All purpose news and politics thread part VII: News & Politics Total Landscaping

[CaptainEurope]

I'm not sure if people are reading the links you post, as I'm very confused at the responses you are getting if they are.

I am guessing they are saying in the past it was lower in Japan, and now Inflation is higher there, and here is why that is bad news for Joe Biden. It's called New York Times Brain.

[CaptainEurope]

Things are out of control in the Oversight Committee as there have been repeated outbursts from Marjorie Taylor Greene. The hearing has been tied up after Greene insulted the appearance of another member.

Greene: I would like to know if any of the Democrats on this committee are employing Judge Merchan’s daughter

Crockett: What does that have to do with Garland?

Raskin: Is she a porn star?

Crockett: Do you know what we’re here for?

Greene: I don’t think you know what we’re here for. I think your fake eyelashes are messing up your reading.

https://x.com/Acyn/status/1791278654036812264

Personal attacks against other members isn't allowed, so AOC requested a motion and asked for an apology which was blocked.

Rep. Crockett responded with:

“I’m just curious, just to better understand your ruling: If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde bad built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?”

[WestPhillyPunisher]

https://x.com/Acyn/status/1791278654036812264

Personal attacks against other members isn't allowed, so AOC requested a motion and asked for an apology which was blocked.

Rep. Crockett responded with:

“I’m just curious, just to better understand your ruling: If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde bad built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?”

Word of warning to Madam Howler Monkey: do NOT come after Rep. Crockett unless you're prepared to face the consequences.

[CaptainEurope]

The party of law and order:

Texas pardons US soldier who shot Black Lives Matter protester

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pardoned a man convicted of killing a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020.

Daniel Perry, an ex-US Army sergeant, was moonlighting as an Uber driver in Austin when he turned on to a street where demonstrators were marching.

Garrett Foster, one of the protesters, approached the vehicle carrying a rifle. Perry shot him dead.

Perry said he acted in self-defence, but he was convicted by a jury and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Foster, 28, a former US Air Force mechanic, was openly carrying an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle - something that is legal under Texas law - at the time of the confrontation on 25 July 2020. He was white, as is Perry.

The case became a rallying point for conservatives and Governor Abbott previously said he would pardon Perry as soon as he received an official request. Perry was convicted of murder in April 2023.

In a statement County DA Garza said: "The Board and the Governor have put their politics over justice and made a mockery of our legal system. They should be ashamed of themselves."

[CaptainEurope]

Samuel Alito flew an upside-down flag on his yard—a symbol that has been adopted by MAGA to dispute the legitimacy of Biden’s electoral victory in 2020— in reaction to a neighbor's anti-Trump yard sign. The judge says his wife did it without his input. This was early 2021,while SCOTUS was deciding election related cases.

What excuse does Chief Justice Roberts have not to ask him to recuse himself from the Trump-related case in front of SCOTUS right now?



His house is kinda ugly, too.

[Zelena]

The party of law and order:

Texas pardons US soldier who shot Black Lives Matter protester

Foster, 28, a former US Air Force mechanic, was openly carrying an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle - something that is legal under Texas law - at the time of the confrontation on 25 July 2020. He was white, as is Perry.

Not he has deserved to be shot dead for that but I wonder what were his reasons for carrying such a weapon… Sentimental reasons?…

[CaptainEurope]

Not he has deserved to be shot dead for that but I wonder what were his reasons for carrying such a weapon… Sentimental reasons?…

He was Texan.

[Tami]

He was Texan.

In places like Texas, it is legal and even encouraged to carry weapons at all times...except...if you are Black or Hispanic or otherwise Non-white, or if you are a Democrat/Liberal and likely to be protesting against Texas State Laws or other issues. They may trick you into thinking you can carry a weapon, but that is just a ruse to set you up to be killed by the police. [Seriously, I don't think it's some vast conspiracy, just the standard, run of the mill mixing of idiots, bigots, crazies, and others like them who are NOT in elected office with weapon idolatry.]

[WestPhillyPunisher]

In places like Texas, it is legal and even encouraged to carry weapons at all times...except...if you are Black or Hispanic or otherwise Non-white, or if you are a Democrat/Liberal and likely to be protesting against Texas State Laws or other issues. They may trick you into thinking you can carry a weapon, but that is just a ruse to set you up to be killed by the police. [Seriously, I don't think it's some vast conspiracy, just the standard, run of the mill mixing of idiots, bigots, crazies, and others like them who are NOT in elected office with weapon idolatry.]

When it comes to what I've boldfaced, it's been that way nationwide since the late 60's when terrified whites were all about gun control to the hilt after the Black Panthers started arming themselves. And absolutely nothing has changed today, the NRA will NEVER come to the rescue of gun owners of color when they get in trouble like they will white folks.

[CaptainEurope]

Samuel Alito flew an upside-down flag on his yard—a symbol that has been adopted by MAGA to dispute the legitimacy of Biden’s electoral victory in 2020— in reaction to a neighbor's anti-Trump yard sign. The judge says his wife did it without his input. This was early 2021,while SCOTUS was deciding election related cases.

What excuse does Chief Justice Roberts have not to ask him to recuse himself from the Trump-related case in front of SCOTUS right now?



His house is kinda ugly, too.

Here is a gift link to the NYT story about it:
https://t.co/Hred1rWebW

[Tami]

Here is a gift link to the NYT story about it:
https://t.co/Hred1rWebW

I posted the same link here.

[Dalak]

"The analysis of members’ ideological scores finds that the current standoff between Democrats and Republicans is the result of several overlapping trends that have been playing themselves out – and sometimes reinforcing each other – for decades.

Both parties have grown more ideologically cohesive. There are now only about two dozen moderate Democrats and Republicans left on Capitol Hill, versus more than 160 in 1971-72.

Both parties have moved further away from the ideological center since the early 1970s. Democrats on average have become somewhat more liberal, while Republicans on average have become much more conservative.

Between the 92nd Congress of 1971-72 and the current 117th Congress, both parties in both the House and the Senate have shifted further away from the center, but Republicans more so. House Democrats, for example, moved from about -0.31 to -0.38, meaning that over time they’ve become modestly more liberal on average. House Republicans, by contrast, moved from 0.25 to nearly 0.51, a much bigger increase in the conservative direction.

As Democrats have grown more liberal over time and Republicans much more conservative, the “middle” – where moderate-to-liberal Republicans could sometimes find common ground with moderate-to-conservative Democrats on contentious issues – has vanished.

Five decades ago, 144 House Republicans were less conservative than the most conservative Democrat, and 52 House Democrats were less liberal than the most liberal Republican, according to the analysis. But that zone of ideological overlap began to shrink, as conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans – increasingly out of step with their caucuses and their constituents – either retired, lost reelection bids or, in a few cases, switched parties."

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-re...-back-decades/

None of this personal analysis contradicts the data provided nor supports your argument that the left has moved more than the right.



Trump alone proves that Republicans prefer to promote extreme right-wing policies and nominate extremist candidates to the forefront of the party.

Political blogger Nate Silver and his team at FiveThirtyEight have repeatedly used DW-NOMINATE scores to gauge the ideological location of major political figures and institutions.[30][31][32][33][34]

It seems that 538 uses this method repeatedly, so it's accuracy does seem to be more than advertised. Then there's the evidence of Trump, DeSantis, Johnson, Green, Gosar, Gaetz, Paxton, etc to which there is no real response. I also see no arguments that the Left hasn't moved any, the opposite in fact.

I’ve voiced the somewhat unpopular idea before that moderates are integral to stable democratic governance. If no one can compromise nothing important gets done. Parties can only accomplish relevant change through political dominance which contributes to an overall undemocratic and unstable political system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co_PxfXi2IM

History shows that it is difficult to compromise with bigotry and intolerance.

The more extreme the parties get, the harder it is to meet in the middle. The fact that one of the parties has a large history of backstabbing, hypocrisy, & going back on agreements also hinders things, since if you can't trust conservatives in negotiations what motivation is there to try? Moderate & Conservative mindsets are absolutely necessary in politics, but with the madness infecting conservative philosophy these days it's hard to see a way forward when they won't do anything to police the behavior of their own. They have to be able to control the radical elements and accept the consequences for GoP officials/politicians when they are guilty of fraud, insurrection, or any other crimes they stand accused of. If the consequence is a swift trial that exonerates them then that seems worth it to me.

"Unsealed evidence shows racist comments, threats of violence made by Daniel Perry before killing of Austin protester"

"Daniel Perry, whom Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has pledged to pardon for the murder of an Austin protester, often made racist comments and regularly made clear his desire to kill protesters in the months leading up to Garrett Foster’s death, according to social media posts and texts contained in newly unsealed court documents.

On May 29, 2020, days after George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer prompted nationwide protests, Perry sent a text message saying, “I might go to Dallas to shoot looters.”

Two days later, according to the records, Perry said in a Facebook message that when he is in Dallas, “no protestors go near me or my car.”

“Can you catch me a negro daddy,” the other man replied.

“That is what I am hoping,” Perry said.

In June, Perry sent text messages from an unknown area detailing bars closing and “the blacks … gathering up in a group I think something is about to happen.”

“I wonder if they will let my cut the ears off of people who’s decided to commit suicide by me,” he added.

The court records, released Thursday, contain evidence pulled from Perry’s phone records and social media accounts. Prosecutors had filed the sealed 82-page document in March, but much of it was not brought before jurors. Information depicting a defendant’s character is often not allowed to be introduced while a jury weighs guilt versus innocence, but becomes relevant in a sentencing hearing.

The U.S. Army sergeant also sent racist and anti-Muslim messages before and after Floyd’s death. In April 2020, he sent a meme, which included a photo of a woman holding her child’s head under water in the bath, with the text, “WHEN YOUR DAUGHTERS FIRST CRUSH IS A LITTLE NEGRO BOY,” according to the state’s filing.

“To bad we can’t get paid for hunting Muslims in Europe,” he said.

Perry’s defense attorney Clint Broden declined to comment on the newly released court documents.

Perry, who is white, was convicted last week in Travis County in the shooting death of Foster in July 2020. Perry drove his car into a group of protesters, including Foster, a white Air Force veteran. Foster was carrying an AK-47, a legal act in Texas. Perry’s attorneys said at trial Foster raised his rifle, prompting Perry to shoot Foster five times through his car window with his handgun. Witnesses said Foster did not raise his rifle."

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04...tin-protester/

A man hunting for people to kill gets pardoned, I would like to see the rationale behind that explained by someone who faces accountability for it.

This is just my take, I know there are some people who agree with me and probably more that disagree, but looking back, I think the significant rise began around 2014-2015. There were political conflicts before, but I feel they were mostly about politicians, but after that more social and cultural topics became more heated as well. The country is I would say about 70/30 conservative/liberal, but people used to be more chill about LGBTQ+ issues, or at least that was my perception. Then we had a referendum in 2015 about registered partnerships with a very nasty campaign on the conservative side and the topic remained heated ever since. In 2014 the war in Ukraine began and although it did not affect us that much back then, since it was concentrated in the East, a lot of misinformation websites started to pop up that were later proven to be financed from russia. Then the refugee crisis in 2015 happened that affected all of Europe (even though we were mostly fine, since we are basically just transit country to further west, it still didn't help). In 2018, there was a political crisis here after a young journalist was murdered along with his fiancee - he was writing about the connections between politicians around Fico and several members of organized crime. There were a lot of protests, Fico was ousted and lost elections in 2020, but because the new government was a mess due to a lot of childish inter-fighting and some poor decisions during covid, people were largely frustrated with them and Fico won again in 2023. Covid and then war generally made everything worse, because the government could not concentrate properly on reforms they were meant to do and had to deal with these crises and then were blamed for the results like inflation and people being scared. (And of course the aforementioned misinformation websites that were already anti-LGBT, anti-Ukraine, anti-migrants, anti-liberal/west/America, etc. became anti-vaccine and anti-any covid precautions and then even more aggressively anti-Ukraine. And social media was making everything worse all this time.)

If political parties can't agree on things like norms, acceptable practices, and other basics of living in a society with others that ordinary people have to deal with, there can be no end in sight for this radicalization and the violence that comes along with it. If they won't do it by choice their voters have to find a way to show them it's unacceptable, and the most extreme case of that which doesn't get into violence is by refusing to vote for them en-masse and contacting them to let them know.

[Dalak]

At Justice Alito’s House, a ‘Stop the Steal’ Symbol on Display

This made me feel rage like I haven't felt since the first couple of years of Trump being president. It just infuriates me that we have a confirmed insurrectionist traitor on the Sup Court (two of them!) who are going to give him immunity. It's SO fucking awful and we can no nothing about this. And he's allowed to have a judge that he appointed for another criminal trial where she can just throw the case out because she feels like it.

Samuel Alito flew an upside-down flag on his yard—a symbol that has been adopted by MAGA to dispute the legitimacy of Biden’s electoral victory in 2020— in reaction to a neighbor's anti-Trump yard sign. The judge says his wife did it without his input. This was early 2021,while SCOTUS was deciding election related cases.

What excuse does Chief Justice Roberts have not to ask him to recuse himself from the Trump-related case in front of SCOTUS right now?

https://i.imgur.com/mS4HvYp.jpeg

His house is kinda ugly, too.

Here is a gift link to the NYT story about it:
https://t.co/Hred1rWebW

And this shows why the 'code of ethics' they tried to claim they have is useless, as when they offend there's no method of enforcement nor any consequences for flouting it. The SCOTUS need to be above politics yes, but they also have to have more than guidelines that regin in bad behavior as it breeds too much corruption & mistrust. Of course these feelings are also helpful to the authoritarian takeover of the US as if no one trusts the institutions that are supposed to serve the people then they won't complain until after they're torn down and what's replaced them requires a revolution to unseat.

When you say that something "isn't enough," it doesn't mean you give up if you can't get everything thing you want all at once. It means you work to get one part of it, celebrate a little when you get it, then move on to get the next part. That's what King did. That's what realistic people do.

Apparently he thinks most black people can't afford a burger and a cup of coffee these days.

While economic empowerment is important King never ignored race to focus solely on money.

This also fails to take into account issues like voting rights, redlining and segregation, police brutality, and many other issues that money alone doesn't solve.

It's the standard argument that was made by many Sanders supporters -- that racial issues don't matter (to them).

Clearly they mattered enough to cost him the nomination and to help Biden -- and Obama before him -- win the presidency.

Things don't exist in a vacuum, and treating them as if they did is a disservice to everyone as much important context is lost which could help attaining important goals and convincing others to back said goals. If a goal is important enough to you, the work should never stop.

I am guessing they are saying in the past it was lower in Japan, and now Inflation is higher there, and here is why that is bad news for Joe Biden. It's called New York Times Brain.

That gave me a laugh.

https://x.com/Acyn/status/1791278654036812264

Personal attacks against other members isn't allowed, so AOC requested a motion and asked for an apology which was blocked.

Rep. Crockett responded with:

“I’m just curious, just to better understand your ruling: If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde bad built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?”

IOKIYAR at it's finest.

In places like Texas, it is legal and even encouraged to carry weapons at all times...except...if you are Black or Hispanic or otherwise Non-white, or if you are a Democrat/Liberal and likely to be protesting against Texas State Laws or other issues. They may trick you into thinking you can carry a weapon, but that is just a ruse to set you up to be killed by the police. [Seriously, I don't think it's some vast conspiracy, just the standard, run of the mill mixing of idiots, bigots, crazies, and others like them who are NOT in elected office with weapon idolatry.]

When it comes to what I've boldfaced, it's been that way nationwide since the late 60's when terrified whites were all about gun control to the hilt after the Black Panthers started arming themselves. And absolutely nothing has changed today, the NRA will NEVER come to the rescue of gun owners of color when they get in trouble like they will white folks.

Gun culture in Texas has evolved as I grew up there. It began as just "Cowboys love guns" and the stereotypes involved in that, but as time went on more & more spite became mixed into it. The assault weapons ban helped with that, but it's only gotten worse as more irrational gun violence occurs (Driveway Shootings) and more deaths are caused by mass shootings so they can protect their guns. Hate & Fear have done alot to unravel the melting pot that the US used to be.

[kidfresh512]

The party of law and order:

Texas pardons US soldier who shot Black Lives Matter protester

The headlines of this which is all people will read don't really underscore how terrible this murderer is. I mean the released text messages proved he was looking to kill. He was a racist engaging in racist back and forths with other incels.

Abbot won't pay a price for it because the red county racists agree with him.

[Tami]

What Israel’s strategic corridor in Gaza reveals about its postwar plans

Israeli troops are fortifying a strategic corridor that carves Gaza in two, building bases, taking over civilian structures and razing homes, according to satellite imagery and other visual evidence — an effort that military analysts and Israeli experts say is part of a large-scale project to reshape the Strip and entrench the Israeli military presence there.

The Netzarim Corridor is a four-mile-long road just south of Gaza City that runs from east to west, stretching from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea. Hamas has made Israel’s withdrawal from the area a central demand in cease-fire negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released few concrete plans for the “day after” — a source of frustration for his generals and for Washington — but has repeatedly vowed to maintain “indefinite” security control over the enclave. In addition to conducting future raids from outside, Israeli troops may need to “be inside” Gaza to ensure the demilitarization of Hamas, Netanyahu said in a podcast interview earlier this week.

In addition to leverage in negotiations, control of the corridor gives the Israeli military valuable flexibility, allowing troops to be deployed quickly throughout the enclave. It also affords the Israel Defense Forces the ability to maintain control over the flow of aid and the movement of displaced Palestinians, which it says is necessary to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping.

At least 750 buildings have been destroyed in what appears to be a systematic effort to create a “buffer zone” that stretches at least 500 yards on either side of the road, according to an analysis by Hebrew University’s Adi Ben-Nun, a geographic data specialist. Another 250 buildings have been razed in the area of the U.S. pier, he said.

The IDF declined to comment on the clearing of buildings around the corridor, saying it could not answer operational questions during an ongoing war.

Military experts say it is part of a large-scale, long-term reshaping of Gaza’s geography, harking back to past Israeli plans to carve Gaza into easier-to-control cantons.

By Nov. 6, troops had cut an informal, winding track to the sea that allowed armored vehicles to reach al-Rashid Road, a major north-south thoroughfare that runs along Gaza’s coast. In February and March, Israeli troops formalized the corridor by building a straight road a few hundred meters to the south. The last section of the road, nearest to the coast, was completed between March 5 and March 9, satellite imagery shows.

The IDF says the road enables military vehicles to travel from one side of the Strip to the other in just seven minutes, giving soldiers speedy and unimpeded access to north and central Gaza. It was used as a base of operations for recent IDF attacks in Zeitoun, in northern Gaza, said one Israeli military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with IDF protocol.