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

[Tami]

Meanwhile, Ojeda is an actual Trump voter.

Seen him on TV news, I hope that the news media don't make a habit of promoting him over anyone else just because he came out first as a prospective candidate. It's the 'shiny new object syndrome' that the News Media is afflicted with.

[Tami]

EXCLUSIVE: Jacob Wohl Speaks Out About Michael Avenatti’s Arrest

Earlier this week, conservative conspiracy theorist Jacob Wohl’s company, Surefire Intelligence, seemingly took credit for recent domestic violence allegations against attorney Michael Avenatti.

After being released on bond, Avenatti made a tweet implying that Jacob Wohl and Surefire Intelligence were somehow behind the domestic abuse accusations against him, saying, “First Mueller and now me. When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl aka Surefire.”

Since then, Wohl has reached out to Hill Reporter in regards to his alleged association with Avenatti’s accuser.

It was just weeks ago that Wohl made headlines by holding a press conference in which he and conservative radio host Jack Burkman alleged that a woman named Carolyne Cass had been raped by special counsel Robert Mueller.

This press conference came only days after Hill Reporter broke a story that the special counsel had alerted the FBI of a scheme to pay women (particularly a woman that doesn’t appear to exist, named Lorraine Parson) to accuse Mueller of sexual assault. We then exposed both Burkman and Wohl in what appeared to put them in the drivers seat behind threatening text messages and phone calls, as well as fake emails, alleging to be Ms. Parsons.

Given the extent to which Hill Reporter exposed Wohl in the past, it surprised us when Wohl reached out to us on Friday, after we had been in communication with Carolyne Cass, the woman who accused Robert Mueller of rape.

We explained to Wohl that many people are suggesting that he may have set Avenatti up in some way. Wohl then said something that was rather interesting:

“Yeah but it was his live-in girlfriend. So I’ve been running his live-in girlfriend as some kind of manchurian candidate for 6/7 months?”

This is quite an odd statement, given that we are unaware of any reports claiming that the woman accuser had been living with Avenatti for at least ‘6-7 months’. After informing Wohl that we are completely unaware of the accuser having been a live-in girlfriend who had been living with Avenatti for over half a year, he seemed to backtrack a bit.

“It could be someone else, you are right. That’s interesting to point out, but anyway, OK, well that’s that on that story.”

[Kirby101]

I want to add something about the "what has Pelosi done" narrative.

From 2007-2010, when Democrats went to the floor in the House to vote on bills, the votes were almost always there. There were almost no "shock" defeats on legislation in that chamber. If bills got held up, it was because of old coots in the Senate like Jim Bunning. She got everything at least to the Senate. She was extremely capable of that, compared to many other House Speakers. I mean, compare it to Hastert, Boehner, and Ryan, and the number of times they had a majority but couldn't get things as f***ing simple as the Farm Bill passed because of the House Freedom Caucus.

I know that we're talking about 8 years ago, but she was very good in the role. At this point, I'm comfortable with her having the role, especially because nobody else seems to be stepping up to challenge her. There will be "protest votes" from maybe 20 or so Democrats from swing Districts, but when they count up votes for Speaker, there's no way Democrats come up shorter than someone like Kevin McCarthy. Especially because the Republicans are going to have dips***s split their vote between McCarthy and Freedom Caucus members like Jim Jordan or Daniel Webster.

Tip O'Neil, a great Speaker, said the main job of the Speaker is to count votes. Make sure a piece of legislation has enough votes to pass and then allow the vulnerable members, who would be hurt by a yea vote, to vote against it.
The idea that the Speaker is THE Party Leader is a new phenomena, something Newt Gingrich tried to make it . The Speaker's job is to get into the weeds. Pelosi has been an effective Speaker.

[Mecegirl]

The base of the Democratic Party are women and POC. They'll know better than to nominate a guy who fucking voted for Trump. Proudly.

It's looking like he's the type to hook some of the Bernie voters. But yeah, democratic women and POC won't react well to him. Mostly because we have been pissed for fucking ever at the system at large and we didn't fall for Trump's bullshit. Personally I can't trust the judgement of someone with that voting record. Not saying that he can't or shouldn't join the fight. Not saying that Trump voters have no path to "redemption" just not comfortable with someone who rushes to judgement like that and missed blatant red flags.

[Tami]

It's looking like he's the type to hook some of the Bernie voters. But yeah, democratic women and POC won't react well to him. Mostly because we have been pissed for fucking ever at the system at large and we didn't fall for Trump's bullshit. Personally I can't trust the judgement of someone with that voting record. Not saying that he can't or shouldn't join the fight. Not saying that Trump voters have no path to "redemption" just not comfortable with someone who rushes to judgement like that and missed blatant red flags.

He has the backing of teachers and educators, he is building a base. But yeah, outside of the coal belt, I don't seen him having much appeal.

He voted for Trump. Now he's running as his foe in West Virginia's coal country

Especially with voters who supported Clinton. I am certain that I would never vote for him. Maybe let him have Betsy DeVos' job in the next Democratic Administration.

[Mister Mets]

DEMOCRATIC REP. JOE CROWLEY, FACING PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGE, TURNS TO GOP LOBBYING FIRM FOR CASH

HOW PEOPLE CLOSE TO JOE CROWLEY HAVE GOTTEN RICH WHILE THE QUEENS BOSS HAS RISEN IN CONGRESS

Who’s out to get Rep. Joe Crowley?

Family of Queens Democratic Boss Snatches Up Supreme Court Appointments

Steny Hoyer

Secretly Taped Audio Reveals Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer Pressuring Progressive Candidate To Leave Race

Politico- (I despise Politico) Pelosi defends Hoyer’s comments in secret recording

Hoyer Admits Trying To Rig A Colorado Congressional Race For The Corrupt Conservative Candidate

The lesson of the Steny Hoyer controversy: party insiders still matter after all

Thanks for the responses, although I do disagree with the idea that backing centrist candidates in primaries is a sign of corruption on par with Tammany Hall.

There's also the literal vote shifting. The Money could have been used for lawsuits and more if people thought it was worth fighting for.

If the election had been so close to necessitate lawyers, they would have been able to fundraise quickly, so they didn't need to save that much for lawyers.

I'd agree if that was the standard across the board. The difference between Pelosi and other leaders at the moment is that no one else is clamoring for them to step down as hard. Schumer doesn't get the same pressure, nor does McConnell. And no one is asking who would take over for those men either. It's not like she wants to retire but can't because there is no one else. It's that some people want to force her out. She doesn't want to leave. Not her fault they don't have their ducks in a row before raising a fuss.

In a way I see this whole thing as another manifestation of the democrat's messiah complex. Surely some younger, more liberal, less in the pocket of special interests, congressperson will materialize if we chant loud enough!

With Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gilibrand, Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris all seen as potential presidential contenders, there isn't the criticism that Schumer has failed to cultivate a new generation of Democrats. The dynamics are a bit different with the House, where promising members are encouraged to run for statewide office (Jared Polis, Beto, Kyrsten Sinema) although it is a little weird that the three main House Democrats under sixty all left, with Keith Ellison and Xavier Becerra deciding they would rather be state attorney general, and Joe Crowley losing a primary.

[Mecegirl]

With Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gilibrand, Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris all seen as potential presidential contenders, there isn't the criticism that Schumer has failed to cultivate a new generation of Democrats. The dynamics are a bit different with the House, where promising members are encouraged to run for statewide office (Jared Polis, Beto, Kyrsten Sinema) although it is a little weird that the three main House Democrats under sixty all left, with Keith Ellison and Xavier Becerra deciding they would rather be state attorney general, and Joe Crowley losing a primary.

I don't know if we can attribute their rising stars to Schumer though. Or at least I've never credited him with their talent and drive. But if you've read something that states that he has personally encouraged their rise, sure. It just seems to me that the Senate has a different dynamic than the House because of the overall number of members. And the distinct role that senators play in politics. Not to take away from their deeds but its a bit easier to stand out when you are "competing" against 100 vs 435. Which to my mind makes people who stand out in the House all the more notable.

[Tami]

SNL mocked my appearance. Here’s why I didn’t demand an apology.

Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL, is a Republican representative-elect from Texas.

The past couple of weeks have been unusual for me, to say the least. After a year of hard campaigning for Congress in Texas and gradually entering the public sphere, I was hit by a sudden, blinding spotlight. But I have no complaints — it wasn’t as bad as some other challenges I’ve faced, like a sudden, blinding IED explosion. (See what I did there? “Saturday Night Live” has created a comedic monster.)

On the Nov. 3 show, SNL’s Pete Davidson mocked my appearance — “he lost his eye in war . . . or whatever,” Davidson said, referring to the eye patch I wear. His line about my looking like a “hit man in a porno movie” was significantly less infuriating, albeit a little strange. I woke up on the Sunday morning after the show to hundreds of texts about what Davidson had said. A lot of America wasn’t happy. People thought some lines still shouldn’t be crossed.

I agreed. But I also could not help but note that this was another chapter in a phenomenon that has taken complete control of the national discourse: outrage culture. It seems like every not-so-carefully-worded public misstep must be punished to the fullest extent, replete with soapbox lectures and demands for apologies. Anyone who doesn’t show the expected level of outrage will be labeled a coward or an apologist for bad behavior. I get the feeling that regular, hard-working, generally unoffended Americans sigh with exhaustion — daily.

Was I really outraged by SNL? Really offended? Or did I just think the comment about losing my eye was offensive? There is a difference, after all. I have been literally shot at before, and I wasn’t outraged. Why start now?

So I didn’t demand an apology and I didn’t call for anyone to be fired. That doesn’t mean the “war . . . or whatever” line was acceptable, but I didn’t have to fan the flames of outrage, either. When SNL reached out with an apology and an offer to be on the show, I wasn’t fully sold on the idea. It was going to be Veterans Day weekend, after all, and I had events with veterans planned. I asked if another weekend might work. No, they said, precisely because it was Veterans Day, it would be the right time to send the right message. They assured me that we could use the opportunity to send a message of unity, forgiveness and appreciation for veterans. And to make fun of Pete Davidson, of course.

Why you’ve never seen a ‘Saturday Night Live’ apology like Pete Davidson’s

“Saturday Night Live” has a long history of making people angry, but it doesn’t usually say sorry for its perceived transgressions. The show often employs biting political satire, a knife that would only be dulled with an apology.

That’s what made Pete Davidson’s in-person apology to Dan Crenshaw, the former Navy SEAL and newly elected Republican representative from Texas’s 2nd Congressional District, so notable. Davidson apologized Saturday for saying Crenshaw, who wears an eye patch after losing an eye in an IED explosion during his third tour in Afghanistan, looks like “a hit man from a porno movie.”

[Pete Davidson apologizes to Dan Crenshaw on SNL: ‘The man is a war hero']

The televised apology, in which Davidson called Crenshaw a “war hero,” went viral, with people on both sides of the aisle praising the show for having Crenshaw on and the congressman-elect for accepting the invitation.

[PaulBullion]

Far too late and would only make the EU pissed off that we are wasting more time

I read somewhere that either a German or Italian politician suggested that the UK is still welcome in the EU if they change their mind. Showing the leaving the EU doesn't work would strengthen the union, after ll.

[jetengine]

I read somewhere that either a German or Italian politician suggested that the UK is still welcome in the EU if they change their mind. Showing the leaving the EU doesn't work would strengthen the union, after ll.

Just because one country is ok with it doesnt mean all the others are. And atm allowing us back in doesn't show leaving doesnt work it just shows its possible.

[Tami]

Far too late and would only make the EU pissed off that we are wasting more time

The referendum itself was literally an opinion poll. Nothing HAD to be done about it but the Tories were shitting themselves over the Ukip vote so rushed through without thinking and activated Article 50.

Its akin to receiving info that a neighbouring country is invading your own so you fire the nuke before even checking to make sure this info is real.

It's never too late. I'm sure it can be worked out.

[Malvolio]

Orange County, A Conservative Bastion, Turns Blue For The First Time In Decades

What’s stunning is not how many seats Democrats flipped, but how they did it. Impressive! Highly impressive! Check out this map:



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Camp Fire Survivors Are Now Refugees In Their Own Country

In makeshift refugee camps, survivors of Northern California’s Camp fire face homelessness, norovirus and loss. Meanwhile....

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Trump Insists ‘Raking’ Will Help Stop Forest Fires; Twitter Reels

Solution from Finland, according to the president: “Raking and cleaning and doing things.” Clearly, the Forest Ranger-in-Chief doesn't comprehend that Finland probably doesn't suffer from the sort of mindnumbing droughts that's plagued California for years, resulting in the severity of the fires. To quote the immortal Bugs Bunny, "Wotta maroon!"

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Trump Calls Saudi Arabia A ‘Spectacular Ally’ Despite CIA’s Khashoggi Findings

The agency reportedly concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the journalist’s murder. Not that Trump paid any attention to that report, he's in too deep with the Saudis for that.

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Cab Drivers Refuse To Pick Up Racists After Philly Rally With Proud Boys

Video appears to show various drivers declining to give the far-right activists a ride. In a word----OUTSTANDING!

Now those "Proud Boys" know what it's like to be a Black man trying to catch a cab in a big city.

[jetengine]

It's never too late. I'm sure it can be worked out.

It very much is to 'stop Brexit'.

[Tami]

It very much is to 'stop Brexit'.

Some arguments side with your position, others say differnt

Today’s ruling shows the triggering of article 50 can be reversed

Brexit could be reversed in second referendum, Labour conference told

Exit Brexit: It's Time For Theresa May To Reverse The U.K.'s Mistake

Like I said, this is just one side of the argument. The fact that there is an argument says that the question is still up in the air and the outcome not written in stone, yet.

[kidfresh512]

Finnish president denies ever discussing ‘raking’ with Trump

You guys president is just stupid. I mean seriously why would it ever leave your mouth that California should like rake the forests more and maybe they wouldn't burn.
And then to throw another Presidents name in there and say he told you his country did that.

Someone on social media posted he should allow the caravan to come Rake America Great Again