Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

So no it's not 'well both sides do it'   

Agreed.  Anyone looking at what Trump has done and is singing from the  'both sides do it' playbook is either not really looking at what Trump has done or is totally fine with it.  Because what he is doing is completely unprecedented.  At least in the US anyway.

[DrSpaceman73]

3 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I can assure you that I would never overlook that much. Remember, I didn't vote in the 2016 election because I didn't like Hillary or Trump, a decision I regret now but it helps knowing I didn't affect the election because my state voted for her anyway. So in that case I wasn't willing to overlook things. But if that election were held now I would have zero hesitation voting for her. And knowing how Republicans have lowered themselves and shown themselves to be willing to support Trump no matter what lowers my opinion of them so much it lowers the chances that I'd ever vote for one again. This is more distasteful to me than anything any Democrat has ever done. I actually voted for a Republican presidential candidate once but those were different times. I have voted for more Republicans on a local level, but still relatively few. But the point is that I can and will vote against my party if I think the candidate is a better choice.

Let's say that the Democrats ran Bernie or AOC for president. As much as I like them personally I don't think I could bring myself to vote for either of them (under normal circumstances - now paired against Trump or MAGA I'd likely hold my nose and vote for them). Interestingly, my good friend and lawyer, who scored "Establishment Liberal" on that Pew Research political leanings quiz (which is pretty far left and left of me), agreed with me that he could never vote for either one. He is a classical liberal but NOT a progressive, and decidedly not.

And this is the problem Democrats have and why Republicans keep winning presidential elections. Because Dems. stick to their principles over their party. Meanwhile Republicans stick to their party even if they run Mickey Mouse for President. And I don't know if I see that as a function of optimism as much as a misplaced sense of loyalty.

I would vote for either one in a second over trump even though I dont agree politically much with either one. 

But basically I agree with you. I've stated many times Democrats completely botched the 24 election cycle. Biden should have never run in the first place and should have been a full open primary.  

[fastiller]

48 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

 Also, I think, being just me, that shorter election cycles would be better.

 

27 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

I think there should be a national primary day.  That way all states have a say in who the nominee is. As it is now if a presidential candidate doesn't do well in Iowa and New Hampshire (two pretty white states) they are thought to be dead if not on life support as a candidate.

If I were king of the multiverse:

1. Zero private $$$ in campaigns (even from the candidates themselves)
2. Eliminate the EC
3. Term limits on all positions (EG: 2 for POTUS; 2 for Senate; 4 or 5 for House; others for State level offices)
4. Election cycle starts no earlier than Labor Day the year of the election
5. Primary by region (regions could be broken out by time zone) (or as @bluegirl147 suggests: National Primary Day, on the first Tuesday of October, the month before the election).
6. Election day moved to weekend days or made a National Holiday w/ mandated paid time off.
 

 

Edited Friday at 03:55 PM by fastiller

[Lantern7]

When can we start referring to Melania as “TACO Belle”?

[DrSpaceman73]

13 minutes ago, fastiller said:

 

If I were king of the multiverse:

1. Zero private $$$ in campaigns (even from the candidates themselves)
2. Eliminate the EC
3. Term limits on all positions (EG: 2 for POTUS; 2 for Senate; 4 or 5 for House; others for State level offices)
4. Election cycle starts no earlier than Labor Day the year of the election
5. Primary by region (regions could be broken out by time zone) (or as @bluegirl147 suggests: National Primary Day, on the first Tuesday of October, the month before the election).
6. Election day moved to weekend days or made a National Holiday w/ mandated paid time off.
 

 

I'm fine with all those even the EC though that would take a change to tge constitution. 

But there is no practical way to keep private money out of it. 

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, Affogato said:

I think your ‘white people are weird perspective underlines what I mean by Xenophobia. It isn’t what is happening as background noise, because people get accustomed to background noise. It is when they are forced to pay attention, and a cold chill goes down their spines. In the rich mall, the ladies don’t mind children making designer purses, but they are disgusted when poor children beg outside the door of Louis Vuitton—and they don’t want a discussion of how to help the children’s parents, they would like a law making it illegal for poor people to be on their sidewalks. While still wanting the poor people washing dishes in the food court. Xenophobia means fear. Most people wouldn’t notice a transgender person, or a genderfluid person, but if a change in how they are expected to talk to them, or being made to look at an all gender bathroom sign, that makes them feel afraid multiple times a day. There child in a class room with them, haunts them day by day by endless day. 

I can assure you that no cold chill ever went down my spine when walking down Fordham Road in the Bronx. I was always comfortable being in the vast minority as long as I felt it was a safe situation like I would in any situation regardless of the racial background of the people in any area.  Xenophobia is based on fear. What I'm talking about is comfort level which can be based on preference or even prejudice, which can be part of xenophobia too. And preference is something else. People tend to prefer to be around what is familiar to them, to their own culture and people that "look like them". This is something not exclusive to white people by far. I'm seeing this concept now on TV to explain why minorities shy away from certain professions. The idea is that they don't feel comfortable in them or like they'll be accepted since they don't encounter anyone in them that "looks like them". Meanwhile when white people feel that way in any situation it's automatically assumed to come from prejudice or fear when that is not always the case. I can tell you from first hand experience that I am not motivated by prejudice OR fear. I prefer to be in racially integrated environments, not ones that are overly skewed toward white or minorities, but that's my preference and it's not based on fear or prejudice either. It's based on what is most comfortable to me based on preference and what I feel works the best socially speaking.

[bluegirl147]

4 minutes ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

But there is no practical way to keep private money out of it. 

And that is one big reason we are in the position we are in.  Citizen's United was one of the worst SCOTUS decisions ever. It legalized bribery and we are all worse for it.

 

[bluegirl147]

3 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

People tend to prefer to be around what is familiar to them, to their own culture and people that "look like them".

I think that depends.  I'm a white woman living in a red state and I have very little in common with most people here. Despite living here my whole life. And I blame Trump and MAGA for that. Before him yes this state was red but people didn't have their campaign flags out year round. There are some houses I see that have had their Trump flags up for almost 10 years.  In the months before November I saw two houses with Harris/Walz signs and they were inside the house in a window. Probably because they were afraid they would be stolen or worse.  Before 2015 I might have suspected someone's political slant but unless I was close to them it wasn't something we discussed. I've said before the only time I feel unsafe is when I see men decked out in Trump gear.  The MAGA hats. The Fuck Your Feeling t shirts.  And if I as a white woman feel unsafe I can only imagine how people of color feel.

[DrSpaceman73]

12 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

And that is one big reason we are in the position we are in.  Citizen's United was one of the worst SCOTUS decisions ever. It legalized bribery and we are all worse for it.

 

Yeah but even beyond that.....it's just impossible to regulate all social media and all media anymore and where the money comes from. 

Directly sure you can regulate the money of those running. 

But indirectly it just can't be done. 

[bluegirl147]

3 minutes ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

.it's just impossible to regulate all social media and all media anymore and where the money comes from. 

The book Careless People, written by a woman who used to work at FB is very good and talks about this.  Zuckerberg knows what social media has become and the influence it has and wants more. The vast amount of money that is being generated and what is used for is scary. Tech companies have accumulated too much money and too much power.

[Ohiopirate02]

48 minutes ago, fastiller said:

 

If I were king of the multiverse:

1. Zero private $$$ in campaigns (even from the candidates themselves)
2. Eliminate the EC
3. Term limits on all positions (EG: 2 for POTUS; 2 for Senate; 4 or 5 for House; others for State level offices)
4. Election cycle starts no earlier than Labor Day the year of the election
5. Primary by region (regions could be broken out by time zone) (or as @bluegirl147 suggests: National Primary Day, on the first Tuesday of October, the month before the election).
6. Election day moved to weekend days or made a National Holiday w/ mandated paid time off.
 

 

As much as I want term limits on all positions, there's a lot of stuff members of the house do for their constituents that require stability. Your representative is supposed to be your advocate when you have issues with various federal agencies and have dedicated staff for this purpose. Limiting the number of years a person can be in the House means limiting the number of years that person's staff can make the necessary connections within the federal government. People would suffer. And I don't know how to reconcile the work congressional staffers do with term limits because the person in charge is going to want their people handling things.

I do agree with shortening the primary calendar and the time between primaries and November. A year is way too long.

[Affogato]

25 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

I can assure you that no cold chill ever went down my spine when walking down Fordham Road in the Bronx. I was always comfortable being in the vast minority as long as I felt it was a safe situation like I would in any situation regardless of the racial background of the people in any area.  Xenophobia is based on fear. What I'm talking about is comfort level which can be based on preference or even prejudice, which can be part of xenophobia too. And preference is something else. People tend to prefer to be around what is familiar to them, to their own culture and people that "look like them". This is something not exclusive to white people by far. I'm seeing this concept now on TV to explain why minorities shy away from certain professions. The idea is that they don't feel comfortable in them or like they'll be accepted since they don't encounter anyone in them that "looks like them". Meanwhile when white people feel that way in any situation it's automatically assumed to come from prejudice or fear when that is not always the case. I can tell you from first hand experience that I am not motivated by prejudice OR fear. I prefer to be in racially integrated environments, not ones that are overly skewed toward white or minorities, but that's my preference and it's not based on fear or prejudice either. It's based on what is most comfortable to me based on preference and what I feel works the best socially speaking.

A week or so ago a massive MAGA red pickup truck, just massive, was parked near my building and it really put me off. It was from out of town, and from a red state, and just scared me. Of course, I was hit by a pickup truck once and am predisposed to dislike them, but MAGA red. Shudder.  

People are sensitive to dissonance, whether it is a red truck that usually isn’t in their neighborhood, or a black man that isn’t usually in their neighborhood.

I live in a blue state and in a city, I rarely meet a republican on the hoof. But it is an eastern city, and it can be fairly racially divided. 

No, what I meant was more like, lets see if I can think of a good example. I’m overweight and I’m losing weight, thanks, but when I try to exercise at home I can often find myself not doing it, I deflect, I find something else to do, and then it is too late or I’m hungry, and then it is too soon after I’ve eaten, and then something else comes up, and I procrastinate and I’ve missed exercising during the day. And I do this because when I exercise I pay attention to my body and it reminds me I’m overweight and I don’t like that feeling.  

So I’m saying that maybe a lot of people who are nervous about people who aren’t like them, want to avoid being put into a position of having to pay attention to the feelings, because the feelings are unpleasant.  People don’t want to see masks, because if they don’t see masks they aren’t reminded there could be a pandemic. Because it can be scary.  But I’m not saying they are self aware people who are making an informed decision. they are anxious, overwhelmed people who want someone to make things easier for them. 

[peacheslatour]

4 hours ago, Annber03 said:

Yeah, peope lived through Trump's first go-round just fine! Just ask those who died in the pandemic he and his administration grossly mismanaged! 

Just what, exactly, did you have to "live through" with Biden and Obama that was just so terrible for you? 

I'm still trying to figure this one out. Do they mean that time Obama crashed the economy? No, that was Trump. Okay, how about the time Biden called a deadly pandemic a hoax and told people to treat it with bleach and millions of people died? Nope, that was Trump again. Oh, I know it was that time Trump made it easier for millions of Americans to get health insurance? Don't make me laugh. So, what nightmare did they have to live through with Obama? A black president? The horror. With Biden? The best economy in the world? Record employment? What a nightmare! 

[Dimity]

3 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

So, what nightmare did they have to live through with Obama? A black president? The horror. With Biden? The best economy in the world? Record employment? What a nightmare! 

A black president who wore a tan suit!  I mean come on, that puts anything Trump has done in perspective doesn't it? 

 

[shapeshifter]

58 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

When can we start referring to Melania as “TACO Belle”?

Thanks for the chuckle.
Did you invent this?
Google AI is not familiar.
Yet…
 

 

[peacheslatour]

 

nm

Edited Friday at 05:14 PM by peacheslatour
double post

[Affogato]

4 minutes ago, Dimity said:

A black president who wore a tan suit!  I mean come on, that puts anything Trump has done in perspective doesn't it? 

 

It is frustrating how much rush limbaugh currency the right has banked on every time the other side does something it is the worst thing in the world.  Yes, Biden seemed as if he was fading, and should not have run for president. But also, people, anyone can see that Trump has declined terribly, and that is not an issue. But I really don’t know why the right wing media can get away with deflecting all of the things from their side and attacking the other. It does seem like Trump destroyed the ecomony, but it was really some democrat’s fault, and look over there (hides something behind the curtains) democrat’s tie is too short.

[Spartan Girl]

5 hours ago, Annber03 said:

Yeah, peope lived through Trump's first go-round just fine! Just ask those who died in the pandemic he and his administration grossly mismanaged! 

Just what, exactly, did you have to "live through" with Biden and Obama that was just so terrible for you? 

Pigging backing on this, because, yeah, I genuinely want to know too.

In the Obama era, I was happy. I didn’t worry about politics, let alone people being this awful to each other. And when Biden as president, I at least knew there were adults in charge, even if it would take away while to clean up Trump’s mess—progress that obviously went out the fucking window as of this January.

[bluegirl147]

5 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

In the Obama era, I was happy. I didn’t worry about politics, let alone people being this awful to each other. And when Biden as president, I at least knew there were adults in charge, even if it would take away while to clean up Trump’s mess—progress that obviously went out the fucking window as of this January.

There always seems to be less drama with Democratic administrations and if there is drama it's caused by Republicans causing it by trying to destroy the Democratic administration. Like every investigation started against Clinton, Obama and Biden.  Meanwhile Bush Jr had the Iraq War and Trump had/has well, there is too much to list.

[Lantern7]

1 hour ago, shapeshifter said:

Thanks for the chuckle.
Did you invent this?
Google AI is not familiar.
Yet…

I came up with that on my own . . . but I’m certain it wouldn't had taken a thousand monkeys typing for one thousand years to come up with that. I’m thinking ten monkeys, five days. At most.

Edited Friday at 06:21 PM by Lantern7

[bluegirl147]

14 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

I came up with that on my own . . . but I’m certain it wouldn't had taken a thousand monkeys typing for one thousand years to come up with that. I’m thinking ten monkeys, five days. At most.

The jokes have been great. At least we can still find the humor in things.  What is that saying? You have to laugh so you don't cry.

[Bookish Jen]

2 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

When can we start referring to Melania as “TACO Belle”?

I've noticed people on Twitter are referring to Karoline Leavitt as TACO Belle. Well, she is at the White House a lot more than Melania. Where is Melania?

[tres bien]

Trump is swamp scum he does not deserve the respect of any of us 

Asked by a reporter about President Biden today (although I don’t know why) He replied “if you feel sorry for him don’t feel sorry for him because he’s vicious. I really don’t feel sorry for him”

And hold on! He has not closed the door on pardoning Diddy because Diddy talked about how much he liked Trump

😡 😖 😫

Edited Friday at 07:07 PM by tres bien

[bluegirl147]

2 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Asked by a reporter about President Biden today (although I don’t know why) He replied “if you feel sorry for him don’t feel sorry for him because he’s vicious. I don’t feel sorry for him”

So which is it?  Biden is vicious or Biden is a doddering old man who doesn't know what day it is?

[lookeyloo]

I am almost done with "Money, Lies and God".  I am listening to the post of Katherine Stewart being interviewed that a kind member of our group posted.

Folks, this has all been in the works for decades.  Various groups of people have been working sometimes together and sometimes not, at this time in history to sanitize the past, make everything white, Christian and male.  It has been insidious and hiding in plain site.  Some people knew/know and some of us don't or never paid attention.  It will be hard to untangle because it is a relatively coordinated plan.

[Affogato]

10 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

I am almost done with "Money, Lies and God".  I am listening to the post of Katherine Stewart being interviewed that a kind member of our group posted.

Folks, this has all been in the works for decades.  Various groups of people have been working sometimes together and sometimes not, at this time in history to sanitize the past, make everything white, Christian and male.  It has been insidious and hiding in plain site.  Some people knew/know and some of us don't or never paid attention.  It will be hard to untangle because it is a relatively coordinated plan.

It is horrifying. You are right.

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, Bliss said:

OMG. Just saw tRump saying "so long for now" to Elon in the circus office.

I can't express how grateful I am to be Canadian at this moment.

How do you handle this clown and his word salads? "USA is the hottest country in the world right now"?  I honestly can't fathom how he is your president... again... STILL.

Did you also see Elmo's shiner? He claimed it was from playing with his kid. Uh huh, right.

[Spartan Girl]

15 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Did you also see Elmo's shiner? He claimed it was from playing with his kid. Uh huh, right.

Big article about his family drama and drug use.

If what it alleges about his drug use is true…

[Ohiopirate02]

13 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Did you also see Elmo's shiner? He claimed it was from playing with his kid. Uh huh, right.

It might have been Stephen Miller. Apparently, his wife worked with DOGE and Musk enough that she quit her White House job to work for Elon full-time. Talk about a throuple from hell (though the thought of Stephen getting cuckolded by a man with an alleged botched penile implant is rather amusing).

[Lantern7]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

So which is it?  Biden is vicious or Biden is a doddering old man who doesn't know what day it is?

That’s not far-fetched. After all, Trump is a certified doddering old man who is also vicious.  I believe Jon Stewart once called him “evil Mr. Magoo.”

[peacheslatour]

7 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

That’s not far-fetched. After all, Trump is a certified doddering old man who is also vicious.  I believe Jon Stewart once called him “evil Mr. Magoo.”

Same with Obama who was simultaneously a feckless empty suit and a Islamic madman who was in league with the devil himself.

[Dimity]

Quote

Republicans have a new talking point for gutting Medicaid and SNAP to give billionaires even more tax cuts: “We are all going to die.”

They are quoting Joni Ernst at her most recent Town Hall.  I honestly am not surprised given the attitude expressed by many during the pandemic when they were protesting lockdowns, masks and vaccines "well Grandma had a good run" but the callousness is still beyond contempt.  

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

It might have been Stephen Miller. Apparently, his wife worked with DOGE and Musk enough that she quit her White House job to work for Elon full-time. Talk about a throuple from hell (though the thought of Stephen getting cuckolded by a man with an alleged botched penile implant is rather amusing).

[peacheslatour]

16 minutes ago, Dimity said:

 

In the same vein-

 

[Anela]

6 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

I think that depends.  I'm a white woman living in a red state and I have very little in common with most people here. Despite living here my whole life. And I blame Trump and MAGA for that. Before him yes this state was red but people didn't have their campaign flags out year round. There are some houses I see that have had their Trump flags up for almost 10 years.  In the months before November I saw two houses with Harris/Walz signs and they were inside the house in a window. Probably because they were afraid they would be stolen or worse.  Before 2015 I might have suspected someone's political slant but unless I was close to them it wasn't something we discussed. I've said before the only time I feel unsafe is when I see men decked out in Trump gear.  The MAGA hats. The Fuck Your Feeling t shirts.  And if I as a white woman feel unsafe I can only imagine how people of color feel.

Same. I saw more Harris/Walz signs last year, but not that many. There were less trump signs, but he apparently did better in my blue county, than he did last time. The map showed an increase in red votes. 

I'm right on the border of counties, and MAGA had some sort of boat parade here in the past. At the local State park.

We've had all of these "reach across the aisle" articles in the papers, ever since 2016, from people showcasing Trump voters. I don't recall anyone doing the same on their side, in an attempt to get them to understand liberals. I used to analyze situations, and people. I used to try to understand others, and their motivations, even when they were really hurting me. I don't have that kind of time, or mental energy anymore. Not when it goes beyond a bad day, or an isolated incident. 

4 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

Pigging backing on this, because, yeah, I genuinely want to know too.

In the Obama era, I was happy. I didn’t worry about politics, let alone people being this awful to each other. And when Biden as president, I at least knew there were adults in charge, even if it would take away while to clean up Trump’s mess—progress that obviously went out the fucking window as of this January.

Same. I had some heavy personal issues, through some of that period, but no political worries. I didn't look at my neighbours, or others out in the world, and wonder if they chose this. 

And the relief when trump lost in 2020. Yeah. I remember that.

3 hours ago, tres bien said:

Trump is swamp scum he does not deserve the respect of any of us 

Asked by a reporter about President Biden today (although I don’t know why) He replied “if you feel sorry for him don’t feel sorry for him because he’s vicious. I really don’t feel sorry for him”

And hold on! He has not closed the door on pardoning Diddy because Diddy talked about how much he liked Trump

😡 😖 😫

Last year, I saw MAGA asking why Kamala, Biden, and other Democrats, were sending their best wishes to Trump, when that shooting happened at his rally. I told them, "Because they aren't YOU." And they aren't trump. He has no class. No empathy. 

3 hours ago, lookeyloo said:

I am almost done with "Money, Lies and God".  I am listening to the post of Katherine Stewart being interviewed that a kind member of our group posted.

Folks, this has all been in the works for decades.  Various groups of people have been working sometimes together and sometimes not, at this time in history to sanitize the past, make everything white, Christian and male.  It has been insidious and hiding in plain site.  Some people knew/know and some of us don't or never paid attention.  It will be hard to untangle because it is a relatively coordinated plan.

I saw a post from someone pointing that out. Saying it was nobody's fault last year, that this has been the goal for decades.

There a show/documentary on prime, recommended to me by a friend, but I can't remember what it's called. It may have been mentioned here, too. 

On AOC/Bernie. I would vote for them, but I saw twitter posts from Democrats I follow, who stated they would leave the party, before they voted for either of them. 

[Dimity]

15 minutes ago, Anela said:

On AOC/Bernie. I would vote for them, but I saw twitter posts from Democrats I follow, who stated they would leave the party, before they voted for either of them. 

Bernie is 83 years old, I hate playing the age card but, no, no more octagenarian presidential candidates please.  AOC would get my support in a heartbeat but the US doesn't exactly have a sterling track record where female candidates are concerned and the right wing smear machine has very successfully tainted the water where she is concerned, I fear, with more middle of the road voters.

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, lookeyloo said:

I am almost done with "Money, Lies and God".  I am listening to the post of Katherine Stewart being interviewed that a kind member of our group posted.

Folks, this has all been in the works for decades.  Various groups of people have been working sometimes together and sometimes not, at this time in history to sanitize the past, make everything white, Christian and male.  It has been insidious and hiding in plain site.  Some people knew/know and some of us don't or never paid attention.  It will be hard to untangle because it is a relatively coordinated plan.

I have access to the NYT, which ran several lengthy, in-depth, well-sourced articles on Project 2025 before the election, so none of this is new to me. Instead it’s a nightmare coming true.

[Absolom]

12 hours ago, Affogato said:

On the whole, the research shows, conservatives desire security, predictability and authority more than liberals do, and liberals are more comfortable with novelty, nuance and complexity.

Wow, no wonder it is so difficult for so many people to comprehend the other view.  Now that you mention it, the most conservative people I know are the most inflexible.  So it's a built-in feature.  

[kittykat]

2 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

I would probably feel bad for anyone whose wife had an affair with Elon Musk but not Stephen Miller.

 

43 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Bernie is 83 years old, I hate playing the age card but, no, no more octagenarian presidential candidates please.  AOC would get my support in a heartbeat but the US doesn't exactly have a sterling track record where female candidates are concerned and the right wing smear machine has very successfully tainted the water where she is concerned, I fear, with more middle of the road voters.

Agreed.  Bernie should not run.  He has a fan base as rabid as Trump's but he can't get the votes. AOC is not ready she should take Schumer's Senate seat in 2028.

Judging by appearances Buttigieg seems to be the heir apparent (I know, gay, but still white male who has fans on the center and far left side) and honestly I'm all for it.

[Absolom]

7 hours ago, Affogato said:

But I’m not saying they are self aware people who are making an informed decision. they are anxious, overwhelmed people who want someone to make things easier for them. 

You have met my conservative neighbor.  She totally lost her self-possession (body shaking with rage and her voice quaking) because she found out that undocumented residents of California can get limited Medi-Cal to pay hospital bills, doctor bills, and prescriptions.  She's so opposed to it that she didn't speak to me for a week.  All I did was mention that the program existed.  I can't imagine her reaction if she met someone who was receiving it.  She is an extremely anxious type person and COVID certainly didn't help.  She absolutely loses it almost every fire season.  

[Annber03]

3 hours ago, Dimity said:

They are quoting Joni Ernst at her most recent Town Hall.  I honestly am not surprised given the attitude expressed by many during the pandemic when they were protesting lockdowns, masks and vaccines "well Grandma had a good run" but the callousness is still beyond contempt.  

As an Iowan, I want to apologize for our state inflicting Ernst on the rest of the country. Her, Steve King (who thankfully isn't in office anymore, at least), Kim Reynolds...my home state's not sending its best :/. 

(What happened, Iowa? We went for Obama twice! We were one of the earliest states to legalize same sex marriage! WE WERE SMART ONCE!  I just want my state to stop being a national embarrassment, is that' too much to ask?)

6 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

There always seems to be less drama with Democratic administrations and if there is drama it's caused by Republicans causing it by trying to destroy the Democratic administration. Like every investigation started against Clinton, Obama and Biden.  Meanwhile Bush Jr had the Iraq War and Trump had/has well, there is too much to list.

Yep. The first presidential election I got to vote in was in 2004, and I'd already seen what Bush, Jr. had done in his first four years and did not want more of that. Add in the party's stance on LGBTQ+ issues and the massive hypocrisy of all these GOP members talking about "the sanctity of marriage" while they're off having affairs, and their stance on issues relating to healthcare (and I've shared my own personal story about my family's medicall struggles when my dad was sick - and that was pre-Obamacare), and the whole "you're either with us or against us" bullshit leading up to the Iraq War (and the lies that they told to get us into said war), and so on and so forth, and it all just solidified why I voted Democrat in every single election. 

And then Trump came along and flat out ensured that I will never vote Republican as long as I live, period. Not unelss that party does a serious overhaul and kicks out all the nutjobs, anyway. The Democrats aren't perfect, god, no, but they're far more aligned with my stances on the issues than the GOP is much of the time, so as far as I'm concerned, there's no debate for me. 

3 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

It might have been Stephen Miller. Apparently, his wife worked with DOGE and Musk enough that she quit her White House job to work for Elon full-time. Talk about a throuple from hell (though the thought of Stephen getting cuckolded by a man with an alleged botched penile implant is rather amusing).

...I am getting a lot of images in my head that are going to require some serious brain bleach to scrub out now, thanks. 

[ProudMary]

Some good news on the health front:

CDC says healthy children may get COVID vaccine, contradicting RFK Jr.

https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/05/30/CDC-children-may-recveive-COVID-19-vaccine-contradicting-RFK-Jr/3071748646734/

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says children without underlying health conditions "may receive" a COVID-19 vaccine, contradicting a directive by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier in the week.

The CDC updated the childhood immunization schedule published late Thursday. Kennedy, who said the agency would stop recommending the shots for healthy children, said the guidelines would be changed.

Instead, the agency recommends vaccines based on "shared clinical decision-making," meaning children can get vaccinated if their parents and doctors agree.

This will also require health insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid plans to continue to cover the vaccines for children.

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, kittykat said:

Judging by appearances Buttigieg seems to be the heir apparent (I know, gay, but still white male who has fans on the center and far left side) and honestly I'm all for it.

I rate politicians by how well they can speak, and Buttigieg is tops in that department, but I worry that he doesn't have any demonstrative success stories as Secretary of Transportation during the Biden administration. There are bureaucratic reasons, but that doesn't help.

[Lantern7]

5 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

I rate politicians by how well they can speak, and Buttigieg is tops in that department, but I worry that he doesn't have any demonstrative success stories as Secretary of Transportation during the Biden administration. There are bureaucratic reasons, but that doesn't help.

He’s not Sean Duffy. Isn’t that enough?

[ProudMary]

1 hour ago, shapeshifter said:

I rate politicians by how well they can speak, and Buttigieg is tops in that department, but I worry that he doesn't have any demonstrative success stories as Secretary of Transportation during the Biden administration. There are bureaucratic reasons, but that doesn't help.

I think Secretary Pete had a number of success stories. These are just the ones I thought of right away. I'm sure there are even more.

Planes weren't crashing from the sky, or smashing into each other while on the ground. Radar wasn't going out for extended periods of time. When things run smoothly, credit should be given, but that's not what usually happens.

Two areas where big props must be given to Transportation Secretary Buttigieg: Working dilligently with the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland when a tanker truck hit (and exploded) an I-95 bridge in Philadelphia, and a bridge collapsed in Baltimore blocking one of the busiest ports in the nation. I-95, the busiest Interstate Highway for trucking in the US was repaired and re-opened in TWELVE DAYS! Baltimore's Fort McHenry Channel was fully cleared of 50,000 tons of fallen steel and concrete in only eleven weeks to allow massive cargo ships back into the port. Federal government and State government worked smoothly together.

How about the restoration of Amtrak rail service across parts of the southeast into New Orleans, which had been lost since Hurricane Katrina? That began under Secretary Pete's leadership, too.

These unprecedented repairs wouldn't have happened without an exceptionally competent Secretary of Transportation in place.

‘We rebuilt I-95 in just 12 days': Busy Philly highway reopens to cars, trucks

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/transportation-and-transit/reopening-of-i-95-philly/3591146/⁹

Baltimore’s busy port fully reopens after bridge collapse, and a return to normal is expected

https://apnews.com/article/baltimore-bridge-collapse-reopen-port-51b1fa8e46f58ca93e1fc7b2be7f27b6

The Restoration Of Railway Route Between Two Southern Cities Destroyed After Hurricane Katrina Has Begun

https://www.southernliving.com/gulf-coast-corridor-ground-breaking-amtrak-pete-buttigieg-8732789

[Soapy Goddess]

18 hours ago, Affogato said:

you have said, more than once, that the border issues and ‘there are only two gender’ issues are important to you, and that you even disagree with Trump about someother things.  Those two issues are basically xenophobia, 

—————

xenophobia 

noun

A fear of strangers or foreigners. 

A strong antipathy or aversion to strangers or foreigners. 

A fear of foreigners or strangers.

Fear? Sorry, I don't fear anyone. It's more about common sense (for me) when it comes to genders. And more about legalities and procedures relating to border issues. Let's face it, many of us are descendants of immigrants, BUT they came here LEGALLY, most through Ellis Island. If they can do it, why can't the rest?!?

[Soapy Goddess]

18 hours ago, Annber03 said:

Yeah, peope lived through Trump's first go-round just fine! Just ask those who died in the pandemic he and his administration grossly mismanaged! 

Just what, exactly, did you have to "live through" with Biden and Obama that was just so terrible for you? 

Well then, hang on for the next 3 years and you'll be just fine. I'm not going to debate the pandemic because Fauci is no innocent. And the majority of people that died had underlying conditions.

We lived through Biden's and Obama's policies, in the same way you're living through DJT now. The opposing party always "lives through" what they don't agree with. It's human nature. it's called survival. Some people are totally off the wall. I have a video that I wish I could upload for you to see. I tried, but the file is too big. I can try to PM it to you, but I'm afraid the same file size apply there. Anyway, I think you'd all be surprised how unstable this one woman was just to see someone wearing a MAGA cap. Totally unbelievable. 

[Soapy Goddess]

15 hours ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

I voted republican consistently most of my life before trump. 

The reason I won't now is it's a corrupt disgusting self serving group of liars and trump has ruined what was once at least a principled party and turned it into a group of greedy AHs. 

Its not a matter of perspective.   Or lifelong bias.  Not if youre truly seeing what is happening. 

And No, the Democrats have never done anything to this extent. 

This isn't fake news. This is his obvious gameplay.   And these are all hallmarks of authoritarianism and attempts to shut down democracy. 

This is not to mention his legal attempts at taking over elections. And I'm not talking about voter IDs. Whole different segment of problems. 

So no it's not 'well both sides do it'   

I understand, but I simply don't see it that way. Nor do most Reps. We think the Dems (especially under Autopen Biden) were getting rich off insider trading and a lot of shenanigans that haven't come out in the open yet. We just learned about Tapper's cover-up, so what else might there be? It's only been a few months. Give it time. I'm sure everything will all come out in the wash.

[Annber03]

2 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Well then, hang on for the next 3 years and you'll be just fine. I'm not going to debate the pandemic because Fauci is no innocent. And the majority of people that died had underlying conditions.

No, we won't. Not if Trump continues to get his way, we won't. I don't consider living in a world where people who aren't straight, white, rich, Christian men lose their basic civil and human rights, a world where people who spread misnformation and falsehoods and conspiracy theories about vaccines and other health issues, a world where important organizations that literally save people's lives are dismantled and people lose their jobs, to be "just fine", but it sure says something that none of that seems to bother or concern you.

Also, who the hell cares that those people had underlying conditions already? They still died unneecessary deaths because they were exposed to a virus that they didn't need to get because of Trump and his dumbfuck administration spreading,  agian, misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines and throwing temper tantrums about wearing masks. My sister has a heart condition, you'll pardon me if I don't want to risk her getting suck with and potentially dying from something she doesn't need to get sick and die from due to other people's ignorance and selfishness and stupidity.

Trump fucking suggested injecting bleach as a solution to the pandemic, for god's sakes. Remember that? He did an absolutely shit job of managing a serious situation and a whole lot of people died that didn't need to die as a result. Their deaths are on his administration's hands. 

Quote

We lived through Biden's and Obama's policies, in the same way you're living through DJT now. The opposing party always "lives through" what they don't agree with. It's human nature. it's called survival. 

Again, though, what did you have to "live with" under Biden and Obama that's apparently on the level of the shit Trump's done and is doing? 

Also, there is a vast, VAST difference between living with policies one doesn't agree with and living under an administration that is going full on fascist/authoritarian. Nbbody should have to just suck it up and "live through" that. Nobody should have to live through the hell Trump has put this country through and is currently putting it through. 

And again, what about the people who didn't survive his first term, or won't survive this one? We already had people dying in tornado outbreaks recently because the NWS was gutted thanks to Musk and his cronies and it made it harder for peope to warn everyone of the storms ahead of time. So no, not everyone is going to survive this, and it's pretty offensive of you to act like people's genuine concerns and panic about thier safety is overblown or no big deal or equa to you having to "live through" Biden and Obama's presidencies. 

[tres bien]

3 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Fear? Sorry, I don't fear anyone. It's more about common sense (for me) when it comes to genders. And more about legalities and procedures relating to border issues. Let's face it, many of us are descendants of immigrants, BUT they came here LEGALLY, most through Ellis Island. If they can do it, why can't the rest?!?

Are you of Native American descent