Chit-Chat: The Feels

Dimity · February 24

3 minutes ago, anony.miss said:

That insane tax plan is only going to cause the debt - and deficit spending - to explode.

Brought to you by the same genius who somehow thinks imposing punitive tariffs on other countries will only negatively affect the other countries.

Edited February 24 by Dimity

ProudMary · February 24

4 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

I liked that bill. Not all of it, of course, but that's compromise. Both sides leave the room a little bit disappointed.

Unlike the Border Bill which would have had unanimous consent, only a handful of Republicans voted "Yes" on the Infrastructure Bill, but after it passed, a large number of them who voted against it, then campaigned on it when their constituents liked what they saw. 😠

bluegirl147 · February 25

22 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Any woman who did this would be pilloried by the right wing media. Musk? Nothing to see here...

If it was a woman of color child services would be called.

kittykat · February 25

More like if woman did what Musk did: CHILD NEGLIGENCE. What if he gets hurt.

If woman carried him in arms down stairs: UGH this is why kids are so soft. Why is she coddling him?

Edited February 25 by kittykat

Lugal · February 25

2 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

We are $36.22 trillion in debt. In what world does that denote 'rich'?

The US is tremendously rich. We have a large population and a large amount of resources. The question is how do we use them.

For all the problems you mentioned upthread, (homelessness, poverty, education, collapsing infrastructure) the "debt" is the excuse to not pay for those things. I would argue those problems are the real deficits. If we (well, the ones that control the government) wanted to pay for them, we would. After all, we can give nearly a trillion dollars a year to the Pentagon and Trump's 2017 tax cut pumped money into the economy, unfortunately to the already rich. Whenever it's something they actually want to spend the money on, the money's always there. Always. The US is the currency issuer, it will never run out of dollars.

heatherchandler · February 25

5 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

As HC said, it's okay to put on our oxygen mask first. Okay, that's not precisely what she said, but you get it. 😂

I meant to say that! 🤣

MostlyContent · February 25

2 hours ago, Lugal said:

Trump's 2017 tax cut pumped money into the economy, unfortunately to the already rich.

After the ACA went into effect, my husband and I had to pay a couple of grand a year more for our health insurance between the rise in the cost of the policies for the company he was working for, and the increase in the copays. It certainly wasn't something we were thankful for, but it did help a lot more people get health insurance, so it was fine overall.

After the 2017 tax cut we received between $3-4,000 more in our refund than we had previously, so we kind of liked that it 'made up for' the increase in our healthcare. I would sure hate for that go away, but if it does, it does. I don't think we'd be considered 'rich' by any stretch of the imagination, though. I suppose the definition of rich depends on who's defining the word.

SoMuchTV · February 25

1 hour ago, MostlyContent said:

After the 2017 tax cut we received between $3-4,000 more in our refund than we had previously, so we kind of liked that it 'made up for' the increase in our healthcare.

I’m sure you and most of us here realize this, but for anyone who isn’t aware: bigger tax refund does not necessarily mean lower taxes. It just means that you’ve been having more deducted out of every paycheck than was necessary to cover your final tax bill. Some people prefer to do this as a kind of forced savings, or because their circumstances are in flux and they want to err on the side of overpaying, but the size of your refund or payment is not necessarily a reflection of what you’re paying in federal income taxes. /end of PSA

MostlyContent · February 25

1 hour ago, SoMuchTV said:

I’m sure you and most of us here realize this, but for anyone who isn’t aware: bigger tax refund does not necessarily mean lower taxes. It just means that you’ve been having more deducted out of every paycheck than was necessary to cover your final tax bill. Some people prefer to do this as a kind of forced savings, or because their circumstances are in flux and they want to err on the side of overpaying, but the size of your refund or payment is not necessarily a reflection of what you’re paying in federal income taxes. /end of PSA

That's always a good point to reiterate.

I've understood that from parental lectures since I was 16 or so. lol!

Everyone should pay attention to their withholding, for sure.

ETA: I should not have used the word 'refund'. We were just used to getting a little back or paying in a little. It was really different to get a pretty nice deposit since we hadn't adjusted for 2017 tax cut in our withholding and our tax burden was less. :) It was rather like Christmas.

Edited February 25 by MostlyContent
a word annoyed me

Soapy Goddess · February 25

14 hours ago, Dimity said:

As a popular meme suggests, this all makes sense when you realize Trump and Musk are not working for you. They work for him.

Do you have proof of that statement?

13 hours ago, Notabug said:

In his first month in office, Trump spent over $10 million flying back and forth to Mar a Lago to play golf and up to $20 million just to attend the Super Bowl. Presuming he keeps taking these pleasure trips at government expense, as he did during his first term; he will cost taxpayers about 1/3 of a billion bucks just this year and well over a billion during his four year term.

Not bad for someone who isn't taking a salary!

And yes, I'd rather he get perks than a similar amount of money always going to foreign countries.

13 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

And if you say this to a Trump supporter they will respond with "Yeah well he doesn't take a salary."

BINGO!!! You win the internet!!!

12 hours ago, Dimity said:

While I appreciate the sentiment in the meme I am including here, the reality is that most of his supporters will never admit they were wrong. Not even if that means giving up their Social Security, their paycheques and their personal freedom. They won't be happy about this but they will find a way to blame anyone but Trump.

We'll let you know if/when we get there.

Soapy Goddess · February 25

8 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

I'll be more interested in aiding other countries when we get serious about helping our own.

Brava!! That's all I've been concerned about from day one. As John Lennon said, "Imagine all the people, living life in peace" IOW, if everyone had a home, good health care, etc. we wouldn't be having these arguments about right or wrong.

Instead of trying to be the hero of the entire world, we really need to help our own citizens, neighbors, veterans, unhoused, etc. FIRST. Now that's empathy!

8 hours ago, partofme said:

The Democratic party is far from perfect but you are much more likely to get policies that help poor Americans if you vote for Democrats. There is no reason why a country as rich as the US can’t support its own citizens and aid poor people overseas.

I have to disagree. If the Dems really want to help poor people, why not start in our own country? Have you ever heard of "charity begins at HOME"?

Just think about those billions of dollars that could have helped our citizens, and how being part of the system would add to our coffers so THEN we can help overseas and STILL be their hero and savior.

Soapy Goddess · February 25

8 hours ago, Notabug said:

I haven't heard of any new programs he is proposing to prevent or treat substance abuse. Trump falsely claimed Hunter Biden was dishonorably discharged from the military for drug use and Don Jr. has repeatedly referred to him as a 'crackhead'. This doesn't strike me as showing empathy for those with substance abuse issues.

Why shouldn't he call a spade a spade? (old saying for those born after the turn of the century). It's hard to show empathy for an almost 50 year old man who had to be pardoned by his father because even Joe doesn't know what his son is/was capable of.

I wouldn't doubt (once he gets the country back on track) that he might implement such a program. He has very strong feelings about this because it took his brother's life at an early age.

8 hours ago, partofme said:

But the US is a rich country now, it just doesn’t help its own citizens due to Republican politicians.

How are we rich when we are trillions of dollars in debt?

Hypothetically speaking, what IF the Rep decided to used any "saved" money to help its citizens, would that change your mind about DJT?

Annber03 · February 25

So letting our country fall into a fascist state is totally fine so long as we odn't have to fund pesky thingsl ike transgender surgeries.

Imagine thinking this sort of thought process is even remotely logical or acceptable. Just. Unbelievable.

Soapy Goddess · February 25

6 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

So letting our country fall into a fascist state is totally fine so long as we odn't have to fund pesky thingsl ike transgender surgeries.

Imagine thinking this sort of thought process is even remotely logical or acceptable. Just. Unbelievable.

That's not going to happen. Don't worry, be happy.

tres bien · February 25

It seems like everyday devolves into picking apart everything anyone says or misunderstands or makes a trivial mistake is analyzed and picked apart and criticized into minutiae because someone spends their time looking at things to attack and it becomes a never ending back and forth

I saw an in interview with Trump voters in CO. Some are giddy and don’t think he’s moving fast enough over what he’s done this past month. Some are leary and some that want it both ways

I also read an article yesterday that was a case for democrats to start running hard for 2026 now. Except for Senator Chris Murphy (D CT) I never see or hear from the democrats

Hakeem Jeffries vows that the House democrats will not lift a finger this time around to bail out the republicans. I hope that’s true because two years of that didn’t help the democrats in 2024

Edited February 25 by tres bien

Annber03 · February 25

5 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

That's not going to happen. Don't worry, be happy.

Except it literally is. Right before our eyes.

lookeyloo · February 25

Sometimes I think Kellyanne conway is on this forum

annzeepark914 · February 25

8 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

Sometimes I think Kellyanne conway is on this forum

Oh, yes. Alternate facts.

bluegirl147 · February 25

7 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And yes, I'd rather he get perks than a similar amount of money always going to foreign countries.

Those perks cost millions of dollars. And for someone who keeps crowing about wasteful spending I think his trips to a NASCAR race and the SB and his endless trips to Mar A Lago qualify as wasteful.

6 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

I have to disagree. If the Dems really want to help poor people, why not start in our own country? Have you ever heard of "charity begins at HOME"?

The same could be said for Republicans. They are always the first to want to cut the safety net.

6 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

It's hard to show empathy for an almost 50 year old man who had to be pardoned by his father because even Joe doesn't know what his son is/was capable of.

And it's hard for me to have any empathy for January 6ers Trump pardoned. And he doesn't know what they are capable of. Or maybe he does and that is why he pardoned them. Either way it's scary.

6 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

I wouldn't doubt (once he gets the country back on track) that he might implement such a program. He has very strong feelings about this because it took his brother's life at an early age.

According to his brother's children their uncle didn't really care when their father, his brother died.

2 hours ago, tres bien said:

Hakeem Jeffries vows that the House democrats will not lift a finger this time around to bail out the republicans. I hope that’s true because two years of that didn’t help the democrats in 2024

There is a looming shut down in March if they don't pass a budget or at least a funding resolution to keep the government running. And with all the Republican infighting in the House we shall see which faction comes out on top. What is that saying? When your enemies are destroying themselves let them?

Dimity · February 25

In a feel good story a Michigan couple paid for all the meals in a Windsor Ontario restaurant the other day as their way of apologising for Trump and to show their solidarity with Canada. Nice to know that Trump does not speak for all Americans.

annzeepark914 · February 25

49 minutes ago, Dimity said:

In a feel good story a Michigan couple paid for all the meals in a Windsor Ontario restaurant the other day as their way of apologising for Trump and to show their solidarity with Canada. Nice to know that Trump does not speak for all Americans.

Thanks for sharing this. The nasty threats directed at our good neighbor by that tool in the White House (& his sidekicks) are so damn embarrassing and infuriating to real Americans.

Dimity · February 25

This quote in light of recent events in the US is all too apt. And if you aren't absolutely furious about that happened then I don't think we have any way to have a civil 'meeting of the minds'.

Quote

The people who watch as you're zipped tied and dragged from a public meeting would also watch as you're thrown into a concentration camp.

Edited February 25 by Dimity

bluegirl147 · February 25

5 minutes ago, Dimity said:

This quote in light of recent events in the US is all too apt.

The security guard who dragged her out was fired. I'm sure there is a position waiting for him at ICE. But for all those men who sat there and did nothing shame on you. And they wondered why we chose the bear.

Dimity · February 25

25 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

The security guard who dragged her out was fired. I'm sure there is a position waiting for him at ICE. But for all those men who sat there and did nothing shame on you. And they wondered why we chose the bear.

Exactly. There have been a lot of articles written recently comparing what is happening in the US to what happened in Germany in the '30s. We have just seen first hand who would have been in the resistance and who would have stood by and done nothing. Utterly shameful.

Edited February 25 by Dimity

tres bien · February 25

Dusty Johnson (R SD) “it’s on the democrats to keep the government open. The republicans do not have the votes to keep the government open on our own. So if the democrats want to shut it down they can”

Today the republicans are voting on their budget. It includes cuts to Medicaid for 72 million people and threatens SNAP benefits to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Democrats don’t give them one vote

I wonder if I’ll vote in 2026 because if the Democrats back down and get nothing pretty much like in the last congress ( Mike Johnson wouldn’t be speaker today without them) then yeah I’m staying home.

My rep Ilhan Omar has a snowball’s chance in hell of loosing to a republican so it’s not much of a threat from me but it’ll be a personal statement

annzeepark914 · February 25

4 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Dusty Johnson (R SD) “it’s on the democrats to keep the government open. The republicans do not have the votes to keep the government open on our own. So if the democrats want to shut it down they can”

Today the republicans are voting on their budget. It includes cuts to Medicaid for 72 million people and threatens SNAP benefits to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Democrats don’t give them one vote

I wonder if I’ll vote in 2026 because if the Democrats back down and get nothing pretty much like in the last congress ( Mike Johnson wouldn’t be speaker today without them) then yeah I’m staying home.

My rep Ilhan Omar has a snowball’s chance in hell of loosing to a republican so it’s not much of a threat from me but it’ll be a personal statement

Please...no more personal statements from voters. That's how we got to this horrid situation.

Dimity · February 25

Did Elon Musk really call people getting govt benefits "the parasite class"? This meme seems to think so, but I know that there has been misinformation on both side of the political divide.

partofme · February 25

5 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Did Elon Musk really call people getting govt benefits "the parasite class"? This meme seems to think so, but I know that there has been misinformation on both side of the political divide.

I have no idea if he said this but I’m sure he thinks it. He the richest man in the world said before the election that if Trump won that the American people would be in for a lot of suffering. It angers me that people voted for this.

Eri · February 25

7 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Did Elon Musk really call people getting govt benefits "the parasite class"? This meme seems to think so, but I know that there has been misinformation on both side of the political divide.

In general, I would take unsourced screenshots with a grain of salt. No one is visibly credited for having written the posts in the screenshot, and the warnings contained within, while clearly from a place of genuine concern, can fall apart under scrutiny.

peacheslatour · February 25

19 minutes ago, Eri said:

In general, I would take unsourced screenshots with a grain of salt. No one is visibly credited for having written the posts in the screenshot, and the warnings contained within, while clearly from a place of genuine concern, can fall apart under scrutiny.

Yes it's real. From Snopes-

The claim spread across multiple platforms, including Instagram, X, Facebook and Bluesky. Media outlets such as The Daily Beast, The Atlantic Black Star and Times Now News also published stories about the post. An episode on the podcast "On With Kara Swisher" discussed the post, as well, calling Musk himself a parasite; Swisher claimed that by 2015, Tesla had received almost $5 billion in government support.

The X post is real; Musk did repost the meme (archived) with his own pro-DOGE caption and a laughing emoji on Feb. 12, 2025, at 10:35 p.m. (ET).

bluegirl147 · February 25

Snopes says it's true.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/musk-parasite-class/

@Dimity @peacheslatour Seems the three of us are of the same great mind.

Edited February 25 by bluegirl147

peacheslatour · February 25

This, however is not real but it is not far off either.

bluegirl147 · February 25

At what point does Trump get tired of so many people laughing at him? He is not someone that can shrug things off. He is not self deprecating. He does not have a sense of humor. All this has got to get to him.

Dimity · February 25

Just now, bluegirl147 said:

At what point does Trump get tired of so many people laughing at him? He is not someone that can shrug things off. He is not self deprecating. He does not have a sense of humor. All this has got to get to him.

I didn't think he'd last this long with people paying more attention to Musk than to him. Which in and of itself is a disturbingly sinister sign. Trump is not one to share the spotlight.

peacheslatour · Tuesday at 05:21 PM

8 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I didn't think he'd last this long with people paying more attention to Musk than to him. Which in and of itself is a disturbingly sinister sign. Trump is not one to share the spotlight.

Between Putin's kompromat and Musk's bankrolling his entry into the White House and out of prison, something has got to snap.

bluegirl147 · Tuesday at 05:32 PM

I think he can live with the blackmail but the humiliation is what will get to him. I say we keep it up.

ECM1231 · Tuesday at 05:52 PM

“We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” they wrote. “We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/doge-staff-resign-critical-public-services_n_67bde9f3e4b0659288fe1eb1?d_id=8770512&ref=bffbhuffpost&ncid_tag=fcbklnkushpmg00000063&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=us_main&fbclid=IwY2xjawIq4ItleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZiodu8DTA7IFeVv8oZFJhWQii964VrD3xq5hu-EcA6FY8FAbLJ3isST2A_aem_aFjYQKqLSd_asBBDpWgLcg

Bookish Jen · Tuesday at 06:45 PM

This is not normal.

And thousands of friends? More like thousands of cult members.

Dimity · Tuesday at 06:48 PM

I hate to break it to Peachy Keenan but 78 is hardly a vast age at which one can start bragging about achieving longevity. Isn't this usually reserved for those hardy souls who make it to 100?

PRgal · Tuesday at 07:00 PM

10 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I hate to break it to Peachy Keenan but 78 is hardly a vast age at which one can start bragging about achieving longevity. Isn't this usually reserved for those hardy souls who make it to 100?

Although it would also depend on one's parents. My paternal grandfather died in his early 70s (colon cancer). My dad is turning 78 this year and his siblings are all in their 70s as well (I think my youngest aunt is 70 or 71). But then again, my paternal grandmother lived until she was 96 or 97!

Dimity · Tuesday at 07:05 PM

1 minute ago, PRgal said:

But then again, my paternal grandmother lived until she was 96 or 97!

With good luck and a fair wind most of us will hit the 80 mark at the least and nowadays many are going on for much longer. In my family my grandmother died of cancer at 55 but two of her sisters made it past 100 and a third sister made it to 97. So 78 ain't so great.

Anela · Tuesday at 07:07 PM

25 minutes ago, Bookish Jen said:

This is not normal.

And thousands of friends? More like thousands of cult members.

I don’t judge him by his looks, but I’ve never thought that he was handsome. His wife is also twenty-three or twenty-four years younger than him, he apparently hasn’t been faithful to any of his spouses.

“Zero minutes feeling depressed ever.” And she knows this, how?

10 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Although it would also depend on one's parents. My paternal grandfather died in his early 70s (colon cancer). My dad is turning 78 this year and his siblings are all in their 70s as well (I think my youngest aunt is 70 or 71). But then again, my paternal grandmother lived until she was 96 or 97!

Our dads are the same age. My mum died a few months before her 71st birthday.

Edited Tuesday at 07:11 PM by Anela

Dimity · Tuesday at 07:10 PM

5 minutes ago, Anela said:

“Zero minutes feeling depressed ever.” And he knows this, how?

I can't speak to depressed but ever since he came down that escalator he's been an angry, incoherent mass of perpetual grievance. That can't be good for your health. Well it certainly hasn't helped the health of most of us!

Edited Tuesday at 07:12 PM by Dimity

Anela · Tuesday at 07:12 PM

1 minute ago, Dimity said:

I can't speak to depressed but ever since he came down that escalator he's been an angry, incoherent mass of perpetual grievance. That can't be good for your health. Well it's certainly hasn't helped the health of most of us!

Right.

I have no appetite, haven’t for a while. Usually, my stomach is demanding food.

annzeepark914 · Tuesday at 07:29 PM

36 minutes ago, Bookish Jen said:

This is not normal.

And thousands of friends? More like thousands of cult members.

Outdoor sports? Riding in a golf cart is not a sport. The Felon In Chief is also not rich (that's why he's always trolling for dollars from his fans). "Wife still cute"? "Handsome"? Peachy must wear rose colored Coke-bottle glasses. "Enormous self confidence"? 😁 DT is the most thin-skinned president ever. Peachy must be a comedian. Thanks, PK, for the chuckles.

bluegirl147 · Tuesday at 07:29 PM

39 minutes ago, Bookish Jen said:

This is not normal.

And thousands of friends? More like thousands of cult members.

Wife still cute? WTF does that mean? That is supposed to make him look better or help him live longer?

Popular? Not really.

Enormous self confidence? Don't you mean narcissism?

Many children who's mother's raised them. Time with grandchildren? I bet he can't even remember their names.

He has no sense of humor.

Outdoor sports? He rides around in a golf cart and swings a club occasionally.

Ohiopirate02 · Tuesday at 07:30 PM

37 minutes ago, Bookish Jen said:

This is not normal.

And thousands of friends? More like thousands of cult members.

The Trump administrations have made me question my ability to pick up on satire. This is reading like satire because golfing with carts is in no way an outdoor sport**, "enormous self confidence impervious to setbacks" and "zero minutes feeling depressed ever" read more like insults than compliments, and Trump has never had an incredible sense of humor. But then I remember his supports showing up to his rallies wearing maxipads attached to their ears. Is Peachy one of those?

**If you can drink while doing it, it's a past time not a sport.

bluegirl147 · Tuesday at 07:54 PM

23 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

The Trump administrations have made me question my ability to pick up on satire. This is reading like satire because golfing with carts is in no way an outdoor sport**, "enormous self confidence impervious to setbacks" and "zero minutes feeling depressed ever" read more like insults than compliments, and Trump has never had an incredible sense of humor. But then I remember his supports showing up to his rallies wearing maxipads attached to their ears. Is Peachy one of those?

**If you can drink while doing it, it's a past time not a sport.

I looked up Peachy Keenan. She contributes to the Federalist. So....

Mollywolly555 · Tuesday at 08:01 PM

6 hours ago, Dimity said:

If we want to keep this thread I really urge everyone to use the ignore feature and to move on rather than engage.

Agree 150%!!!!!!

For the past few days, I have been trying out different phrasings (in my head) to say this as well, politely so as not to get censored.

Thank you, Dimity.

There's no point.

I had to block my brother when he wd not answer simple, direct questions or provide sources for his claims. He resorted to personal insults which was the last straw. Oh, I'll talk to him when I do my semi-annual visits but politics will be off limits. I have no qualms about walking/driving away if he persists.

Dimity · Tuesday at 08:06 PM

2 minutes ago, Mollywolly555 said:

I had to block my brother when he wd not answer simple, direct questions or provide sources for his claims. He resorted to personal insults which was the last straw. Oh, I'll talk to him when I do my semi-annual visits but politics will be off limits. I have no qualms about walking/driving away if he persists.

I have a family member on ignore (social media and 'real' life) right now because they can't seem to differentiate between supporting Gaza and supporting Hamas and has started to stray into anti-Semitic holocaust denial territory. I've reached the point with her where I don't know if I will even be able to attend any family gatherings where I know she'll be. I won't argue with her, that's not the point, I just can't look at her right now 😔.

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