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TechPriest90 Servant of the Omnissiah from Collegia Titanica, Mars, Sol System Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Servant of the Omnissiah
#266026: Jan 7th 2019 at 12:08:44 PM

So in effect the GOP is now a far-right party. At least, that's the gist of it from what I'm reading in here.

Correct me if I'm wrong about that.

EDIT: Pagetopper. Yay.

Edited by TechPriest90 on Jan 7th 2019 at 3:09:03 PM

I hold the secrets of the machine.
AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#266027: Jan 7th 2019 at 12:10:08 PM

[up] Uh, yeah. It has been for a while, just more subtle about it.

The awful things he says and does are burned into our cultural consciousness like a CRT display left on the same picture too long. -Fighteer
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#266028: Jan 7th 2019 at 12:10:18 PM

Trump will win or lose in the Midwest states (Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and so forth), the ones he flipped to take 2016. Without those he doesn't have a realistic path to 270+ EV.

Its too early to start making pronouncements, but it should be noted that the Democrats did well in state wide races throughout the Midwest last November. Combined with Trump's negatives being way up (less Democrats will stay home because they know exactly what that got them last time), the trends are looking hopeful.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#266029: Jan 7th 2019 at 12:11:02 PM

So in effect the GOP is now a far-right party. At least, that's the gist of it from what I'm reading in here.

Correct me if I'm wrong about that.

They've been far-right for a while, it's just that with Trump they've pretty much ditched any pretense of being anything other than authoritarian reactionaries/fascists.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
TechPriest90 Servant of the Omnissiah from Collegia Titanica, Mars, Sol System Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Servant of the Omnissiah
#266030: Jan 7th 2019 at 12:12:29 PM

So it would seem.

It's...disconcerting, to say the least.

Here's another particularly strange piece on CNN. I'm not quite sure what to make of it, other than Trump being good at conning people.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/07/politics/donald-trump-authentic-shutdown/index.html

The extrapolation from that though - I'm not so sure I agree with that.

Edited by TechPriest90 on Jan 7th 2019 at 3:19:41 PM

I hold the secrets of the machine.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#266031: Jan 7th 2019 at 12:21:15 PM

Uh yeah, Trump is a con man like no other.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#266032: Jan 7th 2019 at 12:26:18 PM

The only thing the Democrats need is a decent candidate that can motivate turnout and to work as hard and take the election as seriously as they did midterms if not moreso. If they can manage that then the chances of beating Donald are good. He's not going to get any more popular.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#266033: Jan 7th 2019 at 12:33:00 PM

Something else to remember about Trump's popularity being pretty consistent is that he started out unusually unpopular, and just hasn't plateaued away from that in either direction.

I think some people have it in their heads that there's a line he could cross that would make him unpopular with everyone but that just doesn't exist. Frankly, it probably doesn't exist with any politician; we're talking about a country of well over three hundred million people, you can find someone to approve of anything/anyone if you look hard enough.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#266034: Jan 7th 2019 at 1:04:28 PM

Its kind of irritating that the Democrats are the conservatives and the liberals.

Both uncomfortably exist in the "not insane party" so there's no actual Two Party System.

Just Nutjobs vs. The Adults in the Room.

The natural conflict in the country is warped by the fact the Republicans are such reactionary shills.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Jan 7th 2019 at 1:04:54 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#266035: Jan 7th 2019 at 1:08:28 PM

Considering how steadily and in some cases rapidly the Democratic Party has moved to the left (to the point that major reform like Medicare for All is viable) I think it's rather disingenuous to call the party as a whole 'conservative'.

The Blue Dogs are extinct and the centrists are more and more comfortable with more radical reform, there aren't any major conservative blocs (by any non-stupid definition of conservative) remaining.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Jan 7th 2019 at 4:09:05 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#266036: Jan 7th 2019 at 1:26:47 PM

Yeah, change is in the wind. Finally.

So Trump is going to address the country tomorrow. Anyone think he's going to declare a state of emergency?

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!
#266037: Jan 7th 2019 at 1:31:34 PM

He'll bluster and moan and nothing will change, just like all the other times, he made public declarations during crisis.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#266038: Jan 7th 2019 at 1:46:58 PM

Arkansas law requiring state contractors pledge not to boycott Israel has court challenge

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Attorneys for an Arkansas newspaper asked a federal judge Friday to block a law requiring that contractors pledge not to boycott Israel, saying it forces businesses to give up their free speech rights in order to receive state money.

U.S. District Judge Brian Miller heard arguments in the Arkansas Times' lawsuit challenging the state's 2017 anti-boycott law. Miller said he hoped to rule soon on whether to block the law, which the Times and the American Civil Liberties Union argue is unconstitutional. The law requires contractors to reduce their fees by 20 percent if they don't sign the pledge.

The Times' lawsuit says the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College refused to contract for advertising with the newspaper unless the Arkansas Times signed the pledge. The paper isn't engaged in a boycott against Israel.

"It makes the plaintiff endorse the idea that the government can make an individual take a political position as a condition of getting money," Bettina Brownstein, an attorney for the ACLU of Arkansas, told Miller.

The state has argued that a boycott isn't constitutionally protected speech, and that the pledge doesn't force the Times to take a political position.

"It simply certifies a factual statement about whether or not the Times intends to boycott," Assistant Solicitor General Dylan Jacobs said.

Arkansas' law is similar to restrictions enacted in other states that have been challenged. The measures are aimed at a movement protesting Israel's policies toward Palestinians.

A federal judge in September blocked Arizona from enforcing a similar measure. A federal judge also blocked Kansas from enforcing its anti-boycott measure, but lawmakers rewrote the measure so that it no longer applied to individuals and nonprofits and only applied to state contracts worth $100,000 or more. Arkansas' law applies to contracts worth $1,000 or more.

A federal lawsuit was filed last month against a similar law in Texas.

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Oruka Since: Dec, 2018
#266039: Jan 7th 2019 at 2:21:42 PM

That's an appalling law. Please vote for your state legislatures and AG. And judges, too, whenever possible.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#266040: Jan 7th 2019 at 2:24:25 PM

This is how I imagine a conversation regarding Americans and Trump will go. I also believe Shatner is the only man who could play Trump so we need to hire him to do the movie now.

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.
#266041: Jan 7th 2019 at 2:59:59 PM

Wouldn't that be Danny Crane on full blown evil?

"You can reply to this Message!"
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#266042: Jan 7th 2019 at 3:12:40 PM

Yes and it would be GLORIOUS.

Especially as Denny and Trumpy share their inability to admit defeat by Loophole Abuse.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#266043: Jan 7th 2019 at 3:13:29 PM

[up]x7 Heard people freaking out that he's gonna declare Martial Law.

Edited by CookingCat on Jan 7th 2019 at 3:20:22 AM

CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#266045: Jan 7th 2019 at 3:20:56 PM

[up] I know, that just reminded me why I stopped paying attention to politics, along with someone thinking Bolton is going to start a nuclear war.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#266046: Jan 7th 2019 at 3:23:52 PM

Senate Democrats are considering blocking all votes that aren't about passing a clean budget.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/07/politics/senate-democrats-mull-blocking-legislation-shutdown/index.html

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Oruka Since: Dec, 2018
tsstevens Reading tropes such as You Know What You Did from Reading tropes such as Righting Great Wrongs Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: She's holding a very large knife
Reading tropes such as You Know What You Did
#266048: Jan 7th 2019 at 3:44:14 PM

The experts get triggered over any suggestion of Trump supporters having a revolt or declaring martial law because it is very much outside the realm of possibility. It would be more likely, so I understand, that you know those political thrillers and law enforcement work directly for the President? It's more likely Trump would be secretly trying to sell US nukes to raise funds for the wall.

Had anyone thought to check?

Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#266049: Jan 7th 2019 at 3:48:10 PM

The IRS will be giving Income Tax Refunds despite the Shut Down Affecting them, according to Acting White House Office of Management and Budget, Russel T. Vought.

On the one hand, that's a good thing to all those who do depend on the ITR every year. On the other hand, there goes one of our bargaining chips with the Shut down, and there's goes one of our chances to get Trump to call this Shut Down off. Food Stamp Funds will still run out towards the end of the month, though...

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#266050: Jan 7th 2019 at 3:49:29 PM

That would be a pretty good example of Refuge in Audacity, but probably 'no'.

Leviticus 19:34

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