Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats

More like insane wild west incident happens in 2016. 4 people shot.
Gas likes to point out the stats that show the Wild West wasn't really so wild. I've come to the conclusion that Westerns are actually that subgenre of Sci-fi called Speculative Fiction.

They just got the technology totally wrong, similar to the way Asimov totally missed the miniaturation of computers.
 
Gas likes to point out the stats that show the Wild West wasn't really so wild. I've come to the conclusion that Westerns are actually that subgenre of Sci-fi called Speculative Fiction.

They just got the technology totally wrong, similar to the way Asimov totally missed the miniaturation of computers.
It's hard to tell, because populations were very fluid along the frontier. Claim jumping and cattle rustling could be very violent, but would happen away from settlements so there was little proof and less law enforcement. Then you had feuds, like Texas' Horrell-Higgins feud that lasted years and could erupt into a shootout upon contact, and the Moderator-Regulator feud that was loosely covered in the Young Guns movies. The other thing is that more shootouts resulted in a fatality (often due to lack of adequate medical care) than in current times. One study indicated that 7 of every 10 gunfights resulted in at least one fatality.
 

Dave

Staff member
And be ineligible to hold ANY post that requires top secret or above clearance. Now I wonder what kind of job she would want that would not be allowed...hmm...
 
And Clinton gets away with illegal activities. Again. Color me shocked.
I hope soon your media stops with the illusion, and just starts reporting you as an Oligarchy, where many are above the law. It would be a lot more honest.
 

Dave

Staff member
It galls me where the FBI director states that if this were anyone else they'd be punished. He flat out said she was getting a pass because she was elite. What the fuck?
 
It galls me where the FBI director states that if this were anyone else they'd be punished. He flat out said she was getting a pass because she was elite. What the fuck?
I thought you guys had a holiday recently (like, YESTERDAY) that was about Taxation Without Representation, Elitism, People being Above the Law, and such, and you trying to overthrow that? Or at least that's what you advertise it was about?

How exactly is what you have now all that different? Better ILLUSION of influence and/or affecting the outcome than before? Better Bread/Circuses? What?
 

GasBandit

Staff member
I thought you guys had a holiday recently (like, YESTERDAY) that was about Taxation Without Representation, Elitism, People being Above the Law, and such, and you trying to overthrow that? Or at least that's what you advertise it was about?

How exactly is what you have now all that different? Better ILLUSION of influence and/or affecting the outcome than before? Better Bread/Circuses? What?
You guys did us a favor once a couple hundred years ago... think you could come do it again?
 
It galls me where the FBI director states that if this were anyone else they'd be punished. He flat out said she was getting a pass because she was elite. What the fuck?
To be clear, this is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions. But that is not what we are deciding now.
If you are referring to this paragraph, the FBI director is saying that people in similar circumstances would, regardless of the criminal side of things, often be subject to security (i.e. stripping of clearance) or administrative (e.g. resignation, demotion, firing) sanctions. The FBI was tasked with doing a criminal investigation, not adjudicating other measures. The director is saying that it would be ordinary/expected for those sanctions happen. This paragraph seems to have been twisted to hell and back on my feed (along with adults becoming aware that mens rea is actually a thing, and being outraged about it).
 

Dave

Staff member
If you are referring to this paragraph, the FBI director is saying that people in similar circumstances would, regardless of the criminal side of things, often be subject to security (i.e. stripping of clearance) or administrative (e.g. resignation, demotion, firing) sanctions. The FBI was tasked with doing a criminal investigation, not adjudicating other measures. The director is saying that it would be ordinary/expected for those sanctions happen. This paragraph seems to have been twisted to hell and back on my feed (along with adults becoming aware that mens rea is actually a thing, and being outraged about it).
Yes. The person would lose their fucking security clearance and be ineligible to hold any government office that has a TS clearance or above!!

You see what I'm saying? Hillary should now be barred from running for president because she can't handle sensitive data in a sensitive way.
 
You guys did us a favor once a couple hundred years ago... think you could come do it again?
TBH, more the Brits than "us" in that case, though we were part of what they were.

Deal with your own crap! We're just starting our own stint of the "Charismatic but knows nothing" head of state. We'll have our own problems soon enough!
 
Yes. The person would lose their fucking security clearance and be ineligible to hold any government office that has a TS clearance or above!!

You see what I'm saying? Hillary should now be barred from running for president because she can't handle sensitive data in a sensitive way.
I don't recall reading jack shit about security clearances in Articles I, II, the 12th, the 14th, or the 22nd Amendments. I am extremely skeptical of an administrative sanction that makes someone ineligible to hold elected office.
 
TBH, more the Brits than "us" in that case, though we were part of what they were.

Deal with your own crap! We're just starting our own stint of the "Charismatic but knows nothing" head of state. We'll have our own problems soon enough!
Those Brits all settled in what would become Canada though, so really, they were proto-Canadians. The politeness genes hadn't settled in yet.
 
It doesn't make a lot of sense to me for the FBI to say "Yeah, the law was definitely broken, but since so many people were involved, we can't figure out who to put the blame on, even though the entire series of events literally stems from one person, but since her husband bribed the attorney general and she's the designated next president, so we aren't going to do shit about it."
 
Another thing pissing me off about Clintonian politics: a very good friend of mine has latched onto Bernie statement that "[abortion, etc]... is a distraction," in response to Hillary saying to the press, "Now why hasn't abortion been brought up in the debates? Why doesn't Senator Sanders want to talk about it?" Now, to me, it's not too hard to look at his record on women's health, equality, representation, etc, and figure that he meant, "Since Secretary Clinton and I have essentially the same position on abortion, women's reproductive health, equal pay, and so on, bringing it up to the media is a distraction." My friend has taken it to mean that he was saying, "Despite my decades long record of supporting women's rights, particularly including access to healthcare, planned parenthood, and the right to choose, I don't care about women and mentioning their concerns is a distraction from more important things."
 
I don't recall reading jack shit about security clearances in Articles I, II, the 12th, the 14th, or the 22nd Amendments. I am extremely skeptical of an administrative sanction that makes someone ineligible to hold elected office.
That's not what is being said, it's not about an elected position, but the fact that if you had the administrative sanctions that this even would justify, that you wouldn't be able to get a government job that required you to have a higher lever security clearance. Basically it is UNCLASSIFIED, CONFIDENTIAL, (admin sanction cutoff here), SECRET, TOP SECRET, and TOP SECRET-SBI (special background investigation), plus points beyond. Many members of Congress don't have clearance beyond the TOP SECRET level, much less the access that the President has.
 
That's not what is being said, it's not about an elected position, but the fact that if you had the administrative sanctions that this even would justify, that you wouldn't be able to get a government job that required you to have a higher lever security clearance. Basically it is UNCLASSIFIED, CONFIDENTIAL, (admin sanction cutoff here), SECRET, TOP SECRET, and TOP SECRET-SBI (special background investigation), plus points beyond. Many members of Congress don't have clearance beyond the TOP SECRET level, much less the access that the President has.
Not to mention "Eyes Only" material that frequently even the President isn't read-in on until necessary.

So basically, she would be prohibited due to her "careless handling of sensitive material" for being trusted with material that the President must necessarily have access to / be familiar with.
 
That's not what is being said, it's not about an elected position, but the fact that if you had the administrative sanctions that this even would justify, that you wouldn't be able to get a government job that required you to have a higher lever security clearance. Basically it is UNCLASSIFIED, CONFIDENTIAL, (admin sanction cutoff here), SECRET, TOP SECRET, and TOP SECRET-SBI (special background investigation), plus points beyond. Many members of Congress don't have clearance beyond the TOP SECRET level, much less the access that the President has.
(I have a superficial+ understanding how security clearances work, I read up on them after two different friends listed me in their foreign connections.)

I was specifically responding to Dave saying they should be "barred": it is what is being said. Again, I fail to see why this should have any impact on a U.S. citizen's ability to become President. Being a felon doesn't take your ability to become President away, AFAIK, I don't see why an administrative sanction should.
 
(I have a superficial+ understanding how security clearances work, I read up on them after two different friends listed me in their foreign connections.)

I was specifically responding to Dave saying they should be "barred": it is what is being said. Again, I fail to see why this should have any impact on a U.S. citizen's ability to become President. Being a felon doesn't take your ability to become President away, AFAIK, I don't see why an administrative sanction should.
So if you had your driver's license taken away due to being an irresponsible motorist, and your job involved lots of driving, you can see how you'd no longer be a qualified candidate for that job?
 
So if you had your driver's license taken away due to being an irresponsible motorist, and your job involved lots of driving, you can see how you'd no longer be a qualified candidate for that job?
My job posting was not in the constitution, last I checked. It sounds like you're trying to amend it.
 
Hmmm...

Article I Section 3 Paragraphs 6-7

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Article II Section 1 Paragraphs 1, 5, 7-8

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Article II Section 2 Paragraphs 1-3

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Article II Section 3

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Article II Section 4

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

AMENDMENT XIX
Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.


The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XX
Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.
Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3.


Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3.
If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section 4.
The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section 5.
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

AMENDMENT XXIV
Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXV
Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.
Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.


Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3.
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

AMENDMENT XXVI
Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.
Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.


Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Two things:

1. Security clearance isn't specified in the Constitution. Impeachment for "high crimes and treason" are.
2. What's more worrying: the language of the Constitution suggests a female may not be President. And you damn well better bet that that's the first thing the GOP challenges in court.
 
2. What's more worrying: the language of the Constitution suggests a female may not be President. And you damn well better bet that that's the first thing the GOP challenges in court.
They would have a hell of a time showing standing, as well as explaining why they let Palin be on the ticket (IIRC the gendered language is for President and Vice President, so the issue is the same). It would make for a hilarious SCOTUS ruling, assuming it wasn't dismissed out of hand.
 
Regardless, I'd say it's even money that Hillary gets impeachment proceedings during the first session of a GOP-held senate.
 
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