Thanks, Tim. I hear you about the need for a political conversation in this country, and of course you are right. And what I'm about to say will no doubt strike many as a trivial comment to make. But I want to go back to a time when politics weren't all of every conversation I have. I think life was much better and more civilized. Politics belong on SB Current where they're lively, enriching, provocative and, thanks to Jim Buckley, largely polite.
But I want them out of the rest of my social life. I used to love giving parties and throwing our doors open. I don't do it anymore. The party that did me in was in 2018. I was cooking up some Jambalaya when several guests came over wanting me to be as furious over Russian Collusion between Trump and Putin as they were. I said “I'm sorry, but I've read everything on it and there is no evidence of any collusion whatsoever.” One of the guests became enraged at me and said he would have to leave my fascist party. He grabbed his girlfriend and stormed out. But not before stuffing some of my cornbread in his mouth. Later, another guest wrote me that I was no better than Eva Braun because I don't think Trump is a racist, pussy-grabbing Hitler. Much as I love to cook and entertain, I'd had enough.
I blame the Democratic Party for this. They wanted to divide and conquer America and they have divided us through their manipulation of the media, which makes its money now off the divisiveness they caused and the sure fire hit with their audience of blaming Trump for it. They will never conquer America, though, because no one really wants be on their joyless Kamala joyride.
My Pasadena society grandmother always instructed me to never bring up anything of any substance at her parties. I think that was going a bit too far. I mean, it was hard to keep from dozing off at her dinner table given the conversation which was confined to who was related to whom (pronounced whoooom) and doesn't Babsy make the best martinis. And then I'd be awakened by the guy next to me squeezing my knee. Amazing how minds will turn to sex when the conversation pales. But, it wasn't fraught and I didn't get indigestion. Which has been what I've mostly gotten out of social events for the last eight years. I never kept Tums in my purse before 2016.
This is the most important election of my life. And I'm convinced Trump will win if the Democrats actually allow a real election to take place and don't do a Macron. But even if they cheat their way to another four years, Trump will still be my leader. Who else can dodge an assassination bullet and make jokes the next day? We are a better America already because of him. As long as we don't forget to laugh at the comedy called the Democrats.
I don't know Dawson, I'm positive hippies WERE the establishment, they continued and promoted a secular liberal order free of family, of traditional values, and faith...
Speaking of hippies … the thing about coming back here to live is I'll be walking down the street with my husband and some broken down old hippie will wave at me and my husband will say “Do you know him?” and I'll think “Did I make out with that guy when I was.seventeen?”
You make me laugh, to funny! Methinks you’re an old soul that can see reality (we live in an altered state of reality, with most people unaware of their deep sleep)…also think that that old hippy on the street had gained wisdom thru suffering and could recognize your old soul’s ability to connect with others…you sound like a person in service to others, rather than in service to self…just a wild guess 😎
Excellent Polly, but your last line . . ." . . . laugh at the comedy called the Democrats.. . .". They're not a comedy group, they're a powerful, organized, dangerous conspiracy trying to turn America into just another shithole in some mistaken belief that by reducing a civilized society into crap the rest of the world will somehow benefit.
Who cares? And Clinton not only took blow jobs from Monica but threw her under the bus when she was a liability. Hunter Biden? Snorting cocaine off underage hooker's behinds? And sex and drugs with his late brother's wife. Oh, and Swalwell. He doesn't just grab any pussy, he makes it a Chinese spy. GTFU.
A very, very important election in deed. The Democrats are getting desperate. Why? Because people are finally waking up to the disastrous results over the past four years. No matter what metric is being discussed; the economy, crime, immigration, education or foreign policy, the Dems have a dreadful track record. Never mind the country is going down the tubes, they CANNOT come to grips with reality. That’s right, their searing hatred for Trump will not allow them to admit liberalism is a complete and utter failure!
During tomorrow night’s debate, Trump MUST remain focused and drive home the fact that people are facing economic hardship and ruin due to liberal, tax and spend, give away policies.
Mr. Tremblay mentions our inner cities and the hellscape many have become. Many cities are facing bankruptcy from failed economic policies and massive influx of illegal immigration. Will liberals ever admit this? Of course not.
Our once golden state is facing devastating consequences resulting from these same policies. Do we have to have an economic meltdown in order for liberals to finally admit they were wrong? No, most likely the Dem party creed will remain the same old tired talking points. “Trump is a racist, criminal, crazy, agent of Russia.” All while our adversaries are laughing at us in disbelief that half of our adult population can be so STUPID.
Yep, get out and vote! Don't assume it's an automatic win because we are facing a corrupt election, too. I've studied the operating cost of different cities; they can do wonders with a $50M budget. The SB City and County spenders will take every penny out of your pockets and force you into the streets panning for money.
I watched a meeting today headed by Marjorie Greene Taylor with a group of various people, such as attorneys, involved with defending the January 6 (J6) Capital rioter, along with family member of those imprisoned. Those imprisoned rioters are going through hell in prison ... and we need Trump to pardon them ASAP. Several have died already. Handicapped prisoners are not allowed to have hearing aids, as an example. These average Americans are treated as requiring high security risk procedures. The pathetic Dems are doing everything they can do to make these American patriots miserable. Even the reading material given the prisoners is propaganda against Trump.
Vote NO and actively protest any tax, fee or cost increase. Discipline leaders with your vote. The reality of municipal bankruptcies will require restructuring government pensions and high payroll - benefit expenses. Maybe bankruptcies will even result in the erosion of powerful government unions (government employee including teacher unions that need to be outlawed at federal, state and local District levels).
TRUMP/VANCE RALLY LOMPOC SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH 11:00 - noon corner of H Street and Central Avenue south east side STAND UP FOR AMERICA! BRING FLAGS, SIGNS, AND GOOD CHEER. THIS ELECTION WILL DETERMINE OUR FATE
Great article! Mr. Tremblay's comment on trying to have dialogue between people of differing opinions without yelling, screaming, insulting, and God knows what else is a hurdle that seems monumental to overcome at times. It amazes me that some seemingly intelligent people can be so blind to the realities of the breakdown of the country and so full of anger and hatred toward Trump that they really can't see the forest for the trees. I know that one big answer is, which has been discussed many times in The Current, the amount of people that rely on the government for their paychecks. Let's hope that there can be some constructive discussion in the near future to start getting us back on track.
We have a traffic speeding issue and it has to stop? Huh, where?
We need traffic calming. Who are the majority of the slogan drummers targeting? Oh that is right it is the locals and the anti everything crowd cannot stand it that their neighbors are the "problem" as they see it.
So the next time you hear the dog whistle, understand the losers cannot stand the free enterprise majority are who they are fighting against.
A very well written piece Tim. Your narrative is insightful. I grew up in a Republican household. My mother worked for the party in Arizona and both my parents were "Goldwater Republicans." Goldwater was, without a doubt, a divisive figure. While he was beaten in a landslide by Lyndon Johnson in 1964, the elements of his political philosophy of small government and individual freedoms would influence the party's conservative wing for years to come. That being said, my parents were inherently politically pragmatic when it came to the economy and social issues. They believed that both parties had a sacred responsibility to work together for the American people. To them what was important wasn't who's right, it was what's right. Whatever happens in this election, I hope we can get there again, where the measure of leadership isn't determined by who you put down but by who you lift up.
Admittedly, I’m a huge admirer of Barry Goldwater, the late great Senator from Arizona and Major General in the Arizona Air National Guard. He was WAY ahead of his time, supporting libertarian issues such as gay rights, medical marijuana, abortive rights and environmental protection. He was ultimately unsuccessful against LBJ who painted him as a nut case, and would start WWIII. LBJ’s re-election was supported by a very controversial commercial involving a simulated atomic bomb going off!
Had Goldwater won the 64’ election, we would NOT today be burdened with the disastrous consequences of “The Great Society!”
“Moderation in the pursuit of justice is NO virtue.” True then, true now!
Seriously, don’t you have something more meaningful you could be doing right now instead of blathering nonsense and trolling others. Homework, chores? I have no clue as to what you’re talking about. True freedom means you allow material, magazines, information others may not always agree with…so get over it
Didn't Goldwater want to turn the Grand Canyon into a dam? Or am I trafficking in Dem misinfo? I do have to say that as a teen Democrat when I went out with a Young Republican it was a pleasant experience. He drove a clean car, not a VW that smelled of Patchouli oil, he had a dog with a real canine name not Siddhartha, he took me to a restaurant where I didn't see a single cockroach. But he had lousy taste in films. I wanted to see a Kurosawa samurai flick at the Riviera but he didn't like subtitles.
When talking to a Dem, ask them questions. Let them answer, let them hear the ridiculousness in their own voice as they try to defend Democrat policies and track records.
Those that are true blue through & through will continue to make excuses, side step and refuse to acknowledge any news articles or research that contradicts their belief system.
As we found from talking to some true blues, they admit their party tanked the economy and schools could be doing better, but they refuse to vote Republican. They scrape around looking for some reason to vote D.
We have found the Pro Abortion argument as their holding on point. As the Dems lie and say it’s pro choice, let’s call it what it really is, pro abortion.
To which I ask the most important question first, “when does life begin?” To which not one Democrat Pro Abortionist can answer. Which tends to level the playing field, bringing them closer to center. Then I ask them if they knew about Kamala & Walz both removing baby survivor rights and medical attention to those babies that live through an abortion. I ask how they feel about late term right up to birth abortion. 7 Democrat states have this. I again ask, when does life begin? Every Democrat I’ve talked to does not agree with late term abortion. I ask them how they feel about 7 Democrat states allowing the killing of babies, late term abortion. Then I ask who is radicalized?
The Democrats are waking up to the fact that their party is radicalized and far left.
They will not admit it in public, but we are waking them up one by one.
I find it amazing that ANY educated, sane, employed, adult can argue on this site or any other, that the liberal agenda is nothing more than a complete and utter train wreck. The topic of abortion is radioactive, especially for conservatives. I thought the Dems were the party of “science?” Sure, that is convenient for them to use against anyone arguing against radical climate policies that we are somehow “science deniers.” Yet, when liberals are arguing for the systematic destruction of fetuses, the term “science “ never comes up. We know now, based on ultrasound technology that the unborn face a horrible and painful demise during an abortive procedure. This is a scientific fact.
Clearly, the vast majority of liberals have a childish, simplistic view of how the world actually operates.
I love reading these peices. There is an equally benign outlook in the goodness/rightness of the Republican side. I do not agree with the extreme left and I have sympathy with their view of the issues facing us, not their proposed solutions.
for example
Regulations create beaurocratic nightmares: Red tape. Republican view is remove them and life will be great again. Unfortunately there is the human condition to take short cuts to get ahead.
Donald's whole life has been led by this dictum.
We need regulations. We need good regulations. We need regulations that are enforced.
Some excllent engineering based companies have sold cars that only comply with the law of the land by cheating(VW, AUDI, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche) and airplanes that are dangerous(Boeing). There are many more. Elon was close to be a fraudster to keep his companies afloat. BP and oil rig safety. the tobacco industry. Enron. There are many more examples.
My point is industry/business needs regulation because the human condition is to some times cut corners, to get results.
There are many regulations that are of nugatory value. Republicans need to propose how we effectively regulate big business. Removing "red tape" alone sounds great, The present methods are not working. To remove regulations will only create a worse mess and lead to greater costs to the people in health acre costs etc etc down the line.
I have no faith that the Trump is the answer. He is a very poor example of the human being and I can't hold him up as an example of good behaviour to lead ones life by. I wish that in my President my leader.
This is not too high a bar to hold a leader to in life.
Trump is not trying to remove all government regulation. He’s trying to reduce regulation.
Kamala is trying to increase regulation.
We can use abortion as an example. Trump believes in putting the decision back to the States, to the people.
Kamala believes the Federal government should set guidelines for everyone. Her guidelines, which are late term up to birth abortions. She & Walz removed baby survivors rights, a baby that lives through an abortion is then killed after birth. Prior to Walz, Minnesota law required that a survivor receive medical attention.
Kamala pushes this Federal involvement of late term abortion despite most of Americans getting abortion do not agree with her.
Per the CDC and Guttmacher institute 80.9% of abortions were performed within 9 weeks’ gestation, and nearly all (93.1%) were performed less than 13 weeks’ gestation.
So why are Democrats pushing Federal control and limits on something that the people do not agree with?
Why should the states be able to make abortion legal or illegal based off what their constituents think? How is this any different from states being free to allow or ban slavery? Instead of the tyranny of the majority and republicanism, we should universally condemn abortion.
I conclude then this point touching upon the power of kings with this axiom of divinity, That as to dispute what God may do is blasphemy … so it is sedition to dispute what a king may do.
Your, letter, Daniel, makes it sound like you think most of the readers don't have the brains to research and do their homework on proposed laws and regulations. I am not sure where your letter is coming from as a good portion of the articles in The Current are discussing pros and cons of various proposals. And if you are waiting for a perfect mortal to come down and rescue us from on high as the next president, dream on. I get a little tired of hearing that he's a "poor example of a human being" without any specific( not made up) examples of what in his four year term did you find so politically abhorrent.
Trump, the convicted felon who cheated on wife #1 with #2 (who got pregnant while he was still married to #1.)
Cheated on #2 with #3; and, cheated on #3 (while she was pregnant) with a porn star, enjoys the full support of the party of "Family Values" and Conservative Evangelicals. Got it.
Conservatives support limited government. Which requires the election of honest brokers; not those already broken by the deep state spoils game. Running for office is not for sissies; we must work with those who do rise to this perverse challenge. There can be no purity litmus test for anyone in politics today. Huzzah, if we get at least 80:20.
Democrats excel turning a blind eye on their own highly flawed candidates. Why on earth do they hold others to standards they do not choose to honor themselves? Fie.
It is reassuring to see so many Republican leaders choosing democracy and the rule of law over a personality-based cult that blindly follows a criminal grifter with no respect for law and order, the Constitution, or morality. Put another way, these patriotic Republicans "have stepped up in support of policies that reflect an understanding that the great wealth of this country was created" because of a large middle class who had hope for their future and the future of their children living in a free and democratic nation that "encourages entrepreneurship, work, tenacity, perseverance, family, ethics, community, and faith;" Republicans who believe that no one is above the law; Republicans who remember America's promise and Reagan's "shining city on a hill" -- not the vision of a broken down waste land envisioned by a cognitively impaired candidate who lost the 2020 election "by a whisker," who struggles with the truth, and who projects his own deep-seated evil inclinations onto those who oppose or disagree with him. Sadly, too many so-called Republicans have been so blinded by Trump's lies that they are not even AWARE that the are swallowing and sharing Russian propaganda to the detriment of America's democratic future. This is a "Very, Very Important Election"! Americans will decide if this will be OUR century, or the century of the autocrats. It is still not too late to step into light.
Hmmm…you must be referring to Dick (Mr Halliburton) Cheney & his daughter….both have been isolated from Trump’s Republican Party, along with the Bushies & McStains, plus many other compromised/corrupt pols…here’s Trump’s platform, which sounds Republican to Republicans…
1 Seal the border, and stop the migrant invasion.
2 Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.
3 End inflation, and Make America Affordable Again.
4 Make America the dominant energy producer in the world, by far!
5 Stop outsourcing, and turn the United States into a manufacturing superpower.
6 Large tax cuts for workers, and No Tax On Tips!
7 Defend our Constitution, our Bill Of Rights, and our fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms.
8 Prevent World War Ill, restore peace in Europe and in the Middle East, and build a great iron dome missile defense shield over our entire country-all made in America.
9 End the weaponization of government against the American people.
10 Stop the migrant crime epidemic, demolish the foreign drug cartels, crush gang violence, and lock up violent offenders.
11 Rebuild our cities, including Washington DC, making them safe, clean, and beautiful again.
12 Strengthen and modernize our military, making it, without question, the strongest and most powerful in the world.
13 Keep the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency.
14 Fight for and protect Social Security and Medicare with No CUTS, including no changes to the retirement age.
15 Cancel the electric vehicle mandate and cut costly and burdensome regulations.
16 Cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, Radical Gender Ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.
17 Keep men OUT of women's sports.
18 Deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again.
19 Secure our elections, including same day voting, voter identification, paper ballots, and proof of citizenship.
20 Unite our country by bringing it to new and record levels of success.
Good Article…and yes, this is a very, very important election…as I see it, this is the most important election in history….we are at a crossroads, not only for Our Great Nation, but for The World…this election will determine if we will continue down the road to communism or change course and attempt to reset our nation firmly upon The Constitution…now is the time all good men & women to come to the aid of their country…join the movement, fight for Trump, vote for Trump — the man in the arena fighting for US…
How tragic to see that video, dating to Trump/Pence; he went into office with so much promise and intent and the Deep State threw everything it had at him, including the Plague...... and here we go again. God help us.
Trump accomplished much during the first term, all the while ducking & dodging their plays. Have faith. 100% confident that Trump will retake control. It’s a public education process. Expect to see 57 days of exposure…drip, drip, drip…and then FLOOD!
Exactly…We, the People, have been betrayed for a very long time. Only at the precipice, will people find the will to change (to participate) and strength to break the system of control (be free). It had to be this way. This is not another 4-year election. GOD WINS.
In the Presidential Debate I heard one candidate outline her proposals and plans for America if she is elected. From the other candidate I heard "immigrants are eating your cats and dogs," "they’re executing babies after they’re born," "I won the 2020 election by millions of vote," "inflation is up" (it's actually going down), "crime is up" (it's actually going down), and who failed to answer a single simple questions regarding his plans and proposals. "I have a concept for a plan" he blathered without further explanation, but that is NOT a plan. Yes, Trump actually said those things during the Presidential Debate, utterances from a cognitive impaired old man who is out of touch with reality and is not burdened by telling the truth. This is dangerous and WEIRD. America needs sane leadership, not more of Trump's nonsense.
What did the Dems learn from Trump's attempted coup on January 6, 2021? Could President Joe Biden use the new SCOTUS-approved "presidential immunity" to declare VP Harris the winner of the November election? Would this allow VP Harris in her capacity as "President of the Senate" to declare herself the winner of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2025? In order to carry such a scheme to fruition, could President Biden summon Antifa, BLM, and other militant leftists to the Capitol to round up any MAGA Congressman and Senators who object? Trump already laid the blueprint for how this could be done, but VP Pence was not running to be the president, so it failed. Just saying...
Idk, if you're promoting less fact-based news sources that skew further left or right of center, then I'd say that this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Hmmm…ALL Legacy Media, including “fact checkers”, are controlled by the Deep State and full of dis (mis) [mal] information…Control the media -> Control the narratives -> CONTROL THE PUBLIC…+90% of the media consumed by the general public is polluted…best news source is X, which is now the biggest news source on the planet…lots of information on any & all topics, from all angles & political points of view…great resource for those looking for both national & world news (which we see a pittance of here in America)…turn off the TV and all those news feeds…time for a reboot … https://x.com/fnowisthetime/status/1400575705029566467?s=61
It appears to me that you are living in an alternate reality. I hope one day to meet you here on planet Earth among all our friendly (not so threatening) human beings, away from online media. Best wishes to you.
Haha…yes, I do live in out in the woo (woo = everything not yet known to man, including everything that has been hidden be fellow men)…another hot one here in SB, hope to see you at the lemonade stand…😎
VV: AP has an appalling track record. Step outside of corporate media. There are so many other solid media operations today than those wholly dependent a large corporation advertising dollars, esp. Big Pharm.
Hi Joan, you've made a similar comment before and I asked for your preference.
Fear of news media is a problem when trying to maintain a democracy. AP is nothing to fear. I don't detect that they are trying to push anything, other than fact-based current events. They might not be willing to publish material that you want to read?
Everything I read, I read thru my critical thinking lens. And I find that the facts are the facts across most news media, including foreign sources -I check when getting accurate facts really matters to me (BBC, Al Jazeera, DW, etc), and on the topic of war, Institute for the Study of War (Completely fact based zzzzz). For the most part, the facts line up. And we all should know what to expect from politics: Each side is trying to win - acknowledged. So for the most part, alternate media consumers getting their "facts" from social media, sites in the bottom half of the media bias chart, far right or far left, are really getting the short end of the stick.. Unless what they're after is an opinion that lines up with their own (sure, I get that) which is fine as long as you know that's what it is. Or a far-out story (e.g., a conspiracy theory) that is much more exciting to read than the boring facts. As long as you know that's what it is. I get that too.. I can enjoy sci fi from time to time!
VV: Review AP’s track record just on “covid” and then apply your factual scrutiny standards. AP is a corporate mouth piece. Read more widely is my only consideration. Guard against finding one “authority” figure or source. Dip your toes into Sheryl Atkisson’s website. She is a shrewd and very grounded critic of the media itself.
Thanks for the recommendation. If I am looking for an alternative critique I'll check her out.
It appears you don't approve of the mainstream handling of covid and feel that "Big Pharma" is the threat, as well as news media coverage of the pandemic.
No doubt big Pharma needs to be kept in check. But I am most concerned about being pressured by doctors to take everyday prescription medications (e.g., for arthritis or Raynaud's, Fosomax, etc), while not giving serious consideration to less harmful alternatives. Do they receive kickbacks? The opioid crisis is the ultimate horror story.
My observations regarding conservative (I hesitate to use this word as current behaviors contradict the definition), ok, "conservative" attitudes toward mainstream medicine and big Pharma before 2020 seemed positive and approving, while "liberals" were more distrustful of mainstream medicine, more in favor of alternative medicine. This was my experience. Back then, my leanings toward exercise and a healthy diet over prescription meds were met with conservative disdain and eye rolls.
What happened in 2020 to change this balance? Covid, of course. This is when public health became highly politicized, controversial. How did this happen? Well, it was Donald Trump's mocking of Public Health, in particular, Anthony Fauci. Trump's superpower is the ability to rile up large crowds into an irrational frenzy. In this case it was a type of witch hunt that vilified the nation's leading infectious disease specialist (Don't kill the messenger!)
I approve Public Health's handling of covid. A new virus rapidly causing millions of deaths warranted extreme measures as they worked to figure out the best practices for managing the pandemic. Finding the sweet spot somewhere between paranoid and cavalier is challenging in any situation, and the government deferred to best practices in science. In the process Big Pharma profited, as is the case with the development of any highly sought after medication (good thing re those recent medication cost caps, right?)
In my mind, the jury's out on the cost-benefit analysis on the government's handling of covid but no one can deny the body count.. I'm sure there's a conspiracy theory for that too (eye roll).
The “new virus” never killed millions. There no verifiable data to support that statement. None. Just repeated anecdote mainly for political intent. Everything that was ultimately known about Covid was learned immediately from the closed system Diamond Princes cruise ship experience. The rest was pure 2020 election year theater, that today can no longer outrun the data and overkill policy response to a very strange global hysteria.
Include the political suppression of the early Johns Hopkins statistical analysis of prior ten years of CDC morbidity reports finding no increase in all-cause deaths in 2020, but did find a curious re-labeling of causes of death that was never explained.
I suspect you do need to keep working on your budding skepticism about “health care”. Dr Scott Atlas wrote a very good first hand account of his time on the COVID Task Force….A Plague Upon Our House. Helps one to reassess the various personalities in play at that time and serves to underscore RFKJr well-researched book…….The Real Doctor Fauci.
For those of us getting acquainted with Fauci from his early HIV public health policy strong-arming days in the 1980’s, nothing in this book came as a surprise. Trump was wise to isolate himself from this egotistical charleton. Plus public health policy is entirely reserved to each state. Trying to blame Trump is structurally misplaced.
Reading all of this, I'm briefly curious regarding your sources of information. My impression is that you spend a lot of time delving knee deep into the wacky.
Your assumption about my "budding" skepticism regarding health care is incorrect. My family has preferred alternate remedies (and health conscious living) over mainstream medicine for generations - long before covid, Trump, or Fauci. Our beliefs are based on science, common sense, and results.
Regarding covid, Trump, and Fauci, our views are polar opposite. I'm satisfied with my take, I've encountered nothing credible to counter it, and I feel that yours has come from the land of politics and wacky, even though health and science don't belong there.
All you write Tim is correct. Swing states are where to focus efforts; and in California, our Senate vore. If DEMs win, we cannot risk Walz as the Senate tie breaker in Harris’s footsteps. Harris is broke over 30 tie votes blocking passage of legislation of major importance to US!
In the days ahead, messaging the issues and planned policies is essential to some voters, and the messenger’s delivery style is important. Trump tends to be his own worse enemy. His messaging shows his true character. Women have cause for great concern! Many I know in swing states, and locally, say they either won’t vote or will cast for Harris. Ignorant, desperate youth lean for Harris because of her impossible promises, gender or race. Of the two candidates Trump’s the only leader. Harris is a puppet of the progressive consortium; she will do nothing not authorized by her owners, her unknown handlers. She cannot think or lead; she is merely an obedient employee proven to specialize in avoidance.
Will Americans demonstrate that we’re not stupid and pick the better of our only two POTUS choices? Do we know the high importance of our Senate and Congressional party votes? We’ll know in 57 days.
No Montecito women do not have great cause for concern of anything ' if you're alluding to abortion there is no right to murder the unborn child and (un)fortunately for you, Trump takes a relativistic stance on abortion - falsely belives it's justifiable under certain circumstances.
MAGA Party (RINO) lawmakers in Congress have subpoenaed VA over its efforts to register Veterans to vote at medical facilities before the upcoming presidential election (STARS AND STRIPES, September 10, 2024).
This is just another example of MAGA's voter suppression efforts in the old Dixie and "swing states." MAGA's draft-dodging leader (German: "Fuehrer") has called veterans "suckers" and "losers" and disparaged the sacrifices made by Senator John McCain, a Vietnam POW who refused release by his Communist captors because of his "celebrity status" as the son of a U.S. Navy admiral. Instead, he remained in the Hanoi Hilton in solidarity with his fellow American POW's. "He's not a hero" mewled cadet Bone-spurs tRump. This racist POS is not fit to be C-in-C of America's armed forces. More of my fellow Republicans are realizing this and speaking out against this deranged lunatic and his horde of misguided sycophants who would have us believe that LEGAL Haitian immigrants are "eating our pets" and that immigrant violence is a greater danger to our children than right-wing gun-nuts and their mouth-breathing progeny. Trump had 4 years to secure the border and build a wall "that Mexico would pay for." NEITHER HAPPENED. Illegal immigration is now trending down, along with inflation, mortgage rates, and the cost of eggs and milk. The only thing going up is the stock market and the number of vile lies spilling out of Trump's mouth.
Dismantling the Deep State is an existential call to arms for Democrats. This is why they cannot let go of their “Project 2025” ruse. Threats to the growing myriad of government dependencies, including government’s role as an ultimate authority figure in too many American lives, is source of the increasingly violent divisiveness in our country.
Democrats have become King George. We are the scrappy Revolutionaries yet again calling for freedom and liberty. One election will not win this war against growing government dependencies. Dependencies someone else is now expected magically to fund.
No, we all can’t get along. No, we do not want to come together. But we do want to regain the freedom to go our own ways. Our fight is existential too.
Thanks, Tim. I hear you about the need for a political conversation in this country, and of course you are right. And what I'm about to say will no doubt strike many as a trivial comment to make. But I want to go back to a time when politics weren't all of every conversation I have. I think life was much better and more civilized. Politics belong on SB Current where they're lively, enriching, provocative and, thanks to Jim Buckley, largely polite.
But I want them out of the rest of my social life. I used to love giving parties and throwing our doors open. I don't do it anymore. The party that did me in was in 2018. I was cooking up some Jambalaya when several guests came over wanting me to be as furious over Russian Collusion between Trump and Putin as they were. I said “I'm sorry, but I've read everything on it and there is no evidence of any collusion whatsoever.” One of the guests became enraged at me and said he would have to leave my fascist party. He grabbed his girlfriend and stormed out. But not before stuffing some of my cornbread in his mouth. Later, another guest wrote me that I was no better than Eva Braun because I don't think Trump is a racist, pussy-grabbing Hitler. Much as I love to cook and entertain, I'd had enough.
I blame the Democratic Party for this. They wanted to divide and conquer America and they have divided us through their manipulation of the media, which makes its money now off the divisiveness they caused and the sure fire hit with their audience of blaming Trump for it. They will never conquer America, though, because no one really wants be on their joyless Kamala joyride.
My Pasadena society grandmother always instructed me to never bring up anything of any substance at her parties. I think that was going a bit too far. I mean, it was hard to keep from dozing off at her dinner table given the conversation which was confined to who was related to whom (pronounced whoooom) and doesn't Babsy make the best martinis. And then I'd be awakened by the guy next to me squeezing my knee. Amazing how minds will turn to sex when the conversation pales. But, it wasn't fraught and I didn't get indigestion. Which has been what I've mostly gotten out of social events for the last eight years. I never kept Tums in my purse before 2016.
This is the most important election of my life. And I'm convinced Trump will win if the Democrats actually allow a real election to take place and don't do a Macron. But even if they cheat their way to another four years, Trump will still be my leader. Who else can dodge an assassination bullet and make jokes the next day? We are a better America already because of him. As long as we don't forget to laugh at the comedy called the Democrats.
Love your stories Polly & love your fighting spirit…Polly for Mayor!
I have too many skeletons who won't stay in my closet to ever be mayor. But you'd be terrfic!
Haha…also have lots of skeletons from my younger days as a long-haired hippy kid that rebelled against the establishment 😎
I don't know Dawson, I'm positive hippies WERE the establishment, they continued and promoted a secular liberal order free of family, of traditional values, and faith...
I missed you here yesterday, Theo. But I guess Sunday belongs to church.
Speaking of hippies … the thing about coming back here to live is I'll be walking down the street with my husband and some broken down old hippie will wave at me and my husband will say “Do you know him?” and I'll think “Did I make out with that guy when I was.seventeen?”
And the answer is . . "Probably" ! F u n n n y !
You make me laugh, to funny! Methinks you’re an old soul that can see reality (we live in an altered state of reality, with most people unaware of their deep sleep)…also think that that old hippy on the street had gained wisdom thru suffering and could recognize your old soul’s ability to connect with others…you sound like a person in service to others, rather than in service to self…just a wild guess 😎
You're pretty witty yourself, DL.
Excellent Polly, but your last line . . ." . . . laugh at the comedy called the Democrats.. . .". They're not a comedy group, they're a powerful, organized, dangerous conspiracy trying to turn America into just another shithole in some mistaken belief that by reducing a civilized society into crap the rest of the world will somehow benefit.
Excellent point, Earl. Thank you. I will respond with this. Charlie said it better than I can.
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-great-dictator-1940
Trump bragged about "grab them by the pussy".
Who cares? And Clinton not only took blow jobs from Monica but threw her under the bus when she was a liability. Hunter Biden? Snorting cocaine off underage hooker's behinds? And sex and drugs with his late brother's wife. Oh, and Swalwell. He doesn't just grab any pussy, he makes it a Chinese spy. GTFU.
'I don't think Trump is a racist, pussy-grabbing Hitler."
But again, why would you say this when he bragged about the act in question? What am I missing?
A very, very important election in deed. The Democrats are getting desperate. Why? Because people are finally waking up to the disastrous results over the past four years. No matter what metric is being discussed; the economy, crime, immigration, education or foreign policy, the Dems have a dreadful track record. Never mind the country is going down the tubes, they CANNOT come to grips with reality. That’s right, their searing hatred for Trump will not allow them to admit liberalism is a complete and utter failure!
During tomorrow night’s debate, Trump MUST remain focused and drive home the fact that people are facing economic hardship and ruin due to liberal, tax and spend, give away policies.
Mr. Tremblay mentions our inner cities and the hellscape many have become. Many cities are facing bankruptcy from failed economic policies and massive influx of illegal immigration. Will liberals ever admit this? Of course not.
Our once golden state is facing devastating consequences resulting from these same policies. Do we have to have an economic meltdown in order for liberals to finally admit they were wrong? No, most likely the Dem party creed will remain the same old tired talking points. “Trump is a racist, criminal, crazy, agent of Russia.” All while our adversaries are laughing at us in disbelief that half of our adult population can be so STUPID.
Enough is enough, ready for change!
Yep, get out and vote! Don't assume it's an automatic win because we are facing a corrupt election, too. I've studied the operating cost of different cities; they can do wonders with a $50M budget. The SB City and County spenders will take every penny out of your pockets and force you into the streets panning for money.
I watched a meeting today headed by Marjorie Greene Taylor with a group of various people, such as attorneys, involved with defending the January 6 (J6) Capital rioter, along with family member of those imprisoned. Those imprisoned rioters are going through hell in prison ... and we need Trump to pardon them ASAP. Several have died already. Handicapped prisoners are not allowed to have hearing aids, as an example. These average Americans are treated as requiring high security risk procedures. The pathetic Dems are doing everything they can do to make these American patriots miserable. Even the reading material given the prisoners is propaganda against Trump.
Vote NO and actively protest any tax, fee or cost increase. Discipline leaders with your vote. The reality of municipal bankruptcies will require restructuring government pensions and high payroll - benefit expenses. Maybe bankruptcies will even result in the erosion of powerful government unions (government employee including teacher unions that need to be outlawed at federal, state and local District levels).
TRUMP/VANCE RALLY LOMPOC SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH 11:00 - noon corner of H Street and Central Avenue south east side STAND UP FOR AMERICA! BRING FLAGS, SIGNS, AND GOOD CHEER. THIS ELECTION WILL DETERMINE OUR FATE
Carol, I thought of a good sign - 'Trump / Vance Avalanche!'
Great article! Mr. Tremblay's comment on trying to have dialogue between people of differing opinions without yelling, screaming, insulting, and God knows what else is a hurdle that seems monumental to overcome at times. It amazes me that some seemingly intelligent people can be so blind to the realities of the breakdown of the country and so full of anger and hatred toward Trump that they really can't see the forest for the trees. I know that one big answer is, which has been discussed many times in The Current, the amount of people that rely on the government for their paychecks. Let's hope that there can be some constructive discussion in the near future to start getting us back on track.
I also think they rely on weed to do their thinking for them.
We have a traffic speeding issue and it has to stop? Huh, where?
We need traffic calming. Who are the majority of the slogan drummers targeting? Oh that is right it is the locals and the anti everything crowd cannot stand it that their neighbors are the "problem" as they see it.
So the next time you hear the dog whistle, understand the losers cannot stand the free enterprise majority are who they are fighting against.
A very well written piece Tim. Your narrative is insightful. I grew up in a Republican household. My mother worked for the party in Arizona and both my parents were "Goldwater Republicans." Goldwater was, without a doubt, a divisive figure. While he was beaten in a landslide by Lyndon Johnson in 1964, the elements of his political philosophy of small government and individual freedoms would influence the party's conservative wing for years to come. That being said, my parents were inherently politically pragmatic when it came to the economy and social issues. They believed that both parties had a sacred responsibility to work together for the American people. To them what was important wasn't who's right, it was what's right. Whatever happens in this election, I hope we can get there again, where the measure of leadership isn't determined by who you put down but by who you lift up.
Admittedly, I’m a huge admirer of Barry Goldwater, the late great Senator from Arizona and Major General in the Arizona Air National Guard. He was WAY ahead of his time, supporting libertarian issues such as gay rights, medical marijuana, abortive rights and environmental protection. He was ultimately unsuccessful against LBJ who painted him as a nut case, and would start WWIII. LBJ’s re-election was supported by a very controversial commercial involving a simulated atomic bomb going off!
Had Goldwater won the 64’ election, we would NOT today be burdened with the disastrous consequences of “The Great Society!”
“Moderation in the pursuit of justice is NO virtue.” True then, true now!
“Moderation in the pursuit of justice is NO virtue.” True then, true now!
And yet you support the consumption of pornography and Playboy type magazines... for the "interesting articles" of course...
Looks like the Left stole Goldwater’s line too. Today it is : No justice, no peace.
Teko,
Seriously, don’t you have something more meaningful you could be doing right now instead of blathering nonsense and trolling others. Homework, chores? I have no clue as to what you’re talking about. True freedom means you allow material, magazines, information others may not always agree with…so get over it
Didn't Goldwater want to turn the Grand Canyon into a dam? Or am I trafficking in Dem misinfo? I do have to say that as a teen Democrat when I went out with a Young Republican it was a pleasant experience. He drove a clean car, not a VW that smelled of Patchouli oil, he had a dog with a real canine name not Siddhartha, he took me to a restaurant where I didn't see a single cockroach. But he had lousy taste in films. I wanted to see a Kurosawa samurai flick at the Riviera but he didn't like subtitles.
Socratic Questioning.
When talking to a Dem, ask them questions. Let them answer, let them hear the ridiculousness in their own voice as they try to defend Democrat policies and track records.
Those that are true blue through & through will continue to make excuses, side step and refuse to acknowledge any news articles or research that contradicts their belief system.
As we found from talking to some true blues, they admit their party tanked the economy and schools could be doing better, but they refuse to vote Republican. They scrape around looking for some reason to vote D.
We have found the Pro Abortion argument as their holding on point. As the Dems lie and say it’s pro choice, let’s call it what it really is, pro abortion.
To which I ask the most important question first, “when does life begin?” To which not one Democrat Pro Abortionist can answer. Which tends to level the playing field, bringing them closer to center. Then I ask them if they knew about Kamala & Walz both removing baby survivor rights and medical attention to those babies that live through an abortion. I ask how they feel about late term right up to birth abortion. 7 Democrat states have this. I again ask, when does life begin? Every Democrat I’ve talked to does not agree with late term abortion. I ask them how they feel about 7 Democrat states allowing the killing of babies, late term abortion. Then I ask who is radicalized?
The Democrats are waking up to the fact that their party is radicalized and far left.
They will not admit it in public, but we are waking them up one by one.
I find it amazing that ANY educated, sane, employed, adult can argue on this site or any other, that the liberal agenda is nothing more than a complete and utter train wreck. The topic of abortion is radioactive, especially for conservatives. I thought the Dems were the party of “science?” Sure, that is convenient for them to use against anyone arguing against radical climate policies that we are somehow “science deniers.” Yet, when liberals are arguing for the systematic destruction of fetuses, the term “science “ never comes up. We know now, based on ultrasound technology that the unborn face a horrible and painful demise during an abortive procedure. This is a scientific fact.
Clearly, the vast majority of liberals have a childish, simplistic view of how the world actually operates.
I love reading these peices. There is an equally benign outlook in the goodness/rightness of the Republican side. I do not agree with the extreme left and I have sympathy with their view of the issues facing us, not their proposed solutions.
for example
Regulations create beaurocratic nightmares: Red tape. Republican view is remove them and life will be great again. Unfortunately there is the human condition to take short cuts to get ahead.
Donald's whole life has been led by this dictum.
We need regulations. We need good regulations. We need regulations that are enforced.
Some excllent engineering based companies have sold cars that only comply with the law of the land by cheating(VW, AUDI, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche) and airplanes that are dangerous(Boeing). There are many more. Elon was close to be a fraudster to keep his companies afloat. BP and oil rig safety. the tobacco industry. Enron. There are many more examples.
My point is industry/business needs regulation because the human condition is to some times cut corners, to get results.
There are many regulations that are of nugatory value. Republicans need to propose how we effectively regulate big business. Removing "red tape" alone sounds great, The present methods are not working. To remove regulations will only create a worse mess and lead to greater costs to the people in health acre costs etc etc down the line.
I have no faith that the Trump is the answer. He is a very poor example of the human being and I can't hold him up as an example of good behaviour to lead ones life by. I wish that in my President my leader.
This is not too high a bar to hold a leader to in life.
Out of the two candidates who do you choose?
Trump is not trying to remove all government regulation. He’s trying to reduce regulation.
Kamala is trying to increase regulation.
We can use abortion as an example. Trump believes in putting the decision back to the States, to the people.
Kamala believes the Federal government should set guidelines for everyone. Her guidelines, which are late term up to birth abortions. She & Walz removed baby survivors rights, a baby that lives through an abortion is then killed after birth. Prior to Walz, Minnesota law required that a survivor receive medical attention.
Kamala pushes this Federal involvement of late term abortion despite most of Americans getting abortion do not agree with her.
Per the CDC and Guttmacher institute 80.9% of abortions were performed within 9 weeks’ gestation, and nearly all (93.1%) were performed less than 13 weeks’ gestation.
So why are Democrats pushing Federal control and limits on something that the people do not agree with?
Big Government (D). vs. Limited Government (R)
Why should the states be able to make abortion legal or illegal based off what their constituents think? How is this any different from states being free to allow or ban slavery? Instead of the tyranny of the majority and republicanism, we should universally condemn abortion.
Politics is the art of the possible.
I conclude then this point touching upon the power of kings with this axiom of divinity, That as to dispute what God may do is blasphemy … so it is sedition to dispute what a king may do.
" . . . the tyranny of the majority . . ." It's called a democracy.
Earl, I think it is called mob rule; eschewed wisely by the Founders.
Your, letter, Daniel, makes it sound like you think most of the readers don't have the brains to research and do their homework on proposed laws and regulations. I am not sure where your letter is coming from as a good portion of the articles in The Current are discussing pros and cons of various proposals. And if you are waiting for a perfect mortal to come down and rescue us from on high as the next president, dream on. I get a little tired of hearing that he's a "poor example of a human being" without any specific( not made up) examples of what in his four year term did you find so politically abhorrent.
Trump, the convicted felon who cheated on wife #1 with #2 (who got pregnant while he was still married to #1.)
Cheated on #2 with #3; and, cheated on #3 (while she was pregnant) with a porn star, enjoys the full support of the party of "Family Values" and Conservative Evangelicals. Got it.
Peter, no sale. Give it a rest.
Conservatives support limited government. Which requires the election of honest brokers; not those already broken by the deep state spoils game. Running for office is not for sissies; we must work with those who do rise to this perverse challenge. There can be no purity litmus test for anyone in politics today. Huzzah, if we get at least 80:20.
Democrats excel turning a blind eye on their own highly flawed candidates. Why on earth do they hold others to standards they do not choose to honor themselves? Fie.
It is reassuring to see so many Republican leaders choosing democracy and the rule of law over a personality-based cult that blindly follows a criminal grifter with no respect for law and order, the Constitution, or morality. Put another way, these patriotic Republicans "have stepped up in support of policies that reflect an understanding that the great wealth of this country was created" because of a large middle class who had hope for their future and the future of their children living in a free and democratic nation that "encourages entrepreneurship, work, tenacity, perseverance, family, ethics, community, and faith;" Republicans who believe that no one is above the law; Republicans who remember America's promise and Reagan's "shining city on a hill" -- not the vision of a broken down waste land envisioned by a cognitively impaired candidate who lost the 2020 election "by a whisker," who struggles with the truth, and who projects his own deep-seated evil inclinations onto those who oppose or disagree with him. Sadly, too many so-called Republicans have been so blinded by Trump's lies that they are not even AWARE that the are swallowing and sharing Russian propaganda to the detriment of America's democratic future. This is a "Very, Very Important Election"! Americans will decide if this will be OUR century, or the century of the autocrats. It is still not too late to step into light.
Hmmm…you must be referring to Dick (Mr Halliburton) Cheney & his daughter….both have been isolated from Trump’s Republican Party, along with the Bushies & McStains, plus many other compromised/corrupt pols…here’s Trump’s platform, which sounds Republican to Republicans…
1 Seal the border, and stop the migrant invasion.
2 Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.
3 End inflation, and Make America Affordable Again.
4 Make America the dominant energy producer in the world, by far!
5 Stop outsourcing, and turn the United States into a manufacturing superpower.
6 Large tax cuts for workers, and No Tax On Tips!
7 Defend our Constitution, our Bill Of Rights, and our fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms.
8 Prevent World War Ill, restore peace in Europe and in the Middle East, and build a great iron dome missile defense shield over our entire country-all made in America.
9 End the weaponization of government against the American people.
10 Stop the migrant crime epidemic, demolish the foreign drug cartels, crush gang violence, and lock up violent offenders.
11 Rebuild our cities, including Washington DC, making them safe, clean, and beautiful again.
12 Strengthen and modernize our military, making it, without question, the strongest and most powerful in the world.
13 Keep the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency.
14 Fight for and protect Social Security and Medicare with No CUTS, including no changes to the retirement age.
15 Cancel the electric vehicle mandate and cut costly and burdensome regulations.
16 Cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, Radical Gender Ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.
17 Keep men OUT of women's sports.
18 Deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again.
19 Secure our elections, including same day voting, voter identification, paper ballots, and proof of citizenship.
20 Unite our country by bringing it to new and record levels of success.
Yawn.
Good Article…and yes, this is a very, very important election…as I see it, this is the most important election in history….we are at a crossroads, not only for Our Great Nation, but for The World…this election will determine if we will continue down the road to communism or change course and attempt to reset our nation firmly upon The Constitution…now is the time all good men & women to come to the aid of their country…join the movement, fight for Trump, vote for Trump — the man in the arena fighting for US…
https://rumble.com/v59smfw-donald-j.-trump-this-video-will-get-donald-trump-elected.html
How tragic to see that video, dating to Trump/Pence; he went into office with so much promise and intent and the Deep State threw everything it had at him, including the Plague...... and here we go again. God help us.
Trump accomplished much during the first term, all the while ducking & dodging their plays. Have faith. 100% confident that Trump will retake control. It’s a public education process. Expect to see 57 days of exposure…drip, drip, drip…and then FLOOD!
Sometimes you can't TELL the public the truth.
YOU MUST SHOW THEM.
ONLY THEN WILL PEOPLE FIND THE WILL TO CHANGE.
More people have Trump’s back this time. 2024 is very much NOT 2016, or even 2020. Yes, Joe Biden did that too.
Biden/Harris 2020-2024 served as a purgative. We know now for sure, what we never want to see again.
Exactly…We, the People, have been betrayed for a very long time. Only at the precipice, will people find the will to change (to participate) and strength to break the system of control (be free). It had to be this way. This is not another 4-year election. GOD WINS.
In the Presidential Debate I heard one candidate outline her proposals and plans for America if she is elected. From the other candidate I heard "immigrants are eating your cats and dogs," "they’re executing babies after they’re born," "I won the 2020 election by millions of vote," "inflation is up" (it's actually going down), "crime is up" (it's actually going down), and who failed to answer a single simple questions regarding his plans and proposals. "I have a concept for a plan" he blathered without further explanation, but that is NOT a plan. Yes, Trump actually said those things during the Presidential Debate, utterances from a cognitive impaired old man who is out of touch with reality and is not burdened by telling the truth. This is dangerous and WEIRD. America needs sane leadership, not more of Trump's nonsense.
What did the Dems learn from Trump's attempted coup on January 6, 2021? Could President Joe Biden use the new SCOTUS-approved "presidential immunity" to declare VP Harris the winner of the November election? Would this allow VP Harris in her capacity as "President of the Senate" to declare herself the winner of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2025? In order to carry such a scheme to fruition, could President Biden summon Antifa, BLM, and other militant leftists to the Capitol to round up any MAGA Congressman and Senators who object? Trump already laid the blueprint for how this could be done, but VP Pence was not running to be the president, so it failed. Just saying...
Less biased news re Tuesday's debate: https://apnews.com/live/harris-trump-debate-election-2024-updates.
On this chart, AP news is top center - among the most desirable for fact-based, less-biased news: https://adfontesmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Media-Bias-Chart-12.0_Jan-2024-Unlicensed-Social-scaled.jpg
AP is part of the mind control narrative generators…one of our biggest enemies
Idk, if you're promoting less fact-based news sources that skew further left or right of center, then I'd say that this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Hmmm…ALL Legacy Media, including “fact checkers”, are controlled by the Deep State and full of dis (mis) [mal] information…Control the media -> Control the narratives -> CONTROL THE PUBLIC…+90% of the media consumed by the general public is polluted…best news source is X, which is now the biggest news source on the planet…lots of information on any & all topics, from all angles & political points of view…great resource for those looking for both national & world news (which we see a pittance of here in America)…turn off the TV and all those news feeds…time for a reboot … https://x.com/fnowisthetime/status/1400575705029566467?s=61
It appears to me that you are living in an alternate reality. I hope one day to meet you here on planet Earth among all our friendly (not so threatening) human beings, away from online media. Best wishes to you.
DLD thinks the best news source is X - because he can find any 'news' he wants to believe in.
It really concerns me that the younger generation is getting their news from social media. No wonder we have a new generation of Holocaust deniers!
Haha…yes, I do live in out in the woo (woo = everything not yet known to man, including everything that has been hidden be fellow men)…another hot one here in SB, hope to see you at the lemonade stand…😎
VV: AP has an appalling track record. Step outside of corporate media. There are so many other solid media operations today than those wholly dependent a large corporation advertising dollars, esp. Big Pharm.
Hi Joan, you've made a similar comment before and I asked for your preference.
Fear of news media is a problem when trying to maintain a democracy. AP is nothing to fear. I don't detect that they are trying to push anything, other than fact-based current events. They might not be willing to publish material that you want to read?
Everything I read, I read thru my critical thinking lens. And I find that the facts are the facts across most news media, including foreign sources -I check when getting accurate facts really matters to me (BBC, Al Jazeera, DW, etc), and on the topic of war, Institute for the Study of War (Completely fact based zzzzz). For the most part, the facts line up. And we all should know what to expect from politics: Each side is trying to win - acknowledged. So for the most part, alternate media consumers getting their "facts" from social media, sites in the bottom half of the media bias chart, far right or far left, are really getting the short end of the stick.. Unless what they're after is an opinion that lines up with their own (sure, I get that) which is fine as long as you know that's what it is. Or a far-out story (e.g., a conspiracy theory) that is much more exciting to read than the boring facts. As long as you know that's what it is. I get that too.. I can enjoy sci fi from time to time!
VV: Review AP’s track record just on “covid” and then apply your factual scrutiny standards. AP is a corporate mouth piece. Read more widely is my only consideration. Guard against finding one “authority” figure or source. Dip your toes into Sheryl Atkisson’s website. She is a shrewd and very grounded critic of the media itself.
Thanks for the recommendation. If I am looking for an alternative critique I'll check her out.
It appears you don't approve of the mainstream handling of covid and feel that "Big Pharma" is the threat, as well as news media coverage of the pandemic.
No doubt big Pharma needs to be kept in check. But I am most concerned about being pressured by doctors to take everyday prescription medications (e.g., for arthritis or Raynaud's, Fosomax, etc), while not giving serious consideration to less harmful alternatives. Do they receive kickbacks? The opioid crisis is the ultimate horror story.
My observations regarding conservative (I hesitate to use this word as current behaviors contradict the definition), ok, "conservative" attitudes toward mainstream medicine and big Pharma before 2020 seemed positive and approving, while "liberals" were more distrustful of mainstream medicine, more in favor of alternative medicine. This was my experience. Back then, my leanings toward exercise and a healthy diet over prescription meds were met with conservative disdain and eye rolls.
What happened in 2020 to change this balance? Covid, of course. This is when public health became highly politicized, controversial. How did this happen? Well, it was Donald Trump's mocking of Public Health, in particular, Anthony Fauci. Trump's superpower is the ability to rile up large crowds into an irrational frenzy. In this case it was a type of witch hunt that vilified the nation's leading infectious disease specialist (Don't kill the messenger!)
I approve Public Health's handling of covid. A new virus rapidly causing millions of deaths warranted extreme measures as they worked to figure out the best practices for managing the pandemic. Finding the sweet spot somewhere between paranoid and cavalier is challenging in any situation, and the government deferred to best practices in science. In the process Big Pharma profited, as is the case with the development of any highly sought after medication (good thing re those recent medication cost caps, right?)
In my mind, the jury's out on the cost-benefit analysis on the government's handling of covid but no one can deny the body count.. I'm sure there's a conspiracy theory for that too (eye roll).
The “new virus” never killed millions. There no verifiable data to support that statement. None. Just repeated anecdote mainly for political intent. Everything that was ultimately known about Covid was learned immediately from the closed system Diamond Princes cruise ship experience. The rest was pure 2020 election year theater, that today can no longer outrun the data and overkill policy response to a very strange global hysteria.
Include the political suppression of the early Johns Hopkins statistical analysis of prior ten years of CDC morbidity reports finding no increase in all-cause deaths in 2020, but did find a curious re-labeling of causes of death that was never explained.
I suspect you do need to keep working on your budding skepticism about “health care”. Dr Scott Atlas wrote a very good first hand account of his time on the COVID Task Force….A Plague Upon Our House. Helps one to reassess the various personalities in play at that time and serves to underscore RFKJr well-researched book…….The Real Doctor Fauci.
For those of us getting acquainted with Fauci from his early HIV public health policy strong-arming days in the 1980’s, nothing in this book came as a surprise. Trump was wise to isolate himself from this egotistical charleton. Plus public health policy is entirely reserved to each state. Trying to blame Trump is structurally misplaced.
Reading all of this, I'm briefly curious regarding your sources of information. My impression is that you spend a lot of time delving knee deep into the wacky.
Your assumption about my "budding" skepticism regarding health care is incorrect. My family has preferred alternate remedies (and health conscious living) over mainstream medicine for generations - long before covid, Trump, or Fauci. Our beliefs are based on science, common sense, and results.
Regarding covid, Trump, and Fauci, our views are polar opposite. I'm satisfied with my take, I've encountered nothing credible to counter it, and I feel that yours has come from the land of politics and wacky, even though health and science don't belong there.
All you write Tim is correct. Swing states are where to focus efforts; and in California, our Senate vore. If DEMs win, we cannot risk Walz as the Senate tie breaker in Harris’s footsteps. Harris is broke over 30 tie votes blocking passage of legislation of major importance to US!
In the days ahead, messaging the issues and planned policies is essential to some voters, and the messenger’s delivery style is important. Trump tends to be his own worse enemy. His messaging shows his true character. Women have cause for great concern! Many I know in swing states, and locally, say they either won’t vote or will cast for Harris. Ignorant, desperate youth lean for Harris because of her impossible promises, gender or race. Of the two candidates Trump’s the only leader. Harris is a puppet of the progressive consortium; she will do nothing not authorized by her owners, her unknown handlers. She cannot think or lead; she is merely an obedient employee proven to specialize in avoidance.
Will Americans demonstrate that we’re not stupid and pick the better of our only two POTUS choices? Do we know the high importance of our Senate and Congressional party votes? We’ll know in 57 days.
No Montecito women do not have great cause for concern of anything ' if you're alluding to abortion there is no right to murder the unborn child and (un)fortunately for you, Trump takes a relativistic stance on abortion - falsely belives it's justifiable under certain circumstances.
MAGA Party (RINO) lawmakers in Congress have subpoenaed VA over its efforts to register Veterans to vote at medical facilities before the upcoming presidential election (STARS AND STRIPES, September 10, 2024).
This is just another example of MAGA's voter suppression efforts in the old Dixie and "swing states." MAGA's draft-dodging leader (German: "Fuehrer") has called veterans "suckers" and "losers" and disparaged the sacrifices made by Senator John McCain, a Vietnam POW who refused release by his Communist captors because of his "celebrity status" as the son of a U.S. Navy admiral. Instead, he remained in the Hanoi Hilton in solidarity with his fellow American POW's. "He's not a hero" mewled cadet Bone-spurs tRump. This racist POS is not fit to be C-in-C of America's armed forces. More of my fellow Republicans are realizing this and speaking out against this deranged lunatic and his horde of misguided sycophants who would have us believe that LEGAL Haitian immigrants are "eating our pets" and that immigrant violence is a greater danger to our children than right-wing gun-nuts and their mouth-breathing progeny. Trump had 4 years to secure the border and build a wall "that Mexico would pay for." NEITHER HAPPENED. Illegal immigration is now trending down, along with inflation, mortgage rates, and the cost of eggs and milk. The only thing going up is the stock market and the number of vile lies spilling out of Trump's mouth.
Dismantling the Deep State is an existential call to arms for Democrats. This is why they cannot let go of their “Project 2025” ruse. Threats to the growing myriad of government dependencies, including government’s role as an ultimate authority figure in too many American lives, is source of the increasingly violent divisiveness in our country.
Democrats have become King George. We are the scrappy Revolutionaries yet again calling for freedom and liberty. One election will not win this war against growing government dependencies. Dependencies someone else is now expected magically to fund.
No, we all can’t get along. No, we do not want to come together. But we do want to regain the freedom to go our own ways. Our fight is existential too.
King George was not a tyrant...
North American colonialists had no representation. Same thing.