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BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#112601: Feb 20th 2016 at 7:04:43 AM

In a possibly surprising move, SCOTUS backs up a lower court decision to redraw congressional boundaries, a move that will delay primaries in North Carolina.

The Supreme Court late Friday declined to put on hold a lower court ruling that invalidated congressional redistricting maps in North Carolina. Early this month, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina ruled that maps for two districts were unconstitutional, and ordered the state to redraw their lines within two weeks. The panel said that race played an impermissible role in the drawing of the districts.

The state redrew the maps but asked the Supreme Court to grant a stay that would allow the old maps to remain in effect pending further appeal. Late Friday, the Supreme Court declined to do so. As customary, it did not release the vote tally for the decision.

One election law expert believes that before Justice Antonin Scalia's death the Court would have granted the stay. "Before the death of Justice Scalia, I had thought the Court would grant the stay, not because there would be a majority of justices who would necessarily agree on the merits, but because there were likely at least five who would see the problem of changing the rules so close to the election," said Rick Hasen, professor of law and political science at the University of California Irvine School of Law.

The ruling may cause irritation on the ground. "It's a real mess with risk of confusion," said Michael Li of the Brennan Center for Justice. "With the new maps, congressional primaries will be delayed until June 7, but the presidential primary and rest of the North Carolina primary elections will still be in March," he said.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
redkeep from the iron islands Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: He makes me feel like I have a heart
#112602: Feb 20th 2016 at 7:18:40 AM

Seeing headlines screaming TRUMP VS. POPE makes me feel like our universe has truly united and become one with an SNL skit, once and for all. It's hard to know how it will effect Trump right now because South Carolina (and most of the deep south) is the least Catholic part of the US. The Midwest and New England...that's a different story. But overall, Trump supporters really seem to be hate to told what to do by the 'establishment' and what's more establishment than the Pope, when you think about it. So...who knows.

are you living in the real world?
hamza678 Red Like Santa from Christmas Beacon. Since: Apr, 2013
Nettacki Since: Jan, 2010
#112604: Feb 20th 2016 at 10:58:33 AM

I'm at the caucus checkin, and so far it's a disorganized mess. We pre-registered and yet they didn't have a clear sign for it until we reached the front of the line and they said its in a different line. And they told us we have to stick to the line we're currently at since we're near the front anyway.

Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#112605: Feb 20th 2016 at 11:01:28 AM

Just vote for who you really want to vote for.

SolipsistOwl Since: Jan, 2016
#112606: Feb 20th 2016 at 11:29:20 AM

In a report titled “Healthcare: Our 2016 Outlook,” S&P Capital’s IQ Healthcare Equity Research’s Jeffrey Loo writes that Clinton should be the preferred choice for the industry because she will preserve the Affordable Care Act and be unable to pass meaningful drug reform legislation:

Overall, we believe the best scenario for healthcare investors is a Democrat, presumably Hillary Clinton, winning the Presidency, as we anticipate the Republicans retaining control of Congress. In this scenario, in spite of Clinton's numerous "threats" to rein in drug prices, allowing the re-importation of drugs, and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, we believe it is highly unlikely Clinton will be able to pass these initiatives through a Republican controlled Congress. Conversely, the Republicans' efforts to repeal Healthcare Reform, would be thwarted by a Clinton veto as we do not anticipate the Republican obtaining the 2/3 votes to override a veto.

Wall Street Analyst Says Hillary Clinton Would Be the Best President for Healthcare Investors

edited 20th Feb '16 11:30:01 AM by SolipsistOwl

Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#112607: Feb 20th 2016 at 11:34:38 AM

[up] So in essence playing both sides?

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#112608: Feb 20th 2016 at 11:39:24 AM

Why is a Clinton presidency better than a Sanders one, if so much depends on projections on Congressional majorities?

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Sixthhokage1 Since: Feb, 2013
#112609: Feb 20th 2016 at 11:56:20 AM

From the excerpt posted here, it doesn't even look like the author says Clinton is preferred, just that he presumes Clinton will be the Democratic nominee. The preference given is to a party, not a specific candidate.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#112610: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:00:04 PM

"Is this good for the drug companies?" is a terrible way to look at policy, in either direction. You should be looking at the outcomes for the public at large. If it's good for the public and good for the companies, it's a good policy. If it's bad for the public and bad for the companies, it's a bad policy. "The companies like/dislike it" doesn't tell you which of those two is the case.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
SolipsistOwl Since: Jan, 2016
#112611: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:11:06 PM

[up][up]It suggests more to me that the healthcare industry expects the Democratic nominee to maintain the status quo.

American proxies are now at war with each other in Syria.

Officials with Syrian rebel battalions that receive covert backing from one arm of the U.S. government told Buzz Feed News that they recently began fighting rival rebels supported by another arm of the U.S. government.

The infighting between American proxies is the latest setback for the Obama administration’s Syria policy and lays bare its contradictions as violence in the country gets worse.

The confusion is playing out on the battlefield — with the U.S. effectively engaged in a proxy war with itself. “It’s very strange, and I cannot understand it,” said Ahmed Othman, the commander of the U.S.-backed rebel battalion Furqa al-Sultan Murad, who said he had come under attack from U.S.-backed Kurdish militants in Aleppo this week.

Furqa al-Sultan Murad receives weapons from the U.S. and its allies as part of a covert program, overseen by the CIA, that aids rebel groups struggling to overthrow the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, according to rebel officials and analysts tracking the conflict.

The Kurdish militants, on the other hand, receive weapons and support from the Pentagon as part of U.S. efforts to fight ISIS. Known as the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, they are the centerpiece of the Obama administration’s strategy against the extremists in Syria and coordinate regularly with U.S. airstrikes.

America Is Now Fighting A Proxy War With Itself In Syria

edited 20th Feb '16 12:17:19 PM by SolipsistOwl

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#112612: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:14:18 PM

Looks like the Kurds think the war is winding down thanks to Moscow/Tehran and want as much of the pie as possible.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#112613: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:19:32 PM

Hillary is the status quo candidate. She's an anti-boat rocker. Which is why businesses like her.

Also, apparently there's very long lines in Nevada today.

darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#112614: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:35:58 PM

Excellent! I hope turnout ends up being high. Turnout nationally has been trending upward over the last several cycles, which is historically unusual and can only be a good thing for democracy, in my opinion.

edited 20th Feb '16 12:36:17 PM by darksidevoid

GM: AGOG S4 & F/WC RP; Co-GM: TABA, SOTR, UUA RP; Sub-GM: TTS RP. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.
Luminosity Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Lovey-Dovey
#112615: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:37:50 PM

Well, I urged my friends to go and vote. If that counts.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#112616: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:38:04 PM

I just hope the Bernie crowd doesn't flake if he loses the primary. I don't care what problems people have with Hillary. She is better than any Republican candidate.

SolipsistOwl Since: Jan, 2016
#112617: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:42:03 PM

CNN just dropped entrance poll:

  • 49% Sanders

  • 47% Clinton

  • 3% Uncommitted

Could be another Iowa. Also shows:

  • 2% A. American

  • 5% Asian

  • 18% Latino

Almost perfectly representative with US population!

edited 20th Feb '16 12:45:08 PM by SolipsistOwl

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#112618: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:42:36 PM

What the hell does uncommitted mean? Did they just show up and flip a coin?

edit: How is that representative? I thought the black population was in the 13-15% range.

edited 20th Feb '16 12:46:48 PM by Kostya

SolipsistOwl Since: Jan, 2016
#112619: Feb 20th 2016 at 12:49:48 PM

[up]Not population. Likely voters by population.

Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#112620: Feb 20th 2016 at 1:00:59 PM

Well, the Pope's opinion of Trump will certainly shake things up for him in Maryland, which is the most catholic part of the South and one of the most Catholic states in general.

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#112621: Feb 20th 2016 at 1:02:58 PM

[up]

Unless they firmly disagree with this Pope's policies.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#112622: Feb 20th 2016 at 1:04:27 PM

Maryland is a very blue state, so if we are talking about the presidential election I don't think it will matter much.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#112623: Feb 20th 2016 at 1:07:20 PM

In terms of the Republican primaries, though? It might be a win for a more moderate candidate.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#112624: Feb 20th 2016 at 1:10:27 PM

And Trump is doubling down on his batshit crazy anti-terrorist/war crimes ideas, endorsing summary execution and using a (fictional) story about a US general executing Muslim rebels with bullets dipped in pig's blood to deter them to make his point.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/19/politics/donald-trump-south-carolina-john-pershing/index.html

Just... what the fuck America?

[up]Even Republican Catholics think rather highly of the Pope, Trump might lose a bit of support among them if he had it.

edited 20th Feb '16 1:11:05 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
SolipsistOwl Since: Jan, 2016
#112625: Feb 20th 2016 at 1:10:53 PM

NEW RESULTS: Hillary 50.0% to Bernie 49.6%

Young Turks reporting that Bernie Sanders campaign workers are being blocked from entering casinos, but they're allowing Clinton campaign workers inside.

Supposedly they have video they're uploading too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ9kC3RHJPM

edited 20th Feb '16 1:12:43 PM by SolipsistOwl


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