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

[Zoraptor]

15 minutes ago, Lexx said:

Dunno. Apparently there were reports a 2 months back about the votes being rigged. Trump even almost admitted to it (unless he was just talking out of his ass again, who knows). Can't find the reports about it right now, but I guess nobody really cares anyways, since this did almost zero waves back then.

This stuff, presumably? If so it's what those young chaps like to call copium. It got no media traction because it's essentially worthless.

The drop off benefitting Trump and against Harris is exactly what you'd expect from a popular vs unpopular candidate. In MMP terms it's basically the equivalent of a popular MP being returned in a constituency where the party vote goes heavily against their party vs an unpopular one losing their seat despite the party vote in that electorate favouring their party.

Trump's an idiot and was almost certainly referring to the vote analysis tool Musk wrote which by all accounts did a very good job, assuming it was the comment in that Newsweek article. Though there's also been a lot of actually fake fake news about stuff Trump didn't say too.

[Lexx]

38 minutes ago, Elerond said:

Even though things are credited for Trump, truth is that whole republican party supports them and as republicans control both senate and house, majority of state governments, and federal courts are full of republican picked judges, there is wide support for everything that is happening. Republicans just like to hide behind Trump's back.

Yeah, in fact, I think it's even more damaging and/or dangerous to just give Trump the blame for everything. He's probably just a public figure they use so people can hate someone. If something happens to Trump or they have to let him go for whatever reasons, it wouldn't really change a lot unless the people behind him disappear as well.

/Edit: You know, maybe the actual issue is that Trump is being targeted all the time. You can't argue with MAGA people after all, they worship him more than Jesus, so maybe it would be a better strategy to always fire at the people behind Trump whenever he says / does something stupid.

Edited Wednesday at 10:53 AM by Lexx

[uuuhhii]

2 hours ago, Azdeus said:

And the Democrat party are, frankly, quite dickless. They think playing nice and cordial is going to help them in some way.

 

oligarch are all bribing the orange team instead of democrat

why bother fight when they are not even get paid anymore

[Azdeus]

41 minutes ago, uuuhhii said:

 

oligarch are all bribing the orange team instead of democrat

why bother fight when they are not even get paid anymore

Oh, they're getting paid alright, but they are only taking money from the "good billionaires" according to the new DNC chair

[rjshae]

Today in dumb:

Trump says he’s given advisers instructions for Iran to be ‘obliterated’ if it assassinates him

Code name: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Just to put that in perspective, Iran has a population of 91 million. The total deaths in World War II were estimated at 70-85 million.

So what happens if, say, Israel takes him out in the guise of an Iranian plot? I think there's a more tempered response available in the form of smart bombs. In the meantime, Iran has more motivation to build nuclear weapons.

Edited Wednesday at 02:55 PM by rjshae

[Malcador]

2 hours ago, rjshae said:

I think there's a more tempered response available in the form of smart bombs.

Not from the United States, that's for sure.

[Gfted1]

Federal judge blocks Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship | CNN Politics

[Gfted1]

11 hours ago, BruceVC said:

But I assume this is classic Trump classic " distraction tactics " so he can get the media focusing on this so he can push through his appointments or other policies...

I think the voluminous "executive orders" can be traced back to when Obama weaponized it to ram through ACH. It seems the tactic has become "say anything you want under an executive order and let the courts stop it". We reap what we sow. 

[Zoraptor]

No comment on their substantiveness (which will always be a bit subjective) but Obama actually issued fewer EOs than GWB did and the least of any two term president since... Grover Cleveland?

If anyone wanted zero from Trump history suggests that they should have held his inauguration outside in the cold and got him to do a long speech.

[Bartimaeus]

Also, did Obama actually have any executive orders relating to the Affordable Care Act (ACA, presumably what Gfted1 meant)? The only two things thing I saw relating to it when I did a quick search was Obama issuing EO 13535, which...tried to strengthen restrictions against federal funds being used for abortion, and also issuing EO 13507 in 2009 (i.e. pre-ACA), which established the White House Office of Health Reform...and it only existed for two years before it was abolished in 2011. Maybe I'm missing something, but to my knowledge, the the vast majority of ACA was Congressional legislation.

Edited Wednesday at 07:45 PM by Bartimaeus

[Gfted1]

US judge temporarily blocks transfer of incarcerated trans women to men’s prisons | US news | The Guardian

[Lexx]

Hands up, who is shocked about this? https://gizmodo.com/elon-musks-enemy-usaid-was-investigating-starlink-over-its-contracts-in-ukraine-2000559365

Elon Musk’s Enemy, USAID, Was Investigating Starlink’s Contracts in Ukraine

The agency was in the midst of a probe into the billionaire's equipment at the time of Musk's assault.

Edited Thursday at 07:11 AM by Lexx

[Gfted1]

DOJ agrees to temporarily block DOGE from Treasury records - Ars Technica

[Malcador]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/rubio-accuses-south-africa-of-anti-americanism-and-snubs-g20-meeting

"South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality, & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] and climate change,” Rubio said in a post on X. “My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism.”

How long until the US creates a DEI Alert Level.  

 

[Lexx]

1 hour ago, Gfted1 said:

DOJ agrees to temporarily block DOGE from Treasury records - Ars Technica

Almost a week later, as if Musk and his little gangster squad didn't already made a copy of whatever they needed right away.

[Gfted1]

^He probably already hacked the Treasury records before the formation of DOGE. Rabbit holes are bottomless.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

1 hour ago, Malcador said:

How long until the US creates a DEI Alert Level.

Given the past few years, they'll probably have another boogeyman before they'd get that running.

[Malcador]

3 hours ago, Gfted1 said:

DOJ agrees to temporarily block DOGE from Treasury records - Ars Technica

"If approved, the order would allow two "special government employees" hired by the Treasury to continue accessing payments data to further DOGE's mission of eliminating government waste. But until the lawsuit is settled, DOGE and anyone outside the Treasury Department would be prohibited from reviewing that data directly, ensuring that nobody's government financial data is shared with any third parties without consent or proper notice."

Doesn't seem like much has changed then

[HoonDing]

1000% tariffs on Suid Afrika until Apartheid is restored.

[Gfted1]

14 minutes ago, Malcador said:

Doesn't seem like much has changed then

Sorry, I dont follow your thoughts...literally the entire paragraph you quoted is a change from the plan DOGE has.

[Malcador]

32 minutes ago, Gfted1 said:

Sorry, I dont follow your thoughts...literally the entire paragraph you quoted is a change from the plan DOGE has.

Well two employees are special enough to get access. Just skeptical the data will be as guarded as promised and the two specials won't be Musk and another

Edited Thursday at 05:23 PM by Malcador

[Gfted1]

Trump administration sues Illinois, Chicago over sanctuary status | WGN-TV    

[Malcador]

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5130103-trump-national-prayer-breakfast-religious-discrimination-task-force-anti-christian-bias/

At long last the Christian White Genocide will end.

[Gfted1]

Trump to create religious office in White House, target 'anti-Christian bias' | Reuters

Seems like it will work out what with the 1st Amendment and all.

[Lexx]

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/bondi-scales-back-us-justice-department-white-collar-enforcement

https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1388546/dl?inline

Putin is winning so hard right now. Who knows, maybe the new government will even manage to unfreeze all those russian assets in a short while.

Edited Thursday at 11:34 PM by Lexx