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

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#253901: Sep 2nd 2018 at 4:47:03 PM

I mean, hasn't it been more or less confirmed that Wisconsin in particularly went the way it did because of voter suppression?

I distinctly remember something about that.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253902: Sep 2nd 2018 at 5:00:35 PM

Yes

Not to mention that just because it goes Democratic doesn't mean that large numbers of people need to change their minds, all it requires is less Republican turnout and more Democrat turnout.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#253903: Sep 3rd 2018 at 12:05:26 PM

Not sure if it was mentioned yet, but a Paul Manafort associate has flipped, pleading guilty and promising to cooperate with Mueller's investigation.

Under the 10-page plea agreement requiring cooperation with the government, [W. Samuel] Patten no longer faces potential charges for making false statements or obstructing the Senate Intelligence Committee, or for causing foreign money to contribute to Trump's 2016-2017 inauguration committee.

But Patten must cooperate fully, truthfully and completely with Mueller's office and other law enforcement authorities, including testifying in court, under the agreement.

Patten represented the Opposition Bloc, a Ukrainian political party and its members, including a prominent oligarch, according to court records. For his work, the company that Patten created with a Russian national who isn’t named in the documents received more than $1 million through an offshore Cypriot account.

The work involved setting up meetings in January 2015 with officials in the executive branch and members of Congress, to influence U.S. policy. Patten and his partner drafted periodic op-ed articles for U.S. press, including in January and February 2017.

And in other good news, Army veteran David Weissman has a tweet that's gone viral today describing why he's disillusioned with Trump, issuing a full-blown apology to Obama for comments he'd made about him.

Edited by ironballs16 on Sep 3rd 2018 at 12:08:54 PM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#253904: Sep 3rd 2018 at 12:26:26 PM

Trump is going after Sessions again, this time because the DOJ indicted two Congressmen (early Trump supporters) on (unrelated) fraud charges.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/03/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions-justice-department/index.html

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#253905: Sep 3rd 2018 at 12:29:41 PM

Good for him...though I wonder how he feels about Muslims now.

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#253906: Sep 3rd 2018 at 12:30:53 PM

[up][up]I wonder after Trump said Sessions was safe until after the midterms, which I assume was a promise he made GOP leadership, he now tries to bully him (some more) into quitting instead.

"You can reply to this Message!"
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#253907: Sep 3rd 2018 at 12:37:26 PM

I feel a lot of Schaedenfreude here that so many Trumpists acted like Falstaff (classical Shakespeare reference) when Henry V became king. They assumed they'd be immune to prosecution and got themselves arrested.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#253908: Sep 3rd 2018 at 7:41:25 PM

So Trump Jr. decided to use the death of Mollie Tibbets (the Iowan who was murdered by an illegal immigrant) to decry such immigration - and her father wrote a rebuttal in the Des Moines Register calling him out for using his daughter as a pawn.

Ten days ago, we learned that Mollie would not be coming home. Shattered, my family set out to celebrate Mollie’s extraordinary life and chose to share our sorrow in private. At the outset, politicians and pundits used Mollie’s death to promote various political agendas. We appealed to them and they graciously stopped. For that, we are grateful.

Sadly, others have ignored our request. They have instead chosen to callously distort and corrupt Mollie’s tragic death to advance a cause she vehemently opposed. I encourage the debate on immigration; there is great merit in its reasonable outcome. But do not appropriate Mollie’s soul in advancing views she believed were profoundly racist. The act grievously extends the crime that stole Mollie from our family and is, to quote Donald Trump Jr., “heartless" and "despicable.”

Make no mistake, Mollie was my daughter and my best friend. At her eulogy, I said Mollie was nobody’s victim. Nor is she a pawn in others’ debate. She may not be able to speak for herself, but I can and will. Please leave us out of your debate. Allow us to grieve in privacy and with dignity. At long last, show some decency. On behalf of my family and Mollie’s memory, I’m imploring you to stop.

Throughout this ordeal I’ve asked myself, “What would Mollie do?” As I write this, I am watching Sen. John Mc Cain lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda and know that evil will succeed only if good people do nothing. Both Mollie and Senator Mc Cain were good people. I know that both would stand up now and do something.

The person who is accused of taking Mollie’s life is no more a reflection of the Hispanic community as white supremacists are of all white people. To suggest otherwise is a lie. Justice in my America is blind. This person will receive a fair trial, as it should be. If convicted, he will face the consequences society has set. Beyond that, he deserves no more attention.

To the Hispanic community, my family stands with you and offers its heartfelt apology. That you’ve been beset by the circumstances of Mollie’s death is wrong. We treasure the contribution you bring to the American tapestry in all its color and melody. And yes, we love your food.

My stepdaughter, whom Mollie loved so dearly, is Latina. Her sons — Mollie’s cherished nephews and my grandchildren — are Latino. That means I am Hispanic. I am African. I am Asian. I am European. My blood runs from every corner of the Earth because I am American. As an American, I have one tenet: to respect every citizen of the world and actively engage in the ongoing pursuit to form a more perfect union.

Given that, to knowingly foment discord among races is a disgrace to our flag. It incites fear in innocent communities and lends legitimacy to the darkest, most hate-filled corners of the American soul. It is the opposite of leadership. It is the opposite of humanity. It is heartless. It is despicable. It is shameful.

We have the opportunity now to take heed of the lessons that Mollie, John Mc Cain and Aretha Franklin taught — humanity, fairness and courage. For most of the summer, the search for Mollie brought this nation together like no other pursuit. There was a common national will that did transcend opinion, race, gender and geography. Let’s not lose sight of that miracle. Let’s not lose sight of Mollie.

Instead, let’s turn against racism in all its ugly manifestations both subtle and overt. Let’s turn toward each other with all the compassion we gave Mollie. Let’s listen, not shout. Let’s build bridges, not walls. Let’s celebrate our diversity rather than argue over our differences. I can tell you, when you’ve lost your best friend, differences are petty and meaningless.

My family remains eternally grateful to all those who adopted Mollie so completely and showered us with so much care, compassion and generosity. Please accept our desire to remain private as we share our loss. We love Mollie with all our hearts and miss her terribly. We need time.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#253909: Sep 3rd 2018 at 8:02:14 PM

I mean, hasn't it been more or less confirmed that Wisconsin in particularly went the way it did because of voter suppression?

I distinctly remember something about that.

That's not a good thing. We'd have a more reliable chance of success if they just really hated Hillary or something. That the Republicans had demonstrably effective methods of rigging the election to steal victory with a minority of votes is a much harder hurdle to overcome in 2018.

Those systems will still be in place no matter who we field as our candidate.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#253910: Sep 3rd 2018 at 8:35:42 PM

This is why everyone should know about Shelby County v. Holder.

In short, it’s a 5-4 Supreme Court decision from 2013 that struck down part of the voting rights act as no longer necessary (... unnecessary my ass, John Roberts can go and do something unmentionable with a cactus) and has enabled much of the worst voter suppression since then. It’s also part of the reason that I never trusted Justice Kennedy.

Edited by wisewillow on Sep 3rd 2018 at 11:36:35 AM

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#253911: Sep 3rd 2018 at 9:20:35 PM

Well this is concerning, albeit not surprising - Trump's legal team will attempt to block Mueller's report from being made public.

I can't even imagine the outrage that would have erupted had Clinton tried to pull that shit with Ken Starr.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#253913: Sep 3rd 2018 at 9:55:00 PM

Trump keeps trying to do illegal things.

Generally, he's stopped when people ignore him.

It's a strategy I recommend people keep following.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#253914: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:01:46 PM

.....what. He’s been doing illegal things for his entire career, even before politics. Ignoring him doesn’t make him stop.

CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#253915: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:03:29 PM

[up][up][up] It's up to Rosenstein. It'll get leaked to the Public even if he succeeds, though, so it's ultimately a useless endeavor.

Edited by CookingCat on Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:06:14 AM

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#253916: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:03:41 PM

How to guarantee a leak #1: declare that a report into you cannot possibly be released. If a report is written, it will out.

[up][nja]

Edited by RainehDaze on Sep 3rd 2018 at 6:05:50 PM

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#253917: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:09:21 PM

In fairness, the wording comes across as wanting to block a public release - Congress would still be entitled to see it, and that basically guarantees leaks. Unfortunately, that would make it more along the lines of hearsay, which Trump et al would immediately dogpile onto.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#253918: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:14:32 PM

Please don’t use the word hearsay in this context; it has a very specific legal meaning which doesn’t apply here.

Edited by wisewillow on Sep 3rd 2018 at 1:16:40 PM

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#253919: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:16:01 PM

Sealing the report would be viewed by anyone other than Trump's cultists and the GOP base (but I repeat myself) as an admission of guilt.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#253920: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:16:37 PM

No, ignoring him prevents him from getting away with it.

Trump's strategy is to wear down everyone he deals with until they accept his terms.

Don't and he fails.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#253921: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:18:12 PM

NVM. Misread your post.

Edited by CookingCat on Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:20:31 AM

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#253922: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:18:14 PM

[up][up]... how does ignoring him breaking the law “prevent him from getting away with it.”

Edited by wisewillow on Sep 3rd 2018 at 1:17:51 PM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#253923: Sep 3rd 2018 at 10:20:23 PM

[up] I think the idea is that certain things Trump wants to do don't get done because the people in charge of actually implementing them quietly ignore him and do what they're going to do anyway.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#253924: Sep 3rd 2018 at 11:21:22 PM

Basically, Trump's claims need to be treated as the insane nonsense they are and ignored.

Because you don't need to obey illegal orders.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#253925: Sep 4th 2018 at 12:30:04 AM

Why block the release of the thing you have stated can only serve to prove your total innocence anyway?

"Yup. That tasted purple."

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