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gimmethesimplelife
2-28-24, 11:32pm
A judge in Illinois just ruled that due to Donald Trump's insurrectioinist behavior, he will not be appearing on Illinois Primary ballots. We all owe a debt to
Illinois for adding to Donald Trump's many troubles. Rob

Alan
2-29-24, 12:09am
I've never seen such powerful elements of the Democratic Party work so hard to get their opponent elected. I hope everyone who promotes, encourages or applauds these actions realize they'll have to live with their culpability for the next 4 years.

jp1
2-29-24, 1:06am
I've never seen such powerful elements of the Democratic Party work so hard to get their opponent elected. I hope everyone who promotes, encourages or applauds these actions realize they'll have to live with their culpability for the next 4 years.

The culpability of preventing a fraudy lying grifting shitbag of a human being from becoming president again? Only serious trumphumpers care about the efforts to prevent that shitbag from being reelelected. And maybe LDAHL since he seems to live in a weird cloister that doesn't acknowledge that non republicans exist.

LDAHL
2-29-24, 4:18pm
The culpability of preventing a fraudy lying grifting shitbag of a human being from becoming president again? Only serious trumphumpers care about the efforts to prevent that shitbag from being reelelected. And maybe LDAHL since he seems to live in a weird cloister that doesn't acknowledge that non republicans exist.

Yes. I’m trapped in a bizarre alternate reality where not wanting to vote for a bastard doesn’t create a categorical imperative for me to support a dotard. I don’t even believe the media are in the tank for Trump and biased against poor Joe, amplifying every little confused statement he makes. I’m also sort of a stickler as to whether the end of preventing people I dislike from running justifies any means I or a Cook County Circuit judge can think of to “save our democracy”.

jp1
3-1-24, 12:40am
Yes. I’m trapped in a bizarre alternate reality where not wanting to vote for a bastard doesn’t create a categorical imperative for me to support a dotard. I don’t even believe the media are in the tank for Trump and biased against poor Joe, amplifying every little confused statement he makes. I’m also sort of a stickler as to whether the end of preventing people I dislike from running justifies any means I or a Cook County Circuit judge can think of to “save our democracy”.

And yet you voted for the fellow who supported and assisted trump’s effort to overthrow the government for senate. And proudly proclaimed this to us. Are we really supposed to take you seriously at this point? Because I don’t.

gimmethesimplelife
3-4-24, 12:43pm
Update. It seems this joy was short lived. The Supreme Court just ruled that DJT will be appearing on the ballots in Maine, Colorado, and Illinois after all. It does seem as if we are moving one step closer towards dictatorship at this point. Silver lining? I also believe that this decision brings us a baby step closer to splitting up as a nation. Rob

Alan
3-4-24, 12:49pm
I think it's the exact opposite of becoming closer to a dictatorship since it prevents any private or public entities (outside of Congress) from determining who can block the majority of citizens from choosing who they want to represent them on a federal level.

gimmethesimplelife
3-4-24, 1:44pm
I think it's the exact opposite of becoming closer to a dictatorship since it prevents any private or public entities (outside of Congress) from determining who can block the majority of citizens from choosing who they want to represent them on a federal level.Don't drop dead of shock, Alan. In theory, but theory only, I agree with you.

There are two huge blocks for me that work against my agreeing with you in any other way than theory. One is January 6th, 2021, and the need to hold DJT accountable for his actions that day. Even more than that, given my Austrian background and Austria's involvement in the Holocaust, I find DJT's recent authoritarian threats nothing other than terrifying and I'm not pulling drama here. His recent threats do cause me terror as they are the same kinds of threats Austrians heard in 1938.....do we humans never learn anything except for possibly a few people like me who could care less what anyone thinks of them?

At any rate, there is an upside. If DJT gets into office the United States a. Will never be the same again, b. Will loose what little respect and goodwill exists for it in the world today, and c. Will likely break up at some future point, which is probably good for us all in the long run. Rob

bae
3-4-24, 1:50pm
These are primary ballots, right?

So that private political organizations can pick their candidate for the real election to come?

As far as I'm concerned, they could pick a name out of a hat. I find no mention of the Democratic or Republican Parties in the Constitution.

The time to consider removing someone from the ballot might better be when they are running for an actual constitutional office in the actual election.

This business has just been foolishness through-and-through.

jp1
3-4-24, 11:02pm
Maybe I’m misreading but it seems like today’s Supreme Court decision challenges jack smith to charge trump with insurrection. If he does and the trial ends in a guilty verdict before 1/20/25 then it would take a 2/3 act of congress to overturn that and make him eligible to be inaugurated as president. (Which isn’t going to happen if that chain of events occur. Instead chaos would ensue).

Rogar
3-5-24, 8:36am
The impression I got is that the ruling says just one state should not have the power to determine the outcome of a national election. Practically speaking it may make sense, but it's not what the constitution says. At least how the Colorado courts and I would read it. I imagine one could ask, how many states does it take. How does the 14th amendment actually work in national elections that would prevent insurrectionists from taking office. Leaving this up to the senate is sort of like the fox in charge of the hen house. Disappointing, but not a surprise.

If I get the news right, the next big legal challenge for Trump is the presidential immunity case. It looks like Trump is using his typical delay tactics and denying the public of a speedy trial.

LDAHL
3-5-24, 11:09am
And yet you voted for the fellow who supported and assisted trump’s effort to overthrow the government for senate. And proudly proclaimed this to us. Are we really supposed to take you seriously at this point? Because I don’t.

I’ll just have to live with the indelible shame of your disapproval. On the plus side, the country has been spared a Senator Mandela Barnes.

jp1
3-5-24, 9:53pm
I’ll just have to live with the indelible shame of your disapproval. On the plus side, the country has been spared a Senator Mandela Barnes.

On the other plus side Wisconsin appears to be headed to much fairer districts so that voters will actually have a more accurate representation of their interests rather than tyranny of the minority. That, combined with global warming, could open up a new potential retirement destination for me and SO. I've long thought a college town might be a great place to retire. Madison might fit that bill nicely.

iris lilies
3-5-24, 10:00pm
On the other plus side Wisconsin appears to be headed to much fairer districts so that voters will actually have a more accurate representation of their interests rather than tyranny of the minority. That, combined with global warming, could open up a new potential retirement destination for me and SO. I've long thought a college town might be a great place to retire. Madison might fit that bill nicely.
I went to Madison recently to judge Iris show. I always figured I would like Madison, since it was a Midwestern College town. I actually thought it was ugly and down in the dumps. And then, the downtown was insane because it has squirrelly non-straight streets. The locals explained this was because it was between two rivers or some such thing. Excuses, excuses, excuses, haha.

global warming isn’t gonna warm it up enough for you. if you’re vaguely entertaining snow country, Iowa City is much nicer as is Lawrence, Kansas, and they are a gardening zone or two warmer than Madison.


But reallyLas Cruces New Mexico is what you should zone in on because the culture there is pretty interesting. The town is spread out but it’s easy to get around within a few minutes. for me, I find the desert surrounding it horribly depressing, but I don’t think that bothers you.

iris lilies
3-5-24, 10:05pm
I’ll just have to live with the indelible shame of your disapproval. On the plus side, the country has been spared a Senator Mandela Barnes.
Ah well, I find your presence worthwhile and your comments entertaining as you well know, so there we are. You win some, you lose some,

Tradd
3-5-24, 10:12pm
I went to Madison last year to judge Iris show. I always figured I would like Madison, since it was a Midwestern College town. I actually thought it was ugly and down in the dumps. And then, the downtown was insane because it had squirrelly non-straight streets. The locals explained this was because it was between two rivers or some such thing. Excuses, excuses, excuses.


Madison is built on an isthmus. It’s between Lakes Mendota and Monona. How can you think Madison is down in the dumps and ugly? I’m there a lot on the west side. Spring Harbor neighborhood, near Middleton. Reminds me a lot of Ann Arbor. I went to college at Ypsilanti, next to AA.

The multiple thousand year old canoes my diving instructor found were in Lake Mendota.

iris lilies
3-5-24, 10:22pm
Madison is built on an isthmus. It’s between Lakes Mendota and Monona. How can you think Madison is down in the dumps and ugly? I’m there a lot on the west side. Spring Harbor neighborhood, near Middleton. Reminds me a lot of Ann Arbor. I went to college at Ypsilanti, next to AA.

The multiple thousand year old canoes my diving instructor found were in Lake Mendota.

maybe I just happened to be driving in the parts of Madison that were rather run down.oh, it is between lakes, not rivers.

I was surprised because usually Midwest College towns have upscale nice areas. I probably just missed those parts. The botanical garden I went to was in a neighborhood that was OK. It had old houses, but it did not look terrifically upscale to me.

jp1
3-5-24, 10:38pm
I went to Madison recently to judge Iris show. I always figured I would like Madison, since it was a Midwestern College town. I actually thought it was ugly and down in the dumps. And then, the downtown was insane because it has squirrelly non-straight streets. The locals explained this was because it was between two rivers or some such thing. Excuses, excuses, excuses, haha.

global warming isn’t gonna warm it up enough for you. if you’re vaguely entertaining snow country, Iowa City is much nicer as is Lawrence, Kansas, and they are a gardening zone or two warmer than Madison.


But reallyLas Cruces New Mexico is what you should zone in on because the culture there is pretty interesting. The town is spread out but it’s easy to get around within a few minutes. for me, I find the desert surrounding it horribly depressing, but I don’t think that bothers you.

Interesting that you mention las cruces. That’s actually on my list of places I want to check out. Possibly because you’ve mentioned it before? I can’t imagine who else in my circle of influence would have mentioned it. The only other person I know from/in/ever lived in NM is a friend from high school who now lives in Albuquerque and I don’t think she’s ever mentioned las cruces to me.

iris lilies
3-5-24, 10:53pm
Interesting that you mention las cruces. That’s actually on my list of places I want to check out. Possibly because you’ve mentioned it before? I can’t imagine who else in my circle of influence would have mentioned it. The only other person I know from/in/ever lived in NM is a friend from high school who now lives in Albuquerque and I don’t think she’s ever mentioned las cruces to me.
Yes we’ve talked about Las Cruces. It is more country-fied than Albuquerque. Las Cruces clings to its “ We are laid-back casual people “ persona. there are hiking opportunities nearby in the Organ mountains.

gimmethesimplelife
3-6-24, 9:47am
I went to Madison recently to judge Iris show. I always figured I would like Madison, since it was a Midwestern College town. I actually thought it was ugly and down in the dumps. And then, the downtown was insane because it has squirrelly non-straight streets. The locals explained this was because it was between two rivers or some such thing. Excuses, excuses, excuses, haha.

global warming isn’t gonna warm it up enough for you. if you’re vaguely entertaining snow country, Iowa City is much nicer as is Lawrence, Kansas, and they are a gardening zone or two warmer than Madison.


But reallyLas Cruces New Mexico is what you should zone in on because the culture there is pretty interesting. The town is spread out but it’s easy to get around within a few minutes. for me, I find the desert surrounding it horribly depressing, but I don’t think that bothers you.The last time I took PTO - right before getting promoted - SO and I went to El Paso and Las Cruces. We both liked Las Cruces and New Mexico is a fairly liberal state. I've always found this interesting - that New Mexico is one of the poorest states but still manages to live and let live for the majority of it's residents. El Paso we both didn't like quite as much as Las Cruces, but it is amazing how it's one of the safest US cities and it's right there on the border. Rob

Rogar
3-6-24, 10:14am
global warming isn’t gonna warm it up enough for you. if you’re vaguely entertaining snow country, Iowa City is much nicer as is Lawrence, Kansas, and they are a gardening zone or two warmer than Madison.


I've spent a small amount of time in Lawrence, KS and really liked it. I don't know how the weather would be in the extremes. The Flint Hills are really pretty. I've not kept up on the details, but they seem to be revising the gardening zones by a degree or two warmer due to climate change.

LDAHL
3-6-24, 1:53pm
On the other plus side Wisconsin appears to be headed to much fairer districts so that voters will actually have a more accurate representation of their interests rather than tyranny of the minority. That, combined with global warming, could open up a new potential retirement destination for me and SO. I've long thought a college town might be a great place to retire. Madison might fit that bill nicely.

Don’t be taken in by single episodes, the politics here are more changeable than the weather. Always have been.

I could see how Madison might be attractive to a blue state leftugee, though. It’s the kind of town where they tear down statues of abolitionists and Civil War heroes for insufficient wokeness. I don’t know, maybe it was a pronoun thing. Where well-scrubbed Midwestern kids went around shrieking “Glory to the martyrs!” After the Hamas atrocities. Where you can spot the most NIMBY neighborhoods by all the “in this house” yard signs and “coexist” bumper stickers. In general, they take themselves more seriously than any other town in the state.

With all the visiting academics and government supplicants, Madison punches above its weight in excellent restaurants. On the other hand, decent bookstores are surprisingly sparse. Parking can be a nightmare in my experience. But if you’re looking for a kinder, gentler version of Portland or SF, it might be the place for you.

LDAHL
3-6-24, 2:03pm
Madison is built on an isthmus. It’s between Lakes Mendota and Monona. How can you think Madison is down in the dumps and ugly? I’m there a lot on the west side. Spring Harbor neighborhood, near Middleton. Reminds me a lot of Ann Arbor. I went to college at Ypsilanti, next to AA.

The multiple thousand year old canoes my diving instructor found were in Lake Mendota.

The joke I used to hear was that Madison is Ann Arbor with a drinking problem.

Tradd
3-6-24, 2:08pm
The joke I used to hear was that Madison is Ann Arbor with a drinking problem.

Haha. That’s a good one.

jp1
3-6-24, 4:11pm
SO lived in Ypsilanti for a couple of years before I met him. He liked it. Not as much as Chattanooga but more than Huntsville.

Tradd
3-6-24, 4:20pm
SO lived in Ypsilanti for a couple of years before I met him. He liked it. Not as much as Chattanooga but more than Huntsville.

I can’t imagine anyone really liking Ypsi! Ann Arbor was so much nicer. When did SO live there? I was there 1987-1991.

jp1
3-6-24, 9:25pm
I can’t imagine anyone really liking Ypsi! Ann Arbor was so much nicer. When did SO live there? I was there 1987-1991.

We went there for a long weekend and stayed with his former roommate maybe 20 years ago. It was ok, I suppose, but not super exciting. Most of his friends from there have since moved away so there isn't a lot that would get us to move there now. He was there in the mid-90's.

My best friend from college lived in Ann Arbor for a few years in the late 90's/early 00's. She'd moved there for a fantastic job opportunity and really liked it but started dating a woman in northern California and moved here. I only went to see her once in Michigan. It was thanksgiving weekend so we didn't get out too much so I don't really have an opinion about it.

jp1
3-6-24, 9:34pm
Thinking about no one really liking Ypsi. We have a friend who used to live here. At the time his job was a salesy type job that involved regular trips to the central valley. Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto, etc. He would go down once a month or so and spend the week going to meetings all around the area. He LOVED it. So much so that he actually called Fresno Fresyes with sincerity. I have been there plenty of times for work as well and would only think to call it Fresyes in a joking manner. I think he liked it because he could go out to the gay bars at night and hook up with hot hispanic farm workers. Since none of that is really my thing I can see why we have differing opinions of the place. :-)