Top Diaries

European Parliament plans bus roadshow
"to rural areas and public spaces across the bloc in an effort to raise the EU's profile"

de jokes ...

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 06:36:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (none / 0)

CAMPAIGN 2019, Acte XIX
France to deploy troops to maintain security during Yellow Vest protests

(FWIW: my favorite headline from last week was provided by Washington Post: Mother, child saved from bank fire in Paris riot)

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 06:57:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Christianity is not a religion of peace (none / 1)

Independent

The Home Office has refused asylum to a Christian convert by quoting Bible passages which it says prove Christianity is not a peaceful religion.
The Iranian national, who claimed asylum in 2016, was told passages in the Bible were "inconsistent" with his claim to have converted to Christianity after discovering it was a "peaceful" faith.
The refusal letter from the department states the book of Revelations - the final book of the Bible - is "filled with imagery of revenge, destruction, death and violence", and cites six excerpts from it.
It then states: "These examples are inconsistent with your claim that you converted to Christianity after discovering it is a `peaceful' religion, as opposed to Islam which contains violence, rage and revenge."

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 08:19:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Christianity is not a religion of peace (none / 0)

Theresa May goes to chruch every sunday without fail and she created the "hostile evironment" at the Home Office.

I'd have said that all you needed to do was quote the Prime Minister to prove x-tianity os quite okay with callous disregard without getting into the weeds of the bible

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 07:37:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Candidates for Commission President 2019 (Spitzenkandidaten)

possible Polish Proportional "gerrymandering"
Vestager joins EU Commission presidency race

The ALDE party will announce Vestager and former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt as the two leading figures of the liberal ticket during a campaign launch event in Brussels on Thursday (21 March).

Tomorrow. Are you ready to challenge possible Polish Proportional 'gerrymandering"?

Naming more than one candidate is not without precedent, as the Greens have also plumped two horses in the race - Germany's Ska Keller and the Netherlands' Bas Eickhout. Still, liberal eyebrows have been raised about the decision to name so many lead candidates.
[...]
Under the Spitzenkandidat process, the largest political group after the election gets ["]the first bite["] at ["]naming["] the Commission president, although it is still unclear whether this method will be used again after it made its debut in 2014.

Who are the candidates, what are their strengths and weaknesses, and what are their chances of success? ... With the European People's Party (EPP) likely to be the largest group in the European Parliament after the elections, the Commission President is most likely to come from that party.

reference
Election of the President of the European Commission, Understanding The Process

The Treaties now require the European Council to propose a candidate for Commission President, 'taking into account the elections to the European Parliament' and 'after having held the appropriate consultations'. Article 17(7) TEU further provides that the proposed candidate is then to be 'elected' by the European Parliament, by a majority of its component members (376 of 751 votes, or 353 of 705 post-Brexit).
[...]
To the disappointment of many, the [voter] turnout in the 2014 elections did not increase but declined further --if only slightly-- from 43 % in 2009 to 42.6 %. The argument can be, and has been, made that, in the absence of the lead candidates, the decline might have been even greater ... The degree to which the public was informed about ["]the process["] and aware of the lead candidates varied greatly, and the sheer novelty of ["]the process["] operated as a further impediment to sufficient voter mobilisation [whodat?], especially in combination with a certain 'disbelief' whether --in the face of opposition from the European Council-- one of the candidates would indeed 'get the job'.

## Democracy is not well understood

archived practice, practice, practice
you have no jurisdiction over how the rest of us choose to use it.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 08:49:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

France targeting Commission presidency over top ECB job

The European Commission, which serves as the EU's executive and civil service, will appoint a new president for a five-year term after European Parliament elections take place in May ... Who gets the Commission presidency depends on which party comes out on top in European Parliament elections on 23-26 May, and negotiations between EU governments that follow.

< pick teeth, suck vigorously > Is Barnier running? Villeroy de Galhau? Benoît Coeuré? Are these persons even elected representatives?

The choice of Commission president could see a sharp conflict between national leaders and the European Parliament, which is keen to see them nominate one of the lead candidates in the EU elections - such as the center right's Manfred Weber, a German, or center left's Frans Timmermans, a Dutchman.
The role of parliament, which must endorse [?] any Commission president, risks complicating what has always been a complex power play among the member states and the pan-EU political movements to which national leaders belong.

Front door, back door, side door, chute: Sumbuddy needs to get the story straight.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 02:11:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Exit polls show big wins for Forum: D66, CDA and SP big losers

The ruling VVD is set to remain the biggest party in the senate with 12 out of 75 seats but nationalist newcomer Forum voor Democratie is on target to take second place with 10
[...]
Backing for the anti-Islam PVV has fallen sharply and the party would take six seats in the senate, down from the nine it currently holds. The senate will be elected in May by the 570 members of the 12 provincial councils who were voted into power today.

Dutch government loses Senate majority amid populist surge

Netherlands, South Holland provincial election

Peil exit poll

FvD-ECR: 16.1 (+16)
VVD-ALDE: 15.6 (-2)
PvdA-S&D: 8.5 (-1)
GL-G/EFA: 8.4 (+3)
D66-ALDE: 8 (-5)
CDA-EPP: 7.9 (-4)
PVV-ENF: 6.8 (-7)
CU-ECR: 6 (+1)
50+-ALDE: 5 (+1)
PvdD-LEFT: 4.5 (+1)
SP-LEFT: 4.3 (-5)

+/- vs. 2015 pic.twitter.com/Mx4PSKIHsF
— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) March 20, 2019

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 11:44:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Here is Anglo-merican reportage.
AP | German Wikipedia Blacked Out in Protest of EU Copyright Plan

Visitors to the online encyclopedia's German section [!] were greeted Thursday with a statement from Wikipedia authors urging them to contact EU lawmakers to try to stop the bill.
The most controversial section [!] would require companies such as YouTube and Facebook to take responsibility for copyrighted material that's uploaded to their platforms.

Which bill?
"The European Parliament is due to vote on the bill March 26."
Which "section"?
Wikipedia authority or unnamed EU bill?
Which authors?
not named
Which EU lawmakers?
not named
Which Wikipedia "section" is a division of YouTube (Google, Alphabet) or Facebook?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 06:20:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe POLITICS (none / 1)

it's just libertarians being libertarian.

Gummint's cummina gicha. Be afraid, hate your leaders, they're gona spoil your fun and take your toys away. Vote Orban/Le Pen/whever the biggest fascist in Poland/Netherlands is

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 07:41:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe POLITICS (4.00 / 3)

Far as I can tell, if the proposals pass all sites that allows users to write, embed images and movies will have to either implement upload filters (and look at Tumblr if anyone think that is easy), buy licenses for all works that may be posted there, or be liable for users misconduct. And contrary to earlier legislation, if you don't do one of the first, removing after the fact is not enough. And with IPRED 2 came mandatory punitive damages for copyright infringements, so it will be most lucrative to sue sites like Wikipedia, or for that matter Eurotrib.

Wikipedia in Sweden was sued a couple of years ago for allowing photos of public statues without licenses. Photos the users had taken themselves. That suit was successful, so I don't think German Wikipedia is wrong here. This is legislation that may very well break Wikipedia and sites like Eurotrib.

Oh, and snippet and link will count as copyright infringement.

by fjallstrom on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 10:53:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe POLITICS (none / 1)

For content links and quick analysis, Julia Reda MEP (Pirate): https:/juliareda.eu/2019/02/eu-copyright-final-text

For time schedule, MEP contact information, etc: https:/saveyourinternet.eu/act

Wikipedia is not a subdivision of any of the mentioned companies but as usual in the EU copyright legislation is publicly motivated by the need to get money from big US companies and written so it hits everybody. This is not an accident.

And if anyone thinks it is about starving artists and writers:

Authors' rights: The Parliament's proposal that authors should have a right to proportionate remuneration has been severely watered down: Total buy-out contracts will continue to be the norm.

by fjallstrom on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 11:04:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

https: is supposed to be followed by two slashes. Apparently, the second got converted to an italic tag.

by fjallstrom on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 11:06:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe POLITICS (none / 1)

Hitting Google by forcing everyone to buy Google's upload filter is a Galaxy Brain level of good faith.

by generic on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 08:40:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

And we have a list of shame.

by generic on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 08:25:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Article 13 will wreck the internet because Swedish MEPs accidentally pushed the wrong voting button / Boing Boing

In the EU, if a Member of the Parliament presses the wrong button on a vote, they can have the record amended to show what their true intention was, but the vote is binding.
Today, the European Parliament voted to pass the whole Copyright Directive without a debate on Articles 11 and 13 by a margin of five votes.
But actually, a group of Swedish MEPs have revealed that they pressed the wrong button, and have asked to have the record corrected. They have issued a statement saying they'd intended to open a debate on amendments to the Directive so they could help vote down Articles 11 and 13.

Is there actually a mechanism in the European Parliament that allows you to pretend to have voted another way??

by generic on Wed Mar 27th, 2019 at 10:08:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

IN US CONGRESS, that procedure ahh indicating "plausible deniability" is what you'd call the "voice" vote or "present" vote option.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 27th, 2019 at 04:00:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Voting one way on amendments but another way on the final bill is one method of having it both ways, at least to individual constituents in private.
Do they have a provision for a "motion to reconsider" in the EU, which could be a way of forcing a revote.

by Andhakari on Wed Mar 27th, 2019 at 05:44:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

o. look. This "movement" toward enfranchisement might be familiar to some of the people in the most litigious, illiterate nation on the planet.
French jailbirds to vote in EU elections for first time

The Constitutional Council validated the measure in extremis in its decision on 21 March on justice system reform. Everything should be ready for prisoners to have their say "by correspondence" in the week running up to the 26 May.

How conveeeeenient.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 03:30:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The European Spring holds the answer to the fragmenting EU's plight

Of course, practically none of them will get to vote, because you need to be on the electoral roll by the end of March.

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue
- Queen Elizabeth II}

by eurogreen on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 02:23:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (none / 0)

'Don't be naive with China', EU leaders tell Italy, "a systemic rival" (SDR? not infrastructure)

The Europeans want to agree on a comprehensive list of demands, with implementation dates, during the EU-China summit to be held on 9 April.
"It is not a good method to discuss bilaterally agreements on the new `Silk Road'", said French President Emmanuel Macron after the summit.
Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte insisted that nobody asked for explanations when he spoke about the agreement with China.
"We agreed that we will reconvene on this, as they will catch up with us on the outcome of Xi Jinping's visit in Paris," he said.

EU-China Summit: moving forward with our global partnership, June 2017
sadly, China is not a "little island"

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 08:22:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

wut (none / 0)

Chinese Leader Xi in France to Sign Multibillion Deals
"on European terms"

m'k.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 05:50:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: wut (none / 0)

Oettinger calls for EU veto on Italy-China deal
"Italy became the first G7 country to sign up for the massive project, which has sparked unease in the US and the European Union as China aspires to a greater world role."

by, like, 48 hours. doh. c'mon.

archived swinging dicks
how the Europeans use the template of European history ...

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 07:44:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe DEFENSE (none / 0)

YLE BREAKING headline
Finns hit back at health care criticism from [Nikki "Taking Names" Haley]

This week, the former US ambassador to the UN and Republican governor of South Carolina took to Twitter to slam the Finnish healthcare system. "Ask them how their health care is. You won't like their answer," she claimed.
Haley was responding* to a two-week-old tweet by US Senator and 2020 presidential contender Bernie Sanders, who favourably compared the cost of having a baby in Finland to costs in the US.

(trail of choice Finn tweets)

It remains unclear what Haley's specific criticism of Finnish healthcare was, although she did subsequently retweet an article about the Finnish government's collapse over its failed bid to steer home an expansive package of social and health care reforms (known as sote).

archived CAMPAIGN 2019
Now what? Brief answers to 8 questions about gov't resignation
"First in the South"

--
* Haley's reply to Sanders and sub-threads not in same timeline as Finn snaps. Her US followers' chatter is alarming and predictably uninformed.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Mar 23rd, 2019 at 07:09:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe DEFENSE (none / 0)

"ISIS Bride" UPDATE
Report: Children returning to Finland from ISIS

More than 80 people, including 30 children, have travelled from Finland to conflict areas in Syria and Iraq, according to the Finnish Security Police (SUPO). Interior Ministry official Tarja Mankkinen told LM that municipalities should organise returnee rehabilitation, particularly for children exposed to extraordinary violence.
No free pass
Last week, the Finnish government called for the establishment of an international court in the Middle East to try those who have fought with the terror group Isis. All the Nordic countries back such a move.
[...]
Finland's Interior Minister, Kai Mykkänen, has said that while Finland will not prevent the return of nationals who left the country to fight with ISIS, it will not extend help to people who have left either.

archived citizenship
Finland won't strip citizenship from ISIS fighters, minister says

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Mar 23rd, 2019 at 07:55:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Election campaigning in Turin (none / 1)

I've no idea about local politics here, so "Moderates" could well mean hard-core neoliberals.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 08:23:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Gilets jaunes and the economy (4.00 / 2)

SZ article. Brief summary: Deficit spending and tax cuts for workers have led to the French economy growing faster than the German.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 08:33:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Gilets jaunes and the economy (none / 1)

Not that Macron planned it that way. Keynesianism, as we all know, is a thoroughly discredited theory from way back when.

I used to be afew. I'm still not many.

by john_evans (john(dot)evans(dot)et(at)gmail(dot)com) on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 09:22:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Gilets jaunes and the economy (none / 0)

Few noticed when the very same things were said by La Tribune and Les Echos, the papers read by the "business people". Now that it is repeated auf Deutsch on the other side of the Rhein, will our media take it seriously?

Nah, who am I kidding? The media will just repeat the government talking points about how the gilets jaunes crisis is killing the French economy.

by Bernard (bernard) on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 08:59:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (none / 0)

May's European parliament elections are presented as a faceoff between two camps: liberal Europhiles versus illiberal Eurosceptics: Emmanuel Macron versus Matteo Salvini. Or it is the "false prophets" versus the "European patriots". Alas, this is a misleading account. Establishment figures such as Macron have lost their credibility even with centrist citizens. To rally voters, they rely on the threat that nationalists such as Salvini represent. Equally, strongmen such as the Italian deputy prime minister desperately need a hapless European establishment to fashion themselves as worthy rebels.
The only way to break this repugnant loop-wrecking Europe is a credible New Deal for Europeans - an antidote to the depressing belief that the only alternative to this EU is its breakup.

Also, see Yanis's Breughel institute Stream from this afternoon (havent't had time to look yet)

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue
- Queen Elizabeth II}

by eurogreen on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 02:41:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Bozar, Brussels, last night (none / 0)

The most compelling speech came from Joacine Katar Moreira - Portugese candidate:

"Europe is not white. There is no democracy in Europe without ethnic minorities. There is no democracy in Europe without black women on stage."@EU_Spring @DiEM_25 @yanisvaroufakis #HopeIsBack pic.twitter.com/Xu9I0RSGWw
— sarah chander (@sarahchander) March 26, 2019

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue
- Queen Elizabeth II}

by eurogreen on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 02:44:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (none / 1)

The whole Bozar event is worth a look (on utub). A decent attempt at a transnational party with an agenda to bring democracy to Europe (by non-military means)

A Citizen Takeover of the EU Institutions 👉 LIVE NOW https://t.co/547ux9omSy
— DiEM25 (@DiEM_25) March 25, 2019

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue
- Queen Elizabeth II}

by eurogreen on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 02:58:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

wut (none / 0)

Research Committee of Cambridge University's Faculty of Divinity

In this case, I understand the offer of a visiting fellowship for Professor Peterson was considered by the Research Committee of the University's Faculty of Divinity in the normal way, and was granted on an academic basis.

Subject of research: Jordan Peterson?

Early last week, the Faculty became aware of a photograph of Professor Peterson posing with his arm around a man wearing a T-shirt that clearly bore the slogan "I'm a proud Islamophobe". The casual endorsement by association of this message was thought to be antithetical to the work of a Faculty that prides itself in the advancement of inter-faith understanding.

Sumbuddy "misinterpreted" the subject of the research?

As a consequence of this, the Faculty's Research Committee reviewed its original decision to award a visiting fellowship and concluded that the offer should be rescinded. As is normal, neither the decision to invite Professor Peterson, nor to rescind the invitation, were brought to the attention of the senior leadership team until after they had been made.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 03:09:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Brexit (none / 0)

BREXIT

by Bjinse on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 09:05:13 AM EST

Re: Brexit (none / 0)

DW is funded in whole or in part by Germany government.

UK Parliament defies Theresa May, backs vote on Brexit alternatives

UK lawmakers voted 329 to 302 late Monday to give themselves the right to hold votes on alternative options to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal.
[...]
Parliament will hold non-binding votes on Wednesday that aim to determine the support for options that include:

Revoking Brexit;

holding another referendum;

supporting the [Withdrawal Agreement];

supporting a "Norway Plus" deal [?!], which would keep the UK in the EU Single Market

A House divided: The idea of indicative votes was pushed by a cross-party group of lawmakers, with Oliver Letwin of May's Conservative Party leading the way. The government had attempted to "whip" its MPs against the idea, but more than 30 Tories rebelled.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 11:32:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Brexit (none / 0)

DW is funded in whole or in part by Germany government.

EU completes no-deal Brexit preparations (not really)

The Commission, the EU's executive branch, announced contingency measures on its website, including:

Honoring its 2019 commitments to existing UK contracts;

the continuation of the PEACE program at the Irish border until 2020;

ensuring basic air and road connectivity between the EU and the UK;

temporary measures to avoid disruption to financial services;

continuing visa-free travel to the EU for UK nationals if London also grants visa-free travel for EU citizens;

advising Erasmus students currently studying in the UK that they can complete their studies.

[...decision tree...]

IF Parliament approve [the Withdrawal Agreement] with the EU, Brexit can be delayed until May 22 in order to ratify the text.

IF Parliament does not approve the [Withdrawal Agreement], the EU offered a shorter extension until April 12. THEN Parliament decide [1] to have a longer delay and take part in European Parliament elections; or [2] leave on April 12 with no deal.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 11:57:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Trump (none / 0)

TRUMP

by Bjinse on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 09:05:16 AM EST

Re: Trump (none / 1)

I am considering running in the 2020 Democratic primary. The goal will not be to win, but to bring a critique of American imperialism to the Democratic debate stage. The website (https://t.co/j5qZdJoH7S) is under construction. Official announcement will be in the coming days.
— Senator Mike Gravel (@MikeGravel) March 20, 2019

For asdf: He was born before the fall of the Weimar Republic.

The 2020 Democratic field pretends to progressivism, but don't buy the lie. @KamalaHarris kept innocent men on death row. @JoeBiden voted for the Iraq War. @CoryBooker invented a drug dealer friend (and voted with Big Pharma).
— Senator Mike Gravel (@MikeGravel) March 20, 2019

Mike Gravel 2020 starter pack pic.twitter.com/E8OIJD2AD4
— Senator Mike Gravel (@MikeGravel) March 20, 2019

As far as I can see it is actually two kids wearing one trench coat while standing on each other's shoulders. Which doesn't mean he isn't running.

He said he'll decide after he meets with the students on if he'll run, but "they need to persuade my wife." I asked him if he knew about the exploratory committee: "They asked me if it was okay, I said they could do what they wanted, as long as they were doing it and not me!"
— Zach Montellaro (@ZachMontellaro) March 20, 2019

Bonus:All the clowns in the 2007 debate being shocked by the idea that all the American soldiers in Vietnam died in vain:

by generic on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 11:24:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump (none / 0)

"For asdf: He was born before the fall of the Weimar Republic."

Haha 1930. Jeez.

by asdf on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 12:37:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump (none / 0)

ll arguments against a Mike Gravel candidacy are negated by looking at the kill-counts of the other candidates
— Mike Gravel (@MikeGravel) 21. März 2019

by generic on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 08:02:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump (none / 0)

While I respect Bernie, I disagree with him strongly on this. John McCain was a war hawk who sent American youth to fight and die and never met a problem he didn't think could be solved through invasion or intervention. The real heroes are those who fought for PEACE.#GravelGang https://t.co/a3l6700Vo4
— Mike Gravel (@MikeGravel) 21. März 2019

by generic on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 03:19:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump PAGEANT 2020 (none / 1)

Changing my order from SELL to HOLD

Warren takes aim at Electoral College in 3-day trip to South
(3rd press warning in as many weeks)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrapped up a three-state Southern swing on Tuesday with appearances in Alabama, where the Democratic presidential candidate ramped up her call to eliminate [?] the Electoral College.

Historical slave states: Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama

Warren, when pressed Tuesday on how she would accomplish a shift to a national popular vote, said it could happen through a "constitutional amendment, someday." [DOH!] But instead she urged the crowd -- to laughter from some voters who doubted the viability of the idea -- to push for the passage of a state law that would award Electoral College votes for president [!] to the winner of the most votes nationwide.

National Popular Vote

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Explanation It has been enacted into law in 13 jurisdictions with 181 electoral votes (CA, CO, CT, DC, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, RI, VT, WA). Map showing status in states
[...]
National Popular Vote's Advisory Board includes former Senators Jake Garn (R-UT), Birch Bayh (D-IN), and David Durenberger (R-MN); former Congressmen John Anderson (R-IL, I), John Buchanan (R-AL), Tom Campbell (R-CA), and Tom Downey (D-NY). Other supporters include former Cong. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Governor Howard Dean (D-VT), Governor Jim Edgar (R-IL), and House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA).

re: US Constitution law, states' rights, "federalism"

Warren presents a crafty electioneering proposition to voters: "first mover advantage". Competitors are still working hackneyed political grievances. She has a tenuous interest in the Occupy Wall St period. For her, the instrumentality of this National Popular Vote program --not unlike the ADOS reparations movement-- is not its legitimate effect by 2020. It is the convergence of rhetorical claims on "reform" belatedly captured in her figure. IDK that she can sustain the image in the long-term, however.

archived big man syndrome
the meaning of "gerrymander" in the USA
unilaterally "award" a state's electoral college delegates [to] a POTUS nominee
wut
Colorado governor will sign bill aimed at bypassing Electoral College

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 03:47:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

USAToday [!] OpEd
The winner-take-all presidential system is unconstitutional. We're taking it to court.
"the Constitution's principle that all votes matter equally" < wipes tears > appears to warrant, by hook or crook, circumventing the US Congress of odious to effect a de facto Constitutional Convention.

To be sure, there will be opposition: "But I PAID for that crook!"

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 03:57:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

TruthDig [!] OpEd
Could This Be the End of the Electoral College?
"progressive" wagon outreach

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 04:20:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

2020 Democrats' new litmus test[?]: Abolish Electoral College
Litmus test for what chemical property exactly?
The reporting does not say. heh. heh. heh.

file in SIMILE SUICIDE

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 04:08:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Every schoolchild in the US of A pledges allegiance to the REPUBLIC, even though we have a couple of hundred years of history now of drifting away from Plato's system towards democratic mob rule. Getting rid of the Electoral College is just another small step in that direction.

by asdf on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 03:15:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Plato's "system" was oligarchy --an elaborate, gruesome, and explicit hierarchy of castes ruled by so-called philosophers. This political rubric reflected conditions in Athens with which he was intimately acquainted, being a paid informant of wealthy benefactors there. He was a selfservin sumbitch by measure. If you doubt, read his unanswered, Letters from exile toward the end of his life, during which his pupil Aristotle methodically finessed his social commentaries (Socratic "Dialogues") into a novel form of epistemology, generalized, "natural" history.
Republic. Read it. In its entirety, pls.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 01:28:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Khomeini was an admirer of the Republic. There are some who claim that the Iranian regime was actually modelled on Plato.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 02:50:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

And why not? Who doesn't ?! (besides myself) The USA is modeled from the Republic and, of course, overweening Roman legal principles. I suppose, a reasonable student of all the (democratic) republics established since might conclude that, missing that last bit was Khomeini fatal error in ahh designing the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Had he been more forthright and benevolent in "branding" politics in the GME, he shoulda dictated "Democratic Caliphate of Iran" as the moniker of reforming the monarchy. Or gone really deep into the Bronze Age for an authentic nationalist flag. yeah, that's the ticket.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 03:06:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Also, Popular Vote legislation does not modify, eliminate, repeal Article II, § 1 of the US Constitution. That is the legal design of this country form of government.

Modification, repeal, or elimination of any provision of the US Constitution requires a convention of all states assembled to ratify a bill, enacted by the US odious for the specific purpose: Article V

UNTIL THAT OCCURS the duties and obligations of future states' and federal legislatures to the to the US CONSTITUTION cannot be bound by expeditious political acts, or ahhh "alternative arrangements," of the current cohort of US citizens; or even a US Supreme Court's opinions and orders.

BTW, the president does not legislate. So, really, what beneficial, political effect does the Popular Vote Compact obtain "for the people"?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 01:52:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Parvnue Division

Who is Andrew Yang? Democrat and entrepreneur enters race to replace Trump as US president in 2020, 22 Jan 2019
"He describes his upbringing as 'pretty nerdy'", UBI and more.

Magic Hour?: 19 March
538 | How Andrew Yang Could Win The 2020 Democratic Primary, Nerd Match
"Yang now looks likely to qualify for the Democratic primary debates this summer"
(C)NBC | More than free money: Here's how long-shot 2020 candidate Andrew Yang would reshape the American economy
Econ Digest: "more than six dozen policy proposals listed on his campaign website"

"Yang Gang" Drum Roll!

For those of you who miss the donation counter and the mini-Andrew, he's back on the website! Our new goal is 200,000 donors by the June debates. Let's become the campaign to beat in 2020. 👍🇺🇸🥊 https://t.co/nYWdJYpqVC pic.twitter.com/Aho61IqOX3
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) March 14, 2019

archived
HR 1 Cuts Green Party Campaign Funding, Sics Homeland Security and Political Police on the Left
(it's not about the Green Party, actually) TITLE V: new barriers to entry to all federal offices and "public" campaign finance qualification of candidates
Chelsea Manning has registered her candidacy
$5K
who isn't qualified?
gauge of a Free and Fair Election ^TM is no barrier to entry

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 06:19:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Antisemitism accusations on the way?

Outsider presidential hopeful Andrew Yang's latest idea is both literally and figuratively his most unorthodox yet: He's taking a strong public stance against circumcision.
The Democratic candidate revealed in a little-noticed tweet last week that he was against the ritualized practice of cutting a newborn's foreskin. But in an interview with The Daily Beast, he said that if he were elected he would incorporate that view into public policy, mainly by pushing initiatives meant to inform parents that they don't need to have their infants circumcised for health reasons.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 06:35:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

< wipes tears > (none / 0)

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 06:38:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

598: The situation here is still pretty psychotic.

Google Trends

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 06:49:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump PAGEANT 2020 (none / 1)

The usual, then.

by Bernard (bernard) on Wed Mar 20th, 2019 at 07:11:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What We Get Wrong About Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

Parvanue Division: 1G Maltese

Options:

boot-edge-edge

or

Buddha-judge

or

Boot-a-judge

or

Boo-tuh-judge
— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chas10Buttigieg) December 17, 2018

A married gay man is running for president. That's a big deal., Jan 2019
"Maybe he'll make the debate stage. Maybe he'll take off in Iowa, and that momentum will propel him further than we can foresee now. But one thing is for sure: Having a gay candidate -- or nominee, or president -- is no longer such a farfetched idea."

Dark [Falcon?] Buttigieg Gains Momentum on the Stump , 23 Mar 2019, SC primary circuit
"None of that seemed to bother voters. After his event in Columbia, Christina Goodwin, 32, called Buttigieg 'exciting' and said he'd moved into her top three list, along with Sens. Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand, despite her misgivings about supporting another white man for president in 2020."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 07:00:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump REPARATIONS (none / 0)

heh. "little-known genocide".
For Victims of a Little-Known Genocide, a Long Journey to Justice
re: authorative sources

Ruben Carranza, senior expert on reparations for the International Center for Transitional Justice, noted that U.S. courts have become a resource for survivors of dictatorships, war criminals and genocides.

What's this?

Several experts contacted about the case called it important for German society and government to do right by the Ovaherero and Nama, particularly given how the West has grappled for decades with fallout from the Holocaust. The latest version of Katuuo's complaint calls Germany's annihilation efforts in southwest Africa a "precursor" to the events of World War II less than four decades later.

wait for it ...

William Darity Jr., an economist and professor of public policy at Duke University, also said German citizens should pressure their government to pass legislation for Ovaherero and Nama reparations.
"Trying to do this through the U.S. court system evades the question of who has direct responsibility and obligation for the compensation," Darity said in an interview, wryly noting this same court system has a history of shooting down cases for domestic slavery reparations.

archived "reserved words"
U.S. imposes visa bans on International Criminal Court investigators - Pompeo, 15 Mar 2019
Rome Statute (2002) circling the drain
Wrong claim. Wrong venue. Wrong "race".
piracy and jurisdiction, Eichmann in Jerusalem
Immediate action on today's problems"
There are differences in perceived legitimacy of justice in US hierarchy
US-UK do. not. do. international law, 'k?
long-run evolution of racial income inequality

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 04:02:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump REPARATIONS (none / 0)

o. snap.

During antebellum slavery in America, the "Democrats" were the Confederates. Today, the Confederate flag and other Confederate monuments are violently protected by REPUBLICANS. Therefore ALL parties are complicit & responsible for slavery & its generational legacy #Tangibles2020 https://t.co/jWjpi85pWY
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) March 21, 2019

The cretin D'Souza punks the NEW! Democratic Party

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 09:50:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

AP: GOP redistricting edge moderated Democrats' 2018 gains

[PHOTO CAPTION: Sophomore political science major Kyla Guion stands in the middle of Laurel Street in Greensboro, NC on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. ...this street is the dividing line between the 6th Congressional District on her left, and the 13th Congressional District on her right, both represented by Republicans.]

The AP examined all U.S. House races and about 4,900 state House and Assembly seats up for election last year using a statistical method of calculating partisan advantage that is designed to flag cases of potential [?] political [!] gerrymandering. A similar analysis also showed a GOP advantage in the 2016 elections.

When is gerrymandered district assignment NOT a political instrument? Never.

The AP used the so-called "efficiency gap" test in part because it was one of the analytical tools cited in a Wisconsin gerrymandering case that went before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2017 and is part of a North Carolina case ... whether Democrats in Maryland ... Massachusetts ...Pennsylvania ... South Dakota ...Nevada ...Iowa ... Michigan

"Elite" math: Draw me an EU28 district controversy between TWO POLITICAL GROUPS dividing the electorate into a fixed number of legislative seats, and I'll give you that possible Polish "gerrymandering".

archived political education
I think I've never heard gerrymander used in the strictly legal sense ...
VA compliance with the Voting Rights Act is a pretext., sources
"one of the lines dividing two districts was drawn "in the middle of the street with black houses on one side and white houses on another side."
CENSUS
"The term "racial gerrymandering" is a euphemism for bi-partisan electoral control of voter segregation (district "packing") by race."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 05:02:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Ima predict something about these assholes, some people call their leaders.

One day you may read about "income gerrymandering" litigation, such that results of an "efficiency gap test" are inconclusive. That is, whether or not district assignments containing 75% bottom three quartiles and 25% top quartile of voters cannot predict election outcome fr either of the TWO PARTIES. E'rybuddy can donate up to $1,200 (inc. public matched finance) to the candidate of their choice.

And then some stooge will roll up to add two cents: See! This time is different. Did you see the Hamilton! show last week at the YMCA?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Mar 21st, 2019 at 10:04:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That didn't take long.

House Democratic Leadership Warns It Will Cut Off Any Firms That Challenge Incumbents
They've got a form, Loyalty Oath ++, to submit. "This is the first time that they are ever making [antitrust violations] open policy."
Democrats push "financial inclusion" as 2020 election race heats up
same number of syllables as income equality

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 07:13:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump HOUSE VISUAL AID (none / 0)

"income gerrymandering" anyone --with a Loyalty Oath++?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 07:36:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Very good news. These consultants seem really bad at their jobs.

by generic on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 08:15:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

House Democrats Move to Hobble Primary Challengers

"The core mission of the DCCC is electing House Democrats, which includes supporting and protecting incumbents," the committee wrote in a memo.

archived
Welding et al. v. DNC Services Corp., d/b/a Democratic National Committee complaint May 2017

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Mar 23rd, 2019 at 08:41:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Mueller Submits Long-Awaited Report on Russian Election Meddling

Grand dénouement

Mueller has begun drafting final Russia investigation report (8 Nov 2018)
You may be disappointed by the Mueller report (29 Jan 2019)
Trump says timing of release of Mueller report "totally up to" attorney general (20 Feb 2019)

In a letter to the chairs and raking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday, Barr said he would be prepared to brief them on the report's "principal conclusions as soon as this weekend."
[...]
To date, Mueller has indicted ~~or gotten guilty pleas from~~ three Russian companies and 34 individuals. That includes six former Trump advisers and 26 Russian nationals, 12 of whom are intelligence officers Mueller charged with conspiring to hack Democratic Party emails that damaged Hillary Clinton.

Mueller Not Recommending Any Further Indictments, Reports Say

archived $686M hostile foreign actor cash cow
18 USC 2,371,2349,2028A
I'm nearly certain in a year I will revisit these notes.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Mar 23rd, 2019 at 02:45:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Strongly Worded Letter, Schumer, Pelosi

Attorney General Barr must not give President Trump, his lawyers or his staff any 'sneak preview' of Special Counsel Mueller's findings or evidence, and the White House must not be allowed to interfere in decisions about what parts of those findings or evidence are made public.

wut

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Mar 23rd, 2019 at 04:38:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

DOJ | Attorney General Establishes New State Secrets Policies and Procedures, 2009

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Mar 23rd, 2019 at 04:40:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Stormy Daniels taking new standup comedy act to Houston
"The show will be a two-show event on March 20."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Mar 23rd, 2019 at 04:50:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump HOUSE flea (none / 0)

oh, and how could I forget? Zero indictments for that source of yours who you informed the FBI about after coming to believe they "had played a significant role in the Russian election attack on the US." How'd that one pan out? pic.twitter.com/eHjFplHwnP
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) March 23, 2019

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Mar 23rd, 2019 at 08:54:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Wm. "Drug Czar" Barr's letter to the US Congress
transmitting "the status of [his] initial review of the report" prepared by Special Counsel Rbt. S. Mueller III.

HPSCI Majority View and hearing of sundry alternative hypotheses developing ...

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 09:44:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nike fined €12.5 million for antitrust, football merchandise restrictions, IPR

Michael Avenatti arrested for alleged $20 million extortion attempt against Nike
.
.
.
mail and wire fraud

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 05:33:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump HOUSE heh (none / 0)

Clauses included in contracts between Nike and licensees explicitly prohibited out-of-territory sales to Nike and imposed double royalties for out-of-territory sales. Nike had also threatened to end contracts, imposed direct and indirect measures on master licensees, obliging licensees to pass on these prohibitions, and ran audits on licensees.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 02:42:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

re: mendacity heaped on calumny

Since world history began in 1992, one might be tempted only to consider foregoing statements by the controlling member of the controlling party of the current session of the US Congress in relation to rules of rankd and order concerning members' constitutional authorities and privileges literally regarding classification of STATE SECRETS and NATIONAL SECURITY, provided by agents of the executive branch, and adopted by them (the "Gangs" of 4 and 8). Purportedly to effect prudential government management.

On occasions of enacting the AUMF and reauthorizing the Patriot Act, for example, as well as reviews of FBI evidence said to accompany warrant applications to FISA courts for surveillance of US citizens.

Democratic Memo Defends FBI Surveillance of Ex-Trump Adviser (Feb 2018)
Justice Department briefs lawmakers on Russia probe sources (May 2018, cached 404)

"Nothing we heard today has changed our view that there is no evidence to support any allegation that the FBI or any intel agency placed a spy in the Trump campaign," said a statement Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., read to reporters on behalf of himself, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. ...Pelosi had received the invitation to attend, but sent Schiff instead, she told reporters at the Capitol on Thursday.
[...]
Warner spoke briefly to reporters after the meeting..."There's never been a Gang of Eight meeting with that kind of White House presence," he said.

FBI hands House GOP thousands of documents on Russia probe (June 2018)

Democrats have raised increasingly pitched concerns about the intrusiveness of GOP requests. Republicans have argued that their demands for information are part of a constitutional responsibility to oversee the FBI and Justice Department, but Democrats and some FBI defenders say their efforts appear aimed at providing fodder for Trump to defend against the ongoing investigation of his campaign's contacts with Kremlin-linked individuals.

Trump may have to wait to see public release of FBI documents (Sep 2018)

Meanwhile, Democrats who sit on congressional intelligence committees said Trump is trying to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. They want a briefing from the intelligence community before any documents are released.

The Latest: Barr decision on report to cause fireworks (23 Mar 2019)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told House Democrats she would reject any classified briefing on special counsel Robert Mueller's report, saying the information must be provided to Congress in a way that allows lawmakers to discuss it publicly.

Where the &@!$% is Christopher Steele? oh, him? He's guarding the impeachment bill in an undisclosed location.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sun Mar 24th, 2019 at 06:18:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

[Congressional Representatives] urge Supreme Court to leave redistricting to Congress

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments Tuesday in two partisan gerrymandering cases that could scramble congressional districts and change the way states redraw maps after the 2020 Census, marking the second consecutive year the justices will consider the issue.
the North Carolina and Maryland [congressional representatives] who benefited from that process urged the Supreme Court to stay out of it and leave any overhaul of the redistricting process to Congress[?!].

Are they mental?

To back up their point, they highlight scores of recent bills on partisan gerrymandering, including House Democrats' signature HR 1 legislation that would require states to create independent redistricting commissions, among other overhauls. That's not to say they support it; all of them voted against that bill in a House vote earlier this month.

Crackers have totally lost the plot.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 09:28:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

House Dems unveil measure to reject anti-Israel boycotts

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), who are both Jewish, unveiled a measure that opposes the boycott, divest and sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel and reaffirms support for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.
The resolution's introduction comes days before the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington that starts this weekend, where multiple top Democratic leaders are expected to speak.
[...]
The Senate previously passed legislation in February that would allow states to penalize businesses that take part in boycotts or divestments of Israel. But some Democrats, including freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), opposed the measure due to concerns about free speech.
[...]
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) are all slated to speak at this year's annual AIPAC conference, which begins Sunday. ...Several 2020 Democratic contenders have said they will not attend the conference this year, including Sanders, Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also expected to speak at the AIPAC conference and meet with President Trump at the White House early next week. Netanyahu's visit will come ahead of the Israeli elections in early April.

TITLE IV. Combating BDS Act of 2019 in S.1 (Rubio) - Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 12:18:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

University of D'Oh BULLETIN

Wow.

DEMOCRATIC House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer (@LeaderHoyer) is at @AIPAC throwing his own colleague, Ilhan Omar, under the bus.

Shameful.

And in one fell swoop, to fawning applause, he basically confirms @IlhanMN was right all along. https://t.co/yVKEibMGJq
— Shaun King (@shaunking) March 24, 2019

Leading Democrat Under Fire for 'Shameful' AIPAC Speech

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 08:55:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Prepared Remarks for AIPAC Annual Policy Conference

Hoyer says AIPAC remarks were 'misinterpreted'
"'During his speech, Hoyer said he "stand[s] with Israel, proudly and unapologetically," adding, 'When someone accuses American supporters of Israel of dual loyalty, I say: Accuse me.' The statement was widely interpreted as a rebuke of Omar, who said in February that she wanted 'to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.'"

benjamins

"What weakens us, though, is when, instead of engaging in legitimate debate about policies, someone questions the motives of his or her fellow citizens or tries to silence others through exclusion, disenfranchisement, or fear."

Hoyer: MD-5 since 1981. Yes, that cracker has been warming a seat for 38 years.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 09:51:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Senator from unofficial 51st State speaks out

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday pushed back against comments made by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who had drawn bipartisan criticism after saying that politicians' support for Israel was "all about the Benjamins."
"From this Benjamin, it's not about the Benjamins," Netanyahu said in a speech delivered through a video call at a conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). "The reason...is not because they want our money. It's because they share our values."
"It's because America and Israel share a love of freedom and democracy. It's because we cherish individual rights and the rule of law." he added in a speech laden with praise for President Trump. "We don't judge people by the color of their skin, their religion or their sexual orientation."

O Rly?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 03:54:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

de jokes, (none / 0)

piling up like wrecks on a eight-lane freeway

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 03:38:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Cindy McCain fundraises to 'protect' John McCain's legacy after latest Trump's attacks
"She asked supporters to donate to the McCain Institute Foundation, a charitable group that supports the work of the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University, which McCain helped get started in 2012 with unspent money from his 2008 presidential campaign."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 05:13:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Nation: Meet Mississippi's Fiercest Advocate for Reproductive Justice

Courthousenews: Mississippi Governor Signs Fetal-Heartbeat Abortion Law

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 at 05:24:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Gillibrand Kicks Off Campaign Outside Trump Hotel
"A shrine to greed, division and vanity. Now, look around you."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Mar 25th, 2019 at 05:58:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Kamala Harris promises teachers a [$315B] raise if elected president
"you can judge a society by the way it treats its children"

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Mar 26th, 2019 at 02:52:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]