Octopus Overlords

Holman wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:34 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 6:16 pm I love that Moore's first line of defense is running to Breitbart.

That's the new fault line, though. Bannon pushed Moore when McConnell was pushing Strange.

Moore is blaming the Librul Media, but there are rumblings on the far right about how quickly some Republicans are lining up to condemn him. The Bannon alt-right smells an Establishment hatchet job (although it's hard to see what McConnell gets out of giving the seat to a Democrat).

This is what the GOP civil war in 2018 will look like.

Freyland wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:11 pm

Holman wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:34 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 6:16 pm I love that Moore's first line of defense is running to Breitbart.

That's the new fault line, though. Bannon pushed Moore when McConnell was pushing Strange.

Moore is blaming the Librul Media, but there are rumblings on the far right about how quickly some Republicans are lining up to condemn him. The Bannon alt-right smells an Establishment hatchet job (although it's hard to see what McConnell gets out of giving the seat to a Democrat).

This is what the GOP civil war in 2018 will look like.

Totally agree someone organizes this. Suddenly multiple accusers come out of the woodwork 40 years after the fact? Not at all saying it didn't happen because I know nothing, but why now? This is not his first moment in the spotlight.

Rip wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:14 pm I doubt it, to be POTUS you need to at least have oral sex with them.

Holman wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:53 pm This is how reporting is *supposed* to work.

It's true that the timing is most unfortunate for Moore

Holman wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:32 pm So Moore approached the 14-year-old outside of a custody hearing in which her mother was involved, and he offered to sit with her while the mother went in.

Anyone with half a brain can understand that this means he moved on this girl at a *hugely* vulnerable time.

Freyland wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:11 pm Totally agree someone organizes this. Suddenly multiple accusers come out of the woodwork 40 years after the fact? Not at all saying it didn't happen because I know nothing, but why now? This is not his first moment in the spotlight.

malchior wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:15 pm

Freyland wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:11 pm Totally agree someone organizes this. Suddenly multiple accusers come out of the woodwork 40 years after the fact? Not at all saying it didn't happen because I know nothing, but why now? This is not his first moment in the spotlight.

This story also plays nicely into the abusive man in power stories that have been dominating the news since Weinstein. The #metoo movement effect could have helped the reporters get these women to speak.

Holman wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:23 pm

malchior wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:15 pm

Freyland wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:11 pm Totally agree someone organizes this. Suddenly multiple accusers come out of the woodwork 40 years after the fact? Not at all saying it didn't happen because I know nothing, but why now? This is not his first moment in the spotlight.

This story also plays nicely into the abusive man in power stories that have been dominating the news since Weinstein. The #metoo movement effect could have helped the reporters get these women to speak.

Trump's Access Hollywood tape was a watershed. Many of those coming forward now with #MeToo point to Trump as the reason they've broken silence. And of course the examples make it easier for others to speak out.

malchior wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:02 amOr perhaps enough voters will just hold their noses and vote for a purported child molester because he isn't a Dem.

malchior wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:02 am I suppose the interesting thing going forward to watch will be whether the Republicans try to launch a write-in campaign to salvage things by pushing Strange a la Murkowski. Or perhaps enough voters will just hold their noses and vote for a purported child molester because he isn't a Dem. They did it for Trump after all. Crazy times we live in.

Rip wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:58 am Wow, convicted him already have we?

Rip wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:58 am Wow, convicted him already have we?

Rip wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:58 am Wow, convicted him already have we?

Holman wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:34 pm (although it's hard to see what McConnell gets out of giving the seat to a Democrat).

Rip wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:58 am Wow, convicted him already have we?

Rip wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2017 11:43 am

hepcat wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:54 am I just hope we aren't heading down a dangerous path that shifts away from innocent before proven guilty in all matters like this.

That applies to legal justice. It never has applied to public opinion and job security. In fact job security is more tied to public opinion than it is to guilt or innocence.

Freyland wrote:Totally agree someone organizes this. Suddenly multiple accusers come out of the woodwork 40 years after the fact? Not at all saying it didn't happen because I know nothing, but why now? This is not his first moment in the spotlight.

ImLawBoy wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 11:37 am

Holman wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:34 pm (although it's hard to see what McConnell gets out of giving the seat to a Democrat).

I think his hope is that Moore steps down prior to the election and a mainstream R (probably Strange) takes his place and coasts to victory.

Holman wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 11:54 am

ImLawBoy wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 11:37 am

Holman wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:34 pm (although it's hard to see what McConnell gets out of giving the seat to a Democrat).

I think his hope is that Moore steps down prior to the election and a mainstream R (probably Strange) takes his place and coasts to victory.

It's complicated because the ballots have already been printed and some early voter forms have already gone out. In any case, it's too late for the GOP to officially nominate someone else, and Alabama has a "sore loser" law that prevents a primary challenger (e.g. Luther Strange) from being on the ballot under the banner of another party. Strange's only option would be a write-in campaign.

So the Alabama ballots are going to list Moore as the GOP candidate even if he drops out today. Any jury-rigged solution will surely dilute Republican votes. The party's best chance is for Moore to stay in the race and survive the scandal.

I think he will. It's Alabama. I'm from there, and that beautiful state's conservatives will *always* choose the worst option.

ImLawBoy wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 2:54 pm I kind of know which way I'm leaning on that.

Zarathud wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 2:38 pm Washington Post investigation followed by McConnell asking him to step down? We'll convict later, but this is pretty damning.

Or maybe we should wait for the internet troll or Russian botnet to pick up the news before expecting Rip to believe it.

“There is nothing to see here,” Alabama State Auditor Jim Ziegler told the Washington Examiner. “The allegations are that a man in his early 30s dated teenage girls. Even the Washington Post report says that he never had sexual intercourse with any of the girls and never attempted sexual intercourse.”

....

“Take the Bible — Zachariah and Elizabeth, for instance. Zachariah was extremely old to marry Elizabeth and they became the parents of John the Baptist,” Ziegler says, choosing his words carefully before invoking Christ. “Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus.”

“There’s just nothing immoral or illegal here,” Ziegler concluded. “Maybe just a little bit unusual.”

Rip wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:58 am Wow, convicted him already have we?

The US State Department has employed a private firm set up by a veteran Soviet-era spy to provide security for its Moscow embassy and diplomatic missions in Russia.

The move comes after Moscow ordered the US to more than halve its staff in Russia earlier this year.

The US has now signed a contract with Elite Security Holdings, founded by the ex-KGB General Viktor Budanov.

General Budanov was a close friend of British spy and defector Kim Philby.

A notice on the US State Department website shows the contract with Elite Security Holdings is worth more than $2.8m (£2.1m).

A document posted online outlining "justification and approval" for the contract says guards at the Moscow embassy and other US missions were among the staff included in the expulsion order, adding: "The only option available, to ensure security services continue, is via a commercial contract."

It said the US government had contacted more than three US private security firms but had not found one "with the requisite licensing or desire to operate in-country".

"Due to the urgency of this requirement, the Department of State sought a firm with the requisite licensing and capacity to quickly stand up guard operations at all four US Mission Russia posts," it says.

"The number of firms that met this requirement limited the number of sources considered to one - Elite Security Services Holding Co."

malchior wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:05 pmHow much further can we fall every day?

“If they believe this man is predatory, they are guilty of allowing him to exist for 40 years. I think someone should prosecute and go after them. You can’t be a victim 40 years later, in my opinion,” [State Rep. Ed] Henry said.

The Senate's campaign arm severed ties with Alabama GOP Senate nominee Roy Moore after an explosive report published Thursday in The Washington Post that featured four women who said Moore pursued them decades ago when he was an assistant district attorney and they were teenagers.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee was dropped from a joint fundraising agreement that benefits Moore's campaign, paperwork filed Friday with the FEC shows.

The agreement still includes the other participants — the Republican National Committee, the Alabama Republican Party and Moore's campaign.

The NRSC and RNC did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment Friday. NRSC chairman, Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado, said in a statement Thursday following the release of the story, "If these allegations are found to be true, Roy Moore must drop out of the Alabama special Senate election."

This is the latest step by for the GOP to distance itself from Moore. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans publicly said Moore should step aside but only if the allegatons by the four women from the explosive Washington Post report are true.

"If these allegations are true, he must step aside," McConnell said in a statement.

Smoove_B wrote:

malchior wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:05 pmHow much further can we fall every day?

<Narrator> Malchior didn't realize we were just getting started.

“If they believe this man is predatory, they are guilty of allowing him to exist for 40 years. I think someone should prosecute and go after them. You can’t be a victim 40 years later, in my opinion,” [State Rep. Ed] Henry said.

Yes, let's round up the women claiming Moore's behavior -at best- was inappropriate.