The All Things Political Topic - Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence

[Malcador]

4 hours ago, ShadySands said:

I agree that they are all bad but I strongly disagree that they are equally bad.

I try to stay out of the weeds of most of this stuff because it's so horribly depressing but Biden, who I also disliked, did not make me question what rights and what country my kids might grow up into.  

Especially with people like this guy in the administration. Apparently they might make him Nat Sec Advisor ?  Might be interesting to Hurlshot, who undoubtedly peddles in woke globo-homosexual Neo-Leninist/Marxist indoctrination

 

Edited May 4 by Malcador

[Hurlshort]

1 hour ago, Malcador said:

Especially with people like this guy in the administration. Apparently they might make him Nat Sec Advisor ?  Might be interesting to Hurlshot, who undoubtedly peddles in woke globo-homosexual Neo-Leninist/Marxist indoctrination

That's basically my whole lesson plan for the year.

The whole communist battle cry sure is retro. 'Murica!

Honestly though, there just seems to be this fear of tolerance, equity, and accountability. Those are the main things I teach in Social Science. The current administration is currently waging war on that stuff, but they are also dismantling the federal infrastructure required to actually implement this stuff. So whatever, lucky to teach in the Peoples Republic of California.  

[BruceVC]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/waltzs-coordination-with-netanyahu-on-iran-strike-contributed-to-firing-report/

Waltz is being moved to another position and  apparently the main reason for this is his relationship with Netanyahu and how its not aligned to what Trump prefers and specifically around Iran

"Two of the people quoted by the Washington Post said that Waltz upset the US president by engaging in what the report described as “intense coordination” with Netanyahu on possible military options for Iran, prior to the premier’s White House meeting with Trump in February. "

 

I do think the Trump WH is too close to Israel on several issues, it needs to be seen as more objective  and whats best for the USA first 

But Iran is a threat to the overall stability of the ME and they cant be allowed to get nukes, thats a very important geopolitical objective. The issue is now what is the most effective and sustainable way to achieve this goal?

 

 

 

[BruceVC]

https://www.newsweek.com/maga-leaders-defend-americans-right-boycott-israel-2067909

This is an example of where the  current Congress, or certain representatives , is too aligned with Israel and what it considers is anti-Semitism but this bill encroaches on freedom of speech 

What they dont realize is this type of bill fuels anti-Semitism because it adds to the whole narrative that Jews control the USA.

" According to the lawmakers who introduced the bill, Lawler and Gottheimer, H.R. 867 "amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to include international governmental organizations (IGOs) in existing anti-boycott laws.

The congressmen said in a January press release that the change "targets harmful and inherently antisemitic" boycott efforts undertaken at IGOs while also "extending protections already in place for boycotts instigated by foreign countries.

However, critics warn the bill threatens the constitutional rights of Americans. The penalties under the legislation include civil penalties, criminal fines of up to $1 million and imprisonment of up to 20 years for supporting calls to boycott Israel. "

[Lexx]

Heritage Foundation (Project 2025 etc) is looking at Europe now: https://www.desmog.com/2025/03/14/heritage-foundation-project-2025-allies-mcc-ordo-iuris-discuss-dismantling-the-eu-european-union/

[Hawke64]

The UK government seems to be inspired by Trump and Putin and is actively going after the people with disabilities and trans people. Also the refugees.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A2zfEwGFOmg

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/supreme-court-ruling-endangers-womens-rights-trans-group-warns_uk_6808b116e4b0deaad52734e3

Petitions to sign:

For the people with disabilities:

• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/703827
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/721918
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/721828
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/721547

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2025-0091/

Quote

A Westminster Hall debate on Personal Independence Payment and disabled people is scheduled for Wednesday 7 May 2025 at 2:30pm.

For trans people:

• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/701159
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/704793
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/712741
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700312
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/703861
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700652
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/705870
• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700219

The protest in London is planned for 25 May.

 

[uuuhhii]

2 hours ago, Lexx said:

Heritage Foundation (Project 2025 etc) is looking at Europe now: https://www.desmog.com/2025/03/14/heritage-foundation-project-2025-allies-mcc-ordo-iuris-discuss-dismantling-the-eu-european-union/

 

cyberpunk but without cool flying car and cybernetic are coming

hope this generation remember what little they have right now well

humanity will never recover any of it

[Malcador]

https://apnews.com/article/trump-alcatraz-prison-fabe3385415ae03829d44e50efb3c1fb

I am guessing Escape from Alcatraz was on TV or something last night. Well or they're doing something insane that this is cover for.

 

[BruceVC]

4 hours ago, Malcador said:

https://apnews.com/article/trump-alcatraz-prison-fabe3385415ae03829d44e50efb3c1fb

I am guessing Escape from Alcatraz was on TV or something last night. Well or they're doing something insane that this is cover for.

 

But thats not a bad idea, Alcatraz is a very famous prison and the US has lots of criminals 

Im not sure how it will be better than the maximum security prisons but its got potential 

 

[Gromnir]

5 hours ago, Malcador said:

https://apnews.com/article/trump-alcatraz-prison-fabe3385415ae03829d44e50efb3c1fb

I am guessing Escape from Alcatraz was on TV or something last night. Well or they're doing something insane that this is cover for.

 

our first thought were similar, that he had seen The Rock and thought it were kewl, but am suspecting the truth were more like disinfectant and sunlight for covid. probable some staffer or fox personality popped off about how the US needed a true terror prison 'cause regardless o' effectiveness, the point is to frighten people, and alcatraz is somehow both scary and kewl? trump hears or sees something, then has an epiphany and 'cause his uncle was an mit professor, all o' trumps ideas is necessarily genius, yes?

the reason why Alcatraz were closed, the main reason, were 'cause it were something like 3x more expensive to run than any other fed prison. @Hurlshortmaybe took the tour within the last few decades, dunno. am suspecting he were told details 'bout alzatraz closing. so, the doge guy who cuts money for the pepfar program and for va cancer treatment trials 'cause is all 'bout cutting down on waste, now wants to reopen a money sink prison.

brilliant.

stoopid.

the thing is, am predicting you are gonna now see a multitude o' maga pundits defending trump's impulse control. 

'course our sundowning President didn't limit his sunday dumb to alcatraz.

Trump threatens a 100% tariff on foreign-made films, saying the movie industry in the US is dying

...

anything which takes the focus off of trump's recent court losses, his "deportation" blunders, and the serious diminished port activity in places such as los angeles, effectively work in his favour even if am suspecting he doesn't plan his bouts o' bad idea diarrhea as an actual ploy to distract; he is just that stoopid.

HA! Good Fun!

Edited May 5 by Gromnir

[Malcador]

1 hour ago, BruceVC said:

But thats not a bad idea, Alcatraz is a very famous prison and the US has lots of criminals 

Im not sure how it will be better than the maximum security prisons but its got potential 

https://pauloffit.substack.com/p/understanding-rfk-jr

Currently it's generating revenue - https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/trump-floats-reopening-alcatraz-heres-how-much-revenue-notorious-prison-generates $60MM isn't much, but Musk reaches climax over saving amounts in that range.

And it was shut down as an active prison for being cost ineffective so...

[Lexx]

My idea is to turn it into Trumps... uh.. summer home for the rest of his life.

[Malcador]

Just be glad he didn't see Escape from LA.

[Zoraptor]

Talking about elections with lessons for elsewhere: Romania.

Shock win in first round to anti EU candidate, heaven and earth moved to get rid of him first due to 'Russian interference' (turned out it was actually another Romanian party trying to game the system, ho hum, still gets labelled as due to alleged Russian interference by the media), eventually got rid of on financial irregularities. Great victory for democracy. Redo first round election... a different nationalist anti EU candidate wins, with 40% of the vote instead of 23%.

Might be better to try addressing the cause, rather than the symptoms.

[rjshae]

4 hours ago, BruceVC said:

But thats not a bad idea, Alcatraz is a very famous prison and the US has lots of criminals 

Im not sure how it will be better than the maximum security prisons but its got potential 

Island prisons are more expensive to run. Here in Washington we closed the McNeil Island penitentiary for that reason. There's no significant benefit to re-opening Alcatraz, when the money can be better spent elsewhere.

[Hurlshort]

5 hours ago, Gromnir said:

our first thought were similar, that he had seen The Rock and thought it were kewl, but am suspecting the truth were more like disinfectant and sunlight for covid. probable some staffer or fox personality popped off about how the US needed a true terror prison 'cause regardless o' effectiveness, the point is to frighten people, and alcatraz is somehow both scary and kewl? trump hears or sees something, then has an epiphany and 'cause his uncle was an mit professor, all o' trumps ideas is necessarily genius, yes?

the reason why Alcatraz were closed, the main reason, were 'cause it were something like 3x more expensive to run than any other fed prison. @Hurlshortmaybe took the tour within the last few decades, dunno. am suspecting he were told details 'bout alzatraz closing. so, the doge guy who cuts money for the pepfar program and for va cancer treatment trials 'cause is all 'bout cutting down on waste, now wants to reopen a money sink prison.

brilliant.

stoopid.

the thing is, am predicting you are gonna now see a multitude o' maga pundits defending trump's impulse control. 

'course our sundowning President didn't limit his sunday dumb to alcatraz.

Trump threatens a 100% tariff on foreign-made films, saying the movie industry in the US is dying

...

anything which takes the focus off of trump's recent court losses, his "deportation" blunders, and the serious diminished port activity in places such as los angeles, effectively work in his favour even if am suspecting he doesn't plan his bouts o' bad idea diarrhea as an actual ploy to distract; he is just that stoopid.

HA! Good Fun!

I actually did the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in 2019, so I am confident I can get off the island if necessary.

[Gromnir]

1 hour ago, Hurlshort said:

I actually did the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in 2019, so I am confident I can get off the island if necessary.

am suspecting you got a better chance with aclatraz than you would with adx florence

trump's desire to make prisons great again, ignores the fact that the US doesn't have some kinda national shortfall of correction facilities.

...

what kinda lunatic romanticizes sing-sing and alcatraz?

am genuine curious how long alcatraz and the movie tariff silliness, imposed on an emergency basis for national security reasons, is gonna be sane-splained by fox and the legion o' maga pundits before they shift to criticizing lefties for fixating on alcatraz and movie tariffs when there is more important issues confronting real americans... like trans athletes and the inability to purchase raw milk at local supermarkets. 

late edit:

ok, am admitting trump's alcatraz insanity ain't complete bad as it gives an excuse to post an old phil hartman clip.

HA! Good Fun!

 

Edited May 6 by Gromnir

[rjshae]

This week in stupid:

FEMA cancels classes at national fire training academy amid federal funding cuts

Fire fighting? Such a waste of money.

[Gromnir]

Federal judge orders NC to certify Riggs as winner in Supreme Court election

“This case concerns whether the federal Constitution permits a state to alter the rules of an election after the fact and apply those changes retroactively to only a select group of voters, and in so doing treat those voters differently than other similarly situated individuals,” he wrote. “This case is also about whether a state may redefine its class of eligible voters but offer no process to those who may have been misclassified as ineligible.

“To this court, the answer to each of those questions is ‘no.’”

...

is not over, but keep in mind that meyer don't need to win for republicans to win. am suspecting litigation has already cost judge riggs ~$1 million, or perhaps a bit more. trump is threatening law firms who might ordinary take on such cases, so the pool o' attorneys to represent democrats is shrinking particular as the field o' election integrity is pretty freaking specialized. furthermore, republicans is able to target a handful o' high population districts in each state to challenge elections, 'cause is higher population and urban districts where democrats ordinary have the best voter turnout-- same is not true in reverse. even if democrats tried to flip the dirty trick playbook being used by republicans, chances are that targeting one or two districts in a statewide election won't benefit democrats 'cause when republicans win they get a multitude o' all those low population rural voting districts.

there is some good news, well good news beyond the obvious that riggs keep winning. 

The Many Lawyers of Hannah Dugan

more than a handful o' conservative legal superstars is stepping up to represent clients dealing with the trump administration.

paul clement

am realizing mr. clement is not a household name, but he is arguable the best in his field, and he is as conservative as they come, so it means something when he steps forward to represent judge hanna dugan as well as law firms facing trump executive orders. not all republicans is being cowards. 

HA! Good Fun!

[uuuhhii]

2 hours ago, rjshae said:

This week in stupid:

FEMA cancels classes at national fire training academy amid federal funding cuts

Fire fighting? Such a waste of money.

 

at this point it wouldn't be surprising if usa bring back private fire fighter

let it all burn

[BruceVC]

@Hurlshot

Good idea? It should address the rampant crime in California or at least contain it ?

 

[Gromnir]

4 hours ago, rjshae said:

This week in stupid:

FEMA cancels classes at national fire training academy amid federal funding cuts

Fire fighting? Such a waste of money.

and if you were wondering why trump wants to kill npr and pbs...

A Maryland town backed Trump's cost-cutting pledge. Now it's a target

Emmitsburg voted overwhelmingly for President Trump in November. NPR interviewed about two dozen people here. Almost all of them voted for Trump, and many said his plans to cut federal spending were a key attraction. Now, they say they are puzzled as to why the administration would cancel national training for firefighters.

HA! Good Fun!

[Malcador]

https://thehill.com/business/5284207-lutnick-skeptical-of-cutting-a-deal-with-canadas-socialist-regime/

Not a great sign for the talks today. I maintain Lutnick really should have been on time to work that day.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

53 minutes ago, Malcador said:

https://thehill.com/business/5284207-lutnick-skeptical-of-cutting-a-deal-with-canadas-socialist-regime/

Not a great sign for the talks today. I maintain Lutnick really should have been on time to work that day.

I think there's a good possibility that Trump just says they had an incredible talk, never been anything like it and makes a deal that is just what's been in place for decades.

[Malcador]

Well the office event went without too much drama, Trump threatening Canada as usual. Carney didn't say much, but I suppose not much to say as Trump's mind goes on a journey.