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

higherbrainpattern Since: Apr, 2012
#170801: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:40:07 PM

Holy shit. Anybody seen this?

Angela Merkel explained to Trump what the Geneva Convention is in a phone call on Saturday

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#170802: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:40:44 PM

Better the Herbal Tea Party than what we have now. Far better. https://www.autostraddle.com/i-was-trained-for-the-culture-wars-in-home-school-awaiting-someone-like-mike-pence-as-a-messiah-367057/

This is terrifying.

I grew up in the far-right evangelical conservative (Christofascist) movement; specifically, I was homeschooled and my parents were part of a subculture called Quiverfull, whose aim is to outbreed everyone for Jesus. I spent my teen years being a political activist. I was taught by every pastor I encountered that it was our job as Christians to outbreed the secularists (anyone not a far-right evangelical Protestant) and take over the government through sheer numbers. I was part of Teen Pact, Generation Joshua and my local Teenage Republicans (TARS).

When the Tea Party rose in 2009, that was my culture. The Tea Party was step one. I was laying the groundwork for those elections in 2006. These people didn’t come out of the blue like it seemed. This plan, this Christofascist takeover of the US government, has been in the works for decades. When evangelical conservatism started becoming popular and more mainstream around the 1970s, the foundation was being laid for the tragedy playing out right now. How do you do that? Well, you overturn Roe v. Wade, Griswold v. Connecticut, Brown v. Board of Education and Bob Jones v. The United States. Each of these decisions currently protects reproductive rights or non-discrimination based on race. As retribution, you amend the Constitution to discriminate against queers, trans people, women and people of color. Then, you make laws legislating morality. The only way to do this is to infiltrate the government; so Generation Joshua, Teen Pact and other organizations exist to indoctrinate and recruit homeschooled youth who have ample free time to participate in politics. The biggest resources for teaching civil discourse are the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association and Communicators for Christ (since renamed Institute for Cultural Communicators). Through these programs we learned how to argue effectively. As students, we were taught critical thinking skills but given only a narrow view of what was acceptable to argue for. We were, after all, being trained to take over the country for Christ, literally. We knew how to perform logical gymnastics about abortion, Christianity and any evangelical talking point you could throw at us.

When we showed up to city council, local political party meetings and tours of the Capitol we asked intelligent questions, were respectful and had a vested interest in how our local political machine ran. We impressed every government official and staff member with our questions, earnesty and demeanor. In short, we were sneaky and polite Trojan horses; we had an agenda. Yes, even as 15-year-olds. It was forcefully handed to us by the adults in our lives who had been preparing for this since before we were born.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#170803: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:42:51 PM

[up][up] Trump to try to attempt to leave the Genevea convention, confirmed?

New Survey coming this weekend!
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
#170804: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:48:55 PM

If Trump tries setting the national guard on peaceful protesters he may run into trouble, even the Chinease didn't risk using local troops for Tiananmen Square.

“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
#170805: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:51:07 PM

[up]That's why I keep an ear out for any signs that Trump is creating "special" units/militias/paramilitary organizations. The guy is in deep with the CEO of what used to be Blackwater, and groups like Oathkeepers love him.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
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
#170806: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:53:34 PM

The thing is the US is a very federal country, even if Trump creates special units there will be other units not under his authority. So we could end up with a stand off where a national guard unit is defending protesters against a regular army unit.

edited 29th Jan '17 3:54:09 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#170807: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:54:26 PM

Question: Does the FBI have SWAT units?

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#170808: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:55:00 PM

[up][up][up]Somehow whenever I hear that name I keep expecting a shrill bard to sing it over and over...

edited 29th Jan '17 3:55:39 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#170809: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:56:43 PM

https://www.axios.com/trump-101-what-he-reads-and-watches-2210510272.html

The president's media diet:

When Trump was in the tower, he got hard copies of the N.Y. Times and N.Y. Post (which a friend calls "the paper of record for him" — he especially studies Page Six). He "skims The Wall Street Journal," the friend said. No Washington Post, although friends assume he'll add it now. He had started skipping the other New York tab, the Daily News, because he thought it treated him shabbily.

Trump knows specific bylines in the papers and when he's interviewed by a reporter, he can recite how the reporter has treated him over the years, even in previous jobs. Before the campaign, his aides subscribed to an electronic clipping service that flagged any mention of his name, then his staff printed out the key articles. He'll scroll through Twitter, but he doesn't surf the web himself.

With an allergy to computers and phones, he works the papers. With a black Sharpie in hand, he marks up the Times or other printed stories. When he wants action or response, he scrawls the staffers' names on that paper and either hands the clip to them in person, or has a staffer create a PDF of it — with handwritten commentary — and email it to them. An amazed senior adviser recently pulled out his phone to show us a string of the emailed PD Fs, all demanding response. It was like something from the early 90s. Even when he gets worked up enough to tweet, Trump told us in our interview he will often simply dictate it, and let his staff hit "send" on Twitter.

Most mornings, Trump flicks on the TV and watches "Morning Joe," often for long periods of time, sometimes interrupted with texts to the hosts or panelists. After the 6 a.m. hour of "Joe," he's often on to "Fox & Friends" by 7 a.m., with a little CNN before or after. He also catches the Sunday shows, especially "Meet the Press." "The shows," as he calls them, often provoke his tweets. The day of our interview with him, all of his tweet topics were discussed during the first two hours of "Morning Joe."

"60 Minutes" is usually on his DVR. "He's so old-school that he thinks it's awesome to go on '60 Minutes," a friend said. "He loves being one of Barbara Walters' '10 Most Fascinating People' of the year." Before Trump ran, a staple that he watched every weeknight was Billy Bush's "Access Hollywood." Same with Time Magazine. His office and hotels are full of framed copies of him on the cover.

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#170810: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:57:04 PM

[up][up] I've seen pictures of FBI agents in combat gear and they do have tanks (or at least tank-like vehicles) so I'm pretty sure yes.

Leviticus 19:34
optimusjamie Since: Jun, 2010
#170811: Jan 29th 2017 at 3:58:54 PM

@Elle: Yes. Edit:[nja]

edited 29th Jan '17 3:59:22 PM by optimusjamie

Direct all enquiries to Jamie B Good
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#170812: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:00:55 PM

https://twitter.com/Trump_Regrets

Well, better late than never I guess.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#170813: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:01:51 PM

[up][up]I don't know those shows, but the implication seems to be that they are very stupid, and Trump is stupid for liking them.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
math792d Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#170814: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:11:20 PM

That looks like an M113, so it's basically an old personnel carrier from yesteryear.

The kind you mount heavy machine guns on.

Why do you give this shit to your cops?!

edited 29th Jan '17 4:11:33 PM by math792d

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#170815: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:14:33 PM

They're the FBI's hit squad. If they're called in then you're dealing with domestic terrorists, not some street thugs.

Oh really when?
higherbrainpattern Since: Apr, 2012
#170816: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:17:00 PM

@Rationalinsanity: Gotta love that buyer's remorse, huh?

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#170817: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:20:29 PM

@Handle: "Meet the Press" is NBC's Sunday morning public affairs show which often features interviews with public and political figures, it's been a staple on TV for a long time. (It competes with CBS's "Face the Nation".) "60 Minutes" is CBS's Sunday Night news magazine show - it's demographic skews toward older people but they do Serious Journalisim. The Fox shows are Fox shows: Morning Joe supposedly has occasional flashes of sanity but that's not saying much and "Fox and Friends" is a panel of their "finest" pundits.

edited 29th Jan '17 4:23:39 PM by Elle

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#170818: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:21:25 PM

Domestic terrorism, as said above. They're only pulled out for really, really bad situations.

Leviticus 19:34
HextarVigar That guy from The Big House Since: Feb, 2015
That guy
#170819: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:21:34 PM

They don't get to "feel bad" about their choice.

They should be begging forgiveness.

Your momma's so dumb she thinks oral sex means talking dirty.
Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#170820: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:23:54 PM

These people seem like they were just expecting a Clinton presidency under the guise of Trump.

How can you honestly believe that Trump would not act on the bad things he said during his whole campaign? He is just doing what he always proposed to!

Life is unfair...
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#170821: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:24:04 PM

If they really feel so bad about voting Trump, they can prove it by joining the fight against him. They don't get to say "boy, I sure to regret voting Trump," then just sit around on their ignorant asses while the battle for our republic rages outside.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#170822: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:24:27 PM

[up][up][up][up][up] Morning Joe is actually MSNBC.

edited 29th Jan '17 4:24:40 PM by Zendervai

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#170823: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:25:58 PM

[up][up][up] It's because a lot of Americans thought there were Checks and Balances against Trump, without realizing that the Party Trump was a part of had both Houses of Congress.

Yes, a lot of Americans are Politically ignorant. The Modern Republican Party is enough to show that, though.

[up][up] I'm certain many of them either are or will.

edited 29th Jan '17 4:26:13 PM by DingoWalley1

unnoun Since: Jan, 2012
#170824: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:26:04 PM

They're the FBI's hit squad. If they're called in then you're dealing with domestic terrorists, not some street thugs.

...And who defines who qualifies as a "domestic terrorist" again?

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#170825: Jan 29th 2017 at 4:28:30 PM

[up]Which is why I ask the question. "The Feds", in common parlance, usually refers to federal law enforcement, not military.

The difference these days can be hard to tell.

Military officers swear an oath to uphold the Constitution, not the president. (Enlisted swear a different oath which does include language about obeying orders[1] so things get interesting if the two are in conflict.) The FBI may have fewer scruples, especially in light of what we've seen this election cycle.

edited 29th Jan '17 4:32:07 PM by Elle


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