I generally feel I should be non-judgemental about these matters, but I can’t stop myself asking, what is WITH Gerry Adams’s hairstyle right now.
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Iran has jacked up fuel prices by 50% and has imposed fuel rationing, apparently “citing economic pressure US sanctions as its reason for doing so“. Wut?
Cue the organized protests that turn violent, because it’s so de rigueur.
Cue…internet blackout. Yes, 3 days of no internet to squelch the protests, which according to “official sources” has had the desired effect and “calm has been restored in the country”. Adorable.
More interesting was the link to an article about the increasing usage of intentional internet blackouts. Particularly of note is Russia’s supposed mirror intranet (my gross misuse of the word) :
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Regarding our convo just the other day about American politicians’ lack of give-a-■■■■ for the Constitution.
I mean, can’t we just get rid of them all? Why must we stop at Orange Man?
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Irony at it’s finest.
Steven Guilbeault, former green/left activist . (co)Founder of Equiterre could be Canadian Heritage minister.
… And the rage amongst Québec left is priceless!
Anyone with the slightness understanding of politics or the Liberal party knew he wouldn’t get the Environment but…
Heritage! 
Even better. Laure Waridel a well known social activist. Friend of Guilbeault and also co-founder of Equiterre posted her “outrage” on fb. Thing is, a few day prior to the election she “warned” against splitting the votes and thus putting the Conservative in power. A not so subtle way to tell the left to vote for the Libs.
(Who if you’re not familiar with Canadian politics. Only bear the name “Liberal” They’re not far left or anything. Just one of the two old main political party that happen to not be the Conservative.)
Anywhoo… The Bloc Québécois lost half a handful riding by a small margin and the backlash to her “ooutrage” is quite entertaining.
-edit-
Cuz you don’t want to end up with a bunch of green men?
I mean … un-experienced politicians! 
-Dad joke of the day.
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Good job USA
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The dude is talking outta two mouths…
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Is one of those moufs his butt?
I am, however, firmly on the side of ‘don’t ban this, bro.’
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Some of the shady operators definitely need to be shut down.
Those lung disease deaths among vapers? Turns out they were all using oil doped with vitamin E. Which is probably not terribly harmful in skin cream (not particularly beneficial either), needed in small doses via regular diet, but NOT something that’s been tested in lungs. But the initial results (autopsy and otherwise) now suggest that inhaling it is associated with potentially fatal damage to lung tissue.
“But it’s not regulated!” Doesn’t mean it’s safe…
“But it’s an approved additive!” But you’re not eating it…
“But regulations are bad!” Make your mind up…
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Shuttin’ down the slimy shadies isn’t the same thing as “BAN THEM ALL.”
But uh, it’s been my understanding that most - if not all - of those cases involved already-illegal vape stuff. So… We should make them moar illegaler or wot?
Oh hey, neat, look what Congress did:
Democrats are “just as responsible for warrantless surveillance as Trump and the GOP,” as libertarian-leaning Rep. Justin Amash (I–Mich.) tweeted yesterday.
Nearly every Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to fully reauthorize the Patriot Act through March 2020, extending the right of federal agents to use all sorts of secret surveillance against Americans.
That’s right: “At the same time that Democrats are holding impeachment inquiries to determine if President Donald Trump abused his executive power, they apparently have no qualms about letting him continue to spy on Americans,” as Reason’s Eric Boehm wrote yesterday.
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And noone was surprised. It’s almost impressive in a way how lasting and bipartisan one of the worst pieces of W’s legacy is. Honestly though, if you hadn’t been able to tell from the sarcasm, I pretty much lost all expectation of this being fixed in any reasonable timeline after the public indifference to the Snowden revelations.
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I miss the old days. Back when the GOP championed small(er) government, low taxes, and low spending. The days of yesteryear, when the Democrats were advocates of civil liberty, due process, and campaigned on repealing PATRIOT.
I mean, sure, neither party meant any of that, but at least they said it. Now, it’s sound bites, fart noises, and the Great Impeachment. ■■■■ me.
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The rant was due.
You remind me of Lewis Black. 
-edit-
They’re making top 10 (14) list of homeless people now?
Sick.
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You know, I can never tell with Carson if he’s trying to be tongue in cheek or is just deliberately aloof and obtuse, but either way, it’s good to know he’s out there at least pretending he knows what he’s talking about. I’m reminded of the Chris Rock quote “I don’t wanna live in a world where Tracy Morgan can’t say crazy ■■■■.”
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Sondland doing anything for anyone’s impeachment boners?
Feels like all the GOP’s witnesses have pretty much backfired on them, but they’re still getting all the talking points they want out there. Ken Starr backtracked and called it “the end” on Fox News today, but most conservative media seems to be still going with the “witch hunt” storyline with nothing to back up this “nameless whistleblower” except for all 7 people who have testified so far. I don’t know how much stronger the Democrat’s case" should" be, although some people are saying the Senate vote is going to be closer than people think as it’s rumored like big names like Pompeo are looking to jump ship on Trump.
Anyone have anything worth talking about there or are we all just expecting this to get punted up to the Senate and “nup’d” out of existence?
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I’m not making any predictions. I didn’t expect the kind of universal capitulation to Trump we saw from Republicans in the House when a vote was taken to formalize the inquiry rules. I’d honestly thought we’d see a significant split, and the results left me outright unnerved and dismayed.
I will say this has been an utterly bizarre saga though. We’re so far past expected impeachment and conviction territory that the politics surrounding it have taken on a surreal feel, as if they’re floating away from reality. Or maybe more like pondscum on water.
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Honestly, Today is the first time I’ve had any inkling that we’d get anything other than “Goes to senate who votes it down straight across party lines”.
The rumors about Pompeo and several Fox News talking heads coming out and just saying “No this is bad” gives me a little hope, but at the same time I’m trusting everyone to follow their own interests. I think individual Republicans might have more thinking to do than originally predicted if it’s looking this bad. Yes, the base is decidedly pro-trump, but it looks worse and worse every day, so for those (particularly in close races come 2020), it could be a worthwhile call to flip.
I’m not thinking the numbers are going to be close enough to matter though.
Keep in mind too, these minor hopes could just be… dust even by tomorrow. I’ve never expected anything out of the senate on this.
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To be clear, this has been the case in regards to such talk for a while now, albeit it has arguably accelerated. Which was why I found that vote so unnerving. Regardless, you’re right that it mattering is improbable, things could certainly change (in multiple ways), but the Senate is simply an extremely high bar in the current environment. That was true beforehand though.
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