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

[jetengine]

I'm not saying he shouldn't make fun of Trump, but is the foreword in the collection of golden age comics the place for it? It's like if say Chuck Dixon was hired to write an intro to the campy Superman stories from the silver age and he stuck in a line like, "Yes, those 60's stories were really crazy...just like Obamacare!"

Nah. Its a few lines saying "These characters were created to deal with facism, apparently they werent good enough since facism is still here"

[Jim Kelly]

The part that seems to give offense--although I can't think why--is this part:

In today’s all too real world, Captain America’s most nefarious villain, the Red Skull, is alive on screen and an Orange Skull haunts America. International fascism again looms large (how quickly we humans forget – study these golden age comics hard, boys and girls!) and the dislocations that have followed the global economic meltdown of 2008 helped bring us to a point where the planet itself seems likely to melt down. Armageddon seems somehow plausible and we’re all turned into helpless children scared of forces grander than we can imagine, looking for respite and answers in superheroes flying across screens in our chapel of dreams.

He never says Trump. He says "an Orange Skull haunts America." You can think that's Trump, but he doesn't say it--and if you think it's Trump, you're probably a liberal. If you're a Trump conservative then you don't believe that's him--so how can it offend? Personally, calling Trump an Orange Skull misses the mark--someone like Steve Bannon better fits the Red Skull role (or did).

But the Orange Skull remark is relatively tepid in the context of everything else in that paragraph which is much more desperate. I think a lot of us do feel this way, regardless of politics. And given the political climate that existed for Simon and Kirby--which he describes in the rest of the introduction--it's fitting to talk about that mood. Moreover, it's Art Spiegelman--why hire the guy, if you didn't want his intellectual perspective and his political gravitas to inform the piece? He's not known for sunny little tales of human harmony.

[Tami]

Here’s what new tariffs will cost the average American household

Despite the larger tariff impact, the U.S. consumer appears strong. July retail sales grew more than expected from June and posted the strongest five-month growth streak since 2005-2006. About 70% of economic activity is tied to consumer spending.

Given the larger impact on the wallet of the U.S. consumer going in the 2020 election, Lakos-Bujas said the administration will likely rollback tariffs or compromise on a trade agreement.

“We believe there is a good chance they end up reversing their decision and finding a way to reach some common ground with Chinese negotiators,” he said.

The firm estimates that Trump’s new tariffs will cost Americans the majority of the tax break they are getting from Trump’s 2017 tax overhaul, which it estimates is around $1,300 per year.

[Tami]

Two mass killings a world apart share a common theme: ‘ecofascism’

Before the slaughter of dozens of people in Christchurch, New Zealand, and El Paso this year, the accused gunmen took pains to explain their fury, including their hatred of immigrants. The statements that authorities think the men posted online share another obsession: overpopulation and environmental degradation.

The alleged Christchurch shooter, who is charged with targeting Muslims and killing 51 people in March, declared himself an “eco-fascist” and railed about immigrants’ birthrates. The statement linked to the El Paso shooter, who is charged with killing 22 people in a shopping area this month, bemoans water pollution, plastic waste and an American consumer culture that is “creating a massive burden for future generations.”

The two mass shootings appear to be extreme examples of ecofascism — what Hampshire College professor emerita Betsy Hartmann calls “the greening of hate.”

Many white supremacists have latched onto environmental themes, drawing connections between the protection of nature and racial exclusion. These ideas have shown themselves to be particularly dangerous when adopted by unstable individuals prone to violence and convinced that they must take drastic actions to stave off catastrophe.

The alleged El Paso shooter’s document is full of existential despair: “My whole life I have been preparing for a future that currently doesn’t exist.”

In recent years, the mainstream environmental movement has moved strongly in the direction of social justice — the opposite of what hate groups seek. Now, the leaders of those organizations fear white nationalists are using green messages to lure young people to embrace racist and nativist agendas.

[Tami]

Trump, Qanon and an impending judgment day: Behind the Facebook-fueled rise of The Epoch Times

By the numbers, there is no bigger advocate of President Donald Trump on Facebook than The Epoch Times.

The small New York-based nonprofit news outlet has spent more than $1.5 million on about 11,000 pro-Trump advertisements in the last six months, according to data from Facebook’s advertising archive — more than any organization outside of the Trump campaign itself, and more than most Democratic presidential candidates have spent on their own campaigns.

Those video ads — in which unidentified spokespeople thumb through a newspaper to praise Trump, peddle conspiracy theories about the “Deep State,” and criticize “fake news” media — strike a familiar tone in the online conservative news ecosystem. The Epoch Times looks like many of the conservative outlets that have gained followings in recent years.

But it isn’t.

Behind the scenes, the media outlet’s ownership and operation is closely tied to Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual community with the stated goal of taking down China’s government.

It’s that motivation that helped drive the organization toward Trump, according to interviews with former Epoch Times staffers, a move that has been both lucrative and beneficial for its message.

Former practitioners of Falun Gong told NBC News that believers think the world is headed toward a judgment day, where those labeled “communists” will be sent to a kind of hell, and those sympathetic to the spiritual community will be spared. Trump is viewed as a key ally in the anti-communist fight, former Epoch Times employees said.

In part because of that unusual background, The Epoch Times has had trouble finding a foothold in the broader conservative movement.

Aren't there rules about Foreign influence in US Elections? First Russia, now China (kinda).

[PwrdOn]

Trump, Qanon and an impending judgment day: Behind the Facebook-fueled rise of The Epoch Times



Aren't there rules about Foreign influence in US Elections? First Russia, now China (kinda).

That's a rather odd angle to take, since the article points out that the people running that paper are Americans, who in all likelihood were only granted entry because of their opposition to the Chinese government, which would sort of be the exact opposite of Chinese interference in our elections. Falun Gong is actually a great example of why just blindly supporting dissident groups in enemy nations is a terrible idea, just because they were oppressed by a dictatorial government doesn't mean they don't have some pretty awful ideas of their own.

[Tami]

What Do Rally Playlists Say About the Candidates?

Best followed with speakers turned on.

[worstblogever]

In 2014, 2015, as well as 2016, "Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day" published profiles of the former U.S. House Representative from Texas’ 19th Congressional District, Randy Neugebauer, who became infamous during the 2013 Government Shutdown when he tried to shame a park ranger working on furlough at the World War II Memorial for the park being closed… when he was the one who shut down the government. Rep. Neugebauer also was the Congressman who once screamed out “BABY KILLER!” on the House floor at Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan for having voted for the Affordable Care Act, claimed migrant children being held in detention facilities prior to being deported back to their families are being spoiled and treated in a “Lovely way”, and voted against Hurricane Sandy Relief money while admitting that if a natural disaster happened in his district, he’d snatch up that aid money in a heartbeat. Randy Neugebauer continued to be a portrait of unbalanced partisan ideology, including how he hamstrung an education bill moving through the House in February 2015 by inserting an amendment into the bill that withheld federal funding from school districts that contract with health centers unless the center certifies that it will not provide abortions or give students any information about abortion, including directions to the nearest abortion provider. He also was busy voting for any and all anti-abortion measures and voting to deny funding to the Department of Homeland Security out of protest for President Obama's executive orders on immigration. Worst of all, when Neugebauer pops off at say, a park ranger or Bart Stupak in a burst of impotent rage, when he's asked to accept responsibility for his outbursts, he often tries lying and claiming "it wasn't me" that did it, like a craven little weasel. We'll give you one guess about how Randy Neugebauer reacted to the fake "sting" videos created by the Center for Medical Progresss, though... he was rabid in buying into the fraud for political gain. The good news is Randy Neugeabuer retired in 2016, and presumably he will use all of his free time to accuse random people of infanticide and then retreat before they can ask him what his problem is, like the twitchy twit he's always been.

[worstblogever]

It was on this date in 2017, as well as 2018. that “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” shared its first profile about the sitting U.S. House Representative from Texas’ 19th Congressional District, Jodey Arrington, the man who just took the place of CSGOPOTD alumni Randy Neugebauer for his seat in Congress. Nine Republicans were in the GOP primary to replace Neugebauer, and Arrington emerged based on the political capitol he build up working first for George W. Bush as an aide while he was still Governor of Texas and in the Bush White House, and helping him fill up executive appointed posts during his administration. That included the choice of hiring a man named Michael Brown as head of FEMA, whose only experience was breeding horses. Remarkably, this led to Arrington being thrown into the fire to clean up the Gulf Coast after Brown had to resign in disgrace, where Arrington served as deputy federal coordinator for the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding.

Now, in an election year where it benefitted more candidates to be the political outsider on the conservative side, it might seem odd that Arrington still managed to narrowly win his primary on a run-off. Well, in spite of maintaining his strong Bush Administration credentials, he also won a Breitbart endorsement by doing, what else? Taking a trip down to the U.S./Mexico border and talking tough about illegal immigrants. As it turns out, the now Rep. Arrington’s disdain for Mexicans was not something he just did in campaign mode, as he has gone on record as a supporter of Donald Trump’s border wall. But his support of xenophobia is not limited only to Mexicans, though, because Arrington also came out in defense of Trump’s bigoted Muslim ban when it was announced. Hell, Arrington’s drinking Trump’s Kool-Aid so much it looks like he’s visiting Jonestown, as he gave Trump’s First 100 Days in office an “A”.

But what Jodey Arrington did that is completely new for him (but sadly not for Republicans), happened back in late March 2017. Arrington, in a hearing on SNAP benefits, quoted the Bible’s 2 Thesslalonians 3:10, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

Now, there are wiser and more well-versed Biblical experts will point out that Jesus was pretty much the guy who was ALL ABOUT FEEDING THE HUNGRY, Jodey Arrington is the latest Republican to use this verse out of context to take away food stamp benefits that, guess what? All too often go towards feeding CHILDREN. See also former CSGOPOTD profiles on Kevin Cramer and Stephen Fincher for others who tried twisting scripture out of context to turn it into something resembling a religion Ayn Rand would have possibly been into.

Now in his second term in office, Jodey Arrington’s streak of partisanship continues:

• January 22nd, 2019: Arrington cannot be arsed to bother to vote against HR 676, which would prevent Donald Trump from doing the unthinkable and walking away from our allies in NATO to appease the Russians.
• January 23rd, 2019: Rep. Arrington voted against HR 648, because he was gleeully enjoying the longest government shutdown in history.
• February 28th, 2019: Jodey Arrington 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. Arrington 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: Jodey Arrington 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: Rep. Arrington votes against the Dreamers Act, because he’s too xenophobic and partisan to care about immigration reform.
• July 12th, 2019: Arrington 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: Jodey Arrington 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”.

Texas’ 19th District is one of the more conservative in Congress, but even Arrington’s constituents are starting to question his level of extremism, including local firefighters in his district expressing disbelief that he would vote against the bill to provide medical care to the 9/11 First Responders. Jodey Arrington, ever the douche-canoe, started lying out of his arse and claiming that his vote was justified because of “questionable” claims that seemed to indicate there was “waste and fraud”.

For those in the back not listening, he all but just accused some the 9/11 First Responders of “faking it” for more money. There is not a big enough foreign object we can recommend he goes and f***s himself with for that.

[Tami]

That's a rather odd angle to take, since the article points out that the people running that paper are Americans, who in all likelihood were only granted entry because of their opposition to the Chinese government, which would sort of be the exact opposite of Chinese interference in our elections. Falun Gong is actually a great example of why just blindly supporting dissident groups in enemy nations is a terrible idea, just because they were oppressed by a dictatorial government doesn't mean they don't have some pretty awful ideas of their own.

The basis behind it is a cult, one that sees the end of the world coming and that Donald Trump is the trigger for that End of the World, which is why they support him.

[Tami]

Flooded out, farmers find work rebuilding the levees that failed them

PERCIVAL, Iowa — Pat Sheldon got a little more than 70 acres of soybeans planted this season. His son put in around 250, but that’s just a small fraction of the 2,500 acres of corn and soybean his family normally plants every year.

Instead of the lush green of skinny cornstalks and leafy soybean bushes that Sheldon, 57, would expect to see right now, his farm this year is surrounded by tall yellow weeds and vast stretches of brown, muddy water.

Like many waterways in the Midwest, increased snowmelt and rain in March caused the Missouri River to overtop the levee systems that protected small towns and farmland nestled along its snake-like channel. Rain and floodwaters then returned in May. Five months later, much of that water remains, making the land unusable.

[PwrdOn]

The basis behind it is a cult, one that sees the end of the world coming and that Donald Trump is the trigger for that End of the World, which is why they support him.

Yes, a cult that sees the Chinese government as its mortal enemy for cracking down on their supporters, and thus see Trump as their savior because he opposes China and they believe that his trade policies will be instrumental in bringing down the regime. Not sure how you could possibly put this in the same category as Russia's government sponsored misinformation campaigns. Granted, China does do some of that too, but they aren't quite as effective because the Chinese trolls are understandably less keen on provoking white supremacist sentiment.

[worstblogever]

Law enforcement have arrested two more white nationalists who were planning mass shootings against minorities, one from Washington state looking to go to Florida to attack Hispanics in Miami, another in Alabama who was planning on going to Memphis attack African Americans.

And yes, both were Trump supporters.

[GOLGO 13]

Law enforcement have arrested two more white nationalists who were planning mass shootings against minorities, one from Washington state looking to go to Florida to attack Hispanics in Miami, another in Alabama who was planning on going to Memphis attack African Americans.

And yes, both were Trump supporters.

Why I'm just shocked!

[BeastieRunner]

Law enforcement have arrested two more white nationalists who were planning mass shootings against minorities, one from Washington state looking to go to Florida to attack Hispanics in Miami, another in Alabama who was planning on going to Memphis attack African Americans.

And yes, both were Trump supporters.

Why I'm just shocked!

No, you got it all wrong.

They were just lone wolves.

/s