Politics

Sen. John McCain was one of only two Republicans in recent memory whom I felt showed an uncommon measure of integrity for an American politician. The other was Sen. Arlen Specter. Sadly, I fear, we shall not see the likes of such men in American politics ever again, which is probably why I have such great hope for those women who have shown tremendous courage in choosing to serve our government. This is not to suggest that women are incorruptible, it's just time for a major social shift in our governing given the status of our current male leadership, which is extraordinarily disgraceful--IMO.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar recently made an anti-Semitic remark on Twitter, Link. In response to a tweet critical of pro-Israeli positions among various U.S. Politicians she posted "it's all about the Benjamins baby". The association between Jewish people and money is a well known hateful trope. Should there be consequences for this, if so what should they be and if not why not?

What are some examples of successful matriarchal and patriarchal societies in the 21st century?

We've had a few threads exploring media bias, the dangerous political climate, and various ways propaganda seems to be shaping our politics, but I felt this one was specific enough to have it's own. Fox News’s propaganda isn’t just unethical — research shows it’s enormously influential Without the “Fox effect,” neither Bush nor Trump could have won. I think we need to do something about this. TBH, I don't know quite what that can/should be and how to improve matters while still having appropriate deference for the First Amendment. Also, as seems clear from the data, arguing that this is a "both sides" issue is (to be kind) disingenuous.

Did anyone watch this? I saw most of it. It was on channels: 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, and several cable news channels. One thing that did not get enough notice is that Trump called Cohen a "RAT." The way Trump used the term is a common gangster reference to someone who tells the TRUTH to law enforcement. At rat is not a liar. The GOP questioning Cohen kept harping on the theme that Cohen is a liar and cannot be trusted. Here is Trump's famous Tweet: "Remember, Michael Cohen only became a “Rat” after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable & unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE! Why didn’t they…

Although I haven't heard this in the news, I am making the educated guess that North Korea has had all the time they need to set up thousands of artillery pieces all along their side of the border pointed directly at Seoul. If we do anything to destroy their nuclear program or long-range missiles, they can press a button that will rain down total ruin on the city of Seoul, completely destroying it a few minutes. Am I wrong? Anti-missile batteries can't do anything against artillery shells. Maybe it's time to relocate Seoul and its occupants to the southern tip of the peninsula.

"Animals" is the worst thing Trump can say about any group of people. He calls the gang members of MS-13 "animals" because they torture, kill, rape, and other terrible things that bad people do to innocent people, AND they are Latinos. But, strictly speaking, this assumes that "animals" in general are despicable. Calling a group of people "animals" sounds Nazi. When I go down the list of animals that I am familiar with, there is a long list of LOVELY creatures: dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, rabbits, horses, deer come to mind when I think "animal". Trump loves to eat meat. Are those animals that give up their lives for his pleasure despicable? Trump must be thinkin…

I saw a video that was 'sponsored' and posted to my timeline on FB. Anyone else get it? It was a little frightening that people will buy into this view. There was a posh student from the UK explaining how socialism has failed in every country that it has been tried in. It particularly made the recent problems in Venezuela a direct result of socialism failing. It listed many countries - including most of Europe where socialism has supposedly failed. Although the guy was English - I looked up the sponsored site and they were from the USA (as I had guessed they would be) - it was clearly a message direct from the Trump administration. Is this out of the Trump adm…

Visualize this: It’s November 7. You wake up to discover Republicans kept control of the house, senate, along with most state legislatures and governorships. What does that mean? What best explains how it happened? What comes next? Let’s not assume it’s impossible. After all, who thought they’d wake up to see Donald Trump as the US President on November 9, 2016...FiveThirtyEight gives 15% for GOP taking house, 81% for senate, and at least 26 state governors. This is clearly opinion based. Let’s please keep in mind that none of our crystal balls are more accurate than anyone else’s. What would it mean, how did it happen, what happens next?

The right, and especially Pres Trump, constantly are claiming media bias, supposedly supporting the left. Have there been any independent studies on whether that bias actually exists?

What are everyones thoughts on the effect of any independents running for election in 2020? Or even the threat of them running on the political positioning and debate, or who might get the Democrat ticket? Do they have any chance, or what circumstances might allow them to be elected? Some Democrats seemed quite upset at Howard Schultz suggesting he might run, as he would tend to draw more votes from Democrats than from Trump and that it would also favour Trump in the electoral college voting if there was no clear winner. My personal point of view is that it would be healthy to have someone moderate stating the case for the so-called middle, especially initi…

Not really. They are both hacks for their perspective "sides". Or more to the point they are comedians saying whatever they think "sells" at the moment. I think it would be a mistake to let your political views to be shaped by a comedian. Any comedian.

The Trump concept of a “border wall” seems like the center of interest for Ann Coulter. She is in favor of a “wall” at all costs. When Bill Maher interviewed Coulter last Friday, she opened by blasting the president for folding on his wall campaign promise, “Look, it’s crazy that I expect a president to keep a promise [for a wall] he made every day for 18 months.” “So, let me get this straight,” Maher asked, “You were convinced that Donald Trump was the guy. You voted for him and now you’re finding out he’s a lying conman. What was your first clue?” Ann Coulter (AC): “OK, I’m a very stupid girl, fine. But [the wall] was actually a selling point…Look we’v…

It was a huge week of confirmations regarding Russia's interference into the 2016 election. Intelligence officials testified before the Senate and called the evidence that Russia interfered incontrovertible. Not deep state Obama hold overs but Trump appointees like H.R. McMaster and Dan Coats. Then the Mueller investigation laid out indictments naming names and outlining how it was done. It turns out part of Russia's strategy to help Trump was to bolster Bernie Sanders. Social media accounts were created and professional Russian trolls sought to aide Bernie Sanders campaign. I find this to be an interesting revaluation,not a surprising one, because since the electio…

Is it just me, or has Turkey been the problem child lately in NATO? Does NATO have any tools to punish bad behavior of its members, short of outright expulsion? Does each country get an equal vote in decision making, such as tiny little Iceland, which has almost no military or economy compared to the US or UK gets the same influence in decisions?

Is it just me, or have politics in the US become more polarized? It seems to me to have started in the late 1990s and has been increasing on an exponential curve, though I doubt that it would be possible to quantify that stipulation. Has a similar thing happened to democratic politics globally? What are your opinions on the root cause of this?

Jeremy Corbin's latest trouble has been caused by some lip readers claiming he called the prime minister a 'stupid woman' under his breath to the person sitting next to him during the PM question time after she failed to answer his questions adequately. He claims he was talking about the whole front bench and said that they were stupid people. There has been outrage about it with claims of hypocrisy and sexism and arguments between differing lip readers as to if he said 'people' or 'woman'. The venomous fake moral outrage has been nauseating.... Putting aside the childishness of calling someone stupid just because they cannot or will not see your side of an argument, th…

Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said Trump has been threatening Cohen, as well as suggesting that his father-in-law could be investigated for unspecified crimes because he is a wealthy Ukranian and therefore must be involved in organized crime. “And not only was he intimidated, but he believes his family also has been intimidated and threatened,” Davis said. Trump denied the claim and told reporters that Cohen was “threatened by the truth.” Trump admitted to reporters of witness intimidation with his response to the question "Are you threatening Cohen and his family?" Trump confirmed a threat exists and replied that Cohen was "threatened by the truth." In this…

Latest news from Trump administration on Syria: Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/world/middleeast/cia-arming-syrian-rebels.html Cutting aid off to the rebels will heavily skew the balance of power in Syria towards the regime forces and their Russian/Iranian backers. Syrian regime forces have been making headway into vast swaths of land controlled by ISIL, but virtually have only devoted just enough manpower to force a standstill at rebel frontlines. This action will heavily reduce capabilities of rebels in such areas. This purports to be a live map of Syrian war: http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/time/20.07.2017. Not sure of how credible it is (have …

I get the impression from her that her fame is going to be short lived. She seems to really believe in what she's saying, but what's she's saying often doesn't add up. She promises a lot, but she's not going to be able to deliver much.

Meanwhile in the world not overridden by apologists and propagandists, Trump also illegally tried to prevent Puerto Rico from getting the disaster relief money congress voted to provide them. https://www.vox.com/2019/1/17/18186818/trump-puerto-rico-hurricane-funds

As if the various bombshells regarding paying off adult film stars, nepotism, and Russian collusion weren't enough the inspector General for GSA has acknowledge that Trump is in violation of the Emoluments clauses.

Last month, the US prez claimed China would be the first to buckle when it came to his trade war gambit: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-08/trump-vows-that-china-will-take-down-its-trade-barriers Now he's lifting the trade ban on ZTE so he can help fasttrack this Chinese company's recovery: http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-trump-tells-commerce-department-to-help-chinese-company-2018-5. Is this the great negotiator in action? ZTE buys a lot of US parts but they broke the law and were only a month into a multi-year ban. Is this commercial diplomacy, or weasel ethics, or investment opportunism, or what?

According to some info that flashed through some non-western media (please don't ask to specify) China destroyed two US interceptors somewhere over Pacific in the last few weeks. It happened right after Huawei director arrest in Canada. If this is true, strange that US media keeps silence on that.

Is it the right step to withdraw the troops from Syria? Or it will give new impetus to the ISIS?