Good to be a rich white dude in this country.

DOJ Will Not Prosecute Trump Officials After IG Referred Findings of False Testimony on Census - Government Executive

I just don't see this. The President gave a speech at the White House and took some questions and seemed absolutely fine. At the very least, no worse than when he was on campaign trail.

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All the people wanting to be tough on Russia have been real quiet about this one.

Massive data leak reveals Israeli NSO Group's spyware used to target activists, journalists, and political leaders globally | Amnesty International

Biden softens his statement and clarifies with below.

What Biden should learn from Obamacare - POLITICO


If you scroll down to the parting words one of my best friends band gets a shout out. Pretty nice free publicity on Politico

We have all been waiting for it. The time has come.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/22/polit...ion/index.html

Almost a week since the last comment in the Biden thread ... Sleepy Joe indeed.

Looks like we are going to get a bipartisanship $1T infrastructure bill through the Senate. Last I read, it was $1.2T ... not sure what got cut.

Regardless, congrats to Biden for getting this far at least. Let's get this done before the really, really tough $3T+ bill for jobs & family (and early medicare).

Yep. It’s nice to have a president where I can go for days without knowing what he’s thinking or where he is. I just assume he’s quietly doing his job. I didn’t realize how much I liked that a president until I didn’t have it for four years.

So far Biden has been somewhat better than I expected. It's early yet, and I can't ignore the fact that climate change is still getting the short end of the stick from my mind, but it's been a pleasant surprise.

There will never be meaningful policy with regards to climate change in our lifetimes. It is way to far an uphill battle. Look at how mush effort it has taken to get the infrastructure package passed. No way they get something through that not only would cost exponentially more, but forces people to alter their way of life while we look on as China, India, etc...continue to destroy the environment.

I don't disagree, I just don't think the rest of what we debate is remotely as important. It's just not compelling to me to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, so to speak.

It just keeps getting worse.

In which the Fox & Friends hosts attack the Pope and Catholic charities, calling the charities "ethically challenged" because they help migrants

Doocy: Catholic charities have helped the migrant community for decades, nothing new
Kilmeade: I didn't know that, kept it from me pic.twitter.com/eSrppB8DZs

— Lis Power (@LisPower1) July 28, 2021

So in other words, you're a kindred spirit with Joe?

Yeah and almost no reporting on cabinet members who were in a scandal of their own/ethics rule breaking. Trump's cabinet almost from day one were involved in those leading to so many to have to leave their job. I think there was one person whose name I can't remember now in that first week, but since then not sure I've heard about any one.

As much anti-China government I am, I really hope this works out well for China & Afghanistan. Afghanistan deserves a different approach to get some normalcy.

China has more patience, probably have more carrots than stick, willing to negotiate with Taliban and can do business with both sides, seen as less of a military threat etc.

50-50 that we'll start seeing Chinese nationals kidnapped/beheaded by some group. But also fair chance it'll work out somewhat better vs the US.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/china...hnk/index.html

China is there to mine rare metals and will make the Soviets look cute and cuddly. The Uyghurs could tell them, if there were many left.

TBH, I'm surprised at their Afghanistan reach out. Still plenty of African countries with rich raw materials and less risk. My guess is Afghanistan is a tad too close to their borders and they want to stabilize as much as possible.

Bribes, threats, wolf-team assassinations etc., but nothing large scale like the Soviets. Not their style.

Eddard Stark. ""When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."

I don't get this billionaire, should have left it well alone and enjoyed his billions. Or take another approach and attack anonymously or be less direct (e.g. criticizing the party).

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/busin...hnk/index.html

I'm curious what people here think of the evictions issue. I.e. how long the moratorium should be extended for (if at all), and what action we should take to keep landlords afloat (if any).

New Zealand is your answer

That's interesting, but it doesn't surprise me. I've heard nothing but good things about New Zealand.

Ofc, I'm not really looking at it as something for me. The really bad effects are going to hit after I'm dead, with the possible exception of the oil crisis. It's more a case of I want us to make sacrifices now so we don't create obscene levels of suffering for future generations beyond what we already have. A different brand of flattening the curve, if you will.

The pandemic is actually a really good analogy for it IMO. I think humanity will take action when it becomes obvious that it's about to get really bad. It's just that by the time that happens, the bill won't take years to pay, but generations/centuries, and those who are alive then will rightfully curse us and wish they could have it as good as we do.

Definitely a tough situation. If its not extended, it'll be a staged eviction process (e.g. not all on Aug 1), see below link.

I think gradual process over next 6 months is probably right approach (unless there is another Delta variant shutdown, economic catastrophe etc.). Assuming the 80-20 rule, there'll still be 20% that will need desperate help.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/29/thes...ium-lifts.html

I haven't followed the issue closely enough to have an informed opinion.

My very general uninformed opinion is that, in general, free markets are good, and our default should try to get back to the status quo ante as soon as possible regarding housing and evictions. The longer that extraordinary government interventions stay in place, the harder it can be to undo them.

What I don't know is if that time is now or six months from now or if it should have happened six months ago. I simply don't understand the details well enough.

This is a little unfair to Biden b/c the CDC is not supposed to be political, so it isn't really in his control.

But, man, I think that they really fucked up the Delta messaging. A couple weeks ago, the public tide had started to turn against the unvaccinated and the politicians who coddled them. You were even starting to see some GOP pols taking the "How dare you take seriously everything I have been saying about vaccines for the last year; of course vaccines are awesome" approach.

Then the CDC jumped in with the most confusing masking advice yet. (Seriously, I follow this stuff closely, and I have no idea if I am supposed to be wearing a mask right now according to the CDC). Which has then let the issue of vaccination (where the Dems have the high ground) fall into the background so that everyone can argue about masks again and point to a confusing message from D.C.

As a citizen, I am glad that the CDC is focused on science again and not the preservation of one political party over another. As a Democrat, I am kind of jealous of how much better the GOP is at the political stuff.

I was just thinking that the GOP is going all in as the anti-COVID restrictions/mandates party, but it seems like that isn't a very smart position. If almost 70% of adults have at least one dose of the vaccine and even 10% of the remainder are people of color that will most likely vote D or not vote, that's a really small remaining group to align themselves with.

I expect whatever we're fighting about next year won't be COVID, but it's still a pretty risky stance.

There's a big group in that 70% who are very tired of the never-ending mandates/restrictions. Big difference between an anti-vac position and an anti-mandate/restriction/rules position.

I don't know how many, but some people are getting vaccines in secret so they won't be shunned by their families and community.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/healt...uri/index.html

And I think Republicans believe that that smallish group wins them elections. They vote, they donate money, they promote fear and hate and social media and can swing over enough people.

Yes, most people are going to stay with their tribe, but I don't think independents are going to flock to the GOP position. I think there is a lane for pro-vaccine, anti-restrictions, but that's not where the majority of the conservative movement is at, and in this environment, 1-2% fleeing a party makes a big difference.

Not a good day for Cuomo

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ‘Sexually Harassed Multiple Women,’ in Violation of Federal and State Law, AG Report Finds

He should be gone.

:(. What a difference a year makes for him.

He should have been gone then too. We just didn't know it.

And apparently he continues to deny it. Can he be brought up on charges now?

I don't know about limitations.

He can be impeached, though.

I saw Cuomo or his lawyers posted pictures of Obama and Bush hugging woman...in their role as President visiting areas damaged by hurricanes. Yep nothing says sexual harrassment like giving support to those who have just been through a horrible tragedy. Yeah I'm ready for him to go

I swear Biden's superpower is getting his opponent to demand the most simple, obvious concessions. Whether reject defund the police, criticize Hamas, or now call on Cuomo to resign, the 'controversy' lasts a couple of hours until Biden takes the ayup.

Normally I'd be all "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" and all that, even for Cuomo. But after hearing him sing I think Cuomo should be immediately convicted of something.

Conversation Between Charlotte Bennett and Governor Cuomo on October 4, 2019

The guy is a complete sociopath. Obama hugging a parent who lost their child at Sandy Hook is the same as him groping a 22-year old intern.

The fact he wasn't pushed out after the nursing home scandal is criminal too.

I do think sometimes "touching, hugging" can be innocent and misconstrued. Even the unwanted kiss on the cheek during a wedding party.

But the grabbing of the butt seems to be a pattern and that's pretty clear cut.

Unless he comes back with a pretty good explanation for each one, yeah he should go.

Jesus, that is really the defense they are using for Cuomo? He can't be gone quick enough and some people in power need to start pushing him out the door. The guy is clearly a predator.

I didn't just harass these women, I harass everyone I meet is a hell of a defense.

hopefully this is the push that starts this creep on his way to the door and out of politics for good.

Joe Biden Calls On New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo To Resign | HuffPost

Trump is literally the only one that could use that defense and still, somehow, remain unscathed.

So Joe Biden claims the eviction moratorium is likely unconstitutional yet extends it anyways.

Isn't there something Trumpian about this? It seems like Joe is going to do what he wants until the court denies his actions.

I think he did it because of political pressure, but nah it isn't Trumpian. I think it was a normal, inappropriate presidential political action. Trumpian would be declaring Congress in its entirety the enemy of people because they didn't do it on short notice, then extending the moratorium and claiming there's nothing wrong with it and he can do whatever he wants because he's the president and has the best priorities :).

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

.

Numerous legal scholars agree that he has absolute right to create this executive order.

Create is one thing, but what legal scholars are arguing that this will pass constitutional muster?

I don't think abusing executive orders is a Trump thing. Bush was the guy who really pushed the limits and everyone since just kind of followed suit.