Chit-Chat: The Feels

[annzeepark914]

9 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I do not mean this in a confrontational way but these are the moves the Trump administration is making that I wish his supporters posting here would address. Is this what you expected? And if it is can you please share why this matters to you. I would really like to know because I honestly don't understand why this is happening. Why should taking away DEI mean erasing last accomplishments?

Because this is a white man's world in their eyes. No females, no POC need apply.

[Yeah No]

6 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

Oh to be in Boston 💚. There will also be a reenactment of Paul Revere's ride. 

Damn! I live under 2 hours away by car but unfortunately I won't be able to go. I love Boston. I was there last year on July 4th and it was awesome! It's quite an amazing experience every year on these occasions but I can only imagine that this year it will be even more amazing. 

[Lantern7]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

I do not mean this in a confrontational way but these are the moves the Trump administration is making that I wish his supporters posting here would address. Is this what you expected? And if it is can you please share why this matters to you. I would really like to know because I honestly don't understand why this is happening. Why should taking away DEI mean erasing last accomplishments?

Sometimes, I don't think he's that dumb. Egomaniacal? Yeah. Dumb? Maybe not. It's that he promotes ignorance on every level. He sees this term as a way to make even more money, as well as to stick it to liberals. He could have tapped any anti-vaxxer to head HHS, but he had to get THE anti-vax nutjob. Hegseth was a Fox talking head with a drinking problem and no government experience. He tapped a guy for Attorney General who would be better off staying a certain distance from high schools. And his minions look to disenfranchise anyone that isn't them, as well as erase their past accomplishments. Yeah, you can look stuff up online, but books being removed from libraries and facts from the Internet makes a statement.

I don't think Donald Trump is that dumb. But I think he's that evil. As much as I'm all for protests and actions to stick it to MAGA on any and every level, I fear that it isn't going to be enough. Things might need to happen long before the Midterm Elections. Even if power changes for the better, I figure a lot of us wouldn't survive the fallout.

Boy, I'm cheery tonight, aren't I? I don't feel that depressed right now. I'm just looking at a video game with ten thousand levels, and you can only clear the game one level (and one boss) at a time.

[Anela]

 

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, Yeah No said:

Damn! I live under 2 hours away by car but unfortunately I won't be able to go. I love Boston. I was there last year on July 4th and it was awesome! It's quite an amazing experience every year on these occasions but I can only imagine that this year it will be even more amazing. 

Speaking of April 19, 1775 and Paul Revere, I am a very proud descendant of Ammi Cutter, who was one of the "Old Men of Menotomy", a militia group who ambushed a British military supply convoy on that date in Arlington, MA (then known as Menotomy). This is considered one of the first if not THE first battle of the Revolutionary War. They were considered too old to for military duty, hence why they were called "The Old Men". They were led by a man named David Lamson, who was part African American and Native American. You can bet your bottom dollar that most MAGA don't know or care about that. 

Anyway, sorry to go on about that, I'm just very proud of my Revolutionary War ancestry, which includes more names and battles. I suppose I like to think about that rather than dwell on how far we've sunk since then. 

[Anela]

5 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

Speaking of April 19, 1775 and Paul Revere, I am a very proud descendant of Ammi Cutter, who was one of the "Old Men of Menotomy", a militia group who ambushed a British military supply convoy on that date in Arlington, MA (then known as Menotomy). This is considered one of the first if not THE first battle of the Revolutionary War. They were considered too old to for military duty, hence why they were called "The Old Men". They were led by a man named David Lamson, who was part African American and Native American. You can bet your bottom dollar that most MAGA don't know or care about that. 

Anyway, sorry to go on about that, I'm just very proud of my Revolutionary War ancestry, which includes more names and battles. I suppose I like to think about that rather than dwell on how far we've sunk since then. 

I like hearing personal stories. History was one of my favourite subjects in school. 

[Soapy Goddess]

18 hours ago, Yeah No said:

You haven't shown sympathy for anyone but white victims of crime. Most people in this thread are complaining about what Trump and the Republicans are doing wrong, not expressing every emotion they have. Do you really think anyone here would be unsympathetic to any victim of crime whether or not they were white or it was committed by an immigrant?

Unfortunately, most (if not all) victims of migrant crime have been white. Did I miss a black man or woman who's been raped or murdered by a migrant criminal?

So when I mentioned Laken Riley the first time, not one person here expressed sympathy. I believe it was around the time her mother spoke at DJT's first televised address. That is all I can go by.

18 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I do agree that some of the present methods are not working so well and are alienating people. Clearly some changes need to be made, but that's the issue. If some white people are alienated at least address it head on, don't insist that you get it all your way without meeting people in the middle. But MAGA wants poor minorities and immigrants to fail and whites to win.

I have agreed with you (and a couple others) many times on certain issues, but not once has anyone here said 'I see your point'. I'm not asking anyone to agree and it doesn't mean that you should agree, but at least see MY point (as you have done above). Because as you know, I don't always agree with current methods being used or how they have been executed.

 

[Soapy Goddess]

18 hours ago, Dimity said:

The mods have been very forgiving about what is germane to this thread and what is off topic but basically this thread is about our "feelings" about the election and what Trump and his administration is doing. That's why, @Soapy Goddess we aren't talking about the victims of any crime unless it pertains to the victims  of the crimes being committed by your fascist government.   

Sorry, Dimity, but that makes no sense to me. We ALL have feelings, and as such, we should be able to express those feelings. What I have observed is that most of these feelings are of anger, hate, mistrust, etc. And while no one begrudges those feelings, we should all be able to express our feelings and hopefully find some common ground. Other than your empathy for the usual causes, I don't understand why we all shouldn't be able to express feelings of humanity and empathy for victims, as well as fellow posters.

 

Edited April 19 by Soapy Goddess

[Soapy Goddess]

19 hours ago, Yeah No said:

there is zero evidence anyone can produce to substantiate Garcia as a member of MS-13 and any allegations made toward him are also not proven either. So all that is irrelevant as it stands right now.

Perhaps since you posted, it has now been shown that he has the MS-13 tattoo on his knuckles. It was shown to be exactly as all other MS-13 gang members.

19 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Very few Democrats and Liberals are for "open borders", whatever that means to Republicans.

I won't quote the exact figure because God forbid I get it wrong, but you know millions were allowed to come into our country without going through the proper channels. That's what it means to Reps.

And btw, when you all were speculating that Garcia 'might be dead', he was alive and well having lunch with his Senator.

19 hours ago, Yeah No said:

hitching your horse to his wagon makes you complicit in that as far as I'm concerned. Again, I think fair minded Republicans need to wake up to this. He is duping you into thinking he's only looking out for the interests of citizens when in fact he's primarily motivated by racism, pure and simple.

Saying that I'm complicit is completely unfair to me. What do you expect me to do? And you can't paint all Reps with the same brush because we don't all think alike, and we're not all racist. The main reason DJT got elected is because most of us wanted closed borders and (another subject) our cities to be tough on crime. Is there anything wrong with that? I have said numerous times that I do not appreciate being put in the same box because we are all different when it  pertains to execution.

Edited April 19 by Soapy Goddess

[Soapy Goddess]

17 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I just think that like many Republicans they're still drinking the Kool Aid and not waking up to what's really happening. I just don't get such blind loyalty, but I think that's one big reason we are where we are right now.

I hate to say this, but the Reps think all the Dems drank spiked Kool Aid the past 4 years when it came to Biden's cognitive issues. And his press secretary kept the rounds going with blind loyalty. But now we all know what we witnessed was true according to Jake Tapper's book. So loyalty is a two-way street.

17 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

I think for some of them it's they don't want to admit they were wrong.

See above.

[Soapy Goddess]

17 hours ago, Affogato said:

What you are missing is that immigration is what keeps America great. They are an inspiration. They aspire to make the future. And that is the point of this country. 

And I don't disagree. Our only disagreement is that they come here legally like all generations in the past have.

17 hours ago, Affogato said:

it seems pretty obvious a lot of the people feel that immigrants are taking things from them or that they don’t want to pay taxes to support them. And it does change our culture. It will change the lives of our children, your children. 

Yes, some do feel that way, but it's only because we've heard how they were all automatically given entitlements such as room & board, medical, etc...things that many U.S. citizens struggle to maintain on their own. Whether that is true or not, it IS how they feel. And you can't really blame people for not wanting to pay higher taxes to support these entitlements. 

17 hours ago, JustHereForFood said:

Didn't the Biden administration prepare a border bill that would have helped getting illegal immigration under control? Didn't the GOP refuse to vote for it? I'm pretty sure it has been mentioned here several times.

Yes, and yes. But Biden was a day late and a dollar short. Doesn't mean it shouldn't have happened. I'm just posting what most Reps would say.

[suomi]

5 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

Because this is a white man's world in their eyes. No females, no POC need apply.

Surely you remember Spanky and Our Gang. Alfalfa, Darla, Buckwheat, etc? The Official He-Man Woman-Haters club? ;-)

https://images.app.goo.gl/Jhn3y Alfalfa for President

Edited April 19 by suomi

[tres bien]

Oopsie

Trump administration says the letter they sent to Harvard was sent by mistake

So in true form they’ve doubled down 

Edited Saturday at 02:39 PM by tres bien

[Yeah No]

30 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Oopsie

Trump administration says the letter they sent to Harvard was sent by mistake

So in true form the’ve doubled down 

Yes and even though he admitted that it was a "mistake", Trump is still blaming Harvard! Harvard and many people are questioning whether it was actually a "mistake". I can see why. How many "mistakes" has this administration made so far? A LOT.

[Affogato]

5 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And I don't disagree. Our only disagreement is that they come here legally like all generations in the past have.

Yes, some do feel that way, but it's only because we've heard how they were all automatically given entitlements such as room & board, medical, etc...things that many U.S. citizens struggle to maintain on their own. Whether that is true or not, it IS how they feel. And you can't really blame people for not wanting to pay higher taxes to support these entitlements. 

Yes, and yes. But Biden was a day late and a dollar short. Doesn't mean it shouldn't have happened. I'm just posting what most Reps would say.

First define your terms. 

________________________
 

from https://stilt.com/immigrants/migrants-vs-immigrants-whats-the-difference/

“Immigrant” and “migrant” have distinct meanings.

Migrants move willingly for reasons like employment or education and may return home.

Immigrants move with the intention of permanent settlement, undergoing a legal process for visas or green cards.

Migrants can include both internal and international movers.

—————————-
cracking down on migrant workers raises your shopping bill for us grown produce, not that they shouldn’t be paid more. Frankly they do deserve stuff, they earn it, and you don’t want the jobs, generally. You have benefitted from this all your life. 
 

here is a song about a plane crash from 1948. 
 

This machine kills facists!

here is an article about how someone figured out theor names, to honor them in a new version of the song. 
 

https://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175580934/the-people-behind-guthries-deportee-verses

all of the people that are being hinted down here are people. Some  are citizens if this country. 
 

the recent shooter at Florida State was photograpked wearing a Maga hat. Are all Maga people shooters? Is there a reason that Musk couldn’t give 20 Billion to fix homelessness, would it actually have an effect in his standard of living? Yet people like him will benefit most from this. If the prople you speak about have trouble making ends meet, well it just got worse. Fewer entitlements for them, taken away while they were slavering over the scapegoat. 

Edited April 19 by Affogato

[Mollywolly555]

6 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Unfortunately, most (if not all) victims of migrant crime have been white. 

 

 

Not true. Check a few sources for stats before you post for more credibility. Or for the reasonable responses you seek. 

Careless statements like above indicate racism or chugging of that particular mendacious flavor of kool-aid sold by Fox, without questioning its veracity.

Hispanic migrant on hispanic crime is higher than on whites. It just doesn't get the media attention.  

 

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

6 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Perhaps since you posted, it has now been shown that he has the MS-13 tattoo on his knuckles. It was shown to be exactly as all other MS-13 gang members.

Was such a photo shown, sure. Authenticated?  Either way, it's utterly immaterial.

Abrego-Garcia could be Satan Incarnate and he'd still be entitled to due process under the 5th Amendment.

And, no, he was not photographed "having lunch" with Senator Van Hollen, unless you're one of those rare birds who regard two glasses of water as lunch.

[tres bien]

Every time a white woman is murdered and the accused is a migrant the MAGAs get a hold of it with a holier than thou mindset 

Who knows how many crimes are committed everyday and how many of those are against POC unfortunately they MSM isn’t interested in covering those stories 

 

[DanaMB]

1 hour ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

Was such a photo shown, sure. Authenticated?  Either way, it's utterly immaterial.

It’s supposedly doctored. The picture with the senator shows his left hand and there is not an MS13 tattoo. But yes, still entitled to due process even if he did have the tattoo. 

 

Edited Saturday at 03:09 PM by DanaMB

[Mollywolly555]

I just saw news that the administration is restoring the name and accomplishments of Nicole Malachowski,  first female fighter pilot to fly wth Thunderbirds, served in US Air Force for 20 years, and retired as Lieutenant Colonel. 

The local news story earlier this week about eliminating her on the US Air Force website due to DEI had gone viral, with major online protest/response.

Also, a stat I just read:

In 2023, 29 Americans killed by immigrants. 8,842 Americans killed by white men. 

[PRgal]

@tres bien it’s interesting that “migrant” includes people on student visas.  No one ever thinks that Indian or Chinese kid at Harvard on a visa is a “migrant.” 

[Yeah No]

Sorry, double post...

Edited Saturday at 05:11 PM by Yeah No

[Yeah No]

Quote

A Top Democratic Official Plots to Take Down Party Incumbents

David Hogg, a young liberal activist and now a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, is leading an effort to unseat the party’s older lawmakers in primaries.

  A shareable link from the NYT:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/us/politics/david-hogg-dnc-leaders-we-deserve.html?unlocked_article_code=1.A08.5SyH.K4ln8q53b-1T&smid=url-share

What I want to know is why everything in this country now is an us vs. them situation with one side wanting to overthrow another? I don't deny that the Democratic party needs some younger blood, but can you just imagine if the shoe were on the other foot and older people were organizing to get rid of younger people in the party?

And the ageism is absolutely ASTOUNDING. The assumptions made about older people are frankly insulting. And this idea that "Boomers need to step aside" is also ignorant because most of the people they're frustrated with that won't retire are not even Boomers but older!!! I mean, I'm 66 and even I'M frustrated with them!

And why should people from Gen X into their 60s be told to step aside? We've also been frustrated due to those older than us monopolizing the party too. But no, now we are being lumped in with people in their late '70s and '80s. So far we've only had ONE president from my generation and that was Obama. Tim Walz as VP would have been another one in that age zone as would Harris as President. But I'm sure this guy would want people in that age bracket to step down too. It shouldn't work that way. We should have people of all ages and generations in government.

I am sick and tired of the ageism in this country. If this is the kind of crap that's going to go on now in the Democratic party I'm not going to be a happy camper. We all need to feel like we have people who represent us. I am not ready to be sidelined on account of my age. I need people that are going to respect me and my issues and this kind of crap doesn't exactly make me feel like the younger generation cares about inclusion of older people. The Democratic party needs MY vote too. It's not an issue of all one way and not the other. We all need to be represented. Get a clue, you guys!

Edited Saturday at 05:13 PM by Yeah No

[peacheslatour]

Pretty much how I think most of us are feeling the last few months.

 

[Dimity]

3 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

That's the thing, though, you have no idea who all in the past came here via legal channels, and you can't assume that prior generations all followed the law and it's only recently that people are just deciding not to do so because...reasons.

As recently as WWII there are a number of shameful stories about Jewish refugees fleeing persecution being turned away by both the US and Canada.  They didn't go through legal channels  for reasons that were obvious even then.  

 

5 hours ago, Affogato said:

cracking down on migrant workers raises your shopping bill for us grown produce, not that they shouldn’t be paid more. Frankly they do deserve stuff, they earn it, and you don’t want the jobs, generally. You have benefitted from this all your life.

Exactly.  The Trump supporters obsess over the criminal element associated with migrants while conveniently ignoring this is a very small percentage.  Most are working and for the most part working jobs the average American does not want to do and for far less money than the average American would consider fair. 

[Mollywolly555]

My and my husband's grandparents came here around 1913 from different Euro countries, Italy and Poland. They did not speak English and my grandmother never learned it.

They did not become naturalized US citizens as many of their fellow countrymen also did not, especially the women who stayed at home working.

Some of the  men did register for the draft during WWII, and many of their US born children served.  I'm actually not sure if their foreign-born children who came over with them ever did officially become citizens. 

I checked on above.  After research, I found that from 1906 to 1952 wives and children automatically became citizens if their husband/father swore an oath of allegiance to US, renounced other nations, filled a declaration of intention to reside permanently here. Then had to wait 2-7 years to petition for citizenship,  provide 2 witnesses attesting to the moral character of immigrants, and go before a  hearing where a judge approved or denied the petition.

They worked and had productive lives. 

Never had problems with authorities about this lack of official documentation. 

Check the history of immigrants before making blanket statements.  

Edited Saturday at 08:16 PM by Mollywolly555

[DrSpaceman73]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

 

What I've been saying since this started. 

 

Also stated he could end a 4 year old war within 24 hours of taking office

But getting a prisoner back from a country the size of Massachusetts with a population of 6 million after you sent them their yourself?  Come on!!  How is he supposed to do that !!!???

[peacheslatour]

Lol.

[Eri]

Did they mention that the suspect's stepmother was also a school resource officer and veteran sheriff's deputy for the county? Or that the force  upgraded their weapons cache which is why the weapon in question was kept at home? "Model employee" indeed.

Edited Saturday at 07:54 PM by Eri

[peacheslatour]

9 minutes ago, Eri said:

Did they mention that the suspect's stepmother was also a school resource officer and veteran sheriff's deputy for the county? Or that the force  upgraded their weapons cache which is why the weapon in question was kept at home? "Model employee" indeed.

Yes. I don't know how to link so I just posted the bulk of the article. He was deeply steeped in police culture and was in some kind of a Jr. cop training program. You know what they say "those who burn crosses also work forces."

[Anela]

2 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Yes. I don't know how to link so I just posted the bulk of the article. He was deeply steeped in police culture and was in some kind of a Jr. cop training program. You know what they say "those who burn crosses also work forces."

I can’t always link on my iPad.  That little icon that looks like a paperclip, I’d where I paste the link, so that it will post.

on my desktop browser, I have to use something like “post as a link” otherwise it will only post the title.  

[lookeyloo]

Oh gosh, please read https://www.amazon.com/Highest-Law-Land-Unchecked-Threatens/dp/0593471318

She writes about sheriffs and police are less powerful but the culture is the same. I worked for years law enforcement adjacent.  

[Mollywolly555]

I checked the description of the book. Above.

We're officially fucked.

[SoMuchTV]

35 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Yes. I don't know how to link so I just posted the bulk of the article. He was deeply steeped in police culture and was in some kind of a Jr. cop training program. You know what they say "those who burn crosses also work forces."

 

32 minutes ago, Anela said:

I can’t always link on my iPad.  That little icon that looks like a paperclip, I’d where I paste the link, so that it will post.

on my desktop browser, I have to use something like “post as a link” otherwise it will only post the title.  

I've never used an icon to link an article.  I just highlight and copy the address bar of the page the article's on, then paste it into my post.  I don't have an iPad but that works for me on desktop and iPhone.

I see now that the icon lets you change the text that posts, while still linking to the article, so I guess that's why it's in the toolset.

 

Edited Saturday at 08:39 PM by SoMuchTV
fixed a word

[Anela]

5 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

 

I've never used an icon to link an article.  I just highlight and copy the address bar of the page the article's on, then paste it into my post.  I don't have an iPad but that works for me on desktop and iPhone.

I see now that the icon lets you change the text that posts, while still linking to the article, so I guess that's what it's in the toolset.

 

I was only able to post a link once, on this iPad, and I can’t remember how. I think I pasted it over a paragraph, but I tried that again, and it doesn’t work.  I can’t paste links on twitter, either. 
my phone browser just keeps refreshing the site.  

Edited Saturday at 08:31 PM by Anela

[ProudMary]

The photo is doctored, but even if it wasn't, it's a photo of a hand. It could be anyone's hand! 😄 

Of much greater relevance:

Disgraced Maryland police officer tied to 2019 Abrego Garcia gang report

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2025/04/17/maryland-police-officer-report-abrego-garcia-prison/83141240007/

Also,

 

[tres bien]

I can never stayed focused on one thing that the mother fucking Trump administration does because before I can absorb something I read about new evil plans they have

They’re literally waging war on America’s children by eliminating Head Start. Laying off all the CDC employees who work on childhood vaccines during a measles outbreak and cutting funds for school lunches 

And if you care about conservation too bad. The Trump Administration plans to rewrite part of the Endangered Species Act that prohibits harming the habitat of endangered and threatened species 

The destruction of habitat is the biggest cause of extinction. Bye bye Florida panthers 

Not monitoring lead in drinking water. That was last week. Jr’s too busy trying to rewrite years of scientific research on autism to fit a square peg into a round hole to prove his conspiracy theories 

And the WH has now posted a revised report on the origins of COVID 19 any surprise! They take credit for the vaccine but then insist that it’s not effective 

Ninety days into this is too long 

Edited Saturday at 09:36 PM by tres bien

[anony.miss]

A few salient facts regarding Abrego's tattoo and supposed life of crime:

"Donald Trump posted a statement from the Oval Office Friday with what appeared to be a digitally altered image that Trump said was the hand of a Maryland father who was deported to a brutal El Salvador prison following officials’ unproven claims he is a member of the MS-13 gang....

“They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he’s got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc.,” the president posted on Truth Social on Friday evening.

Courts have not found that Abrego Garcia was a member of the gang.

As for “beating up his wife,” Trump was apparently referring to a short-term pointed to a protective order filed by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, in 2021; she dissolved the order a month later.

Government attorneys have never referenced the tattoos in court filings to support their claims that Abrego Garcia is a gang member. Their allegation rests on the word of a confidential police informant who in 2019 claimed the Maryland father was a member of MS-13’s “Westerns” clique, which operates out of New York, where Abrego Garcia has never lived."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-kilmar-abrego-garcia-hand-b2735920.html

So government attorneys - eager to deport Garcia - never once mentioned that Garcia had a flamboyant gang tattoo on a highly visible part of his body, but somehow, Trump manged to unearth a crystal clear photograph showing the "MS-13" insignia?  Doesn't pass the smell test.  If Garcia really had that series of letters and numbers on his tattoo, why did nobody ever use it as proof before? Why did the courts not find him guilty of being a gang member, if he had such a highly visible tattoo on his person?

It boils down to this, imo: Trump is refusing to help a wrongly deported man return to Maryland, citing the excuse that the United States is so weak and powerless a nation, it cannot possibly demand that a prison they are paying return a wrongly incarcerated man. Trump is choosing instead to repeat outright lies about Garcia, in hopes of convincing enough  of Trump's base to ignore the constitutional protections Trump has defied just because Garcia is a 'bad' man (the same protections Trump plans to ignore when he starts deporting  "home grown criminals" next).

One ray of light in this shit storm: even many Trump voters are rejecting Trump's lawlessness:

"..his approval ratings are taking a hit as his administration faces legal scrutiny and criticism for flying out migrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador without due process. This includes Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump admin admits was wrongly deported to El Salvador after living in Maryland..."

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-approval-rating-immigration-polls-2060973

And a slow-clap to the Supremes who have woken up from a state of paralysis,  just in time to realize American democracy truly does hang in the balance.

Edited Saturday at 09:29 PM by anony.miss

[Dimity]

3 minutes ago, anony.miss said:

And bravo to the Supremes, who seem to have woken from a state of paralysis,  just in time to realize American democracy truly does hang in the balance.

My bright spot here is that Trump's handpicked Supremes have voted against him in these last two decisions.   I am enjoying that.

[lookeyloo]

1 hour ago, Mollywolly555 said:

I checked the description of the book. Above.

We're officially fucked.

Horrifying.  Had daughter in law read it and now we are "clutching our pearls" over it all.  I would not be surprised if we ended up with sheriffs in the streets.  And they have unlimited power.

[anony.miss]

6 minutes ago, Dimity said:

My bright spot here is that Trump's handpicked Supremes have voted against him in these last two decisions.   I am enjoying that.

Me, too ; )

As tasty as an Easter Chocolate bunny!

[tres bien]

ICYMI

Today across the US thousands of protesters rallied against Trump and his policies on deportations, firings and wars in Gaza and Ukraine 

[Annber03]

4 hours ago, Dimity said:

Exactly.  The Trump supporters obsess over the criminal element associated with migrants while conveniently ignoring this is a very small percentage.  Most are working and for the most part working jobs the average American does not want to do and for far less money than the average American would consider fair. 

And then of course there's the factt hat Trump has benefitted from undocumented immigrants and their labor NUMEROUS times throughout his life, to help build his casinos and whatnot. Clearly he doesn't seem to care about immigrants' legal status when they're working for him and helping him build his empire. 

But sure, he's totally the guy we should trust to "crack down" on immigration and BS like that. Mmhm. 

[Affogato]

Deleted

Edited Sunday at 01:16 AM by Affogato
Some confusion over what was happening

[Eri]

2 hours ago, lookeyloo said:

Oh gosh, please read https://www.amazon.com/Highest-Law-Land-Unchecked-Threatens/dp/0593471318

She writes about sheriffs and police are less powerful but the culture is the same. I worked for years law enforcement adjacent.  

Thank you for this - I listened to her on public radio several months back about her book! She explains how sheriff's offices are given outsized jurisdiction to become de facto "border agents" to question and detain any immigrants they deem "suspicious" until ICE could collect them. Basically, they are paid per diem to house undocumented immigrants in their jails, and in turn this makes them money for their counties (jails cost a lot to upkeep after all).

Their powers go unchecked and fly under the radar mostly too. So this administration is relying/has relied more heavily on local law enforcement agencies for enforcing this type of police state in different areas of the country - more money pouring into immigration enforcement  translates into big bucks for these sheriff's departments, particularly for rural counties.

No surprise that the Continuing Resolution (CR) which passed in March included a funding increase for ICE (over $9.9 billion to ICE—$485 million more than the FY 2024 total).

Edited Saturday at 10:52 PM by Eri

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

10 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

 

Naturally, Don isn’t the only guy to show the depths of man’s inhumanity to man.

This is Rep. Riley Moore from West Virginia. He posed for this picture and took a selfie while at the prison. I bet he’s a hoot at parties.

I had to look this guy up. He's right up there with Rubio playing super duper Catholic online. Somehow, I don't think this is what Christ meant in the parable of the sheep and the goats.

"...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

[Dimity]

47 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

This is Rep. Riley Moore from West Virginia. He posed for this picture and took a selfie while at the prison. I bet he’s a hoot at parties.

Yet another one proving once and for all that cruelty was the whole point.  He'd look great in a gestapo uniform 😡.

[EtheltoTillie]

I don't think the sans serif type in that photo is supposed to be part of the tattoo.  It's something superimposed on the photo to "translate" the symbols below. 

[Is Everyone Gone]

18 hours ago, Anela said:

 

Hope ACB is made of a very strong constitution, because she's getting an enormous amount of hatred in what would be considered her social circles (conservative Republicans).

[kittykat]

And I bet Kavanaugh and Gorsuch haven't been receiving as much vitriol as ACB.  Hmm I wonder why 🤔