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NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Political Discussion Thread

Just saw this in the news:

When President Trump on Tuesday declared before the United Nations General Assembly that his administration has accomplished more than “almost any” other administration in U.S. history, the audience of dignitaries and world leaders broke out in audible laughter. “Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK,” the president added to additional chuckles.
 
Planit said:
Just saw this in the news:

When President Trump on Tuesday declared before the United Nations General Assembly that his administration has accomplished more than “almost any” other administration in U.S. history, the audience of dignitaries and world leaders broke out in audible laughter. “Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK,” the president added to additional chuckles.
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Blinded by vanity.

He will fire Rosenstein Thursday during the Kavanaugh/Ford hearing.
 
Planit said:
Just saw this in the news:

When President Trump on Tuesday declared before the United Nations General Assembly that his administration has accomplished more than “almost any” other administration in U.S. history, the audience of dignitaries and world leaders broke out in audible laughter. “Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK,” the president added to additional chuckles.
Click to expand...

Bless his heart they're laughing at him, not with him.
 
Planit said:
Just saw this in the news:

When President Trump on Tuesday declared before the United Nations General Assembly that his administration has accomplished more than “almost any” other administration in U.S. history, the audience of dignitaries and world leaders broke out in audible laughter. “Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK,” the president added to additional chuckles.
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Now there is this -

Trump claims he wanted the UN to laugh at his speech, calls it 'great'
https://mashable.com/article/trump-un-laughter-response-joke/#Thy_6wvSYiqu
 
“The Ugly American” – a phrase made famous by the 1958 political novel about U.S. policy in Southeast Asia by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer –
can no longer refer just to the prototypical loud, ignorant American.
Today the title has taken on a real human face, and that is the face of Donald Trump.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelli...ald-trump-the-new-ugly-american/#16b8ae481412

DONALD TRUMP: THE UGLY AMERICAN*
*(With apologies to William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick.)
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/10/graydon-carter-on-donald-trump
 
JNA said:
Now there is this -

Trump claims he wanted the UN to laugh at his speech, calls it 'great'
https://mashable.com/article/trump-un-laughter-response-joke/#Thy_6wvSYiqu
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Trump to UN said:
"In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,"
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If he intended to tell a joke here, the only conceivable way could be is as irony. As in he's really saying "In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country.....,NOT!" Seriously, is there some other way to interpret a joke in those words?
For anyone who has ever said 'Trump is making us look like the laughing stock of the world.' I guess the is as literal of a confirmation of this that could possibly be given.
 
The story just continues -

Fox News Edits Clip Of Donald Trump's UN Speech So Viewers Don't See Everyone Laughing At Him
https://www.inquisitr.com/5088987/f...-speaking-at-un-so-viewers-dont-see-laughter/

Stephen Colbert Roasts Trump for Getting Laughed at by U.N. General Assembly
https://www.thedailybeast.com/steph...for-getting-laughed-at-by-un-general-assembly

Mika: 'World Is Laughing' at Trump and America 'Has Become the Butt of a Big Joke'
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/mika-wo...ps-america-has-become-the-butt-of-a-big-joke/
 
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Wow, WTF. Kavanaugh's team unveiled his summer calendar from 1982 detailing where he was in order to show he wasn't at the party.

That is absolutely INSANE. A. What high school kid even keeps a calendar, let alone one that detailed? B. Who keeps such a thing for 36 freaking years?! I mean that alone implies guilt right? "Oh yeah, I forgot I sexually assaulted that girl in 1982. Better keep that calendar for when I need to prove my innocence!"

That's a good plan though. Whenever I decide to commit a crime, I'll just pencil in my personal calendar that I wasn't there! Can't be guilty then right?!
 
AG74683 said:
Wow, WTF. Kavanaugh's team unveiled his summer calendar from 1982 detailing where he was in order to show he wasn't at the party.

That is absolutely INSANE. A. What high school kid even keeps a calendar, let alone one that detailed? B. Who keeps such a thing for 36 freaking years?! I mean that alone implies guilt right? "Oh yeah, I forgot I sexually assaulted that girl in 1982. Better keep that calendar for when I need to prove my innocence!"

That's a good plan though. Whenever I decide to commit a crime, I'll just pencil in my personal calendar that I wasn't there! Can't be guilty then right?!
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Hey...it could be plausible evidence in his favor...though if you have a working brain, you know its a bullshirt tactic.
 
Almost as plausible as his attempt to correlate that because he (as he claims) remained a virgin throughout high school, he couldn't possibly have attempted to rape somebody.
 
Haha well the stupid calendar backfired. The newest allegations were signed and filed yesterday. In that letter, it specifically mentions "Beach Week" in Ocean City, Maryland.

The stupid calendar ALSO mentions "Beach Week". He literally put himself at the scene of the crime. Wow.

Of course it's not our place as the general public to pass a guilty verdict on this guy, nor is it the Senate Judiciary Committee or the Senate as a whole's place to determine guilt, but no possible Supreme Court justice should have these types of allegations against them. They failed Anita Hill, I hope they don't do it again (hint....they will).
 
I've thought more about the calendar thing and have decided that any high school kid kept a paper calendar probably did so only to make note of all the parties they WEREN'T getting invited to!
 
Latest news is that some senators are talking to the man who thinks that HE was the one who assaulted Ford at the party. :not:

I'll bet a beer that Rosenstein will be fired today during the Kavanaugh/Ford hearing.
 
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I liked this tweet summing up what democrats think, what republicans think, and then suggesting what reality is.

Link.

Well, it's been more than an hour. I can't add this to my previous comment. (Mods, feel totes free to do your thing.)

But Barbra Streisand is expressing herself about Trump on her new album.

(Disclaimer: I watched the vid, did not read the article, at least not yet.)
 
TOFB said:
I now know without a shadow of a doubt what my wife means when she says "me too". I am sick.
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To complete the picture Kavanaugh should have stood up, pounded the table, and said "all them beeyotches is lyin'! Lyin' I tell you!". As it happens, Lindsey Graham came closest to doing so.
 
I am not sure how Kavenaugh thought it was a good idea to come out as a raving lunitic. Honestly, he had to know that he was going to be attacked, he had to know that it was political and partisan, and he knew that he was going to get the support of the R's no matter what. There is really little he was going to gain by going guns smoking at everyone.

He came across as guilty as hell to me. Not sure it matters, but he made himself not look like a SC justice. He looks much more like a Senator or House member, who are much more interested in conspiracy theories and winning points.

The R's can do better for a nominee.
 
Hink said:
I am not sure how Kavenaugh thought it was a good idea to come out as a raving lunitic. Honestly, he had to know that he was going to be attacked, he had to know that it was political and partisan, and he knew that he was going to get the support of the R's no matter what. There is really little he was going to gain by going guns smoking at everyone.

He came across as guilty as hell to me. Not sure it matters, but he made himself not look like a SC justice. He looks much more like a Senator or House member, who are much more interested in conspiracy theories and winning points.

The R's can do better for a nominee.
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Simply put, I expect better of a Supreme Court Justice of my country. Grace, dignity, and tact. He has NONE. Regardless of whether the accusations are true (and I do believe Dr. Ford), he failed this test and he should be gone. Graham's conspiracy theory is a farce. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh went to the same high school around the same time. If this was a conspiracy and made up, then why didn't Gorsuch have any allegations? Because they are true, the events happened.
 
Google-fu

One of my avocations is placing ghostbikes which includes a laminated placard with the honoree's portrait and name. I've gotten pretty good at Facestalking and teasing out pertinent details from various sources online.

In the past few years, an occasional report goes viral. National day of student walk-outs, and there's one kid at one school who's the only person who participated. I'll look up the school's address and send the youth a card expressing support and thanks. Nearby child going through multiple rounds of reconstructive surgeries, I'll send a card...and mention that I've used my membership to the nearby art museum for free admission for the family.

From an article in Glamour magazine:
Emily_01.jpg


Guess who sent the earrings. (This one was easy: she's friends with a Stanford professor, and their office addresses are public.)

I started this many years ago during an early round of a certain Big Ten university's tales of mistreatment and assault. No, it wasn't college athletes! It was marching band, and there was a newspaper article about a trombone player who'd experienced a violation of her civil rights. I located an address and sent a card, in 1987. She saved the card, and ten years later, when another incident went to the legal system, she provided my name to another reporter.

Inspired?
Dr Blasey Ford works here and here.
 
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Stephen King's quote concerning the Kavanaugh debacle:

"ASK YOURSELF WHO HAS MORE MOIVATION FOR LYING."
 
gtpeach said:
Vote's about to happen. I have it pulled up on CNN right now. Not sure if I really want to watch, though.
Click to expand...

It's all up to Jeff Flake at this point. Even if it makes it out of committee, they still don't have the votes IIRC.

Come on Jeff, do something different for a change!
 
AG74683 said:
It's all up to Jeff Flake at this point. Even if it makes it out of committee, they still don't have the votes IIRC.

Come on Jeff, do something different for a change!
Click to expand...

He's calling to delay the floor vote for up to a week for the FBI to continue investigating.
 
gtpeach said:
He's calling to delay the floor vote for up to a week for the FBI to continue investigating.
Click to expand...

That is somewhat impressive since Flake never sticks his neck out. The deal probably is that Flake, Murkowski, and Collins vote to confirm if the FBI investigation doesn't come up with anything. FBI investigation needs to be initiated by the White House. I don't see that happening. Now we just have to hope that Flake backs it up and goes with a no vote. I don't see that happening.
 
AG74683 said:
That is somewhat impressive since Flake never sticks his neck out. The deal probably is that Flake, Murkowski, and Collins vote to confirm if the FBI investigation doesn't come up with anything. FBI investigation needs to be initiated by the White House. I don't see that happening. Now we just have to hope that Flake backs it up and goes with a no vote. I don't see that happening.
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Gentleman's agreement - nothing binding. Although, the margins are so thin, that it sounds like he's fairly confident that his request will be honored.
 
The president has just said he found Ford's testimony "Very compelling" and that senators should "do what they think is right" when the full senate votes. That's quite a change from some of his previous statements. It sounds like he might be trying to give the senators some political cover if they vote no.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
The president has just said he found Ford's testimony "Very compelling" and that senators should "do what they think is right" when the full senate votes. That's quite a change from some of his previous statements. It sounds like he might be trying to give the senators some political cover if they vote no.
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He knows the FBI investigation will lead to something that will give Senators no choice but to go with a "no" vote. He should have pulled Kavanaugh the second the allegations came out and nominated someone else.
 
AG74683 said:
He knows the FBI investigation will lead to something that will give Senators no choice but to go with a "no" vote. He should have pulled Kavanaugh the second the allegations came out and nominated someone else.
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I still think that they (the GOP) are trying to push it through as far as they can with what they hope is a win/win situation: Kavanaugh gets confirmed and they get their man and once again Democratic voters aren't motivated (more than they already are) to turn out because of issues with the Supreme Court or his confirmation fails and that motivates Republican voters to turn out in November enough to make sure they hold on to the Senate and that they retain more of the close House races than they are currently projected to and then the President will turn around and nominate an even more conservative person to the Supreme Court.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
once again Democratic voters aren't motivated.
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I think the problem with this is that sexual assault isn't a Democrat/Republican issue, it's an issue for EVERYONE. It's not something like abortion, or taxation, or states rights, where there are clear sides to both issues. It's a "this is wrong and it needs to end" type of issue. People on both sides are affected equally by it. IMO, this will shake more than just the Democrat voting base, this will have ripple effects to the GOP base, and most importantly, the unaffiliated base. Straight ticket voting will be a big deal in November, and we'll likely see good candidates at the local level lose because of it.

I get that there isn't a lot of corroborating evidence with Dr. Ford's testimony and allegations, and the FBI investigation will likely not uncover much more than we already know, but if you don't believe her, who will you believe? Sexual assault doesn't always leave visible marks, but it always leaves invisible, indelible ones.
 
AG74683 said:
I think the problem with this is that sexual assault isn't a Democrat/Republican issue, it's an issue for EVERYONE. It's not something like abortion, or taxation, or states rights, where there are clear sides to both issues. It's a "this is wrong and it needs to end" type of issue. People on both sides are affected equally by it. IMO, this will shake more than just the Democrat voting base, this will have ripple effects to the GOP base, and most importantly, the unaffiliated base. Straight ticket voting will be a big deal in November, and we'll likely see good candidates at the local level lose because of it.

I get that there isn't a lot of corroborating evidence with Dr. Ford's testimony and allegations, and the FBI investigation will likely not uncover much more than we already know, but if you don't believe her, who will you believe? Sexual assault doesn't always leave visible marks, but it always leaves invisible, indelible ones.
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100% this. I just keep thinking what would happen if I chose to report one of my experiences. I have absolutely no physical evidence. I have things I wrote down, I have emails to friends that communicate what happened, but nothing physical. And even if I did, the argument against me would be that it was consensual, even though it 100% wouldn't be. And this is all just a normal person, not someone being considered for a high-profile, prominent position.

My reputation and character would be severely damaged as a result of coming forward and pressing charges. Or even sharing my story in my community. Because even if there was a legitimate assault against me, I'd be put through the ringer and every action that occurred between me and this man beforehand would be reviewed and evaluated. And I honestly don't think I could handle that level of critique.

So I'm not inclined to disbelieve her story. But I'm glad she's stepping in and sharing it. I know it exposes her greatly - it's an incredibly courageous thing to do, and not one that I'm convinced I'd be able to do if I had been in her position.
 
Here is what I don't get. Yes, I believe Dr. Ford's testimony, and I think Judge K really showed his true colors and really displayed "white male privilege" during his testimony, and did not show one ounce of "justice of the supreme court material."

If he is not guilty, as he claims he is, then be bold, and say, "yes, please have the FBI investigate." Investigation may or may not turn up anything new.

Conversely, he could have easily, at the onslaught of the allegations, come and said "this may or may not have happened, I was a partier, and have done things that, upon reflection, I regret. I am sorry if I violated so and so, and being young is not an excuse. I am sorry, and I have learned from my mistakes as a father of 2 girls." He would have gotten more miles by being truthful rather than dodge, deny, deflect. If he were a decent dude, he would withdraw.
 
Honestly, I didn't bother to watch. But twitter friends are all upset. Here are some of my tweets from today:

My go-to song when I was homeless and classist assholes were being shitty to me:

Hold Your Head Up-Argent
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5 men expressing their disapproval of rape and child molestation in song form. A source of many healing tears for me for a long time as I recovered from my childhood.

Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun
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Jewel who was briefly homeless because her mother refused to sleep with her boss.

Who Will Save Your Soul
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My dad was born in the 1920s. He grew up dirt poor during the Great Depression. He fought in WW2 and in Vietnam. He told me once that the Depression prepared this country to rise to the occasion for World War 2.

I guess I'm feeling a little like that about my last few years. While everyone else is stressing, I'm feeling fairly chill, rebuilding my life and slowly getting back to my old self, only better.

I'm trying to figure out how to spread some chill around so internet friends don't blow too many gaskets. No offense intended to folks wanting to shoot steam from their ears.
 
Raf said:
Here is what I don't get. Yes, I believe Dr. Ford's testimony, and I think Judge K really showed his true colors and really displayed "white male privilege" during his testimony, and did not show one ounce of "justice of the supreme court material."

If he is not guilty, as he claims he is, then be bold, and say, "yes, please have the FBI investigate." Investigation may or may not turn up anything new.

Conversely, he could have easily, at the onslaught of the allegations, come and said "this may or may not have happened, I was a partier, and have done things that, upon reflection, I regret. I am sorry if I violated so and so, and being young is not an excuse. I am sorry, and I have learned from my mistakes as a father of 2 girls." He would have gotten more miles by being truthful rather than dodge, deny, deflect. If he were a decent dude, he would withdraw.
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I think Kavanaugh will get more mileage with The Base the more he lies. And he, Trump, and the GOP all know this. That's what it's all about these days: The more he shows "white rage", the more white voters with vote for the GOP in November.

These things have always seem to have a way of blowing up in the Dem's faces. The events that have transpired this week could very well backfire. Just look at where we were exactly two years ago. Six weeks before the general election and no one could have imagined Trump would win, Clinton was so far ahead in the polls.

So with The Base getting fired up, coupled with the increasing number of disgruntled would-be democratic voters who will stay at home this election (like they did in 2016), you have a recipe for disaster.
 
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Lindsey Graham August 2016 - speaking about Merrick Garland's nomination: "All they want is a political outcome. Keep this seat open and hope they win the midterms."

Lindsey Graham October 2018 - speaking about Bret Kavanaugh's nomination: "Dems just want to keep the seat open due to politics."
 
Planit said:
Lindsey Graham August 2016 - speaking about Merrick Garland's nomination: "All they want is a political outcome. Keep this seat open and hope they win the midterms."

Lindsey Graham October 2018 - speaking about Bret Kavanaugh's nomination: "Dems just want to keep the seat open due to politics."
Click to expand...

The crazy part is just how blind Republicans are to this, and really everything in general. I tell my parents this repeatedly and it's like they forgot all about it.
 
AG74683 said:
He knows the FBI investigation will lead to something that will give Senators no choice but to go with a "no" vote. He should have pulled Kavanaugh the second the allegations came out and nominated someone else.
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Do you think that the FBI did a complete investigation? It sounds like he has been cleared even after multiple accusers. Which poses the question of how much of what has been expressed is true and how much isn't.


As for the beer thing, I think that if the democrats are using this against him that they are hypocritical given the history of Obama or Clinton. However if there is enough to substantiate that an assault did take place, I think it needs to be a unanimous vote against him being appointed to SCOTUS. Personally, I don't know what to think about all of this but one thing is for sure, I believe that we need to structure a society that encourages woman to come forward right away if they are attacked. The long delay in her coming forward makes it more difficult to prove wrongdoing and if he is guilty, he should be held accountable.
 
michaelskis said:
Do you think that the FBI did a complete investigation? It sounds like he has been cleared even after multiple accusers. Which poses the question of how much of what has been expressed is true and how much isn't.


As for the beer thing, I think that if the democrats are using this against him that they are hypocritical given the history of Obama or Clinton. However if there is enough to substantiate that an assault did take place, I think it needs to be a unanimous vote against him being appointed to SCOTUS. Personally, I don't know what to think about all of this but one thing is for sure, I believe that we need to structure a society that encourages woman to come forward right away if they are attacked. The long delay in her coming forward makes it more difficult to prove wrongdoing and if he is guilty, he should be held accountable.
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The fact that they did not interview BK or Ford, it would say that is incomplete. It is like the equivalent of not talking to an applicant after some stuff got turned by a neighbor and not at least asking a few questions.
 
Trump made a huge mistake with the Kavanaugh nomination, and you've seen it pop up today with comments from Ben Sasse. Trump blew it with the nomination from the get-go.

Pretending to be a Republican, I think he should have nominated Allison Eid, Amy Coney Barrett or Joan Larsen. Or better yet, he should have gone with lesser-known Margaret Ryan, who also adds military credibility and JAG work. All four of them are hard to take shots at, particularly Margaret Ryan.
 
Suburb Repairman said:
Trump made a huge mistake with the Kavanaugh nomination, and you've seen it pop up today with comments from Ben Sasse. Trump blew it with the nomination from the get-go.

Pretending to be a Republican, I think he should have nominated Allison Eid, Amy Coney Barrett or Joan Larsen. Or better yet, he should have gone with lesser-known Margaret Ryan, who also adds military credibility and JAG work. All four of them are hard to take shots at, particularly Margaret Ryan.
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Meg Ryan?!?!!? :D:D:D




I'm past all the SA allegations, partying in HS (& beyond), whiteman rage, political tactics. If he lied under oath, that should be what makes the confirmation decision easy as a 'NO' vote (not that that little issue mattered in some other confirmation hearings for secretary appointments).
 
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