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#3201 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,211
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None of this "looking foolish" stuff matters. The GOP Senate knows all this and they don't care, it's a simple political calculation. Trump may be a corrupt, malevolent weasel, but he is still more popular than the GOP Senate overall, and vastly more popular amongst Republicans.
Right now, if a GOP Senator wants to stay in office, their only possible move is to prostrate themselves before Trump, climb on to his rickety bandwagon, then put their hands together and pray to God that Trump doesn't drive the whole lot of them off a cliff before November. There really is not other politically viable path for them. So they will swear up and down that water is dry, the Sun is cold, and Trump is the most innocent, masculine, sanest man in the world, even though they know it is a lie. |
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"...Am I actually watching Big Bird argue with the Egyptian God of the Dead? Is PBS sending some kind of weird religious message here?" |
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#3202 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 30,993
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I don't trust atoms. They make up everything. |
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#3203 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 30,993
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I don't trust atoms. They make up everything. |
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#3204 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 30,993
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I don't trust atoms. They make up everything. |
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#3205 |
![]() Join Date: May 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 32,355
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"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." -- Sherlock Holmes. "It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." -- Mark Twain, maybe. |
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#3206 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 24,807
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#3207 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 31,690
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But it could help sway more independents to be against Trump.
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1. He'd never do that. 2. Okay but he's not currently doing it. 3. Okay but he's not currently technically doing it. 4. Okay but everyone does it. 5. He's doing it, we can't stop him, no point in complaining about it. 6. We all knew he was going to do it which... makes it okay somehow. 7. It's perfectly fine that's he's doing it. |
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#3208 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 24,807
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Was there anything very important in the article? NYT has a paywall.
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#3209 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Mounts Farm
Posts: 6,078
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"Well, a statement like that is all the better for proof, but go on, anyway." - Salvor Hardin |
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#3210 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85,857
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#3211 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 24,807
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I can't see why it ought to have an effect on Trump supporters or Trump opponents.
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#3212 |
![]() Join Date: May 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 32,355
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__________________
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." -- Sherlock Holmes. "It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." -- Mark Twain, maybe. |
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#3213 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada, eh?
Posts: 16,869
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Does anyone have any context here?
I do think Moscow Mitch is incredibly corrupt. But, I'm wondering just how common these complaints are (like for example, did groups on the political right submit official complaints over Democrats). And what is the ultimate effect? Do formal inquiries result? Or is the complaint the end of the story? |
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Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I'm Mary Poppin's Y'all! - Yondu We are Groot - Groot |
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#3214 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85,857
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#3215 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85,857
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#3216 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 48,606
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Probably not going to have an effect on them, either.
People in the middle fall into a few broad categories: - Those who already decided he was an ass in 2016 and voted for him anyway. - Those who already decided he was an ass in 2016 and thus didn't vote for him. - Those who aren't paying attention or don't care if he's an ass, and voted however they were going to vote anyway. I don't think this particular revelation is going to move the needle much one way or the other, for any of those groups. I think if killing Soleimani had sparked a major escalation of the war with Iran, that might have made some people in the middle reevaluate their electoral priorities. But this kind of trickle, more of the same shenanigans they've already accounted for? I doubt it's going to make a difference in November. But hope springs eternal! This may yet be The One Thing. |
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#3217 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 31,690
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All of these things that aren't having an effect yet the GOP keeps shrinking over time as they keep happening........
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1. He'd never do that. 2. Okay but he's not currently doing it. 3. Okay but he's not currently technically doing it. 4. Okay but everyone does it. 5. He's doing it, we can't stop him, no point in complaining about it. 6. We all knew he was going to do it which... makes it okay somehow. 7. It's perfectly fine that's he's doing it. |
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#3218 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 24,807
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???
Well, at any rate, I don't see any significance to the story at all, except maybe to cyber security specialists. I suppose it serves as a reminder that Russia is up to no good, but surely most people already knew that. |
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#3219 |
![]() Join Date: May 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 32,355
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__________________
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." -- Sherlock Holmes. "It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." -- Mark Twain, maybe. |
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#3220 |
Self Employed
Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,948
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So apparently the Senate is going to get Articles of Impeachment from the House tomorrow and McConnell has said the trial is expected to start next Tuesday. There is still a small but vocal call to immediately dismiss the charges and other people saying the trial is expected to last "well beyond the State of the Union Address" in early February.
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Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate." |
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#3221 |
Orthogonal Vector
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 50,155
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Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no *poofing* in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin |
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#3222 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 24,807
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Ok. I figured out the significance of the story. Or should I say "significance"?
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#3223 |
Great minds think...
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 8,388
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Depends on your definition of significance. It certainly goes to support the case that Trump and Russia have no issues scratching each others backs. The more times things end with Russia for Trump it goes back to a central theme. You're right in that it might not do much now, but I have a feeling when the nominees are settled this type of stuff will get pounded hard to the electorate.
I would be shocked if, given Biden's latest commercial, whichever Dem takes the ticket isn't going to run Trump's Russia ties perpetually, obnoxiously even. I don't know if it will work, but if I were Trump I wouldn't be looking forward to the future. |
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"Circumcision and death threats go together like milk and cookies." - William Parcher “There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.” - Patrick Rothfuss |
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#3224 |
![]() Join Date: May 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 32,355
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__________________
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." -- Sherlock Holmes. "It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." -- Mark Twain, maybe. |
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#3225 |
Great minds think...
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 8,388
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"Circumcision and death threats go together like milk and cookies." - William Parcher “There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.” - Patrick Rothfuss |
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#3226 |
Self Employed
Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,948
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There is one tiny shred of hope I have, although I hardly consider it a likely outcome it does have a toe in the lukewarm waters of "at least possible."
This might be first time that the old school Republicans who I still think are varying degrees of untrusting of Trump will have any sort of real leverage over him of this kind. If they think they can sell some sort of "Trump? Or we were against him the entire time we just played along because of... *mumble/reasons/mumble*" narrative we might, might see actual meaningful opposition against him. Again not likely, but there is a sliver of possibility. |
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Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate." |
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#3227 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 24,612
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Once they get to the one-on-ones in the R vs. D debates, the gloves will be off. Back in 2016 there was still a curtain of ostensible respect and restraint that prevented going all-out. At that time even the news rarely if ever used the "L" word ("Liar"). Now it's nearly a daily occurence.
I'd like to see the Democratic nominee just list The PDJT's offenses in a segment. (It may take more...) But of course, that won't make a difference to his hardcore supporters. (I so hate that word "base".) |
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Science is self-correcting. Woo is self-contradicting. |
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#3228 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada, eh?
Posts: 16,869
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I think the proper term for this is Flake Phenomenon. (After Jeff Flake, the
republican senator who demanded an FBI investigation into "Drunky McRapeface" during his confirmation, and after an investigation where the FBI was not allowed to actually, you know, investigate, ended up voting to confirm anyways.) |
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Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I'm Mary Poppin's Y'all! - Yondu We are Groot - Groot |
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#3229 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada, eh?
Posts: 16,869
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If I were in charge of the Democratic party's advertising (or ran a Superpac) I would put an add with the Russian national anthem, interspersed by any news clips you can find of Trump praising Putin or Russia. No other dialog, just Trump's own words. Really push the connection, and in a way that can't be mistaken for "Oh, these are just made up stories by the Democrats".
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Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I'm Mary Poppin's Y'all! - Yondu We are Groot - Groot |
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#3230 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85,857
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#3231 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85,857
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#3232 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85,857
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#3233 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85,857
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#3234 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada, eh?
Posts: 16,869
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You also have Susan Collins, who once had a reputation for being a 'moderate' but who's reputation has been tarnished since she had Drunky McRapeface confirmed for the supreme court.
She may want to side with the Democrats on this as a way to try to re-build her image. |
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Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I'm Mary Poppin's Y'all! - Yondu We are Groot - Groot |
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#3235 |
Great minds think...
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 8,388
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Wow, the Lev releases are scary. They were apparently stalking Marie. This is scary stuff, on my phone so I don't have a link at the moment.
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__________________
"Circumcision and death threats go together like milk and cookies." - William Parcher “There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.” - Patrick Rothfuss |
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#3236 |
Nasty Woman
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85,857
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https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/13/polit...nts/index.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/13/giul...peachment.html http://www.startribune.com/democrats...ial/566986772/ This is going to turn out like the Russian interference, Trump throws all his flunkies under the bus and pretends he had nothing to do with anything. |
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#3237 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 24,807
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I want to amplify on what I said earlier, about the revelations about Russian Burisma hacking is insignificant. As played out here, it took me a while to even figure out why anyone thought they might be significant.
They hack everyone they can. That's what they do. Any information is good information. It's not like they were doing this at the behest of Donald Trump. (Or if they were, no one has been caught yet, and they've surely tried.) So, why do they do it? I can't be certain, because I haven't been invited to the secret Kremlin meetings. It's too bad. I hear from very reliable sources that they provide some awesome hookers that will do anything at all. That comes from unimpeachable sources, but I digress. Here's why I think the Russians like Donald Trump and do things to help him. They like him, because you hate him. They aren't allies with Donald Trump. They just know that he is such a divisive character that with him in power, the country will be deeply divided. The Russians want that. On a related note, they probably like the fact that the presence of such a buffoon in the White House will only hurt America's standing in the world. When they did their disinformation fake news social media blitz of 2016 I wonder if they even thought he would be elected, or if they just wanted to stir up division and animosity toward President Hillary Clinton. Was the idea that he could actually win something that was even in their vision, or were they as surprised as the rest of us? I don't know. So, the fact that they are willing to dish dirt on Trump opponents probably means that they think having Trump in the White House is a good thing, for Russia. I suppose that's marginally significant, as long as people don't overplay it. Oops......too late. Maybe there's something in those new documents. At the very least, Giulliani and his friends were really creepy. Maybe there's some there there, this time. |
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#3238 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Gundungurra
Posts: 8,466
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You could have reduced that to one hyphenated word: ****-stirring.
And I agree. Russia want the USA and the West to be unstable. It makes Russia look a lot better globally when they all play Keystone Kops together with an orange buffoon leading them. So any disruption is good disruption. They just struck gold with a million shooting stars when their jerk-Hillary-around game made Trump the winner. He's a perfect national saboteur. |
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...our governments are just trying to protect us from terror. In the same way that someone banging a hornets’ nest with a stick is trying to protect us from hornets. Frankie Boyle, Guardian, July 2015 |
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#3239 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: United States
Posts: 17,451
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#3240 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: United States
Posts: 17,451
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