US Politics Thread |OT| THE DARKEST TIMELINE

[benjipwns]

I don't understand these Law and Order analogies so gun me down like Max Greevey.

Or fire me because I'm a lesbian.

[Mandark]

You wanting to fuck, and you wanting to reduce the risk of procreation create no obligation on anyone else to help you make that happen.

You wanting to believe in Natural Rights doesn't make them real.   

[Phoenix Dark]

libertarian satire

[Mandark]

Ah, so rights are bestowed on people by the government.  Good to know!

[benjipwns]

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hi, everybody. As President and Commander in Chief, my greatest responsibility is the safety of the American people. And in our fight against terrorists, we need to use every effective tool at our disposal -- both to defend our security and to protect the freedoms and civil liberties enshrined in our Constitution.

But tomorrow -- Sunday, at midnight -- some important tools we use against terrorists will expire. That’s because Congress has not renewed them, and because legislation that would -- the USA Freedom Act -- is stuck in the Senate. I want to be very clear about what this means.

Today, when investigating terrorist networks, our national security professionals can seek a court order to obtain certain business records. Our law enforcement professionals can seek a roving wiretap to keep up with terrorists when they switch cell phones. We can seek a wiretap on so-called lone wolves -- suspected terrorists who may not be directly tied to a terrorist group. These tools are not controversial. Since 9/11, they have been renewed numerous times. FBI Director James Comey says they are “essential” and that losing them would “severely” impact terrorism investigations. But if Congress doesn’t act by tomorrow at midnight, these tools go away as well.

The USA Freedom Act also accomplishes something I called for a year and a half ago: it ends the bulk metadata program -- the bulk collection of phone records -- as it currently exists and puts in place new reforms. The government will no longer hold these records; telephone providers will. The Act also includes other changes to our surveillance laws -- including more transparency -- to help build confidence among the American people that your privacy and civil liberties are being protected. But if Congress doesn’t act by midnight tomorrow, these reforms will be in jeopardy, too.

It doesn’t have to be this way. The USA Freedom Act reflects ideas from privacy advocates, our private sector partners and our national security experts. It already passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support -- Republicans and Democrats. A majority of the Senate -- Republicans and Democrats -- have voted to move it forward.

So what’s the problem? A small group of senators is standing in the way. And, unfortunately, some folks are trying to use this debate to score political points. But this shouldn’t and can't be about politics. This is a matter of national security. Terrorists like al Qaeda and ISIL aren’t suddenly going to stop plotting against us at midnight tomorrow. And we shouldn’t surrender the tools that help keep us safe. It would be irresponsible. It would be reckless. And we shouldn’t allow it to happen.

So today, I’m calling on Americans to join me in speaking with one voice to the Senate. Put the politics aside. Put our national security first. Pass the USA Freedom Act -- now. And let’s protect the security and civil liberties of every American. Thanks very much.

He is really looking at that teleprompter and its distracting me from what I need to say when I call Debbie Stabenow to get her to protect my civil liberties by passing the Freedom Act. They couldn't put it nearer the camera?

[Mandark]

The only thing I'm left wondering is if you're pro-abortion because you're still religiously Jewish and you believe that literal "breath of life" stupidity or if it's just because you somehow managed to avoid ever taking biology.  It's ignorance either way, but I've encountered so many religious nutjob pro-aborts lately, it makes me wonder.

I'm just gonna let that sit there and marinate for a while.

[Dickie Dee]

well this took a turn...

[Phoenix Dark]

The only thing I'm left wondering is if you're pro-abortion because you're still religiously Jewish and you believe that literal "breath of life" stupidity or if it's just because you somehow managed to avoid ever taking biology.  It's ignorance either way, but I've encountered so many religious nutjob pro-aborts lately, it makes me wonder.

I'm just gonna let that sit there and marinate for a while.

you mean Soy Vay?

[Mandark]

you folks

hm

[Dickie Dee]

that projection

[Great Rumbler]

Honestly, this thread could use more thinly veiled racism.

[benjipwns]

that projection

[Phoenix Dark]

Honestly, this thread could use more thinly veiled racism.

Well Triumph did mention Planned Parenthood.  Although that veil is so thin as to be essentially non-existent.

A lesser black poster would be pulled into the discussion by this. Nope.

[Kara]

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-abortion-law-now-among-worlds-most-liberal/

I'm coming Bibi.

[Mandark]

To all past and future JayDubya posts:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

This is, legitimately and sincerely, the tl;dr of what I'd write if I were younger and still had it in me.

[close]

[benjipwns]

"Abortion has become an overt means of child sacrifice which Jews have instituted under their de facto law. A more covert means of (Christian) child sacrifice has been by their infamous 'ritual murders, which Jews have been accused through the ages.' In this practice 'the blood of the sacrificed gentile (Christian Child) is mixed with flour to make the unleavened bread eaten at Passover.'" (The Illustrated Atlas of Jewish Civilization, Ed. Martin Gilbert, MacMillan Pub. Co., 1990, p. 125)

I'm just gonna let that sit there and marinate for a while.

[Kara]

Khorne Khubz

[benjipwns]

Guess Lincoln Chafee actually is going to run, June 3rd announcement.

Lindsey Graham announces tomorrow. (Sunday, June 1st) I wonder which Sunday talk show he picked.

But most importantly. Martin O'Malley's campaign logo:


And his teaser:


And a decent twitter jab at Sarah Palin:
https://twitter.com/GovernorOMalley/status/604759558746214400

[Phoenix Dark]

Honestly, this thread could use more thinly veiled racism.

Well Triumph did mention Planned Parenthood.  Although that veil is so thin as to be essentially non-existent.

A lesser black poster would be pulled into the discussion by this. Nope.

If there is a way to pull you into a discussion without a meaty cock pic, I am unware of it.   

You could pull it off with other subjects. Specifically moderate dps builds with high armor/block value.

[Broseidon]

i lust for fetus death

[Dickie Dee]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/vice-presidents-son-dies-of-brain-cancer

I know people like to goof on ol' Joe, but damnit, he's one of the good ones. Been through so much  :'(

[Phoenix Dark]

[I'm a Puppy!]

Last time a libertopian cared about anyone that person was a fetus.

[benjipwns]

Iowa Republicans asked if they would "never support the person for President." ("Not sure")

Donald Trump - 58%     (8%)
Chris Christie - 45%     (13%)
Lindsey Graham - 43%     (25%)
George Pataki - 41%     (38%)
Jeb Bush - 35%     (10%)
Rand Paul - 30%     (10%)
John Kasich - 28%     (40%)
Rick Perry - 27%     (10%)
Carly Fiorina - 27%     (30%)
Rick Santorum - 26%     (11%)
Bobby Jindal - 25%     (25%)
Mike Huckabee - 24%     (9%)
Ted Cruz - 21%     (18%)
Marco Rubio - 18%     (15%)
Ben Carson - 18%     (20%)
Scott Walker - 15%     (17%)

[benjipwns]

More importantly: http://www.isidewith.com/poll/965629/962379
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_perspectives_on_abortion

Constitution Party has amusing results.

EDIT: lol, they're still counting GAF results: http://www.isidewith.com/poll/965629/9

EDIT2: http://www.isidewith.com/poll/965576/9
http://www.isidewith.com/poll/356055141/9
gross

http://www.isidewith.com/poll/965622/9
http://www.isidewith.com/poll/410509290/9

EDIT3: http://www.isidewith.com/poll/49861415/962379
GROSSER

[benjipwns]

If we play No True Libertarian maybe.

Even Ruwart's "official" platform stance doesn't advocate an open bidding process selling the land off but instead turning their management over to organizations like the Audubon Society.

And Texas isn't a monolith society even in polling that isn't self-selected:
http://www.gqrr.com/articles/2013/06/20/texas-voters-oppose-governor-perry-s-omnibus-abortion-bill/

A majority of Texans oppose the legislation currently being considered by the legislature that imposes restrictions on abortion and 80 percent do not want abortion to be raised during the special session of the legislature called at the end of May by Governor Rick Perry.

Of registered voters, 63 percent say the state has enough restrictions on abortion and 71 percent thinking that the Governor and legislature should be more focused on the economy and jobs.

...

Among those surveyed, 49 percent self-identify as Republicans and 37 percent identify as Democrats; ideologically, 46 percent say they are conservative, 33 percent identify as moderates, and 15 percent are liberal.

b) The non-aggression principle is the central tenet of libertarianism.

Which is why the dispute among libertarians, some people consider property violations like trespassing to be aggression.

[benjipwns]

Rand Paul to kill us all at midnight:

The Senate advanced legislation 77-17 to reform the National Security Agency on Sunday, but parts of the Patriot Act will nonetheless lapse for a few days amid opposition from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

The legislation, called the USA Freedom Act, will not reach President Obama’s desk until after the three measures expire at midnight, meaning that the provisions will expire until the bill is passed by the Senate and signed by Obama later this week.

“The Patriot Act will expire tonight,” Paul declared triumphantly from the Senate floor during a rare Sunday evening vote. “It will only be temporary. They will ultimately get their way.”

Obama has supported the measure and had repeatedly urged lawmakers to support it in the days leading up to Sunday’s deadline. The bill needed 60 votes in order to advance.

A failed gambit by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) opened the door to Paul’s use of procedural tactics to delay consideration of the bill.

Paul had made the spying programs unearthed by former government contractor Edward Snowden a central part of his presidential candidacy and vowed to force the expiration of the Patriot Act heading into the weekend.

Paul argues the USA Freedom Act — which was approved by the House 338-88 earlier in May — does not go far enough to rein in spying programs that he and his allies argue are unconstitutional.

“Are we going to so blithely give up our freedom? Are we going to so blindly go along and take it?” Paul said in heated remarks on the Senate floor before the vote.

“I’m not going to take it anymore,” he declared, as his voice rose to a shout. “I don’t think the American people are going to take it anymore.”

Paul — who had roughly two dozen supporters crowding the gallery of the Senate in red “Stand with Rand” t-shirts — appeared to declare victory after the vote.

“We didn't have 60 votes before to end the bulk collection,” he told reporters after emerging from the chamber. “By slowing the process down, talking about the Patriot Act, we now will end bulk collection of records by the government.”

Jeb Bush is on the right side of history:

"What I admire most about my brother was he kept us safe," Jeb Bush said at a Tennessee Republican Party fundraiser. "And I believe people will respect him for a long time because of that."

...

Bush told reporters before the event that he does not consider the collection of domestic phone metadata a violation of civil rights.

"I respect Senator Paul on this, but I think he's wrong as it relates to the conversation that your two great senators are focused on" starting Sunday, he said.

"I know what will happen if there is an attack on our country," he said. "A lot of people say where were you?"

...

Bush agreed, saying "the Patriot Act has kept us safe, plain and simple."

"The metadata program has kept us safe, plain and simple," he said. "There's been no violation of civil liberties."

[Kara]

USA Freedom Act

[benjipwns]

It's like Rand Paul didn't even listen to the President:

These tools are not controversial. Since 9/11, they have been renewed numerous times. FBI Director James Comey says they are “essential” and that losing them would “severely” impact terrorism investigations. But if Congress doesn’t act by tomorrow at midnight, these tools go away as well.

The USA Freedom Act also accomplishes something I called for a year and a half ago: it ends the bulk metadata program -- the bulk collection of phone records -- as it currently exists and puts in place new reforms. The government will no longer hold these records; telephone providers will. The Act also includes other changes to our surveillance laws -- including more transparency -- to help build confidence among the American people that your privacy and civil liberties are being protected. But if Congress doesn’t act by midnight tomorrow, these reforms will be in jeopardy, too.

It doesn’t have to be this way. The USA Freedom Act reflects ideas from privacy advocates, our private sector partners and our national security experts. It already passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support -- Republicans and Democrats. A majority of the Senate -- Republicans and Democrats -- have voted to move it forward.

So what’s the problem? A small group of senators is standing in the way. And, unfortunately, some folks are trying to use this debate to score political points. But this shouldn’t and can't be about politics. This is a matter of national security. Terrorists like al Qaeda and ISIL aren’t suddenly going to stop plotting against us at midnight tomorrow. And we shouldn’t surrender the tools that help keep us safe. It would be irresponsible. It would be reckless. And we shouldn’t allow it to happen.

[Kara]

[I'm a Puppy!]

Last time a libertopian cared about anyone that person was a fetus.

It's sad how when presumably otherwise intelligent people like yourself start regurgitating leftist talking points that you'd realize were absolutely distinguished mentally-challenged if you'd just apply a few seconds of rational thought.

Whichever your standard for "care," I "care" the same.

Hey man, I'm not the one advocating for bringing babies into the world just so I can starve them.

[I'm a Puppy!]

Some are killed by aggression and others by indifference.
The semantics might matter to some. Not so much for the one being killed.

[Kara]

No robot on the team?  The terrorists have already won.

I love your RPG jokes.

[Kara]

I think a lot of people get scared off by the halved item durability and miss the whole "never have to worry about item break thanks to inns" thing. SaGa is super RTFM so I can't too much.

[Oblivion]

Jaydubya, just curious, where do you stand on voter ID?

[Oblivion]

The 90% tax thing is really amusing considering how his argument (and whoever the guest guy was) was just "things were different back then" instead of pointing out that, you know, nobody actually paid 90% of their income because that tax code looked like swiss cheese. Just like the mega rich don't pay 39% or whatever it is now.

Got a link to this by chance?

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

(Image removed from quote.)

is the joke that they misspelled 'Terrorist'.

actually, I'm all for as many JRPG references possible in my political discussions please.

[Kara]

is the joke that they misspelled 'Terrorist'.

[benjipwns]

is the joke that they misspelled 'Terrorist'.

string isn't long enough to fit, gotta work with what u got brehs

[benjipwns]

Got a link to this by chance?

2011:
>1.7 mill: 22.8%
>389,000: 23.5%
>168,000: 20.9%
120,000-168,000: 12.8%
70,500-120,000: 9.7%
34,800-70,500: 7.0%

$20,000 (1953) = $168,493 (2011)
$500,000 (1953) = $4,212,341 (2011)
$1,000,000 (1953) = $8,424,682 (2011)

So if you made $1,000,000 in real dollars over those "60" years. Your marginal rate has gone from 90% to 40%. Yet you've gone from paying only 46% to 24%.

EDIT: Some helpful and friendly jerk already made a graph for this apparently:


EDIT2: Was looking for "bottom" quintiles or something in a similar chart, will have to settle for bottom 90%

[Oblivion]

No, no, no. I meant a link for Sean Hannity's radio show where you heard him say that.

[benjipwns]

Official Transcript:

GUEST: Bernie Sanders wants to tax everyone at 90%.

HANNITY: YOU'RE A GREAT AMERICAN STOP SOCIALISM STOP HILLARY EXPRESS SOCIALISMGHAZI

GUEST: These Democrats just think you can tax job creators at any rate and they'll pay it.

HANNITY: REAGAN DEFEATED SOCIALISM, OBAMAGHAZI WANTS TO BRING IT BACK, CLINTON E-MAILS, SOCIALISM DEBUNKED TONIGHT ON HANNITY TEN EASTERN

GUEST: Things were different back then, women knew their place was in the home, people loved America instead of trying to tear her down. Job creators could pay those taxes because Great Society liberalism hadn't stamped its boot on their faces yet. Hadn't plundered the job creators to give cadillacs driven by lobsters to welfare immigrants.

HANNITY: SOCIALISM BAD, RUTH CHRIS STEAK HOUSE GOOD, YOU'RE A GREAT AMERICAN

RUTH CHRIS STEAK HOUSE

YOU'RE A GREAT AMERICAN

[benjipwns]

No one could possibly ever make it to some office somewhere via ... Uber or any of another dozen cheap and convenient ways

Well, not if certain monopolies get their way...

[AdmiralViscen]

Jaydubya, just curious, where do you stand on voter ID?

Oh it's obviously extremely racist and totally unreasonable, just like it's absolutely impossible and completely racist against me to require me to go a few miles and get my driver's license and have me keep it in my wallet when I leave my house.  No one could possibly ever make it to some office somewhere via bus or Uber or any of another dozen cheap and convenient ways on the other 364 days of the year to get this thing we offer for free (which we clearly just HAVE to do because otherwise it's exactly the same as a "poll tax," ayup).



Non-snark answer - my state requires it, I show my driver's license when I go vote, takes 5 seconds, doesn't bother me one bit.  Not a big deal in any way.

You do realize that DMVs are not open 365 days a year in many states right? And they selectively shut down DMVs or reduce their hours in areas where poor people live?

Not sure if this is a poor area, selected it at random.

http://local.dmv.org/pennsylvania/bradford-county/monroeton/route-220-bypass-3/dmv-office-locations.php

DMV Office Hours
Daily Hours:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
8:30am  -4:15pm
8:30am  -4:15pm
8:30am  -4:15pm

http://local.dmv.org/pennsylvania/bradford-county/monroeton/route-220-bypass/dmv-office-locations.php

Hours
Daily Hours:
Thursday
8:30am  -3:00pm


Please Note:
We do our best to keep the DMV hours and days of operation up to date. These can change frequently, We suggest confirming with your local office before your visit.

I wonder how many thousands of voters they can get through from 8:30-3:00 on Thursdays. Assuming you have all your paperwork in order of course and you have paid for your birth certificate if you lost it at some point. And assuming there is public bus service straight to the DMV office. I know that you have great confidence in the speed of service at bureaucratic government institutions and in well-funded public transportation so that all works out.




Also you think it's ok for it to be mandatory that you take photo ID with you whenever you leave your house??

[benjipwns]

https://www.dot4.state.pa.us/locator/AmsServlet.jsp#top?20150601101506646=20150601101506646
lol, it's like they want you to know they hate you just by telling you those hours and being closed so much

Picked two in Michigan by zooming all the way out on the map and closing my eyes then clicking randomly:

Hours:   
M,T,Th,F 9AM - 5PM
Wed 9AM - 7PM

Hours:   
M,T,Th,F 9AM - 5PM
Wed 11AM - 7PM

Most of them statewide have these hours:

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, except in city buildings which are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
PLUS offices and SUPER!Centers provide expanded Wednesday hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SUPER!Centers also offer Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon. (except on certain holidays)
Smaller offices may close for a lunch hour. All offices are closed on state holidays.

Plus they've got kiosks and crap, and stuff you can do online now.

  Michigan Secretary of State

  20 years of GOP women in charge

[benjipwns]

https://lindseygraham.com/

 

[benjipwns]

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/lindsey-graham-2016-presidential-election-announcing-bid-118489.html

He’s spent a third of his life in Congress and is a fixture on the Sunday morning news show circuit, making nearly 70 appearances in the last five years.

But when he announces his presidential bid Monday here in the tiny town where he grew up, Lindsey Graham will attempt to knock down the idea that he’s a creature of Washington and instead will tell a personal story that’s largely been overlooked over the course of his two decades in the House and Senate.

It’s the tale of a son of pool hall owners, who grew up near-impoverished in the back room of his parents’ bar. As a college student he raised, and eventually adopted, his little sister after their parents died, before going on to have a career as an Air Force lawyer and then rising to become South Carolina’s senior senator.

“Our parents were small business owners here in the town of Central,” said Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, who emerged from playing pool in her childhood home for a brief interview before her brother’s walk-through Sunday night, offering a glimpse at some of his likely themes. “As any other small business owners, they understood the long hard hours that go into running a small business, and just the strong work ethic that we got from that and the values…It’s just amazing that we come from this and went on to bigger and better things, but our roots are here.”

The humble-origins narrative is a staple of presidential campaigning, but it’s a fairly new device for Graham, who has only started to employ it in recent years. It wasn’t until his 2014 Senate race, when he squared off with six primary challengers, that he slowly and sometimes reluctantly began to use that part of his biography in part to fight back against criticism that he had been in Washington too long.

Now, as a long-shot presidential candidate, Graham will once again tell that story in this sleepy speck of a town located about 45 minutes from Greenville, where Main Street consists of a thrift shop, a hair salon, and a restaurant or two — including the remnants of the Graham family’s bar.

“I think it’s a good idea for people to realize, he’s certainly a self-educated, self-made guy,” said Hank Scott, a major donor who is very close to Graham. “He worked hard to get where he is, he’s not a person that grew up with privilege, like, say, [Jeb] Bush.”

David Woodard, an operative and professor who managed Graham’s first two House races in the 1990s, said he never heard Graham talk about his family’s troubles, even when those issues were fresher for him.
“Did he talk about it? No, he never talked about it,” Woodard said, adding later, “He’s kind of a self-made story, but he didn’t talk about it.”

During his re-election last year, after some reluctance about getting too personal, Graham allowed his team to run an ad featuring his sister, Darline, who grew emotional in the spot when she reflected on how Graham helped raise her.

“It was hard when we lost my mom and my dad,” she said in the ad. “Lindsey assured me that he was going to take care of me, he was going to be there for me. He never let me down. Never. I don’t see how he did it, to take on the responsibility of raising a little sister. That came from within for Lindsey.”

[benjipwns]

Behind closed doors in the Senate’s Strom Thurmond Room, Republican senators lashed out at the junior Kentucky Republican’s defiant stance to force the expiration of key sections of the PATRIOT Act, a law virtually all of them support. Indiana Sen. Dan Coats’ criticism was perhaps the most biting: He accused the senator of “lying” about the matter in order to raise money for his presidential campaign, according to three people who attended the meeting.

The message may have gotten through to Paul except for one thing: The libertarian-minded senator skipped the hour-long meeting. That only infuriated his colleagues more.

“Anything that goes against anything he believes, he never comes,” Coats said in an interview. “It’s always helpful if you’re in there working to have your position understood, and we all learn a lot and we all try to come to a much better understanding of what we’re trying to do.”

“He needed to be there,” said Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.). “He really needed to be there.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) noted that Paul has missed “a number of meetings” Republicans have held on the PATRIOT Act in recent weeks. He contended there was an obvious political reason for Paul’s stance, pointing out how his colleague was tweeting supporters taking “selfies” of themselves next to Paul speaking on TV.

“I know what this is about — I think it’s very clear – this is, to some degree, a fundraising exercise,” McCain said Sunday. “He obviously has a higher priority for his fundraising and political ambitions than for the security of the nation.”

...

After skipping the GOP meeting, Paul appeared for a tense floor debate between him and his colleagues, including the man who has endorsed him for president: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a fellow Kentuckian. The GOP leader was incensed at Paul’s refusal to allow a two-week renewal of far-less controversial provisions of the PATRIOT Act: The use of roving wiretaps for terrorism suspects that change phone numbers quickly and “lone wolf” provisions that allow tracking of suspects who are not affiliated with known terrorist groups.

Just as McConnell attempted to pass a short-term extension, Paul launched into his own impassioned speech— only to be shouted down by his colleagues.

“One of the promises that was given when the PATRIOT Act was originally passed was that in exchange for allowing a less than constitutional standard, we would only use the actions against …” Paul said before he was interrupted by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who pounded his desk while presiding over the Senate.

“Is there objection?” Wicker asked as Paul tried to continue on. A number of Republican senators began yelling over Paul to restore order in the chamber and prevent another lengthy speech.

“Regular order!” shouted Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), among others.

“I object,” Paul responded. That prompted McConnell to launch his own speech. At times glaring at Paul, the Senate leader blasted what he called “a campaign of demagoguery and disinformation launched in the wake of unlawful actions of Edward Snowden, who was last seen in Russia.” Paul sat at his desk quietly, holding his glasses in his hand.

...

“I don’t stand with Rand on this,” said Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). “I want to make sure the ability to monitor terrorists continues uninterrupted.”

“I think he’s nestled in with a very large bunch of very radical people – from the left to the right,” said Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, the president pro tempore. “I don’t know if he feels comfortable being with all those leftists who hate the PATRIOT Act. But he has a right to do what he’s doing.”

...

Rubio called the expiration of the PATRIOT Act’s provisions the result of “political posturing.”

“There are other ways this could have been done,” said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

One way Paul could have handled the matter would have been to simply object to short-term extensions of current law, rather than giving a nearly 11-hour floor speech on the floor before the Memorial Day recess, Heller said.

“It accomplished just the same, but he couldn’t raise money objecting,” Heller said. “He could only raise money filibustering.”

[benjipwns]

USA Freedom Act

Please use the full title: Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet-collection, and Online Monitoring Act

[Kara]

A&F lost its discrimination case in front of SCOTUS.

Muslims getting legally protected religious freedom.

AmeriKKKa am cry.

[Phoenix Dark]

Obviously the Patriot Act is trash and democrats are fools for supporting it now. But aren't journalists being lazy as fuck her and playing into the spin of the White House and Rand Paul? The Patriot Act itself isn't expiring. Like, a couple portions of it are. And the law that replaces it has been rewritten to be quite shitty.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2015/04/28/usa-f-redux-session-identifying-information-that-is-not-call-detail-records/

I'm not criticizing Paul, who I think is genuine about not liking data collection. However this is far from a win for anyone on the right (as in good) side of this issue.

[Van Cruncheon]

shari'a law in full effect, my mohammedian pbuh friends 

[Great Rumbler]

My parents just set me up with a couple of underage wives and an oil-money trust fund, guys.

Muhammed pbuh

[Mandark]

Thanks, dhimmicrats!

[Kara]

I traded in my BH bicycle for a Saracen one.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Yes, there's a bicycle manufacturer in the year After Hijra 1436 named Saracen. Yes, it's British.

[close]

[Phoenix Dark]

A&F lost its discrimination case in front of SCOTUS.

Muslims getting legally protected religious freedom.

AmeriKKKa am cry.

how come 80% of my earliest accounting classes had us do fake income statements, trial balances, etc for A&F.

[benjipwns]

Obviously the Patriot Act is trash and democrats are fools for supporting it now. But aren't journalists being lazy as fuck her and playing into the spin of the White House and Rand Paul? The Patriot Act itself isn't expiring. Like, a couple portions of it are. And the law that replaces it has been rewritten to be quite shitty.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2015/04/28/usa-f-redux-session-identifying-information-that-is-not-call-detail-records/

I'm not criticizing Paul, who I think is genuine about not liking data collection. However this is far from a win for anyone on the right (as in good) side of this issue.

It's a fair criticism of Paul. Paul himself said he doesn't expect to stop this or any other legislation (I mean the vote to cut off debate was 77-17 or something, the bill will probably pass like with like 90+ votes), all he can really do is hold it up over the weekend pissing off people like McCain and try to get attention about the issues by the non-filibuster filibusters.

If he benefits...so be it. 

[benjipwns]

Iowa Democrats are far less likely to write off their candidates for good already, % saying "would never support the person for President."  ("Not sure.")

Bernie Sanders - 18%     (30%)
Joe Biden - 15%     (10%)
Martin O'Malley - 13%     (48%)
Jim Webb - 13%     (47%)
Hillary Clinton - 9%     (3%)

From the same poll of Iowa Democrats:

[Madrun Badrun]

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/why-take-my-vibrator-michigan-cops-legally-rob-every-belonging-from-medical-marijuana-patient/

[benjipwns]

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/elizabeth-warren-run-warren-run-campaign-118514.html#.VW2pk1VVhBc

Why We’re Suspending the “Run Warren Run” Campaign
But we’re still declaring victory.

Today we announce the suspension of our campaign to draft Elizabeth Warren into the presidential race. There’s no sugar-coating it: We didn’t achieve our central goal. But there’s a bigger story that gives us tremendous hope: as one headline put it, “Elizabeth Warren may not be running, but she’s in the 2016 race anyway.”

In the six months since we launched the Run Warren Run effort, Senator Warren’s agenda and message have transformed the American political landscape. Echoing Warren’s famous adage that “the game is rigged,” Hillary Clinton declared in her campaign announcement that “the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top.” Bernie Sanders emerged out of the gate as a far stronger contender than political bookmakers could have imagined just a few months ago. And Martin O’Malley launched his campaign on Saturday calling for the breaking up of big banks and jailing of Wall Street crooks. Even some Republicans are positioning themselves to run against inequality (although their proposals would exacerbate it).

To be sure, Warren—and grassroots economic populism more broadly—was already a rising force well before our efforts began. But look closely at the way the Run Warren Run effort unfolded, and you’ll see why, for us and for the 365,000 people who signed up, this campaign has already succeeded. Although Run Warren Run may not have sparked a candidacy, it ignited a movement.

So what did Run Warren Run do? And why did it work?

Run Warren Run struck a blow for a different vision of democracy. We showed that grassroots progressives are ready to lift up candidates who refuse to kiss the rings of those corrupting our political system and rigging our economy.

You’d better believe that every ambitious progressive politico in the nation was paying attention. We’ve helped to shift the incentives, demonstrating that there’s a grassroots army holding up a career ladder for public servants who actually seek to serve the public.

We don’t begrudge Warren for not choosing to climb that ladder. But we’re proud that everyone now knows it’s there.

Senator Warren has heard our case, and she declined to run. We respect her decision. If she chooses to reconsider, due to shifting circumstances or a new intuition, the movement that urged her to run could regroup at a moment’s notice. But regardless of whether that happens, we’re thrilled at how far we’ve come—and by what’s next.

On June 8, after delivering our petition, we will formally suspend the Run Warren Run campaign—and double down on the movement that it helped energize. Going forward, the hundreds of thousands of us who joined Run Warren Run will pour our energies into standing and fighting by Warren’s side. And there are many fights afoot. We’ll help wage the battle against fast-track authority for the special-interest wish-fulfillment machine known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We’ll stand with workers demanding higher wages and the right to organize. And we’ll keep lifting up the voices of those calling for a country where education is not synonymous with debt, where Social Security can live up to its name, and where money does not equal speech—or buy overwhelming influence.

Today, we’re at a crossroads. One way leads to an ever-accelerating loop of rising inequality and the consolidation of political power by those who benefit from a rigged system. The other road, towards an America that works for everyone, is much harder to follow. There is no third way.

The rise of Elizabeth Warren, the effort to draft her for president, and the surging progressive spirit of the 2016 Democratic field and electorate—these are all important by themselves, but ultimately, they’re all tremors presaging a much deeper tectonic shift in American politics. Just as the progressive movement and New Deal set the stage for the rise of the great American middle class a century ago, we’re due for a profound political reckoning that restores our founders’ dream of government by and for the people. No one candidate can deliver that. It’s up to all of us.