I'll be watching you two! Thanks for providing us all with your insights, takes, humor, facts, and banter! You'll make it more bearable and remind us of the big picture. I'll be back in the Coffee Klatch saddle / café chair soon! Pinched nerves are no fun. Best to you all!
Oh, I'm so sorry Heather to hear of your pinched nerve. If it is related to your back, although I don't know exactly where your pinched nerve is, I hope you can get lots of good medical advice and relief. I was given a wonderful book from my physical therapist when I had sciatic nerve pain and I ended up getting two back surgeries that removed some bone from one of my vertebrae, a laminectomy, and a discectomy which thankfully gave me relief from the sciatic pain. The book I was given was called, "Treat Your Own Back" and my favorite exercise was the "recovery position" where I laid on my stomach, and it restored the lower back curve of the lordosis. I have always tried to maintain better posture, because sitting in a "C" position can also irritate nerves radiating from the spine if you don't have proper posture. Please take care and I hope your doctors are giving you the advice that icing for short periods of time under 15 minutes can reduce swelling and relieve nerve pain. Everyone loves to put heat when they are in pain, but that causes swelling and can irritate nerve pain. Anyway I'm not a doctor, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn select last weekend.😉 So please take care. We miss you and can't wait for you to be back! The "Saturday Coffee Klatch" is a slice of sanity in a sea of craziness. I have been a regular listener and viewer since the beginning, back when there was no intro or exit theme songs!!
Every time I see a picture of JDV he looks like a villain out of central casting. "We need an obnoxious tech bro type who is smug, has a beard and thinks he is the shit. You know, a Vance type. Think weasel in an expensive suit."
Timon, you are right about JD Vance. He is an execrable human being, but he a gifted powerful speaker and debater. too I know Tim and consider him one of the best, most genuine people I know. But I am worried. Viewers may not not pick up on that.
I see no real logic behind this upcoming debate between the two prospective VPs. All they can do is reiterate or regurgitate, which ever you prefer, what we already know. They are literally extensions of their respect commander and chiefs. VPs have no power to do anything but what they are directed to do. Calling Kamala, the Border Czar was basically stupid, only the uneducated MAGA goon squad would think she had the ability to make decisions on her own. The VP is just an extension of the President.
Think about this, Donald, most people, even Republicans agree that donald john trump has slipped into dementia and becomes more incoherent by day. If by some nefarious scheme he (DJT) wins the Presidency I'm willing to bet that before the end of January Amendment 25 will be invoked and the new dictator for life will be vance who could never win the p[residency on his own. I agree the Tim Walz will be an extension of Kamala Harris as Kamala was an extension (and mentee of Joe Biden). But not the devil incarnate that jd would be,
I think that is the logic behind this debate; they are extensions of the president. Since it’s unlikely that we see another presidential debate this is the last opportunity we have to see “both sides talk to each other.” It’ll most likely be them trading slogans and rehearsed lines but both sides will highlight what they see to be the issues and the solutions. Hopefully Tim does good lol
You make a good point. We Americans are now several generations into a media-curated culture. The important question today is: 'Is it entertaining?' And iIt makes us shallow and easily manipulated.
I object to the premise of your moniker. The poor are notoriously unhealthy and underfed. Many of them live in fresh food deserts, miles from the nearest fresh vegetables. Think how few states provide free school breakfast and lunch year round for all kids. Just like Trump and Vance recommend, we should eat the fat cats. Think of the foie gras available in your city parks. Dogs are not a part of Caribbean diets, but we could ask many Asian countries for recipes; why, I think DJT has a dear, dear friend in Korea. "They're eating the pets" wasn't the cultural insult we thought it was. That was just Donald showing us the way forward after his tariffs make everything unaffordable.
Sorry to just read that Heather Lofthouse is out with a pinched nerve (in fact, I may have one myself in my right shoulder, but I'll only know at the end of the month when I talk to my doctor about the results of my magnetic resonance exam on the 22nd of this month). Keep up the great work, folks, but don't worry too much - Kamala and Tim will win handsomely (or should I say beautiifully?).
Tim Walz should not try to be an attack dog. If he does that, and if he tries to "give Vance hell", I think Tim would come across as insincere, a pretender, phony. And a flop.
This is a small place, and people out here figure you out pretty quickly. I have spent some little time with Tim. His greatest asset is that Tim is exactly who and what he appears to be. He passionately loves this state and he loves our country. I always feel better after I listen to him. His passion comes from the heart.
Yes, of course. There many ways that Walz can give Vance hell without resorting to attack tactics... and Walz is a master at those. Exposing Vance's lies would be one of these as would be some sly (but not necessarily seemingly vicious) retorts.
I'd be overjoyed to swear in front of or at King Charles. And I'll be in the front row cheering if he were to become the final British monarch. The NHS is struggling, but I'll bet his lifestyle isn't affected one iota.
".......a truncated general election campaign....."? Surely, you jest. As usual, the rest of the civilized world manages to conduct their ENTIRE election campaigns in a month....two at the most.....but the farcical US campaign has been going since the start of the Biden administration's second year in office. And "farcical" is the most appropriate description.
I am curious who will be more enthusiastic about sending more arms to Israel. Are the Democrats in complete denial that the continued support of white supremacist colonialism in the Middle East is an anathema to many voters?
From my perspective Dems have a wide variety of views on what has gone on recently and what is going on in the Middle East. One thing Dems can agree on is that Harris will be much, much, much better for the Middle East -- and world peace in general -- than trump.
No, I cannot agree on this, and yes, I'm a Dem. Biden and Harris have been terrible regarding Israel. JFK and LBJ had Vietnam, and Biden and Harris apoear to be behaving similarly. It's a sham because on the domestic side, we probably agree that Harris is an incredibly compelling candidate regardless of the horror of her adversary. My point is that some Dems are so upset with her Israel uber alles stance that they won't vote for her. This is real.
Trump/Vance are totally unqualified. Trump was a disaster last time he was President. A totally avoidable pandemic due to his complete incompetence and refusal to listen to experts (almost 1 million Americans needlessly dead) and, just as bad, he incited insurrection because he cannot deal with ever being told he lost, and the theft of hundreds of classified documents.
Fast forwarding to 2024, Trump aims to be a dictator and allow the Heritage Foundation to make a theocracy out of this nation, to forcibly deport immigrants he and his cult followers hate, to further erode the rights of American women, to cut off our allies, thus helping dictators such as Vladimir Putin and for other reasons too numerous to list, I find the idea of another Trump Presidency totally repugnant.
I wonder how much that Helene and climate change will come up.
But this is serious, and VERY important: (From the New Republic, hours ago) >> "Congressional Dysfunction Has Helene Relief Efforts in Limbo"
Lawmakers left town last week without passing additional natural disaster funding.
This could be horrendous.
Despite the knowledge that Helene would make landfall on Thursday, lawmakers embarked on a six-week recess for the pre-election campaign sprint last Wednesday, after passing a bill keeping the government funded temporarily through December. Left out of the measure: billions of dollars in supplemental disaster funding. Although the temporary measure extended funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency through December 20, the agency’s disaster relief fund is facing a $3 billion deficit by February.
Exactly. And Hurricane Helene is the worst in terms of damage to infrastructure and injury/deaths/still missing that I can remember in my lifetime. And Congress didn't see fit to plan for a disaster that might happen (and did) during one of their numerous recesses? I've seen footage of the damage to Asheville, NC--it looks like a fair bit of the city has been eradicated. This Congress is unacceptable.
In the end I woke in the middle of the night (I'm in Europe) and watched most of the debate. Walz was obviously nervous and well out of his comfort zone, but got into the swing of it along the way. Vance looked like a used car salesman in his fancy suit, but enjoyed playing the game. He is obviously intelligent and lies smoothly and with practised skill.
I doubt anyone will change their vote over it. At best it may harden Dems in their resolve to vote.
But my one takeaway from the debate isn't just that Vance is actually lined up to be the next President, but that he knows it. Trump is on the ballot paper in name only, to win the vote or foment the insurrection, take the Presidency and then go play golf, while Vance implements a version of Project 25 for Thiel and Musk and all those other billionaires skulking in the shadows. I would say Vance was performing primarily for that audience tonight, and they will be reassured by their choice of puppet.
I say a version of Project 25 because I think Vance made a couple of statements that differ from Trump's line, and differ from Project 25. I think Vance will have his own views, not necessarily more moderate, but perhaps packaged up differently to be more palatable for future voters.
Why care about voters? Because even dictators like the trappings of democracy. Even Putin holds election now and then, and always seems to win by 95% of the vote. (I can only guess what happens to that other 5% after each 'election'!). President Vance will probably do the same in 2028.
So with no more events, and unless there is some unexpected news or scandal, they go into the November election in 4 weeks, 6 days neck and neck. Except......
Except for three factors:
- Trump has consistently been underrated in by the polls before previous elections, and probably has been this time too.
- The electoral college system benefits Trump.
- The Republicans are systematically banning and disenfranchising Dem voters, corrupting voting systems, and will surely harass and threaten Dem voters on the day. They will challenge every close vote, and every vote count in every swing state. They will shout 'corruption' and election theft, and they have many judges and the Supreme Court who will support them.
A couple of months ago I thought Kamala and Walz could take this election on a surge in popularity, especially as Trump's mental abilities have faded. I would still like it to be true, for all the polls to be wrong and the Dems win by a landslide and take both House and Senate.
But I regret to say that I now think Trump and Vance will take the Presidency, by hook or by crook. If I were to be pressed for a confidence number, I'd say 60% certain. Still room for some hope, but.....
And on the basis of, 'Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst' I would respectfully suggest that everyone should consider what happens in their own lives if Trump and Vance get in. For many, perhaps nothing concrete will change, at least for a while, and unless one's personal circumstances mean a run-in with the rules of the new regime.
But if Trump does get power, and Vance becomes de-facto President and starts to implement Project 25 (which is why he's there), then I would think that many people would find living in such a country under the rules of such a Far Right regime to be psychologically intolerable.
Not sure where you're at, but if it happens here no place will be safe.
We still have 35 days, the variability in the polls tells me that it's not all sewn up yet. I think that a lot of folks who have been on the fence or swinging back and forth just need to see Harris more and see her taking the fight to Trump and controlling the narrative.
She still has time to do that, but her campaign needs to gear itself up for that type of a fight to finish.
I agree with you. Trump is most likely going to win. Which will be a disaster for the US and the world. I would add the International Longshoremen's Association union strike. If the strike goes on it could cost the U.S. economy about $5 billion a day. Then there is the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East. Israel is now engaged in multiple wars is on the verge of a war with Iran.
I think Harris's chances of winning are shrinking and that says a lot about the American electorate, of whom about half have no problem with electing an extreme right wing wannabe dictator.
Btw, on the wars front: I also think if Trump gets in, that he will promise Putin that America will back off in supplying Ukraine, and won't get involved, even if Putin uses battlefield nuclear. He will also promise Xi Jin Ping that America won't intervene for Taiwan, and perhaps even promise Kim Jong Un that America won't protect South Korea.
I'm not alone in this - I have intelligent Right wing friends in Europe that think Trump would be good, because otherwise Europe could easily end up as the front line for World War 3. I don't share their viewpoint, but I do understand why they think that.
I agree. Even if Harris wins, half the voters and half the politicians will try to stymie any legislation, and they will be back in 2028 for yet another rerun.
It is one thing to say, 'A country gets the politicians it deserves'. It is quite another thing to have to live through the consequences.
Even if Harris can pull off a win the Republican's are likely going to take back the Senate and it's looking like they will have a 51 seat majority as well. Which would mean a President Harris would have a hard time filling cabinet positions and she won't get any of her federal judge nominee's through the Senate. Let alone getting much of anything done. That would mean she would most likely be a one term president.
The Republicans long ago figured out that controlling the SCOTUS and the federal courts is how you control the nation. Something the Democrat's never really figured out or developed a cohesive strategy. The proof of that is there's no Liberal equivalent of the Federalist Society. Democrat's just react, Republican's have had been planing for the take over of the judiciary since the 1980's.
Depends where you live. Italy has a far right government. France is moving towards the right. So is Germany. The Labor government in Britain is screwing up on epic proportions and at this point it's looking like they might hand the government back to the Conservatives.
Right wing in Europe isn't anywhere near as extreme as the Right in America. You guys would find them more moderate and far more sane and intellectual. They also operate within proportional representation systems that blunt their abilities to make changes other than by the consent of moderates, and under EU rules that severely limit the changes they can make on things like immigration, climate policies, human rights and national debt levels.
Also, we don't have so many nutters with guns, and people generally like each other, believe in society, and like to get on with their own lives and communities, rather than become multi-zillionaires and take over the World!
So I'm happy to live in a civilised place. You guys should try it one day! 😬
This article (link below) on Politico today is about Trump's repeated promises to go after all those people that have prosecuted or opposed him, from Biden and Pelosi to lawyers and judges and witnesses. Many top people are taking those threats very seriously.
If this is an example of his first days as President, it would surely set the tone or retribution, threat, and the abandonment of consensual politics in America.
It would surely feed through into similar local campaigns in Republican controlled states and cities, where local Rep politicians and their MAGA thugs would be delighted to follow suit and chase down their opponents and critics - perhaps as politically seminal as Kristallnacht that took place in Germany 86 years ago, on November 1938, that changed the rules of public behaviour for the Nazi Party.
How kind of you to invite me!. Unfortunately, I have dinner guests tonight, refugees from the heat. Let's get our fair share of abuse together some other time.
I'll be watching you two! Thanks for providing us all with your insights, takes, humor, facts, and banter! You'll make it more bearable and remind us of the big picture. I'll be back in the Coffee Klatch saddle / café chair soon! Pinched nerves are no fun. Best to you all!
Yikes. Get better soon.
Miss you! Feel better soon. ❤️
We miss you Heather and hope you feel better real soon!
Always follow your doctor's instructions and get better soon.
We will miss you but feel good soon! ❤️
Just got thru that with an injection after 2 mos id delay. No fun at all. Best of luck getting better!
Feel better soon!
So sorry that you are in pain. I know I am not alone in wishing you a speedy recovery, and thank you for all you do.
Oh, I'm so sorry Heather to hear of your pinched nerve. If it is related to your back, although I don't know exactly where your pinched nerve is, I hope you can get lots of good medical advice and relief. I was given a wonderful book from my physical therapist when I had sciatic nerve pain and I ended up getting two back surgeries that removed some bone from one of my vertebrae, a laminectomy, and a discectomy which thankfully gave me relief from the sciatic pain. The book I was given was called, "Treat Your Own Back" and my favorite exercise was the "recovery position" where I laid on my stomach, and it restored the lower back curve of the lordosis. I have always tried to maintain better posture, because sitting in a "C" position can also irritate nerves radiating from the spine if you don't have proper posture. Please take care and I hope your doctors are giving you the advice that icing for short periods of time under 15 minutes can reduce swelling and relieve nerve pain. Everyone loves to put heat when they are in pain, but that causes swelling and can irritate nerve pain. Anyway I'm not a doctor, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn select last weekend.😉 So please take care. We miss you and can't wait for you to be back! The "Saturday Coffee Klatch" is a slice of sanity in a sea of craziness. I have been a regular listener and viewer since the beginning, back when there was no intro or exit theme songs!!
Thinking of you. That pain is not fun. Heal quickly.
And you as well! I always enjoy guesthosts, but not if it means NO Ms. Lofthouse!!! I hope you feel better before the weekend at least!
Oh no! Hope you’re better soon. And yes, we all miss you! Take care 🤗
Every time I see a picture of JDV he looks like a villain out of central casting. "We need an obnoxious tech bro type who is smug, has a beard and thinks he is the shit. You know, a Vance type. Think weasel in an expensive suit."
You pegged Vance !
Good call! He really does, with the vibes to match.
I honestly gotta say I’m afraid to watch.
JD Vance is a double speaking villain of the highest order. His smug mug spewing falsehoods and outright lies may be too much for me to stomach.
I’m afraid for my country.
Timon, you are right about JD Vance. He is an execrable human being, but he a gifted powerful speaker and debater. too I know Tim and consider him one of the best, most genuine people I know. But I am worried. Viewers may not not pick up on that.
His smug face really pisses me off.
I see no real logic behind this upcoming debate between the two prospective VPs. All they can do is reiterate or regurgitate, which ever you prefer, what we already know. They are literally extensions of their respect commander and chiefs. VPs have no power to do anything but what they are directed to do. Calling Kamala, the Border Czar was basically stupid, only the uneducated MAGA goon squad would think she had the ability to make decisions on her own. The VP is just an extension of the President.
Think about this, Donald, most people, even Republicans agree that donald john trump has slipped into dementia and becomes more incoherent by day. If by some nefarious scheme he (DJT) wins the Presidency I'm willing to bet that before the end of January Amendment 25 will be invoked and the new dictator for life will be vance who could never win the p[residency on his own. I agree the Tim Walz will be an extension of Kamala Harris as Kamala was an extension (and mentee of Joe Biden). But not the devil incarnate that jd would be,
I think that is the logic behind this debate; they are extensions of the president. Since it’s unlikely that we see another presidential debate this is the last opportunity we have to see “both sides talk to each other.” It’ll most likely be them trading slogans and rehearsed lines but both sides will highlight what they see to be the issues and the solutions. Hopefully Tim does good lol
You make a good point. We Americans are now several generations into a media-curated culture. The important question today is: 'Is it entertaining?' And iIt makes us shallow and easily manipulated.
Dear Eat The Poor,
I object to the premise of your moniker. The poor are notoriously unhealthy and underfed. Many of them live in fresh food deserts, miles from the nearest fresh vegetables. Think how few states provide free school breakfast and lunch year round for all kids. Just like Trump and Vance recommend, we should eat the fat cats. Think of the foie gras available in your city parks. Dogs are not a part of Caribbean diets, but we could ask many Asian countries for recipes; why, I think DJT has a dear, dear friend in Korea. "They're eating the pets" wasn't the cultural insult we thought it was. That was just Donald showing us the way forward after his tariffs make everything unaffordable.
Many thanks to you and Mr. Lahanas-Calderón for offering your insights into this debate!
Sorry to just read that Heather Lofthouse is out with a pinched nerve (in fact, I may have one myself in my right shoulder, but I'll only know at the end of the month when I talk to my doctor about the results of my magnetic resonance exam on the 22nd of this month). Keep up the great work, folks, but don't worry too much - Kamala and Tim will win handsomely (or should I say beautiifully?).
Hoping Walz "gives Vance hell," as we say, shows Vance up as the vicious, frightening, and hateful "character" he is, as well as totally weird!
Tim Walz should not try to be an attack dog. If he does that, and if he tries to "give Vance hell", I think Tim would come across as insincere, a pretender, phony. And a flop.
This is a small place, and people out here figure you out pretty quickly. I have spent some little time with Tim. His greatest asset is that Tim is exactly who and what he appears to be. He passionately loves this state and he loves our country. I always feel better after I listen to him. His passion comes from the heart.
Yes, of course. There many ways that Walz can give Vance hell without resorting to attack tactics... and Walz is a master at those. Exposing Vance's lies would be one of these as would be some sly (but not necessarily seemingly vicious) retorts.
I wasn't going to watch, but will now with you two!
Thank you. Not for the watch-along, but for correctly quoting Nance Garner and not the bowdlerized "...warm bucket of spit."
Oh, OK, thanks for the watch-along.
Sad society that has legitimised swearing so much that we can’t ask our children to watch politicians & comedians.
If people wouldn’t swear in front of the President or King Charles, why can’t they treat us with the same respect?
I'd be overjoyed to swear in front of or at King Charles. And I'll be in the front row cheering if he were to become the final British monarch. The NHS is struggling, but I'll bet his lifestyle isn't affected one iota.
".......a truncated general election campaign....."? Surely, you jest. As usual, the rest of the civilized world manages to conduct their ENTIRE election campaigns in a month....two at the most.....but the farcical US campaign has been going since the start of the Biden administration's second year in office. And "farcical" is the most appropriate description.
I am curious who will be more enthusiastic about sending more arms to Israel. Are the Democrats in complete denial that the continued support of white supremacist colonialism in the Middle East is an anathema to many voters?
From my perspective Dems have a wide variety of views on what has gone on recently and what is going on in the Middle East. One thing Dems can agree on is that Harris will be much, much, much better for the Middle East -- and world peace in general -- than trump.
No, I cannot agree on this, and yes, I'm a Dem. Biden and Harris have been terrible regarding Israel. JFK and LBJ had Vietnam, and Biden and Harris apoear to be behaving similarly. It's a sham because on the domestic side, we probably agree that Harris is an incredibly compelling candidate regardless of the horror of her adversary. My point is that some Dems are so upset with her Israel uber alles stance that they won't vote for her. This is real.
Are Jews white?
I love Governow Waltz. He's ready to be President. The hillbilly Vance with his Peter Thiel bromance is not qualified.
Trump/Vance are totally unqualified. Trump was a disaster last time he was President. A totally avoidable pandemic due to his complete incompetence and refusal to listen to experts (almost 1 million Americans needlessly dead) and, just as bad, he incited insurrection because he cannot deal with ever being told he lost, and the theft of hundreds of classified documents.
Fast forwarding to 2024, Trump aims to be a dictator and allow the Heritage Foundation to make a theocracy out of this nation, to forcibly deport immigrants he and his cult followers hate, to further erode the rights of American women, to cut off our allies, thus helping dictators such as Vladimir Putin and for other reasons too numerous to list, I find the idea of another Trump Presidency totally repugnant.
I wonder how much that Helene and climate change will come up.
But this is serious, and VERY important: (From the New Republic, hours ago) >> "Congressional Dysfunction Has Helene Relief Efforts in Limbo"
Lawmakers left town last week without passing additional natural disaster funding.
This could be horrendous.
Despite the knowledge that Helene would make landfall on Thursday, lawmakers embarked on a six-week recess for the pre-election campaign sprint last Wednesday, after passing a bill keeping the government funded temporarily through December. Left out of the measure: billions of dollars in supplemental disaster funding. Although the temporary measure extended funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency through December 20, the agency’s disaster relief fund is facing a $3 billion deficit by February.
We had a Congress that was out for an 8-week summer recess, then back for 2 weeks, and out again for nearly 7 weeks.
And people wonder why people are so negative on Congress.
Exactly. And Hurricane Helene is the worst in terms of damage to infrastructure and injury/deaths/still missing that I can remember in my lifetime. And Congress didn't see fit to plan for a disaster that might happen (and did) during one of their numerous recesses? I've seen footage of the damage to Asheville, NC--it looks like a fair bit of the city has been eradicated. This Congress is unacceptable.
I have been on my GA-Republican congressman's social media page TRYING to put out the word that ... "This congressman is NOT working for YOU.'
Excellent. Constituents need to do this. Thank you!
In the end I woke in the middle of the night (I'm in Europe) and watched most of the debate. Walz was obviously nervous and well out of his comfort zone, but got into the swing of it along the way. Vance looked like a used car salesman in his fancy suit, but enjoyed playing the game. He is obviously intelligent and lies smoothly and with practised skill.
I doubt anyone will change their vote over it. At best it may harden Dems in their resolve to vote.
But my one takeaway from the debate isn't just that Vance is actually lined up to be the next President, but that he knows it. Trump is on the ballot paper in name only, to win the vote or foment the insurrection, take the Presidency and then go play golf, while Vance implements a version of Project 25 for Thiel and Musk and all those other billionaires skulking in the shadows. I would say Vance was performing primarily for that audience tonight, and they will be reassured by their choice of puppet.
I say a version of Project 25 because I think Vance made a couple of statements that differ from Trump's line, and differ from Project 25. I think Vance will have his own views, not necessarily more moderate, but perhaps packaged up differently to be more palatable for future voters.
Why care about voters? Because even dictators like the trappings of democracy. Even Putin holds election now and then, and always seems to win by 95% of the vote. (I can only guess what happens to that other 5% after each 'election'!). President Vance will probably do the same in 2028.
So with no more events, and unless there is some unexpected news or scandal, they go into the November election in 4 weeks, 6 days neck and neck. Except......
Except for three factors:
- Trump has consistently been underrated in by the polls before previous elections, and probably has been this time too.
- The electoral college system benefits Trump.
- The Republicans are systematically banning and disenfranchising Dem voters, corrupting voting systems, and will surely harass and threaten Dem voters on the day. They will challenge every close vote, and every vote count in every swing state. They will shout 'corruption' and election theft, and they have many judges and the Supreme Court who will support them.
A couple of months ago I thought Kamala and Walz could take this election on a surge in popularity, especially as Trump's mental abilities have faded. I would still like it to be true, for all the polls to be wrong and the Dems win by a landslide and take both House and Senate.
But I regret to say that I now think Trump and Vance will take the Presidency, by hook or by crook. If I were to be pressed for a confidence number, I'd say 60% certain. Still room for some hope, but.....
And on the basis of, 'Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst' I would respectfully suggest that everyone should consider what happens in their own lives if Trump and Vance get in. For many, perhaps nothing concrete will change, at least for a while, and unless one's personal circumstances mean a run-in with the rules of the new regime.
But if Trump does get power, and Vance becomes de-facto President and starts to implement Project 25 (which is why he's there), then I would think that many people would find living in such a country under the rules of such a Far Right regime to be psychologically intolerable.
I certainly would.
Not sure where you're at, but if it happens here no place will be safe.
We still have 35 days, the variability in the polls tells me that it's not all sewn up yet. I think that a lot of folks who have been on the fence or swinging back and forth just need to see Harris more and see her taking the fight to Trump and controlling the narrative.
She still has time to do that, but her campaign needs to gear itself up for that type of a fight to finish.
I agree. Certainly it isn't lost 'til it's lost, and fight all the way. I would really, really like to be proven wrong on this.
I agree with you. Trump is most likely going to win. Which will be a disaster for the US and the world. I would add the International Longshoremen's Association union strike. If the strike goes on it could cost the U.S. economy about $5 billion a day. Then there is the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East. Israel is now engaged in multiple wars is on the verge of a war with Iran.
I think Harris's chances of winning are shrinking and that says a lot about the American electorate, of whom about half have no problem with electing an extreme right wing wannabe dictator.
Btw, on the wars front: I also think if Trump gets in, that he will promise Putin that America will back off in supplying Ukraine, and won't get involved, even if Putin uses battlefield nuclear. He will also promise Xi Jin Ping that America won't intervene for Taiwan, and perhaps even promise Kim Jong Un that America won't protect South Korea.
I'm not alone in this - I have intelligent Right wing friends in Europe that think Trump would be good, because otherwise Europe could easily end up as the front line for World War 3. I don't share their viewpoint, but I do understand why they think that.
I agree. Even if Harris wins, half the voters and half the politicians will try to stymie any legislation, and they will be back in 2028 for yet another rerun.
It is one thing to say, 'A country gets the politicians it deserves'. It is quite another thing to have to live through the consequences.
Even if Harris can pull off a win the Republican's are likely going to take back the Senate and it's looking like they will have a 51 seat majority as well. Which would mean a President Harris would have a hard time filling cabinet positions and she won't get any of her federal judge nominee's through the Senate. Let alone getting much of anything done. That would mean she would most likely be a one term president.
The Republicans long ago figured out that controlling the SCOTUS and the federal courts is how you control the nation. Something the Democrat's never really figured out or developed a cohesive strategy. The proof of that is there's no Liberal equivalent of the Federalist Society. Democrat's just react, Republican's have had been planing for the take over of the judiciary since the 1980's.
I am VERY glad I live in Europe!
Depends where you live. Italy has a far right government. France is moving towards the right. So is Germany. The Labor government in Britain is screwing up on epic proportions and at this point it's looking like they might hand the government back to the Conservatives.
Right wing in Europe isn't anywhere near as extreme as the Right in America. You guys would find them more moderate and far more sane and intellectual. They also operate within proportional representation systems that blunt their abilities to make changes other than by the consent of moderates, and under EU rules that severely limit the changes they can make on things like immigration, climate policies, human rights and national debt levels.
Also, we don't have so many nutters with guns, and people generally like each other, believe in society, and like to get on with their own lives and communities, rather than become multi-zillionaires and take over the World!
So I'm happy to live in a civilised place. You guys should try it one day! 😬
This article (link below) on Politico today is about Trump's repeated promises to go after all those people that have prosecuted or opposed him, from Biden and Pelosi to lawyers and judges and witnesses. Many top people are taking those threats very seriously.
If this is an example of his first days as President, it would surely set the tone or retribution, threat, and the abandonment of consensual politics in America.
It would surely feed through into similar local campaigns in Republican controlled states and cities, where local Rep politicians and their MAGA thugs would be delighted to follow suit and chase down their opponents and critics - perhaps as politically seminal as Kristallnacht that took place in Germany 86 years ago, on November 1938, that changed the rules of public behaviour for the Nazi Party.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/09/30/trump-doj-revenge-political-enemies-00178218
You're not a serious person.
Ha! You mean condense 900 pages into a brief but pithy critique for you to come back with insults?
Fuck off! 😂
Well, that was stressful. All those lies. That machine-gun delivery of untruths never ceases to upset me. Thanks for the commentary. We appreciate it.
How kind of you to invite me!. Unfortunately, I have dinner guests tonight, refugees from the heat. Let's get our fair share of abuse together some other time.
Best wishes,
Martha