All Purpose News and Politics Thread Part IV: The Center Cannot Hold

[Tami]

You seem to be arguing with a point I haven't made. It is simultaneously possible for Russia and Putin to have engaged in wrongdoing in the 2016 election and for various individuals to have an exaggerated sense of their impact, which plays into Putin's hands since it results in a more divided United States, and creates the sense that the country with either the 11th or 12th highest GDP (the IMF says it's #11; the UN and World Bank think it's in 12th place behind South Korea) is the mastermind of all these global events.

Keep in mind I was responding to someone who suggested Russians may have a long-term plan of causing unrest in the United States by backing politicians who want lax gun laws in the lead-up to a race war.

The flaws in your argument as I see it.

1. "various individuals to have an exaggerated sense of their impact": The Impact of Russia on the 2016 election was not well understood, and not made public until after Trump was elected. "Sense of impact" implies a non-factual view of the events of what happened in 2016. Problem with that assumption is that we have had The Mueller Investigation and subsequent Report that spells out exactly what happened, factually. Which may soon become available unredacted.

2. Various members of the US Intelligence Community, Including the FBI Director, and DNI Coates, have testified under oath to Congress that Russia is now and will continue to intervene in the upcoming election.

[Jack Dracula]

https://twitter.com/VickerySec/statu...55886509035520

Waiting for some followup, but this guy has folks retweeting the FBI, the press, and anyone else. He points out that Ted Cruz and Ben Carson are clients of the company offering this "service", which is advertised as "subpoena-proof e-mail".

Joe The Plumber is also shown right next to McConnell.
Is this a prank?

[Robotman]

What is the most evil fictional secret organization you can think of?

They’re the real life Legion of Doom.

Which is funny since Scott Snyder has had Lex Luthor become almost a Malthusian capitalist. He believes in the “survival of the fittest” and has surrounded himself with other apex predators. If Superman is the embodiment of altruism then it makes sense that Lex is the epitome of greed and selfishness. He would fit right in with the National Council.

[Gray Lensman]

The organization WCKD from the Maze Runner novels and movies. They lock up children and torment them in medical experiments in the hopes of finding a cure to a disease they created and that they released at an attempt at population control that got out of control. At the least, they're trying to agitate the kids enough to make them produce hormones to make a vaccine. I mean, if that level of evil towards the globe, and then exploiting children after that... they made the acronym of their name "wicked".

The corrupt corporation from the Patlabor anime series is called SCHAFT if my memory serves correctly. But they don't come as close as the baddies from Maze Runner.

The party apparatus from V for Vendetta was willing to drop a bioweapon on the globe, and their own people (including an elementary school) so they might qualify.

[Gray Lensman]

Joe The Plumber is also shown right next to McConnell.
Is this a prank?

On the internet you can never be sure. Especially when people who have basically broken parody are concerned.

[Tendrin]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-rep...ing-gop-122743

WASHINGTON (AP) — Monday's announcement that yet another Republican congressman is retiring highlights the GOP's growing struggle to win the House majority next year and the shifting political leanings of Texas, the nation's second-largest state.
Democrats' burgeoning prospects in Texas, which has a deep-red pedigree, are widely attributed to two factors. One is the state's growing populations of Hispanics and of moderate voters in communities ringing cities like Dallas, Houston and Austin, the other is the polarizing rhetoric of President Donald Trump.
"Trump has really turned out to be an accelerant for energizing young voters and voters of color," said Democratic pollster Zac McCrary, whose clients include MJ Hegar, a Democratic contender for challenging GOP Sen. John Cornyn next year. "And again at the same time, Trump has so deeply alienated suburban white voters in numbers that are mind-boggling."
Yet the arc of the state's demographic and political changes is such that Trump remains the favorite to win the state's coveted 38 electoral votes next year. And Cornyn, a three-term Senate veteran who's raised a daunting cache of campaign money and has plans to raise more, may prove difficult for Democrats to topple.
Rep. Kenny Marchant, an eight-term lawmaker from the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, said Monday he won't seek re-election in 2020. That made him the 11th GOP representative to so far say he'll step aside — compared to just three Democrats — and the seventh in just two weeks.4.html

/Another/ TX GOP retirement.

[numberthirty]

While there has obviously been bigger news, this feels like it is worth taking note of...

- https://www.politico.com/story/2019/...limate-1445478

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's chief of staff, spokesman leave her office

[Tendrin]

While there has obviously been bigger news, this feels like it is worth taking note of...

- https://www.politico.com/story/2019/...limate-1445478

Doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

[aja_christopher]

You seem to be arguing with a point I haven't made.

And you seem to be constantly downplaying the racism in your party and your party's blatant and open attacks on our democracy by dodging said "point" -- just because you don't bring up something doesn't mean it shouldn't be addressed directly. After all, half your game is trying to get people to argue on your terms ("open borders") because you know that you can't defend your party's actions -- other people have to "make these points" because you'd never address them otherwise, and you still don't do so adequately when given the opportunity because you know you can't defend the indefensible.

You still have yet to explain why you are comfortable supporting a political party that you know engages in racist and homophobic behavior -- instead you try to act as if it's "paranoia" to point out the Republicans have no problem allowing Russians interfering in our elections to the point where they will cover for a president who openly seeks to work with foreign powers to subvert our democracy, while simultaneously obstructing justice to make sure he isn't held accountable, making you complicit in said criminality.

When I say you ruin your credibility with these kinds of posts, I'm not exaggerating: many of us would like to have a rational dialogue with an honest Republican on these issues, but so long as you continue to try to deflect to everything else but addressing the problems within your own party -- whether it's racist rhetoric or policies, or attempting to downplay white supremacy and Russian interference in our elections by disregarding the contents of the Mueller report and every other American intelligence agency -- there's just no reason to take your "arguments" seriously, and definitely not "in good faith".

You can lie to yourself regarding your party, but all you do is insult the intelligence of others when you expect us to do the same.

You're not doing Republicans any favors with said behavior -- in fact, in refusing to address these problems and constantly trying to deflect from them, you and the rest of the party are just ensuring that many people will never vote for Republican candidates in the future.

------
"Will Hurd's Retirement is the Latest Sign of Doom for the Republicans"

The only Black Republican in the House is checking out—just weeks after he condemned Trump’s “racist and xenophobic” tweets about the Squad...

“It’s a pleasure to be with you all today because you all know something that many of my colleagues don’t,” Hurd told the gathering. “If you’re at least the age of 40 in most places across this country you have to whisper that you’re a Republican,” he said. “This is a party that is shrinking. The party is not growing in some of the largest parts of our country,” he continued.

“Why is that? I’ll tell you. It’s real simple,” said Hurd. “Don’t be an *******. Don’t be a racist. Don’t be a misogynist, right? Don’t be a homophobe. These are real basic things that we all should learn when we were in kindergarten.”

-----
'Hurd didn’t directly mention Donald Trump in his tweets or statement announcing his abrupt retirement, but his decision comes just weeks after he joined House Democrats to condemn the president’s racist attacks on a group of nonwhite progressive congresswomen who have been critical of his administration, especially over its immigration policies.

"I think those tweets are racist and xenophobic,” Hurd told CNN of Trump’s attacks on the Squad, in which the president called on the lawmakers to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.”

Hurd noted at the time that the tweets about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar were “inaccurate” and drive minorities away from the G.O.P. “This makes it harder in order to take our ideas, and our platform, to communities that don’t necessarily identify with the Republican party,” he said.

But rather than widening the scope of their appeal, Republicans since then have dramatically narrowed it — lining up behind Trump and his destructive policies and racist, sexist rhetoric."

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019...cans-diversity

[Starter Set]

I can't link it from my phone, but I just read that MoscowMitch, Dr. Don't Know, and some Gingrich fellow are all using private email servers physically located in......I'm sure you already know the answer to this one.





It's just to the east of Europe.

Actually a good part of Russia IS in Europe.

[worstblogever]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-rep...ing-gop-122743

/Another/ TX GOP retirement.

The phrase "Texodus" is being used to describe the Texas Congressional delegation hitting the "EJECT" button before voters do.

[worstblogever]

Joe The Plumber is also shown right next to McConnell.
Is this a prank?

The site of the external e-mail server's ad is from 2013... when Joe the Plumber was far more relevant of a high profile client.

It's been a hot minute, but he hasn't run for office since 2012.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Trump Blames Everything But Guns And Himself For El Paso And Dayton Mass Shootings

The president commented on the two shootings over the weekend in Texas and Ohio. Well, of course Trump wouldn't blame himself. Caramel Caligula is NEVER wrong about anything he says or does, and he's not about to go against the dictates of the NRA. Rather predictable, wouldn't you say?

**********

Mike Huckabee: Thoughts And Prayers Are ‘Only Thing’ That Will Stop Mass Shootings

The former Arkansas governor suggested the lack of thoughts and prayers is the real reason why mass shootings keep happening. No, Mike, keeping assault weapons out of the hands of madmen like the El Paso and Dayton shooters will help stop this insanity.

**********

Countries Warn Their Citizens About U.S. Travel After Mass Shootings

The governments of Venezuela and Uruguay issued warnings about travel to the U.S. after the El Paso and Dayton shootings. I'm surprised more countries don't issue similar warnings as this country has become Dodge City and the O.K. Corral all wrapped up in one bloody bundle.

**********

El Paso Was The Latest Target Of A Deadly, Global White Supremacist Movement

The shooter may have acted alone, but he is part of a network that stretches from Christchurch to Charlottesville. And the U.S. contingent is under the banner of their Pied Piper, Donald Trump.

**********

Sean Hannity Proposes Massive Armed Force To ‘Surround’ All Schools And Stores

The Fox News host is calling for a volunteer army of armed ex-cops and soldiers that would be “everywhere.” In the history of abysmally stupid ideas, this one is the all time champion!

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Texas Mounted Officers Apologize For ‘Poor Judgment’ After Leading Man Behind Horse By Leash

The Galveston Police Department issued an official apology for any “unnecessary embarrassment” caused by the incident. What. The. Flaming. ****?

[worstblogever]

In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, as well as 2018, "Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day" published profiles of the U.S. House Representative from Alaska’s “At Large” Congressional District, Don Young whose photo above, we still assure you is not doctored in any way (he’s protesting the Obama adminstration calling for harnessing energy from wind turbines). Don Young is a twenty-two term Congressman, and we’ll save you the trouble of doing the math… he’s held office since 1973, meaning he was around during Watergate, and was actually congratulated on being elected to office at the White House by Richard Nixon. Our first take on Rep. Young address his protestations of the use of green technologies to harness wind power (yes, he put that hat on willingly). This is a man who has blurted out words like “buttf***ing” in front of school children while paying them a visit (to say nothing of when he uses racial slurs like "wetback" and then defends it), and he remains, to this day, the only member of Congress to have ever brandished a walrus penis bone on the floor of the House or Senate (that’s not a metaphor, he swung an oosik at the head of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services) and Young also assaulted a Congressional aide informed him he was trying to access a door where admittance was not allowed, and Young grabbed him by the wrist and twisted until he was allowed to pass... while on camera. Don Young once pulled a knife and threatened to cut the throat of John Boehner over earmarks. He once took to the floor of the House when and complained about how gray wolves are a protected species, and then threw out the idea that the wolves should be turned loose on America's homeless population as a way to reduce their number. In our second look at Don Young in 2015, we had to talk about how yet again he embarrassed himself while visting a public school, where during a 45 minute question and answer session, when he as asked about what could be done to reduce suicide rates, he gave an answer that blamed it on the family and friends of the victims. In our 2016 update, we noted that Don Young had another brilliant idea while talking about the potential legalization of marijuana... instead we could lower the number of people being incarcerated for marijuana by suggesting capitol punishment should be applied to all drug dealers. (That’s… a lot of executions, at least 90,000 in federal prison alone).

Don Young is still one of the worst Congressman when it comes to the environment, throwing a tantrum and arguing that not building a road through the middle of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge was “killing people”, which not only makes zero sense, but then again, it’s against the advice of the Dept. of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, his old nemesis (at least he didn’t wield a walrus dong at them this time). In February of 2018, he made the bizarre and insensitive argument about gun control that the Holocaust would not have been as bad if Jews had just been packing heat to defend themselves:

‘How many Jews were put into the ovens because they were unarmed?”

As a result of Don Young reversing his supposed position on the House GOP’s attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act because it would cause health insurance premiums to skyrocket, he reversed course and voted for it anyway. This did not go unnoticed back in Alaska, where a protest was staged outside his office in Anchorage. And yet… Don Young was re-elected yet again, this time with only 53% of the vote and still underperforming the +12 lean that his district is supposed to have, by far.

• January 27th, 2019: Don Young votes against HJR 30, which was meant to express disapproval of Donald Trump not acting against Russian Federation for attacking our democracy. You see, he’s fine with our nation being sublet to Vladimir Putin.
• January 23rd, 2019: Rep. Young voted against HR 648, because he was gleeully enjoying the longest government shutdown in history.
• February 28th, 2019: Don Young votes against HR 1112, a bill which would have required universal background checks on all firearm purchases, and close the gun show loophole.
• March 14th, 2019: Rep. Young votes against HJR 46, which sane members of Congress voted for to reject Donald Trump’s “national emergency” regarding the U.S. border and his attempts to reallocate funds for a border wall without Congressional approval.
• April 4th, 2019: Don Young is one of 158 Republicans who choose to vote against the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, likely because they feel the 2nd Amendment remaining absolute is more important than preventing people with a history of domestic abuse from owning a firearm (which statistics show, makes them more likely to use those firearms against women in their lives).
• June 4th, 2019: Young votes against the Dreamers Act, because he’s too xenophobic and partisan to care about immigration reform.
• July 12th, 2019: Young is one of 12 Republicans who vote against the re-authorization of the Zadroga Act to provide healthcare to 9/11 First Responders.
• July 16th, 2019: Young is one of 187 Republicans who vote against a resolution to condemn Donald Trump for his racist statements that four people of color in Congress should “go back where they came from”.

Don Young’s career now stretches 46 years, he’s still shoving people at the Capitol for standing in his way, and this time it wasn’t a page, it was a journalist. Who is also a woman. Well, Don Young already has announced he’ll be running for re-election in 2020 at the age of 87. We predict at least one more moment that makes it’s clear he’s suffering from dementia by then.