US Politics: Veni, Vidi, Virus

[DMC]

5 minutes ago, Fragile Bird said:

I don’t understand why more isn’t made of Barrett’s opinion of the 14th amendment. I guess the expectation she votes against the ACA and Rowe are enough to talk about.

Well, to be fair, the ACA (or at least portions of it) and Roe are likely in much more danger than the 14th amendment upon Barrett's confirmation.  But I agree it should be amplified more because it is positively batshit - especially the argument that the 14th amendment, and all three Reconstruction amendments - aren't legitimate because the Congress(es) that proposed them did not seat any members of the Confederate states.  Like, are you fucking kidding me, that's your objection?  The amendment abolishing slavery isn't legitimate because the slavers seceded from the federal government?

6 minutes ago, kairparavel said:

It just feels like it's become (court expansion) a media focus. Like, balance it out with all the district court judge appointments? Just more picking and choosing of reporting the 11th ish hour.

Completely agreed.  That's why I liked Richmond's response in the link I posted:

Quote

"He packed the appellate court, the circuit court, with 50 judges. But I bet you he didn't mention that to black or brown people yesterday at his White House rally, that out of 50 circuit court judges, he couldn't find one qualified black person to sit on the circuit court. So when you talk about court packing, that's what they're doing," Richmond said.

 

[Centrist Simon Steele]

11 minutes ago, DMC said:

Well, to be fair, the ACA (or at least portions of it) and Roe are likely in much more danger than the 14th amendment upon Barrett's confirmation.  But I agree it should be amplified more because it is positively batshit - especially the argument that the 14th amendment, and all three Reconstruction amendments - aren't legitimate because the Congress(es) that proposed them did not seat any members of the Confederate states.  Like, are you fucking kidding me, that's your objection?  The amendment abolishing slavery isn't legitimate because the slavers seceded from the federal government?

Completely agreed.  That's why I liked Richmond's response in the link I posted:

 

I wonder--if something happened to the 14th Amendment--does that set a precedent to finally do something about the 2nd Amendment? To me it seems like they'd be opening a can of worms they wouldn't want to deal with.

On a different subject--I'm curious about Biden's public option. I can't find any information on who is eligible for it, and what it would cost for certain income brackets. I remember Bernie had a calculator on his site to tell you how much taxes you'd pay under Medicare for all. This worries me a bit about Biden's plan (that it's more talk than reality). Does anyone know where I can find this kind of info? I couldn't find it on his website.

[Guest]

19 minutes ago, Fragile Bird said:

I don’t understand why more isn’t made of Barrett’s opinion of the 14th amendment. I guess the expectation she votes against the ACA and Rowe are enough to talk about.

Yeah, it basically boils down to someone who isn't motivated by the ACA or Roe angles is unlikely to be motivated by a much more esoteric argument.

[DMC]

1 minute ago, Simon Steele said:

I wonder--if something happened to the 14th Amendment--does that set a precedent to finally do something about the 2nd Amendment? To me it seems like they'd be opening a can of worms they wouldn't want to deal with.

Yeah, if SCOTUS were to "overturn" an amendment - or anything in the Constitution for that matter, then there's really no point for the judiciary anymore.  Judicial review is to determine the constitutionality of laws.  When you start saying parts of the constitution aren't constitutional?

 

[Centrist Simon Steele]

2 minutes ago, DMC said:

Yeah, if SCOTUS were to "overturn" an amendment - or anything in the Constitution for that matter, then there's really no point for the judiciary anymore.  Judicial review is to determine the constitutionality of laws.  When you start saying parts of the constitution aren't constitutional?

 

Interesting. (Great clip too--my son and I always say that line to each other) So, I guess we'll have to wait and see how radical the court has become. I could see Amy Coney Barrett being this nuts. She reminds me of Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin, and Colorado's newest rising GOP star Lauren Boebert. 

[Centrist Simon Steele]

5 minutes ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

My understanding is that right now, it’s simply an expansion of Medicaid. That was what I got out of the debate when I could still hear Biden not being interrupted.

Therefore, it’s not a real “public option”.

Gothca. I hope it expands to me. I had medicaid a few years ago when I transitioned from my career in public school teaching to higher ed, and it was great. This was during the height of my rheumatoid/psoriatic arthritis pain (when I didn't know what it was). I was seeing all kinds of specialists to try and figure out what the hell was going on--taking expensive medicines, etc. Never had a problem. I would be more than happy if that expanded back to me.

ETA: I'm taking a very expensive treatment right now called Enbrel. It gave me my life back (at the age of 41), and I can work out, be active, and I have no pain and no side effects. But when the company that makes Enbrel quits paying my monthly co-pay (200+ dollars), I won't be able to afford it.

[Guest]

@Simon Steele & @Chataya de Fleury

Biden's public option is a true public option. The Medicaid stuff discussed in the debate was about the public option being extended to states that hadn't expanded Medicaid under Obamacare and would essentially act as a workaround to red states refusing to expand Medicaid.

They're both part of his plan, which Trump succeeded in muddying the waters with his bullshit.

[Martell Spy]

Quote

 

During the interview, Kudlow and host Jake Tapper sparred over the political dynamics of passing another large coronavirus aid package. Kudlow blamed Democrats for holding up a deal, but Tapper pressed the White House economic adviser on entrenched resistance from Senate Republicans.

"I don't understand the intransigence from my Democratic friends," Kudlow said.

"Well, I'm not talking about your Democratic friends," Tapper replied. "I'm talking about 20 Senate Republicans who were mad at Secretary Mnuchin and saying that the proposal of $1.8 trillion was way too much. They called it a death knell."

 

Kudlow: Mnuchin 'may' boost stimulus offer following Trump comments
The president has gone back and forth on what he wants done.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/11/kudlow-mnuchin-stimulus-trump-428671

[Centrist Simon Steele]

37 minutes ago, The Great Unwashed said:

@Simon Steele & @Chataya de Fleury

Biden's public option is a true public option. The Medicaid stuff discussed in the debate was about the public option being extended to states that hadn't expanded Medicaid under Obamacare and would essentially act as a workaround to red states refusing to expand Medicaid.

They're both part of his plan, which Trump succeeded in muddying the waters with his bullshit.

I see. I wonder though, how much would I have to pay to get into the public option? I can't imagine it would be so expensive as my current monthly premium which is 23 percent of my gross monthly pay. The waters have been muddied, indeed! Trump's shown he is an expert at this. Kamala did a great job in the debate reminding us how many things we might have forgotten that he did.

[Fragile Bird]

Lol, I don’t know where that Rowe for Roe cane from. I swear there are times my fingers just ignore my brain!

[Zorral]

4 hours ago, Fez said:

n light of the complete Republican incompetence on display the past four year, and in particular the past month, what makes anyone think they are even operationally capable of fucking with the mechanics of the election?

Because, o well, maybe, because how competent they've demonstrated themselves at voter suppression of Black voters and any others that might viewed as voting Dem, at deporting millions of immigrants, at destroying the economy, at destroying the standing of the USA in the world view and destroying the environment, and killing by now, just here in the US in the last 8 months, well over 200,000 US citizens?

[DireWolfSpirit]

Many Michiganders have learned about the plot against Governor Whitmer, the Capitol and Law enforcement and been left in shock and disgust. 

I count myself among them.

 I was born and raised in a small town just outside the Capitol and that's why I so enjoyed Mitch Albums article in today's Detroit Free Press.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/mitch-albom/2020/10/11/mitch-albom-nasty-nation-oasis-nice-city-buchanan-michigan/5954537002/

That article describes the Michigan I grew up in. We want the World to know that these hateful militiamen do not represent us.

They are the Looney fringe and come November, they will wither on the vine. They are about to become fresh out of friends in the halls of power.

[Ran]

On the earlier matter of polling possibly being off, Nate Silver made the interesting point that early voting numbers seem to be tracking well with what the polling suggested was going to be the case, which speaks against any major flaws in the polls right now.

[DireWolfSpirit]

I cannot for the life of me understand why Biden would let Trump on a debate stage with him one more time. He doesn't owe Donald any chance at redemption and has absolutely zero to gain from a 2nd debate.

[Maithanet]

4 minutes ago, Ran said:

On the earlier matter of polling possibly being off, Nate Silver made the interesting point that early voting numbers seem to be tracking well with what the polling suggested was going to be the case, which speaks against any major flaws in the polls right now.

Yeah, I agree.  You cannot say "Democrats are way ahead because of early voting", because that is just reflective of voting preferences.  But early voting is pretty definitive that Democrats are engaged and enthusiastic about voting (more so than 2016).  Which makes a big polling error in favor of Republicans much less likely.  

[Mexal]

7 minutes ago, Maithanet said:

Yeah, I agree.  You cannot say "Democrats are way ahead because of early voting", because that is just reflective of voting preferences.  But early voting is pretty definitive that Democrats are engaged and enthusiastic about voting (more so than 2016).  Which makes a big polling error in favor of Republicans much less likely.  

Not only that, but a polling error that would have to be big enough to matter. With third parties down and undecided half what they were, GOP is in a really poor spot and rightfully so.

[Ran]

10 minutes ago, DireWolfSpirit said:

I cannot for the life of me understand why Biden would let Trump on a debate stage with him one more time. He doesn't owe Donald any chance at redemption and has absolutely zero to gain from a 2nd debate.

Because he agreed to it already, and because it's a norm. Let Trump and the GOP be the norm breakers. It makes Biden and the Democrats better able to argue for a return to normality and good governance after the chaos and dereliction of their opposite numbers.

[DireWolfSpirit]

7 minutes ago, Ran said:

Because he agreed to it already, and because it's a norm. Let Trump and the GOP be the norm breakers. It makes Biden and the Democrats better able to argue for a return to normality and good governance after the chaos and dereliction of their opposite numbers.

My greatest hope is that a 2nd debate just serves as further Trump implosion.

But I'm still a bit nervous of an October surprise or some Biden gaffe throwing a wrench in Joe's current strong polling position.

[Fragile Bird]

There’s still talk about “releasing Clinton e-mails“, isn’t there? What will they say, she and Joe went to the pizza parlour basement and drank the blood of kidnapped babies?

[Jace, Extat]

2 minutes ago, Fragile Bird said:

There’s still talk about “releasing Clinton e-mails“, isn’t there? What will they say, she and Joe went to the pizza parkour basement and drank the blood of kidnapped babies?

Yes.