Nov 2023 Mod notice:
There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.
If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations
and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines
before posting here.
Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.
If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules
when posting here.
In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
And although most of the comments are psychotic right-wing nonsense, there's a few gems in there. My favorite was the one who said "Trump should build his wall out of Hillary's emails, then no one would ever be able to get over it".
Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.Essentially, powerful and privileged people whine whenever they face even the slightest criticism or consequence for shitty behavior. That's largely because their power and privilege has given them a massive sense of entitlement. They're basically overgrown spoiled children throwing a tantrum because their "punishment" for bad behavior was not getting thirds for dessert.
Edited by M84 on Sep 29th 2019 at 9:53:49 PM
Disgusted, but not surprised
It usually starts pretty early in life. Donald Trump for example grew up insulated from the consequences of bad behavior and decisions thanks to his dad's money and connections. I legit think he hasn't matured one bit since his preteen years.
It makes me wonder how bad Isabella and Olivia Jade Giannulli are going to get.
Edited by M84 on Sep 29th 2019 at 9:56:10 PM
Disgusted, but not surprised"You don’t need to do anything wrong to have an expedited removal," said immigration lawyer Andrew Hayes.
If you are thinking about driving across a U.S. border any time soon take note — immigration lawyers in British Columbia and Washington State are seeing an increase in travellers being issued five-year bans from U.S. border guards.
The bans are the consequence of so-called "expedited removals" which are decided by an immigration officer and don't go before a judge, and are a "troubling trend" according to lawyer Len Saunders because of how arbitrary they can seem.
"Until recently, I never would have expected people to get these expedited removals so randomly," said Saunders, who practices immigration law in Blaine, Wash. and has clients who have been banned.
"It's very, very indiscriminate how they are doing this."
Canadians generally are allowed to stay for up to six months in the U.S. as a tourist but it's up to the traveller to prove they are just visiting and not planning to stay permanently.
Saunders said he's seen more scrutiny by border guards recently over things like home ownership, a permanent job and money in the bank, which indicate ties to Canada and a reason to return.
"Any Canadian who doesn't have a full time job or are living with their parents and don't have their own residence, under these recent expedited removals that I've been seeing, they could be barred," he said.
Flying into the U.S. instead of driving can be a different matter as some pre-clearance areas, like the one at Vancouver International Airport, aren't on U.S. soil and so travellers can't be given an expedited removal since they haven't crossed in yet.
By law, the burden is on the traveler to prove to U.S. customs that they are entering on a temporary basis and not intending to immigrate there.
cbc.ca Uptick of Canadians hit with 5-year bans at U.S. borders called a 'troubling trend' | CBC News Cathy Kearney, Clare Hennig 4-5 minutes
If you are thinking about driving across a U.S. border any time soon take note - immigration lawyers in British Columbia and Washington State are seeing an increase in travellers being issued five-year bans from U.S. border guards.
"You don’t need to do anything wrong to have an expedited removal," said immigration lawyer Andrew Hayes. (Reuters)
If you are thinking about driving across a U.S. border any time soon take note — immigration lawyers in British Columbia and Washington State are seeing an increase in travellers being issued five-year bans from U.S. border guards.
The bans are the consequence of so-called "expedited removals" which are decided by an immigration officer and don't go before a judge, and are a "troubling trend" according to lawyer Len Saunders because of how arbitrary they can seem.
"Until recently, I never would have expected people to get these expedited removals so randomly," said Saunders, who practices immigration law in Blaine, Wash. and has clients who have been banned.
"It's very, very indiscriminate how they are doing this."
Canadians generally are allowed to stay for up to six months in the U.S. as a tourist but it's up to the traveller to prove they are just visiting and not planning to stay permanently.
Saunders said he's seen more scrutiny by border guards recently over things like home ownership, a permanent job and money in the bank, which indicate ties to Canada and a reason to return.
"Any Canadian who doesn't have a full time job or are living with their parents and don't have their own residence, under these recent expedited removals that I've been seeing, they could be barred," he said.
Flying into the U.S. instead of driving can be a different matter as some pre-clearance areas, like the one at Vancouver International Airport, aren't on U.S. soil and so travellers can't be given an expedited removal since they haven't crossed in yet.
By law, the burden is on the traveler to prove to U.S. customs that they are entering on a temporary basis and not intending to immigrate there. (Loren Elliott/Reuters)
'One a day'
Official numbers on how many Canadians have been issued bans isn't currently available but the U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the uptick.
"While I can acknowledge there has been a recent increase in the issuance of expedited removals, there has not been a policy change within CBP nor is there a quota," a spokesperson said in an email to CBC.
Saunders, who has been practising immigration law for two decades, said he noticed the dramatic increase in the travel bans over the summer.
"Until recently, it was very rare — maybe once every two or three years — that I would see a five-year bar [that seemed undeserved]," he said.
"Now, I'm literally seeing one a day." Same rules, different application
Immigration lawyer Andrew Hayes, who works for a firm that has offices in B.C. and Washington, said the reason for the increase in bans isn't totally clear — but the likely cause is an overall desire by the administration of President Donald Trump to project a toughness around issues of immigration.
"The rules that apply now have always been the rules," he said.
"[The change] is on how this is applied."
He urges travellers be as clear as possible about their plans at the border and bring all the necessary documents of proof.
"People who show up at the border that can't explain what their plan is tend to have a worse time of it," he said.
"You have to be able to explain where you are going, what you are doing and when you are going to return."
Joe Biden’s Digital Ads Are Disappearing. Not a Good Sign, Strategists Say. – In a race where many voters are following politics online, Mr. Biden’s pullback is a striking and potentially worrisome sign about his appeal among the digitally active.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/us/politics/joe-biden-ads.html
GOP lawmaker blasts Trump for quoting pastor warning of civil war over impeachment – Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) on Sunday criticized President Trump for quoting a pastor saying impeachment could trigger a "Civil War like fracture" in the country.
The attorney for the intelligence whistleblower who filed the complaint says Trump is making his client fear for his personal safety as a result of Trump's remarks. Andrew P. Bakaj pointed to Trump's call last week for "the person who gave the whistleblower the information" to be publicly identified. In a letter to acting DNI Macguire, Bakaj said Trump's remarks "have heightened our concerns that our client's identity will be disclosed publicly and that, as a result, our client will be put in harm's way."
Edited by sgamer82 on Sep 30th 2019 at 10:14:21 AM
I guess that's the value of thirty silver coins after inflation.
Someone did tell me life was going to be this way.

You can usually guess if the replies are toxic by the ratio of likes and retweets to how many comments there are.
Don't catch you slippin' now.