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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
#276426: Apr 3rd 2019 at 4:21:09 AM

While the UK's stress test just broke it. tongue

All those "UK: did a dumb thing - US: 'Hold my beer'" jokes always rubbed me the wrong way - the UK did a WAY dumber thing than the US.

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
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.
#276427: Apr 3rd 2019 at 4:35:49 AM

US Congress Republicans mostly have their heads in the sand.

UK Tory M Ps have their heads up their arse and scream "Deeper!" all the time...

"You can reply to this Message!"
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#276428: Apr 3rd 2019 at 5:53:19 AM

Or on lasting damage Trump done?

How about the fact that he encouraged white nationalists from other countries to shoot up mosques?

Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#276429: Apr 3rd 2019 at 6:06:06 AM

Can't forget the lasting damage he's done to our soft power. The Iran Deal in particular has been an international sign of "okay, we can make a deal, our experts can say it's working, everyone in the world can agree you're following it, but the deal only lasts until the next guy is in office."

And even if the gutting of the EPA and a lot of his removals of environmental protections can be undone, the damage done until they're undone kind of... can't.

And can't overstate the cultural damage that Protagonist mentioned, even if it's impossible to gauge, it's definitely there.

Edited by Larkmarn on Apr 3rd 2019 at 9:07:00 AM

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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
#276430: Apr 3rd 2019 at 6:07:22 AM

Yeah, the damage done in trust and credibility alone to both the UK and US has been monumental.

"...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
#276431: Apr 3rd 2019 at 6:13:48 AM

Not to mention the THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DIRECTLY HURT BY HIS POLICIES.

I’m sorry, this is the biggest sticking point for me, for God’s sake, people aren’t disposable. People getting deported, locked in camps, kicked off Medicaid, those are thousands of lives shattered or even ended. Decades of lasting trauma inflicted on children and parents. Jesus Christ, the fact we’re even discussing this in abstract terms makes me so angry.

Edited by wisewillow on Apr 3rd 2019 at 9:14:23 AM

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
#276432: Apr 3rd 2019 at 6:24:29 AM

I mean, I'm sure there are parents and kids who are permanently separated at the border. And my mind slipped on the Medicaid one (who got kicked off?) but that's definitely a death count.

"...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
#276433: Apr 3rd 2019 at 6:56:36 AM

And don’t forget Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, not Garland and Kennedy, will be voting on the incredibly important issue of partisan gerrymandering. God help us.

Soban Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
#276434: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:00:14 AM

The Ruling I want: All states must use an objective mathematical formula or function to district their states. (Perhaps Congressional districts drawn by an algorithm to be compact)

The Ruling I expect: Gerrymandering is fine guys.

Edited by Soban on Apr 3rd 2019 at 10:03:39 AM

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
#276435: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:01:01 AM

Keep Utah Red

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#276436: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:11:25 AM

So in short, the answer to "Trump hasn't done anything" is...actually, he's done a lot. He's hurt a lot of people. We cannot - and should not - write it off as a distraction. Ever.

I'd say more, but I think [up]x5 explained it much better than I ever could.

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
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#276437: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:23:12 AM

It is a mistake to believe that Trump is the only deadly threat towards Americans coming from Washington today.

It is equally a mistake to believe that Trump is not a deadly threat towards Americans coming from Washington today.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
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.
#276438: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:29:08 AM

I think ideally an algorithm that strives for closest to equal citizens among all districts of a state while aiming for shortest circumference possible.

(With reasonable least/max population thresholds)

Edited by 3of4 on Apr 3rd 2019 at 4:30:25 PM

"You can reply to this Message!"
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#276439: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:36:01 AM

Ok, ok I give! I still say he wont be allowed to shut down the border, though, or anything else that would upset the power structure.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
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.
#276440: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:38:48 AM

That implies anyone has any hard control on him. The turtle has influence not control.

And if history shows, his influence suffers diminishing returns.

"You can reply to this Message!"
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#276441: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:39:53 AM

Sorry, still disagree. The real power in Washington isnt Trump. That was my point all along.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#276442: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:42:06 AM

Indeed it's not Trump, but it's not Pence either, it's Rupert Murdoch.

Edited by Medinoc on Apr 3rd 2019 at 4:42:27 PM

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#276443: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:47:51 AM

Snrk. The real powers are people we've never heard of, but who the work through members of Congress and the WH staff.

Edited by DeMarquis on Apr 3rd 2019 at 10:48:07 AM

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#276444: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:52:11 AM

You know, I am not so sure about Pence not being the kingmaker. This action by the Senate Republicans to me implies that they certainly treat him as if he was behind many of Trump's actions.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#276445: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:54:36 AM

There's been some strong suspicion that Stephen Miller is behind some of Trump's xenophobic policies. Nothing proven, AFAIK, but the kind of thing that if it were revealed as such, would make you go, "Why am I not surprised?"

Edited by speedyboris on Apr 3rd 2019 at 9:55:50 AM

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#276446: Apr 3rd 2019 at 7:55:25 AM

Less kingmaker and more caretaker. You can talk to him like an adult, and he gets what you're saying.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#276447: Apr 3rd 2019 at 8:05:43 AM

This is just pathetic: White House Invents New Word to Cover for Trump: Transcript Claims He Said ‘Oringes,’ Not ‘Oranges’

And here I thought "Tim Apple" couldn't be topped. A sane person would laugh at themselves for making a simple mistake instead of defensively doubling down, "No, it's shorthand, it takes too long to say "Tim Cook of Apple", quit making fake news."

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.
#276448: Apr 3rd 2019 at 8:23:00 AM

I mean, it works? Now the story is split between that and the fact that the president shows possible aphasia.

Otherwise it would only be the latter, a sole focus.

It's a flimsy smokescreen but it does change the spin...

"You can reply to this Message!"
Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#276450: Apr 3rd 2019 at 8:28:26 AM

I swear by the time Trump leaves the WH, reality itself will be completely rewritten.

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.

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