The Real timschochet

Right now we have a system where we give poor people money, in the form of SNAP (previously food stamps) to purchase groceries. And we also have special grocery stores, privately run but under heavy government restriction and regulation, that sell items to these same people. Mamdami wishes to replace these stores with government run stores. He would never have the power to do this as mayor and it is not in my judgment a good or efficient idea. But it’s also not a new idea and it has no relationship to Communism, as it wouldn’t affect the private stores already in place. Under a Communist dictatorship all private ownership would end and be replaced with government run entities.

You’re wrong on both counts. A government run grocery store, while IMO a terrible idea, is not Communism any more than public education is Communism. It would be closer to Communism if he also made all private grocery stores illegal. Do you see the difference? It’s a huge difference but somehow conservatives never seem to see it. I have an interview, already linked in this thread, in which he states he recognizes the state of Israel and it’s right to exist, so your second assertion is simply false.

You of course mean neighborhoods with wealthier incomes right? But in any case he wouldn’t have that power as mayor.

It’s not even accurate to call him a socialist in that he’s not in favor of replacing capitalism. He wants to modify it, impose more restrictions. But again, he won’t be able to do this in his role as mayor so it seems irrelevant.

From what I’ve been able to learn about Mamdami: 1. He’s not a Communist, nowhere close. Like Bernie and AOC, he’s a Democratic Socialist. The two ideologies are very opposed, not similar at all. DS believes in free speech, Democracy, and our current system of free enterprise (though with much more government involvement.) Communists don’t. 2. While Mamdami was at one time in favor of the original set of “defund police” ideas (which was ALWAYS falsely titled; the ideas actually involved a nuanced reallocation of police funds and duties based on recommendations from police groups and advocacy groups, NOT a defunding) he has since changed his position, correctly realizing that whatever good was originally intended, the word “defund” is political poison. 3. Most of Mamdami’s economic ideas are irrelevant to any time he spends as mayor because he does not have the power to enact them. He is not a lawgiver. Like all other mayors his effectiveness will be based on his level of efficiency in keeping existing structures running. In this regard it should be noted that the man historians regard as the greatest mayor in New York history, Fiorello LaGuardia, was also a Democratic Socialist. This is nothing new. 4. Mamdami is a centrist Muslim, like most Muslims living in this country. His wife does not cover. He is not an Islamist, nor does he share the extreme Muslim beliefs of Islamist clerics. He is a feminist and pro LBTQ+. 5. Mamdami is not anti-Semitic. Nor is he anti-Israel. He is anti-Netanyahu and highly critical of Israel’s current government. Mamdami does not support Hamas. Once these facts are accepted, we can then have an intelligent conversation about what kind of mayor this guy will be. Until then we can’t.

It’s astonishing that you and others really believe this.

People voluntarily choosing to pray? Wasn’t aware I wanted this. Not particularly opposed though.

I never realized.

What you wrote is thoughtful and plausible except for one thing: the economy. I believe that Trump’s tarrifs and the Big Beautiful Bill are going to be so disastrous for people that ‘28 is going to be a shoe-in for the Democrat whoever that is. Now I hope this doesn’t happen- because as much as I want the MAGA crowd defeated, I don’t want it at the expense of the economy. So I would be happy to be wrong about this. Nonetheless I think this is where we’re headed.

I found what you wrote awful but I don’t think you deliberately meant it that way. I believe your comments were well-intended. I’ve certainly made my share of posts in the past that came out much worse than intended. I think you’re a good dude (just absurdly wrong about almost all political issues!)

Thank you @TheNewGirl. I disagree with you quite a bit and I know you don’t think much of my politics at all (or possibly not much of me at all) but I support what you wrote here 100%. I have two daughters now in their early 20s and feel exactly the same way.

Lol isn’t Zoltar the fortune telling dude from Big that turns Tom Hanks into an 11 year old kid?

Didn’t work out so well for me. Even without having to pay you I lost quite a bit of money. I won’t do that again. But I honestly do think Democrats are going to win big both in 2026 and 2028. Keep in mind that this has nothing to do with what they are offering or their ideas or their overall competence level which I don’t think too highly of. It will simply be a rejection of Trump. And I also believe that progressives and leftists will start to dominate in the Democratic Party for the next few years. Which I don’t like. Unfortunately the establishment types, with the possible exception of my governor Newsom, come off as too namby pamby, too weak. People love fighters.

Of course! Actually Im pretty good at it, at least half the time. (Though, like Winston Churchill, when I’m wrong I’m REALLY wrong.)

If you mean it only took me 3 months to be in alliance with nearly ANY Democrat no matter how much I might disagree with some of their specific views (as I do with this new guy a LOT)? Pretty much. Make it 6 months. 6 months of the worst and most dangerous White House we’ve ever had. It’s called “All hands on deck”. If you are a politician in this country that opposes Trump there’s a decent chance I will find a way to like you.

I don’t want to show you anything. I would rather these cuts don’t happen even if it meant that Republicans hang on to their seats. But that ain’t my call. You’re the one who voted for the idiots not me.

The only people foiled are ICE. Caught lying, it’s pretty embarrassing and this story just gets bigger and bigger: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna214801

Sure make the cuts. See what happens.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/23/republican-senate-trump-bill-medicaid-cuts

OK. Let’s revisit this next November.

I don’t think you get what’s going to happen here. The Republican Party is committing suicide with the combination of the tariffs and the Big Beautiful Bill gutting Medicare. They’re almost guaranteeing a progressive wave.

Last night’s result is huge news for the country and it should make everyone reading this realize two things: 1. Whoever is the Democratic nominee for President in 2028 is very likely to be the next President. Let’s put it at 65-70%. 2. There is a very good chance, at least 50-50, that the Democratic nominee for President is going to be a progressive leftist for the very first time. I know that’s news for some of you but no, Obama, Hillary, Biden and Kamala weren’t leftist; they were all part of the Democratic Establishment. The next one probably won’t be. This is almost entirely because of Trump.

I get frustrated arguing about this with @jerryskids. He is a likable guy, a good guy, and I wish the best for him and his health situation especially. But he, and a few others here, have what I regard as blinders when it comes to Islam (and also with regard to transgender people for every different reasons.) There is a collectivized attitude which I find wholly at odds with traditional conservatism.

Somewhat unfortunately, liberals don’t spend all their time trying to troll conservatives the way conservatives do liberals. But how hilarious and awesome this would be if it was actually true.

You HAVE gotten answers to these questions because I’ve given you them. I’m out of time this morning so I won’t give them again but I’ve explained to you in the past very specifically what Israel should have done differently and how some of their current actions could very well be considered crimes against humanity.