Trump suggests delay to 2020 US presidential election

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Thursday July 30, 2020 · 3:47 PM PDT

2020/07/30 · 15:47

Surprising no one, Trump has made it official. It’s going to get ugly.

Donald Trump has suggested November's presidential election be postponed, saying increased postal voting could lead to fraud and inaccurate results.

What did Trump say?

In a series of tweets, Mr Trump said "universal mail-in voting" would make November's vote the "most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history" and a "great embarrassment to the USA".

Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump

End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump

He suggested - without providing evidence - that mail-in voting, as it is known in the US, would be susceptible to foreign interference.

"The [Democrats] talk of foreign influence in voting, but they know that Mail-In Voting is an easy way for foreign countries to enter the race," he said.

Mr Trump also said postal voting was "already proving to be a catastrophic disaster" in areas where it was being tried out.

COVID-19 reaches the Pacific Islands

TwoSolitudes

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Thursday March 19, 2020 · 9:20 PM PDT

2020/03/19 · 21:20

We have watched from this region with increasing concern as the virus has spread further and further around the globe. But for a time anyway, the Pacific’s relative isolation appeared to be working to its advantage. But in today's interconnected world nowhere is really isolated for long.

A few days ago news arrived that a confirmed case appeared in French Polynesia, then cases were confirmed in New Caledonia. Then yesterday a case was confirmed here in Fiji. The case in Fiji is an airline attendant, who had traveled to San Francisco and Auckland. Measures have been taken around the airports area, but of course it means that anyone on that flight or going through customs could have contracted it and taken it anywhere in the country.

Restrictions on gatherings of more than 20 people are now in place. Schools in the West (where the main airport is) are closed and pretty much all meetings of any sort have been cancelled.

The community here did engage in a bit of stockup buying, grocery stores and gas stations were packed yesterday, but so far at least no sign of any panic or desperation. This country went through a coup that shut everything down not that long ago, so there is some experience and little danger of shortages. Other smaller islands like Niue and Tuvalu who rely heavily on imports will have a rougher time as transport lines are reduced.

With all the major airports hubs in the region starting some serious or total (Australia) international travel bans, it means us expats are a bit stranded. Canada’s PM is calling Canadians home, but as the old joke goes- you can’t get there from here.

We have elderly parents living in Italy and Canada, but it is not wise or practical to return. Even if we could do it, seems like the best way to get COVID-19 at this point would be to go on a long trip through several major international airports. Thank goodness for Skype and Facetime.

Actions here are begin taken early, a lesson learned from watching others But if there is a major break out in this region it will be quite bad. The Pacific has a large elderly population and is the region with the highest rates of non-communicable diseases in the world. It’s also, like Italy, a very communal sharing place. Combine that with a limited number of hospital beds financially struggling health care systems and you have a recipe for potential disaster.

If you are planning a trip to the Pacific, for an anniversary, wedding, whatever- please cancel it. It will, quite literally, save lives.

Bula! And remember to wash your hands folks...

Silenced

TwoSolitudes

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Saturday September 29, 2018 · 9:58 PM PDT

2018/09/29 · 21:58

Bruce MacKinnon's editorial cartoon for Sept. 29, 2018. - Bruce MacKinnon

Something from my hometown paper in Canada. We are looking South in horror….

www.thechronicleherald.ca/...

Can you be Pro-Life and a feminist? Clinton says yes! "Absolutely!"

TwoSolitudes

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Wednesday April 06, 2016 · 12:59 AM PDT

2016/04/06 · 00:59

hmmmmm

Hillary Clinton told the women of “The View” today that although she is “pro-choice” on abortion rights, “of course, you can be a feminist and be pro-life.”

“Yes, I do, absolutely,” Clinton said during her first appearance on the show as a presidential candidate when asked by co-host Candace Bure if she believes someone can be both a feminist and against abortion.

abcnews.go.com/...

A pretty unfortunate turn of phrase. If you are ‘pro-life’ you are by definition seeking to judge and control what others- other women- can and can not do with their bodies. I find that pretty difficult to square with being a feminist.

Is this just an attempt to be anything to everyone, or is this something she really believes?

Interested to see what others think. Anyone know a pro-life feminist?

I think I would go with Jezeble’s view on this from a few years back:

Despite the mission statements of pro-life, conservative political action groups like Feminists for Life and the Susan B. Anthony List and Sarah Palin's repeated use of the F-word, there is actually no such thing as a "pro-life feminist." Sure, you can be a feminist and make a personal decision to never get an abortion. But who the fuck are you to actively work at taking away other women's right to make their own personal decisions about their uteruses?

You are not a feminist, that's for sure.

jezebel.com/...

RedState Front Page- Notice any trends?

TwoSolitudes

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday April 05, 2016 · 5:00 AM PDT

2016/04/05 · 05:00

These are the actual front page stories right now on RS.

Please don’t let this happen to the front page here...

No, Donald Trump Can’t “Burn It Down.” Washington Would Go On The Same. By: Dan McLaughlin (Diary) | April 5th at 04:00 AM | 5Of all the arguments made in favor of a vote for Donald Trump to be President of the United States, or at any rate the Republican nominee, probably the most ...

Sean Hannity Just Doesn’t See Trump Staffer’s Alleged Assault By: Joe Cunningham (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 11:18 PM | 19

By now, it’s fairly well-known that Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s top guy in the campaign, has been accused of assaulting Michelle Fields, a Breitbart journalist, at a

Democrat Group Files Criminal Complaint Against Trump for Offering Carson a Job in Exchange for His Endorsement By: Sara Gonzales (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 09:41 PM | 13

Several weeks ago, shortly after Ben Carson endorsed Donald Trump, he made a shocking admission. Carson told NewsMax TV he had been promised a spot in

Trump Open to General Election Contributions By: Susan Wright (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 08:30 PM | 18

Well, so much for self-funding. It’s not that Donald Trump has ever, truly been “self-funded.” The reality of his campaign, in direct opposition of what his cultists are

Is Trump About to Lose His Fourth State in a Row? By: Leon H. Wolf (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 08:00 PM | 28

What you are experiencing right now is called Trumpmentum: it’s a lot like popularity, only with less people.* If you walk backwards in time, Trump has now

Trump Supporters Making Death Threats Against Michelle Fields (AUDIO) By: Leon H. Wolf (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 06:52 PM | 26

The Blaze is reporting that former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields has turned over to the D.C. police several death threats she has received from Trump supporters who

The Amazing Hannity/Trump Romance (VIDEO) By: Leon H. Wolf (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 06:00 PM | 25

Our good friends at the Washington Free Beacon have put together another awesome video. This one highlights the thrill Sean Hannity gets running up his leg

(AUDIO) Yet Another White Nationalist Group Makes Robocalls For Donald Trump By: streiff (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 05:30 PM | 15

The general sleaziness of Donald Trump’s campaign has been accentuated by his romance with white nationalist groups. Again one of these groups is making

POLL SHOCK. Donald Trump Leads by 10 Points In Wisconsin. Trump Says He Will Win By: streiff (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 05:00 PM | 33

Donald Trump lives by the polls, even the ones he has to make up, and the latest poll has him sniffing at the hindquarters of Victory in Wisconsin

Trump Gets A Whopping 5 Times More Airtime Than Cruz On Major Networks By: Brandon Morse | April 4th, 2016 at 04:30 PM | 8

Sick of seeing Donald Trump? Feel like other candidates, like Cruz, are getting the shaft? You have good reason to feel that way.

Trump Protesters File Lawsuit By: Susan Wright (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 04:00 PM | 7

In this litigious society, Trump, better than anyone, should know that the recklessness of his campaign, coupled with the insanity of his rallies would soon

Trump Claims He Has Info That Would Destroy Ailes and Fox News By: Brandon Morse | April 4th, 2016 at 03:30 PM | 18

Many may take this news as a large reason Trump is seeing so much favorability by the network.

Yet Again, Carson Publicly Embarrasses Donald Trump By: Sara Gonzales (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 03:00 PM | 19

Ben Carson has probably been the worst surrogate for any candidate ever. Since formally backing Donald Trump, it’s hard to say who he has embarrassed more:

Trump Takes a Brave Stand AGAINST Transparency in Government By: Leon H. Wolf (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 02:32 PM | 2

Nothing Trump does or says really qualifies as “shocking” or even “surprising” anymore, but if literally any other candidate said this, it would definitely qualify as

Delegates, Led by National Committee Members, May Leave Trump at a Contested Convention By: Dan Spencer (Diary) | April 4th, 2016 at 02:30 PM | 5

The fact that Cruz has outperformed the Trump campaigns efforts in Arizona, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina and Wyoming suggest Cruz is

They hate him...but they just can’t stop talking about him. I am not sure how much RS actually represents GOP voters a this point- but if the resistance is anywhere near as bad as this outside of RS, the Democratic candidate would have been caught on camera at a dog fight with the head if ISIS to lose the general.

I agree!

TwoSolitudes

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 07, 2016 · 5:27 PM PST

2016/03/07 · 17:27

I agree about how Clinton’s name recognition is the driving force behind her popularity in Dem circles, I don’t think that much has really changed today:

Hillary has the early lead based on name ID. But the more voters realize there are alternatives, the more they'll stray from Hillary. Since she has no room to grow (her negatives are huge), she has but one way to go -- down. And as she erodes support, and as other candidates gain on her, her support will crash as her cobbled-together old-school coalition turns on itself.

www.dailykos.com/...

I also agree that Clinton was out of touch and I think taking a stand that we should not be promoting failure is solid advice:

Not only is the Clinton campaign pig-headed, they are also remarkably out-of-touch. They are "surprised" at the anger this war is generating? Has she been living in a cave the last four years (yes, the Senate apparently is a cave). The last thing we need in the White House is another out-of-touch, tone-deaf Bush-style presidency, unable or unwilling to admit mistakes and change course as a result.

www.dailykos.com/...

Clinton cast a vote that has led to one of the biggest foreign policy disasters in this nation's history -- a vote that even cursory skepticism would've counseled against.

Most of the presidential candidates have gotten the "I fracked up the vote" stuff out of the way last year. It's not the most compelling tack to take -- if their judgment was so poor as to vote for the darn thing, why should we promote them. We talk about DC being a place where people fail upward. Do we really want to encourage that within our own party?

www.dailykos.com/...

I agree with the good point made here. People forget that the Iraq vote was followed up with an Iran vote which was just as bad. And I agree that it should be cause for great concern.

Clinton didn't just vote for the Iraq war and refuse to apologize for it, she voted to give Bush the same authority on Iran.

And if we want to talk about which party is the most grassroots-oriented, it's no contest. We've seen it in the caucuses, we've seen it in the netroots, and we saw it in the Iowa county convention this Saturday. The party's activists are busting their butts for Obama, while Clinton's campaign is counting on low-information Democratic voters selecting Clinton based on little more than name ID.

www.dailykos.com/...

She really didn't learn her lesson the first time. Is she seriously claiming that this resolution was really needed to "lay the groundwork for using diplomacy and sanctions"? What, was Condi Rice (remember her?) hamstrung on her ability to conduct diplomacy without Congress giving her the thumbs up?

Does she think her audience is that stupid? Apparently so.

www.dailykos.com/...

Hillary made mistakes, the biggest being her Iran vote -- suddenly telegraphing to everyone that she had not, in fact, learned her lesson from the Iraq debacle.

www.dailykos.com/...

I also fully agree with the idea that the only way to put pressure on representatives who are not living up to their promises is to let them know that their position can be challenged. I think that goes for presidents as well as congress and senate seats. Sort of like when Obama was threatened with a challenge…..

Well, we have one tool at our disposal, our only way to influence the behavior of our elected officials:

We can primary them.

…Let me say this is no uncertain terms -- our ONLY ability to influence the Democratic caucus in Washington D.C. rests in our ability to defeat them in their primaries next year. No other elections are more important for purposes of our movement (as opposed to the nation as a whole) than these two. If Dan Lipinski and Al Wynn hold on, it will tell other Democrats that they have little to fear from us. If we defeat them, it will put the entire caucus on notice that we can and will target them if they lose touch

You want better Democrats? Then get involved. You want leverage against the other Democrats? Then get involved. The alternative is more of the hell we've suffered this year -- timid but safe congressmen and senators who'd rather capitulate rather than fulfill campaign promises.

www.dailykos.com/...

I agree with this great point about how much trouble Clinton will have bringing over Independents- the key to victory. I don’t think this point has fundamentally changed.

Other than a statistically insignificant number of dead-ender malcontents, those undecided Democrats aren't going to vote for McCain.

Again, more evidence that Obama's upside is much stronger than Clinton's. It'll be far easier for Obama to rally the Democratic base than for Clinton to rally independents.

www.dailykos.com/...

And I agree that this final note is a pretty good summary of how many feel about Clinton,

In one of the threads last night, commenter theran made a good observation:

At some point the concept of "Republicans will do X" has turned into a license for Hillary to do all the same things. It's bizarre, but I don't really consider her a Dem any more.

Yup.

www.dailykos.com/...

Now I realize that these were different times, but we are still talking about the same person are we not? Nothing raised in these posts was wrong, or considered unacceptable. In fact it led to some interesting debates and resulted in lots of people doing more research on the candidates and the issues.

I joined this place in 2008 in part because it was one of the only places were alternative views WITHIN the democratic community were being aired. Electing BETTER democrats was an amazing stand to take but the best thing about this site was that it lived up to that slogan. Progressive candidates and ideas were given space, while establishment characters had their feet held to the fire to ensure that they stayed aware and responsive to more than just the money.

I am not a fan of Clinton and frankly I remain a bit stunned that she remains a viable presidential candidate for any democrat based on her history. However since it looks like she is the most likely to come through as the nominee, more than any candidate I can remember I think she needs to have strong unrelenting pressure from the left.

I would love to see her get to the convention and have some 30-40% of the floor pushing her. Make it clear that she needs to rethink her positions and adopt things that are going to be uncomfortable for many of her financial backers or face an embarrassing and devastating loss in the general. Somehow she needs to get all (or at least most) of the enthusiasm from the progressive opposition over to her side. Right now, I just don’t see it.

Close down the debate and let her sail in without pressure and I think you rolling dangerous dice, That is how you create tone deaf out of touch candidates, as well as apathetic democratic voters.

So there it is. To me all these quotes are representative of a fair critic and open debate that I have come to expect from this site. I hope that after the 15th we can also continue to have the same kind of arguments — from all sides. No crazy CTs, just an honest reflection of statements, actions, policy views. And please lets not be afraid to let some hot headed opinions into the mix, a little spice can work wonders.

The joys of pretending to help the poor: The Kiva Story

TwoSolitudes

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday February 11, 2014 · 2:35 AM PST

2014/02/11 · 02:35

"Kiva is the path-breaking, fast-growing person-to-person microlending site. It works this way: Kiva posts pictures and stories of people needing loans. You give your money to Kiva. Kiva sends it to a microlender. The lender makes the loan to a person you choose. He or she ordinarily repays. You get your money back with no interest. It's like eBay for microcredit.

You knew that, right? Well guess what: you're wrong"

I originally posted the quote above as a response to a diary about a project that one diarist had (or at least he thought he had) funded through Kiva.

The Kiva story is complex and in some cases quite mysterious. The organization has tapped into public’s desire to help through very slick PR and campaigning, but underneath that shiny coat of paint is the same rusted out old microfinance model that has been devastating to the poor all over the world.

The Next Billion site has recently published a more in depth look at Kiva (The Kiva Fairytale: It's a microlending superstar - but who is it really serving?) which is well worth reading in full. A few of the highlights follow below.

TwoSolitudes

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday February 04, 2014 · 1:14 AM PST

2014/02/04 · 01:14

That is the question being pondered (along with Biblical readings and an analysis on using the ‘Abortion Barbie’ attack as a successful GOP strategy beyond Texas) over on Red State. The post uses a few serious, and some very telling questions which were posed before the last election and revisits them to see if conditions have improved. The writer concludes that things have only gotten worse for the red team. Follow below for the gloomy GOP outlook…..

Poll

597 votes Show Results

Will there ever be another GOP President?

597 votes Vote Now!

Will there ever be another GOP President?

Not until we deal with the spinsters

72 votes

Not until we shut down hollywood

19 votes

Not until we ban data from the interwebs

162 votes

Don't we pretty much have one now?

344 votes

Connecticut passes toughest U.S. gun laws

TwoSolitudes

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday April 04, 2013 · 5:56 AM PDT

2013/04/04 · 05:56

http://www.usatoday.com/...

Of course you know what comes next....

Poll

8 votes Show Results

Connecticut gun laws mean

8 votes Vote Now!

Connecticut gun laws mean

Hitler

3 votes

Stalin

2 votes

Gay Marriage

3 votes

Why is this even close?

TwoSolitudes

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday October 16, 2012 · 3:01 AM PDT

2012/10/16 · 03:01

Sitting overseas watching the US election process leaves me truly baffled. How is this a close election? How is Obama and the Democratic party not poised to take both houses and the White House?

I work with a few Americans who as a group went to vote today. Most are Democrats, but a few are admittedly Republicans. That said, I could not find any who claimed that they would vote for Romney this year.

Maybe they were lying. Or just embarrassed.

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