American Politics VII: Virginia Reel

[Rusozak]

Update: Herschel Walker calls off fundraiser amid supporter's swastika controversy

Nothing of value was lost. I wouldn't vote for him if I lived in the area and he has no business being in the Senate.


That being said, his biggest vice is being anti-vaxx (During a global pandemic no less!) and pretending that's a persecuted minority, not being an antisemite.

Maybe not in that particular instance, but being a GOP candidate from Georgia I wouldn't put it past him as both.

[Zurkerx]

What's concerning is how they actually view Trump as inseparable from the nation itself. It's like Mussolini, Hitler, and the Kim family in their respective nations on that front. Pretty scary.

Yeah, it's something I've noticed with my family even though they don't say those exact words. Come to think about it, I feel they view the whole GOP as inseparable to the nation, especially considering how they aren't fond of Democrats and are convinced they are destroying the nation. And mind you, they aren't as radicalized as other Republicans.

You're not wrong: we call that Authoritarianism and the Republican Party has turned into something eerily similar to the likes of Turkey’s AKP, Poland’s PiS, and Hungary’s Fidesz. This is important to note though:

Over the past decade and a half, Republicans have shown disdain for procedural fairness and a willingness to put the pursuit of power over democratic principles. They have implemented measures that make it harder for racial minorities to vote, render votes from Democratic-leaning constituencies irrelevant, and relentlessly blocked Democratic efforts to conduct normal functions of government.

According to Jennifer McCoy, a political scientist at Georgia State University, these measures follow common patterns seen among populist authoritarians who initially win power by electoral means. They tend to pass changes to the electoral system aimed at ensuring “one party dominates government” while also working to marginalize or control “accountability institutions” like the judiciary or oversight watchdogs.

“Many of these leaders are able to do so when they first win a clear majority and then begin to change rules or the constitution to further entrench their advantage and get to supermajorities,” McCoy tells me.


For Republicans, the process of moving toward anti-democracy has taken decades rather than a single election. There was never a single unified GOP plan to lock out Democrats, akin to the way that Fidesz intentionally remade the Hungarian political system after winning the country’s 2010 election. There is no authoritarian plot behind the GOP’s recent maneuvers, and no secret plan to end elections or declare martial law.

What there is, instead, is systematic disinterest in behaving according to the democratic rules of the game. The GOP views the Democrats as so illegitimate and dangerous that they are willing to employ virtually any tactic that they can think of in order to entrench their own advantage. This is perhaps the party’s core animating ideology, at every level: we must win because the Democrats cannot be given power.

The boldened is especially true: I have family that thinks exactly like this, and for years too. I'm always hearing them constantly complaining they have "no freedom" due to the "radical left" and the Democratic Party. Kow I believe has a huge post somewhere regarding everything here but the facts are clear: the GOP are a monstrous threat and as long as Democrats continually fight each other and view their counterparts as "political opposition" rather than enemies of Democracy, which the GOP calls Democrats, they will succeed in their goals. After all: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.

I know I am grave digging here but because I had no time to respond to this but this is reason why I am desperately trying to prove to myself that I can live on my own so I can get out of this mess of a country into one that is more left wing and libertarian friendly.

You did not: Grave Digging implies pulling up posts weeks, months, or even years ago. This is definitely not the case. But moving won't be easy although keep saving.

Anyway, The Renew America Movement (RAM), an Anti-Trump Republicans' group, will back vulnerable Democratic lawmakers in 2022 congressional races.

[Genivaria]

What's concerning is how they actually view Trump as inseparable from the nation itself. It's like Mussolini, Hitler, and the Kim family in their respective nations on that front. Pretty scary.

Yeah, it's something I've noticed with my family even though they don't say those exact words. Come to think about it, I feel they view the whole GOP as inseparable to the nation, especially considering how they aren't fond of Democrats and are convinced they are destroying the nation. And mind you, they aren't as radicalized as other Republicans.

I know I am grave digging here but because I had no time to respond to this but this is reason why I am desperately trying to prove to myself that I can live on my own so I can get out of this mess of a country into one that is more left wing and libertarian friendly.

You did not: Grave Digging implies pulling up posts weeks, months, or even years ago. This is definitely not the case. But moving won't be easy although keep saving.

Anyway, The Renew America Movement (RAM), an Anti-Trump Republicans' group, will back vulnerable Democratic lawmakers in 2022 congressional races.

Huh well that's a surprise, I didn't think there were any in the GOP who had any kind of principles left.

[The Jamesian Republic]

A normal political party

(Image)

I wonder how many people were ousted as deserters and not true patriots

I guess me? I don’t really support Trump, and I am losing faith with Biden. I mean it started off good but the last few months have turned me off.

[Eahland]

this is very true

alternatively, suburban homeowner lobby

Not to get all NIMBY (but I was born in the state...) but...considering every Monday I get to both hear and smell the landscaper using the $(*#)(* $ leaf blower at 8 goddam AM...I'm not entirely heartbroken about the idea. But I think this also might be the last you hear about this with maybe someone dusting it off in the 30s when industry has already effectively done it anyway.

Having been woken up at 7:30 this morning by the town road crew leaf-blowing the goddamn street, I am totally down with banning leaf blowers. Use a fucking rake.

(I don't even know what the point was, because it's not like all, or even most, of the leaves have fallen at this point. There's just going to be more tomorrow.)

[The V I C]

I wonder how many people were ousted as deserters and not true patriots

I guess me? I don’t really support Trump, and I am losing faith with Biden. I mean it started off good but the last few months have turned me off.

Biden only seems good when you compare him to Donald.

[Eahland]

I guess me? I don’t really support Trump, and I am losing faith with Biden. I mean it started off good but the last few months have turned me off.

Biden only seems good when you compare him to Donald.

Be fair. There are plenty of other people Biden seems good compared to.

[Senkaku]

Admittedly it is pretty fucking stupid that they’ve banned gas-powered leaf blowers before offshore drilling

Well, alright. A few things.

It bans the sale of new small gas engines, not small gas engines in total.

And it doesn't really do that. What it really does is give the California Air Resources board regulatory power with the goal of eleminating the sale of small gas engines in a timeline that they deem to be feasible, which could be as soon as 2024 for leaf blowers and lawn mowers and 2028 for portable generators.

The law also sets aside $30 million to help landscapers (mostly it's landscapers, but golf carts and chainsaws are also included. OHV are not part of the ban, including RC planes and cars dirt bikes etc.

The Air Resource Board has the flexibility to change or set the deadline based on feasibility.

Also, and this is important to remember, we make a lot of these and about half the time industry or whatever just says..."No." The edicts become unenforceable and everyone forget about them until someone else comes along and needs to make a grand gesture.

Source That's the LA Times. I was able to read it without a subscription but I know that occasionally it paywalls. If that's the case just look for a newspaper source and not one that uses the word 'commiefornia' or some shit or basically tells you how to feel about it in the headline.

I don’t think that article says they’ve already banned offshore drilling does it?

[Union of Socialist Council-Republics]

I found this somewhat interesting.

Such behaviour seems reminiscent of the Blutfahne flag that was used by the Nazis for ceremonial purposes. Certainly not to the same extent, but the parallels are there, along with the concurrent effort to make Ashli Babbitt into a martyr along the lines of Horst Wessel.

[Kowani]

Schumer to file cloture on Manchin voting rights bill

[The Reformed American Republic]

I found this somewhat interesting.

Such behaviour seems reminiscent of the Blutfahne flag that was used by the Nazis for ceremonial purposes. Certainly not to the same extent, but the parallels are there, along with the concurrent effort to make Ashli Babbitt into a martyr along the lines of Horst Wessel.

It's extremely similar behavior, and only different in that they delude themselves into thinking that a national symbol is their partisan one while the Blutfahne flag on the other hand would completely replace the German national flag.

A Confederate battle flag would more closely represent them as they're reminiscent of the types of people the Union fought all those years ago.

[Zurkerx]

Schumer to file cloture on Manchin voting rights bill

Speaking of Manchin, To woo Manchin, Dems could OK climate funds for coal and gas plants. That will probably infuriate Progressives.

[Caleonia]

Anyway, The Renew America Movement (RAM), an Anti-Trump Republicans' group, will back vulnerable Democratic lawmakers in 2022 congressional races.

Republicans with morals? I’d never thought I’d see the day.

[Antipatros]

I found this somewhat interesting.

Such behaviour seems reminiscent of the Blutfahne flag that was used by the Nazis for ceremonial purposes. Certainly not to the same extent, but the parallels are there, along with the concurrent effort to make Ashli Babbitt into a martyr along the lines of Horst Wessel.

Wow, that's insane. Unbelievable that Youngkin would okay that.

[Kowani]

Jan. 6th Committee to vote October 19th on holding Steve Bannon in contempt

[San Lumen]

https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/oba ... ctober-23/

Obama will campaign for Governor Murphy in Newark on the 23rd. He will campaign with Virginia Democrat Terry McAuliffe the same day.




https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5 ... rnors-race

DNC unveils new ads targeting minority voters in Virginia's governors race

[The Black Forrest]

Well, alright. A few things.

It bans the sale of new small gas engines, not small gas engines in total.

And it doesn't really do that. What it really does is give the California Air Resources board regulatory power with the goal of eleminating the sale of small gas engines in a timeline that they deem to be feasible, which could be as soon as 2024 for leaf blowers and lawn mowers and 2028 for portable generators.

The law also sets aside $30 million to help landscapers (mostly it's landscapers, but golf carts and chainsaws are also included. OHV are not part of the ban, including RC planes and cars dirt bikes etc.

The Air Resource Board has the flexibility to change or set the deadline based on feasibility.

Also, and this is important to remember, we make a lot of these and about half the time industry or whatever just says..."No." The edicts become unenforceable and everyone forget about them until someone else comes along and needs to make a grand gesture.

Source That's the LA Times. I was able to read it without a subscription but I know that occasionally it paywalls. If that's the case just look for a newspaper source and not one that uses the word 'commiefornia' or some shit or basically tells you how to feel about it in the headline.

I don’t think that article says they’ve already banned offshore drilling does it?

It’s heavily restricted. Been that way since Santa Barbara had a bad spill back in the 69. There is another effort to get it banned.

https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-b ... 372a42a283

Repubs and the oil guys will tell you “We need to do this to solve our gas/oil problems. The problem? Not enough to make us independent. Even worse? The free market types would sell it to anybody. Profit uber alles after all.

Now if people saw the oil/gas companies and executives got punished for spills? Some would probably accept it. The problem? Nobody would believe they would be punished.

[Senkaku]

I don’t think that article says they’ve already banned offshore drilling does it?

It’s heavily restricted. Been that way since Santa Barbara had a bad spill back in the 69. There is another effort to get it banned.

yeah

[Cannot think of a name]

Well, alright. A few things.

It bans the sale of new small gas engines, not small gas engines in total.

And it doesn't really do that. What it really does is give the California Air Resources board regulatory power with the goal of eleminating the sale of small gas engines in a timeline that they deem to be feasible, which could be as soon as 2024 for leaf blowers and lawn mowers and 2028 for portable generators.

The law also sets aside $30 million to help landscapers (mostly it's landscapers, but golf carts and chainsaws are also included. OHV are not part of the ban, including RC planes and cars dirt bikes etc.

The Air Resource Board has the flexibility to change or set the deadline based on feasibility.

Also, and this is important to remember, we make a lot of these and about half the time industry or whatever just says..."No." The edicts become unenforceable and everyone forget about them until someone else comes along and needs to make a grand gesture.

Source That's the LA Times. I was able to read it without a subscription but I know that occasionally it paywalls. If that's the case just look for a newspaper source and not one that uses the word 'commiefornia' or some shit or basically tells you how to feel about it in the headline.

I don’t think that article says they’ve already banned offshore drilling does it?

Oh look. Some point you’re trying to make.

[The Black Forrest]

Anyway, The Renew America Movement (RAM), an Anti-Trump Republicans' group, will back vulnerable Democratic lawmakers in 2022 congressional races.

Republicans with morals? I’d never thought I’d see the day.

Hmmm? I will believe it when I see it.

There was one republican (forgot his name) who was on the news a great deal talking about how bad trump was. Somebody looked into his voting record and found he had sided with trump 86.6% of the time.

Talk is easy. Let’s see what they do with their efforts.

[Senkaku]

I don’t think that article says they’ve already banned offshore drilling does it?

Oh look. Some point you’re trying to make.

Were you just posting because you really thought I needed to know that remote control dirt bikes weren't part of the ban, then

[Kilobugya]

Schumer to file cloture on Manchin voting rights bill

But the 60 votes for it aren't there, right? He just wants the GOP to go on record voting no, and prove Manchin it's useless trying to cooperate with them?

[Major-Tom]

Anyway, The Renew America Movement (RAM), an Anti-Trump Republicans' group, will back vulnerable Democratic lawmakers in 2022 congressional races.

Republicans with morals? I’d never thought I’d see the day.

IDK, you'd think at this point that if they're still willing to back Dems financially, they would just cut out the middle man and call themselves moderate or conservative Dems. All these "Never-Trump Republican" types are virtually indistinguishable from the likes of Manchin or Sinema, and it seems odd for them to hold out hope that "their party" will somehow return to its roots, when the current trajectory seems to be an even larger dumpster fire.

[Cannot think of a name]

Oh look. Some point you’re trying to make.

Were you just posting because you really thought I needed to know that remote control dirt bikes weren't part of the ban, then

I was clarifying the law because it was being talked about in the abstract with no actual engagement with what it actually entailed.

[San Lumen]

Schumer to file cloture on Manchin voting rights bill

But the 60 votes for it aren't there, right? He just wants the GOP to go on record voting no, and prove Manchin it's useless trying to cooperate with them?

Probably and to get him to carve out an exception to the filibuster for voting rights.