US Politics November 2017

that seems to be drudge's only big news that wasn't about the grammys

both sides are bad

https://theintercept.com/2017/11/28/blackwaters-erik-prince-met-with-ceo-of-russian-direct-investment-fund/

just a very chill normal meeting where the real-life equivalent of big boss from metal gear solid attempts to open a back-channel communication between two enemy states over a beer on a paradise island

tax bill clears committee 12-11 on partisan lines

so Johnson's been appeased somehow

shit's gonna pass

Sen Susan Collins says “a lot of my concerns are being addressed,” leaning toward supporting the tax bill after meeting with Trump and Senate Republicans

— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) November 28, 2017

there's this sad/annoying dynamic in the Senate involving "moderate"/"swing" votes clearly reveling in their opportunity to hog the spotlight and play-act as "serious legislators with principles" or whatever, just ego-stroking nonsense that more often than not results in (surprise) strictly partisan votes. McCain does this all the time. Lieberman did it too.

can't wait until the economy tanks because of this bullshit, and we MUST cut medicare / social security because OMG spending problem!

this won't tank the economy

at least, not immediately and not directly. corporate malfeasance usually tanks the economy.

if i'm the dems i say, 'fine, pass this shit. none of us are voting to keep the government open next month, and you need 60 votes. fuck you'

a likely outcome

Johnson's been appeased

ego-stroking

I don't think that the Senate Democrats refusing to keep the federal government operating would dismay the Republicans. It'd be like the Dems were throwing Br'er Rabbit into the briar patch. Nor would it improve the Democrats' standing with voters. There's no real benefit in it for them.

it's what their constituency wants, so there's that

or at least it's what their energized base wants

also it's not just the Senate - there are enough Dems in the House who require a DACA deal as part of the budget that would tank it there too

I can't figure out why anyone would think that shutting down most government services would punish Republicans even slightly. But it would punish a lot of ordinary people who rely on government services. It's madness imo, especially since the debt ceiling would need to be raised eventually anyway and the Republicans can outwait the Democrats without having to make any concessions in the end.

I'm not advocating it as a strategy btw, it just seems like what Pelosi and Schumer are willing to do.

I'm sure their political calculus is that if they don't at least participate in some brinksmanship, their base will feel betrayed and they will take a ton of heat from angry Dems.

at the very least I'm sure they are looking at which GOP votes they can peel off for a DACA deal - I think there's already one House GOP member whose come out as supporting it, and there's definitely others.

Trump on the North Korean missile launch: "We will take care of it." "It is a situation that we will handle. With that being said, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi did not show up for our meeting today."

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 28, 2017

I wonder if Trump thinks that if the gov. shuts down, he can just go golfing and/or chill in NYC more?

Apologies for image size, if it's an issue:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPv4Pw-W0AAJW19.jpg

Oh man what do those handwritten notes say

dickbutt.jpg

Tongue inside mouth.

Water glass is not a potty.

Tee-hee, Pocahontas, ha ha.

god, you're allegedly a fucking billionaire, hire a tailor!!!!!

The handwriting of his notes is so large.

It looks like a setlist from an indie show.

how much do you want to bet Trump needs reading glasses like the majority of adults over a certain age and he refuses to use them and just has everything written in giant block letters

bifocals sap the strength of the eyes

Dude only uses black/gold Sharpies, doesn’t he?

how much do you want to bet Trump needs reading glasses like the majority of adults over a certain age and he refuses to use them and just has everything written in giant block letters

Oh, he definitely does. But I have seen literally one picture of him wearing them. It's also possible he has a reading disorder, and/or that might be related to his issue with stairs.

http://cdn.washingtonexaminer.biz/cache/1060x600-587c93bf2547c337ed49c0d6bed779ae.jpg

my new conspiracy theory is that Barron doesn't have a learning disability -- he's the most intelligent member of the family and they're keeping it under wraps because it irritates the rest of them

The tape, without question, is real https://t.co/KmvOE5qzAz

— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 28, 2017

no need to click this btw, just sharing for the url
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/11/28/billy-bush-posts-hospital-selfie-after-getting-hit-with-golf-ball.html

xpost man what a bait-and-switch from the NYT

damn k3vin, way to mislead I thought I was gonna be getting some actual yellow journalism.

:)

jfc NYT is so clickbaity

https://www.theonion.com/the-onion-has-obtained-exclusive-information-from-jai-1820808638

of course

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/2017/11/28/3aa11fe6-d479-11e7-b62d-d9345ced896d_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_no-name%3Apage%2Fbreaking-news-bar&tidr=a_breakingnews&utm_term=.f9a97d19399c

Unreadable, alas
https://i.imgur.com/oPw8fQ4.jpg

http://blogs.iac.gatech.edu/mgirardi3/files/2015/03/img_00151.png

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ea/1a/ff/ea1aff649499acbda83d99ddaf966652--simpsons-quotes-the-simpsons.jpg

Unreadable, alas

Enhance! Enhance! Enhance!

eisenhower's top marginal rate

So Collins, Corker and Johnson reportedly moving yes-ward? I just don't fucking get it, even on its face this thing is a mess.

get this. americans who grow up in wealthy families are better / smarter/ more talented than everyone else, to the extent that taxing their parents will destroy the economy, and allow the russians, i mean the soviets to win. goodnight to the rock & roll era