Is Britain called TERF Island because of the author of Harry Potter ? I mean, I don't understand what's more TERF there than anyplace else.
But I guess it's just internet slang and somewhere had to be called that way ? I don't know.
Is Britain called TERF Island because of the author of Harry Potter ? I mean, I don't understand what's more TERF there than anyplace else.
But I guess it's just internet slang and somewhere had to be called that way ? I don't know.
@Nilitch said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
I mean, I don't understand what's more TERF there than anyplace else.
Among other things, the great anti trans pushback that is happening in the Anglosphere even their even their communist parties made anti-trans official statements.
TERF Island's a catchy name for a nation that has been the center of the big anti-trans push, which has only helped stoked the shit going on here in the US.
Just as bad as finding out that most of the food we eat has rat hair, maggots, & dismembered bug limbs in it.
@Nilitch I think it's been happening before J.K. was even conserved. I know after WW2 a bunch of Americans basically told the UK to hate gays and trans people. And it's been like this since.
@Nitwit Um, no. The UK had laws that made homosexuality illegal for centuries. Just look at Oscar Wilde.
@Nitwit
Poor ahistorical comment. Britain was the source of antisodomy laws half the world. The Imperial core played a deep role in the repression of non heteronormative relations and identities in the rest of the world from the XVIII to the XX century.
Are we not gonna talk about the far-right lunatic philly resident that beheaded his public workers father calling from a revolution against Biden?
@pariston_hill I saw the picture of the beheaded man. It was nasty 🤮
1/ A federal appeals court rejected Trump’s claim that he’s immune from federal prosecution for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. “We cannot accept former President Trump’s claim that a President has unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralize the most fundamental check on executive power — the recognition and implementation of election results,” the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit wrote. “Nor can we sanction his apparent contention that the Executive has carte blanche to violate the rights of individual citizens to vote and to have their votes count.” Trump has repeatedly argued that his actions before and during the Jan. 6 insurrection were part of his official duties as president and therefore he can’t be prosecuted for those crimes without first being impeached and convicted by Congress. Since the Senate acquitted Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection, Trump has claimed he’s now subject to “double jeopardy.” The D.C. Circuit panel, however, rejected the double jeopardy argument, writing that “the weight of historical authority indicates that the Framers intended for public officials to face ordinary criminal prosecution as well as impeachment.” The court concluded: “For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant. But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution.” Trump has until Feb. 12 to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the decision or ask the appeals court’s entire judicial lineup to take up the issue. He faces four counts, including conspiring to defraud the U.S. and to obstruct an official proceeding. (NPR / New York Times / Washington Post / Politico / Wall Street Journal / NBC News / CBS News / ABC News / CNBC / CNN / Associated Press / Axios / Bloomberg)
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/06/1223904739/trump-immunity-ruling
2/ House Republicans now plan to vote on a standalone Israel aid bill after rejecting a bipartisan border deal they had previously demanded. It’s not clear, however, whether Speaker Mike Johnson has the two-thirds majority needed to pass the standalone bill to provide $17.6 billion in aid to Israel. Nevertheless, Biden called on congressional Republicans to “show some spine” and pass the $118 billion bipartisan package that paired strict border security measures with assistance to Israel and Ukraine. “All indications are this bill won’t even move forward to the Senate floor. Why? A simple reason: Donald Trump. Because Donald Trump thinks it’s bad for him politically,” Biden said, adding that Trump wants to “weaponize” the issues at southern U.S. border for his presidential race rather than “actually solve it.” (New York Times / Associated Press / NPR / Politico / Politico / ABC News / NBC News / Bloomberg / CNN)
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/06/1229554330/biden-trump-border-ukraine-congress?ft=nprml&f=1014
3/ Instead of passing the “toughest set of reforms to secure the border ever,” House Republicans plan to vote on a resolution to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas even though it’s unclear if they have enough support to charge the homeland security secretary. Republicans have a three-vote majority in the House and two Republicans are already on record opposing impeachment. The articles of impeachment accuse Mayorkas of “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” and “breach of public trust” amid a surge in unauthorized migrant crossings. If the vote is successful, Mayorkas would be the first Cabinet member impeached by the House in almost 150 years. However, he is not expected to be convicted in a trial in the Democratic-led Senate. (New York Times / Washington Post / CNN / Axios / Politico / ABC News / NBC News / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press)
Why the GOP wants to impeach Mayorkas but not pass the border deal. “Despite the GOP-controlled House taking steps to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over immigration this week, there’s little appetite among the party for a bill that might be in the national interest but that could alienate the past and possibly future president.” (CNN)
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/politics/trump-republicans-immigration/index.html
1/ House Republicans failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after four Republicans joined Democrats in voting against what would have been the second-ever impeachment of a Cabinet official. Although the vote failed 214-216, Republicans immediately moved to bring back the resolution up for another vote, but it’s unclear when or if that will happen. (New York Times / NPR / Bloomberg / Washington Post / CNN / Associated Press)
2/ House Republicans failed to pass a standalone bill to send $17.6 billion in aid to Israel after Speaker Mike Johnson called the bipartisan Senate package that combined Israel and Ukraine with stricter border security and asylum laws “dead-on-arrival” in the chamber. The vote failed 250 to 180, with 166 Democrats and 14 Republicans opposing the measure. The bill required the support of two-thirds of the House to pass. (NBC News / Washington Post / Axios / CNN / CBS News)
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/politics/house-vote-israel-aid-package/index.html
3/ Senate Republicans blocked the $118 billion bipartisan border package that Republicans had demanded but then rejected after pressure from Trump, who is making the border a campaign issue. The bill failed to advance 49-50, falling short of the 60-vote threshold and essentially guarantees Congress won’t pass any broad immigration or border legislation before the presidential election. Republicans had initially demanded strict border policy changes in exchange for Ukraine aid, but abandoned that trade-off when House Republican leadership called the bill “dead on arrival.” After the failed vote, Chuck Schumer released a narrower, $95.3 billion version of the same package that would fund Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but without the border-security provisions or funding. “Why have Republicans backed off on border when they know it’s the right thing to do?” Schumer said. “Two words: Donald Trump.” (Associated Press / Politico / NPR / Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News / CNN / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal)
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/07/1229785349/border-deal-ukraine-aid-senate
4/ Nikki Haley lost Nevada’s presidential primary to “None of These Candidates.” The primary, which is largely symbolic and awards no delegates, didn’t include Trump on the ballot. With 88% of the votes counted, Haley had 30.5% to 63.2% for “none of these candidates.” Following the embarrassing loss, Haley claimed the state’s nominating process had been “rigged” in favor of Trump. (Politico / NPR / ABC News / Bloomberg / USA Today / NBC News / Washington Post / New York Times)
5/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’s terms for a cease-fire and hostage-release agreement, calling the plan “delusional.” Hamas’s cease-fire proposal, negotiated by the U.S., Qatar, Israel and Egypt, included a three-phase hostage release plan, a 45-day pause in fighting, and the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza. “There is no solution besides total victory,” Netanyahu said, adding that an Israeli victory in Gaza was “within reach.” (CNN / Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post / NBC News / New York Times / Wall Street Journal)
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-07-2024-6ceffca2970243cd039e90268c32c617
Also, that failed vote to impeach Mayorkas, the Speaker of the House was counting on a Democrat Congressman, Al Greene, not being available due to being in surgery, depriving the Democrats of a crucial vote against the motion... only for the guy to actually show up mid-vote, immediately after the surgery.
jesus christ
@MetaMario said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
jesus christ
On the Democrat side, Marianne Williamson had the same issue in Nevada, coming in third behind None of These Candidates (2nd) and Biden (1st).
Amazing showmanship of democracy when two senile octogenarians are chosen behind backdoors as the running candidates by the top of the parties/backers and any other choice is killed at birth.
Edit: In before someone thinks I think any candidate currently running for the GOP or DNC are better. They all suck.
@pariston_hill said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
Amazing showmanship of democracy when two senile octogenarians are chosen behind backdoors as the running candidates by the top of the parties/backers and any other choice is killed at birth.
Edit: In before someone thinks I think any candidate currently running for the GOP or DNC are better. They all suck.
Yes, yes, USA Bad...
This particular election year was always going to be Biden (the incumbent) and Trump (the Republican God-King), that's just political inertia at work, so I'm not sure where you're getting "chosen behind backdoors as the running candidates by the top of the parties/backers and any other choice is killed at birth."
No other choice had a realistic chance to be conceived on this one, let alone born.
@sgamer82
Running presidents are chosen by the bourgeoisie, always. That's why indirect democracies are called bourgeoisie democracies.
It's not a particular of the US. In all what the Imperial Core call free world is like this.
Like point above, it's stupid run the incumbent and the previous one, or take the fact they are running as a normal fact of life when both are SENILE OCTOGENARIANS THAT ALREADY GOT THEIR ONE TURN.
That's a problem, treating like it's normal is ludicrous.
So far both parties had a write-in win a primary, if that don't show that the voter is fed up with years of gridding bad candidates I don't know what else.
@pariston_hill said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@sgamer82
Running presidents are chosen by the bourgeoisie, always. That's why indirect democracies are called bourgeoisie democracies.
It's not a particular of the US. In all what the Imperial Core call free world is like this.Like point above, it's stupid run the incumbent and the previous one, or take the fact they are running as a normal fact of life when both are SENILE OCTOGENARIANS THAT ALREADY GOT THEIR ONE TURN.
That's a problem, treating like it's normal is ludicrous.
So far both parties had a write-in win a primary, if that don't show that the voter is fed up with years of gridding bad candidates I don't know what else.
Yeah of the two candidates the only one who legitimately shouldn’t be running as he had his “one turn” and because he’s also legitimately awful is Trump.
Not to mention the circumstances that are seeing him steamroll other potential candidates is far more questionable than Biden having no viable challenger to “primary” him.
@pariston_hill said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
So far both parties had a write-in win a primary, if that don't show that the voter is fed up with years of gridding bad candidates I don't know what else.
Okay, so funny thing about that New Hampshire write-in candidate...
@Ubiq yeah ceasefire write in's didn't end up counting.
@sgamer82 I mean outside Biden slipping on stairs or even forgetting he had another grandchild. I’m not much of a Biden simp but even still he’s milk toast and not the good kind. I prefer The Onion news version of him better when he was funny and cool now he is remember as man who gets kids to hug his hairy legs or eat ice cream in response to Trump eating two scoops of ice cream. It’s a mess
@sgamer82 said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@pariston_hill said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@sgamer82
most of the time.
Yeah, this one should be.
Saying both of them don't have gargantuan mental lapses from time to time is like denying the time Turtle Mitch got a stroke mid interview.
And I do feel like I like I'm observing from an alternative reality because being mediocre but not Trump scandalous is such a low bar to call an administration decent.
Honestly, I think I'm better off quitting this lunacy that is point USians that how their country is run as a banana democracy. But I do find needed, at least for consideration of those who will read a page from R. Palme Dutt's book:
@Nitwit said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@sgamer82 I mean outside Biden slipping on stairs or even forgetting he had another grandchild. I’m not much of a Biden simp but even still he’s milk toast and not the good kind. I prefer The Onion news version of him better when he was funny and cool now he is remember as man who gets kids to hug his hairy legs or eat ice cream in response to Trump eating two scoops of ice cream. It’s a mess
@pariston_hill said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@sgamer82 said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@pariston_hill said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@sgamer82
most of the time.
Yeah, this one should be.Saying both of them don't have gargantuan mental lapses from time to time is like denying the time Turtle Mitch got a stroke mid interview.
And I do feel like I like I'm observing from an alternative reality because being mediocre but not Trump scandalous is such a low bar to call an administration decent.
Honestly, I think I'm better off quitting this lunacy that is point USians that how their country is run as a banana democracy. But I do find needed, at least for consideration of those who will read a page from R. Palme Dutt's book:
So far as I'm concerned, it boils down to two key points:
Barring one, the other, or both dropping dead, the 2024 election was always going to be Biden and Trump, for reasons already given. Any expectation otherwise was and is unrealistic.
For that reason, whatever flaws Joe Biden has as a candidate or president are irrelevant. There is nothing so terrible about Joe Biden that it makes Donald Trump the better choice. Biden at his most senile is preferable to Trump at his most lucid.
Maybe there are better candidates, but this time they have zero chance of getting anywhere near the White House. Unless there's a way to change anything that has a real chance of succeeding, what's what we've got to work with. So work with it I will.
@sgamer82 there is reports that the Whitehouse wants to replace him with someone else. But it’s all he said she said rumors. So no one knows if that can happen or not. Plus, I’ve seen videos with Biden he looks like he is either bored or sick of this job.
@Nitwit said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@sgamer82 there is reports that the Whitehouse wants to replace him with someone else. But it’s all he said she said rumors. So no one knows if that can happen or not. Plus, I’ve seen videos with Biden he looks like he is either bored or sick of this job.
He's nonetheless running for reelection, which goes back to my point that "Biden vs Trump" is the most likely scenario.
@pariston_hill said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@Ubiq yeah ceasefire write in's didn't end up counting.
They didn't count because the DNC wanted more diverse states to go first and New Hampshire refused to move their primary so Biden wasn't on the ballot as a result.
Biden still won it in a route as a write-in candidate but just won't get delegates for it.
1/ The Senate advanced a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan after Republicans rejected a version of the bill that included the border policy changes they had demanded. The vote of 67-32 allows the Senate to begin consideration of the legislation, which would provide $60.1 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion for Israel, and $10 billion in humanitarian aid for civilians in global conflicts. The bill, however, still faces an uncertain future, and it’s unclear if the final package will clear the 60-vote threshold in Democratic-led Senate. It’s also expected to be even more difficult to win approval in the Republican-controlled House. Nevertheless, Chuck Schumer described the vote as a “good first step,” adding: “Failure to pass this bill would only embolden autocrats like Putin and Xi, who want nothing more than America’s decline.” (NBC News / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Axios)
2/ The EPA set strict, new limits on one of the deadliest types of air pollution. The new rules will limit the annual amount of fine particulate matter – also called PM2.5 – from factories, power plants, and other industrial facilities from 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9. The new standards – the EPA’s first tightening of the rules since 2012 – are expected to prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths and avoid around 800,000 cases of asthma symptoms. (NPR / New York Times / CNN / Washington Post)
3/ The special counsel examining Biden’s handling of classified documents recommended “no criminal charges,” but did find evidence that Biden had “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials.” The report from special counsel Robert Hur said that while Biden’s practices “present serious risks to national security,” he wouldn’t recommend charges because Biden presents as a “sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.” The report also made clear the “material distinctions” between a theoretical case against Biden and the pending case against Trump for his handling of classified documents. “Unlike the evidence involving Mr. Biden, the allegations set forth in the indictment of Mr. Trump, if proven, would present serious aggravating factors,” Hur writes. “Most notably, after being given multiple chances to return classified documents and avoid prosecution, Mr. Trump allegedly did the opposite.” (Washington Post / Associated Press / New York Times / NBC News / CNN / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal)
https://apnews.com/article/biden-hur-garland-classified-documents-836b99fe9cbef9ba7d32602f4928efec
4/ The FCC outlawed unwanted robocalls generated by artificial intelligence. In a unanimous ruling, the FCC declared that calls made with AI-generated voices are “artificial” under the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which restricts marketing calls that use artificial and prerecorded voice messages. The move follows a January incident where thousands of voters in New Hampshire received an unsolicited robocall from a faked voice of Biden that instructed voters to abstain from voting in the first primary of the election season. (CNN / Associated Press / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Axios)
5/ The Supreme Court appeared broadly skeptical that Colorado had the power to disqualify Trump from the ballot for engaging in an insurrection in an attempt to remain in the White House after losing the 2020 election. The justices heard arguments on a ruling from Colorado’s Supreme Court, which found that Trump engaged in an insurrection leading up to the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6. At issue is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars certain public officials from serving in the government if they took part in an insurrection. During more than two hours of arguments, the court expressed concerns about the ability of a single state to disqualify a candidate from seeking national office, and appeared to be searching for a way to leave election decisions to voters. Justices from across the ideological spectrum suggested that Congress – not individual states – must set the standards before a presidential candidate can be disqualified for engaging in insurrection. (NPR / Washington Post / CNN / Axios / Associated Press / New York Times / NBC News / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal)
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/08/1229176555/supreme-court-trump-colorado-ballot
@Nitwit said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@sgamer82 there is reports that the Whitehouse wants to replace him with someone else. But it’s all he said she said rumors. So no one knows if that can happen or not. Plus, I’ve seen videos with Biden he looks like he is either bored or sick of this job.
The idea of the whitehouse which he oversees replacing him without his knowledge and consent would be a bold strategy.
@Time-Control-Magician yup it would be nuts
I can tell these people would legalize abortion if it could somehow be confirmed the baby will turn out LGBT. I bet it would even be law they should be obligatory!
@Captain-Krupp said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
I can tell these people would legalize abortion if it could somehow be confirmed the baby will turn out LGBT. I bet it would even be law they should be obligatory!
No, they would keep it alive and get a head start on sending it to conversion therapy.
Yeah, they just create more White Boomer trans people who hate themselves so that they either don't transition and spend their lives writing the most miserable forced feminization shit possible, or they DO transition and wind up being the most miserable, pick-me assholes of all time.
Yeah people like Caitlin Jenner are a walking paradox.
1/ Trump said he would “encourage” Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to NATO countries that were “delinquent” in meeting the group’s guidelines for defense spending. Trump, recounting an exchange from his time in office with the leader of a “big country” who asked whether it would be protected if Russia attacked, said: “You didn’t pay. You’re delinquent […] No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.” The White House called Trump’s comments “appalling and unhinged,” adding that “encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes […] endangers American national security, global stability and our economy at home.” NATO’s secretary-general meanwhile, said that “any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.” After Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, NATO countries pledged to spend 2% of their economic output on defense. So far, only 11 of the 31 member countries have hit that target. (NBC News / Washington Post / NPR / New York Times / BBC / Associated Press / USA Today / The Guardian / Bloomberg / Politico / CNN / CNBC)
2/ More than a dozen Republicans ignored Trump and voted to forward on a bill to send $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The vote was 67 to 27, with 18 Republicans voting to advance the foreign aid package. Last week, Republicans rejected a bipartisan version of the bill, which included border policy changes they had demanded, after Trump campaigned against the legislation for fear it could be seen as a win for Biden. It’s unclear, however, if House Speaker Mike Johnson would take up the legislation if it passes the Senate. (CNN / Politico / Washington Post)
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/11/politics/senate-weekend-work-foreign-aid-package/
3/ Despite Biden warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a military operation in Rafah “should not proceed” without a “credible and executable” plan to protect the more than 1 million people sheltering there, Israel launched a “wave” of airstrikes that killed dozens of people, including children. The operation freed two hostages, and Netanyahu vowed to use “continued military pressure” to return the remaining hostages. (Associated Press / Washington Post / New York Times / Politico / CNN / NBC News / NPR)
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/11/1230699953/biden-netanyahu-rafah
4/ Biden – in private – has called Benjamin Netanyahu an “asshole,” saying the prime minister is impossible to deal with and the campaign in Gaza is “over the top.” So far, Biden has stopped short of directly criticizing Netanyahu in public and the White House has rejected calls to withhold military aid to Israel or impose conditions on it, saying that would only embolden Hamas. In private, however, Biden has suggested that “this guy” wants the war to drag on so he can remain in power, noting Netanyahu’s failure to shift tactics in Gaza and the repeated rejections of basic U.S. demands, like allowing, food, water, and medicine into Gaza. (NBC News / CNN / Washington Post)
5/ Trump asked the Supreme Court to block a lower court ruling that rejected his claim that he’s absolutely immune from criminal charges for attempting to overturn the 2020 election. While two lower courts have rejected Trump’s claim of total immunity, Trump insisted that presidents are shielded from prosecution and that a trial would “radically disrupt” his reelection bid. Nevertheless, Trump warned that if a president can be prosecuted for actions taken while in office “such prosecutions will recur and become increasingly common, ushering in destructive cycles of recrimination,” adding that “Without immunity from criminal prosecution, the Presidency as we know it will cease to exist.” Trump was charged by special counsel Jack Smith with four counts in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan has paused proceedings and the scheduled March 4 trial date until Trump’s appeal is resolved. (NBC News / NPR / Washington Post / New York Times)
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/12/1230387417/trump-appeals-immunity-ruling-to-the-supreme-court
Can we make a commitment to never vote for either Trump or Biden after this election cycle? This election has demonstrated that both political parties are too corrupt for their own good, and the latter supports war by providing financial aid to countries that are endangering human lives. If we cannot eliminate corruption from both parties, why don't we concentrate on voting for third-party candidates instead?
I mean, there's a lot I can say there, but considering that Trump or Biden will have had their second term after this I think that's a kind of redundant notion.
Even in a system with multiple parties, don't most elections come down to one of two sides, anyway?
@Nitwit said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
Can we make a commitment to never vote for either Trump or Biden after this election cycle?
This is the last time either of them are running regardless? It's the second term for whoever gets it, and the other guy won't be running again in 2028.
Unless Trump wins in which case he's going to remain president until he dies or he hands it over to his daughter and this is the last election we get.
and the latter supports war by providing financial aid to countries that are endangering human lives.
Biden's stance on Israel sucks... but EVERY US president, Democrat or Republican, has stood behind Israel no matter what since it was created as it's our only ally in the region.
The current stuff going on is horrific and escalated to new levels, but it's been ongoing for decades on both sides. And it's not a black and white issue.
If funding to Israel was cut off, it very likely doesn't stop the bombings. American weapons & funding only counts for less than 20% of Israel's entire military. It wouldn't make a dent in their military capabilities. They'd just increase spending and switch from using any American weapons they're using to bombs that are less precise made Israel themselves, which would likely & significantly increase damage on the ground as well as the civilian casualty rates.
Another issue is if funding to Israel would be cut is that Netanyahu would in retaliation cut off the humanitarian aid trucks being sent. Plus in the vacuum of aid being cut off to Israel, another global power such as Russia or China or whoever could simply offer to give Israel their weapons instead. Giving them more influence & an even bigger approval to Netanyahu to do whatever he wants.
Yeah, war is bad. Civilians dying is bad. Us aiding that is bad. But just stopping outright has its issues too.
It SUCKS, and its a major negative on Biden's record when he's otherwise done surprisingly well, but it's not a thing that has an easy solution.
@Nitwit said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
Can we make a commitment to never vote for either Trump or Biden after this election cycle? This election has demonstrated that both political parties are too corrupt for their own good, and the latter supports war by providing financial aid to countries that are endangering human lives. If we cannot eliminate corruption from both parties, why don't we concentrate on voting for third-party candidates instead?
Because third-party candidates rarely succeed on the national level of President of the United States, and generally are more likely to serve as spoilers for one side or the other. Case in point: Robert F Kennedy, Jr, the ex-Democrat currently going for a more conservative independent run. He's more likely than not going to siphon anti-Trump Republican and conservative Democrat votes than have a realistic shot at actually winning anything.
Also, between their ages and the 22nd Amendment (a US president can't serve more than two terms in office), it's unlikely we'll see Trump or Biden again in 2028, so that's an easy commitment to make.
@sgamer82 yup
Russia giving Israel weapons would be interesting considering Russia noted support of Iran.
@Time-Control-Magician said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
Russia giving Israel weapons would be interesting considering Russia noted support of Iran.
It's not about actually caring about whoever you're feeding funds to, its about control and power. (Same way billionaires fund both Dem and Rep candidates in an election.)
And like I said, Russia, China, some other entity... the specifics aren't super important for fortune telling, just knowing that the US was leaving a gap means knowing there's... a gap. That bad things can crawl into.
Look at how Afghanistan crumbled within a week after we left, because some idiot in charge gave the Taliban an exact day and date that we'd be leaving.
@Robby said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
@Time-Control-Magician said in American Politics: A Brand New Day:
Russia giving Israel weapons would be interesting considering Russia noted support of Iran.
It's not about actually caring about whoever you're feeding funds to, its about control and power. (Same way billionaires fund both Dem and Rep candidates in an election.)
Oh that I know. When you’re making money from selling weapons to other entities or having the people you’re aiding screwing with each other or someone you hate using resources you gave them. It doesn’t matter so long as you benefit or get some sort of gratification out of it.
In other news of getting gratification out of stupid things people do.
Republicans lost the seat Santos had to democrats
https://www.rawstory.com/dems-win-new-york-santos-special-election/
1/ The Senate approved $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan by a 70-29 vote. Despite efforts by Trump, hard-right Republicans, and House Speaker Mike Johnson to kill the legislation, Senate Republican support for the deal increased overnight, with 22 Republican senators voting in favor of the package. Hours before the vote, Johnson preemptively rejected the legislation and said he would not bring the Senate package to the House floor for a vote. Further, many hard-right Republicans have threatened to oust Johnson if he brings the legislation up in the House. Democrats, however, are limited in their options to bring the legislation to the floor: It would require a bipartisan group of lawmakers getting 218 members to sign on to a discharge petition to circumvent Republican leadership and force a floor vote. Discharge petitions rarely succeed. Biden, meanwhile, called for House Republicans to pass the aid package, saying: “Supporting this bill is standing up to Putin. We can’t walk away now. That’s what Putin is betting on.” (Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / NPR / Associated Press / NBC News / CNN / Bloomberg)
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/13/1231036049/senate-advances-military-aid-to-ukraine-israel-and-taiwan
2/ The Supreme Court gave special counsel Jack Smith one week to respond to Trump’s request to delay his federal criminal election subversion trial. Trump is appealing a court ruling that unanimously rejected his claim that he’s absolutely immune from criminal charges for actions he took while in office. Smith, however, has already urged the Supreme Court to resolve the immunity dispute quickly so that Trump’s trial, originally set for March 4, can begin later this year, but the court’s timing suggests that it might take its time reviewing the broader questions related to the issue of immunity. (Politico / New York Times / CNBC / Bloomberg)
All 4 of Trump’s criminal cases reach inflection points this week: “In Trump’s New York case, a judge is slated to finalize the timetable for his trial on charges that he falsified business records to cover up an affair with a porn star; In his Washington, D.C., case, the Supreme Court may signal whether it will quickly resolve Trump’s claim that he is “immune” from federal charges; In his Georgia case, where Trump is also facing state charges related to the 2020 election, a judge has scheduled a Thursday hearing to examine an effort by Trump and several co-defendants to disqualify the prosecutors; And in his Florida case, a judge is weighing Trump’s latest motion to postpone key deadlines.” (Politico)
3/ Inflation eased in January, slowing from 3.4% to 3.1% on a 12-month basis. Excluding food and fuel, “core” prices were flat at 3.9% compared with December. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.3% from December to January, up from a 0.2% increase the previous month. Economists, however, were expecting inflation to ease to 0.2% from December (2.9% annually). The report puts pressure on the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates higher for longer as officials wait for further evidence that inflation is headed back to their 2% target. (Axios / Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / NBC News / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / CNBC)
4/ More than 125 million Americans will be exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution by 2054 as a result of climate change, according to a new report. After decades of success reining in pollution from smokestacks and tailpipes thanks to regulations like the 1970 Clean Air Act, climate change-related events are expected to cause a steady deterioration in U.S. air quality through 2054. The study finds that extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are increasing the prevalence of both tropospheric ozone and particulate matter, commonly referred to as PM2.5. Currently, about 83 million Americans – 1 in 4! – are already exposed to “unhealthy” air quality every year. But, by 2054 more than 125 million Americans will be exposed to at least one day of “unhealthy” air quality each year, 11 million will face at least one day of “very unhealthy” air quality, and two million will be exposed to at least one day of “hazardous” air quality. (The Verge / Axios / New York Times / CBS News)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-air-quality-unhealthy-wildfires-first-street/
5/ The Atlantic Ocean’s currents are heading towards a “tipping point” that would be “bad news for the climate system and humanity.” The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation carries warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic, where it cools, becomes saltier and sinks deep into the ocean, before sending the colder water south along the ocean floor. But, as human-caused global heating melts the Greenland ice sheet, fresh water is released into the North Atlantic, diluting the dense and salty sea, which slows the AMOC. The research suggests that once the system passes its tipping point, Western Europe would start to cool down by as much as 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit every decade, sea levels in the North Atlantic would surge by around 3.3 feet, the southern hemisphere would become warmer, the bottom of the ocean would run short on oxygen, and the Amazon’s wet and dry seasons could flip (potentially pushing the already weakened rainforest past its own tipping point). The AMOC has declined 15% since 1950 and is in its weakest state in more than a millennium, according to past research. “The temperature, sea level and precipitation changes will severely affect society, and the climate shifts are unstoppable on human time scales,” the authors of the latest study warn. “What surprised us was the rate at which tipping occurs. It will be devastating.” (CNN / The Guardian / Scientific American / Washington Post / Common Dreams)
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/climate/atlantic-circulation-collapse-weather-climate?cid=ios_app
1/ Democrats won a special election and flipped George Santos’ seat in the House. Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip to take the seat vacated by Santos, who was indicted on a charge of fraud and then expelled from Congress. When Suozzi is sworn in, Republicans will control 219 seats and Democrats will control 213 – meaning Republicans will only be able to lose two votes to pass legislation on party-line votes if all members are present and voting. After New York’s 3rd district flipped from red to blue, Santos texted a group chat with the top New York Republicans in the House: “I hope you guys are happy with this dismal performance and your 10 million for futile Bull Shit cost the party. I look very forward to most of you losing due to your absolute hate filled campaign to remove me from Congress arbitrarily. Now go tell the Republicans Base what you fucking idiots did and good luck raising money next quarter.” (Associated Press / Washington Post / Politico / New York Times / CNN / Daily Beast / Semafor)
2/ House Republicans voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on their second try by a single vote. The vote was 214-213, with three Republicans voting against the impeachment, which alleges that Mayorkas intentionally violated federal immigration laws and blocked congressional oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. Mayorkas is the first cabinet member to be impeached since William Belknap, secretary of war under Ulysses S. Grant, in 1876. Mayorkas is all but certain to be acquitted by the Democratic-led Senate. (New York Times / Washington Post / Axios / CNN / Associated Press / NPR / NBC News)
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/13/1230977868/house-impeachment-mayorkas-border
3/ The head of the House Intelligence Committee warned of a “serious national security threat” and called on Biden to “declassify all information” related to it. While Mike Turner did not provide additional public details, the threat is reportedly related to Russia wanting to put a nuclear weapon into space. Multiple sources familiar with the intelligence characterized it as “very sensitive,” “highly concerning and destabilizing.” Officials also said the capability was still under development, and Russia had not deployed it, yet. In an email to members of Congress, Turner said his committee had “identified an urgent matter with regard to a destabilizing foreign military capability” that should be known by all lawmakers. He encouraged them to come to a SCIF to review the intelligence. Biden was made aware of the threat last week and directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to offer a briefing to senior lawmakers. The top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee said the classified information is “significant,” but “not a cause for panic.” White House officials also confirmed that the matter is “serious” but that there are ways to “contain” the threat without triggering mass panic. And, House Speaker Mike Johnson added: “We just want to assure everyone, steady hands are at the wheel. We’re working on it and there’s no need for alarm.” Johnson, nevertheless, announced the House would start its two-week recess early. Members return on Feb. 28 and a partial government shutdown is scheduled to begin Mar. 1. (NBC News / Washington Post / Politico / ABC News / New York Times / CNN / The Guardian / Associated Press / CBS News)
https://apnews.com/article/congress-national-security-6a4497fc2d74ebbe2ab3483ba43e09b3
1/ The first of Trump’s four criminal trials will start March 25. Justice Juan Merchan set the trial date after denying Trump’s attempt to dismiss the 34 felony charges, which center on allegations that Trump falsified business records to cover up hush money payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election. Trump’s lawyer, meanwhile, “strenuously” objected to the trial date, claiming the decision is “election interference” because “Trump is going to now spend the next two months working on this trial instead of out on the campaign trail running for president.” The trial is expected to last six weeks and Trump will be required to attend his Manhattan criminal trial in person. (Politico / New York Times / NBC News / NPR / CNBC / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal / Axios / Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-new-york-criminal-case-fbdff18df40920b75873b3a40317f5ee
2/ The district attorney overseeing Trump’s election interference case in Georgia took the stand to defend her romantic relationship with the top special prosecutor in the case. Trump claimed that Fani Willis’s relationship with Nathan Wade created a conflict of interest that warrants removing her from the proceedings. Both Willis and Wade acknowledged that they had a personal relationship, but denied any wrongdoing. Wade testified that their relationship began in early 2022 — after he was hired for the case in Nov. 2021 — and ended in summer 2023. A former friend of Willis’s, however, testified that the relationship began in 2019. (New York Times / Washington Post / CNN / NBC News)
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hearings-ny-georgia/index.html?tab=Georgia
3/ Israel Defense Forces raided the main hospital in southern Gaza – a site where thousands of Palestinians have been using as a shelter. The IDF said it was conducting an operation to recover the bodies of hostages at Nasser Hospital, the largest functioning hospital in the enclave. Elsewhere, the Biden Administration and “a small group of Middle East partners” have been working on a “comprehensive plan” for durable peace between Israel and the Palestinians, which would include a pathway to a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, nevertheless, warned the U.S. against recognizing a Palestinian state – whether directly or indirectly – saying it “would be a prize for those who planned and orchestrated the Oct. 7 massacre.” The State Department is currently reviewing policy options on possible U.S. and international recognition of a Palestinian state after the war in Gaza. Netanyahu, meanwhile, vowed to forge ahead with a “powerful” operation in Rafah where 1.1 million Palestinians currently reside, which the the Biden administration said it wouldn’t support under any circumstances. (CNN / NBC News / Axios / Washington Post / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / New York Times)
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-15-2024-d3a25caf6b60fe560e1a31d4f8f6b45e
4/ Joe Manchin – who still hasn’t said whether he’ll launch a third party bid for president – suggested Mitt Romney would be his hypothetical running mate. Manchin also said he would consider Rob Portman, the moderate former Republican senator from Ohio, as a running mate. Manchin made the comment as part of his “listening tour.” When asked if he’s ruled out running for president, Manchin replied: “Third party run, everything is on the table. Nothing’s off the table. I’m still evaluating all that. Super Tuesday [March 5] pretty much would be a deadline that tells you where you are.” (NBC News / Politico)
5/ Up to half of the Amazon rainforest may cross a tipping point as soon as 2050 as “unprecedented stress” from climate change, deforestation, drought, fire, and rising temperatures threaten the ecosystem. While a catastrophic collapse of the entire forest is unlikely this century, by mid-century 10% to 47% of the Amazon will be exposed to stressors that could lead to a rapid transition from a rainforest to a savannah. The Amazon is home to more than 10% of Earth’s biodiversity and holds up to 20 years’ worth of global carbon dioxide emissions. The collapse of part or all of the rainforest would release the decades worth of global emissions into the atmosphere. Further, those same trees pump huge amounts of water into the atmosphere, which contributes up to 50% of rainfall and moisture supply in the region. (Axios / New York Times / The Guardian / Earth.org / Nature)
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-boos-internet-reaction/
Do you guys not have feet?
I’m leaving America for one year. I know the election cycle isn’t here yet but I gotta leave for Europe so I don’t get killed by an upcoming civil war 2. Not worth the trouble
“Not the consequences of my parties actions for the last 4 decades coming back to haunt us?”
Every second Trump doesn't pay his debt, the interest increases by 2$.
That's 120$ a minute, 7,200$ an hour, and 172,800$ a day. Every week he doesn't pay it adds another 1,2 million to his bill.
At this point he is probably thinking about cancelling his own debt once re-elected like Biden does for the students…