Political Randomness

For discussion of religion and politics

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LawBeefaroni
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by LawBeefaroni »

Holman wrote:Ted Cruz accidentally "liked" a porn he was watching, and the internet caught it.

(And now you will never unimagine this. Say hello forever to Ted Cruz jacking it.)
Either a) his account was hacked or b) a rogue intern did it. Although it may also be c) he meant to report it for TOS violation but accidentally hit like.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Smoove_B »

Yeah, I'd expect the firing of an "overzealous staffer" at some point today. Historically this would have been gigantic news. But now with the circus that is our government, it shouldn't even be a blip.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Isgrimnur »

Philippines
After a heated debate on a cold and rainy afternoon, the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 12, voted to allocate only P1,000 to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for 2018.

Acting on a motion by SAGIP Representative Rodante Marcoleta, 119 voted in favor of giving the Constitutional body a measly P1,000 for the coming year. 32 legislators, a mix of majority, minority, and opposition members, voted against it.
...
This does not mean, however, that the CHR is sure to get only P1,000 for the coming fiscal year. The budget will be forwarded to the Senate for another round of deliberations.

If the two houses of Congress have different versions of the proposed budget, they will have to be reconciled through a bicameral conference committee that will consist of representatives of both the House and the Senate.
...
The measly P1,000 budget should not come as a surprise.

No less than House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, during committee debates over the proposed CHR budget, said the Constitutional body should get no budget for 2018, citing its supposed failure to perform.

On Monday, September 11, he said the House would be giving the agency a P1,000-budget, insisting that the CHR was not doing its job.
...
The CHR has been the focus of criticism, particularly from President Rodrigo Duterte, following its statements against the ongoing war on drugs.

The Commission has repeatedly expressed concern over deaths linked to the drug war, specifically those which they claim were unjustified. It is still reviewing cases of police kills and homicides with alleged links to the drug trade.
At the current exchange rate, that works out to USD $19.63. Oh, and they're currently on the UN Human Rights Council.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Moliere »

"The world is suffering more today from the good people who want to mind other men's business than it is from the bad people who are willing to let everybody look after their own individual affairs." - Clarence Darrow
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Rip »

LawBeefaroni wrote:
Holman wrote:Ted Cruz accidentally "liked" a porn he was watching, and the internet caught it.

(And now you will never unimagine this. Say hello forever to Ted Cruz jacking it.)
Either a) his account was hacked or b) a rogue intern did it. Although it may also be c) he meant to report it for TOS violation but accidentally hit like.
I can't really form an opinion without watching the video.

I mean if it is a really good video I would have a hard time criticizing him for it.

Now if it is some of that softcore HBO shit I would never vote for him again.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by gbasden »

Smoove_B wrote:Yeah, I'd expect the firing of an "overzealous staffer" at some point today. Historically this would have been gigantic news. But now with the circus that is our government, it shouldn't even be a blip.
It shouldn't be. Why the fuck should we care if our representatives in Congress are human just like us?

Oh, right. Because he's a goddamned hypocrite.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Smoove_B »

I think he should be taken to task on it, absolutely because he's a goddamn hypocrite. But with everything else going on, he just needs to keep quiet for a few days and there will be an administration-level story that will provide a smokescreen. It's insane. I do hope the press hammers him relentlessly on it -- really take the time to pound out a response. Can't let him beat this without a full-release of what should be coming.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by hepcat »

I'd always just assumed that Ted was more of a BBW fan. Go figure.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Paingod »

Smoove_B wrote:I do hope the press hammers him relentlessly on it -- really take the time to pound out a response. Can't let him beat this without a full-release of what should be coming.
:lol:
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Freyland »

Paingod wrote:
Smoove_B wrote:I do hope the press hammers him relentlessly on it -- really take the time to pound out a response. Can't let him beat this without a full-release of what should be coming.
:lol:
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Holman »

gbasden wrote: Oh, right. Because he's a goddamned hypocrite.
Back when that story came out, Cruz's old Princeton roommate was interviewed and said that the senator's views on the subject had clearly evolved.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Pyperkub »

Holman wrote:
gbasden wrote: Oh, right. Because he's a goddamned hypocrite.
Back when that story came out, Cruz's old Princeton roommate was interviewed and said that the senator's views on the subject had clearly evolved.
AS best I can tell, the Ted Cruz mistress story in the Trump-friendly National Enquirer disappeared as soon as Ted Cruz jumped out of the Presidential nomination race...

:coffee:
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Rip »

http://nypost.com/2017/09/12/kmart-rena ... sly-sized/

Next up small sized condoms will become super satisfying sized condoms.

:lol:
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Pyperkub »

Rip wrote:http://nypost.com/2017/09/12/kmart-rena ... sly-sized/

Next up small sized condoms will become super satisfying sized condoms.

:lol:
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Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!

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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Enough »

Rip wrote:http://nypost.com/2017/09/12/kmart-rena ... sly-sized/

Next up small sized condoms will become super satisfying sized condoms.

:lol:
Somebody is getting his guilty pleasure read of the NY Post in this afternoon I see. :P
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by hepcat »

He'd like us to think he's doing it ironically though.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Moliere »

"The world is suffering more today from the good people who want to mind other men's business than it is from the bad people who are willing to let everybody look after their own individual affairs." - Clarence Darrow
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Max Peck »

Words I never expected to be attributed to Ted Cruz:
"I spent five and a half years as the solicitor general in Texas, I worked for the attorney general. The attorney general's job is to defend the laws passed by the Texas legislature. One of those laws was a law restricting the sale of sex toys, which is a stupid law," Cruz said. "Consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want in their bedrooms."
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Sepiche »

Good news everyone!

Looks like Martin Shkreli is headed to jail:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ph ... on-n801141
Former pharmaceuticals company CEO Martin Shkreli has had his bail revoked and is going to jail in New York while he awaits sentencing for a securities fraud conviction.

A judge at a Wednesday hearing sided with a government demand to jail Shkreli following his provocative online antics.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Holman »

Max Peck wrote:Words I never expected to be attributed to Ted Cruz:
"I spent five and a half years as the solicitor general in Texas, I worked for the attorney general. The attorney general's job is to defend the laws passed by the Texas legislature. One of those laws was a law restricting the sale of sex toys, which is a stupid law," Cruz said. "Consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want in their bedrooms."
Tomorrow he'll blame an intern for saying it.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Isgrimnur »

Sepiche wrote:Good news everyone!

Looks like Martin Shkreli is headed to jail:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ph ... on-n801141
Former pharmaceuticals company CEO Martin Shkreli has had his bail revoked and is going to jail in New York while he awaits sentencing for a securities fraud conviction.

A judge at a Wednesday hearing sided with a government demand to jail Shkreli following his provocative online antics.
Offering a bounty for obtaining a hair from a political figure's head sure skirts the line of inciting violence. I don't know if I come down on the government's side here, as I'm sure the speech was going to spark imminent lawless action.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Rip »

Sepiche wrote:Good news everyone!

Looks like Martin Shkreli is headed to jail:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ph ... on-n801141
Former pharmaceuticals company CEO Martin Shkreli has had his bail revoked and is going to jail in New York while he awaits sentencing for a securities fraud conviction.

A judge at a Wednesday hearing sided with a government demand to jail Shkreli following his provocative online antics.
I hate Shkreli as much as the next guy, but that is total bullshit.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by hepcat »

Yeah, it's a sad day when a guy out on bail can't offer to pay people to assault public figures. What's this world coming to?
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Isgrimnur »

Freedom of speech still applies.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by hepcat »

I would agree if he was simply insulting her. But he went further. The free speech defense doesn't apply here. Hence, jail.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Isgrimnur »

Until I read a detailed account or the order itself, I'm still coming down on the free speech side, no matter how much I loathe the man.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by malchior »

A man on bail wrote:
"The Clinton Foundation is willing to KILL to protect its secrets. So on HRC's book tour, try to grab a hair from her. I must confirm the sequences I have. Will pay $5,000 per hair obtained from Hillary Clinton."
Ridiculous attempt at humor or not this is an invitation to assault a specific person who has specific announced public events. For cash. It was incredibly stupid and is hardly an abuse of freedom of speech.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by hepcat »

Yup, soliciting an assault on another person is not protected under freedom of speech.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Max Peck »

Isgrimnur wrote:Freedom of speech still applies.
I can't help but notice the lack of outrage from Mr. Fed. If he's fine with it, it's probably a fair cop and not a violation of Shkreli's free speech rights.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by malchior »

The post itself probably could be prosecuted under many terroristic threat statutes. The judge had an easy lever which was to revoke bail. This is a no brainer.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Max Peck »

It's probably worth noting that this isn't a single event happening in isolation.
While awaiting sentencing, Shkreli has harassed women online, prosecutors argued, and even offered his Facebook followers $5,000 to grab a strand of Hillary Clinton’s hair during her book tour. Shkreli, who faces up to 20 years in prison for securities fraud, apologized in writing, saying that he did not expect anyone to take his online comments seriously, and his attorneys pleaded with the judge Wednesday to give him another chance.

“The fact that he continues to remain unaware of the inappropriateness of his actions or words demonstrates to me that he may be creating ongoing risk to the community,” said U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, in revoking his bond.

“This is a solicitation of assault. That is not protected by the First Amendment.”
Shkreli has been going out of his way to make himself look like a world-class sociopath in his dealings with the press and on social media. I wouldn't be surprised if he has been teetering on the edge of contempt of court long before this particular incident.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by GreenGoo »

Isgrimnur wrote:Until I read a detailed account or the order itself, I'm still coming down on the free speech side, no matter how much I loathe the man.
Ditto.

I'm not all that interested in finding out what he's been up to, but are we talking contempt charges or threat charges?
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by malchior »

Neither - his bond was revoked. Bail can be revoked for a number of reasons. He is a convicted criminal and subject to conditions of bail. This was the easiest way for the judge to rein him in since he has been fairly unmanageable and unrepentant. As I noted above I don't think it is a stretch to think he *could* be charged though. However that'd be a bit of overkill considering he is already facing jail and it is simpler to just revoke bond.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by El Guapo »

Yeah, revoking bail here strikes me as entirely reasonable. It's a fair reading of his comments as solicitation of assault (especially given how crazy people are re: HRC, and the whole pizzagate thing and all). If they were actually going to *charge* him with soliciting assault, that would probably be a tough charge to prove, because you would have to prove that he was not joking. But revoking bail over this (on top of everything else he's been doing) - eminently reasonable.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by GreenGoo »

Yeah, once you get into court things change. Contempt allows a judge to do all sorts of things if you look at him funny, for example.

Personally I don't think trying to justify revoking bail based on "real threat" is a good idea, because without the bail etc it's pretty clearly not if past free speech case are any indication.

Just yank his bail (I assume the money is refunded? I am so naive) for being a shit disturbing moron. There is no guaranteed right to bail. Not to mention the bail agreement is made in part on the expectation of good behaviour.

Is there any way to punish the deplorables cheering this dick head on as well? The internet sure has done a great job of reminding us that we are only as civilised and reasonable as our willingness to work at it. There sure are a lot of people who take great joy in being shit slinging cavemen.

Can we waterboard them? Nothing teaches civility like waterboarding someone until they lose control of their body functions.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by GreenGoo »

You know, I don't want to jump the gun here, but we may be looking at a future president of the united states.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Paingod »

Max Peck wrote:Words I never expected to be attributed to Ted Cruz:
"I spent five and a half years as the solicitor general in Texas, I worked for the attorney general. The attorney general's job is to defend the laws passed by the Texas legislature. One of those laws was a law restricting the sale of sex toys, which is a stupid law," Cruz said. "Consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want in their bedrooms."
He probably just discovered Fleshlights.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by dbt1949 »

I see where Hillary waiting 10-11 months before whining about losing the election. Wonder what took her so long?
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by El Guapo »

dbt1949 wrote:I see where Hillary waiting 10-11 months before whining about losing the election. Wonder what took her so long?
Takes awhile to write a book. Which is about the whole election, including both mistakes she made and other factors that contributed to the result.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Max Peck »

Governments turn tables by suing public records requesters
An Oregon parent wanted details about school employees getting paid to stay home. A retired educator sought data about student performance in Louisiana. And college journalists in Kentucky requested documents about the investigations of employees accused of sexual misconduct.

Instead, they got something else: sued by the agencies they had asked for public records.

Government bodies are increasingly turning the tables on citizens who seek public records that might be embarrassing or legally sensitive. Instead of granting or denying their requests, a growing number of school districts, municipalities and state agencies have filed lawsuits against people making the requests - taxpayers, government watchdogs and journalists who must then pursue the records in court at their own expense.

The lawsuits generally ask judges to rule that the records being sought do not have to be divulged. They name the requesters as defendants but do not seek damage awards. Still, the recent trend has alarmed freedom-of-information advocates, who say it's becoming a new way for governments to hide information, delay disclosure and intimidate critics.

"This practice essentially says to a records requester, 'File a request at your peril,'" said University of Kansas journalism professor Jonathan Peters, who wrote about the issue for the Columbia Journalism Review in 2015, before several more cases were filed. "These lawsuits are an absurd practice and noxious to open government."

Government officials who have employed the tactic insist they are acting in good faith. They say it's best to have courts determine whether records should be released when legal obligations are unclear - for instance, when the documents may be shielded by an exemption or privacy laws.

At least two recent cases have succeeded in blocking information while many others have only delayed the release.
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