Recent posts

#41

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by Zoupa - January 15, 2026, 08:17:40 PM

The DOJ, FBI and Congress have already failed. I guess all your marbles are on the november elections.

#42

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by Admiral Yi - January 15, 2026, 07:59:38 PM

It means you consider the only possible ways to influence Trump is to defer to things that he claims influences him, or behaves as such: bribes, or flattery - or perhaps the broken institutions he has subverted anyway.

This narrows the spectrum of politics to existing broken institutions, or to de facto monarchical politics.

I know you reject protests as a form of power, or leverage - so I won't get into that. But the result is that it leaves very little "ins" to politics, and abandons the idea that power belongs to the people, however ethereal that may seem.

To make an analogy, in 1774-1775, one could certainly argue (and many did) that the best way to solve the American crisis was to send lobbyists to the king; others, could certainly argue (and many did) you had to work with the corrupt British Parliament. None of these options took very seriously the idea that power belongs to the people, which certainly constrained what were deemed acceptable, possible, or legitimate actions.

If by "the broken institutions he has subverted anyways" you mean things like the DOJ, FBI, Congress, and the electoral system, then yes, you are right.  If all those things fail to save us, our only options are civil war/political violence, or people power style mass demonstrations.

#43

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Valmy - January 15, 2026, 07:57:52 PM

From Stefan Müller

To all ICE officers: You have federal immunity in the conduct of your duties, and anybody who lays a hand on you or tries to stop you or tries to obstruct you is committing a felony. You have immunity to perform your duties, and no one—no city official, no state official, no illegal alien, no leftist agitator, or domestic insurrectionist—can prevent you from fulfilling your legal obligations and duties. The Department of Justice has made it clear that if officials cross that line into obstruction, into criminal conspiracy against the United States or against ICE officers, they will face justice

He talks about laws and justice while saying the law does not apply.

#44

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by Legbiter - January 15, 2026, 07:46:01 PM

Best one so far. 

#45

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Oexmelin - January 15, 2026, 07:18:40 PM

From Stefan Müller

To all ICE officers: You have federal immunity in the conduct of your duties, and anybody who lays a hand on you or tries to stop you or tries to obstruct you is committing a felony. You have immunity to perform your duties, and no one—no city official, no state official, no illegal alien, no leftist agitator, or domestic insurrectionist—can prevent you from fulfilling your legal obligations and duties. The Department of Justice has made it clear that if officials cross that line into obstruction, into criminal conspiracy against the United States or against ICE officers, they will face justice

#46

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by crazy canuck - January 15, 2026, 06:57:17 PM

The important thing is shareholder value was increased.  Results are irrelevant

#47

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Tonitrus - January 15, 2026, 06:47:25 PM

But possible. We have to gain four with JD Vance around.

Even if the Dems only tie it, that could be incredibly useful...forcing JD to sit his ass in the Senate most of the time could be a good thing.  Keeps him out of trouble elsewhere, and brings the chance to put him on the record/keep him in the spotlight on lots of issues he might rather avoid ahead of a Presidential primary.

#48

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by Legbiter - January 15, 2026, 06:43:55 PM

Probably the biggest consequence is totally demoralizing the Independence Party, the center-right bulwark of local politics. The pipe-smoking, boring line-go-up pro-American force in local politics.

#49

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by Oexmelin - January 15, 2026, 06:42:53 PM

It means you consider the only possible ways to influence Trump is to defer to things that he claims influences him, or behaves as such: bribes, or flattery - or perhaps the broken institutions he has subverted anyway.

This narrows the spectrum of politics to existing broken institutions, or to de facto monarchical politics.

I know you reject protests as a form of power, or leverage - so I won't get into that. But the result is that it leaves very little "ins" to politics, and abandons the idea that power belongs to the people, however ethereal that may seem.

To make an analogy, in 1774-1775, one could certainly argue (and many did) that the best way to solve the American crisis was to send lobbyists to the king; others, could certainly argue (and many did) you had to work with the corrupt British Parliament. None of these options took very seriously the idea that power belongs to the people, which certainly constrained what were deemed acceptable, possible, or legitimate actions. 

#50

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by Legbiter - January 15, 2026, 06:38:28 PM

Legbiter, how is the "Iceland as the 51st state" joke from the incoming US ambassador being received in Iceland?

About as well as you'd expect. US ambassador formally summoned and asked to clarify these remarks. Angry statements at the Althing, loathsome antediluvian commies dredged up from the bowels of the earth by the media to say in a creaky voice that they're finally vindicated(!), petition to deny his credentials, the works.

Mind you, he's still an improvement over the mentally unstable dermatologist donor Trump sent us last time.

'Edit* He said Iceland would become the 52nd. state after Greenland.