The Real timschochet

Two days after the State of the Union I still think that Biden did a great job. But did it change anything? Who knows? Public perception is so hard to measure.

The root principle is allowing individuals as much freedom as responsible and respecting human dignity.

I know you won’t get this but the celebration of drag queens comes from the same principle that allows us to morally scold China. The two are intertwined.

OK I watched it. Thank you for posting it. Here are my thoughts. 1. I disagree strongly with his main point: though the problems he lists are very real, I truly believe that overall America is greater now than it was during his father and uncle’s time, with far less problems. I believe, for example, any black, Hispanic, gay, transgender, etc. would prefer to live in 2024 America than in 1963 America. I think this also especially true of women (though most of them might prefer to erase the last two years since the Dobbs decision.) But this constant nostalgia for the past hides the reality that in almost every way our lives are better now. 2. There is one aspect he mentioned of the past that I know will resonate with a lot of people: how it used to be that only one member of the household could provide for the entire family. What he doesn’t explain is that this was a historical anomaly based on our plunder of cheap energy after World War II. It was never true before that time and it only lasted about 30 years. It may become true again if we can ever harness nuclear fusion. 3. I don’t like his overall tone, so similar to Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, of blaming the “elites” for our problems. Joe Biden may be an “elite”, whatever that means. Barack Obama certainly was not. Who cares? I like their policies (not all of them, but most). I think they’re good for America. I think they strengthen us. 4. 2024 is a binary election between Biden and Trump. This guy has no chance. Voting for him in a red or blue state is meaningless but voting for him in a swing state may help Trump and I don’t want to help Trump. I believe Donald Trump represents an existential threat to our democratic republic. I don’t care if RFK Jr or you or anyone else is sick of hearing that; I think it’s true and literally almost nothing else matters. 5. Finally it’s hard for me to take this guy seriously given his constant lies about the Covid vaccines. He has literally contributed to the deaths of millions by spreading these lies. I also believe, based on previous comments, that he is a conspiracy nut and an anti-Semite. It’s not this country that JFK and RFK wouldn’t recognize, it’s RFK, Jr. they wouldn’t recognize. (Or to be more accurate, they would recognize him as sounding a lot like his grandfather, Joseph Kennedy, who was also a conspiracy nut and a Jew hater.) I sincerely wish he’d go away.

Before I watch the video, let me respond to your comments. If you haven’t seen it I would urge you to watch Ken Burns’ “The US and the Holocaust”- it’s available on the PBS app. One of the points it makes is that prior to Pearl Harbor, and even past it, this nation had the same divides that it has now. There were those who strongly opposed FDR’s economic, cultural and social changes to the country and said they no longer recognized the United States. They opposed refugees, immigration, and our aid to England and France. Nevertheless when Pearl Harbor was attacked these same folks united behind the President and fought bravely for this country. You see Voltaire I don’t believe you. I think if America was attacked today, ala Pearl Harbor or 9/11, and if you were called upon, you’d fight to defend this country. I think your love for this country is deeper than you claim, deeper than your disdain for certain aspects of our culture. So yeah I think you would get out of bed. Now I’ll watch the video.

I’m feeling a little sorry for Katie Britt today. She’s just getting torched. She was truly awful but it’s not an easy job.

I could quote the immortal words of Tanner Boyle describing the makeup of the Bad News Bears. I won’t though. But that’s the idea.

This has been pretty much true throughout history. Sadly no country accepts immigrants without resistance. No country on Earth has been willing to accept a changes to their racial makeup without great hostility. This includes the United States, but we are unique in that we are mainly a country of immigrants and it is in our DNA to welcome them. That doesn’t mean we always do. All throughout our history there have been bigots and racists like you who are hostile to the newbies. Donald Trump is only the latest in a long line of demagogues who have used this issue to pursue power- unfortunately he has been one of the most dangerous. Even so we have defeated all of our demons in the past and we will this time as well. It’s one of the major reasons this country is the greatest in the history of human civilization.

Biden is giving a speech right now in Georgia. He sounds really energetic.

Russell Wilson is going to visit with the Steelers. I actually like Wilson but this doesn’t make sense to me unless we’ve completely given up on the two guys on the roster. I haven’t.

Really? I don’t think most people would agree with you.

Yes to your credit you are one of the few people here willing to admit your bigotry for all to see. Many others hide it with supposed concern about crime and border security, but not you. You lay your racist concerns out there. If it were possible for me to admire you for this I would.

Another good opinion piece about the relationship between undocumented immigrants and violent crime (hint: there isn’t one.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/03/01/undocumented-immigrant-crime-rate-not-higher/72788637007/

Terrific opinion piece about how Trump’s entire call for border security is a scam: https://newrepublic.com/article/179682/trump-rant-biden-speech-maga-ugliest-scam The real concern Trump, and at least some of his followers have, is not about border security (which would have been very much helped by the compromise bill) but about the changing ethnic makeup of the United States helped by the increased migration. Thats at the root of the MAGA movement IMO and always has been.

Why do you think she left her neighborhood and family in the first place? What conditions do you think she and all the others endured that would make them be willing to risk rape, their lives, the loss of their families, to come here? There is no amount of deterrents that will ever stop these people from trying to come here.

The Supreme Court has become politicized over many years. One of the many criticisms I have of Joe Biden is that he is one of the men most responsible for starting this process.

There was an aspect of the response speech which really bothered me last night and which I haven’t heard mentioned: when she spoke, with either genuine or manufactured emotion, about the migrant she met at the border who was repeatedly raped. The problem I have with this sort of argument, when made by Republicans, is what is their solution? Are they proposing to have authorities monitor the migrants with police authority and protect innocents, prevent rapes and arrest those responsible? No, their solution is to keep these people out of the country and prevent them from getting here. Beyond that they offer nothing. Will that prevent this woman from being raped? No.

Marjorie Taylor Greene showed a major lack of decorum last night. But it would be hypocritical of me to call it out and not mention that a few years ago Nancy Pelosi tore up her copy of the speech in public. I’m a Pelosi fan but that was awful and I said so at the time. And of course this move was a few years after the congressman who screamed out “LIAR!” at Obama. So I’m not pointing fingers at either party, only the individuals who pull this crap. But I do wish we could get back to decorum and respect from all sides.

I will concede this point. As I’ve stated before, this is the one major exception to my rule that liberals generally accept science and facts better than modern day conservatives do. In the case of nuclear energy the opposite is true (though it must also be added that a major impediment to more nuclear power is not liberal fears but a NIMBY attitude among homeowners of all political persuasions.)

Most liberals believe that crime can be successfully fought without institutional racism, which exists now among police and the justice system in this country, mostly in the inner cities. We can work to eliminate that racism and still fight crime. That is what we are trying to do. Also, most liberals believe that the best way to fight crime is by improving education and economic opportunities in those areas where crime most occurs. While punishment for crime is necessary it’s not necessarily a deterrent.

I appreciate the lengthy response here. This is the sort of thing I was hoping for when I started this thread. My thoughts. 1. Any supposed mistakes made by liberals during Covid was based on the recommendations of public health experts, and therefore, theoretically, on science. For the most part those errors didn’t cost lives. The rejection of the vaccines, almost entirely from the right, has cost many lives and continues to do so. 2. You’re speaking for yourself on climate change. Actually I don’t necessarily find your POV unreasonable, but I was referring to the millions of conservatives who reject the science of climate change. They include, incidentally, your nominee for President. In addition, while we can argue over liberal solutions to this problem,‘the almost universal attitude of conservatives to reinvest in fossil fuels (drill drill drill) is at this point the definition of insanity IMO, and once again it’s one of Trump’s main platforms for his re-election. 3. Yes believing Trump won and Birtherism are conspiracy theories based on emotionalism, not reason, my entire point. 4. As others have pointed out, very few liberals believe a man can be a woman and vice versa. What we believe is that transgenders deserve love and respect and TREATED, in most situations, as the sex they have chosen. That’s not the same thing. And it’s not a rejection of science.

Did he pass your test? This cognitive impairment stuff was always such bullsh!t.

They put a man on the moon? Not according to the GOP candidate for governor of North Carolina. They should talk.

She is really awful. Kind of cute though.

I will say his name: Lincoln Riley is an overrated coach. Had the best QB in the country and lost 6 games. Now that the Bruins have DeShaun Foster and Eric Bienemy look for UCLA to pound the crap out of the evil Trojans. Can’t wait.