Political Randomness

[gbasden]

Is it really more? Even the Republican party didn't hesitate to slam this guy. This isn't someone who has any chance to win and I'd be willing to bet he knows it. He's an asshole. And a racist. That's it. Racists exist. Outright and open racists will be marginalized from main stream society, but I'd guess it will be a long time before their little corner of the world goes away entirely. I suspect, though I shouldn't speak for Cheeba, that this not the kind of thing he would complain about anyone calling the guy a racist.

People were stopping and taking pictures with the sign. It certainly feels like people are deciding it's ok to be more openly racist. Maybe I'm just getting more sensitive, but I have to listen to customers talk about how the Mexicans are all lazy freeloaders and how white society is in decline. I didn't hear people saying this shit five years ago. It's like a segment of the populace feels like those views are now totally ok.

[Isgrimnur]

Makes you wonder about the Greatest Generation and their children, doesn't it?

[Combustible Lemur]

Makes you wonder about the Greatest Generation and their children, doesn't it?

Hey, Incontinent Issi. Shut your yuge yapper about The Great ones. I happen to know the Greats. They're great. The best greatest. They're first class classy greats. They're the Trump Steaks of classy great. Their children? Not the best, they didn't birth their best. Some of them, I'm sure, are rapists.

[GreenGoo]

Is it really more? Even the Republican party didn't hesitate to slam this guy. This isn't someone who has any chance to win and I'd be willing to bet he knows it. He's an asshole. And a racist. That's it. Racists exist. Outright and open racists will be marginalized from main stream society, but I'd guess it will be a long time before their little corner of the world goes away entirely. I suspect, though I shouldn't speak for Cheeba, that this not the kind of thing he would complain about anyone calling the guy a racist.

Psst. Trump is the presumptive GOP candidate. Main stream society seems quite comfortable.

[Fitzy]

Is it really more? Even the Republican party didn't hesitate to slam this guy. This isn't someone who has any chance to win and I'd be willing to bet he knows it. He's an asshole. And a racist. That's it. Racists exist. Outright and open racists will be marginalized from main stream society, but I'd guess it will be a long time before their little corner of the world goes away entirely. I suspect, though I shouldn't speak for Cheeba, that this not the kind of thing he would complain about anyone calling the guy a racist.

Psst. Trump is the presumptive GOP candidate. Main stream society seems quite comfortable.

Had Trump put up a sign, "Make America White Again", you really think he'd be the nominee? I think there is more than enough evidence to show Trump is a racist, or using racism to gain votes. The difference doesn't matter. If he's doing it for show, he's still a fucking racist. However, I think many, maybe even most, of his followers and especially the Republican party as a whole, have legitimate beliefs not based in racism. They would be horrified if shown that they were racist. Especially if it could be shown at an individual level.

But we don't want to do that. Instead, it's much easier to accuse the entire party of being racist. I've come around to the idea that a whole lot of Republicans have really stupid views. But actually racist? No.

And when you accuse an entire party of racism for things that probably are not, it's so much easier to ignore when the real thing comes around.

[Max Peck]

One less thing to pack (Hyuck!) on your next trip to Hawaii, I reckon.

Hawaii becomes first U.S. state to place gun owners on FBI database

Hawaii's governor signed a bill making it the first U.S. state to place its residents who own firearms in a federal criminal record database and monitor them for possible wrongdoing anywhere in the country, his office said. The move by gun control proponents in the liberal state represents an effort to institute some limits on firearms in the face of a bitter national debate over guns that this week saw Democratic lawmakers stage a sit-in at the U.S. House of Representatives.

Hawaii Governor David Ige, a Democrat, on Thursday signed into law a bill to have police in the state enroll people into an FBI criminal monitoring service after they register their firearms as already required, his office said in a statement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation database called "Rap Back" will allow Hawaii police to be notified when a firearm owner from the state is arrested anywhere in the United States. Hawaii has become the first U.S. state to place firearm owners on the FBI's Rap Back, which until now was used to monitor criminal activities by individuals under investigation or people in positions of trust such as school teachers and daycare workers

"As you can imagine, the NRA finds this one of the most extreme bills we've ever seen," said Amy Hunter, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association's institute for legislative action. The law could affect gun owners outside Hawaii, because the state requires visitors carrying guns to register, Hunter said. As a result, they could be added to "Rap Back" with no clear protocol for being removed, she said.

Hawaii state Senator Will Espero, a Democrat and a co-author of the law who owns a gun, called the law "common sense legislation that does not hurt anyone." The law, which takes effect immediately, allows police in Hawaii to evaluate whether a firearm owner should continue to possess a gun after being arrested. "This bill, it doesn't even say your gun will automatically be taken away, it just means local police will be notified," Espero said in a phone interview.

Ige's office said he also signed into law two other firearms bills. One makes convictions for stalking and sexual assault among the criminal offenses disqualifying a person from gun ownership. The other requires firearm owners to surrender their weapons if diagnosed with a mental, behavioral or emotional disorder.

[GreenGoo]

And when you accuse an entire party of racism for things that probably are not, it's so much easier to ignore when the real thing comes around.

Shrug. Stop picking racists to represent you, especially when they run on a racist platform.

Trump says he's not racist, he's just not politically correct. And a whole pile of racists just got their new battlecry. We're not racist, we're just not politically correct.

I don't actually give two shits about what any specific individual thinks. As a group, the Republicans have chosen a known liar, cheat, thief, fraudster who is overtly racist as their nominee for president.

Sleep in the bed you've made, Republicans.

[Isgrimnur]

Former VA Governor and wife convicted on corruption charges.

Bloomberg

[F]ormer Governor Robert McDonnell, was given a two-year prison term last month.

Sentence vacated:

The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously threw out the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.

The 8-0 decision leaves open the possibility McDonnell can be retried, but his current conviction is vacated.
...
The case centered around the question of what constitutes the scope of an "official action" under federal corruption law.

Writing for the court, Chief Justice John Roberts set a clear definition of that term and how it can be used in corruption convictions.

"In sum, an 'official act' is a decision or action on a 'question, matter, cause, suit, proceeding or controversy," Roberts wrote. "Setting up a meeting, talking to another official, or organizing an event (or agreeing to do so) -- without more -- does not fit that definition of an official act."

He later added, "There is no doubt that this case is distasteful; it may be worse than that," Roberts wrote. "But our concern is not with tawdry tales of Ferraris, Rolexes, and ball gowns. It is instead with the broader legal implications of the Government's boundless interpretation of the federal bribery statute. A more limited interpretation of the term 'official act' leaves ample room for prosecuting corruption, while comporting with the text of the statute and the precedent of this court."

The impact should extend far beyond McDonnell's conviction, said Steve Vladeck, CNN contributor and professor of law at American University Washington College of Law.

"Today's ruling should clarify -- and dramatically narrow --the scope of federal anti-corruption law, and could open the door to challenges from a number of other former public officials convicted under these federal laws, including Governor McDonnell's wife, Maureen, former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, and others."
...
Roberts pointed out that former White House counsels on both sides of the aisle argued in a brief that if the lower court decision is upheld it would, "cripple the ability of elected officials to fulfill their role in a representative democracy."

The skepticism cut across the bench, with more liberal Justice Stephen Breyer being the most vigorous questioner of the government and expressing concern that the Justice Department could wield "enormous power" and that prosecutors could be "overly zealous." He also repeatedly stressed concern that such laws could put at risk "behavior that is common."

[Rip]

Well I guess Mexico isn't sending all their rapists across the border.

http://www.france24.com/en/20160628-mex ... en-amnesty

[hepcat]

Congratulations on being the last human on earth to find out that Mexico has a problem with corruption in their military and police force.

P.S. other things you'll hopefully discover at some point:

1) Mexico has a problem with drug cartels
2) The UK left the EU
3) Canada is North of the United States

[Rip]

Congratulations on being the last human on earth to find out that Mexico has a problem with corruption in their military and police force.

P.S. other things you'll hopefully discover at some point:

1) Mexico has a problem with drug cartels
2) The UK left the EU
3) Canada is North of the United States

So routinely raping women is just a corruption problem?

The rights group interviewed 100 women who reported violence during arrest, all of whom described having been the victim of some form of sexual harassment or psychological abuse. Seven in ten of the women reported sexual violence during arrest or in the hours that followed.

Can we at least call it rampant corruption?

Of course it would be racist to think the Mexicans coming illegally across the border also have that problem.

[hepcat]

What's your point? Just stop dancing (clumsily) around it and spit it out.

[LordMortis]

3) Canada is North of the United States

LIES!!!! My quickest route to Canada is East by South East. I am in the US. Therefore Canada is Southeast of the US.

Damned immigrants from south of the border stealing our jobs with their "going to university" Who goes to university?

[Defiant]

3) Canada is North of the United States

LIES!!!! My quickest route to Canada is East by South East. I am in the US. Therefore Canada is Southeast of the US.

Damned immigrants from south of the border stealing our jobs with their "going to university" Who goes to university?

Indeed, many states are north of Canada

[hepcat]

Alongside, yes. North of? No.

Unless Michigan was moved north of Ellesmere Island at some point in the recent past.

[LordMortis]

I see through you. You are trying to trick me.



Do you go north, south or along side of to get from the US to Canada here?

[Max Peck]

Alongside, yes. North of? No.

Unless Michigan was moved north of Ellesmere Island at some point in the recent past.

Alaska is kind of northish from a good chunk of Canada.

[hepcat]

And you can see Russia from it!

[Defiant]

2 explosions, gunfire rock Istanbul airport, Turkish news agency says

Edit to update:

Ten people have died after Tuesday's explosions at Istanbul's airport, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said.

[Unagi]

Jews blowing up Christians again, right?

[tjg_marantz]

Jews blowing up Christians again, right?

Say what you want to say. Don't be shy now.

[Unagi]

Islam has a problem, and we need to talk.

[hepcat]

I'm pretty sure everyone is aware of that. Including the members of Islam on all sides. Some may not admit it, some may overlook it, some may fight it, and some may embrace it. That's humanity for you. They're a fickle lot all around. I say we wipe the slate clean and give apes their chance a few centuries earlier than expected.

[Holman]

The part we forget is that jihadist violence nearly always (and we're talking 99% of the time) targets other Muslims. That's why the Trumpian opposition to all Muslims relates to nothing in reality and only aids the terrorists.

[Max Peck]

The Pew Research Center has released the results of a multi-national survey examining attitudes toward the USA.

Shockingly, it appears that the concensus amongst those who have no say in the matter is that, given a choice between Clinton and Trump, most would prefer Obama (although he's edged out in China and Greece by Putin).

[Isgrimnur]

Greece and Putin. I understand the Merkel hate, but Putin? Come on.

[Holman]

Greece and Putin. I understand the Merkel hate, but Putin? Come on.

Greeks like Putin because he has been kicking Turkey.

[hepcat]

For Trump supporters, this poll just proves to them he's doing all the right things...sadly.

[Zarathud]

Foreigners like their dictatorial strongmen to have machismo and large hands.

[El Guapo]

Greece and Putin. I understand the Merkel hate, but Putin? Come on.

Greeks like Putin because he has been kicking Turkey.

I wager it's a factor of Putin having the right enemies for Greece. Turkey, for one, but also the EU, which is very unpopular in Greece at the moment due to the debt austerity. Putin and the EU leadership are more or less enemies. Putin has been critical of the EU's role in the Greece debt crisis generally and has proposed a gas pipeline through Greece which may help.

So it makes some sense for Putin to be unusually popular there.

[Defiant]

107 Nobel laureates sign letter blasting Greenpeace over GMOs

[Max Peck]

Question 42: Racist or not racist? Show your work.

[Defiant]

So don't push people, run around the pool or bring drinks to the pool I get, and do help your kid swim and stand by the diving board.

But don't dive or swim? Huh?

As to being racist, maybe a little, in a subtle, unintended way, since one of the first things I noticed was how many black kids weren't cool (especially a couple for what looks like no reason at all). But on the flip side you have black kids playing with white kids and both a black and white life guard.

Do I win the life, the universe and everything?

[Max Peck]

Apparently it's a thing that happened.

[Defiant]

Still more concerned as to the confusing "rules" not being followed for the middle kids.

[gilraen]

Still more concerned as to the confusing "rules" not being followed for the middle kids.

Yeah, the kid right in the middle, on his stomach - what exactly is he doing wrong?

[Max Peck]

Still more concerned as to the confusing "rules" not being followed for the middle kids.

I would hope that the actual poster was big enough to read the rules on it. It looks like there are 7 rules listed (#3 seems to wrap around to a second line), to go with the 7 cool/uncool activities.

I think the diving kid is uncool because he dove in without waiting for the redhead to get clear. I'm not sure what's up with the kid in the middle of the pool; he doesn't look all that happy, and even looks kind of panicked, so maybe it's not cool to be in the middle of the pool if you can't swim? Aside from that, I got nothin'.

[Kraken]

The cool kid is the one with sunglasses and a beer.

[Blackhawk]

Spoiler:

[YellowKing]

I can't stand shit like this. It's a bunch of holier-than-thou internet race warriors scrutizinizing every advertisement, interview, and news article so that they can point their judgmental finger and blow the whistle for the lynch mob.

Is there legitimate racist stuff out there? Sure. There's also a lot of non-racist stuff that you can skew racist if you spin it hard enough.

One asks the question - if you're so obsessed about skin color that you have to pore over every image on the internet looking for racism, who's the REAL racist?