Politics

[mdwest]

when i kick you in your good things you lay on the ground for two days.
Call it what you will -its an assault.

American humor is definitely a more delicate flower
Insults are a criminal offense here, whether they're directed at a politician or just at me.
Whatever.
But you definitely won't go to jail for it. No idea what kind of stories are going around where you are.

A delicate flower?

Insults are foundational to American humor.. its certainly not a criminal offense.. and they can be directed at anyone...

https://www.reddit.com/r/comedy/comments/1cuw2hk/nikki_glasers_full_set_at_tom_brady_roast

insults are a core part of both military and police culture as well here... if your brothers in arms arent intentionally screwing with you, it means they dont like you...

 

[LivingTheDream]

Given NIL deals, most guys are getting paid in college. The ACC cant compete with the SEC on NIL deals, not sure how HBCU would be able to match would the SEC schools offer on a large scale anyway.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

when i kick you in your good things you lay on the ground for two days.
Call it what you will -its an assault.

American humor is definitely a more delicate flower
Insults are a criminal offense here, whether they're directed at a politician or just at me.
Whatever.
But you definitely won't go to jail for it. No idea what kind of stories are going around where you are.

Kicking someone in the testicles and making a joke about it are not the same thing. Words are not assault. And insult being a criminal offense, no matter who it is directed towards is preposterously antithetical to the principle of freedom of speech.

 

[Big_Easy]

Kicking someone in the testicles and making a joke about it are not the same thing. Words are not assault. And insult being a criminal offense, no matter who it is directed towards is preposterously antithetical to the principle of freedom of speech.

In some places words are assault, and physical contact is called battery.

 

[Tanks]

Regarding Paxton endorsement.

Opinion | Trump Makes Chuck Schumer’s Day by Endorsing Ken Paxton — The Wall Street Journal

His endorsement in the GOP primary puts the Texas Senate seat in play.

apple.news

 

[mdwest]

Given NIL deals, most guys are getting paid in college. The ACC cant compete with the SEC on NIL deals, not sure how HBCU would be able to match would the SEC schools offer on a large scale anyway.

take away the NIL deals and theres still no competition..

The best programs in the best HBC's are good.. but when compared to the SEC schools they simply dont compete..

For example, for pre medical school placement, Xavier is often best rated school among HBC's..

It doesnt make the top 50 list for placement into medical schools though... but Vanderbilt, an SEC school does (19th).. so does UT Austin (40th) and Texas A&M (49th)...

Howard is considered to have the best Communications school among HBC's... but doesnt make the top 50 list in the US... The University of Texas does though (top 10).. So does the University of Georgia (top 20).. So does Univ of Florida (top 30).. Kentucky and Alabama are in the top 40..

Tuskegee is considered the best aerospace engineering program within the HBC's.. but also doesnt make the top 50 list nationally..

Texas A&M is #12 though.. UT Austin is 16... Univ of FL is 20.. Univ of TN is 30... Mississippi State is 33... Kentucky is 48.. Arkansas is 49...

NC A&T is the #1 producing school of black engineers in the US.. and is considered to have one of the best engineering programs among the HBC's.. They dont rate in the top 50 engineering schools in the US though.... 7 SEC schools are in the top 50...

The list goes on and on and on....

Thats not to say you cant get a good education from an HBC.. I have found that quality education is as much about the student as it is about the instructor and/or the institution..

That said, it is abundantly clear that HBC's on their best days dont come close to competing with SEC schools academically as institutions..


Sports.. its not even worth getting into detailed comparison.. they arent large enough and lack the money to compete and do well against NCAA Div 1 schools in major sports.. and in minor sports like track and field they dont have the best record either..

The last time an HBC won a NCAA Div 1 national championship was in 2012 when Hampton University won the Womens Outdoor Track and Field National Championship (14 years ago).. Prior to that it was 1962 when Texas Southern won the NAIA national champtionship for basketball (not NCAA)..

In Div 2 they dont fare much better.. Virginia Union has a pretty decent basketball legacy and has won the Div 2 national championship as recently as 2005 (21 years ago).. Norfolk State won the mens national track and field championship in 84, 85, and 86..

So... this brilliant idea that the Congressional Black Caucus has come up with where gifted atheletes that have opportunities to play in the SEC should pass on those opportunites and instead make the conciouis choice to attend universities that offer lessor academic programs and play on teams that generally speaking dont win championships, dont get nationally televised often, etc..etc.. and certainly dont play at the level that the SEC plays at in any sport.. is frankly stupid...

I dont care if you are white, black, yellow, green, or orange... if the University of Alabama offers you a full ride to play football, basketball, or hell, soccer for that matter... and you turn it down to instead take a full ride to Alabama A&M.. for no other reason than your congressman told you it was a good idea... dont be surprised when you find the job market more difficult upon graduation.. and dont be surprised that the pros didnt come to look at you after your impressive game against Alcorn State..

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Regarding Paxton endorsement.

Opinion | Trump Makes Chuck Schumer’s Day by Endorsing Ken Paxton — The Wall Street Journal

His endorsement in the GOP primary puts the Texas Senate seat in play.

apple.news

Behind a paywall but I read enough to get the gist.

I really believe his colossal hubris is going to bite him in the ass.

 

[mdwest]

Behind a paywall but I read enough to get the gist.

I really believe his colossal hubris is going to bite him in the ass.

I think thats just another episode of Schumer bumping his gums in an attempt to remain relevant...

If hes right he'll spend the next 30 days making sure everyone knows he was right.. if he's wrong he'll try to pretend he never said anything..

At this point Trump endorsements have worked out extremely favoribly in some places, and not worked out great in others.. its something of a toss up..

That said.. while a Trump endorsement might be a kiss of death for some... its not like the D's dont have their own version in place..

Look at whats happening in Alabama right now.. AOC and Corey Booker are in Montgomery campaigning for D candidates.. and Harris was just there recently as well...

Does anyone really think thats going to positively motivate the typical independent voter or centrist R to cross over the line and vote D?

Or is it even going to motivate the traditional southern D base?

 

[8 x 60]

2nd Amendment is pointless

We learn today that the Attorney General has ruled that not only Trump but also his sons will never again have to have their tax returns audited by the IRS for past, present and future tax returns (and you thought the "autopen" was wrong !) Which means they can return zero income etc on a tax return.

Whilst this is not in any way an incitement, surely if there was ever a reason to invoke the 2nd amendment this is it?

Of course nothing will happen as the supporters of the constitution (and this part - 2nd ammendment specifically) will never really use their "God given rights" other than to justify their collections.


(Stood by for incoming lol)

 

[jeanes]

I don't understand what the Right to Bear Arms has to do with auditing the President's and his family's tax returns.

 

[deewayne2003]

2nd Amendment is pointless

We learn today that the Attorney General has ruled that not only Trump but also his sons will never again have to have their tax returns audited by the IRS for past, present and future tax returns (and you thought the "autopen" was wrong !) Which means they can return zero income etc on a tax return.

Whilst this is not in any way an incitement, surely if there was ever a reason to invoke the 2nd amendment this is it?

Of course nothing will happen as the supporters of the constitution (and this part - 2nd ammendment specifically) will never really use their "God given rights" other than to justify their collections.

Pussies. Total.

(Stood by for incoming lol)

Question...... How blatantly misguided and criminal do the actions of a federal institution like the IRS have to be before they get hit with something so drastic as a ban on investigating the people who they violated the rights of?

In the same time period as the IRS misdeeds, the VP Joe Biden ordered the FBI to go looking for his daughters stolen diary to prevent sensitive writings from being made public.

The FBI is not the stolen diary police, but that didn't stop them from being used inappropriately by the same administration.

But then again with the UK & Oman being the gauge you are using, it's no wonder you have such a low opinion of rights.......

 

[LivingTheDream]

So to be clear you want 1000s of Americans to take up arms to overthrow the government because of 1 persons tax returns?

Also let's be clear on the language used in the release "posted on the DOJ’s website, declares government agencies “forever barred and precluded” from pursuing claims tied to the tax returns filed before the settlement’s effective date"

Notice the "filed before the settlements effective date" so this probably doesnt include 2025, since I am sure he has filed an extension.

If that is what you are saying this is the most insane thing I have read on the internet today. Congratulations.

 

[8 x 60]

So to be clear you want 1000s of Americans to take up arms to overthrow the government because of 1 persons tax returns?

Also let's be clear on the language used in the release "posted on the DOJ’s website, declares government agencies “forever barred and precluded” from pursuing claims tied to the tax returns filed before the settlement’s effective date"

Notice the "filed before the settlements effective date" so this probably doesnt include 2025, since I am sure he has filed an extension.

If that is what you are saying this is the most insane thing I have read on the internet today. Congratulations.

No. I didn't say that at all but appreciate your feedback

However you look at it it is a clear abuse of position . Do you think that is acceptable?

 

[8 x 60]

Seems I have kicked over a hornets nest.

Maybe I need an explanation of why the 2a is there?

 

[8 x 60]

"But then again with the UK & Oman being the gauge you are using, it's no wonder you have such a low opinion of rights......."


Au contraire but I agree with you on the UK. They have completely abrogated any concept of rights. If we had a robust mechanism to defend them such as the 2 a maybe we would still have them (though I doubt it)

Hence my interest in the topic.

At what point do people who have the wherewithal to actually step up and defend them actually do so?

Or is it like slowly boiling frogs , as in the UK where the frogs are truly cooked?

 

[Corey0372]

when i kick you in your good things you lay on the ground for two days.
Call it what you will -its an assault.

American humor is definitely a more delicate flower
Insults are a criminal offense here, whether they're directed at a politician or just at me.
Whatever.
But you definitely won't go to jail for it. No idea what kind of stories are going around where you are.

Yea I don't know, Germany doesn't seem to be trending in the right direction as far as free speech (same as in a lot of Europe). I don't live there, so in a sense it's not my problem, but at a minimum free speech is a value that is definitely not seen the same way there as it is in the US, which realistically isn't that big of a deal. The US and Europe can have different values and culture and still maintain relatively good relationships, the US has a different culture and value system than Thailand and maintains a perfectly good relationship with them. It's well understood that in a place like Saudi Arabia you don't insult the royal family, I can do that all I want here in the US, no big deal, but if I go to Saudi Arabia I can't. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia doesn't value free speech the same way we do in the US..... this isn't a controversial statement or even necessarily a negative one. In some ways KSA lays the rules about what is acceptable and what isn't in a much more coherent manner than is done in the West, where woke language policing is as fluid as their....... ideology is.

In the West this speech stuff is always sold as protecting people from hate, or misinformation, or whatever, but what it mostly boils down to is stopping "crimethink" and "wrongthink". At least it seems that way to me anyway. Is it some great scandal in Germany to completely bash men, Christianity, Thomas Aquinas, or the act of going hunting as a pastime? Absolutely not.

But if you were to bash women, Hinduism, the Prophet Muhammad, or attending an LGBTQ march as a pastime, everyone knows you will face more scrutiny. I'm not saying I endorse or condemn any of the aforementioned speech, just pointing out the different rules as they appear (to me anyway).

 

[8 x 60]

So to be clear you want 1000s of Americans to take up arms to overthrow the government because of 1 persons tax returns?

Also let's be clear on the language used in the release "posted on the DOJ’s website, declares government agencies “forever barred and precluded” from pursuing claims tied to the tax returns filed before the settlement’s effective date"

Notice the "filed before the settlements effective date" so this probably doesnt include 2025, since I am sure he has filed an extension.

If that is what you are saying this is the most insane thing I have read on the internet today. Congratulations.

But it is not "Just one person" is it. It is the President (and sons) of a Country
Smacks of 3rd world despotism.

Pretty shabby

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Seems I have kicked over a hornets nest.

Maybe I need an explanation of why the 2a is there?

As Livingthedream said, to allow the citizenry to potentially overthrow a corrupt or tyrannical government.

You seem to be suggesting we have reached that point without wanting to actually say it. I don't know why you’d be coy. Unless of course you’re suggesting a more personal application of the second amendment?

 

[mdwest]

"But then again with the UK & Oman being the gauge you are using, it's no wonder you have such a low opinion of rights......."


Au contraire but I agree with you on the UK. They have completely abrogated any concept of rights. If we had a robust mechanism to defend them such as the 2 a maybe we would still have them (though I doubt it)

Hence my interest in the topic.

At what point do people who have the wherewithal to actually step up and defend them actually do so?

Or is it like slowly boiling frogs , as in the UK where the frogs are truly cooked?

the problem is you are convuluting arguments and also misstating what has actually occured..

Trump filed a lawsuit (a civil case, not criminal) against the IRS for illegally leaking his tax returns (past tense) without his consent and was provided with a settlement in that case this week..

The DoJ, recognizing that the Biden Administration weaponized the IRS and that the courts were leaning in favor of Trump in this case, in preparation for numerous lawsuits, has rolled out a $1.77B fund in preparation of paying claims against the federal government for the misuse of power that the IRS and other government agencies exhibited in the prior administration..

As part of Trumps settlement he agreed to drop some additional charges against the FBI and other government agencies that he claims were also weaponized against him (again, past tense)..

In exchange, part of what the IRS put on the table was an agreement to not pursue anything further related to Trump's personal taxes or any of his companys taxes, again, past tense..

So.. If Trump settles, and doesnt completely kick the crap out of them in court and take the full $10B he sued them for.. the IRS will drop anything/everything remotely related to any tax filings that have been completed in the past..

Nowhere does it say Trump, his family, or his companies wont be investigated for any future possible crimes..

They are simply agreeing that the past matter is now dead.. the Biden Administration was wrong.. the IRS is settling the case because they dont want the issue to end up in front of a judge... and as part of the settlement theyre agreeing not to re-open the case later or open new cases on past taxes.. the specific language used was that the agreement encompasses “tax returns filed before the effective date” of the agreement..

Seems like a pretty good deal to me... they now dont pay $10B and multiple IRS officials dont face potential criminal charges after they lose a major civil case..

So why exactly should US Citizen take up arms against a tyrinous government, when the reality is the tyrinous government is no longer in place and the IRS just got its ass handed to it for weaponizing itselt against an individual and all parties involved have agreed to settle the civil suit?

 

[8 x 60]

As Livingthedream said, to allow the citizenry to potentially overthrow a corrupt or tyrannical government.

You seem to be suggesting we have reached that point without wanting to actually say it. I don't know why you’d be coy. Unless of course you’re suggesting a more personal application of the second amendment?

Noted and thank you.

No personal reason, I do wonder if that point will ever be reached and what that will take to get there but I pray it never does