Whether you believe in God or not, I am here to tell you that we should consider ourselves blessed that the national political conventions of our two parties are held only once every four years. The word bacchanalia is appropriate to describe every single one of them.
I am hopey changeyied up and am still Ridin’ With Biden.The people most importantly, the women, are going to carry this thing for Biden/Harris.Mark my words.
Jul 20·edited Jul 20Liked by Lucian K. Truscott IV
From your lips to the universe's ears...
I too am all-in for Biden, but I fear the tide against him is starting to look unstoppable. He has seemingly lost Pelosi, Schumer, Obama, not to mention the big bundlers. It breaks my heart.
This campaign to ditch Biden began long before the disastrous debate, with Carville declaring months ago that Biden would not be the candidate, and the non-stop NYTimes smears going back to last year. This morning the first article on nytimes.com carried the headline "Secluded in Delaware, Biden Stews at Allies' Pressure to Drop Out of the Race", an item more worthy of Liz Smith than the Grey Lady.
We've always known that dark forces were at work in the Republican party. They've crawled out of the woodwork to be on full display for the past four days, ugh.
What we didn't know (or wish to consider) is that there are dark forces conspiring in the Democratic party as well.
I've marked your words, and am praying to who/whatever will listen that you're right!
As Long as Biden does not act like he is supporting Trump and Putin I can ignore these big names you mention, none of whom has run the country as well as Biden. Obama shocks me. He fence sat when he was a local politician in my neighborhood about an issue that was extremely important to our very political community. That is how I always viewed him as a people pleaser and a fence sitter. Would he have won without Biden by his side? I don't know. But I do not see who can replace Biden, I also think he is the best president in my lifetime and why would I want to give that up a moment sooner. Here is an analysis of an NORC poll. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/7/17/2255111/-So-Two-Thirds-of-us-want-Biden-to-drop-out-Huh?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web
No one I know responds to online requests for information, so who is in their sample? People who are less careful about giving out personal information. Does not mean that they are likely voters, or even who they say they are. How many Russian bots are weighing in on these polls? Should be suspicious when the outcome favors Trump who has mostly very unpopular policies, and Putin, who needs to win in Ukraine. He is less likely to with Biden than Trump. However, polling shows that Project 2025 is unpopular with Dems, the big issues being Education and Abortion. Seems like natural themes for the Dems to be talking about. https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/50035-what-americans-think-about-project-2025
If we inform the people on the issues, one person at a time, we will prevail.
We don't know which of the funders of Obamas monstrosity of a "Library" which was opposed by many in the neighborhood for a lot of reasons, may be pulling his strings. I would say all of them have donors who are pushing them out there and they lost sight of what the party is supposed to stand for.
I'm curious too. My best guess is that they want us to rely on THEM and them only. And they see many of us drifting toward other sources of information. This worries them because we grassroots types do most of the work.
Hey, Linda. The Daily Kos has a paywall attached that does not allow me to read it. Up to my eyeballs in paid subscriptions elsewhere, so with regret, I will have to pass on this one. But nonetheless, I am spreading the word for Joe and Kamala where I can!
Yes,I am with you on the Daily Kos.I too am plumb full when it comes to paid subscriptions.I will continue to keep myself informed and try to aid others too.
I've never encountered a paywall at Daily Kos. The only limitation I've experienced is that, just as with substack, you can't 'like' a comment on the article or make your own comment.
Jul 20·edited Jul 20Liked by Lucian K. Truscott IV
"Seemingly" is the operative word about the Big Names. We don't know anything about the "leakers." We don't know if they are being accurately quoted, we don't know the context of what they are saying, we don't know the context of what they are HEARING. We don't know how much the "snowball effect" is influencing those who are openly calling for Biden to drop out. And we don't have anyone giving a reasoned discussion of the alternative they have in mind. We are hanging our future and that of our children and grandchildren on rumors.
"Dark forces" = big donors. I would love love love to see the donors' list behind Schiff, Pelosi, Schumer, et al. (esp. Schiff -- running for Senate from California is expensive, and he was rolling in $$$ in the primary).
His real name is Terry, if my memory is correct I worked on a film that he stared in, probably late 80’s. He was pleasant enough, I used to run into him in Thousand Oaks and usually in the video rental store. He always wore that skin tight clothing, from the looks of him way too many steroids, they seem to have affected his mind 🤷♂️
And how many of the oh so holy rollers there have actually listened to his song Cowboy, which is a plea to respect women, to embrace all races and to be sober… wait a minute … I need to retract and restate like Nate Silver did … never mind… the “straight out the trailer guy” is just a spoiled brat from the Detroit ‘burbs who actually spews the racist, misogynist drug addled crap that I am sure Billy Graham’s spoiled brat fake “minister” kid (Kid Rot) believes deep down in his dark, empty, soulless heart… just sayin’
Gay curious men break their cherry at the Rethug convention? That's just hysterically funny. What if they like it? What happens then? Do they become more inclusive ? I have no words.
Jul 20·edited Jul 20Liked by Lucian K. Truscott IV
Nope, they retreat into a closet. For more inside info on gay evangelists...way long time ago, Molly Ivins recommended a book written by a young man, from a family of solid, long-time Pentecosts. He desperately wanted to become a Pentecostal preacher and he pursued this dream until he discovered he was gay. The name of the book is 'Strange Angel--the World According to Benny Joe" and it is an excellent memoir of what it was (and still is, no doubt) like to grow up gay in the perfervid Pentecost culture, deep in Texas. It was both funny and heart-breaking. The man who wrote the book, Ben Davis, has since passed away but the book is still available on Amazon.
Jul 20·edited Jul 20Liked by Lucian K. Truscott IV
I would suggest to the Biden/Harris campaign that they embrace all these "famous" gay people on the right, calling them by name, and telling them that their rights will continue to be protected in a Biden administration!
Itʼs great weʼre all still alive and living in the best place in the world, with, I should say, the best weather in the world. Of course, weʼre not still all alive, but pretty good. Married 44 years! I regret to say, Glenn hasnʼt changed, although no more drinking or drugs.
You were at the last reunion? I didnʼt see you. Weʼre not going this year. The music last time was awful! Iʼd like to see Kevin Wallace, though. Glennʼs only been straight 27 years! Youʼve got to love it--apparently Trumpʼs campaign organization doesnʼt pay outer area security because they donʼt think anything will happen to him, so his ear injury is on him. Oh, well....Take care....
I was there. I agree about the music! Not going either. I think there may be a picnic in Tilden at some point, unofficial, casual. write me knox@knoxbronson.com and I'll make sure you get on the mailing list.
And I agree. I hope those ladies, who were actually the only ones working at that theatrical production, known as a convention, are around today to vote for the party that will protect them.
It's decency vs things if your mama had known you had anything to do with people like those at the Milwaukee mash pit, would have locked you up - or if the money was there, shipped you off to a boarding school in Switzerland. Wearing Kotex as an accessory. Mercy. We don't even need to discuss their standards. There are none.
Still ridin' with Biden. A good man, doing the right thing and standing up for all people vs people my Mama would have shipped me off to Switzerland to make sure I never, ever, had anything to do with them.
Not as well attended as the Super Bowl, but likely still attracting the morally flexible holy rollers. I don’t begrudge the working girls, they at least dress better than the female attendees.
Sex workers don't deserve the disrespect they have thrown at them including labels the patriarchal moral police continue to do. Saw the same during Stormy's days on the witness stand.
Am a man. I know men are pigs when it comes to wimmin/sex. And any person with a modicum of the history of war knows how wimmin were "treated: by all sides by men. When men decided raping (just because someone exchanged candy, cigs, or money for sexual services doesn't mean the sex is actually consensual) wimmin in war was a mere spoil or right of war, the labels changed dramatically. All those labels were so pleasant sounding.
There is no shortage of male sex workers, most who cater to men. They do receive a pleasant sounding label, 4eg in SEA, lady boys. In the realm of National Security/Intel when it's the other side, the term is honey pots. When it's "ours" the label is patriots giving it their all for God & Country.
Thank you, Lucian, for slogging through this acidic political shit-storm - I'm grateful that you showed up for those of us who couldn't watch because we're busy dealing with the related anxiety and depression.
My dream is that Taylor Swift and Beyoncé show up at the Democrat Convention and sing a duet of the National Anthem. They say not another word and simply depart. Message delivered. Take that Lee Greenwood!
I love this! And I read somewhere that MTG said Taylor could be jealous of the size of Trump rallies. 😆😆😆 She really never makes any sense! 90,000 three nights in a row at Wembley Stadium. Dream on vulgar Marjorie!
What a great column. (I'm gonna guess Mr. T. already knew that working girls went to political conventions.)
"Donald Trump may be a slicker, sicker version <nice phrase> of Richard Nixon, and his crimes may seem more serious, but our children will be saying that about another election involving yet another rancid presidential candidate 50 years from now." This is the only hopeful thing I've read from someone I respect. May it prove to be so.
It seems like this race on the Dem side is becoming a populist movement for We The People for democracy and on the other hand,Dem corporate shills,errant Congress people,Hollywood personalities and our horrific press who have aligned themselves with Putin and company.I will not waiver in my support of the Biden/Harris ticket at this late stage in the game.If Joe holds and I pray he does, I am holding steadfastly too.
Thank you, Lucian Truscott! Your plane companion was right about the flexible morals of the GOP, then and now. But now those working girls have smartphones and they can record their sessions! That would be interesting to see who frequents them and who goes through Grindr. 😳
I don't usually watch political speeches -- they're overhyped and usually boring. When I read Trump spoke for 93 minutes, spouting gibberish the last hour, I thought well, maybe there is a God.
Who was it who wrote that there was indeed a God, and that he was 90% malevolent but only 50% competent? (Or some such percentages.) Must go check my annotated quote notebook!
Read this Kozmo - it's a genius breakdown of logical / metaphysical issue surrounding having human beings able to act freely, and thus sometimes with evil intent, and hypothesizing a creator God.
Thanks! Am reading this very moment! Fascinating stuff. The quote I noted was meant in humor or irony, but I find it both funny and provoking. I do think the ancient metaphysical traditions of the East have a lot to teach us.
A few observations - yes, we should take some time if possible to study at least the basics of Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism.
Also, that none of Smullyan's taoistic reasoning would surprise Socrates, the Stoics, or any freethinkers and skeptics in our own broader Western tradition. It's the orthodox, dogmatic theologians who would find some reasons, or just lame pretexts cloaked as reasonable arguments and considerations, to claim Smullyan's essay is "heretical" or otherwise deficient.
"There is unanimous agreement that Nāgārjuna (ca 150–250 CE) is the most important Buddhist philosopher after the historical Buddha himself and one of the most original and influential thinkers in the history of Indian philosophy. His philosophy of the “middle way” (madhyamaka) based around the central notion of “emptiness” (śūnyatā) influenced the Indian philosophical debate for a thousand years after his death; with the spread of Buddhism to Tibet, China, Japan and other Asian countries the writings of Nāgārjuna became an indispensable point of reference for their own philosophical inquiries. A specific reading of Nāgārjuna’s thought, called Prāsaṅgika-Madhyamaka, became the official philosophical position of Tibetan Buddhism which regards it as the pinnacle of philosophical sophistication up to the present day."
{More, much more, after all it is an encyclopedia!}
After watching bits and pieces last night, I just couldn't bear the sight of the Great Leader. I thought that the crowd was more interesting, and far scarier, the faces of such a devoted cult. I fully agree with the narrative I've been hearing this morning, if we can beat these guys, well, we deserve what's coming. They're so beatable if Dems can just get organized around a candidate, but so far stubborn out-of-touch Joe isn't helping. I just got another text from Obama begging for money to "defeat Trump" and just wanted to respond, "you go first and talk some sense to Joe." We can't keep being timid and letting the MAGA train just bull it's way through.
Thanks for being the kind of Democrat the Magas love. Why don't you go first and volunteer and make sure people know the real story and help Joe win instead of being a stooge for MSM? Is that too much to ask? Is there a spineless division of the Democratic party? Disgusting.
Reminds me of 1980. An incumbent President w/low approval numbers running against a far-right (for the times) Ronald Reagan and Andersen (?). Carter's campaign kept insisting the low approval numbers and years of high inflation would be overlooked and the polls wouldn't matter because Reagan was a kook.
Carter won <50ECVs, Reagan just south of 500ECVs, and won the popular vote by 8-9pts. Carter's people blamed Kennedy because Kennedy and a chunk of Ds had the audacity to listen to the American people's (not just Ds) demand for change.
Wouldn't want to be forced to choose between Carter and Biden being the better hooman or the worse candidate for re-election at the wrong time.
PS Shut off the topline donations after the debate. And thjey motice and have become increasingly obnoxious. Would gladly share them. Continue to support D candidates in AZ and some races around the nation, including John Tester, AOC, Elissa Slotkin,, Jacky Rosen, and Act Blue.
As a undercover cop I worked A Presidential convention. Was a whole lot of fucking going on.
As a police union president at police conventions there was a whole lot of fucking going on. Had to keep throwing other police departments prostitutes out of our convention hospitality room. They had permission to freelance when not occupied with whom they flew in with.
Were it not for fucking we and 8 billon others would not be here scribbling.
At 84 I'm not the "stud" I once thought I was. And never was. It's a mental fantasy world.
The working girls in your story were probably the only honest people at that convention,the hypocrites,thieves,liars and criminals were all on the stage running for office ,or the good citizens of Main St America who were partaking of the services offered by the girls when they weren’t bribing their candidates for favors and phony no show jobs ! You are so right Lucian something’s never change!☮️🤫😜
I am hopey changeyied up and am still Ridin’ With Biden.The people most importantly, the women, are going to carry this thing for Biden/Harris.Mark my words.
From your lips to the universe's ears...
I too am all-in for Biden, but I fear the tide against him is starting to look unstoppable. He has seemingly lost Pelosi, Schumer, Obama, not to mention the big bundlers. It breaks my heart.
This campaign to ditch Biden began long before the disastrous debate, with Carville declaring months ago that Biden would not be the candidate, and the non-stop NYTimes smears going back to last year. This morning the first article on nytimes.com carried the headline "Secluded in Delaware, Biden Stews at Allies' Pressure to Drop Out of the Race", an item more worthy of Liz Smith than the Grey Lady.
We've always known that dark forces were at work in the Republican party. They've crawled out of the woodwork to be on full display for the past four days, ugh.
What we didn't know (or wish to consider) is that there are dark forces conspiring in the Democratic party as well.
I've marked your words, and am praying to who/whatever will listen that you're right!
As Long as Biden does not act like he is supporting Trump and Putin I can ignore these big names you mention, none of whom has run the country as well as Biden. Obama shocks me. He fence sat when he was a local politician in my neighborhood about an issue that was extremely important to our very political community. That is how I always viewed him as a people pleaser and a fence sitter. Would he have won without Biden by his side? I don't know. But I do not see who can replace Biden, I also think he is the best president in my lifetime and why would I want to give that up a moment sooner. Here is an analysis of an NORC poll. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/7/17/2255111/-So-Two-Thirds-of-us-want-Biden-to-drop-out-Huh?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web
No one I know responds to online requests for information, so who is in their sample? People who are less careful about giving out personal information. Does not mean that they are likely voters, or even who they say they are. How many Russian bots are weighing in on these polls? Should be suspicious when the outcome favors Trump who has mostly very unpopular policies, and Putin, who needs to win in Ukraine. He is less likely to with Biden than Trump. However, polling shows that Project 2025 is unpopular with Dems, the big issues being Education and Abortion. Seems like natural themes for the Dems to be talking about. https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/50035-what-americans-think-about-project-2025
If we inform the people on the issues, one person at a time, we will prevail.
I am with you on your take about Obama. What are these people trying to do with creating chaos at the end stages before the election? I don't get it.
We don't know which of the funders of Obamas monstrosity of a "Library" which was opposed by many in the neighborhood for a lot of reasons, may be pulling his strings. I would say all of them have donors who are pushing them out there and they lost sight of what the party is supposed to stand for.
I'm curious too. My best guess is that they want us to rely on THEM and them only. And they see many of us drifting toward other sources of information. This worries them because we grassroots types do most of the work.
Hey, Linda. The Daily Kos has a paywall attached that does not allow me to read it. Up to my eyeballs in paid subscriptions elsewhere, so with regret, I will have to pass on this one. But nonetheless, I am spreading the word for Joe and Kamala where I can!
I do not pay for them. I do not know how you are having a paywall. I am sorry the link is not working for you. I subscribed for free and get it in my box each day where I can choose to read it or not. Perhaps this is a better link. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/7/17/2255111/-So-Two-Thirds-of-us-want-Biden-to-drop-out-Huh
This link worked, Linda! Didn't want you to go to any trouble, but I'm glad you did. Many thanks.
Yes,I am with you on the Daily Kos.I too am plumb full when it comes to paid subscriptions.I will continue to keep myself informed and try to aid others too.
I've never encountered a paywall at Daily Kos. The only limitation I've experienced is that, just as with substack, you can't 'like' a comment on the article or make your own comment.
This paywall was a first time for me with Daily Kos. But Linda's second link went through fine.
"Seemingly" is the operative word about the Big Names. We don't know anything about the "leakers." We don't know if they are being accurately quoted, we don't know the context of what they are saying, we don't know the context of what they are HEARING. We don't know how much the "snowball effect" is influencing those who are openly calling for Biden to drop out. And we don't have anyone giving a reasoned discussion of the alternative they have in mind. We are hanging our future and that of our children and grandchildren on rumors.
"Dark forces" = big donors. I would love love love to see the donors' list behind Schiff, Pelosi, Schumer, et al. (esp. Schiff -- running for Senate from California is expensive, and he was rolling in $$$ in the primary).
This!!! 🤑🤑🤑🫠
Fingers crossed!
Damn right, Victoria!
I had thought this but lately lost hope… so we shall see.
Never lose hope!
Kid Rock and hip in the same sentence? Kid Rock has not had a hit since Jesus Christ was bar mitzvahed.
I would venture to guess that very few under 40-50 would even know who the hell Hulk Hogan is!!
His real name is Terry, if my memory is correct I worked on a film that he stared in, probably late 80’s. He was pleasant enough, I used to run into him in Thousand Oaks and usually in the video rental store. He always wore that skin tight clothing, from the looks of him way too many steroids, they seem to have affected his mind 🤷♂️
Mind...?
My cousin lived with Gorgeous George .
I'm old enough to have heard of him and may have caught a glimpse of him on tv once as a widdle kid!
She had lots of hair and hai pins
Really? I remember him so well!
Male or female...?
Even if they knew, I doubt younger folk would care. Hulk Hogan has become a fossil.
As is Kid Rock...predictable.
And how many of the oh so holy rollers there have actually listened to his song Cowboy, which is a plea to respect women, to embrace all races and to be sober… wait a minute … I need to retract and restate like Nate Silver did … never mind… the “straight out the trailer guy” is just a spoiled brat from the Detroit ‘burbs who actually spews the racist, misogynist drug addled crap that I am sure Billy Graham’s spoiled brat fake “minister” kid (Kid Rot) believes deep down in his dark, empty, soulless heart… just sayin’
Kid Who??? GOP always raises acts from the dead...
Funny!
🤣
Great article as always. Apparently, the GOP delegates broke Grindr, the gay hookup app the first night they were in town.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13649291/republican-national-convention-grindr-dating-app-crash-milwaukee.html
Gay curious men break their cherry at the Rethug convention? That's just hysterically funny. What if they like it? What happens then? Do they become more inclusive ? I have no words.
I doubt it! You know the old joke:
Q: How many closets are there in a Republican household.
A: How many men are there?
And don’t forget ex Idaho Senator, bathroom stall Larry Craig. As an ex Idaho turned Oregon resident I know of what I speak.
Nope, they retreat into a closet. For more inside info on gay evangelists...way long time ago, Molly Ivins recommended a book written by a young man, from a family of solid, long-time Pentecosts. He desperately wanted to become a Pentecostal preacher and he pursued this dream until he discovered he was gay. The name of the book is 'Strange Angel--the World According to Benny Joe" and it is an excellent memoir of what it was (and still is, no doubt) like to grow up gay in the perfervid Pentecost culture, deep in Texas. It was both funny and heart-breaking. The man who wrote the book, Ben Davis, has since passed away but the book is still available on Amazon.
Imagine if Molly and Ann were here to deal with Texas MAGATS!
Wouldn't I just LOVE to be there to listen & watch!
I would suggest to the Biden/Harris campaign that they embrace all these "famous" gay people on the right, calling them by name, and telling them that their rights will continue to be protected in a Biden administration!
Agreed...never hurts to extend the hand of friendship and inclusivity.
J. Edger Hoover was gay and it didn’t change him.
Of course. It’s so obvious the ones crying and shouting about “gay” this and that are almost always in the closet.
Self-loathing is a helluva drug
Somethings never change. Just the gender.
Knox, is this you? This is me, Ellen Franzen, married to Glenn. Are you still around here?
Hi Ellen. Yes, I'm still here. Living in Oakland! I thought I recognized your name!
Itʼs great weʼre all still alive and living in the best place in the world, with, I should say, the best weather in the world. Of course, weʼre not still all alive, but pretty good. Married 44 years! I regret to say, Glenn hasnʼt changed, although no more drinking or drugs.
I know. I saw him at the last BHS reunion. Me: sober 33 years!
You were at the last reunion? I didnʼt see you. Weʼre not going this year. The music last time was awful! Iʼd like to see Kevin Wallace, though. Glennʼs only been straight 27 years! Youʼve got to love it--apparently Trumpʼs campaign organization doesnʼt pay outer area security because they donʼt think anything will happen to him, so his ear injury is on him. Oh, well....Take care....
I was there. I agree about the music! Not going either. I think there may be a picnic in Tilden at some point, unofficial, casual. write me knox@knoxbronson.com and I'll make sure you get on the mailing list.
And I agree. I hope those ladies, who were actually the only ones working at that theatrical production, known as a convention, are around today to vote for the party that will protect them.
It's decency vs things if your mama had known you had anything to do with people like those at the Milwaukee mash pit, would have locked you up - or if the money was there, shipped you off to a boarding school in Switzerland. Wearing Kotex as an accessory. Mercy. We don't even need to discuss their standards. There are none.
Still ridin' with Biden. A good man, doing the right thing and standing up for all people vs people my Mama would have shipped me off to Switzerland to make sure I never, ever, had anything to do with them.
Vote Blue. Your life does depend on it.
Not as well attended as the Super Bowl, but likely still attracting the morally flexible holy rollers. I don’t begrudge the working girls, they at least dress better than the female attendees.
Sex workers don't deserve the disrespect they have thrown at them including labels the patriarchal moral police continue to do. Saw the same during Stormy's days on the witness stand.
Am a man. I know men are pigs when it comes to wimmin/sex. And any person with a modicum of the history of war knows how wimmin were "treated: by all sides by men. When men decided raping (just because someone exchanged candy, cigs, or money for sexual services doesn't mean the sex is actually consensual) wimmin in war was a mere spoil or right of war, the labels changed dramatically. All those labels were so pleasant sounding.
There is no shortage of male sex workers, most who cater to men. They do receive a pleasant sounding label, 4eg in SEA, lady boys. In the realm of National Security/Intel when it's the other side, the term is honey pots. When it's "ours" the label is patriots giving it their all for God & Country.
I respect these women. They deserve to not be exploited and to be protected by law.
~brava~
Yes.
I so agree with you, Patris!
I hope we grow up enough to get there
Thank you, Lucian, for slogging through this acidic political shit-storm - I'm grateful that you showed up for those of us who couldn't watch because we're busy dealing with the related anxiety and depression.
I'm hopey-changey, too - as well as laughy-smiley after reading tonight's newsletter! Yea!
My dream is that Taylor Swift and Beyoncé show up at the Democrat Convention and sing a duet of the National Anthem. They say not another word and simply depart. Message delivered. Take that Lee Greenwood!
That'd be awesome, Doug!
I love this! And I read somewhere that MTG said Taylor could be jealous of the size of Trump rallies. 😆😆😆 She really never makes any sense! 90,000 three nights in a row at Wembley Stadium. Dream on vulgar Marjorie!
What a great column. (I'm gonna guess Mr. T. already knew that working girls went to political conventions.)
"Donald Trump may be a slicker, sicker version <nice phrase> of Richard Nixon, and his crimes may seem more serious, but our children will be saying that about another election involving yet another rancid presidential candidate 50 years from now." This is the only hopeful thing I've read from someone I respect. May it prove to be so.
But I never met one.
We who are of the Left but not of the Dems … we are exhausted. But I’m trying to hold onto the hopey changey, too. Trying damned hard …
It seems like this race on the Dem side is becoming a populist movement for We The People for democracy and on the other hand,Dem corporate shills,errant Congress people,Hollywood personalities and our horrific press who have aligned themselves with Putin and company.I will not waiver in my support of the Biden/Harris ticket at this late stage in the game.If Joe holds and I pray he does, I am holding steadfastly too.
Thank you, Lucian Truscott! Your plane companion was right about the flexible morals of the GOP, then and now. But now those working girls have smartphones and they can record their sessions! That would be interesting to see who frequents them and who goes through Grindr. 😳
If you still have the phone number of that woman you met on the plane could you please send it to me?
Insert emoji laughing so hard tears are coming from both eyes.
😆
And remember she is now over 50 years older!😂
So am I!
😃
I don't usually watch political speeches -- they're overhyped and usually boring. When I read Trump spoke for 93 minutes, spouting gibberish the last hour, I thought well, maybe there is a God.
Who was it who wrote that there was indeed a God, and that he was 90% malevolent but only 50% competent? (Or some such percentages.) Must go check my annotated quote notebook!
Read this Kozmo - it's a genius breakdown of logical / metaphysical issue surrounding having human beings able to act freely, and thus sometimes with evil intent, and hypothesizing a creator God.
https://www.mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/godTaoist.html
Is God a Taoist? by Raymond Smullyan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Smullyan
In this bio, under "Logic Problems," you'll see my one and only Wikipedia edit.
Thanks! Am reading this very moment! Fascinating stuff. The quote I noted was meant in humor or irony, but I find it both funny and provoking. I do think the ancient metaphysical traditions of the East have a lot to teach us.
A few observations - yes, we should take some time if possible to study at least the basics of Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism.
Also, that none of Smullyan's taoistic reasoning would surprise Socrates, the Stoics, or any freethinkers and skeptics in our own broader Western tradition. It's the orthodox, dogmatic theologians who would find some reasons, or just lame pretexts cloaked as reasonable arguments and considerations, to claim Smullyan's essay is "heretical" or otherwise deficient.
Here's another one worth a look:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nagarjuna/
"There is unanimous agreement that Nāgārjuna (ca 150–250 CE) is the most important Buddhist philosopher after the historical Buddha himself and one of the most original and influential thinkers in the history of Indian philosophy. His philosophy of the “middle way” (madhyamaka) based around the central notion of “emptiness” (śūnyatā) influenced the Indian philosophical debate for a thousand years after his death; with the spread of Buddhism to Tibet, China, Japan and other Asian countries the writings of Nāgārjuna became an indispensable point of reference for their own philosophical inquiries. A specific reading of Nāgārjuna’s thought, called Prāsaṅgika-Madhyamaka, became the official philosophical position of Tibetan Buddhism which regards it as the pinnacle of philosophical sophistication up to the present day."
{More, much more, after all it is an encyclopedia!}
That essay/dialogue on God and Taoism is fantastic! Even tho' it bent my mind into a pretzel! Socrates must be smiling in Elysium.
Yeah stuff like that is why I think philosophy will always be around!
I’ve thought for a long time that if there is a God he has a weird sense of humor.
Well, if God is defined as a Perfect Being, God must have a Perfect sense of humor, so maybe we just have not caught on to the jokes?!
That would explain a lot! (God smacks hand on head -- "D'oh! Went clear over their tiny mortal heads again!")
It gets better when you add some Nagarjuna - God would be Perfect, thus perfectly mysterious, too! So some jokes we get, others, no way!
After watching bits and pieces last night, I just couldn't bear the sight of the Great Leader. I thought that the crowd was more interesting, and far scarier, the faces of such a devoted cult. I fully agree with the narrative I've been hearing this morning, if we can beat these guys, well, we deserve what's coming. They're so beatable if Dems can just get organized around a candidate, but so far stubborn out-of-touch Joe isn't helping. I just got another text from Obama begging for money to "defeat Trump" and just wanted to respond, "you go first and talk some sense to Joe." We can't keep being timid and letting the MAGA train just bull it's way through.
Thanks for being the kind of Democrat the Magas love. Why don't you go first and volunteer and make sure people know the real story and help Joe win instead of being a stooge for MSM? Is that too much to ask? Is there a spineless division of the Democratic party? Disgusting.
Don’t be distracted. Support Biden.
Reminds me of 1980. An incumbent President w/low approval numbers running against a far-right (for the times) Ronald Reagan and Andersen (?). Carter's campaign kept insisting the low approval numbers and years of high inflation would be overlooked and the polls wouldn't matter because Reagan was a kook.
Carter won <50ECVs, Reagan just south of 500ECVs, and won the popular vote by 8-9pts. Carter's people blamed Kennedy because Kennedy and a chunk of Ds had the audacity to listen to the American people's (not just Ds) demand for change.
Wouldn't want to be forced to choose between Carter and Biden being the better hooman or the worse candidate for re-election at the wrong time.
PS Shut off the topline donations after the debate. And thjey motice and have become increasingly obnoxious. Would gladly share them. Continue to support D candidates in AZ and some races around the nation, including John Tester, AOC, Elissa Slotkin,, Jacky Rosen, and Act Blue.
As a undercover cop I worked A Presidential convention. Was a whole lot of fucking going on.
As a police union president at police conventions there was a whole lot of fucking going on. Had to keep throwing other police departments prostitutes out of our convention hospitality room. They had permission to freelance when not occupied with whom they flew in with.
Were it not for fucking we and 8 billon others would not be here scribbling.
At 84 I'm not the "stud" I once thought I was. And never was. It's a mental fantasy world.
Hasta manana
The working girls in your story were probably the only honest people at that convention,the hypocrites,thieves,liars and criminals were all on the stage running for office ,or the good citizens of Main St America who were partaking of the services offered by the girls when they weren’t bribing their candidates for favors and phony no show jobs ! You are so right Lucian something’s never change!☮️🤫😜