Polybius
Polybius's JournalJudge dismisses lawsuit asking to keep Trump off Virginia ballot
Source: CBS News
RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A lawsuit seeking to keep former President Donald Trump off of the ballot in Virginia has been dismissed.
The ruling, issued on Friday, says the plaintiffs lacked standing to file the suit and had numerous procedural issues in it.
The civil and political activists asked a judge for an injunction to keep Trump's name off the ballot, citing the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Voting Rights Act.
"Although this increasingly litigated legal question of whether former President Trump may be disqualified from running for or serving in public office raises issues of the utmost importance in our democratic system of self-governance, the court cannot reach the merits of plaintiffs' claims because it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction," wrote the judge.
Read more: https://www.cbs19news.com/story/50294849/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-asking-to-keep-trump-off-virginia-ballot
Hundreds of migrants dropped off in New Jersey, bypassing New York City restrictions
Source: CNN
Transit points in New Jersey have been used by buses to evade new rules aimed at curbing the massive numbers of arrivals in New York City. This weekend, at least four buses stopped at the Secaucus Junction train station in New Jersey, according to a news release from Secaucus’ mayor.
“From what we understand after being dropped at the train station the migrants then took trains to New York City,” Michael Gonnelli said. “At this point in time it seems train tickets are being secured for the migrants and they have been making their way to their final destination.”
It appeared “bus operators have figured out a loophole in the system in order to ensure the migrants reach their final destination, which is New York City,” he said.
The arrivals in the New York area come as US-Mexico border authorities in December encountered more than 225,000 migrants, the highest monthly total recorded since 2000, according to preliminary Homeland Security statistics shared with CNN.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/02/us/new-jersey-migrant-buses-nyc/index.html
New CA law requires gender-neutral toy sections at large retail stores
Most toy stores have the pink girls section, and the blue boys section.
Now, a new California law going into effect at the start of the year will require large retail stores with 500 or more employees statewide to have a gender neutral section for toys.
"We're not affected by the law but I saw - yay! It's not called woke, it's called American freedom," said longtime toy store owner Helen Dean of the Toy Safari in Alameda. She is cheering the move. Much of her store already has a mix of toys for boys and girls, side-by-side, in every aisle. Even the LEGO Friends collection is specifically marketed for girls and not compatible with other LEGOS.
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ChatGPT: What if John Kerry won the 2004 election?
Speculating on what might have happened if John Kerry had won the 2004 election requires us to consider various factors, both domestically and internationally. Here are some potential outcomes and changes that could have occurred:
Iraq War and Middle East Policy: Kerry was critical of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War. Had he won, there might have been a different strategy or timeline for withdrawal from Iraq. It's possible that there could have been more emphasis on diplomacy and international cooperation.
Domestic Policies: Kerry had proposed healthcare reforms, environmental policies, and other domestic initiatives that differed from those of the Bush administration. If Kerry had won, we might have seen different legislative priorities and outcomes during his term(s).
Economic Policies: Kerry had proposed rolling back some of the tax cuts introduced during the Bush administration, especially for high-income earners. His economic policies might have focused on different areas such as job creation, infrastructure spending, and income inequality.
Supreme Court Nominees: One of the lasting impacts of a presidential term is the opportunity to nominate Supreme Court justices. If Kerry had won, his appointments to the Supreme Court could have shifted the ideological balance in a different direction than the appointments made by Bush.
Global Diplomacy: Kerry's approach to foreign policy and diplomacy might have differed from that of the Bush administration. He had a more multilateral approach and might have sought to rebuild relationships with allies that were strained during Bush's tenure.
Climate Change: Kerry has been a vocal advocate for addressing climate change. Had he won in 2004, the U.S. might have taken earlier and more aggressive actions to combat climate change, potentially rejoining international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol (from which the U.S. withdrew under Bush) sooner.
Financial Crisis of 2008: It's challenging to predict with certainty, but given the economic policies and regulatory approaches Kerry might have pursued, the response to the 2008 financial crisis could have looked different. The regulatory framework, stimulus packages, and interventions might have varied under a Kerry administration.
Political Landscape: A Kerry win in 2004 could have had ripple effects on subsequent elections, party alignments, and the overall political landscape of the U.S. The rise of movements like the Tea Party or the subsequent election of Barack Obama might have been influenced or altered.
Remember, this is speculative, and the actual outcomes would have depended on numerous variables, including congressional dynamics, global events, and unforeseen challenges. History unfolds based on countless decisions and events, making it complex to predict definitive outcomes.
While we often hear "what ifs" about 2000 and 2016, for some reason we don't here much about 2004. Fascinating answers. What do you think might have happened in the short and long run had Kerry won?
Rep. Jared Golden (D) and Senator Angus King (I) oppose the Maine SOS's decision?
Maine secretary of state faces criticism from fellow Dems over Trump ballot decisionRep. Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat whose competitive House district Trump won in 2016 and 2020, criticized the ruling in a statement posted to social media Thursday night.“
I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th Insurrection. I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States,” Golden wrote. “However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.”
Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate, said in a statement that while he respected Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ “careful process,” he believed “that the decision as to whether or not Mr. Trump should again be considered for the presidency should rest with the people as expressed in free and fair elections.”
Read more...
NYC Mayor Adams Says He Can't Get Meeting With Biden Amid Migrant Crisis: 'It Baffles Me'
Source: The Messenger
Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday complained that he has been unable to obtain a meeting with President Joe Biden amid the surge in migrants his city is experiencing.
During a press conference, the mayor said he has not met with Biden since 2022.
"It baffles me. You know, New York City is the economic engine of the state and the country," Adams said. "I am really pleased that we are now getting a chorus of other cities that are joining us, who are now part of our coalition."
Adams has traveled to Washington, D.C., several times to meet with members of the Biden administration about the surge in migrants. His request for supplemental funding to aid the city in processing migrants was joined by other Democratic mayors in November, including Los Angeles' Karen Bass and Chicago's Brandon Johnson.
Read more: https://themessenger.com/politics/nyc-mayor-adams-says-he-cant-get-meeting-with-biden-amid-migrant-crisis-it-baffles-me
What should our border/migrant stance be?
Having monetary problems at the moment, so I can't create a poll. What are your views on this, and what should Biden's stance be? More border patrol? Path to citizenship? Wall? Open borders? Something else?
SNL classic Christmas short from 2006 - D*** in a Box
New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary poll
Trump 44Haley 30
Christie 12
DeSantis 6
Ramaswamy 5
https://www.anselm.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/centers-institutes/new-hampshire-institute-politics/programs/polling/december-18-19-2023
Haley at 30? Outlier or accurate?
Dean Phillips criticizes Colorado court ruling barring Trump from ballot
Source: Politico
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips on Wednesday criticized the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to remove former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot over his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, aligning with Republicans while placing himself at odds with key figures within his party.
“Do I believe Trump is guilty of inspiring an insurrection and doing nothing to stop it? I was there. Absolutely,” the Minnesota Democrat posted on X , formerly Twitter. ”Do I believe it’s wrong to ban him from the ballot in Colorado without a conviction? Absolutely. Do I believe the SCOTUS must opine immediately? Absolutely.”
Phillips’ take on the Colorado case lines up with what many Republicans, third-party candidates and other Democratic challengers to President Joe Biden have said about the decision. The state’s high court held that Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6 attack constituted an insurrection, precluding him from being a candidate under a Reconstruction-era provision of the 14th Amendment that was written to bar former Confederates from office. The decision has been pilloried by Republicans and conservatives as inappropriate and undemocratic.
But Phillips’ response also separates him from other figures within the Democratic Party. His long-shot campaign alone has rankled people within the party, and his critiques of Biden’s age haven’t helped show unified Democratic support for the incumbent president facing regular questioning of his leadership ability.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/20/dean-phillips-criticizes-co-supreme-court-ruling-barring-trump-from-ballot-00132767
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