The Political Thread

[Chris]

Brazil Police Accuse Bolsonaro and Allies of Attempted Coup

Brazilian federal police raided the former president and his top allies on accusations that they attempted to overturn the results of the 2022 election.

www.nytimes.com

Former President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil oversaw a broad conspiracy to hold on to power regardless of the results of the 2022 election, including personally editing a proposed order to arrest a Supreme Court justice and call new elections after he lost, according to new accusations by Brazilian federal police unveiled on Thursday.

 

[Chris]

Zelenskyy fires Ukraine’s top general Zaluzhny

The two had strong differences over how the war should be fought.

www.politico.eu

KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today removed Valery Zaluzhny as the country's military commander-in-chief — ending months of tensions between the two.

 

[Chris]

Biden won't be charged in classified docs case; special counsel cites instances of 'poor memory'

The decision caps off a yearlong saga and means Donald Trump remains the only president in history to face criminal charges.

www.nbcnews.com

WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Hur has declined to prosecute President Joe Biden for his handling of classified documents, but said Biden's practices "present serious risks to national security," and added that Biden portrayed himself as an "elderly man with a poor memory" who would be sympathetic to a jury.

"Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen," the report said, but the evidence "does not establish Mr. Biden's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

 

[Barry Poppins]

Biden won't be charged in classified docs case; special counsel cites instances of 'poor memory'

The decision caps off a yearlong saga and means Donald Trump remains the only president in history to face criminal charges.

www.nbcnews.com

WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Hur has declined to prosecute President Joe Biden for his handling of classified documents, but said Biden's practices "present serious risks to national security," and added that Biden portrayed himself as an "elderly man with a poor memory" who would be sympathetic to a jury.

"Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen," the report said, but the evidence "does not establish Mr. Biden's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

Oh the MAGA people are gonna be fucking pissed and fuming at this news.

 

[Barry Poppins]

Supreme Court justices steer clear of insurrection question in Trump ballot case

WASHINGTON — After supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, ominous fencing was erected to protect surrounding buildings.

One of the buildings that needed protecting was the grand marble structure across the street from the Capitol: the Supreme Court.

But during oral arguments on Thursday over Colorado’s effort to kick Trump off the Republican primary ballot, the justices asked little about a key question in the case: Was Jan. 6 an insurrection?

Instead, the court looks likely to rule in favor of Trump on other grounds, allowing the justices to avoid taking sides on such a contentious issue.

Based on the two-hour oral argument, it appeared there was a majority that would find that states do not have the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars people who previously held government positions and “engaged in insurrection” from holding federal office.

Justices asked questions on all manner of legal technicalities, including whether the president is covered by Section 3 and whether Congress needs to pass legislation to enforce it. In skirting the insurrection question, they also probed who gets to decide whether an insurrection took place, with several suggesting states should not have that power.

Fucking cowards, the lot of the Supreme Court if they rule in favor of Trump here because they're too afraid to admit that Jan 6 was an insurrection.

 

[Y2Jayne]

Disgusting.

 

[Barry Poppins]

Disgusting.

Which part, the refusing the shake hands?

 

[Y2Jayne]

Which part, the refusing the shake hands?

Yes , the lack of sportsmanship in general. It's one thing to take a side in the conflict, it's another to be disrespectful to a team that has nothing to do with it and who's just here to play.

 

[Samoa Looch]

I mean... generally I'd agree, but also "nothing to do with it" depends. I'm sure there are at least some in the team who are in complete support of what's happening in Palestine/Israel right now.

It's a thin line really.

 

[Y2Jayne]

I mean... generally I'd agree, but also "nothing to do with it" depends. I'm sure there are at least some in the team who are in complete support of what's happening in Palestine/Israel right now.

It's a thin line really.

Oh it is, I just think politics and sports shouldn't collide in this era.

 

[Barry Poppins]

Oh it is, I just think politics and sports shouldn't collide in this era.

Unfortunately, sports and politics have been part and parcel for decades, even before the 1940s.

While the lack of sportsmanship is concerning, let's also consider that Ireland of all nations knows exactly what it's like to have an oppressive government seize land and murder citizens for the sake of expansionism and imperialism under the guise of stomping out terrorists. If anything, Ireland identifies the most with Palestine out of any European nation. It makes sense why they'd want nothing to do with a team that represents the Netanyahu regime.

 

[Y2Jayne]

Unfortunately, sports and politics have been part and parcel for decades, even before the 1940s.

While the lack of sportsmanship is concerning, let's also consider that Ireland of all nations knows exactly what it's like to have an oppressive government seize land and murder citizens for the sake of expansionism and imperialism under the guise of stomping out terrorists. If anything, Ireland identifies the most with Palestine out of any European nation. It makes sense why they'd want nothing to do with a team that represents the Netanyahu regime.

Weren't Irishmen burning Muslim migrants shelters a couple of months ago?

 

[Barry Poppins]

Long story short, I find it silly when people say "Leave politics out of sports", but it's only when it's something they disagree with. Athletes are allowed to express opinions, they're not marionettes for the masses to play with. They're people with feelings and opinions.

People want to think Sports is escapism from politics, but then there's the strange juxtaposition of everything that happens behind the scenes. You have the Brian Flores racism lawsuit with the NFL, you have the NBA shutting up executives and blackballing them from the league for criticizing foreign powers, and you have Lebron James, the patron saint of charity in the NBA, telling other NBA players to "shut up and dribble" when it comes to China and other avenues that the NBA is seeking for revenue. The MLB's Hall of Fame is notoriously political, and Hockey internationally has an issue with racism, sexual abuse, and several other gross abuses of power.

Don't even get me started on the political machinations of FIFA either.

Politics is a part of sports, point blank.

 

[Wolverine]

Oh it is, I just think politics and sports shouldn't collide in this era.

This is the reason why the I forbid any kind of politics in the Sports section. I want our members to enjoy talking and enjoy watching sports as they should without having the "Debbie Downer" known as politics, to ruin their moods in the section.

 

[Barry Poppins]

Weren't Irishmen burning Muslim migrants shelters a couple of months ago?

The actions of a few does not represent the majority.