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

[mojotastic]

Glenn Greenwald claims Putin was hosting a dinner with "human rights activists" and that is why Jill Stein sat at a table with ... General Mike Flynn.

This is the thing, Flynn recieved money from RT but Stein didnt, she was even offer but she declined.

[JCAll]

Republicans are literally doing their best Ebenezer Scrooge impression. A shame the ghosts aren't actually real.

That should be a political cartoon.
Trump: "So I'm going to die rich, right?"
Ghost of Christmas Future: *facepalm*

[Mister Mets]

Another insidious thing they've done is to change the terminology on Social Security and Medicare to "entitlements". Wrong..... they are our benefits that we've paid into.

Except people get more out of it than they put in, even if you take into account interest and actuarial factors (IE- someone who dies at 88 will collect more benefits than someone who dies immediately after retiring at 64.)

[Dalak]

This is the thing, Flynn recieved money from RT but Stein didnt, she was even offer but she declined.

She could have gotten rewarded in any number of under-the-table ways, an Ex-KGB guy would know all about that sort of thing too. I'm not saying she's guilty yet, just saying that investigating her doesn't seem too far yet. This Russian stuff has shaken too much shady behind-the-scenes crap into the light for me to assume they don't have a reason to start looking at Stein that they aren't telling us.

[Dalak]

Except people get more out of it than they put in, even if you take into account interest and actuarial factors (IE- someone who dies at 88 will collect more benefits than someone who dies immediately after retiring at 64.)

Shouldn't people get a return on their investments? Several republican senators including Bob Corker are getting that return right now as they vote to enrich themselves, let alone Wall street and all that it represents.

[Mister Mets]

Shouldn't people get a return on their investments? Several republican senators including Bob Corker are getting that return right now as they vote to enrich themselves, let alone Wall street and all that it represents.

The investments won't survive if the returns are too high.

Medicare seems to have that problem.

Looking at some charts from 2012, social security does not.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...-paid-what-yo/

Note: I'm not suggesting medicare is bad. Just that the medicare taxes do not appear sufficient to pay for it.

[mojotastic]

She could have gotten rewarded in any number of under-the-table ways, an Ex-KGB guy would know all about that sort of thing too. I'm not saying she's guilty yet, just saying that investigating her doesn't seem too far yet. This Russian stuff has shaken too much shady behind-the-scenes crap into the light for me to assume they don't have a reason to start looking at Stein that they aren't telling us.

For me it seems like a big stretch, as always i will wait and see.

[Dalak]

The investments won't survive if the returns are too high.

Medicare seems to have that problem.

Looking at some charts from 2012, social security does not.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...-paid-what-yo/

Note: I'm not suggesting medicare is bad. Just that the medicare taxes do not appear sufficient to pay for it.

We'd have the money to pay for it if we weren't giving it to the rich using it to line their own pockets. Don't believe me, I'm trying to make sure this is real before I dive into it headfirst but I'l link it anyway for now.

https://twitter.com/HoarseWisperer/s...48721596305409



If this is true they aren't raising wages or hiring new workers, they are lining their pockets and enriching investors. Why do they need this tax break again?

E: Google seems to provide some corroborating links:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/18/pfiz...-dividend.html
https://theintercept.com/2017/12/18/...stock-buyback/
http://247wallst.com/investing/2017/...-shareholders/

[JCAll]

She could have gotten rewarded in any number of under-the-table ways, an Ex-KGB guy would know all about that sort of thing too. I'm not saying she's guilty yet, just saying that investigating her doesn't seem too far yet. This Russian stuff has shaken too much shady behind-the-scenes crap into the light for me to assume they don't have a reason to start looking at Stein that they aren't telling us.

I don't think Jill Stein is smart enough to make under the table deals. If she were taking bribes, she would probably say so on her website.

[Dalak]

For me it seems like a big stretch, as always i will wait and see.

That's where I'm sitting right now, waiting.

I don't think Jill Stein is smart enough to make under the table deals. If she were taking bribes, she would probably say so on her website.

You don't get that high up in politics without at least learning how one hand washes the other.

[Malvolio]

We'd have the money to pay for it if we weren't giving it to the rich using it to line their own pockets. Don't believe me, I'm trying to make sure this is real before I dive into it headfirst but I'l link it anyway for now.

https://twitter.com/HoarseWisperer/s...48721596305409



If this is true they aren't raising wages or hiring new workers, they are lining their pockets and enriching investors. Why do they need this tax break again?

E: Google seems to provide some corroborating links:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/18/pfiz...-dividend.html
https://theintercept.com/2017/12/18/...stock-buyback/
http://247wallst.com/investing/2017/...-shareholders/

For over thirty years, the right wing has been telling us that if we just give rich people enough tax breaks, they'll create jobs for the rest of us. Well, I'm tired of waiting. When are the jobs coming? Instead, they just seem to outsource to India or China or Mexico.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Definitely gonna be a serious look at entitlement reform, tackling entitlement deficits. And Obama and many talked about the need for it.

http://freebeacon.com/politics/obama...lement-reform/

Newsflash: I paid into Social Security for decades, so you’re goddamn right I’m entitled to that cash when I retire. If the GOP is going to **** with what I’m rightfully entitled to, then give me my money right fucking NOW!

[Tazirai]

Connecticut to end children's health program unless it gets money from Congress

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare...ets-money-from

According to Republicans, Tax cuts for the wealthy take priority over funding for children's health care. Sorry, kids.

GOP fully understands what they are doing. Because they know Conspiracy riddled Conservative brains are too stupid to realize they are going to be hurt by this also.

The Average Conservative ( Who I'm beginning to despise more and more daily), would rather burn the country to spit in the eyes of us "Libtards", they willfully keep putting in people that hate them as much as they hate us.

Kill children? Are they Libtard kids? If so then yes!

But Sir/Ma'am, you'll be killing your kids too!

It's a sacrifice to GAWD, as long as libs are harmed.

[Kevinroc]

GOP fully understands what they are doing. Because they know Conspiracy riddled Conservative brains are too stupid to realize they are going to be hurt by this also.

The Average Conservative ( Who I'm beginning to despise more and more daily), would rather burn the country to spit in the eyes of us "Libtards", they willfully keep putting in people that hate them as much as they hate us.

Kill children? Are they Libtard kids? If so then yes!

But Sir/Ma'am, you'll be killing your kids too!

It's a sacrifice to GAWD, as long as libs are harmed.

https://twitter.com/bpolitics/status/943297679873990657

GOP's tax bill will make Obamacare "unworkable," says No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn

Republicans want me and many other people to die. I have every reason in the world to want to vote against these assholes.

[Kevinroc]

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/statu...88488249749504

NEW: How Mitch McConnell succeeded on tax cuts after failing on health care https://bloom.bg/2kMJrrW My exclusive interview with him.

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/statu...89172420329473

McCONNELL celebrates impending repeal of the individual mandate: "It’s not a total replacement, but it takes the heart out of Obamacare."

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/statu...92092834607105

Didn't make it into the piece, but @SenMajLdr told me the tax bill is only his second-greatest achievement.

"For me personally, it would be Neil Gorsuch and the changes we’re making in the circuit courts," McConnell said.

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/statu...94511471644672

The two most crucial moments for the tax bill, as told by @SenateMajLdr:

1. Corker-Toomey $1.5 trillion deal, and House adoption of it

2. Adding repeal of the ACA individual mandate

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/statu...96383838244864

McConnell says GOP senators were actually enthusiastic on tax cuts—unlike on Obamacare repeal, an effort he says was like "getting a root canal."

Republicans are real life super villains.