oblong

Any states Trump would win would already be red states. I can’t see any blue states giving him a majority and I could see some thin red states splitting the R vote throwing it to the D column. What would a D lose that they won in 2020?

I’m not following. If Trump tries to runs third party he would need a lot of infrastructure help to even get on every state’s ballot. I don’t know if he would be accepted by the Green Party. Libertarians would take him. but I don’t see how him being on a ballot with a Republican hurts democrats. Even a slice of 5% of GOP voters to third party dooms them. I can’t imagine very many previous Biden voter’s suddenly thinking “hey, Ron and Don are here to give me a choice”. You’d end up with a 49-34-15 split among the D, R, and whatever Trump is.

A large bloc of new Trump voters were people who think "they're all crooked" and putting a non politician in there wasn't a big risk. These are the kind of people who voted for Jesse Ventura in MN. They don't follow the news. They are not engrossed in twitter and reading columns or doing research. To them Trump was a real estate guy in NY and later on TV in the Apprentice. "Get somebody from the outside in there to shake things up." That was the extent of their involvement. They knew nothing about Russia. Hillary was old news. Trump's philandering and 'grab em by the pussy' remarks were negated by Bill Clinton's behavior. That is simply the reality we faced in 2016 and the problems we have to face when everybody gets to vote. We can't control why they vote the way they do.

That's what happened after the pandemic then the excuse was "nobody wants to work". Workers had options and busting their ass for $15 in a shitty customer facing job was less attractive than not busting their ass in another $15/hr job.

For a lot of people it wasn't "but her emails". It was for things they didn't like in 1994. I'm not saying they were justified.... only giving the reason. As soon as she uttered the words "Tammy Wynette" she turned off a lot of people. That's just the way it is. And the way they went after Clinton's accusers in the 90's didn't help her in 2016.

Yep. And Hillary as the D candidate was just what the "regular" GOP needed to stay on board and eventually fall in line with Trump. His win was decided by the populists and in some sense hard core evangelicals (due to Romney's Mormonism) that sat out 2012. When I watch documentaries on the 90's even I sit there and say "Man, I forgot why I hated her and Bill so much". This has been stated by many but each party nominated the only person the other could beat.

My favorite phrase... which I would post on social media to my Trumpie friends and family but I don't do that anymore... "ya'll got took" But rather than admit they are wrong they will just double down and say Tucker is a RINO or establishment.

that wouldn't bother me. I do like the longer nights but we are in the western portion of the east time zone so I know it's unique. But those midsummer nights when it's 10 pm and the daylight is hanging around... I equate that with good times.

Notice how commercials will now say things like “airing on CBS and paramount plus”.

One of those kids probably was my great grandpa. We're talking Coal Miner's Daughter stuff with my lineage. I had an uncle that lived like that until the 80's. In the "hollar'. I hated going there as a kid, no electricity, no plumbing. Today? I'd love it.

to be fair though... kids like this probably built my Iphone.

My cable bill has a $10 "Regional Sports Fee". I wonder who that goes to and whether I can opt out. I might try their chat bot to find out.

Me too. It had a Mark Champion feel to it, which I prefer as a fan. With Champion as soon as you put the Lions game on you could tell who was winning. His audience were Sox fans. They had a chip on their shoulder. He played into that. I always thought if I were born in Chicago I would be a Sox fan.

This all has a Seth Abramson "Big if true" feel to it.

Childbirth is “free” for low income people. As it should be. I imagine nearly every health plan covers it. So the government would reimburse the health plans. Then what gets cut to pay for that?

It does not help them just like attacking yhe Bidens for Hunters drug issues. Every family most likely has someone who has dealt with addiction. When people like them mock it then suburban voters walk away.

One of my workout buddies retired at 61, kind of forced. He could get by. Now he rides his bike 20 miles a few times a week. Helped coach a track team, plays hockey in 3 leagues. Also drives a golf ball pickup thing on a driving range at a golf course.

Doesn’t that assume you will live longer? I’m going out at 62. Have known too many people that have died in the age range of 65-72 that I will probably retire at 62 if I can still maintain a decent lifestyle for 10 years. I figure anything after age 72 is gravy.

I’m finding myself being drawn to more female vocalists than before. One of them coined it “chick fronted dad rock”. they just sound better to me.

I love that the GOP is going all in on anti woke and cutting Medicare and SS. Just a giant circle jerk.

I have an HSA and like it. Basically whatever I was paying before for coverage now goes into the HSA and it grows. Whatever I need to pay comes out of that. Makes me feel more aware or things. Before things were “free” but at the end of the year I had nothing left.

that's why I quit with the FSA..... ours carried over but one year I forgot to add more contributions and I ended up with $19.80 in the account for a few years until last year it came out for some dental work. Having to deal with receipts and all that didn't make me think it was worth whatever tax advantages were there.

I love alternate history. Imagine one where Rehnquist lives a few years longer, assuming he doesn't leave before 2009. Roberts was originally nominated to replace O'Conner. She was going to leave upon a confirmation. Then Rehnquist died and Bush withdraws that nomination and renominates him to replace Rehnquist. Who would Obama have picked in 2009 to not only replace Rehnquist but as Chief Justice?