Bear Pit: now the sole domicile of politics at LuLa

[digitaldog]

Hey <insert usual suspects here> are you guys OK with Trump's latest round of pardons?

The worst IMHO were those for the murderous Blackwater guys who caused the death of 14 Iraqi civilians (two children) and wounded 17 others. 
This pardon, from the 'law and order" president currently on vacation. Yes, he's due to play golf.

[Robert Roaldi]

So should we start counting Biden's lies?  Here's a reversal from something he promised to do the first day in office.  He's lied and not in office yet.  Of course, he realizes that should he reverse Trump's policies, there would be millions of people at our southern border trying to get in again, something Trump stopped with Mexico's help.

US Immigration Changes Won’t Happen Overnight, Biden Advisers Say
https://www.voanews.com/usa/immigration/us-immigration-changes-wont-happen-overnight-biden-advisers-say

If you're trying to draw some kind of equivalence with the previous administration, you'll fail. 

[faberryman]

Hey <insert usual suspects here> are you guys OK with Trump's latest round of pardons?  Four convicted criminals sprung, including his son in law's father?  Nearly two dozen others of similar repute let off the hook, just because?

Are you OK with him at the last possible moment abandoning the COVID financial help bill and flying off to golf in Florida, leaving millions in the lurch?

Is this acceptable behaviour for your leader?

Just asking for a friend...

Well, by a margin of 51% to 47%, Americans who voted said no. Or 57% to 43% if you like to count by electoral votes. Trump supporters liked to count by electoral votes to enhance his margin of victory in 2016. I think they have changed their collective mind now that doing that shows that Trump was a bigger loser in 2020 than if you counted by popular vote. I had hoped the spread would have been greater. Who knows what the 33% of Americans who were too lazy to lick a stamp and vote think.

[Robert Roaldi]

Hey <insert usual suspects here> are you guys OK with Trump's latest round of pardons?  Four convicted criminals sprung, including his son in law's father?  Nearly two dozen others of similar repute let off the hook, just because?

Are you OK with him at the last possible moment abandoning the COVID financial help bill and flying off to golf in Florida, leaving millions in the lurch?

Is this acceptable behaviour for your leader?

Just asking for a friend...

Well, Senator Sasse (R-Neb) isn't happy with the pardons, but he doesn't participate here, https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/531545-gop-senator-on-trump-pardons-this-is-rotten-to-the-core.

[faberryman]

So should we start counting Biden's lies?

No problem with me. Why don't you keep the numbers, and let us know as milestones are reached.

[Alan Klein]

So much wrong in such a short post.

To give a simple example, the US CANNOT export its food to the EU, and no country can do so, without tariffs or quotas, which is what the UK could do as a member.
You missed the key word - FREELY. Individuals can look for places at universities, or apply for jobs, but they have to accept quotas, visa limits and local labour restrictions.  In the EU a person can (within some limits) pack their bags and study or live in another country.  As from next year we will need a special visa to spend more than 90 days out of 180 in the EU. Same reason - visa restrictions.Maybe, but I think diversity is a benefit.Nobody is "spongeing".

I'm sure you're going to work it out.  Somehow GB was greater before the EU.  Think positive.

[faberryman]

Stop campaigning. The election is over.  Time to relax.

You are the one who about five minutes ago wanted to count Biden's lies, so you don't seem all that relaxed to me.

[faberryman]

Somehow GB was greater before the EU.

Somehow I doubt that the UK is going to get in the colonial expansion game again. Been there, done that.

[Alan Klein]

...
To give a simple example, the US CANNOT export its food to the EU, and no country can do so, without tariffs or quotas, which is what the UK could do as a member...

Apparently, you'll not be restricted by tariffs and quotas.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-55435930

[Craig Lamson]

Hey <insert usual suspects here> are you guys OK with Trump's latest round of pardons?  Four convicted criminals sprung, including his son in law's father?  Nearly two dozen others of similar repute let off the hook, just because?

Are you OK with him at the last possible moment abandoning the COVID financial help bill and flying off to golf in Florida, leaving millions in the lurch?

Is this acceptable behaviour for your leader?

Just asking for a friend...

Yes. Yes. Yes.

[TechTalk]

Somehow GB was greater before the EU.  Think positive.

Somehow? Think vague.

[LesPalenik]

I'm sure you're going to work it out.  Somehow GB was greater before the EU.  Think positive.

So was USA. Hopefully, Biden can fix it.

[Robert Roaldi]

Yes. Yes. Yes.

What are the positive aspects of those?

[digitaldog]

What are the positive aspects of those?

The "answer", if one arrives, can serve no good.... 

[TechTalk]

So should we start counting Biden's lies?  Here's a reversal from something he promised to do the first day in office.  He's lied and not in office yet.  Of course, he realizes that should he reverse Trump's policies, there would be millions of people at our southern border trying to get in again, something Trump stopped with Mexico's help.

US Immigration Changes Won’t Happen Overnight, Biden Advisers Say
https://www.voanews.com/usa/immigration/us-immigration-changes-wont-happen-overnight-biden-advisers-say

Your black and white thinking consistently leads to a limited comprehension and simplistic understanding. Biden has the necessary experience to understand that suddenly throwing a car into reverse can do serious damage unlike the reckless driver he is replacing.

Some actions can be taken quickly by executive order. Others will need time to put the infrastructure needed into place.

“We will be able to take some steps to change policies right away. Others will take time to put in place, and the situation at the border will not transform overnight, due in large part to the damage done over the last four years. But we are committed to addressing it in full,” Rice said.

Speaking with reporters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday, Biden said he had already discussed immigration issues with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other Latin American leaders. He promised “a much more humane policy” but said “it’s probably going to take the next six months to put that in place.” "The timeline is to do it so that we in fact make it better, not worse."

Sullivan and Rice both said in their interview with EFE that Biden will take executive action where possible to address issues with the immigration system, and they emphasized plans to provide humanitarian aid and help bolster Latin American economies to try to address the root cause of the influx of immigrants to the U.S.

Rice said that "processing capacity at the border is not like a light that you can just switch on and off. Our priority is to reopen asylum processing at the border consistent with the capacity to do so safely and to protect public health, especially in the context of COVID-19. This effort will begin immediately, but it will take months to develop the capacity that we will need to reopen fully," she said.

[Craig Lamson]

What are the positive aspects of those?

Pardoning those who have commited crimes  and been convicted is what happens when a President grants a pardon.  Trump is a piker when it comes to granting pardons.  Now your take may be different but I'm not going to judge any of the Presidental pardons granted by the Presidents of the recent past. 

Trump is not "abandoning" the Covid help bill because there is not a "Covid help bill" to abandon.  There is a massive, pork filled monster of a bill that few who voted for it have even read. And even that bill has not yet made it to his desk to sign or veto.  It's Congress who has let the hurting Americans down. They could have passed a Covid help bill months ago but decided, it appears, not to so have done so for political reasons.  There is no reason we are here right now, at this late date dealing with this other than Congress being assholes...both sides of the aisle. 600 bucks is a pittance to those who need help and Trump has wanted more for some time, but it's not his call.

Is it Ok for Trump to spend his holiday at his favorite place?  Yep, he can be President from anywhere.  Is it acceptable to me? Absolutely.

Now with that said, I offer my holiday wishes to all here and I'll depart for now as we begin our celebrations here.

[Alan Klein]

Your black and white thinking consistently leads to a limited comprehension and simplistic understanding. Biden has the necessary experience to understand that suddenly throwing a car into reverse can do serious damage unlike the reckless driver he is replacing.

Some actions can be taken quickly by executive order. Others will need time to put the infrastructure needed into place.

“We will be able to take some steps to change policies right away. Others will take time to put in place, and the situation at the border will not transform overnight, due in large part to the damage done over the last four years. But we are committed to addressing it in full,” Rice said.

He knew the situation while running and assured the country he would change current measures on day one.  So now he's backing off because he knows if he changes policy, in fact, if he even breathes a word of it, he'll have a million illegals swimming across the Rio Grande sneaking into our country.  You're just making apologies for him. Welcome to politics. The only infrastructure that would help is if he finishes Trump's wall.

Speaking with reporters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday, Biden said he had already discussed immigration issues with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other Latin American leaders. He promised “a much more humane policy” but said “it’s probably going to take the next six months to put that in place.” "The timeline is to do it so that we in fact make it better, not worse."

Sullivan and Rice both said in their interview with EFE that Biden will take executive action where possible to address issues with the immigration system, and they emphasized plans to provide humanitarian aid and help bolster Latin American economies to try to address the root cause of the influx of immigrants to the U.S.

The root cause is that we give freebies to illegals.  Unless he changes that, they'll keep coming.

Rice said that "processing capacity at the border is not like a light that you can just switch on and off. Our priority is to reopen asylum processing at the border consistent with the capacity to do so safely and to protect public health, especially in the context of COVID-19. This effort will begin immediately, but it will take months to develop the capacity that we will need to reopen fully," she said.[/i]

More excuses why they won't change Trump's policies.  Of sure, a couple of fig leaves.  That's it. 

[John Camp]

The worst IMHO were those for the murderous Blackwater guys who caused the death of 14 Iraqi civilians (two children) and wounded 17 others. 
This pardon, from the 'law and order" president currently on vacation. Yes, he's due to play golf.

+1

[digitaldog]

There is a massive, pork filled monster of a bill that few who voted for it have even read.

Did you? Do tell us, how many who passed the bill, didn't read it; be specific.
Finding out what's in the bill isn't difficult! But before we go there.... Did Mitch read it, because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) celebrated passage of the bill, saying:
“The Senate just passed another major bipartisan, COVID-19 relief package,”. “The American people can rest assured that more help is on the way, immediately.”
Not so fast Mitch.

Here are a list of items — other than the main COVID-19 relief — the bill contains:
$4 billion for New York’s MTA as part of bailouts for mass-transit systems.
$15 billion earmarked toward grant programs for live entertainment venues such as Broadway.
$7 billion toward expanding broadband access.
$1.4 billion for a construction of a wall on the southern US border.
A new law saying that violating copyright laws with unauthorized online streaming will become a felony punishable by five years in prison for first offenses and 10 years for repeat offensives. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) pushed the provision.
A rule saying the US Postal Service can no longer deliver e-cigarettes.
New museums on the National Mall that will focus on Latinos and women, which were pushed by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). 
A declaration condemning a possible role by the Chinese Communist Party in the selection of Tibet’s next Dalai Lama. The current Tibetan Buddhist religious leader is 85.
$500 million  earmarked for Israeli defense purchases, including to equip the Iron Dome missile defense system.
$250 million over five years for Palestinian economic aid, which was pushed by New York Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey.
$101 million to combat “the transnational threat of wildlife poaching and trafficking.”
$2.5 million for “Internet freedom programs in closed societies”
$10 million for “gender programs” meant to help women get education and start businesses in Pakistan.

Is it Ok for Trump to spend his holiday at his favorite place?  Yep, he can be President from anywhere.

No matter the location, he hardly has been since the election.

[Alan Klein]

So was USA. Hopefully, Biden can fix it.

Biden wants to print more than Trump, which was bad enough.  So we're heading in the same direction that GB did.