Politics 2017 part V

[redneckdevil]

Unfortunately still dangerous as af down there. This wall seems like a blessing in disguise for the president down there because now the focus is on the wall and the amount of land that isn't controlled by the govt isn't in the spot light now.

[Wrath of Dagon]

 

How'd you like to live in that country? http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-09/jakartas-outgoing-governor-ahok-found-guilty-in-blasphemy-trial/8509936

 

Ahok was charged with blasphemy after he said clerics had used a Koranic verse to mislead voters by telling them that Muslims were not allowed to vote for a Christian.

 

Having spent some years there, that's reason number one million and two why being dogmatic about your own beliefs at the expense of tolerence of others and succumbing to populist nationalism is a very bad thing.

 

I suppose you're never dogmatic about your believes. And what exactly does populist nationalism have to do with Islamism?

 

Edit: FBI said to be investigation Jane Sanders for bank fraud. They should investigate Bernie for peddling the fraud of socialism. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/332313-fbi-investigating-jane-sanders-for-alleged-bank-fraud-report?amp

Edited May 9, 2017 by Wrath of Dagon

[Zoraptor]

In Indonesia popular nationalism has a lot to do with islamism because it's a muslim country which has religious minorities and those minorities are often involved in separatist movements, eg in Ambon.

 

There's plenty of use of populist nationalism and islamism anyway- just look at Erdogan in Turkey, perfect description of him and the AKP.

[Leferd]

If you don't see this trend as one and the same...

 

Indonesia is culturally, ethnically, and religiously diverse. Its constitution and government is nominally secular. The national motto is translated as "Unity in Diversity."

 

Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world by population --sandwiched between the US and Brazil. It's composed of hundreds of thousands of islands with hundreds of languages and dialects spread across three thousand miles East to West among hundreds of ethnicities. Its national language is essentially a conglang invented to serve as a middle ground. 85% Islam, 10% Christian, maybe 2% Hindu and Buddhists and the rest composed of other religions.

 

That said, hardline Islamists have been gaining power and influence since the fall of Suharto in the late 90's. Suharto was a secular authoritarian who ruled harshly but kept dissent in check and under control. What happened after Suharto was toppled? Mass riots and violence targeting the Christians and Chinese minorities.

 

Not that the Chinese and Christians haven't been clean. They were strong supporters of Colonial Dutch rule for 300+ years - attaining ranks of privilege and wealth. A disproportionate number of the better educated, wealthiest Indonesians are Chinese and/or Christians. They own the most profitable businesses and control the banks. They sought protection from the most influential politicians and local police chiefs. They probably contributed to the corruption facing most politicians ---Chinese Christians don't have political power, but they had wealth -- and that kept them protected.

 

Now we have hardline Islamist factions spreading nativist, nationalistic, Islamic propaganda and openly targeting the Chinese and Christian minorities -- as they are the OTHERS. Nevermind they've been in the country for more than 400 years. The current President is a popular moderate and ally of Governor Ahok, but even he couldn't swell the populist, Islamist mob that turned public opinion against Ahok (who was a popular and reformist anti-corruption champion) and ultimately led to his "blasphemy" conviction. His crime? For saying in a campaign rally that his opponents were misleading voters by saying the Quran prohibits Muslims from voting for non-Muslims. The court essentially ruled that it was indeed blasphemy for him to say that the Quran did not disallow Muslims to vote for non-Muslims.

 

So this leads us back to this. Propagating dogmatic zealotry in a rising tide of nationalistic/nativist populism in a non-homogeneous country is bad. Mob majority rule at the expense of minority rights is very bad no matter where in the world.

[Malcador]

This is what happens when you're not allowed to defend yourself: https://heatst.com/world/violent-london-scooter-gangs-terrorize-area-near-prince-georges-school/

 

 

They dress in black and often remove their helmets, taking advantage of a loophole in UK policing policy which says officers will not give chase to anyone on a scooter because of concerns the rider might fall and suffer injury or death.

Ha ha ha ha

 

Edit: I look forward to when the new mayor of London announces a policy that stopping a beheading is not allowed since the beheader might cut himself.

Who knew chavs could be so clever.

[Zoraptor]

Well, Comey is goneburger. An... interesting development.

[Malcador]

Pretty amusing explanation given, too

[HoonDing]

Trump got an interesting autograph.

[Leferd]

This is insane. And the optics aren't right. Need an independent commission or special prosecutor to investigate Trump.

[Volourn]

Shouldn't eveyrone be happy about this? I have no issue with Comey but 'both sides'; seemed to be butthurt with him. Which, likelymeans he was doing hsi job. L0L

[Gromnir]

This is insane. And the optics aren't right. Need an independent commission or special prosecutor to investigate Trump.

is absolute nothing wrong or curious 'bout President nixon firing archibald cox.

 

oh, wait...

 

HA! Good Fun!

[Leferd]

Shouldn't eveyrone be happy about this? I have no issue with Comey but 'both sides'; seemed to be butthurt with him. Which, likelymeans he was doing hsi job. L0L

Comey screwed Clinton, and had missteps along the way, but most people in government at least respected his integrity and independence from politics.

 

Waiting on the following names to be leaked for the vacancy:

 

Guiliani

Christie

Kushner.

 

Kidding/Not kidding.

[Volourn]

He didn't screw Clinton. Clinton screwed Clinton.

[Leferd]

To be honest, I don't think Bill and Hillary have shared a bed since leaving the White House.

[Chilloutman]

To be honest, I don't think Bill and Hillary have shared a bed since leaving the White House.

 

did you seen her? i doubt it even before xD

[Bartimaeus]

So basically, he's fired everyone that has investigated him - Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, and now Comey. Didn't Nixon fire the special prosecutor for his impeachment right before it happened? May it be that we are lucky enough that this is the case here.

[Leferd]

So basically, he's fired everyone that has investigated him - Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, and now Comey. Didn't Nixon fire the special prosecutor for his impeachment right before it happened? May it be that we are lucky enough that this is the case here.

 

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/92340-politics-2017-part-v/?p=1911164

 

[Bartimaeus]

I'm a zombie right now after having gotten back from a funeral and subsequently spending the rest of the day watching Stranger Things, so whoops, good call.

[Leferd]

I'm a zombie right now after having gotten back from a funeral and subsequently spending the rest of the day watching Stranger Things, so whoops, good call.

 

Sorry to hear. And Stranger Things seem thematically appropriate considering what's going on.

[Leferd]

Behind Comey’s firing: An enraged Trump, fuming about Russia

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/10/comey-firing-trump-russia-238192

 

• (Trump) had grown enraged by the Russia investigation, two advisers said, frustrated by his inability to control the mushrooming narrative around Russia. He repeatedly asked aides why the Russia investigation wouldn’t disappear and demanded they speak out for him. He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe, one adviser said...

 

• Trump had grown angry with the Russia investigation — particularly Comey admitting in front of the Senate that the FBI was investigating his campaign — and that the FBI director wouldn't support his claims that President Barack Obama had tapped his phones in Trump Tower...

 

• But several other people familiar with the events said Trump had talked about the firing for over a week, and the letters were written to give him rationale to fire Comey...

 

• While shock dominated much of the FBI and the White House, the mood was more elated at Roger Stone's house in Florida. Several Stone allies and friends said Stone, who has been frequently mentioned in the investigation, encouraged the president to fire Comey in conversations in recent weeks. On Twitter, Stone signaled praise for the move by posting an image of Trump from The Apprentice saying "You're fired." Stone declined to comment Tuesday night but said he was enjoying a fine cigar.

[Gromnir]

while not an immediate obvious outcome o' the comey firing, am thinking the most unfortunate long-term impact o' the fbi director's removal will be the conclusion o' future directors to avoid transparency.  in an attempt to avoid the perception o' bias, comey were forthright and honest.  unfortunate, in a climate dominated by alternative facts and polarized parties, comey's efforts to dispel claims and concerns 'bout impropriety only magnified the perception o' investigative malfeasance and/or incompetence.  comey's fate is gonna be a cautionary tale for future fbi directors.  taciturn and anonymous.

 

HA! Good Fun! 

[redneckdevil]

Comey was NOT honest or forthright in Clinton emails. The reason why he is getting sacked is because of his biased actions. His first major blow was when he said Clinton did NOT send classified information and admitted she did use an unauthorized server but wouldn't punish her bc there I was no 'intent" to save Clinton'son's ass but WikiLeaks proved with actual untampered emails. Second blow was when he tried to save his image by shortly before elections that "new" stuff came up and was reopening the investigation on Clinton with the emails.

He played the game and ended up tarnishing his reputation by being biased and protecting Clinton. When it was obvious to the public that the FBI was showing different standards to her than others in govt for sharing an using unauthorized servers, he tried to save his ass with the reopening.

Comey was viewed as honest and forthright BEFORE the emails thing, but tarnished his reputation and his act of biased special treatment towards a Democrats, when your supposed to keep both parties in check, how trustworthy can he be so I agree he needs to go.

[Raithe]

The balance of whether its political commentary or more snark for the funny things thread....

 

[Guard Dog]

It's funny, I don't recall the wailing and gnashing of teeth when Bill Clinton fired the FBI director in '93. Of course the FBI had taken an interest in Clinton's real estate dealings much the same way as they have the Trump/Russia connections. The difference is Clinton (a Democrat) does it and no one (in the media) complains. Trump (a sort of Republican) does it and it's the second coming of Nixon.

 

I keep telling you guys there isn't a nickel's worth of difference between the Republicrats and the Democans. Only in who the cheerleaders cheer for.

 

Don't blame me I voted for Johnson.

[Malcador]

Comey was NOT honest or forthright in Clinton emails. The reason why he is getting sacked is because of his biased actions. His first major blow was when he said Clinton did NOT send classified information and admitted she did use an unauthorized server but wouldn't punish her bc there I was no 'intent" to save Clinton'son's ass but WikiLeaks proved with actual untampered emails. Second blow was when he tried to save his image by shortly before elections that "new" stuff came up and was reopening the investigation on Clinton with the emails.

He played the game and ended up tarnishing his reputation by being biased and protecting Clinton. When it was obvious to the public that the FBI was showing different standards to her than others in govt for sharing an using unauthorized servers, he tried to save his ass with the reopening.

Comey was viewed as honest and forthright BEFORE the emails thing, but tarnished his reputation and his act of biased special treatment towards a Democrats, when your supposed to keep both parties in check, how trustworthy can he be so I agree he needs to go.

Guess government does move slow if it took 4 months.