The political hodge podge thread

[Trapper Gus]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/opinion/white-rural-voters.html

In the crudest sense, rural and small-town America is supposed to be filled with hard-working people who adhere to traditional values, not like those degenerate urbanites on welfare, but the economic and social reality doesn’t match this self-image.

Prime working-age men outside metropolitan areas are substantially less likely than their metropolitan counterparts to be employed — not because they’re lazy, but because the jobs just aren’t there. (The gap is much smaller for women, perhaps because the jobs supported by federal aid tend to be female-coded, such as those in health care.)

Quite a few rural states also have high rates of homicide, suicide and births to single mothers — again, not because rural Americans are bad people, but because social disorder is, as the sociologist William Julius Wilson argued long ago about urban problems, what happens when work disappears.

[Floyd Robertson]

An ETF that tracks the stock trades of Democrats in Congress has been beating the S&P 500 on the strength of Magnificent 7 tech bets

Meanwhile the Republican ETF performs poorly vs. S&P 500 Total Market ETF lol.

The Democratic ETF isn't exactly rocket surgery by being tech-heavy.

ps. Lawmakers should be excluded from buying or selling securities while in office.

[Cameron]

AOC spittin' facts here.

"I Don't Know If Most People Even Know What Party Is In The Senate Majority"

You have to see what the ends are. And I don't think we should be afraid to be Democrats. I don't think we should be afraid to say, “we're right about this,” in moments where we're clearly right. And I do worry that there is an acclimation—this idea that we're still in, I don't know, the 90s, the 80s, that we're not in the political time that we're in.

And a lot of times I think there is a generational issue of governing in a time you wish you were in, as opposed to governing in the time that we are actually in. And we cannot, in good faith, go to the American people and talk rightfully about the dire stakes of this moment and then mosey on back and say, oh, well, you know, we're not being more aggressive because that's just not how we do things around here.

Like, come on, are the gloves off or not? And if they're off, they need to be off for everybody. If they're on, then stop texting people that you need them to give $5 or the world’s burning down.

[AvgMSUJoe]

AOC spittin' facts here.

"I Don't Know If Most People Even Know What Party Is In The Senate Majority"

You have to see what the ends are. And I don't think we should be afraid to be Democrats. I don't think we should be afraid to say, “we're right about this,” in moments where we're clearly right. And I do worry that there is an acclimation—this idea that we're still in, I don't know, the 90s, the 80s, that we're not in the political time that we're in.

And a lot of times I think there is a generational issue of governing in a time you wish you were in, as opposed to governing in the time that we are actually in. And we cannot, in good faith, go to the American people and talk rightfully about the dire stakes of this moment and then mosey on back and say, oh, well, you know, we're not being more aggressive because that's just not how we do things around here.

Like, come on, are the gloves off or not? And if they're off, they need to be off for everybody. If they're on, then stop texting people that you need them to give $5 or the world’s burning down.

She is right about many things. That is why the right wing media is obsessed with her. Young, cute and talks the truth.
Needs a better publicist.
(just like Bernie and Warren and Porter and others)

[Trapper Gus]

I think one of the reasons Republicans make more political hay using oversight committees is they don't give a shit if they are doing oversight as long as it makes the daily media cycle.

Democratics are not going to match that unless they drop to the same level. The January 6th committee did an outstanding job, as did the Senate Intelligence Committee on its investigation of the 2016 election, but those efforts take time and resources from doing other things.

I would rather see the Congress pass a comprehensive Voting Rights Act than use time on show trial investigations that are all sound and fury signifying little.

[Cameron]

Oh yeah, I forgot, Democrats are perfect already.

[Trapper Gus]

Oh yeah, I forgot, Democrats are perfect already.

The only difference between posts like this and Penn's post are slightly more acceptable phraseology.

There are reasons that back benchers like AOC are critical of what leadership is doing, and some of her ideas have some merit, but the world is not as myopic as what she is saying, and she knows that.

One of the reasons the Senate didn't do more investigating in the 117th Congress was power sharing.  Every committee was split 50/50 so to do anything a Republican had to agree.

Also, in the 118th Congress the Democratics have a slim majority, look what happened when Finestine was ill. There are more ways to grind the Senate to a very slow crawl on legislation, beyond the filibuster, which both sides are willing to do if provoked, so the majority party, if it has legislating agendas, doesn't go beyond certain limits.  As an example, one Republican Senator stopped the routine promotion of the top 500 officers in the military for months.  One Senator.  Republicans often have few laws they want to pass while in the majority, so they have an advantage on this point.

 AOC knows these things and knows that most of the people who will be reading this do not.  Although she has a point that Democratics should be as aggressive as possible this looks to me to be trolling for dollars and positive clicks, and there is nothing wrong with that, but she is promising more than can be done.

Also, just for the record, I am criticizing a Democratic member, whom, BTW, I believe is fairly effective at what she does, but that will, for some odd reason, be ignored by some posters on here.

[Cameron]

[tw]1764644135821037815?s=20[/tw]

 Looks like I'm not the only one who practices the "flagrantly aggressive dickhead" method of persuasion/argumentation.

[Cameron]

AIPAC uncorks $100 million war chest to sink progressive candidates

Why do we allow AIPAC? How is that not foreign meddling in our domestic politics?

[Trapper Gus]

AIPAC uncorks $100 million war chest to sink progressive candidates

Why do we allow AIPAC? How is that not foreign meddling in our domestic politics?

I think that is an excellent question.  They skirt the foreign influence laws by only allowing US citizens to be members, I guess.

FWIW the global Jewish communities seem to always had a unique status around the globe.  My guess is that the people in power in various countries found their syncopato with them and gave them latitude due to thier religion.  Not that they were treated nicely, they were not.

I don't know what the US government offical position was, but with all the strife in Israel I did some reading up, and at least Great Britain saw the Jewish people as a problem after WW1 and after WW2 were more than happy to support a two-state Palestine as a homeland in hopes all the Jews in Great Britain would move there.  Truman also had hopes, in his case his own, not the US government's, though given he was President it would be hard to tell the difference, that a majority of Jewish people in the US would move to Israel, one of the reasons he supported the two-state solution.

I think that is all stupid, but not everyone is as blind to class, race, gender, etc as I am.  (Of course I still hate people who support UofM /s)

[Cameron]

[tw]1764783418234044716?s=20[/tw]

Shockingly conservative...

[kingstonlake]

It’s a great idea but until corporate influence is neutered in DC, it’s not gonna matter. Corporate profit is guaranteed.

[sεяεηιτλ]

[tw]1764644135821037815?s=20[/tw]

 Looks like I'm not the only one who practices the "flagrantly aggressive dickhead" method of persuasion/argumentation.

only difference is they are mildly funny, you have perfected, however, the flagrant dickhead schtick though

[AvgMSUJoe]

Getting 100% or losing 200%. Those appear to be the only progressive choices.

[DWags]

I mean why not. There is no floor for these assholes. It’s going to be an exciting four years.

[tw]1764130676612178088?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

[Motown Spartan]

[tw]1764644135821037815?s=20[/tw]

 Looks like I'm not the only one who practices the "flagrantly aggressive dickhead" method of persuasion/argumentation.

only difference is they are mildly funny, you have perfected, however, the flagrant dickhead schtick though

I prefer my dickheads to be flagrantly aggressive as opposed to hypocritical and disingenuous.

[DWags]

[tw]1764806445231468678?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

[Trapper Gus]

[tw]1764806445231468678?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

At his age, weight & general condition that would be front page news.

[DWags]

This guy seems like a real catch.  Man, wish my daughter would have taken someone like this home.  
MAGA's.    

[tw]1765073791389176072?s=20[/tw]

[Robert J Sakimano]

This guy seems like a real catch.  Man, wish my daughter would have taken someone like this home.  
MAGA's.    

[tw]1765073791389176072?s=20[/tw]

 -  I'd almost feel bad for that dude if he ran into my wife and daughter.

also, it's shocking that the same christian republican/libertarians that support a convicted rapist are dismissive of women.

[AvgMSUJoe]

What kind of self hating loser is he married to? Have some self respect woman. I'd be embarrassed sharing an address with a fucker like this.

[DWags]

AvgMSUJoe and Bob,
Don't kid yourself, I will bet over 75% of the MAGA men have that exact same thought process.

[Robert J Sakimano]

AvgMSUJoe and Bob,
Don't kid yourself, I will bet over 75% of the MAGA men have that exact same thought process.  

without a doubt. Probably higher - we even see it in them here. Things like minimizing rape convictions, etc.

both sad and frightening.

[sεяεηιτλ]

only difference is they are mildly funny, you have perfected, however, the flagrant dickhead schtick though

I prefer my dickheads to be flagrantly aggressive as opposed to hypocritical and disingenuous.

very good Mo, now get yourself a juice box.

[Cameron]

[tw]1766212421683724406?s=20[/tw]

The level of economic conservatism on display here is almost unbearable...

[DWags]

This is so pathetic.  Anyone still getting their “news” from Fox News wants to be lied to.

[tw]1766467713122136076?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

[DWags]

How many of you believe this?  

[tw]1766560595061481523?s=20[/tw]

[Motown Spartan]

How many of you believe this?  

[tw]1766560595061481523?s=20[/tw]

I bet he’s not as good as Kim Jong Un, who famously had a round of 18 straight holes-in-one.

[Floyd Robertson]

Trump wishes he could ride a horse bare-chested like Putin.

But he can't go without his manziere.

[DWags]

How does one “look like you’re illegal”. Fear porn and lies. If you believe this shit you deserve what you get.

[tw]1766839671445758186?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

[Motown Spartan]

How does one “look like you’re illegal”. Fear porn and lies. If you believe this shit you deserve what you get.

[tw]1766839671445758186?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

Things that never happened for $1,000 Alex.

[DWags]

FFS.

His base will say, "fake news" "You're lying, he's lying, I don't believe you".

[tw]1767286714593050822?s=20[/tw]

[Floyd Robertson]

Election denier who evaded Michigan court for 11 days: ‘I know too much’

A metro Detroit attorney and ally of Donald Trump accused of illegally tampering with voting machines must return to Michigan and turn herself in following an arrest on a bench warrant in Washington, D.C., a judge ordered Tuesday.

Stefanie Lambert (Juntilla) was arrested Monday by the U.S. Marshals Service and charged as a fugitive, 11 days after an Oakland County judge issued a bench warrant when she failed to appear for a hearing ahead of her Michigan trial.

Lambert was in Washington, D.C. acting as a defense attorney for fellow 2020 election denier and businessman Patrick Byrne in a defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems, a global manufacturer of voting machines and tabulators.

Apparently "knowing too much" doesn't include how not to be a dumbass.

[Trapper Gus]

Election denier who evaded Michigan court for 11 days: ‘I know too much’

A metro Detroit attorney and ally of Donald Trump accused of illegally tampering with voting machines must return to Michigan and turn herself in following an arrest on a bench warrant in Washington, D.C., a judge ordered Tuesday.

Stefanie Lambert (Juntilla) was arrested Monday by the U.S. Marshals Service and charged as a fugitive, 11 days after an Oakland County judge issued a bench warrant when she failed to appear for a hearing ahead of her Michigan trial.

Lambert was in Washington, D.C. acting as a defense attorney for fellow 2020 election denier and businessman Patrick Byrne in a defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems, a global manufacturer of voting machines and tabulators.

Apparently "knowing too much" doesn't include how not to be a dumbass.

This lady, and all the rest of the assholes who question the voting process in Michigan, are so full of shit it is fucking ridicules. (But let me tell you how I really feel)

A high school buddy of mine, who is a Republican, and a CPA, and a licensed business manager for public schools, and is retired now, but has been working as an election poll worker, was telling me all about the checks & balances built into the Michigan voting process by law.  His message was that it was way easier to rob a bank via embezzlement than change a vote in the Michigan voting process and that the error rates was so small that any private businesses accounting system would have huge errors by comparison.

He also said the clerk's office where he applied to work was very happy to get him, as it is a predominately Democratic area, and by law every position at a polling place has two workers, one from each major party, so they have some issues getting Republican polling place workers.  Every action has to be approved by both workers.

I had researched the voting process in Michigan years ago now, and my conclusion was then, and still is, that Michigan has a great voting process that we all can be very proud of.

https://michiganadvance.com/2024/03/18/ahead-of-2024-election-benson-and-local-officials-discuss-voting-changes-and-misinformation/

[Robert J Sakimano]

Election denier who evaded Michigan court for 11 days: ‘I know too much’

A metro Detroit attorney and ally of Donald Trump accused of illegally tampering with voting machines must return to Michigan and turn herself in following an arrest on a bench warrant in Washington, D.C., a judge ordered Tuesday.

Stefanie Lambert (Juntilla) was arrested Monday by the U.S. Marshals Service and charged as a fugitive, 11 days after an Oakland County judge issued a bench warrant when she failed to appear for a hearing ahead of her Michigan trial.

Lambert was in Washington, D.C. acting as a defense attorney for fellow 2020 election denier and businessman Patrick Byrne in a defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems, a global manufacturer of voting machines and tabulators.

Apparently "knowing too much" doesn't include how not to be a dumbass.

I don't think anyone will ever accuse the MAGA patriots who deny elections and think that the US judicial system doesn't really prove anything with "knowing too much".

[Cameron]

AIPAC uncorks $100 million war chest to sink progressive candidates

Why do we allow AIPAC? How is that not foreign meddling in our domestic politics?

[tw]1770474817667449319?s=20[/tw]

[Trapper Gus]

AIPAC uncorks $100 million war chest to sink progressive candidates

Why do we allow AIPAC? How is that not foreign meddling in our domestic politics?

[tw]1770474817667449319?s=20[/tw]

Is it foreign meddling if the organization and people in it are US citizens?

Conversely other citizens have a right to question the policy goals of the organization without the degradation of attacking its members for their beliefs.

[Cameron]

[tw]1770474817667449319?s=20[/tw]

Is it foreign meddling if the organization and people in it are US citizens?

Conversely other citizens have a right to question the policy goals of the organization without the degradation of attacking its members for their beliefs.

Their stated goal is essentially lobbying on behalf of a foreign nation. Are you so naive as to think no Israeli citizens are involved in AIPAC? Or are you just being disagreeable because you're bored?

[Cameron]

[tw]1766212421683724406?s=20[/tw]

The level of economic conservatism on display here is almost unbearable...

Someone please stop this right wing lunatic, he's out of control:

[tw]1772718008605053360?s=20[/tw]

[AvgMSUJoe]

PRO TIP: That was the ONLY real R agenda for decades... everything else* used to be just hot air to get more tax cuts for the uber-rich.
until they overturned Roe, that is... since they actually DID something to piss off the silent majority (abortion & "bonus" IVF!)... I'm hoping we will see repercussions.


* - "Conservative Christianity", Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Pitting one part of the country vs another, etc. etc. etc.

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