It is a historically unpopular bill (and for good reason). My guess is that they expect voters to forget by next year's elections, or, they simply don't care. Sadly, I expect the latter. We are pretty damn far down the path of officially changing our form of Government to a Corporatocracy/Plutocracy.Zip City wrote:All forms of education expenses are being assaulted in this bill. Except for the line-item exemptions for Bible-based diploma mills, of course
The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Love each other, Motherfuckers!
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It’s pitchfork time, motherfuckers!!!
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Betsy DeVos was in our town last week visiting one of the schools, if I wasn’t teaching myself that day I’d have driven over there to tell her that the current administration’s plans were going to cripple the very school she was walking around. Absolutely disgusting.beantownbubba wrote:I'm sure there are plenty of little and not so little surprises still to be revealed in the tax bill but one thing I didn't know is that the bill allows for the deduction of private school tuition. At the same time, the bill provides that state and local taxes are no longer deductible. In addition to the really aggravating result of having to pay tax on taxed income, public education has just become notably harder to fund because public education is funded primarily through state and local taxes. It's hard to see this as anything but a declaration of war against the poor and middle class.
Turn it up to 10 and rip off the knob
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They don’t care. Republicans like Aunt Pittypat Graham flat out said that this tax scam was all about pleasing the corporate overlords. In their eyes, anyone who isn’t a corporate overlord is irrelevantpearlbeer wrote:It is a historically unpopular bill (and for good reason). My guess is that they expect voters to forget by next year's elections, or, they simply don't care. Sadly, I expect the latter. We are pretty damn far down the path of officially changing our form of Government to a Corporatocracy/Plutocracy.Zip City wrote:All forms of education expenses are being assaulted in this bill. Except for the line-item exemptions for Bible-based diploma mills, of course
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
We've been that way for some time, they're just adding the exclamation point to the sentence.pearlbeer wrote:It is a historically unpopular bill (and for good reason). My guess is that they expect voters to forget by next year's elections, or, they simply don't care. Sadly, I expect the latter. We are pretty damn far down the path of officially changing our form of Government to a Corporatocracy/Plutocracy.Zip City wrote:All forms of education expenses are being assaulted in this bill. Except for the line-item exemptions for Bible-based diploma mills, of course
Now it's dark.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
not really a Kimmel fan but this is excellent
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yeah, it's definitely the left that has contempt and disgust for real Americans/the non-rich/working class
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/mor ... cf5432f6f6
“I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing,” Grassley told the Register. “As opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies*.”
Translation: if you are not of the investor class, you are worthless
*=he forgot to include truck nutz
ps--but what about people like Bannon and Mnuchin who invested heavily in movies?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/mor ... cf5432f6f6
“I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing,” Grassley told the Register. “As opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies*.”
Translation: if you are not of the investor class, you are worthless
*=he forgot to include truck nutz
ps--but what about people like Bannon and Mnuchin who invested heavily in movies?
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:It’s pitchfork time, motherfuckers!!!
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
That made my day. Grassley is getting roasted here, even by his base. He probably won't run again, and seems to be positioning his grandson to take his spot. Which will blow up in his face. People's hatred of nepotism crosses political affiliation here.whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:yeah, it's definitely the left that has contempt and disgust for real Americans/the non-rich/working class
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/mor ... cf5432f6f6
“I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing,” Grassley told the Register. “As opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies*.”
Translation: if you are not of the investor class, you are worthless
*=he forgot to include truck nutz
ps--but what about people like Bannon and Mnuchin who invested heavily in movies?
He used to be an example of a guy that I could respect, despite not agreein with. Fuck him, now. He's just completely doubled down on Trumpism.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
For real. As I remember it, he was always considered to be an example of an old fashioned honorable pol w/ whom one could disagree but respect where he was coming from and still share drinks or a meal at the end of the day. But this? Totally over the top, disgusting and a perfect example of the infectious nature of Trumpism. Although to be fair, let's not forget that Mitt Romney, lately floated as an example of reasonable, rational Republicanism will forever be associated w/ "the 47%".Iowan wrote:That made my day. Grassley is getting roasted here, even by his base. He probably won't run again, and seems to be positioning his grandson to take his spot. Which will blow up in his face. People's hatred of nepotism crosses political affiliation here.whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:yeah, it's definitely the left that has contempt and disgust for real Americans/the non-rich/working class
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/mor ... cf5432f6f6
“I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing,” Grassley told the Register. “As opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies*.”
Translation: if you are not of the investor class, you are worthless
*=he forgot to include truck nutz
ps--but what about people like Bannon and Mnuchin who invested heavily in movies?
He used to be an example of a guy that I could respect, despite not agreein with. Fuck him, now. He's just completely doubled down on Trumpism.
All opinions and commentary in my posts are solely my own and are made in my personal capacity.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Who was it that talked about "defining deviance down"?beantownbubba wrote:For real. As I remember it, he was always considered to be an example of an old fashioned honorable pol w/ whom one could disagree but respect where he was coming from and still share drinks or a meal at the end of the day. But this? Totally over the top, disgusting and a perfect example of the infectious nature of Trumpism. Although to be fair, let's not forget that Mitt Romney, lately floated as an example of reasonable, rational Republicanism will forever be associated w/ "the 47%".Iowan wrote:That made my day. Grassley is getting roasted here, even by his base. He probably won't run again, and seems to be positioning his grandson to take his spot. Which will blow up in his face. People's hatred of nepotism crosses political affiliation here.whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:yeah, it's definitely the left that has contempt and disgust for real Americans/the non-rich/working class
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/mor ... cf5432f6f6
“I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing,” Grassley told the Register. “As opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies*.”
Translation: if you are not of the investor class, you are worthless
*=he forgot to include truck nutz
ps--but what about people like Bannon and Mnuchin who invested heavily in movies?
He used to be an example of a guy that I could respect, despite not agreein with. Fuck him, now. He's just completely doubled down on Trumpism.
The sooner we put those assholes in the grave&piss on the dirt above it, the better off we'll be
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Can someone provide a logical explanation for why Paul Manafort violated his parole by writing an Op-Ed with a Russian? Seriously, this makes no sense to me. The only logical explanations I can come up with are:
1) Paul Manafort is a fucking idiot.
- While I can render a long list of creative adjectives to describe Manafort and his ilk, 'stupid' would likely not be one of them. He and his legal team just can't be this dumb.
2) These assholes really do believe they are above the law.
- Maybe Manafort sees himself as bullet-proof and is expecting a pardon. Still...see #1. If you are in trouble with the FBI (!!! THE FBI !!!), you better watch it. I simply cannot imagine a level of arrogance that would allow you to continue to associate with Russians given the existing charges. It just does not make sense.
3) He is beyond desperate
- If you can't make a reasonable case for reason #1 or #2, then he must be seriously desperate. Seriously. Desperate.
I don't want to put on my tinfoil hat, but shit is getting real weird up in here.
1) Paul Manafort is a fucking idiot.
- While I can render a long list of creative adjectives to describe Manafort and his ilk, 'stupid' would likely not be one of them. He and his legal team just can't be this dumb.
2) These assholes really do believe they are above the law.
- Maybe Manafort sees himself as bullet-proof and is expecting a pardon. Still...see #1. If you are in trouble with the FBI (!!! THE FBI !!!), you better watch it. I simply cannot imagine a level of arrogance that would allow you to continue to associate with Russians given the existing charges. It just does not make sense.
3) He is beyond desperate
- If you can't make a reasonable case for reason #1 or #2, then he must be seriously desperate. Seriously. Desperate.
I don't want to put on my tinfoil hat, but shit is getting real weird up in here.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
I recommend some form of head protection if you plan to visit the future, which is here right about now:pearlbeer wrote:I don't want to put on my tinfoil hat, but shit is getting real weird up in here.
Erik Prince and Oliver North are trying to sell Trump on a secret spy force
Blackwater founder Erik Prince, ex-CIA officer John R. Maguire, and Iran-Contra linchpin Oliver North have been shopping a proposal to President Trump's White House and CIA Director Mike Pompeo to create private global network of expendable spies that would report directly to Trump and Pompeo, and Pompeo wants Trump to approve the contract, The Intercept reports, citing "several current and former U.S. intelligence officials and others familiar with the proposals." The Intercept confirms and expands on BuzzFeed's report that intelligence contractor Amyntor Group, Maguire's employer, is a potential organizer of the new private spy network.
The sooner we put those assholes in the grave&piss on the dirt above it, the better off we'll be
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
The way Rachel Maddow splained it: he wasn't writing under his own name, and the op-ed was quite supportive of him.pearlbeer wrote:Can someone provide a logical explanation for why Paul Manafort violated his parole by writing an Op-Ed with a Russian? Seriously, this makes no sense to me.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
given that Grassley was born before the Lewis & Clark Expedition, I think it would have been more appropriate for him to excoriate "those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on opium dens or trollops or the talkies"whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:yeah, it's definitely the left that has contempt and disgust for real Americans/the non-rich/working class
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/mor ... cf5432f6f6
“I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing,” Grassley told the Register. “As opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies*.”
Translation: if you are not of the investor class, you are worthless
*=he forgot to include truck nutz
ps--but what about people like Bannon and Mnuchin who invested heavily in movies?
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
I understand that. But, when you are wearing a FBI branded ankle bracelet, this seems like a really bold/dumb move.Flea wrote:The way Rachel Maddow splained it: he wasn't writing under his own name, and the op-ed was quite supportive of him.pearlbeer wrote:Can someone provide a logical explanation for why Paul Manafort violated his parole by writing an Op-Ed with a Russian? Seriously, this makes no sense to me.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
pearlbeer wrote:I understand that. But, when you are wearing a FBI branded ankle bracelet, this seems like a really bold/dumb move.Flea wrote:The way Rachel Maddow splained it: he wasn't writing under his own name, and the op-ed was quite supportive of him.pearlbeer wrote:Can someone provide a logical explanation for why Paul Manafort violated his parole by writing an Op-Ed with a Russian? Seriously, this makes no sense to me.
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
I understand that. But, when you are wearing a FBI branded ankle bracelet, this seems like a really bold/dumb move.[/quote]whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:
[/quote]
Love each other, Motherfuckers!
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
wonder if the smiling faces used to explain this will be underage girls:
https://thinkprogress.org/corporate-con ... f837209e2/
https://thinkprogress.org/corporate-con ... f837209e2/
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
do not get me started on Oliver NorthJohn A Arkansawyer wrote:I recommend some form of head protection if you plan to visit the future, which is here right about now:pearlbeer wrote:I don't want to put on my tinfoil hat, but shit is getting real weird up in here.
Erik Prince and Oliver North are trying to sell Trump on a secret spy force
Blackwater founder Erik Prince, ex-CIA officer John R. Maguire, and Iran-Contra linchpin Oliver North have been shopping a proposal to President Trump's White House and CIA Director Mike Pompeo to create private global network of expendable spies that would report directly to Trump and Pompeo, and Pompeo wants Trump to approve the contract, The Intercept reports, citing "several current and former U.S. intelligence officials and others familiar with the proposals." The Intercept confirms and expands on BuzzFeed's report that intelligence contractor Amyntor Group, Maguire's employer, is a potential organizer of the new private spy network.
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Stipulations of supervision (bail, probation, etc.) usually disallow "association" with anyone related to or even potentially linked to your crime without permission, regardless of whether it's email or in person. If you're a convicted felon it's usually as simple as no associating with other felons. Since this is an ongoing investigation I'm guessing the limits were probably pretty broad.pearlbeer wrote:I understand that. But, when you are wearing a FBI branded ankle bracelet, this seems like a really bold/dumb move.
Just my .02.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
It's come to this:
I'd come to a similar conclusion about a year and a half ago, over other issues.
Al Franken, many argue, should now resign. He should resign immediately because there are credible accusers (another emerged Wednesday), and because the behavior alleged is sufficiently abhorrent that there is simply no basis to defend him. In this parade of unilateral disarmament, Trump stays, Conyers goes, Moore stays, Franken goes.
Is this the principled solution? By every metric I can think of, it’s correct. But it’s also wrong. It’s wrong because we no longer inhabit a closed ethical system, in which morality and norm preservation are their own rewards. We live in a broken and corroded system in which unilateral disarmament is going to destroy the very things we want to preserve.
I'd come to a similar conclusion about a year and a half ago, over other issues.
The sooner we put those assholes in the grave&piss on the dirt above it, the better off we'll be
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
take a deep breath, feel like yer chokin', everything is brokenJohn A Arkansawyer wrote:It's come to this:
Al Franken, many argue, should now resign. He should resign immediately because there are credible accusers (another emerged Wednesday), and because the behavior alleged is sufficiently abhorrent that there is simply no basis to defend him. In this parade of unilateral disarmament, Trump stays, Conyers goes, Moore stays, Franken goes.
Is this the principled solution? By every metric I can think of, it’s correct. But it’s also wrong. It’s wrong because we no longer inhabit a closed ethical system, in which morality and norm preservation are their own rewards. We live in a broken and corroded system in which unilateral disarmament is going to destroy the very things we want to preserve.
I'd come to a similar conclusion about a year and a half ago, over other issues.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Things that you held high and told yourself were true, lost or changing as the days come down to you.whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:take a deep breath, feel like yer chokin', everything is brokenJohn A Arkansawyer wrote:It's come to this:
Al Franken, many argue, should now resign. He should resign immediately because there are credible accusers (another emerged Wednesday), and because the behavior alleged is sufficiently abhorrent that there is simply no basis to defend him. In this parade of unilateral disarmament, Trump stays, Conyers goes, Moore stays, Franken goes.
Is this the principled solution? By every metric I can think of, it’s correct. But it’s also wrong. It’s wrong because we no longer inhabit a closed ethical system, in which morality and norm preservation are their own rewards. We live in a broken and corroded system in which unilateral disarmament is going to destroy the very things we want to preserve.
I'd come to a similar conclusion about a year and a half ago, over other issues.
The sooner we put those assholes in the grave&piss on the dirt above it, the better off we'll be
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
I am harboring a theory that once the Dotard makes a public comment about the need for these men to resign, they do so immediately. Then we address the big orange elephant in the room.John A Arkansawyer wrote:whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:Things that you held high and told yourself were true, lost or changing as the days come down to you.John A Arkansawyer wrote:It's come to this:
take a deep breath, feel like yer chokin', everything is broken
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
I agree, Hate to lose Franken, but victims is victims. We can't really condemn their bad guys if we don't condemn our own.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Here's an excellent science fiction story which bears somewhat on this question: The Night of the Salamander.scotto wrote:I agree, Hate to lose Franken, but victims is victims. We can't really condemn their bad guys if we don't condemn our own.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Where's the quote from?John A Arkansawyer wrote:It's come to this:
Al Franken, many argue, should now resign. He should resign immediately because there are credible accusers (another emerged Wednesday), and because the behavior alleged is sufficiently abhorrent that there is simply no basis to defend him. In this parade of unilateral disarmament, Trump stays, Conyers goes, Moore stays, Franken goes.
Is this the principled solution? By every metric I can think of, it’s correct. But it’s also wrong. It’s wrong because we no longer inhabit a closed ethical system, in which morality and norm preservation are their own rewards. We live in a broken and corroded system in which unilateral disarmament is going to destroy the very things we want to preserve.
I'd come to a similar conclusion about a year and a half ago, over other issues.
I like the phrase "closed ethical system" and "unilateral disarmament is well suited to these circumstances as well. I think I've already posted my views on this but if not, I agree 100% with the quote.
Condemn is one thing; force or pressure him to resign is another. There's plenty of time for him to resign if, say, Moore w/draws. In the current environment, where one can have no rational belief that there will be reciprocity, it would just be stupid for Franken to resign. The quote above says it quite well so I'll stop being redundant now.scotto wrote:Hate to lose Franken, but victims is victims. We can't really condemn their bad guys if we don't condemn our own.
All opinions and commentary in my posts are solely my own and are made in my personal capacity.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
It's come to this:beantownbubba wrote:Where's the quote from?John A Arkansawyer wrote:
Al Franken, many argue, should now resign. He should resign immediately because there are credible accusers (another emerged Wednesday), and because the behavior alleged is sufficiently abhorrent that there is simply no basis to defend him. In this parade of unilateral disarmament, Trump stays, Conyers goes, Moore stays, Franken goes.
Is this the principled solution? By every metric I can think of, it’s correct. But it’s also wrong. It’s wrong because we no longer inhabit a closed ethical system, in which morality and norm preservation are their own rewards. We live in a broken and corroded system in which unilateral disarmament is going to destroy the very things we want to preserve.
I'd come to a similar conclusion about a year and a half ago, over other issues.
Here's the full title:
The Uneven Playing Field
Sure, don’t stoop to their level. But let’s acknowledge that the game Republicans are forcing everyone to play insists morality is for losers.
Dahlia Lithwick has been seeing her faith in rule of law crumble for some time now. Last week, this:
Is It Too Late for Robert Mueller to Save Us?
It might not be enough for the special counsel to hand us a smoking gun and an indictment.
And last month, she said this near the end of an excruciating read: I now believe that the people who continue to have faith in law and in journalism are the most vulnerable to the cascade of lying that pours forth from the White House and the Justice Department. Lying destabilizes both endeavors in ways that make us feel that they cannot be practiced at all.
Can't blame her. She lives in Charlottesville, where in one week she went from this to this. And yes, definitely don't read the comments.
I think of it as a virtue trap or an honor trap, where your enemy maneuvers you into a position where you have to do something wrong in order for right to prevail.beantownbubba wrote:I like the phrase "closed ethical system" and "unilateral disarmament is well suited to these circumstances as well. I think I've already posted my views on this but if not, I agree 100% with the quote.
The sooner we put those assholes in the grave&piss on the dirt above it, the better off we'll be