throwaway201103

Who is the "we" that is giving him more powers? Trump is viscerally hated by the Speaker (2nd in line) and most of the House (they already impeached him once) and a significant portion of the Senate. No way he's getting any emergency powers, if the Constitution would even allow it.

All the people who voted for Trump and who think the vote was rigged feel unheard.

Dr. King was quite perceptive.

He says things that resonate with their beliefs. America is great, America is good in the world, a strong America is a good thing, get out of foreign wars, get out of bad trade deals, bring back jobs, cut taxes. He did a lot of these things. He was completely unlike any other politician. He didn't try to waffle on both sides of every issue. He spoke his mind, in a brash, rude, blue-collar New York kind of way. He called people names. I never heard real hate in the things he said, though if you wanted to hear it, I'm sure you did.

And he'd have had zero supporters at that point. He'd already lost the VP, who refused his request to reject the votes. Absolutely nobody would have stood with him on extending his term as a result of a violent interruption of this ceremony in the Congress.

I don't think anyone (certainly not me) is denying some intent of at least a core of instigators to create a disruption, at minimum. They should be identified, charged with their crimes, and stand trial.

Because in trying to imagine the worst possible outcome, I still see no way Joe Biden is not sworn in on January 20. I grant you some of the people there may have been under delusions that they could stop it, but it wasn't going to happen. I mean god forbid they killed the VP or the Speaker. The rest of the Congress, the military, the states, are all going stand aside and say "OK well, nothing we can do now, it's President Trump for life!"

It would be a big problem, but I don't think so. It wasn't in the realm of possibility on January 6, but for sake of argument.... Say the entire Sentate and House is wiped out somehow. They are not essential for day to day governance. State Governors would make emergency appointments to replace them as a first response. It would be hugely disruptive and chaotic, but I think the republic would survive. The republic is the states. The people in Washington are just the representatives.

Because if there was one thing it wasn't, it wasn't an "existential threat to the republic." Hyperbole like this make it hard to talk about the rest of it reasonably. It was a protest gone off the rails, with a few bad actors, and an embarrasing lack of preparedness by the Capitol Police on that day of all days, given what has been going on all year.

After a summer of riots, looting, and violence all across the country, fueled by calls to violence on Twitter and Facebook

So the baker can refuse to bake cakes for Democrats?

(I can't see the flagged post that's at the top of this subthread so if this is a bit out of context that is why)

If the baker thinks it's a message of sin, then what? It's not like selling them a room at a hotel or any other standard thing. This is a custom crafted item and message that they are being asked to help propagate, and one that they disagree with.

No, I mean AWS can choose to not host Parler, so why can't a baker choose to not make a gay wedding cake?

You can also choose your baker, so find one who thinks like you do.

In both cases it's a matter of being able to choose whether to participate in a message you don't agree with.

The various "big provider X boots conservative platform/person Y" are all popping on and off the front page fairly quickly. The comments are mostly what you would predict.

"use force to overthrow the election"

Which politicians said that?

Hilarious how historic government symbols and tradition are suddenly cool again, after a summer of statues, monuments, and buildings being vandalized and toppled.

Is the guy in custody? Who is he? What's his background?

Likely as not an effigy symbol. Mike Pence was never going to be hanged on the Capitol steps. The guy has Secret Service on him 24x7

Maybe it's better that the discussions are happening where they can be seen? The other half of the problem on Wednesday was how unprepared and weakly defended the Capitol was, in light of all this planning was going on on Parler.

If it had been happening on GPG-encrypted email, would that be better?

Really, anyone using cloud providers should have at least a plan on a side burner to move to another provider if they have to. We've seen cloud accounts canceled for many reasons, including no discernable reason at at all.

It's a big world. Someone will host them.

What does this sound like to you? Are you reading "storm the Capitol" in those words?

At what point should something like AWS be a "common carrier" though?

You see the same unhinged types on left leaning platforms. Online forums attract the fringe loudmouths. Parler is not representative of modern US conservatism. I call myself conservative and I've never in my life visited the site.

https://www.reddit.com/r/slatestarcodex/comments/9rvroo/most...

Edit: to be clear, in context, I am saying that these nutjob posters on Parler are not representative. I understand that mainstream conservatives may also have a presence there.

"If you’re really in favor of free speech, then you’re in favor of freedom of speech for precisely the views you despise. Otherwise, you’re not in favor of free speech."

-Noam Chomsky

I've just kept going to the gym. If your local gyms are closed, obviously that isn't an option though.

So there are clinics everywhere for "testosterone therapy." Is this safe for an older male? What are the long-term effects? I assume it's expensive, like most cosmetic/vanity medicine. How is it different from "roids" that powerlifters and other pro athletes are known to use? Or is it different?

Pretty much the same for me. I'm mid-50s. Never played sports, never exercised. Wasn't terribly overweight but very "soft." Started lifting weights about 18 months ago. Only exercise I've ever been able to stick with longer than a week or two.

"If you’re really in favor of free speech, then you’re in favor of freedom of speech for precisely the views you despise. Otherwise, you’re not in favor of free speech."

- Noam Chomsky