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

[Tendrin]

Meanwhile, we're pulling out of Syria SUDDENLY.

I wonder where that idea got PutIn.

[Tami]

House Democrats’ First Bill Is a Winner. Too Bad There’s a Loser Running the Senate.

The House Democrats have unveiled their H.R. 1, their symbolic first bill that they want to pass with their new majority, and lo and behold, it’s good! Here it is (pdf). It’s short, for a bill. Have a read.

It’s about reform and democracy, and all the ideas are good, even if in most instances the exact details on how they’d codify and implement these things aren’t spelled out. But the first four priorities, for example, are: expanded ballot-box access; national automatic voter registration; establishment of independent redistricting commissions; restoration of the sections of the Voting Rights Act the Supreme Court has struck down.

[Starter Set]

North Korea says it won't denuclearize unless the US removes its troops and nuclear umbrella from South Korea and Japan

I can see their point for being honest.

[Starter Set]

North Korea won't denuclearize, even if the US removes its troops and nuclear umbrella from South Korea and Japan.

Why would they? Is there any good reason for them to do so?

[Gray Lensman]

House Democrats’ First Bill Is a Winner. Too Bad There’s a Loser Running the Senate.

They need to do what the Republicans used to do with Obamacare. Attach the independent redistricting law to every single bill to leave the House, and force McQuisling to e on record killing it. Then, every time they need something, demand redistricting reform as the price. Hell, I'd even say let's pay for the stupid Wall full stop if it did away with gerrymandering. It would be worth it.

[Malvolio]

Lindsey Graham Turns On Donald Trump Over Syria With Obama-Themed Dig

The GOP senator warned Trump he would make a “huge Obama-like mistake.” When Dolt45's biggest buttmunch disliked the Syria move, you KNOW things are bad!

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Trump Administration Goes Around Congress On Food Stamp Work Requirements

Who needs Congress when you can write your own regulation? Why doesn't that surprise me?

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Senate Unanimously Approves Bill To Make Lynching A Federal Crime

“Lynching is a dark and despicable aspect of our nation’s history,” said Sen. Kamala Harris. “We must acknowledge that fact lest we repeat it.” Wait. Lynching WASN'T already a federal crime? Seriously?

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Paul Ryan Played Dumb On Donald Trump All The Way To The End

The departing GOP House speaker leaves a legacy of willful ignorance. Eddie Munster wasn't just ignorant, but gutless as well. Ryan could well go down as THE worst Speaker EVER.

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Huntington Bank Apologizes For Calling Police On Black Man Trying To Cash His Paycheck

The bank referred to the incident as an “extremely unfortunate event.” Now we have "Paycheck Cashing While Black". Disgusting!

Worst Speaker ever? I think Ryan might be second to Hastert. As far as I know, no one has accused Paul Ryan of being a pedophile.

[Gray Lensman]

Worst Speaker ever? I think Ryan might be second to Hastert. As far as I know, no one has accused Paul Ryan of being a pedophile.

The latter doesn't make Hastert the worst speaker, merely the worst person to be speaker. There's a slight difference.

Introducing the Hastert Rule makes him the worst speaker.

[BeastieRunner]

Team Mueller Update:

Now We Know Trump Picked William Barr to Shut Down Mueller’s Investigation.

"The worst-case scenario for Barr is that he opened a covert back channel to the administration and campaigned for the role of being Trump’s Roy Cohn. The best-case scenario is that he merely created the appearance of impropriety. Barr, in this scenario, merely happens to be a fanatical proponent of executive power who expresses his passion for the issue by writing long memos in his spare time. Somehow word of this memo never reached Trump, who then learned of the strange coincidence that Barr had endorsed the very theories that Trump was looking for in the candidate."

Trump can't even backdoor a nominee without shenanigans.

Russian Agents Sought Secret US Treasury Records On Clinton Backers During 2016 Campaign: Whistleblowers said the Americans were exchanging messages with unsecure Gmail accounts set up by their Russian counterparts as the US election heated up.

The Russian Investigation has snared some whistle-blowers now!

Whitaker told he does not need to recuse himself from overseeing Mueller investigation.

The ethics panel has to yet to publish these remarks.

AG nominee's memo had 'no impact' on Mueller probe.

The DOJ, Rod, and even Sessions were already aware of Barr's memo bu the WH says, "Noooooooo ..."

House intelligence committee votes to turn over transcript of Roger Stone testimony to special counsel.

They voted unanimously to turn over a transcript. Unanimously. How many times have they voted unanimously during this investigation? 1 time. This time. The walls are closing in it seems ...

[WestPhillyPunisher]

North Korea won't denuclearize, even if the US removes its troops and nuclear umbrella from South Korea and Japan.

North Korea's fat boy leader makes Ambulance-chasing lawyers look trustworthy

Kim Jong Un saw what happened with Saddam Hussein and Moammar Ghadafi (both were overthrown and later wound up dead) and fears ending up like them if he doesn’t have his nukes to keep the wolves from his door. At the end of the day, it’s all about self-preservation, plain and simple.

[Gray Lensman]

Kim Jong Un saw what happened with Saddam Hussein and Moammar Ghadafi (both were overthrown and later wound up dead) and fears ending up like them if he doesn’t have his nukes to keep the wolves from his door. At the end of the day, it’s all about self-preservation, plain and simple.

Crimea might also be taken as a warning by any country considering the idea of denuclearizing.

[worstblogever]

Dow Jones is down another 467 points again.

Stock market is below 23000. Lower than the previous year. Lowest since October 2017.

[BeastieRunner]

So, update from earlier, Whitaker and the WH lied. Big surprise.

Ethics officials said Whitaker should recuse from the Mueller probe, but his advisers told him not to, officials say.

The official statement contradicts the WH and Whitaker's. I'm am so shocked ...

[BeastieRunner]

Republican Congressman Says of Migrant Family Separations: 'It's What Happens,' and Mueller Did it to Manafort.

Louie Gohmert everybody!

[InformationGeek]

James Mattis is out come Feburary. Who is left from the original team at this point? Ben Carson, evil John Oliver, and National Forehead Reserve Stephen Miller are the only people who come to mind.

[kidfresh512]

Mattis seems pretty clear in the letter he was not down with trump and how he treats traditional allies.

And that trump didn't listen.