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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#165051: Jan 2nd 2017 at 8:22:34 PM

[up] Well, I hope the GOP minority voters are satisfied.

Disgusted, but not surprised
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#165052: Jan 2nd 2017 at 8:32:30 PM

All because of FUCKING EMAILS.

New Survey coming this weekend!
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#165053: Jan 2nd 2017 at 8:35:52 PM

[up] Which ones? The nothingburger that was the private server (which some courts still aren't leaving alone), the meaningless shit-talking and venting that was the DNC's emails, or the drivel that was the Podesta emails which somehow led to the utterly insane Pizzagate bullshit?

Disgusted, but not surprised
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165054: Jan 2nd 2017 at 8:38:06 PM

I feel like all we have to look forward to right now is each being The Cassandra at some point in the future. When we're all huddling around grease fires in the Fallen States of America, hoping Immortan Trump's people don't come back for another game of Kick The Voter, we'll all be able to look at the person next to us and go "I fucking told you so."

Also, to briefly summarize what the Rethuglicans want for ethics watchdogs, with their new rules:

  • No releasing info to public.
  • No reporting criminal activity.
  • No investigating anonymous complaints.
  • No investigating anything from before 2011.
  • No having a spokesperson.

So as far as I can tell, they could get a substantiated anonymous tip that House GOP members have been running a dogfighting ring out of the basement for the last ten years, and they would neither be able to investigate nor would they be able to release any findings to the public.

As Judd Legum points out here, these rules are supposedly being opposed by Ryan (or Lyin' Ryan, as I call him) and other GOP leaders. If that's true, then they can vote against them tomorrow, and publicly encourage others to do the same.

If that doesn't happen, then Lyin' Ryan's living up to his name - they support the rules, and they're only putting on a show for the sake of the public. Let's find out if the GOP have any integrity, shall we?

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#165055: Jan 2nd 2017 at 8:39:49 PM

At least one skywriter doesn't think highly of Trump.

Yes, it was in California.

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Jasaiga Since: Jan, 2015
#165056: Jan 2nd 2017 at 9:19:33 PM

You know what's sad?

I feel like if Trump's administration is only as bad as Dubya's, I feel like I'd dance in the streets of Time Square naked in joy.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#165058: Jan 2nd 2017 at 10:04:08 PM

[up][up] I've said before on this thread and on other sites and even in real life — even though I remember all of the problems with Dubya's administration and the ways it contributed to our present day situation — I'd gladly take a third term of Dubya over Trump.

Disgusted, but not surprised
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165059: Jan 2nd 2017 at 10:06:24 PM

Dubya wasn't an existential threat to the US, the foundations of democracy, and the entire world. 'Nuff said, as far as I'm concerned.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#165060: Jan 2nd 2017 at 11:11:17 PM

And the worst part? If Trump ISN'T a bad President (unlikely, but, you know perception) Or worse isn't perceived to be a bad President, then we are absolutely fucked, even if we do get him to concede and hand over power after four years.

Another Trump who comes in who's five times as smart and is actually charismatic and charming?

shudder

New Survey coming this weekend!
Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#165061: Jan 2nd 2017 at 11:30:08 PM

and how about that "congress dismantling the independent oversight committee the night before the new congress is sworn in"

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#165062: Jan 2nd 2017 at 11:31:00 PM

[up][up] So we might end up with our own version of Putin in charge instead of just a Putin fanboy? Ugh.

Disgusted, but not surprised
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#165063: Jan 3rd 2017 at 12:13:12 AM

My question is how can this be ethical or even allowed when they deliberately only included members of one party in that decision? Did they just not tell the democrats? Did the democrats stage some asinine abstention plan on the whole issue? What happened there and why is it allowed?

Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#165064: Jan 3rd 2017 at 12:58:41 AM

[up]Did they not simply, you know... outvote the Dems?

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#165065: Jan 3rd 2017 at 1:19:56 AM

My impression, garnered from a news report I saw earlier tonight was that it was just literally the GOP voting on this issue. There doesn't seem to be anything in this article contradicting that. It literally starts with "House Republicans voted" which would seem to indicated Democrats were excluded entirely.

Ah, it also says it will come up with a full vote on Tuesday. So I guess this is some sort of vetting process for bills. So it's not officially law yet and I have no idea if they'll get enough dems to vote against it.

edited 3rd Jan '17 1:21:23 AM by AceofSpades

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#165066: Jan 3rd 2017 at 4:04:51 AM

oh, and the details basically boil down to the citizenry don't get to know anything, there's no spokesperson to talk to about stuff, and any semblance of transparency is thrown out the window.

edited 3rd Jan '17 4:04:56 AM by Lanceleoghauni

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165067: Jan 3rd 2017 at 4:38:16 AM

The ethics committee will be completely neutered when this passes. The House GOP members will be able to shut down any investigation they don't like the look of, and they won't even be able to report their findings to law enforcement, let alone the general public.

In other words, the House GOP will be able to do whatever the fuck they want without fear of consequence.

And so it begins.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#165068: Jan 3rd 2017 at 4:42:38 AM

people who are all "you're exaggerating, it won't be that bad." I sincerely hope you are right, but can't imagine a world where you are.

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165069: Jan 3rd 2017 at 4:56:05 AM

This is also another case of North Carolina being used as a testing ground, for the GOP to try using certain tactics on a small scale there, then ramp it up to the national scale upon seeing them succeed. They tried out this governing-behind-closed-doors bullshit in NC with the whole HB 2 debacle, where they were also able to test it out on a group nobody gave a shit about - trans people.

Remember, this is the same North Carolina that tried everything it could to avoid ceding power to their democratically elected successors, and can no longer be counted as a democracy according to analysts. It worked there. Now they will try it everywhere.

At this point, anybody who doesn't see cause for alarm is a fool.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#165070: Jan 3rd 2017 at 5:07:49 AM

[up]I think a judge stopped that shit in North Carolina.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165071: Jan 3rd 2017 at 5:22:32 AM

The last I heard, a judge had temporarily delayed their attempt to strip the new governor of his power, which was a good sign, but not yet permanent. Did I miss an update?

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#165072: Jan 3rd 2017 at 6:12:17 AM

That's what I was thinking about, I didn't know it was temporarily.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165073: Jan 3rd 2017 at 6:35:36 AM

If I recall correctly, the judge put a temporary halt to it so that it could be reviewed more thoroughly. So hopefully this temporary halt will lead to a permanent one once they've gone over and determined "yeah, this is utterly appalling."

Also - people are being asked to call their congresspeople and ask them to vote "no" on the Goodlatte Agreement (the one that would effectively neuter Congressional ethics). The vote is in about an hour and a half, so faster would be better. If nothing else, it's a symbolic gesture that lets them know they're doing this against the wishes of their constituents. I did it - took about 90 seconds.

"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.
#165074: Jan 3rd 2017 at 6:36:44 AM

So apparently Trump tweeted about issuing a border tax on GM for supposedly importing compact cars from Mexico into the U.S. Even though the vast majority of them are actually made in Ohio.

Oh wait, didn't Ohio go Red in the election?

GM's stock dropped by 0.4% after the tweet, and apparently Trump and his family bought stock in GM immediately afterwards.

edited 3rd Jan '17 6:36:55 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#165075: Jan 3rd 2017 at 6:42:15 AM

That Congressional Ethics thing is just gross.

"Oh no, the Comission is kind of annoying whenever someone reports a breach in ethics!"

Maybe do everything you can to not breach congressional ethics? That's the point. Trying to dissolve it makes it incredibly transparent that you're planning on breaching ethics, because why else would you do this?


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