All purpose news and politics thread part v: The quickening

[Tami]

If the party didn't have any of it's members in the running?

I guess I could see the problem.

Otherwise?

Where is the problem?

If the party cannot field options strong enough to win the nomination when it's own members are casting the votes, they should be glad that the guy is there as an option.

I'll chalk it up as a political experiment and see what happens.

One of these days there probably will be an Independent President, which should be interesting. Just not sure if this is the way to do it.

[Tendrin]

One of Kentucky’s most generous Republican donors reportedly urged the state’s former governor, Matt Bevin, to pardon a convicted killer shortly before he freed the man during his last week in office. Public records surfaced Tuesday by Louisville’s Courier Journal show Terry Forcht, who has given more than $1 million to Republican candidates, lobbied Bevin twice for the release of convicted killer Patrick Baker. Forcht wrote to Bevin in June urging him to give Baker a gubernatorial pardon, saying: “I know his family and still feel he has turned his life around.” Shortly after that letter, an investigator looking into Baker’s case on Bevin’s behalf advised him it would be inappropriate to issue a pardon. However, Bevin went ahead and issued the pardon during his last week in office this month. Bevin wrote: “The evidence supporting his conviction is sketchy at best.” In December 2017, Baker was sentenced to 19 years in prison, convicted of reckless homicide, robbery and impersonating a peace officer.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/terry-...a=twitter_page

But, yeah. LEt's talk about how Bevin merely has 'sincere concerns about judicial overreach' or whatever.

This will, of course, be used as an excuse to push for legislation that will damage pardon authority.

[Tami]

Several More Democrats From Trump-Friendly Districts Announce Support For Impeachment

The president “betrayed the Nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections,” the report said.

In the days since the Judiciary Committee voted on the articles of impeachment, a number of Democrats holding seats in conservative-leaning districts — some of whom helped Democrats reclaim the House in 2018 — have expressed support for the articles, defying claims by conservative politicians and pundits that vulnerable Democrats would not vote for impeachment out of concern for their futures.

Freshman Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), for example, announced in a tweet Tuesday she plans to vote in favor of impeachment despite potential backlash from her Republican constituents.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/terry-...a=twitter_page

But, yeah. LEt's talk about how Bevin merely has 'sincere concerns about judicial overreach' or whatever.

This will, of course, be used as an excuse to push for legislation that will damage pardon authority.

Well I have to wonder if this will get Bevin arrested as Federal and state investigators are now looking at Bevin's connections to this. So he may have fucked himself big time.

[Tami]

Russian spy ship off US coast operating in 'unsafe manner,' officials say

Washington (CNN)A Russian spy-ship has returned to international waters off the southeastern coast of the United States and is operating in what two US officials told CNN is an "unsafe manner."

The Viktor Leonov, a Russian surveillance ship, has been sailing off the coast of South Carolina and Florida in the last few days, officials tell CNN, adding that the ship's actions were determined to be unsafe because it is not using running lights in low visibility weather and it is not responding to commercial vessels' attempts to communicate to avoid potential accidents.

The official said the Vishnya-class spy ship was also engaged in "other erratic maneuvers."

A spokesperson for the US Coast Guard confirmed to CNN that the Coast Guard was broadcasting a "Marine Safety Information Bulletin" to alert mariners in the area to the Russian ship's presence and its behavior.

"The United States Coast Guard has received reports indicating that the RFN VIKTOR LEONOV (AGI-175) has been operating in an unsafe manner off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. This unsafe operation includes not energizing running lights while in reduced visibility conditions, not responding to hails by commercial vessels attempting to coordinate safe passage and other erratic movements," the bulletin said.

"Vessels transiting these waters should maintain a sharp lookout and use extreme caution when navigating in proximity to this vessel. Mariners should make reports of any unsafe situations to the United States Coast Guard," it added.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Russian spy ship off US coast operating in 'unsafe manner,' officials say

I’m sure Trump’s been notified, and, to the surprise of nobody, he’s not going to do a goddamn thing.

[aja_christopher]

If the party cannot field options strong enough to win the nomination when it's own members are casting the votes, they should be glad that the guy is there as an option.

Not when his supporters are constantly attacking the lead Democratic candidates and the integrity of the party as a whole.

And not when said supporters are demanding platform shifts that can't even win Democratic primaries, much less national elections.

[Theleviathan]

What baffles me is Bernie supporters blame Hillary, the DNC, the media and 'the establishment' for his loss.

Well, when you are a tad cultish it is hard to explain away losing by 12% without dipping into the crazy end of the excuses.

[Tami]

Hundreds of Obama alumni endorse Elizabeth Warren

(CNN)Hundreds of veterans of Barack Obama's campaigns and administration have signed on to endorse Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president, as multiple Democratic presidential candidates compete to claim the popular former president's political coalition and legacy.

With the Iowa caucuses less than two months away, more than 200 Obama alumni joined a signature-gathering effort led by a pair of former senior Obama aides, Sara El-Amine and Jon Carson. Among other roles, El-Amine was national director of Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, while Carson was a national field director for Obama's 2008 campaign prior to joining the administration. Both served as executive directors of Organizing for America, the Obama grassroots organizing network.

The list of endorsers shared with CNN includes Robert Ford, ex-US ambassador to Syria, Natalie Foster, previously the digital director for Organizing for America, and Sean Carroll, a former senior official at USAID. It also features Obama alumni who are currently working on the Warren campaign full-time including in senior-most positions, like Warren chief strategist Joe Rospars, senior adviser Emily Parcell, national political director Rebecca Pearcey and national director of public engagement Alencia Johnson.

[jetengine]

The American political system needs to lock down who can run as what frankly. Bernie shouldn't be able to dip in and out and neither should Trump or Bloomberg. Your either a member of the party...or your not.

[Kirby101]

The American political system needs to lock down who can run as what frankly. Bernie shouldn't be able to dip in and out and neither should Trump or Bloomberg. Your either a member of the party...or your not.

We have no laws governing this, and we shouldn't have. Each Party decides how their candidate is chosen. The bigger problem is the money allowed to flow into campaigns.

[jetengine]

We have no laws governing this, and we shouldn't have. Each Party decides how their candidate is chosen. The bigger problem is the money allowed to flow into campaigns.

With all due respect you need laws governing it, lest you get another Trump walking up going "Yeah I'm a democrat" because your going to fund sorting this easier then getting money out.

[Tami]

We have no laws governing this, and we shouldn't have. Each Party decides how their candidate is chosen. The bigger problem is the money allowed to flow into campaigns.

Which is why it's harder for Independents and 3rd party people to get elected. Which is why some join either the Democrats or the republicans to help fund their campaigns, even if they aren't ideologically tied to those parties or have any inherent loyalty to either of those parties.

This can cause problems, sometimes, which is where DINOS, RINOS, and Party Crashers (those who switch parties often, and often for expedience or personal gain) come from. It's up to the voters to decide if they want someone with a proven track record in a specific political party, or if it doesn't matter.

[Tami]

With all due respect you need laws governing it, lest you get another Trump walking up going "Yeah I'm a democrat" because your going to fund sorting this easier then getting money out.

Creating laws that regulates who can and can't be in a specific Political Party is not very Democratic. A lot of Americans would yell and scream against that idea. Especially since many Americans are either neither, or they vote whichever way the wind blows.

It's up to the Political Parties to decide, and usually, for candidates, that decision is made in the announcement as to are they being supported or not. If a Candidate does something that goes against the Political Party, the DNC or the RNC can just cut them off financially and in all other ways. Often, that is the kiss of death for political career.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

Not when his supporters are constantly attacking the lead Democratic candidates and the integrity of the party as a whole.

And not when said supporters are demanding platform shifts that can't even win Democratic primaries, much less national elections.

Then don't ask for their votes. What do you want me to tell you? For 20 years Democrats have been begging the the youth and far left voters to turn out for them because that's how they win elections, and they don't give them anything they want, then they wonder why the only person they like is someone who has been an independent who only caucuses with the party and they themselevs don't feel any party loyalty.