#2 isn't something "maybe should be looked into, in a couple months, whenever". If Trump wins, it will never go anywhere. If he loses, "the whole thing was a failure so where was the harm?" will be the defense. And the court case will mean that, oh do sadly, there can't be a payout because of the Big Bad Dems. But it's 100% driving people to vote now who otherwise wouldn't. And while I'm all in favor of as many people as possible voting, doing it because you're given a lottery ticket is... Very reminiscent of the late 19th century practice of buying votes with beer and sausages.
Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats
- Thread starter GasBandit
- Start date
GOTDAMM cows are eating all the weed.
Giuliani must turn over Manhattan apartment, other valuables to election workers he defamed, judge says
Rudy Giuliani has seven days to turn over his possessions to a receivership controlled by Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
www.cbsnews.com
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ More than 400 doctors and health professionals called on Trump to release his medical records, questioning his mental and physical fitness to serve. “With no recent disclosure of health information from Donald Trump, we are left to extrapolate from public appearances,” their letter states. “And on that front, Trump is falling concerningly short of any standard of fitness for office and displaying alarming characteristics of declining acuity.” The letter adds that Trump is 78 years old and would be the oldest president if he win. But at a campaign event Sunday, Trump denied being close to 80 years old or having any cognitive issues. “I’m not 80, and I’m not that close to 80,” said Trump, who is 20 months away from turning 80. “I’ve done cognitive tests. I’ve done them twice, and I aced both of them, and the doctor in one case said, ‘I’ve never seen anybody ace them.’” Following a series meandering, unhinged, and nonsensical public appearances, a psychiatrist who helped craft the 1973 “Goldwater rule” that has kept mental health professionals from opining about Trump for nearly a decade said he’d recommend a dementia test for Trump. Allen Dyer, a retired George Washington University psychiatry professor, said Trump’s recent behavior warrants medical evaluation because “he seems to be progressively cognitively impaired.” (Mother Jones / HuffPost / New York Times)
4/ Trump’s plans for mass deportations, tariffs, and tax cuts would drive Social Security to insolvency by 2031 – three years earlier than currently projected, according to a report from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Under Trump’s policies, Social Security’s trust funds would be drained of tax revenue and force a 33% across-the-board cut to all benefits. Currently, the program’s combined retirement and disability trust funds are scheduled to be depleted in 2034, which would lead to a 23% cut in benefits the following year. Harris’s proposed policies, meanwhile, would not meaningfully change the current trajectory. (Washington Post / Axios / CBS News / Bloomberg / CNN)
5/ The Biden administration proposed a rule requiring private health insurance plans to cover over-the-counter birth control at no cost to patients, including daily pills, emergency contraceptives, and condoms. The rule is subject to a 60-day public comment period and, if finalized, would be “the most significant expansion of contraception benefits” in more than a decade. The rule would expand access for 52 million women of reproductive age covered by private health plans. (NPR / Washington Post / New York Times)
poll/ 60% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 support Harris for president, compared to 40% who support Trump. (CNBC)
- What’s Wrong With Donald Trump? (New York Times)
- Why should I care? Trump’s rhetoric and proposed actions, if realized, would impact every American by weakening the democratic foundations that ensure fairness and accountability in government. Imagine a world where political disagreements aren’t settled through debate, but by jailing opponents and silencing critics through fear. It goes beyond Trump or his political enemies – it could set a dangerous precedent for future leaders to abuse their power. The liberties we take for granted – free speech, due process, peaceful political competition—could be eroded. This would affect not just the politically active but all citizens, as dissent becomes dangerous and civic engagement declines under the threat of government retribution. The legal system, too, would become a tool of partisan warfare, not justice. For anyone who values democracy and individual rights, this shift would have profound personal and societal consequences.
4/ Trump’s plans for mass deportations, tariffs, and tax cuts would drive Social Security to insolvency by 2031 – three years earlier than currently projected, according to a report from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Under Trump’s policies, Social Security’s trust funds would be drained of tax revenue and force a 33% across-the-board cut to all benefits. Currently, the program’s combined retirement and disability trust funds are scheduled to be depleted in 2034, which would lead to a 23% cut in benefits the following year. Harris’s proposed policies, meanwhile, would not meaningfully change the current trajectory. (Washington Post / Axios / CBS News / Bloomberg / CNN)
5/ The Biden administration proposed a rule requiring private health insurance plans to cover over-the-counter birth control at no cost to patients, including daily pills, emergency contraceptives, and condoms. The rule is subject to a 60-day public comment period and, if finalized, would be “the most significant expansion of contraception benefits” in more than a decade. The rule would expand access for 52 million women of reproductive age covered by private health plans. (NPR / Washington Post / New York Times)
- Missouri voters could undo their state’s abortion ban. Making abortion accessible is a different story. “Even before Roe v. Wade fell, a web of restrictions had made abortion largely unavailable in Missouri – particularly in the rural areas home to a third of the state’s residents.” (The 19th)
poll/ 60% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 support Harris for president, compared to 40% who support Trump. (CNBC)
Hmmm... you mean like a certain puppet you're endorsing?
Every accusation is a connnnfesssssionRemember when Republicans were trying to scare old people with the "death panels" Democrats were supposedly planning? Yeah, Dems should be scaring Boomers with Trump ending SS, because it's actually true. Nothing motivates like a hit to the wallet.
Leaving aside the moral implications of this, because as we've learned at least 50% of this country does not give a fuck about any one but themselves, if they thought things were expensive now, wait until they see the prices without undocumented labor!
Ya, this is the one that scares me the most too. I just... don't have the words to express my thoughts on this.
While most young people support Harris, there is a gender gap. Only a plurality of young men support Harris, and 38 percent support Trump according to the NY Times. The "epidemic of male loneliness" might be a factor. Too many young men feel that the world has turned against them. Trump tells them they can't a job or a mate because liberals have somehow stolen those prospects away from them.
PS - Think about all those illegal immigrants working in construction and in the trades. No housing will ever get built if they're deported.
PS - Think about all those illegal immigrants working in construction and in the trades. No housing will ever get built if they're deported.
Honestly guys, the fact this is close makes me feel like this is a losing game. We didn't do enough to curb the lying and theatrics of media news sources, let oligarchies buy up what few nonpartisan sources remained, and now so many people are in too deep.
They want a dictatorship now, because they feel it's the only way to "destroy" their enemies, who they have decided are not just immigrants but fellow Americans. I am honestly scared, and even if Kamala wins, the chance of violence even worse then Jan 6th just feels more and more inevitable.
They want a dictatorship now, because they feel it's the only way to "destroy" their enemies, who they have decided are not just immigrants but fellow Americans. I am honestly scared, and even if Kamala wins, the chance of violence even worse then Jan 6th just feels more and more inevitable.
Our future is going to rest on the Almighty undecided voter. Of course, at this point I assume anyone undecided either has severe brain damage or just woke up from an 8 year coma.
GasBandit
Staff member
Well yeah, Trump totally commiserates with icky incels who are mad they can't sexually assault their way into a relationship anymore. Damn liberals and their... you know... acknowledgement that women can think and make decisions when they should be puttin' out for whoever comes along!
Well, some soaking and anal is fine, of course
Democrats: What if we hold an interview with the Cheney family instead?
This feels like a a political version of the trolly problem.
GasBandit
Staff member
Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff warned that Trump meets the definition of a “fascist” and once said he wanted the “kind of generals Hitler had.” John Kelly said Trump is “certainly an authoritarian [and] admires people who are dictators,” and that Trump “commented more than once that, ‘You know, Hitler did some good things, too.’” Trump also asked Kelly, “Why can’t you be like the German generals?” Kelly explained to Trump that German generals “tried to kill Hitler three times and almost pulled it off,” but Trump responded: “No, no, no, they were totally loyal to him.” Further, two people who heard a private conversation at the White House, Trump once said: “I need the kind of generals that Hitler had. People who were totally loyal to him, that follow orders.” Mark Esper, who served as secretary of Defense under Trump, backed Kelly’s remarks, saying “It’s hard to say that he doesn’t [meet the definition of a fascist], when you kind of look at those terms. But, he certainly has those inclinations. And I think it’s something we should be wary about.” (New York Times / The Atlantic / Politico / CNN / NBC News)
Kamala Harris called Trump “increasingly unhinged and unstable,” warning that “in a second term, people like John Kelly would not be there to be the guardrails against his propensities and his actions. Those who once tried to stop him from pursuing his worst impulses would no longer be there, and no longer be there to rein him in.” Harris added that Trump “wants unchecked power. The question in 13 days will be, what do the American people want?” (Washington Post / Axios / NBC News / CNN / Associated Press / NPR)
A federal judge ordered Rudy Giuliani to turn over most of his possessions, including cash, jewelry and his New York apartment, as part of the $148 million defamation judgement he owes to two former Georgia election workers. Giuliani has seven days to turn over his possessions to a receivership controlled by Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Once the transfers are made, the two election workers can begin selling the assets. Further, the judge also said the two could sue Trump for the $2 million he owes Giuliani in unpaid legal bills. (New York Times / NPR / Washington Post / CBS News / CNBC)
Kamala Harris called Trump a fascist, saying “the American people deserve better, and they deserve a president who is focused on solutions, not sitting in the Oval Office plotting their revenge and retribution.” When asked at a CNN town hall if she believed that Trump is a fascist, Harris replied twice, “Yes, I do.” Later, she brought it up again, saying Trump would be “a president who admires dictators and is a fascist.” Harris added that even Trump’s senior military leaders have called Tump a fascist – including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, and Trump’s former White House chief of staff, retired Marine general John Kelly – saying they “have all called him unfit and dangerous.” Trump, meanwhile, called Kelly a “lowlife” and “total degenerate” after his former White House chief of staff spoke about Trump’s admiration for the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. (Associated Press / Axios / New York Times / CNN / Axios / Politico)
Trump vowed to “fire” Special Counsel Jack Smith – who brought two federal indictments against him – “within two seconds” of taking office. “It’s so easy — I would fire him within two seconds,” Trump said, saying he got “immunity at the Supreme Court” for his criminal acts committed while in office. Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee two investigations: Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and the illegal retention of classified documents after leaving office. Trump has since been indicted by a federal grand jury on four criminal counts in the election investigation, including conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights. Trump was also indicted by a federal grand jury on 40 felony counts with 40 felony counts alleging he willfully kept classified material after he left the White House and then obstructed the government’s repeated efforts to get them back. If Trump wins the election, he is expected to fire Garland and appoint an attorney general who would dismiss both federal cases against him. (Washington Post / NBC News / New York Times / Associated Press / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / The Guardian / The Hill / USA Today)
The 60-year-old man suspected of shooting at an Arizona Democratic National Committee office three times over the last two months had over 120 guns, over 250,000 rounds of ammunition, and a grenade launcher in his home. Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Neha Bhatia said that authorities believe Jeffrey Michael Kelly, who also hung bags of white powder labeled as poison from political signs, “was preparing to commit an act of mass casualty,” and that his “progression of violence was escalating.” Kelly is charged with several felonies, including committing an act of terrorism, unlawful discharge of a firearm and shooting at a non-residential structure. (CBS News / NBC News / AZ Central)
The world is on course for a “catastrophic” temperature rise of more than 3C above pre-industrial levels – twice the goal set by the Paris agreement. The latest “Emissions Gap Report,” which the UN Environment Program publishes, found that the world is currently headed for about 2.6C to 3.1C (4.68F to 5.58F) of warming by 2100 compared to preindustrial levels if governments do not take greater action to cut planet-warming emissions. The latest research also found that the ability to remain within the target of 1.5C “will be gone within a few years” without rapid action. The world has currently warmed by about 1.3C (2.3F). (Politico / Financial Times / Axios / Reuters / BBC)
Kamala Harris called Trump “increasingly unhinged and unstable,” warning that “in a second term, people like John Kelly would not be there to be the guardrails against his propensities and his actions. Those who once tried to stop him from pursuing his worst impulses would no longer be there, and no longer be there to rein him in.” Harris added that Trump “wants unchecked power. The question in 13 days will be, what do the American people want?” (Washington Post / Axios / NBC News / CNN / Associated Press / NPR)
- Nate Silver: Here’s What My Gut Says About the Election, but Don’t Trust Anyone’s Gut, Even Mine. “You should resign yourself to the fact that a 50-50 forecast really does mean 50-50. And you should be open to the possibility that those forecasts are wrong, and that could be the case equally in the direction of Mr. Trump or Ms. Harris.” (New York Times)
- James Carville: Three Reasons I’m Certain Kamala Harris Will Win. “The biggest reason Mr. Trump will lose is that the whole Republican Party has been on a losing streak since Mr. Trump took it over.” (New York Times)
- “Red Wave” Redux: Are GOP Polls Rigging the Averages in Trump’s Favor? “Polling by right-leaning firms has exploded this cycle. Maybe they want to be accurate—or maybe they’re trying to create a sense of momentum for Donald Trump.” (New Republic)
A federal judge ordered Rudy Giuliani to turn over most of his possessions, including cash, jewelry and his New York apartment, as part of the $148 million defamation judgement he owes to two former Georgia election workers. Giuliani has seven days to turn over his possessions to a receivership controlled by Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Once the transfers are made, the two election workers can begin selling the assets. Further, the judge also said the two could sue Trump for the $2 million he owes Giuliani in unpaid legal bills. (New York Times / NPR / Washington Post / CBS News / CNBC)
Kamala Harris called Trump a fascist, saying “the American people deserve better, and they deserve a president who is focused on solutions, not sitting in the Oval Office plotting their revenge and retribution.” When asked at a CNN town hall if she believed that Trump is a fascist, Harris replied twice, “Yes, I do.” Later, she brought it up again, saying Trump would be “a president who admires dictators and is a fascist.” Harris added that even Trump’s senior military leaders have called Tump a fascist – including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, and Trump’s former White House chief of staff, retired Marine general John Kelly – saying they “have all called him unfit and dangerous.” Trump, meanwhile, called Kelly a “lowlife” and “total degenerate” after his former White House chief of staff spoke about Trump’s admiration for the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. (Associated Press / Axios / New York Times / CNN / Axios / Politico)
Trump vowed to “fire” Special Counsel Jack Smith – who brought two federal indictments against him – “within two seconds” of taking office. “It’s so easy — I would fire him within two seconds,” Trump said, saying he got “immunity at the Supreme Court” for his criminal acts committed while in office. Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee two investigations: Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and the illegal retention of classified documents after leaving office. Trump has since been indicted by a federal grand jury on four criminal counts in the election investigation, including conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights. Trump was also indicted by a federal grand jury on 40 felony counts with 40 felony counts alleging he willfully kept classified material after he left the White House and then obstructed the government’s repeated efforts to get them back. If Trump wins the election, he is expected to fire Garland and appoint an attorney general who would dismiss both federal cases against him. (Washington Post / NBC News / New York Times / Associated Press / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / The Guardian / The Hill / USA Today)
- Trump Abused His Pardon Power. He’s Promising to Do It Again. “Trump has pledged to pardon people charged with crimes connected to January 6 and, if he wins, he’s expected to claim power to order the DOJ to drop the two federal cases against him. And he appears prepared to use his power to block federal charges against federal officials who commit alleged crimes in service of his goals.” (Mother Jones)
- House Republicans on the committee that oversees elections hired two former Trump officials involved in 2020 fake elector scheme. “The Committee on House Administration, which usually flies under the radar, also plays an important role on January 6 when Congress certifies the election. If Republicans maintain control of the House, the panel’s chairman, Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, is expected to be one of the four lawmakers sitting at the dais reading electoral votes, and his staff will be advising members about the procedures taking place.” (CNN)
- If Trump Wins, Blame the Billionaires. “More than 60 billionaires have opened their wallets to help elect Donald Trump.” (Slate)
The 60-year-old man suspected of shooting at an Arizona Democratic National Committee office three times over the last two months had over 120 guns, over 250,000 rounds of ammunition, and a grenade launcher in his home. Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Neha Bhatia said that authorities believe Jeffrey Michael Kelly, who also hung bags of white powder labeled as poison from political signs, “was preparing to commit an act of mass casualty,” and that his “progression of violence was escalating.” Kelly is charged with several felonies, including committing an act of terrorism, unlawful discharge of a firearm and shooting at a non-residential structure. (CBS News / NBC News / AZ Central)
The world is on course for a “catastrophic” temperature rise of more than 3C above pre-industrial levels – twice the goal set by the Paris agreement. The latest “Emissions Gap Report,” which the UN Environment Program publishes, found that the world is currently headed for about 2.6C to 3.1C (4.68F to 5.58F) of warming by 2100 compared to preindustrial levels if governments do not take greater action to cut planet-warming emissions. The latest research also found that the ability to remain within the target of 1.5C “will be gone within a few years” without rapid action. The world has currently warmed by about 1.3C (2.3F). (Politico / Financial Times / Axios / Reuters / BBC)
- The climate stakes of the Harris-Trump election. “The next administration will be decisive for the country’s progress on critical climate goals. By 2030, just a year after the next president would leave office, the U.S. has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels, and expects to supply up to 13 million electric vehicles annually. A little further down the line, though no less critical, the country’s climate goals include reaching 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035 and achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.” (Grist)
We're already getting reports of that, plus people stealing absentee ballots and filling them in.
I meant that Gas' quoted news wasn't yet up to present day what with the burning of ballots, etc.
--Patrick
GasBandit
Staff member
Yeah, it takes them a day to curate things and then another day for my RSS feed concatenator to pick it up and then sometimes I miss it for a day. That post was actually 2 days' worth.
GasBandit
Staff member
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Bezos reportedly killed the Washington Post’s Kamala Harris endorsement
Democracy dies in darkness!
"Democracy doesn’t die in darkness, it dies when people anticipatorily consent to a fascist’s whims."
GasBandit
Staff member
Even if someone were to try to say there was, I don't think Bezos would have been their example.