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

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#168826: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:31:43 AM

I would fully support the Dems trying to hold that SCOTUS seat open - what's good for the goose is good for the gander, and a stacked SCOTUS would be disastrous both short and long term - but I have serious doubts about their ability to do it. And their commitment.

There were ways Obama could have tried to force Garland's confirmation, but he wanted to play nice, so he didn't. Stunts like this require a) the party doing the blocking to be unscrupulous and willing to fight dirty, and b) the party being blocked to be willing to roll over and take it.

That is, needless to say, not the situation. Schumer recently doubled down on his vow to block Trump's nominee, but he tries it and the next thing you know, lo and behold Congress passes a bill allowing Trump to confirm any nominee he wants whether Schumer likes it or not.

It would also give the GOP a lot of ammo to use in future elections, given how vocally the Dems have been condemning the GOP's blocking of Garland. They'll call us hypocrites, and they wouldn't even be entirely wrong in doing so.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#168827: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:43:27 AM

... OK, be honest with me people: At which point will forcibly evicting the GOP and their loons from the government with any means possible, even with the likelihood of clashing with Trump-supporting troops and militias, would be a preferable option to more peaceful courses of action?

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
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
#168828: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:44:40 AM

Honestly, unless the Trump administration tries something that makes the National Guard and the military balk, it's a nonstarter.

I mean, "think of the poor oppressed Neo-Nazis!" asides, how much firepower do these anarchist types have to bring to bear that isn't intended to break non-hardened property?

edited 24th Jan '17 8:45:50 AM by Krieger22

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#168829: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:46:39 AM

To be honest, I think they should just let this one go, because it's probably the best possible option right now. They might need to build up some goodwill so they can block future Court appointments.

Point taken. So, how do we resist this Muslim ban?
I have no idea. Anyone got any suggestions?

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#168830: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:48:39 AM

Calling our representatives and legislators is the least we can do, I suppose. It's hardly a guaranteed win, but it's something, and it lets them know that their constituents are going to be pissed if they go along with this.

Mass protest couldn't hurt either, though I don't know if people would be able to stir up enough enthusiasm for another one so soon after the Women's March.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#168831: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:49:02 AM

Trump said in his meeting with auto industry people that he will remove "unnecessary" regulations (waiting to see which ones he means) and will make it easier to do business in the US, saying it's "very unhospitable" now, but knowing Trump I'm inclined to believe that that isn't necessarily true.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#168832: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:50:43 AM

A good rule of thumb: if Trump says it, assume it's a bald-faced lie.

Same goes for his toadies, especially Spicer and Conway.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#168833: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:55:47 AM

Some good news now.

Professional Asshole Martin Shkreli, best known for buying exclusive rights to a drug that can save lives, and jacking up the price by a lot, decided to create a website airing the pharmaceutical industry's dirty laundry.

His motive? Revenge at the rest of the industry for using him as the face of greed and trying to disown him, basically doing the whole "it's all this guy" trick to distract attention away from the rest of their behavior, at his expense.

The website he created is his middle finger aimed at the rest of his industry.

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#168834: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:55:55 AM

Trump has nominated a new Ambassador to Finland: David A. Balton.

David A. Balton is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State. In March 2005, the President, with the consent of the Senate, accorded to Mr. Balton the rank of Ambassador during his tenure.

Ambassador Balton previously served for 6 years as Director of the Office of Marine Conservation in the Department of State. In that capacity, he was responsible for coordinating the development of U.S. foreign policy concerning living marine resources and overseeing U.S. participation in international organizations dealing with the conservation and management of these resources.

Ambassador Balton also worked for 12 years in the Office of the Legal Adviser in the Department of State. His international law practice covered such areas as the law of the sea, human rights and international claims. Ambassador Balton negotiated numerous treaties and other international agreements on fisheries, marine mammals and other matters pertaining to the marine environment.

Ambassador Balton received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1981 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1985. He has also appeared as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC (juggling oranges).

Just in time to see the polar ice melt.

edited 24th Jan '17 9:01:04 AM by TerminusEst

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
RedRob Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: One Is The Loneliest Number
#168835: Jan 24th 2017 at 8:59:07 AM

So did you guys talk about Trump getting sued in an ethics lawsuit yet? I tried looking through the past pages, but gave up after looking through like 10 pages or something.This thread moves faster than Sonic the Hedgehog and is hard to catch up on at times.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet Unless I grew it. In that case, throw it in the trash.
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#168836: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:00:40 AM

[up][up] One of Trump's Better Choices, I must (unfortunately) say.

[up] Yes, that has been talked about. I hope they win their lawsuit against Trump.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#168837: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:01:08 AM

How do you negotiate with a President for whom facts don't matter?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/trump-on-nafta-1.3948977

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#168838: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:02:48 AM

Some good news now.

Professional Asshole Martin Shkreli, best known for buying exclusive rights to a drug that can save lives, and jacking up the price by a lot, decided to create a website airing the pharmaceutical industry's dirty laundry.

His motive? Revenge at the rest of the industry for using him as the face of greed and trying to disown him, basically doing the whole "it's all this guy" trick to distract attention away from the rest of their behavior, at his expense.

The website he created is his middle finger aimed at the rest of his industry.

This actually has the potential to be a really good thing. A lot of the problem with the backlash against Shkreli was that there are thousands of people in the industry just like him, who could just sit back and watch people go after one person while continuing to make sick people suffer. I'm afraid it won't be taken seriously, considering the source, but we'll see.

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#168841: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:19:03 AM

Trump has long since entered the Tyson Zone. I can never tell what about him is ever true, because everything seems crazier than the last. I just assume all this shit is true until proven otherwise, but either way we're screwed.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#168842: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:19:07 AM

Well, there it is. The Fuhrer has signed executive order advancing the construction of both pipelines.

This is going to get ugly. Very ugly. Those water protectors aren't going anywhere. And Trump isn't going to like that.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#168843: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:20:58 AM

I'm already on the verge of a psychotic break from the stuff he's done on the previous page alone, especially the voter suppression laws. I keep on trying to avoid this topic for the sake of my sanity, but Bile Fascination keeps bringing me back...

edited 24th Jan '17 9:21:24 AM by Bat178

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
#168844: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:23:39 AM

If the Suprame Court does go pear shaped the Dems can always play super dirty if/when they get control of Congress back. As in either pass a court packing act once there's a Dem president and fill the court with younge Dems, or strait up impeach anyone Trump put on the court and have them replaced.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#168845: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:25:34 AM

If Trump pisses enough people off, including the people that only voted for him due to promises he can't fulfill, voter suppression is only so effective. Weight of numbers could overwhelm him. And two questionable elections in a row, especially if the 2nd involves blatant cheating that the GOP gets called on, will result in a general strike/mass protests at the very least.

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
#168846: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:26:32 AM

[up][up][up]Then please, for your own sake, take a break.

[up][up]Can members of SCOTUS be impeached?

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#168847: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:26:53 AM

[up][up][up] You can't just impeach anyone you feel like for whatever reason. They have to commit a Crime and be found guilty of actually doing it.

Now, the next Dem President could ask certain Supreme Court Justices to leave, but they probably would just laugh and say "no". The Court Packing move would literally be the only way to actively change the Supreme Court's makeup legally, but I don't know how the Nation, or other Courts, would approve of it.

edited 24th Jan '17 9:27:28 AM by DingoWalley1

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#168848: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:27:29 AM

[up][up][up] Unless they've managed to successfully implement mass criminalization of peaceful strike and protest, and the populace is too afraid to try it.

Besides, there's also nothing to stop them from straight-up cheating and stuffing the ballot box at this point. Who's going to stop them, the Department of Justice? Jeff Sessions's Department of Justice?

edited 24th Jan '17 9:27:50 AM by RBluefish

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
blkwhtrbbt The Dragon of the Eastern Sea from Doesn't take orders from Vladimir Putin Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
The Dragon of the Eastern Sea
#168850: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:31:09 AM

Those rust belt voters were quite few in number. I'm afraid our Republican friends who do legitimately make up half this country will simply continue voting the party line,

because they see nothing wrong with what's been going on.

I had to unfriend one particularly smug asshole I'd been following for a long long time because he finally broke when he called "pity card" on someone fearing for a friend's life due to the repeal of the ACA.

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you

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