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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Lightysnake Since: May, 2010
#179176: Mar 23rd 2017 at 8:39:25 AM

No, there's likely no way to stop Gorsuch's confirmation. However, it puts Mitch in ab bad position: If he nukes it, he has to own everything that happens while his President is in the middle of an FBI investigation that he's probably not certain will end how he wants it to. And this is after Trumpcare is likely to fail in the Senate.

The second Democrats used this, the GOP'd likely nuke it anyways. What use is a tool you lose the second you actually use it to begin with?

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#179177: Mar 23rd 2017 at 8:41:42 AM

It is of use to sap political capital from the opposition. I don't think that removing the filibuster for Gorsuch would cost Mitch a lot of political capital. Removing it on Ryancare on the other hand would likely overdraw it.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#179178: Mar 23rd 2017 at 8:49:04 AM

Articles and then some to go with the above:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/gorsuch-confirmation-hearing-to-focus-today-on-testimony-from-friends-foes/2017/03/23/14d21116-0fc7-11e7-9d5a-a83e627dc120_story.html

Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s pick to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, faced a critical blow on Thursday as Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he would join with other Democrats in filibustering the nomination — a move that could complicate his confirmation and lead to a total revamp of how the U.S. Senate conducts its business.

Since last year’s elections, Democrats have threatened to force Trump’s Supreme Court nominees to clear procedural hurdles requiring at least 60 senators to vote to end debate and proceed to a confirmation vote. Republicans are eager to confirm Gorsuch before an Easter recess next month, but with few Democrats expressing support for Gorsuch, they have threatened to change Senate rules to ensure the judge’s swift confirmation — a move that would allow Supreme Court picks to be confirmed with a simple majority vote.

On Thursday, Schumer warned that they should focus instead on changing Trump’s nominee.

“If this nominee cannot earn 60 votes — a bar met by each of President Obama’s nominees, and George Bush’s last two nominees — the answer isn’t to change the rules. It’s to change the nominee,” he said.

On the flip side:
https://secure.politico.com/story/2017/03/gorsuch-democrats-supreme-court-236384

[[quoteblock​]]A group of Senate Democrats is beginning to explore trying to extract concessions from Republicans in return for allowing Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch to be confirmed, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The lawmakers worry that Gorsuch could be confirmed whether Democrats try to block him or not — and Democrats would be left with nothing to show for it. That would be a bitter pill after the GOP blocked Merrick Garland for nearly a year.

The deal Democrats would be most likely to pursue, the sources said, would be to allow confirmation of Gorsuch in exchange for a commitment from Republicans not to kill the filibuster for a subsequent vacancy during President Donald Trump’s term. The next high court opening could alter the balance of the court, and some Democrats privately argue that fight will be far more consequential than the current one.[[/quoteblock]]

Finally:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/23/politics/trump-time-interview-wiretaps-falsehoods/

[[quoteblock​]]President Donald Trump defended some of the most controversial claims of his young political career in*a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine*published Thursday, in which he offered a simple and absolute defense of his method:

"I'm a very instinctual person, but my instinct turns out to be right. Hey, look, in the meantime, I guess I can't be doing so badly, because I'm president, and you're not," he told Time's Washington bureau chief, Michael Scherer.[[/quoteblock​]]

http://time.com/4710456/donald-trump-time-interview-truth-falsehood/?xid=homepage

The Time interview for anyone interested.

EDIT is something wrong with the quote formatting? That's the third time I've had trouble and not seeing anything wrong on my side.

edited 23rd Mar '17 10:18:27 AM by sgamer82

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#179179: Mar 23rd 2017 at 8:56:34 AM

Mitch seems extremely reluctant to even go near he filibuster, despite the fact that's violated institutional norms for the past, what? 9 years?

Dunno why the filibuster seems to be a sacred cow to him.

New Survey coming this weekend!
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#179180: Mar 23rd 2017 at 8:58:01 AM

[up]It's strange, but for some reason some people have the quoteblock format bug out on them.

And seriously? "I'm president and you're not, so I must be doing something right"? Dear Lord, Trump, I'd like to give you a history lesson on some of the people who have been presidents. Every time he speaks, he only further confirms how patently unfit he is for the position. A dead body would literally be a better president, because at least a corpse can't embarrass themselves and their nation on social media and enforce destructive policies.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#179182: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:12:26 AM

The deal Democrats would be most likely to pursue, the sources said, would be to allow confirmation of Gorsuch in exchange for a commitment from Republicans not to kill the filibuster for a subsequent vacancy during President Donald Trump’s term.
I wouldn't trust the Republicans to keep their word. They lose nothing by reneging on the agreement except credibility — and they already have zero credibility among their political opponents, while their supporters would likely applaud them for pulling a fast one over the Democrats.

No, the Republicans can (and likely will) kill the filibuster the first time the Democrats try to use it. That means the Democrats' best play is to use it when killing it will make the Republicans look bad. The Supreme Court nomination may do that, if the public sees it as the Democratic pushback against the GOP stealing a SCOTUS seat from them, or if the nominee is seen as bad enough to justify attempting to block him. I'm not sure how likely either is.

Filibustering the ACA repeal seems likely to be unnecessary — everything I've heard about it suggests that it doesn't have the votes to pass anyway.

edited 23rd Mar '17 9:13:07 AM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#179183: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:13:37 AM

538 does an analysis of /r/t_d, which more or less shows that, yes, it's full of racist shitheads

@sgamer, Is it possible you're somehow using different symbols that look exactly like letters? (for example, Cyrillic "e" instead of latin "e").

edited 23rd Mar '17 9:20:14 AM by IFwanderer

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
Lightysnake Since: May, 2010
#179184: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:14:11 AM

You can just picture Mitch McConnell rubbing his head and growling 'can we please just pass some fucking tax cuts already?"

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#179185: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:21:33 AM

[up]x5 You're not alone: Lewis Black would also prefer a dead president as president.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#179186: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:23:59 AM

The Supreme Court unanimously agreed schools need to do much more than minimal education for kids in special education.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#179187: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:41:06 AM

Mitch might be thinking in the long term for once, the GOP won't hold the Senate forever (no party does, especially when they control the WH). And the filibuster being gone means that even a slim Democratic congressional majority could get a lot done.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CenturyEye Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign? from I don't know where the Yith sent me this time... Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
#179188: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:46:23 AM

"For children with disabilities, receiving instruction that aims so low would be tantamount to 'sitting idly ... awaiting the time when they were old enough to drop out,'" [Roberts added.]]

"The IDEA demands more," the chief justice said. "It requires an educational program reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances..."

That standard was the one suggested by President Barack Obama's administration, in one of its final arguments before the justices in January.

Huh, and I had Roberts pegged as an irredeemable idiot. Mistakes were made... (as pertains this case).

For the Children! Maryland high school rape case sparks immigration row
An alleged rape at a US high school has sparked a row over immigration that has reached all the way to the White House.

Two Central American-born students are in custody after a 14-year-old girl was attacked last week at Rockville High School in Maryland, police say.

The White House said "tragedies like this" had motivated President Trump's illegal immigration "crackdown".

On Tuesday night, protesters gathered outside the school, some expressing concern about undocumented immigrants.

On Tuesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer condemned the crime, calling it "shocking, disturbing, horrific and whatever other words that someone can think of".

But at a press conference, school officials played down the immigration angle.

"We would like to change the conversation," said Jack Smith, superintendent of the 159,000-student Montgomery County Public Schools system.

"Some have tried to make this into a question and issue of immigration... but we serve every student who walks through our doors," he added.

He said the two suspects had been enrolled in a special programme for non-English speakers.

On Tuesday night, demonstrators outside the school chanted "safety not sanctuary", a reference to sanctuary cities, where local authorities often protect those without legal US residency from deportation.

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 lives
fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#179189: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:47:33 AM

I remember someone once suggesting that we would get president pence by this fall. Is that anywhere close to likely?

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#179190: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:54:38 AM

That depends on two things; the FBI finding something really nasty that directly implicates Trump, and Pence not being tied too closely to said nastiness.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#179191: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:55:02 AM

Trump leaving office isn't particularly likely. It's possible that something will come up to disgrace him to the point where he has essentially no political capital left, and the remainder of his term is just him playing damage control and getting nothing done. But he's not likely to resign or be impeached unless something absolutely daming comes up, like incontestable evidence that he — him personally, not his campaign or his aides or his family — had direct contact with Russia and coordinated with them on releasing information to damage Clinton's candidacy.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#179192: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:55:07 AM

We'd need a notable shift in the status quo to make it likely. The russia stuff is the most probable vector for that.

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#179193: Mar 23rd 2017 at 9:55:23 AM

Short answer: don't hold your breath.

i'm tired, my friend
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#179194: Mar 23rd 2017 at 10:01:49 AM

@FiveThirtyEight: That analysis algorithm they used is quite interesting, speaking from a programmer's perspective, and it really does work to show some telling things about just what kind of people are drawn to support Trump, at least in a small-to-mid-scale. Kind of interested to see what comes up if the same tool is used to analyze more left-wing subreddits.

LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#179195: Mar 23rd 2017 at 10:03:13 AM

I'd like to see that same sort of methods used to analyze r/politics or ETS.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#179196: Mar 23rd 2017 at 10:04:04 AM

And if the implications are true, will that shift the allegiance of his supporters?

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#179197: Mar 23rd 2017 at 10:06:51 AM

No. I've literally heard some supporters use the excuse that "Who cares? We should be cooperating with Russia!" As if Russia directly meddling in the election and friendly foreign relations are one in the same.

edited 23rd Mar '17 10:07:26 AM by speedyboris

CenturyEye Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign? from I don't know where the Yith sent me this time... Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
#179198: Mar 23rd 2017 at 10:10:05 AM

I doubt people of Bannon's type have any particular loyalty to country. And, in addition, I still remember how favorable GOP voters became to Putin after it was more or less confirmed that Russia interfered in the election.
Remember there are still people making the argument that the Wikileaks releases were in the name of transparency and furthering a "truly" free election.

edited 23rd Mar '17 10:11:01 AM 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 lives
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#179199: Mar 23rd 2017 at 10:12:13 AM

As House members try to rally the Tea Party, they are alienating the Moderates, and supposedly, the list of Republicans who will vote 'no' on Ryancare is staying steady in the 30's. There is also no time set up for the vote itself.

I hope and pray that the Moderates and Teapublicans that are saying no now keep the balls to say no when the vote actually happens...

edited 23rd Mar '17 10:12:30 AM by DingoWalley1

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#179200: Mar 23rd 2017 at 10:12:43 AM

Without trade, most of the rubes that love protectionism would have no purchasing power. Costs would be ridiculous. Trade puts food on shelves year round; automation takes jobs.

Eeyup. And that isn't a genie that can be put back in the bottle, either. Automation is the future. I've talked before about how America is drifting in the direction of a world where capitalism is no longer viable, and automation is probably the biggest force pushing us towards post-capitalism.

There will come a day when there just aren't enough jobs for us.

Still worth charging people if they've actually committed crimes and making Trump defend them. Either criminals go to jail or Trump shows his true colors by shielding his criminal cronies from jail time. Win/win.

It's only a win if we gain something. Trump's already shown his colors time and again. Publicly shaming him accomplishes nothing. He does that to himself on a daily basis. It's a pointless gesture.

Instead, all we get is permanent immunity from the law for every crony we try to pre-emptively charge. Due to the nature of Double Jeopardy, if Trump pardons Manafort or anyone like him, then that's it. In the eyes of the law, his sentence is served. He can never be charged again.

The more cronies we charge now, the fewer will ever serve a day in jail even if we manage to reclaim Washington.

That depends on two things; the FBI finding something really nasty that directly implicates Trump, and Pence not being tied too closely to said nastiness.

I actually don't expect Pence has anything to do with Russia. He clashed with Trump about Russia's involvement in Syria during the debates. The two do not see eye to eye on that topic.

edited 23rd Mar '17 10:13:13 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.

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