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

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#270551: Feb 8th 2019 at 9:57:58 AM

"Uh, sir, you do know abolition means to get rid of, right?"

"Of course I do. You just heard me wrong. Fake news."

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#270552: Feb 8th 2019 at 10:36:10 AM

This is funny.

That said, it's a nothingburger. As much as Trump hates civil rights, I honestly believe that he conflated the civil rights movement and the abolitionist movement. He is genuinely stupid enough to do that.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#270553: Feb 8th 2019 at 10:44:49 AM

He also misspeaks more than George Bush ever did. He just can't seem to make it look like a folksy and endearing quirk, though.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#270554: Feb 8th 2019 at 10:45:26 AM

I agree. This sounds like a misspeaking and thus not nearly as bad as his typical xenophobic rhetoric, for example. Seems rather inconsequential.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#270555: Feb 8th 2019 at 10:49:55 AM

[up][up]That's because he isn't folksy or particularly endearing.

I swear to God, never in my life I've seen someone with such an enfuriatingly smug smile. It doesn't even has anything to do with himself or his ideals, he could be the second coming of Abraham Lincoln and I still would want to punch him in the face.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#270556: Feb 8th 2019 at 10:51:39 AM

“I AM DISGUSTED”: BEHIND THE SCENES OF TRUMP’S INCREASINGLY SCRUTINIZED $107 MILLION INAUGURATION

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff was the mastermind event producer behind Trump’s inaugural celebration, which has since come under S.D.N.Y. investigation. Now, taped conversations reveal Wolkoff’s concerns with how money was being spent, the general chaos of the process, the involvement of the Trump family, and the people in charge, namely Rick Gates and Tom Barrack.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/02/behind-the-scenes-of-trumps-107-million-inauguration

I piece I found on https://currentstatus.io about the woman who helped plan Trump's inauguration, and who was effectively Melania's equivalent to Micheal Cohen.

Edited by sgamer82 on Feb 8th 2019 at 12:09:00 PM

BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#270557: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:15:54 AM

CNN Poll: Almost everyone wants a public report on Mueller's findings
Not surprising; Dem voters are hoping it has the smoking gun that will finally get Trump impeached like he so truly deserves; GOP voters think Mueller's covering up a nothingburger and want the report so they can point and laugh as Trump remains unassailable.
It depends on whether or not you count nuclear as renewable, if you don't then as I understand it things become much more difficult (if not outright impossible).
I thought that Germany was at the point of generating all of their electricity through renewable energy sources? note 
The Green New Deal is aspirational; trying to develop nuclear alternatives rather than relying too heavily on nuclear is a good goal.
I agree, but I don't think we should handicap ourselves at the start by completely ruling out nuclear power.
If one of the central problems of the present is an elite economic class that hoards resources and opportunity at the expense of the public as a whole, then it’s naïve and ahistoric to believe the beneficiaries of that arrangement will willingly relinquish their power and privilege.
Why, this almost sounds like it's in favor of an Eat the Rich movement.
If MLP has taught me anything, it's that Friendship is Magic and hence Tim Kaine is a witch!!
So ... if he weighs the same as a duck ...
Is there a TL;DR on the Green Deal? And what does this mean with air travel because there’s a lot of reactionary “they’re banning airplanes!” going around and I first learned of this from my conservative dad, who’s not a very good source on any left-leaning stuff.
I literally do not think it's possible to ban airplanes in this day and age.note 
Fun fact: The Republican candidate for governor of California in the last election had "Stop building the train" as a big part of his platform.
Well, all the big corporate farms didn't want the train tracks being built through the middle of their cash crop lands either ...
I’m hoping this somehow leads to both Bezos and Trump/The National Enquirer losing.
Hear hear!
Like, how do you forget that car rental is a thing? People might not be particularly happy about it, but if you can get there in four hours (or whatever speed the train goes) on a train rather than spending a day in a car I think a lot of people will be quite content to just rent a car wherever it is that they're going.
1) I don't think anyone was "forgetting" about rental cars (since Uber/Lyft was mentioned as a thing), but rather hoping that it would also decrease the need for rental cars. 2) There are people in my generation who absolutely will not go anywhere without their own car unless forced to. My wife would rather take a three day drive than a three hour plane flight; I don't see that changing one iota if it's a three hour train ride. 3) Even if you can rent a car, the difficulty of packing luggage (and often, the amount of luggage) means it is still more convenient for many people to pack up their own vehicle and drive, rather than cart it to the station, load into the plane/train, get to the destination, and load it into a rental car.
Weirdly, David Pecker seems to have done this personally for both of them and used signed e-mails.
... Am I the only one to find it utterly hilarious that Bezos was threatened with blackmail over his dick pics, by a guy named Pecker???
Not too long ago, Northam was a Republican. He pretty much is the definition of a DINO.

Fuck this piece of shit. This is not the kind of person we should be defending in the name of party purity. Let him hang.

I was unaware he had changed parties when I was defending him. However, isn't basically everyone in the Dems telling the guy to give it up and go home?
So everything coming up now is a coup attempt rather than the right actually caring.
Of course the GOP doesn't give a shit about caring. Caring is for libtards. That doesn't mean what Northam did wasn't bad.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#270558: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:17:58 AM

To be fair, the California rail project is behind schedule and over budget, so...

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#270559: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:23:14 AM

Billionaire liberal threatens to unload on Dems if they don't impeach Trump Tom Steyer is cranking up his pressure campaign to oust the president — and he has top Democrats in his sights.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/07/trump-impeachment-tom-steyer-house-democrats-1157592

Billionaire Tom Steyer is cranking up pressure on key House Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump where he thinks they'll feel it most — back in their home districts.

Steyer’s first targets are three powerful committee chairmen, Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). But the liberal megadonor isn’t stopping there: He will soon turn his attention to rank-and-file members seated on the committees that would be involved in impeachment proceedings, including freshmen.

And Steyer’s Need to Impeach PAC is considering going after the top three Democratic leaders, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.).

The previously unreported plans to single out additional members on the Ways and Means, Judiciary and Oversight Committees, detailed by Steyer and his advisers, represent the latest turn in Steyer’s multimillion-dollar campaign to impeach Trump. And the thinly veiled threat against the Democratic upper brass puts the former hedge fund manager turned activist squarely at odds with leaders of the party.

“There’s a gigantic cost to not listening to your constituents,” Steyer said in an interview with POLITICO. "There’s a gigantic cost to thumbing your nose at democracy."

Kevin Mack, Steyer’s lead strategist on Need to Impeach, said the PAC has virtually unlimited resources to spend in targeted districts. The group has committed $40 million to the campaign for 2019 so far. The offensive includes TV and digital ad buys, paid staff in key districts and volunteers to organize canvassing.

The article goes on to say some of the targets aren't feeling rushed, since they're in safe districts and have previously warned about the risks of seeking impeachment too early.

Edited by sgamer82 on Feb 8th 2019 at 12:26:07 PM

HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#270560: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:23:34 AM

[up][up][up]Personally, I am 100% in favor of eating the rich. They go great with barbecue sauce!

[up]Is all of that legal? It feels rather underhanded.

BTW, what does this billionare activist stands to gain with this whole campaign?

Edited by HailMuffins on Feb 8th 2019 at 4:26:39 PM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#270561: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:25:25 AM

[up][up]He should take a basic refresher course in US government, the Senate is what is required to remove Trump and if he thinks Senate Republicans are going to do that right now then he's just delusional.

The only time such a thing is even slightly possible is when Mueller provides his report. And even then there are long odds, it's far more plausible that Trump will leave in 2020 or 2024.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Feb 8th 2019 at 2:26:19 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#270562: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:26:12 AM

Trump Shows Flexibility on Wall as Border Deal Comes into View – President Trump shows new flexibility on his wall as House and Senate negotiators near a border security deal that would keep the government funded past Feb. 15.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/08/us/politics/government-shutdown-deal.html

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#270563: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:27:19 AM

Trump Shows Flexibility on Wall as Border Deal Comes into View – President Trump shows new flexibility on his wall as House and Senate negotiators near a border security deal that would keep the government funded past Feb. 15.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/08/us/politics/government-shutdown-deal.html

Almost like Trump is a coward who was clearly beaten the last time he pursued the wall (which was quite recently). surprised

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Feb 8th 2019 at 2:31:53 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#270564: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:28:19 AM

I'm glad the democrats put on a united front and refused to cave. I never expected them to, mind you, but still.

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#270565: Feb 8th 2019 at 11:29:56 AM

Steyer could back voting rights ballot initiatives in dozens of states using that kind of money. But he’s not, because he’d rather bloviate.

Oruka Since: Dec, 2018
#270567: Feb 8th 2019 at 12:13:07 PM

"To be fair, the California rail project is behind schedule and over budget, so..."

By 2014, the F35 program was "$163 billion over budget [and] seven years behind schedule".

So, you know, the money and patience is there for the things that are a priority.

[up][up]Jeff Bezos could single handedly end homelessness in the USA with his annual earnings alone, and have billions upon billions to spare.

Edited by Oruka on Feb 8th 2019 at 12:15:40 PM

HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#270568: Feb 8th 2019 at 12:43:13 PM

This late in the game, I don't think anyone should ever expect any kind of autruism from the 1%.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#270569: Feb 8th 2019 at 12:45:13 PM

[up][up]That's an oversimplification of the problem; Bezos throwing money (even a fuckton of it) at a given social issue will not "solve" it. As was mentioned earlier, once large enough amounts of cash come into play, spending it effectively is really difficult. This was discussed last week or so in this thread, IIRC.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Izeinsummer Since: Jun, 2013
#270570: Feb 8th 2019 at 1:02:01 PM

California highspeed rail is a disaster because they chose to make it one. SNCF offered to build and operate it, with their own financing, but the people in charge told them to bugger off in the most insulting way possible. Also, wonderful ideas like developing their own signalling system. You might want to check the personal finances of the people in charge of that project because either they are very dim, or..

Oruka Since: Dec, 2018
#270571: Feb 8th 2019 at 1:09:30 PM

[up][up]I must have missed it. How us this different from the usual massive government budgets?

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#270572: Feb 8th 2019 at 1:15:20 PM

Because massive government budgets are paired with sweeping legal powers and an integration with bureaucracy.

Also, government budgets are actually liquid funds and not net worth. Stocks in Amazon won't deal with homelessness.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#270573: Feb 8th 2019 at 1:22:50 PM

To actually solve homelessness, Bezos would have to... (not a comprehensive list, just off the top of my head):

  • Identify all the people in the country who are homeless.
  • Develop a mechanism for them to apply/qualify for his housing program, keeping in mind the risk of fraud/abuse, and including marketing to present his program attractively.
  • Locate, purchase, and/or develop the necessary real estate to house them.
  • Aid them with transitioning into their new housing, becoming self-sufficient, etc. Many of them may have medical, psychological, or even legal issues that keep them from being able to thrive in their new situation.
  • Deal with all the regulations, permits, and bureaucracy involved in the above.
  • Figure out the tax liabilities and gift laws applicable to this program.

I'm just spitballing here. For one person to attempt this, no matter how wealthy he is, would be a labor of decades, most likely, and involve the hiring of tens of thousands of people at a minimum. You can't just give every poor person $200,000 and say, "Go buy a house."

There would also be an enormous social backlash against the giving of "free stuff" to people, and I'm not even talking about the wealthy. Let's say I'm a poor citizen who rents a run-down apartment for $1000/mo and can barely feed my kids. I'm going to be resentful as hell when a guy who got evicted from next door for losing his job gets a better home than mine for free.

Edited by Fighteer on Feb 8th 2019 at 4:30:02 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#270574: Feb 8th 2019 at 1:45:32 PM

Really, if there's anything to get on Bezos' case for it's helping to establish better working conditions and higher wages for his employees, things that he has more direct control over, not him snapping his fingers and tossing his money out to solve larger societal issues. Just doling out material goods to the most impoverished does little good as opposed to establishing systematic change, which requires time and nuance.

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#270575: Feb 8th 2019 at 1:46:57 PM

No one should be as wealthy as Bezos. EVER. But bare minimum, Amazon needs to pay a living wage and implement safe working conditions.

Edited by wisewillow on Feb 8th 2019 at 4:47:09 AM


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