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

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#250876: Jul 31st 2018 at 4:00:02 PM

I would put more stock in Pence saying Russia meddled if Trump hadn't also sais Russia meddled... in favor in Democrats. For all we know, Pence could mean the same thing.

i'm tired, my friend
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#250877: Jul 31st 2018 at 4:05:53 PM

See, I thought that "someone else did it" being used as a defense strategy is a last-ditch effort when there is absolutely no doubt about your guilt anymore.

It should really have been expected that he tried to pin the blame on Gates.

This is a classic defense argument. Gates is the government’s witness, so blaming him is an obvious move. It is unlikely to succeed in this case, but it is a typical defense strategy because the defense needs to both take down Gates and offer the jury an alternative explanation.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#250878: Jul 31st 2018 at 4:20:12 PM

Pence also said in that same article that he is just saying what Trump agrees with as well.

That's conveniently ignoring all the denials and caveats Trump has said to downplay or deny Russian involvement, but he did word it so that he is not exactly going against Trump.

Robrecht Your friendly neighbourhood Regent from The Netherlands Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Your friendly neighbourhood Regent
#250879: Jul 31st 2018 at 4:49:55 PM

[up][up][up] Almost certainly, the intention behind his not explicitly stating they meddled in favour of Trump is that Trump supporters can take it that he means it the way Trump meant it, while the rest of the Conservatives can point back at it and say 'See! Pence admitted the Russians meddled in Trump's favour even then!' after Trump's position inevitably becomes untenable.

Edited by Robrecht on Jul 31st 2018 at 4:52:14 AM

Angry gets shit done.
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#250880: Jul 31st 2018 at 4:58:15 PM

In private, Kavanaugh hints at views on Mueller

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has privately told senators he views the appointment of a special counsel by the Justice Department as appropriate, a comment that could shed new light about his views of Robert Mueller's investigation into Donald Trump's presidential campaign, according to sources familiar with the meetings.

But Kavanaugh has also stood by his stated views that question whether a sitting US president can be indicted on criminal charges, instead saying Congress should play the lead role in impeaching and removing a president — and also enact a law ensuring a president can be indicted after leaving office.

The comments, which multiple sources said were relayed to senators as he's made the rounds on Capitol Hill, give a glimpse into how Kavanaugh is carefully handling questions about his views on executive power at a time when Trump and his associates face growing legal pressure from the Mueller probe. The sources say the nominee is careful not to tip his hand on his views of the Mueller investigation's constitutionality, given that he could rule on matters stemming from the probe, leaving ample questions about his views.

In a private meeting with North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, Kavanaugh reiterated his past statements questioning whether a "sitting president" can be indicted, instead detailing the constitutional role of Congress to take action against a president. In meetings with senators, Kavanaugh points out those views also are in line with long-standing Justice Department policy, saying a sitting president can't be indicted. But he has been careful — and has stopped short of asserting it's unconstitutional to indict a sitting president, given that the Supreme Court has not ruled on that matter, according to one source briefed on the matter.

But Tillis said he was comfortable with Kavanaugh's explanation laying out his views about the separation of powers: that the House impeaches a president, followed by the Senate convicting a president and removing him from office. At that point, Kavanaugh argued, it would be the proper time to carry on with any criminal prosecution for a president after leaving office.

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#250881: Jul 31st 2018 at 5:11:16 PM

@ironballs16: To clarify, the NRA is largely funded by and for manufacturers, but it is an organization of its own, and most of its manpower comes from the neo-Confederates. Hence, it tends to expect manufacturers to toe its line just as it goes to bat for them in Washington, and it's quick to turn on gun companies if they don't adhere to its theology. If gun manufacturers collectively cut funding, then it'd thrash and die, but until then it's very much a rabid attack dog that the manufacturers want pointed at gun control and not at them.

Edited by Ramidel on Jul 31st 2018 at 4:13:10 AM

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#250882: Jul 31st 2018 at 5:16:07 PM

The NRA also recieves funding from Russia...

Do not obey in advance.
rmctagg09 The Wanderer from Brooklyn, NY (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
The Wanderer
#250883: Jul 31st 2018 at 5:25:28 PM

A Conversation with the Only Scientist in Congress:

Before being elected to Congress in 2008, Representative Bill Foster of Illinois, a Democrat, worked for more than 20 years as a physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill. Now, as the only member of Congress with a Ph.D. in science, he says there is an urgent need for more scientists in politics. At least eight candidates with science backgrounds—though not necessarily doctorates—will be on the ballot for seats in the House or Senate in November. Foster sat down with Scientific American to discuss science’s role on Capitol Hill amid the current divisive political climate. An edited excerpt of the conversation follows.

Hugging a Vanillite will give you frostbite.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#250884: Jul 31st 2018 at 5:26:37 PM

Jeff Flake is in Rural Zimbabwe, as an international observer to their elections, and is reportedly planning to stay there all month, which coincidently just so happens to slow down the judicial nomination process.

Here is the upshot of what Flake is doing:

Mitch Mc Connell kept the Senate in session in August (instead of recessing), so they could confirm Trump's judicial nominees, but Flake took his own recess for most of August. He's on judiciary, so now they can't confirm the judges.

So, nominees that have not already gotten out of committee will be stuck there. Nominees that gotten out of committee and are awaiting a floor vote will now require Pence to break the 49-49 tie—which means Pence has to stay in DC to break ties instead of campaign for R candidates

Jeff Flake is screwing the GOP caucus (and conservative causes generally, by slowing pace of confirmations). And he's either doing it intentionally or he's doing it because he just doesn't care and would rather vacation.

I've seen some people say that Flake has said he's returning shortly, and I'll definitely screenshot/delete if his office puts out an official statement saying that. But staffer close to the process said "if it changed, it changed overnight."

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 31st 2018 at 9:41:20 AM

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#250885: Jul 31st 2018 at 6:00:45 PM

Ooh... wink

Do not obey in advance.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#250886: Jul 31st 2018 at 6:03:18 PM

If you squint, you can see the middle finger to Mc Connell from across the Atlantic.

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#250887: Jul 31st 2018 at 6:15:32 PM

A judge has blocked the release of Defense Distributed’s gun blueprints [1]

At this point there’s no stopping these blueprints from getting out into the wild. We need to cut our losses and get in front of this one with some actual reform of the way we handle civilian ownership of weapons. We should be looking at limitations on the sale of ammunition and more comprehensive permitting.

Edited by archonspeaks on Jul 31st 2018 at 6:15:54 AM

They should have sent a poet.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#250888: Jul 31st 2018 at 7:12:38 PM

Got to love the assholes that make the world more dangerous for everyone for no good reason.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#250889: Jul 31st 2018 at 7:22:46 PM

Wasn't the UK MP Jo Cox assassinated by someone using a 3d-printed gun?

Disgusted, but not surprised
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#250890: Jul 31st 2018 at 7:30:28 PM

Sawn-off rifle, not 3d printed.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#250891: Jul 31st 2018 at 7:52:04 PM

A Yahoo Finance poll using a Survey Monkey polling 2509 Americans showed that at least 40% of Republican leaning Americans wouldn't lose sleep if Russia helped their party keep control; specifically 11% called it "appropriate" and 29% said it "wasn't appropriate, but don't care."

What's interesting is there are similar if slightly smaller percents for Republicans being fine with Russia helping even if they were helping the Democrats.]]

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#250892: Jul 31st 2018 at 7:58:53 PM

Republicans just flat-out don't see Russia as a problem.

Edited by PushoverMediaCritic on Jul 31st 2018 at 7:58:54 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#250893: Jul 31st 2018 at 8:00:35 PM

If a Blue Wave actually happens those Republicans will probably change their tune very quickly and go "Dems were working with Russia!"

Disgusted, but not surprised
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#250894: Jul 31st 2018 at 8:16:10 PM

You're framing that misleadingly. 40% of Republican not seeing a problem with it implies that 60% of them do see it as a problem. When you consider just how powerful partisanship if, and how many of the more reasonable right-leaning people have stopped associating with the republicans... that's not a high level of support. That's a low level of support.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#250895: Jul 31st 2018 at 8:29:10 PM

Okay, let me phrase that better. Too many Republicans just flat-out don't see Russia as a problem.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#250896: Jul 31st 2018 at 8:30:13 PM

Yeah, but we already knew that. It's ridiculous that this is even up for debate, but since it is it's at least a win it's not most of them.

Edited by LSBK on Jul 31st 2018 at 10:30:33 AM

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#250897: Jul 31st 2018 at 9:14:28 PM

Umm...

Collusion is not a crime, but that doesn’t matter because there was No Collusion (except by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats)!

Also

Rush Limbaugh is a great guy who truly gets it!

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 31st 2018 at 12:15:24 PM

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#250898: Jul 31st 2018 at 9:15:43 PM

...I'm now counting down the days before Trump unironically declares "It's OK If You're A Republican!"

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#250899: Jul 31st 2018 at 9:22:51 PM

Oh, I love the sound of GOP implosion in the morning.

Okay, this is a pretty wild unfolding story.

First, watch this ad...

After you've watched it, read the rest of the thread.

Okay, now take a wild guess who's running an ad against Trump where a farmer takes off his red MAGA-like hat...

Would you believe... the Koch Brothers?

The Republican kingmakers are running a TV ad campaign against Trump's trade policies.

Naturally, Trump is taking that really well (sarcasm).

Trump is poking that hornet's nest... whacking it with a stick actually.

That puts R's in a bad spot. Side with Trump or side with their biggest funding source.

This is gonna get fun!

<end>

And what did trump do?

The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and Powerful Trade. I never sought their support because I don’t need their money or bad ideas. They love my Tax & Regulation Cuts, Judicial picks & more. I made.........them richer. Their network is highly overrated, I have beaten them at every turn. They want to protect their companies outside the U.S. from being taxed, I’m for America First & the American Worker - a puppet for no one. Two nice guys with bad ideas. Make America Great Again!

That tweet is remarkable. He actually admitted he made them richer, and attacked his parties biggest donners. I bet the GOP is freaking out right now, because they are owned by corperate interests, and terrified of there electorate, so they are stuck in a really bad position.

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 31st 2018 at 12:30:31 PM

DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#250900: Jul 31st 2018 at 9:32:03 PM

[up]

I wonder if anyone actually tried to explain to Trump what "globalist" really means.

We learn from history that we do not learn from history

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