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Marc Vaughan 11-25-2018 10:38 AM

Quote:

1) EU countries all-in taxes to employees are much higher than the US
2) EU countries all-in taxes to employers are much higher than the US
3) EU do provide "better" services (e.g. healthcare, education) with the taxes, and they provide "worse" services (e.g. paid days off, difficulty in firing employees)
4) US is still the better country warts and all (I'm obviously biased), there are more pros than cons

Out of interest what makes you say '4' is true - outside of natural patriotism? ...

(asking mainly because in my experience the higher taxes paid in the UK were more than offset by the reduced costs to other areas (ie. healthcare, car insurance etc. being far lower) ... admittedly if I bought more luxury items that might not be the case.

digamma 11-25-2018 12:18 PM

Football?

AlexB 11-25-2018 12:29 PM

Also fairly sure that paid holiday is not true.

The minimum holiday in the UK is 28 days (including 8 bank holiday days, so you could argue it is 20 days). I understood it can be as low as 10 days in the US?

Edward64 11-25-2018 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan (Post 3224276)
Out of interest what makes you say '4' is true - outside of natural patriotism? ...

(asking mainly because in my experience the higher taxes paid in the UK were more than offset by the reduced costs to other areas (ie. healthcare, car insurance etc. being far lower) ... admittedly if I bought more luxury items that might not be the case.


Definitely patriotism plays a role but ultimately, from an immigrant's point of view, the US is the Land of Opportunity.

Edward64 11-25-2018 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexB (Post 3224282)
Also fairly sure that paid holiday is not true.

The minimum holiday in the UK is 28 days (including 8 bank holiday days, so you could argue it is 20 days). I understood it can be as low as 10 days in the US?


Yes, I do understand that EU countries have more paid holidays/vacation time than the US. I don't know where the "breakeven/optimal" point is for # of paid holidays/vacation/parental leave vs employee/company productivity but, being used to the US, it seems many/most EU are very generous.

For a typical US corporate job, you typically start off with 10 days in the first year and that increases every 5 years or so.

JPhillips 11-25-2018 03:29 PM

Apparently Trump has closed the border at San Ysidro. Not just for people coming in, but also refusing to let anyone leave the USA.

JPhillips 11-25-2018 03:41 PM

And Russia fired at and seized two Ukrainian ships.

NobodyHere 11-25-2018 03:47 PM

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/25/us/sa...sed/index.html

Looks like the caravan has arrived.

Marc Vaughan 11-25-2018 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NobodyHere (Post 3224298)
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/25/us/sa...sed/index.html

Looks like the caravan has arrived.


500 people? - that is one of the busiest crossings in the world between countries and apparently 90,000 people a day come in and out of it, I'd expect that isn't a caravan but people upset as being stuck in a country they might work in or visit but not want to remain in at the end of the day.

San Ysidiro Port of Entry

PilotMan 11-25-2018 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPhillips (Post 3224296)
And Russia fired at and seized two Ukrainian ships.



Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. Guess we'll never know, so let's just move on.

JPhillips 11-25-2018 06:07 PM

At least in this instance both the Ukrainians and the Russians are saying it happened. I'd bet Trump seizes on the Russian claim that the Ukrainians were in Russian waters.

Edward64 11-25-2018 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan (Post 3224306)
500 people? - that is one of the busiest crossings in the world between countries and apparently 90,000 people a day come in and out of it, I'd expect that isn't a caravan but people upset as being stuck in a country they might work in or visit but not want to remain in at the end of the day.

San Ysidiro Port of Entry


Nope, I think they are here per below or at least 5,000 are.

It's definitely unfortunate and sad (especially another report that said a woman was impaled on a rebar) but this stuff doesn't help their cause, its not going to win more US sympathy for them.

US agents fire tear gas as some migrants try to breach fence
Quote:

Hundreds of migrants approaching the U.S. border from Mexico were enveloped with tear gas Sunday after several tried to make it past fencing and wire separating the two countries.

Earlier in the morning, a group of Central Americans staged a peaceful march to appeal for the U.S. to speed up the asylum claims process, but their demonstration devolved as they neared the crossing with the U.S. and some saw an opportunity to breach the border.
:
Honduran Ana Zuniga, 23, said she saw other migrants open a small hole in concertina wire at a gap on the Mexican side of a levee, at which point U.S. agents fired tear gas at them.
:
:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopters flew overhead, while U.S. agents held vigil on foot beyond the wire fence in California. The Border Patrol office in San Diego said via Twitter that pedestrian crossings have been suspended at the San Ysidro port of entry at both the East and West facilities. All northbound and southbound traffic was halted.

Earlier Sunday, the group of several hundred migrants pushed past a blockade of Mexican police who were standing guard near the international border crossing. They appeared to easily pass through without using violence, and some of the migrants called on each other to remain peaceful.
:
:
Around 5,000 migrants have been camped in and around a sports complex in Tijuana after making their way through Mexico in recent weeks via caravan. Many hope to apply for asylum in the U.S., but agents at the San Ysidro entry point are processing fewer than 100 asylum petitions a day.

NobodyHere 11-25-2018 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan (Post 3224306)
500 people? - that is one of the busiest crossings in the world between countries and apparently 90,000 people a day come in and out of it, I'd expect that isn't a caravan but people upset as being stuck in a country they might work in or visit but not want to remain in at the end of the day.

San Ysidiro Port of Entry


Whoever they are Mexico is deporting them

Migrant caravan: Mexico to deport group which stormed US border - BBC News

Brian Swartz 11-26-2018 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isiddiqui
You are moving goalposts (again). Do those people have any issue with people calling the US a Democracy? Because your issue is trying to redefine the popular definition of Democracy, not whether or not people are fine if someone calls it a Republic (which is a more exact definition). In my experience, it's usually the elites or the well-off that go "Actually the US is a Republic, not a Democracy" (generally to defend some undemocratic practice), whereas most regular people refer to the US as a Democracy.


I sorry you think that's what I was doing, and that it appears that way to you. It certainly wasn't my intent. I recently looked up recent polling on the issue, and it was pretty much a perfect 50-50 split when given a choice between republic and democracy. Of course, based on the discussion so far that probably means almost nothing, since it can be waved off just like the poll results vis a vis socialism were.

From my point of view I haven't been the one doing the goal-post moving and twisting of language. I'm very confident that's a case I could prove easily in a court of law or similar environment if it came to that, but it's also clear to me that this discussion unfortunately serves no more useful purpose. When there can't be agreement on what even constitutes the basis for common ground, even if opposing views don't end up being reconciled by the end of a debate, I think furthering it can only result in increased hostility. So I think it's appropriate now for me to just wish you and the rest of the board peace and joy this holiday season, and take a hiatus before I say more things that I would almost certainly end up sorely regretting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesloppy
I feel like the truth that gets reinforced from this conversation is that when American conservatives talk about "Socialism" they are referring almost exclusively to a relatively high tax rate (and the things that lead you there), as opposed to any kind of specific governmental/economic policy.


I'd be careful with that conclusion. So far as that goes I think I've been the only one really making that point, and I'm no way conservative on most economic policy.

PilotMan 11-26-2018 06:23 AM

When Conservatives talk about Socialism they are, in my opinion, exclusively talking about that soundbite, and evoking images of Lenin, Russia, totalitarianism, and the evils of Karl Marx. There can be no other comparison or acceptance of any other kind of definition. Therefore, any person or idea that they paint as Socialist is immediately branded and coded negatively in the person receiving that's brain.



There have been many efforts to change that, from the conversation here, to the politicians themselves, but I don't think it'll achieve what they seek anyway. It may take another 3-4 generations, for the Boomers and X-ers to shuffle off this mortal coil, before there's even a chance. They would have been better off, sticking with a rebrand of a current ideology, rather than inserting that one into a mix of western philosophy, as they are trying now.

Edward64 11-26-2018 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilotMan (Post 3224348)
When Conservatives talk about Socialism they are, in my opinion, exclusively talking about that soundbite, and evoking images of Lenin, Russia, totalitarianism, and the evils of Karl Marx. There can be no other comparison or acceptance of any other kind of definition. Therefore, any person or idea that they paint as Socialist is immediately branded and coded negatively in the person receiving that's brain.


TBF, can't the same be said for Liberals when they talk about Trumpism/Nationalism = Facism and the invoking images of Mussolini/Hitler?

There's definitely degrees of Facism with Trump (which can also be said for Bernie and his "socialism") but is it really facism or just a nice "branding" which is "coded negatively in the person receiving" the message.

Edward64 11-26-2018 09:19 AM

A push for the (start of a) Wall before the new Congress takes over.

I guess, unfortunately, not as easy as Trump claimed, who would have thought? Didn't see anything about DACA, not sure what's happening in that front.

Trump’s last, best chance for wall creates latest shutdown threat | TheHill
Quote:

Congress is returning to Washington with a tight deadline to pass seven spending bills and avert a partial government shutdown over President Trump’s demand that lawmakers fund his wall on the Mexican border.

The partial shutdown will take place on Dec. 7 if Congress does not pass legislation, creating the last chance for Trump to win wall funding before Democrats take over the House majority in January.
:
A new poll from Morning Consult found that 55 percent of registered voters opposed shutting the government down over funding for the wall, while only 31 percent supported it.

Among Republicans, however, just below half supported a shutdown for the wall, while 34 percent opposed it.
:
The House version of the spending bill allocates $5 billion for the wall and was approved without Democratic support. A Senate bill, which has bipartisan support, would provide less — just $1.6 billion. The Senate bill, which is in line with the administration’s original funding request, would build 65 miles of pedestrian fencing along the Rio Grande Valley.

Trump has pushed for as much as $25 billion in wall funding, but those close to negotiations believe that the final compromise in Congress will be close to the Senate bill, or marginally higher.

PilotMan 11-26-2018 09:39 AM

I don't see it that way. Fascism is an extension of a type of authoritarian rule and could be applied to either the far right and far left extremes. So equating that here doesn't necessarily fit. I think there are a lot of other people you could equate trump to without using Hitler/Mussolini. His love or authoritarian/mob style rulers isn't a secret. Besides, we're talking about Republicans using the term Socialism which has been around far longer than trumpism. trumpism, as a name, isn't a philosophy inasmuch as it is a definition for a his leadership style. And it certainly hasn't been around long enough to dig up those old fearful thoughts that have been a part of the fabric of the country for over 70 years.

Edward64 11-26-2018 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilotMan (Post 3224356)
I don't see it that way. Fascism is an extension of a type of authoritarian rule and could be applied to either the far right and far left extremes. So equating that here doesn't necessarily fit. I think there are a lot of other people you could equate trump to without using Hitler/Mussolini. His love or authoritarian/mob style rulers isn't a secret. Besides, we're talking about Republicans using the term Socialism which has been around far longer than trumpism. trumpism, as a name, isn't a philosophy inasmuch as it is a definition for a his leadership style. And it certainly hasn't been around long enough to dig up those old fearful thoughts that have been a part of the fabric of the country for over 70 years.


Facism is more specific to right and not the left. It is against liberalism (e.g. the left). Facism has been tossed around by the antifa group as meaning against Trumpism and his version of nationalism.

You are right that Facism could be referred to other than Hitler/Mussolini but I do think that is what the antifa is alluding to, the negative aspect of it. FWIW, Hitler & Mussolini are what pops up when I hear Facism.

Just like I think its unfair to paint Bernie to pure socialism, I think the same when antifa group paint Trump supporters as facists.

My working definition of facism and their tenets are here

Fascism - Wikipedia

ISiddiqui 11-26-2018 10:12 AM

Well GM just announced they are closing 5 plants and cutting 14,000+ jobs (The plants are in Ontario, Detroit, Ohio, Maryland, and Michigan). And right after they announced it, their stock went up 5.6%...

Edward64 11-26-2018 10:32 AM

Nothing about Bowling Green. Guess this means the 2020 mid-engine Corvette is still good to go.

Thomkal 11-26-2018 10:55 AM

George Papadopolous heads to prison today for that very long 14 day (may end up being 12 or 13) prison sentence, fighting it all the way to the end. Hopefully the internet will be a little calmer without his tweets, though his wife will probably take up the slack.

Atocep 11-26-2018 01:24 PM

Former Border Patrol deputy chief defends using pepper spray: You could ‘put it on your nachos and eat it’ | TheHill

If nothing else, this administration has to be proof we're living a simulation.

albionmoonlight 11-26-2018 02:38 PM

He can't even get capitalism right.

I'd bet good money that he'd fail a freshman econ final.

But, hey, let's be sure to keep voting for the GOP, because we all hate socialism so much, right?



albionmoonlight 11-26-2018 02:47 PM

Dola

He's also calling for State TV.

And they gassed children this weekend.

You are for Trump and the GOP, or you are against them.

Pick whichever side you want, but understand that you are picking a side. You either fight this, or you support/enable it.



AlexB 11-26-2018 03:08 PM

He’s also said he’ll only consider reducing carbon emissions if other countries commit to doing the same.

If only there had been a way that nearly 200 countries could have gotten together in one place and agreed to do just that. For some reason Paris sounds like it might have been a good location... :rolleyes:

thesloppy 11-26-2018 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight (Post 3224377)
He can't even get capitalism right.

I'd bet good money that he'd fail a freshman econ final.

But, hey, let's be sure to keep voting for the GOP, because we all hate socialism so much, right?




Heh. If that ain't calling for the government to seize the means of production, I don't know what is. The irony is thick.

PilotMan 11-26-2018 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesloppy (Post 3224383)
Heh. If that ain't calling for the government to seize the means of production, I don't know what is. The irony is thick.



Hey! It worked in WWII!


{I'm not advocating that at all, it's just that people forget that during the War, the government basically dictated to private companies how they were going to operate.}


Further, how are the R's even contemplating standing behind this shit? It goes against everything they've been since I've been alive.

thesloppy 11-26-2018 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilotMan (Post 3224387)
Further, how are the R's even contemplating standing behind this shit? It goes against everything they've been since I've been alive.


Though Repubs and Dems have both gone out of their way to determine what defines the GOP, for better or worse, I think it simply comes down to them being the party of self-interest....which is a remarkably malleable, resilient platform, when it comes to individual voters.

RainMaker 11-26-2018 06:16 PM

Sure seems like Manafort will spend the rest of his life in prison.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/u...operation.html

larrymcg421 11-26-2018 06:53 PM

The Dem has pulled ahead in the CA-21st district. Assuming he holds on, which is almost certain based on how the ballots have been breaking, that's a net gain of 40 seats.

Thomkal 11-26-2018 07:16 PM

I just don't understand Manafort-he was given a gift-all that info that would have come out in the second trial goes away and a much shorter sentence, and you throw it all away.

SackAttack 11-26-2018 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomkal (Post 3224400)
I just don't understand Manafort-he was given a gift-all that info that would have come out in the second trial goes away and a much shorter sentence, and you throw it all away.


Comes down to he was either a moron, or he figured he could try to split the baby by appearing to cooperate, lying to try to blow up the investigation, and then seek a pardon from Trump after the investigation goes away.

Doesn't help him on the state charges, but maybe by the time Virginia went after him he was already doing whatever it was he thought he was doing.

Mota 11-26-2018 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight (Post 3224378)
Dola

He's also calling for State TV.

And they gassed children this weekend.

You are for Trump and the GOP, or you are against them.

Pick whichever side you want, but understand that you are picking a side. You either fight this, or you support/enable it.



Would Trump have to approve any material that appears on USA TV?

Only positive things about him, of course...

That doesn't feel wrong at all.

Edward64 11-26-2018 08:29 PM

Trump is messing up Apple (and other Tech companies) which definitely hurts my 401k & IRAs.

It is an Economic war so I am supportive. If this means Apple and like will have to do more in other low cost Asian countries like Vietnam (go Nike), Malaysia etc., the US consumers will suffer with temporary higher prices or shortages, and my 401k & IRAs take a hit I'm all for it.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/26/trum...rom-china.html
Quote:

President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping make joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 9, 2017.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

President Donald Trump suggested he could place a 10 percent tariff on iPhones and laptops imported from China, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published Monday. He also said it's "highly unlikely" that he would delay an increase in tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on Jan. 1, just four days before a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Maybe. Maybe. Depends on what the rate is," the president said to The Wall Street Journal about the possible iPhone and laptop tariffs. "I mean, I can make it 10 percent, and people could stand that very easily."

Apple stock was down nearly 2 percent in after-hours trading.

Trump said he expects he will increase tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25 percent. He will also add $267 billion worth of tariffs onto goods that are not already subjected to existing tariffs if the two countries don't make a deal.

Edward64 11-26-2018 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight (Post 3224378)
Dola

He's also calling for State TV.

And they gassed children this weekend.

You are for Trump and the GOP, or you are against them.

Pick whichever side you want, but understand that you are picking a side. You either fight this, or you support/enable it.


There are some things I support Trump in and other things I do not. I support Trump on the Wall and his strong push to reduce unauthorized immigration. (However, I definitely do not support the fiasco re: long-term separation of kids from parents that occurred earlier this year).

In this specific situation, assuming the Border agents warned them not to try cross over and they did not heed the warnings, what would you have the Border agents do?

In a perfect world, there would be an orderly processing of their applications at the border. From what I've read, it was a spontaneous mass "jailbreak" to get over the fence (correct me if I'm wrong) which resulting in the gassing. Parents putting their kids in a dangerous situation.

So, if not gas ...

Water canons? Armed troops corralling them after they hopped the fence(s)? Fire warning shots above their heads and if that doesn't work, shoot rubber bullets? or just let them illegally cross and join the approx 11M+ already here?

NobodyHere 11-26-2018 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward64 (Post 3224408)
There are some things I support Trump in and other things I do not. I support Trump on the Wall and his strong push to reduce unauthorized immigration. (However, I definitely do not support the fiasco re: long-term separation of kids from parents that occurred earlier this year).

In this specific situation, assuming the Border agents warned them not to try cross over and they did not heed the warnings, what would you have the Border agents do?

In a perfect world, there would be an orderly processing of their applications at the border. From what I've read, it was a spontaneous mass "jailbreak" to get over the fence (correct me if I'm wrong) which resulting in the gassing. Parents putting their kids in a dangerous situation.

So, if not gas ...

Water canons? Armed troops corralling them after they hopped the fence(s)? Fire warning shots above their heads and if that doesn't work, shoot rubber bullets? or just let them illegally cross and join the approx 11M+ already here?


Yeah I pretty much agree here. You support open borders or you don't. If not then you have to give the means to the personnel guarding the border to repel illegal boarding crossings.

Atocep 11-26-2018 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NobodyHere (Post 3224410)
Yeah I pretty much agree here. You support open borders or you don't. If not then you have to give the means to the personnel guarding the border to repel illegal boarding crossings.


The attention brought to it is entirely Trump's creation. This isn't the first time a caravan has reached the border, but since Trump decided to use it as a scare tactic for midterms this one has the spotlight on it and with the treatment of those detained previously everything done is going to be nitpicked. The administration can't create this attention and then cry about the attention it's getting.

It doesn't help that those that support what's going on at the border are on TV saying stupid shit like "you could put tear gas on your nachos".

Even if I supported closed borders I'd have a difficult time supporting the clusterfuck this administration has in the wake of everything it does.

NobodyHere 11-26-2018 09:16 PM

Personally I think the attention given to the border is a good thing and can spur discussion. But lets not pretend that previous administrations reacted so much differently to people rushing the border.

Radii 11-26-2018 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight (Post 3224378)
You are for Trump and the GOP, or you are against them.

Pick whichever side you want, but understand that you are picking a side. You either fight this, or you support/enable it.


Yes. I am open to the possibility of someone not really understanding what's actually happening thanks to the FOX propaganda machine. Past that, nah, its an active choice to be okay with white supremacy and nazis and the pure hatred exhibited by this president and those that accept his ideas on a daily basis for whatever reason.

Atocep 11-26-2018 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NobodyHere (Post 3224414)
Personally I think the attention given to the border is a good thing and can spur discussion. But lets not pretend that previous administrations reacted so much differently to people rushing the border.


As I said, it's not the first caravan to reach the border. But if you don't want or can't handle your tactics being nitpicked then maybe don't invite the entire world to pay close attention to how you treat people you have a history of treating inhumanely.

Thomkal 11-27-2018 09:36 AM

We may now know one of the things Manafort was lying about:


Manafort held secret talks with Assange in Ecuadorian embassy | US news | The Guardian

PilotMan 11-27-2018 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward64 (Post 3224357)
Facism is more specific to right and not the left. It is against liberalism (e.g. the left). Facism has been tossed around by the antifa group as meaning against Trumpism and his version of nationalism.

You are right that Facism could be referred to other than Hitler/Mussolini but I do think that is what the antifa is alluding to, the negative aspect of it. FWIW, Hitler & Mussolini are what pops up when I hear Facism.

Just like I think its unfair to paint Bernie to pure socialism, I think the same when antifa group paint Trump supporters as facists.

My working definition of facism and their tenets are here

Fascism - Wikipedia



So who you're really talking about here is a loose group, with absolutely no membership card, who's only requirement for joining is to say that they are antifa.

From the article specifically this:

The fascist view of a nation is of a single organic entity that binds people together by their ancestry and is a natural unifying force of people.

You can't really convince me that trump hasn't taken the long way around to get to this spot, or at the very least, dog whistle to others, that this is his belief system.

Fascist states pursued policies of social indoctrination through propaganda in education and the media and regulation of the production of educational and media materials.

trump is all about loyalty and telling people what is right. He just advocated for state run media, and he essentially wishes for control over how he is reported on and who gets their voice heard.

They say that nations and races must purge themselves of socially and biologically weak or degenerate people, while simultaneously promoting the creation of strong people, in order to survive in a world defined by perpetual national and racial conflict.

He hasn't quite gotten here, but his emphasis on being seen as (and what he thinks makes him) strong, national strength, racial conflict, and his actual degrading speech toward people he views as inferior is clearly there.

This doesn't mean that he's to be included in the same category, as there are clearly some differences, however, he is, without question, lighting up a number of talking points, that are critical to the overall identification.

Edward64 11-27-2018 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilotMan (Post 3224428)
This doesn't mean that he's to be included in the same category, as there are clearly some differences, however, he is, without question, lighting up a number of talking points, that are critical to the overall identification.


I agree with you here. No doubt there are elements of fascism in Trumpism.

The tenets are:

Nationalism - No argument from me. I would rate this 10/10

Totalitarism

Quote:

Fascism promotes the establishment of a totalitarian state.[190] It opposes liberal democracy, rejects multi-party systems and supports a one-party state.
:
Fascist states pursued policies of social indoctrination through propaganda in education and the media and regulation of the production of educational and media materials.[193][194] Education was designed to glorify the fascist movement and inform students of its historical and political importance to the nation. It attempted to purge ideas that were not consistent with the beliefs of the fascist movement and to teach students to be obedient to the state.[195]
Social indoctrination, some. Rejects multi-party systems for one-party state, I'm sure he wants to get there with Trump being the one party state but has he rejected this principal of US Democracy/Republic? I'd give this a 5/10 at most.

Economy

Quote:

Fascism presented itself as a third position,[when?] alternative to both international socialism and free market capitalism.[196] While fascism opposed mainstream socialism, it sometimes regarded itself as a type of nationalist "socialism" to highlight their commitment to national solidarity and unity.[197][198] Fascists opposed international free market capitalism, but supported a type of productive capitalism.[113][199] Economic self-sufficiency, known as autarky, was a major goal of most fascist governments.[200]
:
Fascism condemned what it viewed as widespread character traits that it associated as the typical bourgeois mentality that it opposed, such as materialism, crassness, cowardice, inability to comprehend the heroic ideal of the fascist "warrior";
:
Fascist economics supported a state-controlled economy that accepted a mix of private and public ownership over the means of production.[208]
:
While fascism accepted the importance of material wealth and power, it condemned materialism which identified as being present in both communism and capitalism and criticized materialism for lacking acknowledgement of the role of the spirit.[210] In particular, fascists criticized capitalism not because of its competitive nature nor support of private property, which fascists supported—but due to its materialism, individualism, alleged bourgeois decadence and alleged indifference to the nation.[211]
Trump is as materialistic and decadent as you will get. < 5/10.

Action

Quote:

Fascism emphasizes direct action, including supporting the legitimacy of political violence, as a core part of its politics.[17][221] Fascism views violent action as a necessity in politics that fascism identifies as being an "endless struggle".[222] This emphasis on the use of political violence means that most fascist parties have also created their own private militias (e.g. the Nazi Party's Brown shirts and Fascist Italy's Blackshirts).
Yup, I'll concede this and say 8/10.

Age & Gender roles

Quote:

Fascism emphasizes youth both in a physical sense of age and in a spiritual sense as related to virility and commitment to action.[225]
:
Italian Fascism pursued what it called "moral hygiene" of youth, particularly regarding sexuality.[228] Fascist Italy promoted what it considered normal sexual behaviour in youth while denouncing what it considered deviant sexual behaviour.[228] It condemned pornography, most forms of birth control and contraceptive devices (with the exception of the condom), homosexuality and prostitution as deviant sexual behaviour,
:
The German Nazi government strongly encouraged women to stay at home to bear children and keep house.[233]
:
The Nazis said that homosexuality was degenerate, effeminate, perverted and undermined masculinity because it did not produce children.[241]
I don't see this so < 5/10.

Palingenesis and modernism

Quote:

Fascism emphasizes both palingenesis (national rebirth or re-creation) and modernism.[244] In particular, fascism's nationalism has been identified as having a palingenetic character.[182] Fascism promotes the regeneration of the nation and purging it of decadence.[244]
"National rebirth" yes. Purging it of decadence, don't see it. Another < 5/10


My point is, there are definitely elements of fascism with Trumpism. Does one need to check all the boxes on the tenets above to be called a fascist, no. However, there are some very clear differences between Trump and what we would consider traditional fascism. IMO he has not risen to that level.

To your earlier quote, changing some words, and it still holds true to the other extreme.

Quote:

When Liberals talk about Fascism they are, in my opinion, exclusively talking about that soundbite, and evoking images of Hitler/Mussolini, Nazi Germany/Italy, and the evils of Hitler/Mussolini. There can be no other comparison or acceptance of any other kind of definition. Therefore, any person or idea that they paint as Fascist is immediately branded and coded negatively in the person receiving that's brain

RainMaker 11-27-2018 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight (Post 3224378)
Dola

He's also calling for State TV.

And they gassed children this weekend.

You are for Trump and the GOP, or you are against them.

Pick whichever side you want, but understand that you are picking a side. You either fight this, or you support/enable it.




I don't know how big the reach of Fox News is outside the country, but isn't that more or less state TV? Bill Shine is being paid by the White House and Fox at the same time. Many of the TV personalities float between the WH and their TV gigs. They receive massive tax subsidies which often eliminate their tax liability completely. They'll even send over a script to friendly politicians.

Is it terribly different from something like RT?

RainMaker 11-27-2018 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward64 (Post 3224431)
"National rebirth" yes. Purging it of decadence, don't see it. Another < 5/10


I think he's made a pretty hard play toward the "working man". His campaign focused heavily on bringing back factory jobs, coal mining, etc. He trashes the "elite" whether they be lawyers, scientists, or educators.

Sure his narcissism forces him to straddle that line of playing to the working class while propping up his own wealth. But other fascists did the same.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward64 (Post 3224431)
Social indoctrination, some. Rejects multi-party systems for one-party state, I'm sure he wants to get there with Trump being the one party state but has he rejected this principal of US Democracy/Republic? I'd give this a 5/10 at most.


He has called for the jailing of his political opponents. He has declared that elections that don't go the way he likes are rigged. That's pretty totalitarian.

The reason it hasn't gone farther is because we actually have some decent checks and balances on power in this country that others did not have.

Edward64 11-27-2018 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker (Post 3224448)
He has called for the jailing of his political opponents. He has declared that elections that don't go the way he likes are rigged. That's pretty totalitarian.

The reason it hasn't gone farther is because we actually have some decent checks and balances on power in this country that others did not have.


As far as I know, Hillary and a little of Feinstein have been the only two and I wouldn't include Feinstein as she is not at his level (it was because of the Kavanaugh/Ford situation). He says much about rigged elections just as Democrats also accuse of voter fraud, suppression etc.

FWIW another person's view re: totalitarian

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.59cd04f2108f
Quote:

... that Trumpism is totalitarianism’s cousin.”

That kind of rhetoric, along with more straightforward comparisons of Trump to Hitler and Stalin, is threat inflation. Totalitarianism is one of those concepts that eludes simple definition. This is one reason that it has fallen in and out of fashion among political scientists. But it’s generally associated with the subordination, or elimination, of most of civil society in favor of the state, itself run by a single party. So the more totalitarian the system, the less it tolerates independent trade unions, corporations, religious institutions and the like. (Thus the “weaknesses” of civil society in the immediate wake of communist regimes in Eastern and Central Europe.) In China, businesses are “required by law to establish a party organization,” and there are some indications that the government is giving this requirement greater teeth. There’s simply no indication that Trump, or his allies, want, or even dream of, anything along these lines.

JPhillips 11-27-2018 07:53 PM

Quote:

Trump: "I’m not happy with the Fed. They’re making a mistake because I have a gut, and my gut tells me more sometimes than anybody else’s brain can ever tell me."

My gut tells me he's a con artist.

Thomkal 11-27-2018 07:56 PM

So now his gut is the second smartest person in the room.

RainMaker 11-27-2018 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward64 (Post 3224459)
As far as I know, Hillary and a little of Feinstein have been the only two and I wouldn't include Feinstein as she is not at his level (it was because of the Kavanaugh/Ford situation). He says much about rigged elections just as Democrats also accuse of voter fraud, suppression etc.

FWIW another person's view re: totalitarian

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.59cd04f2108f


Well he has been adamant about Clinton, Comey and Feinstein. Has even tossed out Obama's name a number of times. Then you have insinuations about Schiff, Strzok, Page, Ohr, Steele, and McCabe be investigated for crimes. You have calls for Huma and Podesta to be jailed. He even said Kasich and Cruz should go to jail for some made up crime during the primary.

As for the rigged elections, I can't remember a President doing that so openly. Just deciding that because races didn't go their way it must be rigged without a shred of evidence. Lying about the number of illegal votes cast that even his sham investigation couldn't corroborate. There is no comparison in modern American history.

As for the totalitarian part, that's because we have checks and balances. That's because he has never had majority support in this country. The man has praised dictators and discussed how much better it would be if he didn't have to deal with our system. This is not a theory, he's not shy about praising those types of governments and his desire that America be more like it.

Atocep 11-27-2018 09:09 PM

Trump was fundraising to send lawyers to Florida to prevent Democrats from stealing a Senate and Governor seat from Republicans.

I'm going out a limb and calling that a Presidential first.

RainMaker 11-27-2018 09:11 PM

Oh I guess with his calls to lock up people behind the Clinton Foundation that would include Bill and other executives working for it. So that's a few more names to the list.

Radii 11-27-2018 09:29 PM

When absentee votes are being counted and the republican is ahead, Trump calls the Democrat names and says they are going against democracy by not conceding. When absentee votes are being counted and the democrat is ahead, Trump calls for everyone to allow the process to play out and be calm until all votes are counted. A great man indeed.

Radii 11-27-2018 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker (Post 3224466)
As for the totalitarian part, that's because we have checks and balances. That's because he has never had majority support in this country. The man has praised dictators and discussed how much better it would be if he didn't have to deal with our system. This is not a theory, he's not shy about praising those types of governments and his desire that America be more like it.




Trump is a test of our government to hold up against efforts to break things down and move towards a totalitarian regime. As flawed as our government is in so many ways, it is holding up against this test.

RainMaker 11-27-2018 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui (Post 3224359)
Well GM just announced they are closing 5 plants and cutting 14,000+ jobs (The plants are in Ontario, Detroit, Ohio, Maryland, and Michigan). And right after they announced it, their stock went up 5.6%...


GM has really put the screws to Americans over the years. Remember that we lost $11 billion on the bailout.

They also wouldn't have a need to be "agile" if they didn't spend billions buying back stock to prop up executive bonuses.

SackAttack 11-27-2018 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker (Post 3224466)
As for the totalitarian part, that's because we have checks and balances.


Those require the other co-equal branches of government to exert them. If Congress rolls over because "he's an asshole fascist, but he's our asshole fascist" and the judges he appoints back legislation that an independent judiciary would reject, the checks and balances get rendered moot. Without a legislative willing to stand up to the executive, or a judiciary willing to tell them both to screw off, it doesn't matter.

Quote:

That's because he has never had majority support in this country.

Neither did Hitler in Germany. The Nazis had strong plurality support in the early 30s, and it was all downhill from there. They never had a majority. Didn't matter. Between the parliamentary system and the abdication of responsibility by others who thought they could control Hitler, the Nazis still seized control of Germany and millions died.

You don't need majority support to make that happen. You just need the wrong people in the right places and for men and women of conscience to do nothing.

kingfc22 11-28-2018 08:29 AM

The moron retweeted 3 tweets from an ultra right wing site this morning including a meme with his political opponents behind bars.

MrBug708 11-28-2018 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atocep (Post 3224419)
As I said, it's not the first caravan to reach the border. But if you don't want or can't handle your tactics being nitpicked then maybe don't invite the entire world to pay close attention to how you treat people you have a history of treating inhumanely.


After the dust has been settled, the US arrested protesters on our side of the border and Mexico deported about 40 and arrested 200 more and are looking into country of origin. The majority of people "gassed" were protesters in an area where they were throwing rocks. Looking at the videos, it seems like the Mexican federal police force on their side quickly were overwhelmed by the protesters/migrants mixed together. I'd imagine when an small access point sees a couple hundred people running full speed at you, you probably do what you can and non-lethal force was probably the best outcome. Seems like Mexico did most of the dirty work, once they re-established their control of their protesters on their side. It sucks there was collateral damage from the tear gas.

albionmoonlight 11-28-2018 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingfc22 (Post 3224491)
The moron retweeted 3 tweets from an ultra right wing site this morning including a meme with his political opponents behind bars.


He lacks the basic understanding of history, civics, and government to understand totalitarianism. So it is fascinating to watch him discover it in real time:

Companies not doing what you want? Take them over and force them to do it.

The media isn't saying what you want? Start your own media.

People are saying things about you that you don't like? Put them in jail.

It's almost like watching an AI learn or something.

jeff061 11-28-2018 10:53 AM

Well he hasn't really done anything, because he can't. Saying he wants to do these things is disturbing, the fact he really hasn't been able to is a nod to our system.

kingfc22 11-28-2018 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff061 (Post 3224509)
Well he hasn't really done anything, because he can't. Saying he wants to do these things is disturbing, the fact he really hasn't been able to is a nod to our system.


But what he has done is significantly fractured the country and how it moves forward. There is no going back, especially now that a large portion of the country have fallen under spell of the "fake news" narrative and are more kin to believe a meme than cold hard facts.

QuikSand 11-28-2018 11:57 AM

POTUS may have successfully bullied the Fed onto doing his bidding. Markets seem to think so. #MAGA

jeff061 11-28-2018 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingfc22 (Post 3224513)
But what he has done is significantly fractured the country and how it moves forward. There is no going back, especially now that a large portion of the country have fallen under spell of the "fake news" narrative and are more kin to believe a meme than cold hard facts.


More of a reflection on the downside of a Democracy(giving morons a voice/vote) than Trump's ability to consolidate power. The former was going to happen sooner or later, the existence of the internet makes it an eventuality, not the existence of Trump.

That's not to say that Trump isn't doing awful hurtful things, but our system has so far successfully blunted/killed his worst impulses. I'm not sure our system was ever designed to keep dumb people from believing dumb shit, quite the opposite. You have 2 choices, go the China route and advocate for extreme government censorship or go the America route and accept the unavoidable reality we are in.

bhlloy 11-28-2018 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff061 (Post 3224518)
More of a reflection on the downside of a Democracy(giving morons a voice/vote) than Trump's ability to consolidate power. The former was going to happen sooner or later, the existence of the internet makes it an eventuality, not the existence of Trump.

That's not to say that Trump isn't doing awful hurtful things, but our system has so far successfully blunted/killed his worst impulses. I'm not sure our system was ever designed to keep dumb people from believing dumb shit, quite the opposite. You have 2 choices, go the China route and advocate for extreme government censorship or go the America route and accept the unavoidable reality we are in.


Yeah, we were always going to get a Trump with the rise of social media and the insane explosion of how connected we all are in the last 10 years. Spoiler alert, it’s not going away after Trump and it’s not getting better.

thesloppy 11-28-2018 02:36 PM

I think you'd have to ignore the constantly shifting, pendulous and reactive nature of American culture and politics to think that Trump represents the new normal and that this is now where we're stuck forever. For sake of reference. 3-4 years ago the 'new normal' was painted as a post-racial, socially progressive America that some conservatives thought we would likely never shift from again.

While I can't imagine any kind of future in which social media disappears it does seem like things have shifted to where almost all the attention/news regarding social media and its associated major brands is negative these days, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it's role (at least in politics) reduced in coming years. Generations also seem to follow a pendulum swing, and future generations rebel/turn against social media, in some form or another (though they're more likely to have moved on to a more advanced, unrecognizable social technology, rather than abandon things altogether...but you never know).

RainMaker 11-28-2018 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corbes (Post 3224493)
Yeah. So we were saying what about totalitarianism?


Yeah, I think we have to now put Mueller, Rosenstein, Clapper, Holder, and Lynch to the list I made earlier.

Thomkal 11-28-2018 07:35 PM

Apparently Robert Mueller should just let anyone he wants to question about Russia to get interviewed by Ari Melber. Not a big fan of Ari having them on his show, but he certainly gets them to reveal things they might not have before. He had Jerome Corsi on and Corsi admitted lying to Congress, and he was trying to get information about the stolen Clinton/Podesta emails back to the Trump campaign, he and Roger Stone put forward false information about the source of the Podesta tip, and why he's rejecting the Mueller plea:


https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-...jail-138318547


Of course you can't believe anything Corsi just said given his history

Radii 11-28-2018 09:38 PM

Quote:

In a blockbuster interview, key Mueller witness and Roger Stone associate Jerome Corsi admits to MSNBC’s Ari Melber that he lied to Congress, that he tried to get stolen Clinton emails back to the Trump campaign in 2016, that he “absolutely” intended to help the Trump campaign by doing so, that he told Roger Stone about John Podesta’s emails and that his lawyers are still communicating with Trump’s legal team “as if” there is a joint legal defense.

Well then.

JPhillips 11-28-2018 09:39 PM

Nobody loves the veterans as much...

Quote:

For weeks, student veterans across the country have raised an alarm about delayed or incorrect GI Bill benefit payments, which the Department of Veterans Affairs has blamed on computer issues.

But on Wednesday, the department told congressional staffers that it would not reimburse those veterans who were paid less than they were owed, two committee aides told NBC News.

The news conflicts with a promise VA officials made to a House committee earlier this month that it would reimburse those veterans who received less than the full amount they were due.

That's also going to fuck colleges that either lose the student or have to accept a reduced tuition.

NobodyHere 11-28-2018 09:40 PM

Wow, almost makes me glad I've already exhausted my GI BIll benefits.

BishopMVP 11-29-2018 12:01 AM

Not the most fleshed out article, but the DNC establishment continues to hurt the party long term imo. A House Dominated by Nancy Pelosi Hurts Young Democrats - The Atlantic

Quote:

One of the great ironies of the 2018 midterm elections is that the Democratic Party’s emergent stars—Representatives Kyrsten Sinema and Beto O’Rourke—likely would have remained nameless had they tabled their Senate bids in favor of another term in the House.
...
Equally frustrating for the Democrats I spoke to is that this is not at all the case for House Republicans. Unlike Democrats, for example, Republicans term-limit their committee chairmen, making it possible for young and talented members to take over powerful committees early in their tenure. As Murphy, the former representative, pointed out, Paul Ryan is a good case study in the benefits of this policy: Ryan was only 41 when he took over the Budget Committee, a position that allowed him to build a national profile and attract attention from party leaders. Less than five years later, he gaveled in as speaker of the House.

“The Republican rules when it comes to term limits for chairmen is just how we view leadership,” National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Spokesman Matt Gorman told me. “It encourages younger members to step up so we don’t see the stagnation we’ve seen on the other side.”

There’s also broader institutional support for young members. Like Ryan, 53-year-old House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy—likely to be the GOP’s minority leader in the new term—was identified early on by the NRCC as a potential leader. Then–Majority Leader John Boehner appointed him as a freshman in 2006 to the powerful Steering Committee; two years later, he was named chief deputy minority whip.

Put another way, the likely leaders of the GOP in the 116th Congress—McCarthy and the likely minority whip, Steve Scalise—were freshmen when Pelosi was previously speaker.

“The Dems talk a big game about Millennials, but then send them to the back of the line when they get elected to Congress,” said Fritz Brogan, a chair of Maverick pac, a group that aims to elect young Republicans to Congress.

JPhillips 11-29-2018 09:36 AM

Some big news from today's filing on Cohen:

Quote:

From the court docs, per CNN: The Trump Tower Moscow negotiations went on through June 2016. The deal was discussed more than 3 times with Trump. Cohen briefed Trump’s family members within the org & took steps in contemplation of Trump’s possible travel to Russia in 2016.

albionmoonlight 11-29-2018 09:58 AM

When the matrix finally crashes, the bots going through the error logs to figure out what happened are going to find some real gems:

Trump supporter Kid Rock escapes federal prosecution for scam Senate campaign

Thomkal 11-29-2018 10:39 AM

Not a good day for Trump its looking like-German authorities have raided Deutsch Bank and arrested two employees there as well as seize records from 2016. They have loaned money to the Trumps when everyone else said no.

Thomkal 11-29-2018 11:19 AM

Om the edge of Cohen's flipping, Fed authorities have raided an Alderman in Chicago's office and put up paper on the windows so know one can see. This Alderman's law firm represented Trump's businesses for 12 years.

Thomkal 11-29-2018 01:59 PM

So interesting that a Republican lobbyist told one of the leaders of the groups that have been resisting Trump, that White House staffers were shocked for find out Mueller/FBI could indict someone for lying to Congress, and never believed Trump has any dealings with Russia until Cohen's plea deal today. As hard as that might be to believe, someone should keep track of all the staffers who now resign/get early retirement.

spleen1015 11-29-2018 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomkal (Post 3224623)
So interesting that a Republican lobbyist told one of the leaders of the groups that have been resisting Trump, that White House staffers were shocked for find out Mueller/FBI could indict someone for lying to Congress, and never believed Trump has any dealings with Russia until Cohen's plea deal today. As hard as that might be to believe, someone should keep track of all the staffers who now resign/get early retirement.


I know so many people who believe every thing the guy says and believes this is all a Liberal plot against him. Some of these people are not stupid either.

It boggles my mind.

albionmoonlight 11-29-2018 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomkal (Post 3224613)
Om the edge of Cohen's flipping, Fed authorities have raided an Alderman in Chicago's office and put up paper on the windows so know one can see. This Alderman's law firm represented Trump's businesses for 12 years.


In fairness to Trump, I imagine that the feds could have any number of reasons to investigate any given Chicago politician :-)

Thomkal 11-29-2018 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight (Post 3224628)
In fairness to Trump, I imagine that the feds could have any number of reasons to investigate any given Chicago politician :-)



yeah it does seem that this guy has quite a long and shady history, but I like my explanation more :)

Thomkal 11-29-2018 04:48 PM

So Trump has finally started tweeting again after flying to Argentina and what does he tweet about? Book promos from his friends and allies, mostly about him of course

corbes 11-29-2018 05:22 PM

Quote:

That same month, Trump signed a letter of intent to proceed with the Sater project, Cohen has said. It came on the same day Trump participated in the third Republican debate.

Both Cohen and Sater said the project could be used not only to help Trump’s bottom line but also his electoral efforts.

“Our boy can become president of the USA and we can engineer it,” Sater to Cohen in a 2015 email obtained by the New York Times and confirmed by The Post. “I will get all of Putins team to buy in on this, I will manage this process.”

In the messages, Sater claimed he had lined up financing with VTB Bank, under U.S. sanctions at the time for allegedly undermining democracy in Ukraine. In another email, Sater told Cohen they could host a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Moscow and suggested showing Russian contacts video clips of Trump praising Russia on the campaign trail.

“I will get Putin on this program and we will get Donald elected,” Sater wrote. “Americas most difficult adversary agreeing that Donald is a good guy to negotiate.”




"We Will Be In Moscow": The Story of Trump's 30-year Quest to Expand His Brand to Russia

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...=.a60be96fdff6

corbes 11-29-2018 05:27 PM

Quote:

No, this isn’t the collusion plea. The plea is not about hacked emails or the social-media conspiracy of the Internet Research Agency. As of this writing, Trump has not tweeted “NO COLLUSION!” since the charges were announced.

But the tweet, when it inevitably comes, will ring a bit hollow, because the new charges are not not a collusion plea either. In effect, Cohen admitted in court on Thursday that even as Russian operatives were hacking Democratic emails and getting ready to dump emails through Wikileaks, even as Trump was publicly praising Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, even as the Trump Tower meeting involving Donald Trump Jr. took place in the summer of 2016, the Trump Organization—with Trump and his family very much in the know—was negotiating to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. The Trump Organization was negotiating—or, at least, trying to negotiate—this deal with the Kremlin itself. And Cohen has admitted that he lied to Congress about this history to protect Trump politically.

Before we dive into the weeds, let’s pause a moment over this. Because in important respects, the legalities—or illegalities—at issue here are secondary points. The primary point is that this is all utterly unacceptable. That a large swath of the public, and the legislative branch, has chosen to accept it does not make it more reasonable that a man seeking to be president of the United States would at the same time publicly cozy up to a foreign dictator and negotiate with his regime over a potential business opportunity—and then cover it all up. The story is likely to get worse.

How to Read Michael Cohen's Latest Plea and Its Revelations About the Trump Organization - Lawfare

RainMaker 11-29-2018 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomkal (Post 3224613)
Om the edge of Cohen's flipping, Fed authorities have raided an Alderman in Chicago's office and put up paper on the windows so know one can see. This Alderman's law firm represented Trump's businesses for 12 years.


I don't think this is related to Trump. Burke has been a corrupt politician for awhile mixing his tax appeal business with politics. Trump is just one of many clients he had to get sweetheart property tax deals.

This is most likely over Burke's management of the city's workers compensation fund. Something he has shielded from independent oversight for decades.

Alderman Ed Burke investigation appears rooted in 2012 Finance Committee probe | abc7chicago.com

RainMaker 11-29-2018 06:47 PM

If this is true, it's a crime.

The Trump Organization Planned To Give Vladimir Putin The $50 Million Penthouse In Trump Tower Moscow

Also can't believe people who are committing crimes are using SMS. How have these idiots not heard of Signal?

Thomkal 11-29-2018 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker (Post 3224643)
I don't think this is related to Trump. Burke has been a corrupt politician for awhile mixing his tax appeal business with politics. Trump is just one of many clients he had to get sweetheart property tax deals.

This is most likely over Burke's management of the city's workers compensation fund. Something he has shielded from independent oversight for decades.

Alderman Ed Burke investigation appears rooted in 2012 Finance Committee probe | abc7chicago.com



Oh sure burst my bubble :) Just seemed to be a nice concidence on the timing of all three stories today (the German bank being raided by the authorities being the third)

cuervo72 11-29-2018 06:56 PM

Thomas Farr Judicial Nomination Sunk by Sen. Tim Scott : NPR

WTG, Tim Scott.

Radii 11-29-2018 10:11 PM

Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure | The White House

Quote:

I was running my business while I was campaigning. There was a good chance that I wouldn’t have won, in which case I would have gotten back into the business. And why should I lose lots of opportunities?

This is fine.


and from rainmaker's article a few posts above:

Quote:

“My idea was to give a $50 million penthouse to Putin and charge $250 million more for the rest of the units. All the oligarchs would line up to live in the same building as Putin.” A second source confirmed the plan.


no collusion you guys.

Butter 11-30-2018 07:39 AM

I really hope this Mueller endgame hits before Christmas, because it would make Christmas with the in-laws VASTLY more enjoyable.

JPhillips 11-30-2018 09:23 AM

Yeah, the Russians have known Trump is lying for two years and could have used that to bring down his presidency at any time.

And this is probably just the tip of what they know about Trump.

Thomkal 11-30-2018 10:05 AM

Manafort's probation report scheduled for March 5 after both sides are in agreement that they want the judge to rule on whether or not Manafort breached his plea deal.

albionmoonlight 11-30-2018 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corbes (Post 3224678)
It's a national-security nightmare.


And Trump keeps an unsecured private cell phone on him at all times that almost certainly has been bugged by every hostile country out there.

jeff061 11-30-2018 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight (Post 3224684)
And Trump keeps an unsecured private cell phone on him at all times that almost certainly has been bugged by every hostile country out there.


They aren't hearing anything he wouldn't tell them if asked.

/kinda sorta joking

Thomkal 11-30-2018 08:21 PM

Another congressional election has been retracted by the A.P. This time in North Carolina. Republican had won, Dem had conceded, not asking for a recount. only 900 or so votes between them, and the NC Board of Elections won't confirm it over possible voter fraud:


https://apnews.com/16671b61ebc24e51a...source=Twitter

jct32 11-30-2018 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPhillips (Post 3224577)
Nobody loves the veterans as much...



That's also going to fuck colleges that either lose the student or have to accept a reduced tuition.


I have gotten several emails about this. I think this mostly deals with people who try to game the system by living somewhere more expensive than where their school is located. My zipcode for my house and school are the same so I have had zero issues on my front.

JPhillips 11-30-2018 10:00 PM

The government backed down today and said they will be paying the full amount owed.

jct32 12-01-2018 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPhillips (Post 3224734)
The government backed down today and said they will be paying the full amount owed.


Good to hear.

I've been lucky and had no pay issues with the VA. Might help that I go to a smaller school and they have less veterans to deal with and dedicated staff for us.

BishopMVP 12-01-2018 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomkal (Post 3224724)
Another congressional election has been retracted by the A.P. This time in North Carolina. Republican had won, Dem had conceded, not asking for a recount. only 900 or so votes between them, and the NC Board of Elections won't confirm it over possible voter fraud:


https://apnews.com/16671b61ebc24e51a...source=Twitter

It's a little weird - it seems like there has definitely been voter fraud happening in that small county which is tacked on to this super gerrymandered district, but there's not enough voters there to affect the outcome (margin was 900+ votes, there's less than 700 absentee ballots in total), which is why McCready hasn't called for a recount or anything. It's more that the board has been calling for the state to prosecute this guy for years and felt they had to do something drastic to get more attention. Then because it's North Carolina that board is also getting dissolved and replaced by a new, more partisan one, so nobody is really sure when the results can be certified now. (To the credit of board members, they voted 9-0 not to certify, because the 2016 numbers make it pretty obvious Dowless is running a voter fraud scheme, and he's still being allowed to in 2018.)
Quote:

In this year’s primary, Harris won 437 absentee votes in Bladen to 17 for GOP incumbent Rep. Robert Pittenger. This month Harris won 420 absentee votes to McCready’s 258.

In the 2016 congressional primary, Dowless worked for Todd Johnson. Johnson got 221 absentee votes to 4 for Harris and 1 for Pittenger. In the district as a whole, Johnson finished third.

Thomkal 12-01-2018 01:44 PM

Democrats 1st bill when they take control of the House:


https://apnews.com/21c560f890e74964a...ign=SocialFlow


Wishful thinking that it will go any further given the Senate and President, but A for effort I guess?

RainMaker 12-01-2018 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BishopMVP (Post 3224768)
It's a little weird - it seems like there has definitely been voter fraud happening in that small county which is tacked on to this super gerrymandered district, but there's not enough voters there to affect the outcome (margin was 900+ votes, there's less than 700 absentee ballots in total), which is why McCready hasn't called for a recount or anything. It's more that the board has been calling for the state to prosecute this guy for years and felt they had to do something drastic to get more attention. Then because it's North Carolina that board is also getting dissolved and replaced by a new, more partisan one, so nobody is really sure when the results can be certified now. (To the credit of board members, they voted 9-0 not to certify, because the 2016 numbers make it pretty obvious Dowless is running a voter fraud scheme, and he's still being allowed to in 2018.)


Yeah it seems like he did this in the primary too. Not sure why it wasn't picked up back then.

RainMaker 12-01-2018 03:06 PM

Also...




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