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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.

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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

Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#328901: Sep 25th 2020 at 12:39:45 AM

by his own hand
Isn't the guy the new poster boy for The Coroner Doth Protest Too Much?

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#328902: Sep 25th 2020 at 12:44:27 AM

[up] Yes, because apparently some people can't fathom that a rich person might commit suicide

There was a whole thread about it and it closed down for a reason.

Edited by DrunkenNordmann on Sep 25th 2020 at 9:45:20 PM

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#328903: Sep 25th 2020 at 12:46:00 AM

(self-thump)

Edited by Medinoc on Sep 25th 2020 at 9:57:30 PM

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#328904: Sep 25th 2020 at 3:39:01 AM

Yes, because apparently some people can't fathom that a rich person might commit suicide

Isn't there actual physical evidence that lends itself to assault? Said as someone who believes it was suicide.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Sep 25th 2020 at 3:39:21 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#328905: Sep 25th 2020 at 3:48:07 AM

From my recollection nothing that isn’t also consistent with suicide.

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
#328906: Sep 25th 2020 at 4:45:17 AM

Guys considering the issues this discussion has caused in the past, I’d recommend we drop it now.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#328907: Sep 25th 2020 at 4:56:28 AM

That suicide does raise some legitimate questions though, such as why he was suddenly taken off suicide watch. That part is definitely a bit suspicious, especially considering who his former friends were.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#328908: Sep 25th 2020 at 4:58:23 AM

Are we on Epstein again? I'm sure there are other things to talk about in U.S. politics. Yes, that's a hint.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#328909: Sep 25th 2020 at 6:08:12 AM

Stained relations? Israeli PM accused of taking dirty laundry on state trips: Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife said to pack soiled clothes to be cleaned on foreign trips.

To reiterate: Benjamin Netanyahu brings his family's dirty laundry to state visits to the US, so that Trump's staff can do his laundry for free.

Again, the prime minister of Israel is bringing his laundry to the US to be dry cleaned, like an impoverished son handing his laundry to his parents because he can't afford the laundromat.

You cannot make this shit up. What kind of self-imposed humiliation is this? What sort of leader even considers doing something like this? How does Netanyahu think this makes him look?

And apparently this is a bit of a habit of him.

Netanyahu, more like Netanyahoo.

Edited by Redmess on Sep 25th 2020 at 3:10:17 PM

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#328910: Sep 25th 2020 at 6:16:17 AM

if this were fictional I'd accuse the writers of being lazy and unsubtle, literally bring his dirty laundry to Washington

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
singularityshot Since: Dec, 2012
#328911: Sep 25th 2020 at 6:21:55 AM

No, it's of a par with people like him. Everything is a grift, no advantage too small to abuse.

I've been listening to Chris Hayes' podcast Why Is This Happening, and one of the interviews was with one of the Watergate prosecutors. He revealed the reason why Nixon even installed the tape recorder in the Oval Office.

Turns out that one of the reasons why former officials donated their papers to the national archives and other institutions was because it was tax deductible. Unfortunately for Nixon, that tax break was eliminated before he became president. BUT it only applied to written materials - recordings were still tax deductible. So Nixon installed the tape recorder that ultimately proved to be his downfall purely to take advantage of a tax break.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#328912: Sep 25th 2020 at 6:33:57 AM

Yeah, but dirty laundcry? Does this guy have no self-respect?

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#328913: Sep 25th 2020 at 6:54:40 AM

He obviously doesn't see it as embarrassing. I don't think anyone believes that he's incapable of getting his clothes dry cleaned at home. He sees it as either clever (saving themselves the cost) or a form of asserting dominance (making someone else do their menial chores). Or both, naturally.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#328914: Sep 25th 2020 at 6:57:47 AM

The next leader he does that to should gift him a washing machine. grin

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#328915: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:00:52 AM

I'd question as to how eager to be seen as 'powerful' you have to be before you consider offloading your dry cleaning onto other people as a form of asserting power, but I suppose it's not that different from kings in ancient times who'd have slaves carry them around on a throne, to show that they're so powerful they don't even need to walk. :V

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Sep 25th 2020 at 3:01:12 PM

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#328916: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:19:40 AM

I don't think those kings brought their dirty laundry either.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#328917: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:24:05 AM

The U.S. House election in Minnesota's 2nd district (held by Democratic Rep. Angie Craig) will be postponed to Feb. 2021 after a third-party candidate passed away. NPR

A Minnesota congressional race won't be decided in November after one of the candidates died, triggering a provision in state law that it be pushed to a special election in February, the secretary of state said.

The law is strange. I didn't know states could not have elections on the national Election Day?

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#328918: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:38:42 AM

I have looked but can't find which part of the constitution discusses election day for the House.

Otherwise, in terms of curiosities Biden is slightly healthier, study says, but both presidential candidates may be ‘super-agers’. With the catch that it doesn't evaluate mental faculties and takes everybody's health records at face value. Also, "super-ager" is not a synonym of "centenarian".

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#328919: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:40:29 AM

I think the problem there is implying that Trump was ever cognitively suitable for the presidency.

"He's not getting worse" is not a ringing endorsement.

The good news for Trump is that a fix — eating healthier and exercising more — is within his control.

"Trump could lose weight if he did these things!"

Congratulations for stating the obvious, article?

Edited by RainehDaze on Sep 25th 2020 at 3:42:02 PM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#328920: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:45:42 AM

I just hope Biden's health will remain good for four more years. The last thing we need is a suddenly declining president.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#328921: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:48:03 AM

President Harris wouldn't be the end of the world

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#328922: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:49:10 AM

The governor of Virginia has tested positive for Covid.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Ingonyama Since: Jan, 2001
#328924: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:56:42 AM

Huh... *reads the article Nova posted* Oh. As bizarre as that is, that makes sense; I remember reading about Wellstone's plane crash, but hadn't realized that its closeness to the election (and Mondale losing after he was hurriedly put on the ticket instead) led to such a law being passed.

The article also answered my other question, though I was pretty sure I already knew the answer—that because the current House ends at the end of the year, pushing back this election means that seat will stay vacant until February. Well, at least one seat won't endanger the Democratic majority.

[up][up] Crap. Well, hopefully he'll make it through all right; if not, at least he was term-limited already anyway (so this doesn't affect the election) and the Lieutenant Governor can take over, right?

Sorry if this sounds callous, but we do not need to lose control of Virginia.

Edited by Ingonyama on Sep 25th 2020 at 7:58:44 AM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#328925: Sep 25th 2020 at 7:56:58 AM

You think that would be a better situation than having a stable four year Biden presidency?

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times

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