American Politics III: New President, Same Old Country

[Celritannia]

Only 5 Republicans think that convicting Trump is Constitutional after Rand Paul’s (R-KY) attempt to throw out the trial fails

Mitt Romney
Ben Sasse
Susan Collins
Lisa Murkowski
Pat Toomey

Well, that's what I get for being optimistic.

Hopefully some will convict at the trial. Seems like a few may be waiting to hear what evidence there is against Trump.

[Celritannia]

The fear was more over the former Warsaw Pact countries descending into an orgy of violence because of revanchist claims among them. This fear was deepened with the Yugoslav Wars which is what flipped the view in DC. Germany also had a desire to shift the front line away from its borders. Russia at the time was too weak to be seen as a threat as it was at risk of outright collapse and was feared to being on track to becoming a failed state.

Russia has actually come out of its decline and is slowly rebuilding itself, it's not the country it was even 10 years ago let alone 20. The Russian economy is still highly dependent on oil but that is something they know about and are trying to solve. It's even managed to halt it's demographic crisis. The life span of Russian men is increasing and their fertility rate before the sanctions was starting to climb up again. The population of Russia has actually started to grow again, albeit not by much.

There’s still no real need for NATO when the Europeans don’t pay up their dues. I characterize these "allies" more as "leeches" at this point, when they keep military spending low and have militaries that are jokes because they know America will protect them while their own citizens enjoy extensive government services and American citizens suffer

Alright, that's a little unfair, don't you think?

[Fartsniffage]

Holy fuck at this point Andrew Cuomo will be telling a bunch of abandoned buildings with "for lease" signs to reopen

Hes been a terrible governor as of late and said things that are completely out of touch. Im not voting for him again.

Like I said in the Covid thread. You're going to really hate him when the measures needed to contain the UK variant come into force.

[Repubblica Fascista Sociale Italiana]

The fear was more over the former Warsaw Pact countries descending into an orgy of violence because of revanchist claims among them. This fear was deepened with the Yugoslav Wars which is what flipped the view in DC. Germany also had a desire to shift the front line away from its borders. Russia at the time was too weak to be seen as a threat as it was at risk of outright collapse and was feared to being on track to becoming a failed state.

Russia has actually come out of its decline and is slowly rebuilding itself, it's not the country it was even 10 years ago let alone 20. The Russian economy is still highly dependent on oil but that is something they know about and are trying to solve. It's even managed to halt it's demographic crisis. The life span of Russian men is increasing and their fertility rate before the sanctions was starting to climb up again. The population of Russia has actually started to grow again, albeit not by much.

There’s still no real need for NATO when the Europeans don’t pay up their dues. I characterize these "allies" more as "leeches" at this point, when they keep military spending low and have militaries that are jokes because they know America will protect them while their own citizens enjoy extensive government services and American citizens suffer

Also, I will admit this is one of the few things I agreed with Trump on, in that we need to start rethinking if Western Europeans are really our allies and if they should be going forwards. Why should we spend so much to protect them, while they get the luxury of not having to keep a remotely competent military (just look at their "armies")

[Kowani]

17 Republicans voted against the rules for the impeachment trial

Blackburn
Cotton
Cruz
Daines
Hagerty
Hawley
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Lee
Marshall
Paul
Risch
Rubio
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Shelby
Tuberville.

[The Black Forrest]

Holy fuck at this point Andrew Cuomo will be telling a bunch of abandoned buildings with "for lease" signs to reopen

Ok? Sorry I don’t understand.

[Repubblica Fascista Sociale Italiana]

There’s still no real need for NATO when the Europeans don’t pay up their dues. I characterize these "allies" more as "leeches" at this point, when they keep military spending low and have militaries that are jokes because they know America will protect them while their own citizens enjoy extensive government services and American citizens suffer

Alright, that's a little unfair, don't you think?

Considering the overall situation, not at all. There’s no need for Atlanticism anymore, American foreign policy needs to refocus mainly to the Asia-Pacific as well as Latin America

[The Black Forrest]

Hes been a terrible governor as of late and said things that are completely out of touch. Im not voting for him again.

Like I said in the Covid thread. You're going to really hate him when the measures needed to contain the UK variant come into force.

Also, the South African variant as well.

[No State Here]

Holy fuck at this point Andrew Cuomo will be telling a bunch of abandoned buildings with "for lease" signs to reopen

Ok? Sorry I don’t understand.

Every day I hear of some business being shut down here, eventually there will be no businesses left to actually reopen, and congress can’t even get a stimulus through

[Major-Tom]

Jesus fuck, Kellyanne Conway leaked her own underaged daughter's nudes as revenge for her daughter shit-talking her on social media.

Link is PG-13, of course. Nobody is reposting that shit.

For a while, I was conflicted on whether or not Claudia Conway was merely exaggerating the claims of how awful her mother was to her specifically (I never doubted Kellyanne's awfulness as a general principle).

But this? Jesus Christ, Claudia was right. She's gotten a lot of flak for her seeming "lack of authenticity," but this makes it sound as if she's dead on. Hope she can escape that miserable household.

[Fartsniffage]

There’s still no real need for NATO when the Europeans don’t pay up their dues. I characterize these "allies" more as "leeches" at this point, when they keep military spending low and have militaries that are jokes because they know America will protect them while their own citizens enjoy extensive government services and American citizens suffer

Also, I will admit this is one of the few things I agreed with Trump on, in that we need to start rethinking if Western Europeans are really our allies and if they should be going forwards. Why should we spend so much to protect them, while they get the luxury of not having to keep a remotely competent military (just look at their "armies")

Tanks cost lots of money. A few laptops cost far less.

[Major-Tom]

Like I said in the Covid thread. You're going to really hate him when the measures needed to contain the UK variant come into force.

Also, the South African variant as well.

I thought Moderna was effective against the UK variant? In addition, we're not allowing any travelers in from South Africa. I reckon, for now, we'll be alright.

[The Black Forrest]

Ok? Sorry I don’t understand.

Every day I hear of some business being shut down here, eventually there will be no businesses left to actually reopen, and congress can’t even get a stimulus through

Oh ok. Well? There are going to be vacant buildings as companies are thinking “hey we can have employees work at home! We don’t have to pay taxes on their work space! SCORE!”

[Major-Tom]

Well, that's what I get for being optimistic.

Hopefully some will convict at the trial. Seems like a few may be waiting to hear what evidence there is against Trump.

No need for hope when you're dealing with the GOP. It's a lot like when you're a kid in elementary school, and you hope your teacher is absent for a day. 99.5% of the time it doesn't happen, so you learn to stop hoping.

[Kowani]

Ok? Sorry I don’t understand.

Every day I hear of some business being shut down here, eventually there will be no businesses left to actually reopen, and congress can’t even get a stimulus through

Well
The last part could happen easily (by Congressional standards)
And it looks as if the Dems Dre going that way, too, if the chatter I’m seeing is correct

[Fartsniffage]

Also, the South African variant as well.

I thought Moderna was effective against the UK variant? In addition, we're not allowing any travelers in from South Africa. I reckon, for now, we'll be alright.

It is. But your rollout of vaccines is shit. You're going to see heavy lockdowns to protect the health services. Or you're going to see a lot of death.

[Celritannia]

Alright, that's a little unfair, don't you think?

Considering the overall situation, not at all. There’s no need for Atlanticism anymore, American foreign policy needs to refocus mainly to the Asia-Pacific as well as Latin America

I'm not saying Atlanticism should stay, but calling these countries "leeches" is not right at all.
A country can have an increased military spending while also having a strong welfare and social car system in place.

It's not as if the US has to pay in so much, but it does.
The US can easily afford a universal healthcare, welfare, and social policies, much like any other strong EU country, the Commonwealth Realms, or even Japan and South Korea.

The US military does need to take a massive cut in general, especially it's bloated military bureaucracy. Many of the DOD departments can easily be merged, removed, or revamped.

[Major-Tom]

I thought Moderna was effective against the UK variant? In addition, we're not allowing any travelers in from South Africa. I reckon, for now, we'll be alright.

It is. But your rollout of vaccines is shit. You're going to see heavy lockdowns to protect the health services. Or you're going to see a lot of death.

You're not wrong, although I'm (somewhat) optimistic that the vaccination efforts will improve. The last week alone, they've really made some strides here in the States, and hopefully with more time will come more efficacy in vaccination.

[Zurkerx]

17 Republicans voted against the rules for the impeachment trial

Blackburn
Cotton
Cruz
Daines
Hagerty
Hawley
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Lee
Marshall
Paul
Risch
Rubio
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Shelby
Tuberville.

These Republicans don't surprise me though Rubio certainly has become spineless over the years. But assuming these 17 refuse to vote convict but everyone else does, that would be a 83-17 in favor of conviction. We'll have to see how Republicans vote but i won't be getting my hopes up.

Yes true, I didn't think about corruption: it will be a topic though I'm not sure if it will be a huge one. If it is, and by that in the Top 3, Republicans are in deep trouble.

If Democrats are smart they will use the attempts to overturn the election and refusal to certify the results against Republicans along with other dreadful things Trump did that they looked the other way on especially inciting a insurrection.

Every Republican should be asked on record if they will support the outcome of the election and where they stand on what happened on January 6th and if they think Trump should have been convicted.

I agree. It would certainly lead to many independents souring on them, at least, that would be the hope. Americans tend to have the memory of a goldfish at times. I should know: I witness it every day.

[San Lumen]

I thought Moderna was effective against the UK variant? In addition, we're not allowing any travelers in from South Africa. I reckon, for now, we'll be alright.

It is. But your rollout of vaccines is shit. You're going to see heavy lockdowns to protect the health services. Or you're going to see a lot of death.

Most governors in the US seems to have no desire for another shutdown. Even Cuomo has said this. If he shuts down the state again New York's economy will completely collapse.

California's is on the brink of it.

[The Black Forrest]

I thought Moderna was effective against the UK variant? In addition, we're not allowing any travelers in from South Africa. I reckon, for now, we'll be alright.

It is. But your rollout of vaccines is shit. You're going to see heavy lockdowns to protect the health services. Or you're going to see a lot of death.

Indeed. We had a hospital get bitch slapped because they tried to vaccinate a wealthy school district rather then follow the guidelines.

We seemed to be focused on reopening the schools so they need to boost the teachers on the vaccine schedule.

[Esalia]

Well, that's what I get for being optimistic.

Hopefully some will convict at the trial. Seems like a few may be waiting to hear what evidence there is against Trump.

I strongly doubt it. Wouldn't make sense if someone voted that the trial was unconstitutional but then voted to convict during that trial they considered unconstitutional.

[Celritannia]

It is. But your rollout of vaccines is shit. You're going to see heavy lockdowns to protect the health services. Or you're going to see a lot of death.

Most governors in the US seems to have no desire for another shutdown. Even Cuomo has said this. If he shuts down the state again New York's economy will completely collapse.

I don't think NY would collapse if it has another extended shutdown.
Things will only get worse if they don't. The US is already the country with the most deaths.

[Esalia]

17 Republicans voted against the rules for the impeachment trial

Blackburn
Cotton
Cruz
Daines
Hagerty
Hawley
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Lee
Marshall
Paul
Risch
Rubio
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Shelby
Tuberville.

Tuberville must really like voting against every damn thing.

[Omniabstracta]

17 Republicans voted against the rules for the impeachment trial

Blackburn
Cotton
Cruz
Daines
Hagerty
Hawley
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Lee
Marshall
Paul
Risch
Rubio
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Shelby
Tuberville.

These Republicans don't surprise me though Rubio certainly has become spineless over the years. But assuming these 17 refuse to vote convict but everyone else does, that would be a 83-17 in favor of conviction. We'll have to see how Republicans vote but i won't be getting my hopes up.

If Democrats are smart they will use the attempts to overturn the election and refusal to certify the results against Republicans along with other dreadful things Trump did that they looked the other way on especially inciting a insurrection.

Every Republican should be asked on record if they will support the outcome of the election and where they stand on what happened on January 6th and if they think Trump should have been convicted.

I agree. It would certainly lead to many independents souring on them, at least, that would be the hope. Americans tend to have the memory of a goldfish at times. I should know: I witness it every day.

The fact that only five Republicans voted that it was even constitutional, but then the vast majority of the caucus turned around and agreed on the rules governing the thing they thought was supposedly unconstitutional, just goes to show how much of a spineless out the unconstitutionality argument actually is.