comment: >
  
  Counterpoint:  No it doesn't.  History is littered with genocides that ended with the annexation of land.
context: The cruelty is the point. Merry Christmas republicans.
  
  Multiple busloads of migrants were dropped off at Vice President Kamala Harris’s residence in Washington, D.C. on Saturday — Christmas Eve — leaving migrants on the streets in below-freezing temperatures, according to multiple reports.
  Three busloads of migrants were driven to D.C., ABC 7 reported, and arrived outside the Naval Observatory, which is the vice president’s residence. The migrants were later taken to a church by the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, a local aid group.
  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) was responsible for Saturday’s incident, according to ABC 7 and Fox News, marking the latest episode in a months-long effort by the governor to send migrants to democratic-run cities as a way to encourage the Biden administration to take steps to control immigration in the U.S. >
  
  What a spectacular display of “traditional Christian values” in this holiday season. >
  
  Same people who are mad that "Christ is being taken out of Christmas" >
  
  I have Muslim, Jewish, and Atheist friends who celebrate “Christmas” because it’s fun and we get the day off from work. The religious aspect has been overshadowed by general holiday sentiment for many of us already >
  
  The religious aspects are all still there,  it's just the religious traditions surrounding decorating a tree and having  a winter solstice feast  all come from religions long dead and gone. >
  
  I mean, most of the traditions people still adhere to (trees, lights, holly/ivy, green/red, general winter ritual) were originally pagan. It was a great way for early Christian’s to get people on board with their new religion: have a party when everyone else already does and rebrand it. Based on astronomical data (“Christmas star”), Jesus was likely born in the spring, if at all. >
  
  In 1656, the City of London soldiers were ordered to patrol the streets and seize any food they discovered being prepared for Christmas celebrations. The act of celebrating Christmas was regarded as giving liberty to carnal and sensual delights.
  We'll have to ask Justice Alito what he thinks. >
  
  You should listen to 'The Constant' Podcast on the true history of Christmas.  Apparently up until the 18th century it was a drunken crossdressing suck n fuck fest for the peasants.  Caroling was basically trick or treating with the threat of having your home ransacked if you didn't feed and booze the carolers l.This current version of Christmas is apparently a 19th century invention. >
  
  So, wanna go julebukking? >
  
  Sure, then we can go wassailing >
  
  This is why I chuckle when MAGA Republicans whine that people shun them for their "political beliefs."
  No one shuns them over their thoughts on tax policy or deficit spending.
  They are shunned because, frankly, to be a MAGA Republican is to be a bad human being. This article is just another data point.
  This stunt would never have occurred if Republican leaders weren't pandering to the most vile people in the country. >
  
  For the record, I shun them for their regressive tax policy too. secretaries paying a bigger % of their income to taxes than billionaires is outrageous. >
  
  It's fair to feel that way but being objectively wrong about government spending doesn't make you a bad person. These are the kinds of things we need to try and have mature conversations about
  Thinking it's okay or funny to kidnap immigrants and leave them in the freezing cold outside of the VPs house makes you a total scumbag
  E: the sentiment in the responses are wild. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. >
  
  I worked at a libertarian ‘think tank’ for awhile sort of out of curiosity (I filed papers in college). Virtually all of them know exactly what their tax policies are aiming to accomplish in one manner or another. The ‘think’ part was really two things; 1) coming up with new ways to fuck people without them realizing it and 2) think of ways to spin it after the fucking occurs. I’m way done giving any of them benefit of the doubt. They are shit people through and through >
  
  Libertarianism is societal cancer. >
  
  It’s funny as hell to me.  
  A place for people who want to be selfish as fuck in all things but also be re-invited to the party where all the nice people go.  
  It’s so funny to me now than ever before because it’s a fence sitting place while when push comes to shove they will always choose the selfish conservative side of policy.  
  The problem is they don’t want people to think they are shitty people.   
  It works on dumb people and it worked a lot easier before Trumpism shattered their camouflage.  
  I cannot find a libertarian that votes progressive.  I can’t find one that didn’t like Donald Trump.  At least not here in Louisville Kentucky. >
  
  Republicans resort to human trafficking on Christmas eve.  Stay classy! >
  
  Considering the weather conditions, I feel it goes beyond human trafficking, and moves to attempted murder. It equates to throwing them in a freezer. >
  
  I feel a Nazi comparison is warranted here, because this is exactly what the Nazis did to Russian civilians during Barbarossa. They were forcibly deported in the freezing cold with no food. >
  
  Between this and the list of trans people Texas is making they are openly inviting nazi comparisons. And they know it, but don’t care. >
  
  Because they know that's exactly what the Nazis did. Texas has always been cozy with Nazis >
  
  Gotta use our money to fund migrant buses instead of fixing the goddamned electrical grid... >
  
  Seriously.  Fuck this fucking fuck Abbott.  What a fucking Christian. >
  
  Fuck Texas in general. No sympathy for Texans when they keep putting these pieces of shit in power. >
  
  Maybe change that to say no sympathy for the ones that keep putting him in power, because quite a few of us don't. I'm sure gerrymandering plays quite a role here too. I didn't choose to live in Texas but I'm fucking stuck here. >
  
  And people wonder why half the country is disgusted with the other. REGULAR SANE PEOPLE DON'T DO THIS STUFF TO OTHER HUMANS. The fact that they are incapable of any self reflection is not only astonishing but disappointing. Why do they hate so much? >
  
  Maybe they're looking at it from the psychopath point of view of "If we send enough of them elsewhere to freeze to death and then news gets back, they'll stop coming" >
  
  I think it’s more like, “the libs want open borders and sanctuary cities. Let them deal with it.” >
  
  Okay, but wanting legal immigration pathways is not open borders. >
  
  "Open borders" is just a conservative buzzword that has no meaning. Every administration has the same problem with refugees. But when Democrats win the "borders are open" when republicans win the "borders are secure" its all just drivel at this point.
  Its like trying to ask some slack jawed frothing right winger "Explain to me how Joe Biden is a socialist" and them answering "Because hes the Devil!" >
  
  I'm convinced that the entirety of Fox News has become brainwashing through buzz-phrases of two or three words. If someone hears "Hunter Biden's Laptop", "Open Borders", "Build the Wall", etc, they aren't thinking about those words or what they mean, it's just a dopamine response of tribalistic anger >
  
  Complain incessantly about paying taxes to support the common good of their community and nation, but more than happy to spend tens of thousands on mean spirited, life endangering practical jokes.  That the party of Christian love in modern America. >
  
  Human trafficking, not practical jokes. It's a crime against humanity and human dignity. >
  
  It was fucking 15 degrees out. Republicans are inhumane monsters >
  
  At least there’s heat and power in DC. Step up from Texas, as I understand it. >
  
  If that. It wasn't as bad as our last snow/power issues, but there were still a ton of people in north Texas without power on Christmas.
  Republican values. 👍🏻 >
  
  Idk why anyone votes for the GOP.
  This is totally cool with all you "Good Christians" that vote for Republicans? This is what you like done to people on Christmas Eve? Jesus would be super happy with this right?
  This type of shit incenses me.....what the fuck is the point of this other than pure cruelty? It's like 10* up here right now
  The GOP is on a downward spiral, for every 1 cruelty loving bigot asshole this appeals to they are turning off many more people that are just tired of this shit.
  They don't ever attempt to actually fix the problem, they block every attempt at comprehensive immigration reform that would actually fix the issues and they just scream and yell about how it's all broken and do absolutely abhorrent cruel shit like this.....those are fucking human beings
  Fucking hell, the GOP makes me so fucking mad
  I'm so "owned"...you really "got" me 🙄 >
  
  BUt NoT aLl RePuBlIcAnS durrrr hurrrrr durrrrr. Like I said in another thread, if a group you choose to belong to is actively doing evil and vile shit, and you don’t leave, you’re endorsing the actions. No excuses or reasoning necessary, full stop, the discussion is over. Until you quit it, you’re saying they still represent you enough to continue being a member. 
  I didn’t have to assume or make anything up or invent connections - I literally just pointed out what you’re doing… >
  
  
  if a group you choose to belong to is actively doing evil and vile shit, and you don’t leave, you’re endorsing the actions.
  
  If you're sitting at a table with 5 nazis, then there are 6 nazis at the table. >
  
  awww, just what one would expect from a good "Christian" like Abbott - drop people off in freezing temps with no protection from the cold.   I'm glad there are good people in DC ready to help them and give them shelter.  
  The only thing the GOP is good for these days are reality TV like stunts. They've learned well from their Trump master. >
  
  Oh yeah, A Christmas Carol is a salient indictment of the wealthy capitalist elite and its moral goes against everything the current conservative caucus stands for. Same with Its A Wonderful Life. >
  
  Agree. But it also serves as a salve for those held underfoot: maintaining the idea that there’s some kind of nobility it being poor and that if you don’t ask or demand change, some rich a-hole will “bless” you with their charity. 
  I bet tiny Tim would be a helluva lot better off with Medicare than a big dinner. >
  
  Truly truly evil shit. It blows my mind that christians these days will piss and moan until they run out of oxygen about red Starbucks cups and “happy holidays” but look at Abbott’s latest human trafficking stunt ON FUCKING CHRISTMAS EVE and see nothing wrong with it. Aye yie yie is this some nasty shit. >
  
  They’re the ~~philistines~~ Pharisees rebuked by Jesus in the New Testament: people who only purported to be religious for the attention it garnered them. People who prayed loudly and obnoxiously in public and threw themselves on the floor in a great show of piety because they wanted fame and adulation, not salvation. See also: Joel Osteen, Christian revivalism, evangelism.
  If the record is to be believed, Jesus scorned them, kicked their shit in on several occasions, and made it pretty clear they are not his followers. They only care about themselves; no others.
  For the record, I’m not a believer, but I believe firmly in holding people to their own espoused belief system. These people are hypocrites of the highest order and deserving of the hell they believe exists. >
  
  Got money to bus immigrants to DC.
  No money for weatherizing their power grid.
  And Texans couldn’t understand why I left this shit >
  
  It's private profits that would have to fix the power grid.  It's public tax money getting used for political stunts >
  
  Only because they privatized it in the first place >
  
  On one hand, Republicans are evil, fake Christians. On the other hand, theyre probably going to wind up alone in a shitty and underfunded nursing home with tons of family who refuses to visit because said nursing home smells bad. >
  
  Are they really fake Christians or has Christianity always been shitty? The whole Crusades thing makes me think Christians have been shitty for a long time >
  
  Christians being shitty is nothing new. But there have been good Christians, too. Jimmy Carter spent half his life building houses for the unhomed. Mister Rogers inspired generations of children. Doctor Martin Luther King Jr helped to pioneer civil rights for POC. Like most things, it's  people who ruin something by utilizing it for selfish reasons, or using it to hide their intentions. >
  
  Pointing to some of the most accomplished and iconic figures in modern history doesn't really do you any favors. It's like, you really have to reach to find anyone decent.   
  There are more "in name only" Christians than there are Mr. Rogerses.  There are a hell of a lot more "pray on the street corner" Christian politicians than there are "build actual houses with their own hand" Jimmy Carters. I've personally met more repugnant asshole Christians of every color than I've met who are equal to half of one MLK. >
  
  and once again, republicans show how far away they have strayed from the scriptures they claim to abide by. 
  good on the volunteer services for showing the true meaning of humanity and service and not treating our fellow humans like pawns.
  merry christmas. >
  
  Republicans are doing a great job of showing how much better Democrats are at living by Christ’s teachings. Even the heathen Democrats are streets ahead of the GOP. >
  
  Now that is a reference I haven't heard in a long time. >
  
  That's because you're streets behind. >
  
  Not once I rewatch all of Community over the next day and a half! >
  
  On Christmas eve it was near 9 degrees F or minus 13 C in DC.
  I question the wisdom and the humanity of this political stunt. 
  Good Christians they are not.   I doubt these same people would have dumped stray dogs and cats on the streets on DC on Christmas eve because it would have been cruelty to animals. >
  
  The cruelty is the point. >
  
  Tens of thousands without power….again….
  and this fucking bastard wastes time and resources doing the most unchristian political stunt….on christmas eve >
  
  Can we send Gov. Abbott a busload of children's coffins to pressure him to do something about gun violence? >
  
  Republicans are not the party of Christian values.
  
  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
  Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
  The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ >
  
  “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
  Matthew 7:15 >
  
  The Church and the GOP don't even hide that they are evil, their God isn't a Christian God, it's $ >
  
  “A priest is an unarmed cop.” >
  
  The Republican party needs to be cut out like cancer. >
  
  Do you have republican friends? Reject them. The only way to end this is to marginalize the fuck out of republicans. Don't invite them to your partys, weddings, showers, don't hire them for a job and stop talking to them if they are your friends. When they only have each other to interact with, they will see very quickly how awful they are. Trust me on this one. >
  
  We should strive to cut toxic people out of our lives and Republicans are most certainly toxic people >
  
  Mods are taking these threads down as off-topic.  Not sure how considering this was a stunt done by the GOP.
  Edit: well maybe they decided not to anymore.  They were earlier this morning. >
  
  Nothing surprises me. How an action by a state governor to send migrants to the home of the sitting vice-president is off-topic is beyond me. >
  
  This is criminal and everyone involved needs to be prosecuted. These are refugees fleeing from the very bullshit tactics the GQP is pulling here. >
  
  Nothing happens when Abbott and deathsantis are using humans for political games! Someone needs to charge them! >
  
  PragerU’s rendition of Christmas Carol SUCKS >
  
  These poor people are vilified for where they were born. No one chooses to be born anywhere. It's a random lottery. >
  
  I don't think the problem is where they were born. I think Republicans have a problem with where they chose to live. They want them to die where they were born... out of sight out of mind. >
  
  If Jesus were alive today, he would spit in Greg Abbot's face.
  If Hitler were alive today, he would shake Greg's hand. >
  
  Weirdly, Democrats virtually never callously risk killing people for cheap political points. I don't want to say this reflects on the people who vote for Republicans, but that's reality. Abbot believes, probably correctly, that shipping people to a Democratic area where they will quickly die without an emergency care response is acceptable, moral, and/or politically beneficial to him. 
  He is a fucking monster. >
  
  Yo, Republicans need to be terrorized by three ghosts into doing anything remotely “Christian” and it shows >
  
  Only if the ghost of Christmas past gets to be Abraham Lincoln >
  
  Glad to see Abbott is spending his time with cruel political stunts instead of dealing with frequent power outages. >
  
  Just yesterday President Biden declared an emergency in Texas due to their failing electrical system.  Abbott repaid Biden's decency with yet another despicable act of cruelty.
  And yet the good people of Texas reelected their mechanized monster and it wasn't even close.  A solid majority of the voting populace there supports sending human beings into sub-zero temperatures without any plan for keeping them from dying in the cold.
  I honestly don't know how decent people can co-exist with these monsters. >
  
  Dropping hundreds of migrants out in freezing temperatures during Christmas.
  Ain't no hate like Christian "love".  
  No wonder Christianity is dying in America.  They keep showing their true faces. >
  
  I thought this was deemed illegal?   Oh right, govt officials have no consequences for their actions. >
  
  Wonderful way to celebrate Jesus’s birthday >
  
  Stunts like this is what really tore the veil away for me when it comes to Christianity. The people who worship Jesus and preach about following the golden rule are applauding leaving immigrants to freeze to death on Christmas Eve… Very Christ-like. 
  Christian nationalism is a cancer to society; it is fascism wrapped in a flag and carrying a Bible. >
  
  While Texans freeze, he paid for buses to drop migrants off in DC as a stunt.
  Bravo, Texas, I hope you’re proud >
  
  Imagine trying this hard to become the anti-Christ. >
  
  Republicans are just handing their opposition the biggest PR wins on a platter.  
  There's absolutely nothing that will top seeing a community coming together to take care of people in unfortunate circumstances during Christmas. This is literally a holiday movie in the making and Republicans are the evil, uncaring bad guys. >
  
  I agree with you- and hope its plays off well... but I need to see some Democratic dogs on the offense on this.
  CANNOT let this shit slide, its morally and spiritually the most fucked up thing this group has done. 
  Like how do you even come up with this shit??? >
  
  
  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) was responsible for Saturday’s incident, according to ABC 7 and Fox News, marking the latest episode in a months-long effort by the governor to send migrants to democratic-run cities as a way to encourage the Biden administration to take steps to control immigration in the U.S.
  
  maybe the Feds should do like wise and stop approving disaster aid for Texas in order to encourage the Abbott administration to fix the Texas power grid. >
  
  How is this not human trafficking? >
  
  I think they trick these people into signing waiver forms or something so that they can argue legally that it's not. >
  
  Contracts signed under duress are invalid. >
  
  Performative cruelty. >
  
  Texas: We hire illegals.
  Texas: Harvest is over we hate illegals.
  Republicans: Only Abbott can fix this
  Abbott: This is all Biden's fault.
  Rinse and repeat. >
  
  These are great political stunts to get a chuckle out a MAGA Republican reading the story in the comfort of their homes, but treating vulnerable people that are mostly clueless about what exactly is going on tells a lot about how they see immigrants: worthless. >
  
  Anytime this happens, they should just fast track the naturalization. >
  
  Anyone that uses HUMANS for a political STUNT should not be allowed to hold a public office. >
  
  Harris probably is not even in DC right now. Her primary residence is in California is it not?
  The routing decision and timing indicate this was more about performative symbolism and cruelty than actually solving the problem. >
  
  Performative symbolism and cruelty from the republican party?! You don't say! >
  
  What a bunch of bastards.  This is the true battle in politics over the next couple decades. Trying to restrain the Republicans wanton cruelty and violence from destroying the country. We're going to be bogged down with these inhumane, selfish, greedy nuts for generations unless they're purged from politics now. Anybody voting Republican is basically voting for the Nazi party's return. >
  
  That’s just F*#ing cruel.  If the intent of his publicity stunt was to prove what a cruel, piece of shit he is than I’d say it was a huge success. >
  
  How is this not illegal? When will these cons face any accountability?? >
  
  It is, they wont >
  
  Why has no one prosecuted these ghouls for the first time they pulled this crap? >
  
  Texas, what a racist shithole state >
  
  How do they think this makes the Dems look bad and them look good? >
  
  I don’t care if my family freezes as long as the libs were owned. The libs were owned right? >
  
  You dont like migrants or the policies. Okay, whatever. Using these people in this way is absolutely disgusting. Not that they give a shit. >
  
  So much time to think about stupid gimmicks while people in his state are freezing. Good one... >
  
  evil 
  adjective
  profoundly immoral and wicked.
  Yep, by definition, Abbott is evil. and by association, every idiot that voted for him. >
  
  My wife’s parents are visiting us for the holidays from Texas. MIL just laughed about the “present Abbott left for Kamala.”
  Morning started off well enough until she said that. Nothing like laughing about the less fortunate being left in the cold to stoke the holiday fires…
  I’m outside with our dog. Everyone’s inside waiting for me to come back in to open presents. I’m not really in the mood. 
  We donate pretty generously to local food banks. Is there a solid organization in DC that helps these people we can all help? >
  
  I just got into a yelling match with my father over the exact same comment. Merry Christmas. 
  Because human beings are punchlines. 
  He’s not speaking to me now because I told him he was very in-Christlike and should take a hard look in the mirror why he found the suffering of others so funny. >
  
  Using desperate people as political pawns, just like Jesus would do. >
  
  This is just egregiously cruel in the midst of the current weather situation. There is a special place in one of the lowest and coldest levels of hell for the people perpetrating this horrendous crime against humanity. >
  
  So when do we drop off thousands of orphaned children at Greg Abbots house? >
  
  Greg Abbot is a giant POS and Texans love him for it. >
  
  Brought to you by the party of family values!
   
  ...which apparently include human trafficking on Christmas eve. >
  
  Matthew 25:44-45
  “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ >
  
  Hmm what is the most un-Christ like thing I can do on christs bday… >
  
  They don't even consider these migrants as people, it's fucking disgusting. >
  
  Well maybe Mary should have made a reservation if she wanted room at the Inn!!!
  
  Talibangelicals >
  
  2024 Headline: After years of being used, Migrants win Texas lawsuit for violation of human rights. >
  
  What a win that would be! >
  
  Maybe they'll bankrupt texas in a different way. Bad behavior always comes back to bite the offender worse than the offended.