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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.

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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

Scarecrow4774 from In Wonderland Since: Mar, 2017 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#338751: Nov 10th 2020 at 6:03:50 PM

[up][up] I mean, have you been Zoom bombed? It's pathetically easy if there isn't a password on the meeting.

My English class last semester had that happen and my other English professor completely dropped Zoom after it happened to one of their other classes.

Edited by Scarecrow4774 on Nov 10th 2020 at 9:04:11 AM

“We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” - Lewis Carroll
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#338752: Nov 10th 2020 at 6:08:33 PM

@Redmess Actually, I think the 'anti-president' angle is semi-plausible. I don't think Trump is going to try a particularly serious coup, but I think he intends to leave office and become some kind of pseudo-cult leader or otherwise cause trouble.

Leviticus 19:34
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#338753: Nov 10th 2020 at 6:12:22 PM

I think Trump has tried to mount a coup multiple times in the past year.

He's just not very good at it.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#338754: Nov 10th 2020 at 6:42:35 PM

Stephen Quizzes Canadian Thomas Middleditch With U.S. Citizenship Test Questions.

I never understand these kind of citizenship tests. What are they testing, really? Some general knowledge and cultural and historical trivia? And the irony is that all too often a country's own citizens can't even pass these tests, resulting in the weird situation that immigrants, by that country's own standards, are better informed about that country than many of their own citizens.

Edited by Redmess on Nov 10th 2020 at 3:43:36 PM

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#338755: Nov 10th 2020 at 7:02:24 PM

I'd argue immigrants being more informed about the country they're moving to than natives is...not necessarily a bad thing, even if there's not a whole lot of point to it.

Leviticus 19:34
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#338756: Nov 10th 2020 at 8:19:43 PM

Yeah, they went with a "Just Joking" Justification and made light of psychological triggers.

Are you describing a Pompeo associate, 85% of stand-up comedy, or 95% of internet comments?

i'm tired, my friend
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#338757: Nov 10th 2020 at 8:26:14 PM

It's pretty bad (though not really surprising given this administration) when the Secretary of State is acting like an Internet troll at a press conference.

Yeah, I don't see myself retiring my signature anytime soon.

Edited by M84 on Nov 11th 2020 at 12:27:09 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#338759: Nov 10th 2020 at 8:45:52 PM

It means that Biden will have a lot of positions to fill come January. Which is something he and his team seem to have anticipated.

They knew Trump would metaphorically shit all over everything before being forced to leave the WH.

Edited by M84 on Nov 11th 2020 at 12:47:00 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#338760: Nov 10th 2020 at 8:46:14 PM

[up][up] I posted about this earlier.

Edited by CookingCat on Nov 10th 2020 at 8:46:22 AM

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#338762: Nov 10th 2020 at 8:47:40 PM

Is there any reason they couldn't/ wouldn't hire these resigners back?

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#338763: Nov 10th 2020 at 8:55:03 PM

If a lot of these people are Trump appointees, Biden might not necessarily want them back.

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#338764: Nov 10th 2020 at 10:02:41 PM

@RedSavant, I think SeptimusHeap has said that Senators who threaten to filibuster will do so when called on it. And Mitch wouldn't filibuster himself. It'd be a random GOP Senator.

@minseok42, the reasons usually given for keeping it are: 1) respecting norms 2) respect for minority opinons/fostering bipartisanship 3) fear of retaliation once the other side gains a trifecta.

@CharlesPhipp I think it's because most of the vocal voices for removing the filibuster come from the left of the party (although many moderates are in favor as well) and the most vocal voices for keeping it come from the centrist wing.


I personally liked Sen. Tim Kaine's opinion on the filibuster: he said (paraphrasing) that he was the governor of a state without one, and it functioned just fine.

Edited by nova92 on Nov 10th 2020 at 10:17:38 AM

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#338765: Nov 10th 2020 at 10:18:00 PM

They don't actually need to filibuster, just declare they're going to filibuster, and everyone politely treats it as if they're actually doing anything.

It's stupid.

ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#338766: Nov 10th 2020 at 10:49:15 PM

[up] Then somebody needs to call them out on it and dare them to actually filibuster. To actually have a speech for hours on end.

Edited by ScubaWolf on Nov 10th 2020 at 1:49:26 PM

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#338767: Nov 10th 2020 at 11:11:15 PM

@Raineh: That's my point. If the Republicans want to filibuster, I say we make them put their money where their mouth is and suffer for it. Ideally we can remove the filibuster eventually, because we need to get SOME things done, but if we can't then I want the Republicans to get feet blisters for every bill they block.

It's been fun.
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#338768: Nov 10th 2020 at 11:13:46 PM

The issue is everyone else has to sit there and listen to it.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#338769: Nov 10th 2020 at 11:17:14 PM

I don't think that's true. The filibuster has to be kept up because if it stops then the vote can proceed. Nobody has to stay there and listen, though.

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#338770: Nov 10th 2020 at 11:18:43 PM

That's fine, if there's nothing else for them to do anyway. If a typical day in a Dem-majority Congress is six hours of Dems suggesting bills and Republicans raising their hands and saying "no, we filibuster that", then I say call them on it. Make them stand and talk.

If Congress can't get anything else done anyway, it's best to pick the option that makes Republican Senators suffer, in my book.

Edited by RedSavant on Nov 10th 2020 at 2:19:04 PM

It's been fun.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#338771: Nov 10th 2020 at 11:20:19 PM

A shame they can't bring phones or other electronic devices (for obvious reasons).

Otherwise they could just play Among Us or something while the Republicans rant for hours on something inane.

Disgusted, but not surprised
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#338772: Nov 10th 2020 at 11:27:47 PM

Would there be a way to amend the filibuster to say what the Senator is talking about has to be relevant to the bill? So we can't have 12 hours of Ted Cruz reading Green Eggs and Ham.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#338773: Nov 10th 2020 at 11:35:03 PM

Does it matter if it's relevant? If they're miserable doing it then at least it's slightly less of a catch-all response to unpleasant legislation. Want to delay something for days? Okay, you might be reading the phonebook but that means you are reading the phonebook.

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#338774: Nov 10th 2020 at 11:37:07 PM

That's basically my thought. We should definitely expect more from our legislative branch than this, but if the two options are "Dems put up 100 bills, Republicans say they'll filibuster all of them" and "Dems only get to put up 6 bills because the Republicans are forced to actually filibuster all of them", then I pick the one that makes Republican Senators miserable.

It's been fun.
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#338775: Nov 11th 2020 at 5:26:13 AM

My thought was to get the Senators on the record and force them to defend their positions and talk for hours about why they oppose the bill. "The Voting Rights Act is bad because....", but they know no shame so on second thought, probably wouldn't work.


Gov. DeSantis continues to be just awful (must be a day that ends in Y). From The Tampa Bay Times: How DeSantis wants to crack down on protests: Expand 'stand your ground'

Gov. Ron DeSantis has drafted "anti-mob" legislation that would expand Florida's "stand your ground" law - a move that critics say will allow armed citizens to shoot suspected looters or anyone engaged in "criminal mischief" that disrupts a business.

Lawyers say it's just one of the many troubling aspects of the draft bill being pushed by the Republican governor in response to police-brutality protests that erupted across Florida and the United States this summer.

"It allows for vigilantes to justify their actions," said Denise Georges, a former Miami-Dade County prosecutor who had handled stand your ground cases. "It also allows for death to be the punishment for a property crime - and that is cruel and unusual punishment. We cannot live in a lawless society where taking a life is done so casually and recklessly."

Edited by nova92 on Nov 11th 2020 at 5:29:18 AM


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