[amphibian]

I forgot to say that the US as a whole has under built housing by anywhere from 3.5 million to 6 million units, mostly in or around the big and medium sized cities.

The NIMBYs are especially cursed around supportive housing for those with mental health disabilities, substance abuse/addiction, or halfway homes. There are massive shortages of these and for group homes that have people with developmental disabilities living together.

[Cause]

I posted this in the wrong thread before:

Birthright Citizenship was upheld 6-3. I know I’m not treading new ground in saying this but have have Alito, Gorsuch and Thomas ever found a Republican case that they haven’t found a way to turn themselves into knots to support? Originalists when needed, textualists when needed, standby by precedent when needed, overturn precedent when needed, support state rights when needed, support a sovereign president when needed.

[amphibian]

There's some level of the end goals of the GOP leadership (giving the massive overreaching powers to Trump/next GOP leadership to punish/deport/hurt people, overstepping Constitutional bounds to damage Congressional powers as they increase Court powers and Presidential powers, and funneling money into "the right places") being worth whichever path is walked to get there. That has always been the case for Scalia and to a lesser degree for Rehnquist.

Thomas and Alito are especially bold at being shit heads while doing this. Gorsuch has a weird streak of always supporting Native American rights that puts him one level above the other two in terms of judicial qualities.

[Lady Bliss]

Well apparently Trump’s state fair went swimmingly with the stage and arch crashing. The Ferris wheel broken half the the and food so outrageously expensive that a turkey leg cost $23. But our fearless leader touts that the fair was a HUGE success that Obama and Biden couldn’t have pulled off. Well played Mr. President. Well played.

[Tiste Simeon]

I mean, at least 5 people actually showed up for it so I think success is the right word!

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Tiste Simeon, on 05 July 2026 - 05:17 PM, said:

I mean, at least 5 people actually showed up for it so I think success is the right word!

Quote

Hundreds of masked white nationalists march in Washington on Fourth of July

Neo-fascist group Patriot Front parades banners, including Confederate flag, chanting 'Reclaim America' in US capital

Hundreds of masked white nationalists march in Washington on Fourth of July | Washington DC | The Guardian

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Trump at the NATO summit: "We had 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan, they were shot at the [US] aircraft carrier."

He repeatedly called Zelensky, who was sitting next to him, "President Putin".

Trump Appears to Mistakenly Call Zelensky 'Putin,' Iran 'Japan' - Newsweek

More highlights, with video:

Quote

Trump: "I would be the greatest communist in history. I'd be right up there with Leneeen."

(1) Aaron Rupar on X: "Trump: "I would be the greatest communist in history. I'd be right up there with Leneeen." https://t.co/X2i9cNokOf" / X

Trump: "I'm number one on TikTok and all I do is talk about communism"

(1) Aaron Rupar on X: "Trump: "I'm number one on TikTok and all I do is talk about communism" https://t.co/7SbTQkaVZ8" / X

TRUMP: Would you go to Moscow?

ZELENSKYY: It is difficult. There are lots of Ukrainian drones there. It's dangerous.

(1) Aaron Rupar on X: "TRUMP: Would you go to Moscow? ZELENSKYY: It is difficult. There are lots of Ukrainian drones there. It's dangerous. https://t.co/4KGmS90qZh" / X

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 08 July 2026 - 08:49 PM

[Tiste Simeon]

After the comments about the Islamic State of Japan, someone asked when the best time to visit there was. The answer was "not during Ramendan" and I just about spit me tea out. Superb joke!

[Tiste Simeon]

So we're all agreed that Mitch McConnell is dead, right? And they're just trying to hold off on reporting it until after 3rd August right?

[Cause]

 Tiste Simeon, on 09 July 2026 - 11:02 PM, said:

So we're all agreed that Mitch McConnell is dead, right? And they're just trying to hold off on reporting it until after 3rd August right?

I believe the governor of Kentucky has sent Mitch McConnell a letter, I don’t know the fine details but Mitch has to show proof of life and respond or governor can replace him I think.

[amphibian]

I don't think he's dead. Here's the tough part for me - I think people should have the ability to have a health issue, get help, go through recovery, and see if they can do their job when they are ready to try.

But a Senator is the kind of job that requires constant presence and active participation. So the governor getting to appoint an interim Senator makes a ton of sense.

[Cause]

 amphibian, on 10 July 2026 - 02:59 AM, said:

I don't think he's dead. Here's the tough part for me - I think people should have the ability to have a health issue, get help, go through recovery, and see if they can do their job when they are ready to try.

But a Senator is the kind of job that requires constant presence and active participation. So the governor getting to appoint an interim Senator makes a ton of sense.

Couple points I think are relevant.

You can deal with a health crisis and come back to work once you’re better, but you will need to tell your employer. In this case his employer would be the United States people. The fact we don’t know where he is, or what’s going on is a problem. Same for the politician who took over a month off to deal with depression and for the one who got found at an old age home after being mis for months. You can’t just abandon your job in other circumstances and just keep collecting a paycheck.

This isn’t a standard job as you acknowledge. His inability to perform now, and certainly his inability to perform in the future needs to be addressed. However again this is true of any job as well. If I lose my arm in a car accident tomorrow my employer will have to make a reasonable accommodation for me. If I could no longer perform my job in any capacity, that’s what insurance is for. I don’t get to just keep my job and not be able to do it.

In the USA mandatory retirement is the exception and not the rule but pilots, police and firefighters have mandatory retirement limits to recognize that age diminishes capacity. If not legally, than politicians like Mitch McConnell should ethically realize that maybe 84 while having several strokes in public is a good time to bow out gracefully. The US senate looks more like a retirement village every year.

[Tiste Simeon]

Lindsey Graham died. My mum always told me that if I can't say anything nice I shouldn't say anything at all, so I will only add this:

[Primateus]

Should we be happy that someone has died?

Generally, no.

But people like Graham, they often only leave politics when they die, and considering all the shitty things, all the spineless promises he has made, and broken, in service to that other guy?

Perhaps we should leave it only at two words; "Ding dong..."

[Illuyankas]

I feel an accurate summary of my opinion is https://bsky.app/pro...t/3mqgjwjx5is2w l(or https://bsky.app/pro...t/3mqgjwjx5is2w if they added embeds since the last time I was here) (e: ah it auto links but does not embed, some progress~)

This post has been edited by Illuyankas: 12 July 2026 - 09:42 AM

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

His death definitely brightened my morning.

Great timing too. Praise be to Allah, as Trump likes to "truth".

Quote

The Senate budget committee, which Graham chaired, was in the early phases of working through a complicated budget reconciliation process to try to muscle through parts of Trump's voter ID [ / voter suppression] bill.

GOP lawmakers had hoped to work quickly to satisfy the president's demands, which have caused major roadblocks to their agenda [...] And the Senate is set to consider a request from the White House for additional defense funding amid the Iran war. Graham would've been an outspoken advocate for the measure, which faces a difficult path in Congress as it could require a bipartisan vote to pass under Senate rules.

Further Pentagon funding faces another wrinkle due to the absence of McConnell, the chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee.

Who will replace Lindsey Graham? Here's what happens next in the Senate | CNN Politics

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 12 July 2026 - 02:05 PM

[Cause]

I have always wondered why Lindsey Graham was so prominent in coverage when he doesn’t seem to achieve or do much more than many other senator.

With him gone, we are now all waiting to hear news about Mitch and keeping on eye on Trump having fired the entire election assistance commission. Unless there are shenanigans midterms will be a Republican bloodbath.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Cause, on 12 July 2026 - 04:12 PM, said:

I have always wondered why Lindsey Graham was so prominent in coverage when he doesn't seem to achieve or do much more than many other senator.

Quote

tenacious, ubiquitous Lindsey Graham [...] Long before Graham became a Sunday show regular, he was McCain's loyal wingman — riding the campaign bus, bantering with reporters and smoothing out conflicts among McCain senior aides.

Graham was friendly with the press, throwing back White Russians and telling political tales from South Carolina. To the end, reporters called him directly on his cellphone. Sometimes he called them.

[...] Like much of Washington, Graham changed during the Trump era. He grew more guarded with reporters, and could be short with them in the Senate subway.

https://www.axios.co...hn-mccain-trump

He was up for reelection this year, and a recent poll had the Democratic candidate within 5 points of him. Incumbents usually have an advantage, especially long-term senators whose committee positions, connections, and national prominence seem to provide extra influence that can be leveraged on behalf of their constituents.

His possible replacement as the Republican candidate:

Quote

Nancy Mace has eyes on Lindsey Graham's seat because 'YOLO': inside source

[...] "Graham is not even cold yet."

Nancy Mace has eyes on Lindsey Graham's seat because 'YOLO': inside source - Raw Story

Quote

According to former staffers and a deposition, Nancy Mace has allegedly used her tech background to deploy bots across social media—and asked staffers to surreptitiously post on her behalf.

[...] Mace, who staff said once identified as a "never Trumper," has become one of the president's staunchest allies on Capitol Hill. She's willing to go to more extreme lengths than many of her colleagues to attack Trump's enemies and gain ample attention online in the process, like introducing a resolution to stop transgender people from using bathrooms in federal buildings that align with their gender identity rather than biological sex. (This legislation, Mace confirmed, purposefully targeted Representative Sarah McBride from Delaware, the first openly transgender member of Congress.)

Nancy Mace's Former Staff Claim She Had Them Create Burner Accounts to Promote Her | WIRED

Seems like she'll say and do almost anything for power and publicity.

Though she has even more in common with Trump:

Quote

Inside the world of Nancy Mace: Ex-staffers detail a spiraling out-of-control political life

Ex-staffers detail abusive boss who allowed personal grievance to consume her time in office

Inside the world of Nancy Mace: Ex-staffers detail a spiraling out-of-control political life | The Independent

Cause, on 12 July 2026 - 04:12 PM, said:

With him gone, we are now all waiting to hear news about Mitch and keeping on eye on Trump having fired the entire election assistance commission. Unless there are shenanigans midterms will be a Republican bloodbath.

It seems pretty clear that there will be massive and terrible shenanigans.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

After reading a bit more I think Mace probably won't be Trump's pick to replace Graham. In part because she's currently a representative in the House:

Quote

Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, meaning that appointing a member of the lower chamber of Congress could pose risks for the party.

[...] Mace finished a distant fifth in the Republican primary for governor [after not getting Trump's endorsement]. She hinted at her ambition on social media on Sunday, posting a clip from the movie "The Godfather III" in which the character Michael Corleone says, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette[...] is seen by some Republicans as a possible appointee. Mr. Trump initially backed her in last month's Republican primary for governor, before later issuing a dual endorsement in the runoff between Ms. Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson[...]

Ms. Evette is also a possibility for the special election primary. A person close to Ms. Evette, speaking on condition of anonymity to disclose private conversations, said that the lieutenant governor had been receiving encouragement to consider running for the Senate seat.

Lindsey Graham Was Facing Re-election in November. What Happens Now? - The New York Times

Granted, Trump may object to endorsing Evette because she lost and he doesn't like to back "losers"; but Mace lost worse than her, only coming in fifth place, so she's an even bigger loser by that metric.

[QuickTidal]

Primateus, on 12 July 2026 - 07:54 AM, said:

Should we be happy that someone has died?

Generally, no.

But people like Graham, they often only leave politics when they die, and considering all the shitty things, all the spineless promises he has made, and broken, in service to that other guy?

Perhaps we should leave it only at two words; "Ding dong..."

Yep.

Hoisted this from someone from SC on Reddit:

Quote

Everyone hated Lindsey including republicans. He was the definition of “the swamp” trump got elected to supposedly drain. He was a neocon warhawk who was adamantly against trump until going on a golf trip with him and changing his tune to become one of his biggest supporters. He had been in the wrong side of pretty much every issue except perhaps Ukraine, and only then because he never met a war he didn’t like. He did exactly nothing for the people of South Carolina… most South Carolinians cannot think of a single major victory he had scored on behalf of his state.

He was also a closeted gay man, which is no problem in and of itself, but he clearly felt great shame in it based on how he CONSTANTLY voted to make the lives of LGBTQ people harder at every chance he got.

He was a hypocrite, a climber, a chicken hawk, and a fraud. Worst of all, he clearly had no principles that big donors had not paid for, and everybody knew it. The only ones who will miss him are the DC call boys who he frequented apparently all the time. Which again, nothing wrong with sex work...but the man voted against any protection those sex workers might have.

According to people form SC, Lindsey kept getting elected in SC because SC doesn't run on conviction, it runs on apathy. People vote like they go to church, and don't pay any attention at all to politics. The folks who DO pay attention, be they on the right or left, see Lindsey for what he has always been: a flip flopping opportunist willing to sell his rhetoric and vote to the highest donor. He was the swamp.

The Republican governor apparently appoints someone to replace Graham until a special election can be held. He will pick someone who can step in right away, and who has a strong chance of holding the seat.

God help us, he might choose Nancy Mace.

He went from thinking Donald Trump was a terrible candidate to being one of his biggest supporters without explaining why. He had been pushing for war with Iran for years (apparently at the behest of Netanyahu himself). There are so many reasons to be happy that Graham won't be showing up to work ever again that it would be ridiculous to list them all.

Basically, he was an unrepentant, slimy bastard, IMHO.

I'm not glad he's dead, I am glad he's done and can do no more damage to the American people.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 13 July 2026 - 12:25 PM