Political Randomness

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 10:03 pm

This would be ridiculous if it weren't also sinister and indicative of political weight brought to bear in the culture war:

https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1107770797731401729

As a lawsuit it makes no sense. As a serious attempt at suppression of criticism (backed by wealthy Trump/GOP donors), it's ominous.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 10:47 pm

Holy shit, this complaint is amazing.

https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/1107794697609773065

https://twitter.com/dancow/status/1107778603893313537

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 10:53 pm

Batsh#@ crazy kind of funny and ominous all at the same time, yep.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 10:55 pm

I had no idea who this bozo was until now, so yay for him, I guess?

One hopes the courts are not too far gone to swat this down.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 10:55 pm

Hey, he can't be all bad if he plays minecraft.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 11:33 pm

Jaymann wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2019 10:55 pm Hey, he can't be all bad if he plays minecraft.

Notch would beg to differ.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 8:21 am

Apparently Nunes was on Hannity saying that this lawsuit was just the first of many.

It's a campaign to pressure social media not to put limits on right-wing content (which they pretend means just regular conservatives but in practice means supremacists and hate groups).

Also coming, according to Nunes, is a whole series of lawsuits against reporters and media outlets for "fake news" pertaining to the administration.

This is Trump's war on the press. No surprise that Nunes is doing this dirty work, since he did everything he could to thwart the Mueller probe when he was Chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 10:04 am

I've always wondered why so many people would be so loyal to Trump, but I kind of figured it out. Trump casts a Shield of Protection over scumbags who would otherwise risk their careers and freedom doing the stuff they really want to do.

I've been wrongly viewing the issue from the standpoint of someone who has morals and common human decency, and those aren't the kinds of people who get sucked into Trump's orbit.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 10:11 am

SLAPP!

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 10:11 am

It is a war on the first amendment. Nunes does have something, in that Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Youtube, etc... do not police influence peddlers professionally using anonymity like they should and perhaps should be legally required to do. The idea, that he, as a rep, suffered $250,000,000 in compensatory damages to his $174,000 a year salary and position held at the discretion of the voters in his district says a lot about how he using is seat.

I hope he is counter-sued by 1st Amendment experts and gets his comeuppances. He's bottom of the barrel.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 10:18 am

Meanwhile, the Fox Corporation appoints Paul Ryan to its Board of Directors.

Fox Corporation produces and distributes compelling news, sports and entertainment content through its iconic domestic brands including: FOX News, FOX Sports, the FOX Network, and the FOX Television Stations. These brands hold cultural significance with consumers and commercial importance for distributors and advertisers. The breadth and depth of our footprint allows us to deliver content that engages and informs audiences, develops deeper consumer relationships and creates more compelling product offerings. FOX maintains an impressive track record of news, sports, and entertainment industry success that will shape our strategy to capitalize on current strengths and invest in new initiatives.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:13 am

Honestly, I kind of think that we lucked out by having Nunes in charge of the congressional cover up efforts. He's not only a bad person, but he's *terrible* at pretty much everything. Like the whole Carter Page FISA request debacle - hyping it up like it was going to blow up the whole Mueller investigation, and then it just fizzled, and if there was any impact it was pointing out how much evidence there was to support a Carter Page FISA request.

I think this lawsuit has to be seen in light of that background. Yeah, Nunes is probably trying to squelch independent media and pushback with this lawsuit (though honestly I think there's even money that it's just that Nunes is easily offended and incredibly stupid). And that's incredibly troubling. However, the odds that this lawsuit succeeds in that effort are vanishingly small, whereas the odds that this embarrassingly blows up on Devin Nunes (even more than it already has) are near 100%. Both because this lawsuit is stupid on its face, and also because it's Devin Nunes, so I'm pretty sure that this isn't one part of a brilliant plan.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:17 am

Right on cue, Trump is attacking Facebook and Google this morning.

There's a pervasive bullshit theory that social media is "shadow banning" or suppressing posts by conservatives. It's not true, but it feeds the narrative that the MSM (now including major tech media) can't be trusted and that only officially Trump-friendly outlets tell the truth.

--

Incidentally, anyone else find it notable that Putin's government just passed a law more or less making it illegal to criticize Putin's government?

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 8:02 pm

If you don't have open support, make it up. This is the silent majority bullshit all over again.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:28 pm

Wisconsin

A judge has struck down the laws Wisconsin Republicans passed in December's lame-duck session of the Legislature, restoring powers to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, if only temporarily.

Dane County Judge Richard Niess ruled Thursday that all of the laws and appointments passed by legislators were unlawful because they met in what's known as an "extraordinary session," which isn't explicitly allowed under the state constitution.

"There can be no justification for enforcement of the unconstitutional legislative actions emanating from the December 2018 'Extraordinary Session' that is consistent with the rule of law," Niess wrote.

Evers seized on the decision almost immediately, calling on the Wisconsin Department of Justice, led by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, to leave a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

"As the governor has requested, please take whatever steps are necessary to remove Wisconsin from Texas v. United States," wrote Evers' chief legal counsel, Ryan Nilsestuen in an email to the DOJ shortly after Niess' ruling was released.
...
Niess' ruling also struck down 82 appointments Walker made during the waning days of his administration, all of which were confirmed by Republican state Senators in the lame-duck session. Those appointments included Public Service Commissioner Ellen Nowak and University of Wisconsin Regent Scott Beightol, both of whom were confirmed in December to terms that end in 2023.

"The appointments are ordered temporarily vacated as a necessary consequence of this temporary injunction," Niess wrote.

If Niess' ruling holds, those appointments would now be Evers' to make.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 9:29 pm

This is one of those details that revises our sense of presidential history.

According to a new biography of Barbara Bush, George senior conducted a decade+ affair with an aide that continued through his tenure as Vice President.

The Bushes (George and Barbara both) denied allegations about the affair during the 1988 and 1992 election campaigns, but it seems now that those allegations were well-founded.

Other revelations from the biography are that (no surprise) the elder Bushes could not stand Donald Trump, and Barbara even asserted after the 2016 campaign that she was no longer a Republican.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:47 pm

Clearly, given their friendship with the Obamas, they were RINOs anyway.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:17 pm

https://twitter.com/johnfugelsang/statu ... 3534398471

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 9:04 pm

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 1:58 pm

https://twitter.com/annamerlan/status/1 ... 3071277056

Freyland · Post by **Freyland** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 3:29 am

If some particularly virulent, previously vaccinated disease makes a remarkable comeback, technically his group will have something in common with that "metaphor".

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:09 pm

Poor choice of outfit since all I get from that shirt is Vaccinate.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:39 pm

Vaccinay?

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 7:31 pm

Jaymann wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:39 pmVaccinay?

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 9:26 pm

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:43 am

I feel bad saying it, but my will to rage has really died off. After years of throwing myself at a mental wall every day, now all I want is for it to be over. I feel utterly defeated and can only hide under my desk until the next election. I feel like I've been broken.

My wife believes moderates across the nation will wake up and vote against Trump, but there seems to be so much apathy out there about our political situation that I really have no hope left. It's the only thing that explains why we've been hearing every day for the last two years about how "this is a new low for the presidency" or "this is unprecedented" ... yet nothing changes. It's not even a roller coaster. It's a goddamn mine cart ride through a flooded sewer after Taco Tuesday, and there's no end in sight.

I fully expect history to treat Trump as the bumbling assclown he is and rank him as the absolute worst president the US ever had - a footnote on how low we as a people can go - but I'm holding no hope of him being held accountable for anything, and I give him a fair shot at being re-elected. I don't know how our nation would survive another 4 years of blatant racism and willful ignorance. Things seem to have gotten really bad really fast as so many people who knew they were in the wrong now have a leader telling them it's all good.

/venting

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 9:50 am

Paingod wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:43 am I feel bad saying it, but my will to rage has really died off. After years of throwing myself at a mental wall every day, now all I want is for it to be over. I feel utterly defeated and can only hide under my desk until the next election. I feel like I've been broken.

My wife believes moderates across the nation will wake up and vote against Trump, but there seems to be so much apathy out there about our political situation that I really have no hope left. It's the only thing that explains why we've been hearing every day for the last two years about how "this is a new low for the presidency" or "this is unprecedented" ... yet nothing changes. It's not even a roller coaster. It's a goddamn mine cart ride through a flooded sewer after Taco Tuesday, and there's no end in sight.

I fully expect history to treat Trump as the bumbling assclown he is and rank him as the absolute worst president the US ever had - a footnote on how low we as a people can go - but I'm holding no hope of him being held accountable for anything, and I give him a fair shot at being re-elected. I don't know how our nation would survive another 4 years of blatant racism and willful ignorance. Things seem to have gotten really bad really fast as so many people who knew they were in the wrong now have a leader telling them it's all good.

/venting

I take heart from the fact that nearly all of the elections since 2016 (locals, specials, and the wave of 2018) have shown tremendous pushback against Trump, especially in places where it matters most. There's no sign of that abating, and the 2020 map is the best Democrats have seen in some time.

Plus, every day, elderly Fox viewers are dying.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 11:58 am

I'm not sure the correct place for this one, but an interesting piece by Kyle Korver in the Player's Tribune.

When the police break your teammate’s leg, you’d think it would wake you up a little.

When they arrest him on a New York street, throw him in jail for the night, and leave him with a season-ending injury, you’d think it would sink in. You’d think you’d know there was more to the story.

You’d think.

But nope.

I still remember my reaction when I first heard what happened to Thabo. It was 2015, late in the season. Thabo and I were teammates on the Hawks, and we’d flown into New York late after a game in Atlanta. When I woke up the next morning, our team group text was going nuts. Details were still hazy, but guys were saying, Thabo hurt his leg? During an arrest? Wait — he spent the night in jail?! Everyone was pretty upset and confused.

Well, almost everyone. My response was….. different. I’m embarrassed to admit it.

Which is why I want to share it today.

Montag · Post by **Montag** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 12:22 pm

Holman wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 9:50 am
Paingod wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:43 am I feel bad saying it, but my will to rage has really died off. After years of throwing myself at a mental wall every day, now all I want is for it to be over. I feel utterly defeated and can only hide under my desk until the next election. I feel like I've been broken.

My wife believes moderates across the nation will wake up and vote against Trump, but there seems to be so much apathy out there about our political situation that I really have no hope left. It's the only thing that explains why we've been hearing every day for the last two years about how "this is a new low for the presidency" or "this is unprecedented" ... yet nothing changes. It's not even a roller coaster. It's a goddamn mine cart ride through a flooded sewer after Taco Tuesday, and there's no end in sight.

I fully expect history to treat Trump as the bumbling assclown he is and rank him as the absolute worst president the US ever had - a footnote on how low we as a people can go - but I'm holding no hope of him being held accountable for anything, and I give him a fair shot at being re-elected. I don't know how our nation would survive another 4 years of blatant racism and willful ignorance. Things seem to have gotten really bad really fast as so many people who knew they were in the wrong now have a leader telling them it's all good.

/venting
I take heart from the fact that nearly all of the elections since 2016 (locals, specials, and the wave of 2018) have shown tremendous pushback against Trump, especially in places where it matters most. There's no sign of that abating, and the 2020 map is the best Democrats have seen in some time.

Plus, every day, elderly Fox viewers are dying.

Like 2016, 2020 will be for Democrats to find a way to lose. If there are the 20 candidates fighting over who has the most progressive sex organ, then Trump has a shot. You put a moderate up without the last name Clinton and it will be landslide.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 12:26 pm

stessier wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 11:58 am I'm not sure the correct place for this one, but an interesting piece by Kyle Korver in the Player's Tribune.

When the police break your teammate’s leg, you’d think it would wake you up a little.

When they arrest him on a New York street, throw him in jail for the night, and leave him with a season-ending injury, you’d think it would sink in. You’d think you’d know there was more to the story.

You’d think.

But nope.

I still remember my reaction when I first heard what happened to Thabo. It was 2015, late in the season. Thabo and I were teammates on the Hawks, and we’d flown into New York late after a game in Atlanta. When I woke up the next morning, our team group text was going nuts. Details were still hazy, but guys were saying, Thabo hurt his leg? During an arrest? Wait — he spent the night in jail?! Everyone was pretty upset and confused.

Well, almost everyone. My response was….. different. I’m embarrassed to admit it.

Which is why I want to share it today.

Would probably fit in well here (colorblindness thread).

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 4:38 pm

Paingod wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:43 am I feel bad saying it, but my will to rage has really died off. After years of throwing myself at a mental wall every day, now all I want is for it to be over. I feel utterly defeated and can only hide under my desk until the next election. I feel like I've been broken.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. All you need is a red hat and the willingness to be blissfully ignorant.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 8:25 pm

I want an "Elderly Fox Viewers Dying" count app for my phone.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 10:07 pm

An interview with Pelosi: How Nancy Pelosi is leading divided Democrats through political turmoil, Trump's administration

Which includes a swipe at AOC:

“While there are people who have a large number of Twitter followers, what’s important is that we have large numbers of votes on the floor of the House,” Pelosi said.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 10:10 pm

Holman wrote:I want an "Elderly Fox Viewers Dying" count app for my phone.

Probably as close as you’re going to get.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 7:59 am

Ilhan Omar is at it again. Her latest target, Stephen Miller.

https://mobile.twitter.com/IlhanMN/stat ... 6179508224

Of course, she's getting attacked by both Donald Trump, Jr. and Jewish people on Twitter who say it's impossible for someone Jewish to be a white nationalist. Pretty sure that was Laura Loomer's defense of her anti-Muslim screeds too.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 am

Omar is correct on this. Although the bigger problem is that Trump is a white nationalist.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:16 am

El Guapo wrote: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 am Omar is correct on this. Although the bigger problem is that Trump is a white nationalist.

I agree with it being a bigger problem, but Miller really seems to have his hand so far up Trump's ass that he can jiggle his mouth to make the words he wants fall out. A host of pretty vile policy seems to originate with Miller.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:36 am

Paingod wrote: Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:16 am
El Guapo wrote: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 am Omar is correct on this. Although the bigger problem is that Trump is a white nationalist.
I agree with it being a bigger problem, but Miller really seems to have his hand so far up Trump's ass that he can jiggle his mouth to make the words he wants fall out. A host of pretty vile policy seems to originate with Miller.

Indeed, though the fact that Miller has so much influence and is sticking around indicates that Trump largely agrees with him.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:51 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 4:38 pm
Paingod wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:43 am I feel bad saying it, but my will to rage has really died off. After years of throwing myself at a mental wall every day, now all I want is for it to be over. I feel utterly defeated and can only hide under my desk until the next election. I feel like I've been broken.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. All you need is a red hat and the willingness to be blissfully ignorant.

I don't think ignorance covers it any longer. At first I would have said it did. Now I think they have to have embraced the darkness fully.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:56 pm

Remus West wrote: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:51 pm
LawBeefaroni wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 4:38 pm
Paingod wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:43 am I feel bad saying it, but my will to rage has really died off. After years of throwing myself at a mental wall every day, now all I want is for it to be over. I feel utterly defeated and can only hide under my desk until the next election. I feel like I've been broken.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. All you need is a red hat and the willingness to be blissfully ignorant.
I don't think ignorance covers it any longer. At first I would have said it did. Now I think they have to have embraced the darkness fully.

It's not blissfully ignorant, it's willfully ignorant.