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

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#190126: May 21st 2017 at 1:58:30 PM

@M84, how many cops need to get killed by Sovereign Citizen wackjobs (not a total overlap with radical right-wing/white supremacist, but there's still a lot) before they change their tune? Its only a matter of time before one of these guys or a militia nutter tries to pull an Oklahoma City....

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#190127: May 21st 2017 at 1:59:56 PM

[up] It doesn't matter, the GOP will find a way to blame it on Muslims.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#190128: May 21st 2017 at 2:00:24 PM

[up][up][up][up] And probably more than a little unfeasible, though I strongly suspect it was up for negotiation.

edited 21st May '17 2:00:40 PM by CaptainCapsase

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#190129: May 21st 2017 at 2:00:28 PM

[up][up][up] The kicker is that the problem was recognized as a problem in the past. But this administration went so far as to cut funding for dealing with this issue.

edited 21st May '17 2:00:43 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
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?
#190130: May 21st 2017 at 2:02:36 PM

[The Speech] was probably just an extension of Trump's and Tillerson's America First thing. And, about that:
TPP trade deal will continue without Trump

Asia-Pacific trade ministers have agreed to resuscitate the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, despite US President Donald Trump abandoning it.

Mr Trump signalled in January he would block the passage of the 12-nation pact in order to protect American jobs.

Trade ministers from the 11 remaining countries have met in Vietnam to get the deal back on track.

The representatives also agreed to help the US rejoin the deal at any time.

The bid to revive the TPP, which would have covered 40% of the global economy, was led by trade ministers from Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand trade minister Todd Mc Clay said the remaining countries "are committed to finding a way forward to deliver" the deal.

US ...trade representative Robert Lighthizer said it would not return to the TPP.

"The United States pulled out of the TPP and it's not going to change that decision."

"The president made a decision, that I certainly agree with, that bilateral negotiations are better for the United States than multilateral negotiations."

The remaining 11 countries pushing on with the deal are Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

edited 21st May '17 2:05:11 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 lives
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#190131: May 21st 2017 at 2:10:42 PM

As for the issue with NC Republicans, I believe the issue is that they got control of the government/legislator fairly recently, and then immediately gerrymandered the state so thoroughly it's almost impossible for them to lose power now. With things being so heavily titled in their favor, it's lead them to go full on crazy.

Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#190132: May 21st 2017 at 2:17:22 PM

@Rationalinsanity: They are probably waiting until there are enough black "sovereign citizens" to be able to turn into a racist dog whistle.

. . .actually, that's probably not as far from the truth as I'd like it to be.

edited 21st May '17 2:17:33 PM by Mio

Psyclone Since: Jan, 2001
#190133: May 21st 2017 at 2:25:48 PM

Anyone in this thread already mentioned the Purple Glowing Globe yet?

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#190134: May 21st 2017 at 2:39:07 PM

Re: terrorism.

There's the way domestic vs foreign terrorism is framed in the US media which likely contributes to the continued avoidance of domestic terrorism as an issue. Domestic terrorists are framed as lone wackos with mental issues. Foreign terrorists are framed as part of a huge conspiracy out to kill us all.

tricksterson Never Trust from Behind you with an icepick Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Never Trust
#190135: May 21st 2017 at 2:49:12 PM

Unsurprisingly Trump is taking flack from the alt-right for not using the term "radical Islamic extremism" and for referring to Islam as "one the world's great religions".

I myself wouldn't have a problem with the term if "radical Islamic extremism", which certainly exists, hadn't basically been turned into a code phrase for "Islam in any way shape or form:"

edited 21st May '17 2:52:00 PM by tricksterson

Trump delenda est
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#190136: May 21st 2017 at 2:50:16 PM

And Roger Stone said that Trump getting a medal from King Salman was "sickening".

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#190137: May 21st 2017 at 2:56:03 PM

The alt-right is always going to be disappointed by Trump. Can you imagine how upset this guy is going to be when women still have the vote come the next election?

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#190138: May 21st 2017 at 3:06:03 PM

Can someone investigate the legality of NC gerrymandering, as it has been elsewhere?

I liked it better when Questionable Casting was called WTH Casting Agency
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#190139: May 21st 2017 at 3:09:17 PM

[up] I'm pretty sure they've already been taken to court and lost their case; either over Gerrymandering or Voter Suppression, I forget which.

Point is, NC is most likely going to go Blue in 2018 if the Democrats don't screw it up.

math792d Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#190140: May 21st 2017 at 3:15:52 PM

I mean, the irony of complaining about Iran being an oppressive terrorist sponsor in Saudi Arabia really is staggering. It's quite possibly the best possible condemnation of the entire U.S strategy as far as the 'War on Terror' is concerned.

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#190141: May 21st 2017 at 3:44:00 PM

On the other hand, there's a lot about the speech that's similar to Bush and Obama (like the politically correct tone mentioned earlier), and the Atlantic has an annotated version here.

They note a couple important differences: One, as mentioned, is telling Iran to shove off.

Two, is encouraging the leaders in attendance to do whatever it takes to root out extremists, and we won't ask too many questions about how they do it.

So basically, the speech is everything his audience wanted: Getting America off their backs, out of Iran, and receiving weapons that will be put to unquestionably "good use."

edited 21st May '17 3:48:55 PM by Eschaton

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#190142: May 21st 2017 at 4:13:53 PM

Hypothetically, were Trump to give a speech in Iran he would undoubtedly say everything they wanted to hear as well. His words are utterly meaningless.

Julep Since: Jul, 2010
#190143: May 21st 2017 at 4:23:32 PM

I mean, the irony of complaining about Iran being an oppressive terrorist sponsor in Saudi Arabia really is staggering. It's quite possibly the best possible condemnation of the entire U.S strategy as far as the 'War on Terror' is concerned.

Two days after Iran held democratic, if flawed, elections no less. Elections in which the president got the majority of the popular vote too, which sounds a bit more democratic than a certain other method.

Sigh. I wish one of the Western leaders had the courage to tell Saudi Arabia, Qatar et al. to shove it. Not holding my breath for Macron since Hollande kept selling planes to SA and its allies and the former minister of defence is now in charge of Foreign Affairs, but Merkel or Trudeau could.

ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#190144: May 21st 2017 at 4:27:29 PM

[up]@Iran, this, especially with a president who was not backed by the shah-and a win outright for the guy who brokered the nuclear deal over the protests of the hardliners, no second round necessary.

edited 21st May '17 4:28:04 PM by ViperMagnum357

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#190145: May 21st 2017 at 4:29:53 PM

[up][up]Trudeau has a vested interest in keeping General Dynamics Canada in full operation (they employ people in key ridings), so don't hold your breath on weapons from Canada slowing down. Maybe he'll admonish them but that's it.

Gulf States are a pain, but if we ditch them things get worse.

edited 21st May '17 6:58:48 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#190146: May 21st 2017 at 4:44:42 PM

Unsurprisingly Trump is taking flack from the alt-right for not using the term "radical Islamic extremism" and for referring to Islam as "one the world's great religions". I myself wouldn't have a problem with the term if "radical Islamic extremism", which certainly exists, hadn't basically been turned into a code phrase for "Islam in any way shape or form:"

Huh, I'm surprised they still have some kind of standards. It would almost be heartwarming, if I didn't hate them all.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#190147: May 21st 2017 at 4:47:34 PM

[up]I mean, the "standard" in question was that he wasn't talking enough shit about Islam in its entirety.

edited 21st May '17 4:48:41 PM by LSBK

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#190148: May 21st 2017 at 5:19:00 PM

[up]I figured they'd find some way to explain this away, like Fox News is trying to do.

Gilphon Since: Oct, 2009
#190149: May 21st 2017 at 5:26:21 PM

Getting on his case for not using a specific phrase strikes me as silly though. He can't very well say every possible buzzword in every speech.


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