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

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#259701: Nov 2nd 2018 at 1:22:40 PM

Some of us are quiet people, Tobias.

I’d just like to note that there are ways to help campaigns even if you don’t feel able to engage with the general public. Writing addresses on letters, posting flyers though letterboxes, makes notes for the people who are talking directly to voters, driving campaigners to campaign locations, helping set up a stand at a local events, ect...

It’s daunting, I get that, I started campaigning when I was 15 and didn’t even have my autism diagnosis, but there are lots of things one can do, even just bringing some cofeee and biscuits to a canvassing team can be a help.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#259702: Nov 2nd 2018 at 2:08:10 PM

[up][up]since these stories got stuck on the end of the last page, I'll repost them for you.

EDIT: A couple of bombshell articles today. Unfortunate they had to drop on Friday instead of earlier in the week, but hopefully people still see them:

Michael Cohen Says Trump Repeatedly Used Racist Language Before His Presidency

[[https://lawandcrime.com/legal-analysis/extensive-new-report-breaks-down-specifics-of-multiple-potential-trump-campaign-crimes/ Extensive New Report Breaks Down Specifics of Multiple Potential Trump Campaign Crimes

Edited by megaeliz on Nov 2nd 2018 at 5:08:41 AM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#259703: Nov 2nd 2018 at 3:48:57 PM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2018/11/02/day-652/

Day 652: Too stupid.

1/ Trump once told Michael Cohen that he thinks black people are "too stupid" to vote for him and suggested that all countries run by blacks are "shitholes." Cohen also claimed that Trump remarked that "only the blacks could live like this" as they drove through a "rougher" Chicago neighborhood in the early 2000s. (Vanity Fair)

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/11/michael-cohen-trump-racist-language

2/ The Trump administration will reimpose all U.S. sanctions on Iran that had been lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The sanctions will take effect on Monday, but eight "jurisdictions" will be granted six-month waivers, Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, said. Shortly after the announcement, Trump tweeted a poster of himself with the words "Sanctions Are Coming" with the font from the popular HBO show, Game of Thrones. (Associated Press / New York Times / CNN / Axios)

https://apnews.com/8740cd7cc98646fa883984e03cea178b

HBO: We "would prefer our trademark not be misappropriated for political purposes." HBO's official Twitter account followed up soon after, asking, "How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?" (CNBC / Los Angeles Times)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/hbo-responds-to-trumps-game-of-thrones-tweet.html

3/ The FBI recovered a suspicious package addressed to billionaire Tom Steyer resembling those allegedly sent by Cesar Sayoc. Steyer is a Democrat known for his ads calling for the impeachment of Trump. (CNN / Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-packages-steyer/fbi-confirms-suspicious-package-sent-to-tom-steyer-idUSKCN1N72DU

4/ The Nigerian Army used Trump's speech to justify fatally shooting rock-throwing protesters. The Nigerian army posted a video of Trump's anti-migrant speech from Thursday in which he said rocks would be considered firearms if thrown toward the American military at the border. The army has been accused of killing 45 protesters. (New York Times / Buzz Feed News)

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/matthewchampion/trump-mexico-migrant-caravan-rocks-firearms-nigeria

5/ Trump walked back his threat that troops could shoot at migrants approaching the border if they threw rocks. "I didn't say shoot," Trump claimed. "I didn't say shoot," Trump claimed. "But if they do [throw rocks at troops] they're gonna be arrested for a long time." (CNN / USA Today / Bloomberg)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/02/politics/donald-trump-rock-throwing-migrants/index.html

6/ Trump blamed journalists for "creating violence" in the country. His comment comes a week after more than a dozen attempted pipe bombs were sent to Trump's critics and a gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11. Sarah Huckabee Sanders tried to clarify Trump's remarks: "No, the president is not placing blame" that the news media was at fault for the attempted pipe bomb attacks. "I mean, that is outrageous than anybody other than the individual who carried out the crime would hold that responsibility." (NBC News / Washington Examiner)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-fake-news-creating-violence-n930576

poll/ 49% say the way Trump speaks encourages political violence, while 19% see him as discouraging it. 29% say he's neither encouraging nor discouraging violence. (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/half-trump-encourages-political-violence-media-poll/story?id=58924536

Notables.

A federal judge denied Trump's request to stay a lawsuit alleging he is in violation of the Constitution's emoluments clause and ordered evidence-gathering to begin. Maryland and Washington attorneys general want to know how much money Trump's hotel in Washington receives from foreign governments and how profits flow to his trust. (New York Times / Washington Post / Bloomberg)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-denies-trumps-request-for-stay-in-emoluments-case/2018/11/02/aa87611c-dec8-11e8-b3f0-62607289efee_story.html?utm_term=.4380ea9bf485

Top Democrats are promising investigations, not impeachment proceedings, if they win back control of the House next week. Nancy Pelosi and her lieutenants say they're more interested in exercising the broad oversight powers of the majority party instead of focusing on trying to impeach Trump. They plan to use subpoenas and public hearings to drag senior administration officials and force them to testify about alleged wrongdoings in front of the public eye. (NPR)

https://www.npr.org/2018/11/02/662112853/democrats-say-house-majority-would-mean-investigative-barrage-not-impeachment

U.S. intelligence agencies and the Pentagon are prepared to launch a cyber attack against Russia if the country is caught interfering in the 2018 midterm elections. The effort is one of the first major cyber battle plans organized under the new government policy that allows offensive cyber operations to be worked out in advance among key agencies. (Center for Public Integrity)

https://www.publicintegrity.org/2018/11/02/22421/pentagon-has-prepared-cyber-attack-against-russia

The U.S. economy added 250,000 jobs in October. Wages grew by 3.1% since last year – the largest annual jump in nine and a half years not adjusted for inflation. The unemployment rate stayed at 3.7% – the lowest it has been since December 1969. Average hourly earnings went up by 5 cents an hour over the last month, with an 83-cent increase year-over-year. (CNN Business / CNBC / Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy/u-s-job-growth-seen-accelerating-strong-annual-wage-gain-expected-idUSKCN1N70AJ

Former CIA Director John Brennan endorsed Texas senate candidate Beto O'Rourke over Ted Cruz. "I believe Beto O'Rourke is the type of individual Texans need in the U.S. Senate to represent their best interests," Brennan tweeted. The statement marks the first time Brennan has endorsed a candidate in a midterm election. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/midterms-2018-4-days-november-6-n930251

Trump's racist ad campaign that accuses Democrats of opening U.S. borders to let in undocumented immigrants who kill police officers narrowly avoids violating campaign finance laws. The ad fails to mention who paid for it, but campaign finance experts say Trump may have found a loophole in the laws by limiting the distribution of the video to social media. (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-controversial-anti-immigrant-video-skirts-rules-political/story?id=58912789

The cop killer from Trump's immigration ad entered the country while George W. Bush was president and released by Joe Arpaio "for reasons unknown." The racist video falsely accusing Democrats of allowing Luis Bracamontes who murdered two police officers into the country. Arpaio was pardoned last year by Trump. (Sacramento Bee / Huff Post / Washington Post)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/article220960015.html

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#259704: Nov 2nd 2018 at 3:56:24 PM

[up]

U.S. intelligence agencies and the Pentagon are prepared to launch a cyber attack against Russia if the country is caught interfering in the 2018 midterm elections. The effort is one of the first major cyber battle plans organized under the new government policy that allows offensive cyber operations to be worked out in advance among key agencies. (Center for Public Integrity)

I'm not too sure about this. Mainly depending on how Russia might retaliate and if things escalate from there.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#259705: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:01:38 PM

The general idea behind retaliation is that they're already attacking so you want them to stop.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#259706: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:01:47 PM

There is no way the USA is going to publicly start cyber attacks against Russia,it would lead to escalation and Russia would respond in kind with an even worse cyberattacks that would actually long lasting damage,think everything grinding to halt netwise because whatever hacks Russia has up their sleeves,not worth it in my opnion

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#259707: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:03:18 PM

Yeah. I somehow think that directly poking the hacking, troll and gold mining farms that have had solid funding for well over ten years, and which have waaaaay more practice than you, is a fantastically great idea. Especially on their home turf. <_<

Edited by Euodiachloris on Nov 2nd 2018 at 11:05:47 AM

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#259708: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:05:36 PM

We should have been directing cyberattacks towards Russia a long time ago. That’s not a fight they’re going to win.

We’ve had every justification to escalate and have chosen not to, but at some point you have to put your money where your mouth is so to speak.

Edited by archonspeaks on Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:07:08 AM

They should have sent a poet.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#259709: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:13:07 PM

[up]Problem is, I'm pretty sure there was an article published a while or so back that if Russia inflicts a cyber attack strong enough — something that could cripple our infrastructure — then the US might be able to give the OK for a nuclear strike. And that's what I'm concerned we might eventually escalate to.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#259710: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:13:40 PM

Trouble is,any response to Russia will be viewed by Russia retaliation and thus gives them an excuse to escalation

Unless your two steps of them,and can meet their response before they can make it's not worth it

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#259711: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:18:57 PM

[up][up] The current doctrine on cyberwarfare escalating to kinetic warfare would require an attack from Russia with similar destructive effect to a nuclear weapon for us to consider nuclear weapons in retaliation. In effect, no change from our current policy. Yes, if Russia nukes us we nuke them back. It’s been that way since we’ve had nukes.

The US has cyberwarfare capabilities far outstripping anything Russia can bring to bear, and like I said at some point we can’t just sit around and take it from them any more.

They should have sent a poet.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#259712: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:22:45 PM

[up]Problem is, they're still a lot better than at it than we are. I think that makes up for a lack of capabilities.

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#259713: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:26:18 PM

[up] They’re not better at it, just mouthier about it. And we’ve been a very compliant target for them.

They should have sent a poet.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#259714: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:29:27 PM

How much of it is them being better vs us being hamstrung by a president who does everything in his power to avoid punishing Russia?

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#259715: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:32:39 PM

We seriously underestimated them and their willingness to actually blatantly attack us for sure but if we sat down and tried we could probably do a lot of damage if we wanted.

Of course neither President or Congress wants to so that's not going to happen.

Oh really when?
Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#259716: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:42:30 PM

The thing about early voting is that it's not a random sampling of voters, it's a self-selected group of people who chose to vote early. It's an extremely biased sampling, and therefore almost meaningless towards inferring the final vote count.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#259717: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:43:20 PM

You could a lot of damage to them,you could break them apart if you wanted ,the question is,why rock the boat?

Of course I should point out that I do want Russia punished to full extent of the law after their chemical weapons (Nerve agent) killed people in my country during an assassination attempt,but we're never going to retaliate aside from angrily telling them as possible apply fresh sanctions because of the fear of escalation

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#259718: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:45:59 PM

You could a lot of damage to them,you could break them apart if you wanted ,the question is,why rock the boat?

We should do it because the only thing that rational actors understand is cost versus benefit, if there is no cost to attacking us then they will continue to attack us.

This kind of feebleness is exactly why they are so relentlessly attacking our electoral institutions and they will continue to attack us as long as we fail to respond (and buff our defenses).

We need to make Russia face consequences for attacking us while also making it so future attacks are far less effective.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Nov 2nd 2018 at 7:49:08 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#259719: Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:47:30 PM

The problem is Russia has been directing cyberattacks at us already and doing massively good jobs in getting results of rioting, Trump votes, and general disunity.

What, if not retaliation, DO you think should be done?

I mean, you have to retaliate because the alternative is they will continue forever.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Nov 2nd 2018 at 4:48:19 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#259720: Nov 2nd 2018 at 5:03:01 PM

Because Russia will only escalate things from here.

They've been going for our throats this whole time and we're debating whether or not to stop them.

Only one side has to decide to turn geopolitics into a zero sum game and Russia's government already made it clear that peaceful coexistence isn't on the table for them.

Edited by LeGarcon on Nov 2nd 2018 at 8:04:10 AM

Oh really when?
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#259721: Nov 2nd 2018 at 5:03:43 PM

Yeah, I think we're past the point of "if we attack we'll be escalating things", as things are already escalated by virtue of the fact Russia interfered in our Presidential elections and succeeded.

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#259722: Nov 2nd 2018 at 5:13:08 PM

Russia has counted on our inaction this entire time. They pretty much know we’re not going to do anything, which works just fine for them because if we did they have no real way to defend against it.

Their disadvantage in terms of military and political capability is pretty absolute, but they aren’t bound by basic decency or international norms like we are.

They should have sent a poet.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#259723: Nov 2nd 2018 at 5:14:28 PM

There's some good news, North Dakota's racist voter ID law is already backfiring

Native Americans haven't taken the blatant suppression to their voting rights lying down, they've organized and are collectively working together to circumvent that vile law. Beyond being commendable for the obvious reasons this is simply another case of Republican myopia, instead of trying to appeal to Native Americans they just reflexively try to eliminate them electorally.

It's unsustainable and blatantly bigoted nonsense. Hopefully, they'll pay for it in North Dakota and elsewhere.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Nov 2nd 2018 at 8:20:11 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#259724: Nov 2nd 2018 at 6:33:55 PM

Good. It’s bullshit to the core.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#259725: Nov 2nd 2018 at 7:15:08 PM

[up][up][up] Isn't that the reason why they've resorted to low cost, high impact asymmetric tactics, such as dezinformatsiya campaigns/information warfare and other Soviet style "Active Measures"?

They are an objectively declining power, and the only way to get that power back, is by knocking everyone else down.

Edited by megaeliz on Nov 2nd 2018 at 10:25:47 AM


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