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

[numberthirty]

Gonna get out in front of the argument I see coming...

Registering as an "Independent" voter does not make one's political views "independent" of ideology.

Also, going to add on trusting people to label political groups... the president saw "fine people on both sides" in Charlottesville. Based on his track record for honesty, and everything we know about Neo-Nazis, he proved why we shouldn't trust him to be the one to make that call.

"Duh." To put it lightly.

That's why folks say "(Insert Left Or Right)-Leaning Independent".

[PaulBullion]

While WBE is trying to explain to #30 that words have menaings...

Steve Wynn: US casino mogul quits as Republican finance chair after decades of abusing women revealed

What will the Republicans have to say who demanded Democrats give back the money Weinstein raised for them? I'm pretty sure I already know!

[WestPhillyPunisher]

While WBE is trying to explain to #30 that words have menaings...

Steve Wynn: US casino mogul quits as Republican finance chair after decades of abusing women revealed

What will the Republicans have to say who demanded Democrats give back the money Weinstein raised for them? I'm pretty sure I already know!

I'm sure I know too. And it'll feature some mealy mouthed bullshit excuse.

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The ‘Law And Order’ Party Has Unleashed An Extraordinary Attack On Law Enforcement

Trump supporters working to undermine the Mueller investigation are saying things about the FBI you don’t typically hear from Republicans. That's because the FBI dared to shine a light on Trump and his devious activities, and they won't have that. Meanwhile....

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As Republicans Attack The DOJ And FBI, Sessions Vows To Stand Up To ‘Unfair’ Criticism

GOP politicians have been questioning the integrity of the nation’s premier law enforcement agency in an effort to undermine the Mueller probe. How long will that last before Trump gets irritated with the Hateful Hobbit for not toeing the party line?

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Jay-Z Slams ‘Superbug’ Donald Trump’s ‘Shithole’ Dig Against African Nations

“This is the leader of the free world speaking like this.” I know, and it's pathetic, and unwarranted.

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Maxine Waters To Respond To Donald Trump’s State Of The Union Speech

This should be good. Grab your popcorn, folks!



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EPA Chief Under Nixon And Reagan: GOP’s Climate Denial Is ‘Killing Everything’

William Ruckelshaus, the first and fifth EPA administrator, has been a fierce critic of Scott Pruitt. When someone who worked under Nixon slams you, you KNOW you're a bad guy!

[Tami]

Lawrence O’Donnell: Dems won shutdown showdown

I agree with his assessment of the situation.

[Tami]

Cuomo, Typically a Lone Wolf, Shifts Toward Coalition Building

This could only have happened after NJ got a Democrat as Governor

It was not the content of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s joint announcement with Govs. Philip D. Murphy and Dannel P. Malloy that was surprising so much as the fact that it was happening at all.

In declaring on Friday that he would join with Mr. Murphy and Mr. Malloy, the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, to sue the federal government over the constitutionality of its new tax law, Mr. Cuomo was advancing a pledge he had been promoting for weeks.

But the framing of the announcement — as the work of a coalition of blue-state governors, sprinkled with declarations of friendship, neighborliness and mutual admiration — was a departure for a governor who usually operates alone, positioning his state as an island unto itself.

Political observers said there could be any number of reasons for Mr. Cuomo’s newfound collegiality. Some said the potentially devastating economic impact of the federal tax law had jolted him into action; others pointed out that Mr. Murphy’s election was the first time Mr. Cuomo had had a Democratic partner across the Hudson River.

[Mister Mets]

You also have to pair this up with the cult-like mentality around Trump. His voters have often changed their own stances to match him rather than claiming that they don't agree with everything he does. When you have that, the followers will often insist that what their leader says is the truth even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

Fair point, although the most fervent supporters aren't the entirety of his support.

When it comes to politics where words convey power, sometimes tremendous power, I’d prefer the men and women in that profession take measured, careful and deliberate responses when it comes to social media instead of loose cannons like Trump who carelessly shoot from the hip and end up being seen as idiots and/or jackasses. I’m sick to death of hearing how Dolt45 is “telling it like it is”, no, he’s just spewing whatever bullshit comes to mind and then becomes part of the public record.

The flipside of this is the standard politicians who rarely say what's on their mind, especially on controversial topics.

So if I tell someone that they live in a shithole cause it doesn't look like my house, break apart families and say that they are a bunch of rapists and murderers with nothing to back up that claim, pick fights with people over Twitter, I.D the guy carrying the Nuclear football with a photo OP, I'm not an ******* I'm telling it how it is?

To some voters that's preferable to politicians who refuse to say how it is.

Lawrence O’Donnell: Dems won shutdown showdown

I agree with his assessment of the situation.

CHIP was part of the bill prior to the shutdown.

The midnight drama came after an unusually tranquil day inside the Capitol, where visible tensions remained at a low simmer as various parties undertook quiet talks to discuss ways to avoid the shutdown.

Republicans started the day eager to show a united front: House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and McConnell met Friday morning, determined to hold firm to a strategy they had crafted nearly a week prior: Make Democrats an offer they could not refuse by attaching a long-term extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, as well as the delay of some unpopular health-care taxes. And if they did refuse, the leaders believed, the public backlash would be intense — particularly in states where vulnerable Democratic senators are seeking reelection in November.

[Tami]

CHIP was in the prior bill, but there was no leverage to negotiate DACA. As of the shutdown, the Dems got a promise to bring DACA tot he floor and a weapon they can use if that doesn't happen. Plus an extra week before the March deadline.

[KOSLOX]

Somehow I don't think Neera Tanden and Joy Reid will notice this poll and others like it.

'Bernie Bros' Phenomenon Debunked in New Poll

Attachment 61294

No such thing as Bernie Bros: Bernie's approval rates are women 50%, blacks 70%, latinx 55%; men 46%, whites 43%

This doesn't really debunk anything. Bernie Bros were a specific label applied to the "Well, actually..." whitesplaining male caucus of Bernie supporters. It was never a label applied to the larger coalition.

[Mister Mets]

CHIP was in the prior bill, but there was no leverage to negotiate DACA. As of the shutdown, the Dems got a promise to bring DACA tot he floor and a weapon they can use if that doesn't happen. Plus an extra week before the March deadline.

People might get a different impression on CHIP from MSNBC's description of the video.

Democrats battled via the government shutdown over DACA, and in the end won funding for the 9 million children on CHIP. Joy Reid and Lawrence O’Donnell discuss why this was not a ‘cave.’

[TheInvisibleMan]

Jose Andres, who has been steady serving meals in PR with his group since Maria hit was at a fundraising event in DC last night

"everyone" was invited to an after party and he was kept out...why?

because Ivanka Trump said so

[Malvolio]

"Duh." To put it lightly.

That's why folks say "(Insert Left Or Right)-Leaning Independent".

So would you at least admit that you are, in fact, a Right-Leaning Independent?

[PaulBullion]

Anyone else think Mike Pence is on drugs?

[numberthirty]

So would you at least admit that you are, in fact, a Right-Leaning Independent?

If "Right" suddenly decided they are for a public option Saturday evening, maybe.

Otherwise, that is more what you seem to want to believe than it is actual reality.

[numberthirty]

Let's put it this way...

If you'd like, I could dig up some of the "Police Being Held Accountable For On Duty Shootings" posts I've made recently. Once I've done it, we can discuss if that is actually "Right" leaning or not.

[PaulBullion]

Another Trump supporter accused of being a predator:

Scott Baio has taken to Facebook Live to address and deny accusations of molestation made by his former Charles in Charge co-star Nicole Eggert on Saturday. In a series of tweets, the 46-year-old actress claimed on Saturday that the 57-year-old actor “molested” her repeatedly from the time she was 14 until she was 17.

The tweets began, “Ask @scottbaio what happened in his garage at his house when I was a minor. Creep.” The former Baywatch star also refered to herself as a “molested child” and that the alleged abuse had happened at the ages of 14, 15, 16 and 17.

http://www.joemygod.com/2018/01/28/s...n-80s-co-star/