American Politics from 2019 on

[Sean Hayden]

[L'Emmerdeur]

One baby step forward, two or three white supremacist steps backward. They're busy returning statues that glorify the Confederacy, only a few years after they were removed.

President Donald Trump plans to bring back a statue of a Confederate general to the heart of the nation’s capital.

The likeness of Gen. Albert Pike, which stood outside the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C., had ropes slung around its neck before it was yanked from its plinth and set alight in Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

Pike, a Confederate Army brigadier who championed the secession of the South, had worked with Native Americans from tribes that owned slaves and joined with the Confederacy to defend slavery during the Civil War. The statue honoring Pike, standing around a mile away from the White House, had long been denounced before it was removed.

The National Park Service announced on Monday that the bronze structure will soon return to the old spot in Judiciary Square, as crews finalize a refurbishment.

[source]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Arlington National Cemetery will be restoring a Confederate monument criticized for misrepresenting the history of slavery.

As part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reintroduce Confederate symbols and monuments, Moses Ezekiel’s “beautiful and historic sculpture,” the Confederate Memorial, “will be rightfully be returned to Arlington National Cemetery near his burial site,” Hegseth said in a social media post.

“It never should have been taken down by woke lemmings. Unlike the Left, we don’t believe in erasing American history—we honor it,” Hegseth said.

Ezekiel was a Confederate soldier who spent much of his artistic career promoting the “Lost Cause” myth that the Civil War was just and heroic, and not a treasonous war fought to uphold slavery.

[source]

[JimC]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-07/ ... /105620274

Texas has become the site of a massive political showdown that could have a direct influence on US President Donald Trump's ability to continue his agenda.

Democrats have scattered to friendly states across the country and warrants have been issued for their arrest.

At the core of the fight is a map that could be key to Republicans retaining their majority in Congress.

Here's a basic breakdown of the stoush.

What's happened?

In late July, Texas Republicans put forward a proposal to redraw the state's congressional map.

The map lays out the borders of Texas's 38 congressional districts (equivalent to Australia's federal electorates), which each vote for a politician to represent them in the US House of Representatives.

Texas Democrats were quick to point out the new version of the map would result in Republicans gaining five seats.

Democrats argue the new map would give Republicans an unfair advantage at next year's midterm elections. (AP: Eric Gay)
That's a tactic known as gerrymandering, where districts are redrawn to include more voters in favour of one party to give a political advantage.

Democrats didn't support the proposal, but because they don't hold power in the Texas state legislature, they were unable to vote it down.

So instead, they fled the state to prevent a vote entirely.

Governor Greg Abbott retaliated by ordering the arrest of the Democrats and threatening to have them removed from office.

This is why the western democratic world regards America with contempt. This is a sickening departure from any form of civilised, truly democratic behaviour. Vale, America, once of the free world...

[pErvinalia]

What's the charge for the arrests?

[Brian Peacock]

Official announcement from the Office of the Texas Governor: August 4, 2025.

Governor Greg Abbott today ordered the arrest of delinquent Texas House Democrats.

“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief. There are consequences for dereliction of duty.

"Speaker Dustin Burrows just issued a call of the Texas House and issued warrants to compel members to return to the chamber. To ensure compliance, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans. This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol.”

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governo ... -democrats

[pErvinalia]

Next step is to lock them up in camps.

[JimC]

It will end up with Republican state forces invading Democrat led states...

[Tero]

Last day in DC area with my kids. I've run over my data plan for my two trips Jun and Aug back to back. I usually carry 1 to 2 GB to the next billing cycle but not on vacations. Hotel has wifi but I can't reduce the pixels on the photos on my phone.

The baby was named after my mom. But more to do with my son and daughter in law needing a Finnish name for the child. Because they met at Finnish camp when they were 16-17 and both counselors there.

[macdoc]

Did you go to any of the Smithsonians before the idjit tries to close them?

[JimC]

I heard that Trump has ordered the FBI to assist in detaining the Texas Democrat politicians who left the state to prevent a vote. Is this so, and if so, is it legal?

[JimC]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... ngNewsSerp


This link won't let me copy and paste the text, but it seems to confirm that the FBI has been asked to help track down the Texas Democrats in question. Seems odd, given they don't appear to have broken Federal laws...

[Svartalf]

they are rebels against Dear Leader, they should be shot first and interrogated from beyond the grave.

[pErvinalia]

Deport them to El Salvidor!

[rainbow]

Deport them to El Salvidor!

Eswatini.

[Tero]

"Evertything will be fine."
Elsewhere
A said: Our last general election wiped out our right wing party. (UK)
B said: But that sinking ship has supplied unlimited rats for the even more right wing party.

It doesn't seem to matter that they have no policy ideas at all beyond inflicting the greatest possible pain and anguish on those they hate. People love easy solutions for stuff they're scared about, and of course the leopard won't eat their face.

Germany elected the Nazis, and I'm sure even as the cult seemed to be getting a bit carried away, people assumed it was somehow going to be fine.