Random Politics Thread

[Honeydew]

This is a thread for various political topics that don't necessarily warrant their own thread. Please refrain from posting off-topic fluff.

[Honeydew]

I'll go first.

The NYT just released a bombshell report about new sexual misconduct allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

New Sexual Misconduct Allegation Against Brett Kavanaugh Emerges: NYT

A New York Times investigation into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s time at Yale University has uncovered another allegation of sexual misconduct that was previously unreported. Max Stier, a Yale classmate of Kavanaugh in the 1980s, reportedly said he saw Kavanaugh with his pants down at a dorm party where his friends pushed his penis into the hand of a female student. Stier notified senators and the FBI about the incident but it was not investigated, according to the Times, which cited two officials who have spoken to Stier about his account. Stier’s story echoes that of Deborah Ramirez, who came forward during Kavanaugh’s confirmation process alleging that he had pulled down his pants and thrust his penis at her during another party.

During his Senate testimony, Kavanaugh, who has denied the sexual misconduct allegations against him, said that if Ramirez’s story were true, it would have been “the talk of campus.” The Times cites several people who had indeed heard of the incident, with two classmates saying they had heard about it from fellow classmates just days after the party occurred. Any investigation into Ramirez’s account had strict limits set by the Republican-controlled Senate. Of the 25 individuals that could corroborate Ramirez’s story, and who were directly provided to the FBI by her legal team, none were interviewed.

Democratic presidential candidates call for Brett Kavanaugh’s impeachment after new allegation

"I sat through those hearings. Brett Kavanaugh lied to the U.S. Senate and most importantly to the American people. He was put on the Court through a sham process and his place on the Court is an insult to the pursuit of truth and justice.

He must be impeached." -Kamala Harris

"Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation is a shame to the Supreme Court. This latest allegation of assault must be investigated" -Julian Castro

"Last year the Kavanaugh nomination was rammed through the Senate without a thorough examination of the allegations against him. Confirmation is not exoneration, and these newest revelations are disturbing. Like the man who appointed him, Kavanaugh should be impeached." -Elizabeth Warren

"Yesterday, we learned of another accusation against Brett Kavanaugh—one we didn't find out about before he was confirmed because the Senate forced the F.B.I. to rush its investigation to save his nomination. We know he lied under oath. He should be impeached." -Beto O'rourke

"I strongly opposed him, based on his views on executive power, which will continue to haunt our country, as well as how he behaved, including the allegations that we are hearing more about today" -Amy Klobuchar

[anticlimatic]

Guess I'll go second...

New York Times Correction Undermines Brett Kavanaugh Story

[asynartetic]

There's an interesting interpretation of the Constitution some have made that impeachment may not be the only means of removing an appointed judge from office.

One need look at Article III, Section 1:

Article III | U.S. Constitution | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior...

The problem is that the Constitution doesn't really state how to remove a judge without impeachment proceedings.

[asynartetic]

Why don't republicans just come out and admit they're protectionists and don't care about free trade or the free market?

[Jaguar]

How George H.W. Bush pushed the United States to embrace free trade

In the obituaries, George H.W. Bush is remembered as the president who oversaw the collapse of the Soviet Union. But the leader, who died this weekend, had another major foreign policy achievement: He was a champion of free trade and a key architect of globalization, a legacy in danger under the Trump administration. Bush saw trade as a tool for increasing international cooperation and peace, and he advocated for a liberalized economy.

https://beta.washingtonpost.com/worl...?noredirect=on

Former US president George W. Bush is urging Americans not to give up on free trade

Former US president George W. Bush told Americans who voted for Donald Trump that he understands their frustration, but asked them not to take it out on international trade. “I understand anger,” he said today (Nov. 15) in Dallas at a gathering of the North American Strategy for Competitiveness, a pro-trade group. “But anger shouldn’t drive policy. What needs to drive policy is what’s best for the people who are angry and how does that benefit people in our country and the countries in the neighborhood.”

Former US president George W. Bush is urging Americans not to give up on free trade or NAFTA — Quartz

[Jaguar]

Thanks, Beto. We need to debate an assault-weapon buyback.

https://beta.washingtonpost.com/opin...b0b_story.html

[asynartetic]

For all intents and purposes, the current Republican President is a protectionist and anti-free market, anti-free trade. The 90 or so percent of elected republicans who widely support his policies are by extension protectionists, as are the Republican voters who still support Trump. Whatever they claim to believe on free trade and free markets doesn't matter as long as they continue to back a President who directly opposes those principles. So platitudes from ex-Presidents are nice, but they really don't amount to much.

[Jaguar]

Does the lying ever stop around here? No.

[Jaguar]

John Kasich on Twitter: "Republicans need to stand up for what they believe in: the rule of law, free trade, balanced budgets, NATO, sensible immigration reform that keeps families together. If Republicans don’t, you will lose in November.