The Trump Presidency – 2016

[Ksyrup]

I gotta hand it to the GOP - they can insert Hillary into everything. Did you know that not only is Biden going to pack SCOTUS, but Hillary will be one of them?

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

I remain convinced that the ACA remains because Mitch McConnell wants it that way. You can't tell me that the most ruthlessly effective politician in recent memory, given a Republican Congress and WH just fumbled the ball on this. The vote failed because he wanted it to fail, probably because it's easier to run against the ACA than the come up with something better.

If this was the case, they wouldn't have let McCain be the hero. They would've protected someone vulnerable, like Gardner, and let them be the deciding vote. For the optics of how skinny repeal failed, there's just no way McConnell would've been behind that.

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Unless they passed an Amendment, the way that would almost certainly work is that no one gets the boot, but when the next two justices step down, there won't be an empty spot to nominate a replacement.

That's assuming everyone plays by the rules, which we have seen, the republicans have given their tacit permission that it's ok to not to play by the rules. Regardless though, there is no perfect system that can be implemented, stacked or reduced, term limits, etc...as long as you have bad actors, they will find a way to cheat.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Just in time for the new conservative majority to come up with some bs reason to strike that down

SI

I mean if they strike down Medicare, they are just asking for Court packing.

(what I'm envisioning if ACA is struck down is that the Democrats just remove all maximum age limits for Medicare)

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I gotta hand it to the GOP - they can insert Hillary into everything. Did you know that not only is Biden going to pack SCOTUS, but Hillary will be one of them?

Yeah did you see the House GOP tweeted a congrats to Barrett and in the same tweet wished Hillary a Happy Birthday

[JediKooter]

So if they get rid of Roe vs Wade, what do those one issue voters have left? Not sure what else they could switch their crusade to after slaying that windmill.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

So if they get rid of Roe vs Wade, what do those one issue voters have left? Not sure what else they could switch their crusade to after slaying that windmill.

They won't get rid of it. They'll do what they've been doing for the last 20 years - putting in more and more restrictions so it's not possible for any provider to meet: the stupid stuff like 20' wide hallways and admitting privileges. "See, it's still legal!" they'll say, even as there are only like 10 states with actual clinics.

SI

[Jas_lov]

But conservatives have been saying for years "if we just get one more justice we can finally overturn Roe." What are they going to say if a case comes up and they don't overturn it?

[larrymcg421]

I mean, in 1992 the Republicans had an 8-1 advantage on the court. Also, the 1 Dem appointed justice was against Roe. They still couldn't overturn it then.

[Bee]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I gotta hand it to the GOP - they can insert Hillary into everything. Did you know that not only is Biden going to pack SCOTUS, but Hillary will be one of them?

The dems should totally do that.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Bee

The dems should totally do that.

If the Dems were going for maximum troll job, that would be hilarious.

SI

[kingfc22]

"Vote for me because Swine Flu"...And he's the one we should not be concerned about when it comes to cognitive decline. Okay...

[Bee]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

If the Dems were going for maximum troll job, that would be hilarious.

SI

Then when Republicans complain, withdraw her and nominate AOC and watch heads explode.

[Drake]

I'd be perfectly happy if the Dems propose 75 new SCOTUS seats and ram it through.

But that's mostly because I'd get an unfettered day of joy posting "**Elections have consequences** to a thousand hillbilly whiners all over my FB feed

It's petty, but at my age, caramels and pettiness are likely all that keep me going.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

If the Dems were going for maximum troll job, that would be hilarious.

SI

Obama and Hillary.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Obama and Hillary.

Aw hell, start with Garland. Then add Obama. Then Bill and Hillary both. There's your 4 justices.

It's an awful plan and an awful idea. But if you were going for maximum trolling, that's getting there.

SI

[albionmoonlight]

Knowing the Dems, they'll end up losing the vote to expand the Court by one vote because Biden wouldn't agree to make Bernie one of the Justices

[stevew]

I want 40 year old justices if we're going to be absurd.

[stevew]

For example, Joe Kennedy III would be a great pick if we're going to troll. He's 40 and a Kennedy.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by stevew

I want 40 year old justices if we're going to be absurd.

Chelsea is 40...

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

They won't get rid of it. They'll do what they've been doing for the last 20 years - putting in more and more restrictions so it's not possible for any provider to meet: the stupid stuff like 20' wide hallways and admitting privileges. "See, it's still legal!" they'll say, even as there are only like 10 states with actual clinics.

SI

I do hope you are correct. I hope the Satanic Church will give these pro-birthers a run for their money.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Chelsea is 40...

yeah. How soon til Malia finishes law school?

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Unless they passed an Amendment, the way that would almost certainly work is that no one gets the boot, but when the next two justices step down, there won't be an empty spot to nominate a replacement.

Yep. As was demonstrated rather recently, impeachment is hard to do. Wouldn't be less so for a justice.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Knowing the Dems, they'll end up losing the vote to expand the Court by one vote because Biden wouldn't agree to make Bernie one of the Justices

Bernie is too damn old. You really just need to put "The Squad" on the bench.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

But conservatives have been saying for years "if we just get one more justice we can finally overturn Roe." What are they going to say if a case comes up and they don't overturn it?

What did they say when they won on repeal and replace of Obamacare in 2016 and did nothing? Did anyone on the right even question it once the partial repeal failed?

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

What did they say when they won on repeal and replace of Obamacare in 2016 and did nothing? Did anyone on the right even question it once the partial repeal failed?

Some of the talking heads raged about how McConnell's Senate was just a bunch of wimpy cuck RINOs or some damn thing. Coulter comes to mind, Rush was on that boat, dunno about others.

But there was right-wing media blowback.

[Brian Swartz]

Yep. Conservatives got mad about that just like they got mad about basically the majority of Dubya's second term. But increasingly there aren't enough of them left to matter. What replaced them might be best described as anti-leftists, who don't particularly care what it is they are for so long as it's not what Democrats are for.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Yep. Conservatives got mad about that just like they got mad about basically the majority of Dubya's second term. But increasingly there aren't enough of them left to matter. What replaced them might be best described as anti-leftists, who don't particularly care what it is they are for so long as it's not what Democrats are for.

And what better leader than the guy that fillibustered his own bill to own the Dems.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Bernie is too damn old. You really just need to put "The Squad" on the bench.

Justices: AOC Omar Jayapal Pressley

And heads explode everywhere.

[cuervo72]

I'm going to assume you need a law degree, and I'm not sure any of those do.

Preet Bharaha and Keith Ellison do, though.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

I'm going to assume you need a law degree, and I'm not sure any of those do.

You don't need anything.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...Court_justices

Associate Justice James F. Byrnes, whose short tenure lasted from June 1941 to October 1942, was the last Justice without a law degree to be appointed; Stanley Forman Reed, who served on the Court from 1938 to 1957, was the last sitting Justice from such a background.

[cuervo72]

I don't mean technically but realistically. Doing a quick Wiki search suggests Reed was admitted to the bar, but that was in 1910. (And he did at least study at law schools.)

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I mean if they strike down Medicare, they are just asking for Court packing.

(what I'm envisioning if ACA is struck down is that the Democrats just remove all maximum age limits for Medicare)

Democratic leadership would rather have conservatives in power than M4A.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Chelsea is 40...

I need a timeout to send Atocep a big ol' "fuck you, buddy" for reminding me exactly how old I'm getting.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Democratic leadership would rather have conservatives in power than M4A.

You realize that Medicare is very different that "Medicare For All"? Medicare has Premiums and Deductables for doctor's visits. And it doesn't cover everything (hence the existence of Medicare Advantage plans).

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

I don't mean technically but realistically. Doing a quick Wiki search suggests Reed was admitted to the bar, but that was in 1910. (And he did at least study at law schools.)

I mean if you are going to stack a court, you can probably do whatever you want

[GrantDawg]

Drake is on fire today.

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[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I mean if you are going to stack a court, you can probably do whatever you want

Fine. Let's just pick four immigrants at random.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Drake

I need a timeout to send Atocep a big ol' "fuck you, buddy" for reminding me exactly how old I'm getting.

seriously, he needs to eat a bag of dicks.

[kingfc22]

JFC. At his make Trump feel good rally, he’s talking about Biden getting assassinated three weeks into his presidency.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

JFC. At his make Trump feel good rally, he’s talking about Biden getting assassinated three weeks into his presidency.

I, and I suspect many others, took him as meaning shot not in a literal sense but figuratively, still, a stunningly terrible choice of words.

[Edward64]

If I was Trump I would focus on PA.

Essentially if Biden loses PA, that means certain demographics is voting for Trump more than expected, and therefore those demographics may also surprise in other states like OH.

Is Joe Biden Toast If He Loses Pennsylvania? | FiveThirtyEight

It is close to being a must-win for Trump, who has only a 2 percent chance of winning the Electoral College if he loses Pennsylvania. Biden, however, has a bit more margin for error. He’d have a 30 percent chance if he lost Pennsylvania, which isn’t great but is also higher than, say, Trump’s overall chances on Election Day 2016.

[Ben E Lou]

Yeah, that definitely sounded like "Joe's shot" in the sense that his brain is fried, 25th Amendment, Harris takes over. Typical beneath-the-Presidency thing for him to say, but not an assassination joke.

[stevew]

The cops shot some dude in Philly yesterday, so that could completely fuck over the voting there if the protests grow.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

You realize that Medicare is very different that "Medicare For All"? Medicare has Premiums and Deductables for doctor's visits. And it doesn't cover everything (hence the existence of Medicare Advantage plans).

You mentioned removing age limits for Medicare. That is M4A essentially. Popular among Democratic voters, not popular among their leaders.

[ISiddiqui]

I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall (the way Medicare is now is far more like a public option, not the Sanders or Warren plans which promised no premiums or deductibles). Not to mention Democratic voters tended to overwhelmingly backed the guy who was not for single payer.

Reminder how Medicare works: in order to qualify for Medicare Part A (pays for hospital visits, hospice, etc) you had to have personally paid Medicare taxes for 40 quarters - if you didn't you have to pay premiums (in essence you prepaid premiums). Medicare Part B is office visits that require premiums and deductibles. And most people get supplemental coverage - private insurance - to cover things Medicare doesn't.

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[RainMaker]

87% of Democrats Support 'Medicare for All,' Though Joe Biden Doesn't

[RainMaker]

It goes beyond the Presidency. Progressive candidates who prumary moderates get shunned by the party and vendors are blackmailed.

[ISiddiqui]

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019...nderstood.html

In other words: When the median voter hears Medicare for All, she ostensibly pictures a health-care system similar to our current one, except that Americans of all ages would gain the opportunity to buy into a Medicare-like public health-insurance program (i.e., one that would require beneficiaries to make various cost-sharing payments, just as the already-existing Medicare does).

Many polls indicate people have very different views of what Medicare For All means. And when you say private insurance will be banned as part of it, support goes way down. We've discussed this on this board before.

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[RainMaker]

DCCC Warns It Will Cut Off Firms That Challenge Incumbents

I don't know man, maybe just go with the popular ideas? Maybe the party wouldn't get curbstomped on a regular basis?