A Deeply Fractured US

[Brad Sallows]

There are two ways to establish a "political centre".

One is to simply pick the midpoint between the medians or averages or other convenient point representations of two factions. This is useless for measuring extremism, since by definition the factions are always equidistant from it. It just obfuscates true extremism if one of the factions is moving away from the other at a much greater velocity.

Another is to pick the midpoint between two factions at a fixed point in time. Then extremism can be measured by comparing velocities relative to that point.

A majority is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for declaring something "good".

 

[Kilted]

Congress needs to grow some balls and get a grip on the office of the President.

Maybe strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is a good basis for a system of government.

 

[brihard]

Maybe strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is a good basis for a system of government.

I’v been saying for a couple of years now it’s got increasing appeal.

 

[lenaitch]

Which Congress?

Democrats want a lot of legislation that won't be passed as-is by Republicans. They have nothing they're willing to trade away for compromise deals. Their work-around is to extend executive authority, and use whatever position they hold in Congress (House, Senate, Senate minority filibuster) to thwart attempts to exert congressional authority.

Republicans don't have a lot of new legislation they want. They mainly aim to restore the budgeting process ("regular order") and to reform big entitlements which are nearing the point at which benefits will be statutorily reduced (social security and medicare). They also want laws already written to be meaningfully enforced. None of these are arguably partisan aims. They, too, decline to check presidential authority, but mainly in order to support laws and programs already in place.

Democrats will one day hold the presidency and Congress again, even if only for a couple of years following a presidential election. I predict they will not act to restrain executive authority, just as they did not so act during the Obama and Biden administrations.

So American voters are left to choose between the Democratic bag of policies and Republican bag of policies. Voting on the principle of which party would restrain executive authority is almost pointless, with maybe a slight advantage to Republicans.

I agree. It would be like our success in eliminating FPTP or reining in the centralization of power in the PMO. Everybody talks a good line while in opposition or during an election.

 

[HavokFour]

Minnesota National Guard has been mobilized (but not deployed yet) by the Governor.

Notice the emphasis on what they're going to be wearing to stand out from certain other agencies.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2012604762995163488

 

[brihard]

Notice the emphasis on what they're going to be wearing to stand out from certain other agencies.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2012604718963421613

When your army starts putting on high-vis clothing so it doesn't look too much like the cops...

 

[Kilted]

When your army starts putting on high-vis clothing so it doesn't look too much like the cops...

Do individual National Guard's have the authority to modify the uniform?

 

[brihard]

Do individual National Guard's have the authority to modify the uniform?

They aren’t modifying the uniform; they’re wearing authorized hi-viz safety gear.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Minnesota National Guard has been mobilized (but not deployed yet) by the Governor.

Notice the emphasis on what they're going to be wearing to stand out from certain other agencies.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2012604762995163488

Given they're wearing camouflage in a MACP role, and it's winter when visibility is generally bad, this is a great idea IMHO.

 

[dapaterson]

I'm looking over the US Constitution. Can't seem to find where the President can commandeer television networks and prohibit professional sports on a weekend in December so (checks notes) the Army-Navy game can be broadcast without interruption or competition.

https://bsky.app/profile/billkristolbulwark.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3mco3gagks225

 

[brihard]

I'm looking over the US Constitution. Can't seem to find where the President can commandeer television networks and prohibit professional sports on a weekend in December so (checks notes) the Army-Navy game can be broadcast without interruption or competition.

https://bsky.app/profile/billkristolbulwark.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3mco3gagks225

The signal I’m seeing is Trump blatantly pandering to the military at a ‘bread and circuses’ level. He’s never honoured service or sacrifice and certainly hasn’t started now. So why does he suddenly care about the army navy game?

 

[BrianWL]

if those agents act like that when being recorded, I cannot imagine what they are up to when not on camera.

 

[FSTO]

I'm looking over the US Constitution. Can't seem to find where the President can commandeer television networks and prohibit professional sports on a weekend in December so (checks notes) the Army-Navy game can be broadcast without interruption or competition.

https://bsky.app/profile/billkristolbulwark.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3mco3gagks225

I’m sure the Air Force and Space Force Academy’s are put out that their games aren’t given the same stature.

 

[HavokFour]

Virginia's new Governor on her first day.

Day One: Governor Spanberger ends Virginia’s ICE collaboration

On her first day as Governor, Abigail Spanberger made a decisive move by vetoing Executive Order 47, which ended Virginia’s participation in the federal 287(g) program.

www.12onyourside.com

 

[HavokFour]

Apparently providing multiple documents proving who you are and your status isn't enough, what could possibly be the reason I wonder?

Kavanaugh stops.
Kavanaugh bracelets.
Kavanaugh...

ICE places ankle monitor on Md. woman who provided U.S. birth certificate​

Archive

 

[lenaitch]

Apparently providing multiple documents proving who you are and your status isn't enough, what could possibly be the reason I wonder?

Kavanaugh stops.
Kavanaugh bracelets.
Kavanaugh...

ICE places ankle monitor on Md. woman who provided U.S. birth certificate​

Archive

This Administration did say early on that habeas corpus was optional.

 

[HavokFour]

Miller having another episode again publicly. This is who Trump surrounds himself with.

Stephen Miller claims Minneapolis police told to ‘stand down and surrender’

Stephen Miller previously said anti-ICE protesters were carrying out ‘an insurgency against the federal government’

www.the-independent.com

 

[Brad Sallows]

Miller having another episode again publicly. This is who Trump surrounds himself with.

State and local police aren't obligated to provide support to federal law enforcement officers. However, they might usefully be employed to stop roving mobs of activists from assaulting "people who look like ICE" and occupying churches.

 

[FSTO]

State and local police aren't obligated to provide support to federal law enforcement officers. However, they might usefully be employed to stop roving mobs of activists from assaulting "people who look like ICE" and occupying churches.

Then don't walk around wearing a chest rig, camo, masked, no ID, and acting like a douchebag and I'm pretty sure you won't be yelled at.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Then don't walk around wearing a chest rig, camo, masked, no ID, and acting like a douchebag and I'm pretty sure you won't be yelled at.

I wrote about ordinary people - not ICE members decked out in their gear - being assaulted, not yelled at. It shouldn't be hard to fathom the difference. It's mob violence; it's not even vigilantism - vigilantes at least usually go after people caught red-handed doing whatever crime offends the vigilantes.