The General US Politics Thread

A couple articles about the House's repeal of the FCC privacy regulations for ISPs:

• Comcast-Funded Civil Rights Groups Claim Low-Income People Prefer Ads Over Privacy
• To Serve AT&T and Comcast, Congressional GOP Votes to Destroy Online Privacy
• I Spent a Week Trying To Make the Broadband Lobby Answer a Simple Question About Selling Your Data

I probably shouldn't get my hopes up, but I think this is the sort of thing that might drive large numbers of supporters to turn their backs on Trump.

edited 29th Mar '17 6:39:21 PM by henry42

So we're living in a Slayer Album, the prelude to Metal Gear Rising and now a South Park season.

Part of me should have expected things to turn out as they did, but I'm still shocked and displeased to say the least.

I want to hope there's a way to turn this around but being the cynic about things as I can be, I'm feeling very doubtful unless somebody here can legit put some kind of good news to all of this. Otherwise, I've just had even less trust in Congress and my government than what I already had (very little).

I started with no trust, so for me the question has always been "Is Trump an incompetent racist scumbag who will fuck up from stupidity, or an American version of Oda Nobunaga who will ACT like an idiot until all his enemies out themselves, then reveal that he's had hit squads on the payroll just waiting for targets this entire time."

Common sense says he was probably in cahoots with Russia because Putin stroked his ego enough, but I'm still gonna go with the long shot that what Congress finds is the paper trail leading to the assassins ten seconds away from bullets putting them all down and Trump sending orders to foreign mercs to take over by force. It's probably not gonna happen that way, but seriously, ALL corporate bigwigs probably have "troubleshooters" on speed dial for dealing with foreign leaders who give them headaches.

I'm probably wrong. I hope I'm wrong. But I'm never gonna say "all fine on the Western Front" because I don't wanna be one of those guards from stealth games who checks in ten seconds before the PC comes through.

Hanlon's Razor says it's probably the former. Although an incompetent racist scumbag can still do a lot of damage if he's sitting in the White House.

This article just made my day.

I know, that's why I said common sense says it's probably the former. And get those stupid razors away from my beard. I trim it just fine with scissors and I'm keeping the damn thing.

I was wondering when Congress itself would pay for their decision to strike down privacy laws. I hope it ruins them, though it's that's probably too big of a hope.

I feel like I shouldn't be rooting against people so much. Then I remember who I'm rooting against, and then I'm like, "Nah".

Is it wrong that I find that article to be of some kind of so solace.

That is assuming #45 actually signs this into law. I hope not but hope to me just non-existant. I would ask #45 to prove me wrong but we'll see.

I hate being cynical but I expect him to sign it. He is who he is.

I hope those who are fighting against this continue to fight. Even if I feel like my optimism for any achievement they do legit have is a stay of execution at best.

We'll see.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

Seems especially relevant (and ironic if Lincoln actually said this) given Ryan's admittance that being an opposition party was a lot easier than being a party that actually has the power to get shit done.

Apparently it was a quote about Lincoln:

"Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except upon the side of mercy." - Bob Ingersoll

Which still makes it a rather ironic and poignant quote.

What makes Farage think going to California is a good idea, especially to split it into two halves? Almost everyone there regardless of what part of the state they are from hates his guts, including me.

Edited. I'm just pissed that the guy even dares to enter this state, especially after screwing over both my homes (California and Gibraltar).

edited 29th Mar '17 7:57:27 PM by Bat178

That was not a good thing to say here. Just a heads up.

I hope they don't sign this into law. I really hope that. They likely will, and I hope someone does such a number on them that we see all of them facing down indictments. Even for petty shit. Especially for petty shit.

They took down Al Capone for tax evasion, didn't they?

Yup. And I think Ruby Ridge went down for similar issues. Guy had a compound full of weapons. ONLY reason he had law issues was either a missed court date or tax issues.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan says Trump shouldn't work with Democrats, especially not for Health Care. Who didn't see this coming?

Unfortunately for Ryan, I think Trump cares more about what he's eating for lunch the next day than Ryan's opinion on just about anything.

Doesn't that go for everyone?

Well, Trump and everybody else.

North Carolina to repeal Transgender Bathroom Law. Yes, this is even though Republicans still control the State House and Senate and many are the same Republicans that voted for it in the first place.

The Overton window continues to crawl, despite Republican pressures...

The best news I've heard all day.

The New York Magazine has apparently gotten some sources saying George W. Bush said "That was some weird shit," after Trump left the dais at his inauguration.

I suspect that Trump's support among independents will plummet once its clear that he's not going to be able to revive the goal and manufacturing sectors.

Isn't it costing the state something like $3 billion?

It's interesting, since hurting the pocketbook has long been a tactic for spurring change (in the 1930s, stores in black neighborhoods that refused to hire black people were boycotted until they did), but now you have massive corporations avoiding states due to discrimination; ostensibly to avoid hurting their own revenue, which is good for the power of the consumer. And I hope that continues, because if there's any environment to get away with collaborating with prejudice, it's the one we're in now.

The last thing I want to see is appeals to nationalist market (which is why the planned remake of Starship Troopers, allegedly playing the infamous novel straight, has me worried. Because even if it's shit, they'll latch onto it like no tomorrow).

edited 29th Mar '17 8:42:28 PM by Eschaton

This is the first I've heard of a Starship Troopers remake. Can I just say, oh hell no to that whole idea?