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453 comments
1
jaunte  Feb 14, 2019 • 6:59:11pm
2
TedStriker  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:00:30pm

Short answer: You know he did.

3
jaunte  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:12:20pm
4
The Vicious Babushka  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:22:16pm

Trump is learning about the Constitution from Tucker Carlson.

5
teleskiguy  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:26:28pm

It has fucking got so crazy lately. Talk about the bad craziness tennis ball machine going thunkthunkthunkthunkthunkthunkthunk every second. Jeez Louise!

6
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:27:58pm

Note that even though the legislation passes with veto-proof majorities, it is certainly possible that if a President vetoes this legislation, the legislators could change their votes on the veto override. In any case, that is not happening here.

So, tomorrow we will find out if Trump actually tries the national emergency.

7
makeitstop  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:30:07pm

Yes, he did, Seth.

8
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:30:55pm

re: #6 Hecuba’s daughter

Note that even though the legislation passes with veto-proof majorities, it is certainly possible that if a President vetoes this legislation, the legislators could change their votes on the veto override. In any case, that is not happening here.

So, tomorrow we will find out if Trump actually tries the national emergency.

I hope he does and gets shot down immediately. Fucker needs to be put in his place, firmly and decisively.

9
jaunte  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:31:46pm

re: #5 teleskiguy

Just keep that A-frame in mind.

10
teleskiguy  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:39:31pm

re: #9 jaunte

The one only accessible by foot travel or snow machine. Big windows on either side of the building.

11
retired cynic  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:40:10pm

re: #10 teleskiguy

The one only accessible by foot travel or snow machine. Big windows on either side of the building.

Always locate your exits….

12
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:41:38pm

Facebook Post

“Gee, these radio contraptions are great. We should have them everywhere. What could go wrong?”

13
jaunte  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:43:28pm

re: #12 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

strangerthansf.com

14
teleskiguy  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:43:49pm

My favorite guide at Silverton Mountain has a cabin way deep in the San Juan Mountains, the Bonnie Belle.

15
Charles Johnson  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:44:39pm
16
retired cynic  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:45:48pm

re: #14 teleskiguy

ooooo

That would work for me!

17
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:53:58pm

re: #3 jaunte

Pretty fucking scary when you consider Hannity is practically Trumps top advisor now.

18
teleskiguy  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:55:10pm

re: #16 retired cynic

ooooo

That would work for me!

There are three ways to get there in the winter: by foot, snow machine, or helicopter. You can drive there in the summer, as long as you have a high clearance 4X4.

19
retired cynic  Feb 14, 2019 • 7:55:45pm

re: #18 teleskiguy

There are three ways to get there in the winter: by foot, snow machine, or helicopter. You can drive there in the summer, as long as you have a high clearance 4X4.

Helicopter would work. Not interested in the slog!

20
gocart mozart  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:02:21pm
21
retired cynic  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:05:12pm

re: #20 gocart mozart

I think I’d like to be a fly on the wall for that one!

22
teleskiguy  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:05:54pm
23
gocart mozart  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:10:05pm

This is the most insane thing

24
William Lewis  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:11:17pm

Boy, that’s what I get for getting wrapped up in long answers in the last thread! If anyone cares for theological mutterings, they’re at the end of that one, I won’t inflict them on you all a second time :D

25
A hollow voice says, Collusion!  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:12:19pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

This is the most insane thing

[Embedded content]

Wow, she’s really gotten under their skin, hasn’t she?

26
William Lewis  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:16:18pm

re: #25 A hollow voice says, Collusion!

Wow, she’s really gotten under their skin, hasn’t she?

Intelligent, educated and articulate minority woman? That is just about the sum of all their fears.

27
Ace Rothstein  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:19:18pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

I’ll have a late-term abortion extra bloody, please.

28
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:22:43pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

Two marxiritas, please.

Also, that caricature is just eyepoppingly racist. Reminds me of a cartoons from the last century of African-Americans.

29
Jay C  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:22:51pm

re: #12 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

[Embedded content]

BTW, the old Navy pix are a reminder of the date:

USS Maine: sunk in Havana harbor Feb. 15, 1898 - 121 years ago today.

30
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:23:25pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

This is the most insane thing

Stalin beer? What ignorance. Everyone knows that real Stalin branded hooch would have to be a really stiff vodka.

31
teleskiguy  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:23:48pm

re: #27 Ace Rothstein

I’m all about that triple Green New Deal with extra Big Guv Squid. SLURP!

32
Jay C  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:26:02pm

re: #30 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

Stalin beer? What ignorance. Everyone knows that real Stalin branded hooch would have to be a really stiff vodka.

Yep: Uncle Joe’s Kremlin Blend 100 Proof. We put the Party into party time!!

33
Patricia Kayden  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:28:41pm

re: #3 jaunte

Desperately trying to make Uranium One a thing. Lol

34
Single-handed sailor  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:33:31pm

re: #33 Patricia Kayden

Desperately trying to make Uranium One a thing. Lol

Obviously the Republican led Congress of the last several years couldn’t investigate without blowing their cover in taking down the deep state, or something.

35
Single-handed sailor  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:34:34pm

I’m just not smrt enough to follow the 3D chess logic of conservatives.

36
plansbandc  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:34:57pm

re: #24 William Lewis

As a lapsed Episcopalian, I enjoy your mutterings quite a lot. I really do like the liberal half of the church. Problem is, my family went to a hardcore conservative church. The Rector was mean, petty, and vile. He would have fit in splendidly with Republicans today.

I had it on no uncertain terms that if anything happened to me, he was not to be anywhere near my funeral.

He died a couple of years ago. That church is still very very conservative, but there is a lightness there that hadn’t been there in many years.

37
Ace Rothstein  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:35:08pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

I noticed the Puerto Rico flag necklace too.

38
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:37:14pm

re: #16 retired cynic

ooooo

That would work for me!

Especially in the summer with the grass and flowers! Gorgeous!

39
plansbandc  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:37:28pm

I want the big ass green new deal drink.

40
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:37:44pm

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Scientific Illiteracy Threatens U.S.

Neil deGrasse Tyson warns that scientific illiteracy is a threat to the nation.

Speaking to a nearly sold-out crowd at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, popular astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson addressed the current crisis in scientific literacy that plagues the U.S.

Tyson told the audience that “Americans overall are bad at science,” while warning that the consequences of science illiteracy could be devastating:

Americans overall are bad at science. Scared of math. Poor at physics and engineering. Resistant to evolution. This science illiteracy is a threat to the nation.

The consequence of that is that you breed a generation of people who do not know what science is nor how and why it works. You have mortgaged the future financial security of your nation. Innovations in science and technology are the (basis) of tomorrow’s economy.

41
Patricia Kayden  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:38:23pm

re: #35 Single-handed sailor

I’m just not smrt enough to follow the 3D chess logic of conservatives.

I wouldn’t call it logic.

42
teleskiguy  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:39:44pm

re: #35 Single-handed sailor

I’m just not smrt enough to follow the 3D chess logic of conservatives.

Are yu blind?! Its the Bildergergs, Rothschilds, and the Carlyle Group, all these fucks do it it all! 3D chess? This shit is yuge, like, tremendous, bigly!

43
Varek Raith  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:43:55pm
44
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:46:35pm

re: #28 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

Two marxiritas, please.

Also, that caricature is just eyepoppingly racist. Reminds me of a cartoons from the last century of African-Americans.

I didn’t think that at all. She does kind of have large crazy eyes and a large smile.*

*I do like everything she has been doing, especially getting into the heads of the RWNJs.

45
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:49:11pm

re: #41 Patricia Kayden

I wouldn’t call it logic.

Contortion? Mental gymnastics?

46
Belafon  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:50:29pm
47
Belafon  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:53:16pm
48
Mattand  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:55:18pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

This is the most insane thing

[Embedded content]

Jesus, this guy’s work is exactly like the ignorant cartoons that were in the right wing rag Rorschach read in Watchman.

Not a compliment.

49
William Lewis  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:55:21pm

re: #36 plansbandc

As a lapsed Episcopalian, I enjoy your mutterings quite a lot. I really do like the liberal half of the church. Problem is, my family went to a hardcore conservative church. The Rector was mean, petty, and vile. He would have fit in splendidly with Republicans today.

I had it on no uncertain terms that if anything happened to me, he was not to be anywhere near my funeral.

He died a couple of years ago. That church is still very very conservative, but there is a lightness there that hadn’t been there in many years.

Perhaps grace is sneaking back in while their backs are turned. One can hope :)

50
freetoken  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:55:55pm

It’s been a while since we’ve been this much precipitated upon:

51
Mattand  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:56:30pm

re: #46 Belafon

The FBI was better off when “you all only hired Irishmen,” Sessions said in one diatribe about the bureau’s workforce. “They were drunks but they could be trusted. Not like all those new people with nose rings and tattoos — who knows what they’re doing?” ]

Welp, now we know what Kate McKinnon will be doing on SNL this week.

52
Mattand  Feb 14, 2019 • 8:58:17pm

re: #25 A hollow voice says, Collusion!

Wow, she’s really gotten under their skin, hasn’t she?

It is absolutely amazing and fucking hilarious how terrified they are of this woman.

53
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:01:34pm

re: #44 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

I didn’t think that at all. She does kind of have large crazy eyes and a large smile.*

*I do like everything she has been doing, especially getting into the heads of the RWNJs.

Last weekend, my RW brother went off on a diatribe about the ignorant “bartender”. Misogyny is strong in our culture as well as demonization of liberals by the RW noise machine; instead of reacting honestly to her proposals, they try to discredit her as a person, so they don’t have to deal with the problems in our society that they have fostered.

54
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:01:59pm

re: #50 freetoken

It’s been a while since we’ve been this much precipitated upon:

[Embedded content]

It’s rained all day here in Las Vegas. We haven’t had rain like this in years, it seems. According to Weather Bug, precipitation in my part of town has been 0.91” today. There has been flooding throughout the city…and we may have snow on Sunday!

55
teleskiguy  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:03:22pm

re: #50 freetoken

Giphy

56
jaunte  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:05:06pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

This is the most insane thing

[Embedded content]

Garrison’s really leaning on the dark-skin-as-an-avatar-of-evil trope.

57
freetoken  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:06:40pm

re: #54 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

Up on Palomar, a new record was set for one day precip. 118 years of recordings of weather at Palomar.

58
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:07:14pm

re: #56 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Garrison’s really leaning on the dark-skin-as-an-avatar-of-evil trope.

Scary brown people out to compel you to have affordable health care and a decent education.

59
dell*nix  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:10:52pm

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

60
HappyWarrior  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:20:10pm

re: #56 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Garrison’s really leaning on the dark-skin-as-an-avatar-of-evil trope.

Pretty rich coming from a cheerleader for Mr. Mexico Will Pay for the Wall. And yeah Garrison is a bigot.

61
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:24:03pm

Our spring term begins a week from Monday, and I just learned that one of our prospective teachers decided not to come. So, we will have six teachers covering classes intended for seven teachers, until the head office manages to unearth a replacement. To say I am not happy at this prospect would be an understatement. The head office has had two, almost three, full months to find someone, and here we are with a week to go, and we still don’t have that position filled.

Shoot me now.

62
dell*nix  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:25:04pm

re: #58 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

I find myself thinking of healthcare and education as national defense items. A healthy, well educated public makes for healthy troops and sound decision making in public affairs. I have long believed that politicians and preachers need an ill educated and poorly informed public to do the stuff they get away with.

63
Joe Bacon 🌹  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:25:38pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

This is the most insane thing

Garrison really let his full blown racism run wild on that.

64
William Lewis  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:27:15pm

re: #61 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

Our spring term begins a week from Monday, and I just learned that one of our prospective teachers decided not to come. So, we will have six teachers covering classes intended for seven teachers, until the head office manages to unearth a replacement. To say I am not happy at this prospect would be an understatement. The head office has had two, almost three, full months to find someone, and here we are with a week to go, and we still don’t have that position filled.

Shoot me now.

Were I a teacher, I’d be tempted. Probably best that I am not :D

65
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:33:57pm

Looks like Brexit chaos continues apace… vox.com

6 weeks to go and no solution in sight?

66
Dave In Austin  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:38:03pm
67
Belafon  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:38:08pm

re: #65 Hecuba’s daughter

Looks like Brexit chaos continues apace… vox.com

6 weeks to go and no solution in sight?

We talk about protesting if Mueller is fired. The people who don’t want to leave need to start having some massive protests.

68
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:43:28pm

re: #56 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Garrison’s really leaning on the dark-skin-as-an-avatar-of-evil trope.

Okay, I do see that.

69
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:45:52pm

v77taHo1Df7y8B3kax+gcxf/6MZo+F/Idn5iff/Df0xk7RHwXy09PJULnL7TjLdF/o/9xoZ4AvpW2FC4mSyttO631dHj6KTpNfM/cVzEd8eANTXlGS0rO0rzVKXcujkj

70
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:47:52pm

Wichita:
Home Depot bomb threat was actually just guy in bathroom joking he was ‘fixin’ to blow it up’

A report of a bomb threat at a Wichita Home Depot store turned out to be more of a warning for other customers in the restroom.

Sedgwick County Communications released a 911 call in which the caller states that someone may have a bomb at the store.

“We just had a customer here made what may have been a bomb threat,” said the caller. “He said, uh, somebody told me there’s a bomb in here and you need to leave the building. He said it three times.”

Police went out to the Home Depot at K-96 and Woodlawn to investigate.

Someone there told staff they overheard the threat in the store’s restroom.

Police did some investigating and learned the “bomb threat” came from a man in a bathroom stall warning others about the severity of his need to use the restroom.

“You all need to get out of here because I’m fixin’ to blow it up.”

71
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:48:00pm

re: #62 dell*nix

I find myself thinking of healthcare and education as national defense items. A healthy, well educated public makes for healthy troops and sound decision making in public affairs. I have long believed that politicians and preachers need an ill educated and poorly informed public to do the stuff they get away with.

I can tell you that’s exactly what has happened with one particular uncle and his family. My uncle wasn’t nuts, but his wife is and always has been. They have all catered to her hatred, so now they are all bigots…and the grandkids have all served in the military. Ugh. Morons, every single one of them, including my uncle, who didn’t used to be a moron and served his country as a Marine during the Vietnam War.

72
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:49:11pm

re: #66 Dave In Austin

[Embedded content]

Thanks. I’m going to have nightmares now.

73
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:50:41pm

re: #70 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

Wichita:
Home Depot bomb threat was actually just guy in bathroom joking he was ‘fixin’ to blow it up’

Is it wrong that I found that funny because I’ve had people in my family say the same damn thing?

74
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:50:45pm

re: #67 Belafon

We talk about protesting if Mueller is fired. The people who don’t want to leave need to start having some massive protests.

The whole Brexit mess is an example of minority rule. Parliament has let a small contingent of hotheads dictate national policy and lead the entire commonwealth toward the edge of a cliff. And the longer the majority allows this to happen, the harder it will be avoid being pushed off the edge. It’s one of those cases where it would be helpful for the Crown to have some political power, so it could tell these shambolic politicians to do the right thing.

I wonder what the Queen tells the PM during their meetings. Does Liz tell Terry, girl you are one stupid bitch? [She probably says it much more elegantly than that, of course.]

75
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:54:39pm

re: #69 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

[Embedded content]

htjTep0cUcsToVGtBfC2w2bn49jCrmiI2cMSD4HxIYC/msvMDlvSaIFOSFkQlARuoJ8IymMWsAx6Rz09Hw6BQxFgzm20umfV6NfBCMtwlBxjrh9bDQCbvFFWZ+816jDuc5a+5RpnwMn8Y68zAEBGc41XeL3idIxcLqAwXgVMKWFd425aF6WJL5uNpfu7ntBDy068+HkQTBdL3IL/J2BB/Hgq+CDZGGF9lvPJgNDAc3X7kqELrysV63qSIlQIfoEnXitDl00FpdyqO90Mc63O4jmY7K341rsSn8E5r9MmGIJDgOouEJvlWYGfQEVJm4VkXGcMGNMwHwZOeh+xfhbExsqBDj4M6fnsHhkC5KO9sy69r9GDtD//PzvZBlgcZWPCXkcFEaXEVz5lrT4/KnSsJ2OBjmnjomGRys2zxP/4581h+OWvs5Sx5w==

76
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 9:57:27pm

re: #75 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

a6mhJJGv5ye0KAZeifGOpcLNypx8sMCycYCfoRujMTwd1pnBiUB1X48sY6Olev4Gx4ucO7se0tuj/d3zxhaQXYAPIOZo5iobvWf1vOE/fC3qpM7CSdFzhmQHaXuOGoeMXBzF/AGjl72yVBY44Gl+QU1WABWyLg1Tm0dVgvupXEtc00z1HubfYh6F2DWr2G3QdTOimeWGdZs7trHxhlReRAwpBOiqZSujx/hfadkot+HEGx/gZ/GtWftcZ/Ip11iOIZNDiUWVULM/PCncvoe7BuIzYiAjaZvfjch1vFgcCo1Jufao+Sz527CxeI2UOZgkV5vGoT/n98PEG24QgjRNQbEWDpm2/9QUedJxQ9Bb46s=

77
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:11:07pm

re: #76 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

onVHoyXEhe+OEBd967NqgZ4tudkG5YvRm1w5A4BCVyxV4F/cp8C+dsmCXb/UpbanZGL1lkx8dla8NAkCnWtpmg==

78
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:11:28pm

re: #74 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

The whole Brexit mess is an example of minority rule. Parliament has let a small contingent of hotheads dictate national policy and lead the entire commonwealth toward the edge of a cliff. And the longer the majority allows this to happen, the harder it will be avoid being pushed off the edge. It’s one of those cases where it would be helpful for the Crown to have some political power, so it could tell these shambolic politicians to do the right thing.

I wonder what the Queen tells the PM during their meetings. Does Liz tell Terry, girl you are one stupid bitch? [She probably says it much more elegantly than that, of course.]

How was it due to minority rule? Cameron made the fatal error of submitting the referendum to a vote and then resigned when the “unexpected” happened and Brexit won. If the Tories had an absolute majority in Parliament, would Cameron have not held the referendum?

79
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:14:16pm

re: #76 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

[Embedded content]

I am un-private-tagging this, since others might be curious about the teaching job now open here.

Beginning salary for someone with a bachelor degree is 7000 RMB ($1,033) and master degree is 7500 RMB ($1,106) a month. An apartment with utilities paid is part of the employment package, and for someone on a full year’s contract, there is a 10,000 RMB travel allowance paid at the end of the contract.

We normally teach 20-24 class-hours a week (a class-hour = 45 minutes). No weekend classes, but rarely there are evening classes.

Qualifications are minimal. A bachelor degree in any subject, but experience teaching ESL/EFL or English is helpful. You need to pass a medical exam, which you pay for, and provide the Chinese consulate the necessary documentation, also at your expense, to get the visa.

Cost of living is very low. Our apartments are 10 minutes’ walk to the classroom building, meals at the school cafeteria are about $1-2, and food generally speaking is much cheaper than in the States. The city has two subway lines and an extensive bus network, so there’s no need to have a car.

80
Single-handed sailor  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:14:40pm
81
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:20:20pm

re: #78 Hecuba’s daughter

How was it due to minority rule? Cameron made the fatal error of submitting the referendum to a vote and then resigned when the “unexpected” happened and Brexit won. If the Tories had an absolute majority in Parliament, would Cameron have not held the referendum?

By minority I mean it seems only a small percentage of politicians really, really want to leave the EU, but they have the impression that preventing Brexit would cost them their seats. So, they are letting the small core of Brexiteers lead them and the nation toward disaster. I would also argue that most of the voters in the referendum had no idea what they were voting for, and no idea what leaving the EU would really mean for their daily life in the future. Again, they were lead by their noses by the rabid Brexiteers.

The referendum was not binding, or it wasn’t supposed to be. Cameron made it sound like his government would abide by the results, and everyone took him up on that promise. He miscalculated. The Tories miscalculated. Labour is led by a pro-Brexit idiot. And the sane majority is sitting on its hands, saying “Hey, mates, this is a really bad idea. Can we stop now?”

82
Belafon  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:21:26pm

re: #78 Hecuba’s daughter

How was it due to minority rule? Cameron made the fatal error of submitting the referendum to a vote and then resigned when the “unexpected” happened and Brexit won. If the Tories had an absolute majority in Parliament, would Cameron have not held the referendum?

Yes, the majority of the vote went to Brexit, but one of the things they have done since then is refuse to hold any more elections, even though sentiment has turned against it. It’s similar to the lack of gun control legislation here.

83
gwangung  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:21:32pm

re: #62 dell*nix

I find myself thinking of healthcare and education as national defense items. A healthy, well educated public makes for healthy troops and sound decision making in public affairs. I have long believed that politicians and preachers need an ill educated and poorly informed public to do the stuff they get away with.

School lunches BECAME a national defense item. Incoming soldiers coming into WWII were so malnourished that they weren’t fit to handle a full load—-so they instituted lunches in public schools to insure that prospective soliders were healthy enough to serve.

84
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:27:07pm

re: #82 Belafon

Yes, the majority of the vote went to Brexit, but one of the things they have done since then is refuse to hold any more elections, even though sentiment has turned against it. It’s similar to the lack of gun control legislation here.

Exactly. The Tories are deathly afraid of a new referendum turning out anti-Brexit, which means their entire platform for the last few years would be trashed. Likely, it would mean they’d lose the government. Labour is not much better. Everyone wants to pretend the referendum was the final, binding word and nope there’s nothing we can do but see this thing through to the end.

If I were living in the UK, I’d be screaming at the top of my lungs every day how incredibly stupid this whole Brexit thing is.

85
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:29:40pm

re: #83 gwangung

School lunches BECAME a national defense item. Incoming soldiers coming into WWII were so malnourished that they weren’t fit to handle a full load—-so they instituted lunches in public schools to insure that prospective soliders were healthy enough to serve.

For similar reasons, public schools went all hog-wild about math and science education after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in ‘57. Six decades later, America has forgotten that lesson, and in a few years, the Chinese will be landing people on the Moon while the USA is still debating vaccines and climate change.

86
Dave In Austin  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:32:12pm

The reaction on the chickens face, or am I seeing things?

87
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:33:07pm

re: #79 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

I am un-private-tagging this, since others might be curious about the teaching job now open here.

Beginning salary for someone with a bachelor degree is 7000 RMB ($1,033) and master degree is 7500 RMB ($1,106) a month. An apartment with utilities paid is part of the employment package, and for someone on a full year’s contract, there is a 10,000 RMB travel allowance paid at the end of the contract.

We normally teach 20-24 class-hours a week (a class-hour = 45 minutes). No weekend classes, but rarely there are evening classes.

Qualifications are minimal. A bachelor degree in any subject, but experience teaching ESL/EFL or English is helpful. You need to pass a medical exam, which you pay for, and provide the Chinese consulate the necessary documentation, also at your expense, to get the visa.

Cost of living is very low. Our apartments are 10 minutes’ walk to the classroom building, meals at the school cafeteria are about $1-2, and food generally speaking is much cheaper than in the States. The city has two subway lines and an extensive bus network, so there’s no need to have a car.

Though the monthly salary seems very low compared to the states, it does seem that it would more than make up for it with cheap food and housing provided. What about healthcare? Also, is the teaching gig teaching students English or content material in English?

88
sagehen  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:34:45pm

re: #23 gocart mozart

This is the most insane thing

[Embedded content]

Do these people truly not understand what socialism is and how it works?

Let’s go with Medicare for an example. Everyone with a paycheck chips in. Some people pay more than others. When you reach the age that benefits start, how much you get is not based on how much you paid in, it’s based on how sick are you.

Or the fire department. All the property owners chip in to the city tax base. Some pay more than others. Renters, homeless, tourists passing through, they don’t contribute any property taxes at all. But when you call the fire department, their response is not based on how much did you contribute — it depends on where are you located, and how big is the fire.

It’s really not that complicated.

89
sagehen  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:42:58pm

re: #79 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

I am un-private-tagging this, since others might be curious about the teaching job now open here.

Beginning salary for someone with a bachelor degree is 7000 RMB ($1,033) and master degree is 7500 RMB ($1,106) a month. An apartment with utilities paid is part of the employment package, and for someone on a full year’s contract, there is a 10,000 RMB travel allowance paid at the end of the contract.

We normally teach 20-24 class-hours a week (a class-hour = 45 minutes). No weekend classes, but rarely there are evening classes.

Qualifications are minimal. A bachelor degree in any subject, but experience teaching ESL/EFL or English is helpful. You need to pass a medical exam, which you pay for, and provide the Chinese consulate the necessary documentation, also at your expense, to get the visa.

Cost of living is very low. Our apartments are 10 minutes’ walk to the classroom building, meals at the school cafeteria are about $1-2, and food generally speaking is much cheaper than in the States. The city has two subway lines and an extensive bus network, so there’s no need to have a car.

Do you have to be fluent in Chinese?

90
Single-handed sailor  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:44:50pm
91
Single-handed sailor  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:52:40pm

Fuck it’s raining again. 3.44” from this storm in the past 48 hours or so. That’s 20% of the season total since July 1st.

92
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 10:58:51pm

re: #79 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

I am un-private-tagging this, since others might be curious about the teaching job now open here.

Beginning salary for someone with a bachelor degree is 7000 RMB ($1,033) and master degree is 7500 RMB ($1,106) a month. An apartment with utilities paid is part of the employment package, and for someone on a full year’s contract, there is a 10,000 RMB travel allowance paid at the end of the contract.

We normally teach 20-24 class-hours a week (a class-hour = 45 minutes). No weekend classes, but rarely there are evening classes.

Qualifications are minimal. A bachelor degree in any subject, but experience teaching ESL/EFL or English is helpful. You need to pass a medical exam, which you pay for, and provide the Chinese consulate the necessary documentation, also at your expense, to get the visa.

Cost of living is very low. Our apartments are 10 minutes’ walk to the classroom building, meals at the school cafeteria are about $1-2, and food generally speaking is much cheaper than in the States. The city has two subway lines and an extensive bus network, so there’s no need to have a car.

Definitely interested, particularly if I end up getting full legal and physical custody of my kids. I’ve got a B.S. in elementary education as well as a TESL endorsement with the State of Nevada.

93
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 11:00:02pm

re: #87 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

Though the monthly salary seems very low compared to the states, it does seem that it would more than make up for it with cheap food and housing provided. What about healthcare? Also, is the teaching gig teaching students English or content material in English?

The uni provides a small allowance for routine health care, like going to the doctor for a flu shot. But you need to have medical insurance of your own to cover anything major. Health care in China depends on how much you want to pay, but treatment in a top hospital is comparable to that in a US hospital, for far less money.

We teach English to students needing to learn enough to pass a national English exam. Content classes are possible, but not really within our mission.

At my last job, I decided to sit down and compare take-home pay between my job in the States and my job in China. Despite the far lower pay, I got to keep more of my salary each month, because my two largest expenses — housing and transportation — were essentially zero in China. Food expenses can be cheap if you are willing to live like a local person, and not depend on imported food items to feed yourself. A hearty bowl of noodles costs 8-12 RMB. A meal at Burger King is 27-35 RMB.

94
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 11:02:12pm

re: #89 sagehen

Do you have to be fluent in Chinese?

No. You can manage quite well with no Chinese ability, because everyone under the age of 35 in China knows at least a smattering of English. And there are apps for that, too.

95
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 14, 2019 • 11:07:36pm

re: #92 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

Definitely interested, particularly if I end up getting full legal and physical custody of my kids. I’ve got a B.S. in elementary education as well as a TESL endorsement with the State of Nevada.

That’s great! But I think I won’t be seeing you here in the next two weeks. ;-)

If you come to China with children, the salary honestly will make it hard to make ends meet. Chinese public schools are not free for foreign students, so you would need to pay tuition, and international schools can be quite expensive. Aside from that, though, youngsters coming to China often find the experience very rewarding and enjoyable, once the language barrier and culture shock fades.

Another benefit is the attitude of Chinese toward teachers is very different from the American attitude. Here, teachers are respected as professionals, even if our pay is not so great, and not as cogs in a machine.

96
Sionainn, Warrior Mother  Feb 14, 2019 • 11:20:39pm

re: #95 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

That’s great! But I think I won’t be seeing you here in the next two weeks. ;-)

If you come to China with children, the salary honestly will make it hard to make ends meet. Chinese public schools are not free for foreign students, so you would need to pay tuition, and international schools can be quite expensive. Aside from that, though, youngsters coming to China often find the experience very rewarding and enjoyable, once the language barrier and culture shock fades.

Another benefit is the attitude of Chinese toward teachers is very different from the American attitude. Here, teachers are respected as professionals, even if our pay is not so great, and not as cogs in a machine.

LOL. No, I won’t be there in two weeks. It’s definitely an intriguing idea. My girls spent elementary school at an IB school where they learned Mandarin. Now, did they really learn Mandarin? No, I don’t think so, but they do have a little bit more experience than the average kid. Something to definitely put in my basket of “what in the world am I going to do with my life now.” I also do medical transcription, so I could certainly still continue doing that and make money on the side.

97
LastYearsMan  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:23:12am

I can’t stop giggling over this:

98
LastYearsMan  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:26:50am

re: #95 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

How’s your part of China for picking up side gigs doing private teaching? That used to be a major way to make some decent money in the Korea English-teaching scene, back in the day. Always plenty of rich people desperate for little Man-su to learn directly from a native speaker, one-on-one.

99
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:30:16am

re: #25 A hollow voice says, Collusion!

Wow, she’s really gotten under their skin, hasn’t she?

Yes, not only the fact that she is urban and ethnic and educated and well-spoken…but the fact that she is hot and gives them a stonking boner and they know they can never fuck her is enough to send them into an uncontrollable white rage…

100
Barefoot Grin  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:30:24am

re: #30 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

Stalin beer? What ignorance. Everyone knows that real Stalin branded hooch would have to be a really stiff vodka.

Mixed with Leninade.

101
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:32:16am

re: #40 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

Neil deGrasse Tyson warns that scientific illiteracy is a threat to the nation.

We had a brief phase when Sputnik scared us into pursuing science and even languages and linguistics benefited from the need for translators during the Cold War.

Now we well are on our way to the Idiocracy.

102
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:35:36am

re: #65 Hecuba’s daughter

Looks like Brexit chaos continues apace… vox.com

6 weeks to go and no solution in sight?

“No Deal is better than the one we have now!”

Say the MPs without the slightest tinge of irony

103
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:36:52am

re: #74 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

The whole Brexit mess is an example of minority rule. Parliament has let a small contingent of hotheads dictate national policy and lead the entire commonwealth toward the edge of a cliff.

Their entire electoral system is based not on majority but plurality for each voting district. Not unlike our Electoral College.

104
LastYearsMan  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:37:23am

re: #101 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

We had a brief phase when Sputnik scared us into pursuing science and even languages and linguistics benefited from the need for translators during the Cold War.

Now we well are on our way to the Idiocracy.

James Conant (former president of Harvard, atom bomb maker) had a similar quote, from way back in the 1940s — that understanding science and the history of science was fundamental to being a functional member of modern society.

105
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:45:58am

re: #98 LastYearsMan

How’s your part of China for picking up side gigs doing private teaching? That used to be a major way to make some decent money in the Korea English-teaching scene, back in the day. Always plenty of rich people desperate for little Man-su to learn directly from a native speaker, one-on-one.

It used to be a lucrative way to earn money on the side, but the government since 2015 (post-Xi) has clamped down on foreign teachers having second jobs. Now, if you’re caught teaching anywhere else, they’ll pull your working papers and send you home, plus levy stiff fines on you and your employers. You can still teach online or in people’s homes, on the sly, but not in a school or training center. After my visit to a rural middle school nearly got me deported a few years ago, I haven’t done any teaching on the side, even one-on-one gigs.

106
LastYearsMan  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:51:33am

re: #105 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

Yeah, I suspected something like that. Home tutoring without a license was technically illegal in Korea too
… although many people did it and many got deported for doing it.

107
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:51:40am

re: #101 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

We had a brief phase when Sputnik scared us into pursuing science and even languages and linguistics benefited from the need for translators during the Cold War.

Now we well are on our way to the Idiocracy.

During previous administrations, the federal government identified several strategic languages, including Persian, Arabic, and Chinese. [The Army’s list from 2015: ]

Now I think people just need to learn Idiot English to interpret the current administration.

108
Ace-o-aces  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:53:46am
109
Anymouse 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:57:02am

Thought I’d drop in briefly to drop this steaming conservaturd here:

Checkmate, Libs: 7 Morons From Kansas Decide Gay People Are A Religion! (Wonkette)

Anyway, some lawmakers in Kansas think they’ve finally created a bill with a genius legal argument that would not only allow them to ban same-sex marriage again, but also make it legal to discriminate against all LGBTQ people, keep trans people out of bathrooms, eliminate any government funding for gender-affirming medical treatment, and keep drag queens out of library story time. That legal argument is that LGBTQ people are actually a religion, and that by giving them the same rights as everyone else, the United States is violating the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Strange, given that people of their ilk usually deny that such a clause even exists. Plus the fact that they usually believe (and a rightwing Supreme Court has agreed) that “religion” usually means you can do whatever the hell you want. We are going out on a limb that these people are not great “thinkers.”

(more)

kslegislature.org (Kansas Legislature bill tracking Website)

110
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:10:54am

re: #109 Anymouse 🌹

Thought I’d drop in briefly to drop this steaming conservaturd here:

Checkmate, Libs: 7 Morons From Kansas Decide Gay People Are A Religion! (Wonkette)

(more)

kslegislature.org (Kansas Legislature bill tracking Website)

they are willing to use any argument to ban and exclude gays

111
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:13:01am

re: #107 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

During previous administrations, the federal government identified several strategic languages, including Persian, Arabic, and Chinese. [The Army’s list from 2015: ] [Embedded content]

Now I think people just need to learn Idiot English to interpret the current administration.

I had a chance to learn Farsi from a fellow I washed dishes with at a Mexican restaurant and rather regret not doing so. I could be over there right now in a hostage situation…

112
Ace-o-aces  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:15:14am

I’m paraphrasing slightly.

113
Single-handed sailor  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:16:59am

If gays are a religion then the constitution bars laws against them, the total opposite of their argument.

114
Anymouse 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:17:14am

re: #110 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

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

115
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:31:04am

re: #109 Anymouse 🌹

Thought I’d drop in briefly to drop this steaming conservaturd here:

Checkmate, Libs: 7 Morons From Kansas Decide Gay People Are A Religion! (Wonkette)

(more)

kslegislature.org (Kansas Legislature bill tracking Website)

AM: I dozed off for a while last night, so I don’t know if you saw the reply I put up later re Kill Sticky.

It’s just a JavaScript applet, so I have no reason to think it wouldn’t work under Windows, but there’s also a Chrome extension that explicitly says it does and gives you a keyboard shortcut as well.

116
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:40:16am

re: #114 Anymouse 🌹

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

117
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:44:51am

re: #113 Single-handed sailor

Well, yes, but that’s using “logic” and “original sources” which are things only libtards use.

118
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:58:07am

re: #117 Sufficient unto the day…

LOL

Yeah…..clearly, the nitwits in KS didn’t think this through.

If LGBT is a religion, then it’s clearly protected under the First Amendment.

119
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 2:06:54am

re: #40 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

Americans overall are bad at science. Scared of math. Poor at physics and engineering. Resistant to evolution. This science illiteracy is a threat to the nation.

The consequence of that is that you breed a generation of people who do not know what science is nor how and why it works. You have mortgaged the future financial security of your nation. Innovations in science and technology are the (basis) of tomorrow’s economy.

That almost sounds like a national emergency.

120
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 2:26:56am

re: #113 Single-handed sailor

If gays are a religion then the constitution bars laws against them, the total opposite of their argument.

their line of thought (one cannot call it logic) is since gays can oppress Christians for their religion, then Christians should be able to oppress gays for their “religion”.

121
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 2:31:40am

re: #120 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

their line of thought (one cannot call it logic) is since gays can oppress Christians for their religion, then Christians should be able to oppress gays for their “religion”.

Bar Fight!!! Hard to handicap the outcome, though there are probably more gays behind Christian lines than Christians passing for gay.

122
goddamnedfrank  Feb 15, 2019 • 2:45:38am

re: #109 Anymouse 🌹

123
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 3:44:45am

I swear, I cannot understand shipping routes. I’m in Indy, the package was about 100 miles north of me in Toledo, now its about 50 miles south in Lexington.

I guess next it goes to Illinois, Michigan, then to Wyoming and THEN to me?

124
Dave In Austin  Feb 15, 2019 • 3:47:21am
125
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 3:49:07am
126
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 3:51:03am

re: #8 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

I hope he does and gets shot down immediately. Fucker needs to be put in his place, firmly and decisively.

Will the Republicans on SCOTUS shut him down though? We’ll see!

127
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 3:52:16am

re: #125 NO SMOCKING GUN!

Is the typo ironically hip?

128
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 3:52:59am

re: #126 NO SMOCKING GUN!

Will the Republicans on SCOTUS shut him down though? We’ll see!

Yeah, I wonder about that too, especially with Kavanaugh on there - he seems to be of the judicial opinion that the POTUS is a king in everything but name.

129
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:04:55am

re: #74 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

The whole Brexit mess is an example of minority rule. Parliament has let a small contingent of hotheads dictate national policy and lead the entire commonwealth toward the edge of a cliff. And the longer the majority allows this to happen, the harder it will be avoid being pushed off the edge. It’s one of those cases where it would be helpful for the Crown to have some political power, so it could tell these shambolic politicians to do the right thing.

I wonder what the Queen tells the PM during their meetings. Does Liz tell Terry, girl you are one stupid bitch? [She probably says it much more elegantly than that, of course.]

The thing is Labor seems quite happy to just sit back and let theTories blunder into a no-deal Brexit, wrecking the economy. Perhaps they think that will bring them back into power.

130
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:09:18am

re: #83 gwangung

School lunches BECAME a national defense item. Incoming soldiers coming into WWII were so malnourished that they weren’t fit to handle a full load—-so they instituted lunches in public schools to insure that prospective soliders were healthy enough to serve.

Did not know that one. Thanks.

131
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:10:53am

re: #129 NO SMOCKING GUN!

The thing is Labor seems quite happy to just sit back and let theTories blunder into a no-deal Brexit, wrecking the economy. Perhaps they think that will bring them back into power.

That’s exactly what it is - not to mention that Corbyn himself is a Brexiteer, because he wants to use Brexit as a mean to sweep into power and create his 70s-themed worker’s paradise.

132
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:16:49am

re: #81 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

By minority I mean it seems only a small percentage of politicians really, really want to leave the EU, but they have the impression that preventing Brexit would cost them their seats. So, they are letting the small core of Brexiteers lead them and the nation toward disaster. I would also argue that most of the voters in the referendum had no idea what they were voting for, and no idea what leaving the EU would really mean for their daily life in the future. Again, they were lead by their noses by the rabid Brexiteers.

The referendum was not binding, or it wasn’t supposed to be. Cameron made it sound like his government would abide by the results, and everyone took him up on that promise. He miscalculated. The Tories miscalculated. Labour is led by a pro-Brexit idiot. And the sane majority is sitting on its hands, saying “Hey, mates, this is a really bad idea. Can we stop now?”

If the British people really don’t want to crash out of the EU, they better make themselves heard, fast. Mass demonstrations or maybe even a general strike. Because otherwise, that is exactly what’s going to happen.

133
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:21:57am

re: #132 NO SMOCKING GUN!

If the British people really don’t want to crash out of the EU, they better make themselves heard, fast. Mass demonstrations or maybe even a general strike. Because otherwise, that is exactly what’s going to happen.

The average voter in the USA barely understands this whole Russia-Trump scandal, and why it’s a big deal for the future of the nation. For one thing, it is not clear how the scandal affects each voter personally. It’s too abstract for the average Joe/Jo.

Likewise, the average John or Jane Bull barely understands what leaving the EU will mean for the UK, and also for them personally. The Brits have been in the EU for so long, the situation has for many people become situation normal, and they are not aware of how being in the EU has made their day-to-day lives much easier.

134
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:23:32am

135
HappyWarrior  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:29:38am

re: #131 Dr Lizardo

That’s exactly what it is - not to mention that Corbyn himself is a Brexiteer, because he wants to use Brexit as a mean to sweep into power and create his 70s-themed worker’s paradise.

As frustrating as it is with Trump, it could be worse because Pelosi could be Corbyn. A loony opposition.

136
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:33:25am

re: #135 HappyWarrior

As frustrating as it is with Trump, it could be worse because Pelosi could be Corbyn. A loony opposition.

Yep.

137
HappyWarrior  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:35:14am

re: #136 Dr Lizardo

Yep.

I mean I get wanting a departure from New Labour but holy crap, Corbyn is awful.

138
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:35:27am

re: #133 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

The average voter in the USA barely understands this whole Russia-Trump scandal, and why it’s a big deal for the future of the nation. For one thing, it is not clear how the scandal affects each voter personally. It’s too abstract for the average Joe/Jo.

Likewise, the average John or Jane Bull barely understands what leaving the EU will mean for the UK, and also for them personally. The Brits have been in the EU for so long, the situation has for many people become situation normal, and they are not aware of how being in the EU has made their day-to-day lives much easier.

Then they will learn the hard way.

139
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:46:48am

re: #137 HappyWarrior

I mean I get wanting a departure from New Labour but holy crap, Corbyn is awful.

Corbyn pretty much wants to go back to the 70s. His ideas are obsolete.

140
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:53:35am
141
HappyWarrior  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:56:55am

re: #139 Dr Lizardo

Corbyn pretty much wants to go back to the 70s. His ideas are obsolete.

Which is what allowed Thatcher to get into power.

142
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 15, 2019 • 4:57:38am

The White House Announced A National Emergency Using The Notes App

“Trump is gonna declare World War 3 in a comment on HQ Trivia.”

143
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:04:27am

re: #142 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

I’m not up to speed on apps and mobile stuff…on a scale of 1-to-Bender Shitting Bricks, how fucked up is this?

144
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:09:39am

re: #143 Sufficient unto the day…

I’m not up to speed on apps and mobile stuff…on a scale of 1-to-Bender Shitting Bricks, how fucked up is this?

Yeah, my $25 flip phone doesn’t give me any insight either. By the Buzzfeed article, it seems to be the consensus that this was a pretty childish thing to do.

145
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:10:19am

re: #143 Sufficient unto the day…

I’m not up to speed on apps and mobile stuff…on a scale of 1-to-Bender Shitting Bricks, how fucked up is this?

It’s the equivalent of telling your spouse you’re leaving them using a Post-It note on the fridge.

146
A Mom Anon  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:13:59am

re: #144 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

I think it’s more about being unprofessional and using a personal phone for this instead of doing her damned job like a grown up. Notes are for to do lists and maybe ideas for stuff you’d like or want to do. Not relaying official stuff from the White House for God’s sake.

147
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:14:26am

re: #145 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

It’s the equivalent of telling your spouse you’re leaving them using a Post-It note on the fridge.

Or FDR handing the Speaker of the House and Senate Leader a page ripped from a notebook saying,
“Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Declare war.”

148
wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:15:00am

re: #146 A Mom Anon

I think it’s more about being unprofessional and using a personal phone for this instead of doing her damned job like a grown up. Notes are for to do lists and maybe ideas for stuff you’d like or want to do. Not relaying official stuff from the White House for God’s sake.

Maybe Sarah wants to be fired.

149
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:16:02am

re: #148 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

Maybe Sarah wants to be fired.

They can advertise for her replacement on Craigslist.

150
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:16:52am

re: #148 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

What’s her other career path? Radio talk-show host? Perpetual FNC contributor? Punditry?

151
jeffreyw  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:27:57am

Good morning!

152
I Would Prefer Not To  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:35:26am

re: #145 wheat-dogg, raker of forests, master of steam

It’s the equivalent of telling your spouse you’re leaving them using a Post-It note on the fridge.

That’s what post-it-notes are made for.

153
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:39:34am
154
Targetpractice  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:43:27am

So the GOP is stuck chowing down on a shit sandwich today. Yeah, they avoided another shutdown, but the flip side is they’re giving (grudging) approval to an emergency declaration that will either:

A) Fail in the courts, potentially leaving them stuck in the midst of the general election explaining to their base why they can’t tear down the gov’t to build a wall

or

B) Getting a green light by the courts for the declaration, meaning future Dem presidents can then just ignore a GOP-majority Congress and implement policies and appropriate funds for whatever “emergency” they choose to declare.

But hey, they avoided a shutdown, so that’s something…right?//////

155
steve_davis  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:46:43am

re: #8 Sionainn, Warrior Mother

I hope he does and gets shot down immediately. Fucker needs to be put in his place, firmly and decisively.

McConnell has already stated he is behind the president’s declaration. It will be interesting because the senate is not gerrymandered, which means Republican senators there actually have to answer to entire states for nonsense, and there are more than a few of them who’ve expressed unease with the emergency declaration. I mean, we can count Susan Collins out. She is a Vichy apologist of the worst sort. Jeff Flake is retired, so we can’t count on a sternly worded letter followed by a sell-out. Manchin will probably vote with McConnell, so that he won’t be tied to a couch and burned on somebody’s porch sofa in West Virginia.

156
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:49:44am

re: #150 Dr Lizardo

What’s her other career path? Radio talk-show host? Perpetual FNC contributor? Punditry?

Pretty much limited to grifting, yes.

157
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:51:30am

re: #154 Targetpractice

So the GOP is stuck chowing down on a shit sandwich today. Yeah, they avoided another shutdown, but the flip side is they’re giving (grudging) approval to an emergency declaration that will either:

A) Fail in the courts, potentially leaving them stuck in the midst of the general election explaining to their base why they can’t tear down the gov’t to build a wall

or

B) Getting a green light by the courts for the declaration, meaning future Dem presidents can then just ignore a GOP-majority Congress and implement policies and appropriate funds for whatever “emergency” they choose to declare.

But hey, they avoided a shutdown, so that’s something…right?//////

Immediate crisis averted. If it fails in the courts they can rail against “activist judges.”

158
Targetpractice  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:52:57am

re: #157 NO SMOCKING GUN!

Immediate crisis averted. If it fails in the courts they can rail against “activist judges.”

Which may blunt some of the anger by the base, but the reality still stands that no wall will be built and they’ll be back to dodging gov’t shutdowns.

159
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:54:19am

re: #154 Targetpractice

So the GOP is stuck chowing down on a shit sandwich today. Yeah, they avoided another shutdown, but the flip side is they’re giving (grudging) approval to an emergency declaration that will either:

A) Fail in the courts, potentially leaving them stuck in the midst of the general election explaining to their base why they can’t tear down the gov’t to build a wall

or

B) Getting a green light by the courts for the declaration, meaning future Dem presidents can then just ignore a GOP-majority Congress and implement policies and appropriate funds for whatever “emergency” they choose to declare.

But hey, they avoided a shutdown, so that’s something…right?//////

Yep; let’s see the GOP’s reaction when President Kamala Harris (or whomever) declares a state of emergency over mass shootings, or climate change, or hey, here’s one - voter suppression and disenfranchisement.

160
steve_davis  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:55:22am

re: #23 gocart mozart

This is the most insane thing

[Embedded content]

I’m pretty sure whoever thought “Late Term Abortion” was gonna be a good name for a drink has been fired. Of course, I would have thought whoever thought “Bloody Mary” was a good name for a drink would have been fired, and instead they’re still getting a nice royalty check every quarter. On the other hand, Stalin Stale Ale is one of the beers available out of the “mix n’ match six pack” wall at my local Ingles.

161
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:55:48am

re: #158 Targetpractice

Which may blunt some of the anger by the base, but the reality still stands that no wall will be built and they’ll be back to dodging gov’t shutdowns.

But the wall doesn’t have to actually be built; Trump has already stated he is building the wall, and he can declare it finished and take the win whenever he feels like it.

162
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:58:09am

Okeydoke……back in a while. Off to work.

163
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:58:14am

re: #3 jaunte

164
Targetpractice  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:58:46am

re: #161 NO SMOCKING GUN!

But the wall doesn’t have to actually be built; Trump has already stated he is building the wall, and he can declare it finished and take the win whenever he feels like it.

He’s been pushing that shit for weeks and Faux isn’t biting. The only reason he’s declaring an “emergency” is because Faux is demanding he do so, lest he anger the base who are convinced that said declaration will be totally legal and the wall constructed with all due haste.

165
steve_davis  Feb 15, 2019 • 5:59:16am

re: #36 plansbandc

As a lapsed Episcopalian, I enjoy your mutterings quite a lot. I really do like the liberal half of the church. Problem is, my family went to a hardcore conservative church. The Rector was mean, petty, and vile. He would have fit in splendidly with Republicans today.

I had it on no uncertain terms that if anything happened to me, he was not to be anywhere near my funeral.

He died a couple of years ago. That church is still very very conservative, but there is a lightness there that hadn’t been there in many years.

You don’t have to worry about the hardcore half any longer. They all pledged fealty to the Bishop in Uganda and the rest of us just pretend they no longer exist.

166
Rocky-in-Connecticut  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:11:03am

A quick way to gain a tally of all those “strict Constitutionalist “ GOP fraudsters would be to introduce a Censure of the president over this violation of the Separation of Powers. Those who carry those little Constitutions in their shirt pockets can be exposed as the con men they actually are if they go along with this con man in chief.

But Trump getting his vanity wall via this unconstituional edict may actually be what the GOP wants. They are not a Conservative party anymore, they are right wing authoritarian populist. The George Will types have been banished to the political netherworld and have no place to go… they are extinct. …A new political dead end like the Whigs.

The new modern GOP plan is to use brain-dead populism to keep power for as long as possible, and string together fear-based polices and use authoritarian means to achieve them. The possiblity that a Democrat President can use similar edicts is mitigated by the reality of flyover country states being under control of right wing populist governorships and legislatures. For the next 20 years or so, right wing populism will likely be the controlling political power in America and it will take a disaster to change the country’s direction. Like all right wing authoritarian movements, a disaster will happen sooner or later.

167
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:16:57am

Trump’s expected to declare a national emergency for a crisis that doesn’t exist, because he didn’t get funding for a wall that both parties admit isn’t needed, and the GOP capitulated on the negotiations because a shutdown screwed them the first time around and isn’t going to help them this time around either.

How do we know? Because the WaPo interviewed pretty much everyone involved and they all came to same conclusion. Trump’s out there on his own and the GOP is twisting in the wind because he doesn’t have a clue how to govern.

And yet, they’re still likely to rally around him should he declare a national emergency, because this is what the GOP does - party over nation.

There’s no national emergency. It wasn’t one a month ago. It isn’t one now. It wasn’t one two years ago, when border crossings were higher.

It isn’t one now.

See how it works? Trump doesn’t. He’s looking for a way to spin victory from a defeat, and Trump looks to Fox for a way forward. Hannity is whispering in his ear, and they all think this is normal.

Had any Democrat proposed what Trump’s about to do, the GOP would be writing articles of impeachment.

And yeah, the lawsuits against Trump are inevitable, and the first batch would include injunctions to block any action until the legality is sorted out.

But here’s the thing - where is Trump likely to take the money from? Disaster relief and defense spending for base housing improvements (aka providing housing to servicemembers to replace/improve the substandard conditions on base).

Trump’s going to screw people who suffered through natural disasters or are in service to the nation to build his boondoggle. There’s also the possibility he’s going to take drug interdiction money - money that is used to stop drugs coming in via sea, air, and land - to build a wall that wont stop any of that.

It is in Congress’ interest as a branch of government to rein in Trump’s executive power overreach. Article I demands it. The GOP is on a slippery slope here, and if they allow Trump to act here, any president going forward will be able to declare a national emergency on whatever they deem necessary, and reallocate funds as they wish.

It would make a farce of the appropriations process.

And yet there are some GOPers willing to go down this route and back Trump?

They are enabling autocracy. Party over nation. Same as always.

168
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:20:37am

And…. fuck… terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir - disputed territory claimed by both India and Pakistan. 40+ security officers killed in attack, and riots that followed resulted in dozens of casualties. Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility.

Thing about this is both countries are nuclear powers, and there’ll be a push to retaliate.

169
freetoken  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:21:17am

re: #163 lawhawk

Immune to facts indeed. Still showing up in my Facebook timeline are people reposting Fox propaganda, without even asking what is true or not.

170
Unshaken Defiance  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:22:45am

Good morning. That moment when the first news story you take in seems to set the tone for the day.

Fringe YouTuber Zhoie Perez Shot While Filming Guard Outside LA Synagogue

The YouTube personality known as Furry Potato has a long track record of confrontational ‘auditing’ videos.

The statement on her YouTube channel, signed by “Mrs. Potato,” suggested this was not the first time Perez was injured in the course of her “auditing.”

“Furry has now been shot, pepper sprayed, attacked with metal batons assaulted, had strong arm robbery committed against her simply for filming from a public sidewalk,” it said.

thedailybeast.com

171
Dizzy  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:26:54am

Interesting Canadian supreme court ruling on privacy.

This is something I don’t think would ever be litigated in the U.S.

On Feb. 14, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that when an Ontario high school teacher secretly filmed his female students’ chests, he was committing the crime of voyeurism.

172
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:31:02am

the national emergency is a tactic, not a plan

he doesnt care if the wall is ever built
like abortion, as long as it stays as an issue he can campaign on it forever, fund raise, and keep the base mollified

my local classic rock station plays a call in game called “You Can’t Win”
the tag is “if you win, you win. if you lose, you still win.”

otoh, neither the white house nor mitch really thought this through, cause there is another factor: Nancy Pelosi

in addition to all those lawsuits that every state in the country is gonna file (it’s everybody’s money) think:

joint resolution to reverse, which would require mcconnell to bring it up for a vote

while the R’s have shown great creativity in ceding their own power to the exec these last two years, voting against this would be admitting they are willing to abdicate their basic function of controlling the purse

173
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:32:09am

re: #108 Ace-o-aces

“Trying to use the 25th Amendment to try and circumvent the Election is a despicable act of unconstitutional power grabbing…which happens in third world countries. You have to obey the law. This is an attack on our system & Constitution.” Alan Dershowitz.

just so i’m clear, using an article of the constitution is unconstitutional?

174
Belafon  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:34:25am

re: #109 Anymouse 🌹

Thought I’d drop in briefly to drop this steaming conservaturd here:

Checkmate, Libs: 7 Morons From Kansas Decide Gay People Are A Religion! (Wonkette)

(more)

kslegislature.org (Kansas Legislature bill tracking Website)

“You’re a religion -“
“Yay, we can decide who we want to get married.”
“Wait -“

175
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:36:23am

re: #173 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

just so i’m clear, using an article of the constitution is unconstitutional?

Dershowitz is nothing if not auditioning for a role as Trump lawyer (and not a good one at that).

Might we suggest he reread the US Constitution and the Amendments to same - 25th Amendment, enacted under provisos of the Constitution allows for removal.

Dershowitz is telling Trump what he wants to hear, not what he needs to hear.

What should have been said is that if you don’t change your ways, you will be removed from office, and this is one method to do so. Impeachment and removal from office via Congressional action is another. Resignation is a third method. Your actions are heading in that direction.

176
makeitstop  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:40:55am

re: #155 steve_davis

McConnell has already stated he is behind the president’s declaration. It will be interesting because the senate is not gerrymandered, which means Republican senators there actually have to answer to entire states for nonsense, and there are more than a few of them who’ve expressed unease with the emergency declaration. I mean, we can count Susan Collins out. She is a Vichy apologist of the worst sort. Jeff Flake is retired, so we can’t count on a sternly worded letter followed by a sell-out. Manchin will probably vote with McConnell, so that he won’t be tied to a couch and burned on somebody’s porch sofa in West Virginia.

And on top of that - there’s a provision in the National Emergency that allows Pelosi to put up a vote to revoke the emergency, and if it passes it forces a concurrent vote in the Senate which McConnell cannot prevent from coming to the floor.

Each and every senator would have to vote up or down on their support for the national emergency.

Good. Get them all on the record. Make them own that shit.

177
makeitstop  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:43:03am

re: #156 NO SMOCKING GUN!

Pretty much limited to grifting, yes.

The rubber-chicken church circuit. I don’t even think Fox would hire her as a pundit. She doesn’t meet the, erm, physical requirements of female employees.

Remember when Greta van Susteren dyed her hair blonde? Good times…

178
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:43:23am

re: #170 Unshaken Defiance

There is a LOT going on in this story.

On…Ms. Potato’s side we have the fact that security/police people can be dangerously abusive fuckwits. And that trans people are really severely victimized by society in general.

On the other side, we have the fact that it was a synagogue, where Juice hang out, and Nazis know this…

It’s only 9:30 am. It’s too fucking early for this shit.

179
Old Liberal  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:49:38am

re: #155 steve_davis

McConnell has already stated he is behind the president’s declaration. It will be interesting because the senate is not gerrymandered, which means Republican senators there actually have to answer to entire states for nonsense, and there are more than a few of them who’ve expressed unease with the emergency declaration. I mean, we can count Susan Collins out. She is a Vichy apologist of the worst sort. Jeff Flake is retired, so we can’t count on a sternly worded letter followed by a sell-out. Manchin will probably vote with McConnell, so that he won’t be tied to a couch and burned on somebody’s porch sofa in West Virginia.

We’re short on profiles in courage these days. Plenty of clowns and jokers.
E

180
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 6:51:52am

Sessions the racist strikes again:

181
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:00:22am

re: #88 sagehen

Do these people truly not understand what socialism is and how it works?

.
No

Or the fire department. All the property owners chip in to the city tax base. Some pay more than others. Renters, homeless, tourists passing through, they don’t contribute any property taxes at all. But when you call the fire department, their response is not based on how much did you contribute — it depends on where are you located, and how big is the fire.

It’s really not that complicated.

For you and rational people, it’s not complicated, but…

Think back upon the the time when we had private fire protection services. You can still see the markers in cities such as Philadelphia. You paid the fire department, they may (or, may not) come for a fire. But, they sure as hell weren’t going to help with the houses that weren’t on their payroll. This could be extremely problematic in row houses. See above example of Philly. We are all better off with a community rather than a bunch of self-serving libertarian assholes.

182
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:12:10am

re: #180 lawhawk

Sessions Jefferson Beauregard Sessions The Third, the racist, strikes again:

[Embedded content]

183
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:15:49am

here: #122 goddamnedfrank

Checkmate, Libs: 7 Morons From Kansas Decide Gay People Are A Religion!
Which by their rules mean gay people can do ANYTHING? But … not?

wonkette.com

Franklygoddamn
@goddamnedfrank
This is hands down the most Chewbacca lives on Endor fucking pretzel argument I have ever seen in real life.

2
4:45 AM - Feb 15, 2019

Learn something new every day! Never heard of the Chewbacca defense before!!

184
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:19:31am

re: #183 Hecuba’s daughter

Chewbacca defense

185
Joe Bacon 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:24:37am

Hey Thanks, President Orange Foolius!

You’ve given President Warren the precedent to declare a National Emergency so she can open Medicare to everyone!

You’ve given President Booker the precedent to expand childcare for every family.

You’ve given President Harris the precedent to seize all assault rifles

You’ve given President Sanders the precedent to provide a free college education for everyone!

THANKS! /snark now off

186
Joe Bacon 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:26:56am

re: #175 lawhawk

Dershowitz is nothing if not auditioning for a role as Trump lawyer (and not a good one at that).

Might we suggest he reread the US Constitution and the Amendments to same - 25th Amendment, enacted under provisos of the Constitution allows for removal.

Dershowitz is telling Trump what he wants to hear, not what he needs to hear.

What should have been said is that if you don’t change your ways, you will be removed from office, and this is one method to do so. Impeachment and removal from office via Congressional action is another. Resignation is a third method. Your actions are heading in that direction.

Methinks ol’ Dersh is covering his ass for the kinky things he did in the past…

187
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:28:11am

re: #186 Joe Bacon 🌹

What makes you think the kinky things he did are in the past?

188
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:29:11am

re: #184 lawhawk

Wait a second! Chewbacca didn’t live on Endor anyway.

189
Old Liberal  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:30:38am

re: #185 Joe Bacon 🌹

Hey Thanks, President Orange Foolius!

You’ve given President Warren the precedent to declare a National Emergency so she can open Medicare to everyone!

You’ve given President Booker the precedent to expand childcare for every family.

You’ve given President Harris the precedent to seize all assault rifles

You’ve given President Sanders the precedent to provide a free college education for everyone!

THANKS! /snark now off

McConnell has already gotten away with his “dual rules” bullshit(no Supreme Court appointment in last year of presidency). I’m sure he thinks he can do the same with emergency declarations and he may be right.

190
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:36:37am

re: #180 lawhawk

Back in the old days, you all only hired Irishmen. They were drunks but they could be trusted. Not like all those new people with nose rings and tattoos.” ~former Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Scoring the ‘drunk Irish’ and ‘tattooed Other’ two pointer!

191
Shropshire Slasher  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:41:15am

re: #190 jaunte

All this talk is putting me in the mood for some corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread. I’l even open a fresh bottle of horseradish.

192
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:41:22am

re: #189 Old Liberal

McConnell has already gotten away with his “dual rules” bullshit(no Supreme Court appointment in last year of presidency). I’m sure he thinks he can do the same with emergency declarations and he may be right.

If the Supreme Court holds with precedent (no guarantee of that, with the Federalist Society judges), based on the Youngstown Sheet & Tube vs. Sawyer ruling, SCOTUS would outlaw this action by Trump. Or we may now be living in a dictatorship.

193
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:42:58am
194
ipsos  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:44:52am

WHAT THE FUCK IS HE RAMBLING ABOUT?

Seriously, it’s just a long dissociative random spew so far that has nothing to do with his so-called emergency. What is wrong with us that we let this man become President?

195
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:45:21am
196
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:45:37am
197
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:47:05am
198
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:47:08am
199
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:47:23am
200
ipsos  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:47:57am

Here comes the blue duct tape…

201
Old Liberal  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:48:59am

re: #192 Hecuba’s daughter

If the Supreme Court holds with precedent (no guarantee of that, with the Federalist Society judges), based on the Youngstown Sheet & Tube vs. Sawyer ruling, SCOTUS would outlaw this action by Trump. Or we may now be living in a dictatorship.

I’m of the opinion that the “Dems can now declare emergencies if trump does” doesn’t bother “Dual Rules Mitch” because I can just hear the media and the right wing noise machine explain how “this time is different “ if Democrats were to try this. I’m simply saying Mitch isn’t worried about this aspect.

202
Barefoot Grin  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:49:31am

re: #180 lawhawk

Sessions the racist strikes again:

[Embedded content]

Remember the time he also lamented the fallen standards of the Klan—“nowadays they all smoke marijuana….”

203
Old Liberal  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:50:40am

re: #194 ipsos

WHAT THE FUCK IS HE RAMBLING ABOUT?

Seriously, it’s just a long dissociative random spew so far that has nothing to do with his so-called emergency. What is wrong with us that we let this man become President?

What is wrong is hatred bigotry racism lovingly groomed by greedy wealthy people

204
ipsos  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:50:46am

Seriously, he sounds even more tired and rambling and discombobulated than usual.

Are there even enough non-acting Cabinet members right now to invoke 25A if they wanted to?

205
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:51:39am

The only thing that can solve this emergency is a good round of golf.

206
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:52:07am
207
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:54:57am
208
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:55:14am

Odds on the first lawsuits over the “Emergency” being filed later today?

209
ipsos  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:56:28am

re: #208 Eclectic Cyborg

Odds on the first lawsuits over the “Emergency” being filed later today?

I’m sure someone’s standing at the appropriate clerk’s desk ready to file it right this moment.

210
Targetpractice  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:56:48am

re: #206 jaunte

[Embedded content]

So taking money from housing military families and disaster victims to build a wall on land seized from private owners through eminent domain.

Or, for those playing the home game, the sort of scenario that would have the GOP lining up articles of impeachment for an afternoon vote under a Dem president.

211
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:58:12am

Trump doing his impression of how Chinese people speak.

212
A hollow voice says, Collusion!  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:58:17am

re: #208 Eclectic Cyborg

Odds on the first lawsuits over the “Emergency” being filed later today?

CA SOS is way ahead of you.

213
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 7:58:21am

Miller’s rationale is that Gov. Bill Richardson delcared a national emergency in 2005?

Governors can’t declare a national emergency. They can request that the POTUS declare a national emergency, but that’s not what the governor can do. In any event, the numbers speak for themselves.

Nothing about this indicates a national emergency except that Trump is physically violating the US constitution and the Congressional GOP are lemmings going along with it.

214
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:02:18am

Authentic mob boss gibberish.

215
Belafon  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:03:17am

re: #201 Old Liberal

I’m of the opinion that the “Dems can now declare emergencies if trump does” doesn’t bother “Dual Rules Mitch” because I can just hear the media and the right wing noise machine explain how “this time is different “ if Democrats were to try this. I’m simply saying Mitch isn’t worried about this aspect.

Well, the other thing Democrats can take away from Trump and Mitch is that they can ignore the opposition party and the media if it suits them.

216
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:03:27am
217
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:04:07am

I think I need to take a day or three off from the news

We can only assume that some serious investigation stuff is going down for him to resort to this

218
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:04:42am

re: #214 jaunte

If the money is there, where’s the national emergency. If the wall’s being built, where’s the national emergency.

He’s trying to convince himself and the rubes that he’s doing something.

The only thing he’s doing is shredding the Constitution to the applause of a pliant GOP that will do whatever dear leader says.

219
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:06:15am

re: #47 Belafon

[Embedded content]

Morning!

That is one cute baby picture. Little fella looks bright eyed and the look between mom and baby is classic. Daddy of course is proud too.

220
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:06:17am
221
Belafon  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:07:20am
222
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:08:20am
223
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:09:27am
224
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:11:10am

Imagine if Obama had declared a National…

…Oh fuck it, these comparisons are getting beyond pointless.

225
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:13:10am
226
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:14:15am
227
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:16:40am
228
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:17:37am
229
CongoJack  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:20:37am
230
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:23:01am
231
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:24:10am
232
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:24:32am

re: #175 lawhawk

“Dershowitz is telling Trump what he wants to hear, not what he needs to hear.”

Dershowitz has proven himself to be a tool. Nothing he says makes sense or is true. It’s all about soothing propaganda for the deplorables.

233
Dr. Matt  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:24:51am

President Pelosi carries Donnie’s little balls in her change purse.

234
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:24:58am

re: #223 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Beyond stripping the drug interdiction money, it should be fairly easy to define the DoD requirements that will be shelved. CoE river maintenance and troop housing are a place to look.

235
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:26:14am

re: #232 Patricia Kayden

“Dershowitz is telling Trump what he wants to hear, not what he needs to hear.”

Dershowitz can tell trump what he wants to hear or talk into a pillow held over his face…

236
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:26:29am

re: #234 Decatur Deb

Addled Grandpa can’t remember what they told him.

237
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:27:13am
238
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:27:55am

re: #236 jaunte

Addled Grandpa can’t remember what they told him.

The Chief of Engineers would be smilingly reluctant to tell a House hearing.

239
Targetpractice  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:29:30am

Baba Yaga is not appeased…

240
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:29:36am

Everything is fine. Nothing to see here.

241
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:30:07am
242
Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:30:31am

Racist Grandpa will be racist grandpa.

uring his speech announcing a national emergency declaration, President Donald Trump appeared to affect a fake Chinese accent to imitate China’s President Xi Jinping — and Twitter users were immediately outraged at how racist it was.

When discussing illegal drug use in the United States, Trump brought up an anecdote in which he claimed President Xi told him China executes drug dealers.

“Their criminal list, a drug dealer gets a thing called the death penalty,” the American president said. “Our criminal list, a drug dealer gets a thing called, ‘how about a fine.’”

“When I asked President Xi — I said, ‘Do you have a drug problem?’ No, no, no,” Trump continued.

Noting that China has 1.4 billion people, Trump said he asked why the country doesn’t have a “drug problem.”

“I said, ‘Why?’” Trump recounted. “‘Death penalty. We give death penalty to people that sell drugs. End of problem.’”

243
Belafon  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:31:11am

re: #228 Patricia Kayden

[Embedded content]

It’s funny how many people are arguing that she’s not respecting authority by doing this rather than letting others do it.

244
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:31:59am
245
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:32:04am

re: #239 Targetpractice

UACs? I’m sure it’s something horrible, whatever it is, because it’s from a conservative.

246
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:33:24am

re: #226 jaunte

That’s the great thing about Trump. He gives the game away because he doesn’t have any self control or discipline. No way this unconstitutional power grab gets upheld in court. There is no emergency and Trump can’t pretend that there is one.

247
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:34:22am

Of some concern in terms of pace of construction is the fact that the 9th circuit recently upheld the numerous waivers of environmental laws that would have needed to be followed in the lead up to construction. At the same time, I’d suspect a TRO to be a near slam dunk given the irreparable harm to landowners if construction is allowed while the numerous and sundry lawsuits are pending. In addition, with or without a TRO, I’d think the legwork of organizing the eminent domain process would take well over a year on its own (to say nothing of how long those cases would last).

But I hate even considering the practicalities of what he’s done. If this is allowed to stand, we are fucked. And I don’t care if it means that a future Dem president could pull the same maneuver for climate change or gun control or whatever. This is not how we were meant to be governed. It destroys the separation of powers and checks and balances. It’s rule by fiat. And fuck every fucking “constitutional conservative” that would turn a blind eye to this or twist themselves in knots arguing this is legal.

248
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:35:33am

re: #243 Belafon

It’s funny how many people are arguing that she’s not respecting authority by doing this rather than letting others do it.

Whose authority is she disrespecting?

249
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:36:27am

re: #246 Patricia Kayden

That’s the great thing about Trump. He gives the game away because he doesn’t have any self control or discipline. No way this unconstitutional power grab gets upheld in court. There is no emergency and Trump can’t pretend that there is one.

To be fair, we thought that the travel ban would not be upheld…but it was. That was even after numerous statements from Trump that revealed it was all about religious animus. Trump has been filling courts with Heritage Foundation extremists for two years and we don’t know how this is going to go down.

250
CongoJack  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:37:22am
251
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:38:19am

President Pakled, ladies and gentlemen.

252
Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:38:42am

I think Trump has really lost with this National Emergency bs. If you look at the fever swamps and coulters of the world they are savaging him on this, at least from what I have read on rawstory. They are going after him for even signing the bill and calling the national emergency out as the bs that it is. Sure, he still has lumpy and the oxycoton fiend hanging from each testicle but it sure does not look good.

253
jaunte  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:39:32am

Craftsmanship break:

254
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:39:47am

re: #208 Eclectic Cyborg

Odds on the first lawsuits over the “Emergency” being filed later today?

they were written months ago, just waiting to fill in the date

255
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:41:26am

re: #253 jaunte

Mjölnir multiverse crossover event?

256
Joe Bacon 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:42:44am

I wouldn’t be surprised to see McConnell block a vote to overturn even if the law states it’s required

257
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:42:48am

re: #223 jaunte

Trump said some of the money being taken from DoD for the wall was for projects that “didn’t sound too important to me.”

there is no line item veto
nor is there line item redistribution

there isn’t anything after a budget/bill is passed and signed

258
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:43:11am

re: #3 jaunte

Hannity is demanding that Barr go after his political enemies just like a true fascist.
joemygod.com

259
Joe Bacon 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:44:53am

re: #258 Patricia Kayden

Hannity is demanding that Barr go after his political enemies just like a true fascist.
joemygod.com

He will. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts with Hillary

260
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:45:57am

re: #240 lawhawk

President Trump says Japanese Prime Minister Abe has nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Everything is fine. Nothing to see here.

261
gwangung  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:46:55am

re: #255 lawhawk

Mjölnir multiverse crossover event?

No, that’s just current Marvel 616 continuity. Seriously.

262
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:50:23am

re: #259 Joe Bacon 🌹

He will. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts with Hillary

Barr might try to protect the President but I do not believe he would actively use his office to go after enemies who haven’t committed any crimes.

263
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:51:02am

re: #256 Joe Bacon 🌹

I wouldn’t be surprised to see McConnell block a vote to overturn even if the law states it’s required

He can’t.

264
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:54:39am

re: #258 Patricia Kayden

Hannity is demanding that Barr go after his political enemies just like a true fascist.
joemygod.com

Sounds like a real ‘witch hunt’.

265
Dr. Matt  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:57:27am

re: #254 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

they were written months ago, just waiting to fill in the date

Sounds like a “real emergency”.

266
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 8:59:57am

re: #265 Dr. Matt

Sounds like a “real emergency”.

As has been pointed out by many in recent days, preplanned “emergencies” are a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.

267
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:01:25am

Wonder how concerned Sasse will be by Trump’s BS before voting to support the declaration? Wonder how quickly Gardner will get on board and once again show that he doesn’t represent the interests of the vast majority of his constituents? When will Paul have his press conference rending his garments over the prospects of (what I would assume to be) one of the largest (if not the largest) uses of eminent domain in the history of the country before he too gets on board?

Also, I can appreciate that Manchin, and maybe Jones and Sinema have to take a different approach to some of their votes, but they fucking CANNOT vote to support the declaration. If they do, primary them. I don’t care if it meant losing a seat.

268
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:02:13am

re: #265 Dr. Matt

Sounds like a “real emergency”.

Our only real emergency is that Trump is still President and will be succeeded by Pence if he is removed.

269
KGxvi  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:03:49am

I imagine that the complaints that will be filed on this (I’m assuming they’ll drop later today or Monday at the latest), are going to have multiple pages of presidential statements making it clear that this is not any sort of emergency

270
Belafon  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:04:21am

re: #268 Hecuba’s daughter

Our only real emergency is that Trump is still President and will be succeeded by Pence if he is removed.

The only reason removing Trump causing problems is that he’s taught Republicans they can do anything they want. But we must remove him anyway.

271
garzooma  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:04:24am

re: #262 Hecuba’s daughter

Barr might try to protect the President but I do not believe he would actively use his office to go after enemies who haven’t committed any crimes.

He doesn’t have to go after enemies himself. He had Russians who did that for him. And we’re seeing him protect them, tacitly encouraging them to do more of it.

272
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:06:01am

re: #226 jaunte

Joyce Alene ✔
@JoyceWhiteVance
Trump, questioned by @PeterAlexander, concedes there’s no national emergency to justify building his wall. “I didn’t need to do this.” “I just want to do it faster.” A gift to all the lawyers preparing to sue him.

11:13 AM - Feb 15, 2019

I’m not watching Trump Can’t do it. I’m digitizing some old vinyl records. Way more fun.

So, he really said the above did he?

And Mitch and Lindsey and all of the other GOPers back this guy while he fucks them at every turn?

I hope this turns into a complete embarrassment to all these fools. They are supporting a nothing that doesn’t give one damn about their positions or careers. And yet, they bend over for him all the damn time.

273
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:06:14am

re: #267 Mike Lamb

Wonder how concerned Sasse will be by Trump’s BS before voting to support the declaration? Wonder how quickly Gardner will get on board and once again show that he doesn’t represent the interests of the vast majority of his constituents? When will Paul have his press conference rending his garments over the prospects of (what I would assume to be) one of the largest (if not the largest) uses of eminent domain in the history of the country before he too gets on board?

Also, I can appreciate that Manchin, and maybe Jones and Sinema have to take a different approach to some of their votes, but they fucking CANNOT vote to support the declaration. If they do, primary them. I don’t care if it meant losing a seat.

I will give a lot of leeway to Jones — but Manchin and Sinema deserve none. Their votes on this will be irrelevant since they aren’t up for re-election until 2024.

274
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:06:54am

re: #267 Mike Lamb

Wonder how concerned Sasse will be by Trump’s BS before voting to support the declaration? Wonder how quickly Gardner will get on board and once again show that he doesn’t represent the interests of the vast majority of his constituents? When will Paul have his press conference rending his garments over the prospects of (what I would assume to be) one of the largest (if not the largest) uses of eminent domain in the history of the country before he too gets on board?

Also, I can appreciate that Manchin, and maybe Jones and Sinema have to take a different approach to some of their votes, but they fucking CANNOT vote to support the declaration. If they do, primary them. I don’t care if it meant losing a seat.

anyone who votes to uphold this is declaring their job; their function in government; to be irrelevant

they are, in effect, abdicating

275
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:07:08am
276
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:08:09am

re: #239 Targetpractice

tiny violins

277
retired cynic  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:08:15am

Jennifer Rubin, about the the declaration:

It speaks volumes about Trump’s self-absorption that in order to win back praise from right-wing cranks at Fox News and elsewhere, he is willing to hobble his own plan, damage its future prospects and, oh yes, shred the Constitution. It’s once again all about Trump, Trump’s ego and Trump’s need for reaffirmation.

278
KGxvi  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:08:34am

re: #273 Hecuba’s daughter

I will give a lot of leeway to Jones — but Manchin and Sinema deserve none. Their votes on this will be irrelevant since they aren’t up for re-election until 2024.

Nah, Jones is a lawyer, he’s read Youngstown Steel… he has to know that this is unconstitutional and needs to vote accordingly. This is one of those issues that are so important you can’t make the vote based on re-election prospects

279
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:09:35am

re: #229 CongoJack

Rick Wilson ✔
@TheRickWilson
Ever seen anyone coked to the gills?

Because you’re seeing someone who is talking just like a person coked out of their damn mind.

11:16 AM - Feb 15, 2019

Must have been something if even Rick Wilson is going there to mention coke.

He’s probably celebrating early. Got a long flight ahead to the golf course and he just did what he wanted. The other thing coke is good at doing is making assholes feel superior, like they can do anything.

280
Interesting Times  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:10:37am

re: #277 retired cynic

Jennifer Rubin, about the the declaration:

Speaking of her, I’d say she passes the “valid never-trumper or no?” test we all discussed last night:

281
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:11:48am

re: #270 Belafon

The only reason removing Trump causing problems is that he’s taught Republicans they can do anything they want. But we must remove him anyway.

if that’s the lesson they got they are in for an awakening at some point

- imo he’s shown that you can do what you want for a while, as long as you have a willing and compliant congress
- trump cant run fast enough or far enough to escape all the consequences that are certainly coming down the pike
- while it appears ‘you can do what you want’, it’s only been two years
- the dems havent had the house for two months yet
- mueller’s investigation (justice) moves slowly and so ‘appears’ to not have an effect

282
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:12:30am

re: #231 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Kick his fat orange ass Nancy. Bigle’!

I’m working up some hate to fire off to early Trump 2020 endorser Robby Portman.

283
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:12:44am

re: #279 ObserverArt

Oh, it was…something, alright…have no fucking clue WHAT it was, but it was something.

Not sure if “coked to the gills” was it due to inexperience in that particular vice, but it was definitely out where the buses don’t run.

284
sagehen  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:13:53am

re: #159 Dr Lizardo

Yep; let’s see the GOP’s reaction when President Kamala Harris (or whomever) declares a state of emergency over mass shootings, or climate change, or hey, here’s one - voter suppression and disenfranchisement.

If the voter suppression and disenfranchisement is efficient enough, and soon enough, there’ll be no possibility of a President Kamala Harris. It’ll be Karl Rove’s “permanent Republican majority”.

And that way lies Civil War.

285
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:14:38am

re: #270 Belafon

The only reason removing Trump causing problems is that he’s taught Republicans they can do anything they want. But we must remove him anyway.

And promptly teach them Trump was wrong and they CAN NOT do anything they want.

286
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:15:45am
287
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:16:25am

re: #277 retired cynic

Jennifer Rubin, about the the declaration:

Exactly, he cares more that people on Fox News like him than the opinions of very experienced advisors who actually know what the fuck they’re talking about.

I mean, think about this: Sean Hannity and the cast of Fox & Friends are the de facto Presidents of the United States right now.

So fucked up.

288
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:18:31am

re: #286 lawhawk

More power to him, but he hasn’t held office as a Republican for decades. And he’s not a raging lunatic, so his GOP prospects don’t appear good.

289
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:19:39am

So, string up the Sackler family, whose opioid production facilities got people addicted to drugs that the Sacklers pharmaceutical company claimed was nonaddictive?

290
HappyWarrior  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:20:33am

re: #286 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Better than him running in the LP.

291
HappyWarrior  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:21:12am

re: #288 Sir John Barron

More power to him, but he hasn’t held office as a Republican for decades. And he’s not a raging lunatic, so his GOP prospects don’t appear good.

Yeah it’d have more teeth if it were someone in office in the last decade.

292
Belafon  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:21:36am

An interesting theory from mistermix at Balloon Juice:

Imagine if a 37-year-old newly-elected white Democratic congressman from a safe seat asked Elliot Abrams the same questions as Ilhan Omar asked him Wednesday. Now, imagine that the same guy advocated for a 70% marginal tax rate.

In my imagination, I’m guessing that the Abrams testimony would have perhaps gotten some play on YouTube and perhaps a mention on MSNBC. I’m not sure about that, because these blob members sure think that their collective shit smells like roses. And I also imagine that the 70% marginal rate proposal would have been ignored.

I don’t have a deep observation to make here, but from the perspective of pure political power, AOC and Ilhan Omar have it, and they are wielding it wisely. Omar’s apology was pitch perfect. AOC’s response to petty criticism on Twitter is consistently good. The right is afraid of these women, and they should be.

293
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:22:23am

re: #289 lawhawk

“Drugs kill millions of Americans. All drugs come from Mexico. So, MAGA Wall is needed.”

/

294
plansbandc  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:22:30am

295
Barefoot Grin  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:22:47am

Three variants of “Fake National Emergency” are trending on twitter.

296
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:23:25am

re: #289 lawhawk

Trump reads the official statistic that 70,000 Americans were killed by drugs in 2017, “At least. I think that number is ridiculously low.

So, string up the Sackler family, whose opioid production facilities got people addicted to drugs that the Sacklers pharmaceutical company claimed was nonaddictive?

do you think it
do you know it
are you spit-balling
or just spewing bullshit with no substance at all to back it up

im going with unsubstantiated word salad

297
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:23:26am

re: #290 HappyWarrior

this is a good point.

298
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:25:22am

re: #289 lawhawk

299
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:25:41am

re: #273 Hecuba’s daughter

I will give a lot of leeway to Jones — but Manchin and Sinema deserve none. Their votes on this will be irrelevant since they aren’t up for re-election until 2024.

The reason I don’t give much leeway to Jones is that, unfortunately, the only thing that would likely lead to his re-election is switching parties.

300
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:29:24am

re: #226 jaunte

Trump, questioned by @PeterAlexander, concedes there’s no national emergency to justify building his wall. “I didn’t need to do this.” “I just want to do it faster.” A gift to all the lawyers preparing to sue him.

coming soon to a lawsuit near you

301
HappyWarrior  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:31:52am

re: #297 Sir John Barron

this is a good point.

He’s really not a true Libertarian. More of an extinct animal, the Rockefeller Republican.

302
Dr Lizardo  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:32:27am

re: #298 Scottish Dragon

Trump say “Me love you long time. Ten dollah, GI!”

Is this where it’s going? Trump sounding like a hooker from Full Metal Jacket?

Don’t know why it didn’t occur to me earlier, but all that comes from one iconic two-minute scene in Full Metal Jacket.

303
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:34:53am

Treasonweasels follow Trump, ignoring their roles and oaths of office. They ignore the role of Congress to appropriate funds, and excuse Trump actions.

304
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:35:22am
305
Targetpractice  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:38:09am

re: #303 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Treasonweasels follow Trump, ignoring their roles and oaths of office. They ignore the role of Congress to appropriate funds, and excuse Trump actions.

So the best argument the GOP can offer is the classic abuser’s excuse: “LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!”

306
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:38:35am

Funny, but behind wall because it can be visually distracting and a hazard to folks with epilepsy.

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

307
sagehen  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:39:03am

re: #266 Eclectic Cyborg

As has been pointed out by many in recent days, preplanned “emergencies” are a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.

Has anyone here been following the PBS series Dictator’s Playbook? They’ve done episodes on Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Saddam, Kim, Noriega, Amin.

Scary how fucking familiar it all feels.

308
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:39:52am

re: #307 sagehen

Has anyone here been following the PBS series Dictator’s Playbook? They’ve done episodes on Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Saddam, Kim, Noriega, Amin.

Scary how fucking familiar it all feels.

Yep.

309
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:40:14am

re: #287 Eclectic Cyborg

Exactly, he cares more that people on Fox News like him than the opinions of very experienced advisors who actually know what the fuck they’re talking about.

I mean, think about this: Sean Hannity and the cast of Fox & Friends are the de facto Presidents of the United States right now.

So fucked up.

He doesn’t care about the people at FOX News.

He cares about them only because they kiss his ass and heap praise on him. No one else does so he shits on them by calling them Fake News.

The first person Trump actually cares about other than himself will be the first person he ever cared about.

And yes Ivanka included. I still believe his own kids treat him just like Lindsey Graham does. They are scared of what he is capable of so they show him fake love.

Oh the stories that will come out when this fat ass dies. There will be a rush to bury him.

310
GlutenFreeJesus  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:42:19am

So basically we have President Hannity.

311
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:45:11am

re: #303 lawhawk

“President Trump’s decision to announce emergency action is the predictable and understandable consequence of Democrats’ decision to put partisan obstruction ahead of the national

Treasonweasels follow Trump, ignoring their roles and oaths of office. They ignore the role of Congress to appropriate funds, and excuse Trump actions.

shorter mcconnell: it’s a national emergency because the dems wont do what we want

312
sagehen  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:46:41am

re: #288 Sir John Barron

More power to him, but he hasn’t held office as a Republican for decades. And he’s not a raging lunatic, so his GOP prospects don’t appear good.

Also, he ran as Gary Johnson’s 3rd-party running mate in 2016.

313
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:47:03am

re: #309 ObserverArt

He doesn’t care about the people at FOX News.

He cares about them only because they kiss his ass and heap praise on him. No one else does so he shits on them by calling them Fake News.

The first person Trump actually cares about other than himself will be the first person he ever cared about.

And yes Ivanka included. I still believe his own kids treat him just like Lindsey Graham does. They are scared of what he is capable of so they show him fake love.

Oh the stories that will come out when this fat ass dies. There will be a rush to bury him.

he only cares about fox in that they are the megaphone to ‘his people’

314
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:47:51am

re: #303 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Treasonweasels follow Trump, ignoring their roles and oaths of office. They ignore the role of Congress to appropriate funds, and excuse Trump actions.

If McConnell actually believes his statement, then why did he allow the compromise bill up for a vote?

315
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:48:49am

re: #303 lawhawk

……
MSNBC

@MSNBC
* 29m
Replying to @MSNBC
Sen. Graham: “I stand firmly behind President Trump’s decision to use executive powers to build the wall-barriers we desperately need.”

Sen. Rick Scott: “I applaud the President’s decision to put the safety of our country first and use his authority to secure our border.”

Treasonweasels follow Trump, ignoring their roles and oaths of office. They ignore the role of Congress to appropriate funds, and excuse Trump actions.

Rick Scott is a criminal and thief; he has always been a criminal and thief; and the people of Florida who have repeatedly voted for him are evil beyond redemption.

316
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:52:06am
317
Jay C  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:53:17am

re: #311 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

re: #303 lawhawk

“President Trump’s decision to announce emergency action is the predictable and understandable consequence of Democrats’ decision to put partisan obstruction ahead of the national interest”

“Partisan obstruction” as in recently signing on to a budget agreement that passed McConnell’s Senate by a considerable margin with significant bipartisan support?
Right……

318
mmmirele  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:54:48am

As expected, South Carolina bought a lawsuit when it decided to let the Miracle Hill adoption agency discriminate on the basis of religion. The plaintiff is Catholic, which is not the right religion.

The plaintiff is being represented by Americans United.

apnews.com

319
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 9:59:30am

Behind private tag because personal stuff:

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

320
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:00:22am
321
Unshaken Defiance  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:01:54am

MAGA guy- Well Obama declared a national Emergency~!
Why yes he did the difference being H1N1 flu was a genuine threat to public health.

322
Citizen K  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:02:30am

I went out to renew my state ID since it was set to expire at the end of the month.

I realized waiting there that I may have been much more bored without a smartphone, but I probably would have left there an hour and a half later much less depressed, since I wouldn’t have seen the live-tweeting of the fucking national trainwreck we’re all a part of.

The continued slow-unfolding tragedy we’re stuck in, because of Trump’s concrete floor of a base and his captivated minions in Congress. I want to say ‘Ignorance is Bliss’ but then again, if that was the case, why aren’t Trump and his assholes happier?

323
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:06:54am

re: #322 Citizen K

There are times now that I deliberately go places without my phone because I want to be left alone and disconnected from the world at large (I do obviously tell my wife WHERE I’ll be going).

It’s the only way I stay sane.

324
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:07:17am

re: #319 Eclectic Cyborg

YZiomwF3vZLWD2ucaDEj+IO4+Shnswu/FhHYUIuGKJwylwTr5UZLPkdOVKUMwodlk8uCmslpxMuKKK+OT5iWiu9fpbMr018jmPEc5iWEdUOjx/G3Fnn0kdif5LXVBpgFb3VGVf/A0zUUfdsPLGPKr5FCW+0KF06shVyLBNLr8UHLGQEfXP02clbHNS2G5oqxau95MDG0JZ3j7JbYkRCFJp9bdkhiaPLsM1rpdJOQv90r5CNDw+VGE9lqktbVhfJJmvrR9lvP/oKkMP83c66PxmvqxeA4e7G0G/nqBuG2kn5JFShquwXX5zduDc0lPhgOo6RY/bSY3JU7E7f0DrwZK7RRZ76qHLup//rjcRVSXuGWekyhs/RffuijCg9FRKziCVwcF9qIRjM=

325
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:07:29am

re: #314 Mike Lamb

If McConnell actually believes his statement, then why did he allow the compromise bill up for a vote?

save your sanity, stop thinking that they are trying to make any sense at all

one minute’s sentence is entirely separate and isolated from the last and the next
there is no continuity, theme or meaning
even within the span of a sentence or paragraph
there is no hypocrisy in their world
only dems can be inconsistent or flip-floppers (every one)

326
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:08:16am

re: #317 Jay C

“Partisan obstruction” as in recently signing on to a budget agreement that passed McConnell’s Senate by a considerable margin with significant bipartisan support?
Right……

*ding*

327
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:09:28am

re: #303 lawhawk

I’m so old I remember when the GOP was very concerned about Trump possibly declaring national emergency.

328
Single-handed sailor  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:10:14am
329
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:13:26am

re: #319 Eclectic Cyborg

Behind private tag because personal stuff:

[Embedded content]

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

330
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:14:15am

re: #289 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

So, string up the Sackler family, whose opioid production facilities got people addicted to drugs that the Sacklers pharmaceutical company claimed was nonaddictive?

Don’t be silly lawhawk. You know the Sacklers are just misunderstood business people. Trump can easily excuse them.

The real drug dealers he wants to give the death penalty to are Black and Brown and stand on street corners or in front of schools selling to kids.

And of course, you also have to forget about Trump’s friends like the mob and other sketchy business guys that fund the illegal drugs coming into this country. That is just business. The minute those drugs reach the street THEN you go after ‘those people’ and give them the death penalty.

One other thing…has anyone else noticed Trump seems to love the idea of the death penalty? I bet that sick fuck would love to watch someone die. He’s that demented.

331
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:15:21am

re: #325 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

save your sanity, stop thinking that they are trying to make any sense at all

one minute’s sentence is entirely separate and isolated from the last and the next
there is no continuity, theme or meaning
even within the span of a sentence or paragraph
there is no hypocrisy in their world
only dems can be inconsistent or flip-floppers (every one)

It’s not so much about my sanity. I mean, I get it, there is no amount of hypocrisy that could make McConnell blush. Where I get sideways is trying to understand why the media would allow him a forum (in this instance, I understand it was a tweet of his official statement) without first requiring that he answer for his hypocrisy.

332
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:16:30am

TERFs (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists) have been getting really weird recently. I mean, weirder than they already were.

They’re even joining Republicans and Nazis to hate trans people together, and they’re even adding in a whole variety of Holocaust denial and excuses.

333
Single-handed sailor  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:19:04am
334
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:20:55am

335
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:21:05am

re: #313 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

he only cares about fox in that they are the megaphone to ‘his people’

Which he also does not care about.

He cares they got him in office.

Can you see Trump sharing one minute of time with you average FOX Trump backer?

336
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:21:47am

re: #335 ObserverArt

Which he also does not care about.

He cares they got him in office.

Can you see Trump sharing one minute of time with you average FOX Trump backer?

He surrounds himself with them at his rallies.

337
Jay C  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:23:09am

re: #335 ObserverArt

Can you see Trump sharing one minute of time with your average FOX Trump backer?

Of course: as long as it’s just one minute: and that minute being entirely taken up with laudatory adulation of Trump as the Greatest Great President EVER!!!!!
He would probably enjoy hours of that…..

338
Belafon  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:23:32am

re: #336 Eclectic Cyborg

He surrounds himself with them at his rallies.

Can you imagine him doing something like a dinner party with any MAGAts.

339
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:24:03am
340
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:24:09am

re: #314 Mike Lamb

If McConnell actually believes his statement, then why did he allow the compromise bill up for a vote?

I still think McConnell is playing politics. He needs to keep Trump and his base close to him.

I still think McConnell will be glad this whole thing goes down in flames. Graham too.

These jerks sold their souls to Trump so yes they need to keep up the games.

It is sad. It still seems they are all deeply compromised by something very damaging that Trump holds over them.

341
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:27:49am

re: #340 ObserverArt

I still think McConnell is playing politics. He needs to keep Trump and his base close to him.

I still think McConnell will be glad this whole thing goes down in flames. Graham too.

These jerks sold their souls to Trump so yes they need to keep up the games.

It is sad. It still seems they are all deeply compromised by something very damaging that Trump holds over them.

Assumes facts thus far not in evidence - that they are compromised because of something Trump has on them.

Another possibility - they’re doing this of their own accord because they are treasonweasels who put party over nation and don’t care about the consequences, because they think they’ll have locked in GOP primacy for years to come.

342
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:27:53am

re: #338 Belafon

Can you imagine him doing something like a dinner party with any MAGAts.

Maybe if it was at a McDonald’s or KFC…

///

343
sagehen  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:29:15am

re: #339 Scottish Dragon

[Embedded content]

We are all Negan.

344
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:30:08am

There are none so easily swayed as those who think they came up with the idea themselves.

Graham, McConnell and other GOPers don’t have to be compromised by blackmail to do what Trump wants (or Russia). They’re willingly going along because they believe in the outcome. They may caterwaul over the method, but that’s just a style thing for them.

That’s how the Russians were able to influence what was going on at the NRA - they exploited a known blind spot because the NRA cares only about selling more guns that they didn’t care that the Russians would use the NRA to funnel money to candidates that furthered Russia’s interests.

345
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:33:27am
346
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:34:03am

re: #331 Mike Lamb

It’s not so much about my sanity. I mean, I get it, there is no amount of hypocrisy that could make McConnell blush. Where I get sideways is trying to understand why the media would allow him a forum (in this instance, I understand it was a tweet of his official statement) without first requiring that he answer for his hypocrisy.

The media has been awol wrt consistency objectivity facts and truth for a long time

They aren’t going to all of a sudden find their religion any more than Trump’s gonna pivot and become presidential

347
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:35:44am

re: #343 sagehen

We are all Negan.

and we see how well that worked out for them…

348
wrenchwench  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:35:45am

re: #344 lawhawk

There are none so easily swayed as those who think they came up with the idea themselves.

Graham, McConnell and other GOPers don’t have to be compromised by blackmail to do what Trump wants (or Russia). They’re willingly going along because they believe in the outcome. They may caterwaul over the method, but that’s just a style thing for them.

[…]

They all happened to think of the same thing to work on independently. Clever.

349
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:36:48am

re: #335 ObserverArt

Which he also does not care about.

He cares they got him in office.

Can you see Trump sharing one minute of time with you average FOX Trump backer?

Oh that’s what I meant..his people…as a tool
Free advertising ofhis message to his base is all

350
Joe Bacon 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:37:01am

re: #331 Mike Lamb

It’s not so much about my sanity. I mean, I get it, there is no amount of hypocrisy that could make McConnell blush. Where I get sideways is trying to understand why the media would allow him a forum (in this instance, I understand it was a tweet of his official statement) without first requiring that he answer for his hypocrisy.

Who owns the media?

351
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:37:43am

re: #340 ObserverArt

I still think McConnell is playing politics. He needs to keep Trump and his base close to him.

I still think McConnell will be glad this whole thing goes down in flames. Graham too.

These jerks sold their souls to Trump so yes they need to keep up the games.

It is sad. It still seems they are all deeply compromised by something very damaging that Trump holds over them.

I can see McConnell having enough realpolitik in him for some public kabuki, while he sharpens the knife to stab Trump in the back when appropriate. I think Graham is fully on board with Trump, whether due to blackmail or otherwise.

352
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:39:48am
353
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:40:46am

re: #336 Eclectic Cyborg

He surrounds himself with them at his rallies.

I meant personal time.

He surrounds himself with them at his rallies because he needs to.

He probably laughs at and mocks them the minute he is off stage.

354
ckkatz  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:40:57am

re: #168 lawhawk

Have not had a chance to check out other replies yet, but this is a major example of our failure to lead. Last time this happened, the US intervened to prevent war between Pakistan and India. This time we are doing nothing.

The same with Brexit, we could have used our good offices to help reduce the destructive stupidity. Now… crickets.

The Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, the erosion is growing. Small problems are becoming large ones.

As the instability increases, I think that we are going to see a return to a more predatory global environment. Putin led the way in the Ukraine, and has not paid much of a price.

I believe that Trump wants this for multiple reasons.

First, he’s a sadist and a coward. He likes to see others fight.
Second, it distracts from the domestic fiascos, and we have only so much ability to focus.
Third, it benefits those he wants to emulate, Putin, Kim Jong Un, etc.

In the end, it’s going to get people killed. Including Americans.

355
Citizen K  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:42:16am

re: #352 lawhawk

This is not a good sign, is it?

356
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:42:35am

Crazy train at full throttle for the fake emergency. (Breitbart, freeper re-post).
Yep, the anti-wall forces are in cahoots with the drug cartels.
Spending Bill Allows Mexican Cartel-Connected Texas Counties to Stop Border Wall

A key provision in the spending bill being presented to President Trump for signing stipulates that the federal government give specific Texas border counties the opportunity to derail any efforts to build barriers, fencing, or walls by simply opposing the construction of the border security measures-but many of the specified counties have a long and recent history of top officials taking bribes from the Mexican Gulf Cartel. Ultimately, the bill allows county offices with historic ties to the Gulf Cartel to stop U.S. border barriers from being constructed in the region.

357
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:43:42am

re: #345 Scottish Dragon

[Embedded content]

HHASC Chair Smith D-WA: “As the President begins to steal money from military needs to build his wall, Congress must conduct oversight to identify exactly which projects supporting servicemembers and their families the President has chosen to value less than this political stunt.”

No no no

This legitimize s the “emergency” and devolves it into a discussion of how much money and from where

Do not accept the premise
The emergency jtself nhas to be disqualified
Not which money he wants to steal

358
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:44:44am

I guarantee you this declaration is going to be used to funnel more money to the Trump Org.

359
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:45:40am

re: #353 ObserverArt

I meant personal time.

He surrounds himself with them at his rallies because he needs to.

He probably laughs at and mocks them the minute he is off stage.

What we need is a “that’ll hold the little bastards for the night” moment

360
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:45:46am

re: #337 Jay C

Of course: as long as it’s just one minute: and that minute being entirely taken up with laudatory adulation of Trump as the Greatest Great President EVER!!!!!
He would probably enjoy hours of that…..

As long as they were kept at a distance and sprayed down with antibiotics.

361
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:46:20am

re: #352 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

362
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:47:14am

re: #356 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

I’m so old I remember when the GOP loved local governments and state rights.

363
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:48:21am

re: #356 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

Crazy train at full throttle for the fake emergency. (Breitbart, freeper re-post).
Yep, the anti-wall forces are in cahoots with the drug cartels.
Spending Bill Allows Mexican Cartel-Connected Texas Counties to Stop Border Wall

We’re gonna need some bacup for this wild statement, cause you’re implying there are lots of them not just one it should be easy:

long and recent history of top officials taking bribes from the Mexican Gulf Cartel

364
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:49:54am

re: #341 lawhawk

Assumes facts thus far not in evidence - that they are compromised because of something Trump has on them.

Another possibility - they’re doing this of their own accord because they are treasonweasels who put party over nation and don’t care about the consequences, because they think they’ll have locked in GOP primacy for years to come.

That is why I used the word ‘seems’ as their actions are not normal in any measure.

We do know they have taken money from Russia and there is a good chance their emails have been hacked.

It is just too hard for me to believe they go along with this due to any real politics. Just my opinion.

365
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:49:59am

re: #359 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

What we need is a “that’ll hold the little bastards for the night” moment

They still wouldn’t care. They’d accuse CNN of setting him up.

366
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:51:00am

re: #342 Eclectic Cyborg

Maybe if it was at a McDonald’s or KFC…

///

I wonder if Trump has ever actually been inside any fast food joints. That is for others to do for him.

367
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:52:07am

re: #362 Sir John Barron

I’m so old I remember when the GOP loved local governments and state rights.

It’s only a states right issue when it benefits us
Until it doesn’t
Then it isn’t

368
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:54:16am

re: #365 Eclectic Cyborg

They still wouldn’t care. They’d accuse CNN of setting him up.

I’m all for testing this one out

369
Single-handed sailor  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:54:29am
370
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 10:58:45am

re: #359 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

What we need is a “that’ll hold the little bastards for the night” moment

Is that a reference to the Uncle Don Rumor?

I had to look it up as I wasn’t familiar with it.

Snopes says it is a tall tale.

But then Trump tells us Snopes is Fake News.

Who to believe…who to believe??? : )

371
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:00:57am

re: #369 Single-handed sailor

Starting, stopping, and later restarting a major DoD project is a really neat way to double its cost.

372
BeachDem  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:02:43am

re: #353 ObserverArt

I meant personal time.

He surrounds himself with them at his rallies because he needs to.

He probably laughs at and mocks them the minute he is off stage.

Life imitating art:

Lonesome Rhodes: Those morons out there? Shucks, I could take chicken fertilizer and sell it to them as caviar. I could make them eat dog food and think it was steak. Sure, I got ‘em like this… You know what the public’s like? A cage of Guinea Pigs. Good Night you stupid idiots. Good Night, you miserable slobs. They’re a lot of trained seals. I toss them a dead fish and they’ll flap their flippers.

373
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:04:44am

re: #362 Sir John Barron

I’m so old I remember when the GOP loved local governments and state rights.

Oh don’t worry, that will all come back as soon as there’s a Democrat in the White House again.

374
ckkatz  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:04:52am

re: #245 Sufficient unto the day…

UACs? I’m sure it’s something horrible, whatever it is, because it’s from a conservative.

UAC ?Un-Accompanied Children?

375
Sufficient unto the day...  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:06:19am

re: #353 ObserverArt

He mocks them to their faces. Remember his “the snake” thing? Yeah, they all knew he was a snake and they took him in anyway.

376
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:06:37am

re: #370 ObserverArt

Is that a reference to the Uncle Don Rumor?

I had to look it up as I wasn’t familiar with it.

Snopes says it is a tall tale.

But then Trump tells us Snopes is Fake News.

Who to believe…who to believe??? : )

I believe it was. That rumor was also referenced in a Simpsons episode where Gabbo called all the kids in Springfield SOBs.

377
EPR-radar  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:06:51am

re: #371 Decatur Deb

Starting, stopping, and later restarting a major DoD project is a really neat way to double its cost.

For the few remaining Republicans capable of rational thought, that is a plus. Republicans like to run up the debt because that gives them an excuse to gut non-defense spending.

378
EPR-radar  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:07:37am

re: #374 ckkatz

UAC ?Un-Accompanied Children?

Un-American Citizen is my guess, but it doesn’t seem deplorable enough.

379
Teukka  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:09:21am

So this crossed my FB feed…

A guy posts on twitter, saying that the claim that Ingrid Carlquist (a local alt-rightie “journalist”) associates with nazis is ridiculous… Gets instant reply with a picture of himself with his chest tattoo, which is a Reichsadler

That is, a eagle holding a Swastika.

The post on the incident on facebook is brutal, as are the comments.

“This guy graduated from the hard knock school of life with F’s in all subjects”

I’ve heard of the expression “not seeing the forest for all the trees”, but “not seeing the nazis for all the swastikas is a new one for me.”

The optimist in me hopes that it’s simply the alt-right collectively is really losing their grip on reality, the pessimist in me suspects strongly that they are saying shit like this because that they’re so obviously out there won’t matter because of something they have up their sleeve…

380
Ace Rothstein  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:10:19am

re: #350 Joe Bacon 🌹

Teh Juice, of course.
/

381
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:10:55am

re: #378 EPR-radar

Un-American Citizen is my guess, but it doesn’t seem deplorable enough.

Unaccompanied Alien Children.

Or so says Google.

382
Decatur Deb  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:13:23am

re: #381 Eclectic Cyborg

Unaccompanied Alien Children.

Or so says Google.

383
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:14:32am

re: #372 BeachDem

Life imitating art:

Lonesome Rhodes: Those morons out there? Shucks, I could take chicken fertilizer and sell it to them as caviar. I could make them eat dog food and think it was steak. Sure, I got ‘em like this… You know what the public’s like? A cage of Guinea Pigs. Good Night you stupid idiots. Good Night, you miserable slobs. They’re a lot of trained seals. I toss them a dead fish and they’ll flap their flippers.

A Trump Face in the Crowd

384
Chrysicat  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:17:04am
385
Teukka  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:21:03am

re: #379 Teukka

More from the comments:

“How stupid do you have to get before it gets illegal?”

386
ObserverArt  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:26:19am

Just announced. I wonder if the NFL settled up so they can keep their actual info from any discovery. Local sports guys are saying the NFL is probably more concerned about that than collusion.

CNBC - Colin Kaepernick reaches settlement in National Anthem kneeling collusion case against NFL

The NFL and lawyers for players Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid jointly announced Friday that they have settled a complaint of collusion by the players, who had claimed football team owners blackballed them because they had protested racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem.

Terms of the settlement were confidential.

Kaepernick, a former star quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers, has not played since becoming a free agent after the 2016 season. Reid, a former 49ers safety, was signed by the Carolina Panthers in September after he had filed his own grievance against the NFL.

In a joint statement, the parties said: “For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL. As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party.”

387
Skip Intro  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:28:30am

re: #310 GlutenFreeJesus

So basically we have President Hannity.

President Fox actually.

388
Skip Intro  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:30:00am

re: #351 Mike Lamb

I can see McConnell having enough realpolitik in him for some public kabuki, while he sharpens the knife to stab Trump in the back when appropriate. I think Graham is fully on board with Trump, whether due to blackmail or otherwise.

The turtle is fully on board, because the ultimate goal is one party rule forever.

389
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:32:11am

re: #386 ObserverArt

Just announced. I wonder if the NFL settled up so they can keep their actual info from any discovery. Local sports guys are saying the NFL is probably more concerned about that than collusion.

CNBC - Colin Kaepernick reaches settlement in National Anthem kneeling collusion case against NFL

There was no collusion!!!

390
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:36:04am
391
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:39:48am

re: #390 Backwoods_Sleuth

Wow, he really tweeted that.

Holy hell.

392
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:41:39am

re: #370 ObserverArt

Is that a reference to the Uncle Don Rumor?

I had to look it up as I wasn’t familiar with it.

Snopes says it is a tall tale.

But then Trump tells us Snopes is Fake News.

Who to believe…who to believe??? : )

yes
i dont care that it’s apocryphal
just using it as an example

393
Skip Intro  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:42:11am

re: #390 Backwoods_Sleuth

JFC

[Embedded content]

One party rule. That’s the plan, then take the leaders of the other party into “protective custody”.

394
Chrysicat  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:44:02am
395
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:44:48am

re: #376 Eclectic Cyborg

I believe it was. That rumor was also referenced in a Simpsons episode where Gabbo called all the kids in Springfield SOBs.

ps - it was definitely on kermit shafers bloopers lp
we had it when i was a kid

i guess there’s a question now whether they ‘photoshopped it’ way back then

396
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:47:11am

re: #393 Skip Intro

One party rule. That’s the plan, then take the leaders of the other party into “protective custody”.

Eine Partei, ein Staat, eine Schildkröte

397
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:47:49am

re: #391 Eclectic Cyborg

Wow, he really tweeted that.

Holy hell.

What was said? I cant use volume right now

398
Old Liberal  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:49:21am

re: #311 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

shorter mcconnell: it’s a national emergency because the dems wont do what we want

Fucking “Two Rules” McConnell has to be the target of any never trumper. They have to expose him for all his treason, involving Russia in our election and covering it up, obstructing Obama and vowing to destroy his presidency, Merrick Garland. They need to make his name shit destroy his reputation daily until 2020. But they won’t. Republicans must pay a price TODAY and EVERYDAY until 2020. By name starting with their fucking leader McConnell.

399
Single-handed sailor  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:50:55am
400
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:52:32am

re: #399 Single-handed sailor

Can we please stop saying Trump is declaring a national emergency to FULFILL a campaign promise?

The campaign promise was that Mexico would pay for the wall

Trump is declaring a national emergency to BREAK a campaign promise and force taxpayers to pay for the wall

“Being a bad negotiator is not a national emergency.”

401
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:54:45am

re: #388 Skip Intro

The turtle is fully on board, because the ultimate goal is one party rule forever.

I agree re: one party rule, but I think he’d ultimately view Trump as disposable if he get in the way of the ultimate goal.

402
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:55:55am

there’s gonna be a sale at Barney’s there’ll be so many suits

first shot

right under the HuffPo headline:

TRUMP BLURTS IT OUT:
‘I DIDN’T NEED TO DO THIS’

403
dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve  Feb 15, 2019 • 11:57:27am

re: #401 Mike Lamb

I agree re: one party rule, but I think he’d ultimately view Trump as disposable if he get in the way of the ultimate goal.

im not being all libra here

i think both things are true
- the one party rule
- and he’s hanging trump out to dry

404
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:02:02pm
405
Skip Intro  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:04:03pm

re: #404 lawhawk

And Fox “News” goes wild with rage.

406
I Would Prefer Not To  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:05:36pm
407
Chrysicat  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:16:11pm
408
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:18:14pm

re: #397 Scottish Dragon

What was said? I cant use volume right now

It’s a video of snippets from Trump Blustering at the SOTU while the camera focuses in on sad faced Dems, all to the tune of “Everybody Hurts” by REM.

409
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:18:38pm
410
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:20:17pm

re: #408 Eclectic Cyborg

It’s a video of snippets from Trump Blustering at the SOTU while the camera focuses in on sad faced Dems, all to the tune of “Everybody Hurts” by REM.

and the reaction shots are not in sync with his actual speech

411
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:21:01pm
412
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:23:07pm

re: #411 NO SMOCKING GUN!

One day after the Parkland Anniversary. Reset the fucking clock again!

413
sagehen  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:24:27pm

watch live, WGN

wgntv.com

414
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:24:52pm
415
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:25:22pm

re: #386 ObserverArt

Just announced. I wonder if the NFL settled up so they can keep their actual info from any discovery. Local sports guys are saying the NFL is probably more concerned about that than collusion.

CNBC - Colin Kaepernick reaches settlement in National Anthem kneeling collusion case against NFL

Wonder if he is just getting a big check or if he’ll get a chance to play.

416
BeachDem  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:25:42pm

re: #410 Backwoods_Sleuth

and the reaction shots are not in sync with his actual speech

And there’s a whole lot of Romney.

417
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:26:06pm

Apparently the shooting took place at a manufacturing facility.

418
sagehen  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:26:30pm

re: #415 NO SMOCKING GUN!

Wonder if he is just getting a big check or if he’ll get a chance to play.

He’s getting a big enough check to drop it.

My guess — what he would have gotten for playing 2-3 seasons.

419
Citizen K  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:27:20pm

Schutlz needs to sit the fuck down. Especially after today.

420
A Cranky One  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:28:08pm

re: #411 NO SMOCKING GUN!

[Embedded content]

Mrs Cranky just called to tell me to lock the doors. Shooter is being sought in the neighborhood. 5 possible DOA. Fuck.

421
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:28:28pm

re: #419 Citizen K

Why are Republicans allowed to have the farthest right President in history but Democrats willing to accept a Centrist?

422
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:28:46pm

re: #420 A Cranky One

Mrs Cranky just called to tell me to lock the doors. Shooter is being sought in the neighborhood. 5 possible DOA. Fuck.

Oh shit.

Be safe. Keep us posted.

423
lawhawk  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:30:00pm

re: #415 NO SMOCKING GUN!

With no ability to corroborate, this reporter suggests it’s in the $60-80 million range.

If that’s true, then the NFL is lucky to settle for that much.

I don’t think we’ll find out the outcome for a long time.

424
Scottish Dragon  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:31:42pm

re: #420 A Cranky One

Mrs Cranky just called to tell me to lock the doors. Shooter is being sought in the neighborhood. 5 possible DOA. Fuck.

Stay safe. Jesus.

425
Citizen K  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:35:53pm

re: #421 Eclectic Cyborg

Why are Republicans allowed to have the farthest right President in history but Democrats willing to accept a Centrist?

I dunno, it’s right on the tip of my tongue. Both Sides of it.

426
Chrysicat  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:37:08pm
427
sagehen  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:37:37pm

re: #421 Eclectic Cyborg

Why are Republicans allowed to have the farthest right President in history but Democrats willing to accept a Centrist?

Because the electoral college (and the Senate) privileges sparsely populated states.

428
The Vicious Babushka  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:41:59pm
429
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:44:40pm

re: #311 dangerman-call me sandy, not a drink named Steve

National Emergency because Dems won’t give us something for nothing.

430
EPR-radar  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:46:11pm

re: #419 Citizen K

Schutlz needs to sit the fuck down. Especially after today.

[Embedded content]

Schultz can fuck off. When he gets done with that, he can go further away and fuck off with that week-old sheep carcass over there.

Next he leaves the area code and fucks off with the rusty assembly line machinery.

Finally, he fucks off and dies.

This is the kinder, gentler version of my thoughts on his ransom note of a candidacy.

431
I Would Prefer Not To  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:47:30pm

Who the fuck gets to decide what a centrist is or is not? Which issues are the ones that are important? And Fuck Schultz.

432
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:49:48pm

re: #406 I Would Prefer Not To

[Embedded content]

How many business owners have taxable income north of $10MM?

433
TedStriker  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:52:56pm

re: #423 lawhawk

With no ability to corroborate, this reporter suggests it’s in the $60-80 million range.

If that’s true, then the NFL is lucky to settle for that much.

I don’t think we’ll find out the outcome for a long time.

If true, the fact that the NFL is now willing to part with so much money to shut Kaepernick up tells me they’re fucking guilty as sin of blackballing and collusion, it’s just a matter of the particular details.

434
EPR-radar  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:55:48pm

re: #431 I Would Prefer Not To

Who the fuck gets to decide what a centrist is or is not? Which issues are the ones that are important? And Fuck Schultz.

Schultz may end up being useful, if his ‘candidacy’ starts persuading more people that we just shouldn’t have billionaires.

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and being a billionaire is way too close to absolute power for it not to corrupt absolutely.

435
EPR-radar  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:56:22pm

re: #432 Mike Lamb

How many business owners have taxable income north of $10MM?

Schultz does, and that is literally the only thing that matters to him.

436
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:58:03pm

re: #432 Mike Lamb

How many business owners have taxable income north of $10MM?

The only ones that matter to most politicians.

437
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 12:59:35pm

Fox News doing what Fox News does.

438
goddamnedfrank  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:06:26pm

re: #423 lawhawk

With no ability to corroborate, this reporter suggests it’s in the $60-80 million range.

[Embedded content]

If that’s true, then the NFL is lucky to settle for that much.

I don’t think we’ll find out the outcome for a long time.

Also, “NFL team officials” have an incentive to lowball their estimates. My guess would be a quarter billion, simply based on the strength of Kaep’s case and his good current financial position from the Nike sponsorship. In other words nothing about his situation was driving him to settle now.

439
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:07:29pm
440
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:08:09pm
441
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:09:03pm

Well, she sounds bitter. LOL

442
Eventual Carrion  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:09:58pm

re: #248 Patricia Kayden

Whose authority is she disrespecting?

Yeah, seems she is doing what the people elected her to do.

443
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:12:45pm

re: #406 I Would Prefer Not To

That is mind-bogglingly stupid, even for Trumpite grifters. “Hey, these new taxes are really starting to bite! What should I do? I’ve got it, I’ll lay people off, and scale back the business. Lower profits, lower taxes! Checkmate, libturds!”
I really think the idiot is trying to suggest that owners will have to lay people off so they can use the money to pay taxes, even though wages and salaries are, of course, a deductible business expense and the real after-tax cost of wages is actually lower, not higher, with a higher marginal tax rate.
I guess I should try explaining that to a Trump-rube. No wonder they think rich people are chosen by God, they can’t see any other way it might work.

444
Joe Bacon 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:13:32pm

re: #420 A Cranky One

Mrs Cranky just called to tell me to lock the doors. Shooter is being sought in the neighborhood. 5 possible DOA. Fuck.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!!!

445
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:14:28pm

Aurora update: SHOOTER APPREHENDED.

446
Sir John Barron  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:14:46pm

re: #441 Patricia Kayden

Well, she sounds bitter. LOL

oh, she’s upset about the declaration of emergency as executive overreach?

Hah, just kidding.

447
Joe Bacon 🌹  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:15:16pm

Pisses me off!

The REAL EMERGENCY is mass shooters gunning down people every day because the Normalizing Russian Autocracy thugs believe everyone has the right to an AR-15.

448
Patricia Kayden  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:18:50pm

re: #414 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

And we know that Sarah Huckabee Sanders and truth are antithetical to each other. I hate to sound mean spirited but I’d love to see her dragged down in the net which takes down Trump and his sycophants. They are all horrible people.

449
TedStriker  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:21:05pm

re: #438 goddamnedfrank

Also, “NFL team officials” have an incentive to lowball their estimates. My my guess would be a quarter billion, simply based on the strength of Kaep’s case and his good current financial position from the Nike sponsorship. In other words nothing about his situation was driving him to settle now.

Kaepernick, because of that Nike sponsorship, was probably in the best position he could be in going up against the NFL. I think that, realistically, he knows he’ll likely never take a snap in the league again even if it had been decided in his favor in court, simply because they robbed him of so many of his prime years, so it becomes about making an example of them and extracting his pound of flesh. He had to also know the NFL would never let this go to open court, because it would not only prove his case, but those of other players similarly affected and the league would have a lot to answer for to the public and to Congress, who grants them their antitrust exemption.

450
Mike Lamb  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:27:04pm

re: #436 Eclectic Cyborg

The only ones that matter to most politicians.

My larger point is this concept that there would be some mass layoffs when probably only a tenth of a percent of businesses make north of $10MM (admittedly, those businesses have the most employees).

451
Old Liberal  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:39:37pm

re: #421 Eclectic Cyborg

Why are Republicans allowed to have the farthest right President in history but Democrats willing to accept a Centrist?

Cause munny lots and lots of munny

452
Eric The Fruit Bat  Feb 15, 2019 • 1:43:55pm

re: #441 Patricia Kayden

Just what the fsck is she talking about? Trump’s getting his wall-it just won’t be on her schedule. Then again, her being an ex-constitutional lawyer, she probably knows that “The Wall” may be spiked by (hopefully, a non-partisan) Justice Department and the States….

453
sagehen  Feb 15, 2019 • 2:02:12pm

re: #450 Mike Lamb

My larger point is this concept that there would be some mass layoffs when probably only a tenth of a percent of businesses make north of $10MM (admittedly, those businesses have the most employees).

Any business that’s making “too much” money and wants to avoid taxes… reinvests the money in expanding the company, updating their equipment, sponsoring local initiatives (parks programs, libraries, community swimming pool, community theater) that improve property values, giving raises or improving benefits to the most valuable staff so they won’t leave, give company stock to offspring….

And sometime in the future, when taxes come down again, that’s when to draw money out of the company.


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