US Politics Mega-thread - Page 8548

On August 25 2017 11:38 m4ini wrote:


You were harping on about how the "minority party always is supposed to compromise". When ACA was passed, democrats had the majority. How much is left of the original ACA? Who had to compromise because yet again, republicans turned out to be nothing more but obstructionist old fuckers?

In regards to your blackmail "argument", don't be an idiot. And i mean it, you're talking like one. There's no give or take. There's one thing both sides want and need (budget), but one side decided to tack something on to get it passed because they know that nobody would be retarded enough to vote on it on its own. Your anecdotal bullshit of "word on the streets" and "i know a guy" doesn't add anything.

But hey, lets compromise. Give me 1000 dollars or i shoot your imaginary dog. Since this obviously isn't blackmail, it shouldn't be a problem - right?

edit: to be clear, your "argument" of give and take would only work if we talked about improving ACA, and to get that passed, you have to promise republicans the wall money. The budget is not that, it's a basic government "function". If someone back in 1828 said "give me all the dublones or i poison the well", what would you call that?

On August 25 2017 14:04 RvB wrote:

Crackpot ideas like Liberal democracy (guess where that name comes from), the rule of law, property rights, free markets, free trade etc? Classical liberalism is and has been hugely influential in western society. You're obviously clueless to what liberalism actually entails.

On August 25 2017 12:29 Wegandi wrote:


Interesting. Britain has a long great liberal tradition. Almost on par with France (no disrespect there). From Richard Overton to John Locke to Cato's Letters to Cobden and Bright to Mill and Bentham. I always hated how Americans use the word liberal to mean the complete opposite of what a liberal is.

A government watchdog is accusing U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin of using a government plane to secure a good view of Monday’s eclipse.

It’s the second time this week Mnuchin and his wife, Louise Linton, are under scrutiny for their travels – after an Instagram post from Linton listing the designer clothing she wore on the plane was widely criticized.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) have alleged that the couple planned a trip using a government plane specifically to secure a view of the eclipse on Monday.

Mnuchin and Linton went to Lexington, Ky., to attend a luncheon sponsored by the Louisville chamber of commerce.

They also “headed to Fort Knox…to tour the bullion reserve at the Army post and view the eclipse,” the CREW outlines.

CREW is asking the Department of Treasury to release all documents pertaining to their travel.

Officials at CREW made the request after a “public firestorm” following an Instagram post from Linton after the trip.

“In a response to a comment on the post, Ms. Linton snapped back in a post highly critical of the commenter and defended her lavish lifestyle and the government-paid trip,” CREW wrote in the request for information.

The post showed the newlywed couple getting off the government plane, and mentioned several of the designer labels she was wearing, including Tom Ford and Hermes.

The public post, which has since been deleted, received instant criticism by users, who slammed Linton for bragging about her wealth and using a government plane.

But it was Linton’s reply to user Jenni Miller, who had commented, “Glad we could pay for your little getaway #deplorable,” that drew the most criticism.

“Cute! Aw!!! Did you think this was a personal trip?! Adorable!” Linton wrote. “Do you think the US govt paid for our honeymoon or personal travel?! Lololol. Have you given more to the economy than me and my husband? Either as an individual earner in taxes OR in self sacrifice to your country?”

Linton has since apologized for the post calling it “inappropriate and highly insensitive.”

Bloomberg News reports that the couple is supposed to reimburse the Department of Treasury for the cost of Linton’s travels. A spokesman told CNN that Linton “does not receive compensation for products she mentions.”

This isn’t Linton’s first controversy. Last year, the little-known actor apologized amid criticism of a self-published memoir about her time living in Africa, and was forced to withdraw the book. Critics said the book was inaccurate, and it was even condemned by the government of Zambia.

On August 25 2017 22:48 ZerOCoolSC2 wrote:

This is going to be both good and bad to watch. Depending on the response, we could be seeing the end.