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DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#264801: Dec 20th 2018 at 5:40:51 PM

[up] The good news is that this Vote didn't pass with a single Democratic Vote. The even better news is that this Bill can't pass the Senate, as it will easily be Filibustered and will die in the Senate.

The bad news is that means we're heading for a shutdown and a recession, unless Trump backs down and lets the clean stopgap measure pass, but Trump realizes he's done for if he backs down.

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#264802: Dec 20th 2018 at 5:43:20 PM

[up]The only way I can see that happen is Trump doing and then backing down saying it wasnt is idea in order to save "face" or whatever ti have a this point.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#264803: Dec 20th 2018 at 5:47:37 PM

[up][up]

That is, of course, unless the Senate GOP decides to just say "Welp, fuck the filibuster, it's outlived its usefulness!" like they have with all court appointments.

And Prager U just made it to the bottom of my shitlist - loaded up a Daily Show vid on youtube, and the ad was a 5-minute "lesson" from them titled "Why You Should Be a Nationalist". Linking to the video for those interested, as the comments make fun of it, including this highlight from George Lucas.

"Prager U: Nazis were socialists because it's in the name. Also Prager U: Nazis weren't nationalists in spite of it being in the name."

Edited by ironballs16 on Dec 20th 2018 at 8:52:39 AM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#264804: Dec 20th 2018 at 5:48:10 PM

They only did that with Supreme Court. Simple majority ws already the case for everythign else

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#264805: Dec 20th 2018 at 5:49:16 PM

Re: Syria

The Pentagon's handling of Syria has been a complete disgrace as well. They've more or less continually argued that stalemating Russia is more important than resolving the humanitarian crisis.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#264806: Dec 20th 2018 at 6:08:02 PM

[up] Arguably the humanitarian crisis cannot be resolved until Russia’s influence in the region is diminished. It’s not simply one or the other.

Edited by archonspeaks on Dec 20th 2018 at 6:08:27 AM

They should have sent a poet.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#264807: Dec 20th 2018 at 6:12:19 PM

The Humanitarian crisis cannot be resolved until Assad's influence in the region is undermined, or removed altogether. The Russian's only have the influence they do because Assad is their client.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#264808: Dec 20th 2018 at 6:43:31 PM

That is, of course, unless the Senate GOP decides to just say "Welp, fuck the filibuster, it's outlived its usefulness!" like they have with all court appointments.

Oh, I hope they do, then in 2020 when we have both Chambers of Congress (assuming that we do) we can force through anything we want. Including defunding the wall.

That would be glorious.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#264809: Dec 20th 2018 at 6:46:47 PM

From my understanding, I think this new House passed bill will have a greater chance of passing the Senate, likely because the Republicans would be fine with giving Trump the win if it would save their asses and kick this particular can down the road.

The reason why I say that is because the original House passed bill had both money for Trump's wall and SNAP cuts, which made it DOA in the Senate. Since Trump is cutting SNAP on his own, this current House bill only has the wall and government funding, which means more Republicans are likely to be more okay with it.

If anyone can correct me on anything here, that would be appreciated.

Edited by tclittle on Dec 20th 2018 at 8:47:52 AM

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#264810: Dec 20th 2018 at 6:48:59 PM

It's irrelevant what Senate Republicans think of it. They'd vote for either. What matter is what Senate Democrats think, because they do not want wall funding and they can fillibuster any bill that hits the Senate. Unless the Democrats cave, which seems unlikely unless Republicans sweeten the pot somehow, this bill is DOA.

Ingonyama Since: Jan, 2001
#264811: Dec 20th 2018 at 7:04:03 PM

In answer to the question of who of the original staff still remains, there's actually a fair number: DeVos, Mnuchin, Perdue, Ross, Acosta, Azar, Chao, Perry, and Coats. Also, though their positions have changed, Mulvaney and Pompeo were there from the start as well.

TechPriest90 Servant of the Omnissiah from Collegia Titanica, Mars, Sol System Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Servant of the Omnissiah
#264812: Dec 20th 2018 at 7:29:16 PM

With the exception of Mnuchin and Ross, the rest aren't that significant. DeVos is a piece of work for (trying to) screw over the US Education System, but that's about it.

The rest just don't seem to be doing anything, good or bad. But then again, maybe they are, just nowhere near as high profile as the rest.

JUST IN: Trump Orders the beginning of the planning to withdraw half of the US Forces stationed in Afghanistan. https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/20/politics/afghanistan-withdrawal/index.html

Edited by TechPriest90 on Dec 20th 2018 at 10:40:51 AM

I hold the secrets of the machine.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#264813: Dec 20th 2018 at 7:43:10 PM

[up]At least he's only withdrawing half. And it's going to be done over a much longer period of time than in Syria.

Ingonyama Since: Jan, 2001
#264814: Dec 20th 2018 at 7:43:38 PM

Acosta is a POS because of his involvement in letting Epstein get off with a slap on the wrist when he was the federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Florida, but I can't recall hearing anything he's actually done as Secretary of Labor. There have been a number of pieces of bad news relating to unions and other labor issues, but I don't know how many were his doing. I also vaguely recall something about Azar but again it wasn't big.

Chao hasn't done anything terrible that I know of, but she is McConnell's wife and is suspected to be involved in some sort of kickback scheme, I think. I seem to recall Perry is doing a surprisingly diligent job as Secretary of Energy, but he's surely still involved in something bad, such as the removal of regulations.

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#264815: Dec 20th 2018 at 8:37:33 PM

Perry did sponsor that plan to increase coal usage that was so stupid his own department dunked on it.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#264816: Dec 20th 2018 at 10:58:44 PM

Putin says US troops in Japan complicate signing of peace treaty.

Looks like we might see a pullout of troops from Japan here soon because of Puppetmaster in Chief.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#264817: Dec 20th 2018 at 11:03:56 PM

Putin may be underestimating Japan.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
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.
#264818: Dec 20th 2018 at 11:31:12 PM

I'm getting deeply tired of the Russian insistence of Defense Measures like Anti-Air batteries being a threat.

"You can reply to this Message!"
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#264819: Dec 20th 2018 at 11:41:37 PM

I imagine Putin's just seeing how much he can get away with by playing the well-intentioned fool. "I would love better relations between our countries! It's just, you know, those troops are a threat..." The more times Trump buys it, the better Putin makes out, and he loses nothing from the attempt.

It's been fun.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#264820: Dec 20th 2018 at 11:43:42 PM

I bet at times Putin thinks to himself "man, this is almost too easy."

Disgusted, but not surprised
CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#264821: Dec 21st 2018 at 12:25:20 AM

Aren't them and Japan still debating who controls the Kuril Islands? Japan might just take those islands, then.

Edited by CookingCat on Dec 21st 2018 at 12:27:56 PM

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#264822: Dec 21st 2018 at 12:30:20 AM

Russians have some of them pretty well fortified. Even we'd have a pretty tough time prying them out of there.

Oh really when?
CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#264823: Dec 21st 2018 at 12:33:36 AM

The last time Russia and Japan got into a fight, it didn't end well for either of them. And it doesn't seem like a coincidence that this is happening so soon after Russia moved the capital of the Russian Far East from Khabarovsk to Vladivostok, the home of their Pacific Fleet and right between China, North Korea and Japan...

Edited by CookingCat on Dec 21st 2018 at 12:47:17 PM

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.
#264824: Dec 21st 2018 at 1:06:01 AM

Can I amend my Moratorium request to encompass "All forms of unlikely military action" please.

Because that happening is really minute..

"You can reply to this Message!"
Imca (Veteran)
#264825: Dec 21st 2018 at 2:00:26 AM

They only did that with Supreme Court. Simple majority ws already the case for everythign else

Democrats did actualy on the supreme court judges, back while Obama was in office. Republicans have yet to touch the filibuster AFIAK since they know they will need it later.

It was for understandable reasons mind, since Turtleface was being obstructive, but it has come to backfire....

[up][up] "Didn't end well for either"

We blapped the entire Russian fleet while they barely put up a token resistance, from turning the contents of conning towers into paste, to them having to retreat because a snake was wrapped around the bore of there guns... it was just a disaster for the Russians and an overwhelming victory for us.

Ground combat was not as one sided as the ocean combat, but still a clear victory in our camp due to better generals and tactics causing us to inflict more casualties to the Russians then they did to us at almost every battle dispite being outnumbered and facing an enemy with the defenders advantage...

It wasn't for another decade or two, and the advent of tanks and mechanized warfare that Russia became scary.

That said, the SDF taking the islands by force is never going to happen, it would be political suicide.

If the US pulls out, you are more likely to see the LDP push harder for remilatarization, meaning no more "helicopter destroyers" and more actual carriers....

How remilatarization will affect the US back, I have no idea

Edited by Imca on Dec 21st 2018 at 2:20:59 AM


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