Maggie's Farm

A Livingstone: Poor VDH: The Republic is already passed.

Hanson does his usual Gish Gallop.

1) That a prosecutor would try to catch someone he considers corrupt is not something new to the world, much less to modern America. 2) That presidents have never been indicted says much about the lack of accountability for the rich and powerful in America. Consider Nixon. Other democratic countries manage to hold their politicians legally accountable. 3) If Trump committed a crime, it doesn't matter whether he is running for office or not. 4) Bragg also passed on prosecution previously, but continued to develop evidence. As of this moment, the charges haven't even been made public. Nor has a judge ruled on the validity of the charges. 5) It is not unusual for witnesses to be fellow criminals. It is often up to the jury to discern the truth. 6) If Trump is believed to be corrupt, then it would not be unexpected for there to be efforts to bring him to account. Again, consider Nixon.

None of this indicates the end of the Republic.

A Livingstone: Interesting how you address VDH’s comments but not mine.

A Livingstone: The Republic is already passed.
Z: None of this indicates the end of the Republic.

Isn't that addressing your comment?

A Livingstone: I stated the Republic is passed because that the law is used as a selective weapon against those opposed to the regime, and used to protect against those allied with the regime members and allies.

We responded to the former case, as a selective weapon against those opposed to the "regime." Hanson did also provide 20 examples of the latter case, as a selective weapon withheld to protect those allied with the "regime," but we avoided the Gish Gallop. We'll address your examples instead.

A Livingstone: Antifa from Trump inauguration through the post Floyd riots v Proud Boys/J6 protestors

With Antifa, you point to a long stretch of time, but thousands of rioters were arrested during the Floyd protests, hundreds prosecuted. Most were not associated with radical groups, though.

With the J6 rioters, they were attempting to impeded the peaceful and lawful transfer of presidential power and threatened the lives of members of Congress and the Vice President. That made it a federal issue. Some have already been convicted of seditious conspiracy.

A Livingstone: McCabe/Strok/Page v Flynn/Bannon/etc.

Flynn pleaded guilty. Bannon defied a subpoena. The grand jury declined to indict McCabe (lacking candor during an administrative investigation is usually punished administratively). Have no idea why you brought up Strzok or Page.

A Livingstone: Attacks on Pregnancy Crisis Centers v Prayers outside of abortion providers

You have to catch them first. As for praying outside abortion providers, many jurisdiction provide an area around the abortion facility so patients can enter the facility without being put under duress.

A Livingstone: Attacks on Christian facilities v attempts to keep sexual content out of public schools.

You might want to clarify your comparison. But keeping sexual content out of public schools would mean banning the Bible from the school library.

Z: With the J6 rioters, they were attempting to impeded the peaceful and lawful transfer of presidential power

IN JUST NOW: A federal appeals court upheld the use of the "obstruction of an official proceeding" charge against the hundreds of January 6 rioters that could be proven to have intended to stop the certification. See United States v. Fischer

A Livingstone: But your last point (re the Bible) saves me the trouble

Notably, we responded to each of your several points. You responded to none of ours. Nor did you attempt to clarify your point about "attempts to keep sexual content out of public schools".

As for the Bible, it has been pulled from many school libraries, at least temporarily, for containing sexual and violent imagery, including incest, onanism, bestiality, prostitution, genital mutilation, fellatio, rape, and infanticide. It illustrates the problem with blanket censorship, such as you had suggested, rather than balanced moderation through professional librarians.

The Bible has historical and literary importance which far outweigh the graphic nature of much of its content. That's the point, of course.

OK, boomer.

(Dylan Mulvaney has had over one billion views of her video series, Days of Girlhood.)

mudbug: So Anheuser-Busch is feeding a man’s (and society’s) delusions because a lot of people watch him pretend to be a woman.

Regardless of how you characterize it, a billion is a lot of views. Advertising is all about the views.

Petitio principii.

foxmarks: Tell it to Kanye.

Heh. Well, there are always limiting factors.

As shown above, most people outside that cultural milieu may never have become aware of the influencer endorsement. That is, until it was turned into a thing by the right wing media. Because who cares?

But cancel away!

Lord Heathen: I had never heard of him until this.

Those crazy kids! With their body art and Wednesday dancing!