US Politics Thread 2021-24

[Jimbuna]

Johnson 'surprised' GOP plan to defund IRS could cost US taxpayers up to $90 billion.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...e2f0cf67&ei=11

[Rockstar]

FBI says terrorism threat hits ‘a whole other level’ after Hamas attack

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...other-level-a/

By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Terrorist threats against the U.S. reached “a whole other level” after the Hamas attack on Israel, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray told Congress on Tuesday, saying the big players in terrorism have all renewed calls to attack America and its interests.
He said the level of threats has heightened since President Biden took office, though U.S. law enforcement is “better prepared to deal with them.”
“The reality is that the terrorism threat has been elevated throughout 2023, but the ongoing war in the Middle East has raised the threat of attack on Americans to a whole other level,” Mr. Wray said.

He said al Qaeda has issued its most specific call for attacks on the U.S. in years, Islamic State leaders have ordered followers to attack Jewish communities, and Hezbollah is eyeing U.S. targets in the Middle East.
Iran, meanwhile, has pushed proxy attacks on U.S. military bases.

[Rockstar]

Marine Corps Ball canceled due to ‘unforeseen operational commitments’

https://americanmilitarynews.com/202...l-commitments/

United States Marine Corps Major Gen. Chris A. McPhillips reportedly announced Tuesday that the 248th Marine Corps Ball has been canceled by U.S. Central Command as a result of “unforeseen operational commitments.”

Announcing the cancelation of this year’s Marine Corps Ball, McPhillips wrote, “Regretfully and with a strong sense of duty, I write to inform you of a decision that I had to make regarding the Marine Corps 248th Ball, scheduled for 16 November 2023. Due to unforeseen operational commitments and the nature of our current mission, it is with great regret that we must cancel this year’s event.”

McPhillips explained that Central Command’s decision to cancel the 258th Marine Corps Ball stems from the “primary responsibility” the Marine Corps has to guarantee the defense and security of the United States. “It is this commitment to duty that has necessitated the cancellation of what would undoubtedly have been an exceptional evening of camaraderie and tradition,” he said.

According to U.S. Central Command’s website, CENTCOM’s area of responsibility includes over 4 million square miles with multiple opportunities for “tension and rivalry.”

“The central region is among the least secure and stable places of the world. Adversarial relationships among neighboring states, widespread ethnic and sectarian struggles, malign influence and destabilizing activities, cyber-based threats, and growing arsenals of sophisticated conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction all combine to imperil enduring U.S. vital national interests, as well as those of our trusted partners and allies,” CENTCOM’s website states.

READ MORE: Video: Top Marine general hospitalized after heart attack: Report

The announcement of the Marine Corps Ball comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, including the war between Israel and Hamas that started after Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel last month. Additionally, the Department of Defense has recorded 27 total attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East since Oct. 17. On the same day as the cancelation announcement, the Pentagon announced the deployment of 300 additional U.S. troops to the Middle East.

In his announcement, McPhillips expressed his gratitude for the “immense effort” of those who spent significant time and effort to plan and prepare for the 248th Marine Corps Ball. The general noted that the cancelation of the Marine Corps Ball is a “reminder of the sacrifices” that U.S. service members, particularly the Marines, make on behalf of the nation.

McPhillips added, “Please know that this decision was not made lightly, and the chief consideration was the need to uphold the highest standards of readiness and the completion of our operational responsibilities.”

[Rockstar]

The FBI is investigating New York City Mayor Eric Adams' 2021 election campaign for corruption on whether they conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal donations.

Adams was just minutes away from meeting with White House officials in D.C. when his top fundraiser had her home raided by the FBI.

Adams abruptly cancelled his meeting and flew back to New York City.

According to the New York Times, Adams' 2021 campaign is now under investigation.

"Investigators also sought to learn more about the potential involvement of a Brooklyn construction company with ties to Turkey, as well as a small university in Washington, D.C., that also has ties to the country and to Mr. Adams." (NYT)

Agents seized multiple iPhones and two laptops as well as “manila folder labeled Eric Adams” and seven “contribution card binders.”

It is unclear if Adams is personally targeted in this investigation.

Adams posted this video on social media right before he was set to meet at the White House.

What did Adams do to anger the Biden Regime?

I wonder if Biden found out Adams was thinking about running against him in 2024? Either that he was complaining too much about Biden’s open borders.

[Rockstar]

Bleeding heart liberal Democrat DA Williams campaigned against cash bail and called for alternatives to prison. During his first few months in office, he dismissed 66% of all violent felony cases.

Bleeding heart liberal Democrat District Attorney Jason Williams of New Orleans was carjacked at gunpoint.

Suddenly there are harsh consequences!

The bail for those who attacked the hero of liberal tolerance DA Williams is for Ahmad Seals (18) set at $150,000. The bail for Raymond Rochon (18) is set at $120,000. A third underage suspect will be prosecuted as an adult (Louisiana AG).

Go figure

[Jimbuna]

The former commander in chief wants absolute immunity while leading the free world, but legal experts aren't buying it.

This week, Donald Trump's lawyers formally filed documents asking Judge Chutkan to stay "all proceedings" in the federal case in Washington D.C. that alleges he attempted to subvert the 2020 election after losing to President Joe Biden.

Trump maintains that as president he must be free to serve without the panic of prosecution from political rivals in response to special counsel Jack Smith's filing, which asserted that the 45th president is "not above the law."

The Constitution may be “hazy” on some of its interpretations, Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Marymount University Law School, tells Salon, but is crystal clear when it comes to the president's exposure to the rule of law.
Levitt calls the immunity argument “charitably, complete nonsense."

He noted how the riotous siege on the Capital back on Jan. 6, 2021, was “encouraged” by Trump.

And he told Salon that as the president and leader of the federal executive branch, Trump “may have been engaged in sedition” and failed to do anything to effectively suppress insurrection.

Levitt explained that the actions of Trump after the 2020 presidential contest commenced are beyond the duties of the president.

“Nothing that Trump was doing in 2020 was derived from any power that Congress gave, and therefore not in furtherance of any lawful presidential power; when he was in court, he was in court as Donald J. Trump and not as the United States (to the extent he was involved in any court cases after 2020, they were all filed by his campaign team, not by the DOJ), and when he was on phone calls looking to ‘find’ votes or conspiring to send in fake electors, that was entirely as a candidate and not as the President, because the President has no role in reviewing state election returns or sending in a state’s choice of electors,” he said.

“The indictments have been exceedingly clear about basing the charges only on private behavior, and not on anything legitimately governmental.”

Moreover, District Judge Tanya Chutkan agreeing to Trump's immunity request would purportedly cause the case to go haywire and set dangerous precedent for future presidents.

"While US District Judge Tanya Chutkan’s gag order has gotten more attention, her granting Trump’s request for immunity would not only derail the case, but also elevate future presidents above the law," wrote Norman Eisen in a recent CNN Op-ed.

“Derail the case,” it would also “elevate future presidents above the law,” they argued.

But granting Trump’s request for immunity would not only “derail the case,” it would also “elevate future presidents above the law,” they argued.

The merits of Trump's ask are venturing into what trial attorney Bernard Alexander calls “uncharted territory."

“Trump's basic claim, boiled down to its essence, is that he was above the law because he heads the branch responsible for enforcing election law,” Alexander reportedly told the outlet. “Under that logic, a president seeking to thwart the will of the electorate would never be subject to prosecution for sedition or insurrection.

"There would be no accountability.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...d00f0e815&ei=5

[Rockstar]

Turns out last week's "blockbuster" GDP numbers are driven by government spending and consumers running deeper into debt. Spending grows even as incomes shrink.

Meanwhile, the actual driver of growth -- private fixed investment -- has been flat for 5 quarters. Coincidentally starting last year when Biden's finest statisticians were denying the recession

[Jimbuna]

Judge Cannon issues testy response to special counsel's warning about Trump 'manipulation'

District judge Aileen Cannon issued a testy response to the special counsel's warning about Donald Trump.

A prosecutor on special counsel Jack Smith's team made a filing Thursday morning bringing to Cannon's attention a motion filed in Trump's case in Washington, D.C., case seeking a pause to all proceedings and warned the judge not to be "manipulated" by the former president's arguments – and she didn't seem to appreciate the suggestion.

"Except as authorized by Court order, the substantive content of any such notice (or response) may not exceed 200 words and may not be used as a surreply absent leave of court," Cannon wrote. "Future non-compliant notices or unauthorized filings will be stricken without further notice."

Cannon cited the Ninth District Court of Appeals rule on notices of supplemental authority to justify her "too long, didn't read" response to Bratt's two-page filing, which ran to 219 words, including citations.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...eee906fa2&ei=9

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Turns out last week's "blockbuster" GDP numbers are driven by government spending and consumers running deeper into debt. Spending grows even as incomes shrink.

I'm loading up my zero interest credit cards with gold. If I can just time my escape correctly, selling my home, and getting it all transferred into gold before it's too late. Silver is just too heavy.

[Rockstar]

Gold and silver will do you no good when government buys it all up or seizes it forcing you to use worthless paper. Oh wait they already have done that.

Our debt is an issue both parties’ presidents and Congresses have allowed to grow to a critical mass. Spending like drunken sailors and trading barbs on the House floor and on social media.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Gold and silver will do you no good when government buys it all up or seizes it forcing you to use worthless paper. Oh wait they already have done that.

They didn't seize pre 1933 coins as they considered those to be numismatic. They also don't keep track of purchases of those old coins now. Of course, they didn't spend more than drunken sailors way back then like they do now so maybe they'd take numismatics this time too.

[August]

Originally Posted by em2nought

They didn't seize pre 1933 coins as they considered those to be numismatic. They also don't keep track of purchases of those old coins now. Of course, they didn't spend more than drunken sailors way back then like they do now so maybe they'd take numismatics this time too.

Government can't take what they don't know you have.

[les green01]

just go out find gold if the crap hits the fan they wont care if it coin,nuggets or dust and the feds wont know if nuggets or dust

[Onkel Neal]

I had a dream last night, Trump won the election next year. Wait, what happened to Ron DeSantis? Blast it, did my fellow republicans really dismiss a perfectly good conservative warrior for this blinking scam artist again?? Ahhrhhrg!


What a Donald Trump second term would look like
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67272569

Some of his pronouncements border on the fantastical. His government will invest in flying cars and build "freedom cities" on empty federal land, where Americans can live and work without burdensome regulations.

Others are controversial, such as his plan to round up the homeless and move them to tent camps outside US cities until their "problems can be identified". Some lean directly into the culture wars - he wants state school teachers to be required to "embrace patriotic values".

He also doubles-down on protectionist policies, calling for a "universal baseline tariff" on all imports, which can be raised on countries that engage in "unfair" trade practices.

On immigration, he wants to reinstate the policy of making undocumented migrants stay in Mexico while they apply for asylum. He also calls for an end to automatic citizenship for the children of undocumented migrants born on US soil.

He pledges to cut "hundreds of billions" of dollars in US international aid and end the war in Ukraine in the process. According to media reports, he is contemplating a US withdrawal from Nato or, at the very least, scaling back American involvement with the trans-Atlantic defence pact.

"The greatest threat to Western civilisation today is not Russia," he says in a March video. "It's probably, more than anything else, ourselves and some of the horrible, USA-hating people that represent us."

[Jimbuna]

Are there any alternative Republican candidates or is it more or less a foregone conclusion it will be Trump?