7/28/24
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/28/2024 @ 12:25 pmA new Axios/Generation Lab poll shows Harris improving on Biden’s lead among 18-34 year old voters.
Odd way to put it as Biden was down with every cohort except 65+
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 12:37 pmFox News state polls:
As we all said, expect a bump.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 12:38 pmBeing against the current policy of Israel isn’t the same thing as anti-Israel and most certainly doesn’t infer that someone “hates” Israel. No more than JD Vance saying the ‘UK will be the first Islamist nuclear power’ means he “hates” Britain.
In fact 67% of Israelis prefer a settlement that ends the offensive and returns hostages, are they anti-Israel or “hate” Israel?
Harris hasn’t said it, or implied it, and is looking at Shapiro, one of the more outspoken pro-Israeli politicians around, as veep.
If that was the case, all the folks claiming America is a “shite-hole” are anti-American, you may know some, their names sound like Drumpf.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/28/2024 @ 12:47 pmWhere can I find the methodology used in this poll?
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 2:18 pmKamala Harris hates Israel regardless. And the policies of the Biden administration are the primary reason for the bloodshed today. Iran being so unjustly enriched was a massive game changer, and it was like many other drastic ‘rub their noses in it’ policies of the Harris and Biden administration.
bla bla bla
Hamas must be destroyed. Anyone who wants a deal with Hamas also hates Israel and isn’t really offering a respectable or decent opinion. They’ve gotta go. Hezbollah’s gotta go. If Harris doesn’t quickly start condemning very clearly, without this kind of BS, she will have a problem on election day.
And I say that hoping she gets this right. I really hope Kamala stops hating Israel.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 2:36 pmHarris’s history on Israel is a great reason not to vote for her. There’s a long list of those. I can really only see one reason to vote for her, if she loses I don’t expect her to try and steal the election.
Time123 (26e834) — 7/28/2024 @ 2:48 pmSo almost 70% of Israelis hate Israel, cool.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/28/2024 @ 2:49 pmDid you expect her to participate in the primary coup?
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/28/2024 @ 2:56 pmIs the democratic party a government? Is it unlawful to let a guy retire, was it even against a rule? Was it violent? It was kinda sudden though, other than taking weeks.
So of the three things that make a coup, it had kind of a half a point.
Now, if we want to talk about an attempted coup…
One of these things are not like the other.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:09 pmKlink,
do you share Kamala’s viewpoint on Israel?
NJRob (143384) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:09 pmOr, a dishonest stat was intended to claim anyone who doesn’t want to destroy Hamas is somehow an Israel hater. This kind of BS is exactly why Trump is a viable candidate. If you ask Israelis today if they want Hamas to exist, they will not 70% say “yeah.” You know it. So why did you say otherwise? Why do political extremists need all these bizarre and overly wound up stats?
Stop with the nonsense. Hamas has got to go. Hezbollah has got to go. Biden and Harris’s administration made a profound change in the middle east dynamic when they gave Iran a huge sum of money. They repeated Bill Clinton’s mistaken ‘not my problem bro’ stance on foreign policy.
It should be super easy for a moderate democrat to earn my vote. I think Trump is the worst. But the opposition to Trump is led by folks who do not want a normal, moderate, approach, to literally anything. They want to maximize the use of the emergency they are a part of.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:14 pmKinda like disinfectants?
LOL!
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:16 pmAgreed both that this is true, and that this is a reason to support her.
Biden made it much harder – he openly advocated for violence against Trump as things got more and more tense. I wasn’t able to vote for Biden for the same exact reason many here aren’t able to vote for Trump.
At least Kamala has a chance. Perhaps I won’t believe her, but she has a chance. I think Israel, the border, and law enforcement are all areas where she needs to grow a spine. She is surrounded by one of the most bizarre presidential administrations in our history. We all know what I’m talking about. There is a preference cascade of pros who would love to return to Dick Morris and Carville and just end the nightmare. Kamala could win 45+ states and totally change the game – if she has leadership ability.
All she’s gotta do is take a stage, turn off the prompter, and promise to work hard to keep Americans safe from a series of mistakes on both sides of the aisle that have shifted focus to social politics and huge spending obligations. Admit it. Biden’s fanatics who want transgender athletes or defunded police departments will lose their minds. OK. I’m sure that’s actually a real problem for the next few months.
I very much hope Kamala is a much better politician, more like Ann Richards (actual devotion to her people) and less like Nikki Haley (going with the flow). I don’t think she is. But I would bet she actually knows she could and should do this, and is only challenged by a matter of courage. We need a moderate and a uniter who can be a massive set of compromises, and who can take several steps back from the increased importance of this office in our daily lives. The republic would be stronger, and the cause we believe in would be stronger.
I’m sure Hezbollah wants to see more transgender stuff from the white house. Think about that.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:23 pmDustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:14 pm
Actually, the Ayatollah has got to you, or at least he’s got to “swallow poison” as his predecessor Ayatollah Khomeini said when he ended the Iran Iraq war in 1988.
The Israeli army says it cannot destroy Hamas. Netanyahu says it will. They blame Netanyahu for not coming up with a strategy to do so when actually it is their job, not that of a politician.
I think Iran should be threatened with something they do not understand, Something like “Plan Q” and there is no Plan Q.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:29 pm* Actually, the Ayatollah has got to go (at least in principle)
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:34 pmDonald Trump says that if Kamala Harris is elected, we’ll get into World War III. He’s not giving his reasoning, if there is any.
He could make a case that to end these wars, escalation will need to be threatened, but Kamala would actually have to do it, while, if he threatens escalation, it will be believed and it won’t happen, because they’ll believe he is a lunatic. And he cultivates that impression. Assuming he is a bit sincere.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/28/2024 @ 3:41 pmDonald Trump says that if Kamala Harris is elected, we’ll get into World War III.
Didn’t Trump also say that we could eradicate famine and global warming by injecting people and animals with chlorophyll so they could produce their own nutrients with just air, water, and sunlight, the way plants do?
nk (d42946) — 7/28/2024 @ 4:19 pmIndeed.
But Hezbollah is closely associated with the Iranian theocracy. Same bastards. Kamala looks truly astonishingly bad on this. Trump is clumsy at best and pretty terrible at other foreign policy issues.
Dustin (aad446) — 7/28/2024 @ 4:55 pmClumsy and pretty terrible rolled into one:
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:08 pmDid you consider that an accomplishment, BuDuh?
I didn’t. An accomplishment isn’t when you tell everyone you accomplished something. Accomplishments are real.
Trump invited the Taliban to Camp David and set the stage for something biden was too stupid to reverse. Trump betrayed American friends, the Kurds, in a way that infuriates anyone who has known their recent history.
Trump didn’t give Iran a bazillion dollars, so I cannot hold him responsible for Oct 7 in the way the Harris/Biden administration are. But he isn’t getting credit for any great Israeli peace. Because there isn’t one.
The only president who really did anything for the Middle East in recent memory is Dubya. Obama simply undid his success because it was a Republican success.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:20 pmBiden and NPR considered it an accomplishment.
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:22 pmBut trust Google…
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:25 pmWhat was the Dubya republican Middle East success?
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:27 pmI am not sure if this source is considered biased, Dustin.
https://www.marshallcenter.org/en/publications/security-insights/abraham-accords-paradigm-shift-or-realpolitik
I am reading their essay right now so I can have a better answer for your reasonable question about whether or not the Accords could be considered an accomplishment.
I won’t have an answer soon, as I am doing other things today. I have only read the 1st paragraph. Jury is out on this source at the moment.
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:31 pmA nice point if you’re in a debate.
Doesn’t mean anything to you or me.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:46 pmBruh.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:46 pmOk. That’s a good one. 👍
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:49 pmHave a good evening, Dustin.
BuDuh (b0cd0b) — 7/28/2024 @ 5:50 pmOne, this is what you said: “But I notice Israel is never mentioned in your comments.” You didn’t say recent, you said “never” in your comment you f-cking liar.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/28/2024 @ 6:04 pmTwo, you just compounded your lie with “cheerlead for Kamala”. Rule of holes, pal. Right after the debate, I said…”If they were smart, and I doubt they are, they’ll pick a new nominee at the convention, and it better not be Kamala.”
if she loses I don’t expect her to try and steal the election.
What do you base this on? She hasn’t lost one before, and besides this is Der Fuhrer she’s up against who will send us all back into slavery.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 6:38 pmI repeat that the Electoral Count Act that passed the House allowed members to refuse to count votes for “insurrectionists.” That got EVERY Democrat vote in the House. Why do you think they would not try to steal an election from Donald (“nearly Hitler) Trump? They tried to make such a steal legal.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 6:40 pmI very much hope Kamala is a much better politician, more like Ann Richards (actual devotion to her people) and less like Nikki Haley (going with the flow).
So, wait, you actually HOPE that Harris is a doctrinaire socialist, and not some namby-pamby compromiser who will work across the aisle?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 6:43 pmDidn’t Trump also say that we could eradicate famine and global warming by injecting people and animals with chlorophyll so they could produce their own nutrients with just air, water, and sunlight, the way plants do?
No, he didn’t.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 6:44 pmIt’s really amazing that people are so dead set not to vote for Trump that they will stop thinking about who they are voting for. Single-issue voters are stupid.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 6:47 pmI repeat that the Electoral Count Act that passed the House allowed members to refuse to count votes for “insurrectionists.” That got EVERY Democrat vote in the House. Why do you think they would not try to steal an election from Donald (“nearly Hitler) Trump? They tried to make such a steal legal.
As I recall, the insurrectionist case went to the 6-3 and they passed the buck to Congress.
But I won’t mind the watered-down version of the Electoral Count Act. One of the grounds for objection is that the electoral votes were not given in regular order. That would apply to a Bush v. Gore situation. An electoral slate granted by judicial decree is not in regular order. If a majority of both chambers so votes, that is.
nk (d42946) — 7/28/2024 @ 7:00 pm“What do you base this on? She hasn’t lost one before, and besides this is Der Fuhrer she’s up against who will send us all back into slavery.”
This isn’t especially persuasive — not everyone is Trump. For starters, contesting elections in court is quite different from creating fake slates of electors and pushing the VP to make an unprecedented and widely acknowledged unconstitutional power play….while having a coterie of senators and congressmen willing to back that play. Oh and by the way, let’s use a riot to maybe add one more level of pressure to back that play. This is like analogizing apples and D-flip flops.
It should be easy to conclude that 2020 was far outside anything Al Gore or Stacey Abrams imagined. Why should we believe Harris might behave more like Trump than Al Gore? At minimum, you would have to at least build some sort of case how Harris has agitated against American institutions generally. Simply saying “leftist” doesn’t cut the mustard….
AJ_Liberty (7e3ea0) — 7/28/2024 @ 7:01 pmIt’s more amazing to me that we keep seeing the same patterns play out. Every election where we vote for the lesser of two evils, things get worse. So why do it?
Instead of voting against Trump, I’m only voting for a candidate if they give me a reason to.
I also don’t think single-issue voters are stupid, because there are millions and millions of voters. If someone out there is specifically voting against the current administration because they are mad about the price of milk and inflation, they aren’t stupid. If someone like me is probably going to reject Kamala specifically over Israel and Iran, I don’t see the stupidity there. That’s important to me.
This is similar to that other horse I’ve beaten to death since 2012’s disaster (Romney being nominated). If the GOP keeps burning the bridge, it’s obviously going to continue to fail. It may win some elections, but it’s still in a failure condition. It’s not getting anywhere. I hate how right I was about that.
The two party system is pretty bad, and the only way to make it worse is to keep voting for one team because the other team is the boogeyman. We should look at these two candidates and be impressed with them, as two of the greatest leaders in the world, two of the people who love this country and have worked their whole lives to get where they can take it in some great direction. It would be awesome if the ballots reflected tens of millions more votes downballot than at the top. We’ll never see that. We’ll see Hulk Hogan and Ru Paul.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 7:25 pmYeah that’s totally what I said lol.
Harris is a career prosecutor who has shown contempt for law enforcement. I know that’s possible, but I don’t buy it any more than I buy Nikki Haley having no idea what the civil war was about. She’s a coward. She probably does care about public safety. She probably understands the corrosive effect of the cartels, human and narcotics smuggling, guns in the hands of criminals, and probably understands how difficult law enforcement is today.
Ann Richards managed to be fairly moderate on a lot of issues, while doggedly promoting and improving public safety for Texans. I’d be pretty happy to vote for a democrat like that. They are fools not to see the opportunity they have, but that’s because they see Trump as a crisis, and the far left isn’t going to waste that.
If you’re only in threads like this, the notion that weakness is the aisle crosser is common, so the reaction makes sense. But that’s clumsy. Romney and Haley are weak because they are weak. Mccain wasn’t weak even though he also cross aisles. Dubya made deals in order to use his capital in a particular way.
Dustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 7:36 pmKevin, I would say Trump is a one-off on coup attempts, and you’re burden-shifting. If you have any evidence that the Dems would attempt a similar Constitutional upheaval, then present your case.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/28/2024 @ 7:55 pmWhatever that was in the House version is irrelevant. As enacted, the vice president doesn’t have the authority under the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 to disqualify electoral votes or anything else you think might happen.
There is absolutely no evidence that Harris would do anything of the sort. If the VP tried, she would be overruled by the House and Senate members assembled to count the electoral votes; and probably sued by the President-Elect.
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/28/2024 @ 7:56 pm@220 Anti-Israel means different things to different people. To some if you oppose bibi the bottle deposit crook as does more then half of Israelis your an anti-semite who hates Israel. Turkey’s erdogan say he will have to intervene into Israel. (times of Israel)
asset (8efdc4) — 7/28/2024 @ 8:21 pmNow here’s a good example of a left-winger trying to steal an election, but that’s SOP in the Chavez-Maduro era.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/28/2024 @ 8:23 pmWe should remember that Israeli Olympic athlete Karina Pritika is unable to compete due to circumstances beyond her control.
Paul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/28/2024 @ 8:39 pmWhatever that was in the House version is irrelevant
NO. IT IS NOT.
They tried, and failed to enact a law that would have made election-stealing OK. It was less clumsy than what Trump wanted Pence to do, but it was a prosepectve attempt to steal an election if Trump won.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:26 pmNow here’s a good example of a left-winger trying to steal an election, but that’s SOP in the Chavez-Maduro era.
The world should cut him off at the knees. Eject them from the UN and ban trade and travel. The Pope should Interdict.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/28/2024 @ 11:27 pmBecause if the greater evil candidate wins, things get even worse than that? If you don’t think so, you’re fighting the question, not the answer.
I doubt you’ll buy it, and I know Kevin won’t, but Ilya Somin makes what I find a persuasive argument for voting the lesser evil. Read the whole thing, but the tl;dr metaphor he uses is a choice between Queen Cersei and Sauron. Any death and misery (Cersei) is horrific, but orders of magnitude more death and misery (Sauron) is sufficiently more horrific as to morally and rationally justify supporting the less horrific alternative. Or as Ken White used to say, I’ll take the clap over cancer, and that doesn’t mean I like the clap.
Of course, as I said at the outset, that requires believing that one of the candidates is significantly worse than the other. I strongly believe Trump is. If you don’t believe that, then the lesser evil question doesn’t arise, and we’re having a different argument.
lurker (c23034) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:29 amYou got that right; but that is not evidence that if Trump does win that the vice president won’t follow the law as enacted. And since Trump hasn’t been found guilty of insurrection, your claims are moot.
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:39 amLOL! There have far more murderous regimes that have remained in the community of nations; why should Venezuela be any different? And since it’s been over 400 years since the Pope lasted issued an Interdict against an entire country, what makes you think he will start up again now?
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:59 amIf I were a childless cat lady, I might vote for a President on the basis on what he does about Iran, Israel, Ukraine, or Venezuela. But I not childless, nor a lady, and I have never kept a cat.
Furthermore, I am old. I have had my chance. I will set my personal peeves and whims aside in favor of the new generations, three of them, who deserve to shape the world they will be living in.
Trump is not a leader for the future, and not for the past or present, either. He is the boll weevil in the national cotton bush.
Kamala may or may not be. My inclination at this point is to stay out of the way and let the two generations eligible to vote make the decision, for themselves and their posterity.
nk (2c3577) — 7/29/2024 @ 5:09 amBecause it’s very rare in US politics to attempt to steal an election. Trump is the only one I know of that’s made a serious attempt, but there may be elections for smaller office I don’t know about. So I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt, just as I did all of the Candidates in the GOP primary to a greater or lesser degree.
But it is worth pointing out that I don’t think the Democrats are more moral then republicans and the way the GOP has embraced and supported Trumps lies about 2020 only makes it more likely they try what the republicans did in the future.
Time123 (1c05e5) — 7/29/2024 @ 6:45 amHarris needs
* convince people that she can successfully manage a staff. Her VP staff kerfuffle makes her seem peavish and disorganized. How could an A-list player be so difficult to get along with and how was there not a plan to more effectively groom her for the next step? Most VPs play second fiddle and are tasked with making the P look better…that’s the job, but what exactly did Harris do for 3.5yrs? Other than NOT being the border czar, it seems like an odd jumble.
* convince people she’s not an ultra-liberal who will ban red meat, gas stoves, and all internal combustion engines. She will be painted otherwise, but Trump is not exactly the most trusted salesman. Harris needs a simple-enough agenda that won’t scare people that have at least a chance of voting for her
* convince people that she is not just a continuation of the Biden economic policies. However one feels about infrastructure spending and the post-covid recovery, most still don’t like where we are at with cost of living. She needs to say something other than how great those 15M bounce-back jobs are.
* convice people that her resume isn’t too thin. District attorney, attorney general, senator, and VP…but a lot of that in California which most states don’t want to model too closely. Right now she looks small on the stage with Putin, Xi, or Kim. Is she smart and tough enough? In my view, Biden has decades experience of being wrong. Where does she break from his view and is there a Harris doctrine? My sense is that she contracts this out. Fortunately most people won’t be moved by her foreign policy…but she does need to look the part.
I’m not especially impressed when Harris speaks. She will need a #2 and surrogates that are more dynamic without creating that sour feeling of regret. I don’t think she is the best alternative but my measures are more rational. This will be about emotionalism and what she can tap into. Hey, she’s at least not too old…
AJ_Liberty (14a332) — 7/29/2024 @ 6:58 amSo the only one who hasn’t taken losing well has been Donald Trump.
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/29/2024 @ 7:23 am@102
She’s one of the most leftist progressive politician in recent years who couldn’t even earn ONE delegate vote.
…and still won’t when she receives the nomination.
I’d say she’s worse than that.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 7:24 am@157
He wasn’t talking about “cat lady” or even “guys playing CoD in mom’s basement” in general.
He was talking about politicians, whom are the face of the Democratic party who lacks the same “skin in the game” as parents. If people would listen to his entire commentary on this, you’d know this.
I’m not sure if that makes his position any better, but this is about looking at your opponent, and taking a statement to maximally over react to a premise he didn’t say.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 7:46 amMegyn Kelly went hard in her interview with Vance’s “cat lady” comment… take a listen if you have time:
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 7:50 amhttps://youtu.be/Ar5X1VG_eqs
@255
Hey!
🙁
My own son lost two good friends to fentanyl OD, that is largely perpetuated by the open border policies of Democrats.
I live in Missouri, and somehow the open border policies has made the CENTER of F’N America a “border state”.
So, you are going to have to forgive me when I crawl over BROKEN GLASS to vote for Don Cheeto.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:03 am@270
Bruh… Bush v. Gore wasn’t a serious attempt to steal an election?
o.O
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:07 amFalse comparison, between Trump’s mental illness and mental unfitness, and your dislike of her policies.
Paul Montagu (e0fef1) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:25 amJimmy Hamel was talking about more than that, given his stated proposal to give citizens with kids more votes than those sans kids.
Paul Montagu (e0fef1) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:27 am@277
That one came down to the wire but at the end of the process after exhausting legal challenges Gore acknowledged that Bush won.
But you raise a good point.
What would Maga say if Biden had won in a similar way.
-lost the popular vote,
Time123 (9bdcae) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:40 am-electoral college was decided by a state his brother was governor of
– a split decision in the Supreme Court where his Father had appointed several of the judges.
I think Vance was just insulting and mocking women who’ve made life choices his base doesn’t approve of. But there’s no real way to know what he meant as it’s pretty clear he’ll say whatever is useful to him in the moment.
Time123 (9bdcae) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:42 am@278
False how? I didn’t say anything about Trump.
110% of her policies are disastrous and she’s considered one of the most leftist congresscritter Democrats has…
Plus… she’s YET to receive one delegate that was voted by the Democrat voters.
So, again… what’s false?
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:54 am@279
No more of a “proposal” than that of the Democrat’s wanting to give 16yo the right to vote. Which is what he was responding to…
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:56 am@280
You mean, like what happened in Trump’s 1st term.
In before “but Trump didn’t SAY IT!”… he LEFT the bloody office ON bloody TIME!
Thank you.
Don’t care.
I refuse to accept that premise.
People complaining about popular vote are simply sour graping over a system that they refuse to understand.
Again. Don’t. F’n. Care.
Oh? So are we supposed to infer bias in these judges are not?
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 9:00 am@281
Time, you’re are buying into a bad faith frame job here.
Please, listen to the link I posted in @275. You’ll see he wasn’t “just insulting and mocking women who’ve made life choices his base doesn’t approve of.” Because that’s exactly what the Democrats are pushing.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 9:03 amAs he continually reminds us with daily claims that 2020 election was “rigged.”
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/29/2024 @ 9:28 am@286
Which is his euphemism that there were shady af stuff happened in 2020 elections. It’s impossible, with 100% confidence, that it made any material impact.
But that doesn’t change the fact that he left office on time, while still being salty about it.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 9:30 amWhembly, can you provide me with a link to Trump acknowledging he lost the election? Because I can send you plenty of him denying it to this day.
Time123 (9bdcae) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:06 amI share Kevin M’s dread of a electoral college win, popular loss vote for Trump. The temptation to simply change the rules to keep the man out will be very high, particularly if he is raving about being a full-on dictator, vowing revenge, and setting in motion a purge of the bureaucracy.
I’ll let you know how I feel about it in December.
Appalled (0df4ba) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:11 am@285, No. I’m telling you what I thought he was trying to communicate based on listening to him speak and hearing what he’s said afterwards to clarify his initial remarks. YMMV.
Time123 (9bdcae) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:18 amwhy should Venezuela be any different?
1. Monroe Doctrine, considering his enablers are Iran, Russia and China.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:26 am2. Over 5 million refugees, many of whom are coming here.
3. Destabilization of the region
4. Our inaction shows that we will tolerate this elsewhere in the Americas.
5. The potential for Chinese military outposts.
The only party that has pushed an attempted election steal past a house of Congress is Pelosi’s Democrats.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:30 amJimmy Hamel was talking about more than that, given his stated proposal to give citizens with kids more votes than those sans kids.
In reality, this would just increase the tax deductions and handout programs for kids. On other matters they’d split as before. It’s not clear that Republicans have more kids than Democrats.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:34 am@282 what election did they attempt to steal?
Time123 (9bdcae) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:37 amWhich is his euphemism that there were shady af stuff happened in 2020 elections.
No, he’s actually that dumb. You or I might point to the ease with which ballots were handed out and the general lack of a corresponding concern about their provenance, but Trump is talking about a corrupt counting regime.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:39 am@282 what election did they attempt to steal?
the next one. They passed a bill allowing Congress to reject any electoral vote cast by, or for, someone they determined was disqualified by the 14th Amendment. The Senate did not agree, but it DID pass the House on strict party lines.
Emphasis in (C) and (D)(iii) mine
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:46 am@288
https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2021/06/17/trump-finally-admits–we-didn-t-win–presidential-election
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/05/trump-admits-election-defeat-historians-zelizer-princeton
What you don’t like, is him bringing up the weird 2020 election shenanigans in some states.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:50 am@294
Wrong post?
Also… contesting elections ≠ to stealing an election.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:52 amVoting for Harris is voting for SCOTUS reforms:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/kamala-harris-goes-to-war-on-supreme-court-and-backs-term-limits
If passed, this *will* destroy our republic as we see it now.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 10:59 amHere’s the WH’s factsheet:
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 11:04 amhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/07/29/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-bold-plan-to-reform-the-supreme-court-and-ensure-no-president-is-above-the-law/
And all it would do, if it succeeded, would be to make JD Vance president.
Unless they determined he was disqualified, too.
He wasn’t even in Congress on January 6, 2021.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 11:52 amYou replied directly to my comment, which you cut-and-pasted, which said, “She’s not a crazy as f-ck malignant narcissist.”
Paul Montagu (b0a69d) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:01 pmCongress approved term limits for the Presidency over 75 years ago
IIRC, this took an amendment. But Biden should not use “75 years”, “limits” and “Presidency” in the same sentence.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:06 pmAnd all it would do, if it succeeded, would be to make JD Vance president.
No, it would throw the election into the House with only one candidate, since only one candidate would have any electoral votes, no one would have 270, and the House must choose from the top 3.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:08 pmDustin (06b912) — 7/28/2024 @ 7:36 pm
No she isn’t. She got her job as District Attorney through politics, and her relationship with Willie Brown. (But everything after that cannot be attributed to Willie Brown, although she may have learned things from him and/or acquired friends.)
She’s been accused of protecting wrongdoing, as well as refusing too ask for the death penalty in the case of someone who killed a policeman. But all that is relatively minor in the scheme of tins,
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:08 pm@303
You are technically correct…the best kind of correct.
I’m not sure I’d entertain this idea, but if we’re doing term limits for judges, the Congress must also pass term limits on Congress.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:10 pm@305
Sammy, she also said they shouldn’t release non-violent offenders early because they the prison-system would lose cheap labor.
Her office prosecuted MJ laws, while admitting she “dabbles” with MJ.
Her office did fight to keep several innocent people in prison even after their innocence was proved.
None of this “is relatively minor in the scheme of tins”
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:15 pmnk @239
I don’t remember that, and can’t find that.
I found there have been proposals some years ago by Internet influencers on Tik Tok and maybe other places that people drink chlorophyll laced water for various supposed health related benefits..
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/chlorophyll-liquid-drops-tiktok-safe/2021/04/28/a4be904e-a79c-11eb-bca5-048b2759a489_story.html
Nothing about Trump here.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:24 pmI don’t like his lies about election fraud being a basis for false electors, for pressure campaigns to get state officials to invalidate the accurate results, for motivating many hundreds of people to attack the police and seize the US capitol in an effort to prevent the transfer of power. I also don’t like that the GOP is apparently OK with all of that and tolerates his continuing the lie.
I also don’t like the mote and baily argument where people who’ve been unabale to find actual examples of fraud move to ‘election shenanigans’ as a vague claim of wrong doing.
Time123 (005b17) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:30 pmwhembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:15 pm
In the scheme of things, it is.
All it does is to indicate cynicism and general tolerance of wrongdoing, but the specific issues will not come up again. It mostly shows poor character.
But we need to know how she will deal with more important things.
This only shows she has a tendency not to care about right and wrong, and good and bad. But we knew that.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:30 pmKevin, your claim that they tried to steal the next election is based on their passing a law that says the constitution must be followed?
I’m not seeing how this is an effort at theft.
Time123 (005b17) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:33 pmAmendments I would like to see:
Restoration of the single-house veto
Whenever the Congress delegates a portion of its powers to the Executive, an executive agency or an independent agency created by statute, and that entity promulgates a regulation under its statutory authority, either House of Congress may veto that regulation by majority vote within 30 calendar days. Absent such a veto within 30 days, the regulation takes effect.
Spending Limitation
The appropriation power of Congress is limited to 25% of the average Gross Domestic Product of the United States over the four year period ending at the start of the prior fiscal year.
Congress may appropriate in excess of this amount only with the concurrence of two-thirds of each House.
Nothing in this section shall prevent Congress or the Executive from borrowing to finance these appropriations, if permitted by statute.
War Powers Limitation
No military action authorized by the Commander-in-Chief, other than to repel invasion or other attack on the United States or any State, or in consequence of any Treaty obligation, may extend more than 60 days without the express approval of Congress.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:33 pmhttps://thehill.com/homenews/media/4797600-fox-news-host-challenges-vance/
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:33 pmWhembly, other then the term limits what don’t you like about the proposed reforms? The presidential immunity and ethics rules seem fine to me.
Time123 (005b17) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:34 pmKevin, your claim that they tried to steal the next election is based on their passing a law that says the constitution must be followed?
No, it is allowing them, at the end of the process, to engage in an act of attainder to thwart the will of the people. There is no requirement that this disqualification be other than a political claim by the majority.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:35 pmIt would also lead to civil war, with is also bad.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:35 pmOne of the memes circulating around was that maybe Obama wanted to be vice president, and they were studying the 22nd amendment to see if that was possible.
This is an attempt to mislead people, and probably connected with some attempt to extract money from people in the end. (for these purposes it is best to not have too much competition with other people saying the same thing – therefore it is something rebuttable.)
The 12th amendment says at the end that no person constitutionally ineligible for the office of president shall be eligible for the office of vice president.
Paired with the 22nd amendment, that means Obama cannot be elected vice president.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:38 pmSo, presidents do not even have the qualified immunity that we extend to maybe a million public servants?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:38 pm“I share Kevin M’s dread of a electoral college win, popular loss vote for Trump.”
Well, it would be productive to see the National Public Vote compact tested in court. If it’s not a violation of the 14A, then nothing is. Each voter has a right to vote for an elector of his choice (whether you call it a privilege or immunity or a fundamental liberty). I would also argue that the NPV is likely an unlawful interstate compact, giving its member states more power than they would have without it. It also directly interferes with the federalist structure for how the Constitution directs electing a President. It sidesteps the critical process of amending the Constitution. All states should be allowed to weigh in on the fate of the Electoral College…not just ones sufficient to get to 270 votes.
As bad as the NPV is constitutionally and from a practical implementation, it’s still not a bad-faith political maneuver — like what we had in 2020 — which was aggravated by violence and outright deception. The reality was that there was no evidence of fraud. The NPV might very well be a misguided view of federalism while aggravating the possibility of fraud, it still is not a fraud upon itself. Even though Presidential elections are not structured or executed to run up the popular vote, there is some dissonance when the winner is not able to capture it. Again, as a constitutional structuralist, I don’t have much sympathy for this argument…for the reasons listed above. But like the Line Item Veto, it deserves its day in Court. I think it will not survive scrutiny….
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:44 pmAJ,
It also obviates portions of the Great Compromise as the effect of giving more weight to small states in close elections was intended.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:50 pmKevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:35 pm
They would have to knock out the vice president elect also for that to mean anything.
Now I wonder if it was a factor in Trump’s selection of JD Vance that he was not involved in the “stop the steal” campaign, as far as I can tell.
It doesn’t matter what he says now – they cant disqualify him on the basis of supporting insurrection with any credibility at all.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/us/politics/donald-trump-jd-vance-republican-2024-election.html
Sammy Finkelman (e0dccb) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:51 pmI don’t think Trump losing the popular vote and winning the electoral college is a big deal. It happened in 2016 and the only person really bothered by it was Trump. It happened in Bush V. Gore and wasn’t an issue. I think if it happens again the dems will make lot of noise. Trump will lie about it and claim he really won the popular vote and that will be that.
If it goes the other way I’m more concerned. Republicans have already shown a willingness to try to steal the presidency based on lies / pretexts and Trump is more in control of the part now then he was before.
Time123 (005b17) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:53 pm@314
re: Presidential Immunity – I’m of Justice Barrett persuasion regarding the immunity opinion. There are very clear separation of powers claims that a POTUS can offer immunity for official acts.
Barrett’s minor majority/dissent is really a distinct with a tiny difference: Her argument amounts to that POTUS must file separation of powers claims to be immune. Where as the majority opinion states that prosecution must rebut the presumed immunity claims.
What the Biden/Harris proposal would be unconstitutional under current framework.
re: mandating ethics rules – SCOTUS is a co-equal branch, and as such Biden/Harris proposal would need a constitutional amendment. Good luck.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:53 pmThe NPV does not combat fraud — it intensifies the risk of fraud.
If Texas or Illinois creates 1 million extra votes for the inevitable winner of said state, under the EC, it gains them nothing. Under the NPV it could sway the election.
States that are not lopsidedly partisan would be more likely to have internal controls preventing widespread fraud.
And we haven’t gotten to recounts yet, which would now all be national.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:54 pmAJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:44 pm
If it is unlawful, it merely means that it not binding, but any state can select its electors any way it wants to.
And one thing that could happen is that different states might determine that different candidates won the popular vote. There would be no need for, nor any possibility of, consistency. In 1960, you could have argued it both ways.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:55 pm@318
Correct. Qualified Immunity is a judicial doctrine (from various Congressional statue in it’s origins).
No where in this doctrine affords the same immunity to POTUS.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:56 pmWhembly, that hardely seems like “destroying the republic” level stuff.
Time123 (005b17) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:57 pm@322
Don’t forget that in 1992 Clinton didn’t win the popular vote either (he got the plurality with 43% of the vote). In short, 57% of the electorate voted against Bill Clinton.
To put that in perspective: Trump in 2016 got 46% of the vote (or 54% of the electorate voted against him).
The “popular vote” is a meaningless statistic due to the Electoral College.
Again, I’ll reiterate – trying to use legal means in court, and political *twisting* arms isn’t the same as to “steal the presidency”.
It’s unsavory, because we don’t like sore losers. But to say that it’s somehow *unique* ignores our history and how our system robustly thwarts these shenanigans.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:03 pmre: mandating ethics rules – SCOTUS is a co-equal branch, and as such Biden/Harris proposal would need a constitutional amendment. Good luck.
I see the Constitution as vague on whether Congress can create rules for Supreme Court justices. Clearly they can for inferior courts, but there doesn’t seem to be any discussion of the SC in that regard. As we have seen, the number of seats on the Court has been changed several times in the misty past.
The only things they cannot do is mandate retirement by age or length of service. It is not even clear that they could condition retirement pay on when justices retire, due to the reduction of pay prohibition.
Can they move justices to an emeritus court after a time? I don’t think so, as they were appointed to the real court for life. They could, of course, impeach and convict justices who did not step down, but that is a whole different can of worms.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:03 pmIf it is unlawful, it merely means that it not binding, but any state can select its electors any way it wants to.
Then it is wildly destabilizing, and should be struck down just for that.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:05 pmKevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 12:54 pm
That’s right, but then it’s not designed to.
By the way, one state cannot force a recount in another state, although candidates might have some standing.. It’s based on other state’s official results.
The one part that is null and void is the provision that does not allow a state to withdraw from it and change its method of selecting Electors after July 20 in a presidential election year. Only Congress can enact any such limitation, and I am not sure even it can.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:07 pmSo, presidents do not even have the qualified immunity that we extend to maybe a million public servants?
19 million according to Alito in U.S. v. Snyder, the legalization of bribery case.
But that’s civil immunity, to protect them from private lawsuits, nuisance lawsuits, and the President and his cabinet have that in spades.
None of them have immunity from criminal prosecution which are an entirely different thing. Ask the cops who suffocated George Floyd.
But you guys keep insisting that the moon is made of green cheese.
nk (2c3577) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:07 pm@327
The “destroying the republic” level is this:
When the leftist/progressive agendas don’t go their way, there’s no re-calibration. It’s always, “how can we change the rules of the game to get what we want?”.
Do you not see how corrosive this is?
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:07 pmSo, presidents do not even have the qualified immunity that we extend to maybe a million public servants?
I would be in favor of a constitutional amendment that
1) defined qualified immunity
2) listed those persons who were granted it
3) provided a method for Congress to add or remove job titles from the list
4) allowed a process for challenging immunity claims.
This is not only to limit presidential immunity, but to seek transparency and agreement on what kinds of qualified immunity might be justified in other parts of government.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:11 pm@332
I thought we always were discussing civil immunity with regards to qualified immunity.
POTUS doesn’t have qualified immunity in the same since. Their civil immunity stems from US v Nixon… right? Where there is some recognition of civil immunity, but my interpretation is that it isn’t as comprehensive as what state/local/judges get in qualified immunity doctrine. Right? POTUS is civilly immune for official acts, but not during any period prior to being POTUS. Or, do I have that backwards?
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:12 pmNone of them have immunity from criminal prosecution which are an entirely different thing. Ask the cops who suffocated George Floyd.
The fact that an act needs to be charged in criminal courts is itself an immunity. Police, for example, are rarely charged for acts that a citizen often will be.
See for example the subway choke-hold death. A police officer doing the same thing would likely result in an “accidental death” or “death by misadventure” verdict. Since the police officer may have a duty to act in the situation, he gets a pass where the civilian often does not.
It’s still a criminal immunity based on “official acts.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:18 pm@330
I think the current NPV pact, in it’s current form is wildly unconstitutional.
At the most, if the NPV advocates want something similar, then they ought to have the states apportion their EC votes per congressional district. Meaning, whatever party that congressperson is a member of that district gets the EV allocated to the party’s presidential candidate. (and the 2 EC vote representing the state’s two federal Senator goes for whoever wins the plurality of the state).
In short, you’d have district-by-district popular vote with the state’s two federal Senator goes for whoever wins the plurality of the state.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:19 pmVance’s argument still boils down to: we should tax people more who do not have children because some on the Left spew anti-family rhetoric.
Now, few here oppose child tax credits…but mostly because they are framed as distributing the cost of kids and not as punishing those without kids. Vance’s framing remains that at least some childless people do so because of evil liberals distorting their view. That’s pretty cynical and it’s unclear whether it’s actually based on any sort of evidence…other than slandering everyone on the Left. People are childless for lots of reasons and motivations…and it’s unclear why we want to use the tax code to lump them together and punish them. Apparently this is a way to “transform” their thinking.
Vance is free to spin this, but in a tight election will people really be persuaded by “the evil liberals made me do/say it”. True believers will accept his spin. A lot of childless people out there will tell him to pound sand…
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:22 pmActually, @337 that’s poorly written. I didn’t mean that you “pick” your congressman and don’t vote for POTUS of your choice.
You’d still vote for YOUR presidential candidate in that congressional district.
So, what’d you see, is a closer alignment of whomever you chose are you congressman/woman, you’re likely voting for POTUS in same party. (split ticketing can still happen, but probably rarer?)
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:23 pmNope. All federal employees enjoy the protection of the Federal Tort Claims Act from any private lawsuits arising in the course of their employment. The government substitutes itself as the defendant, defends, and if found liable pays out from the U.S. Treasury.
Trump even tried that with the E. Jean Carroll defamation case on the grounds that he was defending the reputation of the Presidency when he called her a liar and a loony. It didn’t work.
nk (2c3577) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:23 pmThe fact that an act needs to be charged in criminal courts is itself an immunity. Police, for example, are rarely charged for acts that a citizen often will be.
And where was Trump charged? In the court of the Red Queen? It was in criminal court by a grand jury.
nk (2c3577) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:26 pmAs long as we are engaged in constitutional amendment fantasy camp, I would add age limits to the qualifications:
*A person could not serve as Member of Congress or President if they turn 70 within a 30 day period before or after Election Day
*Mandatory retirement of all judges at age 70; and eliminate “senior status”, which allows judges to serve beyond their “retirement.”
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:27 pm@340
Thanks for that.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:35 pm@338
I will say he’s making a big mistake doubling-down on this. But, its clear, if you listen to the full context, he’s not targeting childless people in general. He’s targeting Democrats as anti-family and anti-children.
The biggest wiff, I think, is an education statement that can generate public debate, and it’s on this:
1) US taxes already favors household with kids. Mainly the child tax credits. Childless taxpayers are effectively taxed higher rates .
2) Furthermore, childless tax payers in most states pay more because their property tax goes towards thinks like public schools and state healthcare coverages.
3) If his point is that it’s hard and expensive to raise a family, and that democrats are anti-family… he’d have have a better reception and spark national debate about the proper role of government with respect to the cost of raising families. But, he’s frequently engaging in “edgy” sayings like “cat lady” is simply giving fodder to his political opponents. He’s going to have to defend this till the end of time… remains to be seen if he can adequately fend this off.
whembly (477db6) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:41 pmPaul Montagu (0d1a09) — 7/27/2024 @ 6:18 am
he Biden Administration and others pretend that a deal ending the war and returning all the hostages is available. It is not.
They keep saying it is close, but that is like looking at scratch off lottery tickets and saying that some are close to winning.
This is what is on the table:
A 3 stage deal and Israel and Hamas are negotiating (through Qatar and Egypt) only on the first part. (in the next two stages Israel and Hamas are in deep disagreement. They are supposed to be worked out during the first stage, which will last, say six to ten weeks.)
Hamas wants: (in phase 1)
1) To return only some of the hostages. Maybe one third. Most or all clearly not any kind of military prisoners. They are willing to haggle over how many are allowed to be dead.
2) To receive in return prisoners from Israeli jails whom they would select, and Israel would have no right to veto any of them, with Hamas only being limited to the number released.
3) Partial Israeli withdrawal, especially from the border with Egypt.
4) A pledge by Israel not to resume the war. When Israel indicated that was a deal breaker, Hamas substituted a guarantee by the United States that Israel would not resume the war after the initial prisoner exchange was over.
5. In Phase 2 or 3 Israel would withdraw from all of Gaza and thus let Hamas resume control like they had on October 6, 2023, and everybody be allowed to return to the places they were in Gaza (Israel has created a northen Gaza and southern Gaza with a dividing line and extreme limitations, for now, on civilians who leave the northern zone crossing back)
6. Arrangements to be made for foreign countries to assist in rebuilding Gaza.
Israel is interested in pursuing discussions on Phase I, but after that it wants:
1. Hamas to surrender, end its rule, disarm, and return all the hostages in exchange for no prisoners.
2. A demilitarized Gaza, with Israel having overriding security control there to prevent the resurgence of terror. Assurance that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.
3. A deradicalized Gaza. Gaza to have a civilian administration run by Palestinians who do not seek to destroy Israel.
As you can see, the two sides are, in reality, quite far apart.
If no agreement can be reached on hat happens after Phase I -and there is no agreement yet on Phase I, Israel reserves the right to resume the war.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:42 pmBut Trump and the GOP also used illegal means in an attempt to keep power.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/05/docs-2020-election-trump-00145003
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/20/politics/kenneth-chesebro-georgia-election-subversion/index.html
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wisconsin-ag-charges-trump-attorney-kenneth-chesebro-fake/story?id=110816248
The pretext behind this illegal scheme was the lie that the election had been stolen. A lie Trump continues to tell.
Time123 (ae7b06) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:52 pmThis is how Netanyahu described the current negotiations in his speech to Congress last Wednesday:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-07-25/ty-article/full-text-netanyahus-2024-address-to-congress/00000190-e6c0-d469-a39d-e6d7117d0000
This is Netanyahu’s description, later in his speech, of how he wants to war to end: (he went into more detail here)
He doesn’t expect the current negotiations to result in the release of all the remaining hostages, but is willing to pause the war to allow for some of them to be released and is hopeful that this can happen.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:53 pmAgain, This wasn’t ‘arm twisting’. This was a knowing scheme to prevent Biden from being certified as president despite his winning the election that went on well after all legal challenges had been completed.
Time123 (ae7b06) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:55 pmYes, i just see both the right and the left doing it.
I also see that the Judicial system needs reform, especially with respect to ethics rules. Thomas has shown that.
I further see that an 18 year term, depending on how it’s implemented wouldn’t be *that* different from what we have now.
A proposal to add 500 new SCJ would be a system breaking.
Time123 (ae7b06) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:58 pmThis is far from that.
An amendment may not be necessary-Congress, under Article III, Section 1, does have the power to impose rules for the Supreme Court. For example, When Congress imposed financial disclosure requirements (through the Ethics in Government Act), the SC decided not to challenge the requirement.
Congress also sets the size of the Court; it has varied over its history between five to ten Justices, then reduced the number to seven and back up to nine in 1869. Under Article III, Congress could actually ban the Supreme Court from meeting at all:
Congress can also limit the jurisdiction of the courts, they have done so a number of times.
I would say it is an open question if a constitutional amendment is required to impose a code of ethics on the Supreme Court.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/29/2024 @ 1:59 pmThe problem comes up when the immunity is for an obviously criminal act, such as burglarizing Daniel Ellsburg’s psychiatrist’s office. Nixon’s people claimed it was a necessary national security investigation (and it’s not clear to me that any warrant would have issued).
It’s a problem because the concept “No one is above the law” runs up against “damn few people have these duties.” I am unlikely to be able to use a National Security exception for anything I do. Should the president be able to? At least “maybe.”
That the SC’s ruling allows bribery is terrible, but do we want a court to paw through diplomatic records to see if the president’s reasons for making an agreement were influenced by the golf course he wanted to build?
Impeachment remains the constitutional remedy. If it is insufficient then amend the process to put something other than the Senate in charge — the Founders had many other ideas on this.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:03 pmThe fact that an act needs to be charged in criminal courts is itself an immunity. Police, for example, are rarely charged for acts that a citizen often will be.
The subway choke-hold guy is still charged with manslaughter, even though he clearly acted to prevent harm to others.
A police officer in the same situation, likely could not have used a choke-hold by policy, but if he had instead shot the knife-wielding nut 12 times he would not have been charged.
That is criminal immunity due to official acts.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:09 pmAttainder means “extinction of the civil rights and capacities of a person upon sentence of death or outlawry usually after a conviction of treason.” As used in the Constitution, a “bill of attainder” is” legislation that imposes punishment on a specific person or group of people without a judicial trial.” Neither definition includes “thwart(ing) the will of the people.”
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:10 pmAn amendment may not be necessary-Congress, under Article III, Section 1, does have the power to impose rules for the Supreme Court. For example, When Congress imposed financial disclosure requirements (through the Ethics in Government Act), the SC decided not to challenge the requirement.
So, the SC voluntarily adopted the same rules? That does not mean it has to.
Congress once exercised that power to change the Court’s term to forestall a constitutional attack on the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801, with the result that the Court did not convene for fourteen months.
Looking at partisan cases from the first years of the republic is unlikely to offer much in the way of precedent. Jefferson also tried to impeach the Federalist judges on partisan grounds. It failed and was never attempted again.
Congress can also limit the jurisdiction of the courts
Yeah, it says so right in Article III. But it does not say that it can make rules for the SC, only inferior courts. It cannot alter the life terms or decrease compensation of ANY Article III judge.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:16 pmAs used in the Constitution, a “bill of attainder” is” legislation that imposes punishment on a specific person or group of people without a judicial trial.”
And that is how I used it. Congress voting that a winning Presidential candidate is disqualified due to some crime he is asserted to have committed is just that.
It would also be way stupid and wwould be regarded by the supporters of said candidate (and some on the other side) as theft of the election, just as much as what Trump wanted Pence to do would have been (had it been even possible).
It’s how civil wars get started.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:20 pmThe Israeli people, to a much greater degree than the American public, prefer this. Probably because they have to live in it and we don’t.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:22 pmThe subway choke-hold guy is still charged with manslaughter, even though he clearly acted to prevent harm to others.
A police officer in the same situation, likely could not have used a choke-hold by policy, but if he had instead shot the knife-wielding nut 12 times he would not have been charged.
SO UNFAIR!
If you’re referring to Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely, there was no knife. There was a homeless guy with loud voice saying things Trump might say. And two guys holding him while the third slowly choked him to death.
nk (2c3577) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:29 pmImpeachment remains the constitutional remedy. If it is insufficient then amend the process to put something other than the Senate in charge — the Founders had many other ideas on this.
The Founders had just the issues with impeachment that people see today — that the president’s supporters in the Senate may be too numerous for a conviction to be possible.
They discussed having the trial in the federal courts, or in the Supreme Court, or in a separate Executive Council, or in a special court consisting of the Chief Judge in each state. They discussed impeachment itself be by a majority of state executives (New Jersey Plan).
They spent days on the subject (Notably July 20th, 1787 onward). Impeachment or not. By whom. Trial where?
If they got it wrong, correct it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:42 pmColonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:22 pm
What they are being asked if they are for (getting all the hostages out in exchange for the survival of Hamas) is not on the table.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/29/2024 @ 2:43 pmThe really funny thing about Biden’s attempt to revamp the court is the assertion that “the courts have become too politicized.” In fact the problem is that the courts are increasingly unwilling to accomplish legislative goals by judicial fiat.
Something “progressives” relied upon for the last 60 years is no longer available to them and they really don’t like it. But to call the courts political is Orwellian; in almost every instance the Roberts court has attempted to avoid political decisions.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 3:01 pm> allowed a process for challenging immunity claims.
One of the biggest problems with qualified immunity is that the courts dismiss cases alleging violations by state employees on the grounds that their behavior isn’t clearly covered by settled law, but then never address whether the behavior violates the law.
So we have a whole host of abusive police practices which are clearly contrary to the law if you think about the situation at all, but we can never get a decision saying so, so the abuses continue with permanent qualified immunity.
QI reform needs to include a path to allow practices to be challenged and banned *even if* the individual state employee is immune to lawsuit in the specific case. There has to be a way to set the precedent that it won’t be allowed in the future and turn it *into* settled law.
aphrael (9c2ac5) — 7/29/2024 @ 3:42 pm> But to call the courts political is Orwellian; in almost every instance the Roberts court has attempted to avoid political decisions.
Overturning a half century old precedent and making something widely believed to be a constitutional right no longer protected, overturning another forty year old precedent and dramatically increasing the power of the judiciary, declaring the President to be immune to prosecution for things like bribery, rendering significant chunks of the voting rights act toothless and unenforceable … these aren’t political at all, right?
aphrael (9c2ac5) — 7/29/2024 @ 3:44 pm> You’d still vote for YOUR presidential candidate in that congressional district.
this magnifies and worsens the impact of gerrymandering. it would be far better to proportionally distribute the EVs statewide based upon the proportion of the vote each candidate gets.
aphrael (9c2ac5) — 7/29/2024 @ 3:46 pmNo RIP for disgraced Army Lt. William Calley, Jr. (80):
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/29/2024 @ 5:36 pmFoot stomping by Latin American governments over the Venezuelan election.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/29/2024 @ 6:08 pmOverturning a half century old precedent and making something widely believed to be a constitutional right no longer protected
Which was this?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 6:24 pmNever mind. Brain fart.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 6:25 pmAs I said, the court was trying to be less political and UNDOING past political overreach is not “being political.” If it was making decisions based on politics, Obamacare would not have survived and Obergefell would have been decided differently.
You complain that Affirmative Action was scaled back, just in the way it was suggested would happen 25 years ago. And yet, INDIVIDUAL accounting for racial barriers remains. Just not box-checking where the black child of millionaires gets a break but the struggling child of white working class parents does not, and the few openings in the elite colleges available to whites are filled by those who don’t need financial help.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 6:32 pmWatch for a potential revolution after Maduro stole yesterday’s election, especially which direction the Venezuelan military is going. Lots of unrest going on.
Paul Montagu (c7be4d) — 7/29/2024 @ 7:00 pmBut if the military overthrows him, isn’t that a military coup? Aren’t we always against those? Asking for a friend.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 7:16 pmIllegal Immigrant Criminal Assaulted Woman After Kamala Harris Let Him Evade Prison. Now She’s Speaking Out.
lloyd (25e4ca) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:03 pmI have no doubt the Venezuelan military supports Maduro, he couldn’t have survived this long without it. Maduro has made sure of that.
The reaction of Latin American governments has been “foot stomping”, clucking about “widespread fraud” but unwilling to do anything about it.
There are alternatives to a military coup. If Venezuela’s neighbors were serious about ending the Maduro regime they would overthrow it themselves.
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:33 pmAxios insists Kamala was never border czar. Too bad, the internet remembers.
Axios hit with community note after claiming Harris was never ‘border czar’
lloyd (5bfd65) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:33 pm371. Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 7:16 pm
Yes. Although they should really just install the real winner.
Unfortunately, yes. And in Venezuela, we actually
stoppedreversed one against Chavez, I think in 2002.For that matter, Jimmy Carter prevented one in Iran in 1979, sending Alexander Haig over there to discourage it.
In 1938 the French, especially, were hoping for one against Hitler, but the Munich agreement prevented it it is thought.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:44 pmKamala never was the border czar. The Democrats lied, and the Republicans pretended to believe it.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/29/2024 @ 8:46 pmThe Maduro government has been illegitimate for nearly a decade, Kevin.
Paul Montagu (c7be4d) — 7/29/2024 @ 9:22 pmHow is it a coup for the anti-communists to return to their constitutional form of government?
‘Border czar’ or not, Kamala Harris ran from her job to get the border under control
lloyd (320234) — 7/29/2024 @ 9:58 pm@328 Losing the popular vote and winning the electoral collage is no big deal only if your a corporate establishment democrat like gore and clinton beholding to the donor class and deep state. Even biden and democrats were planning a national general strike in 2020 if biden lost the electoral collage and still won 8 million more votes then trump. Clinton before the election when she thought she would win said elections were not rigged. After she lost the electoral collage. Rigged! Russia stole it!
asset (db821e) — 7/29/2024 @ 11:06 pmThe Maduro government has been illegitimate for nearly a decade, Kevin.
How is it a coup for the anti-communists to return to their constitutional form of government?
When the Honduras Supreme Court told the Honduras military to remove a president for violating the constitution (seeking a second term), the US came down hard in favor of the leftist president.
Now, I don’t think that Maduro is in any way legitimate and I stated reasons @291 why the US might even intervene. But the State Department has surprised me before.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/29/2024 @ 11:17 pmSo Kamala tweeted out that she “supports the election in Venezuela and “the will of the people must be respected.”
Nothing about massive fraud, that Maduro and his goons rigged the election.
And some want to give her power so she can bring those goals to America.
Sickening.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:18 amVice Presidents have no executive authority under the Constitution. None, zip, zilch, zero. You can call Kamala the border czar, and Pence the Covid czar, and it’s like calling Elvis the king of rock n’ roll. Outside their own household and office staff, they can only order takeout. Whatever Biden appointed Kamala to, it amounted to nothing more than advisor.
nk (bb1548) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:21 amThe Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State are the border czars. Co-czars.
nk (bb1548) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:25 amNK, Kamala was clearly made the WH lead on the border. She also clearly didn’t deliver good results. The exact vocabulary debate isn’t useful.
Time123 (fbab6c) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:56 amThe democrats goals on the southern border are conflicted and confusing. The results of this churn is bad. It doesn’t shock me that Kamala did a bad job on the border. No dem can do a good job on the border until they develop a coherent policy.
The GOP is a little better because they have a coherent policy. But they’re not much better because of the flaws in their policy and their inability to build a consensus or compromise to get anything done.
Time123 (fbab6c) — 7/30/2024 @ 5:00 amYou don’t send a toothless dog to hunt foxes. Harris was not supposed to do anything other than go along with the fraud that Biden appointed her to do something. We can fault her for that. And I do.
nk (bb1548) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:38 am@384
Presidents can clearly delegate authority to anyone if its under their purview.
All this that the VP wasn’t the border czar is gaslighting.
whembly (477db6) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:41 amIt shouldn’t be the feckless State Department, it should be the DOD or CIA.
Rip Murdock (4074ee) — 7/30/2024 @ 7:16 amWhembky, I think you’re agreeing with me, but it reads like you’re not?
Time123 (3a9b0d) — 7/30/2024 @ 7:37 amRegarding their description of conditions in Venezuela, the NYT doesn’t stray far from their Walter Duranty roots, calling the degraded socialist conditions there a “brutal capitalism”. Good grief.
Ms. Applebaum has a fair depiction of conditions in the country that Chavez-Maduro have hollowed out, ending with this paragraph…
It’s a story we’ve seen before.
Does this mean the US should get involved and take out Maduro? IMO, no, but whatever help we can give to the freedom-seeking opposition. Chavez statues are falling there, just like Lenin statues fell in Ukraine in 2014.
One other thing. The Maduro kleptocracy is fully supported by the Russian Terrorist-in-Chief.
Paul Montagu (3e7330) — 7/30/2024 @ 7:52 amHere’s a Hamiltonesque rap on Israel-Palestine, addressed to the 20-somethings who like this music, and hopefully to get through the skulls of campus Hamas supporters. Well done.
Paul Montagu (3e7330) — 7/30/2024 @ 8:09 am@389
I’m agreeing with you that Harris was “heralded” as the border czar early in the Biden administration.
Now, whether or not she was given full authority or was merely expected to “take the fall” by the Biden peeps for a disaster they know was coming, we can speculate.
But, publicly, Harris was given the title “border czar” (there’s even a WH memo on that!) to get grips of the issue.
whembly (477db6) — 7/30/2024 @ 8:41 am@390
As a supporter of our efforts, financially and militarily, for Ukraine… there’s more arguments for “the US should get involved and take out Maduro” than Ukraine.
Ukraine has supportive neighboring countries where it is in their interest to support Ukraine because it’s in their proverbial back yard.
Likewise, Venezuela is in the US’ own back yard, and we should definitely be involved in ways to stabilize the region.
whembly (477db6) — 7/30/2024 @ 8:53 amActually, it shouldn’t be the US, but Latin American governments that should remove Maduro.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/30/2024 @ 9:01 amAs to Venezuela, I’ve yet to read anything cogent as to what our government’s options are? Is someone contemplating armed interdiction? I would think that would be very complicated. I would imagine we could be financially supporting any opposition and maybe offering clandestine assistance. International election monitoring bodies might have some role. To me, the Venezuelans have to lead their fight.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:00 amNo, there isn’t, because Venezuela isn’t being illegitimately invaded by an imperialist hostile foreign power with nukes. Theirs is an internal problem, albeit a horrible one, and we have a sordid history of intervening in South America that has blown back on us, i.e., Allende and Chile.
I mean, Cuba is still a worse situation than Venezuela. Should we invade them, too?
Paul Montagu (da2e41) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:13 amUkraine
-Democratically elected leader
-Invaded by strategic adversary that’s lead by a nationalist dictator.
-Clear will of the people to repel Russian invasion.
-Statements by Putin are clear that Ukraine is the first step of an expansion that will include some of our allies.
-Defense agreement in place with Ukraine as part of their agreeing to relinquish nuclear weapons after the fall of the soviet union.
-US goal of stopping Russian expansion by conquest can be achieved by providing weapons to for Ukraine to use. (and we should send more of them faster!)
-Local allies available who can take the lead on re-building after victory.
Venezuela
-Madura appears to have stolen the election.
-Unclear / mixed will of the people.
-Unclear how US goals could be achieved or if the alternative to Maduro would be in our national interests.
-Unclear how rebuilding could be done after achieving a democratically elected government.
Venezuela seems much more complicated and costly for us to achieve our goals.
Time123 (005b17) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:38 am@349
Missed this response…
I disagree 100%.
None of these proposal would’ve been foisted if SCOTUS ruled the way Democrats wants. Now that some constitutional rigor is being applied when writing these opinions, Democrats want to play calvinball here because…they’re constitutionally stupid.
All of this:
Requires constitutional amendment.
Good luck.
The real story is the insidious hypocrisy: When liberal jurist held the majority on the Supreme court, you didn’t hear a peep out of these people and seemed happy to use the courts to advance partisan policies that they couldn’t advance in Congress.
Yet, when a soft 6-3 (originalist/textualist) majority renders adverse rulings that Democrats don’t like… it’s a problem.
whembly (477db6) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:50 amAs if there was really any doubt:
whembly (477db6) — 7/30/2024 @ 11:04 amhttps://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1818335453998731495?s=12&t=LbMzhpSB3yC2zvXzo7p_lA
If we our suspect of Presidents getting up into their 80’s and being able to do the job, the same should hold with justices. I might be in favor of an age or years-served limit, but agree that in these hyper-partisan times, any structural amendment will be greeted with suspicion. This isn’t a pressing issue and the only reason we have the rush to modify the court is Dobbs….which any sane person should have seen coming as conservative jurists have been pushing for the result for 50 years and the legal justifications of Roe were always tenuous.
I’m of the view if people have a big problem with Thomas, then launch impeachment hearings. I don’t think anyone wants to do it because there’s probably no evidence that Thomas was influenced by his vacation benefactor…and in fact, his benefactor is far more moderate than Thomas. Though I believe that Thomas should err on the side of no appearance of conflicts of interest, most of the hair on fire is just normal politics of trying to spin up one’s base.
Now I might be persuaded that the court needs to grow in time as it seems like much more cases are in their purview than a 100 years ago. But any growth needs to be distributed over time so there is no appearance of packing. The sad reality is that the Court put itself in this pickle by inserting itself into culture war issues and removing them from the democratic process. The fact that the pendulum has finally swung in the opposite direction was predictable. Still, Biden playing to his base is also predictable. They are going to maximize angst about Dobbs and the existential fear of losing more liberties…and litter the field with dubious over-reactions. It’s all called politics…
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 7/30/2024 @ 11:22 amB I H: William L Calley Jr, 80, war criminal
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 11:43 amIt shouldn’t be the feckless State Department, it should be the DOD or CIA.
Pretty sure you misread that.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 11:46 amLikewise, Venezuela is in the US’ own back yard, and we should definitely be involved in ways to stabilize the region.
Where is the Monroe Doctrine when you need it?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 11:49 amIs someone contemplating armed interdiction? I would think that would be very complicated.
At this point it would be a lot like Operation Just Cause, with Maduro extradited to the United States for his drug crimes and crimes against humanity.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 11:55 am@400:
As a first move, the Court should adopt its own policy regarding incapacitated justices. Not sure what it would be, but it is best if it comes from the Court itself. In the past the Court has taken ad hoc action when things got embarrassing (e.g. William O Douglas), but there should be a testable standard.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 11:59 amVenezuela seems much more complicated and costly for us to achieve our goals.
I’d think that Panama 1989 would be a better comparison.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 12:00 pm@403
Absolutely.
Furthermore, Europe needs their own version of this doctrine that’s not simply NATO.
whembly (477db6) — 7/30/2024 @ 12:15 pmIt died with Castro, except for a brief comeback involving Reagan and Grenada.
Paul Montagu (da2e41) — 7/30/2024 @ 12:34 pmAnd Bush and Panama. But here you have China and Russia involved, which is exactly what the Doctine is about. As for Cuba, it was made immune through the Cuban Missile Crisis deal.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 1:32 pmYeah, please tell me again that her actions at her time as CA’s AG is “old news”:
whembly (477db6) — 7/30/2024 @ 1:39 pmhttps://x.com/voteharrisout/status/1817908443795071340?s=12&t=LbMzhpSB3yC2zvXzo7p_lA
LOL! For the past 65 years we have tolerated a real Communist dictatorship 90 miles off of Florida, and you want us involved in a country nearly 1,800 miles from Florida?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/30/2024 @ 1:49 pmLet Venezuela’s fellow Latin American countries deal with Maduro.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/30/2024 @ 1:51 pmSeymour Hersh has been making waves again lately.
BuDuh (863b2c) — 7/30/2024 @ 2:24 pm409. Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 1:32 pm
Khrushchev w=said in his memoirs that he only expected immunity for Cuba to last through the end of Kennedy’s second term or the beginning of 1969.
Incidentally, I read that 10% of the population of Cuba left the country in 2022-23. Not enough.
Here’s one source:
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article290249799.html
Over a slightly longer and somewhat different period of time, from October 2021 to June 2024, 645,122 Cubans came to the U.S. either seeking asylum at the border with Mexico or and through a legal parole program created by the Biden administration and there must be more standard immigration.
Cuba years ago, used to get immigrants, particularly from Spain, between about 1850 and 1930 (around which time immigration got heavily restricted worldwide) Many Cubans can trace fairly recent ancestry to Spain and that included Fidel Castro.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/30/2024 @ 3:36 pmBut then 10% of the population of Gaza left in the five years before the war (Hamas denies that) and that did not affect the continuation of the rule of Hamas..
I think you need more than 10% (10% over a period of time), and the leaving has to be easy, and assured of success and capable of being undertaken at the spur of the moment for a regime to fall.
In 1989 the end of the Berlin wall did lead to the toppling of the regime.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/30/2024 @ 3:36 pmNJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:18 am
No, they didn;t. at least not successfully. They tried. They excluded candidates and allowed many in order to split the vote.
But they didn’t rig the election.
They just flat out lied about the results. (Many other countries are
demandingrequesting that they show their work)The opposition said its monitors had acquired 73% of the ballot tabulation sheets and would soon make them public on a website Those sheets showed that Gonzalez received 6.3 million votes and Maduro 2.8 million. Maduro’s election officials claimed he received 4.4 million and got 51.2% of the vote. Voters can also check their votes by using their IDs and comparing them to the physical tally sheets the opposition digitized.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:05 pm364.
They’re overshooting their goals, and don’t realize it.
The former head of the Secret Service wanted 30% of the agents to be female by some date — yet over 50% of the class that graduated their training in 2021 was female.
Females don’t get so readily addicted to drugs, or diagnosed with something and dosed up with medications etc.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:12 pmThe FBI is absurd. They say they don’t know the motive; they speculate that the two explosive devices in Crooks’ car were intended as part of an escape plan (destroy his car and divert attention from him) rather than as a Plan B or Plan C that was not fully worked out; that there were 8 carridges rather than cartridge cases on the roof.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:16 pmIf you can vote for a senile old dead fool over trump you can vote for Harris. If not vote third party.
asset (e0182e) — 7/30/2024 @ 4:54 pm@411 “We” have tolerated a lot of things for a lot longer then 65 years. As tonto said to the lone ranger when they were surrounded by indians. “What you mean we white man!”
asset (e0182e) — 7/30/2024 @ 5:01 pmSo, I watched the Women’s Team Gymnastics competition (spoiler: the USA won). A few takeaways:
1. Simone Biles is great, but the team would have won without her.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 5:48 pm2. Nadia is still the greatest.
If you can vote for a senile old dead fool over trump you can vote for Harris.
Would easily vote for a bag of hammers over Trump. Sadly, Harris can do more damage than a bag of hammers.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 5:49 pmThose sheets showed that Gonzalez received 6.3 million votes and Maduro 2.8 million. Maduro’s election officials claimed he received 4.4 million and got 51.2% of the vote.
Well, Maduro did promise his supporters in 2013 “Vote for me and you will never have to vote again”. Their votes were counted even if they did not vote.
nk (e2b302) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:09 pmWell, Maduro did promise his supporters in 2013 “Vote for me and you will never have to vote again”.
Didn’t FDR say the same thing in 1936?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:12 pmIt’s too bad that’s not an option.
Would likely be better then anyone on the ballot.
Time123 (e549f0) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:27 pmWake Up, America
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Leadership That Embraces the Truth
Our nation needs a leader who destroys “reality” head-on. Cthulhu offers a bold, unflinching perspective that acknowledges the end is near. It’s time for a change that recognizes our bleak future and prepares us for it. We must wreck the world worse.
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Time123 (e549f0) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:32 pmAnd Cthulhu doesn’t flip flop. Ever.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:39 pmIgor seeks a brain for one candidate.
The other candidate seeks “braaaaiiins” as he shambles down the road.
Why not vote for the real monster?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:43 pmVenezuela’s military chief backs Maduro, calls protests a coup as new unrest expected over disputed election
Rip Murdock (989daf) — 7/30/2024 @ 6:56 pm@399 Kennedy’s interrogation merits a full viewing, not just about Trump’s injury and the ridiculous speculation Wray engaged in a few days ago. Kennedy also puts the deputy director on the spot about the $2 million reward handed to Stzrok and Page. The deputy first claims to not know anything about it, then volunteers that neither he nor Wray would have signed off on it, throwing Garland under the bus (where he belongs).
Kennedy then quizzes the new SS director about when the SS snipers first saw Crooks, and his answers reveal him to be as clueless as Cheatle. Really amazing how more than two weeks after an assassination, people paid to be in charge of getting to the bottom of it don’t know very basic details. The most incompetent administration in fifty years.
lloyd (b7e79b) — 7/30/2024 @ 7:36 pmJust a reminder that you can vote your way into socialism, but never vote your way out of it. And Kamala knows that too.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2024 @ 7:39 pmMike Lee on the clueless testimony of the acting SS Director:
lloyd (b7e79b) — 7/30/2024 @ 8:16 pmWhile I don’t approve of Americans assassinating leaders we don’t like–such as Maduro, Putin, etc.–because it’s illegal, but I don’t object to Israel killing off Hamas leadership, because they’re f-cking terrorists.
In that vein, I approve Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Haniyeh, and it makes it all the better that he met his maker in Tehran. I don’t call it an assassination because he’s a terrorist who runs a terrorist organization.
Israel seems to be sending a clear message that the days of anyone in Hamas leadership are numbered. May they do the same to Hezbollah if they keep up their attacks. And not only that, blow up their villas and mansions.
Paul Montagu (da2e41) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:13 pmHis death sentence was well deserved.
Paul Montagu (da2e41) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:17 pmWhile I don’t approve of Americans assassinating leaders we don’t like–such as Maduro, Putin, etc.–because it’s illegal
Is it? It’s only a presidential directive and those can be waived or amended by another president.
And besides, if the President orders it, it’s not illegal.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:26 pmthrowing Garland under the bus (where he belongs).
Maybe Biden ordered Garland to do it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:27 pmThe most incompetent administration in fifty years.
You have a higher opinion of bureaucracy than I do. I’d call it “normal.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/30/2024 @ 10:28 pmThe majority of this country is populist. Trump/democrats Only a majority of the wealthy are conservative. The smart top 1 % are democrats like bezos so they can protect their wealth. They don’t need to protect their wealth from republican party
asset (a182bc) — 7/30/2024 @ 11:16 pmMike Lee is full of it, but when hasn’t he been? Full of it.
Did the Secret Service pick the venue? You know, the one where Trump did his stage show? If they did, then they were responsible for picking one they could not adequately secure with the resources they had.
But I doubt that they did. Pick the venue. I think the orange fake picked the venue. For whatever reasons. And now he has his gerbils sniveling that the nannies did not adequately nanny Donnie when he decided to go to the sawmill and play with the buzzsaw.
nk (09140d) — 7/31/2024 @ 3:30 amJust a reminder that you can vote your way into socialism, but never vote your way out of it. And Kamala knows that too.
America has only seen that from Trump.
nk (09140d) — 7/31/2024 @ 4:35 amDoing whatever you can to deny reality so you can continue with your two minutes of hate.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/31/2024 @ 5:33 amWhat reality?
That in America only Trump refused to be voted out of office?
Or that socialism has gotten a lasting stranglehold only in Third World cesspools without a tradition of freedom and democracy but instead a history of tinpot dictators and strongmen?
nk (09140d) — 7/31/2024 @ 6:17 am@439 – the outdoor venues are chosen because Trump never paid his bills for the indoor venues from his past campaigns, making them demand payment up-front. So now he does outdoor venues, against the advice of the USSS, because he’s either a) too cheap to or b) too broke to pay for an indoor venue.
Sam G (3626e6) — 7/31/2024 @ 8:03 am400. the number of opinions written hasn’t grown over time, and all nine justices (or all on the court who have not recused themselves) must hear every case that comes up for argument.,
There are maybe more petitions, but since 1925, the court has had to hear appeals only where b4 justices agree to hear theem.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/31/2024 @ 8:17 amThe majority of this country is populist.
Don’t knock populism. Populism shattered the Soviet empire. Populism is Zelensky as much as it is Trump. When the elites fail, it is the People who finally chuck them out; the elites will just muddle on and fill their pockets some more.
Eventually we get new elites, again committed to governing for the whole nation. Until they too forget.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 8:20 amMike Lee is full of it, but when hasn’t he been? Full of it.
Says the guy peddling the ricochet/shrapnel/Trumpian-plot theories.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 8:23 am@442
You mean, what’s in your head? Or the true true reality?
If Trump to be lumped into that tinpot dictators and strongmen bucket, he’s an absolute failure of one. Since… ya know… he actually left office on time at the end of his 1st term.
Consider this: The administrative state, being 96% Democrat, would serves as a brake against a 2nd Trump administration and an accelerant for the 1st Harris administration.
I would argue this non-stop, that if you’re anywhere on the political spectrum of a classical liberal – to – the far right, you would be an absolute civic disaster in voting for Harris, simply because you think Trump is worst.
Harris, is the actual danger to our system of governance that those Never Trump groups often ignores.
whembly (477db6) — 7/31/2024 @ 8:24 amOr that socialism has gotten a lasting stranglehold only in Third World cesspools
Venezuela was a nice country once. Its third world status is very recent. Per capita GDP was about $15K when Maduro came to power.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 8:27 amTraditionally, socialism has meant workers owning the means of production. Are there examples of nations adopting it democratically, and then dropping it as the result of an election?
Sure.
Probably the best known is in the United Kingdom. In 1945, the UK replaced a coalition government, headed by Winston Churchill, with a Labour government headed by Clement Attlee. The new government kept its promise to nationalize much of the economy:
Churchill and the Conservatives were returned to office in 1951, with a very narrow majority. In succeeding elections, the Conservatives won more often than not, and slowly reversed much of that Labour nationalization, with big steps being taken by Margaret Thatcher.
Tony Blair broke with Labour tradition and forced a change in Clause IV. So, even the Labour Party is no longer officially socialist. (He won three elections in a row, partly as a result.)
Jim Miller (f904e9) — 7/31/2024 @ 8:45 amIn the United States it’s called ESOPs-Employee Stock Ownership Plans.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/31/2024 @ 9:13 amNews item: Harris to hold first rally with running mate Tuesday in Philadelphia
Speculation: Gov. Andy Beshear has received extra security protection.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/31/2024 @ 9:20 amI see the Democrat machine had their puppet suspend sanctions on Venezuela in return for a promise from Maduro to hold a free and fair election.
steveg (9a6398) — 7/31/2024 @ 9:26 amMaybe this has already been discussed, but this is very similar to how they handle Iran- they keep doubling down on stupid. Which brings me to candidate Harris. She will bring more of this.
I’d say chances of us being drawn into a war under Harris due to doubled down stupidities are quite high.
I first heard the fallacy that right-wing dictatorships evolve into democracy while communist ones never do from William F. Buckley, Jr. on Firing Line while he was interviewing a Pinochet apologist. It was boot-licking horsesh!t then, and it remains self-serving horsesh!t now, to any person with a historical perspective longer than his baseball team’s pennant win.
nk (b985a8) — 7/31/2024 @ 9:38 amI never peddled them, I only voiced one and not particularly insistently; but Melania as Bathsheba now opens up a whole new realm of possibilities that I had not thought of. (And will not voice. Use your own imaginations.)
nk (b985a8) — 7/31/2024 @ 9:44 amGov. Andy Beshear has received extra security protection.
Beshear is a moderate, except on topics that the Party demands conformity, like abortion and trans.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:00 amYou keep flogging the point that he left office as if his last minute capitulation to the will of the people excuses or disproves his attempt to steal the election. By this same logic someone seeking to flee a traffic stop could say they eventually pulled over so there shouldn’t be any consequences for the bad acts they committed prior to that.
It’s not very persuasive to anyone that’s looked at (or remembers) what Trump and the GOP were doing at that time. But I suspect it sounds good to people that already agree with you.
Time123 (316585) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:01 amMelania as Bathsheba
I’d call that heresy. At best.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:01 amI’d say chances of us being drawn into a war under Harris due to doubled down stupidities are quite high.
Not a chance. She’d just offer them more. Maybe Iran would like Idaho.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:03 amBy this same logic someone seeking to flee a traffic stop could say they eventually pulled over so there shouldn’t be any consequences for the bad acts they committed prior to that.
Don’t give them ideas.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:09 amIt’s not very persuasive to anyone that’s looked at (or remembers) what Trump and the GOP were doing at that time.
No, but there are people view it as less important than you do. There are things that Harris could say or do that would have even you agreeing it was not more important.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:11 am@456
…and you keep flogging the point that Trump’s bad behaviors amounts to arguments akin to “tinpot dictatorship and strongmans”.
At the end of the day, it was nothing more than a failed effort to contest an election, rather than something remotely akin to what’s Madaro’s government is doing.
Claims otherwise remains… unconvincing.
whembly (477db6) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:20 am@ Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:11 am
That’s a different argument. If someone wants to say “Trump tried to steal the election and failed but I think he’s a better choice then Harris.” They’re free to do so and explain their reasoning. But trying to pretend he didn’t try to steal the election is to quote Whembly, “Pissing on my leg and telling me it’s raining”
Time123 (d6bef1) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:22 am@461 I suppose if you include illegal schemes as part of “contest an election” that statement is true. But usually when people say they’re contesting an election they’re referring to legal means.
My point is simple, Trump attempted to steal the presidency after losing the election and to this day continues to perpetuate his lie that the vote count was fraudulent. This is disqualifying to a degree that I will vote for a candidates I dislike in order to prevent him for having the opportunity to commit similar acts in the future.
I’m not well versed in how Maduro stole his election so I have no idea how it was similar / dissimilar to Trump’s attempt.
I do have to note that while you repeatedly use the “he left office” as a way to dismiss his attempt to steal the election you don’t seem to be defending that idea.
Time123 (d6bef1) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:29 am@463 Time… do you consider contesting an election “an attempt to steal the election”… or no?
whembly (477db6) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:53 am@451
…if I were Harris, it’s Shapiro or bust.
PA is *the* must have state for Harris to prevail.
whembly (477db6) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:58 amYou’re playing vocabulary games with contested. Instead of summarizing to a single word and then debating if that single word is bad or not let’s be clear on what Trump did.
I think there’s plenty of evidence available to reasonably conclude:
Trump lied about the election being decided by fraud
Trump pressured state elected officials to invalidate the lawful results despite their assurances that the vote totals were correct and fair.
Trump had slates of false electors created and submitted to congress
Trump pressured the VP to refuse to recognize the lawful results
Trump attempted to delay certifications of the electoral college count to avoid having his opponent lawfully recognized as the winner through several schemes.
Trump pushed forward a number of schemes where the decision would not be made by the electoral college but instead by acts of congress that would likely result is his favor.
Trump stood silently by for hours while his supporters violently attacked the police and seized the US capital. I don’t know what his intent was for this innaction, but some of the possible outcomes of this riot could have furthered his scheme to steal the election.
I don’t think the actions above are reasonably summarized as “contested”. Maybe if you add “criminally” or “Unlawfully” or maybe even “treasonously” before the word contested.
But as contested alone could be also mean asking for a routine recount of a close vote total I don’t think it’s a useful way to describe what Trump did.
Time123 (d6bef1) — 7/31/2024 @ 11:10 amContested is a neat rhetorical trick.
1. Trump did things that could be described as contested.
2.Many people have contested election results in the past. It’s a normal part of the electoral process and shouldn’t be held against the candidates.
3. Contesting elections is a normal and harmless thing to do.
4. Therefore what Trump did is a normal part of the electoral process and should not be held against him.
Time123 (d6bef1) — 7/31/2024 @ 11:14 am@466, exactly!
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 7/31/2024 @ 11:17 amFrom my source in Kentucky…me. Andy Beshear received extra state police protection as Governor due to threats he’s received as a potential VP pick.
He’s not going to be the VP pick.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 11:58 amIf Trump thought he could keep some women or folks with a higher melanin counts…yeah, he can kiss that goodbye.
Although, his alt-right superfans probably think it’s great. Look how brave Trump was to go to a black journalists convention and be rude and racist to their face.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 12:23 pmKlink, maybe it will help Trump shore up his support with the Nick Fuentes wing of the party?
Time123 (ae7b06) — 7/31/2024 @ 12:44 pmMakes you wonder why, with so much overwhelming evidence it took so long for any prosecution to get rolling. He should have been charged with everything very early in 2021.
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 12:50 pmIt appears Klunk spent less time reviewing this event than he did with his bleach bunk.
But raycus!!
Derp.
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 12:52 pmWell Butt duh, It’s nice to see that you continue to align with the dumb, I’m sure you’d love to still be able to own Harris. Cool.
I know playing a moron on the internet is your thing, but care to actually try something other than your typical schtick?
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:10 pmHow about we switch gears? Let’s talk about the Big Block Olds that is the same engine as a Big Block Chevy. It must be rare. Tell me more.
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:19 pmBuDuh. Thank you for your implied agreement with me that the evidence is clear.
Time123 (2c27e7) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:33 pmWhere do you think the prosecutors went wrong, Time?
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:38 pmI couldn’t tell you. If you find any information to base a conclusion on feel free to share it. Would be an interesting read.
Time123 (2c27e7) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:40 pmPontiac, Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, and Olds, are all GM. Each brand had uniquely branded, and in some cases unique bore and stroke, but had common blocks, transmissions, and engine accessories. In fact, in the 1970’s GM had to settle a class action suit because they were advertising the Buick Rocket 350 for some Cutlass models, but instead installing Chevy’s 350HO, in the late 70’s they just pulled the bandaid off. All the blocks were the same, so why have slightly different bore and stroke with unique pistons etc, when it didn’t actually provide any difference and complicated service. A 454 and 455 were the same, but different, and the important part is they bolted into the chassis and transmission identically.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:41 pmThat is a punt. LOL.
Thank you for your implied agreement that the evidence was overwhelming but not of an impressive quality.
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:42 pmThen what is a B.O.P TH400?
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:44 pmSo they all had the distributor hole in the back of the block?
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:48 pmAll th400’s are the same except for the bellhousing case shape difference and the length of the output shaft. The internals are the same, you can swap with a caddy/chevy or vice versa.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:51 pmSo Buick-Olds-Pontiac Turbo 400s are not a thing?
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 1:59 pmYou are struggling here.
Which is it?
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:03 pmIt is unreasonable to suppose that he did not know these claims were wrong, by the way he quickly dropped them, and then raised them again someplace else, and especially because of his claims that everybody knew that when many people told him they did agree. He also was wont to claim he won by a landslide. Maybe he’s beginning to drop, or at least soft peddle, these claims now.
Not a crime, though.
The question is: How much pressure? He never broke character.
These are the sorts of things that could be grounds for impeachment, if carried on too much, but not for criminal indictment.
Not a crime (unless you want to consider people signing false declarations) They would have no value unless upheld by a legal process. Some of the wrong electors thought their votes would only be used if the challenge to the others was upheld but there was some attempt to try use them anyway.
Protected by the first amendment right to petition – or else is every cockamamie legal claim a crime? The pressure did not rise to the level of extortion.
Yes, except that it would NOT likely result in his favor. And it didn’t.
Not true. This is the false January 6 committee narrative.
It took about an hour to become apparent that the assault was serious because it interrupted business in Congress. He did not expect that, and the proof is that he had intended to go to the Capitol himself and address the crowd.
Pete Buttigieg was on Fox News Sunday I think (cannot find transcript) claiming like they did at the first impeachment trial that Trump lied to the crowd about being there – but he’s the only one still saying that – he must not be up to date – up to 2023 – on that.
That’s the first hour. Trump’s first concern when he heard about the disturbance was that this was spoiling his Parliamentary maneuvers and he talked to Senator Tommy Tuberville, urging him not to abandon his objection to the votes of some state.
But it took less than another hour for Trump to issue a tweet urging his supporters to remain peaceful and not attack the police.
What took longer was to get him to issue a tweet calling upon them to disperse altogether.
Nobody was asking him to send people to help the police – they just said that they would listen to him if he told them to leave.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:04 pmHow could anyone tell the difference if, as you claim, they had “common blocks, transmissions, and engine accessories?”
I am not sure if this is the story that your class action comment is in reference to, but it seems relevant:
So…. the engines and the accessories were the same with the exception of fundamental items like oil filters and belts?
Do you really want to continue? I think everyone has probably seen enough. Maybe not though…
Start with Hemmings if you want to educate yourself on GM.
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:10 pmSenate Majority Leader Charles (Chuck) Schumer was still pushing the August 7 deadline in Ohio lie on CBS Face the Nation and it has gone far. It was even echoed on the 5:30 pm news on WABC radio by Rota Cosby yesterday (or maybe the day before)
He did it with a twist, saying that Trump has about 10 days to replace Vance.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chuck-schumer-face-the-nation-transcript-07-28-2024
Trying (a longshot) to get Trump to drop Vance)
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:10 pmRepublican talk radio says that Democrats decided to go with the word “weird” to describe Vance. By the same token, Republican talk radio seems to have sent out a talking point that Democrats decided to go with the word “weird” to describe Vance.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:12 pmYou may have me on this one. Did Buick make a “Rocket” badged engine?
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:15 pm@466
Oh… you mean like labeling what transpired at J6 as an insurrection, or nah?
He’s free to make that claim.
No one, and I challenge YOU this too, knows for sure if:
a) fraud even happened, and
b) even if it did happen, did it materially impact the election.
The way our election is designed in the various states, especially the COVID-era mail-in ballots, its impossible (imo) to make any determination either way.
But, Trump and his supports are free to make that claim.
That doesn’t make it a lie.
Again, Trump and any other Americans are allowed to challenge any election.
I feel like it’s your animus of Trump, and your outrage over what transpired on J6 has influenced your position.
But, if you take an honest, clinical look at 2020, Trump probably has some reason to doubt the result, but really didn’t have a great avenue to contest it.
Largely because it was ALWAYS a futile effort and no one likes a sore loser.
You’re ALLOWED to have alternate slates of electors.
The only legal shenigans that I’m aware of is one state electors actually tried to submit their alternate slate as the REAL one. To me that’s perjury.
But, I’ve yet seen any evidence that shows that Trump, himself, was *in* on that particular conspiracy.
Yes, it was based on a really flawed legal premise. But, let’s say VP Pence refused to count the vote.
Then what?
You act like it would be a foregone conclusion that he’d overturn the election at that point. The reality was, that there was NO WHERE NEAR enough votes (via the Electoral Count Act at the time) to even consider the alternate slates. I don’t think he even had 10% of the vote in Congress.
Yes, based on a ridiculous legal theory.
But, ultimate the system held.
Actually, the riot on J6 impeded Trump’s efforts to challenge the election. He wanted the Electoral Count Act to be invoked in a way to bring up alternate slates or give him time to investigate the state outcomes.
I don’t think the actions above are reasonably summarized as “contested”. Maybe if you add “criminally” or “Unlawfully” or maybe even “treasonously” before the word contested.
No… wouldn’t add any of your superlative. That would be unreasonable.
I think it’s totally a useful way.
Way more apt that calling it illegal or insurrection-y.
whembly (477db6) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:16 pmNo punt.
I don’t know if they slow walked the investigation, spent a lot of time pursing dead ends, it was harder to get the information gathered then it appears after the fact, if they let the congressional investigation delay them, were just bad at their jobs, or if this timing is typical or reasonable.
Since I don’t have any data, and since there are multiple plausible explanation I’m not making any conclusions.
But the evidence available at this point in time is compelling.
Time123 (d6bef1) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:17 pmThanks, Time.
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:18 pmTime123 (d6bef1) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:29 am
Maduro, basically, just simply lied about the results.
Voters have the ability to request to see the tally sheets for their voting location and the opposition has a lot of them.
Maduro is also accusing the opposition of hacking and talking of investigating them and having people talk about arresting the leading members of the opposition.
The latest:
https://apnews.com/article/colombia-president-maduro-vote-count-venezuela-election-00d399b74300b6d1ed010bed9539a166
They are close to him but their own countries are pretty democratic and they can’t endorse Maduro’s victory without cover.
And some people have been arrested and some people have died.
For that matter, back in April, an opposition figure residing in Chile was assassinated – maybe singled out because he was a former member of the military and might influence some people, or might bring trouble to somebody minor who was corrupt and working with Tren de aragua? Or maybe they’re afraid to touch more important figures?
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:35 pmTrump was indicted based on novel legal theories.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:37 pmMaduro got in trouble by the mere fact of holding an election.
That’s always the most dangerous period for a dictatorship.
he might have had more success declaring himself Emperor. If we still had emperors.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:40 pmIsrael made one attack in Beirut killing the second in command of Hezbollah who is believed to responsible for the attack that killed the boy playing soccer (it also killed three innocent people)
There was also an attack in Iraq.
And the top Hamas political leader who resides in Qatar and who was in Iran for the inauguration of the new Iranian president, who was a guest of the Iranian government along with representatives from Hezbollah Islamic Jihad and the Houthis, was killed by a missile attack 2 am Iran time.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:44 pmA bodyguard was killed also.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:44 pmAlso, Trump looked like a whiny karen at that event. Why does the manly man always complain about how these ladies are so mean to him? Boo hoo, what a pansy.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:45 pmWhembly Wrote:
I’ve said repeatedly that calling it an insurrection is pointless and that we should describe it plainly; Many hundreds of Trump supporting republicans marched to the capital, violently assaulted the police, broke in, and seized control of the building to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. I’m being consistent here.
To date no evidence has been produced of fraud in any significant amount. You’re free to say no one knows what happened about anything ever, but the election was fair and free by the legal standards in place at the time. After going through the entire process, with legal challenges, the burden to show that the outcome was determined by fraud is whoever is claiming there was fraud.
Sophistry and BS. Every system has flaws and trade offs between competing goals. Trump (and others) had their opportunity to challenge those prior to the election.
I suppose as long as you keep your claims at the philosophical level that’s true. It’s also as pointless as Stacy Abram’s claims that her losses were illegitimate because the elections we’re ‘fair’ along racial lines. You’re in terrible company with this approach.
He lose the vote and tried to get GA officials to fake the results. He’s allowed to do this, especially after the SC decision, but it’s not right and I don’t want a person who would try to subvert the will of the voters in this way to be president. YMMV.
You’ve got it backwards. This is the cause of much of my animus.
He was President of the United States.
The DOJ worked for him and was lead by a highly competent and partisan man (Barr) who has demonstrated a powerful drive to fight the Dems using every tool at his disposal.
GA an AZ are governed by Republicans who supported Trump.
The MI and WI legislatures were Republican controlled.
He had standing in every court in the land.
He raised 100 Million dollars for the effort, and is a billionaire.
He had every legal avenue available to him and the financial resources to put 1,000 lawyers and investigators in every close state. He had no roadblocks in legally contesting the election and used several of them. (Recounts in GA, AZ, and Some WI counties for example as well as numerous lawsuits)
Trump had slates of false electors created and submitted to congress
They created alternate slates and had them certified in an effort to create the impression that the results for the states were contested. This is not allowed and was part of the scheme to steal the office. Some were also submitted to congress which is a crime.
Why do you say “Shenaigans” when you mean “crime”
You can read this and decide for yourself if it’s reasonable to assume he was ignorant of what was being done.
His lack of competence or success doesn’t make it less wrong.
Time123 (d6bef1) — 7/31/2024 @ 2:46 pmKlink, start you journey here.
Interesting comments.
BuDuh (2bfca0) — 7/31/2024 @ 3:02 pmUgh. Sorry about the typos. Please let me know if they make it hard to follow what I’m trying to say.
Time123 (69d829) — 7/31/2024 @ 3:19 pm@500
Time… you & I can find a lot of common grounds on this.
I think where we differ, is that you think it “crosses that line” that you cannot bring yourself to vote for the guy.
Fine. That’s your opinion.
Just as I have mine.
My perspective is that I will never have a politician whom I can 100% be assured would advance my preferred agendas. I wanted to vote for DeSantis in the primary, and would GLADLY vote for any other non-Trump candidate had they won the primary. My guy lost. So, I gotta deal with it.
Furthermore, I don’t view POTUS as some sort of position worthy of adulation or respect. They’re politicians after all! (I respect the office… just not the person). It’s just a job, and important one, yes… but its still, just a job.
So, on the one hand, I can recognize whenever a politician does something “bad” and criticize freely.
On the other hand, I can separate the person from the office and focus on the likely policies such candidate’s administration would advance.
It’s transactional. I would argue our politics would be much, much better if everyone based their vote in a transactional manner. But, that’s a different topic.
You and I are likely going to irritate each other because we don’t even agree on each other’s premise, that is largely opinion based. (ie, contesting vs insurrection-y)
So, please understand that we’re going to butt heads, but it’s in no way meaning I dislike anyone for having different perspectives.
whembly (477db6) — 7/31/2024 @ 3:23 pmThank you all for again demonstrating what a total cluster-uck this election is.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 3:58 pmTrump’s statements in that interview are poor, but he’s not the first person to say that Harris’ black cred was minimal. He MAY be the first white person to say that.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 3:59 pmLA Times headline:
Trump, in contentious interview, makes false claim about Kamala Harris’ Black identity
Whenever I see the MSM make these screeching sounds about how something MUST BE false, I suspect that propaganda is coming.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 4:25 pmYou could, I don’t know, watch it yourself.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 4:44 pmWhembly, One of my non-negotiable policy requirements is that the president exit office when they lose an election. Trump attempted to keep the office through fraud and illegal schemes.
I understand that in your opinion attempting to steal the office of the presidency isn’t as big a deal as other policy preferences and we differ on that. Thank you for making that clear.
Time123 (2fd275) — 7/31/2024 @ 6:40 pmYou could, I don’t know, watch it yourself.
One of the biggest reasons I won’t vote for Trump is I’d have to hear him talk a lot if he won. My jibe is at the news media and their apparent need to have their thumb on every scale.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 6:55 pmI can make a reasonable case that we are where we are because of the malfeasance of the media, from Fox to MSNBC and from the WSJ to the Washington Post. And it’s not getting any better; their whole business plan is “Let’s you and him fight!”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 6:58 pmI sat through the whole thing, like the health briefings, and its illuminating. If you can keep yourself from breaking your TV or having an aneurysm.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 7:00 pmDid you make it through the 10.5 minutes of how incredibly wrong you are regarding GM engines?
BuDuh (59022b) — 7/31/2024 @ 7:26 pm@512 I would expect a group of Black journalists to be representative of “women or folks with a higher melanin counts” like a group of White journalists are representative of white folks. Or maybe you’re one of the non-racists who believes all higher melanin counts people think the same.
lloyd (748cb0) — 7/31/2024 @ 7:34 pmButt Duh, one of us have swapped engines quite a number of times, one of us hasn’t. An A-Body is an A-Body is an A-Body. But you, being the one who has done it, probably knows all about it.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/31/2024 @ 7:49 pmA body isn’t mentioned in the video, Klink. Just engines and their obvious differences.
Only 10.5 min… give it a look. Your cocktail party knowledge will improve immensely.
BuDuh (59022b) — 7/31/2024 @ 7:59 pmLurker,
I released your comment.
Dana (b3e249) — 7/31/2024 @ 8:09 pm@lloyd@515 Generally speaking, a black journalist is probably more likely to ask questions relevant to black people than a white journalist. A woman journalist is probably more likely to ask questions relevant to women just because of personal experience. Just like, for example, a journalist with some kind of personal or familial agricultural background might be more likely to ask a politician about a bill regarding a farmer’s right to repair their tractor than a journalist who grew up in an urban professional family and has always been an urban professional. That doesn’t mean that journalists don’t or can’t ask questions outside their areas of relevant interests, but they are less likely to.
Nic (120c94) — 7/31/2024 @ 9:31 pmThere are rumblings of a major prisoner swap with the Russian terrorist state, which may include Gershkovich. Fingers crossed.
Paul Montagu (179100) — 7/31/2024 @ 9:39 pmPrisoner swaps with the Russian (or any) terrorist state will encourage only more hostage taking.
Rip Murdock (f4023e) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:23 pmIf these exchanges go through, there’s no reason to criticize the Griner/Bout exchange.
No thanks.
Rip Murdock (f4023e) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:30 pmBiden could order Seal Team 6 to kidnap Russian oligarchs and hold them in black sites in Saudi. Enough of that and Putin’s interest in this crap would fade.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/31/2024 @ 10:52 pmWhy would you want to vote out social security and medicare unless your wealthy and they are socialism. As for voting out trumpsters say our elections are stolen. Paying taxes is cheaper then what happens to the rich when they can no longer control the government so they don’t have to pay high taxes. The rich cubans wanted batista and they got castro & che. Be careful what you wish for. Remember what the poor want to do to the rich.
asset (503f8a) — 8/1/2024 @ 12:08 amThanks, Dana.
lurker (c23034) — 8/1/2024 @ 1:22 amKamala Harris is bi-racial….SHOCKER!
It only takes a moment to understand what Trump was up to. He needed attention. This was a venue that was going to guarantee it.
Now, what exactly did the forum expect? And why does the other media give him exactly what he wanted? Trump’s comment was pretty dumb. What he did or didn’t know about her matters why?
The implication is that Harris is somehow falsely or disingenously using her “blackness” for political gain. But this nugget is thrown out there by a guy that regulary throws out ludicrous gossip. This is his MO. It should turn people off but 9 years later you will still find Republicans who will tie themselves up in knots to rationalize and defend it…or at minimum distract attention over to what he REALLY meant to be talking about…..inflation, immigration, Afghanistan, crime. Just watch Tom Cotton at “work”.
Trump just makes us all that much dumber. Some here will applaud that he’s figured out and successfully marketed what dumb people want to hear. Oh, but there’s always a sliver of “he’s onto something”. No, he’s marketed reactionism. Ultimately putting a character-addled man-child doing his best WWE immitation of a President in the White House will create a crisis. I just don’t want to hear the rationalizing and excusing afterwards. The GOP won’t clean its house if Trump continues to be tolerated….
AJ_Liberty (452920) — 8/1/2024 @ 4:09 amPretty rough calling this group of gentlemen “dumb.”
Klink should be along soon insinuating that racism might have had a play in your comment.
FOR THE RECORD, I, IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM, HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE ANY RACIST CHARGE AGAINST YOU. I think you are an astute honest broker.
BuDuh (59022b) — 8/1/2024 @ 6:47 amhttps://x.com/greg_price11/status/1818704242258956409
The would be assassin was clearly visible running across the roof minutes before he tried to murder Trump. There is no innocent explanation for this. The government is lying as they testify to Congress.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 8/1/2024 @ 7:04 amSomehow “DON’T” did not get into my disclaimer at 6:47. To be clear “I DON’T HAVE ANY REASON….”
BuDuh (4214e4) — 8/1/2024 @ 7:18 amThat possibly makes it less clear. Hopefully it is understood that I don’t think AJ is racist.
Additionally, here is the correct video for the question as to whether these gentlemen are “dumb people.”
BuDuh (4214e4) — 8/1/2024 @ 7:24 am“The government is lying as they testify to Congress.”
I don’t think the government is like the Borg. There are a hand full of people who likely messed up badly…..and probably not for nefarious reasons…though obviously that element should be teased out.
Obviously by what has been reported there was a serious communication problem, a problem with an oddly-acting attendee not being confronted or given more attention, and an optimal over-look not being controlled or occupied. Questions I have are: was this the first time this has happened and what broke in the process? Incompetent people need to be fired or demoted.
People will try and cover their butts and shift blame. This is one case where there shouldn’t be any partisan positioning. The institution does not need to be burned down because mistakes were made.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 8/1/2024 @ 7:34 amNJRob
You realize that conspiracies cut both ways on the Trump assassination attempt. The other side conspiracy is that the assassin was a false flag patsy that the Trump people put in place to garner sympathy for Trump with the support of Trump partisans in the Secret Service. That guy being allowed to run across the roof supports that theory too.
Successful conspiracies are rare. Incompetence is common.
Appalled (5c2475) — 8/1/2024 @ 8:31 amIs incompetence, human error, and poor processes an innocent explanation?
I feel like there’s this push to assume that the SS is perfect and conclude that any gaps in security are evidence of malice.
I understand the political benefit of this narrative but I don’t want to see the accusations being so outlandish that when the answer comes back that the SS was ‘only’ doing a terrible job it looks like an exoneration and diminishes or impedes the necessary improvements. It also creates incentives for the Party In Power to protect and cover for the SS.
My going in philosophy here is “Don’t attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity, without evidence.”
Time123 (d6bef1) — 8/1/2024 @ 8:31 amI’d go with incompetence, but it’s at a stunning level.
Before seeing that video of the shooter running into position, which anyone looking for shooters on rooftops would have seen, I would have laughed at those who suggest that Trump was set up.
Now I am not so sure.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 8:59 am“Don’t attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity, without evidence.”
Hanlon’s Razor is generally right, but not always. And that video of the shooter MOVING across the rooftop should have had a dozen SS agents hustling Trump off-stage. His feet might not have touched the ground. Each agent needs to be interrogated in depth.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 9:02 amRussia has released WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich and others in a lopsided prisoner exchange with the West:
As the history of Israeli prisoner swaps has demonstrated, exchanging prisoners, particularly when the exchanges benefit the the terrorist hostage takers, will only encourage more hostage taking.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 8/1/2024 @ 9:02 amAs for the prisoner exchange, it would have been fitting if they’d injected Krasikov with ricin.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 9:10 amTwo unserious ideas.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 8/1/2024 @ 9:26 amhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-13697255/Algerian-boxer-Imane-Khelif-wins-fight-Olympics-cleared-compete-womens-event-despite-eligibility-row-Italian-opponent-abandons-bout-46-seconds.html
East German women’s team was before their time. Should’ve just had men.
NJRob (b0988d) — 8/1/2024 @ 9:27 amAppalled,
I realize the left is delusional yes. I don’t expect anyone to do anything but deride them. I know that the stunning failures that led to the attempt on Trump’s life in addition to the continual coverup will rationally lead to people wondering what they are hiding.
Trump came within a half inch of having his head blown apart and the government knew there was a clear and present danger to his life. They chose not to react.
Why?
NJRob (b0988d) — 8/1/2024 @ 9:31 am@533 19 days later we don’t have answers to very basic questions. Cheatle estimated it would take 60 days to figure it out. Even Democrats were outraged at that, but it may turn out to be overly optimistic. This will be attributed to stupidity and incompetence, which strains credulity.
The SS brass knows what happened. They’re just trying to work out a soft landing best achieved as the media focuses away, which the media started doing the moment they realized Trump didn’t fall down because of popping noises.
lloyd (f9cbdd) — 8/1/2024 @ 9:50 amEverything outside the perimeter was an afterthought, and they had gone so many years without a serious event that they could deteriorate and nobody would notice or listen if anyone did,
This kind of thing has happened before. It did with destruction of two space shuttles, in 1986 and in 2003. Does anyone think that any person wanted those astronauts dead?
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:05 amhttps://nypost.com/2024/08/01/us-news/jordanian-migrants-who-tried-to-breach-quantico-base-freed-on-bail/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=nypost
Supoort the Biden/Harris team and get terroriats roaming free in the US.
Choose w8sely.
NJRob (b0988d) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:26 am@542 None of those astronauts were running for president, on a platform targeting the padded jobs of a ton of bureaucrats — the sort of bureaucrats showing their worth in this massively botched operation and investigation.
lloyd (f9cbdd) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:27 amSammy,
your assertions, like when you asserted it was a shard of the teleprompter that struck Trump, are made without a shred of evidence.
Come up with conclusions based on the current evidence provided.
Thanks
NJRob (b0988d) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:28 am#341
There is an animation here that shows how the Secret Service could have missed seeing the guy:
https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/trump-shooter-video-watch-roof-thomas-crooks-3nbf2xlkx
Seems like there were trees in the way of the sharpshooters. (Yes, very lame)
Appalled (88a1a3) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:33 amOne thing I’ve learned in the last few years is that it’s a good idea to wait until the investigation is complete before concluding what happened. Sometimes it turns out it’s exactly what it looked like (Floyd). Other times it turns out to be nothing like it initially looked (Ritter).
Especially when we’re talking about *why* ppl made the mistakes.
Time123 (316585) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:44 amInteresting animation, Appalled. I wonder why it doesn’t include the line of sight of the sharpshooter that popped Crooks’ head?
Some might call that glaring oversight to be just another goof-up by some lazy reporters.
BuDuh (59022b) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:46 am@546 Appalled, there were at least two pairs of snipers. That video shows only one. Also, the highest point, the water tower, was inexplicably unoccupied.
And, from that article:
“The Secret Service admitted last week that it had refused requests for additional security for the Trump campaign over the past two years, citing limited resources.”
That admission is in contrast to the many forceful denials we had heard from the administration, denials that were bought by so many.
lloyd (f5184a) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:49 am@547 Time123, if you go back to the thread on the day of the assassination, you would find me saying exactly that. Problem is, so far everything that the Trump camp said in the immediate aftermath has been shown to be true. Take for example the BBC interview with the MAGA eyewitness, which many tried to discredit. It was spot on. The claims that requests for enhanced security and drones were denied — all true. Nineteen days is plenty of time to get to the bottom of this. Any speculation at this point is at the invitation of this bungling and/or malicious administration.
lloyd (e5222e) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:55 amLloyd and Buduh
Here is more about the tree:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-rally-shooting-tree-snipers-analysis-video-satellite-imagery-cbs-news/
Lloyd’s right that the other snipers should have seen the guy, if they were tasked wth looking that direction. (Their assignment may have been different.)
The slow pace of the investigation is an invitation for folks of all stripes to invent conspiracies. Idle hands create mischief, and all that.
Appalled (88a1a3) — 8/1/2024 @ 11:18 amThis is the quintessential empty boast…
Everyone hostage negotiation with the Russian terrorist regime involves an exchange. The reason this deal involved multiple countries is that we didn’t have enough Russia spies to give back.
I agree with Rip that these hostage deals only incent the hostage takers to take more hostages. What this means is that, for any American who values his/her freedom, don’t go to sheetholes like Russia, Iran, North Korea, etc.
Paul Montagu (179100) — 8/1/2024 @ 11:26 amEh.
Paul Montagu (179100) — 8/1/2024 @ 11:28 amEvery
one…Paul, he will have never said that, by tomorrow.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 12:18 pmI’m happy for Gershkovich and his family. If we don’t, we need to prohibit any citizens from visiting the axis of evil.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 8/1/2024 @ 12:23 pmMost (U.S. allied?) reporters left Russia after the Ukraanian invasion
Sammy Finkelman (e0dccb) — 8/1/2024 @ 1:06 pmhttps://www.newser.com/story/353812/one-mystery-solved-about-hamas-leaders-killing.html
According to both the New York Times and CNN.
More:
They couldn’t know his room weeks ago for sure, so something must have been done recently, but the bomb must have been located past the place people get searched.
Also:
https://www.newser.com/story/353761/israel-elusive-hamas-commander-is-dead.html
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 8/1/2024 @ 1:30 pmDo you know – I didn’t – that there was a (small) anti-Israel protest encampment for six months outside Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s home in Northern Virginia? It was cleared last Friday.
https://jewishinsider.com/2024/08/tony-blinken-home-protesters-encampment-gaza-israel-cease-fire
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 8/1/2024 @ 1:50 pmhttps://www.csis.org/analysis/can-maduro-pull-mother-all-electoral-frauds
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/world/americas/venezuela-election-maduro-power.html
That’s what he did – except he couldn’t figure out in time a way to semi-plausibly fix it.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 8/1/2024 @ 3:14 pmThis time, Maduro accused the opposition of hacking the votes somehow and complained that Carter Presidential Center, which had tolerated two previous frauds in Venezuela, hadn’t joined with Donald Trump in criticizing the legitimacy of the 2020 U.S. election!
Yes, Maduro is saying absolutely crazy things.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/31/world/americas/venezuela-election-carter-center-democracy.html
!!!!!
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 8/1/2024 @ 3:15 pm@540 the deep state does not like trump. Why should they?
asset (e1601d) — 8/1/2024 @ 3:31 pmAppalled (88a1a3) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:33 am
The sniper who shot him had Crooks in his sights at 6:05 (maybe without his rifle – ad did he lose him for a while?) and shot him after he suddenly opened fire at 6:11. He was visible with a rifle for a good minute or two.
There was no good communication between the police at the scene and the Secret Service. They were communicating mainly or entirely by text message.
At 5:38 one sends a message saying:
Crooks might have had lots of practice in avoiding detection in gaming simulations.
There was a competing priority for the Secret Service that day – a 400-person event featuring Jill Biden held indoors in a casino ballroom in Pittsburgh. It got 12 extra Secret Service personnel while Trump’s rally got only three extra. But they would only have been used for more metal detectors and bomb sniffing because the Secret Service was evidently thinking almost entirely of close-up ground level attacks.
By the way a man with a long gun was spotted near the White House on January 6, 2021 and apparently not disturbed.
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/28/1108387054/trump-said-he-knew-jan-6-crowd-members-had-weapons-ex-white-house-aide-testified
That’s the crowd by the Ellipse, not the Capitol.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/organizers-jan-6-rally-withheld-information-changed-security/story?id=105747804
` (e4ef09) — 8/1/2024 @ 4:23 pmIn Butler Pennsylvania, for the Trump rally July 13 the Secret Service turned down the offer of a local police department to use a drone.
Probably, I would guess, because they weren’t vetted.
Crooks’ drone, which he flew way outside – 200 yards away from the stage – did not bother them I suppose, because they were not asked to pre-approve it.
` (e4ef09) — 8/1/2024 @ 4:25 pm‘ was me. I accidentally erased my name.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 8/1/2024 @ 4:25 pmhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13693959/payton-mcnabb-volleyball-player-paralyzed-brain-damage-transgender.html
Reminder that pretending boys can be girls destroys real lives.
NJRob (b0988d) — 8/1/2024 @ 5:25 pmIn more uplifting news, Simone Biles won her second career Gold Medal in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around; her ninth career Olympic medal; and sixth Olympic Gold.
And Katie Ledecky became the most decorated American female Olympian of all time, winning her 13th career medal (silver) in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay. On Wednesday, she won Gold in the 1,500-meter freestyle, her signature race in which she owns the 20 fastest times in history, in a race that she dominated so much that she was swimming one way while all the others behind her were going the opposite direction. She will be swimming in the 800m freestyle on Saturday.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 8/1/2024 @ 6:15 pmImane Khelif Wins First-Ever Gold Medal In Freestyle Domestic Violence
lloyd (930c78) — 8/1/2024 @ 6:53 pmWSJ reports that most of the money Harris claims to have secured for homeowners after the 2008 financial crisis did not help homeowners.
It gets worse when you understand that purchase-money loans in CA are no-recourse. They are protected from delinquency judgements, so there is no money due the banks other than what they can get for the house.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 7:54 pmTwo unserious ideas.
At least I have ideas.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 7:57 pm@547:
And sometimes the report is hogwash.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 7:59 pmAs impractical and far fetched as they are:
And
Since most Russian oligarchs that support Putin would be crazy to live outside of Russia, I doubt they would be accessible to being kidnapped. And if in your fantasies that actually happened, Putin would certainly not be cowed by it. He would simply kidnap some our oligarchs.
Secondly, killing Krasikov would scotch the hostage exchange completely, and possibly lead to execution of all the hostages the West was trying to free.
Rip Murdock (a78f1f) — 8/1/2024 @ 9:46 pmIt’s the plot to the reboot of 24.
In 24, heh 🙂 They do keep threatening to bring that back, Jack Bauer had some really bad days.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 8/1/2024 @ 10:24 pmSecondly, killing Krasikov would scotch the hostage exchange completely, and possibly lead to execution of all the hostages the West was trying to free.
He’s still be alive. For a few days more.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 11:25 pmIn more uplifting news, Simone Biles won her second career Gold Medal
And convincingly, too. If you get a chance see her floor exercise at the end of the women’s all-round competition Thursday. She is really in a class by herself.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 8/1/2024 @ 11:32 pm