286437714's recent activity

  1. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of July 6 in ~society

    286437714
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    Thank you, nukeman. I often mean to tell you how much I appreciate your contributions but by the time I remember the conversation has moved on. That's a really good point. I read a biography of...

    Thank you, nukeman. I often mean to tell you how much I appreciate your contributions but by the time I remember the conversation has moved on.

    That's a really good point. I read a biography of Washington last year (which I'd recommend) where he was very shocked at how quickly the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans split and became vitriolic. With hindsight it's easy to say he was naive, but as you say, very early days.

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of July 6 in ~society

    286437714
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    The 2/3rds senate vote removal and 'we were supposed to update this stupid constitution more often that we did' bring up an interesting, other, question. Please don't feel like you've gotta...

    The 2/3rds senate vote removal and 'we were supposed to update this stupid constitution more often that we did' bring up an interesting, other, question. Please don't feel like you've gotta answer, I know you're CEO of AmericaFacts™ and it's high season.

    Did the original powdered wig people, and then the subsequent ammenders in the 19th century, believe a two thirds majority would be achievable more than it is now?

    Sorry about the wording, I'm struggling a bit today. But whenever someone brought up the two thirds majority thing for Trump 1's impeachment, people seemed to dismiss it as laughably unlikely. So I'm wondering if even the cut-throat hard-line party politicians of the post-Civil War era thought that one of the conventions was: 'We put aside party voting when things are extremely serious.' For example, a senator is being wheeled in and out of the chamber and is nonverbal due to a brain bleed outside of their control, for some reason there's no power of attorney, surely we can all agree to vote for removal to start the vacancy filling process?

    I suppose another example would be 'the President is commiting a lot of crimes fairly openly'. But there are a bunch of issues where a 2/3rds majority vote would be required. Sure, a lot of that would depend on how contentious the political issue is, but I suppose the heart of my enquiry is 'Why did the patches dry up for Constitution.file.final.final.edited.cleared.final.DONE'? And part of that question is I guess 'why has the concept of a 2/3rds majority become so impossible in 2026'?

    That's more of a history question, but I think some of it speaks to the current day. It seems like the Trump presidency one was a bit like a test run to see where the vulnerabilities are, and the second one is deliberately exploiting them. Once they're found, the 'patch' could be an amendment to the constitution: elder abuse against senators being one of them, supreme court capture might be another, etc. But I don't see anyone on either side of American politics proposing the idea of patching the Constitution anymore.

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of July 6 in ~society

    286437714
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    Thanks for the concrete example. That's terrifying.

    Thanks for the concrete example. That's terrifying.

    1 vote

  4. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of July 6 in ~society

    286437714
    Link Parent
    I think so, yes. I'm not really asking you to do research on this so feel free to not answer if you don't know off the top of your head, but: What normally happens when a Congressperson is...

    I think so, yes. I'm not really asking you to do research on this so feel free to not answer if you don't know off the top of your head, but:

    What normally happens when a Congressperson is seriously injured to the point they can't continue in their job? Is there a Constitutional provision that is hard-and-fast, or is this more precedent that the MAGA people can just steamroll through?

    The only one I can remember making international news was when that poor House representative got shot in the head back in 2012. And I am not trying to dunk on the US, but I have no idea what would happen in my own country, as people step down when they acquire a career-ending injury, disability, or illness. The family makes a statement and then there's an election for their seat, but again, I don't know if that's a hard-and-fast rule or if it's just 'the done thing'.

    I think with the age of American politicians pushing upwards these questions will probably be raised more and more prevalent. I usually dislike the 'What would the Founding Fathers think?' thing, but I am wondering if the people who wrote the US constiution and amendments could conceive of brain-death and life support, and whether a person in that position can be considered to be a representative of their State.

    There are lots of things about declaring a President emotionally compromised or not fit to govern in films and TV, but I'd never thought about it on the level of regional representation to the national government.

    2 votes

  5. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of July 6 in ~society

    286437714
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    Question from a non-American - why is there so much media interest in Mitch McConnell's plausible brain death? This seems like a silly question, but I am not intending to be funny or cause...

    Question from a non-American - why is there so much media interest in Mitch McConnell's plausible brain death?

    This seems like a silly question, but I am not intending to be funny or cause offense. From what I have seen McConnell has had very poor cognitive function for some time now and it wasn't a huge issue from the Republican POV.

    I guess a secondary question would be, are there rules around having a (non-jokingly) brain dead senator occupying a seat? Or did the people who wrote the rules assumed that if someone suffered total and permanent mental incapacity, of course the measures would be taken to make their seat vacant or replace them with someone who has their faculties?

    4 votes

  6. Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv

    286437714
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    I know she wants to move on, but just onnnne more book on the Wayfarer. As a little treat. Please Becky, a little treat. We have been quite good and the world is bad :(

    I know she wants to move on, but just onnnne more book on the Wayfarer. As a little treat. Please Becky, a little treat. We have been quite good and the world is bad :(

  7. Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv

    286437714
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    I just decided to do a Wayfarers re-read and only loaded up the 1st and 4th books onto my e-reader. Twins. Oh, btw, I forgot to ask, have you ever read the Children of Time series? There's a...

    I just decided to do a Wayfarers re-read and only loaded up the 1st and 4th books onto my e-reader.

    Twins.

    Oh, btw, I forgot to ask, have you ever read the Children of Time series? There's a fourth one that's just come out that's been recommended by a friend.

    Plus, I think Martha Wells has a new Murderbot out too!

    1 vote

  8. Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv

    286437714
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    There are many memes about this, but I started off walking past the tv saying 'Oh still watching that are you?' to 'Oh my god that dude is such a dick' to 'No, don't pause, I'm not watching' to...

    There are many memes about this, but I started off walking past the tv saying 'Oh still watching that are you?' to 'Oh my god that dude is such a dick' to 'No, don't pause, I'm not watching' to 'HOW COULD YOU WATCH AN EPISODE WITHOUT ME?'

    Life has been more fun since I started watching reality TV with her. Love Island makes me deeply concerned about education policy. Love Is Blind has gone from making me laugh at this tweet to believing it must be implemented immediately.

    Second @AnthonyB's recommendation. If, like me, you were too highbrow and cultured and cool for reality TV, give it a try. As they say, everything that happens outside the show is also sociologically fascinating and the intelligence communities and information warfare capabilities surrounding these shows would be a great and terrible weapon if they could be harnessed by a nation state

    1 vote

  9. Comment on Erling Haaland's second-half double helped Norway stun five-time winners Brazil and book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in ~sports.football

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    Next match is England. Norway has an excellent historic track record against England. Collectecive cultural memory will kick in when they see eleven tiny humans dressed in white, wittering about...
    • Exemplary

    Next match is England. Norway has an excellent historic track record against England.

    Collectecive cultural memory will kick in when they see eleven tiny humans dressed in white, wittering about St George.1

    1. This post was a silly joke aimed at playing on perceptions of the two teams for comedic effect. The sacking of Lindisfarne and subsequent 'Viking Age' were, of course, a tragedy, except if you were someone who liked bathing, learning, a broad continental trading network, and intercultural exchange. So essentially, a great time for everyone but the English.2

    2. That second joke was drawing on decades of deep disrespect for English football fans, whose lives I want Braut Haaland to crush the joy out of. If you are in this demographic and you are offended, I sincerely apologise. It is not me who should be making you sad, and I truly apologise for doing so. That will come on July 11 in Miami.

    13 votes