All-purpose news and politics thread: Two Steps Beyond!(Part II)

[Jack Dracula]

The TPP was insidious as f**k, though Hillary greenlighting it as President wasn’t necessarily guaranteed (especially if there was a large enough public outcry against it).

I'm curious as to why you think that. With China poised to take over the majority of trade throughout the Pacific Rim over the next decade it makes sense to ratify a trade deal encompassing as many of the major players in the region.
China's been investing billions in a new series of trade routes throughout Asia over the last few years and with their cheap labor force we'll need to be very ceative here in the US if we plan to compete.
Another benefit would've been the ability to work with our trade partners to clean up some of the production processes which are currently polluting the Pacific Ocean. Trump pissed on all of it because he wants to develop his own Chinese business interests when he gets out of office and now they owe him.

[BeastieRunner]

Team Mueller Update:

Mueller’s heavily redacted new filing about Paul Manafort, decoded: There are references to shady payments, meetings with a Russian associate, mysterious work, and more.

Mueller confirms Kilimnik a focus of grand jury investigation.

GOP senator: 'Really important' that Mueller report be made public.

Top Judiciary Democrat: Vote to confirm Barr hinges on commitment to release final Mueller report.

Fienstein and Kennedy agree: make the report public.

[worstblogever]

A lot of the hate directed at Booker is pretty bizarre.

I don't know that Booker's running in 2020... he might end up being a VP candidate. Rumors are out right now that he's dating Rosario Dawson, though, which... sign me up for a liberal activist Puerto Rican first or second lady if they are an item.

[aja_christopher]

I doubt the optics of this are bad for Trump.

Most Americans enjoy fast food on occasion. The criticism just comes across as unserious snobbery (and means less time is devoted to substantive criticism).

Right -- like about how he uses Dijon mustard or wears tan suits in office.



Don't worry though -- we can make fun of Trump and talk about his (and other Republicans') treasonous behavior at the same time.

[BeastieRunner]

Pelosi's letter grabbed Trump right in the publicity.

[kidfresh512]

Karen Pence Is Teaching at Christian School That Bars L.G.B.T. Students and Teachers

Karen Pence, the second lady of the United States, returned to teaching art this week, accepting a part-time position at a private Christian school that does not allow gay students and requires employees to affirm that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

The website of the school, Immanuel Christian School, which enrolls kindergartners through eighth graders at its campus in Springfield, Va., details its religious beliefs and expectations of both students and their parents, as well as those who wish to work there. The school’s employment application requires candidates to describe their faith in Jesus Christ, affirm that they are a born-again Christian and vow to adhere to specific standards in their personal and professional lives.

The eighth item on the application’s “Articles of Employment,” which requires applicants to sign their initials next to a list of beliefs, outlines Immanuel Christian’s definition of marriage and stances on sexual identity.

“I understand that the term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning; the uniting of one man and one woman,” it reads, adding that certain “moral misconduct” would be disqualifying, such as “heterosexual activity outside of marriage (e.g., premarital sex, cohabitation, extramarital sex), homosexual or lesbian sexual activity, polygamy, transgender identity, any other violation of the unique roles of male and female.”

Teach them how to paint wholesome landscapes mother.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

MAY survives vote of no confidence. The **** show continues

[jetengine]

MAYbsurvives vite of no confidence. The **** show continues

If she lost it would of been a **** show as well.

[PaulBullion]

Please throw out a couple of Warren's issues that are even remotely in the same league as Harris'.

.

Dude.

She was a member of a radical, deeply destructive party well into her 40s.

Talk about baggage.

[BeastieRunner]

Pence declared ISIS dead and defeated today.

Deadliest attack on US troops in 5 years at the hands of ISIS confirmed 10 minutes ago.

*slow clap*

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

If she lost it would of been a **** show as well.

I think they are headed towards no deal

[JCAll]

Pence declared ISIS dead and defeated today.

Deadliest attack on US troops in 5 years at the hands of ISIS confirmed 10 minutes ago.

*slow clap*

Cheap theatrics out of the White House, like Syria or The Wall, are just there to give people that don't like thinking about problems in the Middle East or South/Central America the excuse they need to stop caring. If they pile up sand for people to bury their heads in, maybe people will keep voting to keep them in power.

[Tuck]

That part is so crazy to me. If you supported Sanders and then voted for Trump, you did not give a **** about any of the things Sanders does. Except maybe ending TPP. That's like the only thing.

If your content to let the country burn because your candidate didn't get the nom...man.

You're assuming people understand politics. They were both complaining about the status quo, and for a lot of people that's near enough to the same thing.

I remember during the 08 election, I ran into a few different online questionnaires that kept giving similar results. These were internet questionnaires that were filled out by people who chose to, so not useful in general. But compared to themselves . . . they would ask how people would describe their political leaning and then have them choose policy ideas that best reflected their preference which were pulled verbatim from candidates' websites. Over and over, majorities identified as conservative (with pluralities identifying as center-right), but the candidate most people were lining up with, sometimes by significant margins, was Dennis Kucinich.

Average Americans have been swimming in BS for so long, they don't really know who shares their politics.

[jetengine]

I think they are headed towards no deal

There is no 'think' about it. They've been wasting time to get it.

[PaulBullion]

Yeah but Texas and Florida are gone.

Why is Florida gone? A ballot measure just gave a huge number of minority voters who served their time back their voting rights. And all major elections in Florida recently were so close that recounts were quite common.