The Real timschochet

No. You can’t be duly elected 20 years ago. I was explaining the reason for Hamas’ previous popularity. Now that there is starvation? Who knows? But it’s all conjecture since there is no election, nobody to challenge Hamas for leadership. I also disagree with your second point. Even if people elect a terrible leader who causes them to suffer and die, that doesn’t mean the people who voted for him deserve that fate. The vast majority of Palestinians alive today have never voted in any election at all in their lives. But even the ones who did, if they did not partake directly in the crimes of the Hamas leadership, do not deserve to suffer the consequences of that leadership. There is no such thing as collective guilt.

This will go back and forth. If inflation goes up, and it’s perceived to be because of the tariffs, there’s gonna be a blue wave. If not who knows? Stay tuned.

1. No. 2. No. The popularity of Hamas among the Palestinians is that they begin with an in your face unbending position. It’s been shown time and again that most people prefer leaders who fight back; this aspect is far more important than any position they hold. Thus, Hamas is much more popular with young Palestinians than Al Fatah which is seen as weak for working with Israel. If you don’t understand this, then you understand very little about this conflict.

Actually I need to correct what I just wrote. The assertion that Hamas’ foundational strategy is Gaza’s destruction is not correct. Their foundational strategy is Israel’s destruction. Perhaps the writer made a typo? (Even if Hamas now believed that there is a gain achieved by Gaza’s destruction, it wouldn’t be “foundational”.) Actually I believe that Hamas has changed their strategy anyhow. Their new strategy is to stay alive and in power in Gaza. All other goals are subordinate to that.

I think it’s both interesting and fits into my assessment. I want to move past this. We’re not getting anywhere. What, in your opinion, should Israel do now?

I’m actually not. I wish it wasn’t so. But again- I have read in several places that the IDF is firing at civilians who try to get to the aid centers where the food is. That is the specific charge that was first made (to my knowledge) by a spokeswoman from Doctors Without Borders who was reporting as an eyewitness. That is the specific charge which has caused me to accept the word “genocide.”

Your complaints about the state government are not without merit. I vote Democrat mainly because the Republicans give me nothing to vote for. I voted for Arnold though. If another Republican comes along who is pro business, but doesn’t have the rest of the Trump crap (anti-immigrant, anti-trade, anti-woke) I would strongly consider that.

You’re correct over the last 5 years (4 million came, 6 million left. But over the last 10 years, and 20 and 30, you’re wrong. The population continues to increase.

I don’t know what the percentage would be. I’m pretty sure it’s at least 51% on Hamas- probably higher. Not 95% though. I believe Israel has done enough wrong here to be complicit in genocide.

Wait wasn’t this you a few days ago? What happened to my ignorance?

You told me the other day he didn’t. You called me stupid for not realizing it. Have you adopted my stupidity?

Some leave. Many more arrive.

I wouldn’t know. I hire day laborers a few times a year.

No. That was a lie. When are you going to answer @TimHauck’s question? Are uou lying about the “liberal fluff” too?

There aren’t any Hamas apologists here. But I will respond anyhow: three things can be true at the same time. Hamas is making it very difficult to get aid to the hungry AND Hamas is involved in corruption AND Israel has systematically helped to starve the Palestinians. All are true. This isn’t either or.

Where are the indictments? Where is the special prosecutor? Treason is a serious crime. If somebody truly committed treason I want them tried, be it Obama or whomever. When is this going to happen?

I find it interesting that those who refer to you as a troll have yet to answer this question.

Sure

Taxes are an unfortunate fact of life. We have expectations of government and somebody needs to pay for it. But taxes should NEVER be on trade (tariffs) as it interferes with economic growth which is the key to everything. This has been my consistent view my entire adult life. I believe in free trade without limits.

You did and she was replying to you. And she has accused Newsom of fraud many times before.

Inflation increases in June: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-inflation-warms-up-june-tariffs-boost-some-goods-prices-2025-07-31/ Just the beginning…

Whoever is committing fraud should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Newsom included if that’s what the evidence shows. But you have consistently made this assumption without any evidence. I know you detest Newsom’s politics. But don’t you think you should have at least SOME evidence before making this assumption? (His net worth is not evidence.)

My attitude towards all this stuff is the same as when people were complaining about the “woke” ads: if it sells, more power to them. If it doesn’t sell they’ll pull it. If you’re spending your time either complaining about an advertisement or cheering it for political reasons, you’ve weird.

She’s pretty liberal herself. Supports Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ, choice…she’s no conservative.

She played the young wife of the driver in Season 2- she cheats on him and they drown her with an anchor. She was pretty decent.