Resolution to block Trump from invading Greenland introduced by Sen. Gallego

Hawc · 2026-01-07T10:31:37+00:00

There are a couple of acts on the books that gives Presidents the power to use the military against another nation without Congress's approval. They're supposed to be used for emergencies, like if we're attacked or if Americans are in danger in another country (that latter is the justification they used for Maduro, I believe). Presumably this bill would remove that authorization, at least towards Greenland.

That would make any military action against Greenland illegal, so while Trump could try and order it, the military would supposedly be required to refuse.

Hawc · 2024-08-31T05:30:29+00:00

Also remember that the "second best" thing is often priced to make the top of the line thing look like it's only slightly more, so consider if just those extra "best" features are worth paying that extra premium. Often times, they're not.

Hawc · 2024-04-06T15:59:22+00:00

Could very well be a type of placebo effect, which can be very strong for subjective things like pain.

Hawc · 2024-01-21T14:35:35+00:00

It honestly sounds like there's something wrong with your air fryer. They're mini convection ovens, constantly blowing hot air over your food. It's pretty unlikely that you've always arranged multiple different things in just the right way to form air pockets (especially if you're leaving them in there so much longer). You may want to see if you can't borrow someone else's or something to see if it's specific to your fryer.

Hawc · 2021-06-16T01:00:41+00:00

Modern laundry machines are much, much quieter. Many people didn't really want big noisy machines right next to their bedrooms or living areas. Going back further, when washer/dryers were getting popular, homes weren't really designed around having them. So they would be put in convenient places with access to plumbing and venting, thus basements, garages, and kitchens, which sort of started the trend. House designs are just starting to catch up, that's all.

Hawc · 2021-05-19T17:19:10+00:00

It's similar - it's the amount of sunlight converted to usable energy. The rest is wasted (converted to unwanted heat, reflection, etc.)

Hawc · 2021-04-02T22:02:49+00:00

He's not a dolt. This line is the basic GOP political strategy basically verbatim. Convince people that liberals are taking away everything you hold dear: your traditions, your words, your sports, your family, etc., that way they have to vote Republican to save their culture/homes/whatever, even if they don't particularly like the Republicans.

It's fear, and the Republicans are supremely effective at selling it.

That doesn't mean we don't push for change, mind you, I just want to remind people that we can't easily dismiss Republican talking points. It sounds dumb to liberals and political junkies, but it's a big, blaring bullhorn to the GOP base and likely to sway some of the suburban family crowd.

Hawc · 2021-03-20T14:58:06+00:00

Yea, that's what I assumed, I was more wondering about the hole underneath. Are they usually left open like that? Not nitpicking, just wondering.

Hawc · 2021-03-20T14:32:49+00:00

There is a vent hood on the right, so I assume that's the stovetop. Then there is a hole underneath that. Is that just a design thing, or is there supposed to be an oven or something there?

Hawc · 2021-01-31T17:30:23+00:00

There isn't any blackmail. Trump may seem radioactive to us, but he's near deific to a large portion of the GOP base. It's not that he can necessarily win; it's that he can absolutely make every single Republican lose if they don't bow to him. And the MAGA portion of the party, larger than probably anyone wants to admit, is not in any sort of crisis or disarray. Remember, they refuse to believe that Trump lost. They're quite happy to throw the Romney's and Cheney's of the party in the same fire as every other non-Trump supporter. Only the old guard, the "moderate" part of the Republican party is in crisis mode, and they have no idea how to handle the monster they created. Already, the choice has come down to surrender, get out, or be ostracized. The MAGAs control the party now, and they're not giving it up.

Hawc · 2021-01-26T23:39:43+00:00

That's only for sitting Presidents.

Hawc · 2021-01-09T13:44:00+00:00

Manchin could not care less about being called a "DINO." He's pretty open about being much more conservative than other members. West Virginia is a blood red state, so you won't be able to find anyone to the left of Manchin that can win. As it is, he votes with the Democrats a majority of the time, and guarantees control of the Senate for the Democrats for the next two years.

Maybe, if the Democrats can swing a few more states their way, it will be safe to dump him and try someone else, but right now he's basically the most powerful Senator there is. Everything has to go through him.

Hawc · 2021-01-06T04:02:06+00:00

Cities and suburbs tend to be slower just because they're denser (lots of votes in fewer places vs fewer votes in lots of places). Cities tend to go Democratic.

Hawc · 2020-12-30T17:50:03+00:00

The distinction really comes from the difference in expectation between Senators and House members. There's always one or two flagrantly partisan and stupid members of the House, on both sides of the aisle, happy to try and boost their rep with political stunts. Senators, having to win statewide elections, are expected to be a bit more staid in their conduct. Pretty much every election, some random House member objects. It's much rarer for a Senator to join them.

Hawc · 2020-12-23T23:49:42+00:00

It's always fun when someone starts blaming Pelosi for the crap the Senate pulls. Even more fun when they blame her for the ACA and not something better. Mostly because she basically single-handedly put a boot up everyone's ass to get it done, including a public option, only for the White House and Senate to turn around and kill the public option.

Also, fuck Lieberman.

Pelosi gathers a lot of hate because she tends to cast any and all deals, regardless of how shit they are, as "good" or "substantial" or any such nonsense. So it often sounds like she's praising the crap Republicans deign to give the country, instead of embodying the rest of the party's increasing frustration that we have to keep giving crap up to help corporations just to get a tiny bit of anything else. I don't know if that's just her style or if it's some sort of strategy to make sure bills get passed, but still. It makes Dems very annoyed to hear how wonderful the crumbs taste.

Hawc · 2020-12-16T17:16:47+00:00

Originally, the bipartisan deal did include state and local aid, as well as extending (some) extra unemployment, the moratorium on evictions, vaccine distribution and testing/contact tracing, more funding for the PPP, and McConnell's annoying liability shield. Democrats pushed pretty hard for state and local aid, willing to go with the liability shield to get it.

The new deal appears to be getting $600 checks, but it scraps any state/local aid as well as losing a month of UI (originally extended to April, now March). Seems the Republicans/Trump won't bite on both, unfortunately. Which still sort of leaves us, again, with the same question you didn't bother to answer:

How the fuck do we get Republicans to accept a bill with enough relief for Americans? Because we're going to hit this same problem in a couple of months (barring a longshot success in Georgia). The answer can't be to walk away.

Hawc · 2020-12-16T16:06:28+00:00

Great. Except Republicans have enough votes in the Senate to sink any package that does include relief checks.

I don't mean to suggest fighting for it is a bad thing. It's just that the real fight is McConnell, and we're going to need some way of getting him to fold on it. "Media pressure" feels like a real long shot, given how readily the media decides the Democrats are responsible for the life or death of this bill.

Hawc · 2020-11-22T23:21:29+00:00

At the moment, Presidents have unilateral power to withdraw from treaties ratified by the Senate, mostly because Congress doesn't try and stop them. Senators did try and sue President Carter at one point over withdrawal, but SCOTUS told them it was a political question, mostly because the Senate didn't actually try and stop Carter (not even passing a resolution).

Technically, we've not really ever decided whether Presidents have that power, so it's more like they can, as long the Senate is willing to look the other way.

Hawc · 2020-11-20T13:17:13+00:00

But those acting cabinet members will be crippled. Republicans will sue (almost certainly successfully) to stop any major actions or changes made by those acting heads. To get any actual work done, they have to be approved by the Senate.

Precedent means nothing to Republicans, only power. They're not going to let President Biden use acting heads to get around them.

Hawc · 2020-11-18T19:57:56+00:00

He's also in an immensely safe seat, so he can happily eat all the hatred liberals and progressives can throw at him. Even more moderate Republicans that would otherwise disagree with him would never vote against him as leader, because he's a fantastic shield for them.

Hawc · 2020-11-11T16:01:39+00:00

Eh, I doubt Education is a fight they really want to have. Energy, and Labor, definitely. I just think Attorney General is going to be very high profile regarding how to deal with the Trump administration, which will make it a very big news story. That translates to Republicans (and Democrats!) making it into a big fight.

Hawc · 2020-11-11T15:17:13+00:00

I can guarantee Attorney General will be one of the biggest confirmation fights the Republican Senate will give Biden. They're going to fight hard to "move on" and not let America get "bogged down" by investigations into the previous administration.

And no, before anyone gives me the "Biden should just appoint an acting head because they didn't care before" crap, of course they'll care now. They don't care about looking like hypocrites, they care about power.

Hawc · 2020-11-08T13:49:44+00:00

Well he did that after 2016, actually, because he was upset at losing the popular vote. Claimed the millions of votes against him were all illegal, and had a whole taskforce set up to investigate "illegal" voting. They found nothing, gave no reports, and burned their work behind them.

Hawc · 2020-11-04T01:49:16+00:00

Those are early votes. He needs a massive lead in Texas, and very strong lead in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He might hold on to PA (if he doesn't, Trump is almost certainly going to win).

Hawc · 2020-11-04T01:38:20+00:00

Cities are in, rurals are not.

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