Bear Pit: now the sole domicile of politics at LuLa

[TechTalk]

I followed your thread carefully.  You started with the claim slavery helped cause the electoral system which caused a need for more lawyers to deal with it.

Well... Your first two sentences are clearly false.

Regarding vetos, sure that's one of the measures to balance power.  I didn't mention it.

What? You've descended far too deep into a rabbit hole of absurd denial for me to play along any further. What on earth will you come up with next?

[TechTalk]

Arguing that I confused "checks" with "balances" is arcane, or better, tortured logic.  If our conversation gets down to that stuff, I'm leaving.

Arcane? [arcane: understood by few; mysterious or secret] Tortured logic? Understanding the concept of checks and balances is fundamental in having any understanding of the Constitution. Knowing which is which is basic to understanding the concept. And whining about your confusion being pointed out is just another in a long list of diversionary tactics to distract from the numerous comments on all of your other misleading, false, or confused statements.

My head would hurt too much. 

No doubt.

[LesPalenik]

I followed your thread carefully.  You started with the claim slavery helped cause the electoral system which caused a need for more lawyers to deal with it.  So I said your conclusion means slavery caused more lawyers.  That if it was not for slavery, we would have no electoral system and less lawyers.  The latter sounds odd to me, maybe to others too.  I'd like to hear from lawyers if they think slavery is the reason they're a lawyer.

There are 1.33 million lawyers in USA. Maybe that's the problem.

[TechTalk]

There are 1.33 million lawyers in USA. Maybe that's the problem.

Only a small percentage of them are engaged in election law. But, they've certainly had a very visible workout this election season, thanks to the bizarre state of denial in which Trump and some supporters are living. The state of denial—the swing state that Trump can truly claim as his own.

[Peter McLennan]

Rod Serling voice: "Imagine, if you will, a world where someone from the right side of the political spectrum <insert usual forum suspects here> actually admitted that they were wrong about something.  Once.  Just once."

I guess that's what politically "right" means.  They're "right" about everything.

[Chris Kern]

Rod Serling voice: "Imagine, if you will, a world where someone from the right side of the political spectrum <insert usual forum suspects here> actually admitted that they were wrong about something. . . ."  I guess that's what politically "right" means.  They're "right" about everything.

At least here in the States, I think there is a tendency to conflate traditional internationalist Republicans, fiscal conservatives, judicial conservatives, libertarians, populists, xenophobes, and violent "militia" members.  There's certainly some overlap, but they're not all the same.  The Trump phenomenon has assembled many of them into a temporary but unstable coalition, abetted by certain domestic advocacy groups and, apparently, Russian intelligence services, but once el lider is out-of-office and ensconced again in his private palace in Florida, there will be a reckoning and, hopefully, a revival of a responsible and articulate U.S. conservative movement.

[faberryman]

When he signed the stimulus bill Trump asked for three things: 1) increase stimulus payment to $2000, 2) repeal Section 230 which provides immunity to social media companies, and 3) investigate voter fraud. So Mitch McConnell put all three things in a single bill, which of course makes it harder to pass. He’ll never get 60 votes to repeal Section 240, so whole the thing is dead in the water.

https://www.newsweek.com/2000-stimulus-checks-section-230-repeal-included-mitch-mcconnells-surprise-covid-relief-bill-1557866

[TechTalk]

Louisiana congressman-elect dies of Covid. Luke Letlow was to have been sworn in to begin first term in Congress on Sunday.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/29/luke-letlow-covid-congress

Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-La.) has died from the coronavirus, multiple sources confirmed Tuesday evening. He was 41.

Letlow, who announced on Dec. 18 that he tested positive for Covid-19, had been in the intensive care unit at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport.

Letlow leaves behind a wife and two small children. He was initially admitted to a Monroe hospital on Dec. 19, but was transferred and placed in the ICU last week when his condition deteriorated.

[Alan Klein]

It seems presidential checks or balances (take your pick) has worked.

$2,000 Stimulus Checks, Section 230 Repeal Included in Mitch McConnell's Surprise COVID Relief Bill
https://news.google.com/articles/CAIiEBMxBv4KI6HAz3f7jQ_TD5EqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow77zbCjDiq8wBMOul4gY?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

[jeremyrh]

And now I see the US has seen its first case of the BorisVirus

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/us-first-case-new-uk-covid-variant

[faberryman]

Krakette Sidney Powell is now suggesting that the voting machines are rigged in favor of the Republicans in the Georgia run-off election and is encouraging all Republicans to turn out and vote. Last week she suggested the voting machines were rigged in favor of the Democrats and was encouraging Republicans to boycott the election, so basically an about-face. I guess she has her bases covered so no matter who wins and loses the election was rigged.

Sidney Powell Thinks Georgia Senate Runoff May Be 'Rigged' to Favor GOP

https://www.newsweek.com/sidney-powell-thinks-georgia-senate-runoff-may-rigged-favor-gop-1557898

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is not due back until January 8th, two days after Congress counts the votes so the court may just decide that her Kraken lawsuits are moot. She originally misfiled two of the four. I don't know if she has fixed that yet or not.

And that lawsuit she has going in Texas to let VP Pence pick the winner is just sitting there. Next step is for the judge to set a briefing schedule. He's hoping the briefs will be brief.

I am not sure what her long term objectives are. She is 65, so maybe she will retire. I guess that depends on how much money she has scammed off  Trump supporters.

Anybody remember Rudy "Hand Down His Pants" Giuliani? He's got a new lawsuit cooking in Wisconsin. Seems the Trump campaign still has a few dollars left in its coffers that he is trying to get his hands on. It looks like it is just going to be a recycle of the same claims the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and every other court in the country, has rejected before. But when the mimeograph machine is all inked up, you can still keep turning the crank.

Giuliani reveals Trump campaign is filing new Supreme Court bid to try to overturn election result

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/supreme-court-trump-giuliani-election-b1780166.html

What about old Kayleigh "Affidavits by the Pound" McEnany. She apparently hasn't given up the ghost and was back lying on Fox News last night. Some guy who looked like a bouncer was filling in for Sean "The Manatee" Hannity. Old Kayleigh didn't have any new material. She was peddling the same lies that were debunked three weeks ago by the National Review, which is a conservative publication. You know you are in trouble when your own side is outing you for lying. I don't know how she lives with herself wearing that cross around her neck and tweeting out passages from the bible between lies.

Kayleigh McEnany Proves Jake Tapper Right, Effortlessly Lies on Fox

https://www.thedailybeast.com/kayleigh-mcenany-proves-jake-tapper-right-effortlessly-lies-on-fox

And then there is Poor Michael Flynn. Last we heard of him he was in the Oval Office with the Krakettes pitching declaring martial law and re-running the election to Trump. It appears to have been a failed attempt. The only thing for him to do now is to sell QAon t-shirts and coffee mugs. Everyone say along with me: Poor Michael Flynn. Not a dry eye in the house.

Michael Flynn Is Now Selling QAnon Merch

https://www.thedailybeast.com/michael-flynn-is-now-selling-qanon-merch

Apparently Operation Warp Speed is limping along on impulse power and even Scotty is thinking she's gonna blow. It seems at the current rate it is going to take a decade to get everyone vaccinated.

At current rate, it'll be 10 years before Americans are adequately vaccinated against Covid

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/at-current-rate-itll-be-10-years-before-americans-are-adequately-vaccinated-against-covid/ar-BB1cklmN?ocid=uxbndlbing

[Alan Klein]

At least here in the States, I think there is a tendency to conflate traditional internationalist Republicans, fiscal conservatives, judicial conservatives, libertarians, populists, xenophobes, and violent "militia" members.  There's certainly some overlap, but they're not all the same.  The Trump phenomenon has assembled many of them into a temporary but unstable coalition, abetted by certain domestic advocacy groups and, apparently, Russian intelligence services, but once el lider is out-of-office and ensconced again in his private palace in Florida, there will be a reckoning and, hopefully, a revival of a responsible and articulate U.S. conservative movement.

I think the most important change in the Republican party occurred because of Trump's populism.  It's moved many traditional center Democrats over to the Republican party. Trump has also supported many traditional "left" policies like deficit spending and printing used by Democrats to get the vote.  His push for the $2000 has even gotten McConnell nervous enough to recommend it.  I think many republicans enjoy their new populism and won't go back.  Sure there will remain many deficit hawks.  But Republicans like getting reelected as much as Democrats.

As far as crazies on the right drawn to the Republicans, well there are crazies on the left who are drawn to the Democrats.  Because of our two-party system caused by our electoral system of majority win, they have nowhere to go.  In parliamentary systems, they can form their own party and at least get a few legislative seats.  That rarely occurs in the US due to the two-party system.  In any case, the Republicans will continue to move left and the Democrats move even more left than they are.

[faberryman]

His push for the $2000 has even gotten McConnell nervous enough to recommend it.

McConnell hasn't recommended $2000 checks. That is just another false "fact" Alan dreamed up. McConnell voted against the stand-alone House version of the bill twice yesterday. He has now paired it in a new bill with the repeal of Section 230 so he could honor his promise to Trump to put it up for a vote knowing it will never pass. Not even the dumbest Republican senators will vote to repeal Section 230. Well, maybe Ron Johnson. And perhaps a couple other Republican senators who aren't sentient.

Meanwhile, the House has overridden Trump's veto of the defense authorization bill. Next up, the Senate votes. It is a slam dunk they will override Trump's veto too, though McConnell may delay it for a few days.

[digitaldog]

McConnell hasn't recommended $2000 checks. That is just another false "fact" Alan dreamed up.

+1, another example of him just making stuff up and expecting others to blindly accept the fictional narratives.

[LesPalenik]

Apparently Operation Warp Speed is limping along on impulse power and even Scotty is thinking she's gonna blow. It seems at the current rate it is going to take a decade to get everyone vaccinated.
At current rate, it'll be 10 years before Americans are adequately vaccinated against Covid

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/at-current-rate-itll-be-10-years-before-americans-are-adequately-vaccinated-against-covid/ar-BB1cklmN?ocid=uxbndlbing

That's also bad news for Canadian snow birds. No point trying to get better by going south just to get infected. Besides, the US/Canadian border crossing by car is still not allowed and who knows when the ban will be lifted.

[Alan Klein]

If global warming occurs as fast as some say, Canadians won't have to travel to Florida.  Floridians will visit you to cool off.

[faberryman]

It seems presidential checks or balances (take your pick) has worked.

$2,000 Stimulus Checks, Section 230 Repeal Included in Mitch McConnell's Surprise COVID Relief Bill
https://news.google.com/articles/CAIiEBMxBv4KI6HAz3f7jQ_TD5EqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow77zbCjDiq8wBMOul4gY?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

It is not a check or a balance. The president didn't veto the $600 bill and Congress didn't override his veto.  Trump signed the bill as-is because he didn't want the ignominy of shutting down the government and denying people $600 checks at Christmas. Of course, he didn't mind jerking everyone around for a week before doing so just for the fun of it. This is not some sophisticated constitutional maneuvering dreamed up by the Founding Fathers; it is Donald Trump being a horse's ass. Mitch McConnell probably told Trump he would bring the $2000 checks, the repeal of Section 230, and voter fraud investigations up for a vote if he signed to $600 bill. That is called horse trading which, believe it or not, wasn't invented by the Founding Fathers and is not enshrined in the Constitution either. And now McConnell is going to keep his promise. Why? Because he knows there is no way the repeal of Section 230 will pass, so the $2000 checks and voter fraud investigations will go down to defeat with it, at which point Mitch McConnell will smile and say under his breath "sucker". Trump got outplayed by McConnell pure and simple. And in a few more days, the Senate will override Trump's veto of the defense authorization bill, the House having done so yesterday. That is an example of constitutional checks and balances, not the other stuff.

Meanwhile, Trump is bitching and moaning about Melania's renovation of his living quarters at Mar-A-Lago. Apparently Trump had a bunch of white marble and dark wood stuff dragged out to the curb by the staff the other day. And I bet the interior decorator Melania hired to help her out gets stiffed on her bill, because her design was nowhere near tacky enough for Trump. Poor old Melania. She thought fucking with the Christmas decorations was bad, and now this.

[LesPalenik]

If global warming occurs as fast as some say, Canadians won't have to travel to Florida.  Floridians will visit you to cool off.

And they can even play golf here.

[faberryman]

Could we have a moment of silence for Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on Gilligan’s Island. She passed away at the age of 82.

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/dawn-wells-dead-gilligans-island-mary-ann-1234876755/

[Robert Roaldi]

As of about 3:30 pm on Dec 30th, Worldometer is reporting 349,087 total US deaths. The day is not over yet so there's a good chance the US will hit 350,000 by the end of day. The death total was 299,740 on Dec 10.  So there have been 50,000 deaths in the last 20 days.

Remember when people thought that 60,000 total deaths was going to be an important milestone.

(Good thing that Alan is ignoring my posts or I'd have to put up with him replying with something like "Well, what's Biden doing about it?")