[ned1212]

Generally, I like insults like this one about the IQ of Trump supporters in Texas. Because the election becomes the elites and the establishment of both parties against the "country hicks" of both parties, or none, or who have never voted.   

Meanwhile, everyone is going "What the hell just happened?" because no one seriously expected the referendum to go the way it did.

Seriously stupid people. All of them. Every vote counts. Every vote matters.

I think what is really fueling my anger at the Brits is fear of that nonsense being replicated in the States. (Although I think the collective IQ of the US would rise by 100 points if a Texit happened.)

[rtpoe]

The cover story in the July / August issue of The Atlantic is worth a read.

"How American Politics Went Insane" by Jonathan Rauch

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/07/how-american-politics-went-insane/485570/

"Chaos syndrome is a chronic decline in the political system’s capacity for self-organization. It begins with the weakening of the institutions and brokers—political parties, career politicians, and congressional leaders and committees—that have historically held politicians accountable to one another and prevented everyone in the system from pursuing naked self-interest all the time. As these intermediaries’ influence fades, politicians, activists, and voters all become more individualistic and unaccountable. The system atomizes. Chaos becomes the new normal—both in campaigns and in the government itself.

"Our intricate, informal system of political intermediation, which took many decades to build, did not commit suicide or die of old age; we reformed it to death. For decades, well-meaning political reformers have attacked intermediaries as corrupt, undemocratic, unnecessary, or (usually) all of the above. Americans have been busy demonizing and disempowering political professionals and parties, which is like spending decades abusing and attacking your own immune system. Eventually, you will get sick.

Essentially, we've taken all the things that kept politics sane and stable- the party machinery, the political hacks, the power brokers - have all been shoved aside. The lunatic fringe has been allowed to take over.

The Republican presidential nominee is someone who has never really been, in any real sense, a Republican. Trump's been registered as a Republican, Democrat, and independent. He's donated to both parties, and shows loyalty to neither. On the Democrat side, Sanders became a Democrat only in an effort to get the party's nomination. He registered as one a mere three months before the New Hampshire primary.

It's a long read, but very worthwhile.

[ned1212]

I really don't get the one thing that you say "it all comes down to."  Consider: 

1) Trump has five decades of acting rational in business dealings, and getting along with people all over the world, including China and Russia. By now you would have heard stories of Trump being a loose cannon in his business dealings if such a thing had happened. We are hearing no stories of that nature. And people don’t suddenly change character at age 70.   
2)How risky is Trump? Consider that Trump has never had an alcoholic beverage. He was against the Iraq war. He doesn’t want boots on the ground in Syria. He wants a strong military to discourage war. Trump personally gains nothing from war, but he has a lot to lose, including every building with his name on it.   
3) The usual worry about someone having the codes is Russia.  But Putin already seems to like Trump.  And it wouldn’t hurt to be on good terms with Russia while we go after ISIS. Trump seems to have that relationship covered. 

4)The other big traditional nuclear power and "enemy" against whom it is said we might use "codes" is China. Trump has been negotiating with the Chinese for years, with no problems yet. And the Chinese leaders are not children. They got their positions by being great deal-makers, like Trump. They might not want to negotiate against Trump, but they aren’t afraid of his personality type. Trump often tells us that his first bid in any negotiation is super-aggressive. China knows it too. They are not naive. They can tell the difference between a negotiator and a madman. 

On balance, Hillary is much more dangerous with the codes, isn't she?

For all of Hillary's faults and lord knows she has a few for me it comes down to the big question.. Donald Trump with the Nuclear Codes !  The very thought of this guy with those codes scares the shit out of me!

[rtpoe]

Well, FBI Director James Comey has concluded his investigation and said:

"As a result, although the Department of Justice makes final decisions on matters like this, we are expressing to Justice our view that no charges are appropriate in this case."

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system

(emphasis mine - and by the way, read his entire statement)

The Clinton Haters are already screaming "FIX!!!", partly because Bill Clinton happened to be in the Phoenix airport at the same time as AG Loretta Lynch, and they decided to have a little chat to catch up on things. Rather than block the airport, take over a restaurant, or something else that would have inconvenienced the general public unnecessarily, they went off in private. Oh noes! Bill strong armed her and influenced the investigation!!!! Yeah, like Lynch isn't professional enough to know her job, and the investigation wasn't essentially over already except for the proofreading of the report.... Sheesh.

The Clinton Fans shouldn't jump for joy, however. He did point out just how unbelievably sloppy and careless Clinton's State Department was.....

And note that Comey did NOT declare her "innocent", "not guilty", or even exonerated her from any wrongdoing. It seems that there just wasn't enough to justify any further action. There's a thing called "prosecutorial discretion", which gives prosecutors great powers in, among other things, deciding which cases to pursue to a conclusion. There are far more cases than we have the resources to prosecute (even the Federal Gov't does not have infinite resources), so prosecutors can choose which ones are worth spending time, money, and effort on. Comey and his investigators clearly decided that they couldn't guarantee a conviction, even with all the resources they could bring to bear, so they are recommending no further action.

If you think this is a good enough reason to vote AGAINST Clinton in November, that is your right. But don't whine (or cheer) that she's getting "off the hook".

[ned1212]

39 minutes of talking about his two grandchildren and golf?  Have you seen Lynch's ankles? She doesnt play much golf.  If you think that was a coincidental meeting, you are either gullible or engaging in extreme wishful thinking.  What are the chances of something like that happening in a country of 300 million people!  (  About 1 in 2 trillion I'm told. ) 

Well, FBI Director James Comey has concluded his investigation and said:

"As a result, although the Department of Justice makes final decisions on matters like this, we are expressing to Justice our view that no charges are appropriate in this case."

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system

(emphasis mine - and by the way, read his entire statement)

The Clinton Haters are already screaming "FIX!!!", partly because Bill Clinton happened to be in the Phoenix airport at the same time as AG Loretta Lynch, and they decided to have a little chat to catch up on things. Rather than block the airport, take over a restaurant, or something else that would have inconvenienced the general public unnecessarily, they went off in private. Oh noes! Bill strong armed her and influenced the investigation!!!! Yeah, like Lynch isn't professional enough to know her job, and the investigation wasn't essentially over already except for the proofreading of the report.... Sheesh.

The Clinton Fans shouldn't jump for joy, however. He did point out just how unbelievably sloppy and careless Clinton's State Department was.....

And note that Comey did NOT declare her "innocent", "not guilty", or even exonerated her from any wrongdoing. It seems that there just wasn't enough to justify any further action. There's a thing called "prosecutorial discretion", which gives prosecutors great powers in, among other things, deciding which cases to pursue to a conclusion. There are far more cases than we have the resources to prosecute (even the Federal Gov't does not have infinite resources), so prosecutors can choose which ones are worth spending time, money, and effort on. Comey and his investigators clearly decided that they couldn't guarantee a conviction, even with all the resources they could bring to bear, so they are recommending no further action.

If you think this is a good enough reason to vote AGAINST Clinton in November, that is your right. But don't whine (or cheer) that she's getting "off the hook".

[TheZookie007]

You can tell how much or how little someone plays golf by looking at their ankles?

That's quite the superpower you have there.

[StrikezOne]

The Clinton Haters are already screaming "FIX!!!", partly because Bill Clinton happened to be in the Phoenix airport at the same time as AG Loretta Lynch, and they decided to have a little chat to catch up on things.

You truly believe all they talked about was golf and their grand kids? To say they had a "little chat" is really letting them off the hook and being extremely gullible.

Rather than block the airport, take over a restaurant, or something else that would have inconvenienced the general public unnecessarily, they went off in private. Oh noes! Bill strong armed her and influenced the investigation!!!! Yeah, like Lynch isn't professional enough to know her job, and the investigation wasn't essentially over already except for the proofreading of the report.... Sheesh.

No, she is not professional enough because to even hold this meeting was unprofessional. Some would argue it is against the law. And when someone says something like "sheesh," I mean, did you use that to express that people are too hard on Hillary, bill and Lynch?? Is it a stretch to be asking questions and wondering how all these events happend so coincidently? Sheesh? Do you ever say "sheesh" when the MSM criticizes something ridiculous about what trump said? Did you say "sheesh" when Hillary's camp called him an anti semite or was that fairly warranted? Seems to me, just as you pointed out about what you think about Trump supporters (which I don't really consider myself one) thatHillary supporters are also star struck and never question her leadership.

If you think this is a good enough reason to vote AGAINST Clinton in November, that is your right. But don't whine (or cheer) that she's getting "off the hook".

Don't whine or cheer? Really man?
This isn't about Democrats vs Republicans. This isn't about Trump. This isn't about the election. This is about the fact that the United States is no longer the damn democratic republic its suppose to be. Hillary Clinton is above the law and this proves it.

Comey said, "it's a [federal] felony to mishandle classified information either intentionally or in a grossly negligent way...."
"...There is evidence they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information."

Webster's definition of negligent: " failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances" [i.e. careless]

Did she have intent, did she not, was there gross negligence.... They are rewriting the law for this criminal. What is the difference between Hillary and what Edward Snowden did? Julian Asange? Chelsea Manning? What if I didn't pay my taxes but it was not my intent to not pay them? Would I get a goddamn pass?

You want to talk about INTENT, let's have a look!
Here you can see Peter Paul had someone next to him casually/covertly filming his conversation with Hillary.
Keep in mind, Hillary's comments are about investigations she had ALREADY been through in the past 10 years, and she said this SIXTEEN YEARS AGO in 2000.

"As much as I’ve been investigated and all of that, you know, why would I —- I don’t even want -— why would I ever want to do e-mail?" Can you imagine THAT???

FBI Comey has already stated that Hillary and staff have shown "a flagrant and negligent mishandeling of classified documents", but Comey went on to say that there was no criminal INTENT.

Well, you just saw her INTENT as of the year 2000. Did she ever follow the law, or was it corruption the whole time?? If you want to argue and say, "well she didn't break any law. I love Hillary no matter what, as long as she sticks it to the conservatives!" .. Still, she should be PROHIBITED by law to hold ANY office:

18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or **13** generally

Current through Pub. L. 114-38. (See Public Laws for the current Congress.)

(a) Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to do so, or, with intent to do so takes and carries away any record, proceeding, map, book, paper, document, or other thing, filed or deposited with any clerk or officer of any court of the United States, or in any public office, or with any judicial or public officer of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

(b) Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States. As used in this subsection, the term “office” does not include the office held by any person as a retired officer of the Armed Forces of the United States.

....oh right, but her intent.

EDIT: if that wasn't enough, Hillary actually said if she becomes POTUS, she would like to keep Loretta Lynch as Attorney General! So in other words, Hillary is saying, "if Lynch doesn't throw me in jail, she can keep being Attorney General." Isn't that bribery?? I mean, you can't make this shit up. You have to be the biggest fool if on a scale of 1-10 of being suspicious of all this, if you're not even on a 5.

What is even more coincidental, apart from that Obama campaign set 2 hours after that disgraceful announcement by the FBI director, is that now all the attention is turned away from Hillary. It's back to your regularly scheduled race war and gun control.

[Ninjaturtle]

I feel like that last bit deserves one of these. As for the rest I'm at about a 6/10 on the skeptical skale

[StrikezOne]

I feel like that last bit deserves one of these. As for the rest I'm at about a 6/10 on the skeptical skale

I guess I'd rather wear one of those then have my head up Hillary's ass. That tin foil hat bullshit is so original. There's no hope for you. Grow up.

If you must, criticize the post, not the poster.
–moderator

[rtpoe]

It's a shame you don't want to have your head up Hillary's ass. There's a really great party going on in here! Goldman Sachs is providing the booze, and it's all top shelf! Oh well - more for us, then! 

Well, we've been provided a distraction by a couple of cop killings, and then a couple of cop killings.

I've not paid attention to the first ones, so I cannot comment in any sensible way. And I don't think I can add any useful insights on the latter.

But one thing did strike me today. One of the less pleasant jobs of the President is to give condolences and comforting words after a tragedy. I can imagine Clinton doing so.... but Trump??

[TheZookie007]

So after successfully fucking over the next generation of Brits, the three stooges of UK politics -- David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Nigel Lafarge -- are out, and Theresa May is expected to become the second woman in British history to become Prime Minister.

Oh, and while he lied and deceived a low-information and gullible electorate into voting against their own best interests to Brexit from the EU, Mr. Lafarge is retaining his seat in the European Parliament. What a wanker.

[TheZookie007]

Late Night with Seth Meyers: "Politicians Respond to Police Shootings: A Closer Look"

[Ninjaturtle]

So after successfully fucking over the next generation of Brits, the three stooges of UK politics -- David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Nigel Lafarge -- are out, and Theresa May is expected to become the second woman in British history to become Prime Minister.

Oh, and while he lied and deceived a low-information and gullible electorate into voting against their own best interests to Brexit from the EU, Mr. Lafarge is retaining his seat in the European Parliament. What a wanker.

Lafarge is a complete toolbag. He's absolutely fucked over the UK.

[rtpoe]

The GOP convention starts next week. They've published the rules and regulations covering the "event zone".

http://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2842638/RNC-Official-Event-Zone-Permit-Regulations.pdf

Now, without checking Section III of the above-linked document, can you tell which of these items is NOT prohibited in the Public Access Areas of the Event Zone?

[TheZookie007]

Esquire: "This Isn't Funny Anymore. American Democracy Is at Stake.", by Charles P. Pierce
Anyone who supports Donald Trump is a traitor to the American idea.

...On Wednesday, in several venues, He, Trump accused "some people"—he never said who they were, nor will he, ever—of calling for a moment of silence for Micah Johnson, the mass murderer of police in Dallas, Texas. We have had some experience with this. Back when he was still considered something of a sideshow attraction, He, Trump said that he's "seen" Muslim-Americans in New Jersey celebrating as the World Trade Center towers burned on September 11, 2001. He never said who they were, nor will he, ever. But at least there was a level of detail to the lie. There is in fact a state called New Jersey. There are in fact Muslim-Americans living there. And the attacks of 9/11 did in fact happen.

Emboldened because this and other whopping untruths did not immediately sink his campaign, He, Trump now has taken his truthless palaver to another level entirely. This is what he said on the stump in Indiana on Wednesday, when he was taking auditions for the men who care so little for their country that they are desperate to be on a ticket with a serial arsonist.

"The other night you had 11 cities potentially in a blow-up stage. Marches all over the United States—and tough marches. Anger. Hatred. Hatred! Started by a maniac! And some people ask for a moment of silence for him. For the killer!"

To be blunt, this didn't happen.

There is no evidence from any news source that this happened. By anyone. Anywhere. Nobody can find anyone who "called for a moment of silence" for the mass killer of policemen. Nobody has counted "11 cities" that are potentially on the verge of a racial holy war. RaHoWa, cry the white-supremacists. And now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has joined the chorus. That's where his rhetoric has led him, and far too many people have followed along.

Yeah, but it was Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who "crossed the line." Jesus, these people...

Damn them all now.

Damn the delegates who will vote for this man. Damn the professional politicians who will fall in line behind him or, worse, will sit back and hope this all blows over so the Republican Party once again will be able to relegate the poison this man has unleashed to the backwaters of the modern conservative intellectual mainstream, which is where it has been useful for over four decades. Damn the four hopeless sycophants who want to share a stage with him for four months. Damn all the people who will come here and speak on his behalf. Damn all the thoughtful folk who plumb his natural appeal for anything deeper than pure hatred.

Damn all the people who will vote for him, and damn any progressives who sit this one out because Hillary Rodham Clinton is wrong on this issue or that one. Damn all the people who are suggesting they do that. And damn all members of the media who treat this dangerous fluke of a campaign as being in any way business as usual. Any support for He, Trump is, at this point, an act of moral cowardice. Anyone who supports him, or runs with him, or enables his victory, or even speaks well of him, is a traitor to the American idea.

Damn, to name one, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, the zombie-eyed granny-starver from the state of Wisconsin, now exposed as the feckless political weakling he's always been. On Wednesday, during an inexcusable CNN-sponsored informercial for himself, Ryan was asked the only question that mattered:

But the challenge facing Ryan was clear when he was asked a question by Zachary Marcone, a Republican who said he couldn't support Trump because he is "openly racist." "Can you tell me, how can you morally justify your support for this kind of candidate?" Marcone asked.

Ryan responded like the spineless careerist tool he's always been.

"You're going to help elect Hillary Clinton and I don't think Hillary Clinton is supporting any of the things you stand for if you're a Republican."

In other words, if we don't elect this authoritarian wild man, I won't get to gut Medicare the way I've always wanted to.

If I were Ryan, I'd put that on a bumper sticker.

Here is the truth. Nobody called for a moment of silence for Micah Johnson. Eleven U.S. cities are not on the brink of racial violence. He, Trump just made that shit up so his followers can stay afraid and angry at the people he wants them to fear and hate. This lie was a marching order and the Party of Lincoln is right in step with him, straight into the burning Reichstag of this man's mind.

Welcome to the 2016 Republican convention: a four-day celebration of the ritual suicide of American democracy.

With balloons.