Author Topic: US Politics Thread |OT| SAD TRUMP  (Read 6974620 times)

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Oblivion

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8640 on: August 30, 2017, 10:05:30 PM »
Wait, benji you're permabanned?

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8641 on: August 30, 2017, 10:24:04 PM »
On the other hand, I look at what has happened post Charlottesville, with basically the entire right-wing media. Which has set out to prop up the argument the president pushed of false moral equivalency, and even worse, intentionally over-represents the violence from groups like ANTIFA, while downplaying and under representing the violence on the right. Conflating ANTIFA with BLM and the left wing protests in general. Which feeds a perception that left-wing violence is the real problem. A major problem, and you should be scared.

And if you are someone that buys into and trusts these places, then it does make sort of logical sense in that world to think that maybe extreme measures are justified in dealing with what they believe is the greatest threat(including in that basket several minority groups they do similar things to).
But this has been the operating standard of the media and the government for a century now. Especially post 9/11. Before that we had red scares, The Cold War, The Drug War to the point of invading other nations and paying TV shows to air propaganda, terrorism, etc.

To be cliche and pick The Daily Show picking on CNN: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/533imz/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-fear-watch

We're coming up on the hundred year anniversary of people including a former and future Presidential candidate being sentenced to jail for ten years for opposing a war/slavery.

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8642 on: August 30, 2017, 11:21:48 PM »
Mandark, another one for your case files of fun, but probably not an intended reading by the founders let alone later Courts or "experts" interpretations of the Constitution, re: Arapio pardon: https://unitedtoprotectdemocracy.org/updates/
While the Constitution’s pardon power is broad, it is not unlimited. Like all provisions of the original Constitution of 1787, it is limited by later-enacted amendments, starting with the Bill of Rights. For example, were a president to announce that he planned to pardon all white defendants convicted of a certain crime but not all black defendants, that would conflict with the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

Similarly, issuance of a pardon that violates the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause is also suspect. Under the Due Process Clause, no one in the United States (citizen or otherwise) may “be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” But for due process and judicial review to function, courts must be able to restrain government officials. Due process requires that, when a government official is found by a court to be violating individuals’ constitutional rights, the court can issue effective relief (such as an injunction) ordering the official to cease this unconstitutional conduct. And for an injunction to be effective, there must be a penalty for violation of the injunction—principally, contempt of court.
Quote
The president can’t use the pardon power to immunize lawless officials from consequences for violating people’s constitutional rights.

While many pardons are controversial politically, we are unaware of any past example of a pardon to a public official for criminal contempt of court for violating a court order to stop a systemic practice of violating individuals’ constitutional rights
as a hot take length of thought, I think I have no issues with this

then again, I forgot that police have expansive "due process" rights that involve internal administrative and union hearings before criminal charges can be brought already

Nola

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8643 on: August 31, 2017, 12:34:34 AM »
On the other hand, I look at what has happened post Charlottesville, with basically the entire right-wing media. Which has set out to prop up the argument the president pushed of false moral equivalency, and even worse, intentionally over-represents the violence from groups like ANTIFA, while downplaying and under representing the violence on the right. Conflating ANTIFA with BLM and the left wing protests in general. Which feeds a perception that left-wing violence is the real problem. A major problem, and you should be scared.

And if you are someone that buys into and trusts these places, then it does make sort of logical sense in that world to think that maybe extreme measures are justified in dealing with what they believe is the greatest threat(including in that basket several minority groups they do similar things to).
But this has been the operating standard of the media and the government for a century now. Especially post 9/11. Before that we had red scares, The Cold War, The Drug War to the point of invading other nations and paying TV shows to air propaganda, terrorism, etc.

To be cliche and pick The Daily Show picking on CNN: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/533imz/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-fear-watch

We're coming up on the hundred year anniversary of people including a former and future Presidential candidate being sentenced to jail for ten years for opposing a war/slavery.

Well of course, one of the origins in America's present propaganda and fanning of racial fames, is that we were great perfecters during the two great wars of a lot of the underlying tactics carried through and seen today. Tactics that weren't altogether new then either. Or unique.

The original opposition to UHC was that its proponents were linked to the successful Prussian caricatures of American WWI propaganda, for instance.

My point is, like then, embracing and furthering certain propaganda narratives often has consequences to varying degrees. Since when you are someone that buys into those narratives, it becomes a lot easier to rationalize actions like internment camps, McCarthyism, escalating Vietnam, and invading Iraq. And that the larger context tends to dictate what that range of consequence realistically can be.

I don't quite buy into the apocalyptic framing of that article's conclusion, because the larger context is not nearly the same. So I think the range of consequence is vastly overstated at the moment.  That doesn't mean I don't have concerns and what I said is why. I just have a hard time thinking ANTIFA vs. Neo-Nazis is on the path toward "widespread suffering and death" while beating around Nazi Germany comparisons. Though I do respect some of the ANTIFA critique.
« Last Edit: August 31, 2017, 12:41:17 AM by Nola »

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8644 on: August 31, 2017, 01:19:59 AM »
I don't think we're actually disagreeing or missing each others points rather than strengthening them and Rufus' original one.
My point is, like then, embracing and furthering certain propaganda narratives often has consequences to varying degrees. Since when you are someone that buys into those narratives, it becomes a lot easier to rationalize actions like internment camps, McCarthyism, escalating Vietnam, and invading Iraq. And that the larger context tends to dictate what that range of consequence realistically will be.
Right, which was my point. We already exist with those narratives continuously reinforced, and already do worse and have done worse for at least a century.

The groups masquerading as Antifa that barely rise to hoodlums along with the various white supremacists and Neo-Nazi's who think they look scary are already ideological extremes and temperamental radicals, they aren't being affected by those mass media narratives. Fox News are consider globalist (((cucks))) for Israel and so on by the "right-wing" of these forces. And both are non-factors in electoral politics, the legitimate form of this kind of dispute management. (They're actually pretty much statistically non-factors in street violence and terrorism too.)

1928 was the last election in Weimar Germany in which the Nazi's did not contest it with effort as Hitler was busy purging it after he got out of jail and the Communists had only just rebuilt themselves from the prior wave of arrests. The post 1930 election Reichstag was the last in which the Nazi's and Communists did not hold a negative majority in the Reichstag.

Percentage of seats after 1930 -> Jul 1932 -> Nov 1932 -> Mar 1933
NSDAP: 18.5% -> 37.8% -> 33.6% -> 44.5%
KPD: 13.3% -> 14.6% -> 17.1% -> 12.5%
Combined: 31.8% -> 52.4% -> 50.7% -> 57.0%

The anti-democratic forces also actually won a majority in the first round of the 1932 German Presidential election, 51.1% to 49.9%. The Mussolini style regular fascist candidate who finished fourth refused to endorse Hitler however (his being non-Aryan made him and his group on-and-off enemies of the Nazi's), so the second round was 53%-47% in favor of the "democrats" whose candidate wasn't really one and had been ruling by Presidential decree who immediately dismissed the SPD and Zentrum for von Papen.

The fact that we have none of that, within our legitimate political system, is what truly matters. I think arguably The Wall is the best example of our underlying system (such as it is) being protected for the time being. It's an entirely symbolic but highly visible action that the Republican Congress and President could enact desperately just before a midterm like they did in 2006 trying to make up for earlier alienating their base on the issue. And even that's unlikely to happen because it doesn't have support outside the party.

And no I'm not pondering how to justify posting this as relevant too much:

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8645 on: August 31, 2017, 01:31:53 AM »
guess i should check the news more often:
Quote
President Donald Trump is promising billions to help Texas rebuild from Hurricane Harvey, but his Republican allies in the House are looking at cutting almost $1 billion from disaster accounts to help finance the president’s border wall.

The pending reduction to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief account is part of a spending bill that the House is scheduled to consider next week when Congress returns from its August recess. The $876 million cut, part of the 1,305-page measure’s homeland security section, pays for roughly half the cost of Trump’s down payment on a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

It seems sure that GOP leaders will move to reverse the disaster aid cut next week. The optics are politically bad and there’s only $2.3 billion remaining in disaster coffers.
:doge

Trent Dole

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8646 on: August 31, 2017, 01:34:21 AM »
Hi

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8647 on: August 31, 2017, 01:56:29 AM »
Quote
"Nickelodeon wouldn't let us name the game 'Don't pee on the electric fence' so I named a bunch of other words that could be used for 'pee' when I said 'whiz' Nickelodeon accepted the word and the game was kept." John explained.
wow standards and practices are better comedy writers than these weird millennial anti-humor types, "whiz" is way more timeless than "pee" would have been

Nola

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8648 on: August 31, 2017, 02:03:18 AM »

Phoenix Dark

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8649 on: August 31, 2017, 09:44:14 AM »
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/antifa-mirrors-alt-right/

This piece by Chris Hedges tells some harsh truths.
Eh

The obvious difference is antifa is exclusively an anti-fascist movement focused on checking it by any means. That's a pretty broad difference from Nazi/white supremacist groups that exist solely to advance one race's superiority through fascism.

Ultimately it comes down to what you think about fascism. If you believe fascism is legitimate political discourse, surely it should be protected like other political discourse is: we should listen, debate, engage in peaceful discussion, etc. If you believe fascism isn't legitimate political discourse - and is instead a radical, violent ideology that is designed to be disingenuous in its pursuit of exploiting/overthrowing liberal democracy while advancing racism...the idea of checking it by nearly any means necessary and stomping it out is not extreme. In fact it becomes essential.

I have no problem with antifa tactics. And it seems to me that the extreme violence at Charleston served a purpose: multiple cities/states are taking down Confederate statues daily, removing potential areas where fascists can congregate and face violence from antifa.
010

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8650 on: August 31, 2017, 12:56:52 PM »
Ultimately it comes down to what you think about fascism. If you believe fascism is legitimate political discourse, surely it should be protected like other political discourse is: we should listen, debate, engage in peaceful discussion, etc. If you believe fascism isn't legitimate political discourse - and is instead a radical, violent ideology that is designed to be disingenuous in its pursuit of exploiting/overthrowing liberal democracy while advancing racism...the idea of checking it by nearly any means necessary and stomping it out is not extreme. In fact it becomes essential.
But the "nearly" is the crux of it. Especially when attached to notions of "essential" and "by any means necessary" regarding stomping out a minority viewpoint no matter what its purported goals.

If the mere public advocacy of replacing liberal democracy with totalitarian violence as governing procedure can gain enough support as to be not only viable but the dominant position among the mainstream then you already have triggered a failed state where cutting down any and all the laws left standing to get at the devil won't protect you when he turns round on you.

If your "nearly" includes engaging in mass targeted and systemic totalitarian violence to combat potential alternative totalitarian violence then you've already met the condition. We've established what's being offered, we're just negotiating the price.

Mandark

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8651 on: August 31, 2017, 01:06:58 PM »
Maybe we could get them to submit to a voluntary arbitration process. :teehee

Phoenix Dark

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8652 on: August 31, 2017, 01:20:24 PM »
I said "nearly" just in case I run for office one day and my posts are exposed. I'll be deleting this post in 24 hours btw.

010

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8653 on: August 31, 2017, 01:24:24 PM »
I said "nearly" just in case I run for office one day and my posts are exposed. I'll be deleting this post in 24 hours btw.
That's the post you're going to scrub?

From this thread.

From this week.

Phoenix Dark

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8654 on: August 31, 2017, 01:25:39 PM »
I said "nearly" just in case I run for office one day and my posts are exposed. I'll be deleting this post in 24 hours btw.
That's the post you're going to scrub?

From this thread.

From this week.

I figure by the time I run, sexuality will be so fluid that my posts about BBC and other things will be an asset to my campaign.
010

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8655 on: August 31, 2017, 01:30:00 PM »
Even Alex Jones has stopped getting to the bottom of the Michael Obama story and how big exactly he or the fake apparatus is, he's instead distracted by the globalist hurricane hoax and new facts coming out backing up his prior scientific discoveries:

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8656 on: August 31, 2017, 01:34:16 PM »
Maybe we could get them to submit to a voluntary arbitration process. :teehee
Is the ongoing FBI-NSA infiltration of minority political groups to promote their behavior in a direction towards heightened violent activity and confrontation really a voluntary arbitration?  :bolo

TakingBackSunday

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8657 on: August 31, 2017, 02:20:37 PM »
DACA getting nixed.  Daily reminder that Donald Trump is a racist piece of fucking shit.
püp

Joe Molotov

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8658 on: August 31, 2017, 03:57:36 PM »
https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/903342129472303106

Trump's still workshopping DACA, like Atra in the relationship thread.
©@©™

I'm a Puppy!

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8659 on: August 31, 2017, 05:01:24 PM »
Read today that the median house price in Ca is back to where it was in 2007 right before the housing bubble burst. That with Harvey?
I think we're in for an even rougher ride than we thought.
que

Oblivion

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8660 on: August 31, 2017, 08:08:59 PM »
benji-kun, I axed you a question.  :doge

Dat feeling when you're ignored like the Democrat Party's history of supporting the Confederacy and creating the KKK.  :fbm

bluemax

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8661 on: August 31, 2017, 10:53:36 PM »
Read today that the median house price in Ca is back to where it was in 2007 right before the housing bubble burst. That with Harvey?
I think we're in for an even rougher ride than we thought.

There's a house on my street that just went on the market, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, fenced, driveway,  1340sq ft.

$999k.

http://www.kelleyandtodd.com/homes-for-sale-details/11907-CULVER-LOS-ANGELES-CA-90066/17264198/306/
« Last Edit: August 31, 2017, 11:08:56 PM by bluemax »
NO

Let's Cyber

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8662 on: August 31, 2017, 11:12:42 PM »
Trump said he'll pledge $1M of his personal money to the relief funds for Texas/Louisiana. Eagerly await for how he'll manage to kill any good will from it by saying something stupid in the next day or two.
Have the GOP slash a billion from the disaster relief fund but donate a million to charity.

It all balances out!

 :trumps


Great Rumbler

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8663 on: August 31, 2017, 11:16:21 PM »
Read today that the median house price in Ca is back to where it was in 2007 right before the housing bubble burst. That with Harvey?
I think we're in for an even rougher ride than we thought.

There's a house on my street that just went on the market, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, fenced, driveway,  1340sq ft.

$999k.

http://www.kelleyandtodd.com/homes-for-sale-details/11907-CULVER-LOS-ANGELES-CA-90066/17264198/306/

Geez, that's crazy. Location and all that, I know, but I worked in this house that sold recently for $750k:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5-Timbercreek-Rd-Sherman-TX-75092/55363256_zpid/
dog

I'm a Puppy!

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8664 on: August 31, 2017, 11:18:18 PM »
Read today that the median house price in Ca is back to where it was in 2007 right before the housing bubble burst. That with Harvey?
I think we're in for an even rougher ride than we thought.

There's a house on my street that just went on the market, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, fenced, driveway,  1340sq ft.

$999k.

http://www.kelleyandtodd.com/homes-for-sale-details/11907-CULVER-LOS-ANGELES-CA-90066/17264198/306/
Yup, seems like a healthy economy what with all the wage stagnation and all.
que

thisismyusername

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8665 on: September 01, 2017, 12:28:02 AM »
Read today that the median house price in Ca is back to where it was in 2007 right before the housing bubble burst. That with Harvey?
I think we're in for an even rougher ride than we thought.

There's a house on my street that just went on the market, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, fenced, driveway,  1340sq ft.

$999k.

http://www.kelleyandtodd.com/homes-for-sale-details/11907-CULVER-LOS-ANGELES-CA-90066/17264198/306/

Jesus Fucking Hellion Christ, and that's a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom. What the fuck.

"Why aren't Millennials buying houses/having kids/etc.!?"

Gee, I dunno... maybe because shit is expensive?

I'm a Puppy!

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8666 on: September 01, 2017, 10:44:32 AM »
News dump friday. Time for DACA I guess.
que

jorma

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8667 on: September 01, 2017, 11:07:55 AM »
Read today that the median house price in Ca is back to where it was in 2007 right before the housing bubble burst. That with Harvey?
I think we're in for an even rougher ride than we thought.

There's a house on my street that just went on the market, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, fenced, driveway,  1340sq ft.

$999k.

http://www.kelleyandtodd.com/homes-for-sale-details/11907-CULVER-LOS-ANGELES-CA-90066/17264198/306/

Jesus Fucking Hellion Christ, and that's a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom. What the fuck.

"Why aren't Millennials buying houses/having kids/etc.!?"

Gee, I dunno... maybe because shit is expensive?

I dunno, for a double income family with access to the californian job market, the price seems fairly reasonable to me.

I'm more blown away by the fact that the real estate agents are using gmail as their business mail  :)


I'm a Puppy!

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8668 on: September 01, 2017, 11:44:22 AM »
Dude, you'd need 200k in cash plus around 300k combined income to really afford a 1M house.
Don't know what California job market you're working with but that's not normal income.
que

Broseidon

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jorma

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8670 on: September 01, 2017, 12:42:09 PM »
Dude, you'd need 200k in cash plus around 300k combined income to really afford a 1M house.
Don't know what California job market you're working with but that's not normal income.

Ok, i tried the mortgage calculator on that site and it gave me a 3.8% interest rate, and if that's standard forget everything i said i guess. I'm on 0.8% so that's why i figured a 800k loan would be perfectly reasonable on a double salary.
 :trumps

Great Rumbler

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8671 on: September 01, 2017, 01:11:41 PM »
https://twitter.com/samfbiddle/status/903648502781235201

etiolate backing up a dumptruck of L's right now and you sheep can't even see it coming
dog

jorma

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8672 on: September 01, 2017, 01:35:42 PM »
https://twitter.com/samfbiddle/status/903648502781235201

etiolate backing up a dumptruck of L's right now and you sheep can't even see it coming

Only because he parked it right outside the DNC headquarters  :doge

Madrun Badrun

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8673 on: September 01, 2017, 03:06:53 PM »
Dude has a license to drive both dump trucks and conversations?  What can't he do. 

Broseidon

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8674 on: September 01, 2017, 04:33:30 PM »
Post here anymore, apparently  :hitler
bent

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8675 on: September 01, 2017, 06:23:33 PM »
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/01/politics/doj-woman-laughed-jeff-sessions-confirmation-hearing/
Quote
The Department of Justice will retry a woman whom prosecutors say disrupted Jeff Sessions' confirmation hearing for attorney general by laughing.

After rejecting a plea deal, Desiree Fairooz will again face charges of unlawful conduct for disrupting Sessions' hearing in January.

According to court records, Fairooz rejected a deal offered by prosecutors that would have required her to plead guilty in exchange for a recommended sentence of time served.

Fairooz was detained after audibly laughing after Sen. Richard Shelby told senators at Sessions' confirmation hearing that the then-Alabama senator had a record of "treating all Americans equally under the law."

Her laughter lasted seconds and Shelby continued with his speech without acknowledging the disturbance.
Quote
Fairooz was previously convicted of a misdemeanor connected to disrupting the hearing, but a judge threw out the guilty verdict in July and ordered a new trial.

The new trial is scheduled to begin on November 13.
The system works. :american

Mandark

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8676 on: September 01, 2017, 06:29:54 PM »
Mandark, another one for your case files of fun, but probably not an intended reading by the founders let alone later Courts or "experts" interpretations of the Constitution, re: Arapio pardon:

That's fairly clever but I can't see this or any Supreme Court actually buying it. Hypothetical preemptive mass pardons maybe, but no way for a single one like with Arpaio.

Would be funny seeing the DOJ defend against that like "the president isn't systematically protecting state agents from judicial remedy to their overreach and therefor undermining constitutional protections, he's just pardoning this one dude who said nice things about him, cause he's an egomaniac."
« Last Edit: September 02, 2017, 03:05:22 PM by Mandark »

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8677 on: September 01, 2017, 06:42:18 PM »
First he helps the Russians steal the election from Hillary...now this?

http://www.dailywire.com/news/20526/bombshell-fbi-dhs-warned-about-antifa-early-2016-ben-shapiro
Quote
In a bombshell, Politico reported on Friday that the federal government has been worrying about the rise of Antifa since “early 2016,” and even labeled their activities “domestic terrorist violence” — yet the Obama administration said nothing publicly about Antifa despite ample opportunity to do so. According to Politico:
Quote
Previously unreported documents disclose that by April 2016, authorities believed that “anarchist extremists” were the primary instigators of violence at public rallies against a range of targets. They were blamed by authorities for attacks on the police, government and political institutions, along with symbols of “the capitalist system,” racism, social injustice and fascism, according to a confidential 2016 joint intelligence assessment by DHS and the FBI.
Quote
The FBI and DHS issued a report in April 2016 openly stating that Antifa was prepping for violence; new Jersey law enforcement reportedly stated that Antifa had cropped up in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Shockingly, some members of Antifa “have gone overseas to train and fight with fellow anarchist organizations.”

So, where the hell was President Obama while all of this was building?
Quote
President Obama had the opportunity to speak out against left-wing violent movements, to single out Antifa, to disassociate with them, to call them out in the same way Nancy Pelosi did this week, in the same way President Trump has been asked endlessly to call out white supremacist violence. Obama didn’t. Instead, he remained silent on Antifa.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/01/antifa-charlottesville-violence-fbi-242235
Quote
In their April 2016 assessment, the DHS and FBI said the anarchist groups would likely become more lethal if “fascist, nationalist, racist or anti-immigrant parties obtain greater prominence or local political power in the United States, leading to anti-racist violent backlash from anarchist extremists.”

The assessment also said the anarchist groups could become more aggressive if they seek to “retaliate violently to a violent act by a white supremacist extremist or group,” they acquire more powerful weapons or they obtain the financial means to travel abroad and learn more violent tactics.

Several state law enforcement officials said that all of those accelerating factors have come to pass. And recent FBI and DHS reports confirm they are actively monitoring “conduct deemed potentially suspicious and indicative of terrorist activity” by antifa groups.

But one of the internal assessments acknowledged several significant “intelligence gaps,” including an inability to penetrate the groups’ “diffuse and decentralized organizational structure,” which made it difficult for law enforcement to identify violent groups and individuals. Authorities also “lack information to identify the travel patterns linking U.S. and foreign anarchist extremists,” the assessment said.

The two agencies also said in their April 2016 assessment that many of the activities the groups engaged in “are not within the purview of FBI and DHS collection” due to civil liberties and privacy protections, including participating in training camps, holding meetings and communicating online.

In another assessment this past August, DHS warned about the potential for unprecedented violence at Charlottesville. The agency also acknowledged gaps in its understanding of antifa, saying it had only “medium confidence” in its assessments regarding both the affiliations among the various groups and the motivation of attackers.

Said one senior New Jersey law enforcement official following the antifa groups: “There’s a lot more we don’t know about these groups than what we do know about them.”
Quote
Norris Dollyhite · North Surry High
Until the first amendment is repealed, Then VIOLENT groups like Antifa are to blame. I know it galls the Left, but Trump was 100% correct in that there were parts of both sides at fault in the violence. The Left only hurt themselves by condoning the actions of these groups. BOTH sides need to loudly condemn their violent fringe groups.
Quote
V Saxena • 7 hours ago
Obama is and has always been a virulent Marxist (and racist) who pines for the destruction of everything tried-and-true Americans hold dear, so of course he sought to cover up Antifa's actions -- they're HIS ideological children.
Quote
Jburd in Texas • 7 hours ago
These are no longer conspiracies, they're truths. This story, Hillary, the DNC shutting down Bernie...all legit, all with evidence.

Trump, though sometimes inadvertently, hasn't just pulled the curtain back on politics, he's ripped it down and lit it on fire. I hope this drives people to the polls in the mid-terms and general to push out these crooked a-holes on either side of the aisle.
Quote
CharlieSeattle • 6 hours ago
Please sign this White House Petition and pass it on.

Let's get 150 million to sign so Trump and Congress can not ignore it!

WE THE PEOPLE ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CALL ON CONGRESS TO ACT ON AN ISSUE:

Formally recognize Antifa as a terrorist organization.

Created by M.A. on August 17, 2017

petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/formally-recognize-antifa-terrorist-organization-0

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8678 on: September 01, 2017, 11:38:09 PM »
https://kidrock.com/blog/announcement/448826/i-am-starting-to-see-reports

Quote
I am starting to see reports from the misinformed press and the fake news on how I am in violation of breaking campaign law.

#1 I have still not officially announced my candidacy.

#2 See #1 and go fuck yourselves.

Everyone else, Have a great Labor Day (I will be spending mine WORKING in one of the greatest cities in America - Grand Rapids, Michigan!!)

Rock on.
Kid Rock

 :american

trigger warning for PD regarding his shirt

bluemax

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8679 on: September 02, 2017, 02:21:48 AM »
Antifa are apparently now considered domestic terrorists. Charlottesville Nazis are not.

Etoilet stays winning.

Read today that the median house price in Ca is back to where it was in 2007 right before the housing bubble burst. That with Harvey?
I think we're in for an even rougher ride than we thought.

There's a house on my street that just went on the market, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, fenced, driveway,  1340sq ft.

$999k.

http://www.kelleyandtodd.com/homes-for-sale-details/11907-CULVER-LOS-ANGELES-CA-90066/17264198/306/

Jesus Fucking Hellion Christ, and that's a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom. What the fuck.

"Why aren't Millennials buying houses/having kids/etc.!?"

Gee, I dunno... maybe because shit is expensive?

The mortgage calculator said it would cost $5k a month if I put down $199k. That's $60k a year just for the mortgage, even if you did the standard LA thing of paying half your monthly take home towards that, you'd have to be making $120k+ a year. The median income of my neighborhood as of about 2 years ago was $70k a year.

I blame Snapchat.
« Last Edit: September 02, 2017, 02:26:56 AM by bluemax »
NO

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8680 on: September 02, 2017, 03:17:49 AM »
Antifa are apparently now considered domestic terrorists. Charlottesville Nazis are not.

Etoilet stays winning.
I don't mean to pick on your post but I'm seeing this repeated from a lot of people and there's a number of key elements to this Politico story that are being ignored. Along with something legally.

It's a DHS/FBI report from Spring/Summer 2016. It was specifically about anarchist groups and it was basically updating already existing reports due to things that had happened in Europe (Greece/Italy bombings, etc.) and it did a standard around the bend check with authorities. A further concern was the upcoming conventions which always get special security. And apparently they had tied some Turkish antifa people to ISIS. So they wanted to update all that stuff, it wasn't to be released publicly. The original focus on anarchist groups in this specific case was partly because DHS felt it already had a good enough system regarding "right-wing" groups, if you remember a couple years after Obama came in a similar report about "right-wing" groups got leaked and it was played up as Obama ignoring RADICAL ISLAMIC TERROR for cracking down on the Tea Party, when it was pretty much just one of these standard threat updates and background info.

DHS did apparently raise concerns about Charlottesville with local authorities this year and afterwards came to the conclusion that they didn't have good enough threat assessments on any of the groups involved. (Not that this probably would have done much to single out and prevent the attacker despite his Amir0x like arrest record.) In their case, they actually are interested in "BOTH SIDES!" as everything is a threat. And that part of this report is also getting played up because part of it is about the Black Bloc's tendency to deliberately escalate things. DHS was concerned because this Nazi and white supremacist groups are generally unimportant and local authorities can handle any arrests for things that happen and so on. DHS worried that Black Bloc may systematically target these groups, who would then retaliate and start their own systematic wave of violence. I imagine something similar, in reverse, is in the DHS reports on white supremacist or neo-Nazi groups. Probably even a concern about them targeting Islamic groups who would then activate Sharia Law.

Lastly, I wanted to point out that "domestic terrorism" is not a crime in the United States. Designating something as "domestic terrorism" under the Patriot Act only changes investigative abilities for the feds to basically broaden their search for financial ties, etc. in an easier way. This is basically the same thing most foreign terrorism designations actually accomplish for the feds, with the bonus of it creating a loophole for Americans they'd have to charge with actual crimes otherwise.

The Nazi supporting ACLU also oppose a domestic terrorism law. :usacry

I'm a Puppy!

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8681 on: September 02, 2017, 07:17:08 PM »
Antifa are apparently now considered domestic terrorists. Charlottesville Nazis are not.

Etoilet stays winning.

Read today that the median house price in Ca is back to where it was in 2007 right before the housing bubble burst. That with Harvey?
I think we're in for an even rougher ride than we thought.

There's a house on my street that just went on the market, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, fenced, driveway,  1340sq ft.

$999k.

http://www.kelleyandtodd.com/homes-for-sale-details/11907-CULVER-LOS-ANGELES-CA-90066/17264198/306/

Jesus Fucking Hellion Christ, and that's a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom. What the fuck.

"Why aren't Millennials buying houses/having kids/etc.!?"

Gee, I dunno... maybe because shit is expensive?

The mortgage calculator said it would cost $5k a month if I put down $199k. That's $60k a year just for the mortgage, even if you did the standard LA thing of paying half your monthly take home towards that, you'd have to be making $120k+ a year. The median income of my neighborhood as of about 2 years ago was $70k a year.

I blame Snapchat.
Except it's supposed to be no more the. 25-33% of you in take to spend on mortgage.  The 50% thing came in the housing bubble
que

chronovore

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chronovore

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8683 on: September 03, 2017, 02:06:36 AM »
https://thedailybanter.com/2017/08/why-the-right-is-suddenly-terrified-of-political-violence/

 Recently it has really bothered me that so much attention is being paid to counter protesters and anti-fascist, while it was treated with almost casualness when independents and conservatives showed up in camouflage, armor, and semi automatic rifles.  The potentially violent left has so far shown up with sticks and shields.  There is an asymmetrical capacity for violence being displayed, and yet the media has been focusing on playing up the "menace" from the left.

seagrams hotsauce

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8684 on: September 03, 2017, 02:24:35 AM »
"Antifa" is such light work in the relative history of black bloc protesting. There are a couple of documentaries that show how well PNW anarchists organized and co-opted the 99 WTO protests, as well as the 2010 g20 summit, and it really puts the current 'antifa' movement in perspective.

Unrelated, but Steve Scalise getting shot in the ass was hilarious

Boogie

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8685 on: September 03, 2017, 04:50:06 AM »
"Antifa" is such light work in the relative history of black bloc protesting. There are a couple of documentaries that show how well PNW anarchists organized and co-opted ...the 2010 g20 summit,

For realsies.   I could legit tell so much shit from behind the scenes there, but professional discretion means that would be a baaad idea.   Sorry.  But I can absolutely reinforce what you are saying.

Though here in Canada, some of those guys from the G20 days have absolutely just rebranded themselves as "BLM Toronto/Canada" and antifa as well.
MMA

FStop7

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8686 on: September 03, 2017, 04:47:25 PM »
Antifa is a stupid boogeyman propped up by shitty right wingers to frighten the Fox News demographic and to justify the behavior of white supremicists.

i'd literally never even heard of antifa until the day of the immigration ban and airport protests.  And the place I first encountered the term was here, in an etiolet post.  I'd like to know where he picked it up from.

El Babua

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8687 on: September 03, 2017, 05:50:27 PM »
Antifa just hit the mainstream but has been circulating as the new right-wing boogeyman after SJWs since at least Trump's election.

FStop7

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8688 on: September 03, 2017, 07:14:46 PM »
If you were the US President would you consider stepping away from Taiwan in exchange for China stepping away from the DPRK?  How about if China not only stepped away but also promised a regime change and the end of the DPRK nuclear program including allowing UN inspectors full access?

Rufus

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8689 on: September 03, 2017, 07:24:39 PM »
NK is a buffer state. China has zero incentive for regime change and NK knows not to piss them off enough to change their mind.

curly

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8690 on: September 03, 2017, 09:11:47 PM »
The craziest thing about the focus on antifa is we just had a bunch of racists in combat gear stalking the streets but there's people acting like there's some sort of equivalence in the threat of violence. One side kills people on a semi-regular basis, while the other maced Baked Alaska.

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8691 on: September 03, 2017, 09:40:40 PM »
If you were the US President would you consider stepping away from Taiwan in exchange for China stepping away from the DPRK?  How about if China not only stepped away but also promised a regime change and the end of the DPRK nuclear program including allowing UN inspectors full access?
You mean publicly revoking the unspoken pledge protecting Taiwan from Chinese invasion? When China has no interest in North Korea severely upsetting the apple cart anymore than anyone else in the region does?

Considering that China has indicated at times not too long ago that they're bored of keeping up the fiction that Taiwan has a competing claim to their territory at this point and would rather just trade and associate with them as "Taiwan" or something more than acquire and integrate Formosa into their country I'm not sure what exactly the deal is here regarding anyone mentioned. You do you?

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8692 on: September 03, 2017, 09:41:47 PM »
The craziest thing about the focus on antifa is we just had a bunch of racists in combat gear stalking the streets but there's people acting like there's some sort of equivalence in the threat of violence. One side kills people on a semi-regular basis, while the other maced Baked Alaska.
Hey, Catch-all Cop Thread is over there buddy.


benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8694 on: September 04, 2017, 01:57:11 AM »
Quote
I ended up sneaking into a secret group of Catholics bound together, amusingly, by their common complaint at having been blocked by well-known orthodox Roman Catholic blogger Mark Shea
I hope I'm never part of a group bound together amusingly by a common complaint of having been outcast from some other place on the internet.

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8695 on: September 04, 2017, 02:02:50 AM »
Quote
We have seen our famously pro-life president pardon human rights criminal Joe Arpaio.
Hey, he's only been famously pro-life for six years, give him some time to figure out what it means beyond just being a thing his potential fans like!

Himu

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8696 on: September 04, 2017, 02:17:43 AM »
The pro-life movement is damaged goods unfortunately, and has too much baggage. Definitely could use a reset after Trump.
IYKYK

Trent Dole

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8697 on: September 04, 2017, 02:34:14 AM »
The craziest thing about the focus on antifa is we just had a bunch of racists in combat gear stalking the streets but there's people acting like there's some sort of equivalence in the threat of violence. One side kills people on a semi-regular basis, while the other maced Baked Alaska.
Can we just take a moment to point out how fucking stupid it is to have your alt reich handle be a dessert of all things? Look out women and minorities, here comes Strawberry Shortcake, OH NOZ!!1 :derp
Hi

benjipwns

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8698 on: September 04, 2017, 02:50:03 AM »
The pro-life movement is damaged goods unfortunately, and has too much baggage. Definitely could use a reset after Trump.
It had to anyway really, especially if you believed those polls about millennials being more pro-life than both generations before it. The same polls and others have shown they aren't anti-gay, anti-sex, or generally as culturally conservative as The Religious Right or evangelical movement were or are. Those had been hooked at the hip for so long because the big money was in the latter. As they have died off (in many cases, literally) there was going to be some separation especially from those who wanted to get away from the evangelicals. A lot of the newer religious figures try to appear almost apolitical in comparison to the ones who pushed the agenda starting in the 1980s. Hillary was the more religious candidate easily, Obama had a similar freedom there that McCain and Romney never did despite the fact that he was an Atheist Muslim. Rove's fear always was that the religious and pro-lifers who would vote Republican would stay home, that they were the easiest "should be locked" group to turn off.

Mandark

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Re: U.S. Politics Discussion Thread |OT| Confederacy of Dunces
« Reply #8699 on: September 04, 2017, 03:01:00 AM »
There isn't going to be an antiabortion movement of any consequence that's disassociated from social conservatism and its attendant attitudes towards sex, gender, and race.

This seems very simple to me.