Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Bookworm 1979]

5 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

No, we haven't lost the respect of our allies.

Canadian here. Yes, you have. You absolutely have. (We still love those of you who didn't vote for that monster.)

[Dimity]

Just now, Bookworm 1979 said:

Canadian here. Yes, you have. You absolutely have. (We still love those of you who didn't vote for that monster.)

This thread helps me keep my perspective on America grounded. If all I had to go on was what Trump is saying and doing, wow. Anyone who genuinely believes he has the respect of his allies is dead wrong. We may not even consider ourselves allies anymore if he stays on this demented track.

[abbyzenn]

Since Congress is responsible for each agency's funding I'd say they've been derelict in their duties.

I didn't work for USAID nor do I know anyone that did but it looks to me as if it does do some good.  I still think stopping everything and throwing almost all staff out of work and then as Rubio has said taking a look at the programs and deciding what should be continued is the wrong way to do things.

Trump cares so much about fraud that he pardoned a man who at the time (and maybe still) was considered to have committed the biggest medicare fraud.

This is small potatoes but since this administration is so hot on waste it's been reported that Hegseth is moving into a house on a military base for which over $137000 has been spent refurbishing it including $50,000 for "emergency painting."  $50,000 for painting????? 

And how wasteful is it to offer feds to stop working now but pay them until September?  Of course it will be shocking if they actually get paid until September.

How much money is going to be wasted investigating the investigators?  Should no one have investigated  the actions of Jan 6?  Is it now okay to destroy property and attack policemen?

Just like it's okay for the President to take classified documents with him despite the law? And when asked to return them refuse to do so and try to hide them.  How was trying to get those documents back persecuting him?????

And this admin cares so much about us little guys that they're going to abolish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  Between this and action Bondi is taking over at Justice it's going to be free reign for businesses.

But on the positive side Trump is able to find the time to be chairman of the Kennedy Center (any bets there will be a name change soon) and establish a task force to take on the "war against Christians."

 

[Notabug]

5 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

He cared enough about the young girls to stop boys from entering their sports activities. This is just one example. Given time, I'm sure they'll be more.

 

How big a problem was this?  How many transgender kids were playing in organized sports?  Amongst teens, fewer than 1% identify as transgender and the number of younger kids in that category is miniscule.

Even presuming that every single transgender kid, male and female, wanted to play organized sports, I am not seeing how this was ever going to be the massive issue that the right claims it already is, especially since around half of those kids are female to male. Nor do I think anyone is going to decide to transition in order to play girls' sports at a higher level.

Also, every person has their own level of skill and talent and, when it comes to sport, some of that is based on physical characteristics.  Should Simone Biles be banned from gymnastics because she has a petite, muscular frame that is ideal for the sport?  Michael Phelps' long arms give him a wingspan in the pool that greatly contributed to his success; should we take his gold medals because it wasn't fair?

There is a need to do more studies to assess the benefits and drawbacks to athletic competition between trans and cis gender people, but, in the long run, the fact of the matter is that virtually no one is going to be affected by the presence of trans athletes in the first place.

I won't get into using hormone blockers in prepubertal males transitioning except to say that, because their testosterone production is blocked, they will not have the muscle mass of a typical boy their age.  I've got a whole lot of reservations about using these meds in children, but creating elite trans athletes isn't one of them.

[nokat]

29 minutes ago, Bookworm 1979 said:

Canadian here. Yes, you have. You absolutely have. (We still love those of you who didn't vote for that monster.)

I thank you from someone who didn't vote for that hateful asshole.

[Bookworm 1979]

10 minutes ago, nokat said:

I thank you from someone who didn't vote for that hateful asshole.

We have our own hateful assholes up here (I live in a province that is being run by one). I pray that one doesn't get elected as our Prime Minister this year. I get it.

[krankydoodle]

6 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

No, we haven't lost the respect of our allies. In fact, we've gained the respect of potential adversaries. In 3 weeks times, Trump has met with just about every leader in these countries. He's making deals to help keep peace in our country and avoid WW3.

If you don't mind my asking, where do you get your news from?

[Bookworm 1979]

4 minutes ago, krankydoodle said:

If you don't mind my asking, where do you get your news from?

From Fox, probably. 😅

[Kemper]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

Trump is both.

You are right. But sadly, Delusional and Ignorant are not the worst things he is. They are almost benign.

[Dimity]

18 minutes ago, Kemper said:

You are right. But sadly, Delusional and Ignorant are not the worst things he is. They are almost benign.

I keep going back and reading that post he made about the Kennedy Centre and wondering how anyone can support this man.  He is right out there, front and centre, showing us his giant ego and his over inflated sense of self importance.  It would be funny if it wasn't so terrifying.

[Dimity]

[suomi]

48 minutes ago, abbyzenn said:

 

I didn't work for USAID nor do I know anyone that did but it looks to me as if it does do some good. 

USAID and the Peace Corps were created by JFK in 1961 via executive orders.

He was perhaps the most well-traveled individual of his era to serve in Congress (US Representative and US Senator). After visiting numerous countries and territories during the 1940s and 1950s he realized that colonialism was a thing of the past. As a US President he knew it was the highest form of hypocrisy to be leading a former colony while denying freedom to others who wanted to create and live in independent nations. He also knew that a region's individuals and natural resources were of equal value and that both were up for grabs during independence movements. During and after those struggles would they move into our orbit or into Russia's orbit?

To this day, USAID's food and medicine missions are the foundation of how America and Americans are viewed by millions of people in need all over the world. JFK knew that clean drinking water and vaccinations and mosquito nets and FOOD were the keys to winning the hearts and minds of desperate and impoverished people.

Think about how many generations of starving people have eaten food delivered in USAID packaging and have been saved from childhood illness, especially the devastating tropical illnesses. 

As a pragmatist, JFK knew that propaganda served along with lifesaving measures was a valuable tool.

As a pragmatist, I know that CIA lurks among USAID and the Peace Corps and similar initiatives but reality mandates that alternative measures will not bear valuable fruit. The enemy determines the methods we employ.

Mocking USAID's Iraqi version of Sesame street is shortsighted and ignores basic facts. 

The initiative, funded under the Biden administration, aimed to foster understanding among Iraq’s diverse ethnic and religious groups, particularly in communities struggling after years of war. According to USAID, Iraqi youth, who make up over half the population, face challenges like unemployment and displacement, which could make them vulnerable to radicalization.

https://channel8.com/english/30979

Trump is self-serving above all else and his only tool is a hammer so everything looks like a nail. In his mind, nuance does not exist and facts have zero value. His despicable ways reflect poorly on his supporters and on the rest of us as well.

I cannot forget his behavior during a G7 summit in Italy. He was "late" for the photo session (passive aggression). When the leaders of the free world ambled along companionably on foot he isolated himself at a distance in a golf cart. He knew he was outclassed and outmatched and his current scorched earth initiatives are payback for that. 

When he was 5 years old the baby next door was sunning in its backyard playpen when, hearing screams, the mother caught him throwing rocks at her baby and his aim was true. This is who he was then, and this is who he is today.

[Bliss]

18 minutes ago, suomi said:

USAID and the Peace Corps were created by JFK in 1961 via executive orders.

He was perhaps the most well-traveled individual of his era to serve in Congress (US Representative and US Senator). After visiting numerous countries and territories during the 1940s and 1950s he realized that colonialism was a thing of the past. As a US President he knew it was the highest form of hypocrisy to be leading a former colony while denying freedom to others who wanted to create and live in independent nations. He also knew that a region's individuals and natural resources were of equal value and that both were up for grabs during independence movements. During and after those struggles would they move into our orbit or into Russia's orbit?

To this day, USAID's food and medicine missions are the foundation of how America and Americans are viewed by millions of people in need all over the world. JFK knew that clean drinking water and vaccinations and mosquito nets and FOOD were the keys to winning the hearts and minds of desperate and impoverished people.

Think about how many generations of starving people have eaten food delivered in USAID packaging and have been saved from childhood illness, especially the devastating tropical illnesses. 

As a pragmatist, JFK knew that propaganda served along with lifesaving measures was a valuable tool.

As a pragmatist, I know that CIA lurks among USAID and the Peace Corps and similar initiatives but reality mandates that alternative measures will not bear valuable fruit. The enemy determines the methods we employ.

Mocking USAID's Iraqi version of Sesame street is shortsighted and ignores basic facts. 

The initiative, funded under the Biden administration, aimed to foster understanding among Iraq’s diverse ethnic and religious groups, particularly in communities struggling after years of war. According to USAID, Iraqi youth, who make up over half the population, face challenges like unemployment and displacement, which could make them vulnerable to radicalization.

https://channel8.com/english/30979

Trump is self-serving above all else and his only tool is a hammer so everything looks like a nail. In his mind, nuance does not exist and facts have zero value. His despicable ways reflect poorly on his supporters and on the rest of us as well.

I cannot forget his behavior during a G7 summit in Italy. He was "late" for the photo session (passive aggression). When the leaders of the free world ambled along companionably on foot he isolated himself at a distance in a golf cart. He knew he was outclassed and outmatched and his current scorched earth initiatives are payback for that. 

When he was 5 years old the baby next door was sunning in its backyard playpen when, hearing screams, the mother caught him throwing rocks at her baby and his aim was true. This is who he was then, and this is who he is today.

Excellent post.

I was just wondering how a tRump supporter would react/feel if tRump bullied his way into their home, told them to give it to him or he'd get his military cult to force them out. "Sure! Here are all my keys! Watch the upstairs toilet... it leaks. Oh, and you may need a new roof soon. Lastly, our next door neighbour is insane." A couple of inside jokes there.

I pray a lot. Every so often I get a direct line to a higher power and my prayers for help are answered pronto. Lately, there's been a busy signal. Very busy! I won't give up. I believe good will conquer evil in the end. It's the 'meantime' that's a challenge.

[Blergh]

6 hours ago, tres bien said:

There’s a fine line between being delusional and being ignorant 

And being willfully ignorant does require quite a bit of effort to keep the blinders on to maintain one's delusions that one feels is a comfort to them despite how counterproductive they may be!

Edited 2 hours ago by Blergh

[PRgal]

3 hours ago, Bookworm 1979 said:

Canadian here. Yes, you have. You absolutely have. (We still love those of you who didn't vote for that monster.)

But they don’t really have allies anymore.  But then again, there’s Russia and China.  Those three are the big bullies at school.  You know, the ones who pick on other kids, steel their lunches and shove some in lockers.  

[Blergh]

4 hours ago, abbyzenn said:

 

But on the positive side Trump is able to find the time to be chairman of the Kennedy Center (any bets there will be a name change soon) and establish a task force to take on the "war against Christians."

 

Let me say that as a Christian, AFIAC, the ones waging war against us are those who bastardize Scriptures, ignore Gospels (and Commandments)  to elevate false prophets while behaving as Pharisees to treat one cruel, false witness bearing, unrepentant, profane individual as someone to venerate if not outrightly worship while being oblivious to those innocents suffering due to being needlessly and unjustly persecuted (all of which flies directly in the fact os what we  Christians are supposed to believe)!

Edited 57 minutes ago by Blergh

[Dimity]

I have one word for Musk - Schirach.   Leader of the Hitler Youth and sentenced to 20 years at Nuremberg, and served every day of that sentence.

 

The above is a picture of Musk surrounded by some of the very young men he has recruited to 'fix' America.

[Lugal]

8 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Sorry, but biological factors are not sexist. It's more about our hormones. A man will always beat a woman. If not in boxing, how about swimming? Lung capacity? People need to go beyond the scope of sexism and empathize with the women who are/were facing this issue in their chosen sport field.

I'm not denying biological factors, nor that they grant various advantages to either sex.  Nor am I against separate men's and women's competitions.  All I'm saying is that a man beating a woman in any given sport is not a sure thing.  I can't believe that I have to say it but there will always be people bigger and stronger out there.  Most sports are based on getting around that disadvantage to win.  As for swimming, men may have greater lung capacity, but women's higher body fat gives them greater buoyancy. 

3 hours ago, Notabug said:

How big a problem was this?  How many transgender kids were playing in organized sports?  Amongst teens, fewer than 1% identify as transgender and the number of younger kids in that category is miniscule.

Even presuming that every single transgender kid, male and female, wanted to play organized sports, I am not seeing how this was ever going to be the massive issue that the right claims it already is, especially since around half of those kids are female to male. Nor do I think anyone is going to decide to transition in order to play girls' sports at a higher level.

Thank you!  It's small enough that it can and probably should be taken on a case-by-case basis.

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, Blergh said:

And being willfully ignorant does require quite a bit of effort to keep the blinders on to maintain one's delusions that one feels is a comfort to them despite how counterproductive they may be!

[peacheslatour]

More Saturday cartoons-

[tearknee]

6 hours ago, Anela said:

There's so much concern about trans-women being in bathrooms, though. You would think they wouldn't be voting for someone who was accused of rape, by more than one woman. 

I also don't see that she's been abandoned by anyone. 

In the sense that she's a lot less prominent and left wingers have moved onto other tools to wield.

Voters cared about their wallets. Cynical but as Sir Humprey said about cynics...

[peacheslatour]

2 minutes ago, tearknee said:

In the sense that she's a lot less prominent and left wingers have moved onto other tools to wield.

Voters cared about their wallets. Cynical but as Sir Humprey said about cynics...

People have moved on because the trial is over and there's not any news about it anymore. That's it. She was never a "tool".

[tearknee]

4 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

People have moved on because the trial is over and there's not any news about it anymore. That's it. She was never a "tool".

Some saw her as *their* tool. I learned the hard way that neither side of the political spectrum has clean hands. You do not wish to know what the hard way was.

[nokat]

3 hours ago, Kemper said:

You are right. But sadly, Delusional and Ignorant are not the worst things he is. They are almost benign.

You say almost benign. Ignorant is a bad one. I've been scrambling to make sure my finance's are secure. Will I be able to go to the bank on my own?

[tearknee]

to my friends -- family, really - on here - I hate being in pain. I hate the palsy and i hate the remarks in RL.

 

[ProudMary]

Oh goody, I see we've returned to the 2018 Trump era where millions of women had to justify #WhyIDidn'tReport. 😒

The E. Jean Carroll case provided people who actually followed the case, and more importantly, the jury, with substantial amounts of contemporaneous notes and conversations from the time of Trump's assault. 

[Dimity]

I am having flashbacks to Anita Hill.  A courageous woman who dared to speak out.  No one forgot about her even if the GOP decided to ignore what she was telling them (sound familiar?), and she was nobody's left wing tool. 

[peacheslatour]

7 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

Oh goody, I see we've returned to the 2018 Trump era where millions of women had to justify #WhyIDidn'tReport. 😒

The E. Jean Carroll case provided people who actually followed the case, and more importantly, the jury, with substantial amounts of contemporaneous notes and conversations from the time of Trump's assault. 

We're so far beyond screwed. With dipshiats like this, Melon can secretly replace all Fed wire transfer encryption keys with his own, and with the flip of a switch, the entire nation will be beholden to him. 

The world's largest ransomware attack is happening in real time. 

Say something they don't like?

BAM, your 401k is drained, your checking and savings accounts are drained, and a mysterious $100,000 loan appears in your name. Your mortgage is erased and your property is seized by a shell company that evicts you and sells your home for a fraction of what it's worth to another shell company that turns it into a rental property. 

Stinky will get a cut for allowing him to do it, continuing his legacy of slapping his name on other peoples' shiatty projects. 

The information he has stolen in the last two weeks almost makes it a guaranteed outcome.

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, peacheslatour said:

The information he has stolen in the last two weeks almost makes it a guaranteed outcome.

But at least we don't have to listen to Harris laugh.  Financial ruin is a small price to pay for that.

[nokat]

2 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I am having flashbacks to Anita Hill.  A courageous woman who dared to speak out.  No one forgot about her even if the GOP decided to ignore what she was telling them (sound familiar?), and she was nobody's left wing tool. 

The woman who tells is out, the guy is on the Supreme Court. I remember that SOB.

[Dimity]

Just now, nokat said:

The woman who tells is out, the guy is on the Supreme Court. I remember that SOB.

Yeah remind me again how men's lives are ruined by accusations of harassment and assault. 

[peacheslatour]

4 minutes ago, nokat said:

The woman who tells is out, the guy is on the Supreme Court. I remember that SOB.

[nokat]

3 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Women will be made the villains.

[peacheslatour]

3 minutes ago, nokat said:

Women will be made the villains.

Every time.

[nokat]

14 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

We're so far beyond screwed. With dipshiats like this, Melon can secretly replace all Fed wire transfer encryption keys with his own, and with the flip of a switch, the entire nation will be beholden to him. 

The world's largest ransomware attack is happening in real time. 

Say something they don't like?

BAM, your 401k is drained, your checking and savings accounts are drained, and a mysterious $100,000 loan appears in your name. Your mortgage is erased and your property is seized by a shell company that evicts you and sells your home for a fraction of what it's worth to another shell company that turns it into a rental property. 

Stinky will get a cut for allowing him to do it, continuing his legacy of slapping his name on other peoples' shiatty projects. 

The information he has stolen in the last two weeks almost makes it a guaranteed outcome.

I was horrified at the reality of this, then laughed at Melon.