Obama got 2 judges to the district court of appeals (for this activity, the only court that matters)thru from 2014 to 2016 and they waited more than a year for a floor vote. They aren’t winning either race in Georgia. I don’t see how reading the room makes me a quack but whatever

It is really not far fetched, but of course Brian was the guy that kept telling us how there was no way the polls were going to be as bad as 2016.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Libertarians are just smarter than us. I mean it’s obvious

Actually, no I wasn't. What i said was the polls weren't off much in 2016 (they weren't), and that there wasn't any evidence they would be off in 2020 (there wasn't). That situation has changed now; they were off more than they have been in any modern election by a couple of orders of magnitude. I still say there was no evidence of that coming prior to the election however. I repeatedly said it was possible Trump would win but that it was a remote possibility. I don't think I was wrong except as it relates to how well polls would predict 2020, and suffice to say I have lots of company on that score.

If we're moving from no judges at all to the court of appeals that changes it somewhat, but it's still absurd to assume nobody gets past the Senate plus Trump even runs again, much less gets nominated, much less gets elected against an incumbent in '24 when he couldn't even win as an incumbent this time.

I mean, if that's 'reading the room' that's fine, we just need to stop ripping on QAnon because what they are saying isn't much less reasonable.

GOP won't work with Democratic President = Hilary Clinton ears babies. Yes, exactly the same thing. Sure, Jan.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

That's not what I've said at all. It's not even close.

Agreed

I am not going to keep arguing this, but if you don't think the GOP is going to become super obstructionist because of fear of Trump, you are fooling yourself. If you don't think Trump is going to start running for 2024 the second he leaves the White House, you aren't paying attention. None of this is guaranteed, but it definitely isn't impossible. Q-anon is impossible. Comparing the two is ridiculous.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Grover Cleveland. There has never been a President Alexander.

But no president has ever won 373 games.

Or struck out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded nursing a hangover

https://www.bovada.lv/sports/politic...-election-2024

Donald Trump is +400 and the favorite for GOP nominee in 2024 at Bovada right now

SI

LOL, Kanye less of an underdog than Kayliar McEnany

Yep. You are right on this point, I got the names mixed up.

What about President Madison? He was president, right? He is on money.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

A hearty go fuck yourself for comparing me to Q. Like I’ll put it in bold. Go fuck yourself

See here's the thing: I didn't do that at all. I compared your statements to theirs. What you are alleging is a personal attack; what I did is criticize your argument. There's a massive difference. As I've said before, if it's not ok to do that then why are we even here? Isn't debating the point? Also:


I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request.

That means no.

I think they will to an extent. Everyone is writing off these Senate races but I think they'll be close. Runoffs are weird and while I wouldn't put money on the Dems winning, I don't think it's a lost cause.

There are also a couple Senators in the GOP that will work with Dems on some issues. Collins has been bad on stuff but she also voted with the Dems an awful lot. Romney voted guilty in the Senate impeachment trial.

Also Measure 2 passing in Alaska is a big deal. It means Murkowski doesn't have to worry about a primary challenger from the right. And with the ranked choice election, she can be more moderate and not worry about losing her seat in 2022.

Never stop ripping on Q. I don't hate republicans, I don't hate Christians and I don't hate those that disagree with me. I hate Qanon followers (not necessarily those dabbling in it although they're playing with fire), the ones deeply in it. Perhaps too deep to save without rehab... cult rehab.

They're literally the most despicable group of people and like a virus they insatiably keep going for the above people's weakness, whatever it is, and tie them all together before dragging them behind the Qanon covered wagon like corpses.

They showed their true colors most succinctly by trying to steal the #savethechildren hashtag and turning it into a political choice to be for or against human sex trafficking. If that isn't the ultimate disdain for people I don't know what is. Everyone is against it. Left Right Center but these evil fucks tried to make it so that if you didn't agree with Trump you're ok with sex trafficking.

These idiots, the Q flock, need to be shut down immediately. I'm not for violence against simply thought (as they are) but I think that the FBI and CIA has a lot of work ahead of them infiltrating these fools so that they can continuously watch where the burn leads and intervene.

Yes, a thousand times yes. Brian has missed the mark here. Q is a very dangerous movement. Within it, lies the potential for an American ISIS. The brainwashing and recruiting techniques are there. The complete and total die hard allegiance to their belief system and the desire to tear anything down that is not supporting them are mimics. Q is insidious, it may be faltering now, but history has shown how these things grow and how they can rationalize their way into holding on. Scientology and 7th Day Adventists own pathway bears that success out.

There's a ton of this in American politics. It's not even remotely isolated to Q. But more to the point, once again that isn't at all what I said or what I was talking about. I was comparing the validity of arguments to demonstrate how ridiculous I found a particular contention. I made no personal comparisons, or comparisons of the composition of political movements, or any such thing. I addressed my comments to the logical content of the statements put forth. That's it, and that's all.

It truly is astounding to me that we apparently can't separate the two. I fear this board is slipping even further away from a connection to critical thinking than I had realized.

I think your mistake is equating anything Q to anything similar and ongoing in the political mainstream in the last 50 years.

This will be my last post on this subject, but I think this is worth pointing out.


This was posted less than two weeks ago. It's not the only time I've seen others draw a similar comparison. Nobody batted an eyelash. Nobody got offended. I say there was nothing wrong with it being said, either here or the other times it has been.

But apparently if I say it, I'm the one who is out to lunch?


I leave this matter for the board to choose what they think is reasonable and what isn't.

When I look at that, I wonder who is tying up money for 4 years betting on this

End of an era. Been on this site for over 2 decades, and the first time I have ever felt the need to block someone.

I'm just trying to understand what the solution is. Biden's narrative cannot be we'll work together and expect success.

Trumpists want blood, they will never even listen to a Democrat dialogue. They want suppression and destruction to any that even challenge the fabric of white European centrism, Christianity (predominantly evangelical), Heterosexuality, the Earth is to be developed not conserved (or Climate Change is a myth), Education is for elites but intelligence is to be mocked...up is down, etc...

We have an administration that is actively undermining our government, our health, our institutions, and the Trumpists are happy to watch it burn.

It just seems to be that white poor are happy to watch everything burn because they are fucked in life, see others (read minorities) benefit and have decided that if they can't have it, no one can.

It isn't even about working hard anymore, it's about dying on a hill nowhere near the battle out of spite.

Very good summary.

There are some things that can't be negotiated with, they simply must be defeated. But when you don't have the power to defeat them, you take whatever small steps forward you can and use that to advocate to being given the trust of, for example, a Senate majority. I think a balance is needed given the political realities Biden faces. He can't ignore a Senate that is at least half Republican, all he can do is try to get whatever positives he can through.

Well gee, that's something new.

I don’t understand how people are not seeing what he said:


He’s not saying we should stop ripping on QAnon, he’s just saying that he thinks the idea that the sequence of events he’s listed could happen is as outlandish as QAnon’s theories.

People are seeing something that just isn’t there

I don't think it matters much either way, but there's a big difference between hyperbole and conspiracy theory. Would anyone have objected if the original statement was that the GOP would block as many appointments as possible in order to fill them with GOP nominees?

That's rather different than Dems are a Satanic cult of child rapists.

The plan set out (block all Biden's appointments, Trump run and win in 2024) appears to be exactly what the Trump team's current plan is. So calling it just slightly less reasonable than QAnon is really wrong. I don't think Brian's statement is objectionable. I think it's just dumb.

Do I think it's going to happen? No. Do I think that's the plan for some Trumper Republicans? Yeah.

I'm not disagreeing, my point was I'll never stop ripping on Q regardless. It wasn't attributed to BS being a Q disciple just that they get no breathing room... ever.

I probably wouldn't have posted at all if that was what was said, but what was actually posted was way, way, different. It's like comparing someone who says they are going to swim the English Channel to someone who says they are going to walk across it. One is difficult, the other just isn't going to happen.

@AlexB: Thank you, but I think the reaction is simply because I am among a group of people whose opinions aren't welcome by some, regardless of their content. I credit you for and those others who have done so for seeing past that.

meh, I get this a lot

Tony Blinken to named Secretary of State, and Jake Sullivan to NSA. Who? Not household names.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Sure you do. You're just being nice.


I do differ with Brian on Trump in 2024. I know he will be facing legal challenges in the next 4 years but he has a lot of resources and he has shown how he can successful delay, defer, use other people etc.

But his larger-than-conventional-wisdom-of-38-42% is impressive; good bet that he will run in 2024 and enough of a chance to win to stir up this forum again.

Not that I care to research the context to the statement you quoted but just chalk it up to oblivious hypocrisy or not being part of the cool bro group.

Dear diary.....

Biden to Name Longtime Aide Blinken as Secretary of State

Am I the only one who thought of Robin Hood: Men In Tights after hearing the name?

Qanon believes that there is a large cabal of Satan worshipping pedophiles that include most Democratic politicians, Jews, and major celebrities. They believe these people harvest blood from tortured infants to give them life force.

Many of the politicians and celebrities you see are body doubles. The real ones are either being held at Guantanamo or were executed. Like the Tom Hanks you saw on SNL a few months back? Just a body double.

And all this information isn't being screamed to the rooftops. Instead it is broadcast in cryptic messages on a anime message board that was famous for their Neo-Nazi forum and posting of child pornography.

There are a lot weird theories out there but nothing is in the ballpark of the Q stuff.

Obama Officials Helping Silicon Valley Firms Like Google Get Pentagon Contracts

Yuppers...

Everyone at Fox truly lives in a alternate universe ����‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/bIv7aeSeK7

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 23, 2020

I totally did and almost made that joke yesterday but didn't think anyone else would get it :D

Thanks for picking me up!

SI

More information on Biden's cabinet today.

From WaPo:


A Latino in charge of DHS. The biggest name as Climate Czar.

Btw, Blinken is a well known advocate for raising the refugee cap. Even appeared on Sesame Street in 2016 to make the case to let in more refugees.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

It seems Biden's biggest message in these choices is a return to normal. These are all career service people (besides Kerry) that are very non-political.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Looks like Janet Yellen is going to get the Treasury head - first female ever in that role.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

I do like the Yellen pick. She knows how to play the Fed and markets game. I don't know if she knows the political game but IMO not as important.

Markets didn't crash (yet) after the announcement so a good sign.

For the rightists claiming that this is going to Venezuela it certainly looking more and more like just BS playing to their craziest bits of their own tribe to 'sell' them on 2024. Pragmatists are winning thank god this time.

GSA says transition can begin.

thank god

Biden, Blinken, Yellen — what is this, a gerundocracy?

— A.J. Bauer (@ajbauer) November 23, 2020

Underrated move is Biden making climate change a matter of national security. That means he can allocate Defense money toward it. Basically what Trump did with the wall.

Trump tweet out that the GSA and the rest of the administration can begin the transition while they "continue to fight."

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

The replies are awful

SI

how in the hell do Massechusetts and vermont have rep govs

https://twitter.com/ejmaroun/status/...720426497?s=19

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Yes! Saw that one earlier, hilarious.

Massachusetts REALLY loves a Republican Governor/Dem Legislative branch. They've pretty much made a habit of it (Bill Weld, Mitt Romney and now Charlie Baker). Mostly because while we have an impulse towards liberalism, folks don't want one party control of everything.

If you're salivating or cursing over the Biden cabinet picks, just remember that very soon the senate will reject ALL of them.

Nah. They'll say one or two are too radical, but they'll save their powder for judicial picks.

We finally have a Secretary of State that rocks:

Yes, Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken Has a Band https://t.co/Xi14w8UITF

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) November 24, 2020

And one that loves selling weapons to Saudi Arabia.

This BS needs to stop. It's bad enough that politics is always a zero-sum game, but actively attempting to sabotage the next administration is bordering on criminal.

NEW: Mnuchin will place the $455b in unspent Cares Act money he is taking back from the Fed into Treasury's General Fund, where his successor (Yellen) essentially cannot reach it w/o Congressional approvalhttps://t.co/1TQU8FEAAS

— Saleha Mohsin (@SalehaMohsin) November 24, 2020

I know it isn't that simple, but how about use that money for, I dunno, a form of UBI?

Because they don't think that's a good use of it?

Was that the money that was his own personal fund to distribute how he saw fit with pretty much no oversight?

Bit of irony because he wouldn't be in that position if Harris had prosecuted him for committing massive amounts of fraud.

Shitty move though.

Didn't get to watch the unveiling of cabinet picks and them talking but heard snippets. Lot's of broadsides against the past 4 years.

Everything sounds great right now but we are still in the honeymoon period. Looking forward to see Biden & team in action the first 100 days.

I would imagine it will be hard to judge the first 100 days since it will largely be consumed with cleaning up the destruction Trump plans to leave behind while rolling out a Covid vaccine.

Is it strange that everything I read a Rainmaker post, I hear the "Debbie Downer" music play?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Decided to read up on what Biden wants for gun laws.

Page not found | Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website

The things I question or don't like.


Don't know enough about the laws but at first glance, unless there is criminal negligence, I am more on the hold the person that did the crime accountable vs the manufacturer.


I'm okay with banning future assault weapons (don't like it but can live with it) and okay with banning high-capacity mags. It wasn't clear what would happen to existing but think the bolded answers the question?

I have my assault weapons and am okay with registering them (or say they were lost in a boating accident).

If there is a push to turn in assault weapons and high-capacity mags (was it New Zealand?), I wouldn't support that.


I assume this applies to companies retailing weapons and also private sales. Assuming all sales goes through a FFL as an intermediary and the FFL does that background checks etc. I don't see why this is necessary.

But okay. Some retailers will go out of business, some websites that facilitates sales of used guns will go out of business etc. and there will be less "churn" in gun sales. I can live with it.


I really disagree with this. I don't want any electronics between me and the trigger. Worse case is EMP attack/solar event. Also bug in software, inclement conditions (deer hunting in the cold with gloves on) etc.


I may have missed it but I did not see where Biden would get tough on career criminals who commit crimes with weapons. I did not see a plan to get weapons away from career criminals proactively. It would be great if there is an all out effort to get guns away from them.

no. He is a smart guy and I appreciate his input but I read his last post and thought, jesus, always with the negative.

I am fine with Rainmaker as well, but I just can't read him without "waaaa-waaaaa".

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Edward, aren't we already tough on career criminals that use weapons? There are dozens of manditory sentencing guidelines for crimes commit with guns, felons in possession of guns etc. Is there something more than lock them up for years that needs to be done?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Yes, you are right, there are plenty of laws on the books to handle those that have been caught.

I didn't say it well, here is another attempt:

Just as there are plenty of weapons owned by law abiding citizens, there are a plenty of weapons owned by career criminals (who are not currently in jail).

So just as Biden is trying to reduce, restrict, constrain etc. the amount of weapons owned/acquired by law abiding citizens, shouldn't he also implement a plan to reduce, restrict, constrain etc. the amount of weapons owned/acquired by career criminals (who are not currently in jail).

AOC and Ilhan Omar want to block Biden’s former chief of staff - Axios

They want to block him because he cares about the deficit. The horrors.

I hope the guy has some influence.

Don't know what Bloomberg is up to nowadays but I'm sure his funds will be helpful in GA senate elections.

No idea who these folks are but looking forward to normal press briefings.

So Biden slipped while playing with his dog today and hurt his foot. In less than 24 hours we have a report from his press secretary reporting that he has two hairline fractures in the middle of his foot. How refreshing to get a quick and accurate report on his health rather than still waiting to hear why Trump went to Walter Reed (instead of the stupid lie about getting ahead on his physical) or if even if he really did have COVID-19

I can only assume this means he's currently getting his foot amputated.

And getting an artifical limb no doubt

I was hoping to see some of this before Biden took office: Some senior officials in the EPA are resisting last minute orders on regulations and revealing some things the current head of the agency has done to try to stymie what the Biden Administration will undo when they take over:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/c...e=articleShare

They’re gonna turn Biden into a Cyborg from the foot up and he’ll be President forever!

Is the Emanuel for Transportation Secretary legit? Beyond the covering up a murder thing, he was pretty clueless on transportation issues here in Chicago. And when he was Chief of Staff for Obama.

And he'll run on secret software developed by Hugo Chavez and Xi Jinping.

Biden won the election again as Arizona and Wisconsin again say Biden won

So wait...

Republicans say they won't confirm Bidens selection for OMB because of her.....past combative tweets.

Looks like the far left hates her as much as the right does

Bernie world seethes over Tanden as OMB nominee

People thinkin' Biden fucked up here, but I say he's just playing 4D chess.

Put forward a nominee both the left AND the right hate, watch them accidentally work together to sink her nomination, realize that the world didn't end...and then watch as, tentatively, they start finding some common ground legislatively.

That's the ???? before the profit stage, right?

I actually thought maybe he was putting her up knowing she would get rejected so the others get through.

It is like when I bartended and we cleaned up at the end of the night. The manager would come check us out. I would always leave something really obvious undone for them to find so they wouldn't start digging for harder things.

Tanden is a moderate Dem to the core. And her Tweets have attacked the far left as well as the right. I do think Biden is telling the Republicans you can get a moderate Dem in charge of OMB who skewered you on Twitter, or a Progressive who was nicer in public. Up to you.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Looks like Pelosi is caving in (don't think she had a choice) in agreeing to start from the much lower $900M framework.

This is good for many who need a second stimulus. Try to get the other stuff after Biden takes office and results of the 2 GA Senate races.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/se...?mod=home-page

Good news. Looking forward to some straight talk.

Dr. Fauci accepts Joe Biden's offer to stay as top health advisor

I saw the last part of Biden & Kamala on CNN. They are definitely saying the right things. But Joe is looking old, which he obviously is but com'on, where are the damn make up people.

I think one of the big sticking points is going to be protection for businesses re: coronavirus liability. There will be some abuses by some businesses but overall think this is good.

Maybe the distinction is customers vs workers.

Whenever I go to a restaurant, grocery store, get a hair cut etc. there's that sign that says the store is not liable if I catch something. I agree with this.

For workers, there has to be some liability if a company is not following CDC (or some other official) mandates such as social distancing, making sanitizers & masks available etc.

Using teaching as an example, I bet there are plenty of PS classrooms that are not setup for 6ft apart.

quoted without context for truth

It doesn't add another stimulus check, which is a surprise.

We're in for a long recession ala the Obama years with the Senate GOP blocking any attempts to speed up the recovery.