Octopus Overlords

malchior wrote:But what about antifa!

https://mobile.twitter.com/LailaLalami/ ... 5967709184

dbt1949 wrote: Mon Jul 18, 2022 7:44 pm It doesn't really matter, as far as the whole country is concerned, who wins the presidency. Most everybody is still going to be unhappy.

For billionaire Ken Griffin, it was well worth spending $54 million to ensure he and other rich Illinoisans wouldn’t have to pay more tax...

...For Griffin and many of his fellow ultrawealthy Illinoisans, spending even such a vast amount was well worth it when compared with what a tax hike might have cost them.

According to the data, Griffin averaged an annual income of $1.7 billion from 2013 to 2018. That was the fourth-highest in the country, behind only the likes of Bill Gates.

Using that average income as a guideline, the new state tax increase, which aimed to raise the rate from 5% to 8% on the highest incomes, would have cost Griffin around $51 million every year in extra tax. In especially good years — in 2018, Griffin reported income of almost $2.9 billion — he might have been forced to pay more than $80 million more.

RM2 wrote: Thu Jul 21, 2022 6:22 pm Don't know what thread to put this in really it is just an observation of something I saw yesterday so I will stick it here. I live in a very republican part of NJ, Sussex county for those who are familiar. Any way I was running errands yesterday and saw a front window of a business that had a sticker that read something Like do not ever forget Jan. 6 when trump followers attacked the US capital. Very surprised to see that, at least gave me a smile even though here it is just pissing in the wind.

hepcat wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 2:37 pm Edit: it’s obvious he rode right through a red light. But man, at least stop to make sure they’re okay.

LawBeefaroni wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 5:29 pm She thought it was a pigeon. Do you expect someone to stop and check on a pigeon?

Blackhawk wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 5:49 pm I wonder if she'd been drinking? Not as a factor (necessarily) in the accident, but as the reason she didn't stop.

Carpet_pissr wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:57 am “China warns its military will 'not sit idly by' if Pelosi visits Taiwan”

This Reuters headline struck me as quite strange. Unsure if it’s due to the implications, or just weird wording.

I would have thought the Chinese would be well aware of how little power and sway the Democrats have right now. Not to mention a visit by an aged out D elder who’s already been challenged and likely won’t be around much longer.

Carpet_pissr wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:57 am “China warns its military will 'not sit idly by' if Pelosi visits Taiwan”

This Reuters headline struck me as quite strange. Unsure if it’s due to the implications, or just weird wording.

I would have thought the Chinese would be well aware of how little power and sway the Democrats have right now. Not to mention a visit by an aged out D elder who’s already been challenged and likely won’t be around much longer.

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:06 am What's sort of annoying about all this is sort of a self-created mess. The President has primacy in foreign relations so you'd typically see some level of deference to the President's wishes where there are tensions. Doubly so for by a member of his own party.

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:40 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:06 am What's sort of annoying about all this is sort of a self-created mess. The President has primacy in foreign relations so you'd typically see some level of deference to the President's wishes where there are tensions. Doubly so for by a member of his own party.

Yeah, though at the same time...I do want her to go. Taiwan is important and I want to help it thrive as an independent country.

From Pelosi's perspective this is probably her last chance to this.

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:40 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:06 am What's sort of annoying about all this is sort of a self-created mess. The President has primacy in foreign relations so you'd typically see some level of deference to the President's wishes where there are tensions. Doubly so for by a member of his own party.

Yeah, though at the same time...I do want her to go. Taiwan is important and I want to help it thrive as an independent country. From Pelosi's perspective this is probably her last chance to this.

LordMortis wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:56 am

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:40 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:06 am What's sort of annoying about all this is sort of a self-created mess. The President has primacy in foreign relations so you'd typically see some level of deference to the President's wishes where there are tensions. Doubly so for by a member of his own party.

Yeah, though at the same time...I do want her to go. Taiwan is important and I want to help it thrive as an independent country. From Pelosi's perspective this is probably her last chance to this.

To press her husband's interests in chip manufacture?

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:54 am

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:40 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:06 am What's sort of annoying about all this is sort of a self-created mess. The President has primacy in foreign relations so you'd typically see some level of deference to the President's wishes where there are tensions. Doubly so for by a member of his own party.

Yeah, though at the same time...I do want her to go. Taiwan is important and I want to help it thrive as an independent country.

In this abstract sense sure. The way this was handled and the timing weigh heavily against going *now*. Especially when handed an out with that COVID diagnosis.

From Pelosi's perspective this is probably her last chance to this.

Absolutely but some things are bigger than oneself. FWIW I think we might be in agreement that this is a large part behind what is driving the decision to go.

And IMO that is a childish impulse. I think decisions made like this are driving the decadence we see throughout our political system. Everyone feels like they are owed something. Many of her era act like children chasing individual prizes when we desperately need adult supervision.

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:20 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:54 am

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:40 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:06 am What's sort of annoying about all this is sort of a self-created mess. The President has primacy in foreign relations so you'd typically see some level of deference to the President's wishes where there are tensions. Doubly so for by a member of his own party.

Yeah, though at the same time...I do want her to go. Taiwan is important and I want to help it thrive as an independent country.

In this abstract sense sure. The way this was handled and the timing weigh heavily against going *now*. Especially when handed an out with that COVID diagnosis.

From Pelosi's perspective this is probably her last chance to this.

Absolutely but some things are bigger than oneself. FWIW I think we might be in agreement that this is a large part behind what is driving the decision to go.

And IMO that is a childish impulse. I think decisions made like this are driving the decadence we see throughout our political system. Everyone feels like they are owed something. Many of her era act like children chasing individual prizes when we desperately need adult supervision.

Well, this is her last chance to do it, but without being able to see into her head I don't know if I would say that it's a childish / selfish impulse. From her perspective she's facing the near certainty that Trumpified Kevin McCarthy is going to be her successor. So presumably she's looking around and assessing what good can she do with her office before the barbarians storm the gates.

Kraken wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:26 am

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:20 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:54 am

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:40 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:06 am What's sort of annoying about all this is sort of a self-created mess. The President has primacy in foreign relations so you'd typically see some level of deference to the President's wishes where there are tensions. Doubly so for by a member of his own party.

Yeah, though at the same time...I do want her to go. Taiwan is important and I want to help it thrive as an independent country.

In this abstract sense sure. The way this was handled and the timing weigh heavily against going *now*. Especially when handed an out with that COVID diagnosis.

From Pelosi's perspective this is probably her last chance to this.

Absolutely but some things are bigger than oneself. FWIW I think we might be in agreement that this is a large part behind what is driving the decision to go.

And IMO that is a childish impulse. I think decisions made like this are driving the decadence we see throughout our political system. Everyone feels like they are owed something. Many of her era act like children chasing individual prizes when we desperately need adult supervision.

Well, this is her last chance to do it, but without being able to see into her head I don't know if I would say that it's a childish / selfish impulse. From her perspective she's facing the near certainty that Trumpified Kevin McCarthy is going to be her successor. So presumably she's looking around and assessing what good can she do with her office before the barbarians storm the gates.

I read that Pelosi has been a strong advocate for Taiwanese independence throughout her career, which is why she wants to make this visit. It's important to her and to US foreign policy. She is almost surely going to retire in a few months and this is her last chance to have an impact. One does hope that she and Biden at least discussed it, since foreign policy isn't in the Speaker's wheelhouse.

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:20 amWell, this is her last chance to do it, but without being able to see into her head I don't know if I would say that it's a childish / selfish impulse. From her perspective she's facing the near certainty that Trumpified Kevin McCarthy is going to be her successor. So presumably she's looking around and assessing what good can she do with her office before the barbarians storm the gates.

After the jury had left the courtroom following Jones' testimony, Mark Bankston, the attorney for the plaintiffs, accused Jones and his attorney, Federico Andino Reynal, of trying to "poison" the trial. Bankston said that they would file a motion for sanctions against both Jones and Reynal.

Bankston specifically said Jones broke court orders when he attempted to discuss his net worth from the stand.

"Mr. Jones just intentionally did that in violation of your order to attempt to poison this compensatory damage verdict to try to tell this jury that he's broke, and he's not, and that's in violation of your order," Bankston said to the judge.

Judge Maya Guerra Gamble said she will hear any motions officially filed for sanctions against Jones and Reynal after the conclusion of the trial.

But Gamble admonished Jones for his behavior and said he had already violated his oath to tell the truth twice.

"Mr. Jones, you may not say to this jury that you complied with discovery. That is not true. You may not say it again. You may not tell this jury that you are bankrupt. That is also not true," Gamble said.

"You are already under oath to tell the truth," Gamble added. "You've already violated that oath twice today, in just those two examples. It seems absurd to instruct you again that you must tell the truth while you testify. Yet here I am again."

"This is not your show," Gamble added.

Jones attempted to tell Gamble that he believed he was telling the truth.

"You believe everything you say is true, but your beliefs do not make something true," Gamble said. "That is that is what we're doing here. Just because you claim to think something is true does not make it true. It does not protect you. It is not allowed. You're under oath. That means things must actually be true when you say them."

$iljanus wrote:

Kraken wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:26 am

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:20 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:54 am

El Guapo wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:40 am

malchior wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:06 am What's sort of annoying about all this is sort of a self-created mess. The President has primacy in foreign relations so you'd typically see some level of deference to the President's wishes where there are tensions. Doubly so for by a member of his own party.

Yeah, though at the same time...I do want her to go. Taiwan is important and I want to help it thrive as an independent country.

In this abstract sense sure. The way this was handled and the timing weigh heavily against going *now*. Especially when handed an out with that COVID diagnosis.

From Pelosi's perspective this is probably her last chance to this.

Absolutely but some things are bigger than oneself. FWIW I think we might be in agreement that this is a large part behind what is driving the decision to go.

And IMO that is a childish impulse. I think decisions made like this are driving the decadence we see throughout our political system. Everyone feels like they are owed something. Many of her era act like children chasing individual prizes when we desperately need adult supervision.

Well, this is her last chance to do it, but without being able to see into her head I don't know if I would say that it's a childish / selfish impulse. From her perspective she's facing the near certainty that Trumpified Kevin McCarthy is going to be her successor. So presumably she's looking around and assessing what good can she do with her office before the barbarians storm the gates.

I read that Pelosi has been a strong advocate for Taiwanese independence throughout her career, which is why she wants to make this visit. It's important to her and to US foreign policy. She is almost surely going to retire in a few months and this is her last chance to have an impact. One does hope that she and Biden at least discussed it, since foreign policy isn't in the Speaker's wheelhouse.

I’m baffled however by what impact such a visit will have in regards to Taiwanese-US relations? Taiwan had committed to building a 12 billion dollar plant in Arizona and the recent chip act will help make that possible. Biden has been vocal in his support for Taiwan and there are probably some lucrative arms deals in the pipeline which will take place independent of Pelosi’s visit. A nice trade delegation to Taiwan with some US tech execs and some Department of Commerce functionaries I can understand happening.