The All Things Political Topic - In politics stupidity is not a handicap

[Amentep]

RFK Jr.'s former running mate threatens to primary anyone who votes against RFK Jr.'s nomination

[majestic]

7 hours ago, Amentep said:

RFK Jr.'s former running mate threatens to primary anyone who votes against RFK Jr.'s nomination

 

Quote

“I will make it my personal mission that you lose your seats in the Senate if you vote against the future health of America’s children.”

 

[rjshae]

On 1/28/2025 at 11:32 PM, Lexx said:

So apparently Trump is removing income tax now? Can that really be done? Does anyone know what would happen after? Would he increase sales tax and wouldn't that mean literally everything gets more expensive for everyone?

/Edit: Apparently this stuff gets submitted like once per year and is always blocked.

It's the 16th amendment to the constitution, so no, not easily.

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."

[rjshae]

On 1/28/2025 at 10:16 PM, BruceVC said:

Can you give me your opinion on  something because you often respond in an objective and reasonable way

The PEPFAR  funding has been temporarily  suspended and several  clinics dependant on that US funding have closed until this funding comes back 

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/01/28/g-s1-45030/pepfar-trump-drugs-stop-work

But my question is why is the US seen as the only country that can provide this aid? I realize this is the reality but why

Is that the perception? No, I haven't heard that perspective. In reality, one would hope for a more international response. It's been around since Bush II, a Republican, but has since been mostly criticized by Republicans. The program is promoting abstinence before marriage, a Republican dogma.

To me, shutting off the funding for all these programs suggests that this administration can't hit a moving target.

[Malcador]

And of course the air disaster in D.C. was due to DEI and Biden according to Trump, with no evidence.

 

[BruceVC]

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/28/us-senate-blocks-bill-sanctioning-icc-over-israeli-arrest-warrants

The Senate has blocked the proposed US sanctions on the ICC because of the issuing of  warrants on Netanyahu and others

Its  a good move by the Senate, this type of sanction was unhelpful and concerning 

 

[BruceVC]

Really funny 

 

 

[melkathi]

Israel is demanding Cyprus allows it to have an armed presence in the control towers at the commercial airports. To exert pressure, all Israeli airlines have suspended all flights to Paphos.

[HoonDing]

South Africa to declare war on Rwanda.

[Malcador]

38 minutes ago, HoonDing said:

South Africa to declare war on Rwanda.

ATACMS for Congo

[Zoraptor]

A lot of South Africans would like Pretoria or Johannesburg renamed, they probably aren't keen on them being renamed Kagamea or Kagameburg though. Still, getting conquered by Rwanda would be one way to end up with competent economic leadership at least (maybe that's the idea?)

[uuuhhii]

great trade war of north america will start soon

hope the rest of the world can survive it

[BruceVC]

19 hours ago, Malcador said:

ATACMS for Congo

Obviously there will be no   war between SA and Rwanda

Its about the pointless deployment of SA troops in the DRC and we unintentionally fighting on the side that has  a militant group linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide  called the FDLR  and the other side  consists of DRC ethnic Tutsis who say they fighting for there survival and they backed by Rwanda who is also Tutsi 

So Rwanda is asking why  we fighting on the side that has  a  group implicated in the 1994 genocide and we are suppose to be  very   opposed to any genocide if you think of the recent Israel ICJ case which is now become a real local media outrage talking point about our DRC deployment 

And then our government makes things more confusing by saying publicly we in a peacekeeping role but we not in peacekeeping role, that was the UN force and we in the SADC force which is an offensive  force

But then our troops dont have the right equipment and  thats why  we  lost 13 soldiers

In summary its a confusing tribal conflict that is thousands of KM from SA borders and there is  no  reason we should have troops involved in an offensive role. End of the day countries on the border of the DRC should be deploying troops but peace will only be achieved through direct peace talks between the M23 and the DRC

And the DRC failed to sign an agreement that was agreed on  last year that Angola tried to broker 

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/rwandan-foreign-minister-says-congo-refused-sign-deal-ease-m23-conflict-2024-10-05/

Edited 10 hours ago by BruceVC

[Malcador]

I said ATACMS for Congo not South Africa as they resist Rwandan forces.  I should go re read Dancing in the Glory of Monsters, but this seems very similar to 25 years ago.

[rjshae]

16 hours ago, uuuhhii said:

great trade war of north america will start soon

hope the rest of the world can survive it

Canada enjoys a trade surplus with the USA, but it's entirely because of oil exports.

[Malcador]

And apparently if Canada retaliates, then tariffs increase.  The US really deserves much worse than it gets.