Random political thought thread.

[ceecee]

I spent a lot of the past week navigating Medicaid and there is much I am pissed about. It's either that or Cobra which costs money I can't really spend right now. I agree with @ceecee that a great deal in this country is designed to penalize poor people.

True, it's very expensive to be poor in the US. That's by design. Just like getting last ditch help like SNAP or TANF gets harder and harder and more requirements will be required if Republicans get their way. But means testing is a neoliberal thing, Republicans are just taking it to another level. And making sure as many people as possible never blame them for what is happening in this country. Debt ceiling? GOP house members left for their paid, 11 day vacation. Dems are still there but nothing can be voted on of course.

 

[Virtual ghost]

World’s cartoonists on this week’s events

 

[The Cat]

 

[The Cat]

 

[SensEye]

I agree with his synopsis in general. The Republicans got pretty well hosed on this deal. Mostly talking points as far as the changes they made. No one will really notice the difference between this and a 'clean bill'.

The problem with electing all these shrill carnival barker politicians is they don't really know anything about how to govern. Just play on emotional hot buttons. It's like a parody movie - Internet Trolls Go to Washington.

 

[ceecee]

I agree with his synopsis in general. The Republicans got pretty well hosed on this deal. Mostly talking points as far as the changes they made. No one will really notice the difference between this and a 'clean bill'.

The problem with electing all these shrill carnival barker politicians is they don't really know anything about how to govern. Just play on emotional hot buttons. It's like a parody movie - Internet Trolls Go to Washington.

Or Auburn football coaches.

 

[The Cat]

 

[The Cat]

 

[The Cat]

 

[The Cat]

 

[SensEye]

Hmm. That plane crash seems suspicious to me. Given the length of time the plane was in the air and the flight path, it seems someone was nominally in control. If there was a medical emergency one would think either the pilot would have been able to radio he was in distress at some point, or perhaps one of the passengers if the pilot lost consciousness.

I'm leaning more toward a pilot suicide type explanation.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Virtual ghost]

Pence files paperwork to run for president

As you probably already know.

 

[SensEye]

And he is getting a town hall on CNN. As did Nikki Haley.

Just posting this in response to the hue and cry that Trump's town hall was just a crass ratings grab.

On that note, I see the Atlantic posted a scathing article about new CNN boss Chris Licht. I have not been able to read the whole article (its behind a paywall and I failed to google up a free copy) but I've seen a synopsis and the #1 issue still seems to be the Trump town hall. Obviously, I see no issue with that. And it seems Licht is another executive douchebag (big surprise, they all are - one wonders if Zucker was any more personable). When searching for the article unpaywalled, I was bemused to see many other media outlets (Washington post et. al) piling on. Still appears to be lots of group think out there in the 'liberal' media.

In any event, I agree with Licht's sentiment that CNN has to try and regain their reputation as a news organization. They dug themselves such a deep whole they may never get out, but they have moved modestly in the right direction.

The next step for CNN respectability is if they can find it in themselves to stop being Biden apologists and legitimately criticize some of his missteps and poor policies.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Chris Christie Should Have Run For President In 2012

 

[The Cat]

 

[The Cat]

This is why if you just "NEED" to have a gun. You NEED training. You NEED to know that shooting someone has to be every bit as out of options as a LAST resort as the PERSON you have decided needs killing if AND ONLY IF your life is in IMMINENT Danger. Only cops and soldiers in the field have a monopoly on violence enough to even come close to being able to get off the hook for shooting someone through a door. As long as that door is between you and whomever your scared of for whatever reason, you're life is not in danger legally speaking for stand your ground to apply. It doesn't even start to get grey area unless they shoot through the door first. This strikes me more as another irresponsible gun owner looking for an excuse to try their hand at manslaughter. Lady thought she could get away with it. Required regular Training would have taught her better even if she was lacking sense enough to not kill another human being.
A gun is a weapon, which is a tool designed for one purpose and one purpose alone. Death. Accidental, on purpose, "justified" or homicide a gun is a specialist weapon/tool it does one and only one thing very well.
Arm yourself with the proper training before you arm yourself with a weapon.
If you have a temper, if you have a mental illness that compromises your sense of reality, if you're not willing to go down to the range every other week to learn how to use your deadly tool, if you're only into them because you think they're cool...
Don't get one. Its a waste of your money, life and the life of another.
​

 

[The Cat]

Chris Christie could clean house among his fellow pubs, I confess a morbid curiosity to see how he tricks DeSantis into humiliating himself on stage. I feel like that would be a Bugs Bunny Taffy Duck scene on stage.

I'll hand it to Christie he does have that charming reasonable villain shtick down. I find myself at time respecting his game. High caliber enemies are in such short supply these days. I blame reality television, it's lazy writing.​

 

[ceecee]

Some good news...

Rest in piss

 

[Virtual ghost]

True, Pat really had a streak for talking complete nonsense.