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TCinLA's avatar

“They pull a knife, you pull a gun. They send one of yours to the hospital, you send one of theirs to the morgue."

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Sean Connery, The Untouchables. Always loved that line!

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Sean Connery: the cop who teaches Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) about "The Chicago way."

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

I always love that line too. TC you’re pulling that line out at exactly the right time. I could be wrong, but it looks like Biden is sweet talking them to their face and stabbing them in the back. Sweetly. Just as you suggest.

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David’sinSC's avatar

Biden has the Republicans’ backs too. They just can’t recognize it. When we remove the knife they might see the reality that they have become better off as a result of his tough love.

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

We all need to remember that there are Republican politicians, then Republican citizens. Of course, the third subset is Trumpublicans - hopefully an endangered species.

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

Maybe not endangered, but incarcerated works for me

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

How about incarcerated, then endangered?😁

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

Yeah Baby‼️

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TPJ (MA)'s avatar

David100%

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

David! Nicely said! 🏆🏆

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

His years in politics are serving him well - at least obstruct them or step over them.

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

Thank you Nancy 🙏

His years in politics are serving all of us magnificently. I did not think I would catch myself saying this, Joe Biden was not my first choice, but he might be the best president I have seen in my lifetime. He is doing everything I would’ve wanted my first choice to do, and more. He is an attack dog. TC, are you seeing what I’m seeing with this Biden character? Does he meet up to your Sean Connery and Harrison Ford standards?

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

Roland, I agree. He wouldn't have been my first choice, either, but we needed someone who knew the ropes, and he filled that bill. I've been thrilled to witness his energy and integrity, and how adeptly he has played the game. I was so wrong to have doubted him. He has been exactly what we need right now, and he's no shrinking violet. He'll encourage bipartisanship, but he's not available for manipulation. I'd love to be witness to the machinations when he meets to "negotiate." I see him as fearless.

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TPJ (MA)'s avatar

Agreed, N & R. I voted for Amy Kobuchar (over my own esteemed Eliz Warren) in the MA primary. But gradually it became clear that Biden was the best candidate, i.e. the one most likely to beat 45. Not sure if any other Dem would have. He is on track to be the best Pres in my life, going back (barely) to Eisenhower. I'll go a step further to say that, if things go well, Biden may become the most beloved Pres, in any lifetime.

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

TPJ, I agree wholeheartedly. I had heard a few snarky comments about Biden attributed to Obama, and still believe that they might have been false - planted by the opposition. Still, I didn't anticipate the degree to which he has delivered. Like you, my first choice was Amy Klobuchar, having watched the way she handled the despicable Kavanaugh in the Blasey Ford hearings. His behavior was so off the rails, regardless of whether the accusation was valid - definitely demonstrated his lack of judicial temperament and apparent disdain for women. Still, her demeanor was so strong and focused. I believe she will go on to really shine in the future. For the current moment, though, the right person is behind the Resolute desk.

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TPJ (MA)'s avatar

I wanted to see Sen Klobuchar devour 45 with her salad comb.

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

EEEWWWW,the visual is more than I can handle, even now. It would be better to treat him like the Wicked Witch of the West and spray him with water, or whatever makes him disappear, leaving a huge pool of fat. . . . An industrial cleanup crew in hazmat suits could handle the residue.

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

Absolutely no way Obama says anything snarky about Biden. Give me a break. Don’t believe that Russian bot crap. Barack gave Joe the presidential medal of freedom for Pete’s sake. I don’t know who Pete is, but he would certainly agree with me that Barack would never criticize Joe.

Nancy my iPhone is not cooperating. I’m trying to get responses to your other replies to my comments but I can’t locate them. In particular you said 4+ years of the Menace brought you down, and that now you’re feeling hope again, and you hate to think what would happen if the menace had another 4 years. Let’s not go there, shall we? But you’re speaking for everybody, for several thousand people populating this forum, and for over half the country.

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

I immediately thought that, too. If for no other reason than that Obama just doesn't spew - he thinks before he speaks. It was very brief, and I immediately wondered if it had been sneaked in and it went unnoticed.

These comments keep moving around, and the order is often changed, too. I wish we could search on this site.

I go to the place where I ponder "what if" only when I'm frustrated over the mindless obstinacy of the malicious right, and it serves to remind me of how good things are now, after only 6-ish weeks. We dodged the bullet, for sure. Our good fortune benefits the entire country, and I'm trying not to begrudge the "other half," since we suffered for their stupidity.

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

I did, however, vote for Biden in the primary, for the same reason you did.

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

You are one of my favorites too, TPJ, you know that already. Karl Popper. As far as I’m concerned, that could be Dr. Seuss’s or Carl Jung’s long-lost nephew, or Joe Manchin’s love child from a woman he lost contact with decades ago. Nobody I’ve ever heard of. Jesus, man, is there any person you have not heard of?

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TPJ (MA)'s avatar

The main thing remembered from Popper is a story about a spider. It had something to do with critical observation.

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

Thank you Nancy. I would highlight everything in your message. He’s a surprise to me as well, a very pleasant surprise. I also want to take this opportunity to tell you how much I always enjoy your posts.

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Nancy Fleming's avatar

Thank you, too, Roland. I always love your posts, too. This has been a haven and a place to share and learn. I've always been one to hold out hope that situations will improve, and in unanticipated ways, but the 4+ years of being assaulted by the Menace and his many enablers really took me down. After Biden's win and since his amazing drive to right the wrongs, hope has returned. Can't imagine what would have happened if the election had ended differently.

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Cathy Learoyd (Texas)'s avatar

I loved that scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indiana Jones pulls out his gun.

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TCinLA's avatar

They actually just came up with that on the fly doing the scene. originally, Indy was supposed to use his bullwhip, but Harrison Ford said that all the Han Solo fans who were going to come see the movie weren't going to buy him doing that after he killed Greedo in the good Star Wars movie.

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

I heard a different story, that he was sick that day and just trying to get through the day. He came up with the idea on the fly to end the scene quickly. I met my first actor ever a month ago, I’ll have to ask her.

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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

I've heard that too.

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TCinLA's avatar

I now suspect he came up with the story I heard to make it sound more "actorly"

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

The story I heard is from the era when Indiana Jones was produced, so perhaps you are right. Who knows. I’m not in that industry.

Hey TC, I asked you some questions elsewhere in this great discussion you started. I called Joe Biden an attack dog, among other things, (really? did I say that?) and I actually said that I thought, against my earlier opinion, that he might actually be living up to your Sean Connery and Harrison Ford standard. I was wondering what your take is on that. Like I said elsewhere here, Joe Biden was not my first choice, and I did not think I was going to like him. But now you are bringing the subject up. What’s your opinion?

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MaryB of Pasadena's avatar

My first reaction was “but that’s what TFG (the former guy) would and did do.” I’ve got to toughen up and get more ballsy, admittedly an anatomical stretch for me, as does the rest of the Democratic Party.

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Rob Boyte (Miami Beach)'s avatar

A Latino professor here in Miami once told his class that having "cojones" applied to either gender.

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Roland (CA->WA)'s avatar

Thank you Rob! Thank you MaryB! Thank you TC for this great discussion!

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Charlie Grantham (Tucson)'s avatar

Yep and maybe not wait for them to make the first move.

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