Leaderboard

I do volunteer work for Beto's campaign (surprise!). I get called a "libtard" on a regular basis and get a lot of responses that are just "#MAGA!" and the like, but I also hear a lot of "who is Beto?" and "What is his position on X?" For those with genuine questions and who are on the fence, I'm happy to be there to answer questions and help in any way I can. I really have no idea what's going to happen in November but I'll do what I can for Beto while I can.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people can't spot a con. Come on, conservatives. Almost every important conservative leader is denouncing the Trump administration for ripping families apart at the border. And the administration blames it on laws passed by Democrats; laws that do not, and never did, exist. It's a lie, and an easily debunkable one. It's one of hundreds of lies from this White House. If you can't figure it out, all you have to do is pay attention to the people who've led your party for years; people you've even voted for! Listen to them. But all of a sudden, you trust this lying piece of shit con in the White House more than John McCain? What the fuck happened to you? How can you be THIS stupid?

When you -- with near perfect consistency -- fail to EVER call out the evil that you (supposedly) DO think should be called out...well, forgive the rest of us for doubting your sincerity. You are 1000X more concerned about folks complaining about Trump than you are about ANYTHING his admin has done. So, yeah. It rings really fucking hollow.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/bucks-barbeque-co-2018/

I have said this before on surly, perhaps in this thread: I was in 8th grade when Reagan won in '80 and have been "republican" ever since. I never really voted at except in a few school board type elections where it is not so much about the party affiliation. Along the way, I listed to Rush and Sgt. Sam on KLBJ, especially back in the early/mid Clinton years-I was was pretty sore at Bush I losing back in '92. Somewhere in the later Clinton years I got tired of their shtick-just too hateful and their extreme arguments would never stand up to any simple logic applied. For the 2000 presidential election I wanted Bush to win but was OK with Gore-seemed like a descent enough guy. Pulled for Bush in the post election FLorida debacle. After 911 I went harder right, mostly because I thought Clinton had botched the missile raid on Bin Laden because he rushed it to deflect on the Lewinsky thing. Bush did some nutty stuff, but the thing I remember most was the gas and commodities price escalation-or rather an interesting explanation I heard from the right for the gas price increases-If you remember gas prices went through the roof in 2008 without a corresponding like increase in the price of oil. Demand for gas had a slight increase, there was some reduced refining capacity and the price of oil did go up-but none of those factors in total would have accounted for the increase. As the questions got harder for the administration and the oil companies as profits soared , there was a lot of talk about demand and the markets adjusting to it as the reason. This is when I called bullshit on the whole thing-as an oil company you don't get to charge 3 times as much for doing the same thing. It was a fix, a bone thrown to the oil industry. The analysis is more complicated than I am making it, but that is what turned me off of "conservative" talking points. Then came the 2008 election, which should have been a landslide for Obama: Bad economy (with no cover for party in power), bad Republican VP candidate, beleaguered populace from unending and pretty sketchy war, gas prices, food prices, etc. I came to the conclusion that there might be a racial problem. I was/am no fan of Obama. In addition to ACA, I saw little hope and change. If anything I saw a doubling down on Bush II doctrines. So 2016 election would be wide open. I figured Hilary would get the D nod and hoped the republicans would get somebody good (a McKain or Romney type candidate would probably win easily). I simply could not believe what I was watching as Trump surged and people got behind him. Election night I went to bed early, thinking if the American people had any sense Hilary would be our president elect. I did not vote-it is Texas after all. Which brings us to today. I voted for the first time in decades in the democratic primary. In the midterms, I am voting for Beto and anybody else that has a D behind their name-not because I think they are any better than the others guys necessarily, but this madness must be stopped.

I get why some of y'all are doing it, but muddying the waters with everything that needs to be done to curb illegal immigration is dodging the subject. Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions, and the architect of this policy, Stephen Miller are taking babies and children away from their parents and locking them up in chain link cages inside old WalMarts. That policy is not a law. It was not being done prior to last month. It was not done by previous presidents. They are doing it because......? Not one person has answered that question. They are doing it because they are shitty, gross, evil beings. There is no benefit to it. There is no justification for it. There is no spin to put on it. They started it and they could stop it. But they don't want to. They are attempting to use these incarcerated children as political bargaining chip to get what they want. Period. Bringing up all the other valid attendant issues surrounding illegal immigration in an attempt to move the conversation away is a pathetically transparent way of not addressing the evil elephant in the room. Conservatives love to spout off about the value of every child's life and here's their chance to prove they practice what they preach. Surprise me by being decent.

I can't speak for others, but I wouldn't care so much if it wasn't a main talking point of his campaign and Twitter rage for years. It's just one of an endless number of hypocrisies that his supporters are more than happy to overlook. Kind of like how he blows up an Iran deal that has actual parameters and concessions from the Iranians like not enriching uranium past a certain threshold or letting inspectors in. He ends it for being a bad deal. But he'll pat himself on the back and claim he solved the NK nuclear crisis just from a vague promise from Kim with nothing else. It's the blatant hypocrisy that pisses me off, not that somebody wants time off from a job to play golf. The fact that he's likely enriching himself while doing it through my tax dollars is also maddening. Obama never did anything like that.

Negros "disrespecting" the flag = very serious issue Ripping children from their parents and shipping them off to concentration camps = manufactured outrage The modern republican party

here's why so many of your posts ring hollow. maybe you don't realize it, so i'm kind of going to give it a try. you are obviously against the separation of families, at least it seems. however, your step forward in sentence one of paragraph one. the rest of your post delves into a weird hypothetical because, for some reason, you think that the constant criticism of trump is unwarranted, because no matter what happens people are going to freak out. no. people are freaking out because of the outrageous shit. THIS ISSUE is an example of "the real deplorable shit that needs to be confronted head on." and what you do with posts like yours, even if you aren't #bothsides, is legitimize the both sides. when you should be decrying in the loudest and most powerful terms, you still equivocate because some people are shrill about some things. it ruins you as a poster a bit, because we all know you're a smart guy. you just don't seem to want to take a stance, instead trying to be critical of the critics. it's strange.

Oscar Giles going in bone dry and without mercy.

I've voted Republican or Libertarian my whole life, but Beto will probably be the first time I'll vote differently. He seems to be one of the few voices of sanity out there at the moment and also seems to be a very decent human being at the same time. Sounds like someone I can and should support as much as possible.

Wait I thought this family separation policy is Obama's policy, and is a strong way of stopping criminals from using children to get into the country. So why are Dems weak and ineffective on Boarder Security and Crime when this is really Obama's policy?

There's a massive gulf between fully open boarders and let's not separate children from their parents even if they're here illegally. I don't know why that former keeps getting thrown around.

A Giles Special with cheese.

Equinox just marched in here and threw down the gauntlet by dropping his drawers and then began furiously fingering his asshole. Although that wasnt enough, he then started shoving multiple fingers in there to the horror of everyone else. When people protested by saying it was unsanitary, he started licking his fingers saying shit was really chocolate. All the while laughing and giving the finger to everyone looking, giggling as he mumbled "a peanut, chocolate and peanuts, mmm."

"Tom Herman, also known as Coach Herman, whose first name happens to be Tom, is coaching this Longhorns team."

The distinction....well, that's like facts and logic. GTFO with that shit, because... ...these things are true. It should be, but it isn't. If anyone wonders how the creep of inhumanity and evil turn a respectable nation into an atrocity, this is how it goes. Oh, I've always LOVED the false dilemma! One of my FAVORITE logical fallacies, mostly employed by moutbreathing idiots allergic to simple logic and reasoning. And, so EASILY rebutted! See, how about this -- when it comes to (1) families who are coming here seeking asylum, we should (2) not tear apart those family units. That's it. Full-stop. That policy and approach is not incompatible with having immigration laws, an asylum system, dealing with coyotes, and all that shit. It's just one piece of the puzzle, addressed in full -- when a family arrives here seeking asylum, don't separate children from their parents. You can push to change our laws on asylum (no asylum for anyone, ever!) -- we'll argue the policy point. You can push to change our immigration system (I might well agree with much of what you propose -- hell, there are folks here with whom I disagree a great deal, and we agree on some elements of immigration -- see Johnny Sack) -- we'll discuss the policy point. But if you effectively hold children and their well-being hostage to get your way -- shut it down, you are evil. If you implement a "border defense" policy that sets up machine gun nests to cut down a family wading across the river -- shut it down, you are evil. There are things that a civilized, decent nation does not do and cannot do. Period. Ever. And if you commit inhuman acts in order to gain political advantage, you are no better than a terrorist, taking hostages to improve your negotiation position. "If you'd just leave the holy land, I wouldn't have to hijack this plane full of your citizens. YOU can put an end to this. Pull your presence out of the Middle East. This is your fault. DO SOMETHING!" Hurting civilians to get your way politically is terrorism. Welcome to the club, fellas.

Because Trump wants it. Therefore it's good. QED. That's the extent of the calculation. They begin with the conclusion that it's good and then seek to defend it. Because previous administrations weren't perfect, that excuses this willful and intentional monstrosity. Never mind that this inhumane treatment is unprecedented. If there has ever been a case when immigrant children should be separated, that now justifies the separation of all of them in every case. What we used to define as legal asylum seeking is now considered illegal and we'll treat them all as criminals. And be as despicable as possible while we're at it. Trump says he doesn't like it and acts like his hands are tied. He doesn't want to do it but the law forces him to. When has that ever described anything he's ever done in his entire life? And what's the statute? And who's stopping him from changing it? What bill have the evil Democrats blocked? Why weren't Obama's hands tied in the same way? The evil is so transparent. You can't expect the defenders to respond to reason. You can't reason a person out of a position they weren't reasoned into.

We already know we can beat Texas Tech twice. We knock out Florida, and Tech knocks piggy down and we finish them off. We can do this.

Goddammit, only because I miss this game.

Pretty sure he got denied Saturday.

Because they aren't seeking asylum until they get caught jumping the border. If they were seeking asylum, they would do it at any embassy or port of entry. They are attempting to sneak in and make it to a sanctuary city so they can stay forever. They only claim asylum once they get caught.

Slorch is irritating as fuck on a variety of other topics, but he's actually a pretty good Tech fan. During in-game discussions, he's about the game instead of about the rivalry, and is usually humble in victory and gracious in defeat. You can't ask for much more from a fan of another team posting on a rival's message board. I'm pulling for Tech because arky fans suck shit, and aggy fans are even worse and they're riding pig coattails.

There's nothing to interpret. He's not trying to say anything, other than throwing shit at the wall he heard on Fox and Friends and doesn't understand, in an attempt to rally his base. He has no position other than himself, and he doesn't understand anything other than he likes lots of fake gold leaf around him.

Trying to decide which one of these fuckers I want to see dangling from the end of a rope the most is like trying to decide on the hottest coed in a sundress and cowboy boots at the first tailgate of football season.

Military parades suppression of the press calling to jail political opponents kid concentration camps silencing political opposition through intimidation claims of being above the law through self pardon not standing to clap or salute the flag equals treason using political power to influence private businesses unilaterly banning entire groups of based on religion Do you know what fascism is?

Ask your husband that question.

First go at beef ribs. Very pleased with the results

Hi Friends, can we have a thread on just this issue. My family and I are trying to figure out how to help with money and/or time. So far I have found this org RAICES is the best bet and has the most traction. It was in the other thread that blew up but its lost in there now with all the usual BS Please keep your politics elsewhere. thanks. If this the wrong board please move. I am putting this hear as lots of folks are here talking on this issue, so I think it applies. https://www.raicestexas.org/ So in this scenario we are donating to the fund for legal services, which include just giving money to our government for terrible policies. Gotta say that burns. I am going to do it, but welcome to input here on what else we can do to help. thank you

5+ pages worth of Giles talk.

This thread inspired me to make these last night:

Slorch is good people. He’s made solid contributions on our boards for years. Lighten up.

From May 18. One down.

Trump: Democrats need to fix this bad law! Senate Democrats: All 49 of us are sponsoring this bill to fix this "bad law" that isn't a law but your own Administration's policy. Trump: I'm not signing that!

She once got busy in a Burger King bathroom.

Build family camps. And expedite this shit so they aren't stuck long. Asylum is granted pretty narrowly in my experience. Most won't qualify. Some will. Catch and release is a stupid and dangerous policy that is just going to encourage more illegal immigration and more kids dying in the brush of Mexico or South Texas.

With a few tweaks, these guys could start charging $10.95. 1. I was told that Texas "really smashed the shuttlecock" with Davis this weekend. 2. Texas was down a few wickets heading into the weekend, then absolutely crushed a massive six on the visit, I'm told. 3. Herman was literally throwing his 8th stone this weekend, and after sweeping like crazy, Texas made a great draw to the button in the extra end.

We also need to shun the college educated suburban racists. We need to stop inviting them over for dinner and drinks. We need to stop tailgating with them. We need to stop associating with them in any way. We need to make their brand of veiled racism socially unacceptable.

They are just accusing others of doing what they're doing. They're accusing so called "libs" of false outrage, which is in fact real anger at actual horrors, because they have spent the past decade manufacturing outrage about dijon mustard, teleprompters, golf, 57 states, tan suits, Kathy Griffin, NFL players kneeling, Samantha Bee, Harvey Weinstein donating to the dems, Starbucks cups, and hundreds of other things.

i think the 1986 are quietly the best. definitely underrated. might be because that was when i really started my astros obsession - 1986 season. they still have rainbow sleeves and same writing, but don't overwhelm you like the full rainbow. the guys love the rainbow throwbacks, but someone always says, "well, i love them, but not for everyday". the 1986 seems like a great every day jersey. also when i think of biggio and bagwell as rookies, they're wearing the 86. shooting star is nice but definitely looks old timey.

If nothing else...Trump has brought leftists back to reading the Bible and believing in hell. So that's good I guess .

This was pretty surreal yesterday. Watching the storm move across downtown from the FIL’s back porch (you can sort of see the downtown skyline through the haze). Took a minute to grab my phone, but when I first noticed this the line of rain was perfectly perpendicular to the ground. Looked like someone was clearing an etch-a-sketch.

He ended with a paragraph telling us the name of our head coach, last season's record, who we played in a bowl, our coach's contract, last season's record again, and then more history of our coach. This article was literally: 1. A play by play of how a currently meaningless score went up when a player committed to us and who that caused us to jump in a currently meaningless ranking 2. A full listing of the HS, state, position, rank, and name for each player and how many commits we have after this one 3. A complete listing of the Big 12 by scores in a currently meaningless ranking 4. A paragraph detailing the currently meaningless score of the teams ahead and behind us and the most obvious statement ever about how adding good players makes us go up in the currently meaningless ranking and have a few really good players is better than having a couple good players then bread for this currently meaningless ranking. He then tells us the average rating of our class and the star breakdown...which he already gave us in paragraph 2. He then gives us a ranking that is slightly more meaningful at this time. 5. More useless info about the current state of recruiting in the Big 12 (IN JUNE) as though we give a shit (hell I don't even give a shit about the rest of the Big 12 besides OU on NSD) and then telling us we signed a great class last year as though we don't already know that 6. A paragraph telling us the name of our head coach, last season's record, who we played in a bowl, our coach's contract, last season's record again, and then more history of our coach. I can't believe people willingly pay for this.

Sounds defeatist to suggest we're totally playing with house money in Omaha this year, but we are. Anything positive we do (including playing a better team quite competitively) is a plus going forward. I realize "we're Texas" and all, but we've massively overachieved this season. I really want at least one win before we get knocked out, obviously...but we should be able to build off what we've already done. Florida is somewhat lucky to have staved off Auburn in the supers. I don't think they'll win the title, though they clearly have some elite talent.

My 5 YO likes to ask me if I like to eat eyeballs (or boogers etc.). I always reply yes. Then she says “ewwww dad likes to eat eyeballs!” Today at a restaurant, I’m talking to my wife and she asks the question, I’m not listening and say yes out of habit. Then at the top of her lungs she starts yelling “MY DAD LIKES TO EAT BUTTHOLES!!! HE LOVES TO EAT BUTTHOLES!!!”

I mentioned it previously and others have as well, but it’s hard to push a kid when he doesn’t give a shit about answering calls or showing up to scheduled stuff. So shut the fuck up when you don’t know what in the fuck you are whining about in the first place.

Make sure that quarter doesn’t meld to your tire.