As posted above, this whole damn administration can go straight to jail for insider trading, conflicts of interest, and all the other shady, illegal shit they're pulling as soon as January 21st hits.

SI

Good *GRIEF* just stop whatever you’re doing and watch this: pic.twitter.com/YNqHe4XGHW

— William Kedjanyi (@KeejayOV2) August 20, 2020

Donald Trump Speech Transcript August 20: In Joe Biden's Hometown - Rev

You know it's a lie/made-up conversation when the person says, "Sir, ..." That appears to be his telltale fabrication of a conversation. That, and the fact that he's speaking.

Stable genius.

Crazy on top of crazy on top of crazy. I get it.

But I still smile at the idea that a random charity telemarketer just called up the White House and got patched through right to the President.

OK, this thread is pretty interesting.

Spoke to a postal worker today who explained why medication is the 1st thing people noticed was missing. They said when DeJoy ordered shifts to end even if all mail wasn't delivered, carriers were told to prioritize Amazon packages, then Priority mail, then everything else 1/

— Dell Cameron (@dellcam) August 20, 2020

What caught my eye is the following:

Basically, USPS Informed Delivery, the tracking service, is totally unreliable at this point. Packages are piling up inside post offices and supervisors would rather people think their mail is stuck at a processing center than just sitting in a bin in a back room somewhere.

— Dell Cameron (@dellcam) August 20, 2020

Because I posted this on August 6th in the Random Things thread:


So, I suppose that package is an exact example of what this thread is talking about. Not Amazon, low priority, but I'm guessing the USPS tracking on my package was accurate in that it it showed the package sitting in a backroom in Lexington for about 10 days instead of just some generic "processing center" somewhere.

Conservatives need to understand that relitigating the Charleottesville speech every time it's brought up only reminds people of a speech you'd like them to forget.

DeJoy is testifying right now. I thought it was Monday.

Rand Paul suggesting postal delivery goes to 2 days for rural areas. Should go over well with Trumps base.

Listening to this, I actually think DeJoy could make the USPS more efficient. Problem is hes a Trump Snake who is doing exactly what he’s being accused of.

Senate today, Congress on Monday is what I read some where.

@Ksyrup,

This same thing happened to us a few months ago, I think.

My son traded in his car in Virginia where he is stationed. He couldn't find his title so he ordered a new one from Indiana. It came here and my wife sent it over night USPS. According to the tracking, it 'sat' at the Indy airport for 8 days. Then magically one day it showed as arriving in VA and getting delivered within 20 minutes.

Trump is a serial liar, sure.


That said, of all the things that come with the job, the protocol that the President is always addressed as "sir" or "Mr. President" has got to be REALLY high on this narcissist's short list of things he truly loves about being President. I'd think that any time he tells a story, lie or truth, he's gonna stick that in there because he loves people having to give him a respectful title sooooooo much.

The lack of shame some of these senators have with their “questioning” is downright condescending to the American people. Dem senator asks very reasonable question about data and how much analysis went into these changes with regards to the effects on vets, seniors, etc. Then the republican from Wyoming comes in and claims DeJoy should not be responsible for fixing the post office in his first 60 days. Perhaps he also should be expected to not make it worse. He then goes on to ask how much analysis can you do in the first 60 days. Well perhaps then he shouldnt have made the changes without proper analysis? It’s clear the right is taking the track there were issues before he took over.

Maybe I missed it, but waiting for someone to ask him why the sorting machines taken out were in primarily in areas Clinton won in 2016 and ask him about his personal interests In competitors.

If all of this was in place before DeJoy, there should be plenty of documentation. Dems need to demand the plannining memos, the implementation timetables, etc. I expect none of this exists, but if he's not lying, none of this happens without written planning and orders.

Yeah sure is -the "best" part is at the end with barely taking a breath, he launched into his usual Israel spiel.

no really we stole it and bought a yacht you’re so stupid we can say it out loud to you and you won’t get it https://t.co/wRoOCBrjWA

— kilgore trout, new tone haver (@KT_So_It_Goes) August 21, 2020

They'll rationalize it somehow.

This seems... ill-advised.

BREAKING: White House takes away FDA authority to regulate COVID tests. It’s August, de-regulating & politically meddling are not what FDA needs right now.

More soon. Follow if interested.

— Andy Slavitt @ �� (@ASlavitt) August 21, 2020

Can't wait for the MyPillow Salivychloreander Test!

I don't think we're talking about the same 'this'. It's not just COVID. It's about culture in general, what KSyrup said, etc. Even on COVID, I don't think your statement here is accurate but it basically goes back to Burke's quote from centuries ago. You can't be free and not be moral/responsible. You have to take both of those or take neither. Self-evident to me that the US and at least most of Western societies are on a path to neither; some of them aren't on the path, they're there already.

Like I said, tons of free countries with democratically elected leaders (more-so than here) that have no problem with this or other issues.

The United States is the outlier. Just look at the numbers.

I have looked at them. I don't agree with your assessment at all.

“How can it be fraud? We told you we were taking money out for ourselves...”

Wonder what the "We build the wall" mailing list is selling for. Those people would literally buy/donate for anything. I bet there is a large crossover with Amway as well.

How are we similar to Canada at all? They are free like us, have a more democratic process too. Cases and deaths are minuscule there.

Japan, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Finland, I can go on and on. In what way are we similar to them?

That totally make sense just based on Trump's tweets.

In a normal presidency it'd be worth discussing the Administration trying to use mechanisms of enforcement of a deal they unilaterally terminated and how insanely stupid that is, with this one it is either just normal stupid (doing away/not bothering with stuff that turns out to be consequential, not a new one) or part of a perverted strategy that set this exact scenario up to play the "you soft europeans, how dare you side with the evil Iranians ?" card to show with what stupid people (read: anybody not bowing to Master America) Biden wants to align himself with.

I specifically said I wasn't just talking about COVID. I don't know how to be more clear on that.

I think any conservative list these days is an invitation to grift. Falwell Jr and LaPierre duked people out of millions. Shit, some random MAGA grifter on Twitter raised $170k after she was arrested for robbing her Mother.

Any of those lists would be gold for a scammer.

In what ways are any of those countries in danger of moving to authoritarianism?

I would argue we are closest to the US, but less partisan politically, so that has helped us.

I would also suggest most, if not all, European countries are significantly more personally responsible than the UK, and even more so compared to the US

I mean, if you're gonna live or die with a voting fraud hail mary, you have to cover all your bases. right?

President Trump, who's repeatedly railed against mail-in voting, says he has concerns about in-person voting as well, and wants to use law-enforcement as poll watchers on Election Day. https://t.co/y8jbU2QENf

— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 21, 2020

The USA is hardly similar the the Netherlands. Especially not in political system, but also in handling the COVID-19 situation. Public disobedience is very similar though, probably more disciplined in the USA. Over here it's almost like there never was a corona virus, despite that everybody knows somebody who knows somebody who got it really bad.

Shit I forgot you still do the monarch stuff too. Either way, you had 10 deaths yesterday, we had 1100.

We already knew this was part of the playbook when stuff started going down in Portland. He's just starting to warm people up to it now so when he throws it out at the RNC, it won't be totally new - they spin will have already been in the works.

It's going to be really coincidental how it'll all be located in blue parts of purple states, too, especially.

SI

I dunno - this is what every nomination hearing sounds like these days, too, tho. There aren't even softball but relevant questions from the opposition - it's just praise for years of service and questions like "why are you so awesome?"

SI

Honestly, from what I heard of today this was actually a lot better than the usual grandstanding. While the GOP senators would never bring up the mail fraud aspect, I think they are all aware that there are very real issues that their constituents are pissed about. There was far less righteous indignation than usual.

You know who said that Trump hated sharks?

Stormy Daniels.

In 2011.

Trump confirms Stormy Daniels claim that he's 'terrified' of sharks | US news | The Guardian

McSally asked donors to "fast a meal" and send the amount to her campaign. How televangelist of her.

I saw that last night. Unreal.

I see we’re going with the “hey look I love God” and “white women do you want to be attacked by those colored people” angles today.

It's going to be such a joy when Kelly Stepmoms her throat in November and we turn AZ blue

Speaking of stepmoming someones throat, I would love to do that to this POS

Rush Limbaugh: “We’re supposed to feel sorry for Biden” because his wife and children died https://t.co/fqDZ8i9DMf

— Media Matters (@mmfa) August 21, 2020

I mean, I get that he's (Biden's) a celebrity so we're distant from him but, yeah, feeling sorry for people who have lost loved ones is kindof what human beings do, isn't it?

SI

I'ts funny this came up because here in Kentucky, our Rep's wife died suddenly about 2 months ago. Andy Barr's wife was in her late 30s and died of mitro valve prolapse one evening. This was about a week before our primary. Anyway, it was terribly sad, he has 2 young kids and she died out of nowhere. His challenger even pulled ads out of respect for him, etc.

He's been fairly quiet the past couple of months but of course he's in a race so he came out with the first ad I've seen since she passed. And it's literally nothing but a rehash of her death and how terrible it has been for him and his kids. I definitely expected that, but then a pivot to "and she believed this and that and I'm running to continue the values she believed in, etc." Nope. None of that. Just "I want you to remember my wife died and here's some sad pictures of me and my poor young kids alone and vote for me." It really turned me off.

I can't imagine how much worse Trump is going to get over the next 70 or so days. FYI the head of the FDA is someone nominated by Trump.

The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives! @SteveFDA

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2020

What's amazing to me is that the man in charge, who can quite literally get to the bottom of anything with investigations and powerful allies, is complaining that the "deep state" is actually in charge and someone needs to get to the bottom of why people won't let him do what he thinks they need to.

It's like the 27 Yankees complaining that baseball is rigged.

None of this would be happening if Trump was President.

This gives me a chance to talk about one of the things I find the most perplexing about how he operates.

Can you imagine having access to the CIA, FBI, NSA, and the intelligence arms of every branch of the military? And being able to talk to them whenever you want? And you still get most of your information about the world from cable TV?

It's like having the ten greatest chefs in the world on call 24/7 with fully tripped out kitchens eager to cook you whatever you want. And you just eat day-old leftover Taco Bell for every meal.

Leaving aside whether that is good or bad for the President to do, I just don't get how anyone could waste that opportunity--just for the "holy shit, this is awesome information" aspect of it.

This doesn’t register when you are a grade A narcissist

Of course, the FDA director was hand picked by Trump LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.

SI

+1 :)

I was curious why Mike Hunt was trending on Twitter, then I saw this:

I cannot even begin to explain how risky this is pic.twitter.com/ALWy8CMGYO

— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) August 22, 2020

I am waiting for when we start hearing about postal workers being accosted and assaulted.

Umm... The Maryanne Trump Barry tapes. Wow. Ha!

LISTEN: Maryanne Trump Barry Slams Donald In Recorded Audio | Heavy.com

I always thought that Trump’s other relatives (not his kids) thought that about him.

It must be a terrible eistence for Trump. At some level he has to realize that everyone hates him. The only people that don't, are people that he hates.

I don't think he's capable of that sort of introspection.

SI

And zero mention or reference of or to the audio on Fox News’ entire site.

Probably waiting for Putin’s bot farm to figure out a reply.

He's tried for decades to make the important people like him. He's hinted that he thought it would change when he became President.

This is the 'Select Fighter' screen you see when you turn on your Xbox in hell.

Half of the key speakers are Trump family. The GOP is a hell of a party right now.

Monarchy... It's hardly political on content, it's practically just cosmetic. And practical too: the prime minister does the decision making and the conference calls with other world leaders, while the king cuts ribbons and does the PR things.

Stopped at a Flying J (or Pilot, can’t keep them apart) about an hour north of Blacksburg yesterday. Signs everywhere say masks required. Masks not worn by the fat bald guy, the young black woman, the guy with the cig behind his ear and face tats and looked like he hadn’t showered in days. The 70IQ cashier at the adjoined Wendy’s had a mask — worn on his chin. Fryer cook at least had his under his nose.

I am just consistently amazed by just how flat-out ass stupid people are that they just do not know how masks are supposed to work.

I have some sympathy for the workers. I can't wear my mask for more than 30 minutes without it bugging the crap out of me. I can't imagine 8 hours straight. The customers can go to hell

I mean, fine - go to the back and pull it down for a bit. Or vent it. Don’t ask someone for their order with a mask chinstrap.

While traveling for softball this summer, we wouldn't order from some place where they weren't wearing masks. Not worth it to mention it to them. We just took out business else where.

Here in NJ you really never see people without them. We of course have the idiots who wear them under the nose, but I just give them a wide birth.

They are doing a good job of enforcement. I went to Costco the other day and was on the phone while running in from the rain and totally forgot my mask. Guy at the door was right on me about it.

I am also going to the Apple store tomorrow, when they were reviewing the safety protocols they specifically said wear a mask and it has to be over your nose. Pathetic they even have to say that.

Yeah, wife and kid noped out of there. We will see if I perish for want of a chicken sandwich.

What is your favorite Bible verse? pic.twitter.com/f1LyLNyxbk

— Paul �� (@pablo_honey1) August 23, 2020

Have you EVER met a Christian who wouldn't tell you their top 5 favorite Bible verses? And all the backstories that go with each of them?

And no McConnell either after he originally said he wasn't going to appear, but then changed his mind.

Just a dumb thought but what is our signature that a mail in ballot would be compared to? Driver’s license sig? I’m assuming voter ID card? I sign my name a handful of times a year. I just wonder how technical they’re going to get with matching signatures. Figure all kinds of handwriting experts will show up out of the woodwork to try to disqualify ballots.

These guys are so off the rails.

Navarro pushing hydroxy again by referencing the single opinion of an orthopedic surgeon.

Bunker boy railing against ballot drop off boxes and once again showing is ignorance asking if these will be placed in R or D areas. Everyone has the right to vote you dipshit.

You know it'd be a nice thing for evangelicals to actually see the President go to church not just appear outside of one for a photo op, and maybe not go play golf on a Sunday, just once? Has he tweeted at all about the potential back to back tropical storms/hurricanes about to hit the gulf coast?

I believe you provide a signature when you register. My signature is definitely erratic as hell but it hasn't been an issue with my ballot being accepted.

Equally "funny" (read: sad). Who answers "are you a New Testament or Old Testament guy" with a blank stare followed by "equal" and then segues into trying to compare it to his 30 year old con book?

SI

That requires them actually judging him by the same standards they judge everyone else

SI

you are mistaking him for someone who gives a fuck

honestly, the whole point of the BIG con - telling everyone they can't trust what they see and hear and read - is so he doesn't have to actually do any of the proper, civil, and human things that we ordinarily expect of our leaders... and it's worked with an alarming share of the populous, sadly

Seems fine

Honestly, this isn't about covid... it's about the near absolute power of the psychological need to defend your already-made choices. Once you have been tagged as a Trumpist, then you feel compelled to align everything from that point on to connect to it.

It can't be that you were wrong, and your guy is awful. It has to be... a conspiracy... the fake news media... liberal doctors... or just the flu. Whatever it takes, whatever the subject. As long as it doesn't require me to go back and say "wow, I blew it, I thought he'd be okay but he's terrible." Not that under any circumstances.

Those numbers are so believable, yet totally unbelievable.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

The state of Michigan has taken political silly season to a new level of stupid. This one requires a bit of explanation.

For those who don't live here, our longstanding tourism campaign is known as Pure Michigan since 2008. This then spawned a series of semi-popular parody videos in the same vein with the same music but a health dose of sarcasm. For example here: Pure Michigan: Winter Virgins - YouTube

So all of that is to set up the lawn signs that have been going up. If you're a Republican as most in my area are, you're supporting the second attempt of John James to get elected to the US Senate, various commissioners, and so on. But there's also a fair chance your lawn sports this beauty:




Now negative campaigning happens all the time. But this is a unique situation in my recollection, because this is a campaign against an official who isn't even on the ballot. You can't vote for her opponent or try to unseat Gov. Whitmer. She was just elected in 2018 and doesn't face the voters again until 2022. And there's no serious recall effort underway either, nobody's trying to drum up support for that - they were trying but that imploded at the beginning of the month. No, this is blowing off steam pointlessly, since you can hate on the governor all you want but you literally can't do anything about it when you vote.

I know a lot of politics is shouting at the rain anyway, but this really takes the cake for me.

At a certain level you just get used to it like anything else. I wear mine for hours at a time and most of that period I forget I'm even wearing it.

the last 4 years of constant "Trump:No more Bullshit" flags has been annoying

What do you think it means that Independents are just as close to Rs as Ds here? I also think it's worth noting that Republicans are far more split. That would seem to contradict this narrative. There's a lot of what you describe going on, but those numbers also show a sizable minority of Republicans that are concerned about it.

Some of them already have. For example economic freedom in Denmark is considerably reduced. To the point on what KSyrup said, conspiracy-theory beliefs are similar in Canada and the USA. Decline of the family is dramatic across all those countries any many more over the past decades. Etc. All of these things and others point in the direction of less freedom and more government power.

You can make an argument that some, many, all, whatever of these changes are positive, but that doesn't change the fact that they are still happening.

This is not an uncommon GOP tactic. I remember living in Alabama and being bombarded with commercials saying the Democratic candidate will vote for Pelosi for Speaker of the House and advance her agenda, therefore a vote for D is a vote for Pelosi.

Personally I think it's quite clever (assuming Whitmer isn't polling well, I'm too lazy to check. I just know my conservative parents don't like her). And I don't think it's untrue that more Democrats in Lansing will help Whitmer advance her agenda.

There was a time when the Secretary of State giving a convention speech in from Israel would have been seen as outrageous. Now, not a single GOPer will bat an eye.

Also, Whitmer is a Democrat. And they think that any Democrat in a position of power is not legitimate.

It isn't about whether she is on the ballot or not.

As long as anyone holding elected office anywhere in the country at any level of government is not a MAGA-Republican, these people will be angry and upset.

I've never seen the tactic before in Michigan. As to polling, latest (end of July) that I can find gives Whitmer 67% approval in handling the pandemic. In general the feuding she's done with Trump has benefited her. So really it looks me like minority frustration, which is understandable but not exactly smart.

Either way Republicans are getting their clocks cleaned in Michigan this time around, like they did in '18.

The GOP has fully transitioned to be a Trump cult. Instead of a platofrm they have this:

From what I was reading, it appears they are officially voting to continue the 2016 platform for 2020 (not like a platform matters much to Trump anyways)

SI

From that platform


https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/medi...1468872234.pdf (at page ii)

So if they really are just adopting it, they are right about a few things, at least.

From what I understand, a lot of Michigan folks who voted for Trump thought he'd do something about trade and manufacturing. But then he did nothing and in some respects made things worse (due to retaliatory tariffs), so they are a bit peeved.

The GOP took so much shit for the 2016 platform that they decided not to pass a adopt a platform and just go with whatever Trump says.

N/m wrong thread

Just as there's always a Trump tweet, there's almost always an Eisenhower quote:

Apparently one of KellyAnne and George Conway's kids has been tweeting bad stuff about one or both of them today. (Not seen the tweets). As a result KellyAnne is leaving her position as Counselor to Trump at the end of the month and George is stepping away from Twitter and his Project Lincoln responsibilites.