Trump

[pritch]

Yeah iys my guilty pleasure. I buy fridge packs so smaller than usual 200ml cans 10 of. Takes a couple of weeks to get through that so I probably drink less sugar and caffeine than your average coffee drinker which I'm not.

The craft beer on the other hand. Well, guilty as charged.

The only time I bought a Redbull I was heading off on a long drive late in the day and thought it might help me stay awake. Didn't like the taste. I don't know how much stimulants they put in but I don't think drinking a succession of Redbull cocktails seems like a smart idea..

I was drinking coffee black, no sugar, but had to stop at least temporarily because a caffeine related problem developed. Currently limited to two cups of tea a day. Maybe next week?

Meanwhile back on topic... Trump - and craft beer. I bought some cans of "Dump The Trump" craft beer to drink while the US election was on. Excellent beer but that brewery doesn't sell down here and $11.50 per can plus freight is a bit rich for my blood. I need to improve my knowledge of which beers are actually produced by a craft brewery and which are false flag operations produced by the big breweries.

[F5 Dave]

The only time I bought a Redbull I was heading off on a long drive late in the day and thought it might help me stay awake. Didn't like the taste. I don't know how much stimulants they put in but I don't think drinking a succession of Redbull cocktails seems like a smart idea..

I was drinking coffee black, no sugar, but had to stop at least temporarily because a caffeine related problem developed. Currently limited to two cups of tea a day. Maybe next week?

Meanwhile back on topic... Trump - and craft beer. I bought some cans of "Dump The Trump" craft beer to drink while the US election was on. Excellent beer but that brewery doesn't sell down here and $11.50 per can plus freight is a bit rich for my blood. I need to improve my knowledge of which beers are actually produced by a craft brewery and which are false flag operations produced by the big breweries.

Well now. This was tonight's tipple. After a few hazys as I can't justify buying big cans for everyday.

Ahh crap, I'll need another device. Hold on.b

[F5 Dave]

Ok let's try this.

Ok sweet.

The Behemoth is special. But not for everyone.

The Deep creek is generally fantastic and if you slightly like Hazy this will become a favorite.

[pritch]

Matt Gaetz's bestie is negotiating a plea deal. That implies he is "cooperating". The feds tend to squeeze a smaller fry to give information about a bigger fish, and it seems to be working.

Gaetz could be looking at serious time. A life sentence, if not exactly likely, could be a possibility. Are there even bigger fish Gaetz could squeal on to get himself off the hook?

Matt better stay away from tall buildings and pedestrian crossings.

[mashman]

Matt Gaetz's bestie is negotiating a plea deal. That implies he is "cooperating". The feds tend to squeeze a smaller fry to give information about a bigger fish, and it seems to be working.

Gaetz could be looking at serious time. A life sentence, if not exactly likely, could be a possibility. Are there even bigger fish Gaetz could squeal on to get himself off the hook?

Matt better stay away from tall buildings and pedestrian crossings.

Yeah, given the following list, that none of that sort of thing would be able to take place, and yet.....................

Democratic Illinois State Representative, Keith Farnham, has resigned and was charged with possession of child pornography and has been accused of bragging at an online site about sexually molesting a 6-year-old girl.

Democratic spokesperson for the Arkansas Democratic Party, Harold Moody, Jr, was charged with distribution and possession of child pornography.

Democratic Radnor Township Board of Commissioners member, Philip Ahr, resigned from his position after being charged with possession of child pornography and abusing children between 2 and 6 years-old.

Democratic activist and BLM organizer, Charles Wade, was arrested and charged with human trafficking and underage prostitution.

Democratic Texas attorney and activist, Mark Benavides, was charged with having sex with a minor, inducing a child under 18 to have sex and compelling prostitution of at least nine legal clients and possession of child pornography. He was found guilty on six counts of sex trafficking.
Democratic Virginia Delegate, Joe Morrissey, was indicted on charges connected to his relationship with a 17-year-old girl and was charged with supervisory indecent liberties with a minor, electronic solicitation of a minor, possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.

Democratic Massachusetts Congressman, Gerry Studds, was censured by the House of Representatives after he admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old page.

Democratic Former Mayor of Stillwater, New York, Rick Nelson was plead guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography of children less than 16 years of age.

Democratic Former Mayor of Clayton, New York, Dale Kenyon, was indicted for sexual acts against a teenager.

Democratic Former Mayor of Hubbard, Ohio, Richard Keenan, was given a life sentence in jail for raping a 4-year-old girl.

Democratic Former Mayor of Winston, Oregeon, Kenneth Barrett, was arrested for setting up a meeting to have sex with a 14-year-old girl who turned out to be a police officer.

Democratic Former Mayor of Randolph, Nebraska, Dwayne L. Schutt, was arrested and charged with four counts of felony third-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of intentional child abuse.

Democratic Former Mayor of Dawson, Georgia, Christopher Wright, was indicted on the charges of aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, rape, child molestation and statutory rape of an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl.

Democratic Former Mayor of Stockton, California, Anthony Silva, was charged with providing alcohol to young adults during a game of strip poker that included a 16-year-old boy at a camp for underprivileged children run by the mayor.

Democratic Former Mayor of Millbrook, New York, Donald Briggs, was arrested and charged with inappropriate sexual contact with a person younger than 17.

Democratic party leader for Victoria County, Texas, Stephen Jabbour, plead guilty to possession and receiving over half a million child pornographic images. Democratic activist and fundraiser, Terrence Bean, was arrested on charges of sodomy and sex abuse in a case involving a 15-year-old boy and when the alleged victim declined to testify, and the judge dismissed the case.

Democratic Party Chairman for Davidson County, Tennessee, Rodney Mullin, resigned amid child pornography allegations.

Democratic activist, Andrew Douglas Reed, pleaded guilty to a multiple counts of 2nd-degree sexual exploitation of a minor for producing child pornography.

Democratic official from Terre Haute, Indiana, David Roberts was sentenced to federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography including placing hidden cameras in the bedrooms and bathrooms at a home he shared with two minor female victims.

Democratic California Congressman, Tony Cárdenas, is being sued in LA County for allegedly sexually abused a 16-year-old girl.

Democratic aide to Senator Barbara Boxer, Jeff Rosato, plead guilty to charges of trading in child pornography.

Democratic Alaskan State Representative, Dean Westlake, resigned from his seat after the media published a report alleging he fathered a child with a 16-year-old girl when he was 28.
Democratic New Jersey State Assemblyman, Neil Cohen, was convicted of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Republican Tim Nolan, chairman of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in Kentucky, pled guilty to child sex trafficking and on February 11, 2018 he was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.

Republican state Senator Ralph Shortey was indicted on four counts of human trafficking and child pornography. In November 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of child sex trafficking in exchange for the dropping of the other charges.

Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida.
Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.

Republican anti-abortion activist Nicholas Morency pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who murders an abortion doctor.

Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.

Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.

Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.

Republican Senator Strom Thurmond, a notable racist, had sex with a 15-year old black girl which produced a child.

Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.
Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.

Republican Congressman Donald “Buz” Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.

Republican fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos.

Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.
Republican activist Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child.
Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.
Republican activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an incestuous relationship with his step daughter.

Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.

Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.

Republican activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. “Republican Marty”), was taken into custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD.

Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.

Republican Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his 12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations were reported in the media.

Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced to jail after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.
Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl.

Republican anti-gay activist Earl “Butch” Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her.
Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.

Republican election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl.

Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.

Republican politician Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children).
Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was charged with sexual misconduct involving a 15-year old girl.

Republican County Councilman Keola Childs pleaded guilty to molesting a male child.

Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl.

Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters.

Republican Councilman and former Marine Jack W. Gardner was convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl.

Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.

Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.

Republican activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $18,000.

Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his possession.

Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the internet.

Republican city councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a “good military man” and “church goer,” was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Republican businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four underage girls, including his daughter.

Republican director of the “Young Republican Federation” Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was charged with rape for allegedly paying a 15-year old girl for sex. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women.

Democratic donor and billionaire, Jeffrey Epstein, ran an underage child sex brothel and was convicted of soliciting underage girls for prostitution.

Democratic New York Congressman, Anthony Weiner, plead guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor as part of a plea agreement for sexted and sending Twitter DMs to underage girls as young as 15.

Democratic donor, activist, and Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is being criminally prosecuted and civilly sued for years of sexual abuse (that was well known “secret” in Hollywood) including underage sexual activities with aspiring female actresses.

Democratic activist and #metoo proponent, Asia Argento, settled a lawsuit for sexual harassment stemming from sexual activities with an underage actor.

Democratic Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin, Gary Becker, was convicted of attempted child seduction, child pornography, and other child sex crimes.

Democratic Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigned after multiple accusations of child sexual abuse were levied against him including by family members.

Democratic activist and aid to NYC Mayor De Blasio, Jacob Schwartz was arrested on possession of 3,000+ child pornographic images.

Democratic activist and actor, Russell Simmons, was sued based on an allegation of sexual assault where he coerced an underage model for sex.

Democratic Governor of Oregon, Neil Goldschmidt, after being caught by a newspaper, publicly admitted to having a past sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl after the statute of limitations on the rape charges had expired.

Democratic Illinois Congressman, Mel Reynolds resigned from Congress after he was convicted of statutory rape of a 16-year-old campaign volunteer.

Democratic New York Congressman, Fred Richmond, was arrested in Washington D.C. for soliciting sex from a 16-year-old boy.

Democratic activist, donor, and director, Roman Polanski, fled the country after pleading guilty to statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl. Democrats and Hollywood actors still defend him to this day, including, Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen, David Lynch, Wim Wenders, Pedro Almodovar, Tilda Swinton and Monica Bellucci.

Democratic State Senator from Alaska, George Jacko, was found guilty of sexual harassment of an underage legislative page.

Democratic State Representative candidate for Colorado, Andrew Myers, was convicted for possession of child pornography and enticing children.

Democratic Illinois Congressman, Gus Savage was investigated by the Democrat-controlled House Committee on Ethics for attempting to rape an underage female Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire. The Committee concluded that while the events did occur his apology was sufficient and took no further action.

Democratic activist, donor, and spokesperson for Subway, Jared Fogle, was convicted of distribution and receipt of child pornography and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Democratic State Department official, Carl Carey, under Hillary Clinton’s state department, was arrested on ten counts of child porn possession.

Democratic Maine Assistant Attorney General, James Cameron, was sentenced to just over 15 years in federal prison for seven counts of child porn possession, receipt and transmission.

Democratic State Department official, Daniel Rosen, under Hillary Clinton’s state department, was arrested and charged with allegedly soliciting sex from a minor over the internet.

Democratic State Department official, James Cafferty, pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of child pornography.

Democratic radio host, Bernie Ward, plead guilty to one count of sending child pornography over the Internet.

Democratic deputy attorney general from California, Raymond Liddy, was arrested for possession of child pornography.

[pritch]

Yeah, given the following list, that none of that sort of thing would be able to take place, and yet.....................

That's an impressive list.

Gaetz wouldn't have to reveal someone else's sexual wrong doing specifically. Anything criminal would do, provided the person he is giving up is high enough up the food chain. Former prosecutors have mentioned that the feds will want someone higher than him. Juries do not like the accused giving evidence against smaller fish than themselves, consequently prosecutors tend to avoid that.

[mashman]

That's an impressive list.

Gaetz wouldn't have to reveal someone else's sexual wrong doing specifically. Anything criminal would do, provided the person he is giving up is high enough up the food chain. Former prosecutors have mentioned that the feds will want someone higher than him. Juries do not like the accused giving evidence against smaller fish than themselves, consequently prosecutors tend to avoid that.

They span at least 20 years unfortunately. As such, Gaetz could follow that example and keep his mouth shut, do his time, and then get on with life without having to look over his shoulder for the rest of his lives. Most likely that is. They also have Maxwell, although outwith extreme measures, she too will likely just shut the fuck up. How else do these things continue given the high level of people who have been getting knicked over the last X decades. Tis the way of the world it seems.

[TheDemonLord]

I've been meaning to reply to this - but feel it best to address in two posts - since there's 2 distinct ideas here)

3.1. The current EU trading implementation was the product of years of negotiation in itself. The EU team will have envisaged a fully fledged EU-UK (re-)negotiation programme needing several years , whereas the UK team wanted a simplified agreement - and to conclude the whole process within 12 months.

The EU team approached the agreement as if the UK was a Foreign entity that wasn't part of the EU in the first place, which is where the disconnect occurred.

In terms of the Vested interest - sure the EU wants to have it's cake - nothing wrong with that.

But doing it in a manner where you retain all the benefits, without any of the penalties - namely that the EU needs Britain to buy EU goods, and should the EU insist on certain rules that will hurt Britain, it must be prepared for Britain the reciprocate - and that's where many Brexiteers were frustrated in Theresa May's initial negotiation.

3.2. The EU would have obviously seen some financial advantage in taking their time with negotiations (e.g. an extended period of UK levy contributions; a possible shift by some manufacturing and banking organisations from the UK to the EU bloc in the interim).

It's the first part for me - and feel free to label me as Jaded or Cynical.

3.3. Some of the Brussels civil service involved in regulating EU trade would have had a vested self-interest in maintaining the status quo (i.e. avoid job losses or of benefits).

Who wants to upset the Gravy Train?

I'm not a close follower of UK politics, but my understanding was that Theresa May was effectively trying to negotiate a Brexit deal largely to satisfy a specific section of the Conservative Party (the most ardent Brexiteers). Reflecting internal splits within the party.

Theresa voted Remain and in hindsight, it's clear her heart just wasn't in it.

You raise a good point about the Schism inside the Conservative Party - in much the same way that Trump represented a Schism in the Republicans - between the traditional Liberal conservatives (small Government types) and the Neo Conservative types.

The Tory defectors (people who crossed the floor based on the Brexit vote) ironically got summarily ousted by their constituents when the Boris election was held - which shows IMO the disconnect between the people and the politicians.

Fundamentally - in terms of what Brexit needed to achieve was freedom from the ECJ - realistically from there flows everything else that people objected to, part of Theresa's initial deal (going from memory) was some weird hybrid situation.

I should also point out - I generally don't follow UK politics from a daily perspective - however Brexit was such a monumental issue, that I followed that quite closely.

Quite in contrast to Boris's subsequent negotiating behaviour (a clear "Exit the EU" - and with a "No Deal" option clearly visible in the background as late as mid December 2020). Before he then quickly changed tack and concluded an EU-UK FTA (marginally better than a "hard Brexit").

And that is where Boris being a Brexiteer really shone through - Boris was happy to hold the sword of Damacles of a no-deal over the EU, in order to negotiate a Deal, something I don't feel Theresa ever did.

5. Financial Services

Your comment "... In the Long-run, I think the UK will be fine - we always have been fine" may well end up being true. [/quote]

To be honest - I don't deal too much in the Money Laundering sector - the only thing I can really posit is that with any sufficient scale of industry, corruption will creep in. Either because of people willing to be corrupt and actively engage in it, or simply because it's easier to hide when it's at scale

[pritch]

Matty no mates.


https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/11/p...ing/index.html

[TheDemonLord]

Post 2 - specifically concerning China

China
Given the phases you mentioned for development (growth), I can't see the Chinese life cycle being overly different from several other countries. Other than the fact that it was possibly more highly successful (and in a shorter time period), and that it has also shifted itself up the product value chain as well.

Is that much different as for a number of other countries (e.g. some of the Asian Tigers of the 1990's ? India ? Israel ?)

I think the fundamental structure of China (One party state, the Social Credit system, the casual attitude to rights when the state decides it) is what separates it. And this will come up again later in this post.

Given the Chinese proclivity to trade, it's no surprise that China has sought to spread its wings globally within the last 20 years and to widen its trade base (especially with more developed / wealthier western nations whose citizens have more disposable income). But China has obviously distinguished itself further, in that it has also sought:

(i) To develop trading routes and nodes throughout Asia and Europe = OBOR
(ii) To improve its future technical capability via AI / Robotic initiatives = Made in China 2025
(iii) To grow its physical economy via use of a mixed economic model = Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics
(iv) To improve the economic situation of a substantial portion of its population = Increasing Middle Class (wealth).

As an outcome, China has now become a significant economic power in its own right. And a strong economic competitor to the US.

All of the above I have no issue with - Let traders trade - however there's something that I will expand on later - 'With Chinese Characteristics'

Wherein lies the "problem" for the US. In that China is now able to resist US influence to some extent, as well as surpass western technical capabilities in some areas.

But probably more annoying (for the US), it has been able to do so largely independent of direct US ownership and control of Chinese assets. And placing some restrictions on the actions of western corporations operating in China.

I think the more pressing concern is two-fold for the US:

1: Chinese courts do not uphold Western copyright law. So a US company can invest a large amount of time and resources into developing something new and exciting, only for a Chinese company to copy it and when the US take the Chinese company to court in the Chinese legal system, the Chinese judge rules in favour of the Chinese company

2: the CCP and their controlling interest in Companies. This is perhaps the biggest sticking point - consider a US company that it outright hostile to the US Government or even the US as an Ideal (not a difficult task), you can be certain that there is no US Government influence, other than the rule of law. Not so with a Chinese company - Some may have more freedom from the CCP than others, but as a trading partner, you can never be 100% certain what degree of oversight or info is being shared or taken by the CCP

What did amuse me in your story was the transition - whereby now having gained some degree of economic parity, China is supposedly going to start displaying some Jeykll-and-Hyde personality change (supposedly seeking to "turn off some tap" and to "cripple the West"). The obvious question to that assertion is simply "why ?".

So I'm going to use Disney and Star Wars as an example - bearing in mind that Disney, like most Hollywood industries have loudly and proudly declared their allegiance to the Woke Social Justice agenda. What they did with the latest Star Wars films a clear testament to this (Mary Sue characters, diversity hire choices etc. Treatment of Luke Skywalker etc.)

When it came to release the new Star Wars Movie in China - what happened? They digitally altered the poster to remove one of the prominent actors (who played Finn), because he's African American.

Why would a Company that destroyed the most profitable franchise in history for the sake of social justice, suddenly do the very opposite of what their supposed principles are? The answer is that China has a long standing history of Racism, specifically against black people. But surely Disney would stand on it's principles, right? 'Stand up to Racism', 'End Racism' and all the other pithy corporate Slogans?

I posit that there was either explicit or implicit pressure 'Do this, or we won't allow the film to be released' - so now China gets a controlling say in how a foreign company conducts business if it wants to retain access to the lucrative chinese market.

In contrast, the US has had plenty of practice in this respect, having been doing this all across the globe the past 50+ years (often in conjunction with the IMF and the World Bank). Simply in order to maintain its own economic position and to preserve its western lifestyle. And where the US has been unable to dominate some specific country militarily (i.e. via invasion or military bases), it has often resorted to some combination of:

(i) Attempted regime change
(ii) Financial sanctions - such as restrictions to the US banking systems, USD, or to bank credit
(iii) Pressure on the local currency
(iv) Indirectly encouraging the target to take out foreign currency loans (via the IMF or WB), and then imposing austerity conditions and forcing state asset sales if repayments faltered.

Yep - fair points, the US have been scummy, no disagreement there - however I want to ask this question:

If there was a US Empire, that - like the British, extended US principles to the Colonial territories.
If there was a Chinese Empire, that - like the British, extended Chinese principles to the Colonial territories.
If there was a Communist Empire, that - like the British, extended Communist principles to the Colonial territories.

In which colony would you want to live? The last one I added in there because most of the more dubious acts where against Communist regimes. I don't know about you - but I'd take a written constitution with the Bill of rights of any alternative, any day of the week.

The more important question - where would you want your opponents to live? Those that disagree with you? For me, with the exception of a few groups (so they could experience the outcome of the ideas they are professing, so they can know why they are terrible ideas), I'd want my opponents to enjoy the same freedoms and liberties as me.

And even with that exception, it's only short-term so they can see the error of their ways.

One should not assume that China has the same social or political objectives as the US, nor that it will adopt the same operational model.

I agree they don't have the same social and political goals, it's the differences that concern me.

I think you must have been reading too many western based think-tank reports recently.

Uyghurs
You feel free to get excited by western media stories about Muslim Uyghur persecution in Xinjiang, but excuse me if I don't join you. Simply because there is more than enough information online to present a much truer picture of the situation on the ground, and the motivations of the various actors involved e.g.

https://off-guardian.org/2019/07/23/...f-the-uyghurs/
https://journal-neo.org/2018/10/05/c...entioned-part/
https://consortiumnews.com/2021/02/2...against-china/
https://thegrayzone.com/2020/03/05/w...rk-fall-china/

In some respects, similar to the Chechen situation in the Russian southern provinces in the early-to-mid 1990's . In that case, both the US and Saudi were involved in providing funds and fighters to stir up the local Muslim populations.

I'll agree that I oversimplified it for dramatic effect, however I still hold that there is enough undisputed evidence to call what is happening to the Uyghurs a Genocide. I tend to take a very absolutist view on these things.

Soft Power
I was also amused by your comment about "soft power". Is it only OK when it is wielded by western states (our traditional friends - like the US, the UK, Germany, France, etc), but it is not OK when it is wielded by their economic competitors (like China, Russia)?

This is a fantastic question. Both from a philosophical point of view and from the specifics here:

The short answer is it's okay when it's backed by mandate from the masses. Power needs to be held accountable. In a traditional democracy, that's at the Ballot Box. Where is the Accountability for Xie Jing ping? Who do the Chinese people vote for if they are unhappy with the roll out of the Social Credit system?

The same could very much be said for Russia and Putin.

Add into this - I touched on it earlier about the application of Law - If 2 Countries are playing by the same rules, then any disagreement can be negotiated out. It might take time, it might even take Sabre Rattling - but it's possible to do.

Whereas if one country plays by your rules when it works in their favour, but their own rules when it suits them (like the aforementioned Copyright issue) then it fundamentally can't be negotiated, because one side is not playing fair.

The US has been bleating about its loss of reputation ("soft power") in the age of Trump, due to events such as:

(i) US Covid management
(ii) conducting a trade war with China, disrupting global trade and supply chains
(iii) the Trump administration's hard nosed position re EU NATO funding
(iv) willingness to sanction the EU, where it had sought to engage with either Russia or China.

But this has simply been the latest in a long line of events since at least year 2000, and spanning both Republican and Democrat administrations. Events such as:

(i) starting and progressing a list of wars ("7 wars in 5 years") costing some $ 6 Trillion
(ii) pushing the rapid expansion of NATO across eastern and southern Europe
(iii) causing the 2008 GFC, which then rippled out across the whole world
(iv) an ongoing lack of US willingness to allow certain states to decide their own political future, and initiating "colour revolutions".

It should therefore be no surprise that China - with its focus on trade and on OBOR projects - has increased its "soft power" (despite all the adverse western media commentary), while that of the US has declined.

[/QUOTE]

I disagree with your assessment that this is a Trump thing - Most of the issues were Bush/Obama - and a lot of Conservative outlets pointed out that Obama allowed other nations to out-maneuver the US on the international Stage. Something that Trump reversed - whether it's by cunning diplomacy, or tweeting to North Korea that he's got a bigger Nuclear Button and it works.

In other posts, when people have critiqued Trump, I've been quick to point out that every single President in my lifetime has contributed to the issue that Trump attempted to fix (whether you agree with his Sledgehammer approach or not)

With the Trump administration, the willingness to lean on nations to ensure that everyone is playing by the rules lead to reclaiming of that Soft Power (even if the various left-wing outlets hated it) - and as a perfect demonstration - the Migrant crisis at the US Border - Trump was clear and unequivocal, whereas Biden has been caught napping.

[TheDemonLord]

Dunno what to say. Too much of what the RWNJs believe has no connection to reality. None. The irregularities and anomolies they saw in the election just did not exist. At all.

They definitely existed - we have the numbers to show they existed. Things that have not happened since Voting began in the US, things that haven't happened in nearly 100 years. Those are definitively irregularities.

The question was whether they prove there was Election fraud or not.

For me - they cast reasonable suspicion on the result, without being able to meet the threshold of beyond all reasonable doubt.

Yet they clung to them with dogged determination.

They didn't get any of that from the left wing press.

I can point you to any number of debunked ideas that regularly get trotted out by the Left Wing press, in particular, The Guardian - so I wouldn't go throwing that stone in that glasshouse.

Today a Repblican politician from Georgia admitted that their Jim Crow 2.0 voter suppression laws were based entirely on Trump's big lie that the election was stolen.
The lie the RWNJs believed.
You probably won't read about that in the RWNJ press though.

The question is: Do you object to requiring a State-issued photo ID for Voting? What about Driving? Or What about Firearm ownership?

Put aside for a moment your unprovable assertions that it's Voter suppression.

No Republican has a problem with being subjected to this standard of behaviour. It will ensure that only those who are eligible to vote, can vote.

The left-wing claim is that this is to disenfranchise people who can vote but don't have a state issued ID is at best a few massive leaps of logic. However, if you were to ask the Republicans about this - I'm sure they'd be happy to have a waiver for low-income families who might struggle to get the $20 for a State issued ID.

Some of the more hard-core right wingers might point out that if you can't sort your life out to the point where you can organize a State issued ID, perhaps you shouldn't be voting. But you'll notice in that statement there's no mention of skin tone, colour or Hue.

The rule applies equally to everyone, as it should.

[sugilite:Me]

They definitely existed - we have the numbers to show they existed. Things that have not happened since Voting began in the US, things that haven't happened in nearly 100 years. Those are definitively irregularities.

The question was whether they prove there was Election fraud or not.

For me - they cast reasonable suspicion on the result, without being able to meet the threshold of beyond all reasonable doubt.

Why is it that you have such a high standard of proof for right wing conspiracies, but such a low standard for the left ones. Like the publisher of Seuss books withdrawing some and you going, that sounds like the left applied pressure - good enough!
30 lost cases in court vs 1 for trumps lawyers, and nope, still not enough proof for you. Despite some of them being Trump appointed judges etc. If the left had these genius in place capable of rigging the general election and completely avoiding detection, they surely would of won the senate by a handy margin etc.
To my mind, that is just as biased as both sides of the pathetic media are being.
Though on election night and a few days after, a weird transformation took over fox and they actually became a principled news service. Normal service has since resumed.

[TheDemonLord]

Why is it that you have such a high standard of proof for right wing conspiracies, but such a low standard for the left ones. Like the publisher of Seuss books withdrawing some and you going, that sounds like the left applied pressure - good enough!

Because I've seen the same pattern repeated over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

For me - This has been something I have been watching since before 2011 - at the start of the Atheism Schism (really starting with Elevator-Gate) - There is a history here that I doubt you've read or you've witnessed. Does that colour my views? Most certainly. Does it diminish the fact we can objectively point to the same patterns each and every time and for where the info might be thin, connect the dots? Not at all.

And at time of writing, looks like Captain Underpants is the next to fall foul of the Social Justice mob.

I might be a little more inclined if it wasn't such a regular occurrence or with nearly identical identifying marks - but alas.

30 lost cases in court vs 1 for trumps lawyers, and nope, still not enough proof for you. Despite some of them being Trump appointed judges etc. If the left had these genius in place capable of rigging the general election and completely avoiding detection, they surely would of won the senate by a handy margin etc.

There's a difference between knowing something happened and being able to prove beyond all reasonable doubt exactly what happened.

As for the Senate - consider this: You've got people from multiple areas fraudulently casting ballots, but you can't expect them to know the Senator for the area they are currently forging their vote for, but you can expect them to vote for Biden.

That would certainly explain a number of the anomalies quite nicely. Whereas a normal Person casting a vote would vote both for their Presidential candidate and their Representative.

I'm not saying that this was the case - but given the example you raised, it certainly does explain the peculiar voting pattern we saw....

[pritch]

Because I've seen the same pattern repeated over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Whether it happened or not.

And at time of writing, looks like Captain Underpants is the next to fall foul of the Social Justice mob.

The Dr Seuss books that were canned were treated thus because they weren't selling and there were concerens about some of the content. It was the estate of the writer that canned them. There has been no reliable link to the "Social Justice mob." The likes of Matt Gaetz and Gym Jordan do not count as reliable.

It's almost as if you don't think the RWNJs are into cancel culture. They scream about it non stop but they are busy doing it themselves. It's just a distraction while they go about the serious work of rigging elections..

[TheDemonLord]

Whether it happened or not.

Indeed, and we'll get to that...

The Dr Seuss books that were canned were treated thus because they weren't selling and there were concerens about some of the content. It was the estate of the writer that canned them.

So which is it? Was it purely a financial decision? Or were there concerns about the Content. Concerns which *perfectly* coincide with the rise of certain social movements?

Whether it was explicit pressure - someone saying something to the Estate
or Implicit pressure - seeing other people fall foul of the Mob and deciding to self-censure.

In your own statement - to refute me, you provide the very proof of my position.

There has been no reliable link to the "Social Justice mob." The likes of Matt Gaetz and Gym Jordan do not count as reliable.

Except the timing, the reasons, the state-mandated apology, the genuflecting before the altar of Wokeness.

It's almost as if you don't think the RWNJs are into cancel culture. They scream about it non stop but they are busy doing it themselves. It's just a distraction while they go about the serious work of rigging elections..

Every right wing or libertarian Pundit I listen to has never called for someone to be Cancelled. In fact, they often make direct Appeals to people of the opposing view to come and discuss their position with them. Something you never see in the Left-Wing circles.

I've heard them be called to be held to the same standard as the Right Wingers - for example - if I were to go to Twitter and post something like "Fuck all white Men" - I can be reasonably safe that my Twitter account wouldn't get banned. Whereas if I merely change the race mentioned, we can be certain it would be banned.

That, however, is not Cancel Culture, that is an appeal to have the rules applied equally.