Vaccines, Infrastructure, and Kids In Cages: US Politics April 2021

classic josh marshall closing - some of our assumptions about the future will be wrong! lol - but the rest rings true for me

The "genital inspection" aspect of these bills makes these even all the more evil and disgusting. Not to mention the overlap of people who support these bills but are also keyboard "save the children" warriors when it comes to absolutely bullshit conspiracy theories goes to show how much hate these people have in their hearts.

Yeah, the absolute insanity of these "save the children" people voting to send their kids to schools where adults have the right to look at their genitals is 100% in character but still hard to fathom.

It's fairly easy - other people view those in the halls of power as obstacles to change rather than makers of change. They have a pretty good argument, unless one is of the "America is already great!" Clintonite school. These people might be able to 'make it happen' but haven't and aren't.

I mean, yesterday your argument in favor of past Presidents and politicians was their butting up against "structures of state power that have been in place for decades"? Who was governing during these decades? Who created the structures?

― Joe Bombin (milo z), Thursday, April 15, 2021 11:31 AM (twenty-eight minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Obviously not *everyone* who holds political power is good and well-intentioned and capable of effecting change for the better. But I don't believe that *no one* is.

pro women athletes appear to be totally opposed to these bills, rapinoe makes good arguments here: https://www.insider.com/megan-rapinoe-slams-anti-transgender-bills-womens-sports-2021-3

but what do they know, they should uh stick to sports

The worst thing about all these terrible trans bills is the deep cynicism of them. Yes there is a level of actual freak-out, especially from evangelicals, but just like all the lgbtq-bashing legislation of recent decades, a lot of the people voting for them do not really give a fuck about it. They just know it is an easily marginalized and targeted minority that they can rally people against.

bingo. same as all the hate against Mexicans who "aren't legally here". every one of these assholes knows a few of those people and often are like "oh, I love that guy, he can stay"

i fall closer to jaymc's view here, but i have a wider definition of who can effect change, and also a wider disappointment with "people". politicians have power, of course, but at some point, that's supposed to come from "people". watching how people responded to covid-19 in this country was the last nail in the coffin for me. i no longer believe that "people" - hundreds of millions of "people" - will collectively come close to assessing the reality of a situation or the consequences of various responses. we just don't. people can be and are almost completely manipulated. basically, all the bad things said about humans in the introduction to the Fellowship of the Ring film are correct.

what does this mean? beats me

― Zach_TBD (Karl Malone), Thursday, April 15, 2021 1:15 PM (fifteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Consider the amount of people I disagee with in society, I’m glad fast paced change is nearly impossible. More than anything, if any major change where to happen, I would mean I’m on the losing side of the political equation. Between that scenario and the status quo that might be characterised as a vast compromise between millions, I chose the status quo any time of the day.

It occurred to me last night that I care about politics because I believe change is possible, and I believe change is possible because I believe there are good, well-intentioned people who are capable of effecting it within the halls of power.

I don't see how one can believe change is possible without believing in the people who can make it happen,

The difference is between celebrating and being hopeful for specific aims and achievements of individual people who have shown themselves interested in using the majority of their time in the halls of power to effect or agitate for change - a Roosevelt or a Sanders or an AOC or an Oakeshott or a Ludlam or an Arden or a Sturgeon or a Whitlam - and tinkerbelling generically in anyone who happens to currently be elected, or rah-team-ing those individuals universally.

xp but clicking anyway

I think I do tend to focus on the former, for the most part, though a) we probably disagree on the size of that group of individuals, and who is included, and b) those individuals necessarily must work within a system that requires compromise and coalition-building and therefore can't entirely be separated from the political process.

sic, what are your thoughts on Robert Byrd

I think that Marshall piece is probably undercounting just how broken gerrymandering really is.

tinkerbelling generically in anyone who happens to currently be elected, or rah-team-ing those individuals universally

Seeing as how he is evoked so often in these threads, we should really give this strawman a name already.

if anything, though, it reinforces how important it is for biden and the democrats to push everything through as much as they can, right now. there is no reward coming for being bi-partisan and trying to make a deal. they can do something very popular (the infrastructure bill), they can do several things like that, probably, and still lose everything in 2022 because voters cannot remember or keep track of anything that has happened, down to and including which political party wants them to die and which doesn't

tinkerbelling

tinkerbelling is when you dress your penis up in a small tutu and attach little butterfly wings to them. you then let it hang out of your jeans while you go shopping.

Sorry man, I can't hang out today. I have to pick up the kids and go tinkerbelling for some new tires at bergeys.

by shagablorft March 24, 2011

voters cannot remember or keep track of anything that has happened, down to and including which political party wants them to die and which doesn't

Fully automatic luxury white privilege is an awesome thing

oters cannot remember or keep track of anything that has happened, down to and including which political party wants them to die and which doesn't

uh GOP voters are perfectly clear about which political party should die and which represents the better natures of angels, ready to destroy infidels, etc.

those are implanted memories

jumping back to anti-trans laws: you don't need to have an especially firm grasp on american history and civil rights to recognize that these laws are so obviously on the wrong side of the future. all these bastards voting for and supporting these laws will be remembered as fascist bigots for however long our country lasts. congratulations! you are a stain!

sic, what are your thoughts on Robert Byrd

"his name is Robert Byrd"

(seems to be a guy with loads of shitty opinions and aims, several good ones, skilled at the gross horse-trading elements of US elected politicking, who admirably changed his ideas and public votes in positive ways on some matters late in his protracted career, but I'm not motivated to read a biography.)



Seeing as how he is evoked so often in these threads, we should really give this strawman a name already.

damn u got me, nobody in any country anywhere in the world has ever applied a rah-team mentality to their belief in a political party.

...wait I just checked and ppl are still fighting on twitter in 2021 that "the Greens killed the CPRS" in 2009, and posting "THANK YOU!!!" under gifs of Harris or Biden walking in slow motion while carrying a folder?

Well that explains part of it, if sic thinks that randoms on Twitter represent the opinions of the average ilx monthly politics threads.

rah rah sis boom bah

...wait I just checked and ppl are still fighting on twitter in 2021 that "the Greens killed the CPRS" in 2009, and posting "THANK YOU!!!" under gifs of Harris or Biden walking in slow motion while carrying a folder?

― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic)

I'll take down my list in which I placed several Biden speeches in The Hague. Thanks!

^ that piccolo accompanist is crazy good (xp)

I'm won over, voting Buddy Raye

Pelosi says she doesn't support bill from House Democrats to expand the Supreme Court by four seats, and is not planning to bring it to the House floor https://t.co/Y4YbBtohNE pic.twitter.com/DkLfrtoPI8

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 15, 2021

with friends like these, who needs the GOP?

P sure that's how democracy works, one person sayin' 'nah' and shitcanning proposals on the behalf of an entire party, sure sure, good stuff

It occurred to me last night that I care about politics because I believe change is possible, and I believe change is possible because I believe there are good, well-intentioned people who are capable of effecting it within the halls of power.

See, I believe change is possible, but only through the agitation and commitment of people outside the halls of power. In my opinion, anyone within the halls of power is compromised— how else would they have gotten into those halls of power in the first place?

From my perspective, the change that comes from within those "hallowed halls" only occurs when the agitation on the outside becomes too difficult to ignore, and even then it's no guarantee.

hey, if this tumult over SCOTUS gets Breyer scared enough to retire, I'm fine.

they should put in the bill that he has to share an office with all the new justices

without a mask!

See, I believe change is possible, but only through the agitation and commitment of people outside the halls of power. In my opinion, anyone within the halls of power is compromised— how else would they have gotten into those halls of power in the first place?

From my perspective, the change that comes from within those "hallowed halls" only occurs when the agitation on the outside becomes too difficult to ignore, and even then it's no guarantee.

― it's like edging for your mind (the table is the table), Thursday, April 15, 2021 2:47 PM (forty minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

This makes sense.

👍🏻

https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/04/a-wake-up-call-for-conservatives/

Ro, buddy, wyd?

Imagine owning a piece of AOL before the internet revolution. Most aren't allowed to invest in startups. With crypto & blockchain, if inclusive, all of us can own a piece of the next digital frontier. Yesterday’s IPO is a step—other crypto exchanges/currencies will gain traction.

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 16, 2021

As of March 31, only 2,050 refugees had been admitted to the United States this fiscal year under Trump's 15,000 cap, according to the Refugee Processing Center, which is part of the State Department. That's unlikely to change much unless the cap is modified, given restrictions put in place by the former administration.

Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, said

"Team Biden said they were going to return to a more normal posture in the US with respect to refugees, and they haven't yet done it," Kaine said.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/15/politics/biden-refugees/index.html

For at least the 7th and 8th times -- both today -- Psaki was again asked why President Biden hadn't put in place the new refugee policy he himself announced 2 months ago pic.twitter.com/PyRBlp7ZB5

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) April 15, 2021

that is sick, shameful and actually baffling given this:

Dem lawmakers appear increasingly frustrated that President Biden hasn't signed paperwork for refugee policy he announced 2 months ago, and hasn't given reasons for the delay. There are vetted refugees ready to travel who are waiting only on his signature. https://t.co/9Mnf3a7hxK pic.twitter.com/N9RP9Jzp5F

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) April 15, 2021

dang I can't believe it

https://www.newsweek.com/mike-lindell-telegram-fans-confused-social-media-frank-vip-access-fails-launch-1584138

While it was pitched as a free speech website, Lindell said swearing, adult content and taking "God's name in vain" would be against the rules of the platform.

Some Telegram fans who sent their phone numbers to the placeholder website's form reported receiving error codes, or no codes at all. Some suggested there may have been a timezone mixup with the launch. Others noted they were waiting patiently.

One user, Shirley James, complained that the rollout did not happen as planned, writing in a comment section under Lindell's latest post: "I'm not feeling very VIPish."

Another Telegram user, Lisa Perez, added: "Well, it did not launch at midnight for us VIP like it was supposed to. Or did I miss something. Midnight their time is 2 a.m. here, I waited for it and nothing." While user Frank Combs voiced a theory: "I just thought of something everybody, instead of midnight tonight, maybe Mike meant noon?"

I am shocked that this pillow-making maniac's social media app isn't working properly, literally who would have ever thought

I can't believe these chumps sent him their phone numbers

Meantime

BREAKING: “A founding member of the Oath Keepers arrested in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol has agreed to plead guilty and cooperate against others in the case.” https://t.co/suDdhLB59w

— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) April 16, 2021

I can't believe these chumps sent him their phone numbers

You kidding? I totally can.

I just get a major kick out of these chuds being like "I HAVE REGISTERED A SACRED OATH IN HEAVEN AND I WILL DEFEND IT TO THE DEATH WITH MY RIFLE AND oh wait, ten years, are you serious? yeah, I can give you some names"

— the phlegmatic king (@keithpille) April 16, 2021

Presumably he already most of their numbers from when they bought 30 pillows each to show their support.

Speaking of things that should have been in the works long before mid-April of 2021:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-administration-announces-1-7-billion-track-covid-variants-n1264267

For the better late than never, I guess, file.

NYT reporting, though sort of garbled, seems to indicate that Biden breaking his promise to undo Trump's super low refugee caps has gone from a failure to act (or have good answers) to a definite policy decision. Fuck that.

here's that reporting:

The Biden administration will keep the target of refugee admissions for this year at the historically low level set by the Trump administration, walking back an earlier pledge to welcome more than 60,000 refugees into the United States.

President Biden in February committed to welcoming those fleeing persecution around the world, and to raising the cap of 15,000 refugees set by the prior administration. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken notified Congress on Feb. 12 that the administration planned to allow up to 62,500 refugees to enter the country in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

The reversal on Mr. Biden’s promise to welcome in thousands of families fleeing war and religious persecution signals the president’s hesitant approach to rebuilding an immigration system gutted by his successor. But the delay in officially designating the refugee admissions has already left hundreds of refugees cleared to travel to the United State stranded in camps around the world and infuriated resettlement agencies that accused Mr. Biden of breaking an earlier promise to restore the American reputation as a sanctuary for the oppressed.

A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the decision-making, said the administration grew concerned that the surge of border crossings by unaccompanied minors was too much and had already overwhelmed the refugee branch of the Department of Health and Human Services. But migrants at the border seeking asylum are processed in an entirely separate system than refugees fleeing persecution overseas.

While those who step on American soil are legally entitled to apply for asylum and can eventually appear before an immigration judge in the United States, refugees apply for protection overseas and are forced to clear multiple levels of vetting that can often take years.

The administration will change subcategories for refugee slots created by the Trump administration that gave priority to Iraqis who had worked for the U.S. military and people, primarily Christians, who are facing religious persecution. But the classification also disqualified most other Muslim and African refugees. As a region, Africa has the most displaced people needing resettlement. An administration official said the change would allow the Biden administration to fill the cap of 15,000, although it would also leave thousands of additional refugees cleared to fly to the United States stranded in camps.

NEW: A study by Run For Something found a potential reverse coattails effect: lower-level candidates running in nearly hopeless situations — red districts that Democrats had traditionally considered no-win territory — may help figures atop the ballot https://t.co/3J57kjwnGn

— isabella grullón paz (@igrullonpaz) April 16, 2021

My mom was born in a DMZ and was classed as a refugee when she and her family came to the US...

I wonder how quickly former numbers would be restored (or more refugees allowed in) if the refugees were white and could help the US stategically whitewash its misdeeds..