Chit-Chat: The Feels

[laurakaye]

16 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-power-grid-canada-electricity_n_67d081a6e4b02a1e69bd90ea

He is such a fucking idiot. Does he think electricity magically appears?

I think it's the same valve that turns water off and on from Canada to California.

 

6 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

I see that. I also see that some crazy people are vandalizing Tesla dealerships. I understand if one wants to boycott, but to destroy property and light cars on fire, etc...that's juvenile! And not exactly "legal" either.

Serious question - how is this different than Jan. 6?

[Yeah No]

6 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

I find it hard to believe that she didn't have a clue as to what was about to go down, especially after Clooney's op-ed. If I were her, and not exactly ready, I would have declined and offered up another name like Amy K. if the party wanted to run a woman.

Oh she might have had a clue but for a long time Biden insisted he was running and that was that, so she wasn't geared up for it in time to do it justice. Him stepping down wasn't even a thing for a long time. The whole thing didn't happen in a way and timeframe that would make her best prepared for it. Running a campaign and all that goes along with it isn't that easy on a moment's notice unless you're a born entertainer, and not everyone is like Trump who can spew the BS at any time the situation calls for it. She needed more time to plan a good strategy. She did her best under the circumstances.

And her declining wouldn't have looked any better for the Dems. than them not putting her up as the candidate. She would have felt like a failure and like she was letting down the party because anyone else would have had even less of a chance to win over voters given the late date. It would have been even riskier and there would have been more criticism I'm sure. Again, another politician between a rock and a hard place. It wasn't the ideal situation for anyone. Even my husband thinks she got screwed by the situation.

[Notabug]

15 hours ago, Makai said:

I don’t know if this has been posted before but it explains what they have to gain by decimating the economy. 

When his Atlantic City hotel failed along with multiple other businesses; the local economy was thrown into a recession as many people lost their jobs and then their homes and the rest.  When asked about it, Trump bragged about how great the situation was because he'd been able to buy up a bunch of properties at bargain prices.  Not a word about the people whose companies failed or who were unemployed and struggling and whose homes he took.  I have no problem believing that Trump sees a recession as an opportunity for himself and his wealthy pals to become even richer.

[bluegirl147]

7 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Exactly. It was never about eliminating fraud. The MAGA eat that excuse up because it buys into their big bad government fantasy. 

And when the government does find fraud the people responsible usually get away with it.  Senator Rick Scott was chief executive of a for profit health care company that was convicted of 14 felonies for defrauding Medicaid, Medicare and other federal programs. They were fined $1.7 billion dollars.  No person was ever charged. Although when Scott was deposed he pled the Fifth 75 times. He left, became a venture capitalist and the governor of Florida and now Senator.  

And for anyone thinking if we get rid of all this fraud it is somehow going to benefit you in some way, it will not.  This is all smoke and mirrors.  They are going to say they found one trillion dollars of fraud and then give the richest of the rich a trillion dollar tax cut.  This is all a distraction from that. Everything Republicans do is about enriching themselves and their rich donors. And if they have to take food and health care away from those less fortunate they will.  And that is where religion comes in for them.  Some will say if they are needy god should and will provide for them. Some will say if they are needy it's their fault they need more god in their lives.  All that talk about this country becoming a theocracy don't worry.  It will become an oligarchy first. 

24 minutes ago, laurakaye said:

Serious question - how is this different than Jan. 6?

January 6th was a peaceful tour of Trump supporters.  Or January 6th was liberals pretending to be MAGA.  Anything but the reality that it was Trump's cult trying to overthrow our government at his behest.

 

 

 

[tres bien]

And BTW as a constituent of Amy Klobuchar what makes you think she would have been a better choice/candidate 

Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar have resumes that are that different 

[Makai]

4 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

January 6th was a peaceful tour of Trump supporters.  Or January 6th was liberals pretending to be MAGA.  Anything but the reality that it was Trump's cult trying to overthrow our government at his behest.

 

One of those two or that January 6th was outliers acting on their own, that Trump had nothing to do with and that you can’t paint MAGA with one brush. Most often said by the people painting all Democrats with same brush. Weirdly this last one is still said even after the pardons. I think they are immune to cognitive dissonance by this point. 

[Dimity]

Quote

I admit I’ve become a bit obsessed with trying to understand what seems impossible to understand—Trump’s moves. So I’ve been reading. A lot. And trying to learn. I’ve dealt with enough men like Trump to know it was always about control and power for him, but now I see something else at play that only reinforces that belief.

I’ve been digging (late at night, because who’s really sleeping well these days?) into what’s happening with Trump’s budget moves, and I came across something called impoundment. What caught my attention was the U.S. courts’ response to his decision to freeze almost all U.S. foreign aid spending—about $2 billion meant for USAID. A judge ruled that Trump had overstepped his authority by doing it. It barely made headlines, but it’s one of the most important rulings out there.

Turns out, impoundment is just a fancy word for blocking government spending that’s already been approved. And Trump is trying to expand his ability to do just that, giving himself the power to withhold money from anything he simply doesn’t like.

Here’s why this should terrify Americans: Congress controls spending. That’s how democracy works. Taxpayers elect their representatives, and those representatives decide where tax dollars go. But if a president can override that process and decide where to spend (or not spend) money, then the taxpayer has lost all control. Congress and the government become meaningless. And the only person with real power is the one deciding where the money goes.

This isn’t just about budget fights. Every president has spending priorities, but that doesn’t mean they get to block spending that Congress has already approved. That’s not governing—that’s ruling.

And if he gets away with this, what could be next? Could he decide not to send Social Security checks out? Stop support for seniors? Could he block disaster relief or healthcare funding on a whim? Could he redirect money to projects that serve only him and his inner circle?

Imagine voting for healthcare funding as an American, only to have the president decide after he’s elected that he just won’t spend the money. That’s not a political debate—that’s erasing democracy.

So while all the tariff noise is keeping a lot us on distracted (and up at night), what should Americans be paying very close attention to? Impoundment. Because if he controls the money, he controls everything.

Maybe I’ll go back to reading murder mysteries—far less scary.

 

This was written by prominent Canadian Arlene Dickinson, and it, frankly, answers a lot of my questions about why Trump is pulling the crap he is. 

[partofme]

21 minutes ago, tres bien said:

And BTW as a constituent of Amy Klobuchar what makes you think she would have been a better choice/candidate 

Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar have resumes that are that different 

I think the reason they suggested Amy has nothing to do with her qualifications.  I’m not sure why MAGAs are suggesting Democratic candidates anyway when they would never vote for the Democrat no matter who it is.  While I would vote for the Democratic nominee no matter who it is, Amy is not someone I would ever vote for in a primary, she would never be my choice.  

[Dimity]

And I have a serious question for any of his supporters posting here, does it bother you at all that he is using the White House to act like a used car salesman encouraging people to buy Teslas when most of his base can't even afford to buy eggs?

Edited March 12 by Dimity

[Kemper]

I never thought I would think, let alone write, something about a phenomenon like what is happening with the Tesla protests and vandalism. I do know that some people are horrified at the sights - they are not pretty. But.

What I am seeing are people becoming terrified and helpless, everyday, about what is happening to their country; and have no control over it or any means to slow things down. Our values, beliefs and security are being batted around and taken advantage of by...basically, intruders. Be they from South Africa or here in our own country by (mostly) men, the millionaire/billionaire class with an agenda to burn it all down and start over. They will own everything; they have already started with Congress. So...the helplessness from citizens turns to anger and rage. Is it no wonder they are bringing the torches and pitchforks. 

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, Kemper said:

So...the helplessness from citizens turns to anger and rage. Is it no wonder they are bringing the torches and pitchforks. 

A few months ago I started seeing a lot of memes from groups with names like 'eat the rich' and 'bring on the guillotine' type stuff and it bothered me.  I thought it was an over reaction and that threatening violence wasn't the right response.  I still feel that, but like you I am starting to understand it better.  I don't see an outright revolution, but Musk et al really do need to watch their backs.  And the more people who lose their jobs, their benefits, their hope the more likely it will be that there is going to be blood shed.

[Notabug]

1 hour ago, laurakaye said:

Serious question - how is this different than Jan. 6?

Starting a fire at a Tesla dealership (are we sure it wasn't just another cra**y Tesla spontaneously combusting as they are wont to do?) and attempting to overthrow the government while looking for the vice president in order to lynch him seem to be on entirely different levels of bad to me.

Isn't it interesting how the MAGA are touting Musk as this amazingly brilliant business mind who is going to solve all of the government's fiscal problems?  Yet, Elon has invested billions into SpaceX and Twitter and Tesla, and none of those enterprises are producing quality products? In fact, most would say they are inferior.  But, sure, put him in charge of government spending. 

Edited March 12 by Notabug

[ProudMary]

7 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

What's against the law? Gathering information to eliminate fraud??

 

Pretty much all of it, which is why there is currently a multi-state lawsuit against DOGE for violating the Appointments Clause of the US Constitution. 

[bluegirl147]

2 minutes ago, Notabug said:

Isn't it interesting how the MAGA are touting Musk as this amazingly brilliant business mind who is going to solve all of the government's fiscal problems has invested billions into SpaceX and Twitter and Tesla, and, yet, none of those enterprises are producing quality products?  But, sure, put him in charge of government spending. 

Musk is a lot like Trump.  He has the illusion of success.  He sells himself. And up till he bought X he did a pretty good job. But once he supported bought Trump things turned for him.  As with everything and everyone associated with Trump Musk is now shit.

17 minutes ago, Kemper said:

So...the helplessness from citizens turns to anger and rage. Is it no wonder they are bringing the torches and pitchforks.

If only they can bring that to the ballot box in 2026 and beyond. But I fear too many voters will once again punish Dems for not doing enough to stop Trump and the Reps.

24 minutes ago, Dimity said:

And I have a serious question for any of his supporters posting here, does it bother you at all that he is using the White House to act like a used car salesman encouraging people to buy Tesla's when most of his base can't even afford to buy eggs?

If Tesla stock keeps tanking maybe the Teslas will become more affordable but seeing as most of Trump's base lives in rural red states would they even have charging stations?

27 minutes ago, partofme said:

I think the reason they suggested Amy has nothing to do with her qualifications.  I’m not sure why MAGAs are suggesting Democratic candidates anyway when they would never vote for the Democrat no matter who it is.  While I would vote for the Democratic nominee no matter who it is, Amy is not someone I would ever vote for in a primary, she would never be my choice.  

I don't have anything against Amy Klobacher but she never really stood out.  For me she just kinda blended into the background.

[Notabug]

3 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

If Tesla stock keeps tanking maybe the Teslas will become more affordable but seeing as most of Trump's base lives in rural red states would they even have charging stations?

 

Considering one of the current administration's first budget cuts was to a program that was going to build charging stations throughout the US; they'd better not hold their breath waiting for one in their area.  Supposedly, Musk wanted this program cut as he wants to build his own charging stations to line his own pockets.  With recent news about Tesla and its stock, I doubt that will be happening anytime soon.

 

[tres bien]

What’s to say that we’re not being pushed into an Orwellian society. Isn’t that what the MAGAs are hoping for 

[Dimity]

8 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

Musk is a lot like Trump.  He has the illusion of success.  He sells himself. And up till he bought X he did a pretty good job. But once he supported bought Trump things turned for him.  As with everything and everyone associated with Trump Musk is now shit.

Speaking of Musk I saw an episode of The Big Bang Theory last night that has not aged well.  Musk is washing dishes at Thanksgiving in a soup kitchen.  BBT really ought to take this episode out of the rotation.  Showing Musk volunteering to help the less fortunate  is just sad.

[partofme]

10 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

I don't have anything against Amy Klobacher but she never really stood out.  For me she just kinda blended into the background.

I want a progressive candidate who is going to support policies that will make a difference in people’s lives.   Amy is very moderate, a blah candidate, reminds me a bit of Nancy Pelosi.  I don’t think she has what it takes to get the vote out.  

[Dimity]

Just now, partofme said:

I want a progressive candidate who is going to support policies that will make a difference in people’s lives.   Amy is very moderate, a blah candidate, reminds me a bit of Nancy Pelosi.  I don’t think she has what it takes to get the vote out.  

I like her but frankly even talking about a woman running next time is a non-starter.  It absolutely shouldn't be.  But here we are.

[bluegirl147]

5 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Speaking of Musk I saw an episode of The Big Bang Theory last night that has not aged well.  Musk is washing dishes at Thanksgiving in a soup kitchen.  BBT really ought to take this episode out of the rotation.  Showing Musk volunteering to help the less fortunate  is just sad.

That was the first time I had ever heard or seen Musk.  I knew nothing of him.  If I ever do a rewatch of BBT I'm going to have to ff through his scenes.  There have been other shows and movies that have mentioned his name and hearing it now is jarring. What Musk is doing now is going to be what he is remembered for. He is never going to get the stench off him. 

5 minutes ago, partofme said:

I don’t think she has what it takes to get the vote out.  

I agree with that.  She doesn't have that spark that inspires people.

4 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I like her but frankly even talking about a woman running next time is a non-starter.  It absolutely shouldn't be.  But here we are.

That was always the fear with having a woman run for president. That she would lose and it would be because she was a woman so therefore we can't run another woman.  It sucks and I hope once we get Trump off the stage things will change.

[ProudMary]

37 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

Musk is a lot like Trump.  He has the illusion of success.  He sells himself. And up till he bought X he did a pretty good job. But once he supported bought Trump things turned for him.  As with everything and everyone associated with Trump Musk is now shit.

Musk bought Tesla, too. I think most people believe him to have been the innovator, but he was mainly an investor. 

How Elon Musk took over Tesla using money, strong-arm tactics, and his own popularity

https://www.theverge.com/23815634/tesla-elon-musk-origin-founder-twitter-land-of-the-giants

 

Also, that "Let's have a Tesla dealership on the White House lawn" stunt yesterday was a despicable farce, with him "buying" a Model S. DJT was actually given Tesla sales talking points. Keep in mind that this was a man who trash-talked the entire EV industry throughout the 2024 campaign. I can see a lawsuit coming on this also. (Use of Public Office for Private Gain.)

[fastiller]

34 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

That was the first time I had ever heard or seen Musk.  I knew nothing of him.  If I ever do a rewatch of BBT I'm going to have to ff through his scenes.  There have been other shows and movies that have mentioned his name and hearing it now is jarring. What Musk is doing now is going to be what he is remembered for. He is never going to get the stench off him. 

<snip>

That was always the fear with having a woman run for president. That she would lose and it would be because she was a woman so therefore we can't run another woman.  It sucks and I hope once we get Trump off the stage things will change.

Same with Trump.  I was watching an early episode of Shetland from '13 or '14.  Cozy mystery set on Shetland Island. Character referred to another as 'getting to be like our very own Donald Trump' with second guy's recent real estate purchases.

As to the second part: I've heard some people say our first woman POTUS will have to be a very conservative Republican.  It'll be the only way the GOP will accept a woman in that position.  IDK how true it is.  IDK whether the GOP would ever nominate a woman.

[bluegirl147]

5 minutes ago, fastiller said:

As to the second part: I've heard some people say our first woman POTUS will have to be a very conservative Republican.  It'll be the only way the GOP will accept a woman in that position.  IDK how true it is.  IDK whether the GOP would ever nominate a woman.

I  remember when Elizabeth Dole ran for president in 2000. Well actually 1999. She withdrew in the fall of 1999 before any primaries.  However a Gallup poll had her in second place behind W. I have a hard time believing the Republican party in it's current form would nominate a woman. And who it would it be? Katie Britt senator from Alabama?  Sara Huckabee Sanders governor of Arkansas?

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

Holy.Fuck. 

 

[fairffaxx]

14 minutes ago, fastiller said:

I've heard some people say our first woman POTUS will have to be a very conservative Republican.

Shades of Margaret Thatcher! Maybe Liz Cheney.  Oddly, even they sound OK to me at the moment.

[Dimity]

26 minutes ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

Holy.Fuck. 

 

Cue his apologists saying "that's not what he meant" and "how could he know that".  They are more than happy to claim the POTUS is an ignorant blowhard it would seem.

Sorry, if he acts like a Nazi and talks like a Nazi, he's a Nazi.  But sure, he's also an ignorant blowhard.

Edited March 12 by Dimity

[peacheslatour]

25 minutes ago, fairffaxx said:

Shades of Margaret Thatcher! Maybe Liz Cheney.  Oddly, even they sound OK to me at the moment.

I love your avatar! What's it from?

[bluegirl147]

7 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Cue his apologists saying "that's not what he meant" and "how could he know that".  They are more than happy to claim the POTUS is an ignorant blowhard it would seem.

Sorry, if he acts like a Nazi and talks like a Nazi, he's a Nazi.  But sure, he's also an ignorant blowhard.

Did he read the article? Almost certainly not.  But it doesn't matter. He still shared something incredibly offensive. And yes two things can be true at the same time. He is an ignorant Nazi blowhard.

[Dimity]

So the mouthpiece for the Canadian Traitor's Party,  Kevin "Quisling" O'Leary, was on CNN and was saying that Canada and the U.S. should share a currency and passport.  But somehow he pretends to believe Canada would still be a sovereign nation even with that.  Sure, Kevin. 

Any Americans who see this man  on your news shows please know he does not speak for Canada.  Not unlike Trump, he only cares about himself and the accumulation of personal wealth.

[fairffaxx]

32 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I love your avatar! What's it from?

Thanks! Long ago, I googled images for "bat pollinator" & chose this one -- looks like there are more available now.   I love pollinators in general but bats are special. 🦇

[peacheslatour]

14 minutes ago, fairffaxx said:

Thanks! Long ago, I googled images for "bat pollinator" & chose this one -- looks like there are more available now.   I love pollinators in general but bats are special. 🦇

I love bats! I've had a thing for them ever since one got into our house when I was a teenager. They're so cool. You should see my house at Halloween. Bats EVERYWHERE! 

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, Dimity said:

Speaking of Musk I saw an episode of The Big Bang Theory last night that has not aged well.  Musk is washing dishes at Thanksgiving in a soup kitchen.  BBT really ought to take this episode out of the rotation.  Showing Musk volunteering to help the less fortunate  is just sad.

Yeah I know that episode well and the last time I saw it I cringed and that was even before Trump was inaugurated. I can just imagine how the cast must feel now, especially Simon Helberg, who played Howard Wolowitz, who played alongside Musk in the soup kitchen.

This article discusses how the episode has not aged well and some criticism of it:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/elon-musks-dark-cameo-in-popular-sitcom-really-hasnt-aged-well-like-spoiled-milk/ar-AA1vOK3H?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

That was the first time I had ever heard or seen Musk.  I knew nothing of him.  If I ever do a rewatch of BBT I'm going to have to ff through his scenes.  There have been other shows and movies that have mentioned his name and hearing it now is jarring. What Musk is doing now is going to be what he is remembered for. He is never going to get the stench off him. 

Musk also appears for a brief moment in a 2017 episode of "Young Sheldon", a spin-off of BBT, entitled "A Patch, a Modem and a Zantac". A Spacex rocket is shown landing on a ship in 2016 and they cut to Musk reading Sheldon's old notebook of equations and then throwing it in his desk drawer.

Here's a video of it - his part starts at minute 2:45.

 

Edited March 12 by Yeah No

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

Did he read the article? Almost certainly not.  But it doesn't matter. He still shared something incredibly offensive. And yes two things can be true at the same time. He is an ignorant Nazi blowhard.

He's ignorant but he's not THAT ignorant. He's very good at feigning ignorance when it suits him. It's how he deceives his supporters into thinking he didn't say or do something offensive "on purpose". But the people he's targeting with that message read it loud and clear. He's done this over and over again. His supporters that are blind to this must be drinking some kind of kool aid to miss it. They see what they want to see and don't see what they don't want to see. And Trump knows it and uses it to his advantage.

[bluegirl147]

26 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

Musk also appears for a brief moment in a 2017 episode of "Young Sheldon", a spin-off of BBT, entitled "A Patch, a Modem and a Zantac". A Spacex rocket is shown landing on a ship in 2016 and they cut to Musk reading Sheldon's old notebook of equations and then throwing it in his desk drawer.

Here's a video of it - his part starts at minute 2:45.

 

I did a complete rewatch of YS last summer and don't remember that at all. I must have preemptively blocked it out.

20 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

He's ignorant but he's not THAT ignorant. He's very good at feigning ignorance when it suits him. It's how he deceives his supporters into thinking he didn't say or do something offensive "on purpose". But the people he's targeting with that message read it loud and clear. He's done this over and over again. His supporters that are blind to this must be drinking some kind of kool aid to miss it. They see what they want to see and don't see what they don't want to see. And Trump knows it and uses it to his advantage.

I know he knows about Nazis but I doubt he knew specifically about that symbol. I know I'm miles smarter than him and I didn't know about that symbol. But you are right about him feigning ignorance about things once people call him out. Remember when he acted like he didn't know who David Duke was?

[fairffaxx]

56 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I love bats! I've had a thing for them ever since one got into our house when I was a teenager. They're so cool.

I came home one night to find my 3 cats crouched shoulder to shoulder, tails up, staring intently into a dark corner under the dining room table.  It turned out a bat was ensconced down there, no doubt imported from the toolshed in the backyard through the pet door.

Once I shut the cats up in the kitchen, the bat emerged & proved it was OK by flying around the ceiling light, then perching on top of a floor lamp.  I wasn't tall enough to trap it in a pillowcase, so I asked the neighbor for help & he was able to grab it (gently), remove it to the front yard, & toss it up into the air.  We watched it fly across the full moon, just like a Dracula movie!

I know they can carry rabies (I made the neighbor wear heavy gloves) & look scary but they really are fascinating creatures.  And helpful pollinators, just like pretty butterflies & bees.

[PRgal]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

So the mouthpiece for the Canadian Traitor's Party,  Kevin "Quisling" O'Leary, was on CNN and was saying that Canada and the U.S. should share a currency and passport.  But somehow he pretends to believe Canada would still be a sovereign nation even with that.  Sure, Kevin. 

Any Americans who see this man  on your news shows please know he does not speak for Canada.  Not unlike Trump, he only cares about himself and the accumulation of personal wealth.

Even my DAD, Mr. Financial Industry Who Worked in Private Equity in New York (he has a story about 9/11 and being *THIS CLOSE* to the Twin Towers), was all like "we'll lose our identity."  He was referring to the idea of having separate governments, but an EU-like system.  And Dad is right, we most certainly will.  As you know, @Dimity and everyone else, my parents CHOSE to come here in the 70s!  I have my issues with my parents, but this is most certainly NOT one of them.  My dad typically votes (if he votes.  I'm not sure how often he's done it) Conservative.  Not sure about Mom.  But they sure as h3ll aren't NDP.  

[peacheslatour]

26 minutes ago, fairffaxx said:

I came home one night to find my 3 cats crouched shoulder to shoulder, tails up, staring intently into a dark corner under the dining room table.  It turned out a bat was ensconced down there, no doubt imported from the toolshed in the backyard through the pet door.

Once I shut the cats up in the kitchen, the bat emerged & proved it was OK by flying around the ceiling light, then perching on top of a floor lamp.  I wasn't tall enough to trap it in a pillowcase, so I asked the neighbor for help & he was able to grab it (gently), remove it to the front yard, & toss it up into the air.  We watched it fly across the full moon, just like a Dracula movie!

I know they can carry rabies (I made the neighbor wear heavy gloves) & look scary but they really are fascinating creatures.  And helpful pollinators, just like pretty butterflies & bees.

We lived on Lake Washington and they were always around the water. They really are marvelous little creatures.

/End threadjack.

Edited March 12 by peacheslatour

[Yeah No]

11 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

I know he knows about Nazis but I doubt he knew specifically about that symbol. I know I'm miles smarter than him and I didn't know about that symbol. But you are right about him feigning ignorance about things once people call him out. Remember when he acted like he didn't know who David Duke was?

I believe that he is fed these things by the people around him and probably only knows about them through those people. I have been convinced that they give him hidden messages in the form of things to say and symbols to use publicly that are targeted at certain groups like neo-Nazis. Musk and his Nazi salute was one of those things and of course he denied that it was a Nazi salute just like Trump denies what he does. I know there have been many similar examples over the years that Trump has said or done either on social media or at his rallies. And I doubt that he isn't aware of what he's doing.

[fastiller]

18 minutes ago, fairffaxx said:

I came home one night to find my 3 cats crouched shoulder to shoulder, tails up, staring intently into a dark corner under the dining room table.  It turned out a bat was ensconced down there, no doubt imported from the toolshed in the backyard through the pet door.

Once I shut the cats up in the kitchen, the bat emerged & proved it was OK by flying around the ceiling light, then perching on top of a floor lamp.  I wasn't tall enough to trap it in a pillowcase, so I asked the neighbor for help & he was able to grab it (gently), remove it to the front yard, & toss it up into the air.  We watched it fly across the full moon, just like a Dracula movie!

I know they can carry rabies (I made the neighbor wear heavy gloves) & look scary but they really are fascinating creatures.  And helpful pollinators, just like pretty butterflies & bees.

 

13 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

WE lived on Lake Washington and they were always around the water. They really are marvelous little creatures.

/End threadjack.

 

Sorry for continuing the threadjack: they're also excellent pest control.  Especially mosquitos.

 

 

[bluegirl147]

2 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

I believe that he is fed these things by the people around him and probably only knows about them through those people. I have been convinced that they give him hidden messages in the form of things to say and symbols to use publicly that are targeted at certain groups like neo-Nazis. Musk and his Nazi salute was one of those things and of course he denied that it was a Nazi salute just like Trump denies what he does. I know there have been many similar examples over the years that Trump has said or done either on social media or at his rallies. And I doubt that he isn't aware of what he's doing.

He really is like some dimwitted Manchurian Candidate.  A useful idiot.

[Yeah No]

Just now, bluegirl147 said:

He really is like some dimwitted Manchurian Candidate.  A useful idiot.

You got that right. Here's an example of what I was talking about. A Nazi symbol was used in a Trump ad on Facebook in 2020. His campaign called it "an emoji". This article from NPR explains it.

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/18/880377872/facebook-removes-trump-political-ads-with-nazi-symbol-campaign-calls-it-an-emoji

[Cementhead]

deleted

Edited March 12 by Cementhead

[PRgal]

I refuse to believe that a Boomer like Trump does not know what a certain symbol looks like.  Weren't they fed stories from either their parents (who may have fought in WWII) or their friends' parents?  He would DEFINITELY have known a WWII vet or two, even if it's not a family member.

[peacheslatour]

4 minutes ago, PRgal said:

I refuse to believe that a Boomer like Trump does not know what a certain symbol looks like.  Weren't they fed stories from either their parents (who may have fought in WWII) or their friends' parents?  He would DEFINITELY have known a WWII vet or two, even if it's not a family member.

Of course. Fred Trump was a Nazi himself.

[bluegirl147]

10 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Of course. Fred Trump was a Nazi himself.

It's funny to me how the right was convinced President Obama was whatever his father was even though his father wasn't a part of his life.  But the right doesn't think Trump was influenced by his father who raised him.

[PRgal]

40 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Of course. Fred Trump was a Nazi himself.

Was he born in the US or an immigrant?  If the latter, then he shoulda been deported.  

Edited March 12 by PRgal

[peacheslatour]

8 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Was he born in the US or an immigrant?  If the latter, then he shoulda been deported.  

He was deported - From Germany. Wikipedia

Soon after the family arrived in Germany, Bavarian authorities determined that Trump had emigrated from Germany to avoid his military-service obligations, and he was classified as a draft dodger.  On 24 December 1904 the Department of Interior announced an investigation to banish Trump from Germany. Officially, they found that he had violated the Resolution of the Royal Ministry of the Interior number 9916, an 1886 law that punished immigration to North America to avoid military service with the loss of Bavarian and thus German citizenship. In February 1905, a royal decree was issued ordering Trump to leave within eight weeks due to having emigrated to evade military service and failing to register his departure with the authorities.For several months, Trump petitioned the government to allow him to stay but he was unsuccessful

[fastiller]

9 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Was he born in the US or an immigrant?  If the latter, then he shoulda been deported.  

Fred was born in NY.  His father (Frederick) was born in Germany (Bavaria at the time) & made much of his money during the late 1890s in the Yukon as a brothel owner.

[fastiller]

10 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

He was deported - From Germany. Wikipedia

Soon after the family arrived in Germany, Bavarian authorities determined that Trump had emigrated from Germany to avoid his military-service obligations, and he was classified as a draft dodger.  On 24 December 1904 the Department of Interior announced an investigation to banish Trump from Germany. Officially, they found that he had violated the Resolution of the Royal Ministry of the Interior number 9916, an 1886 law that punished immigration to North America to avoid military service with the loss of Bavarian and thus German citizenship. In February 1905, a royal decree was issued ordering Trump to leave within eight weeks due to having emigrated to evade military service and failing to register his departure with the authorities.For several months, Trump petitioned the government to allow him to stay but he was unsuccessful

@peacheslatour - I think that's the grandfather you're posting about.  Fred (the father) wasn't born until 1905.