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

Zarastro Since: Sep, 2010
#271751: Feb 17th 2019 at 6:32:29 AM

You know I really, really, really, really, really do not want to defend Trump here (really), but this is not a threat invented by him. The Kurds (who hold most of the arrested foreign fighters) have repeatedly told the Europeans that they could not assure the permanent detentions of these people, due to a lack of ressources and because they might be under attack from Turkey too.

Personally I'd say it is our responsibility to take care of them. We can't really demand of e.g. the North Africans to take back their criminal citizens, while we refuse to do the same. And as much as one might wish to see them charged in the country in which they comitted their crimes, it is very unlikely that they'd get a trial by Western standards (that is also in issue in Iraq?

Edited by Zarastro on Feb 17th 2019 at 3:32:47 PM

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#271752: Feb 17th 2019 at 6:34:16 AM

The only actor I know for a fact don't pay taxes is Wesley Snipes.
You're right in that he went to jail for it, but the interview I was referring to wasn't with Snipes. It was somebody else.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#271753: Feb 17th 2019 at 6:38:59 AM

Its a bit disingenuous to suggest that US tax rate is too low compared to other countries, after those countries have been lowering their taxes under the influence of the same bogus economic theories our conservatives are. Thats just a "race to the bottom" argument.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#271754: Feb 17th 2019 at 6:42:14 AM

[up][up][up]Even if — if — taking them back is the right thing to do, the way Trump is arguing for it in a veiled implied threat kind of way is the worst possible way to argue for it.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#271755: Feb 17th 2019 at 8:02:30 AM

My only reason to disagree with you is that many, if not most, of the people Trump offends (and often insults directly) aren't registered to vote. Usually because they've been deliberately disenfranchised by the GOP.

The undemocratic suppression just means that Trump barely won in 2016 instead of definitely losing, so it's not irrelevant but it won't stop him from losing.

The suppression of Democratic demographics is just part of the fact that he'll always have a chance to win, it doesn't mean he can't lose.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#271756: Feb 17th 2019 at 8:46:21 AM

I was already really anti-Biden but good god, his eulogy of Strom Thurmond is disgraceful.

Read the article here.

As Thurmond’s 100th birthday approached, Biden honored him on the Senate floor, calling him “a constant force in this nation for the better part of a century.”

In another floor speech the day after Thurmond’s death, Biden addressed the hulking part of the late senator’s legacy and said he did not believe his friend was a racist.

Uhmmmmmm.

Edited by wisewillow on Feb 17th 2019 at 11:46:34 AM

fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#271757: Feb 17th 2019 at 8:47:08 AM

On a different note, anyone noticing more talk of unions recently? Rockstar and buzzfeed are both sparking pushes for them.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#271758: Feb 17th 2019 at 8:51:37 AM

[up][up]Oooooooooooooooooooooooh.

Yikes, I would prefer anyone other than Gabbard or Bloomberg to Biden.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Feb 17th 2019 at 11:51:48 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#271759: Feb 17th 2019 at 8:52:48 AM

Trying to deny that Strom Thurmond was a racist is like trying to deny that water is wet.

Disgusted, but not surprised
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#271760: Feb 17th 2019 at 8:54:52 AM

[up]x4 Isn't that the guy who spent a literal day making a speech against the Civil Rights Act?7

Well, f*ck him and f*ck Biden, then!

Edited by HailMuffins on Feb 17th 2019 at 1:55:07 PM

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#271761: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:05:09 AM

I have no idea who Strom Thurmond is. Help?

i'm tired, my friend
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#271762: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:06:37 AM

I mostly remember him as an exceptionally old Republican senator.

I wonder how much of Biden's comment is simply Never Speak Ill of the Dead and/or simply not wanting to bad mouth someone he'd called a friend.

HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#271763: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:10:46 AM

[up][up]Laconic Version: Old Republican politician that spent most of his life in opposition of the Civil Rights Act.

Edited by HailMuffins on Feb 17th 2019 at 2:11:00 PM

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#271764: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:10:51 AM

Biden can't be that clueless surly surly? Unless,he's like "Well he was never racist to me so I don't think he was one" making the mistake of assuming he was'nt racist because it was never directed at him

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!
#271765: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:11:09 AM

I have no idea who Strom Thurmond is. Help?

From the top of my head he was Southern Senator who supported segregation and spent a record time arguing against the Civil Rights movement in one sitting.

I mostly remember him as an exceptionally old Republican senator.

I wonder how much of Biden's comment is simply Never Speak Ill of the Dead and/or simply not wanting to bad mouth someone he'd called a friend.

Due to the dead does in no way justifies saying nice things about segregationists.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Feb 17th 2019 at 12:12:35 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#271766: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:11:53 AM

[up][up][up][up]I'd imagine the former. If it's the latter, still considering him a friend doesn't speak well of him either.

Edited by LSBK on Feb 17th 2019 at 11:12:29 AM

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#271767: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:16:35 AM

[up]x6 The Longest Serving Republican Senator (originally Democrat), from the State of South Carolina, who passionately opposed Integration and Equality for Black and African Americans for "State's Rights" Reasons. He has the record for longest Filibuster (24 Hours and 18 Minutes), against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. He switched from Democrat to Republican because Barry Goldwater's Campaign (IE, the Guy who everyone thought would Nuke Russia and Cause WWIII) was against the Civil Right's Act that was being pushed by Kennedy and Johnson. Also, he sired a daughter with a Black Woman and forced the mother to keep it secret (which just makes him worse considering everything he did support).

In short, Biden's praises of this guy are really bad. Thankfully, he hasn't announced his candidacy (yet), so we don't have to back him against Trump.

Edited by DingoWalley1 on Feb 17th 2019 at 12:17:30 PM

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#271768: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:17:53 AM

Here’s an explainer on Strom Thurmond.

He was a segregationist Senator from South Carolina. He was the leader of the most racist Southern Dems, the “Dixiecrats” but he flipped from Democrat to Republican in the 1960s when the Dems became more aggressive on civil rights; I believe he even got to keep his Senate seniority.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#271769: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:20:50 AM

Thurmond was also one of the longest serving US Senators, so I believe that Biden was thinking of that aspect especially given his wording.

Me, I am a mite more annoyed at his praise for a CURRENT Republican congresscritter with no particular positive qualities who was facing a tough reelection bid. Or his way to campaign in the primary that would have surely led to another wave of "stitch-up" complaints and/or a late "Me too" scandal. Never mind his behaviour towards women.

Edited by SeptimusHeap on Feb 17th 2019 at 6:25:12 PM

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#271770: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:27:24 AM

Incidental note, Thurmond did run for President in 1948 on a third party, with an explicitly segregationist and racist campaign. This being in response to Truman's (relatively tepid) steps towards Civil Rights, such as banning discrimination in the army.

Yeah.

Edited by AzurePaladin on Feb 17th 2019 at 12:28:24 PM

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
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#271771: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:30:31 AM

Yikes. Maybe Biden should stop saying things.

i'm tired, my friend
Reflextion from a post-sanity world (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
#271772: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:33:18 AM

I certainly wouldn't shed any tears if Biden were to just quietly disappear from the political arena with what little dignity he has left

Someone did tell me life was going to be this way.
MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#271773: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:33:26 AM

Any possibility that Biden is getting senile or something? He's rather close to 80 years old.

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#271774: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:35:06 AM

[up]Keep in mind he praised Strom Thurmond in 2003. This wasn't the product of senility, and frankly it's kind of ableist to suggest this is why Biden keeps saying and doing stupid shit. And again, I am really weary of people playing internet armchair psychiatrist.

Edited by M84 on Feb 18th 2019 at 1:37:03 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#271775: Feb 17th 2019 at 9:38:52 AM

I think assuming any old person is losing their marbles is closer to ageism.


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