Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Lantern7]

I’m not watching. Last time Don did one of these things, he gave a medal to the least deserving person in the nation. Sounds like tonight is an even bigger shitshow. Dee-fucking-lightful.

[LexieLily]

It seems to be bothering him that the Dems aren't standing up and cheering for him. Hee :p.

[Kemper]

On 3/3/2025 at 2:15 PM, fastiller said:

 

THIRD!  Same.  So much same. AOC; Crockett; Frost need to be given leadership roles in the House, along with a few others.  Jeffries needs to get on this quick fast.

Jeffries is the last one I would figure would do this; he needs to be the first to go.  The Dems are always bringing knives to a gunfight. They have let themselves take a backseat when responding to Republican rhetoric; always being the adults in the room;  I put a lot of blame on Pelosi … and Schumer. It is breaking me to see the Dems  in the position they have landed in. Jeffries fiddles while The House burns. Thankfully, there are Dems who are speaking out; but seem to get little support or traction. The Republicans use the media better; but it helps that Fox kisses their feet. 

[Anela]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democratic-rep-al-green-removed-disrupting-trump-speech-rcna194817

Democratic Rep. Al Green removed after disrupting Trump's speech

Green, who has called for the president's impeachment, was escorted out of the chamber during Trump's joint address to Congress.

[Lantern7]

Checking in . . . and he’s still going.

I don’t get it. He’s old and probably full of dementia. How can he talk for that long? It doesn’t make sense.

Looking through the past hour. I guess the thing with Rep. Green was in the first hour. He should’ve snatched Mikey’s glasses and broken ‘em.

Ah, he’s done. Also, TDS will cover the speech tomorrow.

Edited 15 hours ago by Lantern7

[Dimity]

Remember the days when there wasn't something every single damn day?  I miss those days.

[Anela]

Just now, Dimity said:

Remember the days when there wasn't something every single damn day?  I miss those days.

It seems like it’s every hour.  

[Macbeth1966]

41 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

Checking in . . . and he’s still going.

I don’t get it. He’s old and probably full of dementia. How can he talk for that long? It doesn’t make sense.

Looking through the past hour. I guess the thing with Rep. Green was in the first hour. He should’ve snatched Mikey’s glasses and broken ‘em.

Ah, he’s done. Also, TDS will cover the speech tomorrow.

That's what I was saying to myself as I was driving.  I would go from station to station and every time I hit the NPR station - he was still speaking.

[Lantern7]

Watching Colbert. Seeing that the Democrats were waving paddles in protest. I gotta agree with Stephen . . . why don't they do more? I'm thinking security checks everyone for weapons . . . but what about eggs? What better way to protest this president by pelting him with something he said that he'd make cheaper?

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, Kemper said:

The Dems are always bringing knives to a gunfight.

They don't even bring knives, they bring the rule book (which combines law, procedure, and precedence -- plus respect, decorum, and common sense).  Which, yes, has been and should be the way.  But not when we're in the midst of a coup; all the fundamentals have been changed by a wannabe dictator, so the response cannot be rooted in what no longer exists.

[Lantern7]

5 minutes ago, Bastet said:

They don't even bring knives, they bring the rule book (which combines law, procedure, and precedence -- plus respect, decorum, and common sense).  Which, yes, has been and should be the way.  But not when we're in the midst of a coup; all the fundamentals have been changed by a wannabe dictator, so the response cannot be rooted in what no longer exists.

Once again: THE MORAL HIGH GROUND IS MEANINGLESS. Having the high ground worked great for Obi-Wan because he was able to take multiple limbs from Anakin.

I remember the part of the RNC where people talked about how they lost their loved ones to fentanyl, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders followed that by whining about how she had been treated. Turns out people spat on her . . . car. Her car. I can't take Arkansas seriously for electing her governor.

[Yeah No]

On 2/23/2025 at 7:56 PM, heatherchandler said:

I don’t think it’s that crazy to have to answer this, I work in investment banking and I often have to explain why I’m valuable.  It’s called a Review and it’s annoying but I use it as a chance to toot my own horn.  It’s not that hard to come up with a list of accomplishments.

Sorry to be answering old posts but I'm still catching up after my week away. It's not a performance review when you're being asked to justify your existence or be fired. A performance review isn't done for the express purpose of deciding whether you stay or go. It might be used as part of a justification for letting you go but it's not done for that purpose. And often if they want to let you go it might not have anything to do with your performance or how you did on your performance review.

On 2/23/2025 at 6:17 PM, Annber03 said:

Yes, and you continue to ignore the fact that only one party is getting a ton of support from Nazis and Nazi sympathizers, and it sure as hell ain't the Democrats. If I were you, I'd sit and really think about why that is, and why people are deeply terrifeid about the fact that the party currently in power and controlling every single branch of our government is getting support from Nazis. 

This is one thing that boggles my mind. What kind of mental gymnastics have to be done to explain this away? That Trump can't help it if Nazi's support him and that he doesn't sympathize with them or encourage them to support him? Because he obviously does encourage them and never speaks out against those that follow him. One would think he'd try to distance himself from them but he doesn't. And they support him for a reason and it's not because Trump doesn't represent them. Obviously he does or they wouldn't be supporting him. But it's crickets from Trump supporters on that subject. Either they don't mind it or they're lying to themselves about it.

On 2/24/2025 at 1:02 AM, MostlyContent said:

Yes, I don't think I'd be too intimidated by that.  lol!  

Employees were asked to reply with "approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager" by Monday 11:59 p.m. ET. 

That would have taken me about 5 minutes with time to get a coffee, I think.  

I think one would *want* to know what the employees we're paying are doing in order to find out who's necessary and who might not be.  I thought that was what DOGE is suppose to be doing.   

I don't think DOGE is qualified to know what these employees should be doing. They are not their supervisors and if they think they're going to get any real information from the answers they are delusional or just using it as an excuse to get rid of whoever they want by claiming they did so based on answers they found "unsatisfactory". If these people's supervisors are not consulted then it's totally bogus and designed to justify axing whoever they want for whatever reason they want. 

On 2/24/2025 at 5:00 PM, MostlyContent said:

I'm a pretty doggone empathetic person.  First, though, my concerns will always be my loved ones and my country.  Included in the 'my country' part of that equation is every single American citizen.  First and foremost.  

<snip>

I'll be more interested in aiding other countries when we get serious about helping our own. 

Sometimes we can't help our own country if we don't help other countries. We're not in this alone. We are all interdependent upon one another. Hunkering down and isolating ourselves from the rest of the world comes back to bite us in the rear end. So it's not even just done out of the goodness of our hearts to aid other countries, but to protect our own interests too. But Republicans often forget that.

And Republicans are always complaining about Democrats helping the poor and downtrodden Americans, so I don't get this stuff about helping Americans first. They think the poor should all pull themselves up by their bootstraps and tough it out. So I don't know where this "help Americans first" stuff is coming from. Oh, that's right, I forgot that it's about helping white, non-ethnic Americans first. White Republicans don't even like it when we help non-white Americans.

Also, I keep hearing about the massive deficit. Incidentally under Republican presidents the deficit has continued to grow and so I don't know why this is always chanted like it's some kind of malaise we are under thanks to Democrats. I don't see any solutions coming from Republicans in office about this. Their solutions are to lower taxes for the rich meanwhile the deficit continues to grow.

On 2/24/2025 at 5:14 PM, partofme said:

Your post made it sound like you believe the US government should be helping poor Americans, which is something I believe too, but you’re never going to get this if you’re voting for Republicans.  Republicans believe in pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and think that poor people are suckers.   The Democratic party is far from perfect but you are much more likely to get policies that help poor Americans if you vote for Democrats.  There is no reason why a country as rich as the US can’t support its own citizens and aid poor people overseas.  

Exactly, and what I would have said myself!

On 2/24/2025 at 5:19 PM, MostlyContent said:

I remember a long ago Psych class.  I generally didn't pay much attention, I'm sure, because it was just an elective, but the professor was lecturing about how it's human nature to judge other people by their actions, and not by their intentions, but we tend to judge ourselves by our intentions instead of our actions.

I did a quick search to see if I could find something like that, and didn't find much, but I did read something else that rang true, which is that we tend to explain another person’s conduct as being a consequence of character, and our own conduct as being a consequence of circumstances. 

Huh.  Interesting.  I'm going to have to think on that a bit.  :)

That's something that was written by Stephen Covey, who was not a psychologist but a businessman and popular author. I wouldn't take that as any kind of gospel truth of Psychology or human nature. Coming from him it's what I would consider "pop schlock" motivational speaking and I wonder why anything of that nature would be part of a Psychology class. Of course everyone thinks they're an expert. But what do I know, I only have a master's degree in Psychology? 

On 2/25/2025 at 1:53 AM, Soapy Goddess said:

Instead of trying to be the hero of the entire world, we really need to help our own citizens, neighbors, veterans, unhoused, etc. FIRST. Now that's empathy!

I have to disagree. If the Dems really want to help poor people, why not start in our own country?  Have you ever heard of "charity begins at HOME"?  

Just think about those billions of dollars that could have helped our citizens, and how being part of the system would add to our coffers so THEN we can help overseas and STILL be their hero and savior.

This is what I don't understand. Republicans are always down on Democrats for helping our own citizens too. Now suddenly they're on board with helping them? Usually they're carping on how much money is "wasted" on helping poor Americans who should be helping themselves but are "lazy". Unless they're really talking about helping Americans who aren't poor and just want more money spent on them because they somehow think they deserve it more than the poor and downtrodden. I still don't get it.

[Soapy Goddess]

7 hours ago, abbyzenn said:

Then today I read about a program that lets children who can't walk/stand due to various diseases using harness like things to be able to stand/dance.  However the program may have to close since they are losing their grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Where was your party's compassion for the victims of violent crime, and the 13 year old who had brain surgery? Not one Dem could find it in their heart to stand and/or clap. Such spitefulness...because they don't like DJT.

6 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

And I just read that he has threatened to double them if Canada retaliates.

He's not going to retaliate. It's called reciprocal. Very big difference.

6 hours ago, kittykat said:

I am most definitely not watching tonight.  I don't need my ears needlessly exposed to fascist word salad and boastful lies that no one on that floor will challenge.  I'll view the Democrats response but that's about it.

Too bad, because it was very informative. The Dems response was spiteful. They just sat there with a big puss on their face. They couldn't even muster the compassion for the children who were victims of violent crimes. 

4 hours ago, ChiCricket said:

Anyone else recording, but not watching it? I just want to have it to watch in case *something* exciting happens. 😉 

Then you'll be disappointed. Well, except for the "bouncers" removing Al Green.

[Soapy Goddess]

3 hours ago, LexieLily said:

It seems to be bothering him that the Dems aren't standing up and cheering for him. Hee :p.

I don't think so. He simply acknowledged their spitefulness and carried on.

[Yeah No]

 

On 2/26/2025 at 4:30 AM, Soapy Goddess said:

Ok, here's a funny meme that I think we ALL can agree on (LOL)

It's about as funny as a crutch, as my Dad used to say 😉....But actually very similar to what my husband did with his globe one day a couple of weeks back. If we didn't laugh about it, we'd cry.

On 2/27/2025 at 11:12 AM, Ohiopirate02 said:

There's also prepared foods not being covered by SNAP at the grocery store. I know some states have changed this because it is beyond asinine that you can use your benefits to buy a whole raw chicken using your benefits but not the precooked rotisserie chickens. This is one of the reasons why so many low income people eat an unhealthy diet. The deck is stacked against them. Unhealthy foods are quick, easy, and covered by the meager benefits they do get. Healthy foods will always cost more when you factor in the time it takes to make them.

It's not just the time it takes to make them. Even healthy "quick" food costs more. Like organic rotisserie chicken which costs over $10.00 in the supermarket. It's MUCH lower in sodium than the non-organic variety and the quality of the chicken is better. I have had to switch to that because of my blood pressure. Otherwise I'd have to cook my own chicken, which can be just as expensive.

On 2/27/2025 at 6:54 PM, Dimity said:

I remember being in a food court when we were visiting Atlanta years ago and seeing a woman pouring a bottle of Dr. Pepper into a baby bottle.  What surprised me almost as much as someone giving a baby a soft drink was that someone didn't mind other people knowing she was giving a baby a soft drink.

I used to see this at the beach in NY 40+ years ago and it shocked me then. It was being done by poor people.

On 2/28/2025 at 1:47 AM, Soapy Goddess said:

It's actually the reverse since a whole chicken costs less than a cooked/prepared chicken. It's just that these folks are too damn lazy to cook them!

Really? So I'm too damned lazy to cook anymore? Look, I'm old and have less energy than I used to thanks to my age and medical conditions, etc. And I can't afford a maid so I have to have energy to take care of my house and my life so I have to rely on shortcuts more often. And BTW I keep track of these things and most of the rotisserie chickens are LESS expensive than the raw whole chickens!

On 3/1/2025 at 10:18 AM, nokat said:

I'm thinking at 75, no, you haven't seen worse.  I'm in my 60s, and saw so much progress with LGBTQ+ rights, options for women with regards to their reproductive rights, DEI that is so hated for some reason. I've been waiting to see a woman as president, but apparently a disgusting man is better than a qualified woman.

I kind of feel like I grew up in this bubble of hope that fizzled out.

You and me both, sister. I'm about your age so I get it. I feel like we just went way backward. All of that progress that started 50+ years ago is down the drain now. It's depressing for those of us that were so happy to see these changes when we were young.

On 3/1/2025 at 5:23 PM, Anela said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory

Spoon theory is a metaphor describing the amount of physical or mental energy that a person has available for daily activities and tasks, and how it can become limited. The term was coined in a 2003 essay by American writer Christine Miserandino. In the essay, Miserandino describes her experience with chronic illness, using a handful of spoons as a metaphor for units of energy available to perform everyday actions. The metaphor has since been used to describe a wide range of disabilities, mental health issues, forms of marginalization, and other factors that might place unseen burdens on individuals.

Thank you SO MUCH for this! I am going to have to look into this because it's very much like what I've been experiencing as I get older. I don't know how I used to do all I did in a day when I was younger. Now I have to pick and choose carefully and I still don't feel like I get everything accomplished to my satisfaction anymore. It's not just about chronic illness but applies to getting older, especially after 60-65. I see it with all of my friends and my husband in my age bracket too. It's just a fact of life as we get older.

On 3/3/2025 at 2:51 PM, PRgal said:

The older generation wants to hold on to power for as long as they can!  That's why it's hard to for GenXers and Millennials to be in charge of things, sadly.

Don't forget people now in their 60s, many of whom are later Boomers. We are woefully underrepresented in politics in high profile positions of power. Just about the only people from MY general age bracket that have achieved any position in that category was Obama, who is now 63, and Kamala Harris who is now 60. We often get lumped in with people like Trump who straddle the line between Boomer and Silent Generation. There is NO WAY that man is from MY generation, sorry. Thanks to the movie "Field of Dreams", there's a saying about people like Trump. He "had two '50s and moved right into the '70s". If you lived through the '60s and '70s you would understand that phrase. Some people never progressed with all the societal changes of the 1960s. They seemed to pass right by them and ended up in the 1970s unchanged. That's Trump to a T.

On 3/3/2025 at 3:18 PM, bluegirl147 said:

This is true. I'm Gen X and there are people who don't know there is a generation between Boomers and Millennials. After President Obama I thought OK now we will get someone from my generation. Nope didn't happen.  And now we have Gen Zers being elected to Congress. And good for them but yeah Boomers have definitely stayed at the party too long.  And I say this as someone who likes Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren.

Again, Hillary and Eliz. Warren are both older Boomers, practically straddling the line to the generation before them. People in my age bracket don't identify with their generation. Amy Klobuchar is in my age bracket (64) and I would hope not be considered "too old" to still be active in politics. But she never got as far as she should have either for the same reasons as the younger generations - because the really old guard won't let go and somehow keep getting elected. But people in my age bracket are routinely passed over and are already being put out to pasture as people call for Gen X and Millennials to replace the people in their late 70s and 80s. Kamala Harris is a younger Boomer at 60 and again, didn't get her fair shake either thanks to Trump, the oldest candidate to ever run for president that should have never run much less won. So we too are being affected by the phenomenon but people forget about us and want to pass right over us to the younger generations.

[Soapy Goddess]

54 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

This is what I don't understand. Republicans are always down on Democrats for helping our own citizens too. Now suddenly they're on board with helping them? Usually they're carping on how much money is "wasted" on helping poor Americans who should be helping themselves but are "lazy". Unless they're really talking about helping Americans who aren't poor and just want more money spent on them because they somehow think they deserve it more than the poor and downtrodden. I still don't get it.

Well, this Rep has always "been down" with helping our own. I believe someone used the analogy of putting on your own mask before you can help others.

We've beaten the 'lazy' comment to death this past week, so excuse me for not dredging it back up.

As Judge Judy can attest to, there are many capable Americans on SSI that are not disabled. And sadly, they spoil it for those who really NEED IT.

11 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

Really? So I'm too damned lazy to cook anymore?

No disrespect, but we weren't talking about able-bodied, working people. We, or maybe I should say I, was talking about...oh, forget it. Do yourself a favor and please go back and get the full context.

15 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

It's about as funny as a crutch

Pardon me for trying to bring some levity to this thread...unlike some of the more harsh memes that have everyone here doing cartwheels.

[Yeah No]

1 minute ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Well, this Rep has always "been down" with helping our own. I believe someone used the analogy of putting on your own mask before you can help others.

We've beaten the 'lazy' comment to death this past week, so excuse me for not dredging it back up.

As Judge Judy can attest to, there are many capable Americans on SSI that are not disabled. And sadly, they spoil it for those who really NEED IT.

The thing is that if you continue to support Trump and his MAGA crew those who really need it aren't going to get it either. Instead of finding ways to make sure it goes to who needs it, they'll make everyone pay for it by cutting it for those who need it too without distinguishing them from anyone that might be getting it unfairly. But knowing how hard it is to qualify for that kind of aid I don't even know if I'd believe there are that many receiving it that don't deserve it. I have personally known a few people who DID deserve it that didn't get it. And of those people I knew exactly how many times they went before a judge to substantiate their need but despite a lot of proof still didn't get it. So it's not as easy as all that to get in the first place and the judges are programmed to say "no" much more than "yes". So again, I don't know if I believe that there's that much corruption with that.

[Soapy Goddess]

7 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

The thing is that if you continue to support Trump and his MAGA crew those who really need it aren't going to get it either. Instead of finding ways to make sure it goes to who needs it, they'll make everyone pay for it by cutting it for those who need it too without distinguishing them from anyone that might be getting it unfairly. But knowing how hard it is to qualify for that kind of aid I don't even know if I'd believe there are that many receiving it that don't deserve it. I have personally known a few people who DID deserve it that didn't get it. And of those people I knew exactly how many times they went before a judge to substantiate their need but despite a lot of proof still didn't get it. So it's not as easy as all that to get in the first place and the judges are programmed to say "no" much more than "yes". So again, I don't know if I believe that there's that much corruption with that.

Thank you for the opportunity to explain my position once & for all. My support is selective in the fact that my scale tips heavily to the right. I support ideas, but not necessarily the whole enchilada. Nobody here cares, so I won't elaborate. 

Also, as one of the very few Reps to frequent this thread, I've taken it upon myself to present the Rep point of view. Nobody's holding a gun to my head, but for the few of us, this thread would be boring. Just another day in the park.

So, yes, contrary to popular belief, I am not the cold-hearted Rep with no compassion. As I'm sure the other few Reps here will agree. We just see things differently. Not a new concept. But sometimes you wouldn't know it by the way we are dismissed.

[anony.miss]

Goodnight, John Boy.

"Tariff War Risks Sinking World Into New Great Depression, International Chamber of Commerce Warns.

The world economy could face a crash similar to the Great Depression of the 1930s unless the U.S. rows back on its plans to impose steep tariffs on imports, a senior official at the International Chamber of Commerce warned."

https://archive.ph/hFW1L#selection-5891.0-5899.245

Edited 10 hours ago by anony.miss

[Soapy Goddess]

4 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

He’s old and probably full of dementia. How can he talk for that long? It doesn’t make sense.

Making fun a debilitating diagnosis is not funny. And being old doesn't mean one is "full of dementia". I should know because my mother had dementia. Her symptoms were very obvious. She shuffled, she didn't walk. Her speech was limited and very soft to point of being inaudible. And the fact that she didn't know where she was at any given time is heartbreaking. 

 

[MostlyContent]

1 hour ago, Yeah No said:

And Republicans are always complaining about Democrats helping the poor and downtrodden Americans, so I don't get this stuff about helping Americans first. They think the poor should all pull themselves up by their bootstraps and tough it out. So I don't know where this "help Americans first" stuff is coming from. Oh, that's right, I forgot that it's about helping white, non-ethnic Americans first. White Republicans don't even like it when we help non-white Americans.

I don't know where you happen to be meeting all of these horrible Republicans, and I'm certainly sorry that you don't get 'this stuff about helping Americans first'.  The rest of your paragraph that quoted me sounds a whole lot like you are coming pretty close to calling me a racist, so I'd appreciate it if you did not do that again.  Thank you in advance.  You are so far off base that I can not even begin to describe it.  

2 hours ago, Yeah No said:

That's something that was written by Stephen Covey, who was not a psychologist but a businessman and popular author. I wouldn't take that as any kind of gospel truth of Psychology or human nature. Coming from him it's what I would consider "pop schlock" motivational speaking and I wonder why anything of that nature would be part of a Psychology class. Of course everyone thinks they're an expert. But what do I know, I only have a master's degree in Psychology? 

I wouldn't know, as I said.  I did remember it, though, and that's why I was curious.  I have no idea why 'anything of that nature would be a part of a Psychology class', because as I stated, I took it as an elective because I didn't waste time on basket-weaving classes.  I would love to take an actual basket-weaving class now, but unfortunately I'd better not because one of my BFFs is a freakin' expert and anything I could possibly produce would be a subject of ridicule. :)

Ah!  Your MS is in Psych?  Mine is in Animal Science, so there's a good reason we see things so differently, I suppose.  

I'm happy you had a fun cruise!   Since the abomination that is Valentine's Day is over with, I've been having fun reorganizing my workroom/a spare bedroom/best-place-in-the-world, and catching up on favorite shows.

[Yeah No]

41 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Thank you for the opportunity to explain my position once & for all. My support is selective in the fact that my scale tips heavily to the right. I support ideas, but not necessarily the whole enchilada. Nobody here cares, so I won't elaborate. 

Also, as one of the very few Reps to frequent this thread, I've taken it upon myself to present the Rep point of view. Nobody's holding a gun to my head, but for the few of us, this thread would be boring. Just another day in the park.

So, yes, contrary to popular belief, I am not the cold-hearted Rep with no compassion. As I'm sure the other few Reps here will agree. We just see things differently. Not a new concept. But sometimes you wouldn't know it by the way we are dismissed.

You know, for the first time in my life I'm worried about collecting my Social Security money. Last month I JUST put in to receive it because I am going to turn 66 and 8 months soon which is my full retirement age. With all the cuts to the gov't. employees now I worry that it will not be processed in time and there will be a delay in receiving it. But I also worry that Musk will mess with SS and I won't receive my full benefits. And forget about my retirement accounts. I don't even want to look at them after hearing about the dip the stock market has taken. My husband is going to be 69 soon and is still working full time. I don't know how long he can manage to keep that up safely as he drives for a living (I worry about him all the time), and how well we will do if he has to fully retire. This shit is real for a lot of people and I didn't have these worries when Biden was president. And I shouldn't have to worry about this crap on the eve of my full retirement either. Even if I just think about my own interests there are a LOT of reasons for me not to be happy with Trump and the Republicans right now.

[Dimity]

22 minutes ago, anony.miss said:

Goodnight, John Boy.

"Tariff War Risks Sinking World Into New Great Depression, International Chamber of Commerce Warns.

The world economy could face a crash similar to the Great Depression of the 1930s unless the U.S. rows back on its plans to impose steep tariffs on imports, a senior official at the International Chamber of Commerce warned."

https://archive.ph/hFW1L#selection-5891.0-5899.245

 

A bloated ex reality tv show host surely knows more than the world's top economists. Right? 

[anony.miss]

Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words:

Thank you, Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico!

Edited 10 hours ago by anony.miss

[MostlyContent]

2 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

I should know because my mother had dementia. Her symptoms were very obvious. She shuffled, she didn't walk. Her speech was limited and very soft to point of being inaudible.

I am so, so sorry.  💗 

I went through the same thing.  I can't even begin to describe how amazing she was, but within 2 years of us noticing something 'wasn't right', she had the 'dementia shuffle' and was just........not mama.  It wasn't Alzheimer's, but something close.  It was hideously fast. She died at 72 and I'm not sure any of us have really recovered yet.  

[Soapy Goddess]

2 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

You know, for the first time in my life I'm worried about collecting my Social Security money. Last month I JUST put in to receive it because I am going to turn 66 and 8 months soon which is my full retirement age. With all the cuts to the gov't. employees now I worry that it will not be processed in time and there will be a delay in receiving it. But I also worry that Musk will mess with SS and I won't receive my full benefits. And forget about my retirement accounts. I don't even want to look at them after hearing about the dip the stock market has taken. My husband is going to be 69 soon and is still working full time. I don't know how long he can manage to keep that up safely as he drives for a living (I worry about him all the time), and how well we will do if he has to fully retire. This shit is real for a lot of people and I didn't have these worries when Biden was president. And I shouldn't have to worry about this crap on the eve of my full retirement either. Even if I just think about my own interests there are a LOT of reasons for me not to be happy with Trump and the Republicans right now.

If it makes you feel any better, my husband & I are in the same boat. Only difference is that we're Reps and trust that the richest man in the world isn't "stealing" our benefits as the Dems implied tonight by their Andy Cohen paddles. 🙄

2 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

I am so, so sorry.  💗 

I went through the same thing.  I can't even begin to describe how amazing she was, but within 2 years of us noticing something 'wasn't right', she had the 'dementia shuffle' and was just........not mama.  It wasn't Alzheimer's, but something close.  It was hideously fast. She died at 72 and I'm not sure any of us have really recovered yet.  

I feel your pain. And it hurts all over again when someone uses the diagnosis to make fun of an able-bodied person because he 'talked for 2 hours'. Especially when I know how impossible it was for Mom to communicate with her only grandchild.

[Yeah No]

2 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

I don't know where you happen to be meeting all of these horrible Republicans, and I'm certainly sorry that you don't get 'this stuff about helping Americans first'.  The rest of your paragraph that quoted me sounds a whole lot like you are coming pretty close to calling me a racist, so I'd appreciate it if you did not do that again.  Thank you in advance.  You are so far off base that I can not even begin to describe it.  

REALLY? You can't swing a dead cat without hitting one of these "horrible" Republicans, seriously! All you have to do is listen to the TV and online pundits and MAGA mouthpieces and it's a constant torrent from them. And I was referring to Republicans in general, not you directly about what I think is implied by what they say. If that's not you I'd like to know why because I seriously don't understand. I am pretty good at reading the hidden messages in things and many of them are meaning just what I said. This business with the grievance mentality that poor whites are being ignored and Democrats are giving everything to minorities is one of their biggest axes to grind. I have been around many Republicans in my life who have not held back their real opinions around me, thinking I sympathized with them and let me tell you, I am NOT imagining this by a long shot! I don't live in a Democratic bubble. Remember, my husband was a Republican for a long time.  But this stuff is mostly a white male thing and I think a lot of Republican women are not really aware of what it's all about or how it's driving their party. I am, unfortunately all too aware of it. YMMV.

11 minutes ago, MostlyContent said:

I wouldn't know, as I said.  I did remember it, though, and that's why I was curious.  I have no idea why 'anything of that nature would be a part of a Psychology class', because as I stated, I took it as an elective because I didn't waste time on basket-weaving classes.  I would love to take an actual basket-weaving class now, but unfortunately I'd better not because one of my BFFs is a freakin' expert and anything I could possibly produce would be a subject of ridicule. :)

Ah!  Your MS is in Psych?  Mine is in Animal Science, so there's a good reason we see things so differently, I suppose.  

I'm happy you had a fun cruise!   Since the abomination that is Valentine's Day is over with, I've been having fun reorganizing my workroom/a spare bedroom/best-place-in-the-world, and catching up on favorite shows.

Yes, I have an M.S.Ed. in Counseling Psychology. It sounds to me like you took what we used to call at my school a "gut" class, meaning that it was barely a real Psychology class, or Psych. for people not interested in Psych. but just need the credits to fulfill their degree requirements. It's not really what I would consider a true Psych. class. But I am far from not being a scientifically oriented type either.

 

10 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

If it makes you feel any better, my husband & I are in the same boat. Only difference is that we're Reps and trust that the richest man in the world isn't "stealing" our benefits as the Dems implied tonight by their Andy Cohen paddles. 

Well, if what he's been saying and doing is any indication I'll believe that when I see it. And so far I don't believe that he's not going to try to mess with my Social Security. I think Republicans have too much faith in these people. They are not looking out for your good. You are not special to them. One day they will cut your money and then how will you feel about them? Republicans have had it in for Social Security for a long time. Musk has called it a "Ponzi Scheme". That doesn't sound like someone that wants to protect my SS benefits. Believe what you want, though.

[Soapy Goddess]

8 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

Well, if what he's been saying and doing is any indication I'll believe that when I see it. And so far I don't believe that he's not going to try to mess with my Social Security. I think Republicans have too much faith in these people. They are not looking out for your good. You are not special to them. One day they will cut your money and then how will you feel about them? Republicans have had it in for Social Security for a long time. Musk has called it a "Ponzi Scheme". That doesn't sound like someone that wants to protect my SS benefits. Believe what you want, though.

I think the "ponzi scheme" refers to the fact that every American (not working under the table) contributes to SS, and the ones reaching retirement age (at the top) are reaping the benefits while the others are still paying.

No one said we are special. We simply don't believe he will cut our entitlements. In fact, once they get all these 100+ year old scammers off the payroll, it might even become solvent again.

[MostlyContent]

1 hour ago, Yeah No said:

It sounds to me like you took what we used to call at my school a "gut" class, meaning that it was barely a real Psychology class, or Psych. for people not interested in Psych. but just need the credits to fulfill their degree requirements.

That could very well be!  😂  As far as I can remember (and this was a LONG time ago) it was a class that fit my schedule and let me get back to our dorm by 11:00 am because that's when 'Generally Hostile' came on.   There was some big Luke/Laura crisis.  Yep.  That's how I (at 17) chose my electives.  It was strange though, because I'm probably the only person in my family who ever in their life watched a soap opera and I never did that until I was safely away 'at school'.  lol

 

1 hour ago, Yeah No said:

If that's not you I'd like to know why because I seriously don't understand. I am pretty good at reading the hidden messages in things and many of them are meaning just what I said. This business with the grievance mentality that poor whites are being ignored and Democrats are giving everything to minorities is one of their biggest axes to grind.

IMO (and that's all it is), this would be a looooong conversation.  Right?  

I don't think like that,  and have never heard any Republicans I know talking about 'poor whites' and about Dems giving things to minorities.  That's how I constantly hear that 'Republicans' think when the Democrats are holding forth?  But in my experience that just isn't true.  In any community I've ever lived in, nobody cares at all about how much their friends/loved ones/neighbors earned or how much melanin is produced in anyone's body.  Who the F cares?  

Quickly, I discount any fundie opinions from either side.  The old guard (either side) can continue to try for relevance in their own little circles, but I think they've lost the battle.  I am a firm believer in the separation between church and state.  

I need to hit the sack, but thank you for replying and for the (short) convo.  

1 hour ago, Yeah No said:

But this stuff is mostly a white male thing and I think a lot of Republican women are not really aware of what it's all about or how it's driving their party.

Quickly, I don't think it was a white male thing on election day.  It looked to be a Hispanic/Latino American 'thing', with a lot of votes also gained in the suburbs.  The whole 'Republican women are SO not aware' was quite possibly the most insulting (and ignorant) (and hilarious) point constantly reiterated by the talking heads on election night.   Not the case.  It's simply that the issues that seem to be the most important to Dem. women are not the same as the most important issues to Republican women, I guess.  

And NOW I'm hitting the sack.  lol

 

Edited 9 hours ago by MostlyContent

[anony.miss]

Trump's America:

"Business leaders are paying as much as $5 million to meet one-on-one with the president at his Florida compound, sources tell WIRED, while others are paying $1 million apiece to dine with him in a group setting.

At a so-called candlelight dinner held as recently as this past Saturday, prospective Mar-a-Lago guests were asked to spend $1 million to reserve a seat, according to an invitation obtained by WIRED.

“You are invited to a candlelight dinner featuring special guest President Donald J. Trump,” the invitation reads, under a “MAGA INC.” header. “Additional details provided upon RSVP. RSVPs will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis. Space is very limited. $1,000,000 per person.”

https://archive.ph/WUk1d#selection-667.0-683.403

...can you imagine sitting across the table from that man over dinner? Stuck watching his slab of a face all night, his skin sticky with layers of orange pancake make-up, tie down to his ankles, hands waving as he rages on about things that matter to him most  - sharks, his bestie Putin, Zelenksy's lack of a suit -  who could resist such a festive night out? ("All this and more can be yours for the mere price of five mIllion dollars - and a carton of large brown eggs!")  You could not pay me enough money to share a meal with Trump - and yet the fools opened their wallets,  one more time,  eager to kiss a con man's ass. By candlelight. How billionaire bromantic.

Edited 9 hours ago by anony.miss

[Soapy Goddess]

If only the Dems weren't so spiteful. It still boggles my mind that not one of them cheered for a child surviving cancer simply because Trump highlighted him.

While extreme, this meme is how most of what was said tonight went down:

[tres bien]

What a cynical narcissistic man 

Trying to create a you stand up and cheer for me or you hate kids with cancer. 
He defunded cancer research and then used a child as a prop and literally demanded people put that aside and cheer as if to say I know you’re mad at me but stand up for the people I cynically placed here if you won’t play your part in my stunt you hate kids 

As a longtime supporter of the Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund and Team Beans Infant Brain Tumor Fund (since it’s founding in 2021) I urge anyone that can support this cruel agenda to find a way to feel good about his actions 

Edited 5 hours ago by tres bien

[tres bien]

If he doesn’t succeed in fucking with Social Security it will only be because republicans will push back

Remains to be seen if they have the will 

Making fun of a person with a debilitating diagnosis is not funny either is making fun of someone with a disability 

[Harvey]

Trump is, indeed a traitor, but, of course, the claim beckons for qualification. However, I do not say that lightly, I say it with a firm conviction. Donald Trump has betrayed the fundamental values of America. Particularly, his decision to cancel funding for Ukraine is not rooted in strategy, diplomacy, or national interest--it is the petty revenge of a man incapable of separating personal grievances from matters of state.

No true statesman would ever allow such trivial ego wounds to dictate policy. The United States and Ukraine are sovereign nations, bound not by the fragile egos of their leaders but by shared principles of freedom and resistance against tyranny. A real leader understands this. Trump does not.

Instead, in his meeting with President Zelenskyy, Trump descended into a display so beneath the dignity of a statesman that it defies belief. He ranted. He sneered. He debased not only himself but the office he holds. This was not the conduct of a leader devoted to America's standing in the world; this was the petulant tantrum of a man-child who cannot comprehend the weight of his own actions. A national embarrassment. A walking tragedy for American leadership. A man whose election may well be the greatest misfortune of this century.

And now, in Ukraine’s darkest hour--when a sovereign democracy is under relentless assault by a brutal war criminal, Vladimir Putin--Trump rewards aggression and tyranny. By pulling aid, by signaling weakness, by abandoning an ally, he does not serve America’s interests. He serves Putin’s. And for that, Trump is a traitor--not in the strict constitutional sense, but in the most profound moral sense. I repeat, Trump has betrayed America’s values. He has abandoned the principles of Western liberal democracy--the very ideals that, for generations, our allies have relied upon.

And yet, the tragedy does not end with Trump alone. The Republican Party, once the party of Reagan, of strength in the face of tyranny, has now been reduced to a congregation of spineless cowards in Congress and the Senate (not all of them, but most of them), cowering under the weight of his belligerence, they fear his mean tweets, they fear his base. Republicans, holding party above country, have allowed Trump to trample over them, to steamroll their consciences, to force them into complicity. And so, with each act of submission, they, too, have betrayed not only their own oaths but the very idea of America.

The GOP of today is unrecognizable from the party of the past. Republicans had the courage to confront corruption when it mattered most. They had the fortitude to stand before Richard Nixon and demand his resignation--for that, they have my respect. But I cannot say the same of today’s Republican Party. They do not stand up to corruption; they cower before it. They do not hold power accountable; they enable its worst abuses. Yes, the Democratic Party has its flaws, as all political parties do, but let us be clear: we would never elect someone like Donald Trump. There is no Democratic counterpart to him. Not even George Wallace--divisive as he was--ever wielded the same level of reckless demagoguery, corruption, and contempt for democracy that Trump embodies.

Trump’s behavior toward Zelenskyy was not just shameful--it was an embarrassment of historic proportions. If you believe that’s hyperbole, then you fail to grasp the gravity of what happened. Petty. Vindictive. Childish. These are the only words to describe Trump in that meeting. The world watched, and yet so many on the right refused to see it. That blindness--that willing ignorance--is not just tragic. It is dangerous.

Looking at the body politic today compared to decades past, one cannot help but sense a decline, a creeping erosion of intellect, discernment, and moral clarity. This is not a new phenomenon; history is littered with nations that faltered as their people became complacent, distracted, and susceptible to demagoguery. Some have compared it to the Romans, who unknowingly poisoned themselves with lead in their water supply, gradually losing the sharpness that once made them great.

America was once the standard-bearer of democracy. Today, under Trump and those who enable him, we teeter on the edge of disgrace.

[suomi]

14 hours ago, Dimity said:

I  bake and eat chocolate. 

 

I eat chocolate while showering or soaking in a tub. Love, love, love it.

[Bookworm 1979]

12 hours ago, Dimity said:

And Trump may have actually done the impossible, for the first time that I can remember the leader of the Cons - Poilievre - actually supports the Liberal government.  I may need to sit down for a minute.

If Poilievre gets elected, he'll give tRump the key to Canada's front door. I don't trust him at all, and he can go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

[Dimity]

17 minutes ago, Bookworm 1979 said:

If Poilievre gets elected, he'll give tRump the key to Canada's front door. I don't trust him at all, and he can go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

Same. I have never liked him but his  supporting, and bringing coffee and donuts!!, to the convoy that occupied Ottawa a few years ago was the nail in his coffin for me.

[bluegirl147]

2 hours ago, Harvey said:

Looking at the body politic today compared to decades past, one cannot help but sense a decline, a creeping erosion of intellect, discernment, and moral clarity. This is not a new phenomenon; history is littered with nations that faltered as their people became complacent, distracted, and susceptible to demagoguery

The powers that be wanted us to become an idocracy.  First it was reality TV. Then it was social media.  Both things meant to distract from the important stuff happening.  Then it was make college education unaffordable.  Then it was giving parents school choice which is just code for defund public schools. Then it was book banning.  And let's not forget the rise of Evangelicalism.  While I respect other people's religious beliefs when you stop respecting mine or lack thereof and want me and the rest of country (and world) to follow your beliefs you can go to that hell you think I'm going to.  

[lookeyloo]

4 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

I think the "ponzi scheme" refers to the fact that every American (not working under the table) contributes to SS, and the ones reaching retirement age (at the top) are reaping the benefits while the others are still paying.

No one said we are special. We simply don't believe he will cut our entitlements. In fact, once they get all these 100+ year old scammers off the payroll, it might even become solvent again.

Its a long read but does contain some information on this issue

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/02/18/musk-150-year-old-social-security/

[Macbeth1966]

It wasn't the smartest move to drive a Tesla Tank during a Mardi Gras parade.

Click on the link:

https://bsky.app/profile/andreasor.bsky.social/post/3ljmbaj3czk2k

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Macbeth1966

[Ohiopirate02]

5 minutes ago, Macbeth1966 said:

It wasn't the smartest move to drive a Tesla Tank during a Mardi Gras parade.

Click on the link:

https://bsky.app/profile/andreasor.bsky.social/post/3ljmbaj3czk2k

 

I watched a video of the parade on repeat yesterday and read some comments on the NOLA subreddit. One of the cybertrucks suffered a broken window, guess that glass is not as indestructible as Elon said if it cannot stand up to people throwing cheap plastic beads at it.

[bluegirl147]

4 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

In fact, once they get all these 100+ year old scammers off the payroll, it might even become solvent again.

What Musk said isn't true but let's say there are people older than 100 receiving SS.  So what?  If these people are legally receiving it there is no age limit or limit to how many years you can receive it once you retire.

[Eri]

5 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

That's how I constantly hear that 'Republicans' think when the Democrats are holding forth?  But in my experience that just isn't true.  In any community I've ever lived in, nobody cares at all about how much their friends/loved ones/neighbors earned or how much melanin is produced in anyone's body.  Who the F cares?

Jan 6th rioters, Neo Nazi groups, Ku Klux Klan members, white "Christian" nationalists, Neo Confederates just to name a few who emphatically care. And they all admire Trump (a Republican) fanatically - do you see the connection?

I'm happy that you've been able to remain shielded from all this exposure for most of your lifetime though. A lot of us aren't as lucky in that regard.

Edited 4 hours ago by Eri

[bluegirl147]

4 minutes ago, Eri said:

Jan 6th rioters, Neo Nazi groups, Ku Klux Klan members, white "Christian" nationalists, Neo Confederates just to name a few who emphatically care. And they all admire Trump fanatically - do you see the connection?

It's also a whole lot of people who would never think they are racist but didn't like Obama winning the presidency. They also didn't like hearing this country was going to become a minority majority country in their lifetime.  Those two things scared them and Trump came along and gave them permission to feel that way. I personally prefer to know who is racist. That way I can avoid them.

 

[Dimity]

56 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

Its a long read but does contain some information on this issue

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/02/18/musk-150-year-old-social-security/

Bringing this to Musk and to Soapy's claim what it comes down to is that DOGE is using that chainsaw to root out the fact that "payments were only sent to 266 beneficiaries recorded as 112 or older."

And the price of eggs still goes up...

[Yeah No]

4 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

That could very well be!  😂  As far as I can remember (and this was a LONG time ago) it was a class that fit my schedule and let me get back to our dorm by 11:00 am because that's when 'Generally Hostile' came on.   There was some big Luke/Laura crisis.  Yep.  That's how I (at 17) chose my electives.  It was strange though, because I'm probably the only person in my family who ever in their life watched a soap opera and I never did that until I was safely away 'at school'.  lol

LOL, you must be just around my age because of the Luke and Laura thing. In NYC GH came on at 3:00 p.m. so it was usually after most classes, and the year I lived on campus my suitemates all congregated in the suite room to watch it. In fact that's how I got hooked on GH in the first place. Only I got my entire family hooked on it including my mother, my father AND my husband to be, LOL if you can believe that. And we used to videotape it and watch it together for years.

My very first Psych. class was like that, that's how I recognized it. I didn't major in it as an undergrad. so I took that kind of course myself. Looking back on it, it wasn't much of a real Psych. class.

4 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

IMO (and that's all it is), this would be a looooong conversation.  Right?  

I don't think like that,  and have never heard any Republicans I know talking about 'poor whites' and about Dems giving things to minorities.  That's how I constantly hear that 'Republicans' think when the Democrats are holding forth?  But in my experience that just isn't true.  In any community I've ever lived in, nobody cares at all about how much their friends/loved ones/neighbors earned or how much melanin is produced in anyone's body.  Who the F cares?  

Quickly, I discount any fundie opinions from either side.  The old guard (either side) can continue to try for relevance in their own little circles, but I think they've lost the battle.  I am a firm believer in the separation between church and state.  

I need to hit the sack, but thank you for replying and for the (short) convo.  

That's interesting and it actually might prove something I've talked about on this thread, and that's that many Republicans are not part of the whole MAGA white male grievance thing. My husband was one of them. He was more of a "fiscal Republican". But because he keeps his ears open to what's going on around him he could not ignore or not be aware of who was supporting Trump and why either. He listened to the TV, radio and online mouthpieces and heard the inherent racism and sexism from them first hand. And so did I, unfortunately. I still shudder when thinking about how Tucker Carlson all by himself stoked fear in white people that the Dems. were coming for their jobs and their money to give it all to minorities in the form of gov't handouts and DEI. I saw this first hand and there was NO MISTAKING what he meant by what he said.

And even I remember hearing all over the news about how Trump won in 2016 because the Democrats didn't appeal to the lower middle and poor whites, especially white men, who felt that Democrats didn't care about them and thought they were "privileged" when they didn't feel privileged themselves. Meanwhile Trump somehow convinced them that he was on their side and would make sure they got their due. He also stoked their grievances in the process.

And white men are all over online ranting about how Democrats have demonized them and turned their backs on them in favor of minorities and DEI, etc....  Incidentally this is why DEI is such a pin in their livers - because they feel that THEY are on the receiving end of racism and that positions that they should be getting are going to minorities who "don't deserve them". This has been all over the news for years now too.

I have even been vocal about how the Democratic party needs to find a way to reach these white men and convince them that they are on their side and that Trump and MAGA isn't. But it feels too late for that now, unfortunately.

5 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

Quickly, I don't think it was a white male thing on election day.  It looked to be a Hispanic/Latino American 'thing', with a lot of votes also gained in the suburbs.  The whole 'Republican women are SO not aware' was quite possibly the most insulting (and ignorant) (and hilarious) point constantly reiterated by the talking heads on election night.   Not the case.  It's simply that the issues that seem to be the most important to Dem. women are not the same as the most important issues to Republican women, I guess.  

And NOW I'm hitting the sack.  lol

Oh the MAGA guys made it a "white male thing", at least for them. White men were far more likely to vote for Trump than any other group in this election as far as I remember from looking at the statistics. And while some Trump gains were made among Hispanics it did not amount to changing the fact that as a group they still tended to vote Democratic. The gains only prove that slightly more of them were voting based on what they thought Trump would do for their wallets this time and not on other factors.

I really have no idea how Republican women feel about all of this white male MAGA grievance stuff. Maybe I was right when I posted a while back that Trump supporters take what they want from what they THINK Trump represents to THEM and don't care about the rest or what it means. Again, I really don't know.

37 minutes ago, Eri said:

Jan 6th rioters, Neo Nazi groups, Ku Klux Klan members, white "Christian" nationalists, Neo Confederates just to name a few. And they all admire Trump fanatically - do you see the connection?

I'm happy that you've been able to remain shielded from all this exposure for most of your lifetime though. A lot of us aren't so lucky in that regard.

Thank you. This is precisely what my husband could not ignore anymore and why he no longer considers himself a Republican.

[Ohiopirate02]

36 minutes ago, Eri said:

Jan 6th rioters, Neo Nazi groups, Ku Klux Klan members, white "Christian" nationalists, Neo Confederates just to name a few who emphatically care. And they all admire Trump (a Republican) fanatically - do you see the connection?

I'm happy that you've been able to remain shielded from all this exposure for most of your lifetime though. A lot of us aren't so lucky in that regard.

I don't think any adult living in American in 2025 has been shielded from these groups. More like people are being willfully ignorant about their neighbors' political beliefs. Which I do get to some extent because I have to do it at my job.

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

What Musk said isn't true but let's say there are people older than 100 receiving SS.  So what?  If these people are legally receiving it there is no age limit or limit to how many years you can receive it once you retire.

Often when Republicans claim there is corruption, there is far less of it than they think. They have just been pumped up and made paranoid by their TV, radio and online mouthpieces to see conspiracies everywhere that don't exist. And Trump and Musk are doing some of the pumping themselves. It's what keeps their base loyal to them in thinking that Democrats are all corrupt and letting money go to people that "don't deserve it". It's a main part of their platform. Meanwhile a lot of what they are claiming is not something only Democrats even have control over much less have taken control of to any degree to give to "people that don't deserve it". It's amazing how Republicans tend to believe in it, though, despite that.

When my father died in 2020 you'd better believe that SS was notified POST HASTE and he was IMMEDIATELY cut off from receiving benefits. As soon as a death certificate is signed the gov't. is notified and they are cut off. I was actually surprised at how efficiently and quickly this happened.

[bluegirl147]

8 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

And even I remember hearing all over the news about how Trump won in 2016 because the Democrats didn't appeal to the lower middle and poor whites, especially white men, who felt that Democrats didn't care about them and thought they were "privileged" when they didn't feel privileged themselves.

Why is it always the white men we hear about?  Are there no lower middle or poor white women?  Do they not air their grievances? I'm not directing this towards you @Yeah No but to the media and anyone else who has perpetuated this narrative that Trump won with those white men because of economic anxiety or grievance about not having the life they expected to have. Yes it's true, especially in the Rust Belt where Trump did win in 2016 and 2024, that well paying manufacturing jobs were lost but at some point you have realize those jobs are gone forever and you need to do something else. And if they want to blame someone for that they need look no further than the politicians in DC (on both sides of the aisle) that made it easy for corporations to move those manufacturing jobs overseas.

[EtheltoTillie]

4 hours ago, tres bien said:

If he doesn’t succeed in fucking with Social Security it will only be because republicans will push back

Remains to be seen if they have the will 

Making fun of a person with a debilitating diagnosis is not funny either is making fun of someone with a disability 

Remember that Trump has mocked people with speech impediments.