615 Comments

What a wonderful surprise President Biden has turned out to be, a far better progressive in action than Obama if less rhetorically.

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I loved Obama then and now, but I worried about how he would deal with the bullies, since he would have the need to protect his family. Biden’s kids are grown and on their own for better or worse, and Biden isn’t so focused on making a better world, as on saving the world we know and need to survive the next century. Biden knows the bullies better than they know themselves, which is why he is able to run rings around them.

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It wasn’t just his family victimized by racist bullies. The back lash against unarmed black men by law enforcement has been horrifying. I can’t imagine anyone with a heart and mind as brilliant as former POTUS Obama not feeling the weight of that burden

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and the gruesome cruelty of the murders at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine people including pastor and state senator Clementa Pinckney…

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And yet, the Repugs are bullying Hunter. Not that he hasn't earned the DOJ investigations, but Repugs are pushing beyond all justice in hopes of hurting President Biden.

I don't think it's working. There just isn't any evidence of Joe as being connected with any of Hunter's business dealing gs. Of Course, lack of evidence doesn't stop MAGAts.

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My husbands next op-ed in the Summit (CO) Daily News:

"Big-game hunting season in Summit County has begun and will end sometime in October, depending upon the type of animal hunted and the weapon utilized. In this regard, the literate elk, deer, moose and bear are put on notice as to when the time to lay low and avoid the humans falls on the calendar.

Those in Washington D.C. do not have the luxury of a calendared big-game hunting season, as it occurs all year long, every minute of every day. And no one in the swamps of D.C. is being hunted more than a man named Hunter. Why is Hunter being hunted? Well, for several reasons, including pending criminal charges related to gun and tax issues.

Hunter is a lawyer and an elite one at that (he went to Yale Law School; can’t get more Ivy-league snobby than a Yale Law School softball team stocked with alumni like Bill and Hillary Clinton, current Supreme Court Justices Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, and Sotomayer, and our very own Senator Bennet. And based upon a unanimous vote, Senator Josh “run from the riot after raising a fist in protest” Hawley will not be invited even though he technically qualifies as a

graduate).

Hunter is also a drug addict and like many drug addicts did some very bad things while under the influence of various chemicals. He didn’t even last one day as a member of the U.S. Navy reserves before testing positive to cocaine and being discharged. He managed to stay married for 24 years even though his relationships to drugs, prostitutes and exotic dancers deprived the family of money to pay legitimate household expenses. Before his divorce was finalized, he was involved in a two-year relationship with his brother’s widow. To say that Hunter had and continues to have some serious demons, legal and otherwise, would be an understatement. Yet, relationships and payoffs to sex workers, while a political liability as recently as the twentieth century, is now considered a rite of passage, at least to some major-party candidates. You simply brag and move on.

Hunter is also good at making money. He managed to land prestigious positions at a major bank and seats on the boards of two foreign companies (in China and Ukraine, adding to the intrigue). Coincidentally (of course, this is Washington remember), his father happened to be a very high-ranking elected U.S. official who received large campaign donations from the major bank where his son was hired. The family made sure that they never discussed business with each other so as to afford no possibility of any ethics or other corruption charges. Maybe they didn’t. At a minimum it must have made for some very quiet family dinners.

However, Hunter is not being hunted because he made money off of shady business deals, as thankfully for the elite success is often measured by how shady and lucrative the deal can be, yet still be legal. To date, there is no evidence of any undisclosed payments to his family, including Dad. And if making money off of shady business deals becomes a crime, especially for friends and family of those at the top of the political food chain, I would start to run if my name was Jared, Eric or Junior.

Hunter is also being charged with crimes in two separate Federal criminal cases. The first case involves three counts relating to gun charges (two counts where he allegedly lied on an application to purchase a Colt revolver and one count of possession of said revolver by a drug addict). He has plead not guilty and is being vocally supported by nearly all Republican members of Congress in his opposition to these likely unconstitutional gun laws. Or not. Even though there is no prohibition in the Second Amendment to a drug addict owning a revolver and also no application form required for which there could be any lie, not a single Republican is supporting Hunter. Even though Hunter and Justice Thomas, who wrote the recent majority

opinion requiring courts to look back to the time of the passage of the amendment in rendering decisions concerning the constitutionality of firearm restrictions, are on the same page, no one else on the right seems to be. Why not?

Hunter is also being charged with not filing his income tax returns and/or not paying his income taxes due on time. Imagine that- a drug addict decides to spend his money on drugs and sex workers instead of paying his income tax obligations. Who would have thought? He has managed to pay all his taxes, with penalties and interest, albeit late. Again, no Republican support in Congress even though their current political leader has said that not paying taxes “makes me smart.” Why are no Republicans standing up and declaring this to be another “witch hunt,” as there is no way the Department of Justice prosecutes a drug addict for a misdemeanor tax offense unless he is being singled out.

So, who is really hunting Hunter and why? The Democrats are keeping mum, even though many would likely hope that Hunter and Dad ride off into the sunset, never to be heard from again. It must therefore be the Republicans, now hoping to hold the country to a high moral standard. No more jobs because of who you know. No more shady business deals. The laws now apply to everyone and just because you are rich and/or famous is no longer a loophole. If only this was the case. If only."

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Excellent! I wonder what percentage of Republican (and, let’s be fair: Democrat) Senators and Representatives have never paid their taxes late - or, more likely, never cheated on their taxes and paid nothing. My guess? About none. And how many have lied on a gun application? Some. These are the same yahoos who want to abolish regulations- except for their opponents.

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While I was an auditor I was surprised the people that came to the office with the state declared no penalty for paying back taxes owed. I thought everyone paid their taxes. LOL.

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Dear Becky, although the editorial is a bit subtle for many Americans (substance abuse, including drugs, alcohol, and fattening foods), I’m glad to have read it, even though I would not like to lose Joe Biden at this juncture.

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I like Joe Biden. We the People elected him and rejected his predecessor. He is doing good work for the American people. Let's work with him.

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Hunter is a classic example of a life affected by tragedy. At the age of 3, his mother and younger sister were killed in a traffic accident (neither driver found to be at fault), his older brother suffered multiple broken bones and Hunter suffered a fractured skull and traumatic brain injury. As he grew up, his older brother, Beau, seemed to be the golden child who cast a long shadow over him. Hunter made numerous questionable decisions in his life, possibly a consequence of the brain injury when he was 3. This does not excuse him from the consequences of his actions -- not paying taxes, possessing a gun, whatever. But he should not be treated more harshly than others who commit the same acts because of who his father is.

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Fran, I so agree. There are a lot of famous and influential people out there whose children have had drug/alcohol problems. I believe Gandhi had an alcoholic son. Wasn't there something someone once said about "He who is without sin, throw the first stone"?

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Ah, yes. If only.... Ref. the widespread corruption, case in point: the Congressional insider trading. Large number of cases indicated or proven; well over a hundred recent cases, as I recall, and there seems to be roughly an even number of violators in both parties. Couple of feeble excuses to try and justify it--one from a democrat and one from a republican. How can young people--or anyone for that matter--believe Congress to be honorable if reps. and sens. pay lip service to the issue and then just keep on keepin' on? Some large fortunes have been made by congressmen involved in it.

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Well done. I had a rather colorful brother-in-law who often used a phrase that I think would fit the Republicans to a tee just now: "They are as useful as tits on a bull." And there is sure a lot of bull out there.

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"Of course, lack of evidence doesn't stop MAGAts". Brilliant. I also thing it is how you spell "Benghazi".

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Has Joe made any comment about the republicans on a witch hunt? He seems to me to be trying to stay above the fray with Hunter as well as the charges against trump. Now the republicans are claiming the DOJ is political when he, too, is trying to stay clear by assigning someone else to do the prosecuting. Isn't Hunter's people all republican appointed. These people are not happy unless they have not only the whole pie but it has to be the flavor they want.

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President Biden was elected fairly by We the People and he is working for and fighting for We the People and democracy. He and Obama made a beautiful team and gave heart and hope to so many. Let's honor them both by beating MAGA by a landslide. I'm tired of being bullied. When President Biden got into office, I was waiting for him to pull a Ralphie (like Ralphie did in The Christmas Story). Now I realize it is up to all of us, everywhere, to become Ralphies and collectively rid ourselves of MAGA. No one leader can do it alone. We have to face this existential threat head-on. As President Biden put it so well, "The one word that sums up America is possibility."

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Wow. She really nailed it. He is one dangerous, crazy SOB.

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Excellent. Thank you for sharing this.

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So true. Yet the news reports (nearly constantly— even MSNBC just today) that “Biden is too old”, and that the Democrats should run a younger candidate. Folks seem to want some kind of star power to sweep them off their feet. Well, be careful what you wish for. A younger President is not necessarily a better President. If only the information of his accomplishments could be more widely known. By the way, every person in the so-called “Freedom Caucus” is “young”.

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Yes, I wish the American people and the media could get past this ageist BS and recognize that they have a president who is well on his way to making life better for the people by respecting democratic principles and instituting economic fair play. Please let the man--and the team he has built around him--keep building this better future over the next 5 years. Vote blue!

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And even his beautiful and whip smart Vp is starting to look more presidential now that she’s leading a task force on gun laws. She had a great inton PBS from her alma mater—the Morehouse college.

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saw that interview - so impressed with the VP .

Really I'm Actually quite GRATEFUL for the type of President and VP in charge now.

VOTE VOTE VOTE

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Liz Ayer, Nyc/MA -- Indeed VP Harris is whip smart! The interview on PBS News Hour with Geoff Bennett last night was really great! She shone/shined with such intelligence, grace and deep confidence -- the kind of confidence that doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. (I noticed that they stood up for the entire interview.)

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"shone/shined"—Haha!

Either is correct except when speaking of, say, polishing silverware or shining shoes, in which case "shined" is the correct word.

https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/shined-or-shone/

or

https://www.grammarflex.com/posts/to-shine-is-it-shined-or-shone

Or just continue to use "shone/shined"!

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I say "shone" is correct, because it's what I learned in primary school back in the sixties, but "shined" is preferred, because that's what the word would be if "to shine" were a regular verb. I approve of the new trend towards regular forms, but "shined" still looks wrong to me!

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She went to Howard in DC. Morehouse is men-only.

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She seemed so nervous doing that interview. I hope she succeeds.

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“Inton PBS”. Please clarify.

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Inton = interview on, I think?

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That's what I understood it to mean.

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Kamala was interviewed yesterday evening on PBS.

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The other thing the media seems to be doing is itching for a fight within the Democrats, more drama, higher ratings. Split the party and see more anguish, more fundraising. On top of it all, the media tycoons and anti-democratic forces demoralizing the citizenry with all the stupidity of infighting and personal attacks. We the People must demand better, see through the despotic forces endangering our democracy, and rise up through the muck with our own backbones and our own Values emphasizing Freedom and Responsibility.

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Right and Gavin Newsome with his Hollywood good looks seems poised to jump in after his debate on Fox with DeSantis. Americans have always been suckers for beauty and youth. If we don’t have Biden for 4 more years —we will all be the worser!

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Gavin is an interesting potential, I’d like to hear more how he has managed Californias issues according to them...it’s a large and diverse population ( such as is our America) . Managing a diverse pop is #1 need for anyone of Presidential possibility.

Currently the people in greatest need are getting a promising boost , as Biden’s focus shores up the worst hit sector-the middle class.

The bargaining chips on my table are:

1) Uber-Rich -their taxes back to ‘fair’ . There’s no doubt they’ll have their puppets baulk .

2) Oversight committees need ‘buckle down basics’ ie no rich folks getting funds allocated for ....

3) Campaign finances need across the board cap

4) Lobbyist ...only one to represent anything.

5) Wall Street absolved...like did you just hear them scream !!🤣🤣🤣

6) Term Limits on:

a) subsidies

b) political positions

c) judgeships

7) CEO caps <10x their lowest paid employee..detecting another scream ?

The Blue Tsunami is gaining momentum, thanks for the work..so proud of this effort.

We ‘ll need to ramp up notch by notch , doubting the diabolical divisions different either.

Let’s welcome our youth vote and enthuse those so long ,often purposefully, neglected...that’s a strong audience to talk points- we need to hear from them..

a lot on our plate to accomplish , we.can.do.this.

💙💙VOTE💙💙

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One Newsome story concerns me…I live in NJ and know little about him. The story: As I understand it, he promoted a major water desalination project for LA. Ocean water would be desalinated, and wastewater, including sewage would be cleaned, too. The organics in the wastewater would have helped fuel the process, cutting costs significantly. The project died. Newsome couldn’t get it done.

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I think one of the reasons for opposing the de-sal project is that the current methods dump the salt back into the ocean, which is a disaster for any coastal sea life. Now if they could figure out a way to get lithium out of the salt (and not put it in the ocean) then a desalinization plant would be an awesome solution to multiple problems!

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Juanita Smith, I know that’s a concern, but analyses I’ve read indicate that is not the case when the wastes are properly dispersed. Israel, for example, recycles 96% of its wastewater and gets 80% of its drinking water from desalination (these figures are several years old). They disperse their distribution of salts and other contaminants and do ongoing testing of the related ecosystem. Consider the amount dispersed compared with the total regional volume: it’s tiny. Another concern is cost, but IMO, we should be paying the real cost for water, not a subsidized price.

Yes, environmental impact must be tested and monitored. I assume real, high-quality estimations could be made, but these things usually become politicized, and misinformation is then blasted fact.

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Possible?

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Thank you for the story. Remembering vaguely having seen it and found unsurprising that even Californians weren’t ready for it.

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Virginia Witmer, as I wrote, I haven’t closely followed this, but have to wonder, what were Californians not ready for? I suspect it was more about misinformation. California and the entire region are facing severe water shortages. The impact will be financial, too. What will happen to the economy when farmers don’t have enough water? How about real estate prices? And health: Water from depleted aquifers is more likely to be tainted with contaminants, like arsenic. Californians can pay now or pay later.

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Was there ever an explanation? It’s working in other seaside countries, though not sure of the holistic affect, and solar driven I believe.

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Patricia Davis, I think Juanita Smith is correct that concerns for desalination’s byproducts disposal would hurt the environment. I don’t know the details or history. However, it’s difficult to know what’s behind the banner messages. Could there have been an ulterior motive? But as you said, desalination is used all over the world, and newer methods cut costs a lot, like using the input water’s organic matter to help fuel the desalination process. Sometimes, we need to take risks to solve a crisis, and water access is becoming a crisis.

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I read about him in the NYTIMES every morning— they follow the huge amount of politics going on around all at the same time in that very large state that’s still Blue!

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He’ll be a contender soon I believe, have to keep a closer eye on him I reckon. Right now focus is on waking the sleepers up and getting our voters active .

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Newsome is interesting. To his credit, he us committed to supporting Biden in 2024, but it sure looks to me like he's prepping for a run in 2028. I like the way he speaks up in interviews, whether friendly or hostile. He can be a big help to the Biden campaign. I do feel some concern over the size of his ego. I know it takes a healthy ego to run fir the Presidency, but too much can be limiting and destructive. He's git a spine though, and too many Dems don't seem to have much.

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a Dems focus group (all women) recently chorused Biden was too old, but when asked to vote vs TOG, equally chorused,"Biden!" almost a shout. You're right on the ageism coverage. The questions need to be coupled. Compared to the ravings of TOG, Biden is clarion sane, clear and oh so with it.

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"Biden is clarion sane." Period. There is no comparison. Only a lot of work to be done between now and November 2024.

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If ONLY this would translate into poll results reflecting this, including if not especially handling the economy. I personally don't get it. Is there a broad populist conspiracy against the Dems which is baked in? Has the GOP been that good at brainwashing the general public?

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Don't worry about polls: it's the vites that count.

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Sorry... votes.

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Remember the Russians and possibly the Chinese bots are working night and day online to weaken US.

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The Foreword of HCR's new book explains the reason why pretty clearly. It is the big lie that propelled a joke of a politician into the Fascist Fuehrer in the 1930's and is at work now propelling a joke of a politician into a threat to the American Republic and to all of humanity. He has his "base" and they identify with his lies because it is easier to believe those lies than the truth. He must be defeated once and for all. Or, sorry Ben Franklin, we weren't able to "keep it" (the Republic).

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that only works to the extent predilections already exist in the American public.

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The dark web is far more powerful than most of us can believe. Not only is it encouraging assassinations, but it also encourages suicides and general depression and disorganization.

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Young, callow and stupid I’ll go with old and wise. Ageism is a real problem In our society. We are wasting social capital and knowledge. Our brains have been hijacked by X twitter and tik tok.

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Mick Jagger is the same age as Biden. I don't see anyone saying that he's too old to continue recording. ;)

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Amen! I’m 63 and to me President Biden seems, well, presidential.

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I am 84, not "Presidential", but my brain works fine.

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Nothing stops you from writing letters and to the editor protesting the unfair, illogical and just plain biased coverage of Joe Biden, especially compared to Trump. (Think about how a minor verbal stumble by the President is headline news, while Trump’s constant imbecilities are largely ignored.). Almost every day I post a comment in NYT pointing out the disparity in treatment. Eventually, if there are enough protests and comments, the editors of responsible outlets will change course.

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I have written letters to the editor and responded in the comments section to these articles. However, nothing seems to stop them from this constant drumbeat!

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For myself, I don’t expect results overnight. And I figure it will take a lot of people complaining to effect change. But I do what I can.

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Does anyone know how to communicate with news anchors? I sent a FB message to Alex Witt (MSNBC) out of sheer disgust at the attention to Biden's age and also just to see if it would garner a response. Nothing so far. How can we get through to them to tell them to stop it and focus on policies, programs, values, accomplishments?

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I’ve tried looking on line but it seems impossible. Several weeks ago I wanted to draw attention to the abhorrent project2025, as it needs much more media coverage.

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At the height of the pandemic, a bicycle shop owner told me, "what we have is what you want" , when I was looking for parts to upgrade my bike. Supply chains were severely limited then. He was right , by golly. The red seat and the wonky pedals worked out fine. I learned a lesson then regarding form and function, and how that interplay works in everyday life. The angel you know, versus the angel you don't know kind of thing with President Joe. People like to have something to complain about. Somehow, it gives them a sense of relevance and purpose. If Ol' Joe gives you the BLUES, dig it!

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Jim, so correct. While we do have our trolls on this forum, there are intelligent, well meaning discussions where one of those in the debate is a fervent progressive. Nothing Biden does is "enough" and I think of an astute clip from "Beau of the Fifth Column" when he remarked that progress doesn't come in leaps and bounds, it's by slowly chipping away.

I've observed that sometimes, the progressive debater on the discussions here can be just as stubborn in their beliefs as a MAGA.

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Annie Weeks - By the way, every person in the so-called “Freedom Caucus” is “young”.

Yes, just imagine Lauren Boebert or Margery Taylor Green as the President.

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Ewww. What a nightmare.

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Gag. I am just up and already sick to my stomach with the thought of Gunslinger Groper or Gangrene.

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I agree. Why this hang up about his age? Do you want an intelligent, forward thinking, mature man, who’s been around the block, or a nut case, megalomaniac, who’s a few years younger. Biden has done & is doing a fantastic job. I didn’t even want him as my 1st choice. I’m very glad we got him. These media people have blinders on. They’re hung up on spin & glam. What are they, teenagers?!

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I sent an email to the "Morning Joe" producers complaining about their unending whining about Joe's age (Biden not Morning). I asked them to compare the accomplishments of Trump's cabinet and Congress to Biden's.

I shudder to think how bad the Trump administration would have been had any of his cabinet actually tried to do something. Most of them did everything they could to tear down their departments.

And then look at how well the Dept. of Interior are led as well as many others. And many of the departments shed hundreds of veteran employees when Trump's people were heading the departments.

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Right on... and those youngsters don’t have even 1/16 of an ounce of the wisdom that President Biden has!!!

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It seems the MSM runs on negativity. So, we are all well aware of the TfG negatives. In the interest of “fairness” it was imperative that something “negative” was found about President Biden. It’s a bit sick.

And isn’t it so much easier to parrot “polls” than to do some real investigative journalism re: the accomplishments of the administration. We are not well served.

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Really? Looking at the polling, 60% of Democrats want to can Biden. Why? Because he

is a boat anchor. Inept, stupid, and a liability every direction you turn. If he isn't lying about his personal history, or tripping over his own feet, he is tap dancing around the family criminal enterprise. Sending a crack addict son to be the bag man isn't probably the smartest choice.

The ABC poll paints a terrible picture. 75% of respondents are unhappy with the economy. Unlike Biden's idiot staff who claimed inflation was "transitory", the current

economic picture isn't. Raising interest rates 500% over the last year is having the desired effect. Its choking the economy, slowing consumer spending, hurting corporate earnings, and slamming the brakes on lending.

We are likely to see a recession in Q4 2023 or Q1 2024. How bad it will be is open to question.

BTW 45% of the respondents said that they are worse off under Biden and that number will grow over the next 6 months. Those respondents favored Trump 81-29%.

So, No Americans don't want a younger or older President, they want a competent one.

They are tired of the effects of inflation, open borders, and wasted spending on needless wars.

These days Trump looks a whole better and the polling shows it.

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If you truly want to live in the country Donald Trump would try to create if he were re-elected, you don't need to wait for 2024. You could move to a place which is already that country - say Russia, China, North Korea, or Hungary. Go for it!

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*You are feeding a troll*

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You are delusional. Who do you think you are fooling?

There is a thing called history. Trump was president for 4 years. Leftists

pull this crap every time a Republican wins. They said the same thing about

Reagan, Bush, Bush Jr, and Trump. If the Nikki Haley were the nominee you would say the same thing. Its a cliche, and its stupid.

On the other hand, leftists hate free speech, individual choices, and LOVE big government.

Proof? Who wants to take away your gun? Censor your speech? Digitize the currency? Use the force of the FBI/CIA against its political rivals and citizens?

My friend YOUR LOGIC is 100% projection.

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You've apparently failed to read Trump's plans for his next presidency. Or you have, and you approve. Either way, his and his myrmidons plans stand for themselves. I don't need to add a thing. I repeat my invitation.

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You are delusional. Look at the latest ABC Poll- Trump 51% Biden 42%.

Even worse 75% of respondents are unhappy with the economy. 45% of respondents

say they are worse off and those voters favor Trump 81-29%.

60% of Democrats polled want to dump Biden.

You are delusional. Keep recycling your cliches! You obviously can't think your way out of a paper bag. This is de-rigueur for Leftist.

Just show you how stupid your claim is WHAT do the Chinese, Russians, and North Koreans have in common they ARE ALL LEFTISTS. They want government control of your speech, your money, your gun, and children. Just like the Biden administration.

Dream on!

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James A--this is the last time I will engage with you. You are bordering on troll status here on the forum. I don't know how long you've been reading/commenting--fairly recently I believe, and I suspect that like others before you, you will disappear.

You are welcome to post whatever you want, but you chose a single outlier poll to support the beliefs you already held. You're barking up the wrong tree if you are trying to convert anyone here.

I suspect that you will indignantly attempt to refute me, generally it seems like calling everyone delusional is your best retort. (Which, trust me on this one, the majority here is laughing at you.) Any other readers who are indeed finding James A's fury amusing, I welcome you to comment. Then, everyone--don't feed him.

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Why did you engage at all???

Waste of space.

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I'm far happier with somebody who "walks the walk" rather than "talks the talk." You can't eat soaring, inspiring rhetoric. I love Obama, but I will never ever vote for someone so naive and inexperienced as he was; by the time he figured out where the men's room was in the White House, his employees (Rahm Emanuel first and foremost) had FUBARed the situation "beyond all recognition."

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Methinks Biden has had a meticulous approach to dealing with any issue. He knows where to hit the nail and commits himself with an openness and logicality that appeals to the concerned. He is open to ideas that serve everyone equally. He doesn't sugar-coat. Alongside this, Biden has religiously stick to his campaign promises of the Bottom-up, Middle out by funding small businesses, cutting off break-tax for big corporations and billionaires, curbing monopolistic tendencies which pose unfair competition, and protecting the rights of the workers. America is lucky to have him.

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For sure we’re lucky to have Biden for our President— what he has is so many years of experience, he’s a decent and gracious man who rose from working class Scranton and he has Jill.

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And Biden has his incredible team.

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Yes, indeed. A really talented, well educated, experienced team that work from a place of intelligence, knowledge and international savvy. Adults with a 21st century world view.

From Blinken to Khan. Joe knows how to pick them. And he knows how to pick people who know how to pick people. That is a wise person's tool kit.

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that's the "secret sauce" which keeps any good government running and developing policy

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Yes! They all understand government - ins, outs, ups, downs, purpose - and governing.

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I agree TC! I am sooo pleased at what I’ve seen from Joe Biden. His agenda is exactly what America needs right now, and his nuanced approach is masterful. His occasional gaffes makes you wince, but look at the entire body of work and it’s exceptional.

Being Vice President to Obama afforded him the opportunity to observe the perils of timidity and avoid the potholes. He’s a better President for it!

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You're right. He shows that "experience matters."

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But remember ONE gaffe, negates 10 positives (or more, depending on who is reporting)... which seems to be a strange built in dynamic of our culture-

with our local Gov., one complaint totally outweighs any support. It's sad and weird.

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Morning Joe keeps bringing up Trumps dysfunctional gaffes, quite a laugh.

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"by the time he figured out where the men's room was in the White House, his employees (Rahm Emanuel first and foremost) had FUBARed the situation "beyond all recognition."

TC, that must be why 40 MILLION people now have insurance who previously did not? Yes? Because of Obama's naivete??

Let us all be honest. Obama had the audacity to run for President as a black man in a country where that is anathema. But, guess what? He did and he won TWICE.

40 MILLION people are now able to access the lousy American health care system for a lower cost. Yes, Obama care DID result in my own premiums being raised, which was not advertised as part of the deal, but, guess what?? I can afford that and don't mind a bit.

Obama did make two mistakes: He doubled down on that mess in Iraq that Bush started and he supported "transgender" access in bathrooms which, in Public Schools, is a veritable nightmare because adolescent human males could have (and would have) just put a dress on to go into the girls bathroom for fun. What a mess IF that "executive order" had ever been actually implemented (most schools ignored that "order and appropriately I might add). His approach in Iraq was probably Hillary's recommendation, another Clinton mess.

But, Obama was a GREAT President. He gave optimism and hope to many, many, many Americans who needed that optimism. Me included.

Obama was not naïve and naivete did not stop legislation under Obama's second term.

Mitch McConnel's fundamentally evil, hateful nature stopped legislation and court appointments. An old white man from Kentucky where, undoubtedly, in Mitch's mind, "blacks know their place".

Why did Mitch block everything? Because Obama was BLACK. Not because he was naïve.

TC, why be so disrespectful of such a giant in American history? What do you gain by writing such a nasty sentence? Or, maybe you have just been in Amurca so long talking about a black man as President in such disrespectful terms seems normal and acceptable to you?

To me, Obama is one of the greatest Presidents in history. Maybe THE greatest.

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Mike, I agree with almost everything you said, but you have a blind spot when it comes to trans people, especially trans girls and women, who are NOT boys/men in dresses, a right wing battle cry just as harmful as calling Blacks “lazy” or gay people “perverts.” As a psychologist who has worked with trans folks over 30 years and knows the medical and psychological literature in this area, I say this with scientific certainty and with love, because I respect your comments 99% of the time. Trans rights are human rights and Obama was right on this. People in general were starting to understand this when the Republicans discovered that trans bashing was a winning political wedge issue.

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Agree completely, Maureen. Also teenage boys aren’t likely to just put on a dress to go in the girls bathroom. First, most boys don’t care that much. Second, many boys wouldn’t want to be seen in a dress. Third, those kids know each other and know who the boys vs trans females are. Finally, for the most part, at least at my kids’ high school, they are somewhat protective of vulnerable students. There are always jerks, sure, but that’s true at every age group. My kids’ HS has also gone to individual stalls that go floor to ceiling with an open sink area so there aren’t gendered bathrooms.

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I think all "rest rooms" should be relabeled from "men" and "women" to "People". Too many of us are still living in a sexually obesessed fantasy world. Most people get excited about this subject for no logical reason.

So I'm a straight guy. I go into a rest room. Honestly, I don't want to be observed doing my business and I don't want to watch anyone else regardless of sex or sexual orientation. I just gotta pee! Give me some privacy, a sink that works well and a towel dispenser by the door.

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Exactly. Europe, with its all gender restrooms, is way ahead of the US on this.

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Agreed, Bill.

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.. .and soap?... don't men use soap? I ask because when I need to skip to the loo and the women's room doesn't have toilet paper or soap, I can count on finding some in the mens room to snitch. To me, sexuality is a health and safety issue.

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All correct, Stacey.

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Maureen, thank you for writing this. You said it better and more tactfully than I could have.

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Thank you for using the word "tact". It's been sooooo loooong since I've heard anyone use that word.

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We use it a lot with regard to our horses - when they do something really stupid and you manage to quietly calm them down and stay on, you’ll get a “tactfully ridden” from the judge 😂. It’s a great word!

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Maureen, Mike wasn't talking about trans kids. He was talking about "normal" boys who would put on a dress just to go into the girl's bathroom.

I think that we need to get rid of gender segregated bathrooms; European countries have and it works just fine. If space is a consideration, then utilize an open door access and single floor to ceiling stalls. Mark two of them (I'm gonna say closest to the door) with a "urinal" sign and put urinals in them) and have the rest of them be commodes. Our local senior center did that and it really works just fine.

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First of all, and with respect, please please please don't refer to boys who identify with their birth-assigned sex as "normal." I don't think I need to go into why, and I don't think you were trying to make a point about what is abnormal and abnormal. but this is what we sometimes do, unconsciously. We are all drenched in thinking of sex/gender as a binary, and I have learned over many years of experience that it is not. Second, boys/men who are bent on being predatory do not need to put on feminine clothing to do so. Third, girls wear boy-style clothing all the time, but we are so misogynistic as a society, without even realizing it, that we only persecute trans feminine birth-assigned boys for this. And I do mean persecute. To require a socially transitioned transgirl (birth assigned male) to use the boys' bathroom usually ends up in them preferring to hold it in all day.

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As the mom of a trans daughter, I thank you for your advocacy, Maureen. I get too upset to be an effective advocate. I see it not as a bathroom issue, which is just salacious, but as an issue of my daughter’s fundamental safety and right to exist as she chooses. Pretending it’s about bathrooms and protecting women is a cover for discrimination.

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Maureen, points taken. It is why I put quotation marks around normal. And yes, your observation that MtF are far more ostracized than FtM transitions is very accurate. What you describe in this post is far, far more detailed than was my intent in replying to Mike S.

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