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

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#171576: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:05:44 PM

[up][up][up][up] Here's an article concerning what a plausible scenario would look like; no brutal crackdowns and no hard suppression of speech, just a sort of hazy middle ground where people have enough to lose to not want to risk taking drastic actions against the state, but not enough power to meaningfully effect policy. In other words, illiberal democracy in the vein of what's happened in Poland and Hungary.

[up] Race issues is the big point where the American left stands out; Europe is quite a bit more racist than the United States, and that's saying something considering who is running the government right now.

edited 31st Jan '17 2:06:46 PM by CaptainCapsase

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#171577: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:22:31 PM

That's why we are a nation of laws and not public opinion surveys. Illegal is illegal. We put up with Citizens United and the Electoral College, they can put up with this.

That said, cities or even states declaring themselves "sanctuaries" is hardly going to start a war. All it means is the local cops won't go after them. It doesn't impede the Feds at all.

Btw, "Reactionary" is an accurate term. They basically want their economic and cultural privileges back.

Congressional Dems have declared war on Trump

edited 31st Jan '17 2:29:57 PM by DeMarquis

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#171578: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:35:51 PM

War! Huh. What is it good for?

Possibly a lot.

But what can they do as a minority?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#171579: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:36:23 PM

California is considering becoming a sanctuary state.

That said, cities or even states declaring themselves "sanctuaries" is hardly going to start a war. All it means is the local cops won't go after them. It doesn't impede the Feds at all.

This isn't even the first time this has happened. The only difference is that 160 years ago they were called Personal Liberty laws and were passed by free states against the Fugitive Slace Act passed by the slave state controlled federal government.

edited 31st Jan '17 2:37:01 PM by Parable

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#171580: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:36:29 PM

[up][up] [up]Doesn't matter because Trump has vowed to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities and states. That'll lead to a response by California escalating thing.

It goes:

California declares itself a sanctuary state.

Trump cuts off federal funding.

California cuts off federal taxes.

Californians feeling that resentment sign up to pass the Calexit initiative leaving the door open for a secesssion.

Trump invades California with troops and has troops put down protests considering them rebels.

The other states start revolting.

edited 31st Jan '17 2:37:34 PM by MadSkillz

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#171581: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:38:58 PM

Then Putin does the Gendo hand clasp thing and mutters "Just as planned" in Russian.

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#171582: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:43:22 PM

[up] The Thalmor are the Russians, the Imperials are the Americans and Californians are the Nords (except we're not bigoted assholes)

@Parable That's a scary parallel considering that helped wind up a civil war.

CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#171583: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:44:57 PM

Democrats can't really do anything meaningful as a superminority party, even with these protest, and even if we might love it. At best, it staves off boredom until the next election.

[up]Does that make New England High Rock?

"My ancestors are smiling at me, Republican. Can you say the same?"

edited 31st Jan '17 2:46:37 PM by CrimsonZephyr

"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."
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#171584: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:52:37 PM

If as a superminority the Democrats are powerless to do anything to stop Trump, their war declaration is empty words, useless, worthless! Inútil! Muda da!

edited 31st Jan '17 2:54:29 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#171585: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:53:08 PM

Trump cannot cut off funding for anybody. Congress can and it's not a given that they would.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#171586: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:55:50 PM

[up][up]Was that not immediately obvious?

Is "superminority" already a thing? Because that's what Democrats are. They're so insignificant that the actually insignificant feels superior to them.

Honestly, what Democrats need to be mentally prepared for is losing most of the battles. Every time the congressmen bluster and grandstand, it's treated as something glorious, but it'll be for naught. The GOP has the numbers on its side and the political control, and they are more than unscrupulous enough to make use of them.

edited 31st Jan '17 3:00:10 PM by CrimsonZephyr

"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."
vandro Shop Owner from The little shop that wasn't Since: Jul, 2009
Shop Owner
#171587: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:57:44 PM

What is this? The man in the High Castle?

Edit: [down]Thanks.

edited 31st Jan '17 3:00:09 PM by vandro

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#171588: Jan 31st 2017 at 2:58:52 PM

The Man In The High Castle. This is not a Harold and Kumar film.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#171589: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:01:07 PM

Harold and Kumar in the High Castle: The Nazis have won World War II, but two young men escape from their concentration camp, get high, and go on a journey to find some food.

"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."
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#171590: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:03:46 PM

We could use a new Harold and Kumar film right about now, couldn't we?

Do not obey in advance.
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#171591: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:08:27 PM

[up]I have pretty much only watched lighthearted comedies and romance the last few weeks, because every time I open my browser 90-95% of what I read leaves me caught between the urges to take a shower to wash off the disgust, or punch a wall in frustration.

edited 31st Jan '17 3:08:39 PM by ViperMagnum357

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#171592: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:08:49 PM

Where is Obama? Where is Hillary? Where is Biden?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#171593: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:12:08 PM

I actually saw someone point out that Hillary might be doing the smart thing by staying out of the limelight. By doing so, she denies Trump the convenient bogeyman he was able to use her as throughout the entire campaign. Now there's no "Crooked Hillary" for him to shout at and blame everything on—which makes deflecting blame away from himself much harder, given how much he leaned on that particular tactic.

edited 31st Jan '17 3:12:55 PM by RBluefish

"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
#171594: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:15:30 PM

So have we already talked about Trump firing the interim attorney general for refusing to enforce his immigration orders?

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#171595: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:17:13 PM

Theres this little thing called the "filibuster". Use it, Dems. Did anyone actually read the article?

Oh, and Im certain Michelle Obama is biding her time. The nest presidential election is in foyr years...

edited 31st Jan '17 3:18:28 PM by DeMarquis

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#171596: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:19:09 PM

49 percent of Americans agree with Trump's travel ban

.....

We're so fucked.

How big is the sample that they used? Because I seriously doubt they could've polled every single adult citizen in the country that is legible to vote within the span of mere days. We're talking about several dozens of millions in a population of over 300 million.

edited 31st Jan '17 3:20:03 PM by MarqFJA

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#171597: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:19:29 PM

I'm surprised Trump hasn't gone after Obama yet.

In fact he's been kind of nice to him considering how Trump is against opponents that speak out against him.

Wonder why that is

Is it cause he's popular?

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#171598: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:20:22 PM

Trumps kinda got his hands full right now.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#171599: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:23:01 PM

If he has enough time to watch Finding Dory then he has enough time to blame Obama

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#171600: Jan 31st 2017 at 3:24:16 PM

So have we already talked about Trump firing the interim attorney general for refusing to enforce his immigration orders?

Yes.

Theres this little thing called the "filibuster". Use it, Dems. Did anyone actually read the article?

The concern there is the GOP immediately nuking the filibuster in retaliation, and to consolidate their hold on power. (Which they have threatened to do, I believe.) They do that, and they can rule Congress effectively unopposed, barring the rare defection. And it would be perfectly in keeping with their MO.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."

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