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

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#255127: Sep 20th 2018 at 3:20:02 AM

Anyway, Roy Moore calls on the GOP to support Kavanugh and take a stand.

Thanks Roy Moore! Now if Kavanaugh is confirmed he can be an even more effective stone around the neck of the GOP.

Those suburban white women who are so crucial to the GOP's midterm chances are not going to like this.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Sep 20th 2018 at 6:40:33 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#255128: Sep 20th 2018 at 3:38:02 AM

I once remarked that if Kavanaugh somehow doesn't get the seat, Trump might respond by nominating Moore to it out of spite. A big part of what drives this administration is the same "fuck liberals" mindset that helped get Trump the win, after all.

Edited by M84 on Sep 20th 2018 at 6:38:41 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#255129: Sep 20th 2018 at 5:07:31 AM

[up]Ironically, if Kavanaugh doesn't get the seat, Moore might be part of the reason why.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#255130: Sep 20th 2018 at 6:06:04 AM

Again, the article's from July. If Mc Connel hasn't done it by now, he's not going to do it.

McConnell has done it. He's been trying to force a vote through on Kavanaugh just as he promised, to the point of giving Democrats only a portion of the documents they requested and then holding a vote the next morning before anyone could even read them.

It's only because of this recent rape accusation that the vote to confirm Kavanaugh's been stalled, and then only because Jeff Flake actually seems to give a shit and defected pending a hearing.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#255131: Sep 20th 2018 at 6:22:12 AM

[up]I meant delaying the vote to right before the election.

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#255132: Sep 20th 2018 at 7:16:13 AM

Speaking of Roy Moore, I found out recently that Chuck Norris fully endorsed him back when he was running for Congress. That was a huge "ugh" moment if there ever was one. Like, I know the guy's a Republican but that specifically (along with his support of Trump) was a Fan Disillusionment moment.

tricksterson Never Trust from Behind you with an icepick Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Never Trust
#255133: Sep 20th 2018 at 7:46:29 AM

He also supported Huckabee when he ran for President. Regardless of what you think of him as an actor (overrated IMHGO) politically he's a dickhead.

Trump delenda est
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#255134: Sep 20th 2018 at 7:48:33 AM

Chuck Norris is hugely overrated and has always been a mouthbreather. I'm not at all surprised he gave a fullthroated defense of such an odious man.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#255135: Sep 20th 2018 at 7:52:30 AM

Chuck Norris is another right-wing celebrity lunatic. He's certainly not Tomi Lahren, Ted Nugent, etc. But he's still batshit crazy and shouldn't be taken seriously in any capacity.

Remember his spiel about 1000 years of Darkness?

New Survey coming this weekend!
dragonfire5000 from Where gods fear to tread Since: Jan, 2001
#255136: Sep 20th 2018 at 7:54:18 AM

Wasn't Chuck Norris also homophobic? I remember never really finding the "Chuck Norris Facts" funny because of it.

"I squirm, I struggle, ergo I am. Faced with death, I am finally, truly alive."
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#255137: Sep 20th 2018 at 7:55:52 AM

Rational Wiki has an excellent article on Norris, it covers his awfulness while treating him with the respect he deserves.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#255138: Sep 20th 2018 at 8:39:56 AM

On the other end of the spectrum, some on the right are mad at Willie Nelson because he endorsed O'Rourke. Which is their right to do, but here's my question: Why would anyone ever think that Willie is a Republican??

Edited by speedyboris on Sep 20th 2018 at 12:18:57 PM

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#255139: Sep 20th 2018 at 8:49:54 AM

[up]It seems that they're actually mad because Willie took a public stance and endorsed a candidate, when apparently he should just keep his political opinions to himself so that they can continue being fans while pointedly ignoring them.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#255140: Sep 20th 2018 at 8:51:54 AM

New York Times has an article overviewing the last two years of Russian Interference

It's more mile wide, inch deep, but if you're looking to brush up and keep your facts straight on the broad strokes, it's pretty invaluable.

New Survey coming this weekend!
Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, bitch! from In a Cultivation World (Ancient one) Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, bitch!
#255141: Sep 20th 2018 at 8:59:31 AM

Those angry Willie Nelson fans likely weren't actual fans who paid attention to what he does outside of just his music.

Watch Symphogear
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#255142: Sep 20th 2018 at 9:20:41 AM

And that is just the sh.. Russia has been up to in the US. If you expand this on Europe, well, then you can't doubt that we are under constant attack.

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#255143: Sep 20th 2018 at 10:12:38 AM

New York Times has an article overviewing the last two years of Russian Interference

It's more mile wide, inch deep, but if you're looking to brush up and keep your facts straight on the broad strokes, it's pretty invaluable.

Holy fuck.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#255144: Sep 20th 2018 at 10:20:01 AM

Today's WTF Just Happened Today feed is mostly Kavanaugh centric.

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2018/09/20/day-609/

Day 609: Such an outstanding man.

1/ Senate Republicans plan to move forward with Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation despite sexual assault allegations by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Trump, in defending Kavanaugh, said it was "very hard for me to imagine anything happened" with Ford because Kavanaugh "is such an outstanding man." Sen. Chuck Grassley said a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing would begin at 10 a.m. Monday, and gave Ford a deadline of 10 a.m. Friday to submit prepared remarks if she plans to testify. While Ford has not officially declined the committee's invitation, her attorney has asked for a "full, nonpartisan investigation." (Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / New York Times)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-alleged-assault-by-kavanaugh-is-very-hard-for-me-to-imagine/2018/09/19/07a71002-bbf3-11e8-bdc0-90f81cc58c5d_story.html

2/ Sen. Dean Heller called the sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh a "little hiccup" and that he hopes "all senators" will address the accusations "in good faith" so they can "get through this" and "off to the races." The Nevada Republican went on to call Trump "a great leader" despite saying he was "99 percent against Trump" in October 2016. Heller is considered the most vulnerable Senate Republican seeking reelection this year. (Washington Post / The Hill / New York Times)

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/407565-gop-senator-kavanaugh-accusation-is-a-little-hiccup

3/ Trump continued to insist that there is no role for the FBI in investigating Dr. Ford's claims. Trump said the FBI investigating Ford's accusation that Brett Kavanaugh covered her mouth while trying to strip her bathing suit off during a high school party in the 1980s "is not really their thing." Former government officials, however, have come forward to contradict Trump's claim that the FBI cannot investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh. While Republican leaders in the Senate have echoed Trump's claim, several officials involved in nomination and background check processes say it's actually common. (Politico / NBC News)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/19/fbi-kavanaugh-allegations-trump-830150

4/ A former classmate of Ford walked back her claims that she knew about Brett Kavanaugh's alleged assault at the time it happened. "That it happened or not, I have no idea," said Cristina Miranda King. "I can't say that it did or didn't." In a now-deleted Facebook post, King previously said: "The incident DID happen, many of us heard about it in school." (NPR)

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/20/649787076/kavanaugh-accuser-classmate-that-it-happened-or-not-i-have-no-idea

5/ Senator Clair Mc Caskill will vote against Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court, but not because of the allegations against him. Mc Caskill cited Kavanaugh's "positions on several key issues, most importantly the avalanche of dark, anonymous money that is crushing our democracy," as the reason for her "no" vote. Mc Caskill says Kavanaugh "revealed his bias against limits on campaign donations" and that she is "uncomfortable about his view on Presidential power," as well as his "position that corporations are people." The Missouri Democrat is running for re-election this year in a state Trump won in 2016. Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate and could still confirm Kavanaugh's appointment even if all Democrats were to oppose his nomination. (NPR / Politico / CNN)

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/20/649771824/sen-claire-mccaskill-i-will-vote-no-on-judge-kavanaugh

Notables.
Trump told Spain's Foreign Minister to "build a wall across the Sahara" in order to curb migration from Africa. When Spanish diplomats pointed out that the Sahara stretched for 3,000 miles, Trump responded by saying: "The Sahara border can't be bigger than our border with Mexico." The US/Mexico border is roughly 2,000 miles long. (The Guardian / Bloomberg / CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/20/politics/trump-spain-sahara-wall-intl/index.html

The Department of Health and Human Services wants to reallocate $266 million in funds to pay for housing for detained immigrant children. Funds would be diverted from National Cancer Institute, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, Head Start, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other refugee support programs. (Yahoo News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-immigrant-children-detention-hhs-cuts-funds-programs-like-cancer-research-230259583.html

Jeff Sessions announced new limits on the ability of immigration judges to dismiss deportation cases, saying judges "have no inherent authority to terminate removal proceedings even though a particular case may pose sympathetic circumstances." (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-sessions/sessions-limits-u-s-judges-ability-to-dismiss-deportation-cases-idUSKCN1LZ2TG

The U.S. says it is ready to resume talks with North Korea after Kim Jong Un pledged on Wednesday to dismantle key missile facilities and suggested that he would close the Yongbyon nuclear complex. Sec. of State Mike Pompeo invited North Korea's foreign minister to meet in New York next week to discuss the possibility of denuclearization by January 2021. (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea-summit/u-s-ready-to-resume-north-korea-talks-seeks-denuclearization-by-2021-idUSKCN1LY30R

Florida gubernatorial candidate Ron De Santis (R) is dealing with his campaign's fifth race-related controversy after newly unearthed tweets showed one of his campaign allies using a racial slur to describe Barack Obama. "FUCK THE MUSLIM N—–," wrote Steven Alembik, who has donated more than $20,000 to De Santis' campaign. A De Santis' campaign spokesperson said that they "adamantly denounce this sort of disgusting rhetoric." (The Hill / Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/20/ron-desantis-florida-racial-issues-830726

Trump has named retiring Rep. Darrell Issa to head the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Issa is the former House Oversight Committee chairman, and has been in Congress for nine terms. He built a name for himself by clashing with the Obama administration for years and by accusing top officials at the IRS of targeting conservative groups for political purposes. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/19/trump-darrell-issa-trade-agency-830654

A Pennsylvania state Representative introduced a bill to ban public school teachers from discussing politics in the classroom. Will Tallman said his bill would stop teachers from discussing "legislation, regulations, executive orders or court cases involving any level or branch of government." (Morning Call)

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pennsylvania-tallman-political-speech-ban-bill-20180917-story.html

Edited by sgamer82 on Sep 20th 2018 at 11:19:47 AM

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#255145: Sep 20th 2018 at 10:31:32 AM

And Trump ticks off yet another negative American stereotype.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#255146: Sep 20th 2018 at 10:33:18 AM

Why would Spain build a wall across the Sahara when they could build a tiny one around Gibraltar?

Edited by CrimsonZephyr on Sep 20th 2018 at 1:35:42 PM

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#255147: Sep 20th 2018 at 10:33:31 AM

Not realising the Sahara desert ISN'T IN OR BORDERING SPAIN for one.

CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#255148: Sep 20th 2018 at 10:34:17 AM

[up]Shh, I know, I'm joking.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#255149: Sep 20th 2018 at 10:35:57 AM

[up] I was talking about Trump.

A Pennsylvania state Representative introduced a bill to ban public school teachers from discussing politics in the classroom. Will Tallman said his bill would stop teachers from discussing "legislation, regulations, executive orders or court cases involving any level or branch of government." (Morning Call)

Can someone copy the article text? Whole site is blocked in the EU and I'm curious what the reactions are.

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#255150: Sep 20th 2018 at 10:40:05 AM

Here ya go.

    Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to ban teachers from talking politics, government in school 
Pennsylvania lawmaker Will Tallman is not seeking re-election in November.

But if the Adams County Republican has his way, he will go out with the passage of a monumental bill that would re-write free speech rules in schools by banning discussions centered around modern-day civics, politics and science in classrooms.

On Friday, Tallman sent a memo to the 203-member state House seeking support for a bill he dubbed the “Teacher Code of Ethics,” which legal experts questioned as unconstitutional overreach.

In the memo, Tallman said his bill would forbid public school teachers from endorsing, supporting or opposing candidates or incumbents for local, state and federal offices while in the classroom. On the job, teachers could not discuss enacted or pending legislation, regulations, executive orders or court cases involving any level or branch of government. They could not talk about activities “that hamper or impede” law enforcement actions or military recruiters on campus.

His proposal most likely stands no chance of becoming law and legal experts panned it as an unconstitutional attempt to curb free speech.

“It runs roughshod over the cardinal principle of academic freedom,” said David Hudson, a professor at the Nashville School of Law in Tennessee and ombudsman for Newseum Institute’s First Amendment Center in Washington, D.C. “In certain classes, political speech and frank discussion is necessary. I mean social studies class, contemporary issues — you need teachers talking about current events.”

According to Tallman’s memo, teachers could not “introduce into class any controversial subject matter that is not germane to the topic of the course being taught; or advocate for any issue that is part of a political party platform at the national, state, or local Level.”

Any teacher who broke the would-be state law could be suspended or lose their state teachers license.

“Our K-12 school teachers should not be using their classroom time spent on political or ideological indoctrination,” Tallman said in his memo. “Doing so takes time away from instruction in the academic foundation subjects of mathematics, science, English, history, and civics, and prevents our students from receiving a high-quality public education for careers in the global, high-tech economy.”

Tallman is a former Wellsboro Area School Board member. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2008.

As a school board member, Tallman said in an interview, he could not recall getting private or public complaints that teachers or administrators were pushing personal or one-sided political agendas in the classroom. As a member of the House Education Committee, he said, he has received “half a dozen to a dozen” complaints about teachers inserting their political beliefs into non-germane topics. His adult children and grandchildren also complained to him about the same issue, he said.

Tallman stood by his bill, saying four other states, which he could not name, have enacted similar legislation, and that it would be up to the courts to determine if the enacted laws and his bill are legal.

“That will have to play out in court,” he said.

It already has.

Since the 1960s, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued rulings that both enhance and curtail the speech of teachers and other public employees on and off the job.

First Amendment law regarding public school teachers remains an unsettled legal topic, especially in the age of social media, said Robert Richards, director of the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment at Penn State. But in the classroom, he said, teachers have more rights if the topic deals with a lesson.

“In general, schools can control curriculum issues and when teachers are speaking in their classrooms, they are acting as agents of the school rather than for themselves,” Richards said. “They are usually on safer ground when the speech directly relates to their subject matter. Speaking about legislation … in a social studies or history class may be particularly germane, so a blanket prohibition as such would be highly suspect, and courts would likely invalidate it if enforced against a teacher.” J. William Reynolds

J. William Reynolds, a high school history teacher and elected Bethlehem councilman, said Talman's bill is a "ridiculous" attempt to curtail student learning in the classroom. (Emily Paine/The Morning Call)

As a citizen, Allen High School history teacher and elected Bethlehem city councilman, J. William Reynolds said he would hate to see students’ curiosity thwarted in the classroom by a state law precluding teachers from answering questions or leading a well-rounded discussion.

Students appreciate when teachers — and more often students themselves — open a discussion linking current events, such as the nation’s ongoing immigration debate and the Senate confirmation process of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, to past events or vice versa, Reynolds said. Students, he said, are free to take any side of a debate or issue and they do, leading to a “real educational moment” when all sides are heard in a respectful manner.

“No one is telling you how to think, but to understand how local, county, state and federal governments impact your life,” Reynolds said. “It’s the way we produce an educated citizenry.”


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