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Posts Made By: James Brown

January 7, 2025 09:35 PM Forum: Politics

META Caves TO GOP: Fact-Checks Not Allowed!

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman
"Zuckerberg acknowledged more harmful content will appear on the platforms now".

"Trump and other Republicans have lambasted Zuckerberg and Meta for what they view as censorship of right-wing voices."


https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/07/tech/meta-censorship-moderation/index.html

On Edit: SPEAKING OF CENSORSHIP:  "Judge Aileen Cannon blocks release of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Trump investigation"

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/06/politics/trump-smith-special-counsel-final-report/index.html

Geez...
You left out the most important quote in the CNN article:

“Fact checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created,” Zuckerberg said in a video announcing the new policy Tuesday. “What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it’s gone too far.”

The Biden administration's coerced censorship of right wing or contrary opinion is extremely well documented by, among other sources, the reporting of Matt Taibbi.   I would agree that it is somewhat hypocritical of Zuckerberg to cave at this point in time.  That said, the censorship foisted by the Democrats on social and regular media since at least 2016 has been egregious, un-American, and is part of the reason you are enjoying an R White House, Senate, and House of Representatives now.

January 7, 2025 09:44 PM Forum: Politics

Can you hear it? Sssssssh, listen! That's the sound of the leopards tippy-toeing up to eat the faces of millions and millions of R voters.

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by David Cotterell
The R voters who will no longer have Obama-care health care protections, thrown into the insurance marketplace festooned with pre-existing conditions and coverage denials. Not all R voters, but some.

The R voter whose favourite bass-fishin'  lake suddenly has an oily sheen on it and no fish because reduced EPA regulations finally allowed some company to release a substance into the water instead of having to send it for safe treatment.. Not all R-voting bass fishers, but some.

The R voter  who sees the cost of consumer goods rising more and more quickly as a result of tariffs slapped on Mexico and Canada.  Not all R voters, but quite a few... 

The R voter who is shocked to find that the public high schools in his town are suddenly teaching Ward and June Cleaver domesticity as the only ideal,   Biblical Creationism and white-washing history..  Not all voters, but a few million, at least.

There are many more leopards out there, getting ready to pounce.  

Of course all of the above will happen to some D voters as well, but they didn't fuckin' vote for it.

Dave
This post strikes me as a bit unhinged.   Reengage pre-existing conditions into our insurance plans?  Not gonna happen no matter what the fever dream reporting you read up north might say.   Oily sheen on our lakes?  Identify for us the source who suggests that the Clean Water Act of 1972 (Yay Nixon!) is about to be repealed.  If desired, I can certainly help you find a source that does not trade in left wing doomsday fantasies!

Bottom line, all Americans are going to be relatively fine over the next four years.  Our system is simply that robust.  Also, no one wants oily water and no one wants health insurance denied because of pre-existing conditions.   Check back in 4 years so I can say "I told you so!"

Meanwhile, don't you have your own worries?  Looks like your government is at a crisis point to me.  Curious what you think of Trudeau's announcement.  What right winger is going to replace him when the dust settles?

January 7, 2025 09:56 PM Forum: Politics

Can you hear it? Sssssssh, listen! That's the sound of the leopards tippy-toeing up to eat the faces of millions and millions of R voters.

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by David Cotterell
The R voters who will no longer have Obama-care health care protections, thrown into the insurance marketplace festooned with pre-existing conditions and coverage denials. Not all R voters, but some.

The R voter whose favourite bass-fishin'  lake suddenly has an oily sheen on it and no fish because reduced EPA regulations finally allowed some company to release a substance into the water instead of having to send it for safe treatment.. Not all R-voting bass fishers, but some.

The R voter  who sees the cost of consumer goods rising more and more quickly as a result of tariffs slapped on Mexico and Canada.  Not all R voters, but quite a few... 

The R voter who is shocked to find that the public high schools in his town are suddenly teaching Ward and June Cleaver domesticity as the only ideal,   Biblical Creationism and white-washing history..  Not all voters, but a few million, at least.

There are many more leopards out there, getting ready to pounce.  

Of course all of the above will happen to some D voters as well, but they didn't fuckin' vote for it.

Dave
By the way, your post is a fine example of the left wing arrogance that caused Trump's ascendancy and possibly Trudeau's collapse.  You obviously prefer to deal in doomsday fantasies rather than to understand the motivations of the US voters. 

It is indisputable that a lot of traditionally D voters voted for Trump this time around, and they did it for the best of reasons.  I'm talking about the working men and women abandoned by the D's who now obviously prefer "virtuous" billionaires, athletes and movie stars over the working class.   

Of course, many D voters down here do hold Trump voters in contempt, just like you.  Especially the rich college-educated Ds.  Because of this, the Ds will lose election after election until they realize that their smug, completely obnoxious, and self-righteous attitudes are unwarranted. 

Ever wonder why the union workers in the US abandoned Biden/Harris for Trump?

January 7, 2025 09:59 PM Forum: Politics

Can you hear it? Sssssssh, listen! That's the sound of the leopards tippy-toeing up to eat the faces of millions and millions of R voters.

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by David Cotterell
The R voter who is shocked to find that the public high schools in his town are suddenly teaching Ward and June Cleaver domesticity as the only ideal,   Biblical Creationism and white-washing history..  Not all voters, but a few million, at least.

Usually you are not this stupid, Dave.  You know damn well that teaching Biblical Creationism in public high schools is illegal in the US.  That will never change.  Why are you promoting these preposterous left wing lies?  Has Trudeau's announcement knocked you off center?

January 7, 2025 10:11 PM Forum: Politics

Count The Lies (Better Take Out A Calculator)

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman
"Fact check: Trump makes false claims about January 6, Europe, NATO and Canada"

 https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/07/politics/fact-check-trump-false-claims-january-6-europe-nato-and-canada/index.html

That ain't no so-called Democratic driven suppression of the truth by fact checking it...
Of course not.  Trump lies a lot and it is the job of the press to call him on it. 

It was not the job of the press and social media to censor discussion of the likely lab-leak origins of Covid, but that is what they did, at the insistence of the Biden administration.  

It was not the job of the press and social media to preemptively deny the legitimacy of Hunter's laptop, but that is what they did, at the insistence of the Biden administration. 

It was not the job of the press and social media to promote the big lie of Trump as a stooge of the Kremlin (Russia! Russia! Russia!),  but that is what they did.

It was not the job of the press and social media to support the third, and possibly most consequential, "big lie" of the past decade, that Biden was/is mentally and physically competent to be president and/or run for another term, but that is exactly what they did.  Surely you remember how the press and social media treated those who tried to argue that Biden was incompetent?  If I were a Democrat I would never forgive the press, the party, and social media for this scandal.

January 8, 2025 01:00 AM Forum: Politics

Can you hear it? Sssssssh, listen! That's the sound of the leopards tippy-toeing up to eat the faces of millions and millions of R voters.

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by David Cotterell

Multiple millions of Americans have voted for the side that is actively working against the best outcomes for themselves.  

Dave
Trump was pretty successful gutting the ACA last time he was president... right?   Gutting the ACA was a centerpiece of his earlier campaign if I recall correctly.  Don't worry, Congress is no more in the mood to gut the ACA than it was in 2016.   Many ACA provisions are very popular.

Regarding the part I quoted above - Multiple millions of Americans voted for Trump, the side they think will be better for them, with good reason if the last four years is any measure.  I trust these voters to know their needs and values more than I trust you or others to patronizingly dictate "best interests" to them.  Before you get fussed at this characterization, remember what you said above: "I just fail to understand that in the face of mountains of evidence there are millions of people who vote against their own best interests, economically and socially."

Determining the best interests of others is not your call David.  Time will tell whether these voters come to regret voting for Trump.  I am optimistic, you are not.   I am indeed suggesting you would not think this way or write what you wrote above to start this thread unless you held these voters in some degree of contempt.   They have different needs and values than you do.  Try to understand that, even if you never share those needs and values.  This is what the D party must do, if they wish to remain relevant.  Not seeing a lot of hope there though.

Why have you been reticent to share your thoughts on the situation in Canada?  You almost certainly have a better formed opinion than any of us Yanks do.

January 8, 2025 01:15 AM Forum: Politics

Can you hear it? Sssssssh, listen! That's the sound of the leopards tippy-toeing up to eat the faces of millions and millions of R voters.

Posted By James Brown
I want to clarify something.  If you post the argument that Trump and his policies are bad for America, or that Trump is a liar and scoundrel etc. I might reply, and I will agree regarding Trump's character and I might agree on a policy, depending on the policy.

On the other hand, if you attack his supporters, especially the working class supporters who shifted significantly toward Trump in 2023, I might get rude.  Sorry about that, but I have read too many articles and too many posts blaming the election outcome on "moronic" Trump voters who are too stupid to know what's good for them.  I'm sick of it.

January 8, 2025 06:03 PM Forum: Politics

Can you hear it? Sssssssh, listen! That's the sound of the leopards tippy-toeing up to eat the faces of millions and millions of R voters.

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by David Cotterell

Canada has a long history of Liberal governments lasting about 8-15 years and then a shorter Conservative re-adjustment..  Since roughly 1900:

Laurier (L), 17 years, 
Borden (C), 8 years
Meighen (C), 1.25 years
Mackenzie King, (L), 5 years
Meighen (C), 0.25 year
Mackenzie King, (L), 4 years
Bennett (C), 5 years
Mackenzie King, (L) 13 years
St. Laurent, (L), 9 years
Diefenbaker, (C), 6 years
Pearson. (L), 5 years
P. Trudeau (L), 11 years
Clark (C) 1 year
P. Trudeau, (L) 4 years
Turner (L), 0.25 year
Mulroney (C), 9 years
Campbell, (C) 0.5 year
Chretien (L) 10 years
Martin (L), 3 years
Harper (C), 9 years
J. Trudeau (L) 9 years

So Conservative for 40 of the 130 years since Laurier was elected.  This is a Liberal country. With occasional Progressive Conservative interstices.

J.T's demise is no surprise at all.  They all seem to wear out their welcome eventually.

It seems now that there's a good chance for Pollievre (C) to win the next election (sometime before next fall is the mandate by constitutional law).  Much will depend on who the next Liberal leader is, how soon he/she takes office.  I'm hoping for Mark Carney, former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and of the Bank of England.   

Pollievre and his Neo cons are like Trump-'lite'.  They are far to the right* of the socially conservative, fiscally conservative parties that were called 'Progressive Conservative' until the 1990's  and for whom I voted more than once.  They want to privatize health care, remove climate change amelioration,  and favour corporate profit over social welfare.  An interesting wrinkle is that Pollievre has repeatedly refused to submit to a government security background check which would be a necessary vetting for our head of government.  Not sure why he's being stubborn about this. He's a lifetime parliamentarian and has never held a job in the private or public sector...

On the Left-right spectrum we would compare US and Canadian Parties thusly:

Left.......NDP (Canada).........Liberal (Canada)...........Conservative (Canada) and Democrat (US) in a virtual tie.........Republican (US)........Right

Hope this helps a bit..

Dave
Thanks!  Very helpful.

January 8, 2025 06:19 PM Forum: Politics

Biden's Biggest Regret

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman
"President Biden in an interview published Wednesday reflected on the highs and lows of his administration, stating his biggest regret was failing to challenge misinformation — including claims touted by President-elect Trump about the New Year’s Day attacks."

“I mean, again, it’s the nature of the change in the way information is transmitted,” Biden said in an exclusive interview with USA Today. “And the guy [Trump] has not known for telling the truth.”

"The president called out the incoming leader’s threats against migrants as well as Trump’s recent statement about the New Year’s Day attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, blaming the deadly incidents on “open borders” despite two born-and-raised American citizens carrying out the attacks."


“I’ll bet you there’s 70 percent of people out there that read that and believe it,” he continued. “How do you deal with that?”

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5073864-joe-biden-donald-trump-misinformation/
His biggest regret ought to be opening the borders on day 1.  This was one of the two factors that cost the Ds control of the federal government, and it was entirely his fault. 

He also ought to regret deciding to run in 2023, when he is obviously physically and mentally incapacitated.   I don't blame him for this, since he is clearly mentally incapacitated, but his handlers and the party brass ought to regret this.  A lot.

Also, it is lol funny, in a very sad way, that Biden or his speechwriter, after being wiped out in what they called the most important election of our lifetimes, continues to blame Trump for everything.   Blame the other side, what a classic Trump-like loser move.  

Make no mistake, Trump did not "win" this election, through lies or otherwise.  No, the Democrats lost it.  They alienated their traditional base and barely motivated the "new" rich/white or young/privileged  Ds.   Trump and the Rs outcampaigned the Ds, blew the D ground game away, and won everything except the fund raising race.  

This lame "regret" demonstrates loud and clear that the the Ds learned no lesson from 2023.  If the Rs don't face plant (and they probably will) the Ds don't have a chance in the foreseeable future.  Even if the Rs faceplant, the Ds don't have a chance if they nominate Harris or Newsome next time.  Someone D needs to reconnect with the working class if the Ds are going to have any chance at all.

January 8, 2025 06:44 PM Forum: Politics

Regulation removal.

Posted By James Brown
Originally Posted by David Cotterell

Insidious death by 1000 cuts, each of which affect a few people but otherwise go largely unnoticed.  Does anyone think that R voters had this sort of thing in mind in November?

Dave
Absolutely.  A slim majority of Americans feels somewhat that we are over-regulated.   You specifically mention Rs.  Rs overwhelmingly think we are overregulated.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/355838/americans-revert-favoring-reduced-government-role.aspx

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/06/24/governments-scope-efficiency-and-role-in-regulating-business/

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