[Group caught on camera pulling bear cubs from tree to take pictures with them]

56 minutes ago, Camacho said:

@Jazzy Jan

What absolute ignorant idiots.  That poor little bear cub was so frightened and would of been waiting for his mother to return.  This obsession people have of taking selfies all the time makes them stupid and idiotic to the extreme.  

[2024 U.S. Presidential Election]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:39 AM, Camacho said:

@Genevieve Vavance @Jazzy Jan she’s getting more paranoid and stupid 

 

It is frightening and infuriating to watch someone sink so far down the rabbit hole.  To think this woman once made a tv show that spoke to the working class in such a clever true way.    Now, she is a paranoid delusional crazy woman who supports and sides with a man whose values she would of once despised and spoken out about.  

[2024 U.S. Presidential Election]

On 3/30/2024 at 5:30 AM, svperstar said:

This.

Also, if you want to rely on polls, yesterday's Quinnipac poll has Biden at 60 percent with women and 35 percent with Trump, which is pretty damning considering how the female voter turnout has exponentially increased these last six years.

Although I am not American, as we see and hear about Trump all the time, everyone has an opinion on him.  The only people I know who like him are people that are notoriously hard right, are openly and proudly racist and are always whining about "The Woke"    I also have noticed that overwhelmingly women can't stand him.  I can only imagine how American women must feel given that he has helped take away their rights.  Surely there comes a time when having rights taken away from you is far more important that any misplaced ideology that does not even represent what people think anymore. 

[Biden / U.S. Politics thread]

On 4/1/2024 at 2:28 PM, Kurt420 said:

Trump shares video with image depicting Biden tied up in the back of a pickup truck

The former president has previously used violent images and rhetoric as he seeks a return to the White House.

Former President Donald Trump shared a video on social media Friday that included an image of President Joe Biden bound and restrained in the back of a pickup truck.

The 20-second video, which Trump indicated was taken Thursday in Long Island, New York, shows a truck emblazoned with "Trump 2024" and a large picture depicting Biden tied up and lying on his side.

Trump was in Long Island Thursday for the wake of fallen NYPD officer Jonathan Diller.

When reached for comment on the image in the video, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said, "That picture was on the back of a pick up truck that was traveling down the highway." Cheung also accused "Democrats and crazed lunatics" of calling for violence against Trump and his family, arguing that "they are actually weaponizing the justice system against him."

Cheung pointed to comments by Biden in 2018, before he declared his candidacy, when he said that if he and Trump were in high school he'd "take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him" if he heard him demeaning women.

Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler slammed Trump for posting the video.

"This image from Donald Trump is the type of crap you post when you’re calling for a bloodbath or when you tell the Proud Boys to ‘stand back and stand by,'" Tyler said in a statement. "Trump is regularly inciting political violence and it’s time people take him seriously — just ask the Capitol Police officers who were attacked protecting our democracy on January 6."

The White House referred questions about the video to the campaign.

Trump has previously used violent imagery and rhetoric, both in his 2024 presidential campaign and before.

On March 16, he vowed that there would be a “bloodbath” if he was not re-elected, while speaking about the economy. Last year, before his numerous indictments, Trump warned about "potential death and destruction" if he were to be charged in the Manhattan district attorney's hush money case against him.

He also shared an article on Truth Social that had an image of him with a baseball bat near Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's head. The post was deleted.

More recently, Trump used his Truth Social platform to go after Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the hush money case, as well as the judge's daughter after being hit with a partial gag order.

Trump faces four criminal indictments for charges related to allegations of election interference, mishandling classified documents and falsifying business records related to hush money payments. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-shares-image-depicting-biden-tied-back-pickup-truck-rcna145712

 

 

Surely Americans can see how unhinged, dangerous and revolting Trump is.  The fact that he still has so many followers is frightening. 

[Biden / U.S. Politics thread]

19 hours ago, Nightshade said:

She's a moron. It's been the Transgender Day of Visibility since 2009. Biden didn't invent it. Also, Easter moves dates every year. 

I can't handle the stupidity anymore.

Exactly.  Another idiot who is a disgrace to the people she claims to be fighting for.   Has every fact wrong and is crawling to the MAGA crowd who would detest everything transgender.  

[Alexey Navalny dies, murdered by Putin.]

So tragic. He is a hero. Putin is a monster

[Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicates after 52 years on the throne]

Mary Donaldson from Tasmania Australia is now the Queen of Denmark.    Australia has a great interest in the Danish royal family.  

[300 year-old world famous Sycamore tree is cut down overnight by vandals]

Cutting down a 300 year old tree - such a heartless, awful and useless thing to do.  Incredibly sad. 

[*FLUSHED* Dictator Trump / US politics thread 🚽]

23 minutes ago, KalamazooJay said:

Jazzy, I don't know. I just have no explanation for it. 

He has such an ironclad grip on such a large part of this country. I'm terrified to think of what he'll do in office if he wins again. 

Same here.  I think he is a compete ticking timebomb.  Just stunned at the grip he seems to have on the Republican party and how much support he still seems to command. 

[*FLUSHED* Dictator Trump / US politics thread 🚽]

On 9/6/2023 at 6:32 AM, KalamazooJay said:

I should've clarified that he's running a more traditional and disciplined campaign for DONALD TRUMP. And compared to 2016 and 2020, I think it's pretty undeniable that he's more focused. He's not savaging John McCain, not attacking the other Republican candidates, not Tweeting out word vomit about every petty thing, not attacking journalists like he was. So in this regard, I'd say he's more disciplined. 

Which is worrisome. 

There may be just enough voters who might say 'well,  he's not acting as crazy as he used too. Maybe this time will be different'. It's the same small crowd who voted for him in 2016 who thought he'd settle down once he got into the White House. If he can pull some of them back into his camp, then he wins. And I have NO DOUBT this term would be even more of a nightmare than his first. So, yes, I'm extremely concerned about the election next year. 

Do people not have an issue with the protests and storming parliament to overturn an election ?  What I find so staggering.   That is fascism to the dot.   I understand that people are conservative voters but there is a huge difference between being conservative and supporting fascism and crazy conspiracy theories.  

When I see Trump and the likes of Marjorie Taylor Green etc having support, it is like we have regressed back to the dark ages.  

[*FLUSHED* Dictator Trump / US politics thread 🚽]

I have hope that people outside the MAGA cult will reject Trump.  Americans always have held pride in their democracy and Trump and his cult like supporters have done everything possible to destroy democracy.  It would be insane to elect him back in as President and would be goodbye to their valued democracy.  

[*FLUSHED* Dictator Trump / US politics thread 🚽]

It is insane that this idiot still has supporters.   He is beyond a joke and a complete moron. 

[Gay Man Stabbed to Death for Vogueing]

Hate crimes are so disgusting and should never happen.  This is so heartbreaking and infuriating. 

[Titanic sub goes missing]

17 minutes ago, Bitch I'm Christian said:

Sorry everyone, what I meant to say is thoughts and prayers for the victims especially the misunderstood scientific genius who is in no way responsible for any deaths #bekind

@Bitch I'm Christian   you have nothing to apologise for - this entire thread has been civil and respectful. No one has been vicious here. You always are thoughtful too. 
 
I have been shocked at social media in this event. People hoping they die from agonising deaths and expressing that wish over and over. I have become so disillusioned with social media lately.  I used to enjoy Twitter years back but it is just full of toxic people who seem to enjoy suffering with glee and no context. 

[Titanic sub goes missing]

2 hours ago, San said:

Really unfortunate news. If death was always the ultimate outcome, I think it better for this to have happened rather than sitting there for days wondering if and when you will die.

The legitimate scientists/explorers on board died doing what they loved and understood the risks. For the curious wealthy, they probably didn't really appreciate the risks despite signing waivers. We sometimes follow people who are knowledgeable and assume that all will be OK. A fatal mistake here.

This sort of risk taking in the name of accelerating innovation is not new and they do it because they can, operating at the fringe outside of mandated regulations. You can take risks that affect only yourself, but dragging others into it who couldn't possibly understand what could happen is wrong.

Some of the coverage of this is painting a simplified picture of the technical aspects which is annoying. People read Xbox controller and assume this fact makes it all dodgy, when in reality it is perfect for its purpose, with the US marines/military readily using such game controllers in their own submarines and other activities because they are intuitive to use making operation safer. The comparisons to well established and understood submarines, which are immensely different to these deep sea submersibles, only travelling down as deep as about 500 m (not 4000 m +), is also ridiculous. The key problem here is the lack of certified testing for the most important and critical aspect of the vessel, and that is the pressure test - absolutely crazy when you understand the consequence of not being sure is catastrophic, which any basic risk assessment would have shown and which should have been made explicitly clear to any passengers.

Thanks for your posts San. You always look at all events both scientifically and with compassion.  

[Titanic sub goes missing]

Tragic news- always tragic and heartbreaking when people lose their lives.  One small mercy though is that it happened instantly as opposed to waiting in fear, terror and pain for their demise.  

[Titanic sub goes missing]

Imagine being in that situation.  It would be so terrifying - just laying there at the bottom of the ocean knowing you are going to die unless some miracle happens and someone can save you.  I feel terrified and stressed even thinking about it. 

 

[Fox pays settlement for lying about election fraud]

On 4/26/2023 at 12:58 AM, KalamazooJay said:

Tucker Carlson getting fired is huge. And you can't tell me he WAS NOT fired. He didn't even sign off of his own show and say goodbye to his viewers. 

I think there was probably A LOT of bullshit in those emails and texts from the Dominion lawsuit and it could've very well damaged him beyond repair with his cult like followers had it ever been published. It's well known to anyone outside the Fox News sphere that the guy is a total fraud and a fake populist. He comes from the Swanson chicken family so he's one of the most privileged White guys on the planet. A frat guy that never grew up. I'm sure they threatened him with whatever information that was recovered from all of that and forced him out. 

He'll land on his feet at some other batshit crazy network or start his own the way Glenn Beck did when he was fired. The positive is that any time one of these lunatics is fired - Bill O'Reilly, Beck, Lou Dobbs, Eric Bolling - they end up somewhere where their audience, clout, and influence is GREATLY diminished. The negative is that NONE of them ever really paid for their sins they way they should've. But America just a got EVER so slightly better without having that asshole spew his vile toxicity. I couldn't believe the nonsense he put out there regarding his obsession with WOKENESS, Trans issues, and especially his rewriting of history with January 6th. 

If there's a Hell, I hope he's down there shoveling shit for all eternity when he passes. 

 

23 hours ago, runa said:

Thanks for your input @KalamazooJay. I always appreciate to read your comments on American politics. Very enlightening.

This is what I find the craziest, right now : all these rich and white privileged males, spreading their bullshit, fake stories and hate everywhere, with thousands and thousands of followers... This is just insane. The 40-50 years old white male feels so threatened, that is so toxic.  

 

2 hours ago, KalamazooJay said:

Of course! Always love discussing politics in a civil and intelligent way. 

Yes,  love reading the comments on this section. 

 It is often so hard to understand how on earth so many in the USA seem to be completely hoodwinked by these absolute toxic fakes who peddle rubbish like Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones.   I see so many Americans talking about politics in a rational engaged way and so to then see others just blindly worshipping  these guys and believing all the lies that they spew out so jarring and strange. 

 

[Fox pays settlement for lying about election fraud]

I wish this had of gone to court.  Seeing Rupert Murdoch, Tucker Carlson and other fox news presenters on the stand having to admit they were deliberately lying about the election would of been so satisfying.  They knew they were guilty as emails, recordings proved it so to save face,  they payed the biggest payout ever.  Fox news should be taken off air as it is not news,  just propaganda and this proves it.  

Rupert Murdoch's Fox 'admits to telling lies' and settles defamation suit for $1.2 billion

The US judge overseeing Dominion Voting Systems' defamation lawsuit against Fox Corp and Fox News says the parties have reached a settlement, averting a trial.

Fox Corp and Fox News have settled a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems for US$787.5 million ($1.2 billion), averting a high-profile trial putting one of the world's top media companies in the crosshairs over its coverage of false vote-rigging claims in the 2020 US election.
 

The settlement was announced by the two sides and the judge in the case at the 11th hour, with a jury selected on Tuesday morning in Delaware and the trial poised to kick off hours later with opening statements.

Dominion CEO John Poulos called the settlement "historic".
 

"Fox has admitted to telling lies about Dominion that caused enormous damage to my company, our employees and our customers," Mr Poulos said in a statement.
 

"Nothing can ever make up for that. Throughout this process, we have sought accountability and believe the evidence brought to light through this case underscores the consequences of spreading and endorsing lies."
 

At issue in the lawsuit was whether Fox was liable for airing the false claims that Denver-based Dominion's ballot-counting machines were used to manipulate the 2020 US election in favour of Democrat Joe Biden over Republican then-President Donald Trump.
 

Dominion had argued that these on-air claims caused the company "enormous and irreparable economic harm".
 

"We acknowledge the court's rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false," Fox said in a statement that was read on air on Fox News.
 

"This settlement reflects Fox's continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards.
 

"We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues."

Fox has plenty of cash to pay for a settlement.
 

It committed another US$3 billion ($4.5 billion) to buy back shares in the first quarter after revenues beat estimates.
 

Fox Corp CEO Lachlan Murdoch told Wall Street analysts in February the company had about US$4 billion ($5.9 billion) cash on hand.
 

Dominion lawyers declined to answer questions about whether Fox News would apologise publicly or make reforms.

 

Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis, presiding over the case in Wilmington, had ordered a one-day trial postponement on Monday before another delay on Tuesday as the two sides hammered out a deal in private.
 

The deal spared Fox the peril of having some of its best-known figures called to the witness stand and subjected to potentially withering questioning, including executives such as Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old media mogul who serves as Fox Corp chairman, and Fox CEO Suzanne Scott as well as on-air hosts including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Jeanine Pirro.
 

The primary question for jurors was to be whether Fox knowingly spread false information or recklessly disregarded the truth, the standard of "actual malice" that Dominion must show to prevail in a defamation case.
 

In February court filings, Dominion cited a trove of internal communications in which Murdoch and other Fox figures privately acknowledged the vote-rigging claims made about Dominion on-air were false.
 

Dominion said Fox amplified the untrue claims to boost its ratings and prevent its viewers from migrating to other media competitors on the right including One America News Network, which Dominion is suing separately.
 

Fox Corp reported almost US$14 billion ($21 billion) in annual revenue last year.
 

"Fox's statement about the settlement makes clear that Fox acknowledges 'the court's ruling finding certain claims about Dominion were false," said Mary-Rose Papandrea, a constitutional law professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law.
 

"For many plaintiffs, a court holding, and admission by the defendant about falsity, are even more important than any actual money damages."

 

 

[*FLUSHED* Dictator Trump / US politics thread 🚽]

10 hours ago, Junior said:

 

Americans must find this idiot moron so embarrassing.  The fact people voted for her is just pathetic.  

[*FLUSHED* Dictator Trump / US politics thread 🚽]

On 4/1/2023 at 6:55 AM, Junior said:

 

[*FLUSHED* Dictator Trump / US politics thread 🚽]

 

[Australia Votes 21 May]

17 hours ago, swimtoshore said:

Not really a shock if you are paying attention, but the Murdoch and Costello media will portray it that way. Media coverage of the vote count on Saturday night was hilarious in its stupidity.

Voters were pretty clear - they reject corruption, climate change denial, transphobia, homophobia, and the persecution of other minorities by the right wing of the liberal party. the drumming up of a fake war with China (especially the large Chinese-Australian population in parts of Aston), and especially don't like helicoptoring in a fake candidate who pretends she understands the struggles of the constituents of the outer suburbs (she is a highly paid lawyer who lives in Brunswick, sat on the Melbourne City Council and who's husband is the national politics Editor of the hideous Herald-Sun - a right win rag that bashes Melbourne and Dan Andrews every day).

Mary Doyle - well done!

Spot on @swimtoshore

I had the misfortune to read Murdoch's Herald Scum today at work and the delusion is hilarious.  Andrew Bolt and Peta Credlin think that the Liberal Party need to go MORE right wing.  Then Andrew Bolt saying Ashton was only won by Labor because Daniel Andrews went to China for trade talks etc.  

Seriously, the whole of Australia is abandoning the Liberal party and all say for the same reasons.  Too many nutbag right wingers and their policies invading the party.  The right wing faction of the Liberal party taking over with the moderates all leaving.  

Like you said in your above post,  the climate change denial, transphobia and their obsession with calling everything "woke" as a so called insult just does not cut it with modern supporters of the Liberal Party.  They are not interested in any of that rubbish and seem insulted by it.  Hence. why they are leaving the party in droves.  The more they keep pushing this right wing agenda,  the more they will keep losing.  

[Australia Votes 21 May]

The Ashton By election result is yet another nail in the coffin for Dutton and the Liberal party.   Labor got home easily in a so called shock result as normally a safe conservative seat but Australians are proving that voters are turning away in droves from the far right that have taken over the Liberal Party.  So proud to be Australian at this time and also proves that Murdoch's shocking bias in the media does not cut through anymore. 

[Another day. Another mass shooting in America.]

1 hour ago, KalamazooJay said:

I've been consumed with work these last few months and haven't been able to post.....

The shooting at MSU hit extremely close to home. I spent my college years there with several close friends. I know exactly where the shooting took place and it's horrifying to think I walked those halls 20 years ago and to know people died on those floors. The night of the shooting, I spent my time texting numerous friends back and forth because their children were in lockdown. Children I spent time with and watched grow up. Kids I knew. 

When you know people who are involved in an active shooting in real time, it's a terrifying feeling. 

These shootings have taken a toll on my mental health. I honestly can't take watching the scenes from them anymore. 

Sorry that you are going through this KalamazooJay.  Understand totally how this all would be too hard to look at or even hear about.   Such a tragic loss of innocent lives. 

 I will never understand how people can become immune to mass shootings and deaths in their own country but too often I see people blaming everything else bar the fact that so many have assess to high powered guns.  As these mass gun shootings only regularly happen in the USA and no other country,  it is so obvious what the answer is but nothing ever changes which is so frustrating and heartbreaking.