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

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#258801: Oct 25th 2018 at 4:54:13 PM

[up][up]Important note about those troops being sent to the border. That being that they will purely be there for logistical support and will not aid in any actual law enforcement whatsoever. In other words, they're not actually going to be doing anything important. It's all one big stunt.

You know, that might not actually be quite a bad thing. Since our Idiot in Chief almost certainly would refuse to listen if anyone told him that, it gives the illusion of doing something to placate him, while really not changing anything.

Edited by megaeliz on Oct 25th 2018 at 7:56:31 AM

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#258802: Oct 25th 2018 at 4:58:36 PM

[up]The thing is, they couldn't really do anything anyway. Barring Congressional approval, US troops are not allowed to engage in law enforcement on US soil. Even if Trump wanted to have them do more than recon and supply drops, he couldn't.

Edited by kkhohoho on Oct 25th 2018 at 6:59:00 AM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#258803: Oct 25th 2018 at 4:58:37 PM

Is it bad that I can’t help hearing that in a Valley Girl accent?
I suggested it once, actually, but the board didn't go for it feeling it was offensive to women in general and Valley Girls in particular.

Trump's tweet claiming that he only uses his government phones was sent from an iPhone. Trump has two iPhones: one for Twitter and other basic web apps, and one for making phone calls. (Yahoo News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-tweet-claiming-apos-only-181337023.html

Honestly, I feel this sums up quite a bit of what's wrong with Trump.

Edited by sgamer82 on Oct 25th 2018 at 6:00:03 AM

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#258804: Oct 25th 2018 at 5:03:15 PM

Interestingly, this doesn’t even represent a real change in posture for the US. Joint Task Force-North, out of Fort Bliss in El Paso, has provided a military presence on the border since 1989. The military cannot legally enforce domestic law, so they do things like repair vehicles and operate radar stations. They’re also responsible for fielding requests for federal assistance from law enforcement in the area, which usually takes the form of loaning out advanced surveillance equipment.

This is one of those “move some pieces around so it looks like something is happening” things. JTF-North has made it pretty clear that they don’t really want or need more guys, but they’ll certainly take them.

Edited by archonspeaks on Oct 25th 2018 at 5:04:54 AM

They should have sent a poet.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#258805: Oct 25th 2018 at 5:11:29 PM

We may have another explosive package, at CNN's NYC HQ again.

Still breaking, no link yet.

Edited by Rationalinsanity on Oct 25th 2018 at 9:12:56 AM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#258806: Oct 25th 2018 at 5:34:22 PM

The problem is that groups often break the law and exceed their authority when they know their superiors are behind them.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#258807: Oct 25th 2018 at 5:36:30 PM

Speaking of CNN, I guess they're running commercials for live-coverage of the Midterms. And Jesus, it was like they were advertising a pro-wrestling match.

Though I think I know the answer, are they always like that?

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#258808: Oct 25th 2018 at 5:38:27 PM

I don't watch CNN enough to know for sure, but sensationalism draws ratings.

eagleoftheninth Midwest emo connoisseur from a dreamed portrait, imperfect (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Midwest emo connoisseur
#258810: Oct 25th 2018 at 5:48:30 PM

Government by assassination is back in style, I see.

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#258811: Oct 25th 2018 at 5:48:50 PM

Regarding Jenner and the LGBT thing: she's not alone. For the last two years, there have been many who believed that Trump would be, if not good for LGBT rights, at least neutral towards them.

I know this, because his Vice President is Mike Pence. And for two years, we've been arguing about whether or not impeaching Trump would do more harm than good because it would put Pence into the Presidency. The chief argument in that regard against impeaching Trump has always been that Trump is not hostile to LGBT people the way that Pence is, and so having Pence for President would be dangerous to LGBT rights.

During the 2016 election, Trump got a windfall of popularity with the LGBT community after the Orlando nightclub shooting by taking the side of the LGBT victims. He took their side because it was them vs. "Radical Muslim Terrorism", but it still won him a ton of brownie points with LGBT people nonetheless.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Oct 25th 2018 at 6:50:33 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#258812: Oct 25th 2018 at 6:14:57 PM

Caitlyn Jenner spent all of her adult life prior to coming out as trans living as a card-carrying Republican man. Forget "going for the lesser evil" of preferring Trump over Pence for gay rights — anyone sincerely concerned with LGBT rights would have voted for the whole Democratic slate, end of story. She was simply deluding herself into thinking there was still a place for her in that club; trying to be a Republican and a transwoman when those identities are inherently immiscible without some level of self-hatred or denial

"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."
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#258813: Oct 25th 2018 at 6:21:15 PM

The problem is that groups often break the law and exceed their authority when they know their superiors are behind them.

This might apply to border patrol agents bending the law a little, but the military is going to need a whole hell of a lot more persuading than they’re getting now to suddenly violate Posse Comitatus.

Edited by archonspeaks on Oct 25th 2018 at 6:21:35 AM

They should have sent a poet.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#258814: Oct 25th 2018 at 6:36:24 PM

[up]I'd like to think that. I'm not sure I do.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#258815: Oct 25th 2018 at 6:38:11 PM

[up][up]So what, you think the military is just a bunch of mindless thugs that don't do what they're told? Because they were literally told to only assist in logistics here.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#258816: Oct 25th 2018 at 6:45:06 PM

Uh no?

I'm saying that the military being encouraged to act as law enforcement is a contradiction of their oath of service. Because they are being ordered to do so by their leadership and lawfully elected Commander in Chief to break the law by enforcing border restrictions.

That's not as straight forward as some might think.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#258817: Oct 25th 2018 at 7:42:44 PM

[up] They’re not being ordered to act as law enforcement, they’re getting 800 extra guys for a mission that has existed since the 80s so their boss will get off their back.

Sorry, but I really don’t think this can be spun into the military getting ready to violate Posse Comitatus. If we were seeing a much more extreme build-up along the border, or some kind of radical reorganization of the armed forces then I might buy it, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Edited by archonspeaks on Oct 25th 2018 at 7:45:31 AM

They should have sent a poet.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#258818: Oct 25th 2018 at 7:53:57 PM

[up][up]Except they're not being ordered as law enforcement. They're being ordered to do logistics. No more, no less.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#258819: Oct 25th 2018 at 8:01:36 PM

North Hays County, Texas (just west of Austin) has closed down the early voting station at Texas State University after just three days and the county GOP chair is pushing to keep it closed despite demand from students and the county Democrat chair.

Based on what more I read, the early voting station at Texas State is only open for a short time (three days this year, two days in 2017, four in 2016), but the push to keep it closed is deliberate voter suppression.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#258820: Oct 25th 2018 at 8:05:18 PM

Next Democrat president should outlaw voter suppression, and any attempt to from a rethuglican should come with a prison sentence.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#258821: Oct 25th 2018 at 8:11:40 PM

Good luck trying to get past bureaucratic inertia with that.

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#258822: Oct 25th 2018 at 8:46:08 PM

@Wildcard: Voter suppression is hard to define in practical terms. After all, you only have so many resources to make it easy for people to vote.

Leviticus 19:34
Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#258823: Oct 25th 2018 at 9:44:50 PM

Not really, just keep all of them open for as long as a vote is going on, outlaw gerrymandering, make the districts actually fair, etc...

Plus, prison sentences for awful old white men who try to ruin the lives of everyone else would certainly stop making them think "lets oppress black peopleillegal voters" is a great option.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#258824: Oct 25th 2018 at 9:54:07 PM

Banning voter suppression is kind of vague. Saying "all early voting stations must run for the entire week, period" is much more succinct. As well as making it illegal to be in charge of the voter rolls when you're running for office, ala Kemp. And making it illegal to take people off the voter rolls for any fucking reason.

Looking at the specific things being done is helpful here.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#258825: Oct 25th 2018 at 9:58:23 PM

You could start by not making it any harder to vote. The fact that elections are not a national holiday and all the selective voter id laws are a big problem.


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