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

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#235976: Mar 22nd 2018 at 8:39:40 AM

Thread (lightly edited for clarity)

Lets talk about how this tweet confirms @realDonaldTrump is
  1. a traitor and
  2. a complete imbecile and
  3. a danger to the balance of power around the world. /1

(This one)

  • ".....They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race. Bush tried to get along, but didn’t have the “smarts.” Obama and Clinton tried, but didn’t have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!"

Pakistani Nuclear Scientists have been proven to be transferring nuclear technology to North Korea, they have been cooperating on ballistics and nuclear capabilities since the 70s. Pakistan and Russia are currently strengthening their already close ties in energy, defense, trade, commerce and economy. Russia has been laundering funds, and filtering fuel and commodities through china destined to North Korea

Russia leased a Naval Base in Tartus, Syria, which is their only stop in the Mediterranean for their warships to be readied, repaired and reloaded. Russia depends on this location, and it is so strategically placed that almost all of the middle east has some stake in the land. Russia supplies Pro-Assad Syria with copious amounts of arms, and Military backup because they want Syria when it crumbles. Don't forget Russia is also funding Taliban in Afghanistan. Read this

head over to the Ukraine. Russia plants a Pro-Putin candidate in race for Ukraine Presidency. Elections were hacked and Viktor Yanukovych won the seat. The citizens of the Ukraine were pissed and kicked him out of office. He's now in exile in Russia. Go figure...

Russia moved military forces into Crimea (pro Putin) region in Ukraine and has been slowly invading Ukraine since 2015. We had sanctions on these pro Russian financial entities (some of which trump has already cancelled). Oh and lets mention a quick bit here. Viktor Yanukovych also funded Manafort close to 13 million while Manafort was working for his Ukraine political platform.

Moving onto Iran. Russia is building tight relationships with Iran and defending Iran from the US over the current crisis in Yemen. Iran is also working with North Korea on ballistics and sharing their nuclear blueprints and technology.

So really? Russia can help us solve problems with these nations? Russia is the problem with these nations. WTF.

#DONOTCONGRATULATE

edited 22nd Mar '18 8:42:46 AM by megaeliz

Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#235977: Mar 22nd 2018 at 8:51:56 AM

John Dowd, Trump's personal lawyer and the one handling the case on the Russia investigation, resigns.

It's not clearly stated why he left, but if Trump's own lawyer is going Screw This, I'm Outta Here!, you know that the world has turned upside down.

edited 22nd Mar '18 8:52:09 AM by Steven

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#235978: Mar 22nd 2018 at 9:01:30 AM

Still not the classiest or best way to handle things, but the sentiment is definitely understandable. And being more plain spoken every now and then is a good thing for Democrats/Liberals/Progressives, at least in my opinion. Obviously show that you care, that you're willing to get down and dirty. Call a spade a fucking shovel every now and then instead of wrapping it up in abstract or high class or scientific terminology and academic speak.

And considering how many of the women in my life have suffered due to rape or molestation, I can't say I feel any differently than Biden.

Yeah, the only part that I consider even possibly problematic would be the ugly bit. Handsome guys can also be sexual predators, and the idea that it's simply a result to lack of personal romantic success is pretty classic toxic masculinity.

Otherwise it's fine.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#235979: Mar 22nd 2018 at 9:18:47 AM

[up] I guess it is his way of saying that people who talk like that are pathetic.

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#235981: Mar 22nd 2018 at 9:33:15 AM

[up][up]Absolutely, the fact that it focuses on appearance and implied sexual success is what makes it toxic masculinity.

Doesn't mean that it's some horrifying atrocity or even that's he's wrong over-all, just that I wanted to point that out.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#235982: Mar 22nd 2018 at 9:57:56 AM

Yet another reason to respect Robert Mueller.

Every Employee of the FBI takes the Oath promising to uphold the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

For us, they are not mere words, but they set the expectation for our behavior in the Bureau, and the standard for the work that we do.

For the American People who respect the Bureau, we must be objective, and be perceived as objective. We must be fair, and be perceived as fair. And it also means that we must be Apolitical.

And that is one of the great things about my particular job. It has allowed me the benefits of public service without the politics.


And in a practice started by my predecessor, all my new FBI agents visit the Holocaust Museum to better understand what happens when law enforcement becomes a tool of oppression, or worse.

For we recognize, even in the wake of September 11th, that if we safeguard our Civil Liberties, but leave our country vulnerable to attack, we will have lost, and if we protect our Citizens from crime and terrorism, but sacrifice our Civil Rights, then we also have lost.

It's not a question of conflict, it's a question of balance.

The rule of law, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, are not our burdens. These are what make all of us safer.

— Robert Mueller, April, 2013

edited 22nd Mar '18 10:01:36 AM by megaeliz

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#235983: Mar 22nd 2018 at 10:36:42 AM

Today on https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2018/03/22/day-427/

First one had been mentioned already, but...

1/ Trump's lead attorney dealing with the special counsel investigation resigned. John Dowd's departure comes days after Trump called for an end to Robert Mueller's inquiry and days after Dowd said the investigation should end, initially claiming he was speaking for Trump before saying he was only speaking for himself. Trump's attorneys are in negotiations with the special counsel's team over a potential interview with Trump. It is not clear who will take over the president's legal team. (New York Times / Washington Post / CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/john-dowd-white-house/index.html

(I'm also seeing a headline on CNN on tv that 4 other attorneys have rejected Trump's offer to join his legal team)

2/ Robert Mueller's team has discussed four main topics with Trump's lawyers for a potential Trump interview. Specifically, the special counsel wants to know about Trump's role in crafting a statement aboard Air Force One about Trump Jr.'s June 2016 meeting with Russians at Trump Tower; the circumstances surrounding the Trump Tower meeting; and the firings of James Comey and Michael Flynn. (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/21/politics/mueller-four-main-areas-questions-trump/index.html

3/ House Democrats are attempting to force a vote on a bill that would protect Robert Mueller in the event that Trump tries to fire the special counsel. Steve Cohen, a member of the House Ethics Committee, filed a petition to call for a vote on a bill called the Special Counsel Integrity Act, which would prevent anyone from firing Mueller without just cause. "Recent events particularly concern me," Cohen wrote in a statement, "because it seems the President fears that Mueller is close to revealing findings relevant to his mandate and that ending the investigation is the only way to prevent its public release." (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/379676-house-dem-moves-to-force-vote-on-bill-protecting-mueller

4/ Jeff Sessions wants prosecutors to seek the death penalty in drug-related cases whenever it's "appropriate." The move comes less than a week after Trump called for the execution of opioid dealers and traffickers. "In the face of all of this death, we cannot continue with business as usual," Sessions wrote in a memo to U.S. Attorneys offices. (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-opioids-deathpenalty/federal-prosecutors-told-to-seek-death-penalty-in-drug-cases-idUSKBN1GX25A?il=0

5/ Trump tweeted that he would beat Joe Biden in a fight in response to Biden's suggestion that he would "beat the hell out of" Trump if they were in high school together. "Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy," Trump tweeted. "Actually, he is weak, both mentally and physically, and yet he threatens me, for the second time, with physical assault. He doesn't know me, but he would go down fast and hard, crying all the way. Don't threaten people Joe!" (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/donald-trump-joe-biden/index.html

Notables.


Washington, D.C., and Maryland filed a lawsuit against Trump for violating the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts and payments from foreign governments without approval from Congress. The suit claims that Trump's refusal to divest from his personal businesses has allowed foreign governments to pay the Trump Organization directly for bookings and events. (WAMU)

https://wamu.org/story/18/03/21/summons-issued-trump-emoluments-case/

Kellyanne Conway is poised to take over as the White House communications director in the wake of Hope Hicks' departure. Melania Trump and Mike Pence's chief of staff have recently encouraged her to take the job. (The Atlantic)

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/conway/556184/

The Dow dropped more than 400 points, or 1.6%, over growing concerns among investors about looming tariffs on China. (CNN Money)

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/22/investing/dow-jones-trade-war-china/index.html

CBS will air its 60 Minutes interview with Stormy Daniels on Sunday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT. The adult-film star says she had an affair with Trump. The president has denied having an affair with Daniels. (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stormy-daniels-60-minutes-donald-trump-interview-to-be-broadcast-sunday/

edited 22nd Mar '18 10:38:25 AM by sgamer82

SciFiSlasher from Absolutely none of your business. Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#235984: Mar 22nd 2018 at 11:00:17 AM

So it seems that Mark Anthony Conditt, the Austin bomber, was part of a teenage Christian survivalist group.

Personally, I just love how their group's acronym is RIOT. You can't make this shit up.

"Somehow the hated have to walk a tightrope, while those who hate do not."
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#235985: Mar 22nd 2018 at 11:06:19 AM

[up] Again, we need to talk about Far Right, White, Christian extremism in this country.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#235986: Mar 22nd 2018 at 11:15:45 AM

And give Homeschooling a closer look while we're at it.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#235987: Mar 22nd 2018 at 11:35:54 AM

Something I wanted to comment and I know this seems kind of Conspiracy Theory- So, I find it disturbing and vaguely suspicious that law enforcement are referring to him in such sympathetic terms. And in connection with that, I'm suspicious of how they aren't releasing his "manifesto" and that similarly, the motives of the Las Vegas shooter were weirdly kept under wraps.

I have a suspicion in both cases that they were white supremacists as well as pro-Trumpers, and (here's the Conspiracy Theory part) the police are keeping that covered up because they are sympathetic to both those viewpoints.

Of course, with Dylan Roof, his ideology was well-documented, which points against a cover-up, but that might have been partly because of his on line presence and how vocal he was. Because I also have in mind the Parkland shooter and how there seemed to be a lot of downplaying of his views.

BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#235988: Mar 22nd 2018 at 11:56:48 AM

Ironically, some particularly ignorant protesters want Hong Kong to be a British colony again, even waving the blasted flag. I may have my own criticisms of the PRC, but this is one step too far.
At the risk of derailing from US politics, why would Hong Kong becoming British again be a bad thing? Assuming the majority of the populace wanted that, at least.
As far as I see it there are two most likely reactions to Mueller's firing.

1) Either enough individual Republicans deflect to allow him to be appointed as independent counselor, this is bad for the Republicans as a whole because they'd probably oppose it and is very bad for Trump.

2) Not enough of them do and Mueller is fried, this is very bad for the Republicans and Trump. The damage this could cause them electorally would be... incalculable. This would make the Comey firing a minor disturbance (and don't forget that was what led to Mueller being appointed in the first place).

Notice that neither of those results involve the Republicans and/or Trump skipping merrily off into the sunset, that simply is not going to happen.

3) Trump fires Mueller, there's a great deal of sound and fury signifying nothing, Congress sits on their hands because the GOP is unwilling to publically feud with their own President, and Trump goes on to win the 2020 election in a probably-hacked landslide victory.
John Dowd, Trump's personal lawyer and the one handling the case on the Russia investigation, resigns.
I swear this has been rumored for a while now ...
Personally, I just love how their [Austin bomber's] group's acronym is RIOT. You can't make this shit up.
How long do you think it took them to come up with that acronym?

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
SlavetoTropes Since: Nov, 2017
#235989: Mar 22nd 2018 at 12:21:54 PM

So, to get away from the torrent about trumps legal dealings for a moment, there are some news from the economis front (namely his trade-war-initiative).

First, some Allies were exempted from the steel- and aluminium-tarrifs (mainly the EU which makes an eskalation on that front less likely):

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/22/trump-tariff-exemptions-479419?lo=ap_b1

On the other hand, he unveiled 50 billion in chinese tarrifs today:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/22/trump-chinese-tech-practices-tariffs-428551?lo=ap_a1

This has the potential for a major conflict if china retaliates. I'm kinda stumped that this has not blown up more in the news.

Imca (Veteran)
#235990: Mar 22nd 2018 at 12:25:46 PM

The Las Vegas shooter was kind of killed, and not every one leaves a manifesto.

It is very very possible, that still no one knows why he did it, and no one could ever know why he did it..... dead people don't exactly talk after all.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#235991: Mar 22nd 2018 at 12:26:15 PM

With Muller there’s going to be a consideration of if the Dems should limit Trump there, as we’ve discussed Muller has backups and the FBI alongside the Grand Jury will still function without him. So should the Dems really protect Trump from himself?

There’s at least an argument to be made that Trump should be allowed the power to fire Muller, and when he does it the Dems should respond both by reappointing him but also by reaping the political capital that comes with it.

I know people think that Trump supporters won’t desert him over a Muller firing, but his approval raiting did drop when he fired Comey, this would be that but bigger, sure the hardcore base won’t care, but (even though it makes no sense logically) there are Trump supporters who’d view the firing of Muller as bad and might switch over it.

The idea would be to let Trump fire Muller if he wants, ride the outrage over that to a midterm win that takes both the House and Senate, than reappoint Muller after the midterms.

The opposite argument would be that this suggestion is basically playing dice with democracy. We've done enough of that already.

In a democracy, it's easier to protect the status quo than it is to change it. So long as Mueller's investigation continues, he's part of the status quo. His investigation is ongoing, so Congress agrees that he should be allowed to finish. Defending his investigation is the default position.

If Trump gets rid of him, however, it changes the status quo. At that point, trying to reinstate his investigation is not the default position; it's the proposal of change. The default position becomes, "Why should I agree to hire some dude to investigate the President of the United States?"

Politicians have a decidedly short memory span. Republicans are willing to speak out in Mueller's defense now, but give them three days past the point of Mueller's firing and suddenly the idea of having Mueller investigate Trump will seem like a ridiculous partisan suggestion by embittered Democrats. Some of them only oppose the idea because they don't like the optics of supporting it. Once the question shifts from "Should Mueller be fired?" to "Should Mueller be hired?", then they'll be free to condemn the investigation and look like they're making a stand against an attempted partisan coup doing it.

  • Before Firing: Mueller's investigation is what it is. The Department of Justice believes in it, so I don't see how it's anyone's place to say whether it should be allowed to continue or not. Let's just let the legal process take its place.
  • After Firing: The Mueller investigation's over and surprise surprise, it found nothing. It was formally ended by the democratically-elected President of the United States, the man put into office by the will of the people. Now the Democrats are still trying to dig at this pointless witch hunt? The process has spoken, guys. It's done, you never found anything, Mueller was a total bust, and now it's time for America to move on.

I should hope that any faith in the principle of accelerationism - deliberately permitting political adversaries to do horrible things, secure in the knowledge that it will entice voters to turn against them and guarantee their failure when election time rolls around - would have been eroded away by the Brexit and Trump electoral victories.

edited 22nd Mar '18 12:26:53 PM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#235992: Mar 22nd 2018 at 1:00:57 PM

@Tobias, sadly I've seen more (or at least louder) incidents of people spouting accelerationist bullshit since Nov. 2016.


Dow is down over 700 points (5th biggest drop in its history) due to Trump's tariffs on China. I'll note that this bad of a drop is occurring despite Trump's advisors managing to convince him to offer exemptions to most US allies.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/politics-latest/

edited 22nd Mar '18 1:11:25 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
math792d Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#235993: Mar 22nd 2018 at 1:12:36 PM

At the risk of derailing from US politics, why would Hong Kong becoming British again be a bad thing? Assuming the majority of the populace wanted that, at least.

Note the use of 'colony' in the post. I don't think anybody wants to go back to the age of empire except Great Britain.

Also, y'know, Britain at the moment is a shitshow.

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#235994: Mar 22nd 2018 at 1:43:39 PM

I have a suspicion in both cases that they were white supremacists as well as pro-Trumpers, and (here's the Conspiracy Theory part) the police are keeping that covered up because they are sympathetic to both those viewpoints.

Yeah, that's Conspiracy Theory territory - as mentioned earlier, some people just don't leave a manifesto for why they did something. The Vegas shooter was nearly 60, and as such might not have had much of an online presence, and he reportedly suffered from Depression but was instead taking anti-Anxiety medication - that combo might have led to more aggressive thoughts, for all we know (such as anti-Depressives possibly causing suicidal ideation in patients).

With the Austin bomber, the investigation has just started. But since the guy was 23 years old, the odds are pretty high (though not guaranteed, depending on how he was raised) that he had a significant online presence - it's just a matter of sussing it out.

As for homeschooling, part of the issue there is a Catch 22 - a number of people that homeschool their kids do so because they don't want the government to "brainwash" them. So trying to make a move on homeschool regulations in the wake of an incident like this risks feeding their persecution complex and cause them to shift even further to the fringe.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#235995: Mar 22nd 2018 at 1:47:17 PM

[up] Like if it's the right thing for you and your kid, fine. There's lots of legitimate reasons to homeschool, and a lot of kids benefit from it

If you want to do it because "the Government is brainwashing them", or some crap like that, that's not fine.

edited 22nd Mar '18 1:55:02 PM by megaeliz

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#235996: Mar 22nd 2018 at 2:02:04 PM

3) Trump fires Mueller, there's a great deal of sound and fury signifying nothing, Congress sits on their hands because the GOP is unwilling to publically feud with their own President, and Trump goes on to win the 2020 election in a probably-hacked landslide victory.
Sure if you believe in extremely implausible mindless defeatism, there is zero evidence that he could win a landslide victory hacked or otherwise. Furthermore the idea that he could fire Mueller and there would be no consequences is just ridiculous, where do you think the General public would be in all of this? If it's before the midterms it could hand the Democrats Congress and if it's after midterms there is a good chance it'd be under a Democratic Congress.

The myth that Trump gets away with everything really needs to die, just because he closely won an election by extremely small margins does not mean that he's immune to controversy or can't metaphorically die the death of a thousand cuts.

edited 22nd Mar '18 2:02:35 PM by Fourthspartan56

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
TroperOnAStickV2 Call me Stick from Redneck country Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Call me Stick
#235997: Mar 22nd 2018 at 2:02:14 PM

[up][up] [tup] I concur.

edited 22nd Mar '18 2:02:32 PM by TroperOnAStickV2

Hopefully I'll feel confident to change my avatar off this scumbag soon. Apologies to any scumbags I insulted.
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#235998: Mar 22nd 2018 at 2:27:02 PM

Do kids benefit from it?

School is not just about learning, it is also about socializing.

Granted, I look at this from the perspective of a country in which home-schooling is forbidden, unless there are pressing reasons for it, and children have to visit school until a certain age, no matter what. If a parent is really that unhappy with the standard school it can send the child to an accredited alternative school (ie Montessori or Waldorf). And there are good reasons for it, because children need to be protected. Nothing worse than parents which isolate their children and indoctrinate them - and honestly, I rather see those children protected than to worry about the "freedom" of the parents.

TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
#235999: Mar 22nd 2018 at 2:28:47 PM
Thumped: Wow. That was rude. Too many of this kind of thump will bring a suspension. Please keep it civil.
firewriter Since: Dec, 2016
#236000: Mar 22nd 2018 at 2:34:22 PM

[up][up]

I really think banning home schooling is very authoritarian, especially when not everyone can fit into the public school model. Given the Parkland shooter as well, he was raised in public school and he still went crazy. So, it's more like people get seduced into crazy ideals.

edited 22nd Mar '18 2:35:27 PM by firewriter


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