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

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
#166101: Jan 10th 2017 at 10:29:49 PM

[up][up]Basically they're betting on getting a net gain from global warming.

I think some folks I talked to earlier tonight summed it up best: "300,000,000 people in this country and it came down to those two?"
Surprisingly, not everyone thinks the way they do. Remind me, how well did those candidates endorsed by Our Revolution fare?

This accelerationist talk is just behind calls for bashing the fash when it comes to flagging yourself as a keyboard warrior. Not everyone will be able to outrun the flames if your little bid to "burn it down" actually amounts to something.

The FBI requested a FISA warrant against four members of the Trump team suspected of irregular contacts with Russian officials.

The warrant applications were rejected. Well, it's not like most folks pay attention to what comes out of the FISA court anyway.

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166102: Jan 10th 2017 at 10:52:42 PM

[up] Not a fan of accelerationism either.

I am of the opinion that someone akin to Trump gaining power in the USA was more or less inevitable — populism fueled by nostalgia, anger, and xenophobia/nationalism seems to work horrifyingly well in certain conditions. Maybe it's for the best that we got stuck with an incompetent buffoon who is already 70 and not in the best of health.

Imagine if it was someone who was younger, more good-looking, more intelligent, and had an effective Mask of Sanity.

Disgusted, but not surprised
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#166103: Jan 10th 2017 at 11:09:42 PM

[up]if something, you got it lighly, yu manage to stay really long without some lunatic, Argentina barely got over Menem, right into the Krishner dinasty, Cuba have castron the inmortal(Who I kept saying he didnt die, just decide to slumber), we got Chavez who was a fanatic and Maduro who is pretty much left trump(and I not kidding about this comparation) and Brazil politics is fuckfest were everyone kick everyone else.

That being said, you should brace yourself for what is coming, since Trump is going to lose more popularity he will become more unhinged.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166104: Jan 10th 2017 at 11:10:58 PM

[up] Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the nearly inevitable Villainous Breakdown. He's already pretty dang unstable as it is, being a petty sore winner.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#166105: Jan 10th 2017 at 11:11:27 PM

While it is kind of impressive, Putin might have miscalculated badly. Remember, Stalin also thought that he had a deal with Hitler....and it cost Russia dearly. Trump might be Putin's "friend" now, but the guy is changing his mind upon the slightest of a push-back to his ego.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166106: Jan 10th 2017 at 11:13:43 PM

[up] "Not a puppet...you're the puppet!" SMH

I wonder what will happen the moment Trump realizes that he is the one with greater power in their bromance.

Disgusted, but not surprised
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#166107: Jan 10th 2017 at 11:19:05 PM

So long as Putin has the power to utterly destroy him with whatever blackmail material he still has, he will remain the top dog in that relationship, and Trump knows it. I don't see Benedict Donald and Putin turning on each other any time soon - and even if they did, the fallout from that could be catastrophic for the rest of the world.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
TropesForever God forbid women do anything from wait where is she Since: Sep, 2016 Relationship Status: I wanna be your dog
God forbid women do anything
#166108: Jan 10th 2017 at 11:42:09 PM

Man, reading about Russia's Xanatos Gambit makes me feel like I'm in a James Bond Film.

thebeatles.com/careers
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166109: Jan 11th 2017 at 12:09:29 AM

[up] Putin has been called a Bond villain fairly often. Thing is, in real life, we don't have a 007.

MI 6 is probably going to have issues along with the rest of the UK thanks to Brexit anyway.

edited 11th Jan '17 12:10:20 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
TropesForever God forbid women do anything from wait where is she Since: Sep, 2016 Relationship Status: I wanna be your dog
God forbid women do anything
#166110: Jan 11th 2017 at 12:17:10 AM

I feel like a bystander. Even more than the rest of you probably do.

thebeatles.com/careers
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#166111: Jan 11th 2017 at 12:19:15 AM

It's Trump and Putin's reign. Yes, Trump and Putin's reign.

One's incredibly devious, the other's insane!

They're fascist dictators. Their supporters are traitors.

They've planned. It's Trump and Putin's reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign.

Before his term is done, their plan will be unfurled, once their opposition's none, they'll take over the world.

It's Trump and Putin's reign. Yes, Trump and Putin's reign. Their political campain, is easy to explain. To increase Russia's worth, they'll screw over the Earth.

They've planned. It's Trump and Putin's reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign. Reign.

Yuge!

Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#166112: Jan 11th 2017 at 1:13:00 AM

[If Trumputin breaks up] the fallout from that could be catastrophic for the rest of the world.
And rather more literal than it usually is in such metaphors.

That said, so long as Putin has the power to blackmail Trump and Trump sees the release of that material as too damaging to his life/freedom/ego to allow the release of, Trump will likely remain a good little lapdog of Putin's. I mean, sure, he'll shit all over America's rug and get in a fight with the Chinese, but Putin's got Trump's leash, and he doesn't seem too concerned with what Trump does in arenas that do not adversely affect Russia.

edited 11th Jan '17 1:17:56 AM by Balmung

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#166113: Jan 11th 2017 at 1:27:38 AM

Well... I got to take the piss out of Trump on twitter, that's nice. But golden showers or not he'll always be a shiny turd.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#166114: Jan 11th 2017 at 1:36:57 AM

I have come to the conclusion that someone like Trump as president was inevitable as well.

If Putin does have blackmail, I wonder just how bad it could be. That's a scary thought in and of itself.

Do not obey in advance.
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#166115: Jan 11th 2017 at 1:44:28 AM

I honestly doubt that it would even matter, or that Putin would ever have to force Trump to do something unwillingly.

Putin just has some great advice for his new best buddy! What's wrong with that?

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#166116: Jan 11th 2017 at 1:46:33 AM

@Krieger: In regards to Sanders' endorsed candidates, that's what happens when you strangle a movement in it's cradle. Choices have consequences.

Elsewhere in the world, where genuine left wing alternatives to Trumpism exist, they've won, most notably in Austria and in Scotland/Northern Ireland in regards to the Brexit vote.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#166117: Jan 11th 2017 at 1:46:56 AM

I imagine Putin's using a combination of carrot and stick when manipulating Trump. Remember, Putin's a mastermind and former KGB agent, while Trump...is Trump. Putin knows exactly how to play him six ways from Sunday without breaking a sweat. Use the ever-present threat of kompromat to keep him in line, while at the same time stroking his ego enough to still have Trump think of him as his best buddy.

I honestly believe Trump is enough of a fool to think that the man who's blackmailing him is his best friend. Because Trump doesn't think, and he rejects any reality he doesn't like the look of.

edited 11th Jan '17 2:03:28 AM by RBluefish

"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
#166118: Jan 11th 2017 at 1:54:23 AM

Well, this must be the first honeymoon period for a president that ended before their assumed office.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#166119: Jan 11th 2017 at 1:59:49 AM

These percentages are still abnormally high, I think. Shows how brainwashed people can be.

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166120: Jan 11th 2017 at 2:20:31 AM

[up] The really brainwashed ones — the ones who chugged the Flavoraid so to speak — are the kind of people who would insist that there's nothing wrong with their house even while they are surrounded by flames.

Ironically, people like this would have starved or something in the USA a long time ago were it not for the very same social programs they rail against.

Again, this is a country where at least some people hate Obamacare but support the ACA and rely on it and don't realize that Obamacare is just a derogatory nickname for the ACA.

edited 11th Jan '17 2:22:56 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#166121: Jan 11th 2017 at 2:31:45 AM

Honestly, unless Trump murdered someone, I have a hard time to believe that Putin has anything on him we don't already know or at least suspect.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#166122: Jan 11th 2017 at 2:39:37 AM

Well, that's the thing. You and I, the people with common sense, know and/or suspect plenty, but we don't have proof. And without proof, our suspicions aren't worth squat. We can suspect all we like that Trump committed treason by conspiring with a foreign power to stage a political coup of the US, or that he's a child molester, or that he likes it when women piss in his face - it doesn't matter unless we have irrefutable evidence to back it up.

We've got mountains of evidence as it is, sure - but it's nothing compared to whatever Putin's got. Like, if we're going with the murder hypothetical, there's a big difference between "we think he's offed somebody" and "Putin has a 1080p video of him offing somebody."

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#166123: Jan 11th 2017 at 2:48:48 AM

[up] Trump is shameless enough that any blackmail is likely to target his financial interests, if it exists at all.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166124: Jan 11th 2017 at 2:49:20 AM

TBH, while I'd be super happy if something came out that would tank his approval ratings so much and be so blatantly awful that Congress would be free and willing to impeach him with little backlash, I would prefer him to have lost based on ideological grounds. I don't really like the notion that many voters in the USA would be like:

"Damn shame the guy's a depraved murderer/rapist/both. I really liked his platform and would totally vote for someone else who ran on it if he weren't a proven murderer!"

Since then we'd just have to face this rodeo again in a few years.

Disgusted, but not surprised
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#166125: Jan 11th 2017 at 3:02:08 AM

Interesting timeline:

https://mobile.twitter.com/chris_baugh_/status/818998378285580292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

1. in light of the fact that we're supposed to be skeptical about the latest #Trump allegations, I want to tell you a story.

2. A long time ago, there was a man named Paul Manafort. Paul Manafort was a GOP operative who exported his political expertise.

3. He and Roger Stone ran what was known in DC as The Torturer's Lobby. They worked with warlords and despots.

4. Paul Manafort even worked closely with Russian oligarchs and kleptocrats with ties to V. Putin.

5. Manafort was one of the operatives who worked in Ukraine to elect a pro-Putin government. This is a verifiable fact.

6. At one point, Manafort went missing for 3 weeks. Roger Stone joked that he had been kidnapped by the Russians. This is about 2010

7. According to some members of the intelligence community, around the same time, Russia began cultivating Donald Trump as an intel asset

8. Timing, I'm sure, is totally coincidental. Just giving you a sense of where we're at in the history.

9. In 2011, Donald Trump starts the birther movement. Remember that whole thing?

10. In 2012, Donald Trump flirts with a run for President, but he doesn't run.

11. At some point, Hillary Rodham Clinton runs afoul of Vladimir Putin. She and Obama both take aggressive stance toward him.

12. Then in 2016, Donald J Trump declares his Presidency. He starts as a long-shot managed by Corey Lewandowski.

13. As Trump grows in prominence, he fires Lewandowski and hires...Paul Manafort. Whose last job was in Ukraine. On behalf of Putin.

14. Paul Manafort, who owned a lobbying firm with Trump confidant Roger Stone.

15. Paul Manafort, who had been kidnapped (presumably) by Russians at one point but survived unharmed.

16. Trump's positions on Russia softened under Manafort (re Ukraine specifically). Manafort's in charge over summer.

17. It comes out that Manafort received 12 millions dollars in an off-books ledger from the pro-Putin party in Ukraine.

18. Wait back up. Before this comes out, the DNC emails are hacked. Wilkileaks releases the hacked emails.

19. Why did Assange do this if it was an intel op by Russia? Possibly for the promise of asylum, but that's speculation on my part.

20. Maybe because he hates Clinton and Obama, but, again, speculating.

21. Regardless, these leaks hurt one party and helped the other.

22. So now Manafort resigns after the Ukraine thing comes out. Trump hires Steve Bannon, ANOTHER one of Stone's friends.

23. Manafort probably keeps advising Trump. Regardless he lives in Trump Tower, so they see each other periodically.

24. Incidentally Roger Stone officially resigned in December 2015. So now Stone and Manafort are unofficial advisors, strictly speaking.

25. Two of Trump's new policy guys are Michael Flynn and Carter Page. Both of whom have ties to Putin and Russia.

26. Galas with Putin, RT dinners, speaking engagements, etc. So Manafort, Flynn, and Page. Remember the names for a bit.

27. Now Wikileaks starts leaking John Podesta's emails. Mostly harmless stuff, but Hillary Clinton and emails is just a bad look.

28. We know they were hacked, we suspect by a state agent, and if you've been paying attention, the answer's pretty clear.

29. So the election happens and Trump wins. Then the intelligence community confirms what most of us knew or suspected.

30. That Putin had launched an intel op specifically to hurt Clinton. Then it came out that he wanted Trump to win.

31. That he was behind the DNC attacks, that he was behind the Podesta hacks, all Putin from the get-go.

32. Curiously PEOTUS refuses to accept the findings of the intel community. Claims it coulda been anybody! Defends Assange. Curious.

33. In response, POTUS Obama kicks out 35 alleged Russian spies posing as diplomats. Pretty big move.

34. The intel community seems pretty certain as to the facts at this point, and Obama is doing stuff he wouldn't do otherwise.

35. So today this new trove of background comes out. BUT IT'S UNVERIFIED. Yeah, so what?

36. What do the documents say? That about 6 years ago (around when Trump started birtherism), they began cultivating him.

37. That they conspired to get leverage over him. That they preferred him to HRC.

38. That they had Russian spies in the US posing as go-betweens.

39. That there was high-level cooperation with Trump's campaign. Via Paul Manafort and Carter Page. Remember them?

40. So we're supposed to SUPER SKEPTICAL about all of this. I mean, I guess so?

41. If you didn't know who Paul Manafort was, or what he did, or who Carter Page was, etc.

42. If you didn't find it odd that Trump's Sec State-Elect won the Order of Friendship from Vladimir Putin.

43. If you ignored all of these things, I guess it's healthy to be skeptical about this.

44. I'm not an intelligence professional; I have the benefit of being able to make unqualified claims.

45. I dunno when it started or what the end game was, but Russia wanted Trump and cultivated him for years.

46. Paul Manafort offered Trump the Presidency if he played ball with Putin. That's what Flynn and Carter Page were for.

47. Manafort and Page were the go-betweens. The 35 expelled diplomats were in on it. The IC is clear on exactly how it happened.

48. You can say this is all circumstantial, that Manafort and Putin and Trump and Stone and Page and Flynn all met in a locker room one day.

49. But to me this has been clear as day since Manafort signed up. He was working for Putin on Trump's behalf. Or vice versa.

50. He quit when he became toxic. He didn't GO anywhere.

51. So here we are, a week out from inaugurating a compromised asset of Russian intelligence President of the United States.

52. I don't have some cool conclusion to the story because it's a scary story without a good ending. This is the new reality.

53. Donald Trump appears to be beholden to a foreign power, and now we know the specifics. There's nothing to be skeptical about.

54. This is just filling in the outlines of stuff that people have been saying since last summer. You don't need CIA clearance for this.

55. I dunno who leaked the new info, but very little of it was surprising. And it probably won't matter. Welcome Comrade Trump.

edited 11th Jan '17 3:04:31 AM by MadSkillz


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