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

[Kilobugya]

Anyway, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) has vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth

Some sane and courageous decision from a GOP governor ? Well, good surprises can happen even in 2021 !

[Nakena]

Anyway, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) has vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth

Some sane and courageous decision from a GOP governor ? Well, good surprises can happen even in 2021 !

Way too rare but good on Hutchinson to veto it.

[Zurkerx]

Anyway, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) has vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth

Some sane and courageous decision from a GOP governor ? Well, good surprises can happen even in 2021 !

His vetoed is mostly symbolic: it only takes a simple majority to override a Governor's Veto in Arkansas. Given that this bill passed easily, I suspect they'll override his veto.

[Zurkerx]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

[Punished UMN]

…why am I a separate category

We thought referring to you by name would be more personable than saying "aggregate media outlets."

[Kowani]

…why am I a separate category

We thought referring to you by name would be more personable than saying "aggregate media outlets."

That is…okay yeah fair point

---

Meanwhile, Colorado lawmakers take up reproductive health

Reproductive health care finds itself of some importance this year in the Colorado legislature, with bills that would make it easier to get contraceptives, abortions and prevention for sexually transmitted infections.

With Democrats in control of both chambers, the bills have a decent shot at passing, though lawmakers will have to weigh costs of bills during a session focused on economic recovery and stimulus post-COVID.

Republicans, meanwhile, tried again to ban abortions and also introduced a measure to track women’s personal information in a public database if they get an abortion. Both of those bills failed
This bill would create a statewide health care program that would allow Medicaid patients to get a year’s supply of birth control like people can do through private insurers. It would also expand this to immigrants living in the country without legal permission who, if they were residents or on visas, would have been eligible for Medicaid.

Most Medicaid patients can get a one-month supply at a time, sometimes three, said Democratic bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, who added it would be paid for through cost-sharing.

Neither the federal Hyde Amendment nor Colorado law allow public money to be used for abortions except when a mother’s life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest. Colorado law also restricts where these abortions can take place — specific clinics and only by a physician.

Democrats are looking to open up where the services can be done, because patients often have to drive long distances before they can find an eligible physician or facility. The bill would also expand the types of providers who could provide abortion services, like nurse practitioners or physician assistants who are licensed by the state and trained in abortion procedures.

This bill that would require insurers to cover some preventive care and treatment has been getting the attention of anti-vaccine activists like Colorado Health Choice Alliance, because they claim it allows minors to consent to the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines without consent. But backers of the bill say this isn’t a vaccine bill, and instead would put into state law measures that are already covered by the Affordable Care Act like obesity or alcohol screenings, as well as add additional services they believe should be covered like smoking cessation programs and sexually transmitted infection screenings and treatment. Teter said Colorado law already allows minors to be treated for STIs and this wouldn’t override federal law on parental notifications for vaccines. The bill would still require permission for minors 13 and under and counseling to involve parents for care of STIs. Rep. Kyle Mullica, a Northglenn Democrat and bill sponsor, said the proposal also looks to provide early prevention measures for a variety of health issues, in turn saving the state money. Other bills related to reproductive health care are making their way through the legislature, including covering family planning services for low-income households before pregnancy and reimbursement for maternal health care.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

Did Mitch just forget that Corporate America has both him and his whole party by the balls? Threatening your own lobbyists seems counter-productive.

[North Washington Republic]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

Populism is hell of a drug and the GOP is high as hell of it.

[Neutraligon]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

I don't think I ever expected to see the day where the Republican party became so anti-business. What ever happened to capitalism?

[North Washington Republic]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

I don't think I ever expected to see the day where the Republican party became so anti-business. What ever happened to capitalism?

Republicans think they can get more votes by being Trumpian populists than laissez-faire capitalists.

[Omniabstracta]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

I don't think I ever expected to see the day where the Republican party became so anti-business. What ever happened to capitalism?

Of course, one has to remember that rabblerousing about “ebil corporations” isn’t actually the same thing as being against corporations, as I’m sure we’ll see when every single Republican votes against increasing corporate taxes or punishing corporations for polluting or whatever else.

[Esthe]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

I don't think I ever expected to see the day where the Republican party became so anti-business. What ever happened to capitalism?

The GOP’s basically Trump’s puppet nations now it’s probably not what a usual conserv would think.

[Neutraligon]

I don't think I ever expected to see the day where the Republican party became so anti-business. What ever happened to capitalism?

Of course, one has to remember that rabblerousing about “ebil corporations” isn’t actually the same thing as being against corporations, as I’m sure we’ll see when every single Republican votes against increasing corporate taxes or punishing corporations for polluting or whatever else.

Clearly. I would like to know what McConnel thinks he can do to these corporations though. Regulate them more? Tax them more? what?

[Kilobugya]

Republicans think they can get more votes by being Trumpian populists than laissez-faire capitalists.

It's even more perverse than that - the Trump Republicans have a very "populist" discourse, but implement very laissez-faire policies, with massive tax cuts for corporations, disbanding of regulation, refusal to increase minimal wage or shyness in Covid relief/infrastructure, fighting against Obamacare, ... The only domain where Trump wasn't laissez-faire was international trade, where he followed a more protectionist policy. But in all "internal affairs", all his working-class/"populist" discourse was just empty words, and it's the same for McConnell.

[Kowani]

Of course, one has to remember that rabblerousing about “ebil corporations” isn’t actually the same thing as being against corporations, as I’m sure we’ll see when every single Republican votes against increasing corporate taxes or punishing corporations for polluting or whatever else.

Clearly. I would like to know what McConnel thinks he can do to these corporations though. Regulate them more? Tax them more? what?

Ask Clarence Thomas

“Today’s digital platforms provide avenues for historically unprecedented amounts of speech, including speech by government actors. Also unprecedented, however, is control of so much speech in the hands of a few private parties,” Thomas wrote. “We will soon have no choice but to address how our legal doctrines apply to highly concentrated, privately owned information infrastructure such as digital platforms.”


Thomas singled out the owners of Google and Facebook by name, arguing that the firms are currently unaccountable personal fiefdoms with massive power.

“Although both companies are public, one person controls Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg), and just two control Google (Larry Page and Sergey Brin),” Thomas wrote. Thomas’ opinion amounts to an invitation to Congress to declare Twitter, Facebook and similar companies “common carriers,” essentially requiring them to host all customers regardless of their views. At the moment, the companies have sweeping authority to take down any post and to suspend or terminate any account. Thomas also suggested that the social media firms could be subject to regulation as public accommodations, although they are already covered by state and federal anti-discrimination laws. The justice didn’t elaborate much on that argument, but he hinted that the platforms’ First Amendment rights could be limited much as business owners can be forced to accept customers regardless of race or religion. Thomas said a major protection for internet firms, known as Section 230, underscores the role of social media companies as common carriers. He also argued that some courts are abusing that provision to immunize “bad-faith” decisions to remove content posted by third parties.

[Kowani]

Also, Matt Gaetz has an op-ed

Washington scandal cycles are predictable, and sex is especially potent in politics. Let me first remind everyone that I am a representative in Congress, not a monk, and certainly not a criminal.

Nancy Pelosi once defended President Bill Clinton after he got an intern to fellate him in the Oval Office. But when it comes to the allegation that I, a grown man, paid for an adult girlfriend’s expenses? Well, consider that a bridge too far for the power-hungry hypocrites.

I want to be clear about something as we process the leaks and lies from the past week. To this point, there are exactly zero credible (or even non-credible) accusers willing to come forward by name and state on the public record that I behaved improperly toward them, in the manner by which Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ten accusers.

Instead, CNN, the New York Times, Politico, and others are just repeating false allegations about a congressman who loathes the swamp and fights both sides of it on a daily basis. ust as they once falsely attacked President Donald Trump as a Russian asset, Justice Brett Kavanaugh as a gang rapist, and even John McCain as having fathered a child out of wedlock, they now attack me. Of course, none of what they say ever amounts to anything, yet it is endlessly repeated by leftist television anchors such as Chris Cuomo, who uses his platform to cover for his brother's appalling subjection of nursing home patients to death by the coronavirus. They think themselves such wonderful arbiters of moral purpose.

Folks won’t be surprised that bizarre claims are being made about me shortly after I decided to take on the most powerful institutions in the Beltway: the establishment; the FBI; the Biden Justice Department; the Cheney political dynasty; even the Justice Department under Trump.Yes, just like the mafia, the D.C. swamp protects its “made men.” Since I’m taking my turn under the gun, let me address the allegations against me directly. First, I have never, ever paid for sex. And second, I, as an adult man, have not slept with a 17-year-old.

Predictably, the anti-Trump cheerleaders such as Meghan McCain, Bill Kristol, and sadly, some of my feckless colleagues in Congress are going to call for me to resign.

This is how D.C. works. The guilty and wrong point fingers at the innocent and right. Remember President Joe Biden’s Ukraine scandal? Or the Lincoln Project’s professions of moral superiority? Their scorn and moral posturing is all merely projection.

And no, I am absolutely not resigning.

The Washington Post recently accused me of stating that I’m really enjoying my current embrace of monogamy. That is the truest thing they’ve ever written about me. I’m a better man today than I was years ago. Heck, I hope to be a better man than I was yesterday, every day of my life.

My lifestyle of yesteryear may be different from how I live now, but it was not and is not illegal. I defended Rep. Katie Hill’s “throuple” when her own Democratic colleagues wouldn’t. I just didn't think it was anyone's business.

It comes as no surprise that my political opponents want to sensationalize and criminalize my prior sex life just as I am getting engaged to the best person I’ve ever known. It is regrettable that the battle of ideas should thus become so personal. But then again, when your ideas suck, you need to stoop this low.

My personal life is and always has been conducted on my own time and my own dime. Consensual adult relationships are not illegal. Although I’m sure some partisan crooks in Merrick Garland’s Justice Department want to pervert the truth and the law to go after me, I will not be intimidated or extorted. The battle for America’s future demands gladiators, and I am going to keep getting back up and fighting, every single day.

The Biden Justice Department would rather investigate me for adult, consensual sex than Hunter Biden for his shady business dealings, than others for illegal leaks, or a former Justice Department official for the evident extortion of a congressman. Go figure.

You’ll see more “drip, drip, drip” of leaks into the media from the corrupt Justice Department and others. When you do, ask yourself why. They aren’t coming for me — they are coming for you. I’m just in the way.

As for me? I’m going to fight like hell for my constituents and the country I deeply love. You deserve no less, especially right now.

[Neutraligon]

Clearly. I would like to know what McConnel thinks he can do to these corporations though. Regulate them more? Tax them more? what?

Ask Clarence Thomas

“Today’s digital platforms provide avenues for historically unprecedented amounts of speech, including speech by government actors. Also unprecedented, however, is control of so much speech in the hands of a few private parties,” Thomas wrote. “We will soon have no choice but to address how our legal doctrines apply to highly concentrated, privately owned information infrastructure such as digital platforms.”


Thomas singled out the owners of Google and Facebook by name, arguing that the firms are currently unaccountable personal fiefdoms with massive power.

“Although both companies are public, one person controls Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg), and just two control Google (Larry Page and Sergey Brin),” Thomas wrote. Thomas’ opinion amounts to an invitation to Congress to declare Twitter, Facebook and similar companies “common carriers,” essentially requiring them to host all customers regardless of their views. At the moment, the companies have sweeping authority to take down any post and to suspend or terminate any account. Thomas also suggested that the social media firms could be subject to regulation as public accommodations, although they are already covered by state and federal anti-discrimination laws. The justice didn’t elaborate much on that argument, but he hinted that the platforms’ First Amendment rights could be limited much as business owners can be forced to accept customers regardless of race or religion. Thomas said a major protection for internet firms, known as Section 230, underscores the role of social media companies as common carriers. He also argued that some courts are abusing that provision to immunize “bad-faith” decisions to remove content posted by third parties.

Why am I not surprised Thomas is the one saying this.

[Omniabstracta]

Clearly. I would like to know what McConnel thinks he can do to these corporations though. Regulate them more? Tax them more? what?

Ask Clarence Thomas

“Today’s digital platforms provide avenues for historically unprecedented amounts of speech, including speech by government actors. Also unprecedented, however, is control of so much speech in the hands of a few private parties,” Thomas wrote. “We will soon have no choice but to address how our legal doctrines apply to highly concentrated, privately owned information infrastructure such as digital platforms.”


Thomas singled out the owners of Google and Facebook by name, arguing that the firms are currently unaccountable personal fiefdoms with massive power.

“Although both companies are public, one person controls Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg), and just two control Google (Larry Page and Sergey Brin),” Thomas wrote. Thomas’ opinion amounts to an invitation to Congress to declare Twitter, Facebook and similar companies “common carriers,” essentially requiring them to host all customers regardless of their views. At the moment, the companies have sweeping authority to take down any post and to suspend or terminate any account. Thomas also suggested that the social media firms could be subject to regulation as public accommodations, although they are already covered by state and federal anti-discrimination laws. The justice didn’t elaborate much on that argument, but he hinted that the platforms’ First Amendment rights could be limited much as business owners can be forced to accept customers regardless of race or religion. Thomas said a major protection for internet firms, known as Section 230, underscores the role of social media companies as common carriers. He also argued that some courts are abusing that provision to immunize “bad-faith” decisions to remove content posted by third parties.

This is the standard Republican line towards internet media platforms yeah. But it doesn’t really answer the question of what exactly McConnell would hope to do against the likes of Coke or the MLB, or all the other general corporations that have recently come under fire from the right.

[San Lumen]

https://thenevadaindependent.com/articl ... egislature

Nevada considering expanded mail in voting as well as a straight ticket option on the ballot. For those not familiar with the latter it means you can check one box and your vote will automatically be cast for every candidate of that party.

Another bill would require same party appointment for Senate vacancies.
.

[New Jacobland]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

Republican party becoming left wing?

That isn't really surprising though, given the populist platform the Republican Party is on.

[San Lumen]

Anyway, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) has vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth

Some sane and courageous decision from a GOP governor ? Well, good surprises can happen even in 2021 !

A surprise and welcome decision. Hutchinson is also term limited so he has nothing to lose by vetoing. its unlikely he runs for higher officer after his term ends.


https://www.5newsonline.com/article/new ... 2b03184f1b
speaking of Arkansas a woman has announced she's running for governor as a Democrat and has an awesome name. Supha Xayprasith-Mays is a first generation immigrant whose family came to Arkansas from Laos. She is an businesswoman and civic leader. Two other candidates are running in the democratic primary.

[Kowani]

Apparently Big Business is now vessels for far-left mobs that threaten the Constitutional Order:

McConnell has threaten "serious consequences" if corporate America continues acting like "a woke parallel government."

“Our private sector must stop taking cues from the Outrage-Industrial Complex. Americans do not need or want big business to amplify disinformation or react to every manufactured controversy with frantic left-wing signaling," McConnell said in a lengthy statement on Monday. "Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

It's a page from Trump's Playbook.

Republican party becoming left wing?

no

That isn't really surprising though, given the populist platform the Republican Party is on.

they're not that either
they make a lot of noise about it, but they don't do anything
it's all smoke and mirrors meant to rile up the base around cultural issues so they can distract them from the failures of their economic policy

[The Reformed American Republic]

Republican party becoming left wing?

no

That isn't really surprising though, given the populist platform the Republican Party is on.

they're not that either
they make a lot of noise about it, but they don't do anything
it's all smoke and mirrors meant to rile up the base around cultural issues so they can distract them from the failures of their economic policy

This.

[Kowani]

The disinfo campaign won

Three months after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to try to overturn his November election loss, about half of Republicans believe the siege was largely a non-violent protest or was the handiwork of left-wing activists “trying to make Trump look bad,” a new Reuters/Ipsos poll has found.

Six in 10 Republicans also believe the false claim put out by Trump that November’s presidential election “was stolen” from him due to widespread voter fraud, and the same proportion of Republicans think he should run again in 2024, the March 30-31 poll showed.

[The United Confederacy of Texas]

Also, Matt Gaetz has an op-ed

-snip-

this hurts my eyes to look at