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

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#248751: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:56:15 PM

[up] Honestly, I personally think they should just allow Kavanaugh to get voted in (with most, if not all of them, voting against him, of course). If Kavanaugh gets in with little to no problems, then that will help keep Republican voters away from the Mid-Term. Then, come 2021, with a Democrat Majority in Congress and a Democrat President, Democrats should pack the Courts.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#248752: Jul 9th 2018 at 7:11:11 PM

Packing the courts is an unreliable scheme and would surely be filibustered/blocked by the GOP. And, given that the Democrats are unlikely to try that to start with, not one we should rest a lot of hopes in. (As much as people like to talk about here I see no reason to seriously consider this until Democrats in actual office start talking about it, which seems unlikely at this juncture.)

In any case, the general thought on the matter seems to be that the Democrats fully realize that they don't really have the votes to stop this, and unless they manage to flip some Republicans I'm not sure what they can do. Like, this appears to be a fight that they see most likely to end in defeat.

Edited by AceofSpades on Jul 9th 2018 at 9:13:18 AM

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#248753: Jul 9th 2018 at 7:13:49 PM

Even if the Democrats were seriously considering packing the court, I imagine that openly talking about it now would be a bad idea.

Edited by LSBK on Jul 9th 2018 at 9:15:33 AM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#248754: Jul 9th 2018 at 7:18:25 PM

[up]Yeah, it's kind of silly to act as if the Dems not talking about it means anything. Regardless of their leaderships intentions it would be insanely stupid of them to talk about it right now, that's for if/when they control the Senate.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#248755: Jul 9th 2018 at 7:33:52 PM

I say let it go forward. He's not an utter monster by the looks of it, and if there isn't a SCOTUS seat open, Senate Republicans lose half their platform.

And maybe look it the feasibility of imposing Term Limit on the court, because we you must have partisan judges, might as well treat as them as partisan entities.

Edited by Gilphon on Jul 9th 2018 at 10:34:49 AM

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#248756: Jul 9th 2018 at 7:36:27 PM

[up] That's harder then packing the courts because that requires a Constitutional Amendment; the Constitution says that Justices serve for life, but says nothing about how many Justices there has to be.

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#248757: Jul 9th 2018 at 9:58:48 PM

So how big of a threat is this new guy to LGBT rights because it looks like some people see him as a real danger to them?

Imca (Veteran)
#248758: Jul 9th 2018 at 10:19:11 PM

Less of a threat then the other choices, more so then would be liked.

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#248759: Jul 9th 2018 at 10:23:38 PM

Some "family institute" (read: frothing mad Heteronormative Crusader fascists) have already disavowed Kavanaugh because he's not anti-gay enough, apparently. So that's... something.

Do not obey in advance.
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#248760: Jul 9th 2018 at 11:03:48 PM

Is it too much to hope that the lunatic fringe in Congress throws enough of a fit about this guy that things last until the midterms? Of course, that would still just get brought up as ammo to rile the Republican base to come vote... and holding off on a nomination for two years would be difficult.

It's been fun.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#248761: Jul 9th 2018 at 11:32:05 PM

Somehow I'm not too surprised Trump picked someone who he'd think would help end Mueller's investigation or at least keep it from affecting Trump specifically.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#248762: Jul 10th 2018 at 12:55:21 AM

@Red Savant: Not really. A Democratic Senate could honorably give Trump a choice between Merrick Garland or an empty chair, because McConnell blocked any possibility of a vote on Obama's appointee.

And even if they didn't, a Democratic Senate has an obligation to say no to any picks that aren't acceptable to them in terms of moderation and integrity. "Nope, try again, Mr. Trump, and try not to offer us an avowed Nazi this time?"

PS: It would be absolutely Adolf Hitlarious if Trump can't get his pick for Kennedy's replacement through in 2018 because the moderates and the hardliners can't agree on who they want.

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#248763: Jul 10th 2018 at 2:07:32 AM

Oh, right. Didn't McConnell specifically torpedo the restriction against Congress doing exactly that? God, I hope his turtle ass is sweating right now.

Would Garland be an option, in the case of a Democratic Senate? I would have figured the choice would be one of Trump's picks or nothing.

Edited by RedSavant on Jul 10th 2018 at 5:09:34 AM

It's been fun.
Imca (Veteran)
#248764: Jul 10th 2018 at 2:18:11 AM

"You pick Garland or we are not saying yes"

The way the congress works, you don't actually need to obstruct, just threaten to obstruct to hold it up.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#248765: Jul 10th 2018 at 4:23:38 AM

I am less appalled by this choice than others and saddened we live in a world where "Trump trying to protect himself leads to someone who is not Heydrich" is the better of many options.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Wariolander Since: Nov, 2017
#248766: Jul 10th 2018 at 5:20:46 AM

The denaturalization task force has already gone after an old Peruvian secretary for a minor role in a fraud scheme: http://amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article214173489.html

Edited by Wariolander on Jul 10th 2018 at 5:27:50 AM

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#248767: Jul 10th 2018 at 5:50:34 AM

[up]A fraud scheme the old Peruvian lady helped busted for the FBI. WTF America.

Reflextion from a post-sanity world (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
#248768: Jul 10th 2018 at 5:52:59 AM

[up] and [up][up] I'd make some joke about how "that just proves that she can't be trusted", but I'm just too fucking disgusted.

(that and I'm sure that the ICEstapo are justifying themselves that way anyways)

Someone did tell me life was going to be this way.
Wariolander Since: Nov, 2017
#248769: Jul 10th 2018 at 5:54:21 AM

I wasn't expecting them to be active this quick, though, and I'm worried about myself and my family when we get back to the US. I mean, we're Europeans, but I don't think that matters...

TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#248770: Jul 10th 2018 at 6:05:40 AM

San Bernadino prosecutor suspended pending an investigation after hateful social media comments about Maxine Waters, Michelle Obama, and Mexican immigrants

His line regarding Waters: Being a loud mouthed c#nt in the ghetto you would have thought someone would have shot this bitch by now

A California prosecutor will be placed on administrative leave as his office investigates offensive comments made on his social media accounts, the county district attorney announced on Monday.

Michael Selyem, who leads the Hardcore Gang Unit at the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, is the subject of an internal investigation, according to a statement from District Attorney Mike Ramos, after reportedly targeting Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), former first lady Michelle Obama, immigrants and Mexicans in comments on his social media accounts.

According to images published in the San Bernardino Sun newspaper, Selyem recently attacked Waters after she called for Trump administration members to be harassed in public.

“Being a loudmouthed . . . in the ghetto you would think someone would have shot” her by now, he wrote, in a much more explicit manner, according to the Sun.

Selyem also posted a fake picture of Michelle Obama holding a sign that said “Trump grabbed my penis,” the Sun wrote. The notion that Michelle Obama is a man is a smear that has grown in some conspiracy-theory-minded circles on the right.

Beneath a Breitbart article, he reportedly wrote: “I am all for white males immigrating here legally and starting a business. It is the terrorist a–holes sneaking in here wanting to kill me an[d] my family that I am opposed to.”

He also posted a picture of a man in a large sombrero with the caption: “Mexican word of the day: Hide.”

The posts came to the attention of Ramos’s office on June 28, the office said. Ramos said the office has received “more than several complaints,” and has been flooded with calls from around the country since the news was publicized. The Sun published its report on Friday. It was not clear exactly when Selyem would be placed on administrative leave. Ramos’s spokesman, Christopher Lee, did not immediately return a request for comment.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos. (Stan Lim/Orange County Register via AP) Ramos told reporters Monday that he was concerned about the effects the comments could have on the integrity of his office, citing a remark Selyem reportedly made online that a civilian who was shot by police “got exactly what he deserved.”

...

Selyem faces possible disciplinary action, including termination, Ramos said — a step for which some activists have already called. His caseload is being reassigned, Ramos said.

Ramos said he was bracing for potential motions and challenges to cases on which Selyem had worked.

Right wing civility.

By the way, this:

“Being a loudmouthed . . . in the ghetto you would think someone would have shot” her by now, he wrote, in a much more explicit manner, according to the Sun.

reminds me of an idea I had awhile ago. So many times due to publication standards and codes of "decency" imposed by the FCC and the like, news reports can't actually report what was said when a misogynist or bigot goes off like this, they're reduced to either cleaning it up or justing writing it up as something along the lines of "so and so made racially insensitive remarks", which is a meaningless statement, since something like "The Asians are good at math" is also a racially insensitive remark.

As such I've thought that enterprising journalists, especially left wingers, should take advantage of the internet to create a truly uncensored news format that can show exactly what is being said and done, rather than leaving it up to the imagination of the readers or leaving them trying to chase down the truth among rumors and such.

So in the unlikely event I ever start up an internet journalism site called Uncensored News, anyone here want to be an early subscriber or contributor?

Edited by TheWanderer on Jul 10th 2018 at 9:11:13 AM

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#248771: Jul 10th 2018 at 6:18:40 AM

[up]Isn't Daily Kos kinda that already?

i'm tired, my friend
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#248772: Jul 10th 2018 at 6:24:53 AM

[up]Sort of. It's a bit too leftist for its own good. They mean well, but they aren't exactly realists.

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#248773: Jul 10th 2018 at 6:25:07 AM

I realize this is probably a "lowering the bar" thing, but considering some of the potential choices for Supreme Court, Trump could've picked a LOT worse. Like, imagine if Ted Cruz or Mike Lee were one of his picks. I wasn't even that crazy about Amy Coney Barrett, to be honest.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#248774: Jul 10th 2018 at 6:26:57 AM

[up]Same. As much as it pains me to say it, at least we didn't get Judge Roy Moore.

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#248775: Jul 10th 2018 at 6:36:50 AM

Honestly, at this point all Republicans are the same until they prove otherwise. Collins may claim she wants to keep the ACA, but she's happy to stand aside and let her fellow Republicans tear it down. The random Republican of the Week may make noises about Trump destroying decades-old alliances, and pissing off rich allies to cozy up to an old enemy with about as much wealth as Mexico, but they won't do anything concrete. My family members may say they're very concerned about LGBTQ rights in this country, but they'll still pull the lever for the bigot, and they don't even qualify for the damn tax cuts.

So, this judge, whichever one the regressive party picked? He's as bad as the rest. He may show a few token slivers of decency or common sense, but he's all in.


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