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An unforced error

  

Category:  Op/Ed

By:  vic-eldred  •  one month ago  •  138 comments

An unforced error
Susan Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, expressed relief that the Senate had the ability to block Gaetz. “I was shocked by the announcement — that shows why the advise and consent process is so important,” she said.

The President-elect made his first mistake yesterday, but it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Trump had his life made miserable by Biden's DOJ and the natural reaction may have been to appoint someone who would hold that same DOJ accountable, namely Rep Matt Gaetz. 

Gaetz was himself the subject of a Justice Department investigation. There were allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl and broke sex-trafficking laws, all of which has gone unproven. He also faced an ongoing House Ethics Committee inquiry. Beyond that, Gaetz led the charge of the more right leaning House Republicans to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. That group caused division within the GOP's narrow House majority. Gaetz has made enemies for himself on both sides of the aisle. His confirmation is doubtful in the Senate, where Senate Republicans seemed just as shocked by the nomination as democrats. All the Senate democrats will vote against him and the fickle female Senate Republicans are almost certain to vote against him.

That brings us to the bright side of all of this. Gaetz, in order to give Florida Governor Ron DeSantis a chance at a speedy special replacement election, has already resigned. Mike Waltz should do the same thing in order to get a replacement by early January. DeSantis will be very busy, between the special House elections and appointing someone to replace Senator Marco Rubio. 


So Gaetz is officially out of office now and if he does not get confirmed as is likely, his political career is probably over.

Believe it or not, that may be a good thing for Republicans.


In the news:

Ukraine is preparing for potential cease fire talks with Russia. Kyiv’s priority now is protection against future Russian aggression.

In China, a man plowed an S.U.V. into a crowd, killing at least 35 people. Now, officials are clearing bouquets of flowers and working to make it seem as if nothing happened.

New York’s governor will revive the congestion pricing plan she shelved, but with a lower toll. She hopes to implement the system before Trump, who vowed to kill it, takes office.

The New York City Council passed a bill that makes landlords pay the broker fees for renters.

Inflation increased slightly.
Analysts said it was a sign that the Fed’s lowering of rates may have been premature.


14themorning-nl-TrumpBiden-mfgb-jumbo.jpg


Biden welcomed Trump to the Oval Office, pledging a smooth transition. “Politics is tough, and it’s in many cases not a very nice world,” Trump said. “But it is a nice world today and I appreciate very much a transition that’s so smooth.”

Senate Republicans chose John Thune of South Dakota, an institutionalist, to replace the retiring Mitch McConnell.

Jack Smith, the illegal special counsel who charged Trump over Jan. 6 and for taking classified documents, vowed to retire before Trump could fire him.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called Trump’s fast-food diet "poison."



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Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1  author  Vic Eldred    one month ago


Good morning.

tulsi-gabbard-1.jpg

Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat turned Republican who represented Hawaii in the House, is Trump’s nominee to be Director of National Intelligence

 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
1.1  Ed-NavDoc  replied to  Vic Eldred @1    one month ago

I think she would be a much better choice as SecDef than Hegseth.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1.1.1  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Ed-NavDoc @1.1    one month ago

People really thought Hegseth was unqualified, but he does have degrees from Princeton & Harvard, and he did lead US forces in combat operations.

The thing I like about the Gabbard appointment is the irony of it. Do you know they had her on the "Terror watch list?"

 
 
 
Just Jim NC TttH
Professor Principal
1.1.2  Just Jim NC TttH  replied to  Ed-NavDoc @1.1    one month ago

Agree

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.1.3  devangelical  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.1.1    one month ago
Do you know they had her on the "Terror watch list?"

gee, I wonder why? did she ever say who extended the "best foreign policy" between assad and putin?

 
 
 
Gazoo
Junior Silent
1.1.4  Gazoo  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.1.1    one month ago

It’s possible she was put on the watch list because of the way she handed harris’s ass to her during the debate. They happened around the same time.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1.1.5  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Gazoo @1.1.4    one month ago

Could be. It was also around that time that Hillary Clinton called her a Russian Asset

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1.1.6  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  devangelical @1.1.3    one month ago

You mean when she was a representative from Hawaii's 22nd District and she took the time to go to Syria and talked to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about the plight of the Syrian people?

Are the Palestinians the only people anyone is allowed sympathy for?

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
1.1.7  Jeremy Retired in NC  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.1.5    one month ago
e was put on the watch list because of the way she handed harris’s ass to her during the debate. They happened around the same time.

Because everything she says is absolute truth /s.  Remember the Russia Collusion accusation.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.1.8  devangelical  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.1.6    one month ago

you mean when she was commiserating with assad about using biological weapons on his own people and then when she was later spreading russian misinformation about secret bio-labs in the ukraine prior to the invasion?

... and again, you fail to grasp my perspective on the middle east. I want the innocent in the middle east left alone in peace and the smegma of radical muslims, jews, and xtians to coat the walls, ceilings, and ground, while the streets run deep with the blood of religious hypocrites until they are finally gone.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1.1.9  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  devangelical @1.1.8    one month ago
you mean when she was commiserating with assad about using biological weapons on his own people and then when she was later spreading russian misinformation about secret bio-labs in the ukraine prior to the invasion?

Do you have a link for that?

Or is that just something Hillary Clinton said?

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.1.10  devangelical  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.1.9    one month ago

I guess you'll just have to wait until the confirmation hearings of the criminal/traitor's cabinet choices for that.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1.1.11  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  devangelical @1.1.10    one month ago

Maybe.

The Senate Republicans need unity for recess appointments.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.1.12  devangelical  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.1.11    one month ago

that will make the only military parade trump will ever participate in even more hilarious ...

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
2  author  Vic Eldred    one month ago

And then there is this:

Florida  woman traveling out of town unexpectedly gave birth to a baby boy in the ticketing area of  Miami  International  Airport .

Just after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, a female passenger at Miami's largest airport went into labor in the pre-security area, causing airport staff and emergency responders to jump into action.

AA1u1KdK.img?w=768&h=554&m=6

Just after the woman's water broke, a group of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, police officers, U.S. Customs, Border Protection agents, and airport staff all responded to the situation quickly.

At first some thought the woman was experiencing a miscarriage.

"Responding to Door 3, pregnant female. Possible miscarriage outside of Door 3 departures," a 911 dispatcher said. "Door 3 departures, Rescue 40."

As each individual assisted with the delivery, they soon found out she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

"It's alive! It's alive?" an official told a 911 operator.

Following the birth, the mother and baby were taken to a nearby hospital for further care and evaluation.

Updates on their condition have not been provided.

Woman Waiting to Leave Florida Unexpectedly Gives Birth in Airport Lounge: 'It's Alive!'


Needless to say: She missed her flight.

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
2.1  Buzz of the Orient  replied to  Vic Eldred @2    one month ago

Yeah, she would have had to buy another ticket if she was still going to fly.  

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
2.1.1  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Buzz of the Orient @2.1    one month ago

Something tells me there might be a change in plans.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
3  George    one month ago
Susan Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, expressed relief that the Senate had the ability to block Gaetz. “I was shocked by the announcement — that shows why the advise and consent process is so important,” she said.

The republicans are +3 in the Senate, Collins and Murkowski will no longer have the power they once wielded. Someone should explain this to Susan.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
3.1  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  George @3    one month ago

They may when it comes to Gaetz.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
3.1.1  George  replied to  Vic Eldred @3.1    one month ago

No, their power is just is no longer there. hopefully a few others will step up and flush this turd. 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
3.1.2  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  George @3.1.1    one month ago

I think they will vote against his nomination.

It kind of puts them at odds with the President-elect on something that shouldn't have happened.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4  Sean Treacy    one month ago

I’m not sure what is going on with the gaetz  announcement.  Given that he immediately resigned from his seat it may be trump offering him a face saving exit ramp to avoid the release of the house investigation later this week.  

I think he withdraws prior to a vote

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
4.1  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Sean Treacy @4    one month ago

That would be a counterproductive way of doing it.

Is Trump really going to put Senate Republicans in the hot seat should it come to a vote?

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.1.1  Sean Treacy  replied to  Vic Eldred @4.1    one month ago
p really going to put Senate Republicans in the hot seat should it come to a vote?

I don't think Trump really cares much about Senate Republicans in general.  

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
4.1.2  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1.1    one month ago

Maybe not, but he needs them.

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4.2  evilone  replied to  Sean Treacy @4    one month ago
I think he withdraws prior to a vote

Interesting. Can the Senate Republicans introduce the House ethics report if Gaetz doesn't withdraw?

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.2.1  George  replied to  evilone @4.2    one month ago

There is no ethics report. Aren't house rules great!

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4.2.2  evilone  replied to  George @4.2.1    one month ago
There is no ethics report.

I'm sure Gaetz hopes there isn't.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.2.3  Sean Treacy  replied to  evilone @4.2    one month ago

n the Senate Republicans introduce the House ethics report if Gaetz doesn't withdraw?

I don't know, but I'm sure it will be the basis of the FBI background check and its contents would probably come out one way or the other during the hearing. 

 
 
 
goose is back
Junior Guide
4.2.4  goose is back  replied to  evilone @4.2    one month ago
introduce the House ethics report if Gaetz doesn't withdraw?

I believe they can, if he withdraws, I believe it will stay sealed.  Well, that is until some Democrat staffer leaks it. 

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.2.5  Tessylo  replied to  evilone @4.2.2    one month ago

Is there no report because the investigation is ongoing?

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
4.2.6  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Tessylo @4.2.5    one month ago

The report was due out for the eyes of the House today.

It will almost surely be leaked by democrats.

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4.2.7  evilone  replied to  Tessylo @4.2.5    one month ago
Is there no report because the investigation is ongoing?

There is no report 'release' because the investigation stopped when Gaetz quit. That doesn't mean the Senate can't persuade them from handing over what they have. 

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4.2.8  evilone  replied to  Vic Eldred @4.2.6    one month ago
It will almost surely be leaked by democrats.

Gaetz made plenty of GOP enemies in both chambers of Congress. 

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.2.9  Tessylo  replied to  Vic Eldred @4.2.6    one month ago

[deleted][]

 
 
 
Dismayed Patriot
Professor Quiet
4.2.10  Dismayed Patriot  replied to  Vic Eldred @4.2.6    one month ago
It will almost surely be leaked by democrats.

And this is horrible and atrocious because the leaking of someone's wrongdoing is always worse than the wrongdoing itself, though I guess that's only true when it's a Republican being exposed. When it's a Democrat they don't give a shit about where the salacious story comes from. Hell it doesn't even have to be actual leaked facts, it can be Qanon conspiracy theories about Democrats and the bottom feeding bigots beholden to Trump lap it up.

Perhaps the real debate should be about what kind of moron would appoint such a shady piece of shit who is currently under investigation as the Attorney General of our nation. But that would require intellectual honesty which is clearly lacking among Trump supporters.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
4.2.11  devangelical  replied to  Dismayed Patriot @4.2.10    one month ago

2 months before the criminal/traitor takes office and maga is already sweeping shit under the rug ...

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
4.2.12  devangelical  replied to  evilone @4.2.8    one month ago

gaetz won't have to worry about the results of the ethics investigation being released because maga-thumper mike johnson believes that child sex crimes are a family secret that should be handled by a religious authority, him, not law enforcement, even though the perpetrator was a servant for the american people.

I'm sure matt gaetz is totally innocent, since he resigned before the house ethics report was released ... /s

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.3  bugsy  replied to  Sean Treacy @4    one month ago

I agree. I think he is not a good pick, although he has blown many leftists heads. That part is entertaining.

My guess is he will withdraw his name prior to the Senate vote so Trump can name Whittaker, a much better choice.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.3.1  Sean Treacy  replied to  bugsy @4.3    one month ago
withdraw his name prior to the Senate vote so Trump can name Whittaker, a much better choice.

There's the theory that trump nominated him to draw all the fire from his other nominees and make Gaetz the center of attention for the next six weeks before he withdraws. Pretty much anyone who he nominates after Gaetz will look good by comparison. 

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.4  TᵢG  replied to  Sean Treacy @4    one month ago

Gaetz could have resigned without having the nomination.   He had an exit ramp either way.    At best him resigning and not being approved by the Senate allows him to save face.   Or maybe Trump has promised him some other position if his nomination fails.

No way to know, Trump is capable of all sorts of slimy maneuvers.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
5  Bob Nelson    one month ago

Does anyone believe anything Susan Collins says?

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
5.1  Tessylo  replied to  Bob Nelson @5    one month ago

Not me.  Doddering old fool.  

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
6  Jeremy Retired in NC    one month ago
Jack Smith, the illegal special counsel who charged Trump over Jan. 6 and for taking classified documents, vowed to retire before Trump could fire him.

Smith is trying to save his own ass. 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
7  author  Vic Eldred    one month ago

Kevin McCarthy said, “I'll give you the truth why I'm not speaker. It's because one person, a member of Congress, wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17-year-old.” That member is Matt Gaetz.

 
 
 
Nerm_L
Professor Expert
8  Nerm_L    one month ago

Trump is a Floridian now.  Trump seems to be helping Ron DeSantis become the Republican version of Gavin Newsom.  Is Ron DeSantis becoming the heir apparent?  Will Florida become a sanctuary state for Trump?  

800

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
8.1  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Nerm_L @8    one month ago

DeSantis will have his hands full holding special elections and replacing all these Florida Reps and a Florida Senator whom Trump has elevated to federal service. He will have a decision to make on his own career as Florida only allows a Governor two terms. That is why Rick Scott and DeSantis swapped offices a while back. I always liked DeSantis as a Presidential candidate. He gets what I want done and carries no baggage. If he goes in that direction he'll face off against Vance in 2028.

 
 
 
Nerm_L
Professor Expert
8.1.1  Nerm_L  replied to  Vic Eldred @8.1    one month ago
DeSantis will have his hands full holding special elections and replacing all these Florida Reps and a Florida Senator whom Trump has elevated to federal service. He will have a decision to make on his own career as Florida only allows a Governor two terms. That is why Rick Scott and DeSantis swapped offices a while back. I always liked DeSantis as a Presidential candidate. He gets what I want done and carries no baggage. If he goes in that direction he'll face off against Vance in 2028.

Well, it certainly appears that Trump is ensuring DeSantis has a political future.  DeSantis would be in position to either win the nomination or be the VP pick.  With Vance and DeSantis in the mix, could Trump's MAGA movement become a political dynasty?  Will future Democrats be quoting Trump the same way they quote Reagan?

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
8.1.2  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Nerm_L @8.1.1    one month ago
With Vance and DeSantis in the mix, could Trump's MAGA movement become a political dynasty?

I think so.


 Will future Democrats be quoting Trump the same way they quote Reagan?

I doubt it. The successors will be the ones quoted. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
8.1.3  JohnRussell  replied to  Vic Eldred @8.1.2    one month ago

The idea that MAGA will be the long term future of America is the greatest fantasy in the history of humanity.  

For the sake of fending off dystopia MAGA must be forced out of existence. 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
8.1.4  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  JohnRussell @8.1.3    one month ago

Not only will it be our future, but Europe will most likely follow our lead.

The devastation from Socialism & overwhelming migration will leave them little choice.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
8.1.5  Sean Treacy  replied to  Vic Eldred @8.1.4    one month ago

Europe might already be too far gone. Just from the last few days, you have:

in England, the police going around visiting people over social media posts

in France, the government trying to throw the leading presidential candidate in jail

in Germany, an attempt to ban the second most popular party from participating in elections,.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
8.1.6  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Sean Treacy @8.1.5    one month ago

Yes, and beyond that, leaders like Macron depending on a Muslim vote to retain power.

In Italy judges just overruled the elected leader over deporting illegal migrants.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.7  Bob Nelson  replied to  Vic Eldred @8.1.4    one month ago
The devastation from Socialism

When we come to the US for the six months we spend here... we bring six months of medicines. In my case (lungs and heart) that's well over $5500 of pills.

I didn't spend a cent. French health care.

Socialism is absolutely devastating...

French people under fifty years of age have never known the fear that grips all Americans (all but the very rich, that is) of losing everything to a medical problem. The French may get sick, of course... but they know they will get excellent treatment. They don't have to be afraid of financial disaster.

Absolutely devastating.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.8  Bob Nelson  replied to  Sean Treacy @8.1.5    one month ago
in France, the government trying to throw the leading presidential candidate in jail

I'm not allowed to disagree with you, Sean. But seriously... where do you get this BS?

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.9  Bob Nelson  replied to  Vic Eldred @8.1.6    one month ago
Macron depending on a Muslim vote to retain power.

Same question as for Sean, Vic: where do you guys get this BS?

Do all MAGAs actually believe this nonsense?

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
8.1.10  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.7    one month ago
When we come to the US for the six months we spend here... we bring six months of medicines. In my case (lungs and heart) that's well over $5500 of pills. I didn't spend a cent. French health care.

And the drug companies charge us here more to make up the difference. In Canada hospital patients are assigned to the hallway because they are swamped.


Socialism is absolutely devastating...

Yes, it is. Like all leftist forms of government, it degrades the individual.


French people under fifty years of age have never known the fear that grips all Americans (all but the very rich, that is) of losing everything to a medical problem. The French may get sick, of course... but they know they will get excellent treatment. They don't have to be afraid of financial disaster.

The so-called French people have become dependent on the state. And are losing their culture.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.12  Bob Nelson  replied to  Vic Eldred @8.1.10    one month ago

I cannot say what applies here, because TPTB won't allow it.

 
 
 
Nerm_L
Professor Expert
8.1.13  Nerm_L  replied to  JohnRussell @8.1.3    one month ago
The idea that MAGA will be the long term future of America is the greatest fantasy in the history of humanity.   For the sake of fending off dystopia MAGA must be forced out of existence. 

Joe Biden tried to be a MAGA President.  Biden institutionalized Trump's policies the same way Clinton did with Reagan's policies.  Biden returned to Trump's immigration policies too late to save himself, though.

Clinton was more Reagan than Reagan.  And Biden tried to be more Trump than Trump.  Democrats are already appropriating MAGA; they're just calling it something different.  

 
 
 
Jack_TX
Professor Quiet
8.1.14  Jack_TX  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.7    one month ago
the fear that grips all Americans (all but the very rich, that is) of losing everything to a medical problem.

Contrary to popular European belief, that's not actually what goes on in the US.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
8.1.15  bugsy  replied to  Sean Treacy @8.1.5    one month ago
in England, the police going around visiting people over social media posts

in France, the government trying to throw the leading presidential candidate in jail

in Germany, an attempt to ban the second most popular party from participating in elections,.

I am going to go the liberal route here.......

If If if the democrats get back into power, they will do everything they can to mirror what Europeans are doing.

Difference is, I am probably more correct with my what if scenarios than any of the leftist ones about Trump

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
8.1.16  Sean Treacy  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.8    one month ago
I'm not allowed to disagree with you, Sean.

You are more than welcome to disagree with me bob.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
8.1.17  Sean Treacy  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.7    one month ago
I didn't spend a cent. French health care.

you don't pay taxes? 

 34 percent of the French population go without heating because they can't afford it.

A true socialist paradise. 

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.18  Bob Nelson  replied to  Jack_TX @8.1.14    one month ago

Don't bother, Jack. I told you I have better things to do with my time.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.19  Bob Nelson  replied to  Sean Treacy @8.1.17    one month ago

I assume you're not so self-imbued as to think you know France better than I. So I suppose you're actually posting to try to misinform third persons. It they're foolish enough to believe a propagandist rather than someone who spends half the year in France... they deserve their ignorance.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.20  Bob Nelson  replied to  Sean Treacy @8.1.17    one month ago

That's one (biased) man's statement, with no data to support it.

I'd give my opinion of your method, here, but TPTB would give me a ticket.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
8.1.21  Sean Treacy  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.20    one month ago
give my opinion of your method, here, but TPTB would give me a ticket

What would your opinion be about citing a fact about France published in media owned by the French government? 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
8.1.22  Sean Treacy  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.19    one month ago
me you're not so self-imbued as to think you know France better than I.

Do you pay taxes?  If you do, healthcare isn't free.   You pay for it one way or another. The French people pay a much higher share of GDP in taxes than Americans do. Average French  GDP per capita is less than Mississippi, the poorest state in the Union.

If you want to talk about what French people worry about, do they worry about living in a country with a moribund economy, heavily intertwined with a super state whose economy was bigger than the US's 15 years ago and is now substantially smaller?  I'd sure be worried about what things will look like in 20 years unless there are massive changes..

 

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.23  Bob Nelson  replied to  Sean Treacy @8.1.22    one month ago

I never know whether you dissemble, or believe your stuff. 

After taxes and redistribution, median French income is higher than American.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
8.1.24  Sean Treacy  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.23    one month ago

.

Simple facts Bob. GDP per capita is lower in France than it is in Mississippi, the poorest state in the union. 

More facts. the average family with 2 kids in American pays 19.7% of wages in taxes, in France that number is 39.1%

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.25  Bob Nelson  replied to  Sean Treacy @8.1.24    one month ago

I keep trying to believe you're smart and know stuff. Then you do something profoundly stupid like compare GDP per capita.

It would be so much simpler if you didn't spend so much time dissembling.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
8.1.26  George  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.23    one month ago
median French income is higher than American.

Pure ignorance, France isn't even in the top 10.

Disposable Income by Country 2024

Median Income By Country 2024

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
8.1.27  Sparty On  replied to  George @8.1.26    one month ago

Not ignorance.    More like targeted disinformation.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
8.1.28  George  replied to  Sparty On @8.1.27    one month ago

Maybe they don't have Google?

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
8.1.29  Sparty On  replied to  George @8.1.28    one month ago

One wonders ….

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.30  Bob Nelson  replied to  George @8.1.26    one month ago
After taxes and redistribution

What part of this do you not understand?

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
8.1.31  George  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.30    one month ago

I understand perfectly, you comment shows you are clueless, this is what you wrote,

median French income is higher than American.

That is patiently false by every metric. period.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
8.1.32  Bob Nelson  replied to  George @8.1.31    one month ago

[]

 
 
 
Ronin2
Professor Quiet
8.1.33  Ronin2  replied to  Bob Nelson @8.1.7    one month ago

It is easy to support health care when you spend so damn little on defense that you military is a formal joke.

France is a part of the NATO tail that wags the US dog. 

Let them pay their fair share for their own defense and see how affordable that health care becomes.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
9  author  Vic Eldred    one month ago

Rev. Al Sharpton plans to hold a rally in protest of President-elect Trump on inauguration day. 

BB1owSIr.img?w=768&h=433&m=6&x=343&y=114&s=120&d=120

Sharpton  announced  the rally on his MSNBC show, “Politics Nation with Al Sharpton,” on Tuesday. The rally and Trump’s inauguration coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

Sharpton to hold MLK rally on same day as Trump inauguration

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
9.1  Right Down the Center  replied to  Vic Eldred @9    one month ago

From the article:  “  I will be at the nation’s capital working to keep the dream alive,” Sharpton said. “There has never been a more important time to peacefully organize and mobilize.”

Remember Al, that is pretty much what Donald said in 2020.  And then when thing went south he was blamed.  It would be hilarious to see Al blamed for an insurrection attempt.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
9.1.1  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Right Down the Center @9.1    one month ago
It would be hilarious to see Al blamed for an insurrection attempt.

Can you imagine what would happen if there were a riot?

We would be told all day & night how different it was from Jan 6th.

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
9.1.2  Right Down the Center  replied to  Vic Eldred @9.1.1    one month ago
We would be told all day & night how different it was from Jan 6th

There would be some amazing dance steps and pretzel logic to try and convince people it is part of democracy.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
9.1.3  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Right Down the Center @9.1.2    one month ago

Yup, their riots are democratic, and they are on the side of the angels.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
9.1.4  George  replied to  Right Down the Center @9.1    one month ago
Sharpton

Who? is he the snitch who rolled to stay out of jail? 

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
9.1.5  Bob Nelson  replied to  Right Down the Center @9.1    one month ago

Actually... Donald suggested that the crowd go to the Capitol. Sharpton did not.

Other than that... other than being completely different... yeah! Identical!  jrSmiley_78_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
9.1.6  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Bob Nelson @9.1.5    one month ago

Go Peacefully, as I recall

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
9.1.7  JohnRussell  replied to  Right Down the Center @9.1    one month ago

Recognizing the likely futility of this explanation , for some, I will go ahead with it. 

Sharpton is going to protest on inauguration day , after the electoral vote has been verified by Congress two weeks earlier. 

Trump "protested" on Jan 6th , with the hope his "protesters" would PREVENT the counting of the electoral vote in Congress. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
9.1.8  JohnRussell  replied to  Vic Eldred @9.1.6    one month ago

What was the PURPOSE of Trumps Jan 6th event?  Why did he tell the mob he would march to the Capitol with them? 

At the very least he wanted to physically intimidate Mike Pence, but there is much more to it than that. 

 
 
 
afrayedknot
Senior Quiet
9.1.9  afrayedknot  replied to  Vic Eldred @9.1.1    one month ago

“Can you imagine what would happen if there were a riot?”

As some may root for a ‘riot’, an assembly gathered to protest (which is still a right) is in no way similar to the events that transpired and were implicitly inspired on 1/6. 

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
9.1.10  Bob Nelson  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.8    one month ago
What was the PURPOSE of Trumps Jan 6th event?  Why did he tell the mob he would march to the Capitol with them?

I have no evidence at all, but my gut feeling is that Trump meant to lead the assault... but chickened out.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
9.1.11  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  afrayedknot @9.1.9    one month ago
As some may root for a ‘riot’

No need to "root," in 2016 there was a riot in DC...

Remember?

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
9.1.12  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.8    one month ago

He told them to go peacefully.

All this time and you still won't admit it.

 
 
 
afrayedknot
Senior Quiet
9.1.13  afrayedknot  replied to  Vic Eldred @9.1.12    one month ago

“He told them to go peacefully.

All this time and you still won't admit it.”

And all this time, you still don’t get it. 

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
9.1.14  Right Down the Center  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.7    one month ago
Sharpton is going to protest on inauguration day , after the electoral vote has been verified by Congress two weeks earlier. 

Good to see you are already thinking about excuses if his crowd decide to get in the way of Trump being sworn in.

Trump "protested" on Jan 6th , with the hope his "protesters" would PREVENT the counting of the electoral vote in Congress. 

You really think Trump believed the protest would stop the counting ?

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
9.1.15  Right Down the Center  replied to  Bob Nelson @9.1.5    one month ago
Donald suggested that the crowd go to the Capitol.

You forgot the word peacefully.  Why is that?

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
9.1.16  TᵢG  replied to  Vic Eldred @9.1.1    one month ago
We would be told all day & night how different it was from Jan 6th.

If Sharpton's audience were to storm the Capitol (or any equivalent public site) and engage in breaking and entering and violence then they would be as wrong as the Trump insurrectionists.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
9.1.17  TᵢG  replied to  Right Down the Center @9.1.14    one month ago
You really think Trump believed the protest would stop the counting ?

Do you think Trump believed that Pence tabling certified votes would lead to Congress accepting his fake electors and deeming him PotUS?

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
9.1.18  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  TᵢG @9.1.16    one month ago

I didn't hear much condemnation 8 years ago:

Washington CNN  — 

Six police officers were injured and 217 protesters arrested Friday after a morning of peaceful protests and coordinated disruptions of Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony gave way to ugly street clashes in downtown Washington.

At least two DC police officers and one other person were taken to the hospital after run-ins with protesters, DC Fire Spokesman Vito Maggiolo told CNN. Acting DC Police Chief Peter Newsham said the officers’ injuries were considered minor and not life threatening.

Bursts of chaos erupted on 12th and K streets as black-clad “antifascist” protesters smashed storefronts and bus stops, hammered out the windows of a limousine and eventually launched rocks at a phalanx of police lined up in an eastbound crosswalk. Officers responded by launching smoke and flash-bang devices, which could be heard from blocks away, into the street to disperse the crowds.

Inauguration protests: Police injured, more than 200 arrested | CNN Politics


Let us see what happens this time.

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
9.1.19  Sparty On  replied to  Vic Eldred @9.1.18    one month ago
I didn't hear much condemnation 8 years ago:

That’s because the Trump resist movement justifies any “anti” Trump action.   This is the derangement that is now their main platform.   Screw the border, screw people’s safety, screw the economy, screw blind justice, screw Democracy in action if it elects Trump.

Look no further than this place for proof of all that.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
9.1.20  Sean Treacy  replied to  Sparty On @9.1.19    one month ago

It also justifies every lie, every dirt trick etc…

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
9.1.21  Sparty On  replied to  Sean Treacy @9.1.20    one month ago

[jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="UIE4UjBtx-o"]

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
9.1.22  Tessylo  replied to  Bob Nelson @9.1.10    one month ago

I have no evidence at all, but my gut feeling is that Trump meant to lead the assault... but chickened out.

he was told he couldn't and there was a scuffle with the driver - which was reported by a republican and denied by the ones culpable in 1/6

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
9.1.23  Tessylo  replied to  afrayedknot @9.1.13    one month ago
He said 'peacefully' at the start of the rally of lies and ended with 'fight like hell' after almost two hours of lies

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
9.1.24  JohnRussell  replied to  Right Down the Center @9.1.14    one month ago
You really think Trump believed the protest would stop the counting ?

The totality of "jan 6th" shows Trump doing everything he could, and encouraging his mob to do everything they could , to stop the count.  The ellipse speech wasnt to say goodbye to America after he lost the election, it was to encourage his fans to go to the Capitol and fight. Fight through protest, fight through "insurrection" , it didnt matter to him, he was for whatever it was going to take.  The idea that Trump only wanted peaceful protest is laughable.  If he only wanted peaceful protest he would not have sat and watched the riot on tv for hours without trying to do anything to stop it.  

Nothing I am saying is speculation, it is on record. 

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
9.1.25  Right Down the Center  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.24    one month ago

So yes.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
9.1.26  TᵢG  replied to  Vic Eldred @9.1.18    one month ago

This tired ploy again ... "but I did not hear you condemn them before"  going back 8 years.

I do not remember what I commented on that long ago so you certainly do not.   Go with what I just wrote:

TiG@9.1.16 - If Sharpton's audience were to storm the Capitol (or any equivalent public site) and engage in breaking and entering and violence then they would be as wrong as the Trump insurrectionists.
 
 
 
Just Jim NC TttH
Professor Principal
9.1.27  Just Jim NC TttH  replied to  Tessylo @9.1.22    one month ago
he was told he couldn't and there was a scuffle with the driver

And please read the whole thing before your usual "nuh uh".

The driver said he "did not see him reach [redacted]. [President Trump] never grabbed the steering wheel. I didn't see him, you know, lunge to try to get into the front seat at all," the report states.
 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
9.1.29  1stwarrior  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.24    one month ago

Absolutely total Dem/Lib BS - but keep it up and maybe Disney will allow your "Fairy Tails" to come true.

 
 
 
Dismayed Patriot
Professor Quiet
9.1.30  Dismayed Patriot  replied to  TᵢG @9.1.26    one month ago
Go with what I just wrote

They can't because their moronic argument doesn't have a leg to stand on. It's frankly insulting and completely idiotic to try and equate some Sharpton protest where apparently 6 officers sustained minor injuries on the street to the attack on our capital and at least 140 capital police officers being injured, some severely, with our capital being vandalized, doors and windows destroyed all in attempt to stop the peaceful transition of power aka attempted insurrection. But I guess no one should expect any lying Trump supporter to be honest about anything. Fool me once, shame on me, trying to fool anyone for the thousands time, it's just gotten sad. No one with more than half a brain believes these Trump loving lying sacks of shit.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
9.1.31  JohnRussell  replied to  1stwarrior @9.1.29    one month ago

Give us your version. We can discuss it. 

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
9.1.32  1stwarrior  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.31    one month ago

Don't see why - you didn't discuss it when the topic was new, so I doubt you'd be able to discuss it 3 years after.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
9.1.33  JohnRussell  replied to  1stwarrior @9.1.32    one month ago

If that is your answer,    I would say I know 100 times more about it than you do.   

Trump supporters dont want to know what he has done wrong, including trying to steal the 2020 election.  That is all there is to it, and in  2024 it works. 

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
9.1.34  Sparty On  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.33    one month ago
I would say I know 100 times more about it than you do.   

And I would call that complete bullshit.    So there you go.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
9.1.35  JohnRussell  replied to  Sparty On @9.1.34    one month ago

500 times more about it than you do. 

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
9.1.36  Sparty On  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.35    one month ago

lol ….indubitably…..

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
9.1.37  1stwarrior  replied to  JohnRussell @9.1.33    one month ago

John - I have forgotten/will forget more in five minutes than some will ever learn in a lifetime.

Your innuendoes have absolutely no to little effect.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
9.2  bugsy  replied to  Vic Eldred @9    one month ago

I hope the new head of the IRS has his ass arrested for tax evasion. He still owes millions of dollars in taxes, and it looks like everyone is afraid to go after him because they will be called a racist. 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
10  author  Vic Eldred    one month ago

The Biden administration is committed to ensuring “every dollar we have at our disposal” is pushed out to Ukraine before Donald Trump takes office, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

Blinken made a hastily arranged trip to Brussels to reassure NATO and European Union allies that the US will intensify its efforts to send resources to Ukraine ahead of the inauguration of Trump, who has strongly criticized the scale of the US effort to defend Kyiv.

OIP.r1mcBsRp-HnRAz2bmhyt3gHaE7?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain



US to Rush Aid to Ukraine Before Trump Takes Over, Blinken Says

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
10.1  Jeremy Retired in NC  replied to  Vic Eldred @10    one month ago
The Biden administration is committed to ensuring “every dollar we have at our disposal” is pushed out to Ukraine before Donald Trump takes office, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

They're trying to get as much to Ukraine as they can now.  We all know that on January 20th that free flow of money will either cease or will be severely slashed.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
10.1.1  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Jeremy Retired in NC @10.1    one month ago

While I believe in helping allies, this was idiotic in many ways. Europe should have taken on the role of military supplier. They have had very little expense when it comes to a military budget and the Ukraine war was after all, a European threat. 

The US stockpile of munitions is so low now that we couldn't win a war right now with China because of it:

From May:

U.S. Defense Department officials profess to have learned one of the starkest lessons from the war in Ukraine: that high-intensity conflicts consume a
  huge number   of munitions and that weapons production cannot rapidly expand. William LaPlante, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, coined the phrase “ production is deterrence ” in late 2023, and this mantra has been repeated by other senior leaders, including Deputy Defense Secretary   Kathleen Hicks .

Unfortunately, the Defense Department’s budget request for fiscal year 2025, which asks for $1.2 billion less than last year for key conventional precision-guided munitions, belies these claims. The Pentagon cannot continue to kick the can down the road and promise to buy more munitions next year.  Supplemental appropriations are needed  to replenish inventories of weapons given to partners and expended during operations in the Middle East, but on their own, they are a Band-Aid that  will not fix  the fundamental problem of production levels that do not match the intensity of modern warfare. The Pentagon needs to consistently buy more of the right weapons to  support allies and partners , deal with the threats it faces today, and deter future challenges.

U.S. Military Stockpiles are Dangerously Undersupplied

Beyond that, the Biden administration insisted on a defense only strategy for Ukraine while slow walking weapons systems the Ukraine wanted.

Now they are going to try and undermine the next administration.

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
10.1.2  Jeremy Retired in NC  replied to  Vic Eldred @10.1.1    one month ago
While I believe in helping allies, this was idiotic in many ways.

That's an understatement. 

Europe should have taken on the role of military supplier. They have had very little expense when it comes to a military budget and the Ukraine war was after all, a European threat. 

But they also knew Biden would fork over the equipment and money with no questions asked.  Europe was happy when Trump left office in 2020.  They weren't held to any level of any accountability.

Europe should have taken on the role of military supplier. They have had very little expense when it comes to a military budget and the Ukraine war was after all, a European threat. 

It hasn't only affected the munition side, it's hit all across the board.   The ability to deploy quickly with needed equipment has been hurt because of the lack of training.  Training has been lost because of lack of funding, lack of focus in training has become a real problem as well.  The list goes on and on.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
10.1.3  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Jeremy Retired in NC @10.1.2    one month ago
It hasn't only affected the munition side, it's hit all across the board.   The ability to deploy quickly with needed equipment has been hurt because of the lack of training.  Training has been lost because of lack of funding, lack of focus in training has become a real problem as well.  The list goes on and on.

But at least Austin & Milley have them using the right pronouns.

The Army missed its recruitment goal by about 10,000.

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
10.1.4  Jeremy Retired in NC  replied to  Vic Eldred @10.1.3    one month ago
But at least Austin & Milley have them using the right pronouns.

I won't use somebody's "preferred pronouns" for the same reason I won't talk to a schizophrenic's imaginary friends.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
10.1.5  author  Vic Eldred  replied to  Jeremy Retired in NC @10.1.4    one month ago

It is a woke game.

 
 
 
Dismayed Patriot
Professor Quiet
10.1.6  Dismayed Patriot  replied to  Jeremy Retired in NC @10.1.4    one month ago
I won't use somebody's "preferred pronouns" for the same reason I won't talk to a schizophrenic's imaginary friends.

Same reason I don't take any Trump supporter seriously; they live in their own little imaginary world where they're the continual victims and everything is a conspiracy theory. Sure, some people would like to be called "Sean" "Vic" or "Jeremy", perhaps because that's what their parents named them or was a name they chose for themselves, but it shouldn't matter what they want to be called, I just go with my gut and refer to them by the nouns I've assigned which match them far better because only my opinion matters, their desire to be called the nouns they choose is immaterial. /s

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
10.1.7  Jeremy Retired in NC  replied to  Dismayed Patriot @10.1.6    one month ago
Same reason I don't take any Trump supporter seriously

Sounds like something you need to take up with them.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
10.1.8  bugsy  replied to  Dismayed Patriot @10.1.6    one month ago
Same reason I don't take any Trump supporter seriously

Seems very few people took Harris supporters seriously....

Because they lost.

 
 
 
Nerm_L
Professor Expert
10.2  Nerm_L  replied to  Vic Eldred @10    one month ago
The Biden administration is committed to ensuring “every dollar we have at our disposal” is pushed out to Ukraine before Donald Trump takes office, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

Biden should send Kamala Harris.  She is a blockbuster fundraiser, after all.  Ukraine's Zelensky just needs to sponsor more concerts and attract more celebrity endorsements to save democracy.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
11  author  Vic Eldred    one month ago

"The Trump administration is being set up to quickly advance the President's vision in all areas.  Eight years ago, Donald Trump was unsure of himself as he prepared to take power from Barack Obama.  Now he's confident, maybe even too self-assured.
 
Selecting Matt Gaetz as Attorney General is a giant middle finger to the Justice Department.  Gaetz will be a wrecking ball in there, pretty much dismantling the entire apparatus.  He'll nuke the swamp rather than just drain it.
 
But the Florida Congressman will have a tough time in the confirmation process, and the Senate is not a lock to hire him.  The media will crucify Gaetz, and things will get bloody fast.  Here's the question: does the country need that kind of exposition?
 
The other Trump cabinet people will pretty much sail through, although Governor Noem will also get hammered by the media.
 
It is clear to me that President Trump will charge into the White House with a fierce payback attitude.  That can be good because villains abound.   But on the other hand, vast power is never easy to control.
 
 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
11.1  JohnRussell  replied to  Vic Eldred @11    one month ago

O' Reilly has been more visible lately, trying to worm his way back into prominence. The only ones who are buying it are MAGA. 

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
11.1.1  Sparty On  replied to  JohnRussell @11.1    one month ago

Ah yes, an old enemy requited ….. must be exciting.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
12  author  Vic Eldred    one month ago

Pennsylvania Senate Race Heads to Recount:

Pennsylvania’s Senate race is heading to a recount, which the narrow margin between Republican Dave McCormick and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey triggered automatically under state law. 

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced Wednesday that the unofficial results showing a narrow race have led to a recount. Schmidt noted in his announcement that counties must begin the recount no later than Nov. 20 and that they must complete the process by noon Nov. 26. The results will not be published until Nov. 27.

Pennsylvania Senate race heads to a recount

 

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
13  Sparty On    one month ago

Gaetz will not get confirmed.    Now he’s no longer in the house.   Part of the plan I bet

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
14  TᵢG    one month ago
The President-elect made his first mistake yesterday, ...

Is it possible to make a more understated and false claim?   Matt Gaetz as Attorney General?   Just a 'mistake'?

And then we have Hegseth.

Trump is a dangerous buffoon.

 
 
 
Ronin2
Professor Quiet
14.1  Ronin2  replied to  TᵢG @14    one month ago

Sorry the buffoons are leaving the White House. We survived 4 years of leftist bullshit. I am sure we can survive the next 4 of Trump.

Leftist media needs Trump for ratings. W/O him they would bereft of ideas. 

No matter who Trump picked leftists would be bashing them.

Sorry no Establishment backstabbers and underminers this time around.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
15  George    one month ago

Gaetz is a bomb thrower and a loose cannon, he is just fucking crazy enough to release the names of everybody on Epstein's client list and everyone who attended Diddy's parties, that might make it worth it.

 
 

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