The Race For 2024

[Toni]

I heard a theory that the Dems need to wait until Super Tuesday for Biden to get enough votes (combined with super delegates) to be able to drop out. Then someone like Newsom (not Williamson or Philips) will come along and get the nomination. Philips' delegates after Super Tuesday Biden dropout would not be enough to overcome a Newsom (for example) superdelegate gifting?

Is this plausible or even possible?

If Biden were to drop out today, then Dean Philips would get all of the delegates?

Is Dean Philips a hated schmuck that TPTB don't like?

It is kind of "interesting" that Philips is getting no coverage.

Phillips is another rich businessman who decided to enter politics. His record isn't bad and he seems to support the same policies that Biden does. If Biden dropped out, I could see supporting him EXCEPT he has very little name recognition and he's no Barack Obama with the silver tongued ability to draw you in. I particularly dislike that his entire campaign seems to be Biden's old. Basically, I think he's unelectable because, as you've mentioned, no one has heard of him. The only thing that is 'interesting' about Phillips is..... well, nothing.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Just because someone can do something doesn’t mean that they did do something. Thats the same standard Derec is applying to Trump, but he seems unwilling to apply that to the witnesses. Is there any evidence they were lying?

I did not say EJC's friends (they are not witnesses!) were lying. I just said that many people lie, and that because they are friends with one of the parties, their statements should not be considered evidence one way or the other. I am applying the same standard to Trump - his friends' statements would not be not evidence either.

Note also that the vagueness of the timeline benefits EJC. Had she said that she was attacked on 2/12/1996 around 7 pm Trump could conceivably prove that he wasn't anywhere near Bergdorf's at that time and date. But if you say "sometime in 1996" how does one defend himself? That's why NY's law to extend the statute of limitations for these lawsuits is so perverse.

In general I would agree--this is why statute of limitations exist in the first place.

However, his "defense" at the trial was so bad that I think he's guilty.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Note also that the vagueness of the timeline benefits EJC. Had she said that she was attacked on 2/12/1996 around 7 pm Trump could conceivably prove that he wasn't anywhere near Bergdorf's at that time and date. But if you say "sometime in 1996" how does one defend himself? That's why NY's law to extend the statute of limitations for these lawsuits is so perverse.

So, how exactly did Trump defend himself in that case? What testimony did he provide to counter her claims? I recall one statement that he couldn’t have done it because she “wasn’t [his] type”, despite his inability to discern her from an ex-wife of his in a photo from the time. I guess the takeaway is that he would be more inclined to rape someone more his type?

Exactly. His defense feels like a I-didn't-rape-her claim, which implicitly says he would rape others. And his reason for not raping her was clearly false.

 

[Elixir]

Trump could conceivably prove that he wasn't anywhere near Bergdorf's at that time and date.

So what?
He didn’t.
He was found liable.
Case closed.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

It is about time.

.....
Legislation introduced Tuesday by a pair of Democratic lawmakers would close a loophole that lets billionaires donate assets to dark money organizations without paying any taxes.

The U.S. tax code allows write-offs when appreciated assets such as shares of stock are donated to a charity, but the tax break doesn't apply when the assets are given to political groups.
....

New Bill Would Prevent Billionaires From Donating to Dark Money Groups Tax-Free

"Billionaires attempting to influence politics from the shadows should not be rewarded with taxpayer subsidies," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.

www.commondreams.org

I don't like it--they're going at it wrong. Charities should be completely prohibited from political activity beyond saying whether they agree or disagree with a political position. Don't fix stock donations, fix the whole thing!

Is there anything you don't get wrong?

Some charities have that restriction. They are organized under 501(c)(3) rules. If a charity/non-profit wants to be able to endorse a specific candidate, they have to file as a 501(c)(4). There are already rules for this. This law simply closes one of the loopholes for some of those charities.

So, it's already 'fixed' and does exactly what you want.

I don't think 501(c)(4) should exist.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Non-negligible sized minority of GOP base is officially out of their fucking minds!

About 18 percent of Americans say the conspiracy theory about Taylor Swift participating in a covert government operation to reelect President Biden is really true, according to a Monmouth University poll.

Of those who believe in the conspiracy, 71 percent identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, and 83 percent say they are likely to support former president Donald Trump if he is the Republican candidate in November, according to Monmouth.

 

[TomC]

His mental and physical decline is obvious. How bad it gets is anybody's guess but I know it won't get better.

Here's the thing you don't seem to grasp. Biden is vastly better than any of the alternatives because he's got good judgement and experience. He's an excellent administrator. He chooses staff based on competency, not personal loyalty. He looks for what's best for the country, gets the ball rolling, then expects the government officials to get it done.
This is in stark contrast to the other current front runner. A narcissistic autocrat with no real interest in the the good of The People if it interferes with his own self interests. One who will lie and foment insurrection, regardless of how much damage that does to the rest of us, if it suits his own purposes.

Those are, currently, the two choices available to the US voters in November for POTUS. The fact that Trump is still in the running doesn't bode well for my country's future.
And given our antique system for selecting a POTUS, it doesn't matter who you want to win the Whitehouse. The only three choices are "the Democrat", "the Republican", and "whoever wins amongst the Dems and Reps". Nobody has another choice.
Tom

 

[Worldtraveller]

It is about time.

.....
Legislation introduced Tuesday by a pair of Democratic lawmakers would close a loophole that lets billionaires donate assets to dark money organizations without paying any taxes.

The U.S. tax code allows write-offs when appreciated assets such as shares of stock are donated to a charity, but the tax break doesn't apply when the assets are given to political groups.
....

New Bill Would Prevent Billionaires From Donating to Dark Money Groups Tax-Free

"Billionaires attempting to influence politics from the shadows should not be rewarded with taxpayer subsidies," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.

www.commondreams.org

I don't like it--they're going at it wrong. Charities should be completely prohibited from political activity beyond saying whether they agree or disagree with a political position. Don't fix stock donations, fix the whole thing!

Is there anything you don't get wrong?

Some charities have that restriction. They are organized under 501(c)(3) rules. If a charity/non-profit wants to be able to endorse a specific candidate, they have to file as a 501(c)(4). There are already rules for this. This law simply closes one of the loopholes for some of those charities.

So, it's already 'fixed' and does exactly what you want.

I don't think 501(c)(4) should exist.

But that's not what you said. I think the rules should require more transparency on where donations come from, but I don't have a problem against political non-profits in general. There are a LOT of very good, progressive non-profits that would probably be eliminated if you got rid of that as an option.

 

[barbos]

Here's the thing you don't seem to grasp. Biden is vastly better than any of the alternatives because he's got good judgement and experience.

Too bad he does not remember any of his experience.

 

[TV and credit cards]

Taylor Swift talking politics with her parents.

Well, the Super Bowl is over and so far TS has not made a public declaration for Biden. So who knows if its still going to happen. I'm betting it won't. Given the beating Biden got from the Hur report, he could use all the support he can muster at this point. On the other hand, TS's jet-setting lifestyle does not seem to be in line with Biden's climate agenda:

Why Taylor Swift’s globe-trotting in private jets is getting scrutinized

SWIFT’S CARBON FOOTPRINT​

If Swift attends the Super Bowl, she will be traveling from Tokyo, where she is on tour. That will mean more than 19,400 miles (30,500 kilometers) by private jet in just under two weeks. Just how much carbon dioxide will that be?

While exact carbon emissions depend on many factors, such as flight paths and number of passengers, a rough estimate is possible, said Gregory Keoleian, co-director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan. Traveling 19,400 miles on a Dassault Falcon 900LX, one of Swift’s jets, could release more than 200,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, he said.

That would be about 14 times as much as the average American household emits in a year, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administratio

How realistic commercial travel would be for Swift is open for debate. After all, she’s so famous that even if she wanted to, flying on commercial flights might be chaotic for an airline crew and any public airport she frequents. Keoleian said there are other important ways that public figures flying private can address climate change, such as through their influence on public attitudes and perceptions, investments and who they vote for.

The controversy over Swift’s use of private jets illustrates the “great disparity” between the wealthy and lower-income people when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions each person generates, said Julia Stein, a professor at University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

Justin Bieber seems to be laying low and staying home these days. Maybe he would be a better fit than TS? Or there's always Greta Thunberg, though she doesn't know how to sing.

Normally I would say people in high profile positions should not publicly voice their political opinion as it fuels divisiveness. But have we crossed the Rubicon in these regards? Do people with so many ears turned toward them now have a duty to speak up? Maybe. I'm not sure if we are there yet.

On carbon footprint
I think it's about doing what we can within the context of our station in life. Should Taylor Swift not tour other countries because it increases her carbon footprint? Should SpaceX not put rockets up until such time as they can do so with little more than a few drops of water dripping out the tailpipe? And what about all the windshield time you get driving hither and yon? Can't you take the bus? Well of course not to all of those.
I think it's about waste and excess. That is the carbon footprint we all can work on. If Taylor has boxes of outfits flown to in from her favorite stores across the country, she selects one and tosses the rest, well then that is wrong. If Elon sits there and plays with the throttle during engine fire testing, then he is wrong. If you buy an F250 utility truck when a small van will do for your job, then you are wrong.

 

[ZiprHead]

On Swift's carbon footprint. It should be compared other multi billion dollar/year revenue industries. These are huge productions that employ many workers, engineers and artists (music and dance). Moving such a production requires dozens of semi trucks and trailers, and buses, and drivers. Truck mounted generators and technicians to keep them running. I don't know what industries to compare them to but it's a fair comparison.

Her tour is also an industry that only operates for a year or two, then years of downtime with no carbon footprint. Most other industries usually have no down time at all.

 

[Cheerful Charlie]

Here's the thing you don't seem to grasp. Biden is vastly better than any of the alternatives because he's got good judgement and experience.

Too bad he does not remember any of his experience.

Trump is the one who on a stand in court repeatedly could not remember much.

 

[Elixir]

Here's the thing you don't seem to grasp. Biden is vastly better than any of the alternatives because he's got good judgement and experience.

Too bad he does not remember any of his experience.

Trump is the one who on a stand in court repeatedly could not remember much.

Trump is at a triple disadvantage.
1) his cognitive faculties are impaired
2) what he does remember incriminates him
3) he started with an IQ under 100

I may have put these three things out of order of importance. His native stupidity should probably come first, as it accounts for his abysmal ignorance as well as his inability to process new info.

 

[lpetrich]

 Super Bowl LVIII - played on February 11, last Sunday

Outcome:

• Kansas City Chiefs: 25
• San Francisco 49ers: 22

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift's current boyfriend, is in the Kansas City Chiefs.

Resulting in a lot of sore losers:

• Joe Biden jokes about fixing Super Bowl outcome amid Taylor Swift conspiracy theories - The Telegraph - 12 February 2024 • 1:12pm - "Republicans proposed the NFL season was rigged so Taylor Swift’s boyfriend would win and she could use the opportunity to back the President"
• 'NFL rigged' conspiracy theories are gaining steam after wild Super Bowl finish - The New York Post - Feb. 12, 2024, 10:01 a.m. ET
• Patrick Mahomes Responds to Super Bowl Rigged Conspiracy Theory - Newsweek - Feb 13, 2024 at 4:09 AM EST
• Super Bowl 2024: ‘Scripted’ or ‘rigged’? X trends explained - Hindustan Times - Feb 12, 2024 06:37 PM IST
• 'Super Bowl Was Rigged!' for Taylor Swift's Kansas City Chiefs, Cry Conspiracy Theorists - FanNation Dallas Cowboys News, Analysis and More - Sports Illustrated - Feb 12, 2024 2:11 PM EST - "'Super Bowl Was Rigged!' for Taylor Swift's Kansas City Chiefs, Cry Conspiracy Theorists"
• The number 13 and Super Bowl 58: A Taylor Swift conspiracy come true? - USA Today - 11:10 p.m. ET Feb. 11, 2024
• 'Just like we drew it up': Biden makes fun of rigged Super Bowl conspiracy theory - YouTube

 

[Derec]

On the other hand, TS's jet-setting lifestyle does not seem to be in line with Biden's climate agenda:

Why Taylor Swift’s globe-trotting in private jets is getting scrutinized

 

[Swammerdami]

Right-wing complaints about Ms. Swift flying a private jet are just typical hypocrisy. The good she can do from her "bully pulpit" far outweighs her carbon footprint which, of course, is large like that of all rich and successful businessmen.

Sean Hannity has his own private jet; should we complain about that? He and Swift are both entertainers. Swift entertains with her very creative song-and-dance numbers. Hannity entertains by smearing his own defecations all around a FoxNews stage.

The Trumplicker's top star isn't yet quite rich enough for a private jet; he flies commercial, as we know since he was kicked off a Delta plane in 2021:

FOX News personality Tucker Carlson was escorted off a Delta flight before takeoff early this morning. Security officers physically moved the fifty-two-year-old out of his seat and off the plane. Eyewitnesses report passengers cheered as the conservative icon left.
. . .
High-level anonymous sources at Delta say they developed the strategy after FOX News personality Laura Ingraham started a fistfight with another passenger in first class over voting rights. Ms. Ingraham made the entire flight miserable. She was eventually charged with assault and given probation as well as community service.

Delta’s internal incident report was leaked to the press. It shows Mr. Carlson was adversarial from the start. Once he was seated in first class he started preaching to other passengers how they should all “engage in disobedience” over mask mandates. He also confronted a child and told them to “take off the mask because there’s no evidence it’s going to help you.” The parent later noted the only thing worse than watching Tucker Carlson was being close to him on an airplane.

Mr. Carlson is being held by law enforcement and waiting to see a judge.

Derec keeps insisting he does not support the Trumplicking Ilk and of course we believe him! But he could get a good job at TheOnion pretending to be a Trumplicker.

Since he is eager to whinge when a rationalist makes an obviously deliberate exaggeration and there's no other rebuttal available, I will correct the record re his claim here. Swift did NOT fly her jet to LA just for the iced coffee. She also ordered a blueberry muffin.

 

[Elixir]

Hooo boy ... what we all already knew; the Republican bullshit ab out Hunter/Joe Biden was bullshit manufactured by RW operatives for Donald Trump's benefit. Fucker should hang.

Special counsel charges FBI informant with lying to the bureau about Hunter and Joe Biden​

Smirnov allegedly told the FBI — falsely — that officials with Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that Hunter Biden worked for, had told him they hired Hunter Biden because he would "protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems." Smirnov allegedly told the FBI — again, falsely — that Burisma officials had told him they paid Hunter Biden and Joe Biden $5 million and that it would take investigators 10 years to find the illicit payments to Joe Biden.

Derec keeps insisting he does not support the Trumplicking Ilk and of course we believe him!

I guess it proves that if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck it's not really a duck.

 

[Shadowy Man]

Hooo boy ... what we all already knew; the Republican bullshit ab out Hunter/Joe Biden was bullshit manufactured by RW operatives for Donald Trump's benefit. Fucker should hang.

Special counsel charges FBI informant with lying to the bureau about Hunter and Joe Biden​

wow. He must really have something big on Biden for Biden’s DOJ to arrest him! Can nobody stop this madman President???

 

[James Brown]

30 Things Joe Biden Did as President You Might Have Missed​

Revitalize infrastructure (of which Republicans voted against and take credit for), combatting climate change, boosting renewable energy, reducing junk fees, strengthening unions, etc.

Not bad for a doddering senile old fart.

 

[Worldtraveller]

Hooo boy ... what we all already knew; the Republican bullshit ab out Hunter/Joe Biden was bullshit manufactured by RW operatives for Donald Trump's benefit. Fucker should hang.

Special counsel charges FBI informant with lying to the bureau about Hunter and Joe Biden​

Smirnov allegedly told the FBI — falsely — that officials with Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that Hunter Biden worked for, had told him they hired Hunter Biden because he would "protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems." Smirnov allegedly told the FBI — again, falsely — that Burisma officials had told him they paid Hunter Biden and Joe Biden $5 million and that it would take investigators 10 years to find the illicit payments to Joe Biden.

Derec keeps insisting he does not support the Trumplicking Ilk and of course we believe him!

I guess it proves that if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck it's not really a duck.

https://i.imgflip.com/5e2mg7.jpg