Polite Politics

[Iceresistance]

Well, Finland is now officially part of NATO.

[Reg]

1 minute ago, Iceresistance said:

Well, Finland is now officially part of NATO.

Still awaiting Turkey's imminent approval. Sweden has been more or less rejected on the grounds of housing Kurdish PKK sympathizers, which Turkey considers as terrorists.

[Iceresistance]

Just now, Reg said:

Still awaiting Turkey's imminent approval. Sweden has been more or less rejected on the grounds of housing Kurdish PKK sympathizers, which Turkey considers as terrorists.

Yeah, I have seen that Turkey has given Sweden one condition for them to join NATO and it's that.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Maybe this will do it

Marxism: The bourgeoisie claims access to a special form of property called capital. They create an ideology called capitalism (based on things like meritocracy) to justify this. This allows them to structure society with structural classism that advantages the bourgoisie and exploits, estranges, and disenfranchises the working class. People can be made aware of the Marxist theory of societal production and become class-conscious proletarians or a bourgeois vanguard operating in solidarity on their behalf. If they seize the means of production of society and Man, they will usher in socialism that will eventually ripen into Communism through the inversion of praxis.

Critical Race Theory: The whites (and their adjacents) claims access to a special form of property called whiteness. They create an ideology called white supremacy (based on things like meritocracy and racism) to justify this. This allows them to structure society with structural or systemic racism that advantages whites and exploits, estranges, and disenfranchises people of color. People can be made aware of the Critical Race theory of societal production and become race-conscious antiracists and/or “white allies” operating in solidarity on their behalf. If they seize the means of race-cultural production of society and Man, they will usher in racial equity that will eventually ripen into racial justice (a kind of social justice) through the inversion of praxis.

(Marxian) Feminism: Men claim access to a special form of property called maleness or masculinity. They create an ideology called male supremacy or hegemonic masculinity (based on things like meritocracy and sexism) to justify this. This allows them to structure society with patriarchy and structural or systemic sexism, enforced by misogyny, that advantages men and exploits, estranges, and disenfranchises women, as a class. People can be made aware of the (Marxian) feminist theory of societal production and become feminist-conscious feminists and/or “male allies” operating in solidarity on their behalf. If they seize the means of sex-cultural and material production of society and Man, they will usher in gender equity that will eventually ripen into feminist justice (a kind of social justice) through the inversion of praxis.

***** Theory: Straight people whose “gender identity” and sex match (and those who pass as such) claim access to a special form of property called normalcy (by declaring themselves the normal ones and defining normalcy to mean like themselves). They create an ideology called normativity (e.g., heteronormativity and cisnormativity) to justify this. This allows them to structure society with structural or systemic homophobia and/or transphobia (or, generally, *****-phobia) that advantages the “normal” and exploits, estranges, and disenfranchises “queers” (anyone different, especially gays, lesbians, bisexuals, the gender non-conforming, transgenders, and the mentally ill). People can be made aware of the ***** Theory theory of societal production and become *****-conscious (“proud”) allies operating in solidarity on their behalf. If they seize the means of normative cultural production of society and Man, they will usher in gender, sexual, and sex equity that will eventually ripen into gender, sexual, and sex justice (a kind of social justice) through the inversion of praxis.

Disability Studies: The able-bodied claim access to a special form of property called “ability.” They create an ideology described from the outside as dis/ableism (based on a belief that it is generally better to be fully able-bodied than not, and further based in ideas like “medicalism”) to justify this. This allows them to structure society with structural or systemic dis/ableism that advantages able-bodied and exploits, estranges, disenfranchises, and disables the disabled or “differently abled.” People can be made aware of the Disability Studies theory of societal production and become disability activists conscious allies operating in solidarity on their behalf. If they seize the means of ability-relevant cultural and material production of society and Man, they will usher in ability-based equity that will eventually ripen into ability-based justice (a kind of social justice) through the inversion of praxis.

Fat Studies: The “thin” (those who are not “fat”) claim access to a special form of property called “normal weight” or even “health.” They create an ideology described from the outside as thinnormativity (based on a belief that it is generally better to be at a healthy weight than not, and further based in ideas like “healthism” and “medicalism”) to justify this. This allows them to structure society with structural or systemic fatphobia that advantages “thin” people and exploits, estranges, and disenfranchises the “fat” (they cannot be called “obese” because that “medicalizes” them or “overweight” because that “unjustly” implies a normal or acceptable weight). People can be made aware of the Fat Studies theory of societal production and become fat activists fat-conscious allies (or fat) operating in solidarity on their behalf. If they seize the means of weight/health-relevant cultural and material production of society and Man, they will usher in fat-based equity that will eventually ripen into fat-based justice (a kind of social justice) through the inversion of praxis.

[roadtonowhere08]

4 minutes ago, Mr Marine Layer said:

Maybe this will do it

[Anti Marine Layer]

@SnarkyGoblin logic 

A non-liberal essayist writes an essay with a thesis that the sun is hot and water is wet. He gives references to prove his thesis.

Later the same essayist publishes some essays that support conspiracy theories. 

Therefore, the sun cannot be hot and water cannot be wet because the essayist supported a conspiracy theory and everything he says must be false and all references he quotes must be fake.

[Stormy]

If you want a peek at the life of Ukrainians then you might want to follow this channel that I've been subscribed to for a year or so. I think there's a lot of propaganda about this war and it's only in certain areas of eastern Ukraine. This is Pavlo's latest video, though he recently interviewed fellow Ukrainians asking what they think about the war and such. From what he shares you'd think there's no war, but Ukraine is a pretty large country. And why wouldn't a guy his age be helping, or required to help fight, instead of making YouTube videos with his pretty girlfriend which he probably kinda shows for clickbait?

https://youtu.be/tbgPyY0rXEY

[SnarkyGoblin]

14 hours ago, Sparky said:

If you want a peek at the life of Ukrainians then you might want to follow this channel that I've been subscribed to for a year or so. I think there's a lot of propaganda about this war and it's only in certain areas of eastern Ukraine. This is Pavlo's latest video, though he recently interviewed fellow Ukrainians asking what they think about the war and such. From what he shares you'd think there's no war, but Ukraine is a pretty large country. And why wouldn't a guy his age be helping, or required to help fight, instead of making YouTube videos with his pretty girlfriend which he probably kinda shows for clickbait?

https://youtu.be/tbgPyY0rXEY

You aren't really selling that channel very well.

[Stormy]

48 minutes ago, SnarkyGoblin said:

You aren't really selling that channel very well.

Who cares. I wasn't trying to sell it by sharing only his latest video. I actually don't watch most of his videos myself as there are more interesting things to see. Just thought someone might be interested in occasionally checking on the lives of some regular Ukrainians like I do, and I'm sure he'd like more subscribers. One of my nephews has a Ukrainian wife, but they live here in the Midwest. 

[Iceresistance]

3 hours ago, Sparky said:

Who cares. I wasn't trying to sell it by sharing only his latest video. I actually don't watch most of his videos myself as there are more interesting things to see. Just thought someone might be interested in occasionally checking on the lives of some regular Ukrainians like I do, and I'm sure he'd like more subscribers. One of my nephews has a Ukrainian wife, but they live here in the Midwest. 

Yeah, have you heard of RFU (Reporting from Ukraine)?

[Rubus Leucodermis]

Looks like I was wrong about Trump never being indicted.

https://wapo.st/42Rhq6D

[Deweydog]

MARTYRDOM STATUS FULLY UNLOCKED!

[Phil]

Just now, Rubus Leucodermis said:

Looks like I was wrong about Trump never being indicted.

https://wapo.st/42Rhq6D

We’re indicting an ex-president for paying off a pornstar? Lmao. Great precedent to set.

[Iceresistance]

Trump warned of violence if he is indicted, he may be right after all...

[Deweydog]

2 minutes ago, Phil said:

We’re indicting an ex-president for paying off a pornstar? Lmao. Great precedent to set.

One named Stormy, nonetheless.

#itscoming

#nino2024

#bombgenesis

#polarvortex

[SnarkyGoblin]

1 hour ago, Phil said:

We’re indicting an ex-president for paying off a pornstar? Lmao. Great precedent to set.

Has nothing to do with being paid off.  It has everything to do with it being essentially an illegal political contribution.

To be on that jury.....

[Andie]

Also has a lot to do with the next election. 

Papa Joe can't win, so they need to try something to divert the flow.

If they aren't careful, they'll net him a boatload of votes.  This smacks of desperation.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

39 minutes ago, Andie said:

Also has a lot to do with the next election. 

Papa Joe can't win, so they need to try something to divert the flow.

If they aren't careful, they'll net him a boatload of votes.  This smacks of desperation.

He was indicted by a grand jury, not by the Manhattan DA.

Are you implying that the grand jury was paid off by Biden to indict?

[Andie]

No but it is a liberal city with a liberal prosecutor.  
They need to move this out of Manhattan just for starters.  This whole thing smacks of politics.  I understand the statute of limitations ran out 2 yrs ago.  
It IS very entertaining though.  

[Phil]

3 hours ago, SnarkyGoblin said:

Has nothing to do with being paid off.  It has everything to do with it being essentially an illegal political contribution.

To be on that jury.....

A campaign finance violation? If that’s the bar we’re setting then every president in my lifetime should be indicted.

Corporations funnel hundreds of millions into dark money super PACs every election cycle to sway politicians and nothing is done about it thanks to that awful Citizen’s United ruling, but individuals with (far less power) engaging in essentially the same activities are hung out to dry. It’s a gross double standard.

[SnarkyGoblin]

6 minutes ago, Phil said:

A campaign finance violation? If that’s the bar we’re setting then every president in my lifetime should be indicted.

Corporations funnel hundreds of millions into dark money super PACs every election cycle to sway politicians and nothing is done about it thanks to that awful Citizen’s United ruling, but individuals with (far less power) engaging in essentially the same activities get hung out to dry. It’s a gross double standard.

Huh? What double standard? A superPac is not the same, per Citizen's United. 

Many people have gotten in trouble over campaign finance violations.  Michael Cohen went to jail for literally the exact same thing.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

“I’ll go even one step further and say that if it happens to be the case that the Stormy Daniels prosecution and the classified documents investigation are the only two prosecutions of the former president coming out of all of his antics, and that he’s not prosecuted for January 6th, I will believe that that’s a great disservice to democracy and to the rule of law in America.”

https://morningshots.thebulwark.com/p/judge-luttig-has-a-warning-for-america

[roadtonowhere08]

The next year and a half is going to be a complete dookie show.

[Andie]

Look deep enough and there’s bound to be “irregularities” in every Presidential election.  Who are they kidding? 

[roadtonowhere08]

5 hours ago, Iceresistance said:

Trump warned of violence if he is indicted, he may be right after all...

More white trash to take out to the curb.

[Anti Marine Layer]

I wonder what @SnarkyGoblin thinks of Robert Wilkes in the article below

https://www.allsides.com/blog/equity-vs-equality-political-rorschach-test

Another far-right conspiracy theorist working for Trump?

[Andie]

CNN Law Enforcement analyst John Miller says orders have gone out from the NYPD for every cop in the city “of every rank” to “show up in uniform tomorrow”.

[Stormy]

They're just doing this is so they can perp walk him and get a mug shot to show around for the next two years! This is just laughable. The left is in total panic mode now as they know if he's is elected, then many of them are going to jail for treason and all manner of crimes. This will just make Trump more popular! 

[roadtonowhere08]

38 minutes ago, Sparky said:

They're just doing this is so they can perp walk him and get a mug shot to show around for the next two years! This is just laughable. The left is in total panic mode now as they know if he's is elected, then many of them are going to jail for treason and all manner of crimes. This will just make Trump more popular! 

Among who?  There are the people who will happily/begrudgingly vote for him and rest are those who would walk with extra pep in their step if they read that he keeled over dead tomorrow.  Nothing in between.

[Phil]

1 hour ago, SnarkyGoblin said:

Huh? What double standard? A superPac is not the same, per Citizen's United. 

Many people have gotten in trouble over campaign finance violations.  Michael Cohen went to jail for literally the exact same thing.

You either didn’t read my post or lack critical thinking skills, because I answered your question in the section you quoted.

This doesn’t address one iota of my reply.

[Stormy]

28 minutes ago, roadtonowhere08 said:

Among who?  There are the people who will willingly/begrudgingly vote for him and rest are those who would walk with extra pep in their step if they read that he keeled over dead tomorrow.  Nothing in between.

The many millions who already support him. The internal polls that you and I don't see are probably showing Trump even further in the lead, therefore the only option the insane Dems have is to somehow keep him from being elected. I wouldn't be surprised they'll try to assassinate him if nothing else. And I realize you hate Trump as well and that's ok too. 

[roadtonowhere08]

7 minutes ago, Sparky said:

The many millions who already support him. The internal polls that you and I don't see are probably showing Trump even further in the lead, therefore the only option the insane Dems have is to somehow keep him from being elected. I wouldn't be surprised they'll try to assassinate him if nothing else. 

What are they going to do?  Beat him with copies of How To Be An Antiracist? 

 

That was for you, Marine Layer

[Deweydog]

5 minutes ago, Sparky said:

The many millions who already support him. The internal polls that you and I don't see are probably showing Trump even further in the lead, therefore the only option the insane Dems have is to somehow keep him from being elected. I wouldn't be surprised they'll try to assassinate him if nothing else. 

Assassinate this? Good luck, libtards!

[Stormy]

2 minutes ago, roadtonowhere08 said:

What are they going to do?  Beat him with copies of How To Be An Antiracist? 

Whatever they can get away with.

[Phil]

 

5 minutes ago, roadtonowhere08 said:

What are they going to do?  Beat him with copies of How To Be A Racist? 

Fixed.

[Deweydog]

Anyone not willing to acknowledge the massive political undercurrent of this is apparently entirely okay with being a partisan hack. And anyone using the fact it’s a grand jury indictment as some kind of litmus test is kidding themselves. That process is a joke.  

Edited March 31 by Deweydog

[roadtonowhere08]

Just now, Deweydog said:

Anyone not willing to acknowledge the massive political undercurrent of this is apparently entirely okay with being a partisan hack. And using the fact it’s a grand jury indictment as some kind of litmus test is kidding themselves. That process is a joke.  

I'm okay with him going away.  Don't care how or why.  Label me as you see fit.

[Deweydog]

15 minutes ago, roadtonowhere08 said:

I'm okay with him going away.  Don't care how or why.  Label me as you see fit.

Yeah, that seems to be the message sent by this. Huge signal of political fear and weakness with some potential upside but an avalanche of potential downside for the left. 

[roadtonowhere08]

23 minutes ago, Deweydog said:

Yeah, that seems to be the message sent by this. Huge signal of political fear and weakness with some potential upside but an avalanche of potential downside for the left. 

I'm not so sure about the downside.  Who is undecided at this point?  Whether Trump is indicted for jaywalking or 1st degree murder, it does not matter.  It's Biden vs. Trump.  Place your bets accordingly.

[Iceresistance]

Someone told me he saw a YouTube video (Can't remember which one) that someone has never voted for a President in an election, and the Indictment made him a Solid Republican.

 

Trump is going to be viewed as a martyr.

[Andie]

This has enormous potential to backfire.  

I don’t mind political experiments but this one has potential to become derailed and create a monster (the public) they didn’t count on.  
I don’t have the answers but I can read the smoke signals and they’re definitely playing with fire.

 

[Anti Marine Layer]

9 hours ago, roadtonowhere08 said:

I'm not so sure about the downside.  Who is undecided at this point?  Whether Trump is indicted for jaywalking or 1st degree murder, it does not matter.  It's Biden vs. Trump.  Place your bets accordingly.

He could not be indicted for jaywalking in California. It's no longer illegal. 

[SnarkyGoblin]

10 hours ago, Phil said:

You either didn’t read my post or lack critical thinking skills, because I answered your question in the section you quoted.

This doesn’t address one iota of my reply.

 

12 hours ago, Phil said:

A campaign finance violation? If that’s the bar we’re setting then every president in my lifetime should be indicted.

Corporations funnel hundreds of millions into dark money super PACs every election cycle to sway politicians and nothing is done about it thanks to that awful Citizen’s United ruling, but individuals with (far less power) engaging in essentially the same activities are hung out to dry. It’s a gross double standard.

???

You are the one that compared superpacs with this case as if they should be treated equally.

There's certainly an argument to overturn Citizens United but until that day comes, please don't act like this indictment is the first time ever a politician got in trouble for campaign finance.  I can name you a dozen people - most, if not all, will usually take a plea deal with a slap on the wrist and never go to trial.

[SnarkyGoblin]

28 minutes ago, Iceresistance said:

Someone told me he saw a YouTube video (Can't remember which one) that someone has never voted for a President in an election, and the Indictment made him a Solid Republican.

 

Trump is going to be viewed as a martyr.

A You tube video????? Man, that should be on the front page of every newspaper in the counry.

[Phil]

34 minutes ago, Andie said:

This has enormous potential to backfire.  

I don’t mind political experiments but this one has potential to become derailed and create a monster (the public) they didn’t count on.  
I don’t have the answers but I can read the smoke signals and they’re definitely playing with fire.

 

I think the more likely outcome is Trump gets back into power in 2024 and goes full fascist in pursuit of revenge against his political opponents. And there are plenty of right wingers who’d be happy to head up the most important US institutions, and do just that.

The whole thing about the people “rising up” to defend trump is a fairytale fantasy, because nobody likes him, not even his own voters. But I’m sure if/when he gets off scott free, or even if he doesn’t, he will get more votes than he otherwise would have. The prosecution here is so obviously political, and nobody outside the safe democratic voters are a fan of it.

[Phil]

30 minutes ago, SnarkyGoblin said:

 

???

You are the one that compared superpacs with this case as if they should be treated equally.

There's certainly an argument to overturn Citizens United but until that day comes, please don't act like this indictment is the first time ever a politician got in trouble for campaign finance.  I can name you a dozen people - most, if not all, will usually take a plea deal with a slap on the wrist and never go to trial.

They should be treated the same, because it’s essentially the same thing except for the fact it’s powerful corporate interests doing the undisclosed bribing. Just because the Supreme Court legalized it doesn’t mean it’s any different.

Unless you think super pacs actually act independently from/don’t communicate with the politicians/parties associated with them. In which case you’re naive if not delusional.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

51 minutes ago, SnarkyGoblin said:

You are the one that compared superpacs with this case as if they should be treated equally.

There's certainly an argument to overturn Citizens United but until that day comes, please don't act like this indictment is the first time ever a politician got in trouble for campaign finance.  I can name you a dozen people - most, if not all, will usually take a plea deal with a slap on the wrist and never go to trial.

Or the first time a president or ex-president got into hot water by doing something illegal to cover up an affair he had. The horses left that particular barn a long time ago.

[SnarkyGoblin]

22 minutes ago, Phil said:

They should be treated the same, because it’s essentially the same thing except for the fact it’s powerful corporate interests doing the undisclosed bribing. Just because the Supreme Court legalized it doesn’t mean it’s any different.

Unless you think super pacs actually act independently from/don’t communicate with the politicians/parties associated with them. In which case you’re naive if not delusional.

So is your gripe Citizen's United or the fact Trump got indicted?  I agree with the former - but it's the reality we have to live in.  However, CU did not rule that everyone gets to donate unlimited, anonymous political contributions.  Are you old enough to remember John Edwards?  Very similar situation and he also got indicted.

I'm not delusional - I'm just acknowledging the reality our political contribution rules.  Your feelings of a double standard doesn't matter.

[roadtonowhere08]

1 hour ago, Andie said:

This has enormous potential to backfire.  

I don’t mind political experiments but this one has potential to become derailed and create a monster (the public) they didn’t count on.  
I don’t have the answers but I can read the smoke signals and they’re definitely playing with fire.

 

Don't think for a second that if the shoe was on the other foot and Trump was a democrat, all hell would not be breaking loose.  Imagine JFK.  He was on everything but the Titanic.  I'm sure he crapped hush money.

These are the times we live in, and we as a nation have done it to ourselves.  We eat this garbage up and beg for more.

Normal boring policy wonks are no longer valued.  We want A SHOW!!!

[Deweydog]

11 hours ago, roadtonowhere08 said:

I'm not so sure about the downside.  Who is undecided at this point?  Whether Trump is indicted for jaywalking or 1st degree murder, it does not matter.  It's Biden vs. Trump.  Place your bets accordingly.

Apparently some guy on YouTube.

I also did some cold calling this morning and found Ted and Annette Fleming. Ted has a small carpet cleaning business that’s in receivership and Annette’s drawing a salary from a deferred bonus from two years ago. They’ve got $15,000 left on the house at 8%, so they’re ok! That, and they’re ENTIRELY undecided on who they’ll vote for in 2024.