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

Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#275701: Mar 26th 2019 at 3:00:02 AM

[up]Some might do so in the spirit of “fairness and balance”.

Honestly the longer this story keeps up the worst it is for Democrats.

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
#275702: Mar 26th 2019 at 3:54:00 AM

Yeah in the end this situation has been a big propaganda win for Trump, because the media were desperate for something good to say about Trump and they’ve latched onto it. Instead of running the accurate statement that “person Trump picked summarises report by saying that it didn’t find evidence (enough to bring charges) that Trump’s campaign knowingly worked with Russian government”, they went full “Trump innocent, whole thing was witch hunt!”

Trump and Barr played the media perfectly, because just like in 2016 they’re desperate to appear to treat both sides as equal, regardless of reality.

Edited by Silasw on Mar 26th 2019 at 12:16:45 PM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#275703: Mar 26th 2019 at 5:13:37 AM

Which is a disgraceful abdication of responsibility. So many goddamn journalists wasting time on ephemera and punditry and “both sides” instead of safeguarding our democracy and investigating the millions of breadcrumbs begging to be followed.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#275704: Mar 26th 2019 at 5:17:01 AM

I'm dreading what Trump's idea of a payback is,I know from history that when someone promises 'payback' it usually means a lot people end up suffering as they're targeted as scapegoats,thankfully I think Trump's talk is bluster from a guy who thinks he's scored a huge victory and might have,but is this far from over as there's bound to be catch as there always is

In this case,it's the full report,it's existence alone could be enough to spoil Trump's victory,they just need to release it

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#275705: Mar 26th 2019 at 5:30:58 AM

[up]I’m actually pretty skeptical as to whether it would sink Trump or not.

I think the most likely scenario of releasing the report would be to inspire endless qubbiling over its intentions and details and distract from more pertinent issues.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#275706: Mar 26th 2019 at 5:35:33 AM

if they didn't think the report could damage Trump they'd have released it by now,but they're sitting on it,which says a lot to me

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#275707: Mar 26th 2019 at 5:46:12 AM

Sarah Kendzior argues that Mueller has bungled the investigation.

Spare me the "Mueller didn't know what Barr would do" argument. It was obvious what Barr would do. It was also obvious Manafort was not cooperating, Flynn deal was bad, etc. If I could see and call out all this shit from St Louis, he should have seen it right in front of him.

Here's a thread of years of mistakes I called out in the Mueller probe, some of which Mueller then rectified (putting Manafort on GPS tracking), some of which he didn't. This was never a well-planned probe. Doesn't make it illegitimate, just poorly done.

... (new thread)

Interview from 2/13 where I said Roger Stone needed a gag order and house arrest immediately because otherwise he'd threaten both individuals and national security. Now he's threatened to kill a judge.

This happens repeatedly with the Mueller probe. Here's a 2017 thread where I questioned the wisdom of giving Manafort a bail deal and no GPS tracking. They ended up reversing the decision because Manafort, as I predicted, went back to doing crimes

This also happened with Rick Gates, who Mueller nearly let out to have spring break fun — announcing his location online and making him a target. They later reversed this decision because, as I predicted, Gates immediately started getting death threats:

The same danger exists with Flynn, who cut a plea deal and went right back to his old life of cavorting with right-wing extremists while armed with both classified intel and inside info on the Mueller probe. Dangerously lax treatment.

Lax treatment of elite criminals who endanger the public is not some strategic move by Mueller that he then reluctantly corrects. People desperately seeking a noble or logical explanation sound like they're reciting the Ted Bundy Master Plan Fallacy [letting him out, whereupon he committed more murders, which then provided more evidence that he was a murderer, at the cost of people being murdered because they let him go ]:

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#275709: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:33:39 AM

[up] Is it just me or does that seem like a startlingly small victory? 57 miles isn’t exactly a massive distance, and if you read the announcement they’re only setting up temporary “pedestrian fencing”, not even an actual wall. It looks like a pretty sizable portion of that money isn’t even going towards new walls or fences or whatever but to refurbishing existing access roads and walls.

Obviously I’m not a fan of any money being wasted on this, but this doesn’t exactly seem like something to phone home about. Let’s not forget that the military itself is fairly pissed about all this, and it’s already being fought bitterly in Congress.

Edited by archonspeaks on Mar 26th 2019 at 6:35:52 AM

They should have sent a poet.
Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#275710: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:36:28 AM

[up][up]So "Trump is filling his promises!1!" so 47% of America in the electoral college strongholds are going to vote to keep age in charge. I don't blame anyone who no longer has any patriotism for America, it has failed so many times.

[up]Media will report this as "TRUMP got the wall, saved us all!" So it won't matter how small the victory actually is.

Edited by Wildcard on Mar 26th 2019 at 9:37:10 AM

DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#275711: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:43:24 AM

He's not filling his promise. He said US taxpayers wouldn't have to pay for it.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#275712: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:44:07 AM

And Mexico is not paying either,so TWO promises broken

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
GoldenKaos Captain of the Dead City from Cirith Ungol Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Captain of the Dead City
#275713: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:46:12 AM

I'm guessing that getting the army to pay for it is a loophole that mostly gets around congress.

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#275714: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:48:56 AM

Yeah it’s illegal as hell and incredibly concerning, even if it’s “only” $1 billion and 57 miles.

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#275715: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:50:26 AM

[up][up] That’s a solid maybe. Congress is in charge of military procurement, suddenly moving money around can be a big no no depending on what’s moving. This particular case is a bit of a grey area as well, since border infrastructure isn’t really a military thing.

It could go either way, there is some precedent for things like this so a case could be made. I’d look forward to a long and very bitter fight.

Edited by archonspeaks on Mar 26th 2019 at 6:51:50 AM

They should have sent a poet.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#275716: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:54:24 AM

Is this part of the Emergency Declaration?

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#275717: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:55:00 AM

And in a move that has surprised even opponents of the law, the Trump Administration is now saying that the entirety of the ACA should be struck down, as per the Texas judge that ruled it unconstitutional.

I have no words.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#275718: Mar 26th 2019 at 6:56:23 AM

[up][up][up] and [up][up] It’s not a loophole, it’s blatantly not allowed, and yes, he’s using the bogus emergency declaration to do it. I’m taking admin law right now, and we discussed budget/appropriations last month. He can’t enlarge his powers by overruling Congress like this.

Edited by wisewillow on Mar 26th 2019 at 9:57:16 AM

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#275719: Mar 26th 2019 at 7:02:45 AM

[up] Federal law allows for the DoD to install roads, fences and lighting to block known drug corridors along the border. Since the money is coming from counter-drug slush funds, and being used ostensibly for counter-drug operations there is an argument to be made for it being legal, though it could really go either way. It’s a grey area, so the question here is how much the Democrats are going to be willing to fight ultimately.

Edited by archonspeaks on Mar 26th 2019 at 7:04:10 AM

They should have sent a poet.
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#275720: Mar 26th 2019 at 7:06:02 AM

I won't be surprised if he gets away with this regardless. I'm almost expecting it.

i'm tired, my friend
Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#275721: Mar 26th 2019 at 7:36:27 AM

@People Saying Trump isn't fulling his promises: Of course he isn't. But it doesn't matter because it's not how it'll look to the public.

[up]Yep, the law doesn't actually matter to Republicans. Except when it can be used to oppress people.

Edited by Wildcard on Mar 26th 2019 at 10:37:07 AM

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#275722: Mar 26th 2019 at 7:36:30 AM

He's not filling his promise. He said US taxpayers wouldn't have to pay for it.
Two things: 1) I doubt some of his supporters care, as long as it keeps people out, and 2) Even if other supporters concede that was a broken promise, they often counter by saying two things: "He didn't really mean that, that was just rhetoric to fire us up" and "The wall will pay for itself in the long run due to reduced border crossings and Mexico tariffs."

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#275723: Mar 26th 2019 at 7:41:45 AM

@People Saying Trump isn't fulling his promises: Of course he isn't. But it doesn't matter because it's not how it'll look to the public.

Stop stating unfounded assumptions as if they were certain, we don't know what the public will get from this. And considering that Trump has never risen above -7 popularity I see no reason to believe that you're right.

He may gain a few percentage points from this, or he may not.

Edit:

In fact there's some related news that really underscores the ridiculousness of the psuedo-doomsaying about the Mueller report shifting the public in favor of Trump, Donald Trump just made sure health care will decide the 2020 election.

The title more or less says it all, Trump has decided to launch a renewed attack on the ACA thus practically guaranteeing that healthcare will be a major topic in 2020. And considering how unpopular Republican healthcare 'policy' is this should neatly erase any benefit that the Mueller report might've provided to Trump.

This is why the doomsaying was so ridiculous, if Trump were a competent politician he could properly capitalize on the report to benefit himself. But he's not so he's not, instead he's starting a fight he's doomed to lose.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Mar 26th 2019 at 7:52:28 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.
#275724: Mar 26th 2019 at 8:04:53 AM

Trump is pretty good at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Disgusted, but not surprised
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#275725: Mar 26th 2019 at 8:05:57 AM

[up]x2 Exactly, it's a year and a half away from the Election. A lot can happen in that amount of time. Yes, like the rest of you I would've loved for Mueller's Report to have declared Trump guilty of Collusion and Obstruction of Justice, but just because he was found innocent (and I use that word loosely) of the first and there was no official opinion on the latter, doesn't mean Trump can't do something that will ruin him before November 2020. Plus, we can't ignore all the Good the Investigation did simply because it didn't give us the results we wanted.

Edited by DingoWalley1 on Mar 26th 2019 at 11:06:18 AM


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