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

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#258451: Oct 23rd 2018 at 10:08:29 AM

Yeah, that "bootstraps" thing is a huge issue, and with taxes specifically it creates the problem we're all familiar with: the middle class seeing themselves as "temporarily embarrassed millionaires". Maybe now after all this it will be a little easier but that's why I think any campaigns talking about how the rich need to start paying their share is going to run into a problem, that one being that the average person needs to accept that they're not rich now and they likely never will be. Social mobility does exist but that doesn't mean you'll ever be part of the 1%; that's why they're the 1%.

Friendperson Since: May, 2018
#258452: Oct 23rd 2018 at 10:46:23 AM

While there is value in learning to be self-reliant and working hard in your situation, it presents a false image of how easy it is to get into where you want to be.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#258453: Oct 23rd 2018 at 10:59:16 AM

Conservatives have successfully convinced millions of Americans that a system in which we take food off of the poor's plates to make a giant buffet for the top 1% is both sustainable and in their best interest to support, because at any moment, they might get their turn at the buffet.

Republican economic philosophy is a Ponzi Scheme.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#258454: Oct 23rd 2018 at 12:10:54 PM

In a somewhat startling move that leaves me wondering what the ulterior motive is, conservative pundits and a Fox and Friends host seem to side with Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on burning the Georgia state flag back in the 50s.

The defense being that Georgia had changed the state flag to include the Confederate battle flag in the design as a counter-protest to the civil rights movement, so Stacey Abrams and other civil rights protesters were entirely within their right to burn it in protest.

Edited by danime91 on Oct 23rd 2018 at 12:12:53 PM

SciFiSlasher from Absolutely none of your business. Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#258455: Oct 23rd 2018 at 12:32:07 PM

The hack gap: how and why conservative nonsense dominates American politics.

Specifically, by exploiting semi-random variation in Fox viewership driven by changes in the assignment of channel numbers, they find that if Fox News hadn’t existed, the Republican presidential candidate’s share of the two-party vote would have been 3.59 points lower in 2004 and 6.34 points lower in 2008. Without Fox, in other words, the GOP’s only popular vote win since the 1980s would have been reversed and the 2008 election would have been an extinction-level landslide.

"Somehow the hated have to walk a tightrope, while those who hate do not."
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#258456: Oct 23rd 2018 at 1:18:32 PM

Part of the tax issue is a case of What Have You Done for Me Lately? - as mentioned a couple pages back, it's easy for governmental operations to become just so much background noise, and people forget just how important those functions are until a shutdown occurs.

And honestly, Becker put it pretty damned well in this scene:

Beleaguered Bureaucrat: You're not listening! I can't help! Nobody can help. That facility is not going to reopen, and I'll tell you why: there is no money! There's no money because the federal government cut taxes, which is all anybody seems to care about anymore. That means less money for the state, which means less money for the city, which means we had to cut services, which means fewer cops, fewer firemen, bad air, bad water and crappy schools which will turn out yet another generation of voters too stupid and greedy to care about anything else besides cutting taxes! So don't you come in here and tell me to fix your problem, because there's not a DAMN THING I CAN DO ABOUT IT!... Where did that come from?

And I'll cop to it - I only learned about Becker because of BoJack Horseman name-dropping it.

Edited by ironballs16 on Oct 23rd 2018 at 6:46:05 AM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#258457: Oct 23rd 2018 at 1:19:07 PM

Edit: I think my edit ate someone's post.

Edited by ironballs16 on Oct 23rd 2018 at 6:45:47 AM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#258458: Oct 23rd 2018 at 1:26:03 PM

Who was it that said the best government is one that you don't even realize exists? Because that's very much the case. When things are working well, we don't hear about it on the news. Taxes successfully paying for repaired roads and better infrastructure is not a front page story. It's the sad fact that bad news generates more ratings than good news, and thus the media will report on, and thus draw more attention to, the bad, and largely ignore the good.

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#258459: Oct 23rd 2018 at 1:27:30 PM

" it presents a false image of how easy it is to get into where you want to be."

Pretty much, there this fantasy that if you want to get rich or have money you only need to close your eyes, wanted reaaaaally hard make a effort and BOOM, you have it, is the american dream.

Which funny enough is something republican try to shut down everytime.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#258460: Oct 23rd 2018 at 2:34:48 PM

Although a lot of the funding for Roadwork, public services, infrastructure, and stuff like that is at a state and local level, which is why It’s chronically underfunded.

Edited by megaeliz on Oct 23rd 2018 at 5:35:55 AM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#258461: Oct 23rd 2018 at 2:43:08 PM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2018/10/23/day-642/

Day 642: Cover-up.

1/ Trump called the Saudi operation to kill Jamal Khashoggi one of "worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups," saying "they had a very bad original concept." He added that "somebody really messed up," but he would "leave it up to Congress" to punish Saudi Arabia. (New York Times / Washington Post / Associated Press / Reuters / The Hill)

https://apnews.com/9c79116125c740d084eaf3576d8958a8

The U.S. will revoke the visas of some of the Saudi officials allegedly responsible for Khashoggi's death. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. intends to hold people accountable for the "horrific" act of killing Khashoggi. [Editor's note: This story is developing…] (Politico / Bloomberg / Washington Post)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/23/pompeo-says-us-to-revoke-visas-of-saudi-officials-linked-to-khashoggi-death-934512

2/ The Saudi cover story fell apart because the Khashoggi "body double" wore the wrong shoes. Video footage shows a man exiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2 wearing a fake beard and glasses, as well as the pants, shirt and jacket that Khashoggi was seen wearing when he entered the building earlier in the day. "It was a flawed body double, so it never became an official part of the Saudi government's narrative," a diplomat said. (CNBC / Washington Post)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/22/saudi-coverup-scrapped-cause-khashoggi-body-double-wore-wrong-shoes.html

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: The killing of Khashoggi was a "planned" and "brutal" murder. Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia to extradite 18 suspects to Turkey to face justice for the crime. (Washington Post / New York Times)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/turkeys-president-to-deliver-speech-expected-to-describe-how-khashoggi-was-killed/2018/10/22/4098c300-d60c-11e8-8384-bcc5492fef49_story.html

Saudi Arabia's crown prince received a standing ovation after making an unannounced appearance at a global investment conference. Mohammed bin Salman is suspected of playing a role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/23/business/saudi-conference-khashoggi-killing.html

3/ Khashoggi's cut-up and disfigured remains were found in the garden of the Saudi consul general's home in Istanbul. The account contradicts Saudi officials, who said the body was rolled up in a carpet and handed over to a local operative to dispose of the evidence. (Sky News / New York Post)

https://news.sky.com/story/sky-sources-jamal-khashoggis-body-parts-found-11533202

📌 The Re-up: Day 637. A frequent companion of Saudi Arabia's crown prince entered the country's consulate in Istanbul hours before Khashoggi arrived. Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb was also seen outside the Saudi consul general's home, leaving a Turkish hotel with a large suitcase, and leaving Istanbul — all in the same day. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/world/middleeast/jamal-khashoggi-mohammed-bin-salman-turkey-saudi-arabia.html

4/ Trump: "I'm a nationalist." Speaking at a rally in Texas in support of Ted Cruz's reelection campaign, Trump defined "a globalist [as] a person that wants the globe to do well," adding that they're "frankly not caring about the country so much." The comment marked the first time Trump associated himself with the political ideology. (CNN / Politico / Bloomberg)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/22/trump-nationalist-926745

Trump on Ted Cruz: "He's not Lyin' Ted anymore. He's beautiful Ted." Trump previously mocked the appearance of Cruz's wife, linked Cruz's father to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, called Cruz "Lyin' Ted", called him "unhinged," "a little bit of a maniac," and "a totally unstable individual." (Huff Post / New York Times)

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-ted-cruz-texas-rally_us_5bce1dcee4b0d38b587b1534

Trump vowed to send as many troops as necessary to the U.S.-Mexican border to block the caravan of Central American migrants, calling them "an assault on our country." (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/22/trump-halt-migrant-caravan-many-troops-necessary/1731717002/

Trump falsely accused Puerto Rico of using federal hurricane relief funds to pay off the island's debt. Puerto Rico is slated to receive $82 billion in federal relief as it rebuilds from Hurricane Maria. (Politico / Associated Press / Washington Post)

https://apnews.com/e98583e243f54807a268822845455dfc

5/ Putin wants to hold direct discussions with Trump, suggesting they meet in Paris next month, where they'll both be to mark the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. National Security Advisor John Bolton held firm that the U.S. would withdraw from the 31-year-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. (CNBC / Washington Post / Reuters / CNN)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nuclear-bolton-paris/bolton-says-he-raised-election-meddling-with-russias-putin-idUSKCN1MX2KH

Trump vowed to outspend Russia and China in building up its nuclear arsenal "until they come to their senses." Trump added: "We have more money than anybody else, by far." (Bloomberg / CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/22/politics/donald-trump-russia-china-inf/index.html

Pence declined to rule out the idea of deploying a nuclear weapons in space, saying "what we want to do is continue to advance the principle that peace comes through strength." In August, Trump announced a plan to create the "Space Force" – the sixth branch of the military – by 2020. (Reuters / Washington Post)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-space/white-house-to-press-forward-with-trumps-space-command-idUSKCN1MX21L

6/ Trump on protections for transgender people: "I'm protecting everybody. I want to protect our country." (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lgbt/trump-says-transgender-policy-seeks-to-protect-the-country-idUSKCN1MW2XE

📌 The Re-up: Day 641. The Trump administration plans to redefine the legal definition of gender as strictly biological, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with. The effort by the Department of Health and Human Services would establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX, effectively narrowing the definition of gender and deny federal recognition and civil rights protections to transgender Americans. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/us/politics/transgender-trump-administration-sex-definition.html

Notables.

Brett Kavanaugh once lobbied in support of a judge who is now reviewing more than a dozen ethics complaints filed against him. Kavanaugh worked on the judicial campaign to secure a lifetime appointment for Timothy Tymkovich while he was a senior staff member for George W. Bush. (The Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/22/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-tim-tymkovich-ethics-complaints

An explosive device was found in a mailbox outside a home of billionaire George Soros in Westchester County, New York. The bomb was "proactively detonated" by the bomb squad. The case has been turned over to the FBI. (The Hill / New York Times)

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/412674-explosive-device-found-at-george-soross-home

The U.S. Cyber Command took its first countermeasure against Russian operatives to stop them from interfering in the upcoming midterm elections. The campaign attempts to deter Russian operatives from spreading disinformation by telling them that American agents know who they are and what they're doing. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/23/us/politics/russian-hacking-usa-cyber-command.html

Republicans voters have outpaced Democratic voters in early voting in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, Tennessee and Texas. Republicans typically dominate early voting by absentee ballots, while Democrats tend to have the advantage with in-person early voting. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/republicans-outpacing-democrats-early-voting-key-states-nbc-news-finds-n922881

Wilbur Ross won't have to answer questions about his decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. Several states and civil rights groups are suing to stop the administration from adding the question to the form. The Supreme Court refused to consider one of the challenges, making it unlikely that Ross will have to be deposed in the case. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-shields-commerce-secretary-wilbur-ross-from-answering-questions-on-census/2018/10/22/33dfa890-ce5f-11e8-a3e6-44daa3d35ede_story.html?utm_term=.5b26d59ed718

A white woman demanded to see the passports of a family speaking Spanish at a Virginia restaurant, yelling at them to "Go back to your fucking country. You do not fucking come over here and freeload on America." (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2018/10/23/go-back-your-country-woman-yells-obscenities-family-speaking-spanish-virginia-restaurant/

The Florida man arrested for groping a woman on a flight defended himself by claiming Trump said "it's OK to grab women by their private parts." Bruce Michael Alexander was charged with abusive sexual contact and faces a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/passenger-arrested-groping-woman-southwest-flight-says-president-trump-said-n923231

The FBI has not been able to locate any photos of Robert Mueller and James Comey "hugging and kissing each other," according to a Freedom of Information Act request. Last month, Trump claimed to have "100 pictures of [Mueller] and Comey hugging and kissing each other. You know, he's Comey's best friend." (Buzz Feed News)

https://www.buzzfeed.com/salvadorhernandez/fbi-james-comey-robert-mueller-hugging-kissing-donald-trump

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#258462: Oct 23rd 2018 at 2:44:42 PM

[up] accidental killing...by chopping him to bits with a bonesaw...and a body double...

Seem legit.

Also, that “hugging and kissing thing” is that bizarre.

[down] that’s it.

Edited by megaeliz on Oct 23rd 2018 at 5:55:56 AM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#258463: Oct 23rd 2018 at 2:46:41 PM

I think the phrase you're looking for is "seems legit"

PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#258464: Oct 23rd 2018 at 3:14:31 PM

Is the whole 'Republicans have outpaced Democrats in early voting in [those states]' thing something to be concerned about? I mean, it sounds like it just means they're bigger on voting early, which doesn't necessarily affect turnout after all is said and done.

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#258465: Oct 23rd 2018 at 3:17:57 PM

I find it a little worrying, since heavy, early voting has generally been a Democrat thing, to my recollection. But the states involved, like Arizona, are also fairly red/purple so that may be a factor here.

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#258466: Oct 23rd 2018 at 3:18:04 PM

Considering that apparently one of the state Republican parties sent out a bunch of letters giving the wrong voting deadline to try to encourage their voters to go and vote, that's probably likely.

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#258467: Oct 23rd 2018 at 3:24:30 PM

...is that legal?

Do not obey in advance.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#258468: Oct 23rd 2018 at 3:26:52 PM

If you're a Republican, yes. If you're a Democrat it's a Crime Against Humanity.

More serious answer: I don't actually know but it's not the first time they've pulled a shenanigan like that while staying within the letter of the law.

Edited by sgamer82 on Oct 23rd 2018 at 4:27:28 AM

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#258469: Oct 23rd 2018 at 3:30:52 PM

So basically, Red States+Republican Shannigans=Larger Early Voting Turnout?

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#258470: Oct 23rd 2018 at 3:32:38 PM

That and just general increased voter enthusiasm would probably lead to more early voting. Democrats are doing more community outreach to help more people get registered for early/mail-in voting as well.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#258471: Oct 23rd 2018 at 3:34:26 PM

[up]Right. One thing everyone should remember is that this midterm is bigger than most. So not everything's going to measure up with past elections.

MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#258472: Oct 23rd 2018 at 4:09:04 PM

Trump called the Saudi operation to kill Jamal Khashoggi one of "worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups," saying "they had a very bad original concept." He added that "somebody really messed up," but he would "leave it up to Congress" to punish Saudi Arabia.
I hope he's getting ulcers from the frustration of not being able to deny his buddy-buddies in the Saud dynasty's guilt in this grisly assassination, nor shield them from the fallout. And from worrying over his corporate assets in the country getting caught in the crossfire of whatever sanctions that will be meted out.

The Saudi cover story fell apart because the Khashoggi "body double" wore the wrong shoes.
My mother keeps figuratively facepalming with every new revelation of how the Sauds were absurdly incompetent in carrying out their operation. It's as if they've never had to think about not getting caught so easily... probably because whatever assassinations/murders they've ever had to do had so far happened on their own soil, where they have such a tight grip on the police, news outlets, and society in general that they really can bury such actions beyond anyone's sight or reach.

Saudi Arabia's crown prince received a standing ovation after making an unannounced appearance at a global investment conference. Mohammed bin Salman is suspected of playing a role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
Reading the article, it seems even some/many of the attendees may be very reluctantly attending it... though I don't doubt the existence of some/many who don't care about the atrocity the Sauds committed itself, but are conscious enough of how reviled it and its perpetrators are that they're tried to stay under the radar in hopes of not being identified.

To the latter, I hope they find their efforts to be utterly in vain.

Khashoggi's cut-up and disfigured remains were found in the garden of the Saudi consul general's home in Istanbul. The account contradicts Saudi officials, who said the body was rolled up in a carpet and handed over to a local operative to dispose of the evidence.
Yet another proof that the Sauds' intelligence apparatus sucks balls at Espionage 101.

The U.S. Cyber Command took its first countermeasure against Russian operatives to stop them from interfering in the upcoming midterm elections. The campaign attempts to deter Russian operatives from spreading disinformation by telling them that American agents know who they are and what they're doing.
At least these guys have their heads on their shoulders. Let's hope they keep them that way.

The Florida man arrested for groping a woman on a flight defended himself by claiming Trump said "it's OK to grab women by their private parts." Bruce Michael Alexander was charged with abusive sexual contact and faces a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. (NBC News)
Hah, let's see Trump try to weasel himself out of this one... or alternatively, dig himself even deeper!

The FBI has not been able to locate any photos of Robert Mueller and James Comey "hugging and kissing each other," according to a Freedom of Information Act request. Last month, Trump claimed to have "100 pictures of [Mueller] and Comey hugging and kissing each other. You know, he's Comey's best friend." (Buzz Feed News)
Projecting much, Donnie?

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#258473: Oct 23rd 2018 at 4:15:29 PM

Yet another proof that the Sauds' intelligence apparatus sucks balls at Espionage 101.

The Saudi military and intelligence establishments are notoriously incompetent. They're geared for ultra-simple domestic operations and are almost entirely run by foreign contractors.

They should have sent a poet.
rmctagg09 The Wanderer from Brooklyn, NY (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
The Wanderer
#258474: Oct 23rd 2018 at 4:17:30 PM

Court Tells Georgia It Can’t Charge People to Read the Law:

In a victory for the people of Georgia, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the state can no longer charge individuals hundreds of dollars to see the laws that govern them.

To get there, the court relied on a central tenet of American democracy: The government works on behalf of the public.

Quoting the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit wrote, “The concept of popular sovereignty is deeply rooted in our politics, our law, and our history. The seminal statement of America’s political creed boldly proclaims that ‘[g]overnments ... deriv[e] their just powers from the consent of the governed.’”

For decades, Georgia ignored this reality. Rather than make the text of the law freely available, the state pay-walled access to the statutes, court opinions, and annotations that make up its official law.

In 2013, a nonprofit called Public.Resource.Org paid for a copy of the state’s official code and posted it online for free. The state responded to this act of public service by suing the organization for copyright infringement. Rather than give in, Public.Resource.Org argued that Georgia law is in the public domain.

Hugging a Vanillite will give you frostbite.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#258475: Oct 23rd 2018 at 4:18:29 PM

I mean a body double with a fake beard.

Come on guys.

Oh really when?

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