Ridin’ with Biden

[Flint Marko]

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

There's only 48 Democrats in the Senate (and 2 of those that mostly act as Rs on legislation). 2 Independents (that act more like Ds than those 2 of those nominal Ds). And 50 Republicans. And until the filibuster is removed/reformed with 51 votes it takes 60 votes to do most things.

 

[Marvolo]

There's only 48 Democrats in the Senate (and 2 of those that mostly act as Rs on legislation). 2 Independents (that act more like Ds than those 2 of those nominal Ds). And 50 Republicans. And until the filibuster is removed/reformed with 51 votes it takes 60 votes to do most things.

Gerrymandering and lack of a voting holiday and the inconsistent and deliberately obtuse voting laws from one state to the next all but ensures we can't vote in 60. When was the last time we even had 60 dems in congress? The 70s?

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Gizmodo - Biden Drafts Tougher Approach on Data Given to Foreign Advertisers

 

[Marvolo]

Trump's going to love being called the Great MAGA King.

 

[Sithborg]

Gerrymandering and lack of a voting holiday and the inconsistent and deliberately obtuse voting laws from one state to the next all but ensures we can't vote in 60. When was the last time we even had 60 dems in congress? The 70s?

2008

 

[Lily Adler]

2008

Ah yes the supermajority that gave us Obamacare instead of a public option cause Lieberman preferred a mandate.

 

[Prison Mike]

What I don’t get about removing the filibuster is…can’t it come and bite the Dems in the butt if it’s removed and the republicans are the majority? All you would need is 51 votes to pass something right?

 

[Teelie]

It can but the filibuster is as the Republicans currently love to call out, not actually in the Constitution and is a relatively recent addition. And when it suits them, the Republicans will drop the filibuster and move onto something else like dropping it to ban nationwide abortion with 51 votes or repeal other protections they don't agree with.

 

[Prison Mike]

Yeah that’s why I don’t get why some people are so eager to drop it. It really depends on who holds the majority and eventually the republicans will become the majority and will take advantage of it

 

[Flint Marko]

In honestly doesn't matter to the Republicans what the Democrats do with the filibuster. As soon as they get power they're going to nuke it regardless.

 

[Lily Adler]

Biden predicts that if Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, same-sex marriage will be next - CNNPolitics

 

[Snow Queen]

 

[Marvolo]

Yeah that’s why I don’t get why some people are so eager to drop it. It really depends on who holds the majority and eventually the republicans will become the majority and will take advantage of it

If we eliminate the Filibuster we can pass voting rights legislation that will make it more likely for Dems to win elections which could mean Republicans don't gain a majority for years. Dems could also make DC and Puerto Rico states both of which lean Dem. That would be 4 new Dem senators.

 

[Teelie]

And when, not if, Republicans get back into power they could override all of those advancements and send us back to where we are now or their idealized 1950's era. Not that dropping the filibuster is a bad idea but in the current climate it would be a see-saw of progress and regress. I think it is less likely they would be as bold if the Democrats showed more spine.

The ineptitude of the Democrats and the regressiveness of Republicans flaunting the will of the people is worse though IMO.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Harris on Buffalo shooting: 'We are seeing an epidemic of hate'

Biden: Nation must face "hate that remains a stain on the soul of America" after Buffalo shooting

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Associated Press - 6 months in, Biden's infrastructure plan has 4,300 projects

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

NY Times - Biden Approves Plan to Redeploy Several Hundred Ground Forces Into Somalia
The president also signed off on targeting about a dozen Shabab leaders in the war-torn country, from which Donald J. Trump largely withdrew in his final weeks in office.

President Biden has signed an order authorizing the military to once again deploy hundreds of Special Operations forces inside Somalia — largely reversing the decision by President Donald J. Trump to withdraw nearly all 700 ground troops who had been stationed there, according to four officials familiar with the matter.

In addition, Mr. Biden has approved a Pentagon request for standing authority to target about a dozen suspected leaders of Al Shabab, the Somali terrorist group that is affiliated with Al Qaeda, three of the officials said. Since Mr. Biden took office, airstrikes have largely been limited to those meant to defend partner forces facing an immediate threat.

Together, the decisions by Mr. Biden, described by the officials on the condition of anonymity, will revive an open-ended American counterterrorism operation that has amounted to a slow-burn war through three administrations. The move stands in contrast to his decision last year to pull American forces from Afghanistan, saying that “it is time to end the forever war.”

Mr. Biden signed off on the proposal by Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III in early May, officials said. In a statement, Adrienne Watson, the National Security Council spokeswoman, acknowledged the move, saying it would enable “a more effective fight against Al Shabab.”

“The decision to reintroduce a persistent presence was made to maximize the safety and effectiveness of our forces and enable them to provide more efficient support to our partners,” she said.

Ms. Watson did not indicate the number of troops the military would deploy. But two people familiar with the matter said the figure would be capped at around 450. That will replace a system in which the U.S. troops training and advising Somali and African Union forces have made short stays since Mr. Trump issued what Ms. Watson described as a “precipitous decision to withdraw.”

The Biden administration’s strategy in Somalia is to try to reduce the threat from Al Shabab by suppressing its ability to plot and carry out complicated operations, a senior administration official said. Those include a deadly attack on an American air base at Manda Bay, Kenya, in January 2020.

Daily Kos - MAGA extremists have overtaken the GOP. Biden finally seems to get it

Unlike the Democrats, that party is in a race for the bottom, searching for the ultimate garbage humans to elevate to office either by vote or by force.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

 

[Marvolo]

Everytime the GOP wants to whine about Cuba the Dems should just throw Putin and Russia in their face. We forgave Russia decades ago, and since Regan was in office we've tried to maintain some diplomacy and peace with Russia. We can and should do the same for Cuba. And at least if it backfires Cuba can't nuke the human species to extinction. Unlike Russia.

 

[squeekness]

Everytime the GOP wants to whine about Cuba the Dems should just throw Putin and Russia in their face. We forgave Russia decades ago, and since Regan was in office we've tried to maintain some diplomacy and peace with Russia. We can and should do the same for Cuba. And at least if it backfires Cuba can't nuke the human species to extinction. Unlike Russia.

Seriously. I don't have a problem with Cuba as much as Russia right now.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

We also need to keep Russia out of Cuba.

We know treating Cuba poorly accomplishes the opposite from history.

 

[Teelie]

Republican whines about Cuba are a distraction from all the other fires they have caused over the years and continue to ignite. If they can keep people looking at Cuba they can keep them from seeing them burn up the Constitution and privacy rights and all the grifting they do.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Associated Press - EXPLAINER: What we know about shuttered baby formula plant

 

[BeserkerHilf]

Just saying that Operation Formula Flight would’ve been a snappier name.