Hardworking Americans speaking out against Republicans

[Hardcore troubadour 14,910]

5 minutes ago, The Girlfriend said:

https://youtu.be/pIQh_5dZUwI?si=4yH8aFj_skiNgI5e

Epic trolling going on here. Too bad most of them are too stupid to get it.

Yeah.  They look like formidable warriors. That’s a crack unit there. 

[The Girlfriend 208]

8 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Yeah.  They look like formidable warriors. That’s a crack unit there. 

Have you gotten your daily dose of you’re an idiot yet? 

You’re an idiot, just in case…

[Hardcore troubadour 14,910]

7 minutes ago, The Girlfriend said:

Have you gotten your daily dose of you’re an idiot yet? 

You’re an idiot, just in case…

You could probably make that team. I’ll bet you have a great falsetto. . 

[Patented Phil 1,469]

1 hour ago, The Girlfriend said:

https://youtu.be/pIQh_5dZUwI?si=4yH8aFj_skiNgI5e

Epic trolling going on here. Too bad most of them are too stupid to get it.

How did that Resistance work out in Les Mis?

[The Girlfriend 208]

7 minutes ago, Patented Phil said:

How did that Resistance work out in Les Mis?

Another idiot here. 

[Fnord 2,051]

While it's super fun to romanticize about the choir singing a song to Trump in protest, that's not what happened. He chose the song, and reportedly is a big Les Mis fan. As always with dear leader, the irony went unnoticed.

[The Girlfriend 208]

6 minutes ago, Fnord said:

While it's super fun to romanticize about the choir singing a song to Trump in protest, that's not what happened. He chose the song, and reportedly is a big Les Mis fan. As always with dear leader, the irony went unnoticed.

I didn’t think it was possible, but this somehow makes it even better. Self owns are always the best! Nothing like putting your own ignorance on full display. 

[jerryskids 6,550]

2 hours ago, Fnord said:

I DGAF about "unelected bureaucrats." I'm pointing out one of the larger hypocrisies currently on display, something that Trump had as a cornerstone of his campaign. Getting rid of them so they wouldn't stymie his admin. Now he conveniently renames an existing department and sets an (1) unelected billionaire loose on the entire government. Of course, said billionaire is also his single largest donor and has decided he wants to be the (2) technocratic poster boy for worldwide right wing politics. Sorry man, your poo-pooing of the COI angle is laughable, and I do not believe you would be reacting similarly were (3) Kamala Harris setting George Soros loose in the same manner. That's a bad comparison, mostly because there literally is nobody on the left remotely close to Elon Musk's position with MAGA.

Also, stop with your serious discussion jabs. (4) I didn't call Musk a neo-nazi. YOU mentioned that term. I said something like "alleged nazi sympathizer." It's right there- alleged. I'm usually pretty careful with my words, so I'm not going to call someone a neo-nazi unless I know they are, or at least have a firm belief backed up by evidence. I don't know if he is or not. But there is definitely evidence that could lead one to that belief, no matter how much you disregard it.

I like you Jerry, and appreciate our conversations. You're a smart dude.(5) But that doesn't mean you're right or that you've somehow elevated yourself above partisan assumptions. (6) I have yet to see compelling justification from conservatives on why unelected bureaucrats were public enemy #1 in November, but now they're A-OK. Beloved, even.

Because that is impossible without showing immense hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty. 

Fnord, I hope you know I like you as a poster and appreciate your comments, as I do @The Real timschochet.  It's much better than TrollGay or the Girlfriend, let alone Tebok/Rusty, who just troll 24/7.

To that end I've bolded and numbered points in your post:

(1) Not sure where you are going here.  I've pointed out the attempted dehumanization of such terms to avoid discussing the issues, yet you combine them.  Unelected?  Nobody running any executive department is elected, as I've pointed out.  Billionaire?  What's the relevance?  Are you afraid that a guy worth roughly $393B is going to sell your SSN on the SSN black market to... what end exactly?

(2) Elon long ago posted the meme of how he was center-left, but the Overton Window moved so far Left that he looked like a far Rightie.  Other true liberal folks like Bill Maher, Joe Rogan, and Bari Weiss have experienced the same.

(3) This made me say whoa... I would be apoplectic if Soros were in this position!  But then I thought of my point #2 above, and the fact that Soros has spent decades trying to destroy the fabric of our culture.  Still, I acknowledge your concern.

(4) That seems like a distinction without a difference.  You added "alleged"?  OK, but it was in the context of dehumanizing labels to Musk.

(5) I'm aware that I have partisan assumptions, and that I don't come across as objective.  I originally opposed Trump, favoring DeSantis.  But, he failed, and here we are.  I find myself in the position of responding to Leftie comments like "unelected billionaire" and responding like #1 above. Unconstitutional?  Well, if so, I oppose it, and I presume that somebody has filed or will file a suit regarding the specifics.  It's not like there aren't thousands or millions of government employee second-handers itching to be the poster child for such lawsuits.  Until then, it sounds like sky screaming TDS to me.

(6) Feel free to point out an example, including my opposition if possible, but not necessary.

 

 

[Fnord 2,051]

14 hours ago, jerryskids said:

Fnord, I hope you know I like you as a poster and appreciate your comments, as I do @The Real timschochet.  It's much better than TrollGay or the Girlfriend, let alone Tebok/Rusty, who just troll 24/7.

To that end I've bolded and numbered points in your post:

(1) Not sure where you are going here.  I've pointed out the attempted dehumanization of such terms to avoid discussing the issues, yet you combine them.  Unelected?  Nobody running any executive department is elected, as I've pointed out.  Billionaire?  What's the relevance?  Are you afraid that a guy worth roughly $393B is going to sell your SSN on the SSN black market to... what end exactly?

(2) Elon long ago posted the meme of how he was center-left, but the Overton Window moved so far Left that he looked like a far Rightie.  Other true liberal folks like Bill Maher, Joe Rogan, and Bari Weiss have experienced the same.

(3) This made me say whoa... I would be apoplectic if Soros were in this position!  But then I thought of my point #2 above, and the fact that Soros has spent decades trying to destroy the fabric of our culture.  Still, I acknowledge your concern.

(4) That seems like a distinction without a difference.  You added "alleged"?  OK, but it was in the context of dehumanizing labels to Musk.

(5) I'm aware that I have partisan assumptions, and that I don't come across as objective.  I originally opposed Trump, favoring DeSantis.  But, he failed, and here we are.  I find myself in the position of responding to Leftie comments like "unelected billionaire" and responding like #1 above. Unconstitutional?  Well, if so, I oppose it, and I presume that somebody has filed or will file a suit regarding the specifics.  It's not like there aren't thousands or millions of government employee second-handers itching to be the poster child for such lawsuits.  Until then, it sounds like sky screaming TDS to me.

(6) Feel free to point out an example, including my opposition if possible, but not necessary.

 

 

1. I think it's a pretty serious stretch to label unelected billionaire as dehumanizing. Honestly, I mostly put that in there as a jab at you. Petty, I know. But I've read the posts in this place over the years, and pretty much everyone here has been called much worse. I have not seen anyone other than you raise objections to that phrasing. I should be so lucky as to be called an unelected billionaire.

2. Not buying your logic here. I do not feel as though this is even a discussion. Elon may have been center left at one point, but he definitely isn't now. His ties to AfD and the Afrikaners completely destroy this possibility.

3. I'm glad that gave you pause. I have seen you and others post things like "do you think Elon is going to steal your SS#?" Obviously not. What he has done is fire IG's that are directly investigating him/his companies for several different infractions. Said companies have secured billions in government contracts. This is textbook COI. I have yet to see any of our resident righties provide a defense of this. 

4. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence pointing to Musk having a predilection toward aligning with groups that have alleged ties with neo nazis and similar ideologies. I will continue to point this out, without resorting to absolutes like "Musk is a fascist nazi pig." My aversion to dehumanizing terms does not extend to public figures. I don't consider my comments about Musk to be any different than criticizing Biden, Trump, or any other public/political figure. I do not believe Musk to be aligned with nazis. But it's something to watch. 

5. I would be willing to place large sums of money on there being a standoff between Trump and the judicial system, if not SCOTUS, regarding what is/isn't constitutional. They are pushing the unitary executive theory hard, for instance. I would be shocked if at some point Trump didn't thumb his nose at orders from a judge. The groundwork has already been laid. What then? I personally find the unitary executive theory to be absurd and blatantly unconstitutional, and think that nobody with a shred of common sense would disagree with me. But the skids have been greased for this as well. If that is supported by SCOTUS, all bets are off, nice knowin ya, the US as we know it is done. The left has never pushed that nonsense, only the right. This admin wants it in front of SCOTUS. If that's just TDS sky screaming to you, so be it.

6. NYT

Quote

Few notions have consumed the once and future president more than the belief that his executive power has been constrained by a cabal of unelected bureaucrats. In his first rally of the 2024 campaign in Waco, Texas, Mr. Trump framed the bureaucracy as a national adversary, declaring, “Either the deep state destroys America, or we destroy the deep state.”

Trump WH Archives Direct Trump quote:

Quote

Unlike the socialists, we believe in the rule of the people, not the rule of the unelected bureaucrats that don’t know what they’re doing. We believe in the dignity of the individual, not the iron grip of the state. Our regulatory reforms are vital not only to the success of our economy, but the strength of our democracy and the survival of liberty itself.

James Comer

Quote

“Our Founding Fathers never envisioned a massive unelected, unaccountable federal government with the power to create policies that impact Americans’ everyday lives. President Trump has long pledged to take on this bureaucracy and restore power to the people by draining the swamp. Today, President Trump again delivered on his promise by signing an executive order that will help make bureaucrats who have the ability to create and implement policy more accountable for their actions. I applaud President Trump’s efforts and I look forward to working with him to continue to strengthen transparency and accountability in the federal government.”

President Trump’s executive order creates a new Schedule F for federal employees. Prior to the growth of the Executive Branch, policy-making positions were traditionally held by appointees. However, with the growth of the bureaucracy, career civil servants came to hold the positions. Civil servants are not appointed, and, as such, are not held accountable by the voters, the president, or anyone else. This executive order will strengthen accountability by requiring civil servants holding policy-making positions to be accountable to the president.

That one is funny since Musk does not even hold a "policy-making position."

Nutshell Another direct Trump quote:

Quote

“Unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats must not be able to operate outside the democratic system of government,” Trump said, pausing to interject, “wow,” before continuing, “imposing their private agenda on our citizens.” He added: “A permanent federal bureaucracy cannot become a fourth branch of government unanswerable to American voters.”

Is DOGE answerable to American voters? I sure have not seen any evidence of that being the case. But he is roundly cheered by MAGA, despite being exactly what Trump claimed he did not want. 

[Mike Honcho 5,085]

 

I wonder if the guy(yes I know he has been ID) who did this put it on the list of 5 things he accomplished last week?

[Fnord 2,051]

1 hour ago, Mike Honcho said:

 

I wonder if the guy(yes I know he has been ID) who did this put it on the list of 5 things he accomplished last week?

If this was Biden licking Pelosi's toes LC/MO would have 15 active threads about it on the first page.

[The Girlfriend 208]

Elon has 2 right feet!  

[Red White and Blue 81]

1 hour ago, Mike Honcho said:

 

I wonder if the guy(yes I know he has been ID) who did this put it on the list of 5 things he accomplished last week?

 It’s true, Elon does have 2 left feet.

[seafoam1 2,798]

11 minutes ago, The Girlfriend said:

Elon has 2 right feet!  

Pimpledoosh has four left paws. 

[League Champion 1,896]

On 2/24/2025 at 7:33 AM, TrailGuy said:

Americans are hurting

Little Kids Speaking Out Against WOKE Democrats. "Mommy , I don't want to be a boy".

 

 

[Hardcore troubadour 14,910]

On 2/24/2025 at 7:33 AM, TrailGuy said:

Many members of the House skipped holding large, public events while out of Washington this week. But the Republicans who did hold town halls back home got an earful.

At events from Georgia and Wisconsin to Oklahoma and Oregon, House Republicans faced sometimes-hostile crowds furious about the sweeping budget cuts and mass firings of federal workers that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are carrying out.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/town-halls-republicans-feel-heat-trump-musks-firing-cutting-spree-rcna193164

Nice to see regular middle class workers holding Republicans accountable for their mass layoffs and illegal funding cuts.

Americans are hurting and we're headed into recession led by Donald Trump.

Only a slug like you that sits around all day farting and spewing nonsense here would ever call those losers “hardworking”.  

[TrailGuy 552]

5 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Only a slug like you that sits around all day farting and spewing nonsense here would ever call those losers “hardworking”.  

What do you do all day comrade?  Surely your job can't be important.  

113,593 posts 

[Hardcore troubadour 14,910]

Just now, TrailGuy said:

What do you do all day comrade?  Surely your job can't be important.  

113,593 posts 

I work part time.  Got it like that.  What are you on pace for with 60 plus a day? You would blow that out of the water. Chief Farting Officer. 

[TrailGuy 552]

53 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

I work part time.  Got it like that.  What are you on pace for with 60 plus a day? You would blow that out of the water. Chief Farting Officer. 

Watch out for those potted plants!

🪴

[Hardcore troubadour 14,910]

Just now, TrailGuy said:

Watch out for those potted plants!

🪴

lol. Look at you repeating stupid shitt you were told. Not surprising. You do it all day everyday.  Bleach! 

[The Girlfriend 208]

41 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

Watch out for those potted plants!

🪴

[EternalShinyAndChrome 3,828]

1 hour ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Only a slug like you that sits around all day farting and spewing nonsense here would ever call those losers “hardworking”.  

those "hostile" crowds were nothing more than liberals trying to make it look like "America is turning against Trump" nonsense that their liberal media will be more than happy to lie and gaslight The actual American public about.

[easilyscan 857]

2 hours ago, League Champion said:

Little Kids Speaking Out Against WOKE Democrats. "Mommy , I don't want to be a boy".

 

 

3:00 - 3:14 is almost beyond belief. 

Who determines the definition of bad behavior by parents ?

Hopefully not that guy.

3:26 - 3:41 is just as bad, or worse.

[Cdub100 3,824]

Little birdy sent me the Reduction in Force (RIF) plan. It's pretty much going down as I expected. Lots of people are about to be let go.

[Hardcore troubadour 14,910]

Biden shouldn’t have hired so many people for no reason. Technology should have made many of these jobs obsolete anyway. 

[supermike80 1,796]

11 hours ago, Cdub100 said:

Little birdy sent me the Reduction in Force (RIF) plan. It's pretty much going down as I expected. Lots of people are about to be let go.

1) are you safe? I assume since you got the RIF plan you are OK

2) thoughts on that list?  Overall positive?   Bad?    

 

You're more in the know than really anyone here so I would like to know what you think about it

[Red White and Blue 81]

11 hours ago, Cdub100 said:

Little birdy sent me the Reduction in Force (RIF) plan. It's pretty much going down as I expected. Lots of people are about to be let go.

At least all those people who are laid off will get to enjoy cheaper eggs.  

[TrailGuy 552]

Maga wants all federal employees gone.

https://x.com/MAGAVoice/status/1894481408493851025

[Cdub100 3,824]

1 hour ago, supermike80 said:

1) are you safe? I assume since you got the RIF plan you are OK

2) thoughts on that list?  Overall positive?   Bad?    

 

You're more in the know than really anyone here so I would like to know what you think about it

1. Nobody is safe, but I should be fine.

2. It's an aggressive way to cut. There will be mistakes but when you believe you need to cut as much as you do. Mistakes will be made.

3. The plan includes consolidating offices so people will leave when their work moves across the country. Some will move with the job. 

 

It's a very interesting time. Nobody has done anything as large scale as this. If I survive the process I expect things to be very different in 4 years.

Politically this will hurt Vance in 2028. When whole towns die because the local federal office was moved to a different state people will blame the administration. I don't think the money saved will sway people. It's why congressmen fight so hard for their federal work force. 

[jerryskids 6,550]

5 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

Maga wants all federal employees gone.

https://x.com/MAGAVoice/status/1894481408493851025

What an idiotic conclusion to that link.  Congrats, you've accomplished the dumbest post of the day and I haven't even had breakfast yet.   

[TrailGuy 552]

2 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

What an idiotic conclusion to that link.  Congrats, you've accomplished the dumbest post of the day and I haven't even had breakfast yet.   

Did you watch the whole clip pudding head?

"Federal employees do not deserve their jobs.  Federal employees do not deserve their paychecks."

Do you need me to explain this to you?

If you want to say "MTG is looney" or "The people who support MTG are looney" that's fine.  It's an excuse.  But to say that concluding that Maga wants federal employees gone after saying they don't deserve their jobs, you would have to have a head full of pudding.

[TrailGuy 552]

It's very simple and obvious now Magas.

We have a war on the American people, the hardworking middle class.  It's your classic class warfare.  Your elitist billionaires eliminating middle class jobs, eliminating services for the lower class and giving themselves a tax cut.  Tale as old as time.  I told you this would happen.

[jerryskids 6,550]

16 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

Did you watch the whole clip pudding head?

"Federal employees do not deserve their jobs.  Federal employees do not deserve their paychecks."

Do you need me to explain this to you?

If you want to say "MTG is looney" or "The people who support MTG are looney" that's fine.  It's an excuse.  But to say that concluding that Maga wants federal employees gone after saying they don't deserve their jobs, you would have to have a head full of pudding.

Hey Forrest, by "deserve," she is saying they need to earn their money, vs. "deserving" something just for showing up.  She's not saying to fire them all.  Cripes, how do you function during the day?   

[jerryskids 6,550]

In honor of Gene Hackman:

 

 

[The Real timschochet 6,391]

12 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

Hey Forrest, by "deserve," she is saying they need to earn their money, vs. "deserving" something just for showing up.  She's not saying to fire them all.  Cripes, how do you function during the day?   

You’re right she didn’t say they should all be fired. But what she said was pretty dumb anyhow don’t you think? Or do you agree with her implication that most federal employees are lazy and worthless and don’t work “real” jobs? 

[TrailGuy 552]

20 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

Hey Forrest, by "deserve," she is saying they need to earn their money, vs. "deserving" something just for showing up.  She's not saying to fire them all.  Cripes, how do you function during the day?   

JFC 

"Those are not real jobs producing federal revenue BTW they're consuming tax payer dollars these are jobs paid for by the american tax people who work real jobs, earn real income pay federal taxes and then pay these federal employees.  Federal employees do not deserve their jobs.  Federal employees do not deserve their paychecks.  These are jobs that can be fired at will"

How can you defend this utter nonsense?

20 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

she is saying they need to earn their money, vs. "deserving" something just for showing up. 

No she is saying these federal jobs do not produce federal revenue, therefore they are not real jobs by definition.  Nothing about just showing up or earning anything.  She is saying a federal job is not a real job because it produced no federal income.

 

20 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

She's not saying to fire them all. 

jobs that can be fired at will 

I'll also highlight that federal workers do in fact pay federal taxes, same as "real' jobs.

AND I'd like to point out the complete lack of self awareness by MTG not realizing that she herself is a federal employee that does not produce any federal revenue, is not a real job, and can be fired at will.

[RLLD 4,143]

34 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

It's very simple and obvious now Magas.

We have a war on the American people, the hardworking middle class.  It's your classic class warfare.  Your elitist billionaires eliminating middle class jobs, eliminating services for the lower class and giving themselves a tax cut.  Tale as old as time.  I told you this would happen.

Yes, but that war is coming to an end....no more vilification of parents, those of faith...no more insane fomenting of inflation....none of it....its all ending.

[TrailGuy 552]

1 minute ago, RLLD said:

Yes, but that war is coming to an end....no more vilification of parents, those of faith...no more insane fomenting of inflation....none of it....its all ending.

So you agree but you're ok with it, because we're trading that for no more vilification of parents faith or lying about inflation. 

[jerryskids 6,550]

11 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

JFC 

"Those are not real jobs producing federal revenue BTW they're consuming tax payer dollars these are jobs paid for by the american tax people who work real jobs, earn real income pay federal taxes and then pay these federal employees.  Federal employees do not deserve their jobs.  Federal employees do not deserve their paychecks.  These are jobs that can be fired at will"

How can you defend this utter nonsense?

No she is saying these federal jobs do not produce federal revenue, therefore they are not real jobs by definition.  Nothing about just showing up or earning anything.  She is saying a federal job is not a real job because it produced no federal income.

 

jobs that can be fired at will 

I'll also highlight that federal workers do in fact pay federal taxes, same as "real' jobs.

AND I'd like to point out the complete lack of self awareness by MTG not realizing that she herself is a federal employee that does not produce any federal revenue, is not a real job, and can be fired at will.

That's a lot of word salad.  You could have just said, "I'm an idiot for thinking she said she wanted to fire all the government employees" and saved yourself a lot of time, Forrest.  

[RLLD 4,143]

11 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

So you agree but you're ok with it, because we're trading that for no more vilification of parents faith or lying about inflation. 

Ok with what?