Well, I guess we gotta impeach Old Joe. Three random citizens in California think it's righteous retribution. I'm a center left democrat and my best friend is a center right republican. We are like the Bulwark's Beg to Differ. We do have calm discussions about politics. About 20-25 years ago, he said something that I had to agree with. He stated that regardless of who was President our lives were not affected too much. He was right. But starting in 2016 I felt like a switch was flipped and crazy town was unleashed upon the United States Government and the American people. Apparently anyone who voted for Trump is now my enemy and I need to plan accordingly.
You might not have thought you were directly affected by the last 40+ years of Republican policies, but those policies are what brought us to today’s Republican Party who want fascism. It’s a slow build. Education was affected dramatically. A billionaire class was created, who took over our government. Wars in the Middle East started by Republicans created massive debt.
I guess you could just slide by and not care if you didn’t feel affected, but meanwhile a slow poison has been working in this country that could’ve been avoided. If only everyone had cared, paid attention and voted.
Oh, and it also might not affect you that currently Republicans in their budget negotiations to keep the government basically funded, is an 80+% cut to Title 1 education funds for low income area public schools and elementary, secondary schools. More Republican dumbing down of America that creates an easily manipulated population.
By the way. I never said I voted Republican. If you recall, I said I am a left center Democrat. So while you have unleashed your vitriol on me, you should’ve really saved for someone who voted for some of those Republicans you hate so much. Glad that I was a conduit for your spewed lava. Hope you have a nice life. Maybe you’ll live longer if you get rid of some more hate.
As most voters of the last 5-8 presidential elections know, the votes count. But the bigger count are the Electoral College. (See 2016 Clinton vs Trump results.) trump and his campaign are counting on making sure he has the the proper number of Electoral votes. So it will be monumentally important for those 5-6 questionable states to have strong Democratic votes. Additionally many of the states have passed restrictions on voting, or gerrymandered the state so the R is elected. I pray it’s a Biden win.
That whole scenario is so dystopian that it leaves me feeling on edge. While I don’t think tRump will win re-election, IF he did, I can just see crazed Mike Flynn filling the role of Joint Chief. Horrors! Let’s not even contemplate this. It’s a worst case scenario that should scare people into action. Vote Blue
"The People" is more disturbing that I can describe in words. Their hero can barely speak a coherent sentence, but Biden is "out of it" and making a "mockery" of our country?
"But Trump has learned a great deal from his first term and his most important lesson was that he needs to surround himself with people who are completely loyal—not to the Constitution, but to him, personally."
He will most assuredly become a dictator. I honestly believe he would make himself president for life, as he joked about when inspired by the Chinese president.
If that were to happen, there is a *HIGH* probability he would be assassinated. Would I be particularly upset should that happen? No, not really, and I don't say that out of malice. I say it because we have the receipts--Donald Trump is a vile individual. Donald Trump likes to carry himself like a low-rent low-class mob boss. He should probably remember--if he can--that most mob bosses do not "die in their sleep".
The anecdotes from McCarhy’s district are troubling, but not surprising given the reach of conservative media and social media. Still, it shows how bad off we are when people have such distorted views. Nothing in the quotes has a grain of truth yet the interviewees sound convinced. Yikes!
I'm 67 years old. When I started school, in a small rural town in California, we were still practicing air raid drills. This article scares the living crap out of me. How can we help ensure that enough Americans hear what our leaders in the military really think?
The statements are from residents of Kevin McCarthy's district in Fresno, not an LA suburb. McCarthy won by 30 pts in 2022. The statements from those ppl should not be ignored but let's not act like its a swing district.
My fear is that Trump will turn the military in his own personal gestapo, dissolve Congress and all Federal Agencies to replace them with wild MAGA syncophants. When that happens we can only pray that he mostly plays golf.
Project 2025, Republicans manifesto for installing fascism, does almost that. First thing they do is give the president power over all 3 independent branches, removing checks & balances. He could fund and defund whoever he wanted. Trump is the puppet, leading a cult of voters. While he would be playing golf, the ones who planned Project 2025 will be at work removing our democratic government and re-writing our constitution.
"But Trump has learned a great deal from his first term and his most important lesson was that he needs to surround himself with people who are completely loyal—not to the Constitution, but to him, personally."
Actually he has "learned" nothing. This is natural selection in action. Six years ago those who applied for the job, included many who thought the system was controllable. They learned the hard way, that it was not, and that they were outnumbered by (1) rabid anti-Republic authoritarians who saw their perfect "useful idiot" as a godsend and (2) shameless opportunists who only cared about their own careers, and had no problem "kissing" even if it meant screwing their country. Now anyone who's not a committed (1) or (2) knows better to even apply for the job.
It’s abnormal to be a Christian…”. Yeah, sure, except @ 63% it’s the largest religion in the US. What happens if it continues to shrink to say 48%, well then you’re in the UK. This complex that (some) Christians have leading to ‘persecution porn’ like The Left Behind series is pathetic. If you’re a Christian and want to know real persecution, move to Nigeria. As for the whole rapture fantasy, it’s an idea that for the first 1800 years of Christianity didn’t exist until John Nelson Darby invented it.
I've said here before, but I will say it again...."Jesus & John Wayne" by Kristin du Mez. Most of these "Evangelicals" rarely go to church...and some not at all. They spit on The Sermon on the Mount. They spit on the concepts of forgiveness and mercy (unless it is for themselves). Through their idolatry regarding Trumpworld, they spit on God Him or Her. They are trafficking in heresy in their churches, and they will pay for it.
If, instead of bludgeoning the indigenous civilizations of North America with its genocidal religion, the "Christian" invaders had adopted the spirituality of the continent's occupants, the entire planet would be safer, cleaner and less bellicose, with a future one could still look forward to with positive anticipation instead of existential dread.
You might want to bone up on the Aztecs, Mayans, Incas, Iroquois, Navaho, etc. history. I doubt their victims would agree that they were less bellicose than the Europeans. They were people with the same faults as the Europeans, indeed all of humanity. But they were backward scientifically (none of them had the wheel), and I venture to say culturally with little of the schools, arts, literature, and even agriculture that developed in Europe and Asia, despite linguistic and cultural differences. Most likely because of the vast distances that separated the native tribes/empires. That and the diseases that arrived with the Europeans made them more vulnerable to conquest. If they had advanced as much as the European nations did, it would be a different world. But I really doubt it would be much safer, cleaner and less bellicose.
Just so. Or if they adopted an idea that I recently heard from (I think a Pastor, I’d have to look it up to be sure) that. Christianity for them is like a language. They were brought speaking and thinking in Christian but others communicate using Buddhism, Islam, etc. And as she said some are multilingual in religion, say a. Christian-Buddhist. Ben Cremer and Pete Enns are great on some of these subjects.
New CNN Poll in NH Has Biden Up Over Trump 52-40 - A new, large-sample CNN/University of New Hampshire poll has Biden up over Trump by 12 points, 52-40. For reference, Biden won the state in 2020 by 7 points, and Clinton won it by less than a point in 2016. It’s encouraging news, and another sign of that Democratic overperformance we’ve been seeing across the US since Dobbs.
That’s great. I’m still saddened that it’s even that close, given the nature of what we’re contending with on the Republican side. Are there really that many who want authoritarianism?
You'll probably notice that this particular poll is barely mentioned by the press this weekend, but if it had been Trump on top, we'd never hear the end of it.
I'd like to propose JVL-style question to everyone. Let's do some fantasy politics!
Imagine that the DNC suddenly announces that the Democratic Party is shutting-down operations, will no longer exist, and all members of the party are immediately resigning from office at the federal, state, and local level. "You win, Republicans! You won't have us Democrats to kick around anymore. You can now do absolutely whatever you want, without any opposition."
And here's my question to you all: What would Republicans do then? Would their voters de-radicalize and stop being so irrationally pissed-off? Would they stop grabbing for every conspiracy theory they come across? Would they suddenly become "sane" and "normal" again? Or would they just find another group of people to demonize, and basically just keep on with crazy business as usual? Or, is it possible that they would somehow get even crazier and more pissed-off?
I'd really like to find out what other people think about this. I think it would be somewhere between option 2 and option 3. Democrats disappearing and Republicans getting everything they supposedly want would NOT have a relaxing effect on the wing nut base.
They would still have plenty of people to demonize- immigrants, black people, women, etc.
Their immigration bill would shut down the borders and cut off all immigration.
They would kill the ACA, kill Medicare, kill Social Security, kill Medicaid.
Tax breaks for the wealthy, lots and lots and lots of tax breaks!
Ban abortion, kill the intelligence agencies, the Department of Education, end mail in ballots, require in person voting (if they still allow people to vote) on the day of the election.
Listen to any speech by a GOP presidential hopeful and they're telling you exactly what they'd do.
Every one of those Republican presidential hopefuls is insanely Libertarian radical. Tge Ramaswamy guy wants to get rid of the Labor department, education, IRS, FTC, FAA, all of it and turn it over to states! Can you imagine the chaos? It is very depressing to think it’s even possible.
Well, I guess we gotta impeach Old Joe. Three random citizens in California think it's righteous retribution. I'm a center left democrat and my best friend is a center right republican. We are like the Bulwark's Beg to Differ. We do have calm discussions about politics. About 20-25 years ago, he said something that I had to agree with. He stated that regardless of who was President our lives were not affected too much. He was right. But starting in 2016 I felt like a switch was flipped and crazy town was unleashed upon the United States Government and the American people. Apparently anyone who voted for Trump is now my enemy and I need to plan accordingly.
You might not have thought you were directly affected by the last 40+ years of Republican policies, but those policies are what brought us to today’s Republican Party who want fascism. It’s a slow build. Education was affected dramatically. A billionaire class was created, who took over our government. Wars in the Middle East started by Republicans created massive debt.
I guess you could just slide by and not care if you didn’t feel affected, but meanwhile a slow poison has been working in this country that could’ve been avoided. If only everyone had cared, paid attention and voted.
Oh, and it also might not affect you that currently Republicans in their budget negotiations to keep the government basically funded, is an 80+% cut to Title 1 education funds for low income area public schools and elementary, secondary schools. More Republican dumbing down of America that creates an easily manipulated population.
Hope you’re better at taking pictures than communicating. Maybe it was just my lucky day to piss off a repressed Brit.
By the way. I never said I voted Republican. If you recall, I said I am a left center Democrat. So while you have unleashed your vitriol on me, you should’ve really saved for someone who voted for some of those Republicans you hate so much. Glad that I was a conduit for your spewed lava. Hope you have a nice life. Maybe you’ll live longer if you get rid of some more hate.
I stand corrected.
As most voters of the last 5-8 presidential elections know, the votes count. But the bigger count are the Electoral College. (See 2016 Clinton vs Trump results.) trump and his campaign are counting on making sure he has the the proper number of Electoral votes. So it will be monumentally important for those 5-6 questionable states to have strong Democratic votes. Additionally many of the states have passed restrictions on voting, or gerrymandered the state so the R is elected. I pray it’s a Biden win.
That whole scenario is so dystopian that it leaves me feeling on edge. While I don’t think tRump will win re-election, IF he did, I can just see crazed Mike Flynn filling the role of Joint Chief. Horrors! Let’s not even contemplate this. It’s a worst case scenario that should scare people into action. Vote Blue
"The People" is more disturbing that I can describe in words. Their hero can barely speak a coherent sentence, but Biden is "out of it" and making a "mockery" of our country?
But it's not a cult, right?
With those "opinions" from McCarthy's hometown mob, I have NO words!
"But Trump has learned a great deal from his first term and his most important lesson was that he needs to surround himself with people who are completely loyal—not to the Constitution, but to him, personally."
This is what is the most terrifying.
He will most assuredly become a dictator. I honestly believe he would make himself president for life, as he joked about when inspired by the Chinese president.
If that were to happen, there is a *HIGH* probability he would be assassinated. Would I be particularly upset should that happen? No, not really, and I don't say that out of malice. I say it because we have the receipts--Donald Trump is a vile individual. Donald Trump likes to carry himself like a low-rent low-class mob boss. He should probably remember--if he can--that most mob bosses do not "die in their sleep".
The anecdotes from McCarhy’s district are troubling, but not surprising given the reach of conservative media and social media. Still, it shows how bad off we are when people have such distorted views. Nothing in the quotes has a grain of truth yet the interviewees sound convinced. Yikes!
I'm 67 years old. When I started school, in a small rural town in California, we were still practicing air raid drills. This article scares the living crap out of me. How can we help ensure that enough Americans hear what our leaders in the military really think?
Re: The People
The statements are from residents of Kevin McCarthy's district in Fresno, not an LA suburb. McCarthy won by 30 pts in 2022. The statements from those ppl should not be ignored but let's not act like its a swing district.
McCarthy’s district is the meth lab capital of California!
People forget that California was Trump’s biggest source of raw votes.
And it's 2 people
My fear is that Trump will turn the military in his own personal gestapo, dissolve Congress and all Federal Agencies to replace them with wild MAGA syncophants. When that happens we can only pray that he mostly plays golf.
Project 2025, Republicans manifesto for installing fascism, does almost that. First thing they do is give the president power over all 3 independent branches, removing checks & balances. He could fund and defund whoever he wanted. Trump is the puppet, leading a cult of voters. While he would be playing golf, the ones who planned Project 2025 will be at work removing our democratic government and re-writing our constitution.
Re the military, TFG's latest: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-punishment-milley/?utm_source=123456&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=16241&recip_id=974077&list_id=1. DEATH! BTW, according to him, Milley's the one who messed up Afghanistan; the TFG had nothing to do with it.
"But Trump has learned a great deal from his first term and his most important lesson was that he needs to surround himself with people who are completely loyal—not to the Constitution, but to him, personally."
Actually he has "learned" nothing. This is natural selection in action. Six years ago those who applied for the job, included many who thought the system was controllable. They learned the hard way, that it was not, and that they were outnumbered by (1) rabid anti-Republic authoritarians who saw their perfect "useful idiot" as a godsend and (2) shameless opportunists who only cared about their own careers, and had no problem "kissing" even if it meant screwing their country. Now anyone who's not a committed (1) or (2) knows better to even apply for the job.
The People:
It’s abnormal to be a Christian…”. Yeah, sure, except @ 63% it’s the largest religion in the US. What happens if it continues to shrink to say 48%, well then you’re in the UK. This complex that (some) Christians have leading to ‘persecution porn’ like The Left Behind series is pathetic. If you’re a Christian and want to know real persecution, move to Nigeria. As for the whole rapture fantasy, it’s an idea that for the first 1800 years of Christianity didn’t exist until John Nelson Darby invented it.
I've said here before, but I will say it again...."Jesus & John Wayne" by Kristin du Mez. Most of these "Evangelicals" rarely go to church...and some not at all. They spit on The Sermon on the Mount. They spit on the concepts of forgiveness and mercy (unless it is for themselves). Through their idolatry regarding Trumpworld, they spit on God Him or Her. They are trafficking in heresy in their churches, and they will pay for it.
From your lips to His or Her ear.
If, instead of bludgeoning the indigenous civilizations of North America with its genocidal religion, the "Christian" invaders had adopted the spirituality of the continent's occupants, the entire planet would be safer, cleaner and less bellicose, with a future one could still look forward to with positive anticipation instead of existential dread.
You might want to bone up on the Aztecs, Mayans, Incas, Iroquois, Navaho, etc. history. I doubt their victims would agree that they were less bellicose than the Europeans. They were people with the same faults as the Europeans, indeed all of humanity. But they were backward scientifically (none of them had the wheel), and I venture to say culturally with little of the schools, arts, literature, and even agriculture that developed in Europe and Asia, despite linguistic and cultural differences. Most likely because of the vast distances that separated the native tribes/empires. That and the diseases that arrived with the Europeans made them more vulnerable to conquest. If they had advanced as much as the European nations did, it would be a different world. But I really doubt it would be much safer, cleaner and less bellicose.
Just so. Or if they adopted an idea that I recently heard from (I think a Pastor, I’d have to look it up to be sure) that. Christianity for them is like a language. They were brought speaking and thinking in Christian but others communicate using Buddhism, Islam, etc. And as she said some are multilingual in religion, say a. Christian-Buddhist. Ben Cremer and Pete Enns are great on some of these subjects.
A little good news from Simon Rosenberg today:
New CNN Poll in NH Has Biden Up Over Trump 52-40 - A new, large-sample CNN/University of New Hampshire poll has Biden up over Trump by 12 points, 52-40. For reference, Biden won the state in 2020 by 7 points, and Clinton won it by less than a point in 2016. It’s encouraging news, and another sign of that Democratic overperformance we’ve been seeing across the US since Dobbs.
That’s great. I’m still saddened that it’s even that close, given the nature of what we’re contending with on the Republican side. Are there really that many who want authoritarianism?
You'll probably notice that this particular poll is barely mentioned by the press this weekend, but if it had been Trump on top, we'd never hear the end of it.
I'd like to propose JVL-style question to everyone. Let's do some fantasy politics!
Imagine that the DNC suddenly announces that the Democratic Party is shutting-down operations, will no longer exist, and all members of the party are immediately resigning from office at the federal, state, and local level. "You win, Republicans! You won't have us Democrats to kick around anymore. You can now do absolutely whatever you want, without any opposition."
And here's my question to you all: What would Republicans do then? Would their voters de-radicalize and stop being so irrationally pissed-off? Would they stop grabbing for every conspiracy theory they come across? Would they suddenly become "sane" and "normal" again? Or would they just find another group of people to demonize, and basically just keep on with crazy business as usual? Or, is it possible that they would somehow get even crazier and more pissed-off?
I'd really like to find out what other people think about this. I think it would be somewhere between option 2 and option 3. Democrats disappearing and Republicans getting everything they supposedly want would NOT have a relaxing effect on the wing nut base.
D or, if you prefer, 4. Then blood. Lots and lots and lots of blood.
They would still have plenty of people to demonize- immigrants, black people, women, etc.
Their immigration bill would shut down the borders and cut off all immigration.
They would kill the ACA, kill Medicare, kill Social Security, kill Medicaid.
Tax breaks for the wealthy, lots and lots and lots of tax breaks!
Ban abortion, kill the intelligence agencies, the Department of Education, end mail in ballots, require in person voting (if they still allow people to vote) on the day of the election.
Listen to any speech by a GOP presidential hopeful and they're telling you exactly what they'd do.
I could go on, but I'm already depressed.
Every one of those Republican presidential hopefuls is insanely Libertarian radical. Tge Ramaswamy guy wants to get rid of the Labor department, education, IRS, FTC, FAA, all of it and turn it over to states! Can you imagine the chaos? It is very depressing to think it’s even possible.
Did you see this? https://newrepublic.com/post/175705/david-brooks-78-airport-meal-fact-check?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dinner92223%20-%20Fri%20Sep%2022%202023&utm_term=Subscription%20List%20-%20NYM-Daily