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Mitch McConnell: Democrats' Net Neutrality Bill is 'Dead on Arrival' in Senate (cnet.com)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Tuesday that the net neutrality bill Democrats are pushing through the House is "dead on arrival" in the Senate. From a report: The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote later today on the Save the Internet Act, which is the Democrats' proposal to restore Obama-era net neutrality protections that were repealed in 2017. It's expected to pass the Democrat-controlled House. McConnell was asked by reporters about whether the Senate would consider the bill once it passes. He indicated it would not, according to several tweets from reporters. McConnell's office confirmed the comment.

The Save the Internet Act restores rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission in 2015. These rules would ban internet service providers from blocking or throttling access to the internet. And they would prevent ISPs from charging companies extra to deliver their online faster to consumers. The Democrats' bill restores these rules and also restores the FCC's authority to regulate and oversee broadband networks.

92 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. One more time, people... by Lucas123 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Big business pays for political campaigns.

    Get it right, already.

    1. Re: One more time, people... by chispito · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The bill was designed neither to pass nor to fix the problem. It was designed to draw distinction between the President and the opposing party.

      --
      The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
    2. Re: One more time, people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The bill was designed neither to pass nor to fix the problem. It was designed to draw distinction between the President and the opposing party.

      Too bad that Trump's voter base just does not hear the incessant "fuck you, plebes" messages from the Republican party and their president. Still doesn't hurt to let them show off their colors some more.

    3. Re: One more time, people... by fropenn · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So they should only vote on things when it is guaranteed to pass? It honestly doesn't take that much time for a vote, and it is important to know where your representative and senators stand on issues that are important to you, even if the bill ultimately fails.

      Furthermore, how many bills of actual substance are likely to make it through Congress this term? Maybe 5-10? I hate to think that my representative and senators are going to spend the next 1.7 years doing nothing but raising money and pontificating after saying "aye" or "nay" 5-10 times.

    4. Re:One more time, people... by Stolovaya · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This is like saying that the democrats want to seize control of corporations by mandating regulations like "can't dump garbage in the nearby river" or "not paying workers slave wages".

    5. Re: One more time, people... by Mystiq · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's what happens when reality tends to lean to the left.

    6. Re: One more time, people... by meglon · · Score: 3, Insightful
      You're the epitome of the Trump-loving dipshits who either can't be bothered to understand anything that's more than 3 words long, or are a pathological liar.

      "I know there are only 60 days left to make our case -- and don't get complacent, don't see the latest outrageous, offensive, inappropriate comment and think, well, he's done this time. We are living in a volatile political environment. You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic -- you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people -- now 11 million. He tweets and retweets their offensive hateful mean-spirited rhetoric. Now, some of those folks -- they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America."

      She defined exactly who she was calling deplorable: "The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic" which are some of the worst traits humans have in society. So don't be a fucking asshole and suggest that democrats hate the working class and white people, because what she said had nothing to do with either. Two years into his term, it's pretty obvious that "half" is shortchanging the amount of his supporters in those groups.

      So, i'll leave it to you... are you a fucking idiot, or a fucking liar?

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    7. Re:One more time, people... by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      So what? That has nothing to do with the price of rice. Turn your back, and vote for somebody else.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    8. Re: One more time, people... by The+Rizz · · Score: 2

      So, i'll leave it to you... are you a fucking idiot, or a fucking liar?

      Why pick only one?

    9. Re: One more time, people... by Mystiq · · Score: 1

      Anonymous coward. Excuse me if I don’t take you seriously.

    10. Re: One more time, people... by LifesABeach · · Score: 2

      Did McConnell even read the bill?

    11. Re: One more time, people... by mea_culpa · · Score: 1

      ECHO Echo echo...

    12. Re: One more time, people... by chispito · · Score: 1

      So they should only vote on things when it is guaranteed to pass? It honestly doesn't take that much time for a vote, and it is important to know where your representative and senators stand on issues that are important to you, even if the bill ultimately fails. Furthermore, how many bills of actual substance are likely to make it through Congress this term? Maybe 5-10? I hate to think that my representative and senators are going to spend the next 1.7 years doing nothing but raising money and pontificating after saying "aye" or "nay" 5-10 times.

      They should write bills designed to accomplish things instead of writing bills designed to rally their faithful. All politicians do this crap.

      --
      The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
    13. Re: One more time, people... by meglon · · Score: 1

      So i'm going to take that as you choose to be a fucking liar. No real surprise there. You want to promote the worst traits of the human species, you deserve to be pointed out as a worthless piece of shit... and there was nothing classist about it; it pointed out that a lot (she said half, but it's shown to be more) of Trump's base were bigots, which has been proven by his time in office.

      I can't believe people still defend this narcissistic, bigoted, anti-America, anti-Christian piece of shit Trump, but here we are.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    14. Re: One more time, people... by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      Anti-America? Anti-Christian? Who's making shit up? Since when do you care about America or Christians? You hate them!

      I still can't believe people defend a woman who, instead of divorcing her husband when he raped women, actually attacked his rape victims. On video. And the mainstream media gave her a platform.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    15. Re: One more time, people... by meglon · · Score: 1

      Interesting....

      Mark 10:10-12 10 Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. 11 He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.”

      Mark 7:21-23 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

      So you're suggesting she was wrong not to divorce her husband... even though Jesus said divorce is the same as adultery, yet then you suggest i don't care about Jesus' teachings. Hmm; yeh, you're not only a fucking liar, you're a fucking fake christian and a hypocrite. i think the teachings of Jesus are quite profound, and a good basis for humanity.... which is something that the fake conservative "christians," like you, don't agree with. So i guess the question is: why do you hate Jesus so much?

      As for the US.... i sacrificed time out of my life to serve in the Army, because sacrifice is what we do for that which we love. Tell me again, what was your MOS? Mine was 13Foxtrot... back when that meant Forward Observer (apparently it's been changed to a different title recently to a different skill, sounds like the same job though, only fancier title).

      And, you continue to lie... which is what this was about from the start. You suggested that Hillary's "deplorables" comment was about the working class and whites, when it would take a complete fucking idiot or a pathological lair to say that. i pointed that out, and told you to stop being an asshole... obviously something that's difficult for you to do.

      Your response is to claim i hate something i don't, because... well.. i'm going with because you're a fucking idiot this time. Then, you disparage Jesus' teachings while proving that, at best, you don't even know what Jesus taught... then you lie about Bill Clinton raping women, which he didn't (except in some delusional fucked-in-the-head conspiracy theory bullshit that numb-nutted conservatives continue to push).

      But, shall we take a trip down memory lane where Trump confessed to sexually assaulting women? https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      You are a liar. We've proven that. I have to think because of your last post that you're also a fucking idiot, for the reason mentioned above. The Rizz was right, you're quite capable of being both. And to make sure you understand: the next time you want to suggest i hate something, just remember: you're a fucking idiot that doesn't know shit.... so you should probably just shut that pathetic excuse for a sphincter you have on your face. Although, as you're a liar, i should probably just ask: dilligaf about what falls out of your mouth? You clearly cannot be trusted to be honest, so are basically useless for any conversation.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    16. Re: One more time, people... by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      When did I say I was a Christian? Why do you hate Jesus so much? Are you even thinking? You're just pouring spittle and hate onto a website. On any legitimate site you'd be deplatformed.

      the next time you want to suggest i hate something, just remember: you're a fucking idiot that doesn't know shit.... so you should probably just shut that pathetic excuse for a sphincter you have on your face.

      You really are beyond irony, aren't you? Do you ever look at your own comments and think: what the fuck am I doing? You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity. Farewell.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    17. Re: One more time, people... by meglon · · Score: 1

      You really are beyond irony, aren't you? Do you ever look at your own comments and think: what the fuck am I doing? You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity. Farewell.

      And after the much used conservative mantra: "but... but... but.... Hillllaarrriiyyyyyy," you're now shifting to the normal mode of projecting your bullshit onto others. You lied, then because even more of an ass and lied more, and now you're running from what you said and trying to blame someone else. If you ever wonder why people consider you a useless lying hypocrite, look back on this and you should be able to see the reason... if you manage to pull your head out of your ass and quit being such an asshole.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
  2. Re: Democrats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    That depends on the length of the rope.

  3. DOA? by Freischutz · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Mitch McConnell: Democrats' Net Neutrality Bill is 'Dead on Arrival' in Senate

    This is what the Democrats need to do, go down the list of popular bills congress should pass, send them to the senate so the electorate can watch them go down in flames thanks to Mitch McConnell. Lather, rinse repeat until the 2020 election and shine the spotlight on Mitch McConnell every time he shoots one of these popular bills down. Make him the poster boy for the demise of every reform, every popular bill imaginable. It's the best way to make his 'no to everything, it's my way or the highway' policy work against him. There are tons of people on both the right and left wing who want to seen net-neutrality anchored in law and for either Rep. or Dem. politicians to be against net neutrality is not likely to be a vote winner on either side.

    1. Re:DOA? by Sarten-X · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That can backfire easily enough.

      If they send enough bills, then the GOP will accuse the Democrats of wasting Congress's time by bullying the Senate and refusing to produce workable legislation, while propping up McConnell as a stalwart defender strong enough to resist the onslaught. Whether the bills are popular or not doesn't really matter... the bigger the number, the more it can be spun to look like political pressure.

      --
      You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
    2. Re:DOA? by DRJlaw · · Score: 4, Informative

      If they send enough bills, then the GOP will accuse the Democrats of wasting Congress's time by bullying the Senate and refusing to produce workable legislation...

      Name one piece of workable legislation that the Senate has proposed or passed in the new Congressional term.

      I'll save you the trouble. They graciously decided to back-pay furloughed government workers at the end of the shutdown, and they've done f-all else in 3 months.

    3. Re:DOA? by Freischutz · · Score: 1

      That can backfire easily enough.

      If they send enough bills, then the GOP will accuse the Democrats of wasting Congress's time by bullying the Senate and refusing to produce workable legislation, while propping up McConnell as a stalwart defender strong enough to resist the onslaught. Whether the bills are popular or not doesn't really matter... the bigger the number, the more it can be spun to look like political pressure.

      That is easily countered, just make enough of a media hullabaloo about offering bipartisan cooperation to the Republicans you might even get a fair number of them on board with things like infrastructure reform since it will mean more jobs in their constituencies. America's infrastructure is more rotten than that of some 3rd world countries, there is hardly a congressional district anywhere in the US that would not benefit from an infrastructure improvement project. Same for all kinds of things like education and healthcare. Then send these bills to the senate where Mitch McConnell says NO because that always worked before. People will get the message soon enough about what the problem in the senate is and how to remove it.

    4. Re:DOA? by gtall · · Score: 1

      In every 4 weeks, the Senate is only around for 3 of them. During a work week, they arrive on Monday afternoon and leave on Thurs afternoon...well, most do anyhow. Watch a committee hearing. The first 5 minutes are the chair blowing words out of his ass for 5 minutes, then the Ranking Member imitates him/her. Next, we have the panel. Say there's 4 people on the panel, each gets 5 minutes to blow their precious thoughts out on CSPAN.

      So the first half hour is toast. The rest of the time most committee members get to spew questions they barely understand and constructed by their staffs. The panel realizes that they have a vested interest in running out the clock. So no question gets answered yes or no, rather it is of the form, "Well, Senator, let me say this about that. Back when I was a youngin' trying to see up the kindergarten teacher's dress....".

      And then there are tricks the bozo committee chairs play. Not all of them, the most egregious were Jeff Sessions and (when she was in the house) Marsha Blackburn, the dumbest one up there...and that's saying something. They always managed to sprinkle any panel with ringers who would parrot the chair's views. The chairs were not sly about asking the right leading questions to get their views puked back out by their ringers.

    5. Re:DOA? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Good. Been 230 years, our legislature should mostly be doing nothing at this point.

    6. Re:DOA? by flippy · · Score: 1

      Here's the problem with that: until people are actually affected by it (we haven't seen any REAL effects yet), it's not an issue that anyone cares about enough to change their vote.

    7. Re:DOA? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That can backfire easily enough.

      If they send enough bills, then the GOP will accuse the Democrats of wasting Congress's time by bullying the Senate and refusing to produce workable legislation, while propping up McConnell as a stalwart defender strong enough to resist the onslaught.

      I don't know if you've noticed, but the Republican spin machine isn't working as well as it used to any more.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    8. Re:DOA? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      ... then the GOP will accuse the Democrats of wasting Congress's time ...

      Ya, but that would be implying that Congress is, otherwise, actually doing anything else worthwhile.

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    9. Re:DOA? by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      It only took two bills before Slashdot readers / trolls started accusing House Democrats of sending unworkable bills to the Senate

      Well two is a pretty good start to a trend, that you can obviously see is coming.

      Or at least anyone who knows Democrats these days knows is coming.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    10. Re:DOA? by Freischutz · · Score: 1

      That can backfire easily enough.

      If they send enough bills, then the GOP will accuse the Democrats of wasting Congress's time by bullying the Senate and refusing to produce workable legislation, while propping up McConnell as a stalwart defender strong enough to resist the onslaught.

      I don't know if you've noticed, but the Republican spin machine isn't working as well as it used to any more.

      Right, I just don't think people give a damn about this kind of spin anymore. People don't care whose fault it is that Congress is deadlocked they just want Congress to stop yapping and get things done again and they will vote for anybody who looks like they can make that happen. As soon as they electorate perceives anybody standing in the way of things getting done again that person will earn their anger and Mitch McConnell has built a career on being Mr. NO!!!.

    11. Re:DOA? by iMadeGhostzilla · · Score: 1

      If Democrats do political posturing to gain what they think would be points instead of being productive that will be difficult to hide. People aren't stupid.

      If Dems really truly believe Net Neutrality is extremely important for our society and have data to back it up and McConell still shoots them down out of spite then he'll be the villain. But that doesn't seem to be what's happening.

    12. Re:DOA? by thomst · · Score: 1

      Freischutz quoted TFS's headline:

      Mitch McConnell: Democrats' Net Neutrality Bill is 'Dead on Arrival' in Senate

      Then went on to observe:

      This is what the Democrats need to do, go down the list of popular bills congress should pass, send them to the senate so the electorate can watch them go down in flames thanks to Mitch McConnell. Lather, rinse repeat until the 2020 election and shine the spotlight on Mitch McConnell every time he shoots one of these popular bills down. Make him the poster boy for the demise of every reform, every popular bill imaginable. It's the best way to make his 'no to everything, it's my way or the highway' policy work against him. There are tons of people on both the right and left wing who want to seen net-neutrality anchored in law and for either Rep. or Dem. politicians to be against net neutrality is not likely to be a vote winner on either side.

      The problem is that there really aren't "tons of people" who want to see net neutrality anchored in law (as opposed to mere regulation) - although you're right about it being a bi-partisan issue.

      In fact, the problem all along has been getting ordinary, non-technical people to understand the issues net neutrality was originally adopted by the FCC to address. They don't understand computer internetworking. Nor do they want to understand it. Technology scares them - and, despite the enormous number of stupid people with smart phones in the world, they mostly want it to stay in the background, where it belongs.

      And it's not that they're entirely wrong about that, either. The only experiences the majority have with "technology" are bad ones - the kind that force them to seek technical support. Which, let's face it, is about as welcome to the ordinary schmoe as a visit to the dentist.

      And often just as painful for them.

      So any issue that requires them to learn about stuff they don't want to have to know about is a non-starter as a political issue, regardless of how crucial the policies that shape it may be to everyone.

      Unfortunately, average Americans hate the thought of having to read anything more demanding than a McDonald's menu. Those who approach them with the clear intent of educating and informing them on technical issues are anathema to them. It doesn't matter whether the subject is net neutrality, online privacy, personal computing security, or the advantages of any given browser over any other browser, because they're every bit as enthusiastic about hearing from Jehovah's Witnesses as they are about listening to technological policy advocates.

      It sucks for thee and me, because those determinedly-passive consumers are the ones who choose our legislators - and they, in turn (most of whom are no more technically inclined than their constituents), are the ones who actually determnine the shape of these policy issues about which we care so passionately ...

      --
      Check out my novel.
    13. Re:DOA? by meglon · · Score: 1

      I'm thinking a mandatory 8AM Monday morning to 5PM Friday night, 50 weeks a year is in order, with a permanent baring of being a lobbyist after they leave office.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    14. Re:DOA? by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      This is what the Democrats need to do, go down the list of popular bills congress should pass, send them to the senate so the electorate can watch them go down in flames thanks to Mitch McConnell.

      *sigh* such a waste. First, the democrats don't want to upset their big money donors either. They know how to kill a popular bill as well as anybody. Let's not fall for the *good cop - bad cop* routine. If there was opposition we would see it. Second, the voters will always believe campaign promises made by their team, not voting records.

      Just like last year, another opportunity to clean the House will be squandered next year. Until we are ready to do our duty and get rid of the trash, there is little point in arguing amongst ourselves about policy.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    15. Re:DOA? by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, that would be the only bipartisan bill to be shot down by all of them.

    16. Re:DOA? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, that would be the only bipartisan bill to be shot down by all of them.

      Kinda like how Congress was all over term limits for the President, but not so much for themselves...

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    17. Re:DOA? by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      This shit right here! All offices should have term limits...

  4. Re:Why re-instate nearly hundred year old rules? by Narcocide · · Score: 2

    Everything you just said is false. Even the things you implied are false.

  5. Re:Why re-instate nearly hundred year old rules? by Big+Boss · · Score: 2

    Do you really trust they will do something LESS stupid than the old rules?

    The FCC had no choice about the old rules either. They tried that, the courts shut them down and said they needed Title II if they wanted to do that.

  6. Re:So is Mitch McConnel's career then. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    "say goodbye to all the Republican Senators during the next election"

    "Nah. My Republican Senator is just fine and isn't the problem. Your Republican Senator needs to go, though.

  7. Re:Most People Don't Care About This. by omnichad · · Score: 1

    People who don't care aren't against it. So that doesn't matter so much.

  8. Republican ability to spin is diminished every day by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If they send enough bills, then the GOP will accuse the Democrats of wasting Congress's time by bullying the Senate and refusing to produce workable legislation, while propping up McConnell as a stalwart defender strong enough to resist the onslaught. Whether the bills are popular or not doesn't really matter... the bigger the number, the more it can be spun to look like political pressure.

    That's really not a concern any more. No one is buying the Republicans' spin any more -- their support of Trump's extremism and criminality has inured all but their own most stalwart supporters against their spin and misrepresentation of facts, for which they've become very widely known to everyone except themselves.

    His attempt to spin the Green New Deal by bringing it to a vote before the bill had had any markup, modifications, or input failed exactly for those reasons. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez showed us exactly how to counter such spin very effectively.

    I say bring it on, and stop being afraid (which it appears is what Democrats, at long, long last, are finally doing).

  9. Re:Google, Twitter, Facebook, made it moot by omnichad · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It puts them on a level playing field. Not having an advantage is simply fair. Google did not have an advantage when they started. They were just good.

  10. Ladies and Gentlemen by cmdr_klarg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I present for you the single largest obstacle to Democracy: Mitch McConnell!

    This is an issue that a large majority of Americans want, and ol' Turtle-Neck can single-handedly block it, with no recourse. Not even Trump can do that, even with a veto, as Congress has the ability to override if desired.

    No one man should have that power.

    --
    THE SOFTWARE, IT NO WORKY!!!
    1. Re:Ladies and Gentlemen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The electorate is stuck in the clutches of big business interests.. Congress doesn't work for the electorate either.

      The system is just so thoroughly corrupt and undemocratic that there is no simple solution.

      In an ideal world the Senate would be forced to debate / vote on an issue within a certain time frame. A single person should not be able to block other representatives from doing their jobs. All these dirty shenanigans are just further proof of just how thoroughly corrupted the system is. Voting can be blocked, bribery is legal, money is worth more than the voter, etc.. etc.. dirty dirty dirty.

      The only reason the US has "less corruption" than 3rd world countries is that the US has legalized what in most countries is considered illegal (even though they may still do it under the table, at least they feel the need to hide it, in the US its just openly corrupt).

    2. Re:Ladies and Gentlemen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      But that's what happens when you do not live in a democracy.

      All they need to do is raise the spectre of "communism" or "Take away your guns" to distract you from all the other things they are taking away.

      Americans are stupid.

    3. Re:Ladies and Gentlemen by sarren1901 · · Score: 1

      You act like Democrats don't want to take the guns. To present it as such just makes you look dishonest. Be honest. Democrats would love to ban gun ownership. They don't waffle on this unless they are in a contested district.

      Look at the strictest gun laws we have in the states and realize they push through more and more each election season.

      New York City has a law that's likely to end in the supreme court, which shows just how over the top New York City went.

    4. Re:Ladies and Gentlemen by Eldaar · · Score: 1

      Mitch McConnell may or may not lie more than Trump, but he's definitely more stragetic about how and when he lies. He's arguably the biggest lackey to corporate America, constantly working in their favor. He's quite possibly the biggest enemy of the middle class in modern America.

      The sad thing is that Democrats aren't good at messaging, so instead of getting together as a group and blasting him for the anti-middle class elitist that he is, they let such opportunities pass. McConnell single-handedly did away with the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees, and just recently did the same for other federal judicial nominees. Because if long-standing rules protecting the rights of the minority party get in your way, why not just destory them?

  11. So, I keep asking this on these threads by rsilvergun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    but is this gonna change how anyone votes?

    If not then McConnell has the right idea. This is a high value issue for his donors and a low value issue for his voters. He'll collect his paycheck from AT&T, Cox, etc and ignore the will of the people because it's not strong enough to change what happens at the ballot box.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:So, I keep asking this on these threads by flippy · · Score: 1

      ^^^This. It won't change anyone's vote.

    2. Re:So, I keep asking this on these threads by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Even more important than his paycheck is the party donations. Running political campaigns in the US is very, very expensive. The combined party spending in 2016 for all US election campaigns was $6.5 *BILLION*, according to a Washington Post estimate. The only hope a party has of securing enough funding to participate in that game is to seek out and appease the big donors - show that the party is on their side, and that donating to them would be a beneficial relationship. It's not *quite* bribery, but the effect is much the same.

    3. Re:So, I keep asking this on these threads by iMadeGhostzilla · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure very many things change anyone's vote these days. I'd expect this one to be rather low on the list.

  12. Re:So is Mitch McConnel's career then. by zaq1xsw2cde9 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Riiiight. I think you forgot about the Mexicans from Venezuela that are caravanning to the border. That or whatever the scare tactic of the week is. I'm pretty sure they are all safe.

  13. Re: Democrats by bobbied · · Score: 1

    That depends on the length of the rope.

    It's more where the rope is attached.... But I get your meaning..

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  14. Huh? by skam240 · · Score: 1

    " Whether the bills are popular or not doesn't really matter..."

    If the bills are popular (which I take to mean a significant majority of Americans support it across party lines), why would there then be enough support for McConnell "as a stalwart defender strong enough to resist the onslaught" to matter? Sure, people don't always act or vote logically but that's pretty far out there on the lack of logic scale.

    --
    I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
  15. Re:McConnel is an idiot by Riceballsan · · Score: 1

    Not really... ISP's are mostly cable companies. If they wanted to go to war with fox, they'd already be in position to do whatever they feel like there.

  16. Re:So is Mitch McConnel's career then. by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

    According to the current top story on Fox news, it's immigrants flooding across the border from "50 different countries, including China, Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt and Romania."

  17. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by Immerman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, please tell us exactly what was in the Mueller Report and what it means. I'm sure you're one of the select inner circle who has actually read the report, and not just heard reports about Barr's obviously biased "summary".

    If the report actually exonerated Trump and Co., it would be made public. The fact that it has not says volumes.

    --
    --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  18. It could be stopped by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Big business pays for political campaigns.

    Get it right, already.

    Mitch McConnell could be fired.

    But that would require the Republican base to vote for a *gasp* Democrat!
    That won't happen.

    Identity politics: lifelong Reps just vote Reps.
    Believing lies: Democrats are socialists - it doesn't help that most Americans don't even know what socialist is: Sanders calling himself a Democratic Socialist to people who think a failed petro-state led by populist leaders with populist policies (like Trump) is socialist (Venezuela).
    And then there are the abortion fanatics that fall for the lies that are told to them about Democrats being "baby killers" - people who are easily swayed by shallow jingoistic rhetoric that has no basis in fact.
    And the gun nuts who believe that the "Democrats are going to take their guns."

    Mitch McConnell is a symptom of our broken electorate. An electorate that is under the control of corporate propaganda that terrorizes its listeners so that they agree to horrible policies that hurts them in the end.

    I just love the fact that many people who voted for Trump are getting it up the ass because of his tariff wars. They asked for it.

    It's funny that the people who bitch the most about government keep electing the same assholes, like McConnell, into office.

  19. Re:Google, Twitter, Facebook, made it moot by Sarten-X · · Score: 1

    The ISPs shouldn't be competing with Google, Twitter, or Facebook. The ISPs should compete with other ISPs, to provide improving service in the market of connecting customers to the Internet.

    Google and Facebook have become the gatekeepers to an awful lot of the Web, like it or not. The ISP, by physical necessity, is already the gatekeeper to the Internet itself. Having the same entity controlling both is where I start to get very worried.

    --
    You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
  20. Of course by cmaurand · · Score: 1

    That would be because Mitch isn't working for the common good, he's working for the corporate good.

  21. Re:So is Mitch McConnel's career then. by sconeu · · Score: 1

    This. So much this.

    This is the problem with Congress in general, not just GOP Senators. So that even with a 95% (or whatever) disapproval rating for Congress, everyone gets reelecte.

    "My congresscritter is cool. It's all them other assholes that are the problem".

    --
    General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
  22. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by iMadeGhostzilla · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes, please tell us exactly what was in the Mueller Report and what it means. I'm sure you're one of the select inner circle who has actually read the report, and not just heard reports about Barr's obviously biased "summary".

    Looks like you are also in the inner circle since you know the summary is "obviously biased" compared to the original report.

  23. Re:So is Mitch McConnel's career then. by bobbied · · Score: 1

    If the Senate doesn't pass it, say goodbye to all the Republican Senators during the next election. Choice is theirs. Do as the Public wants ...(snip) .

    Hold up there AC. I'm not so sure this is what the public wants... But let's discuss Republican Senator elections in 2020..

    First up, There are 34 seats up for grabs in 2020, 22 Republican and 14 Democrats. There are 5 seats seen as toss ups, all Democrats and an additional 6 seats which lean one way or the other, 3 for each party based on past election results. Of course, the election is a LONG way away and we don't have any idea how this is going to play out nationally and each state.

    IMHO Net Neutrality is going to be a very small portion of the picture this time around, if it even plays a role. As I see this, things like health care, immigration, the economy and foreign policy are going form the election landscape. And don't forget, an incumbent Trump vrs whomever will suck up the bulk of the oxygen and national news coverage, making Senate elections mostly secondary and regulated to local news coverage. The "coat tails" will impact the election more than this issue will, by far.

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  24. Now they are in lockdown and collusion by Crashmarik · · Score: 1

    When you control the whole ecosystem and can sick the payment processors/ banks onto your enemies that isn't a level playing field.

  25. Re:Google, Twitter, Facebook, made it moot by Crashmarik · · Score: 1

    Should ? OK that implies a moral imperative for it to happen, I would be very much more concerned with the can and how ? There really is no way for anyone without the size and reach of the media giants to compete with them, all three of those companies have ridiculous capitalizations, they are very careful about not actually competing with each other, hardly a situation that fosters competition.

     

  26. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by reboot246 · · Score: 1, Informative

    It will be made public AFTER parts of it are redacted. That's the law, whether you like it or not. Details of grand jury procedures cannot be made public no matter how much you want them to be.

    The Senate and the House may get to see the full unredacted report, but there's no law saying that they be granted that access. One reason is that some Congressmen just can't keep from blabbing stuff to the press that should never be made public.

  27. Re:Nice try spinmeister by Straif · · Score: 1, Informative

    Which part of the law requires the unredacted report to be sent to congress?

    Outside of the summation Barr already sent I don't believe the special council guidelines actually require any part of the report actually be released to congress. Congress is free to ask to see it but I don't believe there is any legal requirement for the Executive branch to share their report and don't forget Mueller's office is wholly contained within the Executive branch of the federal government. Congress already had their investigations which all came up to the same conclusion; no collusion.

    In fact several laws already dictate that the unredacted report CANNOT be released to Congress. Grand Jury testimony and elements pertaining to classified materials have to be redacted though certain congress people on specific committees can potentially get authorization to see the classified bits.

    Information relating to other ongoing investigations or information relating to unindicted third parties is being redacted on a selected basis by both Mueller and Barr, which is pretty standard procedure. This may also be potentially revealed to select congress people at a later date.

    That all being said, Barr has already stated that after he and Mueller are done redacting the above sensitive materials the report will be released to Congress; probably within the next week.

    --
    Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
  28. Re:You don't get out much, do you? by Straif · · Score: 1

    Not to get into the whole abortion debate but that 70% stat is complete and utter garbage, at least how most people use it. Most Americans do in fact believe that abortion should be widely available but there is a dramatic shift when the question "at which stage of pregnancy should it be legal" is asked.

    Only about 30% want no limits on abortion (and that number is sometimes a little lower depending on exact wording) compared to about 20% who want it outright banned. The remaining 50% fall somewhere in the middle ranging from only permitted in extreme cases like if there is a threat to the life of the mother or rape to banned after a certain date. This falls right in line with the fact that the number of people reporting to be pro-life and pro-choice are exactly equal at 48% (and yes, you can be pro-life but want to allow for abortions in certain circumstances). These number have been repeated in pretty much every poll done on the issue over the last few years so you can pick your favorite polling service to check them.

    So in the case of abortion only 1 party is following the hardliners in determining their policy and it's not the Republicans. Democrats have made it their policy to ban any restrictions, up until birth, aligning themselves with the 30%. While some Republicans have aligned themselves with the hardline 20% who want an outright ban most just want some restrictions which is more inline with the 50% who don't go to either extreme. On the Federal level the Dems are still holding strong on the 'no limits on abortion' policy while the Republicans are generally pushing to make it a States rights issue.

    You can debate where exactly the line should be drawn, but unlike your claim, actually 70% of Americans are willing to draw that line somewhere as opposed to Democrats who want no line at all.

    Secondly, the Senate doesn't care about gerrymandered districts as they are state-wide elections.

    --
    Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
  29. Wasn't It Great.... by DewDude · · Score: 1

    When anti-trust was enforced the way it's supposed to be? When it was actually about consumers?

    Now we have a bunch of rich old fucks who care more about money than the people. A government full of people profiting off their own decisions. A government that mis-represents it's citizens and calls itself the best country in the world.

    Most of the world knows the citizens don't want this. An overwhemling majority don't want it.

    But...here we are...the majority is representing the minority opinion simply because they're greedy.

    Trump drained the swamp...and replaced it with a cesspool. Actually..that's insulting to cesspools.

  30. Re:You have that backwards by Mystiq · · Score: 1

    I believe he just tried to point out that the stock market doing well is not indicative of the economy doing well.

  31. Re: You have that backwards by guruevi · · Score: 1

    That's your opinion. The market will always favor whatever people want to buy. If you don't want to buy x because of reasons, someone will fill that niche. If environmental impact becomes a problem, markets will change accordingly but the market thus far has produced things that benefit the environment compared to eg the 50s simply due to economics.

    --
    Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
  32. To be fair by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    they haven't passed one piece of workable legislation since the ACA. I mean, I wouldn't call that mess of a tax bill that _raised_ my taxes $50 bucks and resulted in more offshoring and job cuts (look it up, good 'ole unintended consequences) "workable".

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:To be fair by sarren1901 · · Score: 1

      Funny, I got a tax break which I put into my 401k. Worked out nicely. You must make more then me. That's with me owning property too.

      I was under the impression liberals like paying taxes. Is this not correct?

    2. Re:To be fair by meglon · · Score: 1

      I was under the impression liberals like paying taxes. Is this not correct?

      I think a lot of liberals are just getting really tired of the conservatives continuing to steal their money to pay for their states low taxes, and then act like ungrateful little bitches all the time. Lets get that amendment passed where no state can get more than 1.05 of the value they put in back (in money/grants or in investment). Conservative states don't pay taxes because they'd rather steal from blue states.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    3. Re:To be fair by The+Rizz · · Score: 1

      Lets get that amendment passed where no state can get more than 1.05 of the value they put in back (in money/grants or in investment).

      Yeaaah... except that doesn't work with certain types of national-level projects (not that we've done any in a while). Or do you think the Interstate Highways shouldn't actually connect the coasts to each other?

  33. McConnell's just a symptom by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    the real problem is we accepted oligarchy in exchange for some minor bigotry and a general fear of change. The bigots are actually a minor problem. Sure, getting rid of their bigotry would fix things (since they tip the scales) but the real problem is folks who see things like minimum wage hike not as paying a living wage but as too risky since it might raise the price of a pizza 75 cents... Nevermind that it's just restaurants that saw a hike or that the hikes are small enough that it's just as likely to be inflation...

    Point is, too many Americans living paycheck to paycheck and in a constant state of fear of change means it's damn near impossible to get them to want to fix anything. Which is working exactly as intended...

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  34. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by sarren1901 · · Score: 1

    If some of the Nordic countries are so awesome, why are you still here? Surely your well developed technology skills could find you work there. Have you started the visa process?

    Don't most of the population make within like 20% of each others income? And the healthcare is likely good. Sounds nice.

    Or Canada. Just move to Canada if you truly feel American is just so terrible.

    You could even sponsor your family members to come join you in your new awesome country. Let's get started! No time to waste!

  35. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

    If there were anything incriminating in it, it would have leaked immediately.

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  36. Re:You don't get out much, do you? by meglon · · Score: 1

    Being anti-choice pro-forced-female-slavery isn't the same as being pro-life. Pro-life means you actually care about the living, something these people don't seem to do after the fetus is born.

    --
    Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
  37. Re:So is Mitch McConnel's career then. by meglon · · Score: 1

    https://www.freepress.net/news...

    https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/...

    https://gizmodo.com/nearly-eve...

    Hope that helps. There are places that do polls so you don't have to, and what they show is a persistent, long term, high majority desire for net neutrality.

    --
    Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
  38. Re:So is Mitch McConnel's career then. by bobbied · · Score: 1

    My point was that Net Neutrality wasn't important enough to voters to impact the election.

    Most people I know, left and right, simply don't care about this issue, even if they have an opinion. It's not important. Further, I don't see Net Neutrality in any pollster's top 10 list of issues people care about. So it doesn't matter how many people say they want or don't want it. Face it, politically Net Neutrality is a dead horse, and if your party is beating it in hopes of garnering votes it only really means they are desperate to drive the daily narrative away from what is seen as more important.

    Don't fool yourself. This whole thing is a desperate political move for "show" and not "go". Much like the House Republicans voting repeatedly to repeal Obamacare when the Senate was in Democrat hands and Obama was in office, then failing to ACTUALLY do it when they had the chance. This was nothing more than a show vote, a little bit of political theater... Only in this case, the "show" is playing to a very small audience, who's votes are likely already committed to vote for the players on the stage... Which, if you look at this and think about why the players are on the stage, says something important about what they think is likely to happen in the next election cycle.

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  39. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by Maelwryth · · Score: 1

    It's like people can't read isn't it? The Meuller report does not exonerate President Trump. It actually specifically says that in it.

    “While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him,”

    Someone will of course pop up and say that part isn't about Russian interference but the Meuller Report covered a lot of things.I would be very interested in seeing how close the President came to the line of the law and what side of morality he ends up on.

    --
    I reserve the write to mangle english.
  40. Re:Wrong. It was written to pass. by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

    We don't have to pretend. Any normal person that isn't constantly shilling for one side or the other can see that they are two peas in a pod.

  41. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

    Successful socialist nations: 90% white. They need to be dismantled NOW! That's racist! How has twitter let this go on so long?!?!

  42. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by strikethree · · Score: 1

    If the report actually exonerated Trump and Co., it would be made public. The fact that it has not says volumes.

    If the report actually implicated Trump and Co., it would be made public. The fact that it has not says volumes. ... just sayin'

    (What is true forwards, should also be true in reverse)

    --
    "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
  43. Re:Republican ability to spin is diminished every by Immerman · · Score: 1

    >(What is true forwards, should also be true in reverse)

    Only if the people with the power and access to do so, also have the motive. For now, it seems the report is a closely guarded secret of individuals loyal to the Trump administration.

    --
    --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  44. Re:You have that backwards by ixuzus · · Score: 1

    ...and your government is putting the best part of a trillion dollars on the credit card every year. You're paying nearly $400 billion in interest which is expected to double over the next decade. When (and how) does that start to be paid down? The current projection doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room if you have to deal with another economic shock. I wouldn't be to chirpy about the economy just now.

  45. Re:You have that backwards by Rhipf · · Score: 1

    Too bad that Trump's voter base just does not hear the incessant "fuck you, plebes" messages from the Republican party and their president.

    It's funny you say that when the economy is booming and the populace is receiving exactly the opposite message from Trump.. which is why his approval numbers have been climbing.

    From almost all the polls I have seen Trump's approval rating has been rather steady at ~44%. The only poll I can find where Trump has a positive approval rating is the Rasmussen poll. That is despite the strong US economy.

  46. Re:You don't get out much, do you? by skam240 · · Score: 1

    I like how you wrote out a small essay critiquing the 70% support abortion statistic as being too simplistic and then make a statement like ..."as opposed to Democrats who want no line at all.". Most Democrats opinions are far more nuanced than that, just like everyone else.

    --
    I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
  47. Re:Nice try spinmeister by Straif · · Score: 1

    Your contesting something that's not even being alleged.

    No where do I state that they are exerting executive privilege to not release the report, I'm merely stating that as an executive branch document they are under no obligation to just freely release it to Congress. I've already stated that there are ways for members of Congress to see all the data, a subpoena being the most powerful tool in their bag, but that doesn't change the fact that voluntarily releasing the report to Congress or the public at this point is entirely up to AG Barr and not a legal requirement as the GGP stated.

    --
    Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
  48. Re:You don't get out much, do you? by Straif · · Score: 1

    To clarify, when talking about Democrats I'm particularly speaking of the legislators not individual voters.

    As the breakdown shows the electorate, either Dems, Repubs or Indy mostly fall into the middle but you'd be hard pressed to find a handful of actual Dem legislators, especially on the Federal level, that would take the stand that there needs to be some restrictions on abortion. In the current climate where the vocal minority dictates policy that would be political suicide for them.

    --
    Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!