The Real timschochet

Both. Of course nothing ever lives up to the first two films. Despite that I watch every one anyhow.

I can. Really really want to watch it too but I’ve now gotten to the point where I’m too impatient to wait until next week and the week after. I want my entire cake NOW. So I will wait until the series is complete and then binge.

Actually it isn’t. It’s winning. What you’re missing is that it really doesn’t matter who started it. I actually agree with you that Democrats, if they didn’t start it, are at the very least as guilty as Republicans…in the past. That doesn’t matter either. What matters is the PERCEPTION of who started it. And the Democrats are winning that perception. Because Trump foolishly publicly said “I won Texas; I deserve 5 more seats.” There’s your problem. No matter how much you try to argue now that Democrats actually started this, it’s too late. That battle is over.

Love Jennifer Welch. She’s a rare bright spot in the state of Oklahoma. I’ve Had It is a tremendous broadcast. A lot of what she says in tongue in cheek but she’s making a larger point, which is the hypocrisy of certain people who behave normally and decently in their personal lives (which means generally pro-woke) but then turn around and vote for Trump.

OK so you are predicting a red tsunami. I will mark it down. Let’s see what happens.

First I don’t have a side. Please take a look at my comments in the latest Newsom thread regarding what I think of sides. Second, I would agree that Democratic led cities have made a lot of mistakes in fighting against crime in the past. So have Republicans. There is no empirical evidence linking high crime to one political party of the other: https://ash.harvard.edu/articles/crime-is-nonpartisan-and-the-blame-game-on-crime-in-cities-is-wrong-on-both-sides/ Now in recent years a lot of the innovative thinking on this issue has come in Democratic led cities. That’s why high crime in DC, Baltimore, Los Angeles, is actually reduced. It’s not yet safe in ANY of these places but crime is down. We should study why and encourage these changes rather than cut funding for them and rush in with a bludgeoning, heavy handed approach as you seem to favor.

@RLLD I’d like you to predict what’s going to happen in next years election. Everyone knows what I think: that there’s going to be a huge blue wave because of voter dissatisfaction with the tariffs, inflation, and Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. I think you would agree with me that elections are the only polls that truly matter? So if you think people are happy with Trump, how do you predict the election will play out?

He’s attacking Democrats. That’s the point.

If you want to make that separate point, go ahead: we can argue it. But the larger point is that Trump isn’t sending troops in. Because of the Republican governors.

Lol you can’t compete with @Cdub100. I know you want to. But he’s the real deal. You’re a poor imitation sorry.

Then why isn’t Trump sending national guard into high crime cities in red states, like Memphis or Houston? The answer obviously is that this isn’t about fighting crime, it’s about fighting Trump’s enemies. And it’s performative.

California, like Texas, will do this because we can. This ploy only works because most of you reading this only vote one way. And I don’t know why that is. You guys and so many people in this country act like it’s a football game and you have to root for “your side”. But it isn’t a game. Myself, I’ve voted Republican and Democrat and libertarian. I’ve changed my affiliation several times and I probably will again. My core values don’t change. But my party does. A good candidate on either side, decent and honest, can win my vote even if I disagree on some issues. If everybody was a “swing voter” gerrymandering would be useless.

We were so much better off under Biden. I honestly can’t think of a way we were worse off. It’s just amazing how much damage Trump has done in less than one year.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/business/economy/trump-bls-firing-jobs-report.html Not surprised that the MAGA types around here are avoiding discussing this but this news is highly disturbing and dangerous. Those of you who dismiss Trump’s authoritarian leanings may have trouble defending this action. He only wants facts that make him look good. Any fact that doesn’t must be eliminated. We are dealing with a would be dictator. Is this seriously what you guys want?

Sigh. I offered you reasoned arguments. It’s up to you to accept or reject them. I differ from my friend Ron in that I take no enjoyment out of this. I will perfectly happy if none of these concerns are real and if prices continue to be stable. I would like nothing more than for you to be able to start another of these threads 6 months from now, laughing at the rest of us. That would be far preferable to any “I told you so” on my part. I don’t want to see any pain. But facts are facts. Economic laws are what they are and they can’t change at the whim of a single person. If you place fees on imports the consumer will pay them. You should know this already. Everybody should know this. It’s basic math.

The mass inflation from tariffs hasn’t hit yet for three reasons: 1. Trump keeps backing off, suspending the main increases. Yesterday he put off the main tariffs on China again for another 90 days. For most of the rest of the world, the bulk of tariffs promised in April only began last week. 2. After the announcement in April, but before the tariffs began, many of the largest companies furiously increased their stockpiles of goods so as to prolong current consumer prices as long as possible. Now these stockpiles are starting to run out. 3. Also many large companies thus far have opted to swallow the cost rather than pass it on to the consumer. But this won’t last very long. Here is an article from Fortune magazine (hardly a liberal source) that explains my arguments in more detail and predicts bad times ahead (bad, not catastrophic). https://fortune.com/2025/08/12/us-inflation-flat-tariffs-price-pressures-fed-trump-bls/ Basically we are currently in the lull before the storm hits.

Once again the debate in this thread has devolved into an argument over facts. Trump opponents believe what Trump is doing is unjustified because crime is sctually way down in DC. Trump supporters believe it’s justified because crime is NOT way down in DC. Opponents cite statistics provided by the mainstream media and studies. Supporters deride the mainstream media (as always), and cite the DC police union which supports Trump’s decision. What is the truth? I turned to an outside source, the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8600x7dnn4o.amp I am hoping this source might be well enough removed for all sides to accept. Perhaps I’m wrong about that. In any event, according to the BBC, overall crime HAS gone down, though some have exaggerated the amount, and it remains an unsafe city to live. My personal view on this entire issue remains unchanged: it’s not the big deal that either side is claiming. It’s not going to clamp down or reduce crime significantly nor is it going to impose some sort of police state. It’s a pretty meaningless show meant to distract, change the subject from Epstein. It’s designed to energize Trump supporters and outrage Trump opponents. That seems to be working.

I’m actually with @jerryskids on this one. It’s only a major news story IF the SC takes it up which seems unlikely.

What a fine Brownshirt you make.

Dachau? oops sorry I keep confusing decades and countries. Don’t know why I do that…

Yeah I’ve noticed a lot of you around here are really big into men. NTTAWWT. Hey I’m pro-LBGTQ+. @EternalShinyAndChrome you want to be in relationships with other men, that’s entirely your call. I support you!

So you’re telling me that the bigots and anti-semites around here are misogynists too? Go figure.

What he wants is for MAGA to start cheering for him again, and for the rest of us to talk about this rather than Epstein.

Unfortunately all too many Jews worship Trump as well.

Then stop voting for racists. https://prospect.org/politics/2025-05-13-trumps-flagrant-racism/