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

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#237726: Apr 6th 2018 at 3:42:31 PM

This is only tangentially related to politics, but anybody following the Sean Hannity vs. Jimmy Kimmel Twitter war? It's pretty nuts.

I'm on Kimmel's side purely because Hannity is so objectionable, though I think both should cut it out. They're barely acting like adults.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#237727: Apr 6th 2018 at 3:49:03 PM

The difference is that Kimmel doesn't pretend to be an unbiased authority on anything, he's a comedian and admits it. Hannity pukes what he claims is news.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#237728: Apr 6th 2018 at 3:53:19 PM

but anybody following the Sean Hannity vs. Jimmy Kimmel Twitter war?
That would require me to care what either of them think.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#237729: Apr 6th 2018 at 3:54:12 PM

I wasn't aware that was a thing until earlier today, and can't say I really care.

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#237730: Apr 6th 2018 at 4:01:27 PM

I didn't realize there was a twitter war going on, although I saw on twitter some of how Hannity was attacking Kimmel on account of The Man Show, and noting how Hannity was also pleased to invite Kimmel's former co-host, Adam Carolla, as a guest.

Although his past work does undercut his current image, and I still think he has somewhat broish views, I rather admire Kimmel and his evolution, and basically see him as having undergone Divergent Character Evolution form Carolla, who is now alt-right.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#237731: Apr 6th 2018 at 4:19:02 PM

@Fourthspartan56: There are far too many people online with unrealistic expectations of the 2018 midterms. It's reasonably likely Democrats will retake the House, despite the built in advantage the GOP has thanks to widespread gerrymandering that's likely to still be bogged down in courts by the time the election is head. It's plausible they'll retake the senate, but some people think a Trump impeachment followed by a conviction is plausible.

Unless the GOP turns on him in any significant numbers, it's simply not going to happen regardless of what the Special Counsel investigation turns up; if the Democrats win every single one of the competitive senate races in November, they'd still fall one short of a supermajority even including the independents in their caucus, meaning Trump still gets his veto, and you'd need an additional 8 seats to actually impeach him along party lines. Trying to indict Trump without voting to remove him from office meanwhile would end up before the supreme court, and even the current court would be likely to rule in his favor. If one of the older Justices dies or retires, then he's more or less guaranteed to get a ruling in his favor, regardless of whether he manages to appoint a replacement.

edited 6th Apr '18 4:22:37 PM by CaptainCapsase

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#237732: Apr 6th 2018 at 4:24:47 PM

[up] What we want to aim for is a majority in the house, that can squash the worst of their agenda, until we vote trump out in in 2020. Of course, we should try to go for any plausible senate seat as well, but that goes without saying.

The good thing about having Trump staying until term, and being voted out, is that it's much easier to prosecute a private citizen than a president.

edited 6th Apr '18 4:26:59 PM by megaeliz

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#237733: Apr 6th 2018 at 4:27:25 PM

Remember that Supreme Court justices are now confirmed with a simple majority vote. Enough Democrats winning senate seats could help there even if not a veto-proof majority

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#237734: Apr 6th 2018 at 4:33:13 PM

The midterms really aren't about impeaching Trump, instead they are a chance to start blocking some of the damage he can do, and setting up for a win in 2020. Meanwhile, in the best case scenario (Mueller implicates Trump blatantly and charges his inner circle), Trump's political capital is shot.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#237735: Apr 6th 2018 at 4:46:18 PM

[up][up] Trump doesn't need additional SC seats to get a ruling that prevents him from being indicted, because, as far as I know, the current consensus in the legal community leans towards you having to impeach and remove the President from office first to indict them, meaning the moderate and conservative justices would likely rule in his favor if the issue came up.

[up] I'm aware of that.

@megaliz: Trump isn't going to go to jail or getting convicted on any serious charges; at best he gets the same deal Nixon got where he resigns in exchange for a pardon. Which is preferable to him instigating a constitutional crisis by trying to pardon himself.

edited 6th Apr '18 4:54:17 PM by CaptainCapsase

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#237736: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:00:44 PM

So, just for a thought experiment, lets say it's 2020 and Trump is voted out. We've got the most unreasonable people out of the House, and there's a Democratic President.

What are the most important priorities that we need to address to try to clean up Trump's mess?

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#237737: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:03:16 PM

The mass-sending of Fruit Baskets.

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#237738: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:07:03 PM

I once saw a book that Carolla wrote: In the Future We'll All Be Chicks. I neither know nor care to know about its contents.

I too appreciate how Kimmel has become a much more mature person.

Do not obey in advance.
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#237739: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:07:07 PM

[up]x2 The Reversal of these Tariffs Trump is imposing is an immediate idea; as is removing their ability to create Tariffs.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#237740: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:07:50 PM

[up][up][up] Political reform; otherwise this happens all over again in a few years. I suspect that's unavoidable though. Various indicators suggest the US is headed towards a massive political crisis.

edited 6th Apr '18 5:14:21 PM by CaptainCapsase

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#237741: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:14:37 PM

  • Law requiring all Presidential candidates to release tax returns,
  • fill all those vacant seats in all the departments, with particular attention for rebuilding the State Department.
  • Authorize our Intelligence Community to take counter-measures against Russia.
  • Rebuild relationships with Allies
  • Strengthen Anti-Money Laundering Measures

Anything else anyone can think of, particularly on the Domestic Front?

edited 6th Apr '18 5:15:16 PM by megaeliz

Bur from Flyover Country (Living Relic) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#237742: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:15:38 PM

Reinstating all of environmental regs Pruitt got rid of. That's my No. 1.

Followed by the mass sending of fruit baskets.

edited 6th Apr '18 5:16:06 PM by Bur

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#237743: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:16:02 PM

Kind of tough as a lot of things are norms.

With that said:

Mandatory disclosure of tax returns.

Laws prohibiting emolument kind of things and requiring a complete divestment from businesses.

A ban on anyone with the last name Trump running for office.

While not specific to Trump corruption, I'd like to see amendments to Title VII expressly protecting trans rights, possibly some expansion of the ADA, and legal changes that provide a path-to-citizenship for DACA residents. While a pipe dream, I'd generally favor it being a lot easier to gain lawful permanent residency and citizenship.

Also, as another corrolary, if you could pass another Voting Rights Act that repealed the repeal and included things that got rid of or toned down partisan gerrymandering and provided for automatic restoration of voting rights once a sentence was served, you'd probably go a long way toward stopping another right wing populist from being elected.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#237744: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:17:25 PM

[up][up][up] I suspect whoever is elected in 2020 will be more focused on filling their own pockets and consolidating personal power than "fixing" the country. The Trump administration has opened that door, and it's very difficult to close now that there's blood in the water. My own suspicion is that the United States is headed towards a serious political crisis, and I don't think we can really do much other than brace for impact at this point.

edited 6th Apr '18 5:41:09 PM by CaptainCapsase

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#237745: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:20:04 PM

I honestly don't think the tax returns are such a big deal.

Basically, just re-reverse the Obama era EPA and Labor regs that Trump scrapped as soon as he got into office. The wage gap reporting regulation and regulations on harmful emissions and mining rights come to mind. He hasn't done anything so much as undone what Obama did.

Some election reform would be good too.

They should have sent a poet.
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#237746: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:21:32 PM

There should be a law in place to prevent the theft of an SC appointment.

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#237747: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:25:01 PM

Not a bad idea, but like a lot of things, that would be a double edged sword.

Also, I do agree with reinstating regulations, but that's the problem- they're regulations, not laws, and each administration can expand or contract them. Of course, administrations typically didn't repeal/screw with them to the extent that Trump is, but that's another Ain't No Rule kind of thing.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#237748: Apr 6th 2018 at 5:35:31 PM

A big thing would be the immediate authorization of countermeasures against Russia. I'm not sure what that would look like, but they need to happen.

Also, I would like to see a tightening up of real estate law/regulations to try to prevent money laundering. That is a big way that foreign, and particularly Russian money gets into the US.

edited 6th Apr '18 5:41:03 PM by megaeliz

Imca (Veteran)
#237749: Apr 6th 2018 at 6:04:55 PM

Repairing Relations with Allies, and Fixing the damage he has done to Minority rights are the two single bigest things to tackle.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#237750: Apr 6th 2018 at 6:05:40 PM

Investing in the nation's crumbling infrastructure and moving towards universal healthcare are hopefully things that are high priority.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang

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