All-purpose news and politics thread: Two Steps Beyond!

[Handsome men don't lose fights]

This absolutely is what this is about.

https://twitter.com/RubenBolling/sta...84997679603715

This is how the seeds of a violent revolt are planted: When the ruling class loses even the image of propriety, and begins openly doing whatever it pleases. "Oh, that could never happen in America!" Yeah, yeah, this past year I've learned this country is capable of anything. Something tells that within the next 15-20 years, I should move to Canada.

[PaulBullion]

This is how the seeds of a violent revolt are planted: When the ruling class loses even the image of propriety, and begins openly doing whatever it pleases. "Oh, that could never happen in America!" Yeah, yeah, this past year I've learned this country is capable of anything. Something tells that within the next 15-20 years, I should move to Canada.

Violent revolt is canceled. People got distracted by a new season of Bachelor Swap.

[InformationGeek]

Annnnnnnd looks like we got a double header for WBE to look into in the future. State senators Randy Baumgardner and Jack Tate of Colorado has been accused of sexual harassment.

The refusal by Colorado Republicans to address the issue comes after Republican state senators Randy Baumgardner and Jack Tate of Colorado were accused of sexual harassment while in office, KUNC News reported. Allegations against both lawmakers feature corroborating witnesses who described the misconduct as “creepy.”

“We ask those who feel they have been victims of harassment or inappropriate behavior at the General Assembly to file an official complaint, in confidence that their anonymity and rights will be protected,” Senate President Kevin Grantham requested. “Going forward, Senate Republican leaders cannot and will not be responding to unsubstantiated or anonymous allegations against members appearing in the press, which the existing complaint process is designed to handle.”

Sen. Grantham’s contention, that sexual misconduct allegations against politicians are best handled behind closed doors, is a direct rebuttal to the “Me Too” movement success in bringing about progress by having the conversation in the open.

One female intern who was 25 at the time said Sen. Baumgardner would often pressure her to drink with him in his office. She also recounted a story of Baumgardner complaining that she had not gone home with him a few days earlier and that he “had to leave all by myself, and walk home all by myself and lay in bed.”

“I just shook my head,” said a legislative aide who witnessed the encounter. “It was creepy.”

That same word — creepy — was also used to describe actions by Sen. Jack Tate against a former intern who was 18-years-old at the time. The inappropriate behavior allegedly lasted for two-and-a-half months.

“I really like that skirt you’re wearing,” Senator Tate alledgedly told the intern in an elevator on her first day. She claims he later said that, “if she wanted to move up in the world, give him a call.”

A fellow intern, who witnessed an encounter, said that Senator Tate “was creepy toward her.”

Both lawmakers have denied wrongdoing.

Six other female capitol workers also told KUNC they avoided Baumgardner. Previously, it was revealed that Baumgardner had an unregistered sex offender living in his home.

[Ragged Maw]

(And I repeat, Moore's own words along with the number of separate accusers and things like his being barred from a shopping mall for trying to pick up teenagers make the case against him stronger)

Still, I wouldn't guarantee him losing the election, barring him falling into an active volcano. The 2016 election taught me that much.

[Mecegirl]

They would be lucky to get another 3 years if Trump doesn’t get himself impeached first.

The next in the chain is just as bad...So really its the republican establishment that need the scapegoat not just Trump.

[ouroboros]

There is a reason I am a big believer in Due Diligence in terms of investigating reports like this. While the numbers are nowhere near that put forth by 'Red-Pillers' and the like, people have lied about sexual assault to the detriment of the accused.

(And I repeat, Moore's own words along with the number of separate accusers and things like his being barred from a shopping mall for trying to pick up teenagers make the case against him stronger)

While I find it likely that Moore was trolling for jailbait based on witness recollections from the time, Snopes.com reports that records no longer exist as to what individuals might have been banned that far back. Clearly, then, this will never be anything more than a rumor based on other rumors, and the media-- like MSNBC-- ought to quit reporting the rumor as established fact.

[PaulBullion]

While I find it likely that Moore was trolling for jailbait based on witness recollections from the time, Snopes.com reports that records no longer exist as to what individuals might have been banned that far back. Clearly, then, this will never be anything more than a rumor based on other rumors, and the media-- like MSNBC-- ought to quit reporting the rumor as established fact.

CNN interviewed a former employee of the mall who said he clearly remembered that it was true. It's more than a rumor now.
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/11...rrassing-rumor

[Mister Mets]

The photographer also had commentary which hasn't been widely disseminated either. This whole thing smells, even if what Franken did was stupid and shitty.

Snopes calls bullshit on that.

https://www.snopes.com/photographer-...ge-was-staged/

This does reflect the danger of repeating stuff online from unverified sources. Some of it's going to be wrong.

It is highly unlikely that a genuine quote from the person who took this photograph is currently available, as the photographer’s identity is unknown at the time of this writing. It was initially reported (in a since deleted tweet) that Franken’s brother may have been the one who took the picture, but Owen Franken denied this.

It should also be noted that the Twitter account that posted this fake quote has pushed misinformation before. And while we can’t definitively say what motivated them to spread this fake quote, we can say that pointing to a woman’s sexual history or clothing choices (which this account did by including an unrelated picture of Tweeden in a bikini), is a common tactic used to prevent women from coming forward with stories of sexual abuse by laying the blame on the victim and saying, without saying, that the victim “deserved” to be assaulted.

The person who took the picture of Al Franken and Leeann Tweeden has not been identified, nor have they issued a statement regarding the incident. Which means there is no credible claim the image was staged, that Tweeden was “playing dead,” or that “she wanted him to ‘revive’ her” in the picture. This quote was made up out of the whole cloth in an apparent attempt to discredit Tweeden and her account.

[Tami]

I know I need to back off for a while when things start getting too personal for me. Don't be surprised if I take a week or so off.

[Kirby101]

Snopes calls bullshit on that.

https://www.snopes.com/photographer-...ge-was-staged/

This does reflect the danger of repeating stuff online from unverified sources. Some of it's going to be wrong.

But what about what his escort officer said?

[Tendrin]

Snopes calls bullshit on that.

https://www.snopes.com/photographer-...ge-was-staged/

This does reflect the danger of repeating stuff online from unverified sources. Some of it's going to be wrong.

Oops. This happens sometimes to anyone. Even you, I'm sure.

[Handsome men don't lose fights]

Huh. A former Republican state senator from Oklahoma has plead guilty to charges related to child sex trafficking. http://newsok.com/article/5572707

It's weird, you'd think this would be national news or something given the current climate. I found out about it on reddit. Another noble arch-conservative who looks at statutory rape legislation and does not back down, but says "hold my beer."

[Ragged Maw]

Huh. A former Republican state senator from Oklahoma has plead guilty to charges related to child sex trafficking. http://newsok.com/article/5572707

........................<<throws hands up>> I've got nothing.

[Malvolio]

Violent revolt is canceled. People got distracted by a new season of Bachelor Swap.

That's how the fall of Rome started. Distract the people from the corruption with gladiatorial games.

[PaulBullion]

As We Rethink Old Harassers, Let’s Talk About Clarence Thomas

A great read by Reid.