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Messages - D.W.

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1
General Comments / Re: Literary causation?
« on: June 25, 2020, 08:55:51 AM »
I gotta say that, "remember when this place wasn't ALL about politics?", then seguing a book review RIGHT into politics made me chuckle.  Good one wmLambert.

2
General Comments / Re: We gotta talk about Uncle Joe
« on: June 17, 2020, 11:18:38 AM »
Quote
Yep, but the flaw is laid bare and is system breaking if Trump wins a second term while losing the popular vote 47%-52%.
The flaw is not "the system" if Trump still manages 47%.

3
General Comments / Re: Defund the police
« on: June 12, 2020, 02:27:16 PM »
I'm curious how many of those new purchases are, "I'm afraid the police won't protect me and my property!" vs "Holy *censored*, those 2nd amendment types may have been onto something!"  :P

4
General Comments / Re: Defund the police
« on: June 12, 2020, 02:25:23 PM »
Hard pass.  My home owner's association can barely manage timely snow removal on the roads.

5
General Comments / Re: We gotta talk about Uncle Joe
« on: June 12, 2020, 01:27:12 PM »
If he was going up against anyone but Trump I'd be worried. 

No, that's not true.  I'm worried about him regardless.  The standard by which Trump is measured (or not measured) is going to be different.  Neither of them are inspiring speakers. 

I am deeply disappointed in my party.  It's too bad the survival of the nation is at stake or maybe I'd be inclined to make a bigger stink about it come election day.  Yes, Crunch, we all know Biden can't beat Trump.  Thank god he doesn't need to.  Trump is doing that all on his own.  Biden just has to maintain a pulse through November in order to win.

Looking forward to the topic, "A Message from the President of the United States, Joe Biden"  :(

6
General Comments / Re: We gotta talk about Uncle Joe
« on: June 11, 2020, 05:22:49 PM »
Are we talking paying for sex with midgets or exploiting unwilling victims into forced sex trade run by Biden?  :P

7
General Comments / Re: Prediction on headline
« on: May 09, 2020, 06:03:46 PM »
So?  What happened?

I don't suppose you got links to any actual journalism where they started investigating who murdered 16 people and why those covering it up tried such a ridiculous story, or why anyone not under threats to their life would repeat it with anything but derision?  :D

That's my prediction anyhow.

8
Saying his speech is just annoying is quite generous.  To me it came across as one who doesn't even understand how infection works.  As if he's thinking, "Well damn, she's a bright girl and she always aces that test... I wonder what went wrong this time?"  It was another in a long line of statements where, were it anyone else, I'd ask, "Did he REALLY just say that?"

TheDrake, HE is being tested an awful lot, as are those around him.  To him, that means that "we" are doing great at testing.  :P

9
General Comments / Re: Who’s got it?
« on: May 09, 2020, 12:19:20 AM »
That bothered the hell out of me too at first.  I'm claiming excessive fatigue at the time though.  :P

10
General Comments / Re: Who’s got it?
« on: May 08, 2020, 08:56:11 AM »
It had been awhile.  Catching up now.  :)

11
General Comments / Re: Who’s got it?
« on: May 08, 2020, 12:15:45 AM »
We got a nearby "pop-up" testing site this Sat.  Think I'm going to go.  I was sick the last week of March on through the first week of April.  Still not 100%.  Never got bad enough to go into hospital.  Did the whole e-visit thing and doc said it sounded viral and could include COVID-19.  Said it would be prudent to let my coworkers know.  (which I did, and all were fine)

"Generally, younger, healthy individuals with mild illness do not need to
be tested. You should stay home for 7 days, or 72 hours after all symptoms
have resolved, whichever is longer. Additionally, testing is not
recommended in people who are not experiencing certain symptoms. A
negative test result does not rule out an infection.

If your symptoms worsen, particularly if difficulty breathing develops,
please contact your PCP or call 911 if immediate medical assistance is
needed."


This was April 13th so tests were (are?) still in short supply.    Well, symptoms never worsened beyond that.  Got a script for a cough suppressant that didn't seem to help, but even that's not bad.  Just won't go away.  :P

Again.  No clue if I did/do have it.  Had my flu shot but never know what a regular damn cold + stress could do to your body I suppose.  I would say I'm pretty sure, but my exposure probability is so ridiculously low it makes little sense unless it can sit around for either 2-4 weeks before you show symptoms.

Got no idea how the test reports if you are already through the worst of it...  Anywho, makes me wonder what the "real" numbers are if anyone that wasn't having life threatening symptoms was told to tough it out at home.

Also, hello again.  Been away for awhile.   ;D

12
General Comments / Re: Iran's options according to the beeb
« on: January 07, 2020, 09:20:07 AM »
Quote
Visitors to the Federal Depository Library Program's website
  For a jab, that's kinda a backhanded compliment of targets.

13
I think it's pretty obvious at this point Trump could "threaten" war crimes on social media unchecked.  It's only if he orders them that the status quo changes...   :-\

He's not faced repercussions for what he's only "said" (tweeted) thus far.

14
General Comments / Re: Inactive voter purge
« on: January 02, 2020, 09:17:28 AM »
You remove inactive voters from the roles when you are terrified that THIS election and/or THIS candidate may make an otherwise apathetic voter get off their ass and take action. 

If you really wanted to "clean up" the roles looking for dead or relocated people there are ways to do so that don't involved, "We'll just drop them and see if they show up to re-register!"

The answer:  it is ALWAYS voter suppression.  It's a recognized, and occasionally admitted, strategy.

15
General Comments / Re: Can we all agree this is a pretty damn good trailer?
« on: December 16, 2019, 04:10:22 PM »
Quote
BIhNsAtPbPI
Is hardly descriptive.  While Youtube isn't likely to catch you off guard with porn, it can still be NSFW... 

16
General Comments / Re: The Shampeachement Follies
« on: December 13, 2019, 05:09:20 PM »
Quote
I think it is in fact the case that the average liberal actually believes that Trump had no right to be elected, somehow, and that removing him is actually the right thing to do because he is a bad person.
  I know many liberals who are repelled by the fact he WAS elected, zero (nor even read of one) who believes he had no right to it. There wasn't a "birther" contingent when it came to Trump.  At all (AFAIK), let alone enough to be called "the average".

It is probably fair to say that "the average liberal" is disgusted with him as a person such that ANY excuse to reduce his power, eject him from office, or see to it he loses the next election, is cool with them.  And that's alone is a very unhealthy situation for our country to be in.  You don't need to make up crazy to portray it as worse than that.

I do think it comes down to a real test to see if our system can protect us from a man like Donald Trump or not.  This outrage is a form of patriotism even if it gets ugly at times.

17
General Comments / Re: The Shampeachement Follies
« on: December 13, 2019, 01:50:07 PM »
Quote
This might actually be the best case scenario for Democrats.
From a pure politics / election stand point... yes, it would be. 

It's interesting that you assume every Democrat is just taking part in this for the election.  Though, I suppose that mentality is what got people to line up behind Trump to begin with.

18
General Comments / Re: Ukraine
« on: December 12, 2019, 04:05:59 PM »
On the other hand, if they fumble, and Papa Biden puts his foot in it, I'll be quite pleased.  So maybe it's a way to hurt his chances, without letting Trump think it worked... or something.  Just go away Biden!

19
General Comments / Re: here comes the next ice age
« on: December 11, 2019, 09:38:36 AM »
But it's winter time.  We got months of it getting colder and we'll all have forgotten about this until NEXT winter when this thread gets necroed again.  :P

20
General Comments / Re: British elections!
« on: December 10, 2019, 10:06:59 PM »
When everyone wants to drive off a different cliff, maybe gridlock ain't so bad?  :)

21
General Comments / Re: Do we still have a Fourth Amendment?
« on: December 07, 2019, 03:59:48 PM »
Quote
I look forward to Trump doing this during the senate trial.
  I hope that this is just being snarky but sometimes I think people really DO look forward to this.  They salivate at the thought of the other side crossing a line so that they can gleefully rush forward and exploit every new possibility and probably a few of their own, instead of, you know, holding people accountable, or trying to stop future occurrences of abuses.

Not that my question was answered.  But obviously some believe there was abuse.  Or is this just a poorly reasoned deflection?

22
General Comments / Re: Do we still have a Fourth Amendment?
« on: December 06, 2019, 04:46:02 PM »
I haven't been following this very closely, but one thing I read was that both of these two examples were the OTHER side of records subpoenaed. 

Has that explanation been debunked and the journalist / attorney were the subjects of the subpoena? 

23
General Comments / Re: A Warning
« on: December 06, 2019, 10:53:52 AM »
Quote
I don't think anyone but you read all of this as a scheme to disparage trump.
Myself and Crunch you mean.  But point made.  Continue your tangent.  ;)

24
General Comments / Re: A Warning
« on: December 06, 2019, 09:04:18 AM »
Go ahead and search "Orange Man Bad" or "OMB" here and see what turns up.  Might be interesting.

25
General Comments / Re: A Warning
« on: December 04, 2019, 04:52:21 PM »
Some interesting gymnastics going on in this thread. 

Either you believe the assertions are BS, or you don't.  They are calling him an idiot with an alarmingly short attention span who cannot grasp complicated topics.

26
General Comments / Re: Ilhan Omar - foreign agent
« on: November 26, 2019, 10:57:36 AM »
Again, while anything is possible, I tend to place my bet on your environment and circumstances rubbing off on your attitude.  No matter where she was born, or lived when very young, she is here now.  She has political power now.  Claim all you want that people of a specific society are predisposed to behave a certain way.  (Though apparently you may have to defend these observations from some.)  :P  But I think OUR society, of which she is by all measures a successful participant in, has it's own pull.

Even if your assertions were correct, and the situation outlined in the OP were presented, I just don't see swearing loyalty to anyone. 

Corruption I'm quick to accept as plausible.  This however?  My gut reaction is it's partisan nonsense directed at a lightning rod of criticism.   Religion/background/politics all "wrong" for some people making her a target.  Smears should be plausible for them to have any impact.  Otherwise they just damage those trying to employ them. 

27
General Comments / Re: Ilhan Omar - foreign agent
« on: November 26, 2019, 09:12:10 AM »
You DO realize why this sounds ridiculous right?  They cannot stop at accepting money or even at sharing information.  They gotta throw in that she swore allegiance to him?    ::)

I mean, crazy *censored* does happen, but this is built to be wholly dismissable.  Please do follow up in the weeks/months to come and let me know how it pans out.  I'll save some popcorn.

28
General Comments / Re: When did Trevor Noah get funny?
« on: November 26, 2019, 09:02:10 AM »
He's been funny out the gate as far as I'm concerned.  The problem is we were comparing him directly to Jon Stewart.  He's not AS good a host/funny as Jon.  Other than that?  No problems

29
General Comments / Re: In any other administration...
« on: November 21, 2019, 09:28:11 AM »
Quote
As the left continues to embrace violence, lies, and demonization of others,
That thing you're looking at?  Not a window or even a partisan lens.  That's called a mirror.   :P

30
General Comments / Re: pardon me
« on: November 18, 2019, 04:46:32 PM »
Hard to say.  We're fuzzy on the whole, "international law" thing anyway.  Does this do "harm" in that regard or just confirm things?  Sending the message to our troops that when in the field the law will sometimes look the other way, may smooth things over when it comes to questionable orders or the will to perform dangerous assignments where mistakes are more likely.  The negative aspect is... well the same as the 'benefit'. 

I think as a rule it's a good idea to have a system which can convict in these situations.  Even if they are pardoned...  In some ways it lends gravity to the situation without signaling to the rest of the world we don't give a *censored* about their opinion / victims.  Or, at least makes a scapegoat / villain out of the president, who, is the leader of said military anyway. 

I think on the whole it is a bad idea, but I lean a little bit towards the dirty globalist side of things.  :P   When I'm not being a tin-foil-hat-wearing isolationist anyhow...

31
It's possible, and should have been tried, but that's only part of the issue.  As we talked about before, establishing a Kurdish state was never on the table AFAIK, so who was acting as a human shield may be relevant, but how to resolve the issue so that one isn't needed was always going to be a mess. 

I would have preferred some more feet dragging, as it is obvious that shield was needed...

32
General Comments / Re: Jeffrey Epstein arrest
« on: November 08, 2019, 09:24:47 AM »
It's unbelievable, because it's bull*censored*. 

This is JUST popping up in the news cycles.  Up-thread was discussing that you are wrong about your assertion that ONLY the vast network of Clinton's defenders have this kinda juice, that's it.

Why do you think this Me Too movement was such a long time coming?  The system is setup to such that it takes a lot (too much) weight to tip the scales.  Pretty much everybody knows that already. 

But keep on shouting that it's the left who accepts and lets this happen.  I'm sure someone will actually take away that the right is the place to look for champions of women and those in need of support, defense and affirmation.   ::)

Ease up there Pizzagate

33
Is there any rhyme or reason to him switching from first to third person statements?  I've never really studied rhetorical devices but the guy's seemingly chaotic style is interesting if nothing else. 

34
General Comments / Re: DWTS as proxy
« on: November 05, 2019, 02:07:02 PM »
That whole genre is not about "talent" anyway.  It's about drama and upsets and... entertainment, which SOMETIMES is related to talent, but that's not required.  It's bottomfeeder TV.  <bah humbug>

35
General Comments / Re: DWTS as proxy
« on: November 05, 2019, 09:24:08 AM »
DWTS is it's own disorder.  Don't mix up your meds trying to treat symptoms of both Crunch.

36
WB Pete.  Had to scroll up to mid September to see what you were on about.  :P  Sorry I didn't pay enough attention to Clinton for your liking. 

37
General Comments / Re: The Race is On
« on: November 01, 2019, 01:24:36 PM »
‘Default to the Truth’ seems more confusing than necessary when what you are talking about is rather 'Default to Trust.  At issue is the nature of anonymity online. 

In your tiny village / neighborhood / school, you learn who is and is not honest.  There are repercussions.   When dealing with strangers on a city wide level, this is strained and people become slightly less trustful of strangers, but still, you can learn to recognize individuals by name or by sight and know if you, or those you trust have a positive or negative opinion of their truthfulness. 

On the internet though?  You are best served by asking WHY someone is participating.  Genuine passion?  A desire to educate or share with others?
 Entertainment?  In order to refine their own views on a subject?  Curiosity?  Maybe they just like feeling superior to others.  Maybe they see a method to generate income.

Several of those motivations are best served by NOT being honest.  While what you describe does have some caustic impacts on our society, I would point out that 'correcting' that 'problem' leads to significant problems as well.  Those who are gullible, or duped into believing things they do not, (or perhaps cannot reasonably) verify.

38
General Comments / Re: The Race is On
« on: November 01, 2019, 12:07:20 PM »
That makes a lot of sense ScottF.  Trump is also known for his transactional approach to... well everything. 

At issue here is the seeking of dirt on an opponent by a foreign power.  Wasn't it bad enough when non-US contractors were out dirt digging against Trump? 

General anti-corruption urging is great.  Targeted "witch hunts"?  Not so much.  :)

39
General Comments / Re: The Race is On
« on: November 01, 2019, 11:00:14 AM »
Quote
McConnell is making it clear there will never be a conviction on this bull*censored* but Democrats are going for it anyway so it’s clearly all about the election
  While there's a lot not to like about the whole process, you seem to be suggesting that if the Senate is dead set against it, the house should neglect their responsibilities if they observe impeachable offenses. 

This is every bit as messed up as what's been going on with the looming impeachment process for... (fill in the blank reason) we've seen so far.  Either it's a check on executive power, or it's not.  The Senate refusing to preform that check does not dictate the House must do the same.  (even if it will go nowhere)

Arguing that it's a sham, JUST political, and so on, I can understand.  Suggesting that it's any of these things only because the Senate majority leader predetermined it will fail is crap.  It may be those things... but certainly not for that reason. 

40
Quote
I'm also expressing the view that what the Democrats are doing is harming their chances of removing him rather than helping. But hey, whatever floats your boat.
I tend to agree with this.  The decision to impeach is being treated more as theater, a political cudgel, a PR campaign and so on.  Had they simply moved forward where they believed they had the grounds to do so, then at least it could be seen as members of the house believing they were doing their duty.

Right now, I expect they are generating more opposition than support.

41
TheDeamon, fixing "the real problems" is indeed important, but, from where I'm sitting, Trump IS a serious problem because his behavior/actions keep highlighting all those "real problems".  :P

This is like knowing that you have food allergies.  It's a serious condition but manageable if you DON'T EAT THOSE THINGS! 

Should you go and try to get treatment to lessen those allergies?  Sure, but it doesn't seem all that urgent until someone is slipping those things into your meals on a regular basis.   >:(

Tax returns?  That's just a tradition, not a rule.
Emolument Clause?  Suggestion only.
You wana subpoena my staff or me?  Executive privilege
Impeachment inquiry?  Why aren't my lawyers allowed to participate? 

There is A LOT of gray area that tradition, habit, public perception, party pressure and other things have been making work until someone looks at that line in the sand and steps across it daring everyone to do something about it.  I get that a lot of people feel that challenge is necessary, but this guy is not so much rewriting the rules, but he's illustrating to everyone that the "guidelines" weren't ever "rules" anyway, so you can all stuff it! 

So yes, I'm keen to see him constrained or removed (in the next election), but I'd like Congress to get off it's ass and... fix the glitches.

42
Your mistaken in assuming there is just one concern, or even one primary concern.

There is an open question on IF what was done is a crime.  Then to what extent it is or should be permissible.  The extent of immunity factors into the question of criminal activity/intent.  But it all boils down to a discussion of what the President's "lane" entails, and how to nudge him back into it (if appropriate), or how to kick him from office for refusing to stay in said lane (again, if appropriate).

43
Asking an ally, or potential ally to be more assertive in combating corruption seems like the exact type of thing we'd like to see our government, and indeed the president himself, get involved in. 

Asking them to look into a specific person or event, implying that this is what concerns us is a different matter.  Either they look into it and find nothing concerning, in which case, they may upset this ally or potential ally because the failure to condemn the focus of the investigation would be seen as more corruption, or finding concern could be seen by corruption in and of itself as this target was sacrificed for the good of relations between these two countries.  Both of these outcomes are likely enough, and concerning enough as to make the third, desired, outcome of promoting an anti-corruption agenda linked to a specific case, folly.

To even bring up a potential point of inquiry is something we do not want our president doing.  That is why you perform your own investigation when possible and request testimony/cooperation/documentation, through your own appropriate law enforcement apparatus.

44
I don't have an answer to your earlier question, but even if the president is the head of the law enforcement agencies, then he should be using OUR agencies to investigate.  I cannot see any situation where it's appropriate to ask another foreign power, particularly one who wants to remain in a favorable status with said president, to investigate for you.  Asking them for documentations regarding X topic?  Sure, I can see that, but otherwise the whole concept is just all around toxic.

45
Quote
I think the crux of the matter is that "Orange Man Bad" has made people aware of just how powerful the office of PotUS is, and they don't like it. except they're blaming Orange Man for being the problem rather than the office itself.
While Obama was in office we also had discussions of this nature.  It's not ALL O.M.B., but he does make it harder to ignore the cracks in the system. 

The other branches have sat on their hands while the Executive has consolidated power over the years.  For the most part the public is lulled because there are checks in place such that any one branch cannot get out of control.  Trumps demeanor (more than his actions) demand oversight and reassurance to many that those checks on power DO function.  But questioning executive overreach (or abuse of power) is not new to Trump by any means.

46
Can you unwind that a bit Fenring?  That sounds entirely contrary to the point DonaldD seemed to make with the quoted text.

47
I think for most of the layman here it's the divide between these:
Process of impeachment vs Trial for breaking one or more laws.

If you cannot prosecute while in office (something that seems reasonable as it really could bog down a president such that they couldn't do their job), then treating impeachment as a trial makes zero sense. 

Likewise, bogging down a president / administration such that it may as well be a trial, such that it defeats the whole intent of the impeachment process, also makes zero sense.

For me at least, there should be a non "remove you from office" power that forces a president / administration to cooperate with an investigation into wrong doing that is short of that measure.  Congress or outside litigants cannot spam a president with lawsuits but they SHOULD be able to petition Congress that a particular charge is serious enough that this blanket protection (or hold) should be suspended.


Now all of that wish list aside, what is happening now is political theater.  They know they won't remove him from office unless something truly stunning is revealed soon.  And nothing indicates that it will be.  Do I think he abused his power for political reasons against Biden?  You bet, but the Senate is gonna let that slide no matter what evidence the inquiry finds or what they recommend.  So they will just leak or make public what they want and use it to sway public opinion.  Because as everyone knows the proper response to an abuse of power is to abuse the system put in place to stop them...   ::)

48
Tricky question.  Above justice?  Yes.  The law?  Well pardons are part of the law... so, no?

49
Quote
An emperor, a king who could shoot someone on 5th Avenue, and if Congress agrees, is not subject to our laws, at least for his term in office?
But the law would kick in after that term...  It's not like it's diplomatic immunity where you can run someone over and never face justice for instance.

50
That's just it.  I wasn't holding my breath for a compromise.  I was hoping with Trump holding a gun to the head of our nation / its immigrant population / Congress, that they would make a knee-jerk reaction, even if nobody was happy with it, just to stop him.  :P

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