American Politics Discussion Thread

[darrelljs]

Amusingly, I don't think Gaetz was aware there was this thing called a confirmation process when he snap resigned.  There may be enough courage left in the Republican senate to block his appointment, and he will be left without a job .

Darrell

[Mjmd]

His house ethics report was due out in two days. The release of that was cancelled when he left the house. Which may have made it an even more awkward appointment. Mind you republicans don't care about that, they support Trump after all who has done worse. Other members of his cabinet are as bad or worse. In fact I more than half suspect RFK was announced after Gaetz specifically to take away the news focus. No no. Greenline is right. They are afraid. Its about the type of yes man Gaetz is. One fully dependent and indebted to Trump AND more importantly someone who is proven that he is willing to go after other Republicans. THAT is what they are scared of. That is the answer as to why Gaetz. AND if the republican senate does grow some balls Trump still wins x3. It will look good that republicans were willing to stand up to him once. They are unlikely to do so again so he can get some other probably even worse person in (/ his other appointments in). AND he then knows which Republicans are willing to oppose them and can start prunning them from the party via RNC / Trump backed primary challengers (or have some "investigations" suddenly start up around them).

Maybe I'm giving Trump too much credit, but Greenline got me into thinking like an autocrat and its always possible he is taking advice from someone else. Honestly I hope I am wrong, it shows more competence than I would prefer.

[BING_XI_LAO]

We all know you don't actually believe any of that, you can stop pretending to.

I went to school at a cathedral that was built 800 years ago, I've read books which are not just centuries but a couple of them thousands of years old (Xenophon and Thucidides are fun and easy reads). And of course Jesus' teachings are from 2,000 years ago. But I couldn't possibly despise something which was first invented 100 years ago and only grew widespread 10 years ago?

I couldn't possibly see it through the framing of the ancient religions which sacrificed people? Instead I have to see it through the frivolous modern framing of individual rights and choices? Just like everyone has to see the Ukraine and Taiwan as 'independent' because that's what the people there claim. Can't have any other definition of nationhood other than the one stemming from the American rebellion. Even if I grew up in England, in a vestige of its mediaeval culture, from before the American betrayal was ever conceived of, from before we smashed a single stained-glass window, closed a single monastery, or murdered the king. I can't see things from the premodern point of view, only from the point of view of the rootless American...

Do you think the Taliban were just pretending when they defeated you 3 years ago? (Maybe you aren't an American, but you've been culturally colonised by them)

[BING_XI_LAO]

What's the controversy on Gaetz anyway? Specifically curious as to how MJMD would criticise him.

I remember liking him a few years back because he had scandals and was being called a terrible person for some reason. Rather like how I always thought Dominic Cummings was wonderful just because of the butthurt, well before I started reading his blog.

[greenline]

Gaetz was involved in several gnarly cases of child sex trafficking, drug use, and statutory rape prior to his appointment. Those charges appear to be legitimate by most accounts, rather than fraudulent.

[BING_XI_LAO]

Oh right, this one. Well, the "blackmailable/pardonable AG" theory sounds solid.