America - The Official Thread

[andrea]

 

[mustafur]

Big sad

 

[McLaren]

And at long last a GOP lawmaker has called for him to resign, only took them, how many weeks?
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/547287-first-gop-lawmaker-calls-on-gaetz-to-resign

Kinzinger being it doesn't surprise me. He's actually called out the GOP on a couple other things in the past couple months.

Unfortunately, it also tells me the GOP remains fine with Gaetz staying right where he is.

 

[Danoff]

Unfortunately, it also tells me the GOP remains fine with Gaetz staying right where he is.

Principles are out the window, it's all about the team. Cuomo was getting calls from the left to step down, not that it's identical.

 

[Danoff]

It turns out the democrats didn't really win the senate. Manchin is a republican, even if he doesn't change party affiliation. West Virginia is conservative, Trump won it in 2020 with 70% of the vote. Democrats should just count themselves lucky that Manchin doesn't change parties (which he still can do), because otherwise we'd have McConnell as majority leader still. It would be painful for Manchin to switch parties, he'd alienate a lot of voters who cast votes for him previously. Manchin is on thin ice, but he knows that he can't support democrats very much and win again.

Unless they can find a way to twist his arm, the infrastructure bill may be the last of the legislation until mid-terms.

 

[Liquid]

It would be painful for Manchin to switch parties, he'd alienate a lot of voters who cast votes for him previously.

Why was he on the Democratic ticket in the first place?

 

[Dotini]

Why was he on the Democratic ticket in the first place?

Manchin is a very rare bird, a holdover from an earlier era of bipartisanship and blue collar democrats.

Joseph Manchin III[1] (born August 24, 1947) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from West Virginia, a seat he has held since 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 34th governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010 and the 27th secretary of state of West Virginia from 2001 to 2005.

Manchin has called himself a "moderate conservative Democrat" and is often cited as the most conservative Democrat in the Senate.[2][3][4][5] West Virginia has become one of the most heavily Republican states in the country,[6] but Manchin has continued to see electoral success. He won the 2004 gubernatorial election by a large margin and was reelected by an even larger margin in 2008; in both years, Republican presidential candidates won West Virginia. Manchin won the 2010 special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by incumbent Democrat Robert Byrd's death with 54% of the vote. He was elected to a full term in 2012 with 61% of the vote and reelected in 2018 with just under 50% of the vote, as the state had become increasingly partisan. He became the state's senior U.S. Senator when Jay Rockefeller retired in 2015.

As a member of Congress, Manchin is known for his support of bipartisanship, voting or working with Republicans on issues such as abortion and gun ownership. He opposed the energy policies of President Barack Obama, voted against cloture for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 (he did not vote on the bill itself), voted to remove federal funding for Planned Parenthood in 2015, supported President Donald Trump's immigration policies and voted to confirm most of his cabinet and judicial appointees, including Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh. But Manchin has also repeatedly voted against attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), voted to preserve funding for Planned Parenthood in 2017, and voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He vocally opposes policy proposals from the progressive wing of his party, including Medicare For All, abolishing the filibuster, increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court, increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and attempts to defund the police.[7] He has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and opposed most military interventions in Syria.

As of 2021, Manchin is the only Democrat holding statewide office in West Virginia, as well as the only Democrat in West Virginia's congressional delegation. After the 2020 elections, he became a swing vote in a 50-50 Democratic-controlled Senate.[8] The Democratic Party's small majority in the 117th Congress has made Manchin one of its most influential members.[9][10]

 

[Keef]

a holdover

So what you're saying is he's washed up and is refusing to adapt to the times. He's trying to do things the old way. He's being conservative.

 

[GranTurNismo]

It turns out the democrats didn't really win the senate. Manchin is a republican, even if he doesn't change party affiliation. West Virginia is conservative, Trump won it in 2020 with 70% of the vote. Democrats should just count themselves lucky that Manchin doesn't change parties (which he still can do), because otherwise we'd have McConnell as majority leader still. It would be painful for Manchin to switch parties, he'd alienate a lot of voters who cast votes for him previously. Manchin is on thin ice, but he knows that he can't support democrats very much and win again.

Unless they can find a way to twist his arm, the infrastructure bill may be the last of the legislation until mid-terms.

It's honestly enigmatic to me how much the political landscape of West Virginia has changed in recent times. As recent as 25 years ago it was a democratic stronghold, and was that way for many decades. 15 years ago, the state was a swing state and voted either way. Now, it is the second most republican state in the US, only after Wyoming. Trump got 70% of the vote give-or-take in the 2020 election. I can't think of any other state that had their political landscape change so rapidly post-Southern Strategy.

I'm all for progressive Democrats (or any Democrat to the left of him) trying extra hard to push him to vote with the rest of the Democrats, but we must be wary of the consequences. I think if he is pushed too hard and seems forced to support solidly Democratic legislation (especially when it comes to climate change), he will simply switch his affiliation to Republican. And it won't hurt his electoral chances at all, assuming he runs for reelection. After all, why wouldn't he? Manchin hails from the second most Republican state and has voted with Trump 65-70% of the time.

 

[TexRex]

John-boy misses his bronzer daddy.

 

[TheCracker]

John-boy misses his bronzer daddy.

So... he's actually doing his job and not just promoting his own profile?

 

[TexRex]

So... he's actually doing his job and not just promoting his own profile?

It's not particularly surprising that he would resent that. Today's Republican party is about making a lot of noise, making a lot of money and hurting anyone they see as the opposition.

 

[UKMikey]

Another hard ratio. Cornyn, not me (though it's early days yet ).

 

[Joey D]

On one hand, I get it, a president is pretty much the "face" of the US government and should be doing things publically, but on the other hand, they shouldn't just be talking to hear themselves talk. I can criticize Biden for a bunch of things, but I don't really feel like he's keeping the country in the dark. Plus he has a press secretary who says most of the stuff anyway, which is how it should work.

 

[Keef]

John-boy misses his bronzer daddy.

Well to answer your question, Kingmaker John Cornyn, whoever the **** you are, no, the President is not "in charge". Like you, he is a cog in the complex American system of government. Unlike you, he's actually doing his job.

 

[Danoff]

It's honestly enigmatic to me how much the political landscape of West Virginia has changed in recent times. As recent as 25 years ago it was a democratic stronghold, and was that way for many decades. 15 years ago, the state was a swing state and voted either way. Now, it is the second most republican state in the US, only after Wyoming. Trump got 70% of the vote give-or-take in the 2020 election. I can't think of any other state that had their political landscape change so rapidly post-Southern Strategy.

I'm all for progressive Democrats (or any Democrat to the left of him) trying extra hard to push him to vote with the rest of the Democrats, but we must be wary of the consequences. I think if he is pushed too hard and seems forced to support solidly Democratic legislation (especially when it comes to climate change), he will simply switch his affiliation to Republican. And it won't hurt his electoral chances at all, assuming he runs for reelection. After all, why wouldn't he? Manchin hails from the second most Republican state and has voted with Trump 65-70% of the time.

If he were to switch party affiliation, it might be worth it. It would make clearer to the American people how significant the problem is. As it stands, the democrats get to take the blame for technically having control of everything and not getting their stuff done. If Manchin went republican people would see exactly why that is.

 

[eran0004]

"If you change the population, you dilute the political power of the people who live there. So every time they import a new voter, I become disenfranchised as a current voter. So I don't understand why -- everyone wants to make a racial issue out of it. You know the white replacement theory? No, no, this is a voting right question. I have less political power because they are importing a brand new electorate. Why should I sit back and take that? The power that I have as an American guaranteed at birth is one man, one vote. They are diluting it. No, they are not allowed to do it. Why are we putting up with this?"

Tucker Carlson, folks.

Next they’ll ban the national anthem because “the land of the free” wrongly implies that people have the right to move freely within the country.

 

[UKMikey]

Next they’ll ban the national anthem because “the land of the free” wrongly implies that people have the right to move freely within the country.

Also that you don't have to pay for water while standing in line to vote.

 

[TexRex]

If he were to switch party affiliation, it might be worth it. It would make clearer to the American people how significant the problem is. As it stands, the democrats get to take the blame for technically having control of everything and not getting their stuff done. If Manchin went republican people would see exactly why that is.

I think anyone paying enough attention to be aware of the issue is aware of Manchin's role in it.

 

[McLaren]

So... he's actually doing his job and not grifting everyone for his personal wealth?

You don’t have to be nice with your words.

 

[NotThePrez]

John-boy misses his bronzer daddy.

I think it shows that Biden and his administration are fans of normality, something that I personally feel has been missing for far too long.

 

[Populuxe]

John-boy misses his bronzer daddy.

And his tweet is lifted word-for-word from Politico.

So what you're saying is he's washed up and is refusing to adapt to the times. He's trying to do things the old way. He's being conservative.

Manchin is definitely adjusting to the times. But it’s in the same direction as the state he hails from: hard right.

 

[Outspacer]

And his tweet is lifted word-for-word from Politico.

I've read the article and TBH it isn't anything like as negative about it as his selective quote implies, basically saying that while Biden's press strategy is very different to Trump's and even Obama's in terms of access, it's just more like things used to be. If anything, it defends it against the right's name-calling.

I don't really know what Politco (US) is like generally, normally just read Politco EU for a different slant on things than BBC has (often it has more facts and figures, presented more concisely, than BBC, and its bias isn't extreme).

 

[TexRex]

And his tweet is lifted word-for-word from Politico.

What was quoted from Politico is just a statement of fact. What followed is the shameless bootlicking to which I was referring.

Biden is boring...and it's fantastic. I don't want a showman. I want occasional scripted remarks delivered in scheduled addresses, and while I hope nothing happens to warrant them, I want scripted remarks delivered in an apparent heartfelt address following tragedy. More than anything, I want Biden to just not be awful.

The bar is set exceptionally low right now, and Biden has to merely not encourage an attack on the nation's capitol to come out ahead of the fat authoritarian **** to whom the GOP is so desperately clinging.

 

[Keef]

I propose new rules/laws on how to deal with corporate environmental destruction.

Any business or executive which has ever benefitted from actions like this, through whatever complex business relationship or succession that existed, should have their fortunes absorbed and their wages garnished for life and given to society to help pay for the cleanup. I mean every penny, these companies and executives should be left as poor and broken as the landscape they tarnished. And they should be accosted for their actions at every waking moment, never allowed to forget their monumental mistakes. You destroy the world, the world destroys you, simple as that. We were discussing how justice is rarely ever served - well buddy this is what I would call justice.

 

[TexRex]

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
-- Evelyn Beatrice Hall

It's a phrase often cited by conservative pundits, and others, of course, as it relates to freedom of speech.

"I support the complete and utter destruction of any entity trying to destroy my country and my way of life. I will use anyone and anything to further this goal."
-- Jesse Kelly

The conservative pundit offered these words as part of a reaction to protected speech and action by corporations with a significant presence in states where Republicans are hate-****ing the voting public with legislation that at best restricts voters' ability to have their voices heard through the democratic process and at worst enables Republican legislative majorities to take action against election results when a majority of the voting public casts a vote that runs counter to the interest of Republicans.




Very fascism-forward rhetoric, there. Haute totalitarianism.

 

[McLaren]

"I support the complete and utter destruction of any entity trying to destroy my country and my way of life. I will use anyone and anything to further this goal."
-- Jesse Kelly

Oh, you just know this dude is popular with the white supremacist groups. They eat that **** up like a dog & table scraps.

Edit*

You ain’t doin **** powder puff boi

There's some other good comebacks, esp. some about this dude & building sheds, but that one really stood out to me.

 

[TexRex]

Oh, you just know this dude is popular with the white supremacist groups. They eat that **** up like a dog & table scraps.

Right supremacist, at the very least.

 

[Danoff]

Right supremacist

 

[TexRex]

Here's an additional nugget. Among the signatories to this complaint are ten of the attorneys general (Steve Marshall, Alabama; Leslie C. Rutledge, Arkansas; Ashley Moody, Florida; Derek Schmidt, Kansas; Lynn Fitch, Mississippi; Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota; Alan Wilson, South Carolina; Jason R. Ravnsborg, South Dakota; Sean D. Reyes, Utah; Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia) who supported Texas' AG Ken Paxton's performative litigation against Pennsylvania and three other states over unfounded allegations of election impropriety. The United States Supreme Court wouldn't entertain the suit. Paxton is also signatory to the complaint.