The instinct when you see these stories is to say something like “America, ICE didn’t stop because the news stopped covering it” or “One day it’ll all come out how bad this really is, and this will be a mark of shame closer to Trail of Tears than Japanese internment” ( what a glorious country to be able to produce a tier list internet video of atrocities in like, a speedrun time frame relative to other nations).

But the truth is, both statements assume willing or enforced ignorance on behalf of the American people and that’s a lie. America knows, explicitly this is happening and most either dont care, or love it. The minority of Americans who would stop this would have to risk their personal safety to do anything and thats a big ask when a little less than a third of them even think its an issue.

Americans writ large are either, stupid, cruel or both.

I’m just thinking in big franchises, because I’m not a well-schooled film-nerd. But even I can think of a lot of examples of sequels better than the originals.

It’s a matter of taste, but I think Rocky 2 is the strongest film in the franchise. I think it’s more commonly believed that Aliens is a stronger film than Alien. Evil Dead 2 is better than Evil Dead, but that might not count since its a soft reboot. Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan is pretty much a classic example. Terminator 2 is a very different movie than Terminator 1, making comparison weird but it’s usually regarded as better. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 is arguably stronger than Spider-Man, though obviously 3 was a bit of a mess.

Going to put this in a separate section. Admittedly, whether this should count is arguable. Still, If you count Marvel movies as direct sequels to others, it gets ridiculously easy: Thor: Ragnarok is so much better than all the other Thor movies its kind of nuts. Winter Soldier is stronger than First Avenger and Civil War might be better than both. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is the strongest film in that franchise.

Yeah I dont know how the army does it, but civilian aircraft would have to be “repaired” by being stripped and rebuilt or they’d never be considered flight ready. The distinction between destroyed and damaged is just the Air Force saving face.

On the one hand, she did start with sympathy before she made her stupid ass comment.

On the other hand, it was unbelievably stupid and in support of a pointless war in the middle east.

But for context, I can’t imagine any Republican winning in Minnesota this year, so maybe she’s just running a sacrificial lamb campaign to launch her career as a right wing grifter.

From your lips to God’s ears, gentle Albertan. I’m out in Ontario and get wildly different takes on how “serious” the Separatist movement is. Some people report is as you say, some say it’s “gaining traction”. Highly suspect sources go further, claiming the idea is popular. Even screening out Post Media, there are journalists reporting it as a “very real threat due to institutional support in the Premier’s office”.

For the record, and I know I’m not the first to say it, this woman committed NO crime. She didn’t overstay a visa, she didn’t protest illegally. She wrote something the administration didn’t like.

For that, she was arrested by 8 masked officers in the middle of the street, in broad daylight. She was thrown in the back on an unmarked SUV. She’s received no legal representation. No trial. Not even charges, because again, she committed no crime.

Americans, you realize you’re watching the death of your rights and the rule of law, right? You have no illusions about the fact that you are defenseless? There is no longer any guardrail between you and an El Salvadoran prison camp. In something that reminds me very much of Stalin, an accusation is now a conviction.