[News] Post a D&D Picture

Previous incarnations of Cleveland/P&C/D&D have had an image thread, to handle political cartoons and other image-based stuff that doesn't belong in the general post-a-picture threads.

If any of them spawn an extended discussion, please spawn it off into its own thread. Replies to non-picture replies should take the form of a link pointing to a post on a different discussion thread.

And I shouldn't have to say it, but the images still need to abide by the rules.

Are there really people who didn't know this? To me the fact that the wealthy are far more protected by the justice system was a given.

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Sure, it's known. This event is shining a pretty glaring light on it I think. I'm really disappointed by the apathy and acceptance most of the country seems to have over this though.

Well then this example of how tiered our system it will depress you further.

I feel like if the committee found evidence of statutory rape, solicitation, etc. they should turn that evidence over to law enforcement.
Really there are two justice systems (at least two ) one for us and one for politicians.

IMAGE(https://preview.redd.it/it-was-only-a-matter-of-time-until-matt-gaetzs-house-ethics-v0-77o5vzl64m8e1.jpeg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=fd240d8135dadd3bce10c021180b8e2b4121691b)

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/y1zdq8K.png)

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IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/zvEPVGB.jpeg)

Further, why did the DoJ drop the investigation with no charges in 2023? They were successfully prosecuting people close to Gaetz and those people were cooperating. But IIRC DoJ prosecutors recommended against charging Gaetz himself and the investigation ended.

So, what's up with that? Does the ethics committee have evidence for things the DoJ doesn't?

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/LWOI5Oy.png)

Think elf on a shelf but... IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gff43eaXEAA3vtG?format=jpg&name=large)

IMAGE(https://i.redd.it/79dhrtf7wm8e1.png)

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My biofam lives in Arkansas. If it were independent, Trump would call it a shithole nation.

farley3k wrote:

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These need to be everywhere. Trump's the f*ck in charge, but the f*cks are running all over him. Having him get mad about it is a great way to undermine the collective f*ckery happening.

It would be amusing to me if this sort of thing is what brings about reasonable regulation of "AI", covering intellectual property violations and ludicrous resource use and whatever else I'm forgetting.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/4Z649qI.jpeg)

Sooner or later, one of them is gonna have a tantrum.

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I don't really want Democrats pandering to those folks. The union folks who chose to hurt themselves because it meant hurting minorities more. I hope they enjoy what they voted for.

strangederby wrote:

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The other perspective on that: Biden was basically the most pro-union president in history. If labor isn't going to reward that, all it does is signal that there's no point in trying to win their votes or consider their interests.

I'm not sure which I agree with, but I can see the argument for both.

The fact that most jobs in America either aren't unionized or have a union without real negotiating power should have told Dems that unions would stop supporting them.

Edit: And being the most "pro-union President in history" meant that he... what? Went to a few marches and didn't call the Pinkertons?

I think most every group will consistently vote for someone who loudly claims to support them, but doesn't, over somebody who quietly advances their interests.

Related though, there's a quote that floats around: "People won't remember what you said, or what you did, but they'll remember how you made them feel", and I've come around to thinking that's the right way to understand Trump. You can tell his supporters about how he lies, grifts, never made a healthcare plan, etc, but those things don't stick with them. What they care about is that he tells a simple story about how they're right and their team is gonna win, and they feel good after hearing that, and there's nothing more to it.

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

Edit: And being the most "pro-union President in history" meant that he... what? Went to a few marches and didn't call the Pinkertons?

Unions applaud ‘most pro-union president in history’ following Biden’s decision to end campaign

As president, Biden instituted reforms aimed at rebuilding the federal workforce, both increasing recruitment at federal agencies and restoring rights taken away during Trump’s first term in office. Shortly after taking office, he rescinded Schedule F, an abortive—though not abandoned—effort to reclassify tens of thousands of federal employees in policy-related jobs into the government’s excepted service, effectively making them at-will employees.

And he reversed course on the Trump administration’s scorched earth approach to collective bargaining, restoring unions’ access to official time, office space at federal facilities and mandating that federal agencies adopt a “permissive” approach to bargaining, requiring them to negotiate with labor groups on traditionally non-mandatory bargaining topics.

In a statement, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers National President Matt Biggs reiterated a common refrain under Biden—that he is the most pro-labor president in recent memory.

“From Day One in office, President Biden immediately rescinded anti-worker executive orders and policies at federal agencies implemented by the former administration,” Erwin said. “He restored labor-management forums, the Federal Labor Relations Authority and promoted union organizing and worker empowerment across the federal government. He ensured that the Office of Personnel Management passed regulations to protect the civil service from political corruption. He significantly raised pay for federal wildland firefighters and established a higher minimum wage for all federal employees . . . Thank you to President Biden for his commitment to working people and federal employees.”
"Throughout his tenure as senator, vice president and president, Joe Biden consistently championed the essential role of the nonpartisan civil service," said Doreen Greenwald, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "His presidency has been marked by actions that have fortified the workforce and the unions that represent them. In his first week in office, President Biden repealed the anti-worker, anti-union and 'Schedule F' executive orders. The Biden-Harris administration has taken action to increase labor union membership and protect the civil service to ensure federal employees can carry out their duties without fear of political reprisal. President Biden showed his commitment to the federal workforce, including the need for competitive pay to attract and retain talent within the federal workforce."

Biden Is the Most Pro-Labor President Since F.D.R. Will It Matter in November?

Inserting prevailing wage standards and other worker-friendly rules into domestic-spending programs is one of the reasons that many scholars and union officials have come to view Joe Biden as the most pro-labor President since Franklin Roosevelt, a designation he has proudly embraced.

But as the article title's suggest - it doesn't really matter. The rank and file voted against him anyway.

IMAGE(https://i.redd.it/8n098k2ud79e1.jpeg)

His new obsession with annexing foreign countries is weird and concerning. At first it just seemed like a lame joke, but now it’s getting disturbing.
Canadians don’t vote for a Prime Minister. That’s not how our government works. But, orange turd can’t be accused of understanding, well, anything.
Who is this annexing Canada business even for? Americans don't seem amused. His base doesn't seem particularly amused. Canada certainly isn't amused. He's he's just a senile old prick shouting into the void.

IMAGE(https://i.redd.it/wckfye7ag09e1.jpeg)

farley3k wrote:
UpToIsomorphism wrote:

Edit: And being the most "pro-union President in history" meant that he... what? Went to a few marches and didn't call the Pinkertons?

Unions applaud ‘most pro-union president in history’ following Biden’s decision to end campaign

As president, Biden instituted reforms aimed at rebuilding the federal workforce, both increasing recruitment at federal agencies and restoring rights taken away during Trump’s first term in office. Shortly after taking office, he rescinded Schedule F, an abortive—though not abandoned—effort to reclassify tens of thousands of federal employees in policy-related jobs into the government’s excepted service, effectively making them at-will employees.

And he reversed course on the Trump administration’s scorched earth approach to collective bargaining, restoring unions’ access to official time, office space at federal facilities and mandating that federal agencies adopt a “permissive” approach to bargaining, requiring them to negotiate with labor groups on traditionally non-mandatory bargaining topics.

In a statement, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers National President Matt Biggs reiterated a common refrain under Biden—that he is the most pro-labor president in recent memory.

“From Day One in office, President Biden immediately rescinded anti-worker executive orders and policies at federal agencies implemented by the former administration,” Erwin said. “He restored labor-management forums, the Federal Labor Relations Authority and promoted union organizing and worker empowerment across the federal government. He ensured that the Office of Personnel Management passed regulations to protect the civil service from political corruption. He significantly raised pay for federal wildland firefighters and established a higher minimum wage for all federal employees . . . Thank you to President Biden for his commitment to working people and federal employees.”
"Throughout his tenure as senator, vice president and president, Joe Biden consistently championed the essential role of the nonpartisan civil service," said Doreen Greenwald, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "His presidency has been marked by actions that have fortified the workforce and the unions that represent them. In his first week in office, President Biden repealed the anti-worker, anti-union and 'Schedule F' executive orders. The Biden-Harris administration has taken action to increase labor union membership and protect the civil service to ensure federal employees can carry out their duties without fear of political reprisal. President Biden showed his commitment to the federal workforce, including the need for competitive pay to attract and retain talent within the federal workforce."

Biden Is the Most Pro-Labor President Since F.D.R. Will It Matter in November?

Inserting prevailing wage standards and other worker-friendly rules into domestic-spending programs is one of the reasons that many scholars and union officials have come to view Joe Biden as the most pro-labor President since Franklin Roosevelt, a designation he has proudly embraced.

But as the article title's suggest - it doesn't really matter. The rank and file voted against him anyway.

Just like Biden claiming to have done more for Palestinians than any other president before, it's one of those things that are technically true, but only because of the situation we are in. Most of the things cited as Biden's pro-union efforts was simply stopping or undoing the anti-union stuff that Trump started, getting us back to where we were before Trump. That doesn't mean he was bad for unions, just not as good as his people like to claim. He f*cked over the railworkers but did handle the longshoremen strike well.

strangederby wrote:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/b4eAqKA.png)

The thing that's conveniently omitted in a lot of the talk about Sean O'Brian "endorsing" Trump by speaking at the RNC is that he asked to speak at both conventions, but the Democrats rejected his request. Iirc, they did so before the Republicans accepted, too, so him speaking at the RNC wasn't even a factor in their decision.

You have to reward the behavior you want to see. Biden moved in the correct direction, even if he didn't get to where we'd like him to be. The correct response to that is to support him and encourage him and his successors to do more. Teach them that moving left is rewarded electorally.

But it wasn't rewarded. It was punished. So what's the incentive for elected officials to move left now?

"Trust me, you'll get us when you're perfect (but not before(and 'perfect' can and will change before you get there))" is not a convincing argument.

Call me crazy, but I think politicians should do the right thing regardless of if they get rewarded for it.

You're setting a moral standard--and it's one that I agree with.

I'm arguing strategy.

Because we only get to offer our input every four years, it leaves them every opportunity to misinterpret what the reward or punishment is even for. How much of what Biden did that was good is enough to make up for screwing over the railworkers, or his support for the genocide in Gaza? If we decide that we should reward him for the good he did despite that, what's to stop him from thinking that it means he can do it again and people won't mind? In the end, this strategy winds up selecting for the wrong thing. Instead of moving them more and more left, it's gotten them to figure out the least amount they have to do in order for us to consider them the better option. And because the Republicans got dragged to their extreme right by the Tea Party & Trump, centrist Dems don't even have to move left any more to be the better option, they just have to continue being less bad than Republicans are. It completely negates the strategy of rewarding what you want to see when the alternative is always the destruction of democracy.

Stengah wrote:

Because we only get to offer our input every four years,

You're ignoring the local, state, and congressional elections. The folks in charge notice how those swing, too.

As I've said before. Try asking the train workers union what they think about him.