Zohran Mamdani

[LDAHL]

Not to be outdone by the genius leadership of Los Angeles and Chicago, I see the Democrats of New York City have chosen Zohran Mamdani as their candidate for mayor. He has promised to usher in a new age of socialist glory, with rent freezes, free buses and government run grocery stores. He will attack the scourge of halal-flation inflicted by New York’s street vendors and of course force the undeserving rich to pay “their fair share”.

I see great things in NYC’s future.

[early morning]

Well, it seems to me that he's taken a page from Trump's playbook, In the opposite direction, obviously, but appealing to those who blame many of their problems - not always incorrectly- on "others" and declaring that dealing with those "others" will fix the problems. I don't live in NY, of course, so my opinions don't count. But really, between him and Cuomo, I'd have gone with him, too.

[LDAHL]

Well, it seems to me that he's taken a page from Trump's playbook, In the opposite direction, obviously, but appealing to those who blame many of their problems - not always incorrectly- on "others" and declaring that dealing with those "others" will fix the problems. I don't live in NY, of course, so my opinions don't count. But really, between him and Cuomo, I'd have gone with him, too.

I think that there was an element of that. “The rich” are always a popular target. And wanting to “globalize the intifada” and arrest the Israeli premier would certainly toss a bit of red meat to a segment of New Yorkers. Promising to be Trump’s biggest nightmare is essential to be the very model of a modern progressive. Defunding the police would certainly appeal to people who think the cops are the enemy.

But I wouldn’t want to underestimate the significance of the traditional free stuff approach. Demagogues have been using that successfully for thousands of years. You’re also right that Cuomo was probably too vile a specimen for even New Yorkers to stomach.

I would think that barring a historically significant miracle in the general election, 2026 will be a good year for U-Haul rentals.

[littlebittybobby]

okay---you won't see meee goin' ta noo yawk citty ta live or visit. it's ree-dick-you lous how they rely on tall buildings. They needta just build 'em inta noo-joisy; there's plenty of land there. But yeah--nothing over 3-4 story tall. Yup. Hope that helps you some. Thankk mee.

[catherine]

okay---you won't see meee goin' ta noo yawk citty ta live or visit. it's ree-dick-you lous how they rely on tall buildings. They needta just build 'em inta noo-joisy; there's plenty of land there. But yeah--nothing over 3-4 story tall. Yup. Hope that helps you some. Thankk mee.


Joisy doesn't need or want more skyscrapers--Joisy City and Noo-wirk have enough as far as I'm concerned.

[LDAHL]

After he seizes the means of production and purges the reactionary elements in the Sanitation Department, he’ll need the Meadowlands to re-educate the stockbrokers and liquidate the cops and Zionists.

From the Hudson to the sea the five boroughs will be free.

[iris lilies]

From him I learned Intifada doesn’t mean what I think it means. Or, the definition can be fluid. Who knew!

[LDAHL]

From him I learned Intifada doesn’t mean what I think it means. Or, the definition can be fluid. Who knew!

If we lived in a just society the late night comics would be all over this.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I think he's absolutely wonderful. I'd love to see him on a ticket with Buttigieg as President, Mamdani as VP, or should the US split as I believe is now inevitable, perhaps as the president of the New Liberal Homeland created out of trainwreck of the former United States. Rob

[Alan]

I think he's absolutely wonderful. I'd love to see him on a ticket with Buttigieg as President, Mamdani as VP, or should the US split as I believe is now inevitable, perhaps as the president of the New Liberal Homeland created out of trainwreck of the former United States. Rob
There's nothing liberal about Mamdani, nor any state or collection of citizens which may want to become part of your coveted 'Homeland'. The 'New Illiberal Homeland' would be a more accurate name.

[gimmethesimplelife]

There's nothing liberal about Mamdani, nor any state or collection of citizens which may want to become part of your coveted 'Homeland'. The 'New Illiberal Homeland' would be a more accurate name.You have me annoyed but yet fascinated in a way. You don't find Mamdani liberal? Do you agree with Herr Dictator and categorize him as Communist, just curious? Rob

[Tradd]

You have me annoyed but yet fascinated in a way. You don't find Mamdani liberal? Do you agree with Herr Dictator and categorize him as Communist, just curious? Rob

Dude, Muslims will never be liberal. You would actually vote for someone who is a practicing member of a religion that believes your kind should be dead?

I grew up near Dearborn and the Muslims were a problem even in the 80s. That and 9/11 are two reasons why I will never, ever vote for a Muslim. Period. End of story.

But I see NY has forgotten that soon enough. I bet all the Orthodox Jews in NY will NOT be voting for Mamdani, though.

[Alan]

You don't find Mamdani liberal?
No, not at all. Democrats bastardized the term liberal some time ago by rejecting the classical liberal qualities of tolerance of opinion, free trade and limiting government regulations. I would think that today's Libertarians are much more deserving of the noun than any other group.


Do you agree with Herr Dictator and categorize him as Communist, just curious?
I wouldn't consider him an avowed communist outside of his desire to seize the means of production, but he is an avowed socialist which by any metric is stage one of a truly communist conversion.

[gimmethesimplelife]

No, not at all. Democrats bastardized the term liberal some time ago by rejecting the classical liberal qualities of tolerance of opinion, free trade and limiting government regulations. I would think that today's Libertarians are much more deserving of the noun than any other group.


I wouldn't consider him an avowed communist outside of his desire to seize the means of production, but he is an avowed socialist which by any metric is stage one of a truly communist conversion.Interesting ....would you consider Austria Communist? You can't get much more Socially Democratic than Austria. Rob

[Alan]

Interesting ....would you consider Austria Communist? You can't get much more Socially Democratic than Austria. Rob
No, I wouldn't consider Austria to be communist. It seems to be a hodge podge of ideological parties (Austrian Peoples Party, Social Democratic Party, Freedom Party, Austrian Green, New Austria Liberal Forum and perhaps a few others) all struggling for dominance in a Parliament which calls the country a Democratic Republic, much like the US. Why do you ask?

[LDAHL]

I think Mamdani is a Muslim in the same sense Nancy Pelosi is a Catholic. The pro-Palestinian shouting seems to be in conformity to current progressive fashion. While he likes to use a lot of Communist rhetoric, he doesn’t strike me as a committed Marxist.

By upbringing, education and belief, his basic philosophy seems to be radical chic. I’m not sure how well that would sell outside NYC. I would say that would be the greatest gift to the GOP since Kamala Harris.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I think Mamdani is a Muslim in the same sense Nancy Pelosi is a Catholic. The pro-Palestinian shouting seems to be in conformity to current progressive fashion. While he likes to use a lot of Communist rhetoric, he doesnÂ’t strike me as a committed Marxist.

By upbringing, education and belief, his basic philosophy seems to be radical chic. IÂ’m not sure how well that would sell outside NYC. I would say that would be the greatest gift to the GOP since Kamala Harris.Methinks - if Trump doesn't pull shenanigans to call off Elections, which I predict will happen but hopefully I won't be in the United States any longer - you may be surprised by the coming Blue Wave led by disgusted independents. We'll see.

Even outside of the US safe from all this evil I still wouldn't wish the GOP on my worst enemy - or the Hilton manager I got fired by reporting his illegal paycheck withholding behavior to Hilton Corporate HR (framed as concern of management caused entirely unnecessary easy asset loss at the Hilton brand, and my concern as a Hilton shareholder & long story but I did own 7 Hilton shares at the time) and of course getting the State Labor Board involved, and trying but failing to get the Phoenix New Times involved. I wouldn't even wish the GOP on this low life loser. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

Methinks - if Trump doesn't pull shenanigans to call off Elections, which I predict will happen but hopefully I won't be in the United States any longer - you may be surprised by the coming Blue Wave led by disgusted independents. We'll see.

Even outside of the US safe from all this evil I still wouldn't wish the GOP on my worst enemy - or the Hilton manager I got fired by reporting his illegal paycheck withholding behavior to Hilton Corporate HR (framed as concern of management caused entirely unnecessary easy asset loss at the Hilton brand, and my concern as a Hilton shareholder & long story but I did own 7 Hilton shares at the time) and of course getting the State Labor Board involved, and trying but failing to get the Phoenix New Times (a weekly free newspaper here) involved. I wouldn't even wish the GOP on this low life loser. Rob

[iris lilies]

Methinks - if Trump doesn't pull shenanigans to call off Elections, which I predict will happen but hopefully I won't be in the United States any longer - you may be surprised by the coming Blue Wave led by disgusted independents. We'll see.

Even outside of the US safe from all this evil I still wouldn't wish the GOP on my worst enemy - or the Hilton manager I got fired by reporting his illegal paycheck withholding behavior to Hilton Corporate HR (framed as concern of management caused entirely unnecessary easy asset loss at the Hilton brand, and my concern as a Hilton shareholder & long story but I did own 7 Hilton shares at the time) and of course getting the State Labor Board involved, and trying but failing to get the Phoenix New Times involved. I wouldn't even wish the GOP on this low life loser. Rob

I think I recall that you were going to take a trip south of the border to check out a South American country this summer as a place to flee. Here it is July. What’s going on with your travel plans?

[gimmethesimplelife]

I think I recall that you were going to take a trip south of the border to check out a South American country this summer as a place to flee. Here it is July. What’s going on with your travel plans?Hi IL!

Things are getting interesting. My employer has been bought out by a California company that leaves a lot to be desired. We are now down 3 managers and no effort is being made to replace them. I was told tersely that MAYBE I could have a week off in November. There are rumors of salary cuts and I don't get anywhere near enough time for my husband. Point here - if this keeps going eventually I will leave. That may be when I go.

Gotta say something - it's nice to stash cash, it's nice to buy gifts for SO, it's nice to donate to a few charities I believe in - but moving up is not all it's cracked up to be. But it's still better than waiting tables - a bit. I came back here recently because it's been all about work for too long. Anyhow - not sure when it's going to be. Now with Trump's Big Evil Downward Spiral bill,it's becoming a race to stash cash as long as I can deal. Who knows?

But I will say it is probably wise to have SO in touch with the Immigration Attorney. SO himself wants out. He is afraid of ICE and is terrified (not quite strong enough):of being flown to South Sudan completely illegally given his (naturalized) US citizenship. Of course I want out - yesterday's proof that billionaire wealth acquisition is more important than human life in the United States - what's a decent person like me doing in this country , anyway? Better is available and in more than one place.

Did this update you? Rob

[iris lilies]

Stashing cash is ALWAYS a good idea.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Stashing cash is ALWAYS a good idea.Agreed more than I can say. Rob

[frugal-one]

Where is the plan to go, Rob?

[gimmethesimplelife]

Where is the plan to go, Rob?Cuenca, Ecuador, same as before. Rob

[Tradd]

Totally agreed on stacking cash.

[LDAHL]

I don’t know. If I believed as Rob seems to that the US is on the brink of chaos and collapse, I might not be inclined to maintain my faith in the US dollar. I might also be reluctant to depend overmuch on the financial health of small countries likely to be negatively impacted by a US collapse.

[bae]

I don’t know. If I believed as Rob seems to that the US is on the brink of chaos and collapse, I might not be inclined to maintain my faith in the US dollar. I might also be reluctant to depend overmuch on the financial health of small countries likely to be negatively impacted by a US collapse.

Bingo.

[Tybee]

Rob, good luck with your plans, and yes to stashing cash if you can do so. I like the way you are looking out for others in your community, and thinking about people other than yourself in all this.
If I did not have children and grandchildren in this country, we would probably be looking into alternatives for the long run, but right now we're here, I guess. Hang in there.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I don’t know. If I believed as Rob seems to that the US is on the brink of chaos and collapse, I might not be inclined to maintain my faith in the US dollar. I might also be reluctant to depend overmuch on the financial health of small countries likely to be negatively impacted by a US collapse.For better or worse, Ecuador uses the US dollar. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

Rob, good luck with your plans, and yes to stashing cash if you can do so. I like the way you are looking out for others in your community, and thinking about people other than yourself in all this.
If I did not have children and grandchildren in this country, we would probably be looking into alternatives for the long run, but right now we're here, I guess. Hang in there.Thank You, Tybee. Rob

[bae]

For better or worse, Ecuador uses the US dollar. Rob

I'm not convinced it is wise to keep the bulk of one's assets in dollars at this moment in history.

[LDAHL]

Undeterred by his loss in the Democratic primary, Andrew Cuomo will still run in the general election under his own self-created party. He will offer New Yorkers a candidate that combines the self-effacing charisma of Hillary Clinton with the moral gravitas of Harvey Weinstein.

[LDAHL]

I'm not convinced it is wise to keep the bulk of one's assets in dollars at this moment in history.

I remember back during the seventies vogue for economic doomsayers they were recommending krugerrands, Swiss francs and bags of silver coins. I’m not sure what the contemporary equivalent might be. Crypto? Lithium mining shares? Farmland?

[iris lilies]

I remember back during the seventies vogue for economic doomsayers they were recommending krugerrands, Swiss francs and bags of silver coins. I’m not sure what the contemporary equivalent might be. Crypto? Lithium mining shares? Farmland?
Well, we are covered with farmland. Unfortunately, the Swiss bankers insisted DH close his Swiss bank account because it had gone inactive for several years. He had neglegible funds in it, but he always like to drop the idea that he had a Swiss bank account.

[Rogar]

I remember back during the seventies vogue for economic doomsayers they were recommending krugerrands, Swiss francs and bags of silver coins. I’m not sure what the contemporary equivalent might be. Crypto? Lithium mining shares? Farmland?

Gold has taken a solid run-up the last year or so. The gold bugs were bound to get it right one day. I'm assuming the run-up is a result of economic uncertainty and a safe haven, as they would say.