Hail to the Thief: A Politics Thread

by **drsmooth** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:27:42

TomatoPie wrote:Apologies in advance if this is the wrong thread for this:

HAH! A favorite (Dutch) in-law of mine sent me this yesterday, TPie. Great stuff!

by **pacino** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:28:52

pacino wrote:Aetna/Humana merger is a no-go because it would've limited competition too much.

Aetna lied, like we knew they did:

“Aetna was willing to offer to expand its participation in the exchanges if DOJ did not block the merger, or conversely, was willing to threaten to limit its participation in the exchanges if DOJ did,” Judge Bates said Monday. [...]

Monday’s ruling cited internal documents showing Aetna was planning to withdraw from many health insurance exchanges for business reasons. But it said that on the day the Justice Department sued to block the merger, “Aetna employees were instructed to gather information regarding the 17 complaint counties.”

The next day, Aetna’s exchange business head, Fran Soistman, emailed staffers saying, “by the way, all bets are off on Florida and every other state given the DOJ rejected our transaction.”

by **JUburton** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:34:52

http://www.theonion.com/article/i-promi ... -goa-55094

guess this is true, huh

by **JUburton** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:35:31

pacino wrote:
pacino wrote:Aetna/Humana merger is a no-go because it would've limited competition too much.

Aetna lied, like we knew they did:
“Aetna was willing to offer to expand its participation in the exchanges if DOJ did not block the merger, or conversely, was willing to threaten to limit its participation in the exchanges if DOJ did,” Judge Bates said Monday. [...]

Monday’s ruling cited internal documents showing Aetna was planning to withdraw from many health insurance exchanges for business reasons. But it said that on the day the Justice Department sued to block the merger, “Aetna employees were instructed to gather information regarding the 17 complaint counties.”

The next day, Aetna’s exchange business head, Fran Soistman, emailed staffers saying, “by the way, all bets are off on Florida and every other state given the DOJ rejected our transaction.”

maybe we should give insurance companies more power to fuck over americans?

by **drsmooth** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:35:41

pacino wrote:
pacino wrote:Aetna/Humana merger is a no-go because it would've limited competition too much.

Aetna lied, like we knew they did:
“Aetna was willing to offer to expand its participation in the exchanges if DOJ did not block the merger, or conversely, was willing to threaten to limit its participation in the exchanges if DOJ did,” Judge Bates said Monday. [...]

Gonna post there here b/c relevant, not everyone spends time in reform school:

This should make any thinking person angry (but Shumpeter would tell you "see? Just like I told ya"):

Aetna's Pennsylvania Mystery Revealed (And It's Just As Sleazy as You Might Expect

by **JUburton** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:42:23

if you could go back in time and kill baby roger ailes, would you?

by **pacino** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:48:49

i can't wait to apply for one of the 35 jobs Keystone XL creates

by **Brantt** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:57:58

pacino wrote:i can't wait to apply for one of the 35 jobs Keystone XL creates

Eh, I'm sure 4,200 people will be happy enough to have employment for "just" the next 2 years.

by **pacino** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 09:59:40

it's going to be so sweet when that oil goes to a shipping yard in Illinois to be sent around the world. TAKE THE OIL!

by **CalvinBall** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:08:21

Robert Costa ‏@costareports 1m1 minute ago
More
Trump sources say most influential player in Trump admin. right now is Sessions. Once AG, will be inv. w/ immig., wall, voting law...

by **drsmooth** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:13:10

Brantt wrote:
pacino wrote:i can't wait to apply for one of the 35 jobs Keystone XL creates

Eh, I'm sure 4,200 people will be happy enough to have employment for "just" the next 2 years.

Plus the pipeline approvals get drumpf on the shameless self-dealing board less than a week into office - whoo hoo

by **JUburton** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:13:37

CalvinBall wrote:
Robert Costa ‏@costareports 1m1 minute ago
More
Trump sources say most influential player in Trump admin. right now is Sessions. Once AG, will be inv. w/ immig., wall, voting law...

Also

Robert Costa @costareports
A Trump adviser tells me this AM that Pres. Trump has been talking privately about launching a voter fraud investigation for weeks

Several things at play inside WH... 1) Trump has been hearing anecdotes about alleged fraud from sprawling network of friends & associates

2) coverage of Russia hacking/influence in election has angered him. Fumes to friends that his win is being delegitimized by foes and press

3) In spite of winning E. College, he sees pop. vote as a rating that, in his view, wasn't fairly won by HRC. And he won't let that view go.

4) Few if any leaders on Hill have been encouraging President to go down this path. His focus on this is driven by him, not party/staff.

by **CalvinBall** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:17:01

to add to point 4-- not the usa either, which should be his main driving factor. instead we have a small man who needs constant validation.

by **JUburton** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:22:29

It's amazing his supporters see a strong leader willing to take on the establishment and make these tough choices...when really he's a shell of a man with the most fragile of egos in need of constant praise. I hope the stress kills him...figuratively.

by **traderdave** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:44:06

WRT the fraud investigation:

“I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and … even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time),” Trump tweeted early Wednesday. “Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!”

So, the President who is already publicly claiming that up to 5 million people voted illegally in the 2016 election is going to have his administration investigate the fraud that he is claiming. I wonder what the results of that investigation will be.

Bring on the voter suppression measures!!

by **pacino** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:46:19

JUburton wrote:It's amazing his supporters see a strong leader willing to take on the establishment and make these tough choices...when really he's a shell of a man with the most fragile of egos in need of constant praise. I hope the stress kills him...figuratively.

he's actually also an incredible failure as a businessman who RUNS things. he's simply a marketer. he markets. he never RAN things on a day-to-day basis...except for the few businesses that went bellyup.

he's just a con man that needs constant validation and attention.

by **pacino** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:48:13

strengthen up

by **JUburton** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:52:46

can we blackball robby mook from future political campaigns?

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/paid-p ... 1791604942

by **jerseyhoya** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:52:55

JUburton wrote:
CalvinBall wrote:
Robert Costa ‏@costareports 1m1 minute ago
More
Trump sources say most influential player in Trump admin. right now is Sessions. Once AG, will be inv. w/ immig., wall, voting law...
Also

Robert Costa @costareports
A Trump adviser tells me this AM that Pres. Trump has been talking privately about launching a voter fraud investigation for weeks

Several things at play inside WH... 1) Trump has been hearing anecdotes about alleged fraud from sprawling network of friends & associates

2) coverage of Russia hacking/influence in election has angered him. Fumes to friends that his win is being delegitimized by foes and press

3) In spite of winning E. College, he sees pop. vote as a rating that, in his view, wasn't fairly won by HRC. And he won't let that view go.

4) Few if any leaders on Hill have been encouraging President to go down this path. His focus on this is driven by him, not party/staff.

It's stuff like this I love when people think he's playing 3d chess or acting strategically. He takes phone calls from Roger Stone who plants some insane idea in his immature head that solves or explains some nagging insecurity, and it is believed by Mr. Trump because it makes the thin skinned baby feel better. The belief internalized needs to be told to the world to correct the initial 'misperception,' then it is discussed and mocked on the cable nets, which he watches constantly in need for validation or because he can't read or whatever, and the defense of the idiotic belief is doubled down on in response to this pushback. And on and on we go.

Gonna be a long four years.

by **CFP** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:53:27

pacino wrote:
strengthen up

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