America - The Official Thread

[Imari]

The police officers backed waaaaay off in enforcement because it's not worth scrutiny when you have a family to feed.

The idea of being held accountable for slowly strangling a man to death in front of a crowd should not be scary to police who are doing their jobs in good faith. Nor should any of the other big stories that made the news, like Daniel Shaver, Eric Garner and dozens of others. That one would be investigated for such an event is normal for any job, including the military. For most jobs, the idea that bad actors are held accountable for their actions is reassuring.

It's only scary if you think that the justice system is corrupt and will convict and punish innocent people. Is the justice system corrupt? Or is there some other reason why the police are scared of legitimate oversight and investigation of examples of their work that would seem to go beyond the bounds of reasonable judgement?

 

[eran0004]

I just want to check I've understood something right.

There's this good-looking all-American guy, who's a pro footballer. Dude was born in Ohio, plays football for a team (with a slightly problematic name that likely wasn't intended as racist but wouldn't fly today) in the Bible Belt, and is apparently a good Christian. He's very successful too, setting sporting records

His girlfriend is as American as you get. Similarly good-looking, she's originally from Pennsylvania but moved to and now lives in Tennessee, started out as a country singer and went into more folk/alt-rock/pop direction, and is also apparently Christian (and went to a Catholic Montessori school). She's also highly successful.

They're even called Travis and Taylor.


And Republicans... hate them?

Perhaps they omitted the “but” in “I’m not racist, but…”? For a fanatic republican that’s the biggest crime you could commit. Way bigger than, for example, insurrection and attempting to overthrow the government.

 

[McLaren]

Floyd was not a one-off. This is not something that you can reasonably see with first hand experience. You'd HAVE to read about it to understand. You'd need to watch coverage, look up statistics, and learn about the issue from a different perspective than looking to see examples first hand. And it wasn't politicians that were behind the Floyd movement, it was people, who were sick of being treated as they were. And the point was not to villainize anyone, it was to help people understand that it was NOT a one-off situation and that something needs to be done about it.

You missed the boat on all fronts with this issue.

Daunte Wright, Eric Garner, Justine Damond, Breonna Taylor, Tony Tempa, etc. etc.

Tempa in fact, died the exact same way Floyd did because an officer kneeled on his neck despite his pleas. And then laughed.

But when five Dallas police officers arrived on the side of the road where Timpa was, they did not give him the help he needed. Instead, they handcuffed him behind his back, zip-tied his feet, and Officer Dustin Dillard put his knee and bodyweight on Timpa’s back.

The officers’ body cameras recorded Timpa crying for help, pleading with them, saying “you’re gonna kill me!” over and over again. After nine minutes under Officer Dillard’s knee, Timpa stopped moving.

After 11 minutes, Timpa went limp, then silent. The officers joked and laughed that Timpa had fallen asleep. All of this was caught on the officers' body cameras. They had been trained that keeping someone in a prone position under an officer’s bodyweight was dangerous.

But Dillard kneeled on Timpa for more than 14 minutes. When an ambulance arrived, Dillard can be heard in the body camera video saying, “I hope I didn’t kill him.” More laughter.

He died after a cop kneeled on his neck for 14 minutes. Now, his family can finally sue.

Tony Timpa died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for 14 minutes. A court originally denied his family the right to sue.

www.usatoday.com

 

[HenrySwanson]

But a lot of the sex trafficking, gang violence, drugs (which heavily contribute to the gang violence, regardless of that specific gangs predominant race), DOES stem from America's inability to control our borders over the course of decades. And those border failures do have a palatable impact on these communities, both directly and down-river.

In London, and other major cities in the UK we have big problems with gang violence, drugs * and sex trafficking, but I wouldn't say a lot of it is from illegal migration. I'm sure this is the same in a lot of big cities worldwide, but granted I don't know your area in the same way I "know" London (and even then I wouldn't know where to begin in quantifying it, and that's from someone who works with kids troubled by school violence and has a friend who lost a grandson to a stabbing) so maybe it could be substantially different.

* I will say there's been a switch in who is more responsible for the drugs supply recently, and some of it is tied to illegal migration, but even with perfectly secure borders with no illegal migration I doubt that would solve the issue, but merely create a vacuum for another group to fit into.

 

[TexRex]

Daunte Wright, Eric Garner, Justine Damond, Breonna Taylor, Tony Tempa, etc. etc.

Tempa in fact, died the exact same way Floyd did because an officer kneeled on his neck despite his pleas. And then laughed.

He died after a cop kneeled on his neck for 14 minutes. Now, his family can finally sue.

Tony Timpa died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for 14 minutes. A court originally denied his family the right to sue.

www.usatoday.com

Philando Castile.

Castile thought he was doing the right thing by notifying the cop that was communicating with him during a traffic stop that he was carrying a firearm. Said cop kept telling Castile not to reach for his firearm, which he was not doing. Said cop's partner affirmed that Castile was not reaching for his firearm. Cop proceeded to shoot at Castile, in the direction of another occupant of vehicle and the partner, unloading seven rounds and striking Castile with five of them. Cop was interviewed by fellow law enforcement at the scene and gave information regarding the interaction itself which was contradicted by bodycam footage. Cop was charged but ultimately acquitted fully.

Castile thought he was doing the right thing by notifying the cop that he was carrying a firearm. Castile probably should have followed the letter of the law, which requires notification only upon request. Castile probably expected to be asked because the cop would learn that he was permitted to carry and so he volunteered the information.

 

[eran0004]

 

[TexRex]

Ah.

Republicans have a majority in the House. Impeachment didn't fail because a 'no' vote was expected to be in the hospital at the time for which the vote was scheduled.

Modern American conservatism is mental illness.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Hard to believe the GOP conference in the house is even more useless without McCarthy. Hard to believe I'm looking at Mitch McConnell and thinking that this guy is actually trying to do some work.

 

[Keef]

Hard to believe the GOP conference in the house is even more useless without McCarthy. Hard to believe I'm looking at Mitch McConnell and thinking that this guy is actually trying to do some work.

McConnell has always been interested in keeping the status quo but Trumpism took off like a rocket with his turkey waddle hanging from the tail. They're all-in on being dickbags. I can hardly bear to even leave the city these days, and it pains me to stop for gas in rural towns and provide money and jobs to these schmucks.

 

[sturk0167]

Yeah, Trump will be your next president.
Go get therapy, if you need it.

Special Counsel Uncovers Evidence Joe Biden ‘Willfully Retained’ Classified Materials But Can’t Establish Guilt ‘Beyond a Reasonable Doubt’

Special Counsel Robert Hur will not charge Joe Biden for his handling of classified documents.

www.breitbart.com

 

[TB]

Old man with classified documents can't be president...

So Trump will be the next president.

Got it.

 

[sturk0167]

Old man with classified documents can't be president...

So Trump will be the next president.

Got it.

You're side-stepping the point.
Biden's own counsel is saying that he can't mentally process anything.

It's been obvious for a long time.

 

[TexRex]

Friendly reminder that rats were insistent that their Pied Piper would win in 2020. When their Pied Piper lost in 2020, because the Fake Bake bitch is a loser, the rabid vermin scratched and bit their way into the United States Capitol Building and scurried throughout.

 

[sturk0167]

Friendly reminder that rats were insistent that their Pied Piper would win in 2020. When their Pied Piper lost in 2020, because the Fake Bake bitch is a loser, the rabid vermin scratched and bit their way into the United States Capitol Building and scurried throughout.

What does that have to do with anything?

 

[TB]

You're side-stepping the point.
Biden's own counsel is saying that he can't mentally process anything.

It's been obvious for a long time.

And your article is missing a rather important point:

nothing proved a willful intent by Biden to illegally hold onto classified information.

That would be a fact.

The special counsel also raised Biden’s age and memory in explaining why he didn’t bring charges.

That would be an opinion.

Live Updates: Special counsel report on Biden's handling of classified documents released

Special counsel Robert Hur released a searing report Thursday that concluded President Joe Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified military and national security information but recommended he not face charges. Follow for the latest updates

www.cnn.com

 

[TexRex]

What does that have to do with anything?

It happened. Or are you so deluded that you deny it happened?

 

[sturk0167]

That would be an opinion.

So, your opinion would be contrary?

It happened. Or are you so deluded that you deny it happened?

It's apropos of nothing.

 

[Blitz24]

Wait, didn't Trump willfully try to illegally hold onto classified information?

 

[TexRex]

It's apropos of nothing.

Yeah, Trump will be your next president.
Go get therapy, if you need it.

Is your memory that short? Are you actualy that broken?

You're insistent that the bronzer daddy which you are so wont to fellate* is going to win. You've implied that people are going to react negatively to that which you insist will occur. We've been here before. There was a negative, indeed violent, reaction when your bronzer daddy lost...because it's a lacquered loser.

I thought it prudent to refer to which has happened rather than purport to know the future.

Trumpism, man.

*I do mean this figuratively.

Wait, didn't Trump willfully try to illegally hold onto classified information?

In direct and deliberate defiance of NARA and the Presidential Records Act, despite multiple appeals by the agency for forfeiture.

Biden acted with no such defiance. Indeed held materials were forfeited voluntarily and without appeal by the agency.

 

[sturk0167]

Is your memory that short? Are you actualy that broken?

You're insistent that the bronzer daddy which you are so wont to fellate* is going to win. You've implied that people are going to react negatively to that which you insist will occur. We've been here before. There was a negative, indeed violent, reaction when your bronzer daddy lost...because it's a lacquered loser.

I thought it prudent to refer to which has happened rather than purport to know the future.

Trumpism, man.

*I do mean this figuratively.

In direct and deliberate defiance of NARA and the Presidential Records Act, despite multiple appeals by the agency for forfeiture.

Biden acted with no such defiance. Indeed held materials were forfeited voluntarily and without appeal by the agency.

Hold on, man. I have to look up the terms of service here.
Ah, yes. Section 12.

Wait, didn't Trump willfully try to illegally hold onto classified information?

Probably

 

[Blitz24]

Which means that disqualifying Biden from running for accidentally keeping classified documents and declaring him senile would mean that Trump should ALSO be disqualified for INTENTIONALLY keeping classified documents, lying about returning them and still trying to keep them even after a court order.

 

[Keef]

Probably

Probably? We've seen the photos of them being stored in an insecure location after the National Archives requested they be returned and the request was refused.

It has been common for many decades for various presidents to keep hold of classified documents of their choosing - the person and their properties do remain under Secret Service protection, after all. But the President Records Act of 1978 requires them to cooperate with the National Archives after their presidency ends. Trump failed to do that on multiple occasions. Biden cooperated as required.

 

[Populuxe]

You're insistent that the bronzer daddy which you are so wont to fellate* is going to win.

Hey, no kink shaming here.

In direct and deliberate defiance of NARA and the Presidential Records Act, despite multiple appeals by the agency for forfeiture.

Biden acted with no such defiance. Indeed held materials were forfeited voluntarily and without appeal by the agency.

This is what I find sad. In the right's desperate bid to normalize Trump's brazen criminality, they willfully ignore the clear difference between a simple mistake and the intentional theft of government property.

 

[sturk0167]

This is what I find sad. In the right's desperate bid to normalize Trump's brazen criminality, they willfully ignore the clear difference between a simple mistake and the intentional theft of government property.

Really? That's your focus? Not running the country competently?
Biden is the poorest excuse for a president in our lifetimes. Nothing he has done benefits any of us.

 

[Blitz24]

Then disqualify them both. Neither should be allowed to run for president again.

 

[Keef]

Then disqualify them both. Neither should be allowed to run for president again.

If that was a realistic option on a ballot I think most people would probably vote for it.

Really? That's your focus? Not running the country competently?
Biden is the poorest excuse for a president in our lifetimes. Nothing he has done benefits any of us.

Benefitted me quite a bit. The ARPA direct payments and unemployment benefits during Covid kept me afloat, normalization of relations with the EU and UN and NATO have made me actually proud to be American again, pulling out of Afghanistan ended a plague of never-ending war that lasted most of my life (at least for a couple years), the BIL has brought a ton of new investment to the Dayton area where a lot of infrastructure needed repaired, the Inflation Reduction Act is currently working and is going to help me refinance my new house later this year, in a roundabout way our support for Ukraine is driving industrial growth in America to supply military equipment, and Biden has handled the China economic situation waaaaay more gracefully than Trump ever did, to the point where Mexico has overtaken China as our biggest import partner.

 

[Exorcet]

Really? That's your focus? Not running the country competently?

I think it's reasonable to put that behind concerns of running the country into the ground intentionally for personal gain.

 

[sturk0167]

Then disqualify them both. Neither should be allowed to run for president again.

Why? It's a trivial issue.
I don't give a damn about the documents. Who does that actually affect?
I do, however, care that my gas gas and my groceries cost a ton.
My life was financially better under the Trump presidency.

 

[TexRex]

A PRESIDENT MUST HAVE ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY!!!

Of course Biden would never say this, much less do it. He's either better or softer than that. It would be hilarious.

Hold on, man. I have to look up the terms of service here.
Ah, yes. Section 12.

How's that? Is this because of "fellate"? Are you not aware of its figurative definition? You know, the use you quoted me as explicitly indicating?

fellate - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

en.m.wiktionary.org

(transitive, figuratively) To suck up to, to flatter or be shamefully subservient to.

Sucks, huh?

This is what I find sad. In the right's desperate bid to normalize Trump's brazen criminality, they willfully ignore the clear difference between a simple mistake and the intentional theft of government property.

It's like when they equated Biden's not-at-all-illegal-but-possibly-toothless conditioning of loan guarantees by financial institutions, which he may or may not have been able to actually so condition (he was acting as a representative and liaison of said institutions at the time but he may not have held that power unilaterally), on the ouster of a corrupt prosecutor that wasn't investigating a company that his dirtbag son was connected to...with the Fake Bake bitch illegally impounding congressionally appropriated funds, for the purpose of bribery and subterfuge (really rat****ery, which isn't my term), in defiance of Congress and in violation of the Impoundment Control Act which was passed to restore the power of the purse to Congress (fund appropriation is one of precious few laws that a president can't veto because Congress does control the purse) as the Constitution mandates.

Really? That's your focus?

YOU BROUGHT IT UP!!! Christ on a bike, what is your specific defect?

Biden is the poorest excuse for a president in our lifetimes. Nothing he has done benefits any of us.

Again, so desperately and pathetically wont to fellate bitchass Trump.

 

[McLaren]

Biden Trump is the poorest excuse for a president in our lifetimes. Nothing he has done benefits any of us.

Fixed for everyone who isn't a Cult 45 member.