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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
Following up on the reference to Joe Walsh a few pages, I'm surprised no one here talked about how Sacha Baron Cohen duped him and s few other NRA politicians into saying it was ok for Kindergardeners to carry guns for safety.
on Sacha Baron Cohens new show.
It may have been a prank via teleprompter, but the earnesty in which they all talk about it makes you wonder...
Watch SymphogearRepublicans are stating quite strongly just how "disappointed" and "dismayed"
they are by Trump's clear and obvious Quisling status.
With so many Republican allies in Congress mildly chagrinned, can the president ever recover?
What’s sad about all of these statements of vague displeasure, which appeared to be orchestrated by one or several of the communications war rooms on the Hill, is that they’re still an improvement over the recent norm. There weren’t many attempts to spin away the remarks. Few members tried to argue that the president did a sensational job—and those who tried, tried poorly—and most didn’t even bother to fabricate a feasible theory of how Trump siding with Putin over his own intelligence community was Democrats’ fault. This incident could spark some alarmist conversations in private, but publicly, it’s another embarrassing story they expect to recede over the next couple news cycles.
The Republicans most willing to harshly criticize the president were, as usual, those who no longer have to stand for election. Arizona Sen. John Mc Cain lit into the president for “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory,” and said it was “inflicted by President Trump’s naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats.” Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who said he watched most of the press conference “in disbelief” from the airport before boarding his flight to Washington, saw “our American President… stand on the stage with the Russian President and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression.”
Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the chairman of the Foreign Relation Committee who last week said he wished the Helsinki summit wasn’t happening, tore into the president for as long as reporters were willing to listen.
“I think the president has difficulty conflating how people treat him personally with representing our nation’s interest,” Corker said. “I’ve seen it before. But obviously Putin did a very good job in charming” Trump. He said that “no amount of talking” to the president personally would get him to correct himself, because he only “corrects things when he sees that his base becomes upset with him.”
Several Republicans expressed a frustration with another conflation the president makes: treating the discussions of Russian meddling in elections and alleged collusion with Russia with equal scorn. They were pleading with the president to just say it: Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
“I don’t understand why that’s so hard for the president to say,” Corker said. “It happened. His intelligence agencies know that it happened. Our committees know that it happened. It happened. I don’t understand the difficulty in just saying that. It’s a fact. It’s a fact.”
South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, practically begged Trump’s team to drill this into the president’s head.
“I am confident former CIA Director and current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, DNI Dan Coats, Ambassador Nikki Haley, FBI Director Chris Wray, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others,” Gowdy said in a statement, “will be able to communicate to the President it is possible to conclude Russia interfered with our election in 2016 without delegitimizing his electoral success.” Evidence suggests that this confidence is misplaced.
Most dismayed, discouraged, perplexed, and troubled Republicans weren’t willing to go there when asked whether one of those team members—perhaps DNI Coats, whom Trump threw under the bus during the press conference—should resign. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, though, was confused when a reporter asked, wondering why Coats should resign when he did nothing wrong.
“The people who made the comments are more responsible than the people that advise them,” he said.
Oh, and since the midterms aren't looking shaky enough, the Michigan State Supreme Court wants to make sure gerrymandering will continue forever
by pre-emptively blocking a citizen-run ballot initiative to mandate independent, non-partisan districts.
Voters in Michigan, like voters in states across the country, have for years had their voices diluted by partisan gerrymandering. That practice, in which politicians draw legislative maps to enhance political advantage, packs voters from each party into noncompetitive legislative districts. As a result, citizens are denied the opportunity to cast meaningful general-election ballots. In gerrymandered districts, it’s effectively a foregone conclusion that the Republican, or the Democrat, is going to win.
There is widespread consensus that partisan gerrymandering is a bad thing. Bipartisan majorities of the American public oppose the practice, and the U.S. Supreme Court has called it “incompatible with democratic principles.” Yet gerrymandering is notoriously difficult to stop. When legislators are charged with drawing district boundaries, they have every incentive to cocoon themselves and their partisan allies into “safe” districts populated primarily by members of their own party. Asking legislators to stop gerrymandering means asking politicians to surrender political advantage.
In Michigan, fed-up citizens took matters into their own hands. A grassroots group called Voters Not Politicians collected almost 425,000 petition signatures—100,000 more than were needed—to get a proposal for an “independent redistricting commission” placed on the ballot this November. The initiative, which would amend the Michigan Constitution, calls for the state Legislature to be stripped of the power to draw districts, instead vesting that power in an independent, nonpartisan commission.
A group called Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution filed a lawsuit challenging the proposal’s place on the ballot, but that challenge was unanimously rejected by a three-judge panel. That rejection made sense, as constitutional amendments of this type are procedurally routine. In the past half-century, the Michigan Constitution has been amended 10 times via citizen-sponsored initiatives. What’s more, citizens in other states have used the exact same mechanism to break partisan gerrymandering’s stranglehold on their politics. Voters in California and Arizona, for example, have directly amended their state constitutions to provide for independent redistricting commissions.
Nevertheless, the Michigan Supreme Court stepped in earlier this month and announced it would hear an appeal in the case. That raised alarm bells, because the court did not have to take the case at all. Its decision to consider the appeal—set for oral argument on Wednesday—suggests serious interest in removing the redistricting question from the ballot.
Such an outcome could be calamitous. Removing the redistricting question from the ballot would be legally wrong. It would damage the credibility of Michigan’s judiciary. And it would severely undermine democracy in Michigan.
Start with the law. The challengers’ primary contention is that the proposed redistricting amendment is really a comprehensive “revision” of the state constitution, which cannot be enacted by Michigan voters. That argument has its roots in two separate provisions in Michigan’s constitution. The first provision says that citizens can “amend” the constitution via a popular vote. The second says that “general revisions” to the constitution may be enacted at a constitutional convention. Harmonizing these two provisions, Michigan courts have held that specific, limited “amendments” may be enacted by a majority vote, whereas far-reaching “general revisions” must be enacted via convention.
But there are vanishingly few Michigan cases in which courts have held that a proposed change qualifies as a “general revision.” Indeed, the amendment process has repeatedly been used to enact sweeping changes to Michigan’s constitution. In 1992, for example, Michigan voters amended the constitution to impose term limits on congressional, legislative, and executive officers. Two years later, voters approved a multisubject amendment that raised sales taxes, limited property tax assessments, overhauled school funding, imposed a tobacco tax, and required a vote of three-quarters of the Legislature to change certain laws. Neither of those far-reaching ballot questions qualified as a “general revision.” And compared with those amendments, Michigan’s circumscribed redistricting proposal—which covers just a single issue—is downright modest.
With sparse Michigan precedent to support their position, the challengers rely on cases from California courts. That is a puzzling strategy: California law is not particularly relevant to the Michigan Constitution. But even if it were, recall that California voters in fact adopted an independent redistricting commission via a ballot question. California’s experience thus cuts squarely against the notion that a constitutional convention is needed.
In short, the main legal argument against placing redistricting reform on Michigan’s ballot is highly dubious. Indeed, now that the case has reached the state Supreme Court, the challengers are playing down that argument a bit in favor of what has always been a secondary contention in the case: a hypertechnical claim that the petitions people signed were invalid because they failed to “reproduce” a hodge-podge of peripheral constitutional provisions that could be indirectly affected by the amendment. That claim also misses the mark. Michigan’s Supreme Court has expressly warned that petition-gatherers should not confuse voters by reproducing “a maze of constitutional provisions”—which is precisely what the challengers assert should have been done.
In light of the challenge’s legal infirmity, a Supreme Court decision to remove redistricting reform from the ballot would raise an unavoidable appearance of partisanship. In Michigan, gerrymandering strongly favors Republicans, with the state’s Republican lawmakers drawing some of the country’s most lopsided legislative maps. Unsurprisingly, Michigan’s Republican Party has publicly expressed its strong opposition to independent redistricting efforts. The kicker? Michigan is one of just 10 states that provide for partisan election of judges. Five of the seven justices on the Michigan Supreme Court are Republicans. Two of those Republicans are up for their party’s nomination in August, and for re-election this fall. If those justices vote to kick independent redistricting off the ballot—thereby protecting their party’s gerrymandered advantage—the scent of partisanship will be overwhelming.
It gets worse. Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution, the shadowy group challenging the redistricting initiative, is heavily funded by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. In recent years, the Chamber has spent lavishly to elect Republicans to the state Supreme Court. In 2016, it spent more to elect two Republican justices than those justices’ campaigns and the state Republican Party combined. Were the court’s Republican members to torpedo redistricting reform, it would create the inference that they acted at the behest not just of their party, but also of their biggest campaign contributor.
Those optics aren’t just bad—they’re unacceptable. As the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly admonished, “justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” That’s why judges must recuse themselves from cases where the risk of bias appears intolerably high. Given the swirling morass of partisanship and money in this case, any decision by Republican justices to push redistricting reform off the ballot would appear unjust indeed. And that, in turn, would severely tarnish the Michigan Supreme Court’s reputation as an independent actor.
A decision to remove redistricting reform from the ballot, particularly under such dubious circumstances, would be yet another blow for democracy in Michigan. Due to extreme partisan gerrymandering, many Michiganders have never been able to cast a meaningful legislative ballot. If a partisan court rules against the redistricting proposal, those residents would again have their voices abridged—denied the opportunity to cast a ballot on the very reform that could make their votes matter.
If the court boots the redistricting question, in other words, Michiganders will effectively be doubly disenfranchised. That would be an ignominious distinction for the state to carry.
Seeing Roy Moore and Joe Arpaio being duped is gonna be so satisfying.
To be honest, that kind of thing really only matters if they have any ounce of self-reflection or shame. Otherwise all Baron Cohen is doing is giving them exposure and airtime.
What could the possible point be to going "ohhhh, Sacha made Roy Moore say he's in support of X, ho ho ho' when Moore is already on record being in support of child molestation?
It's been fun.@radioactive material, if the stuff missing is simple calibration disks it is little to no threat. Might get you on a watch list but isotope samples for detector calibration can be purchased by anyone online. The materials are tiny amounts fused to little disks that are damn near impossible to remove for how little is in them. Heck, my school kept a case full of them.
If that's what they were at least, it's just scaremongering with the dirty bomb talk.
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First, I personally find it very funny that these politicians would fall for it and end up saying these crazy things which they never would on record. Second, it shows the voters what some of them would actually do if they had the power.
Rohrabacher's district is one with a high probability to swing, so this definitely helps in attack ads and it's hopefully the last nail in the coffin for Moore in case he had desires to run again for something.
Life is unfair...In light of Donald Treason and Putin meeting, Obama warned against strongman politics, bigotry and nationalism in a speech in South Africa
.
Edited by TheWildWestPyro on Jul 17th 2018 at 10:18:09 AM
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Just because something is expected does not mean it cannot be enraging, especially considering the damage to American power he's causing. That was simply the perfect example of the damage he has been causing since the election.
Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Jul 17th 2018 at 4:22:39 AM
"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji YangRussian Defense Ministry says it's ready to boost security cooperation with US
"The Russian Defense Ministry is ready for practical implementation of the agreements in the sphere of international security reached by Russian and U.S. Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, at their Monday’s summit in Helsinki," Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the ministry said, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS.
Cut out the middlemen -- let's funnel intelligence directly to the Kremlin.
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."I.R.S. Will No Longer Force Kochs and Other Groups to Disclose Donors
The change, which has been long sought by conservatives and Republicans in Congress, will affect labor unions, social clubs and, most notably, many political groups like the National Rifle Association and the Koch network’s Americans for Prosperity, which collect what is known as “dark money.”
Edited by DrunkenNordmann on Jul 17th 2018 at 9:15:50 PM
We learn from history that we do not learn from historyhttps://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2018/07/17/day-544/
Day 544: Strange and uncertain times.
A bit late because the guy who assembles these tweeted that he was waiting for Trump's backpedal on Helsinki.
1/ Trump called his meeting with Putin "even better" than his "great meeting with NATO" allies while blaming the media for being "rude" and "going Crazy!" During yesterday's news conference, Trump said he doesn't "see any reason" why Russia would meddle during the last election, blaming the U.S. for acting with "foolishness and stupidity" toward Russia in the past. Trump also rejected the consensus of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Instead, Trump said he believed Putin's denial. (Washington Post / Bloomberg / Reuters)
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer called on Republicans to "immediately" convene a public hearing and "demand testimony" from Trump's national security team "to assess what President Trump might have committed to President Putin in secret." (CNN / The Hill)
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/chuck-schumer-hearing-russia-news-conference/index.html
Paul Ryan would consider additional sanctions on Russia, saying "Russia is a menacing government that does not share our interests and it does not share our values." (Reuters)
A Southeast Ohio county GOP chairman resigned in protest over Trump's meeting and press conference with Putin. Chris Gagin announced his resignation on Twitter: "I remain a proud conservative and Republican, but I resigned today as Belmont Co Ohio GOP Chairman. I did so as a matter of conscience, and my sense of duty." (Newsweek)
Protests erupted outside the White House as Trump returned from Helsinki, with dozens of demonstrators chanting "Traitor! Traitor!" until late into the night. The impromptu protest was dubbed #OccupyLafayettePark, and some protesters say they plan to remain outside the White House until Trump resigns. (The Hill)
2/ Trump tried to clarify his Helsinki summit comments, saying "I accept" the intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 election but it "could be other people also." Reading from prepared remarks, Trump said he misspoke yesterday and meant to say "I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be Russia" that interfered in the election. He also claimed "Russia's actions had no impact at all" on the election outcome. (Bloomberg / CNBC / Wall Street Journal)
3/ Obama on Trump: "Those in power seek to undermine every institution or norm that gives democracy meaning." Obama, delivering a speech to commemorate the Nelson Mandela, warned that "strongman politics are ascending suddenly, whereby elections, some pretense of democracy, are maintained, the form of it." He added that these are "strange and uncertain" times. (ABC News / The Hill)
4/ The U.S. Treasury will no longer require nonprofits like the NRA, Koch network's Americans for Prosperity, and Planned Parenthood to identify their financial donors to the IRS. Super PACS and other 501(c)(4) organizations will no longer have to provide the IRS with the names of donors who give them $5,000 or more. Critics said the measure will increases the likelihood of illegal donations of "dark money" from both domestic and foreign contributors. (Reuters / New York Times / CNN)
Notables.
The 20-foot-tall inflatable "Trump Baby" blimp is coming to America for a nationwide tour with starting in August. (NBC News)
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-baby-protest-blimp-coming-america-n891891
Trump plans to give Air Force One a "red, white, and blue" makeover after negotiating a $3.9 billion "fixed price contract" with Boeing for the planes. The current baby blue color scheme dates back to John F. Kennedy. (CBS News)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-air-force-one-getting-makeover/
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will cost almost 100 times more than Trump claimed in March. "They put an order in front of my desk last week for $1 billion," Trump claimed at the time, "We’re actually doing it for about $250,000, so check that out." But a Maryland construction firm has now been awarded a $21.2 million contract to design and build "compound security upgrades" at the embassy. (Newsweek)
https://www.newsweek.com/us-jerusalem-embassy-cost-100-times-more-trump-claimed-1027644
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said there's "a rising chorus of concern" from business over Trump's tariffs and that "countries that have gone in a more protectionist direction have done worse." (CNBC)
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/17/powell-countries-that-levy-tariffs-have-done-worse-over-time.html
The White House's mid-year budget projections see the federal deficit crossing $1 trillion in 2019. Previous estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forceasted the deficit to near $1 trillion in 2019, but not pass it until 2020. (The Hill)
And in news that shouldn't surprise anyone, Trump fucked up walking his statement back
, saying that he believes the Intelligence Community that Russia hacked the US - but added that it could've been others too.
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Who would have imagined in 2012, when Romney was criticised for calling Russia "America's number one geopolitical foe", that the next republican president would trust the word of Putin over the evidence gathered by US Intelligence agencies?
Edited by Grafite on Jul 17th 2018 at 9:35:21 AM
Life is unfair...

That said, the controversy is fertile ground for more Republican infighting, which is excellent for us.
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."