Random Politics

[Steve of phpBB]

Direct deposit isn't mandatory for government positions? That seems completely weird.

When I enlisted at 17 my Air Force recruiter had to provide a waiver to my bank to get me a bank account for basic training because it was a mandatory thing you had to do. This was in 2001.

Others have said that Congressmen get paid through direct deposit. Plus, even if he's paid by a paper check, where does he cash it, and then how does he pay his bills after getting the cash?

More likely he just didn't bother listing his accounts in his financial disclosures because he was a nobody in an uncompetitive district and figured no one would ever check up on him.

Yea, he has to have a bank account or several. It just doesn't compute.

Also, do you have to disclose amounts in those accounts or just simply having them or something?

I think you have to disclose amounts, but in wide brackets, like $0 to $50,000, 50k to 100k, 100k to 250k, etc.

[Johnnie]

George Santos was not expelled from Congress.



Cool that 24 Republicans voted for it, but WTF that 57 Democrats either didn't care or couldn't be bothered.

[The Sybian]

Direct deposit isn't mandatory for government positions? That seems completely weird.

When I enlisted at 17 my Air Force recruiter had to provide a waiver to my bank to get me a bank account for basic training because it was a mandatory thing you had to do. This was in 2001.

Others have said that Congressmen get paid through direct deposit. Plus, even if he's paid by a paper check, where does he cash it, and then how does he pay his bills after getting the cash?

More likely he just didn't bother listing his accounts in his financial disclosures because he was a nobody in an uncompetitive district and figured no one would ever check up on him.

Yea, he has to have a bank account or several. It just doesn't compute.

Also, do you have to disclose amounts in those accounts or just simply having them or something?

Its clearly different for elected officials, but for ordinary. low level government employees, they scrutinize that shit when you get your background investigation. The biggest thing they look for is financial stability and nothing weird, to make sure you aren't susceptible to bribes.

[Johnnie]

Direct deposit isn't mandatory for government positions? That seems completely weird.

When I enlisted at 17 my Air Force recruiter had to provide a waiver to my bank to get me a bank account for basic training because it was a mandatory thing you had to do. This was in 2001.

Others have said that Congressmen get paid through direct deposit. Plus, even if he's paid by a paper check, where does he cash it, and then how does he pay his bills after getting the cash?

More likely he just didn't bother listing his accounts in his financial disclosures because he was a nobody in an uncompetitive district and figured no one would ever check up on him.

Yea, he has to have a bank account or several. It just doesn't compute.

Also, do you have to disclose amounts in those accounts or just simply having them or something?

Its clearly different for elected officials, but for ordinary. low level government employees, they scrutinize that shit when you get your background investigation. The biggest thing they look for is financial stability and nothing weird, to make sure you aren't susceptible to bribes.

All I've learned is that it's performative theater and a bunch of bullshit because 1) Tr*mp was president 2) he overrode all the rules of security clearance stuff for his son-in-law and 3) there's been no credible investigation into the 2 Billion dollars Jared and Ivanka got from the Saudis. It's fucking maddening.

[sancarlos]

[The Sybian]

Direct deposit isn't mandatory for government positions? That seems completely weird.

When I enlisted at 17 my Air Force recruiter had to provide a waiver to my bank to get me a bank account for basic training because it was a mandatory thing you had to do. This was in 2001.

Others have said that Congressmen get paid through direct deposit. Plus, even if he's paid by a paper check, where does he cash it, and then how does he pay his bills after getting the cash?

More likely he just didn't bother listing his accounts in his financial disclosures because he was a nobody in an uncompetitive district and figured no one would ever check up on him.

Yea, he has to have a bank account or several. It just doesn't compute.

Also, do you have to disclose amounts in those accounts or just simply having them or something?

Its clearly different for elected officials, but for ordinary. low level government employees, they scrutinize that shit when you get your background investigation. The biggest thing they look for is financial stability and nothing weird, to make sure you aren't susceptible to bribes.

All I've learned is that it's performative theater and a bunch of bullshit because 1) Tr*mp was president 2) he overrode all the rules of security clearance stuff for his son-in-law and 3) there's been no credible investigation into the 2 Billion dollars Jared and Ivanka got from the Saudis. It's fucking maddening.

But Joe Biden deposited a check from his brother for $200,000 when he wasn't even in office!!! Jesse Watters on FoxNews was going apeshit over that being the smoking gun that Biden is taking foreign bribes. He was screaming at the resident Liberal punching bag saying she needs to admit this is the smoking gun that proves Biden is corrupt and bought by Ukraine. Biden said he loaned his brother money, and this check was his brother repaying the loan. Seems slightly less scandalous than one of the most evil governments giving Jared $2 Billion as a financial advisor when he has zero experience and Trump sold weapons to the Saudis.

[Johnnie]

Considering that you'd need 2/3rd of 435 to expel (290), it'll never make it to that level ever.

And while that justification is great, that mindset is the reason Democrats are always behind.

Makes me wish that Al Franken didn't give up and gave Kirsten Gillibrand double middle fingers at some point that much more.

[mister d]

Super excited for CommuterGate or JerseyGate or whatever they decide to name it whenever the whole "Adams actually lives in Fort Lee" hits full mainstream attention.

Or I guess this instead ...

[Johnnie]

What? Eric Adams?? No way!

[brian]

Must have missed Biden’s unhinged rant on Twitter insisting that the raid is a political attack on one of his allies.

[DaveInSeattle]

Is Tommy Tuberville the Most Ignorant Man in D.C.?

Multiple Alabama Republicans who know him insist he somehow had no idea what he was talking about — in spite of his tripling down on the comments.

“I do not believe that Tommy Tuberville is a racist at all,” says one plugged-in Alabama Republican. “I really believe that maybe he doesn’t have an understanding of the English language.”

(and the header image is amazing)

[Johnnie]

Dude's a MAGAt scumbag and the Republicans clapping back at him are doing nothing more than performing political theater. It's been this way for 9 months. They don't care.

The argument that the DoD provides abortion and women's health access to female military members is a patsy argument.

The reality is a person like General Milley scares the everliving fuck out of a political like them because he would've 100% taken up the mantle to go around Donald Trump had some version of the insurrection worked.

So what's the plan once they realize that? Subvert the military in any way they can.

Tubgirlville is doing exactly what's necessary when the next coup comes.

[Johnnie]

Crossdressing while being a Republican pastor and mayor? Try that in a small town.

Alabama Mayor Kills Self After Right-Wing Blog Outs His Cross-Dressing

F.L. “Bubba” Copeland, who was the mayor of Smiths Station and the pastor at First Baptist Church in Phenix City, shot himself in front of police during a welfare check, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said.

[DaveInSeattle]

Completely normal behavior...

Mike Johnson Admits He and His Son Monitor Each Other’s Porn Intake in Resurfaced Video

During a conversation on the “War on Technology” at Benton, Louisiana’s Cypress Baptist Church — unearthed by X user Receipt Maven last week — the Louisiana representative talked about how he installed “accountability software” called Covenant Eyes on his devices in order to abstain from internet porn and other unsavory websites.

“It scans all the activity on your phone, or your devices, your laptop, what have you; we do all of it,” Johnson told the panel about the app.

“It sends a report to your accountability partner. My accountability partner right now is Jack, my son. He’s 17. So he and I get a report about all the things that are on our phones, all of our devices, once a week. If anything objectionable comes up, your accountability partner gets an immediate notice. I’m proud to tell ya, my son has got a clean slate.”

When the scandals break on this guy, its gonna be something amazing....

[Johnnie]

The Internet is saying that that software is literally spyware and I'm laughing my ass off at all of it.

Evangelical Christians are seriously fucking weird.

[DaveInSeattle]

The Internet is saying that that software is literally spyware and I'm laughing my ass off at all of it.

Evangelical Christians are seriously fucking weird.

Also reported that the software package in question is the same that the Duggar kid...the one who got popped for Child Porn...had installed and its easy to get around.

[The Sybian]

The Internet is saying that that software is literally spyware and I'm laughing my ass off at all of it.

Evangelical Christians are seriously fucking weird.

Also reported that the software package in question is the same that the Duggar kid...the one who got popped for Child Porn...had installed and its easy to get around.

Shouldn’t not incurring the wrath of God be enough to stop them from committing sins? It would if they were good Christians. Seems like not being embarrassed by your teenaged son getting a notification of your sins isn’t the most pious method.

[DaveInSeattle]

Shouldn’t not incurring the wrath of God be enough to stop them from committing sins? It would if they were good Christians. Seems like not being embarrassed by your teenaged son getting a notification of your sins isn’t the most pious method.

That kid is gonna need so much damn therapy.

[P.D.X.]

It's performative BS. Don't wanna watch porn? Don't watch porn. No need to share how righteous you are.

[A_B]

It's performative BS. Don't wanna watch porn? Don't watch porn. No need to share how righteous you are.

You must be new to evangelicalism.

[The Sybian]

It's performative BS. Don't wanna watch porn? Don't watch porn. No need to share how righteous you are.

You must be new to evangelicalism.

Ha! My sister just forwarded a text from an evangelical friend. She lives in GA, and friends are constantly trying to convert her. It’s a picture of two boys l, one draped in an Israeli flag the other in a Palestinian, watching a city burn. The caption. Both sides need peace. Both sides need salvation. Both sides need Christ. Maybe it will take arrogant obnoxious proselytizing Evangelicals to make Israelis and Palestinians unite.

[A_B]

It's performative BS. Don't wanna watch porn? Don't watch porn. No need to share how righteous you are.

You must be new to evangelicalism.

Ha! My sister just forwarded a text from an evangelical friend. She lives in GA, and friends are constantly trying to convert her. It’s a picture of two boys l, one draped in an Israeli flag the other in a Palestinian, watching a city burn. The caption. Both sides need peace. Both sides need salvation. Both sides need Christ. Maybe it will take arrogant obnoxious proselytizing Evangelicals to make Israelis and Palestinians unite.

The crusades went so well for everyone!

[Pruitt IV]

It's performative BS. Don't wanna watch porn? Don't watch porn. No need to share how righteous you are.

You must be new to evangelicalism.

Ultra Orthodox (read "Fundamentalist") Jews can only have phones that have been programmed under the auspices of a local Rabbinical council. No Google. My Ultra Ortho Rabbi neighbour has twice asked me to look up things (Fully kosher stuff, he just wanted current news on Jewish things). An educated 58 year old man, father of 7, grandfather of 20, teacher at a religious school, pillar of his community, and he can not be trusted.

He told me that they are all firm believers in avoiding any temptation. Which is why his som who was 14 at the time and who loves basketball couldn't watch the Raptors playoff run a few years ago. He could only see approved articles, because god forbiid he sees a cheerleader or an ad for an R rated movie.

These people man...

[The Sybian]

It's performative BS. Don't wanna watch porn? Don't watch porn. No need to share how righteous you are.

You must be new to evangelicalism.

Ultra Orthodox (read "Fundamentalist") Jews can only have phones that have been programmed under the auspices of a local Rabbinical council. No Google. My Ultra Ortho Rabbi neighbour has twice asked me to look up things (Fully kosher stuff, he just wanted current news on Jewish things). An educated 58 year old man, father of 7, grandfather of 20, teacher at a religious school, pillar of his community, and he can not be trusted.

He told me that they are all firm believers in avoiding any temptation. Which is why his som who was 14 at the time and who loves basketball couldn't watch the Raptors playoff run a few years ago. He could only see approved articles, because god forbiid he sees a cheerleader or an ad for an R rated movie.

These people man...

What if he was tempted by seeing 10 men in shorts running around the court!

[Johnnie]

I was in Vegas a couple weekends ago for a pretty nerdy Blood on the Clocktower convention. One of the dudes volunteering there was Jewish and made sure that he got a hotel room on a specific floor so that he didn't use the elevator on Saturday. I didn't feel like asking him questions about it, but it totally threw me off.

No idea if this is in the same line as the phone thing, but it made me think about it.

[Giff]

There's a guy in my bowling league who refuses to roll on Shabbos. Crazy.

[Shirley]

There's a guy in my bowling league who refuses to roll on Shabbos. Crazy.

Yeah, well this isn't Nam. There are rules.

[The Sybian]

I was in Vegas a couple weekends ago for a pretty nerdy Blood on the Clocktower convention. One of the dudes volunteering there was Jewish and made sure that he got a hotel room on a specific floor so that he didn't use the elevator on Saturday. I didn't feel like asking him questions about it, but it totally threw me off.

No idea if this is in the same line as the phone thing, but it made me think about it.

Orthodox Jews aren't supposed to "work" on the Shabbos, and work includes using any electronic devices or even turning on a light switch. Look up the term Shabbos Goyim, this blew my mind when I first heard about. Some orthodox Jews will hire (or nicely ask a neighbor) to turn on lights for them, turn on their air conditioning, etc... to skirt the rules. And if you really want your mind blown, read up on the eruv. They strung an 18 mile long fishing line above Manhattan so they can violate the rules of the Shabbos within the perimeter of that line. There are things that can't be carried outside your home, but of you are withing the fishing line, it's considered your home. I can't comprehend this. You either want to obey the laws or you don't, what's the purpose of creating these bizarre loopholes? You are clearly violating the purpose of the law, and if you believe in God, do you think God doesn't see through your fishing line? I'd be curious to discuss this with a believer.

[DaveInSeattle]

Just a reminder of the funniest/stupidest thing ever...

[Pruitt IV]

I was in Vegas a couple weekends ago for a pretty nerdy Blood on the Clocktower convention. One of the dudes volunteering there was Jewish and made sure that he got a hotel room on a specific floor so that he didn't use the elevator on Saturday. I didn't feel like asking him questions about it, but it totally threw me off.

No idea if this is in the same line as the phone thing, but it made me think about it.

Orthodox Jews aren't supposed to "work" on the Shabbos, and work includes using any electronic devices or even turning on a light switch. Look up the term Shabbos Goyim, this blew my mind when I first heard about. Some orthodox Jews will hire (or nicely ask a neighbor) to turn on lights for them, turn on their air conditioning, etc... to skirt the rules. And if you really want your mind blown, read up on the eruv. They strung an 18 mile long fishing line above Manhattan so they can violate the rules of the Shabbos within the perimeter of that line. There are things that can't be carried outside your home, but of you are withing the fishing line, it's considered your home. I can't comprehend this. You either want to obey the laws or you don't, what's the purpose of creating these bizarre loopholes? You are clearly violating the purpose of the law, and if you believe in God, do you think God doesn't see through your fishing line? I'd be curious to discuss this with a believer.

There's a big eruv that encircles my entire neighbourhood. You can see it when you pull onto the ramp to the highway.

These true believers spend a hell of a lot of time, energy and money coming up with ways to skirt the rules that they so passionately embrace.

It is okay to flush a toilet on the sabbath, but apparently not if the toilet automatically dispenses some of that blue disinfectant stuff.

As for the "Shabbos goy" thing, the ultra Orthodox rabbi neighbour I mentioned earlier once came to my house early on a Friday evening (didn't ring the bell of course, I saw him coming over). His wife had forgotten to turn on the stove in time, so he asked if I could do it for them. Sure, but as a Jew, I wondered why he was asking me. Turns out that since I am a non-observant Jew, I am allowed to turn on an observant person's appliances before the candles are lit (18 minutes before sundown). By asking me to do so, he wasn't forcing me to violate the sabbath. Of course once the candles were lit, it would be out of the question.

The more observant the sect, the more rules there are.

ETA - the reason behind a staple in every orthodox home, the hilariously-named "Blech" which is a tin sheet that covers the top of the stove and often the knobs that control the heat...

According to many opinions, once the food is cooked enough to be edible (either 1/2 or 1/3 of the way), there is no concern a person will increase the fire. One may rely on that opinion in times of need (see Shulchan Aruch and Rema 253:1 with Bi’ur Halacha s.v. “v’nahagu”).

A second reason for the blech is in case a person wants to remove a pot from the fire, take some food out, and return the pot to the fire. (One should not remove food from a pot while it is still on the fire. According to some, the inadvertent movement of the food caused while taking some of it out is a form of “stirring” – and it is forbidden to stir even fully-cooked food while directly on the flame (Mishnah Berurah 318:113).)

Now, needless to say, one would never be able to return a not-fully-cooked pot to the fire on Shabbat – since that is the labor of “cooking”. However, even if a pot is fully cooked, the Sages forbade returning a pot to the flame because it appears like cooking (Mishnah Berurah 253:37). This concern is in part addressed with a blech, since the pot is no longer being placed directly on a flame.

[Steve of phpBB]

These folks have been producing lawyers for 5000 years. What would you expect?

[Pruitt IV]

These folks have been producing lawyers for 5000 years. What would you expect?

Ever seen what a page of the talmud looks like?



The actual text is the small pink bit in the centre. Everything else is commentaries and opinions (colour coding not in the original - but it shows how many different interpretations there are amongst the big guns of Jewish thinking regarding that small bit)

[mister d]

[Steve of phpBB]

Hard to argue with that.

I really wish she'd stop with this "from the river to the sea" stuff, but she's completely spot on here.

[Jerloma]

What exactly is Biden's deal here? What does he have to lose? Votes? Donors? Or is he just old, brainwashed and unable to grasp a position other than staunch pro-Israel?

[Steve of phpBB]

What exactly is Biden's deal here? What does he have to lose? Votes? Donors? Or is he just old, brainwashed and unable to grasp a position other than staunch pro-Israel?

Votes. Because unlike the people we see on our social media feeds, most voters are way more pro-Israel than anti-Israel, especially after the way those Israelis were massacred.

[sancarlos]

[Pruitt IV]

While I am sadly doubtful that there is a heaven, I really do hope that there is a hell.

[Johnnie]

There is no hell quite like Christian heaven.

There is no hate quite like Christian love.

[Johnnie]