U.S. Politics megathread (merged)

[ri Alban]

2 minutes ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

Tells it's own story, don't you think?

It sure does. 

[Watt-Zeefuik]

2 hours ago, bobsharp said:

 

Ill health resignation? Or the Mueller investigation is stopped, the whole reason for the appointment of Whittaker.

It could be the bipartisan Mueller protection bill that McConnell is currently freezing out in the Senate.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

Oh, and on the caravan -- after claiming that his opponent, Rep. Beto O'Rourke, was actively funding the migrant caravan during the campaign, Sen. Ted Cruz was asked about that claim. His response, in full: "The election is over."

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-caravan_us_5bec80a7e4b09f4670062c5a

[Jambo-Jimbo]

4 minutes ago, Ugly American said:

Oh, and on the caravan -- after claiming that his opponent, Rep. Beto O'Rourke, was actively funding the migrant caravan during the campaign, Sen. Ted Cruz was asked about that claim. His response, in full: "The election is over."

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-caravan_us_5bec80a7e4b09f4670062c5a

 

In other words, sweep sweep sweep, move along nothing to see here.

[alwaysthereinspirit]

2 hours ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

In other words, sweep sweep sweep, move along nothing to see here.

Sweep, sweep, sweep indeed.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

14 minutes ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

Sweep, sweep, sweep indeed.

 

You're not serious, are you? 

 

You are serious. JW.

[alwaysthereinspirit]

6 minutes ago, Ugly American said:

 

You're not serious, are you? 

 

You are serious. JW.

Imagine the furor on here if Trump had made that little diddy.

Even better. Imagine Trump didnt win. That would be our President.

Jesus definitely would have wept.

[alwaysthereinspirit]

2 minutes ago, Barack said:

"Before the joke, Mrs. Clinton, who has faced her own criticism for her comments on civility, lamented that politeness is often mistaken for political correctness." Washington Post.

 

 

 

 

'Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during an event over the weekend teased the interviewer who confused former Attorney General Eric Holder and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). 

Recode's Kara Swisher during a Q&A asked Clinton, "What do you think of Cory Booker ... saying, 'Kick them in the shins'?" 

She was likely referring to Holder's recent comment that when Republicans go low, "we kick them." Holder has faced widespread backlash for the comment, which members of the GOP said amounted to a call for violence, though Holder has insisted it was a metaphor.

"That was Eric Holder," Clinton replied, correcting Swisher.

"I know they all look alike," she joked, to a burst of laughter from the audience. 

"No, they don't," Swisher quickly replied, then added: "Oh, well done." 

Holder and Booker are both black men. 

Clinton during the back-and-forth also said she believes "what's often called political correctness is politeness."

"It's respecting the diversity that we have in our society," she continued. "The Democratic Party is a much more diverse political party, attracting people who are African-American, Latino, LGBT ... And I don't think it's politically correct to say, we value that." 

"I don't want to go around insulting people, painting people with a broad brush," she said. "That's childish." The Hill.

 

 

Eric Holder, oh, Eric Holder, sorry," Swisher said.

"Yeah, I know they all look alike," Clinton quipped to a wave of laughter and applause in the room." FOX...

 

Ultimately, this was addressed by News outlets throughout the World, including here. A satirical joke? Yes. Mis-placed, & stupid in hindsight? Yes. Swept, and on the same level as mass racially motivated fearmongering...nah. 

So its ok to be an ignoramus and maybe slightly racist as long as you are polite about it and call it a joke. Unbelievable scenes.

[Justin Z]

Just now, alwaysthereinspirit said:

So its ok to be an ignoramus and maybe slightly racist as long as you are polite about it and call it a joke. Unbelievable scenes.

 

It was inartful, and inappropriate.

It wasn't implementing policies with an eye to locking thousands of brown children in concentration camp cages.

 

Swings and roundabouts though.

[Unknown user]

30 minutes ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

Sweep, sweep, sweep indeed.

 

 to the power of infinity

 

You, I, we all know exactly what happened there, it was a weary piss take of an ignorant stereotype. I'm  no fan of Hillary Clinton but it's just utter bullshit to call it racism. 

 

I assume you know that while Trump wad in charge of the company, Trump Management was sued by the Justice Department for charging black and white tenants differently, and for telling blacks that there was no availability when apartments were available to whites? He denied it and counter sued, then quietly settled a couple of years later of course. 

 

According to multiple witnesses he'd have all black dealers replaced with whites before entering his casino floor and would publicly bemoan blacks counting his money.

More recently, he claimed this year that one particular American born judge couldn't do her job because "he's a Mexican". 

 

Your Donald's an actual nasty racist and you turn a blind eye.

[Ulysses]

8 minutes ago, Justin Z said:

 

It was inartful, and inappropriate.

It wasn't implementing policies with an eye to locking thousands of brown children in concentration camp cages.

 

Swings and roundabouts though.

 

 

For right-wingers and Trump apologists, anything the libtards do is fair game.  Clinton must be worse than Pol Pot because she once did something a bit off, which means it's OK to love Trump, grab pussies and generally have it in for people who aren't quite as pink as we are.

 

Get with the program, Jay-Z. 

 

 

 

[Ulysses]

Trump endorses bipartisan reform of criminal justice, including sentencing.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/14/trump-endorses-criminal-justice-reform-bill-first-step-act

 

This will cut a lot of sentences, and provide more and better pathways for prisoners to try to rehabilitate and work their way back into society.

 

This seemed to be going nowhere with the Republicans until Trump bought into the idea and gave Jared Kushner the job of making it happen.

 

It's a piece of progressive lawmaking, and in fairness it has to be said that it probably wouldn't have gotten this far without Trump's support.

[The Real Maroonblood]

7 minutes ago, Ulysses said:

 

 

For right-wingers and Trump apologists, anything the libtards do is fair game.  Clinton must be worse than Pol Pot because she once did something a bit off, which means it's OK to love Trump, grab pussies and generally have it in for people who aren't quite as pink as we are.

 

Get with the program, Jay-Z. 

 

 

 

[alwaysthereinspirit]

15 minutes ago, Smithee said:

 

 to the power of infinity

 

You, I, we all know exactly what happened there, it was a weary piss take of an ignorant stereotype. I'm  no fan of Hillary Clinton but it's just utter bullshit to call it racism. 

 

I assume you know that while Trump wad in charge of the company, Trump Management was sued by the Justice Department for charging black and white tenants differently, and for telling blacks that there was no availability when apartments were available to whites? He denied it and counter sued, then quietly settled a couple of years later of course. 

 

According to multiple witnesses he'd have all black dealers replaced with whites before entering his casino floor and would publicly bemoan blacks counting his money.

More recently, he claimed this year that one particular American born judge couldn't do her job because "he's a Mexican". 

 

Your Donald's an actual nasty racist and you turn a blind eye.

He's not my Donald and you have absolutely no clue what I do or don't do when turning my eye.

I'd really appreciate you not sleekitly calling me a racist on a public forum. Appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Unknown user]

1 minute ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

He's not my Donald and you have absolutely no clue what I do or don't do when turning my eye.

I'd really appreciate you not sleekitly calling me a racist on a public forum. Appreciate it. Thanks.

 

Didn't call you anything, cheers

[Justin Z]

9 minutes ago, Ulysses said:

Trump endorses bipartisan reform of criminal justice, including sentencing.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/14/trump-endorses-criminal-justice-reform-bill-first-step-act

 

This will cut a lot of sentences, and provide more and better pathways for prisoners to try to rehabilitate and work their way back into society.

 

This seemed to be going nowhere with the Republicans until Trump bought into the idea and gave Jared Kushner the job of making it happen.

 

It's a piece of progressive lawmaking, and in fairness it has to be said that it probably wouldn't have gotten this far without Trump's support.

 

If this does actually end up going anywhere, the orange one will have earned a genuine kudo point.

 

 

Edited November 15, 2018 by Justin Z

[Justin Z]

2 minutes ago, Smithee said:

Didn't call you anything, cheers

 

Bit of an ironic misreading of your post in context though, wasn't it?

[alwaysthereinspirit]

1 hour ago, Justin Z said:

 

Bit of an ironic misreading of your post in context though, wasn't it?

?

 

[Watt-Zeefuik]

4 hours ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

Imagine the furor on here if Trump had made that little diddy.

Even better. Imagine Trump didnt win. That would be our President.

Jesus definitely would have wept.

 

You've rightly accused others on here of pretending to not recognize that something is clearly said tongue-in-cheek. Have the decency to do it here. 

 

"They all look the same" has been a racist trope for so long that there are technicolor Disney movies which include jokes riffing on it. It still happens to extremely well-known African-Americans enough that it's a sore point for black people. (see: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ktla-anchor-apologizes-mistaking-samuel-679048) In this instance Clinton is responding to her interviewer clearly making exactly this mistake, when she ascribes a quote to Corey Booker, a Senator from New Jersey, to Eric Holder, the former Attorney General, who look absolutely nothing alike and who share only the fact that they are black, Democrats, and potentially running for President. The interviewer here has made the racist gaffe, and everyone in the room is probably thinking the same thing. Sen. Clinton drops the line explicitly to acknowledge the error, give the interviewer a ribbing for the error, break the tension, and then move on. Of all of the incredibly inartful things Sen. Clinton has said over the years in public, this doesn't even move the needle.

 

Trump regularly says or tweets things considerably more racist than that that nobody here bothers to comment on because it's just another Tuesday. 

 

But more to the point, Sen. Clinton isn't in politics anymore. She was not on any ballots last Tuesday. She isn't running for President. Why TEF did you think it was remotely germane to any conversation at hand?  Nevermind, I know the answer.

[Ulysses]

10 minutes ago, Ugly American said:

 

Trump regularly says or tweets things considerably more racist than that that nobody here bothers to comment on because it's just another Tuesday. 

 

 

 

[J.T.F.Robertson]

5 hours ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

Imagine the furor on here if Trump had made that little diddy.

Even better. Imagine Trump didnt win. That would be our President.

Jesus definitely would have wept.

 

In your mind (and I know you're no daftie) what, if any, redeeming features does Trump have? I cannot for the life of me understand why you persist in "defending" a man who is so blatantly unfit for the position he finds himself. 

Fine, none of his predessors have been perfect, but this one. Jesus H!

 

[Unknown user]

7 hours ago, Justin Z said:

 

Bit of an ironic misreading of your post in context though, wasn't it?

Yep, a sleekit accusation of racism covers it pretty perfectly I'd say!

[Justin Z]

2 hours ago, Smithee said:

Yep, a sleekit accusation of racism covers it pretty perfectly I'd say!

 

With the added bonus it was levied by Putin's propaganda arm on YouTube. Pretty much all around separating reality from fiction here.

[alwaysthereinspirit]

5 hours ago, Smithee said:

Yep, a sleekit accusation of racism covers it pretty perfectly I'd say!

Are you accusing me of being racist or a racist?

Yes/no answer should suffice.

[alwaysthereinspirit]

3 hours ago, Justin Z said:

 

With the added bonus it was levied by Putin's propaganda arm on YouTube. Pretty much all around separating reality from fiction here.

[Justin Z]

20 minutes ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

Are you accusing me of being racist or a racist?

Yes/no answer should suffice.

 

19 minutes ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

 

This discussion seems to be flying over your head, so let's review.

 

Clinton wasn't being a racist. Maybe she is in other aspects of her life, I dunno, but she wasn't here. She was ribbing the interviewer for what in effect was a racist gaffe, though the interviewer probably isn't generally racist either.

 

Likewise, Smithee wasn't accusing you of being a racist, but you misunderstood. This misunderstanding then had a parallel drawn to RT's intentional misrepresentation of Clinton's joke to the people they interviewed on the street and to the viewers of their YouTube video. Your self-righteousness at this imagined accusation was particularly funny and ironic in the context of you spreading a propaganda video that misrepresented someone else as behaving in a racist manner.

 

Please let me know if you have any further questions or need additional clarity on this matter.

 

 

Edited November 16, 2018 by Justin Z
(typo)

[The Real Maroonblood]

41 minutes ago, Justin Z said:

 

 

This discussion seems to be flying over your head, so let's review.

 

Clinton wasn't being a racist. Maybe she is in other aspects of her life, I dunno, but she wasn't here. She was ribbing the interviewer for what in effect was a racist gaffe, though the interviewer probably isn't generally racist either.

 

Likewise, Smithee wasn't accusing you of being a racist, but you misunderstood. This misunderstanding then had a parallel drawn to RT's intentional misrepresentation of Clinton's joke to the people they interviewed on the street and to the viewers of their YouTube video. Your self-righteousness at this imagined accusation was particularly funny and ironic in the context of you spreading a propaganda video that misrepresented someone else as behaving in a racist manner.

 

Please let me know if you have any further questions or need additional clarity on this matter.

 

 

[Unknown user]

1 hour ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

Are you accusing me of being racist or a racist?

Yes/no answer should suffice.

 

I'm no dancing monkey mate. What I said was pretty clear, feel free to report it if you feel I've made an unfair accusation. 

[alwaysthereinspirit]

55 minutes ago, Smithee said:

 

I'm no dancing monkey mate. What I said was pretty clear, feel free to report it if you feel I've made an unfair accusation. 

No need for me to report it. The administrators do a good job. For the most part.

If they allow it then you're good. You can post whatever takes your fancy with or without any backup or proof.

Its a win/win for you. Not so much for the posters you accuse though. 

 

[Unknown user]

7 minutes ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

No need for me to report it. The administrators do a good job. For the most part.

If they allow it then you're good. You can post whatever takes your fancy with or without any backup or proof.

Its a win/win for you. Not so much for the posters you accuse though. 

 

 

Out of interest, what's your first language?

[alwaysthereinspirit]

38 minutes ago, Smithee said:

 

Out of interest, what's your first language?

That could be hurtful to my feeling. If I had one.

[Sharpie]

Done my morning coffee news search and from what I have seen so far, it is 6.45am here, the noose is tightening.

Some Republicans urging Trump to nominate a new Attorney General as soon as possible, and definitely not Whittaker.

Last night a report that Trump has been privately bad mouthing Hannity.

Fox news on the brief look I had this morning reporting that North Korea are developing a new ICBM, contrary to believed agreement.

Indictment going out for Julian Assange, story includes Trump waving a document and declaring his love for Wikileaks. Previous clips showing Trump telling Wikileaks during the campaign to release the E mails.

Trumps lawyers preparing written answers to Muellers questions. Giuliani claiming some of the questions are perjury traps, so it seems the lawyers who are in fact basically writing the answers are not sure if Trump is telling them the truth, which is serious as Mueller has lots of evidential statements that could contradict Trumps answers and prove he is lieing.

No wonder the stories that he is showing signs of mental breakdown are being reported he is his own worst enemy, so many condemning statements during the Campaign and his presidency that he will almost be his own worst witness.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

16 minutes ago, bobsharp said:

Done my morning coffee news search and from what I have seen so far, it is 6.45am here, the noose is tightening.

Some Republicans urging Trump to nominate a new Attorney General as soon as possible, and definitely not Whittaker.

Last night a report that Trump has been privately bad mouthing Hannity.

Fox news on the brief look I had this morning reporting that North Korea are developing a new ICBM, contrary to believed agreement.

Indictment going out for Julian Assange, story includes Trump waving a document and declaring his love for Wikileaks. Previous clips showing Trump telling Wikileaks during the campaign to release the E mails.

Trumps lawyers preparing written answers to Muellers questions. Giuliani claiming some of the questions are perjury traps, so it seems the lawyers who are in fact basically writing the answers are not sure if Trump is telling them the truth, which is serious as Mueller has lots of evidential statements that could contradict Trumps answers and prove he is lieing.

No wonder the stories that he is showing signs of mental breakdown are being reported he is his own worst enemy, so many condemning statements during the Campaign and his presidency that he will almost be his own worst witness.

 

Ah, a lovers tiff, I hope Hannity learns the hard way that Trump never thought of him as a friend, indeed does Hannity have any friends.

 

When you've spent your entire life lying through your teeth everyday, sooner or later you'll forget what lies you previously told and ultimately you'll end up contradicting your own lies, now you might get away with that in normal everyday life, but you won't get away with that in a Police/Legal setting.

Mueller please put Trump on the stand, as soon as you do you'll be able to fling away the key.

 

 

[Jambo-Jimbo]

1 minute ago, Barack said:

Hate to say I told you so...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BBC News - Trump ordered to restore CNN reporter Jim Acosta's access
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46240975

 

 

 

Cue twitter meltdown in  3..........2............1 

[redjambo]

7 minutes ago, Barack said:

Hate to say I told you so...

 

Liar.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

2 minutes ago, Barack said:

Won't hear a peep, I suspect. As the case is still ongoing, any perceived comments from the WH, might be seen as bad form.

 

Was never going to stand up in law. 

 

When's that ever stopped him?

[Sharpie]

 Judge opined that Acota's  1st Amendment Rights had been breached. He did however delay decision on the actual

withdrawl of the press pass until the procedure to do so was explained, the argument being the White House right or not to say who c an be in the property, and the process of asking questions that is followed with the reporter pointed to and asked to pose a question. There are questions related to these points which may require a Court case to decide . I am not sure Acosta has had his press pass returned.

 

I am quite prepared to be told I am wrong but that is how I heard it

Edited November 16, 2018 by bobsharp

[Justin Z]

27 minutes ago, bobsharp said:

 Judge opined that Acota's  1st Amendment Rights had been breached. He did however delay decision on the actual

withdrawl of the press pass until the procedure to do so was explained, the argument being the White House right or not to say who c an be in the property, and the process of asking questions that is followed with the reporter pointed to and asked to pose a question. There are questions related to these points which may require a Court case to decide . I am not sure Acosta has had his press pass returned.

 

I am quite prepared to be told I am wrong but that is how I heard it

 

Hi Bob--the judge has simply made a preliminary injunction restoring the status quo. He has not ruled on the propriety of taking away the pass, but did say that any reporter's first amendment rights are a stronger interest than the White House's interest in having orderly press briefings, which means that legally, the White House will have to show a compelling government interest (a term of art in the law) in taking away the pass from Acosta specifically, and an orderly press briefing is not such a compelling interest. It's a ruling on a point of law as he sees it, and how it needs to be argued subsequently, not on the action of taking away the pass itself.

 

 

[Justin Z]

1 minute ago, Barack said:

HuckFinn-Sans'(WH) interpretation of today's ruling, leaves a lot to be desired.

 

"Today, the court made clear that there is no absolute First Amendment right to access the White House."

 

Remember the 90's rock song called: Two Princes? By...?

 

Spin Doctors, of course.

 

Yeah, I mean, there's no absolute right to anything in American law. There might be standards so high that if that's the standard a court adopts, the government will never overcome it in argument. But there's never an absolute right.

So yeah, from a legal perspective, a   moment brought to you by the queen of smoky-eyed lies.

[Sidelight]

3 hours ago, Barack said:

HuckFinn-Sans'(WH) interpretation of today's ruling, leaves a lot to be desired.

 

"Today, the court made clear that there is no absolute First Amendment right to access the White House."

 

Remember the 90's rock song called: Two Princes? By...?

Acosta is an agent provocateur, not a journalist.

His press pass should be given to Alex’s Jones.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

Trump's whole vendetta against CNN has always been bizarre. It's not as though they're even remotely the most critical of his administration -- even among cable news networks, MSNBC has more talking heads that criticize him.

 

Either it's something he's internalized from his hours of daily cable news watching, or he's picking on CNN strategically because they're generally dumb and feckless enough to make a good foil.

 

I mean FFS The Nation and Mother Jones have journalists with WH press passes. And if he thinks Acosta stirs the pot, he obviously never watched Helen Thomas at work.

[Number28]

6 hours ago, alfajambo said:

Acosta is an agent provocateur, not a journalist.

 

His press pass should be given to Alex’s Jones.

 

No No No!  Give the pass to Christiane Amanpour! She'd sort them all out!

[ri Alban]

Has Donald tweeted about the CIA and the Saudi Prince yet. 

[Watt-Zeefuik]

The "raking" comment was stupid and insensitive but again, it's just another day.

 

The only reason I'm commenting on it is because the Finns are subtweeting him to make fun of him and it's pretty funny.

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/hashtag/haravointi

[Seymour M Hersh]

On 16/11/2018 at 21:58, alfajambo said:

Acosta is an agent provocateur, not a journalist.

 

His press pass should be given to Alex’s Jones.

 

 

[Unknown user]

On 16/11/2018 at 21:58, alfajambo said:

Acosta is an agent provocateur, not a journalist.

 

His press pass should be given to Alex’s Jones.

 

 

Acosta's an accredited journalist and America guarantees freedom of press. Politicians must be asked questions they don't like.

[Sharpie]

Watched a panel discussion on the Acosta decision, one participant commented on how critical Fox News was on Obama, yet there was never any of the complete rudeness, or behaviour displayed as happenong now, I honestly do not remember those days and cannot remember watching  Fox, so I have no direct opinion, but it does seem a reasonable comment.

[alwaysthereinspirit]

1 hour ago, Seymour M Hersh said:

 

Are those Hearts maroon curtains?

[Craig Gordons Gloves]

On 16/11/2018 at 20:03, Ugly American said:

Trump's whole vendetta against CNN has always been bizarre. It's not as though they're even remotely the most critical of his administration -- even among cable news networks, MSNBC has more talking heads that criticize him.

 

Either it's something he's internalized from his hours of daily cable news watching, or he's picking on CNN strategically because they're generally dumb and feckless enough to make a good foil.

 

I mean FFS The Nation and Mother Jones have journalists with WH press passes. And if he thinks Acosta stirs the pot, he obviously never watched Helen Thomas at work.

 

Even more so when you consider that CNN provided him with massive amounts of coverage in the Republican primaries and then in the election too. CNN are reaping quite a bit of what they sowed.  If they (and other networks) had treated him like they would treat most other nonsensical candidates he wouldn't have even made it past the primaries. Instead, they sensationalized all the mad utterings and gave him a wider platform. 

[Seymour M Hersh]

2 hours ago, alwaysthereinspirit said:

Are those Hearts maroon curtains?

 

Obviously!!