Carlton officiated my wedding back in 2012 at the UUC in Arlington, VA.John A Arkansawyer wrote:Well, here's some good news. I don't know him well, but he's a good guy so far as I've seen:
The next representative from the First Congressional District of the great state of Mississippi, the Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith wrote:Good morning, friends! It's true: I'm a registered candidate for Mississippi's First Congressional District. I'm excited about this campaign and the support that I've received from y'all already.
The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Moderators: Jonicont, mark lynn, Maluca3, Tequila Cowboy, BigTom, CooleyGirl, olwiggum
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Tumble down shack in Bigfoot County
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Sorry, I'm late to this party, but this needs to be corrected. The USSR started out bad and got worse. Lenin was not the benevolent dictator trying to good he is sometimes portrayed as. He attempted to collectivise the nations agricultural sector, resulting in the murder of thousands of peasants who saw the only things they had (a filthy shack and a couple of cows) being taken from them and then saw themselves labelled as class traitors. Lenin was as brutal as Stalin.John A Arkansawyer wrote:My point exactly. The USSR started out trying to do good and, after considerable internal turmoil and leadership changes, ended up with Stalin. It took about twenty years for the whole enterprise to go completely south. Compare that to the speed and directness with which Nazism got there.Iowan wrote:
Only one of those two social movements intended mass murder and genocide.
As to the USSR not engaging in mass murder or Genocide, perhaps they didn't industrialise it as well as the Nazis, but the Ukrainian famine of the 30s, the pogroms of the western states Jewish populations in the 20s, Stalin's repeated terrors and the abolition of private sphere of life and the network of Gulags speak otherwise.
The USSR was exactly as evil as Nazi Germany, it just lasted longer and went after thought instead of race.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
There was a lot of brutality in the Russian Revolution, just like there was brutality under the system they overthrew. It began as an ugly situation. It's a rare revolution that doesn't. I don't excuse the brutality and I don't see how the Soviets could have avoided it. It's certainly nothing to cheer for. But again, collectivization was supposed to work out. It wasn't a pretext hiding an intention to kill peasants. It fucked up and killed them. That doesn't matter to the dead person, usually. It does matter if you're trying to deal with the system that commits a heinous act. I'd rather deal with a system that kills by fucking up than a system that kills by working as intended.disgruntledgoat wrote:Sorry, I'm late to this party, but this needs to be corrected. The USSR started out bad and got worse. Lenin was not the benevolent dictator trying to good he is sometimes portrayed as. He attempted to collectivise the nations agricultural sector, resulting in the murder of thousands of peasants who saw the only things they had (a filthy shack and a couple of cows) being taken from them and then saw themselves labelled as class traitors. Lenin was as brutal as Stalin.
It's very strange to me to write words like that. I spent most of my time on the left despising the Soviets, from my teen years on, and for good reasons, many of which you noted in your post. It's only in their absence, in a world gone way out of balance, that I have any use for them. Maybe it's that I've gotten older and more conservative. Or maybe it's that I've encountered head on the incredible difficulty of getting anything done in this world over the years, and have learned to cut a lot more slack for people who compromise themselves to get shit done. Like Joni says, "Things that you held high and told yourself were true, lost or changing as the days come down to you."
The sooner we put those assholes in the grave&piss on the dirt above it, the better off we'll be
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Wow. Trump just pardoned Joe Arpaio, who is, quite plainly, a racist asshole. I mean, at this point, do we really need to question the President's racial motivation?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/president- ... joe-arpaio
http://www.thedailybeast.com/president- ... joe-arpaio
Love each other, Motherfuckers!
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
pearlbeer wrote:Wow. Trump just pardoned Joe Arpaio, who is, quite plainly, a racist asshole. I mean, at this point, do we really need to question the President's racial motivation?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/president- ... joe-arpaio
It's a sad fucking day to be an american. I think everyone knew this was coming but it still stings.
Keep calm and have a cigar
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
A Category 4 Hurricane is currently hitting my friends, in my state. Over 30 counties have already been declared a disaster area. Then this racist orange fucker goes and fucking pardons a racist human rights abuser that openly defied a high court ruling for years.pearlbeer wrote:Wow. Trump just pardoned Joe Arpaio, who is, quite plainly, a racist asshole. I mean, at this point, do we really need to question the President's racial motivation?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/president- ... joe-arpaio
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the garage drinking beer and listening to this song all damn night. Fuck. I didn't ever want to have to even think about the country reliving this song. And it ain't getting better.
Love each other, Motherfuckers!
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
For some reason "Perfect Timing" comes to mind.pearlbeer wrote:A Category 4 Hurricane is currently hitting my friends, in my state. Over 30 counties have already been declared a disaster area. Then this racist orange fucker goes and fucking pardons a racist human rights abuser that openly defied a high court ruling for years.pearlbeer wrote:Wow. Trump just pardoned Joe Arpaio, who is, quite plainly, a racist asshole. I mean, at this point, do we really need to question the President's racial motivation?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/president- ... joe-arpaio
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the garage drinking beer and listening to this song all damn night. Fuck. I didn't ever want to have to even think about the country reliving this song. And it ain't getting better.
and that pussy Alec Baldwin blew that girl away, and speaking of pussy Steve got it all!
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
"Perfect Timing" needs to worm its way back into the setlist.
Now it's dark.
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
can't figure out how to post an image of this tweet, but all credit goes to @asmith83 (Adam Smith-- no, not THAT Adam Smith )
Trans soldiers willing to die for our country: bad
Racist sheriff who broke the law: good.
Trans soldiers willing to die for our country: bad
Racist sheriff who broke the law: good.
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
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I am intrigued by David Brooks's column in today's NYT. He's somewhere between forgetful, misguided and wrong on the recent history of the Republican Party and I have no knowledge of or feel for the internal dynamics of the GOP, but whatever one thinks of the details Brooks makes some important observations about the nature of conservatism, the consequences of making decisions based solely on political expediency and the evolving, and toxic, nature of white identity politics. In particular the latter touches on some of the observations made here by lotus a few weeks ago.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/29/opin ... d=39564728
While tangential to both his argument and my reasons for making this post, the cited factoid that 48% of Republicans believe there is a lot of discrimination against Christians in this country is mind boggling to me. The only explanation I can think of is that "discrimination" means different things to different people. But let me ask those of you who might have first hand experience: Do Christians not get jobs or housing or credit because of their religious beliefs? Do Christians get stopped by the police while driving because of their religion? These are serious questions; I'd really like to understand what this is about.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/29/opin ... d=39564728
While tangential to both his argument and my reasons for making this post, the cited factoid that 48% of Republicans believe there is a lot of discrimination against Christians in this country is mind boggling to me. The only explanation I can think of is that "discrimination" means different things to different people. But let me ask those of you who might have first hand experience: Do Christians not get jobs or housing or credit because of their religious beliefs? Do Christians get stopped by the police while driving because of their religion? These are serious questions; I'd really like to understand what this is about.
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Hurricane Harvey is the best thing to happen to Trump since the day he was elected.
If you don't run you rust
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
There is a subset of self-identifying Christians (one I would have pegged at much lower than 48%, but here we are) who believe that any act by government aimed at keeping their faith from being dominant in society is "oppression" or "discrimination". Removal of the Ten Commandments from court houses, no school prayer, red coffee cups at Starbucks, this is all a War on Christianity[tm]. Telling them that they can't deny goods and services to other groups of people based on their biblical values is oppression. They are lead by a gaggle of local, state and national legislators who author "Religious Freedom" laws that are really "Christians can do what we want and fuck everyone else" laws.beantownbubba wrote:
While tangential to both his argument and my reasons for making this post, the cited factoid that 48% of Republicans believe there is a lot of discrimination against Christians in this country is mind boggling to me. The only explanation I can think of is that "discrimination" means different things to different people. But let me ask those of you who might have first hand experience: Do Christians not get jobs or housing or credit because of their religious beliefs? Do Christians get stopped by the police while driving because of their religion? These are serious questions; I'd really like to understand what this is about.
So, bubba, the next time you suggest that a cake shop owner is an asshole because she won't make a cake for a gay wedding, just remember, YOU are the real oppressor
And I knew when I woke up Rock N Roll would be here forever
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Oh. OK. The "war on Christianity" I get (meaning I'm familiar w/ the argument, not that I agree w/ it). I didn't realize that was the same as "discrimination." Thanks for clearing that up.Zip City wrote:There is a subset of self-identifying Christians (one I would have pegged at much lower than 48%, but here we are) who believe that any act by government aimed at keeping their faith from being dominant in society is "oppression" or "discrimination". Removal of the Ten Commandments from court houses, no school prayer, red coffee cups at Starbucks, this is all a War on Christianity[tm]. Telling them that they can't deny goods and services to other groups of people based on their biblical values is oppression. They are lead by a gaggle of local, state and national legislators who author "Religious Freedom" laws that are really "Christians can do what we want and fuck everyone else" laws.beantownbubba wrote:
While tangential to both his argument and my reasons for making this post, the cited factoid that 48% of Republicans believe there is a lot of discrimination against Christians in this country is mind boggling to me. The only explanation I can think of is that "discrimination" means different things to different people. But let me ask those of you who might have first hand experience: Do Christians not get jobs or housing or credit because of their religious beliefs? Do Christians get stopped by the police while driving because of their religion? These are serious questions; I'd really like to understand what this is about.
So, bubba, the next time you suggest that a cake shop owner is an asshole because she won't make a cake for a gay wedding, just remember, YOU are the real oppressor
Yep.Clams wrote:Hurricane Harvey is the best thing to happen to Trump since the day he was elected.
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
How so? t's a Republican state with a Republican governor so thus far the reaction to his response has been favorable but there is going to be a lot of suffering and already badly taxed Federal agencies are likely not up for the long term task of rebuilding. It may be a distraction for now but it will become yet another albatross within three weeks from today. Mark my words.Clams wrote:Hurricane Harvey is the best thing to happen to Trump since the day he was elected.
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Because he's no longer the focus of 100% of the news on TV, cable, the internet, newspapers, etc. The disaster has replaced him as the big story.Tequila Cowboy wrote:How so? t's a Republican state with a Republican governor so thus far the reaction to his response has been favorable but there is going to be a lot of suffering and already badly taxed Federal agencies are likely not up for the long term task of rebuilding. It may be a distraction for now but it will become yet another albatross within three weeks from today. Mark my words.Clams wrote:Hurricane Harvey is the best thing to happen to Trump since the day he was elected.
If you don't run you rust
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Agreed. As a matter of fact the new bombshell emails between Trump officials and the Russians that recently surfaced have barely been covered.Clams wrote: Because he's no longer the focus of 100% of the news on TV, cable, the internet, newspapers, etc. The disaster has replaced him as the big story.
Turn you demons into walls of goddamned noise and sound.
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OK, I get that but it's for a few days and those things are over covered in the first place. The people that know those things are a big deal also know that the investigation will take months if not years and the other people wouldn't believe them in the first place. So temporary cover? Sure. When FEMA scrambles next week and there are no resources for the next storm? Well he might not like it so much. I get what you're saying though.brett27295 wrote:Agreed. As a matter of fact the new bombshell emails between Trump officials and the Russians that recently surfaced have barely been covered.Clams wrote: Because he's no longer the focus of 100% of the news on TV, cable, the internet, newspapers, etc. The disaster has replaced him as the big story.
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
beantownbubba wrote:48% of Republicans believe there is a lot of discrimination against Christians in this country
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Trump addressing a gathering in Houston: "What a crowd! What a turnout!"
Jesus Hopping Christ, this isn't a fucking rally, you dick face. This is a natural disaster. Quit making it about YOU
Jesus Hopping Christ, this isn't a fucking rally, you dick face. This is a natural disaster. Quit making it about YOU
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Orangey, you're doin' a heckuva jobZip City wrote:Trump addressing a gathering in Houston: "What a crowd! What a turnout!"
Jesus Hopping Christ, this isn't a fucking rally, you dick face. This is a natural disaster. Quit making it about YOU
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
On Melania's shoes:
I get it. If you're a Trump fan or if you think snowflakes/liberals/Democrats have gone off the deep end, complaining about Melania's choice in footwear sounds like Exhibit A. What could be more unimportant, more petty, more flat out ridiculous?
I saw "the picture" on its own w/ just a vanilla headline along the lines of "the president and first lady board marine 1 to begin their trip to Texas" and at that point I had not seen any of the responses to the picture nor had I heard anything about the kerfuffle. My immediate, visceral reaction was somewhere between surprise and disgust. It just was and that's the truth. I'm no fashion maven, I don't follow fashion, read about it, care about it, spend money on it, notice it (unless there's nudity involved) or anything else. Yet the first thing I saw when I looked at the picture was Melania's shoes and the first thing I thought was how inappropriate and how removed from reality they were.
Of course the fuss has become too great, too disproportionate. At this point that's simply the way the media/internet/social media are about everything and it's neither a measurement of anything nor a reason to dismiss (or accept) the underlying point. All I can say is that based on my own reaction I know that at least some of the negative reaction is legit.
I get it. If you're a Trump fan or if you think snowflakes/liberals/Democrats have gone off the deep end, complaining about Melania's choice in footwear sounds like Exhibit A. What could be more unimportant, more petty, more flat out ridiculous?
I saw "the picture" on its own w/ just a vanilla headline along the lines of "the president and first lady board marine 1 to begin their trip to Texas" and at that point I had not seen any of the responses to the picture nor had I heard anything about the kerfuffle. My immediate, visceral reaction was somewhere between surprise and disgust. It just was and that's the truth. I'm no fashion maven, I don't follow fashion, read about it, care about it, spend money on it, notice it (unless there's nudity involved) or anything else. Yet the first thing I saw when I looked at the picture was Melania's shoes and the first thing I thought was how inappropriate and how removed from reality they were.
Of course the fuss has become too great, too disproportionate. At this point that's simply the way the media/internet/social media are about everything and it's neither a measurement of anything nor a reason to dismiss (or accept) the underlying point. All I can say is that based on my own reaction I know that at least some of the negative reaction is legit.
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
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Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
what about Trump sporting the new cap that coincidentally just went on sale at his website?beantownbubba wrote:On Melania's shoes:
I get it. If you're a Trump fan or if you think snowflakes/liberals/Democrats have gone off the deep end, complaining about Melania's choice in footwear sounds like Exhibit A. What could be more unimportant, more petty, more flat out ridiculous?
I saw "the picture" on its own w/ just a vanilla headline along the lines of "the president and first lady board marine 1 to begin their trip to Texas" and at that point I had not seen any of the responses to the picture nor had I heard anything about the kerfuffle. My immediate, visceral reaction was somewhere between surprise and disgust. It just was and that's the truth. I'm no fashion maven, I don't follow fashion, read about it, care about it, spend money on it, notice it (unless there's nudity involved) or anything else. Yet the first thing I saw when I looked at the picture was Melania's shoes and the first thing I thought was how inappropriate and how removed from reality they were.
Of course the fuss has become too great, too disproportionate. At this point that's simply the way the media/internet/social media are about everything and it's neither a measurement of anything nor a reason to dismiss (or accept) the underlying point. All I can say is that based on my own reaction I know that at least some of the negative reaction is legit.
I guess we do have to give Melania credit for NOT wearing a hat that said FLOATUS
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did you notice that once they got to Texas she no longer had on the heels, she had switched to some sneakers? I assume that someone suggested to her that maybe those weren't the most appropriate shows for where she was going
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Wasn't Ed Sullivan the one who said something about really big shoeswhatwouldcooleydo? wrote:did you notice that once they got to Texas she no longer had on the heels, she had switched to some sneakers? I assume that someone suggested to her that maybe those weren't the most appropriate shows for where she was going
and that pussy Alec Baldwin blew that girl away, and speaking of pussy Steve got it all!
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I think it was Bob LanierSwamp wrote:Wasn't Ed Sullivan the one who said something about really big shoeswhatwouldcooleydo? wrote:did you notice that once they got to Texas she no longer had on the heels, she had switched to some sneakers? I assume that someone suggested to her that maybe those weren't the most appropriate shows for where she was going
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Gotta be honest, I don't give a fuck about her shoes. When I first saw the picture I kind of rolled my eyes but in the generally scheme of things it just doesn't matter.
Turn you demons into walls of goddamned noise and sound.
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
I hate Trump, but seriously, bitching about her shoes is just the most absurd nit to pick.
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Melania's only function in life is to look good, which she obviously manages quite well. She's like a high-fashion super-model cyborg, constructed by a top secret robotics team in Europe to make all men envious of Donald and to make all women weep from inferiority. Her choice of footwear, as well as her absence of practicality and empathy which said footwear reflects in this particular situation, should not be surprising. Just another absurd and tone-deaf day at the office for Team Trump. Nothing to see here...
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A-fucking-men.Iowan wrote:I hate Trump, but seriously, bitching about her shoes is just the most absurd nit to pick.
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
I think the shoes are pretty symbolic, actually.
Lately, there have been several documentaries broadcast to commemorate Princess Diana on the 20th year of her passing. Her commitment to philanthropy and altruism was pretty amazing and I guess that's why they called her "The People's Princess." Her willingness act in such a way as to engage in physical contact with people who were homeless or ill, specifically hugging AIDS patients and holding babies suffering from AIDS during a time when many people were terrified to do so, to demonstrate that one wouldn't contract the disease through a hug, or to walk through a mine field, to name a fraction of her charitable involvements, made her an amazing role model of kindness, compassion and action.
She'd show up, in flat shoes and sensible (but stylish) clothes and get stuff done.
When I juxtapose that image against the image of Milania Trump showing up at disaster zone, I sense a few different things: She isn't actually interested in getting involved or helping and she doesn't actually give a damn about people and I find it particularly pathetic that she doesn't even know that she should, at the very least, pretend to care or go through the motions of looking like she wants to help.
I also think that this kind of thing belies her husband's perspective and approach to people and suffering.
Lately, there have been several documentaries broadcast to commemorate Princess Diana on the 20th year of her passing. Her commitment to philanthropy and altruism was pretty amazing and I guess that's why they called her "The People's Princess." Her willingness act in such a way as to engage in physical contact with people who were homeless or ill, specifically hugging AIDS patients and holding babies suffering from AIDS during a time when many people were terrified to do so, to demonstrate that one wouldn't contract the disease through a hug, or to walk through a mine field, to name a fraction of her charitable involvements, made her an amazing role model of kindness, compassion and action.
She'd show up, in flat shoes and sensible (but stylish) clothes and get stuff done.
When I juxtapose that image against the image of Milania Trump showing up at disaster zone, I sense a few different things: She isn't actually interested in getting involved or helping and she doesn't actually give a damn about people and I find it particularly pathetic that she doesn't even know that she should, at the very least, pretend to care or go through the motions of looking like she wants to help.
I also think that this kind of thing belies her husband's perspective and approach to people and suffering.
His facial expression is terrifying. He's basically the equine Chucky.