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

[PaulBullion]

Obama wears a tan suit and Fox News loses their ****. Trump consorting with a woman involved in human trafficking no big deal.

Fox will probably start reporting that Qanon looks like a very believable story to balance it out.

"Just how many women and children has President King Trump secretly freed from slavery? Some people say it's in the gazillions."

[Tami]

I screwed up on the words a bit (typical Doogie... hey, that's how I earned this nickname), but the story is that the child became the first case of tetanus in the state of Oregon in over 30 years, costing that family over $833,000 in medical bills, and when they tried to give him shots to ensure that stuff like this won't happen again, they practically begged the medical facility not to do it, even though all of this would clearly be avoidable had they given him said shots in the first place.

My point was that I get irritated as hell whenever people who are "anti-vaccination" bring up what they justify as measures against sticking needles in their children, and it often boils down to "I don't want my kid to get autism", which is such malarkey that I can't help but to openly mock your stance. The origin of this belief came from a discredited report from a UK research paper in the 1990s, but misinformation is hard to squash, and when even celebrities find it vogue, Billy Bunghole here will think it's passe to stick it to decades of medical progress because of some "oogie boogie" nonsense.

Sorry if I got steamed. It's just that autism is a mental disorder, not a disease. You can't "cure" autism. Mental disabilities are with you for the rest of your life, but they can easily be managed with therapy and education, which is something people would rather not invest in.

One clarification. You are right, Autism is not a communicable disease. You can't get it from exposure to others, or through something in the environment. It is something that you are born with, though there are still many unknowns about it. However, there may be treatments or 'cures' down the road. But this is in the same way treatments are being developed for Parkinsons or Alzheimers or other brain realted conditions.

Maybe these Anti-vaccers should do more research on Autism, for example:

History’s 30 Most Inspiring People on the Autism Spectrum

Dan Aykroyd – Comedic Actor
Hans Christian Andersen – Children’s Author
Benjamin Banneker – African American almanac author, surveyor, naturalist, and farmer
Susan Boyle – Singer
Tim Burton – Movie Director
Lewis Carroll – Author of “Alice in Wonderland”
Henry Cavendish – Scientist
Charles Darwin – Naturalist, Geologist, and Biologist
Emily Dickinson – Poet
Paul Dirac – Physicist
Albert Einstein – Scientist & Mathematician
Bobby Fischer – Chess Grandmaster
Bill Gates – Co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation
Temple Grandin – Animal Scientist
Daryl Hannah – Actress & Environmental Activist
Thomas Jefferson – Early American Politician
Steve Jobs – Former CEO of Apple
James Joyce – Author of “Ulysses”
Alfred Kinsey – Sexologist & Biologist
Stanley Kubrick – Film Director
Barbara McClintock – Scientist and Cytogeneticist
Michelangelo – Sculptor, Painter, Architect, Poet
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Classical Composer
Sir Isaac Newton – Mathematician, Astronomer, & Physicist
Jerry Seinfeld – Comedian
Satoshi Tajiri – Creator of Nintendo’s Pokémon
Nikola Tesla – Inventor
Andy Warhol – Artist
Ludwig Wittgenstein – Philosopher
William Butler Yeats – Poet

20 Incredibly Successful People on the Autism Spectrum

[worstblogever]

In 2015, in 2016, and in 2017, “Crazy Stupid Republican of the Day” published profiles of former Nevada Congressman Cresent Hardy, who in spite of having a mustache that makes you wonder if he ties fair maidens to railroad tracks, won office in the 2014 elections by about 3500 votes. But unsettling factors about Cresent Hardy are not limited to his facial hair, because he also advocates for a "flat" tax, is opposed to teaching any contraception during sex education, and thinks any and all background checks on firearms purchases are unconstitutional via the 2nd Amendment. Hardy also voted against ENDA, and explained that his motivation for doing so was because it was a new "segregation" law. His perplexing use of adjectives is not limited to only votes, though, as he has described the normally left-leaning district he represents as a "welfare district" or "minority district", as well. Many remember how politically disastrous it was for Mitt Romney to say that 47% of the country were "takers" in the 2012 elections, but believe it or not, Cresent Hardy has gone on record to say that Romney was only wrong because the real percentage is "bigger". And finally, we will end our summary of Rep. Hardy's original profile by reminding everyone that on two occasions, he vocally supported tax scofflaw and noted racist Cliven Bundy during his standoff with the Bureau of Land Management. In June 2015, while speaking before a town hall, Rep. Hardy bragged to the crowd that his kids would never be "a drain on society" like disabled people. After having a heart attack in August 2016 that limited his ability to campaign, Cresent Hardy was defeated in the 2016 elections by Ruben Kihuen, and upon learning Kihuen would be a one-and-done Congressman, Hardy has announced he will attempt to win back his seat representing Nevada’s 4th Congressional District in 2018. However, with Blue Wave momentum likely making it even more of a challenge for him to overcome his 4 point defeat in 2016, it seems unlikely he will find his way back to Washington.

On this date in 2018, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” profiled Sean Donahue, a failed candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District. While you would think it would be harder for the GOP to get someone who’s more bigoted than Barletta on the ballot, somehow they managed. Because among Donahue’s writings online, you can read his musings about how he thinks that The U.S. was created for Americans who chose to worship God through Christianity. that freedom of religion is for all forms of Christianity but no other religion, certainly not Islam, voodoo or Satanic worship, that Black Lives Matter and Antifa are organizations that are looking to create an armed insurgency, that if we do not control immigration from South and Central America, whites will become a racial minority, that because there is a Congressional Black Caucus, there is a need for a Congressional White Caucus, that universities are supposedly opening “safe spaces” where no whites are allowed. He also expressed his desire to see the U.S. modify civil rights laws to take away “the American dream from Muslims, non-Christians and foreigners”, shared paranoid ramblings about how if the United States does not control immigration from South and Central America, Whites will ultimately become the racial minority in the United States, and predicting that they won’t be treated well, because minorities are never treated well. Oh, and he also made more anti-Semitic statements than you could even begin to count. Donahue was also previously convicted of making violent threats to the Luzerne County District Attorney, as well as several other county employees (and was on probation while running for Congress). Donahue obviously didn’t win in the midst of the Blue Wave, so we’ll go ahead and set aside his profile at this time to take a look at a different kooky Republican on this date instead. (Current crazy/stupid scoreboard, is now 737-30, since this was established in July 2014.)

Rick Saccone

Welcome to the 737th original “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” profile, where today we’ll be discussing Rick Saccone, a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and two-time loser in attempts to run for Congress. Saccone’s background is almost immediately terrifying, as he was not just a consultant to those who worked at the Abu Ghraib prison when folks lwere tormenting and torturing Iraqi detainees, (and no, he had no regrets, as in his own book he defended waterboarding) but it’s also alarming that Saccone’s opinions are informed by known fraud and supposed historian David Barton. Yes, THAT David Barton. Which probably would explain why as a state legislator, Saccone continually would submit legislation to challenge the separation of church and state, including his need to force public schools to display “In God We Trust” inside, and that he sponsored legislation to declare 2012 “The Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania.

Oh, and on gun rights? Saccone once criticized Chuck E. Cheese because the pizza chain placed restrictions on customers to not bring guns into their establishments. Because it’s important to pack heat to defend yourself from potential attackers and open fire if anyone should accost you among all the children playing skee ball.

Rick Saccone originally won office back in the 2010 Tea Party Wave by only 151 votes, and was re-elected in 2012 by a whopping 0.4% of the vote. Once he made his attempt at getting elected to Congress in the 2018 special election for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District against Conor Lamb, he ended up on the opposite side of a narrow contest, losing to Lamb by 755 votes. Saccone then tried running for Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District a few months later, but lost to Guy Reschenthaler, getting only 44% of the vote there.

With two losses in such a short period of time, it seems unclear what Saccone’s political future might be. We’re content to just point out he’s a torture-endorsing, gun-nutty, theocratic loon and point and laugh while we can.

[Tazirai]

All the Republicans who voted AGAINST the anti-hate resolution

[Iron Maiden]

The massage parlor story has now moved from "rich people get a happy ending" to "Human trafficker is selling access to White House".

A scandal that won't matter, but would have ended every other government in any actual democracy around the world.

Not only that, we all tend to forget about all these paying "guests" at Mar-a-Lago are lining the Trump family pockets also. Trump even tweeted about the beauty of one of his failing golf courses in Scotland a week or so ago, sort of a stealth advertisement.

[Malvolio]

Everywhere but here as Republicans happily look the other way while all this skullduggery goes down because they care more about being in power than serving the Constitution or even common decency.

====================

Trump Lashes Out Against ‘Wacky Nut Job’ Ann Coulter Over Border Wall Criticism

Coulter, a right-wing pundit and former Trump supporter, has officially crossed the line with the president. Looks like that romance is officially on the rocks. When it comes to a pissing match between Trump and Coulter, I'm hoping for mutually assured destruction.

**********

Elizabeth Warren: Fox News ‘Looks Like A Propaganda Machine’

The senator raised concerns about the network “operating as an arm of the Trump campaign and then the Trump administration.” Yo, Liz! Hate to break it to you, but you're late to the party! Faux News has been acting as Trump's personal ego stroking device since he declared his candidacy in 2015!

**********

Furor Surrounding Ilhan Omar Remarks Intensifies National Debate Over Israel

Activists have been criticizing Israeli policies towards Palestinians long before the Minnesota congresswoman.

**********

Trump To Request Significant Funds For Border Wall, Space Force In New Budget

The budget includes cuts that would hit mandatory safety net programs, which the president has proposed in the past.

**********

Cory Booker ‘Really Ticked Off’ About Paul Manafort’s Sentence

“One of my friends says we have a criminal justice system that treats you better if you’re rich and guilty than if you’re poor and innocent.” Don't forget to add if you're white instead of black.

"Looks like..." No, FOX News IS a propaganda machine.

[Tendrin]

https://twitter.com/kt_so_it_goes/st...982156801?s=21

Remember, Rubio was thought a member of the So-called 'Deep Bench'.

[Malvolio]

Remember that White House communications director that stepped down yesterday to run Trump's 2020 election campaign?
His wife went on an insane Twitter rant last month about how Measles makes you tough, and kids today are just too soft.
Funny how the crazies all seem connected.

That would be Bill Shine. And yeah, his wife is some piece of work all right.

[Dalak]

So, has anyone here heard about Erik Prince pretty much admitting he committed perjury?

I mean he goes so far as to blame the transcript for being wrong.

[PaulBullion]

So, has anyone here heard about Erik Prince pretty much admitting he committed perjury?

I mean he goes so far as to blame the transcript for being wrong.

As I said above, he would be in trouble if he weren't an influential white conservative.

[JCAll]

So, has anyone here heard about Erik Prince pretty much admitting he committed perjury?

I mean he goes so far as to blame the transcript for being wrong.

Perjury might be the least evil think Erik Prince has ever done.

[Dalak]

As I said above, he would be in trouble if he weren't an influential white conservative.

Muller seems to be costing them lots and lots of money, which is the only way to hurt them that seems to work.

Perjury might be the least evil think Erik Prince has ever done.

Agreed, but it's what we have him on right now.

[Mister Mets]

Honestly, that take doesn't feel much different than that you appear to be saying "They should have wanted their child not to get tetanus." in this instance.

To me, I can't see the folks who stick to that the entire increase in Autism must have been vaccines while ignoring things that point to that there may be other situations that created the increase. Never mind that one hundred percent of vaccinated children are not autistic.

People who are afraid of risks don't necessarily think the bad outcome will occur all the time. Carcinogens aren't guaranteed to cause cancer.

Further proof that the anti-vaccination argument is stupid.

Unvaccinated child spends 8 weeks battling tetanus, parents still refuse vaccinations

It cost them over $833K dealing with a disease that a few shots most insurance companies can cover on the house, or with a very small co-pay. As far as I'm concerned, if you genuinely believe that vaccines make your child autistic, I don't know what to say other than "good work endangering the health of everyone around you".

Are you sure the parents paid the $833K?

One clarification. You are right, Autism is not a communicable disease. You can't get it from exposure to others, or through something in the environment. It is something that you are born with, though there are still many unknowns about it. However, there may be treatments or 'cures' down the road. But this is in the same way treatments are being developed for Parkinsons or Alzheimers or other brain realted conditions.

Maybe these Anti-vaccers should do more research on Autism, for example:

History’s 30 Most Inspiring People on the Autism Spectrum

20 Incredibly Successful People on the Autism Spectrum

How do we determine that some of the people belong on the spectrum (IE- Einstein and Dawrin)?

Some successful people being autistic also doesn't mean it's a good thing.

Sure.

I just don't see a clear enough case for that vaccinations are enough of an actual cause where there should even be a serious discussion about that there is a justification for potential spread of infectious diseases based on the actual threat that vaccinations represents.

It would be one thing if there was even something like a case for vaccinations being the most likely reason for the rise people are talking about. As far as I can tell, there isn't even a good solid "Maybe?" for the "Anti" crowd to point to.

The original "study" was debunked.

An exhaustive Danish study shows no connection between vaccines and autism.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-...ubella-n979176

There are some interesting policy questions on how to deal with people making stupid and harmful decisions. The rationale is varied.

Caplan said vaccine skeptics bring forward several arguments:

• Vaccines are not safe (such as concerns they are linked to autism, which study after study has debunked).
• It's a plot by big pharma (people are concerned pharmaceutical companies make big money off vaccines, but Caplan says companies don't make much profit off of immunizations).
• It's about parental rights (parents don't feel people should be able to tell them what to do with their own children, but experts say this ignores community responsibility and other existing laws around child safety, including carseat and bicycle helmet laws).
• Natural is good (the idea that vaccines are "toxic" and it would be better to contract the disease and/or build resistance naturally, but Caplan says science does not support this).

[GindyPosts]

Are you sure the parents paid the $833K?

This is America. Do you think insurance companies would pay $833K in medical costs, especially when it came to something preventable?

[Mister Mets]

Arguing for the Iraq war because Saddam was a 'bad guy' in 2019. Jesus.

No one was arguing for the Iraq war. What specifically has been said that you disagree with?

This is just BS. No hindsight. A lot of us knew going in that the war was based on lies and the rosy scenario of a clean, costless war was garbage. Add that to zero justification for us to invade a foriegn country that had done NOTHING against us. Plenty of bad dictators in the world. Plenty that we support from time to time (like Saddam himself) so any justification that he was a bad guy is ridiculous. It is pathetic that Republicans like you still try to find ways to excuse this war for anything but th fiasco and war crime it was.

Now let's hear you hem and haw about torture.

The Iraq war as a fiasco, but we can't pretend the alternative was good.

It's a clearly biased conclusion based on the "fact" that someone once wore a T-shirt that seemed to advocate open borders -- rather than the real fact that immigration decreased under Obama and the Democrats had already offered a compromise on immigration that didn't include "open borders".

Which your Republican president promptly rejected.

If you want to argue that a T-shirt is somehow indicative of Democratic policy -- and a net decrease in illegal immigration under a Democratic administration isn't -- then there's not much else to say on the matter.

But don't claim you are being objective when it's clear that you aren't.

-----
"Ask Republican voters whether the deficit got bigger or smaller during Barack Obama’s presidency, and they’ll say it grew. Ask them if the unemployment rate was lower or higher when Obama left office compared to when he started, and they’ll again point to the worse result. And ask them if illegal border crossings went up or down during Obama’s tenure, and Republicans would no doubt say the number went up.

In reality, after eight years of Obama’s presidency, the deficit shrank, the jobless rate vastly improved, and the number of undocumented immigrants fell to its lowest point in over a decade.

The number of people living in the United States without legal permission fell to 10.7 million in 2016, the lowest number in more than a decade, according to the non-partisan Pew Research Center.

The drop from a peak of 12.2 million in 2007 is almost entirely attributable to a sharp drop in the number of Mexicans entering the country without legal authorization, according to Pew’s report released Tuesday.

The last time the number of people in the country illegally was that low was 2004.

Given that 2016 was two years ago, some might suggest that reports like these are of limited political utility during a debate over immigration policy. I disagree.

What this evidence shows is that Donald Trump’s messaging on the issue has been largely based on fraudulent assumptions. He spent his campaign, for example, telling Americans that there’s a “crisis” of undocumented immigrants pouring into the United States thanks to Obama’s weak open-border policies. We need Trump, the Republican argued, to help turn things around.

In reality, the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States dropped nearly every year of Obama’s presidency, and he left office with the total at a 12-year low.

Trump’s racially charged pitch was a scam."

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-s...talking-points

The increase in arrests under Obama was more of a procedural change about what to do with people caught near the border. Previously they were just sent back. Towards the end of the Bush administration, the decision was made to have formal proceedings including detaining and fingerprinting.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ob...d-more-people/

The main reason for a decline in the number of illegal immigrants was changing conditions in the home country. It wasn't about Obama, or stricter immigration policies.

https://cmsny.org/publications/warre...cumented-2016/

But a Democrat wore a t-shirt that suggested a personal preference for open borders once.

There are several differences.

1. Keith Ellison was voted unanimously by the DNC to be their Deputy Chair. He was officially selected to speak for the party. The Republican idiot was a mayor of a city of about a tenth the population of Aurora, Colorado.
2. Keith Ellison was not fired or removed from the position as a result of his comments. He remained DNC deputy chair until election to a new office (state attorney general.) The Republican idiot resigned days after his comments were public.
3. While some Republicans will do or say stupid things, they will at least say that racism and sexism are bad. Democrats are unwilling to express any limiting principle on legal immigration, which supports a conclusion that they want open borders.