America

[Puja]

Biden has given in and issued a full and unconditional pardon to Hunter.

I do understand why he's done it and, in good faith, I can't say that I wouldn't've done the same - faced with a rabid and conspiracy-ridden Republican party having their hands on every lever of power, and an incoming President known to be petty, spiteful, and revenge-driven, it would take a noble man to leave his son to the wolves on a matter of principle. And I do get that it was only prosecuted because of political interference - any other rich white man facing those offences would've been unlikely to've been charged and any white man would've been allowed to plead out and take the deal without politicians howling conspiracy (of course, poor or black men (and heavens forfend you be both) would likely have had the book thrown at them, partially because of Senator Biden's politial history, but that's by-the-by), so I can see why he's argued that he's done it in the name of justice and fairness.

But christ alight does it ever undercut every attempt to protect American democracy and give Trump et al extra cover to do what they like. It's fuelled every conspiracy theory about "The Biden Crime Family", completely neutralised any attack of corruption and nepotism that could be launched at Trump, and cost Biden a chunk of his limited remaining political capital that could've be used on adding safety rails and guards against Trump's destructive impulses (and will likely cost him enough capital that he may not be able to commute death-row sentences before President Kill-Crazy comes in to accelerate executions).

Worst of all, he's damaged public trust in politicians even further. The man who wrote the "Tough on Crime" bill that's resulted in 1.8million Americans being incarcerated at any one time and which supercharged police departments fundings to turn them into heavily armed quasi-militias, has just announced publically that the laws and the findings of the courts do not apply to his son because he believes it to be unfair.

What the fuck kind of message does that send to people who already believe there's no point in them voting because all politicians are the same? Where the fuck does that leave the Democratic party trying to argue that they're needed because the Republicans are now evenly divided between literal, actual fascists, and venal disaster capitalists who are looking to loot the country for every dollar they can wring out of it.

I mean, I do get it - it'd take a very strong man not to put his son first. But also, jesus fuck, Joe. Jesus H Fuck.

Puja

[Son of Mathonwy]

Biden has given in and issued a full and unconditional pardon to Hunter.

I do understand why he's done it and, in good faith, I can't say that I wouldn't've done the same - faced with a rabid and conspiracy-ridden Republican party having their hands on every lever of power, and an incoming President known to be petty, spiteful, and revenge-driven, it would take a noble man to leave his son to the wolves on a matter of principle. And I do get that it was only prosecuted because of political interference - any other rich white man facing those offences would've been unlikely to've been charged and any white man would've been allowed to plead out and take the deal without politicians howling conspiracy (of course, poor or black men (and heavens forfend you be both) would likely have had the book thrown at them, partially because of Senator Biden's politial history, but that's by-the-by), so I can see why he's argued that he's done it in the name of justice and fairness.

But christ alight does it ever undercut every attempt to protect American democracy and give Trump et al extra cover to do what they like. It's fuelled every conspiracy theory about "The Biden Crime Family", completely neutralised any attack of corruption and nepotism that could be launched at Trump, and cost Biden a chunk of his limited remaining political capital that could've be used on adding safety rails and guards against Trump's destructive impulses (and will likely cost him enough capital that he may not be able to commute death-row sentences before President Kill-Crazy comes in to accelerate executions).

Worst of all, he's damaged public trust in politicians even further. The man who wrote the "Tough on Crime" bill that's resulted in 1.8million Americans being incarcerated at any one time and which supercharged police departments fundings to turn them into heavily armed quasi-militias, has just announced publically that the laws and the findings of the courts do not apply to his son because he believes it to be unfair.

What the fuck kind of message does that send to people who already believe there's no point in them voting because all politicians are the same? Where the fuck does that leave the Democratic party trying to argue that they're needed because the Republicans are now evenly divided between literal, actual fascists, and venal disaster capitalists who are looking to loot the country for every dollar they can wring out of it.

I mean, I do get it - it'd take a very strong man not to put his son first. But also, jesus fuck, Joe. Jesus H Fuck.

Puja

Yes it's understandable. The selfish act is always understandable. I know it's difficult but he should have stood by the US Justice system. He should have stood for the law and above nepotism, above self-interest, above corruption and privilege. He should have set himself apart from Trump, but now Trump's supporters will think that they were right all along.

He did it for love. But doing it for love doesn't make it right. Plenty of bad things have been done for love, especially to put one's children ahead of others. He should have set an example, but as with most Presidents, he couldn't resist a last bit of corruption.

It won't change anything Trump will do. He'll pardon the insurrectionists, but he would have done that anyway. But it does make the Democrats' job even harder.

[Mikey Brown]

I stumbled across this and simply have to share the pain.



Maybe the worst thing I've ever seen in my life.

What is this whole YMCA thing about? It's so confusing how many people seem to feel the election swung entirely on LQBTQ pandering/indoctrination, yet their lord and saviour (the big, camp showbiz dame plastered in makeup) has now taken on the YMCA as his new anthem? My brain is scrambled.

Or is this entirely to irritate (mostly just confuse) people like me? Are these the liberal tears they've been gasping for?

[Son of Mathonwy]

I stumbled across this and simply have to share the pain.



Maybe the worst thing I've ever seen in my life.

What is this whole YMCA thing about? It's so confusing how many people seem to feel the election swung entirely on LQBTQ pandering/indoctrination, yet their lord and saviour (the big, camp showbiz dame plastered in makeup) has now taken on the YMCA as his new anthem? My brain is scrambled.

Or is this entirely to irritate (mostly just confuse) people like me? Are these the liberal tears they've been gasping for?

Best to just see it as a weird cultural thing that makes no sense outside the USA.

[Stom]

I stumbled across this and simply have to share the pain.



Maybe the worst thing I've ever seen in my life.

What is this whole YMCA thing about? It's so confusing how many people seem to feel the election swung entirely on LQBTQ pandering/indoctrination, yet their lord and saviour (the big, camp showbiz dame plastered in makeup) has now taken on the YMCA as his new anthem? My brain is scrambled.

Or is this entirely to irritate (mostly just confuse) people like me? Are these the liberal tears they've been gasping for?

Best to just see it as a weird cultural thing that makes no sense outside the USA.

Isn’t that pretty much everything in the US?

[morepork]

The most disturbingly Vanilla ironic, ignorant, and inadvertent celebration of gay culture coming out of the Village in Manhattan I will ever witness.


What the pissing fuck???

[Mikey Brown]

But in brighter news this whole “co-pay killer” situation is throwing up some interesting conversation.

With people en masse seeming to realise it doesn’t actually matter about left v right and they just want non-extortionate healthcare. It’s amazing what can bring people together.

[paddy no 11]

But in brighter news this whole “co-pay killer” situation is throwing up some interesting conversation.

With people en masse seeming to realise it doesn’t actually matter about left v right and they just want non-extortionate healthcare. It’s amazing what can bring people together.

They'll give him about a 1,000 years in prison when they get him

He should be in Mexico by now

[paddy no 11]

Seems like magioni barely went on the run

Maybe he fancies a trial! If he's not impressed with the healthcare system the justice system will not be to his liking

[Mikey Brown]

Getting dobbed in my a McDonald’s employee is just perfect.

[paddy no 11]

What kind of Marxist gets arrested in McDonald's ffs

[Son of Mathonwy]

What kind of Marxist gets arrested in McDonald's ffs

Eating in an outlet of Lenin's Soviet People's Burger would have been too much of a giveaway.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Seems like magioni barely went on the run

Maybe he fancies a trial! If he's not impressed with the healthcare system the justice system will not be to his liking

Gotta say, if I was on his jury I would have some tough thinking to do.

[Puja]

What kind of Marxist gets arrested in McDonald's ffs

Eating in an outlet of Lenin's Soviet People's Burger would have been too much of a giveaway.

Is he actually a Marxist? My (limited cause I don't want to reward the feverish newscoverage) understanding is that he's a gymbro more likely to vote Trump than Sanders, on any subject other than healthcare.

Speaking of Trump, I'm actually wondering if he might pivot and launch entirely behind universal healthcare. Gods know his north star is being adored and he's not held a consistent healthcare position other than smashing what the black man built - if this genuine bipartisan groundswell of support continues, I can see him declaring himself the saviour of America and that single-payer healthcare was what he planned all along. He'd probably be the only person in America who could pull it off too - his hypnotic compulsion of Republican politicians would get them to vote for something that they'd deride as communism from anyone else.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah it seems like he holds plenty of pretty right wing views, but I'm not sure how reliable any of these sources are yet. Beyond the usual game of prominent partisan figures claiming he 'belongs' to the other side, it seems like most normal people don't really care what his political affiliations.

It would be pretty funny if this really is the catalyst for people recognising they're getting screwed by this system, and in a far more impactful way than most of the culture war bullshit that keeps social media running. Trump being the one to do it would be an incredible twist.

I'm still kind of baffled by the events that led to him getting caught though. Surely there is more to come from this.

[Puja]

It would be pretty funny if this really is the catalyst for people recognising they're getting screwed by this system, and in a far more impactful way than most of the culture war bullshit that keeps social media running. Trump being the one to do it would be an incredible twist.

Yeah, that's what I was failing to articulate - how utterly bizarre it would be if Trump actually did fix (at least part of) America because the broken pinball machine, usually powered by whoever praised him last/what was on Fox News last night, ended up hitting "I now believe in universal healthcare" in a bizarre rebound off the glass.

I'm still kind of baffled by the events that led to him getting caught though. Surely there is more to come from this.

Seems plausible to me? Strikes me as the result of an average guy, who thinks he's cleverer than he is, and who is convinced that he's worked out a cunning plan, probably by researching "How to get away with an assassination" on Reddit. Hit the Dunning-Kruger effect hard and collapsed under the first bit of pressure in interrogation.

Puja

[Son of Mathonwy]

What kind of Marxist gets arrested in McDonald's ffs

Eating in an outlet of Lenin's Soviet People's Burger would have been too much of a giveaway.

Is he actually a Marxist? My (limited cause I don't want to reward the feverish newscoverage) understanding is that he's a gymbro more likely to vote Trump than Sanders, on any subject other than healthcare.

Speaking of Trump, I'm actually wondering if he might pivot and launch entirely behind universal healthcare. Gods know his north star is being adored and he's not held a consistent healthcare position other than smashing what the black man built - if this genuine bipartisan groundswell of support continues, I can see him declaring himself the saviour of America and that single-payer healthcare was what he planned all along. He'd probably be the only person in America who could pull it off too - his hypnotic compulsion of Republican politicians would get them to vote for something that they'd deride as communism from anyone else.

Puja

What are you smoking?? I could do with some .

[Stom]

Yeah it seems like he holds plenty of pretty right wing views, but I'm not sure how reliable any of these sources are yet. Beyond the usual game of prominent partisan figures claiming he 'belongs' to the other side, it seems like most normal people don't really care what his political affiliations.

It would be pretty funny if this really is the catalyst for people recognising they're getting screwed by this system, and in a far more impactful way than most of the culture war bullshit that keeps social media running. Trump being the one to do it would be an incredible twist.

I'm still kind of baffled by the events that led to him getting caught though. Surely there is more to come from this.

The guy had a note explaining everything on him…I reckon he wanted to get caught. Otherwise why still have the silencer?

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah it seems like he holds plenty of pretty right wing views, but I'm not sure how reliable any of these sources are yet. Beyond the usual game of prominent partisan figures claiming he 'belongs' to the other side, it seems like most normal people don't really care what his political affiliations.

It would be pretty funny if this really is the catalyst for people recognising they're getting screwed by this system, and in a far more impactful way than most of the culture war bullshit that keeps social media running. Trump being the one to do it would be an incredible twist.

I'm still kind of baffled by the events that led to him getting caught though. Surely there is more to come from this.

The guy had a note explaining everything on him…I reckon he wanted to get caught. Otherwise why still have the silencer?

Yeah. Unless he was on his way to get someone else and stopped in for a milkshake. Planning all of this and getting away clean before later getting caught with a bag full of things that say "it was me, I did it!" just doesn't add up otherwise. I don't think overconfidence really explains it.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Yeah it seems like he holds plenty of pretty right wing views, but I'm not sure how reliable any of these sources are yet. Beyond the usual game of prominent partisan figures claiming he 'belongs' to the other side, it seems like most normal people don't really care what his political affiliations.

It would be pretty funny if this really is the catalyst for people recognising they're getting screwed by this system, and in a far more impactful way than most of the culture war bullshit that keeps social media running. Trump being the one to do it would be an incredible twist.

I'm still kind of baffled by the events that led to him getting caught though. Surely there is more to come from this.

The guy had a note explaining everything on him…I reckon he wanted to get caught. Otherwise why still have the silencer?

Yeah. Unless he was on his way to get someone else and stopped in for a milkshake. Planning all of this and getting away clean before later getting caught with a bag full of things that say "it was me, I did it!" just doesn't add up otherwise. I don't think overconfidence really explains it.

Could be that the police 'found' a note on him.

Could also be that he wanted to get caught in a public place - less likely to die 'resisting arrest'.

[Which Tyler]

Could be that the police 'found' a note on him.

Could also be that he wanted to get caught in a public place - less likely to die 'resisting arrest'.

A] It's suspiciously easy.
B] Less likely to even occur to him - he's caucasian, after all.

[paddy no 11]

What kind of Marxist gets arrested in McDonald's ffs

Eating in an outlet of Lenin's Soviet People's Burger would have been too much of a giveaway.

Is he actually a Marxist? My (limited cause I don't want to reward the feverish newscoverage) understanding is that he's a gymbro more likely to vote Trump than Sanders, on any subject other than healthcare.

Speaking of Trump, I'm actually wondering if he might pivot and launch entirely behind universal healthcare. Gods know his north star is being adored and he's not held a consistent healthcare position other than smashing what the black man built - if this genuine bipartisan groundswell of support continues, I can see him declaring himself the saviour of America and that single-payer healthcare was what he planned all along. He'd probably be the only person in America who could pull it off too - his hypnotic compulsion of Republican politicians would get them to vote for something that they'd deride as communism from anyone else.

Puja

Pretty far from a Marxist from latest reports - family loaded, fan of musk/thiel

[Mikey Brown]

Trump starting to backtrack on his magical promises to sort the economy before he’s even taken office. Lol. Awesome.

At least you can now buy your way out of adhering to environmental restrictions.

[Sandydragon]

Yeah it seems like he holds plenty of pretty right wing views, but I'm not sure how reliable any of these sources are yet. Beyond the usual game of prominent partisan figures claiming he 'belongs' to the other side, it seems like most normal people don't really care what his political affiliations.

It would be pretty funny if this really is the catalyst for people recognising they're getting screwed by this system, and in a far more impactful way than most of the culture war bullshit that keeps social media running. Trump being the one to do it would be an incredible twist.

I'm still kind of baffled by the events that led to him getting caught though. Surely there is more to come from this.

The guy had a note explaining everything on him…I reckon he wanted to get caught. Otherwise why still have the silencer?

Agreed. He wants his moment in court. Keep the evidence on him, but offer no resistance and make sure he is in a public place. He wants to face a jury and have his 15 minutes of fame.

I won't condone pre-meditated assassination, murder is still murder and if we don't condemn it then it's impossible to be taken seriously when someone does the same in a cause that's less to anyone's liking. This might open up a discussion on healthcare, but I suspect it wont get far.

[Banquo]

Seems like magioni barely went on the run

Maybe he fancies a trial! If he's not impressed with the healthcare system the justice system will not be to his liking

Gotta say, if I was on his jury I would have some tough thinking to do.

? porquoi?