In a normal world, I think his apology and suspension is appropriate. However, with what Biden said about "firing on the spot" for this type of behavior, I think he should be let go.

But even if they did that now, damage is done ... one tick down on credibility. My question is why did they let this slide? I think Psaki said this was discussed with chief-of-staff but not Biden himself ... so that may be the angle.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/12/media...ded/index.html

But where will they find someone who has a cursory knowledge of public relations. No choice but to keep him.

Chuckled at this. Remembered the recent posts about this.

I have no idea what Biden did today.

Putting this in a political thread just to make sure. I have gotten a chuckle at the faux arguments about local governments taking away people's rights by forcing them to stay home due to the weather conditions compared to telling them to stay home with COVID restrictions. I am calling them faux arguments but the people making them on both sides are incredibly serious from what I can tell.

I just can't quite believe the conservative line on the TX blackouts is that it's green energy's fault.

I'll watch some of Biden's town hall tonight but think it'll be more of the same "I feel your pain" or "Coronavirus is Job 1" etc.

According to CDC website ... 71M sent and 55M jabs. I think the 77% ratio is higher/better than 2-3 weeks ago so that shows some progress.

Still want to see a simple report showing Pharmas planned production & delivery of vaccines by week (or semi-monthly). Something more tangible than Fauci's generic May/June statement.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tru...-new-statement

I would love a GOP civil war if it didn;t mean that the Democrats turn to the far left.

Biden is doing okay but he does ramble on.

Right wing news is bitching about the positive spin the media is putting on his presidency and comparing it to the constant negative coverage Trump received. At what point do you accept that being completely unlikable and a shitstain on humanity plays a role in it?

Presidents generally get a honeymoon period with the media and the general public. This is normal. This is how it has always been.

Trump was the aberration. What was the media supposed to do with a WH who's first act was to lie about an easily provable fact (inauguration crowd size) that was also not relevant to anything? Just let them lie? Say it was awesome that Dear Leader was lying to us?

When it comes to editorializing, yes. When it comes to news, no. The job of a journalist to report news and be as unbiased as possible.


Regarding news media, neither. Just report the best facts they have.

Sure. But if the fact is X, and the White House is saying "Not X," then how do you report that without saying that the White House is lying?

Biden's approval rating is above 60%. He is getting a nice little honeymoon period. Let's just hope they can get stuff done.

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Reporting a lie is what news should do. That is reporting the facts. Opinions are opinions, but facts are facts. I know the last four years have tried hard to destroy that.

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I think the media was actually soft on Trump's lies at times. Rarely would straight out say he was lying till the end when they tried to save face.

There's a meme going around, which is total boomer member berry shit, about how Cronkite just reported the news and he was the standard bearer at night and how current media news is so fucked up..blah blah blah. Cronkite editorialized on the news just like anyone else. It's such a fallacy that the news used to be completely neutral. The news has never, ever, never been completely neutral. There's always been a slant, or agenda. Now, that doesn't make the shit on cable news right, the way we have it now, but it should lend some color to a situation that isn't black and white as it's used in arguments memes.

CNN reported a poll yesterday that had it at 63 percent

You definitely should say that. I also agree with RainMaker that there were times media didn't do that enough. But that's not what media bias is really about. PilotMan is correct that neutrality has never fully existed, but there have been times far better than now. I think it's actually much harder to be unbiased right now than at most times in American history, because of how more polarized the climate is.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/polit...nes/index.html

Given the fact I have made at least eight trips to Lakewood Ranch in the last month, this is LOL funny.

Under the current proposal, stimulus checks would not be reduced for single Americans earning up to $75,000, head-of-household filers making up to $112,500, and married couples with a combined income up to $150,000. As with previous stimulus checks, they would get a full payment. But for singles with an AGI above $75,000, stimulus checks would be gradually phased-out until they reach zero for anyone making $100,000 or more. For head-of-household filers, the phaseout range would be from $112,500 to $150,000. For married couples filing a joint return, the phase-out range would be $150,000 to $200,000. Plus, the phase-out range's ceiling would be a hard cap that applies to all people, regardless of how many dependents they have. As a result, third stimulus checks would be reduced to zero for all taxpayers at or above the $100,000, $150,000, and $200,000 AGI levels (depending on your filing status).

Seems odd to me that a married couple making $150k with three kids get $7k while a couple with three kids making $200k get $0.

Dunno if this is the right thread for it, but didn't see any discussion of Bob Dole here. Announced stage 4 cancer diagnosis yesterday. He's 97. Another of the old lions who appears to be nearing the end of his run.

May not agree with him politically, but Bob Dole is a pretty amazing guy. Bronze Star and Purple Heart winner from WW2. The man has definitely lived a life of distinction.

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Dole lived a great life and distinguished life for sure, regardless of which side of the aisle he populated.

Newsmax on the attack against Biden's dog looking dirty and unpresidential.

they're working out a few kinks, but surely will get things sorted out... savage the stutter, maybe find an unbuttoned button, perhaps he will mis-pronounce a name at some point

Biden approved aid for Texas without blaming state leadership for causing the problem, without blaming the proud boys for sabataging the power grid, and without making any threats at all. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to react to this.

Are we supposed to feel badly for the families that are now going to be getting power bills in the thousands that are a direct result of the deregulation in Texas? The very thing that they say they are so proud of?

Texas households face massive electricity bills, some as high as $17K, after winter storm | TheHill

Adjustable rate electricity where you pay as you use is one of the craziest and most red state things I can imagine.

I'm sure they'll be bailed out by Biden.

He'll probably see it as a chance to turn Texas Blue and perform a coup de grâce on the Republicans electorally.

I'm talking to a friend in San Antonio. His electric company has offered to spread the bill spikes out over the next 10 years of billing.

How about they just forgive the bill.....

Georgia House Republicans just introduced a bill to ban early voting on Sundays prior to election, when Black churches do Souls to the Polls get out the vote drives

— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) February 18, 2021

In the Year of Our Lord 2021, there are still people who are open supporters of a party that is straight up against Black people voting.

The protests of "I'm a Republican because [mumble mumble something about burdensome regulations]" is becoming harder and harder to hear without laughing.

Kick the dang racists out of your party, be fine with Black people voting, and get back to actually being the party about personal freedom, etc, then we can talk.

Because Rick Perry said Texans would rather freeze than accept Socialistic policies.

Its not socialist if it you. We need to bail out everyone everywhere. That's Joe Biden's way!!!!!

It is almost like the party only stands for a bunch of racist grievances.

I think its the party that stands for rich, white people.

Well, to tie it to Biden, the President went to visit his good friend, Bob Dole:

Biden visits 'good friend' Bob Dole following cancer diagnosis | TheHill

Agreed.

SI

Merrick Garland hearing going on now. He is such boss. I hope he tells McConnell to eat shit when his turn comes up.

Biden has announced a new PPP only for companies under 20 employees

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Democrats plan major stimulus bill 'very soon' after COVID spending package

Maybe they should get one stimulus out the door before preparing another one? Jesus Christ.

Or better yet, just focus on getting vaccines into peoples' bloodstreams.

How many trillions does Biden plan on spending in his first year? Maybe he should consider how we're going to pay for all this?

It really depends on what they are suggesting, but a well crafted infrastructure plan would largely pay for itself.

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Cut them some slack, they had to take a vacation first.

It is better than it was, but it still can be better.

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Give Biden some credit for refusing the $50K student debt cancellation. That would have cost another $1.5T or so.

But I agree that Stimulus 2 and inoculations should be the key focus. We shouldn't worry about infrastructure right now.

It was literally a Biden campaign promise. They aren't going to forget about Build Back Better while they have the momentum of the first 100 days.

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So was $1400 stimulus checks.

I don't know if there's the same level of think tank power behind it, but it looks like the Dems are starting to play the opposite game of the GOP in regards to the buget. For decades the GOP has said, cut taxes every time you can and that will eventually force a crisis that will drown the government. They go with the popular, easy stuff first and then use it to force the unpopular stuff.

What if Dems try to spend money on popular things first and use that popular opinion to force tax increases to keep the popular stuff? Do the popular spending first and use it to force the unpopular stuff.

edit: And the GOP has made it possible by saying since 1980 that deficits don't matter.