America - The Official Thread
- Thread starter ///M-Spec
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- Western Sydney
- mustafur
- 13,913
- Adelaide
- Neomone
Look, personally, based on what I've heard, I wouldn't object to some sort of investigation of Biden's son just to make sure that it was all on the up and up. Some of it sounds a bit sketchy. But that investigation should be conducted openly, by the US, by appropriate non-partisan investigators and not as some back-door quid pro quo to dig up dirt that can then later be flourished at just the right time to damage a political opponent.
The fact is that Trump wasn't interested in what Hunter Biden did or in verifying that Joe Biden acted appropriately, because he avoided the correct channels to investigate those things internally to the United States. If he doesn't believe that those things can be investigated by the US, then that's on him as the Commander in Chief. He went straight for asking a foreign power for aid in gathering information for him to use against a political opponent, which should be terrifying.
If the leader of your country is in power because he receives aid in his political campaign from foreign governments, you are not any sort of democracy.
- 30,026
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
An above-board investigation into possible misconduct and/or illegal activity by any Biden is just gravy to me. I don't want them to be getting away with anything of the sort no matter who they are or what they're supposed to mean to me.
The notion that that's what Trump was trying to accomplish is a joke, though. The simple fact is that what he did, indeed what he admitted to doing once caught, was very likely not appropriate and he needs to be held accountable if it's determined that it was not.
The GOP's position on this matter is and has been obvious. It was once just a phonecall and there was no solicitation. Now there's solicitation but supposedly no "quid pro quo". Trump simply can't do wrong. I thought they ran with him because he was who they got, but were reluctant to do so. Their every action now suggests that there is no reluctance, no hesitation and no desire for somebody else.
The notion that that's what Trump was trying to accomplish is a joke, though. The simple fact is that what he did, indeed what he admitted to doing once caught, was very likely not appropriate and he needs to be held accountable if it's determined that it was not.
The GOP's position on this matter is and has been obvious. It was once just a phonecall and there was no solicitation. Now there's solicitation but supposedly no "quid pro quo". Trump simply can't do wrong. I thought they ran with him because he was who they got, but were reluctant to do so. Their every action now suggests that there is no reluctance, no hesitation and no desire for somebody else.
- 6,081
- Simcoeace
Yes. It appears to be a bad example of "globalist elites" benefiting from their position at the expense of non elites.
However, Trump's actions don't indicate any actual concern for "corruption" in general, but are pretty transparently focused on the narrow objective of undermining Joe Biden's prospects in the 2020 election.
Incidentally, I am not seriously advocating a Biden/AOC ticket ... I though that much was evident. But I am a "Never Trumper". At this point I would take almost any President over Donald Trump - from Gary Johnson to Bernie Sanders. Anyone who is a person of integrity.
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- 11,916
- Marin County
I'm less concerned about this bit. The only thing that would depress democratic turnout in an election against Trump is Trump not being in the race. That's the view I get from progressive SF where, ultimately, the only actual issue that matters is Trump himself. Thinking back to far more moderate Texas & Michigan, I'd say the bigger concern is sending a very leftist candidate to the GE.
Progressives will show up to support whoever is on the democratic ticket.
Moderates might just abstain if it means picking between Trump and leftist commie scum.
- 6,081
- Simcoeace
I agree.
Incidentally: Roger Stone found guilty on all 7 counts. The swamp drained of another Trump crony.
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
As an independent who tends to lean a bit to moderately left, I really hope Michael Bloomberg enters the race. The polls don't really give him much of a chance but I think he's somebody who could appeal to people from both parties, provided they're moderates and not people on the fringes of left and right. He's smart, articulate, level, somewhat liberal and progressive socially, while a bit conservative fiscally, he has respect for environmental concerns, and he ran the largest city in America for more than 10 years.
He may not be progressive enough or conservative enough, depending on your stance. But I could see him drawing a lot of GOP voters who hate Trump but would never vote for Sanders or Warren. Perhaps America has had it's fill with NY Billionaires in the executive branch. But at least this one is largely self made and didn't inherit his wealth. For better or worse.
He may not be progressive enough or conservative enough, depending on your stance. But I could see him drawing a lot of GOP voters who hate Trump but would never vote for Sanders or Warren. Perhaps America has had it's fill with NY Billionaires in the executive branch. But at least this one is largely self made and didn't inherit his wealth. For better or worse.
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- 11,916
- Marin County
- 2,980
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- jjaisli
I was never a huge fan of Michael Bloomberg, but I respected him. And I think he may be exactly what America needs right now. Somebody who could really bring the country back together. And goodness knows, we need that. Not to mention a dose of sanity. He wouldn't have necessarily been my choice in the past. But at the moment, Mr. Vanilla gets my vote.
- 30,026
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
Don't do that. Don't do that! It bugs me to no end when people use "vanilla" to refer to something as something mundane. A simple custard is mundane. It tastes kinda good because of the natural sweetness and fat content of the cream, plus egg yolks, but it's still mundane. Have you ever sliced a fresh vanilla bean open? It's fantastic! Vanilla is so good that it makes chocolate better.
/rant
/s
- 6,081
- Simcoeace
I'm not sure I could picture Bloomberg getting through the Democratic primaries.
A centrist President would help put back the US on an even keel. The reality is, the US was doing OK before Trump, but had deeply embedded & growing problems inequality of income & opportunity. Trump exploited these problems using inflammatory racist language. I think four more years of Trump would have catastrophic consequences for the US.
The trouble is, a good chunk of the country considered Obama to have been a "leftist". How do you absorb that viewpoint into the idea of "bringing the country together"? They're going to label Bloomberg a "socialist elitist" (& a Jew, you know - like George Soros). It's starting to feel like there is no possibility of common ground any more.
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
I agree with everything you wrote. But that's why I think somebody like Bloomberg may be the answer. I have real concerns if Elizabeth Warren wins the Democratic primary that we may just see four more years of Trump. But then again, I also thought there was no way Trump was going to win the Republican primary. And then I thought there was no way he was going to win the general election. So perhaps I'll be proven wrong yet again. If she wins, conservative talk radio will REALLY have something to complain about. LOL
Also wrong. Sorry guys. Chocolate over vanilla. Every time. You're free to disagree. But then you have something wrong with your palettes.
- 20,681
- TenEightyOne
- TenEightyOne
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
True. But that was kind of, sort of my point from the beginning. What you see is what you get.
- 30,026
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
Perhaps I should clarify that I wasn't saying vanilla is better than chocolate. I wouldn't say that because the two are just so different. It's not even apples to oranges, of which the former are unquestionably[!] better.Chocolate over vanilla. Every time. You're free to disagree. But then you have something wrong with your palettes.
What I was saying is that adding vanilla to a chocolate concoction makes that chocolate better. Not just cheap chocolate (some of which already contains vanilla "flavor"), but even the spendy stuff. The vanilla makes the chocolate pop. It doesn't take much, either; I've got a glass jar of sugar into which spent vanilla beans are plunged, and I use some of that "vanilla sugar" to supplement regular sugar in chocolate preparations. A splash of Galliano or Tuaca is also great in hot chocolate.
What an odd thing to suggest, particularly coming from a...*shudder*...Canadian. Everyone knows butterscotch is for Canadians what chocolate is for the rest of the world. Eh.You don't fool me! You're a crème caramel global elitist - n'est pas?!
/s
I mean...you're not wrong; vanilla beans taste orders of magnitude better than unfermented, unroasted cacao seeds, but those are not chocolate. I simply don't think what's involved in making something has a place in debate over what tastes better.
On-topic edit:
I have real concerns if Warren wins the primary and then bests Trump in the general election. Sure, she'd likely be more presidential, but a Warren administration does not appeal to me the slightest bit.
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Danoff
Premium
- 34,058
- Mile High City
They're different, but I know which one I pick over the other. Vanilla ice cream vs. chocolate ice cream... vanilla every time. Vanilla cake vs. chocolate cake... vanilla every time. Vanilla also goes into so much food that chocolate can't touch.
It's quite clear where they sit on the pecking order of... um.. flavors associated with sweet stuff? And before anyone says it, no it's not racist. Ok maybe a little...
Edit:
(that's a reference to the first few second of the clip below)
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- 6,081
- Simcoeace
BTW: I really didn't know anything about Hunter Biden & kind of assumed the worst about the Burisma thing (but not that Joe Biden actively intervened to protect his son). Having now read a bit about Hunter Biden, I have to say that the Fox narrative about him seems pretty off-base. Hunter is a graduate of Georgetown University & Yale Law School & has an extensive history in finance, law firms, international consulting & political lobbying. In 2006, for instance, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the board of Amtrek & served for 3 years as the board's vice chairman.
The specific accusations made by Trump & his enablers about Hunter Biden and his business dealings in China & Ukraine seem to be completely untrue. Contrary to the narrative I have encountered from Fox News, it is not that unusual for someone like Hunter Biden to have served on the board of a company like Burisma, even without specific knowledge of Ukraine or the natural gas business. It's sort of the way the system works ... think of it as "white (rich persons) privilege" - something that Trump & his offspring have benefited from extensively. Whether it's appropriate for the son of a VP to have these sort of international business & lobbying contacts ... that's a different question. I guess if you're really concerned about that, you might consider voting for Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 election.
- 20,681
- TenEightyOne
- TenEightyOne
Fortunately your video gave some reference... but I was going to say that it's only racist if you think you need to add white cream to dark brown vanilla to make it socially acceptable
I don't know if the US is like the UK insofar as vanilla is only really used in cream-based desserts. It's actually great with meat too, particularly chicken or pork. It'll never catch on for the British pallet though.
- 30,026
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
To eat their own, I suppose. Maybe I'm a little fickle, but I just can't say one is better than the other. I do consume more chocolate, but that's because I can snap a piece off of a 65-72% bar and let it melt in my mouth, while I'm not likely to just suck on a vanilla bean (of course that isn't to say I haven't).
You do make a fine point regarding its flexibility...
I suspect it's solely associated with desserts among a large portion of the population (though I'm not sure I can substantiate that; it's largely an assumption), but it's an aromatic above all else, and I often use it as exactly that, almost as you'd use warm spices. My most common use is in a vinaigrette for bitter greens where it often accompanies ground coriander seed, but a whole, split bean invariably ends up in braises and marinades.
- 30,026
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
Heh.
Context:
So it's not just rando Republican internetters having difficulty with the protocol established for these hearings, but Republican lawmakers as well, intentionally defying it to bait rebuke so that they can play victim to those wicked Democrats. And of course conservative media spins it to that effect.
Context:
That's 45 minutes each for Schiff and Nunes, which may be ceded to their respective legal counsel only and not to other committee members such as Rep Elise Stefanik (R-NY) who are given time later in the hearing's schedule.
So it's not just rando Republican internetters having difficulty with the protocol established for these hearings, but Republican lawmakers as well, intentionally defying it to bait rebuke so that they can play victim to those wicked Democrats. And of course conservative media spins it to that effect.
- 11,916
- Marin County
Pathetic.
The republican party is synonymous with "bad faith".
The republican party is synonymous with "bad faith".
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