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

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#165226: Jan 4th 2017 at 4:33:16 PM

Mc Connell's comments come the day after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Tuesday that "if [Republicans] don't appoint somebody good, we're going to oppose them tooth and nail," in part as retaliation for Senate Republicans' refusal to consider President Barack Obama's nomination of U.S. Appeals Judge Merrick Garland to the court.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Mc Connell wryly called Schumer's comment an "expansion" of the so-called "Biden rule," a reference to comments then-Sen. Joe Biden made in 1992 arguing against holding confirmation hearings for a Supreme Court nominee during an election year. The Kentucky Republican has held up the Vice President's comments to defend Senate Republicans' refusal to consider Garland's nomination.

"Apparently there's yet a new standard now, which is to not confirm a Supreme Court nominee at all," Mc Connell said, adding: "I think that's something the American people simply will not tolerate, and we'll be looking forward to receiving a Supreme Court nomination and moving forward on it."

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!

Fuck.

This.

Party.

New Survey coming this weekend!
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165227: Jan 4th 2017 at 4:36:39 PM

They have become a party devoid of decency, principles, and possibly even self-awareness. And the Democrats should indeed fight tooth and nail against whatever kind of monster Trump tries to appoint to the SCOTUS.

Although they'll almost certainly lose.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#165228: Jan 4th 2017 at 4:37:46 PM

They really are the scum of the Earth, aren't they? Seriously, real life political parties aren't supposed to be Always Chaotic Evil.

edited 4th Jan '17 4:39:48 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#165229: Jan 4th 2017 at 4:47:18 PM

[up][up][up]Fucking Hypocrites.

I have read some people saying Obama can install a supreme court judge by decree because the senate decided not to give him a fair hearing. At this point he should just do it, media reaction be damned.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#165230: Jan 4th 2017 at 4:50:20 PM

He honestly fucking should. His legacy is fucked either way, so he might as well do SOMETHING.

This country spat in his face by electing Donald Trump, so he should be out of fucks to give.

New Survey coming this weekend!
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#165231: Jan 4th 2017 at 5:28:53 PM

The problem with presidents like Obama is that they're never out of fucks to give, though. In any case, do these people saying he can appoint someone by decree have any facts to back that up? If it's an article arguing for it, it'd be nice if you posted a link here so the rest of us could judge the veracity of it.

Also, can we stop with the hyperbole of things like "spat in his face", considering that the math works out to only a fourth of the voting public apparently voting for him? Apparently half the country was so apathetic about this as to not vote, or suffered voter suppression. This is a big difference from if, say, all of the voting public had participated and Trump won.

edited 4th Jan '17 5:30:10 PM by AceofSpades

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165232: Jan 4th 2017 at 5:44:02 PM

The apathy is what scares me. I mean, the 25% who voted Trump terrify me, especially since I live around a bunch of them, but the ones who didn't care? What happens when the Voting Rights Act is no longer enforced? What happens when they carve up our public spaces? What happens when they gut our healthcare, and the FDA? What happens when Trump decides he needs to prove his manhood, and nukes somebody?

carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#165233: Jan 4th 2017 at 5:48:28 PM

"Oh, he'd never do that" as I hear from so many of such people will be the epitaph for the coming years I fear.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#165234: Jan 4th 2017 at 5:56:59 PM

Well, I'm hoping this lights a fire under people's asses and they go out to vote in bigger numbers in the coming years. Can't suppress all of us if we show up in mobs, after all.

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165235: Jan 4th 2017 at 5:58:02 PM

A few pages back, people were talking about how everyday Americans had grown spoiled and started taking things like Social Security and clean water and air for granted. And how, if we're lucky, a few years of shitty management and a bodycount will be the kick in the ass we need to re-focus. And I don't disagree, but I wish it wasn't now.

Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#165236: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:15:04 PM

Also, can we stop with the hyperbole of things like "spat in his face", considering that the math works out to only a fourth of the voting public apparently voting for him? Apparently half the country was so apathetic about this as to not vote, or suffered voter suppression. This is a big difference from if, say, all of the voting public had participated and Trump won.
Honestly, I think if someone had the opportunity to vote for the only person who had a shot at beating Trump, and did not, then that's basically the same thing as voting for him.

I have very little sympathy for apathetic voters.

[up] It does certainly seem like people have forgotten what it's like to be terrified of nuclear war, or to have your river catch fire. But I'm pissed that there are so many people who didn't ask for this that will suffer because of it.

edited 4th Jan '17 6:19:03 PM by Pseudopartition

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#165237: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:22:13 PM

[up]And people whose vote got suppressed?

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165238: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:23:20 PM

Oh, yes. But I'm even more scared they'll just write it off as "it'll never happen to 'me" right up to the point when Trump tries to get one over on China.

And people whose vote got suppressed?
Well, who cares about them? Not fifty per cent of America! And what's worse, I hear stories of people who like Planned Parenthood, and Obamacare, and still voted for the Republicans. Now they've suddenly realized that just being white isn't enough in America.

edited 4th Jan '17 6:26:20 PM by JBC31187

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#165239: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:30:17 PM

People who were suppressed are blameless in my mind provided they actually wanted to vote. If when presented with the choice they'd remain apathetic than I'd view them no differently.

Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#165240: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:38:18 PM

[up]And people whose vote got suppressed?
Sorry, when I said "people who had the opportunity to" I was thinking of voter suppression. I don't blame anyone who couldn't actually get to the polls/were prevented from casting a ballot at all. I should have phrased it differently.

Because really, voting should be a right for every citizen of voting age, not just for "whoever has the time, energy, money, and background" to be able jump through a bunch of ridiculous hoops.

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#165241: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:38:37 PM

I'm just angry as hell that there are so many valid policy reasons to be angry with obama, but the fact that he's surrounded by ever worsening republican wingnuts, and you know, dealing with the republican base being racist as fuck at him tends to delegitimize any attempt at serious critique.

The fact that he's inarguably intelligent and charismatic doesn't help.

edited 4th Jan '17 6:39:16 PM by Lanceleoghauni

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165243: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:43:24 PM

Nine hundred pro-Trump hate crimes post-election? No biggie.

This? WE'RE OPPRESSED

I mean, don't get me wrong, this is horrible, but the double standard is palpable nonetheless.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#165244: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:44:15 PM

[up][up][up] Definitely. Now, it's likely we're going to have to fight tooth and nail to keep any of the progress that's been gained (not even just in the US), instead of taking a serious look at the last eight years and trying to fix what's still broken.

[up]But Blue, don't you know those were all faked? I hope the guy who was assaulted recovers, poor kid.

edited 4th Jan '17 6:49:28 PM by Pseudopartition

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#165246: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:51:22 PM

I hope those people are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Re Trump and America- everyone isn't apathetic or in denial. Protests have already begun across the country, and the man hasn't even done anything yet. If he actively persecutes minorities, the protests will spread. And if he manages to trash the economy, he's toast (that's the one thing his billionaire backers wont stand for). And if he tries to profit himself at the expense of his country, he'll get impeached.

Remember that 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be up for grabs in 2018. Eight of them are Republicans, and we only need to defeat two of them to eliminate their majority. We just have to do to Trump what the R's did to Obama in his first term.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165247: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:54:33 PM

The midterms are a daunting prospect, even assuming our electoral institutions hold strong (and they will be under assault). The numbers just aren't on our side. 33 seats available, 8 of them Republican, means that the Republicans have 25 chances to flip seats, and the Dems only have eight. And of the Democratic seats that we'll be defending, several are in ruby-red states that went solidly for Benedict Donald.note 

Impossible? No. But it would be one hell of a fight to retake the Senate in 2018 - and again, that's assuming that our republic still exists in a recognizable form in 2018.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#165248: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:57:30 PM

[up][up]Keep in mind he is already doing tests runs for enriching himself-yesterday he sent out a vaguely worded tweet that caused a price dip in stock he invested in a few hours later. That is the kind of thing that should have you shackled within the hour and awaiting trial, and no one has the guts to do anything because they know Trump can just pardon himself and the GOP will back him almost unconditionally.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#165249: Jan 4th 2017 at 6:58:26 PM

If the Republic is that badly damaged in the next two years the R's will be lucky to hold any seats. No one and nothing is as fickle as public support.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#165250: Jan 4th 2017 at 7:06:38 PM

[up]Should I or unknowing remind you again that this shit happened in our countries and people really don't care about institutions being destroyed unless they're directly affected?

I do hope the US' institutions and traditions are as strong as everyone says and Trump is a 1-term president, leaving behind a collapsed GOP. But I'm not optimistic about that unless people make a big effort to resist Trump. Even if that meant voting for someone like Cruz.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV

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