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

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#333301: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:04:36 PM

Texas Tribune: 5th Circuit Court of Appeals puts a stay on the lower court's ruling, blocking counties from offering multiple mail-in ballot drop-off locations

Wow, only took a day.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#333302: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:09:35 PM

The sheer amount of corruption and lack of scruples is disgusting.

You cannot turn Afghanistan into a liberal democracy by force of arms. The US has been there for two decades, and it has failed to achieve durable political change. Continuing to keep troops there will not change that fact - it just makes the place an effective training ground for extremist groups, in the same way that Iraq was.

Who said anything about a liberal democracy? The issue is protecting women from being forced into horrifying human rights violation and protecting the locals from war crimes. The only reason it hasn't happened is troops on the ground.

Mind you, the sheer amount of incompetence and bare minimum effort to building infrastructure has been covered extensively.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Oct 10th 2020 at 8:11:09 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Ayasugi Since: Oct, 2010
#333303: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:19:47 PM

Compromise position: We pull out of Afghanistan, but we also guarantee that all Afghanis, especially those of Religious Minorities (Shi'ites, Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, Sikhs), have the right to legally migrate to the United States.

I would unironically support this, and extend it to any country that the US has had a hand in destabilizing.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#333304: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:21:38 PM

I'm still for building actual power plants in the region, telephone lines, internet, and water treatment plants.

Plus mining consortiums.

Also encourage legal purchase of pharmaceutical material.

And if everyone's loyalty is their tribe, work on building up local governments via democracy.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Oct 10th 2020 at 8:22:31 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#333305: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:35:42 PM

Trump got cleared by his physican to come out of isolation.

Surely nothing is gonna come of this. Surely.

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#333306: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:36:37 PM

23 days, 1 hour left

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
SatoshiBakura (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#333307: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:42:36 PM

Is it bad that I still doubt that he's well?

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#333308: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:45:12 PM

There's no possibility he's well.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#333309: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:46:39 PM

Even if he was somehow, miraculously, Covid free, he wouldn't be well.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#333310: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:47:27 PM

I don't particular care if Trump wants to put his own health at risk, but it's unfortunate that he's also doing the same to all of those around him. And being aided in that endeavor.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#333311: Oct 10th 2020 at 8:49:13 PM

Agreed, if Trump was the only person being harmed by doing this then he is his own agent in doing this. But he's endangering so many others with his recklessness and for that I'm appalled.

TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#333312: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:55:18 PM

Isn't Trump violating the law by using the White House as a political rally prop?

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#333313: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:01:31 PM

I think that I saw on Twitter that it is yet another violation of the Hatch Act, which the administration keeps racking up.

Do not obey in advance.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#333314: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:02:23 PM

Hatch Act doesn't apply to the President or VP. Trump is, for once, actually in the clear.

Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#333315: Oct 10th 2020 at 11:10:04 PM

The question isn't whether or not Trump is breaking or violating the law, because he objectively is and has been for years. The question is will any agency or institution with the power to stop him do so, and the answer to that has always been no.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#333316: Oct 10th 2020 at 11:13:55 PM

Other Federal employees were definitely involved in this rally, so the Hatch Act was still violated.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#333317: Oct 10th 2020 at 11:34:15 PM

How many times has Trump violated the law and got scott free?

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#333318: Oct 10th 2020 at 11:41:10 PM

[up] Too many.

Seriously, there's a serious flaw in the system here...

RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#333319: Oct 11th 2020 at 12:16:17 AM

I seriously wonder why the checks and balances haven't worked?

I thought according to the right there was a conspiracy against Trump?

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#333320: Oct 11th 2020 at 12:22:48 AM

[up] Because the GOP are utterly worthless, blatantly corrupt to criminal degrees, and refuses to do the jobs they were voted in to do in the first place.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#333321: Oct 11th 2020 at 12:31:56 AM

Trump has the benefit of 200 years of rich white male supremacy protecting him plus people who believe he can bring the few checks on it back to the era of segregation.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#333322: Oct 11th 2020 at 1:20:02 AM

The checks and balances were designed under the assumption that all parties would operate in good faith, and have been undone simply by the Republicans refusing to abide by them.

RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#333323: Oct 11th 2020 at 1:24:41 AM

People are going to have to rethink the goverment check and balances for a LONG time after Trump eventually leaves.

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
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
#333324: Oct 11th 2020 at 1:29:57 AM

With Afghanistan it’s worth noting that multi-decade state-building projects have been done before and done without as much controversy. US troops are still in Bosnia for example.

The difference with Afghanistan is that in other instances the initial window for stabilisation was used properly, the actual enemy fighting force was defeated and the multi-decade project was a slow grind, not active war fighting.

What’s gone wrong with Afghanistan is enough to fill pages, but it being a deployment for US military personnel over multiple decades actually isn’t one of them.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#333325: Oct 11th 2020 at 1:42:37 AM

The checks and balances were designed under the assumption that all parties would operate in good faith, and have been undone simply by the Republicans refusing to abide by them.

They are actively against democracy and working in lockstep against it.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.

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