What's in the news?

[Nachtmahr]

No, it's not just you. There is a certain element of "I just followed orders" to this. But the people who have to deal with this mess are really stuck between a rock and a hard place so I have some sympathy for them.

Well, my heart goes out to anyone who's stuck in a situation like that, especially given the harsh rhetoric towards opponents of Trump's more extreme policies. That being said, the idea of a government slowly going rogue, possibly with armed enforcers backing it, is terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. I genuinely worry about the potential outcomes once these sorts of things start happening more and more. When one police department embraces these sorts of ideas, and another does not, etc.

Ugh, this is just one nightmare after another, and we've barely gotten started!

As a European, my hope right now is that Trump's right-wing overreach might deter undecided voters here from heading in the right-wing populist direction, or that it might force said right-wingers to soften their stances, or appear hypocritical as they disown Trump.

[Beguile's Mistress]

Strictly speaking, the last one on the list isn't true. He left the option open, but didn't actually commit to saying he wanted it or was going to do it.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/nov/24/donald-trumps-comments-database-american-muslims/

Only pointing this out because he's got enough truly frightening parallels that can be confirmed, like the rest of the list. Adding inaccurate/unconfirmed things is a wedge by which his supporters can try and discredit the true bits.

I understand your reasoning and agree with it in part.  One frightening thing about Trump is that when pushed to the wall he won't confirm or deny.  He dances around the question and avoids giving an answer then days or weeks later turns around and does exactly what it was supposed to sound like he was denying he would do.  If you have a chance to listen to everything he says you come away with the idea that all Muslims (or as he says it Moozlums) should be registered and that this would have to be shown on identity cards in some way.  Following that I keep having visions of some horrible event that causes a resurrection of something resembling Executive Order 9066.

[Mithlomwen]

I apologize for what is probably a really stupid question.....

But if he was/is to be impeached (which I'm praying for at this point), what would be the most likely excuse for doing such?

[gaggedLouise]

Apparently this cartoon is a full year old (from the Toronto Globe and Mail), but it feels disturbingly timely. Or even a bit ahead of its time now, which is scary. Surely Trump secretly wants to be a glorious commander in chief, too?

[Cassandra LeMay]

I apologize for what is probably a really stupid question.....

But if he was/is to be impeached (which I'm praying for at this point), what would be the most likely excuse for doing such?

American constiutional law is hardly my specialty. ... I guess a case could be made for a violation of the Emoluments clause, thanks to him not completely divesting himself from his business interests. That might fall under the mention of bribery in Article II, but the key point seems to be "...other high crimes and misdemeanors", which seems not to be defined in the Constitution. In a way, Congress can define what is a "high crime or misdemeanour" that is impeachable when it is faced with the question.

So no, it's not a stupid question at all. It is just a question that no one has a real answer to because it has never been really tested in practice. There just is no list of what is - or is not- impeacheable, far as I can tell.

[Teo Torriatte]

I apologize for what is probably a really stupid question.....

But if he was/is to be impeached (which I'm praying for at this point), what would be the most likely excuse for doing such?

Realistically the first thing that needs to happen is for the Senate to turn Democratic in 2018. I don't see the republicans in the Senate suddenly growing a conscience no matter what Trump has done or will do in the future that merits impeachment.

[Beguile's Mistress]

I apologize for what is probably a really stupid question.....

But if he was/is to be impeached (which I'm praying for at this point), what would be the most likely excuse for doing such?

Much of the talk right now, before the whole refugee banning issue came up, centers around his violating the constitution by keeping his hand in his business in spite of saying he was turning them over to his sons to run.  Also, his companies have been receiving money from foreign governments.  This is why it was brought up the other day that he is not banning refugees or immigrants from countries where he or his companies do business even though they are also a source of possible terrorist activity. 

I'm sure there are forces working in DC to compile a list of violations he has made to use as leverage against him in some way. 

[Beguile's Mistress]

Realistically the first thing that needs to happen is for the Senate to turn Democratic in 2018. I don't see the republicans in the Senate suddenly growing a conscience the cojones no matter what Trump has done or will do in the future that merits impeachment.

[Valerian]

American constiutional law is hardly my specialty. ... I guess a case could be made for a violation of the Emoluments clause, thanks to him not completely divesting himself from his business interests. That might fall under the mention of bribery in Article II, but the key point seems to be "...other high crimes and misdemeanors", which seems not to be defined in the Constitution. In a way, Congress can define what is a "high crime or misdemeanour" that is impeachable when it is faced with the question.

So no, it's not a stupid question at all. It is just a question that no one has a real answer to because it has never been really tested in practice. There just is no list of what is - or is not- impeacheable, far as I can tell.

There's a lawsuit pending against him right now for violating the emoluments clause, though it's still very much up in the air how that will turn out.

The problem is that he's done several things already that could be grounds for impeachment, but as long as the GOP controls the House and Senate in impeachment is highly unlikely.  They would have to vote against a fellow Republican (however distasteful or however recently he's turned Republican) and pretty much all of them aren't likely to do that.

As mentioned, the best chance is to throw everything we've got at the 2018 elections and hope the Democrats can get enough seats.  That is also unlikely -- Democrats are notorious for not voting in midterm elections, for one thing -- but more probable than impeachment, and it would give he who shall not be named some actual checks and balances to deal with.

[Cassandra LeMay]

As mentioned, the best chance is to throw everything we've got at the 2018 elections and hope the Democrats can get enough seats.  That is also unlikely -- Democrats are notorious for not voting in midterm elections, for one thing -- but more probable than impeachment, and it would give he who shall not be named some actual checks and balances to deal with.

In a normal year I would not give the Democrats a chance to win a majority in either the House or Senate in 2018. The electoral map is just not in favor of them. They are defending a bunch of seats in compettetive states that they need to hold, just to stay a relevant minority in Washington. Republicans, on the other hand, just need to hold on to what they have. For the Dems to get any power in Washington they'd need a major upset. But... that is the concentional wisdom, and we've see that turned on its head a couple times already since Trump entered politics. Maybe... just maybe he will upset things again.

[TheGlyphstone]

Realistically the first thing that needs to happen is for the Senate to turn Democratic in 2018. I don't see the republicans in the Senate suddenly growing a conscience no matter what Trump has done or will do in the future that merits impeachment.

As I've said, I'm not convinced a conscience is necessary. They'd much rather have Pence as the top dog anyways, so if he gives them an ironclad excuse to put their preferred candidate in the Oval Officer, they might jump at it.

[Mithlomwen]

That is also unlikely -- Democrats are notorious for not voting in midterm elections, for one thing -- but more probable than impeachment, and it would give he who shall not be named some actual checks and balances to deal with.

Well....maybe all that's transpired will be incentive to get out and vote this time?  *is trying to remain hopeful*

[Beguile's Mistress]

Two theories about why Steve Bannon midwifed such a bad executive order

The question was asked if it was incompetence due to a lack of experience or malice.

[Valerian]

Well....maybe all that's transpired will be incentive to get out and vote this time?  *is trying to remain hopeful*

If the midterm elections happened next week, there would be a landslide of votes for Democrats.  The problem will be keeping the outrage at a steady burn long enough.  I'm mostly afraid everyone will be exhausted by then, but fingers crossed.  A lot of people who never really called themselves activists are becoming just that, and with any luck they can keep things going.

[Avis habilis]

But if he was/is to be impeached (which I'm praying for at this point), what would be the most likely excuse for doing such?

Good question. An equally good question though, I think, is "if impeached would he leave?"

He's got an armed law enforcement agency refusing to follow judicial rulings already. He's working from the Nixonian premise that whatever the President does is legal because it's the President who did it. It's by no means certain that even if impeached he wouldn't just say "I reject your reality & substitute my own."

[Sara Nilsson]

If the midterm elections happened next week, there would be a landslide of votes for Democrats.  The problem will be keeping the outrage at a steady burn long enough.  I'm mostly afraid everyone will be exhausted by then, but fingers crossed.  A lot of people who never really called themselves activists are becoming just that, and with any luck they can keep things going.

This is the danger right there. In todays world we tend to react furiously when something happens but a few weeks later no one even remembers it as another thing has people outraged. Hopefully this time people will remain active so we can change the power dynamics in 18

[Trigon]

Two theories about why Steve Bannon midwifed such a bad executive order

The question was asked if it was incompetence due to a lack of experience or malice.

There is also the possibility that it could be both due to malice and incompetence. Indeed, the two can often be found together.

Whatever Bannon's long term plan is, we must also keep in mind that it apparently included rallying behind a reality TV star.

[Nachtmahr]

If the midterm elections happened next week, there would be a landslide of votes for Democrats.  The problem will be keeping the outrage at a steady burn long enough.  I'm mostly afraid everyone will be exhausted by then, but fingers crossed.  A lot of people who never really called themselves activists are becoming just that, and with any luck they can keep things going.

As soon as election night, we saw a proverbial fireworks display of grassroot movements and activist networks springing to life. Protests were arranged, news was spread, all of that stuff. To keep that fire stoked for a year and a half might seem like an incredible challenge in virtually any other scenario, but if there's ever going to be a time where the left rises and reclaims it's dwindling relevance in the world, then this is it.

Not that I want to do a whole "Hearts and Minds!"-thing right, right now, but I don't recall seeing so many passives suddenly choosing a side. Ironically, the fact that Trump has been elected, and that everything seems to be in free-fall, might be what truly starts inspiring some real hope in people. It's not just more of the same, fighting for less corruption, etc. This is a genuine battle for our rights, and for real democracy.

I could probably go on like this, but I'd just trail off into a speech fit for a Metal Gear game, but I don't think people will just forget that Trump is in the oval office. If all the major players on the left fall back into cowardly complacency, tempted by greed, then all hope really is lost. Bernie Sanders won't be around forever, and it would be such a sadness to see his efforts go to waste.

Maybe I'm just feeling particularly passionate, or maybe it's because posting here is the closest thing I have to a voice in this matter, but I do believe we can get out of this okay.

[Anteros]

Tabloid Tells Abusers How to Exploit Russia's Decriminalization of Domestic Violence: https://globalvoices.org/2017/01/31/russian-tabloid-tells-abusers-how-to-exploit-russias-decriminalization-of-domestic-violence/

[Trigon]

Trump has now made his Supreme Court justice pick, Neil Gorsuch: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/us/politics/supreme-court-nominee-trump.html?_r=0

Now the countdown begins; in a few short months, the Supreme Court will soon become the Kangaroo Court. Together with the Congress and the Executive Branch, the Judicial branch is now set to lose all legitimacy!

[Beguile's Mistress]

Judge Gorsuch was installed into his current seat by a unanimous vote of Congress.  It is to be hoped that the man who achieved that endorsement back then is still the same man today.

[midnightblack]

This is what our boys have been up to last night:

Romanian government decriminalizes some graft offenses

They basically dismembered the penal code, making it harder or even impossible to carry out investigations in cases going from basic administrative corruption and up to terrorism or drug trafficking. The rule of law in my little country hasn't been under such an assault since the communists took over, back in 1947. I begin to believe that the wound they carved back then will never heal, in spite of the rays of hope we've seen in the last years.

There is something good to be learned from all this. If you live in a democracy, remember to always uphold your civic duties and to constantly educate yourself. The people you put in charge of your life will mirror that same level of interest and involvement that you yourself have shown.

[Lustful Bride]

Fighting occurs in Eastern Ukraine.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/heavy-fighting-continues-in-eastern-ukraine/ar-AAmu8SZ?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15


China plans to destroy ancient Buddhistcity to get access to copper resources below it.

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/01/china-to-destroy-ancient-buddhist-city-to-mine-copper.html

I feel like the site should be under UNESCO protection.

[ShadowFox89]

China wouldn't care.

[AmberStarfire]

I was having a read of this (it's a hell of a lot of students):
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/dating/sugar-babies-100000-aussie-students-have-signed-up-to-find-a-sugar-daddy/news-story/b2874068fc3df08d20b8e7dae88ac9c4

I know a lot of people wouldn't agree with my viewpoint, but I find that offputting.

What's interesting is most Australian students don't have to pay to study at university upfront. You can take on a debt that you repay when you're earning over so much per year and most courses seem to be included in that (even graduate courses). Most students get some government support while studying there as well, including rent support (I know because I did), but a lot find it necessary to take on a job.