American Politics

[CheckMate1]

You just know the hard Right Wingers at RealClearPolitics just hated to have to do this today:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/

With 270 Electoral College Votes to win:

In 2016, you saw the momentum in the swing states going toward Trump. Dems wished that it wasn't true, but the number kept going away from Hilary, even with access hollywood and so on.

July 21,2024 is the marker for the momentum shifts. And for over 5 weeks, it hasn't stopped. If you look at voter registrations, Trump pretty much idle and Harris has continued to grow. Group between 18-29 is up 20% over 2020, break that out to women 18-29 group and you have well over 100%. When I wrote about FL, I noticed that about 25% of registered voters do not vote. So an additional 15% of voters 18-29 that's significant, and may not be included in the pollings. So that's on the excitement of candidate Harris.

Then you have abortion on the ballots of 8 states, and 3 states are pending. 2 of which are in Montana and FL, Reps have lossed in even the ruby red states on this issue. What is interesting to me is does the increase in turnouts bleed into the senate races? MT and FL will likely be for Trump, but will it help Scott or Tester? Same prediction as before, if Dems get vote registrations to match or surpass 2020 FL, Trump will lose (narrowest of margins) and Scott is blown out.

[SubCmdr]

There are two sides to all markets, the buyers and the sellers

I find it interesting that no one ever deals with the demand side of the US drug market. If citizens of the United States of America were not demanding drugs and willing to pay for them in huge quantities there would be no drug problem now would it.

The problem is driven by the huge inequalities of wealth and income because the United States of America is a Plutocracy. Keeping the majority of the population dumbed down and drugged up works for the money classes in the United States of America. Especially since AI and robotics will create huge displacements in the current workforce. They are not also not interested in actually solving the problem from the demand side because the war on drugs is good for business. Incarceration is good for business. Incarceration allow the moneyed classes to target those groups they want less of because they themselves are not having enough babies to replace their own population. As demographic change, the revolution with not be televised.

Poor assumptions to what is a market.

If we shut down the border, pooffff, no more drug problems. If we catch ALL of the dealers, no more problems. If we decriminalize, that will solve the problem.

Reality is we have consumers (demand) and dealers (supply) legal and illegal. If the demand continues to rise, there will be suppliers. One reason why the border closing and arresting the dealers will not work is that the "NEXT guy" will step in to fill the void, whether starting up a meth lab in MEX or USA, or importing fentanyl through EU, ASIA, SA or even CAN. Silly to scapegoat MEX, even if it is the largest CURRENTLY.

What may work:

1. Bend the demand curve (Article of Portugal).

2. For less harmful drugs such as weeds, magic mushrooms, and natural products allow for home cultivation. You know, we've been chasing suppliers for more than 40 years, results are not good. This will bend the supply curve. And the suppliers (cartels) will, A. Try to shut down home operations or B. Get out of a non profitable business.

Drugs war we have been fighting is on too many fronts. There are serious issues and trivial ones, taking on ALL fronts and always from a chasing standpoint haven't worked, try something else.

[EihTooms]

You just know the hard Right Wingers at RealClearPolitics just hated to have to do this today:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/

With 270 Electoral College Votes to win:

[Iguana Six]

Interesting. So few Dem departures it is easy to remember and cite each one by name.


https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ove...mply-untenable

It appears that the poor general failed to secure a lucrative job with a defense contractor or think tank, and is now sending his resume to the Harris transition team. He could be hoping to be the next Secretary of the Army, Secretary of Defense, National Security Advisor, or Homeland Security Secretary.

[CheckMate1]

Your 4-Step plan is pretty much plucked right outta the Repub handbook and it still hasn't worked, since Reagan took office some 40+ years ago, and trotted out his Repub proclamation on "The War on Colored People", Ahem...pardon me, I mean, "The War on Drugs".

This so called plan of his (and yet another "war on smth...", put forth by Repubs), hasn't done "shit" to solve America's drug problem, in 40+ years. (Hint: At first, drugs was just a pretext, until it wasn't and drug addition infected the greater community at large!)

Yes, whether wittingly or unwittingly, the drug wars, have unintentionally, exacerbate matters and arguably did spread the problem, from Main Street to Wall Street, from lower to middle and upper-class America, where it also insidiously persists, unchecked, today, by the "heavy hand" of the law.

You see, much like the CIA, throughout the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's flooding the streets of America, with everything from LSD, heroine, cocaine and crack cocaine, today we see the pharmaceuticals and big drug companies, largely responsible for the opioid epidemic and the deaths of +1 million Americans. And Repubs calling for "A War on Tent Cities" and yet no sign of the "heavy hand" of law enforcement, carting-off any of the rich CEOs, execs, company big-wigs or opioid profiteers to jail. Why is that do you think?

Since opioids and fentanyl are drugs that can be synthesized from common industrial chemicals, drug cartels (and local copycats) are finding new creative ways and chemistries to get around the "precursors" for fentanyl type opioids. For border security to identify and search, for fentanyl let alone all of the increasing everyday common industrial chemicals, used in making fentanyl, is a proving to be rather difficult and perhaps even a bridge too far. Personally, I don't believe the Republican hype and propaganda about, "shutting down the border to stop the flow of fentanyl", will do much, other than to have the appearance of "doing something."

Poor assumptions to what is a market.

If we shut down the border, pooffff, no more drug problems. If we catch ALL of the dealers, no more problems. If we decriminalize, that will solve the problem.

Reality is we have consumers (demand) and dealers (supply) legal and illegal. If the demand continues to rise, there will be suppliers. One reason why the border closing and arresting the dealers will not work is that the "NEXT guy" will step in to fill the void, whether starting up a meth lab in MEX or USA, or importing fentanyl through EU, ASIA, SA or even CAN. Silly to scapegoat MEX, even if it is the largest CURRENTLY.

What may work:

1. Bend the demand curve (Article of Portugal).

2. For less harmful drugs such as weeds, magic mushrooms, and natural products allow for home cultivation. You know, we've been chasing suppliers for more than 40 years, results are not good. This will bend the supply curve. And the suppliers (cartels) will, A. Try to shut down home operations or B. Get out of a non profitable business.

Drugs war we have been fighting is on too many fronts. There are serious issues and trivial ones, taking on ALL fronts and always from a chasing standpoint haven't worked, try something else.

[CheckMate1]

I hope everyone reads this article from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, same one that Trump always tout.

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/...snt-so-simple/

Portugal has a good start on how it can be done.

Excerpt:

Francisco Rodriguez, president of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists, demonstrated this by noting, "You cannot work with people when they're afraid of being caught and going to prison. It's not possible to have an effective health program if people are hiding the problem. ".

[Spidy]

See'Mon., don't twist my post with that word jiu jitsu shit LOL.

Thanks! Being a big fan of most all things Brazilian, the Jiu Jitsu comparison I find flattering. Since its introduction to mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting by the Gracies, it has revolutionized the sport. But I digress!

I never said being poor was a crime. Most of those people in tents living on the sidewalks in front of people's homes and businesses are not just poor. Majority are irresponsible drug addicts who are also criminals. I see it everyday bro. And to the small percenatge that are just people who are down on their luck, absolutely my heart goes out to them. My heart goes out to the people who got hooked on drugs as well. But you can't allow that to happen to a city.

Yeah, I see shit everyday too...brother! But feelings aside, do you have any real stats, that the majority of the homeless are criminals, to back that up? Other than I should just take your word for it?

In 2019, the U.S. had more opioid deaths than the rest of the world combined. Why aren't other countries shutting down borders to solve the fentanyl problem? And who is buying all this fentanyl. Surely the poor and poverty stricken, can't be buying this much fentanyl? And whatever the reason your friend found their way into a drug problem, it would be nice if everyone is afforded the same level of dignity and understanding. For centuries Bible-thumpers, have been saying they can't let prostitution happen to their city...and yet here we are, centuries later.

Step 1: Secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl.

Step 2: More funding for police and social services to remove the tents, criminals, and drug addicts from public places.

Step 3: Harsher laws for criminals.

Step 4: Strengthen economy and fight inflation so everyone has opportunity to earn money for themselves so they don't end up in desperate situations. Strong economy also means more tax dollars for social services.

Your 4-Step plan is pretty much plucked right outta the Repub handbook and it still hasn't worked, since Reagan took office some 40+ years ago, and trotted out his Repub proclamation on "The War on Colored People", Ahem...pardon me, I mean, "The War on Drugs".

This so called plan of his (and yet another "war on smth...", put forth by Repubs), hasn't done "shit" to solve America's drug problem, in 40+ years. (Hint: At first, drugs was just a pretext, until it wasn't and drug addition infected the greater community at large!)

Yes, whether wittingly or unwittingly, the drug wars, have unintentionally, exacerbate matters and arguably did spread the problem, from Main Street to Wall Street, from lower to middle and upper-class America, where it also insidiously persists, unchecked, today, by the "heavy hand" of the law.

You see, much like the CIA, throughout the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's flooding the streets of America, with everything from LSD, heroine, cocaine and crack cocaine, today we see the pharmaceuticals and big drug companies, largely responsible for the opioid epidemic and the deaths of +1 million Americans. And Repubs calling for "A War on Tent Cities" and yet no sign of the "heavy hand" of law enforcement, carting-off any of the rich CEOs, execs, company big-wigs or opioid profiteers to jail. Why is that do you think?

Since opioids and fentanyl are drugs that can be synthesized from common industrial chemicals, drug cartels (and local copycats) are finding new creative ways and chemistries to get around the "precursors" for fentanyl type opioids. For border security to identify and search, for fentanyl let alone all of the increasing everyday common industrial chemicals, used in making fentanyl, is a proving to be rather difficult and perhaps even a bridge too far. Personally, I don't believe the Republican hype and propaganda about, "shutting down the border to stop the flow of fentanyl", will do much, other than to have the appearance of "doing something."

Repubs record on social services:

Well you'd be the first Repub, to advocate for funding social services or social assistant programs, since we all know Repubs have denied, thieved, pilfered, stolen or clawed back, any notion or hint of government assistance for Americans at or below the poverty line. But never a problem when millionaires and billionaire stick their hands out, right!

So when it comes to social services, assistance or help, Repubs have always done, what Repubs do best, and provided the best "lip service" imaginable, that cost absolutely nothing to provide, as you've nicely highlighted in STEPS 2 and 4.

Repubs record on Defund the Police:

The solution is definitely not "defund the police" and let drug addicts take over cities like they did in Seattle during the "summer of love" LOL, or just let riots breakout across the country where innocent businesses are burned to the ground and then pretend they are not rioters but peaceful protesters.

"Defund the police", is a vague slogan that means different things to different people. Let's just say Repubs have defunded the police, in more ways than you'd think and all to often just love to use law enforcement, as "the heavy hand of the law" (as you put it), as a hammer. When often times, all that's needed is a screwdriver. Just like any other branch of gov't, the citizens of a community have right to scrutinize, analyze and have input on how their taxes are used, especially if said services aren't benefiting their community.

So I submit, much like when the Republicans voted against the $350bn in funding for law enforcement (that Eihtooms reports on (below) here: http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...=1#post2940551), or when Repubs had the best bipartisan bill, Repubs had seen in decades, on U.S. border security and immigration, it was selfishly stuck down and kiboshed by Trump. Both are great examples of Repubs "soft selling", "defund the police", and wanting to keep up an air of fear, crime, panic and disorder, in order to use as campaign fodder.

As for "peaceful rioters", I hear that on Jan 6th, the insurrectionists, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, Three (3%) percenters, White Nationalists, bikers and skin heads, were all just out for a brief stroll on Capital Hill and a mini-tour of the Capital Building, when a coup and riot broke out, cops were killed, maimed and injured, all in pursuit of, what you Repubs, I believe called "...legitimate political discourse"(...kkkk!)

And by that same logic, I guess BLM, Seattle "summer of love" and other rioters (your words) around the country, pretending to be peaceful protesters are really just actively engaging in "...legitimate political discourse", when they riot, loot and burn businesses, right!

[EihTooms]

So tumors-- are you going to Canada when DJT becomes the 2024 president? I'm curious as to what you do for a job--You are so prolific -- You have a lot of time for your political screeds. I am impressed-- I mean you could compile these and send them to CNN maybe you could get a job there?

I doubt it ever takes up more than 15 minutes of my day to research and post the facts that thoroughly debunk the steady stream of Repub MAGA Winger lies I generally read here.

Which has served nicely as a brief mental and physical break from the steady stream of cute Thai girl BJs and Fucking, great food, entertainment, friendships, Real Girlfriend Experience, exploring, traveling and quite comfortable life I have been living work-free in retirement for the past 12+ years thanks to my great good fortune to have worked and invested in a Blue state and in an era when I benefitted from Dem potus economic policy and stewardship that produced such great gains for my retirement fund and plans that they even managed to override the disastrous Repub Crashes and Economic Declines that invariably occurred during those same decades whenever the American electorate was careless and foolish enough to allow Repubs to slither in to do it.

[EihTooms]

I was wrong, Media is covering former Republicans speaking out against Trump, but its the same crew from 2020. It is a bit concerning, I will give you that.

But seriously, there is no way in hell your going to convince me or anyone that is even 1% honest that Republicans started the defund the police campaign. That is total nonsense. Many of your posts are very good Tooms, even though I don't agree with them, but this is beneath you.

The point is, nobody in the Dem Party started a "Defund the Police" campaign. There never was one. It was a fabrication of Repubs and their loyal election campaign partners in Mainstream Media.

However, when it came down to actually funding, increasing and improving law enforcement presence where it is needed, you can always count on the Repub Party to object and reject it.

The same as they did when Repub Leader Trump ordered his Repub slaves in Congress to reject the tough, very conservative bi-partisan border control bill that included funding for more and better equiped border patrol police:

As conservatives balk, U.S. Border Patrol union endorses Senate immigration deal.
The National Border Patrol Council, which endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2020, said the new bipartisan bill "will drop illegal border crossings nationwide.".

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...ent-rcna137354

Senate Republicans block bipartisan border security deal.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/...security-deal/

It also would have provided $6.8 billion to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, $7.6 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $4 billion to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Altogether, it would have invested $20.2 billion in improving border security.

By stark contrast, while no Dem leadership started a "Defund the Police" campaign, the same can not be said for Repubs. Does the USA national police force and the Department of Justice count? I say it does:

Trumps call to defund DOJ, FBI puts Senate, House GOP at odds.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/...e-gop-at-odds/

No Country for Law Men: The GOP Votes to Defund the FBI.

https://www.newsweek.com/no-country-...pinion-1882085

If by now you are puzzled by why on Earth any cop or anyone else concerned about controling our borders and reducing crime would ever support and vote for a Repub over a Dem, join the club.

[Woodman09]

So tumors-- are you going to Canada when DJT becomes the 2024 president? I'm curious as to what you do for a job--You are so prolific -- You have a lot of time for your political screeds. I am impressed-- I mean you could compile these and send them to CNN maybe you could get a job there?

Oh my god. The ignorance and Revisionist History by Wingers is unbounded and dangerous:

Fact check: The GOPs dishonesty-filled barrage of defund the police attack ads.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/23/polit...rms/index.html

'Republicans are defunding the police: Fox News anchor stumps congressman.
Chris Wallace quizzes Jim Banks of Indiana on Fox News Sunday.
Biden: $350bn in bill opposed by GOP is for law enforcement.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...sman-jim-banks

They are now rehashing Repub MAGA Winger lies that have been debunked countless times FOR YEARS!

[CheckMate1]

See'Mon., don't twist my post with that word jiu jitsu shit LOL. I never said being poor was a crime. Most of those people in tents living on the sidewalks in front of people's homes and businesses are not just poor. Majority are irresponsible drug addicts who are also criminals. I see it everyday bro. And to the small percenatge that are just people who are down on their luck, absolutely my heart goes out to them. My heart goes out to the people who got hooked on drugs as well. But you can't allow that to happen to a city.

Step 1: Secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl.

Step 2: More funding for police and social services to remove the tents, criminals, and drug addicts from public places.

Step 3: Harsher laws for criminals.

Step 4: Strengthen economy and fight inflation so everyone has opportunity to earn money for themselves so they don't end up in desperate situations. Strong economy also means more tax dollars for social services.

The solution is definitely not "defund the police" and let drug addicts take over cities like they did in Seattle during the "summer of love" LOL, or just let riots breakout across the country where innocent businesses are burned to the ground and then pretend they are not rioters but peaceful protesters.

https://usafacts.org/articles/are-fe...ing-in-the-us/

Please show me where on the chart that it tells you that it was better under Trump administration.

Going from 20K to 70K is 3.5x; going from 70K to 73K is 4.3%. Is it high, yes. Is it a problem for our society, yes. From 2016 to 2020, it was ignored. Then the problem becomes so big that everyone has to notice it. And then you blame the next person for how high it has gotten, absolving the previous admin. We don't have current data for 23 and 24, but willing to bet that it is not 3X from 2021.

[RamDavidson84]

Oh my god. The ignorance and Revisionist History by Wingers is unbounded and dangerous:

Fact check: The GOPs dishonesty-filled barrage of defund the police attack ads.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/23/polit...rms/index.html

'Republicans are defunding the police: Fox News anchor stumps congressman.
Chris Wallace quizzes Jim Banks of Indiana on Fox News Sunday.
Biden: $350bn in bill opposed by GOP is for law enforcement.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...sman-jim-banks

They are now rehashing Repub MAGA Winger lies that have been debunked countless times FOR YEARS!

I was wrong, Media is covering former Republicans speaking out against Trump, but its the same crew from 2020. It is a bit concerning, I will give you that.

But seriously, there is no way in hell your going to convince me or anyone that is even 1% honest that Republicans started the defund the police campaign. That is total nonsense. Many of your posts are very good Tooms, even though I don't agree with them, but this is beneath you.

[The Cane]

Unprecedented to see political party members switch? You didn't notice Tulsi Gabbard and RFK jr? Just saying, it goes both ways. Those 200 people are no name nothings as well. I don't think its as big a deal as you make it out to be which is why no main stream media outlets have even covered it.

This situation is absolutely unprecedented due to the scope of it. It's not just a few one offs here and there. It's a lot! And I don't know which media outlets you follow, but this absolutely has been covered in the main stream media. And no name nothings? Just remember that at the end of the day all politics is local. Those "no name nothings" are going to be the ones who decide the winner in a close election. So, a candidate disrespects and dismisses them at their own peril.

[EihTooms]

Interesting. So few Dem departures it is easy to remember and cite each one by name.

Unprecedented to see political party members switch? You didn't notice Tulsi Gabbard and RFK jr? Just saying, it goes both ways. Those 200 people are no name nothings as well. I don't think its as big a deal as you make it out to be which is why no main stream media outlets have even covered it.

The hits just keep on comin'!

What's next?

"Carter ruined the economy and Reagan fixed it"?

"Nobody predicted a Pandemic. It just happened out of the blue"?

"Trump inherited a skyrocketing unemployment rate and his genius policies brought it down"?

"Biden caused more inflation than anybody by flooding more emergency Covid recovery money into Americans' pockets in 2020 than anyone since. Really. Look it up"?

"Violent crime rates are at record highs today under Biden"?

"We are in a Great Recession under Biden and the stock market has Crashed into a Bear Market, things that never happened under Trump"?

"We were better off 4 years ago than now"?

Why not? Could be fun.

More than 200 former Bush, McCain and Romney staffers endorse Harris.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-...-romney-staff/

More than 200 former Bush, McCain and Romney staffers endorse Harris.
The alumni of the three Republican presidential nominees sought to reiterate their opposition to Trump's 2020 re-election in an open letter.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...ris-rcna168363

More than 200 former Republican presidential staffers sign open letter endorsing Harris over Trump.
More than 200 staffers for four previous Republican presidential nominees have endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris' White House bid.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wire...tter-113188280

More than 200 former Republican presidential staffers sign open letter endorsing Harris over Trump.

https://apnews.com/article/kamala-ha...6b3e1e126edbc9

More than 200 Bush, McCain, Romney alums endorse Harris for president, criticize Trump.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...4/74947380007/

More Than 200 Former Republican Presidential Staffers Sign Open Letter Endorsing Harris Over Trump.
More than 200 staffers for four previous Republican presidential nominees have endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris' White House bid.

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics...ris-over-trump

Perhaps your favorite one:

Over 200 former Bush, McCain, Romney staffers endorse Harris: 'The alternative ... is simply untenable'.
An open letter calls on 'moderate Republicans and conservative independents' to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ove...mply-untenable

[EihTooms]

Oh my god. The ignorance and Revisionist History by Wingers is unbounded and dangerous:

Fact check: The GOPs dishonesty-filled barrage of defund the police attack ads.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/23/polit...rms/index.html

Pelosi said in February that defunding the police is not the position of the Democratic Party and said in 2020 that from the standpoint of our legislation, were not going to that place. During Pelosis tenure as House speaker under President Joe Biden, Democrats have passed policing reform legislation, not defunding legislation. In fact, they have passed legislation that provides additional funding to police.

'Republicans are defunding the police: Fox News anchor stumps congressman.
Chris Wallace quizzes Jim Banks of Indiana on Fox News Sunday.
Biden: $350bn in bill opposed by GOP is for law enforcement.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...sman-jim-banks

The Fox News anchor Chris Wallace made headlines of his own on Sunday, by pointing out to a senior Republican that he and the rest of his party recently voted against $350bn in funding for law enforcement.

They are now rehashing Repub MAGA Winger lies that have been debunked countless times FOR YEARS!