The Biden Presidency - 2020

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Dutch

They are human shields, yes. And that is illegal. The Israelis have not bombed them for a year straight like Hezbollah has done to Israelis. They look to me like they are fixing the problem. The reality is, if people are being bombed because they are human shields, the world needs to recognize this and make sure they are not held in eternal bondage by the terrorists. If the Lebanese government won’t fix this and the world won’t fix it and the USA won’t fix it, who’s left to fix it if not the nation that is being bombed daily by the terrorists?

Hezbollah isn't intentionally bombing civilians. They are lobbing missiles into illegal settlements. Literally shooting at violent international criminals. They're not even meant to kill (as evident by the lack of civilian deaths), just annoy and force the terrorists out of the region.

And wtf are you talking about? Israel has been routinely bombing Lebanon for 50+ years. They literally took over half the country for like 20 years.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

The money literally can't be spent on hurricane relief.

You could do this with anything in the budget. Biden is literally more concerned with copier maintenance at HHS than he is with hurricane relief. Why is MTG's pay more important than hurricane relief? Why does Trump charge the Secret Service to stay in his resorts instead of helping the people impacted by the hurricane?

There's no reason to get into an argument about this is more important than that if the two things are in no way connected.

I’m good with figuring out why we’re spending $600 million per year under FEMA for illegal immigrants. But you are right, we need to recalibrate the government for priorities that actually help Americans.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Dutch

I’m good with figuring out why we’re spending $600 million per year under FEMA for illegal immigrants. But you are right, we need to recalibrate the government for priorities that actually help Americans.

Where does the $600 million figure come from?

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Where does the $600 million figure come from?

The GOP is twisting it as FEMA funds being diverted. Considering the sources pushing this are Greg Abbott, Dan Crenshaw, and Trump, you can guess the accuracy.

The Shelter and Services Program is a Congressionally funded program that provides money to non-federal agencies to provide humanitarian aid for non-US citizens. It was approved for $640 million this year. That's it. You could play transitive property-like games with the budget until the end of times to twist the narrative.

[JPhillips]

It was spent because Congress directed FEMA to spend it.

From NBC:

FEMA has dedicated disaster relief money that cannot be used for other purposes. Separately, it was tasked by Congress in 2022 to disseminate money from Customs and Border Protection to help communities that received influxes of migrants.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Hezbollah isn't intentionally bombing civilians. They are lobbing missiles into illegal settlements. Literally shooting at violent international criminals. They're not even meant to kill (as evident by the lack of civilian deaths), just annoy and force the terrorists out of the region.

And wtf are you talking about? Israel has been routinely bombing Lebanon for 50+ years. They literally took over half the country for like 20 years.

Jewish people lived there and have historically lived there long before Muslims did. They were getting back what was rightfully theirs, similarly Istanbul is rightfully Christian territory, but, they lost the war with the Turks and so that settled it.

In 1947, Israel declared their independence. The Arab nations declared war and attacked them. Israel won. That settled it.

In 1967, Egypt, Jordan and Syria prepared themselves to destroy Israel once and for all, but Israel bombed the shit out Egypt’s fueling Air Force and decimated them all military. Israel agreed to give the Suez Peninsula back as part of the agreement after they won the war. They settled it.

In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack and Israel won again. That settled it.

In 1982, the PLO attacked Israel from Lebanon, and Israel won. That settled it.

In 1987, the first Intifada began with suicide bombers killing Jewish people, the USA and the Oslo accords under Clinton ended it. That settled it.

In 2000, the second intifada was launched with countless suicide bombers killing Jewish civilians. I don’t remember how that ended, but it was settled.

In 2006, Hezbollah started taking Israeli soldiers captive, Israel invaded and won. That settled it.

In 2008, Hamas conducted missile launched against Israel, Israel went in and forced them to stop. That settled it.

In 2012, Hamas began shooting tons of munitions into Israel. Israel defended itself until they quit. That settled it.

In 2014, Hamas ramped up their attacks on Israel once more and Israelis once more had to go in and stop them. Hamas quit again. That settled it.

In 2021, more rocket fire rained down on Israel from Gaza, Israel was forced to defend itself once again. Settled…

Last October, Hamas invaded Israel’s and slaughtered 1,400 civilians. Hezbollah started firing rockets the next day.

When the Arab governments say, “From
The River to the Sea”, they mean genocide. They want all Jewish people expelled or destroyed. It’s the same mentality Christians had 500 years ago and the Nazi had 85 years ago.

The Israeli people aren’t doing anything wrong by living on the lands they possess. While there have been agreements, those were meant to appease the Arabs, but when the remaining holdouts of the Arab world (Iran, Syria, Qatar) refuse to agree to any peace terms, well, they gonna get what they get. It’s not a genocide, it’s defense and you can’t play defense if there isn’t an offense.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Atocep

The GOP is twisting it as FEMA funds being diverted. Considering the sources pushing this are Greg Abbott, Dan Crenshaw, and Trump, you can guess the accuracy.

The Shelter and Services Program is a Congressionally funded program that provides money to non-federal agencies to provide humanitarian aid for non-US citizens. It was approved for $640 million this year. That's it. You could play transitive property-like games with the budget until the end of times to twist the narrative.

And last year it was $700 million. I’ve seen the figure of $1.4 trillion thrown around a lot but I think it covers two years.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Dutch

And last year it was $700 million. I’ve seen the figure of $1.4 trillion thrown around a lot but I think it covers two years.

Where do you see 1.4 trillion being thrown around at?

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Dutch

And last year it was $700 million. I’ve seen the figure of $1.4 trillion thrown around a lot but I think it covers two years.

Last year it was $360 million.

[RainMaker]

Shelter and Services Program is part of the CBP budget, not FEMA. FEMA is just the one who distributes the money for them. At least get your agencies right in your dumb talking points.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Dutch

Jewish people lived there and have historically lived there long before Muslims did. They were getting back what was rightfully theirs, similarly Istanbul is rightfully Christian territory, but, they lost the war with the Turks and so that settled it.

Most Jewish people in Israel are from Europe. And the religion of a person on that land thousands of years ago doesn't matter to me. I don't think I should be able to declare I'm Jewish tomorrow and steal someone's olive farm in the West Bank. Just as I don't think someone who says they're Midewiwin should be able to bulldoze my home and kill me.

What you're describing is an ethnostate. Something I oppose. I don't think land should belong to a particular racial or ethnic group.

Originally Posted by Dutch

When the Arab governments say, “From
The River to the Sea”, they mean genocide. They want all Jewish people expelled or destroyed. It’s the same mentality Christians had 500 years ago and the Nazi had 85 years ago.

That phrase is literally in the charter of Israel's ruling party. Netanyahu says it all the time. Sort of seems like you're upset that someone with some darker skin is using it.

Originally Posted by Dutch

but when the remaining holdouts of the Arab world (Iran, Syria, Qatar) refuse to agree to any peace terms, well, they gonna get what they get.

This is a lie. All 22 Arab countries got together and offered terms to Israel. They asked for a 2-state solution and the end of the genocide.

[Dutch]

“What you're describing is an ethnostate. Something I oppose. I don't think land should belong to a particular racial or ethnic group.”

It is, but let’s be real.

Israel is 74% Jewish.
Syria is 92% Muslim
Egypt is 90% Muslim
Jordan is 97% Muslim
Iran is 99% Muslim
Iraq is 95% Muslim
Saudi Arabia is 100% Muslim

One of these is more accepting than others on that front and to ever give way to a Muslim rule would accomplish what, exactly? I’ve got a pretty good idea, not sure if we want to talk about or not.

[illinifan999]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Hezbollah isn't intentionally bombing civilians. They are lobbing missiles into illegal settlements.

Seems like a gross escalation. Perhaps Hezbollah/Hamas/Palestine should try to de-escalate the illegal settlers?

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Dutch

It is, but let’s be real.

Israel is 74% Jewish.
Syria is 92% Muslim
Egypt is 90% Muslim
Jordan is 97% Muslim
Iran is 99% Muslim
Iraq is 95% Muslim
Saudi Arabia is 100% Muslim

One of these is more accepting than others on that front and to ever give way to a Muslim rule would accomplish what, exactly? I’ve got a pretty good idea, not sure if we want to talk about or not.

Not sure I'd call Israel accepting of others. It's nearly impossible to become a citizen if you are not a Jew, and if you are visiting, you have to abide by their apartheid rules. And they recently were involuntarily sterilizing darker-skinned Jews who were entering the country.

Regardless, I don't want tens of billions of tax dollars directly supporting the regimes above either. I don't want trillions of tax dollars indirectly supporting those countries too.

For someone upset about $150 million of humanitarian aid going to an ally, it's a bit odd you're not upset about the trillions spent on Israel's behalf.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

And they recently were involuntarily sterilizing darker-skinned Jews who were entering the country.

If anyone cares, here's my rebuttal to the claim. Always good to define terms like sterilization vs birth control.

Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Israeli-Hamas War (Oct 2023)

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Dutch

So the UN could step up here for sure then.

UN: “We understand you have run out of money to support disasters, as friends, we got you. We’ll cover places like Lebanon that you have done so much for, so you can hold that money to help your own people during this time of need.”

Does that sound awful to you? It shouldn’t if it does.

They could, if the US asked. We are the richest country in the world though, and haven't "run out of money", the GOP has decided that paying politics is more important than actually helping people. The Republicans took $10 billion dollars out of the CR that was targeted disaster relief on the eve of this hurricane. Congress holds the purse strings, and if we don't have money for disaster relief it is because a GOP lead congress thought that it was more important to spread the fear of the brown people than to actually help citizens in need.

[kingfc22]

And lack of any critical thinking is why this is even being discussed.

“GOP said brown people bad and are stealing our money. Ahhhh!”

[kingfc22]

With the continued conversation playing out all the time.

Mindless idiots repeat the nonsense. Critical thinkers then actually research, spend time to educate and refute the falsehoods only to be ignored or ridiucled.

Rinse and repeat

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

And lack of any critical thinking is why this is even being discussed.

“GOP said brown people bad and are stealing our money. Ahhhh!”

don't forget they are eating the pets!

[Atocep]

Mike Johnson said FEMA has enough money and they don't need to recall congress to vote on additional funding so I don't know what the GOP is upset about.

[Edward64]

I like this, hope it gets official.

I hate being referred to some sort of retention specialist like when I quit cable. Print magazines that automatically renew are a pain.

The federal government just made it much easier to cancel your gym membership | CNN Business

The FTC unveiled its final “click-to-cancel” rule, which requires businesses provide a way for consumers to cancel their subscriptions that is just as easy as it is to sign up. That includes everything from gym memberships to digital streaming and e-commerce to cable TV service.

[JPhillips]

Elon now offering 100 dollars to anyone in battleground states who signs his petition and promises to vote. He's basically paying voters and nothing will come of it.

[GrantDawg]

This is the defense: "While federal law dictates that paying individuals to vote or accepting payment for voter registration or voting is an offense, compensating people for signing petitions or for convincing others to sign petitions is not against the law."

[Ghost Econ]

A fool and his money...

[NobodyHere]

How do I sign up?

[JPhillips]

He has the link on his twitter feed.

He'll also give you 100 for referring people to sign.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

This is the defense: "While federal law dictates that paying individuals to vote or accepting payment for voter registration or voting is an offense, compensating people for signing petitions or for convincing others to sign petitions is not against the law."

The fact that he's checking the petition info against the registered voter list seems dicey.

[Lathum]

another example of Florida behaving badly and getting smacked down by a judge.

Free state of Florida my ass

Federal judge blasts DeSantis administration for threats against TV stations | CNN Business

[Thomkal]

Judge Chutkan has released Special Counsel's Smith trove of documents


Edit: Sorry didn't post this in right thread

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I like this, hope it gets official.

I hate being referred to some sort of retention specialist like when I quit cable. Print magazines that automatically renew are a pain.

The federal government just made it much easier to cancel your gym membership | CNN Business

You can tell which businesses had the scummiest methods based on their stock dropping yesterday. Planet Fitness dropped a few points right after the announcement.

Sadly, I think the next administration is going to boot Khan from the FTC and all this stuff will be reversed.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Lathum

another example of Florida behaving badly and getting smacked down by a judge.

Free state of Florida my ass

Federal judge blasts DeSantis administration for threats against TV stations | CNN Business

There's a House Rep here in Illinois who was calling the police because he didn't like a billboard. Our company had to sign a contract with a state that forbids our company from speaking out against fossil fuels. Meanwhile "free speech warriors" who never shut up about social media bias are silent when actual first amendment violations occur.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I like this, hope it gets official.

I hate being referred to some sort of retention specialist like when I quit cable. Print magazines that automatically renew are a pain.

The federal government just made it much easier to cancel your gym membership | CNN Business

Bastards

Industry groups are suing the FTC to stop its click to cancel rule - The Verge

The cable industry, home security companies, and advertisers are suing to stop a rule requiring making it easier to cancel subscriptions.

Their complaint (included below) alleges the rule is “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion,” as reported previously by Reuters.

The NCTA - Internet and Television Association represents service providers like Comcast, Charter, and Cox and entertainment studios like Disney, AMC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The IAB’s 700 members include almost any company connected to advertising, with Google, Netflix, Amazon, Meta, Vizio, and the NFL among its board members, while the ESA covers home security giants like ADT.

[Edward64]

Nice farewell gift from Joe and this Congress.

Bill was passed in House and will pass in the Senate. I don't know if it really is "fair" or not but pretty sure it impacts me when we take SS and pension. So not immediately but for the future.

My wife, worked as a public school teacher and also private sector. She was going to have some sort of "offset/subtraction" from either her pension or social security (I looked into it but never could figure out what it was but think about 50% of pension amount).

So, anyone/spouse that is a public school teacher expecting a school pension, and you/spouse also is eligible for social security will probably benefit from this.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/13/hous...ficiaries.html

A bipartisan bill to change Social Security benefit rules for pensioners passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, with 327 lawmakers voting to support the measure.

The proposal — called the Social Security Fairness Act — would repeal rules that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive pension benefits from state or local governments.

It would eliminate the windfall elimination provision, or WEP, that reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who worked in jobs where they did not pay Social Security payroll taxes and now receive pension or disability benefits from those employers

The bill would also eliminate the government pension offset, or GPO, which reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows and widowers who also receive pension checks.

To help pay for those changes, it would require people with more than $400,000 in income to pay more Social Security payroll taxes.