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Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#257376: Oct 10th 2018 at 2:10:58 PM

Discussion about the candidates belong to the primaries. When it comes to the final pick, getting the Republican out of office should be the main goal.

Ludlow Since: Apr, 2013
#257377: Oct 10th 2018 at 2:18:03 PM

So, instead of talking about possible 2020 candidates we don't like, how about we talk about the ones we do? Who would you guys like to see as the next president, all other things being equal?

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#257378: Oct 10th 2018 at 2:24:18 PM

So uh, this is unrelated and kind of a far-off subject, but while doing a bit of research into Mc Connell's race for 2020 I found out that he's actually the most unpopular Senator in the entire country. His approval rating is at only 33%. I guess maybe I shouldn't have found this so surprising since he's the majority leader for a party that's really unpopular right now, but it is pretty interesting; getting rid of Mc Connell would be really difficult, since he's already preparing for his race and has a lot of experience in camapaigning, but if he were to lose in 2020 that would be a huge blow to Republican morale since Mc Connell is the longest-serving Republican senate leader in the history of the US.

Edited by Draghinazzo on Oct 10th 2018 at 5:24:29 AM

AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#257379: Oct 10th 2018 at 2:27:52 PM

[up][up] Oh, uh...I haven't done enough research yet, but at this time would say that Waters, Warren, Ellison, Brooker, and Gillibrand seem pretty good?

The awful things he says and does are burned into our cultural consciousness like a CRT display left on the same picture too long. -Fighteer
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#257380: Oct 10th 2018 at 2:32:47 PM

So the Stock Market dropped over 800+ points today, making it the largest drop since the 778 point Drop in September of 2009 (just based on points, not on percentages). It was caused by Rate Increase worries and Tech Sell-Offs.

We might be looking at the beginning of a Recession, here; if Rate's keep going up (and they'll have to because of Inflation fears; thanks Tax Cuts), investors are going to get too Conservative, hoard money (more so then they already are), and we could see the whole Economy collapse (only 11 years after the last massive collapse). The only positive will be that Reaganomic Neoconservatism (again) and Alt-Rightism would be seen as the main cause of the collapse.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#257381: Oct 10th 2018 at 2:34:54 PM

I'm generally confused at how the hell Mitch is still in office since everyone in my state hates him. The churches, the poor, the working class, and everyone a lot of people associates with the Red part of the state consider him a monster.

He's responsible for the opiod crisis and the hunger crisis and worse.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#257382: Oct 10th 2018 at 2:54:14 PM

[up]Tribalism, I suppose. Maybe if another Republican ran against him, they'd have a shot at winning, but as long as it's Red versus Blue, they're gonna vote Red.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#257383: Oct 10th 2018 at 2:54:35 PM

Some new WTF Just Happened Today entries

Melania Trump: Women "need to have really hard evidence" before saying they're victims of sexual assault. "I do stand with women," the first lady said, "but we need to show the evidence. You cannot just say to somebody, 'I was sexually assaulted,' or, 'You did that to me,' because sometimes the media goes too far, and the way they portray some stories it's, it's not correct, it's not right." During the 2016 presidential campaign, at least 13 women accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment or sexual assault. (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/10/politics/melania-trump-metoo-evidence/index.html

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate that the White House limited the Brett Kavanaugh investigation. The FBI's "supplemental update to the previous background investigation was limited in scope and that … is consistent with the standard process for such investigations going back a long ways," Wray said. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/10/kavanaugh-fbi-probe-limit-888667

The Trump campaign argued that it can't be held legally responsible for the Wiki Leaks publication of DNC emails because the First Amendment protects the campaign's "right to disclose information – even stolen information." The lawsuit, filed by two Democratic donors and a former employee of the Democratic National Committee, alleges that the Trump campaign and Roger Stone coordinated release and exploitation of the hacked emails with Russia and Wiki Leaks, thereby violating the plaintiffs' privacy. (The Atlantic)

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/10/trump-campaign-defends-wikileaks-use-hacked-dnc-emails/572587/

A federal judge sentenced Richard Pinedo to six months in prison and six months of home confinement after he pleaded guilty to a felony identity fraud tied to Russian trolls. It's the most severe penalty handed down yet in Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/10/mueller-russia-troll-sentence-889038

The infamous Russian troll factory was set on fire by an unknown suspect wielding a Molotov cocktail. The troll farm, run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as Putin's "cook," rebranded itself as a media company last year with 16 news websites generating more than 30 million pageviews every month. (Moscow Times)

https://themoscowtimes.com/news/infamous-st-petersburg-troll-farm-set-on-fire-63130

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#257384: Oct 10th 2018 at 3:03:24 PM

Worth noting that attempts have been made to primary Mcconnell; I believe his last opponent was actually quite well-funded and well-connected. He still beat them. I'm starting to understand why Tobias said has gone on record saying that Mcconnell is the most dangerous Republican in Washington; not only is he completely amoral like the rest of his party, he's been playing the game for decades and he is absolutely ruthless.

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#257385: Oct 10th 2018 at 3:04:53 PM

[up][up]As terrible a crime as that is, with the potential for loss of life, I just gotta say that they had the right idea. Fire works best against trolls.

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#257386: Oct 10th 2018 at 3:32:25 PM

@Ludlow: Elizabeth Warren is still my favourite, given my opposition to neoliberalism and corporatism in general (and she recently announced her intention to run). The world won't be going down a pleasant path if only Macron or Trump types keep getting elected.

Life is unfair...
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#257387: Oct 10th 2018 at 3:36:47 PM

Warren has basically stated she doesn't want to be President because she feels it's better to be in her current position forever.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#257388: Oct 10th 2018 at 3:41:13 PM

Warren said she will "look hard" at running for president after the midterms.

MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#257389: Oct 10th 2018 at 3:44:31 PM

Trump said he will speak to Saudi officials about the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying he was "concerned." While the Saudi government claims that Khashoggi left the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul after his visit last week, top Turkish security officials concluded that Khashoggi was assassinated in the consulate on orders from the highest levels of the Saudi royal court. Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen living in exile in the United States, was a vocal critic of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Fifteen Saudi agents had arrived on two charter flights the day Khashoggi disappeared and all 15 left just a few hours later. The Trump administration has been largely silent in part because Saudi Arabia is a close American ally and Trump has repeatedly expressed his enthusiasm for Mohammed bin Salman.
... So the Sauds decided to stoop this low, huh? Fucking bastards.

Doesn't help that my mom is extremely criticial and suspicious of any news stories from Western outlets that claim such horridly criminal acts on part of our government, likely because of the way everyone and their mother in European and American mass media were more than eager to jump on the All Muslims Are Terrorists bandwagon in the wake of 9/11.

Melania Trump: Women "need to have really hard evidence" before saying they're victims of sexual assault. "I do stand with women," the first lady said, "but we need to show the evidence. You cannot just say to somebody, 'I was sexually assaulted,' or, 'You did that to me,' because sometimes the media goes too far, and the way they portray some stories it's, it's not correct, it's not right." During the 2016 presidential campaign, at least 13 women accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment or sexual assault. (CNN)
I want to know why she keeps sticking up for her shitstain of a husband. Last I checked, there's no love lost between them, and there was even suspicion of domestic abuse when she went out of the spotlight due to "medical reasons".

The Trump campaign argued that it can't be held legally responsible for the Wiki Leaks publication of DNC emails because the First Amendment protects the campaign's "right to disclose information – even stolen information." The lawsuit, filed by two Democratic donors and a former employee of the Democratic National Committee, alleges that the Trump campaign and Roger Stone coordinated release and exploitation of the hacked emails with Russia and Wiki Leaks, thereby violating the plaintiffs' privacy. (The Atlantic)
What are the odds that Kavanaugh's appointment to the SC will affect the course of this case?

The infamous Russian troll factory was set on fire by an unknown suspect wielding a Molotov cocktail. The troll farm, run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as Putin's "cook," rebranded itself as a media company last year with 16 news websites generating more than 30 million pageviews every month. (Moscow Times)
Please tell me it burned down. Pleeeaaaaseeee.

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#257390: Oct 10th 2018 at 3:47:18 PM

Melania's fortunes are tied to Donald. In a very literal way.

Also, bluntly, he's the President of the United States.

Donald is probably unaware he can't have people murdered.

And given he probably did have his Taj Mahal business partners murdered by his mafia friends, he may be right.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#257391: Oct 10th 2018 at 4:38:39 PM

Oh God, Trump is in Erie tonight for a ego-fest. I have no idea where, but I’m glad it’s no where near my school.

kkhohoho Since: May, 2011
#257392: Oct 10th 2018 at 4:39:36 PM

[up]He was in the Metro last week. I almost wanted to punch something when I heard about it.

Edited by kkhohoho on Oct 10th 2018 at 6:41:59 AM

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#257393: Oct 10th 2018 at 5:29:57 PM

@Marq: You're asking a question that is asked of anyone who stays with an allegedly or proven abusive husband. And the answer usually is: where else can they go? What Charles pointed out is the case with most women; their fortunes are tied in one way or another to the person who's abusing them. Also, women are not exactly exempt from being misogynistic themselves, having grown up in the same culture as the men who benefit from it.

As for Trump going basically everywhere: He's always been most comfortable in campaign mode. It gives him the warm fuzzies and he doesn't have to waste time making actual decisions regarding governance.

Edited by AceofSpades on Oct 10th 2018 at 7:32:31 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#257394: Oct 10th 2018 at 5:33:15 PM

Remember Melanie wore that $20 joke shirt about not caring and why should you to visiting the child camps.

She's an awful fucking person.

She just has more charisma than Der Cheeto.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#257395: Oct 10th 2018 at 5:48:55 PM

Discussion about the candidates belong to the primaries. When it comes to the final pick, getting the Republican out of office should be the main goal.

Obviously, but we're talking about who should win the primary.

@Ludlow: Elizabeth Warren is still my favourite, given my opposition to neoliberalism and corporatism in general (and she recently announced her intention to run). The world won't be going down a pleasant path if only Macron or Trump types keep getting elected.

Can we not abuse the word corporatism, please? As someone who likes it, I'd rather it not be associated with corporations controlling society.

The actual term refers to organizing society via interest groups in the name of promoting unity through people's shared interests. Its connection to financial corporations is etymological, not political.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Oct 10th 2018 at 9:06:29 AM

"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -Hylarn
AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#257396: Oct 10th 2018 at 6:33:02 PM

[up] Fair enough. Then, she is against Corporatocracy.

Also, anyone have a favorite that is not Warren? We've had a couple of votes for her now, I'm interested if anyone else is considered a favorite here...

The awful things he says and does are burned into our cultural consciousness like a CRT display left on the same picture too long. -Fighteer
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#257397: Oct 10th 2018 at 6:43:37 PM

[up]Kamala Harris. She has done most of the expected things of a prospective candidate, but has yet to officially throw her hat in the ring.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#257398: Oct 10th 2018 at 6:58:22 PM
Thumped: This post has been thumped with the mod stick. This means knock it off.
This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#257399: Oct 10th 2018 at 6:59:59 PM

Like most eastern European women

Bit of a broad brush you're painting with there, don't you think?

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her

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