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

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#184751: Apr 25th 2017 at 4:43:53 PM

The nuclear option meant the Democrats could approve judges by a majority vote, opening the floodgates for Obama’s pending nominees. All three D.C. Circuit judges were confirmed on party-line votes, including Pillard, who later authored a key decision upholding the mandated contraception coverage in Obamacare. Several other contested appeals-court nominees—including David Barron, Pamela Harris, and Michelle Friedman, who have all been mentioned as potential Supreme Court picks—also got through in 2014. And just when it looked like the Democrats had eliminated as much of Obama’s backlog as they could, they got an unlikely assist from Ted Cruz, who kept the Senate in session to protest Obama’s immigration policies, an extension the Democrats used to confirm a dozen more judges.

“God bless Ted Cruz for that one,” Merkley says.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/obama-courts-judicial-legacy-226741

Explanation for my Cruz comment on the other page.

New Survey coming this weekend!
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#184752: Apr 25th 2017 at 4:47:37 PM

[up]Wow, Cruz could not have screwed that up harder if he tried.

'slow clap

edited 25th Apr '17 4:48:10 PM by ViperMagnum357

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#184753: Apr 25th 2017 at 4:52:50 PM

What man meant for evil, God meant for good, as the saying goes.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#184754: Apr 25th 2017 at 4:54:09 PM

What feels ironic about it all is he apparently pulled it off by basically filibustering since he kept the Senate in session as long as possible.

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#184755: Apr 25th 2017 at 5:09:41 PM

Fox News Hit With New Racial Discrimination Lawsuit. First Ailes, then O'Reilly, then Hannity, now FOX itself, I hope this is the start of the Murdoch Empire collapsing.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#184756: Apr 25th 2017 at 5:17:36 PM

Speaking of that, this Keith Olbermann video is worth a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JghI3-IUM3U

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#184757: Apr 25th 2017 at 5:49:25 PM

Trump is officially retreating from his threat to shut down the government over funding for his wall. Republican have introduced a new plan to bargain over with Democrats that pointedly does not include any money for Trump's wall.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#184758: Apr 25th 2017 at 5:54:03 PM

You know, in an odd way, this whole fiasco that is President Trump is actually restoring some of my faith in the system. Everyone was scared as hell at what Trump would do once elected, and yet thanks to what a buffoon he is, whatever his own party doesn't stop in the name of self-preservation is largely being blocked in the courts thanks to how incompetently it's being implemented.

That's not to say he hasn't done any damage, obviously. Just look at recent foreign policy, such as there is and what there is of it. But for reasons ideal and cynical, a lot of Trump's antics are being curtailed and, as a bonus, making him look ineffectual which he's sure to hate.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#184759: Apr 25th 2017 at 6:00:49 PM

[up] I know a lot of people will say "Oh, you're just being blindly patriotic" or something along those lines, but I really do think that our Founding Fathers were some of the smartest men to ever live (at least in the 1700's); They devised a Republic-style system that is so complicated that it's almost impossible for a dictatorship to form without immense backlash from the system.

You may say "Oh, it's just because Trump is an idiot", but considering all the Political Geniuses we've actually had run our Government, I don't even think a Smart man could make a Dictatorship out of the United States.

edited 25th Apr '17 6:01:25 PM by DingoWalley1

djbj Since: Oct, 2010
#184760: Apr 25th 2017 at 6:07:04 PM

[up]"Blind patriotism" is holding up the Founding Fathers as gods among men who were infallible and dare and reprimanding people who dare to speak negatively about them. It is perfectly reasonable to recognize their intellect and be grateful for the system they gave us.

ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#184761: Apr 25th 2017 at 6:07:46 PM

[up][up]Well, a smarter man than Trump or anyone he currently has on his payroll, at any rate.

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#184762: Apr 25th 2017 at 6:08:10 PM

Kind of Tempting Fate there although I tend to agree. That being said, if the system worked both in terms of mechanisms and the "good faith of the American people", Trump probably wouldn't be President in the first place. I know there's a lot of discussion of individualized factors in the campaigns, but I'd point to the use of gerrymandering and voter suppression as doing a lot over the last decades to undermine democracy working as it is supposed to and for increasing polarization.

edited 25th Apr '17 6:08:29 PM by Hodor2

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#184763: Apr 25th 2017 at 6:16:37 PM

The system work because the people trying to destroy are completely incompetent buffoons.

Could you imagine if Rubio or Kasich were elected, and were secretly fascists?

Jesus Christ.

New Survey coming this weekend!
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#184764: Apr 25th 2017 at 6:16:54 PM

Trump's Tax cut of 20% would destroy Reconciliation, which would mean that Trump's budget would require 60 Votes from the Senate to pass.

Barring some shenanigans like moving the time window (to a time where Democrats could destroy it), or cutting Taxes through Tax Reform, Trump ain't cutting Taxes by 20%.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#184765: Apr 25th 2017 at 6:18:57 PM

[up] Cutting taxes for the wealthy is something at least some democrats can be expected to get behind. The question is whether it will be enough to breach the threshold of 60.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#184767: Apr 25th 2017 at 9:05:59 PM

GOP Proposes Stripping Pre-existing Conditions Ban, Except for Members of Congress

The new Republican amendment, introduced Tuesday night, would allow states to waive out of Obamacare’s ban on pre-existing conditions. This means that insurers could once again, under certain circumstances, charge sick people higher premiums than healthy people.

Republican legislators liked this policy well enough to offer it in a new amendment. They do not, however, seem to like it enough to have it apply to themselves and their staff. A spokesperson for Rep. Tom Mac Arthur (R-N.J.) who authored this amendment confirmed this was the case: members of Congress and their staff would get the guarantee of keeping this Obamacare regulations

Cartoon villains.

New Survey coming this weekend!
RAlexa21th Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer from California (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I <3 love!
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#184769: Apr 25th 2017 at 9:12:03 PM

[up][up] No way in Hell would Moderates vote for that.

... I hope.sad

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#184770: Apr 25th 2017 at 9:20:17 PM

And to think they complained when Obamacare didn't apply to Congress (or at least Palin did).

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#184771: Apr 25th 2017 at 9:20:32 PM

If anyone tries to convince me the congressional Republicans aren't greedy monsters, I'm pointing to that. There is no way to defend that move without looking incredibly selfish.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#184772: Apr 25th 2017 at 9:22:56 PM

Like I'm sure I can find Captain Planet villains with more nuance and depth than the current GOP.

New Survey coming this weekend!
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#184773: Apr 25th 2017 at 9:26:01 PM

[up]Hell, I am sure you could find Captain Planet villains I would be willing to vote for over the GOP.

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
#184774: Apr 25th 2017 at 9:31:44 PM

[up]X2 Can you even find any Captain Planet villains will less nuance and depth than them?

edited 25th Apr '17 9:32:04 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
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#184775: Apr 25th 2017 at 9:34:49 PM

[up][up]Hoggish Greedily for 2020 people! At least he's honest about being a shameless greedy pig.tongue

edited 25th Apr '17 9:39:33 PM by kkhohoho


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