Bear Pit: now the sole domicile of politics at LuLa

[digitaldog]

I'm sure Biden will make a better trade deal with GB than Trump.  Trump didn't like fish; only McDonalds.

Often wrong, never in doubt.
I don't eat at McDonalds any longer, but sir, they do serve fish.

[faberryman]

Your imagined motivations seem to neglect that there is no constitutional or legal basis for which the Court would have any reason to intervene.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. In this instance, no standing, no case. It doesn't matter what John Roberts had for breakfast.

[faberryman]

Often wrong, never in doubt.
I don't eat at McDonalds any longer, but sir, they do serve fish.

I remember Bill Clinton caught a lot of flack for eating at McDonalds. I think he jogged from the White House over to McDonalds one morning with some secret service guys for a Egg McMuffin or something. I don't think Trump is jogging anywhere. Oh, and Hillary stole the White House china.

By the way, I am not sure that the McFlounder is actually fish. And why would anyone want cheese on their fish sandwich?

Edit:

It has been pointed out to me that there is no such thing as a McFlounder. The fish sandwich at McDonalds is called the Whaler. Mea culpa. It has been a while since I have been to McDonalds. It was obviously a forgettable experience. But that raises a whole host of other questions, like why is a fish sandwich called a Whaler? A whaler is a boat used to hunt whales. And whales are mammals, not fish. So best case scenario, McDonalds fish sandwich should be call a Trawler. And that's assuming the Whaler is really fish. The cheese on top is as yet unexplained.

[digitaldog]

I remember Bill Clinton caught a lot of flack for eating at McDonalds. I think he jogged from the White House over to McDonalds one morning with some secret service guys for a Egg McMuffin or something. I don't think Trump is jogging anywhere. Oh, and Hillary stole the White House china.

By the way, I am not sure that the McFlounder is actually fish. And why would anyone want cheese on their fish sandwich?

All I can suggest is....
Royale with cheese 

[TechTalk]

The further legal question is whether the Texas AG, who is being investigated for securities fraud, brought the suit in an effort to secure a pardon from Trump. That would be an illegal use of the pardon power, part of an illegal conspiracy that could put both of them in jail. (Trump can pardon any federal crime he wishes, but can't do it as the result of a bribe.)

Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton, who filed the frivolous lawsuit which was dismissed yesterday by the Supreme Court, has multiple federal and state criminal issues to worry about. He is not just being investigated for felony securities fraud; he was actually indicted by the State of Texas and is awaiting trial for that charge. He was indicted in 2015 and has used stalling tactics for the past five-years to delay the start of his trial.

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/19/ken-paxton-criminal-case-timeline-texas-attorney-general-fraud/

Additionally, he is currently being investigated by the FBI after five Texas Deputy Attorneys General, the First Assistant Attorney General, and the Deputy First Assistant Attorney General sent a letter on October 1, 2020 alleging knowledge of bribery, abuse of office, and other crimes by Paxton to federal authorities along with statements detailing their claims and knowledge.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Paxton Whistleblowers Letter

https://apnews.com/AP: FBI Investigating Texas Attorney General

And as was previously posted, the FBI delivered a subpoena a few days ago to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office seeking records relating to the allegations.

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/10/subpoenas-served-ken-paxton-case

[Robert Roaldi]

Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton, who filed the frivolous lawsuit which was dismissed yesterday by the Supreme Court, has multiple federal and state criminal issues to worry about. He is not just being investigated for felony securities fraud; he was actually indicted by the State of Texas and is awaiting trial for that charge. He was indicted in 2015 and has used stalling tactics for the past five-years to delay the start of his trial.

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/19/ken-paxton-criminal-case-timeline-texas-attorney-general-fraud/

Additionally, he is currently being investigated by the FBI after five Texas Deputy Attorneys General, the First Assistant Attorney General, and the Deputy First Assistant Attorney General sent a letter on October 1, 2020 alleging knowledge of bribery, abuse of office, and other crimes by Paxton to federal authorities along with statements detailing their claims and knowledge.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Paxton Whistleblowers Letter

https://apnews.com/AP: FBI Investigating Texas Attorney General

And as was previously posted, the FBI delivered a subpoena a few days ago to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office seeking records relating to the allegations.

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/10/subpoenas-served-ken-paxton-case

I guess it's not funny but it made me laugh. If Texas were a country, would it be a sh*thole country? 

Was so much easier back in the day when everyone knew who the good guys were.

But stories like this do bring up interesting questions. If a guy who is charged, indicted, maybe even convicted for things that seem to violate the public trust, what does it mean that people vote for him anyway? Something's not right.

[faberryman]

If a guy who is charged, indicted, maybe even convicted for things that seem to violate the public trust, what does it mean that people vote for him anyway?

It means some people are idiots. Obviously. Occam's razor. It is like the problem of evil in religion. You have to ask yourself why an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God would create idiots. Yet there they are. Sort of tests your faith, doesn't it?

[digitaldog]

Trump team loss for today (if yesterday wasn't enough):
A federal judge has rejected President Trump’s election lawsuit in Wisconsin, the latest of a series of legal blows dealt to the Trump campaign to its efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig dismissed the suit, according to The Associated Press, finding that the president’s arguments “fail as a matter of law and fact.”
The rejection came as the Wisconsin Supreme Court was hearing arguments from a Trump attorney in a state case during a rare Saturday session.

Trump: 'We’re going to win so much, you’re going to be so sick and tired of winning'
😝

[faberryman]

Just to offer a little international perspective on the election:

German magazine Der Spiegel names Trump 'Loser of the Year'

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/529830-german-magazine-der-spiegel-names-trump-loser-of-the-year

[TechTalk]

The Republican Party now finds itself being pulled in every direction by multiple forces both from within and externally. There is a withering group of traditional small government conservatives. There is a large and growing number of extremist antigovernment and now anti-democracy Republicans. There is a schizophrenic spilt between Republicans and conservatives that are still sane and the sociopathic—or in some cases insane—Trumpist, QAnon, White nationalist, Fascist, Authoritarian, militia, and other cult/conspiracy/racist elements.

They have brought this situation on themselves by standing silent as more fringe and extremist elements have associated themselves with the party, taken root, and expanded to control a major part of the party and conservative media. All of it has been fueled by the ability to deliver a steady stream of extremist "news" and ideology via the internet and social media to feed the emotional needs and inclinations of the fearful and paranoid with a diet of angry demagoguery targeted at their perceived enemies. The culmination of this was Trump and his allies and enablers—alongside members of the general populace, some of whom behave like cult members—who either believe his continuous stream of malignant narcissistic lies, or use his fans for their own political benefit, taking control of the Republican Party.

Now, that schizophrenic split is becoming visible and loud. An example of it appeared today at a Trump rally in Washington, D.C.

Two videos - each a minute or less in length

https://platform.twitter.com/Chants-of-destroy-the-GOP-at-the-MAGA-rally-in-DC-today

[TechTalk]

Even more crazy on display at today's MAGA rally in DC

- Stop the Steal founder lays out that their last hope after the electoral college is that a senator will join Rep. Mo Brooks in blocking Jan 6 certification of Biden win. If none do, “we will burn the Republican Party down and make something new.”

- Alex Jones also spoke, promising that “we will never recognize” Joe Biden. Cheers erupted when he declared that “Joe Biden is a globalist, and Joe Biden will be removed one way or another.”

- General Flynn spoke as well at Freedom Plaza. Speaking about the American Revolution against the British and comparing it to today's oppression by the "media and global crowd" saying "we're not going to allow it", he leaves encouraging Trump supporters not to give up and instead “fight like a Flynn!”

https://twitter.com/FordFischer/More MAGA Rally Short Clips

[John Camp]

The Republican Party now finds itself being pulled in every direction by multiple forces both from within and externally. <BIG SNIP>

I cut this because it was too long to quote in full, but I completely agree. I would point out that something similar is happening to the Democratic Party. I'm an old line liberal, and have been since the Sixties. What I see now is that both parties are focusing on what they call a base -- people who will never vote for the opposite party. The Democratic base includes SOME people of color. An overwhelming number of blacks favor the Democrats, and a decent majority of Hispanics, though I think a significant number of Hispanics are moving to the right. Other parts of the Democratic base include government union members (including teachers) but not industrial (blue collar) union members and old line social democrats. There is a very large middle group that is pretty much up for grabs, but I suspect that it would welcome a responsible center-right party with libertarian overtones -- the Elon Muskites  -- OR a responsible center-left party.

I live in a majority Hispanic state (New Mexico) and my observation here is that many immigrant Hispanics, both legal and illegal, and especially the males, are attracted by macho candidates like Trump, for what I suppose are traditional cultural reasons. Not generally true of native American Hispanics, who are pretty much split like everybody else. One thing about immigrant Hispanics is that a large numbers of them (and especially women) work like dogs and resent large chunks of their money being taken away by government. They are attracted to arguments that government should be frugal and encourage people to succeed, while Democrats tend to emphasize communal welfare over individual success.

[Alan Klein]

I cut this because it was too long to quote in full, but I completely agree. I would point out that something similar is happening to the Democratic Party. I'm an old line liberal, and have been since the Sixties. What I see now is that both parties are focusing on what they call a base -- people who will never vote for the opposite party. The Democratic base includes SOME people of color. An overwhelming number of blacks favor the Democrats, and a decent majority of Hispanics, though I think a significant number of Hispanics are moving to the right. Other parts of the Democratic base include government union members (including teachers) but not industrial (blue collar) union members and old line social democrats. There is a very large middle group that is pretty much up for grabs, but I suspect that it would welcome a responsible center-right party with libertarian overtones -- the Elon Muskites  -- OR a responsible center-left party.

I live in a majority Hispanic state (New Mexico) and my observation here is that many immigrant Hispanics, both legal and illegal, and especially the males, are attracted by macho candidates like Trump, for what I suppose are traditional cultural reasons. Not generally true of native American Hispanics, who are pretty much split like everybody else. One thing about immigrant Hispanics is that a large numbers of them (and especially women) work like dogs and resent large chunks of their money being taken away by government. They are attracted to arguments that government should be frugal and encourage people to succeed, while Democrats tend to emphasize communal welfare over individual success.

I agree with many of your points.  Everyone seems to be taking sides including cable stations and newspapers, maybe even Supreme Court justices.  Politics was always a blood sport, but it's seemingly getting bloodier.  It used to be that way but ended at the nation's shores.  Now it seems, people are willing to sacrifice the country to win the political game.  It's very destructive. It's no good for anyone or either side.  What's the point of being in charge of a country that's losing its power, its influence, its wealth, its way?   

[jeremyrh]

  Politics was always a blood sport, but it's seemingly getting bloodier.  It used to be that way but ended at the nation's shores.  Now it seems, people are willing to sacrifice the country to win the political game.  It's very destructive. It's no good for anyone or either side.  What's the point of being in charge of a country that's losing its power, its influence, its wealth, its way?

These comments apply also to Brexit - supported for personal ambition by “Johnson” and for monetary gain by those who see advantage in pauperising the country so they can buy it cheap. Not sure what the solution is but it looks like it will get worse before it gets better.

[Alan Klein]

These comments apply also to Brexit - supported for personal ambition by “Johnson” and for monetary gain by those who see advantage in pauperising the country so they can buy it cheap. Not sure what the solution is but it looks like it will get worse before it gets better.

Covid is aggravating that situation.  I was reading yesterday that restaurants only cause about 1 1/2% of the spread while 73% occurs at home.  Yet, we're shutting down and destroying millions of jobs and businesses that will never recover.  The money being printed, and it's just as bad in Europe as the US, is going to the well connected and people who hold assets.  Most everyone else is just getting poorer.  The stock market's doing great.  But I think that's a bubble and illusion.  I hope I'm wrong. But I think this is going to be worse than in 2008.

[faberryman]

I was reading yesterday that restaurants only cause about 1 1/2% of the spread while 73% occurs at home.

Presumably a family member contracted COVID somewhere before spreading it at home. Perhaps people should be more careful in their behavior outside the home.

Frankly, given the half-ass way we conduct contact tracing, when we do it at all, I don't have much faith in those statistics.

I am certain it is too much to ask for a link to those statistics so we can evaluate their validity.

[digitaldog]

Presumably a family member contracted COVID somewhere before spreading it at home. Perhaps people should be more careful in their behavior outside the home.

Indeed, what he read and where, the actuality, all to be taken with a grain of salt.

[LesPalenik]

Even more crazy on display at today's MAGA rally in DC

- Stop the Steal founder lays out that their last hope after the electoral college is that a senator will join Rep. Mo Brooks in blocking Jan 6 certification of Biden win. If none do, “we will burn the Republican Party down and make something new.”

- Alex Jones also spoke, promising that “we will never recognize” Joe Biden. Cheers erupted when he declared that “Joe Biden is a globalist, and Joe Biden will be removed one way or another.”

- General Flynn spoke as well at Freedom Plaza. Speaking about the American Revolution against the British and comparing it to today's oppression by the "media and global crowd" saying "were not going to allow it", he leaves encouraging Trump supporters not to give up and instead “fight like a Flynn!”

https://twitter.com/FordFischer/More MAGA Rally Short Clips

Those guys are more bizarre than Benny Hill.

[Robert Roaldi]

I cut this because it was too long to quote in full, but I completely agree. I would point out that something similar is happening to the Democratic Party. I'm an old line liberal, and have been since the Sixties. What I see now is that both parties are focusing on what they call a base -- people who will never vote for the opposite party. The Democratic base includes SOME people of color. An overwhelming number of blacks favor the Democrats, and a decent majority of Hispanics, though I think a significant number of Hispanics are moving to the right. Other parts of the Democratic base include government union members (including teachers) but not industrial (blue collar) union members and old line social democrats. There is a very large middle group that is pretty much up for grabs, but I suspect that it would welcome a responsible center-right party with libertarian overtones -- the Elon Muskites  -- OR a responsible center-left party.

I live in a majority Hispanic state (New Mexico) and my observation here is that many immigrant Hispanics, both legal and illegal, and especially the males, are attracted by macho candidates like Trump, for what I suppose are traditional cultural reasons. Not generally true of native American Hispanics, who are pretty much split like everybody else. One thing about immigrant Hispanics is that a large numbers of them (and especially women) work like dogs and resent large chunks of their money being taken away by government. They are attracted to arguments that government should be frugal and encourage people to succeed, while Democrats tend to emphasize communal welfare over individual success.

Too bad you can't take this stuff into a lab and measure it along many dimensions to determine how much of the dysfunction is because it is now possible for groups of nutcases to form into critical masses on social media.

[LesPalenik]

Even more crazy on display at today's MAGA rally in DC

If this is the sign of things to come, those rallies could turn out more dangerous than the pandemic.

At least four people were stabbed in confrontations late Saturday at a rally supporting Donald Trump and protesting his loss in the presidential election in downtown Washington, D.C.

A man was also shot in Olympia in Washington state during similar confrontations between people protesting Trump’s loss and pandemic restrictions, and Black Lives Matter activists, NBC News reported. A suspect was in custody.

The stabbing victims in the nation’s capital were all hospitalized with critical injuries, according to D.C. Fire Department spokesperson Doug Buchanan, NBC reported.

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/4-stabbed-proud-boys-trump-protest-dc_n_5fd5c782c5b6218b42e9ce26?ri18n=true