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DC Inauguration Protestors Are Being Hit With Facebook Data Searches (citylab.com)

During the protests over the inauguration of Donald Trump, more than 230 protestors were arrested -- many of which were charged with rioting and had their phones seized by Washington, D.C., police. One of the individuals who was arrested received an email from Facebook's "Law Enforcement Response Team," which raises the question: Did D.C. police ask Facebook to reveal information about this arrestee? CityLab reports: In an emailed response to CityLab's request for more information, Rachel Reid, a spokesperson for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, responded that "MPD does not comment on investigative tactics." The District of Columbia United States Attorney's Office -- the agency leading the prosecution of Inauguration protesters -- has not yet responded to CityLab's inquiry. CityLab also asked Facebook about the email. "We don't comment on individual requests," company spokesperson Jay Nancarrow said. He referred CityLab to the site's law enforcement guidelines page and to its Government Requests Report database, where the public can see how many legal processes it receives from countries worldwide. According to this database, U.S. law enforcement requested information on the accounts of 38,951 users over January to June of 2016, and they received some type of data in 80 percent of cases. Which "legal process" authorities sent to Facebook for information on the protester matters considerably in terms of how much data they can seize for investigation. According to Facebook's legal guidelines, a search warrant, for example, could allow Facebook to give away content data including "messages, photos, videos, timeline posts, and location information." A subpoena or a court order would give authorities less information, but would still include the individual's "name, length of service, credit card information, email address(es), and a recent login/logout IP address(es)."

53 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Re:So now under Trump... by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Setting cars on fire, assaulting people, and breaking windows isn't "protesting."

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. "...which begs the question..." by turkeydance · · Score: 4, Informative

    it raises the question but does not beg.

    1. Re:"...which begs the question..." by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Begging the question" just doesn't mean what it used to mean any more.

      "Begging the question" is almost always used incorrectly, and most people don't even know the correct meaning. But enough people get annoyed by incorrect usage, that it is best to just avoid the phrase entirely in your own speaking or writing.

      Use "raise the question" if that is what you mean.
      Use "circular reasoning" if that is what you mean.
      Or, if you really want to look pretentious, use "assuming the antecedent".

    2. Re:"...which begs the question..." by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 3, Interesting

      "Begging the question" is almost always used incorrectly...

      Unlike, for instance, French (a "dead language spoken by millions"), which has a rule-making body with the force of law that can fine you (in some jurisdictions) for saying "hamburger" in an otherwise French sentence, American English is a living language.

      That means what is "correct" is what the bulk of the speakers actually say. It changes from time to time. This is one of those times and one of those changes.

      It is also a Germanic language, not a Romance language.

      It's similar to the prohibition on ending a sentence with a preposition (which is a rule from Latin which academics keep trying to impose on English speakers, though the grammatical form always was legitimate in English and other Germanic languages). "Begging the Question" began as a mistranslation of a Latin phrase (attributed to Aristotle) that was incorporated as a technical term (for a particular logical fallacy) into a specialized academic vocabulary. But the phrase has ALSO come to be used for other things (which actually match the string of words more closely).

      Some academics claim their subculture's first use makes it the only "correct" meaning of the phrase. But like other words and phrases in English, the common usage defines the (set of) "correct" meaning(s).

      --
      Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
    3. Re:"...which begs the question..." by Orgasmatron · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No matter how many people use literally to mean figuratively, no matter how many dictionaries take note of the inverse usage, it is still wrong, and anyone trying to avoid looking like a moron would be wise to steer clear of incorrect uses. Ditto "begging the question".

      --
      See that "Preview" button?
    4. Re:"...which begs the question..." by arth1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      .That means what is "correct" is what the bulk of the speakers actually say. It changes from time to time. This is one of those times and one of those changes.

      Yes, and it's also dumbing down the language to the level of the ignorant. And it causes confusion when the listener assumes original usage. I do not believe either a good thing.

      Other examples of words and idioms often used to mean something different from the original:

      - Literally. Factually. An antonym of figuratively, and not a synonym.
      - Evacuate. A synonym for empty. You empty/evacuate buildings and areas of people; you seldom empty the people.
      - Push the envelope: Stretch the limits, not pass the buck.
      - Peruse: Going over something in detail, not skim over it lightly.
      - Nauseous: Noxious. His socks were nauseous, and she became nauseated.
      - Noisome. Related to nauseous; it means smelly, not noisy.
      - Proscribe: Forbid, not recommend.
      - Ultimate: Last, not greatest. Ultimate position is the opposite of pole position.
      - Nonplussed: Dumbstruck and fazed, not unimpressed and unfazed. Only Americans seem to use this one contrary to original usage.
      - Comprise: A synonym for contain and not consist. "Comprised of" is almost always wrong. USA comprises 50 states; it is not comprised of 50 states.

      If there can be any doubt whether all your readers have switched over to the "new meaning", don't use it.

    5. Re:"...which begs the question..." by Orgasmatron · · Score: 2

      I stand by my assessment. This usage is wrong.

      Like it or not, right or wrong, people judge you by how you write and speak (and look). If you have good ideas and want them to be heard, the very last thing you should do is hinder that effort by allowing yourself to sound (or look) like an uneducated moron.

      --
      See that "Preview" button?
    6. Re:"...which begs the question..." by TheConway · · Score: 2

      begging the question, at least, HAS correct usages. 'could care less' as it is commonly used by Americans, and intended to mean 'I couldn't care any less than I do, because I don't care' means absolutely the opposite of what is intended.

  3. Re:So now under Trump... by danbuter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is based on a law pushed through by Obama. Trump just gets to use it. i.e. Just because your guy is in, don't let him pass bad laws. The next guy might not agree with you.

  4. What is the problem?.. by mi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A number of crimes (including violent ones) have been committed, which the relevant law-enforcement agency(ies) are duly investigating. They have detained some suspects and are collecting evidence. What's so outrageous or even particularly newsworthy about this?

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:What is the problem?.. by mi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The news is that Facebook rats you out.

      Unlike in certain 2nd and 3rd-world countries, where police could (indeed, are) used by the powerful not to fight real crimes, but to suppress political opposition, this is rarely the case in the US in general, and certainly not the case in TFA.

      Thus the negative connotations of the verb "rat" are misplaced.

      So don't use Facebook if you don't want its database wielded against you.

      Not just Facebook — if you are planning to burn a bystander's car, or smash a store-front, or throw a brick at someone, the very Earth should burn under your feet and the Internet too should reject you. Such folks are neither "brave" nor are they "heroes" — they are scumbags abusing the liberties this country affords political protesters.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    2. Re:What is the problem?.. by RightwingNutjob · · Score: 2

      Only news to idiots. Information wants to be free, as a wise sage once said...

    3. Re:What is the problem?.. by coofercat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If I may... the news here is that committing a crime and being arrested for it (might) mean law enforcement get to see every last thing you've ever posted to the Internet, even if you thought those posts were vaguely private and beyond the reach of the likes of a google search. Many of us already knew this, but the point is being made clearly and explicitly here.

      I can understand the dislike of the criminals in protests, but I'm amazed at the partisan vitriol in most of the modded up comments. It seems that if you're a /.er, you must have huge disdain for criminals who attended a protest against a very controversial (and currently unpopular) president. In order to show how much you dislike said criminals, you must entirely support law enforcement, no matter how invasive they are. You're allowed to voice your dislike of law enforcement's methods and the general loss of privacy the modern age brings in other threads, but not this one.

      "Throwing the book at the criminals" seems reasonable enough, but let's leave all their friends, relatives and random acquaintances that they've ever had out if it, eh?

  5. If if was a fifth by wbr1 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    If these were legitimately violent protesters being arrested..for violence..then by all means search. If this was random jo standing and shouting without violence, then no. Context is important here and TFS and the first linked TFA are not clear on if all who were arrested were violent, nor who had devices/accounts searched.

    Part of the reason of that is the opacity with which government treats these things. That makes it hard as hell to be an informed populace and fight overreach. It is also something Obama promised and never delivered, he in fact often did the opposite. This is not a partisan statement, as I have nothing but disdain for or current administration and tend to lean pretty damn liberal. I mention it as a point of fact that few, if any of those in power have your or my interest at heart, regardless of the populist messages they spew.

    --
    Silence is a state of mime.
  6. Stop by sexconker · · Score: 2

    Stop using "begs the question" incorrectly, you clowns.

    Further:

    According to Facebook's legal guidelines, a search warrant, for example, could allow Facebook to give away content data including "messages, photos, videos, timeline posts, and location information." A subpoena or a court order would give authorities less information, but would still include the individual's "name, length of service, credit card information, email address(es), and a recent login/logout IP address(es).

    What's the problem, exactly? One arrested individual is making this claim. Facebook says they do so with a court order, subpoena, or actual warrant. You need an actual warrant to get most info.

    Now if you had evidence that Facebook was turning over tons of data on anyone who was simply at the protests without a warrant/subpoena/order, then we'd have a story.

    1. Re:Stop by sexconker · · Score: 2

      You don't see how violent rioting in response to an election is cause for the government to look into someone's background?
      Somehow, I bet you support mandatory background checks for buying firearms even for people with no history of violence or crime.

  7. Re:Good. If it wears a mask, kill it by DogDude · · Score: 2

    https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M0KMM9W... Those are some strong words, AC.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
  8. Re:So now under Trump... by ScentCone · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So now under Trump... protesting is illegal.

    Hey look! Fake News from the Snowflake News Network.

    Please explain, specifically, how you come to this conclusion. Or are you in the "arson is just protest" school of thought? You are? Great. Thanks for demonstrating (so to speak) exactly why liberals have been losing state legislative seats and governorships for the last six years, along with both houses of congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court. Please continue with your way of thinking in advance of the next legislative elections, so this trend can continue.

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  9. Re:So now under Trump... by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

    Until they start, they are _all_ asshole fascists.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  10. Re:So now under Trump... by prisoner-of-enigma · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Funny how, if we're all a bunch of racist, sexist, bigoted, homophobic, xenophobic, neo-nazi, fascist, greedy, evil, violent, intolerant bastards like you say we are, we didn't riot, burn shit, threaten to blow up the White House, dress up like vaginas, scream, whine, cry, bitch, moan, and boycott everything when Obama was elected (twice!). I mean, it's not like we AGREED with Obama's policies in the slightest, certainly no more so than you agree with Trump. Yet somehow the only time you see this behavior is when liberals lose. Conservatives...not so much.

    It reminds me of the argument that gun owners are some sort of threat to the general public. We've got more than 300 million guns and several trillion rounds of ammunition. Trust us, if we were a threat, you'd know it by now.

    --
    In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves, but feed us. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  11. Re:So now under Trump... by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 4, Insightful

    just because people object to Trump using overreaching laws, doesn't mean that they supported Obama - or more particularly Obama's signing of the enabling law. And even if they did, changing your mind about the proper scope of presidental powers as you see them used, or on any other political issue, being met with derision, "told you so" or "our turn now that we won, ha ha" is the opposite of helpful. It's just being an ass Also, the way you wrote that implies you are okay with Trump using this law, so you may want to be aware of that.

    --
    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  12. Re:So now under Trump... by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Setting cars on fire, assaulting people, and breaking windows isn't "protesting."

    Well, actually it can be a "protesting" tactic.

    But being an "act of protest" doesn't make it any less a violent criminal act, or any less subject to prosecution and criminal sanctions.

    It also doesn't make planning to do it in a group any less a felonious conspiracy.

    = = = =

    I'm waiting with bated breath for the new administration to follow the money back to Soros (busting people all the way along the trail) and find enough evidence to bust him as the kingpin of a criminal conspiracy. Wouldn't THAT cause consternation.

    --
    Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
  13. Re:So now under Trump... by Obfuscant · · Score: 3, Funny

    Protesters should just arrest Black Bloc assholes.

    "You're a protester, you're under arrest!"

    "I'm a vigilante, I'm arresting YOU."

    "I protest you arresting me. Therefore I am a vigilante, too."

  14. Re:So now under Trump... by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

    Setting cars on fire, assaulting people, and breaking windows isn't "protesting."

    Actually, it depends on if the targets of destruction are incidental or purposefully selected. If they are incidental then it's a riot. However, if there is a reason behind their choice of targets, it's a violent protest.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  15. Re:So now under Trump... by kelemvor4 · · Score: 5, Informative

    protesting is illegal.

    No, but rioting is. You know - burning cars, hurting people, damaging property. Just like it was under Obama and every other president we've had. Protesting and rioting are not the same thing, obviously.

    Protest Definition != Riot Definition

  16. This is good news by anthony_greer · · Score: 3, Informative

    If every single marketing drone in corporate America with the right subscription can mine all this data to sell us useless plastic trinkets that we don't need, then why not let the police mine it to solve crimes that were committed during a large public gathering?

    No one is saying they are going after the innocent granny holding a "i would have rather had Hillary" placard but if she happened to share a photo of some anarchists destroying property that can help the police identify them, then hell yes the police should be searching it so long as they had probable cause and got a warrant.

    1. Re:This is good news by Is+Don+the+new+Ron · · Score: 2

      My chief concern here is if the rioters were really arrested based on what they uploaded to social media. No, I don't mean the privacy or police state angles, but the very idea that rioting has somehow become socially acceptable, something to show off to friends, like a trophy or new-born baby. I hope it's something more sophisticated than that, because this could very well evolve into something more ominous, when real life death and destruction become mainstream entertainment, a modern day sacking of Rome, with the invaders taking selfies while butchering, pillaging and doing their other evil deeds.

      --
      Deja vu: In the 80s we had a 70ish actor as POTUS, a woman PM in the UK, and a bald leader of that other nuke superpower
  17. Been tracked online is not news by AHuxley · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you are protesting and have your phone on you with a social media app working..
    Expect all that networking to be collected by some agency and later passed to law enforcement.
    A US social media brand offering services in the USA has to respond when asked by courts in the USA.
    If you want to protest having a device that broadcasts unique data about yourself is not going to go unnoticed by a long list of agencies given the day and event.
    Know that all and any public comments on social media are been tracked. Friends of friends joining or showing support for local events and will be connected back by 2 or 3 hops of friends.
    In the USA you have freedom of speech, freedom after speech. People can peaceably to assemble and petition the Government.
    The protection of been compelled to be a witness is well understood. Any device found may not always enjoy the classic unreasonable searches and seizures protection.
    Older cell phone would have unique International Mobile Equipment Identity as part of the device and would often be opened and noted by police as part of a battery protection offer. The request to avoid battery leakage would then allow that IMEI number to be matched over vast US wide call logs.
    Modern devices might just work when police turn them on and show apps used.
    Any account mentioned or found on the "net" to be public facing can be found or a court request made for more information.
    Given the long history of tracking protests online in other nations e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... "1986, French university students coordinated a national strike using Minitel, demonstrating an early use of digital communication devices for participatory technopolitical ends" expect the same tracking in 2016/17 globally. Police around the world have been tracking people online for decades. Once something is public on line, expect all connections to that account to be tracked back for many hops.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    1. Re:Been tracked online is not news by meta-monkey · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I agree with everything you said. But understand in this case we're talking about warrants issued for people who were arrested for rioting, not protesting. There were hundreds of thousands or even millions if you count the nationwide pussy march thing who peaceful protested, chanted, waved signs, etc. There were about 200 rioters who assaulted people, smashed property, torched cars, beat the hell out of a trash bin (???). These are crimes, and you don't have a right to do these things. And since it seems these people were identically dressed and coordinated their actions. An investigation into organized violence is completely reasonable.

      --
      We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
  18. Re:So now under Trump... by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It could also be the false flag operation. Police used fake protestors at Vietnam War protests to provoke violence and discredit the real protestors. I don't know if Trump supporters are smart enough to do the same, but these rioters are certainly discrediting the cause they nominally claim to support. When Trumpsters see these people rioting, looting, and waving Mexican flags, they feel their intolerance and xenophobia is even more justified.

  19. Re:So now under Trump... by prisoner-of-enigma · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't know if Trump supporters are smart enough to do the same, but these rioters are certainly discrediting the cause they nominally claim to support.

    Funny, I saw the protesters as doing exactly what they said they'd do all along: act like a bunch of spoiled babies who didn't get their way and are now throwing a tantrum. They don't rationalize. They don't listen. They don't engage cognitive thinking skills. They distill it down to "you don't agree with me, therefore you are a hateful, mean, stupid, intolerant, bigoted, racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic Hitler lover and I'm completely justified in doing whatever my emotions lead me to do and you can't criticize me because criticism is racist, sexist, bigoted, homophobic, etc."

    It's the logical endpoint of the "there is no truth and right/wrong is an illusion" ideology.

    --
    In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves, but feed us. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  20. This is my surprised face by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

    It's not right, but you still have to expect this crap.

    That's why the masks are a good idea.

    You can do face paint instead, with patterns designed to fool face recognition systems, and that's less suspicious-looking than a mask — if only slightly. But it's a hell of a lot harder to take off, and go back to looking normal.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:This is my surprised face by meta-monkey · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That's why the masks are a good idea.

      They wore masks for the rioting. This is an investigation into the few hundred people who were arrested for assault, vandalism, destruction of property, etc. Nothing to do with the hundreds of thousands or millions of people who peacefully waved signs, marched and chanted.

      --
      We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
  21. Why link your name to Armenian genocide anyhow? by Xenographic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have yet to see any actual evidence of that, unless you count pure conjecture by The Young Turks & co.

    Meanwhile, I have seen a fair bit of evidence that someone employed by Berkley appears to have admitting to assaulting someone who was unconscious on Twitter, complete with pics of the guy. I suppose that person could've taken a picture of an unconscious person and claimed to have punched them for fun on Twitter without actually doing it, but that sounds even dumber.

    1. Re:Why link your name to Armenian genocide anyhow? by Xenographic · · Score: 3, Insightful

      > Your assertion is at the two year old level: no facts, no logic, just babbling.

      Normally the person asserting a claim is supposed to provide the proof. I note that you provided no evidence of a "false flag" and instead pointed out that there are tons of people who hate Trump, lending credence to the idea that some minority thereof might be angry enough to injure someone they believe supports him. You neatly fashion that into some kind of strawman, making claims I did not.

      As for the other part about the Berkley employee, I'm perfectly capable of linking it and it's easy to find by searching, but I'll just hold off on naming names until I see a proper police report.

      That said, you remember that plot to attack the Deploreaball that PV exposed that certain people were claiming was some kind of sting operation? There have been actual arrests as a result of that one. If you go back to the actual video, they were planning to put butyric acid in the ventilation systems as well, something NBC did not mention.

      Or did you mean the part about the Young Turks (the original ones) throwing the Armenians out of their homes and leaving them to die? Pretty much only Turkey still denies that, for political reasons. Definitely not a group I'd want to name myself after.

    2. Re:Why link your name to Armenian genocide anyhow? by Oligonicella · · Score: 2

      He's been in less then a month and he has alienated a significant percentage of the voting public.

      Bullshit. What he's done as Pres has nothing to do with it. They came in feeling and screaming their alienation from the moment he was selected nominee and haven't abated since. If he had instead done other things these last two weeks, they would have *still* felt alienated.

    3. Re:Why link your name to Armenian genocide anyhow? by DarkOx · · Score: 2

      I am not making any apology for the left or the protesters. Don't read this that way. I think they are viscous mob opposed to the values that built this nation and make it the greatest on earth.

      You have to understand their mindset though, they don't care about opinions and thinking. I and likely you see individualism as being about to explore your own ideas, do you own thing to the extent it allows you to earn a living and lawfully procure the food and shelter you require. You and I probably don't care or seek to control where or in whom they stick their genitals (provided the other party consents), we don't care what clothes they wear etc. We do care that we are permitted to form our own opinion of them.

      If someone looks like a girl I am going to use the pronouns and language I am familiar with to talk about them, that is my freedom. To demand otherwise is to oppress me. I might think they are crazy person, I am entitled to that opinion and I should be entitled to act on that opinion when it comes to doing something like deciding to employ them.

      They see that as antiindividualistic, in their warped view, you and I must validate and enable their choices or they are being oppressed. This is obviously madness, and if society is allowed to go down the road were everyone is their own little god entitled to a reality all their own, actual reality is certain to come crashing down upon us sooner or later. They don't get that though because their entire lives have been selfish, this is a generation of people who grew up without values. They only know if they scream loud enough they get what they want. It always worked before, so now that they are not getting their way they only know to try an scream louder.

      It won't end well for them. The question is are we going to allow them to make it not end well for us too, or are we going to "Make America Great Again" and put a stop to it.

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    4. Re:Why link your name to Armenian genocide anyhow? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I and a lot of other people are really pissed.

      "However," replied the universe, ""The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation."

      At least one pole says that 40% of the voting public [thehill.com] thinks Trump should be impeached.

      On what grounds? As far as I'm aware, there is no constitutional provision which allows for "impeaching the president because I don't like how he behaves on twitter."

      In other words - until and unless you can cite a valid legal standing for impeaching him, a poll of this nature is simply boils down to, "Do you like Donald Trump? Check Yes or No!" It's a fucking popularity contest, and it's absolutely NO surprise that 40% of the voting public are stating they don't like him and would rather see somebody (anybody) else in office. Of course, if you impeach a sitting president, you don't get to usher Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton in on a cloud of ecstatic sighs and a fanfare of "but they won the popular vote." You don't even get to hold a new election, as if it's a do-over. What you get, if Donald Trump is removed from office, is President Mike Pence. So be careful what you wish for, as some of his policies are probably a lot more objectionable than the Donald's.

      This goes way beyond the kind of disapproval that happens during any president's term.

      For historical perspective - Harry Truman's lowest approval rating during his term was 22%. Nixon? 24%. Bush II? 25%. Carter? 28%. Bush I? 29%. Reagan? 35%. Johnson? 35%. Clinton? 36%. Ford? 37%. Obama? 37%. Trump? 42%. Eisenhower? 48%. FDR? 48%. Kennedy? 56%. (source)

      While it's very early in Trump's presidency, MANY recent presidents - including those who you no doubt admire and think were absolutely phenomenal presidents - have had MUCH lower approval ratings than 42% at some point in their term. Your arguments are meaningless bluster fueled by Facebook echo bubbles, self-congratulatory SNL satire, and self-righteous masturbatory navel-gazing on the part of a bunch of children who have NO concept of the scope of history, and for whom "today is always the worst thing possible, because clearly NOBODY has had it as bad as we have. We've inherited a society that is wealthy, powerful, and incredibly advanced, and all we can do is bitch about how nobody is handing out free iPhones."

      Disclaimer: I did not vote for Trump. I did not support Trump. I think he's going to be a pretty awful president, and I will spend a lot of energy trying to block his policies in the next four years, and I'm hopeful that he'll be voted out in 4 years' time. But I am sick and tired of children with no historical perspective telling us how this is the worst possible society and that Trump is basically the arrival of the Antichrist, signalling the end times. He's a rich, petty man who has found his way into high office - much like many other rich, petty men who have done so. He will not destroy the world, he will not destroy America, and he will not end civilization as you know it.

      In the meantime, you should think about spending some of that energy on the following:
      1) Understanding the *legitimate complaints* of Trump supporters, and thinking of ways you can improve America for them too;
      2) Engage in actual political activism, rather than just smugly congratulating yourself for another snarky Facebook repost of HuffPo or Common Dreams;
      3) Study history, and understand that for all his faults, Trump will likely be viewed historically as a "marginally bad to mediocre" president;

      In short - shut the fuck up. Your incessant whining is obnoxious, annoying, and ridiculous.

  22. Investigative Tactics by fisternipply · · Score: 2

    I continue to be outraged at how MPD treats protesters. The phrase "no comment on investigative tactics" says a lot: Our government is using "tactics" against citizens. This is all leading somewhere tragic and dark.

  23. Re:So now under Trump... by Anonymous+Cow+Ward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think pointing out that their silence helped lead to this can be helpful, as long as it's not done in a "haha, told you so" manner. If the partisanship isn't pointed out, people go back to ignoring it when their person is in power again.

    --
    Examine even your most deeply held beliefs. Nobody is always right.
  24. Re: So now under Trump... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Thanks for demonstrating (so to speak) exactly why liberals have been losing state legislative seats and governorships for the last six years, along with both houses of congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court. Please continue with your way of thinking in advance of the next legislative elections, so this trend can continue.

    Gerrymandering, electorate manipulation through mechanisms such as Voter ID, DMV closures, and polling site elimination, along with lying to the public and refusing to do their sworn duty out of a partisan lie they can't even openly take responsibility for, but have to blame on others? That's right, not only could they not muster up the courage to reject Merrick Garland, however transparently, they couldn't even take responsibility for it.

    There's a reason why the new elections were ordered in North Carolina,(which thanks to their stubbornness on the bathroom bill will likely cost the state even more) reforms in districts in Wisconsin, Florida, Alabama, and Virginia, (all drawn by what party? Hmm.), why the Republicans in Arizona lost their attempt to defy the will of the voters(who are supreme over the legislature), and why Trump lost the popular vote(his landslide claims a lie as obviously false as his fraud claims), only winning because the electoral college lets a candidate several million votes behind do so.

    Yeah, and Mitch McConnell can't even afford to let Trump spend the money investigating the problem because just like the birtherism, he doesn't want an answer. It would burst all the tiny Republican hearts to know they truly lost even despite their cheating.

    But yeah, let the right-wing continue their behavior. A few more hamfistedly handled executive orders like the immigration one, and even the most naive fool will realize what kind of incompetence is sitting in the Oval Office.

    All the illusions of grandeur will wash away. The only question is if Trump will have the grace to resign, if they'll manufacture some medical issue, or if the CIA will take care of it. He's not savvy enough to just shut up and follow the script like Reagan. Sorry, but he is that kind of buffoon.

    So thank you, keep doing that, and maybe convince yourself to support an oppressive dictatorship because of all the "civil unrest" that needs law and order to crack down on it. Wannabe authoritarians like you are so obvious.

    I'm still laughing over the alternative facts. You are a funny bunch. The jokes write themselves.

    Grand Moff Trumpkin will lead you to your defeat.

  25. Beg The Question - Metapost by SeattleLawGuy · · Score: 2

    "Beg the Question" has one colloquial meaning that is wrong but 80-90% of people believe is correct and one actual meaning that is right but that 90-95% of people don't understand. As a practical result, you should never use "beg the question" in a sentence, except perhaps with a particularly intellectual friend.

    Instead, use "raises the question" (the colloquial meaning) or "contains circular reasoning" (the actual meaning).

    Posted without Karma bonus due to metapost.

    --
    Real lawyers write in C++
  26. Re:So now under Trump... by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It makes sense when you have the "problem" in civilized countries that you cannot forcefully end a peaceful protest without looking like the bad guy. Or maybe you can't do it at all because people actually have a right to assemble and protest peacefully.

    But if all you need is some to start rioting to get rid of the problem...

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  27. Re: So now under Trump... by Opportunist · · Score: 2

    Are they? Then why keep looking for "evidence"? The whole shit reeks of the school of Cardinal Richelieu and his famous "Give me six lines written by the most honest man, and I will find something there to hang him."

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  28. Re: So now under Trump... by mi · · Score: 2

    People praying for the misery and suffering of others.

    No evidence of such prayers being made was offered. But, even if they were — they are just that, prayers. Words.

    Most people would have noticed that key point.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  29. Re:So now under Trump... by Mistakill · · Score: 2

    6 Members of the press were arrested for 'rioting'... While I think the people who were actually rioting should be charged for such, I believe the police just arrested in many cases people who pissed them off...

  30. Re:So now under Trump... by jareth-0205 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They don't listen.

    Seriously? Listen to what? You have a press secretary that doesn't respond to questioning, that spouts obvious bullshit about trivia, making anything he says about anything extremely untrustworthy. You want people to not assume the worst, you need to command trust.

  31. Re:So now under Trump... by Feyshtey · · Score: 2

    "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss"

    --
    "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
  32. Re:So now under Trump... by DarkOx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Right, As much as I hate seeing people get hurt I am hopeful this how the left with its us against them identity politics it always engages in finally burns itself out. Hopefully regular will wake up a look around in 2 years and realize that all the damage all the violence came about from left wing protesting and all of them reached their point of justification not from Trump but from supposedly respectable news media, entertainers, politicians and the like.

    Trump does some peevish name calling but its almost always directed at an individual and its *usually* based on something they did or failed to do, got poor ratings, gained a bunch of weight, got hacked, etc. That is different than the left were they toss around words like bigot and fascist quite often with no real historical justification at least not in terms of scope, they will outright fabricate claims of bigotry and racism which they will than often level not at individuals but at entire groups; the whole things really translates as "I know you are but what am I".

    Hopefully middle America and lots women especially who went Hillary because they bought into the lefts lies about the "war on women" will wake up and see that:

    1) They are at least as safe from external and domestic terror threats as before (Albright/Rice/Bush/Obama/Clinton/Kerry) were not foreign policy savants.

    2) Their darker skinned friends and neighbors have not been dragged away in the night

    3) They still have access to healthcare similar in quality to what they got before

    4) Public schools still exist and maybe someone is actually trying to make them better in a meaningful way besides just pumping in more money which has not worked for the last 30 years.

    5) Taxes are lower and people have a little more in their pockets

    If all that comes to pass hopefully many of the remaining leftists will be removed from the Senate. We can get back to group of well meaning sensible liberals and traditional ( Taft style ) conservatives.

    --
    Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
  33. Re:So now under Trump... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You forgot transphobic and misogynistic , you cis-male hetero shitlord!

    FTFY.

  34. Re:So now under Trump... by budgenator · · Score: 2

    Yup, you are absolutely right that you usually don't see Conservatives doing this. Instead, you just all pile into your little places of worship and pray that hell-fire and brimstone will fall from the sky, kill all the vile evil non-believers and sinners who have either actively or passively decided to follow Satan and damn them to hell for all eternity until time itself stops.

    The vast majority of Theist I know would denounce the sinfull actions, while praying for the immortal souls of the sinners to find salvation and avoid the coming hell-fire and brimstone and damnation to hell for all eternity.
    The truth is once you separate out the rabid noisy radical elements, both Theist and Atheists tend to be moderate and excepting people.

    --
    Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
  35. Re:Beg the question by Flea+of+Pain · · Score: 2

    I agree. It begs the question, "Where was the original post?"

    --
    Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
  36. Are you advocating terrorism? by walterbyrd · · Score: 2

    Title 22 of the U.S. Code, Section 2656f(d) defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.” [1]

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

    https://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/terrorism/Pages/welcome.aspx