Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Ohiopirate02]

1 hour ago, Annber03 said:

Exactly. And that's going to be even more important with AI becoming more and more of a thing, and replacing people's jobs. At some point there will be a lot of people who will be without jobs for one reason or another, and they're all inevitably going to need to go to a doctor for some reason or another, no matter how big or small the issue. 

So..what then? 

Of course not. That would require them to actually have to think about the issue for more than a hot minute. 

(To say nothing of how, in some areas, finding a job, and one that can help you afford the basics at that, can be far easier said than done. And then of course there's the people who literally CAN'T work, because, y'know, disabilities and health problems and whatnot preventing them from doing so.)

The answer to your entire post is universal basic income. Sadly something that will never happen in America. Not as long as the collective we place moral values on things like wealth, health, and ability. 

[Calvada]

3 hours ago, Annber03 said:

And while all that was going on, and I was witnessing all the news coverage of the debate over getting Obamacare implemented, I had to listen to a bunch of assholes at a GOP debate cheering the idea of letting people die if they could.n't afford healthcare, and hte GOP not even bothering to call them out, and instead going on with their boogyman "death panels" BS and their attempts to water down Obamacare as much as possible, because God fucking forbid they let Obama have a win on something. 

So yeah. You'll pardon me if I really, REALLY do not want to go back to that awful time period. It's just one of many, many reaosns I find the GOP so utterly abhorrent as a party, and it's one of many reasons why I am gobsmacked by those who refuse to want to support a better healthcare system, because, oh, my god, they might have to pay a little more in taxes or other people might benefit from the same things they do, THE HORROR! You (general "you") seriously care more about that than ensuring people don't have to be in debt when going to the hospital or people have a better chance to live and get all the treatment they deserve for whatever they're suffering from? Really? 

I just...cannot fathom that level of selfishness. 

But yeah, you're right, one way or another we're all going to feel the effects of others' healthcare decisions and choices, and one way or another we're all paying into the system anyway. Might as well put that money somewhere where it can actually be of beneficial use to as many people as possible. 

Neither do I. But hey, at least htey may be able to afford to buy eggs again! That may be the only thing they'll be able to afford to buy, but still, it's something, I guess?

@Annber03 I'm so sorry you and your family had to go through all this.  I remember at one of the times the Republicans were trying to end the ACA, a lot of them had town hall meetings where people spoke about their experiences just like yours and these idiots who are supposed to represent the people were SHOCKED to discover that the people liked having health insurance and did not want to be financially devastated by astronomical medical bills.  

I'm not so sure that affordable eggs will be a good thing.  All these MAGA people want to get rid of "onerous federal regulations" and "reduce the size of the government."  So they will loosen regulations on food, cut food inspectors, and suddenly we will have outbreaks of salmonella or bird flu.  And just when millions will be losing their health insurance!

[Annber03]

54 minutes ago, Calvada said:

@Annber03 I'm so sorry you and your family had to go through all this.  I remember at one of the times the Republicans were trying to end the ACA, a lot of them had town hall meetings where people spoke about their experiences just like yours and these idiots who are supposed to represent the people were SHOCKED to discover that the people liked having health insurance and did not want to be financially devastated by astronomical medical bills.  

Thank you. And ohhhhhhhh, yeah, the town halls, I remember them, too. I mainly remember a whole lot of these politicians running away the moment people started to confront them over their plans to take away people's healthcare.*

But yeah. People like not having to be stressed about finances. Who knew? And yet they keep on supporting policies that will only add to those stresses. It'd be hilarious if it wasn't so infuriating. 

*This reminds me of a story my dad told one time - he worked in radio, and back in the '90s, he interviewed one of our state representatives. My dad had a list of questions he was to ask the senator during the interview, and at first, all was going along accordingly...

...and then my dad point blank asked the guy why it was fair that he and his family didn't get the same kind of cushy government healthcare this senator and others in Congress got. 

Said senator apparently got this total deer-in-the-headlights look and stammered out some sort of nonsesne reply. My dad's boss was FURIOUS, and the interview ended shortly thereafter. The boss came to chew out my dad for "derailng" the interview, and my dad just told him point blank, "This guy works for me. Not hte other way around. I'm allowed to ask those kinds of questions." (I don't know if he used those exact words, but his response was something along those lines). 

So, yeah. In short, this has been an issue with the GOP for a very long time. 

Quote

I'm not so sure that affordable eggs will be a good thing.  All these MAGA people want to get rid of "onerous federal regulations" and "reduce the size of the government."  So they will loosen regulations on food, cut food inspectors, and suddenly we will have outbreaks of salmonella or bird flu.  And just when millions will be losing their health insurance!

This is true! 

And then of course there'll also be the issues with prices of food whenever we have another natural disaster, and one that will be utterly devastating besides, because hey, climate change is just all made up or exaggerated, right? No need to do anything about that. 

Just. God. These idiots really have no clue just how much they have completely fucked themselves over. I just wish the rest of us didn't have to get caught up in the fallout from their stupidity and selfishness. 

[Yeah No]

52 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

*This reminds me of a story my dad told one time - he worked in radio, and back in the '90s, he interviewed one of our state representatives. My dad had a list of questions he was to ask the senator during the interview, and at first, all was going along accordingly...

...and then my dad point blank asked the guy why it was fair that he and his family didn't get the same kind of cushy government healthcare this senator and others in Congress got.  

I think your dad and my dad had a lot in common! Mine didn't work in radio but he was an old time radio enthusiast and used to point that fact out in conversation all the time.

[Annber03]

My dad worked in radio for decades. He loved the job, and I remember him ranting all the time about corporations iike Clear Channel when they came in and started taking over radio stations. 

[Yeah No]

3 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

My dad worked in radio for decades. He loved the job, and I remember him ranting all the time about corporations iike Clear Channel when they came in and started taking over radio stations. 

After his long Army career which lasted about 25 years my father worked in government non-profit recording talking books with the American Foundation for the Blind. He met quite a few celebrity narrators that way. Even though he had the highest level of health insurance coverage thanks to being a WWII vet with active duty he cared about those things for other people. He was that kind of guy.

[bluegirl147]

11 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

The answer to your entire post is universal basic income.

The collective we in this country doesn't like universal anything.  There is a scary amount of people who think if someone they don't like is getting the same thing they are that person must be cheating or lying to get it. As I mentioned in an earlier post there are people who are mad more people have healthcare now.  Seems they didn't want to share their doctors.

9 hours ago, Calvada said:

I'm not so sure that affordable eggs will be a good thing.  All these MAGA people want to get rid of "onerous federal regulations" and "reduce the size of the government."  So they will loosen regulations on food, cut food inspectors, and suddenly we will have outbreaks of salmonella or bird flu.

We are seeing it now with the regulations we currently have.  Carrots being recalled. Ground beef being recalled.   Whenever a Republican says they want to cut regulations it's for one simple reason.  To make it easier for their corporate donors to cut corners to save money.  Cutting regulations has never saved someone's life but I'm sure it has cost someone their life.

8 hours ago, Annber03 said:

And ohhhhhhhh, yeah, the town halls, I remember them, too. I mainly remember a whole lot of these politicians running away the moment people started to confront them over their plans to take away people's healthcare.*

Yep it went from the Tea Party rallies denouncing the ACA to once it was implemented town halls with people telling politicians they liked the ACA and to keep their damn hands off it.  

8 hours ago, Annber03 said:

"This guy works for me. Not hte other way around. I'm allowed to ask those kinds of questions."

With the Citizens United ruling the politicians don't work for us anymore. They work for their donors. And with the exception of a handful of swing states and districts most politicians are in safe (ish) seats.  And if they aren't they just go to a friendlier place.  Lauren Boebert knew she would lose in the district she was currently serving so she ran in another one and won. She didn't even have to move.  The new Senator from PA doesn't really live in Pennsylvania, he lives in Connecticut.  Dr Oz when he ran didn't really live in PA. He lived in NJ. Politicians don't fear pissing off voters. They fear pissing off their donors. And Donald Trump.

 

[Yeah No]

18 hours ago, fastiller said:

I was just going to post this.  Here's Sarah Kendzior's take on Smith & DOJ (from a Q&A on her Substack last week).

 

I don't doubt that this has truth to it, but despite that one thing I have heard and read is that closing the cases now leaves the option to reopen them after Trump's term is over, although critics say the desire for that may have waned by that time. I really hope that won't be the case.

[fastiller]

41 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

The collective we in this country doesn't like universal anything.  There is a scary amount of people who think if someone they don't like is getting the same thing they are that person must be cheating or lying to get it. As I mentioned in an earlier post there are people who are mad more people have healthcare now.  Seems they didn't want to share their doctors.

We are seeing it now with the regulations we currently have.  Carrots being recalled. Ground beef being recalled.   Whenever a Republican says they want to cut regulations it's for one simple reason.  To make it easier for their corporate donors to cut corners to save money.  Cutting regulations has never saved someone's life but I'm sure it has cost someone their life.

Yep it went from the Tea Party rallies denouncing the ACA to once it was implemented town halls with people telling politicians they liked the ACA and to keep their damn hands off it.  

With the Citizens United ruling the politicians don't work for us anymore. They work for their donors. And with the exception of a handful of swing states and districts most politicians are in safe (ish) seats.  And if they aren't they just go to a friendlier place.  Lauren Boebert knew she would lose in the district she was currently serving so she ran in another one and won. She didn't even have to move.  The new Senator from PA doesn't really live in Pennsylvania, he lives in Connecticut.  Dr Oz when he ran didn't really live in PA. He lived in NJ. Politicians don't fear pissing off voters. They fear pissing off their donors. And Donald Trump.

 

So many great points above:

I recall hearing a story on some show like This American Life (though it's been so long it could be an apocryphal story; even if that's the case, it really rings true to me) many years back about a small town where the population voted down a $150/year tax.  Which meant that because the town could no longer afford them  -a- the pool & rec center were closed and -b- the street lights were no longer kept on.  But! Folks could pay the local electric company $!20/year to keep the street light outside their onw home on.  The majority preferred to do the $120/year option.

To the other bolded sections: this is why on that list I posted a few days/pages back private $$ was mentioned (& term limits, too).  Imagine all the ills that could be resolved had CU not happened & pols were not beholden to their corporate overlords: gun control; climate change/global warming; healthcare; affordable housing.  The list could go on for days.

 

Edited November 26 by fastiller
verb tense, typo

[bluegirl147]

8 minutes ago, fastiller said:

I recall hearing a story on some show like This American Life (though it's been so long it could be an apocryphal story; even if that's the case, it really rings true to me) many years back about a small town where the population voted down a $150/year tax.  Which meant that because the town could no longer afford them  -a- the pool & rec center were closed and -b- the street lights were no longer kept on.  But! Folks could pay the local electric company $!20/year to keep the street light outside their onw home on.  The majority preferred to do the $120/year option.

I see that as selfishness but too many people see that as American "rugged individualism".  I'm always surprised when library levies pass. Especially with the right's attack on them.

[peacheslatour]

So, he was to put 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico? Honestly if he goes full trade war with tariffs, with 50% of our imports (Canada, Mexico and China) they will retaliate. He will then bail out our farming industry like he did last time, debt will skyrocket, and it won’t be enough and we will be in a depression in the next 3 years. We will have a reckoning as interest on our debt take over most of our actual budget, and all financial leverage are already pulled.

With the over bought economy as it is, this will be an absolutely catastrophic.

[PRgal]

Re the tariffs, a scene from Ferris popped up on my social media this morning, leading me to look up the Smoot-Hawley Act.  According to media reports, Orange Guy and Nepo Kid have already had a discussion and it was "good."  Details have yet to be released as per the Toronto Star this morning.  Scare tactic, I suppose.....

[Ohiopirate02]

40 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

I see that as selfishness but too many people see that as American "rugged individualism".  I'm always surprised when library levies pass. Especially with the right's attack on them.

Library levies tend to pass because they are hyper local. The opposition to them tends to be from out-of-towners like the Koch brothers while the proponents are the people in your community. And the municipalities that fund through levies tend to have very active libraries. When you are on the ballot every 2-6 years, you want your community to know about all the good you do.

[bluegirl147]

1 minute ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Library levies tend to pass because they are hyper local. The opposition to them tends to be from out-of-towners like the Koch brothers while the proponents are the people in your community. And the municipalities that fund through levies tend to have very active libraries. When you are on the ballot every 2-6 years, you want your community to know about all the good you do.

Have you read this book?

https://alabamareflector.com/2024/11/26/louisiana-librarian-discusses-book-bans-at-montgomery-event/#:~:text=The harassment continued for weeks,after she first spoke out.

It was out of towners that stirred up all that. It's like a sick cruel game these people play.

11 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

With the over bought economy as it is, this will be an absolutely catastrophic.

And Democrats will get blamed. Because they always do. And the MAGA base will say we didn't know that was going to happen.  Let's hope we don't have another pandemic or natural disaster like Hurricane Helene. But if Trump privatizes the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration only the people who pay for weather forecasts will be aware of a hurricane. It will be like Trump with the Covid testing.  If we don't know then it's not real.  

[Dimity]

So apparently Trump spends a good part of his day shouting at people and kicking them out of meetings.  I imagine anyone who has the nerve to try and point out that some policy or another SUCKS isn't going to last long and his administration hasn't even started yet.  If I lived on the Moon I might appreciate grabbing a bucket of popcorn and watching the show.  As it is, I just keep shaking my head and saying "America?  What the hell??"

[fastiller]

1 hour ago, Yeah No said:

I don't doubt that this has truth to it, but despite that one thing I have heard and read is that closing the cases now leaves the option to reopen them after Trump's term is over, although critics say the desire for that may have waned by that time. I really hope that won't be the case.

 

I know folks will say I'm being all 'the sky is falling' here: my concern -in addition to the desire to reopen these cases waning- is that there will be a real attempt (dunno whether/how successful it would be) to rewrite elections requirements for a supermajority requirement.  I keep flashing back to the 'this is the last election you'll need to vote in' moment from the final weeks of the election.

 

25 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

So, he was to put 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico? Honestly if he goes full trade war with tariffs, with 50% of our imports (Canada, Mexico and China) they will retaliate. He will then bail out our farming industry like he did last time, debt will skyrocket, and it won’t be enough and we will be in a depression in the next 3 years. We will have a reckoning as interest on our debt take over most of our actual budget, and all financial leverage are already pulled.

With the over bought economy as it is, this will be an absolutely catastrophic.

 

Just how much US paper does China own now?  I think it's like $775Bn ATM.

 

7 minutes ago, Dimity said:

So apparently Trump spends a good part of his day shouting at people and kicking them out of meetings.  I imagine anyone who has the nerve to try and point out that some policy or another SUCKS isn't going to last long and his administration hasn't even started yet.  If I lived on the Moon I might appreciate grabbing a bucket of popcorn and watching the show.  As it is, I just keep shaking my head and saying "America?  What the hell??"

 

I get this.  Sad how much influence events here in the States are over the rest of the world.  Indeed, the Moon might be the safer bet.

[bluegirl147]

12 minutes ago, Dimity said:

"America?  What the hell??"

I know you know the people that voted for him are not a reflection of all Americans but we are forced to deal with their at best misguided vote for him and at worst their fuck all of you libtards vote for him. 

[PRgal]

20 minutes ago, Dimity said:

So apparently Trump spends a good part of his day shouting at people and kicking them out of meetings.  I imagine anyone who has the nerve to try and point out that some policy or another SUCKS isn't going to last long and his administration hasn't even started yet.  If I lived on the Moon I might appreciate grabbing a bucket of popcorn and watching the show.  As it is, I just keep shaking my head and saying "America?  What the hell??"

Remember how last time around was basically White House Apprentice?  Welcome to season 2.

[bluegirl147]

6 minutes ago, fastiller said:

Indeed, the Moon might be the safer bet.

Not the Moon but one of the Google guys said he would rather leave his fortune to Musk than charity because Musk is going to make travel to Mars doable.  Wouldn't it be a better if we tried to make this planet better?

[peacheslatour]

56 minutes ago, Dimity said:

So apparently Trump spends a good part of his day shouting at people and kicking them out of meetings.  I imagine anyone who has the nerve to try and point out that some policy or another SUCKS isn't going to last long and his administration hasn't even started yet.  If I lived on the Moon I might appreciate grabbing a bucket of popcorn and watching the show.  As it is, I just keep shaking my head and saying "America?  What the hell??"

I'm in the "sure, why not" stage of frustration. Appointing Hulk Hogan ambassador to Brazil? Sure, why not. Making pre-natal care illegal? Sure, why not. It's not even a question. Just a flat statement.

[fastiller]

36 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

Not the Moon but one of the Google guys said he would rather leave his fortune to Musk than charity because Musk is going to make travel to Mars doable.  Wouldn't it be a better if we tried to make this planet better?

See, I get the desire to explore and I'm aware of the various inventions/discoveries from the Race for Space period.  I wish we could have a both/and situation.  

[Anela]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

Not the Moon but one of the Google guys said he would rather leave his fortune to Musk than charity because Musk is going to make travel to Mars doable.  Wouldn't it be a better if we tried to make this planet better?

That’s what I’ve always said.  I used to love the shows and movies about space exploration.  I used to watch launches if I could.  I remember coming across the launch of something to Mars, being broadcast online.  But we should be trying to preserve Earth, too.  Not just looking for a new planet to run to. 

[bluegirl147]

9 minutes ago, Anela said:

Not just looking for a new planet to run to. 

I read that as new planet to ruin.  Also correct.

[Eri]

1 hour ago, peacheslatour said:

I'm in the "sure, why not" stage of frustration. Appointing Hulk Hogan ambassador to Brazil? Sure, why not. Making pre-natal care illegal? Sure, why not. It's not even a question. Just a flat statement.

I think he counts on the ignorance of his base to be able to make such blanket statements, because no one knows what's going on (so they can't hold them accountable).

See Exhibit A: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/21/trump-biden-economy-republicans/

Gee, you don't say? 🙄🙄🙄

Edited November 26 by Eri

[peacheslatour]

4 minutes ago, Eri said:

I think he counts on the ignorance of his base to be able to make such blanket statements, because no one knows what's going on (so they can't hold them accountable).

See Exhibit A: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/21/trump-biden-economy-republicans/

Gee, you don't say? 🙄🙄🙄

He spews garbage like a firehouse spews water. He counts on people not being able to keep up with the sheer volume of lies and bullshit.

[anony.miss]

7 hours ago, Yeah No said:

closing the cases now leaves the option to reopen them after Trump's term is over,

It also allows for the case to be refiled (as Smith pointed out in the Motion to Dismiss) if Trump leaves office early due to "resignation or impeachment." I'm pissed Smith couldn't get it done before election season even started (esp. frustrating given Trump's a career criminal with a decades-long spree behind him  - grift, theft,  liable for sexual battery, fomenting insurrection,  etc - but at least Smith preserved the possibility of refiling these charges.)

Edited November 26 by anony.miss

[Lantern7]

I have some stuff happen that's closer to home, so I haven't been focused on politics lately.

Remember the women-centric marches on 1/21/17? I think we should throw a huge "Fuck Everything"  rally across the country. Honestly, that's all we're going to be able to now . . . and we would need to get it out of our system before Fearless Leader sends the National Guard to break up protests.

[fastiller]

2 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

I have some stuff happen that's closer to home, so I haven't been focused on politics lately.

Remember the women-centric marches on 1/21/17? I think we should throw a huge "Fuck Everything"  rally across the country. Honestly, that's all we're going to be able to now . . . and we would need to get it out of our system before Fearless Leader sends the National Guard to break up protests.

I've seen things (social media & emails) revivifying The Women's March for 01.21.2025.  Frankly, I'm exhausted of political activism.  Canvassing, post-cards, phone/text banking: all for naught. 

[bluegirl147]

3 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

 

Remember the women-centric marches on 1/21/17? I think we should throw a huge "Fuck Everything"  rally across the country. Honestly, that's all we're going to be able to now . . . and we would need to get it out of our system before Fearless Leader sends the National Guard to break up protests.

I was at the DC March.  It was such a hopeful time.  It would have such a different feel now.

[Anela]

29 minutes ago, anony.miss said:

It also allows for the cases to be refiled (as Smith pointed out in the Motion to Dismiss) if Trump leaves office early due to "resignation or impeachment." I'm pissed Smith couldn't get it done before election season even started (esp. frustrating given Trump's a career criminal with a decades-long spree behind him  - grift, theft,  liable for sexual battery, fomenting insurrection,  etc - but at least Smith preserved the possibility of refiling these charges.)

Yeah, I think he did the best he could, but the “supreme” court fucked it up deliberately.  

15 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

I have some stuff happen that's closer to home, so I haven't been focused on politics lately.

Remember the women-centric marches on 1/21/17? I think we should throw a huge "Fuck Everything"  rally across the country. Honestly, that's all we're going to be able to now . . . and we would need to get it out of our system before Fearless Leader sends the National Guard to break up protests.

I don’t think I’ll be doing another march. The one in 2017 felt good, and I remember we weren’t allowed any signs or anything that could be used  as a weapon (unlike January 6th). I remember articles talking about the number of  women (and men, too), who showed up to march all over the country, and in other parts of the world.  Also that it was all so peaceful. It felt really good, for the first time since the election, because I was around people who felt the same way as me. But it does feel different now. 

Edited November 26 by Anela

[fastiller]

2 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

I was at the DC March.  It was such a hopeful time.  It would have such a different feel now.

I may have posted this here; I know I did on other websites: this is from before the election. at my pool & near home, two separate people have had "Don't blame me, I voted for Trump" t-shirts/bumper stickers.  I wanted to get one that says "Don't blame me, I voted for Hillary'.  Because it would be SO DIFFERENT today had she won.  

[Ohiopirate02]

7 minutes ago, fastiller said:

I've seen things (social media & emails) revivifying The Women's March for 01.21.2025.  Frankly, I'm exhausted of political activism.  Canvassing, post-cards, phone/text banking: all for naught. 

Marches like that just feel performative and a waste of time and money. There's a time for peaceful protest and a time for resisting, and now is not the time for the former. The moral high ground is great, but impractical. Trump and his allies have already told us what is going to happen come January, now is the time to figure out how to undermine that. Go line by line and figure it out. We can get ourselves out of this and limit the damage if we can band together and fight (legally. I'm not talking about a repeat of Jan 6th here). Look into your local mutual aid societies and bail funds, give what you can afford, volunteer where you can. And if all you can do is bring the potato salad, do that. The people working need to be fed.

[Palimelon]

Quote

There's a time for peaceful protest and a time for resisting, and now is not the time for the former. The moral high ground is great, but impractical.

Saw this on Instagram today: "The Democrats need to stop bringing a rule book to a street fight".

[bluegirl147]

22 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

We can get ourselves out of this and limit the damage if we can band together and fight

Yes. We need to concentrate more on what brings us together than what tears us apart.  Highlight the things people like and fight for those.  The ACA, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security.  And if once Trump's policies take effect if they turn out to be bad hammer him for it.   Start thinking about the midterms now.  Start recruiting candidates that can win.

[PRgal]

I don’t want to deal with (forced) identity politics anymore.  And yes, I feel like I’m being forced to identify with something.  If I don’t feel like talking like I do here, I’ll give them a long lecture until they’re bored.  Unless I feel like saying “it’s complicated.”  

[Dimity]

3 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

And if once Trump's policies take effect if they turn out to be bad hammer him for it.   Start thinking about the midterms now.  Start recruiting candidates that can win.

Traditionally the mid terms don't go well for the incumbent and let's face it Trump doesn't care what happens because he's a one term president from the get go.  And also because he never has cared about the good of the country only about what's good for Donald Trump.  That said I predict he's going to go do as much damage as he can and it will be republican seats that will pay the price in the mid terms.  It's going to be a long two years but I do see a glimmer of light.

 

 

Edited November 27 by Dimity

[Anela]

I saw a post from someone saying that there isn’t actually a law against prosecuting a sitting president.  That it was just something agreed upon. And he isn’t the president yet.  But I doubt they’ll do anything, since they haven’t yet, and Jack smith shut things down for now.   

Edited November 26 by Anela

[Eri]

Unfortunately, he could still be elected President again even if he were in prison serving time for a felony, the law allows that. Because the Constitution makes no mention of criminal records, a person indicted or convicted of a felony would not be barred from serving in the role so long as he or she meets the other requirements.

When you have a sitting president elect who has essentially given the green light to white supremacists that they can take the law into their own hands, he picked a side which was something he should never have done. He's made it painfully clear since Charlottesville who he supports and if only 30-40% of the country likes him, so be it, he'll cater to them and them alone...which is not the way to run a country, but here we are.

[Lantern7]

Once again . . .  before January 20, lets throw a giant "FUCK EVERYTHING" rally. Rail against the incoming administration and those that watched and let it happen. Signs, effigies . . .gallows are okay as long as you don't intend to use those for real, right? You got a "MUCK FUSK" t-shirt for Christmas? Come out and wear it in public while you can! Show the rest of the world that most of the United States haven't lost their damn minds.

[peacheslatour]

20 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

Once again . . .  before January 20, lets throw a giant "FUCK EVERYTHING" rally. Rail against the incoming administration and those that watched and let it happen. Signs, effigies . . .gallows are okay as long as you don't intend to use those for real, right? You got a "MUCK FUSK" t-shirt for Christmas? Come out and wear it in public while you can! Show the rest of the world that most of the United States haven't lost their damn minds.

I love it but most cops are Trumpers and half of them belong to militias. Those who work forces...

[Dimity]

Just now, peacheslatour said:

I love it but most cops are Trumpers and half of them belong to militias.

And let's face it the Trumpites are dying for the chance to pull a "whataboutism" and make even the mildest protest march sound just like January 6th.

[kittykat]

I would totally say let's go to the Capitol on Jan 5 and deliberately be peaceful.  Go out and say "while we hate the results of this election we are not going to throw a temper tantrum, apologies to Vice President Harris for having to certify her own defeat but we stand with you all while Democracy is upheld *muttered breath* for now."

Unfortunately as spoken up thread the minute word gets out that Democrats are organizing a peaceful protest the goddamn Proud Boys or the like will come out with their guns, get cops involved, start some violent shit and then the media will turn it around and we'll get blamed, arrested and it'll be Chicago '68 all over again.

I still think of that scene in Fahrenheit 911 where Al Gore has to repeatedly turn down inquests at the certification because they don't have the signature of a Senator.

[annzeepark914]

8 minutes ago, kittykat said:

I would totally say let's go to the Capitol on Jan 5 and deliberately be peaceful.  Go out and say "while we hate the results of this election we are not going to throw a temper tantrum, apologies to Vice President Harris for having to certify her own defeat but we stand with you all while Democracy is upheld *muttered breath* for now."

Unfortunately as spoken up thread the minute word gets out that Democrats are organizing a peaceful protest the goddamn Proud Boys or the like will come out with their guns, get cops involved, start some violent shit and then the media will turn it around and we'll get blamed, arrested and it'll be Chicago '68 all over again.

It would definitely backfire on us...bigly! "They" would love to make us look bad. 

[fastiller]

2 hours ago, Anela said:

I saw a post from someone saying that there isn’t actually a law against prosecuting a sitting president.  That it was just something agreed upon. And he isn’t the president yet.  But I doubt they’ll do anything, since they haven’t yet, and Jack smith shut things down for now.   

Jill Wine-Banks (one of the Watergate prosecution team) bemoans the fact that Nixon never got prosecuted & how that landed us here/now.

[bluegirl147]

6 minutes ago, fastiller said:

Jill Wine-Banks (one of the Watergate prosecution team) bemoans the fact that Nixon never got prosecuted & how that landed us here/now.

What ultimately brought Nixon down was his own party turned against him.  If they hadn't he probably would have survived.

[Bastet]

3 hours ago, anony.miss said:

I'm pissed Smith couldn't get it done before election season even started (esp. frustrating given Trump's a career criminal with a decades-long spree behind him  - grift, theft,  liable for sexual battery, fomenting insurrection,  etc - but at least Smith preserved the possibility of refiling these charges.)

I will forever be angry with Merrick Garland allowing more than a year to go by before prosecutors and FBI agents jointly embarked on a formal probe of Trump’s attempt to steal the 2020 election.

[Dimity]

19 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

What ultimately brought Nixon down was his own party turned against him.  If they hadn't he probably would have survived.

Remember the days when republicans had standards?  So long ago now.

[Eri]

13 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Remember the days when republicans had standards?  So long ago now.

I too am missing the time period in this country where if you got caught in a scandal, (especially one that proves you're unfit for your position) the only choice would be to resign with dignity. This new wave of politicians are outright disgusting and morally bankrupt and they keep pushing the threshold on how much lower they can sink. I cannot believe voters are willing to accept this type of behavior from legislators 😒

[Dimity]

5 minutes ago, Eri said:

I too am missing the time period in this country where if you got caught in a scandal, (especially one that proves you're unfit for your position) the only choice would be to resign with dignity. 

 

[bluegirl147]

8 minutes ago, Eri said:

I too am missing the time period in this country where if you got caught in a scandal, (especially one that proves you're unfit for your position) the only choice would be to resign with dignity. This new wave of politicians are outright disgusting and morally bankrupt and they keep pushing the threshold on how much lower they can sink. I cannot believe voters are willing to accept this type of behavior from legislators 😒

If those disgusting and morally bankrupt politicians hate the same people as the voters that is all that matters to them. Trump figured that out and it spread like wildfire.