All purpose news and politics thread part VII: News & Politics Total Landscaping

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Tim Kaine: Biden knows Netanyahu ‘played’ him in early months of Gaza war

I understand Biden was pissed with Netanyahu, but, at the same time, he has to walk a fine line when it comes to his anger with the PM. While Israel is catching hell for their brutal campaign against Hamas that's resulted to scores of innocent civilian deaths, there are still those to whom Israel is absolutely sacrosanct, regardless of its actions, and anything less than 110 percent support is the kiss of death politically.

[CaptainEurope]

Alabama's Republican Ethics Commissioner Resigns Over Unethical (and illegal) behavior

In a dramatic twist within Alabama’s political landscape, Ethics Commissioner Stan McDonald has tendered his resignation, marking a significant turn of events following his recent contentious interactions with State Rep. Matt Simpson over proposed alterations to the state’s ethics legislation.

McDonald, a staunch advocate and promoter for political figures like Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Rep. Mo Brooks, found himself in hot water after a revealing radio interview where he inadvertently admitted to making political donations post his appointment as an ethics commissioner in 2019—a clear violation of Alabama’s stringent ethics laws which forbid such actions from commission members.

The controversy unfolded further when McDonald, in an attempt to criticize the proposed ethics law overhaul, inadvertently disclosed his donations during a debate with Rep. Simpson. This admission not only put McDonald under scrutiny but also served as ammunition for Simpson to underscore the necessity for his proposed legislative changes, arguing the complexity of current laws that even members of the Ethics Commission struggle to comprehend.

[Tami]

I understand Biden was pissed with Netanyahu, but, at the same time, he has to walk a fine line when it comes to his anger with the PM. While Israel is catching hell for their brutal campaign against Hamas that's resulted to scores of innocent civilian deaths, there are still those to whom Israel is absolutely sacrosanct, regardless of its actions, and anything less than 110 percent support is the kiss of death politically.

Many people won't be rational about this, either way. My thought on Netanyahu is that Biden should have sooner implemented the diplomatic policy of "Tough Love", as in if you have a friend who is doing something really stupid, dangerous, and just plain wrong, a good friend would call them out on it and given them the ultimatum.

[Maine Starfish]

well, at the same time it's not very rational to continue providing weapons and bombs to Israel so that they can continue to massacre thousands of more Palestinians

not only is it directly contributing to war crimes, it is also not making it safer for the average Israeli citizen

it is not irrational to oppose what's happening

[Jack Dracula]

Tim Kaine: Biden knows Netanyahu ‘played’ him in early months of Gaza war

One problem is that Netanyahu has no real incentive to end the conflict beyond getting hostages back. He isn’t popular with the Israeli people and the end of the fighting will very likely be the end of his administration.

[Tami]

One problem is that Netanyahu has no real incentive to end the conflict beyond getting hostages back. He isn’t popular with the Israeli people and the end of the fighting will very likely be the end of his administration.

Netanyahu, based on what he and his governemnt have done so far, has no interest in getting the hostages back. One by one their dead bodies are all that are found.

[Kirby101]

well, at the same time it's not very rational to continue providing weapons and bombs to Israel so that they can continue to massacre thousands of more Palestinians

not only is it directly contributing to war crimes, it is also not making it safer for the average Israeli citizen

it is not irrational to oppose what's happening

And if not supplying weapons means Iran can attack and destroy Israel?

[The Cool Thatguy]

well, at the same time it's not very rational to continue providing weapons and bombs to Israel so that they can continue to massacre thousands of more Palestinians

not only is it directly contributing to war crimes, it is also not making it safer for the average Israeli citizen

it is not irrational to oppose what's happening

While I don't disagreed, the war in Gaza is hardly one between equals. Israel would have overwhelming firepower, regardless.

[numberthirty]

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...budget-deficit

Newsom called it a ‘gimmick.’ Now he’s using the trick to lower California’s massive deficit

With a windfall of cash five years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was doing away with a state budget “gimmick” one of his predecessors relied on to shave about $800 million off a deficit during the Great Recession.

The accounting trick, adopted in 2009, delayed state worker payroll from the end of one fiscal year on June 30 to the start of the next on July 1. A decade later Newsom spent nearly $1 billion to end the subterfuge, with one caveat.

“If I use it in six years, in a recession, forgive me,” Newsom said.

At his urging, Newsom and lawmakers have agreed to use the budget gimmick next year even though California isn’t in a recession.

The tactic is one of several maneuvers Democrats are relying on to reduce a historic budget deficit of at least $37.9 billion by pushing their spending problem forward to another year.

[numberthirty]

And if not supplying weapons means Iran can attack and destroy Israel?

MS said "To Continue..."

I get the feeling that Israel is currently sitting on enough hardware that the idea that anyone could "Destroy..." it is sort of unlikely.

[numberthirty]

Never mind that there is nothing stopping a country from supplying weapons if and when Iran was to actually attack it.

[LoganAlpha30X33]

Except if Iran attacked and the delay in getting the weapons to Israel made a difference and caused thousands of lives if not the whole conflict.

[CaptainEurope]

well, at the same time it's not very rational to continue providing weapons and bombs to Israel so that they can continue to massacre thousands of more Palestinians

not only is it directly contributing to war crimes, it is also not making it safer for the average Israeli citizen

it is not irrational to oppose what's happening

I'm kind of torn about this. I mean, Hamas will still get weapons from Iran. It would feel very inhumane to deny Israel the right to defend itself, just because Netanyahu is an ass and keeps crossing red lines. The next group of victims on an event like October 7 are not to blame for what Netanyahu did.

[CaptainEurope]

MS said "To Continue..."

I get the feeling that Israel is currently sitting on enough hardware that the idea that anyone could "Destroy..." it is sort of unlikely.

We're currently seeing in Ukraine how quickly ammunition runs out in a war.

[numberthirty]

We're currently seeing in Ukraine how quickly ammunition runs out in a war.

When you can measure the time in years?

I don't know if "Quickly..." is the right way to frame it.

Never mind that Israel most likely has a stockpile that Ukraine wishes that it had going into that conflict.