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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 16:53:51 GMT
are you okay with that choice leading to a return of diseases that used to regularly kill children that have all but been eradicated thanks to vaccines? Like Polio, diphtheria, etc? I'm sure the World Health Organization will have a few things to say about this when/if it happens... eradicating disease is kind of a good thing for the entire world, isn't it? "America is the greatest country in the world." What a laugh. Makes me sick. America is RAPIDLY becoming a third-world country, as evidenced by pretty much every poll / survey out there. eta: the 'greatest country' should want to help ALL of its citizens, not just the select few / upper class / richest. Don't think for a moment that this isn't all tied in to Republicans' desire to end public schools. No public schools, no entity requiring kids to be vaccinated before attendance, vaccination rates drop, and disease spreads. And somehow it will be Democrats' fault. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 16:46:05 GMT
I think there is a difference between sexy and handsome. My preference is never the slick, pretty boys. I can see a lot of women finding Krasinski sexy. But, this is People, and their choice always comes with an agenda, and always has. I’m curious what you think the agenda here is. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 15:45:19 GMT
The way he looks and talks about his wife is sexy as hell! And the abs for Jack Ryan didn't hurt. Works for me. Yes! Tell your daughters to get them a man (or woman) who looks at them like John looks at Emily.  |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 14:59:16 GMT
Yup.
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 13:37:02 GMT
Great. Because being a Fox News host makes him well qualified for Secretary of Defense. This is also why Trump is trying to do an end run around official nominations. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/us/politics/pete-hegseth-defense-secretary-trump.htmlBut Mr. Hegseth is likely to run into opposition from senior military officials and perhaps lawmakers who have served in the military for his embrace of narratives by troops who ran afoul of military justice rules. A former Pentagon official from Mr. Trump’s first term questioned Mr. Hegseth’s lack of experience — other than serving in the military — and raised concerns about his ability to win Senate confirmation, even with a Republican majority in the chamberFor comparison, here is Lloyd Austin's resume www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2522687/lloyd-j-austin-iii/Mr. Austin was born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Thomasville, Georgia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the Infantry. He holds a Master of Arts degree in counselor education from Auburn University, and a Master of Business Management from Webster University. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
His 41-year career in the Army included command at the corps, division, battalion, and brigade levels. Mr. Austin was awarded the Silver Star for his leadership of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Seven years later, he would assume the duties of Commanding General of United States Forces – Iraq, overseeing all combat operations in the country.
After a tour as the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff, Mr. Austin concluded his uniformed service as the Commander of U.S. Central Command, responsible for all military operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. In this assignment, he led U.S. and coalition efforts to battle ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He retired from the Army in April, 2016.
Since his retirement from military service, Mr. Austin served on the Boards of Directors for Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, and Tenet Healthcare.He served, but they are really replacing a 4 star general with a TV host? This does not inspire confidence. He served. Yeah. But this is like appointing me Secretary of Education because I taught. (I am not qualified to be Secretary of Education. Arguably more qualified than Betsy DeVos was, but that's a low bar.) |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 13:32:21 GMT
OMG y'all are crazy. He's been top of my laminated list for years now.
Funny is sexy. Dorky is sexy. Kind is sexy. And the way he looks since he got his Jack Ryan body on? Mmmmmm.
More for me, I guess!
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 13:28:58 GMT
Ah yes, he's nominated the puppy killer from South Dakota for head of DHS. That tracks.
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 3:33:58 GMT
Oooh, this is a good one. Dump’s new Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegspeth, a Fox News anchor. He served in the army and has spent the rest of his career as a talking head. And famously, he doesn’t believe in germs because he can’t see them. Said he hasn’t washed his hands in 10 years. amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/11/12/politics/pete-hegseth-secretary-of-defenseI posted a little about him in the Misc political thread. He sounds like a complete moron. I know he served in the military, but since when does being a host on Fox qualify a person for Secretary of Defense? In comparison, Lloyd Austin has decades more experience.  Word of the day, apparently. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 3:20:40 GMT
Don't any of these people have enough sense to recognize that they aren't qualified for these positions? Dunning Kruger syndrome is the first job requirement for the Trump White House. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 2:59:31 GMT
Oooh, this is a good one. Dump’s new Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegspeth, a Fox News anchor. He served in the army and has spent the rest of his career as a talking head. And famously, he doesn’t believe in germs because he can’t see them. Said he hasn’t washed his hands in 10 years. amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/11/12/politics/pete-hegseth-secretary-of-defenseI posted a little about him in the Misc political thread. He sounds like a complete moron. I know he served in the military, but since when does being a host on Fox qualify a person for Secretary of Defense? In comparison, Lloyd Austin has decades more experience. Well, Mattis and Esper, who held the position in Trump's first administration and were qualified on paper, were not sufficiently servile. Both have said that Trump is not fit to sit in the Oval Office. They had knowledge and experience that made them reluctant to go along with all of Trump's idiot notions. If you recall, that made Trump mad - he was said to have wanted "the kind of generals Hitler had." I'm sure Hegspeth will be just the bootlicker Trump is looking for. Next up - Jeanine Pirro for AG? Tucker Carlson for Secretary of the Interior? |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 2:39:48 GMT
Oh come on, not one else is amused by the description of the woman and her fiance? Do these people exist? I found the entire article entertaining, and I laughed right out loud at the last line: "“There’s something about giving birth,” she says, “that just creeps me out.”"  Thank you! The author struck exactly the right tone for such a weird story. I was charmed. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 2:37:45 GMT
Oooh, this is a good one. Dump’s new Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegspeth, a Fox News anchor. He served in the army and has spent the rest of his career as a talking head. And famously, he doesn’t believe in germs because he can’t see them. Said he hasn’t washed his hands in 10 years. amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/11/12/politics/pete-hegseth-secretary-of-defense |
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Post by Merge on Nov 13, 2024 1:31:32 GMT
The right wing:
1. Parents should be able to make choices about their kids' healthcare! If they choose, they should be able to decline all vaccines and let their child die of measles.
2. Parents should not be able to pursue treatment for their child's gender dysphoria. The government has to step in and ban pediatric gender dysphoria treatments because parents can't be trusted to do the right thing for their child.
Make that make sense.
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 22:49:37 GMT
I agree that there is room for a lot of improvement in food supply, eating locally etc. However, tariffs and deporting millions of Americans are not going to solve these problems, tariffs and deportations will only raise prices and increase inflation. Agree. I feel targeted, strategic tariffs could be beneficial. Both parties have used limited tariffs strategically. No one has done anything like what Trump is suggesting. His whole purpose with it is to move the entirety of the national tax burden to working people as he eliminates income tax. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 22:44:55 GMT
Could be true. However, at some point you all are going to have to admit that Trump is tied to Project 2025, even though supposedly the name has now been changed. Two of his future cabinet members, including Stephen Miller, who has already been named his Deputy Chief of Staff for POLICY, are authors of Project 2025. So you really think that when someone who is an author of Project 2025, who will be Trumps person in charge of policy, that Trump has nothing to do with Project 2025? That makes zero sense. And what about Tom Homan, who Trump has named as his border czar, who is also one of the authors of Project 2025? How can you really believe that Trump has nothing to do with Project 2025? If he truly does not, as he claimed while he was campaigning, why is he already, a week in, hiring people who are prominent contributors to it? Why would I “admit” that he’s tied to that before having ANY concrete proof? That’s your problem…you panic with what you THINK MIGHT happen. 🙄🙄🙄 No. We fear what he has specifically said he will do, which is being validated by the people he’s appointing to his staff. YOU on the other hand, have no basis whatsoever for your hopes. As you have admitted/. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 22:43:04 GMT
But like, what about him makes you hope that he has a plan of any kind, even if you don't know what it is? I’m hoping they have a good plan because I think things need to change. That’s all I got. Perhaps you can see how your hopes for a Trump presidency are based on no evidence whatsoever, while our fears are based on his past actions and specifically stated intentions. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 21:54:22 GMT
I’m not interested in reading about project 2025 because it’s not trumps plan. Every plan starts with a concept of a plan. Weird how he keeps adding its authors to his new staff then. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 21:35:06 GMT
Right. So please understand that I am a logical person. Can you help me understand what, logically, in Trump's speeches or past acts gives you hope that he has a big plan for fixing everything? I’m not a magician. I don’t know his plans. I don’t know why you think I should or would. I don’t remember Trump ever giving any speeches about what exactly he was going to do for the health department. I’m sure that is something that’s going to be worked on by everyone involved, and it will be an evolving thing. I hope you realize that it’s not going to be fixed one way or another on day one. It might not even be fixed in the next four years. But at least will have a start. But like, what about him makes you hope that he has a plan of any kind, even if you don't know what it is? |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 21:33:12 GMT
Houston, TX - we have the country's best grocery store, HEB! Haha. And some other, inferior grocery chains as well. TJ and Aldi, Kroger, Randall's, Food Town, Foodarama, Whole Foods, Sprouts, multiple farmers' markets each weekend plus the giant one on the north side that's open 7 days a week. Target and Walmart, Costco and Sam's. That’s not even counting all the ethnic grocery stores.
And as of yesterday we now have six restaurants with shiny, new Michelin stars.
BUT there are also large areas of my city that qualify as food deserts. Various groups have worked to at least bring in a produce truck a couple of times a week. There was a tiny grocery store called Little Red Box whose mission was to bring in healthy food at reasonable prices, but they seem to have closed.
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 21:21:27 GMT
You realize that changing our food requirements will require additional regulations and enforcement for those regulations, right? And that the big corporations that make processed food regularly lobby government to reduce regulations so they can increase profits, right? And that Trump has repeatedly spoken against government regulations for business? So please be specific - what is he going to do? So please - read the post above this one. Right. So please understand that I am a logical person. Can you help me understand what, logically, in Trump's speeches or past acts gives you hope that he has a big plan for fixing everything? |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 20:38:35 GMT
I 100% agree with you that the crap that is in our food is beyond ridiculous. I try very hard to eat nothing that comes out of a box or can. Pretty much beans and tomato sauce are all I buy in a can. I've even been making my own pasta. I buy mostly fresh foods and frozen veggies. BUT, I do remember years when I was a stay at home mom with 4 kids, and I did the best I could feeding them. I still cooked from scratch a lot, but it was much cheaper to buy a box of hamburger helper, which was often 89 cents back then, than it was to buy all the things to make something similar from scratch. Our problem is that fresh healthy foods are beyond the reaches of many families, not only because of price but because like crimsoncat said, there are many people who live in places where their only choice to buy food is at Dollar General or worse. People do the best they can to feed their family, and I won't shame anyone for what they choose to feed their kids. I also want to remind you that when Obama was president, Michelle's cause she took up was healthy school lunches. OMG...does anyone else remember that??? "Kids won't eat that stuff!!" and worse things were said. You just can't win. Now we have wackadoodle RFK who wants to be in control of our food and health, and everyone is bowing at his feet thinking he is going to fix all that ails us and be the savior of the health of the US.
We all did that. But now we know what is in the food thanks to social media and we have a chance to make things better and get the garbage and chemicals out of the food system. And I hope that the FDA will have to atone for the lies about food that they have been feeding us (pun intended) for decades. I've done a deep dive and it's really quite appalling. You realize that changing our food requirements will require additional regulations and enforcement for those regulations, right? And that the big corporations that make processed food regularly lobby government to reduce regulations so they can increase profits, right? And that Trump has repeatedly spoken against government regulations for business? So please be specific - what is he going to do? |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 20:35:54 GMT
I sure the hell hope so because the lunches/processed food that everyone is eating now is disgusting. Do some research on just what is in some of these processed foods if you care about what you eat and what you are feeding your children. I 100% agree with you that the crap that is in our food is beyond ridiculous. I try very hard to eat nothing that comes out of a box or can. Pretty much beans and tomato sauce are all I buy in a can. I've even been making my own pasta. I buy mostly fresh foods and frozen veggies. ETA: I am at a time in my life when I live alone and I can afford to do that. BUT, I do remember years when I was a stay at home mom with 4 kids, and I did the best I could feeding them. I still cooked from scratch a lot, but it was much cheaper to buy a box of hamburger helper, which was often 89 cents back then, than it was to buy all the things to make something similar from scratch. Our problem is that fresh healthy foods are beyond the reaches of many families, not only because of price but because like crimsoncat said, there are many people who live in places where their only choice to buy food is at Dollar General or worse. People do the best they can to feed their family, and I won't shame anyone for what they choose to feed their kids. I also want to remind you that when Obama was president, Michelle's cause she took up was healthy school lunches. OMG...does anyone else remember that??? "Kids won't eat that stuff!!" and worse things were said. You just can't win. Now we have wackadoodle RFK who wants to be in control of our food and health, and everyone is bowing at his feet thinking he is going to fix all that ails us and be the savior of the health of the US. Agree, agree with all of this. Fresh, healthy foods are beyond the reach of many families. Yes. And many families living with poverty are also in food deserts, where grocery stores don't exist. So if they can't make it to the grocery store five miles away and back on the bus before dinner, guess what? We're eating from the corner gas station! Programs that try to combat this issue fall broadly under leftism/socialism, though, so I don't know what anyone thinks Trump is going to do about it. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 19:34:26 GMT
Are any of them written above a sixth grade level? All of them, actually Add The Handmaid's Tale to your TBR pile, then. Educate yourself. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 19:30:36 GMT
Because you've never read a book, probably. Actually, we just built a library in a spare bedroom in our house....It's gorgeous, you should see it!!! It has lots of books that I have read and that I am going to read in the future... Are any of them written above a sixth grade level? |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 19:24:54 GMT
I guess choosing to be delusional is ... a choice. If that's delusional, then I'm delusionally happy... Admitting you have a problem is the first step. Good for you. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 19:23:55 GMT
For some of us Republicans here we are more Libertarians' maybe even most of us. Fiscal issues I align with Republicans and social issues I align with Democrats. So each election I vote based on what I feel is best at that moment in time. I don't really contribute to political threads anymore because even though I explicitly say I think Trump is a shitty person and I don't support his rhetoric I am still a Republican so I am a fucking evil person. No one is interested in the concerns that I have on the country it is just imperative that it is known that the republicans are an evil party. There is no civil discussion anymore just attacking. I am at an age that I don't care anymore so limit my time here as it longer brings me joy. I mainly hop on now just to see how some of the peas that I do care for are doing and to read their threads. Occasionally curiosity gets the better of me and I will take a peek at a political thread but have been successful at not engaging in the attacking. So until topics can be addressed without attacking I don't foresee Republicans joining in the discussions. It is clear that our opinions do not matter because we are evil and uneducated. -Signed by a Republican who supports gays and also has a college degree This is written perfectly. I had left the board at one point because I was attacked when my opinion didn't align with the others that were on the board at the time. Oh noes. Women are dying and minorities are threatened but you were verbally "attacked" on a message board. The horror. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 19:22:54 GMT
Serena Joy: The Early Years. Find out will come around for you eventually. I have no idea what that is, but I'm sure I probably don't care.... Because you've never read a book, probably. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 19:21:41 GMT
I love how Republicans try to frame it as an "anti-discrimination law." Words have no meaning anymore.
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 19:15:40 GMT
so now it's going to be OUR fault when you get 'dragged down' ?!? (as will certainly happen-- because, history.) bwahaha!! typical. I wasn’t referring to myself or the rest of the republicans. We are happy as hell. I was referring to everyone she associates with, actually. Serena Joy: The Early Years. Find out will come around for you eventually. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 19:14:48 GMT
You must be trolling us. You can’t possibly think this. I absolutely have great hope for this country. Why wouldn’t I? You and yours will never be satisfied that your candidate lost so you are going to make sure that you are miserable instead of having hope. And you are going to drag everyone down with you. If you think that’s trolling, neither I nor anyone else is going to be able to make you happy. But it’s not my job to make sure you are. 🤷🏻♀️ So complain, whine and throw your little barbs at me. It doesn’t affect at all. I would rather be me. I guess choosing to be delusional is ... a choice. |
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