US Elections: If you experience a painful election...

[Bold Barry Whitebeard]

3 minutes ago, Ferrum Aeternum said:

No question. The hypocrisy is staggering. 

I have the distinct impression that all the strides and social progress of the past several decades is about to swirl down the drain. I hope I am just overreacting. Christ fuck I need a drink.

It's not hypocrisy.  Posing naked is unfortunate.  Supporting infanticide is unforgivable.

Also, that toilet started flushing the moment the left accused everyone opposing Obama of racism.

[Mlle. Zabzie]

Ok, serious question.  I'm actually getting to the time in the year when I start to think about my planned giving.  We normally give to my Church's homeless dinner program, my University, my Law School and my childrens' school(s), an animal rescue organization, WWF/WCS, and an education/mentorship organization for disadvantaged kids.  My firm (basically) requires a donation to Legal Aid.  But this year, I'm thinking of reallocating.  I'm thinking that more of my money needs to go to US-focused civil liberties organizations.  I'm thinking the ACLU and maybe TLDef (because I've volunteered with them) are good places, but would appreciate other ideas. 

[James Arryn]

6 minutes ago, Bold Barry Whitebeard said:

It's not hypocrisy.  Posing naked is unfortunate.  Supporting infanticide is unforgivable.

Also, that toilet started flushing the moment the left accused everyone opposing Obama of racism.

Why is posing naked unfortunate?

[James Arryn]

1 minute ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

Ok, serious question.  I'm actually getting to the time in the year when I start to think about my planned giving.  We normally give to my Church's homeless dinner program, my University, my Law School and my childrens' school(s), an animal rescue organization, WWF/WCS, and an education/mentorship organization for disadvantaged kids.  My firm (basically) requires a donation to Legal Aid.  But this year, I'm thinking of reallocating.  I'm thinking that more of my money needs to go to US-focused civil liberties organizations.  I'm thinking the ACLU and maybe TLDef (because I've volunteered with them) are good places, but would appreciate other ideas. 

I feel like a heel. I give to homeless people when I have money on me, volunteer occasionally at homeless shelters, gave some to abused wome's shelter and....that's it. You're way more organized and pro-active than I am.

[Bold Barry Whitebeard]

7 minutes ago, James Arryn said:

Why is posing naked unfortunate?

From the evangelical perspective, posing naked is lewd and pornographic and sets a bad example for our children.  But it is nothing compared to someone who supports infanticide.  You can't morally equate the two to an evangelical.

[Rhom]

7 minutes ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

Ok, serious question.  I'm actually getting to the time in the year when I start to think about my planned giving.  We normally give to my Church's homeless dinner program, my University, my Law School and my childrens' school(s), an animal rescue organization, WWF/WCS, and an education/mentorship organization for disadvantaged kids.  My firm (basically) requires a donation to Legal Aid.  But this year, I'm thinking of reallocating.  I'm thinking that more of my money needs to go to US-focused civil liberties organizations.  I'm thinking the ACLU and maybe TLDef (because I've volunteered with them) are good places, but would appreciate other ideas. 

I always check everything with Charity Navigator before I get involved in anything.  We make an effort to tithe through the year with the church.  We also donate to the kids' schools and other community needs we see.  I'm actively involved with my local Rotary Club and I'm a big fan of what Rotary International does on a global (and also local) level; so most of my planned giving throughout the year actually goes to either Rotary's Annual Fund or Polio Plus.

[Mlle. Zabzie]

8 minutes ago, James Arryn said:

I feel like a heel. I give to homeless people when I have money on me, volunteer occasionally at homeless shelters, gave some to abused wome's shelter and....that's it. You're way more organized and pro-active than I am.

Don't feel like a heel.  I don't give to homeless people on the streets particularly when I'm alone because I've had people follow me/harass me and that's scary, so I write a check to the dinner program.  I have both the means and the incentive (we make enough that itemizing makes sense) to give generously.  I tend to give in pledge form - that way I'm locked for a certain number of years.  As it turns out, I'm at the end of a lot of my pledges, so this is a good time to be thinking of it.  

BUT, I want my money to have impact.  And I want it to be used for things I care about.  Since I care deeply about civil liberties, individual rights and equal protection, and these are  areas that may be needing an assist, I want to find other organizations besides the aforementioned that would do that.  So ideas that I can research would be great

[butterbumps!]

9 minutes ago, Bold Barry Whitebeard said:

From the evangelical perspective, posing naked is lewd and pornographic and sets a bad example for our children.  But it is nothing compared to someone who supports infanticide.  You can't morally equate the two to an evangelical.

I think the poster you quoted was referring to the presumed hypocrisy in terms of the GOP reaction if Michelle Obama had taken identical pics.   As in, they wouldn't tolerate it from the Obamas.

[Fez]

New Hampshire SOS has certified Hassan won the senate race, so senate Democrats ended up +2 last night. Republicans will have a 52-48 majority assuming they win the Louisiana runoff, and I can't imagine they won't.

[Westerosi Coast Gangster]

America is about to become great again

[Liffguard]

3 minutes ago, Westerosi Coast Gangster said:

America is about to become great again

How, specifically?

[Westerosi Coast Gangster]

I dont know, but it seems like a popular sentiment

[IheartIheartTesla]

OK, after a surreal morning, reality is slowly setting in. Also, Michigan was finally called for Trump by only ~12000 votes, so that has to hurt a bit. That's just a pimple in Wayne county voting. Some of the local races I put some time and effort into were a total wipeout too, so the Michigan super-majority continues. Unbelievable the Flint water crisis had absolutely no effect on local politics at all.

At any rate, a post-mortem question for the Clinton campaign. The big puzzle is the cracking of the three firewall states - MI, WI and PA. I think I can understand Michigan to a certain extent. I am struggling to understand WI, but it really was a state left alone by the Clinton campaign. I heard she didnt even set foot in there, which to me is mind boggling. The hard part for me to accept is PA. Now, I know campaigns look at polling data and internal polling, but I look at the Democratic party as a big polling organization itself. When entire townships of lifelong Democrats switch, did it not ring alarm bells up the ladder? For instance, the lack of enthusiasm locally should have snaked its way up the chain and sent some shock waves that the internal polling was indeed off. I suspect there was some complacency somewhere that led to this oversight.

 

[Manhole Eunuchsbane]

4 minutes ago, Westerosi Coast Gangster said:

America is about to become great again

We're gonna save Europe from the Nazis.

[Westerosi Coast Gangster]

I didnt vote, couldn't stand either, but I have to say I think his presidency has a better chance than hers would have to change this country

[OldGimletEye]

Just fuckin hilarious.

You want to know why growth as been slower than it should have been United States?

Here's why:

Quote

Sen. David Perdue (R-.Ga) stood on the Senate floor a little more than one month ago and declared that “we have a budget crisis. We have a debt crisis.” Two weeks ago, he wrote in an op-ed that “President Obama’s budgets ignored fiscally responsible principles, instead leaving an ever-growing mountain of debt for taxpayers down the road,” and he urged the United States to pass a balanced-budget amendment ensuring that the government can't spend more than it takes in.

 

Quote

“Well, I think there’s a short-term view and a long-term view. What we need is a long-term strategy, and by long-term, I’m talking, you’re going to say, 30 to 40 years to solve this debt crisis eventually,” Perdue said in an interview on CNBC.

Brought to you by the Republican Party! 
The Party of Business!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/09/republicans-look-like-they-could-change-their-tune-on-debt-under-a-president-trump/

[The guy from the Vale]

Yes it does. Not all change is created equal, though, and all the things that are likely to be changing under Trump look simply terrifying.

[Bold Barry Whitebeard]

24 minutes ago, butterbumps! said:

I think the poster you quoted was referring to the presumed hypocrisy in terms of the GOP reaction if Michelle Obama had taken identical pics.   As in, they wouldn't tolerate it from the Obamas.

That's because the Obamas wouldn't have any redeeming qualities to them.  If the race were between Trump and Cruz they wouldn't tolerate Melania's pictures either.  It's all relative.

[Mladen]

I sincerely have no idea how in God's name this happened but just like with Brexit, I feel like someone was not paying attention. Behaving like people have no choice when in fact they do, is a tricky business. And I do feel, from my external point of view, have that impression. I sincerely feel that the people of USA retaliated to the idea that they have no choice. Which was also the idea sold to the British people regarding Brexit. Lesson to learn: never make people believe world will collapse if they don't do what you want of them. 

Now, I have a hard time to believe that those 50+ million people who voted for Trump are all fascists, racists and misogynists. I sincerely do. I do acknowledge the problems USA has in some areas, but I feel as there was some sort of backlash to the idea of "uneducated white male" If I had been right-wing person and someone would say to me that my choice makes me "uneducated", then I think I may take a bit firmer position. 

The Hillary Clinton presidential project, for me, seems like a carefully prepared project and it was the narrative told so many times by media, news organizations and heck, even Hollywood itself (I know there are at least 3 TV shows using Clinton narrative.) It must have been a huge hit. I am not sure she deserved to lose from Trump (I generally find it difficult to like her) but it seems that what was a ripple effect since this June, turned into a hurricane of polarizing world. If I were American, I would have voted for Clinton. As a Serb, I am difficult to forget what the politics of her husband (the politics she endorse) have done to the region of the world I live in. That said, I doubt Trump has any other views, so it is kinda pointless.

[OldGimletEye]

So here is question:

Let's say your a person not fortunate enough to have employer sponsored health care.

And now you have a health insurance through the ACA.

What are you going to do when you wake up one day, to find your health insurance gone, and taken from you by some hypocritical jack asses, who complain about gubment handouts, but don't have one iota of a frickin clue that their own employer sponsored health insurance is made possible through a government subsidy - ie the tax code.