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Nov 2023 Mod notice:


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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

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#156401: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:22:36 AM

Never heard of him, but according to the NYT brief profile, he's basically the expected hawkish conservative. Unlike some of Trump's other choices he actually seems to be competent, but I suspect he was chosen because he vehemently accused Clinton of engaging in a cover-up concerning Benghazi.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#156402: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:23:26 AM

[up] I mean, Flynn was said to be competent, if extremely difficult to work with, and dangerous opinionated for a military official.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#156403: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:23:29 AM

[up][up] And like Trump, he's a-ok with torture.

edited 18th Nov '16 7:23:38 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#156404: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:24:24 AM

Looks like a bunch of illegal crap is going to pass. If Ginsberg or Bayer die, American democracy is dead.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/politics/proposed-bills-trnd/index.html

I hate Republicans.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#156405: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:24:30 AM

@Ogo, Cap: I mean, I get what you guys are saying, but really the country needs people like you to keep fighting.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#156406: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:26:52 AM

[up] It probably won't matter. I take a strongly materialistic view of society, as you probably know, and the progression of America towards illiberal democracy, and of the world as a whole back towards absolutism is something that was likely inevitable given the underlying conditions, and, having neither the power to change those nor the means (or the stomach for the sorts of dark deeds that are more or less required to rise to power in an oligarchy) to gain power under this new paradigm, I feel there is no option other than to adapt.

edited 18th Nov '16 7:28:05 AM by CaptainCapsase

FluffyMcChicken My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare from where the floating lights gleam Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
#156407: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:29:28 AM

If anything, the increasingly frightening prospect of a second US Civil War will see the West Coast as the new "South".

Joint Statement from California Legislative Leaders on Result of Presidential Election

"We will not be dragged back into the past. We will lead the resistance to any effort that would shred our social fabric or our Constitution.

California was not a part of this nation when its history began, but we are clearly now the keeper of its future."

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#156408: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:32:01 AM

I have never been prouder to be a Californian.

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#156409: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:32:20 AM

[up][up][up]Isn't that worth fighting back against, though? Isn't it worth at least waiting until things actually turn into that before you give up?

edited 18th Nov '16 7:32:25 AM by Gilphon

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#156410: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:33:35 AM

[up] To the extent that I don't find myself on the wrong side of a purge or pogrom, yes I do intend to do what I can, but at this point there's only so much we can do at this point beyond hoping it won't be that bad. If the GOP takes the nuclear option and axes the filibuster, then goes ahead with all the voter suppression measures that seem to be on the table, it's over; democrats are never going to be in power again.

edited 18th Nov '16 7:36:26 AM by CaptainCapsase

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#156411: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:37:50 AM

Keith Olbermann on why we should not give Trump a chance and why we should not pretend anything about this election is normal.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#156412: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:39:11 AM

[up] I don't know what else we can do within the framework of our legal system. The Republicans have total control of the government at every level, and thus far none of the party leaders has shown even the slightest indication that they're willing to stand up to Trump.

edited 18th Nov '16 7:39:57 AM by CaptainCapsase

Aquaconda (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#156413: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:41:45 AM

Shit like this is why I find TAA's and Sargon's reasons for supporting Trump to be bullshit.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#156414: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:42:36 AM

Keith Olbermann has the right idea, and I hope that more people flock to the Resistance. Because make no mistake, we are going to need a Resistance. We're going to need a goddamned Rebel war room.

I just hope Olbermann doesn't suddenly get locked up for spreading political dissent - or "slander," more likely. That happening to people is looking frighteningly possible.

You know what sucks? With all this going on, I'm finding myself hanging my hopes on the so-called "Moral Electors" - the electors who are trying to convince the GOP electors to cast their vote for someone other than Trump. It's absurdly unlikely to happen, and it happening would require humanity to actually do something decent and rational. If the U.S. was decent and rational right now, we wouldn't be in this situation.

Yet still, there's some naïve part of me that's thinking "surely it'll happen. Surely this will be a history-making occurrence of a mass electoral revolt. We can't possibly be putting this man in the White House after all this." Human nature, I suppose.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#156415: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:43:53 AM

[up] The GOP electors will fall in line behind Trump. Republicans always fall in line in the end.

edited 18th Nov '16 8:00:59 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#156416: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:47:06 AM

Cognitively, I know they will. I know this isn't a movie where a miraculous eleventh-hour solution will suddenly appear in the nick of time. But emotionally, I can't get rid of the "surely this cannot possibly happen" feeling. And I want to, because I know that that feeling will only get crushed and it'll hurt all the more for it.

Also, Sessions is expected to bring "sweeping changes" to the Justice Department.

That can't be good. Remember, this is the guy who was deemed too racist to be a judge. Apparently not too racist to be fucking Attorney General.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#156417: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:48:39 AM

I love how Trump's picks really speak to his voter's "economic anxiety".

edited 18th Nov '16 7:50:55 AM by Hodor2

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#156418: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:48:59 AM

[up][up] The sad thing is, that feeling of "it can't happen here" and "he doesn't really mean all that" probably contributed to Trump winning the election.

edited 18th Nov '16 7:49:11 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#156419: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:50:50 AM

And if this country really does slide into autocracy and fascism - which all the signs point to - then the feeling of "it can't happen here" will have been what enabled it.

I bet you in 1930s-era Germany there were people going "it can't happen here."

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#156420: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:51:10 AM

Well if Trump does do this stuff then hopefully America will take people like him a lot more seriously if they ever try to run for election again.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#156421: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:52:18 AM

[up] If things get much worse — and they might — we might not have real elections anymore.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#156422: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:53:38 AM

[up][up] In a Kleptocracy there will be no actual legit elections, just illusions of them.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#156423: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:54:40 AM

Or more likely, they'll be complete farces put on for the sake of appearances, with no substantial chance for real change. You can bet your ass the GOP are working on it, with ruthless gerrymandering, increased voter suppression, and further gutting the Voting Right Act. Add in the presence of state-run propaganda outlets like Breitbard, the absolutely detestable quality of mainstream news coverage, and the ease with which blatant misinformation can be spread far and wide?

Partially [nja]'d.

The Dems need to get their act together and fight back. Because things are looking pretty goddamned bleak right now.

edited 18th Nov '16 7:55:17 AM by RBluefish

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#156424: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:56:50 AM

"We will not be dragged back into the past. We will lead the resistance to any effort that would shred our social fabric or our Constitution.

California was not a part of this nation when its history began, but we are clearly now the keeper of its future."

That made me tear up. I love my state.

Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#156425: Nov 18th 2016 at 7:58:02 AM

[up] The GOP electors will fall in line behind Trump. Republicans always falls in line in the end.
Isn't it just Romney and Powell who have kept up with their objections? After a whole year and a half a lot of Republicans saying "we cannot support this person." And Beck, but he's not in politics.

Wow, that's a short list.


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