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

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#239026: Apr 16th 2018 at 1:49:22 PM

while Mueller and company are playing a hybrid of Risk and three-dimensional chess.

So you mean Stratego?

if those documents implicate him or his clients in criminal acts, which negates any claim of privilege

Just to point out, it would have to be both engaging in the criminal behavior to qualify - a client admitting guilt to their attorney is, to my knowledge, still covered by A/P privilege so long as the attorney doesn't suborn perjury afterward.

edited 16th Apr '18 1:59:43 PM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#239027: Apr 16th 2018 at 1:49:53 PM

I remember this thing from a right-wing Islamaphobe saying he invited her into his hotel room twice, and when she refused she wasn't offered to return to Fox again. As she said, that kind of attitude is all over Fox News.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#239028: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:03:13 PM

Hannity's response on twitter:

Michael Cohen has never represented me in any matter. I never retained him, received an invoice, or paid legal fees. I have occasionally had brief discussions with him about legal questions about which I wanted his input and perspective.

I assumed those conversations were confidential, but to be absolutely clear they never involved any matter between me and a third-party.

In response to some wild speculation, let me make clear that I did not ask Michael Cohen to bring this proceeding on my behalf, I have no personal interest in this proceeding, and, in fact, asked that my de minimis discussions with Michael Cohen, which dealt almost exclusively about real estate, not be made a part of this proceeding.

edited 16th Apr '18 2:08:40 PM by megaeliz

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#239029: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:03:36 PM

A twist that rivals Shymalan's

Edit: Also it's very unethical for Hannity to cover the Cohen raids and not reveal that he was one of his clients.

edited 16th Apr '18 2:08:43 PM by NoName999

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#239030: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:17:04 PM

Because you know how the far right cares about ethics

edited 16th Apr '18 2:17:16 PM by PhysicalStamina

i'm tired, my friend
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#239031: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:27:14 PM

THREAD: What does today’s court ruling mean? [1]

1/ This court case is a very unusual action brought by Michael Cohen. He asked for two things—a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction. It is highly unusual for someone to seek either of those things to stop to prosecution from reviewing seized evidence.

2/ A temporary restraining order is a short-term action by a court to prevent *immediate* harm that can’t be repaired. For example, if the government is about to bulldoze your house, you might seek a TRO because you can’t undo their action.

3/ TR Os are granted in limited circumstances because they don’t require notice to the other side or a hearing. The purpose of them is just to freeze things so the judicial system has time to figure out what to do before harm is done that can’t be undone.

4/ Today Judge Wood denied the request for a TRO because the prosecution said that they are not looking at the documents—the documents are in the possession of the “taint team” and they aren’t talking with the investigators. Judge Wood said she trusted their integrity.

5/ Cohen also sought something called a preliminary injunction. It is also an extraordinary thing to ask for in this situation. Basically it’s an order from the court stopping one side (in this case, the prosecution) from harming the other side in a way that can’t be undone.

6/ An important difference between the two requests is that a preliminary injunction is granted after a hearing at which both sides present evidence. It still requires Cohen to prove that he will be harmed in a way that can’t be undone.

7/ Judge Wood hasn’t made a decision on the preliminary injunction yet. She said that she wants both sides to propose potential choices for a special master, which would be someone appointed by the court to review the documents and make determinations about privilege.

8/ Judge Wood said that she isn’t convinced a special master is necessary and that she trusts the integrity of the federal prosecutors and the “taint team” procedure. That’s not surprising, given that taint teams are typically used in situations like these.

9/ In the meantime, the documents are in the hands of the “taint team” until the judge rules. At most, what Cohen and Trump have accomplished is forcing the prosecution to reveal details about their investigation (including search warrants on Cohen’s email accounts).

10/ One point to note is that the search of an attorney’s office or home is not “unprecedented” or problematic. However, the request by Cohen and Trump is without precedent that I’m aware of, and is problematic. Their actions are far more unusual than the prosecution’s. /end

SciFiSlasher from Absolutely none of your business. Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#239032: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:51:49 PM

Evangelical leaders are meeting to complain about how Trump has created a "grotesque caricature" of them.

Choice cuts:

“When you Google evangelicals, you get Trump,” Birdsall said. “When people say what does it mean to be an evangelical, people don’t say evangelism or the gospel. There’s a grotesque caricature of what it means to be an evangelical.”
Buddy, those associations have been in place long before Trump.

“No matter what happens to American evangelicalism, it is here to stay. It’s international, global and politically diverse,” he said, pointing out that evangelicalism is quickly spreading in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
"Just don't tell anyone about how that means we're spreading toxic, bigoted beliefs."

"Somehow the hated have to walk a tightrope, while those who hate do not."
Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#239033: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:53:51 PM

So when someone else imitates them, it's not funny when they do it?

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#239034: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:55:02 PM

Yeah, I'm sorry but most of the big political forces calling themselves evangelicals are bigots spreading anti-intellectual, discriminatory beliefs that actively harm people, not to mention covering up the horrible crimes that go on behind the curtains in their community.

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#239035: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:56:23 PM

Where did the "ev" come form anyway. "Evil"? tongue

(If I asked this question or made this joke before, I apologize.)

edited 16th Apr '18 2:56:45 PM by MorningStar1337

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#239036: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:58:15 PM

Actually they used to call themselves evil just straight up, but even the word got such bad publicity they obscured it by adding angelic in the middle.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#239037: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:58:48 PM

I like John Pavlovitz's pieces about the Christian Right.

I once was blind, but now I see.

I think I’ve finally found the truth that really will set me free.

After years of pushing him away, I’m think I’m ready to invite Make America Great Again Jesus into my heart.

It’s not inspiration or inner conviction or divine revelation that has led me to this holy conversion moment—it’s mainly just fatigue.

I’m tired.

It’s hard caring about people; waking up every morning and having to have empathy for someone who isn’t me, let alone someone who doesn’t even look like me, think like me, vote like me, talk like me, worship like me. It’s fairly exhausting trying to actually live all that Gospel Jesus stuff: loving the least, being a servant, turning the other cheek, living humbly, tending to the sick and the poor, praying for my enemies. I didn’t realize that being a peacemaker and a Good Samaritan would be such thankless, taxing, costly business—and honestly it’s worn me the heck out.

I was beginning to think maybe I needed to jump ship altogether; that maybe Christianity wasn’t for me—until I found MAGA Jesus and he saved me from a life of sacrifice, humility, and selflessness. He isn’t half as demanding as Gospel Jesus is. In fact, all things considered, he requires very little from me: Say a quick magic prayer, in exchange for a permanent Get Out of Hell Free card, a life of unrepentant privilege, and the right to judge the humanity around me however I please. It’s a pretty sweet deal.

With MAGA Jesus running things, I’ll be able to focus on saving souls for the next life—which means I won’t have to be concerned with what befalls people in this one all that much anymore. Their poverty, their adversity, their suffering is really none of my concern. (They’re supposed to “rejoice in their trials” anyway, so I’ll actually be doing them a favor.) Oh sure, I’ll still be able to take enough interest in people’s personal existence to condemn them for who they love or the bathroom they want to use or their desire to get married—but beyond that I don’t have any pressing interest one way or the other. Someone else’s life (outside of the bedroom and bathroom) is none of my business.

MAGA Jesus also frees me up from worrying about the planet heating up or the coral reefs dying or the honeybees disappearing. I can chalk that all up to a “groaning creation” that is well above my pay grade, and simply live with relative abandon, consuming and wasting to my heart’s delight.

I don’t have to welcome refugees or immigrants, or those fleeing war, oppression, and sickness the way Gospel Jesus insisted—I can just tell them all to go pound sand. I can spend and acquire and hoard as much as I want and not give it a second thought, because MAGA Jesus is a make it rain deity who wouldn’t dare tell me that I can’t serve both God and money—the way Gospel Jesus would. And all the annoying death, suffering, violence, and disease outside my door? I can blame it all on the sins of a “fallen world”, while I offer “thoughts and prayers” and pass the buck to God.

The really great thing about worshiping MAGA Jesus , is that I’ll still get to call myself a Christian—which will be helpful in simplifying the post-conversion transition. I won’t even have to edit my social media profiles. And as long as things stay as they are here, I can guarantee that I’ll always be well-represented in Washington and from the megachurch pulpits and on Fox News—which is really all any American religious person needs.

Sure, I’ll have to adopt a decidedly white, affluent, American, gun-loving, gay-hating Savior, which will take some getting used to, but from what I’ve seen it doesn’t take long. In no time, I’ll be worshiping Capitalism, waving the flag, retweeting Breitbart, and telling the poor and the hurting to pull themselves up by their bootstraps— without having to worry about whether they have boots or not.

I figure I’ve given this Gospel Jesus thing a good go of it. I’ve been working that whole “love your neighbor as yourself”, compassionate, generous program for nearly half a century, and what has it gotten me—except a diverse community, an experience of lives I’d never otherwise known, and the hope of leaving the planet a little kinder than when I found it. Not exactly a golden parachute and surely not profitable.

It isn’t like I’ll totally be exempt from empathy either. I’ll of course still get to care for my spouse and my kids and my parents and my friends, my kind—but beyond that, giving a greater damn will be at my discretion. Anyone else’s well-being or healthcare or kids or job, especially beyond our borders, won’t have to be a priority anymore.

I’m sure I’ll miss my old religion from time to time; the joy and kindness and the mercy, but I sure won’t miss the work. I’m looking forward to finally having a God work for me—instead of the other way around.

I think I’ll get everything I as a straight, white, Christian male deserve, for a change.

I believe MAGA Jesus will make my Christianity great (and easier) again.

I’m ready.

edited 16th Apr '18 2:59:42 PM by megaeliz

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#239038: Apr 16th 2018 at 2:59:48 PM

If only they didn't have 80% support for the guy who regularly commits every one of the 7 deadly sins.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#239039: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:00:05 PM

According to Wikipedia, the word originated from the Greek word euangelion, which means "gospel" or "good news".

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#239040: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:10:39 PM

[up][up][up]Pretty much all my problems with so-called "Christians" making the rest of us look bad in a nutshell.

KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#239041: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:12:05 PM

What's strange is that here on Peru, the Evangelists tend to the be the less racists.

You know, that's kinda expectable when most of the country isn't white.

Token Religious person of the forum reporting.

edited 16th Apr '18 3:14:00 PM by KazuyaProta

Watch me destroying my country
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#239042: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:29:00 PM

You know, for the longest time I assumed that the US is extremely catholic, because I am used to this more extreme behaviours from the catholic church, while the protestants over here tend to be very moderate and nearly secular in their approach.

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#239043: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:31:19 PM

There was a time in America when the bleeding-heart socialists were all Christian types (not all of the Christians, obviously) and the hardcore righties were atheists (think Lovecraft and Howard).

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#239044: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:34:53 PM

[up][up]Catholicism is the largest single Religious Group in the United States, with 68,202,492 members, or ~21% of the US population. However, all the Protestant Sects combined are larger then Catholicism, making ~47% of the Population. The Southern Baptists make up the largest Protestant Sect, of 16,136,044 members.

(All this Info I got from a basic Wiki Search.)

KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#239045: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:42:16 PM

[up][up] Well, the Alt right also continues that proud the tradition of being proudly atheistic and right wing too.

Leftists christians have a hard time expressing it because they also try to be as secular as possible, which obviously means dont talking about christianity in any political way at all. While Right wing christians just dont care about it.

You will never see a Leftist christian trying to convert anyone, for example. Which makes sure that any community that they build is effectively smaller than its right wing counterparts.

edited 16th Apr '18 3:45:07 PM by KazuyaProta

Watch me destroying my country
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#239046: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:44:21 PM

It's funny how you can get the Bible-thumping "burn in hell for your alleged sins" type and the "delusional idiots who worship a make-believe sky fairy" basement warriors on the same side.

TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
#239047: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:45:21 PM

[up]

Strange bedfellows, indeed.

[up][up]

Yeah, at my left-wing Christian group, the right trying to proselytize everyone really bothers all of us a lot. It also perpetuates the stereotype that all Christians are fanatical.

edited 16th Apr '18 3:51:02 PM by TheWildWestPyro

KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#239048: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:46:07 PM

[up][up] Hey, as long they can throw Muslims at the sea, they can ignore their differences for a while. Enemy Mine at its finest.

edited 16th Apr '18 3:46:39 PM by KazuyaProta

Watch me destroying my country
TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
#239049: Apr 16th 2018 at 3:51:33 PM

[up]

Also, the left-wing Christians don't uphold the Crusades as something that should be done again.

KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#239050: Apr 16th 2018 at 4:00:49 PM

[up] The issue with Left Wing Christians is that they basically cant find anything to be proud in mass scale that DONT involves something that can be used for white supremacists or sexist groups.

Maybe African Christians (who actually build their own kingdoms) can do that, but North American and European christians are gonna have a way harder time to do that. Even Latin American christians have issues with it because, you know, Conquistadores.

edited 16th Apr '18 4:01:45 PM by KazuyaProta

Watch me destroying my country

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