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

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#193026: Jun 14th 2017 at 3:00:54 AM

[up]That'll go down well with the Tea Party.

But hey, if it means the AHCA doesn't get passed again...

Disgusted, but not surprised
CenturyEye Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign? from I don't know where the Yith sent me this time... Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
#193027: Jun 14th 2017 at 4:10:47 AM

Democrats in Georgia are taking exception to a New York Times report that employed a 6th District dateline when it described a growing rift within that party

DUNWOODY, Ga. – Democrats are facing an open breach between the demands of their political base and the strict limits of their power, as liberal activists dream of transforming the health care system and impeaching President Trump, while candidates in hard-fought elections ask wary independent voters merely for a fresh chance at governing.

The growing tension between the party’s ascendant militant wing and Democrats in conservative-leaning terrain, where the party must compete to win power in Congress, was on vivid, split-screen display over the weekend: in Chicago, where Senator Bernie Sanders led a revival-style meeting of his progressive devotees, and in Atlanta, where Democrats are spending colossal sums of money in hopes of seizing a traditionally Republican congressional district.

This morning, Emory University political scientist Alan Abramowitz copied us on a letter to the editor he had composed. It included this:

Contrary to the authors’ claim of a deep divide between such candidates and the Party’s base, Ossoff’s campaign has been fueled by millions of dollars in small donations from rank-and-file Democrats across the country eager to send a signal to President Trump and Republican leaders in Washington that their days in power are numbered.

Here in Georgia, the level of grassroots activism on behalf of Ossoff has been unprecedented with a small army of volunteers conducting rallies and ringing doorbells in the days leading up to the June 20th runoff. Whatever the final outcome of that runoff, it is clear that Democrats in Georgia and across the nation have been extraordinarily united in support of the Ossoff campaign.

Likewise, Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson has a well-timed op-ed piece in The Daily Beast about the kinds of Democrats that can win elections in the South, a model she describes as the “pragmatic progressive.” A taste:

As voters in the 6th Congressional District of Georgia begin voting in the June 20 Jon Ossoff/Karen Handel run-off, politicos and uber-engaged voters around the country are wondering if this election will signal a new dawn in our long partisan darkness. It could be that a new pragmatic leadership style is emerging: one that is easier on the eyes and ears of independents, suburban moderates, blue-collar workers, and millennials. The Pragmatic Progressive is a strong Democrat in economic and social/civic policy, but understands these policies benefit many beyond their base and are not afraid to go into the lion’s den, if need be, to let them know so.

A Pragmatic Progressive – and Ossoff sure seems like one – can explain to you why Democratic policies are not special-interest politics but are sound economic strategies for citizens at every economic level.

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#193028: Jun 14th 2017 at 4:45:55 AM

So today is Trump's birthday. He's 71.

Yay.... I guess or whatever. :|

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#193029: Jun 14th 2017 at 4:49:12 AM

[up] I'll second that with a resounding "...meh".

Disgusted, but not surprised
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#193030: Jun 14th 2017 at 4:52:47 AM

Breaking: shooting at Congressional baseball practise. Scalise hit.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#193031: Jun 14th 2017 at 4:56:14 AM

Seriousness aside: Congressional baseball practice?

More serious: Anyone wanna bet Trump will be more focused on his birthday than the fate of a congressman?

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#193032: Jun 14th 2017 at 4:57:38 AM

Twitter link.

Among Scalise, other staff were hit.

[up] Excerise?

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#193036: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:05:52 AM

I've got a really bad feeling about this. Especially if it turns out to be politically motivated.

The last thing we need is for the government to have an excuse to crackdown on "subversive" groups.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#193037: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:17:26 AM

I'll worry about people politicizing this later (because they always do). For now, I'm just relieved nobody is apparently dead yet and the shooter is apparently in custody.

edited 14th Jun '17 5:19:08 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#193038: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:19:44 AM

From what I was hearing, there was a charity baseball game between Congressional Republicans and Democrats scheduled for tomorrow.

Might end up being postponed.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#193039: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:27:45 AM

Some reports are saying that 50 to 100 shots were fired, including one from Rep.Mo Brooks.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#193040: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:33:23 AM

at or from?

"You can reply to this Message!"
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#193041: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:36:02 AM

Probably from and at the shooter.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#193042: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:40:42 AM

Sorry, I meant that Brooks reported that many shots had been fired, not sure by whom.

edited 14th Jun '17 5:41:13 AM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
math792d Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#193043: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:42:45 AM

[up] Well there is a joke that goes around that the EU is nothing but Germany's Fourth Reich. Holy Roman Empire > German Empire > Nazi Germany> EU

It's also a turd of a joke because it reduces five decades of geopolitical wrangling in Europe to 'lol Germany taking over,' which is the archest of horseshit. It wasn't funny when Jon Stewart made the joke, and it has aged more poorly than American democracy.

While the merits and problems of the EU are probably better suited to the European Politics thread, Swanpride and others (from Germany TBF) have mentioned that Germany doesn't actually like being the "face" of the EU as a whole since they don't actually get that much benefit — at least not enough to make up for the responsibility and scapegoating. For one thing, they really don't like those "Fourth Reich" jokes.

I'd argue there's a bit of a disconnect there between the wishes of the German people (who most certainly don't want the job) and German politicians (some of which genuinely do). Like, I've absolutely no doubt in my mind that a dickhead like Schäulbe would love to have more German influence in European politics so he can enforce some 'financial discipline' on the rest of Southern Europe while he's on a roll.

edited 14th Jun '17 5:46:11 AM by math792d

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#193044: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:51:47 AM

European politics is off-topic for this thread, but I'll note that there can be a disconnect between the political intentions of a nation and the actual economic effects of its behavior. The effect of what Germany's been doing for the past few decades has been to artificially suppress its own inflation to sustain its trade surplus, in effect exporting deflation to the peripheral Eurozone nations. This has caused catastrophic damage to the Eurozone project and has helped to spread the fires of nationalism across the EU as people see Germany prospering while they suffer.

These are facts. Why it's happening it is not germane to the facts, although it is germane to finding a solution.

edited 14th Jun '17 5:53:05 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
math792d Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#193045: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:52:51 AM

Also this [up] [awesome]

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#193046: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:53:13 AM

The shooter is in custody according to CNN.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
HallowHawk Since: Feb, 2013
#193047: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:53:47 AM

How much of the Republican Party were the ones being backed by Russia? I mean, are Pence and Defense Secretary Mattis also being backed by Russia?

carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#193048: Jun 14th 2017 at 5:56:14 AM

S'pose it depends on how one defines "backed". They offer different forms of direct and indirect support to many different groups as long as it sows chaos and uncertainty that they could profit off of.

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#193049: Jun 14th 2017 at 6:01:15 AM

Before Swanpride shoots back on the Economic topic for round 346. of that argument: Take it to the Economics Topic if you want to go to the mat about this again.

Because I am getting mighty tired of the same people fighting over this topic like dogs over a bone without any progress whatsoever just because neither side is willing to let the challenge go for once.

On topic: So the possibility spectrum of the shooter goes from "Radicalised Muslim" to "Trump Supporter being Angry over Congress obstructing him

"You can reply to this Message!"
math792d Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#193050: Jun 14th 2017 at 6:06:10 AM

Well, we might actually be seeing some firearms legislation getting done now.

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.

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