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pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#109301: Jan 22nd 2016 at 4:09:51 PM

[up]"Only a Republican deals in absolutes!"

Sorry, couldn't resist. And yes, I realize the irony: the statement is itself an absolute.

EDIT: page-topper.

edited 22nd Jan '16 4:20:45 PM by pwiegle

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#109302: Jan 22nd 2016 at 4:32:46 PM

I know I might sound like a slowpoke here, but what the hell is the Whitewater scandal? Actually that was rhetorical, I already looked it up. It seems to have been some bad investment the Clintons made with someone that was then blown out of proportion over a decade later when people cared more.

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#109303: Jan 22nd 2016 at 5:09:27 PM

It only became relevant because the counsel for Whitewater got involved in the question of whether Bill had had sexual relations with that woman.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#109304: Jan 22nd 2016 at 5:10:12 PM

[up][up] Again, Wikipedia is your friend. In summary, you are basically right that Whitewater was yet another in the litany of manufactured scandals designed to distract and damage the reputation of a Democratic Presidential candidate. There was apparently a death involved, which the right-wing propaganda machine spun into a cover-up assassination.

Now, knowing William Bubba Clinton, and knowing Arkansas politics through popcultural osmosis, it's entirely possible that there was some shady dealing there, but nothing was ever tracked all the way up to the big man. Doesn't stop Republicans from whining about it to this day, though. They've even tried halfheartedly to dredge it up in order to poison Hillary's campaign, when they can't get their screams of "Benghazi" to stick.

edited 22nd Jan '16 5:10:23 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#109305: Jan 22nd 2016 at 5:32:41 PM

Was wrong about the snow, it's falling down fairly thick here.

I should go out and shovel, then come in and make some hot chocolate.

Shawnsummer7 Since: Jan, 2016 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
#109306: Jan 22nd 2016 at 7:44:04 PM

[up][up] You know, it'll be really fun to see if after the Republicans spent so much time attacking Hillary, screaming "Emails," "Benghazi," "Whitewater," "Lewinsky," etc. Bernie actually becomes the nominee and they're thrown off guard. Maybe they'll even get destroyed on Election Day (here's to hoping).

For now though, the Iowa suspense is killing me.

edited 22nd Jan '16 7:47:11 PM by Shawnsummer7

Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#109307: Jan 22nd 2016 at 7:48:04 PM

They could call him a 'commie' or a 'socialist' but at this point that'll just reflect poorly on them

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#109308: Jan 22nd 2016 at 7:48:28 PM

Didn't he write a really questionable magazine article back in the day?

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#109310: Jan 22nd 2016 at 8:10:20 PM

To be fair, isn't Bernie a self-identified socialist? And if that's true, the GOP would be well within its right to point this out. And, for what it's worth, I think him being a socialist really would alienate a lot of voters.

Leviticus 19:34
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#109311: Jan 22nd 2016 at 8:10:57 PM

Not me. We need more socialist policies

Edit: I'm glad this isnt the 50s

edited 22nd Jan '16 8:11:42 PM by Xopher001

Cronosonic (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#109312: Jan 22nd 2016 at 8:14:37 PM

"Socialist" really needs to stop being a dirty word in the US. Socialism =/= Communism, after all, and the latter is almost dead, what with the USSR being gone and China basically being more a capitalist dictatorship than a communist state, and any remaining communist states failing over time.

Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#109313: Jan 22nd 2016 at 8:18:46 PM

Unfortunately, you're asking people to overcome quite a lot conditioning, depending on the environment.

A girl I went to high school with was utterly appalled that anyone would even consider voting for Obama in 2008, because he was a socialist. Boy would I like to see her face now.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#109314: Jan 22nd 2016 at 8:21:33 PM

In some ways that might be a blessing though. The Right spends so much time whining about socialism that it could become a boy who cried wolf thing in the minds of some people.

Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#109315: Jan 22nd 2016 at 8:29:54 PM

Oh that's certainly a possibility, though more likely if they make the mistake of pushing the communism angle.

Because if a serious attack ad tries throwing around the hammer and sickle, an entire generation can laugh that right out of existence.

edited 22nd Jan '16 8:30:58 PM by Eschaton

Shawnsummer7 Since: Jan, 2016 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
#109316: Jan 22nd 2016 at 8:39:30 PM

If you really look at it, we're already socialists in some way. Really popular programs like Social Security, Medicare, public schools, national highways, etc. are all funded by the federal government for the benefit of the people. If things like free tuition for two-year colleges and universal healthcare will help citizens in this country, it would only add to our programs, not turn us into the Socialist States of America or anything.

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#109317: Jan 22nd 2016 at 8:44:11 PM

Not necessarily. Capitalism isn't "the government sits around and does nothing". Highways and infrastructure are categorically acceptable in capitalism.

Leviticus 19:34
Shawnsummer7 Since: Jan, 2016 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
#109318: Jan 22nd 2016 at 9:06:15 PM

Fair enough, but we still use socialism with the other programs we use that I mentioned, along with food stamps, welfare, etc. and we're still a democracy. That's what it is, democratic socialism.

majoraoftime (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#109319: Jan 22nd 2016 at 9:11:27 PM

More accurately, it's "social democracy" (which is what Sanders is really advocating). Pretty much every country has a hand on the rudder of its economy, to varying degrees.

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#109320: Jan 23rd 2016 at 1:48:59 AM

Partially out of curiosity, how much warning was given in advance of the current snowstorm?

Keep Rolling On
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
#109321: Jan 23rd 2016 at 2:36:01 AM

[up]X4 How's US infestructure doing at the moment?

But as pointed out, it's not a one or the other choice, not only do you get Democratic Socialists but most Socalists belive in a free market for much of the economy, it's just certain things they want nationalised, not everything.

edited 23rd Jan '16 2:36:32 AM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#109322: Jan 23rd 2016 at 2:51:08 AM

A Rolling Stone article on an Oath Keeper's attempt to arm Ferguson's blacks.

Of course, being armed to directly confront authorities is precisely what the Oath Keepers had done at the Bundy ranch and Sugar Pine. In Rhodes' notes, Andrews said he sensed a racist double standard. A few days later, when Rhodes and other leaders conclusively rejected the idea of the march, tempers ran high and Andrews angrily hung up on Steve Homan during a conference call. "I asked him, 'How dark does your skin have to be before you don't have Second Amendment rights?'" Andrews says.

I think that the name of his group, the YETIs, is appropriate, because I think we've found an example of the non-racist libertarian militiaman. It's interesting to read the reactions - according to the black people, he's still too much of an idealist in that he expects black people to be able to survive going armed in a place like Ferguson, whatever the law says, but a lot of them don't seem as hostile to him as they otherwise might be. (Of course, black people know damn well that they can't get away with the kind of shit that the Oath Keepers pull, and they're telling Andrews as much.)

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#109323: Jan 23rd 2016 at 4:50:06 AM

[up][up][up]A week I think. I started hearing stuff about the possibility of a big storm last weekend. By Tuesday they were saying it would hit late Friday night.

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#109324: Jan 23rd 2016 at 4:55:40 AM

[up] Thanks. More than enough time for people to be ready if they paying attentionnote .

Keep Rolling On
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#109325: Jan 23rd 2016 at 5:47:36 AM

I saw a news crawl about a 35-mile traffic jam in Tennessee due to the snow. Evidently a week's warning wasn't enough for some people. We've got upwards of 8 inches already this morning, so I think we ended up on the wrong side of that pretty graphic.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

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