Miscellaneous news items that don't warrant their own thread

[CAA Flagship]

Feinstein has to break the brutal truth to a bunch of kids on how legislation really works. And then gets kind of owned.

There's no better representation of why we need to get money out of politics or at least have term limits.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/201 ... 1550884658

I agree on term limits but I really think there should be some concessions on a straight limit across the board. I think a limited extension should be permitted if elected SOTH, or Majority or Minority Whip, or Chairman of certain important Committees, etc. Experience of procedural and historical matters can be valuable. Maybe that can be achieved with the appointment of several non-voting "advisors"?

[kalm]

Feinstein has to break the brutal truth to a bunch of kids on how legislation really works. And then gets kind of owned.

There's no better representation of why we need to get money out of politics or at least have term limits.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/201 ... 1550884658

I agree on term limits but I really think there should be some concessions on a straight limit across the board. I think a limited extension should be permitted if elected SOTH, or Majority or Minority Whip, or Chairman of certain important Committees, etc. Experience of procedural and historical matters can be valuable. Maybe that can be achieved with the appointment of several non-voting "advisors"?

Or how about they quit spending 5 hours on average every day fundraising and mentor the up and coming leadership instead so they’re prepared to take on the roll.

[CID1990]

I like the idea of term limits - it would certainly solve some problems

I’m not entirely convinced the problems that go away would outweigh the problems it would create though -

Staffer expertise on the Hill is a big deal - when Kennedy died there was a feeding frenzy to get his staffers they were that good

Term limits would create a new, powerful class of unelected technocrats on the Hill and they might be worse than ossified old coots serving for 40 years


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[kalm]

I like the idea of term limits - it would certainly solve some problems

I’m not entirely convinced the problems that go away would outweigh the problems it would create though -

Staffer expertise on the Hill is a big deal - when Kennedy died there was a feeding frenzy to get his staffers they were that good

Term limits would create a new, powerful class of unelected technocrats on the Hill and they might be worse than ossified old coots serving for 40 years


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Very good points.

[Ivytalk]

I like the idea of term limits - it would certainly solve some problems

I’m not entirely convinced the problems that go away would outweigh the problems it would create though -

Staffer expertise on the Hill is a big deal - when Kennedy died there was a feeding frenzy to get his staffers they were that good

Term limits would create a new, powerful class of unelected technocrats on the Hill and they might be worse than ossified old coots serving for 40 years


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I used to take what might be a small-l libertarian position against term limits, because they deprived voters of their right to choose the candidate of their choice.

Not any more.

I think staff expertise is way overrated. Those whores now jump ship at the first lobbying opportunity.

[CID1990]

I like the idea of term limits - it would certainly solve some problems

I’m not entirely convinced the problems that go away would outweigh the problems it would create though -

Staffer expertise on the Hill is a big deal - when Kennedy died there was a feeding frenzy to get his staffers they were that good

Term limits would create a new, powerful class of unelected technocrats on the Hill and they might be worse than ossified old coots serving for 40 years


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I used to take what might be a small-l libertarian position against term limits, because they deprived voters of their right to choose the candidate of their choice.

Not any more.

I think staff expertise is way overrated. Those whores now jump ship at the first lobbying opportunity.

They’d become much more powerful if they are the only ones in the office who know bill writing, House/Senate rules, and even parliamentary procedure.

This is just one disadvantage I can see with term limits. There are others

Like I said, I’m not necessarily opposed to term limits, I’m just not sure we wouldn’t be trading our current set of issues for an even worse set

[Col Hogan]

I like the idea of term limits - it would certainly solve some problems

I’m not entirely convinced the problems that go away would outweigh the problems it would create though -

Staffer expertise on the Hill is a big deal - when Kennedy died there was a feeding frenzy to get his staffers they were that good

Term limits would create a new, powerful class of unelected technocrats on the Hill and they might be worse than ossified old coots serving for 40 years


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This is my main opposition to term limits...

When I first arrived in the Pentagon as a young Major, I was taught the expression “Iron Majors run this place”...

The Generals would come in for a one or two year term then go out to their next command...and the breadth of their responsibilities in the Pentagon made it damn near impossible for them to know much more than an overview of many of their areas of responsibility...

But there were plenty of Majors who were the functional experts in the various areas, and were there for three and four year tours: they would tell the General what he needed to know...or at least what the Majors wanted them to know...

Thus, the Majors (and Lieutenant Colonels) really ran the show...with the Generals simply being the “face”...

Very much like broadcast news is today...the anchors read what is put before them...the real power is in the producers and editors and writers behind the scene...

[Ivytalk]

I like the idea of term limits - it would certainly solve some problems

I’m not entirely convinced the problems that go away would outweigh the problems it would create though -

Staffer expertise on the Hill is a big deal - when Kennedy died there was a feeding frenzy to get his staffers they were that good

Term limits would create a new, powerful class of unelected technocrats on the Hill and they might be worse than ossified old coots serving for 40 years


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is my main opposition to term limits...

When I first arrived in the Pentagon as a young Major, I was taught the expression “Iron Majors run this place”...

The Generals would come in for a one or two year term then go out to their next command...and the breadth of their responsibilities in the Pentagon made it damn near impossible for them to know much more than an overview of many of their areas of responsibility...

But there were plenty of Majors who were the functional experts in the various areas, and were there for three and four year tours: they would tell the General what he needed to know...or at least what the Majors wanted them to know...

Thus, the Majors (and Lieutenant Colonels) really ran the show...with the Generals simply being the “face”...

Very much like broadcast news is today...the anchors read what is put before them...the real power is in the producers and editors and writers behind the scene...

I take your point, Hogie. But remember that every general used to be a major, but not every Congressman used to be a staffer. Anyone with a law degree — and that’s still the #1 profession in Congress — should be able to draft legislation and memorize a few rules.

[Col Hogan]

This is my main opposition to term limits...

When I first arrived in the Pentagon as a young Major, I was taught the expression “Iron Majors run this place”...

The Generals would come in for a one or two year term then go out to their next command...and the breadth of their responsibilities in the Pentagon made it damn near impossible for them to know much more than an overview of many of their areas of responsibility...

But there were plenty of Majors who were the functional experts in the various areas, and were there for three and four year tours: they would tell the General what he needed to know...or at least what the Majors wanted them to know...

Thus, the Majors (and Lieutenant Colonels) really ran the show...with the Generals simply being the “face”...

Very much like broadcast news is today...the anchors read what is put before them...the real power is in the producers and editors and writers behind the scene...

I take your point, Hogie. But remember that every general used to be a major, but not every Congressman used to be a staffer. Anyone with a law degree — and that’s still the #1 profession in Congress — should be able to draft legislation and memorize a few rules.

It was said that when an officer makes Lieutenant Colonel, they take their tongue away...when they make full Colonel, they take their brain away...and when they make General, they give them their tongue back...

The vast majority of Generals I worked with...with one or two exceptions...seem to have totally forgotten being a Major on staff...they loved their flag, and all that came with it...and accepted what they were told as long as it looked like it would help them get that next star...

Not that I’m bitter, sitting here seeing things I predicted 3 and 4 years ago now coming true after our advice was rejected because it would have caused the General officer to make an unpopular decision...

[BDKJMU]

I all for term limits. Senators 12 years, so they can run for re election once. Keep reps to 8 years, no more than the POTUS.

[BDKJMU]

For those that think the majority of the population has turned all liberal..it hasn’t yet, although it had been trending that way before the latest reversal

“Gallup: Liberals outnumber conservatives in only 6 states, down from 9

The number of states where liberals outnumber conservatives has dropped more than 30 percent, with just six now in that category: Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Washington, New York, and New Hampshire.

According to the latest Gallup survey, in every other state but California, where conservatives and liberals split 29 percent to 29 percent, conservatives lead.

Nationally, those who identify themselves conservative hold a nine-point lead.

Before conservatives start to cheer, Gallup said the gap used to be 21 points and a handful of the state numbers fall in the margin of error.....”


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wash ... own-from-9

[Ivytalk]

For those that think the majority of the population has turned all liberal..it hasn’t yet, although it had been trending that way before the latest reversal

“Gallup: Liberals outnumber conservatives in only 6 states, down from 9

The number of states where liberals outnumber conservatives has dropped more than 30 percent, with just six now in that category: Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Washington, New York, and New Hampshire.

According to the latest Gallup survey, in every other state but California, where conservatives and liberals split 29 percent to 29 percent, conservatives lead.

Nationally, those who identify themselves conservative hold a nine-point lead.

Before conservatives start to cheer, Gallup said the gap used to be 21 points and a handful of the state numbers fall in the margin of error.....”


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wash ... own-from-9

JSO: “But...but..Washington Examiner...horrible poll... “

[kalm]

For those that think the majority of the population has turned all liberal..it hasn’t yet, although it had been trending that way before the latest reversal

“Gallup: Liberals outnumber conservatives in only 6 states, down from 9

The number of states where liberals outnumber conservatives has dropped more than 30 percent, with just six now in that category: Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Washington, New York, and New Hampshire.

According to the latest Gallup survey, in every other state but California, where conservatives and liberals split 29 percent to 29 percent, conservatives lead.

Nationally, those who identify themselves conservative hold a nine-point lead.

Before conservatives start to cheer, Gallup said the gap used to be 21 points and a handful of the state numbers fall in the margin of error.....”


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wash ... own-from-9

Look at polls from those states on specific issues and I’m guessing you see a different story.

[BDKJMU]

Triggered liberals..
https://abc7news.com/society/woman-bann ... l/5150178/

[CID1990]

Triggered liberals..
https://abc7news.com/society/woman-bann ... l/5150178/

Good lord

I’m so happy I was fortunate enough to be raised not to give a damn about how other people choose to live their lives

It really must be exhausting being so outraged all the time

[kalm]

Triggered liberals..
https://abc7news.com/society/woman-bann ... l/5150178/

Isn’t Tinder basically the fucking site? But no pics with a successful hunt. That’s crosses a line, man.

[JohnStOnge]

For those that think the majority of the population has turned all liberal..it hasn’t yet, although it had been trending that way before the latest reversal

“Gallup: Liberals outnumber conservatives in only 6 states, down from 9

The number of states where liberals outnumber conservatives has dropped more than 30 percent, with just six now in that category: Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Washington, New York, and New Hampshire.

According to the latest Gallup survey, in every other state but California, where conservatives and liberals split 29 percent to 29 percent, conservatives lead.

Nationally, those who identify themselves conservative hold a nine-point lead.

Before conservatives start to cheer, Gallup said the gap used to be 21 points and a handful of the state numbers fall in the margin of error.....”


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wash ... own-from-9

The problem for conservatives is that people who call themselves "moderate" really tend to lean Liberal. For example if you look at the latest YouGov poll at https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/c ... Report.pdf 57% of respondents who call themselves "moderate" disapprove of Trump vs. 37% who approve. If you go back to 2016 election polling results Clinton won among people who called themselves "moderate" by 52% to 40%.

[JohnStOnge]

I'm sure this must've been posted somewhere else but just in case:

So we have a Republican Congressman tweeting this on the day before Michael Cohen testifies in the House:



Thoughts?

[CID1990]

I'm sure this must've been posted somewhere else but just in case:

So we have a Republican Congressman tweeting this on the day before Michael Cohen testifies in the House:



Thoughts?

That is a clear case of witness tampering. I tried posting it a little while ago but gave up trying to embed the tweet

I don’t know what the rules are on a sitting congresscritter committing a crime in plain view like that is, but he might want to lawyer up

That said, I’m excited to see Dems portray Cohen as a credible witness and Repubs call him unreliable. We almost need a tally card to keep up with the flipoy floppy

Hell I bet a search of your gazillion posts will probably show you calling him a liar at some point


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[css75]

White Nationalist Coast Guard Officer wanted to kill everyone...

A U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant and self-identified white nationalist was arrested after federal investigators uncovered a cache of weapons and ammunition in his Maryland home that authorities say he stockpiled to launch a widespread domestic terrorist attack targeting politicians and journalists.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pu ... fe78116653

The 49 year old former Marine will go before a judge on Friday...

This doofus needs to be locked up for a long life no time.


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[Skjellyfetti]

Gaetz is an idiot.

And, I'm not entirely sure Cohen is a reliable witness based soley on his testimony.

But, it sounds like he has evidence beyond his testimony.


Same reason Gates is reliable. He's a piece of shit. But, he brought more than just his word to the table.

[css75]

Been meaning to get to the one about Texas supposedly finding out that 58,000 non citizens voted. It is, of course, not true. Texas doesn't know. Here's a Factcheck.org article on it:

https://www.factcheck.org/2019/01/more- ... rom-trump/

There's a lot in there but I think one comparison kind of sums the situation up:

History tells us to be wary of these numbers. In Florida, when officials similarly matched driver’s license and voter registration data in 2012 in an attempt to remove noncitizens from voter rolls, an initial list of more than 180,000 names was ultimately whittled down to less than 100.

A Snopes article on the subject at https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/texas ... en-voters/ points out that the Texas check covers 22 years. And it cited a similar effor in Colorado:

As the Denver Post observed, a similar effort undertaken in Colorado in 2012 ended up verifying less than 1% — if even that much — of nearly 4,000 voter registrations flagged for being tied to suspected non-citizens:

Snopes is about as reliable as Pravda.


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[AZGrizFan]

For those that think the majority of the population has turned all liberal..it hasn’t yet, although it had been trending that way before the latest reversal

“Gallup: Liberals outnumber conservatives in only 6 states, down from 9

The number of states where liberals outnumber conservatives has dropped more than 30 percent, with just six now in that category: Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Washington, New York, and New Hampshire.

According to the latest Gallup survey, in every other state but California, where conservatives and liberals split 29 percent to 29 percent, conservatives lead.

Nationally, those who identify themselves conservative hold a nine-point lead.

Before conservatives start to cheer, Gallup said the gap used to be 21 points and a handful of the state numbers fall in the margin of error.....”


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wash ... own-from-9

The problem for conservatives is that people who call themselves "moderate" really tend to lean Liberal. For example if you look at the latest YouGov poll at https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/c ... Report.pdf 57% of respondents who call themselves "moderate" disapprove of Trump vs. 37% who approve. If you go back to 2016 election polling results Clinton won among people who called themselves "moderate" by 52% to 40%.

The real problem is those who view themselves as “moderate” are really pretty fucking far left. They don’t “lean” liberal, they’ve got both fee firmly planted in socialism and it’s more radical ideas....Harris, Warren, Booker, etc., etc. all would self identify as “moderate”....they clearly are NOT.

[Ivytalk]

And, I'm not entirely sure Cohen is a reliable witness based soley on his testimony. :

Analjelly hedging his bets with adverbs!

*solely

[CID1990]

And, I'm not entirely sure Cohen is a reliable witness based soley on his testimony. :

Analjelly hedging his bets with adverbs!

*solely

You’d think the Semantic Slayer would be a better speller.


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