American Politics Thread V: We're Just Biden Our Time ...

[Dresderstan]

I respect your rights to all your views while I strongly disagree with them, it is called Democracy, this respect is given it is not earned.

For the love of God, stop saying that respecting opposite views is democracy: what you are talking about is freedom of expression, not a system of government.

Just ignore him.

[The United Confederacy of Texas]

For the love of God, stop saying that respecting opposite views is democracy: what you are talking about is freedom of expression, not a system of government.

Just ignore him.

Honestly, I tried, but his spouting nonsense and whataboutisms as the truth hurts my everything and keeps drawing me back in.

[Kowani]

Just ignore him.

Honestly, I tried, but his spouting nonsense and whataboutisms as the truth hurts my everything and keeps drawing me back in.

Use the ignore function

[Vassenor]

So the conservative talking heads have suddenly switched gears from "trans women are too strong to play sports with cis women" to "trans people are too weak to serve in the military".

Make up your mind, people

[Kannap]

Pat McCrory, former governor of North Carolina and mayor of Charlotte, announces his candidacy for NC's 2022 Senate race. He joins Mark Walker, former U.S. Representative for NC-06 (2015-2021) on the Republican side.

On the Democrat side, we have five candidates so far:

• Jeff Jackson, state senator for NC's 37th District since 2014
• Rett Newton, mayor of Beaufort, NC since 2017
• Erica Smith, former state senator for NC's 3rd District (2015-2021); runner-up against Cal Cunningham in the 2020 primaries for the 2020 senate race.
• Richard Watkins III, formerly a candidate for U.S. Representative of NC-04 in 2018
• Cheri Beasley, former Associate Justice (2012-2019) and Chief Justice (2019-2020) of the NC Supreme Court

[Forsher]

So the conservative talking heads have suddenly switched gears from "trans women are too strong to play sports with cis women" to "trans people are too weak to serve in the military".

Make up your mind, people

Now ask them if they think ciswomen should be in the military.

FFS this may not even ignore transitivity, i.e. transwomen > ciswomen, military standard > transwomen... ciswomen > military standard? why would you assume they think that?

[Farnhamia]

Our Last Thread
Welcome back, guys and gals, Democrats and Republicans, leftists, rightists, centrists, and Kowani, to the American Politics Thread. It's our big 5th edition, and to celebrate, I brought some cake!

More than 18% of the US is vaccinated, 24 states are going further with the voting restriction laws, and we're still here, NSG. So let's get this show on the road and start off this edition great.

You know the rules, ready, set, Allez!

Lmao looks like 18% of the population is gonna die within the next ten years.

*looms ominously* LYAO? I wouldn't make jokes that look like spreading disinformation about a disease that's killed millions in a very short time.

[Kowani]

6 Senators vote to block debate on bill aimed at targeting hate crimes against Asian-Americans

Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Roger Marshall (R-KS)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)

[Borderlands of Rojava]

6 Senators vote to block debate on bill aimed at targeting hate crimes against Asian-Americans

Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Roger Marshall (R-KS)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)

Remember the name like fort minor. These are the men who want us to look the other way while people get shot.

[Vassenor]

So the conservative talking heads have suddenly switched gears from "trans women are too strong to play sports with cis women" to "trans people are too weak to serve in the military".

Make up your mind, people

Now ask them if they think ciswomen should be in the military.

FFS this may not even ignore transitivity, i.e. transwomen > ciswomen, military standard > transwomen... ciswomen > military standard? why would you assume they think that?

Yeah but the sports thing is specifically about how trans women retain the inherent strength of cis men.

Also stuff about how we have higher bone density than cis women so its unfair, while at the same time hormone therapy is evil because among other things it drastically reduces bone density.

[Zurkerx]

Pat McCrory, former governor of North Carolina and mayor of Charlotte, announces his candidacy for NC's 2022 Senate race. He joins Mark Walker, former U.S. Representative for NC-06 (2015-2021) on the Republican side.

On the Democrat side, we have five candidates so far:

• Jeff Jackson, state senator for NC's 37th District since 2014
• Rett Newton, mayor of Beaufort, NC since 2017
• Erica Smith, former state senator for NC's 3rd District (2015-2021); runner-up against Cal Cunningham in the 2020 primaries for the 2020 senate race.
• Richard Watkins III, formerly a candidate for U.S. Representative of NC-04 in 2018
• Cheri Beasley, former Associate Justice (2012-2019) and Chief Justice (2019-2020) of the NC Supreme Court

Hmm, Erica Smith will probably be the candidate on the Democrat side though if I had to guess with my no political knowledge, Democrats will try to get Jeff Jackson to be the nominee. A possible winner in all of this could be Beasley for the nomination. I believed you supported someone like Smith. Is there anyone on this list you wouldn't support?

[Greater Miami Shores]

Just ignore him.

Honestly, I tried, but his spouting nonsense and whataboutisms as the truth hurts my everything and keeps drawing me back in.

In Politics everything works both ways, biases and corruptions, the Republicans are not Political Saints and the Democrats are not Political Saints, who agrees, who disagrees? I agree.

Dude, Honestly, I Am Sick of This. I strongly agree with President Trump and the Republicans on most issues, I strongly disagree with Biden and the Democrats on most issues, I am a Proud Republican, and there is nothing wrong with it, it is called Freedom of Expression and Democracy which I Respect on both sides, those calling others to ignore me, Keep Proving My Point. I don't care if all Persons on NS put me on ignore, I will continue to Post my views on all issues just like they do. I don't tell any persons put others persons you strongly disagree with on ignore. I will never place any Persons on Ignore for any reasons, even for Actionable Personal and Political Insults against me, I AM Very Proud of It, But I am not the only one on NS. I Am Sick of This. Peace over and out. GMS.

[Kowani]

The Matt Gaetz saga continues

As new details emerge about Rep. Matt Gaetz’s role in an alleged sex ring, The Daily Beast has obtained several documents showing that the suspected ringleader of the group, Joel Greenberg, made more than 150 Venmo payments to dozens of young women, and to a girl who was 17 at the time.

The payment from Greenberg, an accused sex trafficker, to the 17-year-old took place in June 2017. It was for $300 and, according to the memo field, was for “Food.” Greenberg’s relationship with Gaetz, and the money Greenberg paid to women, is a focal point for the Justice Department investigation into Gaetz. And the new documents obtained by The Daily Beast—containing years of online financial transactions—establish a clear pattern: Greenberg paid multiple young women (and at least one girl) hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars on Venmo in one transaction after another.

Nearly a year after Greenberg’s June 2017 payment, Gaetz Venmo’d Greenberg to “Hit up ___,” using a nickname for the teen. She was 18 years old by then, and as The Daily Beast reported, Greenberg described the payment as being for “School.”It was one of at least 16 Venmo payments to 12 different women listed as being for “School.” Typically, the payments were for around $500, but also went higher than $1,000 in the transactions obtained by The Daily Beast.

Gaetz made only one previously unreported transaction in the newly obtained documents: a payment from the Florida congressman to the former Seminole County tax commissioner for $300 on November 1, 2018, with the love hotel emoji in the memo field. The Daily Beast was unable to tie that transaction directly to any woman, but confirmed that Greenberg booked one night for that date at The Alfond Inn, a luxury hotel in Winter Park, Florida.

Greenberg—who was a close associate of Gaetz—now sits in jail after being indicted on 33 counts, including sex trafficking, conspiracy to bribe a public official, and stalking. The federal indictment claims Greenberg was “engaged in ‘sugar daddy’ relationships,” and he is said to be helping federal agents in their now-expanded investigation into the GOP congressman from the Florida panhandle.

“I'm sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today,” Greenberg’s lawyer, Fritz Scheller, told reporters last week.

According to three people with knowledge of the relationship, Gaetz was among the men who tapped Greenberg to access a large network of young women. And according to CNN, women would show up to parties at gated-community homes or hotel suites, where they would be supplied with alcohol and drugs like cocaine and ecstasy, and would have sex with the men. Greenberg would then later pay the women. (The Daily Beast has not independently confirmed these details.) In the Venmo transactions reviewed by The Daily Beast, however, there are at least 16 payments in 2017 totaling nearly $5,000 to a woman who would later go on to date Matt Gaetz. Additionally, Greenberg paid her $1,500 over the course of two days in April 2017 using Cash App. That woman—who came to Washington, D.C. as an intern in January 2018—has said she dated Gaetz during and after her senior year in college.

Federal investigators seized the ex-girlfriend's phone in January, a month after they seized Gaetz’s device, according to two people who heard her describe the episode. Timothy Jansen, a criminal defense lawyer representing the woman, said she is refusing to speak to journalists and declined to comment.

An examination of Greenberg’s Venmo transactions shows dozens of suspicious and curiously titled payments. Some were as simple as “Ass” or a lipstick kiss mark. Others were more opaque, such as “Stuff” and “Orher stuff” [sic]. Three payments in the reviewed documents—in amounts of $500, $500, and $250—were designated for “Ice cream.” Five other payments were for “Salad,” one of which topped $1,000.

In the memo field for one $500 payment to a woman on Friday July 7, 2017, Greenberg used only the policewoman emoji. County records show he had used his government-issued, taxpayer-funded American Express card at the time to cover a “weekend hotel stay” at the Four Seasons in Miami, from July 7 to July 9. And that Saturday, July 8, Gaetz and Greenberg each shared a picture of themselves at dinner with Roger Stone. Another common payment memo was for “Food,” when Greenberg would usually pay the women $300 to $500. In one instance, Greenberg paid a woman $500 for “Food,” switched the credit card that was attached to his Venmo account, and then paid that same woman another $500 for “Appetizers” less than two minutes later.

That woman later established a formal connection in 2018 with the Seminole County tax collector’s office. According to a copy of her contract, which The Daily Beast obtained through a public records request, Greenberg agreed to pay the woman thousands of taxpayer dollars, purportedly for social media consulting and marketing.

A 2020 audit of the office, however, flagged the payments, noting that auditors did “not know what this was for.” After The Daily Beast published a story last week on Greenberg’s Venmo transactions, that woman—who is an amateur model and burgeoning Instagram influencer—went private on Instagram. A number of other women who received payments from Greenberg also appear to have recently taken steps to conceal their online relationships, most notably with other people identified in the transactions.

One of the most significant countermeasures came from the woman who was first paid by Greenberg when she was 17. The day after The Daily Beast revealed one payment Greenberg made to her after she had recently turned 18—without identifying her by name—the woman changed all of her identifying information on Venmo. She also appears to no longer be Venmo friends with two other women Greenberg paid through the app. As of this week, she also no longer appears to be Venmo friends with Gaetz.
Another woman who received repeated payments—and appears in a photo at a party with three other women also paid by Greenberg—is also no longer connected to Gaetz on Venmo.

In total, Gaetz appears to have lost at least seven Venmo “friends” in the last week, including three of the women who received payments from Greenberg. Multiple other women who received payments have also restricted public access to their Instagrams and Twitters in the last week.

Gaetz’s office did not immediately return a request for comment, and Greenberg’s attorney declined comment.

[Bombadil]

6 Senators vote to block debate on bill aimed at targeting hate crimes against Asian-Americans

Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Roger Marshall (R-KS)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)

Remember the name like fort minor. These are the men who want us to look the other way while people get shot.

Hw can one forget these names, it's the same names every time..

[Godular]

Honestly, I tried, but his spouting nonsense and whataboutisms as the truth hurts my everything and keeps drawing me back in.

Dude, Honestly, I Am Sick of This. I strongly agree with President Trump and the Republicans on most issues, I strongly disagree with Biden and the Democrats on most issues, I am a Proud Republican, and there is nothing wrong with it, it is called Freedom of Expression and Democracy which I Respect on both sides, those calling others to ignore me, Keep Proving My Point. I don't care if all Persons on NS put me on ignore, I will continue to Post my views on all issues just like they do. I don't tell any persons put others persons you strongly disagree with on ignore. I will never place any Persons on Ignore for any reasons, even for Actionable Personal and Political Insults against me, I AM Very Proud of It, But I am not the only one on NS. I Am Sick of This. Peace over and out. GMS.

On 'most' issues, huh? Pray tell, where do you diverge?

[Greater Miami Shores]

Dude, Honestly, I Am Sick of This. I strongly agree with President Trump and the Republicans on most issues, I strongly disagree with Biden and the Democrats on most issues, I am a Proud Republican, and there is nothing wrong with it, it is called Freedom of Expression and Democracy which I Respect on both sides, those calling others to ignore me, Keep Proving My Point. I don't care if all Persons on NS put me on ignore, I will continue to Post my views on all issues just like they do. I don't tell any persons put others persons you strongly disagree with on ignore. I will never place any Persons on Ignore for any reasons, even for Actionable Personal and Political Insults against me, I AM Very Proud of It, But I am not the only one on NS. I Am Sick of This. Peace over and out. GMS.

On 'most' issues, huh? Pray tell, where do you diverge?

I have never seen Pro Trump Posts from any of you guys.

1 - I am even on record as supporting Biden's national mask mandate, even as I wear the masks I hate to wear.

2 - Afghanistan, I think President Trump is wrong to think he can deal with the Taliban in good faith, now Biden wants to pull the US out of Afghanistan too, as I have posted a few times.

3 - North Korea, I think President Trump's soft policy and friendship with the Dear Leader is wrong, I used to work with two North Koreans, and we used to share stories about our native nations of Cuba and North Korea at lunch time, and we found out we have a lot in common, this is the short version of the story I have posted many times.

4- President Trump's betrayal of the Kurds, I think Kurdistan can be and should be an independent nation state, oil rich, military power allied to the USA, as I have posted a few times.

I have never seen Pro Trump Posts from any of you guys.

[Godular]

On 'most' issues, huh? Pray tell, where do you diverge?

I have never seen Pro Trump Posts from any of you guys.

1 - I am even on record as supporting Biden's national mask mandate, even as I wear the masks I hate to wear.

2 - Afghanistan, I think President Trump is wrong to think he can deal with the Taliban in good faith, now Biden wants to pull the US out of Afghanistan too, as I have posted a few times.

3 - North Korea, I think President Trump's soft policy and friendship with the Dear Leader is wrong, I used to work with two North Koreans, and we used to share stories about our native nations of Cuba and North Korea at lunch time, and we found out we have a lot in common, this is the short version of the story I have posted many times.

4- President Trump's betrayal of the Kurds, I think Kurdistan can be and should be an independent nation state, oil rich, military power allied to the USA, as I have posted a few times.

I have never seen Pro Trump Posts from any of you guys.

Of course not, he's a detestable human being. That does not mean that we've never ever ever agreed with anything that ever came out of that guy's two-scoops-of-ice-cream hole. Case in point, there was a lot of support when Trump said the second round of stimulus payments should be $2,000 instead of $600, even and especially from democrats.

On the flipside, it also does not mean that if one agrees with Trump on the 'Broken Clock is still right twice a day' principle that they are 'Pro-Trump'.

It's like you're griping that we don't just up and post 'Rah rah Trump rocks rah rah'...

Folks could... but that would be lying.

[Greater Miami Shores]

I have never seen Pro Trump Posts from any of you guys.

1 - I am even on record as supporting Biden's national mask mandate, even as I wear the masks I hate to wear.

2 - Afghanistan, I think President Trump is wrong to think he can deal with the Taliban in good faith, now Biden wants to pull the US out of Afghanistan too, as I have posted a few times.

3 - North Korea, I think President Trump's soft policy and friendship with the Dear Leader is wrong, I used to work with two North Koreans, and we used to share stories about our native nations of Cuba and North Korea at lunch time, and we found out we have a lot in common, this is the short version of the story I have posted many times.

4- President Trump's betrayal of the Kurds, I think Kurdistan can be and should be an independent nation state, oil rich, military power allied to the USA, as I have posted a few times.

I have never seen Pro Trump Posts from any of you guys.

Of course not, he's a detestable human being. That does not mean that we've never ever ever agreed with anything that ever came out of that guy's two-scoops-of-ice-cream hole. Case in point, there was a lot of support when Trump said the second round of stimulus payments should be $2,000 instead of $600, even and especially from democrats.

On the flipside, it also does not mean that if one agrees with Trump on the 'Broken Clock is still right twice a day' principle that they are 'Pro-Trump'.

It's like you're griping that we don't just up and post 'Rah rah Trump rocks rah rah'...

Folks could... but that would be lying.

I am on record as stating Trump is not a Gentleman.

GMS.

[Genivaria]

6 Senators vote to block debate on bill aimed at targeting hate crimes against Asian-Americans

Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Roger Marshall (R-KS)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)

On any list of politicians doing something evil I can always depend on Ted Cruz to be among them.

[Washington Resistance Army]

On 'most' issues, huh? Pray tell, where do you diverge?

I have never seen Pro Trump Posts from any of you guys.

1 - I am even on record as supporting Biden's national mask mandate, even as I wear the masks I hate to wear.

2 - Afghanistan, I think President Trump is wrong to think he can deal with the Taliban in good faith, now Biden wants to pull the US out of Afghanistan too, as I have posted a few times.

3 - North Korea, I think President Trump's soft policy and friendship with the Dear Leader is wrong, I used to work with two North Koreans, and we used to share stories about our native nations of Cuba and North Korea at lunch time, and we found out we have a lot in common, this is the short version of the story I have posted many times.

4- President Trump's betrayal of the Kurds, I think Kurdistan can be and should be an independent nation state, oil rich, military power allied to the USA, as I have posted a few times.

I have never seen Pro Trump Posts from any of you guys.

Yes you have, you just ignore them. Trump's judicial appointments and foreign policy had a lot of praise on NSG. You just don't acknowledge that because it destroys your flimsy as hell "but you guys do it too!" nonsense.

[The Black Forrest]

6 Senators vote to block debate on bill aimed at targeting hate crimes against Asian-Americans

Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Roger Marshall (R-KS)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)

Ranger Cotton? Not surprised considering all the “laws” getting passed in AR.
Ted? Did somebody explain to him Asians are not Hispanics or central/south Americans?
......

The rest are basically the same......

[Greater Miami Shores]

Interesting but I think it has no chance of success: Source MSN.Com.

A bloc of Senate Republicans prepare their own infrastructure plan as Biden tries to ramp up outreach

A few excerpts:
Moderate GOP members of Congress, The discussions appear to be underway among a group of 10 Republicans, including Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Mitt Romney (Utah) and Bill Cassidy (La.),

Romney told reporters Wednesday that the process is still in its “early stages,” though he signaled Republicans would potentially discuss it Thursday. He also said GOP leaders could eventually try to engage with 10 centrist-leaning Democrats to broaden their coalition.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... d=msedgntp

[The Black Forrest]

Interesting but I think it has no chance of success: Source MSN.Com.

A bloc of Senate Republicans prepare their own infrastructure plan as Biden tries to ramp up outreach

A few excerpts:
Moderate GOP members of Congress, The discussions appear to be underway among a group of 10 Republicans, including Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Mitt Romney (Utah) and Bill Cassidy (La.),

Romney told reporters Wednesday that the process is still in its “early stages,” though he signaled Republicans would potentially discuss it Thursday. He also said GOP leaders could eventually try to engage with 10 centrist-leaning Democrats to broaden their coalition.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... d=msedgntp

Promising a plan? You mean like their health care plan?

I do have a bridge to sell you.

[Godular]

Interesting but I think it has no chance of success: Source MSN.Com.

A bloc of Senate Republicans prepare their own infrastructure plan as Biden tries to ramp up outreach

A few excerpts:
Moderate GOP members of Congress, The discussions appear to be underway among a group of 10 Republicans, including Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Mitt Romney (Utah) and Bill Cassidy (La.),

Romney told reporters Wednesday that the process is still in its “early stages,” though he signaled Republicans would potentially discuss it Thursday. He also said GOP leaders could eventually try to engage with 10 centrist-leaning Democrats to broaden their coalition.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... d=msedgntp

Promising a plan? You mean like their health care plan?

I do have a bridge to sell you.

They'll pay for it with their bill. Bridges are infrastructure!

[The Black Forrest]

Promising a plan? You mean like their health care plan?

I do have a bridge to sell you.

They'll pay for it with their bill. Bridges are infrastructure!

SAHWEEET! In that case I have 100 bridges to sell them!

Oh and tell them I will make a donation to their campaigns if they buy one.....