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

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#239526: Apr 21st 2018 at 4:05:06 AM

Sessions has no say on what laws Congress writes. There is also precedent of Congress tying the DOJ's hands on cannabis.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#239527: Apr 21st 2018 at 4:13:13 AM

I don't see it going anywhere in Congress either. Not when the GOP is bankrolled by an industry that makes money off keeping people in jail for possession.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#239528: Apr 21st 2018 at 4:45:53 AM

[up]

Well, the former Speaker is a marijuana company executive now, so the times are a'changin'.

Incidentally, ICE responded to questions about that raid, saying that the worker had been deported for a criminal conviction three times prior, and that...

When asked about the warrant, Smith wrote, in an email, that "Aguilar was encountered during a enforcement operation in a publicly-accessible area. Federal immigration law clearly provides for the arrest of removable aliens based on administrative arrest warrants issued by authorized immigration officers."

"Publicly-accessible" =/= "not private property", though.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
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
#239529: Apr 21st 2018 at 5:35:10 AM

Speaking of abuse by ICE, apparently they've deliberately separated over 700 children, more than a hundred under the age of 4, from their parents - many of them indefinitely - upon arriving in the US, including asylum seekers. Full article text 

On Feb. 20, a young woman named Mirian arrived at the Texas-Mexico border carrying her 18-month-old son. They had fled their home in Honduras through a cloud of tear gas, she told border agents, and needed protection from the political violence there.

She had hoped she and her son would find refuge together. Instead, the agents ordered her to place her son in the back seat of a government vehicle, she said later in a sworn declaration to a federal court. They both cried as the boy was driven away.

For months, members of Congress have been demanding answers about how many families are being separated as they are processed at stations along the southwest border, in part because the Trump administration has said it was considering taking children from their parents as a way to deter migrants from coming here.

Officials have repeatedly declined to provide data on how many families have been separated, but suggested that the number was relatively low. But new data reviewed by The New York Times shows that more than 700 children have been taken from adults claiming to be their parents since October, including more than 100 children under the age of 4.

The data was prepared by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services that takes custody of children who have been removed from migrant parents. Senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security, which processes migrants at the border, initially denied that the numbers were so high. But after they were confirmed to The Times by three federal officials who work closely with these cases, a spokesman for the health and human services department on Friday acknowledged in a statement that there were “approximately 700.”

Homeland security officials said the agency does not separate families at the border for deterrence purposes. But Trump administration officials have suggested publicly in the past that they were, indeed, considering a deterrence policy.

Children removed from their families are taken to shelters run by nongovernmental organizations. There, workers seek to identify a relative or guardian in the United States who can take over the child’s care. But if no such adult is available, the children can languish in custody indefinitely. Operators of these facilities say they are often unable to locate the parents of separated children because the children arrive without records.

Once a child has entered the system, there is no firm process to determine whether they have been separated from someone who was legitimately their parent, or for reuniting parents and children who had been mistakenly separated, said a Border Patrol official, who was not authorized to discuss the agency’s policies publicly.

Anyone want to bet money that under Trump, they make sure to send as many of them back on separate flights just to be bigger dicks?

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#239530: Apr 21st 2018 at 5:42:54 AM

And in more Open Mouth, Insert Foot news, Roger Stone - one of Trump's former advisors - violated Never Speak Ill of the Dead by calling Barbara Bush a "vindictive drunk" and saying that she "drank so much booze, if they cremated her … her body would burn for three days,” costing him a speaking gig at a Florida GOP event.

edited 21st Apr '18 5:54:24 AM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#239531: Apr 21st 2018 at 6:07:02 AM

As I understand it, thats the sort of thing she might have said about herself.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
ITNW1989 a from Big Meat, USA Since: Nov, 2012 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
a
#239532: Apr 21st 2018 at 6:19:30 AM

Sure, much like how Carrie Fisher always wanted her obituary wanted her to say that she was strangled by her own bra, but the difference is that while Barbara, and people who were close to her, might say that of her, none of them mean any malice. Roger Stone, the dickbag, on the other hand, most definitely did.

Hitokiri in the streets, daishouri in the sheets.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#239533: Apr 21st 2018 at 6:22:15 AM

Trump's most recent Tweet tirade

Can you believe that despite 93% bad stories from the Fake News Media (should be getting good stories), today we had just about our highest Poll Numbers, including those on Election Day? The American public is wise to the phony an dishonest press. Make America Great Again!

North Korea has agreed to suspend all Nuclear Tests and close up a major test site. This is very good news for North Korea and the World - big progress! Look forward to our Summit.

Just heard the Campaign was sued by the Obstructionist Democrats. This can be good news in that we will now counter for the DNC Server that they refused to give to the FBI, the Debbie Wasserman Schultz Servers and Documents held by the Pakistani mystery man and Clinton Emails.

James Comey illegally leaked classified documents to the press in order to generate a Special Council? Therefore, the Special Council was established based on an illegal act? Really, does everybody know what that means?

A message from Kim Jong Un: “North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles.” Also will “Shut down a nuclear test site in the country’s Northern Side to prove the vow to suspend nuclear tests.” Progress being made for all!

The New York Times and a third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as a Crooked H flunkie who I don’t speak to and have nothing to do with, are going out of their way to destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will “flip.” They use........non-existent “sources” and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael, a fine person with a wonderful family. Michael is a businessman for his own account/lawyer who I have always liked & respected. Most people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble, even if........it means lying or making up stories. Sorry, I don’t see Michael doing that despite the horrible Witch Hunt and the dishonest media!

In case anyone was wondering, this was the article that set him off.

Michael Cohen Has Said He Would Take a Bullet for Trump. Maybe Not Anymore..

For years, a joke among Trump Tower employees was that the boss was like Manhattan’s First Avenue, where the traffic goes only one way.

That one-sidedness has always been at the heart of President Trump’s relationship with his longtime lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, who has said he would “take a bullet” for Mr. Trump. For years Mr. Trump treated Mr. Cohen poorly, with gratuitous insults, dismissive statements and, at least twice, threats of being fired, according to interviews with a half-dozen people familiar with their relationship.

“Donald goes out of his way to treat him like garbage,” said Roger J. Stone Jr., Mr. Trump’s informal and longest-serving political adviser, who, along with Mr. Cohen, was one of five people originally surrounding the president when he was considering a presidential campaign before 2016.

Now, for the first time, the traffic may be going Mr. Cohen’s way. Mr. Trump’s lawyers and advisers have become resigned to the strong possibility that Mr. Cohen, who has a wife and two children and faces the prospect of devastating legal fees, if not criminal charges, could end up cooperating with federal officials who are investigating him for activity that could relate, at least in part, to work he did for Mr. Trump....

...Mr. Trump has long felt he had leverage over Mr. Cohen, but people who have worked for the president said the raid has changed all that.

“Ironically, Michael now holds the leverage over Trump,” said Sam Nunberg, a former aide to Mr. Trump who worked with Mr. Cohen and Mr. Stone. Mr. Nunberg said that Mr. Cohen “should maximize” that leverage.

“The softer side of the president genuinely has an affection for Michael,” Mr. Nunberg said. For instance, Mr. Trump attended the bar and bat mitzvahs of Mr. Cohen’s children. “However, the president has also taken Michael for granted.” Mr. Nunberg added that “whenever anyone complains to me about Trump screwing them over, my reflexive response is that person has nothing to complain about compared to Michael.”

edited 21st Apr '18 6:29:16 AM by megaeliz

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#239534: Apr 21st 2018 at 7:38:10 AM

Retiring Senator Bob Corker will not campaign on behalf of his presumed succesor, Marsha Blackburn. He's been so openly praising her Democratic rival that he's practically endorsed him by now.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#239535: Apr 21st 2018 at 8:59:27 AM

[up][up]I simply cannot comprehend treating such a loyal and useful person like garbage, it's just incredibly stupid and counter-productive.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#239536: Apr 21st 2018 at 9:01:58 AM

It's Trump; he treats everyone that works for him like garbage.

i'm tired, my friend
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#239537: Apr 21st 2018 at 9:02:35 AM

Its the entire point for authoritarian relationships like that. And dont be surprised if Cohen seeks out clients like that.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#239538: Apr 21st 2018 at 9:02:58 AM

[up][up]True, but to be fair I never said it was surprising tongue

But yes this is exactly something Trump would do.

[up]I think it's more to do with stupid authoritarianism then just authoritarianism, a smart authoritarian probably wouldn't pointlessly misuse useful help like that.

edited 21st Apr '18 9:03:47 AM by Fourthspartan56

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#239539: Apr 21st 2018 at 9:04:54 AM

Human relationships are rarely rational. Google "authoritarian personality".

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#239540: Apr 21st 2018 at 9:09:14 AM

[up]I know that, doesn't mean that a smart person wouldn't behave different from a stupid one.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#239541: Apr 21st 2018 at 9:11:43 AM

[up]

Nix that - you likely meant a smart authoritarian rather than victim of mistreatment. Plus, Cohen might have figured that having a connection like Trump would be good for his bottom line, so what's the odd insult here or there if you make out like a bandit?

[down]

For clarification, my original post was complaining about your phrasing coming across as Victim Blaming until I re-read what you'd said.

edited 21st Apr '18 3:41:37 PM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#239542: Apr 21st 2018 at 9:27:31 AM

[up]Yes? I'm talking about the master here, not the servant.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#239543: Apr 21st 2018 at 10:04:14 AM

Cohen was probably banking on the chickens roosting on Trump. Or not coming home at all until he was safely dead.

Unfortunately, those chickens happen to be hungry eagles starving for a chunk of him — right now. And, they've not going to bother going to the manager if they can chew him, first.

edited 21st Apr '18 10:05:26 AM by Euodiachloris

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#239545: Apr 21st 2018 at 11:14:58 AM

That kind of dedication and loyalty is beyond commendable, they have my respect.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#239546: Apr 21st 2018 at 11:27:26 AM

[up][awesome] Couldn’t agree more.

People often forget that the US government is two million people, not a monolithic entity, and even when we find the government’s actions objectionable there are still those who show up to work every day to serve their country in one of an endless amount of ways.

They should have sent a poet.
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
#239547: Apr 21st 2018 at 11:34:12 AM

[up] *waves*

Of course, I don't have much of a choice; it's hard to not show up at work when you live there. tongue

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#239548: Apr 21st 2018 at 1:59:27 PM

I find what Roger Stone said about Barbara Bush to be quite deplorable. I would usually use stronger language in this kind of scenario, but I thought that "deplorable" was good enough. wink

Do not obey in advance.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#239549: Apr 21st 2018 at 2:00:50 PM

[up]Yeah I think deplorable nicely describes his behavior and entire character.

edited 21st Apr '18 2:00:55 PM by Fourthspartan56

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Wariolander Since: Nov, 2017
#239550: Apr 21st 2018 at 2:34:13 PM

There is apparently a US attack fleet heading to Syria in 2 days, but the media is completely quiet about it. I have a feeling it's the distraction for the Net Neutrality repeal.


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