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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.

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

CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#333776: Oct 14th 2020 at 3:10:04 PM

It was exposed on Twitter that the Hunter Biden email was forged by Giuliani: https://twitter.com/HKrassenstein/status/1316406407365832712, and the metadata shows that the emails were generated from Mail on Mac OSX (and likely unmodified after the PDF was generated). Two PD Fs were created about six months after the alleged repair shop data recovery, on 29/9 and 10/10: https://twitter.com/Biden_Army/status/1316453055219466240

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#333777: Oct 14th 2020 at 3:16:35 PM

[up] I give zero weight to the NYPost story, and Giuliani has no credibility, but we really shouldn't be using random tweets/a Medium blog as evidence of a debunking.

Edited by nova92 on Oct 14th 2020 at 3:16:50 AM

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#333778: Oct 14th 2020 at 3:32:07 PM

Its like..

They're trying to throw mud but its just dirt,they're not even bothering to get it wet so it sticks

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Wryte Since: Jul, 2010
#333779: Oct 14th 2020 at 3:33:36 PM

More like they're throwing themselves face-first into a mudpit and hoping to splash the Democrats.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#333780: Oct 14th 2020 at 3:37:09 PM

Mary Trump is more the white sheep.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#333781: Oct 14th 2020 at 3:41:16 PM

[up] I give zero weight to the NY Post story, and Giuliani has no credibility, but we really shouldn't be using random tweets/a Medium blog as evidence of a debunking.

I mean, medium articles might not be reliable, but that's less a news piece and more someone going through the effort to replicate the forging process and how it differs from an actual email.

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#333782: Oct 14th 2020 at 3:57:56 PM

[up] Alright, that's fair.


Houston Chronicle: Appeals court dismisses Texas GOP lawsuit over drive-thru voting in Harris County

I remember someone saying the Texas GOP had sued, so here's an update.

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#333783: Oct 14th 2020 at 4:02:11 PM

D-Drive-thru voting...?

i'm tired, my friend
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#333784: Oct 14th 2020 at 4:06:41 PM

I was reading the Wikipedia page on Henry 5 (the play), and I came across this gem:

A mock trial of Henry V for the crimes associated with the legality of the invasion and the slaughter of prisoners was held in Washington, DC in March 2010, drawing from both historical record and Shakespeare's play. Titled "The Supreme Court of the Amalgamated Kingdom of England and France", participating judges were Justices Samuel Alito and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The outcome was originally to be determined by an audience vote, but due to a draw, it came down to a judges' decision. The court was divided on Henry's justification for war, but unanimously found him guilty on the killing of the prisoners after applying "the evolving standards of the maturing society". Previously, the fictional "Global War Crimes Tribunal" ruled that Henry's war was legal, no noncombatant was killed unlawfully, and Henry bore no criminal responsibility for the death of the PO Ws. The fictional "French Civil Liberties Union", who had instigated the tribunal, then attempted to sue in civil court. The judge concluded that he was bound by the GWCT's conclusions of law and also ruled in favour of the English. The Court of Appeals affirmed without opinion, thus leaving the matter for the Supreme Court's determination.

Is this what the Supreme Court gets up to in their free time? grin

Edited by Redmess on Oct 14th 2020 at 1:07:37 PM

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#333785: Oct 14th 2020 at 4:12:48 PM

[up] You know, I got stuck at the notion of holding trials for other nations' war crimes, to be honest. :/

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#333786: Oct 14th 2020 at 4:24:33 PM

Oh, not for the actual historical war, mind you, but for the version depicted in Shakespeare's play.

And, well, in a sense, the US is the descendant from Henry V's England.

Edited by Redmess on Oct 14th 2020 at 1:25:39 PM

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#333787: Oct 14th 2020 at 4:33:32 PM

There's also a new report out from The Sentencing Project, which tracks felony disenfranchisement across the US

Some key findings of the report:

  • As of Oct. 2020, some 5.17 million people (2.7% of voting age pop.) are disenfranchised due to a felony conviction, down from 6.11 million in 2016.

    • Disenfranchisement disproportionately targets African Americans, with 6.3% being barred from voting compared to 1.7% of non-AA.
      • In 10 states, more than 1 in 10 Black people do not have the right to vote.

  • While only two states (Maine and Vermont) and DC have no restrictions, the rate of disenfranchisement varies by state/region, with some of the worst overall rates being in the South.
    • In Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, between 6-10% of the general pop. and 15-20% of the African American pop. is disenfranchised.

  • 2.23 million, or 43% of those disenfranchised, have already completed all terms of their sentence. Another 1.64 million, or 32%, are on probation or parole.

     List of states that have returned voting rights to some people since 2016 

  • California (2016): Lawmakers restored voting rights to people convicted of a felony offense housed in jail, but not in prison. That year, officials authorized persons sentenced to prison to be released to probation rather than parole, affirming voting rights for residents under felony community supervision.
  • Alabama (2016): Legislation eased the rights restoration process after completion of sentence for persons not convicted of a crime of "moral turpitude."
  • Wyoming (2017): Restored voting rights after five years to people who complete sentences for first-time, non-violent felony convictions
  • New York (2018): Governor Cuomo reviewed and restored voting rights to persons currently on parole via executive order. There is currently no assurance that this practice will continue, however, so New York is listed as a state that continues to disenfranchise people on parole.
  • Louisiana (2019): Authorized voting for residents under an order of imprisonment for a felony who have not been incarcerated for five years, including those on probation and parole.
  • Kentucky (2019): Governor A. Beshear issued an executive order restoring voting rights to those who had completed sentences for nonviolent offenses. This follows a similar 2015 executive order by Governor S. Beshear, which had been rescinded by Governor Bevin later that year.
  • Virginia (2019): Governor Northam reported that his administration has restored voting rights to 22,205 Virginians previously convicted of felonies. Governor McAuliffe had earlier restored rights to 173,166.
  • Arizona (2019): Removed the requirement to pay outstanding fines before rights are automatically restored for first time felony offenses only.
  • Florida (2018-2020): Voters passed an amendment to restore voting rights to most people after sentence completion. In 2019, legislation was passed that made restoration conditional on payment of all restitution, fees, and fines. As of October, 2020, only the rights of those who had paid all legal financial obligations (fines and fees) had been restored.
  • Iowa (2020): Governor Reynolds signed an executive order restoring voting rights to people who have completed their sentences, except for those convicted of homicide. This follows a similar 2005 executive order by Governor Vilsack, which had been reversed by Governor Branstad in 2011.

Edited by nova92 on Oct 14th 2020 at 6:34:53 AM

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#333788: Oct 14th 2020 at 6:15:08 PM

538 is now predicting that Georgia will vote for Biden more often than note. With a lead of 1%, but that's still astonishing.

Well, it's back to red in the forecast, but it's a 50/50 split.

Edited by RainehDaze on Oct 14th 2020 at 2:16:13 PM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#333789: Oct 14th 2020 at 6:49:42 PM

An interesting quote from the Henry V trial in light of more recent developments:

As is perhaps inevitable with any discussion of Shakespearean history, the participants evoked the present along with the past. Some of it was subtle, as when M. Garre suggested that Henry was a young man with a riotous past whose claim to the throne was open to question and who took on foreign adventures to distract attention from domestic problems. Some of it was less subtle, as when Justice Alito speculated that Henry’s problem involved his decision to release his prisoners from a “Channel Island,” where they had been previously detained. Some of it was less subtle still, as when Lord Estrada cited, among the “medieval legal authorities” who supported King Henry’s position, the Hon. Antonin Scalia. And some was not subtle at all, as when Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of the D.C. Court of Appeals asked Lord Estrada whether his argument that the Court should give King Henry’s military decisions wide deference was the same as U.S. King Richard XXXVII’s statement that “when the President does it, that means it’s legal.”

Uh huh. Interesting comparison there, Kavanaugh.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#333791: Oct 14th 2020 at 7:16:35 PM

Oh, and naturally, the NY Post is now criticizing social media for censoring their article to "help Joe Biden".

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
AngrokVa indighost from america, unfortunately Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Saddled with unnecessary feelings
Ayasugi Since: Oct, 2010
#333793: Oct 14th 2020 at 7:23:04 PM

Someone should make social media help Trump by making up a completely false scandal that'll be """censored""" just like the Post's story. There has to be something you can come up with that he isn't actually already guilty of.

Karxrida from Eureka, the Forbidden Land Since: May, 2012 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
#333794: Oct 14th 2020 at 7:50:29 PM

Listening to my family spouting conspiracy theories on how Pelosi wants to dump the 25th on Biden so she can climb up the ladder and become VP.

It's crazy.

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#333795: Oct 14th 2020 at 7:56:38 PM

I'd actually respect Pelosi more for that kind of evil scheming, for no other reason than being that devious.

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#333796: Oct 14th 2020 at 7:57:42 PM

If she really wanted to "climb the ladder", why would she stop at VP?

i'm tired, my friend
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#333797: Oct 14th 2020 at 8:00:59 PM

It's a conspiracy theory. They don't have to make sense.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#333798: Oct 14th 2020 at 8:03:40 PM

Someone should ask a conspiracy theorist that question just to see their reaction.

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#333799: Oct 14th 2020 at 8:07:14 PM

Pelosi arguably has more power (well, until 2022, when she's effectively committed to retire as Speaker at least) leading a firmly Democratic House than being President anyway.

Edited by Rationalinsanity on Oct 14th 2020 at 12:07:53 PM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#333800: Oct 14th 2020 at 8:07:22 PM

The reaction would be a lot of rambling followed by name-calling.

Disgusted, but not surprised

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