Time to get on the TRUMP train

[sonatine]

If the Obama administration altered the fabric of our government so the republicans could be totally excluded from governance, would there or would there not be armed insurrection by sundown?

if we're being honest, dems would have filibustered anyone trump nominated that wasn't a democrat, so they pretty much forced this move.

and yes, merrick garland should have been confirmed, but the dems are just as bad (or even worse) by filibustering gorsuch, who is supremely qualified for the position.

there used to be a time when the senate would vote on the basis of qualifications and not ideology. for god's sake, antonin scalia was confirmed 98-0. those days are long gone

how is this filibuster different than the any of the partisan blocks the republicans implemented against obama approximately every chance they got?

again; the democrats were in this exact position and did not literally re-legislate the position of the goal posts to bypass the most fundamental checks and balances a two party government provides.

when the pendulum swings back, expect mandatory abortions and surgically implemented pre-school unigenitals.

[GringoStar]

if we're being honest, dems would have filibustered anyone trump nominated that wasn't a democrat, so they pretty much forced this move.

and yes, merrick garland should have been confirmed, but the dems are just as bad (or even worse) by filibustering gorsuch, who is supremely qualified for the position.

there used to be a time when the senate would vote on the basis of qualifications and not ideology. for god's sake, antonin scalia was confirmed 98-0. those days are long gone

how is this filibuster different than the any of the partisan blocks the republicans implemented against obama approximately every chance they got?

again; the democrats were in this exact position and did not literally re-legislate the position of the goal posts to bypass the most fundamental checks and balances a two party government provides.

when the pendulum swings back, expect mandatory abortions and surgically implemented pre-school unigenitals.

I agree with your premise - there is a level of hypocrisy here that is pretty nauseating.

However, the problem with the pendulum is that the democratic party are a bunch of pussies who are powerful and corrupt as a group, but weak individually on principles. They would need to nominate a Bernie to bring in an administration that is going to go with principle over political dealing and expediency.

When I see Chelsea Clinton doing the PR circuit to re-contextualize her mother's failures - I see a democratic party that is going to be unwilling to take ongoing political risks and drain their own swamp. Obama took a risk on healthcare and then it got compromised to the point of being moot. Democrats try the same thing with abortion or guns in 2020 and they will fail even further.

#riseofatruethirdparty

[sonatine]

The make or break moment for me re: democrats is how risk averse they are come 2020.

If they throw up an older white make centerist, I expect a lot of left leaning legislation and a likely super-majority ushered in, ready to use these same hamstrung rules to push through a lot of liberal agendas along with basic pro-science shit, which at this point is my only real concern.


But if they pitch anything and I mean anything but an older white man, our children's children will be murdering each other for air purifiers and potable water.

[GringoStar]

The make or break moment for me re: democrats is how risk averse they are come 2020.

If they throw up an older white make centerist, I expect a lot of left leaning legislation and a likely super-majority ushered in, ready to use these same hamstrung rules to push through a lot of liberal agendas along with basic pro-science shit, which at this point is my only real concern.


But if they pitch anything and I mean anything but an older white man, our children's children will be murdering each other for air purifiers and potable water.

VERY TRUE...

If they continue to try to push anecdotal civil rights benchmarks as a higher priority than policy and ability to wield power once it's obtained, we are all fucked.

[blake]

if we're being honest, dems would have filibustered anyone trump nominated that wasn't a democrat, so they pretty much forced this move.

and yes, merrick garland should have been confirmed, but the dems are just as bad (or even worse) by filibustering gorsuch, who is supremely qualified for the position.

there used to be a time when the senate would vote on the basis of qualifications and not ideology. for god's sake, antonin scalia was confirmed 98-0. those days are long gone

again; the democrats were in this exact position and did not literally re-legislate the position of the goal posts to bypass the most fundamental checks and balances a two party government provides.

not really though. you're forgetting who abolished the filibuster to begin with; it was harry reid and the democrats who eliminated it when the republicans refused to confirm obama's appointments.

at the time, the republicans were saying exactly what the democrats are saying now -- that the nominations were too far outside of the mainstream and if obama only nominated better people, they would be confirmed, etc. etc... it was all ridiculous

the republicans were completely fucked up then and the dems are just as bad now. arguably, the republicans started all of this though, i agree

[blake]

US bombing syria right now

[Krypt]

50 TOMAHAWKS ON ASSADS HEAD

[GringoStar]

50 TOMAHAWKS ON ASSADS HEAD

Curious to see what the Russian response to this is.

[blake]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/twt/status/373581528405905408

skatz

[blake]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/twt/status/375609403376144384

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/twt/status/376334423069032448

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/twt/status/373058887404228608

[blake]

50 TOMAHAWKS ON ASSADS HEAD

Curious to see what the Russian response to this is.

this is a good question, a lot of russians on the ground in syria and they're pretty close allies

[RealTalk]

Curious to see what the Russian response to this is.

this is a good question, a lot of russians on the ground in syria and they're pretty close allies

I mean Turkey shot one of their jets out of the sky and they didn't do jack shit. And I think the pilot died in that incident if I'm not mistaken.

Also I can't imagine we didn't give them some sort of a heads up in an attempt to de-conflict and minimize Russian casualties.

[Mintjewlips]

The art of the deal in effect, Assad served his purpose, time for the Russians to cash in their sweat equity.

I hope they don't muammar gaddafi him, i doubt it, that would be gruesome.

[Lord of the Fraud]

Not much to see here. Symbolic slap on the wrist.


Nothing to be gained by depleting Assad anymore. Lesser evil. Simple as that.

[FPS_Russia]

Knowing Trump they're probably nukes haha.

Imagine if it was the US and Russia launching nukes at each other. Each side had about 1500 in the air, off in the distance hundreds of orange streaks zipping upward. I'm not even sure it'd be worth trying to survive.

[LegallyNonBindingPosts]

here's the Navy's statement. better info than cnn and much shorter. no pointless what if or future conjecture bs.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=99782

[GringoStar]

here's the Navy's statement. better info than cnn and much shorter. no pointless what if or future conjecture bs.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=99782

Very solid. Thanks.

One thing mentioned caught my eye: "The strike was intended to deter the regime from using chemical weapons again."

What the fuck do I know, but I would assume that the al-Assad regime is using chemical weapons as result of desperation. Obviously, it's a power tactic meant to shock and demoralize resistance, but it also smells of desperation, or at least systematic mismanagement.

This looks good on a tic-for-tac level, but if our official policy is to not support anti-Assad factions, this ultimately just furthers their cause by weakening the Syrian government militarily and their reputation. I don't think the move here is to do nothing, but at least establish a long overdue no-fly-zone, instead of going from 0-60 just to prove we are willing to call the cops and spend the night at our sister's house when the husband gets a little handy.

[Lord of the Fraud]

This chem attack btw is stranger than fiction. Like you really couldn't make it up.


Is like a sports team holding an unassailable lead with seconds left on the clock before pulling a blatant disqualification move right in front of the refs face.


Can fill in your own conspiracy angles. But I doubt this escalates things much at a military level (in Syria at least)

[limitles]

50 TOMAHAWKS ON ASSADS HEAD

Curious to see what the Russian response to this is.

nada, close allies are always warned of such actions.

And this wasn't a Trumpism

[GringoStar]

Curious to see what the Russian response to this is.

nada, close allies are always warned of such actions.

And this wasn't a Trumpism

I wasn't insinuating they will retaliate militarily. I just wonder how they will justify their inaction to little brothers like Syria.