Post election day

[CougEd]

Since we now know Trump is going to be our President, how should both Dems and Magas and Rep evaluate his performance. And no I don't mean the first week or the first month, but enough time to pass that we know if he has been successful in his plan, which I have seen mixed messages on it so not sure if my items I will list are accurate.

1) He said he will have the biggest mass deportation ever on the first day. I know that is impossible, but what is a real number in the first 8 months? Will they be able to round up 200k and within 8 months, or is that too big of an expectation or I am under stating what might happen. What should be a reasonable benchmark? Or is it simply to cut off border crossings and that is the fix to the problem

2) Inflation- what will be the expectation moving forward on gas prices and food prices....in two years what should be a good number on that and our economy. Where will be a good inflation number and a bad one, and an ok one Unemployment will stay the same, go down or go up.

3) Trans- will there be a national mandate they can't participate in sports and also have to have separate locker rooms. What is the time frame and what will he do to solve this issue?

4) Ukraine- what will be the end game. A negotiation where Ukraine gives Russia the 20% they have now? US cuts off all aid and Russia continues towards eve and westward? How long will it take Trump to accomplish his goals? I know he said it would take him a day. But I know that isn't possible.

5) Abortion- in four years will there be a national abortion ban and IVF?

6) Obama Care...will it finally be repealed and what will the better plan be?

7) Will our debt be higher , lower or within a trillion (the same)?

8) Will there be adjustments to Medicare and Social Security?

 

[AlwaysSpokanesFault]

I'll reply...but I'm going to be honest, it's going to be a rug-pull and nothing much will change. That's not a "Got Ya'!" moment on Trump so much as it's the typical behavior of American politicians and our system. They make big promises, they don't get much done, everybody associated gets wealthier.

1) The border needs to be secured and a much better system of immigration needs to be designed. The system should operate in a manner where educated, trained immigrants get priority (along with their families). There should also be a real lottery to make it fair for everyone who wants to immigrate. Human trafficking, whether it's for immigration or something more nefarious, needs to result in capital punishment.

2) Inflation. It can't be fixed. Voters of a certain persuassion ushered in artificial wage increases that caused increases for goods and services. When you give people an artificial wage, those who already have means will get the increase from them in short order. For instance, if you're a landlord, you're raising rents to get a cut. Corporations that employ minimally trained/educated workers who are given artifical wage increases will take their cut (disingenously stating that they're raising prices to cover the increase). So it's a never ending situation of one party screaming for a "livable wage" and then that "livable wage" becomes unlivable in short order. Neither party can fix this and...as long as Americans continue to act retarded when it comes to personal debt...the voters can't either.

3) Trans is mental illness. We have an epidemic of mental illness in this country, but trans is just a small (but weirdly whiny) part of it. I think that when the Lady Cougs plan SDSU in volleyball, they should forfeit. The only people who can (and should) fix this are the women who are being screwed by trans sociopaths who don't care about the harm they're doing. Unfortunately, they're in a tough spot because the party they're overwhelmingly supportive of (Democrats) is proactive in the trans movement. The only way to fix this is for elite women athletes to simply forfeit until it becomes too big a problem for sport; then we can have adult conversations about trans garbage.

4) Ukraine. They're in a tough spot, but it's not anymore my problem than it is a Ukrainian's that we have the problems we have. We've sent a lot of money and materiel to them, but you can't keep throwing money at a problem with no solution. We're not going to send the 10th Mtn. Division to augment Ukrainian forces along the Russian border; nobody has the appetite to send American troops in mass to the Ukraine. So money/materiels isn't working, troops aren't going...there's only one answer: Negotiate a shitsandwich peace treaty with Putin. There's simply no win in this fight...only dead guys.

5) Abortion. I like the model they use in most of Western Europe: Elective abortion until 12 weeks, all other abortions (rape/incest, mother's health) at the discretion of the mother and the medical team. Yeah, it makes me feel icky if a rape victim aborts a fetus at say 28 weeks...but I can deal with that in my head. But elective abortion is different...usually comes from irresponsibility on both parties. We have such widespread access to contraceptives (subsidized and otherwise), there's no reason to act like a reckless asshole when it comes to sex. And, I hate that African-Americans have such high rates of abortion; there are those in the black community that realize this is a sort of holocaust for them. We have to figure out the reasons why they can't figure out contraception (you see abortion rates far lower with Latinos and Whites, it's almost non-existent with Asian-Americans). Those conversations though are going to result in a shitshow...

6) Obamacare. Let the states continue to mandate coverages on their own, it should be a state's rights issue. Nobody wants Medicare for all because it's unaffordable, all sides save retards like AOC and Bernie realize this. And talking Medicare, we're going to have real big problems with that in short order...old Boomers getting even older and living too long (sorry, Ed). Let states figure coverages out on their own, let people make the choice as to what kind of coverage they want and where they want to live. If I'm a poor guy in Idaho, I just move across the border to WA when my health because a consistent issue and I let the Puget Sound taxpayers/insurance subscribers subsidize my care. Simple as.

7) Debt. More than a trillion. Much more in four years. But that's not on Trump or even the Democrats, that's on Americans living paycheck to paycheck while still consuming too much garbage. We don't save anymore, we just spend on credit. As such, we don't even consider the staggering amount of spending (and debt service) being done on our behalf by our elected leaders (both parties). Hell, they don't/can't even read the spending bills because they're thousands of pages and stuffed with earmarks and pet projects. But it's our own fault in the end and we deserve all the pain that is going to come. Well...unless we mint that "magic coin" that will wipe out our national debt!

8) Medicare/SS. Of course there'll have to be adjustments. Too much going out, not enough coming in. I mean, you can continue to fund them with debt, but that just exasperates inflation...so it's a treadmill situation. We're going to need to find a way to house the elderly in a manner that isn't assisted care and yet gives them access to help when they need it. The solution is not $5K+/month convalescent care, because there isn't enough in the coffers to cover that and it's getting worse by the minute as the Boomers move through live stages. Perhaps planned communities exclusively for the elderly in centralized locations with ready, on-site care; sort of like all those trailer communities in Arizona but with beefed up urgent care clinics? And for each four planned communities of (10K per) in a regional area of five square miles, you have a full-service hospital catering to the elderly. You staff the clinics and hospitals with physicians and nurses on a government program that forgives debt and offers other perks (0% mortgages, etc.); maybe even make it something like "national service" which you see in Europe. I mean, it's a bit creepy to warehouse people (and you can't make people do this), but we're already informally doing it with the young thanks to the housing mess. At least we can be more logistically oriented when it comes to the elderly. But in the end, I don't think anybody is really giving this problem much thought other than to print more money.

For the record, I'm buying a place in Belize to go with my retirement "trailer" in a Tucson retirement community. These problems shouldn't have much effect on me and my spouse; my children are educated and will receive the proceeds of our current home (to be used to buy their own homes) when the time comes. Most of these problems are just theatre to me...and I love to get a rise out people when they argue from "know-it-all, cocksure" point about any of them. I can be quite the contrarian for shits and giggles.

 

[UberCougars]

Since we now know Trump is going to be our President, how should both Dems and Magas and Rep evaluate his performance. And no I don't mean the first week or the first month, but enough time to pass that we know if he has been successful in his plan, which I have seen mixed messages on it so not sure if my items I will list are accurate.

1) He said he will have the biggest mass deportation ever on the first day. I know that is impossible, but what is a real number in the first 8 months? Will they be able to round up 200k and within 8 months, or is that too big of an expectation or I am under stating what might happen. What should be a reasonable benchmark? Or is it simply to cut off border crossings and that is the fix to the problem

2) Inflation- what will be the expectation moving forward on gas prices and food prices....in two years what should be a good number on that and our economy. Where will be a good inflation number and a bad one, and an ok one Unemployment will stay the same, go down or go up.

3) Trans- will there be a national mandate they can't participate in sports and also have to have separate locker rooms. What is the time frame and what will he do to solve this issue?

4) Ukraine- what will be the end game. A negotiation where Ukraine gives Russia the 20% they have now? US cuts off all aid and Russia continues towards eve and westward? How long will it take Trump to accomplish his goals? I know he said it would take him a day. But I know that isn't possible.

5) Abortion- in four years will there be a national abortion ban and IVF?

6) Obama Care...will it finally be repealed and what will the better plan be?

7) Will our debt be higher , lower or within a trillion (the same)?

8) Will there be adjustments to Medicare and Social Security?

Debate is over. Time for leaders to lead and pick it up in two years.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

I'll reply...but I'm going to be honest, it's going to be a rug-pull and nothing much will change. That's not a "Got Ya'!" moment on Trump so much as it's the typical behavior of American politicians and our system. They make big promises, they don't get much done, everybody associated gets wealthier.

1) The border needs to be secured and a much better system of immigration needs to be designed. The system should operate in a manner where educated, trained immigrants get priority (along with their families). There should also be a real lottery to make it fair for everyone who wants to immigrate. Human trafficking, whether it's for immigration or something more nefarious, needs to result in capital punishment.

2) Inflation. It can't be fixed. Voters of a certain persuassion ushered in artificial wage increases that caused increases for goods and services. When you give people an artificial wage, those who already have means will get the increase from them in short order. For instance, if you're a landlord, you're raising rents to get a cut. Corporations that employ minimally trained/educated workers who are given artifical wage increases will take their cut (disingenously stating that they're raising prices to cover the increase). So it's a never ending situation of one party screaming for a "livable wage" and then that "livable wage" becomes unlivable in short order. Neither party can fix this and...as long as Americans continue to act retarded when it comes to personal debt...the voters can't either.

3) Trans is mental illness. We have an epidemic of mental illness in this country, but trans is just a small (but weirdly whiny) part of it. I think that when the Lady Cougs plan SDSU in volleyball, they should forfeit. The only people who can (and should) fix this are the women who are being screwed by trans sociopaths who don't care about the harm they're doing. Unfortunately, they're in a tough spot because the party they're overwhelmingly supportive of (Democrats) is proactive in the trans movement. The only way to fix this is for elite women athletes to simply forfeit until it becomes too big a problem for sport; then we can have adult conversations about trans garbage.

4) Ukraine. They're in a tough spot, but it's not anymore my problem than it is a Ukrainian's that we have the problems we have. We've sent a lot of money and materiel to them, but you can't keep throwing money at a problem with no solution. We're not going to send the 10th Mtn. Division to augment Ukrainian forces along the Russian border; nobody has the appetite to send American troops in mass to the Ukraine. So money/materiels isn't working, troops aren't going...there's only one answer: Negotiate a shitsandwich peace treaty with Putin. There's simply no win in this fight...only dead guys.

5) Abortion. I like the model they use in most of Western Europe: Elective abortion until 12 weeks, all other abortions (rape/incest, mother's health) at the discretion of the mother and the medical team. Yeah, it makes me feel icky if a rape victim aborts a fetus at say 28 weeks...but I can deal with that in my head. But elective abortion is different...usually comes from irresponsibility on both parties. We have such widespread access to contraceptives (subsidized and otherwise), there's no reason to act like a reckless asshole when it comes to sex. And, I hate that African-Americans have such high rates of abortion; there are those in the black community that realize this is a sort of holocaust for them. We have to figure out the reasons why they can't figure out contraception (you see abortion rates far lower with Latinos and Whites, it's almost non-existent with Asian-Americans). Those conversations though are going to result in a shitshow...

6) Obamacare. Let the states continue to mandate coverages on their own, it should be a state's rights issue. Nobody wants Medicare for all because it's unaffordable, all sides save retards like AOC and Bernie realize this. And talking Medicare, we're going to have real big problems with that in short order...old Boomers getting even older and living too long (sorry, Ed). Let states figure coverages out on their own, let people make the choice as to what kind of coverage they want and where they want to live. If I'm a poor guy in Idaho, I just move across the border to WA when my health because a consistent issue and I let the Puget Sound taxpayers/insurance subscribers subsidize my care. Simple as.

7) Debt. More than a trillion. Much more in four years. But that's not on Trump or even the Democrats, that's on Americans living paycheck to paycheck while still consuming too much garbage. We don't save anymore, we just spend on credit. As such, we don't even consider the staggering amount of spending (and debt service) being done on our behalf by our elected leaders (both parties). Hell, they don't/can't even read the spending bills because they're thousands of pages and stuffed with earmarks and pet projects. But it's our own fault in the end and we deserve all the pain that is going to come. Well...unless we mint that "magic coin" that will wipe out our national debt!

8) Medicare/SS. Of course there'll have to be adjustments. Too much going out, not enough coming in. I mean, you can continue to fund them with debt, but that just exasperates inflation...so it's a treadmill situation. We're going to need to find a way to house the elderly in a manner that isn't assisted care and yet gives them access to help when they need it. The solution is not $5K+/month convalescent care, because there isn't enough in the coffers to cover that and it's getting worse by the minute as the Boomers move through live stages. Perhaps planned communities exclusively for the elderly in centralized locations with ready, on-site care; sort of like all those trailer communities in Arizona but with beefed up urgent care clinics? And for each four planned communities of (10K per) in a regional area of five square miles, you have a full-service hospital catering to the elderly. You staff the clinics and hospitals with physicians and nurses on a government program that forgives debt and offers other perks (0% mortgages, etc.); maybe even make it something like "national service" which you see in Europe. I mean, it's a bit creepy to warehouse people (and you can't make people do this), but we're already informally doing it with the young thanks to the housing mess. At least we can be more logistically oriented when it comes to the elderly. But in the end, I don't think anybody is really giving this problem much thought other than to print more money.

For the record, I'm buying a place in Belize to go with my retirement "trailer" in a Tucson retirement community. These problems shouldn't have much effect on me and my spouse; my children are educated and will receive the proceeds of our current home (to be used to buy their own homes) when the time comes. Most of these problems are just theatre to me...and I love to get a rise out people when they argue from "know-it-all, cocksure" point about any of them. I can be quite the contrarian for shits and giggles.

Pretty goddam thoughtful post Always. Not sure why Ed had to start a thread mimicking the one I started, but whatever. To respond to your thoughts, in order:

1. Immigration - yep yep yep. It's F-ed up and the entire country knows it. As I posted elsewhere, I'm OK with the pendulum swinging the other way for now

2. Inflation - as far as the "artificial wage", as a Washington resident I agree. This endless annual increase in the minimum wage just has to stop, but it won't because of the left-wingers. On the other side we have the ridiculously low federal minimum wage of $7.25. I mean c'mon. Unchanged since 2009. While 30+ states have mandated a higher minimum wage, how about raising the federal bar to $10?

3. Trans - nothing to add here. Except I think you meant SJSU, not SDSU

4. Ukraine - yeah they are F-ed. I agree that a shitsandwich deal is the only end. Don't like or agree with it, but I really don't want to see mushroom clouds above Hanford in my lifetime. Above Seattle? Another discussion.

5. Abortion - I believe 7 (or 8) states, red and blue, passed bills to set decent standards. Sans Florida who stayed at 6 weeks. I'm pro-choice, but a 12- or 15-week threshhold seems like a livable compromise. By then you know you are pregnant, and choices can be made. Fully in favor of rape/incest provisions/exceptions

6. Obamacare - Our healthcare system is so F-ed up. I had some medical issues this year, and what a clusterf- it was all the way up and down. The Docs themselves were OK, but Geezus the outrageous charges and insurance agreements and everything else. Here is where we need some intelligent people on all sides to really analyze things and try to fix them

7. Federal debt/deficit - Sorry billionaires, the only way we are going to harness this dragon is to jack up taxes on rich people. They have been getting richer for decades while most people languish. They lived or inherited the American Dream. They sure as shit have enough money to pony up some more. Remember the highest tax rate was 70% before Reagan, who was responsible for blowing up the deficit. Not advocating a return to that, but something has to bend. But good luck on that.

8, SS and Medicare. Not much to add, but it pains me to read about how many people have zip in the bank and depend on SS. While I watch a slew of life insurance commercials peddling "burial" insurance. I worked hard and was moderately successful, but even back in my low-earning early years I was frugal and putting some in retirement. Since we are going to have -0- inflation under your pal Trump, at least that will stem the annual COL increases. Again, tax the rich. F-em.

 

[CougEd]

Debate is over. Time for leaders to lead and pick it up in two years.

Leaders do lead....I am willing to set realistic expectations of that leading. CEO's give guidance all the time. If you tell me the mass deportation will be 10k that gives me a baseline. For someone who could go look up answer on Laura Lunatic's site, I would think this would be easy to answer.

 

[CougEd]

I'll reply...but I'm going to be honest, it's going to be a rug-pull and nothing much will change. That's not a "Got Ya'!" moment on Trump so much as it's the typical behavior of American politicians and our system. They make big promises, they don't get much done, everybody associated gets wealthier.

A reply to your reply

1) Dems missed a great opportunity to explain their ...what is it called Flip Flop on immigration. The answer was simple as to why they changed course and they owe it to Gregg Abbott. The easiest answer would have been- "politics is local and how it affects people. People in the State of Washington really don't feel the affects of immigration, meanwhile people in Texas don't have the forest fires the state of Washington has. So our needs at the time were different. Once Abbott made everyone feel the pain it changed the dems perspective and change needed to happen.

A second thought, after seeing the crushing defeat and fueled in good part of Latino men voting for Trump despite his disparaging remarks on Mexicans and immigrants, if they don't care why should I care more about their plight? That was an eye opener for me.

2) Inflation- the biggest issue for middle America and no one can fix it. Corporations (free market capitalism) moved jobs offshore to save wages. While CEO pay and management pay has gone up 8 times (or way more in some cases) since 1990 compared to average workers wages doubling in that same period of time, so not sure it is clear as what you say the proplem. But even if true, not sure how Trump and Vance will placate those whose number one concern is wages and cost of living.

When someone says "are they too stupid to understand" I would approach it a different way. Rich people always vote their own interests. Never fails. Others always vote the dream, even when it is against their own self interests.

3) Just out of curiosity, do you think those who are gay is a mental illness? This one is not a hill I would die on. However, it is not a issue I would change my voting for because there are 100 kids in 50 states participating in sports. I believe my daughter and a woman who started for UW basketball have played against a trans kid...not sure it is a big deal for those who play in team sports.

I do believe they could swim and run track and they get a ribbon for participating and their time and records are like Barry Bonds records. And I will say I am not sure this is a mental illness, and it would not surprise me in 10 years they discover there is a gene that is different than those who are not trans or gay.

4) Ukraine- best money we ever spent. A drop in the bucket. You could take all of Europe and we spend more money on our national defense. We spent billions to put the USSR's economy into the stone ages. Why let a nuclear power reconstitute and gain even more power? And in 1933 US parents were thinking "this is none of our concerns" and 11 years later we are sending kids to fight in Europe. Ukraine has fought with valor and would make our fathers, grand fathers proud of the undying service to defend their freedom.

Abortion- after life issue for those who are God fearing people that is between them and their God. 95 % of abortions are withing the first 12 weeks. 1% are after 5 months. But seems to me it is the woman's right to choose.

5) They always say Medicare for all is unsustainable. Reminds me when the state of Washington had state run liquor stores. The argument (which I bought and voted for) was privatize the stores and the distribution would be better and that the costs would go down because of efficiency. Funny, one month after the liquor went to the grocery stores, it was more expensive.

6) Debt...it is on both parties. Trump cutting income but not cutting expenses, Bush going to two wars, Bush 1 going into Kuwait, Reagan also cutting income, Obama and Biden spending money. But Trump was the worst. But the fiscal conservatives are no where to be found. What happened to the people who were supposed to be the fiscal police in the Freedom Caucus...I think I know what was more important for that group.


Why Belize? I have never been and my scout (my younger brother ) loves Costa Rica, liked Panama as well. And he has a friend who moved to Columbia...the danger seems to have ratcheted down.

 

[Suudy]

5) They always say Medicare for all is unsustainable. Reminds me when the state of Washington had state run liquor stores. The argument (which I bought and voted for) was privatize the stores and the distribution would be better and that the costs would go down because of efficiency. Funny, one month after the liquor went to the grocery stores, it was more expensive

I disagree. I-1183 slapped a 20.5% tax on liquor plus a $3.77/liter excise tax on booze. And that's on top of the 10% tax on distributors. It's no surprise that the prices went up overnight when the taxes skyrocketed by over 50%. Further, the state scored this as a $200M increase in revenues over the older system. Of course the consumer would pay for that increase.

Yet despite this hike in taxes and the corresponding jump in price, the prices since then have remained relatively stable since I-1183 went into effect. And this is without the overhead of the state running stores. And remember, a big chunk of those tax dollars were for social programs that didn't exist before.

 

[dgibbons]

A reply to your reply

1) Dems missed a great opportunity to explain their ...what is it called Flip Flop on immigration. The answer was simple as to why they changed course and they owe it to Gregg Abbott. The easiest answer would have been- "politics is local and how it affects people. People in the State of Washington really don't feel the affects of immigration, meanwhile people in Texas don't have the forest fires the state of Washington has. So our needs at the time were different. Once Abbott made everyone feel the pain it changed the dems perspective and change needed to happen.

A second thought, after seeing the crushing defeat and fueled in good part of Latino men voting for Trump despite his disparaging remarks on Mexicans and immigrants, if they don't care why should I care more about their plight? That was an eye opener for me.

2) Inflation- the biggest issue for middle America and no one can fix it. Corporations (free market capitalism) moved jobs offshore to save wages. While CEO pay and management pay has gone up 8 times (or way more in some cases) since 1990 compared to average workers wages doubling in that same period of time, so not sure it is clear as what you say the proplem. But even if true, not sure how Trump and Vance will placate those whose number one concern is wages and cost of living.

When someone says "are they too stupid to understand" I would approach it a different way. Rich people always vote their own interests. Never fails. Others always vote the dream, even when it is against their own self interests.

3) Just out of curiosity, do you think those who are gay is a mental illness? This one is not a hill I would die on. However, it is not a issue I would change my voting for because there are 100 kids in 50 states participating in sports. I believe my daughter and a woman who started for UW basketball have played against a trans kid...not sure it is a big deal for those who play in team sports.

I do believe they could swim and run track and they get a ribbon for participating and their time and records are like Barry Bonds records. And I will say I am not sure this is a mental illness, and it would not surprise me in 10 years they discover there is a gene that is different than those who are not trans or gay.

4) Ukraine- best money we ever spent. A drop in the bucket. You could take all of Europe and we spend more money on our national defense. We spent billions to put the USSR's economy into the stone ages. Why let a nuclear power reconstitute and gain even more power? And in 1933 US parents were thinking "this is none of our concerns" and 11 years later we are sending kids to fight in Europe. Ukraine has fought with valor and would make our fathers, grand fathers proud of the undying service to defend their freedom.

Abortion- after life issue for those who are God fearing people that is between them and their God. 95 % of abortions are withing the first 12 weeks. 1% are after 5 months. But seems to me it is the woman's right to choose.

5) They always say Medicare for all is unsustainable. Reminds me when the state of Washington had state run liquor stores. The argument (which I bought and voted for) was privatize the stores and the distribution would be better and that the costs would go down because of efficiency. Funny, one month after the liquor went to the grocery stores, it was more expensive.

6) Debt...it is on both parties. Trump cutting income but not cutting expenses, Bush going to two wars, Bush 1 going into Kuwait, Reagan also cutting income, Obama and Biden spending money. But Trump was the worst. But the fiscal conservatives are no where to be found. What happened to the people who were supposed to be the fiscal police in the Freedom Caucus...I think I know what was more important for that group.


Why Belize? I have never been and my scout (my younger brother ) loves Costa Rica, liked Panama as well. And he has a friend who moved to Columbia...the danger seems to have ratcheted down.

War monger Ed wants to conquer the world, Russia first! When are your daughters enlisting?

The sad part is you're simply clueless. I'll use history for an analogy. If this was 1934, you would want the US to rush to Ethiopia's aid and fight Italian fascist aggression. Italy was not who the US needed to worry about in 1934. Today, Russia is not who we need to worry about. The Europeans are perfectly capable of securing their own continent from the Putin boogeyman. Germany, the UK, France and Italy all have economies larger than Russia. The Indo-Pacific is far more important to the United States' future. China is who we need to worry about.

And edit to add- You think so highly of the valiant Ukrainian soldiers, yet you want them to continue being cannon fodder. How many Ukrainians need to die for your ego?

 

[UberCougars]

Leaders do lead....I am willing to set realistic expectations of that leading. CEO's give guidance all the time. If you tell me the mass deportation will be 10k that gives me a baseline. For someone who could go look up answer on Laura Lunatic's site, I would think this would be easy to answer.

Leaders lead.

 

[UberCougars]

 

[CougEd]

War monger Ed wants to conquer the world, Russia first! When are your daughters enlisting?

The sad part is you're simply clueless. I'll use history for an analogy. If this was 1934, you would want the US to rush to Ethiopia's aid and fight Italian fascist aggression. Italy was not who the US needed to worry about in 1934. Today, Russia is not who we need to worry about. The Europeans are perfectly capable of securing their own continent from the Putin boogeyman. Germany, the UK, France and Italy all have economies larger than Russia. The Indo-Pacific is far more important to the United States' future. China is who we need to worry about.

And edit to add- You think so highly of the valiant Ukrainian soldiers, yet you want them to continue being cannon fodder. How many Ukrainians need to die for your ego?

Ummm...War monger....sure seems like Ukraine men and women aren't pussies, like some, and want their freedom. If they want to end the fighting that is their choice. Hell with you and others frickin Hawaii would be part of the Japanese empire.

The power of Russia is not in the size of their economy or the size of their military.

And didn't in terms of your shitty history lesson, last I recall Patton was very important in the Italian campaign, so yeah the Americans had to eventually fight the Italians whether in Ethiopia or in Italy, and Ukraine is next to countries in NATO.....people way smarter than you have expressed their opinion about NATO and the value it serves....

But like football when you have never played and serve up your analysis....there are people who know more than you....

 

[dgibbons]

Ummm...War monger....sure seems like Ukraine men and women aren't pussies, like some, and want their freedom. If they want to end the fighting that is their choice. Hell with you and others frickin Hawaii would be part of the Japanese empire.

The power of Russia is not in the size of their economy or the size of their military.

And didn't in terms of your shitty history lesson, last I recall Patton was very important in the Italian campaign, so yeah the Americans had to eventually fight the Italians whether in Ethiopia or in Italy, and Ukraine is next to countries in NATO.....people way smarter than you have expressed their opinion about NATO and the value it serves....

But like football when you have never played and serve up your analysis....there are people who know more than you....

You’re a chickenhawk just like Liz Cheney. Ukraine and Russia were negotiating a peace deal in the spring of 2022, after Ukraine repulsed Russia’s initial attack. Guess what happened? The UK and the US torpedoed it.

Ukraine cannot fight on its own. Its industrial base has been degraded to the point it just can’t. It can’t pay its soldiers or other public employees without western assistance. Its infrastructure is blown to hell. Ukraine will be indebted to western banks forever. A generation is already dead or maimed. I’d like to see their soldiers live, rather than die or be blown to hell for your ego.

Your reading comprehension still sucks. A potential war with China is what we have to worry about. Your buddy Joe Scarborough has been lying to you. The point of all of this is to avoid something like Pearl Harbor. Not sacrifice your daughters and their generation for your ego.

NATO will be fine. Don’t worry your little head about it. NATO now has 1300 new kilometers of border with Russia since Findlay’s became a member you dunce. You’re worried about Russia conquering Ukraine and bordering NATO countries?

BTW- Putin invaded Ukraine to de-nazify it. Remember? I thought you were against fascism? And Joe Scarborough is not smart.

 

[CougEd]

You’re a chickenhawk just like Liz Cheney. Ukraine and Russia were negotiating a peace deal in the spring of 2022, after Ukraine repulsed Russia’s initial attack. Guess what happened? The UK and the US torpedoed it.

Ukraine cannot fight on its own. Its industrial base has been degraded to the point it just can’t. It can’t pay its soldiers or other public employees without western assistance. Its infrastructure is blown to hell. Ukraine will be indebted to western banks forever. A generation is already dead or maimed. I’d like to see their soldiers live, rather than die or be blown to hell for your ego.

Your reading comprehension still sucks. A potential war with China is what we have to worry about. Your buddy Joe Scarborough has been lying to you. The point of all of this is to avoid something like Pearl Harbor. Not sacrifice your daughters and their generation for your ego.

NATO will be fine. Don’t worry your little head about it. NATO now has 1300 new kilometers of border with Russia since Findlay’s became a member you dunce. You’re worried about Russia conquering Ukraine and bordering NATO countries?

BTW- Putin invaded Ukraine to de-nazify it. Remember? I thought you were against fascism? And Joe Scarborough is not smart.

Zelensky is a Nazi? Like college football I will trust people who have worked in that space instead of someone who blithers on. Yes Finland borders Russia but it is Poland that Putin has a hard of for. You somehow feel you actually know football because you read a book about it.

I get you have zero idea what sacrifices it takes the Ukrainians to fight for their own freedom.

And yes China is a huge problem . We created the China problem by allowing them. to become an economic power.

 

[UberCougars]

Oh, Ed.

It’s hard.

https://x.com/anabelvilleroy/status/1518284442669834241?s=46

 

[dgibbons]

Zelensky is a Nazi? Like college football I will trust people who have worked in that space instead of someone who blithers on. Yes Finland borders Russia but it is Poland that Putin has a hard of for. You somehow feel you actually know football because you read a book about it.

I get you have zero idea what sacrifices it takes the Ukrainians to fight for their own freedom.

And yes China is a huge problem . We created the China problem by allowing them. to become an economic power.

When are your daughters enlisting? The Ukraine International Legion will take volunteers under 60, so when are you enlisting? And why do you hate Ukrainians so much that they need to die for your ego? You say that you admire their sacrifice and courage, but not enough to see them live, with their bodies intact. You are a chickenhawk.

Your stupidity is on display once again. If Putin is supposedly rebuilding the Soviet Union, Poland was never part of it. And the guy has maybe 8 years left before he dies or his brain is mush. You love to say that we should believe what a politician says. Then when it's inconvenient you want to ignore it. That kind of hypocrisy is one of the reasons the voters rejected Harris and all the nonsense from the left. Google Azov Brigade and tell us what you find. I know that Zelensky is Jewish. I know that Trump has a Jewish daughter, son in law, and three grandchildren.

Russia is a declining petrostate with a shrinking population and shrinking economy. China is the adversary we need to worry about, and the war that may have to be fought. China is trying to expand its territory and seize resources. Less than 100 miles offshore is the most advanced semiconductor fabricator in the world. Semiconductors are more important to the US economy than champagne and BMWs. Markets in India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines and Vietnam are more important to the US economy. The Navy doesn't have enough ships to fight China in the western Pacific, the logistics to fight effectively on the opposite side of the world, China's ship building capacity has far outpaced ours, and the Navy's procurement has been awful.

You don't know football Ed. You proved it daily for four pitiful years when Wulff was the head coach. But nice try.

 

[CougEd]

When are your daughters enlisting? The Ukraine International Legion will take volunteers under 60, so when are you enlisting? And why do you hate Ukrainians so much that they need to die for your ego? You say that you admire their sacrifice and courage, but not enough to see them live, with their bodies intact. You are a chickenhawk.

Your stupidity is on display once again. If Putin is supposedly rebuilding the Soviet Union, Poland was never part of it. And the guy has maybe 8 years left before he dies or his brain is mush. You love to say that we should believe what a politician says. Then when it's inconvenient you want to ignore it. That kind of hypocrisy is one of the reasons the voters rejected Harris and all the nonsense from the left. Google Azov Brigade and tell us what you find. I know that Zelensky is Jewish. I know that Trump has a Jewish daughter, son in law, and three grandchildren.

Russia is a declining petrostate with a shrinking population and shrinking economy. China is the adversary we need to worry about, and the war that may have to be fought. China is trying to expand its territory and seize resources. Less than 100 miles offshore is the most advanced semiconductor fabricator in the world. Semiconductors are more important to the US economy than champagne and BMWs. Markets in India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines and Vietnam are more important to the US economy. The Navy doesn't have enough ships to fight China in the western Pacific, the logistics to fight effectively on the opposite side of the world, China's ship building capacity has far outpaced ours, and the Navy's procurement has been awful.

You don't know football Ed. You proved it daily for four pitiful years when Wulff was the head coach. But nice try.

Oh trust me played and coached more football than your incessant posts of bs.

What does my ego have to do with Ukraine . You simply think you can talk your way in and out of stuff. You would hand over Hawaii in a heart beat.

And trust me my daughters if their freedom was at stake wouldnt fold like you.

Tell me how I was wrong about Wullf? Thag a rebuild takes four years ? That he was left with no QB , no offensive line, no defensive line and had a cb in Chima who was run down from behind by a guard against Hawaii

It took Leach four years to have a winning season and he lost to PSU in that fourth year creating doubt for people like you. Never once did I doubt or say Leach was on the hot seat for his on field performance

And Doba as much as I liked him ran the program into the ground.

 

[Coug90]

Oh trust me played and coached more football than your incessant posts of bs.

What does my ego have to do with Ukraine . You simply think you can talk your way in and out of stuff. You would hand over Hawaii in a heart beat.

And trust me my daughters if their freedom was at stake wouldnt fold like you.

Tell me how I was wrong about Wullf? Thag a rebuild takes four years ? That he was left with no QB , no offensive line, no defensive line and had a cb in Chima who was run down from behind by a guard against Hawaii

It took Leach four years to have a winning season and he lost to PSU in that fourth year creating doubt for people like you. Never once did I doubt or say Leach was on the hot seat for his on field performance

And Doba as much as I liked him ran the program into the ground.

The ironic thing about this exchange is that Gibbons voted for Wulff.

 

[dgibbons]

The ironic thing about this exchange is that Gibbons voted for Wulff.

Nah. If you recall, I said that Harris was a Wulffian terrible candidate. And that Trump was a Rolovich level candidate.

I voted for RFK, Jr. if you must know.

 

[dgibbons]

Oh trust me played and coached more football than your incessant posts of bs.

What does my ego have to do with Ukraine . You simply think you can talk your way in and out of stuff. You would hand over Hawaii in a heart beat.

And trust me my daughters if their freedom was at stake wouldnt fold like you.

Tell me how I was wrong about Wullf? Thag a rebuild takes four years ? That he was left with no QB , no offensive line, no defensive line and had a cb in Chima who was run down from behind by a guard against Hawaii

It took Leach four years to have a winning season and he lost to PSU in that fourth year creating doubt for people like you. Never once did I doubt or say Leach was on the hot seat for his on field performance

And Doba as much as I liked him ran the program into the ground.

War isn't a video game. We have to win the ones that matter, as quickly and savagely as possible if it comes to it. We have serious problems in the Indo-Pacific, and we're not ready for them. You may wish to change up your media consumption to fill in the huge gaps in your information.

Are you revising your stance on the Russo-Ukrainian war and that maybe Putin does not = Hitler marching across Europe and plunging the world into WW3 so he must be stopped right now as you have spouted so many times? Instead your daughters will only be fed into the war machine when their freedom is at stake, which is apparently not now.

Interesting that you bring up the Hawaii game without mentioning that Wulff spent the whole week leading up to it bragging that the Cougs would win, only to go down 35-0 early in the second quarter. He was clueless Ed. But by all means, please keep regurgitating the excuses for his massive failure. It makes you look like a football genius.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

War isn't a video game. We have to win the ones that matter, as quickly and savagely as possible if it comes to it. We have serious problems in the Indo-Pacific, and we're not ready for them. You may wish to change up your media consumption to fill in the huge gaps in your information.

Are you revising your stance on the Russo-Ukrainian war and that maybe Putin does not = Hitler marching across Europe and plunging the world into WW3 so he must be stopped right now as you have spouted so many times? Instead your daughters will only be fed into the war machine when their freedom is at stake, which is apparently not now.

Interesting that you bring up the Hawaii game without mentioning that Wulff spent the whole week leading up to it bragging that the Cougs would win, only to go down 35-0 early in the second quarter. He was clueless Ed. But by all means, please keep regurgitating the excuses for his massive failure. It makes you look like a football genius.

Another early lunch today Gibby? How many political posts so far today? I'm too lazy to count.

 

[UberCougars]

 

[Coug90]

Nah. If you recall, I said that Harris was a Wulffian terrible candidate. And that Trump was a Rolovich level candidate.

I voted for RFK, Jr. if you must know.

So you voted for Wulffs crazy nephew. Got it. Aren’t you anti establishment? WTF is more establishment than a Kennedy? 😂

 

[dgibbons]

So you voted for Wulffs crazy nephew. Got it. Aren’t you anti establishment? WTF is more establishment than a Kennedy? 😂

I understand your disappointment that I didn't write you in. My wife talked me into the RFK Jr. vote.

But, please explain how a guy that the establishment has relentless shit upon for taking on the establishment is actually part of the establishment. I'm genuinely curious.

 

[CougEd]

War isn't a video game. We have to win the ones that matter, as quickly and savagely as possible if it comes to it. We have serious problems in the Indo-Pacific, and we're not ready for them. You may wish to change up your media consumption to fill in the huge gaps in your information.

Are you revising your stance on the Russo-Ukrainian war and that maybe Putin does not = Hitler marching across Europe and plunging the world into WW3 so he must be stopped right now as you have spouted so many times? Instead your daughters will only be fed into the war machine when their freedom is at stake, which is apparently not now.

Interesting that you bring up the Hawaii game without mentioning that Wulff spent the whole week leading up to it bragging that the Cougs would win, only to go down 35-0 early in the second quarter. He was clueless Ed. But by all means, please keep regurgitating the excuses for his massive failure. It makes you look like a football genius.

Yeah, POTENTIALLY allowing Russia to take over land and become stronger (after the billions of dollars that is in our national debt because of Reagan needed to stick USSR's dick in the dirt)is a better strategy than sending weapons and not bodies. Still there is only one country that has the weapons to ensure mutual destruction, and it is a large gas station. The money we spend in Ukraine is well spent and a small amount of our defense budget. And if the the Ukrainians want to say no mas, their freedom doesn't mean this much to them, then that would be their choice. And no I haven't changed my stance on Putin.

I was against the US going into Iraq, a big mistake. Biden pulling 2k in troops out of Afghanistan was a mistake, as was Trump leaving Syria. Small footprint big results.

In terms of my daughter, if they were fed into any war machine, I would much rather be in that fight with them than a guy who is the Josh Hawley of the message board. Love the way Josh raised his fist before the riot than ran like a pussy when things started to get real. Doesn't Hawley have a law degree as well?

Again, I said Wulff recruited better talent than Doba, that a rebuild takes five years, and he was a better alternative going into season five than getting some assistant. If Moos was smart he would have gone after Leach way earlier but didn't. And if he went after Leach I would have been for firing Wulff.

Same excuses Leach used for four years before having a winning record...and he had cache. Yeah talk abut the Hawaii game, then talk about BYU after all we heard was how prolific and easy his offense was. Fully installed after four practices. And he couldn't get in the endzone against BYU. Eastern he barely beat, and even in his first winning season (four years in) he lost to Portland State, had to comeback in last 5 seconds to beat a bad Rutgers team, a team who was 4-8 and beat the power houses of Norfolk State, Kansas, Army and Indiana. So yeah time when evaluating a coach pre NIL and the transfer portal.

But keep pretending you know football....Biggs (although disagree with him on much) nailed it.

 

[Coug90]

I understand your disappointment that I didn't write you in. My wife talked me into the RFK Jr. vote.

But, please explain how a guy that the establishment has relentless shit upon for taking on the establishment is actually part of the establishment. I'm genuinely curious.

As I said before, you’re quips are so cute when you are wrong.

 

[dgibbons]

Yeah, POTENTIALLY allowing Russia to take over land and become stronger (after the billions of dollars that is in our national debt because of Reagan needed to stick USSR's dick in the dirt)is a better strategy than sending weapons and not bodies. Still there is only one country that has the weapons to ensure mutual destruction, and it is a large gas station. The money we spend in Ukraine is well spent and a small amount of our defense budget. And if the the Ukrainians want to say no mas, their freedom doesn't mean this much to them, then that would be their choice. And no I haven't changed my stance on Putin.

I was against the US going into Iraq, a big mistake. Biden pulling 2k in troops out of Afghanistan was a mistake, as was Trump leaving Syria. Small footprint big results.

In terms of my daughter, if they were fed into any war machine, I would much rather be in that fight with them than a guy who is the Josh Hawley of the message board. Love the way Josh raised his fist before the riot than ran like a pussy when things started to get real. Doesn't Hawley have a law degree as well?

Again, I said Wulff recruited better talent than Doba, that a rebuild takes five years, and he was a better alternative going into season five than getting some assistant. If Moos was smart he would have gone after Leach way earlier but didn't. And if he went after Leach I would have been for firing Wulff.

Same excuses Leach used for four years before having a winning record...and he had cache. Yeah talk abut the Hawaii game, then talk about BYU after all we heard was how prolific and easy his offense was. Fully installed after four practices. And he couldn't get in the endzone against BYU. Eastern he barely beat, and even in his first winning season (four years in) he lost to Portland State, had to comeback in last 5 seconds to beat a bad Rutgers team, a team who was 4-8 and beat the power houses of Norfolk State, Kansas, Army and Indiana. So yeah time when evaluating a coach pre NIL and the transfer portal.

But keep pretending you know football....Biggs (although disagree with him on much) nailed it.

The Ukrainians did want to say no mas after repulsing the push on Kyiv. The UK and the US didn't want that. I've already posted that. You simply don't know what you're talking about. Calling me names won't undo your ignorance. Your ignorance is yours. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have gotten to die to try and weaken the big, bad Putin boogeyman.

And Moos didn't have any money dunce cap.

 

[dgibbons]

As I said before, you’re quips are so cute when you are wrong.

CougEd anecdotes and now CougEd grammar. You can do better.

 

[Coug90]

The Ukrainians did want to say no mas after repulsing the push on Kyiv. The UK and the US didn't want that. I've already posted that. You simply don't know what you're talking about. Calling me names won't undo your ignorance. Your ignorance is yours. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have gotten to die to try and weaken the big, bad Putin boogeyman.

And Moos didn't have any money dunce cap.

Google Sudetenland. Good to know you are a Hitler fan, do you have a copy of Mein Kampf by your bed too?

 

[CougEd]

The Ukrainians did want to say no mas after repulsing the push on Kyiv. The UK and the US didn't want that. I've already posted that. You simply don't know what you're talking about. Calling me names won't undo your ignorance. Your ignorance is yours. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have gotten to die to try and weaken the big, bad Putin boogeyman.

And Moos didn't have any money dunce cap.

And Leach didn't have a job...you think he was making more money doing radio. Think McFly...

I know what you have written. Again, I go more with people who have actual information. People I know who work on Cap Hill. It seems to deviate from your information.

But go on and blither....

 

[dgibbons]

And Leach didn't have a job...you think he was making more money doing radio. Think McFly...

I know what you have written. Again, I go more with people who have actual information. People I know who work on Cap Hill. It seems to deviate from your information.

But go on and blither....

Joe Scarborough doesn’t have “actual information.” He’s a puppet. You’re quite pathetic. You jumped the shark with your secret sources years ago.

Moos didn’t have enough money to fire Wulff’s staff and hire Leach and a new staff. Rankich’s donation covered it.

 

[dgibbons]

Google Sudetenland. Good to know you are a Hitler fan, do you have a copy of Mein Kampf by your bed too?

I’m willing to bet my farts have forgotten more about World War 2 than you’ve ever known. What did your Google search reveal to you?

 

[longtimecoug]

Since we now know Trump is going to be our President, how should both Dems and Magas and Rep evaluate his performance. And no I don't mean the first week or the first month, but enough time to pass that we know if he has been successful in his plan, which I have seen mixed messages on it so not sure if my items I will list are accurate.

1) He said he will have the biggest mass deportation ever on the first day. I know that is impossible, but what is a real number in the first 8 months? Will they be able to round up 200k and within 8 months, or is that too big of an expectation or I am under stating what might happen. What should be a reasonable benchmark? Or is it simply to cut off border crossings and that is the fix to the problem

2) Inflation- what will be the expectation moving forward on gas prices and food prices....in two years what should be a good number on that and our economy. Where will be a good inflation number and a bad one, and an ok one Unemployment will stay the same, go down or go up.

3) Trans- will there be a national mandate they can't participate in sports and also have to have separate locker rooms. What is the time frame and what will he do to solve this issue?

4) Ukraine- what will be the end game. A negotiation where Ukraine gives Russia the 20% they have now? US cuts off all aid and Russia continues towards eve and westward? How long will it take Trump to accomplish his goals? I know he said it would take him a day. But I know that isn't possible.

5) Abortion- in four years will there be a national abortion ban and IVF?

6) Obama Care...will it finally be repealed and what will the better plan be?

7) Will our debt be higher , lower or within a trillion (the same)?

8) Will there be adjustments to Medicare and Social Security?

3,yes,4 yes 5,yes,6 yes replaced with nothing, 7 way higher, 8 yes

 

[AlwaysSpokanesFault]

Sorry Ed and others, I'm pretty busy this weekend, so I can't reply as "robustly" as I would like.

However, since it's 41F, rainy and is only going to get worse over the next four months (which is giving me suicidal ideations), I'll tell you why Belize. First, it has only one major city (Belize City) and if you stay out of it your health, wealth and safety are pretty much assured. Second, their dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at 2:1; makes financial transactions easier...especially if you're drunk all day on the beach. Third, English is an official language, which makes social interactions easier...especially if you're drunk all day on the beach. Lastly, the population is so small (~400K) that nobody really pays attention to the country and I see that as a huge benefit. Life is slower and you can live life in incognito mode. The tropical beaches, the snorkeling/diving, the unspoiled jungle, the island vibe (though not an island, obviously) is perfect for me for around four months a year. Hopkins, in the south, is my home away from home.

Note: Never ever go into Guatemala, say to look at pyramids, hike in their jungle or kayak through gorges/caves/cenotes. From personal experience, I can vouch for how unsafe and corrupt the country's government/police/military are. I'm probably the only person on here who has ever had to bribe a paramilitary officer to release his wife and his friends; kidnapping is a real deal in Guatemala.

 

[Observer11]

Sorry Ed and others, I'm pretty busy this weekend, so I can't reply as "robustly" as I would like.

However, since it's 41F, rainy and is only going to get worse over the next four months (which is giving me suicidal ideations), I'll tell you why Belize. First, it has only one major city (Belize City) and if you stay out of it your health, wealth and safety are pretty much assured. Second, their dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at 2:1; makes financial transactions easier...especially if you're drunk all day on the beach. Third, English is an official language, which makes social interactions easier...especially if you're drunk all day on the beach. Lastly, the population is so small (~400K) that nobody really pays attention to the country and I see that as a huge benefit. Life is slower and you can live life in incognito mode. The tropical beaches, the snorkeling/diving, the unspoiled jungle, the island vibe (though not an island, obviously) is perfect for me for around four months a year. Hopkins, in the south, is my home away from home.

Note: Never ever go into Guatemala, say to look at pyramids, hike in their jungle or kayak through gorges/caves/cenotes. From personal experience, I can vouch for how unsafe and corrupt the country's government/police/military are. I'm probably the only person on here who has ever had to bribe a paramilitary officer to release his wife and his friends; kidnapping is a real deal in Guatemala.

We did Belize on a cruise stopover - those are some serious party people that could have held their own in Pullman circa 1981

Guatemala scared the shit out of me. Would not go back

 

[95coug]

Pretty goddam thoughtful post Always. Not sure why Ed had to start a thread mimicking the one I started, but whatever. To respond to your thoughts, in order:

1. Immigration - yep yep yep. It's F-ed up and the entire country knows it. As I posted elsewhere, I'm OK with the pendulum swinging the other way for now

2. Inflation - as far as the "artificial wage", as a Washington resident I agree. This endless annual increase in the minimum wage just has to stop, but it won't because of the left-wingers. On the other side we have the ridiculously low federal minimum wage of $7.25. I mean c'mon. Unchanged since 2009. While 30+ states have mandated a higher minimum wage, how about raising the federal bar to $10?

3. Trans - nothing to add here. Except I think you meant SJSU, not SDSU

4. Ukraine - yeah they are F-ed. I agree that a shitsandwich deal is the only end. Don't like or agree with it, but I really don't want to see mushroom clouds above Hanford in my lifetime. Above Seattle? Another discussion.

5. Abortion - I believe 7 (or 8) states, red and blue, passed bills to set decent standards. Sans Florida who stayed at 6 weeks. I'm pro-choice, but a 12- or 15-week threshhold seems like a livable compromise. By then you know you are pregnant, and choices can be made. Fully in favor of rape/incest provisions/exceptions

6. Obamacare - Our healthcare system is so F-ed up. I had some medical issues this year, and what a clusterf- it was all the way up and down. The Docs themselves were OK, but Geezus the outrageous charges and insurance agreements and everything else. Here is where we need some intelligent people on all sides to really analyze things and try to fix them

7. Federal debt/deficit - Sorry billionaires, the only way we are going to harness this dragon is to jack up taxes on rich people. They have been getting richer for decades while most people languish. They lived or inherited the American Dream. They sure as shit have enough money to pony up some more. Remember the highest tax rate was 70% before Reagan, who was responsible for blowing up the deficit. Not advocating a return to that, but something has to bend. But good luck on that.

8, SS and Medicare. Not much to add, but it pains me to read about how many people have zip in the bank and depend on SS. While I watch a slew of life insurance commercials peddling "burial" insurance. I worked hard and was moderately successful, but even back in my low-earning early years I was frugal and putting some in retirement. Since we are going to have -0- inflation under your pal Trump, at least that will stem the annual COL increases. Again, tax the rich. F-em.

Wow, I didn’t expect to see two people actually addressing issues directly. Thats a game I’ll play…

1. Immigration - obviously, the system is broken. I’m 100% on board with a closure of the southern border while some revised criteria are in development. Limited exceptions for true asylum cases, and to protect people from human trafficking. Interviews to be done south of the border. For the people already here…round up the actual criminals and gang members and ship them back. The ones who are working and staying out of trouble, give them a path to staying, but they’re on a short leash.
Fixing immigration has to include much more severe sanctions for the people who employ illegals under the table. We have to make it easier for people to follow the immigration process than it is to hide from it.

2. Not a lot to add here…inflation is a cyclical bitch that’s fed by complicated factors and by uncontrolled “stimulus” money. Throwing cash at the bottom isn’t going to solve anything…because that money has to come from somewhere.

3. Trans - I don’t know where this comes from. Not sure I’d call it mental illness exactly, but I think it’s been pretty conclusively shown to be connected with the balance of certain neurochemicals. But, no matter what your neurochemistry is doing, if you’ve got testosterone fueling muscle mass/growth at male levels you’ve got no business playing women’s sports. However…trans people make up 0.6% of the population, and I don’t think are big enough a piece to justify as much need and attention as they get.

4. Ukraine - this is the tough one. I want to agree that it’s time to negotiate a peace, let Putin declare some sort of victory, and everyone goes home. But…the problem is the parallel from Putin to Hitler. Giving him that victory just encourages him to do it again. Any negotiated peace needs to have harsh terms for violation, and needs to specifically bar any migration from Russia into Ukrainian territory

5. Abortion - I thought the old “first trimester” standard was ok, but I’m not opposed to 15-18 weeks either. I’d be strongly in favor of building big connections between abortion clinics and adoption services though - there are an awful lot of people who can’t have kids who’d be more than happy to take one that would otherwise be aborted. Need to control this to prevent baby farming though. Honestly, this is something I think the religious right and the pro-lifers should have pushed years ago. It’ll potentially reduce abortions and IVF at the same time.

6. Obamacare - forget this component. Our entire medical, pharmacy, and insurance system needs to be torn apart and rebuilt with more logic and fewer lawyers.

7. Federal debt - agree here, the only way to reduce it is raising taxes on the rich and corporate profits….and reducing some of the corporate subsidies. None of which is going to happen in a republican administration. However, it touches on another system that needs to be gutted and rebuilt - our tax system. Tax code gets real simple when it’s a flat tax. And I don’t want to hear any shit about “why should I get punished for having a good job?” Simple - you’re not being punished, and because you can. If you make $1M and have to pay 100K…you still have 900K. Someone making 40K pays 4K….and I guarantee they miss that 4K more than you miss the 100K.

8. SS/medicare - if #6&7 get fixed, so do these.

 

[Coug90]

I’m willing to bet my farts have forgotten more about World War 2 than you’ve ever known. What did your Google search reveal to you?

Booksmart you may be…it ends there

 

[AlwaysSpokanesFault]

We did Belize on a cruise stopover - those are some serious party people that could have held their own in Pullman circa 1981

Guatemala scared the shit out of me. Would not go back

Give me a golf cart with chrome mags, a pair of scissors to turn all my pants into cutoffs and close proximity to a legit masseuse ($35 w/tip for an hour) and I'm golden. I should stop talking about Belize...it's only going to encourage migration.

 

[CougEd]

Wow, I didn’t expect to see two people actually addressing issues directly. Thats a game I’ll play…

1. Immigration - obviously, the system is broken. I’m 100% on board with a closure of the southern border while some revised criteria are in development. Limited exceptions for true asylum cases, and to protect people from human trafficking. Interviews to be done south of the border. For the people already here…round up the actual criminals and gang members and ship them back. The ones who are working and staying out of trouble, give them a path to staying, but they’re on a short leash.
Fixing immigration has to include much more severe sanctions for the people who employ illegals under the table. We have to make it easier for people to follow the immigration process than it is to hide from it.

2. Not a lot to add here…inflation is a cyclical bitch that’s fed by complicated factors and by uncontrolled “stimulus” money. Throwing cash at the bottom isn’t going to solve anything…because that money has to come from somewhere.

3. Trans - I don’t know where this comes from. Not sure I’d call it mental illness exactly, but I think it’s been pretty conclusively shown to be connected with the balance of certain neurochemicals. But, no matter what your neurochemistry is doing, if you’ve got testosterone fueling muscle mass/growth at male levels you’ve got no business playing women’s sports. However…trans people make up 0.6% of the population, and I don’t think are big enough a piece to justify as much need and attention as they get.

4. Ukraine - this is the tough one. I want to agree that it’s time to negotiate a peace, let Putin declare some sort of victory, and everyone goes home. But…the problem is the parallel from Putin to Hitler. Giving him that victory just encourages him to do it again. Any negotiated peace needs to have harsh terms for violation, and needs to specifically bar any migration from Russia into Ukrainian territory

5. Abortion - I thought the old “first trimester” standard was ok, but I’m not opposed to 15-18 weeks either. I’d be strongly in favor of building big connections between abortion clinics and adoption services though - there are an awful lot of people who can’t have kids who’d be more than happy to take one that would otherwise be aborted. Need to control this to prevent baby farming though. Honestly, this is something I think the religious right and the pro-lifers should have pushed years ago. It’ll potentially reduce abortions and IVF at the same time.

6. Obamacare - forget this component. Our entire medical, pharmacy, and insurance system needs to be torn apart and rebuilt with more logic and fewer lawyers.

7. Federal debt - agree here, the only way to reduce it is raising taxes on the rich and corporate profits….and reducing some of the corporate subsidies. None of which is going to happen in a republican administration. However, it touches on another system that needs to be gutted and rebuilt - our tax system. Tax code gets real simple when it’s a flat tax. And I don’t want to hear any shit about “why should I get punished for having a good job?” Simple - you’re not being punished, and because you can. If you make $1M and have to pay 100K…you still have 900K. Someone making 40K pays 4K….and I guarantee they miss that 4K more than you miss the 100K.

8. SS/medicare - if #6&7 get fixed, so do these.

95.... I think I know what era MAGA looked back so fondly on, the 50's. Tax rates on the 1% was 49%. We need to increase the corp tax rate and start looking things to cut.

 

[AlwaysSpokanesFault]

Starting with the Department of Education.

 

[WillieThePimp]

Starting with the Department of Education.

Do you even know what the DOE does?