Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Ohiopirate02]

1 minute ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

I dont like the electoral college but as a republuc and not a direct democracy it makes sense. 

It could change though.  Votes could be by distract and not winner take all for a state.  Or some variation. 

Districts are gerrymandered so that also is problematic.  

It would be very easy to tweak the electoral college to where each candidate gets a number of EC votes in proportion to the popular vote. So in a state like NC where Trump got 51% of the vote he would get 9 of the 16 electors and Kamala would get the other 7.

But, a straight popular vote for a presidential election would still be fair. It's the only election where we don't do it. Elections get weird, and people are more than capable of voting for any and all political parties or not voting in a race. Again taking North Carolina, voters here are more than willing to vote for a candidate regardless of party affiliation. Currently, I am represented by both Republicans and Democrats in a heavily gerrymandered state. No one is going to suddenly become more disenfranchised by switching how we do a presidential election than how it happens now.

[bluegirl147]

2 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

No one is going to suddenly become more disenfranchised by switching how we do a presidential election than how it happens now.

As I said I think the opposite would happen.  And we all know there is only one party who wants less people voting.

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

8 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Like Trump gives a shit what KK wants. Talk about a narcissist 🙄

And he didn't have to do it if he didn't feel it was the right thing to do. A true racist wouldn't be caught dead doing anything of the sort.

Substitute Rosie O'Donnell for Kim and Kanye as dear Alice's advocate and chances are good Johnson is found dead in her cell with functioning cameras nowhere to be found. Seriously, though, a man who apparently can't ship minorities off to El Salvador, Libya, and South Sudan fast enough - in violation of the Constitution itself - is not someone who gives a crap about Alice Johnson or prison reform.

US history is littered with racist presidents (no idea how one defines a "true" racist) doing plenty of good and right things: a quick scan of Wikipedia entries on Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, and Lyndon Johnson may be enlightening if you're in doubt. 

Edited Tuesday at 02:23 PM by Milk-Eyed Mender
Spelling/clarity

[Yeah No]

25 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

It would be very easy to tweak the electoral college to where each candidate gets a number of EC votes in proportion to the popular vote. So in a state like NC where Trump got 51% of the vote he would get 9 of the 16 electors and Kamala would get the other 7.

I've been calling for something like that for years. We don't have to abolish the EC altogether, just make it fairer and more in line with the popular vote. As it is it gives way too much advantage to the less populated Western states and the South. Of course that was one of the things given to the South after the Civil War. But it's not written in stone, it can be changed.

[SoMuchTV]

2 hours ago, Kemper said:

What I can't do is post a response to a post (wow, that was a mouthful) that I don't agree with. I understand why people do; I do it in my mind. 😎 But life right now is stressful enough without me using whatever "peace" I have to think out and post on something I am at odds with. I do envy people who have the energy to do it...from both sides. Just me?

I think the only times I've been motivated enough to reply to someone I disagree with is when they've stated the "facts" they're basing their opinion on, and those "facts" are demonstrably false, and I have access to reliable sources that disprove those "facts."  Assuming we're talking about real life.  If we're talking about shows, all bets are off.

[BetyBee]

3 hours ago, Kemper said:

It is early in the morning,  I love this site, listen to the various opinions; even ones I don't agree with. Then I move on to post my latest screed here or at The Young and The Restless thread. Or read the latest "Real Housewives" threads. 

What I can't do is post a response to a post (wow, that was a mouthful) that I don't agree with. I understand why people do; I do it in my mind. 😎 But life right now is stressful enough without me using whatever "peace" I have to think out and post on something I am at odds with. I do envy people who have the energy to do it...from both sides. Just me?

 

I don't have that energy either, @Kemper. I have some posters blocked here (and elsewhere), but I still see their comments in quotes that some post in order to express a different opinion. Some of these quotes I find to be unkind and untrue. I don't think minds will be changed, but I do envy those who feel that hope springs eternal in that regard! It's on me to skim over and let it go....or hit a positive reaction! I've been doing a rewatch of Downton Abbey and it makes me laugh to see that people are still fighting over which of the fictional characters of Mary and Edith is the one to get behind! People are funny, as Art Linkletter used to say!

[bluegirl147]

28 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

I think the only times I've been motivated enough to reply to someone I disagree with is when they've stated the "facts" they're basing their opinion on, and those "facts" are demonstrably false, and I have access to reliable sources that disprove those "facts."

Same. If I can refute what they say without even googling something then I will respond. But a lot of times something is just so ridiculous I have to let it slide.

 

[Lantern7]

In case you want to get angry today, Lauren Loomer congratulated George Floyd for being five years sober.

“Rock Bottom” is supposed to be theoretical, right? What, is the MAGA movement secretly a scientific effort to actually reach that?

These fucking people.

[Ohiopirate02]

8 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

In case you want to get angry today, Lauren Loomer congratulated George Floyd for being five years sober.

“Rock Bottom” is supposed to be theoretical, right? What, is the MAGA movement secretly a scientific effort to actually reach that?

These fucking people.

Once I saw what Lauren looks like, I have ceased to give a shit about her opinions and rantings. I know this may come off as misogynistic, but that woman chose to get filler and actively chooses to apply her makeup each and everyday. I am judging her choices here, and they are highly questionable.

[bluegirl147]

7 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Once I saw what Lauren looks like, I have ceased to give a shit about her opinions and rantings. I know this may come off as misogynistic, but that woman chose to get filler and actively chooses to apply her makeup each and everyday. I am judging her choices here, and they are highly questionable.

So what you are saying is her outside matches her inside?

[Dimity]

26 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

In case you want to get angry today, Lauren Loomer congratulated George Floyd for being five years sober.

“Rock Bottom” is supposed to be theoretical, right? What, is the MAGA movement secretly a scientific effort to actually reach that?

These fucking people.

I saw this today in a post talking about President Biden but it really is so very much about MAGA:

Quote

Someone asked how people can be so cruel, celebrating his cancer diagnosis. People wonder what happened to our country. Joe Biden ran in 2020 to erase some of the stink of Donald Trump, to revitalize the country, stabilize our democracy, and return our national dignity and decency. Donald Trump and the Republicans are master gaslighters (i.e. liars), and they have poisoned the perception of tens of millions of people. My answer to how people can be so cruel is that Trump and his acolytes have normalized cruelty and malice so that millions of Americans are comfortable showing their true selves.”

~Jean Michelsen Prior

 

[Ohiopirate02]

9 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

So what you are saying is her outside matches her inside?

Yes.

[ProudMary]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

Yes.  It would level the playing field.  And force candidates to compete in all 50 states. It would energize Democrats in red states.  And Republicans know this.

I don't know the statistics but if you add up all the voters who voted blue or third party with those who didn't vote in any particular red state I would bet if they don't outnumber Trump voters it is close. Dismantling the electoral college would make the majority of people happy.

 

1 hour ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

It would be very easy to tweak the electoral college to where each candidate gets a number of EC votes in proportion to the popular vote. So in a state like NC where Trump got 51% of the vote he would get 9 of the 16 electors and Kamala would get the other 7.

But, a straight popular vote for a presidential election would still be fair. It's the only election where we don't do it. Elections get weird, and people are more than capable of voting for any and all political parties or not voting in a race. Again taking North Carolina, voters here are more than willing to vote for a candidate regardless of party affiliation. Currently, I am represented by both Republicans and Democrats in a heavily gerrymandered state. No one is going to suddenly become more disenfranchised by switching how we do a presidential election than how it happens now.

I posted this chart a few months ago and it shows that you're absolutely correct @bluegirl147. Those who did not vote outnumbered Trump. (The chart was compiled based on results from the 2024 election through November 7th, 2024, so Trump's margin of victory declined as the additional votes came in.) Trump mandate? Obviously not.

The mind-blowing statistic is that dating all the way back to 1976, the popular vote "winner" of each US Presidential election was "Did Not Vote." 😥

@Ohiopirate02 While I wish it were true, there's not an easy way to "tweak" the electoral college. It would require a Constitutional amendment. The other, simpler option is National Popular Vote. As a nation, we still need a collective 61 electoral votes to implement NPV. As it stands now, those votes would have to come from states with State Legislatures controlled by Republicans. 😠

https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/

 

[fastiller]

 

6 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Trump and his acolytes have normalized cruelty and malice so that millions of Americans are comfortable showing their true selves.”

~Jean Michelsen Prior

Or, as John Fugelsang put it: Trump is the blacklight signing on the not-so-visibly stained couch that is the country.

In other news, from NBC: NPR sues Trump over executive order cutting federal funding

[ProudMary]

3 minutes ago, fastiller said:

Or, as John Fugelsang put it: Trump is the blacklight signing on the not-so-visibly stained couch that is the country.

I love Fugelsang. He's one of my favorite follows.

[bluegirl147]

1 minute ago, fastiller said:

Or, as John Fugelsang put it: Trump is the blacklight signing on the not-so-visibly stained couch that is the country.

There is a joke just sitting there about Vance.

I used to think most people were good. That it was just the assholes that got all the attention.  I now question my assumption.  Bad behavior gets rewarded.   We see it with reality shows.  We see it in politics. And now we see it with racism and bigotry.  That white woman who called that five year old child of color the n word raised more than a half a million dollars because she "feared for her life".  

I don't know what the answer is but unless things change it's just going to get worse.  I read that in 2023 57% of Gen Z want to be influencers.  As a career.  

 

[Dimity]

Quote

On Memorial Day, let us pause to remember and honor the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice so we could live our lives in peace and possibility. Today we also honor the families they left behind whose hearts still carry the weight of absence.

Quote

 Happy Memorial Day to all Including the scum that spent the last four years trying to destroy our country through warped radical left minds, who allowed 21,000,000 million people to illegally enter our country, many of them being criminals and the mentally insane, through an open border that only an incompetent president would approve.

Hmm let's play match the President to the message shall we? 

[shapeshifter]

11 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

I read that in 2023 57% of Gen Z want to be influencers.  As a career.  

Hmmm. Any chance they might mature into wanting to influence people to do good works?

[Ohiopirate02]

19 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Hmmm. Any chance they might mature into wanting to influence people to do good works?

Nah. Influencer is the new career choice for those who want money and fame without having to do any work. Twitch or whatever other platform streamer is also popular because those guys get paid to play videogames all day.

[Affogato]

https://apple.news/AUUkAOyUKRV-YgItdzZWIOw

Cognitive Decline? Trump Repeatedly Fumbles in Multiple Weird Rants

Donald Trump made several gaffes throughout his speeches during the Memorial Day weekend.

The president and his speechwriters just had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad weekend

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

38 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Hmmm. Any chance they might mature into wanting to influence people to do good works?

I mean, what's left besides grift and physical labor once you eliminate government services, hard and soft sciences, liberal arts, healthcare, public schools....  Even the 'when all else fails' military career path is going away for anyone who is not a white, Christian, heterosexual male with a gun fetish.

[Affogato]

5 minutes ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

I mean, what's left besides grift and physical labor once you eliminate government services, hard and soft sciences, liberal arts, healthcare, public schools....  Even the 'when all else fails' military career path is going away for anyone who is not a white, Christian, heterosexual male with a gun fetish.

But influencers sell. If the economy goes down the tubes no one is buying. 

[bluegirl147]

Just now, Affogato said:

But influencers sell. If the economy goes down the tubes no one is buying. 

It depends on what they are selling. Those trad wives are selling the belief women should be in the house making a home for their husbands.  There are hundreds (if not more) people selling the conservative bigoted belief that this country is a (white) Christian nation.

35 minutes ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

  Even the 'when all else fails' military career path is going away for anyone who is not a white, Christian, heterosexual male with a gun fetish.

They will replaced soon enough by drones.

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

I used to think most people were good. That it was just the assholes that got all the attention.  I now question my assumption.  Bad behavior gets rewarded.   We see it with reality shows.  We see it in politics. And now we see it with racism and bigotry.  That white woman who called that five year old child of color the n word raised more than a half a million dollars because she "feared for her life".  

I think the rise of this new age of deplorables, which began in earnest with Obama's election, really accelerated once George Zimmerman became a "celebrity" for gunning down Trayvon Martin. Suddenly, any schmuck could achieve notoriety and make a bit of bank on the gun show circuit just by taking literal aim at traditional right-wing bogeymen. Ten years later you've got mental midgets like Joe Rogan espousing toxic masculinity, Rittenhouse-style incels drifting in and out of Mar-a-lago, Kanye West and Elon Musk making Adolf Hitler cool again, and a president who can't be trusted within 100 yards of a women's dressing room. It's all so disturbing and just plain gross. 

[Affogato]

3 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

It depends on what they are selling. Those trad wives are selling the belief women should be in the house making a home for their husbands.  There are hundreds (if not more) people selling the conservative bigoted belief that this country is a (white) Christian nation.

They will replaced soon enough by drones.

If they want a career someone needs to give them money. So someone needs to believe the tradwives will make them rich. Also AI is a cheaper human looking influencer. 57% of any group isn’t rising to the top and getting rich. Likely just AI people selling phone games and gambling. 

[Dimity]

I'm not too worried about kids saying they want to be influencers when they grow up.  When my son was a teen he, and all his friends, were going to get jobs testing or creating new video games.  What will shock no one is that none of them ended up doing this. 

What does worry me is the way the right wing is trying to make higher education too expensive for the average person to access and hand in hand with that they are working overtime to make people think getting a degree is a waste of time anyway.   

Edited Tuesday at 05:37 PM by Dimity

[bluegirl147]

13 minutes ago, Dimity said:

What does worry me is the way the right wing is trying to make higher education too expensive for the average person to access and hand in hand with that they are working overtime to make people think getting a degree is a waste of time anyway.   

That is what the top 1% wants.  They want cheap labor.  If they succeed in getting rid of all the immigrants, legal or not, they need people to do those jobs the immigrants were doing.  And I won't be surprised if they try to abolish the minimum wage.

[PRgal]

1 minute ago, bluegirl147 said:

That is what the top 1% wants.  They want cheap labor.  If they succeed in getting rid of all the immigrants, legal or not, they need people to do those jobs the immigrants were doing.  And I won't be surprised if they try to abolish the minimum wage.

That's probably why they want to get rid of international students.  Those kids have higher grades and do much better, academically, and later, in their careers than domestic students.  

[ebk57]

2 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Once I saw what Lauren looks like, I have ceased to give a shit about her opinions and rantings. I know this may come off as misogynistic, but that woman chose to get filler and actively chooses to apply her makeup each and everyday. I am judging her choices here, and they are highly questionable.

The scariest part, to me anyway, is that she's only...32.  She's done all that "work" on her face and she's only 32.  I can't even pretend to understand that. 

I mean, she is totally scary, but still...

[tres bien]

15 minutes ago, ebk57 said:

The scariest part, to me anyway, is that she's only...32.  She's done all that "work" on her face and she's only 32.  I can't even pretend to understand that. 

I mean, she is totally scary, but still...

Scary might be too mild 

In April after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer at the WH Trump fired several National Security Officials over loyalty concerns after Loomer directly questioned their loyalty to MAGA

Totally normal

[Ohiopirate02]

22 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

That is what the top 1% wants.  They want cheap labor.  If they succeed in getting rid of all the immigrants, legal or not, they need people to do those jobs the immigrants were doing.  And I won't be surprised if they try to abolish the minimum wage.

Abolishing the minimum wage is a little bit further down on the agenda. The whole point of bringing in undocumented immigrants to work is that they will work for less pay in conditions US citizens would never. The next best thing to undocumented immigrants is prisoners, so the federal government will have to look for ways to increase prison populations to meet the demands of the 1%. Some state governments will also get into this. And one of the first things the feds will do is criminalize homelessness, and round up all the people who cannot afford rising housing costs.

[peacheslatour]

Who needs immigrants when you have prison gangs to do all the work? And bonus, they're even cheaper!

As of May 27, 2025, Texas is on the verge of implementing a near-total ban on consumable products containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in cannabis

. 

Here's a breakdown of the current situation:

1. The Proposed Ban:

Senate Bill 3 (SB3) aims to prohibit the sale, manufacture, and possession of consumable hemp products containing any amount of THC, with the exception of very low-THC cannabis oil available through the state's limited Compassionate Use Program.

This effectively targets products like delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, edibles, vapes, and other hemp-derived items that have become widely available since the legalization of hemp in 2019.

The bill has passed both the Texas House and Senate and is awaiting Governor Greg Abbott's signature.

If signed, the ban is expected to take effect in September 2025.

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/23/texas-thc-ban-explained-hemp/

Edited Tuesday at 06:44 PM by peacheslatour

[tres bien]

More normal news from Texas 

Texas is the process of enacting a law that would require public school classrooms to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in each classroom and it must be at least 16” wide and 20” tall

[Kemper]

2 hours ago, Affogato said:

https://apple.news/AUUkAOyUKRV-YgItdzZWIOw

The president and his speechwriters just had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad weekend

Thank you! I thought I was the only one who remembered this. I think it was the title of a children's book written by Judith Viorst. About her son, Alexander. She also wrote columns for one of the "women's" magazines. McCall's? 

[Dimity]

2 minutes ago, tres bien said:

More normal news from Texas 

Texas is the process of enacting a law that would require public school classrooms to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in each classroom and it must be at least 16” wide and 20” tall

 

[Dimity]

In news that makes me smile, apparently Tesla sales have dropped by 49% in the EU.  Those orbiting around Trump are learning what those orbiting around Trump learned during his first term - only Trump is untouchable.  For everyone else, sooner or later, there are consequences.

[BetyBee]

27 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Who needs immigrants when you have prison gangs to do all the work? And bonus, they're even cheaper!

@peacheslatour- it cracks me up to see this statement beside your Scarlett O'Hara avatar because as you probably recall, Scarlett used convicts as cheap labor for that very reason!

[Affogato]

21 minutes ago, Dimity said:

 

I thought this had been stopped but apparently not. It is disgusting to those of us who believe in the separation of church and state. 

[bluegirl147]

2 minutes ago, Affogato said:

I thought this had been stopped but apparently not. It is disgusting to those of us who believe in the separation of church and state. 

And people wonder why non affiliation with any religion is becoming a bigger portion of the religion pie chart every year.  

[fastiller]

31 minutes ago, tres bien said:

More normal news from Texas 

Texas is the process of enacting a law that would require public school classrooms to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in each classroom and it must be at least 16” wide and 20” tall

 

5 minutes ago, Affogato said:

I thought this had been stopped but apparently not. It is disgusting to those of us who believe in the separation of church and state. 

I'm ok w/ posting the 10 commandments, as long as other religions get to have their equivalent displayed too.

[bluegirl147]

In case anyone was wondering these are the countries that are currently theocracies. You notice none of these countries practice Christianity.

Several countries currently operate under theocratic forms of government. These include Saudi Arabia and Iran,  Other examples include Afghanistan, Sudan, and Yemen. 

Here's a more detailed look at some of these countries:

 

Afghanistan:

 

Afghanistan is a theocratic emirate ruled by the Taliban, a political and militant Islamist movement. 

Sudan:

 

Sudan previously had an Islamic theocracy, which was replaced by a struggling democracy in 2019. 

Yemen:

 

Yemen is another country that is considered a theocracy. 

Saudi Arabia:

 

Saudi Arabia is an Islamic theocracy where the government is based on Sharia law, with the Quran and Sunnah serving as the country's constitution. 

Iran:

 

Iran is an Islamic Republic where the Supreme Leader and Guardian Council, composed of clerics, hold significant power and are not elected by the people. 

[peacheslatour]

40 minutes ago, BetyBee said:

@peacheslatour- it cracks me up to see this statement beside your Scarlett O'Hara avatar because as you probably recall, Scarlett used convicts as cheap labor for that very reason!

Good call! Yeah, old Scarlett probably would have been a Trumper early on but I think she was smart enough to see that he's a lousy businessman. I comfort myself that Vivien Leigh would have despised him.

Edited Tuesday at 07:52 PM by peacheslatour

[Bastet]

22 minutes ago, Affogato said:

I thought this had been stopped but apparently not.

Last fall, Louisiana's similar law was ruled unconstitutional (in district court; it's being appealed to the 5th Circuit, the Trumpiest court in the federal system).  Or you may be thinking of the recent Supreme Court case that effectively, via a 4-4 tie due to recusal, ended Oklahoma's attempt at a publicly funded Catholic charter school.

[Affogato]

19 minutes ago, fastiller said:

 

I'm ok w/ posting the 10 commandments, as long as other religions get to have their equivalent displayed too.

I agree with the Satanic Temples sentiments, but still object to posting religious matter in public schools. 

1 minute ago, Bastet said:

Last fall, Louisiana's similar law was ruled unconstitutional (in district court; it's being appealed to the 5th Circuit, the Trumpiest court in the federal system).  Or you may be thinking of the recent Supreme Court case that effectively, via a 4-4 tie due to recusal, ended Oklahoma's attempt at a publicly funded Catholic charter school.

I think I was thinking of Louisiana. Thanks. 

[lookeyloo]

I am listening to "Money, Lies, and God" by katherine stewart who explains how we got here.  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/books/review/money-lies-and-god-katherine-stewart.html

[Affogato]

18 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

I am listening to "Money, Lies, and God" by katherine stewart who explains how we got here.  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/books/review/money-lies-and-god-katherine-stewart.html

I saw an interview with her about the book on March 18. Have a link. 
 

https://cambridgeforum.org/money-lies-and-god-with-katherine-stewart/

[lookeyloo]

44 minutes ago, Affogato said:

I saw an interview with her about the book on March 18. Have a link. 
 

https://cambridgeforum.org/money-lies-and-god-with-katherine-stewart/

Thanks so much!! 

[jessiebell]

Trump really outdid himself this weekend with all his horribleness so I was delighted to watch 60 Minutes on Sunday night.  I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.  There were 3 stories (which I think have been played before but not in one package) of which 2 were on multimillionaires that have used their fortunes for good.  One section was on Fogo Island - remote island off the coast of Newfoundland and a woman (Zita Cobb) born and raised on the island who made a fortune in the tech world and came back to Fogo to invest in the community.  

The other section was on Greg Carr who made his fortune in voice mail and is spending his money in Mozambique.  He restored Gorongosa National Park which had been ravaged by years of war.  He's also invested in bulding schools, educating teachers, planting coffee trees - all of which provide education and employment along with employment in Gorongosa National Park.

Both stories are on Youtube.  It was so heartening to see people spending their fortunes on improving lives and not on enriching themselves.

[ECM1231]

This was great:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgx3nWyW99/

[shapeshifter]

4 hours ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

a president who can't be trusted within 100 yards of a women's dressing room.

Ooo. Good one. Thank you. I’ll try to remember this turn of phrase.