Chit-Chat: The Feels

[peacheslatour]

2 minutes ago, Dimity said:

THis is what surprises me about the bro-mance between him and Musk.  It's out of character for Trump to let someone else take centre stage.  Something is going to happen between them sooner or later. 

You're right. If I didn't know Trump's entire history, I'd say Musk owns Trump, that he's bought and paid for the president of the United States but I guess the only question is, will Trump stay bought?

[Kemper]

I honestly think that Trump is intimidated/afraid of Musk.

[bluegirl147]

3 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

You're right. If I didn't know Trump's entire history, I'd say Musk owns Trump, that he's bought and paid for the president of the United States but I guess the only question is, will Trump stay bought?

I will never not believe Musk mettled in the 2024 election. For Trump to just cede him all this power makes me think he is literally bought and paid for.  I think the only way Trump breaks his leash is if Musk makes him look bad. Especially with his MAGA base and that is probably going to happen. His base might be thinking they are immune to all these cuts and nothing he does will affect them but we know that isn't going to last.  Gas prices are already starting to rise in my area. And just because Trump thinks the federal government workforce is "woke" or whatever doesn't mean it's true.  I'm sure there are thousands of Trump voters that work for the federal government and their jobs might be on the chopping block. 

And Trump says he and Putin have been negotiating to end the Ukraine War. Would have been nice if Zelensky had been consulted.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pete-hegseth-calls-nato-membership-for-ukraine-unrealistic_n_67acb7afe4b023227078587f

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, peacheslatour said:

Trump, 78, posted on Truth Social, saying that Europe’s largest and deadliest land conflict since World War II “would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. 

Because he'd have given Ukraine to Russia giftwrapped with a big red bow.  I guess the days of the US standing up for their allies is officially and totally over.

[peacheslatour]

1 minute ago, Dimity said:

Because he'd have given Ukraine to Russia giftwrapped with a big red bow.  I guess the days of the US standing up for their allies is officially and totally over.

Unless they are the Israel.

[bluegirl147]

1 minute ago, Dimity said:

Because he'd have given Ukraine to Russia giftwrapped with a big red bow.  I guess the days of the US standing up for their allies is officially and totally over.

Same with Gaza. 

It will be interesting  horrifying to see which country will invade someone now that the world knows Trump is always going to side with authoritarian/dictator.

[Dimity]

Just now, bluegirl147 said:

It will be interesting  horrifying to see which country will invade someone now that the world knows Trump is always going to side with authoritarian/dictator.

It will also be interesting horrifying to see which country Trump will decide to invade first himself.  He's been blustering and bullying and threatening enough of them since he seized power.  It's hard to believe he isn't building up to something.

[Ohiopirate02]

Just now, bluegirl147 said:

Same with Gaza. 

It will be interesting  horrifying to see which country will invade someone now that the world knows Trump is always going to side with authoritarian/dictator.

From what I have read, Putin's plan is to reunite the Soviet Union. He will settle for puppet regimes that do his bidding like Belarus. There's still Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, possibly Poland, and Finland as a long shot.

[tearknee]

[fastiller]

46 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

You're right. If I didn't know Trump's entire history, I'd say Musk owns Trump, that he's bought and paid for the president of the United States but I guess the only question is, will Trump stay bought?

Trump: a wholly owned subsidiary of Musk & Putin.

[tearknee]

Everyone in the DNC right now:

Us:

 

[fastiller]

16 minutes ago, Dimity said:

It will also be interesting horrifying to see which country Trump will decide to invade first himself.  He's been blustering and bullying and threatening enough of them since he seized power.  It's hard to believe he isn't building up to something.

China into Taiwan.

[tearknee]

Taiwan is the only Chinese-speaking democracy ever. Not co-incidentally, it's also the richest country in South Asia bar Singapore.

[peacheslatour]

1 minute ago, tearknee said:

Taiwan is the only Chinese-speaking democracy ever. Not co-incidentally, it's also the richest country in South Asia bar Singapore.

This is true and China hasn't been able to grab them up yet. If China wasn't making money off of Taiwan, how fast would they invade?

[bluegirl147]

29 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

From what I have read, Putin's plan is to reunite the Soviet Union. He will settle for puppet regimes that do his bidding like Belarus. There's still Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, possibly Poland, and Finland as a long shot.

Trump might offer him Alaska just because.

[tres bien]

Well Eric Adams will probably not be reelected but Trump will have a beautiful job for him in his administration of misfits and unfits 

[annzeepark914]

Someone recently wished there were an emoticon for throwing up. I needed one for these posts re: the Traitor in Chief giving Ukraine to his master, Vlad. Our country is in so much trouble. It's surreal.

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, annzeepark914 said:

Our country is in so much trouble. It's surreal.

And yet so many are seemingly still in total denial.  I keep wondering what has to happen before they start to realize things are bad, very bad. 

[Anela]

10 minutes ago, Dimity said:

And yet so many are seemingly still in total denial.  I keep wondering what has to happen before they start to realize things are bad, very bad. 

I feel like I'm slipping back into denial, because it is surreal. 

I hate how he's framing his deal with Putin as "lives will be saved!" These people want to keep their country! They don't want to be under Putin's rule. 

[tearknee]

Putin is more of a neo-Tsar than a Lenin-Stalin type, IMO.

[bluegirl147]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/house-republican-budget-tax-cut-medicaid_n_67acd43be4b0239406dec54e#

Of course their plan is to demolish the safety net while firing thousands of federal workers. How long before we see bread lines like Russia had when their empire fell?

[Dimity]

9 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

And with Tulsi Gabbard becoming confirmed as Director of National Intelligence (how often do you see Tulsi and the word intelligence in the same sentence?) Putin will most likely know things before Trump does.

No allied country with an ounce of self preservation is going to share sensitive information with the US now.  Likely they had already realized this was not going to be a good idea with Musk in the White House but now this is the proverbial last straw.

[nokat]

I did this years ago, but I locked down my credit, so it wasn't quite as easy for some fraudster to get me into debt. There it all goes, sold to anyone wanting to pay for this information.

[Bastet]

5 hours ago, Anela said:

Someone posted in instagram, they thought his son told trump that he wasn’t the president. Did anyone else hear that? 

I don't have Instagram, but someone sent this, from Bluesky (I don't have Bluesky, either, but those posts can be seen without an account):

https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3lhygfxdub22f

[bluegirl147]

4 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I don't have Instagram, but someone sent this, from Bluesky (I don't have Bluesky, either, but those posts can be seen without an account):

https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3lhygfxdub22f

It really does sound like the kid says you aren't president you need to go away.

[suomi]

1 hour ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

There's still Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, possibly Poland, and Finland as a long shot.

The Finns declared independence from Russia when the Russian Revolution began in 1917. Finland is Sweden's best friend and their air and naval forces are set up to work in tandem. 

The Finns are badass mofos and they will die on their feet before they live on their knees. 

[tearknee]

Poland will never forgive Katyn or the loss of the Kresy in 1945.

 

[peacheslatour]

27 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

It really does sound like the kid says you aren't president you need to go away.

That's what I heard as well.

[lookeyloo]

6 hours ago, tres bien said:

If the republicans (and use that description loosely) in congress are so afraid of being primaried instead of doing what’s right for the people they serve than we’re in trouble for a long time.

If they have polling of their constituents that the majority of them are all on board with this crazy shit which in no way will improve their lives and might even harm their lives then fine I guess I’m wrong and I don’t have a legitimate reason to accuse them of doing whatever Master MAGA Mind demands instead of doing what I believe they know is the right thing to do 

I think from what I have heard that they are afraid of more than being primaried. There have been threats according to a Democrat who was on the Lawrence O'Donnell show on msnbc. I didn't watch but my brother did. 

[Ohiopirate02]

Sorry, but I'm going to need more specifics. Threats even death threats is just too vague. I would have to imagine that being a member of congress comes with risks and death threats called into their publicly available numbers is one of those risks. Same for anything mailed to their public offices. And sadly, their home addresses are also going to be a matter of public record. I need to know how the latest spate of threats is different than what a sitting member of congress has received before last November. I also need to know why they feel law enforcement will not support them in keeping them safe. I get being a Democrat and not trusting the FBI, but state and local law enforcement would also have jurisdiction.

[peacheslatour]

6 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Sorry, but I'm going to need more specifics. Threats even death threats is just too vague. I would have to imagine that being a member of congress comes with risks and death threats called into their publicly available numbers is one of those risks. Same for anything mailed to their public offices. And sadly, their home addresses are also going to be a matter of public record. I need to know how the latest spate of threats is different than what a sitting member of congress has received before last November. I also need to know why they feel law enforcement will not support them in keeping them safe. I get being a Democrat and not trusting the FBI, but state and local law enforcement would also have jurisdiction.

Does Paul Pelosi come to mind?

[Dimity]

I think in the past the threats came from outsiders. From the disgruntled, from the mentally ill.  Now the threats are coming from insiders.  You always take a risk if you defy the mob boss. 

[Dimity]

What gets me the most today is that the focus for too many still seems to be on the football game and on whether Beyonce deserved that Grammy.  These issues, of course, are part of the mess that is the US right now but I wonder what was occupying the minds of the average German back in 1933?  Because make no mistake, while the US is not a fascist country, it's leadership most definitely is fascist.  There is no other way to describe what is happening.

Edited 23 hours ago by Dimity

[Ohiopirate02]

8 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Does Paul Pelosi come to mind?

I am aware of what happened to Paul Pelosi. That act was abhorrent. And if the threats being leveled at members of congress by MAGA are as serious as that, then there are ways to communicate the severity while still staying safe. Going on a show on MSNBC and vaguely saying you are receiving threats is not the way. I don't expect every member of congress to be like AOC and use social media the way she does, but there are still avenues available to get the message out that you are taking these threats seriously but are not a coward. There are currently multiple accounts on BlueSky for people to give anonymous tips to spread the word. They are the same accounts that I followed on Twitter during the first Trump administration--Mueller She Wrote, Alt National Parks, Devin Nunes's Cow, etc. Both Wired and Rolling Stone are currently killing it with their coverage.

[peacheslatour]

3 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I am aware of what happened to Paul Pelosi. That act was abhorrent. And if the threats being leveled at members of congress by MAGA are as serious as that, then there are ways to communicate the severity while still staying safe. Going on a show on MSNBC and vaguely saying you are receiving threats is not the way. I don't expect every member of congress to be like AOC and use social media the way she does, but there are still avenues available to get the message out that you are taking these threats seriously but are not a coward. There are currently multiple accounts on BlueSky for people to give anonymous tips to spread the word. They are the same accounts that I followed on Twitter during the first Trump administration--Mueller She Wrote, Alt National Parks, Devin Nunes's Cow, etc. Both Wired and Rolling Stone are currently killing it with their coverage.

I agree. I think it seems like the Dems in Congress are just laying there like ding fish. I know there are some firebrands among them. Where is Raskin? Swalwell?  Warren has been yelling her head off and as you say, AOC is in there fighting but where are the rest of them?

[Ohiopirate02]

1 minute ago, peacheslatour said:

Anybody have money in T-Bills? I know I do.

From Fortune Feb. 10, 2025

 

He continued: “We’re even looking at Treasuries. There could be a problem … with Treasuries. And that could be an interesting problem because it could be that a lot of those things don’t count. In other words, that some of that stuff that we’re finding is very fraudulent. Therefore, maybe we have less debt than we thought of.”

President Trump did not specify whether he was referring to T-bills or government payments made via the Treasury Department.

However, when DOGE boss Musk took to X—the social media platform he owns—to share how he believes such fraud is taking place, he referred to payments handed out by the Treasury.

“Yesterday, I was told that there are currently over $100B/year of entitlements payments to individuals with no [Social Security number] or even a temporary ID number,” Musk posted on Saturday.

“If accurate, this is extremely suspicious. When I asked if anyone at Treasury had a rough guess for what percentage of that number is unequivocal and obvious fraud, the consensus in the room was about half, so $50B/year or $1B/week!!

“This is utterly insane and must be addressed immediately.”

I'm sitting here trying to remember if the savings bond I cashed in back in June had my SSN attached to it. I don't think it did because that bond was issued back in the 80s when the government didn't keep track of things like that.

[Eri]

5 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

For weeks, Musk has railed against what he says is waste, fraud or abuse that DOGE has identified, although many of the examples he has posted about on social media lack specifics. On Monday, the DOGE account on X said the administration had terminated 89 contracts worth $881 million, but it did not say what they were or why they counted as waste.

In other instances, independent fact-checkers have cast doubt on Musk’s examples of alleged waste. His claim that the United States spent $50 million on condoms for the Gaza Strip was widely criticized for lacking evidence. 

That's what happens when you create an "agency" with unprecedented power to someone who is unelected, unchecked, unqualified, and most likely unethical. Did the expensive use of military planes for deportations factor into their expenditures? I thought they were all about "saving money" and cutting costs?

If they want to prioritize cost-cutting measures, they should start with Congress giving up their salaries, as the legislative branch is becoming more irrelevant by the day. The general ineptitude and inaction to respond to this threat is beyond shameful.

[lookeyloo]

59 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Sorry, but I'm going to need more specifics. Threats even death threats is just too vague. I would have to imagine that being a member of congress comes with risks and death threats called into their publicly available numbers is one of those risks. Same for anything mailed to their public offices. And sadly, their home addresses are also going to be a matter of public record. I need to know how the latest spate of threats is different than what a sitting member of congress has received before last November. I also need to know why they feel law enforcement will not support them in keeping them safe. I get being a Democrat and not trusting the FBI, but state and local law enforcement would also have jurisdiction.

I didn't say death threats.  There are other kinds of threats.  No fly lists, IRS audits, going behind the scenes to family work and schools to cause trouble.  This isn't unheard of.  

[ebk57]

12 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I'm sitting here trying to remember if the savings bond I cashed in back in June had my SSN attached to it. I don't think it did because that bond was issued back in the 80s when the government didn't keep track of things like that.

Even if the actual bond didn't have your SSN on it, you would have needed to give it to the bank in order to cash it in. You should have gotten a 1099 from the fed for the interest earned, which would be subject to income tax.

[ProudMary]

On 1/12/2025 at 3:35 PM, ProudMary said:

I've also been waiting for our Trump supporters on this forum to answer this question. I'd like to add a second question, multiple choice so it should be even easier to answer: Is Russia an adversary of the United States or an ally?

I'm quoting myself from a month ago, when I asked a simple question of the Trump supporters here, which has, to date, gone unanswered. It seems particularly important to hear a response from the right on a day when the US President basically ceded Ukraine to Russia, just as the Senate approved a Russian asset to be the US Director of National Intelligence.

Is this what you wanted when you cast your vote?

 

[Annber03]

I'd love to know how comfortable the Trump suppporters/defenders here are with Elon Musk taking over as he has. 

I'd also like to know if there is ever going to be a line Trump and his people will cross that will be a bridge too far for those who are happy to keep defending him here. 'Cause right now, it seems like he can literally get away with anything he wants to do, no matter how much it hurts others in the process. Violently trying to overturn a democratic election clearly wasn't enough to keep them from defending him, so I'm curious what it actually WILL take to make them realize how dangerous he truly is. 

[Lugal]

1 hour ago, Eri said:

If they want to prioritize cost-cutting measures, they should start with Congress giving up their salaries, as the legislative branch is becoming more irrelevant by the day. The general ineptitude and inaction to respond to this threat is beyond shameful.

Very true!  Personally I would have a look at that nearly $1 Trillion dollar defense budget.  But the F-35 can fly in the rain–finally!

As for Ukraine, it was Trump that first sent weapons there to to begin with, making the Ukraine war that much more likely to happen.  Obama considered that move too incendiary.

[nokat]

5 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

I will never not believe Musk mettled in the 2024 election. For Trump to just cede him all this power makes me think he is literally bought and paid fo

Trump made that remark about Elon knowing a lot about computers, like voting machines, with that smug orange face of his.

[Blergh]

Well, we employees got just a message from the CEO of my Southeast US hospital and boiled down to essentials due to Executive Orders, our hospital has been told to discontinue to have Diversity, Equity and Inclusion if it wants to keep receiving federal funds- although the CEO DID stress that we  still welcome will our patients and each other.

Yep, if I'm reading this correctly, it seems that despite our hospital running like a well-oiled machine having done its best to seek out the best, most qualified and most competent to take care of our patients- regardless of pigmentation,ethnicity or skin shape, now we're being told to stop that!  Does this mean that there will be no new hires of folks who aren't WASP males regardless of their qualifications, record or competence and what about the administrators, medical directors, doctors, researchers, managers,etc. who already work here who don't fit this myopic criteria? We have folks from virtually every background imaginable working together and things are doing well for our patients as a result!

We've also been told that support from NIH [National Institute of Health] grants is being reduced.

OK, I  just hope everyone who will have need to go to hospitals or clinics for treatments or checkups will somehow be okay despite the extra hoops the hospital and clinic staffs are now going to have to jump through that do absolutely NOTHING to improve health care or treatment.

I wish I could say I was surprised and I'm trying not to stress out (and doing all I can to support and encourage my fellow employees) but I'm downright APPALLED that  folks' livelihood are being put in limbo- to say nothing of patient care!

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Blergh

[PRgal]

If You Know Who was my six year old, he'd be grounded for the rest of the school year.  No birthday parties (not that he'd be invited, anyway.  Well, maybe by the frienemies like Putin or Xi), no play dates, nothing after school save for piano and swimming.  Must set the table for dinner every night.  And must read three pages of a chapter book with me (PRkid HATES reading aloud but we do it to help him with pronunciation.  We are currently going through Henry Huggins.  It's above grade level, but I know he can handle it.  It's also a lesson on how things were 70+ years ago when the book was first published.  Like how $7 was A LOT of money!!!).  I let him get away with not reading a couple of days a week.  

[Lantern7]

1 hour ago, PRgal said:

If You Know Who was my six year old, he'd be grounded for the rest of the school year.  No birthday parties (not that he'd be invited, anyway.  Well, maybe by the frienemies like Putin or Xi), no play dates, nothing after school save for piano and swimming.  Must set the table for dinner every night.  And must read three pages of a chapter book with me (PRkid HATES reading aloud but we do it to help him with pronunciation.  We are currently going through Henry Huggins.  It's above grade level, but I know he can handle it.  It's also a lesson on how things were 70+ years ago when the book was first published.  Like how $7 was A LOT of money!!!).  I let him get away with not reading a couple of days a week.  

Beverly Cleary? Nice! That’s how I grew up reading as well.

[PRgal]

9 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

Beverly Cleary? Nice! That’s how I grew up reading as well.

Yes.  I thought starting with the Henry books would get him hooked easier than Ramona.  

[SoMuchTV]

1 hour ago, PRgal said:

If You Know Who was my six year old, he'd be grounded for the rest of the school year.  No birthday parties (not that he'd be invited, anyway.  Well, maybe by the frienemies like Putin or Xi), no play dates, nothing after school save for piano and swimming.  Must set the table for dinner every night.  And must read three pages of a chapter book with me (PRkid HATES reading aloud but we do it to help him with pronunciation.  We are currently going through Henry Huggins.  It's above grade level, but I know he can handle it.  It's also a lesson on how things were 70+ years ago when the book was first published.  Like how $7 was A LOT of money!!!).  I let him get away with not reading a couple of days a week.  

I’m right there with you 99% of the way, but making reading a punishment just doesn’t feel right. I get how the end result is exposing him to things he’ll probably realize he actually likes, but it still doesn’t feel quite right. 

And +1 to Beverly Cleary! She was writing books when I was a kid, and she was still writing books when my kids were reading them! I wonder how they hit now with the latest generation. Nobody has a paper route, but I’m sure some of the childhood issues are still the same. 

[Dimity]

8 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

And +1 to Beverly Cleary! She was writing books when I was a kid, and she was still writing books when my kids were reading them! I wonder how they hit now with the latest generation. Nobody has a paper route, but I’m sure some of the childhood issues are still the same. 

Taking  to Chit Chat.

[tearknee]

I wonder how long before the first U.S. concentration camp opens for business.

It already is.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0p1ykxyzjo

To be fair, courts have temporarily blocked the scheme, but lets be real, Trump does not care. He's also seeking to outsource the process to Central American countries like El Salvador.