Random Comments/Stream of Consciousness Thread

[Iwritecode]

Another one:

[herbertwest]

By the way, when is the electoral college vote?

[Hunchback Jack]

It's the first Monday after the second Wednesday in the December after the election. The 14th this time around.

HBJ

[Merlin1958]

Well, cast my vote for, Trump and the Republican slate. Polling place was an Islamic Mosque. Very well run and classy. No lines smooth as silk and the folks were very cordial. I even got a bag of pretzels!! lol

[herbertwest]

Bretzels are german by the way. So are burgers, originally.

Thanks @Hunchback Jack

[ladysai]

This is so true. We all have to live with each other regardless of who is president.

[George at C-Springs]

Keeping a copy of the final red/blue map so I'll know which states never to move to. Truly unbelievable that it's even this close, what a continued embarrassment.

[mae]

Truly unbelievable that it's even this close, what a continued embarrassment.

Absolutely. Was I upset when George W. Bush won, twice? Sure. But at least he wasn't actively and gleefully trying to dismantle the democratic institutions and norms that have defined our country, while at the same time transparently and hatefully antagonizing marginalized communities. I was hoping the American people were better than this in their morals and empathy.

[herbertwest]

It's not that surprising. Given all he did, for months, to compromise the mail-in vote.

I dont know how accurate it is, but I read that, at the moment, Biden has 238 electors, while Trump only has 213

[Ricky]

But at least he wasn't actively and gleefully trying to dismantle the democratic institutions and norms that have defined our country, while at the same time transparently and hatefully antagonizing marginalized communities.

This.

[George at C-Springs]

Ever since I was a kid I've disliked politics. Like religion, I believe the world would be a tremendously better place without it. I've never considered myself a Republican, Democrat or any other party, and the only president I've truly admired as both a person and a politician in my lifetime was Ronald Reagan.

I spent half of my life defending the US and almost one third of my life doing so in other countries. Regardless of what party or person was in charge in all that time, I never felt embarrassed to represent the United States because it was about more than just the politics, it was the people and the country as a whole.

Now it's not even that, because half the people support this Trump ideology which 100% goes against everything that I worked for. For four years now I've been embarrassed to be an American; I dreaded my overseas trips and the inevitable conversations that resulted. I'm really glad I retired from the military before Trump took office and the country devolved into what it is now, because I couldn't in good conscience follow Trump's orders. In the Band of Brothers series, Major Dick Winters said, "You salute the rank, not the man.", but I could not and would not salute someone who has completely desecrated the rank.

The sad part is that nothing's going to change if the Democrats win; it'll just be another four-year fight to try and turn it over. If Trump loses he will not go quietly and will no doubt continue to sow discord; I wouldn't put it beyond him to immediately begin a push for his re-election in 2024. And no doubt the cycle will just continue.

I don't know what it will take for this country to do a complete reset ... I wish I did. Whatever it is, I wish it could happen soon.

[amd013]

..... If Trump loses he will not go quietly and will no doubt continue to sow discord; I wouldn't put it beyond him to immediately begin a push for his re-election in 2024. And no doubt the cycle will just continue.

On the other hand, I wonder, if Trump wins, how long will it be before he starts talking about repealing the 22nd amendment.

[Tommy]

Ever since I was a kid I've disliked politics. Like religion, I believe the world would be a tremendously better place without it. I've never considered myself a Republican, Democrat or any other party, and the only president I've truly admired as both a person and a politician in my lifetime was Ronald Reagan.

I spent half of my life defending the US and almost one third of my life doing so in other countries. Regardless of what party or person was in charge in all that time, I never felt embarrassed to represent the United States because it was about more than just the politics, it was the people and the country as a whole.

Now it's not even that, because half the people support this Trump ideology which 100% goes against everything that I worked for. For four years now I've been embarrassed to be an American; I dreaded my overseas trips and the inevitable conversations that resulted. I'm really glad I retired from the military before Trump took office and the country devolved into what it is now, because I couldn't in good conscience follow Trump's orders. In the Band of Brothers series, Major Dick Winters said, "You salute the rank, not the man.", but I could not and would not salute someone who has completely desecrated the rank.

The sad part is that nothing's going to change if the Democrats win; it'll just be another four-year fight to try and turn it over. If Trump loses he will not go quietly and will no doubt continue to sow discord; I wouldn't put it beyond him to immediately begin a push for his re-election in 2024. And no doubt the cycle will just continue.

I don't know what it will take for this country to do a complete reset ... I wish I did. Whatever it is, I wish it could happen soon.

Revolution.

[Merlin1958]

Ever since I was a kid I've disliked politics. Like religion, I believe the world would be a tremendously better place without it. I've never considered myself a Republican, Democrat or any other party, and the only president I've truly admired as both a person and a politician in my lifetime was Ronald Reagan.

I spent half of my life defending the US and almost one third of my life doing so in other countries. Regardless of what party or person was in charge in all that time, I never felt embarrassed to represent the United States because it was about more than just the politics, it was the people and the country as a whole.

Now it's not even that, because half the people support this Trump ideology which 100% goes against everything that I worked for. For four years now I've been embarrassed to be an American; I dreaded my overseas trips and the inevitable conversations that resulted. I'm really glad I retired from the military before Trump took office and the country devolved into what it is now, because I couldn't in good conscience follow Trump's orders. In the Band of Brothers series, Major Dick Winters said, "You salute the rank, not the man.", but I could not and would not salute someone who has completely desecrated the rank.

The sad part is that nothing's going to change if the Democrats win; it'll just be another four-year fight to try and turn it over. If Trump loses he will not go quietly and will no doubt continue to sow discord; I wouldn't put it beyond him to immediately begin a push for his re-election in 2024. And no doubt the cycle will just continue.

I don't know what it will take for this country to do a complete reset ... I wish I did. Whatever it is, I wish it could happen soon.

Revolution.

[Hunchback Jack]

Ever since I was a kid I've disliked politics. Like religion, I believe the world would be a tremendously better place without it. I've never considered myself a Republican, Democrat or any other party, and the only president I've truly admired as both a person and a politician in my lifetime was Ronald Reagan.

I spent half of my life defending the US and almost one third of my life doing so in other countries. Regardless of what party or person was in charge in all that time, I never felt embarrassed to represent the United States because it was about more than just the politics, it was the people and the country as a whole.

Now it's not even that, because half the people support this Trump ideology which 100% goes against everything that I worked for. For four years now I've been embarrassed to be an American; I dreaded my overseas trips and the inevitable conversations that resulted. I'm really glad I retired from the military before Trump took office and the country devolved into what it is now, because I couldn't in good conscience follow Trump's orders. In the Band of Brothers series, Major Dick Winters said, "You salute the rank, not the man.", but I could not and would not salute someone who has completely desecrated the rank.

The sad part is that nothing's going to change if the Democrats win; it'll just be another four-year fight to try and turn it over. If Trump loses he will not go quietly and will no doubt continue to sow discord; I wouldn't put it beyond him to immediately begin a push for his re-election in 2024. And no doubt the cycle will just continue.

I don't know what it will take for this country to do a complete reset ... I wish I did. Whatever it is, I wish it could happen soon.

Revolution.

Careful what you wish for. If you think it's hard to predict the outcome of an election, it much harder to predict the outcome of a revolution.

HBJ

[herbertwest]

..... If Trump loses he will not go quietly and will no doubt continue to sow discord; I wouldn't put it beyond him to immediately begin a push for his re-election in 2024. And no doubt the cycle will just continue.

On the other hand, I wonder, if Trump wins, how long will it be before he starts talking about repealing the 22nd amendment.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/...rc=twsrc%5Etfw

[Brian861]

Ever since I was a kid I've disliked politics. Like religion, I believe the world would be a tremendously better place without it. I've never considered myself a Republican, Democrat or any other party, and the only president I've truly admired as both a person and a politician in my lifetime was Ronald Reagan.

I spent half of my life defending the US and almost one third of my life doing so in other countries. Regardless of what party or person was in charge in all that time, I never felt embarrassed to represent the United States because it was about more than just the politics, it was the people and the country as a whole.

Now it's not even that, because half the people support this Trump ideology which 100% goes against everything that I worked for. For four years now I've been embarrassed to be an American; I dreaded my overseas trips and the inevitable conversations that resulted. I'm really glad I retired from the military before Trump took office and the country devolved into what it is now, because I couldn't in good conscience follow Trump's orders. In the Band of Brothers series, Major Dick Winters said, "You salute the rank, not the man.", but I could not and would not salute someone who has completely desecrated the rank.

The sad part is that nothing's going to change if the Democrats win; it'll just be another four-year fight to try and turn it over. If Trump loses he will not go quietly and will no doubt continue to sow discord; I wouldn't put it beyond him to immediately begin a push for his re-election in 2024. And no doubt the cycle will just continue.

I don't know what it will take for this country to do a complete reset ... I wish I did. Whatever it is, I wish it could happen soon.

George, you sound like my kinda man. Non-religious, non-political, a fellow brother-in-arms, and a Reagan man. It bothers me that so many good people, on both sides of the fence, expend so much energy over politicians who don't give a shit about any of us and only have their best interest at heart. I equate it to a fast talking TV evangelist who cares so much for your soul that he doesn't have a choice but to line his pockets.

Also agreed that nothing will change and if Biden wins, I'm sure within two year, folks will be calling for his head as well. It's the definition of insanity, our political process.

[Brian861]

Careful what you wish for. If you think it's hard to predict the outcome of an election, it much harder to predict the outcome of a revolution. HBJ

Yea, easy there, killer.

[allasorte]

It's 2020 and the great American country can't figure out how to vote properly, let alone count? Florida is the third most populated state in the US and they had their numbers in. Sorry, but something is amiss here whether it goes one way or another, it is already getting ugly. Whomever wins, the other will call foul, and ditto for the other. Perhaps it is time to make a federal law for voting and make it as simplistic as possible. Bring yourself, bring your ID, vote, leave. Something a tad more complex but not too complex, it is already a nightmare out there.

[Brian861]

It's 2020 and the great American country can't figure out how to vote properly, let alone count? Florida is the third most populated state in the US and they had their numbers in. Sorry, but something is amiss here whether it goes one way or another, it is already getting ugly. Whomever wins, the other will call foul, and ditto for the other. Perhaps it is time to make a federal law for voting and make it as simplistic as possible. Bring yourself, bring your ID, vote, leave. Something a tad more complex but not too complex, it is already a nightmare out there.

Or maybe set up a circus tent with a chalkboard inside and the candidates names on it. Only one person can enter at a time of course and if you don't like the way the votes going, you can erase a few marks under that candidates name. Meanwhile, we at work are voting for a union officer position on the 19th. Doubt that will get much play though.

[ICry4Oy]

..... If Trump loses he will not go quietly and will no doubt continue to sow discord; I wouldn't put it beyond him to immediately begin a push for his re-election in 2024. And no doubt the cycle will just continue.

On the other hand, I wonder, if Trump wins, how long will it be before he starts talking about repealing the 22nd amendment.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/...rc=twsrc%5Etfw

Considering how old and how fat Trump is, that is hilarious! He'll probably have a heart attack at 2am tweeting on the toilet.

[herbertwest]

Why would you say that?
He's in very good health

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/08/p...thy/index.html

[Tommy]

It's 2020 and the great American country can't figure out how to vote properly, let alone count? Florida is the third most populated state in the US and they had their numbers in. Sorry, but something is amiss here whether it goes one way or another, it is already getting ugly. Whomever wins, the other will call foul, and ditto for the other. Perhaps it is time to make a federal law for voting and make it as simplistic as possible. Bring yourself, bring your ID, vote, leave. Something a tad more complex but not too complex, it is already a nightmare out there.

I agree that the voting system is problematic but you have to think about it like this, when America votes it is like fifty separate countries are voting and each one has a different set of rules and regulations and in some cases different methods of voting as well. Trying to extrapolate the results from that big of a load is quite a chore. Having angry people screaming at you all day doesn't help either.

[Hunchback Jack]

It's 2020 and the great American country can't figure out how to vote properly, let alone count? Florida is the third most populated state in the US and they had their numbers in. Sorry, but something is amiss here whether it goes one way or another, it is already getting ugly.

Still counting mail-in ballots two days after the election is pretty much par for the course. Florida is only 96% counted even now; they just called it early because the race wasn't that close. Furthermore, 2020 is unusual in that there are many more votes, many more mail-in ballots, and there's a pandemic. The result in the battleground states relies a lot more on mail-in ballots, so that's why it's taking longer to call.

So I don't think the delay in reporting is evidence that "something is amiss" - other than the pandemic, of course.

Everything we're seeing - a larger number of mail-in ballots than usual, a large percentage of the election-day ballots favouring Trump, a large percentage of the mail-in ballots favouring Biden, a longer time until we have a final result - was predicted by commentators on both sides.

HBJ

[George at C-Springs]

A friend challenged my integrity today; as an ardent Trump supporter, he said, "Ok....lets just wait and see, if I'm wrong I will be man enough to say so....and should you be wrong I would expect the same in return."

I responded with the below which I posted to Facebook four years ago on November 9, 2016:

"In my humble opinion the one and only time the political system of the United States has gotten it right in my entire lifetime was with Ronald Reagan. Not because of his party affiliation, but because he was the right person for the job in regards to knowledge, experience, mannerism, and overall who he was a person.

Neither Trump nor Clinton come anywhere close to meeting what should be those absolute minimum requirements to run for the presidency. The country has been in a steady decline since January 20, 1989; is that going to change now? I'd like to think so and will be more than happy to say I was wrong ... but realistically, it's going to continue and likely get worse. Again, the sad part is that that outcome would probably be the same regardless of who was elected, Trump or Clinton.

So no, I don't have a lot of faith, because the country's political system as a whole has repeatedly proven that it doesn't deserve that faith. We are not a United States, that is a misnomer ... we are a country divided along political, racial, and economic lines. We are not United. If we want that, we need another Reagan or Kennedy or Roosevelt, someone to pull the country together rather than divide it further.

Again, perhaps Trump will prove me wrong in which case good for all of us and I'll happily say I was wrong and drink a toast to Mr. Trump's job well done ... but I think my liquor cabinet is safe for the moment."

So here it is four years later, and I was completely wrong; my liquor cabinet is severely depleted, as I drank more due to Trump's presidency and the country's state of affairs than I ever have before. And I don't mean that in a good way!