Politics Thread

[Strange Brew]

I'm crying as predicted...from laughing so hard.

Enjoy the victory Paul. What did you win?

[X-band '01]

For starters, Mitch McConnell can't block a Supreme Court nomination for the next two years should another vacancy come up. Republicans are going to be begging Clarence Thomas not to retire until at least 2025 should they get the Presidency and the Senate (and if you look at the seats up for reelection, that has the makings of a real red wave if they don't nominate shitbags like they did this year).

You'll also have the ability to get other judicial appointments filled that you'd never get with a Republican Senate.

So yes, it was a choke job by the GOP at the federal level. It's almost like Travis Steele was running the show behind the scenes.

[Strange Brew]

For starters, Mitch McConnell can't block a Supreme Court nomination for the next two years should another vacancy come up. Republicans are going to be begging Clarence Thomas not to retire until at least 2025 should they get the Presidency and the Senate (and if you look at the seats up for reelection, that has the makings of a real red wave if they don't nominate shitbags like they did this year).

You'll also have the ability to get other judicial appointments filled that you'd never get with a Republican Senate.

So yes, it was a choke job by the GOP at the federal level. It's almost like Travis Steele was running the show behind the scenes.

So, it’s all about passing laws through the Court to you?

Not exactly a Democratic way of doing things.

Edit: If anything comes from this I hope it’s the end of Mitch’s leadership.

[bobbiemcgee]

Enjoy the victory Paul. What did you win?

Bannon predicted 100 seats in House. Red ripple.

[Strange Brew]

Bannon predicted 100 seats in House. Red ripple.

That’s nice. What do you think you won Bobbie?

[Masterofreality]

That’s nice. What do you think you won Bobbie?

This is what Bobbie won. More of this:
Inflation adjusted weekly earnings are now down 3.7% in the last year.
Thanks Joe Biden.
I fear for the abject stupidity of our electorate.

[bobbiemcgee]

This is what Bobbie won.

Why is always just me? The America people spoke. I thought you were going to be right with the last 6 months of your nearly daily "Red wave" narrative. But I guess people wanted to return to some sense of normalcy and reject the ridiculous assertions of the election deniers, Qanon nonsense, oath keepers, 1/6 insurrectionists, and general MAGA bullshit. Not to mention, white suburban women voted to have control over their bodies instead of giving it up to old white guys. So yeah, you can call everybody stupid, and that would be the opinion of one old white guy on a internet BB board. Not worth shit. MAGA like MC Carthyism has pretty much run it's course. Find a new candidate.

[Xuperman]

Enjoy the victory Paul. What did you win?

They averted a complete collapse of our Democracy, lol!

Actually you Libs are losers like all of the American people because nothing can be done to slow the ongoing devastation of Biden's "Fundamentally transform America" agenda. All that remains to be seen is, the degree of additional damage that he can do in 26 months.

[Xville]

the midterms were definitely an indictment on Trump and his election denier cronies. The only one that won was Vance, and he really didn't align with Trump until the end. In the end, it is a great thing that Trump's minions (including crazy ass Lake) got their butts whooped, and the pubs are going to take the house, so gridlock for two years is absolute bliss.

Republicans win the house, and finally get a chance politically to fight back against Trump.. that's a win-win in my book.

[Masterofreality]

Why is always just me? The America people spoke. I thought you were going to be right with the last 6 months of your nearly daily "Red wave" narrative. But I guess people wanted to return to some sense of normalcy and reject the ridiculous assertions of the election deniers, Qanon nonsense, oath keepers, 1/6 insurrectionists, and general MAGA bullshit. Not to mention, white suburban women voted to have control over their bodies instead of giving it up to old white guys. So yeah, you can call everybody stupid, and that would be the opinion of one old white guy on a internet BB board. Not worth shit. MAGA like MC Carthyism has pretty much run it's course. Find a new candidate.

“The American People” early voted to elect a brain damaged grifter to the Senate and an individual who refused to debate her opponent in a Governors race where the border is a sieve. Uh huh. Voters are stupid, or maybe just harvested. Yeah, it’s “legal” but how many months of early voting do you need?
Sounds like a damn threat to the American way of life to me.

[Xville]

“The American People” early voted to elect a brain damaged grifter to the Senate and an individual who refused to debate her opponent in a Governors race where the border is a sieve. Uh huh. Voters are stupid, or maybe just harvested. Yeah, it’s “legal” but how many months of early voting do you need?
Sounds like a damn threat to the American way of life to me.

Shows how bad the pool of candidates were for the other side. One was a carpetbagger that tied himself to Trump and then tried to paint a picture of himself as a moderate which is hysterical. The other was an election denier that tied herself to Trump with no other platform other than the election will be rigged.

Am I happy that Hobbs and Fetterman were elected, no, but the other option was terrible as well. I really hope that what the Republicans take from this is that 1.) You can't just run on everything "they" are doing is bad, 2.) Pubs need better candidates in their pool, 3.) Pubs can now fight back politically against Trump, and have new leadership with good policies and not be a complete a hole.

[Masterofreality]

Shows how bad the pool of candidates were for the other side. One was a carpetbagger that tied himself to Trump and then tried to paint a picture of himself as a moderate which is hysterical. The other was an election denier that tied herself to Trump with no other platform other than the election will be rigged.

Am I happy that Hobbs and Fetterman were elected, no, but the other option was terrible as well. I really hope that what the Republicans take from this is that 1.) You can't just run on everything "they" are doing is bad, 2.) Pubs need better candidates in their pool, 3.) Pubs can now fight back politically against Trump, and have new leadership with good policies and not be a complete a hole.

Voters in Pennsylvania elected an old brain dead white guy over an Muslim second generation immigrant who is a Thoracic Surgeon and pretty damn smart.
Seems like being a carpetbagger doesn’t bother Democrats (see Hilary. Clinton).
Oz killed Fetterman in the debate. He was not a bad candidate.
Pennsylvania is corrupt as hell. Thank Gawd we live in sane Ohio

[Lamont Sanford]

When will the FTX money laundering scheme see the light of day with the MSM? Pretty damning to see the Dems laundering our tax dollars through Ukraine.

Crooks.

[xuwillie]

Voters in Pennsylvania elected an old brain dead white guy over an Muslim second generation immigrant who is a Thoracic Surgeon and pretty damn smart.
Seems like being a carpetbagger doesn’t bother Democrats (see Hilary. Clinton).
Oz killed Fetterman in the debate. He was not a bad candidate.
Pennsylvania is corrupt as hell. Thank Gawd we live in sane Ohio

Yeah I'll never get that one. Fetterman will be a complete mess for that state. Agree with Ville that 2 years of gridlock is the best outcome, but Trump is not going away. He will ruin the republican party for years to come.. He could give two shits about them.

[Xville]

Voters in Pennsylvania elected an old brain dead white guy over an Muslim second generation immigrant who is a Thoracic Surgeon and pretty damn smart.
Seems like being a carpetbagger doesn’t bother Democrats (see Hilary. Clinton).
Oz killed Fetterman in the debate. He was not a bad candidate.
Pennsylvania is corrupt as hell. Thank Gawd we live in sane Ohio

The guy has consistently pushed medical products that are either found to have zero health benefit whatsoever or are harmful. You don't think that's an issue of trust when it comes to electing someone, especially from a person of the medical community ? Fetterman will probably be a disaster, but I don't think Oz was a good candidate whatsoever.

[Masterofreality]

The guy has consistently pushed medical products that are either found to have zero health benefit whatsoever or are harmful. You don't think that's an issue of trust when it comes to electing someone, especially from a person of the medical community ? Fetterman will probably be a disaster, but I don't think Oz was a good candidate whatsoever.

Oz didn’t “push products”. Those were advertisements that companies purchased to advertise on his show.
Another lie that was thrown out there by brain dead Fetterman.
Just like the lies that Ryan told about Vance. But Ohio voters saw through that crap.
I’m proud to live in this state.

[Xville]

Oz didn’t “push products”. Those were advertisements that companies purchased to advertise on his show.
Another lie that was thrown out there by brain dead Fetterman.
Just like the lies that Ryan told about Vance. But Ohio voters saw through that crap.
I’m proud to live in this state.

Not even close to being lies...The guy is a crook. And btw, if it is your show and as a doctor, you have a moral obligation to not peddle things even as ads that are pseudoscience and potentially harmful

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6167233/

https://www.businessinsider.com/dr-oz-false-misleading-baseless-medical-claims-coronavirus-2020-4#oz-told-viewers-that-green-coffee-extract-has-scientists-saying-theyve-found-the-magic-weight-loss-cure-4

If you choose to have your head in the sand about a candidate just because he has an R after his name, that's your prerogative . I'm just explaining why Fetterman won even though the guy can barely put a sentence together at this point.

[paulxu]

Wonder what the difference is between "pushing" products and "pitching them"?


Dr. Mehmet Oz rolled onstage inside of an inflatable orb, put on a hydrating face mask, and proceeded to pitch a new line of skin care products to a convention of supplement distributors at Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena in 2018. The crowd roared in applause.

I'm still stuck on why voting, even early voting, is a "threat to the American way of life."

[Masterofreality]

Wonder what the difference is between "pushing" products and "pitching them"?



I'm still stuck on why voting, even early voting, is a "threat to the American way of life."

Welp. For one thing in Pennsylvania it allowed brain damaged and dead people to be elected.
And you don’t see the problem because you are myopic.
How about individual responsibility to get to the polls on time or limiting voting within a 7 day window?
Plenty enough.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/09/pennsylvania-dead-democrat-tony-deluca-victory

[Masterofreality]

Not even close to being lies...The guy is a crook. And btw, if it is your show and as a doctor, you have a moral obligation to not peddle things even as ads that are pseudoscience and potentially harmful

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6167233/

https://www.businessinsider.com/dr-oz-false-misleading-baseless-medical-claims-coronavirus-2020-4#oz-told-viewers-that-green-coffee-extract-has-scientists-saying-theyve-found-the-magic-weight-loss-cure-4

If you choose to have your head in the sand about a candidate just because he has an R after his name, that's your prerogative . I'm just explaining why Fetterman won even though the guy can barely put a sentence together at this point.

Which has zero to do with serving in the US Senate.
Glad you prefer a brain damaged grifter

[Xville]

Which has zero to do with serving in the US Senate.
Glad you prefer a brain damaged grifter

You don't think that peddling pseudoscience and potentially harmful products has anything to do with serving in the Senate? Does trust not mean anything to you when voting for a candidate?

I didn't prefer one or the other...i think they are both terrible choices which goes back to my original point that maybe based on these midterms Republicans will wake up to the fact that they need a better pool of candidates, and move off Trump

[94GRAD]

Which has zero to do with serving in the US Senate.
Glad you prefer a brain damaged grifter

But doesn't it mean he can be bought to say(vote) for anything for the right dollar amount?

[GoMuskies]

But doesn't it mean he can be bought to say(vote) for anything for the right dollar amount?

So he'd fit in.

[noteggs]

Russian missiles hit Poland and kills two. Things just got a lot more interesting NATO.

[paulxu]

The former president introduced, on a large scale, something I don't recall in my lifetime.
There were occasional examples, but in 2016 it became the norm.
In the first Republican presidential debate, the practice of name calling and belittling your opponent became the norm for some Republicans.

Whether attacking the opponent directly, or his/her spouse and family with derogatory names and comments, it continues unabated to this day

And it infected our political discourse for the last 6 years, and seemingly into the future. And what's worse, it has crept into society as an accepted practice, even with well educated people like on this board. For some reason, some people feel compelled to belittle other posters with name calling, etc.

Don't think it's good for our country in the long run. There have been other times in our history when vitriol and hate were predominate, but not recently until 2016. I can't imagine Reagan or Obama spouting off the nonsense our former president does daily. And his followers, even here in XUhoops, do the same.

We can be better.

[Masterofreality]

You don't think that peddling pseudoscience and potentially harmful products has anything to do with serving in the Senate? Does trust not mean anything to you when voting for a candidate?

I didn't prefer one or the other...i think they are both terrible choices which goes back to my original point that maybe based on these midterms Republicans will wake up to the fact that they need a better pool of candidates, and move off Trump

Oh, I don ‘t know. Like this “pseudoscience”?
Biden mandates a “vaccine” that “allegedly” stops Covid. Thousands of people are “mandated” out of their jobs.
Except it doesn’t stop Covid at all. Millions of people catch Covid after the doses. Some multiple times.
Seems as if there is an accuracy problem in medicine?
Existing Government peddling “pseudoscience - to deleterious effect

[Xville]

Oh, I don ‘t know. Like this “pseudoscience”?
Biden mandates a “vaccine” that “allegedly” stops Covid. Thousands of people are “mandated” out of their jobs.
Except it doesn’t stop Covid at all. Millions of people catch Covid after the doses. Some multiple times.
Seems as if there is an accuracy problem in medicine?
Existing Government peddling “pseudoscience - to deleterious effect

I wasn't aware that Biden was an MD and a surgeon? If you want to blame someone for the above, blame Fauci and/or the CDC whose direction Biden was taking just like Trump when he was in office.

I like the sidestep in not answering my question though.

[STL_XUfan]

When will the FTX money laundering scheme see the light of day with the MSM? Pretty damning to see the Dems laundering our tax dollars through Ukraine.

Crooks.

You are deep in the right wing sauce if you are buying into this conspiracy theory. My guess is the actual media will report on it when there is something to report. Good news, with a chapter 11 a lot of the information to prove or disprove this craziness could become public.

[STL_XUfan]

Russian missiles hit Poland and kills two. Things just got a lot more interesting NATO.

It will be interesting to see what tact Russia will take here. You cannot imagine they are dumb enough to attach Poland, and even if they were, the target would not be a random Polish farm. So it likely had to be an accident. Does they go full disinformation campaign and claim it was a false flag, or take responsibility as an unintended accident. I do not think NATO is so anxious to get into the fight to start WWIII over something that credibly appears to be an unfortunate accident.

[GoMuskies]

You are deep in the right wing sauce if you are buying into this conspiracy theory. My guess is the actual media will report on it when there is something to report. Good news, with a chapter 11 a lot of the information to prove or disprove this craziness could become public.

That may be, but this guy is DEFINITELY getting the kid gloves treatment from part of the media, and it's definitely because he's a big donor to Democrats. Man, if a story like this ever happened to a major Repupblican donor the NYT story on it....would be very dissimilar to the one the just did on SBF.

[STL_XUfan]

That may be, but this guy is DEFINITELY getting the kid gloves treatment from part of the media, and it's definitely because he's a big donor to Democrats. Man, if a story like this ever happened to a major Repupblican donor the NYT story on it....would be very dissimilar to the one the just did on SBF.

Not on the right wing conspiracy part of it, but I agree that the overall story isn't getting enough attention. I think that is in part because it is so complicated and no one really understands exactly what happened or the full fall out yet. I expect at some point it will get the Elizabeth Holmes/Big Short/Smartest Guys in the Room treatment once someone figures out how to effectively tell the story.

Edit* I just saw that Michael Lewis has been shadowing him for the last 6 months. This will be a movie and a book within 24 months.

[X-band '01]

the midterms were definitely an indictment on Trump and his election denier cronies. The only one that won was Vance, and he really didn't align with Trump until the end. In the end, it is a great thing that Trump's minions (including crazy ass Lake) got their butts whooped, and the pubs are going to take the house, so gridlock for two years is absolute bliss.

Republicans win the house, and finally get a chance politically to fight back against Trump.. that's a win-win in my book.

So you're saying you don't want to see the GOP nominate more imbeciles in 2024 and piss away what should be an actual red wave/tsunami/Sharknado? (thanks Seth Meyers for the latter)

[Masterofreality]

The former president introduced, on a large scale, something I don't recall in my lifetime.
There were occasional examples, but in 2016 it became the norm.
In the first Republican presidential debate, the practice of name calling and belittling your opponent became the norm for some Republicans.

Whether attacking the opponent directly, or his/her spouse and family with derogatory names and comments, it continues unabated to this day

And it infected our political discourse for the last 6 years, and seemingly into the future. And what's worse, it has crept into society as an accepted practice, even with well educated people like on this board. For some reason, some people feel compelled to belittle other posters with name calling, etc.

Don't think it's good for our country in the long run. There have been other times in our history when vitriol and hate were predominate, but not recently until 2016. I can't imagine Reagan or Obama spouting off the nonsense our former president does daily. And his followers, even here in XUhoops, do the same.

We can be better.

Uh. Huh. That stuff predates the former President.
Politics is a dirty business.
Romney was called a “murderer”, with Obama’s consent.

https://www.mic.com/articles/12402/obama-super-pac-accuses-romney-of-being-a-murderer

[Masterofreality]

I wasn't aware that Biden was an MD and a surgeon? If you want to blame someone for the above, blame Fauci and/or the CDC whose direction Biden was taking just like Trump when he was in office.

I like the sidestep in not answering my question though.

Uh. The President supposedly has the best advisors and medical experts on staff. The decision to mandate was his and his alone.
PROBABLY because Big Pharma donated FOUR times the amount of money to his campaign than Trump. Quite the coincidence.
Screw the little guy and make sure you protect your big drug donors.

[Xville]

Uh. The President supposedly has the best advisors and medical experts on staff. The decision to mandate was his and his alone.
PROBABLY because Big Pharma donated FOUR times the amount of money to his campaign than Trump. Quite the coincidence.
Screw the little guy and make sure you protect your big drug donors.

We were talking about oz and why he lost the election and why he was a piss poor candidate and you made it about Biden and Covid. Some great misdirection there. It’s funny, you did the same thing you bitch about Paul doing all the time. You’re all the same

[Masterofreality]

We were talking about oz and why he lost the election and why he was a piss poor candidate and you made it about Biden and Covid. Some great misdirection there. It’s funny, you did the same thing you bitch about Paul doing all the time. You’re all the same

You brought up a red herring about who advertised on Oz's TV show that had zero to do with what goes on in the US Senate. Irrelevant.

By the way. Fetterman was asked a bunch of questions by reporters in his first day in DC. He answered none of them and walked away.
Even the Lib reporters who during the campaign, hid Fetterman's brain damage, are now pissed.
Welp, you biased hacks caused this crap show. we now have 99 functional brains in the US Senate and 1 vegetable.
Enjoy the circus.

[Xville]

You brought up a red herring about who advertised on Oz's TV show that had zero to do with what goes on in the US Senate. Irrelevant.

By the way. Fetterman was asked a bunch of questions by reporters in his first day in DC. He answered none of them and walked away.
Even the Lib reporters who during the campaign, hid Fetterman's brain damage, are now pissed.
Welp, you biased hacks caused this crap show. we now have 99 functional brains in the US Senate and 1 vegetable.
Enjoy the circus.

No, I did not bring up a red herring, but nice try. I am not just referring to ads, I’m referring to things he actually said on and off his show per the links that I provided. However since you spoke about ads, When you elect someone, you are putting trust in that person for a multitude of things. One of those that is directly tied to being in politics period is not being bought and paid for by lobbyists. Apparently, oz has no such moral compass that would keep him from being bought. You keep propping him up like he’s some great guy just because he’s a surgeon. He’s a surgeon who has made numerous claims based on pseudoscience yet you think that’s no problem and has zero to do with being an elected official. Talk about biased. I mean Geezus did you invest in one of his amazing weight loss pills or something? You put a d after the guys name and you would think he’s the devil incarnate.

If you want to blame someone, blame trump and the republicans for bringing a candidate to the dance who couldn’t even beat a guy who had a recent stroke.

[Masterofreality]

No, I did not bring up a red herring, but nice try. I am not just referring to ads, I’m referring to things he actually said on and off his show per the links that I provided. However since you spoke about ads, When you elect someone, you are putting trust in that person for a multitude of things. One of those that is directly tied to being in politics period is not being bought and paid for by lobbyists. Apparently, oz has no such moral compass that would keep him from being bought. You keep propping him up like he’s some great guy just because he’s a surgeon. He’s a surgeon who has made numerous claims based on pseudoscience yet you think that’s no problem and has zero to do with being an elected official. Talk about biased. I mean Geezus did you invest in one of his amazing weight loss pills or something? You put a d after the guys name and you would think he’s the devil incarnate.

If you want to blame someone, blame trump and the republicans for bringing a candidate to the dance who couldn’t even beat a guy who had a recent stroke.

Blah, Blah, Blah. Red Herring with zero to do with what goes on in the Senate and who was the better candidate.
Zero.
I pointed out how pseudoscience maneuvered by the actual President, actually destroyed lives, which you totally disregard.
Enjoy the Freak Show Circus for the next 6 years.
Your antics no longer entertain me. Focus on stuff that really counts.

[Xville]

Blah, Blah, Blah. Red Herring with zero to do with what goes on in the Senate and who was the better candidate.
Zero.
I pointed out how pseudoscience maneuvered by the actual President, actually destroyed lives, which you totally disregard.
Enjoy the Freak Show Circus for the next 6 years.
Your antics no longer entertain me. Focus on stuff that really counts.

You have zero knowledge of politics if you honestly believe that’s a red herring. The better candidate would have been a rock. That’s kind of my point.

[UCGRAD4X]

You are deep in the right wing sauce if you are buying into this conspiracy theory. My guess is the actual media will report on it when there is something to report. Good news, with a chapter 11 a lot of the information to prove or disprove this craziness could become public.

???

[Masterofreality]

You have zero knowledge of politics if you honestly believe that’s a red herring. The better candidate would have been a rock. That’s kind of my point.

What is not a red herring is a brain damaged grifter receiving 400,000 early votes before a ridiculously bad debate performance.
Talk about a horrific candidate and a bunch of clueless lemmings.
Enjoy the circus elephant.

[Lamont Sanford]

You are deep in the right wing sauce if you are buying into this conspiracy theory. My guess is the actual media will report on it when there is something to report. Good news, with a chapter 11 a lot of the information to prove or disprove this craziness could become public.

Funny (or is it ironic) that all of the recent so called "right wing conspiracies" have actually come true...i.e. Covid origin, the Russian dossier, etc.

Keep believing the SBF / FTX isn't the biggest Ponzi scheme since Bernie Madoff. (Another big time Dem donor I might add.)

[paulxu]

Uh. Huh. That stuff predates the former President.
Politics is a dirty business.
Romney was called a “murderer”, with Obama’s consent.

Hard to say what PACS might do or not do when they run ads.
Pretty clear this guy was a departure from Reagan and Obama.
When you make fun of a war hero like McCain, there's probably no low to which you will not stoop.
So, here we go again.


And he has profoundly altered the tenor of American public life — shattering long-held standards of decorum and civility with often shocking attacks on political rivals, judges and reporters. He has frequently made racist and antisemitic remarks, mocked people with disabilities and denigrated developing countries, bragged about sexual assault and paid hush money to a porn star, praised dictators, declined to disavow extremists, inspired his supporters to resort to violence and defended white supremacists and Jan. 6 rioters.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/15/trump-2024-announcement-running-president/

[XU_Lou]

???


Funny (or is it ironic) that all of the recent so called "right wing conspiracies" have actually come true...i.e. Covid origin, the Russian dossier, etc.

Keep believing the SBF / FTX isn't the biggest Ponzi scheme since Bernie Madoff. (Another big time Dem donor I might add.)

Exactly.... That list of "right wing conspiracies" is much longer than what you mentioned...

[XU_Lou]

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false."
- William J. Casey, CIA Director (1981)


"I am, as an ex-CIA agent, opposed to the disinformation activities in which I was involved. I admit that I was involved, and I think it served no useful purpose. Propagandizing the American public or Congress is not the CIA's job." — Frank Snepp


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGLuLMmt3nI

[Strange Brew]

Hard to say what PACS might do or not do when they run ads.
Pretty clear this guy was a departure from Reagan and Obama.
When you make fun of a war hero like McCain, there's probably no low to which you will not stoop.
So, here we go again.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/15/trump-2024-announcement-running-president/

Funny, McCain wasn't such a hero to the Left in 2008 and I don't agree with what Trump said.

[paulxu]

Funny, McCain wasn't such a hero to the Left in 2008 and I don't agree with what Trump said.

We disagreed with his policies...but honored his service. We did not belittle him.

Lake probably lost Arizona because she ran McCain supporters off.

[Strange Brew]

We disagreed with his policies...but honored his service. We did not belittle him.

Lake probably lost Arizona because she ran McCain supporters off.

What policies did you disagree with.

When his service was mentioned as a quality it was dismissed as if it didn’t matter. Same with Dole.

[paulxu]

Cutting taxes on corporations and the very wealthy, attempts to privatize Social Security, staying in Iraq, etc. (2008 platform positions).

I started this by noting we need a better political discourse in the country, and maybe here on the board.
When McCain died, he did not want Trump invited to his funeral. But wanted both Bush and Obama to deliver eulogies, which they did.
One of his advisors noted:


“I think it is John McCain imparting a lesson in civility by asking the two men who defeated him to speak, as an example to America that differences in political views and contests shouldn’t be so important that we lose our common bonds and the civility that is, or used to be, a hallmark of American democracy,” Duprey said.

That civility has been lost. Hopefully it will return.

[Lamont Sanford]

Lake probably lost Arizona because she ran McCain supporters off.

Yeah, riiiiiight. It had nothing to do with a corrupt and incompetent Secretary of State running an election (from her basement) that she herself was competing in and chose NOT to recuse herself from. Yeah...nothing to see here folks.

Child please. Surely you jest.

[xuphan]

Just curious PaulXU,

Let’s say Biden runs in 2024. Are there any potential Republicans candidates that you would vote for over Biden?

[94GRAD]

Pelosi stepping down as Speaker?!?!

[GoMuskies]

Pelosi stepping down as Speaker?!?!

Well, the Democrats are no longer the majority in the House, so she won't have much choice.

[94GRAD]

Well, the Democrats are no longer the majority in the House, so she won't have much choice.

HA, right! I meant she said she's not going to be the front for the party anymore.

[paulxu]

Must be time for the Cyber Ninja's.

Also, Hobbs doesn't win in Arizona without Republicans crossing over.
And Lake caused that:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/11/15/lake-mccain-arizona-independents-republicans-lah-borger-midterm-election-vpx.cnn

[Masterofreality]

I look forward to Paul yelling in the void for the next 2 years because his party lost the House of Representatives and Biden can’t screw up this country any more than he already has. Blah. Blah. Blah.
And when Maxine Waters, Nancy (tear up a copy of the State of the Union address( and Chuck “You’ll Feel the Whirlwind” Schumer are the face of your party, “Civility” was lost waaaaaay before anything Donald Trump said. And attacks on Senators offices took place by radical activists way before January 6, but Paul forgets Bret Kavanaugh’s hearings.
Paul’s memory is blue convenient.

[bobbiemcgee]

Yeah, riiiiiight. It had nothing to do with a corrupt and incompetent Secretary of State running an election (from her basement) that she herself was competing in and chose NOT to recuse herself from. Yeah...nothing to see here folks.

Child please. Surely you jest.

Yeah, you finally exposed yourself as an election denier. 81-74= 7. Lake said she was a "trump in a dress" and an election denier as well which did her in.. The disgraced cop Cowboy clown the ran for sec,y said the Dems would never win an election as long as he was in office. Hobbs didn't run much of a campaign and still won. Here come the jewish lasers.

[Masterofreality]

Yeah, you finally exposed yourself as an election denier. 81-74= 7. Lake said she was a "trump in a dress" and an election denier as well which did her in.. The disgraced cop Cowboy clown the ran for sec,y said the Dems would never win an election as long as he was in office. Hobbs didn't run much of a campaign and still won. Here come the jewish lasers.

Hobbs didn’t run much of a campaign (and didn’t even debate) and still won”.
Uh Bobbie, you don’t see the problem here?
Hint: (The problem here is, just like with Fetterman, your party minions are so brainwashed that they’ll vote for incompetent, brain dead candidates who can’t or barely function. Denying a debate is a helluva lot worse than being suspicious of an election from 2 years ago which has zero to do with now.
America is in great future hands!!!! Can’t wait until Hobbs throws the border more wide open than it is now!

[Masterofreality]

And, this is a threat to Democracy by those Dying Democracy Threatening Democrats.

“Democracy Dies in Illinois” - Wall Street Journal. Hope you can read it.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/democracy-dies-in-illinois-democrats-unions-j-b-pritzker-11668462531

[paulxu]

Sounds at lot like Ohio.

[Masterofreality]

Sounds at lot like Ohio.

Ohio is just fine thank you. We can actually run legitimate elections and count votes correctly with candidates who can actually form a complete sentence.
BTW. How’s that FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago coming? Are the walls closing in yet?
(Hint: FBI source says that nothing of importance was found)
Also, how much of that millions of ill gotten SBF/FTX money that was funneled to the Dems, affect the election? Seems like it was a lot more than the $1300 that Russian bots spent on Facebook ads in 2016.
So what is the real threat to Democracy here?

[paulxu]

News flash: Top Secret US government documents are no longer important.

[Masterofreality]

News flash: Top Secret US government documents are no longer important.

Where are the indictments?
No news flash. #crickets

[paulxu]

Patience. Trump stalled with the special master.
Give it time.

[Masterofreality]

Patience. Trump stalled with the special master.
Give it time.

You should read your own Pravda- The Washington Post. You seem to think it’s infallible.
“Nothing of interest”.
Another false “walls are closing in” moment debunked.
BUT THERE IS AN ELECTION TO INFLUENCE!!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/11/14/trump-motive-mar-a-lago-documents/

“ "Do not point to any nefarious effort by Trump to leverage, sell or use the government secrets..." more just about "ego" and keeping "mementos":”

[paulxu]

In your world it's OK to feed your ego and keep mementos of government top secrets?

Well, OK then. Maybe it's part of the red wave deal; who knows.

[Strange Brew]

In your world it's OK to feed your ego and keep mementos of government top secrets?

Well, OK then. Maybe it's part of the red wave deal; who knows.

Or, maybe they weren’t actually Top Secret?

[Masterofreality]

In your world it's OK to feed your ego and keep mementos of government top secrets?

Well, OK then. Maybe it's part of the red wave deal; who knows.

Having an ego isn’t a crime. If it was Obama and Clinton would be in jail with life sentences.
Seems as if the files weren’t “Top Secret”.
Where are the charges?
Pretty clear that the DOJ has been totally politicized.

[XU_Lou]

In your world it's OK to feed your ego and keep mementos of government top secrets?

Well, OK then. Maybe it's part of the red wave deal; who knows.

Maybe, just maybe, in your little "men can have babies" world it's OK to believe one QAnon conspiracy after another...

This is absolutely freaking hilarious, Paul!!! How many times are you going to allow them to pull the wool over your eyes!!!

Oh yea, where's XUBREW, man he was eating this shit up big time...

"The (WA) Post is now reporting that a “review by agents and prosecutors found no discernible business interest in the Mar-a-Lago documents, people familiar with the matter said.”

“That review has not found any apparent business advantage to the types of classified information in Trump’s possession, these people said,” the report continued. “FBI interviews with witnesses so far, they said, also do not point to any nefarious effort by Trump to leverage, sell or use the government secrets. Instead, the former president seemed motivated by a more basic desire not to give up what he believed was his property, these people said. Trump repeatedly said the materials were his, not the government’s — often in profane terms, two of these people said.”


"It was a Nuclear Hoax. The Biden administration’s unprecedented raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence is shaping up to be one of the most egregious abuses of power that has ever been committed by a sitting president.

It is now nearly indisputable that it was a politically motivated raid over a paperwork dispute tantamount not only to blatant election interference into the 2022 midterms, but also a pre-emptive salvo on Biden’s presumptive presidential rival in the 2024 election."

[Strange Brew]

Maybe, just maybe, in your little "men can have babies" world it's OK to believe one QAnon conspiracy after another...

This is absolutely freaking hilarious, Paul!!! How many times are you going to allow them to pull the wool over your eyes!!!

Oh yea, where's XUBREW, man he was eating this shit up big time...

"The (WA) Post is now reporting that a “review by agents and prosecutors found no discernible business interest in the Mar-a-Lago documents, people familiar with the matter said.”

“That review has not found any apparent business advantage to the types of classified information in Trump’s possession, these people said,” the report continued. “FBI interviews with witnesses so far, they said, also do not point to any nefarious effort by Trump to leverage, sell or use the government secrets. Instead, the former president seemed motivated by a more basic desire not to give up what he believed was his property, these people said. Trump repeatedly said the materials were his, not the government’s — often in profane terms, two of these people said.”


"It was a Nuclear Hoax. The Biden administration’s unprecedented raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence is shaping up to be one of the most egregious abuses of power that has ever been committed by a sitting president.

It is now nearly indisputable that it was a politically motivated raid over a paperwork dispute tantamount not only to blatant election interference into the 2022 midterms, but also a pre-emptive salvo on Biden’s presumptive presidential rival in the 2024 election."

Oh, Pelosi’s potential replacement is an “election denier (2016). Pass the popcorn Bobbie…

[XU_Lou]

Oh, Pelosi’s potential replacement is an “election denier (2016). Pass the popcorn Bobbie…

Sooooooo rich! Didn't know that about him.... but then again, I come from the school where expressions of opinions aren't capitol offenses.

[Smails]

Did the Democrats lust elect a 'threat to democracy' to lead their party in Washington? How in the hell are they going to spin this after years of pushing the narrative that the 'big lie' will bring us to the brink of collapse? Classic...

[Masterofreality]

And Paul’s favorite denial of a conspiracy theory has just been overturned.
From the great journalist Bari Weiss’s (No conservative( blog:

The FBI was involved in January 6: It used to be considered a conspiracy theory to say that the FBI might have infiltrated conservative groups and joined the January 6th riot. It was considered crazy to suggest that they were hoping to catch some right-wing crimes and so potentially encouraged those protestors to go just a little bit further. Lately, that’s not looking so crazy. Two of the major Capitol storming clans—the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers—were choc-a-bloc with FBI informants, according to new court documents. As many as eight were working in the Proud Boys. And the No. 2 leader of the Oath Keepers was reporting to the FBI.

Hmmm. Ever hear of Chief instigator Ray Epps?

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/14/us/politics/fbi-informants-proud-boys-jan-6.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/08/us/politics/oath-keepers-trial-january-6.html

[Masterofreality]

Did the Democrats lust elect a 'threat to democracy' to lead their party in Washington? How in the hell are they going to spin this after years of pushing the narrative that the 'big lie' will bring us to the brink of collapse? Classic...

As with trying to foist Hunter Biden's grift with Ukraine onto a phone call that Trump had, the best defense is a good diversionary offense according to Dems.

[paulxu]

The suckers wake up to the grifter's nonsense, albeit too late:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-evangelicals-2024_n_637732cbe4b08013a8b525cf

[Masterofreality]

The suckers wake up to the grifter's nonsense, albeit too late:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-evangelicals-2024_n_637732cbe4b08013a8b525cf

Paul is unable to exist without that guy.

Move on to a better life, bud.

[XU_Lou]

The suckers wake up to the grifter's nonsense, albeit too late:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-evangelicals-2024_n_637732cbe4b08013a8b525cf

That's your comeback?!?! This is a total joke - you've allowed yourself to be lied to more than anyone in American history, and this is your response to that?

So it doesn't even faze you in the least that nearly every single Trump transgression has proven to be false? Hell, even the story of Trump raging at Melania because of Oz losing the election was totally fabricated.

No, Paul, you're the sucker.

[paulxu]

I'm not one of the evangelical leaders quoted in that article.

[Smails]

I'm not one of the evangelical leaders quoted in that article.

Paul, I'm not really sure what you're trying to accomplish with all of your Trump posts. I'm not sure there's a single person on this board who wanted Trump to run in 2024. Yet you post article after article after article..and then throw in a quick lecture on civility. So who exactly are you addressing with your Trump rhetoric?

What are your thoughts on the new leader of the Democratic party being an election denier? Seems to fly in the face of literally everything you have railed against for the last 2+ years.

[paulxu]

Here in South Carolina, our governor and others are supporting Trump's bid for re-election.
Unfortunately I'm surrounded by the nonsense. At least the pastors woke up.

[Masterofreality]

Here in South Carolina, our governor and others are supporting Trump's bid for re-election.
Unfortunately I'm surrounded by the nonsense. At least the pastors woke up.

Are any of those "governor and others" on this platform?
Once again, Paul evades answering simple questions because they uncover uncomfortable realities that he tries to ignore. Sort of like a Crypto Bro scamming people out of hundreds of millions of dollars then contributing $39 million to Democratic election races- second to Soros. Then Crypto Bro escapes to Argentina after buying said races. A bit more than the $1300 Russian bots spent on Facebook in 2016 that was a "threat to democracy", I believe.
Then there is the Democrat Election Denier who will take over Pelosi's job. Not a peep from Paul.
Paul is unable to exist without Trump. The poster boy for Trump Derangement Syndrome.

If you hate South Carolina so much, Paul, live by your principles and move to New York or California. What's stopping you, or do you just prefer to be a hypocrite?

[paulxu]

If the Russians only spent $1300 on the 2016 facebook bots, you all certainly were suckers and spread it around.

If Pelosi's replacement agreed with the Republican committee's take on Russian election interference, good for him.

[XU_Lou]

If the Russians only spent $1300 on the 2016 facebook bots, you all certainly were suckers and spread it around.

If Pelosi's replacement agreed with the Republican committee's take on Russian election interference, good for him.

Gee, if all online entrepreneurs could achieve that kind of success on a $1300 marketing spend, we would all be filthy rich!

[XU_Lou]

Paul, Bobbie and Biden's America - simply unbelievable

California driver accused of hitting 25 law enforcement recruits released from jail: https://www.foxla.com/news/california-crash-la-county-involving-cadets-released

[Smails]

If the Russians only spent $1300 on the 2016 facebook bots, you all certainly were suckers and spread it around.

If Pelosi's replacement agreed with the Republican committee's take on Russian election interference, good for him.

First of all, please stop calling people suckers..it's name calling and does not contribute to positive discourse. If you're going to be the morality police, at the very least practice what you preach.

Second, it was a helluva lot more than agreeing with the committee. He has repeatedly called Trump an illegitimate President and is on record as saying Trump STOLE the election. You have preached about the danger of this kind of rhetoric for 2 years and now you have an election denier LEADING the democratic party.

You want to lecture grown men on how they should conduct themselves on a message board? Then at least have the stones to address this head on and make an admission. Otherwise, you're just another gasbag lobbing stones from a glass house.

[XU_Lou]

Hey Paul - if you're willing to go to war with Russia over their supposedly $1300 social media interference in 2016, I wonder if you think Obama should be arrested and thrown in jail for his intervention in the Israeli elections? “Victory 15” - does that ring a bell:

https://www.jpost.com/blogs/the-view-from-israel/obamas-shocking-interference-into-israels-election-process-389858

[paulxu]

First of all, please stop calling people suckers..it's name calling and does not contribute to positive discourse. If you're going to be the morality police, at the very least practice what you preach.

Good point, although it's a common name for someone who has been duped by another. The evangelicals understood this, and admitted it.

As to the House leadership, I have no say. The guy does seem a little out there with some of his comments, while repeating other things that have come from Republican committees.

I don't know where the $1300 deal comes from. I do know that the troll farm based in Russia was very successful in fostering distrust in our system through facebook...and people from there were indicted. I suppose it doesn't cost a lot to have bots work, and have other people repeat what they read; that's probably free.

[Masterofreality]

I don't know where the $1300 deal comes from. I do know that the troll farm based in Russia was very successful in fostering distrust in our system through facebook...and people from there were indicted. I suppose it doesn't cost a lot to have bots work, and have other people repeat what they read; that's probably free.

Ok, unlike Paul, I will admit my mistake.
It was actually $46,000 vs $81 million that was spent by the Clinton & Trump campaigns on Facebook.
If a paltry sum like that threw an election, then America is dumber and more on line than I thought.

And all of a sudden Paul clams up and has no say in Jeffries abject election denialism. Hurts when you get caught…AGAIN!

https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/01/russian-facebook-ad-spend/

[paulxu]

If a paltry sum like that threw an election, then America is dumber and more on line than I thought.

You and I might actually agree on something.

And all of a sudden Paul clams up and has no say in Jeffries abject election denialism. Hurts when you get caught…AGAIN!

As to the House leadership, I have no say. The guy does seem a little out there with some of his comments, while repeating other things that have come from Republican committees. As noted in earlier post.


Strange days.

[paulxu]

Also, how much of that millions of ill gotten SBF/FTX money that was funneled to the Dems, affect the election?

That's an interesting question. It seems like SBF funneled about $36 million (personally and from his PAC) to Dems AND Republicans. Some are returning the money to charities.

His "Co-CEO" at FTX, Salame, funneled $36 million to Republicans (personally and from his PAC)


Bankman-Fried has personally given more than $13 million to politicians and their campaigns on both sides of the aisle during this year’s election cycle. Ryan Salame, Bankman-Fried’s co-CEO, contributed almost $24 million to Republican campaigns, per The Daily Beast.

An additional $23 million was funneled to Democrats via a Bankman-Fried political action committee (PAC), while one tied to Salame gave more than $12 million to Republicans.

https://blockworks.co/news/us-politicians-donate-bankman-fried-cash-to-charity

And yes, I think FTX is a giant Ponzi scheme.

[Strange Brew]

Ok, unlike Paul, I will admit my mistake.
It was actually $46,000 vs $81 million that was spent by the Clinton & Trump campaigns on Facebook.
If a paltry sum like that threw an election, then America is dumber and more on line than I thought.

And all of a sudden Paul clams up and has no say in Jeffries abject election denialism. Hurts when you get caught…AGAIN!

https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/01/russian-facebook-ad-spend/

Remember, 2016 was stolen, illegitimate, and even HACKED! According to prominent Dem "threats to Democracy". :)

[Masterofreality]

The Left for ya.
And nah. The DOJ isn’t politicized. Nope

Left-Wing Lawyer Who Firebombed Police Car Dodges Five-Year Sentence, Will Spend Just 15 Months in Prison

https://freebeacon.com/courts/left-wing-lawyer-who-firebombed-police-car-sentenced-to-fifteen-months-in-prison/

[Strange Brew]

Hey Bobbie, Boebert's opponent conceded. Thoughts?

[XU_Lou]

"It’s Time to Speak the Truth About Ukraine"

I guarantee that most Americans aren't aware of these facts:

https://amgreatness.com/2022/11/18/its-time-to-speak-the-truth-about-ukraine/

[Masterofreality]

Hey Bobbie, Boebert's opponent conceded. Thoughts?

Welp. That's ONE Democrat who isn't an election denier.

[X-band '01]

The only notable nonconcession at this point has come from Kari Snake down in Arizona.

[xubrew]

People on Twitter are flipping out that Donald Trump is having his account unlocked.

Geez, if only there was the option of not following certain people….

[GoMuskies]

People on Twitter are flipping out that Donald Trump is having his account unlocked.

Geez, if only there was the option of not following certain people….

They should really have a block and mute option, too.

[Smails]

As to the House leadership, I have no say. The guy does seem a little out there with some of his comments, while repeating other things that have come from Republican committees.

.

LOL..I never asked you if you had any say (nor does anybody care). You're a hoot. You've spent the last 2 years on a soap box talking about how people who deny an election are the biggest threat to our democracy. Now that the Dems have elected an election denier to lead their party you characterize his election denial as saying 'he's a little out there'. In your opinion, have the dems elected a threat to democracy to lead the party?

[XU_Lou]

The US government, through the Transportation Safety Administration, has signed yet another order extending the ban on unvaccinated international visitors until January 8, 2023.

But wait a second, how come we don't enforce that requirement for the millions of illegals coming over our southern border?

Paul - please, make some sense out of this.... Do illegal aliens not have covid? Does walking across the border somehow give them natural immunity?

https://www.travelinglifestyle.net/us-reopening-borders-to-tourism-who-can-enter/

[Masterofreality]

LOL..I never asked you if you had any say (nor does anybody care). You're a hoot. You've spent the last 2 years on a soap box talking about how people who deny an election are the biggest threat to our democracy. Now that the Dems have elected an election denier to lead their party you characterize his election denial as saying 'he's a little out there'. In your opinion, have the dems elected a threat to democracy to lead the party?

Ask Paul a question about his favorite muse- Trump- and he answers in 5 minutes.
Ask Paul a question about his Party’s Election Denier House Leader: Crickets.

[Masterofreality]

The US government, through the Transportation Safety Administration, has signed yet another order extending the ban on unvaccinated international visitors until January 8, 2023.

But wait a second, how come we don't enforce that requirement for the millions of illegals coming over our southern border?

Paul - please, make some sense out of this.... Do illegal aliens not have covid? Does walking across the border somehow give them natural immunity?

https://www.travelinglifestyle.net/us-reopening-borders-to-tourism-who-can-enter/

Wait! I thought Covid Emergency was over!
(See Student Loan Forgiveness)

[paulxu]

What are your thoughts on the new leader of the Democratic party being an election denier? Seems to fly in the face of literally everything you have railed against for the last 2+ years.

This is you asking for my thoughts on the new house leader.


As to the House leadership, I have no say. The guy does seem a little out there with some of his comments, while repeating other things that have come from Republican committees.

That was me answering your question; my "thoughts" were that
The guy does seem a little out there with some of his comments, while repeating other things that have come from Republican committees.


LOL..I never asked you if you had any say (nor does anybody care).

That's you ignoring my thoughts (the answer to your question) and focusing on my comment that I had no say...obviously the Dems in the House do.
I don't think it's productive to enter this sort of dialogue. Sorry.

[XU_Lou]

This is you asking for my thoughts on the new house leader.



That was me answering your question; my "thoughts" were that



That's you ignoring my thoughts (the answer to your question) and focusing on my comment that I had no say...obviously the Dems in the House do.
I don't think it's productive to enter this sort of dialogue. Sorry.

So, in other words, you don't see your stance on Hakeem "The Dream" Jeffries as being just a little hypocritical? Not in the least? You really didn't address Smails main point. You crucified any and every R that had a problem with the 2020 election results, but you seemingly have given Jeffries a pass for doing the EXACT same thing. Your response - intentionally or not - comes across as blase...

So I guess you're going to dodge my question as well?

[Xville]

This is you asking for my thoughts on the new house leader.



That was me answering your question; my "thoughts" were that



That's you ignoring my thoughts (the answer to your question) and focusing on my comment that I had no say...obviously the Dems in the House do.
I don't think it's productive to enter this sort of dialogue. Sorry.

He didn’t ask you your thoughts about him. He asked you his thoughts on him as an election denier. You can’t wail and scream about trump for years and then avoid the question here just because he has a d after his name. In fact, instead of really addressing the question and calling the guy what he is, which is complete scum, you deflect and whataboutism on republicans. You’re being a hypocrite. Period.

[Masterofreality]

You've spent the last 2 years on a soap box talking about how people who deny an election are the biggest threat to our democracy. Now that the Dems have elected an election denier to lead their party you characterize his election denial as saying 'he's a little out there'. In your opinion, have the dems elected a threat to democracy to lead the party??



That's you ignoring my thoughts (the answer to your question) and focusing on my comment that I had no say...obviously the Dems in the House do.
I don't think it's productive to enter this sort of dialogue. Sorry.

All of a sudden when Smails makes an absolutely true & factual point about Paul’s pontificating, Mr. Paul goes into a shell and claims it is “not productive to enter in this sort of dialogue”. (That is, the sort of dialogue that equals Paul’s 2 plus year pontification)

Hey Paul. Answer the emboldend question that Smails legitimately asked. Your past pontification seems to indicate you DO have say on this overall matter.,

[paulxu]

I do not think that Jeffries is a threat to democracy.

If he were to foment an insurrection in the streets of Washington, having followers of the big lie rush the halls of congress and threaten our leaders in an effort to stop the transfer of power...I might think he was a threat to democracy.
As it were, he accepted the electoral college results in 2016, but claimed that the Russian influence as noted by Republicans in the Senate report, made the president "illegitimate." I don't concur with that because there were a lot of factors and Americans need to be more aware when they vote.

BTW, I don't think he has been "elected" yet...only announced his candidacy.

[Strange Brew]

I do not think that Jeffries is a threat to democracy.

If he were to foment an insurrection in the streets of Washington, having followers of the big lie rush the halls of congress and threaten our leaders in an effort to stop the transfer of power...I might think he was a threat to democracy.
As it were, he accepted the electoral college results in 2016, but claimed that the Russian influence as noted by Republicans in the Senate report, made the president "illegitimate." I don't concur with that because there were a lot of factors and Americans need to be more aware when they vote.

BTW, I don't think he has been "elected" yet...only announced his candidacy.

When was there an insurrection?

I remember “The Resistance” that showed up in Congress and elsewhere post 2016.

Oh, and I also remember the riots in DC during the Innauguration in 2016.

[Masterofreality]

I do not think that Jeffries is a threat to democracy.

If he were to foment an insurrection in the streets of Washington, having followers of the big lie rush the halls of congress and threaten our leaders in an effort to stop the transfer of power...I might think he was a threat to democracy.
As it were, he accepted the electoral college results in 2016, but claimed that the Russian influence as noted by Republicans in the Senate report, made the president "illegitimate." I don't concur with that because there were a lot of factors and Americans need to be more aware when they vote.

BTW, I don't think he has been "elected" yet...only announced his candidacy.

With numerous FBI agents imbedded by a politicized Justice Department (see Ray Epps) whose presence was verified by numerous media outlets.
The counterinvestigations soon to come will be interesting.
Paul’s flip flop on “threats” is amazing to behold.

[xuwillie]

With numerous FBI agents imbedded by a politicized Justice Department (see Ray Epps) whose presence was verified by numerous media outlets.
The counterinvestigations soon to come will be interesting.
Paul’s flip flop on “threats” is amazing to behold.

He’s been a hypocrite for years. Nothing new here

[Smails]

I do not think that Jeffries is a threat to democracy.

If he were to foment an insurrection in the streets of Washington, having followers of the big lie rush the halls of congress and threaten our leaders in an effort to stop the transfer of power...I might think he was a threat to democracy.
As it were, he accepted the electoral college results in 2016, but claimed that the Russian influence as noted by Republicans in the Senate report, made the president "illegitimate." I don't concur with that because there were a lot of factors and Americans need to be more aware when they vote.

BTW, I don't think he has been "elected" yet...only announced his candidacy.

Now hold on a minute, Paul. You are ON RECORD as saying that the election deniers that were running for office in this last cycle were a threat to democracy. None of these people fomented an insurrection in the streets of Washington..yet you still labeled them threats. So which is it?

Secondly Jeffries is ON RECORD saying that Trump stole the election and he called him an illegitimate President. It's not a matter of him agreeing with the Senate findings as you claim. None of those findings concluded that Trump stole the election...none of them.

You have an opportunity here to man up and come clean. Everyone, and I mean everyone sees the dance you're doing here..

[paulxu]

That's all interesting. I do not recall, and stand to be corrected, that I said election deniers running in the 2022 elections were threats to democracy.

I have said any number of times that I think Trump is a threat to democracy, and his actions during his presidency, and on January 6ht I believe are sufficient for me to be afraid for our country should he return. And he is someone who has repeated the election was stolen from him, hundreds of times.

We move a little slower down here in the South, and are often a month or so behind. I'm leaving for higher ground as there are rumors that a red wave, or even tsunami, are headed this way.

[Masterofreality]

We move a little slower down here in the South, and are often a month or so behind. I'm leaving for higher ground as there are rumors that a red wave, or even tsunami, are headed this way.

Apparently so. Paul is so slow that he doesn’t realize he already lives in the middle of the maelstrom. But he refuses to move!!
He must like very much living in a state that is *almost 100% controlled by a long term Red Tsunami.

South Carolina:
2 Republican US Senators
6 Republican US Reps (1 Dem)
1 Republican Governor
SC Senate - Republican Controlled
SC House- Republican Controlled

I suppose Paul moves so slowly that he still thinks the state is controlled by Democrats- who allowed slavery and seceded from the Union.
Maybe time to move a bit quicker, and move out of state?

[paulxu]

Hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving.

Perhaps we can have discussions in the future without disparaging each other. Hope so.

[Lamont Sanford]

Hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving.

Perhaps we can have discussions in the future without disparaging each other. Hope so.

Let MoR know if you need help packing to one of your beloved BLUE sanctuary states.

[XU_Lou]

Hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving.

Perhaps we can have discussions in the future without disparaging each other. Hope so.

And out comes the victim card!!!

[94GRAD]

And out comes the victim card!!!

This is what you take from Paul wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving? You truly need help!

[XU_Lou]

This is what you take from Paul wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving? You truly need help!

Ummmmm, it was his second sentence.... That's what you took away from my comment?

[X-band '01]

I hope Congress is good at speedreading Trump's taxes. They've got about 5 weeks before they get the next GOP House.

[Strange Brew]

Hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving.

Perhaps we can have discussions in the future without disparaging each other. Hope so.

Happy Thanksgiving Paul!

While he disagree on much we both love the Muskies and The University.

From one “college educated” ;) friend to another.

[barrybills]

is there a chance republicans can own senate/house/SC/presidency in 2024?

[Xuperman]

is there a chance republicans can own senate/house/SC/presidency in 2024?

Of course, the Republicans have Fox news, conservative talk radio, along with the soothing antics of Donald Trump. That will easily negate all the coordinated propaganda that the vast MSM complex, Big Tech, the smothering influence of our progressive Colleges/Universities on our voting young people and all of Hollywood's deep hatred for Republicans can produce.

You can bet your sweet bippie.....the Republicans will own DC in 26 months. Thanks for asking!

[xuwillie]

is there a chance republicans can own senate/house/SC/presidency in 2024?

Not if trump runs.

[bjf123]

Of course, the Republicans have Fox news, conservative talk radio, along with the soothing antics of Donald Trump. That will easily negate all the coordinated propaganda that the vast MSM complex, Big Tech, the smothering influence of our progressive Colleges/Universities on our voting young people and all of Hollywood's deep hatred for Republicans can produce.

Sure hope that’s meant to be in sarcasm font. You can’t be serious. [emoji2357]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Xuperman]

Sure hope that’s meant to be in sarcasm font. You can’t be serious. [emoji2357]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How for a moment did you even consider it wasn't sarcasm? I was just screwing with barrybills, who may be a touch naive.

[bobbiemcgee]

Apparently Herschel can give McCarthy a lot of info on vampire movies he keeps in his Texas home.

[Smails]

Perhaps we can have discussions in the future without disparaging each other. Hope so.

If calling you out on your hypocritical BS on Republican election deniers versus the stance you are taking on Hakeem Jeffries is considered disparaging....then sign me up.

You want to thump your chest and tell people how to act? Start in the mirror and show the character of a man willing to admit a mistake. My guess is that you won't

[paulxu]

I noted I disagreed with Jeffries stance on Trump. And Trump is the current party head and leading candidate for the Rep. nomination...and he is the one constantly denying an election 2 years old. It's the foundation of his base.

But more importantly, I'm not thumping my chest or telling anyone how to act. People will do and say what they want.

That does not prevent me, as I said earlier, from "hoping" our discourse is a little more respectful of each other, and less disparaging if we disagree.

[XU_Lou]

I noted I disagreed with Jeffries stance on Trump. And Trump is the current party head and leading candidate for the Rep. nomination...and he is the one constantly denying an election 2 years old. It's the foundation of his base.

But more importantly, I'm not thumping my chest or telling anyone how to act. People will do and say what they want.

That does not prevent me, as I said earlier, from "hoping" our discourse is a little more respectful of each other, and less disparaging if we disagree.

As Colonel Potter would say, this is complete horse hockey. All of it. You might think you're fooling people on this board, but we all know this total horse hockey.

[paulxu]

Tourists:

https://fox8.com/news/oath-keepers-leader-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy/

[Smails]

I noted I disagreed with Jeffries stance on Trump.
.

Thank you for admitting that Hakeem Jeffries is an election denier. What are your thoughts on the Democratic party electing an election denier to lead their party in Washington?

[Masterofreality]

I noted I disagreed with Jeffries stance on Trump. And Trump is the current party head and leading candidate for the Rep. nomination...and he is the one constantly denying an election 2 years old. It's the foundation of his base.

But more importantly, I'm not thumping my chest or telling anyone how to act. People will do and say what they want.

That does not prevent me, as I said earlier, from "hoping" our discourse is a little more respectful of each other, and less disparaging if we disagree.

Hahaha. People from your party are still saying Al Gore won in 2000, that Ohio’s voting machines were tampered with in 2004 (Barbara Boxer) and that Donald Trump was an illegitimate president.
Now you have a Democratic leader in the House who is a flat out election denier.
You are the biggest hypocrite on here.
Stop with your blather Pontificating. It’s a threat to Democracy.
By the way, the Repubs won the House….But Democracy continues unabated.

[paulxu]

I don't think he has been elected leader of the minority yet.
And the biggest election denier is the current leader of the Republican party.

He fomented an insurrection and now other people are paying the price.

[Masterofreality]

Tourists:

https://fox8.com/news/oath-keepers-leader-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy/

A highly partisan Washington DC court, and Rhodes wasn’t even in Washington on January 6.
He was brought up on a charge that is hardly ever used in a stretch to do “something”.
“ Members of the right-wing Proud Boys are also due in court on seditious conspiracy charges next month, including the group’s leader, Enrique Tarrio, who, like Rhodes, never entered the Capitol and was not present in Washington that day.”

Now talk to me about all of the seditious FBI agents in the crowd inciting them on that day, verified.
Thank Gawd this sham Commission is going away.

[paulxu]

A highly partisan Washington DC court, and Rhodes wasn’t even in Washington on January 6.


On the stand Monday, Rhodes told jurors that he spent the morning of the riots at a hotel—and only went to the Capitol when he learned of the news that the barricades to the government building had been breached by rioters.

Neither a court, nor a commission, convicted this Yale educated lawyer person of the charges of seditious conspiracy...a jury convicted him.

[Xville]

I don't think he has been elected leader of the minority yet.
And the biggest election denier is the current leader of the Republican party.

He fomented an insurrection and now other people are paying the price.

Oh really? What elected office does he hold? I'm not a Trump fan but geezus how long are you gonna blabber on about the guy?

[paulxu]

I suppose as long as he remains in the news influencing the Republican party.

I'd be very happy if he just went away.

[Xville]

I suppose as long as he remains in the news influencing the Republican party.

I'd be very happy if he just went away.

He's not the leader of the republican party anymore. That ended with the midterms. Get some new material

[Masterofreality]

Neither a court, nor a commission, convicted this Yale educated lawyer person of the charges of seditious conspiracy...a jury convicted him.

“Neither a court”.. Uh, a DC biased jury IS part of the court. And I merely quoted the story you posted. Fake news?

Meanwhile other election denier news. Looks like ol Stacy grifted herself into a LOT of Money. Her and Beto are the Poster People of Grift!
Paul please comment.

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/stacey-abramss-nonprofit-worked-to-purchase-multimillion-dollar-properties-shortly-before-it-sacked-employees/

[paulxu]

“Neither a court”.. Uh, a DC biased jury IS part of the court. And I merely quoted the story you posted. Fake news?

Meanwhile other election denier news. Looks like ol Stacy grifted herself into a LOT of Money. Her and Beto are the Poster People of Grift!
Paul please comment.

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/stacey-abramss-nonprofit-worked-to-purchase-multimillion-dollar-properties-shortly-before-it-sacked-employees/


"The court" generally refers to the judge making a ruling or handing down a verdict. This verdict came from a jury,

As to the article you note on the non-profit, here's a quote from it:


While Abrams and Warnock are no longer affiliated with the New Georgia Project

Would you care to comment on whether Rhodes was actually in DC on January 6th?

[noteggs]

Now talk to me about all of the seditious FBI agents in the crowd inciting them on that day, verified.
Thank Gawd this sham Commission is going away.

Now you partly know why the J6 committee’s final report will be focusing on Trump only and not law enforcement activity. Thought focusing on various breakdowns was one of the goals to avoid another. Guess this is what happens when you have a partisan committee.

[Masterofreality]

As to the article you note on the non-profit, here's a quote from it:

Would you care to comment on whether Rhodes was actually in DC on January 6th?

As to the “non profit” Stacy Abrams sure has collected a lot of money in her grift of election denial, and has either squirreled it away or blown it on losing races. Wonder what her next grift will be, but to the overall point of Election Denial, she has cleaned up big time in that line of bullshit.

Hey, the article YOU posted said that Rhodes was not in DC or at the Capitol on January 6. How can I comment on what a news article posted as fact, unless it’s to say that, if false, Journalism is Dead??? I have to assume that some reporter from that source was at the trial?
Paul, your circus, your monkeys.

[X-band '01]

Meanwhile, in Arizona... (https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/elections/decision/katie-hobbs-lawsuit-cochise-countys-refusal-certify-election-results/75-03d073c8-7332-4b3a-a472-52642881558b)

So, we have one county (Cochise) in Arizona who does not want to certify their election results even though they are bound by state law to do so. If their results are not certified, this would literally flip a congressional seat from Republican to Democrat. Now, I know this has very little chance of happening, but this shows just how moronic the Cochise County Commissioners are that they're continuing to act like 9-year-olds because they didn't get their favorite toys for Christmas.

[Strange Brew]

Meanwhile, in Arizona... (https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/elections/decision/katie-hobbs-lawsuit-cochise-countys-refusal-certify-election-results/75-03d073c8-7332-4b3a-a472-52642881558b)

So, we have one county (Cochise) in Arizona who does not want to certify their election results even though they are bound by state law to do so. If their results are not certified, this would literally flip a congressional seat from Republican to Democrat. Now, I know this has very little chance of happening, but this shows just how moronic the Cochise County Commissioners are that they're continuing to act like 9-year-olds because they didn't get their favorite toys for Christmas.

So Hobbs is pressuring a county to certify an election for Gov she won while not recusing herself as SoS? Nothing to see here.

[XU_Lou]

County election managers change the zip code of 31,000 voters on September 3. Ballots go out that week. Those 31,000 are undeliverable. Someone collects those valid ballots. On September 15th, those addresses are quietly changed back.

National Change of Address Database (NCOA) will not pick up those address changes. They didn’t happen because there is no history.

The 31,000 citizens were getting their mail just fine -- except for ballots. Ballot addresses were driven by the county mail-in ballot database -- the one that was changed, then changed back.

Here’s the fraud equation taking place across the country:

* Count the in-person votes on election day.
* Count the early, in-person votes.
* Shut down the system (Atlanta water leak, Maricopa County everything).
* Bring in undeliverable ballots gathered when you changed voters’ names, addresses, or zip codes, then changed them back.
* Determine the votes you need to win. Press the “WIN” button.
* Wait for the Republicans to file a lawsuit months later.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/11/heres_how_they_did_it_realtime_election_fraud.html

Meanwhile, in AZ:

Shocking Local AZ Election Data: GOP Turnout Up, Dems Down, Yet Dems Won - Here Are the Alarming Numbers

https://www.westernjournal.com/shocking-local-az-election-data-gop-turnout-dems-yet-dems-won-alarming-numbers/

[paulxu]

Hey, the article YOU posted said that Rhodes was not in DC or at the Capitol on January 6. How can I comment on what a news article posted as fact, unless it’s to say that, if false, Journalism is Dead??? I have to assume that some reporter from that source was at the trial?
Paul, your circus, your monkeys.

This is the article I posted: https://fox8.com/news/oath-keepers-leader-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy/

Nowhere in that article does it say Rhodes was not in DC. It only said he did not enter the Capitol building.
You said he wasn't in DC:
and Rhodes wasn’t even in Washington on January 6.

So, I posted another article where he said on the witness stand that he was in DC at a hotel, and subsequently went to the Capitol.

Why did you say that he wasn't in DC? That wasn't indicated anywhere in any article. In fact, he said on the witness stand he was in DC.

This sort of stuff makes for difficult conversations.

[Strange Brew]

County election managers change the zip code of 31,000 voters on September 3. Ballots go out that week. Those 31,000 are undeliverable. Someone collects those valid ballots. On September 15th, those addresses are quietly changed back.

National Change of Address Database (NCOA) will not pick up those address changes. They didn’t happen because there is no history.

The 31,000 citizens were getting their mail just fine -- except for ballots. Ballot addresses were driven by the county mail-in ballot database -- the one that was changed, then changed back.

Here’s the fraud equation taking place across the country:

* Count the in-person votes on election day.
* Count the early, in-person votes.
* Shut down the system (Atlanta water leak, Maricopa County everything).
* Bring in undeliverable ballots gathered when you changed voters’ names, addresses, or zip codes, then changed them back.
* Determine the votes you need to win. Press the “WIN” button.
* Wait for the Republicans to file a lawsuit months later.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/11/heres_how_they_did_it_realtime_election_fraud.html

Meanwhile, in AZ:

Shocking Local AZ Election Data: GOP Turnout Up, Dems Down, Yet Dems Won - Here Are the Alarming Numbers

https://www.westernjournal.com/shocking-local-az-election-data-gop-turnout-dems-yet-dems-won-alarming-numbers/

Yeah, saw this in multiple publications today. Who runs elections in each state? Nothing to see here.

[Masterofreality]

This is the article I posted: https://fox8.com/news/oath-keepers-leader-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy/

Nowhere in that article does it say Rhodes was not in DC. It only said he did not enter the Capitol building.
You said he wasn't in DC:

This sort of stuff makes for difficult conversations.

Huh?
I guess in your effort to prove an invalid point, you missed this:

”Members of the right-wing Proud Boys are also due in court on seditious conspiracy charges next month, including the group’s leader, Enrique Tarrio, who, like Rhodes, never entered the Capitol and was not present in Washington that day.”

“On the witness stand”. Rhodes said he was in a hotel. Where? Where was the “Hotel”, Paul. It says zero about the Hotel being in DC. Just a “Hotel”. There are tons of “Hotels” around. I’m sure the lawyers on this site would be happy to pick apart that “damning evidence” when you can’t even place where the “Hotel” is. Baltimore? New York? Richmond? Wilmington? Where??

Yeah, your picking and choosing of what you’ll be outraged about (See Hakeem Jeffries, Stacy Abrams and Hilary Clinton- Election Deniers) makes for difficult conversations.

Two questions Paul.
-Why do you still live in a State that is totally run by Republicans, who you abhor?
-Can two women have a baby without male assistance in some form (donor, IVF)?
Senator Schumer was celebrating his daughter & her partner having a kid last night after passage of a same sex marriage bill.
But Schumer and Biden’ Supreme Court pick couldn’t define what a woman is in her Vetting hearings.
Your party is all for this trash of being unable to define what gender is. (They, Them) Congratulations!!

[paulxu]

You have to understand the construction of sentences in the English language:


Enrique Tarrio, who, like Rhodes, never entered the Capitol and was not present in Washington that day.”

"was not present in Washington that day" refers to Enrique Tarrio...not to Stewart Rhodes.
I can't believe you have gone to such great lengths to justify misreading the entire Rhodes situation.

Yes, Rhodes said "hotel." What difference does it make which hotel?
He said on the stand he "went to the Capitol". So you just ignored that to deflect about all kinds of other stuff.

Maybe he was at a "hotel" that morning in Idaho, and just somehow magically transported himself to the Capitol that day.

And then go into massive deflection about where I live, or Schumer, or Clinton, or whatever.

[Masterofreality]

Oh, does it now?? Maybe if you believe that, you should take it up with the author who constructed the sentence? “Tarrio, who, Like Rhodes, never entered the Capitol and was not present in Dc that day.” If the author meant what you say, he could have easily just left out the “and” then started a quick new one where he says “Tarrio was not present in DC that day, unlike Rhodes”. But he didn’t. Huh, a professional writer being accused of poor sentence construction by a desperate lefty trying to justify his premise? Sounds like an attack on our free press to me!!
And “the hotel” matters. It could have been an easy hour or two drive away. I guess Paul doesn’t understand Mid Atlantic Geography where there are numerous large cities within 2 hours with LOTS of hotels! I know. I stayed in a bunch of them that were not in DC.

And, once again Paul refuses to answer legit questions that are not deflection. I answered your stupid premise. Now answer my legit one.

[paulxu]

I wonder if it matters that Rhodes was at the Capitol that day...and was convicted of seditious conspiracy?
Or does it matter at which hotel he spent the night?,
Which one might be more germane to the charge and conviction?

The sentence construction is correct; "and was not present" refers to the subject of the sentence...Tarrio.
And like Rhodes, Tarrio never entered the Capitol (which would have been hard to do since he was not present in DC that day).

Great deflection on the point I originally made, many posts ago. Stewart Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy, and was not a tourist.

Despite the massive deflection, I once again answer (perhaps you missed my earlier answers) that I live in the South because I was born and raised here, and I love the locale. Perhaps only those so fortunate understand the connection.

Many, many of my friends (as you might suspect) are Republicans. Some of them are quite rational and can discuss issues without personally attacking others. And of course, some of them can't. I suspect that's true around our country. I do not "abhor" any of them. Many are misguided by consuming only radical right information, by many are also more broadminded and well-informed.

Which reminds me...why do you live in
the Cuyahoga Socialist State I would think you'd want to move to South Carolina.
(Apparently that's a "legitimate" question to be asked, which should not gather any deflection.)
I'll help you pack if you're coming down. Weather's great, and you can play golf almost year round.

[Xville]

Sounds like Hogan is going to run in '24. He'd be absolutely outstanding for the country as he is a moderate and extremely pragmatic in his decision making. Unfortunate that he doesn't have a chance in hell of winning

[GoMuskies]

Unfortunate that he doesn't have a chance in hell of winning

He might win Maryland in the primary. Maybe.

[xuphan]

Sounds like Hogan is going to run in '24. He'd be absolutely outstanding for the country as he is a moderate and extremely pragmatic in his decision making. Unfortunate that he doesn't have a chance in hell of winning

Doesn’t sound extreme enough for either base to get behind. You are correct. No chance.

[94GRAD]

Sounds like Hogan is going to run in '24. He'd be absolutely outstanding for the country as he is a moderate and extremely pragmatic in his decision making. Unfortunate that he doesn't have a chance in hell of winning

I'd vote for Hulkamania in a heartbeat!

[bobbiemcgee]

Doesn’t sound extreme enough for either base to get behind. You are correct. No chance.

I think he could cause some havoc as an independent.

[Masterofreality]

I wonder if it matters that Rhodes was at the Capitol that day...and was convicted of seditious conspiracy?
Or does it matter at which hotel he spent the night?,
Which one might be more germane to the charge and conviction?

The sentence construction is correct; "and was not present" refers to the subject of the sentence...Tarrio.
And like Rhodes, Tarrio never entered the Capitol (which would have been hard to do since he was not present in DC that day).

Great deflection on the point I originally made, many posts ago. Stewart Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy, and was not a tourist.

Despite the massive deflection, I once again answer (perhaps you missed my earlier answers) that I live in the South because I was born and raised here, and I love the locale. Perhaps only those so fortunate understand the connection.

Many, many of my friends (as you might suspect) are Republicans. Some of them are quite rational and can discuss issues without personally attacking others. And of course, some of them can't. I suspect that's true around our country. I do not "abhor" any of them. Many are misguided by consuming only radical right information, by many are also more broadminded and well-informed.

Which reminds me...why do you live in I would think you'd want to move to South Carolina.
(Apparently that's a "legitimate" question to be asked, which should not gather any deflection.)
I'll help you pack if you're coming down. Weather's great, and you can play golf almost year round.

Why would I want to move? I get everything for free up here in Calahooga County? (Joke)
But thank Gawd it is mitigated by a sensible Republican controlled state.
I can just relocate and shop about 6 miles west where the taxes & gas prices are much lower and becomes a more sensible area. The outmigration to other counties around here is at pandemic proportions.

You can have your opinion, but that sentence says what it says. It does not say Rhodes was in DC. And it says what I have said and belies your incorrect take, no matter how you try to spin it. Stop disrespecting a reporter. He clearly included both Tarrio and Rhodes in his statement.
I’d love to see the outcome of that case away from the DC bubble. Say in South Carolina. That would be interesting.

[XU_Lou]

How ironic, and laughable. This is the fucking left making our lives better:


The Swiss Confederation usually imports electricity from France and Germany to keep the lights on over the winter, but this year neither country has any power to spare. Many French nuclear power plants are down after years of postponed maintenance, while in Germany we suffer from a superfluity of idle wind turbines and a (self-imposed) shortage of natural gas.

The Federal Council of Switzerland has therefore published draft legislation, which outlines four tiers of escalating measures to conserve electricity and avert potential blackouts. The first prescribes a lot of temperature restrictions for things like refrigerators and washing machines. The second includes more unusual rules, such as the demand that heating in clubs and discotheques “be set to the lowest level or switched off completely,” and that “streaming services … limit resolution of their content to standard definition.” The third foresees cutting business hours, banning the use of Blue Ray players and gaming computers, and also limiting the use of electric cars, which should be driven only when absolutely necessary. A fourth and final tier mandates closure of ski facilities, casinos, cinemas, theatre and the opera.

https://www.eugyppius.com/p/switzerland-facing-an-unprecedented

What's worse, the idiots running western countries, or the idiots who voted for these idiots?

[paulxu]

11th Circuit Court of Appeals not impressed with lower court's involvement with the Mar-a-Lago investigation.

GOP Judiciary Committee wisely decides to delete twitter that had supported Kanye West along with Musk and Trump.

[bobbiemcgee]

Total embarassment for Judge Cannon as she sees her career piled up on the trump garbage dump with so many others.

[Strange Brew]

How ironic, and laughable. This is the fucking left making our lives better:


The Swiss Confederation usually imports electricity from France and Germany to keep the lights on over the winter, but this year neither country has any power to spare. Many French nuclear power plants are down after years of postponed maintenance, while in Germany we suffer from a superfluity of idle wind turbines and a (self-imposed) shortage of natural gas.

The Federal Council of Switzerland has therefore published draft legislation, which outlines four tiers of escalating measures to conserve electricity and avert potential blackouts. The first prescribes a lot of temperature restrictions for things like refrigerators and washing machines. The second includes more unusual rules, such as the demand that heating in clubs and discotheques “be set to the lowest level or switched off completely,” and that “streaming services … limit resolution of their content to standard definition.” The third foresees cutting business hours, banning the use of Blue Ray players and gaming computers, and also limiting the use of electric cars, which should be driven only when absolutely necessary. A fourth and final tier mandates closure of ski facilities, casinos, cinemas, theatre and the opera.

https://www.eugyppius.com/p/switzerland-facing-an-unprecedented

What's worse, the idiots running western countries, or the idiots who voted for these idiots?

Nothing to see here....

[Strange Brew]

Total embarassment for Judge Cannon as she sees her career piled up on the trump garbage dump with so many others.

I miss discussions with X-man.

[paulxu]

This should work out well:

So Jim Jordan @Jim_Jordan
has been pumping up Kanye West on Twitter for weeks, long after Kanye went full Nazi and started publicly attacking Jews and praising Adolf Hitler, notorious bad person. And this Jim Jordan is about to lead the House Judiciary Committee.

[X-band '01]

I miss discussions with X-man.

X-man, DC Muskie, PMThor, Titan, ToledoDan, quite a few people that haven't been here in ages.

[Masterofreality]

This should work out well:

So Jim Jordan @Jim_Jordan
has been pumping up Kanye West on Twitter for weeks, long after Kanye went full Nazi and started publicly attacking Jews and praising Adolf Hitler, notorious bad person. And this Jim Jordan is about to lead the House Judiciary Committee.

It’ll be better that Adam “Shifty” Schiff who’s been a liar for 5 years and still hasn’t shown any evidence for his allegations.
Good riddance.

[Masterofreality]

X-man, DC Muskie, PMThor, Titan, ToledoDan, quite a few people that haven't been here in ages.

Oh, they’re still around. Just moved to a new Church. :-)

[paulxu]

It’ll be better that Adam “Shifty” Schiff who’s been a liar for 5 years and still hasn’t shown any evidence for his allegations.
Good riddance.

Jerry Nadler is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, of which Jim Jordan is the ranking member.

Adam Schiff does not serve on the House Judiciary Committee.

[Strange Brew]

Jerry Nadler is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, of which Jim Jordan is the ranking member.

Adam Schiff does not serve on the House Judiciary Committee.

Nadler also has a personal beef with Trump since the 80s. He should resign.

[Strange Brew]

This should work out well:

So Jim Jordan @Jim_Jordan
has been pumping up Kanye West on Twitter for weeks, long after Kanye went full Nazi and started publicly attacking Jews and praising Adolf Hitler, notorious bad person. And this Jim Jordan is about to lead the House Judiciary Committee.

You seem to be the only person who cares about this story.

[Masterofreality]

Jerry Nadler is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, of which Jim Jordan is the ranking member.

Adam Schiff does not serve on the House Judiciary Committee.

Yay!!! Paul got me!!!!
Like, I cared so little about this story that I didn’t bother to check.
Didn’t Nadler play Newman on Seinfeld? Equally irritating and clownish.

[paulxu]

You seem to be the only person who cares about this story.

You are probably right. I care very much for our country and the rule of law.
That the House Judiciary Committee will be chaired by a person of that character, does not seem good to me, at all.

[X-band '01]

Yay!!! Paul got me!!!!
Like, I cared so little about this story that I didn’t bother to check.
Didn’t Nadler play Newman on Seinfeld? Equally irritating and clownish.

I will not have you badmouthing Wayne Knight kind sir.

Now if you want to clown Nadler for having more of a semblance to Uncle Leo, I'll listen to that argument.

[XU_Lou]

You are probably right. I care very much for our country and the rule of law when it can used against Republicans.
That the House Judiciary Committee will be chaired by a person of that character, does not seem good to me, at all.

Fixed that for you, Paul. Now the statement truly represents you.

[Xuperman]

I will not have you badmouthing Wayne Knight kind sir.

Now if you want to clown Nadler for having more of a semblance to Uncle Leo, I'll listen to that argument.

You funny '01.

[Masterofreality]

I will not have you badmouthing Wayne Knight kind sir.

Now if you want to clown Nadler for having more of a semblance to Uncle Leo, I'll listen to that argument.

I’ve been had.. :-)

[paulxu]

Well, there's a good idea for the Rule of Law.

Terminate the Constitution.

[xuphan]

Well, there's a good idea for the Rule of Law.

Terminate the Constitution.

Just hyperbole Paul.

[xubrew]

Well, there's a good idea for the Rule of Law.

Terminate the Constitution.

Trump is trying to terminate the Constitution!!

This means terminating the 2nd Amendment!!

TRUMP IS COMING FOR YOUR GUNS!!! WAKE UP GOP!!!

[Strange Brew]

Trump is trying to terminate the Constitution!!

This means terminating the 2nd Amendment!!

TRUMP IS COMING FOR YOUR GUNS!!! WAKE UP GOP!!!

Haha! Well done.

[Strange Brew]

Well, there's a good idea for the Rule of Law.

Terminate the Constitution.

Well Democracy survived last month so now the Constitution is at risk? What next?

[bobbiemcgee]

Well, there's a good idea for the Rule of Law.

Terminate the Constitution.

Taking the oath of office could be problematic:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

[xubrew]

Most Trump haters are suddenly very excited over a guilty verdict that means absolutely nothing. Don't celebrate. You look like an idiot, and I've had all the idiocy I can take for the week. And it's only Tuesday.

[X-band '01]

CNN - Indonesia Bans Sex Outside Marriage (https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/asia/indonesia-new-code-passed-sex-cohabitation-intl-hnk)

And no, don't ask me if masturbation is still okay.

[xubrew]

CNN - Indonesia Bans Sex Outside Marriage (https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/asia/indonesia-new-code-passed-sex-cohabitation-intl-hnk)

And no, don't ask me if masturbation is still okay.

Does FIFA intend to host the World Cup there next?

[paulxu]

Over the years, both of the major political parties have put up some less than stellar candidates for office.

The Dems have had some real losers for sure.

But you'll forgive me if I'm just completely baffled how, literally, hundreds of thousands of people have voted for Herschel Walker, and think I assume, that he is qualified to be a United States Senator.

[X-band '01]

Does FIFA intend to host the World Cup there next?

You'll be thrilled to find out that Saudi Arabia is a finalist for the 2030 World Cup though.

[Strange Brew]

Over the years, both of the major political parties have put up some less than stellar candidates for office.

The Dems have had some real losers for sure.

But you'll forgive me if I'm just completely baffled how, literally, hundreds of thousands of people have voted for Herschel Walker, and think I assume, that he is qualified to be a United States Senator.

Better than Fetterman. What did B. Sanders do before Gov’t?

Did you and the “college folk” in SC discuss this one tonight. Haha!

This or Gladiators…Gladiators.

[Strange Brew]

Meanwhile a lot is going on in Ukraine, Iran, China, Brazil and Venezuela. But Musk is terrible and Trump is an Orange mean man…

[X-band '01]

We can now officially thank Herschel Walker for his participation in the 2022 Senate campaign.

[STL_XUfan]

We can now officially thank Herschel Walker for his participation in the 2022 Senate campaign.
He won’t be missed.

[Strange Brew]

We can now officially thank Herschel Walker for his participation in the 2022 Senate campaign.

Yes, thank goodness. Everything is right with the world.

I heard sea levels dropped and there’s now a chicken in every pot!

And Sen. Rev. may not evict another tenant tomorrow..

[Strange Brew]

He won’t be missed.

I’m going to ask. What do you know about Sen. Rev. W?

[UCGRAD4X]

I’m going to ask. What do you know about Sen. Rev. W?

D

[paulxu]

Better than Fetterman. What did B. Sanders do before Gov’t?

Did you and the “college folk” in SC discuss this one tonight. Haha!

What is that all about? "College folk" in SC? I must have missed something a while back.
I believe Sanders was a carpenter and writer in Vermont after he graduated from college, and before becoming mayor of Burlington, and then on into congress.

[Strange Brew]

What is that all about? "College folk" in SC? I must have missed something a while back.
I believe Sanders was a carpenter and writer in Vermont after he graduated from college, and before becoming mayor of Burlington, and then on into congress.

You you to talk about your “college educated” friends to make a point. Which was funny on this board.

Bernie had no real job until he ran for Mayor at 40. You knocked Walker and ignored the lack of any real experience of many Dems in Gov’t.

Sen Rev is a real radical. I’d vote for Rev Run before him.

[paulxu]

Whoa. There are a lot of friends here in SC who are not college educated. Some who are. Suspect that may be true everywhere.

There are other "real jobs" besides politics. Bernie seemed to have had a couple in Vermont before he ran for mayor.

I knocked Walker because he lied about his education; he did not graduate from Georgia.
I knocked him because he was staunchly anti choice, and yet seems to have paid for a number of abortions.
I knocked him because like Oz, he carpet bagged from another state (Texas) and probably wasn't even a legal resident of Georgia.

[xubrew]

I’m going to ask. What do you know about Sen. Rev. W?

It's very important that you understand this. People knew that he wasn't Hershel Walker. If that's ALL they knew, then that was enough for them.

It should be painfully obvious that had the nominee literally been just about ANYONE ELSE, the GOP wins that senate seat in a landslide. But it wasn't. It was Hershel Walker. The fact it was Hershel Walker, and that he did as well as he did, should be an indication that almost anyone else would have won.

Hershel Walker is just a complete and total moron. SURELY you can see that!! In addition to that, he is also a complete and total asshole. The people who noticeably didn't support Hershel Walker were most of his former teammates, nearly every member of his family, (many of whom he threatened to kill at one time or another), and nearly all of his children whom he had also threatened to kill. The closest thing that I actually saw to an endorsement was a statement from a former teammates that said "Well, he is a bit strange, but I guess a lot of people have a few skeletons in their closets." Which is a nice way of saying, I don't support him, but I don't want to just lash out at him either, so it hardly qualifies as an endorsement.

Perhaps there were better candidates. So why IN THE HELL DID THE GOP GO WITH THIS GUY?????

It shouldn't bother you that Sen Rev W won. It should bother you that Hershel Walker was who he was running against, and would have almost assuredly NOT won had it been ANYONE ELSE!

[xuwillie]

It's very important that you understand this. People knew that he wasn't Hershel Walker. If that's ALL they knew, then that was enough for them.

It should be painfully obvious that had the nominee literally been just about ANYONE ELSE, the GOP wins that senate seat in a landslide. But it wasn't. It was Hershel Walker. The fact it was Hershel Walker, and that he did as well as he did, should be an indication that almost anyone else would have won.

Hershel Walker is just a complete and total moron. SURELY you can see that!! In addition to that, he is also a complete and total asshole. The people who noticeably didn't support Hershel Walker were most of his former teammates, nearly every member of his family, (many of whom he threatened to kill at one time or another), and nearly all of his children whom he had also threatened to kill. The closest thing that I actually saw to an endorsement was a statement from a former teammates that said "Well, he is a bit strange, but I guess a lot of people have a few skeletons in their closets." Which is a nice way of saying, I don't support him, but I don't want to just lash out at him either, so it hardly qualifies as an endorsement.

Perhaps there were better candidates. So why IN THE HELL DID THE GOP GO WITH THIS GUY?????

It shouldn't bother you that Sen Rev W won. It should bother you that Hershel
Walker was who he was running against, and would have almost assuredly NOT won had it been ANYONE ELSE!

I would argue there are complete Morons that democrats continually elect into office. What does that tell you about this country?

[xubrew]

I would argue there are complete Morons that democrats continually elect into office. What does that tell you about this country?

Do I have to answer that??

But, in all seriousness, I agree with your point. It's just that it wasn't until recently that the Reps started nominating batshit crazy people. That was always a Dem thing. Had you said to me prior to 2016 that Hershel Walker was going to run for office, I would have NEVER thought it would have been as a Republican.

[xuwillie]

Do I have to answer that??

But, in all seriousness, I agree with your point. It's just that it wasn't until recently that the Reps started nominating batshit crazy people. That was always a Dem thing. Had you said to me prior to 2016 that Hershel Walker was going to run for office, I would have NEVER thought it would have been as a Republican.

Exactly. Republicans probably thought it was a way to win since its been done by democrats the past couple elections. Guess it turns out Republicans won't blindly follow morons like the democratic party will

[Xville]

Exactly. Republicans probably thought it was a way to win since its been done by democrats the past couple elections. Guess it turns out Republicans won't blindly follow morons like the democratic party will

Oh dear gawd. Both sides will blindly follow morons. Are you serious? MTG, Boebert etc.

[xuwillie]

Of course you have outliers especially in the house but my example lies mainly in the PA and GA senate races. Walker and Fetterman should never have been candidates to begin with. Look who was elected and who wasn't. All four candidates where complete trash

[paulxu]

Perhaps there were better candidates. So why IN THE HELL DID THE GOP GO WITH THIS GUY?????

They went with Walker because Trump picked him and put $ behind him.
I would guess he was sore from the 2020 results, especially the loss in Georgia; figured out that since Tuberville could win in Alabama, a Georgia Heisman winner would be a sure thing.

[xubrew]

They went with Walker because Trump picked him and put $ behind him.
I would guess he was sore from the 2020 results, especially the loss in Georgia; figured out that since Tuberville could win in Alabama, a Georgia Heisman winner would be a sure thing.

Perhaps it's time to stop taking any sort of direction from Donald Trump. This is roughly Exhibit #1 million of that being the case. The whole country, like LITERALLY ALL OF IT, would be better off if the GOP would finally just disassociate with him. There is a semi-decent chance that Trump will die in prison. That's certainly a distinction from all other former presidents. Maybe they should listen to someone else who doesn't have that distinction.

[noteggs]

It's very important that you understand this. People knew that he wasn't Hershel Walker. If that's ALL they knew, then that was enough for them.

It should be painfully obvious that had the nominee literally been just about ANYONE ELSE, the GOP wins that senate seat in a landslide. But it wasn't. It was Hershel Walker. The fact it was Hershel Walker, and that he did as well as he did, should be an indication that almost anyone else would have won.

Hershel Walker is just a complete and total moron. SURELY you can see that!! In addition to that, he is also a complete and total asshole. The people who noticeably didn't support Hershel Walker were most of his former teammates, nearly every member of his family, (many of whom he threatened to kill at one time or another), and nearly all of his children whom he had also threatened to kill. The closest thing that I actually saw to an endorsement was a statement from a former teammates that said "Well, he is a bit strange, but I guess a lot of people have a few skeletons in their closets." Which is a nice way of saying, I don't support him, but I don't want to just lash out at him either, so it hardly qualifies as an endorsement.

Perhaps there were better candidates. So why IN THE HELL DID THE GOP GO WITH THIS GUY?????

It shouldn't bother you that Sen Rev W won. It should bother you that Hershel Walker was who he was running against, and would have almost assuredly NOT won had it been ANYONE ELSE!

I really enjoy reading your posts. Also realize your views on politics are somewhat moderate which I appreciate . But this is a one of those…what the heck is up with the first sentence. We are in bigger trouble if people don’t at least consider Warnock’s politics and past. Yes Walker is who is - a bad candidate and has many flaws, but what’s wrong asking about the other guy? Does he have bigger skeletons in the closet? Does he have socialist’s beliefs? I don’t know and think that’s all SB is asking. Honestly neither deserves to be a US senator IMO.

Side note and my continued distrust of the press (not at you but in general) - if Walker was a D, most of these issues probably wouldn’t have become mainstream. If they did, here comes MSM for mop up duty. One example comes to mind is the the Hunter laptop story. You know, the Russian disinformation. This narrative was peddled by the press and those 51 “so called” experts. Heck after 2 years, CBS finally collaborated the story.

Another example of hypocrisy which SB alluded to is on Fetterman. Can you imagine any (I mean any) Republican getting elected after running after an innocent African American with a shot gun in exercise clothes?

Finally (and I do honestly think this is a good thing) it’s so refreshing we can discuss a person’s character by calling him a moron and not getting it lumped into skin color. Wish Dems and press will take this in consideration the next election.

[xubrew]

I really enjoy reading your posts. Also realize your views on politics are somewhat moderate which I appreciate . But this is a one of those…what the heck is up with the first sentence. We are in bigger trouble if people don’t at least consider Warnock’s politics and past. Yes Walker is who is - a bad candidate and has many flaws, but what’s wrong asking about the other guy? Does he have bigger skeletons in the closet? Does he have socialist’s beliefs? I don’t know and think that’s all SB is asking. Honestly neither deserves to be a US senator IMO.

Side note and my continued distrust of the press (not at you but in general) - if Walker was a D, most of these issues probably wouldn’t have become mainstream. If they did, here comes MSM for mop up duty. One example comes to mind is the the Hunter laptop story. You know, the Russian disinformation. This narrative was peddled by the press and those 51 “so called” experts. Heck after 2 years, CBS finally collaborated the story.

Another example of hypocrisy which SB alluded to is on Fetterman. Can you imagine any (I mean any) Republican getting elected after running after an innocent African American with a shot gun in exercise clothes?

Finally (and I do honestly think this is a good thing) it’s so refreshing we can discuss a person’s character by calling him a moron and not getting it lumped into skin color. Wish Dems and press will take this in consideration the next election.

I appreciate that you enjoy my posts and feel that I'm moderate. Having said that, I believe many first time voters, and nearly all irregular voters, are not that engaged or informed. I'm willing to wager quite a bit that enough people who voted for Warnock didn't really know anything about him other than that he wasn't Hershel Walker to sway the election toward Warnock. They would have otherwise not voted at all, or voted GOP if they had voted.

When you rile up the Democrats, with either a ridiculous candidate such as Hershel Walker, or ramming ACB onto the Supreme Court after stalling Obama's nomination four years earlier, you bring out more first time/irregular voters than what would normally be there. And they're not there to vote FOR the Dems, but rather AGAINST the GOP. They did it twice. Had Hershel Walker not been the candidate, the Dems don't win. Had the GOP not pulled the stunt with the SCOTUS in 2020, the Dems probably still win the presidency, but perhaps not the House, and CERTAINLY not the Senate, much less win BOTH of them.

The GOP really needs to stop doing things like that!! Hopefully they're smart enough to figure out that it doesn't work.

[GoMuskies]

Perhaps it's time to stop taking any sort of direction from Donald Trump.

Well that's just crazy talk!

[GoMuskies]

Also, I'm not sure why you'd characterize anything to do with Barrett's Supreme Court nomination/confirmation as a stunt. it was all pretty normal (but for the weird grandstanding by Democratic senators during the conformation - wait, that's pretty standard too for the party out of power). The stunt was what they did to Garland back in 2016.

[xubrew]

Also, I'm not sure why you'd characterize anything to do with Barrett's Supreme Court nomination/confirmation as a stunt. it was all pretty normal (but for the weird grandstanding by Democratic senators during the conformation - wait, that's pretty standard too for the party out of power). The stunt was what they did to Garland back in 2016.

Fair enough. Whatever verbiage you want to use, it was the blatant double standard that riled the Democrats, and the Democrats have a hard time winning when they're not riled.

[xubrew]

…and all the reporters and other people swarming around Ted Cruz regarding the situation with his daughter all need a really hard kick in the dick.

[Strange Brew]

It's very important that you understand this. People knew that he wasn't Hershel Walker. If that's ALL they knew, then that was enough for them.

It should be painfully obvious that had the nominee literally been just about ANYONE ELSE, the GOP wins that senate seat in a landslide. But it wasn't. It was Hershel Walker. The fact it was Hershel Walker, and that he did as well as he did, should be an indication that almost anyone else would have won.

Hershel Walker is just a complete and total moron. SURELY you can see that!! In addition to that, he is also a complete and total asshole. The people who noticeably didn't support Hershel Walker were most of his former teammates, nearly every member of his family, (many of whom he threatened to kill at one time or another), and nearly all of his children whom he had also threatened to kill. The closest thing that I actually saw to an endorsement was a statement from a former teammates that said "Well, he is a bit strange, but I guess a lot of people have a few skeletons in their closets." Which is a nice way of saying, I don't support him, but I don't want to just lash out at him either, so it hardly qualifies as an endorsement.

Perhaps there were better candidates. So why IN THE HELL DID THE GOP GO WITH THIS GUY?????

It shouldn't bother you that Sen Rev W won. It should bother you that Hershel Walker was who he was running against, and would have almost assuredly NOT won had it been ANYONE ELSE!

I don’t think Walker was a great choice but he’d do far less damage than the Rev.

[Strange Brew]

…and all the reporters and other people swarming around Ted Cruz regarding the situation with his daughter all need a really hard kick in the dick.

Agree, but the media needs something to distract people from the Twitter dump and the Green New Deal money flowing to China.

[bobbiemcgee]

The Republicans have a problem. They can run 20-30 people in the primaries, some good, but they won't overcome the crazyness base of 25-30. We saw how that worked last week. tRump has lost the last 4 elections with his election denier stance. I guess people really aren't that stupid.

[Strange Brew]

The Republicans have a problem. They can run 20-30 people in the primaries, some good, but they won't overcome the crazyness base of 25-30. We saw how that worked last week. tRump has lost the last 4 elections with his election denier stance. I guess people really aren't that stupid.

His candidates also won races like Boebert.

Rs have the House in Jan.

[Xville]

The Republicans have a problem. They can run 20-30 people in the primaries, some good, but they won't overcome the crazyness base of 25-30. We saw how that worked last week. tRump has lost the last 4 elections with his election denier stance. I guess people really aren't that stupid.

What? The republicans won the house, and trump is no longer the leader of the party. I’d say it’s more that the democrats have a problem. now the republicans are dumping trump. It’s the last thing democrats had to win elections. Now they have nothing to rile the base up.

[Xville]

So, the government made a swap with Russia today...the "girl" with a penis who whines that America doesn't love her enough is exchanged for a Russian Arms Dealer. Smart.

[Strange Brew]

So, the government made a swap with Russia today...the "girl" with a penis who whines that America doesn't love her enough is exchanged for a Russian Arms Dealer. Smart.

Almost as smart as the Bergdahl swap.

[xubrew]

So, the government made a swap with Russia today...the "girl" with a penis who whines that America doesn't love her enough is exchanged for a Russian Arms Dealer. Smart.

Russia clearly won this game of chicken.

It's pretty clear to me that she was treated unfairly. Many in that situation aren't really even arrested, but just fined and deported, and the ones that are arrested are typically only locked up for a week or two and are then deported. She was used as a pawn, and it worked. They got what they wanted.

And to all those who say "Well, she shouldn't have had it in the first place"....OH REALLY!!?? YA THINK!!??

No one is disputing that. Or at least no one should be. But she was handled far more severely than what is typical, and it was done for a political reason.

[Strange Brew]

Russia clearly won this game of chicken.

It's pretty clear to me that she was treated unfairly. Many in that situation aren't really even arrested, but just fined and deported, and the ones that are arrested are typically only locked up for a week or two and are then deported. She was used as a pawn, and it worked. They got what they wanted.

And to all those who say "Well, she shouldn't have had it in the first place"....OH REALLY!!?? YA THINK!!??

No one is disputing that. Or at least no one should be. But she was handled far more severely than what is typical, and it was done for a political reason.

And Paul Whelan is still not free.

[xubrew]

And Paul Whelan is still not free.

Nope.

Like I said, Russia CLEARLY won this round.

[Xville]

Russia clearly won this game of chicken.

It's pretty clear to me that she was treated unfairly. Many in that situation aren't really even arrested, but just fined and deported, and the ones that are arrested are typically only locked up for a week or two and are then deported. She was used as a pawn, and it worked. They got what they wanted.

And to all those who say "Well, she shouldn't have had it in the first place"....OH REALLY!!?? YA THINK!!??

No one is disputing that. Or at least no one should be. But she was handled far more severely than what is typical, and it was done for a political reason.

Why should anyone in America give a crap? “She” should stay in Russia since all “she” does is bitch and whine about America. We seriously just let a “celebrity” free in exchange for the merchant of death. Are you effing kidding me? What planet am I on?

[xubrew]

Why should anyone in America give a crap? “She” should stay in Russia since all “she” does is bitch and whine about America. We seriously just let a “celebrity” free in exchange for the merchant of death. Are you effing kidding me? What planet am I on?

I think America should "Give a Crap" whenever a citizen is being detained/punished in another country in a manner that's way more severe than normal because they are American. Saying she should stay in Russia since all she does is bitch about America is basically just saying you want her locked up, in Russia, because she bitched about America. Let me just say that I'd rather people not have that take. That's a far more Russian take than an American one.

I cared far less about the basketball players from UCLA that were arrested in China because they were essentially dealt with the same way as anyone else would have been. Not that I wasn't generally concerned for them, but I never thought they were being treated differently than anyone else have been that was in that situation.

In the case of Griner, she got nine years for something just about everyone else gets 2-4 weeks and a fine for. That's WAAY outside the normal parameters for that offense, and the only reason they did it was because of who she was. I also think one of the reasons they did it was because they knew it would be divisive within the US.

Now, having said that, I really don't know what the best course of action would have been. I don't know if this was the right thing to do or not. I know that Russia absolutely won this hand of poker, though.

[paulxu]

Whelan's family was fine with the trade, while expressing frustration that no apparent movement is happening with their son.
Trevor Reed was exchanged for in April after 3 yeasr there, for a cocaine smuggling Russian pilot.
It seems Griner's fee was a arms dealer.
It's almost like there needs to be another really big person here for a trade to get Whelan out.
I hope they can come up with somebody.

[xubrew]

Whelan's family was fine with the trade, while expressing frustration that no apparent movement is happening with their son.
Trevor Reed was exchanged for in April after 3 yeasr there, for a cocaine smuggling Russian pilot.
It seems Griner's fee was a arms dealer.
It's almost like there needs to be another really big person here for a trade to get Whelan out.
I hope they can come up with somebody.

Could we offer to take Snowden off their hands??

[Xville]

I think America should "Give a Crap" whenever a citizen is being detained/punished in another country in a manner that's way more severe than normal because they are American. Saying she should stay in Russia since all she does is bitch about America is basically just saying you want her locked up, in Russia, because she bitched about America. Let me just say that I'd rather people not have that take. That's a far more Russian take than an American one.

I cared far less about the basketball players from UCLA that were arrested in China because they were essentially dealt with the same way as anyone else would have been. Not that I wasn't generally concerned for them, but I never thought they were being treated differently than anyone else have been that was in that situation.

In the case of Griner, she got nine years for something just about everyone else gets 2-4 weeks and a fine for. That's WAAY outside the normal parameters for that offense, and the only reason they did it was because of who she was. I also think one of the reasons they did it was because they knew it would be divisive within the US.

Now, having said that, I really don't know what the best course of action would have been. I don't know if this was the right thing to do or not. I know that Russia absolutely won this hand of poker, though.

She broke the law. If Russia wants to make an example of her or play games, fine. I don’t care about someone who consistently bitches about how she is treated in America and how awful the country is. F her. To trade her for a guy who literally helped kill Americans is ridiculous. Should have let her sit in prison for the duration of her sentence or continue to negotiate a different settlement.

[xubrew]

She broke the law. I don’t care about someone who consistently bitches about how she is treated in America and how awful the country is. F her. To trade her for a guy who literally helped kill Americans is ridiculous. Should have let her sit in prison for the duration of her sentence or continue to negotiate a different settlement.

No one is claiming she didn't break the law, nor is anyone saying she shouldn't have been arrested and held responsible (at least I'm not). The rub is that the punishment she received was way outside the normal parameters, and the only reason she received it is because of who she was. I agree that it was a very uneven trade, and I don't know if I feel it was the right thing to do. I'm not sure I would have done it. What I disagree with is that if someone has been critical of America, then it shouldn't be a concern if they're treated unfairly in another country because they're American

[Strange Brew]

Whelan's family was fine with the trade, while expressing frustration that no apparent movement is happening with their son.
Trevor Reed was exchanged for in April after 3 yeasr there, for a cocaine smuggling Russian pilot.
It seems Griner's fee was a arms dealer.
It's almost like there needs to be another really big person here for a trade to get Whelan out.
I hope they can come up with somebody.

I did not read that Whelan's family is "fine" with the trade.

They were shocked and called it a catastrophe.

[Lamont Sanford]

Over the years, both of the major political parties have put up some less than stellar candidates for office.

The Dems have had some real losers for sure.

But you'll forgive me if I'm just completely baffled how, literally, hundreds of thousands of people have voted for Herschel Walker, and think I assume, that he is qualified to be a United States Senator.

Racist.

[Masterofreality]

Whelan's family was fine with the trade, while expressing frustration that no apparent movement is happening with their son.
Trevor Reed was exchanged for in April after 3 yeasr there, for a cocaine smuggling Russian pilot.
It seems Griner's fee was a arms dealer.
It's almost like there needs to be another really big person here for a trade to get Whelan out.
I hope they can come up with somebody.

Whelan’s family was absolutely NOT fine with the trade. Did you read their statement? They were “diplomatic” about it but NOT fine.
Stop gaslighting. This is the kind of stuff that makes nobody believe you or your side.

[paulxu]

Whelan’s family was absolutely NOT fine with the trade. Did you read their statement? They were “diplomatic” about it but NOT fine.
Stop gaslighting. This is the kind of stuff that makes nobody believe you or your side.
My statement:

Whelan's family was fine with the trade, while expressing frustration that no apparent movement is happening with their son.
Sometimes I just wonder about how far you all go to score points. Below is a link to their whole statement.
Here is a sentence from that statement.
"There is no greater success than for a wrongful detainee to be freed & for them to go home. The Biden Admin made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, & to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn't going to happen.”

I think they are happy for the Griner family, and continually frustrated about Whelan.
They said the Biden administration made the right decision, and I characterized that as being "fine."
One might suspect if they didn't feel it was "fine", that they didn't need to make that statement.
Why you feel like that is gaslighting is beyond me.

https://twitter.com/carder613/status/1600874190218809346/photo/1

[Masterofreality]

My statement:

Sometimes I just wonder about how far you all go to score points. Below is a link to their whole statement.
Here is a sentence from that statement.
"There is no greater success than for a wrongful detainee to be freed & for them to go home. The Biden Admin made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, & to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn't going to happen.”

I think they are happy for the Griner family, and continually frustrated about Whelan.
They said the Biden administration made the right decision, and I characterized that as being "fine."
One might suspect if they didn't feel it was "fine", that they didn't need to make that statement.
Why you feel like that is gaslighting is beyond me.

https://twitter.com/carder613/status/1600874190218809346/photo/1

Uh, their relative’s fate is still in the hands of an incompetent administration who just gave up a convicted major terrorist for a celebrity basketball player who also happens to be gay and black to “Score Points”, as you put it, on the checklist. What the hell else are they going to say? As I said, they were “Diplomatic” but there is no way they are “fine” with it. An incredible miscasting of the plight of Whelan, who Biden, prior to Griener’s idiocy and hubris, could have made the same exchange for….but, uh, Whelan is a white man. No “scoring points” for that!!
Yeah, if I’m Whelans family I’d be as diplomatic as possible too so as not to incur the wrath of all the wokesters and lefty’s like you, as well as pissing off the very government in who Whelan’s fate depends.
The extent that you are lost in a blue haze is amazing.
Brittany Greiner was an idiot and full of herself to 1) Play in Russia in this current environment, 2) So hubris filled that she thought she could just violate her host countries’ laws without effect. And she got bailed out by a simpleton President who gave up a dangerous terrorist arms dealer back to his country that is waging an illegal war. And you stand there and act like it’s “fine”.
My Goodness, as you say.

[xubrew]

Uh, their relative’s fate is still in the hands of an incompetent administration who just gave up a convicted major terrorist for a celebrity basketball player who also happens to be gay and black to “Score Points”, as you put it, on the checklist. What the hell else are they going to say? As I said, they were “Diplomatic” but there is no way they are “fine” with it. An incredible miscasting of the plight of Whelan, who Biden, prior to Griener’s idiocy and hubris, could have made the same exchange for….but, uh, Whelan is a white man. No “scoring points” for that!!
Yeah, if I’m Whelans family I’d be as diplomatic as possible too so as not to incur the wrath of all the wokesters and lefty’s like you, as well as pissing off the very government in who Whelan’s fate depends.
The extent that you are lost in a blue haze is amazing.
Brittany Greiner was an idiot and full of herself to 1) Play in Russia in this current environment, 2) So hubris filled that she thought she could just violate her host countries’ laws without effect. And she got bailed out by a simpleton President who gave up a dangerous terrorist arms dealer back to his country that is waging an illegal war. And you stand there and act like it’s “fine”.
My Goodness, as you say.

What makes you so sure Biden could have made the trade for Whelan instead??

A better question....If you think that's the case, then why didn't Trump make that trade to get Whelan out??

Bout had been in prison since 2008. Whelan since 2018. I think it's a HUGE (and incorrect) assumption to say that Russia gave them a choice between Griner and Whelan. It certainly doesn't appear that Russia had ever entertained the notion of releasing Whelan for Viktor Bout before Griner got arrested.

[Masterofreality]

Meanwhile, this guy languishes too, another white man who had MEDICAL MJ.
Greiner was political points.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/07/28/marc-fogel-teacher-russia-prison/

[Masterofreality]

What makes you so sure Biden could have made the trade for Whelan instead??

A better question....If you think that's the case, then why didn't Trump make that trade to get Whelan out??


Whatsboutism at its best. This has zero to do with Trump, but I’m sure he had no intention of giving up a world class criminal/violent terrorist.

Biden just bent over and kowtowed to Putin. Weak knee.

[xubrew]

Whatsboutism at its best. This has zero to do with Trump, but I’m sure he had no intention of giving up a world class criminal/violent terrorist.

MOR, it's a RHETORICAL question!!! The reason Trump didn't make the trade isn't because he chose not to. Trump didn't make the trade because it was never an option. If Trump was given that option, don't you think he would have done it?? I do! So if Russia didn't give Trump the option of trading Whelan for Bout, then what the hell makes you think they gave Biden that option??

You're essentially accusing Biden of picking Griner over Whelan. I'm saying that Biden was likely never given the choice. It was Griner or no one.

OR, do you think Trump DID have the option, and just decided not to??

[Masterofreality]

MOR, it's a RHETORICAL question!!! The reason Trump didn't make the trade isn't because he chose not to.
Trump was never gonna give Satan up. Trump “chose not to because he’d never give up Bout.
Trump didn't make the trade because it was never an option. Because Trump never let it be an option
If Trump was given that option, don't you think he would have done it??
NO. Bout is one of the biggest criminals/terrorist on the planet!

You're essentially accusing Biden of picking Griner over Whelan. I'm saying that Biden was likely never given the choice. It was Griner or no one.
Yeah. I am, and Biden kow towed to Putin for cheap Political points. He gave up the baddest man on the damn planet for a basketball player.
The swap should have never been made without all 3 imprisoned Americans.

OR, do you think Trump DID have the option, and just decided not to??

Trump was NEVER gonna give Bout up. Do you realize how bad a guy he was and how hard US forces had to work to capture him??
From a 60 Minutes story Re Bout’s capture:

60 Minutes special detailing Operation Relentless, the team that captured Viktor Bout:
Bout is:
"Lord of War"
"Led Conspiracy to kill Americans"
"One of the most dangerous men on the face of the earth."
"Weaponized the Civil War in Africa"
“Arming designated terrorist groups”

Now he’s back to kill more innocents and create havoc….for a basketball player who means little, except to lefty wokesters.
Awful deal.

Check out this Bout resume detailed on here:

https://www.analyzingamerica.org/2022/12/676554/?fbclid=IwAR3tZF4nyUI9qi2lMks2XXm1gYLdcwmOuWQ_Niaf ta8mF1Uxm8N1kpaAl50&mibextid=Zxz2cZ (https://www.analyzingamerica.org/2022/12/676554/?
fbclid=IwAR3tZF4nyUI9qi2lMks2XXm1gYLdcwmOuWQ_Niaft a8mF1Uxm8N1kpaAl50&mibextid=Zxz2cZ)

No expert recommended releasing this guy!!

[xuphan]

And Paul Whelan is still not free.

Should have been Paul Whalen to begin with.

[xubrew]

Trump was NEVER gonna give Bout up. Do you realize how bad a guy he was and how hard US forces had to work to capture him??
From a 60 Minutes story Re Bout’s capture:

60 Minutes special detailing Operation Relentless, the team that captured Viktor Bout:
Bout is:
"Lord of War"
"Led Conspiracy to kill Americans"
"One of the most dangerous men on the face of the earth."
"Weaponized the Civil War in Africa"

Now he’s back to kill more innocents and create havoc….for a basketball player who means little, except to lefty wokesters.
Awful deal.
"Arming designated terrorist groups"

I actually know quite a bit about him. There are undoubtedly many people in African countries that aren't too happy about it either. Maybe he shouldn't have done anything. I just don't think he CHOSE Griner over Whelan. I don't he was told he could pick one or the other. It's kind of ridiculous to just assume that.

[Strange Brew]

I actually know quite a bit about him. There are undoubtedly many people in African countries that aren't too happy about it either. Maybe he shouldn't have done anything. I just don't think he CHOSE Griner over Whelan. I don't he was told he could pick one or the other. It's kind of ridiculous to just assume that.

Should've kept Bout and offered something else if that was the case.

[Masterofreality]

Should've kept Bout and offered something else if that was the case.

Correct. 100%.
But that wasn’t gonna happen because Biden is a slave (yeah I used the word) to the Woke Left. And now he has his prog street cred with all the most ridiculous groups.

[noteggs]

I also think one of the reasons they did it was because they knew it would be divisive within the US.

Bingo! They understand how divided our politics are. After reading this thread, this is exactly what’s happening here, in the press and DC.

Look at the damage they did with spending $100,000 plus (a very very very tiny amount compared to the billions) of political ads in the 2016 election. Putin/Russia knew this type of action would cause chaos, but went far beyond his wildest dreams.

Heck even today some people still actually believe that he was picking his preferred candidate. No it was mainly to create chaos plan and simple. Yes I realize there are other factors like Flynn, Hillary’s campaign and Manafort who contributed to the fiasco. They definitely know how to pull our strings.

[XU_Lou]

"It’s not just the gelatinous blob known as Mitch McConnell, or that closeted court jester of Fox News, Lindsey Graham. It’s not only the spectacular career implosions of Ben Sasse and John Cornryn. What about Pat Toomey? Rob Portman? Richard Burr? Roy Blunt? Mitt Romney? Thom Tillis? Bill Cassidy? Lisa Murkowski? Look at their voting records: they’re basically a chorus-line of limp-wristed flip-floppers.

In fact, this bunch isn’t worth a bucket of warm spit.

At every turn, this gang of geriatric invalids and psychological inferiors displayed their complete contempt for their own voters in 2022. It’s not just that they hate President Trump — they hate Republican voters. As for traditional GOP values, they have turned on them too. They have gone out of their way to “flip the bird” at conservative principles like limited government, restricted government spending, legal immigration, free speech, gun rights, and religious freedom.

In fact, they have enthusiastically joined hands with Democrats on bill after bill recently — in a concerted attempt to disabuse the American people of the antiquated notion that we have a two-party system.

You might even call it: ideological suicide."

https://emeralddb3.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-ideological-collapse

[XU_Lou]

"left vs right is mostly a sideshow.

the real fight is us against the institutions, the bureaucracy, the regulator: all the dangerous denizens of the permanent state.

you’re seeing over and over the disdain in which they hold you and the extent to which they collaborate against you.

it won’t stop.

this is quite literally what this system is for, what it was designed and evolved to so, and the frisson of funktionslust it derives from so doing is palpable.

the permanent state loves its job.

this is not democracy, it is the devolution of power into invisible and unaccountable realms.

this is not freedom, it is servitude."

https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/some-things-i-learned?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[X-band '01]

Thanks to Kristen Sinema, the Senate is now 50.5/49.5 Democratic control. Guessing she's not going to be an independent in the sense that Bernie Sanders and Angus King are independent.

[GoMuskies]

Sinema and Manchin give me hope for the Republic.

[Masterofreality]

If any fair minded person on this site wants superb journalism, I would suggest that you ante up $50/year and subscribe.
This is absolutely worth the money for fair minded reports on the topics of the day.
Bari Weiss is a liberal former New York Times Editor, but I’ve never encountered someone so balanced.
Highly recommend. I’ve been a subscriber for over a year, since it first started.

https://www.thefp.com

[Masterofreality]

Thanks to Kristen Sinema, the Senate is now 50.5/49.5 Democratic control. Guessing she's not going to be an independent in the sense that Bernie Sanders and Angus King are independent.


Sinema and Manchin give me hope for the Republic.

100% agree. As opposed to *some* on this site that only see things through a blue haze, Sinema & Manchin have common sense about issues and totally reject this radical progressivism.
Hear, Hear!!

[GoMuskies]

Sinema, Manchin and Romney should form an alliance (perhaps they already have, but they should be more blatant about it) and tell the rest of the Senate that anything they want done goes through them. And everyone else better goddamn well be ready to make them happy with any bill they want passed or any person they want confirmed.

[Strange Brew]

Sinema, Manchin and Romney should form an alliance (perhaps they already have, but they should be more blatant about it) and tell the rest of the Senate that anything they want done goes through them. And everyone else better goddamn well be ready to make them happy with any bill they want passed or any person they want confirmed.

Can we trade Romney for Paul?

[GoMuskies]

Can we trade Romney for Paul?

Pretty sure your reaction is exactly the reason Romney is the right person to join Sinema and Manchin in that role.