Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Lantern7]

Just now, Harvey said:

Looking at the military subreddit, it seems most are on Trump's side mainly because he is against trans people and immigrants.

I get the argument of fears of fraternization and possible "corruption" . . . but wouldn't things be better if the pool was inclusive to everyone? Otherwise, you'd wind up with straight white dudes fighting your wars . . . and the odds that some of them wouldn't be up for it would increase the further minorities are pushed out.

[Absolom]

22 minutes ago, Harvey said:

It seems like there is a lot of leeway for any administration as long as they are openly for taking away the rights of migrants and those who want to use they / them pronouns.

I have a couple of neighbors like that.  All they need to hear is stop illegal immigration (their words) and they line right up.  That to them is the biggest issue.  That is first and being anti-unhoused is usually second. They talk as if most of the unhoused people with a mental issue or impairment actually have made a choice to live that as a "lifestyle."

[bluegirl147]

9 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

I get the argument of fears of fraternization and possible "corruption" . . . but wouldn't things be better if the pool was inclusive to everyone? Otherwise, you'd wind up with straight white dudes fighting your wars . . . and the odds that some of them wouldn't be up for it would increase the further minorities are pushed out.

When you have a military that isn't inclusive you end up with soldiers like the Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher who was convicted of killing a teenage Islamic State captive.  He of course was granted clemency by Trump.

6 minutes ago, Absolom said:

I have a couple of neighbors like that.  All they need to hear is stop illegal immigration (their words) and they line right up.  That to them is the biggest issue.  That is first and being anti-unhoused is usually second. They talk as if most of the unhoused people with a mental issue or impairment actually have made a choice to live that as a "lifestyle."

There is a small unhoused community in the city I work in.  Every time they find a place to put up tents the city comes and tears it down. They say to protect the environment or some other excuse.  And I've had to stop reading the comments on the news stories about it because I just can't with all the horrible and cruel comments from people.

[tres bien]

The military, the veterans and anyone who is a proud American should be disgusted and embarrassed that Hegseth is the leader of our armed forces

In Honolulu dressed literally like he’s going to spend the day at the beach he tells reporters that “the DOD will be merit based and color blind. You will be judged on how good you are at your job. Full stop “

OMG the hypocrisy and this guy is clueless 

Edited Thursday at 04:12 PM by tres bien

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

9 hours ago, Anela said:

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/03/donald-trump-news-ice-immigration-student-rumeysa-ozturk.html

The New Video of Federal Agents Ambushing a Student and Disappearing With Her Should Chill You to Your Core
 

 

So we've reached the Nacht und Nebel/Night and Fog phase of Nazi cosplay. Super, just super. And by super I mean absolutely frightening. 

I would love for karma to be real, but if it were, the current president would have been impoverished, imprisoned or, even better, worm food, long ago. 

On a lighter note, resistance takes many forms. Video at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pikachu-flees-police-during-turkey-102720816.html

Edited Thursday at 04:11 PM by Milk-Eyed Mender
Formatting

[Lantern7]

15 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

When you have a military that isn't inclusive you end up with soldiers like the Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher who was convicted of killing a teenage Islamic State captive.  He of course was granted clemency by Trump.

Of course. Trump is the guy that knocks you down, strips you, finds an unhealed wound, then pours salt all over it. If there's something bad that he feels needs to be done, he'll do it.

The sad thing is that people who aren't straight white dudes would still want to serve in the military. Before Trump, we've had figures that were obscured from history because of their race. How many of us knew black women were key to the moon landing before Hidden Figures came out? Today, we have people taken off official sites because they weren't straight white dudes . . .yet those that would be ignored still step forward to offer their services.

2 hours ago, tres bien said:

No no no no no. Crockett needs to apologize. We’re not like them. We don’t make fun of people or call them stupid names and think it’s acceptable

I can't agree. Republicans (particularly MAGA) have changed the rules. Nothing is off limits. No holds should be barred. If Rep. Crockett wants to openly imagine the final scene in The Naked Gun with Gov. Abbot in OJ Simpson's role, she should be allowed. Snotty references to Nick Fury for Rep. Crenshaw? Allowable. Someone has a theory that people in MTG's district die because they always look upwards when it rains and they wind up drowning? Why the fuck not?!?

[tres bien]

Maybe it’s just me but the incompetent unfit people working in this “administration” is not funny it’s scary 

Bobby Jr is taking a hatchet to HHS this week by cutting 10,000 employees across the health agency in a major overhaul. This is on top of 10,000 employees that left voluntarily cutting HHS from 82,000 to 62,000 full time employees and from 28 departments to 15

And a brand new Administration For Healthy America. With HHS offices reduced from 10 to 5

Booby Jr’s new priority will be to end America’s epidemic of chronic illnesses by focusing on safe wholesome food, clean water and the elimination of environmental toxins

HHS will “do more  - a lot more - at a lower cost to taxpayers “ says Bobby Jr

Not only is this total BS the fact that a complete nut job is charge of anything is bone chilling 

[Anela]

6 hours ago, tres bien said:

The Canadian government has launched a billboard campaign targeting 12 republican dominated states 

✊ 🇨🇦 🔥

Someone said they saw one in Canton, where we shop for food, most of the time.  Next to a Wendy’s, which I think is in front of Home Depot.  It’s a range of stores and restaurants, as you drive into the shopping area, and down to an entrance onto a bigger road, or a freeway.  

[ProudMary]

3 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

I was not a McCain fan.  He might have called Trump out but I think it was because he didn't like Trump and not that he didn't like his policies. He gets credit for preventing the repeal of the ACA but he only voted against it because he didn't like how it was brought to the floor or something procedural like that.   He was wanting to go to war with Iran years ago so he would have been board with whatever Trump wants to do to Iran.

👏

Regarding the performative "thumbs down" ACA vote: It was designed for McCain to vote late in the roll call. His vote would have meant nothing, had Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins not already voted with the Democrats to keep the ACA in place.

Then, this flew under the radar for most people, John McCain was one of six Republican Senators who accepted campaign funds from oligarchs with ties to Vladimir Putin.

Also, younger members of this forum might want to search "The Keating Five" if you're interested in McCain's political history. Was he a war hero? Absolutely. It's the lionization of John McCain as a politician that I find baffling.

From 2017:

Tangled Web Connects Russian Oligarch Money to GOP Campaigns

https://www.nbcdfw.com/local/dfw-morningnews-tangled-web-connects-russian-oligarch-money-to-gop-campaigns/33197/

Party loyalty is often cited as the reason that GOP leaders have not been more outspoken in their criticism of President Donald Trump and his refusal to condemn Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. Yet there may be another reason that top Republicans have not been more vocal in their condemnation. Perhaps it's because they have their own links to the Russian oligarchy that they would prefer go unnoticed.Donald Trump and the political action committees for

Mitch McConnell, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, John Kasich and John McCain accepted $7.35 million in contributions from a Ukrainian-born oligarch who is the business partner of two of Russian president Vladimir Putin's favorite oligarchs and a Russian government bank.During the 2015-2016 election season, Ukrainian-born billionaire Leonid "Len" Blavatnik contributed $6.35 million to leading Republican candidates and incumbent senators.

[fastiller]

25 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

The sad thing is that people who aren't straight white dudes would still want to serve in the military. Before Trump, we've had figures that were obscured from history because of their race. How many of us knew black women were key to the moon landing before Hidden Figures came out? Today, we have people taken off official sites because they weren't straight white dudes . . .yet those that would be ignored still step forward to offer their services.

Today we have historic planes being scratched from websites because of their names.

[Dimity]

Trump Planning to Freeze Grants for Birth Control, Cancer Screenings to Investigate ‘DEI’

This administration has apparently taken DEI to mean the existence of, or provision of any services to, women and non-white people.

 

[bluegirl147]

14 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

👏

Regarding the performative "thumbs down" ACA vote: It was designed for McCain to vote late in the roll call. His vote would have meant nothing, had Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins not already voted with the Democrats to keep the ACA in place.

Then, this flew under the radar for most people, John McCain was one of six Republican Senators who accepted campaign funds from oligarchs with ties to Vladimir Putin.

Also, younger members of this forum might want to search "The Keating Five" if you're interested in McCain's political history. Was he a war hero? Absolutely. It's the lionization of John McCain as a politician that I find baffling.

From 2017:

Tangled Web Connects Russian Oligarch Money to GOP Campaigns

https://www.nbcdfw.com/local/dfw-morningnews-tangled-web-connects-russian-oligarch-money-to-gop-campaigns/33197/

 

 

McCain also opposed making MLK day a federal holiday. In 2008 he admitted he was wrong for that.   He of course was running for president so I don't know how sincere he was.

[Harvey]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

I have a couple of neighbors like that.  All they need to hear is stop illegal immigration (their words) and they line right up.  That to them is the biggest issue.  That is first and being anti-unhoused is usually second. They talk as if most of the unhoused people with a mental issue or impairment actually have made a choice to live that as a "lifestyle."

Yup. Migrants and trans issues are the far right's bread and butter. It works very well to radicalize people. Not just in the US. In Europe as well. 

Example: Italy just installed a law yesterday where pronouns will be policed in schools from now on, only the traditional male and female forms are allowed to be used.

[Browncoat]

44 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Booby Jr’s

Excellent typo.  Please don't change it!

[fastiller]

50 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Booby Jr’s

 

6 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

Excellent typo.  Please don't change it!

 

Seconding @Browncoat here!

[Dimity]

Flight bookings between Canada and the US are down by 70%!  Keep it up fellow Canucks, let's aim for 100%!

In other news I know you will all be shocked to read that Donald Trump told a lie. Hope you're all sitting down.

Greenland shuts down Trump’s claims it invited Usha Vance on visit

The government of Greenland says it did not invite a U.S. delegation, helmed by Usha Vance, to visit the island, despite President Trump insisting that it did.

Vance, the wife of Vice-President JD Vance, is set to land in the self-governing Danish territory on Thursday alongside one of their children, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

From @lepettre@bluesky.com:

3 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Flight bookings between Canada and the US are down by 70%!  Keep it up fellow Canucks, let's aim for 100%!

Go to Greenland or Denmark instead!

@lepettre.bsky.social:

‪According to Danish TV2, representatives from the USA have been going door-to-door in Nuuk over the past few days to find Greenlanders who wanted to be visited by Usha Vance. After they failed to find anyone, the visit was cancelled. nyheder.tv2.dk/live/2025-01...

[annzeepark914]

A friend's son-in-law works for a contractor at HHS. He said that a special gym was created (at taxpayers expense, of course) for "Booby" to work out each day. No one else is allowed in there, where Booby spends a half day, *every* day. 

[laurakaye]

48 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Greenland shuts down Trump’s claims it invited Usha Vance on visit

The government of Greenland says it did not invite a U.S. delegation, helmed by Usha Vance, to visit the island, despite President Trump insisting that it did.

Vance, the wife of Vice-President JD Vance, is set to land in the self-governing Danish territory on Thursday alongside one of their children, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

I have questions.

What makes Usha Vance think she can visit a country - any country - given how despicable her husband, his boss and his other boss have been treating the rest of the world?  Especially uninvited?  What level of delusional narcissistic self-importance must one have to visit a place where you are not needed nor wanted?  And why is Mike Waltz going anywhere except maybe to his own house because he shouldn't still have a government job?  

If the visit was canceled, I hope they were already in the air when it happened.

[Dimity]

51 minutes ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

According to Danish TV2, representatives from the USA have been going door-to-door in Nuuk over the past few days to find Greenlanders who wanted to be visited by Usha Vance. After they failed to find anyone, the visit was cancelled. nyheder.tv2.dk/live/2025-01...

Don't be silly Danish TV2,  according to Newsmax everyone lies except Trump.  They are insisting that not only was she invited they're practically laying down a carpet of rose petals to welcome her.

2 minutes ago, laurakaye said:

What makes Usha Vance think she can visit a country - any country - given how despicable her husband, his boss and his other boss have been treating the rest of the world? 

In this case they are going to visit the US Armed Forces base there so that can save some face by pretending that was the whole point.  And the rest was just a plus that they decided to forego because...some reason or another...blah blah blah...

[Lantern7]

59 minutes ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

From @lepettre@bluesky.com:

Go to Greenland or Denmark instead!

@lepettre.bsky.social:

‪According to Danish TV2, representatives from the USA have been going door-to-door in Nuuk over the past few days to find Greenlanders who wanted to be visited by Usha Vance. After they failed to find anyone, the visit was cancelled. nyheder.tv2.dk/live/2025-01...

“Is it a Jehovah’s Witness, dear?” “Worse. A Fatface’s Wife.”

[tres bien]

I hope I can remember to call him Booby Jr

 

[tres bien]

Oh boo hoo

MAGA boss so scared of loosing another seat in the house after the special election in PA that he’s forced Elise Stefanik to withdraw her nomination as secretary to the UN

[bluegirl147]

Trump said we have to have Greenland by any means necessary. Does he really think NATO will just sit by and let us take it?  I never thought I would ever hope the rest of the world puts us (by us I mean our unhinged president) in our place. 

2 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Oh boo hoo

MAGA boss so scared of loosing another seat in the house after the special election in PA that he’s forced Elise Stefanik to withdraw her nomination as secretary to the UN

Good.  They should be scared.

[Anela]

I haven't seen this movie in years. I wondered what the references to Airplane were about.

 

[LexieLily]

10 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Oh boo hoo

MAGA boss so scared of loosing another seat in the house after the special election in PA that he’s forced Elise Stefanik to withdraw her nomination as secretary to the UN

"We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning," Trump wrote in the Truth Social post. "With a very tight Majority, I don't want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise's seat."

But...I thought they had a super-duper mandate! Isn't that what Trump and the GOP keep screaming at everyone?!

[peacheslatour]

Kristi Noem standing at a prison in El Salvador where the US is currently sending deported people for...being Venezuelans, I guess. Notice her $50K Rolex.

 

[Dimity]

30 minutes ago, LexieLily said:

We must be unified to accomplish our Mission

What is he?  A Green Beret.  General Bone Spurs?

[Ohiopirate02]

1 minute ago, peacheslatour said:

Kristi Noem standing at a prison in El Salvador where the US is currently sending deported people for...being Venezuelans, I guess. Notice her $50K Rolex.

 

Everything about her costume confuses me. Yes, I'm calling it a costume because she's intentionally wearing pieces to promote a message. I just cannot for the life of me figure out the message. The ball cap, the obviously styled hair, the expensive watch and earrings, the plain white tee shirt all of it adds up to an incoherent mess.

[PRgal]

Someone upthread posted about imposter syndrome and I'm not sure if my post on Threads really counts.  Or if it should be here or in the Pet Peeves section.  Anyway, it's something I think all children and grandchildren of immigrants face.  And are sometimes shamed not only by people from the same/similar heritages but by multigeneration people who live in the country their parents/grandparents settled in.  I don't really see it here, but it's everywhere ELSE I see and probably why I believe that inclusion/diversity needs to be reworked.  It shouldn't be taken out all together, of course, but all voices need to be heard.  I can't say this enough.  

[tres bien]

53 minutes ago, LexieLily said:

"We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning," Trump wrote in the Truth Social post. "With a very tight Majority, I don't want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise's seat."

But...I thought they had a super-duper mandate! Isn't that what Trump and the GOP keep screaming at everyone?!

He’s also panicking in FL over the upcoming special election to fill Mike signalgate Waltz’s seat. He’ll be doing tele-town halls

And in the Tuesday Supreme Court election in WI Musk is throwing a lottery and awarding $1 million. A Green Bay man was the winner but are there going to be more 

 

[ProudMary]

3 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Kristi Noem standing at a prison in El Salvador where the US is currently sending deported people for...being Venezuelans, I guess. Notice her $50K Rolex.

 

There is nothing that this administration has done that has me more upset and angry than this, and that's coming from someone who's severely stressed out about whether her next Social Security payment will arrive. But this ⬆️ is unconscionable. USA, 3/26/2025 = Nazi Germany 3/23/1933. How is what has been done by this administration to these Venezuelan men any different from what the Nazis did from 1933-1945? I'm not asking that as a rhetorical question, BTW. I'm challenging any DJT supporters reading this to defend this horrific, dehumanizing, illegal action.

Quoted from the Holocaust Encyclopedia: 

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/concentration-camps-1933-39

"Nazi officials established the first concentration camp, Dachau, on March 22, 1933,  for political prisoners. It was later used as a model for an expanded and centralized concentration camp system managed by the SS.

What distinguishes a concentration camp from a prison (in the modern sense) is that it functions outside of a judicial system. The prisoners are not indicted or convicted of any crime by judicial process."

 

 

[DXD526]

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5217864-white-house-withdraws-stefanik-uno/

As I've mentioned, I live in Stefanik's district, have voted against her four times, and couldn't wait for this election. A good chance to turn the seat blue. I feel cheated. And pissed off. 

[tres bien]

He’s panicking 66 days in

[Absolom]

2 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

friend's son-in-law works for a contractor at HHS. He said that a special gym was created (at taxpayers expense, of course) for "Booby" to work out each day. No one else is allowed in there, where Booby spends a half day, *every* day. 

Everyone should report this actual waste, fraud, and abuse to DOGE and every IG address they can find.

[nokat]

7 hours ago, fastiller said:

I've never actually watched it in full, just snippets when I've been channel surfing. 

 I found it funny until reality hit.

[Dimity]

8 minutes ago, tres bien said:

He’s panicking 66 days in

Has it only been 66 days?  I am filled with renewed admiration for my grandmother who was bringing up 3 children alone for 6 years while my grandfather was off fighting the Nazis.  We've only been fighting the Nazis for two months and it feels like forever.

[nokat]

1 hour ago, peacheslatour said:

Kristi Noem standing at a prison in El Salvador where the US is currently sending deported people for...being Venezuelans, I guess. Notice her $50K Rolex.

 

I don't believe she's in front of anything but a blue screen.

[Browncoat]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

What is he?  A Green Beret.  General Bone Spurs?

President Bone Spurs McDraftDodger.

[ProudMary]

18 minutes ago, nokat said:

I don't believe she's in front of anything but a blue screen.

 

This atrocity cannot be negated. There is video of her in El Salvador at the prison. The administration wants to check on what they're getting for six million dollars per disappeared human being. Via AP News:

https://youtu.be/q9oZ0pHymko?si=N7eqH-7tGDvQcoT2

 

Edited Thursday at 09:24 PM by ProudMary

[nokat]

Part of me wants to go crazy, because laws don't apply now. But I'll be in the back of a police car, because laws apply to me, and not them.

[Anela]

7 minutes ago, nokat said:

Part of me wants to go crazy, because laws don't apply now. But I'll be in the back of a police car, because laws apply to me, and not them.

Same. It's probably a good thing that I haven't been able to get to protests. 

[Anela]

I have never been able to find the opening scene to Two Weeks Notice, but I think this might have been part of it. I just remember Sandra Bullock on the ground, in protest, with one or two other people, protesting the demolition of something. When we watched this, when I was in my twenties, it was one of those cases of my family looking at me, as the scene played out. Like the scenes of the little girl leaving glasses of water all over the house, in Signs. They did the same thing. 

 

[peacheslatour]

Notice how much Noem looks like Kimberly Guilfoyle? Plastic surgeons are calling it Mar A Lago face. Laura Loomer, Lara Trump and a few others have it too. Here is Guilfoyle-

 

[Annber03]

6 hours ago, Harvey said:

Looking at the military subreddit, it seems most are on Trump's side mainly because he is against trans people and immigrants.

It seems like there is a lot of leeway for any administration as long as they are openly for taking away the rights of migrants and those who want to use they / them pronouns.

Imagine being this fragile. And these people actually fancy themselves big, tough badasses? Okay. 

[ProudMary]

40 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Notice how much Noem looks like Kimberly Guilfoyle? Plastic surgeons are calling it Mar A Lago face. Laura Loomer, Lara Trump and a few others have it too. Here is Guilfoyle-

 

 

14 minutes ago, annzeepark914 said:

Yikes! Mar-a-Lago face? I noticed that the puppy/goat killer looked harder, lately. WTH is wrong with these GOP women wanting to look like Down-On-Their-Luck hookers?

I had to go find this Mother Jones piece from 10 days ago I'd read, which talks specifically about Noem, others also (including Matt Gaetz), but honing in on her to make its major points. The entire piece is interesting, Disgusting, but interesting.  I'm just quoting a couple of paragraphs.

In Your Face: The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA

Does proximity to power rely on a specific look?

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/maralago-face-conservative-girl-makeup-brutal-aesthetics-of-maga-trump-gaetz-guilfoyle/

“I read it as a sign of physical submission to Donald Trump, a statement of fealty to him and the idea that the surface of a policy is the only thing that matters,” says Anne Higonnet, a professor of art history at Barnard College. “In a way, these women are performing a key part of Donald Trump’s whole political persona.”

...

Is one’s proximity to power in Trump’s administration, then, governed at least partly by a willingness to mold oneself to the MAGA aesthetic, no matter how severe the undertaking? As Menon put it to me: “Plastic surgery that is very visible makes it clear that women have invested in their body, and that’s a signal that they’re sending to everybody that they’re putting in this work.”

[peacheslatour]

14 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

 

I had to go find this Mother Jones piece from 10 days ago I'd read, which talks specifically about Noem, others also (including Matt Gaetz), but honing in on her to make its major points. The entire piece is interesting, Disgusting, but interesting.  I'm just quoting a couple of paragraphs.

In Your Face: The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA

Does proximity to power rely on a specific look?

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/maralago-face-conservative-girl-makeup-brutal-aesthetics-of-maga-trump-gaetz-guilfoyle/

 

 

Exactly. This last bit is particularly telling, from your article-

The lack of discretion within the current GOP might feel strange today when many—even Kim Kardashian—appear to prize confidentiality. But for the MAGA-verse, today’s tweaks seem intended to signal membership with Trump, a man notoriously obsessed with the literal pageantry of beauty, and his broader efforts to force strict gender norms onto the electorate. The aesthetic is, like Trump’s politics, ridiculously blunt.

[Dimity]

[Dimity]

What do they have against FEMA?  Saves too many lives?

[Anela]

2 minutes ago, Dimity said:

What do they have against FEMA?  Saves too many lives?

It's one of their conspiracy theories. They scapegoated FEMA, in order to get more votes from people who believed they weren't getting the help they were supposed to receive. And of course, the votes from people who can be relied on to believe everything they're told by trump, and now Vance, too.