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

[Iron Maiden]

Because I wasn't that stupid as to vote for a write-in candidate and post it on social media, thus violating the law. Also, in Indiana, we only had the options we were given, so no candidates from any truly fringe groups, such as the Temperance Party, the Communist Party, or my personal favorite party, Party World.

I pretty much went into detail a while back as to why I ended up voting for Johnson back in 2016, but again, at the risk of having some people rail on my ass, I'll be quick; I would never vote for Trump in a million years, but I didn't trust Hillary on a personal level and her health issues worried me, and I thought Jill Stein was a freak show. The end.



We're not going down this freaking rabbit hole again. Look; I live in Indiana. My Democratic Party is trash. Even though we have people lining up to take a swing at Holcomb, the man in charge is most likely going to pick two-time loser John Gregg because undecided voters will pick Republican Lite based upon the notion that it's akin to drinking light beer, most likely forgetting how badly Joe Donnelly lost in 2018 by that point. If I stay home, my state votes for Trump. If I vote, my state votes for Trump. That said, next year, I'm voting for a Democrat... unless John Gregg runs again, at which point, I WILL write in a candidate for governor and post it on social media.

As an Indiana voter myself, the other bad thing about living in Indiana it that our primaries are so late that we have no effect on who the party's candidate will be. It's usually already been decided by the time ours comes around.

[JCAll]

I'm not seeing the joke here, that's pretty much exactly what happened in Italy and Germany in the 1920s.

I mean, it wasn't much of a fight. In Germany the right wing basically wholeheartedly embraced fascism to counter the communists, crushed the communists instantly, which just left the fascists in control of the majority political party. Who proceeded to dismantle everything and build a hellscape. Oops.

I don't know why we're just letting this "Warren is a communist" thing slide. Did something happen that I missed?

[4saken1]

If you voted 3rd party in 2016 you basically voted for Trump with extra steps.

Mathematically speaking, voting 3rd Party or staying home (assuming one is liberal leaning) were only about half as bad as an actual vote for Trump.

[Tendrin]

The problem with "humanitarian intervention" is that it's never more than a pretext for military actions that serve the usual objectives of resource extraction and power projection. The next time that American society shows genuine concern for the well-being of an oppressed people in a far away land will be the first time, and the entire world knows this, which is why we have such trouble finding reliable allies even though you'd think that impoverished freedom fighters would gladly welcome an infusion of American cash and weapons. Our proxies have pretty much figured out that they can only count on American support as long as the conflict remains active, once things settle down then American forces will leave and the funding will dry up, which means that these fighters have a perverse incentive to keep the war going in perpetuity so that they can continue to get paid.

I don't disagree. Our long history of only intervening over our economic interests is obvious.

[Tendrin]

I mean, it wasn't much of a fight. In Germany the right wing basically wholeheartedly embraced fascism to counter the communists, crushed the communists instantly, which just left the fascists in control of the majority political party. Who proceeded to dismantle everything and build a hellscape. Oops.

I don't know why we're just letting this "Warren is a communist" thing slide. Did something happen that I missed?

the
It is more complicated than that. You had the Nazis co-opting left wing politics through their 13 points, invocation of socialism, and the Strasserite movement. That's analogous to the way the far and alt-right try to coopt some left-wing political positions and some of our current situation, as well as the 'both sides are just as bad' communists platform of 'social fascism' which painted the social democrats as bad as the Nazis, and refused to engage. The social democrats, too, had bloodied and stood by as actual communists were murdered and had gone after them on numerous occasions. A /lot/ of these factors contributed to create the demise of the left in what would become Nazi germany.

There are definite lessons to learn there.

Also, anyone who had 'concerns' about HIllary's health believed way too much propaganda, but then, that's pretty normal about Hillary. Really, some folks just wanted any excuse they could find.

[Tendrin]

Please, explain how Warren would be as bad as Trump is. Explain how any of the potential Dem candidates (with chances of victory) could be as bad as what we are experiencing?

I've asked the same question about Hilary many times and NEVER have I gotten a reasonable answer, but this isn't about her now. There's no Clinton in this race.

bUT sOCiAlIsMmmmm

[Dalak]

bUT sOCiAlIsMmmmm

[SquirrelMan]

Why does she warrant a stream of posts when she's mentioned in this thread?

She's going nowhere.

Ask the fool who brought her up.

[SquirrelMan]

Warren was a Republican well into her 40s, she hardly spent her youth palling around with Saul Alinsky.

[SquirrelMan]

Since that came up...

Caught part of the CBS national news earlier. Unless I completely misunderstood the way they reported it, the woman who is involved in the documents that were unsealed(Virginia Giuffre) said that she never had sex with Trump and never witnessed him having sex with anyone.

While that is obviously just one woman, it did stick out that they seem to have had a specific discussion.

Edit: This piece looks that way as well...

- http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/...out-trump.html







Well, not exactly "Never Anyone..." but she did rule herself out and say where she did not see Trump.

Speaking of Epstein, the best newspaper in the US right now, the Miami Herald, just named more names:

The names of some prominent, wealthy men Giuffre says she was directed to have sex with are spattered throughout the approximately 2,000 pages released Friday.

They include: the late scientist Marvin Minsky, modeling scout Jean-Luc Brunel, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, 71, former Sen. George Mitchell, 85, Hyatt hotels magnate Tom Pritzker, 69, and prominent hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, 62. Giuffre has previously identified Epstein’s lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, 80, and Prince Andrew, 59, as two of the people with whom she had sex.

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/sta...#storylink=cpy

[numberthirty]

Speaking of Epstein, the best newspaper in the US right now, the Miami Herald, just named more names:

The names of some prominent, wealthy men Giuffre says she was directed to have sex with are spattered throughout the approximately 2,000 pages released Friday.

They include: the late scientist Marvin Minsky, modeling scout Jean-Luc Brunel, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, 71, former Sen. George Mitchell, 85, Hyatt hotels magnate Tom Pritzker, 69, and prominent hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, 62. Giuffre has previously identified Epstein’s lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, 80, and Prince Andrew, 59, as two of the people with whom she had sex.

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/sta...#storylink=cpy

Well, at least three of those names have been in most of the news so far. That said... You almost have to wonder how the folks who were guessing at what would come of it didn't really mention the names that have come out today.

[SquirrelMan]

Well, at least three of those names have been in most of the news so far. That said... You almost have to wonder how the folks who were guessing at what would come of it didn't really mention the names that have come out today.

At the same time, didn't the people who were guessing at which names they would mention when those names would come out make a list and check it twice, to figure out who's naughty or nice, so once names were being named, they would know what to guess about who's coming out?

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Las Vegas Man Faces Weapons Charge After Outlining Plans To Attack Synagogue, Bar

The Justice Department said Conor Climo promoted white supremacy, had drawn up plans for an attack involving explosives and had bomb-making materials. But, please, tell me again how Antifa is the ONLY threat to Americans these days!

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Anthony Scaramucci Calls Trump’s Visit To El Paso Hospital A ‘Catastrophe’

“It’s also a bad reflection on the country,” said Trump’s 11-day former communications director. Speaking of which....

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Trump Slammed For Tone-Deaf ‘Photo-Op’ With El Paso Orphan

“Who would think the appropriate response would be flashing a smile and thumbs up?” asked author Brian Klaas. “Something is wrong with him.” Yeah, Trump lacks empathy and turned the visit into a shameless photo op! Short and sweet, he's a fucking sociopath!



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Trump Campaign Launches Ads Appealing To Texas Latinos Days After El Paso Shooting

The ads urge the community to “STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP” as his critics speak out against his history of xenophobic rhetoric. What? WHAT?!? Seriously?

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Tucker Carlson’s Commercial Breaks Tell The Real Story Of His Advertising Problems

Last year, Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” would feature more than 30 paid ads. In his Thursday show, there were only 13. Friday, there were just 11 ads. My response? WAHH WAHH!

[Tendrin]

Las Vegas Man Faces Weapons Charge After Outlining Plans To Attack Synagogue, Bar

The Justice Department said Conor Climo promoted white supremacy, had drawn up plans for an attack involving explosives and had bomb-making materials. But, please, tell me again how Antifa is the ONLY threat to Americans these days!

Only a threat to Nazis, anyway.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Only a threat to Nazis, anyway.

Details, details.