Today In Biden Land

[Kirkland Laing]

Just a qq (quick question). Do you have any criticism at all of Biden or the Democrats? Honestly

Come on then. The southern border! Biden's open border policy is letting millions of economic migrants posing as asylum seekers into America every year! That's a hundred percent true by the way. It's an unarguable fact. I'm not disputing that at all. You're not even going to criticise this?

There must be at least the southern border policy that you think he's doing badly on. Probably other things too. You really think he's done nothing worth criticising? We both agree he's doing the least worst possible job given current circumstances?

[TitoFan]

Just a qq (quick question). Do you have any criticism at all of Biden or the Democrats? Honestly

Come on then. The southern border! Biden's open border policy is letting millions of economic migrants posing as asylum seekers into America every year! That's a hundred percent true by the way. It's an unarguable fact. I'm not disputing that at all. You're not even going to criticise this?

There must be at least the southern border policy that you think he's doing badly on. Probably other things too. You really think he's done nothing worth criticising? We both agree he's doing the least worst possible job given current circumstances?

Brock's gone AWOL, wasting an opportunity to have a good debate.

I myself am a devout Trump hater... but I'll do my best to fill in.



Yes... Biden's southern border and immigration policies and decision-making has left a lot to be desired. I'm glad you agree with that. Although to be fair... Trump fukked that one up just as bad or worse. Seems like no one is capable of doing that one job correctly. Border control isn't rocket science... but it may as well be, given the horrible job the last two Presidents have done.

But I'll another area where I totally criticize Joe. "Inclusivity." We are all painfully aware of the need to reduce discrimination in positions of power. The picture of an all-white male "good ol' boy" club as the President's cabinet has taken a long time to overcome. Racism and sexism are unfortunately very much still alive in America.

But IMHO, Biden has bent over backwards to the point of snapping in two, when it comes to rushing to appease every Tom, Dick, and Harry for the sole purpose of inclusion. Merit FIRST... THEN you go about making sure people aren't being left out due to race or gender.

Speaking of race, I'm sure you're ready with a laundry list of reasons why Rachel Levine was the man... woman... whatever for the job he... she... whatever was appointed to by the President. I'll only counter with "Biden should've looked longer and harder." I'm sure there were plenty of equally or MORE qualified candidates to hold that position. Levine's appointment was laughable... and opened the doors wide open to the whole gender mess that is only beginning to show its ugly head in the States today. Not everyone who has concerns about elementary school education, gender clinics, and women's sports is a hater. Most of us are level-headed, open-minded, concerned citizens that care very much about the future of the nation and society in general.

Other than that... Biden's done a fairly credible job. As you said... given the circumstances. It can't be easy following the World's Biggest Joke as President of the United States. Trump did a lot of damage to people's psyche, appealing to the ugliest sentiments in people... as well as giving a voice to those masses easily led by the nose ring. Where else do you see debates STILL going on about whether January 6th was an insurrection, or just a "peaceful stroll to the Capitol." But I'm digressing. This belongs in the Trump thread.

My concerns about 2024 are about Biden's age. It's incredible that in one of the greatest powers in the free world today, there can't be one single, solitary, qualified and credible candidate other than Biden... to lead a political party in opposition to The Biggest Con Man of All Time.

[palmerq]

U.S. Employers Keep Hiring, but Signs of Easing Are Seen https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/b...JNWJDJ69qt54q4

Should be good news for Americans but as we are all still in bizzaro world, this is bad news, Federal reserve to keep up the rate hikes and increase the recession chances?

[NoSavingByTheBell]

U.S. Employers Keep Hiring, but Signs of Easing Are Seen https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/b...JNWJDJ69qt54q4

Should be good news for Americans but as we are all still in bizzaro world, this is bad news, Federal reserve to keep up the rate hikes and increase the recession chances?

2008 will look like a kindy party compared to whats coming

[palmerq]

Tell me more, what's going to happen?

[TIC]

i hope svb doesn't have a roll on effect

[Kirkland Laing]

U.S. Employers Keep Hiring, but Signs of Easing Are Seen https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/b...JNWJDJ69qt54q4

Should be good news for Americans but as we are all still in bizzaro world, this is bad news, Federal reserve to keep up the rate hikes and increase the recession chances?

2008 will look like a kindy party compared to whats coming

What's coming?

[Kirkland Laing]

U.S. Employers Keep Hiring, but Signs of Easing Are Seen https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/b...JNWJDJ69qt54q4

Should be good news for Americans but as we are all still in bizzaro world, this is bad news, Federal reserve to keep up the rate hikes and increase the recession chances?

They'll err on the side of too high rates to kill inflation even if the rates cause a recession. If inflation doesn't abate they'll deliberately raise rates high enough to create a recession big enough to flatten inflation.

[Kirkland Laing]

Just a qq (quick question). Do you have any criticism at all of Biden or the Democrats? Honestly

Come on then. The southern border! Biden's open border policy is letting millions of economic migrants posing as asylum seekers into America every year! That's a hundred percent true by the way. It's an unarguable fact. I'm not disputing that at all. You're not even going to criticise this?

There must be at least the southern border policy that you think he's doing badly on. Probably other things too. You really think he's done nothing worth criticising? We both agree he's doing the least worst possible job given current circumstances?

Brock's gone AWOL, wasting an opportunity to have a good debate.

I myself am a devout Trump hater... but I'll do my best to fill in.



Yes... Biden's southern border and immigration policies and decision-making has left a lot to be desired. I'm glad you agree with that. Although to be fair... Trump fukked that one up just as bad or worse. Seems like no one is capable of doing that one job correctly. Border control isn't rocket science... but it may as well be, given the horrible job the last two Presidents have done.

But I'll another area where I totally criticize Joe. "Inclusivity." We are all painfully aware of the need to reduce discrimination in positions of power. The picture of an all-white male "good ol' boy" club as the President's cabinet has taken a long time to overcome. Racism and sexism are unfortunately very much still alive in America.

But IMHO, Biden has bent over backwards to the point of snapping in two, when it comes to rushing to appease every Tom, Dick, and Harry for the sole purpose of inclusion. Merit FIRST... THEN you go about making sure people aren't being left out due to race or gender.

Speaking of race, I'm sure you're ready with a laundry list of reasons why Rachel Levine was the man... woman... whatever for the job he... she... whatever was appointed to by the President. I'll only counter with "Biden should've looked longer and harder." I'm sure there were plenty of equally or MORE qualified candidates to hold that position. Levine's appointment was laughable... and opened the doors wide open to the whole gender mess that is only beginning to show its ugly head in the States today. Not everyone who has concerns about elementary school education, gender clinics, and women's sports is a hater. Most of us are level-headed, open-minded, concerned citizens that care very much about the future of the nation and society in general.

Other than that... Biden's done a fairly credible job. As you said... given the circumstances. It can't be easy following the World's Biggest Joke as President of the United States. Trump did a lot of damage to people's psyche, appealing to the ugliest sentiments in people... as well as giving a voice to those masses easily led by the nose ring. Where else do you see debates STILL going on about whether January 6th was an insurrection, or just a "peaceful stroll to the Capitol." But I'm digressing. This belongs in the Trump thread.

My concerns about 2024 are about Biden's age. It's incredible that in one of the greatest powers in the free world today, there can't be one single, solitary, qualified and credible candidate other than Biden... to lead a political party in opposition to The Biggest Con Man of All Time.

As far as immigration does until about ten years ago both parties had the exact same line on it. Both acted tough on stopping people coming over the border but did nothing to actually stop it. Then the Democrats started moving left on immigration with sanctuary cities and whatnot which gave Trump an opening and became his signature issue. Trump talked even tougher than anybody had before but other than a load of pointless theatre at the border did nothing at all. The numbers coming over the border actually went up ( because there's no control down there the only way to judge how many are coming in it how many the border police apprehend) although this is due to how fucked up things are in central and southern America, massive violence in some countries sending lots of people north and you can't really blame Trump for that. Same with Biden at the minute. However deportations actually fell under Trump from Obama levels. Like anything else with that fucker a load of bullshit, bluster and theatre and no actual end results. Deportations are back up under Biden I think but lots of people coming over the border, basically a backlog from the pandemic years and lots of violence in central America.

But even with record numbers coming in unemployment is still at a fifty year low and job openings are skyrocketing:









So you can see why both parties, who are both pro business to varying degrees, aren't going to do anything to stop people coming in. They'd both like more people if possible, particularly the GOP who are a wholly owned subsidiary of big business and also gain politically from having constant headlines about the border. It's a winning issue for them politically.

Will answer the other stuff in between the fights.



As far as inclusivity goes,it's a good thing that a forty percent nonwhite America sees its government to resemble the country to some extent. If you can point to one person in the government who isn't qualified for the job I'd be surprised. I could point to endless people in the last administration who weren't qualified including the DNI which is basically the second most powerful job in government after the prez and Trump appointed a fucker with zero, zero intelligence experience and the fucking GOP Senate confirmed him.

Look at Rachel Levine.



DeSantis is running for prez and because he's been governor of a state for three years nobody will question whether he's qualified or not.

Levine is assistant secretary of health. An assistant to the actual secretary. She was previously secretary of health in Pennsylvania for four years and has also been physician general. She's a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Penn State medical school and graduated from Harvard medical school. So she's eminently fucking qualified. She's also transgender and that's a fucking good thing, it's good that this particular minority can see some level of representation in their government while one of America's political parties turns them into hate figures for half the population. And they're doing this, let me remind you, to get enough votes to get elected so that they can cut taxes for the wealthiest few people in the country. People being attacked and murdered for political gain. It's 2022 and after demonising every minority the GOP have found another group of marginalised people to terrorise with the power of government and by rousing the rabble. Absolutely fucking shameful.

[Kirkland Laing]

And if you think I'm exaggerating about the GOP and how evil and cynical they are just read this:

After President Richard Nixon declared a “war on drugs” in 1971, the number of people incarcerated in American jails and prisons escalated from 300,000 to 2.3 million. Half of those in federal prison are incarcerated for a drug offense, and two-thirds of those in prison for drug offenses are people of color. Disproportionate arrest, conviction, and sentencing rates for drug offenses have devastated communities of color in America.
Between 1980 and 2011, arrests of African Americans for violent and property crimes fell, but rose dramatically for drug offenses. As the Washington Post reported, African Americans are far more likely to be arrested for selling or possessing drugs than whites, even though whites use drugs at the same rate and are more likely to sell drugs.
In a new article for Harper’s magazine, journalist Dan Baum reports that President Richard Nixon’s domestic policy chief, John Ehrlichman, admitted that the war on drugs was designed to have precisely this impact on the Black community.
In a 1994 interview, Mr. Ehrlichman said, “You want to know what this was really all about?” He went on:
“The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and Black people. You understand what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or Black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and Blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”



https://eji.org/news/nixon-war-on-dr...-black-people/

[Kirkland Laing]

And I don't think one government appointment opened the door to anything. You have a section of the left which bangs on endlessly about gender issues to an extent that's counterproductive and it's counterproductive because the right exploits it for political gain. That has been going on for a while.

As far as education goes that's down to local school boards and individual states pretty much. Trans women in women's sports should be banned, that big swimmer for instance is just ridiculous, but it's just a handful of people nationwide and again it's blown up out of all proportion for political gain. Sex change clinics for kids I'm sure push medication, treatments and surgeries more than they ethically should but that's the case with every single aspect of American healthcare, it's what you get with an entirely for profit system. It would be abnormal if this one part of the healthcare system stuck to ethical norms, no other part does. But this is private businesses and private individuals on the demand and the supply side here. Conservatives are supposed to believe in the sanctity of private individuals exercising freedom of choice in a free market. Except of course when they can demonise the whole thing for political gain to the point where it creates ongoing terrorist incidents:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/...ff-are-coping/

[palmerq]

Kirkland Laing is a banking expert(or maybe I got a letter wrong there:S) can you explain this for us dums duns

Regulators Close Second Bank and Move to Protect Deposits https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/12/b...oJmRji5NcKP6Hw

[Kirkland Laing]

https://www.mediaite.com/trump/trump...g-to-collapse/

Kirkland Laing is a banking expert(or maybe I got a letter wrong there:S) can you explain this for us dums duns

Regulators Close Second Bank and Move to Protect Deposits https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/12/b...oJmRji5NcKP6Hw

We've had zero or effectively zero rates for many years now but the Fed had to start putting them up recently to flatten inflation. When you raise rates after so many years of free money it catches out firms who were doing risky or iffy business that was only profitable due to zero rates. You also get loanees defaulting and lots of bank loans going bad which makes the banks insolvent if they have a lot of those loans. I'm sure there are a few banks out there sitting on a ton of bad loans or soon to be bad loans. There'll definitely be more banks in trouble in the next few years. Commercial real estate is in trouble too.



SVB catered to a lot of tech startups. These startups were flush with venture capital cash that had been invested in them, SVB had no expertise in what to do with that money so they bought a bunch of longer dated bonds. These bonds lost money when the Fed raised rates and at the same time SVB's customers suddenly needed cash as it turned out their businesses were geared to low interest rates so SVB had to sell their securities at a lot to pay them back and the whole thing spiralled.







Signature did a lot of real estate business in NY but then got into crypto just before it went pop. Curious timing, the people who ran the bank are not blithering idiots so there's some hidden reason for going after crypto money when they knew the whole thing was a scam. They must have been short of cash somehow, made some bad loans probably. A crypto bank called Silvergate that catered to the crypto industry got shuttered a week ago but didn't make much news.


The Fed have now jumped in to backstop the system which should end the panic but bank runs are about irrational fear and can happen in an instant these days now everybody has electronic banking so you never know. Luckily there's nobody out there trying to fuel the panic for their own grift or profit:


https://www.mediaite.com/trump/trump-pours-gasoline-on-the-fire-amid-economic-fears-following-silicon-valley-banks-failure-the-banks-are-already-starting-to-collapse/

https://www.mediaite.com/trump/trump-pours-gasoline-on-the-fire-amid-economic-fears-following-silicon-valley-banks-failure-the-banks-are-already-starting-to-collapse/

It'llbe interesting to see if the feds investigate the people like Peter Thiel who started the SVB panic last week. This is just uninformed speculation here by somebody who has no knowledge of this at all but it's just possible some of these fuckers were shorting the bank's stock while they were telling people to pull their money out. Maybe the authorities might look into this.

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Potato Joe worse than Carter

[palmerq]

Nick, Aaron or Anson carter?