All purpose news and politics thread part v: The quickening

[numberthirty]

If Trump wasn't worried about Biden, why did he go through all that nonsense with Ukraine and risk being thrown out of office if he had been impeached?

Meanwhile, add golf to the list of sports sidelined by coronavirus as the PGA cancelled the rest of the Players Championship which started yesterday along with the next three events. No word on The Masters yet. And, from abroad, the English Premier League (soccer) has suspended play.

Simple...

If you know you survive Impeachment, there's no downside and you get to run on that you have been exonerated(even if that isn't technically what happened...)

Not much potential downside for a guy like Trump.

[numberthirty]

He's going through the Ukraine stuff because it's a means of attacking and discrediting a political opponent. That's something everyone running for office does. Demoncrats and Republicans do it to each other in the primaries all the time. That's something which HELPS him win. But delaying the election because of a national emergency doesn't necessarily do that. If anything I think the corona virus potentially HURTS his chances at getting re-elected.

It's also something Biden can never completely disprove.

[XPac]

It's also something Biden can never completely disprove.

I think that's one of the reasons why progressive democrates are angry about Biden being the nominee (aside from the obvious issue of it not being Bernie). Not to sound pro-Bernie or anti-Biden, but if Bernie were the nominee the focus of the election would be on health care or wages rather than Biden, his son and the freaking Ukraine (which admittedly is not an entrely invalid line of questioning). I'm not saying Bernie is necessarily the more electable candidate, but win, lose or draw it's going to be a bowling shoe ugly election because of the baggage Biden brings.

[Tendrin]

I think that's one of the reasons why progressive democrates are angry about Biden being the nominee (aside from the obvious issue of it not being Bernie). Not to sound pro-Bernie or anti-Biden, but if Bernie were the nominee the focus of the election would be on health care or wages rather than Biden, his son and the freaking Ukraine (which admittedly is not an entrely invalid line of questioning). I'm not saying Bernie is necessarily the more electable candidate, but win, lose or draw it's going to be a bowling shoe ugly election because of the baggage Biden brings.

No, it wouldn't. The focus would be on 'socialism', 'Castro', Nina Turner, his wife's financial dealings, Sanders owning multiple houses, and on and on and on and on. They'd launch 'investigations', and more. 'Investigating' Democrats is what the Republicans are going to do from here out. There will always be *something* that is 'troubling'.

[XPac]

No, it wouldn't. The focus would be on 'socialism', 'Castro', Nina Turner, his wife's financial dealings, Sanders owning multiple houses, and on and on and on and on. They'd launch 'investigations', and more. 'Investigating' Democrats is what the Republicans are going to do from here out. There will always be *something* that is 'troubling'.

It's a matter of degree I suppose. I certainly do agree that digging up skeletons on the closet of any rival candidate is going to happen... that's just part of the game. But I think on-going investigations from homeland security and senate hearings over the Ukraine made Biden a very very easy target. Not to mention his inability to recall what day of the week it is, or what he position he happens to be campaiging for.

But all that said, there are still valid reasons to come to the conclusion that Biden is the more electable candidate. The democrats at least seem to feel that's the case.

[Robotman]

A co-worker who hates Trump just brought up one mother of a conspiracy theory to me a few minutes ago. She's of the belief Trump slow walked the government's response about coronavirus ON PURPOSE, allowing it to get out of control so he'd have an excuse to declare a national emergency and suspend the election if it isn't contained by November. Now, I have no doubt Trump is hellbent on being reelected, both because he's drunk on the power that comes with being president, and because that's the only thing keeping him from a court date to face charges from the Mueller Report, but I seriously doubt even he would be so diabolical as to intentionally put millions of American lives at risk just better his chances of reelection. Still, one has to wonder just how far Trump would go to stay in office.

I wouldn’t put it past him (and Stephen Miller), but they could have a more plausible plan in mind. What’s one thing that will help Republicans down the line? lower voter turnout. Not only will there be less polling stations but people will be afraid to leave their houses. That all favors the GOP.

[XPac]

I wouldn’t put it past him (and Stephen Miller), but they could have a more plausible plan in mind. What’s one thing that will help Republicans down the line? lower voter turnout. Not only will there be less polling stations but people will be afraid to leave their houses. That all favors the GOP.

Lower vote turn out in theory could help the republicans. Though at the same time, the corono virus in theory could effect older people more than younger people, which in theory could help the democrats. It really will be interesting to see what sort of effect, if any it has. Elections aren't until November so (knock on wood) this could all be moot by then.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

You say that like Sanders was going to be the "Breaker of Chains," when him being president wasn't going to have the power to change that. That's on congress. Despite the movement meant to be more than one man it still clings tightly to that one man while leaving congress out to dry when they're badly needed.



You're just mad your candidate lost.



And what a perspective it is. Sanders wasn't going too, either, he's a paper tiger. Biden is a compromise candidate by everyone in this forum and he only got there because he won the nomination. It's him or Trump, that's who were have to choose between for the next presidents. The voters have spoken.

The difference is Sanders would have fought for it. Biden’s a place filler on his best day. On his worst he’s complicit on allowing big business to run amok on the economy and screw people like you over (as he’s done most of his career)

But it’s okay because we can (in the off chance he wins) try to relive the prior administration, leave people desperate again and then the next crazy Republican won’t look bad to the working class again.

But as long as it’s a D next to the name...

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Lower vote turn out in theory could help the republicans. Though at the same time, the corono virus in theory could effect older people more than younger people, which in theory could help the democrats. It really will be interesting to see what sort of effect, if any it has. Elections aren't until November so (knock on wood) this could all be moot by then.

We can only hope it will be over long before November.

More sporting news: now The Masters has been officially postponed.

[Tami]

Trump administration blocks states from using Medicaid to help respond to coronavirus crisis

Despite mounting pleas from California and other states, the Trump administration isn’t allowing states to use Medicaid more freely to respond to the coronavirus crisis by expanding medical services.

In previous emergencies, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina and the H1N1 flu outbreak, both Republican and Democratic administrations loosened Medicaid rules to empower states to meet surging needs.

But months into the current global disease outbreak, the White House and senior federal health officials haven’t taken the necessary steps to give states simple pathways to fully leverage the mammoth safety net program to prevent a wider epidemic.

That’s making it harder for states to quickly sign up poor patients for coverage so they can get necessary testing or treatment if they are exposed to coronavirus.

Read the full story on LATimes.com.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

I must admit I am no fan of the Saint Obama narrative. Although nowhere near Trump levels, Obama also did bad things (such as vastly expanding the drone program Trump inherited). Anyone who says Obama wasn't flawed at all is a bad-faith actor or woefully ignorant.

Well part of it is that a Republicans usually are going to be worse when you compare proportions. But Democrats have stopped being the “good” party (for whatever it was worth) since they caved to Reagan in the 80’s and decided they wanted Clinton style politicians which just kinda of made it a cycle of “terrible Republican followed by mediocre to bad Democrat and then after 8 years Americans try out the terrible Republican again”.

People don’t feel noticeable improvement so they don’t see either one as an answer while they are in power. Then you begin to understand why we have terrible turnout and only the old people who want to make sure they can die without disruption give a shit.

Obama was a decent person, but he was a complete mixed bag policy wise on a generous (which is concerning when he’ll likely wind up the best President of the last quarter century once the next Presidential term is completed).

But a bigger problem is American political parties divide themselves up on wedge issues that, while important, effect only a small portion of the country instead of massive infrastructure issues that effect everyone.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

If Trump wasn't worried about Biden, why did he go through all that nonsense with Ukraine and risk being thrown out of office if he had been impeached?

Meanwhile, add golf to the list of sports sidelined by coronavirus as the PGA cancelled the rest of the Players Championship which started yesterday along with the next three events. No word on The Masters yet. And, from abroad, the English Premier League (soccer) has suspended play.

Biden was the favorite to win the primary for all but a month from just before Iowa to Super Tuesday. It was the smart move to weaken him. It was luck that it’s going to muddie up any impeachment argument during the election. Trump is an awful person and President. But he understands how to frame narratives. His base will eat up the Hunter Biden story, the same idiots that thought Hillary’s emails were a big deal (who also happen to be the same folks that decided Obama wasn’t working and went Trump) will start talking themselves in circles.

Also now if they are on debate stage if the impeachment gets brought up, Biden’s going to get dragged into defending his son. Also if they want to attack Trump on nepotism, same issues. It’s why I never was a fan of Biden as the nom. He matches up poorly to Trump’s weaknesses. Hillary Clinton had the same issues. You have to be able to win a point for point argument if your platform is going to be “I’m not Trump”. And Biden’s whole campaign is that he’s winding the clock back.

[Tami]

Inside Jared Kushner’s coronavirus research: a wide net on a giant Facebook group

Just before midnight Wednesday, a doctor asked a group of fellow emergency room physicians on Facebook how they would combat the escalating coronavirus outbreak.

“I have direct channel to person now in charge at White House,” Kurt Kloss wrote in his post.

The next morning, after hundreds of doctors responded, Kloss explained why he sought the suggestions: Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, had asked him for recommendations.

Kloss, whose daughter is married to Kushner’s brother, sent Kushner 12 recommendations Thursday morning.

The Facebook crowd-sourcing exercise showed how Trump‘s team is scrambling for solutions to confront the outbreak after weeks of criticism for the administration's sluggish response, a shortage of tests and the president’s own rhetoric downplaying the pandemic. It is now expected to consume the final year of Trump's first term and threaten his campaign for a second term.

Related Twitter Link

[PaulBullion]

Is there any member of the Squad you're not covering?

AOC is kind of redeeming herself here:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Refused To Campaign More For Bernie Sanders over Rogan endorsement, Immigration stance

As Vanity Fair first reported in February, Shakir communicated to Ocasio-Cortez his dissatisfaction over her remarks about alerting the presence of immigration authorities. While Sanders has sought to scrap and restructure the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in its current form, his campaign has been trying to avoid the impression that it was encouraging noncooperation with federal law as it exists, according to one source.

After that, Ocasio-Cortez ― already annoyed with the campaign’s Jan. 23 decision to publicize the endorsement of controversial podcast host Joe Rogan ― grew less interested in helping Sanders’ campaign, according to the source.

One of the three people still running in the Democratic primaries knows how to build a coalition. And it's the Democrat.

[TheDarman]

AOC is kind of redeeming herself here:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Refused To Campaign More For Bernie Sanders over Rogan endorsement, Immigration stance

One of the three people still running in the Democratic primaries knows how to build a coalition. And it's the Democrat.

That’s quite...condemning.

As for coalitions, I don’t think we can overstate how important it is to recognize Biden is eating into Sanders’ coalition from 2016 this time around. And the same people he is getting, white working class voters, are also the same people that ended up predominantly switching from Sanders to Trump in 2016. There are data that support the idea that Biden is stronger than Clinton (perhaps in a higher turnout primary alone, but still). The idea that we should look at the temperament of the candidates ignores the fact very few people outside the Democratic Party like Sanders’ temperament. And that 2018 coalition that delivered us the House Majority showed up overwhelmingly for Biden this time. Hopefully, it’s a good sign for things to come.