Chit-Chat: The Feels

[MostlyContent]

 

I just did a quick search, and it appears that Congress didn't pass an extension in time to extend the telehealth calls before the waivers expired on Dec 31. ????   I just skimmed a bunch of articles, though, so I very well could have missed some very important details.   

Quote

The most recent extension created by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended telehealth flexibilities for two years, and those waivers are set to expire on December 31, 2024. While murmurs earlier this week indicated that lawmakers in Washington, D.C. had reached a deal on the evening of December 16th to extend some of the expiring healthcare programs, nothing has been finalized yet.

https://www.swlaw.com/publication/deadline-approaches-for-expiring-medicare-telehealth-waivers-what-providers-should-know/

Quote

Congress first implemented Medicare telehealth flexibilities during the COVID-19 PHE in 2020. The flexibilities were later extended, or made permanent in certain cases, through the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2022 CAA, and 2023 CAA. For more details, refer to our prior discussions detailing the extensions provided in the 2022 CAA and 2023 CAA. Initially, the mid-December 2024 draft of the year-end spending bill extended all flexibilities in place before January 1, 2025, for an additional two years. However, just days before the government was set to shut down after December 20, 2024, the plan abruptly changed. The House and Senate debated several versions of the bill, one of which omitted the flexibilities altogether, before reaching an agreement.

https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2024/12/medicare-telehealth-flexibilities-get-a-three-month-lifeline/

 

[Notabug]

24 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

 

I just did a quick search, and it appears that Congress didn't pass an extension in time to extend the telehealth calls before the waivers expired on Dec 31. ????   I just skimmed a bunch of articles, though, so I very well could have missed some very important details.   

https://www.swlaw.com/publication/deadline-approaches-for-expiring-medicare-telehealth-waivers-what-providers-should-know/

https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2024/12/medicare-telehealth-flexibilities-get-a-three-month-lifeline/

 

I presume the reason Congress didn't pass the extension was because Republicans didn't want to anger the incoming president.  Had Trump wanted an extension of the telehealth coverage, it would've happened.  Having it die a 'natural' death by letting it expire rather than extend it was motivated by the result of the last election.  Same reason they refused to allow President Obama to fill a Supreme Court vacancy while rushing to confirm Trump's choice before his term expired. This is all on the Republican party.

Edited 22 hours ago by Notabug

[Browncoat]

1 hour ago, ProudMary said:

Just announced. This is directly from the official Medicare website. With very few exceptions, no more telehealth visits for those on Medicare effective April 1st. I am livid and very upset about this. It directly effects a close, elderly family member who is only able to see a specific specialist, 100 miles away, through telehealth. This doctor is vital to their well-being.

Also, if you test positive at home for Covid, you were then able through telehealth, to get a Paxlovid prescription. Does this mean Medicare patients now have to physically go to an urgent care? 😠

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth

 

 

Am I reading this correctly?  Medicare patients in rural areas, where there are fewer doctors, can't have telehealth visits?   I mean, chances are they don't have decent internet anyway, but still.  Infuriating.

[Notabug]

10 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

Am I reading this correctly?  Medicare patients in rural areas, where there are fewer doctors, can't have telehealth visits?   I mean, chances are they don't have decent internet anyway, but still.  Infuriating.

I think they can, but they have to do that visit while in a medical facility.  So, instead of doing it from home or work, as is the usual, they will have to travel to a doctor's office or hospital which will put a larger burden on the patient and probably significantly decrease the number of visits overall.

ETA: All telehealth visits require documentation as to where the provider is as well as where the patient is located at the time of the video visit.  I have to put down my location, usually my office, although I've done them from my backyard and the car. I ask the patient where they are currently located at the time of the call and document that.  The documentation doesn't have to include addresses or anything; just that the patient is at home, at their workplace, in another doctor's office, etc.  That's how they'll police the billing when the rules change.

Edited 22 hours ago by Notabug

[PRgal]

I got my mail in ballot for the upcoming Ontario election!  Filling it in today and dropping it off tomorrow.  The election is next Thursday. 

[Lantern7]

This bit with Musky popped up on my Facebook. You know how I was surprised Don went through that one thing only once? I’m surprised we haven’t heard anything like that about Musk. I mean, it’s one thing to be a hateful little toad, but he inspires so many smaller and uglier toads. It’s exhausting.

Edited 21 hours ago by Lantern7

[Anela]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-social-security-medicaid-cuts-howard-lutnick-b2701817.html

Trump official calls Social Security ‘wrong’ as administration lays groundwork for massive cuts

The president and his allies are justifying cuts on allegations of ‘waste’ to pay for his tax plan

[Annber03]

4 hours ago, kittykat said:

Good riddance.  I figured that's why he grew an 11th hour conscience. Kentucky is more purple than people give credit for.  Andy Beshear is popular but the senators are firmly red.  Hopefully we can turn this one in 2026.

There needs to be a swift, hard, furious backlash to the GOP in 2026. I want every single member of the GOP currently in office who can be voted out gone after that election. No exceptions. They deserve to have as little political power as possible after the 2026 elections. 

[Soapy Goddess]

10 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I know you think you're being singled out but trust me you're not. I have scratched my head too when my posts have been removed. I am sure I'm not alone in not receiving responses from mods. either. And there is no universal rule book by which moderators must act. I have been on threads where people have been inhospitable to me and if I don't like it I can leave. That's pretty much universal on any board. The moderator is not responsible for the fact that others disagree with you and has no obligation to engage in censuring others to make you feel better or punitive action based on your opinions not being well received. If people insult you personally that's another story. Just saying that Trump supporters aren't seeing reality is not a personal insult, though. It's an opinion not directed at you personally. I'm talking about flames here. Personal name calling, slights of you in particular, etc.  And as to posts being removed, the mod. has already addressed that.

And that's exactly what I'm talking about. As Mostly Content suggested, how are we supposed to "talk" to one another when every other post goes missing?!?

I know how moderators are supposed to work. I did that job for 8 years when forums were called "bulletin boards", so I don't need a lecture on procedure.

And trust me when I tell you that there have been quite a few personal attacks. Granted most were in the beginning, but lately I've been seeing a pattern that still exists...for no other reason than it was posted by the opposition. How many of your (collective) posts have been removed within 30 seconds? I'll go out on a limb and guess none in less than one minute!

[Anela]

9 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And that's exactly what I'm talking about. As Mostly Content suggested, how are we supposed to "talk" to one another when every other post goes missing?!?

I know how moderators are supposed to work. I did that job for 8 years when forums were called "bulletin boards", so I don't need a lecture on procedure.

And trust me when I tell you that there have been quite a few personal attacks. Granted most were in the beginning, but lately I've been seeing a pattern that still exists...for no other reason than it was posted by the opposition. How many of your (collective) posts have been removed within 30 seconds? I'll go out on a limb and guess none in less than one minute!

I don’t recall any personal attacks.  

[isalicat]

8 hours ago, Notabug said:

What is the plan for children born with ambiguous genitalia?  It happens.  Not often, but it happens in about 1 out of 2000 kids.  

From the NIH website:

Ambiguous genitalia affect approximately 1 in 5,000 live births [Sax, 2002; Thyen et al., 2006]. These children form a subgroup of individuals with differences/disorders of sex development (DSD) in whom sex-chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical [Hughes et al., 2006].

And I doubt "plumbing" is really what is the crucial point here: its all about the chromosomes, and atypical chromosomal structure is far, far less likely than the incidence of anatomical or gonadal atypical presentation at birth.

Back to your regularly scheduled discussion! 😺

[Dimity]

21 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

There needs to be a swift, hard, furious backlash to the GOP in 2026. I want every single member of the GOP currently in office who can be voted out gone after that election. No exceptions. They deserve to have as little political power as possible after the 2026 elections. 

If they really are going to make sweeping cuts to Social Security and related programs they'd be smart to wait until AFTER the mid terms.   But they are moving way too fast to slow down now.

Edited 21 hours ago by Dimity

[Anela]

11 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

My ONLY complaints have been about the inconsistency between the factions. I have never complained in all my time here (since TWOP) about posts being removed. However, when this thread came into existence, the "policy" changed. Out went the days when a post would be removed for calling people names and attacking the person instead of the subject. So when we were all being called Nazi supporters, etc., you're damn right I'm going to stick up for myself and other Reps. 

Listen, I entered the fray knowing the subject, but by the same token I also believed that mods would be fair & balanced to ALL. Why was this thread different than the rest? Why were there two sets of rules? I can't call Kody Brown a narcissist, but you all can call ME a Nazi, among other derogatory names. If you can't see that as confusing, and not being allowed to question the reasoning (which I still don't have any answer), than you're not all as empathic as you claim to be.

You all tout DEI and yet you do NOT have ANY acceptance for opposing views, and would seemingly like me to go away. Sorry, but I/WE have feelings too. And since this thread is called the "feels", how about we be allowed to post without fear that our views get zapped in a manner of seconds.

Nobody called you a nazi.  

[Soapy Goddess]

18 minutes ago, Anela said:

I don’t recall any personal attacks.  

That's because the more egregious ones were removed, and you might have missed them. Let's just say they were as nasty and uncalled for as can be... which is why they were removed.

4 minutes ago, Anela said:

Nobody called you a nazi.  

Wish I had taken screenshots. WE (all Reps and conservatives) were called MUCH more than that. Maybe another rep can recall the vitriol we all rec'd.

[Annber03]

6 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

That's because the more egregious ones were removed, and you might have missed them. Let's just say they were as nasty and uncalled for as can be... which is why they were removed.

Wish I had taken screenshots. WE (all Reps and conservatives) were called MUCH more than that. Maybe another rep can recall the vitriol we all rec'd.

If the GOP and Trump are going to go around insulting everyone in their path and saying the most vile things about women and minorities imaginable, then turnabout's fair play, as far as I'm concerned. They want to dish it out, they can learn to take it. 

[ebk57]

Trump expected to take control of the Post Office

 

Gift link to WaPo.

I can't express how angry this makes me.

[Annber03]

Can someboty PLEASE stop this shit already? Please? What the fuck does it have to take to get him to back the hell off? 

[Anela]

13 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

That's because the more egregious ones were removed, and you might have missed them. Let's just say they were as nasty and uncalled for as can be... which is why they were removed.

 

I don’t understand how you voted for someone who fits that description in his dealings with others.  Most of what he says and does, is nasty, and uncalled for. 

[Dimity]

8 minutes ago, Anela said:

Most of what he says and does, is nasty, and uncalled for. 

All of what he says and does is nasty, and uncalled for.  Someone was just telling me that he can't even talk about the hockey game tonight without referencing Canada as the 51st state. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Dimity

[Anela]

9 minutes ago, Dimity said:

All of what he says and does is nasty, and uncalled for.  Someone was just telling me that he can't even talk about the hockey game tonight without referencing Canada as the 51st state. 

Yeah, I saw his press secretary do that.  

[MostlyContent]

25 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

If the GOP and Trump are going to go around insulting everyone in their path and saying the most vile things about women and minorities imaginable, then turnabout's fair play, as far as I'm concerned. They want to dish it out, they can learn to take it. 

Annber, this is what Soapy is talking about, I think.  None of the more conservative people on this thread are 'going around insulting everyone in their path and saying the most vile things about women and minorities'.   That may be your opinion of everyone who isn't far left, but it just doesn't ring true at all to those of us living our lives with family, friends, and loved ones who happen to be Republicans, Democrats, white people, darker skinned people, and people of differing sexual preferences.  

 

18 minutes ago, Anela said:

I don’t understand how you voted for someone who fits that description in his dealings with others.  Most of what he says and does, is nasty, and uncalled for. 

That's an easy one.  He was the Republican candidate......a fact that isn't totally divorced from the actions of Democrats the last 4 years.  There was no real 'choice'.   Just like you may not have wanted to vote for a guy who was in obvious mental decline and didn't have two brain cells capable of producing synapses (four years ago).  He was your candidate so that was the only choice you had.  Maybe it would have made a difference to you if you liked him or not, but my personal feelings about a guy wouldn't have changed my vote at all this time around.  :)

 

Edited 20 hours ago by MostlyContent

[Soapy Goddess]

22 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

If the GOP and Trump are going to go around insulting everyone in their path and saying the most vile things about women and minorities imaginable, then turnabout's fair play, as far as I'm concerned. They want to dish it out, they can learn to take it. 

That's fine, but we're not the GOP or Trump. We are your fellow posters...most of us from the TWOP days...and we don't deserve that. We are human beings, just like you. We are not avatars or AI characters either. What happened to acceptance?

18 minutes ago, Anela said:

I don’t understand how you voted for someone who fits that description in his dealings with others.  Most of what he says and does, is nasty, and uncalled for. 

The same can be said for those who voted for Nixon ("I'm not a crook") as well as other Dems that Reps don't agree with. That's what a democracy is all about. Unless we all come to some moderate position, I don't see ANY way that we're all going to agree. So instead of hating on each other (and we are a small community compared to others), why not at least TRY to be tolerant. No, you don't have to understand all the reasons why, but at least let US have a voice...even if it does have an annoying vocal fry 😉

[bluegirl147]

5 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

Annber, this is what Soapy is talking about, I think.  None of the more conservative people on this thread are 'going around insulting everyone in their path and saying the most vile things about women and minorities'.   That may be your opinion of everyone who isn't far left, but it just doesn't ring true at all to those of us living our lives with family, friends, and loved ones who happen to be Republicans, Democrats, white people, darker skinned people, and people of differing sexual preferences.  

 

That's an easy one.  He was the Republican candidate......a fact that isn't totally divorced from the actions of Democrats the last 4 years.  There was no real 'choice'.   Just like you may not have wanted to vote for a guy who was in obvious mental decline and didn't have two brain cells capable of producing synapses (four years ago).  He was your candidate so that was the only choice you had.  Maybe it would have made a difference to you if you liked him or not, but my personal feelings about a guy wouldn't have changed my vote at all this time around.  :)

 

So you voted for him just because he was the Republican nominee? Did you think he would do what he is doing?   And if Biden had been on the ballot in November I wouldn't have voted for him. I'm in a red state so it wouldn't have mattered.

[Anela]

8 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

Annber, this is what Soapy is talking about, I think.  None of the more conservative people on this thread are 'going around insulting everyone in their path and saying the most vile things about women and minorities'.   That may be your opinion of everyone who isn't far left, but it just doesn't ring true at all to those of us living our lives with family, friends, and loved ones who happen to be Republicans, Democrats, white people, darker skinned people, and people of differing sexual preferences.  

 

That's an easy one.  He was the Republican candidate......a fact that isn't totally divorced from the actions of Democrats the last 4 years.  There was no real 'choice'.   Just like you may not have wanted to vote for a guy who was in obvious mental decline and didn't have two brain cells capable of producing synapses (four years ago).  He was your candidate so that was the only choice you had.  Maybe it would have made a difference to you if you liked him or not, but my personal feelings about a guy wouldn't have changed my vote at all this time around.  :)

 

But he isn’t a Republican. Any true republicans who dared to go against him, have been called RINO’s, by MAGA.  It’s the MAGA party now.  

Annber also specifically mentioned trump and other politicians.  And president elon.  Not you.  

10 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

That's fine, but we're not the GOP or Trump. We are your fellow posters...most of us from the TWOP days...and we don't deserve that. We are human beings, just like you. We are not avatars or AI characters either. What happened to acceptance?

The same can be said for those who voted for Nixon ("I'm not a crook") as well as other Dems that Reps don't agree with. That's what a democracy is all about. Unless we all come to some moderate position, I don't see ANY way that we're all going to agree. So instead of hating on each other (and we are a small community compared to others), why not at least TRY to be tolerant. No, you don't have to understand all the reasons why, but at least let US have a voice...even if it does have an annoying vocal fry 😉

Nixon was before my time, and I would have wondered the same about them.  Kamala’s laugh is nothing to be against her for.  

[PRgal]

Speaking of offensive terminology, I wonder what happens if one's NAME (either legal or stage/pen name) sounds offensive in another language.  Let's say "gaga" is a bad word in a language (hey, it could be).  Does that mean Lady Gaga has to perform as Lady G@g@?  Or Lady G**a?  

[anony.miss]

38 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

 None of the more conservative people on this thread are 'going around insulting everyone in their path and saying the most vile things about women and minorities'.  

You are not Trump, nor are you a Republican official, nor are you (or any of the other conservatives posting here) the source of MAGA insults about minorities, women, the differently abled, etc, quoted, criticized,  and linked to news sources here.  And for the record:  Right wing posters here have accused Biden of rape, genocide, gibbering senility, graft, etc and none of us personalized it. In fact, if I remember correctly,  nobody even bothered to respond to those posts. 

If this forum is shut down, it will be because hostility and spite became the focus, not discussion, and posts attacking this forum and the mods are not listed as on topic for this forum. Can we please stay on topic?

 

Edited 19 hours ago by anony.miss

[Soapy Goddess]

5 minutes ago, Anela said:

Nixon was before my time, and I would have wondered the same about them.  Kamala’s laugh is nothing to be against her for.  

BTW, Nixon was Republican in case my run-on sentence is misunderstood.

You just brought up Kamala, I didn't.

[Makai]

2 hours ago, Anela said:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-social-security-medicaid-cuts-howard-lutnick-b2701817.html

Trump official calls Social Security ‘wrong’ as administration lays groundwork for massive cuts

The president and his allies are justifying cuts on allegations of ‘waste’ to pay for his tax plan

I absolutely know this is awful news and I genuinely feel awful for the people who be affected negatively. But, I so wish I could see the reaction of my family friend/former co-worker after spending years listening to her bitch and moan about Democrats while also worrying that social security won’t be enough as she approached retirement. FAFO

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Makai

[Soapy Goddess]

5 minutes ago, anony.miss said:

If this forum is shut down, it will be because hostility and spite became the focus, not discussion, and posts attacking this forum and the mods are not listed as on topic for this forum. Can we please stay on topic?

Pot meet kettle. I've been advocating for "free speech" for the right since the inception of this thread. But guess what I/WE got? Yup, hostility and spite...and we all know why. 

For the record, we'd ALL love to stay on topic, but we haven't been given that opportunity (without censorship)...until now, maybe.

Edited 19 hours ago by Soapy Goddess

[bluegirl147]

1 minute ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Pot meet kettle. I've been advocating for "free speech" on the right since the inception of this thread. But guess what I/WE got? Yup, hostility and spite...and we all know why. 

For the record, we'd ALL love to stay on topic, but we haven't been able afford that chance...until now, maybe.

Free speech means the government can't censor you.  It doesn't mean a moderator on this forum can't.

[Soapy Goddess]

2 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

Free speech means the government can't censor you.  It doesn't mean a moderator on this forum can't.

I never said that. THIS is why we're having this discussion. At least as far as many of us are concerned.

[SoMuchTV]

9 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Speaking of offensive terminology, I wonder what happens if one's NAME (either legal or stage/pen name) sounds offensive in another language.  Let's say "gaga" is a bad word in a language (hey, it could be).  Does that mean Lady Gaga has to perform as Lady G@g@?  Or Lady G**a?  

Haha, it doesn’t even have to be in another language. Some forums (including this one in some cases) are auto-censoring the names of celebrities like Dick van Dyke and Carrie c**** (not to mention those adorable fluffy cats). In some cases it looks like there’s a manual override, but not always. I’m not sure what the best solution is but I don’t think we’re there yet. 

[Anela]

7 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

BTW, Nixon was Republican in case my run-on sentence is misunderstood.

You just brought up Kamala, I didn't.

I know that he was a republican, and I brought up Kamala's laugh, because you mentioned it several times, as though it was a problem.

1 minute ago, bluegirl147 said:

Free speech means the government can't censor you.  It doesn't mean a moderator on this forum can't.

Exactly. 

3 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Pot meet kettle. I've been advocating for "free speech" for the right since the inception of this thread. But guess what I/WE got? Yup, hostility and spite...and we all know why. 

For the record, we'd ALL love to stay on topic, but we haven't been given that opportunity (without censorship)...until now, maybe.

None of us have totally free speech. I've bitten my tongue, and not responded, when I was feeling heated. 

There is a form on the main page of this site, that you can fill out to contact the people who run this site. If you have an issue, can't you take it there? I'm not going to respond anymore, because I don't want this thread to be shut down.

https://www.primetimer.com/feedback

[Dimity]

3 minutes ago, Anela said:

I'm not going to respond anymore, because I don't want this thread to be shut down.

I truly hope that doesn't happen 😔.

[ebk57]

4 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

Haha, it doesn’t even have to be in another language. Some forums (including this one in some cases) are auto-censoring the names of celebrities like Dick van Dyke and Carrie c**** (not to mention those adorable fluffy cats). In some cases it looks like there’s a manual override, but not always. I’m not sure what the best solution is but I don’t think we’re there yet. 

Totally off topic, but this reminds me of a newspaper in a conservative country back in the day who put track star Tyson Gay's name in the paper as Tyson Homosexual.  Because...reasons...

[MostlyContent]

18 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

So you voted for him just because he was the Republican nominee?

Yes.  

18 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

Did you think he would do what he is doing?

I knew he'd attack the debt and get the border situations under control (both of which are important to me).  I wasn't expecting the..........trumpishness of it all quite so soon.  However, sometimes I can't help but think that most of that is just him throwing strawmen out there because he's a born instigator.  That is not a compliment, nor is it a complaint, really.  It just *is*.   Do I sometimes wish that he did not feel the need to voice every thought that goes through his mind?  Yes.  Of course.  I mean...I'm a human.  With EARS.   lol!  

33 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

And if Biden had been on the ballot in November I wouldn't have voted for him. I'm in a red state so it wouldn't have mattered.

Gotcha.  For the time being we aren't living in what I will always consider 'my' state, but in a state that goes back and forth depending on the wind.  There's always suspense here.   

[anony.miss]

15 minutes ago, Anela said:

 There is a form on the main page of this site, that you can fill out to contact the people who run this site. If you have an issue, can't you take it there?

https://www.primetimer.com/feedback

As well,  the mod for our forum left a link to the Questions thread in her mod note last night, offering to answer any questions people here had. All you have to do is follow her link and post a question. Anyone seeking answers has an easy way to pursue that.

 

[Makai]

Edited 18 hours ago by Makai

[CM-BlueButterfly]

Hi everyone,

how are you doing?

If you have questions about the mod notes or guidelines for this topic, kindly review the mod notes and leave a question about them or the guidelines for this topic per the instructions here.

Otherwise, please move on from discussing post removal. 

Thank you!

[Annber03]

1 hour ago, MostlyContent said:

Annber, this is what Soapy is talking about, I think.  None of the more conservative people on this thread are 'going around insulting everyone in their path and saying the most vile things about women and minorities'.   That may be your opinion of everyone who isn't far left, but it just doesn't ring true at all to those of us living our lives with family, friends, and loved ones who happen to be Republicans, Democrats, white people, darker skinned people, and people of differing sexual preferences.  

No, but they're sure happy to keep defending a person and party who are. They're sure happy to keep defending a person and party who are actively trying to strip groups of basic civil and human rights and trampling over every aspect of our Constitution. They're happy to keep defending someone who's letting an oligarchy take place and who's cozying up to someone who should have no influence or power over our most sensitive information. They're sure happy to keep defending someone who violently tried to overturn a democratic election. 

So you'll excuse me if I and others here don't have much patience or time for that. They want to keep defending Trump, that's their choice, but then they don't get to act shocked when the rest of us are out here ranting about Trump supporters and defenders who continue to overlook, excuse, or defend every horrific and awful thing he and his party are doing. 

1 hour ago, Soapy Goddess said:

That's fine, but we're not the GOP or Trump. We are your fellow posters...most of us from the TWOP days...and we don't deserve that. We are human beings, just like you. We are not avatars or AI characters either. What happened to acceptance?

I was never on TWOP, so I have no connections to that part of the board's past. 

But regarding acceptance, how, exactly, am I supposed to be accepting of people defending someone who tried to violently overturn an election? How am I supposed to be accepting ofr someone who's trying to take away people's rights? 

Beliefs are not like one's race/gender/sexual orientation/ethnicity. Those things can't be changed and aren't valid reasons to not accept someone. Political beliefs, on the other hand, are not something one is born with, and people do not have to accept beliefs that involve supporting politicians and policies that negatively affect certain groups of people and strip them of important rights. 

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, Anela said:

I don’t understand how you voted for someone who fits that description in his dealings with others.  Most of what he says and does, is nasty, and uncalled for. 

Yeah I don't get it. People who want others to be polite and hear them vote for someone that is anything but polite and cuts people down on a regular basis. It makes zero sense to me. Like they don't like it in anyone but it's OK for him. That's just to me, sorry to say, irrational.

1 hour ago, MostlyContent said:

That's an easy one.  He was the Republican candidate......a fact that isn't totally divorced from the actions of Democrats the last 4 years.  There was no real 'choice'.   Just like you may not have wanted to vote for a guy who was in obvious mental decline and didn't have two brain cells capable of producing synapses (four years ago).  He was your candidate so that was the only choice you had.  Maybe it would have made a difference to you if you liked him or not, but my personal feelings about a guy wouldn't have changed my vote at all this time around.  :)

For all the talk of Biden's mental decline, I never saw him try to do the wacko things like Trump is trying to do since he got reelected. Not to mention the wacko things he's said, too. It floors me because to me Trump is the very example of someone who is sliding into dementia. Biden was NOTHING by comparison. He still made a lot of sense when he was up to it (and I admit he wasn't always up to it). He had his gaffes but what's coming out of Trump's mouth right now is consistently way over the line and yet his supporters don't even SEE it! Calling himself king and acting like the world is his candy store where he can do whatever he wants. I mean, seriously, this is crazy stuff and I can't believe the staid, conservatives think that's OK. I feel like we were on much more solid ground under Biden than we are now. I can just imagine what Republicans would say if Biden tried to get away with half this shit. They'd be calling for his name on a platter! Send him to the old age home, they'd chant! I fear for the future if Trump continues this way too long. And I'm not a lightweight by any means. I grew up on the street in the Bronx. I'm tougher than I look. Again, I'll hand my master's degree diploma back to my university if I'm not seeing reality with Trump here.

And yes, we always have a choice. If all else fails we don't have to vote. Not voting is a vote in a way. It's not ideal but it's better than voting for the WRONG person if it comes down to that. I don't get this Republican compulsion to always vote party no matter who is up for election. My husband was like that and it was VERY hard for him to stop but he could not in all good conscience continue to vote Republican as long as it's being controlled by MAGA.

MAGA is NOT Republican, BTW. It's a gross warping of Republicanism to a grotesque extreme. THAT is what got my husband to stop voting Republican. Because he felt that the party had left him. I just don't understand why more real Republicans don't see that. Look, I am not as liberal a Democrat as some here. If a radical far left candidate was put up by the Democratic party for president, I doubt I'd vote for them. Trump is similar to that on the other extreme because MAGA is like the far right extreme to the point of not even being American. It is not what belongs in a democracy or a Republic. 

1 hour ago, Soapy Goddess said:

That's fine, but we're not the GOP or Trump. We are your fellow posters...most of us from the TWOP days...and we don't deserve that. We are human beings, just like you. We are not avatars or AI characters either. What happened to acceptance?

I don't understand - unless someone is calling you personally derogatory names it's not directed at you so what's the problem? If I went onto a board where most of the posters were cutting Democrats and liberals down and calling them Communists or whatever, I would just shrug and say to myself, "Well, they're not talking about me because I am not a Communist". At worst I would remind them that we are not all ultra left wing and definitely not Communists. And if I were a Republican and came here and saw people referring to SOME Republicans as racists and Nazis I would think and say the same thing. They're not talking about me or even all of us. I get it that maybe they're talking about some people that ARE that way but I'M not. So I still don't get why you're offended.

[LexieLily]

2 hours ago, Annber03 said:

There needs to be a swift, hard, furious backlash to the GOP in 2026. I want every single member of the GOP currently in office who can be voted out gone after that election. No exceptions. They deserve to have as little political power as possible after the 2026 elections. 

If the Democrats get majority in the House and Senate - because at this point we can give up on the GOP having any sort of conscience, apparently - they would have enough to start impeachment proceedings and get a conviction, which is great, but what happens between now and then? 🤐

[MostlyContent]

27 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

I don't get this Republican compulsion to always vote party no matter who is up for election.

Oh!  I actually had no idea Republicans voted party more than the Democrats.  I think I've voted a straight ticket once in my whole life, but my husband always does.....so who knows.   :)

[annzeepark914]

I voted Republican in the 1984 NC gubernatorial race, and I could tell I wasn't the only Democrat doing this. Rufus Edmiston was the Democratic candidate, running against a moderate Republican, James Martin. Rufus wasn't liked by a lot of folks (we wanted to discourage him from running again). Unfortunately, we got stuck with Martin for a second term (can't recall who lost to him in 1988).  

[peacheslatour]

21 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

Oh!  I actually had no idea Republicans voted party more than the Democrats.  I think I've voted a straight ticket once in my whole life, but my husband always does.....so who knows.   :)

My parents were staunch Republicans when I was young. After Watergate, they swore they'd never vote Republican again. People can change.

[Macbeth1966]

1 hour ago, peacheslatour said:

Unprecedented. I hope nobody votes by mail.🤕

Feb 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to dissolve the leadership of the U.S. Postal Service and absorb the independent mail agency into his administration, the Washington Post reported, opens new tab on Thursday.

The newspaper, citing six people familiar with the plans, reported that Trump is expected to issue an executive order as soon as this week to fire the members of the Postal Service's governing board and place the agency under the control of the Commerce Department.

You know the US Postal Service. until DeJoy took over, was probably one of the  best run government institutions.  It was rare that there were serious mail problems.  

Now Trump is taking over???  We will wish we were back with Dejoy.  And I am sure under his control- mail in voting will end.

[Annber03]

Because he got the message loud and clear after he faced no prison time for January 6th that he could do whatever the fuck he wanted without consequences. 

It's almost like trying to violently overturn a democratic election was a massive warning sign that more people should've paid attention to or something. Who knew? 

[Absolom]

I've voted by mail for over 30 years now.  I'm lucky I live in California where if the mail becomes a problem, there are safe places I can drop off the ballot.

[LexieLily]

1 minute ago, Annber03 said:

Because he got the message loud and clear after he faced no prison time for January 6th that he could do whatever the fuck he wanted without consequences. 

It's almost like trying to violently overturn a democratic election was a massive warning sign that more people should've paid attention to or something. Who knew? 

I really, really, really, REALLY dislike this timeline....

[Blergh]

2 minutes ago, LexieLily said:

I really, really, really, REALLY dislike this timeline....

I've been trying to find out where to apply for a transfer back to 1979 for the last few years!