Political Randomness

For discussion of religion and politics

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Isgrimnur
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Isgrimnur »

WaPo
Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, the infamous drug lord known as “El Chapo,” was found guilty on all counts against him and now faces a lifetime in prison, ending a remarkable fall for a kingpin who spent years evading law enforcement officials while they say he continued amassing power and wealth atop a sprawling empire.

Guzmán gained worldwide notoriety for the reach of the Sinaloa Cartel, which prosecutors have called “the world’s largest and most prolific drug trafficking organization,” and for his own audacious escapes from Mexican prisons. He spent years on the run, assembling what U.S. authorities have described as a private army. Following his most recent prison escape in 2015, using a tunnel dug to his cell, he was hunted again, arrested again and then extradited to the United States, where he faced federal charges in multiple locations.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by hepcat »

And thus he cements his place in history as the subject of numerous t-shirts for teens and young adults with no clue as to the true horrors the man committed against his own people.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by $iljanus »

El Guapo wrote: Tue Feb 12, 2019 1:41 pm
LawBeefaroni wrote: Tue Feb 12, 2019 1:39 pm
El Guapo wrote: Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:59 pm
The Meal wrote: Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:55 pm This thread is 232 pages of things that should be in their own threads.
To be fair, it is a "randomness" thread.
That's the problem with "randomness" and catch-all threads.
I think of this thread as being a kind of AAA R&P. If a topic shows enough promise, it gets drafted up to the big leagues and gets its own thread.
Like that Schoolhouse Rock episode where that little bill finally becomes...a law!
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Defiant »

Well, that lasted all of a day....
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar will be a keynote speaker at an Islamic Relief USA emergency fundraising dinner for Yemen in Tampa, Florida, on February 23.

Omar will be speaking alongside a well-known Islamic Relief USA official, Yousef Abdallah, who has advocated for violence against Jews and has shared antisemitic sentiments on his social media pages.

The Middle East Forum’s Islamist Watch blog highlighted this address, and reported several instances in which Abdallah posted or shared stories of incitement. This includes his captioning and sharing a “very beautiful [folk] story” about “martyrs” who provide guns to “kill more than 20 Jews” and “fire rockets at Tel Aviv.”
In addition, the forum also found that he had referred to Jews as “stinking,” and had claimed that “the Jews set the outside wall of al-Aqsa [mosque in Jerusalem] on fire.”
link

But I guess there's a chance she could back out or take the opportunity to criticize him at the event or something....
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by LordMortis »

Again didn't know who Yousef Abdallah is but he seems to have had a facebook page that was pretty openly antisemitic that has since gone away.

Yeah, not a good look for Omar.

I also keep reading that Trump is calling for her to resign over her offenses. Oh, pot. If only it were that simple, we'd have a different president right now.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by hitbyambulance »

this will be funny to any WA state resident here:

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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Enough »

Holy... Crap... A newspaper in Alabama has published an editorial calling for the Klu Klux Klan to rise again and return to night rides and lynchings.
“Time for the Ku Klux Klan to night ride again,” began a Feb. 14 editorial in the paper, which went on to claim that Democrats, along with some Republicans, were planning to raise taxes in Alabama. It concluded, “Seems like the Klan would be welcome to raid the gated communities up there.”

Sutton, who is also the paper’s publisher, could not immediately be reached for comment. He told the Montgomery Advertiser on Monday that he had written the editorial, which ran without a byline, and stood by it.

“If we could get the Klan to go up there and clean out D.C., we’d all been better off,” he told the paper, explaining, “We’ll get the hemp ropes out, loop them over a tall limb and hang all of them.”
During the same conversation, Sutton argued that the KKK “didn’t kill but a few people” and “wasn’t violent until they needed to be,” the Advertiser reported on Monday. He further suggested the Klan, a white supremacist hate group, was comparable to the NAACP. Sutton also added that people could call him, write him a letter or boycott the paper if they disagreed with his views.

When the Advertiser’s Melissa Brown asked him whether it was appropriate for a newspaper publisher to suggest that Americans should be lynched, Sutton replied, “It’s not calling for the lynchings of Americans. These are socialist-communists we’re talking about. Do you know what socialism and communism is?”
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by LawBeefaroni »

And thus begins another career at Breitbart.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Smoove_B »

We originally discussed this in the pictures/videos thread, but I don't think the update belongs there:
A high school student from Covington, Kentucky, sued the Washington Post for defamation on Tuesday, claiming the newspaper falsely accused him of racist acts and instigating a confrontation with a Native American activist in a January videotaped incident at the Lincoln Memorial.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Kentucky by Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann, 16, seeks $250 million in damages, the amount that Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com and the world’s richest person, paid for the Post in 2013.

The lawsuit claims that the newspaper “wrongfully targeted and bullied” the teen to advance its bias against President Donald Trump because Sandmann is a white Catholic who wore a Make America Great Again souvenir cap on a school field trip to the March for Life anti-abortion rally in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 18.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by GreenGoo »

Good luck with that. Unless he's bringing the lawsuit in UK I guess.

On the plus side, I'm 100% sure this was the kid's idea and that no one is using him for their own agenda(s).

I'm actually somewhat sympathetic to the ideas behind the lawsuit, I just don't think it's enough for a successful lawsuit, or that I think it should be. I base that on my extensive 1st amendment lawyering.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Smoove_B »


“The Washington Post ignored basic journalistic standards because it wanted to advance its well-known and easily documented biased agenda against President Donald J. Trump.” Covington student suing WAPO. Go get them Nick. Fake News!
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Vorret »

The lawsuit claims that the newspaper “wrongfully targeted and bullied” the teen to advance its bias against President Donald Trump because Sandmann is a white Catholic who wore a Make America Great Again souvenir cap on a school field trip to the March for Life anti-abortion rally in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 18.
What the fuck is this
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by LawBeefaroni »

If it goes anywhere, it will be fun to see what comes out in discovery. Not that it will go anywhere.

Very ill advised suit IMO. Either someone is using this kid to get paid or to advance some narrative.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Isgrimnur »

It's almost as if people are the problem.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Max Peck »

It's such a weird coincidence that the lawsuit is seeking damages exactly equal to the amount that Bezo paid to purchase the WaPo. :coffee:
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by LawBeefaroni »

Ah, ok. So it's a political statement wrapped in a lawsuit. A classic move.
Max Peck wrote: Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:05 pm It's such a weird coincidence that the lawsuit is seeking damages exactly equal to the amount that Bezo paid to purchase the WaPo. :coffee:
See above. They're making a statement and the dollar amount is like their exclamation point.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by pr0ner »

According to this article, AOC, her partner/boyfriend/spouse, and her chief of staff are up to some shady stuff.

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Re: Political Randomness

Post by GreenGoo »

I like her, but I'm not enthralled by her. I'll happily support a proportional response if details warrant it. Seems like a dumbass rookie move.

...huh. so maybe she did do it.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Holman »

Coast Guard officer arrested as domestic terrorist. Possessed cache of weapons and list of targets including prominent Democrats and media figures.

Thread:

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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Pyperkub »

Holman wrote: Wed Feb 20, 2019 7:01 pm Coast Guard officer arrested as domestic terrorist. Possessed cache of weapons and list of targets including prominent Democrats and media figures.

Thread:

One of the few times it appears as if the FBI arrested a real (potential) terrorist before an attack, as compared to the usual providing a loser with everything they'd need and egging them on.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by geezer »

GreenGoo wrote: Wed Feb 20, 2019 6:03 pm I like her, but I'm not enthralled by her. I'll happily support a proportional response if details warrant it. Seems like a dumbass rookie move.

...huh. so maybe she did do it.
I’m indifferent to her, and that article is terribly convoluted. Two things do stand out though:

1) I’m not sure why the author thinks it’s weird that a spouse/partner/LTR couple would have or want access to each others work calendars; and

2) The compensation Riley received for digital marketing consulting is wholly appropriate and not at all beyond market rate.

The rest? Eh.. it seems like your average campaign funding shenanigans to me, most of which seem to be both meant to route/hide/finesse laws AND ultimately legal or just sort of ticky-tack bad as a practical matter.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Smoove_B »

Colorado set to ban abstinence only education in schools:
Last year, when Clark Wilson was in eighth grade, his sex education teacher repeatedly rolled a piece of tape on a table until it lost its stickiness, using words like “tainted” and “impure” to describe those who engage in premarital sex.

The lesson: “People are like tape and once they have sex they’re dirty and can’t have meaningful relationships,” said Clark, now 15 and a freshman at a Colorado high school in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch.

While sex education classes are not mandatory in Colorado, proposed legislation that is widely expected to pass would bar the state’s public and charter schools from abstinence-only education.
...
The comprehensive sex education bill, which passed the House this week and is headed to the Senate, would make Colorado the ninth state in the nation to require that consent be taught. Washington, D.C., also teaches consent.

Colorado, with its increasingly liberal cities but strong conservative footholds, is a microcosm of the larger national debate over sex ed. Across the country, 37 states require abstinence be covered or stressed, while only 13 require sex education to be medically accurate, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which studies reproductive health. In seven states, laws prohibit educators from portraying same-sex relationships positively.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Vorret »

Abstinence teaching is proven to be the worst possible method it increases the amount of teen pregnancy by a ridiculous amount.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by coopasonic »

Why would we want actual education in our schools? Sex bad! That's how I got you kids after all!

On a related note I have no idea what kind of sex ed my kids are getting. Texas is red, but where I live is relatively progressive.
Last edited by coopasonic on Fri Feb 22, 2019 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by LawBeefaroni »

Holman wrote: Wed Feb 20, 2019 7:01 pm Coast Guard officer arrested as domestic terrorist. Possessed cache of weapons and list of targets including prominent Democrats and media figures.

Thread:

Good job by the Feds.


One thing that bothers me about the announcement and reporting is that this guy had a "cache of weapons" and over "1,000 rounds of ammunition". What he had was a not an uncommon collection of firearms and not much ammo.

It's a problem for 2 reasons. 1, that we are being conditioned to think that someone isn't a threat if they have 1 or 2 guns and 50 rounds of ammo. It doesn't matter what kind of arsenal they have. It they are radicalized and intent on killing they are a threat. One standard capacity Glock could kill 15 senators. A guy with 10 shotguns, 10 rifles, and 10 handguns can still only shoot one target at a time.

2, we are being conditioned to think that someone with a bunch of guns and/or >1,000 rounds of ammo is a crazy threat to society. This not the case. It's not uncommon to buy 1000 rounds at a time to save on shipping or mileage. Going through 200 rounds in an hour of range time is common. It's like assuming that someone with a full tank of gas intends to flee to the border.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by GreenGoo »

Complaints about sensationalism in journalism are valid.

That doesn't mean they make shit up as a whole or mean they are the enemy of the people.

I added the last bit for anyone watching at home that thinks I've supported the president's narrative.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Smoove_B »

Happy Friday everyone. Is it too early for polls?

"About 33 percent of registered Kentucky voters polled approve of the job McConnell is doing, while 56 percent disapprove and 11 percent are unsure. Additionally, 32 percent think McConnell “deserves to be reelected,” and 61 percent think it’s “time for someone new.”
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Holman »

Don't get your hopes up.

KY went 63% for Trump in 2016, and the Blue Wave of 2018 was much less dramatic there than elsewhere.

The state is basically Democratic Louisville and Lexington surrounded by a sea of Red. If they're tired of McConnell, it might even be because they want someone to his right. If he survives the primary, they'll re-elect him.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by YellowKing »

Remember that stupid voter ID law that NCers stupidly passed in the last election?

An NC judge has struck it down after siding with the NAACP that it was only on the ballot due to gerrymandered districting.

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Re: Political Randomness

Post by El Guapo »

Holman wrote: Fri Feb 22, 2019 8:14 pm If they're tired of McConnell, it might even be because they want someone to his right. If he survives the primary, they'll re-elect him.
Pretty much this. Plus I imagine some portion of them are annoyed with McConnell over one thing or another but will 100% vote for him when it comes down to him vs. some godless democrat.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by gilraen »

Holman wrote: Fri Feb 22, 2019 8:14 pm If they're tired of McConnell, it might even be because they want someone to his right.
That's actually a preferable scenario to him being re-elected - depending on how bad the new candidate would be, it may drive some votes the Dems' way (a-la Roy Moore). Or even if not, it still gets McConnell and his decades of power and influence out of Washington.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by pr0ner »

In an update on the Virginia drama, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax compared himself to lynching victims in a strange speech on the Senate floor today.
“I’ve heard much about anti-lynching on the floor of this very Senate, where people were not given any due process whatsoever, and we rue that,” Fairfax said, referencing legislation the General Assembly passed expressing “profound regret” for lynchings in Virginia between 1877 and 1950.

“And we talk about hundreds, at least 100 terror lynchings that have happened in the Commonwealth of Virginia under those very same auspices. And yet we stand here in a rush to judgment with nothing but accusations and no facts and we decide that we are willing to do the same thing,” Fairfax said.

When he finished his five-minute impromptu speech, stunned senators sat in awkward silence.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Defiant »

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Re: Political Randomness

Post by LordMortis »

Defiant wrote: Mon Feb 25, 2019 3:00 pm
That's been my position for a long time. That and label the confederate battle flag as a symbol of treason and call for its shaming.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by LordMortis »

With all the music Trump has used at rallies without permission only to be given cease and desist orders, why hasn't he just used "Mother" by Pink Floyd? I'm willing to be Roger Waters/Pink Floyd would be happy to let him use that song. Someone has to put it out there for him. Just play two line for him "Mother should I run for president" and "mother should a build a wall" and get him to initial it and be done, right?

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Re: Political Randomness

Post by AWS260 »

In local election news, today is a very weird special election in NYC.

Weird because it's for Public Advocate, an odd position that is essentially the city's ombudsman, advocating on behalf of residents who are ill-served by the city government. It can be a useful platform to counterbalance the mayor, but when the mayor and public advocate are allied, it's sort of useless. Strangely, the public advocate is first in the line of succession if the mayor dies or is incapacitated.

Weird because there were no primaries, so everyone and their grandmother are running. There are 18 candidates on the ballot, of whom 17 are actively campaigning.

Weird because it's a non-partisan election, so each of the candidates was forced to invent a party name. Made-up political parties on today's ballot include: Fix the MTA, No Amazon (already out-of-date), Friends of Helal (the candidate's name is Helal), Stop REBNY (that's the Real Estate Board of NY), and Pay Folks More.

I voted for a friend of my wife who is a serious policy nerd. There's no way that he'll win.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by stessier »

AWS260 wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:36 am I voted for a friend of my wife who is a serious policy nerd. There's no way that he'll win.
You can't stop there! What was the name of his party??
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by Jaymann »

What was his made up party name, Policy over Polizei?
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by AWS260 »

stessier wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:43 am You can't stop there! What was the name of his party??
"Community Strong." They can't all be winners.
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Re: Political Randomness

Post by stessier »

AWS260 wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:51 am
stessier wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:43 am You can't stop there! What was the name of his party??
"Community Strong." They can't all be winners.
Oh yeah - no chance.

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