Chit-Chat: The Feels

[shapeshifter]

39 minutes ago, PRgal said:

For me, it's more of my hatred of your GOVERNMENT than some random American, especially one from a blue state.  I'm still purchasing items from blue states (but only if an equivalent from Canada, Europe or Asia isn't available.  I'm pretty brand loyal to some products too).  

I guess I shouldn't be complaining. The blue people from red states probably get misjudged by more people than just their whiny sisters.

The hurtful part was that she kept saying “You" as in: “You didn't do enough to prevent this,” which is par for the course coming from her to me, but this is such a stressful time. 

It was a good walk. It was barely above freezing, so not too many folks out on the beach. The few I passed made a point to say hi. This is a mixed area in a blue state, FWIW.

Edited March 13 by shapeshifter

[mostlylurking]

On 3/12/2025 at 10:02 AM, 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. 

Before all this MAGA stuff, I have to say I didn’t have a problem with Musk.  I wasn’t a fan exactly, but I could appreciate his awkward genius persona.  I also liked the fact that he seemed to be using his Space X program for actual research purposes, not as a vehicle for sending bored wealthy people up to space for a few seconds (a la Bezos).  Also on a shallow note his SNL appearance was funny and self deprecating.  The 180 he has done in my mind is so completely bizarre and unsettling.

 

On 3/12/2025 at 9:56 AM, partofme said:

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 am an Amy fan and I do think she has what it takes.  She had some really passionate moments during some of the debates and she won me over.  I, not a fan of Liz Cheney policy wise but she’s tough and I like that.  However, sadly I do think the next nominee needs to be a middle of the road man.  Let’s just get our feet under us again.  A Joe Manchin type comes to mind (ducks tomatoes).

[bluegirl147]

1 minute ago, mostlylurking said:

A Joe Manchin type comes to mind (ducks tomatoes).

Absolutely not.  He isn't a moderate. He is a Republican who was only a Democrat because when he came into politics WV was a blue state.  I live in WV and trust me when I say everyone blue and red hates him.

39 minutes ago, tres bien said:

FFS what a pathetic group of “business leaders “

If it didn't hurt people I would hope a lot of these companies fail. I simply do not understand how all these people keep bending the knee. 

33 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Hard to know. All depends on how Trump behaves in the next 6 months 

If he keeps escalating these tariffs which is going to cause a trade war things will get worse.  Trump better realize we live in a global economy. We aren't the only game in town.  He is going to price us out.  Other companies will just simply stop exporting and importing with us.

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, bluegirl147 said:

Other companies will just simply stop exporting and importing with us.

He thinks he's got the world by the tail.  And you know if he'd just left things at pissing off Canada, Mexico and Greenland maybe the world would have looked the other way.  But he is vastly overplaying his hand.  Has he put tariffs on Japan, Australia or New Zealand yet?  They'll probably be next.

[Dimity]

32 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Has he put tariffs on Japan, Australia or New Zealand yet?  They'll probably be next.

Answering my own question  - looks like yes to Japan and Australia and New Zealand is expecting to be next in the firing line.

I guess the real question is are there any countries that will be unaffected by the Madman of Washington?

[Affogato]

31 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

 

If he keeps escalating these tariffs which is going to cause a trade war things will get worse.  Trump better realize we live in a global economy. We aren't the only game in town.  He is going to price us out.  Other companies will just simply stop exporting and importing with us.

Back to the narcissism. He loves the attention. Tariffs on. Tariffs off. You’re fired. Etc. He wants negative attention as much as he wants positive attention.
Simply stopping is a fantastic strategy.

I think there really won’t be much America left. People will have ro sell to other countries. In the end we will be a foreign subsidiary. 47s legacy. 

[Affogato]

Really, who could win the next election?

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, Affogato said:

Really, who could win the next election?

I think what's going to be interesting, assuming Trump hasn't been declared der Führer of course, is who will the Republicans be fielding. 

[tres bien]

He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Seriously 

One day he’s slapping tariffs on Canada or the EU and the next he’s not 

Today he’s yammering on and on why Canada has no right to be a sovereign country or how he doesn’t think Denmark has the right to own Greenland and how he  told the military to come up with a plan to takeover the Panama Canal or how he invaded Los Angeles by directing water be released flooding farm fields hundreds of miles away 

He has to show his true bigot and antisemite colors in front of the Prime Minister of Ireland yesterday by accusing Chuck Schumer of no longer being Jewish but now being Palestinian and then going on an anti trans rant

Follwed by his insult ridden triade about Barack Obama 

Did the PM of Ireland get double dared by the other European leaders to sit next to this guy and hope an international crisis doesn’t break out ala Zelensky 

Edited March 13 by tres bien

[Lantern7]

3 minutes ago, Affogato said:

Really, who could win the next election?

An inanimate rod?

I’m having a tough day. You know what would make me feel good? If some offensive a-hole were to be taken to the top floor of a very tall building, get grabbed by the ankles, and dragged down each and every stair on the way to the ground floor, head rhythmically bouncing on the way down. Right now, I’m not particular as to whom I’d want to get that treatment. If the MAGA set would pick one of their own to be sacrificed, that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

[Affogato]

25 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I think what's going to be interesting, assuming Trump hasn't been declared der Führer of course, is who will the Republicans be fielding. 

I agree. Vance is giving off a Quayle vibe. He may have a useful place behind the scenes,  but not in front of the camera.  I doubt anyone around Trump will be allowed to have any strength of purpose or character or charisma.  Most of the congressional Republicans with moral fiber have backed away, or will soon enough. Governors, I think, are the big pool of contestants. Or billionaires. 

Edited March 13 by Affogato

[tearknee]

4 hours ago, Affogato said:

No. Pacifism and Socialism are respectable, long standing philosophical traditions that have been extensively studied and discussed.   They are not faith based, even if people believe in them and even if they are important principles held by major religions. 
 

They are not the same as wearing a tinfoil hat to keep the aliens from controlling you. 

No, admirable crank ideologies are still crank ideologies. Jeanette Rankin still functionally sided with the IJA with her vote.

[bluegirl147]

I swear to god if this doesn't kill the Republican party nothing will.  They are letting this happen.  They could impeach him.  But they won't.  They are aiding and abetting him.  How many chances did we have to rid ourselves of him? I'm an atheist but I'm coming around to thinking there is an antichrist and it's him.

[fastiller]

23 minutes ago, tres bien said:

He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Seriously 

One day he’s slapping tariffs on Canada or the EU and the next he’s not 

Today he’s yammering on and on why Canada has no right to be a sovereign country or how he doesn’t think Denmark has the right to own Greenland and how he  told the military to come up with a plan to takeover the Panama Canal or how he invaded Los Angeles by directing water be released flooding farm fields hundreds of miles away 

He has to show his true bigot and antisemite colors in front of the Prime Minister of Ireland yesterday by accusing Chuck Schumer of no longer being Jewish but now being Palestinian and then going on an anti trans rant

Follwed by his insult ridden triade about Barack Obama 

Did the PM of Ireland get double dared by the other European leaders to sit next to this guy and hope an international crisis doesn’t break out ala Zelensky 

It's the annual St. Patrick's Day visit of the Taoiseach (not Prime Minister) to the WH. 

It's one minor reason I was I was so hoping that Kamalia would've won, and that the Taoiseach would've still been Simon Harris (he vacated the office on 23 January to become Tánaiste) instead of Micheál Martin, making this the Harris/Harris meeting.

[Affogato]

17 minutes ago, tearknee said:

No, admirable crank ideologies are still crank ideologies. Jeanette Rankin still functionally sided with the IJA with her vote.

an interesting essay (and quote from same)::

https://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2007/04/30/unified-theory-of-the-crank
 

Unified theory of the crank

By denialism on April 30, 2007. 

A crank is defined as a man who cannot be turned.
- Nature, 8 Nov 1906

Here at denialism blog, we're very interested in what makes people cranks. Not only how one defines crankish behavior, but literally howpeople develop unreasonable attitudes about the world in the face of evidence to the contrary. Our definition of a crank, loosely, is a person who has unreasonable ideas about established science or facts that will not relent in defending their own, often laughable, version of the truth. Central to the crank is the "overvalued idea". That is some idea they've incorporated into their world view that they will not relinquish for any reason. Common overvalued ideas that are a source of crankery range from bigotry, antisemitism(holocaust deniers), biblical literalism (creationists - especially YEC's), egotism (as it relates to the complete unwillingness to ever be proven wrong) or an indiscriminant obsession with possessing "controversial" or iconoclastic ideas. Some people just love believing in things that no one in their right mind does, out of some obscure idea that it makes them seem smart or different.

 

 

Edited March 13 by Affogato

[Ohiopirate02]

15 minutes ago, Affogato said:

I agree. Vance is giving off a Quayle vibe. He may have a useful place behind the scenes,  but not in front of the camera.  I doubt anyone around Trump will be allowed to have any strength of purpose or character or charisma.  Most of the congressional Republicans with moral fiber have backed away, or will soon enough. Governors, I think, are the big pool of contestants. Or billionaires. 

There is really nobody currently in the Senate one either side who could mount a nationwide presidential campaign. I think the 2028 field will be full of governors. I suspect Gavin Newsome is considering with his new podcast where he's talking to people like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk. Why else would he even be in a room with them? And I think Tim Walz is considering a run. Again, why else would he be willing to travel to other states to hold the town halls Republican members of Congress are too afraid to show up at? I also think there will be a split within the Democrats as they figure out which direction will get them the presidency again. Because both Gavin and Tim are trying to reach out to Republicans but for different reasons, and only one of them will succeed.

[fairffaxx]

Politico says that Rahm Emanuel may run.

[mostlylurking]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

Absolutely not.  He isn't a moderate. He is a Republican who was only a Democrat because when he came into politics WV was a blue state.  I live in WV and trust me when I say everyone blue and red hates him.

That’s fair and I’m not a huge fan of his either but beggars can’t be choosers and we really just need to get someone with a D after his name in there and worry about the rest later. 

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, mostlylurking said:

That’s fair and I’m not a huge fan of his either but beggars can’t be choosers and we really just need to get someone with a D after his name in there and worry about the rest later. 

At this point anyone who isn't Trump will be fine with me.

[Affogato]

11 minutes ago, Dimity said:

At this point anyone who isn't Trump will be fine with me.

 Not Musk. Not Vought.

[Dimity]

6 minutes ago, Affogato said:

 Not Musk. Not Vought.

On the bright side despite what he may think, Musk will never be president.  Vance is someone that may get it but only if something happens to Trump while he is in office.  I really can't see him winning hearts and minds otherwise.

[Notabug]

4 minutes ago, Dimity said:

On the bright side despite what he may think, Musk will never be president.  Vance is someone that may get it but only if something happens to Trump while he is in office.  I really can't see him winning hearts and minds otherwise.

I cannot see Trump allowing any other Republican to take the stage and draw attention away from him.  He has to be the star at all times, and, if he doesn't issue an executive order making him president for life; I cannot see him stepping aside to allow someone else to pick up the torch let alone supporting a Republican candidate for president other than himself.

[LexieLily]

3 minutes ago, Notabug said:

I cannot see Trump allowing any other Republican to take the stage and draw attention away from him.  He has to be the star at all times, and, if he doesn't issue an executive order making him president for life; I cannot see him stepping aside to allow someone else to pick up the torch let alone supporting a Republican candidate for president other than himself.

Finally, Trump's malignant narcissism could be good for something! 

[Affogato]

2 minutes ago, Notabug said:

I cannot see Trump allowing any other Republican to take the stage and draw attention away from him.  He has to be the star at all times, and, if he doesn't issue an executive order making him president for life; I cannot see him stepping aside to allow someone else to pick up the torch let alone supporting a Republican candidate for president other than himself.

Yes but he is not that healthy. The bruising on his hand indicates blood thinners, not virility, and there are some indications of a stroke, which would explain the blood thinners. He eats and sleeps poorly and appears bored by long discussions. 

[peacheslatour]

4 minutes ago, Notabug said:

I cannot see Trump allowing any other Republican to take the stage and draw attention away from him.  He has to be the star at all times, and, if he doesn't issue an executive order making him president for life; I cannot see him stepping aside to allow someone else to pick up the torch let alone supporting a Republican candidate for president other than himself.

That's why it's so obvious that Musk bought him. The latest theory is that Musk paid all of Donald's outstanding debts to various shady unfriendlies and now Musk own his debt and can foreclose any time he wants.

[Lantern7]

Spoilers for the end of Captain America: Brave New World:

Spoiler

The climax is basically what you've seen in the commercials: Cap facing off against President Ross, who has transformed into a raging red Hulk. Ross wound up getting into politics after his various failures from past MCU films. He had imprisoned a guy who had been exposed to gamma radiation. Instead of becoming super-strong, Samuel Sterns (no one says "Leader") became super-smart, able to see probabilities. At some point, Ross was dying, and Sterns gave him medication . . . but the stuff would turn him into a monster if he got too stressed out. Obviously, Ross didn't know that.

Anyway. Sterns reveals what happened at the big press conference. Ross Hulks out. Massive fight. Cap holds his own, but Ross/Hulk manages to do some damage, breaking his fancy wings. In the end, Cap talks Ross down, and Ross turns back into a human.

A few months pass. Ross is detained in an underwater facility. It turns out that he accepted taking Sterns prisoner illegally, and he was willing to take the consequences for his various crimes. I think I laughed when I saw that part. I should have been in hysterics, wetting myself with the soda that I had drank ninety minutes prior.

So, yeah, I needed to share that. Good movie, not recommended if you're not into the MCU. The runtime is under two hours (1:58), so maybe the franchise is capable of learning.

ETA: I posted about that because it flies in the face of current events these days.

Edited March 14 by Lantern7

[anony.miss]

And the first right wing blowhard falls - perhaps living with Mom knocked some grown-man sense into his racist, misogynist toddler ass:

"White nationalist Nick Fuentes says that Trump is a "populist demagogue" who is just "stirring up the rubes" to empower himself: "As much as I hate to admit it, liberals were right fundamentally about Trump." 

https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/nick-fuentes-admits-liberals-were-right-fundamentally-about-trump

Edited March 13 by anony.miss

[Lantern7]

6 minutes ago, anony.miss said:

And the first right wing blowhard falls - perhaps living with Mom knocked some grown-man sense into his racist, misogynist toddler ass:

"White nationalist Nick Fuentes says that Trump is a "populist demagogue" who is just "stirring up the rubes" to empower himself: "As much as I hate to admit it, liberals were right fundamentally about Trump." 

https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/nick-fuentes-admits-liberals-were-right-fundamentally-about-trump

 

How can anyone be shocked or surprised that getting into bed with that man turns out to be a bad idea? The guy’s so toxic, you can see the crabs crawling out from beneath the blanket. No good can come from working with Donald J. Trump in anything.

[peacheslatour]

1 minute ago, Lantern7 said:

How can anyone be shocked or surprised that getting into bed with that man turns out to be a bad idea? The guy’s so toxic, you can see the crabs crawling out from beneath the blanket. No good can come from working with Donald J. Trump in anything.

[tres bien]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

On the bright side despite what he may think, Musk will never be president.  Vance is someone that may get it but only if something happens to Trump while he is in office.  I really can't see him winning hearts and minds otherwise.

Musk cannot be president he’s not US born

[kittykat]

2 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

There is really nobody currently in the Senate one either side who could mount a nationwide presidential campaign. I think the 2028 field will be full of governors. I suspect Gavin Newsome is considering with his new podcast where he's talking to people like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk. Why else would he even be in a room with them? And I think Tim Walz is considering a run. Again, why else would he be willing to travel to other states to hold the town halls Republican members of Congress are too afraid to show up at? I also think there will be a split within the Democrats as they figure out which direction will get them the presidency again. Because both Gavin and Tim are trying to reach out to Republicans but for different reasons, and only one of them will succeed.

And this is an absolutely terrible strategy.  I can't believe the Democrats are taking this loss and have come to the conclusion that they need to go even more right and appeal to centrist right leaning voters.  Not to sound like a toddler tantrum but NO NO NO NO NO! They need to bring the progressives into the fold.  Embrace an agenda that makes them the party of the working class again and for the love of all do not give Steve Bannon a platform.

I have read and listened to a lot of left leaning voters who are beyond pissed at the actions of the Democrats and they universally agree that going left is the right move.  Who is hell is telling these guys to alienate the base that voted for them even further to appear to centrists that continuously turn their backs on them?  These advisors s need to be fired.

I hate the current administration and I try my hardest to defend the Democrats.  You can't swing at everything I know that but you can't act like this is a small setback.  This is a government dismantlement the likes of which we have never seen before.  I'll still back this party because I believe they will one day get their shit together but they need to get off the ground and quit playing dead when all the bears keep doing is poke them.  Quit screaming that when they go low we'll go high. Get in the mud, grow a backbone and FIGHT for our rights. That's how you win back voters.

[peacheslatour]

29 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Musk cannot be president he’s not US born

You'd think so but Trump seems to be bent on throwing the Constitution on the flames along with every bit of historical data we possess.

[Annber03]

5 hours ago, tres bien said:

FFS what a pathetic group of “business leaders “

Sadly Trump’s poisoned every business leader and they’re all afraid of him 

It's amazing how this one guy has so much power over people. He's an overgrown toddler, for fuck's sakes, just lock him in a room and tell him to sit down and shut the hell up already. 

[kittykat]

If Donald Trump were to take the Marshmallow Test he'd eat the marshmallow within one minute then scream a minute later why he wasn't handed fifty more marshmallows.

[Dimity]

The 80th anniversary of VE Day is coming up soon.  I can't help wondering what role, if any, the Trump White House will play.  In ordinary times I would think he'd travel to Europe to join in some of the commemorations planned.  These aren't ordinary times though.

[Bastet]

11 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

For other people it means everyone being prosperous.  They think good paying manufacturing jobs are coming back. That isn't going to happen but they are desperate to believe that so they will continue to listen to the snake oil salesman.

People's delusions of future wealth are strong.  Last night I re-watched the West Wing episode where Republicans pass a bill to repeal the estate tax, and the staff are discussing whether Bartlet should veto it.  The rule is you never stand against a tax cut when you're running for election/re-election, but Toby wonders what kind of voter pushback there's really going to be on vetoing a tax cut that benefits only 4500 families.  Bartlet says, "It doesn't matter if most voters don't benefit. They all believe that someday they will. That's the problem with the American dream, it makes everyone concerned for the day they're gonna be rich."

[Lantern7]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

The 80th anniversary of VE Day is coming up soon.  I can't help wondering what role, if any, the Trump White House will play.  In ordinary times I would think he'd travel to Europe to join in some of the commemorations planned.  These aren't ordinary times though.

It would be hilarious if the organizers brought in Biden. Or Obama.

[JustHereForFood]

 

11 hours ago, tres bien said:

New day new tariff threat!

Donny so big mad at  EU for imposing a 50% duty on US Whisky he’ll show them. He’ll impose a 200% tariff on all alcohol from the EU

Glad he has so much time on his hands to Make America Great Again 

I didn't even know we import US whiskey. Not a fan of whiskey myself, but I thought Irish and Scottish is where it's at. Well, I'm sure we'll manage with those for some time.

Meanwhile, Canada and EU's relationship is getting stronger 🤝. Canadians obviously don't want to be a part of the US, but a surprising 44% are in favor of joining the EU. Maybe because we don't want to annex them against their will? Food for thought.

What Canadians think about Canada joining the European Union

 

9 hours ago, Affogato said:

No. Pacifism and Socialism are respectable, long standing philosophical traditions that have been extensively studied and discussed.   They are not faith based, even if people believe in them and even if they are important principles held by major religions. 
 

They are not the same as wearing a tinfoil hat to keep the aliens from controlling you. 

I believe you two are talking about different levels of fanaticism with said ideologies. I for one am done with the "pacifists" who believe that we shouldn't help the victim to defend themselves, or build armies to discourage potential enemies. Now is the time we have to invest into our defence. And if we must start with mandatory military training again, so be it. 

 

55 minutes ago, Dimity said:

The 80th anniversary of VE Day is coming up soon.  I can't help wondering what role, if any, the Trump White House will play.  In ordinary times I would think he'd travel to Europe to join in some of the commemorations planned.  These aren't ordinary times though.

He'll probably travel to Moscow for their anniversary parade, like the other pro-russian politicians. The Russians have their own imaginary version of WWII and they love to throw military parades. 🤮

[peacheslatour]

8 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

It would be hilarious if the organizers brought in Biden. Or Obama.

He will still be in office when we have the United States Semiquincentennial. 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. How nightmarish will it be? Will he declare himself king? How will that work, do you think?

[Yeah No]

9 hours ago, PRgal said:

CEOs basically don't have the guts to call out on You Know Who, according to the Wall Street Journal.

I'm totally NOT surprised about this.  Those guys never have guts to call out on the government.

 

9 hours ago, Kemper said:

Because they feel it is not in their best interest. They will wait it out and end up making money. That is what it is always always about.

I'll tell you one reason why they are waiting it out. Because they have the money to spare. So they lose a few mil., to them that's chump change. They're filthy rich, it doesn't hurt them. It's not that they don't have the guts to call out the gov't. It doesn't affect them that much so why bother? I worked for C-suite executives. My husband is employed by a mega-millionaire (we think he's a secret billionaire). For them it's "don't worry, be happy". And when things turn around they have the money to risk on buying up whatever's hot. So Kemper, you're right that in the end they will still end up making money.

[Yeah No]

8 hours ago, Affogato said:

I’ll be under the bed. 

I'm already under the bed.

7 hours ago, Affogato said:

Back to the narcissism. He loves the attention. Tariffs on. Tariffs off. You’re fired. Etc. He wants negative attention as much as he wants positive attention.
Simply stopping is a fantastic strategy.

The markets hate the uncertainty. His on-again-off-again antics are what's making investors pull out and stocks plummet. The markets supposedly mean a lot to him but he's acting like he doesn't GAF. He is really coming unhinged if he's letting this happen. All for the attention? I don't know anymore WTF is motivating him. This guy is seriously mental. 

[Blergh]

Is it just me or do at least some #45 defenders appear to treat those who raise objections with similar rationale to abuse-enablers?

[e.g. 'It's your fault he did this to you because you PROVOKED him!', ' So what if he's done nothing but hurt you, if you don't take him back/give him another chance YOU are an unfair,bad person!' etc.]

[Anela]

3 minutes ago, Blergh said:

Is it just me or do at least some #45 defenders appear to treat those who raise objections with similar rationale to abuse-enablers?

[e.g. 'It's your fault he did this to you because you PROVOKED him!', ' So what if he's done nothing but hurt you, if you don't take him back/give him another chance YOU are an unfair,bad person!' etc.]

That's what one MAGA guy told me, about Project 2025, but I didn't see his response at the time (well over a year ago). He told me that we deserved to live under Project 2025, because of everything we'd put trump through. 

[Yeah No]

7 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

I’m having a tough day. You know what would make me feel good? If some offensive a-hole were to be taken to the top floor of a very tall building, get grabbed by the ankles, and dragged down each and every stair on the way to the ground floor, head rhythmically bouncing on the way down. Right now, I’m not particular as to whom I’d want to get that treatment. If the MAGA set would pick one of their own to be sacrificed, that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

I'm having a very rough day myself. I went to visit a friend and cried in his office for an hour straight after he told me his investment account is down by 40%!!! I still have not looked at my account. I can't bear it. But I lost it when I heard about his. In the past I have criticized it when people wished harm on Trump and his MAGA minions but I can no longer do that. He and his henchmen should be brought to justice but I despair of that ever happening. Trump has too much power and slithers out of everything. My friend was telling me about all the cases against him as if that's going to stop him. He will take us all with him to ruin and NOTHING will stop him!

I have never felt this way in my entire life. I always had hope for a better tomorrow. If I lost money I had faith that I'd make it back. I had time. I was laid off in 2009 and living hand to mouth, charging my groceries. We almost lost our house but no problem, we'll find a way to keep it. I'll get another job and pay off my debts somehow. And yeah, I got another job and somehow survived and bounced back. But I am not so sure about that now. I have serious doubts that I will ever bounce back from this. I am too old to find a job - I spent years looking for one after my wrongful termination and never got one. I am 66 and a half now. I have medical issues. We still owe money on our house. What are my odds? Not good. 

I have been screwed over so many times in my life, especially financially, that I can't take one more time. And now that I am too old to make up for it this happens. I have never believed in Hell but right now I hope there is one especially for people like this.

My parents gave me the best life they could but they didn't have money to give me. They stumbled into a co-op conversion in the '80s and I ended up inheriting it. It was all they had of any value. And despite being in NYC it wasn't worth that much and needed a total renovation. But I really needed the money and was so grateful that I finally had something to retire on as I entered my 60s. So I dutifully put it in investment accounts rolled my 401Ks into retirement accounts. Since 2021 when I opened them they went up and down but never really made much money. I griped about it but didn't really get angry. I spoke with my advisor after Trump was reelected and he told me the usual crap about staying the course. I was ready to pull the money out but he convinced me not to. Can you just imagine how furious I am with him right now? And how upset I am that the only thing my parents had to give me has probably gone up in smoke? How angry would they be right now?? It is killing me thinking about it. I know my mother. If she were alive she'd go right up to Trump and wring his freaking neck. She hated him years ago before most people outside of NYC knew who he was.

I mentioned our friend's financial account loss to my husband and he told me he's "not worried" and that he looked at his account and it only lost 8%. I didn't ask him how long ago that was. I have a feeling it was not today. I dropped the subject. Both he and my friend think I should look at my account but I can't bring myself to do it. I don't want to get that upset again and lose another night of sleep.

People might not understand why I am so upset. I am a woman. I don't want to be completely dependent on my husband. I never was, and I don't want that to start now at this point in my life. I worked hard for many years. I don't want to have to go back to work and who would hire me now anyway for any kind of money? I did everything and then some to make sure I could retire and I am angrier than I've ever been about ANYTHING in my entire life! I have been poor - really poor and I couldn't bear it again. Every time things look like they're finally going my way I get cut off at the knees and I'm back to square one. I have never given up and every time I fell I got up and tried all the harder the next time. But I just can't bear it again, not now, not at this age. And I don't have children to take care of me in my old age.

Anyway I am sorry to download all of this on all of you but thank you for listening. Right now you are all worth the world to me because I know you all understand.

[Eri]

14 minutes ago, Blergh said:

Is it just me or do at least some #45 defenders appear to treat those who raise objections with similar rationale to abuse-enablers?

[e.g. 'It's your fault he did this to you because you PROVOKED him!', ' So what if he's done nothing but hurt you, if you don't take him back/give him another chance YOU are an unfair,bad person!' etc.]

Thank you. Not enough politicians nor the media are bringing this point across enough even when this administration continues to do outright illegal things and press boundaries as if this is normal. I've always believed Trump's return to power resembles the idea of reuniting with a toxic ex and letting them move back in with you.

"Well it wasn't really that bad, right?" No, it was horrible actually! 

Short memories people have.

[Annber03]

I mean, there are clips of people on the right gleefully going on about how "Daddy's home!" with Trump's return to office, which...says SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much right there. 

[Mollywolly555]

8 hours ago, Affogato said:

an interesting essay (and quote from same)::

https://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2007/04/30/unified-theory-of-the-crank
 

Unified theory of the crank

By denialism on April 30, 2007. 

A crank is defined as a man who cannot be turned.
- Nature, 8 Nov 1906

Here at denialism blog, we're very interested in what makes people cranks. Not only how one defines crankish behavior, but literally howpeople develop unreasonable attitudes about the world in the face of evidence to the contrary. Our definition of a crank, loosely, is a person who has unreasonable ideas about established science or facts that will not relent in defending their own, often laughable, version of the truth. Central to the crank is the "overvalued idea". That is some idea they've incorporated into their world view that they will not relinquish for any reason. Common overvalued ideas that are a source of crankery range from bigotry, antisemitism(holocaust deniers), biblical literalism (creationists - especially YEC's), egotism (as it relates to the complete unwillingness to ever be proven wrong) or an indiscriminant obsession with possessing "controversial" or iconoclastic ideas. Some people just love believing in things that no one in their right mind does, out of some obscure idea that it makes them seem smart or different.

 

 

I know a crank, although she's a polite, capable person, white,  about 68-72 years old. She actually told me,  several months ago, that the war in Gaza, Hamas, etc., wasn't real. It's made up by media. 

She also doesn't believe in vaccines. She wore a "Kennedy for Pres" hat when he was running.  She also stands on street corners with signs re the above and more. But she doesn't push her views.  One of our coworkers was out with covid last week, and when I mentioned it,  she didn't say anything just have me an owley look or is that a gimlet eye? 

This is  in a college town,  predominantly white,  upper/upper middle class, although there is a significant homeless population very apparent. 

I don't know what she did for a living before retiring, but I will ask. I'm curious what she thinks  about Trump too. Guess I'm bored,  but thanks to your post, Affogato, now I wonder how she became a crank.  

[Anela]

1 hour ago, Annber03 said:

I mean, there are clips of people on the right gleefully going on about how "Daddy's home!" with Trump's return to office, which...says SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much right there. 

I know, and let me just say: Ew.

[Soapy Goddess]

22 hours ago, Yeah No said:

My mind boggles on how Republicans trust anything Trump does without any question. That in and of itself is in my opinion dangerous and ill advised and there are many examples from history to illustrate why that is. I question everything from everyone. Democrats questioned Biden. They didn't just belly up for anything he wanted to do. That's not how Democrats roll. Otherwise they would have let him run and not advised him to step down.

Reps trust DJT because he's doing exactly as he said he would do during his campaign...starting with what Reps considered to be the most important. It's pretty simple. No mystery there.

22 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Trump has found ways to game the system and skirt on the edge of laws to his advantage. While he has been able to do that without it being illegal (although I think it should be) it is still unethical in my opinion.

As long as what he has done wasn't illegal...we can't fault him for that. If you feel bankruptcies are unethical, then you might also have a problem with many Americans that have also used the system to their benefit. 

As I've mentioned in the past, we also have a lot of folks in this country bilking the system under the guise of disability (SSI). There was a sting a while back (like Chris Hansen's show) that showed many with "back problems" doing all kinds of things that would be impossible if their claim was true. 

 

[Soapy Goddess]

20 hours ago, Anela said:

This applies to trump, every single day, for how many years now? It goes for every single lie and conspiracy theory they’ve ever spouted. 
The man goes on social media posting sprees, and constantly puts people down, as well as companies, as he did with NBC, was it? In a press conference.  

I could say the same thing about Biden. Day in and day out for FOUR years we were told that Biden was completely cognizant. And yet we all saw his decline. Even his press secretary continued to lie about his dementia. 

Now the Dems are posting stupid dances, singing off key, destroying property, storming Trump Tower, etc. etc. IMO, Dems are guilty as sin. For all the lies they told during the last 4 years. They are afraid what will be found out. Otherwise, there would be no need for their ridiculous antics.

19 hours ago, Dimity said:

I have never in my lifetime seen a US president act the way Donald Trump does. His childish tirades, his reliance on unqualified people, his belief in conspiracy theories, his constant lying about everything, his contemptuous behaviour toward other world leaders...And that's just for starters.

Naturally Americans are most concerned with what he is doing within your borders, but as a Canadian I am horrified at his talk of annexation. Apparently he has even instructed all who work for him to call our Prime Minister governor. This is how what passes for his mind works.

But sure Trump apologists lets talk about Obama or which woman should have run for president instead of Kamala or anything else rather than the clear and present threat going on right now.

See above reply to Anela.  Dems lied for 4 years. Which begs the question...who exactly was running the White House during those 4 years?

18 hours ago, Affogato said:

If you believe Kamala Harris spouted ‘word salad’ you do not understand the term. 

Is "mumbo jumbo" better?  Either way, she said absolutely NOTHING!