All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[Jack Dracula]

It doesn't seem in character for him, and if anything it's the sort of thing I could see him paying an underling to put out there because it makes him seem like a "man of action" who couldn't bear to be away from his beloved fellow patriots. That it's hearsay, that the Secret Service seem to be pushing back on that narrative, doesn't help.

Based on how Republican voters typically handle Trump controversy, I predict they'll both believe it's bulls##t made up to frame Trump while also believing it because it makes them feel like he tried to be there and was held back by traitors to the cause. And I don't mean some will believe one and some the other, I mean I think they'll believe both.

On Biden still reaching out for that dollar labeled "bipartisanship" on a fishing line, try to look at it from his perspective. He was sent to the Senate 50 years ago this fall. He came up in the pre-Reagan era, and developed relationships and probably friendships with people on the other side of the aisle. He believes it's possible because it not only was possible but was the norm once upon a time.

Maybe it's hubris, but there's probably part of him that thinks if he can somehow bring sanity and compromise back to Congress he could be remembered as the man who healed the nation and restored faith in government. We all know that's not going to happen, I'm sure on some level he does too, but he wants to try. If nothing else perhaps it can sell his brand as a reasonable man and be a contrast to the likely Republican lineup in 2024.

I’m curious as to what people believe the correct course of action should be. The GOP has clearly chosen to game the system and fool their electorate into thinking Democrats are commie socialist baby killers who want their guns and all the children to be gay. They’ve chosen the path of eradicating democracy and violent overthrow. If the US is to function at all as a society, sanity must be restored so the government can serve everyone as more or less intended. The MAGA crazies and white supreme it’s aren’t going to evaporate if the Democrats win in 2024 and complete domination by the Dems for however long seems very unlikely. The GOP politicians aren’t incentivized to change so appealing to the moderate Republican base to create change is the only answer. The goal needs to be creating a lasting peace between parties because the alternative is chaos every 2 to 4 years and the public suffering the most for it.

[CSTowle]

They would need two-thirds of state legislatures to call for a constitutional convention.

The law has been on the books, but we haven't had a constitutional convention since 1787, so there are a lot of unresolved legal questions.

Around half the states they'd need to get it done have already signed on, and legislation is pending in many more. It won't take much, I'd imagine it's just stayed on the back-burner because folks didn't think the general populace was ready. But given the "stop the steal" rhetoric and the sheer amount of people willing to believe anything if their "team" spouts it out I won't be surprised if they're able to swing it. Especially if Republican activists are able to continue their stranglehold on state legislatures and courts.

They've played the long game and won on Roe, and they can see the way the future's tipping. Now's the time if they want to be bold, and really what do they have to lose at this point? And what realistic consequences will they face from their base even if they fail?

Don Jr. was no longer a child when his father slapped him down. Stop defending Trump. He has always been violent and dangerous.

If you think I'm defending Trump you're likely too wrapped up in your own daydream narrative about taking him down with hearsay to read clearly. Go ahead and take a look back. You give the man way too much credit.

He's dangerous like a predator is dangerous, comfortable with the feeble, weak, and submissive. Stand up to him and he folds like a cheap card table. I'll believe he tried to overpower a Secret Service Agent to go into a riot when I see it. Until then I'll believe he's a coward who hoped those misguided fools would hand a coup to him on a silver platter (like everything else in his life) and wouldn't have risked his own skin if he didn't have to.

[Jack Dracula]

https://twitter.com/SCOTUSblog/statu...09020891598848

I’m getting the impression these guys are just doing as much damage they can right now. Could it be that one of conservative justices is sick or considering retirement?

[CSTowle]

I’m curious as to what people believe the correct course of action should be. The GOP has clearly chosen to game the system and fool their electorate into thinking Democrats are commie socialist baby killers who want their guns and all the children to be gay. They’ve chosen the path of eradicating democracy and violent overthrow. If the US is to function at all as a society, sanity must be restored so the government can serve everyone as more or less intended. The MAGA crazies and white supreme it’s aren’t going to evaporate if the Democrats win in 2024 and complete domination by the Dems for however long seems very unlikely. The GOP politicians aren’t incentivized to change so appealing to the moderate Republican base to create change is the only answer. The goal needs to be creating a lasting peace between parties because the alternative is chaos every 2 to 4 years and the public suffering the most for it.

The only solution I see is an Obama-like rockstar figure (which we don't have, so strike one) pushing a message of sanity and unity instead of division. That's a tough sell for anyone, to either side (especially when the stakes are as high as they are, and after an event like overturning Roe). I fear it's going to get worse before it gets better, and conditions on the ground as far as inflation and energy prices are going to blind potential moderates to anything beyond their own immediate financial well-being. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see an answer or a savior coming down the pike to sell one even if it's found.

[kidfresh512]

I’m getting the impression these guys are just doing as much damage they can right now. Could it be that one of conservative justices is sick or considering retirement?

This is what the GOP has invested in for years now. The conservative bloc is feeling themselves and just going for it now.

[CaptainEurope]

Around half the states they'd need to get it done have already signed on, and legislation is pending in many more. It won't take much, I'd imagine it's just stayed on the back-burner because folks didn't think the general populace was ready. But given the "stop the steal" rhetoric and the sheer amount of people willing to believe anything if their "team" spouts it out I won't be surprised if they're able to swing it. Especially if Republican activists are able to continue their stranglehold on state legislatures and courts.

They've played the long game and won on Roe, and they can see the way the future's tipping. Now's the time if they want to be bold, and really what do they have to lose at this point? And what realistic consequences will they face from their base even if they fail?



If you think I'm defending Trump you're likely too wrapped up in your own daydream narrative about taking him down with hearsay to read clearly. Go ahead and take a look back. You give the man way too much credit.

He's dangerous like a predator is dangerous, comfortable with the feeble, weak, and submissive. Stand up to him and he folds like a cheap card table. I'll believe he tried to overpower a Secret Service Agent to go into a riot when I see it. Until then I'll believe he's a coward who hoped those misguided fools would hand a coup to him on a silver platter (like everything else in his life) and wouldn't have risked his own skin if he didn't have to.

Both WBE and I posted facts about his violent behaviour. All you have is your opinion.

[babyblob]

I just dont see the Trump thing being real. And I am mad they presented it at the hearing. Even more so because they did not reach out to the SS before hand.

Even if it did happen it should not have been presented by Her because it was all hearsay. That is all the talking heads and news shows are talking about. And since the SS came out and said they would say under oath it didnt happen that is more fuel to the "She is lying about everything." talk.

I hate Trump, and I think the worse off him in everything. But I am not buying this story. if it did happen they damn sure better produce fact because they took a "Well I was told this by this person who heard this." as fact.

I am happy to be proven wrong however.

The rest of the stuff she talked about she was there for. But this she was not. She may have been lied to about what happened, or some one may have been making the story bigger then it is. Im not saying she knowingly told a mistruth. But I dont think it is a true story.

[Kevinroc]

I’m getting the impression these guys are just doing as much damage they can right now. Could it be that one of conservative justices is sick or considering retirement?

They're trying to install permanent minority rule now. Granted they just gutted the government's ability to even attempt to regulate pollution, which is a threat to all life on Earth, but they don't actually care about life.

[worstblogever]

I’m getting the impression these guys are just doing as much damage they can right now. Could it be that one of conservative justices is sick or considering retirement?

Maybe Alito got a bad report from the doctor. Maybe Thomas is scared the walls are closing in on him because of Ginni.

But those two are the older ones that would be the most likely to have health issues, given their age.

[worstblogever]

Both WBE and I posted facts about his violent behaviour. All you have is your opinion.

I mean, I once wrote a whole timeline of s*** Trump did, before abandoning it in the third year of his presidency, because there were like 5 awful things happening every day.

There's the fact that when he was 8, Trump punched his music teacher in the face, and is proud that he did.

In 1992, Trump attacked a reporter, pouring a bottle of wine down the back of her dress for daring to write a story he didn't like. He bragged out doing it in later interviews.

He spitefully cancelled the health insurance of his 18 month old nephew while having a dispute over Fred Trump's will with the boy's family.

He's alleged to have committed sexual assault almost two dozen times.


The pattern you may note, is Trump is a rage-aholic, but also an absolute coward, He attacks only women, usually who don't know it's coming, and freaks out and destroys objects in fits of rage. He never actually fights someone who knows it's coming, or in a setting where he would get his ass handed to him.

I just dont see the Trump thing being real. And I am mad they presented it at the hearing. Even more so because they did not reach out to the SS before hand.

Even if it did happen it should not have been presented by Her because it was all hearsay. That is all the talking heads and news shows are talking about. And since the SS came out and said they would say under oath it didnt happen that is more fuel to the "She is lying about everything." talk.

I hate Trump, and I think the worse off him in everything. But I am not buying this story. if it did happen they damn sure better produce fact because they took a "Well I was told this by this person who heard this." as fact.

I am happy to be proven wrong however.

I thought this for a second, but then I heard one pundit point out the rebuttals are not coming under oath, they're just making statements to conservative media and that's it. There's a chance there's already corroborating testimony from Engel or Ornato. Because, as they continued... "Do you think Liz Cheney would be laying out this airtight case over the past 18 months, and put a witness up there, and specifically ASK HER about trying to grab the wheel or assaulting the man in charge of his security detail if she couldn't back up that it actually happened?"

And that's where I'm at. Liz Cheney is coming to f*** Trump up, and she is not going to make a rookie mistake like that unless they have the goods. Because the first time a witness is proven to be lying, or in Hutchinson's pace, passing along a story she would have been told that isn't true... it makes the entire process look like a sham.

It happened. They're not bringing people out to make s*** up.

[CaptainEurope]

I just dont see the Trump thing being real. And I am mad they presented it at the hearing. Even more so because they did not reach out to the SS before hand.

Even if it did happen it should not have been presented by Her because it was all hearsay. That is all the talking heads and news shows are talking about. And since the SS came out and said they would say under oath it didnt happen that is more fuel to the "She is lying about everything." talk.

I hate Trump, and I think the worse off him in everything. But I am not buying this story. if it did happen they damn sure better produce fact because they took a "Well I was told this by this person who heard this." as fact.

I am happy to be proven wrong however.

The rest of the stuff she talked about she was there for. But this she was not. She may have been lied to about what happened, or some one may have been making the story bigger then it is. Im not saying she knowingly told a mistruth. But I dont think it is a true story.

1. I doubt they would have included it in the absence of some kind of receipts. The committee has been very careful.
2. Do not underestimate how desperate and afraid Trump must have been. He probably expected an Attorney General similar to his own and saw himself arrested ASAP if he lost power.

[babyblob]

If it did happen I want to see the proof they have it. Until then it is hearsay. Now these SS agents saying it didnt happen. They said they would say under oath it didnt. If they dont, if they lawyer up and back out then yea I will believe it.

[CaptainEurope]

If it did happen I want to see the proof they have it. Until then it is hearsay. Now these SS agents saying it didnt happen. They said they would say under oath it didnt. If they dont, if they lawyer up and back out then yea I will believe it.

An anonymous source says that those USSS guys say it didn't happen. And remember that there are USSS guys like Dan "Parler" Bongino.

I'd add this from a former FBI agent's twitter feed:

I learned from @jenmercieca
the 5 criteria the Greeks used to determine whether someone was a Truth Teller (parrhessiastes). Evaluate Hutchinson against them:


1. FRANKNESS: Saying all you know

2. TRUTH: Speaking what you know to be true

3. CRITICISM: Criticizing those in positions of power

4. DANGER: Speaking truth despite a risk to your safety

5. DUTY: Feeling obliged to tell the truth, despite the risk

[worstblogever]

If it did happen I want to see the proof they have it. Until then it is hearsay. Now these SS agents saying it didnt happen. They said they would say under oath it didnt. If they dont, if they lawyer up and back out then yea I will believe it.

Tony Ornato has, on multiple occasions, told others things happen, then when the media reports it, denies that it happened, even when there's evidence.



Unless he's under other, don't believe a word that f***er Ornato says, because he insists that orders weren't given to clear Lafayette Square, or that he told a National Security Advisor to remove Mike Pence from the Capitol on 1/6.

[babyblob]

That is why I said if they dont come and deny it under oath then I will believe it. Or when they show proof. But if they dont come and deny it under oath and just keep talking on the news then yea I will buy into it. I dont think it is out of line to have doubts about Hearsay. If She was there I would buy it more. Right now it is a "I heard from this guy who heard from this guy."