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

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#290276: Sep 17th 2019 at 2:10:14 PM

I mean, he doesn’t have nuclear weapons? Syria doesn’t even have a breakout capability, every nuclear site that could even produce something that could be used in a weapon has been bombed flat by the Israelis. Chemical weapons are also a radically different kind of weapon, the calculus behind their use is completely different. The logic of “he used one WMD so he could use any WND” makes no sense.

Edited by archonspeaks on Sep 17th 2019 at 2:14:33 AM

They should have sent a poet.
Imca (Veteran)
#290277: Sep 17th 2019 at 2:24:40 PM

Use of a nuclear device of any type makes you a target for every one else with nuclear weapons who are now especialy concerned about there saftey given you have demonstraited you will USE it and not just sit on it for protection.

Chemical weapons don't have that, most nations don't give a care about chemical weapons that aren't happening in there section of the planet.... not any thing worse then a finger wag at least.

At the end of the day, nations only care about how much of a threat you are to them, and almost any developed nation can deal with chemical weapons, and reguraly train for it, so they don't fear them as much as civilians do.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#290278: Sep 17th 2019 at 2:28:52 PM

Its not 'any' it's "What will he use next against civilians?"

[up][up]

Edited by Ultimatum on Sep 17th 2019 at 9:29:09 AM

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#290279: Sep 17th 2019 at 2:30:47 PM

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#290280: Sep 17th 2019 at 2:34:29 PM

Thanks Pele and Hathor that Biden is finally taking the Evil Turtle as the enemy that he is.

The fact that it's taken him so long to do it is frankly disqualifying in my eyes, this delusion that Republicans will do anything other than treat the next Democratic President as the Enemy has no place in the party.

Ocasio-Cortez backs liberal challenger to one of the most conservative House Democrats. The district in question is sorta blue-leaning but not entirely so, so split opinion on whether this is a good idea.

I'd say it is, it's one thing to see Conservative Democrats in deep-red districts but if it's sorta blue-leaning then I'd say those kinds of positions should not be tolerated.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#290281: Sep 17th 2019 at 2:37:23 PM

> Sanders campaign wracked by dissension

Either its a minor set back they should seen coming or a wheel has rolled off the wagon and they better hope more don't follow

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#290282: Sep 17th 2019 at 2:48:41 PM

Its not 'any' it's "What will he use next against civilians?"

Well, considering he doesn’t have any nuclear weapons probably not those.

Seriously, how is this even worth discussing? Even if Assad wanted to nuke his own country, which given his already precarious position is highly unlikely, he quite literally does not have the capability.

And I’ll point out that none of this has anything to do at all with the US nuking Afghanistan.

Edited by archonspeaks on Sep 17th 2019 at 2:50:17 AM

They should have sent a poet.
Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#290283: Sep 17th 2019 at 3:03:11 PM

@Spartan: The incumbent in question, Dan Lipinski, is against Obamacare (!), gay marriage, any leniency on abortion and couldn't bring himself to support Obama. His district is blue enough to only flip in a red wave, which is unlikely very in 2020 given the generic ballot.

Life is unfair...
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#290284: Sep 17th 2019 at 3:05:05 PM

@Spartan: The incumbent in question, Dan Lipinski, is against Obamacare (!), gay marriage, any leniency on abortion and couldn't bring himself to support Obama. His district is blue enough to only flip in a red wave, which is unlikely very in 2020 given the generic ballot.

Ah, well that's that.

Unlike Manchin he clearly isn't indispensable and thus should be dispensed with as soon as possible.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#290285: Sep 17th 2019 at 3:21:39 PM

Yeah, that sounds like a good seat to try and paint a deeper blue.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Sep 17th 2019 at 4:21:50 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#290286: Sep 17th 2019 at 3:56:34 PM

Fuck, I'd take a moderate over him, let alone a progressive. Shits like him, Manchin and Gabbard (wonder if AOC and co could be convinced to try and bring her down...?) should only be tolerated in places where the alternative is a Republican.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#290287: Sep 17th 2019 at 4:00:33 PM

Agreed, DIN Os who aren't useful should be evicted from the party.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
bitemytail Since: Dec, 2011
#290288: Sep 17th 2019 at 4:00:53 PM

He doesn't really sound like a Democrat. I consider myself to be a moderate independent, and I'm further left than he is.

Edit: Wikipedia said he didn't oppose the ACA itself, just the abortion rules.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Lipinski#Political_positions

Edited by bitemytail on Sep 17th 2019 at 4:11:18 AM

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#290289: Sep 17th 2019 at 4:16:46 PM

Speaking of Gabbard, she had a rather colorful reaction to Trump's response to the attack in Saudi Arabia.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#290290: Sep 17th 2019 at 4:18:03 PM

[up][up][up]Sadly, American parties need the voters' permission to do that. Or severe misconduct/criminal activity (and even then, there has to be pressure).

Edited by Rationalinsanity on Sep 17th 2019 at 8:19:16 AM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#290291: Sep 17th 2019 at 4:25:41 PM

[up]Oh certainly, by "evicted from the party" I meant they should face a progressive challenger in the primaries.

[up][up]Oh? Do tell.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Sep 17th 2019 at 4:25:58 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#290292: Sep 17th 2019 at 4:34:13 PM

Her tweet

"@realDonaldTrump Despicable. Offering to place our military assets under the command of a foreign country—Saudi Arabia—is a disgrace and betrayal of my patriotic brothers and sisters in uniform and to our Constitution. We are not your prostitutes. You are not our pimp."

To which someone in reply said they should get the national guard on her for daring to speak out,which is typical of twitter responces

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
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
#290293: Sep 17th 2019 at 5:09:32 PM

Gabbard is a perfect example of a stopped clock, she’s opposed to any international action. Which is great when it means not helping the Saudis murder children, it’s less great when it means allowing Assad to use chemical weapons on civilians.

The fact that she’s not popular is nice, to shows that democrats aren’t sold on a simplistic approach to foreign policy n

Oh and more good news about shitty primary candidates, Williamson has dropped to net-negative favourability (so more people have an unfavourable view of her than have a favourable one), as her recognition has gone up her favourability has gone down, the more Democrats know about Williamson the less they like.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Ingonyama Since: Jan, 2001
#290294: Sep 17th 2019 at 5:18:19 PM

So remember how the DOJ is investigating those automobile companies under antitrust rules because they chose to continue following California's engine regulation standards?

Now the EPA plans to rescind the waiver that lets California set the standards for the nation.

Thankfully the California Attorney General has already said he'll fight this, so the whole thing will be tied up in the courts almost immediately (like so much else), but still...Captain Planet villains, regular as clockwork.

Edited by Ingonyama on Sep 17th 2019 at 5:19:50 AM

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#290295: Sep 17th 2019 at 5:20:36 PM

States' rights? What are those?

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
#290296: Sep 17th 2019 at 6:16:55 PM

Sadly, American parties need the voters' permission to do that.

For the record: No they don't.

Angry gets shit done.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#290297: Sep 17th 2019 at 6:28:38 PM

Sadly, American parties need the voters' permission to do that. Or severe misconduct/criminal activity (and even then, there has to be pressure).

All a USA political party can do is withdraw support, but they wouldn't be able to outright take away membership.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#290298: Sep 17th 2019 at 7:13:16 PM

[up][up]In theory, but in reality expulsions are all but unheard of. Especially for voting against the party line.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#290299: Sep 17th 2019 at 8:06:33 PM

Doing today's and yesterday's since I missed Monday.

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2019/09/16/day-970/

    Day 970: Locked and loaded 

1/ The Manhattan District Attorney subpoenaed eight years of Trump's "personal and corporate tax returns" as part of its investigation into hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Trump and his company reimbursed Michael Cohen for the $130,000 Cohen he paid Stormy Daniels just before the election to buy her silence about an affair she had with Trump. Cyrus Vance's office is exploring whether the reimbursements violated New York state laws and whether the Trump Organization falsely accounted for the reimbursements as a legal expense. The subpoena was served last month to Mazars USA, which prepares Trump's tax returns. (New York Times / NBC News / CNBC / Axios)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/manhattan-da-subpoenas-trump-s-tax-returns-probe-hush-money-n1055046

2/ The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee accused the acting director of national intelligence of withholding a whistleblower complaint in order to protect a "higher authority" official. Adam Schiff said Joseph Maguire, the acting DNI, consulted the Justice Department about the whistleblower complaint prior to his decision to withhold the complaint – a departure from standard practice. Schiff added that the Committee "can only conclude, based on this remarkable confluence of factors, that the serious misconduct at issue involves the President of the United States and/or other senior White House or Administration officials." (Business Insider / CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/adam-schiff-says-dni-cited-higher-authority-in-refusal-to-turn-over-whistleblower-complaint/

3/ A previously unreported story about Brett Kavanaugh in college echoes Deborah Ramirez's allegation that he pulled down his pants at a party and thrust his penis at her, prompting her to swat it away and inadvertently touch it. Former Yale classmate Max Stier told senators and the FBI last year about a separate episode where Kavanaugh had his pants down at a dorm party while his friends pushed his penis into the hand of a female student. The FBI failed to investigate the incident Stier described. During his Senate testimony, Kavanaugh said that if the incident had occurred, it would have been "the talk of campus." Senate investigators at the time also concluded that Ramirez's account lacked corroboration. However, at least seven people corroborated the incident before Kavanaugh became a federal judge, including two classmates who heard about it days after the party occurred. Ramirez's lawyers also gave the FBI a list of at least 25 people who may have had corroborating evidence. The bureau declined to interview any of them. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/14/sunday-review/brett-kavanaugh-deborah-ramirez-yale.html

4/ A Democratic senator told FBI Director Christopher Wray last fall of the sexual misconduct allegation against Kavanaugh by Max Stier. In a letter to Wray, Sen. Christopher Coons said "several individuals," including Stier, contacted his office wanting to share information with federal authorities about Kavanaugh, but said they had "difficulty reaching anyone who will collect their information." The FBI supplemental background investigation into Kavanaugh did not include Stier's allegation. (Washington Post / Los Angeles Times / Axios)

https://www.axios.com/brett-kavanaugh-sexual-misconduct-chris-coons-fbi-e27e61e8-46cb-4980-97f8-d7199a7635e8.html

5/ Several Democratic presidential candidates called for Kavanaugh to be impeached after new information about Ramirez's allegations of sexual misconduct became public. Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Julián Castro called for Kavanaugh to be impeached after the authors of a new book wrote that they had found new corroboration for accusations that Kavanaugh exposed himself to Ramirez, a classmate at Yale. (New York Times / CBS News / NBC News / Washington Post)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/trump-defends-brett-kavanaugh-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations-resurface-n1054581

How impeaching a Supreme Court justice works: The House is responsible for voting on impeachment. Its members decide by a majority vote. The Senate then holds a trial for the underlying misconduct. A conviction requires two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes. If there is a conviction, the Senate would remove the individual from office. (Washington Post)

https://beta.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/15/calls-justice-kavanaughs-impeachment-are-mounting-heres-how-it-could-work/

6/ Trump tweeted that Kavanaugh should "start suing people" or the Department of Justice "should come to his rescue." Trump also accused news outlets of trying to "scare [Kavanaugh] into turning Liberal!" and that he should sue people for "liable" – misspelling the word "libel." (Politico / CNBC)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/15/trump-brett-kavanaugh-1496181

Trump called on the House Judiciary Committee to investigate Obama's book deal and Netflix show. Trump complained about the time and money spent on the Mueller report and the investigations into him and his businesses, and said, "I have a better idea. Look at the Obama Book Deal, or the ridiculous Netflix deal." Barack and Michelle Obama have reportedly signed a "high 8-figure" deal with Netflix and a joint book deal reported worth $65 million. (Vice)

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3kxa7b/trump-wants-the-government-to-investigate-obamas-netflix-deal

7/ The House Judiciary Committee is negotiating to secure Jeff Sessions' testimony as part of its impeachment investigation of Trump. Democrats on the committee hope Sessions' appearance will help bolster the inquiry, especially since Sessions has had a turbulent relationship with Trump. An attorney for Sessions said the former attorney general will not agree to testify unless he is subpoenaed. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-democrats-pursue-sessions-for-testimony-in-impeachment-probe-of-trump/2019/09/13/e2925316-d58d-11e9-ab26-e6dbebac45d3_story.html?arc404=true

8/ Trump threatened military action in response to an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities. Trump said the U.S. is "locked and loaded" and ready to respond, but was waiting to consult with Saudi officials before taking any action. Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, however, blamed Iran, calling the incident "an unprecedented attack on the world's energy supply." He insisted that there was "no evidence the attacks came from Yemen." A senior Trump administration official said Iran launched nearly a dozen cruise missiles and over 20 drones from its territory in the attack on a Saudi oil facility. In response to the attack, Saudi Arabia cut its daily oil output in half. Trump responded by saying, "We don't need Middle Eastern Oil & Gas," but said the U.S. "will help our allies!" (New York Times / Washington Post / Bloomberg / ABC News / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / Reuters)

https://www.apnews.com/b5e55c91023441d8a05ff95a9fd2d6eb

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2019/09/17/day-971/

    Day 971: Abuse of power 

1/ The Trump administration will revoke California's right to set stricter air pollution standards for cars and light trucks than those required by the federal government. In July, California reached an agreement with Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW to support the state's right to set its own fuel efficiency standards and to voluntarily produce cars averaging nearly 50 mpg by model year 2026. The rollback of California's waiver will also affect 13 other states and the District of Columbia, which follow California's emissions regulations. Last summer, the EPA proposed weakening fuel economy standards put in place by the Obama administration by freezing standards at roughly 37 mpg from 2020 to 2026. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the state intends to strike back with a lawsuit, which is expected to go to the Supreme Court. (Los Angeles Times / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/17/epa-california-obama-waiver-1500336

2/ Trump ordered two former White House aides not to testify at a House Judiciary Committee hearing about Trump's possible obstruction of justice. The White House asserted immunity for Rob Porter and Rick Dearborn, who were subpoenaed to appear in front of the committee today. Trump also ordered his former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, not to answer questions about anything that happened after Trump was elected and to not provide any information beyond what is already in the Muller report. (CNN / Reuters / New York Times)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-idUSKBN1W203Y

3/ Corey Lewandowski refused to answer dozens of questions about potential obstruction of justice during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on "Presidential Obstruction of Justice and Abuse of Power." Lewandowski did confirm that Trump asked him to pressure Attorney General Jeff Sessions to limit the scope of the Russia investigation, but he claimed he was never asked to do anything illegal. As the hearing started, Lewandowski demanded that Democrats read him the section of the Mueller report they were referring to. Democrats then gave Lewandowski a copy, who proceeded to read directly from the report. Republicans, meanwhile, forced a series of procedural votes. (Associated Press / Politico / New York Times / NBC News)

https://apnews.com/04ac3771d88a47a1b10e4081646e871c

4/ Trump administration officials suggested charging immigrants $975 to appeal an immigration judge's deportation ruling and $895 to request the Board of Immigration Appeals reconsider a case, according to a draft Department of Justice regulation. The current fee to apply for each of these requests is $110. (BuzzFeed News)

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/trump-administration-immigrant-fees-increase-court-appeals

5/ Construction of Trump's border fence could damage or destroy up to 22 archaeological sites within Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The administration plans to convert an existing five-foot-high vehicle barrier to a 30-foot steel structure that could cause irreparable harm to the unexcavated remnants of Sonoran Desert people. (Washington Post)

https://beta.washingtonpost.com/immigration/border-fence-construction-could-destroy-archaeological-sites-national-park-service-finds/2019/09/17/35338b18-d64b-11e9-9343-40db57cf6abd_story.html

6/ Some Air Force crews that stayed at Trump's Turnberry resort in Scotland stayed for multiple nights and were given gifts during their stays. The resort gave high-ranking officers "Pride Pins," which are reserved for VIP members. Low-ranking airmen received other gifts and welcome packages, including Scottish shortbread and other treats. Instead of being restricted to single-night refueling stops, Air Force crews sometimes stayed for multiple nights while the weather cleared up or their planes were repaired. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/17/trump-scotland-turnberry-1499298

7/ Trump wants to put a proponent of torture in charge of U.S. human rights policy. Marshall Billingslea, who currently serves as assistant Treasury secretary for terrorist financing, was involved in Bush-era torture as a senior Pentagon official. During this tenure, Billingslea advocated for the use of torture techniques against the advice of top military lawyers, dismissed protests against the use of torture by the Army's Judge Advocate General, and advocated for Donald Rumsfeld to approve more torture tactics than Rumsfeld had already approved. If confirmed, Billingslea would become the top U.S. executive branch official directly responsible for human rights policy: undersecretary of State for civilian security, democracy and human rights. (Politico Magazine)

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/17/trump-billingslea-torture-human-rights-228112


Not included in the above but may turn up tomorrow:

Pa. state senator charged with possession of child pornography – State Sen. Michael Folmer, a Lebanon County Republican, was charged by the state Attorney General's Office Tuesday

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/09/pa-state-senator-charged-with-possession-of-child-pornography.html

Edited by sgamer82 on Sep 17th 2019 at 10:48:20 AM

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.
#290300: Sep 18th 2019 at 12:33:26 AM

My guess for the California thing is that even if the car industry holds firm at California's rules without force Trump will try to EO them into going dirtier standards.

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