The Political Junkie Thread

[ArkieDukie]

Sitting with my dad this morning, while he watches Faux & Friends. The propaganda is crazy. The lead story is that Biden is corrupt and is receiving money from China via Hunter. The second was an interview with Sen Grassle, talking about how the Democrats are socialists and the Republicans are the party of the working people. Then came a story about how crime is soaring in NYC. Basically, it’s all gloom and doom.
Next up: a story about how several migrant children are missing after the Biden administration turned them loose.
Last night's gem: my brother said the problem with mainstream media is that Obama got rid of the rule requiring the news to be neutral. I said, no, I think that was Bush. He was skeptical, so I looked it up. We were both wrong. It was Reagan. The rule was wiped in 2011, after it hadn’t been in practice for years. (The Obama administration cleaned out rules and regulations that were redundant and/or not enforced.) My brother and dad then said, “see? It was Obama.”

[ArkieDukie]

Oh, and Biden and Hillary are more corrupt than Trump. The Democrats are scared of Trump because he is cleaning up the corruption. All the cases of confidential documents are nothing because of Hillary’s emails. I can’t even.

[ArkieDukie]

Holy Shit. Mike Hucksterbee was just on, hawking a free guide he created FOR KIDS to teach them how wonderful President Trump is. It’s for use in classrooms. Available at freeTrump.com, if I remember correctly. Hitler Youth, anyone?

The propaganda from Faux is appalling. How does Freedom of Speech allow this?

[CameronBornAndBred]

The propaganda from Faux is appalling. How does Freedom of Speech allow this?

You need to go outside. You'll melt your brain if you keep watching.

By the way, I have largely stopped watching MSNBC "news" as well, since it can be just as lopsided and opinionated. They aren't untruthful in the way that Fox is, but it's still a bit much. I still tune in for big events, such as elections and hearings, but I don't make it a daily practice to watch. Most of my information these days comes from reading a wide variety of sources, and taking the time to peruse the different takes on events.

[OPK]

The propaganda from Faux is appalling. How does Freedom of Speech allow this?

You need to go outside. You'll melt your brain if you keep watching.

By the way, I have largely stopped watching MSNBC "news" as well, since it can be just as lopsided and opinionated. They aren't untruthful in the way that Fox is, but it's still a bit much. I still tune in for big events, such as elections and hearings, but I don't make it a daily practice to watch. Most of my information these days comes from reading a wide variety of sources, and taking the time to peruse the different takes on events.

I gave up tv news (except for big events) about a year and a half ago. My blood pressure is much better now as is my state of mind.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Fairly surprising.

A federal judge on Monday granted a request by former President Donald Trump’s legal team to appoint a special master to review documents seized by the FBI from his Florida home last month and also temporarily halted the Justice Department’s use of the records for investigative purposes.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon came despite the objections of the Justice Department.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-grants ... 56902.html

[OPK]

Fairly surprising.

A federal judge on Monday granted a request by former President Donald Trump’s legal team to appoint a special master to review documents seized by the FBI from his Florida home last month and also temporarily halted the Justice Department’s use of the records for investigative purposes.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon came despite the objections of the Justice Department.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-grants ... 56902.html

She is letting the DNI review continue.

She also dropped a footnote indicating that the DOJ did its review in just three weeks, so I am assuming/hoping she plans to keep a tight calendar on this.

I was concerned about her leaving a review of “potential executive privilege” to the special master, I think that will be a bone of contention going forward in this litigation.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Sitting with my dad this morning, while he watches Faux & Friends. The propaganda is crazy. The lead story is that Biden is corrupt and is receiving money from China via Hunter. The second was an interview with Sen Grassle, talking about how the Democrats are socialists and the Republicans are the party of the working people. Then came a story about how crime is soaring in NYC. Basically, it’s all gloom and doom.
Next up: a story about how several migrant children are missing after the Biden administration turned them loose.
Last night's gem: my brother said the problem with mainstream media is that Obama got rid of the rule requiring the news to be neutral. I said, no, I think that was Bush. He was skeptical, so I looked it up. We were both wrong. It was Reagan. The rule was wiped in 2011, after it hadn’t been in practice for years. (The Obama administration cleaned out rules and regulations that were redundant and/or not enforced.) My brother and dad then said, “see? It was Obama.”

It's like they don't even try - it is all propaganda. There isn't even any of the usual "famous person died" or "weather tragedy" or "milestone birthday for a celebrity" or whatever else. And millions of Americans watch it religiously and believe every word of it.

I am a bit of a broken record, but I really wish these people would just leave and form their own miserable country. We have so little in common with them. One of the standard definitions of a nation is people with a shared culture - we no longer have that.

Regarding the special master ruling, I believe it has been mentioned here or elsewhere that this judge is a Duke undergrad alum (and Trump appointee). Now who appoints this special master? I am assuming that it will likely be another brainwashed Trump lover? The Republicans really had their eyes on the ball to take advantage of Trump's time in office to pack the courts. Which is yet another reason why it is critical for the Dems to retain the Senate - so they can at least somewhat level the playing field over the next two years. It is really sad that the judiciary has become so politicized.

[ArkieDukie]

Fairly surprising.

A federal judge on Monday granted a request by former President Donald Trump’s legal team to appoint a special master to review documents seized by the FBI from his Florida home last month and also temporarily halted the Justice Department’s use of the records for investigative purposes.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon came despite the objections of the Justice Department.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-grants ... 56902.html

On the contrary, I find it completely unsurprising. Trump somehow managed to make sure the request went to a judge HE appointed in his final days, a Federalist Society member deemed unqualified by the ABA. I’m not a lawyer, so I cannot judge, but several commentators said her opinion is gibberish. That is a trademark of Trump, so maybe he wrote it himself.

I’m becoming more convinced that he will not be charged, although he committed a multitude of crimes. The judge will appoint a Trump lackey, and the inspections will drag out until the Republicans can nix the entire thing. I just spent a weekend having to listen to Faux News and the opinions of its viewers, so I’m very cynical at the moment.

[Phredd3]

I was concerned about her leaving a review of “potential executive privilege” to the special master, I think that will be a bone of contention going forward in this litigation.

I agree. I found this part of the decision quite surprising. It is hard for me to envision how a special master even CAN review for "potential executive privilege" in this context. How could s/he possibly know what documents the executive branch might want to shield from itself? I'm not sure how that even makes sense, the Kavanaugh citation notwithstanding.

Regarding the special master ruling, I believe it has been mentioned here or elsewhere that this judge is a Duke undergrad alum (and Trump appointee). Now who appoints this special master? I am assuming that it will likely be another brainwashed Trump lover?

According to what I've read, the parties have agreed to a procedure, and the court has directed the two sides to propose a list of potential Special Masters (who by the terms of prior filings should have Top Secret clearance) in a "joint filing". If they cannot agree on such a list, they need to outline the rationale behind their disagreements within the filing. The filing is due to the court by this Friday (Sept. 9th).

I've very happy in this contentious mix that the DNI review remains ongoing, since that part of the review should not respect any claim of privilege from anyone, and shouldn't be delayed for any reason. I'm glad the court agrees.

[ArkieDukie]

Holy crap, y’all. https://apple.news/AjL7FVwp3TymfdrFTkoRRpQ

Can someone please explain to me how he has not been locked the hell up?? I’ve seen several theories as to the mystery nation. Popular theories are Israel (sold to Saudi Arabia) and Ukraine (a gift to his buddy Putin), and France.

[OPK]

Holy crap, y’all. https://apple.news/AjL7FVwp3TymfdrFTkoRRpQ

Can someone please explain to me how he has not been locked the hell up?? I’ve seen several theories as to the mystery nation. Popular theories are Israel (sold to Saudi Arabia) and Ukraine (a gift to his buddy Putin), and France.

Could be Iran’s burgeoning program (sold to Saudi).

“Allegedly.”

[ArkieDukie]

Holy crap, y’all. https://apple.news/AjL7FVwp3TymfdrFTkoRRpQ

Can someone please explain to me how he has not been locked the hell up?? I’ve seen several theories as to the mystery nation. Popular theories are Israel (sold to Saudi Arabia) and Ukraine (a gift to his buddy Putin), and France.

Could be Iran’s burgeoning program (sold to Saudi).

“Allegedly.”

So. Let Iran out of the nuclear deal, then sell all relevant info to the Saudis after the program is allowed to proliferate? Interesting theory.

My niece, who currently lives in Switzerland, says the raid happened because the CIA has reported that a larger than normal number of our overseas spies have died. As in, record numbers. Folks over there think we are insane for not doing something about it/him. If he sold intel about our overseas assets, his goose is cooked. Or, it should be. We are talking about the Teflon man.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Politically, Georgia is just fun to watch. Unless your name is Stacey Abrams.

Public and private polls have consistently shown her trailing Mr. Kemp, a Republican seeking a second term. And, in a particularly worrying sign for Ms. Abrams, polls also show she is drawing less support than the other high-profile Democrat on the ballot, Senator Raphael Warnock.

The gap between the two Democrats, which is within the margin of error in some recent surveys and as wide as 10 points in others, highlights the extent of her struggles. Though she is beloved by Democratic voters, she has lost some ground with Black men, who provided crucial backing in her narrow loss to Mr. Kemp in 2018. And while Mr. Warnock draws some support from Republican moderates, Ms. Abrams — who has been vilified more by the G.O.P. than any other statewide figure — has shown little sign of peeling off significant numbers of disaffected Republicans.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... cc45d6d117

[CameronBornAndBred]

Racism is racism. How she thinks that she can stay in the race (and have a snowball's chance) is befuddling.

The South Carolina Democrat vying to oust Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott is facing calls from within her own party to fold her campaign, following the publication of additional leaked audio in which she appears to make disparaging remarks about her constituents.

......

Sitting in a restaurant, (Krystle) Matthews, who is Black, is heard saying that she represents a “mostly white” district, adding, of white voters: “I keep them right here — like under my thumbs. ... Otherwise, they get out of control — like kids.”

“You ought to know who you’re dealing with," Matthews goes on to say. “You’ve got to treat them like s—-. That’s the only way they’ll respect you.”

Matthews is going up against Tim Scott, so she doesn't have a chance anyway, but this race will now be interesting to watch solely to see how much of a landslide it turns out to be.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... b1135bc553

[Phredd3]

Racism is racism. How she thinks that she can stay in the race (and have a snowball's chance) is befuddling.

The South Carolina Democrat vying to oust Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott is facing calls from within her own party to fold her campaign, following the publication of additional leaked audio in which she appears to make disparaging remarks about her constituents.

......

Sitting in a restaurant, (Krystle) Matthews, who is Black, is heard saying that she represents a “mostly white” district, adding, of white voters: “I keep them right here — like under my thumbs. ... Otherwise, they get out of control — like kids.”

“You ought to know who you’re dealing with," Matthews goes on to say. “You’ve got to treat them like s—-. That’s the only way they’ll respect you.”

Matthews is going up against Tim Scott, so she doesn't have a chance anyway, but this race will now be interesting to watch solely to see how much of a landslide it turns out to be.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... b1135bc553

It turns out that the "leaked" audio was created by Project Veritas. You know, the right-wing group that fabricated ACORN videos and then had to settle up a number of defamation claims, and that published a number of high-profile claims against NPR in what turned out to be a heavily edited (to the point of being temporally reversed in places) video of a conversation with someone purporting to be something they were not.

At this point, I have no idea what Ms. Matthews may have actually said. She's probably still toxic in SC, because I doubt that most people who are paying attention to that release care about who Project Veritas is, how they do their jobs, or their long history of deception. Racism is racism, yes. But I'm not convinced that racism is actually an issue here, considering the source.

[Wander]

Can someone please explain to me how he has not been locked the hell up??

Just practical, I think. The potential for serious violence from the extreme right-wing is very real.

Of course, there are risks to NOT making an arrest as well. Hard to tell what the right call is.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Can someone please explain to me how he has not been locked the hell up??

Just practical, I think. The potential for serious violence from the extreme right-wing is very real.

Of course, there are risks to NOT making an arrest as well. Hard to tell what the right call is.

Also, there is no way that he's getting charged by anyone unless the prosecutors are sure that they have an absolute steel trap case. If he walks on charges against him, it sets precedent for decades that a POTUS is untouchable.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Can someone please explain to me how he has not been locked the hell up??

Just practical, I think. The potential for serious violence from the extreme right-wing is very real.

Of course, there are risks to NOT making an arrest as well. Hard to tell what the right call is.

Also, there is no way that he's getting charged by anyone unless the prosecutors are sure that they have an absolute steel trap case. If he walks on charges against him, it sets precedent for decades that a POTUS is untouchable.

Good points. Though he is theoretically entitled to his due process, since anything involving him is a major case and potentially an issue of national security, I wish some of these cases could be expedited once they finally get to court. I think Dems are understandably being more careful because of the threat of violence mentioned above. I strongly oppose violence but I wish we had a similar credible threat other than voting or an increasingly (but far from fully) rigged legal system - Trump does this because he knows he can get away with it, and he knows we are afraid of violence. As I've said before, the man is absolutely brilliant in certain ways.

Nice feature in the NYT today about the ATL DA running the case there (sorry - I know it is paywalled for many of you). She is impressive - she has made some very minor slip-ups but overall seems to be doing a great job - hopefully she can move things along quickly and successfully. Our DA in NYC is useless - once she puts Trump away I wish she would move here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/12/us/f ... lanta.html

[Phredd3]

Though he is theoretically entitled to his due process, since anything involving him is a major case and potentially an issue of national security, I wish some of these cases could be expedited once they finally get to court.

Yeah, I have started leaning to the view that he is getting some more than just "due process" in this case. I understand that he's the former president, but secrets involving nuclear capabilities are no joke. Anyone else found with documents with those kinds of classification markings is getting charged presumptively and locked up while they await trial because they are a very serious national security risk. The U.S. government is treating the FPOTUS with kid gloves, and I think the time for doing that has expired. It's time to level a charge and bring him in.

I understand wanting to be sure, but, as my father would say, at some point you've got to either shit or get off the pot. He's been out of office for more than a year and half. Let's get this done.