In general, I try to stay away from politics on this website. That being said, I am watching ESPN this morning, trying to focus on sports and not politics. Trying to come to grips with this reality: America is now being run by a President who: 1. Was convicted of a sexual assault. Donald Trump cannot apply for a job as your children/grandchildren's school bus driver. 2. Was REJECTED by the following members of his previous administration, all of whom have said that he is a threat to Democracy: John Kelly, Trump's White House Chief Of Staff. John Bolton, Trump's National Security Advisor. Mark Esper, Trump's Secretary Of Defense. Mike Pence, Trump's Vice President. 3. Sat back and watched on TV while his followers carried out an attack on the White House in which police officers were murdered.
Honestly folks, if I were not approaching 70 years old and dependent on M.D.'s to keep me up and running, I would seriously consider selling my home and moving to some tropical locale, possibly Costa Rica. I am not joking when I say this.
Ever since the 2020 election I feared for the 2024 election. Biden was the familiar candidate at the time, a palette cleanser after 4 years of absolute chaos. Biden's administration has steered the country and the economy in the right direction after a pandemic that the previous administration was incapable of navigating. It hasn't been perfect, and a capitalist economy based on investments is bigger than any President and fated to up and down, but it's been stable. But jingoistic hateful fear-mongering is a powerful tool even when things are mostly fine. After such heinous events of January 6 and years of vile hate speech, Trump appears bulletproof. That says a lot about people. Words don't matter. Or they matter for some, and not others.
Many wanting a younger, fresh option, and Biden's poor debate opened the door for that. So we got the most qualified candidate possible going up against the least qualified candidate in the history of this country. She destroyed him in a debate to the degree he was too chicken to expose himself again because he is a coward. He rambled about tariffs he doesn't understand and deporting people born here and false claims demonizing legal immigrants eating pets. Hannibal Lector. All of it nonsense. Objectively she was the logical candidate - empathetic and politically moderate compared to anti-Constitutional erratic hate. We are privy to more information than ever, and we were able to see and hear it all in real time. But reason and stability don't make for great TV. I'm always reminded of the movie Network, that people just want the circus. People like to be angry because it makes them feel righteous. People still end their day complaining about the weather rather than thankful they made it to sundown.
We get to vote for the country we want, and it ends up being the country we deserve. Some people need to touch a stove to see if its hot, and that's the experiment of 2016. The economy was great and people were privileged to roll the dice. Fine. But if his first administration was chaos, I can't imagine what a more unhinged administration will look like - filled with yes men because the John Bolton's and John Kelly's won't waste their time (or even be invited). Instead we will get the worst Kennedy, and a VP whose morals are as malleable as his truths. Checks and balances are meant to keep the 3 branches of government in check, but that can get whittled away over time when incapable people are given power. It happens to countries when its electorate takes its freedoms for granted. If it all falls apart, we have only ourselves to blame. Maybe we don't deserve it anymore. I'm not saying this is the end, but people really need to brush up on their civics classes.
In general, I try to stay away from politics on this website. That being said, I am watching ESPN this morning, trying to focus on sports and not politics. Trying to come to grips with this reality: America is now being run by a President who: 1. Was convicted of a sexual assault. Donald Trump cannot apply for a job as your children/grandchildren's school bus driver. 2. Was REJECTED by the following members of his previous administration, all of whom have said that he is a threat to Democracy: John Kelly, Trump's White House Chief Of Staff. John Bolton, Trump's National Security Advisor. Mark Esper, Trump's Secretary Of Defense. Mike Pence, Trump's Vice President. 3. Sat back and watched on TV while his followers carried out an attack on the White House in which police officers were murdered.
Honestly folks, if I were not approaching 70 years old and dependent on M.D.'s to keep me up and running, I would seriously consider selling my home and moving to some tropical locale, possibly Costa Rica. I am not joking when I say this.
We're all of a certain age if we heard the original ABB, but I moved to the EU in 2022 precisely so I wouldn't have to hear the noise of a 2 year political campaign & concentrate on music. The practice of law was becoming a joke w/45-appointed SCOTUS & my partners & decided we'd had a good run but there wasn't a bright future. I've been much happier. I was gobsmacked to wake up to the election results that a criminal autocrat who initiated an insurrection & makes no secret of the fact that his 2nd term would be revenge & further damage to democracy was elected. All the strongmen were "elected" - Hitler, Putin, Saddam, Kim Jong Un, Chavez, Erdogan, and terrorist organization Hamas. I actually thought Americans were smarter than they apparently are. Just thought I'd check in on the site to see what those living in the US thought.
I think Warren purposely put out his cd when he did to help us cope with times like this.
I really believe that there are still too many redneck males around who would NEVER consider voting for a female of ANY race, much less a female of Black and Indian descent. No matter that the alternative is as scary and negative as what we have now gotten ourselves into.
@robslob Yes but I wouldn't reduce it to just rednecks. There are men of many cultures that have a hard time voting to put a woman in charge.
I feel bad for you people. But not that bad. Look at all the lies that have been told by the left. Look at the hard-core leftist agendas that have been forced upon us. The majority of the country got sick of it. Didn't you think they would?
For the record brainiac, Donald Trump was not convicted of sexual assault. He lost a civil case and was ordered to pay a judgment, the likes of which have never been heard of before in such a case. The woman who brought the case never filed criminal charges. Never even thought about it until the statute of limitations had run out. 30 years later she decides to mention it. And you can bet that the judgment is going to get overturned on appeal or reduced dramatically.
And it's not a female that people had trouble voting for. It's a person that literally didn't know what she was doing. Had trouble putting two coherent sentences together, but continued babbling nonetheless. They had to appoint her as the nominee because she couldn't have ever gotten any votes in a primary. She tried, Remember, she didn't get any votes. Dropped out before she got one single Vote.
she wasn't a good vice president. And she was even worse candidate. Instead of picking Josh Shapiro as a running mate, she chose Tim Walz. That should be enough to disqualify her.
I have all the respect in the world for the people on the left that are saying that the Democrat party needs to reevaluate its priorities. They just got their asses kicked in an election.
So should we abolish the popular vote and the electoral college? Appointing Kamala seemed to go so well, maybe we should just let the Democrats appoint the next president.
You know they screwed Bernie out of the nomination in 2016 so that Hillary could run. Trump beat her also. Biden had a better chance of beating Trump then Kamala ever did. Deal with it. Put your big girl panties on and enjoy the ride.
The economy is going to get better, it already is. Just like last time he got elected. Illegal immigration is going to be dramatically reduced. All these wars that started under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris? They're going to end soon. Energy independence, certainly that doesn't matter.
It's more important to let men in the ladies bathrooms, to let them compete against girls in sports. That's barbaric. Oh, and women are dying because they can't get healthcare. Really? Let's interpret that. They are upset because they can't get late term abortions In some states.
A lot of the country doesn't deserve Donald Trump. But you will still benefit from his presidency none the less. Your candidates broke it and he is going to fix it. The voters aren't the problem here. Donald Trump isn't the problem here.
I really believe that there are still too many backwoods redneck males around who would NEVER consider voting for a female of ANY race, much less a female of Black and Indian descent. No matter that the alternative is as scary and negative as what we have now gotten ourselves into.
"backwoods redneck males"
you mean Garbage right, lol.
And it's not a female that people had trouble voting for. It's a person that literally didn't know what she was doing. Had trouble putting two coherent sentences together, but continued babbling nonetheless. They had to appoint her as the nominee because she couldn't have ever gotten any votes in a primary. She tried, Remember, she didn't get any votes. Dropped out before she got one single Vote.
----
The economy is going to get better, it already is. Just like last time he got elected. Illegal immigration is going to be dramatically reduced. All these wars that started under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris? They're going to end soon. Energy independence, certainly that doesn't matter.
It's more important to let men in the ladies bathrooms, to let them compete against girls in sports. That's barbaric. Oh, and women are dying because they can't get healthcare. Really? Let's interpret that. They are upset because they can't get late term abortions In some states.
And here we go, folks, the misogynist has entered the conversation. Kamala Harris is an incredibly smart person who spoke eloquently through out the campaign and her career as a Prosecutor, Senator, and Vice President. That was clearly evident in the debate. If you disagree with her, fine, but it's simply untrue to attack her intelligence and oration. That says more about you and proves rob's point. Meanwhile, Donald Trump mumbled and babbled often incoherently about Hannibal Lector and pets being eaten and other nonsense all Summer without offering any actual plans. Just platitudes, almost all of what he said was untrue. That is indisputable. He is not a smart person, he is a lying salesman and he is selling you a lemon. Let me repeat, it is a fact and well documented that he is a habitual liar.
Many factors contribute to a capitalist economy, and it's rarely the President's fault when it goes up and down. However, it's been better than ever each year of the Biden administration. There's nothing broken, Trump is selling you on a lie. But Trump inherits another stellar economy, hopefully he doesn't break it again this time.
Several women have died because they could not get an abortion in the state they live. The vast majority of late-term abortions are due to complications with the fetus and it isn't viable, it's always tragic and not a "decision" but rather a medically necessary procedure for the health of the mother. But you've bought into trans in sports as an issue the President has anything to do with. Again, your ignorance and misogyny is clear.
Just like his first disastrous administration, in which everyone around him agreed he was completely unfit, this Trump administration shall pass. If by "benefit" you mean my taxes went up and the White House was completely destabilized in chaos and we lost manufacturing jobs (FoxCon sits empty 7 years later), ok. But like last time, I have faith that our system of government will protect me and you from Trump's vanity and cowardice and lack of understanding of things like The Constitution.
@kcjimmy: Have you noticed that Kamala has already guaranteed that there will be a peaceful transfer of power? Apparently you have forgotten January 6th, 2021. No, let's put it a different way: You haven't forgotten, but you support a diabolical megalomaniac anyway, and care NOTHING about the police officers who died as a result of the coup on The White House. Trump recently pretended to "go down" on a microphone stand at one of his rallies. He bragged about the size of Arnold Palmer's genitals. Welcome to the candidate you choose.
OK, I see I was wrong about the rape charges, it was actually defamation of character. What about all of his other legal issues? Maybe you fail to bring it up because you are confident that he can just make it all go away now that he is in power again. After all, isn't that what autocrats do? To get more to the point, read on:
@robslob The list is endless, so overwhelming to the point his supporters simply can ignore them all.
Remember when Mitt Romney said he had "binders full of women"? It was worded poorly and a tone deaf, but it was a black eye on his campaign. It's hard to believe it was only 4 years later we heard the next GOP candidate boast of grabbing women by the p. It didn't matter to his supporters, because it was just the offense of that day. The next day there was another one.
I really thought Jan 6 would be the end of his public career, that people who fancied themselves patriots would finally see he is a threat to the Republic. I'm more disappointed in know my fellow Americans endorse and excuse his racism and hate than anything. They don't care about the country. They don't care about the Constitution. They don't care about the health of pregnant mothers. They don't care about threats to journalists. They don't care about threats to legal immigrants based on lies. They don't care about the lives of law enforcement protecting the capitol. They don't care about their neighbors. They don't care about anyone but themselves. They care about "winning" against people they have such minor disagreements over public policy, and mindlessly repeat whatever hateful nonsense Trump makes up. But politics isn't a sport. When some of us lose, we all lose.
I, too, hoped Jan 6 would end his political career had the GOP Senate voted to prevent him from ever serving again through the impeachment proceedings, but they didn't have the cojones to do so despite McConnell saying publicly he was guilty.
I'm disappointed that there is nothing that persuaded Americans that the man is unfit to serve. He even set the record straight to his evangelical followers that he is NOT a Christian. During his term, he emboldened those who hated anyone to speak up. My observations when I come back to the US is that people are angry & ready to take offense at anything. I don't think there was any strategy or candidate who could've defeated the Putin wannabe.
What disturbs me the most is the rise of antisemitism post 10/7/23. It's unfathomable to me that the presidents of universities can't bring themselves to say threats/violence against Jewish students is unacceptable conduct. It's indicative of your comment that Americans don't care about the Constitution or democracy or the rule of law. They don't. They prefer to live in a cult of celebrity & ignorance.
Wish all of the ABB fans well.
@kcjimmy: Have you noticed that Kamala has already guaranteed that there will be a peaceful transfer of power? Apparently you have forgotten January 6th, 2021. No, let's put it a different way: You haven't forgotten, but you support a diabolical megalomaniac anyway, and care NOTHING about the police officers who died as a result of the coup on The White House. Trump recently pretended to "go down" on a microphone stand at one of his rallies. He bragged about the size of Arnold Palmer's genitals. Welcome to the candidate you choose.
OK, I see I was wrong about the rape charges, it was actually defamation of character. What about all of his other legal issues? Maybe you fail to bring it up because you are confident that he can just make it all go away now that he is in power again. After all, isn't that what autocrats do? To get more to the point, read on:
The Judge told DJT that the jury had determined he raped her. Because if he hadn't there would be no defamation...Defamation is when you lie. It wasn't just about he didn't know her, it was about a sexual assault in a department store here he basically put his fingers in her vagina before she fought him off...he violated her physically then verbally
So those that want to play word games need to read the transcriptions...The judge said he raped her!! It's wasn't criminal case because it's past the statute of limitations for the crime...but that doesn't make him any less vile, disgusting or less culpable
But hey that's their guy!!! Woo Hoo!!
Did anyone notice they want to cut your SS if you have a pension plan from a company...first thing they want to bring to the floor...oh and when the tariffs hit just wait to see what we'll be paying.And when he pardons all the Jan 6 insurrectionist he will be building his own private army to go and terrorize...
The facts, or even relevant issues, don't matter to people like KCJimmy. He's parroting a number of insults Trump launched at Harris that are completely baseless.
"Bad VP" How in the world so? What even makes a bad VP - not overthrowing the gov't for the President? "Incoherent, babbling" She's probably the most polished orator of the four 2024 candidates (Trump definitely comes in last) and offered a list of plans to help people buy homes and start small businesses. "Didn't know what she was doing"? Whatever that means. She's one of the most qualified persons to run for the top office and ran a pretty solid campaign in such a short amount of time.
That's Trump's insult-based politics playbook, discredit your opponent rather than offer any plans or ideas. Just promise they'll be "the best". Straight from Roy Cohn, who also coached Joe McCarthy. Sow seeds of paranoia, deny everything, discredit your opponent. Get people mad about issues that are irrelevant or don't even exist.
Because if your plan is better, there's no need to insult your opponent. That's just distraction for an uninformed electorate.
I brought up Romney earlier because I never disliked him, I just disagreed with him. Women felt marginalized by him putting them into "binders" - how quaint that seems today. McCain famously had to disarm a bitter old biddy who had been fed the same type of anti-Obama rhetoric that Trump made his bread and butter. When W won in 2004 I was disappointed, but I never thought he disregarded the office. I had an issue with the whole lying to go to war thing, but looking back at least they put some effort into the lie and we were all (including McCain) still skeptical. That all seems so long ago now.
Trump's supporters buy his lies as quickly as his shitty Chinese-made merchandise. He's not talking about issues so they don't bother to know about them. And that's what bothers me, not that they didn't vote for her, but given the choice between a moderate lawmaker and a lying coward they still voted for him. No one deserves Trump, not even his blind followers.
The facts, or even relevant issues, don't matter to people like KCJimmy. He's parroting a number of insults Trump launched at Harris that are completely baseless.
"Bad VP" How in the world so? What even makes a bad VP - not overthrowing the gov't for the President? "Incoherent, babbling" She's probably the most polished orator of the four 2024 candidates (Trump definitely comes in last) and offered a list of plans to help people buy homes and start small businesses. "Didn't know what she was doing"? Whatever that means. She's one of the most qualified persons to run for the top office and ran a pretty solid campaign in such a short amount of time.
That's Trump's insult-based politics playbook, discredit your opponent rather than offer any plans or ideas. Just promise they'll be "the best". Straight from Roy Cohn, who also coached Joe McCarthy. Sow seeds of paranoia, deny everything, discredit your opponent. Get people mad about issues that are irrelevant or don't even exist.
Because if your plan is better, there's no need to insult your opponent. That's just distraction for an uninformed electorate.
I brought up Romney earlier because I never disliked him, I just disagreed with him. Women felt marginalized by him putting them into "binders" - how quaint that seems today. McCain famously had to disarm a bitter old biddy who had been fed the same type of anti-Obama rhetoric that Trump made his bread and butter. When W won in 2004 I was disappointed, but I never thought he disregarded the office. I had an issue with the whole lying to go to war thing, but looking back at least they put some effort into the lie and we were all (including McCain) still skeptical. That all seems so long ago now.
Trump's supporters buy his lies as quickly as his shitty Chinese-made merchandise. He's not talking about issues so they don't bother to know about them. And that's what bothers me, not that they didn't vote for her, but given the choice between a moderate lawmaker and a lying coward they still voted for him. No one deserves Trump, not even his blind followers.
They suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome
Ignore he stole from a child cancer charity
Ignore 6 BK's
Ignore the civil fraud for the fake university
Ignore $84,000,000 for sexual assault
Ignore 34 criminal convictions for fraud
Ignore 2 impeachments and coup attempt
Those are the real symptoms of TDS
I do not know
but the “woke” vote may have influenced the outcome, also, possibly, undecided voters in “red<>blue” states who decided on Donald at the last minute, indicating more effective 11th-hour GOP campaigning, like a team finishing a game on a decisive run
would so like to see Biden’s & Harris’ sportsmanship prevail - Joe has sent congrats to Donald & invited him to the WH, something that would do the national mood so much good for Trump to accept in a genuine show of appreciation unity & apolitical friendship among these 2 hearty seniors - they believe more than Anyone in the long-held maxim, Our National Unity Does Not Depend On Unanimity
”when you lose an election, you accept the results” - quote attributed to VP Harris - thank you Kamala Harris - common sense, class, composure, did well on the big stage
was/am very impressed w/her - her successor, JD Vance, has big shoes to fill - I think he’ll fill them as ably as Kamala & Joe did in their VP tenures along w/Pence, Cheney, Quayle, Ford, LBJ, Nixon, Adlai Stevenson…..
I’m an optimist - ‘scuse me while I take a sip, this new koolade recipe rocks🇺🇸 - Enlightening Energizer - hits like a bolt of lightning for instant smarts
good morning/wknd
A large male segment of the population voted for Trump. Close to 24 percent were black. Many were Hispanic.
My economy is fine. I have well over $100,000.00 in the bank in cash.
But the economy for millions of working class men SUCKS!!! I tried to tell you all this months ago.
Gas, beer, food, rent, cars, trucks are absolutely too expensive for working class men.
These men don't care what they accuse Trump for doing. Some tell me it's the Democrats who charged Trump with all this! Every prosecutor federal and state level is a Democrat!!! Every political which led the impeachments of Trump with a few exceptions were Democrats.
I am associated with an industry which employs working class people, mostly men and as one told me on the phone back in July, " They are telling me the border is under control yet on my jobs very few are legal. And thousands are being bussed into Chicago sleeping at O'Hare. Border doesn't look secure!!! They tell me we have the best economy in the world. Jobs are back, wages are up and we are bringing back manufacturing to make electric vehicles and clean energy. But no working class people can afford an EV and most like their gas and diesel and wages on our job sites are stagnant and our dollars don't buy that much"
I am NOT a Trump man. But this election was lost because working class men, rednecks, blacks, hispanics etc think the ECONOMY SUCKS!!!!!!
Harris never got her economic message out in fine detail so these men could understand it and know she was going to fix it.
In Pennsylvania for example Harris said in her commercials she would not ban fracking. But Trump plastered the airwaves with FOOTAGE of Harris saying on camera she WILL ban fracking, cancel oil leases on public lands, ban exports of fossil fuels and take big oil companies to court.
Guess what. All that footage is Harris in 2020!!!!! NOT 2024. Did Trump point out that's her position four years ago but NOW she SUPPORTS FRACKING? NO!!! So working class male voters assumed Harris would shut down the fossil fuels industry in Pennsylvania!!
Liberals and people left of center must have a hardened border and greatly tighten what qualifies as a legitimate asylum case and work overtime to bring down prices for working class men who work hard and want to be able to fill up their pickup truck, buy groceries each week, pay their rent and have enough left over to drink beer and shoot pool with their friends on the weekends.
Harris and Dems dropped the ball on that just as Hillary did in 2016 and the orange monster who is a good marketing man talked exactly to these men. Almost 25 percent of working class BLACK men voted their wallet and to hell with the liberal agenda and causes.
Now we are going to have as close to a dictatorship running this country as possible. Hang on for it's going to be a bumpy ride!!!!!
Panties in a wad much? T.D.S., most certainly. This is going to be so fun!
I guess I waited too long. There's a whole lot to reply to so forgive me if I take my time.
Kamala is a Smart woman who speaks eloquently? So everybody who didn't vote for her is a misogynist, racist, or stupid? There are a lot of smart, well speaking women in politics. I'm sorry, but Kamala isn't even close to being one of them. She didn't win a single state that wasn't already given to her before the election started. Not one swing State. When she ran against Joe in the primary, she didn't get one vote. She was the first to drop out because of that. She is a really bad candidate. This time around Joe Biden would've done better than her even in his diminished capacity. That's just a fact you all have to deal with. So call me names, I don't care. It didn't work well for Kamala. It didn't work well for Joe Biden. It's not gonna work well for you. There are a few names. I could call you that come to mind and I haven't ruled that out yet. But keep this in mind, as the last person in the room with Joe Biden for four years, Kamala didn't realize his capacity was diminished until she saw the debate? She chose to be loyal to her party over the well-being and Security of our nation and you want to put her in charge?
There are many factors that contribute to an economy, but policies are right up there near the top. It's not a coincidence that the economy was booming under Donald Trump in his first term leading up to Covid. And it was already coming back when Joe took office. And it tried to come back, but he killed it with his policies, mandated vaccines, and closures. And as soon as Trump is elected, the economy starts getting better. People a lot smarter than you already know the economy is going to get better and they're banking on it. That's another fact you'll just have to deal with.
Not one single woman has died because she couldn't get an abortion. Change the channel. That's just the BS that they're feeding you. Here are the facts in the Texas cases and The GA case is no different. https://www.texasallianceforlife.org/news/latest-state-abortion-data/
The problem here is you trust a media that has proven they will lie over and over to suit their agenda. What is so sad is that people like you believe it without checking it out.
And your taxes did not go up under Donald Trump. You're just lying about that. Donald Trump administration added more jobs than any other. Unemployment was at its lowest ever. All the stats were in his favor until Covid was unleashed. And in fact, the economy was so good that it came roaring back, Or at least it tried to. Biden administration killed that, literally.
There are a lot of comments for me to respond to, but I've got at least four years, so I'm probably gonna stop now. But after reading the first one, I'm not surprised that you view Kamala as an intelligent woman, Who speaks eloquently, lol.
312 to 226,
74 million to 70 million and counting
I'm not in the minority. This wasn't a close election. What's so sad is that instead of accepting the results we have to do the name-calling thing. That's just one of the reasons she didn't get elected. She had no policy just insults all of which were lies. He's Hitler. A threat to the democracy. As part of your "peaceful transition of power", how about trying to be kind to people that disagree with you instead of calling them names?
Some wonderful posts here. All viewpoints. KCJimmy is amazing. What I worry about is the genocide in Ukraine and how Trump said he would abandon them to Putin's legacy march to Russia's tsarist borders. He did sorta clean up Obama's mess in Syria / Iraq, and I'm sure the military will continue to demand he continues to spend Russia into the ground. Especially with the military's spares.
@kcjimmy: "As part of your "peaceful transition of power", how about trying to be kind to people that disagree with you instead of calling them names?"
You are really a piece of work, man. You mention 'peaceful transition of power', fail to acknowledge the assault on our nation's Capitol where officers were murdered, and say that the Democratic candidate needs to be nicer to her opponent. Did Kamala call Trump, Hitler? Is that a big surprise? Some of Trump's campaign ads happen to be extremely Hitlerian. Showing pictures of gay or transexual men which mock them as freaks, then saying "Kamala is for them. Donald Trump is for you." Hitler repeatedly minimalized those of "alternate" sexual orientations. Another Trump ad showed Kamala from 2019 saying that there would be gender affirming care for incarcerated transgenders. She was following Federal law, and Trump will have to do exactly the same:
No woman has died after being denied an abortion? Really?
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-abortion-bans-deaths-agonies.html
I guess I'll let a professional medical organization comment:
"But the truth, for those who actually want to see it, is plain. As the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists put it in a statement last month: 'There is no doubt that abortion bans are preventing ob-gyns and other clinicians from providing health care to their patients, and that those patients and their families are suffering as a result.' ”
Politics is a fascinating thing, all that goes into it and comes from it.
Regardless of the election outcome and what we hope or fear from it - all we can control is how we treat each other. We don't need to take lead from anyone in office to respect eachother's views, feelings and beliefs. Doesn't mean we have to agree and doesn't mean we can't discuss or even argue, but we all need to be what holds the country together and our communities and our societies and our message forums. Plenty of bad apples around no doubt and it seems there are more and more of them by the year. I still think civil discourse is the way, and sometimes the way is just not talking about things we don't agree on, instead find the things we do. We have more in common than what separates us.
it was about a sexual assault in a department store here he basically put his fingers in her vagina before she fought him off...he violated her physically then verbally
And when he pardons all the Jan 6 insurrectionist he will be building his own private army to go and terrorize...
goodness - hadn’t known of the up close & personal details - don’t forget to mention, poor EJ thought they were going to be discussing world affairs in the changing room too🥱
”fought him off” - fiction - multiple shoppers would’ve heard the commotion/ruckus/howls of protest coming from the changing room in that dept store
THEY went thru the back door into the changing room
then HE went thru the back door therein - that’s how I heard it anyway🥱
consent? at the time, yes, then EJ changed her tune - who wouldn’t w/84M dangling in front of you - we live in a capitalist society
————————————
remark, it must be awful to feel so dominated by/frustrated with/furious at/even fearful of (among some), the system & its politics/policies/politicians
am Far from a choirboy & all for peaceful protest but this is off the rails - a private army of Jan 6 terrorists, oathkeepers, proundboys?? to go terrorizing from the heartland out to both coasts & borders????
disregard everything above the line, it’s all out the rear end of trash journalism
@robslob I don't really practice a religion now but did growing up. St. Andrews Catholic Church was absolutely pro life and opposed to abortion years ago. And I understand that continues to be the case. Since Joe Biden became President, the Priest there has delivered several anti Biden and Pelosi homilies.
The Father makes it clear Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi would not be served communion at his church. And if any members there support abortion rights they are not welcome and please don't put any money in the offering plate as your money is not welcome.
Nancy Pelosi was removed for taking communion by her Archbishop in San Francisco. Biden continues to be served communion at his home church in Delaware but some of his fellow worshipers hold up signs that read "HYPOCRITE" when he arrives at the church.
I'm wondering if you think Catholics who are pro-abortion should resign from the Catholic Church if they run for political office?
And what about the babies? Because of my background, I have doubts abortion isn't murder. If it isn't, when would it cross that line? 2nd trimester? Third? Or is it never murder before a natural birth?
I also don't understand why Biden and Pelosi continue to practice Catholicism. I don't now but for others reasons.
Take care!!
Politics is a fascinating thing, all that goes into it and comes from it.
Regardless of the election outcome and what we hope or fear from it - all we can control is how we treat each other. We don't need to take lead from anyone in office to respect eachother's views, feelings and beliefs. Doesn't mean we have to agree and doesn't mean we can't discuss or even argue, but we all need to be what holds the country together and our communities and our societies and our message forums. Plenty of bad apples around no doubt and it seems there are more and more of them by the year. I still think civil discourse is the way, and sometimes the way is just not talking about things we don't agree on, instead find the things we do. We have more in common than what separates us.
8 years ago I would have agreed we have very little that separates us. Progress and familiarity had whittled down our differences. But candidates needed issues to divide us and outraged people with lies.
A lot of people voted for a person who is bereft of ideas or civil discourse. This election proved a lot of people share a common ignorance and rewarded cowardice. How can you expect people to treat each other with respect when they support a person who treats people with such contempt? There can be no civil discourse absent truth.
This is who we are.
@robertdee: Two people who are on the opposite sides of the fence regarding abortion rights could argue it for a year and never come to an agreement. This comment is from your post:
"And what about the babies? Because of my background, I have doubts abortion isn't murder. If it isn't, when would it cross that line? 2nd trimester? Third? Or is it never murder before a natural birth?"
Roe vs. Wade was very specific about that. Here is what Roe vs. Wade says, and I agree with it 100%. No need for us to argue this subject any further.
- First trimester: The woman has the sole right to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy.
- Second trimester: The state can regulate abortions to protect the health of the mother.
- After the second trimester: The state can regulate or prohibit abortions to protect the potential life of the fetus, except when necessary to protect the health or life of the mother.
@robslob None of it matters. The Founders' system is supposed to hold a President to the same standard as The People, as opposed to a King. There are checks and balances meant to keep the Executive in line, as Nixon learned. But Nixon's folly seems quaint today, simply complicit in a cover up, maybe not even a felony for a President in 2024. But the checks and balances can fail, and The Republic is defended ultimately by The People. We can't take that for granted.
The People had the opportunity to hold the Trump accountable for not just hate-mongering or being an awful human, but for insurrection - for attacking us. We failed miserably. Voters selfishly cared more about a slight rise in the cost of eggs over treason. As @nebish mentioned, all that matter is how we treat each other. Well, we had the opportunity to show how we treat each other - how words matter, how we rebuke hate, how we hold dear the health of women, how we may care about someone else's interests over our own wallet. More people chose themselves. It's very disappointing.
How can you expect people to treat each other with respect when they support a person who treats people with such contempt? There can be no civil discourse absent truth.
This is who we are.
I just say, forget about it. First off, things were better when what we believe or support was private. But even knowing, I can just speak for myself, but I can get along with a Bernie Sanders voter or a Donald Trump voter. A super fan of Barrack Obama or the President of George W Bush fan club. Right-wing, left-wing, no-wing - they are just people living in the same place we are. Things are better if we cool it down. Even when somebody else controls the thermostat, we can dress dress down to adapt to the heat.
The interactions among some people I have seen videos of, arguing, accusing, confronting. We are letting that happen to ourselves. It won't happen to me and I think everyone would be a lot better off if they didn't let it happen to them. I think people would be a lot happier if they just moved on instead of living in a world of perpetual conflict with others who don't think like them.
"It won't happen to me and I think everyone would be a lot better off if they didn't let it happen to them."
In the current culture of hate & taking offense at anything that's said by anyone, none of can say we won't be involved in any confrontations whether they are political or not. Hate, insults, & physical attacks are encouraged by the POTUS-elect. I see it starkly when I visit the US in NYC, Nashville, LA, Miami, and Savannah. People screaming at each other over who was first in line, disruptions at sports events, & worst of all, beating up & throwing blood on students on campus and store-owners just for being Jewish & NO ONE cares. [This isn't limited to the US as Amsterdam's running down Jews in the street on the anniversary of Kristallnach is frightening but even that was reminiscent of skinheads in Charlottesville.] This kind of unbridled hatred hasn't been seen in the US since the Jim Crow era when black people weren't treated as humans. Without leaders saying THIS IS WRONG, it's going to continue.
2 final thoughts:
If misogynist men are modeling themselves after the POTUS-elect, then I fear for our wives, daughters, and sisters.
There are still 7 Americans being held hostage by Hamas. One, Hersh Goldberg, who had lived in Richmond VA before going to the NOVA music festival, was murdered hours before being rescued by the IDF in a tunnel. What are Americans doing? Demanding our citizens be released? No, they're ripping down posters of hostages w/no consequences as celebrities cheer them on.
So, nebish, as much as I appreciate your peaceful wishes, the POTUS-elect brought his nasty vulgar rhetoric to the political stage in 2016, incited an insurrection, praised a lynching for the then VP and 8 years later, we can't say we're not going to engage. We can be attacked verbally or physically while minding our own business.
The POTUS-elect in 2016 or in 2024 didn't bring anything that didn't already exist. He is a reflection of 'us' or at last count, 75,076,634 of us. The conditions within this country made it possible for a person like him to be elected, not once but twice. I'm not in that number, you are not in that number, but a majority of people that voted in this country for President are in that number. His election is a product of where we are as a nation. Doesn't matter if any of us don't like that or not, that is what we get. So I move on down the road. How many people poured hours and weeks and months into ensuring a different outcome would take place on election day? And it didn't matter. I believe more in control what you can control and what you can't will be what it will be.
As for leaders standing up and saying this is wrong or that is wrong, the leaders can't agree on what to say or when to say it or who to say it too. Because they are probably worried they will offend some people and maybe jeopardize some future votes. Those are the people we are supposed to throw our support behind? How many times now is law enforcement hesitant to get involved because their work is often not only questioned but they themselves come under attack. And who backs them?
It is our government's job to ensure the release of hostages. I trust the Biden Administration has worked incredibly hard for that and for all US citizens we believe are being unjustly held in foreign countries. But what can we, you and I, do about it, we can't go get them. I don't think writing letters to representatives or putting posters up increases the likelihood our government will act sooner or more assertively.
Maybe I am just numb now to all of it.
I will console people who are depressed if their candidate or issues were not advanced last week. And I will urge restraint from people feeling victorious and bold because they got wins. I have dear friends and family that are passionate on both sides of the aisle and I love them both and I want to spend time with them both because there are good and meaningful aspects of our relationship that I don't want to lose. I don't care if somebody donated to a Democrat Senator campaign or went to a Republican rally. It means literally nothing to me. There is way more that matters, that really matters.
People should try and make the best of things no matter if their person won, or if their issues won or lost. What is the alternative, endless despair? Well that sucks. We may be cracking as a nation - what can any of us do about that? We just had an election and this nation will get what we get from that. Whistling past the graveyard, going to hell in a bucket, whatever expression fits - life goes on until it doesn't. My message to anyone is don't allow yourself to be consumed by the things that divide us.
