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TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#288476: Aug 22nd 2019 at 4:08:31 PM

Evil Turtle has made a move: Mitch Mc Connell: The Filibuster Plays a Crucial Role in Our Constitutional Order

Didn't stop him two years ago.

Yes, it did. Just not on what you would have liked.

Mitch was willing to sacrifice the filibuster for approving judicial nominations, but the ability to grant multiple lifetime appointments to conservative judges and swing the Supreme Court for the foreseeable future was an opportunity not likely to be seen again for years if not decades - especially if RBG kicks it, like Republicans have been eagerly rooting for.

However, at the same time, Republicans (and Trump especially) were pushing for Mitch to revoke the filibuster for congressional bills. Specifically, they wanted him to end the filibuster so they could pass their ACA repeals. He drew a hard line in the sand on that. His official position then was "Not on your life," and it still is today. They had to use budget shenanigans to try and repeal the ACA instead because of Mitch's hard-line refusal to sacrifice the filibuster.

Mitch has been very consistent on his opinion that the obstruction opportunities afforded by the filibuster must be preserved in the law-making process. Because unlike a rare opportunity to steal multiple Supreme Court lifetime appointments, standard-issue lawmaking is something Democrats will absolutely have a chance to do next time their turn in office rolls around.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Aug 22nd 2019 at 5:09:53 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#288478: Aug 22nd 2019 at 6:24:41 PM

There is one more category of Trump supporter my earlier list missed, one that is somewhat more understandable (if still badly mistaken).

The Enemy Mine Trump supporter.

This is the person who supports Trump not because they actually like Trump or believe in what he's selling. They support him because he's against someone they despise. For example, there are people (especially in Taiwan) who support Trump because he's pissing off Xi Jinping of Mainland China.

Granted, most of these people aren't actually US citizens. Thus they both aren't Trump voters (since they can't vote in the USA) and are rather less concerned with all the harm Trump is doing to the USA.

As a USA citizen with roots in Taiwan (and to mainland China), this puts me in a bit of a spot. I hate both Trump and Xi Jinping, so I sometimes don't know how to feel when they butt heads.

I do however think that the trade war is asinine and needs to end asap.

Edited by M84 on Aug 22nd 2019 at 9:25:39 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#288480: Aug 22nd 2019 at 6:41:55 PM

As a USA citizen with roots in Taiwan (and to mainland China), this puts me in a bit of a spot. I hate both Trump and Xi Jinping, so I sometimes don't know how to feel when they butt heads.

Take pleasure in the conflict between Skeletor and Hordak.

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!
#288481: Aug 22nd 2019 at 6:43:10 PM

According to the National Association of Immigration Judges, the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) sent court employees a link to a blog post from V Dare, a white nationalist website, in its morning news briefing earlier this week that included anti-Semitic attacks on judges.

Jesus Christ, I know they're white supremacists but this is shocking even for them.

"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
#288482: Aug 22nd 2019 at 9:12:13 PM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2019/08/22/day-945/

    Day 945: "Frankly ridiculous." 
1/ The economy added 501,000 fewer jobs since 2018 than previously reported, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics revision. Trump's tax cuts resulted in fewer restaurants, hotels, retailers and professional business services jobs than it initially reported. Trump, meanwhile, recently exaggerated that "We've created over 6 million new jobs since the election." Since Trump took office, however, the country has added about 5.7 million jobs. (MarketWatch / New York Times / Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/08/22/trumps-economic-rhetoric-just-took-another-big-hit/?arc404=true

The U.S. manufacturing contracted for the first time since September 2009. The purchasing managers' index was 49.9 in August. Any reading below 50 signals a contraction. (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/22/manufacturing-sector-contracts-for-the-first-time-in-nearly-a-decade-according-to-ihs-markit.html

2/ Trump dropped his plan to eliminate more than $4 billion in foreign aid funding without congressional approval. The Trump administration wanted to decrease what it called wasteful spending by making foreign aid conditional on support of U.S. policies. Trump's decision to forgo a "rescission" comes after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and several Republican lawmakers warned that the move would be detrimental to national security. Acting budget director, Russ Vought, and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, however, both pushed Trump to pursue the plan. (Politico / CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/politics/foreign-aid-white-house/index.html

📌 Day 575: The White House budget office is attempting to cancel about $3 billion in foreign aid using an obscure budget rule to freeze the State Department's international assistance budget. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/17/white-house-cut-foreign-aid-money-743481

📌 Day 937: The Trump administration will shield funding for Ivanka Trump and Pence's programs as the White House looks to cancel billions of dollars in unspent funding already approved by Congress. The White House is expected to propose returning billions of dollars of unspent foreign aid funds to the Treasury in a process known as rescission. The Office of Management and Budget, however, has already ruled out canceling funds for Ivanka's Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, Pence's programs for Christians, Yazidis and other religious minorities in the Middle East, and some global health programs. Republicans and Democrats say the review undermines Congress's authority to appropriate funds. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-officials-shield-ivanka-trump-and-mike-pence-projects-in-review-of-foreign-aid/2019/08/14/82db2847-2bf2-4ffe-b944-2aee7cba8c01_story.html

3/ Trump said he's considering ending birthright citizenship in the U.S. for children of non-citizens and people who came to the U.S. illegally. Trump called it "frankly ridiculous" that someone can "have a baby on our land, you walk over the border, have a baby — congratulations, the baby is now a U.S. citizen." The Constitution's 14th Amendment, however, guarantees citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States," which has been interpreted by the courts to grant citizenship to people born in the United States, regardless of the citizenship of their parents. (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-trump-idUSKCN1VB21B

4/ The Justice Department sent all immigration court employees an article posted from a white nationalist website that "directly attacks sitting immigration judges with racial and ethnically tinged slurs." The Justice Department recently moved to decertify the immigration judges union. (BuzzFeed News)

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/justice-department-immigration-judges-white-nationalist

📌 Day 936: The Justice Department moved to decertify the union representing hundreds of U.S. immigration judges. The DOJ filed a petition asking the Federal Labor Relations Authority to review the certification of the National Association of Immigration Judges and determine whether it should be revoked "because the bargaining unit members are management officials under the statutory definition." The NAIJ represents some 440 immigration judges across the country. (NPR)

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/12/750656176/trump-administration-seeks-decertification-of-immigration-judges-union

5/ Rudy Giuliani confirmed that the State Department helped him press the Ukrainian government to probe Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee. Giuliani has wanted Ukrainian officials to look into Biden's effort to crack down on corruption in Ukraine and his son Hunter Biden's involvement in a natural gas company there. Giuliani also wanted to know if Ukrainian officials and the DNC worked together to harm Trump's 2016 campaign by releasing damaging information about Paul Manafort. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/giuliani-says-state-dept-aided-his-effort-press-ukraine-trump-n1045171

6/ Sarah Huckabee Sanders will join Fox News as a contributor and will make her debut on "Fox & Friends" on Sept. 6th. Sanders left the White House in June and is the third former top White House communications official to join Fox after exiting the Trump administration. (CNN / Variety / Axios / CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/22/trumps-former-press-secretary-sarah-huckabee-sanders-joins-fox-news.html

7/ A top aide at the Department of Homeland Security resigned amid frustrations between the White House and DHS leadership. Andrew Meehan was a top aide and spokesman to acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan. (Axios / The Hill)

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/458441-acting-dhs-chiefs-top-aide-resigns-amid-white-house-tensions-report

8/ Trump wanted to award himself a Medal of Honor, but his aides talked him out of it. "Nothing like the Medal of Honor," Trump said to the 75th annual national convention of American Veterans. "I wanted one, but they told me I don't qualify […] I said, 'Can I give it to myself anyway?' They said, 'I don't think that's a good idea.'" Trump never served in the military and received five draft deferments, including four for college and one for bone spurs in his foot. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/21/donald-trump-give-himself-medal-of-honor-1470950

poll/ 62% of Americans disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president; 36% of Americans approve of the way Trump his handling his job. Trump's approval rating has never dipped below 32% or risen above 42% since he took office. (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/1ad13f32984a4480a45738ead2b4c0d8

Robrecht Your friendly neighbourhood Regent from The Netherlands Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Your friendly neighbourhood Regent
#288483: Aug 22nd 2019 at 9:16:15 PM

Take pleasure in the conflict between Skeletor and Hordak.

Not really an option when the fighting mostly affects the innocent citizens of Castle Greyskull and the Fright Zone (is that right? I never actually watched He-Man and I've only watched the new She-Ra, because it's fucking awesome).

Angry gets shit done.
SpookyMask Since: Jan, 2011
#288484: Aug 23rd 2019 at 12:33:04 AM

What is this about Trump wanting to buy Greenland from Denmark?

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#288485: Aug 23rd 2019 at 12:34:09 AM

Exactly what it sounds like.

He's all pissed now and canceled a diplomatic trip to Denmark because they told him no too

Oh really when?
ITNW1989 a from Big Meat, USA Since: Nov, 2012 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
a
#288486: Aug 23rd 2019 at 12:39:00 AM

To add to the absurdity, he's apparently "joked" about trading in Puerto Rico for Greenland. I know that the headlines say that he's joking, but knowing Trump, it would not surprise me one bit if he was (or still is) seriously considering that pile of drivel.

Hitokiri in the streets, daishouri in the sheets.
SpookyMask Since: Jan, 2011
#288487: Aug 23rd 2019 at 12:41:07 AM

I'm just confused at how they came in conclusion to do that since apparently White House did seriously count how much it might cost? tongue

Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#288488: Aug 23rd 2019 at 12:53:05 AM

Also, to use their own rhetorics against them for a change: Trump seems like a really special kind of snowflake. He is DEEPLY hurt by Denmark's choice of words wink

ABSURD! Oh MY!

Edited by Forenperser on Aug 23rd 2019 at 9:53:22 PM

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#288489: Aug 23rd 2019 at 2:59:36 AM

Wait,I've got it,Trump could trade Alaska for Greenland,genius!

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#288491: Aug 23rd 2019 at 3:49:17 AM

If anyone has dibs on buying Greenland, it's Iceland. We were there first, dangit!

Speaking of which, Iceland's prime minister won't bother to personally receive Mike Pence on a visit in september.

akanesarumara Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: Abstaining
#288492: Aug 23rd 2019 at 3:52:16 AM

[up] Yeah correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Greenland kinda-sorta started out as like a colony of Iceland, and wasn't it named Greenland in the sense of "Oh yeah right that place is tooootally great, of course it has nice weather, yeah, sure, go on and settle there don't let us hold you back ok bye"?

DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#288493: Aug 23rd 2019 at 3:56:20 AM

I mean, not really a colony, since there was no common government (or any government at all, really) at any point until both islands came under Danish rule.

Robrecht Your friendly neighbourhood Regent from The Netherlands Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Your friendly neighbourhood Regent
#288494: Aug 23rd 2019 at 3:56:20 AM

I mean...

If anyone actually deserves to buy Greenland, it's the Kalaallit, Tunumiit and Inughuit natives that make up the majority of the population.

And the purchase price would be a negative number on account of the reparations those people deserve for having a minority of white colonizers take over their land for a couple centuries and telling them what to do.

Angry gets shit done.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Robrecht Your friendly neighbourhood Regent from The Netherlands Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Your friendly neighbourhood Regent
#288496: Aug 23rd 2019 at 3:59:55 AM

[up] They're not. They're self-governing, but they're not sovereign.

Angry gets shit done.
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
#288497: Aug 23rd 2019 at 4:00:52 AM

[up][up]Wikipedia describes it as an autonomous region of Denmark, so dunno what to tell you...

Edited by GoldenKaos on Aug 23rd 2019 at 12:01:02 PM

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#288498: Aug 23rd 2019 at 4:01:01 AM

Right, slight differences. Still, you're quite right that if anyone should "own" Greenland, that's its own people.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
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
#288499: Aug 23rd 2019 at 4:03:00 AM

It’s not, it’s a subordinate nation under Denmark with a high level of autonomy, in ways similar to Puerto Rico under the US or Bermuda under the U.K.

[nja]

Edited by Silasw on Aug 23rd 2019 at 11:03:26 AM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#288500: Aug 23rd 2019 at 5:41:33 AM

Facebook bans ads from The Epoch Times after huge pro-Trump buy – By hiding its multimillion-dollar dark money ad spend, the organization bypassed Facebook's political advertising transparency rules.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/epoch-times-begins-hiding-its-connection-huge-pro-trump-ad-n1045416


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