What's in the news?

[Trigon]

I think denial of fact is one of the principle aspects of Nazism, I saw a Nazi once try to argue that some obscure incident involving American troops during the war was somehow comparable to Nazi behavior, it didn't take much research to see how completely bogus that was. Same guy tried to argue some other things didn't actually happen or that Hitler wasn't completely aware of them, I admittedly had to defer to another persons expertise on that, but I found the entire argument to be completely unlikely given the nature and character of Nazism.

Part of me wants to say I pity Nazis and that they're more likely born and raised into it than joiners later in life, but either way they're pretty sad.

That's correct. Also, complete fabrication and outright lying is a part of that too, as well as denial of fact. The reason that lies and misinformation are a core feature of Nazism is because they use it as a political weapon, and it is also intended to serve as a smokescreen for the non-totalitarian (i.e. normal) world at large to hide their true intentions (and also a smokescreen for their inner members, thereby severing them from the normal world and sowing mistrust between them).

[Trigon]

Live updates for the French presidential election can be found here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/may/07/french-presidential-election-emmanuel-macron-marine-le-pen

Things are looking very good for Macron, thankfully, as he seems set to win more than 60% of the vote and thus the election. The far-right may in fact be halted in France!

[Lustful Bride]

Live updates for the French presidential election can be found here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/may/07/french-presidential-election-emmanuel-macron-marine-le-pen

Things are looking very good for Macron, thankfully, as he seems set to win more than 60% of the vote and thus the election. The far-right may in fact be halted in France!

I know nothing about the candidates in France but this is news I can get behind. So did all the hacking work for or against Macron?

[Shekinah]

I know nothing about the candidates in France but this is news I can get behind. So did all the hacking work for or against Macron?

I think neither as there had been a full press stop about it in France where the courts had ruled none could talk/publish anything about it as it could influence the voting and it had been followed as far as I heard.

[Sara Nilsson]

Live updates for the French presidential election can be found here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/may/07/french-presidential-election-emmanuel-macron-marine-le-pen

Things are looking very good for Macron, thankfully, as he seems set to win more than 60% of the vote and thus the election. The far-right may in fact be halted in France!

I remember it looked like Hillary would win until the end so I will remain cautious.

[Trigon]

I think neither as there had been a full press stop about it in France where the courts had ruled none could talk/publish anything about it as it could influence the voting and it had been followed as far as I heard.

I would agree here too. Additionally, I haven't found any articles yet that say what impact, if any, the hacking had on his campaign. But that may not be possible to determine until after the election is over.

I remember it looked like Hillary would win until the end so I will remain cautious.

That is true, but I think there is a stronger case for optimism in the case of France though. In America, Trump was always at least within striking distance of the win, whereas the same can't be said of Le Pen: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/le-pen-is-in-a-much-deeper-hole-than-trump-ever-was/

A more detailed analysis, also by FiveThirtyEight, can be found here: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/le-pen-is-just-a-gargantuan-polling-error-behind-macron/

But of course, we will find out soon enough whether the polls were right on the money!

*Graph from article shown here:

[Vekseid]

Hillary did win the popular vote by 2%.

Le Pen got outvoted nearly two to one anyway.

[Sara Nilsson]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39839349

Well he won by quite the margin,  65.5% to 34.5%.

[Shekinah]

Good news for that

Also shows the fears that Wilders (The Netherlands) and Le Pen (France) would win have lucky not come to pass and the Extreme Right rise to power has been halted or at least for the moment.

[RedRose]

So many people are unhappy about Macron... Too right wing for the left, too left wing for the right, too Young for most, too new... Since he officially doesn't belong to any party, the Front National claims to be, and might well be, the biggest party in France... Many people called for "neither nor", by not voting, or voting blank, or doing something silly like voting for someone else or putting TP Inside the envelope rofl.

That said I never feared that she would win, and wouldn't be terrorized if she did. Politicians never hold their promises

[Missy]

So many people are unhappy about Macron... Too right wing for the left, too left wing for the right, too Young for most, too new... Since he officially doesn't belong to any party, the Front National claims to be, and might well be, the biggest party in France... Many people called for "neither nor", by not voting, or voting blank, or doing something silly like voting for someone else or putting TP Inside the envelope rofl.

That said I never feared that she would win, and wouldn't be terrorized if she did. Politicians never hold their promises

Sounds like a lot of white votes for the National Front to be so popular.

Also, I debate saying this as I don't want to insult you, but politicians do often break those promises they make in the months leading up to election when they need you the most. However it might be a bit naive to suggest they don't have an agenda. Again no offense intended here, just a bit of food for thought on the topic, or not. It makes little difference to me if the world at large agrees with me or not.

[Iniquitous]

.... Politicians never hold their promises

Yeah, that is what was said about Trump too.  Look at what he is trying to do - he's actually trying to keep the promises he made.   Don't be so sure that she wouldn't try to do what she promised.

[Missy]

Some suggest we might get to see the end of the electoral college soon

Still the most interesting part of the article was at the very end though:

Perhaps we increasingly see a divided America because we are suppressing the majority.

It is a bit of a curiosity to suggest, but it makes a great deal of sense given the manner which the electoral college drives the conduct of political campaign.

[White Wolf]

President Bill Clinton is writing a political thriller (with the help of a co-author, admittedly).

Regardless of politics - or even one's views on the Clintons as an institution - I know I for one am really excited about this.

[Vekseid]

Yeah, that is what was said about Trump too.  Look at what he is trying to do - he's actually trying to keep the promises he made.   Don't be so sure that she wouldn't try to do what she promised.

Trump is in the running for the most broken promises of any president ever, and it's not even four months in.

From day one, "Call China a currency manipulator!" ...

[Oniya]

Trump is in the running for the most broken promises of any president ever, and it's not even four months in.

From day one, "Call China a currency manipulator!" ...

The question is, which promises?  The ones that he made to the voters, or the ones he made behind closed doors. 

[Missy]

Trump is in the running for the most broken promises of any president ever, and it's not even four months in.

From day one, "Call China a currency manipulator!" ...

Which is fortunate in a sense, the fact he has basically set himself up for failure in every possible way is the best part of this entire mess. He broke the emoluments clause on day one and his recent efforts on taxes is set to benefit him greatly in the coming years, he's essentially put all the pieces in place himself.  At this point the Republican party is too corrupt to actually do anythgin about it and he has 96% support among his base (the people who voted for him), but that can't last under his own set up, eventually people will give up on him for this reason. The real question isn't really if, but when and that will have a determinate effect on the future. He has at most two years, but if his base support falls up significantly before then then we might see the Republicans decide to off him on account that he's so chaotic that he's a liability. That won't happne now of course as that with his base support they fear the potential backlash too much, but as soon as the Democrats retake congress it doesn't matter what his base thinks. It's more likely to happen if Bernie manages to be sucessful in his reformation of the Democratuic party, but even Nacy Pelosi knows its in her best interest to off Trump. I think peopel will be objectively angry with some republican policies too, moderates will doubtless be swayed by the obvious effects of repealing net nuetrality and the Republicans healthcare bills thus far have been essentially shit, it's a question of how far along the conservative curve will folk become displeased. Really Bernie just needs to reform just enough to win over general support for 2018 and he's doign well. Jon Ossof made decent headway in his district and then theres the example of Normal Township in Bloomington IL which showed an otherwise inexplicable flip. I really think our odds are good, we just have to keep fighting.

[Missy]

Yeah, that is what was said about Trump too.  Look at what he is trying to do - he's actually trying to keep the promises he made.   Don't be so sure that she wouldn't try to do what she promised.

I might have thought Hitler would have been a better example possibly. At the time he came to power he was elected actually and managed to accomplish a great deal of his stated intentions.

[RedRose]

About white people voting Front National. Yes, many say they do - and more do it without saying. Including very normal, non hating people who are simply completely lost, and feel both the right wing and the left wing let them down and they "want to try something else", someone they believe will not break his word and will protect them from other Bataclans. My beautician. My doc. Some try to convince you, some don't. Some say outrageously racist things openly and sometimes I think I'm the only one bothered. Some aren't white but somehow feel Marine would set the scoundrels straight.

Traditionally who you vote for in France is highly personal, you don't tell your kids, you don't tell your friends. I feel it has changed, either out of anger or because of the example of the American election.

Anyway, now we have Macron, and the poor thing already got his life threatened by both Islamists and fascists.

[Missy]

About white people voting Front National. Yes, many say they do - and more do it without saying. Including very normal, non hating people who are simply completely lost, and feel both the right wing and the left wing let them down and they "want to try something else", someone they believe will not break his word and will protect them from other Bataclans. My beautician. My doc. Some try to convince you, some don't. Some say outrageously racist things openly and sometimes I think I'm the only one bothered. Some aren't white but somehow feel Marine would set the scoundrels straight.

Traditionally who you vote for in France is highly personal, you don't tell your kids, you don't tell your friends. I feel it has changed, either out of anger or because of the example of the American election.

Anyway, now we have Macron, and the poor thing already got his life threatened by both Islamists and fascists.

You mentioned folks using the write in field or stuffing toilet paper in their envelopes and such, I honestly haven't the vaguest of clues as to the presence and nature of colour derivation within the French Republic

[Missy]

That's correct. Also, complete fabrication and outright lying is a part of that too, as well as denial of fact. The reason that lies and misinformation are a core feature of Nazism is because they use it as a political weapon, and it is also intended to serve as a smokescreen for the non-totalitarian (i.e. normal) world at large to hide their true intentions (and also a smokescreen for their inner members, thereby severing them from the normal world and sowing mistrust between them).

So Nazism is really a cult in practice then.

[Missy]

Russian interference in French elections confirmed. Putins really gogin for the divide and conqour angle no?

[Beguile's Mistress]

A news bulletin:  Trump fired Comey.

[Missy]

A news bulletin:  Trump fired Comey.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/james-comey-fired-fbi.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

[Lustful Bride]

Large outbreak of Measles reported in Minnesota, with some hospitals running short of the vaccine for children. :(

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/why-is-minnesota-experiencing-the-worst-measles-outbreak-in-nearly-30-years/ar-BBAWDFG?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

Its terrifying, with all of our medicine, all our healthcodes and specialists. All it takes is one bad bug to wreak havoc and remind us that nature is still the one with power over us.