They’re eating the dogs! They’re eating the cats!

[epaul]

Trump does demonize illegal immigrants. A caution not to do the same to those who with only a R or D choice chose to support him. In the broad context, Trump was right when he said there were fine people on both sides.

The influx of refugees across the border is an issue. I sure don't see just one side, or two, there might be five or six, all with good reason. Personally, I see nothing wrong with honesty. It isn't them, it's us. Nothing wrong with self-interest. They aren't bad, rotten people, we just can't handle any more refugees at this time. Sorry. Infrastructure and services are full up. Not you. Us.

Maybe later, but for now a break is needed. Place a moratorium on the admittance of refugees. Keep it in place until we have a grip on what we have to deal with and have made the necessary placements and assimilation.

Deport serious criminals, but those that are here shouldn't be hunted down, they can stay. But, no more. Close the border, with troops if needed, send a clear message. No more refugees admitted. Not until we are ready for more and want more. And then it will be done orderly with a coherent immigration plan in place.

There are other plans, ideas, thoughts. Won't argue them. They are probably better. But, I would sure stick with the "they aren't bad people, they are desperate people, but we just can't handle the world's number of desperate people" approach. Sorry. Border's closed until further notice. Don't demonize the other, admit honestly to self-interest. Own it.

[Shannon]

Sept 11, 2024 21:35:21 GMT -5 Cornflake said:

Sometimes I think we have become too numb about Trump. Or at least I have. I hear him saying crazy things and think, "Well, that's just how he is." But it isn't okay and I shouldn't get used to it.

I agree with this. I think he is a dangerous man, and has no business being near the oval office.

(Russell, if I knew how to quote from two separate messages, I would have quoted your response to Don, too).

[epaul]

There is room for more in this country. Most of it's empty. The Dakota's, non-mountain Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, are 90% empty. This country has 90% of its people packed into 10% of its space. Maybe 5%. Housing is fucked.

[Russell Letson]

To add a quotation to a post-in-progress, clip out the desired passage and paste it into your post, then surround it with the blockquote-/blockquote tag (in square brackets). It won't automatically include the source of the quoted material the way the quote function does, but it does get it into the post.

[dradtke]

I realized something recently. Others have probably made this connection long before me, but sometimes I think slowly.

One legal method of immigration is to apply for asylum. Many refugees from unsettled countries come to the US seeking asylum.

Trump, being a man with a 4th-grade level vocabulary, heard the word "asylum" and assumed it meant insane asylums. That's where he gets the idea that other countries are emptying out their mental institutions. He's too dim to understand any other meaning of the word.

[Russell Letson]

Or he's just been listening to the reptilian Stephen Miller, with maybe a side order of Marjorie Taylor Green.

[Shannon]

Sept 12, 2024 10:13:40 GMT -5 Russell Letson said:

To add a quotation to a post-in-progress, clip out the desired passage and paste it into your post, then surround it with the blockquote-/blockquote tag (in square brackets). It won't automatically include the source of the quoted material the way the quote function does, but it does get it into the post.

Thanks!

[TKennedy]

I may have mentioned it before but Stephen Miller would make a great Nazi in the next Indiana Jones movie.

[Marshall]

He has some points to be made on issues of the day. But he can't refrain from going beyond his legitimate talking points and wallowing in angry vitriol. The republicans would have been so much better off with Niki Haley.

[majorminor]

Sept 12, 2024 12:54:22 GMT -5 TKennedy said:

the next Indiana Jones movie.

What are they gonna call it - The Crimson Diaper?

[Rob Hanesworth]

Don't forget, on a happy note, if Trump loses this year he is eligible to run again in 2028. He will only be 82 and won't have lost much mental acuity. There must be a limit to cognitive decline and The Donald must be approaching it.

[Russell Letson]

The Mental Acuity Asymptotic Curve?

(Just fixed a typo--though "Mental Cutey-pie Asymptotic Curve" could be a useful metric. I leave a candidate list as an exercise for the student.)

[majorminor]

I watched the first hour or so. I thought for the first 30 minutes or so Trump seemed calm and even somewhat reasonable for him. Then the dog thing and then she rolled out "your rallies suck" and "world leaders laugh at you behind your back", and oh by the way "you have a little pee pee". It's like a dog whistle and he can't help himself and the off on a tangent bloviating begins. I would have stood on the stage with a T shirt on under my suit coat that was done in that Che Guevara style and colors but had her picture on it wearing the beret with the caption "BORDER CZAR". Then I would have just pounded inflation, and the middle class economy, and some variation of "drill baby drill especially in Pennsylvania". Then immediatley after the debate I would have sold 50 million of those T shirts for $29.99.

Kamala was slicker and more composed and rose to the occasion for sure, but her avoidance of some pretty simple questions about immigration and inflation was obvious.

[Russell Letson]

"Madame Vice President, would you care to address a number of questions, rooted in long-running campaigns of obfuscation and distortion run by right-wing meme-factories, that your opponent would love to jump all over? Shall we begin with your acceptance of the official title of Border Czar? You do realize that "czar" is a Russian word, right?"

"No thanks--I'll just keep needling him for a while. The entertainment value is much higher."

[Rob Hanesworth]

Sept 12, 2024 12:59:02 GMT -5 Marshall said:

He has some points to be made on issues of the day. But he can't refrain from going beyond his legitimate talking points and wallowing in angry vitriol. The republicans would have been so much better off with Niki Haley.

Nikki Haley versus Kamala Harris would have been a fascinating race. If MAGA loyalists were forced to choose between two candidates, both women, both with Indian heritage, how many MAGA heads would simply explode!

🤯

[Russell Letson]

If there's a point system for ethnic-other status, then Kamala, as at least biracial (and neither of her backgrounds white) is the clear cranial-busting champ. (Though lots of sure-nuff Muricans, including my brother's kids, probably harbor all manner of DNA surprises. You never know what your ancestors will get up to.)

[RickW]

I thought from the start that having someone else, just about anyone else, on the GOP ticket, and they would have won easily. Be willing to bet that if Harris wins, that Ms. Hailey will be the GOP candidate next time. She’ll certainly get an excellent shot at it.

[Cornflake]

"(Though lots of sure-nuff Muricans, including my brother's kids, probably harbor all manner of DNA surprises. You never know what your ancestors will get up to.)"

Unless you take a DNA test.

[Rob Hanesworth]

I am sitting at my desk and a plump, tasty-looking cat just sauntered through my front yard. Unfortunately, there are no Haitians handy to tell me how best to prepare it.

[howard lee]

Sept 12, 2024 12:54:22 GMT -5 TKennedy said:

I may have mentioned it before but Stephen Miller would make a great Nazi in the next Indiana Jones movie.

So would Elon Musk, as depicted by in this AI-generated image.