Republicans: continued

[Sean Hayden]

They could be another species, that's how different their thinking is from mine. I just can't wrap my mind around having that much money and bitchin about paying taxes.

"That's why you'll never have that much money!" --42

[Svartalf]

Simples, paying taxes is having less money, and you never have enough of it; those folk, they are always spending more, on whatever, lifestyle, investments whatever... but they always want more money, and they don't want any taken from them.

[Tero]

"It's my money!" (rich person)

[Tero]

Kim Davis to pay for her court costs as she was not following the law in Kentucky when she refused GAYS
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/01/kim ... -licenses/

[Svartalf]

well.... at least that guy has a good sense of not wasting public money... a shame the lady was misbehaving in officio, which, AFAICT makes the state de facto debtor to that thing... maybe they could sue her for the money, but I don't know if they can make the "it's her as a person, not as a civil servant" angle stick.

and bravo on her for becoming a preacher, that's making the congregation put its money where her mouth is.

[Tero]

It's kind of like the police officers charged, then fired for shooting people to death needlessly. In principle, I think they should just be fired and kept from public service for life and the state or city should take all the payments for wrongful death. But of course if the officer has some personal grudge or gain from shooting someone...and not just "because I could", then...

[Joe]

They could be another species, that's how different their thinking is from mine. I just can't wrap my mind around having that much money and bitchin about paying taxes.

"That's why you'll never have that much money!" --42

Well, I've gotta wonder what you learn of the world when you grow up in the back of a limo, but I wouldn't pay much attention to Forty Two's insights about money. After all, if he were rich, he wouldn't be here yammering at us.

[Tero]

This will end well. For the Senators not running in 2020. Mitch is running. Looking to lose and hang up his hat? Go fishing with Ryan? Trump thinking: If I'm going down, I'm taking 20 senators with me! MAGA!

Frustrated Republicans say it’s time for the Senate to reclaim more power over foreign policy and are planning to move a measure Thursday that would be a stunning rebuke to a president of their own party.

GOP lawmakers are deeply concerned over President Trump’s reluctance to listen to his senior military and intelligence advisers, fearing it could erode national security. They say the Senate has lost too much of its constitutional power over shaping the nation’s foreign policy and argue that it’s time to begin clawing some of it back.

“Power over foreign policy has shifted to the executive branch over the last 30 years. Many of us in the Senate want to start taking it back,” said a Republican senator closely allied with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Trump stunned Republican senators Wednesday by lashing out at Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and CIA Director Gina Haspel after they contradicted some of his optimistic claims about the threats posed by North Korea and ISIS. The senior intelligence officials also angered Trump by testifying that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear treaty it signed with Western powers under the Obama administration.

Trump tweeted “the Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!” The president added in a follow-up tweet about Iran: “Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!” Trump appeared to be responding to television news coverage that focused on how the testimony contradicted his views on global threats.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/427 ... buke-trump

[Joe]

This will end well. For the Senators not running in 2020. Mitch is running. Looking to lose and hang up his hat? Go fishing with Ryan? Trump thinking: If I'm going down, I'm taking 20 senators with me! MAGA!

Frustrated Republicans say it’s time for the Senate to reclaim more power over foreign policy and are planning to move a measure Thursday that would be a stunning rebuke to a president of their own party.

GOP lawmakers are deeply concerned over President Trump’s reluctance to listen to his senior military and intelligence advisers, fearing it could erode national security. They say the Senate has lost too much of its constitutional power over shaping the nation’s foreign policy and argue that it’s time to begin clawing some of it back.

“Power over foreign policy has shifted to the executive branch over the last 30 years. Many of us in the Senate want to start taking it back,” said a Republican senator closely allied with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Trump stunned Republican senators Wednesday by lashing out at Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and CIA Director Gina Haspel after they contradicted some of his optimistic claims about the threats posed by North Korea and ISIS. The senior intelligence officials also angered Trump by testifying that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear treaty it signed with Western powers under the Obama administration.

Trump tweeted “the Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!” The president added in a follow-up tweet about Iran: “Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!” Trump appeared to be responding to television news coverage that focused on how the testimony contradicted his views on global threats.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/427 ... buke-trump

I don't have a problem with Congress taking some power back from the President. I hope they do, and the next time they think of giving up power to the Executive, they ask themselves, "what if we get another Trump?"

[Tero]

CNN
In the wake of the 35-day government shutdown, a new Gallup Poll shows favorability for the Republican Party dipping to just 37% -- down from 45% when Gallup last polled the question in September 2018. (The Democratic favorable number was largely unchanged: 44% in September, 45% now.)
The poll was in the field from January 21-27. While the shutdown ended on January 25, Gallup said that 70% of its interviews for the poll were already done by the time the deal was reached.
The same poll showed that 50% believed Democrats in Congress acted "more responsibly" in the shutdown negotiations, while just 39% said Trump acted as the more responsible party.

[JimC]

39% think the sun shines out or Trump's arse...

[Tero]

Texas no longer has any idea if illegals voted. Other states, including Florida and Colorado, have tried a similar voter purges aimed at alleged noncitizens. Before the 2012 election, Florida compiled a list of roughly 180,000 names. After local officials combed through it, only 85 people were removed from the rolls.
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/30/69002353 ... t=20190130

[Tero]

Washington (CNN) — Emails and photos showing that members of the National Rifle Association organized a trip to Moscow in 2015 appear to contradict claims made by the group to distance itself from the trip, ABC reported Wednesday.
The New York Times reported earlier this week that members of the organization -- including "high-profile donors, boosters and board members" -- visited the country on a trip that was arranged by Maria Butina, an alleged Russian spy who pleaded guilty last month to attempting to infiltrate GOP political circles and influence US relations with Russia before and after the 2016 presidential election.
The paper said that in addition to Butina, the trip was organized with the help of David Keene, a former NRA president with ties to the alleged spy. According to the Times, the NRA is attempting to distance itself from the trip after it became clear that Butina was involved with it. A person who answered the phone when CNN attempted to contact Keene directed questions to the NRA.
In a statement to CNN, a lawyer for the NRA said CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre encouraged people not to go on the trip when he became aware of its details. LaPierre prohibited staff members from attending the trip at the time and then-NRA President Allan Cors agreed not to go on the trip.

A photo ABC said was posted to Facebook by "one of Butina's fellow gun-rights enthusiasts" reportedly shows the alleged Russian spy standing alongside members of the group and a red sign emblazoned with the NRA's logo and the words "Welcome to Russia comrads (sic)."
CNN

[JimC]

I find it weird that, in modern days, it is the US right wing who are embracing the bear. In days gone by, "Russian" was almost as good a red flag to the right as homosexual or atheist...

[Tero]

Yeahbut they are Christians now. They even used to send us babies.