Political Discussion Thread (READ FIRST POST)

[mlooney 3,839]

34 minutes ago, Darth Fluffy said:

Do you not see that this is inconsistent? It was a referent comment, not a pun. You, as '/me', said, "Just for the record, quoting song lyrics isn't a pun," which is relevant to what?, then "even if it would be otherwise" - which is incorrect, if it is a pun it doesn't stop being a pun because it is also a referent comment (but also not relevant, since as you said, it wasn't a pun).

Just making comentry on what does and does not make The Big Book of Pain and Torment.

[Pharaoh RutinTutin 1,671]

 

23 hours ago, mlooney said:

Just making comentry on what does and does not make The Big Book of Pain and Torment.

Pain & Torment are relative and subjective concepts. 

While I endeavor to refrain from offending, it is still a disappointment if no one finds what I say to at least be cringe worthy. 

 

[Darth Fluffy 378]

Trump seems to be going down in flames, but he's also like that turd that won't flush. Good news, he seems to have transfered his negative cooties to Vance. And Bobby Brain Worm is catching suitable flak for trying to kill us all.

[The Old Hack 2,516]

Trump has declared Antifa a terrorist organization. The small issue that there is no such thing as an organization calling itself 'Antifa' is of no moment. The important thing is that this revolting dumpster fire of a regime can then proceed to declare anyone they don't like a member of this nonexistent entity made out of pure propaganda boogeymen.

[Darth Fluffy 378]

37 minutes ago, The Old Hack said:

Trump has declared Antifa a terrorist organization. The small issue that there is no such thing as an organization calling itself 'Antifa' is of no moment. The important thing is that this revolting dumpster fire of a regime can then proceed to declare anyone they don't like a member of this nonexistent entity made out of pure propaganda boogeymen.

To be fair, that is entirely within the scope of their day to day operations; it's all mostly bullshit.

[The Old Hack 2,516]

7 hours ago, Darth Fluffy said:

To be fair, that is entirely within the scope of their day to day operations; it's all mostly bullshit.

Not this part. It is another step on the road to fascism. And with the First Amendment under brutal siege, it will only move faster.

[Darth Fluffy 378]

3 hours ago, The Old Hack said:

Not this part. It is another step on the road to fascism. And with the First Amendment under brutal siege, it will only move faster.

Well, yeah, very much agree; while the basis is bullshit (excuse me, horseshit, after all, he is a stable genius) the targets are very much real issues; and the Toddler's petulance hates free speech. 

What I don't get is, is it possible that the Republican'ts who are playing MAGAt don't see the inevitable damage, and how do the goobers who cave in to the Felons demands think that's going to benefit them in the long run?

[The Old Hack 2,516]

1 hour ago, Darth Fluffy said:

What I don't get is, is it possible that the Republican'ts who are playing MAGAt don't see the inevitable damage, and how do the goobers who cave in to the Felons demands think that's going to benefit them in the long run?

In both cases it may be due to fear and denial. They are too afraid to stand up to him and they try to tell themselves that 'maybe it won't be so bad.' To paraphrase Terry Pratchett, there are worse things you can do than following bad orders. And most of them start right after you begin to follow the bad orders.

[Darth Fluffy 378]

9 hours ago, The Old Hack said:

In both cases it may be due to fear and denial. They are too afraid to stand up to him and they try to tell themselves that 'maybe it won't be so bad.' To paraphrase Terry Pratchett, there are worse things you can do than following bad orders. And most of them start right after you begin to follow the bad orders.

One of the reasons his stories sold well is the wisdom buried in it.

I'd recommend Robert Reich (YouTube channel Robert Reich) for a sane point of view.

[Don Edwards 583]

First time around, the only thing I really liked about Trump was how much the leadership of both major parties appeared to hate him.

Now the Republican leadership seems to love him, and the Democrat leadership is working hard to be seen to oppose him - vigorously -but without actually slowing him down any.

[Darth Fluffy 378]

7 hours ago, Don Edwards said:

First time around, the only thing I really liked about Trump was how much the leadership of both major parties appeared to hate him.

Now the Republican leadership seems to love him, and the Democrat leadership is working hard to be seen to oppose him - vigorously -but without actually slowing him down any.

The MAGAts in the congress are not really Republican, not the 'prior to hurricane Donald' kind; they are the true Rinos. People that I would not see myself voting for, Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney, I number among my heroes, merely for standing up to him. There are a lot of old school Republicans standing up to Trump; check out The Lincoln Project. Kamala had fairly solid Republican support in 2024. 

The main reason, the intersection of their beliefs (traditional Republicans and democrats) is neither are trying to destroy our democracy, unlike the current crop of MAGA Rinos. 

[Don Edwards 583]

2 hours ago, Darth Fluffy said:

the intersection of their beliefs (traditional Republicans and democrats) is neither are trying to destroy our democracy, unlike the current crop of MAGA Rinos. 

IMHO the traditional Republicans and traditional Democrats - the ones not trying to destroy our democracy - haven't been in control of their parties since at least 1975 if not earlier.

[Darth Fluffy 378]

1 hour ago, Don Edwards said:

IMHO the traditional Republicans and traditional Democrats - the ones not trying to destroy our democracy - haven't been in control of their parties since at least 1975 if not earlier.

That's fair; it's a very subjective evaluation, but everybody has flaws, so yes, if you look for the negative, you'll find it.

I think having goals is a key, and traditional Republicans and traditional Democrats are not that far from each other in their goals; the Republicans are more fiscally conservative, the Democrats will spend for the general welfare. But they are not really far from each other.

Trump, on the other hand, has clear goals, Lord help us. They are not good. He says he wants to be a dictator, and he means it. Dimwit thinks it's actually a good idea (possibly doesn't care, but I'll go with doesn't get it.) Sadly, the Rinos want to hitch a ride to mob power at any cost, and will do nothing to stop him; the few that wake up are a dribble and are an ineffective resistance. The smart ones got out early.

 

[ijuin 611]

5 hours ago, Darth Fluffy said:

People that I would not see myself voting for, Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney, I number among my heroes, merely for standing up to him. There are a lot of old school Republicans standing up to Trump; check out The Lincoln Project. Kamala had fairly solid Republican support in 2024. 
 

 

You know things have gone to shit when Mitt Romney stands nearly alone as the  voice of reason.

[Darth Fluffy 378]

6 hours ago, ijuin said:

You know things have gone to shit when Mitt Romney stands nearly alone as the  voice of reason.

He's not as bad as all that. We would have survived an era of President Romney with our basic form of government intact. Also, he authored 'Obamacare'; disowned it, Obama adopted it, but it was his ideas. 

The two that get me are Dan Quayle having to give good advice to Mike Pence about certifying the election, and Dick Cheney being a voice of reason. 

[mlooney 3,839]

1 hour ago, Darth Fluffy said:

Dick Cheney being a voice of reason.

Mr. Cheney's biggest problem was he was a Neo-con, which intails a certain belief in, ah, robust, foreign policy.  As far as domestic policy goes, he was more left than people give him credit for.  Strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, for example.

[mlooney 3,839]

And right now, I'd welcome a Neocon foreign policy.  At its core is a belief that the USSR/Russia are our opponents. 

[mlooney 3,839]

US National Counterterrorism Center warns of threat from al Qaeda https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-national-counterterrorism-center-warns-threat-al-qaeda-2025-09-20/

 

[ijuin 611]

On 9/20/2025 at 5:15 AM, Darth Fluffy said:

He's not as bad as all that. We would have survived an era of President Romney with our basic form of government intact. Also, he authored 'Obamacare'; disowned it, Obama adopted it, but it was his ideas. 

I was referring more to Romney apparently standing alone while the rest of his party has gone wacko, even though he was the most recent non-Donald-Trump Presidential candidate for them. Why did nobody stand with him?

[Darth Fluffy 378]

6 hours ago, ijuin said:

I was referring more to Romney apparently standing alone while the rest of his party has gone wacko, even though he was the most recent non-Donald-Trump Presidential candidate for them. Why did nobody stand with him?

Again, check out The Lincoln Project. Their ads are top notch. 

Did you catch how many freaking Republicans were standing for Kamala at the Democratic Convention? Liz Cheney gave a speech on her behalf (and earned an embrace; they were clearly on the same page WRT Trump).

This current crop of MAGAts are not Republicans. (However, in the debate over 'cheapest energy source', someone should look into exhuming Lincoln and hitching the corpse up to a generator.)

[mlooney 3,839]

Ever time I think the univese has gotten a weird as it's gonna it, the univese says "Hold my beer..."

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/qanon-shaman-trump-lawsuit-capitol-riots-b2835709.html

[Darth Fluffy 378]

Universe, you've had too many . . .

[mlooney 3,839]

2 hours ago, Darth Fluffy said:

Universe, you've had too many . . .

Have not!  Wait til next week!  

 

<note I have no idea what is going to happen next week. I just have a feeling that something weird is on the way.>

[Darth Fluffy 378]

2 hours ago, mlooney said:

Have not!  Wait til next week!  

 

<note I have no idea what is going to happen next week. I just have a feeling that something weird is on the way.>

Trump, his sycophants, and the universe walk into a bar . . .

[Pharaoh RutinTutin 1,671]

 

My sister told me she was taking over as President.  Of course she was talking about her professional conference.  And she only has experience with academic politics.  But for a moment, I allowed myself to dream.