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Today at his rally, in addition to the things Professor Reich lists, Darth Rumpus ranted about how people said he was changed after the assassination attempt and whether or not it made him nice:

“…So if you don’t mind, I’m not going to be nice. Is that ok?”

As if he would have the first idea how to be nice, or decent or compassionate. As has been said so often, when he tells you who he is, believe him. Not the lies about what he will accomplish but about how he will act. Then contrast this with Biden’s speech this evening as he passes the torch and how Vice President Harris spoke of growing working families and the middle class. Who do you want representing us to the world?

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Sue, you are right that Trump has no idea how to change his behavior. He still uses his baby talk by saying stupid things to the audiences he has only contempt for, like "Do you mind if I'm not nice?" What a jerk! We have a toddler with dementia running for president and Trump was a terrible president the first time. Unfortunately, our media just love their Baby Donnie. When they were talking about Kamala Harris and what she was doing today now that she is running, they had to mention that Trump was having some kind of rally. She talked sense, of course; Trump ran through his usual Toddler-Trump line-up of insults. He is proud he can say all kinds of racist, misogynistic things about Harris now that she is running. Again, What a jerk!

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He is never nice. He has no idea how to be nice! The term "toddler with dementia" fits him perfectly!

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Psychopath might be more scientifically accurate.

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I still go with "malignant sadonarcissist".

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Sadonarcisist he is, but the malignancy is in the degeneration of American Christianity. JD Vance is a representative of that degeneration.

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Not all of American Christianity; it’s the Christian Nationalists and/or Christian supremists, both terms that should be oxymorons.

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Crazy m#fucker in the vernacular.

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We gotta avoid all psychopath who is basically killer and destroyer!!!

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And stupid, besides.

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"Never judge a book by its cover".............this is NOT a stupid man............everything he does, and, is read/heard/viewed in the media has a purpose.

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Trump is really good at conning and playing the media. Have to give him that. But he's still demented and deranged and really ignorant about so many important things. He cannot hold an intelligent conversation for more than a couple of minutes. His attention span is just like social media's...that's why he understands it so well.

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Certainly shrewd.

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He is “street smart” and his genius is in his ability to sense vulnerabilities and use it to his advantage. He is a genius at promoting himself, in other words a very good conman.

He is not an intelligent man, he cannot read, he has a limited vocabulary, a limited attention span and very limited knowledge of world events unless it serves his wants.

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Agreed!!

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Just one example, mistreatment of Ukraine Ambassador Yovanovitch-- who got a phone call at 1am saying she had to leave 'on the next plane'.

Was any reason ever found for why then-president Trump-- had her unceremoniously removed from her career post?

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She was an outstanding diplomat, but that didn't matter, because she had dared serve her country, not the Leader.

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White smart woman so no reason or cause to vacate!

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yes, and........he parts his hair on the left. Biggest US political picture being Separation of State and Church, and, Rule of Law. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/26/kevin-roberts-project-2025-opus-dei

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Please don’t insult toddlers by calling him one. They are much better people.

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Who would have ever imagined we would have this creature running for president of the US talking about being nice as he insults the intelligence of his rivals. Tillerson was right, trump is a moron.

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A command of English equivalent to a 6th Grader, the emotional intelligence of a 2 year old.

I've been accused a number of times by conservative friends (a dwindling number, I might add), and even my own son, of tRump derangement syndrome. I have a simple response: Listen to his words without any interpretation by the conservative commentariat.

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I consider TDS to be an affliction of those with unthinking, undying devotion to the deranged Orange Caligula.

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No, you have to give it another name. I have TDS and am proud of it! I'll never stop trying to convince people that he's a demented sociopath. Just one change of mind can cause that person to change other's minds. Gotta keep trying!

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If anyone wants an insight into tRump, every negative thing he says about others is pure projection. He says Kamala is stupid - spot on conman. Every comment is either a projection or the exact opposite of the truth. He could not be more transparent. One must wonder if there is a scintilla of self-awareness because there appears to be none. What a really pathetic wannabe he is.

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People with toxic narcissism have no insight into themselves. All is projection and a need to constantly defend against being caught out as an inadequate fraud.

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As someone much quicker on the draw than I am said, with Rump and his cult, accusation is confession.

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Craig, it is disturbing how many Trumpers and Trumpetes get angry when others describe how toddleresque Trump's speech patterns and content are , but I think their protest is because they really do not listen to what he says. They get caught up in his weird bombastic tone of voice and the rest is lost. Then there's the "Is it OK if I . . ." meaning is it OK if I act like a jerk and treat other people like dirt. His crew never hears the words, just the tone. It really is appalling!

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I think it's because their speech patterns are the same and they realize they're also toddlers playing dress-up in daddy's clothes.

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Oh, I’ve had TDS for years. I’m convinced he’s deranged

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It's projection for protection of an indefensible position. 70+ million duped by a lifetime/lifestyle as a shyster, immoral and unprincipled, lying showman.

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Craig, so true, then one should consider that most of those 70+ million claim to be Christian while they cling to a man who knows nothing of the principles of Christianity but claims "The Bible" is his favorite book. The lying never stops and Trump would cheat anyone if it got him attention or some money. He was credibly accused of rape and comitted adultery while claiming he wants the ten commandments on schoolroom walls. I guess he wants everyone in the room to understand that he has proudly broken them all.

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Right on Ruth! T is everything our parents taught us not to be.

Go Kamala... Cheers... GH

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These fake Christians use the Ten Commandments to cover up their rejection of the central tenet of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam: Love God and love each other.

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Ha! Trump can't recite a single passage from the Bible.

But he has managed to incorporate into his speeches many passages from the book he kept by his bedside for years, the book of Hitler speeches.

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You’d think that SOME of the MAGAts would have wised up by now to the fact that Trump is focused on one thing: enriching himself at THEIR expense! You’ve been HAD!

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Surely it’s his MAGA supporters who have TDS not those of us who see through his monstrous lies.

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I have TDS and am proud of it. If we stop putting it out there that he's a dranged, demented sociopath and stop pushing against him, then there's no chance of even changing one person's mind. We have to keep trying!

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founding

But derangement is an affliction.

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I'm turning the affliction around to cause Trump persistent pain and distress. Is there anything that says I can't do that?

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You have TDS because you believe trump is deranged.

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Doesn't TDS mean Trump's Deranged Syndrome? People who are diagnosed are considered as deranged as trump. Charles Manson, Hitler, Stalin and people like them would have had the diagnosis.

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6,5,4,3... the drumpf's command of English deteriorates with each successive rally.

By election day he will be as an embryo.

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Hopefully abortable. We can’t let the fetus defeat us!!!

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Now that's an insult to 6th graders and 2-year olds.

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and embryos

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I think you're giving him too much credit at 6th grader. I'd say the 2-year-old toddler covers it all.

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I started warning about the dark cloud of “too many Catholics” on the Supreme Court” ten or twelve years ago. Now we know that men such as Leonard Leo and Scalia were cooking up their extreme majority, stacking the court as they went! the first I heard of “Opus Dei” was after Scalia’s death while taking a bribe hunting trip, unethical! Why the secrecy? Their agenda! Dominionists, by another name! Set on shitcanning our democratic republic and replacing it with a theocracy complete with their radical religious beliefs for laws, enforced by their “army”! Not at all what our founders prescribed in the U. S. Constitution! So much for “E pluribus unum”. It STOPS November 5th, because what we struggled to preserve over 248 years is worth saving!

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That is what people say when they have nothing else

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deletedJul 25
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I don't think they drink Kool-Aid at all. I think what they drink is the warm, yellow, urine that he squirts into their sippy cups. They just can't understand why kool-aid smells like ammonia and tastes so bad.

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Ruth:

"There are rules here? Oh, no. There are no rules here."

What is "nice" about "war?" There is no nice or rules or law in war. Democrats talk about nice, play nice with each other, and demand nice from the opposition. There is no nice in war with trump, musk, and the rest of their mangy crowd.

Get used to it. And push back.

Treat them as what they are. The aggressors who want your complete obedience (insert your own word).

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Oh, I can be mega-b*tch and often am to trumpers. They hate me and I feel like I've done my job when they do. I once told a group of trumpers that I thought they were the dumbest people on the planet and, even put together, they wouldn't come up with a single brain cell between them. They were shocked. One finally asked how I could say that to them. I told them I figured that, since they hate political correctness, I would give them what they wanted and stop being politically correct to them. One of them said, "That's fair." The rest were livid and thought I was terrible. The long and the short of it, the reality is that THEY don't want to have to be politically correct, aka courteous and civil, but they think everyone else should have to be politically correct to THEM. That's what the entire so-called "war on christmas" is all about.

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paula:

It is ok to do so (not that you need my permission); but also arm yourself with facts so you can talk to the issues too.

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I don't want to waste my energy trying to argue with brain dead idiots!!!!

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deletedJul 25·edited Jul 25
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You figured it out, huh?

Have to teach them not to mess with Dems

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With whatever grasp on reality, I still have, I would bet at the media, behind closed doors, hates Trump as much as we do, but what they love more is the money of his rich friends. The root of all evil has emerged from its underground lair with a vengeance, and will choke us all unless we all VOTE BLUE!

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He has no shame and being nice would go against everything he stands for. To him, it's all about power, revenge and keeping his lying crooked keister out of prison. There's no hope with his platform, just hate and taking away our freedoms and the way of life as we know it. There is a cure for this 300 lb. malignancy and his Muskrat-fueled dark money; it's us at the ballot box in numbers that would make the difference.

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Get out the 🗳

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Not Presidential in the least.

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If all the women vote for KH she will win. What kind of women would support tRump/Vance any way?

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A very lazy woman with no self esteem

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founding

It all fits together like a demented jigsaw puzzle. Who could actually like a person whose every action is selfish, unfriendly, and threatening? I'd propose that noone could actually like such a person (unless they were deranged, in which case all bets are off.) To even pretend that this simple way of viewing it is anything but obvious eternal human nature, fact based, is to suggest Occam did not have a razor, no, the razor had him.

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Lazy. Drugged and twisted. In fantasy land. Where the orange fuhrer is her lover.

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There were three women from Wisconsin on Twitter yesterday who were asked what they thought about Harris. In a typical MAGA-like response, they didn't understand what was so good about her. Unfortunately, many of them have been sleeping too close to the gas pipe and have no clue how demented and dangerous Trump really is. This demographic will not likely change.

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He is proud he can tell the difference between a giraffe and an elephant, so his proudness of his actions have no real meaning. And, yeah. He's an idiot.

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What is the definition of 'moron'?

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Nicely said , Ruth.

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A convicted felon toddler ,that should be his hash tag

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Can a toddler be a convicted felon?

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deletedJul 25
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Should be Project 1933.

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Project 1933 in Germany!😡

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deletedJul 25
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Without the modicum of intelligence of those guys.

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In the interest of being technically accurate, Project 2025 was written by the Heritage Foundation (I’ll call them subversives). Trump embraced it, but as it was more widely understood he decided that he would try to walk back his support.

Trump will do whatever those who throw him money and high praise so he is lying when he says he doesn’t support or know about P2025.

One of the biggest problems with P2025 is that it supports the firing of thousands of civil service employees and reclassifying them as Sched F so he can appoint them and the Heritage Foundation has already vetted thousands for that purpose. This would be the beginning of a fascist takeover and the end of our government as we know it. Of course challenges would happen but this Supreme Court cannot be trusted to save the day. Game over!

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Jon - “like”

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deletedJul 25
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Jon, so right about the adjectives to describe Trump and all of them accurate. And, it is correct that whatever he calls others he is. Amazing how that works!

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Projection is a cowardly, dishonest, deceitful ploy requiring no effort on Trump's part. It's maddening because he belittles his opponents while his base falls for it hook, line and sinker.

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Jon - “like” I keep going back to “Stupid is as Stupid does” Especially with Vance as his boot licker. A comedian just said that tfg got a vp and a lawyer in one shot. At least he (or the people donating) don’t have to pay this one for his services.

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deletedJul 25
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As she should.

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Project 2025 is not their platform, Agenda 47 is. You're regurgitating spoon fed propaganda.

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As if a Fox watcher would know what propaganda is since they don't realize they're watching the right propaganda machine 24/7.

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I am aware of the difference between Project 2025 and the GOP Agenda 47.

Put them side by side. They are both toxic

Agenda 47 :Trump has pledged to appoint 100 U.S. attorneys who would be aligned with his policies..Not the constitution HIS policies.

"The two policy proposals do have many commonalities—like calling to leave the Paris Climate Agreement, kicking out career bureaucrats, pushing “school choice” policies and railing against transgender rights"

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Donald Hodgins

Donald’s Substack

just now

Musk and Trump, mud and dirt, what's the difference? Trump is stuck being ignorant and Musk is burdened with a degree of wealth none of us can even begin to understand. Trump has absolutely no visible means through which to obtain what Mr. Musk has earned. Trump is attracted to those who possess what his ego desires, and Elon has three things Trump wants desperately. His power, his wealth and gift of youth which Trump has lost. I think Musk views Trump as a curiosity more than anything else because Trump has nothing Musk doesn't already have. To Musk being President would be a hindrance, whereas Trump sees the Presidency as a portal he has been chosen to open. Even though the sign posted above the door reads "Exit only."

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Truest sentence of the year!!

“Trump is attracted to those who possess what his ego desires”

Love this because it’s factual

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and he may resent them for the same reason--with Trump in power no one will be safe.

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Exactly. He has no end of contempt for all who are not him.

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Donald, Timothy Snyder, the Yale professor who wrote the book, On Tyranny, made a video called, "Paganism: How the Postmodern became premodern." It's on You Tube. Snyder explains why he thinks we have Trumpism and uses history to explain why billionaires hoard and hide their money with a "you can take it with you" mental illness. I apologize for no link an the inadequate description, but we are travelling and I don't have my laptop. Trust me that it's educational and entertaining.

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In 'On Tyranny' Prof. Snyder cites an interview between a journalist and one of the wealthiest men in modern Germany. When asked why he supported such a high marginal income tax rate that exists there, the man explained "I do not wish to be a rich man in a poor country". The "Mump" and their cadres have no such compunction.

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Thank you for this important quotation. Our problem right now is that financial success has turned a few individuals into megalomaniacs, and they have become "magical thinkers." This is one way in which wealth and power corrupt.

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From Fiddler on the Roof " when your rich, they think you really know" ( If I Were a Rich Man sung by Tevye)

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“On Tyranny” is a quick read by comparison to other Snyder works so I would recommend i interested parties pick it up if they prefer to read…even a slow reader can knock it off in a sitting.

Snyder has much more to offer. If you want detailed 20th century European history read both “Bloodlands” and “Black Earth” also by Snyder. Couple that with Hanna Arendt’s “Origins of Totalitarianism” and you too can become as frightened as me and many Europeans!

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Closer to home, you may also read Kevin Phillips' prophetic American Theocracy.

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I was able to access his lecture and it was so enlightening. Thanks so much for sharing his insight

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Me too,thank you very much! 😨 scary

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I think this is the You Tube video of Professor Snyder. Interesting lecture.

https://youtu.be/1Nr2Q2zGNC8?t=369

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Thank you, thank you!

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This is indeed worthy of a watch! I love the details and the humor, thank you for posting.

Professor, I’m delighted to find your work 🙌🏽

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deletedJul 25
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Trump is not just a “curiosity” to Musk. Musk is making a “small” investment in access and influence he might be able to harvest….it’s a hedge. Clarence Thomas might want a Tesla Cybertruck so he still has an opportunity for more influence. Ambassador to Russia perhaps?

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Perfect conduit for Trump to get his latest advice & instructions from Putin! The Trump-Murdoch-Carlson-Musk-GOP plan to hand over the US to Putin will be complete.

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Clarence Thomas is a @#$%& !💩💩💩

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and all these crooks have their eyes fixed on the vast landholdings We the people own. Our public lands are managed by the Department of the Interior and other federal agencies, all part of the "deep state."

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That was excellent, Donald! Very well said!!

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He views him as a puppet who will shield monopolies from prosecution, and from taxes.

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Donald - “like”

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Mr. Musk never EARNED anything ! All of his money was inherited

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I believe you are correct and musk will push him aside if he can obtain whatever his twisted goal is.

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RemovedJul 25
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Charlie--I understand my remark was a bit juvenal, but I was only trying to reach your level. I know you want to blame the far left for all your problems, maybe it was San Andreas's fault. A whole lot of shaken going on. My advice--Just get a grip.

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deletedJul 25·edited Jul 25
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I had to wiki the attribution to learn 'perigini' refers to people considered non-citizens, who were not afforded anything more than 'basic' rights by ancient Rome - and those rights did not include freedom from torture. A most excellent and apt quotation. We will all be peregrini under Project 2025.

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Jon, that was an amazing comment! It describes the motives of a good portion of the collection of Trumpers and Trumpettes and is why they will vote for him even though it is totally against their own interest, their faith, and common decency. How terribly sad and pathetic!

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Ignorant, narrow-minded, bigoted, and yet no less human than the rest of us.

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What decency?

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deletedJul 25
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You create hate by fueling fear and anger. Tucker Carlson and other Fox News personalities have been doing this of decades, all thanks to Rupert Murdoch. Fittingly, some of his children now hate him.

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Jon - “like”

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deletedJul 25
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Jon - “like”

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Friedrich Nietzsche fled his native Germany because he could not stand the Make Germany Great Again pseudochristians. This is what he meant when he stated "God is dead."

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Equal and opposite energies will arise in equal measure.

Can you hear the people Risin Up Now?

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Good quote. Thanks! And so nice to know that Jesus died for our sins. Poor sucker!

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You can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig! I have never agreed with anything trump has said or done. He is only out for what makes HIM look important. The assassination attempt did nothing to change him. He is what he is!

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At this point, he wants to keep his sorry ass out of jail.

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The heart and soul of his crooked campaign: please don’t let me die in jail

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It gave him that rush of look at me look at me and then Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had the nerve to ruin it all and he is pissed about it.

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I think he thinks that bandaid on his ear brings him attention and sympathy. That's not anything new for him. This just got him an outward and visible sign of his victimhood.

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It is time for Biden to rally the nation against Putin and Putin's trolls and apologists, and for Harris to talk about Trump and Putin in biblical terms- as the Antichrist and as the devil incarnate. Putin knows that he can't beat a United States, and that a house divided upon itself cannot stand.

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That is so true! Putin cannot beat a United States!! That's why he is doing everything he can to get the orange stain elected!! We have to shut him down now! Vote blue through and through! Lotus for POTUS!

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Putin really really does not want to deal with Kamala anymore then he did Hillary .

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So true, David! His views on women are exactly like the orange man's! Truth is, I think they are both terrified of women!

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The Siberian Candidate works for his puppetmaster Putin, not for US.

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And his followers wear the mark of the beast on their forehead: MAGA

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I like That ,Deb ! He is what the Bible describes as the anti-Christ ! Although I struggle with the charismatic thing !The pig has the charisma of a rabid weasel!

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yes, and very unfair to pigs!

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Exactly!! Totally nailed it

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One embellishment. Trump projects ALL of his worst qualities onto others. When he calls Biden dumb…it means he knows that DJT is dumb. When he says Kamala is lyin’…well we know he is the lyingest SOB on the planet.

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It’s as if by attaching his defects to others he is cleansing his own soul!Although I know he can’t possess a soul ….he’s not human !

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I think this whole thing is a universal projection of our worst bluff and swag shadow. Getting up to shake out of this sink hole again, why do I pay for what is free on social rot? I so hoped this would be a kinder place.

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Bunkerboy was a VERY "nasty" man-child with ZERO filters and ZERO intellect. (The Alzheimers is not helping with either too.) So . . . NOW he's going to be not nice AND nasty???

So . . . ATONALLY SHRIEKING at his hugbox rallies in nothing but curses?

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You didn't add that when Trump asked if it would be OK if he was not nice, the crowd roared in approval. Of course they did!

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I meant to include that so thank you for the addition. The cult is truly terrifying.

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It's just not Trump if he isn't mean & nasty.

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Kamala Harris!! Vote blue through and through! Lotus for POTUS!!

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Sioux, What makes me happy is that people are so sick of FELON-RAPISTs comments that he’s lost the edge in the news! The Democrats were BRILLIANT in timing the announcement so that Rescums were locked in with Vance. After all their merchandise against Biden was printed. Now whatever they say against VP Harris will mean they insult…women, Asians, blacks! Haha!

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"Not only is it okay not to be nice Mr. President but we are positively ecstatic when you're "not nice'.We want retribution for our crappy lives and the elites who dumped coal sludge in our backyards."

Actually, I think Trump is wearing thin with many people who used to be on board with him.

Trump/Vance -your fraud ticket for a ride to hell. ,

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A real man of the people: asking permission to be a bigoted jerk.

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Sioux - “Like” It’s the same as Johnson trying to tell people at Netanyahu Congress “speech” to maintain decorum or they will be arrested. Why is it okay for their lawmakers to be ugly during other peoples time to talk (MTG or Bobert, etc.) but not when they are the ones doing the talking? The republicans lost their decency a long time ago.

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Jul 25·edited Jul 25

He doesn’t even know what nice is. It’s not a concept he understands. Expectation, yes. “I expect you to do as I say, that would be you being ‘nice’ to me, it’s expected of you.”

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Kindness has become misconstrued as weakness to be attacked; not virtue to be emulated.

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Minnie, the problem is that Trump can't recipricate. Trump has no clue what it would mean to be nice. I read once that he would occasionally go around his property and give a worker or two a $100 bill "and the guy would be so grateful." I learned later that what he paid his staff was barely minimum wage if that much. Of course they would be grateful to his face because he might remember and do it again some time so they could feed their families. Trump didn't do it often, but enough for intermitent reinforcement. Even humans respond to that. I think that is what Trump is doing all the time, giving little nods to certain people that will let them glow for a moment and work hard so Baby Donnie will do it again. He is actually, more likely to ditch that person for some small slight the person didn't even notice he had done. Trump, training his sycophants like Pavlov's dogs. That kind of reinforcement is hard to break and it seems his clowns are OK with where they are. It is we who are not OK with where they are.

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KAMALA HARRIS ! 💙💙💙💙💙💙

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Nice that would be a first if belive his siblings.

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Jul 25Liked by Robert Reich

I wouldn't buy a Tesla anyway. Musk has lied about its "self-driving" capabilities and, finally lost a case in which he tried blaming the driver's death on the driver's "misuse" of the "self-driving" function. When other companies started bringing out EVs that undercut Tesla's price, he removed one of the safety factors on his "self-driving" package so he could undercut their prices without losing his huge profits.

Given his lies about Tesla and on "X," I wouldn't trust buying anything he makes.

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Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't a Tesla basically a washing machine motor connected to a Chinese battery, and not much else?

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I considered a Tesla when looking for a new car. Did a test drive and realized it was a piece of hyped up machinery. Don’t buy for every reason!

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Drove in one when I used Uber. Was not impressed. Uncomfortable with all the charm of a carpeted corporate cubicle.

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but please don't join the Republican campaign vs EVs!

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founding

No, back in the day when Tesla was introduced, it was heralded as a true technological breakthrough. Many people I knew raced to get their name on a list to purchase one. They loved them ! They boasted about them. One night three other ordinarily sane people and ms stood outside on a driveway and watched the SUV model play a piece of classical music and all the doors and hatch back rose and fell in time to the music. And the lights were performing too. What fun. The bloom is off that rose for sure. And Elon Musk is not that boyish entrepreneurial genius any more. Those are evil men. And they have found each other, Trump and Musk. I think they will lose this election but not the ability to cause serious trouble.

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We must continue to make good trouble

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Michael, please don't quote Republicans!

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Would feel safer in my 15 year old gas ⛽️ powered Toyota

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Good one!

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I believe that Tesla as a brand has the highest crash rates per 1,000 vehicles (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/philip-koopman-0631a4116_tesla-is-number-one-for-crashes-per-1000-activity-7143087626554675200-rJO2)

and one of the higher defect rates (according to JD Powers - https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2021-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds).

Both stores tell a tale of the company trying to avoid disclosure of its record.

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Doug, have the Tesla vehicles always been so bad? My nephew got one about 6 years ago and loves it. Maybe it was from a time before Musk started losing his mind and went to cutting quality so he can stay super rich. What a disgusting human being. It's weird that Trump isn't whining about Musk being an immigrant. Hmmm!

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For what it’s worth, I do think the original Teslas were better, but they’ve definitely gone downhill as Mr. Musk has pursued profits over quality. I recently bought an EV (used): a Chevy Bolt. I love it! And it seems to be much better engineered than the current Tesla models.

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My nephew drives Tesla lease returns back to dealer and he pointed out many quality issues. Like the trunk lid going out of alignment. Water coming in and other problems due to bad engineering, cutting corners and cheap material. Tesla was good as a market disrupter now that there are other options buy a car from a company that knows how to make cars.

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Like is wives, he’s the “right” kind of immigrant— white, Arayan, and Arrogant.

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He isn't as concerned about wealthy, racist white immigrants who share his twisted values or his paid to be seen in public wife who usually avoids him like the plague.

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Maybe because Musk is not from a "s***hole country

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You mean there are African countries that are exceptions to that rule? Or is it the type of person?

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Not as far as Trump is concerned.

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Dr Doug, shit like this is put out by Right wingers who don’t want to see electric cars at all…just fossil fuel ones. Please stop that.

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I agree with you. We lease a Tesla 3 but when the lease is up in a year or so we will find another EV to lease. We’ve had a Bolt, Volt, and a Spark. EV is the way to go!!

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At the time we bought, Tesla was really the best out there, but now competition is so much better! You can never go back once you drive all-electric. And the US has the grid to do it. We’ve driven to other states and only re-charged once. We bought the extended distance one.

There is no noise pollution. No fumes. The garage is way more clean!

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Thank you for sharing your experience. Teslas are beautiful, and competition will force Musk to improve quality and working conditions. Instead of funding a would-be dictator he should go to to Japan and take a refresher course in quality control.Note: the first Teslas were produced on the plant of the former Chevrolet Novas--the most reliable American cars. The plant was under Toyota management.

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There are many safer EV's to choose from

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They are not unsafe. When an idiot sits in the back seat and thinks the car can literally drive itself, there will be accidents.

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And avoid corporate taxes, and prosecution for monopolistic conduct.

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Musk is as big a scumbag as tRump

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Absolutely Correct

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I believe that Tesla sales are tanking. It is a very nice car. Could it be that thousands of ev car buyers would not contribute to Musks wealth in any way that can be avoided. I’m one of those.

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So am I.

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Terry, I really like mine but I must say that it’s not the most user friendly. Had I known what a scumbag Musk was at the time, I wouldn’t have bought it. But at the time there was competition that was close, now there is. I keep my cars for years so we don’t have a plan to replace it but we’ll see!

Keep in mind that Musk did not create the car, He’s not the founder, but the financier that made it possible. Such a shame his name is associated!

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Like most capitalists Musk uses the inventions and technologies produced by others.

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I personally wouldn't have one of his piece of junk cars if you gave me one. I don't want anything from that arrogant, narcissistic jackass! I would prefer him to go back to where he came from, was it South Africa? I wonder if his cars are as unreliable as his piece of crap exploding rockets? He so stupid he tried to land one of his rockets on the surface of an ocean, guess what? It exploded, and the pieces of the rocket were littering the ocean with parts of it floating around in the water.

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Astronauts beware! GH

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Enough is ENOUGH! Musk cannot use X to interfere with Team Harris' organizing while amplifying manical, malicious misinformation. Billionaires cannot control what people do, and do not, hear and read. But they do now. The marriage of billionaires and politicians is a dangerous union that prohibits an informed citizenry needed for democracy and free speech.

The only solutions are to use our collective buying power to stop Musk from manipulating information, controlling public discourse, and influencing elections. A boycott of companies advertising on X is necessary to save democracy.

More than one reason exists to boycott Tesla. Democracy, public safety, and workers' rights must be protected.

Unholy alliances like Trump & Musk, Vance & Thiel, and Koch & the Heritage Foundation are serious threats to American Democracy, workers' rights, women's rights, free speech, and the environment.

The Extreme wealth of just these three people, Musk, Theil, and Koch, is likely more political power and influence than millions of 1099 service workers in many states combined. They lobby the politicans with millions to write laws to increase there wealth at the cost of workers, the environment and future generations. They spend hundreds of millions to control politicians and void long standing regulations necessary to protect public health, workers, and consumers. Now they are manipulating media platforms to promote their political interests and stop public opposition. Enough is ENOUGH! BOYCOTT X ADVERTISERS & TESLA. Space X should pay a carbon tax.

In 2014 in Austin, Texas, I stood up to some tech bros who were ignoring the rule of law and public safety laws to protect drivers, passengers, and consumers. It's my experience that some have no regard for public safety and are ruthless to protect their scam. I warned the Austin City Council of the dangers to public safety, especially young women. Sadly, the taxi industry was deregulated. It appears that since my warning to the City Council 10 years ago, more than 2,000 sexual assaults have occurred. I hate to say it, but I told them so. The lever of disregard the tech bros have for public safety, womens' safety, and the rule of law is EPIC.

In a movie, "The Devil Has A Name," the term, "NET PRESENT VALUE" is explained. "If you make more money doing it than it costs to get caught for doing it, keep doing it." Money is the motive. Greed kills. Trust me when I say that "the Devil has a name."

I pray the crimes I've experienced are being investigated by local and Federal authorities. It is my experience that some people will do very illegal, immoral, and ruthless things, including conspiracy, to make money, even if thousands of women are assaulted and people die. These ruthless people have tried to crush me. Well, enough is ENOUGH! They can try to destroy me, but they cannot destroy Democracy IF WE TAKE A STAND AND FIGHT BACK!

We must take a stand to stop FASCISM from further eroding democracy, devaluing workers, hurting women, and destroying lives. BOYCOTT TESLA & X ADVERTISERS!

#boycottXadvertisers

#BOYCOTTtesla

#StopMuskThielCoup

#StopBILLIONAIRES

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Danny,Despite the mountains of money, I really believe they will fail! This switch to Kamala, and the appeal to young voters, women, black women, asian women…will undo the FELON-RAPIST ticket.

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Right on Danny! Being a senior citizen I have never been interested in or ever used Facebook, Tic-Tok, Twitter, X or any other "social" media platform. It would be nice if someone would list a few of the companies advertising on X and I will be glad to send them a letter of Intent to Boycott their products. I did this years ago when the Arch Liar and motor-mouth anti-American Rush Limbaugh first came on our local radio station in St. Louis, KMOX. Of course they didn't care but I never knowingly bought products promoted by that monster. Never tuned in KMOX again either. Even since RL has been dead for years. A guy named Bob Hyland ran the station for 40 years and ;loved to promote himself as this great citizen for St. Louis and America. If that was so he would have never let the big liar on his station! It was all about the $$$$$. Made me feel better anyway! GO Kamala... Cheers... GH

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Justice Roberts' sophistry only underscored his, and his colleagues, cowardice and corruption. The legitimacy of this court is totally destroyed.

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Jon, no one said these guys weren't smart, but one would definitely wish they had chosen to use their intelligence to help broaden our democracy and give the same rights to all Americans, not just rights to the rich, white, pseudo-christian, men and corporations.

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I live in the Denver metro area and I’m amazed at how many Teslas I see everywhere in the area. I watch Scotty on YouTube (an auto mechanic with over 50 years experience who really seems to know what he’s talking about) who says he likes the way they drive, but not their build quality or the fact that they can only be serviced by Tesla, and repair costs are high.

Not to mention the design requiring the driver to look to the center of the dash for that screen, the very misleading hype about whatever they’re calling “autopilot” (leading some idiots to nap, read, or otherwise forget they’re supposed to be paying attention) and the fact that our infrastructure is nowhere near ready for us to move to using electric vehicles generally. Nor are millions of apartment dwellers like myself in a position to plug in our cars to charge them. Even if I were, and even if I was so inclined, I wouldn’t consider a Tesla even if I won one.

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I also live in the Denver metro area and am myself a Tesla owner. So, tell me, you see Teslas everywhere yet you seem to say that they are horrible cars? Something doesn't add up. I've seen Scotty's videos as well. He has an obvious anti-EV bias. His experience is in fixing ICE vehicles and there is basically nothing to fix on an EV, so to a mechanic, EVs are a losing proposition. That's a lot to dislike for a mechanic.

Anyway, I agree with you that looking to the center of the dash is not convenient so I installed an aftermarket instrument cluster. Most Tesla owners purchase aftermarket accessories to make their vehicle more appealing and user friendly. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Musk is an entitled a-hole and I wish to God Tesla could divorce him from the company. But it is what it is. I love my car and I hate Musk. I think that's where a majority of Tesla owners are.

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And have you noticed that Tesla's profits are through the floor, because Democrats buy EVs and Republicans think they're a plot to ruin their oil profits?

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Ok Let’s not go nuts here. Musk did NOT create the Tesla, He funded it. I bought one before I knew the extent of what a scumbag musk was. However, it is a very good car. Don ‘t put out shit so that those of us who own Teslas get attacked, or our cars get attacked!

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True, and I’m sure no one here wants that. As I commented elsewhere, if you already have one, it’s not like you can afford to drive it to the nearest junkyard!

But Musk financing Tesla is an excellent reason not to purchase one/another one, because I Tesla sales contribute to his wealth.

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One problem with Twitter (now known absurdly as X) and Facebook and Tik-Tok and others I am sure I haven't even heard of is that people continue to use them! At every turn, people/writers/journalists who might have just published a complaint about one or any of those "social media" sites are STILL using them! If everyone stopped using them, they would dry up. Why support the problem(s)??

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A-a-a-men! I have never been on Facebook or any other social media website. What a waste of time! However, let me share with you the 10-pages list of books I've read . . .

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Most of its junk and yet another way for cyber criminals to steal your ID

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Yup.

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Make us some recommendations!

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Betsy and Marilyn: Where do I start? It will sort of be all over the map. Many were written during Trump's admin. I will star* ones that were particularly good. Rick Wilson's "Everything Trump Touches Dies."* Superb writer! Not to be missed! Keith Olbermann's "Donald Trump is F**king Crazy,"* compiled from a bunch of essays he did for a video. Great book! Not to be missed! There might be a sequel, not sure. (I wish Keith Olbermann would run for President -- a second "Give 'em Hell, Harry!" type!) Bob Woodward's "Fear." Bob Woodward and Robert Costa's "Peril." Omarosa Manigault's book about her time on "The Apprentice" and then hired to the White House in communications, then fired unceremoniously from her position. She is well-educated and joined her husband in the ministry. She is a pastor now. Elizabeth Warren's two books of which the titles are slightly vague: "This Fight Is Our Fight," and "A Fighting Chance," I think. At the same time, she and her daughter wrote a really good book on finance, easy to understand. I learned a lot from it. Bandy Lee's "Twenty-seven Psychiatrists and Other Mental Health Experts Assess a President from Afar: The Dangerous Case of Donald J. Trump."* Mary Trump's "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Biggest Monster" (or . . . Most Dangerous Man" -- I can never remember which it is!)* Greta Thunberg's "The Climate Book."* Liz Cheney's "Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning."

Casey Michel's "American Kleptocracy: How the U.S. Created the Greatest Money Laundering Scheme in History." ***** This is one of the BEST books I have EVER READ! In fact, I had it out of the library, and the information is SO INFURIATING, I kept marking it up all over the place, so I finally went to the circulation supervisor and offered to buy it from them so they could buy a clean, new copy! They sold it to me for $20, which I gladly paid! This book is a MUST READ for everyone in America if you truly want to know how this country is being run. (And Biden's home state of Delaware is home to the most off-shore shell companies of any other state and always has been.) In fact, they call the practice of hiding your money "offshore onshoring" now. It's not just being hidden in the Caymen Islands anymore! I hope this gets you started. David Frum wrote a good book about Trump, but can't recall the title now. He is a conservative but hated Trump. I'll see if I can find the title online and get back to you.

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Warren and her daughter wrote ‘The Two Income Trap’ in 2003 I believe. A small gem of a book about bankruptcy causes and the loss of our middle class due to financial fragility, medical debt, credit card greed and vortexes, and basic costs of living.

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Thank you, Heather. I love reading about how to SAVE money. Her daughter told her she has no sense of humor, so she added the light touch to it. I found it disconcerting, though, that they kept saying to SPEND it, "What's the point of working if you can't have any fun?"

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Yes, Klare, do! I feel the same way!

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Marilyn D and Betsy: just wanted to add that my list is in my computer, so a couple of these titles might be a bit off, but I'm really sickly right now, so can't do even any little extras, like looking them up. I've given you enough accuracy to locate them! Happy reading! 😊

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Wow! Thank you for this. I hope you feel better soon. I'll keep an eye out for your name on this substack.

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Frum: "Trumpocracy: the Corruption of the American Republic," written in 2018. Actually, Frum is a senior editor with "The Atlantic," so he can't be too conservative.

And you're welcome.

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I read Bernie Sanders' book, too, but can't recall the title. "Our Revolution," maybe. Got to look up Frum.

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You left out Fox and MSNBC. A fountain of red meat for brainwashed boomers

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We boomers aren't ALL brainwashed. I'm getting a bit tired of being stereotyped as old and easily manipulated.

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The practice of generalizing based on what year one was born in, or the contrived time frame of years that is a long and highly diverse span of time that encompasses the "baby boomers" is so absurd and mindless. It is a product of some social research from years ago that generated a book called "Generations" and no doubt earned tremendous amounts of moola for the authors/researchers but it stretches credulity beyond common sense. It allows those who want to throw online "grenades" at others - e.g. "okay boomer" or "let's go, Brandon" and that sort of drivel. Think about it: the "baby boom" generation covers those born between 1946-1964. Setting aside the common sense of knowing that human beings are varied and also acknowledging that people who live in/grow up in the same time frame will share some similarities (e.g. those who know who, for example, Howdy Doody was versus those who grew up with Scooby Doo - parents versus offspring/same "generation"!), it is preposterous to lump together 1946 and 1964 and yet all of those "babies" are "boomers."

Absurd. Makes the "grenade throwers" feel that they are clever with their lumping a crowd together and then throwing stuff at the crowd.

It is also absurd to advance the idea that "Fox and MSNBC...(are) ... A fountain of red meat for brainwashed boomers" but that is the work of a provocateur/flame-thrower posting on a website, trying to make trouble.

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Robert Reich is a boomer too, for that matter.

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Thank God I a vegan

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Annie, I was off Twitter the second the idiot bought it. However, some people had 20k and more followers and I think they were concerned about that. As far as I KNOW it’s just a MAGA site now though.

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I follow X because a bunch of scientists, including climate scientists, use the site and have important information to convey. I wish they would all find an alternative venue!

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Granted, but there are many other sites that such "thinkers" also use and are available without the nasty baggage of Twitter/aka Musk wants you to call it X but Ex would be better.

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The Starlink Satellites are a threat to our national security. Musk has compromised Ukraine through these, and they provide unprecedented influential internal and international clout. This is what happens when the Federal Government starts to rely on private development while curtailing funds for scientific research and tech. There is no way the US could conveniently and affordable ‘catch up’ to the Starlink system with its own secure system. And Musk does not believe democracy and freedom are compatible anymore. In his case, ‘freedom’ means unbridled power and greed through this unchecked technology.

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For reasons unknown to me, my "Like/heart" function does not work on Robert Reich's Substack so count this as a "Like" for your post.

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Truth Social, maybe??

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And since I live rurally and internet is necessary and there is no reasonably priced service other than ****link, I have to use it, although he has raised the price Every. Single. Year. I’ve had it.

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Well…I’m using substack like twitter.

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I got rid of my X account as soon as Musk bought Twitter.

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Remember when Biden endorsed Kamala on X after he was overthrown? Maybe you guys should get your messaging straight before you bad mouth Musk. You look incredibly stupid to anyone remotely objective.

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Wow. Great way to advertise your substack.

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Agreed, Professor Reich. We need more than just electing Kamala (for which there is a really good chance. In order to get a wealth tax and sunset the trupster/dumpster's 2017 tax giveaway to his wealthy chums, we need a majority in each of the Houses of Congress. For that we need to emphasize down ticket votes. You can be bloody sure the maggots will.

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Exactly, Fay! They have been worming their way into local and state politics for a while now. That's why you're seeing all of these draconian laws coming from these state legislators. We need a majority in the House and the Senate and Vice-President Harris to win. Perhaps then we can start addressing problems that are critical to save our Democracy! Vote blue through and through! Lotus for POTUS!

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Love Lotus for Potus and she didn't fall out of a coconut tree!

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And all other races, including Mayor and school board! A Mom's for Liberty clown 🤡 snuck onto our School Board

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Democrats must EMPHASIZE how these MAGAs are starting at the local level on up. We must fight back and elect people who are neither far right or far left but in the center. That way a modicum of normalcy will return.

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"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both” — Former Justice Louis. Brandeis

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Professor Reich: i did block musk on twitter because i grew sick and tired of having every one of his inane & inaccurate kindergarten-level blatherings shoved into my face. (even those accounts that i follow on twitter do not appear in my timeline as they should.)

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I am blocked completely from X, formerly Twitter.

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Daniel, I would wear that as a badge of honor!

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Lying is free speech . I don’t agree with you on anything you say but I support your right to say it. So that others can rub your nose in your stupidity

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So if I yell "Fire" in a crowded theater when there is no fire, creating a panic that ends up hurting people, that's OK because "Lying is free speech"? I don't think so.

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Poster with screen name Chuck Campbell is not human, It literally doesn't know the difference between a horse and an automobile. At one moment its syntax is slobbering all over itself, the next it is erudite .

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Do you think that was the speech to which im referring? No you don’t. I’m talking more about Danny Solomon spewing nonsense without any real evidence. And people should refute that nonsense. Not because they have the right to but because they have an obligation to correct lies being spewed on any platform or at a social gathering. Not just bloviating Danny. All of us. Because if we flail around in an echo chamber of lies, when we are released upon our families and friends we appear to be brainwashed and without the ability to think for ourselves. But thanks for that crowded theater wisdom. Very helpful

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Free speech has boundaries and they are definitely too lose in the US currently.

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Holy Freudian slip Batman

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I like your pic. You are Devine in your own mind. What does your wife think about you being butch and hiding online? I really shouldn't assume a smart women would have you.

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If you click on his picture, and then click on his picture again when the display updates, you can see the entire picture. It is Jesus smoking a joint with a statement above that many would consider blasphemy. I don't think Chuck is very religious!

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A personal attack? That’s behavior consistent with losing. Do you need a link to support that or are you painfully aware?

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While I’m sure that there are others; the names of Nelson Rockefeller and Michael Bloomberg came to mind in connection with great power and great wealth invested in the same individual. A certain amount of self assurance and personal ambition correlates with the wealth/power combination; but the long term goals of both individuals when they sought greater political agency (feel free to disagree) were, generally, in line with the greater good of the country (or city). One can’t say the same for Trump/Musk.

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It is also worth noting that James Murdoch broke relations with his father, the Fox N owner.

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OMG, Chuck is back, the bott from hell!

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Imagine being proud of liars, lying, & lies. In the immortal words of John Cleese, “Are you completely de-ranged?”

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LOL. I ignore it now a days. It is not human, it doesn't know the difference between a horse and an automobile (seriously, it doesn't)

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Hi!

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Do you remember when the Anti-Defamation League decided to fundraise based on the time haters spoke? I do. Every time you post something, I am going to post something that irrefutably proves Trump is stupid, lying, and a threat to Democracy. People can SHARE it to so your insight and Trump's misinformation is exposed and mocked. This is for your catty, nasty lady post two hours ago. Enjoy the Trump rump roast!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aCrZiW4BaVM&list=PLJaq64dKJZoqsh7PGGUi-SARV4wUz_lVa&index=1&pp=iAQB

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I watched your link. I think everyone should watch it in context to our conversation. I could say do better or better or you’re better than that. But I don’t think you can or are better. Your first salvo in a battle of ideas is a video bemoaning political hyperbole at the convention? Thanks so much for exposing your self as vapid and using a partisan hack talk show host as an example of how very icky partisan politics can get. Fox viewers have been a butt load of brain washed garbage since the first ditto head. Rather than contrast that with salient thought, too many people have taken to jingoistic gibberish. Keep up the bad work

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I look forward to an exchange of ideas. You can be my canvas as well. Good luck. It’s going to be very enjoyable. The very core of democracy

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Aren't we on X right now?

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But to be clear, you still use his service? I guess you showed him little lady.

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Musk is smearing the name of Tesla. Nikola Tesla was a man who was Born in Croatia and lived in a Serbian enklave in Croatia known as Lika. He was a scientist, incredible humble inventor. As a proud Croatian American, everytime name Tesla name is used by Musk i tremble. Musk is not worth to have this name. Nikola Tesla was way above Musk

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Thank you for that. I have always honored Nikola Tesla.

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More immigrants like Tesla and none like Musk! And the Murdoch clan.

Go Kamala... Cheers... GH

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I feel the same. Edison wasn’t half the man that Tesla was. Must bought Tesla from the actual guys that created the car & it’s brand, who named it Tesla as a nod of respect to NiKola Tesla. Must did not invent that car, nor it’s brand.

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I'm old enough to remember when Trump said that it was Obama running the Biden WH.

One of the biggest issues with lying is sticking to the same storyline. Although senile MAGAts struggle to recall that they bought the dunce's hat last week, so maybe it isn't such an issue if you know your audience.

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Mike, with over 30,000 documented lies from 2017-2021, I think it’s safe to say Trump didn’t stick to any storyline.

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Musk THINKS he is "Holier Than Thou" and above the standards we all have to live by. He has proved this time and time again. Look at the website he purchased and turned into complete trash. And headquartered in SF no less. No, he couldn't spend his BILLIONS on helping the Homeless in SF, where it has become an astronomical problem, much less spend a few million. And As far as I am concerned, he can take his rockets AND his cars to Texass OR Mars for that matter. He's a despicable human piece of trash with NO moral or ethical code. Don't let the population road sign hit you in the ass on your way OUT of Calif. Elon.

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He’s not winning against the unions in Sweden 🥳

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Bobby, Musk and Trump do have another thing in common, they would not help anyone in need even if not doing so would kill them. They'd rather be dead than share or help anyone. How can anyone think these men are worthy of their time?

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Dear Ruth .........

You must be a good person. That was my Moms name who I lost to brain cancer during Covid. I totally agree with you, but I personally have always helped others. It's just in me I guess. I have never understood greed and selfishness to this degree. I am a SF native and when Musk parked his ass there, he did NOTHING for the outrageous homeless prob there, prop. driving over tents to get to work. He could have easily given a few million to help out, but no. These two geedy, selfish fat cats make me sick. Peace and Good Health to you to you always.

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Bobby, thanks. I believe all of us, particularly leaders, need to help others whenever possible and when they have money far more than they could ever use, they should be working to help make life more livable for those who are struggling. I understand that people like Musk are deeply addicted to accumulating money and it seems to be a far more difficult addiction than any drug because it can continue indefinitely becoming a kind of game. Musk is clearly addicted to the point that he threatened a corporation for $56 billion or else, whatever that "or else" would be, gained nothing intellectionally, contributed nothing positive to the world, and continues to whine that he is going to do harm to anyone who does not do whatever he wants, yep, a toddler mentality! The problem, it could be pretty intense when Musk has so much money and now, power. Musk has no intrinsic value to a society any more than any other person should have, but somehow, we bow to money, personal and corporate and let addicted people like Musk continue to accumulate huge amounts of money and power and also permit them to wield it against others. We the People need to find a way to seriously curb that level of monstrous misuse of power. A strong wealth/luck tax would be an excellent start, followed by some other strategies to keep the greedy from doing real harm to the people of this nation and world.

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@Ruth Sheets Agree!

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On a one way 🎟 ticket

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He should take it all back to S. Africa where he came from. Go Kalama.... Cheers.... GH

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Bobby+ Musk should be deported for supporting a Felon and deadly seditionist!

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Great idea , but we'd have to deport half of our misguided Americans who are doing the same thing. It's astonishing to me, according to current poles, that approx. half of America is supporting a lying, uneducated convicted felon for president much less other greedy, lying faux businessmen.

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Polls rarely sample more than 600-1000 people. Polls (especially today) are not reliable at all. There aren’t even 50% Republicans in our population. The Democrats have a size-able majority. That why we’ve never been called for our opinion in any recent poll.

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Kamala Harris will be the candidate. We need to accept that and work for it. I still fear there is too much misogyny in this country for her to pull it off - but this is our last stand against Trump-style hate and division.

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Benjamin, the United States is the only country that has not had a woman at the head. The time is right to change that now. Vice-President Harris is young, intelligent and more than capable. We must give her the chance! Vote blue through and through! Lotus for POTUS!

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@Peggy and Ruth. I'm convinced Harris can do the job of President. But you both know what I am talking about - There is a sizable contingent of voters in this country who sit on the fence (undecided), independents whose votes shift like prairie grass in the wind, double haters who think that we are living in a rigged system with no good options, white Christian rural women who vote the way their husbands tell them to vote, and all the special topic voters (Greens, Socialists, etc) and then to mention the misogynists. I guess the reason I bring this up is trying to figure out how a Harris campaign can attract some of those people to vote for her? Thinking this way is an attempt to craft messaging that will get through the noise in peoples' heads.

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I believe when you contrast Harris's path forward, her plans to help our country, her desire to unite rather than divide, her optimism for the future of America with the orange man's dystopian project 2025/agenda 47 plan to strip us of many of our rights, privileges and liberties, many of those undecided fence sitters will decide what Harris lays out is so much better for our country than the orange stain's.

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Peggy and Ben. This country is willing to elect a woman. Remember that Hillary beat T by 3.2 million POPULAR votes! In any normal, non-electoral college, country she would be president. This means we have to work twice as hard for Kamala in the "swing" states to get out the Dems, and other non-T voters. We have the POPULAR votes but not always in the right places at the right times. Also Gore beat Bush with the popular vote too.

Go Kamala... Cheers... GH

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Gary, I absolutely hate the electoral college! It does not seem fair to me that the majority of Americans cast their vote and unless they get the votes in the electoral college then their votes do not matter! That needs to be addressed. I've heard politicians gripe about how Americans don't get out there and vote. That's a lie. We vote; however, a lot of our votes do not count!

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founding

@Peggy. From your lips to the Electoral College!

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You left out the racists

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founding

@Edie. I agree - significant factor. But I tend to not focus there because those are people whose minds cannot be changed by "good messaging" or almost anything else it seems.

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Benjamin, maybe some, enough people will weigh their misogyny with having a toddler-man with dementia as president and decide they'll take the qualified woman, even if it is painful.

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My hopes, too, Ruth!

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Benjamin, I disagree. Women will rally around her. And she will pull in east Asians and blacks, and so many of us want to see a woman in this role. She is also pulling in the younger vote! Very important for this election.

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founding

@Seeking. I like your scenario!

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I’m going to boycott Israel and those that excuse their actions. Thank you Bernie and AOC for taking a stand against military industrial complex and AIPAC

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"Chuck" from Vladivostok.

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Daniel, it's always refreshing to hear from the Chuck Bot! He can be quite amusing at times! He doesn't like Democrats, but I told him that was okay. I think times must be hard in Vladivostok.

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Insults are the last resort of an insecure man with a crumbling argument trying to appear confident. We know them!

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"We" is you, Putin and who else?

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Putin pays by the word.

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You may have noticed that Trump supports Netanyahu.

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Chuck, since you like quotes so much, there's one you might want to know about it's the pot calling the kettle black.

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Like a bully in the school yard

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You have no argument Chucky boy, only bull shit and propaganda

That link of yours is about five years old but ties in with Tom High's weird obsession, there is only one conclusion, you are either the same personality working two different accounts, or you are two different people working out of the same cubicle, Vladivostok or Peterbugh maybe.

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I’m a bot or a Russian or I am Tom high. That doesn’t sound like a rebuttal. But let’s just pretend that were true. It doesn’t change the fact that you called me a liar because I brought up how disgusting Russia gate was. Then you said that the Steele dossier had merit. When I proved that you were wrong you said it was old news. I’m merely rubbing your nose in your stupid. Like a puppy except instead of pissing on the floor you spread lies and when I corrected you, you were very rude. I’ve also seen you behave rudely when debating with others. Now I’m merely entertaining myself at your expense. Apologize and act better. I will be watching.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/11/politics/steele-dossier-fbi-durham-danchenko/index.html

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Debate is that what you say you are doing. There is no debate, all you do is spread manure and selective links, even outdated and wrong ones, to support your position. You are wasting your time here, we all know what and who you are.

You are damn right I am rude and profane, I grew up in a project,on the streets, and I don't take crap from anyone, much less Putin trolls, most lefties are polite and accommodating, and pussies at that, I am a street brawler, and I don't put up with anyone's' bullshit. I came close to court martial three times in my 26 year career because I don't put up with bullshit, not even from a three star general.

If you are entertaining yourself, I am in Disney World. Bring it on asshole.

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That’s exactly what I have been doing. Don’t act like a little bitch when I rub your nose in your erroneous claims. Or when you act like a bully.

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There is no pretense Chucky fuck. You and Tom's post are revelatory. You serve no purpose here, you are minnows swimming with sharks. You haven't made one convert, everyone here is onto your game. You and he are wasting time.

And you just gave yourself away, you can't keep track of your identiies. Because it was Tom High that went berserk when I said the Steel Dossier had merit. I had that conversation with him,not you,and he obsessively kept trying to bait me with it for a month.

So you are in fact Tom High and neither of you know the difference between a horse and an automobile, because neither of you are Americans, thus not familiar with our culture.

Gotcha, thanks for playing, now go back to jerking off in your cubicle.

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No that was me. And trust me I’m not going anywhere. You’re my sunshine Billy. You don’t drive do you?

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You are them by that logic and standard.

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Yep

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Tom High and Chucky boy either work side by side in the same cubicle or are the same person with different accounts.

Here is why. They rush into back each other up and they are both obsessed over the evidence that Trump and Putin colluded, more importantly that Putin is paying his trolls to interfere in this election. Ocer 1,000 (so far) have been caught on Shitter and Facebook.

And they are coming out of the woodwork now to infest substack and reddit,

These two clowns, if they are human and I doubt that they are, since the one who masqueraades Chuck doesn't know the difference between a horse and an automobile, or was that Tom High, well it doesn't make a difference as they are one and the same.

You see they both share the same obsession the Mueller Report and Putins ownership of Trump.

They bring up the five year old Mueller Report and the Steele Dossier, which even Trump and the Republican party have moved on from, like it is old news, it didn't get him removed from office and Trump is not President, though the fascists like Orban, Netanyahu,, Putin, treat him like he is.

Biden and his slimeballs don't care about the Mueller investigation or the Steele Dossier, but who does, the only person who could would be the genocide felon that interfered in the 2016 election and is now interfering in the 2024 election..l. Putin.

And why Humpty and Dumpty even bother with Robert Reich is because they are getting paid by the post. They aren't making converts, they are wasting their time, The only thing that they accomplish is to disrupt the thread and grab attention to themselves.

Would you waste your time on a MAGA site? Of course not, unless you were bored and wanted to troll them.

They are either trolls or Putin agents. Probably two in one, if not physically, then they might as well be, they are certainly working the same cubicle.

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Capitalism is destructive if given free rein.

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Ronnie sure PROVED that!

We NEVER seem to learn from our mistakes...

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That my hometown, Austin Texas, more specifically the Chamber of Commerce and their deranged ilk, has embraced this complete a**hole Musk, makes me wanna puke. Liberal town? Riiiiiiight. It’s been bought off and ruined. Thanks, Chamber, for ruining something great. I will never, ever spend 1 penny on Tesla anything. Oh that’s right. I forgot. I’m getting screwed via the property tax giveaway you gave Musk. .

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You can always move to California. An oasis for hive mind

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If that were true, and it is not, better that than Chuck from Vladivostok, and how interesting that Chuck's tag team partner jumped in. thanks for the heads up

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https://apnews.com/united-states-government-3053d226815e4c8d905322ea1d8cd1a1

See how you are a liar billy? A stupid old mean spirited numb nuts? Thanks for giving me a chance to post this link. Some of your friends didn’t get the memo because they only watch Rachel madow.

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You are mentally ill Chuck. What is your purpose here?

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To rub your nose in the consequences of bullying. And to raise awareness about the DNC’s overt hypocrisy, particularly in regards to phony primaries and contrived lawsuits against political opponents. Did you know that the Steele dossier was a complete lie designed to discredit a sitting president, vilify Russia and excuse Hillary’s abject failure when campaigning against a game show host? Hers a link I may have shared with you before, but every time you open your mouth I like to share it in case there are others that haven’t fully come to grips with what this would look like to the rest of the world.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/11/politics/steele-dossier-fbi-durham-danchenko/index.html

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Trump and Musk have many things in common.

They are both born, talented grifters who are always looking for the next scam (crypto, AI, social media, etc) so as to leverage their next grift for even greater personal gains.

Musk's empire is built on a tower of debt financed by credulous morons, as was Trumps.

They are both politically flexible, bending with the wind to suit whichever group best supports their latest grift.

They are both white supremacists who see themselves as patriarchal dynastic challengers to the "status quo".

They are both deeply insecure.

Boycott all these fuckers. But if you were credulous enough to put all your savings in Tesla my advice would be to hedge that shit asap.

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What we really need is to find away to repeal Citizen's United and get all the fucking money out of politics. There is no way that the political parties need to spend the GDP of some small countries to run a political campaign.

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We are going to need control of Congress big time. And for that we are going to need voters to either like Dems, hate Repubs, and preferably both. And for that we need 1 on 1 talk and media.

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Absolutely!!

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Well said!💙

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Tesla stock price is being hammered -- and adversely affecting the entire stock market as collateral damage -- because of Musk's substantial support of Trump. Makes me wonder if Musk anticipated that downturn in Tesla's fortunes, which is why he pushed so hard -- and received -- his $56 BILLION payday from Tesla. THEN he announced everything he planned to do to help out Trump.

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/elon-musk-s-56b-payday-wins-in-landslide-next-chapter-in-the-tesla-growth-story-1033480608

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Watching the past three days as the stock markets have been sliding. -- The air seems to be coming out of the Trump presumptions balloon. It's like somebody stuck a pin in the balloon of fascism. Kamala, (and Biden) of course. -- Musk's stocks may be a good index of fascist deflation.

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The painful thing for We The People and American Democracy is that above and beyond everything Musk already had, he now has $56 BILLION available to push for Trump and the MAGAheads. [Thank you ever so much, SCOTUS, for declaring that Money = Speech. (/sarcasm)]

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Already left X long ago, I’m not a driver myself (I’m disabled) I have an old Ford Econoline van converted with a lift. Someone else drives me where I need to go.

That said, if I’m ever in the market for a new vehicle and the proper infrastructure was put into place (absolutely no chargers in my area) I’d consider buying hybrid or electric but I decided long before he bought what was then Twitter that I would never buy a Tesla.

I have no money in anything he owns and I never will.

My only questionable buying practices involve stuff from Amazon and that’s simply because I can’t get those things any other way. I’m not proud of it but for someone who can’t travel often, it’s just too convenient.

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The only pratical way to boycot Musk Is to immediately unsubscribe from Twitter (X). Any and evry true democratic person (whichever party thei lean on or wherever they live) should do that, now! I did It and feel much Better. That's my modest contribution to the fight for the Democracy. Other countermeasures look to be impratical to me. I would not buy a riskt and expensive car like Tesla, and I am not planning to go to space with a Space X Rocket. Any idea? Thanx.

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founding

Getting off those platforms didn’t hurt a bit.

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Because you search for platforms that are best suited for your preconceived notions. That’s Fox and MSNBC in a nutshell. And that’s the problem in the same nutshell.

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In case anyone needs additional impetus: https://open.substack.com/pub/politicalhumor/p/nazi-elmo-strikes-again

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Totally with you, get the fuck off Twitter and get on Mastodon, it's more work but it's not owned by a Nazi.

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