quigley

I anticipated and appreciate the sarcasm. I try to work on my blind spots.

You're right. My hackles would be raised if Trump started a "Disinformation Governance Board." But that would be because HE AND THOSE AROUND HIM ACKNOWLEDGE HE LIES ALL THE TIME.

Thank you for this (seriously). I don't find them condescending and douchy. So that means I probably am.

I know someone who used to brief Tommy Vietor when he was in the WH (this guy was military stationed in at the Pentagon). Says Tommy is a smart, good dude.

Certainly those voters stayed home. But was the Harris campaign arrogant (I'm ready to hear how they were)? Or are the Dem surrogates arrogant? Or is it just general perception fed by the Fox/right wing beast?

Name calling and talking down to people doesn't win votes. I think you're a doctor (apologizes if mistaken). A doctor knows more about diseases than the nurses/technicians they work with, and those nurses/techs must want to learn from you. But if you explain your understanding of illness to those around you with condescension, you aren't going to be asked for explanations again.

I was talking with a couple of progressive Black business people yesterday (2 men, 1 woman). Referring to the people here on this board, I said that I felt like white progressives were going to pull back from the fight against the revanchist movement in America. One of them said that "White people are used to scoring TDs on every drive. Went they don't score, it's like the game is lost. Black people have been sacked, a lot. We know that you sometimes have to punt, play D, and come back on the next drive with some new plays." The woman said she's worried about the same. But she said she's hopefully that after the initial pain wears off, this will reawaken why they're in the fight.

Been there, doing that.

What are the none-mainstream sources? I'm asking because I'm curious about your ability to see things vs some of the other posters here. I'm definitely left-wing/progressive. I read the NYT online and then get world news from the BBC, Guardian. For a perspective on Asia. I skim the South China Morning Post (which has changed, I know). I listen to a variety of podcasts on history, which inherently have a political lens.

@Rex Kramer Please explain what you mean by smug/snobbish because I didn't get that sense from the Harris campaign. But I agree that she coded as "smug" and "California liberal." She ran a left wing campaign in 2020, and she didn't directly rebut those assertions.

Harris's campaign spent a billion dollars or something. Free Fox advertising for Trump plus he own campaign's spending will add up to a comparable amount. The Russians suck and probably did some stuff. But with the grossness of Trump and his campaign, what else could the Russians do? Where do you get your information?

Hannity is an idiot. Nobody tolerated him. Agree Dems need elevate people who can go anywhere and talk with anyone. Love Al Franken and wished he would've run vs Trump in 2016. Al would've killed him with laughter. If you listen to him now though, he is too old. A smarter electorate is a longterm goal with better civics education and training kids to identify reliable sources of information and corroborate information before accepting it as fact. More immediately and always, Dems have to show they're work. They have to have the discipline to explain why something's bad and how the badness is directly related to the person's life. This sounds like he's making an excuse for a bad policy move. I listen to a lot of podcasts and like pod saves america and the bulwark. The revanchist commentators you listed are disinformation fountains who provide negative value. The WSJ opinion page used to have a podcast but they went off the deep end too in about 2019.

From this I understand that you're saying that the people around you may not want to cooperate with your good gestures. I'm a Sooner on a UT board so you know that I'm not afraid of antipathy. I agree with this and experience it regularly. But I think, consistently showing that your intentions are good by your actions is the only way to break down the walls.

@Brisketexan I understand the impulse, but I'm sorry to hear this. I'm going the other direction. After Trumps 2016 election win, I started volunteering at a police athletic league. I did it for about 3 months, got busier at work and never went back. I'm going to go back now and will try to be more committed. I'm going to lean in hard to one election every cycle. I'm focused on Abigail Spanberger winning in 2025. This is for my own benefit, the benefit of my family, and the benefit of my community. There's lot of data showing greater social engagement and a positive attitude to those around you reflects back to you. I'd like to set a positive example for my daughter and nephews and nieces. You both seem like people who are a positive influence on your communities. I hope you stay engaged and continue to make the world you want to live in.

I don't agree with the this in the short- , intermediate- , or long-term. Immediately, many talented people on here are telling us they'll be less engaged with their neighbors and society. I don't think it's debatable that perception of the nation has declined internationally. Talented scientists were already less likely to come to the US after 2016. Now with RFK leading the Public Health Service into the ground, funding for US science will be much less certain. Longer term, @PenelopeWitherspoon mentioned that the US$ as the reserve currency was on shakier footing based on Trump's election. China would be just as fine with the renminbi as a reserve currency. In a multi-polar world, interest rates rise and standard of living falls. Trump is a fuckup, no doubt. But his staff aren't all idiots, and a lot of them are malicious. Elections are already less free and fair: gerrymandering, ID requirements, removal of voting drop boxes and polling locations. The ability to spread disinformation and general social media control are another angel. You gotta short your work here. The data around this incomplete at best. If you subtract giving to churches, dems are thought to give more.

Maybe not for long. Trump's SCOTUS handed down a ruling which allows insurers to back out of dialysis coverage. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-1641_3314.pdf

Sorry -- if you're getting social security and are an ESRD patient. You're most likely getting ~ 120k in govt support per year. Most ESRD in the US is from diseases that could be attributed to "bad life choices," diabetes and hypertension. I don't know if that's your situation, but if it is, please understand, I'm not judging you. I hope you're doing well and listed for transplantation. But I hope you'd understand that the "bad life choices" others may have made come with context also.

Thank you guys for looking over the ledge with me for the we jumped into election results. Neither only 2 of the Senate candidates I contributed to this time won (Gallegos, Alsobrooks) while MT, OH, FL, and TX all lost. This is terrible. I will not compound the loss tonight with further pain of Chili's tomorrow (sadly). I have "victory" party to attend anyway. I'm logging off here for a while. I will be part of the resistance, again, donating time and money to causes that will fight for minorities and the sick. I hope you'll stay in America and fight with me to help others see that there's a better way.

ESRD disproportionately affects poorer people and people of color. I don't know if you are either. But the Trump's lack of care about these groups affect you directly. Your life is ALREADY materially worse because of changes to the payment systems for Medicare and ESRD that were begun in the first (gulp) Trump administration (and continued in the Biden admin). Services for ESRD patients are going to take another step down in 2025 because of bundling of more medications. Lord knows what else the Trump administration has in store RFK supposedly leading the charge on health and medical research.

she kept her end of the bargain

O H I O

American politics is Big10 vs SEC for reals now. (North Carolina is ACC).

Too cray right now. OHIO: Harris ahead of Trump. Brown losing to Moreno. I'm out.

Ohio early is trending towards Harris across the state.

What is he referring to? Anywhere to find Senate results?