American Politics: A Brand New Day

[Dorob333Neko]

As bad as things are I do wish people would stop dooming about Biden's chances. His numbers are the same place Obama's was this time in his first term. Incumbents being strong has not lost power just because Trump was an awful incumbent who had the same odds of victory as Truman's re-election. Where at the moment you can make a good case Biden's chances are that of Obama's 2012 and he is less hated than Obama and Trump, for that matter.

Trump is also awful at running for president.

And Roe dying will make a lot of single-issue voters. But we got to ensure the bad faith people like the protesters in DC blaming Biden for this can be pushed out.

[The D.]

@Dorobō:

As bad as things are I do wish people would stop dooming about Biden's chances. His numbers are the same place Obama's was this time in his first term. Incumbents being strong has not lost power just because Trump was an awful incumbent who had the same odds of victory as Truman's re-election. Where at the moment you can make a good case Biden's chances are that of Obama's 2012 and he is less hated than Obama and Trump, for that matter.

Trump is also awful at running for president.

And Roe dying will make a lot of single-issue voters. But we got to ensure the bad faith people like the protesters in DC blaming Biden for this can be pushed out.

I agree blaming Biden for this is beyond stupid, but wouldn't you rather try and convince people to come together over this than disregard them? Biden can capitalize on this to try to bring some of the less braindead leftists back into the fold.

[Dorob333Neko]

A good amount of these protesters won't be voting in the midterms. They come together to whine and bitch. Even when you get their "support" you don't get their vote. See Bernie and why he failed.

Once again the Wine moms are more important and they are where we will see more votes from.

[onemoment]

One positive I take from all this is the value of constantly fighting. That seems to be how the GOP has gotten to this point in general. They've attacked things like Roe for decades, and just now they're getting results. Politics, like most games, is something you can only win by staying in the game.

[The D.]

@Dorobō:

A good amount of these protesters won't be voting in the midterms. They come together to whine and bitch. Even when you get their "support" you don't get their vote. See Bernie and why he failed.

Once again the Wine moms are more important and they are where we will see more votes from.

I disagree. I think they're seeing how dark things can really get if they don't act. They're seeing bad things actually happening, rather than just being told bad things will happen. They were arrogant and naive, but now there's a real chance to force their hands. While "Wine moms" aren't as liberal as you might think. There are an uncomfortable amount of women who are overjoyed that roe is being repealed.

[Dorob333Neko]

Wine moms vote though. Young activists do not. Again, we have seen this every single time. Disagree all you want, it happens every time. And if they are bitching about Biden because they refuse to learn how government works? They are a lost cause. Nice of you to see hope in them but this is where realism has to beat back vs false hope.

Anyway to go over the important senate races so we have an idea of what our chances look like giving it's a red year and we have this on shoulders.

First and most important senate race is the PA race. Fetterman is likely to get the Dem nom, he is a Bernie type with a bad racial optics but well known name might help Shrek here win. Upstart win would be the moderate Dem in Lamb who probably has a better shot but the name rec and money isn't there enough. Either man will likely face off vs Dr. Oz who was on TV and wants an easy job like his show. This is a lean R race but an upset here would be a great sign we won't be truly defeated nation wide.

Next up is Ohio with Tim Ryan vs JD Vance. Very uphill battle for Ryan but Ryan seems to have finally gotten smarter since his dumb Speaker and President runs and he seems ready for Vance. Very likely R but an upset is gonna ensure at least senate wise we should be safe.

Losing abortion rights could help these race push over the edge for the Dems and that would be enough to get past the fillabuster. Fetterman (and Lamb) and Ryan are for getting rid of it. Still we have at least 4 seats we also have to defend and maybe some odd picks up/more likely pick ups if PA and/or Ohio are won.

First up in the safe zone of defense seats is NH. Mostly because the top 3 picks for the GOP are not running which makes Senator Hassan a likely favorite in a year that should not be kind to her. Pretty lean D and the most likely seat we keep.

Then we have Warnock in GA. This one is odd. He pills better than that Texan Trump endorsed for the race by a few points whereas in the governor races Stacy is not doing great vs Kemp or even Predue if he were to get the nom. Might be a very odd ball race split. Warnock is a strong senator though and he knew how to win in 2020 but anti-voter laws will be tough on him. AI say this one is a toss-up with a tiny itty bity lean towards Warnock but only because of how strong he is and more focus fire is on Abrams.

Next up is AZ. Weird one to defend as well but Dems seem like they got the energy there and Kelly has brought in the biggest load of war chest but as always money doesn't usually win elections but they can help. He also polls well but I think a lot depends on who he will be facing. So kind of a toss up with a lot still resting on where Biden's numbers will be come Nov.

NV is a another defending state that should have people worried. You have two bad things going for it. Bernie bro types control the state party now so get ready to lose it a bit in the near future as they are making blunders and Senator Cortez Masto is one of those Dem senators that hide until election time which uhhhhh don't need a repeat of Florida 2018 here. Still NV usually come out as blue and that gets dismissed a lot. I do think it will swing but probably not this year.

Other races to watch out for are the NC race, WI might flip if Ron Johnson keeps up the crazy and if Chuck Grassley dies before Nov he might lose in Iowa but his dead body will have a decent shot all the same.

Races to not get your hopes up are in Florida because while Val is a great nom, she won't be taking out Rubio and the Utah race with Evan McMullin as an independent is a huge waste of time. KY too because a Bernie type is not beating Rand Paul. No way, no how.

I don't think the House will be won or if it is, it will be truly razor thin which is very unlikely. But the senate? Yeah our best case and most realistic chance is still gonna be a 50-50 split which is enough for justices and such. A better case would be winning 2+ seats which is the sweet spot of what we need to aim for. A more realistic case is losing 1 to 3 seats which still isn't a super majority. That's for sure not happening this year regardless of the GOP's chances.

[The D.]

"Wine moms vote though" isn't exactly a point in your favor if they vote against you…

There's a real opening here to expand the voter base, but it's going to be ignored because reasons. If Biden and the democrats were smart, they would be hammering on this unrelentingly. Using real fire in their rhetoric. But so far it's been the same lukewarm shit as always. I see more fire in random dipshits on twitter than in the democratic leadership. People are lazy. You have to make them want to do something. This is stirring something in everyone left of center, but if it isn't capitalized on it will fade. It's the equivalent of watching the smouldering embers of a fire instead of giving it fuel. It's baffling.

[Dorob333Neko]

Getting voters who care about things like abortion is better than trying to get non-voters who only say they care about it but not enough to vote.

You keep putting it on on Biden and the Dems but should these young adults finally grow up? Learn how government works and actually fight? The whining and bitching is not leading to anything. You say give them a reason?

Bernie promised universal free healthcare, full on student loan bailout, saving the planet, that the only way he could lose is if he was cheated and he even promised he could get Mitch to bend the knee by just yelling outside his house and loads of other bullshit he fed to these young dipshits you want to win over. It got him nothing. And they bought into his endless lies still was not enough. lol

Whatever it is they want. You can't excite them to do something about it. That's why they are wastes of time in favor of actual voters who are gettable.

[Robby]

@The:

That is not false hope, that is a fact. Things don't just happen in a democracy. Our votes actually matter.

Only if you're in a swing state.

Electoral college is a monstrous thing.

@The:

I disagree. I think they're seeing how dark things can really get if they don't act. They're seeing bad things actually happening, rather than just being told bad things will happen. They were arrogant and naive, but now there's a real chance to force their hands. While "Wine moms" aren't as liberal as you might think. There are an uncomfortable amount of women who are overjoyed that roe is being repealed.

Young.
People.
Do.
Not.
Vote.
Ever.

You can excite them and have and promise the environment and education and the moon and have a demon monster like Trump to scare them with…

and you still only get 45%... while 65 year olds consistently turn out at 75%.

The highest youth vote ever was in 1972 when the voting age was lowered to 18. And that got... 55%. It then dropped to 40-48% generally. The biggest turnouts have been for hip young Bill Clinton, for Not-Bush, first black president (but only the first time) , and for Not-Trump.

Politicians chase youth vote every single time and it never, ever, ever, EVER works. Yes, the raw numbers there where they can absolutely swing an election and they ARE important...

But half of them are not going to show up. 18-29 year olds just... half of them don't vote. More than half usually. For whatever reason.

[Satsuki]

Maybe they feel defeatist like we're feeling now. That young votes don't matter because all the old guys will out-vote them. That or they just don't care about politics like they should.

We need another Women's March like 2017. That got all the Wine Moms and young ladies out there together. Will it make them vote? Maybe not, but it gets the blood pumping.

[Robby]

I can easily understand the 28-29 year olds being deflated, but if it was just about being energized or in any way interested in participating, you'd think turnout would be high in the 18-21 bracket getting to vote for the first time, and that it wouldn't fall off that much one election later.

I think its the opposite. At that age you still think its every hone else's problem and other folks will handle it. And then you slowly but surely see that everything goes wrong and that gets you motivated… but it takes a few elections before that kicks in. (Or when you start worrying about having long term prospects and a family and paying bills... and not just partying with your friends.)

Every vote counts (if you're in a swing state) but it takes a few years for that to sink in.

Unless you voted in 2000 and got completely screwed by Bush/Gore I guess, I can see that putting you off the system for a few years.

[wolfwood]

How low of a voter turnout are we talking here? 70%?

[Robby]

@wolfwood:

How low of a voter turnout are we talking here? 70%?

Wow, you vastly over-estimate us.

Presidential election in the US generally get about 50-55% of the eligible population. Midterms get less than that.

Our most recent one was an anomaly because Trump is so divisive, and there was way more write in ballots than usual, and that hit a whopping 66% which is the highest in a century.

Baby Boomers (ages 57-75) make 50% or more of the voters most years, though they're starting to die off.

The youth vote of 18-29 was 9%, a historic high.

[pariston_hill]

Hah "Democracy" only half of the people vote. Jebus just pass a federal law making election day mandatory and a holiday or shuffle it to weekend while keeping it mandatory.

[Green_vs_Red]

@pariston_hill:

Hah "Democracy" only half of the people vote. Jebus just pass a federal law making election day mandatory and a holiday or shuffle it to weekend while keeping it mandatory.

But we don’t want to let people vote easily and conveniently.

We wanna fuck shit up.

[Envy]

The Republican party doesn't want the people to vote, and they have done many things to ensure that they can't.

[Green_vs_Red]

https://news.yahoo.com/polling-on-abortion-helps-explain-uproar-over-supreme-court-leak-on-roe-v-wade-224101850.html

Gee with numbers like that the SCOTUS ruling makes reasonable sense /s

[pariston_hill]

@Green_vs_Red:

But we don’t want to let people vote easily and conveniently.

We wanna fuck shit up.

I now that full well, I'm saying use the opportunity to make it happen. Don't let the GOP/conservatives let years long plans come to fruition.

[Green_vs_Red]

Except the problem with your idea novel as it is. It very likely has no chance of ever becoming law under current circumstances.

You think Republicans are just going to go “Hey our party at the state level is intentionally trying to obfuscate & make the process of voting difficult but we’re going to join with democrats it make it that much easier for them to get votes and potentially win elections”.

Like as I recall democrats did try some time ago to pass or introduce some laws awhile back to strengthen voting which went nowhere in large part because of republicans some of the more knowledgeable people here can clarify that as I’m too busy to cite the info. But to simplify what you’re suggesting is easier said than done.

You’re also not the first person to point out this should be a thing as I think even John Oliver pointed out how Election Day should be a national holiday.

And of course people are still calling for an end to the filibuster in light of the Roe-Wade being overturned.

[Robby]

Even a lot of people that SAY they want abortion banned don't ACTUALLY want it banned. They're just keeping up appearances.

[pariston_hill]

The fine print is they want abortion banned for the poor.

[Jabberwok]

For what it's worth, Democrats have tried to pass legislation to make voting more accessible. 2019's and 2021's HR1 would have improved campaign financing, expanded absentee voting, and made Election Day a federal holiday, among other things. You could very easily argue that one of the reasons turnout was so high in 2020 was because so many states temporarily expanded mail-in voting, so it's easy to believe this bill would have genuinely increased turnout. It died in the Senate, naturally.

NPR did a recent article on possible compromises with bipartisan support. The current idea focuses on both modestly expanding voting accessibility and adding audits/cybersecurity training, all in exchange for federal funding. It's not especially strong but it does have a chance of actually passing.

[Ubiq]

Look, Republicans didn't go to the trouble of passing voter ID laws, cutting down polling sites and hours, and enable harassment at the polls just so people could still turn around and vote.

[Green_vs_Red]

@Ubiq:

Look, Republicans didn't go to the trouble of passing voter ID laws, cutting down polling sites and hours, and enable harassment at the polls just so people could still turn around and vote.

Yeah if Republicans are going to sabotage their own chances to win elections they’re going to run people like this

https://www.newsweek.com/robert-regan-gop-candidate-told-women-enjoy-rape-loses-race-michigan-1703331?amp=1

Or have some guy with a platform tell voters not to use mail in ballots because of how fraudulent the process is.

[pariston_hill]

Have you guys started the plans for a class war yet or what?

Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that Texas would consider challenging a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring states to offer free public education to all children, including those of undocumented immigrants.

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/05/04/gov-greg-abbott-supreme-court-case-requiring-education-undocumented-children/9652463002/?utm_source=SND&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=statesman

[The D.]

Apparently a democrat won a special election in a very red Michigan district. Possibly a good sign.
I don't know how to do links on mobile, but the video is on msnbc's youtube.

[MetaMario]

@The:

Apparently a democrat won a special election in a very red Michigan district. Possibly a good sign.
I don't know how to do links on mobile, but the video is on msnbc's youtube.

think this is it:

[The D.]

@MetaMario:

think this is it:

Yes, that's it. Thank you. That guy is fucking disgusting. What he said about his daughters…

[Satsuki]

Everyone's friend Howard Stern has a great solution to the abortion issue: Let all the unwanted babies that are born be raised at the Supreme Court.
https://www.comicsands.com/howard-stern-scotus-unwanted-babies-2657265870.html?fbclid=IwAR1yfTd4ODpXFqtU5H7kLjAx4JnbPpfIE_8XP6UJZ7emJ-SckYSyEznyFvI

You're a perv, Howard, but even you have more respect for women than these guys.

[pariston_hill]

Hey Louisiana is getting the lead.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/05/louisiana-abortion-bill-would-make-crime-murder/9656102002/
https://twitter.com/briantylercohen/status/1522267881412562947?s=20&t=8cn8SKEIkZ0MWtIbTqcL2Q

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

[onemoment]

I really have to wonder how people like in these states. I like to comfort myself and remember that some red leaning states have low populations (the Dakotas are like a million each), but Louisiana has 4 million people in it. I can only imagine what'll happen if such a bill goes though.

[Green_vs_Red]

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-suggested-firing-missiles-into-mexico-in-2020-former-pentagon-chief/

Who cares about collateral damage, war crimes, & gross misuse of resources right?

[Satsuki]

@Green_vs_Red:

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-suggested-firing-missiles-into-mexico-in-2020-former-pentagon-chief/

Who cares about collateral damage, war crimes, & gross misuse of resources right?

[Robby]

Steve Schmidt, part of the Lincoln Project… and former communications and public affairs strategist who worked on Republican political campaigns, including those of President George W. Bush, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Arizona Senator John McCain... and who stood against Trump and got smeared for it....

is currently going insane on twitter and dropping alllll the dirty laundry.

https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES?fbclid=IwAR2CXVRY-o8QBQ5n2zZ77Z0qZsG-zzJWVuBlUINTER6aGsDta7ZsSG6qZLc

[Satsuki]

Are Dems finally taking the gloves off?
https://secondnexus.com/democrats-fight-back-mallory-mcmorrow?fbclid=IwAR2rB3PBA-4q31YeHgyqKK7UBXqhgQ8V1dZcgeDizTjo_rvVpKJ_qZusjjw

@Robby:

Steve Schmidt, part of the Lincoln Project… and former communications and public affairs strategist who worked on Republican political campaigns, including those of President George W. Bush, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Arizona Senator John McCain... and who stood against Trump and got smeared for it....

is currently going insane on twitter and dropping alllll the dirty laundry.

https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES?fbclid=IwAR2CXVRY-o8QBQ5n2zZ77Z0qZsG-zzJWVuBlUINTER6aGsDta7ZsSG6qZLc

I don't have a Twitter account and it won't let me read all of it. Got a summary?

[Robby]

@Satsuki:

I don't have a Twitter account and it won't let me read all of it. Got a summary?

The biggie is the open secret that foreign money (In particular Russiam and Saudis) has its clutches on the republican party, mostly through one particular firm.

That's not goign to lead to arrests or anything, it is and has been a rather open secret.

On the more petty? side, unloading on Meaghan McCain.
Also a bunch of stuff about how picking Sarah Palin for VP was John McCain's mistake and everyone working for him knew it.

There's a lot but those are the biggies.

[hide]

Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
· May 7
.@MeghanMcCain has been trying to have a conversation with me for almost 14 years. Once again, today, she called me a Pedophile. It is a slander. It is disgusting. It is untrue and it says everything about her. Here she is liking the tweet of a far right liar and piece of filth
·
May 7
Replying to
@SteveSchmidtSES
2/ After 14 years of abuse and attacks, today is the day I have decided to respond. I am happy to keep the story going after this thread, it only gets better.
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
3/ I was the first adult that
@MeghanMcCain
ever encountered that she heard the word NO from. I told her she was unimportant and that the Presidential election wasn’t about her. I left her on the tarmac when she didn’t make the plane because as I explained to her, the 5000 people
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
4/ who were waiting to see her father speak and took the time to do it deserved to have him show up on time. That was the way John McCain saw it. He was appalled by
@MeghanMcCain
conduct on the campaign. Appalled and embarrassed. The tantrums were beyond anything I have

Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
5/ever witnessed from any other human being. They were epic meltdowns that would test the range of Meryl Streep, Kate Winslett, Jodi Foster and Anne Hathaway on their best days. Raging, screaming, crying, at the staff, at the makeup people at Secret Service. Without any doubt
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
6/ it was the most rotten, entitled, spoiled, cruel, mean and bullying behavior I have ever witnessed. It was my job to confront it and I did. I talked to 24 year old
@MeghanMcCain
the way an adult should have talked to the Trump kids. I talked to her the way a retired USMC
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
7/ 4 Star General failed to do in the WH with Ivanka, Jared and Jr. They are all the same people. I told her that she was unimportant and that everything around her had nothing to do with her. I told her she was privileged and lucky and should be grateful. She told me and

Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
8/ anyone else who would listen in response, “Do you know who the Fuck my Dad is” It was the miserable anthem of the total chaos that was the McCain Campaign. It never stopped until one day when I said ENOUGH!
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
9/
@MeghanMcCain
is a bully, entitled, unaccomplished, spoiled and mean. She has rejected her Family’s history of service for a shallow and purposeless celebrity where she trades on a famous name like a fourth generation wannabe clipping coupons while pretending to be an heir
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
10/ I was a volunteer for John McCain. He called me when that campaign went belly up. Everyone quit and he called and asked for my help and I never asked him for a dime. I never took a dime. I left my three year old for a year and did everything I could for John McCain.
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
May 7
11/ He was the only person I ever worked for who put in a position where I became involved in a public lie. When that campaign ended, I made a vow that that would never happen again and it hasn’t.
[/hide]

[Satsuki]

Well, they have a bad relationship. I'm sure she's likely a spoiled brat, but how spoiled I guess is to be determined as we don't know how much of this is exaggeration.

And Palin being a mistake was something everyone NOT working for McCain knew.

[Green_vs_Red]

Megan McCain being an unlikable bitch is pretty well known and prime example ABC needs to either cancel the view are stop putting conservatives on the panel “to balance” things out.

[Kaiolino]

https://mobile.twitter.com/PressSec/status/1523649143951962115

Democratic leadership has resorted to their natural state of being: scolding their own base for non-existent violence that their Republican friends claim is happening, while rapist judges forcing women to perform back-alley abortions has become a secondary concern.

[sgamer82]

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2022/05/09/day-475/

Day 475: "Serious risk."

1/ The White House warned that the country is at “serious risk” of a nationwide ban on abortion after Mitch McConnell called such a ban “possible” if the leaked Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade became final and Republicans gain control in Washington. McConnell suggested that if the draft represented the final ruling, lawmakers “not only at the state level but at the federal level” could codify abortion bans. Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, moved to advance a bill that would codify access to abortion into federal law. The effort, however, seems destined to fail because Democrats would need at least 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster. (NPR / USA Today / New York Times / ABC News / Washington Post)

2/ Justice Clarence Thomas – whose wife sent 21 text messages to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows imploring him to take steps to overturn the 2020 election – said he’s worried about declining respect for the Supreme Court. Thomas said the judiciary is threatened if people are unwilling to “live with outcomes we don’t agree with.” He then referred to reproductive-rights protests stemming from the leaked draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade as “unfortunate events” and “bodes ill for a free society.” Thomas added that the Supreme Court can’t be “bullied into giving you just the outcomes you want.” (Washington Post / NPR)

3/ Biden signed a bipartisan measure to streamline the process of supplying Ukraine with the military equipment to fight off Russia’s invasion. The measure, updates the World War II-era “lend-lease” program used to help U.S. allies defeat Nazi Germany, will cut some red tape but doesn’t include additional funding. Separately, Biden has asked Congress for $33 billion in aid to Ukraine. Putin, meanwhile, hailed his country’s army for “fighting for the Motherland.” (Associated Press / Washington Post / Bloomberg / New York Times)

4/ Biden announced that 20 internet companies agreed to provide discounted high-speed service to low-income consumers. Under the Affordable Connectivity Program, an estimated 48 million Americans would qualify for high-speed internet plans that cost no more than $30 a month (or $75 a month on Tribal lands). (NPR / ABC News / Associated Press)

5/ U.S. stock indexes fell to a 13-month low amid high inflation, rising interest rates, and concerns about the Federal Reserve’s ability to avoid a recession. Economists estimate that there’s a 28% probability of a recession sometime in the next 12 months – up from 18% in January. The U.S. economy, meanwhile, added 428,000 jobs and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6%. (New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / NBC News)

poll/ 66% of Americans say Roe v. Wade should not be completely struck down. 59% said they would support legislation to establish a nationwide right to abortion, including 81% of Democrats, 65% of independents, and 30% of Republicans. (CNN)

[The D.]

The fact that the highest court in a democracy is appointed, with no term limits, or accountability is honestly hilarious. This country is such a fucking mess at its core, lol.

[Robby]

@The:

The fact that the highest court in a democracy is appointed, with no term limits, or accountability is honestly hilarious. This country is such a fucking mess at its core, lol.

In THEORY thats so they can't be influenced by whoever is currently president. So that's sort of legit

The thing is at the start, the parties weren't as polarized, and also they didn't take it as "lifetime appointment" quite so literally. A TON of the early SC judges for the first 150 years were only there for 5 or 10 years. Sticking around for 30 years was an outlier, only happened a dozen times in 200 years. Every justice since the 1970's has stayed on for 25+ years unless they died first because its become so political.

So a justice outlasting 5 or 6 presidencies with no way to check them IS a problem. It really needs to be something more like an 18 year appointment rather than lifetime.

[Satsuki]

Only in fucking America . . .
https://www.comicsands.com/gop-candidate-primary-wife-murder-2657287077.html?fbclid=IwAR3FSEqv8e0uW3cPw8qZGY659EZrMwKnAtF2fM-dLi6M49vm5jk8mhaXUOA

[The D.]

@Robby:

In THEORY thats so they can't be influenced by whoever is currently president. So that's sort of legit

The thing is at the start, the parties weren't as polarized, and also they didn't take it as "lifetime appointment" quite so literally. A TON of the early SC judges for the first 150 years were only there for 5 or 10 years. Sticking around for 30 years was an outlier, only happened a dozen times in 200 years. Every justice since the 1970's has stayed on for 25+ years unless they died first because its become so political.

So a justice outlasting 5 or 6 presidencies with no way to check them IS a problem. It really needs to be something more like an 18 year appointment rather than lifetime.

It's disgusting and shameful that a handful of bigoted and biased conservatives can subvert the will of the vast, vast majority of people in this country. People who don't really get a say in who makes these decisions. I might just be screaming into the void here, but it's beyond baffling that congress and the supreme court don't have term limits. We wouldn't be dealing with the tyranny of the minority right now if they did.

[Satsuki]

Pete Buttigieg explains it all (about Florida and the Republicans):
https://www.comicsands.com/buttigieg-why-republicans-attack-lgbtq-2657287726.html?fbclid=IwAR3UTG6KQu3DZAS5NVWBtin2ruta2x630F_36pGMkpzvLBJyWjvnpkJ1dkE

tl;dr: Republicans never have answers to problems, so they just bully people to make themselves look stronger; which at the moment is the LGTBQ+ community. "Bully" is a good term for a right-winger, really.

[Green_vs_Red]

@Satsuki:

tl;dr: Republicans never have answers to problems, so they just bully people to make themselves look stronger; which at the moment is the LGTBQ+ community
.

Not women both cis & trans as well?

[Kaiolino]

The Supreme Court has been the greatest upholder of institutionalized racism and plutocracy since its inception and in its 250 year existence was on the right side of history for about 20 years.

[sgamer82]

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2022/05/10/day-476/

Day 476: "The bottom line."

1/ Biden said that tackling inflation is his “top domestic priority” as the average price for a gallon of gas nationwide hit $4.37 – the highest price since 2000 when AAA started keeping track. The Consumer Price Index, which will be released Wednesday, is expected to report that inflation is running above 8% – its highest level in 40 years. Biden also accused Republicans of pursuing an “extreme” agenda that would raise taxes on working class voters and help the wealthiest Americans and big corporations. The GOP plan would require all Americans to pay some federal income taxes, ban debt ceiling increases, and require all federal programs to expire every five years, unless renewed by Congress. About half of Americans do not pay federal income taxes because they do not earn enough. “The bottom line is this: Americans have a choice right now between two paths reflecting two very different sets of values,” Biden said. “My plan attacks inflation and lowers the deficit […] The other path is the ultra MAGA plan.” (New York Times / Washington Post / ABC News / CNBC)

2/ A group of House and Senate Democrats are introducing legislation to tighten judicial ethics laws, which would require more disclosure, a Supreme Court code of conduct, and a judicial recusal process. The Supreme Court is the only court that doesn’t follow a judicial code of ethics. The bill comes following the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would strike down Roe v. Wade, and news that the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas repeatedly urged White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to take steps to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Separately, Sen. Bob Casey, a self-described pro-life Democrat, said he would support legislation to codify Roe v. Wade into law. Wednesday’s procedural vote to open the debate on the bill to codify Roe, however, is still expected to fall short of the 60 votes needed to proceed in the 50-50 Senate. (Washington Post / Wall Street Journal)

3/ An administrative law judge in Georgia ruled that Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene can stay on the ballot despite claims by a group of voters that she engaged in insurrection due to her support for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. In his 19-page opinion, Judge Charles Beaudrot said the challengers failed to establish that Greene “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or [gave] aid or comfort to the enemies thereof under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.” The ruling allows Greene to stay on the ballot for the state’s 14th Congressional District May 24 primary. (ABC News / Associated Press)

4/ A federal judge dismissed Trump’s lawsuit seeking to reinstate his Twitter account, but Elon Musk nevertheless said he would reverse Trump’s permanent ban if his deal to buy the social network goes through. Twitter permanently suspended Trump in Jan. 2021 after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, citing the “risk of further incitement of violence.” Musk called the ban “a morally bad decision” that was “foolish in the extreme” because “It alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice.” It’s unclear if Trump would rejoin Twitter, but his advisers warned that rejoining would depress the value of his recently launched social media site, Truth Social, which has struggled to gain an audience. (Washington Post / New York Times / Associated Press / NPR)

5/ The Earth has a 50-50 chance of temporarily exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius of above preindustrial global warming threshold by 2026, a new report by the World Meteorological Organization finds. The annual average of global near-surface temperatures for any year over the next five years is forecast to be between 1.1 and 1.7 degrees Celsius higher than preindustrial levels – the average temperatures between the years 1850 and 1900. The United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office said there is a 93% chance that the world will set a record for hottest year by the end of 2026, and that there’s also a 93% chance that the five years from 2022 to 2026 will be the hottest on record. (Washington Post / USA Today / CBS News / PBS NewsHour)

poll/ 51% of voters express some confidence in the Supreme Court – down from 70% in Sept. 2020. (Yahoo News)

[Green_vs_Red]

Here am I, shoot you like a Hurricane.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-hurricane-gun-china-world-war-1350638/

[onemoment]

@Green_vs_Red:

Here am I, shoot you like a Hurricane.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-hurricane-gun-china-world-war-1350638/

This is real, and I completely believe it happened. Years ago I might not say this, but at this point I'm sure this guy is just this dumb.

@sgamer82:

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2022/05/10/day-476/
4/ A federal judge dismissed Trump’s lawsuit seeking to reinstate his Twitter account, but Elon Musk nevertheless said he would reverse Trump’s permanent ban if his deal to buy the social network goes through. Twitter permanently suspended Trump in Jan. 2021 after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, citing the “risk of further incitement of violence.” Musk called the ban “a morally bad decision” that was “foolish in the extreme” because “It alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice.” It’s unclear if Trump would rejoin Twitter, but his advisers warned that rejoining would depress the value of his recently launched social media site, Truth Social, which has struggled to gain an audience. (Washington Post / New York Times / Associated Press / NPR)

Am I wrong in thinking this might be a good thing in the long run? Giving this idiot his platform might cause trouble for the right kind of people come election time. At least, that's what I'd hope.