U.S. Politics

[Villaphan04]

 

[il_serpente]

19 minutes ago, Villaphan04 said:

 

Obviously an improvement over the recent past, but I doubt the symbolism will provide much comfort to the starving Yemenis.   I'm pissed at the few House Democrats who gave cover to Ryan and Trump.   For a party wanting to be a seen as a more caring and moral alternative to the Republicans, they sure shot themselves in the foot (or pulled back the curtain, or any of a number of other metaphors).

[peterms]

(Democrat)  Hey, its just a few score tbousand people dying of bombs, bullets and starvation.  Why should I be arsed to find out even the most basic facts before voting to let the slaughter continue?

Scum.

 

[il_serpente]

The Pentagon admitted this week that “errors in accounting” meant the Saudis and Emiratis have not been properly charged for that refueling assistance.

“It’s a fraud,” Murphy said Wednesday of the revelation. “The American taxpayers were told they weren’t going to foot the bill for this, and they have been. These are hundreds of billions of dollars we’re spending to refuel planes that are hitting school buses. That’s an abomination.”

As long as we're getting paid for refueling the planes that bomb school buses, it apparently doesn't rise to the level of "abomination."   Presumably falls somewhere between "noble accomplishment" and "bummer" on the scale of badness.

[villakram]

7 hours ago, TheAuthority said:

Wasn't sure where to put this (here or musicians thread) but after my show last night cast and musicians were treated to a party at the venue hosted by Johnathon Soros (George Soros's son.)

Of course there was much talk in the dressing room before hand about how the right have managed to make the Soros name a dog whistle for anti-semitism and a synonym for evil.

Well I can honestly report from first hand experience that he and his family did not have horns or tails, George was very articulate, humble, acted with great humility and is a true supporter of the arts.

Did you ask him how he made his money?

There are entire populations of countries who in aggregate had their standard of living reduced by the actions of this man. Neo-liberal parasite.

[villakram]

39 minutes ago, il_serpente said:

The Pentagon admitted this week that “errors in accounting” meant the Saudis and Emiratis have not been properly charged for that refueling assistance.

“It’s a fraud,” Murphy said Wednesday of the revelation. “The American taxpayers were told they weren’t going to foot the bill for this, and they have been. These are hundreds of billions of dollars we’re spending to refuel planes that are hitting school buses. That’s an abomination.”

As long as we're getting paid for refueling the planes that bomb school buses, it apparently doesn't rise to the level of "abomination."   Presumably falls somewhere between "noble accomplishment" and "bummer" on the scale of badness.

and the results of recent audits have something like $90k per US citizen unaccounted for in some manner or other. An organization of patriots of course...

[TheAuthority]

4 hours ago, villakram said:

Did you ask him how he made his money?

There are entire populations of countries who in aggregate had their standard of living reduced by the actions of this man. Neo-liberal parasite.

Johnathon Soros?

[sne]

2018...

Quote

With the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled to hear oral arguments on Monday in the Doe v. Trump legal challenge to the transgender military ban, Trump's Justice Department is expected to make arguments diminishing the humanity of transgender people and insulting their willingness to put their lives on the line to defend this nation.

Though the Trump administration has falsely called service by transgender people a matter of national urgency — even going so far as to attempt a leapfrog of normal legal process by asking the U.S. Supreme Court to step in prematurely — the only response from the court should be to affirm the equal dignity of transgender Americans and their right to full participation in American life, including the right to serve their country with honor. The proposed transgender military ban (endorsed by a commander-in-chief who did not serve when he had the opportunity) is a slap in the face to those transgender persons who have served, who are serving, or who want to serve.

The ban is further discredited by being counterproductive to the strength of our military forces. The military itself has recognized that arbitrarily barring qualified individuals from service harms its readiness and ability to recruit and retain talent. In a 2016 press briefing, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter noted, “[w]e have to have access to 100 percent of America’s population for our all-volunteer force to be able to recruit from among them the most highly qualified and to retain them.” At a time when the military struggles to meet recruiting goals, it is not only shameful but irrational to deny those who want to serve their country the opportunity to do so.

Besides which, the administration’s reasoning for the ban and claims about “unit cohesion” are stale and recycled, having been previously discredited time and again when used against people of color, women and gay men and lesbians.

Military service has — counter to arguments about the inability of service members to effectively work and fight alongside of all other Americans who have made the commitment to serve — played a critical role in breaking down stereotypes of marginalized groups and making the promise of equal citizenship real.

Time and again, individuals facing extreme prejudice in civilian life have, despite those prejudices, signed up to fight for their country. It occurred during the Civil War when black people sought to serve in the Union military, and again during World Wars I and II. Similarly, during World War II, thousands of Japanese Americans who had their loyalty questioned and their freedoms rescinded by internment nevertheless volunteered to serve (and later became one of the most decorated units in the war). Racial integration inside the military had reverberations outside it.

And from women in combat to the end of “don’t ask don’t tell,” honorable military service has also shown the ability to tear down broader barriers to equality for marginalized groups.

Though barriers to true equality remain, we have seen time and again how the service and sacrifice of marginalized groups expand their opportunities by demonstrating the falsity of stereotypes. As a result, a black man has been Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an openly gay man has led the Army and women have been our chief diplomats, attorneys general and a secretary of the Air Force. Individuals from marginalized groups today serve in the halls of Congress and governor mansions, in corporate boardrooms, and on the federal bench. Military service opened doors and minds in ways little else could.

When confronted with clear injustices, we as a nation have not always risen to the occasion. Too often, we have remained on the sidelines as we witnessed discrimination. We remained silent and permitted the enslavement of millions. We remained silent and permitted the displacement of Native Americans. We remained silent and permitted the mass deportation of Mexican Americans during the Great Depression and in the 1950s. We remained silent and permitted the incarceration of nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

Today, we have an opportunity to recognize the wrongs in front of us in the moment and to take a different course. I am moved by the outpouring of protests in response to policies like the transgender military ban, the rescinding of DACA and severe restrictions on who can seek asylum and refuge at our border. Whereas once some may have been too ready to believe that blatant discrimination against a minority was justified, or to know it is wrong but to acquiesce by remaining silent, we have come to realize that violating the core American value of equality causes lasting harm and undermines our country’s strength.

Frederick Douglass once said, in exhorting his fellow African Americans to enlist in the Union Army during the Civil War, that whoever “fights the battles of America may claim America as his country — and have that claim respected.” Transgender soldiers are already serving in the U.S. military, fighting the battles of America; their service and sacrifice establishes clearly their claim on America. Enabling discrimination against them calls into question our own commitment to the values we claim that America represents.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-transgender-ban-headed-court-along-dehumanizing-claims-he-ncna945486

[villakram]

10 hours ago, TheAuthority said:

Johnathon Soros?

George... I've no idea how his JS made his money.

[villakram]

5 hours ago, sne said:

2018...

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-transgender-ban-headed-court-along-dehumanizing-claims-he-ncna945486

"displacement" of Native Americans

NBC - Pot vs Kettle.

[TheAuthority]

5 minutes ago, villakram said:

George... I've no idea how his JS made his money.

So if you reread my post you'll see it was about Johnathon Soros.

[villakram]

5 minutes ago, TheAuthority said:

So if you reread my post you'll see it was about Johnathon Soros.

There's a George in the last sentence, typo I guess. If you reread it you'll see  Anyway, not knowing otherwise it's fair enough to assume Johnathon is a sound bloke even though his dad is an arse. Can't really do anything about that.

[Seat68]

Who would go to an invited party and ask the father of the host how they made their money? Thats just dickish. Regardless of if you agree with their politics or not.

[Keyblade]

From a member of Trump's 'EPA transition team', co-founder of BurnMoreCoal.com.

It's actually surreal how ridiculous this timeline is.

[maqroll]

 

[maqroll]

Watch the Fox News reporter try to insert a new bullshit narrative ^^^

[Straggler]

If you are not watching the Michael Flynn sentencing and enjoy a bit of theater, I'd get on it right now.  The judge has gone off on one, suggesting that Flynn committed treason.  He is walking those statements back a bit now, but Flynn has gone from confident to crapping himself, it's all a bit odd, but boy is it compelling.

 

[peterms]

Blind creature that buries head in sand named after Donald Trump

Quote

A newly discovered blind and burrowing amphibian is to be officially named Dermophis donaldtrumpi, in recognition of the US president’s climate change denial.

The name was chosen by the boss of EnviroBuild, a sustainable building materials company, who paid $25,000 (£19,800) at an auction for the right. The small legless creature was found in Panama and EnviroBuild’s Aidan Bell said its ability to bury its head in the ground matched Donald Trump’s approach to global warming...

 

[TheAuthority]

Insipid, hypocrite, white privileged failure Paul Ryan (the one who has been jacking off to Ann Ryand under the covers since he was 14) will make his farewell speech to Congress today.

Good riddance to this pathetic piece of slimy worm ridden filth who has made the lives of millions of hard working people much worse whilst enriching the wealthy and privileged.

Utter scumbag.

[villakram]

Trump has ordered the withdrawal of US occupation forces, potentially bringing an end to the invasion and destruction of Syria. Pentagon and empire types appear to have been caught off balance and all sorts of responses being prepared.

Potentially interesting or more politics of empire, next few days should be fun.