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TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#98001: Aug 7th 2015 at 9:33:17 AM

A brewing political fight for Democrats: Chuck Schumer, the heir apparent to Harry Reid's position as chief of the Senate, has come out against the Iran deal. As a result of this and some other things he's done over the years, (Schumer is more or less the definitive example of a Wall St. Democrat) he's getting lambasted by forces both inside and outside the party, and inheriting the job as chief of the Senate Democrats is in some slight doubt for the first time.

Regardless the Iran deal should have enough support to not be in danger, but this is going to be an interesting little squabble.

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#98002: Aug 7th 2015 at 9:53:00 AM

Hmm, to go by the news, the Iran deal was DoA in the Senate due to all the warmongering. I'm surprised to hear that it's looking like it may pass.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#98003: Aug 7th 2015 at 10:00:57 AM

Aside from Schumer, is it still split along party lines?

BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
#98004: Aug 7th 2015 at 10:02:18 AM

If the Iran deal runs the risk of being overturn Obama should threaten Senate Democrats with his resignation.

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#98005: Aug 7th 2015 at 10:18:54 AM

Stupid Chuck, if the deal goes south, Iran will just continue along like they have been! Especially because the deal calls for them to dismantle some of the more inaccessible nuclear facilities, meaning that if they decided to buck the agreement in 10 years, while they might have material, they won't have the fortified bases to keep it safe.

FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#98007: Aug 7th 2015 at 10:50:04 AM

The problem is AIPAC making the perfect (or their version of perfect, which would be airstrikes at the very least) the enemy of the good. This deal will do more to slow them down than keeping the restrictions in place, unless Iran is acting in completely bad faith, which would be shortsighted on the regime's part. Iran has no incentive not to keep working towards breakout capacity otherwise, though i would think they won't actually cross into a nuke without clear provocation.

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#98008: Aug 7th 2015 at 12:39:18 PM

Catholic Health Care System can't block employees contraceptive coverage

A federal court of appeals ruled today that religiously affiliated nonprofit employers can’t block their employees’ health care coverage for contraceptives. The ruling finds that the plaintiffs, which include Catholic health care systems and Catholic high schools, are not burdened by having to formally object to covering contraceptives for employees. The ACLU supported the government’s arguments by participating in a friend-of-the-court brief.

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#98009: Aug 7th 2015 at 1:16:27 PM

So they were objecting... to the fact that they must object, instead of just being able to categorically block the coverage?

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#98010: Aug 7th 2015 at 1:30:50 PM

Yes, because it means they probably have to provide burden of proof, which means a slow roll burning down of their positions, in all likelihood.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#98011: Aug 7th 2015 at 1:56:09 PM

@Baffu: With whose resignation? His own? he's already in the last term he can have legally and it would accomplish nothing. If you mean Schumer, they have ways to not let him be the Speaker of the house but I down they could force him out of the Senate.

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#98012: Aug 7th 2015 at 4:12:14 PM

@Fighteer: "Passing" was never the issue because (thanks, Obama!) the deal is being done by executive order.

What the House and the Senate want to do is get a veto-proof majority to scuttle the deal, which is not happening - and honestly, I'm not sure how enforceable a Congressional rejection of the deal is, since "reimposing sanctions" is physically impossible by this point. While America has won the current round of talks, they absolutely do not have the credibility to reopen negotiations or get the 5+1 to return to sanctioning Iran - everyone except Congress wants to get back to doing business. (And nobody can force Obama to order strikes against Iran.)

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
#98013: Aug 7th 2015 at 4:20:10 PM

Congress could technically declare war on Iran, now Obama woudl have to order any action but a declaration of war could be done just by Congress.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#98014: Aug 7th 2015 at 4:27:16 PM

During the Republican presidential debate, Trump said he wants a country wide health insurance marketplace instead of individuals ones for each state.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#98015: Aug 7th 2015 at 4:32:18 PM

Wow, he actually has one good idea.

AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#98016: Aug 7th 2015 at 4:40:56 PM

[up][up]Strawman Has a Point ?

Inter arma enim silent leges
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#98017: Aug 7th 2015 at 4:51:59 PM

It's more like, for all of Trump's repulsiveness and racism and just general mockability ... he's actually way more centrist and sensible on economic matters than the rest of the Republican party.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#98018: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:04:03 PM

Trump is (or was) quite moderate on a lot of issues, he's just consciously embracing the crazy. He used to support abortion rights, healthcare, and immigration reform.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#98019: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:08:59 PM

So for a clown, he is not without merit? What I from the Vox article his biggest impact was making a fool of all other Rep candidates by highlighting how unlike them he has better understanding of politics and rather decent policies.

At this point I'm sure Trump is trolling the Republicans, if their heavy weight candidates can't argue or prove themselves more sensible than a guy who's in it for the shits and giggles publicity stunts, I'm sure the average american voter will think twice about voting for those morons who can't compete with a clown.

Inter arma enim silent leges
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#98020: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:16:20 PM

I wonder if a Trump victory would actually be a bad thing?

I mean, he's kind of like Romney in that we can't tell if anything coming out of his mouth right now is true.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#98021: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:17:16 PM

If he's serious about the hostility towards Mexico and Japan thing then we're dead.

Oh really when?
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#98022: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:18:30 PM

Maybe the idea that Trump is a stealth Democrat out to destroy the GOP from within has a bit of merit? It's a fun conspiracy theory if nothing else.

I mean, he used to be on pretty good terms with Clintons, maybe he is doing Hillary a favor by trying to ensure she wins?

[up]Why is he gunning for Japan again?

edited 7th Aug '15 5:19:44 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Gabrael from My musings Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
#98023: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:29:36 PM

Please, in all sincerity...

Why does everyone think that the democrats have some sort of shoe in? Or that Trump or any of the other batshits don't have a chance of being elected?

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#98024: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:30:49 PM

[up]Because otherwise we couldn't possibly have any faith in humanity?

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#98025: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:33:13 PM

Trump has a 60% disapproval rating among the general American public, and that's likely to rise as the campaign goes on and he tries the same tactics that work alright in the primary on the entire country. Unless the GOP vote suppression tactics work perfectly, Trump has no prayer in the general. He's more radical than anyone before him and he lacks the tact to hide it. If anything he is likely to energize minorities, the left, etc.

Barring a massive shift in public opinion (or if Clinton royally screws up), Trump doesn't have the support to get very far.

Now the Democrats should in no way lower their guard, guys like Walker or Jeb Bush are still a threat because they can pretend to be moderates while being totally dogmatic sociopaths on the job, but they do have an edge going in. The demographics and electoral math (at least for the presidential race, Congress is another story) do favor the Dems, though not overwhelmingly.

edited 7th Aug '15 5:35:36 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.

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