Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[Dr. Strangelove]

Apparently the Republicans had told the Judiciary Democrats yesterday that they thought things would wrap up around 5 PM. Then they ran over. Then they kept dragging things out, proposing Amendment after Amendment that they knew would fail. After 11PM it became apparent that the Republicans deliberately were dragging things out in order to make sure the vote was held in the wee hours of the night as part of their PR strategy. So Nadler adjourned for the day. And Collins reacted as if the greatest travesty in American history just took place.

Basically, if the vote had happened at 2AM, Republicans would've raced to the camera and screamed that the Democrats were too afraid of the American people to do their dirty deeds in plain sight. Complaining about bills being passed in the "dark of night" is a tired old trope used by the losing side for decades. Instead, the Republicans will now scream the opposite, that the Democrats want TOO much publicity and are preening for the cameras.

[iam416]

It really is great to see Corbyn and his brand of communism roundly rejected.

In polls from yesterday here in the US, PDJT narrowly beats every D contender in WISCONSIN except Joe (-1). In Texas, PDJT routs every D contender except Grandpa Joe (+1). I'm beginning to think there are a lot more people in this world like me who will vote PDJT out office in a heartbeat if you give us something other than a steaming pile of shit to vote for. In that case, I'd have to abstain.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I'm not sure one can equate the British populace with that of the American when it comes to what politics the mainstream embraces but for the Brits this is a win for common sense and rejection of the global trend within democratic, economically strong countries toward extreme left policies. It's a complete rejection of the the liberal left social policies of the EU and the idea that we are all part of a global village. Fuck that nonsense. It's heart warming.

I'd like to think that the voters majority sentiment in the US is similar and will overwhelmingly reject the Sanders/Warren branded socialism of confiscatory and redistribution socialism. But free shit is very appealing to the under 40 set struggling with a huge debt load that through there own reliance on free shit in the form of student loans made bad decisions about taking it on. Too bad.

The problem is, that talent points out, is that Trump is a very bad horse to saddle up on for conservatives. Not so much for the policies of his administration but rather for his personality and his ability to fuck up policy implementation by knee-jerk, sometimes dangerous, unpredictable interference in that process. Boris Johnson, OTH, seems to be a much steadier political force and leader ...... easy choice to become PM over Corbyn. That's not the case in the upcoming US presidential race. Bad choices on both sides.

[iam416]

I don't think UK/US are all that comparable.

Corbyn combines the polices of AOC with the likeability of PDJT. I mean, holy fuck is the dude a terrible candidate.

[Dr. Strangelove]

It really is great to see Corbyn and his brand of communism roundly rejected.

In polls from yesterday here in the US, PDJT narrowly beats every D contender in WISCONSIN except Joe (-1). In Texas, PDJT routs every D contender except Grandpa Joe (+1). I'm beginning to think there are a lot more people in this world like me who will vote PDJT out office in a heartbeat if you give us something other than a steaming pile of shit to vote for. In that case, I'd have to abstain.

Interesting that if you combine the Labor vote with the Liberal Democrat vote you'd essentially be tied with the Tories. That would essentially be the old Tony Blair Labor Party.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Deleted my last post because I was lazy and didn't notice the date on the story about the China-US trade deal. I actually posted a story from October thinking it was about today's announcement. Mea culpa.

[AlabamAlum]

Don't let it happen again.

[Dr. Strangelove]

In a final fuck you to the people of Kentucky, outgoing Gov. Matt Bevin pardons a convicted killer who just happens to be the brother of a man who threw a big fundraiser for Bevin

Patrick Baker and another man impersonated cops to gain access to a home where Baker later killed the husband and robbed the house. What makes this even more blatant a political favor is that Bevin pardoned Baker but not his two accomplices!!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/13/kentucky-governor-matt-bevin-pardons-killer-ties-fundraiser/2635847001/

[Dr. Strangelove]

Don't let it happen again.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/13/china-says-it-has-agreed-to-us-trade-deal-text-indicates-next-step-is-signing.html

[Jeff Buchanan]

Yeah, that's troubling. Not that this deal is an immediate solution to trade issues, it isn't even close, but optics are important and both sides are waffling. A press conference in China to discuss "progress" has been delayed. DJIA trending down after an early bump. Binksmanshp.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Interesting nugget from one of my election gurus today, Dave Wasserman. Back in 2016 he predicted that Trump would do better in Pennsylvania than Virginia (obviously that was accurate). He says he's spent the past few weeks on the ground in both states and as of right now he thinks the Democrat, no matter who it is, will win a bigger % of the vote in Arizona than Wisconsin.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Pretty disappointing ....... I think it is vitally important for the public that has been following this closely to know the details of any trade agreement. But those in a position to detail the agreement are waffling. It seems like a lot of political smoke and mirrors to me.

The styles of the two leaders couldn't be more disparate and that, by itself, is reason for being dubious about the significance of any trade agreements. I am very skeptical. My take is that this "Phase I" thing is nothing but window dressing framing a continuation of serious and unresolved issues on trade between the US and China. It may take a few weeks for the markets to sort this out but I see little upside.

Delaying the signing of any agreement, if it actually occurs, is suspicious and that it will be around the same time the Senate is taking up the Impeachment charges from the House makes me think this is Trump staging grand political theater.

KEY POINTS https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/13/gold...-expected.html

[Dr. Strangelove]

Supreme Court agrees to hear all of the Trump Tax cases lumped together into one. Arguments in March; decision in June.

[Ghengis Jon]

Even with "Phase I", US-China trade will still not be at the level is was before Il Douche started this trade spat. Plus China's legal beagles have yet to review the document.


Chinese officials said the nine-chapter text, which includes intellectual property, technology transfer, financial services and dispute settlement, has to undergo legal and translation review before it can be signed.


All Phase 1 does is delay the tariff escalation on both sides and China stops it's self imposed boycott of US soybeans and pork. The underlying real issues (IP theft, forced tech transfer, state subsidies, mandatory gov't participation) and are left to the other phases.


"Here's something for the stupid masses to show them we're not just a pair of obstinate poopy heads. They'll never notice we don't agree on anything."

https://apnews.com/21cc278a4b7783c1b05e45bd38726af2

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/12/trump-got-tough-on-china-it-didnt-work/603637/

[Ghengis Jon]

This is brain candy - see how politically (in)tolerant your county is. I have homes in 2 heavily conservative Michigan counties, Oakland and Ogemaw. Two different results.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/03/us-counties-vary-their-degree-partisan-prejudice/583072/