“If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.”
“I would tell that young girl that you will have a better life now thanks to President Trump.” Nothing has given me a greater chill down my spine than this comment by Bessent. It's so Dear Leader I can hardly breathe. I wouldn't worry about the dolls scarcity; more like toilet paper and fresh vegetables are going to move the needle.
Jill Lawrence's article about big data and MAGA's ultimate plans for it was spot on. It used to be that conservatives (or at least libertarians) valued their privacy. It was none of the government's business how much money you made - that was between you and the IRS. Now they are all for your data being in one big beautiful open book, including medical records, credit reports, birth and death / family relationships, bank accounts. This would have seemed outrageous until about 5 minutes ago.
There's not even any need for that supposed chip that the Covid vaccine left in you.
So if the government knows everything about you, why is it necessary to carry papers? Oh right, that's just for brown people.
When we lived in DK, you were supposed to tell the government within a short period of time, if you moved, so that official notices could reach you. This was in the 80s, before cell phones and computers in every pocket. Back here, Americans were shocked at what was, in their opinion, democratic socialist government overreach.
Tell that same family they can be perfectly happy with domestic apples instead of imported bananas in their school lunches (packed at home, of course), and mummy and daddy can drink a chicory brew instead of that imported coffee. Speaking of coffee, I met a lovely local roaster whose prices had gone up 40% just since the first of the year. Partly due to drought AND floods in two of the source countries, but also in anticipation of tariffs. He will likely not be able to afford the rent on his small storefront. The price was already $17 for a 12 oz bag of beans. What would you be willing to pay, given that coffee does not grow here?
Bessent is a total pig to make that statement. A complete toady not to mention a degree in ass kissing. He should be ashamed but that would require character.
When I was working in Dubai, I corrected a few corporate references to the water between us and the Islamic Republic as the "Persian" gulf. ("If you're on this side, it's Arabian.") Even today, if I hear Persian Gulf, I correct it in my mind.
The very fact that the people who want everyone else, the little people, do without, go without, and handle the pain of tariffs while they look forward to the tax breaks they will receive, should be enough to change minds of Felon Trump supporters. We shall see.
Regarding the stereotyping of girls and dolls as mentioned -- I think it's a mistake to introduce gender identity politics into this issue at all. Trump's stupid statements about dolls is a huge misstep for him on the basis that it (a) trivializes the impact of tariff costs on families in a specific realm with an emotional content, i.e., buying toys for your kids; (b) it's an admission that tariff costs will be passed on to consumers, which Trump and his sycophants have been dancing around for months now; and (c) it shines a spotlight on the deeply insulting spectacle of the man with the golden toilet lecturing working families about how to live a simpler life with fewer dolls.
But now feminist activists risk handing the MAGAs a golden opportunity to pivot from Trump's vulnerability over this incredibly stupid comment to start hollering about the "woke feminazis" and their "anti-man" agenda.
What is to be gained by griping about Trump's focus on dolls rather than trucks? Is anyone going to turn against Trump because of the revelation that he's a sexist, as if we have not all known this for decades? And would his comments about dolls have been any less insulting if he had also mentioned toy trucks? Certainly not!
We all have our pet issues that really fire us up. But an existential menace like Trump has to be attacked wherever he's most vulnerable, not where we would like.
Here's a take on this
https://bsky.app/profile/photoonist.bsky.social/post/3loopo3p5ns2g
With MAGA there's not limits on guns....tell them they can only have 2 or 3 AR-15's and they'll be coming after you with one
“If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.”
― Lyndon B. Johnson
“I would tell that young girl that you will have a better life now thanks to President Trump.” Nothing has given me a greater chill down my spine than this comment by Bessent. It's so Dear Leader I can hardly breathe. I wouldn't worry about the dolls scarcity; more like toilet paper and fresh vegetables are going to move the needle.
I thought we didn’t like the “nanny state” telling us what to do.
The New Right folks don't want the government telling them what to do. They want to be the ones telling you what to do.
It’s so gross. Very patriarchy.
Thom Tillis is unfortunately one of my senators and a lying POS. He also pretended to be opposed to Hegseth. Yeah, right.
Jill Lawrence's article about big data and MAGA's ultimate plans for it was spot on. It used to be that conservatives (or at least libertarians) valued their privacy. It was none of the government's business how much money you made - that was between you and the IRS. Now they are all for your data being in one big beautiful open book, including medical records, credit reports, birth and death / family relationships, bank accounts. This would have seemed outrageous until about 5 minutes ago.
There's not even any need for that supposed chip that the Covid vaccine left in you.
So if the government knows everything about you, why is it necessary to carry papers? Oh right, that's just for brown people.
When we lived in DK, you were supposed to tell the government within a short period of time, if you moved, so that official notices could reach you. This was in the 80s, before cell phones and computers in every pocket. Back here, Americans were shocked at what was, in their opinion, democratic socialist government overreach.
Tell that same family they can be perfectly happy with domestic apples instead of imported bananas in their school lunches (packed at home, of course), and mummy and daddy can drink a chicory brew instead of that imported coffee. Speaking of coffee, I met a lovely local roaster whose prices had gone up 40% just since the first of the year. Partly due to drought AND floods in two of the source countries, but also in anticipation of tariffs. He will likely not be able to afford the rent on his small storefront. The price was already $17 for a 12 oz bag of beans. What would you be willing to pay, given that coffee does not grow here?
Bessent is a total pig to make that statement. A complete toady not to mention a degree in ass kissing. He should be ashamed but that would require character.
“I would tell that young girl that you will have a better life now thanks to President Trump.”
Is Commissar Bessent so ignorant of history as not to realize that the classic form of that statement ALWAYS ends "thanks to Comrade Stalin"!?!?
When I was working in Dubai, I corrected a few corporate references to the water between us and the Islamic Republic as the "Persian" gulf. ("If you're on this side, it's Arabian.") Even today, if I hear Persian Gulf, I correct it in my mind.
That's the difference in perspective between medieval cultures and modern ones. Thanks, Trump!
I was truly cheered by Bill’s comments on feminists. Yes, coalitions are the way out of this pit.
Re Trump renaming stuff: he's like a dog marking his territory
Yes, except that dogs are loyal.
The very fact that the people who want everyone else, the little people, do without, go without, and handle the pain of tariffs while they look forward to the tax breaks they will receive, should be enough to change minds of Felon Trump supporters. We shall see.
What if... the #TrumpTariffs are not designed to bring revenue to the US, but to Trump's pockets?
1. Trump enacts tariffs.
2. Trump suspends most tariffs expecting countries and/or US manufacturers will want to negotiate with him.
3. The "best" way to "negotiate" with Trump is to meet up with him at MAL.
4. The "best" way to meet him at MAL is to buy tons of Trump shitcoin.
5. Thus, Trump's tariffs are just a way to force countries & companies to buy Trump shitcoin.
Am I over-thinking this?
Regarding the stereotyping of girls and dolls as mentioned -- I think it's a mistake to introduce gender identity politics into this issue at all. Trump's stupid statements about dolls is a huge misstep for him on the basis that it (a) trivializes the impact of tariff costs on families in a specific realm with an emotional content, i.e., buying toys for your kids; (b) it's an admission that tariff costs will be passed on to consumers, which Trump and his sycophants have been dancing around for months now; and (c) it shines a spotlight on the deeply insulting spectacle of the man with the golden toilet lecturing working families about how to live a simpler life with fewer dolls.
But now feminist activists risk handing the MAGAs a golden opportunity to pivot from Trump's vulnerability over this incredibly stupid comment to start hollering about the "woke feminazis" and their "anti-man" agenda.
What is to be gained by griping about Trump's focus on dolls rather than trucks? Is anyone going to turn against Trump because of the revelation that he's a sexist, as if we have not all known this for decades? And would his comments about dolls have been any less insulting if he had also mentioned toy trucks? Certainly not!
We all have our pet issues that really fire us up. But an existential menace like Trump has to be attacked wherever he's most vulnerable, not where we would like.
I agree, dolls are not the hill to die on.