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

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#165726: Jan 8th 2017 at 2:59:22 PM

Did we already talk about Dan Coats being the Director of National Intelligence? Which is...interesting.

edited 8th Jan '17 2:59:44 PM by TerminusEst

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#165727: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:03:00 PM

[up]This is beyond flip-flopping on Trump's part. This is outright bipolar.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165728: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:05:37 PM

Oh, and I forgot to address this:

Do remember that (currently) Trump only gets to replace Scalia, so the balance of the court is technically still 5-4 (or 4-4 if the Dems actually decide, "hey, if us naming a Judge is illegitimate, then same goes for you, motherfuckers!"), it's really not as horrible unless a liberal judge retires/dies. Try and hold on to any hope you can, because that's the only way to last these long 4 (or, may the US voters who don't get screwed over by voting suppression forbid, 8) years.

But remember, even with an evenly split Supreme Court, the Voting Rights Act was gutted. And when we had the first presidential election without the protection of the VRA...look what happened.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
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
#165729: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:06:26 PM

I didn't realize we were limiting the conversation solely to what happens here in this thread.

I was talking specifically about why we hear about Bernie Bros here.

I've lost count of the number of journalists or online activists - mostly women - who have talked about their experiences with sexist harassment at the hands of diehard Sanders fans.

Sure and that remains a solid complaint, though I'm curious as to if that's still ongoing.

I would also point out that up until now, I've infrequently alluded to a mild dislike of Sanders, and have to my recollection made no mention whatsoever of Berniebros. So it's not like this is just the latest page in the ongoing saga of my vitriolic hatred for Sanders.

Not your hatred in of itself, but you do tend to let your hatred fo Sanders out rather often and you're not the only one.

On the subject fo Hillary running again, I don't think it would be worth it for her (she deserves a quiet retirement at this point) or for the Democrats in general (Hillary's name is so tarnished that I think she'd just do more harm than good for the Dems nationally), plus the kind of offices she'd run for are ones that it would be good to be used by up and comers who can deepen the Democrat bench.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165730: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:11:36 PM

Sure and that remains a solid complaint, though I'm curious as to if that's still ongoing.

It is.

Not your hatred in of itself, but you do tend to let your hatred fo Sanders out rather often and you're not the only one.

Eh? Unless my memory is faulty, I don't recall having a constant habit of expressing hatred of Sanders. I remember basically making a few snarky comments about him now and then, and that's about it.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165731: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:34:24 PM

[up]I voted for Sanders in the primary, and Clinton in the main. I didn't expect him to win, but I thought he was good for pushing Clinton further to the left economically. I think my main beef with him is his "both sides are the same." I'm pretty sure Sanders didn't really believe it, because he was running as a Democrat and not Green/Independent, but my Facebook feed was filled with Sanders fans who took it to heart. I don't hate the guy, but that both sides bullshit needs to die, and he was a fool for feeding it.

So, I looked at Dan Coats's wikipedia page. He was part of a push for gun control, and opposed gays and lesbians. He tried to cut taxes for "middle class" families, whatever means in this America. He was banned from Russia after pushing President Obama for harsher sanctions against Putin.

I feel like I'm missing something here. Is this some kind of eleven-dimensional chess from Trump's inner circle? Is Trump trying to deflect people from pointing out he's Putin's puppet? Is Coats one of those anti-Russian politicians who have done a one-eighty now that the Republicans are in power? Or is Trump picking names from a goddamn hat?

edited 8th Jan '17 3:40:18 PM by JBC31187

ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#165732: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:39:21 PM

@JBC 31187: All of the above. Also, Coates appears to be an opponent of Obama on principle, so that might be all it takes to get a job, along with toeing the company line.

edited 8th Jan '17 3:40:49 PM by ViperMagnum357

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#165733: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:41:13 PM

<coughs>

Coats is a member of The Fellowship, an informal and highly-secretive association of Christian lawmakers. In recognition of his decades of involvement with that organization he received the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's Charles G. Berwind Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. He also frequently donates to charity and has helped underprivileged youth.[32]

Here's the Fellowships page.

edited 8th Jan '17 3:41:27 PM by TerminusEst

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#165734: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:46:34 PM

Directly from the first paragraph: "the Fellowship fetishizes power by comparing Jesus to "Lenin, Ho Chi Minh, Bin Laden"" aaannd run for the hills. Coates appears to be filling the "Religious Fundamentalist Whackjob" quota for the new administration.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#165735: Jan 8th 2017 at 3:57:04 PM

[up]What, where? The closest thing I found is

Writer Jeff Sharlet did intensive research in the Fellowship's archives before they were closed to the public. He also spent a month in 2002 living in a Fellowship house near Washington, and wrote a magazine article describing his experiences.[19] According to his 2008 book about the Family,[3] he criticizes their theology as an "elite fundamentalism" that fetishizes political power and wealth, consistently opposes labor movements in the US and abroad, and teaches that laissez-faire economic policy is "God's will." He opines that their theological teaching of instant forgiveness has been useful to powerful men, providing them a convenient excuse for misdeeds or crimes and allowing them to avoid accepting responsibility or accountability for their actions.[30]

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#165736: Jan 8th 2017 at 4:01:31 PM

[up]Read some of the choice excerpts from that book, along with the interviews. That Society is terrifying, even if you are a devout Christian.

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165737: Jan 8th 2017 at 4:05:25 PM

Ah, shit. And I bet they're the kind of Christians who look to Putin as a crusader.

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#165738: Jan 8th 2017 at 4:05:44 PM
Thumped: Please see The Rules . This is a warning that this post is the sort of thing that will get you suspended.
It's been fun.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#165739: Jan 8th 2017 at 4:09:16 PM

I have an uncle like that.

He is scum.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#165740: Jan 8th 2017 at 4:25:45 PM

If you ignore the one unnecessary potshot about "Identity Politics", this article says some very interesting things.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#165741: Jan 8th 2017 at 4:44:27 PM

Re: HRC's future. I think it's probably best if she just lives a quiet retirement. America, the ungrateful and barbaric beast that it is, throws so much shit her way that on humanitarian grounds alone, a future political career is probably a bad idea. Plus, the electorate is so completely obsessed with bringing in "new blood" — whatever that means — that an old hand will always be looked down on.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Lightysnake Since: May, 2010
#165742: Jan 8th 2017 at 5:11:34 PM

I think she'll continue to assist in charities and other ways. But she will never hold elected office again.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#165743: Jan 8th 2017 at 6:09:25 PM

Honestly, Clinton could become a vengeful super villain and I'd still find it hard to fault her after what happened these past few decades. Her withdrawing from politics, giving the American electorate the finger and enjoying the rest of her life would be totally understandable.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165744: Jan 8th 2017 at 6:13:56 PM

I'd settle for inspiring a new wave of women politicians; I read somewhere that many were pissed off at how the winner of the popular vote had the presidency stolen from her.

But I wouldn't mind someone going V for Vendetta on the Trump regime.

edited 8th Jan '17 6:14:51 PM by JBC31187

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165745: Jan 8th 2017 at 6:15:07 PM

[up] She's definitely done that, at least. There's been a wave of women who have been inspired to run for office, both by her example and the outrage that was her loss. One of the few potentially good things to come of all this.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165746: Jan 8th 2017 at 7:43:58 PM

Meryl Streep just gave a speech about Trump and the future at the Golden Globes. While Benedict Donald isn't mentioned by name, there's no question who she's talking about, especially as she condemns him for his infamous mockery of Serge Kovaleski's disability. She also emphasizes the diversity of Hollywood's most famous actors, and points out that without them, our arts would not be what they are.

She makes too many good points for me to sum up here. Which is why she's now being blasted by the right. I've seen people unironically saying that "people like this is why Trump won!"

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#165747: Jan 8th 2017 at 7:56:01 PM

[up] That last point seems... backwards... Unless they're saying that people like Meryl over-emphasizing turned people off of voting progressive?

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165748: Jan 8th 2017 at 7:58:08 PM

It's not just backwards, it's complete horseshit, coming from a pack of narrow-minded assholes. Streep was eloquent, respectful, and compassionate in her speech. All the things they hate.

I mean, remember what happened when the cast of Hamilton gave a very respectful, very polite address to Pence, asking him to be the VP of all Americans? Trump and his stormtroopers lost their shit.

"How dare you ask me to stop hitting you!"

edited 8th Jan '17 7:58:17 PM by RBluefish

"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.
#165749: Jan 8th 2017 at 8:00:21 PM

Whenever I hear about Trump and his more vocal supporters' antics, I think "this is what happens when you combine piss-poor parenting and lead-infused drinking water."

edited 8th Jan '17 8:00:33 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165750: Jan 8th 2017 at 8:07:01 PM

It's just so stupid. That's what I keep coming back to. It's because of the petty and evil and apathetic and stupid.


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