Nov 2023 Mod notice:
There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.
If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations
and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines
before posting here.
Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.
If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules
when posting here.
In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
![]()
I feel like you're not reading enough for comprehension because we're not talking about the Muslim ban, we're talking about countries in the EU instituting visa requirements because the US has long been acting like jerks to those EU countries. Also, you're making some weird connections and not seeming to totally understand what some words like "nihilism" mean.
Also also, just because America is bigoted doesn't mean that Europe isn't also bigoted and has been basically been doing that on their own with no encouragement from us. The ban is a symptom, not a cause, and the way you phrase that makes it seem like you think it's the cause.
edited 3rd Mar '17 1:18:04 PM by AceofSpades
Related to immigration:
"Exclusive: Trump administration considering separating women, children at U.S.-Mexico border" - http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-children-idUSKBN16A2ES
Part of the reason for the proposal is to deter mothers from migrating to the United States with their children, said the officials, who have been briefed on the proposal.
The policy shift would allow the government to keep parents in custody while they contest deportation or wait for asylum hearings. Children would be put into protective custody with the Department of Health and Human Services, in the "least restrictive setting" while until they can be taken into the care of a U.S. relative or state-sponsored guardian.
Oh, god, that is so disgusting.
Also, those countries evolved a lot in the post-communist years, they have not been "dangerous" for the USA for a long time, so I have no idea why visa-free travelling was still not in place. And this is definitely not Europe being bigoted, they warned of this action, it was an eye for an eye.
edited 3rd Mar '17 1:30:57 PM by Grafite
Life is unfair...![]()
Possibly crossing into crimes against humanity terrain as well. Seizing kids and possibly not giving them back to their families, as a deterrent (not an action that in the child's best interests), or even worse, deporting them separately, is getting into sadistically evil shit.
edited 3rd Mar '17 1:33:24 PM by Rationalinsanity
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.Excerpts from articles 9 & 37 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Such determination may be necessary in a particular case such as one involving abuse or neglect of the child by the parents, or one where the parents are living separately and a decision must be made as to the child's place of residence.
...
(b) No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.
Of course, if you're not Trump, common decency dictates this kind of behavior as well.
If Trump's team learned anything from the last time, they're probably working around them right now. I can't imagine what they'll use though...
edited 3rd Mar '17 1:54:46 PM by CenturyEye
Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our livesShould be noted that the US (and Somalia, so nice club there) hasn't signed onto the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Because homeschoolers have massive political influence for some stupid reason.
edited 3rd Mar '17 2:08:25 PM by Rationalinsanity
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.The EU revoking visa-free entry to Americans can be seen as sort of a "soft" sanction. It would noticeably disrupt business dealings and tourism (though the EU would take a tourism hit as well) if countries enact it, though even as a non-binding resolution it sends the message that they are not amused with the goings-on in DC.
Or maybe I'm missing the point entirely since this complaint is older than the Obama admin. But it's funny that they decide to pick the fight now.
edited 3rd Mar '17 2:20:45 PM by Elle
I can't be angry at the Europeans. They're suddenly going it alone...
U.S. State Department criticized over quiet release of human rights report
Tillerson declined to unveil the report in person, breaking with precedent established during both Democratic and Republican administrations. A senior U.S. official answered reporters' questions by phone on condition of anonymity rather than appearing on camera, also a break with precedent.
"The report speaks for itself," the official said in response to a question about why Tillerson did not unveil it. "We're very, very proud of it. The facts should really be the story here."
The report, mandated by Congress, documents human rights conditions in nearly 200 countries and territories and is put together by staff in U.S. embassies. This year's report was largely completed during former President Barack Obama's tenure.
The report's language on Russia remained broadly similar to that of years past, noting the country's "authoritarian political system dominated by President Vladimir Putin."
Traditionally, the secretary of state unveils the report with public comments emphasizing the centrality of human rights in U.S. foreign policy and highlighting specific findings.
Tillerson's Democratic predecessors John Kerry and Hillary Clinton gave public comments on the report in 2013 and 2009, their first years in the post, respectively, and continued to present it throughout their tenures.
In 2005, during Republican President George W. Bush's administration, the undersecretary of state for global affairs, Paula Dobriansky, presented the report on camera on behalf of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
In the introduction to this year's report, Tillerson wrote "our values are our interests when it comes to human rights."
But in his confirmation hearing, Tillerson sidestepped questions on human rights conditions in other countries, declining to condemn countries like Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, saying he wanted to see the facts first.
Hundreds of companies offer to help build The Wall
. What is wrong with all of you?! Oh wait, I know.
Cenk actually brings up a pretty good point by connecting the deaths of 6 different Russian ambassadors since Election Day to Trump and his men. And that his whole campaign was a result of the Russians needing those sanctions lifted so they promised him money from that 500 billion Exxon deal provided that he can get it done.
The blackmail that Putin has on him was probably a hidden card up Putin's sleeve in case he didn't comply.
Russian ambassadors (and journalists) are like extended family members of North Korean Supreme Leaders. They have surprisingly poor health.
Although in fairness, at least with the Russian ambassadors, at least some of the deaths might be actual natural causes.
Point being though besides the "joke" that while it's very plausible to place blame for those deaths on Putin or his supporters, as that's typical behavior of paranoid authoritarian leaders, I doubt it has anything to do with Trump.
edited 3rd Mar '17 4:11:08 PM by Hodor2
I'm surprised this is getting pushback since most of us think Trump is a Russian traitor. I mean do you guys think Trump is doing this for free?
I repeat 6 Russian ambassadors day have died since the election. One of them on Election Day.
That's only 3 months. 2 Russian ambassadors a month.
Hell, one of those ambassadors that died was in NYC.
And the ambassador that died on Election Day also died in New York City.
The Russian-Trump dossier even says that Trump and Putin made a deal for him to get money so that's not really conspiracy peddling.

The West is full of far right neo nazis right now.
This is not an American problem
edited 3rd Mar '17 12:57:14 PM by LeGarcon
Oh really when?